Hong Kong: Easing of flight restrictions welcomed The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today welcomed the Japanese authorities announcement on the relaxation of restrictions on Hong Kong passenger flights. The statement was made following a video conference hosted by the Transport & Logistics Bureau with the Japanese authorities. The bureau noted that from January 8, passenger flights from Hong Kong will be permitted to use other airports in Japan in addition to Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, Chubu Airport, New Chitose Airport, Fukuoka Airport and Naha Airport. The Japanese authorities will also permit airlines to resume adding certain flights from Hong Kong to airports in Japan. However, as the extent of the increase in the frequency of passenger flights departing from Hong Kong is still being restricted, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to request Japan to rescind all restrictions targeting Hong Kong flights, with a view to reducing the impact on travellers. This story has been published on: 2023-01-04. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China to crack down on off-campus academic tutoring during winter vacation Xinhua) 09:04, January 04, 2023 A volunteer teaches children how to paint at a community center in Luanzhou, North China's Hebei province on July 24, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education has issued a circular ordering relevant authorities to crack down on de facto academic tutoring and tighten their regulation of non-academic tutoring during the winter vacation. Localities should disseminate policies concerning off-campus training among parents, it said, asking parents to avoid blindly enrolling their children in tutoring classes. The circular also urged localities to organize sporting, cultural, or parent-child interaction activities to help children spend their winter vacation in meaningful ways. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) 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. Newly obtained body camera video shows the moment the Indiana State Police unknowingly pulled over the suspect in the University of Idaho murders as he drove cross-country after the crimes. Bryan Kohberger, 28, was a Ph.D. student in Washington State University's department of criminal justice and criminology at the time of the murders. Washington State is less than 10 miles away from Moscow, Idaho, where four University of Idaho college students were murdered. PHOTO: Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, is escorted to an extradition hearing at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, Pa., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP, Pool) MORE: Idaho murders: Suspect Bryan Kohberger agrees to extradition, mouths 'I love you' to family After Kohberger's semester ended this December, he and his father drove cross-country together to spend the holidays at the family's Pennsylvania home, his attorney in Pennsylvania, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, told ABC News. They drove the pre-planned road trip in the white Hyundai Elantra that authorities said they were looking for in connection to the murders, according to LaBar. PHOTO: Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November, was driving from Washington to Pennsylvania when he was pulled over by Indiana State Police before his arrest. (Indiana State Police) Indiana State Police said a trooper stopped Kohberger and his father east of Indianapolis on Dec. 15 for following another vehicle too closely. Police bodycam shows the trooper identifying himself and asking for license and registration. Bryan Kohberger was in the driver's seat. PHOTO: Bryan Kohberger, accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November, was driving from Washington to Pennsylvania when he was pulled over by Indiana State Police before his arrest. (Indiana State Police) MORE: Idaho murders: What we know about the suspect "The Trooper, having learned the two had been stopped minutes before by a Deputy from the Hancock County Sheriffs Department, who he knew was working just down the interstate from him, used his discretion and released the two men with a verbal warning," state police said in a statement. The state police added: "At the time of this stop, there was no information available on a suspect for the crime in Idaho, to include identifying information or any specific information related to the license plate state or number of the white Hyundai Elantra which was being reported in the media to have been seen in or around where the crime occurred." The Hancock County Sheriff's Office said it stopped Kohberger just nine minutes before the Indiana State Police. The father and son were pulled over at that time for speeding, according to LaBar. The sheriff's department also said there was no information at the time on the suspect in the Idaho crimes or specific information on the white Hyundai Elantra. Story continues PHOTO: In this cropped screen grab from a bodycam video provided by the Hancock County Sheriff's Office, Bryan Kohberger, left, and his father are seen talking to a sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop on Dec. 15, 2022, in Hancock County, Ind. (Hancock County Sheriff's Office via AP) Kohberger, who was arrested in Pennsylvania on Friday on first-degree murder and burglary charges, agreed to be extradited to Idaho during a Tuesday court appearance. LaBar said his client was "eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible." PHOTO: Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, is escorted to an extradition hearing at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, Pa., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (Matt Rourke/AP, Pool) MORE: Idaho college murders: Timeline of events Kohberger is accused in the Nov. 13 murders of University of Idaho roommates Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, as well as Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin. The four victims were stabbed to death at the girls' off-campus house in the middle of the night in a crime that terrorized the college town and garnered national interest. Moscow Police Chief James Fry said the Moscow Police Department's only prior interaction with Kohberger was a traffic citation for not wearing a seat belt that was issued while the suspect drove the white Elantra. ABC News' Olivia Rubin contributed to this report. Idaho murders: Bodycam shows moment Indiana police pulled over suspect Bryan Kohberger in white Elantra originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Editors Note: The headline has been updated to reflect the lawmaker will be sworn in on the Constitution as well as the Superman comic. Rep.-elect Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) is set to be sworn in on the U.S. Constitution and three other sentimental paper items, including a first-edition Superman No. 1 comic, the incoming lawmaker announced Tuesday. Will be proudly sworn-in to Congress on the U.S. Constitution. Underneath the Constitution will be 3 items that mean a lot to me personally. A photo of my parents who I lost to covid, my citizenship certificate & an original Superman #1 from the @librarycongress, Garcia said, sharing a photo of the items on Twitter. Garcia immigrated to the U.S. from Lima, Peru, and served eight years as mayor of Long Beach, Calif. His parents both died of COVID-19. The swearing-in of new members for the 118th Congress was delayed on Tuesday after no candidate for House Speaker earned a majority of votes. Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) bested Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) in three consecutive votes, though neither met the 218-vote mark and the House adjourned without a Speaker. Lawmakers are set to reconvene for another Speaker vote on Wednesday at noon. The process will continue to go through rounds of ballot-casting until a victor emerges with a majority after which the incoming lawmakers can be sworn in. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Arpan Chaturvedi NEW DELHI (Reuters) -An Indian tribunal on Wednesday declined a request by Google to block an antitrust ruling that ordered the tech giant to change its approach to its Android platform, dealing the U.S. firm a setback in a key growth market. In October, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc's Google $161 million for exploiting its dominant position in markets such as online search and the Android app store, and asked it to change curbs on smartphone makers related to pre-installing apps. During the hearing, Google's counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, repeatedly pushed for putting the decision on hold, or extending the date of implementation of CCI's directives beyond Jan. 19. He said the CCI's decision will force the company to change its business model and harm consumer interest. The tribunal did not agree. "We are of opinion that at the moment given the voluminous nature of the appeal, there is no need to pass any interim order," the two-member tribunal panel said. Google told the tribunal in a legal filing that CCI's investigation unit copied parts of a European ruling against the U.S. firm from a similar verdict on abuse of market dominance of its Android operating system, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The CCI investigators "copy-pasted extensively from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India", Google alleged. The CCI has not responded yet to those allegations. (Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi and Munsif Vengattil in New Delhi; Editing by Christopher Cushing) An apparent drive-by shooting in DeKalb County has left an innocent man pumping gas injured. Police say they were called to a Texaco station on Columbia Drive just before 5 p.m. where they found a man who had been shot in the leg. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officers say a car drove by the gas station and opened fire on another car, striking the man who was pumping gas at a different car. Investigators say the man, identified only as being in his 40s, was not the intended target. TRENDING STORIES: The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both the suspect and targeted vehicles left the gas station before police arrived. Details on the vehicles have not been released. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Over the past year, many American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying versus if they selling is usually more beneficial, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, if numerous insiders are selling, shareholders should investigate more. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for American International Group The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At American International Group In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Executive VP, Luciana Fato, sold US$918k worth of shares at a price of US$54.01 per share. That means that even when the share price was below the current price of US$62.93, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. We note that the biggest single sale was only 28% of Luciana Fato's holding. In the last year American International Group insiders didn't buy any company stock. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! I will like American International Group better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. Does American International Group Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. American International Group insiders own about US$67m worth of shares. That equates to 0.1% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About American International Group Insiders? The fact that there have been no American International Group insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. We don't take much encouragement from the transactions by American International Group insiders. The modest level of insider ownership is, at least, some comfort. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for American International Group (1 is a bit unpleasant) you should be aware of. 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 A teenager walked up to a vehicle in a State Park Place neighborhood near Collinsville, fired several shots into it and killed another teenager in the middle of the afternoon on New Years Day. Thats according to the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, which was called in by the Madison County Sheriffs Office to help with the investigation. The community should know that this was not a random act of violence, said States Attorney Tom Haine at a news conference on Tuesday outside the Madison County Jail in Edwardsville. His office has charged two men, the 18-year-old shooting suspect and a 26-year-old man who allegedly drove him to the neighborhood in the 3300 block of Princeton Avenue, with first-degree murder. Officials confirmed that the victim and suspects knew each other and that investigators have found no connection between the State Park Place murder and the fatal shooting of two young men outside a Collinsville bar soon after midnight on New Years Day. Madison County Capt. Brian Koberna, speaking at the news conference as deputy commander of the activated Major Case Squad, praised investigators for quickly solving the State Park Place murder. Within the first 14 hours, we had those suspects in custody, he said. An X marks State Park Place, an unincorporated area on the southwest edge of Collinsville, where an 18-year-old was shot and killed on New Years Day. Two men are being charged with first-degree murder. Google Maps Police received a 911 call about a shooting in unincorporated State Park Place on the southwest edge of Collinsville at 2:08 p.m. Sunday, according to officials. The victim, Miguel Villegas De-Santiago, 18, of Collinsville, was transported to a St. Louis-area hospital, where he died. On Tuesday, the alleged shooter, Albert Campos, 18, of Collinsville, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of reckless discharge of a firearm. Matias L. Herrera, also known as Matias Herrera-Lamas, 26, of Collinsville, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Hes accused of driving Campos to and from the neighborhood. Campos exited the vehicle, approached a nearby residence and discharged a firearm in the direction of a residence and vehicles, according to a statement read by Koberna at the news conference. Story continues Campos then approached a vehicle that was occupied by the victim, Miguel Villegas De-Santiago, firing his firearm several times in a pointed manner. Campos then ran to the vehicle being driven by Herrera, which fled the area. Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine announces first-degree murder charges against two men in a fatal shooting in State Park Place, near Collinsville, at a news conference on Tuesday in Edwardsville. Derik Holtmann/dholtmann@bnd.com About 25 investigators from the Major Case Squad worked the scene with help from Madison County, Collinsville Police Department and Illinois State Police, according to Koberna. We investigated over 70 leads and executed numerous search warrants with more forthcoming, he said in his statement. This case was a good example of good old-fashioned police work with persistency and dedication. I understand that we cant undo a horrible act, but I hope the victims family, friends and associates find solace in the fact that the killers are caught. The case will now be turned over to the court system, and we pray that fair justice is served. The State Park Place murder was the second fatal shooting in the Collinsville area on New Years Day. Ricardo Correa, 20, of Collinsville, and Rodolfo Torres-Granado, 24, of Granite City, were pronounced dead by the Madison County coroners office at 103 W. Main St. soon after midnight. The two men were shot after a physical altercation at Sloans Pub House that later resumed in the parking lot. Collinsville Police Department took two people into custody at the scene, but neither were immediately charged, according to a news release. By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. For example, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) shareholders have seen the share price rise 46% over three years, well in excess of the market return (15%, not including dividends). So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for Goldman Sachs Group While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Goldman Sachs Group was able to grow its EPS at 19% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is higher than the 13% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 9.09. 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 Goldman Sachs Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. 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, Goldman Sachs Group's TSR for the last 3 years was 56%, 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 While it's certainly disappointing to see that Goldman Sachs Group shares lost 11% throughout the year, that wasn't as bad as the market loss of 20%. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 9%, each year, over five years. It could be that the business is just facing some short term problems, but shareholders should keep a close eye on the fundamentals. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Even so, be aware that Goldman Sachs Group is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... But note: Goldman Sachs Group may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US 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 DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has released top Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti on bail, state media reported on Wednesday, weeks after she was detained for criticizing a crackdown on anti-government protests that have rocked the Islamic Republic for months. Best-known for her role in "The Salesman", which won an Academy Award in 2017, the pro-reform artist Alidoosti had supported the protests, including by posting her picture on Instagram in November without the compulsory hijab head covering, and holding up a sign which read "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish, a popular slogan in the mass protests. The semi-official ILNA news agency, citing her lawyer, said "Alidoosti, who was arrested on December 17, was released today on bail", without giving further details. Her picture, taken in front of Tehran's notorious Evin prison, was widely shared on social media. The protests, sparked by the death of a young Kurdish woman while in the custody of the morality police, have posed one of the biggest legitimacy challenges to the Shi'ite Muslim-ruled Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. Since Amini's death, protesters from all walks of life have taken to the streets, calling for the downfall of the country's clerical rulers, with women taking off and burning their headscarves in fury across the country. Dozens of female Iranian actresses and artists have posted pictures of themselves without the compulsory hijab, in solidarity with the demonstrations in which women have played a leading role. Facing their worst legitimacy crisis in the past four decades, Iran's clerical rulers have accused a coalition of anarchists, terrorists and foreign foes" of orchestrating the protests. The Islamic Republic has so far executed two people involved in mass protests. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group has said that at least 100 detained protesters face possible death sentences. (This story has been refiled to fix a typo in paragraph 4) (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Bernadette Baum) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran summoned the French ambassador on Wednesday to condemn the publication of offensive caricatures of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The magazine has a long history of publishing vulgar cartoons mocking Islamists, which critics say are deeply insulting to Muslims. Two French-born al-Qaida extremists attacked the newspaper's office in 2015, killing 12 cartoonists, and it has been the target of other attacks over the years. Its latest issue features the winners of a recent cartoon contest in which entrants were asked to draw the most offensive caricatures of Khamenei, who has held Iran's highest office since 1989. The contest was billed as a show of support for anti-government protests rocking Iran. One of the finalists depicts a turbaned cleric reaching for a hangman's noose as he drowns in blood, while another shows Khamenei clinging to a giant throne above the raised fists of protesters. Others depict more vulgar and sexually explicit scenes. Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian vowed a decisive and effective response to the publication of the cartoons, which he said had insulted Iran's religious and political authorities. The French government, while defending free speech, has rebuked the privately-owned magazine in the past for fanning tensions. Iran has been gripped by nationwide protests for nearly four months following the death in mid-September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's strict Islamic dress code. Women have taken the lead in the protests, with many stripping off the compulsory Islamic headscarf in public. The protesters have called for the overthrow of Iran's ruling clerics in one of the biggest challenges to their rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought them to power. Charlie Hebdo, which has published similarly offensive cartoons about dead child migrants, virus victims, neo-Nazis, popes, Jewish leaders and other public figures, presents itself as an advocate for democracy and free expression. But it routinely pushes the limits of French hate speech laws with often sexually explicit caricatures that target nearly everyone. The paper drew fire for reprinting caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad that were originally published by a Danish magazine in 2005. Those cartoons were seen as sacrilegious and deeply hurtful to Muslims worldwide, many of whom nevertheless condemned the violent response to the drawings. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran released a prominent actress from an Oscar-winning film on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after she was jailed for criticizing a crackdown on anti-government protests, local reports said. Irans semi-official ISNA news agency said Taraneh Alidoosti, the 38-year-old star of Asghar Farhadis Oscar-winning 2016 film, The Salesman, was released on bail. Her mother, Nadere Hakimelahi, had earlier said she would be released in a post on Instagram. After her release from the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran on Wednesday, Alidoosti posed with bunches of flowers, surrounded by friends. No further details have been released about her case. Alidoosti was among several Iranian celebrities to express support for the nationwide protests and criticize the authorities' violent clampdown on dissent. She had posted at least three messages in support of the protests on Instagram before her account was disabled. One message had expressed solidarity with the first man to be executed on charges linked to the protests, which were triggered by the death of a woman in police custody and have escalated into widespread calls for the overthrow of Iran's ruling clerics. The protests mark one of the biggest challenges to the Islamic Republic since it was established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Security forces have used live ammunition, bird shot, tear gas and batons to disperse protesters, according to rights groups. Mohsen Shekari was executed Dec. 9 after being charged by an Iranian court with blocking a street in Tehran and attacking a member of the countrys security forces with a machete. A week later, Iran executed a second prisoner, Majidreza Rahnavard, by public hanging. He had been accused of stabbing two members of the paramilitary Basij militia, which is leading the crackdown. Activists say at least a dozen people have been sentenced to death in closed-door hearings over charges linked to the protests. Story continues His name was Mohsen Shekari," Alidoosti wrote on an account with some 8 million followers before her arrest. "Every international organization who is watching this bloodshed and not taking action, is a disgrace to humanity. The Iranian reports on Alidoosti's release did not say whether she has been charged with anything or if she will stand trial. It was also unclear whether she faces travel restrictions as part of the terms of her release. At least 516 protesters have been killed and over 19,000 people have been arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that has closely monitored the unrest. Iranian authorities have not provided an official count of those killed or detained. Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi, two other famous Iranian actresses, were arrested in November for expressing solidarity with protesters on social media. Voria Ghafouri, an Iranian soccer star, was also arrested that month for insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government. All three have been released. The protests began in mid-September, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by Irans morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republics strict dress code. Women have played a leading role in the protests, with many publicly stripping off the compulsory Islamic headscarf, known as the hijab. The protesters say they are fed up after decades of political and social repression. One of the main slogans has been Death to the dictator, referring to Iran's 83-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has held the country's highest office for more than three decades. Iranian officials blame the protests on the U.S. and other foreign powers. State-linked media have highlighted attacks on security forces, while authorities have imposed heavy restrictions on coverage of the demonstrations, including periodically cutting off internet access. Khamenei, who has said little about the protests, spoke about Islamic dress on Wednesday in a meeting with women, saying the hijab is necessary but that those who do not completely observe the practice should not be accused of being non-religious or against the revolution. Even before the protests, many Iranian women wore the headscarf loosely, and authorities sometimes eased off on enforcing it, particulary during the presidency of Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate who governed from 2013 to 2021. His successor, the hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi, had moved to tighten the restrictions. Alidoosti had previously criticised the Iranian government and its police force before this years protests. In June 2020, she was given a suspended five-month prison sentence after she criticized the police on Twitter in 2018 for assaulting a woman who had removed her headscarf. In The Salesman, she played a woman whose relationship with her husband fractures after she is sexually assaulted in their apartment. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a local staging of Arthur Miller's classic play, Death of a Salesman," in which the woman and her husband are cast as the main characters. Other well-known movies Alidoosti has starred in include The Beautiful City and About Elly. Undated photograph released by the Ukrainian military's Strategic Communications Directorate shows the wreckage of an Iranian Shahed drone. Ukrainian military's Strategic Communications Directorate via AP Russia's Iranian-made drones cost as little as $20,000 but can cost more to down, a report said. This disparity, and the supply of air-defense missiles, is a growing concern among military experts. Ukraine launched costly missiles over New Year's to fight Russia's drones, the report added. The cost of shooting down Iranian-made drones over Ukraine can far outweigh the price of manufacturing them, offering Russia an advantage in its invasion of the country, The New York Times reported. While the Shahed-136 drones being deployed by Russia cost as little as $20,000 to make, shooting one out of the sky can cost between $140,000 and $500,000, The Times reported. This has created a growing problem for Ukraine and its allies. Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces have increasingly relied on the Shahed-136, which self-destructs on contact with its target. As Ukraine rang in the new year, it faced a barrage of 84 of these drones, with its air force saying it shot down every last one. But as remarkable an achievement as that may be, it's likely to be difficult to sustain given the cost. Ukraine has used a wide variety of methods to stop the drones, including bringing Soviet-era antiaircraft guns back into play. Small-arms fire and missiles fired from warplanes have also been deployed. But the Shahed-136 flies "low and slow" and is "literally trying to fly under the radar," James Rogers, an associate professor in war studies at the University of Southern Denmark who has advised the UN on drones, told Insider in December. Launched in waves of six or seven at a time, the drones aim to act as a rudimentary swarm to overwhelm defenses. During the New Year's onslaught, Ukrainian officials said they deployed a more costly option to counter them, several times firing missiles from National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, The Times reported. NASAMS is a short- to midrange air-defense system sent to Ukraine by the US in November. Firing it, The Times reported, costs $500,000. Story continues But Mathieu Boulegue, a Russia expert at London's Chatham House, told the newspaper that the cost was "irrelevant as long as the West keeps providing military assistance to Ukraine." In December, the US announced it would send its most advanced missile-defense system, the Patriot, to Ukraine. But officials have said this is no silver bullet precisely because of the cost difference between launching a cheap Iranian drone and defending against it with a top-of-the-line Patriot missile. Mark Cancian and Tom Karako, military experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who priced the Shahed drone at about $50,000, rather than $20,000 wrote about the issue in December: "High-value Russian aircraft and ballistic missiles would be appropriate targets. "Shooting $4 million missiles at $250,000 Russian cruise missiles might be justified if those missiles would hit sensitive targets. Shooting a $4 million missile at a $50,000 Iranian Shahed-136 drone would probably not." Read the original article on Business Insider The U.S. spoke out Tuesday against "any unilateral actions that undercut the historic status quo" in the heart of the Middle East after a member of Israel's new ultranationalist cabinet visited a sensitive Jerusalem holy site sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Such moves "are unacceptable," said State Department spokesperson Ned Price. Israel's new far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has previously been convicted of inciting racism and supporting a terrorist group, visited the compound that is known by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as Al-Aqsa. He was surrounded by security guards. Israel's new far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir is shown visiting the the holy site in Jerusalem known by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as Al-Aqsa in this screen grab from a video taken on January 3rd, 2023. / Credit: Reuters The holy site is administered by the country of Jordan and an Islamic endowment called the Waqf. Muslims are allowed to pray there, but Jews and Christians are not. Ben-Gvir has long decried that status quo as discriminatory and called for greater Jewish access. Palestinians consider the site a national symbol, and the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli security forces was a major catalyst for 11 days of violence in 2021. Ben-Gvir's move this week came amid rising concern over Israel's new government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is once again at the helm, but he got there by forming a coalition with ultra-conservative, ultra-nationalist parties, ushering in the most far-right cabinet in Israel's history. Tension has mounted in the Israel-occupied West Bank for months, with 2022 being the deadliest year for Palestinians in the territory in nearly two decades, according to the United Nations. Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Muhammad Shtayyeh called Ben-Gvir's visit to the Jerusalem holy site "a violation of all norms, values, international agreements and laws, and Israel's pledges to the American president," BBC News reported. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by both Israel and the United States, said the visit was a "crime" and vowed the site would remain "Palestinian, Arab, Islamic," according to the AFP news agency. Story continues "The President has previously underscored the need to preserve the historic status quo at the Haram al Sharif Temple Mount, as has the Secretary. We have done so repeatedly with our Israeli partners; we have done so repeatedly with our Jordanian partners," Price told reporters Tuesday at the State Department. "We took note of the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu's governing platform calls for preservation of the historic status quo in relation to the holy places. We expect him to follow through on that commitment." U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said he had "been very clear in conversations with the Israeli government on the issue of preserving the status quo in Jerusalem's holy sites," the Associated Press reported. "Actions that prevent that are unacceptable." The United Arab Emirates and China called for a meeting of the U.N. Security Council after Ben-Gvir's visit, and a spokesperson for Germany's foreign ministry said it expected "the new Israeli government to commit to a continuation of the tried and tested practice around the holy sites in Jerusalem and to put a stop to further deliberate provocations." College murder suspect arrives back in Idaho after agreeing to extradition California communities endure rain, wind, flooding as deluge continues What's next after House adjourns without resolving speaker election From Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba to Rege-Jean Page and Cillian Murphy, theres a long list of actors being touted to play 007. There has been speculation about who will replace Daniel Craig as James Bond ever since 2015, when he joked he would rather slash his wrists than do another Bond film. Craig left the franchise after the 25th Bond film, 2021s No Time to Die, and rumours have only intensified since then. For years, dozens of actors have been batting away questions about whether they might play the most famous spy in cinema. Heres a list of the actors who are tipped to replace Craig... Aaron Taylor-Johnson Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Getty Images) Taylor-Johnson, 32, reportedy sat down with producer Barbara Broccoli recently, for a meeting that went very well, after there was speculation that he had filmed a secret audition late last year. Bond co-producer Michael G Wilson previously said that the team was looking to make the new 007 a thirtysomething character, which bodes well for the actor, and hes played action roles in Bullet Train, Kick-Ass, Godzilla and Tenet. Tom Hardy (Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The 45-year-old, known for his roles in Venom and The Revenant, previously spoke about Bond rumours with The Daily Beast, saying: If I mention it, its gone. You know, theres a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it youre automatically out of the race. So I cant possibly comment on that one. Cillian Murphy (AFP via Getty Images) Peaky Blinders star Murphy said he is flattered by speculation that he could become the next James Bond. The 46-year-old told GQ: Its incredibly flattering to be in that conversation. I think it should be a woman [next]. Rege-Jean Page (Rex Features) When the 34-year-old Bridgerton star was asked by Jimmy Fallon about the Bond rumours, he said: I think the internet thinks a lot of things, that's one of the more pleasant ones, so I'm pleased as far as that goes. But there might be an element of cultural translation here. If you're a Brit and you do something of any kind of renown, that people regard well, then people start saying the 'B' word. It's like a merit badge. You get a 'B' word merit badge. Story continues James Norton (Rex Features) The 37-year-old star of War & Peace, Happy Valley and McMafia previouslty told The Independent that if playing Bond meant sacrificing roles in indie films, it would be a hard thing for me to swallow. Sam Heughan (Rex Features) The Outlander star has previously said he would like to bring Bond back to Scotland for the first time since Sean Connerys stint as 007. Of course it would be a dream role and a Scottish Bond, said the 42-year-old, who doesnt want to see another Scottish Bond! Aidan Turner (Rex Features) In 2018, Turner broke his silence on the 007 rumours. Respecting the fact that Daniel Craig hadnt yet finished his tenure as the spy, the 39-year-old Poldark favourite said: Theres someone else playing the role at the moment, but when its free Ill have a look at it. But he hasnt said a lot about it since then. Tom Hiddleston (Getty Images) There were lots of rumours that Hiddleston, 41, would be the next Bond after a reported meeting with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli a few years ago. However, in 2016 he told fans that your guess is as good as mine, to be honest. Richard Madden (Rex Features) The 36-year-old Bodyguard and Game of Thrones star previously told GQ: Im more than flattered to be mentioned, for people to consider putting me in that role. Im very flattered and thankful. Its a really brilliant thing to be in. Jamie Bell (Rex Features) The 36-year-old star, who rose to prominence for his debut role in Billy Elliot, said he would give playing Bond some serious consideration. He also suggested, however, that future films in the franchise need to be more progressive. Jack Lowden (Rex Features) The 32-year-old Dunkirk actor has been tipped for Bond, but he previously said he never wanted Craig to leave the role. Im a massive Daniel Craig fan and I dont think he should ever stop doing it, Lowden told GP. Bond dealing with age is a brilliant idea and I think we should go the whole way until Daniels 85. Michael Fassbender (Rex Features) Fassbender, 45, is one of the favourites to play 007, even though he has ruled himself out as he thinks a younger actor or a woman should take on the role. When asked in an interview with GQ magazine if he would be up for the part, he said: "To be honest, no." Idris Elba (Rex Features) Luther star Elba, 50, has long been tipped to replace Daniel Craig, however he has attempted to quash the rumours, saying to Event: Bond is one of the biggest franchises in the world, and for that reason, whoever ends up playing it, lives it. Youre THAT character, and known as that character for many, many years. Im creating characters now that can still live alongside Idris. Not ones that take over me and solely define me. Henry Cavill (Getty Images for Netflix) The 39-year-old star of The Witcher actually already auditioned for James Bond in his twenties but obviously never got the role. In an interview years later, he said of the opportunity coming around again: If Barbara [Bond producer Barbara Broccoli] and Mike [co-producer Michael G Wilson] were interested in that, I would absolutely jump at the opportunity. At this stage, its all up in the air. Well see what happens. But yes, I would love to play Bond, it would be very, very exciting. James Corden is leaving The Late Late Show to spend more time with his family. (CBS/Getty) James Corden has revealed he is quitting The Late Late Show because his son missed spending time with him. The 44-year-old Gavin And Stacey star - who is father to son Max, 11, and daughters Carey, eight and five-year-old Charlotte - has revealed he is stepping down as host of the late night US chat show this year, after eight years at the helm. Corden told The Drew Barrymore show: "I was filming on a Sunday and I came downstairs, it was about six a.m. and my son, who was ten at the time, was sat on the stairs and he said, 'Are you working today?' Read more: James Corden branded a 'phony' by NY restaurant owner over 'fraudulent' apology "And I said, 'I am,' and he said, 'I thought, well its Sunday,' and I said, 'I know buddy but this schedules just all over the place. We just got to get it done because we only have a tiny amount of time before we have to go back and do the show,' and his face just kind of dropped." His voice quivered as he added: "So, really the choice was to go, 'Well if I really want to do this other work, that cannot be at the expense of our children, our family,' and that is really all it comes down to." Corden and his wife Julia Carey - who he married in 2012 - relocated their family to the US when he took over as host of The Late Late Show in 2015. Watch: James Corden narrowly missed out playing lead role in Oscar-tipped The Whale The show airs weekly for 12 months of the year although Corden takes a regular hiatus to be replaced with guest hosts, and annually brings the show to London while he is visiting friends and family. Corden recently apologised after it emerged several of the jokes he had used on the show were originally written by other comedians. He said sorry to Ricky Gervais after The Office creator called him out for retelling his joke about Twitter from one of his stand up shows. James Corden has hosted The Late Late Show since 2015. (CBS/Getty) Corden was also accused of using one of Great British Bake Off host Noel Fielding's jokes without credit. Read more: James Corden was accused of stealing Noel Fielding's mugger joke in 2017 And in 2022 Corden came under fire from the owner of New York restaurant Balthazar, who accused him of being rude to staff something the star apologised for on The Late Late Show a week later. Jeremy Renner in 2016. The actor is currently in critical but stable condition in an intensive care unit after a snow plow accident near his home, representatives said Monday. Jeremy Renner in 2016. The actor is currently in critical but stable condition in an intensive care unit after a snow plow accident near his home, representatives said Monday. Jeremy Renner was trying to help a stranded motorist when his snowplow hit him, an official says. Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve told the Reno Gazette-JournalMonday that the Avengers star was using his snowplow on New Years Day near his Reno, Nevada, home on the side of a snowy mountain. Renner spotted a stranded driver near his property and got out of his vehicle to help when he was run over by the plow, according to Schieve. Schieve told the Reno Gazette-Journal that shes friends with the 51-year-old and got a call about the incident on Sunday soon after it happened. He was helping someone stranded in the snow, Schieve told the local newspaper. He is always helping others. Schieve noted that Renner often donates to local charities but doesnt publicize it. Hes always calling and saying, Hey mayor, what do you need? she said. A New Years Eve storm brought heavy snowfall to Reno, causing power outages to thousands of homes. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said during a press conference Tuesday that Mt. Rose Highway a steep mountain road and the only public road near Renners residence was closed at the time of the accident due to at least three feet of fallen snow. Balaam offered a more detailed and slightly different version of the events that led to the accident (video above). He said that one of Renners family members was driving the actors personal vehicle when it got stuck in the snow. Renner used his plow to tow the vehicle out of its location successfully. Then he got out of his plow to talk to his family member when it began to roll. Renner attempted to jump back into the plow to stop it from moving but was run over. Balaam said that police are in possession of the plow and are currently investigating to see if there was any mechanical failure of why it may have started to roll. However, he also emphasized that police do not suspect foul play and have not yet spoken to Renner about the incident. Story continues Renner who stars as Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe underwent surgery on Monday to treat the blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries he suffered from the accident. He is currently in critical but stable condition in an intensive care unit, representatives for the actor said Monday. On Tuesday, Renner released his first public statement on Instagram, thanking fans for their support. The statement was accompanied by a photo showing injuries to his face. Im too messed up now to type, he wrote. But I send love to you all. Related... Injured Jeremy Renner has shared a photo from his hospital bed as he recovers from being run over by a snow plow on New Years Day near his Nevada home. Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all, wrote the Marvel actor on Instagram. Renner posted the photo at the same time Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to describe exactly how the star was injured. The sheriff told reporters that Renner had been run over by his unmanned Snowcat plough on a private road as he tried to help dig out neighbours following a massive winter storm that dumped 3ft of snow. Sheriff Balaam described the incident on Sunday morning as a tragic accident and said that Renner was unimpaired and that investigators do not suspect foul play. Mr Renners personal vehicle which was being driven by a family member had become stuck in the snow near his home, said the sheriff. He went to retrieve his PistenBully or SnowCat an extremely large piece of snow-moving equipment to get his vehicle moving. After moving the vehicle from the stuck location Mr Renner got out of the PistenBully to speak to his family member and it started to roll. He attempted to try and get into the drivers seat of the PistenBully, it was at this point that he was run over by the PistenBully. And he stated that the plow, which weighs more than 14,000-pounds, started to just move forward. Actor Jeremy Renner was run over by his own snowplow as he was moving snow near his home near Reno, Nevada. Renner, known for his role as Hawkeye in Disney's Marvel superhero franchise, was struck Sunday morning, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said Tuesday. The incident happened while Renner was trying clear his own car, driven by a family member, from the snow. "There was about 3 feet that we just received on top of whatever else they'd received prior to this big snowstorm, but 3 feet of fresh snow," Balaam said. Balaam described the road Renner was clearing as a private road, not maintained by the county. Renner used his own plow, described as a PistenBully that weighs more than 14,000 pounds, to extract the car from the snow. He went to speak to a family member when the machine began to roll, Balaam said. "In an effort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempted to get back into the driver's seat. ... It's at this point that Mr. Renner was run over," Balaam said. Neighbors went to assist and offer first aid as they awaited first responders. Officials received the call about at 8:50 a.m. but were not able to reach Renner for 40 more minutes because weather conditions affected traffic. Renner was air-flighted to a nearby hospital and placed in intensive care. He underwent surgery Sunday evening for blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries, his spokesman said Monday. Renner posted what appeared to be a selfie Tuesday night from his hospital bed thanking fans for their support. "Thank you all for your kind words," he captioned the post. "I'm too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all." Balaam described Renner as a "great neighbor" who often cleared the roads for others after snowstorms and was a beloved member of the community. "Throughout the community, he has been very generous," Balaam said. "And he's one of those individuals that I can tell you most of the time, you don't know that he's doing it." Story continues Renner often posts to his social media accounts from his home near Lake Tahoe, including a video in November in which he appeared to drive a Jeep Wrangler in the snow. "Monday morning Pre winter preparation couldnt be more fun," he captioned the clip on Instagram. Renner is a two-time Oscar nominee for his performances in The Hurt Locker and The Town. He is also starring in the "Mayor of Kingstown," a Paramount+ series that is scheduled to return for its second season next week. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A 24-year-old New Jersey man was the traveler who left a dog tied up Dec. 29 at the Des Moines airport before a cross-country flight, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa said in a news release Tuesday. A complaint by Des Moines police identified him as Charles Bigsen of Newark. The ARL release said the man has surrendered the dog, which the staff has been calling Allie, to the agency. Once the 1-year-old dog is spayed and receives an identity microchip and other needed veterinary services, she will become available for adoption, according to the ARL, which has said it received dozens of offers to take her in since the story initially was reported. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says a passenger abandoned this dog at Des Moines International Airport. More:Pup abandoned at Des Moines International Airport by holiday traveler ARL animal services officers picked up Allie after investigating a call reporting a traveler had left the dog tied up outside the airport. Airline employees told them the dog's owner had been unable to bring the animal aboard a cross-country flight because he did not have a kennel for her. They said the owner left the airport with the dog, then returned alone to board the flight. The dog was later found tied up outside the airport. Previously:Southwest travelers in Des Moines tell of ongoing frustrations with flight cancellations, lost luggage The police complaint naming Bigsen says Allie, who the ARL staff described as "incredibly sweet," would have died had it not been for an airport employee who found her. She had been fastened to a post with a short leash, it said, "with no access to food, water or shelter." "Mr. Bigsen then entered the airport and boarded a flight to Newark, New Jersey abandoning the dog at this location," it said. "During a subsequent conversation ... he advised investigators he provided no provisions for the dog and did not make arrangements for the dog to be retrieved. Additionally, he said he had no intentions to reclaim the dog. "A witness (airport employee) covered the dog with a blanket and remained with the dog until police arrived," the complaint added. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dog's abandonment at Des Moines airport detailed in police complaint Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Tuesday said there was no chance that he would become House Speaker after lawmakers adjourned without electing a new leader, despite garnering the support of a group of Republicans that has refused to support Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Twenty GOP lawmakers voted for Jordan to lead the chamber in the historic third round of voting for Speaker. But the Ohio Republican, who offered the nominating speech for McCarthy before the second round of voting, continued to support McCarthy. He told reporters after the third vote that he had no intention of becoming Speaker. Im being clear, I want to chair the Judiciary Committee, Jordan said. I like this ability to cross examine witnesses and get the truth for the country. After the first round of voting, the opposition support for McCarthy was divided among Jordan, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and a few other lawmakers. But 19 of the McCarthy detractors switched their support to Jordan in the second ballot and even picked up a 20th vote in the third round for Jordan. The split among Republicans pushed the chamber to adjourn until Wednesday afternoon, when a fourth round of voting is expected. McCarthy and the group of his defectors had spent the week negotiating a deal to secure him the gavel. Hard-line conservatives that chose to withhold support for the Republican leader wanted to secure changes to the House rules package, including a motion to vacate, which would allow lawmakers to unseat a Speaker. But unable to come to an agreement, McCarthys opponents had teased that they had a candidate waiting in the wings to throw their support behind. The idea was met with skepticism by other Republicans. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jan. 3An Ector County District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order against the City of Odessa Tuesday, effectively giving fired City Manager Michael Marrero and City Attorney Natasha Brooks their jobs back. The City has been ordered to appear at a Jan. 10 hearing to discuss the matter further. Local civil rights activist and attorney Gaven Norris filed a lawsuit against Mayor Javier Joven and the City of Odessa Dec. 22 alleging they violated the rights of citizens when Joven refused to allow them to speak prior to the council's 5-2 vote to oust Marrero and Brooks Dec. 13. On Dec. 28, he followed up with a motion asking Judge John Shrode to void the Dec. 13 actions of the council and to issue a restraining order to "maintain the status quo of City Attorney Natasha Brooks and City Manager Michael Marrero to their respective positions prior to the actions taken" by the council. He further asked the judge to issue an order stating the council cannot fire, remove, demote or interfere with Brooks' and Marrero's position without first allowing members of the public to address the city council. A hearing on the matter was set for Jan. 10, but Shrode granted Norris' motion Tuesday, writing that there'd be "irreparable injury, loss or damage" to Norris before notice could be served to the City of Odessa and the Jan. 10 hearing could be held. In addition to voiding Marrero and Brooks' terminations, Shrode also said the city council is temporarily prohibited from promoting Dan Jones as interim city attorney and AgapitoBernal as interim city manager without allowing Norris and other citizens and members of the public the right to address the city council first. "Our position remains the same. The mayor violated citizens' rights during that meeting and he's hell bent on continuing to do so," Norris said following the ruling. "He doesn't want to answer to the people, but he'll be answering to the Court." Story continues According to court documents, Shrode will determine if the temporary restraining order should be made a temporary injunction pending a final hearing on the lawsuit. Interim City Attorney Dan Jones has said he cannot comment on pending litigation. Norris was one of several citizens who filled out cards to speak on the matter, but Joven skipped that part of the agenda and only allowed them to speak after the vote during a portion of the meeting reserved for speaking out on non-agenda items. Marrero and Brooks were evaluated in October during an executive session and no action was taken afterward. The Dec. 13 vote came three weeks after three new council members, who all ran unopposed, were sworn in. One of the three, Gilbert Vasquez, opposed the terminations, along with Council member Steve Thompson. No explanations for the firings were given during the meeting. In a brief press conference afterward, Joven simply said "adjustments need to be made on the day-to-day leadership." City secretary Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo said Joven would not be available for media interviews until Jan. 9 because he was going out of town. However, Joven has since participated in Salvation Army bell ringing and swearing in ceremonies. Thompson and a handful of city staff members, who requested anonymity, praised Brooks' and Marrero's professionalism. The employees also alleged Joven and council members Mark Matta and Denise Swanner have created a "toxic" environment at city hall by micromanaging staff and placing them in fear of their positions. Assistant City Manager Cindy Muncy announced her Jan. 6 resignation six days after the terminations. Longtime civil rights activist Gene Collins said he and others are "working on a strategy" to launch a recall petition against Joven and other members of the council. "We've been having meetings. We're not going off half-cocked," Collins said. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A U.S. judge serving as special master in the legal battle over management of the Rio Grande, one of North Americas longest rivers, has cleared the way for a proposed settlement to be made public. The federal government had sought to keep details of the agreement reached by Texas, New Mexico and Colorado sealed, but the judge rejected that request. Under an order issued Friday, the proposal and associated briefs and exhibits will be made public next week as the states and federal attorneys prepare for an upcoming hearing on the merits of the proposal. The case has been pending before the U.S. Supreme Court for nearly a decade, and the stakes are escalating as much of the West grapples with persistent drought. The states in October announced they had brokered a deal following months of negotiations. New Mexico's attorney general at the time cited extreme drought and erratic climate events, saying it was imperative that the states work together to protect the river. Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice and irrigation districts that serve farmers downstream of Elephant Butte reservoir, however, argued that the proposal would not be a workable solution. The river, which flows from the mountains in southern Colorado to Mexico, is managed through a system of federal dams and canals under provisions of a decades-old water-sharing agreement. Texas has argued that groundwater pumping in southern New Mexico has reduced river flows, limiting how much water makes it across the border. New Mexico maintains that it has been shorted on its share of the river. Colorado also has rights to the river. The battle over the Rio Grande has become a multimillion-dollar case in a region where water supplies are dwindling due to increased demand along with drought and warmer temperatures brought on by climate change. Some of the rivers stretches in New Mexico marked record low flows in 2022, resulting in some farmers voluntarily fallowing fields to help the state meet downstream water-sharing obligations. Story continues Judge Michael Melloy noted in his order that teams of negotiators that included engineers, hydrologists and others had worked collaboratively throughout much of 2022 to develop formulas, limits and potential remedial steps as possible paths to settling the litigation. Justice Department attorneys sought to keep the information sealed, saying making it public would violate a confidentiality agreement. But the order noted all parties had conceded that the underlying data used to derive the formulas and deviation limits were publicly available and part of the water management toolbox commonly in use throughout the country. Here there is simply no colorable claim of ownership over the broad ideas, public data, and common techniques expressed in the decree, Melloy wrote. He said it wasn't possible to look at the proposed agreement and know what the federal government was or was not willing to admit, forgo or compromise in an effort to settle the claims. Melloy has scheduled a hearing in early February on the merits of the proposed decree. A still from a doorbell camera video shows an officer with his weapon drawn as he's about to enter a Fayetteville home where Jada Johnson, 22, was shot and killed by Fayetteville police July 1, 2022. Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons ruled Jan. 4, 2023, that Johnson's grandparents and their attorney could view body camera footage from the shooting but could not publicly comment on the contents of the footage. A Cumberland County judge Wednesday changed his initial ruling, stating that the family of a Fayetteville woman fatally shot by police could now comment on the case after viewing body camera footage from the shooting, but he maintained they still could not comment on what they see in the videos. In a sometimes tense hearing in Cumberland County Superior Court, Judge Jim Ammons modified his original order from October, which stated that the family of Jada Johnson and their attorneys could view the video but not publicly comment afterward. Johnson, 22, was shot and killed by police on July 1 in her grandfathers Colgate Drive living room after officers were called to the home on a report of an attempted break-in. A search warrant in the case identified Officer Zacharius Borum as the officer who fired the fatal shots. Johnsons grandparents, Rick and Maria Iwanski, said their granddaughter was experiencing a mental health crisis and she believed her estranged boyfriend was trying to hurt her. Police Department officials have maintained Johnson posed a threat to officers at the scene and was armed with a gun when she was shot. Johnsons autopsy revealed she was shot 17 times with .40-caliber bullets. Related:Family to view body camera footage in Jada Johnson fatal Fayetteville police shooting In court Wednesday, Johnsons estate was represented by Xavier de Janon, a Charlotte-based attorney, police attorney Michael Rose Whyte represented the Fayetteville Police Department and Parrish Daughtry represented Borom and Sgt. Timothy Rugg, who was also present when Johnson was shot. At the start of the hearing, when several of at least two dozen people in the gallery were still standing, bailiffs told the group to sit and they refused. Chilleko Hurst, a member of Fayetteville PACT, said before the hearing that the group intended to stand for 10 seconds in honor of Johnson. Ammons then tersely ordered a recess. When you all decide to sit down, well have court, Ammons said. Story continues Maria Iwanski appeared upset at the disruption, and Rick Iwanski rubbed her back and whispered to her as court went into recess. Previous coverage:SBI says case of woman killed by Fayetteville police turned over to prosecutors It took another five minutes for court to resume once Ammons returned as he asked for 11 children present in the courtroom to be removed. The children were with members of Johnsons family. Children are not allowed here today, Ammons said firmly. Once the children left the courtroom, the hearing began, with Johnson's family attorney requesting Ammons release body camera footage from Borom and Ruggs cameras and modify the original gag order. This is of compelling public interest, as we see in the court today, de Janon said, gesturing to the media present in the gallery. De Janon argued the gag order infringed on the Iwanskis First Amendment right to free speech and could pose as an obstacle to their ability to file a federal lawsuit since those records would be public. 'They did not have to do this': Fayetteville woman shot 17 times by police, autopsy says The officers' lawyer opposed de Janons request, stating she feared the body camera footage would leak to the public and be used to pressure public officials, suggesting that could impact whether charges are filed against the officers. What is the purpose of the public comment? Daughtry asked. Daughtry, who has seen the body camera footage, said she was concerned that if released the public would have access to information on ongoing criminal investigations and private health information. She also noted a minor was on the footage. Johnson's toddler daughter was in the arms of her great-grandmother when the shooting occurred in front of the family. It is a long, heart-wrenching ordeal, Daughtry said. 'She was not in her right mind': Frantic 911 calls released in Jada Johnson shooting Daughtry said she was particularly concerned the footage would taint the potential jury pool. Ammons emphasized that he wanted both parties to be satisfied by the hearings outcome. If we can reach an agreement, Id like to do that, he said. Ammons noted that he was confused as to why the Iwanskis had not viewed the body camera footage. De Janon said they had elected not to watch the footage before the hearing so they would not have to follow the terms of the gag order. Related:New details released in Fayetteville police shooting death of Jada Johnson As Ammons tried to find a compromise among the parties, Daughtry continued to strongly oppose the modification of the gag order, arguing that the Internal Affairs investigation by the Police Department was not complete and the Special Prosecution Division of the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office has not determined if charges will be filed in the case. Whyte, the lawyer for the Police Department, reassured Ammons that the police officials would accommodate de Janon and the Iwanskis in viewing the body camera footage as often as needed. De Janon requested the footage either be released to his law firm or made available to view online so he wouldnt have to drive from Charlotte to see it, but Whyte told Ammons it was not possible for the police department to share footage without permitting its download. Ammons agreed with Whytes concern, noting that he would have little control over what happened with the footage once it was released. Once something hits the Internet, its out there forever, Ammons said. Im afraid that it will be improperly used, despite your best efforts. 'He killed my baby': Fayetteville womans grandparents challenge police account of shooting Ammons said he worried the Iwanskis and de Janon didnt fully understand the content of the footage since they had not viewed it prior to the hearing. What is this really going to mean if the whole world sees it? he said. After changing his initial ruling preventing the family and their attorneys from publically commenting on the case, Ammons stood firm to his ruling that they could not comment on the contents of the body camera footage, The judge said he understood the case was difficult for everyone involved. There is a lot of emotion, he said. Related:Mourners gather at funeral of woman killed by Fayetteville police officer After the hearing ended, members of Johnsons family gathered outside of the courthouse to speak to the media. Tatyana Johnson, Jadas oldest sister, and Jacquaya Johnson, the slain woman's mother, said they were unhappy that other members of the family arent allowed to view the footage. They believed they should have been more involved in Wednesdays proceedings, they said. It was unfair, Jacquaya Johnson said. I should be able to see the video. In a brief news conference, de Janon said he was pleased with the results of the hearing. Video: 'Shots fired!' Doorbell camera captures moments surrounding fatal police shooting of Fayetteville woman We are happy today with the victory that the Iwanskis First Amendment rights were protected today, he said. We are very happy about this outcome. De Janon said he and the Iwanskis planned to view the footage Wednesday afternoon. Public safety reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com. Special Subscription Offers This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland Co. judge rules Jada Johnson's family can publicly comment Reuters The lawsuit comes after Cohen, once Trump's loyal "fixer," testified before a Manhattan grand jury that later indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been charged with a crime. Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, pleaded not guilty in that case on April 4. Cohen is poised to be a star witness in any eventual trial in the case, which centers around a hush money payment he made before the 2016 election to a porn star who says she slept with Trump. Jurong Bird Park closes its shutters for good on its 52nd birthday (left), as over 2,600 visitors came on the final day before the birds are relocated to the new Bird Paradise later this year. (PHOTOS: Mandai Wildlife Group) SINGAPORE On its 52nd birthday, Jurong Bird Park closed its shutters to visitors for good on Tuesday (3 January), as it prepares to relocate its avian residents to Mandai later this year. It was a bittersweet and poignant moment for the park's 130-odd staff, with some of them shedding tears as they saw the shutters slowly lowered to close the premises at about 6.55pm. While most of them will be following the 3,500 birds in moving to the new Bird Paradise in Mandai Wildlife Reserve, long-time staff members felt sadness at having to leave their unique workplace. For Zernalynne Flores, a supervisor for animal behaviours and programmes, Jurong Bird Park was the place where she met her husband while both of them were working on the bird shows. They eventually had their marriage solemnised in 2021 at the Pools Amphitheatre where they first met. "That was my favourite moment at the bird park," the 35-year-old, who had worked at the park for 11 years, told Yahoo News Singapore. "My colleagues and I had so many great memories here, working with all the birds at the show, so leaving the park makes me sad this whole day. It really sunk in for me that I'm leaving the park a few days ago, when the countdown clock at the park entrance showed that we're down to five days left." On the other hand, Roslee Mustaffa - the park's manager in facilities management - is looking forward to the eventual relocation to Mandai, even as he said goodbye to his workplace of 32 years. The 56-year-old told Yahoo News Singapore, "This park has so many memories for me, the staff here are almost my second family, and I treasure my friendships with all of them. "The good thing is that most of us will be carrying on in the new Mandai workplace, so we are looking forward to doing our best to make the new park a great place to visit." The final bird show at the Jurong Bird Park on its 52nd birthday. (PHOTO: Mandai Wildlife Group) Staff members of Jurong Bird Park cheering and thanking visitors on the park's final day of operations. (PHOTO: Mandai Wildlife Group) 2,600-odd visitors on final day of Jurong Bird Park Over 30,000 guests visited the Jurong Bird Park over its final five days, with about 2,600 of them coming on the last day. Story continues More than five decades since it first opened in 1971, the 20.2-hectare park has become Asias largest bird park with resident birds across 400 species, of which 20 per cent are threatened. Avian care research and conservation are integral to the park, with many threatened species being bred here, such as the great hornbill, black hornbill, straw-headed bulbul and Santa Cruz ground-dove. "Jurong Bird Park has ingrained itself a place in Singapores history and in the hearts of many. It is the end of a wonderful era that has been full of dear memories for staff and visitors alike," said Daisy Ling, the park's vice-president. "Even as we bid goodbye to this physical space, it is with excitement that we look to the future and the next chapter at Mandai Wildlife Reserve with the new Bird Paradise. After the park's closure to public, the animals will continue to be cared for amid preparations for the move to Bird Paradise, which is expected to open in the second quarter of the year. Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. The Kansas Supreme Court upheld the life sentence of a Kansas City, Kansas woman convicted of the 2017 murder of her estranged husband, the Leavenworth County Attorneys Office announced Wednesday. Barbara Frantz was sentenced in 2020 to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole. On Jan. 27, 2017, her estranged husband Gary Frantz was found after being shot six times in a parking lot near the Missouri River in Leavenworth. Gary Frantz was still breathing at the scene, and told officers that his wife shot him before he died. Police found shell casings in Barbara Frantzs apartment that matched ones found at the scene. She attempted to blame the murder on her 23-year-old son, but a Leavenworth jury convicted her in July 2018. Barbara Frantz appealed the decision, arguing the court wrongly limited cross examination of her son and erred when considering her request to have the case dismissed after the state presented evidence to the jury. She also said there wasnt enough evidence to find her guilty. The Kansas Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court. From review of the opinion, the Court agreed that there were not errs made by the court and Mrs. Franz was given a constitutional and sufficient opportunity to cross-examine her son, Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in a news release. Further, that there was sufficient enough evidence to prove the case. Thompson said witnesses saw Barbara Franz leaving the scene in her car and recognized her in the same car later that night. A Michigan music producer known as Kaz was shot and killed over the weekend in an alleged attack that also left another man wounded, police said. Masked men carried out the shooting at Kazs recording studio on New Years Eve, left the scene, then returned and opened fire again, police said, according to Fox 2 Detroit. Kaz, whose real name was Curshawn Terrell, died at age 40 at a Sparrow Health hospital in Lansing, Michigan, later that day, according to an online obituary. He was a prominent producer who worked with Grammy-winning rapper T.I. and Gucci Mane. Authorities havent made any arrests or released a motive but dont believe the shooting was random, Fox 2 Detroit reported. The wounded victim was also reportedly hospitalized. Kazs 51 Sessions recording studio is in Lansing Township, according to the Michigan news station WILX. He helped people create things and he worked with all types of people from A to Z and I saw that he treated people fairly, Yanice Jackson, a friend of Kaz, told WILX. Its devastating because I saw what he stood for, Jackson said. And the thing about him is just he was so consistent. Thats the way that I usually decide who Im going to roll with and who I associate myself with and let into my inner circle. The Kentucky treasurer on Tuesday released a blacklist of banks that have boycotted firms in the fossil fuel business, making them subject to divestment by state entities after 120 days. Among the financial institutions on the list are Black Rock, BNP Paribas, Citi Group, Climate First Bank, Dankse Bank, HSBC PLC, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Nordea Bank ABP, Schroders PLC, Svenska Handelsbanken AB, and Swedbank AB. The roster will be updated on at least an annual basis. The list was authorized by a state law, enacted in April, which stipulates that the treasurer, currently Allison Ball, shall prepare and maintain, and provide to each state governmental entity through publication on the Treasurers official Web site, a list of all financial companies that, to the Treasurers knowledge, have engaged in energy company boycotts. If the company does not cease engaging in the boycott within 90 days of receiving notice of its blacklist status, state entities can sell, redeem, divest, or withdraw all publicly traded securities from it, according to the legislation. Those entities include the departments in the state executive branch, state boards and commissions, and the pensions system, Ball told National Review. Before the banks were added to the list, the state scoped out their financial activities for ideologically-motivated activism, such as in climate policies. This is an outgrowth of ESG movement, she said. Isolated business decisions on the part of the banks to pull money from energy companies would not necessarily merit blacklisting, Ball said, confirming her states support for a free market approach. On the whole, however, the state uncovered blanket boycotting of the fossil fuel industry among many of the companies listed, she added. Ball, who said she hails from the coal fields of eastern Kentucky, said the industry, including oil, gas, and coal, makes up a significant percentage of the states labor market and economy. The Kentucky coal association, a union representing the states coal workers, was very involved with the legislation when it passed last year, Ball noted. Story continues It doesnt make sense to use taxpayer dollars for investment purposes, including in pensions, to help companies that actively harm workers, she said. As another penalty for companies that refuse to budge on their boycotts, the state may opt not to enter into future contracts. When companies boycott fossil fuels, they intentionally choke off the lifeblood of capital to Kentuckys signature industries. Traditional energy sources fuel our Kentucky economy, provide much needed jobs, and warm our homes. Kentucky must not allow our signature industries to be irreparably damaged based upon the ideological whims of a select few, Ball said in a press release. Kentucky is not the first state to enact anti-boycotting legislation targeting environmentally progressive companies. In July, West Virginia blacklisted five banks, and Texas followed soon after with its own list. More from National Review A second Kentucky prosecutor may face impeachment during the 2023 General Assembly this one relating to the officials involvement in a controversial pardon issued by former Gov. Matt Bevin in 2019. Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, filed a house resolution Wednesday which would create a committee to determine whether there is sufficient cause to institute impeachment proceedings against Rick Boling, the commonwealths attorney in Christian County. Nemes also filed a similar resolution on Tuesday for Ronnie Goldy, the commonwealths attorney for Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties. A state hearing officer had concluded Goldy solicited sexually explicit photos and videos from a woman after helping her in court. In the resolution concerning Boling, Nemes cites the significant and severe nature of the findings of a Kentucky Bar Association trial commission, which resulted in a recommended five-year suspension from the practice of law for Boling. Boling has been the commonwealths attorney since 2019 and is serving a six-year term. He was also previously the commonwealths attorney for one term in the early 2000s. Bolings troubles began in late 2019, when he wrote a letter on official letterhead to then-governor Bevin, requesting a pardon for Dayton Jones. Jones was convicted of second-degree sodomy and first-degree wanton endangerment for taking part in an attack on an unconscious 15-year-old boy using a sex toy, which required emergency surgery for a perforated bowel. In the letter, Boling said Jones biggest problem is that the Democratic Party controlled the prosecutor, the judge he stood before and Jones own attorney, according to the trial commission. Nemes resolution also cites the commissions finding that Boling had mishandled the prosecution of Karen Brafman, who was standing trial for attempting to burn down a trailer. The Kentucky Supreme Court overturned Brafmans conviction, citing flagrant prosecutorial misconduct. Finally, Nemes cites a case in which Boling misled a grand jury in order to obtain a manslaughter indictment, which led to the indictment being overturned. If the committee finds that the allegations warrant impeachment, they will recommend that to the full House. If the House votes to impeach, the case would be prosecuted before the Senate. A COVID-19-testing site at Tom Bradley International Terminal on Monday. Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The XBB.1.5 coronavirus variant is spreading quickly in the US it's causing 40% of cases. This "kraken" variant is more transmissible and evades the immune system better than other Omicrons. It has a new mutation called F486P that has "supercharged" the variant, one expert said. A supercharged coronavirus variant called XBB.1.5 is spreading quickly in the US and it's aggressive enough that scientists have nicknamed it the "kraken" variant. "It's probably, arguably, in terms of its immune evasiveness and its ability to attach well, more formidable than any of the other subvariants currently around," Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious-disease expert and professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Public Health, told Insider. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, XBB.1.5 is now responsible for more than 40% of all COVID-19 cases in the US a dramatic climb from where it stood just a month ago, when it accounted for less than 4% of cases. In Northeastern states, including Connecticut and Vermont, XBB.1.5 has essentially taken over: It accounts for more than 75% of new reported cases, according to the estimates. "It's doing pretty well right now," Andy Rothstein, a computational biologist, told Insider. "It's doubling week over week." Rothstein, who helps lead the CDC's airport-testing and -sequencing program for Concentric by Ginkgo, a biosecurity division of the Boston biotech company, said the XBB.1.5 variant had two things in its arsenal giving it a competitive advantage: It is more contagious and more immune-evasive than other versions of Omicron. XBB.1.5 has some new mutational tricks The kraken is an aggressive mythical sea creature. XBB.1.5's tricks are real. Mary Evans Picture Library/Wikimedia The XBB.1.5 variant is a descendant of XBB, which was a mash-up of two versions of BA.2 (what virus experts call a "recombinant variant"). Experts were worried about XBB as early as October, when it surged in Singapore, but it ended up fizzling out quickly there and scientists still aren't quite sure why. Story continues XBB.1.5 was first noticed in the Northeastern US around New York and Connecticut, and it has a few new mutational tricks up its sleeve. Specifically, it has a new mutation called F486P, which has "supercharged" the variant, Rothstein said, by allowing it to attach to ACE2 receptors in our body more easily. Practically, this could make the virus better at spreading and infecting us than the original XBB. It's unclear whether XBB.1.5 will completely take over in the US, like BA.5 did in summer, but Rothstein said there were a lot of signs suggesting the Omicron subvariant may become responsible for a large share of domestic cases in the near future. At the very least, it'll likely cocirculate for a while with other variants. We don't know whether XBB.1.5 will cause more severe illness Photo Illustration by Steve Taylor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images It's unclear whether XBB.1.5 will cause more virulent infections, which would make patients sicker than those infected with other Omicron variants, Swartzberg, the infectious-disease expert, said. "The preliminary evidence is that it doesn't appear to make us that sick it's not as bad as Delta was," he said. "It's more like the other Omicrons." COVID-19 caseloads are decreasing both overall in the US and in the Northeast, where XBB.1.5 is most prevalent. Swartzberg called that a "wonderful shock" given the holidays and all the indoor gathering that's been going on this winter. While COVID-19 hospitalization rates are up slightly, those severe cases may not be reflective of XBB.1.5 they are likely due to increases in disease spread we saw in mid-December, before the kraken variant was very prevalent. "We're almost a victim of too much science in the sense that we can track these new variants really well, but we really don't know how to interpret them very well," Swartzberg said. Vaccines still work decently against XBB.1.5 Preliminary data suggests the new bivalent COVID-19 boosters provide decent protection against XBB.1.5. "It's not ideal, but it's better than it could have been," Swartzberg said. "Pretty good protection against XBB in terms of hospitalization and death, probably not much of anything to preventing infection." For now, the infectious-disease expert's advice remains "the same as always," he said: Stay up to date on vaccinations (both flu and COVID-19), and wear a mask that fits you well, like an N95 or KN95, whenever you're indoors in a public place. "If you do those two things during the month of January and for much of February, you're going to not only protect yourself against the ravages of COVID but also the other respiratory viruses that are circulating," he said. His own plan is to keep masking up indoors in public, he said, "until the numbers of cases of COVID and other respiratory viruses dramatically drop, which I hope will be sometime in late February." Read the original article on Insider "Miss Honey is from the inside out meek, low confidence, low self-esteem. From the outside in, Izogie presents as very strong but has this deep vulnerability that she masks," says Lashana Lynch in comparing her "Matilda the Musical" and "Woman King" characters. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) It makes sense that Lashana Lynch felt like perfect casting to play Izogie, the machete-wielding bodyguard in Gina Prince-Bythewoods historical epic The Woman King. Lynchs filmography, after all, was already filled with physically demanding roles, from a pro fighter pilot in Captain Marvel to a gravity-defying superspy in No Time to Die. So the British actor was as surprised as anyone to learn what inspired Prince-Bythewood to tailor Izogie with Lynch in mind: She saw me give a speech at the 2020 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards, says Lynch. She said, I was impressed by who you are, which is wild. For a Black woman filmmaker that Id admired since the beginning of her career, that was a special moment for me. In the end, though, 2022 also became the year that exemplified Lynchs spectacular range. Stepping into the role of the wide-eyed schoolteacher Miss Honey in Matthew Warchus Matilda the Musical, Lynch shows she can also belt out a tune, go toe-to-toe with child actors and emit a kindly glow that lights up every room. Talk about transitioning from playing a sensitive, singing educator to playing a fearless Agojie warrior. I took the facts of both of them and tried to keep them in line as possible. They both care about young people. Its their honor to serve them and ensure that they make the most out of their abilities. Also, when youre reversing a feeling sometimes, if its a clean-cut reverse, then it can be pretty easy. Miss Honey is from the inside out meek, low confidence, low self-esteem. From the outside in, Izogie presents as very strong but has this deep vulnerability that she masks very well. One is on the surface cotton fleece and the other is just concealing it. Because of your previous action roles, did you assume that training for Woman King would be a breeze? Yes. And I was very quickly told I was wrong. Gina told me I was wrong. My trainer told me I was wrong. [laughs] Its nice to have had some experience in stunts and physical work and have an athletes background, but what I had to put my body through before was nothing compared to this. This was me doing my own stunts entirely. Im really competitive with myself. I wasnt going to say, Please get me a stunt double. Im not going to rise to the challenge like everyone else. We trained six days a week for four to five hours a day. Sometimes before work, sometimes after. Sometimes on Sundays. Always between takes. I nearly vomited so many times. Story continues Did you know that Izogie would be a scene-stealer? I knew that if I connected with her on this deep level that I did on set, that young girls would also. [Gina and I] were both in charge of this woman who we knew was going to be incredible. Gina was up for every single idea I threw out. Give an example. I wanted to be physically rough with Nawi [Thuso Mbedu], like an aggressive big sister whod never let you have your way. I thought itd be really fun to play. I sometimes took it too far, maybe smacked Thuso on her back too hard a couple of times. [laughs] Also I didnt want every single moment to be serious. I wanted Izogie to enjoy her life. We dont often get to see dark-skinned women on screen just having a good time. When did Woman King training start? The last two weeks of the Matilda shoot. So I was playing sweet Miss Honey until 6 p.m., then from 7 p.m. until 9:30, learning martial arts, which Id never done before. I had a really interesting conversation with Matthew Warchus. He was like, Can we not have you train too early? I just cant have a bulky Miss Honey. True or false: Warchus was unaware of your beautiful voice until after you were cast. No one knew what I sounded like. I even said to my agent, Why are they asking me to come in? I dont think hed seen my work. That didnt make sense. They were absolutely taking a risk which Im really impressed by, actually. I love that someone just has a feeling. If someone is just moving on gut and believes that I can do it, then I dont really care. He saw something in me that hadnt yet been revealed. What was revealed was Id been looking for Miss Honey for years and years. Meaning? I was deeply yearning [to play] someone who didnt have it together. Id never been given the opportunity nor do many Black women [to play a character] who struggles without it being a historical struggle. As a Black woman in this industry, Im over saving the day. Im over having to find a man to have a happy ending with. I just want to be. I love being emotional, just letting it out. I wanted something complicated. And Miss Honeys emotions are so unbelievably complicated. She gave me the opportunity to be someone figuring it out and failing at every single hurdle. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A year after COVID-19 infiltrated police departments from Key West to Tallahassee and drove on-duty deaths to previously unseen levels, there was upbeat news on the health front for law enforcement agencies. In 2022, only 10 law enforcement officers were killed at work in Florida none of them succumbing to COVID, according to a website that tracks police fatalities. Thats an enormous fall-off from the 63 on-duty statewide deaths in 2021, in which 85 percent were caused by COVID-19. The science is pretty clear. The vaccine has lowered hospitalizations and death, said University of Miami criminology professor Alex Piquero, who also serves as the U.S. governments director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics. And these are people who worked day in and day out and couldnt take time off. At the height of the pandemic they still had to respond and do their jobs. There were still tragedies. Three of the officers killed on duty in 2022 were in South Florida, all in Miami-Dade County. In one case, a state law enforcement officer was killed in a car crash. In another, a federal agent lost his life during an accidental shooting at a practice range. And Miami-Dade Police Officer Cesar Echy Echaverry was killed in August during a shootout with a suspected armed robber. Three years after the pandemic caused a worldwide panic and upended police departments around the country, the availability of vaccines and less fatal variants of the disease have allowed police departments to return to normal staffing levels. Long gone are the days when up to 40 percent of sworn officers at a large local agency were sidelined because of COVID-19 and when an entire motorcycle squad had to be quarantined because a visiting foreign dignitary tested positive. The way we do business has changed, said South Florida Police Benevolent Association President Steadman Stahl. A lot of our people have been vaccinated and were doing things differently, like avoiding contact. Some of us are even wearing masks. Hospitalizations have spiked recently, but the numbers for us are way down. Story continues By all accounts, 2021 was one of the most brutal years police departments around the nation have ever suffered. A total of 669 officers lost their lives in the line of duty with 71 percent of those deaths attributed to COVID, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. This year, the number of on-duty fatalities plummeted to 228, with only 32 percent of those deaths attributed to the disease. Several other states like California, New York and Georgia had similar line-of-duty death totals to Floridas 10. Only Texas with 33, stood out. Of those, 17 were attributed to COVID and most of those deaths occurred early in 2022. South Florida deaths Of Floridas 10 on-duty deaths, six were attributed to car crashes and the other four were caused by gunfire, two of them inadvertently, police determined. Locally, the first of the three deaths was in August, when Miami-Dade Police Officer Cesar Echy Echaverry died a few days after being shot in Liberty City. Echaverry, 29, a detective in the departments elite Robbery Intervention Detail, was one of a number of RID detectives who thought they had suspected armed-robber Jerome Willie Horton, 32, contained on a Liberty City street. After a lengthy standoff in which he refused to get out of his car, Horton took off, smashing through cop cars. Police chased. Horton eventually ditched his car after hitting a light pole a few blocks away. During the foot chase there was gunfire back and forth. Both Horton and Echaverry were hit. The officers death was the first of a RID detective in its 26-year history. Three days later another local law enforcement officer lost his life. Jose Antonio Perez, 55, died three weeks after getting into a wreck while on his way to a burglary call in Northwest Miami-Dade. The major and former Marine, was killed after colliding with Ysmael Javier Sandoval, 35, at the intersection of Northwest 127th Avenue and Seventh Terrace. Sandoval, who police said tested positive for booze and cocaine, was charged with vehicular homicide. Finally, on Oct. 19, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Jorge Arias, 40 and a nine-year veteran, was killed by what investigators said was accidental gunfire by a fellow agent during a training session at a West Miami-Dade gun range. Both were instructors. Law enforcement sources said the agent who shot Arias and who hasnt been identified, exchanged his training weapon with his real gun during a bathroom break and forgot when the two later took part in a role-playing scenario involving close-quarter combat. NEW YORK CITY Trevor Bickford, the man from Wells, Maine, charged with attacking police officers with a machete in New York City on New Years Eve, allegedly waited until an officer was alone before the attack. Bickford, 19, whose family had previously raised concern with local police about him, was arraigned Wednesday. Bickford is charged with two counts of attempted murder, one count of attempted assault, and one count of assault, according to the complaint filed against him. If convicted, Bickford would face a mandatory life sentence in prison, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office. The court granted a request to hold Bickford without bail, according to Kay Nguyen, the press officer for the Manhattan District Attorneys Office. Is radical Islamic extremism a factor? Assistant District Attorney Lucy Nicholas told the court Bickford posed a significant flight risk, adding the defendant had specifically traveled to New York from Maine in order to begin carrying out his crimes of murder of government officials. In a criminal complaint, a detective with the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force said Bickford told her: I wanted to kill an officer in uniform. Investigators are looking into whether radical Islamic extremism inspired Bickford to carry out his attack. This photo provided by NYPD, New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell address the media during a news conference on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. A man wielding a machete attacked three police officers at the New Years Eve celebration in New York City, authorities said, striking two of them in the head 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, but expected to recover. According to the detective, Bickford said he waited until he saw an officer alone, said Allahu akbar," walked up to him and hit him over the head with the machete, which he said was a kukri a machete-like blade with South Asian origins. In Arabic, Allahu akbar means God is great. He said that after he dropped his knife after attacking (the first) officer, he wanted to grab the other officers firearm to kill them, but was unable to get the gun out of the holster, Nicholas said. Nicholas told the court Bickford had indicated that after he left New York he intended to travel and had purchased an Amtrak ticket to Miami. Report from New Year's Day:Wells, Maine, man charged with attacking officers with machete in New York City Story continues According to the DAs office, the defendant stated that all government officials were his targets because they cannot be proper Muslims as a result of the U.S. governments support for Israel. Bickford is being defended by Rosemary Vassallo-Vellucci, of the Legal Aid Society, a public defender organization. The Legal Aid Society issued a statement urging the public "to refrain from drawing hasty conclusions and to respect the privacy of our clients family. Bickford is expected to appear in court again on Friday, according to Nguyen. Trevor Bickford's family contacted police in December Bickford is accused of carrying out the attack about two hours before midnight on New Years Eve, just blocks away from Times Square, where heavy crowds of revelers were counting down to 2023. Although Bickford did not have a prior criminal record, he nonetheless had been on the radar of authorities in recent weeks. From Oklahoma City to Jan. 6:From Oklahoma City to Jan. 6: How the US government failed to stop the rise of domestic extremism A member of Bickford's family contacted the Wells Police Department last month to express her concerns about him. Wells police Capt. Gerald Congdon confirmed Tuesday the town's Police Department received the call from the family member on Dec. 10. As a result, we notified the FBI, Congdon said. Congdon declined to name the individual who contacted the department, although media reports have stated it was Bickfords mother. New York City Police stopped Bickford with a gunshot to the shoulder Bickford, who was shot by police in the shoulder during the confrontation, was arraigned virtually from his hospital bed. Three officers were injured in the attack, according to the complaint. One suffered a fractured skull, while the two others suffered lacerations. Two officers were hospitalized and are expected to recover. The violence happened just outside the high-security zone where New Year's Eve revelers are screened for weapons before gaining entry to Times Square for the countdown to the new year. Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York field office, said investigators believe Bickford acted alone. Officials in Wells, Maine, offer limited comments Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam declined to comment on the case its a New York one, she said, and not a local one but she did say there was no other immediate threat to the community. Putnam also spoke of the fellow officers who had been injured in the assault. Our thoughts and prayers are with the New York City police officers, and we wish them a speedy recovery, she said. Wells Select Board Chair John MacLeod said he did not want to speak for the town but did offer some personal thoughts. He called the attack on police a horrific act and said he was concerned for the injured officers and for Bickfords mother and siblings, especially given the media attention theyve experienced in Wells this week. Eileen McSheehy, the principal of Wells High School, where Bickford graduated in June 2022, declined to comment when asked whether additional or particular resources had been put in place this week to assist students who might have known Bickford during his school days. FBI agents were seen Sunday entering Bickfords family home on Alpine Drive in Wells. On Tuesday, No Trespassing signs were posted at both entrances of the driveway. Police dig into suspect's past Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that authorities were beginning to piece together the circumstances of Bickfords life. Bickford, once an honor roll student, seemed to spiral downward after the death of his father in 2018, according to The Times, which cited a law enforcement official who wished to remain anonymous. According to The Times, Bickford converted to Islam at some point in the past year and a half. He began praying at mosques and reading and watching videos about the religion. The Times said Bickford had become angry about the treatment of Muslims overseas. Trevor Bickford Authorities found a diary and a farewell letter that Bickford had written to his family on Saturday, according to the Times. In the diary, Bickford wrote of his brother, a United States military serviceman, saying he wore the uniform of the enemy, according to The Times. In the goodbye letter, Bickford addressed his mother, writing, I fear greatly you will not repent to Allah, and therefore I hold hope in my heart that a piece of you believes so that you may be taken out of the hellfire. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Family of New York machete attack suspect had concerns: What to know 28-year-old Bryan Kohburger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students, waived his extradition on Tuesday. A Pennsylvania judge has ordered Bryan Kohburger to be handed over to the custody of the Latah County District Attorneys Office within ten days. The Latah County Magistrate later issued a nondissemination order, or gag order, meaning Moscow Police, investigators, attorneys, or agents of prosecuting attorney or defense attorney are barred from speaking to the public or press on the case. But with that, there are still plenty of unanswered questions on the case as investigators are still looking for a murder weapon and motive for it all. Even after Kohburger is back in Idaho, defense attorney John Henry Browne says the process to trial can be a long one. Ive had trials that have lasted or had waited to go to trial for four years or more, Browne said. Browne has represented some of the highest-profile cases in history, such as Ted Bundy and Colten Harris Moore, better known as the Barefoot Bandit. Browne says hes curious about the motive of it all, given that from his experience, it seems that most mass murderers have some knowledge of the criminal justice system. But when it comes to the motive, he says it doesnt have to be proven during the trial. But having said that, juries always want to know what the motive could be, Browne said. The legal aspect isnt the only ongoing piece. CeCe Moore, a genetic genealogist with Parabon Nanolabs, says connecting Kohburger to this crime took time. And so, instead of just working with a handful of genetic markers like they do for law enforcement traditionally, we are looking at almost one million genetic markers all across the genome, Moore said. Despite that connection, she says DNA evidence only points to leads, not outcomes in court. She believes genetic investigators work is far from over. They dont want to base it on just one DNA sample. So, it makes sense that they would go back to the crime scene and make sure they have been thorough and make sure that they have collected anything that could tie him or anyone else to this crime scene, Moore said. As for the potential outcome of the trial, if Kohburger is found guilty, Browne believes prosecutors will seek capital punishment, or the death penalty, in this case. A person with life-threatening injuries was taken to a local hospital after being found unresponsive in Lexington Tuesday afternoon. Lexington police Lt. Jeremiah Davis said police were called to the 2200 block of Versailles Road at 3:01 p.m. after a report of an unresponsive subject. Police did not release information about the person who was injured or the nature of their injuries. Davis said the cause of the injuries is still under investigation. Memorial services were held Wednesday for fallen Kettering Firefighter and Paramedic Tracy Leach. Leach died on Christmas Eve from cancer she developed while on the job. She battled flames for more that two decades, which overtime can be hazardous for anyone. >> RELATED: Kettering firefighter dies of occupational cancer; memorial services to be held today News Center 7s Kayla McDermott talked to a doctor about the health risks first responders face to keep us safe. The more exposure you have, youre more prone or you know, more likely to have one of those poor outcomes, said Doctor Joseph Allen, Regional medical director for Premier Health. Constantly inhaling smoke and other chemicals increases the chances for those who go into burning homes. Those chemicals can be hazardous, Allen said. Asbestos has been linked to some things. >> NFL finalizes game time for Sundays Ravens-Bengals matchup Their risk of developing, you know, many types of cancer was far increased, he continued. Of course, becoming a firefighter does not mean you will develop cancer. It really is hard to predict what we see on an individual level anyway, Allen said. Allen says he has treated and talked to firefighters in the past and they are willing to take their chances if it means helping others, just like Leach did. Theyre very well aware of those risks. And in many of them still choose to perform the duties of their job. And just go through with it, Allen said. In lieu of flowers, the Kettering Fire Department says anyone who wants to pay their respects to Leach can do so by donating to Francis Kennels. Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Three defendants facing charges related to the U.S. Capitol attack have filed motions to limit the language used by prosecutors in their trials. Olivia Pollock of Lakeland; Joseph Hutchinson III, formerly of Lakeland and now living in Georgia; and Michael Perkins of Plant City filed requests in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to join motions previously filed by Joshua Doolin of Polk City. Hearing moved: Polk City Jan. 6 defendant's trial pushed to March Aksi charged: North Lakeland woman is third Polk County resident charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot More: Jan. 6 defendant claims permission from Trump The motions from Pollock, Hutchinson and Perkins seek to join Doolins request to prohibit prosecutors from using certain words or phrases in their trials, scheduled for March. In a motion filed in November, Doolins lawyer asked Judge Carl Nichols to prevent prosecutors from using such descriptions as rioters, breach, confrontation, anti-government extremism, insurrectionists and mob. Pollock, Hutchinson and Perkins also sought to join Doolins motion to assert a public authority defense at trial. Doolins lawyer has asserted that Doolin thought he had permission from former President Donald Trump to be at the U.S. Capitol. Pollock, Hutchinson and Perkins are represented by Elita Amato, Timothy Saviello and Nancy MacEoin, respectively. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Local Jan. 6 defendants join motion to block use of certain words HA'IL, Saudi Arabia (AP) Sebastien Loeb lost his power steering and struggled home after more than four hours to win the Dakar Rally fourth stage by 13 seconds on Wednesday. Loeb trailed French countryman Stephane Peterhansel for much of the 425-kilometer loop course around Ha'il in northwest Saudi Arabia. He went in front after about 300 kilometers but 20 kilometers from the end his power steering failed. I couldn't keep the car on the tracks, Loeb said. "We span out at one point because I couldn't turn the steering wheel. It was very difficult to finish the stage, but at the end we still have the best time, so it's better than nothing. Loeb has been beset by numerous punctures. Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah overcame one to place only seconds after Carlos Sainz in fourth. By finishing only two minutes behind Loeb, Al-Attiyah limited the gains by his chief rivals. Peterhansel was nearly 19 minutes back in third overall, Sainz was 33 minutes behind, and Loeb 1 1/2 hours. Yazeed Al Rajhi finished the stage five minutes behind Al-Attiyah and was 18 minutes back in second overall. We've made no mistakes at all and Mathieu (Baumel, co-driver) navigated well. We are quite happy, Al-Attiyah said. The motorbikes had a similar close finish, as Joan Barreda beat home Pablo Quintanilla by 16 seconds after 4 1/2 hours in the dunes. Barreda earned his 30th career stage win. Skyler Howes was third, a minute back after racking up bonus time from opening the way with race leader Daniel Sanders and Mason Klein. Overall, Howes was 3 1/2 minutes behind Sanders, followed by Kevin Benavides. Klein was pushing throughout for a second stage win until a fuel intake problem stopped him 45 kilometers from the finish for more than 10 minutes. He was happy to finish, unlike Joaquim Rodrigues of Portugal and Harith Noah of India, who both suffered falls and were flown to hospital. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports We're now in the first week of 2023, and that means different things for different people, such as taking another stab at a New Year's resolution that's been on the list forever or getting started on a plan to reach a goal before the year ends. For Louisiana residents, it also means having to verify their ages if they want to access porn online. A new state law (PDF, courtesy of Motherboard) went into effect on January 1st, requiring websites containing "a substantial portion" of "material harmful to minors" to ask users to prove that they're 18 or older. "Substantial portion," according to the new law, is more than 33.3 percent of a website's content. As Gizmodo notes, Pornhub, Youporn and Redtube have already started asking visitors to verify their age. Websites that host content that can be considered porn have to implement "reasonable age verification methods," including asking users to present a government-issued ID or a digitized form of it. Pornhub, Youporn and Redtube had chosen to ask visitors to prove their age by using their LA Wallet app, which is the state's digital wallet app for drivers licenses. A video posted on Twitter shows how Pornhub uses the app to check for a user's age. Hello from the surveillance state of Louisiana. People in Louisiana have to use their drivers license to go to pornhub. This is truly wild. Under his eye. https://t.co/uji6Jo3Tde pic.twitter.com/pVKEeVcCGw Public Defendering (@fodderyfodder) January 2, 2023 In the document detailing the law, its authors said: "Due to advances in technology, the universal availability of the internet, and limited age verification requirements, minors are exposed to pornography earlier in age. Pornography contributes to the hyper sexualization of teens and prepubescent children and may lead to low self-esteem, body image disorders, an increase in problematic sexual activity at younger ages, and increased desire among adolescents to engage in risky sexual behavior. Pornography may also impact brain development and functioning, contribute to emotional and medical illnesses, shape deviant sexual arousal, and lead to difficulty in forming or maintaining positive, intimate relationships, as well as promoting problematic or harmful sexual behaviors and addiction." Speaking to TechCrunch, Olivia Snow, sex worker and research fellow at UCLA's Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, described the need for verification to access porn as "surveillance." She also said that it can harm LGBTQ populations in extreme cases: "As homophobia and transphobia especially homophobia in the context of porn is rising, I could totally see the state zeroing in on people consuming gay porn, or lesbian porn, and either surveilling them further or criminalizing that." Critics are also raising security and privacy concerns about having to present IDs to access porn online even if Pornhub promises that one's "proof of age does not allow anyone to trace [their] online activity." Update: Louisville Metro Police charged Matthew Paul Thompson, 35, in August 2020 with complicity to second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault causing minor injury. Thompson, of Louisville, has a pretrial conference scheduled for later in January 2023 and a trial currently set to begin in March 2023. Dewitt Laron Thomas, 37, was charged in November 2020 and charged with the same offenses as Thompson but later agreed to plead guilty to only the charge of fourth-degree assault causing minor injury. Thomas was sentenced in August 2021 to two years of conditional discharge, with a 12-month jail sentence possible if he reoffends during that time. The three victims survived, but one was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for several days and needed surgery for a head injury, according to an arrest citation. The original story from June 2020 is below. The Louisville Metro Police Department said it is seeking two suspects in connection with an assault that happened early Friday morning outside OSheas Irish Pub in the Highlands. A video that LMPD shared on Facebook shows the physical altercation happening about 3 a.m. Friday among several people standing outside of O'Shea's, 956 Baxter Ave. At the start of the roughly 45-second video, a man in a white hat punches another person into the street and then knocks down a second person who does not get up from the ground. The same suspect in the white hat, whom LMPD said may be named Matt, then punches again the first person, who falls onto the road and remains motionless. A second suspect, wearing a dark Lamar Jackson jersey, then appears to hit a third person, and the two suspects are seen kicking that person on the ground as a bar employee comes outside and attempts to break up the altercation. Several bystanders are seen watching the fight. The video does not include audio, and police did not say what may have led to the assault. The Louisville Metro Police Department said it is seeking two suspects who assaulted three people about 3 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2020, outside of O'Shea's Irish Pub, 956 Baxter Ave., in the Highlands. LMPD said one of the victims is still in the hospital in an Intensive Care Unit and is unable to communicate with us. Story continues All three victims required medical treatment, according to LMPD. An LMPD spokesman said both suspects will be charged with second-degree assault if they are apprehended. Anyone with information is asked to contact LMPDs anonymous crime tip hotline at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville police: 2 suspects charged in assault outside O'Shea's bar Back in 2021, James Wans Malignant was the little parasitic twin that could, latching onto the internet via tweets, GIFs and memes. A horror film about a tortured woman hiding an unfathomable secret, it had a midpoint shift in tone so sudden and deliciously gaudy that there was a compulsive need to tell others about it as if it were lab-grown for the social media age. Its screenwriter, Akela Cooper, is back with M3GAN, with Wan now in a producer role. The films clearly been coiffed and preened to fit the role of Malignants spiritual successor, its trailers built around clips of its star, a killer android doll, shimmying and swaying like a dancer on TikTok. Unleashed into the cinematic wastelands of early January, M3GAN was under real threat of being both overhyped and underwhelming. Studios have a dismal history of completely misunderstanding the internets desires (see: the disastrous rerelease of Morbius, which assumed that the proliferation of memes about Morbin time equated to people actually wanting to watch Morbius. They did not.) But Cooper, whos also behind the forthcoming The Nun 2, is a far smarter writer than that. M3GAN thank god delivers the goods. Under the canny, high-spirited direction of Gerard Johnstone, whose past work includes the New Zealand horror-comedy gem Housebound, its incisive, sardonic, and totally mean-spirited. A perfect mix. Maybe its not as shocking as Malignant, but it feels exactly like watching Mean Girlss queen bee Regina George if someone had given her a knife and a death wish. Gemma (Allison Williams) works for Funki, a toy company behind the popular, pricey, and Furby-adjacent Purrpetual Petz. Her grand vision is of a toy so technologically advanced that itd be impossible for any rival to replicate it the Model 3 Generative Android, or M3GAN, a robot girl whos crash-landed into the uncanny valley, dressed in the Upper East Side Princess threads of Gossip Girls Blair Waldorf. Story continues When Gemmas sister and brother-in-law unexpectedly die in a car wreck, shes landed with temporary protective custody of her niece Cady (Violet McGraw). Parenthood isnt exactly in her wheelhouse her mid-century modern home is littered with collectable toys you dont actually play with; her eyes light up with tiny mushroom clouds of frustration whenever someone forgets to use a coaster. M3GAN offers the ideal solution: she can take care of the fussy, pedestrian parts of parenthood, while Cady can help prove the toys functionality to her boss (Ronny Chieng). That is, of course, until the murders start. Cooper could happily have ended things there, with that age-old trope of machines turning against humanity. Or maybe Johnstone could have simply let M3GANs Chucky-esque quips carry the whole show. But the film, which mixes the more obvious use of a human body double with an eerily lifelike puppet, pushes its premise to the realm of the gleefully absurd. The real piece de resistance is a scene in which M3GAN, calmly stroking Cadys hair, inexplicably breaks into Sias Titanium. It turns the film into a sort of dark-sided ET, Cooper shifting Cadys increasing dependence on M3GANs friendship into a commentary on how technology comes with the perpetual threat of social disruption and isolation. Williams is a smart piece of casting here, building off the in-built distrust of her manipulative role in Get Out. She gives Gemma a few more shades of ambiguity: her concerns about Cady seem genuine, but what about her apparent willingness to exploit her nieces trauma? M3GAN, god bless her, would never do something that treacherous. And thats, inevitably, the most devilish trick of this film you end up rooting for the killer doll. Dir: Gerard Johnstone. Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps. 15, 102 minutes. M3GAN is in cinemas from 13 January Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Pastor Greg Locke has burned Harry Potter books and condemned yoga mats as the devil. He has called the pandemic a scam, dismissed masks as useless, and declared COVID vaccine a menace. He has said that autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder are indications of demonic oppression. He also says Donald Trump won the 2020 election and President Biden has pedophile tunnels running under the White House and Hillary Clinton is the high priestess of a Satanic church. He has decreed that Democrats are not welcome in the big circus tent that serves as his Global Vision Bible Church just outside Mount Juliet, Tennessee. He has gone beyond Trumpian rhetoric to stage an actual witch hunt., announcing to his congregation in February that a demon had whispered to him the last names of six witches that are in our church. Three of you in the room right now, he continued. Look at my eyeballs. We aint afraid of you. You stinking witch. You devil worshipin Satanist witch. We cast you out in the name of Jesus Christ. We break your spells. We break your curse. We got your first name, we got your last name. We even got an address for one of you. Pastor Greg Locke, preaching at the Global Vision Bible Church in March. William DeShazer/The Washington Post via Getty But it is not simply the content of Lockes pronouncements that trouble local residents such as Sarah Moore, a paralegal who is raising two teenagers just under a mile from the church. What bothers her most is the extraordinary volume of the loudspeakers Global Vision employs when 2,000 people pack into the church at least three times a week. It seems like Ive been hearing it for over a year, but it seems like the past several weeks its gotten louder, Moore told The Daily Beast. These services go on for hours. You can hear the music and then you can hear him yelling and then you can hear some more music. Moore added, You can hear it in my house with all the doors and windows closed On New Years Eve, it was going on past midnight. A number of the county commissioners in surrounding Wilson County are also concerned with the pastors decibel level. Story continues It will rattle the windows of your car if youre anywhere near this thing, County Commissioner Bobby Franklin reported during an October meeting. Its loud. Franklin added, Im five miles from the church and can hear the music I have a lot of churches in my district. Ive never had one complaint on a church in my district ever, except Ive never heard another church five miles away, either. Chief Deputy Mike Owen of the Wilson County Sheriffs office gave the commission a breakdown on the noise complaints his department received countywide in September. We had 41 noise complaints, he said Sounds like a lot. But 22 were from a church down in the west end of the county. One church. Owen did not name it, but he was clearly referring to Lockes church. He noted another, lesser source of complaints at the other end of the county. Four calls were from a cannon being fired in the north east, he said. Wilson County was otherwise largely quiet, with the 12 remaining complaints involving everything from a donkey to a motorcycle to kids playing in the street. However many complaints there may be, the county does not have an ordinance to remedy them. And it seemed to Owen that the church was a noise problem with no immediate solution. When it comes to a church worshiping I dont know how you can tell someone how loud they could singor how loud they could play their music, Owen said. I think theres too much protection by the federal law I wish I knew the answer, but I dont. Owen did guarantee that the sheriff's department would without a doubt enforce any law or any ordinances passed by the commission. Commissioner Jerry McFarland noted that there had been talk of instituting a noise ordinance, but he was not sure what happened with it. I think we just need to revisit it and see is it valid to move ahead with, he said. In response to a Daily Beast request for comment, Locke messaged via Twitter on Tuesday, saying, Yes, people complain, adding, We do everything we can to minimize the sound. Were in total compliance and there is no sound ordinance that we have violated, he noted. Revival is loud. We literally meet in a tent and thousands of people are showing up. Im not going to turn them away just because people can hear us down the road. He concluded, Were just getting started and wont be bullied by people that tolerate many loud events all over the area but only want to complain about our church. Church spokesman Wayne Caparas told The Daily Beast that of the 2,000 who attended an average service, half are from outside the area. We have people driving as far as California, he said. With regards to the jangled neighbors, Caparas said, Were just having church. We certainly empathize with them, but we just hope theyll participate, he said. If theyre close enough to hear us, then theyre close enough to attend. We do empathizebut we tend to believe its more than anything just people that dont like hearing the name of Jesus shouted so loud, he added. For Moore, the situation is particularly frustrating because the church is just a few feet beyond the town line of Mount Juliet, which does have a noise ordinance. When she called the Mount Juliet police, she was told the church is outside their jurisdiction. And the Wilson County Sheriff's Office says it can do nothing. Moore told The Daily Beast that her neighbors have begun circulating a petition that already has hundreds of signatures from people across the political spectrum. And in that Locke has triggered what might be considered a minor miracle in these divided times. Theres some unity, she said of her neighbors. He brought us together. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. Malachi Love-Robinson, the 25-year-old who impersonated a doctor, is headed back to prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $10,000 from his employer while working as a salesperson for a company that connects shippers with trucking companies. Last week, love-Robinson appeared in court in Palm Beach County, Florida, and pleaded guilty to grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, WITN reports. While working for the company, Love-Robinson would have customers send payments to accounts he controlled instead of having them sent to his employer, court documents show. The 25-year-old, often used as an internet meme when people discuss fraud, gained national infamy in 2016 when he identified himself as Dr. Love and opened The New Birth New Life Medical Center. Love-Robinson was arrested after investigators determined he stole $30,000 from an older patient during house calls. He also stole an additional $20,000 from a doctor, officials said. Police caught Love-Robinson when an undercover officer posed as a patient and received prescribed treatment from him. Love-Robinson was out on bail until he was arrested again in Virginia after he tried to buy a car with a stolen credit card. The notorious scammer was released from prison in 2019 after he pleaded guilty in both cases. A Kansas City man is facing multiple felonies after allegedly injuring three people, including a police officer, and causing several crashes in a police chase across Johnson County, according to documents filed in Johnson County District Court. Donald Canzoneri, Jr., 26, was arrested after a Nov. 30 pursuit involving multiple agencies that began in Olathe. Police attempted to make contact with Canzoneri after finding a vehicle previously reported stolen parked near the 14400 block of West 135th Street, according to court documents. While officers were attempting to locate him, Canzoneri came running out of a sporting goods store and tried to enter the stolen Chevy Tahoe. During his attempted escape, Canzoneri allegedly floored the accelerator and propelled a victim into a brick wall, according to the documents. The victim was transported to an area hospital and treated. As Canzoneri drove west, prosecutors claim a woman ran out of a craft store and attempted to enter the passengers side. She yelled at the suspect to just go, and he continued to exit the parking lot. Olathe officers began to pursue Canzoneri. Just west of Quivira Road, Canzoneri crashed into the back of a vehicle, stopped, and reversed the Tahoe into a patrol vehicle. The suspect then allegedly crossed the median into the westbound lanes of 135th Street, entering Overland Park driving close to 70 miles per hour. Lenexa police officers, who were alerted to the chase, spotted the vehicle traveling west on 87th Street from I-35 and began to assist. As Canzoneri entered traffic, the Tahoe ran through an intersection and crashed into the back of a Toyota Camry. Prosecutors said the Camry was hit so hard it was pushed off the roadway and into the grass. The driver of the Camry was injured and transported to an area hospital. Despite the collision, Canzoneri allegedly continued to speed away, swerving between motorists vehicles. At one point, Canzoneri drove 50 miles per hour in an active school zone, according to prosecutors. Story continues After an officer attempted to disable the suspects vehicle, Canzoneri lost control and traveled over a median, striking three vehicles. One driver was injured and transported to an area hospital. With his vehicle disabled, Cazoneri attempted to flee on foot, dropping a backpack as he ran. Canzoneri was captured and arrested shortly after. According to court documents, Canzoneris backpack contained a calibration weight, multi-colored plastic baggies, a glass container holding a powdery substance believed to be cocaine and a baggie of presumed methamphetamine. A search of the Tahoe produced several glass pipes, THC wax, Narcan, a knife, two wigs and a bag of multiple cell phones. Canzoneri told medical personnel on scene he had swallowed narcotics at some point during the incident, prosecutors said. The suspect was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being taken to jail. Canzoneri is facing 10 charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated battery, theft, recklessly fleeing arrest and drug-related charges. His bond is set at $250,000. Seattle police arrested a man suspected of setting a fire outside a museum operations and storage building in the Georgetown neighborhood. Shortly before 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday, witnesses reported seeing a man setting bushes on fire outside the building in the 5900 block of Sixth Avenue South. He then stoked the fire with anything that would burn, witnesses told police. Officers arrived and saw there was fire damage to the building. Police spotted the suspect digging in a nearby garbage can. Police found a lighter and butane torch on the 36-year-old man, who was arrested and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of reckless burning. Seattle officers are also investigating a series of fires set in trash cans and at a nearby construction site in South Seattle overnight. Police said the fires are not related to the Georgetown incident. Shortly before midnight, Seattle fire crews and police officers were called to reports of garbage fires in the 2800 block of South Hanford Street in the Mount Baker neighborhood. Crews arrived to find three fires burning in the area. Officers detained a man as part of the investigation, but he was released at the scene. Police are continuing to gather evidence. A Gladeview man is behind bars after being accused of shooting at another man in Midtown Miami traffic Tuesday night. Michael Scott, 52, was arrested Wednesday and charged with shooting or throwing a deadly missile. Miami police responded to a Dennys located at 3600 Biscayne Boulevard after five rounds of gunshots were detected by ShotSpotter technology. The victim told police that he was driving west of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 36th St. around 9 p.m. when a man approached his window and shot at him. The victim subsequently sped off, but the suspect continued firing at his gray Toyota Corolla. Close to 1 a.m., officers found Scott at a Dennys near Biscayne Boulevard in a bulletproof vest and security badge and armed with a Glock 17 and a fully loaded 9mm magazine, according to a police report. Per Local 10s report, Scott admitted to shooting at the driver but said he was defending himself from a stalker who had hacked his phone and car radio. Scott added the driver was part of a group that stalked him and that the driver pointed a long rifle at him. Scott is being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with his bond set at $10,000. Every investor in Mandalay Resources Corporation (TSE:MND) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual investors with 36% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Institutions, on the other hand, account for 32% of the company's stockholders. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Mandalay Resources. Check out our latest analysis for Mandalay Resources What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Mandalay Resources? 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. We can see that Mandalay Resources does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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 Mandalay Resources' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. It would appear that 19% of Mandalay Resources shares are controlled by hedge funds. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Ruffer LLP with 19% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 19% and 12%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Story continues Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 60% of the company is controlled by the top 4 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Mandalay Resources While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. 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. We can report that insiders do own shares in Mandalay Resources Corporation. It has a market capitalization of just CA$265m, and insiders have CA$4.7m worth of shares, in their own names. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but we usually like to see higher insider holdings. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership With a 36% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Mandalay Resources. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Equity Ownership With a stake of 11%, private equity firms could influence the Mandalay Resources board. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Mandalay Resources , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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 Workers at Beijing crematoriums said on December 16 they are overwhelmed as China faces a surge in Covid cases that authorities warn could hit its underdeveloped rural hinterland during upcoming public holidays. NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images Overwhelmed funeral homes in China are struggling with a deluge of deaths as the country exits its zero-COVID stance. One facility is so busy that it's giving families only 5 to 10 minutes to mourn, per Bloomberg. Demand for funeral services is so high that people are queuing outside funeral homes to sell their spots. As a reopening China grapples with a tsunami of new COVID infections, its funeral parlours have become the latest industry under siege. So many people are dying in Shanghai that one funeral home handling five times more corpses than usual per day is giving families only five to 10 minutes to mourn the dead in an unelaborate manner, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Longhua Funeral Home laid out bodies out on stretchers, allowing mourners to briefly pay their respects before being ushered away, the outlet wrote. "The whole system is paralyzed right now," one Longhua employee told Bloomberg. People on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, posted videos of long lines outside the funeral home, with one user saying at least thirty people had already started queuing at 2 a.m. on December 27. Insider could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos. Demand for funeral services is so high that people started queuing outside crematoriums to sell their spots at marked up prices. At Baoxing Funeral Parlor, another funeral home in Shanghai, local police on December 29 arrested 20 scalpers who were queuing "without the need for funeral services" and death certificates, the city's public security bureau said on December 30. Even in Beijing, public services have been under enormous strain for weeks. Health authorities said on December 11 that emergency services were overwhelmed with more than 30,000 calls per day, according to Beijing Daily. Chen Zhi, chief physician at the Beijing Emergency Medical Center, pleaded with residents to only call medical hotlines if they were critically ill. "Currently, the resources for answering emergency calls and dispatching ambulances are very tight," he said, per Beijing Daily. Story continues A funeral worker put a body to a cart to be cremated at a crematorium in China's southwestern city of Chongqing on December 22, 2022. NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images COVID death toll in China remains a mystery The true number of China's deaths after its rapid reopening remains unknown. The central government only counts deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official COVID death toll, excluding patients with other pre-existing illnesses. So far, official reports from the country's National Health Commission have only acknowledged six new coronavirus deaths since December 6 when President Xi Jinping's administration announced a sudden rollback of its zero-COVID policy. The official death tally for the entire pandemic starting in 2019 stood at 5,241 fatalities on December 24, 2022 when the count was last updated. On Christmas Day, the commission announced it would no longer provide daily updates to its coronavirus figures amid a deluge of new cases. Data firms elsewhere in the world believe China's death toll could reach millions in a span of several months. UK-based health data firm Airfinity estimated that 9,000 people were dying of COVID every day in China, and predicted a total death toll of 1.7 million from the start of the reopening until April. Another analysis firm, Auckland-based Wigram Capital Advisors, warned that 1 million Chinese people would die of COVID during the winter. Meanwhile, officials at China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in internal discussions that 250 million people were infected with COVID in the first 20 days of December. The Financial Times reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. If true, those numbers contradict the government's latest official count of 348,000 infections. The expected surge in infections among China's relatively COVID-vulnerable population has the rest of the world on guard. The US and Japan have imposed coronavirus test requirements on travelers from China, while Morocco has outright banned entry for all such travelers. In response, Beijing lashed out at nations imposing travel restrictions, saying they "lack scientific basis" and calling them "excessive measures." Spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference: "We firmly reject using COVID measures for political purposes and will take corresponding measures in response to varying situations based on the principle of reciprocity." Longhua Funeral Home, Baoxing Funeral Parlor, and China's National Health Commission did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Insider (L-R) Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on October 21, 2021 in Washington, DC. Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images Marjorie Taylor Greene vented over Kevin McCarthy's ailing campaign to be elected House speaker. She accused allies of omitting her from negotiations over future committee roles. McCarthy's bid has exposed divisions between former close allies in the Republican Party. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia vented at former allies in the hard-right Republican Freedom Caucus on Tuesday, as GOP infighting over Rep. Kevin McCarthy's ailing House speaker bid intensified. In an appearance on Steve Bannon's 'War Room' podcast, Greene expressed anger over efforts by former allies to negotiate more concessions, in the form of committee roles, in exchange for backing McCarthy's candidacy. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) January 3, 2023 "Do you know why I'm upset? Because Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, and Scott Perry, the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, walked into Kevin McCarthy's office last night and made their own personal demands about what subcommittee chairmanships they want to have, and who they want on committees, and who they want taken off committees. "And guess what? The chairman of the Freedom Caucus negotiated nothing for me," she said. The battle over the House speaker position has, in recent days, turned usually adamant allies on the GOP hard right against each other. McCarthy repeatedly failed in his bid to win the 218 votes to be elected House speaker on Tuesday, marking the first time since 1923 that the House adjourned having failed to elect a speaker after the first round of voting. While Greene has backed McCarthy's bid, other prominent members of the faction, including Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, have opposed it. Greene has reportedly already secured an agreement with McCarthy that she'd return to prominent committee roles if he won, having been ousted by the then-Democratic majority in 2021 over accusations that she promoted conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric. Story continues At the same time, McCarthy offered a major concession to his opponents on Sunday, agreeing to rule changes that would make it easier for them to oust him. But it wasn't enough to secure their support on Tuesday. Ahead of the vote, Rep. Scott Perry blasted McCarthy for declining to agree to concessions on committee postings that he claimed would have been enough to secure McCarthy his 218 votes, Politico reported. Politico also reported that McCarthy's opponents don't trust him, making it unlikely they would be swayed by any further concessions. Read the original article on Business Insider (Getty Images) Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja grabbed half-centuries as Australia made the best of a rainy day one to be 147 for two at stumps in the third test against a frustrated South Africa in Sydney on Wednesday. Opener Khawaja was 54 not out and Steve Smith yet to face a ball when rain halted play midway through the final session at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match is a dead rubber after Australia sealed the series with wins in Melbourne and Brisbane, but Pat Cumminss side can book their place in the World Test Championship final with another victory. Lion-hearted paceman Anrich Nortje took both the wickets, removing opener David Warner for 10 early in the morning and Marnus Labuschagne for 79 with the last ball of the day. Labuschagnes dismissal broke a 135-run partnership with Khawaja and came as sweet relief for the Proteas, who might earlier have felt the very heavens were against them. Their captain Deal Elgar lost the toss for the third time in the series, with Cummins winning his fifth in succession to complete a perfect home summer with the coin. Labuschagne was reprieved on 70 after nicking Marco Jansen to Simon Harmer at first slip, the spinner claiming a low catch that was cancelled out by the third umpire despite replays appearing inconclusive at best. South Africa were left stewing over the decision when bad light and rain brought an early tea. Nortje helped set things to rights after a prolonged break with a fast and furious ball that cramped Labuschagne and found the outside edge on the way to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne. The speedster roared in triumph but South Africas celebrations were cut short by the rain. Nortjes first wicket fell in his lap as Warner, blood pumping after two early fours, slashed at a fuller delivery that sent a thick edge to towering all-rounder Jansen in the slips. Between Nortjes wickets, South Africa had little to crow about. (Getty Images) The pitch was largely unresponsive and Elgars bowling changes ineffective in the main. Story continues Keshav Maharaj and Harmer, who replaced fast bowler Lungi Ngidi to offer a second spinning option, found some turn before lunch but were smashed out of the attack after the break as Labuschagne hit out. Kagiso Rabadas underwhelming series continued, the pace spearhead conceding 45 runs from his 12 overs. Both teams sprung selection surprises, with Australia picking Matt Renshaw to replace injured all-rounder Cameron Green at number six, while dropping paceman Scott Boland in favour of fit-again Josh Hazlewood. Renshaw, back in the side for the first time in nearly five years, tested positive for Covid-19 before play but was isolated from the team and will play out the test. Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar was picked for his first test since 2017. South Africa went with wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen to replace Theunis de Bruyn at number three, overlooking Rassie van der Dussen. Reuters William "Rick" Singer leaves Boston Federal Court in March 2019. (Getty Images) William Rick Singer, the self-styled college admissions consultant who bribed coaches and rigged exams to slip the children of his wealthy clients into the countrys best universities, must spend three years and six months in prison for masterminding a scheme that made him millions of dollars and rocked the country's elite academic institutions. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Rya W. Zobel on Wednesday ordered Singer to pay $10 million in restitution to the federal government. The sentence for Singer, 62, brings to an end what prosecutors called the largest college admissions fraud ever uncovered by law enforcement authorities. In addition to sending dozens of wealthy, powerful parents and coaches to prison, the case laid bare profound inequalities within higher education in America. Some parents, for instance, argued their payments to Singer were no different than the donations universities regularly seek from applicants' families. Their lawyers dug into admission practices at one of Singer's preferred targets, the University of Southern California, revealing that school officials tracked how much a family stood to give when weighing whether to admit their child. While prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence, the assistance Singer gave authorities prosecuting his clients and conspirators played into the judge's decision. Rachael Rollins, the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, said that without Singer's cooperation her office might have prosecuted just 10 defendants rather than the 53 who were charged in all. "Cooperation is a powerful tool that we need to use, distasteful as it is," said Stephen Frank, one of the assistant U.S. attorneys who prosecuted Singer, noting that it was a cooperator in an unrelated securities fraud case who tipped off the authorities to a coach on Singer's payroll. "It leads us into some unexpected places." Singer developed his scam after years toiling at small-time college counseling businesses in the Sacramento area, where he developed a realistic, if jaded, view of the college admissions process, his lawyers wrote in a sentencing memo. Story continues Young people could study hard, pursue an interest in sports, the arts or other extracurriculars, and demonstrate to admissions officers at elite universities that they belonged on campus. This route was called the front door. "The back door, he told clients, could be opened with a massive donation to a universitys endowment, his lawyers wrote. But Singer cautioned that while a big check bought an edge, it did not come with what his clients wanted most: a guarantee. To that end, Singer built what he called his "side door" into Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, USC and UCLA, among other schools. Singer cultivated relationships with coaches and other athletic officials willing essentially to sell him admission spots earmarked for recruited athletes. Using staged photographs and resumes filled with nonexistent accolades, a girl whod never played soccer competitively found herself at UCLA on its nationally ranked soccer team; the daughter of actress Lori Loughlin was admitted to USC as a recruited coxswain on the basis of a posed photograph on a rowing machine; and the son of a Los Angeles businessman won a spot at USC after his father photographed him posing in water polo gear in the family pool, then paid a graphic designer to impose the boys image in a shot of an actual match. Singer charged parents six-figure sums for the service. For less money, he also arranged for their children to take standardized admission exams with proctors who were in his pocket and would either correct mistakes on the tests or simply take it for them. Singer grew and refined his scheme while also running a legitimate operation charging clients handsomely to pair their children up with his cadre of tutors who helped prepare them for the entrance exams and advise them on their personal essays. In circles of the wealthy and powerful of L.A., Silicon Valley and New York City, he earned a near mythical status as a seer who understood the opaque, no-holds-barred world of college admissions in America, where elite schools often admit fewer than 1 in 10 applicants. Singer was adept at sensing who among his clients were desperate enough to cross the line. In a call recorded by the authorities, Singer held himself out to a Massachusetts financier, John Wilson, as an expert on college admissions and estimated what Wilson would need to donate to either Harvard or Stanford to get his twin daughters in: $45 million. God, Wilson said. But for just $1.2 million, Singer said he could get them into the same schools through the side door. Jesus, Wilson said. Is there a two-for-one special? Wilson was found guilty of conspiring with Singer, but is appealing his conviction. Stanfords former sailing coach pleaded guilty to conspiring with Singer, but no evidence has emerged that Singer suborned any coaches or officials at Harvard. Confronted in a Boston hotel room by agents who had been tapping his phones and reading his emails for months, Singer agreed in 2018 to help the government obtain evidence that the clients, coaches and administrators involved in his scheme knew it was illegal. At his handlers direction, Singer called them on recorded lines, said he was being audited by the Internal Revenue Service and asked them to recount bribes that were paid, tests that were fixed and documents that were falsified. On the same day Singer pleaded guilty in 2019, prosecutors charged dozens of parents, coaches and test administrators with crimes ranging from racketeering to fraud to money laundering. Nearly all of them either ended up pleading guilty or getting convicted. Prison sentences for the parents were generally a few weeks or months. The longest term was handed to a Georgetown tennis coach, Gordon Ernst, who got 30 months in prison for taking bribes. Singer's attorneys, Candice L. Fields and A. Neil Hartzell, asked Zobel to keep Singer out of prison and punish him instead with a year of house arrest, three years of probation and 750 hours of community service. While calling Singers cooperation unprecedented in federal prosecutions within Massachusetts, Leslie A. Wright, an assistant U.S. attorney in Boston, noted in a sentencing memo that Singer admitted to thwarting the same investigators he was supposed to be helping. Singer secretly tipped off six families to the investigation, either by meeting them without a recording device or calling on an unmonitored phone, Wright wrote. He eventually confessed and pleaded guilty to a count of obstructing justice. Calling his cooperation both singularly valuable and singularly problematic, Wright asked Zobel to send Singer to prison for six years and pay $10 million in restitution to the IRS the amount he should have paid in taxes on the money he took in through the scheme. Singer funneled money from parents to coaches, officials and test administrators through a sham called the Key Worldwide Foundation, whose nonprofit status gave his deep-pocketed clients the added benefit of writing off their bribes as charity. In their sentencing papers, Singers attorneys said $27.6 million was deposited in the fake foundations accounts over seven years. Of this total, Singer doled out about $7.5 million in bribes and devoted more than $11 million to what his lawyers called investments, business development projects mostly focused on enhancing services to under-resourced students, and philanthropic gifts. The Times reported that Singer funded a dizzying array of business ventures, from an algorithm that matched applicants to their ideal college, to a concierge service aimed at Chinese students, to a life coaching service for middle-aged women. Singer has agreed to forfeit the balance of the foundations accounts, $5,148,328; his stake in an Oakland basketball gym, which the federal government sold for $100; his investment in a private equity firm, valued at $131,714; a share of a business called Virtual PhD, from which the authorities recouped $24,000; and investments in the Swansea Football Club, the Sharkys restaurant chain and other businesses, which the U.S. Marshals Service is still selling off, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. Wilsons lawyer, Michael Kendall, claimed in a letter to Zobel that Singer transferred money to his brother and stashed millions of dollars in Panama, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas. Kendall pointed to a note Singer had written in his iPhone: How do I have money when I get out? Sell house, 401 K etc Sprinter Van card etc[.] What do I do about restitution . . . ? Laura Smith, one of the FBI agents who investigated the case, wrote in an affidavit there was no evidence Singer hid money through his brother or stashed it in overseas accounts. As for the question Singer raised in his note, his lawyers say he is optimistic about finding gainful employment and asked Zobel to spare him from prison so he could work and make restitution to the IRS. For the rest of my life, Singer wrote in a letter to the judge, I have no expectation or desire to have the lifestyle I had when I was caught. After selling his home for $1.2 million and forfeiting the sum to the government, Singer now lives in a St. Petersburg, Fla., trailer park for senior citizens, spending his days exercising and teaching paddleboarding to veterans and children with autism, his lawyers wrote. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rep Matt Gaetz has twisted the knife over Kevin McCarthys failed attempts to be elected House speaker, branding the GOP leader a squatter in the speakers office. On Tuesday, Mr Gaetz sent a letter to Architect of the US Capitol Brett Blanton telling him that Mr McCarthy had moved into the speakers office at the Capitol and asking how long before he will be considered a squatter there. The Speaker of the House Office in the Capitol is currently being occupied by Kevin McCarthy, he wrote in the memo to Mr Blanton, who runs the federal agency responsible for operations at the US Capitol. After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office. He continued: What is the basis in law, House rule, or precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office? How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter? Mr Gaetz urged Mr Blanton to respond his letter promptly, saying that the GOP House leader can no longer be considered Speaker-Designate following todays balloting. Mr Gaetz shared the letter on his Twitter, writing: The Speaker of the House Office in the Capitol is currently being occupied by Kevin McCarthy. Kevin McCarthy is not the Speaker of the House. He lost 3 consecutive votes today. Im demanding answers from the Architect of the Capitol. In another tweet, he added: Id like to report a squatter. Mr McCarthys team had been spotted moving into the office of the House speaker on Monday one day before the new Congress was set to begin and the vote for the role was held. While this is standard protocol, his actions clearly rattled Mr Gaetz who has been one of the biggest players attempting to derail Mr McCarthys bid for the speaker role. The Florida congressman who has been under investigation by the Justice Department for allegedly sex trafficking a minor is part of a group of Republicans dubbed Never Kevin who have fought against his bid. Story continues The Speaker of the House Office in the Capitol is currently being occupied by Kevin McCarthy. Kevin McCarthy is not the Speaker of the House. He lost 3 consecutive votes today. Im demanding answers from the Architect of the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/AIZ8bFks6W Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 4, 2023 On Tuesday, Mr McCarthy failed to get enough votes to become House speaker in three separate roll call votes marking the first time in more than 100 years where a speaker was not elected in the opening vote. The GOP House leader needs at least 218 votes to be elected speaker, taking over from Democrat Nancy Pelosi after Republicans took control of the lower chamber in the November midterms. With Republicans only winning a slim majority in the House, he can only afford to lose votes from four GOP members. Instead, 19 Republicans refused to vote for Mr McCarthy in the first and second votes with Rep Byron Donalds joining them as the 20th in the third vote. The 20 outliers cast their votes for Rep Jim Jordan who said he does not want to be speaker. The House adjourned for the night at around 5.30pm ET on Tuesday, with voting expected to resume on Wednesday at midday. Photo: The Canadian Press A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Elon Musk is trying to slash expenses at Twitter as close to zero as possible while his personal wealth shrinks and this apparently has included falling behind on rent payments at the company's offices. Twitter owes $136,260 in overdue rent on its offices on the 30th floor of a building in downtown in San Francisco, according to a lawsuit filed by the building's landlord last week. The landlord at 650 California St., which is not Twitter's main San Francisco headquarters, served a notice to the social media company on Dec. 16 informing it that it would be in default if it didn't pay within five days. The five days elapsed without payment, according to the lawsuit. The landlord, Columbia REIT 650 California LLC, is seeking damages totaling the back rent, as well as attorney fees and other expenses. Twitter signed a seven-year lease for the offices in 2017. The monthly rent was $107,526.50 in the first full year and increase gradually to $128,397 per month in the seventh year. Twitter did not respond to a message for comment. The company no longer has a media relations department. Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October and the company is on the hook for about $1 billion a year in interest payments from the deal. Most of Musks wealth is tied to his ownership of Tesla shares, which have lost more than half of their value since he took ownership of Twitter. He has sold nearly $23 billion worth of the electric vehicle company's stock to fund the purchase since April, when he started building a position in Twitter. Hes even lost the top spot for the worlds wealthiest person, according to Forbes. Musk defended his extreme cost cutting measures last month in a late night Twitter Spaces call. This company is like, basically, youre in a plane that is headed towards the ground at high speed with the engines on fire and the controls dont work, Musk said on Dec. 21. The company's headquarters are located at another San Francisco address, 1355 Market St., where Twitter has also reportedly fallen behind on rent, according to The New York Times. In addition to not paying rent and laying off workers, Musk's Twitter is also auctioning off high-end office furniture, kitchen equipment and other relics the past, when Twitter had over 7,500 full-time workers around the world, and free lunch and other office perks were common. Some three-quarters of Twitter's employee base are expected to have left the company, either because they were laid off, fired or quit. Among the items Twitter is auctioning off are a pizza oven, 40-quart commercial kitchen floor mixer (retails for around $18,000; bidding starts at $25), high-end designer furniture such as Eames chairs from Herman Miller and Knoll Diamond chairs that retail in the thousands. Even a Twitter bird statue (bidding starts at $25) and a neon Twitter bird light display (bidding starts at $50) are up for grabs in this fire sale-style auction reminiscent of the dot-com bust of the early 2000s when failed tech startups were selling off their decadent office wares. The House voted Wednesday night to adjourn and reconvene on Thursday after GOP leader Kevin McCarthy failed in a sixth attempt for the speakership earlier in the day. Republican representative Tom Cole made a motion to adjourn, which succeeded on a razor-thin margin with 216 Republicans favoring and 214 Democrats opposing. There was much hubbub as the votes rolled in, with some members grumbling, some cheering, and others dashing across the room as the process was about to end. Republican representatives Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Andy Biggs, and Brent Crane voted not to adjourn. I think its probably best to let people work through it some more. I dont think a vote tonight does any difference. But I think a vote in the future will, McCarthy reportedly told Punchbowl News around 7:30 p.m., emerging from closed-door negotiations with detractors. McCarthy lost three votes for speaker on Tuesday night and another three on Wednesday afternoon, after which the House voted to adjourn until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. A group of 20 GOP holdouts voted for Representative Byron Donalds (R., Fla.) in all three rounds of voting on Wednesday, keeping McCarthy from reaching the 218 vote threshold needed to win the speakership. Representative Ken Buck (R., Colo.), who voted for McCarthy in the first six rounds, told reporters the California Republican needs to step aside at some point if he cannot secure enough votes and let Representative Steve Scalise (R., La.) run for the speakership. What Ive asked is that if Kevin cant get there, that he step aside and give Steve a chance to do it, he said, though he noted Scalise may not have the votes either. Buck suggested McCarthy must either cut a deal to get the votes or step aside today, or he may pull his support for the GOP leader. Representative Victoria Spartz (R., Ind.) voted present beginning in the fourth round, moving away from her support of McCarthy in the previous ballots. Story continues We have a constitutional duty to elect the Speaker of the House, but we have to deliberate further as a Republican conference until we have enough votes and stop wasting everyones time, Spartz said in explaining her vote. None of the Republican candidates have this number yet. Thats why I voted present after all votes were cast. The vote headed to a second ballot on Tuesday for the first time since 1923 after 19 Republicans voted against McCarthy in the first round. He could only afford to lose the votes of four House Republicans in order to hit the 218 vote threshold needed to win. Nineteen Republicans voted against McCarthy in the second round as well. Donalds joined the group of defectors in the third and fourth rounds of voting. The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesnt have the votes, Donalds said in a tweet explaining his decision to switch on Tuesday. I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor. 218 is the number, and currently, no one is there. Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps but these continuous votes arent working for anyone. Former Representative Justin Amash, a Republican-turned-Libertarian from Michigan, reportedly stood outside the Speakers Lobby during the vote on Wednesday and told reporters that he is willing and interested in serving as a compromise Speaker. Im here because I think this process is really uncertain where it goes. And I think I provide a good alternative to a lot of the options being discussed, he said. Nonetheless, McCarthy said Tuesday evening he does not plan to drop out of the race for speaker under any circumstances. Its not going to happen, McCarthy said, per CNN. He also said he thinks he is not that far away from securing 218 votes. Former president Donald Trump attempted to gin up support for McCarthy on Wednesday. [I]ts now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA, THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE HOUSE TWICE! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Boebert suggested Trump should tell McCarthy, sir, you do not have the votes, and its time to withdraw. Meanwhile, McCarthy previously offered several concessions on Sunday in an effort to persuade his critics. Just as the Speaker is elected by the whole body, we will restore the ability for any 5 members of the majority party to initiate a vote to remove the Speaker if so warranted, McCarthy wrote in a letter addressed to House Republicans over the weekend. He also offered to tighten up House proxy-voting procedures. Congress was never intended for Zoom, and no longer will members be able to phone it in while attending lavish international weddings or sailing on their boat. We will meet, gather and debate in person just as the founders envisioned, McCarthy said. However, a group of nine conservative Republicans wrote a letter over the weekend saying McCarthy has not done enough to win their support. Roy signed the letter, as did Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Andy Harris of Maryland and three representative-elects. McCarthy pushed back against the demands of his detractors while talking to reporters on Tuesday. For the last two months we worked together as a whole conference to develop rules that empower all members but were not empowering certain members over others, he said. Last night I was presented the only way to have 218 votes: if I provided certain members with certain positions, certain gavels to take over committees, to have certain budgets and they even came to the position where one Matt Gaetz said, I dont care if we go to plurality and we elect Hakeem Jeffries and it hurts the new frontline members not to get reelected. Well thats not about America and I will always fight to put the American people first, not a few individuals that want something for themselves, McCarthy said. So we may have a battle on the floor but the battle is for the conference and the country. More from National Review (Google) Tech giant Microsoft is stepping up its battle to take search engine market share from rival Google with plans to incorporate the artificial intelligence software behind ChatGPT into Bing. The Washington-based business plans to use the tools built by artificial intelligence research laboratory OpenAI, which created the ChatGPT service, to offer human-like answers to queries typed into its search engines rather than provide a list of websites as it does currently, and could have the functionality up and running as soon as March, according to IT news site The Information. Founded in 2015, artificial intelligence research centre OpenAI was set up by a group of billionaire tech entrepreneurs including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel and received a $1 billion investment from Microsoft in 2019. It took just five days for OpenAIs ChatGPT chatbot to hit one million sign-ups after its launch last month, as users rushed to try out the human-like chat functionality offered by the service, which is able to provide complex answers to scientific questions, write poetry and provide recipes for home-cooked meals. Bing accounted for just 9% of the global search market in 2022, according to data from Statistica well behind Googles 83% dominance over the same period. When the ChatGPT bot was asked about plans to incorporate its functionality into Bing, it said: It is difficult to say definitively whether using ChatGPT for a search engine would make it better than Google search. There are many factors that contribute to the quality and effectiveness of a search engine, including the algorithms used, the quality and relevance of the indexed content, and the user experience. While ChatGPT may be a useful tool for generating search results, it is just one piece of the puzzle. Ultimately, the superiority of a search engine will depend on the overall effectiveness of its various components and how well they work together. By Lizbeth Diaz and Jose Torres TAPACHULA/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Thousands of migrants have flocked to government offices in southern Mexico seeking asylum since the United States said it would keep restrictions used to quickly expel hundreds of thousands of migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would maintain a COVID-19 era measure for expediting expulsions of undocumented migrants to Mexico until it had had time to consider Republican arguments against its repeal, which U.S. President Joe Biden said could extend the curbs until at least June. Meanwhile, Biden administration officials told Reuters the measure known as Title 42 could soon be applied to more nationalities, including Cubans, Nicaraguans and Haitians, stirring fears of expulsions and encouraging migrants to seek asylum to safeguard freedom of movement inside Mexico, analysts and officials say. Cuban migrant German Ortiz, who is waiting to apply for asylum in the Mexican city of Tapachula near the Guatemalan border, wants to make his way quickly to the United States. "Once the new law is enforced, they'll close the road to us," said Ortiz, who arrived in Tapachula on Dec. 31. "We don't want to risk it, we must get to the border now." Mexico currently only accepts certain nationalities expelled from the United States, but is expected to soon take in more under Title 42 as Washington deals with a record 2.2 million migrants arrests at the U.S. southwest border in 2022. Title 42 was originally put in place to curb the spread of COVID, but U.S. health authorities have since said it is no longer needed for public health reasons. Immigrant advocates say the policy is inhumane and it exposes vulnerable migrants to serious risks, like kidnapping or assault, in Mexican border towns. Andres Ramirez, head of Mexico's Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), estimated that up to 5,000 migrants turned up at COMAR's Tapachula offices on Jan. 2 and 3 - among the largest groups the agency has ever seen in such a short time. Many of the migrants included Haitians and Nicaraguans. Story continues Ramirez said many migrants seek asylum to obtain documents they believe are necessary to traverse Mexico so they can then go to the U.S.-Mexico border later. Mexico has sought to contain mass movement of migrants toward the U.S. border by breaking up caravans and setting up checkpoints throughout the country. Ramirez believed the mass of recent arrivals could be migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti seeking to reach the United States before rules change. "They're trying to run," he said. 'GIVE US A CHANCE' Police in Tapachula and the National Guard erected fences around COMAR offices to block large crowds of migrants, Reuters images show. "I've been sleeping here since Jan. 1, waiting for them to help me, to give me shelter," said Mauricio Hilario, a 27-year-old Salvadoran migrant camping outside the COMAR building with dozens of other people, including small children. Nearly 400,000 migrants were detained in Mexico through November, twice as many as in 2019, official data show. Migration is expected to feature prominently on the agenda when U.S. President Joe Biden meets his Mexican and Canadian counterparts for a leaders' summit next week in Mexico City. Lorena Mena, director of Continente Movil, a think tank specializing in migration issues, said any expansion of Title 42 would likely increase risky migration because traffickers will encourage expelled migrants to keep crossing the border as they have not been officially deported. "The fact that people cross borders does not take away their rights, among them, to request asylum," she added, saying many will try again. Some migrants, such as Raquel, a 44-year-old Venezuelan who was selling boiled eggs with salt to pay for a small, shared room in Tapachula, expressed hope the summit could yield a plan that will make it easier to reach the United States. "I'd like both countries to help us and give us a chance to get in ... legally without having to risk crossing Mexico or turning ourselves in," she said. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Dave Graham and Aurora Ellis) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Brandon Miller caught an inbounds pass near midcourt with the shot clock winding down and heaved a 3-pointer. Alabamas freshman star scored 17 points, including that long 3 with less than four minutes left, and Mark Sears had 16 to lead the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide to an 84-62 victory over Mississippi on Tuesday night. The Tide (12-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) had seen its lead trimmed to 15 when Miller fired away to end any sliver of doubt about the outcome. He had to pull up at the logo, Alabama coach Nate Oats said. We had no time left on the shot clock. Id like to say we drew up the play planning on Brandon making a 45-footer. But we kind of tried to run something a little different." Alabama raced to a 21-point halftime lead, shot 9 of 20 on 3-pointers and placed five scorers in double figures. The Rebels (8-5, 0-2) finished just 2 of 24 on 3s (8.3%) in their third straight loss. Its a pretty simple game of basketball, Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis said. We got just as good shots as Alabama did. (It was) our inability to make them. Jaden Bradley added 14 points for Alabama, hitting 10 of 12 free throws and scoring 11 in the second half. Jahvon Quinerly had 11 points while Noah Clowney scored 10 to go with eight rebounds. The 6-foot-9 Miller, who just won his third SEC freshman of the week honor, wasn't too carried away by his long heave. I warm up shooting deep shots but I dont think I practice those, the SEC's leading scorer said, chuckling. I think some just fall at times. Jaemyn Brakefield led Ole Miss with 14 points. Daeshun Ruffin scored 13 but missed all seven 3-point attempts. Matthew Murrell had nine points on 4-of-13 shooting. The Rebels' leading scorer was 1 of 11 for five points against Tennessee. I thought Matt had some good looks, Davis said. Hes got to continue to do what hes doing. Hes getting a lot of extra shots (in practice). Alabama scored the final nine points of the first half for a 44-23 lead. Quinerly capped it with a 3 from the right corner off a pass from Miller, who had scored the previous two baskets on a dunk and layup. Story continues He later fired up the crowd and the team with his long shot after the Tide had seen part of a 27-point lead winnowed away. We've got to do a better job closing games with the lead, Oats said. That's a good spot to be in, though, where you've got to worry about closing games with the lead. THE TAKEAWAY Mississippi: Lost for the second consecutive game to a team ranked No. 7 in the nation, but this was a lot less competitive than the Tennessee game (63-59). ... Ole Miss made just 24 of 69 shots (35%). Alabama: Won its sixth straight against the Rebels and third in a row overall since losing to Gonzaga. Committed only seven turnovers. HANDLING PROSPERITY Alabama also started 2-0 in SEC play last season before losing three straight games. This team didn't overlook Ole Miss with Kentucky looming. We really dont look at rankings, Miller said. I think we just stay together and just play games like this to win. Rankings dont really matter to us. UP NEXT Mississippi visits Mississippi State on Saturday night. Alabama hosts Kentucky on Saturday. ___ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top2 When Missouri executed a transgender woman on Tuesday for killing her ex-girlfriend in 2003, she apologized in a last statement. Amber McLaughlin, convicted of murder in 2006 in St. Louis County, was the first openly transgender woman to die by execution in American history. She was 49. I am sorry for what I did, she said in a two sentence statement. I am a loving and caring person. The Star obtained the final statements of death row prisoners going back to the mid-1990s from the Missouri Department of Corrections. Some prisoners sorrowfully apologized to their victims relatives or asked their gods to absolve them of their sins. One thanked his lawyers for trying to prevent his night of tragedy, while others told their families they will see them on the other side. In this room I seek the humble forgiveness of those who represent Mary Taylor, Michael Roberts, who killed Taylor after a drug binge in 1994, said before he was executed in 2001. As to my loved ones, I ask forgiveness for what I put you through. As to my executioners, I forgive you. Roberts, by then 27, said he wanted to be executed for killing his neighbor, a 56-year-old grandmother in Jennings, Missouri, and that his attorneys filed appeals against his wishes, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported at the time. His lawyers said he had been abused by his father and suffered from mental illness. McLaughlins death on Tuesday marked the 94th execution in Missouri since the U.S. reinstated capital punishment in 1976. The state has since carried out the fifth highest number of executions, according to the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C. Amber McLaughlin was executed Tuesday by the state of Missouri. Since 1990, at least eight prisoners put to death in Missouri maintained they were innocent in their last breaths, according to a Star review of last statements. A ninth man said the death for which he was condemned was an accident, while another noted that an innocent person who is executed cant be brought back to life. Story continues Youre killing an innocent man and you all can kiss my ass, said Roy Roberts, who was executed in 1999 and maintained he did not murder a guard during a prison riot 16 years earlier. More recently, Walter Barton was executed in 2020 despite calls for Gov. Mike Parson to impanel a board of inquiry to examine his innocence claim, as past governors have done in other cases. Barton was tried five times from 1993 to 2006 in the killing of an elderly woman near Springfield. Missouri and its agents have killed innocent men in the past, began the final statement of another prisoner, Stephen Johns, who was executed in 2001 for the murder of a teenage gas station clerk. I guess they think it (is) just part of doing business. Other prisoners, meanwhile, have acknowledged the irreparable damage they caused before their executions. A few kept their last recorded words on earth brief. Peace, Robert Murray said as he laid on a gurney in the execution chamber, the St. Louis Dispatch reported in July 1995, and then gasped for air before more drugs were administered. In September 2000, George Baby Harris was put to death for fatally shooting a man in Jackson County during what prosecutors described as an argument over machine guns. Harris lawyer tried to convince the jury that the shooting was committed in self-defense. Somebody needs to kill my trial attorney, Harris entire final statement went, according to Missouri Department of Corrections records. In the final statements of Missouri death row prisoners, Michelle Smith, co-director of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, saw humanity and a broken justice system. A lot of the statements, she noted, talked about being remorseful, the human spirit and forgiveness. Others claimed they had inadequate representation or were wrongfully convicted. Its just endemic of the horrible state that Missouri, honestly, is, Smith said. Ralph Davis, executed in 1999, used his last moment to mouth words to his son, who was 10 when he was arrested more than a decade earlier. The son and his wife held hands and cried as they watched Davis die, according to an Associated Press reporter who was there. To my beloved children I want you to know I love you, Davis, who was convicted of killing his own wife in 1986 and denied committing the crime, said in his final statement. My body is gone but my spirit is with you. Im just going to sleep. Love you, Dad. Others imparted tidbits of advice: Try to enjoy life, its very precious, Doyle Williams said in April 1996. Keep the faith and rock on! Richard Zeitvogel said eight months later. Missouri executed two people last year. Carman Deck, 56, confessed to a 1996 double murder in De Soto. His death sentences were overturned and then reinstated three times. My hope is that one day the world will find peace and that we all will learn to be kind and loving to one another, Deck said in a written final statement published by the Associated Press. We all are a part of this journey through life, connected in every way. Please give love, show love, BE LOVE! In 2005, Kevin Johnson killed a St. Louis area police officer. His attorneys tried to stop the execution, arguing that Johnsons trial had been infected by racism. Like some other death row prisoners, the 37-year-old declined to write a last statement. But in journal entries shared with The Star, he wrote, Although my fight is over, the fight for this cause is never dying. Continue to stand up to racism. Continue to change the narrative. An 18-year-old male died Tuesday night at a Montgomery hospital after being shot in the 3800 block of Chatwood Street, according to police. Montgomery police officers and fire medics responded to the hospital at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday. Willie Grant, of Montgomery, was pronounced dead. Officials located two juveniles who had also gunshot wounds. They were in stable condition when police released a news release about the shootings Wednesday. Officers have opened a homicide investigation to determine who killed Grant. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery man, 18, dies after being shot Tuesday night Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham, left, points to pictures of fellow astronaut the late Charles "Pete" Conrad while speaking with Apollo 10 astronaut Dick Gordon, center, and Andy Conrad, the son of Charles Conrad, at the opening of the Rendezvous in Space exhibit at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Wash., July 22, 2000. Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA's Apollo program, has died. He was 90. (AP Photo/Jay Drowns, File) Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA's Apollo program, died Tuesday in Houston. He was 90. NASA confirmed Cunninghams death in a statement but did not include its cause. His family said through a spokesman, Jeff Carr, that Cunningham died in a hospital "from complications of a fall, after a full and complete life. Cunningham was one of three astronauts aboard the 1968 Apollo 7 mission, an 11-day spaceflight that beamed live television broadcasts as they orbited Earth, paving the way for the moon landing less than a year later. Cunningham, then a civilian, crewed the mission with Navy Capt. Walter M. Schirra and Donn F. Eisele, an Air Force major. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot on the space flight, which launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, Florida, on Oct. 11 and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda. NASA said Cunningham, Eisele and Schirra' flew a near perfect mission. Their spacecraft performed so well that the agency sent the next crew, Apollo 8, to orbit the moon as a prelude to the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday that Cunningham was above all an explorer whose work also laid the foundation for the agencys new Artemis moon program. The Apollo 7 astronauts also won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, during which they clowned around, held up humorous signs and educated earthlings about space flight. It was NASA's first crewed space mission since the deaths of the three Apollo 1 astronauts in a launch pad fire Jan. 27, 1967. Cunningham recalled Apollo 7 during a 2017 event at the Kennedy Space Center, saying it enabled us to overcome all the obstacles we had after the Apollo 1 fire and it became the longest, most successful test flight of any flying machine ever. Cunningham was born in Creston, Iowa, and attended high school in California before enlisting with the Navy in 1951 and serving as a Marine Corps. pilot in Korea, according to NASA. He later obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he also did doctoral studies, and worked as scientist for the Rand Corporation before joining NASA. In an interview the year before his death, Cunningham recalled growing up poor and dreaming of flying airplanes, not spacecraft. We never even knew that there were astronauts when I was growing up, Cunningham told The Spokesman-Review. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked in engineering, business and investing, and became a public speaker and radio host. He wrote a memoir about his career and time as an astronaut, The All-American Boys. He also expressed skepticism in his later years about human activity contributing to climate change, bucking the scientific consensus in writing and public talks, while acknowledging that he was not a climate scientist. Although Cunningham never crewed another space mission after Apollo 7, he remained a proponent of space exploration. He told the Spokane, Washington, paper last year, I think that humans need to continue expanding and pushing out the levels at which theyre surviving in space. Cunningham is survived by his wife Dot, his sister Cathy Cunningham, and his children Brian and Kimberly. In a statement, Cunningham's family said, "the world has lost another true hero, and we will miss him dearly. Raucous cheering in the Capitol rotunda, packed rallies, activists handing out treats and House and Senate chambers filled with lawmakers the Minnesota Legislature is back to its closest resemblance of normal since the pandemic. The 93rd Minnesota Legislature convened for its first official actions Tuesday to swear in 201 newly-elected members, roughly a third of which are first-time lawmakers, and pick leaders for the work to come. Democratic-Farmer-Labor-Party members have a narrow majority in the House, a one-seat advantage in the Senate and hold the governors office, giving them a trifecta of control over state government. Its also the most diverse Legislature in Minnesota history with more women and people of color making the states laws. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic said shes met several times with her counterpart House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Gov. Tim Walz to discuss their priorities. The state has an unprecedented $17.6 billion budget surplus to work with as lawmakers craft the next two-year state budget over the next five months. But much of that surplus roughly $12 billion is one-time money and lawmakers say they want to be cautious not to increase ongoing costs too much. I think you will hear a lot of the same themes, Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, said of Democrats priorities after the Senates first session Tuesday. We all want to build a Minnesota that has a strong economy that allows everyone to succeed and thrive. Pledges of cooperation, bipartisanship On a largely ceremonious day, members of both parties made their typical pledges of cooperation and bipartisanship. With such thin majorities, Democrats either need to hold together or win Republican support to accomplish their priorities. What we do matters, but how we do it also matters, Speaker Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said shortly after she was re-elected to her leadership post. Story continues Today is the first day to build relationships with your colleagues, to work across the aisle, said Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, the Senate minority leader. To work with each other, building Minnesota up into a greater state. Lawmakers hope to notch some early wins and there are a few issues that could draw bipartisan support, including making technical changes to conform state laws to the federal tax code. Expect quick action to codify abortion rights into state law as well as measures to better protect the states elections. Hortman also predicted lawmakers would pass a $1.1 billion infrastructure bill that leaders of both parties negotiated last year but failed to approve before the session ended. Other issues will take more time, but there is some broad agreement between Republicans and Democrats to reduce taxes, boost public schools funding, spend more to hire police and provide more support for long-term care facilities. Paid family leave, health care costs, cannabis DFLers want to go further than that with plans to implement paid family leave, cut health care costs, legalize adult-use cannabis and allow residents to get drivers licenses regardless of their immigration status. The last topic got a vote of support from Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who spoke at a packed news conference. Walz noted that many Minnesota industries are reliant on immigrants and they should be able to get licenses and insured so they can drive without fear. This is an issue of basic human dignity, Walz said. It is an acknowledgement that we are a state of immigrants and this state is so enhanced by people being here. More than anything, Tuesday was a day of firsts. Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, became the first Black lawmaker to be elected president of the Senate. The DFL Senate caucus is now majority women and includes three Black women for the first time. In the House, Speaker Hortman became the longest serving woman to hold the post. Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, became the first woman of color to lead the House Republican caucus as minority leader. We stand on the shoulders of those whove come before us, Champion said after being elected Senate president. Every one of us is called for this moment because this moment is very important. Related Articles Kaleidoscope is the most popular show on Netflix, according to the streaming services public ranking system. The experimental heist drama premiered on New Years Day and stars Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul actor Giancarlo Esposito. What makes Kaleidoscope particularly interesting is that the eight episodes of the series can be watched in any order, and each combination will give the viewer a different impression of the characters and story. In second place is the late-2022 breakout show Wednesday. The new installment in the Addams Family franchise stars Jenna Ortega as the titular teen and follows her spooky adventures at boarding school. "Kaleidoscope" on Netflix. Going down the ranking, theres Emily in Paris the campy rom-com people love to hate and hate to love. The third season dropped on Dec. 21 to mixed reviews from critics. And a number of foreign shows are trending at the moment, including the Japanese sci-fi thriller Alice in Borderlane, British spy series Treason and Korean drama The Glory. Read on for the full top 10 list, and if you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix each week, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter. Related... (Reuters) -Myanmar's military government will release 7,012 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the country's independence day, state broadcaster MRTV reported on Wednesday, as the junta chief praised some countries for maintaining support for his nation. The Southeast Asian country has faced international isolation and Western-led sanctions since the military seized power from a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi nearly two years ago. "I want to say thank you to some international and regional countries and organisations and individuals who positively cooperated with us... in the midst of all the pressure, criticisms and attacks," Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech to mark Myanmar's 75th independence day. "We are closely working with neighbouring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development," Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech at a parade in the capital Naypyitaw, complete with flag-waving civil servants, marching soldiers, tanks and a flypast by military jets. Myanmar has been in chaos since the army took power from Suu Kyi's government on Feb. 1, 2021, detaining her and other officials and responding to pro-democracy protests and dissent with brutal force, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. While street protests are now rare after bloody crackdowns, the military is involved in almost daily clashes with minority ethnic forces and insecurity has spread to swathes of the country as members of a so-called People's Defence Force have taken up arms to fight for a return to democracy. Meanwhile, Suu Kyi was recently convicted of five counts of corruption and jailed for seven more years, wrapping up a marathon of trials condemned internationally as a sham designed to keep the junta's biggest threat at bay amid widespread domestic resistance to its rule. Story continues Suu Kyi is being held in a jail in Naypyitaw in solitary confinement and the military insist she has received due process by an independent court. Authorities typically release some prisoners to mark the day when Myanmar declared independence from British rule. MRTV said the latest amnesty would not include those convicted of murder and rape, or jailed for charges related to explosives, unlawful association, weapons, drugs, natural disaster management and corruption. It was not immediately clear if any political detainees would be freed. The United States, the European Union and countries such as Britain and Canada, have imposed sanctions on Myanmar's military and individuals deemed to have helped the junta come to power. In a further rebuke, the U.N. Security Council last month adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, demanding an end to violence and for the junta to free all political detainees. Referring to international pressure, Min Aung Hlaing hit out at what he said were "disruptions from countries and organizations who want to intervene in Myanmar's internal affairs." Still, the junta has maintained some international support. The U.N. Security Council remains split over how to deal with the Myanmar crisis, with China and Russia arguing against strong action. They also abstained from last month's vote on a resolution, along with India. Thailand also hosted regional talks last month to discuss the crisis, including rare international appearances by junta ministers, even as several key members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, vocal in their criticism of the junta, did not attend. ASEAN is leading diplomatic peace efforts and Myanmar's generals have been barred from the bloc's high-profile gatherings for failing to honour promises to start talks with opponents linked to Suu Kyi's ousted government. (Reporting by Reuters StaffWriting by Ed DaviesEditing by Simon Cameron-Moore) Walter Cunningham, an astronaut who was the last surviving member of the 1968 Apollo 7 mission, died on Tuesday at 90. The Iowa-born Cunningham served in the US Navy and Marine Corps before joining NASA in 1963 and eventually taking part in the Apollo programs first crewed (and first televised) flight. NASA confirmed Cunninghams death and added that he was "instrumental to our Moon landing's program success. According to the Houston Chronicle, Cunningham died in a local hospital of complications from a fall. Apollo 7 was NASAs first spaceflight after the 1967 Apollo 1 tragedy, where a fire killed three astronauts during a rehearsal test. This led to a longer-than-usual training period, as NASA shelved human-crewed spaceflight for 21 months following Apollo 1. The crew spent many long hours studying the spacecraft's design and construction of the Apollo command and service modules (CSM) to help avoid a repeat tragedy, which could have been perilous for the astronauts and the program. Finally, the crew splashed down on Earth on October 22, 1968, after nearly 11 days in space. Apollo 7 further tested NASAs equipment and helped pave the way for Apollo 11, where the first humans walked on the moon. Left to right: Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele, Walter Cunningham, Dr. Donald E. Stullken Cunningham retired from NASA in 1971 and tried his hand at public speaking, radio hosting, offshore engineering, commercial real estate and venture capital investing. Unfortunately, he also became an outspoken climate change denier. Speaking to Forbes in 2013, Cunningham went through a laundry list of fossil-fuel industry talking points, framing modern NASA as an organization controlled by the media while claiming climate-change science was closer to demagoguery than fact. (For the record, climate change is real, and we're running out of time to avoid catastrophe.) I definitely believe that we lived in the good old days, Cunningham said in a 1999 NASA interview. We lived in the golden age of manned spaceflight. Weve been in space now for over 40 years. The first 40 years of aviation, we went from just barely flying to jet transport, you know. And now, we havent moved that far since we went into space. The days through Apollo will be remembered; therell never be another time like that again. Even when we go to Mars, it will be different. And I feel just fortunate that I was a small part of this particular time in spaceflight. [Source] NASCAR driver Kyle Larson and his wife Katelyn recently welcomed a new member to their growing family. In a tweet on Monday, Larson, 30, announced that his wife gave birth to their son, Cooper Donald Larson, on Dec. 31, 2022. Katelyn shared the same news on Instagram later that day. More from NextShark: Avani Lekhara makes history as Indias first woman to win gold at the Paralympics Welcome to the family! We are all obsessed, she wrote about their third child after Owen, 8, and Audrey, 4. Larson previously shared that the part he enjoys the most about being a father is getting up to feed his baby long after everyone else has gone to bed. More from NextShark: 'Literally so good': Team USA snowboarder hails Winter Olympics Chinese food as 'the best' I actually like the middle of the night wakeups and getting to feed your baby and spend a little quality time holding them while they are new. I like all that. Those milestones of the first few months go by really fast. They develop so fast that soaking all that in, Ive really enjoyed that with the two kids. Hopefully, this one is as easy as theyve been and not too tough. Story continues Last month, Shifting Gears reported that the Asian American NASCAR driver has been cutting back on off-season races to prepare for his sons birth and to spend time with his family. While he may not have several plans for the off-season, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion mentioned that he has an upcoming dirt late model event in New Mexico this month. Larson is also scheduled to race at the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. The annual pre-season NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 5. Excited for the return of the Clash! https://t.co/k6UfJiKNMC Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) December 15, 2022 Related stories: The granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, Ndileka Mandela, has called out the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for using his legacy to promote their newest Netflix documentary, describing it as deeply upsetting and tedious. In an interview with The Australian, social activist Ndileka Mandela admitted she admired Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for having the confidence to break away from the royal family, but criticised the couples involvement in the documentary series Live to Lead, which they say has been inspired by Nelson Mandela. I admire Harry for having the confidence to break away from an institution as iconic as the royal family, Mandela told The Australian. Grandad rebelled against an arranged marriage to find his own path in life. But it comes at a price, you have to then fund your own life, Ive made peace with people using grandads name but its still deeply upsetting and tedious every time it happens. Mandela, 57, revealed that her family has not received monetary compensation for the documentary. The writer also said that Prince Harry needed to be more authentic and follow his own story, and believed that the couple never properly met her grandfather. Harry needs to be authentic and stick to his own story, what relevance does grandads life have with his? she said. I dont believe he nor Meghan have ever properly met granddad, maybe when Harry was young at Buckingham Palace, but they are using his quotations in the documentary to draw in people and make millions without the Mandela family benefiting. I know the Nelson Mandela Foundation has supported the initiative but people have stolen grandfathers quotes for years and have used his legacy because they know his name sells Harry and Meghan are no different from them. Live to Lead, which premiered on Netflix on 31 December, profiles seven leaders who are committed to making a difference in the world, not including Nelson Mandela. However, the docuseries is said to be inspired by the South African anti-apartheid activist. Story continues In the trailer, Prince Harry says: This was inspired by Nelson Mandela who once said what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived Meghan completes the quotation, saying it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead. The series is produced by Prince Harry and Meghan in collaboration with their production company, Archewell Productions. Despite Ndileka Mandela believing that the duke has never properly met her grandfather, Prince Harry has often spoken highly of Nelson Mandela and honoured him at the United Nations on Nelson Mandela Day. During a trip to New York City last July, Harry delivered a special address at the UN in which he revealed that he has a picture of his late mother Princess Diana and Nelson Mandela hanging on his wall. Weve also come to know him through the photographs of a person who, even when confronting unimaginable cruelty and injustice, almost always had a smile on his face. For me, theres one photo in particular that stands out, Prince Harry told the assembly. On my wall, and in my heart every day, is an image of my mother and Mandela meeting in Cape Town in 1997. According to Prince Harry, the photo was given to him by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who he and Meghan met, alongside their son Archie, in 2019. Prince Harry also shared that when he first looked at the photo, straight away what jumped out was the joy on my mothers face. The playfulness, cheekiness, even. Pure delight to be in communion with another soul so committed to serving humanity, he said. Then I looked at Mandela. Here was a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, asked to heal his country from the wreckage of its past and transform it for the future. A man who had endured the very worst of humanity, vicious racism and state-sponsored brutality. A man who had lost 27 years with his children and family that he would never get back. 27 years. Yet, in that photo and so many others, he is still beaming. Still able to see the goodness in humanity. Still buoyant with a beautiful spirit that lifted everyone around him. In August 2022, Nelson Mandelas grandson, Zwelivelile Mandela, disputed Meghan Markles claim that people in South Africa rejoiced in the streets after her marriage to Prince Harry. The duchess recently toldThe Cut that a South African actor from the cast of the 2019 live-action version of The Lion King pulled her aside during the London premiere. He looked at me, and hes just like [right], Meghan recalled. I just need you to know: When you married into [the royal family], we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison. However, Zwelivelile said the joy of Black South Africans who celebrated Mandelas release in 1990 can never be compared to the celebration of someones wedding. Madibas celebration was based on overcoming 350 years of colonialism with 60 years of a brutal apartheid regime in South Africa. So it cannot be equated to as the same, he told the MailOnline. Nelson Mandelas release from jail was the culmination of nearly 350 years of struggle in which generations of our people paid with their lives. It can never be compared to the celebration of someones wedding. The Idaho killings suspect (left) and his dad can be seen in police body camera footage during a traffic stop in Indiana on December 15. Hancock County Sheriff's Department Police in Indiana released video of the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students. In the Dec. 15 footage, the man and his dad can be heard talking about a shooting in Washington. Their car was stopped by an officer with the Hancock County Sheriff's Department for tailgating. New police body camera footage shows the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students and his dad talking about a Washington shooting during a traffic stop in Indiana last month. The footage, released on Tuesday by Indiana's Hancock County Sheriff's Department, shows the first of two times in which the 28-year-old suspect was pulled over on December 15 in Indiana for allegedly tailgating in a white Hyundai Elantra sedan. "You were right up on the back end of that van. I pulled you over for tailgating," an officer can be heard telling the suspect, according to the footage, which was obtained by Insider. The suspect's father told the officer that the pair was coming from Washington State University where the suspect is a criminal justice graduate student and teacher's assistant. The suspect and his dad then proceed to tell the officer about a shooting incident that happened near the school that day and how a "SWAT team" was involved. "There was a mass shooting and everything," the father says, prompting his son to interject, saying, "We don't know if it was a mass shooting," according to the footage. Authorities in Pullman, Washington, shot and killed a man during a police standoff on December 15 and the two appeared to be talking about that incident. Additionally, during the traffic stop, the suspect's father told the officer that he and his son were headed to Pennsylvania and were "slightly punching it" because they had been driving "for hours." The officer let the pair go with a warning. "Do me a favor and don't follow too close," the officer told them. Minutes later, the suspect and his father were stopped again, this time by Indiana State Police, for allegedly tailgating a tractor-trailer. They were again let off with a warning. Story continues The suspect was arrested in his hometown of Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, last week on first-degree murder charges in connection to the November 13 stabbing deaths of four college students in the small city of Moscow, Idaho. The man lived just miles away from the rental home where victims Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were killed likely while they slept, officials have said. In his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, he told a Pennsylvania judge that he would voluntarily return to Idaho to face the murder charges. The suspect was expected to arrive in Idaho on Wednesday. An attorney who represented him at his extradition hearing previously said that the suspect believes he will be "exonerated." Read the original article on Insider Photo: The Canadian Press The University of Victoria is denying liability in a 2019 bus crash during a student field trip to Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, according to court documents. Two first-year students were killed and several others injured when a Wilsons Transportation bus carrying 45 University of Victoria students and two staff slid off the gravel road to Bamfield and went down an embankment on Sept. 13, 2019. About 20 civil lawsuits have been filed by crash survivors, seeking compensation for future care and medical treatment and lost earning capacity, among other damages. The civil notices of claim are not part of a class-action suit, though their claims for compensation are similar. UVic is among the last of the defendants to file its response to the claims, which also targeted Wilsons Transportation, bus driver Donald Middleton, Smith Transportation Limited, Western Forest Products, TFL 44 LP and TFL General Partner, the society doing business as Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, and the B.C. government via the Ministry of Transportation. Injuries cited by the claimants include mild to moderate traumatic brain injury and post-concussive symptoms, broken bones, cuts and scarring, and post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Lawyer Rajinder Sahota, who represents some of the claimants, said hes not surprised that the University of Victoria and other defendants are denying everything. The next step will include depositions sworn evidence from representatives of the defendants in what he expects to be a process that takes several years. Sahota said the legal system as its currently structured is an adversarial one that incentivizes parties to take very strong positions in legal filings. Often times its not until the 11th hour that parties will look at their responsibility realistically. But for the purposes of filings, theyre going to put it to the plaintiff to prove every aspect and so theyre going to deny, deny, deny. (Reuters) -Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co and French automaker Renault SA have agreed to restrict the use of the intellectual property they developed together in a new company established by Renault, a report by Nikkei said on Wednesday. The sharing of technology had emerged as a sticking point between Renault and Nissan as the pair negotiated an overhaul of their decades-old partnership, Reuters reported in October. The French and Japanese automakers have been in talks about the future of their alliance, including Nissan potentially investing in an electric vehicle business being spun out of Renault. At the same time, Renault and China's Geely had agreed to launch a new, equally held joint venture code-named "Horse" that would supply gasoline engines and hybrid technology to the brands they own, as well as to other automakers. Renault had told Nissan that it wanted to use patents and other IP jointly acquired with Nissan in the new venture, the report said citing sources. However, Nissan had raised concerns about the treatment of IP, including battery and powertrain technology. Nissan said it would not allow the use of joint IP for products to be offered in the United States and China to forestall competition with the new company and prevent technology leaks, the Nikkei report said. Nissan wants to ensure that key internal-combustion and hybrid technology it owns is protected in any deal Renault strikes with Geely, Reuters reported in November. Spokespersons for Nissan and Renault declined to comment. (Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Daniel Leussink in Tokyo and Gilles Guillaume in Paris; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Shirin Stallings carried these things into the woods: A razor blade. A switchblade knife. A fat bag of marijuana. A cellphone. A bottle of pills to treat high blood pressure. And the knowledge that she will die as she lived. In a cage. Unfree. She considered the knife. The blade. She reached instead for the pills. Since Shirin Stallings' release from incarceration in April, 2020, she has not had a stable place to live. Stallings stands among wild blueberry bushes in Atco on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Jailed. Stallings is 45 years old. She first attempted suicide at age 13. She was removed from her parents home in Gloucester County, in southern New Jersey, and spent 10 weeks locked inside a nearby psychiatric hospital. She spent the rest of her childhood confined to institutions. Crisis centers. Residential treatment centers. Group homes. Juvenile detention. And more psychiatric hospitals. I never got out, she said. I never went home. At 19, Stallings was arrested and charged with a series of armed robberies. She spent a year in the Gloucester County jail. Eleven and a half years at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, New Jerseys infamous prison for women. Two more stints at Edna Mahan followed, one for nearly seven years, and another for two years. Then the prisons released her. She was free, but never for long. Even when she wasnt in jail, Stallings lived mostly in de facto jails, in psychiatric hospitals and crisis centers, more places where the doors locked from the outside. I didnt have any outside time, Stallings said. I went from one institution to the next to the next. This is not a story about a person wrongfully accused. Stallings did the crimes. She surveilled the gas stations. She learned which store owners had safes stuffed with cash. She recruited young, pretty women to work inside. She ran in with a handgun. With a single-barrel sawed-off. With her fists, when she had to. I was the ringleader, she said. I recruited whatever people was needed for the job. Stallings is out of prison, for now. She is not free. She faces the fiercest prison of all: her mind. This is a cliche. It is also true. She thinks something up there in her head is broken. It breaks her mind down the middle, a perfect 50/50 split. On one side stands the smart, charming, skillful woman who remembers the name of every person she meets. This woman feels a kinship with Viktor Frankl, the psychologist and Holocaust survivor who wrote books describing life in concentration camps. Story continues On the other side lives a woman in pain. She slithers. She connives, and she robs. If you have money, this Shirin may point a Glock at your head. If no Glock is available, this Shirin may beat you with tiny tattooed fists. Recently, Stallings received a diagnosis. Multiple sclerosis. Already, movement is growing difficult. She may lose motor function. Her relationships with family and friends are scarred by violence. There is no one left to take her in. Ill be crippled. I wont have anybody to take care of me, she said. So Ill go right back to the same institutions where I lived for all those years. Life is jail. Jail is life. Inside. Outside. No freedom found. Since Shirin Stallings' release from incarceration in April, 2022, she has not had a stable place to live. Stallings in a motel room where she is staying in Atco on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The motel room is payed for by social services. Barehanded. Who likes to party? Shirin Stallings likes to party. Shake off that depressing stuff, my dudes, lets chill. It was 40 degrees and sunny as Stallings walked into the Quick Fair Food Market in Elizabeth, New Jersey, one recent afternoon. The man behind the counter spoke little. She paid him cash for a pair of BluntVille cigars. She walked the block back to her friends apartment, where she opened each cigar with a fingernail. Out came the contents. In went a mixture of tobacco and weed. She formed a cigar so fat the paper could barely seal around it. She smoked one down. Then she lit the second. Since Shirin Stallings' release from incarceration in April, 2020, she has not had a stable place to live. Stallings smokes marijuana while staying with a friend in Elizabeth on Friday, December 2, 2022. Stallings has multiple sclerosis and says that smoking marijuana helps to relieve some of the pain caused by MS. It helps with the pain from multiple sclerosis, Stallings said, plus a broken rib from a recent fistfight. And it takes my mind off negative stuff. When shes relaxed, the stories from her not-so-distant days of crime float more gently to the surface. The event stuck most firmly in her mind is her most recent robbery attempt, in February 2011. Released from prison 60 days before, now she was confined again, in a psychiatric hospital in Elizabeth. She told the hospital staff her plan: When they released her, she would buy a Glock handgun for $200. She would use the gun to steal the safe from a nearby convenience store. I told them the crime I was going to commit, Stallings said. I was thinking very basic things. Desperation. I was thinking I need money for a place to sleep. The hospital released her. She executed the plan, with one important deviation: The Glock was unavailable. She attacked a store anyway, armed only with her hands. Stallings stood 5-foot-6. She weighed 122 pounds. She fought three store workers, alone, barehanded. She was pummeled. She didnt get the cash. But she could have gotten away. The stores owner tied Stallings wrists with a shoelace. It took a couple minutes for her undo the knot. Then Stallings just sat there and waited for the police to arrive. He didnt subdue me, Stallings said. I was in the mindset that if I get caught, I'm guaranteed a bed, clothes and food." From leaving the hospital to sitting in the police station, getting booked for assault and attempted robbery, Stallings was free for eight hours. North Jersey serial killer case:The system didn't care when Robin West disappeared. Now, her murderer faces justice again. Haunted. Since Shirin Stallings' release from incarceration in April, 2020, she has not had a stable place to live. Stallings stands in the doorway of her motel room in Waterford Works on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. The motel room is payed for by social services. Stallings hasnt seen the inside of a prison since April 17, 2020. Since then shes been confined to several hospital emergency rooms and treatment centers. But its the longest shes avoided jail in more than a quarter-century. This does not imply that Stallings embraces the life of a law-abiding taxpayer. How do you know Im not doing something stupid and illegal right now? she said in December. Still, there is progress. She sleeps on the couch of a friend she met in prison. She can walk outside anytime she chooses for some fresh air and a stroll in Jefferson Park, north of downtown Elizabeth. With age and therapy, she can stand outside her mind and observe its wiring. She speaks indirectly of hard times as a child, of some difficult experiences she will not describe, of trauma so deep and inescapable it split her brain in two. She knows she needs help to address those memories, and the trauma of so much time locked inside institutions where everyone jailers and inmates views violence as a legitimate recourse. Since Shirin Stallings' release from incarceration in April, 2020, she has not had a stable place to live. Stallings' shadow on a wall of her motel room where she is staying in Atco on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The motel room is payed for by social services. I sabotage everything, bro, Stallings said. If Im going to ever have a good quality of life and appreciate the things I have in my life, I need reprogramming. I need help. She has charm. She has her crafty ways. She has multiple sclerosis. She has friends, but no one close enough to be a caretaker as she grows sicker. She gets $188 a month in food stamps, enough to buy food for a week. Will she struggle for peace? Will she release herself to the old violence, directed at herself and others? Stallings makes no promises. There is a very sweet, kind, empathetic woman inside of me. And then theres a callous, brutal sociopathic woman inside me, she said. This is all I know. This is natural to me. Christopher Maag is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. To get unlimited access to his unique perspective on New Jerseys most interesting people and experiences, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: maag@northjersey.com Twitter: @Chris_Maag This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: This NJ woman lives a life of violence. Can she ever be free? LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) KJ Adams scored the last of his 16 points on a breakaway dunk with 7 seconds remaining, and No. 3 Kansas fought off Texas Tech 75-72 on Tuesday night, ending the Red Raiders home winning streak at 29 games. Texas Tech failed to produce a shot on its final possession as Pop Isaacs lost the ball on a drive following contact in the key. The Jayhawks came up with the loose ball, setting the stage for Adams' dunk as defending national champion Kansas won its seventh consecutive game. We didnt have much left, Kansas coach Bill Self said following a second down-to-the-wire Big 12 game. If it had gone to overtime, it probably wouldnt have been a good thing for us today. We played well. Anytime you score 75 points on the road its a good thing, especially against a team that guards like Texas Tech. Dajuan Harris scored 18 points for the Jayhawks (13-1, 2-0 Big 12), who had rallied to beat Oklahoma State 69-67 on Saturday. Kansas led by a dozen points early in the second half but allowed the Red Raiders to make it close at the finish. Jalen Wilson had 14 points and Gradey Dick scored 11. Kevin Obanor scored 26 points for Texas Tech, which had not lost at home since falling to West Virginia in February of 2021. Isaacs added 18 points. There was a lot of contact, but thats a good refereeing crew, Red Raiders coach Mark Adams said of the final sequence. We hoped wed get that call, but the guys played their hearts out tonight, and they really responded in the second half. The Red Raiders (10-4, 0-2) trailed 67-57 with seven minutes left but got within 71-70 on Lamar Washingtons layup with 1:43 remaining. Texas Tech trailed 73-72 in the final minute when Isaacs' turnover set up Adams slam. Give them credit. They made shots tonight, Self said. Kansas put together a strong offensive flurry toward the end of the first half, outscoring Texas Tech 11-2 over the final four minutes and taking a 43-36 lead at intermission. Adams keyed the surge with eight points, capped by a 10-footer in the lane. Story continues The most positive things about tonight was we had a great crowd and the guys responded to the crowd, Mark Adams said. They also responded to Kansas and played well, particularly in the second half, and thats something we can build on. BIG PICTURE Kansas: Harris connected on all five of his 3-point attempts, accounting for almost half of the Jayhawks total of 11. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders outscored Kansas 12-5 in the final 3:53. UP NEXT Kansas: At West Virginia on Saturday. Texas Tech: Hosts Oklahoma on Saturday ___ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 The Brooklyn woman who stabbed her dad to death, left her sister fighting for her life and told cops she wanted them dead was held without bail, officials said Wednesday. Nikki Secondino, 22, remained in custody following an arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Tuesday. Secondino initially told cops a pair of home invaders had broken into the familys apartment above a plumbing shop on 17th Ave. near 82nd St. in Bensonhurst last Thursday, cops said. Later, she admitted to cops she had stabbed her father, Carlo Secondino, 61, and her younger sister Liana Secondino, 19. The medical examiner deemed Carlos death a homicide Wednesday, noting he was killed due to blunt impact injuries of head and sharp force injuries after he was stabbed repeatedly. Police were called about 5:50 a.m. to the apartment, where they found Liana standing outside with multiple stab wounds, according to a criminal complaint. My sister stabbed me, prosecutors said Liana told cops. Have you seen my dad? You have to get him. Cops entered the apartment, where they found Carlo dead and laid out on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood after he was repeatedly stabbed. Nikki was taken into custody and charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. As she admitted to the brutal slaying, she told cops she first bashed his head in with a hammer as her father slept on the couch before she grabbed a knife, authorities said. I grabbed my favorite German steel knife and stabbed the st out of him, she told cops. My sister came out of her bedroom and tried to stop me and then I stabbed her in the back, head and stomach. I wanted them dead, she added. If I saw the 911 caller, she would be next. Neighbors told the Daily News that tense domestic conflict was nothing new for the family, though it was not clear what led to the bloodshed. Jan. 4FRESNO, Calif. And then there were none. A little more than 24 hours after the No. 21 New Mexico Lobos were anointed college basketball's final undefeated team in the country, they ended up doing what 362 Division I programs had done before them. Fresno State scored 21 points off 16 turnovers and held the usually potent Lobos offense without a bucket over the final 4 minutes, 30 seconds to hold on for a 71-67 win in front of an announced Save Mart Center crowd of 4,868 on Tuesday night. "Once you get a number by name (as a ranked team) and when you're undefeated, we know that we're gonna get everybody's best punch," said UNM Lobo forward Josiah Allick. "And they they came out and they they hit us. We just we could never really pull away and hold (a lead). We had so many opportunities right around the rim. A lot of fast break opportunities that usually are free points for us that we just could not convert on. ... "It's something we're gonna have to work on if we're going to be serious about playing in the postseason because these last two road games we haven't showed up and played like ourselves." The Lobos drop to 14-1 overall and 2-1 in Mountain West play heading into an already sold out Saturday home game in the Pit against UNLV. They had the second-best start in program history, stopping three wins shy of matching the program record of more than a half century ago when the 1967-68 team started 17-0. Fresno State (6-8, 2-1 Mountain West), which has now beat the Lobos seven consecutive times, had four players score in double figures and shot 50.0% from the field well above their season average of 41.9%. But really the damage was done by the Bulldogs' ability to keep the Lobos, for the second straight game, from ever finding sustained rhythm on offense. "I think we left eight to 12 points on the board and on the (fast) break," said Lobos coach Richard Pitino. "We did not convert, whether it was charges, turnovers, tough shots. We've got to be better there and those advantaged situations. Mash (guard Jamal Mashburn Jr.) missed the front end of a one on one he normally makes. Story continues "So it just was It was similar to Wyoming, San Fran, St. Mary's they just made one or two better plays than we did, so give them credit." Fresno State also outscored UNM 19-2 in bench points ad the Lobos were without senior co-captain K.J. Jenkins, who hurt his ankle in Saturday's win at Wyoming. His lack of stability and scoring off the bench was glaring. Three Lobos scored in double figures, led by 22 by Jamal Mashburn Jr.'s 22, but all had a hand in crucial missed opportunities. In the final 4:30 the Lobos went without a bucket, missing their final six shots (the did hit two free throws in that time). Mashburn, an 80.0% free throw shooter, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw and two shots. Jaelen House, who had 16 points, had six turnovers, fouled out for the second straight game and missed two shots in that final stretch without a Lobo basket. The Lobos led 67-66 when Isaiah Moore (16 points, 8 rebounds) grabbed a critical offensive rebound and dunked in the go-ahead bucket with 1:30 left. As the Lobos kept missing, the Bulldogs hit three of four free throws down the stretch to ice the game. "Teams were coming at our head, you know? We had that ranked number next to our name ... It was never going to be easy," said UNM Lobo forward Morris Udeze (18 points). "It's just how you bounce back from (these) situations. "We were the last team to be undefeated, and that was really big for us. But every road game is tough in this league. It's league play. We've to look forward to next game get UNLV and play as hard as we can just keep stacking wins." While the Lobos entered the game outscoring opponents 18-11 on points off turnovers, the Bulldogs flipped that script on Tuesday, outscoring the Lobos 21-8. And to compound the problems for the Lobos, who are one of the national leaders on getting to the free throw line, they hit jut nine free throws and attempted a season low 11 five few than their previous low of 16 in a win at Saint Mary's on Nov. 30. A clunky first half for the Lobos was tied 28-28 after a pair of Udeze free throws with 3:44 remaining in the half. But over the next 3:44, the Lobos shot 1-of-5 from the floor and had four turnovers. Fresno State used an 8-0 run to open up its largest lead of the half at 36-28 with 1:50 left. But, including the last four points of the first half it was 36-32 at the break the Lobos went on a 24-9 run and led 52-45 with 11:40 remaining. They could never shake the feisty Bulldogs after that, leading to the end of their magical unbeaten start. "After 15 games, I think we've done a lot," Pitino said. "Our fan base is rejuvenated. Our players are playing hard. We're 2-1 in league. We're 14-1, so we're gonna have to learn from it. I did not think we were gonna go undefeated, and I'm just proud of the run that we had. It was amazing. And give Fresno credit." NOTES: House's two free throws with 1:10 left in the first half gave him seven points in the game and 1,000 in his college career, becoming the fourth member of his family to reach the 1,000 point milestone in college, joining his father, Eddie House (2,044 at Arizona State), grandfather Henry Bibby (1,293 at UCLA), and uncle, Mike Bibby (1,061 at Arizona). ... Senior guard K.J. Jenkins missed Tuesday's game with an ankle injury sustained in Saturday's win at Wyoming. After having scored in double figures twice in the first 10 games of the season, Jenkins had done so in each of the past four for the Lobos and has been the leading spark off the bench for UNM this season. UP NEXT: UNLV at No. 21 New Mexico, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS Sports Netowrk, 770 KKOB/96.3 FM BOX SCORE: Fresno State 71, No. 21 New Mexico 67 Emptying the Notebook: There's work to do, but Lobos owe no apologies for loss Some odds & ends after the Lobos first loss, including putting a bow on the... January 3, 2023 10:55PM The 75th annual Jacksonville Boat Show will hosted Jan. 27-29 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. This boating event is hosted by the North Florida Marine Association since 1947. According to Dick Boger, a member of the association, the boating event started with a group of local businesses that got together and created the exposition for local boat dealers. The Boat Shows early venues included the old Armory on Market Street, Jacksonville Naval Air Station, the Gator Bowl, and the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Boger remembers that the Coliseums low ceiling prevented sailboat exhibitors from including full mast extensions on their boats. When the show was relocated to the Prime Osborn Convention Center in 1990, he says, it gained additional traction and has continued to grow as a mainstay event for the Northeast Florida boating, fishing, and watersports community. Read: Whale dies after washing ashore on beach at Hanna Park, FWC says The annual boat show was only cancelled once due to Covid-19 but plans to continue their events with no interruptions. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children, and $12 for seniors, military, and first responders. Parking will be $5 per day. For more information on the boat show you can visit their website www.boatjax.com. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Feeding Northeast Florida is renovating a four-building warehouse complex in Jacksonville Read: Duval County Public Schools hosting School Showcase Saturday on January 7 [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. BRASILIA (Reuters) - Norway, the major donor to the Amazon Fund, said the initiative for backing forest protection had been re-activated now that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was back in office and vowing to halt deforestation. "Brazil's new President has signaled a clear ambition to stop deforestation by 2030," Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide said in a statement on Monday announcing revival of the fund, which is aimed at fighting removal of vegetation in the Amazon. "He has reinstated strategies to make this happen, and appointed ministers with substantial knowledge and expertise in the area," Barth Eide said. The fund still holds about 3.4 billion reais ($620 million). It has been frozen since August 2019, when former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro abolished its governing board and action plans. In 2008 in an earlier term as president, Lula set up the fund to receive international contributions to Brazil's efforts to stop deforestation. It receives payments only after deforestation is reduced; the funds are then spent on more such initiatives. Norway initially donated $1.2 billion, with Germany also contributing. Among his first decisions after taking office for a new presidential term on Sunday, Lula signed a decree reinstating the governing board of the Amazon Fund, with broad representation from civil society and other stakeholders. He also signed decrees re-establishing Brazil's strategies to reduce Amazon deforestation, the rate of which surged to a 15-year high under Bolsonaro. Furthermore, Lula revoked policies that had diluted environmental protection, including a measure that encouraged mining on protected indigenous lands. Re-establishment of the fund "is globally significant," Barth Eide said. "The Amazon Fund gives the international community a great opportunity to contribute." Britain is considering joining the fund, its environment minister, Therese Coffey, told Reuters in Brasilia on Monday. ($1 = 5.4797 reais) (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Bradley Perrett) Beyond the Scale rollout Courtesy; Alanna Hale In 2016, Julie Bowen was already exhausted from working as a pediatric nurse for 16 hours a day when her father died suddenly, leaving her to care for her elderly mother as well. The following year, her sister was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Looking after her family as well as her patients took all of her time, and her own health suffered. "I was on call 24/7," Bowen tells PEOPLE. "I slept with my phone." After her mother died and her sister was settled in a nursing home, Bowen was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Not only was she feeling grief from the losses in her family, but also drained from a new role running a pediatric ICU. "It was a trauma center, so we took care of everybody and saw a lot of unspeakable things, such as child abuse. And I internalized that and focused on my job to advocate for these kids. But those emotions have to go somewhere. So when I see kids dying, I would eat my emotions," she says. Bowen had always struggled with her weight, but during this time period she reached 330 lbs. Her doctor was concerned about her developing diabetes and hypertension. "It was a do-or-die situation and I needed to do something drastic," she says. She asked for advice from a friend who had lost 100 lbs. with Optavia: "I said, it's time. Tell me everything I need to do. I'm all in." "I also talked to her about hating my job," she says. "It was a job that I used to love, but I was feeling so miserably uncomfortable and stuck like I was never going to get out of this hole." RELATED: Leukemia Survivor Celebrates Her 170-Lb. Weight Loss by Indoor Skydiving: 'I Never Want to Stop' Beyond the Scale rollout (Photographer) Alanna Hale; (Hair/Makeup/Stylist on set) Carrie LEsperance/ZENOBIA AGENCY; (Stylist) Don Sumada RELATED: PEOPLE's Editor in Chief Wendy Naugle on Going 'Beyond the Scale' to 'Meaningful Wins' Just four days after beginning the program, she quit her job and took a lower-stress nursing role, a change that began a "huge shift" in her state of mind. Story continues Bowen, now 54, says changing her mindset to prioritize her health was integral to her success. When she had tried to lose weight previously, she always gained it back, and even a surgery in 1997 did not work. "I was still morbidly obese after gastric bypass," she says. But with this program, she found the support of a community and learned to eat in moderation. "I incorporate a system called Stop. Challenge. Choose. And anything that I want to put in my mouth, I think, 'this either gets me closer to my goal or further away.' " Now, at 160 lbs., Bowen is able to do things she never thought she could, like take a long walk on her favorite beach two hours from where she lives in Fresno, California. For more stories from 'Beyond the Scale' in this weeks PEOPLE, pick up a copy on newsstands now Beyond the Scale rollout (Photographer) Alanna Hale; (Hair/Makeup/Stylist on set) Carrie LEsperance/ZENOBIA AGENCY; (Stylist) Don Sumada When she used to make the trip, she would stay in the car, since parking could be a mile away, followed by a long set of stairs, "I was worried I couldn't get back up the stairs," she says. "Now I don't even get out of breath and I don't stop either, which is huge for me." Photo: Glacier Media Together Against Poverty Society executive director Doug King. Property owners across the province scrutinize assessments this time every year with the annual release of data at the beginning of January. Left out of that process are the many thousands of renters who can not get a foothold in the housing market and are just hoping to find or hang onto a place to rent at a reasonable rate. Thats why the Together Against Poverty Society is advocating a vacancy control system. Under its proposal, when one tenant leaves a unit, the rent would remain the same, subject only to the allowed two-per-cent annual increase. It would bar landlords from setting a new rate at what the market can bear, which is permitted now, said Doug King, TAPS executive director. Vacancy control slows the increase of property values over time, because you are no longer able to just charge as the market can bear every time, King said. It is time to change a system that allows landlords to significantly raise rates between tenants, he said. We need to start looking at regulation of the market. It is crippling our society. People will find themselves in total desperation by paying high rents to avoid being without a home, he said. We deal with so many people day in and day out, they are just panicked because if they have a good situation with a decent rate of rent, the fear of losing it is just so strong because you go backwards so quickly right now. It used to be relatively easy for families to enter the rental housing market but that is not necessarily the case anymore, he said. Competition is tough for desirable rental homes. Those who come out on top are more likely to have more money and therefore have the ability to pay more without having more people living with them, he said. In the city of Victoria alone, there are 29,765 renters compared with 19,455 owners, Statistics Canada said in 2021 census data. Tenants may pay for increases in property taxes through their rent, meaning that the tax rate can affect renters, King said. As the clock ticked down on 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have protected unmarked burials of Native American ancestors from unintentional excavation. The bill, titled the Protection of Unmarked Graves Act, passed the state legislature unanimously in June. The law would have implemented several measures to protect unmarked graves, including requiring construction be stopped on private property if human remains were encountered; creating a Native American burial-site review committee; and allowing tribes and individuals to seek injunctions against violators. Gov. Hochul vetoed the bill on Dec. 30 because it fails to balance the rights of property owners with the interests of the families of lineal descendants and other groups, she wrote in her veto memo. According to proponents of the bill who negotiated with Hochuls legal counsel daily for roughly a week leading up to her veto, Hochuls staff added an amended clause to the bill that negated its intent. We were working up until the day that she vetoed it, Tela Troge, a member of the Shinnecock Nation of Long Island and the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society, told Native News Online. We were going through the hypothetical situation: what if the development of either a residential or commercial project unearthed a mass burial site of 250 individuals what would the process be? Currently, New York is one of only four statesincluding New Jersey and Wyoming that does not have a process when burials are unearthed on private property through unintentional excavation. Unmarked grave protection legislation was drafted in Ohio, but it failed to meet the threshold for introduction in the Ohio General Assembly. The new law would have established a legal process that would include notifying a local coroner who would call the state archeologist if the remains were more than 50 years old. The law also would require establishing a link to a present-day Native American tribe and entrusting the remains to that affiliated group, as well as establishing criminal penalties for those who dont comply with the law. Story continues We were able to reason with themthat all sides involved need a process, Troge said. The police need a process; the property owner needs a process; the affiliated group needs a process because its not just about Indigenous remains. The remains of enslaved people and Revolutionary War soldiers are also at risk for unintentional disturbance. And so (Hochuls assistant counsel) David Perino was insisting that they could not pass the bill as the legislature intended because the property owner needed to have the complete discretion to remove the bodies or the remains. Whats the background? Over the last two decades, there have been several grave desecrations on Long Island. In 2003, a developer on Shelter Island, off the coast of Long Island, unearthed a mass Native burial site on his property, then built a horse barn over the site. In just the last two years, a local task force of roughly half a dozen Algonquian-speaking tribes from Long Island has reclaimed more than 150 human remains unearthed by archeologists and museums in Suffolk County Long Islands easternmost county in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Proponents of the law, including tribal members from two separate graves protection groups on Long Island Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society and Honor Our Indigenous Ancestors, Inc. have been introducing unmarked burial protection legislation since 2002. The most recent bill was introduced in 2021 by former state Sen. John Brooks (D-Nassau County). The offending clause. Unkechaug Nation Chief Harry Wallace, who lives on the Poospatuck Reservation in Mastic, Long Island, is one of the leaders involved in a decades-long effort to pass legislation to protect unmarked graves. Wallace told Native News Online he was hopeful the law would pass Hochuls desk before Dec. 31 since it was the first time it passed the legislature. In August, tribal members began requesting to meet with Gov. Hochuls team as the end of the year crept closer, and the governor still hadnt signed the graves protection bill. Wallace was among a handful of tribal members, lobbying representatives, and senators who met with Hochuls legal team for about a week through Christmas Day to work through the bill. Wallace told Native News Online that the governors proposal to amend the law negates the entire purpose of the law. We thought the bill was a strong bill until they added the offending clause that said that if the property owner thats a euphemism for developer that if nothing has been done within 60 days, he can remove the bodies himself, he said. You negate the entire process by waiting out 60 days. Nothing happens within 60 days ... they cant even get a permit within 60 days, but they can remove bodies within 60 days? Hochul wrote in her memo that, while she recognize[s] the need for a process to address the handling of unearthed human remains in a way that is respectful to lineal descendants or culturally-affiliated groups, any process addressing the handling of unearthed human remains that also involves the private property of New Yorkers must appropriately protect both interests. Governor Hochuls office did not respond to Native News Onlines request for an interview. Money talks louder than respecting human remains Gov. Hochul broke records in 2021 during her campaign for New York state governor when she raised $21.6 million in campaign donations, with the largest checks coming from the states largest real estate developers. Campaign records show that Hochuls donations included: $55,000 from Douglas Durst, who oversees a multibillion-dollar real estate empire and chairs the Real Estate Board of New York; $60,000 from the Rechler family, who owns a leading real estate company in New York; and more than $400,000 from real estate companies across New York City. Money talks louder than respecting human remains because these developers literally fund her campaign, Troge said. In addition to vetoing the Protection of Unmarked Graves Act, Hochul also vetoed another bill that would have given the Montaukett Indian Nation on Long Island state recognition, which also passed the state assembly. A third bill that would have established an office of Native American affairs never made it out of committee. Look what shes done, Wallace said. She vetoed all the legislation relative to dealing with issues that affect Indigenous communities in the state. Moving forward, Troge and Wallace say that they plan to continue to introduce legislation to protect unmarked burial sites in New York. Now, we move forward, Wallace said. We try and figure out a way to overcome an anticipated veto. But were not going to give up. About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the publication's lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York." Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com A Ranlo police officer accused of killing another man while he was off duty had been with the department for less than six months at the time of the shooting. Officer Kwaku Riley Agyapon, 34, is accused of using his service weapon to kill 33-year-old Juan Nikely Avalo at a home on Burlington Avenue at 2:15 a.m. on Jan. 1. Ranlo Police Officer Kwaku Riley Agyapon is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Juan Nikely Avalo, Police have released little detail about what exactly happened, except to say that Agyapon was involved in a "domestic dispute," and that Avalo stabbed Agyapon multiple times before Agyapon is alleged to have shot him. The home on Burlington Avenue where the shooting happened is listed in court records as Avalo's address. Agyapon was sworn in at the Ranlo Police Department on Aug. 14. Prior to his employment with Ranlo, he worked for the Gastonia Police Department from October 2019 until his employment ended on April 9, 2022. Agyapon also has worked as a corrections officer in Rowan County for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety from September 2016 until August 2017. Agyapon is charged with first-degree murder. He has no previous convictions in North Carolina, according to the Department of Public Safety. Ranlo Town Manager Jonathan Blanton said in an interview that town officials have been saddened and shocked by the killing and Agyapon's subsequent arrest. "He certainly was not acting on behalf of the town of Ranlo," he said. "We are very disappointed, surprised and disheartened at the situation. Our thoughts, prayers and hearts go out to all involved in the community." Reporter Kara Fohner can be reached at 704-869-1850 or at kfohner@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Officer charged with murder had not been with Ranlo Police long Mary Liza, was recently arrested in California and is awaiting extradition to Florida, where she faces felony murder charges for the 2002 death of her 2-year-old daughter Marselina Liza. Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office investigators revisiting the 2002 "cold case" were able to develop new leads and information and issued a warrant for Mary Liza's arrest on charges of felony murder. A woman wanted in connection to a 20-year-old homicide in Okaloosa County was arrested in September in California, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said. Mary Liza, age 37, was taken into custody in September on an Okaloosa County murder warrant for the December 2002 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Marselina Liza. Two-year-old Marselina Liza was killed in December 2002. Her mother, Mary Liza, was recently arrested in California and is awaiting extradition to Florida, where she faces felony murder charges for her daughter's death. The death had always been ruled a homicide, but the cause was changed to shaken baby syndrome, said Michele Nicholson, public information officer with the sheriffs office. Nicholson said OCSO investigators routinely revisit such cold cases and recently decided to send Lizas case back to medical examiners office for fresh look. Based on the evidence we had and new interviews, we were able to submit an arrest warrant for felony murder on the mother, said Capt. David Allen with the OCSO Criminal Investigations Division. This occurred in 2002, almost 20 years ago. She was probably very surprised when we showed up to pick her up for the death of her daughter." Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said its all about the dedication of those individuals over there in CID. Theyre already overworkednot just with the cold cases, but the current crimes that we continually receive on a daily basis," he said. "But theyre passionate about working their cold cases and, even if they cant solve anything for the moment, they still go in there and actively see if theres anything they can turn over, any crumb, any stone that they could turn over. It's not the only recent arrest in a former cold case. A re-evaluation of the 1981 murder of Bert Eldon Gross off of Interstate 10 in Crestview helped investigators establish a suspect, although that suspect died of natural causes shortly before the arrest warrant was activated. New DNA evidence presented by OCSO investigators to the State Attorneys Office in the 2007 stabbing death of Eric Durell Roberts on Okaloosa Island led to the 2021 arrest of Fort Walton Beach resident Cornelius Lee on charges of murder. The stabbing had previously been considered self-defense. Story continues Also in 2021, the OCSO arrested four men on charges of murder stemming from the 2005 shooting death of Luis Gonzalez, who was killed in what authorities think was a drug-related home invasion at Gonzalezs residence on Monahan Drive. These investigators, they put themselves in the families position as far as their passion and their commitment to the case, Aden said. Ive seen investigators crying over cases with family members because of the emotional impact and the hours, and sometimes years, that it takes to bring justice to a family. Mary Liza is currently in a California jail pending extradition to Okaloosa County. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Woman arrested in California in the 2002 death of daughter in Okaloosa A US Air Force F-22 and an F-35 over Florida in May 2020. US Air Force/1st Lt Savanah Bray Twenty years after the arrival of the first fifth-generation jet, only a few have entered service. Fifth-gen jets are still the most advanced, but countries are already working on the next generation. The scale of those programs shows that countries are betting big on their future sixth-gen aircraft. Some 20 years after their first appearance in the skies, fifth-generation fighters remain both the most advanced and rarest aircraft in service. Only four models from three countries the US's F-22 and F-35, China's J-20, and Russia's Su-57 have been officially introduced. But many other countries are determined to have their own next-generation models. At least nine countries are already developing sixth-generation aircraft, either on their own or in cooperation with other countries. Little is known about these programs, but the scale of the work being done shows that many countries expect sixth-gen jets to be a vital part of their fleets in the decades ahead. 5th and 6th generation A US Air Force F-16, a fourth-gen jet, over Alaska in July 2019. US Air Force/Staff Sgt. James Richardson Exactly what makes an aircraft "fifth-generation" or "sixth-generation" is subject to debate. Generally speaking, fifth-generation refers to aircraft that began development in the late 1990s or early 2000s, have a completely new design compared to fourth-gen jets, and emphasize low-observable, or stealth, features. Sixth-generation characteristics are less defined, as no sixth-gen aircraft exist yet. (The recently unveiled B-21 bomber is billed as the world's first sixth-gen aircraft, but little is known about its capabilities.) There is a general consensus that sixth-gen jets will have a number of new or advanced features, including a modular design that allows for seamless upgrades, comprehensive networking capability, the ability to work with drones, and, of course, stealth. Workers assemble an F-35 at Lockheed Martin's factory in Fort Worth in October 2011. REUTERS/Lockheed Martin/Randy A. Crites Producing aircraft with fifth-gen features requires advanced technological know-how, an advanced industrial base, and, most importantly, massive financial investment. Developing and procuring the F-35, for example, is estimated to have cost as much as $412 billion, which doesn't include operations and maintenance costs. Story continues Consequently, most countries are sticking with fourth-gen models, buying fifth-gen jets from a country that has already developed them, or, in the case of the F-35, contributing to the program without taking a larger role in development and manufacturing. As with fifth-gen jets, developing sixth-gen aircraft will require major investment, so many countries have teamed up to share the costs and reduce development time. NGAD and F/A-XX An illustration of a potential US military sixth-generation jet. Screenshot/US Air Force The US has two sixth-gen projects underway, one for the Air Force and one for the Navy. Both are officially referred to as Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, but the Navy's aircraft is often called the F/A-XX. The NGAD projects are top secret and little is known about them not even which contractor will build them or what they will look like. Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and Boeing are believed to be competing to build the jets, and all have released illustrations of sixth-gen aircraft. What is known is that NGAD will be more than a new fighter jet. It will be a family of systems meant to ensure US air dominance. The Air Force has acknowledged developing four technologies for the program, including variable cycle engines, new composite materials, and a new suite of sensors, including advanced radar, infrared sensors, and improved electro-optical cameras. NGAD also includes unmanned aircraft being designed to complement the sixth-gen fighter. Dubbed Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the drones will be networked to the fighter and can be assigned missions, allowing the jet to deploy them while it engages other targets using new long-range weapons like the AIM-260. The F/A-XX will have similar features, including the ability to network with unmanned systems, which fits into the Navy's goal of having 60% of its future carrier air wings be unmanned aircraft. The Air Force said in 2020 that it had built and flown a full-scale NGAD prototype, though service officials say the program is still in its design phase. The Navy is believed to be in the concept refinement phase for F/A-XX. The Air Force hopes to have NGAD in service by 2030, while the Navy hopes to have the F/A-XX in service within the same decade. FCAS/SCAF A full-scale model of the Future Combat Air System at the Paris Air Show in June 2019. ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images The Future Combat Air System is a sixth-gen jet project announced by France and Germany in 2017 and joined by Spain in 2019. FCAS also intends to develop a family of systems for air dominance, with a sixth-generation fighter known as the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) at its center. The NGF will have a new engine, new weapon systems, advanced sensors and stealth technology, and the ability to link with unmanned aircraft and connect to an air-combat cloud network. The jet is meant to replace France's Rafales and the Eurofighter Typhoons flown by Germany and Spain. There are also plans for a carrier-based variant for use on France's future aircraft carrier. With an estimated cost of about $106 billion, FCAS is one of the largest joint European weapons programs ever. FCAS is partly meant to give Europeans a European-made option for high-end stealth aircraft, especially in light of the increase in F-35 purchases by European countries. But it faces headwinds. The first NGF flight was expected in 2027, with manufacturing starting in 2030 and full introduction in 2040. But disputes between the three contractors over workload and prime contractor status kept the project from moving to its next phase for two years. The four companies appear to have resolved those issues, however. On December 16, they announced the signing of a $3.4 billion contract enabling them to proceed, with plans for initial demonstration flights by 2029. Tempest and F-X A model of the Tempest next-generation fighter at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2018. Reuters The NGF isn't the only European sixth-gen jet in the works. Tempest is an effort by the UK and Italy that began in 2015 and was officially unveiled in 2018. The jet was to be the main product of a larger British-Italian program also coincidentally called the Future Combat Air System, but the project was renamed the Global Combat Air Program on December 9, when Japan merged its own sixth-gen F-X program with the Tempest. The British Royal Air Force has said that Tempest will feature a host of advanced capabilities, including a next-generation flight-control system, the ability to operate with unmanned aircraft, advanced sensors and networking capabilities, and even a "wearable cockpit" in which pilots use virtual-reality helmets to operate the aircraft via interactive displays and controls. Tempest's designers also want the fighter to be able to carry weapons that have not yet been developed, like hypersonic missiles and directed-energy weapons. An illustration of Japan's next-generation fighter aircraft concept. Japanese Ministry of Defense Japan, which has already bought US-made F-35s, began work on the F-X in order to avoid dependence on a foreign supplier. The jet is the first that Japan has tried to build on its own in 27 years and is meant to replace its aging F-2 fighters, which are set to retire in the 2030s. Tokyo had planned to introduce the F-X into service in 2035. Plans for the F-X included fiber-optic flight controls, VR-style helmet-mounted displays, and advanced sensors and networking capabilities. Japan is also developing drones, called Combat Support Unmanned Aircraft, to be operated by the F-X pilot either as sensor-laden scouts or as armed combat drones. Prior to the merger, Tempest appeared on schedule. It is now in the concept and assessment phase, and the full development and manufacturing phase is set to begin in 2025. On July 18, the British Ministry of Defense announced that a flight demonstrator was scheduled to fly in 2027. Official introduction is planned for 2035. The specifics of the merger of the Tempest and F-X programs and their related projects is not yet clear, but combining the programs could open additional export markets to the final product. China and Russia A Chinese J-20 fighter jet. Reuters Unsurprisingly, no sixth-gen fighter programs are as secretive as China's and Russia's. In 2019, Wang Haifeng, chief designer for China's state-run Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, said that China had begun research for a next-generation fighter and that it could arrive as soon as 2035. The future jet could have drone-teaming capability, use artificial intelligence and omnidirectional sensors, and be armed with directed-energy weapons, Wang said, according to media reports. Gen. Mark Kelly, head of the US Air Force's Air Combat Command, said in September that China's sixth-gen aircraft development is "on plan" and that US and Chinese designers have similar views about sixth-gen technology. Russian Su-57 fighter jets. Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images "They see it greatly the way we see it, so an exponential reduction in signature, an exponential acceleration in processing power, and the ability to iterate in terms of open-mission systems, to be able to essentially reprogram at the speed of relevance," Kelly told reporters at the Air & Space Forces Association conference. "The differences, I think, are nuanced. They're really kind of small." Even less is known about Russia's sixth-gen program. Moscow has announced "next-generation" or "sixth-generation" projects in the past, including an unmanned fighter in 2013. Moscow also announced blueprints for a sixth-generation fighter in 2016. In January 2021, state-owned military technology conglomerate Rostec announced it was developing a next-generation replacement for the MiG-31, dubbed "PAK DP." It is often referred to as the MiG-41, but little is known about its capabilities and specifications. While China is making heavy investment in military aviation, Russia's ability to develop next-generation jets may be shrinking. Work on Russia's Su-57 fifth-gen jet was already troubled, and sanctions imposed on Moscow over its attack on Ukraine will likely disrupt its aerospace industry for years to come. Read the original article on Business Insider Editor's note: This story has been edited to include comments from Therme Canada, the developer group in charge of revitalizing Ontario Place. A proposed indoor waterpark, spa and giant parking garage that would take over a beloved and historic Toronto park is facing plenty of harsh criticism from the public, architectural experts and environmentalists. Austrian developers Therme are hoping transform Ontario Place into an enormous private attraction, along with a parking garage fit for over 2000 cars with an estimated $450-million price tag. The landmark attraction is currently used for outdoor activities, live music, festivals, events and more. Last month, the province and the development company applied to the city to redevelop the site. Alex Bozikovic, The Globe and Mails architectural critic, calls the proposal a disaster and, if constructed, describes it as the worst building in Toronto. On social media, many people are expressing their concern about the potential of losing this unique and celebrated public space. The red dots represent some of the 846 trees that will be removed from #OntarioPlace to make room for a 9-story private spa and 5-story $450M underground parking lot. premier@ontario.ca Neil.Lumsden@pc.ola.org Kinga.Surma@pc.ola.org mayor_tory@toronto.ca Canada@thermegroup.com pic.twitter.com/AvUZcKwBzU Jenny Lee Shee (@jennyleeshee) January 3, 2023 THIS just appeared near the entrance of Ontario Places West Island. Its getting getting real folks. Get ready to fight for our public space! #topoli #onpoli pic.twitter.com/hekwKc3WDM Ontario Place for All (@ONPlace4All) January 2, 2023 I love how they tried to hide the fact they're taking over the entire west Island by just colouring in half of it. It sure as hell isn't gonna be just half. All those trees, grass and walkways are gone. Vee (@pandawithav) January 3, 2023 Privatisation of prime land in downtown Toronto is an enormous ask from the citizens! Ontario govs have let Ontario Place rot for decades, just like developers allowing historic buildings to fall into disrepair so as to demolish. Or in this case, sell it off cheaply.#SaveLiberty SaveLiberty (@SaveLibertyVill) January 3, 2023 This whole TTC fare hike plus police budge hike plus private spa with three million parking spots at Ontario Place clusterfuck is so enraging and demoralizing. Happy new year, Toronto irina ceric (@irinaceric) January 4, 2023 At $450M, Doug Fords parking lot for the new Ontario Place owners will cost $163,636 per parking stall Tom Parkin (@TomPark1n) January 3, 2023 The site for the building currently looks like this. pic.twitter.com/vvcWMDBAML Alex Bozikovic (@alexbozikovic) January 2, 2023 Now up to $650 million in corporate welfare so we can pay to go to a private spa at Ontario Place! Hows that for corporate welfare! Say no to this theft of taxpayer money for a private spa! #topoli #onpoli https://t.co/v94j5z2FVu Norm Di Pasquale (@normsworld) January 2, 2023 Phil Pothen, environment program manager with environmental group Ontario Defence, calls the proposal mind boggling, saying it shows that the Ontario government wants to squander one of the provinces most celebrated places. Whats worse is that the site will also be the terminus station for the upcoming multi-billion dollar Ontario subway line, meaning that the area will be in desperate need of public spaces. This is a place where no one will ever need to drive. Its as if they've read a treatise on land use planning and on land use that was bad for the environment and decided to do the opposite of everything they read.Phil Pothen, Environment Program Manager, Ontario Defence Pothen says this is the latest in a series of unfathomable land use planning, referring to the recent move to allow development in publicly owned parts of the provinces Green Belt. These are just giveaways of goods that belong to the public, interests that the government is supposed to be husbanding in the publics interest, all for well-connected private developers, he says. Its as though theyre pirates that have seized a tanker ship and are selling everything that can be found on it to the highest bidder. In terms of its potential environmental impact, Pothen calls the project a disaster. It is vital that urban areas have public spaces everyone can enjoy, he says. The government is taking one of the most renowned and celebrated public spaces and sacrificing it for a private space. Additionally, the massive amounts of concrete and parking is going to lock in decades of serious CO2 emissions to the site. While the renderings for the proposal show various parts of public space, Pothen says they are dwarfed in scale to essentially the little rough edges of the property. A campaign called Ontario Place for All was even launched to drum up support for keeping the space as is, as well as ways people can object to the development. Therme Canada responds to criticism, joined with First Nations group to plan Ontario Place is designed to connect people with the water while celebrating the beauty of organic design and honouring architectural history of Ontario Place. The design, led by Therme ARC, Diamond Schmitt, STUDIO tla, and Baird and Associates, is grounded in the planned expansion of public space, providing improved access to expanded parkland, a beach, and the extension and enhancement of the William G. Davis Trail across the entire site. The includes providing a new link to the mainland from the West Island. It will create a year-round landmark waterfront destination reconnecting people with Lake Ontario. Mark Lawson, vice president of communications and external relations with Therme Canada stresses that the proposal for the development include 12 acres of new publicly accessible land including a new beach on the west side of the island, an aquatic habitat that will bring fish back to that side of the lake, as well as trails, lookouts and bike parking. Theyve also partnered with the charity Swim Drink Fish and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, to help with consultations. Lawson says as for the spa and waterpark facility, they will be the first of its kind in Canada. Youll have waterslides, and wave pools and chairs under palm trees, he says. If you imagine during a snowstorm where its snowing sideways, you have the chance to go in, go down a waterslide, hang out in a wave pool, grab a meal, or sit under a palm street while its snowing outside and look out at the lake, thats the kind of thing that will be possible. While the parking facility is the responsibility of the province, Lawson refers to a 2012 report on Ontario Place, which found it would benefit from enhanced transit infrastructure. Were really proud of this opportunity to bring something like this to Torontos waterfront for people across the city, across the province and around the world, he says. Maryland touts the Blueprint for Marylands Future, its all-encompassing school reform legislation chiefly enacted in 2020, as a bellwether for the rest of the country. The blueprints main architect, Marc Tucker, then head of the National Center on Education and the Economy and an expert on comparing the performance of U.S. schools to those in high-performing countries, called it revolutionary. Yet, a recent article in The 74 observed that the blueprint has barely made a splash, garnering little national attention. Thats a mistake. The blueprint should be better known and critically examined. Heres why. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The blueprint is an ambitious reform plan, unparalleled in any state, that combines school funding increases and innovative policy initiatives. Full implementation is not due until 2032, but other states should start studying it now. How will the blueprint evolve over time? Which policies will prove to work better than others? And will the whole be greater as the blueprints architects claim (I was a member of the commission that drafted it) than the sum of its parts? The policy initiatives are worthy of individual consideration. They include: Mandated pay increases for teachers, and freeing up classroom teachers to spend 40% of their time on training, planning and individual help to students. Wraparound services for families and children at schools with high concentrations of poverty. Higher career and college readiness standards to be achieved by the end of the 10 th grade and post-readiness pathways. A re-engineered system of career and technology education. Early childhood programs in addition to all-day prekindergarten for low-income 3- and 4-year olds. And, in the boldest political stroke of all, a new governing body for K-12 public schools, the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board, which essentially overrides the authority of the Maryland State Board of Education. Story continues Why is such a ground-breaking, and almost uniformly popular, bundle of policy innovations, which passed both houses of the Maryland legislature by overwhelming margins, not getting more national attention? The answer seems to be that, in the realpolitik of public education, a revolutionary plan is likely to scare off other states and school districts. Its easy for political officials and educators to see and fear the risks that the blueprint entails. For starters, no one has proof that it will succeed. It doesnt adhere to any methodology to determine adequate school funding, or rest on evidence that its policy reforms will work as intended. Rather, the center convinced the drafters of the blueprint that the policy initiatives were the pillars of the highest-performing school systems in the world, such as Singapore, Finland and Canada. The result would be a world-class system, catapulting Maryland to the top of the class among U.S. states. Nothing like it has been tried at scale in any U.S. state. The center cited Massachusetts legislation in the 1990s as an exemplar of core principles of the blueprint but conceded later that achievement gaps had not narrowed and stagnation has set in. It was also apparent that the pillars in other countries evolved over generations and were steeped in political cultures and supported by social welfare systems far different than the U.S. Still, the center asserted that the synergy of the new and traditional components in the blueprint would work for Maryland as they had for the highest-performing countries. Blueprint proponents bought it. Given the desperate crisis in Maryland schools, especially for students who are poor and of color, why not risk a revolutionary experiment. Why not go for broke? Related: Marylands Humble Mission: Build the Nations Best, Most Equitable School System As for the price tag, the public debate in Maryland focused almost exclusively on funding. The cost was described as being a massive $3.8 billion, and moderate Republican governor Larry Hogan vetoed the blueprint (later overridden) as too expensive. However, the cost is misunderstood. The $3.8 billion is the projected increased funding in 2032 when full implementation is expected after annual increments between now and then. This year, additional state funding for the blueprint is only a little over $1 billion. Overall, the $3.8 billion represents, in pre-pandemic projections, an average annual increase of about 2% in state funding for education and less than a 1% increase in state funding for all purposes. These amounts were consistent with the centers opinion that the relatively small increases in state funding for the blueprint would be sufficient if the Accountability and Implementation Board rode herd to ensure the money was well spent. Others disagree. The ACLU-Md, in a current school finance lawsuit, alleges that the blueprint violates Marylands constitutional mandate requiring adequate funding. Many advocacy organizations voice similar concerns, and I have detailed how the blueprint inadequately funds such critical areas as basic school programs and interventions for struggling learners. So, while the blueprint funding is not nearly as large as perceived, states that pay attention to the blueprint will have to face politically difficult fiscal revenue issues. In addition, the sheer magnitude of the reforms will severely test the management competence of state and local educators and the touchy limits of local control of schools. And the mighty role of the Accountability and Implementation Board is almost certain to provoke resistance from the education establishment. Its creation was opposed by the Maryland state board and local boards. Yet, the blueprint will be doomed unless the board has a close working relationship with state and local educators. The state department of education is key. It has the legal responsibility and staffing, which the board doesnt have, to do the regulatory and day-to-day operational work with local school systems. While state education officials have publicly embraced the blueprint, it is too soon to tell how they will respond over the long haul to the boards governance over them. So, for sure, there are reasons for states to shy away. Still, the blueprint is so innovative and has so much potential that they should study it closely, ask tough questions and learn lessons as it rolls out. All states and school districts face, as the most recent NAEP results underscore, an existential crisis in public education. Therefore, they are duty bound to raise their own sights for comprehensive reform and embrace bold and, yes, risk-taking action. The blueprint tries to rise to the occasion, and the nation should do the same. By Saud Mehsud and Mubasher Bukhari DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - Islamist militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban on Wednesday claimed the killing of a senior official of Pakistan's premier intelligence agency and another officer, the latest in a resurgence of jihadist violence shaking the country. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers were shot dead outside a hotel in Punjab province on Tuesday, police said. The TTP, an umbrella group of militants that associates itself with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, ended a months-old ceasefire with the Pakistani government last year and launched a spate of attacks across the country. "Yesterday, a secret squad of TTP killed ISI Deputy Director Multan Naveed Sadiq along with his colleague Inspector Nasir Butt at Bismillah Highway in Khanewal District of Punjab," TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement to media. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), in a statement on Wednesday, confirmed the killings but not the TTP's role. It said the two officers had met the suspected killer at the hotel and had a cup of tea with him. After tea, the suspect shot the two officers in the hotel parking lot and fled on a motorcycle, the CTD added, releasing security camera footage of the incident. The incident occurred a day after Pakistan's top civilian and military leaders pledged to use "full force" to deal with militants. In recent weeks TTP attacks have included a suicide bombing in the capital Islamabad that failed to hit its target. Pakistani authorities have said the TTP is operating out of neighbouring Afghanistan - an accusation that the Taliban administration has denied. On Tuesday, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban administration, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the Pakistani accusations were "baseless" and "provocative". He said the Taliban administration was doing its best not to let anyone use Afghan territory for attacks in other countries. Story continues The TTP emerged to fight the Pakistani state and enforce its radical brand of Islam in the years after U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to oust the then-ruling Taliban and drive them over the border into Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban regained power when U.S.-led foreign forces completed a withdrawal from the country in August 2021. (Reporting by Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan and Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar and Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; writing by Gibran Peshimam; editing by Mark Heinrich) The parents of a 4-month-old baby face child abuse charges after the baby was brought into UF Health Shands Children's Hospital on Tuesday in critical condition with "significant inflicted traumatic injuries," according to arrest reports from the Gainesville Police Department. Police say the baby had severe injures to his body and face, with his left eye hemorrhaging, bleeding on the brain, and bruising on his left hand, lower back, collar bone, behind his left ear and on his neck. Despite multiple serious injuries, the parents waited several days before seeking medical attention for the child, a pair of arrest reports state. Emma Belle Smithey, 19, who brought her son to UF Health on Tuesday morning, initially told doctors that she accidentally hit his head on the door frame as she was turning to enter the bathroom. She later told police and an official with the Department of Children and Families that she never told doctors that, and instead claimed that on Jan. 1, she saw Timothy Jacob Smith, 22, the baby's father, carrying the baby and accidentally bumping his head on the door frame. Remembering RosewoodDescendants mark racial violence that razed Florida town 100 years ago More:GPD: Man, 24, killed in single-vehicle crash In a separate interview, however, Smith told police that on Dec. 30, the baby was "abnormally fussy and wouldn't stop crying," so he held him to his chest, squeezed tightly around his neck, and held his mouth against his chest. He said he held the baby there until he stopped crying loudly and it became only a whimper. Smith told police that the bruising on the baby's neck likely came from him squeezing too hard, and that he could have been too forceful shaking the baby against his chest, according to his arrest report. Later that night, the baby again began crying uncontrollably. Police said that a frustrated Smith admitted that he intentionally dropped the baby into his bassinet from an "abnormal height." Story continues The next morning, Smith told police that the baby woke up "crying hysterically." He said he was "exhausted and frustrated and picked up the baby and turned his body with such force that he "slammed" the his head into the bathroom door frame, the report said. Smith also told police that he did not intentionally injure his son, but admits he wasnt thinking about the his safety. He said that his only priority was to get the baby to stop crying. Smith said that he was the sole caregiver of the baby when the injuries occurred. He is charged with child neglect with great bodily harm, cruelty toward a child, and aggravated child abuse. In the days after the injuries and before being brought to the hospital, Smithey told police the baby had been crying, lethargic, barely eating, throwing up, unresponsive at times and having small seizure-like episodes. The mother told law enforcement that finally decided to bring the baby in on Tuesday after he would not eat or hold his bottle in his mouth, had a temperature of 100.5 degrees, and had several minute-long seizures where he lost control of his limbs, according to her arrest report. Smithey is charged with child neglect with great bodily harm. UF Health staff told police that the lack of immediate medical care following the trauma has contributed to his current condition, and that the total impacts from the delay are not yet fully known. "It is currently unknown if the infant will survive his injuries," the report said. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville couple charged with child abuse of infant in critical condition Chinese NEV makers report robust sales increase in 2022 Xinhua) 09:58, January 04, 2023 Visitors and press take photos of a car of BYD, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, at the Chengdu Motor Show 2022 in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Leading new-energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers in China reported a robust sales increase in 2022 thanks to fast market expansion and policy incentives, data showed. BYD, China's largest NEV manufacturer, said its NEV sales jumped 208.64 percent year on year to over 1.86 million units in 2022. In December, the company sold about 235,200 NEVs. Startup carmakers like Li Auto and NIO also reported a fruitful year. Li Auto delivered 133,246 NEVs last year, up 47.2 percent from the 2021 level. NIO delivered 122,486 units in the same period, an annual increase of 34 percent. GAC Aion, a NEV subsidiary of GAC Group, sold some 271,000 vehicles in 2022, up 126 percent from the previous year. Gu Huinan, general manager of the company, said GAC Aion is eyeing to deliver at least 500,000 units this year. From January to November 2022, China's NEV sales exceeded 6.06 million units, doubling the same-period level in 2021, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The association expected that NEV sales in China this year will likely hit 9 million, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Photo: The Canadian Press British Columbia's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. British Columbia is boosting funding for the Human Rights Tribunal and Community Legal Assistance Society by as much as $4.5 million per year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld British Columbia is boosting funding for the Human Rights Tribunal and Community Legal Assistance Society by as much as $4.5 million per year. The province says in a statement the number of cases brought to the tribunal increased from 1,460 in 2019 to 3,192 in 2022. It says the new funding will go toward helping the tribunal tackle its increased caseload and allow the legal society to hire more lawyers, legal advocates and support staff. The Community Legal Assistance Society, which provides free legal services to disadvantaged people, including for human rights complaints, says it has seen increasing demand for years but COVID-19 caused an "unprecedented spike," with calls to its inquiry line doubling in 2020. The tribunal released a report the same year that found the number of Indigenous Peoples filing human rights complaints was disproportionately low and, in response, the province added Indigenous identity as a protected ground under the B.C. Human Rights Code. The province says the funding will also support the tribunal's ongoing work to implement the recommendations outlined in the report. "This much-needed funding will help the tribunal better meet the specific needs of Indigenous Peoples and better meet the increased demands for resolution of discrimination complaints, ensuring everyone who needs it can access appropriate recourse under the B.C. Human Rights Code," Emily Ohler, chair of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, said in the news release. The American Patriot air defence system will be deployed in Ukraine as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun. Source: Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, at an online briefing on Wednesday, 4 January, reports Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "We ended last year with a revolutionary decision to provide Ukraine with American Patriot systems, as agreed on by the leaders of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joseph Biden. We expect the deployment of Patriots as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun." Details: In December, Washington announced the provision of another package of military assistance worth almost 2 billion dollars, which included the supply of the first battery of the Patriot missile defence system for Ukraine. Earlier, it was reported that the Ukrainian military has already started a training course on working with these systems. Ukraine has developed a special plan for training the military to work with Patriot systems. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Former Vice President Mike Pence is offering his support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in his bid for Speaker, urging Republicans to rally around the former minority leader after the House on Tuesday failed to secure a Speaker on its first ballot for the first time in 100 years. Pence joins his former boss, ex-President Trump, in calling for GOP lawmakers to cast their ballots for McCarthy. Urging Every Republican in @HouseGOP to support my friend, Kevin McCarthy as the next Speaker of the House, Pence tweeted on Wednesday. @GOPLeaders Leadership & Vision led to The New Republican Majority & I know Speaker McCarthy will lead the House to begin a Great American Comeback! Pences public backing of McCarthy came less than two hours before the second day of voting for Speaker is set to start. McCarthy on Tuesday was blocked from seizing the gavel by 20 GOP House members who are refusing to support him. Some really good conversations took place last night, and its now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA, Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday morning. McCarthy said on Tuesday night that Trump had reiterated his support for his bid for Speaker. But Republicans entered Wednesday without a clear path ahead, and some members have started to float the idea of an alternative. McCarthy, who launched an unsuccessful bid for Speaker in 2015, has started to hint at the idea that he could win the gavel with a lower vote threshold than the 218 needed to secure an outright majority of House members. This would involve some Republicans not voting for a particular candidate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LIMA (Reuters) -Police used tear gas to disperse protesters trying to approach Peru's Congress headquarters on Wednesday, as thousands took to the streets two weeks after a wave of deadly protests over the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo. By early evening, there were no reports of clashes with police, who closed off access to Congress, though transport authorities reported 35 blockade points across the country. Almost two dozen died in protests across the country last month. On Wednesday, protesters marched in Lima and Arequipa, many carrying the country's red-and-white flag, and demanded the resignation of current President Dina Boluarte, closure of Congress, changes to the constitution and Castillo's release. Meanwhile, authorities said trains to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu had been suspended, a day after some 2,062 tourists were evacuated. Prime Minister Alberto Otarola had earlier called for demonstrations to be peaceful. Authorities had "scrupulously complied" with Boluarte's instructions to use force prudently, Defense Minister Jorge Chavez told local news outlet RPP. Castillo is serving 18-month pretrial detention while he is investigated for "rebellion," a charge the former president denies. He was ousted after he tried to illegally dissolve Congress and reorganize the judiciary. Boluarte, a former vice president who assumed power shortly after Castillo's removal, has proposed bringing forward the next general elections. Television footage earlier on Wednesday showed police and the army guarding headquarters of public institutions in some areas where protests were planned, including Ayacucho, a region with the highest number of victims in the December demonstrations. On Tuesday, thousands of people had marched in Lima and elsewhere demanding "peace and tranquility." Boluarte installed on Wednesday morning a "Monitoring and Crisis Control" center, together with the defense and interior ministers. Story continues "I call for peace, calm, and unity to boost the development of the homeland," she said in a speech. Sergio Belloso, the vice-president of Peru's hotels and restaurants association, said the lack of tourists in 2022 caused by the political and social crisis had cost the country some $2.5 billion. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reportedly traveled to the Invictus Games last year with his husband, Chatsen, on a chartered military jet. Last April, Buttigieg left Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and flew to Rotterdam in the Netherlands according to a calendar obtained by Americans for Public Trust (APT) that was shared with Fox. Secretary Buttigiegs travel woes keep piling up with this newest revelation that he and his husband took a private jet for a European trip, the executive director of APT, Caitlin Sutherland, told Fox. Taxpayers, who just had their holiday plans completely upended because of Buttigiegs travel mismanagement, should be furious. Buttigiegs travel arrangements have been a cause for concern since he took office in February 2021. Since then, Buttigieg has flown nearly 20 times on private jets funded by taxpayer dollars, according to the New York Post. Buttigieg has used a Cessna 560XL overseen by the FAA for trips bound for Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Nevada. Similar instances of excessive private flying by associates of former president Donald Trump triggered the resignation of then-Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Tom Price for racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars deemed inappropriate. A few years later, Trumps then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo faced criticism for taking similar trips accompanied by his wife, though he was not fired. Reached for comment, the White House National Security Council told Fox Buttigiegs travel constituted a standard practice for White House organized Cabinet-level presidential delegations. The Department of Transportation gave a similarly non-committal answer: The Secretary was proud to be asked to be part of the Presidential Delegation that the State Department organized for the Invictus Games an international event supporting wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. The Invictus Game was founded in 2014 by Prince Harry to honor military veterans and wounded soldiers. More from National Review An Alabama man was charged after allegedly hitting a Pittsburgh police officer with his car early Tuesday morning. Charles Cary, 23, of Orange Beach, was arrested and placed in the Allegheny County Jail. Officers were called to the 500 block of Brookline Blvd. around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday for a domestic incident between a male and a female. Cary was sitting in the drivers seat in a car and refused to get out, according to police. RELATED CONTENT: Pittsburgh police officer injured responding to domestic incident When an officer opened the door and attempted to pull him out, he allegedly put the car in reverse, hitting an officer with his car and knocking her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the pavement, according to the complaint. Cary then allegedly put the car in drive, pushing a parked car with his vehicle, then fled. Officers soon found Carys vehicle crashed into a hillside in the area of 1350 Pioneer Ave. Cary fled on foot into a wooded area. He was found a short time later in the area of London Town Road. The officer who struck her head had a concussion and a possible wrist fracture. Cary was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, evading arrest, fleeing or attempting to elude police, accidents involving personal injury, reckless endangerment, DUI, reckless driving, and other driving violations. Cary was denied bail. According to court documents, he told officers he was going to Florida as soon as he was released. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10. TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh shows support for McKees Rocks native, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin 2 Pittsburgh police detectives on paid leave after shooting, killing suspect Man accused of shooting, killing local mailman dies of cancer in jail VIDEO: Man caught in gunfire exchange between police, shooting suspect in Brackenridge shares his story DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Indiana State Police body-camera footage shows that the suspect who was later arrested in the slayings of four University of Idaho students had been pulled over twice on his way back to Pennsylvania from Washington state on Dec. 15. The footage reveals a police officer approaching a white Hyundai Elantra occupied by two males. The state police have identified them as Bryan Kohlberger, the 28-year-old accused in the Nov. 13 killings, and Kohlbergers father. Though most of the conversation is indiscernible due to background noise, the officer can be heard giving the driver and passenger a warning for following another car too closely. According to WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, Kohlberger had also been pulled over on Interstate 70 less than 10 minutes earlier for speeding, but he didnt receive a ticket for either traffic stop in Hancock County, east of Indianapolis. NEW: Indiana State Police just released video of a trooper pulling over Bryan Kohnberger and his father on their way back to PA from ID. Kohberger is the suspect in the murder of four Idaho students. Here's the full interaction. @FOX59@CBS4Indypic.twitter.com/V6m6fG9x40 Eric Graves (@ReporterEric) January 3, 2023 According to WLS-TV in Chicago, Kohlberger and his father were driving home to Pennsylvania for the holidays. They arrived on Dec. 17, and the white Hyundai was found at his parents house. The car in the body-camera footage matches investigators description of a car that was seen near the victims house on the day the stabbing deaths occurred, according to ABC News. But at the time of the traffic stops, no information about the Idaho slayings suspect was available, including the license plate of the white Hyundai Elantra that had been seen near the crime scene, WXIN-TV reported. Story continues Kohlberger was arrested in Pennsylvania on Dec. 30 and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. After his court appearance on Dec. 31, he agreed to waive an extradition hearing so he could face charges in Idaho. This will likely be the last major update the public hears from officials involved in the case, at least for a while. On Tuesday, police in Moscow, Idaho, said a court order is silencing communication from investigators, law enforcement and lawyers. Moscow, Idaho Police say they will no longer be communicating with the public or the media about the Bryan Kohberger case. Judge is prohibiting any communication by investigators, law enforcement, attorneys, and agents of the prosecuting attorney or defense attorney. Order: pic.twitter.com/VImgyaxKyX Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 4, 2023 In a statement released Sunday, Kohlbergers family said they have cooperated with law enforcement in an attempt to seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence. Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, both 20, were found stabbed to death in their rental house near the campus in Moscow, Idaho. Kohlberger, 28, was a doctoral student at nearby Washington State University. Related... Jan. 3A Lovettsville, Virginia, man assaulted another man outside an Olyphant bar early on New Year's Day, leaving the victim with a broken leg and other injuries, borough police said. Brian Hambley, 25, faces aggravated and simple assault and harassment charges after the incident Sunday outside The Bar and Company, 415 Lackawanna Ave., police said. Officers dispatched to the bar just before 1 a.m. found George Marheuka with bruises and lacerations to his face and head and what was later determined to be a leg fracture, police said. He told officers he was assaulted when he saw a man fighting other people and tried to intervene. Hambley, who was taken into custody at a home in Throop, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Paul Keeler and held in the Lackawanna County Prison on $25,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. DAVID SINGLETON Officers arrested a man at an apartment building who police say damaged cars and screamed threats to kill on Tuesday night. Seattle police officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of East Remington Court after 911 callers reported that a man was screaming, throwing things, and banging on walls at the building in the Yesler Terrace neighborhood. Officers arrived at about 7:30 p.m. and spoke with neighbors who said they were in fear for their safety after the man damaged nearby cars and began screaming threats to kill, according to a post on the Seattle Police Blotter. When police went to the mans apartment, he refused to come out and appeared to have barricaded himself inside. Seattle Police Department hostage negotiators were called to the building to help talk to the man, who eventually came out of his apartment. The man was arrested and later booked into the King County Jail for investigation of threats to kill. Boston Police are seeking the publics help in locating a man accused of shoving a bakery warmer off the counter causing it to smash at a McDonalds in Roxbury. Officers responded to the fast food chain on Warren Street around 12 p.m. on December 29 and learned the suspect became irate due to the way his coffee had been prepared. According to police the man ultimately pushed a glass-encased bakery warmer off the counter, causing it to shatter before he fled the area. Police ask anyone with information on this individual is urged to contact District B-2 Detectives at 617-343-4275. 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 Re: Shawn Thomas' letter Canada has problems (Castanet, Jan.3rd/2023) Well said. I couldnt agree more. (Canadas) justice system, street drugs, corporate bailouts without any checks or balances, massive Government debt and continuing tax hikes. Canada definitely has problems. Its time for the politicians to support the middle class before its gone. Stop pandering to all the special interest groups. Stop making criminals out of law-abiding citizens with 11th hour amendments to proposed gun laws. Its totally out of control. Jack Staeheli For the first time since a young man in Rockland County was left paralyzed by polio, batches of recent wastewater testing in downstate counties showed no polio. But health officials say its way too early to draw conclusions about virus spread, especially with thousands of unvaccinated young children still vulnerable to the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for a country to be removed from the Global Polio Eradication Initiatives list of countries with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus detections, the minimum is 12 months without a detection. But wastewater testing for polio is relatively new in the United States, so the patterns and thresholds are not yet well understood, said Dr. Eli Rosenberg, deputy director of science for the New York State Department of Health's Office of Public Health. Polio was eradicated for 40 years. Now we have this technology on board to tell us some information, Rosenberg said. "Were still learning. Chief operator Dale Post demonstrates how he collects a sample outside the headworks building at the Middletown wastewater treatment facility on August 9, 2022. Plus, an enterovirus like polio traditionally hits seasonally, with large outbreaks in the summer. We have to look at the 1950s, when there would be a lull in winter and roar back in summer, Rosenberg said. Every summer before the development of polio vaccinations, thousands of children would fall ill with paralytic polio, with spikes often coming in August. OK, the signal has died down for the winter, Rosenberg said. Is polio doing its typical seasonal thing? We dont know. The Rockland resident became ill in July. The state has documented polio in wastewater going back to March, using samples saved from COVID testing protocols. So far, the Rockland man is the only person found to have had the virus. But health officials on the national, state and local level have been on high alert because polio is stealthy and deadly: Some 99% of people who contract polio never know they had it; others can be paralyzed or die from the virus. The Rockland resident had never been vaccinated against polio. Story continues The state Department of Health chart for polio detection shows red if the virus was detected in wastewater and blue if polio was not found. Counties where polio had been detected in wastewater included Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, Nassau and parts of New York City. The weekly pattern of polio detection in wastewater in counties within New York State. If we were in normal times, Rosenberg said, rather than an era of growing childhood vaccination hesitancy, this would all be blue. Rosenberg called it a sign of how vulnerable weve let our children get. Risks for polio spread The virus could recirculate in warmer months, as it did when it was endemic. But, Rosenberg said, international travel could also reimport the virus here. The virus strain found in Rockland and other places has been linked to Israel and London. To get a fire, you need fuel and a match, Rosenberg said, and its very similar with the polio virus. The match could be another case brought to the region via travel or latent virus already here resurfacing when the weather warms. The fuel, Rosenberg said, is vaccination resistance that lingers in places like Rockland and Orange counties, which had among the lowest rates of polio vaccination in the state among children ages 2 and under. 'Everyone's devastated': Dr. Bruce Maurice Henry, slain pediatric ER physician, remembered Polio circulates in NY: CDC's 'disease detectives' embed in Rockland; here's what they do COVID fraud: How new New York laws address schemes that cost taxpayers millions Vaccine hesitancy existed before COVID. A measles outbreak sickened 312 in Rockland almost four years ago. But resistance to vaccinations grew with skepticism over vaccinations for COVID-19. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey showed an increase in the number of adults, including parents, who oppose mandatory childhood vaccinations for school attendance. While 71% of adults still support mandating childhood vaccinations for healthy children, thats down from 83% in 2019. Opposition among parents to requiring childhood vaccines now stands at 35%, up from 23% in 2019. We know there are more than 21,753 children in Rockland and Orange counties who are not up-to-date with their polio vaccinations, said Samantha Fuld, spokesperson for the state Department of Health. That is despite concerted efforts by the state, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county health departments. Rockland County Executive Ed Day said that vaccination efforts in that county have yielded results. Since July 21, 12,603 polio vaccines have been administered to Rockland residents, Day said, with 77% administered to children ages 4 and under and 16% to ages 5 to 18. Even with stepped-up efforts, Rosenberg said, We havent moved the needle enough in vaccination. Childhood vaccination compliance in New York is mandatory for school attendance, and as of 2019, only documented medical exemptions are accepted. The state this month sent every school, public, private and parochial, a letter reminding them that they can be fined up to $2,000 per student, per day, if students are allowed to attend without vaccination documentation. The state also plans 200 audits this year to ensure school vaccination records are up to snuff. We have, as a county, seen outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and the unfortunate low vaccination rates in our county has undoubtedly contributed to the polio case, Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel-Ruppert said. It is our obligation to protect all our residents from these debilitating and potentially fatal diseases. The law requiring childhood vaccinations has been in place for many years for this very reason. What wastewater can't show Because oral-fecal transmission is common with polio, wastewater testing was used decades ago to determine if a water source was a vector for polio. But in the U.S. and many countries with modern water supply and sewer systems, wastewater doesnt pose a threat of disease transmission anymore, so wastewater testing for polio usually isn't done. Wastewater testing for polio is somewhat binary: it can detect presence but not gauge the level of virus present in the community. That differs from wastewater testing for COVID, for example, which can show if the virus is increasing or decreasing in a community over time. The CDC in September 2020 established the National Wastewater Surveillance System to help communities track COVID rates by gauging virus shedding. New York and other places relied on wastewater data to measure COVID levels as home testing kits became more prevalent and test results were often unknown. When the Rockland polio case was detected, the CDC had months of previous wastewater samples from COVID tracking to figure out where polio exposure existed and for how long. "The National Wastewater Surveillance System, originally developed for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring, has provided an opportunity to track the spread of the poliovirus outbreak in New York," said Dr. Janell Routh, Acute Flaccid Myelitis and Domestic Polio team lead in CDCs Division of Viral Diseases. "Fortunately, there is still only one case of paralysis, but wastewater detections have confirmed ongoing transmission in the area." Testing then started in several counties throughout New York State. On Nov. 30, the CDC announced it would start testing wastewater for polio in Michigan and parts of Pennsylvania, places with vaccination rates that leave the population at risk. "Using wastewater testing for poliovirus, combined with clinical surveillance for polio, have proven to be good tools to help direct response efforts, including focused vaccination activities, to areas found to be most at risk," the CDC's Routh said. Rosenberg urged caution in extrapolating too much from recent wastewater results, citing the cyclical nature of polio, the porous vaccination rate in the region and the relatively new use of wastewater testing in this way. This is an unsettled, Rosenberg said. Proving a negative is hard. Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland. Click here for her latest stories. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Polio virus undetected in NY wastewater testing but still a danger In this image taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Saturday, May 28, 2022, a new Zircon hypersonic cruise missile is launched by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov of the Russian navy from the Barents Sea. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP Russia is sending a warship armed with hypersonic missiles on a deployment that will take it into the Atlantic Ocean. Putin has boasted that the new Zircon hypersonic missile is unrivalled. The weapon has been tested several times, most recently last year. Russian leadership announced Wednesday that Russia is sending a warship armed with new hypersonic cruise missiles that Moscow has touted as unstoppable off on a deployment that will take it into the Atlantic. The frigate Admiral Gorshkov will travel on a long-range voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a ceremony, according to state-run media outlet TASS. He explained that the "main efforts during the campaign will be focused on countering Russia's threats, maintaining regional peace, and stability together with friendly countries." Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the ceremony, said that the Admiral Gorshkov and its "powerful weapons" will safeguard Russia from "potential external threats." This frigate is the lead ship for Russia's Project 22350, an effort to develop advanced multi-purpose combat ships. Russian Navy's guided missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov arrives in the port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April, 21, 2019, to join multinational naval events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. Xinhua/ via Getty Images The Admiral Gorshkov is setting sail armed with Zircon, also spelled Tsirkon, hypersonic missiles a relatively new weapon in Moscow's arsenal. Putin first revealed the development of the missile during a February 2019 address to the nation, during which he announced work on various weapons while also threatening to target the US if it moved ballistic missiles to Europe. Speaking Wednesday, Putin said the Zircon missile has "no analogues in any country in the world." The Russian military, using the Admiral Gorshkov as a testing platform, test-fired a Zircon hypersonic missile for the first time in October 2020. The Russian defense ministry said it flew at speeds of Mach 8 before hitting a target nearly 300 miles away. Several tests have occurred since then, most recently last May. Story continues The Admiral Gorshkov is also outfitted with various other weapons, such as air defenses and torpedoes, TASS cited the ship's captain Igor Krokhmal as saying, though the Zircon hypersonic missiles are perhaps the most noteworthy. "We will continue to develop the combat potential of the Armed Forces, make advanced models of weapons and equipment that will guard Russia's security in the coming decades. This is a promising weapon," Putin said at the Wednesday ceremony, according to Russian state media. Hypersonic missiles are highly maneuverable and fast, and they can fly along unpredictable flight paths, thus creating headaches for traditional air defenses. Standard ballistic missiles, by contrast, travel on set parabolic trajectories. Hypersonic weapon development by Russia and also China is a concern for the US military, which is working on its own systems. In December, a US B-52 bomber successfully launched a fully-operational hypersonic missile prototype in a milestone weapon test for the Air Force that could pave the way to production and fielding. The Army is planning to field its first hypersonic missile unit later this year, and the Navy is looking to have these weapons on Zumwalt-class destroyers by 2025. Read the original article on Business Insider The recent dismal results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress introduced a new learning-loss puzzle. It was assumed that states with more remote instruction would have lower academic scores than those with more in-person classes during the pandemic. But states that had more days of in-class learning also saw declines. The likely reason is due to the hidden disruptions to student learning caused by COVID quarantines. The consensus expectation was that the states with the longest school closures would fare far worse in student outcomes than those where schools were reopened for most of the school year. But students in Florida, for example, where school was in person 97% of the 2021-22 school year, experienced the same 5-point decline in fourth-grade math scores as California, where students were in person only 7% of the year. Reading scores showed similar results. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Describing schools as mostly remote or in-person masked a deeper level of learning disruption as COVID cases kept students at home instead of in class. Quarantine guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention required an entire class of students to be sent home for as long as two weeks if they had close contact with a child who tested positive. The result was massive learning disruptions that occurred throughout the school year, even in states where schools were officially reopened. Related: Bailey: Student Quarantines Will Cause the Next Major School Disruptions. Here Are 3 Ways to Help Ensure Kids Will Keep Learning A bipartisan poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Impact Research found that on average, children missed five weeks worth of school in the first half of the academic year, due in part to quarantines. An EdChoice/Morning Consult poll reported that in fall 2021, about a quarter of parents said they had a child who had to be quarantined but the Omicron wave surged the number to 37% by January 2022. Similarly, a New York Times poll found that in January 2022 alone, a majority of students were home for at least three days, and nearly one in 10 were out for half the month or more. Story continues It appears that many of these students were not given live lessons with teachers during their isolation. Only four of the largest 100 districts promised live instruction for quarantined students, and just 36% of quarantined students reported having live classes with teachers. In Los Angeles, parents reported their quarantined children were sent home with just paper work packets or no assignments at all an experience that was all too common in other regions. Even more devastating: a review of data from the Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey from March to June 2022 found that on average, a staggering 16% of students said they had no live contact with teachers over the previous seven days. This was remarkably consistent across states, regardless of whether their schools were mostly open or closed. Related: Can Districts Rise to the Challenge of New NAEP Results? Outlooks Not So Good That made quarantine, in many respects, worse for students than school closures, when they were at least offered some amount of remote learning. Its little wonder then that 7 out of 10 students found quarantine to be disruptive to their learning. And it should not be surprising that so many disrupted school days and so little interaction with teachers would contribute to the academic loss reflected in the NAEP scores. All this can be attributed to a lack of planning by education leaders. The federal government did not begin collecting data on school closures and quarantines until halfway through the 2021-22 school year, which essentially hid the problem. The CDC waited until New Years Eve to relax its quarantine guidance, giving schools little time to make adjustments as kids returned from winter break. And school leaders never put in place contingency plans to serve their students if they needed to learn from home. Flush with billions of federal COVID-19 relief funding, schools could simply have engaged outside partners to provide quarantine support for their students on short notice. ASU Prep Digital and Varsity Tutors, for example, offered programs that could, in as little as 24 hours, provide 1-on-1 instruction with a live teacher and small-group learning. Too few schools bought this kind of insurance policy to help protect their students, and too few state leaders required it. It is tempting to think the worst is behind us, but the National Center for Education Statistics recently reported that nearly half (47%) of public schools said they still had to quarantine students in September. Remote learning was terrible for many students, but learning in quarantine is far worse. Parents should be assured by their local school leaders and state policymakers that their children will be provided with live instruction for the duration of any quarantines. More importantly, the collective focus of our nations leaders now must quickly turn to helping children catch up academically to undo the damage that was done. We are less than a week away from the final regular season game for the Las Vegas Raiders. And with the team eliminated from playoff contention, we will soon see where the pick in the first round will land. As of right now, the Raiders would pick at No. 7 or No. 8, depending on a few tiebreaker scenarios. And with a game against the Chiefs on deck, there is a chance that they could pick even higher. But where might they go in Round 1? In a recent mock draft done by Jordan Reid of ESPN, he has the Raiders selecting Kentucky QB Will Levis at No. 7. Here is his reasoning behind the pick: It seems the Derek Carr era is over in Las Vegas, so coach Josh McDaniels will be searching for a new signal-caller. I wouldnt be surprised if the Raiders look toward the veteran market for their solution, considering there will be a good deal of pressure in the building to win in 2023, but Levis excellent physical traits could prove too intriguing to pass up. At 6-3 and 232 pounds, he has a huge arm and some power-rushing ability on QB keepers, but his turnover woes and poor decision making have been constant issues (23 interceptions over the past two seasons). Levis is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in this class, but he needs a lot of development. Would he be ready to start from Day 1 for the Raiders? Probably not. But if the Raiders want to improve at the quarterback position, they need to swing for the fences. Levis might have the most talent and pure upside in the draft, which is why hell likely be a top-10 pick despite lackluster college production. Still, keep an eye on Levis as a potential Round 1 pick for the Raiders, especially if they trade Derek Carr this offseason. List 7-Round NFL Mock Draft for Las Vegas Raiders Story originally appeared on Raiders Wire Shanel Vrontez, a 414Life outreach worker, leads a prayer before a news conference Tuesday, in the the 3200 block of West Villard Avenue in Milwaukee. On Sunday, a 17-year-old was shot and killed at the location. The event was organized by 414Life, the city's team of violence interrupters. Two days after a 17-year-old was shot and killed on New Years Day in Milwaukee, around 40 community members and violence prevention workers assembled for a call for peace Tuesday. Standing in a parking lot on the 3200 block of West Villard Avenue where the shooting occurred, speakers pleaded with the public to intervene when they see problematic behavior from their own family members, neighbors and other loved ones. That means talking to them and holding them accountable for creating the havoc and chaos in our neighborhoods, they said. It means identifying domestic violence situations and connecting those involved with resources. It means forgetting about any stigma associated with asking for help. If anyone is listening, were asking you to join these efforts and part of these efforts, said DeShawn Ewing of the citys Office of Violence Prevention. I know yall dont want your baby boy, your grandson, granddaughter locked up. But lets give them the support they need so they can be ones who help make this change in our community as well. Ill speak out for the Black community: we have to stop shunning individuals from getting that mental health support they need. We need to push it, we need to encourage it. Milwaukee just finished its third consecutive year of unprecedented levels of homicides and gun violence, breaking its homicide record again with a preliminary total of 215 lives lost, according to the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office. The call for peace came less than 48 hours after the first reported homicide of 2023. The victim was identified Tuesday as 17-year-old Stephen L. Perkins Jr. by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office. Police said two other males ages 16 and 22 also suffered gunshot wounds and were later arrested. Vaun Mayes, a community activist, said Perkins had been active in some of the community events Mayes organized when Perkins was younger. "We need consistency in what were doing," he said. "When this pandemic started, we lost access to a lot of those young people that we were consistent with. Thats unacceptable." Story continues Reggie Moore, the director of violence prevention policy at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said the hard work of a range of organizations and residents had already had an impact on the Old North Milwaukee neighborhood, where Tuesdays call for peace and Sundays fatal shooting occurred. He said the area, which has long struggled with gun violence, saw a 36% decrease in homicides and a 20% decrease in nonfatal shootings from 2021 to 2022. Since 2020, homicides decreased 25%. Most of the gun violence that happens in this neighborhood are not a result of the residents in this neighborhood and no neighborhood in this city should be plagued by gun violence, he said. From 2016 to 2019, homicides in Milwaukee dropped 30% and were well below the previous record of 165, set in 1991 as a crack epidemic engulfed cities across the country. Since 2020, Milwaukee and the rest of the nation has dealt with elevated, if not historic levels of gun violence. Criminologists and public health officials locally and nationally attributed it to a combination of the effects of the pandemic, damaged police-community relations from the murder of George Floyd and increased gun carrying. The primary factor behind roughly a third of all homicides every year are unknown, according to the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, but the most commonly identified factor is arguments, accounting for roughly another third of all homicides annually. Officials have said poor conflict resolution skills mixed with increased gun carrying have driven much of the citys historic gun violence. Meanwhile, about 16% of homicides were related to domestic or intimate partner violence last year, according to police data. Earlier in 2022, officials said too many victims appeared to have been isolated from outreach efforts. Its those trends that have pushed public safety officials to continually stress the need for residents to act on the problematic behavior they witness, by either mediating disputes peacefully on the spot or asking for help. Lynn Lewis, the program director for Milwaukees team of violence interrupters, called 414Life, implored residents to reach out for support. Milwaukee, this cannot and should not be the norm," Lewis said. "Gun violence is not our story. There are a plethora of resources here. Reach out. Let us support you. Let us engage with you. Let us show up on your porch. Let us show up to your childs school. Let us help you mediate. Where to find help Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention also recommends these resources for free support:414Life outreach and conflict mediation support: 414-439-5398.Milwaukee County's 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 414-257-7222.Milwaukee's Child Mobile Crisis and Trauma Response Team: 414-257-7621.National crisis text line: Text HOPELINE to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor.National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255.The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233. 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: Community members call for peace as new year begins in Milwaukee A worker climbs the steps of the lobby inside the building housing Allstates new smaller and updated headquarters on Dec. 20, 2022, in Glenview. The new office space occupies about 15% of the building at 3100 Sanders Road. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) When Allstate sold its sprawling Northbrook campus in October, long an iconic corporate landmark bordering the Tri-State Tollway, the insurance giant didnt set off for a trendy West Loop address, the Sun Belt or more exotic destination. Instead, Allstate packed up its cubicles, stowed its massive signs and moved into an anonymous office building it still owned across the street, downsizing its global headquarters at least temporarily to a modest, unmarked space on the first and second floors. Advertisement At first glance, it could be your dentists office, not the fourth largest insurance company in the U.S. Welcome to the corporate headquarters, circa 2023. I think the concept of a headquarters is changing, Allstate CEO Tom Wilson told the Tribune. Advertisement Once a basis for municipal bragging rights and game-changing economic impact projections, massive corporate headquarters have lost some of their luster in the new millennium, a trend that has accelerated during the pandemic. As hybrid working becomes the norm and office vacancies soar, companies are rethinking what and where a corporate headquarters should be. [ A 'new era of regional cooperation' in Chicago-area economic development? ] The Chicago area saw an exodus of corporate headquarters in 2022, including investment firm Citadel, which moved to Miami along with its billionaire founder, Ken Griffin; Caterpillar, which relocated from north suburban Deerfield to Irving, Texas; and aerospace giant Boeing, which moved to Arlington, Virginia, after more than 20 years in the West Loop. The Caterpillar global headquarters in Deerfield on June 14, 2022. Caterpillar announced it was relocating its headquarters to Irving, Texas, in 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The most recent high-profile departure was announced in November, when Lake Forest-based auto parts manufacturer Tenneco said it was shifting its headquarters to Michigan. While the exits elicited some civic hand-wringing, the economic consequences may be minimal. Its not that big a deal, said David Collis, a professor at Harvard Business School and an expert on corporate strategy. Corporate headquarters have become much less important than they were 20 years ago. The traditional corporate headquarters the locus of activity encompassing management, employees, resources and a physical place to conduct business has evolved over the years, Collis said. In the 1950s, corporate headquarters were generally situated in big downtown buildings. The corporate campus sprung up in the suburbs during the 1960s, offering shorter commutes, better parking and plenty of room to grow. During the new millennium, the pendulum swung back to the cities, as corporations looked to attract a younger, tech-savvy urban workforce, Collis said. Advertisement Emblematic of the urban shift was the 2018 move of hamburger giant McDonalds, which left its longtime suburban campus in Oak Brook for a nine-story headquarters in Chicagos West Loop. McDonalds brought 2,000 employees from the suburbs to its new downtown digs. In a September speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski raised concerns about crime in Chicago and the loss of several corporate headquarters. That same month, however, McDonalds reiterated its commitment to the city, announcing it would consolidate its Romeoville innovation lab at its West Loop headquarters in 2023, moving up to another 120 jobs downtown. Grand staircase at the McDonald's global headquarters in Chicago's West Loop on Dec. 19, 2019. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) McDonalds utilizes the majority of the building at 110 N. Carpenter St., but it may be the exception to a broader downsizing trend in corporate headquarters, Collis said. The era of the 3,000-person corporate headquarters, whether its a campus or even in a downtown location, is gone, Collis said. Work from home and COVID only exacerbates that. The post-pandemic hybrid work landscape has left record downtown office vacancies in Chicago, with companies continuing to shed space as long-term leases come up for renewal. For the third quarter, vacancy rates in the central business district rose to 19.6%, while the Chicago metro ticked up to 21.8%, according to a Newmark report. Advertisement Vacancy in the suburban office market increased slightly to 25.2% in the third quarter, according to Newmark. Allstate has given its 5,400 Chicago-area employees the ongoing choice of where they want to work, and 83% are choosing to work remotely, the company said. That turned its massive suburban campus into a ghost town, prompting the decision to sell it, Wilson said. That facility is a mile long and a half-mile wide and 2 million square feet, and we had nobody in it, Wilson said. Were heating it, were cooling it. And Im like, we should just get rid of this thing. While corporate headquarters are getting smaller, Collis said relocation still has peripheral fallout, including the loss of local philanthropic donations and sponsorships, such as arena naming rights. The exodus also dings the municipal tax coffers, he said. Griffin, who grew Citadel into one of the largest hedge funds in the world, gave more than $600 million to Chicago organizations over the course of three decades in Chicago, including more than $130 million in parting gifts to 40 organizations in June. Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel in 2014, at the company's former headquarters in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Meanwhile, Citadel principals and employees generated billions of dollars in tax revenue for the city and state over the past decade, according to the firm, money that has also headed south. Advertisement The Chicago area is home to 32 Fortune 500 companies, according to World Business Chicago, the citys economic development arm. Its ranks were thinned by three this year as Boeing, Caterpillar and Tenneco departed for other states. When Boeing chose Chicago for its headquarters in 2001, it was viewed as a huge win for the city, which bested Denver and Dallas in a heated competition. While it brought only 500 jobs to the city, it was projected Boeing would generate $4.5 billion in local economic benefits over two decades. In return, the city and state offered Boeing $62 million in grants and tax breaks over 20 years. Boeings decision to leave in 2022 may not have a significant economic impact, however, in part because the company said more than 400 employees would remain in Chicago. Boeing international headquarters in Chicago in 2019. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) The city didnt comment on last years corporate departures for this story. Instead, it touted the pending arrival of three foreign tech companies Paris-based Inarix and Carbon Saver, and Shanti from Mexico City which are planning to locate their first U.S. headquarters in Chicago during 2023. All three companies were lured without incentives, the city said. The presence of corporate headquarters in the Chicagoland region brings significant economic benefits to local communities, Michael Fassnacht, president and CEO of World Business Chicago, said in a statement. Not only do these headquarters provide employment opportunities for residents, but they also serve as a testament to Chicagos standing as a major player in the global business world. The city has also been courting Allstate, the fourth-largest Fortune 500 company in the Chicago area, to relocate its corporate headquarters downtown, but the insurance giant is in no hurry to find a new home base. Advertisement Founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Allstate has been a corporate fixture in what was previously unincorporated Northbrook since 1967, when it moved its offices from Skokie to a six-building complex on Sanders Road near I-294. A rooftop view from Allstates temporary headquarters to its former headquarters, a six-building, 232-acre campus, on Dec. 20, 2022, in what is now Glenview. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) In October, Allstate sold 232 acres of its corporate campus for $232 million to Dermody Properties. The Nevada-based developer is turning the property, which was recently annexed by Glenview, into a 10-building, 3.2 million-square-foot logistics park. Allstate retained 50 acres, including the office building at 3100 Sanders Road, which has become its corporate mailing address and for now, its headquarters. In addition to the suburban building, Allstate leases 42,000 square feet of Chicago office space in River Point, at 444 W. Lake St., where several hundred people manage the companys $61 billion investment portfolio. The company also leases 120,000 square feet on the fourth floor at Merchandise Mart, where Allstate CEO Wilson works. The company bought a 10-story building at 29 N. Wacker Drive in January 2022 for $29.7 million, according to CoStar, but Wilson said it is mostly leased out and unlikely to serve as a new headquarters. When the time is right, well figure out what we want a headquarters to look like and where it should be, Wilson said. But right now, were operating just fine with it being a relatively small office. Advertisement Built in 1987, the curving five-story glass building occupies a quintessentially suburban setting, partially obscured by trees amid retention ponds, a large parking lot and expansive fields to the west of Sanders Road. The exterior of the building, built in 1987, owned by Allstate on Dec. 20, 2022, in Glenview. Allstate occupies about 15% of the building, leasing the remainder. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) The 370,000-square-foot building formerly was home to Allstates life insurance business, which the company sold for $2.8 billion to private equity firm Blackstone in November 2021. Vacated and renovated in 2017, Allstate has since leased out most of the building to other tenants, reserving 50,000 square feet for its own use. There is a sign for Old World Industries, an auto aftermarket company and one of the buildings largest tenants, atop one of four wings, but there is no outside sign that Allstate owns or inhabits the building. The insurance company plans to change that. We just havent gotten through the permitting process with our new village, which is Glenview, said Michael Thomas, vice president of administration and real estate for Allstate. As youre coming down Sanders Road, youll see our sign there. Finding the Allstate office upon entering the building takes some sleuthing as well. Advertisement Welcome to our new way of working, reads a poster on the window of the ground level office inside the airy atrium. An illuminated Allstate good hands logo sits above a modest reception desk behind an unmarked glass door. Mark Angerame, left, and Jason Streepy work at Allstates updated temporary headquarters on Dec. 20, 2022, in what is now Glenview. The building combines residential and commercial spaces, often referred to as resimercial. The updated spaces are mostly modern and filled with a mix of open-concept, semi-private and private work spaces. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Allstate has three distinct office spaces in the building, all of which were renovated in phases in the fall. Thomas said they are testing the environs to see which are most appealing to a mostly remote workforce. Completed in October, the modern section features about 18,000 square feet of eclectic clusters, meeting rooms, video screens and private free-standing booths. Sports-themed signs, plants and artistic dividers separate the collaborative areas rather than hard walls. A more traditional 15,000-square-foot space, completed in December, features a recycled cube farm and corner offices transplanted from the former headquarters. Below grade is a 17,000-square-foot meeting and events space completed in September, where training sessions and other group activities can gravitate. Workers exit the office building owned by Allstate on Dec. 20, 2022, in Glenview. Allstate occupies about 15% of the building, leasing the rest to other businesses. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) The temporary headquarters can accommodate about 400 employees, with about 100 showing up on any given day, Thomas said. On a late December weekday morning, about a dozen employees wandered the wide-open spaces of the modern section, while the cube farm and events space were unoccupied. Advertisement The new headquarters may get busier with the new year, but after 55 years at its former campus across the street, Allstate is content to take its time as it navigates the uncertainties of the post-pandemic corporate landscape. Were going to test and learn and get feedback from our employees on what works and what doesnt, and build a future from that, Thomas said. rchannick@chicagotribune.com Photo illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Regulators in the Bahamas stood by their estimate on the $3.5 billion in crypto assets they seized from FTX. They rejected a recent statement from FTX's US managers that the assets were worth just $296 million at the time of bankruptcy. "Such public assertions by the Chapter 11 debtors were based on incomplete information," the SCB said. Regulators in the Bahamas are standing by their estimate of crypto assets seized from FTX, saying they are worth more than $3.5 billion. The Securities Commission of the Bahamas pushed back on the claims of FTX US managers that the value of assets at the time of bankruptcy was $296 million, saying "such public assertions by the Chapter 11 debtors were based on incomplete information." The SCB said last month that it seized the FTX customer assets temporarily, transferring them to digital wallets under the control of regulators on November 12, a day after FTX filed for bankruptcy. The move was aimed at safeguarding the assets, the regulator said, after more than $370 million were reportedly stolen from the crypto exchange in an apparent cyber attack after the firm went bust. SCB hasn't specified what types of cryptocurrencies it seized nor how they were valued. Last week, FTX said the tokens included 195 million of FTX's FTT, 1,938 ETH and "other miscellaneous coins that do not have substantial value." At the time of transfer, they were worth $296 million but have since fallen to $167 million, it added. In addition, FTX said the Bahamas had no right to take the tokens, arguing it only regulated FTX Digital Markets, which doesn't own the FTX.com exchange and isn't the owner or custodian of the cryptocurrency seized. As part of the SCB's attempt to liquidate FTX Digital Markets, it's seeking records to expedite the process, but the company's bankruptcy team has said they don't trust Bahamian regulators with that information. Meanwhile, FTX founder and former chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried is set to be arraigned in court on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. Bankman-Fried is facing allegations of fraud in conjunction with mishandling client funds on FTX that were suspected to be commingled with trading firm Alameda Research. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: Drew Angerer (Getty Images) As lawmakers make their way into the House chamber this week nearly two years after the January 6 attacks on the nations Capitol they will do so with one less piece of equipment present. With the anniversary just three days away, Axios notes, the newly controlled Republican House of Representatives has opted to remove a metal detector some of its members described as an, unnecessary disruption. Democrats previously in control of Congress required individuals entering the House chamber to first pass through the metal detector to enter in the weeks following the attacks which left five people dead and many more injured. At the time, Acting House Sergeant-at-Arms Timothy Blodgett said the magnetometers were being deployed to ensure compliance with already in place regulations preventing firearms and incendiary devices within the building. Read more Predictably, Republicans reacted with immediate outrage, with some like Oklahoma Representative Markwayne Mullin claiming the security measures violated his constitutional rights. Other representatives from both sides of the aisle reportedly complained that the screenings led to annoying long lines. In the first sign of the new GOP majority, House officials removed the metal detectors that Nancy Pelosi had installed after Jan. 6. The removal came as the 118th Congress convened at noon Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 3, 2023 In response to growing noncompliance from Republicans, Democrats established fines$5,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for the secondfor lawmakers found to have avoided the security screening. At least six GOP lawmakers were reportedly fined last year for violating those rules. Story continues In a twist last February, a group of Republican lawmakers sitting on the Committee on House Administration tried to fine then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi herself $5,000 for allegedly skirting past the security checkpoint. Similar rounds of bickering continued throughout the rest of the year. A new rules package proposed by the incoming GOP house would eliminate fines for members who fail to comply with the screenings or unscientific mask mandates. Several Republican lawmakers, including gun-toting Colorado representative Lauren Boebert, who was herself fined for setting off the machines, cheered their removal. I think they [the metal detectors] should be removed from the Capitol, filled with Tannerite and blown up, Boebert told a New York Post reporter. Boebert wouldnt answer one way or another when asked if she intended to bring her firearm into work. They [other lawmakers] should not feel unsafe, Boebert added. If they do, they should come see me for a concealed carry weapons permit and I can make sure they are locked and loaded in Washington, DC, legally. Were turning Pelosis House back into the Peoples House. pic.twitter.com/xsnDw0kt9F Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) January 3, 2023 More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Residents of the occupied Luhansk Oblast mobilised by the Russians plan to surrender if the Armed Forces of Ukraine break through the defence lines of Russian invaders; Oleksiy Gromov, Deputy Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Brigadier General, stated this at Military Media Center. Source: Military Media Center Quote from Gromov: "If the Ukrainian defence forces break through the defensive lines of the Russian occupation forces on the Svatove-Kreminna line and, accordingly, the transfer of hostilities closer to the city of Luhansk, a significant part of the military units of the 2nd Army Corps, especially from among those mobilised in the temporarily occupied territories, plans to surrender." Previously: On 3 January, Serhii Haidai, the Head of Luhansk blast Military Administration, reported that the Kreminna-Svatove highway was under fire control of the Ukrainian defenders, and now the logistics of Russian invaders became much more complicated. According to him, the Russians are on the verge of a nervous breakdown, because they are repressing the local population of the occupied territories, andsucpecting people of collaboration with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Getty Images Even if the Supreme Court strikes down student-debt relief, payments will likely resume this year. This could be particularly harmful for borrowers with other forms of debt, the NY Fed said. Delinquencies on credit cards and car loans rose as pandemic relief programs expired. Even without President Joe Biden's broad student-debt relief, the Education Department has made clear payments will resume this year. That's not good news for borrowers but especially those with other forms of debt. On Tuesday, the New York Federal Reserve released a report analyzing the implications of Biden's plan to cancel $20,000 in student debt for Pell Grant recipients making under $125,000 a year, and $10,000 for other federal borrowers within the same income cap. But at this point, it's unclear if anyone will actually end up benefitting because two lawsuits have so far blocked the debt relief, leaving the policy's fate at the Supreme Court which will begin to hear arguments to the cases in February. The Education Department has not commented on any other routes for relief it would pursue if the debt relief falls through, and for now, payments are scheduled to resume 60 days after June 30, or whenever the lawsuits are resolved whichever happens first. The Fed said a resumption without relief would put borrowers with other forms of debt, like credit card and auto, at increased risk of falling into delinquency. "Eligible borrowers have always had higher delinquency rates on these debts," the Fed wrote, referring to borrowers who would be eligible for Biden's student-debt relief. "But, the recent sharp increases in these rates, especially considering those with eligible loans have not been required to make student loan payments, may be suggestive of problems to come, a sign of economic distress that may appear particularly concerning when the burden of student loan payments resumes." Pandemic relief programs that prevented the consequences of delinquencies have expired, which is why there has been a surge in people falling behind on those payments in recent months. A report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that as of September 2022, 7.1% of student-loan borrowers who weren't in default at the start of the pandemic were having difficulty paying off other forms of debt, compared to the 6.2% of those borrowers at the start of the pandemic. Story continues Biden does have a plan to make monthly payments cheaper through a new income-driven repayment plan that would require borrowers to pay no more than 5% their discretionary income monthly on their undergraduate student loans down from the current 10%. Still, more details on that plan have yet to be released, and as Insider previously reported, some advocates and Democratic lawmakers have urged Biden to go a different route altogether to enact this relief. While Biden used the HEROES Act of 2003 as a basis for legality, which gives the Education Secretary the ability to waive or modify student-loan balances in connection with a national emergency, like COVID-19, some have argued he can use the Higher Education Act of 1965, which does not require a national emergency for relief. Borrowers just don't want to see payments resume without relief. One borrower previously told Insider that he's worried the "White House is so desperate to restart payments and get back to normal that they've forgotten that 'normal' is a decades-long debt sentence; either way, it will be an excuse to say they'd done all the can." Read the original article on Business Insider Jan. 4The state of New Mexico has delayed a sweeping order for all state workers who have been working remotely to return to the office. While all exempt employees, managers, supervisors and directors were instructed Friday afternoon to report back to the office Tuesday, all other employees who have been working remotely will be able to continue to do so for another month. "Non-manager and non-supervisor employees on a 100% telework or hybrid telework schedule will return to the office full-time on or before February 2, 2023," Teresa Padilla, director of the State Personnel Office, wrote in a memo. The delayed implementation of a return to in-person work comes after the personnel office informed employees last month it was rescinding a telework policy and that everyone would have to report back to the office at the first of the year. The decision has sparked pushback from labor groups that have described the directive as unnecessary and warned it could result in even higher vacancy rates in state government, especially among employees who have to commute, don't have access to childcare or are dealing with other circumstances that would make going back to the office difficult. Padilla wrote in an email Monday state government "amended" the full-time return to office start date following discussions with Local 7076 of the Communications Workers of America and Council 18 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. While the State Personnel Office reached an agreement with AFSCME "after collaborative and productive discussions with leadership," Padilla wrote, it is at an impasse with leaders of Local 7076. "The State Personnel Office is continuing to identify any work location availability issues and will work directly with State agencies to address them on a case-by-case basis," she wrote. "The extension through February 2, 2023, will allow employees more time to make the necessary arrangements to prepare for full-time, in-person work." Story continues Padilla wrote the personnel office has not been made aware of resignations as a result of the decision to rescind the telework policy. Asked about the feedback her office has received from employees, she wrote it has received a form email from less than 5 percent of the 16,625 classified employees in state government. "In general, we believe most state government employees understand the benefits of being present in the office to serve our customers and constituents," she wrote. Megan Green, executive vice president of Local 7076 of the Communications Workers of America, said Monday she believes the start date for the return to in-person work was delayed because the state government didn't plan properly. Local 7076 represents a cross section of employees, including environmental scientists, nurses and health care aides across 13 state agencies, including the Environment, Health and Public Education departments. The union represents 2,500 positions, 800 of which are currently vacant. "I think they tried to cancel telework with absolutely no plan in place, and now they're realizing they need to take a step back and make a plan," Green said, adding a one-month delay may be insufficient. "I know several agencies have to lease a lot of additional space, and I don't understand how that can be done in one month with the state's process for leasing spaces and purchasing," Green said. "I mean, it could take a month to buy a pair of work boots, so I don't know how we can lease a bunch of new office space in a month. It still seems pretty shortsighted to me." While a recent report by the Legislative Finance Committee found the state is underutilizing office space, a spokesman for the General Services Department, which includes the Facilities Management Division, recently said state-owned office buildings in Santa Fe are at or near capacity. Green said the union asked the personnel office during negotiations to provide information about its plan to return to in-person work, including where employees would be seated and whether the state government would be able to meet minimum space requirement guidelines. "They couldn't, obviously; they can't at this point," she said. "They don't know where people are going to be working, and I don't think they can do it in a month, but they seem to think they can do it in a month, I guess." Green said the impasse between Local 7076 and the personnel office will have to be settled in court. "We believe they need to bargain the full [telework] policy cancellation with us, so we have already filed a prohibitive practices complaint about that but agreed to talk about the effects [of rescinding the policy] because we were really concerned they were going to try and bring everyone back on Jan. 3 without office space," she said. Connie Derr, executive director of AFSCME Council 18, which represents more than 6,000 state government employees, said the labor group negotiated for the additional 30 days to help employees who have been working remotely prepare to return to the office. Labor leaders had complained about the lack of notice state government had given employees on telework status to return to the office. Derr wrote in an email many of the union's members said the most significant issue they faced was not enough time to make other arrangements, such as for a child or elderly family member, "and any other personal responsibilities that arose during their telework status." Derr wrote workplaces are changing, "and AFSCME strongly believes that a permanent telework policy must be an option that we negotiate with the State in the very near future." Green said Local 7076 will continue to fight the decision to rescind the telework policy. "The legislative session starts in 14 days now, so I think that gives us a good chance to approach a wider audience," she said. "We have been talking to legislators, and so we're going to keep trying to point out how this is a bad decision for workers." Padilla wrote the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who won a second term in November, is eyeing pay increases for state workers. The State Personnel Office "is dedicated to making the state a great place to work, and we are proud to offer a competitive benefit package and retirement benefits," she wrote. "We are looking forward to developing a compensation increase package with the Legislature to ensure that state employees are competitively compensated for the hard work they do on behalf of New Mexicans every day." Follow Daniel J. Chacon on Twitter @danieljchacon. According to Reuters, U.S. President Joe Biden answered positively to reporters on Jan. 4 when asked if the option of sending Bradley fighting vehicles to Ukraine was on the table. The U.S. government is weighing sending Bradley fighting vehicles to Ukraine as part of a further package of military support, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on Dec. 30. Mark Cancian, a former White House defense budget analyst, said that Bradleys would provide a major increase in ground combat capability because it is, in effect, a light tank. Earlier on Jan. 4, U.S. National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that Washington would soon announce a new aid package for Ukraine. According to Kirby, the new help could include additional HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), the supply of which was a game changer in Ukraine's fight against the Russian aggression. Richard Madeley has had his say on Rishi Sunak. (ITV) Richard Madeley has said that Rishi Sunak is asking for a "smack" over his proposed plan for all pupils in England to be taught maths until they are 18. The prime minister's policy has already drawn criticism amid extensive strike action, a crisis in the NHS and soaring price increases. Read more: GMB's Richard Madeley loses temper interviewing RMT's Mick Lynch over rail strike action While England is one of the few major developed countries not to offer some sort of maths education all the way through school, Madeley criticised Sunak on Good Morning Britain. Watch: Rishi Sunak's five promises for the year ahead Talking to Mirror editor Kevin Maguire, Madeley said: "Hes asking for a smack in the chops, isnt he? Politically speaking." His co-host Susanna Reid quickly jumped in to say: "Metaphorically, shall we say." Madeley spent much of Christmas ill, announcing on his return to Good Morning Britain after the holidays that he had never been so sick. He told viewers: "I had that [superbug] all Christmas for a month. Never had anything like it before. In fact, Im beginning to wonder if theres a new strain of COVID going around." Richard Madeley is not a fan of Rishi Sunak's maths scheme. (Getty Images) He added: "I took a test every week, it was always negative, but I cant help thinking thats what I had." The former This Morning presenter has had a rough run of luck of late after suffering a fall shortly before Christmas after tripping in the snow. Appearing on a special episode of Good Morning Britain based out of Whiston Hospital in Liverpool, Madeley said: "It snowed here, I think the day before yesterday, so theyve had a lot of falls. l. I fell over this morning getting out of the car." His co-presenter Kate Garraway added: "Richard nearly didnt make it on air. It was very tense." Andrew Tate in a Rolls-Royce Wraith he bought in London in July. Andrew Tate / YouTube Romanian police seized 11 cars from Andrew Tate after arresting him, an official told Insider. Local media pictured the impounded vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce and an Aston Martin. Tate and his brother were arrested on December 29 on allegations of sex-trafficking. Authorities in Romania seized 11 cars from Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan after they were arrested, an official confirmed to Insider. The cars were taken in the wake of their arrest on December 29 on allegations of human-trafficking and exploiting women to produce porn. Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romania's DIICOT investigations agency, confirmed the car seizures to Insider on Wednesday. She said they were being held to "sustain the cost of the investigation" into Tate, and that they would also be collateral to fund any payments awards to their alleged victims. Bolla could not immediately confirm the makes and models of the cars. But the Romanian news outlet Gandul published photos it said showed the seized cars. They included a Rolls-Royce Wraith from the carmakers Black Badge range and an Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate. Per the car site TopGear.com, a Wraith costs at least $300,000 and a Vanquish S around $250,000. The Rolls-Royce Tate seemingly bought on a whim while walking through London a few months ago. Bolla said that DIICOT was working to establish whether the Tates funded the purchase of the cars from human trafficking. Tate, who is a former professional kickboxer-turned-businessman was arrested with his brother and two women on December 29. Tate became popular online through sharing content flaunting his apparent wealth, and reveling in sexism. In one infamous video, for instance, he said women should "bear responsibility" if they are raped. Among the allegations is that six women in the trafficking scheme were forced to make porn for Tate's online business. At least one of them was raped, according to a DIICOT press release. Tate and the others were initially held for 24 hours, and then a Romanian court decided this should be extended to 30 days. Tate has not publicly responded to the allegations yet, except to cast doubt on the investigation as a conspiracy. A tweet from his account on Friday stated "The Matrix sent their agents." Read the original article on Insider FILE - Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who played the title roles in Franco Zeffirelli's FILE - Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who played the title roles in Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet," place flowers on the "Tomba di Giulietta," or the Tomb of Juliet, in Verona, northern Italy, on Oct. 22, 1968. LOS ANGELES (AP) The two stars of 1968s Romeo and Juliet sued Paramount Pictures for more than $500 million on Tuesday over a nude scene in the film shot when they were teens. Olivia Hussey, then 15 and now 71, and Leonard Whiting, then 16 now 72, filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud. Director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, initially told the two that they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in the bedroom scene that comes late in the movie and was shot on the final days of filming, the suit alleges. But on the morning of the shoot, Zeffirelli told Whiting, who played Romeo, and Hussey, who played Juliet, that they would wear only body makeup, while still assuring them the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity, according to the suit. Yet they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge, in violation of California and federal laws against indecency and the exploitation of children, the suit says. Zeffirelli told them they must act in the nude or the Picture would fail and their careers would be hurt, the suit said. The actors believed they had no choice but to act in the nude in body makeup as demanded. Whitings bare buttocks and Husseys bare breasts are briefly shown during the scene. The film, and its theme song, were major hits at the time, and has been shown to generations of high school students studying the Shakespeare play since. "Romeo and Juliette" movie director Franco Zeffirelli, left, actors Olivia Hussey, center, and Leonard Whiting are seen after the Parisian premiere of the film in Paris on Sept. 25, 1968. The court filing says the Hussey and Whiting have suffered emotional damage and mental anguish for decades, and that each had careers that did not reflect the success of the movie. Story continues It says given that suffering and the revenue brought in by the film since its release, the actors are entitled to damages of more than $500 million. An email seeking comment from representatives of Paramount was not immediately returned. The lawsuit was filed under a California law temporarily suspending the statute of limitations for child sex abuse, which has led to a host of new lawsuits and the revival of many others that were previously dismissed. Hussey defended the scene in a 2018 interview with Variety, which first reported the lawsuit, for the films 50th anniversary. Nobody my age had done that before, she said, adding that Zeffirelli shot it tastefully. It was needed for the film. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Hussey and Whiting have. Related... Romeo and Juliet stars Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting have filed a lawsuit against Paramount, accusing the production company of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Hussey and Whiting starred in the 1968s feature film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The lawsuit, verified by People, stems from a scene in the movie that showcases nude images of both actors, which were filmed when Hussey and Whiting were allegedly minors. The complaint alleges that late director Franco Zeffirelli told the lead actors that the film wouldnt include nudity, but ended up turning on his word. What they were told and what went on were two different things, Tony Marinozzi, a business manager for the actors, told Variety in a statement on Tuesday (3 January). They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? Marinozzi added in a statement to the outlet. There are no options. There was no #MeToo. Hussey and Whitings attorney Solomon Gresen added: [The actors] were very young naive children in the sixties who had no understanding of what was about to hit them. All of a sudden they were famous at a level they never expected, and in addition they were violated in a way they didnt know how to deal with. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival (Getty Images) The lawsuit states that both actors are seeking compensation believed to be in excess of $500,000,000 to match the amount the film has earned since 1968. The Independent has contacted Paramount for comment. Romeo and Juliet is a 1968 coming-of-age period romantic drama film based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. The film won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for Best Director and Best Picture, making it the last Shakespearean film to date to be nominated for the latter category. Whiting and Hussey also won a Golden Globe award each for most promising newcomers. If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331. People arrive for work at the rehabbed Old Post Office in Chicago in March 2022. Office life as we used to know it has been thoroughly shaken up. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Pardon me if I glance at the top of this column just to remember what day it is. Besides old age, chalk it up to the past two years of pandemic conditions under which Americans have been living. Advertisement When people ask how things are going, I want to say, We seem to be getting back to abnormal. I want to say abnormal because after two years of pandemic conditions, its not always easy to say whats normal. Advertisement Under the old normal, my biggest New Years annoyance came with trying to remember the new year rather than the old one when writing checks. Under the new abnormal, I have the larger annoyance of waking up like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, hoping that this is, indeed, a new day and not a replay of the previous one. I know COVID-19 is not entirely done with us, but being thoroughly vaccinated, I can feel at least a little more relaxed. The many maskless faces around me indicate that a new post-pandemic consensus is emerging. Gradually, we appear to be deciding it is time to get back to something. The biggest question facing many of us office workers is whether and how we can tear ourselves away from the mixed blessings of Zoom meetings and food deliveries to return to our offices. Office life as we used to know it has been thoroughly shaken up. For example, daily office attendance in some of the nations largest cities currently averages about half of pre-pandemic levels, according to Kastle Systems, which provides security systems for workplaces. Chicagos occupancy rate reached 48.5% before Christmas, rising above the average in Kastles 10-city Back to Work Barometer for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Kastle bases its statistics on security card swipes in its client companies 2,600 buildings and 41,000 businesses across 47 states, the company says. Advertisement Weekday foot traffic in downtowns and public transit ridership have been about a third less than pre-pandemic levels. Much of that is beginning to return, but much of it also isnt, leading many city planners and businesses to see early signs of a shift away from urban centers as we know them. In another signal of post-pandemic attitude changes, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday called on President Joe Biden to end work-from-home telework policies for federal employees or turn over vacant government buildings for housing. As one of the fastest gentrifying cities in the nation over the past couple of decades, Washington is short of affordable housing. Since the federal government accounts for a third of properties owned or leased in Washington and a fourth of the citys pre-pandemic jobs, the mayors office says, the city is using tax breaks to encourage conversion of vacant office buildings. Under her plan, up to 100,000 new residents could be housed in the city. Its not hard to imagine, as many do, that the pandemic, combined with innovations in communications and transportation, could lead to the biggest changes in housing and business patterns since the growth of modern suburbia after World War II. Those who no longer want to brave long commutes from downtown could spark the startup of new urban centers, with the help of changes in tax codes and consumer habits. Advertisement D.C. Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio in December described the federal citys downtown reimagination strategy in three key points: Change the space, fill the space, and bring the people. Which brings to mind a line reminiscent of Field of Dreams that might be asked about potential development: If they build it, will they come? Bold, sweeping changes like that may be hard for most of us to imagine, especially after the wrenching social changes we have been through in the past couple of years. But while some companies and families have been moving out of Chicago for various reasons like urban crime and high rents, others see opportunities. The availability of vaccines unleashed considerable pent-up demand and opened spaces for lease across the Chicago area. But the absence of office workers has made street-level businesses in the Loop long for more companies to call people back to the office. As a longtime Chicagoan, I remain optimistic about the citys post-pandemic recovery. Advertisement Zoom, like other technologies, is part of the new abnormal, but it wont soon replace the advantages of meeting in-person. Sign up here to receive Clarence Pages columns by email as soon as they are published. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime With the new year comes the new potential for travel. Americans are anticipating moving past the restrictions of the last three years due to the pandemic. Travelers are planning international trips and living their wanderlust dreams. This year does come with changes to the travel scene, including new regulations, services, and systems that will affect Americans. Related: This Houston Travel App Gets Travelers To Their Destinations Faster Here are some major changes American travelers should know about for 2023: Visitor fees for travel to Europe Youll soon have to pay a visitor fee for visiting countries in the European Union (E.U.). This includes 22 nations and Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Thankfully, the fee isnt a large amount. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be introduced in November. The automated visa-waiver program will charge non-E.U. citizens between the ages of 18 and 70, an entry fee of 7 or $7.25. If youre planning on traveling to a participating nation, youll have to submit an ETIAS application and entry authorization ahead of your trip. Travelers can visit the region for 90 days or less visa-free. The authorization is valid for multiple visits to E.U. countries in a three-year period. Renew your U.S. passport online After years of processing delays, backlogs, and office closure due to the pandemic, the U.S. Passport Agency is stepping it up in 2023. The online passport renewal portal will be launched for the general public to use after a successful pilot program in 2022. wundervisuals Gone are the days of needing to find a place to take a passport photo, mailing out a packet of paperwork, and hoping to get your passport in the mail before your flight. The portal will allow you to enter your information online, upload an image using your mobile device and pay online! The only downside to this upgrade is that processing times wont be any faster. The turnaround time will remain six to nine weeks and five weeks for expedited processing, according to the State Department. The fees will remain the same. Story continues New entry/exit system in Europe Going into effect in May 2023, Europe will have a new Entry/Exit System (EES) that will register non-E.U. travelers biometric data (facial images and fingerprints), personal information, and entry and exit dates. Instead of manually checking travelers passports stamping for entry and exits, this system will be able to provide accurate information on border crossings and flag those who overstay. Related: Travel Company Lists Several Airlines With Questionable Rankings And Reviews The unauthorized use of cellphones exposed the location of Russian troops to the Ukrainian military, prompting the weekend rocket attack that killed scores of Russians, a Kremlin official said Wednesday. Some Russians dismissed the explanation as an effort by the Kremlin to deflect blame from leadership. Lt. Gen. Sergey Sevryukov said the death toll had risen to 89 servicemembers up from 63 in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Makiivka in eastern Ukraine. He said a commission was investigating the strike but that "it has already become obvious at present that the main cause of the occurrence was activation and large-scale use, contrary to the ban, of personal phones by personnel within the reach of enemys destruction means." Sevryukov said the Russian military is taking measures to ensure a similar incident does not happen again, adding that officials responsible would be punished. The attack was among the most deadly Russia has faced in a war that has dragged on for more than 10 months with no indication it will soon end. The British defense ministry, in an assessment Wednesday, noted that the extent of the damage indicated a "realistic possibility" that ammunition stored near troop accommodations exploded during the strike, creating secondary blasts. "The Russian military has a record of unsafe ammunition storage from well before the current war," the assessment says. "This incident highlights how unprofessional practices contribute to Russias high casualty rate." Other developments: Unconfirmed Ukrainian reports put the death toll from the the weekend rocket strike much higher. The Strategic Communications Directorate of Ukraines armed forces claimed Sunday that about 400 mobilized Russian soldiers were killed in a vocational school building. The Russian regiment's deputy commander was among the dead, according to the nation's defense ministry. In Samara, in southwestern Russia, locals on Tuesday gathered for a memorial. Unconfirmed reports in Russian-language media said the victims were mobilized reservists from the region. Story continues UKRAINE CONTINUES TO INTERCEPT DRONES: Russia does 'not plan to end the war,' Ukraine official says Some Russians reject cellphone explanation Andrei Medvedev, Russian TV host, dismissed the explanation in a message on Telegram, calling it a reflection of the adage that cities are taken by soldiers while wars are won by generals. "Of course it is not the fault of the commander who gave the order to place the personnel in the building. Not the one who did not take care of the means of disguise in advance," he wrote sarcastically. "It is not the fault of the one who did not begin to settle the fighters in the basements. And a simple fighter with a phone, it turns out, is to blame." The Russian military blogger Grey Zone wrote on Telegram that while the enemy sometimes can use cellphones to track troops, "in this case, it is 99% a lie and an attempt to shift the blame." Ukraine planning March offensive, Ukraine official says Ukraine plans a major offensive for spring, and fighting could be "hottest" in March, Ukraine's military intelligence head said Wednesday. "This is (when we will see) liberation of territories and dealing the final defeats to the Russian Federation," Kyrylo Budanov told ABC News in an interview in Kyiv. "This will happen throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to the Donbas." Budanov said the U.S. Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicles will "significantly improve" the Ukraine military's combat ability. The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly said it will sign no peace deal that involves land concessions. That includes Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014. Budanov thanked Americans for their support and promised that "it will not take too long now, and every taxpayer in the U.S. will be able to see where every cent went. We will change this world together." Ukrainians could face more power outages Ukraines state grid operator Ukrenergo said that it has established power consumption limits across the nation and that emergency outages will be introduced if the limits are exceeded. Consumption has increased because of colder weather and increased business operations after the winter holidays, the company said in a statement. Energy facilities in the eastern part of the country had come under frequent attack from Russia, causing significant damage, the statement said. The damage to generation facilities and power transmission grids is complex and large-scale," the statement said. "Their restoration still requires significant resources and time." Iranian drone made up of mostly US parts, CNN reports Parts made by more than a dozen U.S. and Western companies were found inside an Iranian drone downed in Ukraine last fall, CNN reported, citing a Ukrainian intelligence assessment the media outlet said it obtained. Of the 52 components Ukrainians removed from the Iranian Shahed-136 drone, 40 appear to have been manufactured by 13 American companies, the others by companies in Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, and China, according to the assessment. The weapons research group Conflict Armament Research issued multiple reports last year citing the use of Western parts in the drones, and the White House has created a task force aimed at cutting off the supply of Western-made parts to Iran. Contributing: The Associated Press KYIV RESIDENTS RINGING IN NEW YEAR caught in Russian attack; Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not forgive: Updates Ukrainian servicemen bid farewell to their partners at Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine on January 3, 2023. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine: Russia blames own troops, cell phones for attack By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was planning to call up more troops for a major new offensive, even as Moscow was facing some of its biggest internal criticism of the war over a strike that killed scores of fresh conscripts. Kyiv has been saying for weeks that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to order another mass conscription drive and shut his borders to prevent men from escaping the draft. "We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Tuesday. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario ... Any attempt at their new offensive must fail." Russia's defence ministry on Wednesday blamed mobile phone use by its soldiers for a Ukrainian strike on New Year's Eve it said had killed 89 servicemen, the deadliest incident Moscow has acknowledged for its troops since the start of the war. If Russia is planning a new mobilisation, the deaths of scores of conscripts on New Year's Eve could undermine morale. Hundreds of thousands of men fled Russia when Putin ordered the first call-up of reservists since World War Two in September after military setbacks. Putin said last month there was no need for further mobilisation. But in a sign the Kremlin may now be considering one, a little known group claiming to represent widows of Russian soldiers called on Tuesday for Putin to mobilise millions of men. The Kremlin has not commented on that appeal. RUSSIAN ANGER Russia has effectively shut down all direct opposition to the war, with open criticism banned by severe media rules. But it has given comparatively free rein to pro-war bloggers, some with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Many are increasingly vocal about what they consider a half-hearted and incompetently led campaign, and have expressed anger this week over the strike that killed Russian troops housed in a vocational school in Donetsk province on New Year's Eve. Story continues Criticism has been directed at military commanders rather than at Putin, who has not commented publicly on the attack. Russia's Defence Ministry, which raised the official death toll in the attack to 89 from 63, blamed soldiers for illegally using mobile phones, which it said led Ukraine to locate the base in Makiivka, twin city of regional capital Donetsk. Semyon Pegov, a war correspondent decorated by Putin, said on Telegram the mobile phone explanation "looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame", and there were other ways Ukraine could have spotted the base. Other pro-Russian bloggers have said the strike was worsened because ammunition was stored at the site. Moscow has not confirmed this. Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute think-tank, said Moscow had a problem safely housing freshly mobilised troops near the front in winter. "It is more difficult to disperse them because of a lack of small unit leadership, and they will do worse in the cold than trained soldiers," he tweeted. But housing them near ammunition "is simply a leadership failure", he added. ARMOURED VEHICLES French President Emmanuel Macron told Zelenskiy France would send light AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles to help in the war, a French official said after a phone call between the two men, adding this would be the first time Western-made armoured vehicles are being delivered in support of the Ukrainian army. An official from the Ukrainian defence ministry's intelligence section, Andriy Cherniak, said in comments to the RBC-Ukraine media outlet that Kyiv expected no let-up in Russia's offensive this year despite the heavy human toll. "According to Ukrainian military intelligence estimates, in the next four-five months the Russian army may lose up to 70,000 people. And the occupying country's (Russia's) leadership is ready for such losses," Cherniak said. Russian leaders "understand they will lose but they do not plan to end the war", he said. In a signal to the West that Russia will not back down over Ukraine, Putin sent a frigate on Wednesday to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles, which can travel at more than five times the speed of sound. Ukraine said Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Russia denies deliberately attacking civilians. The battlefield reports could not be independently verified by Reuters. Ukraine's General Staff also said Russian forces continued to concentrate on advancing near the Donetsk province city of Bakhmut, where both sides are believed to have lost thousands of troops in weeks of intense trench warfare. Ukraine's interior ministry said on Wednesday that border guards had repelled a Russian assault near Bakhmut and then captured the enemy's positions after a counter attack. It did not give precise details of where the clash took place. Ukrainian deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said Russia would continue to form additional assault units and focus on the capture of Bakhmut and other cities to the north of Donetsk. Malyar, citing the ministry's main intelligence directorate, wrote on Telegram that significant Russian losses meant Moscow would most likely have to announce a second partial mobilisation in the first quarter of the year. In Washington, a senior U.S. administration official said heavy fighting around Bakhmut is likely to persist for the foreseeable future, with the outcome uncertain as Russians have made incremental progress. Russia launched what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24, citing threats to its own security and a need to protect Russian speakers. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of an unprovoked war to seize territory. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Michael Perry, Gareth Jones, William Maclean; Editing by Peter Graff, Philippa Fletcher) Workers clean rubble after a Ukrainian rocket strike in Makiivka, in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday. Russia's Defense Ministry says 63 of its soldiers were killed. (AP) The death of dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of Russian servicemen in a Ukrainian airstrike on a military base in the occupied city of Makiivka has been met with widespread rage, directed at political leadership in the Kremlin and military leaders, as well as Ukrainian forces and their Western allies, who supplied the weaponry used in the devastating attack. Makiivka is criminal negligence, lamented Pavel Gubarev, a pro-Russian militia leader in Donetsk, the Ukrainian region that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. Like others, he vented on the popular social media platform Telegram. Military commanders blamed conscripts for using their cellphones, which they said allowed Ukrainians to identify Russian positions. But influential military bloggers, many of them veterans themselves, said those commanders were themselves to blame. The milbloggers are furious at the decision of commanders to put so many people into one place, at once, analyst Aric Toler of the intelligence firm Bellingcat told Yahoo News. Mourners gather to lay flowers in memory of more than 60 Russian soldiers who Russia says were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russian-controlled territory, in Samara, on Tuesday. (Arden Arkman/AFP via Getty Images) The bloggers voiced general complaints about how there is no accountability and responsibility among leadership, Toler said. A viral video of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reportedly partying at a Moscow restaurant at around the same time as the Makiivka attack seemed to accentuate the seemingly eternal divide between Moscow elites and ordinary Russians. (The provenance of the video has been called into question, but the clip has continued to proliferate widely and garner outrage.) The attack on Makiivka a suburb of Donetsk was carried out by using rockets fired by the sophisticated HIMARS system. Advanced military equipment supplied by the United States and European allies has frustrated a Russian military mired in the thinking, and equipment, of the 1990s if not the 1980s. Such profound military failures will continue to complicate [Russian President Vladimir] Putins efforts to appease the Russian pro-war community and retain the dominant narrative in the domestic information space, wrote analysts for the Institute for the Study of War in their assessment of the Makiivka strike and its consequences. Story continues For older Russians, the attack can only serve as a reminder of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, where U.S.-equipped mujahideen fought off a young and inexperienced invasion force. The first war in Chechnya, waged in the mid-1990s, saw similar humiliations for ill-prepared and unmotivated Russian troops, leading some mothers to march to the battlefield in hopes of stopping the conflict and rescuing their sons. A Chechen fighter takes cover from sniper fire in front of the presidential palace destroyed by Russian artillery bombardments in Grozny on Jan. 10, 1995. (Michael Evstafiev/AFP via Getty Images) That kind of popular uprising is precisely what Putin is seeking to avoid. With the nations newspapers and television networks solidly under Kremlin control, public discontent has been muted since the protests that broke out when the Ukrainian invasion began almost a year ago. And pro-Kremlin propagandists have cast the invasion as an ideological, even existential, battle against the West, in which Ukraine is supposedly but a pawn and Russia, improbably, is the underdog. Defending our motherland is the sacred duty we owe to our ancestors and descendants, Putin said in his New Years address on the evening of Dec. 31, just before rockets fell on Makiivka. The moral and historical truth is on our side. Though such high-handed rhetoric may be discordant to Western ears, many ordinary Russians see the conflict similarly, despite the fact that the provoked invasion of Ukraine was launched under entirely fictitious circumstances. Suspicions of the West, a staple of the Soviet period, remain deeply embedded in the Russian psyche. In the city of Samara from where some of the soldiers killed in Makiivka appear to have hailed a woman speaking at a pro-war rally urged revenge against the West, which she said had united to destroy us. Mourners gather to lay flowers in memory of Russian soldiers killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russian-controlled territory, in Samara, on Tuesday. (Arden Arkman/AFP via Getty Images) The cost of war has often fallen on young men from the hinterlands, many of whom have never been to the power centers of St. Petersburg or Moscow, and who dont necessarily share the Kremlins geopolitical goals especially if they come from ethnic groups that had themselves been subjugated by Russia or the Soviet Union. Last falls mobilization roiled Russia, and young men fled to avoid conscription. Ukraine has continued to gain ground, and peace talks seem distant, meaning that the war will likely continue well into 2023 and perhaps beyond. The question for Putin is how many more Makiivkas the Russian people are willing to countenance, how many more images of devastation from the front, followed by excuses from propagandists and invocations of patriotism and sacrifice from political and military leaders. Where are our patriots? wondered Chechen warlord and Kremlin ally Ramzan Kadyrov, who has organized a fundraising drive for injured soldiers. Dont you want to help our heroes? Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, states that Russia has lost its status as a powerful military state and the world should no longer fear it. Source: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in an interview with ABC News Quote: "Russia is not a military threat to the world anymore, just a tall tale." Details: Budanov states that Putin's regime "is a laughingstock for everyone". The Russian troops are all but reduced to defending territories they still occupy within Ukraine, "and not for much longer." According to Budanov, the only issue remaining is Russia's nuclear arsenal "and the uncontrollable regime" of Putin. This might lead "the whole world to realise the necessity of Russia's denuclearization or at least an international overseeing of its nuclear arsenal." Quote: "A terrorist country swinging a nuclear bat at everyone and spewing threats is not a regime that has an ethical or political right to be in control of weapons of mass destruction." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The Russian militarys top brass came under increasing scrutiny Wednesday as more details emerged of how at least 89 Russian soldiers, and possibly many more, were killed in a Ukrainian artillery attack on a single building. The scene last weekend in the Russian-held eastern Ukrainian town of Makiivka, where the soldiers were temporarily stationed, appears to have been a recipe for disaster. Hundreds of Russian troops were reportedly clustered in a building close to the front line, well within range of Ukraines Western-supplied precision artillery, possibly sitting close to an ammunition store and perhaps unwittingly helping Kyivs forces to zero in on them. It was one of the deadliest single attacks on the Kremlins forces since the war began more than 10 months ago and the highest death toll in a single incident acknowledged so far by either side in the conflict. Ukraines armed forces claimed the Makiivka strike killed around 400 Russian soldiers housed in a vocational school building. About 300 more of them were wounded, officials alleged. It wasn't possible to verify either side's claims due to the fighting. The Russian military sought to blame the soldiers for their own deaths. Gen. Lt. Sergei Sevryukov said in a statement late Tuesday that their phone signals allowed Kyivs forces to determine the coordinates of the location of military personnel and launch a strike. Emily Ferris, a research fellow on Russia and Eurasia at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told The Associated Press it is very hard to verify whether cellphone signaling and geolocation were to blame for the accurate strike. She noted that Russian soldiers on active duty are forbidden from using their phones exactly because there have been so many instances in recent years of their being used for targeting, including by both sides in the Ukraine war. The conflict has made ample use of modern technology. She also noted that blaming the soldiers themselves was a helpful narrative for Moscow as it helps deflect criticism and steer attention toward the official cellphone ban. Story continues Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to move the conversation along, too, as he took part via video link in a sending-off ceremony Wednesday for a frigate equipped with the Russian navys new hypersonic missiles. Putin said the Zircon missiles that the Admiral Gorshkov frigate was carrying were a unique weapon, capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and with a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Russia says the missiles can't be intercepted. Meanwhile, away from the battlefields, France said Wednesday it will send French-made AMX-10 RC light tanks to Ukraine the first tanks from a Western European country following an afternoon phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. The French presidency didn't say how many tanks would be delivered and when. The NATO member has given Ukraine anti-tank and air defense missiles and rocket launchers. Later Wednesday, President Joe Biden confirmed that the U.S. is considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. The Bradley is a medium armored combat vehicle that can carry about 10 personnel, or be configured to carry additional ammunition or communications equipment. The Pentagon has already provided Ukraine with more than 2,000 combat vehicles, including 477 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and more than 1,200 Humvees. The weekend Makiivka strike seemed to be the latest blow to the Kremlins military prestige as it struggles to advance the invasion of its neighbor. But Ferris, the analyst, said there should be a bit of caution around leaning too heavily on this (attack) as a sign of (the) Russian armys weakness. As details of the strike have trickled out in recent days, some observers detected military sloppiness at the root of so many deaths. U.K. intelligence officials said Wednesday that Moscows unprofessional military practices were likely partly to blame for the high casualties. Given the extent of the damage, there is a realistic possibility that ammunition was being stored near to troop accommodation, which detonated during the strike, creating secondary explosions, the U.K. Defense Ministry said on Twitter. In the same post, the ministry said the building struck by Ukrainian missiles was little more than 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the front line, within one of the most contested areas of the conflict, in the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region. The Russian military has a record of unsafe ammunition storage from well before the current war, but this incident highlights how unprofessional practices contribute to Russias high casualty rate, the update added. The Russian Defense Ministry, in a rare admission of losses, initially said the strike killed 63 troops. But as emergency crews searched the ruins, the death toll mounted. The regiments deputy commander was among the dead. That stirred renewed criticism inside Russia of the way the broader military campaign is being handled by the Ministry of Defense. Vladlen Tatarsky, a well-known military blogger, accused Russian generals of demonstrating their own stupidity and misunderstanding of whats going on (among) the troops, where everyone has cellphones. Moreover, in places where theres coverage, artillery fire is often adjusted by phone. There are simply no other ways, Tatarsky wrote in a Telegram post. Others blamed the decision to station hundreds of troops in one place. The cellphone story is not too convincing, military blogger Semyon Pegov wrote. The only remedy is not to house personnel en masse in large buildings. Simply not to house 500 people in one place but spread them across 10 different locations. Unconfirmed reports in Russian-language media said the victims were mobilized reservists from the region of Samara, in southwestern Russia. The Institute for the Study of War saw in the incident further evidence that Moscow isnt properly utilizing the reservists it began calling up last September. Systemic failures in Russias force generation apparatus continue to plague personnel capabilities to the detriment of Russian operational capacity in Ukraine, the think tank said in a report late Tuesday. Ferris, of the Royal United Services Institute, said the Makiivka strike shows the Russian army is more interested in growing its number of troops, not in training them in wartime skills. Thats really how Russia conducts a lot of its warfare by overwhelming the enemy with volume, with people, she said. "The Kremlin view, unfortunately, is that soldiers lives are expendable. In a grinding battle of attrition, Russian forces have pressed their offensive on Bakhmut in Donetsk despite heavy losses. The Wagner Group, a private military contractor owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a millionaire businessman with close ties to Putin, has spearheaded the Bakhmut offensive. U.S. intelligence officials have determined that convicts Wagner pulled from prisons accounted for 90% of Russian casualties in fighting for Bakhmut, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to discuss the finding. The White House said last month that intelligence findings showed Wagner had some 50,000 personnel fighting in Ukraine, including 40,000 recruited convicts. The U.S. assesses that Wagner is spending about $100 million a month in the fight. ___ Kozlowska reported from London. Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Russias Ministry of Defense says its soldiers unauthorized cellphone use tipped Ukraine off and allowed Kyiv to target a Russian facility with a recent rocket attack. The main reason was turning on and massive use of mobile phones by the personnel within the range area of enemy firepower. This factor allowed the enemy to locate the personnel for launching the missile strike, Gen. Lt. Sergei Sevryukov said in a Telegram update from the Ministry of Defense account. Sevryukov said that the soldiers phone use went against an existing ban and noted that authorities are investigating the incident further. All the necessary measures are currently being adopted to prevent this kind of tragic incidents in the future. The investigation is to result in bringing the responsible officials to justice, Sevryukov added. The Ukrainian strike against Russias Makiivka base over the weekend killed 89, according to Russia though Kyiv is claiming as many as 400 were killed. Ukraine fired six rockets from a HIMARS multiple launch system, supplied by the U.S., and four reportedly hit the facility, a temporary base set up in the industrial city of Makiivka in Donetsk, one of the regions Russia moved to annex last year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Russian occupiers had been successfully attacked in the vicinity of 5 settlements of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, with the Russians losing up to 260 soldiers killed and wounded. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 4 January Quote: "It has been confirmed that an attack on the occupiers in the areas of Tokmak, Melitopol, Berdiansk, Polohy and Vasylivka settlements of Zaporizhzhia Oblast took place on 2 January. Two ammunition storage points, up to 10 units of military equipment of various types were destroyed, 2 Russian deployment points were damaged and up to 260 servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were killed or wounded." Background: On 3 January, General Staff confirmed that Russians lost about 500 soldiers killed and wounded near the village of Chulanivka, Kherson Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Husband-and-wife owners of Modest Coffee, Jenni Trilik and Marcus Contaldo, stand with pallets of coffee at their West Chicago warehouse on Dec. 30, 2022. (Mark Black/for the Chicago Tribune) In a whirlwind 24 hours last week, Jenni Trilik and Marcus Contaldo went from being $216,000 in debt and the owners of nearly 30,000 bags of unsold coffee to utterly overwhelmed with support. It was an unexpectedly happy ending to a drawn-out small business nightmare that began in April, after a deal fell through that was supposed to get their Modest Coffee product onto Walmarts virtual store shelves in a long-planned expansion of their 9-year-old West Chicago company. Advertisement With 9,300 pounds of coffee and debts piling up, the Aurora couple wrote about the experience on their stores blog Thursday morning, then offered caffeine lovers one heck of a deal: An entire case of coffee for half off, or $7-$8 a bag. Those who didnt drink coffee but still wanted to help could donate the bags to charity instead. By Friday afternoon, theyd sold out. Advertisement Modest Coffee owner Jenni Trilik bags up fresh coffee on Dec. 30, 2022, in West Chicago. (Mark Black/for the Chicago Tribune) There has been this huge weight that has been lifted financial, of course, but also an emotional one, (seeing) that people do care about the little guy, Contaldo said. It was far from how they imagined things would go back in April. After spending a year with food broker Rucker Marketing to select Distributors for national expansion and get onboarded as a vendor, Modest Coffee received an offer to sell coffee on Walmarts website. They figured they would need to make 6,000 bags of coffee about what Modest Coffee produces in three months that would ship to the distributors warehouse. Modest Coffee would get paid once the full order was delivered to Walmarts own distribution centers across the country. Trilik and Contaldo eagerly agreed to the retail partnership. Their hope was to hire more people, particularly refugees, and double production. When distributor requests began to flow in June, theyd have two weeks to complete each shipment. Different distribution centers began placing orders, but each was for 8,000 bags, quickly outpacing their expected output, Contaldo said. Six thousand was a stretch for us, but we could handle it, Contaldo said. But then the orders kept coming, and they were not stopping. Frantically, they reached out to their broker, who quickly keyed in to the problem: The original order was for 6,000 units which, to the distributor, meant six-bag cases of coffee, not individual bags, which was how their past grocery orders were structured. Modest Coffee was on the hook for nearly 36,000 bags of coffee. I lived a little bit in fear that another purchase order would come through, Trilik said. It was a real emotional roller coaster not knowing when it would end. Advertisement Their contract dictated that theyd only be paid once the entire order was complete. Upset with their broker for not questioning how they would produce 18 months worth of coffee in a fraction of the time, they cut ties with him and scrambled to find a way to complete the order, while still producing coffee for their regular clients of more than 100 cafes, restaurants, and convenience and grocery stores throughout Chicagoland. They hired more workers. Their three daughters, Contaldos father and friends came in to help roast the coffee. They worked double shifts, and Contaldo came back to work at Modest Coffee full-time after hed left two years earlier for a job in sales. They barely slept, hoping the relentless double shifts would pay off eventually. We had a 21-hour workday for six weeks, Trilik said. Neither the broker nor KeHE Distributors responded to multiple requests for comment between Thursday and Wednesday. By the end of July, Modest Coffee had shipped off the entire order to the distributors warehouses, where the thousands of bags of coffee would make a pit stop before Walmart was supposed to start selling them within a couple of weeks. But weeks turned into months, and at the end of October, Trilik and Contaldo were dealt a second, even worse blow: A miscommunication between Walmart and the distributor about how many warehouses would stock the coffee meant theyd hugely overestimated the size of the order. Instead of shipping to 75 distribution centers, there were no more than 10 that dealt in coffee, according to an email from a KeHE account manager provided to the Tribune. Advertisement There were two options: the excess coffee could be shipped back to Modest Coffee or donated for a tax write-off, leaving Modest Coffee with $216,000 in credit card debt, owed invoices and loans from friends, family and the bank to cover the cost of making the 34,000 bags. Every single credit card we had was maxed out, Contaldo said. We had no way of fulfilling any more (orders) of coffee. They turned to the internet for support, chronicling the distribution disaster and asking supporters to buy cases of coffee to pay off the debt. Decaf coffee at Modest Coffee in West Chicago. (Mark Black/for the Chicago Tribune) It was hard to put this out there and make myself vulnerable, Trilik said. Theres a level of self-blame and guilt, especially because theres so much shame wrapped up in debt. The initial doubt subsided as orders for coffee began pouring in within minutes of publishing the blog post. Trilik said Modest Coffee was seeing $1,000 in sales per minute. Advertisement There was one period where there were no orders for about 10 minutes. This was three hours in, and I thought, Its run its course, and Im so grateful for what weve gotten, Trilik said. Then (orders) kept ramping up and ramping up throughout the day. Turns out, it was just a temporary blip as the website froze while processing so many orders, Contaldo said. It went from family and friends, to our community out here in Aurora, and then it just kept spreading outward, Contaldo said. Before we knew it, we were getting orders from all over the country. The $7,300 raised on a GoFundMe created by Triliks sister translates into approximately 130 cases of coffee for local food pantries and shelters. The other 24,000 bags of caffeinated coffee sold out quickly, while about 1,800 bags of decaffeinated coffee were still available as of Wednesday morning, according to Trilik. Trilik and Contaldo said they still hope to work on national distribution going forward, albeit with a keener eye for quantities and communication issues after a hard lesson learned. I like to describe it as we went in 24 hours (from) the worst possible situation and scenario to the best possible situation and scenario, Contaldo said. Advertisement tatturner@chicagotribune.com Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 > A New Years Eve strike on a Russian base in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk left dozens of troops dead and sparked fury in Moscow at the officers in charge of the military post. Russia said the strike killed 63 soldiers, while Ukraine claims up to 400 were killed when rockets fired by U.S.-supplied HIMARS launchers struck an ammunition depot and a nearby barracks. Still, Moscows admission of 63 deaths marks the highest toll from a single attack on Russian troops since the war began. And the carnage has stoked outrage among lawmakers and influential military bloggers as the latest battlefield embarrassment more than 10 months into Russias invasion. The temporary base was set up at a vocational school building in Makiivka, an industrial city in Donetsk, one of four territories that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last year. Russias defense ministry said six rockets were fired from the HIMARS launchers at the military base, only two of which were shot down by anti-air defenses. Some Russian lawmakers are pushing for an internal investigation into the Makiivka strike and accountability for officers who garrisoned troops into what they said was an unprotected building. Sergey Mironov, a member of the Russian parliaments State Duma, said the attack should be the last of its kind. In a Telegram post, he called for an investigation and personal criminal liability for any Russian officers or personnel responsible. These are not only those who allowed the congestion of military personnel in an unprotected building but also all the higher authorities who did not provide the proper level of security in the area, he wrote. Obviously, neither intelligence, nor counterintelligence, nor air defense did not work properly. Grigory Karasin, the chair of the Russian senates Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the attack cannot be forgiven, vowing vengeance against Kyiv. It is clear that a demanding internal analysis of what happened is also needed, Karasin wrote on Telegram. Story continues Law enforcement personnel with the separatist region of the Donetsk Peoples Republic told Russian news agency TASS that the active use of mobile phones by Russian soldiers tipped off the location of the Makiivka base to Ukraine, but Ukrainian officials have not publicly discussed that claim. Russian military bloggers also called the latest attack against Russia on Saturday a disaster, accusing Russian generals of incompetence and the Kremlin of undercounting its losses. Alexey Sukonkin, an influential blogger, said the tragedy in Makiivka is a crime and those responsible should be punished. And no, not Ukrainian, Sukonkin wrote on Telegram. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are acting as they should they are trying to kill our soldiers. But their real killer is the scoundrel who positioned the fighters in such a way that it was easy for the enemy to shoot them. Eugene Finkel, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said it was possible that some lower-level commanders could be held accountable in the aftermath of the strike, but the criticism wouldnt change the calculus from those leading the war effort. Its just another fail in a long line of failures, Finkel said. And while the death toll was particularly high, he doesnt believe it would provoke more Russian aggression. Russia does not need any more reasons to cause damage or kill people, Finkel said. This entire talk about potential retaliation is misguided. Russia has been launching waves of missile attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure and energy grids since October, while Kyiv has sought to strike back against Russian supply and ammunition depots to curb the assault. Last month, alleged Ukrainian drone strikes killed three Russian troops hundreds of miles inside western Russia at an air base where strategic bombers used for missile strikes are reportedly housed. Ukraine has generally avoided claiming responsibility for the deaths of Russian soldiers from rocket or drone strikes. But after the latest attack, the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security posted a cryptic Telegram message, writing Santa packed about 400 corpses into body bags and 300 more were wounded of varying degrees of severity. The General Armed Staff of Ukraine said in a Facebook post on Monday that it carried out 10 attacks on Russian military posts on Dec. 31, and five on anti-aircraft missile systems. Putin has faced numerous setbacks in the war, including heavy battlefield losses from Ukrainian counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson. And Russia has been unable to take the eastern city of Bakhmut despite months of bloody fighting. Last month, Putin acknowledged the war would be a lengthy process and that some troops have deserted. The Russian leader also issued a partial mobilization order over the fall to muster some 300,000 reservists, which led to protests at home. Igor Girkin, a former Russian paramilitary commander and a prominent blogger, estimated in a Monday post the Makiivka strike killed or wounded hundreds of Russian troops. Girkin said he was warned the deadly strike could happen again, saying there were other temporary bases that include an extremely dense number of personnel and equipment. This is not the first such case last year there were also quite a few of them, he said. Our generals are untrainable in principle. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ukraines Defence Intelligence states that the Russian invaders are transferring new military units to the north of occupied Crimea in order to keep the land corridor to the occupied Ukrainian peninsula, among other reasons. Source: Press service of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, Ukrinform news agency company Quote from herniak, spokesperson for Defence Intelligence: "Considering that our foreign partners supply us with new types of weapons, the so-called land corridor to Crimea is certainly not safe. Ukraine will strike Russian positions throughout the occupied territory." Details: Cherniak states that the occupiers continue to build defensive structures both in the north of the temporarily occupied peninsula and in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson Oblast. "They are losing, that's why they create defensive structures where they can, understanding that they will have to conduct combat actions on these lines," he emphasised. Background: In December, Oleksii Danilov, National Security and Defence Council Secretary, said that Russian trenches in the annexed Crimea "will definitely not help" the Russian Federation, and the peninsula will be returned under Kyiv's control. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sent a frigate armed with the country's latest Zircon hypersonic missile on a trans-ocean cruise in a show of force as tensions with the West escalate over the war in Ukraine. Russia touts that the Zircon missile can evade any Western air defenses by flying at an astounding 7,000 miles per hour (11,265 km/h). Here is a glance at the ship and its weapons. THE PRIDE OF THE RUSSIAN NAVY Commissioned by the navy in 2018 following long trials, the Admiral Gorshkov is the first ship in the new series of frigates which were designed to replace the aging Soviet-built destroyers as a key strike component of the Russian navy. Armed with an array of missiles, the ship is 130-meters (427-feet) long and has a crew of about 200. In 2019, it circled the world oceans on a 35,000-nautical mile journey. INTENSIVE TESTS The Admiral Gorshkov has served as the main testbed for the latest Russian hypersonic missile, Zircon. In recent years, the Zircon has undergone a series of tests, including being launched at various practice targets. The military declared the tests successful and Zircon officially entered service last fall. Zircon is intended to arm Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines and could be used against both enemy ships and ground targets. It is one of several hypersonic missiles that Russia has developed. THE NEW WEAPON Putin has hailed Zircon as a potent weapon capable of penetrating any existing anti-missile defenses by flying nine times faster than the speed of sound at a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (over 620 miles). Putin has emphasized that Zircon gives the Russian military a long-range conventional strike capability, allowing it to strike any enemy targets with precision. Russia's hypersonic weapons drive emerged as the U.S. has been working on its own Conventional Prompt Global Strike capability that envisions hitting an adversarys strategic targets with precision-guided conventional weapons anywhere in the world within one hour. Story continues Putin heralded Zircon as Russia's answer to that, claiming that the new weapon has no rival, giving Russia a strategic edge. Months before ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Putin put the U.S. and its NATO allies on notice when he warned that Russian warships armed with Zircon would give Russia a capability to strike the adversary's decision-making centers within minutes if deployed in neutral waters. Speaking via video link during Wednesday's sendoff ceremony, Putin again praised Zircon as a unique weapon without an equivalent for it in any country in the world. In response, the Pentagon said it is monitoring the ship, and did not think it presented a threat that could not be countered. We are aware of the reports regarding the Russian launch of a frigate, the Admiral Grorshkov. We will continue to routinely monitor its activities as we maintain awareness of our operating environment," said Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Roger Cabiness. "While we do not comment on specific capabilities or speculate on hypotheticals, the Department of Defense remains confident in our ability to deter our adversaries and defend United States national security interests at any time, in any place. OTHER RUSSIAN HYPERSONIC WEAPONS Russia has already commissioned the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles for some of its ground-based intercontinental ballistic missiles that constitute part of Russias strategic nuclear triad. Putin has hailed the Avangard's ability to maneuver at hypersonic speeds on its approach to target, dodging air defenses. The Russian military has also deployed the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles on its MiG-31 aircraft and used them during the war in Ukraine to strike some priority targets. Kinzhal reportedly has a range of about 1,500 kilometers (about 930 miles). PATROL DUTY Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin on Wednesday that the Admiral Gorshkov will patrol the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean, but didnt give further details. Shoigu said the Admiral Gorshkov's crew will focus on countering the threats to Russia, maintaining regional peace and stability jointly with friendly countries. He added the crew will practice with hypersonic weapons and long-range cruise missiles in various conditions." Some military experts say a single, hypersonic missile-armed warship is no match for the massive naval forces of the U.S. and its allies. But others noted that the frigate's potential deployment close to U.S. shores could be part of Putin's strategy to up the ante in the Ukrainian conflict. This is a message to the West that Russia has nuclear-tipped missiles that can easily pierce any missile defenses, pro-Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov wrote in a commentary. - Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report from Washington. Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed in November with billions of dollars in investor funds missing, pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud related to the failure of his company in a hearing before a U.S. federal court in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday. See related article: Bahamas regulator denies FTX CEOs claims over seized assets Judge Lewis Kaplan set Bankman-Frieds first trial date for Oct. 2, 2023, according to reporting from Reuters. Bankman-Fried, 30, last appeared before the court on Dec. 22 and was granted US$250 million bail and released to his parents home in California. The crypto figurehead faces eight criminal counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and campaign finance violations, for which he could spend decades in prison if convicted. Earlier Tuesday morning, Bankman-Frieds team requested the courts not to release the identities of two of the four parties who agreed to sign his bail bond. His parents are the two other on-record co-signers and lawyers said they had received threats of harm. Prosecutors did not contest this motion, with Judge Kaplan saying a final decision would be made on this matter in the next day or two, according to Reuters. Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas on Dec. 12 at the request of U.S. authorities, who accuse him of orchestrating the transfer of billions in FTX customer assets to his brokerage and hedge fund, Alameda Research. Mathew Prado, who works at the Sheraton Hotel at Universal Studios, sweeps water from the front drive. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Southern Californians were urged to remain vigilant, and some were forced to evacuate, ahead of the anticipated overnight arrival of a massive storm that forecasters say will spawn dangerous surf, whip up heavy winds and drop at-times punishing rain across the region. While the most profound impacts were expected in Northern California, officials warned of the risk for flash flooding across the southwestern swath of the state through Thursday. The heaviest rain may be focused on Northern California, but as far as the Southland is concerned, this will be the strongest storm this season so far, hands down," said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. "It could be very hazardous." Los Angeles County issued evacuation warnings for residents in two northern mountainous communities close to perilous burn scars. And in Santa Barbara County, officials on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of specified properties in and around areas previously scorched by the Thomas, Cave and Alisal fires, citing the risk of flooding and debris flows. "We are in the beginning stages of a major storm a powerful event that will be a multihour storm that has the potential to cause major problems across the county," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said during an afternoon news conference. Flash Flood WATCH in effect over ALL of southwest California. A lot of water is coming. Areas of most concern of significant flooding include roads, streams, and recent burn areas. Where are our recent burn areas? Check out these graphics. Stay safe #SoCal neighbors.#cawx #larain pic.twitter.com/qWt5pW0S0X NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 4, 2023 Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed a statewide emergency to "support response and recovery efforts" across the already-saturated state. Story continues "This may be one of the most challenging and impactful series of storms to touch down in California in the last five years," said California Office of Emergency Services Director Nancy Ward. "If the storm materializes as we anticipate, we could see widespread flooding, mudslides and power outages in many communities." The atmospheric river that moved into California on Wednesday is the second in a series of moisture-heavy storms, with more expected in the "next seven to 10 days," Ward said. Officials across the state asked residents stay vigilant, heed local guidance and warnings and, if possible, stay home and off the roads during the worst of the storms. "Theres enough concern with this system that everyone needs to stay on guard," Sweet said of Southern Californians. Significant flash flooding and debris flows are possible, especially in and below recent burn scars. In L.A. County, the National Weather Service is most concerned about flooding in the Lake fire burn scar around Lake Hughes, north of the Santa Clarita Valley; and the Fish and Bobcat fires burn scars near Duarte. Los Angeles County officials warned residents near the Lake fire burn scar and north end of the Bobcat fire burn scar in and around the Angeles National Forest to "be ready" for possible evacuations through Friday morning "due to the potential for mud or debris flows." This is a dangerous weather system, [with] a very significant flood situation developing later tonight and Thursday morning, said Eric Boldt, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said flooding and heavy rainfall are major concerns, but called high winds the "signature" of this storm. "This is an extreme weather event; we're moving from extreme drought to extreme flood," Nemeth said. "What that means is a lot of our trees are stressed after three years of intensive drought, the ground is saturated and there is a significant chance of downed trees that will create significant problems, potentially flooding problems, potentially power problems." Light rain and scattered showers began falling in some parts of Southern California early Wednesday, but more intense rain was forecast for later in the evening and through rush hour Thursday morning. "Its going to be a difficult commute Thursday morning, Sweet said. Rainfall in the L.A. area is expected to fall at a pace of up to 1 inch per hour Thursday morning, with the most intense period lasting about three hours, he said. However, there is a chance those rates could reach up to 1.25 inches per hour in some parts of the Southland, which would heighten the risk for mud and debris flows in recent burn areas, Boldt said. Light rain showers & drizzle affecting parts of southwest California. Rain still on track to pick up a bit in coverage and intensity thru the day (including PM commute), before the heavy rain moves thru tonight and Thu. Plan for delays on roads. Stay safe neighbors. #cawx #larain pic.twitter.com/19Ybev8Eit NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 4, 2023 Throughout the storm, most of L.A. is expected to get 2 to 4 inches of rain, while the mountains could see up to 8 inches, Sweet said. Isolated rainfall totals of up to 10 inches are possible on the south slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains and western Ventura County mountains. The storm will also bring strong winds across the region, dangerous surf on the coast and significant snowfall in the mountains, Sweet said. A winter storm warning is in effect for the Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino county mountains, with up to 2 feet of new snow expected for some of the highest regions, and gusts of wind reaching 60 mph. Even in the lower elevations, well be looking at wind gusts at 40 to 50 mph, very strong winds," Sweet said, which means possible power outages, downed trees and other debris concerns. With the threat of flooding, Sweet said "theres a lot of opportunity for blocked roads, unfortunately." High surf warnings are also in effect for much of the central and southwestern coasts through Friday, with waves potentially reaching up to 22 feet in some areas. There will be a chance of flooding and some significant beach erosion, especially near times of high tide, Boldt said. Los Angeles County is offering sandbag pickup at a number of locations. Definitely be on the watch out for waves moving up onto the shore and flooding parking lots and walkways, and maybe even some pier damage if we get some big enough waves come into these areas, he said. There will also be a slight chance of thunderstorms once the heaviest rains have passed Thursday, Boldt said. Those could create their own very brief heavy downpours, but those cells will be fast moving, he said. The threat of flooding is still there, but we will be monitoring those closely for both potential heavy rain and gusty winds. Nemeth said the state also continues to monitor additional storms expected this weekend and into next week. "We have multiple storms in sequence," Nemeth said. "It doesn't require the same amount of precipitation to inflict significant damage, so we do need all Californians to be attentive to their local county emergency response services and if you do get the word to evacuate, you do need to evacuate." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PROVIDENCE Mayor Brett Smiley has appointed four new members to the Providence School Board, pending City Council approval. Those include Toni Akin, a fiscal specialist for the Norfolk County Treasurer Office in Massachusetts; George Matouk, CEO of Fall River-based luxury linen retailer John Matouk & Co.; Erlin Rogel, senior adviser to Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos; and Carolina Roberts-Santana, senior research administrator and program developer at Women & Infants Hospital. "I am excited to recommend a strong slate of candidates to be a part of our school board," Smiley said in a statement. "Each of these individuals bring knowledge, expertise and a professional skill set that will be invaluable as we work together to improve school facilities and outcomes and prepare for a successful return to local control." Board member Jesus Nunez will not stay on the board. He was one of several members critical of the district's operations particularly the alleged lack of rigor and record-keeping at the so-called Over-Aged, Under-Credited program within A-Venture Academy, an alternative education model for students not on track to graduate. In a statement, Nunez said he and the mayor had made a joint decision on his departure. "My commitment to the district remains as strong as it was on the first day I was named to the Providence School Board," Nunez wrote in a text. "Mayor Smiley and I reached a mutual decision for me to support our students and families in a different capacity. My sleeves are still rolled up because there is so much work to do!" What are the appointees' connections to Providence? Smiley's picks have various connections to the city. However, Akin's background stands out as heavily linked to Massachusetts. Smiley's office said he "previously supported Blue Hills Regional Technical School, Canton Public Schools and the Bridgewater Raynham Regional School in a variety of financial capacities and has a deep understanding of school finances." Story continues Matouk, according to the mayor's office, has worked with community groups in Providence and Fall River on education and workforce advancement. Additionally, he has served in various roles on the board of the Gordon School in East Providence, including its chair. Rogel appears to have a closer relationship to the city's schools, having graduated from and taught in the Providence Public School District while also having served as the district's director of intergovernmental affairs and interim chief of staff. Roberts-Santana, in addition to her work at Women & Infants Hospital, is a health science instructor and health program administrator. Previously, she worked at the Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island as the full-service community schools director. If approved by the council, the new members will begin serving on the School Board in February. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence School Board could get new members - here are the picks Its no secret that Benedict Cumberbatchs ancestors owned slaves on a plantation on the Caribbean island of Barbados throughout the 1700s and 1800s. But just before the new year, British publication the Telegraph reported the Oscar-nominated actor and his family would be facing reparation claims from Caribbean Community nations for their involvement. News of the possible reparation claims against Cumberbatch blew up online. Advertisement Then Monday, a member of the Caribbean Community reparations commission who was quoted in the Telegraph article clarified the task forces position this week and said it is not currently seeking any reparations from the Cumberbatch family. To date, neither [the Caribbean Communitys reparations commission] nor Barbados has officially leveled a Reparations claim against a European family, wrote David Comissiong, a Barbados politician, activist and member of the commission, in an op-ed in Barbados Today. He added that it is easier for the task force to focus on legal entities such as governments or companies, rather than a family. Comissiong said he was misquoted in the Telegraph article. Advertisement Even so, the idea of demanding compensation from a wealthy film actor whose family benefited from slavery resonated with many. Some applauded the reports as a New Years resolution. Many online pointed to the irony of Cumberbatchs performance as a real-life Louisiana slave owner in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave. Although Cumberbatch will not be facing reparation claims, the reports and online buzz come amid ongoing movements to push reparations in California, the U.S. and across the globe. And it reignited conversations about who should pay. Cumberbatchs ancestors owned slaves In the 1700s, Cumberbatchs seventh-great-grandfather, Abraham Cumberbatch, bought two large estates in what was then a British colony. The properties would be developed into a sugar plantation the Cleland Plantation which reaped profits for the British crown, according to a 2014 Daily Mail report on the estate. On the plantation, the Cumberbatch family owned nearly 300 slaves, according to records from the early 1800s. When slavery was abolished throughout most of the British Empire in 1833, the British government compensated former slave owners for their financial losses. Cumberbatchs great-great-great-grandfather, Abraham Parry Cumberbatch, was paid 5,388 British pounds, the present-day equivalent of more than 700,000 pounds, or $900,000. Although the Cumberbatch family no longer owns the property, Cumberbatch has acknowledged his family history, commenting in a 2007 interview with Scottish newspaper the Scotsman, that his mother told him not to use his last name professionally to avoid reparation claims. There are lots of Cumberbatches in our former Caribbean colonies, he told the Scotsman, according to a 2014 BuzzFeed report, which included excerpts of the 2007 interview. When their ancestors lost their African names, they called themselves after their masters. Reparation cases are ongoing in the American courts. Ive got friends involved in researching this scar on human history and Ive spoken to them about it. The issue of how far you should be willing to atone is interesting. I mean, its not as if Im making a profit from the suffering its not like its Nazi money. In 2014, Cumberbatchs connection to slavery resurfaced when Stacey Cumberbatch, a New York City commissioner and granddaughter of Caribbean immigrants, said she was related to the Sherlock actor through the slave trade. Advertisement Her ancestors were slaves on a Barbados plantation and took the surname of their owners, Stacey Cumberbatch told the New York Times. Cumberbatch has acted in several films about slavery: first in the 2007 film Amazing Grace, where he plays former British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, who is sympathetic to slave abolition, and then in 2013 as a Southern plantation owner and slaveholder, William Prince Ford, in 12 Years a Slave, which won the 2014 Oscar for best picture. Maybe I was trying to right a wrong there, Cumberbatch said in the 2007 interview, referring to his performance in Amazing Grace. Caribbean nations are seeking reparations For the last half-century, Caribbean nations that were once British colonies have been grappling with the social, economic and cultural effects of slavery. Barbados became an independent state within the Commonwealth in November 1966. Fifty-five years later, in November 2021, it became a republic, shedding allegiance to the crown and closing a 400-year colonial legacy. As more countries in the Caribbean gained independence, various nations formed CARICOM in hopes of boosting the regions economy. In 2013, the organization which includes nations such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, Haiti, Guyana, Belize and Barbados formed the CARICOM Reparations Commission, or CRC. Advertisement The commission calls on European governments that benefited from slavery and apartheid in the Caribbean, including the United Kingdom, to take part in reparation efforts. Its main goals include formal apologies from European governments, land returned to descendants of formerly enslaved Africans, mental health and education programs for Indigenous populations, and the cancellation of public debt. Who is facing reparation claims? Although the CRC is targeting governments and companies, it has recently focused on a British politician, Richard Drax, who in 2017 inherited Drax Hall, a 600-acre estate in Barbados that used enslaved labor. The Draxes also owned a plantation in Jamaica and were instrumental in the establishment of sugar production and slavery in the Americas in the 1700s. Both the government of Barbados and the Jamaican government have expressed a desire to seek reparations from Drax. If the issue cannot be resolved we would take legal action in the international courts, said Barbados lawmaker Trevor Prescod, chairman of Barbados National Task Force on Reparations, part of the Reparations Commission, according to a Guardian report. The case against the Drax family would be for hundreds of years of slavery, so its likely any damages would go well beyond the value of the land. Advertisement Drax has reportedly visited Barbados to meet with its prime minister, Mia Mottley, to discuss the terms of possible reparations, the Guardian reported. Comissiong complained that the recent Cumberbatch reports distract from the actual reparations efforts the commission is making, such as those surrounding Drax. He accused the Telegraph of yellow journalism and effectively putting words in ones mouth. By Hyonhee Shin and Hanna Song SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean authorities said on Wednesday they were trying to track down a Chinese national who tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival but went missing while waiting at a quarantine facility. The person tested positive after arriving at Incheon International Airport near Seoul late on Tuesday and was transferred to a hotel to await admission to quarantine, but then went missing, a health official said. The individual, who was not identified, has been placed on a wanted list, the official, Kim Joo-young, said. The person could be subject to up to one year in prison, or 10 million won ($7,840) in fines, if convicted of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, he said. "The person would be deported and banned from entering the country for a certain period of time," Kim told a media briefing. On Tuesday, South Korea announced mandatory coronavirus tests on Chinese arrivals, joining a growing list of countries imposing restrictions amid concern over a wave of infections following China's decision to lift stringent zero-COVID policies. Starting this week, South Korea required travellers from China to undergo a PCR test upon arrival. From Jan. 5, arrivals can submit a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before departure, or a negative rapid antigen test no more than 24 hours before departure. A total of 2,189 people have arrived from China since Jan. 2 and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 590 test results showed that 136 people, or 22.7% of them, were infected with COVID. On Tuesday, 26% of 281 people tested produced a positive result, agency data showed. The case of the missing Chinese national triggered questions in the media about South Korea's control of infected inbound travellers. Kim, the health official, said it was a "disgrace" that authorities could not prevent such an incident. "Going forward, we will dispatch more personnel including police to prevent this from recurring," he said. Story continues The case also fuelled public debate on restrictions on people arriving from China. "There needs to be more restrictions," said Lee Jae-moon, 30, waiting for someone to arrive at Incheon airport. "Today's incident underlines the seriousness of the situation." But another South Korean, Won Mi-kyong, 51, disagreed saying China was an important economic partner and South Korea should "open the door wider" to its people. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Hanna Song and Dogyun Kim; Editing by Neil Fullick, Robert Birsel) Passengers line up at the Southwest ticket desk at San Francisco International Airport on December 26, amid widespread delays and cancellations for the airline. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A Bank of America analyst estimates Southwest's flight debacle will cost the airline up to $700 million, CNBC reports. The airline is currently offering affected passengers 25,000 frequent flier points valued at over $300. The offer has caused long wait times for some passengers trying to claim points, reports say. As Southwest Airlines continues to address its costly holiday travel meltdown, qualifying passengers are being offered 25,000 frequent flier points in addition to refunds, reimbursements, and vouchers. Passengers whose flights were disrupted between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2 received an email on Tuesday from Southwest CEO Bob Jordan apologizing for the airline's widespread flight cancellations and offering 25,000 Rapid Rewards points valued at over $300, the Wall Street Journal reported. "On behalf of Southwest, I want to let you know we're so sorry," Jordan wrote in the letter. "I know that no amount of apologies can undo your experience." It will cost Southwest more than frequent flier points to correct the mistakes made during December 2022, which left thousands stranded at airports over the holidays thanks to winter storms and the airline's outdated scheduling technology that thwarted staffing. The company could end up paying between $600 million and $700 million, Bank of America airline stock analyst Andrew Didora told CNBC. The estimate includes both lost revenue from refunds and reimbursements for expenses like hotels and rental cars, CNBC reported. According to Jordan's email, the points are being offered as a "gesture of goodwill" and are also available to passengers who requested a refund or travel reimbursement. The Points Guy reporter Zach Griff tweeted on Tuesday that he was among those who received the email, noting that the points will come in addition to nearly $500 he already received in compensation in the form of refunds, reimbursements, and vouchers. Although it's unclear exactly how many travelers experienced significant delays or cancellations during the meltdown, those hoping to claim points were put on a virtual waitlist on Tuesday due to a high volume of traffic, according to Griff. Story continues While Griff reported a 15-minute wait to receive points, another traveler told WSJ he had an estimated wait time of over an hour to redeem the 75,000 points offered to his party of three. In the email, Jordan reminded recipients that Rapid Rewards points don't expire, have no blackout dates, and can be used on Southwest gift cards. Read the original article on Business Insider A couple walks through a car-free square last week in Pontevedra, Spain. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) PONTEVEDRA, Spain By the summer of 1999, the historic district of this picturesque northwestern city of 85,000 residents was clogged with traffic, its air filled with exhaust fumes and the cacophony of automobiles. It was a continuous traffic jam, and downright hellish, Cesar Mosquera, a university mathematics professor and city councilman in charge of urban planning, told Yahoo News. Between 80,000 and 150,000 vehicles entered the 1.8-square-mile city center each day, resulting in traffic density triple that of Madrid, Spains largest city, even though its population is roughly only a 40th of the size. As cars ate up more space, bad air and nonstop honking pushed citizens from the shrinking public squares, and drug addicts moved into them, Daniel Macenlle, the citys director general of Citizen Protection, told Yahoo News. Crime rates soared, he said, and the once-vibrant city had become a place where people were afraid to go out. Cesar Mosquera, a math professor and city councilman in charge of urban planning in Pontevedra. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) But in July of 1999, a new mayor and new City Council came on board ready to implement a radical new idea aimed at revitalizing Pontevedra: dramatically restricting automobile access to its central district and reclaiming public space for the citizenry. That fall, the Council began rolling out its plan, passing ordinances that eradicated on-street parking, reduced the speed limit first to 18 mph, then to 6 mph and erected traffic barriers that routed vehicles onto one-way streets. Thanks to those measures, traffic in the city center dropped by 97%, according to Pontevedras City Council, and carbon dioxide levels fell by 67%. Once the site of hundreds of serious crashes and three car-related deaths a year on average, the downtown has not had a single traffic fatality since 2011. Apart from the sounds of children playing, musicians strumming guitars and spirited conversations between locals, the pedestrian-filled city center is nearly silent. Left, downtown Pontevedra crammed with cars. Right, the scene now that cars have been banned. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Now the streets are for the people, not the car, Macenlle said, strolling past 16th century stone buildings with orange-tiled roofs in the historic quarter. Story continues To handle the displaced vehicles, the city opened free parking lots outside the central district. Cars can still freely enter and park for deliveries and pickups, but 15-minute limits are strictly enforced. Those who park longer face tickets of 200 euros ($212) and towing, which requires immediate payments of 120 euros ($128), but there are very few infractions, said Macenlle, who noted that most locals applaud the move to create more public spaces in the compact city center, the home of nearly three-quarters of Pontevedra's population. Police patrol the streets in Pontevedra. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Cities from Paris to Bangkok, London to Denver are now establishing their own programs to restrict traffic, to mitigate air pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. Meanwhile, Pontevedra can provide them a road map to a future less beholden to cars. As the car-reduction plan was being crafted in Pontevedra, council members, business leaders and the public debated the contentious question of how exactly much the city could restrict traffic without killing off its downtown economy. Quickly, however, it became apparent that having fewer cars on the street was drawing people to the city center, not pushing them away. The historic center of Pontevedra. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Mosquera pointed out that the number of cars needed to keep the city functioning is really very little. Pedestrian zones replaced spaces once dominated by automobiles, local businesses flourished, and soon Pontevedra was regularly receiving planning awards, including one in 2015 for smart urban management from Bloomberg Philanthropies Center for Active Design. In a bright green conference room in the city hall, which overlooks Pontevedras main shopping zone, Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernandez Lores, formerly a family doctor, pointed to a 1999 photo of a traffic-choked street that bordered one of the citys main squares, Plaza Espana. All the traffic from various streets converged there with 26,000 vehicles a day passing that square, he said. Now there are 800 vehicles a day but they move slowly, dont bother people, and coexist with the uses of public space. With about one car crawling past every two minutes, it scarcely even counts as traffic, he added. Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernandez Lores points to a traffic map at a meeting with colleagues. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) A local hero to many, Lores, hellbent on minimizing traffic and revitalizing public spaces, has been reelected five times. Initially, his mission didnt sit well with many residents, some of whom accused him of being too idealistic, going overboard and interfering with the citys economy by strangling traffic. Other government officials, at the provincial level all the way up to the national government in Madrid, were also skeptical, but Lores stuck to his guns. Cities are not [supposed to be] car warehouses. Cities are spaces for people to live together, and that is the absolute priority, Lores told Yahoo News, adding, Some traffic is necessary for the city to function. What is not desirable is having cars circulating in the city without need. Lores speaks with Daniel Macenlle, the citys director general of Citizen Protection, while a visitor looks on. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) The right-wing Popular Party, which also sits on Pontevedras City Council, often criticizes Loress plans, including for blocking part of an avenue last year. Its increasingly difficult to access Pontevedra, a party spokesman, Rafa Dominguez, lamented in February, adding that the traffic diversion has killed business in the street. Hoping to demand a reversal, the party launched an online petition, but it failed to achieve its 2,500-signature goal. On a sunny terrace where locals sat eating calamari and bacalao, Panama-born Michele Cingolana, who owns two restaurants in Pontevedra, extolled the benefits of life there. I sold my car, he said. I dont need it here. I can get everywhere on foot. Hes one of the 15,000 people who have moved to the city since what Macenlle calls traffic-calming measures were initiated in 1999. The goal, said Macenlle, was to get rid of unneeded parasitic traffic that was using Pontevedra as a shortcut to somewhere else, as well as cars circling for parking spots. Down an empty city street in Pontevedra, a view of the so-called Cross of the Fallen appears, reflected in a shop window. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) While you do see some cars parked briefly in the 74-acre historic center, most are now parked across the river in the free lots. Commuters simply walk across a bridge into the city, and most destinations in the citys core can be reached on foot in 15 minutes or less. A few hundred motorists drive into the city center to park underground in pay lots. The Ria de Pontevedra, with the city parking lot in the distance. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Entering the city center with a vehicle requires patience, however. Cars arent allowed to move faster than pedestrians and they are restricted to a mazelike route of narrow one-way streets bordered by wide sidewalks. Wherever they go, pedestrians have the right of way, even if they stop in front of a car to converse with friends. In Pontevedra, its said that the only time you hear a honking horn is when an out-of-towner is behind the wheel. In 36 hours, Yahoo News didnt hear one. Theres a real human speed to living in Pontevedra. I think its an antidote to everything else thats going on the crushing closeness of cars, the speed of cars, the speed of technology, Sally Higgens, a London-born artist who moved to Pontevedra in 2018, after reading an article in the Guardian about its no-car policy, told Yahoo News. Here I find people are a bit more present for each other. A car slowly makes its way through pedestrians in the center of Pontevedra. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Initially, the plans to reclaim the city center were met with skepticism. The regional government looked askance at the idea, as did the national government, according to Lores. We did not have any friendly government behind us. Not in Madrid, or in the European Union, or in the Province, or in the Autonomous Community of Galicia, he said. Store owners were also worried. At first they made a lot of complaints about the plans, said Macenlle. They were afraid of change. Now most support the effort, he said. Their profits increased, he explained. Lydie, owner of the Scandale Bar, in the historical center of Pontevedra. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Shifting the power dynamic in the urban landscape from car to pedestrian also meant redesigning the downtown architecture. The city devised new ways of recovering more public spaces, breaking up main thoroughfares and creating more squares, installing more lighting, putting in more benches, trees and playgrounds. Some streets have been closed to vehicular traffic. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) Before the traffic restrictions went into effect, most residents left in the summer, Mosquera said. Now, most stick around. As a result of the year-round foot traffic, crime is down, he said. Lots of people on the street is the most powerful crime prevention tool there is, he said. The birth rate is up too, making Pontevedra the youngest city in Galicia, said Lores. The squares in Pontevedra that have the most children are not the ones with a playground, but the squares with a terrace, where the grandfather is having a beer, the kid is playing ball, and people are shopping, said Lores. Its an example of social cohesion, he said, and democracy in the public space because everyone can use the public space, while always respecting the weakest, the children, the elderly, the people with disabilities. A young resident kicks a ball in a Pontevedra square. (Jose Colon for Yahoo News) With officials from cities across the world now turning to him for advice, Lores stresses that each city must find its own model. But he does have some ideas. The issue of having fewer cars is not achieved with more public transport, he said, noting that most drivers wont switch to buses. Even economic measures requiring payments to enter arent altogether effective, he said, pointing to London, where entry fees he said have reduced traffic by some 20%. The people who can pay, will pay and youre really just discriminating against those who cant pay. The key to reducing traffic, he believes, is preventing unnecessary cars from entering in the first place by eliminating on-street parking, restricting speed of travel to a crawl, and putting in one-way streets with narrow lanes for cars and wide sidewalks for people, while claiming more public spaces for pedestrians and lighting them well. I tell those in other cities to do things along these lines and not to be afraid, said Lores. If you make mistakes, you can fix them. Its better than being paralyzed by cars. Youll have better air quality, better quality of life in the city, and youre fighting climate change. And if you do things right people will vote for you. WASHINGTON A stunning inability to elect a speaker Tuesday highlighted fissures within the Republican Party over strategy and vision, grinding the House to a halt and raising fresh questions about the future of the GOP. We have to make a choice today: Are we going to be the party of the radical 2%? Because thats what it comes down to, a frustrated Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said after a caucus meeting. Kevin McCarthy will be the speaker of the House and I dont care if its the first ballot or the 97th ballot. The standoff was demoralizing for a party that had hoped to use the new majority to show Americans how it would govern before it asks voters to give the GOP control of the White House and the Senate in the 2024 election. Instead, the displays of dysfunction threaten to further alienate independent and center-right voters, who drifted toward Democrats in 2022, causing the GOPs underperformance in the midterm elections and its current paper-thin margin. I think its a problem for the party. It absolutely is, said former Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, home to the rebels. How is it not a problem for the party if we cant even decide on who our leaders going to be? Kevin McCarthy during his weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill, on Oct. 28, 2021. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images file) Mulvaney, who fought to depose former Speaker John Boehner in 2015, sounded baffled by the groups tactics, calling it hypocritical to demand a rule that requires a majority of the GOP caucus to pass bills but then refuse to accept that standard to elect a speaker. This is completely absurd. It makes no sense to me at all. And I know a little bit of something about challenging speakers of the House, Mulvaney said. Mulvaney left the House in 2017 to serve in senior positions in former President Donald Trumps White House. Trump, who has backed McCarthy, R-Calif., for speaker, had little to say about whether he is staying by him Tuesday: Well see what happens. Well see how it all works out, he told NBC News. Story continues The House adjourned Tuesday after three failed ballots the first time in a century a speaker election had gone past the first vote and with no clear path forward. It foreshadows more divisions in the narrow House majority, which will have to compromise with a Democratic-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden to keep the government functioning and avert economic crises. And it was a bad omen for GOP hopes of unifying a caucus of moderates and far-right members to advance conservative legislation. They hurt the team. Theyre giving us a black eye in the public, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a moderate Republican in a district Biden carried in 2020, said of the McCarthy critics. To the rebels, many from deep-red districts, sinking McCarthy is a justified rebuke to a Republican establishment that they feel has long failed to live up to the expectations of their voters. In the short run, the objective is to get a better speaker than Kevin McCarthy, said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., a leader of the anti-McCarthy push. In the long run, its to deal a blow against a Republican system thats hostile to conservatives, that has contempt for the Republican base of voters that send us to Washington. After two failed ballots, No. 2 GOP Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana pleaded with colleagues to support McCarthy so the House could begin to advance conservative goals like bolstering border security and energy independence. We won a majority talking about fixing those problems. But we cant start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy as our next speaker, he said on the floor. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., said the 2022 election results show Americans are crying out for common sense and want a steady hand on the wheel. Its important that we, as the House majority and the only part of the legislative branch where the Republicans have control do demonstrate competence and common sense, demonstrate that we are the adults in the room, Gallagher said. And if we spend this week or this month or next two years fighting amongst ourselves, I dont think it will advance that effort. For the third ballot, GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas stood up to nominate McCarthy-supporting Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for speaker. This is about the future of the country. This is about the direction of the country, Roy said, demanding that the caucus find a leader with a plan to stop spending money we dont have and lower the debt. I dont want any more empty promises. Jordan has said he does not want the job, and he called on his Republican colleagues to unite behind McCarthy to deliver conservative wins. Some Democrats were mocking their GOP counterparts. We are breaking the popcorn out in the Dem Caucus till the Republicans get their act together. pic.twitter.com/5b4FriBjf7 Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) January 3, 2023 Others said things would only get worse. This is going to be everyday in the House Republican majority, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said on Twitter. Its not just that they wont be able to govern. Its that they are going to be an embarrassing public train wreck while they refuse to govern. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said the Republicans who insist on opposing McCarthy have deeply miscalculated. Theyve calculated that people will see them as these noble freedom fighters fighting for a cause. They cant seem to say what the cause is. That makes them look pretty f---ing stupid, he said. And they are pretty f---ing stupid. For Republicans, the standoff sets up a test of wills between a small right-wing faction and a larger group of mainstream GOP lawmakers, who fear that they could be overrun on matters of legislation and governing if they fail to stand up to the rebels now. But so far, there is little appetite to team up with Democrats to elect a consensus speaker and teach the far right a lesson. Theyre gonna have to either come our way or were gonna have to find another avenue to get these votes, Bacon said, arguing that the GOP can go right to the top one or two people in the Democrat party and start making a deal for a speaker. If they prove to themselves that they cant function as part of the team, then were going to have to make that decision. But were not there. Good, when asked about that possibility, said he isnt worried: I cant imagine any Republican would do that. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., one of McCarthys opponents, summed up the chaos Tuesday: Its more drama than raising seven kids." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com My meal at Lahaina Grill included a caviar deviled egg that cost $28. Ashley Probst I dined at Lahaina Grill, which Tripadvisor ranked as the US' best fine-dining restaurant in 2022. My date and I agreed that our experience was worth the steep $450 bill, which included tips. Both of us are excited to return to the Maui restaurant and already have a plan for our next visit. Tripadvisor ranked Lahaina Grill as the best fine-dining restaurant in the US in 2022. The exterior of Lahaina Grill, a top-ranked restaurant in Hawaii. Ashley Probst Every year, Tripadvisor publishes the Travelers' Choice Best of the Best, awards given to the top destinations, hotels, restaurants, and activities based on the reviews travelers leave on the site. One of the most prestigious accolades is the award for the best fine-dining restaurant in the US, which Tripadvisor awarded to Lahaina Grill, a New American dining establishment on Maui, in 2022. This is the fifth consecutive year that Lahaina Grill has been among the top 15 restaurants on the list, and it's the joint's first time at No. 1. Lahaina Grill also ranked 19th on this year's list of best fine-dining restaurants in the world. So, I decided to check it out. I made a reservation a few weeks ahead of time. The only available table was during the evening's last seating. Ashley Probst Lahaina Grill, located on Hotel Lahaina's ground floor, is popular among tourists looking for a fine dining experience and Maui locals like me. Many of us who live on the island perceive the restaurant as too pricey for everyday dining and consider it to be a place to celebrate special occasions. The restaurant can be booked out for weeks in advance, so I recommend making reservations rather than just showing up. I reserved a table for two using OpenTable. Though I would've liked to secure an earlier time, we ended up with the last seating at 8:45 p.m. Our table wasn't ready upon arrival, so we ordered drinks at the bar. We ordered cocktails as we waited for our table to be ready. Ashley Probst I relished the opportunity to experience both table service and the bar, which seats 16 and offers the restaurant's full menu. One of the bartenders greeted us immediately, introducing themselves and their fellow bartender by name. I tried the pho cocktail, a gin drink featuring pho-spiced syrup and habanero bitters. Story continues Lahaina Grill's pho cocktail and an improved whiskey cocktail. Ashley Probst After perusing Lahaina Grill's extensive list of libations, the pho cocktail, priced at $19, stood out as a novel creation. It incorporated Gray Whale gin, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice, pho-spiced syrup, and habanero bitters. The bartender garnished it with a lime wedge, star anise, and fresh basil. The drink was light and refreshing but also had a savory element and a touch of tartness. My date ordered an improved whiskey cocktail, which is an old fashioned with absinthe and maraschino liqueur. We were both intrigued by the salad station that was set up in the bar area. My date and I didn't expect to see a salad station behind the bar. Ashley Probst Neither of us had witnessed a salad station operating out of a bar area before. It was fun to watch the restaurant staff prepare a Buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad as we waited for our table. The hostess returned to seat us before we finished our drinks. I perused Lahaina Grill's menu as soon as I sat down. Ashley Probst We transferred our bar tab to the table, which was located in a cozy corner in the back of the restaurant. The dining room was equipped to host both large parties and intimate date nights. Pretty much every table in Lahaina Grill's dining room was filled. Ashley Probst The modern bistro-inspired dining room seemed to be filled to its 130-person capacity on the night we were there. The restaurant also has a semi-private dining room, which offers a chef's table experience for parties of six to 10 people. Historical images adorned the restroom walls. A black-and-white photo of Hotel Lahaina in 1938. Ashley Probst The restroom was adorned with historical images, including a photo of the original 1938 Hotel Lahaina, which has been home to Lahaina Grill since 1990. Our table had views of the lively restaurant and the colorful artwork hanging on the walls. My date didn't love the colorful paintings, but I thought they gave the restaurant a unique personality. Ashley Probst My date thought the number of vivid paintings in the restaurant was overwhelming, but I genuinely enjoyed the eclectic decor. The table setting had a fine-dining feel, but I wasn't impressed by the napkin arrangements. I thought the napkins could've been folded into a more intricate design. Ashley Probst The leather-bound menus felt luxurious, and the table settings featured fine china, flatware, and crystal glasses. Some restaurants get creative with their napkin arrangements, but the ones at Lahaina Grill seemed fairly simple. I remarked that the person responsible for making the napkins was likely grateful that they didn't have to fold them into a more complicated design. The chef and owner introduced himself to every table. The service was fantastic from start to finish. Ashley Probst I noticed that Jurg Munch, the chef and owner of Lahaina Grill, made a point to interact with every guest and hand out his business cards in case we had any inquiries. The server gave us bread rolls with herb-garlic butter that was marked with Lahaina Grill's logo. The server brought us bread and herb-garlic butter. Ashley Probst The logo turned out to be printed on a paper film, which we peeled back to reveal the flavorful butter beneath. The appetizer menu offered a variety of rare delicacies like caviar deviled eggs, foie gras, and wagyu-beef ravioli. Our caviar deviled eggs arrived late, so the server gave us a complimentary dessert. Ashley Probst We ordered Maui farm-fresh deviled eggs topped with a 1/2 ounce of Ossetra caviar for $28. My date also convinced me to taste the seared ahi and foie gras with fig compote, truffle oil, and Maui onion demi-glace, priced at $58. Other standout appetizers included baked escargots for $34, wagyu-beef ravioli for $34, and Maui onion soup for $21. Though we were tempted to order the soup, our server advised us against adding it to our other appetizers to save us from overindulging too early in the meal. Something got lost in translation, and our deviled eggs didn't make it to the table until after we received our entrees. Upon alerting our server, he had the dish sent out from the kitchen right away. The caviar added a sophisticated layer to the deviled eggs, an otherwise mundane comfort food, and the dish was worth the wait. The foie gras melted in our mouths and overflowed with flavor. The foie gras was a rich, decadent way to kick off the meal. Ashley Probst The appetizer was already split for us to share, which was a thoughtful touch by the kitchen. The succulent demi-glace made the dish exceptionally rich. Our server, who was also the restaurant's sommelier, suggested that we pair the dish with sauternes, a sweet French dessert wine that went perfectly with this buttery delicacy. My date tried the seafood special for their main course. Lahaina Grill's seafood special. Ashley Probst The seafood special, which cost $73, featured panko-crusted opakapaka, also known as Hawaiian pink snapper, atop a bed of risotto. It was smothered in a house-made sauce. I ordered the rack of lamb, one of the most expensive entrees on the menu. The rack of lamb was one of the most expensive items on the menu. Ashley Probst One of the restaurant's signature dishes is the Kona coffee-roasted Colorado rack of lamb. The $85 dish came with herbed mashed potatoes, roasted garlic, vegetables, and a coffee-cabernet demi-glace. Other notable dishes I considered ordering were the sauteed mahi-mahi, as well as the Maui onion and sesame-seed-crusted seared ahi. We ended our meal with a complimentary dessert sample platter. My favorite dessert was the triple-berry pie. Ashley Probst To compensate for the inconvenience of our deviled eggs' late arrival, our server sent us a signature dessert sampler, listed on the menu for $38. The assortment included miniature versions of the most popular desserts: flourless coffee-infused chocolate cake with Kona coffee ice cream, Kula lime tart, Maui vanilla-bean creme brulee, and triple-berry pie with raspberries, blueberries, and black currants. My date and I paired our dessert with espresso martinis. We finished the night with a round of espresso martinis. Ashley Probst What originally started as an order for hot coffee turned into a round of espresso martinis, priced at $21 each. The nightcaps were made using Soli vanilla vodka, espresso, Kahlua, and Baileys. The bill came out to about $365, and we paid a total of over $450 after factoring in gratuity. I dined at Lahaina Grill for the first time, and the famous Maui restaurant didn't disappoint. Ashley Probst My date and I split the bill based on the items we ordered, though I agreed to cover the foie gras. So, I ended up paying $233, including tip. The bill was expensive, but we agreed that the meal was worth the high price. I've spent $200 on past dinners and left feeling remorseful, but that wasn't the case at Lahaina Grill. The impeccable service and outstanding fare created a delightful dining experience that was worth every dollar. We've already made a game plan for our next visit. Next time my date and I dine at Lahaina Grill, we'll eat at the bar. Ashley Probst Next time my date and I go to Lahaina Grill, we'll dine at the bar. We already know that we're going to share the wagyu-beef ravioli and Maui onion soup. Perhaps we'll add a farm-fresh side, like creamed spinach or roasted sweet corn, which we didn't have room to try during our first visit. I also won't be able to leave without getting another slice of the triple-berry pie, which was a perfectly sweet ending to an indulgent evening. Read the original article on Insider Leonard Whiting as Romeo and Olivia Hussey as Juliet in 1968's "Romeo & Juliet." (Bettmann Archive) The stars of the 1968 movie "Romeo & Juliet" have submitted a lawsuit in Los Angeles County accusing Paramount Pictures of sexually abusing them by filming their nude bodies without their knowledge when they were children. Leonard Whiting, who played Romeo Montague when he was 16, and Olivia Hussey, who played Juliet Capulet when she was 15, are suing the studio giant for sexual harassment, negligence, intentional tort, fraud, appropriation of name and likeness, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unfair business practices and child sexual abuse. The lawsuit, submitted Friday, has yet to be officially filed in L.A. Superior Court. Directed by Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli, the 1968 adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" features a controversial bedroom scene in which Whiting's bare buttocks and Hussey's bare breasts are visible. Per court documents reviewed by The Times, the onscreen lovers claim they were coerced into filming the sequence nude after Zeffirelli initially assured them that "there would be no nudity filmed or exhibited, and that [they] would be wearing flesh colored undergarments during the bedroom/love scene." Whiting and Hussey allege that, on the morning of the bedroom shoot, Zeffirelli told them that "they must act in the nude or the Picture would fail" adding that "millions were invested" in the project and that "they would never work again in any profession, let alone Hollywood" if they didn't comply. The child actors were allegedly covered with nude body makeup and "believed they had no choice but to act in the nude ... as demanded." The complaint also notes that Zeffirelli, who died at age 96 in 2019, allegedly showed Whiting and Hussey "where the cameras would be set so that no nudity would be filmed or photographed for use in Romeo & Juliet or anywhere else." The co-stars argue that the studio either knew or "should have known" that images of their nude bodies "were secretly and unlawfully obtained ... for later use by Paramount and others." Story continues As a result of Zeffirelli's and Paramount's alleged transgressions, Whiting and Hussey say they have suffered physical pain, severe mental anguish and emotional distress, as well as "a lifetime loss" of earnings, employment benefits and job opportunities. They are seeking general, compensatory and punitive economic and noneconomic damages "believed to be in excess" of $500 million. "Paramount ... authorized, condoned and/or ratified the unlawful conduct by ... repackaging what is essentially pornography and evidence of a crime and then reselling that poisonous product for profit over the objections of Mr. Whiting and Ms. Hussey since 1968," the lawsuit alleges. "The knowing and repeated use of sexual images of minor children is the worst of behaviors in our society and must be eradicated." Leonard Whiting, left, and Olivia Hussey attend a 2018 screening of "The Producers" in Los Angeles. (Willy Sanjuan / Invision/AP) "Romeo & Juliet" received Academy Award nominations in 1969 for cinematography, costume design, director and best picture. It won for cinematography and costume design. The lawsuit cites a California law enacted in 2020 that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. Because people over the age of 40 are no longer allowed to sue for child sexual abuse in California as of Jan. 1, 2023, the state received a deluge of complaints leading up to the Dec. 31, 2022, filing deadline. Paramount did not respond to The Times' multiple requests for comment. Last month, Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins reflected on performing nude together as teenagers in the 1980 film "The Blue Lagoon." Shields, who was 14 at the time of filming, remarked that a movie like Randal Kleiser's period drama would "never" be made today. Oh gosh, no," Atkins agreed on a recent episode of Shields' "Now What?" podcast. "Animals were hurt in the movie. We were spearing fish and all kinds of crazy things. Children are naked running down a beach just couldnt do that now. Shields also recalled wearing "little strips of clothing" or having her hair taped down "to cover the boobs, which were very minimal anyway." "I don't know what I was trying to cover," she quipped as Atkins laughed. "They would stick these little sticky, flesh-colored things on my nipple because nipple was evidently where they drew the line in this movie, which is ironic." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The stars of the 1968 film version of Romeo & Juliet filed a lawsuit against Paramount on Friday, alleging that the company sexually exploited them when they shot the movie as adolescents. The leading actors, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, are now in their early 70s and are seeking more than $500 million in damages from Paramount, Variety reported. This comes as a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for older claims of child sexual abuse expired on Dec. 31, meaning that in 2023, people over the age of 40 can no longer sue for child sexual abuse. What they were told and what went on were two different things, Tony Marinozzi, who is a business manager for both actors, said in a statement to Variety. They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Santa Monica Superior Court, alleges that the director, Franco Zeffirelli, guaranteed both actors that there would be no nudity in the film and that they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in the controversial bedroom scene. Instead, Zeffirelli allegedly told them to perform their scenes nude with body makeup on or the movie would fail, according to Variety. In 2018, Hussey said in an interview with Fox that her nude scene was done tastefully. In Europe, it was very different, Hussey said in the interview. In America, it was very taboo. But in Europe a lot of the films had nudity. Nobody really thought much of it. But it was just the fact that I was 16 that got a lot of publicity. In a separate interview with Variety in 2018, she said the nude scene was needed for the film. No one my age had done that before, Hussey said in the interview. Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, second from right, arrives for an appearance at Manhattan federal court Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in New York. Bankman-Fried will be arraigned in a Manhattan federal court Tuesday on charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on his cryptocurrency trading platform. (Craig Ruttle/AP) NEW YORK FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court Tuesday to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on his cryptocurrency trading platform as a judge set a tentative trial date for October. Bankman-Fried, 30, denied charges accusing him of illegally diverting massive sums of customer money from FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. Advertisement Bankman-Frieds attorney, Mark Cohen, announced his clients plea, saying: He pleads not guilty to all counts. Afterward, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan set a tentative trial date of Oct. 2, saying he might move it forward or backward a day or two. A prosecutor estimated it would take the government a month to present its case to a jury, while a defense lawyer projected putting on a case lasting two to three weeks. Advertisement Wearing a backpack, Bankman-Fried marched through a crush of cameras as he entered the courthouse on a rainy day to make his first appearance before Kaplan. In the courtroom, Bankman-Fried appeared relaxed through most of the half-hour-long proceeding, occasionally speaking to a lawyer next to him. When he left court, he did not speak to reporters outside. After Bankman Fried pleaded not guilty, the judge discussed with lawyers a schedule for proceeding toward trial, setting April dates for defense lawyers to submit arguments challenging the validity of the charges and for prosecutors to respond to them. Oral arguments were set for May 18. The judge also added to Bankman-Frieds bail conditions by banning him from accessing or transferring cryptocurrency or assets of FTX or Alameda Research or any assets purchased with funds from the companies. He did so after Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon said Bankman-Fried had worked with foreign regulators to transfer FTX assets to them after FTX declared bankruptcy and he knew U.S. bankruptcy authorities were also interested in those assets. Sassoon said Bankman-Fried expressed to a co-conspirator that he knew there was competition between U.S. bankruptcy authorities and foreign regulators and he wanted to get the assets to the foreign regulators in part because he thought theyd be more lenient with him and he might be able to regain control of his business. Cohen, though, insisted that Bankman-Fried had not personally transferred any assets and that anything that was moved came at the insistence of a court in the Bahamas that ordered it to occur. Sassoon, noting FTX was the second largest cryptocurrency exchange, also told the judge that the government hoped to create a website for victims of the fraud, rather than notify them individually since they might number over one million. Prior to Bankman-Frieds appearance, his lawyers sent a letter to the judge, saying Bankman-Frieds parents both Stanford Law School professors, in recent weeks have become the target of intense media scrutiny, harassment, and threats. They said the parents had received a steady stream of threatening correspondence, including communications expressing a desire that they suffer physical harm. Advertisement As a result, the lawyers asked that the names be redacted on court documents for two individuals who were lined up to sign Bankman-Frieds $250 million personal recognizance bond. Bankman-Fried was released with electronic monitoring about two weeks ago on the condition that he await trial at his parents house in Palo Alto, California. The judge allowed the names to remain secret for now, but he said he may reconsider his decision if members of the media or others object. Carolyn Ellison, 28, who ran Alameda, and Gary Wang, 29, who co-founded FTX, have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and are cooperating with prosecutors in a bid for leniency. Both are free on bail. Their pleas were kept secret until Bankman-Fried was in the air after his extradition from the Bahamas, where FTX is based, due to fears that he might flee. Shortly before Bankman-Frieds arraignment, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that he was launching a task force made up of senior prosecutors in his office to investigate and prosecute matters related to the FTX collapse. He said the task force also will work to trace and recover victim assets. The Southern District of New York is working around the clock to respond to the implosion of FTX, Williams said in a press release. It is an all-hands-on-deck moment. We are launching the SDNY FTX Task Force to ensure that this urgent work continues, powered by all of SDNYs resources and expertise, until justice is done. A private funeral for Stephen tWitch Boss is reportedly set to take place Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles. The small service will be attended by family members of Boss, the longtime DJ on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, People and TMZ reported, citing sources. A larger service for friends and others close to Boss is expected to take place soon, according to TMZ. Boss, who was 40, died by suicide on Dec. 13, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner announced last month. Boss, who had three kids with wife Allison Holker Boss, became Ellen DJ in 2014 and remained with the show until its final episode last May. He became an executive producer in 2020. Stephen lit up every room he stepped into, Holker Boss told People in a statement last month. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans. DeGeneres tweeted she was heartbroken by Boss death, describing him as pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart, DeGeneres wrote. I will miss him. Boss competed on the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2008 and returned as an all-star for the shows seventh season, where he met his wife. He also appeared in three Step Up films and in the movies Hairspray and Magic Mike XXL. I have no words. There arent any, wrote Magic Mike co-star Channing Tatum in a December Instagram post. My head or heart can not understand this. There is just so much i dont know where to begin. I love you. Ill see you again my friend. Until then. Story at a glance Youth who habitually check social media are more sensitive to peer feedback, data show. However, whether these changes are harmful or beneficial has yet to be determined. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging scans to measure youths anticipation of social feedback. Advocates and parents have raised concerns about the potential health effects of social media on teens and children for years. A new study carried out in rural North Carolina shows habitually checking social media platforms may lead to long-term changes in adolescent brain development. Specifically, researchers found different social media-checking habits were linked with changes in youths brains, altering how they respond to the outside world. Data suggest those who checked the sites and apps more than 15 times per day became hypersensitive to peer feedback. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Findings are based on three years worth of data collected from 169 students with an average age of around 13. Participants were initially asked how often they check Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, with answers ranging from less than once per day to more than 20 times daily. Teens often begin using these platforms at one of the most important times for brain development, when it becomes especially sensitive to rewards and punishments, authors explained. For three years, youth underwent annual functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. During these scans, researchers measured adolescents neural responses to a cue, measuring their social feedback anticipation. Those who habitually checked the platforms initially showed hypoactivation in certain brain regions and increasing sensitivity to potential social cues over time. In contrast, those with nonhabitual checking behaviors also showed initial hypoactivation, but decreased sensitivity to these cues over time. Story continues While this increased sensitivity to social feedback may promote future compulsive social media use, it could also reflect a possible adaptive behavior that will allow teens to navigate an increasingly digital world, said author Maria Maza in a release. Maza is a doctoral student in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill. Because these platforms offer a near-constant, unpredictable and often rewarding stream of social feedback via likes, comments and messages, they serve as powerful reinforcers that can condition users to check social media repeatedly, added author Kara Fox, also of UNC, Chapel Hill. Previous research has shown 78 percent of youth between the ages 13 and 17 report checking their devices at least hourly and nearly half check them almost constantly. Researchers conclude more studies are needed on the long-term associations between social media use, adolescent neural development and psychological adjustment. The current findings only reflect the trajectory of brain changes, and not their magnitude, or whether changes will be good or bad. Social media use habits were also only evaluated at one time point, meaning the study could not capture how they changed over time or other factors that could potentially affect the brain. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The children of a Mount Dora couple who police said were randomly killed by a stranger in their senior living community over the weekend released their first public statement on Wednesday. Anthony and Brittany Getman, the children of Sharon and Darryl Getman, said their parents lived in Mount Dora for more than 20 years and were enjoying their golden years living in Waterman Village when they were killed. Chief Michael Gibson said Darryl and Sharon Getman were found dead Saturday in their home in Waterman Village in Mount Dora. We are stunned, devastated and heart-broken by the horrific murder of our parents, they said. If there are words to describe what has happened and its impact to our family and the community, we have not found them. Police Chief Michael Gibson called the Gatemans killings ruthless and senseless. Gibson said he is confident that the couples killing was random, and that the woman who is a suspect of interest in the case was just passing through Central Florida with no known ties to the couple or Mount Dora. Read: Police: Person of interest in custody after random, senseless slaying of elderly Mount Dora couple We have every confidence in Chief Michael Gibson and the Mount Dora PD and Special Agent Lee Massie and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the couples children said in their statement. They and their teams have worked tirelessly together and with other agencies to solve this crime. We look forward to a successful resolution. Gibson said Tuesday that a person of interest in the case is in custody out of state. He said the woman was arrested on a charge of grand theft for stealing the Getmans car. Read: $10K reward offered after suspicious death of couple at senior living community in Mount Dora Police said the extradition process to get the woman, who police did not identify, back to Florida is underway, but so far murder charges have not been filed. You can read the familys full statement below: We are stunned, devastated and heart-broken by the horrific murder of our parents. If there are words to describe what has happened and its impact to our family and the community, we have not found them. Story continues Mom and Dad had been residents of Mount Dora for over 20 years and truly loved the area. They were enjoying their golden years staying active and spending time with their many friends. We appreciate all the support we have received. It just shows how well thought of our parents were. We have every confidence in Chief Michael Gibson and the Mount Dora PD and Special Agent Lee Massie and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They and their teams have worked tirelessly together and with other agencies to solve this crime. We look forward to a successful resolution. We humbly ask you to respect our privacy in this most difficult time and to allow law enforcement to complete their mission to solve this tragically unnecessary crime. Read: Mount Dora police investigate suspicious death of couple at senior living community 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. San Mateo County Sheriff's Office / AP A car with a family of four inside toppled 250 feet off a Northern California cliff Monday, launching a large-scale, multi-agency rescue mission and in what officials deemed a miracle, all four passengers survived. But the incident is no longer thought to be a tragic accident investigators now believe it was an intentional act, a spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol told BuzzFeed News. The man who was behind the Tesla's wheel, Dharmesh A. Patel, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse. Patel, who is from Pasadena, California, is still hospitalized for his injuries but will be booked into jail upon release. San Mateo County Sheriff's Office / AP The other passengers in the car a 41-year-old woman, a 7-year-old girl, and a 4-year-old boy also sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital. The car plunged from a part of the road that is notoriously treacherous to drive on, known as the Devil's Slide a steep, rocky stretch along the Pacific Coast Highway. "We come out here, unfortunately, all too often for things like this. And this was nothing short of a miracle today that they survived," Coastside Fire Protection battalion chief Brian Pottenger told CBS. Multiple helicopters have been dispatched. One patient has been brought to the top of the cliff by firefighters. https://t.co/8B5oksYkfp 10:24 PM - 02 Jan 2023 After the car plummeted off the cliff, mangling the vehicle and trapping the passengers inside, dozens of emergency responders from several fire departments, emergency medical teams, law enforcement agencies, and even the US Coast Guard showed up to the scene. The occupants were initially assumed to be dead until firefighters spotted someone moving inside the smashed Tesla, according to ABC7. "Every one of us was shocked when we saw movement out of the front windshield," Pottenger said. Unable to open the crushed doors, firefighters cut the family out of the car with Jaws of Life rescue tools, and the children were pulled out from the car's back window. The adults, whose injuries were more severe than the children's, were hoisted away by helicopters and transported to the hospital. Story continues "[The children] were more scared than they were hurt," Pottenger said. San Mateo County Sheriff's Office / AP Patel is a doctor specializing in radiology and works at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Though police did not confirm Patel's relationship to the other three passengers, a hospital spokesperson said they were his family members. "Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is deeply saddened to learn of a traffic incident involving one of our physicians and his family," the spokesperson said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "We are extremely grateful there were no severe injuries. We will not respond further, as this incident is under investigation." Despite initial speculation that the fall might have been due to the Tesla being in self-driving mode a feature that has long raised safety concerns the California Highway Patrol said that was no longer believed to be the cause. "There has been no determination as to what driving mode the Tesla was in; however, that does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident," the spokesperson said. In the wake of his affair with co-anchor Amy Robach becoming public, T.J. Holmes estranged wife made a statement one week after Holmes filed for divorce. Via her divorce attorney, Stephanie Lehman, Marilee Fiebig expressed disappointment in her soon-to-be ex-husband. Lehman released an exclusive statement to the Daily Mail, in which she wrote, During the holiday season and in light of the challenging times, Marilees sole focus has remained on the overall best interest of her 9-year-old daughter. The attorney added she and Holmes lawyer have been working together to move their divorce forward privately, expeditiously and as amicably as possible. Notwithstanding, we continue to be disappointed by T.J.s lack of discretion, respect and sensitivity toward Marilee and the partys daughter. Lehman ended her statement by saying her 45-year-old client appreciated the publics support. Marilee has been touched by the outpouring of support and looks forward to a new beginning in this new year. Fiebig is an immigration lawyer and serves as the chief diversity officer for the Save the Children Foundation. She is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Daily Mail reports that her past employment includes vice president of operations and general counsel at Wilhelmina modeling agency. She was also the chief of staff at Roc Nation. Their marriage began in March 2010, and they share a 9-year-old daughter, Sabine. Fiebig is his second wife. A rare treat lately to step out with this one! Last night with @tjholmes for the GMA holiday party. pic.twitter.com/yNUmE0DzkC Marilee F. Holmes (@marileefholmes) December 16, 2016 When the news broke of Holmes affair with Robach, there was speculation about the couples status. Story continues Page Six reported at the time that a source told the outlet that the couple had been separated but were trying to work things out. They were reportedly together on his birthday. However, Page Sixs source said Fiebig had no idea of the affair, leaving her devastated. Holmes and Robachs relationship leaked in mid-November. Blavity reported the couple went silent on social media after outlets published images of their romantic rendezvous. In several photos, the hosts are shown cuddled and in compromising embraces. One even caught Holmes squeezing Robachs behind. In another image, the pair appeared to be holding hands in a car. LIKE NOT CAUGHT IN 4K!!!???? pic.twitter.com/8SargObsLO Kenny (@kennysroys) November 30, 2022 Robach is married to actor Andrew Shue and has also begun the process of ending her 12-year marriage. Now that Robach and Holmes relationship has been confirmed, the two have made little attempt to hide their feelings. They were recently seen displaying much public affection in Miami while on vacation. The look of love! Pictures emerge of TJ Holmes and Amy Robach kissing during VERY affectionate lunch on their intimate Miami break before couple returned to NYChttps://t.co/u3AyMYFq17 pic.twitter.com/qM6LwNdU2u Eugene Mecke (@emeckejr) December 30, 2022 Both news anchors have been suspended from their hosting gigs on GMA3, ABCs midday segment of Good Morning America. TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan plans to give cash payouts of nearly $200 to every citizen this year, Premier Su Tseng-chang announced on Wednesday, saying the island's economic growth will be shared by everyone. The export-reliant economy, a global tech powerhouse for products including semiconductor chips, grew 6.45% in 2021, the fastest rate since it expanded 10.25% in 2010. While economic growth is expected to slow in 2022 and 2023, the government has made plans to plough an extra T$380 billion ($12.4 billion) in tax revenue from last year back into the economy to help protect the island from global economic shocks, including subsidies for electricity prices and labour and health insurance. Su said a total of T$140 billion, part of the tax revenue, would be spent as cash payouts and each citizen would get T$6,000 ($195.61). "The fruit of economic achievements will be shared by all citizens, from young to old," Su told reporters, adding the potential payout requires approval from parliament, where the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has a majority. "We wish to give all citizens a New Year blessing after the beginning of the Lunar New Year," Su told reporters, referring to the week-long holiday that starts on Jan. 20. He did not give details of how the government would deliver the payouts. Taiwan is a major producer of semiconductors used in everything from cars and smartphones to fighter jets. Its economy continued to grow stably during the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years helped by strong chip demand for consumer electronics as more people worked from home. Taiwan's central bank in December cut its 2022 estimate for gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 2.91% from its previous forecast of 3.51% in September. For 2023, it projected GDP would grow 2.53%. The economy grew 4.01% in the third quarter from a year earlier. $1 = 30.6740 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting By Yimou Lee and Jeanny Kao; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Taraneh Alidoosti, center, holds bunches of flowers as she poses for a photo among her friends after being released from Evin prison in Tehran (Gisoo Faghfouri/Sharghdaily via AP) One of Irans top actors has been freed from prison on bail, more than two weeks after being jailed for speaking out against a crackdown on anti-government protests. Oscar-winner Taraneh Alidoosti, holding a bouquet of flowers and posing with family and friends welcoming her as she emerged Wednesday afternoon from Tehrans notorious Evin Prison. Her mother, Nadere Hakimelahi, had earlier said she would be released in a post on Instagram and it was reported by the semi-official ISNA news agency. Alidoosti was the female lead in Asghar Farhadis Oscar-winning 2016 film The Salesman. She was arrested at her home 17 December after she spoke out publicly about the execution of Mohsen Shekari, a 23-year-old charged with injuring a member of Irans security forces during a protest. Mohsen Shekari was executed Dec. 9 after being charged by an Iranian court with blocking a street in Tehran and attacking a member of the security forces with a machete. A week later, Iran executed a second prisoner, Majidreza Rahnavard, by public hanging. He had been accused of stabbing two members of the Basij militia, which is leading the crackdown. Alidoosti had posted at least three messages in support of the protests triggered by death 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody before excalating widespread calls for the overthrow of Irans ruling clerics on Instagram before her account was disabled Outspoken since the start of the protest movement, her arrest prompted shock and outrage across the world. She was reportedly released on bail equivalent to about 200,000. Iranians typically must put up the deed of their own or a family members home as collateral. The regime of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been struggling to silence well-known Iranians in the fields of art and sports from publicly supporting the protest movement. Authorities recently forced the return of a Dubai-bound passenger plane carrying the wife and daughter of famed Iranian footballer and supporter of the protesters Ali Daei, preventing them from traveling abroad. Story continues High-profile Iranians held in prison are often released on bail quickly. The length of Alidoostis detention suggests Irans rulers wanted to make an example of her, sending the message that it would harshly punish even the most well-known luminaries, much less ordinary Iranians caught up in the protests. Late on Tuesday, security forces arrested some 30 people in the small Iranian Kurdish town of Javanrud, a town of near-constant nightly protests. On Tuesday, the Khamenei regimes highest court affirmed death penalty sentences for two more protesters, Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini. Each was accused of killing members of the security forces, but the lawyer for one of the condemned said his client had alleged his confession was extracted under torture. Acting Pittsburgh police chief Tom Stangrecki issued an order this week advising officers to return to the practice of enforcing minor traffic violations, such as broken headlights or expired inspection stickers. The police bureau banned officers from enforcing those secondary traffic offenses after Pittsburgh City Council passed legislation last year barring officers from engaging in that practice. Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess sponsored the legislation that he said disproportionally targeted African American drivers. Burgess said the stats back up his claims. In 2020, Pittsburgh Police stopped 137 more Black drivers than white drivers in a city thats only 25% African American. Burgess said he was shocked by the disparity. Council passed the legislation by an 8-1 margin and it took effect in April. Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle spoke with Councilman Burgess, who said he was unaware of the reversal and he had no idea why Police changed the policy. EARLE: Do you think they are almost slapping this back in your face? Rev. Ricky Burgess: I dont take this personally, but again I just think they should reconsider it because I think it will actually have the reverse effect and make us less safe. Burgess said he stands by the ordinance and the data supports it. We have shown through data that when you do these secondary stops it targets disproportionately African Americans and African American communities, said Councilman Burgess. Target 11 reached out to the city on Monday. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. The city sent an emailed response Tuesday afternoon, stating that the move was made because of recent changes to state law. The email did not elaborate and there was no further explanation about the changes in state law. Target 11 sent a request for more information, but that request has not been answered as of this writing. Sources tell Target 11 that the move to rescind the ban may have been prompted by the threat of police losing accreditation, and possibly even some state funding. Story continues There were a lot of risks attended to the ordinance that passed and fundamentally it told our local police that they were no longer to enforce state law. Thats a problem, said Beth Pittinger, the executive director of the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board. She said her Board opposed the legislation when it was introduced, and today she welcomed the Chiefs decision to reverse the policy. Pittinger: Enforcing traffic violations and the traffic laws is a fundamentally a public safety issue. Earle: Even minor ones? Pittinger: Minor traffic violations can lead to greater harm than the public than one would expect. Philadelphia implemented a similar measure barring police there from initiating traffic stops for minor violations. But the Police Officers Union filed a lawsuit, claiming the change violates state law and adversely impacts public safety. The issue is still being decided by the courts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Dollar General clerk charged after shooting, killing armed robber Pizza delivery driver beaten, robbed and abducted in Pittsburghs Elliott neighborhood Damar Hamlin had to be resuscitated twice after collapsing on the field, uncle says VIDEO: McKees Rocks community collects cards, pictures for Damar Hamlin DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., at the beginning of an evening session after six failed votes to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. (Alex Brandon/AP) WASHINGTON House Republicans flailed through a long second day of fruitless balloting Wednesday, unable to either elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority. Yet McCarthy wasnt giving up, even after the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots produced no better outcome and he was left trying to call off a night-time session. Even that was controversial, as the House voted 216-214 amid shouting and crowding to adjourn for the night. Advertisement No deal yet, McCarthy said shortly before that as he left a lengthy closed-door dinner-time meeting with key holdouts and his own allies. But a lot of progress. No progress at all was evident though the day of vote-after-vote-after vote as Republicans tried to elevate McCarthy into the top job. The ballots were producing almost the same outcome, 20 conservative holdouts still refusing to support him, and leaving him far short of the 218 typically needed to win the gavel. Advertisement In fact, McCarthy saw his support slip to 201, as one fellow Republican switched to vote simply present. Seeing no quick way out of the political standoff, Republicans voted abruptly late in the day to adjourn for a few hours as they desperately searched for an endgame to the chaos of their own making. They were due back in the evening, but McCarthy wanted to take a break until Thursday. I think people need to work a little more, McCarthy said. I dont think a vote tonight would make any difference. But a vote in the future could. But even a simple motion to adjourn erupted into a floor fight, with Democrats and some Republicans insisting on a lengthy vote. McCarthy, the California Republican, vowed to fight to the finish for the speakers job despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new majority into tumult for the first days of the new Congress. Animated private discussions broke out on the chamber floor and in huddled meeting throughout the Capitol between McCarthy supporters and detractors searching for an offramp. Well, its Groundhog Day, said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot. She said, To all Americans watching right now, We hear you. And we will get through this no matter how messy. But the right-flank conservatives, led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump, appeared emboldened by the standoff though Trump publicly backed McCarthy, Advertisement This is actually an invigorating day for America, said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who was nominated three times by his conservative colleagues as an alternative. Theres a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to a close and elect a speaker. The House gaveled in at noon, but no other work could be done swearing in new members, forming committees, tackling legislation, investigating the Biden administration until the speaker was elected. I still have the most votes, McCarthy said at the start of the session. At the end of the day, well be able to get there. But the dynamic proved no different from Day One, as Democrats re-upped their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker, and Donalds offered his challenge to McCarthy in another history making moment. Both Jeffries and Donalds are Black. This country needs leadership, said Rep. Chip Roy, the Texas Republican noting the first time in history two Black Americans were nominated for the high office, and lawmakers from both parties rose to applaud. It was the first time in 100 years that a nominee for House speaker could not take the gavel on the first vote, but McCarthy appeared undeterred. Instead, he vowed to fight to the finish. Advertisement The disorganized start to the new Congress pointed to difficulties ahead with Republicans now in control of the House. President Joe Biden, departing the White House for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said the rest of the world is looking at the scene on the House floor. I just think its really embarrassing its taking so long, Biden said. I have no idea who will prevail. Tensions flared among the new House majority as their campaign promises stalled out. Not since 1923 has a speakers election gone to multiple ballots, and the longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in late 1855 and dragged out for two months, with 133 ballots, during debates over slavery in the run-up to the Civil War. A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trumps Make America Great Again agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stopping McCarthys rise without concessions to their priorities. But even Trumps strongest supporters disagreed on this issue. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firm Colorado conservative who nominated Donalds the second time, called on the former president to tell McCarthy, `Sir, you do not have the votes and its time to withdraw. Advertisement Earlier Wednesday, Trump had done the opposite, urging Republicans to vote for McCarthy. Close the deal, take the victory, he wrote on his social media site, using all capital letters. Do not turn a great triumph into a giant & embarrassing defeat. As the spectacle of voting dragged on, McCarthys backers implored the holdouts to fall in line for the California Republican. I do think members on both sides of this are getting a lot of pressure now, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. So I think the message from home is, Hey, sort this stuff out, we dont have time for the small stuff and the egos. The standoff over McCarthy has been building since Republicans won the House majority in the midterm elections. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront Biden after two years of the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing hes neither conservative enough nor tough enough to battle Democrats. To win support, McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of the Freedom Caucus, who have been agitating for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file members more influence in the legislative process. He has been here before, having bowed out of the speakers race in 2015 when he failed to win over conservatives. Everythings on the table, said ally Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. except, he said, having McCarthy step aside. Not at all. That is not on the table. Advertisement Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker. He won the most votes overall, 212. If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority. Its a strategy former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner had used when they confronted opposition, winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes. One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present on multiple rounds, but it made no difference in the immediate outcome. AP writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Kevin Freking contributed reporting. Teenagers who check social media frequently may be changing their brains. (Getty) Social media is changing young peoples brains and making them hypersensitive to feedback from their peers, a new study has warned. Teenagers who habitually check social media may change their brains to become more sensitive to social rewards and punishments, the study found. The researchers warn that this could have long-standing effects, as well as leading to adolescents going on to compulsive social media use. The study findings suggest that checking social media repeatedly (more than 15 times a day) among young teens ages 12 to 13 may be associated with changes in how their brains develop over a three-year period. Corresponding author Eva Telzer, a professor in University of North Carolina-Chapel Hills psychology and neuroscience department, says, The findings suggest that children who grow up checking social media more often are becoming hypersensitive to feedback from their peers. The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics and is one of the first long-term studies on adolescent technology use and neural development. Read more: Apple takes shot at Meta with new privacy-focused advert Researchers tracked 169 students recruited from public middle schools in rural North Carolina over three years. Participants reported how often they checked three popular social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Their answers ranged from less than once to more than 20 times a day. The participants also underwent yearly brain imaging sessions while completing a task which measured brain activity when anticipating social feedback from peers. Maria Maza, a doctoral student in psychology wrote, While this increased sensitivity to social feedback may promote future compulsive social media use, it could also reflect a possible adaptive behaviour that will allow teens to navigate an increasingly digital world. Read more: A 1988 warning about climate change was mostly right Social media platforms deliver a constant and unpredictable stream of social feedback in the form of likes, comments, notifications and messages. Story continues The researchers say that these inputs can condition youngsters to check social media repeatedly. Other studies have shown that 78% of 13- to 17-year-olds report checking their mobile devices at least hourly and 35% of teens report using at least one of the top five social media platforms almost constantly. Co-author Mitch Prinstein, who also serves as the chief science officer for the American Psychological Association, says, Most adolescents begin using technology and social media at one of the most important periods for brain development during our lifetime. Our research demonstrates that checking behaviours on social media could have long-standing and important consequences for adolescents neural development, which is critical for parents and policy-makers to consider when understanding the benefits and potential harms associated with teen technology use. Read more: Why 2023 is shaping up to be a massive year for Britons in space Two East Tennessee men arrested last month after police say they conspired to murder FBI agents will face life in prison if they're convicted, the prosecuting attorney said in federal court Tuesday. The case stems from one of the men's involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Austin Carter, 26, of Knoxville, and co-defendant Edward Kelley, 33, of Maryville, face a charge of conspiracy to murder U.S. employees. Kelley is facing additional charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence and threatening the assault or murder of federal officials, which carry maximum terms of 20 and 10 years, respectively. Life imprisonment sentences are rare in the federal criminal justice system, according to the United States Sentencing Commission. Mandatory minimum penalties of life imprisonment generally are required in cases involving the killing of a federal official or other government employee, the commission has stated. Police say their plot to attack the Knoxville Federal Bureau of Investigation office and kill law enforcement officers stems from Kelley's earlier arrest on charges of assaulting a police officer during the insurrection and breach of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Police have released a photo of Kelley among a crowd of rioters gathered at the Capitol building that day. According to court documents, Kelley got into an altercation with a Capitol police officer before breaking into the building. He was arrested in May and was charged with assault, resisting or impeding officers during civil disorder, unlawful entry and physical violence, destruction of government property, violent entry and related offenses. 33-year-old Maryville resident Edward Kelley is charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Kelley pleaded not guilty in the original charges related to Jan. 6. He was jailed again after prosecutors filed the additional charges accusing him of plotting to kill the investigators. A status hearing is set for March 23. A plot to assassinate the arresting officers led to the new charges Kelley obtained a list of officers involved in his D.C. criminal investigation, according to the criminal complaint filed against the two men. A witness, who was described as a coworker and a very good friend to Carter, met with Kelley and Carter in early December when Kelley discussed assassination missions that would target federal agents. Story continues On Dec. 13, Carter gave the witness an envelope from Kelley that contained 37 names and some phone numbers of the law enforcement personnel who participated in his criminal investigation, as well as a thumb drive of video footage from a warrant search of Kelley's home in May. According to the complaint, Kelley and Carter planned to carry out attacks against the Knoxville FBI office if either one got arrested. The complaint says Carter told the witness, "This is the time, add up or put up" and "to definitely make sure you got everything racked, locked up and loaded." Trial set for late February in federal court in Knoxville Last month, Judge Jill McCook denied Carter's request to be released on home detention. Kelley now is requesting a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 10. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges in court Tuesday, have have until Jan. 27 to change their plea. Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter for Knox News. She can be reached by email at lkellar@knoxnews.com. Unlock premium perks and support strong local journalism at knoxnews.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee suspects face life in prison in plot to murder FBI agents It was a big year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their highly-anticipated Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, which gave the couple the chance to tell their story of the last four years in the spotlight, on their terms. Not to mention Meghan was also able to share details about her personal life with the release of her record-breaking Spotify podcast, Archetypes. Throughout the past year, the couple has made a number of shocking revelations about their time as senior members of the royal family. Many of these claims made headlines, and even caught the attention of Buckingham Palace on certain occasions forcing the Palace to issue statements regarding whether or not Harry and Meghans claims were unfounded. From baby Archies nursery fire in South Africa to Meghans first meeting with Princess Kate, these are some of Harry and Meghans most shocking revelations of 2022. The nursery fire In the premiere episode of Meghans podcast Archetypes, which launched this summer on Spotify, the mother of two recalled how there was a fire in her son Archies nursery during a tour of South Africa in 2019. During her conversation with podcast guest Serena Williams, Meghan said she was informed of a fire in the infants room soon after she and Prince Harry had finished a royal engagement. Wed just landed an hour, two hours before. We raced back, and our amazing nanny Lauren, who wed had all the way from Canada to here, was in floods of tears, Meghan told Williams. She explained that their nanny was preparing to put Archie in bed for his nap when she decided to bring him with her to get a snack at the last minute. In that amount of time that she went downstairs, the heater in the nursery caught on fire, she said. There was no smoke detector, someone happened to smell smoke down the hallway, went in, fire [was] extinguished. He was supposed to be sleeping in there. We came back, and of course, as a mother... everyones in tears, everyones shaken. And what did we have to do? Go out and give another official engagement. Story continues However, Meghans revelation led to backlash in South Africa, with #VoetsekMeghan, or Go away Meghan trending after the podcasts release. Despite the controversy, a source familiar with the event told The Citizen newspaper that the fire had taken place at the official residence in Cape Town. The heater burnt. The house didnt burn, the rooms didnt burn. I didnt see the fire itself, but I saw the heater when it came out of the room. The plastic was severely melted, the source alleged. We were driving in convoy and all of a sudden, the convoy with Meghan broke away. We followed after... We werent sure what was going on. When we got to the house, the house-keeper called me and showed me the heater that was burnt and told me what had happened and that the child was not in the room at the time the heater burnt, they smelt it, went up and saw the smoke, they recalled. When we stopped at the residence, I can tell you that she didnt get out of the car like a lady normally gets out. She bolted into the house. The source told the newspaper that British security travelling with the couple allegedly recommended they not make the incident public. When we were outside, we discussed what we are going to do about this. It was a new heater that was just purchased and the consensus was guys this is gonna look bad for us or for Cape Town, South Africa, or for whoever, they claimed. The British Police guys actually told us guys just leave it as is, dont talk about this. We decided we are not going to expose this thing, the source alleged. Thats why we kept quiet about it back then because we knew we were going to get backlash. Meghan says she was treated like a bimbo on Deal or No Deal Before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan got her start as a briefcase girl on the game show, Deal or No Deal. The former actor appeared on the show 16 years ago, before being cast in the USA Network drama, Suits. She left NBCs Deal or No Deal midway through the season in 2006. I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage, Meghan explained on her podcast. I didnt like feeling forced to be all looks. And little substance. And thats how it felt for me at the time being reduced to this specific archetype the word bimbo. The 41-year-old explained how the women were forced to line up for beauty treatments, including having their bras padded and getting fake eyelashes. We were even given spray-tan vouchers each week because there was a very cookie cutter idea of precisely what we should look like. It was solely about our beauty, she said. I was surrounded by smart women on that stage with me, but that wasnt the focus of why we were there and I would end up leaving with this pit in my stomach, Meghan added. Like I said, I was thankful for the job but not for how it made me feel, which was not smart. Although Meghan felt that she was reduced to a bimbo during her time on Deal or No Deal, former co-star Claudia Jordan went on to reject these claims, saying that the show never treated them like bimbos and that it instead helped provide so many opportunities. For clarity yes getting a modelling gig on a game show isnt necessarily about your intellect, but every show the executive producers picked five models with the most outgoing and fun personalities to place mics on, who they knew would engage with the contestants, she wrote on social media. And Deal or No Deal never treated us like bimbos. We got so many opportunities because of that show, Jordan said, before adding, Lord knows Ive been defending this woman in the media for years. And I still will, but I just didnt want any misunderstanding about the climate and environment on the Deal or No Deal set. Another Deal or No Deal co-star, Lisa Gleave, deemed the bimbo comments as insulting, while The View star Whoopi Goldberg said Meghans remarks could make other women feel bad. However, Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel went on to defend Meghans comments, telling Us Weekly: Ive never really heard anybody complain and I dont think Meghan is complaining. I think Meghan just said she wanted to do more. It wasnt fulfilling for her. The royal family were not contacted about the Harry and Meghan docuseries Following the release of the Sussexes Netflix docuseries on 8 December, a row broke out over whether the royal family was given the chance to reply to claims made by Prince Harry and Meghan in the series. A senior palace source insisted Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and members of the family were not approached for comment on content in the series. However, a Netflix source insisted the communications offices for King Charles III and the Prince of Wales were contacted in advance and given the chance to respond to Harry and Meghans claims. Members of the royal family declined to comment on the content within this series, read the on-screen text at the start of episode one. Although Kensington Palace confirmed it did in fact receive an email from a third-party production company and attempted to verify its authenticity with Archewell Productions and Netflix, the palace claimed to have never received a response. According to Variety, that third-party production company was Story Syndicate, the production company co-founded by Harry & Meghan director Liz Garbus. Story Syndicate co-produced the series alongside Archewell Productions. The outlet reported that Prince Williams communications secretary, Lee Thompson, both received Story Syndicates email and had asked the company to share footage from the series with him, in a reply dated 30 November. Story Syndicate told Thompson they could not share any footage in advance of dropping it on Netflix, and asked him once again to respond to the claims made in the series. However, Thompson reportedly did not respond further. Palace staff leaked stories to the media about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle In volume one of Harry and Meghan, the Duke of Sussex claimed that there was a leaking but also planting of stories about the duchess to the British press. Theres a hierarchy of the family, Harry said in the documentary. Theres leaking, but theres also planting of stories. In a separate scene, Prince Harry suggested there was a difference in the way he and Meghan were treated by the press, compared to his brother Prince William. They were happy to lie to protect my brother. They were never willing to tell the truth to protect us, he said. Meanwhile, Meghan claimed that she wasnt being thrown to the wolves, I was being fed to the wolves, as Harry described their experience as institutional gaslighting. In addition, Prince Harry claimed that he and his wifes plan to relocate their family to South Africa in 2019 before they eventually moved to the United States was leaked to the press by someone from Queen Elizabeth IIs private office. My fathers office knew about it, my brothers office knew about it and my grandmothers office knew about it, he said It was very much an internal document. Then it was leaked to TheTimes newspaper. Throughout the docuseries, Harry and Meghan shared many details about the relationship between the press and the royal family, and suggested that palace staff briefed against the couple during their time as senior royals. Royal reporter Omid Scobie defended the dukes allegation that palace staff briefed against him and Meghan in an essay published in Yahoo, writing that the damaging stories leaked by individuals within the House of Windsor were one of the main reasons the Sussexes felt a need to find a different path. Scobie alleged that it was gaslighting for a royal source which he explained is usually code for someone at the palace who doesnt want to go on the record to insist that the Sussexes were unfounded in their claims that they had been briefed against during their time as senior royals. Meeting the Prince William and Kate Middleton for the first time Speaking in episode two of the six-part Netflix docuseries, Meghan said she was surprised about the formality of the royal family behind closed doors and recalled the first time she met the now Prince and Princess of Wales. When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot, she said. I was a hugger. Ive always been a hugger, I didnt realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits, Meghan continued. I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. [I thought there would be] a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go, You can relax now, but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me. However, an unnamed friend of the Princess of Wales told People that Princess Kate is a big hugger and is quite affectionate with friends and family. Kates a big hugger, the friend told the outlet. She is warm and friendly and greets everyone with a big hug and kiss. It comes naturally to her to be like that. Lady Susan Hussey racism scandal While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not directly comment on the latest racism scandal to hit Buckingham Palace, Meghan has previously been open about her experiences with racism during her time as a senior member of the royal family. Earlier this month, Lady Susan Hussey a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II was forced to resign from her role as a royal aide at Buckingham Palace after Black charity boss Ngozi Fulani accused her of making racist remarks at a reception held by the Queen Consort. The 83-year-old lady-in-waiting repeatedly asked Fulani where she really came from and touched Fulanis hair without her consent. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Fulani accused Buckingham Palace of institutional racism after Lady Susan engaged her in a traumatic encounter. This is bigger than one individual. Its institutional racism, Fulani said. The racism row didnt come as a surprise to some, considering Prince Harry and Meghan claimed a member of the royal family made a racist comment about their son Archie during their televised interview with Oprah Winfrey last year. The duchess told Winfrey that the unnamed royal who was not the late Queen nor the late Duke of Edinburgh was worried about how dark their sons skin tone might be before he was born. Two days after the interview, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the Queen, saying that the issues raised by the couple, particularly that of race, were concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately, the statement added. Meghans treatment by the British tabloids The couples claims that Meghan was fed to the wolves by the British press was all but confirmed last week with Jeremy Clarksons highly-criticised column for The Sun, in which he said that he dreamt of the day Meghan would be made to parade naked through Britain while a crowd chanted shame and threw excrement at her. Throughout the six-part docuseries Harry and Meghan, the royal couple often spoke about how they were treated by the press. At one point, the duchess revealed she was struggling with thoughts of suicide due to the unfair media attention. Harry also claimed that his wifes miscarriage was likely caused by the stress of their lawsuit against the publisher of The Mail on Sunday Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) who reproduced parts of a letter Meghan sent to her estranged father. After The Sun issued an apology for publishing Clarksons rant against Meghan, the duke and duchess said in a statement that the apology was nothing more than a PR stunt. The fact that The Sun has not contacted The Duchess of Sussex to apologise shows their intent, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said. This is nothing more than a PR stunt. While the public absolutely deserves the publications regrets for their dangerous comments, we wouldnt be in this situation if The Sun did not continue to profit off of and exploit hate, violence and misogyny. A true apology would be a shift in their coverage and ethical standards for all. Unfortunately, were not holding our breath. Photograph: Jeremy S Weis/AP A Missouri inmate has been put to death for a 2003 killing, becoming what is believed to be the first transgender woman executed in the US. Amber McLaughlin was put to death on Tuesday night, hours after the Republican governor of Missouri, Mike Parson, declined a clemency request. McLaughlin was convicted in 2006 of killing a former girlfriend in suburban St Louis in 2003. Related: Trial of New York truck attack suspect spotlights Bidens execution policies The clemency request had focused on several issues, including McLaughlins severely traumatic childhood and serious mental health issues, which the jury never heard during her trial. Two Missouri members of Congress, Democrats Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver, had been campaigning for McLaughlins sentence to be commuted and last week wrote to Parson urging him to scrap the execution. They noted that McLaughlin, 49, was given the death sentence when the judge in the case made a unilateral decision after the jury deadlocked on her fate. The members of Congress complained about alleged shortcomings in her trial, including failure to include expert testimony and evidence on the defendants mental health. They also condemned the death penalty in principle, calling executions a moral depravity. They are not about justice; they are about who has institutional power and who doesnt. We urge you to correct these injustices using every tool available, including the power to grant clemency, Bush and Cleaver wrote. They further stated in the letter: Ms McLaughlins cruel execution would mark the states first use of the death penalty on a woman since the US supreme court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, and even worse it would not solve any of the systemic problems facing Missourians and people all across America, including anti-LGBTQ+ hate and violence, and cycles of violence that target and harm women. It would simply destroy yet another community while using the concepts of fairness and justice as a cynical pretext. Story continues There is no known case of an openly transgender person being executed in the US before, according to the anti-execution Death Penalty Information Center. McLaughlin underwent gender transition while incarcerated. In 2003, long before transitioning, McLaughlin was in a relationship with Beverly Guenther. After they stopped dating, McLaughlin would appear at the suburban St Louis office where Guenther worked, sometimes hiding inside the building, according to court records. Guenther obtained a restraining order, and police officers occasionally escorted her to her car after work. Guenthers neighbors called police on the night of 20 November 2003, when she failed to return home. Officers went to the office building, where they found a broken knife handle near her car and a trail of blood. A day later, McLaughlin led police to a location near the Mississippi River in St Louis where Guenthers body had been dumped. McLaughlin was convicted of first-degree murder in 2006. A judge sentenced McLaughlin to death after a jury deadlocked on the sentence. Komp said Missouri and Indiana are the only states that allow a judge, rather than a jury, to sentence someone to death. A court in 2016 ordered a new sentencing hearing, but a federal appeals court panel reinstated the death penalty in 2021. Jessica Hicklin, a transgender inmate, described McLaughlin as a painfully shy person who came out of her shell after deciding to transition. She always had a smile and a dad joke, Hicklin said. If you ever talked to her, it was always with the dad jokes. MEXICO CITY (AP) A violent prison break in which 30 inmates escaped and 17 people mostly guards were killed has revealed a shocking level of self-rule by prisoners inside the prison in the northern Mexico border city of Ciudad Juarez. Not only were criminals able to sneak guns, drugs and luxury goods into prison Number 3, they actually held the keys to some sections of the facility, which is located across the border from El Paso, Texas. It was evident that the inmates themselves were practically in charge of security, and that on some cell blocks they had the keys to common areas, like classrooms or cafeterias, said Nestor Manuel Armendariz, the president of the Human Rights Commission in the northern state of Chihuahua. Searches after Sundays uprising and jail break turned up 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, and they found 14 guns just outside. But Armendariz said supposed searches in 2021 didnt find any of that. Ten 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. The seven other dead included two policemen and five suspected attackers. The director of the prison was fired on Tuesday, and 191 inmates considered high-risk were transferred out of the over-crowded prison. The inmates who escaped have been identified as members of the Mexicles gang; the Mexicles leader, who was serving a sentence for murder and other crimes, was among the fugitives. The Mexicles have been one of Juarezs main gangs for decades and for many years were known to work with the Sinaloa Cartel. At the time of the jail break, prison Number 3 held 4,000 inmates, 23% more than it was designed to hold. As is common in Mexican prisons, people awaiting trial 90% of inmates at the Ciudad Juarez facility are mixed in with convicted criminals. Story continues Despite the prisons long history of problems, authorities prefer to look the other way, said Saskia Nino de Rivera, who leads the incarceration reform group Reinserta. Security is totally politicized, because the prisons dont win you political points, Nino de Rivera. The problem is particularly sensitive in Ciudad Juarez, where local gangs work for drug cartels and any violence inside prisons can quickly spill out onto the streets of the city. That happened in August when a riot inside the same state prison spread to the streets of Juarez in violence and left 11 people dead. She said Sundays riot is a clear example of what is occurring in a large number of Mexican prisons, which are completely forgotten by the authorities and which are completely out of control. In 2016, 49 inmates were killed in a riot at the notorious Topo Chico prison in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon. Investigators found the prison to be full of contraband and weapons. The state government finally closed it in 2019. Mexico has a prison population of some 226,000 people, many held in overcrowded conditions in prisons without sufficient guards. The problem is fed by policies that allow, and in some cases require, suspects to be held for a wide variety crimes for long periods before trial. After weeks of taking the heat for the GOPs underwhelming midterm results, former president Donald Trump tried to shift the blame onto an unlikely scapegoat over the weekend: pro-lifers. It wasnt my fault that the Republicans didnt live up to expectations in the MidTerms, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday. He added: I was 233-20! 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. Also, 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. Plus, Mitch stupid $s! NRs Ramesh Ponnuru said it best: This is a pile of nonsense atop a kernel of truth. It is true that a number of candidates who supported banning abortion without exceptions for rape and incest lost: Tudor Dixon in Michigans gubernatorial race, Tim Michels in Wisconsins gubernatorial race (though along the way he reversed his position), Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvanias race for governor, and Herschel Walker in Georgias U.S. Senate race. However, another commonality among these candidates is that they were all backed by Trump a fact that circles backs to the very criticisms that the former president sought to avoid. That those candidates were unsuccessful likely says more about their ties to Trump and their quality as candidates than their position on abortion alone, particularly given the success of Republican governors who signed bans or partial bans on abortion in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Texas. While Trump sought to absolve himself of blame for the midterms, its possible he only alienated a key portion of his supporters. Shawn Carney, the CEO and president of 40 Days for Life, said in a statement to National Review that his group did not go away after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and that the organization expanded across the country, reaching a record 622 cities. Story continues During a time when Pence and DeSantis are rapidly gaining popularity among pro-life people, this is one of the dumbest things Donald Trump has ever done politically, Carney said. And he did it to a group that elected him in 2016 after the death of Scalia. Abortion proved to be a political loser for weak Republicans who failed to defend life. But strong Republicans like Abbott, Kemp, and DeSantis, who didnt apologize for being on the right side of science and history, were successful. Lila Rose, president of Live Action, also rejected Trumps comments in a series of tweets. The fault of midterm losses has ZERO to do with the pro-life cause & more to do with poor election strategies that the Republican Party has been employing for years, she wrote. Hardcore pro-lifers won re-election in states across the country; bad candidates & bad campaign strategies lost. She added: Trump is way out of line here on life. He does not have a pulse on where his potential base is as many believed he has in the past. This kind of nonsense will be a losing political strategy for him. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America responded in a statement saying: The approach to winning on abortion in federal races, proven for a decade is this: state clearly the ambitious consensus pro-life position and contrast that with the extreme view of Democrat opponents. We look forward to hearing that position fully articulated by Mr. Trump and all presidential candidates. When Trump officially launched his campaign in November, the group praised his record on abortion, saying he raised the bar for what it means to be a pro-life presidential candidate and president, and described the 2024 election as the human rights battle of our time. Former vice president Mike Pence, who himself is seen as a potential 2024 contender, jumped into the fray to endorse SBA Pro-Life Americas recent statement. Last month, GOP pollster Wes Anderson told reporters that Republicans did not see the predicted wins on Election Night because the party failed to capture the independent vote, offered no value proposition for voters, failed to combat Democrats abortion messaging, and had a lack of resources. His conclusion was based on the results of a postelection national survey conducted on behalf of Heritage Action between November 16 and 20. Democrats and allies spent a whopping $450 million in advertising on abortion, according to the Heritage Action analysis. Ninety-five percent of those ads attacked the Republican Party or Republican candidates. Republicans fell far behind on abortion messaging, with the GOP and its allies spending just $10 million to fight back against Democrats abortion messaging. Abortion was the one issue that respondents said they trusted Democrats to handle over Republicans, 49 percent to 39 percent. Among those who said abortion was important to their vote, 38 percent voted Republican and 58 percent voted Democrat. I can say with empirical facts that we ceded almost all the ground on abortion to the Democrats, he said. We did not engage in the fight. Asked to respond to Trumps comments on pro-lifers and the midterms, Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action, told National Review: The 2022 election did not produce the red wave conservatives were expecting, not because of the issues they focused on, but instead because they fell short in combating the Lefts misleading narrative on issues like abortion. The reality is that the Lefts support for extreme proposals like abortion on demand are dramatically misaligned with the views of the American people. Conservatives should continue their fight to protect life, but must articulate their position more clearly and contrast their stance with the radical approach taken by Democrats. Chelsey Youman, national legislative adviser with Human Coalition Action, similarly said it is clear that voters rewarded candidates who staked out bold pro-life policy stances and who skillfully defended these positions. So-called pro-life candidates who ran away from the issue, or those who were woefully underprepared to talk about it, were met with defeat, Youman said in a statement to National Review. The lesson is that we need candidates who will take bold stances for life and who are shrewd enough to convince undecided voters about the value of human life. Around NR Florida governor Ron DeSantiss second term will offer him a chance to contrast real legislative progress against Trumps ranting on Truth Social, Jim Geraghty writes: DeSantis enacting constitutional carry, another sweeping round of tax cuts, and perhaps a heartbeat law on abortion would be striking. Michael Brendan Dougherty asks why Trump, who he says will be remembered as the most pro-life president in history, is distancing himself from his greatest victory with his recent comments: Trump produced a solid list of justices and said that if he were elected president he would nominate justices from that list. He promised to overturn Roe. And he went further than any Republican nominee seeking the presidency ever had in describing with evident physical disgust and repulsion what a late-term abortion involved. Trump then nominated three conservative justices, and all of them voted to overturn Roe when the chance was provided to them. As the chaos in the House was set to continue for a second day, Trump made a last-minute plea to GOP holdouts to support Kevin McCarthys failing bid for the speakership, Ari Blaff writes. Charles C. W. Cooke argues that a McCarthy loss at this point would be a loss for Trump as well: In my estimation, such a development would harm Trump in two ways. First, it would show that Trump-sycophants such as Matt Gaetz are no longer willing to do what their hero demands even if, as a general matter, they express support for him. Second, it would put Trump on the side of the establishment (which he is!) against the rebels. More from National Review Former President Donald Trump, right, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images Trump repeated his endorsement of Kevin McCarthy to become the next speaker of the House. The ex-president warned his fellow Republicans of what can happen if more chaos ensues. Trump's statement failed to garner any more votes for McCarthy in the next speaker vote. Former President Donald Trump's morning plea for House Republicans to put their differences aside and make Kevin McCarthy the next House speaker failed to budge any votes for McCarthy and resolve the chaotic voting that's brought all other work in the chamber to a standstill. "It's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth. Hours later, 20 House Republicans still voted to support Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, with one more GOP lawmaker voting present. That sends the speaker contest to a fifth ballot. Trump's words of support came less than a day after he told NBC News that "we'll see what happens" after McCarthy failed to win the speakership on three different ballots, the most votes it has taken to determine the gavel since 1923. Trump had previously given McCarthy his blessing for the leadership race. "REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT," Trump added in his message before Wednesday's vote. Former Vice President Mike Pence also sought to buck up McCarthy. "Urging Every Republican in @HouseGOP to support my friend, Kevin McCarthy as the next Speaker of the House," Pence wrote on Twitter. As many as 20 Republicans voted for another Speaker candidate during the three successive votes. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of the most vocal anti-McCarthy lawmakers, went so far as to suggest McCarthy is a "squatter" since he moved into the speaker's office without actually securing the job. Trump also failed in his other major GOP leadership push to oust Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Story continues House lawmakers are expected to continue voting this afternoon. Until a speaker is selected, lawmakers cannot finish the basic formalities of starting a new Congress, including swearing in members. While Trump continues to boost McCarthy, the former president took another swipe at McConnell. President Joe Biden and McConnell will hold a joint event later today to hail how the bipartisan infrastructure bill will help replace a major crumbling bridge connecting Kentucky and Ohio. Despite selecting her for his cabinet, Trump also continued to use a xenophobic slur in reference to former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is also McConnell's wife. "The harm they have done to the Republican Party is incalculable," Trump said of McConnell and Chao. McConnell recently said that Trump's political standing was "diminished." Read the original article on Business Insider MIAMI Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hasnt announced hes running for president yet. But among the right-leaning voting blocs that are pulling for him to enter the 2024 primary field are some of his biggest fans: Hispanic evangelical Christians. Its not that theyre opposed to the one Republican who has already declared himself a candidate, former President Donald Trump. But a showdown between the two titans of the right wing could turn Latino evangelicals into a decisive swing vote in Florida. That would supercharge their influence and focus enormous national attention on their churches, politics and values. Advertisement If there is a primary, theres no doubt there will be fragmentation in the conservative movement, and theres total certainty that will be true of Hispanic evangelicals as well, said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, a pastor in Sacramento, California, and the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. We know the values we keep and the policies we want. The question that arises is: Who will really reflect those? Rodriguezs group held a gathering last month in Tampa with hundreds of pastors from across the country, where attendees said the hallways buzzed between sessions with more chatter about politics than about Scripture. Advertisement Much of it, they said, came down to a choice: Trump or DeSantis? Few have settled on an answer yet, which is not surprising, given that the first votes of the 2024 campaign are over a year away. But the talk of 2024 of Trump, who spent years courting evangelicals, and of DeSantis, who has leaned into the cultural battles that appeal to many conservative Christians showed both the heightened expectations among Hispanic evangelical leaders in Florida. It is about morals, and there is one party right now that reflects our morals, said Dionny Baez, a Miami pastor who leads a network of churches. We cannot be afraid to remind people that we have values that the Republicans are willing to fight for. Some Hispanic evangelical leaders shudder at the idea that the group represents a unified voting bloc that will automatically favor Republicans. Hispanic evangelicals are more likely to choose Democrats than white evangelicals, they note. Still, even those leaders are enthusiastic about describing the group as a quintessential swing vote that is not fully committed to either party. To be evangelical is not a political denomination, said Gabriel Salguero, a pastor in Orlando who runs the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and keeps his political preferences private as a matter of principle. It is about our faith in Christ, and commitment to the Gospel. So we dont put our trust in politics, but we should be involved. Hispanic evangelicals have long had major influence in Florida, where Latinos make up roughly 27% of the population and 21% of eligible voters. Although they are outnumbered among Hispanics by Roman Catholics, evangelicals are far more likely to vote for Republicans. Overall, Hispanic voters in the state favored Republicans for the first time in decades in the midterm elections in November. DeSantis has courted Hispanic evangelicals as his national profile has risen. When he signed a law last year banning abortions after 15 weeks, he did so at Nacion de Fe, a Hispanic evangelical megachurch in Osceola County. Advertisement He declared Nov. 7, the day before the midterm election, as Victims of Communism Day, appealing not just to Cubans in the state but to immigrants from Venezuela and Nicaragua, who have helped swell the pews of evangelical churches in Florida. His campaign aides frequently spoke with Hispanic pastors, cultivating support that many expect DeSantis to try to capitalize on in a presidential campaign. Of course, Trump, too, can call upon loyalists: Rodriguez spoke at his inauguration in 2017, and other Hispanic evangelical leaders endorsed him. When he kicked off his outreach to evangelicals in his 2020 reelection campaign, he did so at King Jesus International Ministry, a huge Hispanic congregation in Miami. But DeSantis could complicate the equation in a potential 2024 Republican primary because of Hispanic evangelicals concentration and considerable sway in Florida. Many view DeSantis as a hero of the pandemic, praising him for not requiring churches to shut down or for banning vaccine mandates. A battle for Hispanic evangelicals loyalties would only further cement their importance in Florida and beyond, as they grow more organized and seek to wield power more effectively. At Segadores de Vida, an evangelical church in Southwest Ranches west of Fort Lauderdale, where more than 6,000 worshippers attend Sunday services, the Rev. Ruddy Gracia has taken to the pulpit to criticize pandemic restrictions that shut down churches in other states and to disparage COVID-19 vaccines, urging congregants to rely instead on divine immunity. In an interview, Gracia said his preaching about politics had attracted more members, many of whom, he added, shared his doubts about the countrys economic, political and spiritual direction. Advertisement The principles of the liberal people in the United States are evil according to the Bible standards, not my standards the Bible and that wasnt like that before, Gracia said. We are ultraconservative. So every time we go into the pulpit or speak, you know, we are actually speaking about politics. Gracia, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic as a young man and is now 57, described himself as old-fashioned in his ideas about leadership, spending time reading about emperors and famous generals. That informed his views of DeSantis and Trump, he said. I have always been a great admirer of guts and being aggressive, and they both have this behavior of a true leader, he said, musing aloud whether the two Republican rivals could run on a joint ticket. I see in both of these men a drive and a strain that is extremely needed in the kind of world we live in today. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Republican President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Representative Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday, telling U.S. House Republicans that they should back the California Republican's bid for the speakership. "Its now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY," Trump posted on his social media platform. "DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!" (Reporting by Susan Heavey) WASHINGTON His influence waning in other parts of the Republican Party, former President Donald Trump on Wednesday tried to boost Kevin McCarthys bid for House speaker but ended up illustrating his own weakness even in a chamber where both GOP factions helped advance his Jan. 6 coup plot. Trump, who had previously endorsed the California Republicans bid for speaker, reiterated his support Wednesday with a post on his Twitter-like social media platform. VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA, THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE HOUSE TWICE! REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB JUST WATCH!, Trump wrote. He followed it up with: TAKE THE VICTORY AND RUN!!! Just a few hours later, McCarthy actually got one fewer vote on the fourth ballot for speaker than he got on the first three on Tuesday, after Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz voted present instead of voting for McCarthy. It clearly didnt work! former GOP Rep. David Jolly, of Florida, said of Trumps pressure campaign, which had also included phone calls to the anti-McCarthy wing. But it also shows McCarthys weak hand. He or his team clearly leaned on Trump for the statement to be issued, and it showed both as ineffective. MAGA is becoming an independent force less and less attached to Trump. His words just dont carry much weight anymore with members, especially those with their own celebrity within the far-right echo chamber, said Rory Cooper, a former top Republican staffer. Indeed, Trumps attempts were publicly dismissed by Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican, on the House floor. I think it actually needs to be reversed. The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that, sir, you do not have the votes, and its time to withdraw, she said of Trump, whom she called my favorite president. Story continues Rep. Scott Perry a Pennsylvania Republican who was deeply involved in Trumps plot to install a functionary as attorney general to tell leaders in states where Joe Biden won in 2020 to overturn those results was in the anti-McCarthy wing, and remained so even after Trumps call to stand down. Trumps staff did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Former Illinois Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, who became a fierce Trump critic soon after he took office, said he does not read too much into Trumps inability to affect the House leadership race. Whats happening with this vote is not at all indicative of Trumps influence in the caucus. Those 20 are hardcore Trumpers, Walsh said. They still worship the ground he walks on. Theres just a lot more going on here internally that Trump cant influence. Then-President Donald Trump and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) step off Air Force One on May 30, 2020, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Then-President Donald Trump and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) step off Air Force One on May 30, 2020, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trumps attempt to install candidates loyal to him personally who would spread his election lies cost Republicans control of the Senate and led to losses in governorships. His overall record of losing in three straight elections has endangered his hand-picked leader of the Republican National Committee. Trump made his new statements supporting McCarthy the morning after he told NBC News, following three ballots in a row Tuesday in which McCarthy failed to win the 218 votes he needs to become speaker, that he would see what happens. Yet whether or not McCarthy manages to win the top job, it is almost certain barring some unlikely coalition among Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans that the eventual speaker will be, like McCarthy, a Trump supporter and an apologist for his Jan. 6 actions. Louisianas Steve Scalise, who McCarthys critics often mention as an acceptable alternative, is among the 139 House Republicans who voted to overturn Trumps 2020 election loss even after Trumps mob had violently stormed their offices at the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican behind whom the anti-McCarthy members consolidated on Tuesdays third ballot, was involved in the pre-Jan. 6 scheming. Trump himself bragged about his appeal among the House GOP factions in an interview with the pro-Trump site Breitbart last month. Im friendly with a lot of those people who are against Kevin. I think almost every one of them are very much inclined toward Trump, and me toward them, he said. Trump, whose machinations in GOP primaries almost certainly resulted in Sen. Mitch McConnells failure to win back the majority leader position, on Wednesday resumed his attacks on the Kentucky Republican and his wife, Elaine Chao, who served in Trumps Cabinet as transportation secretary. If Republicans are going to fight, we ought to be fighting Mitch McConnell and his domineering, China loving BOSS, I mean wife, Coco Chow, he wrote, using a favorite racist insult of his against Chao. McConnell, who excoriated Trump on the Senate floor for his coup attempt but opted not to convict him on his impeachment for those actions, has made a show of ignoring Trump since then. On Wednesday, he appeared with President Biden at a bridge in Kentucky to tout last years $1.7 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, even riding with Biden from the airport to the event site along the Ohio River in the presidential limousine. Its the government working together to solve a major problem, McConnell said as, 400 miles to the east, McCarthy was amid his fifth failing vote. Im proud of what weve been able to accomplish. Trump, despite losing the 2020 election by 7 million votes nationally and 306-232 in the Electoral College, became the first president in more than two centuries of U.S. elections to refuse to hand over power peacefully. His incitement of the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol a last-ditch attempt to remain in office led to the deaths of five people, including a police officer, as well as the injury of 140 other officers and four police suicides. Nevertheless, Trump remains the dominant figure in the Republican Party and has already declared his candidacy to seek the presidency again in 2024. In statements on his personal social media platform, Trump has continued to lie about the election and the Jan. 6 committees work, which he has called a hoax similar to previous investigations into his 2016 campaigns acceptance of Russian assistance and his attempt to extort Ukraine into helping his 2020 campaign. Related... A Twitter account spreading a false link between Covid vaccines and cancer has been suspended. Social media accounts have shared the false claim that theres been a 20-fold spike in some kinds of cancer among patients who have been vaccinated for Covid-19. The false assertion was pushed by a Twitter account going under the name Dr Afzal Niaz on 2 February last year, Reuters reported. WARNING TO ALL DOCTORS & DATA SCIENTISTS: I AM OBSERVING a massive spike in cancer, the account posted. I am warning that there is now 20 times the normal average of certain types of cancers ever since the Operation Warp Speed Injections were first introduced. The account was suspended, but yet another account using the same name had previously claimed that New York University Langone hospital and other facilities in the city, in addition to Long Island, werent allowing newborns to leave the neonatal intensive care unit with unvaccinated parents. NYU Langone Health tweeted: In response to the false & completely unfounded post circulating on social media: NYU Langone DOES NOT prohibit a parent/guardian from taking a child home from the NICU due to their vaccination statuswe vehemently discourage the spread of this inaccurate, harmful information. That account was also suspended. Several users posted an article by LifeSite News published on 13 September 2021, stating Idaho doctor reports a 20 times increase of cancer in vaccinated patients. The site was removed from Facebook in May of that year for not adhering to the platforms coronavirus policies. The website has been the subject of previous debunkings for earlier claims. The article on the site cites a video in which Dr Ryan Cole speaks about a spike in cancer. Dr Cole states in the footage that he has seen a rise in herpes, shingles, mononucleosis, human papillomavirus, cervical biopsies and molluscum contagiosum. Were literally weakening the immune system of these individuals, he says. Now, most concerning of all, is there is a pattern of these types of immune cells in the body that keep cancer in check. Well, since January 1, in the laboratory Ive seen a 20 times increase of endometrial cancers over what I see in an annual basis. A 20 times increase. Im not exaggerating at all. Story continues The Idaho Capital Sun reported in December 2021 that the American Board of Pathology urged the Washington Medical Commission to consider the actions of Cole, who is licensed to practice in Washington and previously told the Idaho Capital Sun he prescribed medications including ivermectin to at least one patient in Washington, via telehealth. Earlier that same month, the local outlet reported that Dr Cole and his lab Cole Diagnostics were removed from the St. Lukes Health Partners network, a network of health care providers supporting 160,000 Idahoans. He has come under fire in the past for sharing misinformation about the pandemic, such as calling the vaccines needle rape. Both claims that vaccines cause cancer or damage the immune system have been disproven. In October 2021, Meedans Health Desk outlined that theres nothing that connects vaccines to cancer or HIV. The American Cancer Society has said that the pandemic is expected to lead to an increase in cancer deaths over the long term because of delayed diagnoses; interruptions or alterations in potentially curative treatment; the possibility that some adults will abandon prior patterns of preventive care; and the expectation that millions of adults will remain unemployed and without health insurance. Immunology expert Dr Gigi Gronvall at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security told Reuters that T cells dont function as outlined by Dr Cole. If, and its a big if, he is seeing genuinely more cancer patients in a way that is statistically verifiable now, it is likely due to people putting off cancer and other medical screening during the last couple years, Dr Gronvall said. Infectious disease expert Dr Andrew Badley, the head of Mayo Clinics Covid-19 task force, told the news agency that the pandemic has prompted people to put off healthcare issues not deemed urgent, leading some diseases that could have been spotted earlier to be discovered at a later stage. Also, now that patients are re-engaging with the health care system, some are being diagnosed with illnesses that in many cases were not caught early, he told Reuters. Many of these are cancer diagnoses, as well as other severe diagnoses including neurologic disorders, cardiac disease and others. There are no controlled studies which link these diagnoses to Sars-CoV2 infections, treatment of Covid-19 or to Covid-19 vaccines, and there is no reason to believe that these diagnoses are in any way associated with Covid-19 or with Covid-19 vaccines, he added. The vaccines have been examined in millions upon millions of people at this point and there is zero evidence that there is any link to any kind of cancer, Dr Gronvall said. In November, Harvard Medical school shared a study that found benefits of the Covid-19 vaccines for people with cancer, much like a Stanford study did the following month. Russia attacked Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast at 12:00 on 4 January. Two elderly women suffered fatal shrapnel wounds as a result of the attack. Source: The National Police of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast Quote: "Today, at around 12:00, Russian troops struck the city with artillery. One of the shells hit the road. Shrapnel fatally injured two elderly women. Currently, the evacuation team of the White Angel police is taking the bodies to the morgue. The identities of those killed will be established later." Details: The police said that the women were in an extremely dangerous area and did not have the strength to quickly hide from the shelling. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Casey Goodson Jr.'s mom, Tamala Payne, left, stands outside of the Federal Courthouse in Columbus on Friday, February 11, 2022. Columbus civil rights attorney Sean Walton Jr. is a leader of the Columbus Police Accountability Project. His clients have included family members of people killed by police and police officers who have themselves experienced discrimination. Michael Jason Meade is awaiting trial for the murder of a Franklin County citizen, a crime that allegedly took place while he was acting as a Franklin County Sheriffs deputy. Meade was indicted on two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide, but only after being paid by Franklin County tax dollars for over six months while the circumstances were being investigated. He eventually retired from his position as a deputy due to an alleged disability, and in the process, he was able to protect his taxpayer-funded pension; even though he was under investigation for and is now charged with murdering a citizen in the course of his employment. WALTON: Attorney: 'Unfit' Jason Meade hunted Casey Goodson Jr. Family's cries for justice will continue. An innocent man slaughtered For all that we know, all that has been investigated and all that has been revealed in the two years since his death, Casey Goodson, Jr. was an innocent man who was killed by six shots from a rifle that hit him from behind as he entered his home with Airpods in his ears and Subway sandwiches in his hands. Franklin County Sheriff's SWAT deputy Jason Meade He had no criminal history and was simply returning home from a visit to the dentist and a stop at Subway to bring food home for his family. That rifle was aimed and fired by Meade, a sheriffs deputy who had been restricted from any contact with inmates for nearly four years, and who had a work history filled with discipline for using excessive force and either lying about It or not revealing his use of force at all. Just one year prior to killing Goodson, Meade was disciplined for using a Taser on a suspect and failing to report it. Tamala Payne:Union VP's 'Subway sandwiches' comment gaslights public, tortures Goodson family, mom says Story continues This guest column is available free:Support the exchange of local and state ideas by subscribing to the Columbus Dispatch. Despite this being arguably the most egregious crime committed against a citizen by a law enforcement officer in Franklin County history, after two years we have absolutely no idea what position Franklin County officials have taken on this alleged murder and what, if anything, they plan to do to protect citizens from further harm. They have made it clear they have no interest in addressing any past harm caused. The Franklin County Prosecutors Office has not only not taken any role in the investigation into Meade, but they delayed the criminal investigation by waiting over six months to appoint special prosecutors to lead the investigation. More:Feds join Columbus police in Casey Goodson Jr. shooting investigation That six-month delay was inexcusable and without justification but is a prime example of the lack of leadership on this matter and others when it comes to the office under current Prosecutor Gary Tyack. A prosecutor that ran on a platform of police accountability and reform has failed his first assignment spectacularly, with no hope of improvement in sight. Defense instead of accountability In addition to delaying the criminal investigation, the Franklin County Prosecutors Office has chosen to defend Meade and the sheriffs office in a civil lawsuit brought by Goodsons estate based on the incident and the patterns and practices of the Sheriffs office that led to Meade murdering Goodson. More:At body camera forum, Franklin County officials hear from family of Casey Goodson Jr. They have not only not provided an answer to the lawsuit, brought by Goodsons estate on December 2, 2021, but they have asked the court to stay discovery in the lawsuit until after the criminal process concludes. None of this does the public any good. One could argue it doesnt do county officials any good taking no position and delaying civil justice indefinitely for this family and this community. However, the risk is far greater than simply furthering a familys pain and denying a community any resolution to a matter that continues to haunt the central Ohio community that awaits one. Franklin County Commissioners have, at least twice now, approved the budget for the sheriffs office without requiring any review of the patterns and practices of the Sheriffs Office, without any outside investigation into the patterns and practices, and without doing anything to ensure that taxpayer dollars arent training and enabling future Jason Meades. Community left vulnerable by failed county leaders Gary Tyack, Franklin County prosecutor They have done nothing to ensure that citizens of Franklin County are protected from what happened to Casey Goodson, Jr., and their lack of proactive leadership on this front denies Goodsons family and this community the healing they deserve, while putting everyone else at the continued risk of harm. Jason Meade bragged about he and his colleagues use of excessive force, and no one in Franklin County has even considered investigating those claims. Opinion: Deputy Jason Meade was 'the Goliath' in Casey Goodson This continued lack of leadership from the prosecutors office and commissioners comes as more information continues to be discovered outlining just how deep the pattern of malfeasance goes. Public records requests show that just two days after killing Goodson, Meade emailed human resources and asked that all discipline in his file be removed. Whistleblowers have provided Goodsons family with information that Meade may have been a part of a Goon Squad," commissioned by leadership at the Franklin County Jail to discipline unruly inmates. Columbus civil rights attorney Sean Walton Jr. is a leader of the Columbus Police Accountability Project. His clients have included family members of people killed by police and police officers who have themselves experienced discrimination. This information reveals how patterns and practices of the Franklin County Sheriffs Office may have not only led to Goodsons murder, but how those patterns and practices may have led to the abuse of Franklin County citizens past and present. The Franklin County Commissioners have adopted the slogan, "Every Resident, Every Day," while simultaneously ignoring the threat to public safety that has been callously bragged about by one of their most notorious employees. They have declared racism a public health crisis, while doing nothing to investigate the potential racism that Black citizens are encountering at the hands of the law enforcement officers who they control the budget for. They talk of how important the collective mental health of Franklin County citizens is, while allowing a cloud of unresolved murder, protests and unrest to hover over this community. To put it plainly, there is a failure of leadership in Franklin County. Casey Goodson Jr. Casey Goodson, Jr. was fatally shot by Meade over two years ago. His death came just six months after social justice protests rocked the city of Columbus, as years of frustration and trauma boiled over. The protests and conversations surrounding the reasons for the protests brought hope that substantive changes would come as a result. In fact, many of our elected leaders expressed as much. In the wake of those protests and after he himself was pepper-sprayed by Columbus Division of Police Officers, Franklin County Commission Kevin L. Boyce himself stated, Action is needed to understand that the time is now to address the abuse of power and force and overhaul our system. He also made the statement, We cannot allow this moment to pass. Over a year has passed since the investigation concluded into Goodsons murder and led to the indictment of Meade, the investigation that Franklin County Commissioners promised us action at the conclusion of. We must demand better leadership, and if our current leadership is not willing or able, then we must demand new leadership. The family of Casey Goodson, Jr. deserves better. The people of Franklin County deserve better. More:Joyce Beatty, Shannon Hardin, Kevin Boyce pepper-sprayed at protest We have suffered for too long not just from the actions of those who harm us, but from the political leadership who fails to address past harm or protect us from future harm. In the words of Sen. Rafael Warnock, our ballot is a blood-stained ballot. However, there is no reason it should continue to be. Columbus civil rights attorney Sean Walton Jr. is a leader of the Columbus Police Accountability Project. His clients have included family members of people killed by police and police officers who have themselves experienced discrimination. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Casey Goodson shooting: What role does Sean Walton say Gary Tyack has played. HAVANA (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy in Havana resumed full immigrant visa processing and consular services for the first time since 2017 on Wednesday in a bid to stem the record-breaking flow of illegal migrants from Cuba north to the United States. The embassy, which looms over Cuba's waterfront Malecon boulevard, slashed services in 2017 after several of its staff were stricken with a still largely unexplained ailment dubbed "Havana Syndrome." It was first reported among U.S. officials in 2016 and symptoms included nausea and memory lapses. Cubans were instead required to travel to Guyana for visa processing, a costly trip well out of reach for most on the island. The U.S. embassy in Havana began limited visa processing last year and in September announced the 2023 full reopening, to "ensure safe, legal, and orderly migration of Cubans," it said. At sunrise on Wednesday, dozens of Cubans, some who had waited years for appointments, assembled at a small park near the embassy, fidgeting with documents and chatting with family as they awaited instructions from embassy staff. Barbara Nodas, 20, said she was waiting to pick up a visa that would reunite her with her father in Tampa, Florida, a process that had taken more than two years. "The American dream of many people is coming true," she said, nearly in tears. "This is a long-awaited moment." But Nodas, who traveled from eastern Cuba to pick up her visa, still ranks among the lucky few who will make the voyage north legally. Washington last year issued 20,000 immigrant visas to Cubans, including a limited number out of Havana, in line with previously signed migration accords, and has said it aims to do the same in 2023. Cuba and the United States have also resumed once-regular talks on migration in a bid to tamp down the flow. But a record-breaking 250,000 Cubans have nonetheless left the island in the past year for the United States, most via dangerous, irregular routes, traveling overland from Central America north to the border or across the Straits of Florida in precarious homemade rafts. Story continues Cuba blames the U.S. embargo, a web of U.S. laws and regulations that complicate business and financial transactions with the island, for crippling its economy and fueling illegal migration. Widespread shortages of food, fuel, medicine and electricity - made worse by the coronavirus pandemic - have prompted scattered unrest on the island and sought many to seek alternatives abroad. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Mario Fuentes in Havana; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday proposed new rules to make licensed radio spectrum in the 5 GHz band for the rising number of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, in use. Currently, drones typically operate under unlicensed and low-power wireless communications rules or experimental licenses. The FCC also said it is seeking comment on whether current rules for various spectrum bands are sufficient to ensure co-existence of drones and terrestrial mobile operations. The FCC is also proposing a process for drone operators to obtain a license in the aeronautical VHF band to communicate with air traffic control and other aircraft. "The FCC must ensure that our spectrum rules meet the current and future spectrum needs of evolving technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems, which can be critical to disaster recovery, first responder rescue efforts, and wildfire management," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said. Because drones are usually operated remotely, they depend "critically on wireless communications between a ground-based control station and the (drone) to control the flight," the FCC said. The FCC said as drone flights "increasingly involve operations with a higher risk profile, such as flights that use large aircraft, carry heavy cargo or human passengers, or travel into the controlled airspace used by commercial passenger aircraft, operators have a growing need for the greater reliability that interference-protected licensed spectrum provides." Rules adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for small drones to fly over people and at night took effect in April 2021. The rules gave manufacturers 18 months to begin producing drones with so-called Remote ID. The drone identification rules require they broadcast remote ID messages via radio frequency broadcast but eliminated proposed earlier requirements drones be connected to the internet to transmit location data. Those requirements were upheld by a federal appeals court in July. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Grant McCool) By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - A federal judge cut by millions of dollars damages that were imposed on organizers of the 2017 "Unite the Right" white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, citing a cap imposed under a local law. In November 2021, a federal jury found the organizers of the "Unite the Right" rally liable for injuries sustained by counter-protesters and awarded about $24 million in punitive damages and $2 million in compensatory damages. U.S. District Judge Norman Moon, however, ordered that the $24 million in punitive damages be reduced to $350,000, Virginia's statutory cap on punitive damages, according to a court filing of his opinion dated Dec. 30 and released on Wednesday. He upheld the $2 million in compensatory damages. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they were considering appealing the decision by Moon. The nine plaintiffs in the case had said they suffered physical or emotional trauma at the rally, including four who were hit when self-described neo-Nazi James Fields drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer. The rally followed months of protests over the city's plan to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Hundreds of white nationalists traveled to Charlottesville in August 2017, with some marching on the University of Virginia campus carrying torches and chanting "Jews will not replace us!" Then-President Donald Trump was criticized for initially saying there were "fine people on both sides" after the rally devolved into violent clashes. President Joe Biden has frequently cited the torch-lit march and Trump's response as the event that precipitated his decision to mount another run for the White House, after two previous unsuccessful campaigns. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler) UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is due to meet privately next week to discuss a decision by Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration to ban female humanitarian aid workers, diplomats said Wednesday. The closed-door meeting was requested by the United Arab Emirates and Japan for Jan. 13. The UAE announced the request in a tweet. The ban on female aid workers was announced by the Islamist Taliban-led administration on Dec. 24. It followed a ban imposed earlier last month on women attending universities. Girls were stopped from attending high school in March. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths is due to visit Afghanistan in the coming weeks to meet with Taliban officials. At least four major global groups have suspended operations because they said they were unable to run their programs without female staff. The United Nations has said that 97% of Afghans live in poverty, two-thirds of the population need aid to survive, and 20 million people face acute hunger. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Jonathan Oatis) A fire destroyed a house in the 11300 block of S. Edbrooke Avenue in Chicago early Jan. 4, 2023. Two teens and a firefighter reportedly were injured. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Two teens and a firefighter were injured at a house fire in the Roseland neighborhood early Wednesday, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Firefighters responded to a call of a fire at 11361 S. Edbrooke Ave. at approximately 3:38 a.m. Five out of six people who were inside the home were able to escape, including a 15-year-old female who suffered injuries. A Mayday call shortly went out, according to a tweet by the Chicago Fire Department. Advertisement 2-11 alarm/mayday response 11361 South Edbrooke. 3 lines on fire, 2 transports mayday secure. CFD defensive operations pic.twitter.com/DakZrcLId7 Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) January 4, 2023 There were a couple of people who self-evacuated, however, one person was still inside and the firefighters were making an aggressive attack on the fire when the fire quickly expanded and which caused the Mayday -- the elevation of the alarm, Chief Juan Hernandez said. The sixth person, a 17-year-old, was rescued by firefighters and is in critical condition at U. of C. A firefighter also suffered injuries and remains hospitalized. Advertisement The fire took quite a while to put out -- approximately two hours, Hernandez said. The house was a one and a half story frame building. We believe right now that it may have started in the basement, Hernandez said, but added that an investigation is pending. adperez@chicagotribune.com UFC President Dana White. Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A video released by TMZ shows UFC President Dana White slapping his wife, Anne, while the pair was on vacation last month, The Associated Press reports Wednesday. In an interview this week with TMZ, White said he was "embarrassed" by the incident. "You've heard me say for years, 'There's never ever an excuse for a guy to put his hands on a woman,' and now here I am on TMZ talking about it," White said. Shares of Endeavor, which owns UFC, fell after the video was shared, CNBC reports. In the clip, White and his wife can be seen in the VIP area of a Cabo, Mexico, nightclub on New Year's Eve. White says something to Anne, prompting her to slap him in the face. White then slaps his wife back "before the two are quickly separated," ESPN writes. "I'm literally making no excuses for this thing at all. It's never happened before," White added in his apology, noting that he's concerned for his three kids and is focused on his family right now. "It's the first time it's ever happened. People are going to say what they're going to say and it is what is. Whatever people say is deserved. I deserve it." "Dana and I have been married for almost 30 years," White's wife told TMZ in a separate statement. "To say this is out of character for him is an understatement nothing like this has ever happened before. Unfortunately, we were both drinking too much on New Year's Eve and things got out of control on both sides. We've talked this through as a family and apologized to each other. I just hope people will respect our privacy for the sake of our kids." You may also like Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in critical condition after post-tackle cardiac arrest What you need to know about the 'alarming' new XBB.1.5 COVID subvariant MSNBC's Steve Kornacki has arrived to explain the ongoing fight for House speaker By Pavel Polityuk and Herbert Villarraga KYIV/BAKHMUT, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Thursday for a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Orthodox Christmas, a move rejected by Kyiv which said there could be no truce until Russia withdraws its troops from occupied land. The United States and Germany made a joint announcement to supply Ukraine with armoured combat vehicles, a boost for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy who has urged Western allies to provide his forces with armour and heavy weapons for months. Fifty Bradley Fighting Vehicles would be included in a $2.8 billion U.S. package. Germany said it was sending Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles, following an announcement by France on Wednesday it was sending AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles. The Kremlin said Putin had ordered Russian troops to cease firing from midday on Friday along the entire front, in response to a call for a Christmas truce from Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a close Putin ally. "Proceeding from the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and allow them to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day," Putin said in his order. Russia's Orthodox Church observes Christmas on Jan. 7. Ukraine's main Orthodox Church has rejected the authority of the Moscow patriarch, and many Ukrainian believers have shifted their calendar to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 as in the West. A genuine truce in Ukraine would be the first since May, when the sides halted intense fighting in the devastated port of Mariupol to allow Ukrainian forces to surrender there. On Thursday night, Zelenskiy accused Russia of wanting to use a truce as cover to stop Ukrainian advances in the strategic industrial area and eastern frontline known as the Donbas. "They now want to use Christmas as a cover, albeit briefly, to stop the advances of our boys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunitions and mobilised troops closer to our positions," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, speaking pointedly in Russian rather than Ukrainian. Story continues 'CYNICAL' SAYS U.S. In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden, the State Department and the Pentagon greeted Putin's order with scepticism. Biden said he thought Putin was "trying to find some oxygen". Ukraine has scored some battlefield successes in the past few months although Russia has kept up a barrage of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's energy plants, knocking out power to millions of people at times in the middle of winter. Russia has denied targeting civilians since its invasion began Feb. 24 but the strikes included Christmas Day and New Year's attacks on civilian infrastructure, according to Kyiv. "Theres one word that best described that and its cynical," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a press briefing of Putin's ceasefire order. "Our concern ... is that the Russians would seek to use any temporary pause in fighting to rest, to refit, to regroup, and ultimately to re-attack," Price said. Putin's ceasefire also appeared to face challenges from Russia's own side. Denis Pushilin, Russian-installed leader in Ukraine's Donetsk province, scene of the heaviest fighting, wrote on Telegram: "There can be no talk of any truce!" He said Putin's order involved only halting offensive operations. Earlier on Thursday, the Kremlin said Putin had told Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan that Moscow was ready for peace talks - but only under the condition that Ukraine "take into account the new territorial realities", a reference to Kyiv acknowledging Moscow's annexation of Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podolyak called that demand "fully unacceptable". MEAT GRINDER Ten months after Putin ordered what he calls a "special military operation" to protect Russian security, Moscow and Kyiv have entered the new year with hardened diplomatic positions. Putin has shown no willingness to discuss relinquishing his territorial conquests, despite mounting losses among his troops. While some of the heaviest fighting of the war continues, the front line has been static since the last big Russian retreat in mid-November. The worst battles have taken place near the eastern city of Bakhmut, which both sides have compared to a meat grinder. Ukraine says Russia has lost thousands of troops despite seizing scant ground in months of futile waves of assaults on Bakhmut. Russia says the city is key to its aim to capture the rest of Donetsk province, one of four partially occupied regions it claims to have annexed. Near the front, Reuters saw explosions from outgoing artillery and smoke filling the sky. We are holding up. The guys are trying to hold up the defence, said Viktor, a 39-year-old Ukrainian soldier driving an armoured vehicle out of Soledar, a salt-mining town on Bakhmut's northeastern outskirts. Most civilians have been evacuated from Bakhmut. Those who have stayed survive under near constant bombardment, with no heat or electricity. Parts of the city are a wasteland, with sections of residential apartment blocks flattened into concrete piles. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Grant McCool; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Cynthia Osterman) Russia should expect strikes "deeper and deeper" into the territory it controls, as pressure ramps on Moscow's military leaders in the wake of a Ukrainian missile strike that killed scores of conscripts and the defence ministry has blamed on the use of mobile phones by its soldiers. Raising the death toll from the strike in the Russian-held eastern Ukrainian town of Makiivka from 63 to 89 on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry claimed that the "illegal" use of mobile phones was the main factor in the attack. This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers location for a missile strike, the ministry said despite an investigation into the incident still going on. It is the highest death toll in a single incident that Moscow has acknowledged since it started the invasion of Ukraine last February. Kyiv has claimed that up to 400 conscripts died in the attack. As might be expected, the claim has not gone down well with the relatives of those killed in the attack, with popular military bloggers in Russia also swift in their criticism of the statement. Semyon Pegov, a war correspondent decorated by Putin, said on Telegram the mobile phone explanation "looks like an outright attempt to smear" while Vladlen Tatarsky, a well-known blogger, accused Russian generals of "demonstrating their own stupidity and misunderstanding of what's going on [among] the troops, where everyone has cellphones." Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, has said that there will likely be further strikes without saying that Kyiv would be behind them. He told ABC News that the attacks would come "deeper and deeper" inside of Russia, but would only be able to comment on his country's responsibility for the attacks after the war was over. When asked specifically about Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, Mr Budanov said, "Crimea is Ukrainian territory, we can use any weapon on our territory." Russia's Engels air force base, which is located hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian border, was hit on 26 December, an attack which Kyiv has not claimed, but Mr Budanov said he was "glad to see". The war has become one of attrition. Heavy fighting around theruined, Ukrainian-held city of Bakhmut, for example, is likely to persist for the foreseeable future with the outcome uncertain as Russians have made incremental progress, according to a US administration official. Ukraine's military also said Russian forces continued to concentrate on advancing near Bakhmut. In its daily update, Ukraine's General Staff said that Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. In Moscow, a sign that Russia's President Vladimir Putin was trying to move events on from the attack on Makiivka, he sent a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles on Wednesday. In a video conference with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Mr Putin said the ship was armed with Zircon hypersonic weapons. "This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system - 'Zircon'," Mr Putin said. "I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats." The weapons, Mr Putin claimed, had "no analogues in any country in the world". In Kyiv, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was planning to call up more troops for a major new offensive, something he has been talking about for weeks. "We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address late on Tuesday. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this," he added. Mr Zelensky has also been calling for more military support from Western countries and French officials said that French President Emmanuel Macron has told Mr Zelensky that paris would send light AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles to help in the war against Russia. "This is the first time that Western-made armoured vehicles are being delivered in support of the Ukrainian army," the official told reporters, after a call between Mr Macron and Mr Zelensky. The official did not give any details about the volume or timing of the planned shipments. In a statement posted on Telegram, Mr Zelensky thanked Mr Macron for the decision and said the two leaders had "agreed on further cooperation to significantly strengthen our air defence and other defence capabilities". Reuters contributed to this report Key developments on Jan. 4: Ukraine anticipates the hottest fighting in March as it plans a major push in spring, and there may be further strikes deeper and deeper inside Russia, Ukraines military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview published on Jan. 4. Speaking to ABC News in Kyiv on Dec. 31, Budanov said Ukraine expects liberation of more territories in the coming months, where he predicted it will deal with final defeats to the Russian Federation. "This will happen throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to the Donbas, Budanov said, as quoted by ABC News. Regarding strikes inside Russia, Budanov did not claim Ukraines responsibility for a series of drone attacks at Russias airbases hundreds of kilometers deep inside the country, adding that he could only comment on it once the war ends. Budanovs comment comes nearly a month after Moscow accused Kyiv of launching drone attacks at Ryazan and Saratov airbases in south-central Russia, killing three servicemen and wounding four on Dec. 5. It added that the shot-down parts of drones damaged two aircraft. Ukraine has neither denied nor admitted to striking targets inside Russia. One of the two Russian airbases, Engels, was attacked again on Dec. 26. Budanov told ABC News that he was glad to see it, and that Russia could expect more of such strikes without saying who would be behind them. Regarding reported blasts inside Russian-occupied Crimea, Budanov told ABC News that Crimea is Ukrainian territory, we can use any weapon on our territory." Story continues More than 10 months into Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine has liberated about 40% of territories that Russia had occupied since February. Kyiv has repeatedly vowed to recapture all of its occupied territories from Russia. "Our goal, and we will achieve it, is returning to the borders of 1991, like Ukraine is recognized by all subjects of international law," Budanov said, as quoted by ABC News. Looming mobilization in Russia Budanovs interview was released a few days after he said Russia would close its borders to conscription-age men on Jan. 5 as it prepares for another wave of mobilization amid its stalled war efforts in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov have warned that they anticipate Russia to resume mobilization soon. We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can muster to try to turn the tide of the war and at least postpone their defeat, Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 3 None of the top officials disclosed the source of their information. However, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said on Dec. 31 that Russian military commissariats in occupied Crimea had prepared lists of potential conscripts for mobilization in January. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, whose country borders Russia, told local media outlet ERR News on Jan. 2 that there was no official confirmation of Russias potential second mobilization wave. Reinsalu added that he expects the scale of the next potential mobilization to be smaller than the first, adding that Russia continued to conscript more soldiers even after it claimed that its fall mobilization campaign had ended. While many lack experience, Russias mobilized troops have presented a problem for Ukraine, and Moscows fall campaign to conscript hundreds of thousands of soldiers has worked, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said in a December interview with the Economist. Ahead of the looming mobilization in Russia, Ukraines intelligence said that partisans had once again interrupted civilian and military trains in Siberia during the night on Jan. 4, delaying the transportation of the echelon for the Russian army. The intelligence said in a Telegram post that such instances of partisans interrupting the Russian militarys logistics inside Russia have increased since Moscow announced mobilization in September. France to supply first Western-designed tanks to Ukraine On the diplomatic front, Zelensky said that he held a long and detailed conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Jan. 4 regarding the current situation. Zelensky thanked the French leader for the decision to provide Ukraine with light tanks and Bastion armored fighting vehicles. After Kyivs months-long plea, France became the first Western country that agreed to give tanks to Ukraine. Ukraine has slammed Germanys reluctance to supply its battle tanks to Ukraine, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying in December that his country wont transfer them in 2023 as well to prevent a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. Until victory, until peace returns to Europe, our support for Ukraine will not weaken, Macron said in a Twitter post. I confirmed to President Zelensky: France will provide light combat tanks and continue its support in terms of air defense. Paris has already supplied Kyiv with rocket launchers, air defense systems, and armored personal carriers, as well as anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles though some of its Western allies, such as the U.S. or the U.K., have provided Ukraine with more weapons. Last week, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu visited Kyiv and met with Zelensky and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov. Pledging to continue supporting Ukraine, Lecornu said on Dec. 28 that France would provide French army equipment and would allocate a fund of 200 million euros ($212 million) for Ukraine to purchase weapons. Deadly attack on Makiivka The Russian Defense Ministry claimed early on Jan. 4 that Ukraines HIMARS strike on Makiivka late on Dec. 31 killed 89 soldiers, including the regiment's deputy commander, Lieutenant Colonel Bachurin. In a rare confession of heavy losses, Lieutenant General Sergey Sevryukov said in a video statement that Russia blamed victims mass unauthorized cell phone usage for the attack, which allowed Ukraine to track the location. The staggering death toll led to renewed domestic criticism of the Russian military leadership. Shortly after the strike, the Strategic Communications Department of Ukraine's military said the attack killed about 400 Russian soldiers and wounded about 300. Media reports say that there were about 600 Russian servicemen at the school-turned-military base in Makiivka, near occupied Donetsk. On Jan. 4, the U.K. Defense Ministry said the deadly Ukrainian strike highlights how unprofessional practices contribute to Russias high casualty rate. The ministry added that given the scale of damage at the site, there is a realistic possibility that ammunition that Russian troops may have stored near the accommodation site detonated during the strike leading to secondary explosions. The Russian military has a record of unsafe ammunition storage from well before the current war, the ministry said. On Jan. 4, Ukraines General Staff said in its evening briefing that it had launched a strike in the occupied city of Tokmak in the southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Jan. 3, killing and wounding about 80 Russian soldiers in total. It did not specify how many of them were killed and how many were wounded. Kremlin-controlled TASS news agency also reported, citing local Russian proxies, that Ukrainian forces struck the occupied city on Jan. 3, but claimed that a hospital was targeted. Russia has not commented on Ukraines report of its soldiers killed and wounded in Tokmak. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine consider inappropriate accusations that Ukrainian defenders shoot down Iranian-made Russian drones with much more expensive missiles from Western air defence systems, because it is about saving people's lives and the preservation of vital infrastructure. Source: Yurii Ihnat, Spokesperson for Air Force of Ukraine, on air of the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "If there is a threat to life, you will probably spend everything to save your life. It is not correct to compare here. I have seen it in the Western press a time or two. It sometimes seems to me that some newspapers have a column for Russian propagandists to express their opinion there. Both in the US and in Europe, there are mass media that sometimes publish things that contain contradictions. It is clear that the rockets in use today, and NASAMS, IRIS-T, are expensive rockets. [As for] Patriot [US-made missile system, which is expected to be delivered to Ukraine ed.] in general, one rocket costs up to [US$]4 million. Will we use them, or will we raise fighter aircraft to shoot down Shaheds? It is extremely expensive. We will." Details: This is how the spokesman for the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reacted, in particular, to the New York Times article about Ukraine shooting down cheap drones with expensive missiles. Ihnat noted that Israel also shoots down cheap rockets and projectiles fired at it with much more expensive anti-aircraft fire. For Ukraine, it is about saving lives, about the preservation of critical infrastructure and facilities that can be hit by a kamikaze drone, he emphasised. Quote: "Shahed carries up to 40 kilograms of explosives. If it gets into a critical infrastructure facility, into the very heart [of it], a fire occurs, people die. Let's calculate how much damage a drone can cause and how much an anti-aircraft missile costs, and then [how much missiles for Western air defence system cost ed.]. This is a completely incorrect comparison." Story continues Background: On 1 January, Yurii Ihnat said that on New Year's Eve, the Ukrainian military "barely had time to reload the NASAMS", "[they] fired from it as if it was artillery." Later, The New York Times wrote that due to the Russian night attacks, the Ukrainians began to launch expensive NASAMS missiles at drones, while earlier they used anti-aircraft guns and small arms to shoot down certain kinds of drones. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! On Wednesday, Ukrainian anti-aircraft units destroyed a Russian Su-25 ground attack aircraft, a Ka-52 helicopter and an Orlan-10 UAV. Source: Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "On 11:00-16:00 on 4 January, units of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces destroyed a Russian Su-25 aircraft, a Ka-52 helicopter, and a tactical Orlan-10 UAV." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will conduct a historic Christmas celebration in the previously Moscow Patriarchate-controlled Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on Jan. 7. The Russian-controlled churchs lease on a part of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra called the Upper Lavra expired on Jan. 1, paving way for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebration. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) has been in hot water since Ukraine conducted nationwide raids on religious sites that belong to the Russian-controlled church during which authorities say they have found Russian passports, anti-Ukrainian propaganda, and a stolen collection of icons. Searches have also taken place at the Moscow Patriarchate-controlled Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Despite the UOC-MP's official statement declaring independence from the Russian Orthodox Church in May and condemning the war, the churchs agenda remains intertwined with its Moscow overlords, and they officially remain subordinated to the Russian church in the hierarchy of the Orthodox world. On Dec. 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the start of a procedure to ban activities of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine. On Dec. 11, Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on seven leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. On Dec. 2, the Ukrainian government registered a legal entity to manage the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on behalf of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Currently, the legal entity does not control any buildings of the Lavra. Still, its registration triggered speculation that a part or all of the monastery may be transferred to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We have absolutely had discussions with our Israeli partners regarding the threat presented by Iranian UAV technology and the proliferation of Iranian UAV technology to countries around the world, including to Russia, he said. Read also: U.S. to focus on preventing Iranian arms supplies to Russia Price stressed that the US Department of State had already taken steps to disrupt this proliferation network. In particular, the US administration has imposed sanctions against persons involved in the supply of weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Dec. 19 that Russia had received a new batch of 250 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones from Iran, which Moscow uses to attack Ukraines power grid. Read also: Zelenskyy says Israel transferring intelligence on Iranian drones The chief of Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said that Russia was also seeking to acquire Iranian ballistic missiles and ammunition. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Japan should pursue balanced diplomacy regarding China: media Xinhua) 10:00, January 04, 2023 This photo taken on Dec. 19, 2022 shows a view of the Tokyo Tower at sunset in Tokyo, Japan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) Japan should "pave the way to coexisting with China" instead of focusing only on strengthening its deterrence against China, said Yoshihide Soeya, a professor emeritus of political science at Keio University. TOKYO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japan should move past a hawkish foreign policy platform and pursue a well-balanced diplomatic strategy toward Beijing to avoid needless conflict, the Japan Times has said in an article. The government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida should pursue a well-balanced diplomatic strategy toward Beijing as a fellow Asian nation, distancing Japan from the United States and its attempts to isolate China economically through an array of high-tech restrictions, said the newspaper, citing experts. Yoshihide Soeya, a professor emeritus of political science at Keio University, said Japan should "pave the way to coexisting with China" instead of focusing only on strengthening its deterrence against China. Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, said that "there are good chances" of "improving bilateral communication on a range of issues such as supply chain resilience, nontraditional threats to security and climate change." Since Year 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, the Kishida government had some incentive to cooperate with Chinese leaders to prevent bilateral ties from deteriorating, according to the article. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) A quarrel between his current and his former girlfriend led to a man allegedly shooting two sisters, one of them fatally, last April following a birthday party at a bowling lounge near the Marina Towers downtown, prosecutors said. Cook County Judge Kelly McCarthy denied bail for the suspect, Jason McMahan, 36, during a Wednesday afternoon hearing that was audio streamed on YouTube. Advertisement McMahan, of Chicagos West Side, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery with a weapon in connection with the April 30 attack that left TaShawnna Anderson dead. Anderson, her 32-year-old sister and two friends went to the 10Pin lounge at 358 N. State St. to celebrate a birthday, prosecutors said. Advertisement Shortly after they got there, McMahan showed up with his new girlfriend, which prompted Anderson to call her 27-year-old friend, who is McMahans ex-girlfriend, to tell her. Around 1 a.m., the 27-year-old friend arrived at 10Pin alone, but wasnt able to get inside. At that point, Anderson, McMahan and his girlfriend went outside and a quarrel began between the ex-girfriend and McMahans current girlfriend. The fight was captured on video surveillance. Then McMahan, another man in a red shirt and McMahans girlfriend all walked to her car, parked around the corner on Kinzie Street. Anderson and McMahans ex-girlfriend followed them and once they got to the car, the women began hurling insults at each other, according to prosecutors. McMahans girlfriend called 911 and drove McMahan back to the bowling alley, while Anderson and the ex-girlfriend walked back and were met by Andersons sister and another woman, who had a gun she legally owns in her purse. As McMahan and his girlfriend were still in the car parked outside the bowling alley, Anderson, her sister and the ex-girlfriend walked up to the passenger side of the car, and McMahans girlfriend again called 911, prosecutors said. Thats when the woman with the gun in her purse tapped on the cars front passenger window and McMahan jumped out and punched her in the head, prosecutors said. As she fell, McMahan pointed a gun at Anderson, her sister and the ex-girlfriend and began firing hitting Anderson in the chest, her sister in the leg and narrowly missing the ex-girlfriend, who began running, prosecutors said. 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 > Anderson, 27, was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital a short time later. Her sister was also taken there, police said. Advertisement McMahans girlfriend then drove the man in the red shirt and McMahan a short distance, where the men fled on foot. McMahans girlfriend came back to the scene, called 911 a third time and waited for police. Police questioned her and she directed them to weapons inside her vehicle: a 9 mm from the center console and a 40-caliber firearm from a gun box on the drivers side floorboard, prosecutors said. The woman holds a valid concealed carry license and firearm owners identification card. Three 40-caliber shell casings were recovered from the shooting scene. Ballistics analysis revealed that all three shell casings were fired from the 40-caliber firearm recovered from the vehicle, prosecutors said. A lawyer who represented McMahan told the court the shooting was self-defense, and called Anderson and her friends stalkers and brought up the gun in Andersons friends purse. McMahan has felony convictions including a 2018 theft, a 2010 possession of a controlled substance, a 2004 aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and another unlawful use of a weapon from Cherokee County, Georgia, prosecutors said. McMahan also has misdemeanor convictions that include a 2016 burglary, a 2013 soliciting unlawful business, a 2013 cannabis charge and a 2013 retail theft out of DuPage County. McMahan is due back in court Jan. 24. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration is plowing ahead with plans to re-open the U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands in a bid to counter Chinas increasing assertiveness in the Pacific. The State Department has informed Congress that it will establish soon an interim embassy in the Solomons capital of Honiara on the site of a former U.S. consular property. It said the modest embassy will at first be staffed by two American diplomats and five local employees at a cost of $1.8 million per year. A more permanent facility with larger staffing is eventually envisioned, it said. The department notified lawmakers nearly a year ago that Chinas growing influence in the region made re-opening the U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands a priority. Since that notification last February, the Solomons have signed a security pact with China and the U.S. has countered by sending several high-level delegations to the islands. The U.S. closed its embassy in Honiara in 1993 as part of a post-Cold War global reduction in diplomatic posts and priorities. But it has since determined that China's rise as a regional and global power demands American attention as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy to counter Beijing, particularly in the Solomon Islands, which were a key battleground in the Pacific theater during WWII and where pro-American sentiment had been high. We are seeing this bond weaken as the Peoples Republic of China aggressively seeks to engage Solomon Islands political and business elites, utilizing a familiar pattern of extravagant promises, prospective costly infrastructure loans, and potentially dangerous debt levels, the department said in a notice to Congress dated Dec. 23 that was obtained by The Associated Press. The United States needs a permanent diplomatic presence in Honiara to effectively provide a counterweight to growing (Chinese) influence and deepen our engagement with the region commensurate with its importance, the notice said. Story continues Before (China) becomes strongly embedded in Solomon Islands, now is the opportunity to bolster Solomon Islands resilience and deepen cooperation on security, democratic governance, and a free and open economy, it said. The absence of an embassy has severely constrained our ability to engage with this strategically situated country with alacrity and precision. Since the administration first announced its plan to re-open the U.S. embassy in the Solomons in February, the nation moved ahead with a security pact with China, sparking fears that Beijing might establish a military base on the islands. China has also increased its economic and infrastructure assistance to the Solomons as it has done with other Pacific islands. The Solomon Islands prime minister assured the U.S. and other Western allies, like Australia and New Zealand, after signing the deal with Beijing in April that he would not allow China to set up a naval base in his country, but concern about Chinese intentions has not abated. In July, the U.S. sent two senior officials Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy to the Solomons to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal and to highlight nearly century-long ties between the islands and the U.S. The fathers of both Sherman and Kennedy fought in the Solomons during the war. As it moves to enhance ties with the Solomon Islands, the U.S. is also seeking to shore up relations with other Pacific nations that it fears may also be drawn into China's orbit. Negotiations are ongoing for the renewal of so-called Compact of Free Association" agreements between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Those pacts expire within the next two years. In late September, President Joe Biden convened a summit of Pacific Island leaders to unveil a new strategy for the region that included pressing issues like climate change, maritime security and protecting the area from overfishing. Biden pledged that the U.S. would add $810 million in new aid for Pacific Island nations over the next decade, including $130 million on efforts to stymie the impacts of climate change. The White House also announced plans to recognize the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign states, after appropriate consultations. The U.S. currently recognizes the islands as self-governing territories. At the time, White House officials acknowledged that U.S. inattentiveness toward the region since the end of the Cold War has left an opening for Beijing to exert its influence. A Navy veteran and motorcyclist who lost his leg in a crash with a military van has won millions of dollars in a settlement against the United States, lawyers said. The veteran, Peter Arthur, was riding his motorcycle on Sept. 13, 2019, on Interstate 5 in National City south of San Diego, when a chain-reaction crash flung a vehicle into his path and threw him from his motorcycle, according to a complaint filed by the law firm CaseyGerry in 2020. The chain-reaction crash was set off by a Navy-owned Chevrolet van driven by a Navy servicemember that swerved into another lane, striking a second vehicle and causing a sequence of collisions, according to a news release CaseyGerry sent to McClatchy News on Jan. 4. The case was settled in October 2022 for $10.8 million, the release says. Arthur, who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, suffered multiple severe injuries and later had to have his leg amputated above the knee, according to the lawsuit . Lawyers representing the U.S. government in the case declined to comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Robert J. Francavilla, with the CaseyGerry law firm, told McClatchy News that the Navys position throughout the litigation was that another vehicle changed lanes into the path of the Navy van, causing it to swerve. But Francavilla, who called it a phantom vehicle, said Arthurs lawyers were able to prove no vehicle entered the vans lane. The Navy sailor who was driving the van at the time was originally named as a defendant in the case but was later dismissed as an individual after the U.S. said he was acting within the scope of his federal employment at the time, according to a write-up the law firm submitted to a local newspaper and sent to McClatchy News. The lawsuit says the drivers sudden, unnecessary, unsafe, and unreasonable swerving led to Arthurs injuries . The U.S. was negligent in entrusting the van to the driver, who had a record of dangerous and reckless driving, the lawsuit says . Story continues As a direct and legal result of the negligence and carelessness of the United States of America, (Arthur) was injured in his health, strength, and activity the lawsuit says . The law firm said in a statement that the settlement is the largest motor vehicle collision settlement with the U.S. Federal government in San Diego history. But most importantly, Francavilla said the money will be a great help to Arthur. It sets Peter up and gives him a chance, he said. Veteran lied about having a disorder to scam the VA out of over $500,000, feds say Veteran swindles Navy members and loses money on risky GameStop investment, feds say Man whose wife sued hospital over COVID care dies after transfer to Texas Victoria Derbyshire would like to take part in Strictly Come Dancing. (Getty Images) Victoria Derbyshire has said she would like to take part in Strictly Come Dancing, but worries her role on Newsnight might get in the way. The 54-year-old newsreader and journalist became joint lead presenter on the BBC current affairs show alongside Kirsty Wark in 2022 but would still like to dabble in reality TV. Derbyshire told Woman and Home magazine: "If I get asked to do Strictly which I honestly don't think I will be I'd totally consider it. I'm not sure if it would be the right thing to do because I do Newsnight." Read more: Victoria Derbyshire late for BBC News because she couldn't get high heels on She added: "But hey, I did I'm a Celebrity two years ago, and now I'm doing Newsnight and people are cool with it. People are less likely to put you in boxes these days. " The TV presenter appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020, when it was held at Gwrych Castle in north Wales due to the coronavirus pandemic. Victoria Derbyshire took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2020. (ITV) Derbyshire was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and underwent a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She said she and her partner of 17 years, TV producer Mark Sandell, decided to get married in 2018 after she was declared cancer free because they wanted to have a party. She said: "Mark totally stepped up. He was incredible. He did everything to look after me and the boys. "We got married after I got the all-clear. We wanted to have a massive party and celebrate with our boys, Mark's daughter my stepdaughter, Lizzie and with our family and friends'. It was amazing." Victoria Derbyshire married her partner Mark Sandell in 2018. (Getty Images) The broadcaster is mother to sons Oliver, 18, and Joe, 15. Derbyshire has called Newsnight the "best job in journalism". She tweeted: "SO HAPPY Ill be joining fab @KirstyWark & the talented @BBCNewsnight team under new & ambitious leadership. Read more: Victoria Derbyshire apologises for saying she would break 'rule of six' "Its one of the best jobs in British journalism & I cant wait to champion more stories about peoples lives while holding those who represent them to account." Story continues Derbyshire hosted her own current affairs show on weekday mornings on BBC Two from 2015, but it was axed in 2020 due to budget cuts. Watch: Victoria Derbyshire slips-up pronouncing Jeremy Hunt Viewers are showing their support for a Canadian journalist after she shared an email that she received about her on-air outfit being inappropriate. Tess Van Straaten took to Twitter on Sunday to post the message that a viewer sent her, along with a screenshot of the sleeveless multi-colored dress she wore during the news broadcast. In the email, the person claimed that the reporters outfit wasnt fit for a weather report or a work environment. I find it inappropriate for Tess Van Straten to still wear sleeveless tops in the wintertime to report on the weather, the email reads. In my opinion, she should be wearing a suit jacket and look more professional like other newscasters around the world. Sorry for a negative comment, but it is also upsetting to see what she is wearing. Van Straaten also asked her followers for their opinions on her outfit, as she tweeted: This is what women in broadcasting sadly still face in 2023... Do you think my dress is almost upsetting? In the comments of her post, she said that a woman sent this email which went to the entire newsroom. In response to the incident, Twitter users praised Van Straaten for her outfit and slammed the viewer for criticising it in the first place. Not sure where this is anything remotely close to upsetting?? one wrote. Looks pretty professional to me + you look great. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but, these days, they are shared far too openly thanks to social media, imo. Its a lovely dress and that person doesnt have *nearly* enough to worry about in their life if theyre still inflamed by what a woman *doing her job* is wearing, another said. Go sleeveless for the entire winter. Youve earned it after putting up with that persons nonsense. This is what women in broadcasting sadly still face in 2023... Do you think my dress is 'almost upsetting'? pic.twitter.com/iMBQM542yh Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) January 1, 2023 A third said: I think it is sad and ridiculous that people feel it is appropriate to comment on your choice of clothing like that. You always look poised and professional to me. Also the poster must have a blessed life if this is what they find upsetting in their life! Story continues On the other hand, some people shared their thoughts about female reporters attire in the newsroom. I think your dress is nice. My only concern is that MOST female newscasters seem to wear less clothing than any male newscaster, one Twitter user wrote. If it is your choice great. I hear that the studios are cold yet the women always have less clothing than the men. Not sure where this is anything remotely close to upsetting?? Looks pretty professional to me + you look great. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but, these days, they are shared far too openly thanks to social media, imo. DeeRDrr (@deedar01) January 2, 2023 My girl-friends and I will join you with half sleeves the next time (if you need us). I hope the reaction in the media has been civil and not hostile to you and your fam. Great job reporting Tess :) Chirag (@cjwonders) January 2, 2023 In response, Van Straaten detailed her outfit choices and explained why mens on-air outfits differ from women. Men have fewer options in [the] studio since dresses and skirts arent in their repertoire, she wrote. I wear blazers but like to mix it up w/ dresses and blouses. Also, a man could wear the same suit EVERY DAY and no one would notice. A news anchor in Australia actually did this to make a point. The Independent has contacted Van Straaten for comment. [Source] Before you read: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has called for an investigation into recent allegations of delayed notifications of academic awards at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). Thomas Jefferson, regarded as the nations top high school, was accused of concealing its students National Merit certifications in the name of equity. Around 1,200 students mostly Asian Americans were allegedly affected by the withholding of such information, which would have been helpful for college applications and other scholarship programs. In an op-ed for City Journal, author and journalist Asra Q. Nomani whose own son was affected by the years-long practice pinned the blame on Principal Ann Bonitatibus and Director of Student Services Brandon Kosatka. More from NextShark: Internet Calls Out CNN After Saying Singapore is 'Not a Country' Lawyer Shawna Yashar, another parent with a child deprived of the information, reportedly learned from Kosatka that the practice was intentional because they did not want to hurt the feelings of students who do not receive awards. The controversy sparked outrage among Asian Americans, who reportedly account for approximately 65-70 percent of the student body. On Tuesday, Youngkin asked Attorney General Jason Miyares, a fellow Republican, to launch an investigation into Thomas Jeffersons controversial practices. More from NextShark: Police identifies woman set on fire on Toronto bus; suspect charged with first-degree murder We need to get to the bottom of what appears to be an egregious, deliberate attempt to disadvantage high-performing students at one of the best schools in the country, Youngkin said in a statement. Parents and students deserve answers and Attorney General Miyares will initiate a full investigation. Story continues Youngkin said the failure may have caused material harm to the students and their families. He also cited a possible violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act. Just as Virginia parents deserve answers and assurances that the safety of their children will never be compromised, they also deserve transparency when it comes to student achievements, Youngkin wrote in his letter to Miyares. This is especially true when it comes to measuring achievements that have a direct impact on post-secondary education. More from NextShark: Police under investigation after soccer match stampede kills at least 125 in Indonesia Victoria LaCivita, a spokesperson for Miyares, confirmed on Tuesday that the attorney general has received Youngkins request. She pointed out that Miyares has been carefully reviewing and evaluating the allegations of racial discrimination at Thomas Jefferson School of Science and Technology since the very first public reports. Meanwhile, Fairfax County Public Schools, which oversees Thomas Jefferson, said it has contacted colleges and universities where recognized students have applied to inform them of the awards. It is also conducting an investigation into the matter. More from NextShark: Mexico's President Apologizes for the 1911 Massacre that Killed Over 300 Chinese People Parents and community members held a rally on Tuesday night to call for change. They carried signs that said Merit over ideology, Stop the sabotage and Save merit. When I found out [about it], Im like, Why cant they do it [notify students] at the same time? a protester told WUSA9. If they can send the email about semifinalists, why cant they send the email about commended students too? Related stories: President Joe Biden talks with reporters outside of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn. Biden is heading to Kentucky to visit a notoriously dilapidated bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky to promote his administration's infrastructure law. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP) The Cincinnati skyline is indelibly stamped on my mind, despite the fact that Ive never lived in the city Winston Churchill once described as the most beautiful of the inland cities of the Union. From the time I was born I would join my family as we drove from Dayton, Ohio where they had relocated a quarter-century before my birth to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and East Tennessee. This was the Hillbilly Highway, and like millions of other Appalachians, the road to down home ran straight through the heart of the Queen City. It wasnt just Appalachian out-migrants crossing the Brent Spence Bridge, a double decker truss bridge on Interstate 75 crossing the Ohio River and connecting the Buckeye State with the Bluegrass State. The Hillbilly Highway, at least the part of it in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, could just have been called Americas Economic Expressway. The Brent Spence Bridge carries $1 billion in freight every day . A full 3 percent of our nations GDP crosses that bridge every year . Despite being vitally important to our nations economy and transportation, the Brent Spence Bridge has long been considered Americas worst piece of infrastructure . First built in 1963, the bridge was never designed for the amount of traffic crossing it 168,000 every day according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Accidents more than 121 in 2015 alone are common. Rust is a recurrent problem. In 2020, the bridge caught on fire . It makes sense, then, that President Joe Biden would choose to travel to Northern Kentucky today to join with Kentuckys Democratic Governor, Andy Beshear, and Ohios Republican Governor, Mike DeWine along with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to tout the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which he signed into law last year. $1.6 billion in federal funding will be invested into repairing this important piece of Americas roadways. In doing so, Biden managed what so many of us who rely on the bridge to do our jobs and see our families have asked for years. He, in his own words, fixed that damn bridge. Story continues That Biden managed to do it with a razor thin majority in the Senate makes it an even more remarkable accomplishment. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is more commonly known as the bipartisan infrastructure bill both because its true 13 House Republicans and 19 Senate Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the law and because its so rare these days that any landmark legislation passes with bipartisan support. It is a massive accomplishment. Presidents of both parties before had wanted but failed to secure the votes to fix the Brett Spence Bridge. Bidens appearance in Cincinnati with his Republican rival Mitch McConnell, then, reminds us not only of how expertly he and Democratic leadership in Congress were in getting this bill passed, but of what Congress can accomplish when it actually does its job. Government has the power to improve the lives of the American people. Yet Congress isnt working right now. As I write this, Im watching Kevin McCarthy lose his fourth vote to become speaker of the House of Representatives. The Republicans, now with their own razor thin majority in the lower chamber, cannot agree on who should lead them and therefore the Peoples House. Instead, the have devolved into internecine warfare with one another and we the people are caught in the crossfire. This all stems from a backbench rebellion against McCarthys leadership. While Democrats have seamlessly elected their own brand-new leadership team, the far right of the Republican Party has flexed its muscle to prevent him from taking the gavel. The reasons why are not so much political as personal. There are no ideological differences between McCarthy and the hard right. He has done everything the far right could hope he would do. Rather, this is about personal interests, personal grudges, and personal power. People like Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert have longstanding grudges against McCarthy for stymying their own desire for power and not doing more to obstruct. They are agents of chaos doing what they came to Washington to do sow dissent and disruption. As a registered Democrat and a socialist, I enjoy it when the right cannibalizes their own. So I can understand tweets like that by Illinois Democrat Robin Kelly, who claimed she had her popcorn ready as she went into the votes yesterday. The problem is this isnt just a problem for Republicans. Its a problem for all of us. No House business can occur until a speaker is elected . That includes swearing in representatives, meaning that there is currently no House of Representatives to speak of. Given the myriad issues facing the United States at this moment three respiratory viruses leading to increased hospitalizations , a war in Ukraine, increasing tensions in the Far East, inflation and possible recession this is not just a matter of inconvenience. It is a matter of national security. Yet Republicans are putting their own pettiness above the needs of the American people. That is frightening. Even if business were to occur, I have no confidence that the Republicans could agree enough to pass a bill declaring the sky is blue. How will they ever raise the debt ceiling, for example, if they cant even agree on who should be in charge? Democrats, Id say. That is the message Joe Biden is subtly sending in Kentucky. By going to the bridge no one but he could fix, the president is reminding the country what competent governance looks like. When adults are in charge, things get done. Beyond that, though, we are seeing the results of two different American political philosophies: one from the far right that puts personal interests over national needs and one from Democrats that puts the collective interests of the American people first by delivering legislation and competent governance. Let us remember this in 2024, when these petulant children playing at being legislators again ask to be in charge of the Peoples House. Joe Biden fixed the damn bridge. Republicans cant even fix themselves. Older and newer houses can be seen on West Cullerton Street in the Pilsen neighborhood on Dec. 1, 2022, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) One of my colleagues at DePaul University was conducting an ethnographic study in three Chicago neighborhoods when he met a Black woman on her Garfield Park front porch. Every time a white person moves into this neighborhood, the woman said, property values there go up $10,000. She wasnt relaying good news. Advertisement What she was relaying is something rarely talked about, either in academia or mainstream media: How the mere presence of white residents can increase property values in a neighborhood and how that negatively affects the people of color who lived there first and continue to make up the majority of the neighborhood. With property taxes skyrocketing in gentrifying Chicago neighborhoods and an upcoming mayoral race in which that is sure to be on voters minds its important to honestly examine how and why this happens, particularly in a highly segregated city such as Chicago. Advertisement To many residents of big cities, it seems reasonable that home upgrades and new construction may drive up rents and taxes. But a white population increase in many communities of color in Chicago is rarely discussed as being one of the central causes regardless of the racial composition of the neighborhood, the social meaning assigned to each race and the previous histories of racial exclusion in that particular neighborhood. Pilsen is a prime example. Despite suffering the displacement of at least 10,000 Latino residents from 2000 to 2010 due to gentrification, Pilsen is still considered a working-class neighborhood and a community popularly known as the cultural center of Mexican Chicago. Gentrification has advanced in this neighborhood since late 1990s. Yet, thanks to the ongoing and organized activism in the community, many development-led displacements have been stalled or immediately discontinued. [ To combat gentrification in Pilsen and keep Latinos in the area, a co-op has regular people creating their own affordable housing ] Based on the collaborative study Mapping Racial Capital: Gentrification, Race and Value in Three Chicago Neighborhoods, which I published last year with one of my colleagues at DePaul, the east of Pilsen is where there has been a significant replacement of Latino residents with white residents. Effectively, the Latino population started to decrease significantly in the east of Pilsen while the number of white newcomers increased steadily since 2000, from roughly 5% to 13% in 2010. More striking to us was finding out that gentrification coexists with abandoned parcels and vacant land in the east of Pilsen, thus contradicting scholarly literature and widely accepted narratives that gentrification brings stability to a neighborhood. For example, in 2010, approximately 52% of parcels in the east of Pilsen were marked as abandoned or vacant, according to our findings. Our study also revealed that, despite prominent abandonment in the east of Pilsen, property values surged from 2000 to 2010, with an average increase of 164%, specifically where the white population has grown. In sum, Pilsens eastern edge shows rises in the white population and property values despite high rates of abandoned parcels. The opposite scenario manifests in the west of Pilsen, where there are fewer white newcomers and where the Latino population experiences the greatest stability on their blocks. Theres a 30% average of abandoned parcels and vacant land there with steady home improvements and larger proportions of Latino residents. Yet, those improvements have not translated into higher property values at the same rates as those in the east side of Pilsen. Thus, the west of Pilsen reflects less presence of white population and lower property values despite less abandonment. Advertisement So does gentrification bring more stability to a neighborhood? And is the neighborhood not affected by white folks moving in? What we have found in our study is precisely the opposite. In the case of Pilsen, new construction or home improvement does not automatically translate into increased property values, particularly when carried out by residents of color. The fact that Latino families have repaired their own homes for decades does not simply translate into real estate speculation and has never been understood as gentrification. By contrast, the areas where white newcomers are concentrated tend to be the least stable, with more abandoned property parcels. Inversely, the mere arrival of white newcomers leads to surges in property values with or without homes being upgraded or newly built. Of course, this wont be problematic for white folks who are benefiting from property value increases once they move into a community of color such as Pilsen. Yet, it is highly destructive for working-class communities of color in Chicago. At the end of the day, longtime community residents are left behind, with no other alternative than to be pushed out of neighborhoods where they have lived and built networks of companionship, belonging and solidarity for an average of 20 years. Gentrification depends more on the social value ascribed to white newcomers than it does on the number of houses rehabbed or newly constructed. In other words, gentrification profoundly rests on the social meaning assigned to race a conversation wed do well to engage in if we want to make Chicago a just city for all residents. Carolina Sternberg is an associate professor and chair of Latin American and Latino studies at DePaul University and a Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. In a whirlwind 24 hours last week, Jenni Trilik and Marcus Contaldo went from being $216,000 in debt and the owners of nearly 30,000 bags of unsold coffee to utterly overwhelmed with support. It was an unexpectedly happy ending to a drawn-out small business nightmare that began in April, after a deal fell through that was supposed to get their Modest Coffee product onto Walmarts virtual store shelves in a long-planned expansion of their 9-year-old West Chicago company. With 9,300 pounds of coffee and debts piling up, the Aurora couple wrote about the experience on their stores blog Thursday morning, then offered caffeine lovers one heck of a deal: An entire case of coffee for half off, or $7-$8 a bag. Those who didnt drink coffee but still wanted to help could donate the bags to charity instead. By Friday afternoon, theyd sold out. There has been this huge weight that has been lifted financial, of course, but also an emotional one, (seeing) that people do care about the little guy, Contaldo said. It was far from how they imagined things would go back in April. After spending a year with food broker Rucker Marketing to select Distributors for national expansion and get onboarded as a vendor, Modest Coffee received an offer to sell coffee on Walmarts website. They figured they would need to make 6,000 bags of coffee about what Modest Coffee produces in three months that would ship to the distributors warehouse. Modest Coffee would get paid once the full order was delivered to Walmarts own distribution centers across the country. Trilik and Contaldo eagerly agreed to the retail partnership. Their hope was to hire more people, particularly refugees, and double production. When distributor requests began to flow in June, theyd have two weeks to complete each shipment. Different distribution centers began placing orders, but each was for 8,000 bags, quickly outpacing their expected output, Contaldo said. Six thousand was a stretch for us, but we could handle it, Contaldo said. But then the orders kept coming, and they were not stopping. Story continues Frantically, they reached out to their broker, who quickly keyed in to the problem: The original order was for 6,000 units which, to the distributor, meant six-bag cases of coffee, not individual bags, which was how their past grocery orders were structured. Modest Coffee was on the hook for nearly 36,000 bags of coffee. I lived a little bit in fear that another purchase order would come through, Trilik said. It was a real emotional roller coaster not knowing when it would end. Their contract dictated that theyd only be paid once the entire order was complete. Upset with their broker for not questioning how they would produce 18 months worth of coffee in a fraction of the time, they cut ties with him and scrambled to find a way to complete the order, while still producing coffee for their regular clients of more than 100 cafes, restaurants, and convenience and grocery stores throughout Chicagoland. They hired more workers. Their three daughters, Contaldos father and friends came in to help roast the coffee. They worked double shifts, and Contaldo came back to work at Modest Coffee full-time after hed left two years earlier for a job in sales. They barely slept, hoping the relentless double shifts would pay off eventually. We had a 21-hour workday for six weeks, Trilik said. Neither the broker nor KeHE Distributors responded to multiple requests for comment between Thursday and Wednesday. By the end of July, Modest Coffee had shipped off the entire order to the distributors warehouses, where the thousands of bags of coffee would make a pit stop before Walmart was supposed to start selling them within a couple of weeks. But weeks turned into months, and at the end of October, Trilik and Contaldo were dealt a second, even worse blow: A miscommunication between Walmart and the distributor about how many warehouses would stock the coffee meant theyd hugely overestimated the size of the order. Instead of shipping to 75 distribution centers, there were no more than 10 that dealt in coffee, according to an email from a KeHE account manager provided to the Tribune. There were two options: the excess coffee could be shipped back to Modest Coffee or donated for a tax write-off, leaving Modest Coffee with $216,000 in credit card debt, owed invoices and loans from friends, family and the bank to cover the cost of making the 34,000 bags. Every single credit card we had was maxed out, Contaldo said. We had no way of fulfilling any more (orders) of coffee. They turned to the internet for support, chronicling the distribution disaster and asking supporters to buy cases of coffee to pay off the debt. It was hard to put this out there and make myself vulnerable, Trilik said. Theres a level of self-blame and guilt, especially because theres so much shame wrapped up in debt. The initial doubt subsided as orders for coffee began pouring in within minutes of publishing the blog post. Trilik said Modest Coffee was seeing $1,000 in sales per minute. There was one period where there were no orders for about 10 minutes. This was three hours in, and I thought, Its run its course, and Im so grateful for what weve gotten, Trilik said. Then (orders) kept ramping up and ramping up throughout the day. Turns out, it was just a temporary blip as the website froze while processing so many orders, Contaldo said. It went from family and friends, to our community out here in Aurora, and then it just kept spreading outward, Contaldo said. Before we knew it, we were getting orders from all over the country. The $7,300 raised on a GoFundMe created by Triliks sister translates into approximately 130 cases of coffee for local food pantries and shelters. The other 24,000 bags of caffeinated coffee sold out quickly, while about 1,800 bags of decaffeinated coffee were still available as of Wednesday morning, according to Trilik. Trilik and Contaldo said they still hope to work on national distribution going forward, albeit with a keener eye for quantities and communication issues after a hard lesson learned. I like to describe it as we went in 24 hours (from) the worst possible situation and scenario to the best possible situation and scenario, Contaldo said. tatturner@chicagotribune.com Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. A war between China and Taiwan poses the biggest 'black swan' risk to markets right now, Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan has warned. Lucas Jackson/Reuters The risk of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is the most significant `black swan' scenario threatening markets, according to Alan Greenspan. The former Federal Reserve chair said in his 2023 investment outlook that a conflict between the two countries would be "a nightmare scenario" for the global economy. Chinese president Xi Jinping tightened his grip on power when he was appointed for a third term last year. Investors should start worrying more about China because it could invade Taiwan and trigger a global economic crisis that fuels major market sell-offs, Alan Greenspan has warned. The former Federal Reserve chair said Tuesday that a war between the two Asian countries poses the most significant "black swan" risk to financial markets right now. Black swans are unpredictable events such as the 2008 financial crisis or Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year that end up having unexpected and severe consequences for stocks and other financial asset classes. "The black swan event I think markets, and really the world at large, ought to be most worried about is some kind of conflict erupting between China and Taiwan," Greenspan, who is an economic advisor to Advisors Capital Management, said in a year-end question-and-answer investment commentary published on the firm's website. "Xi Jinping has methodically consolidated power and made himself essentially president for life," he added. "He has been fairly candid in his intention to eventually bring Taiwan back into the fold, and he may begin to feel his window is closing." President Xi tightened his grip on power last year when he secured a third consecutive five-year term as Chinese leader. He proceeded to elevate political allies with defense backgrounds to key posts and told the Chinese people to "prepare to undergo high winds and waves and even for the stormy seas of a major test", which many western political strategists saw as a reference to an eventual invasion of Taiwan. Story continues An attack on Taiwan would rock the global economy because of the island's importance to the global semiconductor trade, Greenspan said. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is the world's largest independent chipmaker and the 15th-largest stock by market capitalization, with a total valuation of just under $400 billion. "Taiwan has shown no willingness to acquiesce to Xi's plans and so the conditions for some type of conflict in the near future are there," Greenspan said. "The sheer amount of world trade that currently flows through that region, and the number of semiconductors fabricated by Taiwanese firms upon which the technologies we enjoy rely, make any conflict a potential nightmare scenario," he added. Greenspan isn't the only major voice in markets to raise the alarm about a war over Taiwan in recent months. In November, Bridgewater Associates co-CIO Ray Dalio said that China and the US are "dangerously close" to a military conflict over the island. Hayman Capital Management chief Kyle Bass warned in the same month that Xi had installed a "war cabinet" that could set the stage for China invading Taiwan within the next two years. Read more: China could be gearing up to invade Taiwan now that President Xi has installed a 'war cabinet', veteran investor Kyle Bass warns Read the original article on Business Insider Police lights. Homicide investigators believe a man being treated in Lubbock for a gunshot wound was accidently shot in Midland by an accomplice during an apparent Dec. 17 home-invasion robbery that left two people dead and wounded one, according to court documents filed in Lubbock. A Lubbock judge signed a search warrant allowing authorities to obtain a DNA sample from 30-year-old Shawn Douglas Love, who is believed to be one of two men who barged into an apartment unit in Midland and shot at three people inside. Midland Police Department arrested 29-year-old Jordan Pierre Golden on Dec. 22 in connection with the deadly shootings. He was booked into the Midland County Jail on capital murder charges. His bail is set at $1 million. Jamar Yusef Jackson Jr., 25, was also identified by Midland police as a suspect in the case. The charges against the men stem from an investigation that began after Midland police responded to a shots fired call at the Ranch of Midland Apartments. As officers searched the area, a call came in about a gunshot victim, 21-year-old Deondrick Sims, being admitted to Midland Memorial Hospital. Responding officers found two people - 20-year-old Anjaya L. Saddler and 23-year-old Decamren Sims - dead inside an apartment residence. Meanwhile, Love's mother called Midland police saying she believed her son was also shot that night, the documents state. She said Love was with his girlfriend who was trying to remove a bullet from his body but he was bleeding out. Love's mother was concerned her son would die without medical treatment. However, she didn't know where her son was. At the hospital, Deondrick Sims spoke with investigators and said he, his brother Decamren and Saddler were in the apartment when someone knocked on the door. Sims said he answered the door and tried to look through the peephole but it was covered. He said he asked who was at the door and the person identified themselves as "Tim." Sims said he opened the door and the person immediately shot him. Story continues He said he turned around and felt that he was shot again in the back. He described the shooter as a black man who wore a black hoodie and a black ski mask. He said there was another person with the shooter but didn't see him but told investigators that the person sounded male. Sims said he ran to the kitchen hearing more gunshots behind him. He said he saw his brother fall to the ground and Saddler, who sat next to his brother, screamed as shots rang out. Sims said he heard one person say, "grab the [expletive]." However, he heard the other robber say, "I think you shot me." He said he believed one of the robbers accidentally shot the other one. Sims told investigators he tried carrying his brother and Saddler out of the apartment but was unable. He said he left the apartment and saw a trail of someone else's blood as he made his way to his vehicle. After speaking with Sims, an investigator learned that Love and his black Nissan Altima was found at an apartment complex in Odessa. He was taken to a hospital there and refused to tell officers how he was shot. He was later transferred to Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock for treatment. A spokesperson for the hospital on Wednesday said Love was not listed as a patient at Covenant. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Suspect in Midland double homicide accidentally shot [Source] A TikToker shared a video of their visit to an all-you-can-eat durian buffet in Singapore. According to the video from Singaporean travel guide Uncover 65 (@unconversixtyfive), the hour-long buffet at Lexus Durian King costs 38.80 Singapore dollars (approximately $29) per adult and 15 Singapore dollars (approximately $11) per child under 12. The establishment also offers free coconut water during the customers visit. With unlimited access to Mao Shan Wang for an hour, durian-lovers can eat to their hearts content. Before he begins, the host confidently states a goal of consuming 10 durians. Definitely I can eat 10 durians. Maybe 20, he exclaims in excitement. However, the man is taken aback once seeing the size of the first fruit. More from NextShark: Video of toddler diligently feeding birds with a chopstick goes viral Although the host breezes past the first 10 minutes, the fruit quickly begins to overpower him before the 20-minute mark. I always thought I could eat a lot, and Im right, he states in an attempt to encourage himself, but the next bite proves to be too much. Through much pain, the host attempts to continue his durian buffet, but gives up with 30 minutes to spare. More from NextShark: 'Do you like some peanuts?': Viral TikToker attempts to teach students 'how to speak like an American' I challenge any of you to eat 10. Any of you. If you can do it, Ill pay for you, the man says with a look of exhaustion. A long way from his goal, the host only managed to eat about two durians. Receiving over 119,000 views, TikTok users shared their take in the comments. More from NextShark: Womans TikTok video about her $31 Shein shoes deflating in the Las Vegas heat goes viral Shouldnt eat too much can cast serious digestion problem which I had to witness, one user said. Story continues Only challenge here is if they're able to keep up with the speed I'm eating, another user commented confidently. Dubbed the king of fruit and known for its pungent aroma, durian has multiple purported health benefits, including regulating blood pressure, bone health, boosting energy and aiding sleep. More from NextShark: Kanye West announces McDonalds collab with Muji designer Naoto Fukasawa after Instagram wipe However, as the first comment implies, there are consequences for excessive consumption of the sugary fruit. Some side effects include stomach discomdfort, vomiting, shortness of breath, gas and diarrhea. Last month, durian sellers saw record drops in prices, with the prices of some varieties of the fruit dropping by 50 percent. However, prices are expected to rise once more after a couple of weeks. Related stories: Western Holmes County Fire District wants a new mutual aid agreement with the Loudonville Fire Department. LOUDONVILLE The Western Holmes Fire District wants to terminate its contract with Loudonville for fire protection and emergency services to the Washington Township area in Holmes County, effective Feb. 1. A written notice indicates the district would be willing to offer a new agreement with the village based on responses over the past year. Western Holmes, which serves the communities of Lakeville, Nashville and Big Prairie and surrounding townships, is trying to lower the $21,150 annual cost for fire and emergency services it pays the village department. The issue was discussed at a Jan. 3 safety committee meeting of Village Council attended by about 30 persons, including members of both fire departments, and residents and business owners in neighboring Washington Township. Previous council meeting:Loudonville council taking care of end-of-year business as 2023 looms Pickleball fever:Village council approves pickleball court inside Loudonville Youth Building Mayor Jason VanSickle said he had been involved in negotiations with the district when the current contract was written. Loudonville Mayor Jason VanSickle The contract requires a $21,150 annual fee paid by the township for the village to provide fire and emergency services between July 1 of 2021 and June 30, 2024, increased to $23,500 from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, VanSickle said. Some wanted us to charge much more, but we approved this amount because the people receiving our services, from the portion of Washington Township near Loudonville, are our neighbors. It was the right thing to do. Western Holmes fire officials believe the cost it too high. We are not out to gain new territory, but we want to improve service, District Fire Chief Jeff Burgett said. We would like to get these costs down, to come up with a plan to make what we pay Loudonville more reasonable. Washington Township residents express concern Washington Township resident Carla Goudy responded to Burgetts comment. We just approved a new fire levy, and our property taxes are going up for it, to pay for fire service, yet you say we cant afford to pay Loudonville for fire service in our neighborhood. Im three miles from Loudonville and about eight from Lakeville. If you terminate the contract with Loudonville, my fire insurance rates surely will go up. Story continues Another speaker, who said he represented the Arrow Point Campground on Wally Road south of Loudonville, said one squad took 45 minutes to arrive at the campground last summer as the Loudonville unit was tied up on another call. "That is unacceptable, he said. Loudonville Fire Chief Dan Robinson said about 60 fire or emergency runs were made in the Washington Township area last year. Rough estimate cost of a run is $1,000, which means we provided $60,000 in services to the township, and ultimately the fire district, a far cry from the $21,150 you want to reduce. Loudonville Fire Chief Dan Robinson Further concerns were to be discussed at a 6:30 p.m. Thursday meeting of the fire district, Burgett said. Then district representatives will meet again with the council safety committee to discuss and perhaps resolve the issue at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Loudonville council chambers. Pickleball update in Loudonville At the regular council meeting, Vicky Stephenson, a member of the Loudonville Pickleball Committee, gave an update on fundraising to build new pickleball courts at the swimming pool complex. To date we have received $84,000 in contributions from individuals, organizations, businesses and through grants, Stephenson said. She also said response to court usage has been tremendous, with over 60 using the courts and learning the game this fall, and 280 signing in to use the indoor court in the youth building. On Jan. 2, she said, "we had people playing pickleball in the youth building from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., players from age 7 to 70." Estimated cost to build three new courts is $134,000, but committee member Sam Stephenson said that number may be tweaked as the group would like to build five courts instead of three, using the old basketball court at the pool complex for two more courts. If the committee can reach the $134,000 fund plateau by this spring, he said, construction could begin by late summer. Our participation keeps growing, and people playing are very congenial, Stephenson said. Its amazing how much use the courts receive. Skip Stitzlein, another committee member, noted that when the Fraternal Order of Eagles gave a $10,000 gift for naming rights for a court, one of the Eagles suggested to him that maybe we can raise more funds to put a roof on the courts. Law Director Thom Gilman said that because the village owns the property where the courts are proposed, the village will probably have to sign construction contracts for the project. However, because they are not using village money, competitive bidding requirements will probably be waived. Other Loudonville council news In other business, Councilwoman Cathy Lance was elected president, succeeding Matt Young. Councilman Tom Young voted against Lances election. Lance and Tom Young were reappointed to the firemans dependency board. Councilman Bill Huffman noted our village streets are deteriorating badly. We should call a street committee meeting soon to plan what streets will be resurfaced this summer. Administrator Garret Dewitt said he and Streets Superintendent Jarred Heffelfinger are already looking at ways we can get more bang for our buck in street construction efforts. I agree we should meet with the committee to share ideas. Gilman reported that after some legal pressure, the architect and contractor are working together to complete construction of the fire escape on the south side of the Ohio Theatre. Mayor VanSickle reported some happy news. Today I signed the final check for payment on our maintenance building, he said. Its all paid off! VanSickle also appointed 2023 council committees, as follows: finance/audit, Cathy Lance, chair, Brandon Biddinger and Tom Young; safety, Biddinger, chair, Lance and Matt Young; streets, Tom Young, chair, Hollie McCauley and Bill Huffman; planning and zoning, Huffman, chair, Tom Young and Biddinger; parks and buildings, Matt Young, chair, Lance and McCauley; and utilities, McCauley chair, Huffman and Matt Young. Next council meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 in council chambers, 156 N. Water St. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Western Holmes Fire District wants to redo contract with Loudonville The gunman who murdered 17 people at a Parkland high school nearly five years ago has spent the last nine weeks in the custody of the Florida of Corrections. Where? Thats anyones guess. In an unusually secretive move, the state has refused to disclose the location of convicted killer Nikolas Cruz, 24, who was sentenced to 34 consecutive life terms for the murders and attempted murders he committed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018. The sentencing came at the end of a highly publicized trial that ended in October with the jury failing to reach unanimous agreement on putting the defendant to death. Cruzs own lawyers said the jurys act of mercy stood in stark contrast to the defendants own actions at the school, but some family members of the victims openly wished for the gunmans fellow inmates to do what the state now cannot make Cruz pay for his crimes with his life. That is the likeliest reason the defendants whereabouts have not been disclosed. The Florida Department of Corrections is permitted under state law to withhold information that would ordinarily be disclosed if publishing the information creates a security risk. Youre talking about someone who could easily be murdered by another inmate, said Ron McAndrew, a retired Florida prison warden who is now an expert witness on the corrections system. Theyre going to do everything they can to keep him alive. Too many inmates have nothing to lose. There is another option Florida is one of many states that participate in the Interstate Prison Compact, an agreement to effectively exchange high-profile prisoners when lives might be at stake. Multiple sources say Cruz is not part of that program and that he remains in Florida. The Florida Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Twitter @rolmeda. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., speaks to reporters as he walks to the House Chamber at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., received support from a group of hard-right Republicans for House speaker on Wednesday, a day after he joined them in opposing Rep. Kevin McCarthys bid for the speakership. McCarthy has failed to secure enough votes for the speakership on six separate ballots, paralyzing the chamber at the start of a new congressional session. The California Republican lost three votes on Tuesday, marking the first time in a century that the selection of a House speaker needed more than one ballot. After 19 Republican defections on the first two votes, Donalds switched his vote against McCarthy on the third ballot. On Wednesday, Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Scott Perry, R-Pa., each nominated Donalds as an alternative to McCarthy. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., left, stands with Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., at the back of the House Chamber Wednesday after Donalds was nominated as a candidate for speaker. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) McCarthy lost three more votes for House speaker on Wednesday, extending the process to at least a seventh ballot and extending the embarrassment for Republicans. On each of those ballots, Donalds received 20 votes for speaker. "I didn't come to D.C. being interested in becoming speaker of the House," Donalds told reporters Wednesday. "But I also understand part of my responsibility is to make sure our conference gets to a point where we are doing things in an effective and constructive way." Who is Byron Donalds? Donalds, 44, has served as a U.S. representative for Florida's 19th congressional district since 2021. The father of three from Naples, Fla., succeeded the retiring incumbent, GOP Rep. Francis Rooney, defeating Democrat Cindy Banyai by more than 20 points in the 2020 election. Donalds easily defeated Banyai again in 2022 to win reelection. In January 2021, Donalds was among more than 100 Republicans who voted to object to the certification of electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania in the 2020 presidential election. (His Twitter bio reads: "Liberty-loving. Pro-Trump. Pro-2nd Amendment. Pro-life. Husband & father to 3.") Story continues Before arriving in Washington, D.C., Donalds served two terms in the Florida state Legislature, as a member of the House. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, addresses a state legislative session in Tallahassee, Fla., on May 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon) Donalds was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1978, and raised in Crown Heights by a single mother. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing from Florida State University in 2002. "Byron Donalds is a good man, raised by a single mom, who moved past adversity, became a Christian at the age of 21, and has devoted his life to advancing the cause for his family and for this country," Roy said in his nomination speech. "But there's an important reason for nominating Byron. And that is, this country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not reflect this city, this town that is badly broken." The American people, Roy added, "want a new face, new vision, new leadership, and I believe that face, vision and new leadership is Byron Donalds." When 2-year-old K.D. walked with his aunt inside the waiting area of the Maximum Security Division at Cook County Jail to visit his father, he smiled. Unlike all the other times his aunt had brought him to the jail, this time, colorful furniture, dozens of books, toys and a vivid mural adorned the space where he typically and anxiously waits until an officer escorts him to see his father, who is incarcerated and awaiting trial. Advertisement His smile was thanks to the memory of Becca Ruidl, a librarian with the Chicago Public Library who died of COVID-19 in March at age 30. Her dream was to provide a literacy space for children of the incarcerated at the jail, where many children of color tend to spend time while visiting their loved ones, said Elizabeth McChesney, Ruidls friend and former boss. On Dec. 13, an early literacy play space was inaugurated at the jailsMaximum Security Division thanks to McChesneys commitment to honor Ruidls legacy. McChesney galvanized other leaders who supported the vision to change the narrative of children experiencing trauma and providing them with learning opportunities. Advertisement When you walk into the lobby of visitation, it no longer signals hopelessness; it signals connection, and the impact of that is not just for the children, but also for the individuals who are incarcerated, said Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia, a clinical psychologist and managing director of justice initiatives at Chicago Beyond. Jones Tapia had been working with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to create more trauma-informed and family-friendly visitations at the correctional facility since 2019. So when McChesney shared Ruidls vision with Dart and Jones Tapia, every barrier fell away and it was miraculous; I think it was Beccas spirit, so many people partnered with us, McChesney said. The LaundryCares Foundation, for which McChesney serves as community partnership director, helped fund part of the project, along with donations from Ruidls friends and family. Jones Tapia and Dart were able to identify the waiting area in Cook County Jail that sees the most children throughout the year. In the jail, we have such a high concentration of children coming in that will just carry on (Ruidls) legacy, Dart said. Ruidl loved children and was especially passionate about changing the expected outcomes for kids in vulnerable situations. McChesney met Ruidl in 2016 while the two worked for the Chicago Public Library. Ruidl was manager of the Bucktown-Wicker Park branch. She ran a mobile outreach service where she would transform spaces into laundromats and held story times with her team all over Chicago. Books on a shelf in the early literacy play space inside a Cook County Jail waiting area. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) She was a rising star, McChesney said. Right before her death, Ruidl earned a second masters degree in early childhood education from the Erikson Institute. McChesney and Ruidl bonded over their efforts to change the anticipated outcomes for children of color and their desire to break down inequities and infuse places with love and learning. I know that helps to break the trauma cycle in communities experiencing high poverty and violence, McChesney said. Before she died, Ruidl shared many times with McChesney her dream of tending to the children who visited the jail. The day of her funeral, Ruidls mother asked McChesney to please keep the dream alive. Advertisement McChesney did, and now she hopes that like K.D., every child who visits benefits from that dream. The space is really about love love for Becca and her brave mom, and love for the kids and caregivers who come to visit the Maximum Security Division of Cook County Department of Corrections, McChesney said. Chicago Beyond and the Cook County sheriffs office have expanded their outreach to the children and families who visit the jail. K.D.s aunt, Yazrenique Andry, is pleased to see the changes in the lobby and is hopeful that her nephew will develop a different connection to the jail and foster a positive impact in his life as he grows older visiting his father there. Coming here is going to be memorable for him because he is going to see his father, Andry said. But now, the kid-friendly space can create a positive impact on him instead of (the children) sitting in a dry, depressing space. The boys dad is awaiting trial, so the family doesnt know how much longer he will be there. But Andry said that she and K.D. have visited every week since he was incarcerated. Advertisement Having a parent who is incarcerated can have a negative impact on young childrens lives if they dont have appropriate resources or ample support, said Jones Tapia. Children are at risk of having lower educational achievements, can experience mental distress, are at increased likelihood for substance abuse, and at risk of incarceration themselves, she said. But understanding that we can mitigate all those negative experiences by just allowing children to maintain that positive connection with their incarcerated loved one is important to change that narrative, Jones Tapia said. The educational nook, she said, will help change that narrative. And though it was Ruidls dream, the project came to life because of the commitment of so many people in the community. Lakeshore Learning, the preschool furniture company, donated items; Scholastic Publishing is supplying 50 new books each month; multiple childrens authors are donating their books to the space; and Google Kids and Families donated books so that children can choose a book to keep while visiting a detained family member. Artist Steve Musgrave created the mural that adorns the entrance. We know the impact that book ownership has on kids, and the role of early literacy programming in spaces like this, where families have a long dwell time, McChesney said. The role of play as a shield for trauma, what happens when care is given to caregivers and how that helps to reduce anxiety and stress for the whole family at this vulnerable time. Jones Tapia added that Chicago Beyond will also work to implement a more humanistic framework for family visitations at other institutions. Advertisement larodriguez@chicagotribune.com The Biden administration shut out outgoing Chinese ambassador Qin Gang for much of his more than 500-day tenure in Washington, D.C. But that all changed last week when Chinese leader Xi Jinping appointed Qin as the countrys new foreign minister, creating a headache for the administration at a time of high tension between Washington and Beijing. The problems will be front and center in the coming weeks when Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits China as the countries clash over trade, Chinese military intimidation of Taiwan and access to technology. I think that there are probably those within the administration that feel chagrined that they did not extend the courtesies [to Qin] that normally would be extended to an ambassador, said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council. Qin didnt get all of the meetings he requested with senior administration officials over the past 17 months, although the administration did relax its restrictions on Qins access in the run-up to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis controversial trip to Taiwan in August. But he returns to Beijing this week to helm Chinas foreign ministry stung by failed efforts to connect with the Biden administration. Qins promotion confirms he has Xis trust, something the president signaled in October by appointing Qin to the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee. Qin replaced Wang Yi, whom Xi appointed to lead the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission last week. Beijing will name Qins successor after completing due procedures, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. Months after arriving in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, Qin was limited to meetings with just a handful of U.S. officials, according to two people with knowledge of the interactions. That narrow access came despite repeated requests to meet with more senior administration officials, said those people, who were granted anonymity to share private conversations. Story continues The White House rejects this characterization. Senior White House officials along with senior officials from across the administration have engaged regularly with Ambassador Qin since his arrival in Washington, spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a written statement. The statement included a list of eight senior officials, including Blinken, Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who had met with Qin while he was ambassador. The Chinese embassy didnt respond to a request for comment regarding Qins access to U.S. officials during his tenure. Qin responded to the restrictions on high-level access by relying on lower-level interactions with other foreign ambassadors and state and municipal-level officials. He even hung out with the NBAs Washington Wizards. That experience may work to his advantage as foreign minister. Qins broad exposure to the United States outside the Beltway will give him an appreciation of the broader forces informing Americas foreign policy, said Ryan Hass, former director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the National Security Council. If Qin resented his treatment in Washington, his farewell messages didnt show it. He expressed sincere gratitude for the great support and assistance from all sectors of the American people in a tweet thread published on Monday. The test of Qins sincerity will be his management of Blinkenstrip to China. Our understanding is that Secretary Blinken will be traveling to Beijing in February right after the Chinese New Year, said USCBC president Allen. If Qin is still nursing a bruised ego and if the visit occurs after a promised trip to Taiwan by GOP leader Kevin McCarthy Blinken may hit a diplomatic brick wall in Beijing. Blinken has yet to release an agenda for that trip. But hell need Qins help to address a growing list of issues including counternarcotics cooperation and Chinas growing nuclear weapons arsenal. Qin has signaled such cooperation is possible. In a tweet published on Sunday, Qin thanked Blinken for constructive meetings and said he looks forward to continuing close relations with Blinken. Blinken marked Qins promotion with a tweet that confirmed the two men discussed maintaining opening lines of communication in a farewell phone conversation on Sunday. Blinken expects to continue a productive working relationship with Foreign Minister Qin in his new role, a State Department spokesperson unauthorized to speak on the record told POLITICO in a statement. Not everyone thinks that Qins ascension to foreign minister spells trouble for the U.S.-China relationship. Qin didn't get all the meetings he wanted with senior US officials in the early months of his tenure [but] I doubt there is any residual ill will that will hamper their interaction going forward, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director GMF Indo-Pacific at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. Qins history of bare-knuckled pushback of foreign criticism of China may have worked against his success in D.C. In his public debut in September 2021, he reinforced his reputation as a prickly avatar of Chinese diplomacy with a speech that excoriated U.S. wrong beliefs and cautioned against violating Beijings red line of core interests in areas including the South China Sea, Taiwan and Xinjiang. He spiked those comments with an ominous reference to Chinas nuclear weapons capability and warned of disastrous consequences if the U.S. seeks to suppress China using a Cold War playbook. Time didnt dull those sharp edges. A year later, Qin used a near-90-minute press briefing to decry perceived U.S. transgressions against Chinese sovereignty. He also expressed frustration that his best efforts to engage with the Biden administration had failed to prevent Pelosis Taiwan trip. But the structure of Chinas diplomatic corps may limit Qins influence on bilateral relations. Qin Gang is obviously still an important figure globally, but I'm not sure how important he will be to managing the U.S.-China relationship, said Zack Cooper, former assistant to the deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism at the National Security Council and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. For at least the last two years when we had to really have some serious negotiations, they tended to be between [former senior diplomat] Yang Jiechi and [national security adviser] Jake Sullivan," he said. "And I see no reason that that would change in the next two years. Qins success as foreign minister will largely depend on the degree to which the Chinese Communist Party is willing to adjust its foreign policy that includes a more bellicose military posture in the Indo-Pacific, economic coercion and high tech espionage. If Xi embraces true openness and reform, Qin Gang may enjoy his new assignment, said Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Wilson Center. If Xi does not change his spots, Qin will be the international face of an increasingly unwelcome power. Not a smart government platform. The new year began with news of enhanced government service delivery in Kenya, with the gazettement of an official digital payments platform for all government services. However, criticism has come in quick from the countrys tech sector on news of making eCitizena government portal launched in 2014 to eliminate voluminous paperwork in the access of government servicesthe official payment method for government services. Read more What is eCitizen? The platform now allows for the payment of services such as the application of national IDs, passports, driving licenses, visas, business permits, filing of taxes, transfer of property, land rent, and marriage certificates through both banking apps and mobile money. Africa leads the world in mobile money payments with the largest bulk coming from Kenya. This comes after a Dec. 16 announcement by president William Ruto that all 5,000 government services would be accessible online in the next six months. Concerned about the governments decision to make the platform official, tech experts in Kenya said through Nairobi-based public tech policy think tank Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) that the move was not well thought out. The eCitizen My Profile page has not been working and has not been resolved for years on end. There needs to be a two-factor authentication mechanism for added user security, says Ahmed Maawy, co-founder of Mombasa-based startup AAA Platforms and a member of KICTANet. According to Maawy, the platform needs better payment integration, convenience in terms of general use, accommodating both domestic and diaspora needs, and adaptability to changing user needs. Inside eCitizens broken system Most online government services in Kenya always have hitches, with citizens voicing their frustrations over server delays and unavailability of the tax returns portal and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Story continues They have also experienced these problems on the eCitizen platform, the biggest one being in 2019 when system outage locked out users. [It] seems too many issues are yet to be resolved. For example, there is lack of clarity on the convinience fee and its beneficiaries, says Grace Githaiga, CEO of KICTANet. Kenyas government websites have been vulnerable to cyber attackers in recent years, and securing the eCitizen portal has also come under scrutiny. The ministry of Lands had to issue an alert last July over illegal land searches and title deed breaches on the platform. The think tank calls for credible cyber security. Passport applicants on the system have in the past complained of being forced to pay bribes to bypass the long appointment dates available on the eCitizen platform. Barrack Otieno, a KICTANet member calls for more public participation and implementation of a governance IT model on the platform. To what extent are we engaging the end users or public on this? he asks. The issues can easily be resolved when stakeholder engagement is at the fore, boardroom conversations will only result in more litigation which is not good for anyone. Kenyans on Twitter could not help linking the move to eCitizen to the reintroduction of bank to mobile money charges. We know your game: so no one escapes the bank to Mpesa charges and other immoral charges they plan to apply. Mr McCall (@MrMcCall7) December 31, 2022 There have been disputes in court over the ownership of intellectual property on the platform, and the sharing of millions of dollars of revenue earned through the system. In 2017, Kenyas treasury denied hiring a firm that had collected over $50 million in government revenue through the portal since 2014. In 2018, the treasury, Kenyas biggest telecommunication company Safaricom, and Webmasters Kenya, the firm that developed the eCitizen portal were sued by Goldrock Capital for denying it the right to collect money raised through the platform. The tussle led to poor customer service. If well implemented, the platform could be a game changer in the access of government services in Kenya given the countrys high smartphone and internet penetration but if the status quo is maintained, it could be another Sisyphean piece of code. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. (AP) The first day of the 118th Congress ended with the House not having a speaker for the first time in 100 years after Kevin McCarthy failed to secure a majority of votes depsite multiple rounds. The impasse came as a coterie of conservatives, first 19 and then 20 members, voted against giving Mr McCarthy the gavel. In the end, the House decided to adjourn after three rounds. Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York, a member of the Squad, fumed about the affair. This is why people look at Congress and they're like 'You ain't doing s***. Y'all ain't getting s*** done.' This is unbelievable, he said, as he walked down the steps of the Capitol. Fellow progressive Democratic Representative-elect Summer Lee, who won an open seat in Pennsylvania, joined him in the anger since she did not get to be sworn in. I just wasted a good vest. Are you f***ing kidding me? she said. But if Democrats were slightly annoyed, they also seemed to enjoy watching Republicans completely crumble. Representative Ted Lieu of California and Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois brought popcorn for the vote. Conversely, Wednesday began with little chance of conservatives led by Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Chip Roy of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Lauren Boebert of Colorado changing their minds and conceding to Mr McCarthy. And the California Republican shows no signs of backing down after spending 14 years angling to become speaker. Even President Biden called the congressional calamity embarrassing. Here are five standout moments amid the mayhem of the first day of the House of Representatives. So does Maxwell Frost have a job? And can he get paid? Last year, Democrat Maxwell Frost of Florida made history when he became the youngest member in recent history elected to Congress and the first Generation Z member to be elected. On 1 January, Mr Frost tweeted a photo of his new office, saying that he will be sworn in on 3 January, before the vote for speaker happened. But Mr Frost can not assume his new position since the speaker swears in new members. As a result, he tweeted a follow-up. Story continues SIKE!!!! Mr Frost has lately tweeted about the fact that because he is technically unemployed and as a he has had to couch-surf because his application for an apartment was denied. Mr Frost later spoke with The Independent about it. Actually, someone told me that I also get paid, because I'm still I'm an employee of the house right, just not a member, Im a member-elect, he said. AOC chats with Republican who fantasised about killing her In between one of the votes, astute observers noticed that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the self-described democratic socialist, spoke with Rep Paul Gosar. The exchange was notable since in 2021, Mr Gosar tweeted a video of the anime Attack on Titan, with his head on a characters body that killed a character with her head photoshopped onto it. As a result, House Democrats voted to strip Mr Gosar from his committees and to censure him. Mr McCarthy had pledged to reinstate him on his committee assignments the moment he became speaker. But Mr Gosar voted against Mr McCarthy. Ms Ocasio-Cortez later told reporters that she shot down a rumor Mr Gosar said that he heard that Democrats would lower the threshold for a majority vote for speaker. I think that the common thread here is that neither of us wants to see Kevin McCarthy be Speaker of the House. Democrats pass the popcorn Clearly amused by the House Republican chaotic start to the new Congress, Democrats literally brought popcorn to the House floor to observe the antics. Rep Ted Lieu tweeted a photo of himself holding a bag: About to go to the House Floor. pic.twitter.com/81QVxmbHBb Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 3, 2023 As did Rep Robin Kelly, who brought a treat from her home state of Illinois: Ive got my popcorn ready. pic.twitter.com/UKmWhMabbO Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) January 3, 2023 Bored kids in the House chamber Some new members of Congress brought along family members to witness the historic day. But as the votes dragged on with little progress, some lawmakers children could be seen slumping in their chairs. Kids on House floor ... pic.twitter.com/Eqlu3TtkgC Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 3, 2023 Jim Jordan asks Republicans voting for him to isntead vote for McCarthy During the first round of votes, only six Republicans voted for Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of the cofounders of the House Freedom Caucus, even though he was not formally nominated. Conversely, 10 voted for Representative Andy Biggs, who threw his hat in the ring. But ahead of the second round of votes, Mr Jordan gave a rousing speech saying that Republicans need to unite behind Mr McCarthy, saying that the differences between him and Representative David Joyce of Ohio or moderate Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska and Mr Biggs paled in comparison to their differences with Democrats. We had better come together and fight for these key things, he said. I think Kevin McCarthys the right guy to lead us. I really do, or I wouldnt be standing up here giving up this speech. But the speech wound up backfiring since Mr Gaetz later stood up and formally nominated Mr Jordan and said his speech proved Mr Jordan is the right man for the job Jim Jordan is humble, perhaps today, humble to a fault, he said. Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House is someone who wants it so bad. Afterward, the anti-McCarthy Republicans coalesced around Mr McCarthy and he lost the second round with 19 votes. But the bad news continued for Mr McCarthy in the third round. Byron Donalds stabs McCarthy in the back Representative Byron Donalds of Florida initially voted for Mr McCarthy in the first two rounds. Then in the third round, he switched his vote to Mr Jordan. Mr Donalds told The Independent he was not sure how he would vote in the future. We'll see this is obviously this is a very fluid situation. And so you know what we're what I'm going to do what other members gonna do is, it's going to take some adjustments, obviously, because we're gonna get to a team we're gonna get to 218, were going to elect a speaker, he said. But Mr Donalds was coy when asked how the impasse could be resolved. You resolve it because it has to be resolved, he said. The Littman family spent Christmas stranded in New Jersey and missed their Royal Caribbean cruise Brittany Chang/Insider // Courtesy of Noam Littman A Wisconsin family spent months planning for a Royal Caribbean Cruise. After a series of canceled flights, they ended up stranded in New Jersey. Noam Littman told Insider that his family is now "hesitant" to plan a trip like this again. A family trying to make it to Florida to spend the holiday season on a Royal Caribbean cruise instead spent Christmas in the freezing New Jersey weather without their luggage after a series of canceled flights from Southwest and United airlines. Noam Littman, from Appleton, Wisconsin, told Insider that he and his wife Julie spent months planning a "big trip for the year" for their three sons and their two grandparents. The couple dropped around $17,000 on tickets and even arranged a surprise for their sons, waiting until they reached Florida to let them know that they would be heading out on a cruise. "We had like this elevated sense of excitement knowing that we were going to be surprising them as well," Julie told Insider. However, 24 hours before they were due to fly out of Milwaukee on Dec. 23 on Southwest Airlines, they were notified that their initial flight was canceled. The Littmans said they did not receive a reason as to why. "We just found out via a text that our flight was canceled," Noam told Insider. "Nobody said anything. And we had to try and figure out what to do. So it's been a nightmare." After Southwest rebooked and canceled their flight multiple times, the Littmans decided to play it safe and booked the only flight to Orlando, Florida, they could find out of General Mitchell International Airport a United Airlines flight. According to a flight ticket reviewed by Insider, the cost of the round-trip tickets was around $6,500 for the whole family. The Littmans said they arrived in Newark, New Jersey at 3 p.m. following the first leg of their flight. Around 6 p.m. they boarded their flight to Orlando. That's when staff announced on the plane that United had no pilots available to fly. Story continues The Littmans said they were notified via text around midnight that the flight was canceled and were offered lodging from United after inquiring, but they said they had no way to get there. Additionally, they couldn't access their luggage and were without jackets and warm clothes in the winter weather. The family told Insider they eventually found a suitable place to stay, but had to spend Christmas flying back home still without their luggage and missed their vacation. Courtesy of Noah Littman Now, the family is looking for refunds from Royal Caribbean, from whom they purchased trip insurance, and United Airlines. The family said they were able to get a refund from Southwest. Noam said that after being on hold with United for hours, the family was able to get only about $270 from United. United Airlines could not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. As to whether or not they would plan a trip like this again, Noam said that the family was now "hesitant" knowing how much could go wrong. "[United] can't control the weather, but they can control how customers are treated," Noam told Insider. "And to just send you a text if you've been waiting in the airport with kids for six hours... and then leave you completely hanging. You don't know where your luggage is. You don't know where you're going to stay, knowing that you're not you're gonna get back home. Nothing. That's ridiculous. That's completely on United." Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Across the US, hundreds of cruise ship guests have missed their departures this winter season after severe winter storms began across the country have resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights across airlines. Many say they are struggling to secure refunds for their flights. Another set of Wisconsin travelers missed their $4,000 Royal Caribbean honeymoon after Southwest canceled their flights. Read the original article on Business Insider A Florida woman was arrested Monday after she convinced a 13-year-old girl to escape from their foster home before forcing her to have sex with adults in Broward County, according to detectives. Hannah Rose Marie Ellsworth, 18, is facing charges of sex trafficking of a minor, promoting the sexual performance of a child, and four counts of lewd battery of a minor between the ages of 12 and 16, county court records show. The Okeechobee resident remained behind bars as of Tuesday afternoon after a judge ordered her to stay away from the victim and to wear a GPS monitor, WPLG Local 10 News first reported. According to her arrest report, Ellsworth, who was 17 at the time, persuaded the younger teen to run away from a foster home in Southwest Ranches on Nov. 15, 2021. Ellsworth then used several social media applications to arrange sex encounters with men in exchange for money to pay for food and shelter, the report says. Police say that in the following days, the older teen pressured the victim to have sex with herself, an older man, and one other adult. The victim was found by police on Nov. 18, 2021. Five days later, Ellsworth was also picked up by police, and investigators say her cellphone contained a video of her engaging in a sexual act with the victim. According to detectives, the video was uploaded to a social media app and appeared to have been shared. A warrant for Ellsworths arrest was issued in Broward in December 2022, and she was arrested Monday in Okeechobee, according to authorities. Human trafficking cases are often long-term investigations that require detailed and complex investigative work and techniques, a sheriffs office spokesperson told the Miami Herald. Proving that someone is being forced or coerced into labor that results in involuntary servitude, exploitation, debt bondage or slavery, takes significant care, time and effort. These cases are highly sensitive and require cooperation from victims in order to make an arrest. Story continues If you believe you may have information about a human trafficking situation: Call the toll-free, 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Text the hotline at 233733. Chat with the hotline via humantraffickinghotline.org/chat. Submit an anonymous tip at humantraffickinghotline.org/en/report-trafficking. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. A 21-year-old womans face was severely burned when another woman threw an unknown chemical at her at a New York City subway station in December, according to authorities. Then, the suspect disappeared. One month later, an arrest was made more than 800 miles south in connection with the unprovoked attack in Brooklyn. The attack left the woman with first- and second-degree burns on her face the morning of Dec. 2, the Fulton County Sheriffs Office announced Jan. 4. The U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Rodlin Gravesande in Atlanta on Jan. 3 in connection with the incident, a news release from the office shared to Facebook on Jan. 4 said. The sheriffs offices SWAT unit also helped with the arrest. Authorities said she was taken into custody without incident while visiting a home in Atlanta, according to the release. Officials did not specify whether Gravesande had an attorney as of Jan. 4. The attack happened when the 21-year-old woman was at a subway station platform at Nostrand Avenue and Winthrop Street at about 1:10 a.m., an NYPD spokesperson confirmed in a statement to McClatchy News. That was when a female suspect started an argument with the woman, according to the NYPD. When the woman walked up the stairs, she was followed and splashed by an unknown chemical substance, police said. The suspect ran away, and authorities began searching for her, according to the NYPD. Afterward, the woman, with the left side of her face badly burned, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical but stable condition, the NYPD said. The NYPD did not comment on or confirm Gravesandes arrest in Georgia in connection with the incident in the statement to McClatchy News. Gravesande is facing charges including assault with the intent to cause serious physical harm, FOX 5 reported. Accused attacker chews off 78-year-olds ear at light-rail station, Oregon cops say Man attacks jogger in local park then needs rescuing himself, Oregon officials say 79-year-old shoots and kills intruder after hes followed into home, Wisconsin cops say Newlywed, 22, killed in machete attack while working at Dollar Tree, Ohio cops say Holiday travel was nothing short of chaotic in recent days as a massive winter storm swept across the nation, forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights. But for one woman, the mayhem was made even worse after her luggage went missing and she said her Apple AirTag revealed it was not where the airline claimed. Valerie Szybala, a senior open-source intelligence analyst based in Washington, D.C., described her ordeal in a series of tweets that went viral this week. The luggage seemed to have gone missing after she arrived back in D.C., and she reported her bag missing to United Airlines on Dec. 28, according to her tweets and interview with CBS affiliate WUSA. "I'd just like everyone to know that [United Airlines] has lost track of my bag and is lying about it," she wrote on January 1. "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 went on to say that when she was messaging a United Airlines representative about the matter, they stopped responding after she "pressed them to send me the details of their lost/stolen bag policy." Screenshots of an exchange with a United representative show Szybala saying that her Apple AirTag indicates the luggage was at a residential apartment complex "for several days." "There is no commercial storage unit here that your deliver company might be using," she wrote. "...If it is still going to be delivered, then why is my luggage there?" The representative appears to respond, "Calm down you bag is at the delivery service. ... We will deliver the bag to you, don't worry." 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 Later that day, in what she called a "major update," Szybala revealed that her AirTag "and hopefully luggage" seemed to be on the move for the first time in two days. Her tracker appeared to go from the apartment complex in D.C. to a local McDonald's. It went on a similar adventure on Monday, with the AirTag indicating it moved about 16 miles outside of the city to the Bowie Town Center shopping complex in Bowie, Maryland, before returning back to the apartment. Story continues Then on Tuesday, it finally happened she got her luggage back. "After my suitcase went to the suburbs on another shopping trip and then back to the apartment complex I went to see if I could track it down," she wrote, adding that while there, she found two other empty suitcases next to a dumpster that appeared to be from United customers. One had the owner's contact info, so she emailed them. A building resident later told her they saw someone take the bags back into the building. "After creeping around the building's garage with a little posse trying to get a signal, I stepped outside for service. That's when I received this text message. It's sketchy, and it doesn't really match with what my AirTag tracking said, but I immediately called the number," she wrote. 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 The text message in question said it was from someone with DCA Couriers United, and said they were delivering her missing luggage. "I want to apologise for the inconvenience that you've had with your bag. Imma deliver it to you today," the driver texted. "The issue was that the bag was given to me under a different passenger and I delivered your in a different address and had to go back to that place and pick it up." Szybala said that person then met up with her near the building, which was miles from her home, to bring her the bag, but she added that she suspects he wasn't being truthful about the situation. It appeared that no items were missing from her luggage, which was locked, she said. She later said on Twitter that United has launched an investigation into the delivery service and that she was given 10,000 airline miles as compensation. "Investigations are ongoing, but based on what I know, no I personally do not believe it was an honest misunderstanding," Szybala told one person on Twitter. In a statement to CBS News, United Airlines said they've been in contact with Szybala about the situation and are looking into what went wrong. "We've been in touch with this customer to discuss this situation and confirm she has received her luggage. The service our baggage delivery vendor provided does not meet our standards and we are investigating what happened to lead to this service failure," United said. At least two dead in massive California storm Spotlight on artificial intelligence's ChatGPT at CES 2023 tech show House speaker deadlock continues for third day New York will be joining California in banning toxic forever chemicals from clothing, under a law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) just before the new year. The bill, passed by the state legislature in May, will amend New Yorks environmental conservation law to eliminate the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in apparel by Dec. 31, 2023. Known for their propensity to linger in the environment and in the human body, these so-called forever chemicals are linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer and a variety of other illnesses. But they have also long been used in a wide range of household items and textiles, due to their stain-resistant and waterproofing properties. Toxic PFAS chemicals have no place in our waterways, food packaging, and certainly not our everyday items of clothing, tweeted Assemblymember Patricia Fahy (D), who co-sponsored the bill with state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D). Fahy was referring to additional steps recently taken by New York to reduce the exposure of its residents to PFAS, such as a ban on their use in food packaging that went into effect on the last day of 2022. Fahy and Hoylman justified their legislations advancement by emphasizing the links between PFAS exposure and serious medical effects, according to the bills text. The presence of these compounds in textiles must be reconsidered not only due to their direct exposure properties, but also because of the further environmental contamination they could cause to state waters, the bill argues. New York follows California in enacting a ban on PFAS in apparel after Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed similar legislation into law this past September. The California bill mandates that no individual will be able to distribute, sell or offer for sale new textiles that contain PFAS beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. These moves by both California and New York toward eliminating forever chemicals from clothing have garnered widespread support from environmental activists. Story continues Many leading clothing companies have already eliminated or have committed to removing these harmful chemicals from their products, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said in a statement on Tuesday. Some such brands, according to the NRDC, include Levis, Patagonia, Gap, Jack Wolfskin, Zara and H&M. New York and Californias actions will have impacts throughout the supply chain, reducing PFAS exposures from production to disposal, the statement added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A South Carolina inmate caught with fentanyl in the York County jail after other inmates had overdosed in 2022 has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Terrell Ellis Jackson, 36, of Rock Hill, pleaded guilty Tuesday in an Alford plea to distribution of drugs and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, according to prosecutors and court records. Jackson was one of several inmates charged with drug crimes in September 2022 after drugs were found at the jail, said prosecutor Austin Smith, 16th Circuit Assistant Solicitor. Jackson had more than 120 illegal fentanyl pills when searched during the jail drug investigation, Smith said. Jackson has previous drug convictions, and was in jail at the time in 2022 after an arrest for distribution of more than 1,000 fentanyl pills, records show. Guilty plea before trial started Jackson pleaded guilty in a negotiated agreement with prosecutors to charges from both the 1000-plus pills and the jail drugs, Smith said. Prosecutors had planned to start a trial this week where Jackson could have been sentenced to life without parole if convicted. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not have to admit guilt but accepts that if the case went to trial he would likely be found guilty, according to prosecutors. For sentencing, an Alford plea is treated the same as a guilty plea, South Carolina law shows. Jail probe in 2022 The York County Sheriffs Office operates the county jail, located at the Moss Justice Center in York. Inmates who overdosed in 2022 received medical treatment but none died, sheriff officials said. It remains unclear how the drugs were brought into the jail. York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said after the investigation began that all 500-plus inmates at the jail were searched. Jackson is the first to be convicted among the inmates charged with drugs in the jail. Cases against other inmates charged with drug crimes after the investigation remain pending, according to prosecutors and court records. Story continues Fentanyl dangers Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Centers for Disease Control said an estimated 107,622 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and poisonings in 2021, with 67 percent of those deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. York County officials said in a public service video released in August that in 2021 there were 109 opioid deaths in York County, with 81 of those involving fentanyl. By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The New Zealand government said on Wednesday it would not require travellers from China to produce a negative COVID-19 test, bucking a trend that has seen a number of nations implement such measures as cases surge in China. New Zealand's COVID-19 minister, Ayesha Verrall, said in a statement that a public health risk assessment had concluded visitors from China would not contribute significantly to the number of cases in the country. "There is minimal public health risk to New Zealand," she said. A number of countries including Britain, the United States and Australia have demanded that travellers from China produce a negative COVID-19 test over concerns about the scale of the country's outbreak and scepticism over Beijing's health statistics. The move has been criticised by Chinese state-media as discrimatory. Infections in China have spiked after the country dropped its strict zero-cases policy on Dec 7, allowing the virus to spread. All international arrivals in New Zealand are asked to test if they become symptomatic and the country provides free tests at the airport. Officials will be asking some travellers from China to do voluntary tests to gather more information, which Verrall said reflected New Zealand's concern alongside that of the World Health Organization about China's lack of information sharing. New Zealand is also planning to trial testing waste water on international flights to see if this can replace targetted and voluntary testing of individuals. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Neil Fullick) Incoming House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., center, is acknowledged on the first day of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 3, 2023 in Washington. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, second from right, claps with his colleagues. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images) As many Americans returned to work Tuesday following the holiday break, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove was in Washington and joining other Democratic members of Congress waiting to see how Republicans will settle their fight over the House speakership. Its a strange moment for Casten. Starting his third term representing Illinois 6th District in the west and southwest suburbs, hes perhaps more politically secure than ever. Advertisement The 54.4% of the vote he received in winning the November general election over Republican Keith Pekau is the most hes gotten in his three general election races, with newly designed boundaries that could set him up for electoral success over the next decade. But this will be Castens first term in Congress with the GOP holding the House majority. That means Democratic goals and the environmental bills Casten in particular has tried to advance while Democrat Nancy Pelosi was speaker will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. Advertisement Casten is in for a new reality in the minority. Hes joined in Washington by Chicago-area Democrats for whom Republicans in charge will be their first taste of Congress. U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Chicago will represent the new 3rd District that stretches from the Northwest Side into the northwest suburbs, while U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson is succeeding retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in the 1st District that winds from the South Side deep into the south suburbs. Rush was first elected in 1992. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten greets supporters as he arrives to give a speech after being reelected Nov. 8, 2022, in Burr Ridge. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) While not making headway on the Democratic agenda is a problem for Casten, he told the Tribune in an interview Tuesday that whats more concerning are the types of Republican representatives who appear to be politically ascendant. I think what makes a lot of us anxious is that when we look at so many of the bipartisan bills we passed in the last term, the Republican supporters of those bills, many of them are not coming back, Casten said. The ones who are still around who do have a habit of being very bipartisan on that side they dont seem to have any political leverage with those who are aspiring to leadership positions in the Republican caucus. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. For Casten and other Democrats, that means reprioritizing what they hope to get done. I think you can find pretty robust bipartisan consensus for (research and development) funding for new technologies to address climate change, he said. And with rising seas and more extreme weather hitting deep red parts of the nation, Casten said he remains optimistic about legislation to mitigate the effects of climate change. Less likely is across-the-aisle support for legislation that would spur shifts away from coal and other industries that cause lots of carbon emissions that leads to global warming, he said. Locally, Casten said he plans to stick to what got him elected in the first place, despite the fact Pekau got over 45% of the vote districtwide after Casten blasted him last fall as a complete coward who was endorsed by a hate organization and doesnt have the dignity to say it for Pekaus support of the Awake Illinois group that opposed drag events in the suburbs that were canceled after threats and vandalism. Advertisement Ive generally found that if youre in a public office and you get through an election, I think you have an affirmative obligation to tell people what you believe in, what you stand for, what youll fight for, he said. And if you win the election, you have an obligation to carry that out. In the meantime, though, hes just waiting for the Republicans to pick a leader so the House can get to work. Its really hard, because from a process perspective there are a whole lot of things that are the speakers sole authority, he said. jebyrne@chicagotribune.com Fourteen years before the first shot was fired in the American Civil War in 1861, a house of worship was born in the Naola area of Amherst County that later became known as Corner Stone Baptist Church. Led at the time by Armistead H. Ogden, an ordained Baptist preacher from Big Island, the church was built on a half-acre in an original building that was used for 70 years before it was torn down, according to information provided by current pastor Peyton Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, a Lynchburg native who took over as the churchs pastor in April 2007, said others who held the role before him had other vocations. Im the first full-time pastor the church has had thats been fully supported, Fitzgerald said. The church celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2002. It recognizes Aug. 30, 1847, as its start date as there are no other printed records of its history, according to Fitzgerald. When looking at the history of this church, I would just say its the providence of God, Fitzgerald said in an interview about reaching the milestone. I think the Lord has just kept this church together. After the original building was torn down, a new one built in 1922 served the congregation until July 26, 1973, when it was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire, Fitzgerald said. The current church on the property on Virginia 130 a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway was built in 1974 and dedicated the following year. In January 2012, the church broke ground on its Family Life Center, a fellowship hall adjacent to the church building. Fitzgerald said the church is blessed that the building, which houses much of the congregations activities, is paid off. The churchs average weekly attendance is around 65. While many come from Amherst County, he said some also live in Buena Vista, Big Island and Appomattox. Theyre a bunch of wonderful people. Its been a pleasure to pastor this church, Fitzgerald said. I think for a small country church, weve got a bit going on. In early 2008, the church became affiliated with Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, a fellowship of hundreds of Southern Baptist churches in Virginia and other areas supportive of the national Southern Baptist Convention. In January 2021, Corner Stone moved from being a Southern Baptist church to an independent Baptist church. Pete Fields, a deacon, said he was glad when the church left the SBC and became independent a few years ago. We were basically operating as an independent Baptist church anyway, Fields said. The church experienced its highest giving year on record in 2017 with just more $147,000, according to Fitzgerald. Giving also increased from 2007 to 2021 by $53,905. Ogden, the churchs first pastor, traveled by horseback between that church and others in the area. The deed to Corner Stone was recorded in 1848 and records show the church had the name Corner Stone in 1851. We would like to think the name refers to Christ being our Corner Stone; however, there really was a rock near the church and the corner of the roads, an outline on the churchs history Fitzgerald provided to the New Era-Progress states. General Robert E. Lees mapmaker listed the churchs immediate area as Corner Stone, the outline states. The church purchased an additional 1.2 acres just east of its current property and has may use it for outdoor worship and youth activities in coming years, Fitzgerald said. Prior to joining Corner Stone, Fitzgerald served at Jordan Baptist Church in Lynchburg and was a youth pastor and associate pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Madison Heights. I think the strength of this church is wanting to remain solid in biblical doctrine, Fitzgerald said of Corner Stone. Thats the big desire, to follow the Lord as He reveals himself in Scripture. Church attendance dipped when the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily caused services to be suspended in the state from mid-March 2020 to a few months later, Fitzgeralds outline states. Small groups met in homes, social media outreach was used, Fitzgeralds messages were consistently recorded and distributed to members and posted online and special edition bulletins were made available on a weekly basis at the church and online. On Mothers Day in May 2020, the church held a drive-in service in the parking lot with just over 50 in attendance. I got to preach from the back of a pickup truck, Fitzgerald said. Also in May 2020, in-person services resumed, and while reflecting on that period Fitzgerald said the meetings at designated times shouldnt have ceased. He said he came down with COVID-19 and was very sick with it but even in view of that he would have taken precautions while keeping in-person gatherings going. A lot of churches suffered because of COVID, he said. If I had it to do over, [the church] would have never stopped meeting. The church did much to stay connected and engaged during that turbulent period, he said, and its strength is the close bond the congregation shares with each other. Its much more than just coming to hear the minister. It was tough, Fitzgerald said of the shutdown. There were people all over the place with different views. Fields said some chose to stay in their vehicles and listen to the church service through their radios as part of maintaining social distancing. Fitzgerald said the church strives to focus on world and local missions and sponsored the building of a church in Nepal. An American dollar goes a long way in Nepal, Fields said of Corner Stones financial support for that outreach. Fitzgerald said the church has a mission emphasis month in March and that giving, other resources and 25% of its overages also go to support missionary work. The ride to the church from his Madison Heights residence and the scenic views are beautiful, he said. On a few occasions church members have left a service and spotted a bear crossing the road, he added while describing its remote feel. The people that live in this area are just good down-to-earth people, Fitzgerald said. The people have a desire to learn the Bible and apply it. They are a loving and caring group of people. Im so privileged to be their pastor. A Nelson County woman died after a two-vehicle crash Monday in Colleen, police said. Elizabeth Simmons, 25, of Arrington, was a passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the wreck, which Virginia State Police said occurred at 9:32 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 29 and Virginia 655 in Colleen. A 2005 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling westbound on Virginia 655 when it crossed U.S. 29 into the path of a 2016 Chevrolet Spark traveling south on U.S. 29, state police said in a news release. Police said the Spark was unable to avoid the Malibu and the vehicles collided. The driver of the Malibu, Tracy Replogle, 37, of Amherst, and a 31-year-old male passenger, whom police did not identify in the news release, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Simmons was in the Malibu's passenger seat and died at the scene. State police said none of the three in the Malibu wore seatbelts. The driver of the Spark, Heather Provenza, 40, of Madison Heights, who wore a seatbelt, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending. , Jan 05 ( CNA ) - Japanese employees returned to work on Wednesday (Jan 4) after celebrating the first three days of 2023 by travelling and having family gatherings, as eased restrictions allowed a gradual return to normalcy following two years of muted celebrations. As offices reopened, many employees visited shrines and temples in droves across the country to pray for economic success and a prosperous year ahead. At the 1,300-year-old Kanda Myojin shrine in Chiyoda, where three major gods, including two deities of fortune and wealth, are enshrined, thousands of worshippers waited patiently in long lines to offer their prayers, bow and toss coins. Many Japanese traditionally visit a shrine or temple on the first few days of the New Year in a popular practice widely believed to bring good fortune for the rest of the year. ...continue reading Taking advantage of the vast cash pile generated by the success of its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax, US mRNA therapeutics and vaccines specialist Moderna (Nasdaq: MRNA) today announced its first out-right acquisition since its launch in 2020. Moderna revealed that it has reached an agreement to acquire Tokyo, Japan-based start-up OriCiro Genomics, a pioneer in cell-free DNA synthesis and amplification technologies, for $85 million. "With this acquisition, we obtain best-in-class tools for cell-free synthesis and amplification of plasmid DNA, a key building block in mRNA manufacturing," said Stephane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, adding: "OriCiro's technology strategically complements our manufacturing expertise and further accelerates our research and development engine. We look forward to welcoming the OriCiro team to Moderna." With a broader objective, Mr Bancel said he wants Moderna to be the best mRNA platform, and we really want to look around the world. "Moderna has demonstrated remarkable speed and ability to impact lives through their innovative platform and mRNA therapeutics. I am confident that our technology and talent will be a highly strategic fit with Moderna," said Nasir Kato Bashiruddin, chief executive of OriCiro. "We are thrilled to join forces with Moderna to realize the full power of OriCiro for the benefit of patients," added Seiji Hirasaki, president and co-founder of OriCiro. OriCiro's proprietary technologies are positioned to unlock and expedite the possibilities of advanced therapeutics and synthetic biology by providing a powerful tool to be used for research, development and manufacturing of plasmid DNA, the company noted. ...continue reading More than 43.5 million family caregivers in the United States provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or intermittent basis. Many local residents are among them. Connections Area Agency on Aging, in cooperation with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers this winter as an online educational series designed to provide tools caregivers need to take care of themselves, according to a press release from Connections AAA. The six-week class will be offered in weekly 90-minute sessions via Zoom. Two different times are available. One section of the class will be offered Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 26. The other will be held Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3 p.m. beginning Jan. 31. Caregivers who take good care of themselves will be better prepared to take good care of their loved ones, according to the press release. Participants will learn how to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate their feelings, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources. Two experienced leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help participants take the tools they choose and put them into action for their lives. The Caregiver Helpbook and handouts will be mailed. There is no cost for the program, but participants will receive an opportunity to donate. To register for the Thursday evening class, visit connectionsaaa.tiny.us/PTevening. To register for the Tuesday afternoon class, visit connectionsaaa.tiny.us/PTafternoon. Class size is limited and registration is required. For more information, contact Jan Schnack, family caregiver community engagement specialist, at Connections AAA at 800-432-9209, ext. 8116 or JSchnack@connectionsaaa.org. Connections AAA Family Caregiver Program supports people who care for their parents, spouses or others age 60 or older by providing information, resources and support. Weather Alert The following is transmitted in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy... WHAT...Air Quality Alert WHERE...Eastern Nebraska WHEN...Through Wednesday afternoon POLLUTANT...PM 2.5 particulates AIR QUALITY INDEX...Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups ADDITIONAL DETAILS... During Moderate (AQI yellow category) conditions, those who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Prescribed burning is being conducted in the region for the management of prairie and rangelands, and smoke may affect the air quality in Nebraska. Smoke levels and wind directions are monitored by Nebraska and other states to predict when impacts to the air quality may occur. Air Quality alerts for smoke are issued for affected areas by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Environment and Energy and posted on agency webpages and social media sites. By notifying the media and local health departments, alerts help citizens protect their health by informing them of days where outdoor activities should be reduced or avoided to minimize exposure to smoke. Alerts are based on data available from weather forecasts, smoke plume modeling, satellite imagery, and from air quality monitors located in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Beatrice, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff. A Uganda soldier, member of the countrys contingent of an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, has shot dead three of his colleagues, the Ugandan army said Tuesday. Spokesperson for the military Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye said the soldier woke up Monday morning and sprayed bullets at his colleagues. All four were part of the force guarding the international airport in Somalias capital, Mogadishu. We wonder if he was stressed or had a mental problem and we didnt know, Kulayigye said, adding that Ugandas army has set up a board of inquiry to find the cause of the shooting. The soldier has been arrested and will be flown back home to face the martial court, the army spokesman added. Kampala has had troops in Somali since 2017 and a contingent within the ranks of the African Union forces against al Shabab insurgents. The last such shooting involving Ugandan soldiers in Somalia occurred in May 2019 when a soldier shot dead his superior officer before killing himself, Africa News reports. Uganda launched in 2017 a national psychiatric hospital unit to help soldiers, especially those who served in Somalia, overcome trauma following a rise in cases of soldiers killing people in public places. The Catholic Church in Burkina Faso announced Tuesday the assassination of one of its priests, at Soro, northwest of the insecurity-plagued country, by unidentified armed men. The father abbot, identified as Jacques Yaro Zerbo, was killed on Dedougou-Gassan road on Monday, reported Anadolu News Agency, quoting a security source. The region where Dedougou diocese is located is reeling with insecurity caused by terrorist groups. In September the Catholic Church announced the abduction of Goubebana Marius Tao, a great seminarian, who has gone missing since September 06. The incident took place in the same region. The Boucle du Mouhoun region (in the north-west of the country) is one of the regions most affected by terrorism in Burkina Faso. In this region at least 28 civilians were killed in the night between Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31, in retaliation following a terrorist attack in the town of Nouna, capital of the province of Kossi. Authorities announced Tuesday a probe into the incident. Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas will launch their first television ads this week as they attempt to unseat Mayor Lori Lightfoot. By coming out with TV spots nearly two months ahead of the Feb. 28 election, the two candidates are attempting to define themselves for voters before their rivals can. Advertisement Vallas, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2019, is launching two TV ads. One, titled Out of Control, focuses on the high crime rate and criticizes Lightfoot for combative leadership. In the ad, Vallas vows to hold police leaders accountable and open schools after hours to give children safe alternatives to gangs and violence. Paul Vallas, a narrator says at the end. Crime and your safety is his top priority. Advertisement Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas greets a Chicago police officer during the Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 10. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) The other ad also highlights crime but notes that he is a lifelong Democrat who worked with the Daley administration as City Halls budget director. He also points to his work with the Fraternal Order of Police in recent years to help broker a deal between the union and Lightfoot. That ad seeks to counterbalance Lightfoots frequent criticism of Vallas that he has taken thousands of dollars from Republican donors some of whom also gave to her 2019 campaign and previous affiliation with the FOP. Vallas has tried to portray himself as a technocratic problem-solver who can best run the city out of the nine-candidate field. Johnsons ad, titled Better, is critically important for his campaign as he competes with bigger-name candidates like Lightfoot and U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia. The ad features a series of clips of Johnson interspersed with city shots as a narrator declares, Brandon Johnson has a plan to make Chicago safer, grow Chicago businesses and create jobs and Brandons plan will improve public schools for all of our kids. For mayor, Brandon Johnson is better for Chicago, the spot states. Johnson and Vallas are the third and fourth mayoral candidates to launch television ads this cycle. Business owner Willie Wilson was first to go on the air. Lightfoot also went on the air in November attempting to address voter concerns with the high crime rate and fatigue with her combative style of governance. The mayor has run a commercial where two men playing video games argue over whether she has a plan to deal with violent crime, an ad emphasizing that she got the city through COVID-19 and another commercial aimed at softening her image that features her mother. Lightfoot has pointed out that the crime rate is down from decadeslong highs in 2021, but the violent crime rate remains higher than when she took office in 2019. Lightfoot also announced a new commercial Wednesday assailing Garcia, whom her team asserts has a record of shady relationships and old Madigan-style politics, a reference to longtime, now-indicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. The mayors decision to attack Garcia so early reflects his status as the front-runner in the race. The Garcia campaign, meanwhile, ripped Lightfoots ad as a desperate attack. Advertisement Lori knows Chuy has consistently fought corruption, the statement said. Its why she begged for his endorsement in 2019. Johnson, for his part, has raised significant amounts of money, largely from teachers union and SEIU affiliates that have endorsed his campaign, boosting his candidacy. But he faces the dual challenge of appealing to progressive voters disillusioned with Lightfoot while campaigning against a better-known candidate, Garcia, and several other hopefuls. For her part, Lightfoot faces a challenging reelection bid but has argued that she deserves a second term after leading Chicago through a tumultuous term that included the pandemic, a teachers strike and civil unrest. The UKs international institute Chatham House revealed that Angola is the African country that has borrowed the most from China in the last 20 years, to the tune of over $40 billion. Experts in Luanda differ on the relevance or threats of these loans. While some consider that this practice is bad for the country and others say not so much, there are those who claim that the news about debts to China only reveal jealousy of the West towards the Asian giant. Financial Management university professor Eduardo Nkosi says it is normal for a country to incur debts, which is not a crime, but he warns that the problem lies in what is done with this money. The debts that Angola contracted with China were used for disposable infrastructures, such as the 11 de Novembro stadium and others that today are as they are, the Angolan roads practically no longer exist, a good part of this debt ended up in the private accounts of Angolan leaders who took it to enrich foreign economies and impoverished the Angolan economy, points out Nkosi, for whom one cannot blame the Chinese for the debt, because it is the Angolan governing system, with the MPLA at its base, that should be held responsible. The president of the Angolan Industrial Association (AIA), Jose Severino has a different opinion. For him the big problem is that this debt is not being reduced. We continue to make projects with China, we need not continue to keep this debt at such a high level and it is not good for the country, it is not good for our economy and it is not good for the national business community. The business leader calls for diversification of funding sources. Some jurists consider controversial the thesis defended by the president of the Mozambican Association of Judges, Carlos Mondlane, that the cases of terrorism in the country should be judged by military courts, arguing these courts created in the past serious transgressions to human rights. Carlos Mondlane responds that the cases of terrorism in Mozambique should be judged based on the theory of the Penal Law of the Enemy, which provides severe penalties for perpetrators, and notes that the crimes of terrorism are considered to cause greater damage to the lives and property of people, and the perpetrators do not recognize the legitimacy and discipline of the State. The presiding judge of Cabo Delgado, Antonio Matimule, defends the same idea, considering that a civilian court may be setting alleged terrorists free, due to lack of evidence. For jurist Jose Machicame, this idea is controversial, because normally military courts are created during a period of war, and in the Mozambican case, the government has never declared a state of war, despite the fact that the northern zone is being affected by insurgency. At the moment, there are no military courts in Mozambique. Senegal is keen on bolstering ties with Finland and diversifying its cooperation with the European country to make of it a great partner in the future. The low level of partnership between the two countries is the reason why we want to deepen this cooperation with Finland, which is called to become a great partner for Senegal, Senegals top diplomat Aissata Tall Sall said at a joint press conference with her Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto who was on a visit to Dakar. Since 1988, we have signed a framework agreement with Finland, which is a good partner, even if the volume of trade between our two countries remains very low, she added. We need to expand our cooperation framework to other sectors such as clean energy, oil and gas development, telephony, hydro diplomacy, trade, security in the Sahel and food sovereignty. Echoing the Senegalese Foreign Minister, Haavisto expressed Helsinkis eagerness to deepen ties with Dakar, noting that Senegal boasts an environment that is conducive to business. During the last Negev summit bringing together Arab foreign ministers with their Israeli and US peers, Moroccos foreign minister voiced hope to see the next summer held in another Sahara alluding to Moroccos southern provinces. On January 2, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the next summit would be held in Morocco and that he and Arab states recognizing Israel will hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss the meetings agenda. In March 2021, the Negev summit hosted the Emirati, Bahraini, Moroccan and Egyptian foreign ministers, along with the U.S. secretary of state. The Times of Israel reported the US was planning the meeting between Israel and the Arab countries with whom it has diplomatic ties in early 2023 as the Americans push the incoming right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint. Israel and the US want other Arab countries to join the Abraham accords, especially Saudi Arabia with whom Israel share concerns about Irans security threats. Earlier in December, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailed the Negev Summit, and added that early next year, working groups will meet to expand collaboration on key issues in the areas that weve set out for cooperation under Negev, including health, food security, tourism, regional security. But for Israeli foreign minister expanding the accords to other countries is not a matter of if but of when. He added that Israels ties with current Arab partners had yielded $2.85 billion in 2022 trade and a significant contribution to security (and) regional stability. Qingdao Sentury Tire Company is planning to build a $297 million radial tires manufacturing plant in Moroccos northern city of tangier. The new investment shows that Morocco continues to attract foreign investors due to its political stability, geostrategic position, skilled manpower, connectivity and proximity to European, Mideastern and African markets. The Tangier tire factory will have an annual output of 6 million high-performance car and light truck radial tires, said the company in a statement. The tire maker expects the construction of the project to be completed in 18 months with the output in the first year of operation reaching 3.6 million pieces. Ramp-up to full production is expected in the second year of operation, the statement added, without giving a date for the start of construction work on the project. Sentury said the project will be financed through self-raised funds and is expected to make operating income of $210 million, total profit of $51.88 million, and total investment yield of 17.48% in normal operation years. Explaining the reasons behind the investment, Sentury said the existing production capacity at its factories in Qingdao, China and Rayong, Thailand, could no longer meet the growing order needs of customers. The tire maker said it selected Morocco as its investment location, as the country offered a stable political and economic environment and an excellent geographical location in terms of proximity to Europe. Morocco is a hub connecting the three major markets of the European Union, the Middle East and Africa, the company said. Furthermore, the country provides favorable investment conditions as well as good foreign trade policies, low investment costs, and close economic and trade relations with European and American markets. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, will pay an official visit to Morocco this January 5-6, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced Wednesday. The visit will be an opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the implementation of the EU-Morocco partnership, including in the perspective of the new Mediterranean Agenda, the EEAS said. The High Representative will take stock of ongoing issues and explore specific areas where dialogue and cooperation can be further strengthened. The agenda of the top European diplomats visit includes also the exchange on regional and international issues of common interest and of particular importance in the current difficult global context, and the global impact of the war in Ukraine, EEAS said. The European High Representative will meet in Rabat on Thursday the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita, as well as economic operators and other interlocutors of the Moroccan society. The High Representative is expected in Fez on friday for a meeting with professors and students from the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, where he will make an address. The historic partnership between Morocco and the European Union has continued to develop in recent years, becoming a reference in the EUs neighborhood policy. Over the past year, Rabat and Brussels have continued to explore the limitless potential of their partnership, moving towards further integrating Morocco into the European economic biosphere, building industrial and economic resilience, creating the conditions for new industrial value chains, strengthening their shared climate ambition, and immunizing their partnership. Within a few months, no less than six members of the EU College of Commissioners have visited Morocco, each time launching concrete actions and initiatives that enrich their partnership. Mozambique, Ecuador, Japan, Malta and Switzerland received a formal welcome as non-permanent members into the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, January 3, taking the two-year seats they won unopposed in June last year. Mozambique replaced Kenya as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 1 January, having been elected in June 2023 by 192 votes. Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi has called in the past for two permanent positions for Africa in the Security Council. As the country has faced extremist violence in the oil and gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado since 2017, the fight against terrorism is high on the agenda for the Mozambican president. Since Mozambique and Switzerland marked their first-ever terms on UNs most powerful body, Mozambican Ambassador to the UN, Pedro Comissario Afonso, called it a historic date. To many countries, winning a council seat is considered a signature diplomatic accomplishment that can raise a nations global profile and afford small countries a bigger voice than they might otherwise have in the major international peace and security issues of the day. The five new comers are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway. The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates. The UNMC College of Nursing is offering a new scholarship program, the Nebraska Neighbors: UNMC Nursing Rural Advantage Scholarship, to nursing students entering the UNMC baccalaureate of science traditional or accelerated program from select neighboring states who plan to attend the colleges Scottsbluff, Kearney or Norfolk campuses. Students in these states can apply for the scholarship at specific UNMC campuses: Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota: Scottsbluff campus. South Dakota and Iowa: Norfolk campus. Kansas and Colorado: Kearney campus. The college historically has seen interest from prospective nursing students in each of these states, and the three rural campuses have room for out-of-state students. The scholarships will reduce the net cost of out-of-state tuition to at or near resident tuition rates, UNMC said in a press release. Current eligible students already have been awarded the scholarships, she added. Applications for fall 2023 now are open with an initial deadline of Feb. 1. Prospective students can find a list of available prerequisites online. Students with questions can reach the UNMC College of Nursing student services team by calling 402-559-5102 or via email. Western Nebraskas two senior state senators each won committee chairmanships as the 108th Legislature began its two-year run Wednesday. District 43 Sen. Tom Brewer, a retired U.S. Army colonel from Gordon, was unopposed for a third and last term as chairman of the Unicamerals Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. His District 47 counterpart, Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, had to work a little harder but won his first chairmanship as leader of the Rules Committee. Erdman, a farmer and former Morrill County commissioner, defeated Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh on a 33-15 vote in what might be the last time the Legislature elects its leaders by secret ballot. Like his four fellow western senators and an apparent majority of the 49 lawmakers, Erdman has pledged to support changing the bodys permanent rules to require future on-the-record votes for speaker and committee chairs. Any move in that direction which some have warned could undermine the Unicamerals 86-year tradition of official nonpartisanship was put off when senators adopted the Legislatures 2021-22 rules as their temporary rules through Jan. 20. Registered Republicans account for 32 of the Legislatures 49 members, one shy of the two-thirds majority needed to break filibusters. The other 17 senators are registered Democrats. Brewer and Erdman began their final two years before theyre term-limited by watching Chief Justice Mike Heavican swear in 26 newly elected, re-elected and appointed senators in the George W. Norris Legislative Chamber in Lincolns State Capitol. They included newly elected freshmen Sens. Brian Hardin of Gering (District 48) and Teresa Ibach of Sumner (District 44), as well as District 42 Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, who won his first full four-year term Nov. 8. Senators will begin introducing bills or constitutional amendments Thursday, a process that will last through the long 90-day 2023 sessions 10th day Jan. 18. Lawmakers standing and special committee assignments also are expected to be finalized on Day 2. Jacobson and Erdman are 3rd Congressional District members of the 12-member Committee on Committees, which makes those assignments with confirmation by the full Legislature. Senators eschewed overtly partisan challenges in choosing their leaders, electing all but three of the 18 chosen Wednesday by acclamation after they drew no official opponents. They included new Speaker John Arch of LaVista, who succeeds Attorney General-elect Mike Hilgers, and three Democrats named committee chairs. District 13 Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, six-year chairman of the Urban Affairs Committee, was promoted to lead the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Terrell McKinney, who now holds longtime Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers old District 11 seat, took Waynes place atop Urban Affairs. Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha was named Retirement Systems Committee chairman. Senators usually nominate themselves to be speaker or a committee chair. Brewer kept his personal nomination speech relatively brief, noting his 37-year Army career and two years working with wounded veterans before winning the District 43 seat in 2016. He has spent his entire time in office on the Government Committee, serving as its vice chairman for two years before winning the chairmanship in 2019. Its not one of the committees that necessarily is very easy, Brewer told senators. This year will be no different (of a year) with voter ID, the initiative petition voters approved Nov. 8. But we owe it to the people of Nebraska as the second house to hear their voice, even if it means long, long days. Erdman, who hopes to retain his seat on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, is a past vice chairman of the Rules Committee. The panel is part-time but is most active when changes to permanent rules are proposed before and early in the first of each two-year Legislatures regular annual sessions. He promised to send out senators proposed rules changes well in advance so Rules Committee members have time to digest and respond to them before theyre considered for adoption by the full Legislature. He noted the Jan. 20 expiration date of the temporary rules adopted Wednesday while also recalling the protracted rules fight in his first year that consumed much of the Legislatures floor time for the first one-third of that 90-day session. I hope it doesnt become like it did in 2017 when it took us 28 days to adopt permanent rules, Erdman said. I know it wont, because I know we can figure out how to do this efficiently and quickly. Cavanaugh, brother of Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh and son of the late U.S. Rep. John Cavanaugh, reminded senators that all of them must live with the rules they adopt. This is an extremely important job that requires fairness, he said. It requires objectivity. And it requires a commitment to the integrity of the body and the rules, irrespective of your desired outcome. The Erdman-Cavanaugh Rules Committee contest was the last of Wednesdays three multicandidate races for committee chairs. Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, whose District 38 includes McCook, unseated previous Education Committee Chairwoman Lynne Walz of Fremont on a 32-17 vote. Walz had won the job in 2021 in a narrow 25-23 second-ballot victory over then two-term Chairman Mike Groene of North Platte, Jacobsons District 42 predecessor. Three senators vied to lead the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, with a fourth Bennington Sen. Wendy DeBoer declining to join the fray after Machaela Cavanaugh nominated her from the floor in an unusual Unicameral move. Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, likewise nominated from the floor by Kearney Sen. John Lowe, won 29 first-ballot votes to prevail over Sens. Tom Brandt of Plymouth (10 votes) and Mike Moser of Columbus (8 votes). Opponents of the planned merger of two central Nebraska public power districts will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. Jan. 18 at the Phelps County Agricultural Society building. Citizens Opposed to the Merger will make a presentation and answer questions at the meeting at 1302 Second Ave. in Holdrege. The group said in a press release that it organized as a nonprofit in reaction to the separate Oct. 24 merger votes by the Holdrege-based Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and the Dawson Public Power District, based in Lexington. Centrals operating facilities include Kingsley Dam and its North Platte River facilities at Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, which supplies irrigation water to the downstream Tri-County area of Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties. Central and Dawson are proposing to form the Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District. Their application to do so is pending before the Nebraska Power Review Board. General managers of the two districts said at an Oct. 18 open house in North Platte that a merged district would have more legislative clout and save money for both Dawsons power customers and Centrals irrigation users. The opponents group said it has recruited more than 75 members and raised more than $225,000 in two months in an effort to stop the merger. Central was originally an irrigation district, and now its turning into a power district with irrigation on the side, said former state Sen. Ed Schrock, a Central irrigation customer in Phelps County. Theres no reason why this makes sense from a Tri-County water-users perspective. Citizens Opposed to the Merger filed separate lawsuits in December in Phelps County District Court and the Power Review Board. The latter Dec. 16 granted the opponents legal standing to challenge the merger, with a hearing set for Jan. 27. A separate Phelps County District Court suit by the group says Central didnt fill a board vacancy before its merger vote and didnt comply with the state open meetings law. Merger foes say Centrals irrigation users would no longer have a majority voice on the board that controls the Tri-County Projects reservoirs, canals and hydroplants from McConaughy past Johnson Lake south of Lexington. Though Central and Dawson have been discussing merger for two years, the opponents group said its members didnt know until an Oct. 12 open house in Holdrege that the merged board ultimately would have only six of 14 members from the Tri-County area. Centrals current 11-member board has eight Tri-County members: three apiece from Gosper and Kearney counties and two from Phelps County. Keith, Lincoln and Dawson counties have one board member apiece. Dawson also has an 11-member board serving its three subdivisions, which center on Lincoln, Dawson and Buffalo counties but also touch parts of Custer, Sherman, Frontier, Gosper and Phelps counties. All current board members of both districts would serve on the merged board until their terms expire. Kearney and Phelps counties would constitute Subdivisions 2 and 4 respectively, while Gosper County would be part of Subdivision 6 with Frontier County. Lincoln County would make up Subdivision 5 and Keith County Subdivision 7. Buffalo and Sherman counties would be in Subdivision 1, with Dawson and Custer counties in Subdivision 3. With Centrals irrigation counties relegated to minority status, directors living in Dawson, Buffalo, Lincoln and other counties would be deciding how much water irrigators in Phelps, Kearney and Gosper counties will be receiving and the rates they pay to receive that water, Citizens Opposed to the Merger said in its press release. That means irrigators will lose local control of water, it said, when decisions that affect the long-term water supply of the Tri-County area and what Tri-County irrigators pay for water service should be made by directors elected from the Tri-County area. Irrigators pay lower rates for Centrals water because Central historically makes money selling its hydropower, the group adds. The merged company may decide to stop passing along those savings and instead pass the savings onto its electricity users. Among other objections raised by the opponents group: Central has assets in the tens of billions of dollars, no debt and cash reserves, while Dawson has millions of dollars of bonded debt. Groundwater levels below the Tri-County area have risen over the years through canal seepage. But a merged board consisting mostly of directors elected by electric ratepayers north of the Platte River will not have the same interest to maintain the groundwater levels and keep surface water deliveries affordable. A merger isnt necessary because Central and Dawson could conclude a power purchase agreement to provide the power generation Dawson is seeking to ensure for its customers. Lindsey Schmidt and her three sons died from injuries after a 2002 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck driven by Sean Woulfe went through a stop sign at the intersection of Corning Road and Yates Avenue in unincorporated Washington Township. (Broderick Photography ) Sean Woulfe, an Orland Park man who pleaded guilty in July to five counts of reckless homicide for a 2017 car accident that killed a pregnant woman and her three children, was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison. Will County Judge Daniel Rippy said Woulfes sentence would be two years for each of the victims, including the unborn baby, but the sentences would be served concurrently. Advertisement Woulfe, 30, pleaded guilty in July to reckless homicide for causing the 2017 car accident at Corning Road and Yates Avenue in Beecher. Lindsey Schmidt, who was pregnant at the time, was driving her children to vacation Bible school when the crash occurred. Her 19-month-old son, Kaleb, was pronounced dead at the scene. Schmidts sons Weston, 4, and Owen, 6, died days later. Prosecutors said Woulfe was driving 83 to 84 mph within the seconds that led up to the crash and disregarded a stop sign. Advertisement The memorial at Yates and Corning Roads in Beecher in 2017, the site of the crash that killed Lindsey Schmidt and her three children, Kaleb, Weston and Owen. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) Woulfe, who has been in custody since July, sat during most of the sentencing hearing with his head down standing to make a statement before the judge handed down the sentence. From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry, Woulfe said. There isnt a day that goes by that I dont think about this. Woulfe said he took full responsibility for the speed he was traveling and disregarding the stop sign. Im not sure how to make it up to society and to the Schmidt family, Woulfe said. I hope they understand how terrible I feel and how sorry I am. A mistrial was declared last March after the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict. The jury was deadlocked 11 to 1 after three days of deliberations. Woulfe said in July he did not want to put Edward Schmidt, Lindsey Schmidts husband and the father of the children, through another trial, so he pleaded guilty against the advice of his attorney. Defense attorney George Lenard, who plans to appeal the sentence, argued for probation. He said Woulfe is remorseful and has been respectful to the court. He said of the thousands of defendants he has represented, no one has avoided a trial out of respect to the victims families. Advertisement Lenard said Woulfe did not have a prior criminal history, has led a law-abiding life and never intended to cause a fatal car accident. Woulfe was not on his cellphone and did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, Lenard said. Woulfe was on his way to work when the accident occurred, he said. After the accident, Woulfe asked first responders how the passengers in Schmidts vehicle were doing, showing concern, Lenard told Rippy. He is showing remorse, Lenard said. Its actual remorse. Weve seen a lot of cases where people just dont care. In this case, Mr. Woulfe cares not about himself but for the victims family. Edward Schmidt, the husband and father of the victims, settled a civil suit against Woulfe in 2018 for $300,000. The Rev. Frank Italiano, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Crete, told the court he had known Lindsey Schmidt for more than 24 years. I can truly say this world was a better place because Lindsey was in it, Italiano said. Advertisement Italiano read a statement on behalf of Lindseys mother, Tammy Riechers. What you have done to me and my family is unforgivable, the statement said. I cannot get them back. Lindsey was a loving and beautiful daughter, wife, mother and friend, Italiano read. Kaleb was a sweet boy who did not get to celebrate his second birthday. Weston was happy to attend vacation Bible school that day and Owen loved school and his friends and had a bright future. Prosecutor Adam Capelli gave Rippy an impact statement from Edward Schmidts mother, which she requested the judge to read in private. 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 > Capelli said prosecutors believe imposing a prison sentence was necessary to deter others from committing the same crime. He said Woulfes behavior was dangerous and there are reasons there are rules of the road and drivers education courses. Rippy told Woulfe he expects Woulfe to live every day of his life honoring the victims memories. Advertisement Rippy acknowledged the case was one of the most difficult hes ever heard and no words can assuage the families anguish. He said no one woke up that morning expecting the actions that unfolded and he sees people everyday speeding when they shouldnt be. Rippy said he took into consideration Woulfes lack of criminal history, but told him that it was his decision and his actions of rushing to work that caused the accident. He said although probation was an option, he believed it was appropriate for Woulfe to serve two years in the Department of Corrections. Woulfe will receive 172 days credit for time he has already served in custody. Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Visit North Platte has offered grant funding to Lincoln County nonprofit organizations for brick-and-mortar improvements and expansions each year since 2006. An intent-to-apply letter must be returned to Visit North Platte by April 3. That letter must include a grant request estimate, the total cost of the project, a brief description of the proposed project and the organizations involved in the project, Visit North Platte said in a press release. The organization has awarded more than $3.15 million in funding to local attractions and visitor services. The Improvement Fund Grant process is governed by the Nebraska Visitors Development Act. Organizations that do not submit an intent-to-apply letter by the deadline will not be eligible for submitting an application for Improvement Funds. Qualified organizations are 501(c)(3), not-for-profit or divisions of local government. Following a review of the intent-to-apply letter, the staff of Visit North Platte will schedule a meeting with potential applicants to discuss their projects and determine if they are eligible for funding under the guidelines of the Nebraska Visitors Development Act. Those who can apply for the grants will be given the full application, which is due July 31. Applicants will present their projects to the Visit North Platte Board of Directors at the August meeting. Awards will be announced within 10 business days following the August meeting. For more information, contact Lisa Burke or Amanda Connick at Visit North Platte at 101 Halligan Drive, 308-532-4729, or email lburke@visitnorthplatte.com or aconnick@visitnorthplatte.com. Image Launched Title Services Franchisor now licensed in Texas and additional states. DALLAS, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TitleEase, a title and settlement services franchise business, has announced it is now licensed as a Title Agency with the Texas Department of Insurance. "We are thrilled to announce that TitleEase is licensed in the State of Texas and can provide title services and offer title franchises in that state," said Joseph D'Urso, CEO of TitleEase. "Texas is a great market for us to be in. According to Zillow, the Texas Home Values index increased 14.6% from 2021 to 2022. Zillow is also predicting in 2023 an increase in midwestern markets (inclusive of Texas). We have received high interest for franchises in the State of Texas and are excited we can now service those individuals." In 2022, our licensing footprint has expanded exponentially. In addition to Texas, TitleEase has obtained Title Agency licenses in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. We will continue to add additional state licenses and expand our national footprint in the new year. The TitleEase branch is located in the Dallas - Ft Worth area of Texas and will serve customers both locally and nationally. TitleEase provides a simplified, streamlined and fully compliant path for mortgage originators, servicers, real estate professionals and entrepreneurs to own and operate a title agency without the burden and expense of building a platform from scratch. Franchisees own a tangible asset with its own terminal value. Find out more at www.titleeasefranchise.com. About TitleEase TitleEase LLC is a member of the Lincoln Family of Companies, which also includes Lincoln Abstract & Settlement Services. The company is a franchisor of real estate title and settlement services businesses, offering franchisees a turnkey title & closing business that is fully compliant and ready to run. TitleEase offers an innovative way for real estate-focused entrepreneurs to enter the title business quickly and efficiently while leaning on its expertise. Call TitleEase at (877) 696-5462 to learn about its franchise opportunities. For more information, visit the company online at www.titleeasefranchise.com. Story continues Contact Information: Jason Bilbruck Vice President of Business Development jbilbruck@titleeasefranchise.com 877-696-5462 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. The European Union has offered free Covid-19 vaccines to China, the EU executive said on Tuesday (local time), as infections surge in the country and global health authorities call on the country to be transparent about the toll the virus is taking. China has been criticised for spurning western-made mRNA vaccines that offer better protection in favour for Chinese-made vaccines. But despite the disease ripping through the population after the Communist Party dropped its Covid-zero policy, the government shows no signs of reversing course. Patients lie on beds in a waiting area in the emergency department of Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai. Source: Reuters China has not responded to the offer yet, a spokesperson for the European Commission told journalists at a regular briefing. He did not specify the amount of vaccines the EU was offering or their manufacturers. "In view of the Covid situation in China, (Health) Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has reached out to her Chinese counterparts to offer EU solidarity and support," he said. "This includes public health expertise as well as variant-adapted EU vaccine donations." Asked whether Beijing would accept the EU offer, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning sidestepped a direct reply, telling Reuters that China's vaccination rate and treatment capacity continued to rise and its supplies were "adequate". She said China was open to "strengthening solidarity and cooperation with the international community" to better meet its pandemic challenges, though it could "meet the demand of anyone who wants to be vaccinated". China has so far insisted on using only Chinese-made vaccines - which are of the inactivated virus type and not based on the Western mRNA technology - for its own population. A relative attends to a Covid patient at the emergency department of Suining Central Hospital in Suining, Sichuan province on NYE. Source: Reuters Chinese media downplays crisis as WHO demand data State media in China played down the severity of a surge of Covid-19 infections on Tuesday, while its scientists briefed the World Health Organisation, which has been seeking detailed information about the evolution of the virus. Story continues The global body had invited the scientists to present detailed data on viral sequencing at a technical advisory group meeting on Tuesday, and has asked China to share data on hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations. "We are willing to improve communication with the world," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. "But ... we are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the epidemic prevention and control measures for political purposes." China's foreign ministry labelled travel entry curbs imposed by some countries as "simply unreasonable", saying they "lacked scientific basis". A woman wearing a protective mask and a face shield walks along in a shopping district in Shanghai. Source: Reuters The WHO is expected to meet later this week, a spokesperson said, with the agency to have a "detailed discussion" about circulating variants in China, and globally. As the virus spreads unchecked, funeral homes have reported a spike in demand for their services and international health experts predict at least one million deaths in China this year. China reported three new Covid deaths for Monday, taking its official death toll since the pandemic began to 5,253. 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. ReportLinker The Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market size was estimated at USD 511. 23 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 551. 93 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8. 21% to reach USD 821. New York, Dec. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cosmetic Preservatives Market Research Report by Products, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337799/?utm_source=GNW 08 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 Cosmetic Preservatives to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Products, the market was studied across Natural/Organic Preservative and Synthetic/Chemical preservative. The Natural/Organic Preservative is further studied across Essential Oil, Natural Antioxidant, Organic Acid, and Plant & Herbal Extracts. The Synthetic/Chemical preservative is further studied across Alcohol, Formaldehyde Releasers, Parabens, Phenol Derivatives, and Quaternary Ammonia Compounds. Based on Application, the market was studied across Baby Products, Fragrances & Perfumes, Hair care, Skin care, and Toiletries. 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 Cosmetic Preservatives 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 Cosmetic Preservatives 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 Cosmetic Preservatives Market, including AE CHEMIE INC., Akema S.r.l., Ashland Group Holding Inc., BASF SE, Brenntag AG, Chemipol S.A., CISME ITALY S.R.L, Clariant AG, Dadia Chemical Industries, Evonik Industries AG, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., ISCA UK Ltd., Lanxess AG, SACHEM INC., Salicylates and Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Sharon Laboratories Ltd., Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp., Symrise AG, The Dow Chemical Company, and THOR GROUP LTD.. 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 Cosmetic Preservatives Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Cosmetic Preservatives Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337799/?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 Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded two grants worth $227,711 to Opelika childrens advocacy group Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services. The grants will reportedly be used to help with the non-profits efforts in both Lee County and Macon County. According to a press release put out by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the grants come through the Department of Justice. The funding is meant to help provide services including advocacy and accompaniment, emotional support and safety services, court assistance and assistance in filing compensation claims. The DoJ grants are expected to provide services to child victims of abuse, neglect and sexual assault. Twin Cedars is just one of five child advocacy non-profits across 10 Alabama counties to which Ivey has awarded grant money. Young victims deserve to have professional services and help given to them as they escape from abusive situations and begin recovery, Ivey said. I commend these agencies that work daily to help those who have been harmed and strive to prevent further abuse. Twin Cedars serves children across West Central Georgia and East Alabama. Their Opelika office began in 1991 as The Child Advocacy Center. According to Twin Cedars website, the center was created in response to the critical need for a child-friendly environment for alleged victims. Twin Cedars assumed operation of the center in 2012. They serve children in both Lee County and Macon County ages three to seventeen who have been physically or sexually abused. The money awarded to Twin Cedars is part of a much larger pool of funds worth $769,578 which Ivey is divvying out to five different nonprofit organizations across the state. The other non-profits are: Talladega County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. in Talladega County, which has been awarded $68,797. St. Clair Childrens Advocacy Center in St. Clair County, which has been awarded $62,343. Shelby County Childrens Advocacy Center Inc. in Shelby County, which has been awarded $268,623. Tri-County Childrens Advocacy Center, which does work in Chambers, Clay, Coosa, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties, has been awarded $142,104. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine On February 24, 2022, multinational companies have come under intense pressure from investors and consumers to exit operations, sell businesses or write down their investments in Russia. Shortly thereafter, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, professor at Yale Universitys School of Management, created a global list of foreign companies that trade in Russia. Sonnenfelds list assigns grades to nearly 1,400 companies, from an A for complete withdrawal to an F for what he calls digging in. His comprehensive directory has managed to become a cudgel against companies that have stubbornly held fast, and made Sonnenfeld persona non grata in Russia after being added to the countrys Stop List alongside 24 other American policymakers including Jill Biden and Mitch McConnell Source: Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute Sonnenfeld has told Bloomberg that he noticed an unusual pattern as U.S. businesses started withdrawing from Russia: the first movers actually were oil giants with complex local ties and huge sunk costs; and tech companies wary of the political complications and professional firms that hate to offend their clients rather than consumer brands sensitive to public sentiment. He says he learned that professional and tech companies responded to employee pressure to take a stand over concerns about social responsibility while oil company leaders could see starkly how their business would directly fund Putins war. Sonnenfelds advocacy has clearly borne fruit: 200 companies exited Russia less than a week after he posted the first version of his list online in early March. So far, only 6.1% of American companies have carried on with business as usual while 28.7% have completely halted operations. What About the Oil? BP has been called out for what some view as its insincerity, but research into its ties to Rosneft from a media perspective are lacking. Reports criticizing BP offer no concrete evidence to support accusations. Related: Suncor Colorado Refinery Shut Down Until March Last month, Oleg Ustenko, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, called BPs stake in Russias state-run oil giant Rosneft blood money. He even penned a letter to BP CEO Bernard Looney, accusing the company of making hundreds of millions of dollars via its stake in Rosneft. So what happened here? Just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, BP announced that it would exit its 19.75% stake in Rosneft. But that exit is still not complete, 10 months later. In Q4 2022, when Rosneft announced it would pay a 9-month dividend of what amounts to some $3.6 billion, some sources suggested that BP would net over $706 million as a result. A new report by the Moral Rating Agency (MRA), accuses BP (along with HSBC Holdings and Unilever) of having failed to properly exit Russia, using loopholes in international sanctions to continue operating there. According to BP, however, while the company is aware of Rosnefts payment of dividends, BP has not received any payments since its decision of 27 February [to exit its stake]. It has no expectations of receiving any in the future. And while BP has not managed to complete its exit from Rosneft, the company notes that it continues to actively pursue the disposal of its shareholding in Rosneft. The process is complex due to both international sanctions and Russian regulations. bp is actively engaged in marketing the asset, but its ability to sell is constrained by Russian legislation and the Russian government, who have effective approval rights on any buyer, as well as by limitations resulting from international sanctions. It was anticipated that this would be and it is proving to be a drawn-out process, BP noted in a statement on its website. The bottom line is that the damage was already done and it is no longer relevant to talk about the details of BPs exitor others. Big oil funded Putins invasion of Ukraine, of course. Oil and gas revenues earned Putins regime some $100 billion since 2014. ADVERTISEMENT Its pointless now to discuss who has pulled out and who hasnt. However, when it comes to big oilthey were the first to jump ship at the start of the invasion, when they all chimed in, in unity: This military action represents a fundamental change, BP Chair Helge Lund stated. It has led the BP board to conclude, after a thorough process, that our involvement with Rosneft, a state-owned enterprise, simply cannot continue. We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security, Ben van Beurden, Shells chief executive, said. We cannot and we will not stand by. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chinas relationship with Saudi Arabia has been improving in recent years, but the country will be eager to develop pipelines to Russia and Central Asia to diversify its energy imports. China is increasingly dependent on oil imports from the Middle East, with oil from the region accounting for over 50% of Chinas imports in the first quarter of 2022. In recent years, Chinas dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil has been increasing. With much of the world relying on China for a wide array of products, Chinas vulnerability is also a global vulnerability. Until China is able to find a way to diversify its suppliers to mitigate risk, this overreliance on Middle Eastern oil is likely to have an outsized impact on both geopolitics and oil markets. A report published in December 2021 revealed that Chinas reliance on Middle Eastern oil was increasing. China is the worlds largest oil importer, purchasing over 70 percent of its supply from abroad, having surpassed the U.S. for this title in 2017. And around half of this oil comes from the Middle East, around 47 percent in 2020, at a value of $176 billion. Saudi Arabia was the main supplier of this oil, providing around 15.9 percent of its total crude imports in 2020, at a cost of around $28.1 billion. Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE are among Chinas other Middle Eastern suppliers. China has also been circumventing sanctions on Iran to import crude from the oil-rich country. China has been trying for several years to boost its oil production to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers, as well as diversifying its energy mix by investing heavily in renewables. The state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) achieved record levels of oil and gas production earlier this year, seeing substantial profits due to high energy prices. This success follows the rollout of CNOOCs 2022 Business Strategy and Development Plan, a roadmap that outlines plans to scale up oil and gas production over the next three years, while also ramping up its investment in green energy. But despite strong results, China is producing nowhere near enough oil to meet the needs of its huge population and rapidly expanding industrial operations. In the first quarter of 2022, Chinas reliance on Middle East crude increased significantly, following a reduction of imports from Russia, Brazil, and the U.S. Middle Eastern oil imports rose by 4.8 percent to 5.6 million bpd, reaching a 53.8 percent market share in Q1. Despite low crude prices being appealing, China decreased its Russian imports earlier in the year to alleviate the risk of shipping delays due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Chinas next biggest oil-supplying region is Europe, providing over 30 percent of its supply, followed by Africa, South America, Asia Pacific, and North America. And, this month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping took a trip to Saudi Arabia for the first time in around seven years to solidify the two countries energy relationship. Xi signed a comprehensive strategic partnership during the visit, as well as meeting several other Middle Eastern leaders to discuss the future of its oil imports. This trip made it clear that China intends to maintain its close relations with Saudi Arabia to ensure its energy security. The agreement revealed plans to expand the energy partnership between the two powers, with aims to develop a hydrogen industry and advance Chinas Belt and Road Initiative in the region. China remains Saudi Arabias biggest trading partner, while Saudi is a vital supplier of oil to China. Ayham Kamel, head of Eurasia Groups Middle East and North Africa research team, explained: Energy cooperation will be at the centre of all discussions between the Saudi-Chinese leadership. He added, There is great recognition of the need to build a framework to ensure that this interdependence is accommodated politically, especially given the scope of energy transition in the West. But some worry that this heavy dependence on one region and one state power in particular could make China vulnerable, which may have a knock-on effect on the rest of the world, which depends on China for a multitude of products. Strict export quotas introduced by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have already caused the U.S. to condemn Saudi Arabias control of world oil markets. And oil production cuts could threaten Chinas supply. While Chinese leader Xi may not agree with Saudi Arabias decision to curb oil output, its heavy reliance on OPEC oil means that China must maintain good relations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to ensure the future of its oil supply. Another vulnerability for China is the way in which it retrieves its oil from the Middle East, mainly relying on oil tankers to deliver its crude due to a lack of pipeline infrastructure. Chinas actions in Taiwan have drawn opposition from several world powers. Meanwhile, its oil tankers must traverse the Indian Ocean, through the Straits of Malacca, and up the South China Sea. This means that any sanctions or blockade introduced on China-bound cargo ships could threaten Chinas energy supply. Chinas heavy reliance on the Middle East for its oil supply appears to be here to stay, with leader Xi recently traveling to Saudi Arabia to ensure the future of its partnership. However, this dependence on the region for its crude could make it vulnerable to geopolitical pressure, and beholden to OPEC for its energy security. In the long term, pipelines from Russia and Central Asia could help to counter this threat to global markets but, until then, it will continue to have an outsized impact on geopolitics. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil production capacity in restive African OPEC member Libya is expected to reach a maximum of 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2024 even if political stability prevails and clashes cease, according to a report by the African Energy Chamber. In November, Libyas crude oil production averaged 1.133 million bpd, the latest OPEC monthly report for December showed last month. The Chambers estimates, reported by The Libya Observer, were published at the beginning of this year after the Libyan Government of National Unity said it hoped the country could be able to produce 3 million bpd in two or three years. This year, Libyan oil production could reach 1.3 million bpd, after averaging 1.12 million bpd in 2022, according to the African Energy Chamber. Since the end of August 2022, Libya has been pumping close to or even above 1.2 million bpd, a level last seen before the port blockades that began in the spring of 2022. Libyas oil production recovered after the country resumed oil exports in July. The first tankers arrived in Libya to load oil for export in mid-July, ending a force majeure on key oilfields and ports that had been in place since April 2022. The force majeure severely crippled Libyas oil exports following weeks of protests and closures amid the new rift in Libyas political class over who should be governing the country. According to an overview of Africas upstream sector by the African Energy Chamber, Total and Eni are close to finalizing oil production deals with Libya, where BP is also due to begin new onshore drilling. These reassuring signs all address the other major challenge shared by Libya, Angola, and Nigeria: Lack of new projects and foreign investment. Africas oil production is expected to rise only slightly to just over 7 million bpd in 2023. A stable Libya and fresh projects could see that output grow to 7.25 million bpd by 2030, according to the African Energy Chamber. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In December, the International Energy Agency warned that Europe could face a gas shortage this year despite its successful efforts to fill up storage for winter 2022-23. Now, more voices are joining the warnings as reality sets in, and it is not a reality that one can easily brush aside. For starters, much of Europes success in keeping the lights on so far this winter has been the result of milder-than-usual weather. October and half of November were particularly warm, which made reducing gas consumption across the European Uniona mandatory directivemuch easier than it would have been otherwise. Yet the moment the weather got colder in late November, consumption jumped, so in early December, Germanys head of energy market regulations had to warn Germans to take it easy on the heating as they were not hitting the countrys gas savings target of 20 percent of total consumption. That warning gave everyone a taste of just how precarious the situation is. Storage units are full, and theres more LNG coming into European terminals all the time, thanks to the weather. Reuters John Kemp reported that the level of gas in storage in Europe at the end of December 2022 was at the second highest for that time of year for the past ten years and set to remain comfortable until the end of the heating season, according to traders. Many were quick to celebrate the end of the crisis, but those celebrations may have been premature. To begin with, winter is far from over, and there is still a considerable likelihood of much colder weather in January and February. Besides, the end of winter does not automatically mean an abundance of natural gas. Last year, European countries managed to stock up on gas in time and in abundance, in no small part thanks to the fact that Russia sent most of its regular volumes of gas during the first half of the year. Except for the cutoff of Bulgaria and Poland for their refusal to pay in rubles, gas supply from Europes then-largest supplier remained largely steady. Related: Coal Demand To Remain Robust In 2023 This helped a lot along with the record intake of U.S. liquefied natural gas. This year, however, there will be no regular Russian gas volumes. Indeed, Moscow, in the face of Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, said it is ready to resume flows along the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which, he said, remains closed for political reasons. Yet the European Union has repeatedly stated it does not want to increase its imports of Russian gas. Instead, it wants to cut them to zero eventually. And this means it will need to seriously increase its imports of LNG from not only the United States but all other suppliers with uncontracted volumes. And because these still-available volumes are not exactly unlimited, experts are beginning to warm their audience up for another difficult year. The availability of gas would be the biggest reason why the year would likely be difficult for Europe. But even if winter continues to be mild and ends mild, the gas crisis will not be over. Because LNG is more expensive than pipeline gas, and this is a fact that does not stand to change. And this fact means that even if there is enough LNG to refill Europes storagewhich is questionable, as the IEA warnedthe bill will be huge for a second year in a row. A high gas import bill is problematic for European economies, especially the ones that have a well-developed heavy industry, which tends to be also heavy gas users. The first red flags appeared last year: much of the gas consumption decline in Germany that was praised by politicians actually came from demand destruction among industrial users because of prohibitive prices. In other words, gas demand in much of Europe last year fell because it was destroyed and not so much because everyone suddenly became conscientious with their gas use. But demand destruction is not good for the economy. It means shutdowns of factories and layoffs. And this means that this year Europe will be walking a tightrope between keeping its economy going and securing its gas supply for the next heating season. It will be a risky walk. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Moving in lockstep with the Biden Administrations calls for U.S. oil and gas companies to expand production, London-based BP Plc has unveiled plans to boost spending in the American oil heartland by over 40% this year. On Wednesday, BP said it would raise onshore oil and gas investment in the U.S. from $1.7 billion in 2022 to $2.4 billion in 2023a 41% hike year-on-year. Offshore, in the Gulf of Mexico, BP said it plans to invest a total of $7 billion by 2025, compared to $10 billion in investment over the past five years. While the investment dollars will be increasing, however, BP also noted a reduction in Gulf of Mexico production plans from 400,000 boed to 350,000 boepd. In the Gulf of Mexico, BP has four deepwater production platforms, with a fifth, Argos, set to launch first production later this year as part of the oil giants Mad Dog 2 project. The 2023 production date represents a delay from original first production plans last year. Several new projects are underway, including a $1.3-billion expansion at the Atlantis field in the Gulf of Mexico, the $9-billion Mad Dog 2 development, and a major expansion at the Thunder Horse field. According to BPs US Impact Report: Investing in America released on Wednesday, the company has a larger presence in the United States than anywhere else in the world, and has invested more than $135 billion since 2005, supporting nearly a quarter million American jobs and contributing about $60 billion to the national economy in 2021. In 2021, BP produced an average of 296,000 boepd in the United States, the bulk of that in the Gulf of Mexico. BP also noted that U.S. refineries represent around 40% of the companys global refining capacity, with refining capabilities of 851,000 bpd. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Bald eagles doing their thing along the Des Plaines River will take center stage at the Forest Preserve District of Will Countys Eagle Watch on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon. (Paul Dacko) The Forest Preserve District of Will Countys annual Eagle Watch will feature many ways to celebrate a species that was once on the verge of extinction but is now thriving. The free event for people of all abilities is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 14, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W. Walnut Lane in Channahon. Advertisement One of the stars of the event will be Victor E., a bald eagle that will be part of live presentations inside Four Rivers, where there will also be opportunities to view eagles from afar through spotting scopes assisted by a bird expert, according to a news release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Raptor fans also can hike the preserves trails to see bald eagles fishing and hunting for waterfowl on the Des Plaines River. Forest Preserve staff are planning to offer a warm fire inside too, as they hope for frigid weather the day of the event. Advertisement The colder the temperatures, the more likely eagles will gather around the open river waters near Four Rivers. And when they do gather, its a wonderful sight to see these massive birds soaring around the Four Rivers area, said Jess McQuown, a Forest Preserve program coordinator. 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 > Theyre one of the few birds that can coast in the air, she said. And theyre so distinct because theyre big and theyre ferocious predators. They dive and catch fish with their feet and watching it is pretty magical. Its like watching an adventure movie. Even if the weather is warmer, Youre guaranteed to see an eagle one way or another because of the bird presentations, McQuown said. Besides Victor E. the bald eagle, those presentations will feature four owls from Hoos Woods Raptor Center, of Milton, Wisconsin. The 45-minute programs will be at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with a 20-minute meet and greet set for 12:30 p.m. There also will be 40-minute guided hikes to search for and learn about eagles at 11:50 a.m. and 12:55 and 2:20 p.m. Participants also can hike the McKinley Woods site on their own. The story of eagles will be featured during three 15-minute Talon Talks, Eagles of the World at noon, Eagle Eyes and Other Awesome Adaptations at 1 p.m. and Comeback Kid The Bald Eagles Road to Recovery at 2:30 p.m. Other activities include family crafts, an Eagle Eye Scavenger Hunt and food available for purchase from Lil Debs Mobile Eats. Bald eagles have rebounded in the lower 48 states from a low of around 400 breeding pairs in the early 1960s to an estimated 316,000, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Illinois hosts more wintering bald eagles than any other state outside of Alaska, the state Department of Natural Resources said, with an estimated 3,100 eagles wintering in 27 Illinois counties each year. The oil industry generates around 10% returns on capital employed through the cycle, Chevrons chief executive Mike Wirth told Bloomberg Television, pushing back on the persistent accusations by the Biden Administration that oil companies are profiteering from the surge in prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through the cycle, its an industry that generates 10%-ish returns on capital employed, which is I think, by the standards of many other industries, a pretty modest return, Wirth told The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations. The top executive at the U.S. supermajor also said that oil firms arent gouging consumers with gasoline prices, disagreeing with the Biden Administration and Democratic lawmakers who accused the industry of price gouging after the national average price of gasoline hit a record high in June. The oil market sets the price of oil and gasoline, not producers, Wirth said, adding, I disagree with that characterization, when commenting on the accusations of price gouging. If oil firms dont invest in increasing production and refining capacity, theyre going to pay a higher tax on their excess profits and face other restrictions, President Biden said in October. With the decline in U.S. gasoline prices in recent weeks, the rhetoric of blaming the oil industry has subsided at the expense of the Administration taking credit for the falling prices at the pump. Chevrons Wirth noted that a windfall tax on oil companies would not be beneficial for either lowering U.S. gasoline prices or encouraging more supply. Its not likely to reduce prices; in fact, it could do quite the opposite, the executive told Bloomberg Television. So normally, if you want less of something, you tend to put more taxes on it. If we want more energy production, we want more supply to bring prices down, putting taxes on energy productions probably not a good idea. Chevron believes that it needs to have a balanced approach to energy, focusing on affordability and reliability, alongside protecting the environment, Wirth said. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China is considering a partial easing of its more than two-year ban on imports of coal from Australia amid signs of improving bilateral relations, sources with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg on Wednesday. Chinas National Development and Reform Commission discussed this week the idea to allow four large Chinese coal importers to make new purchases of Australian coal this year, Bloombergs sources said, noting that such imports could resume as early as April this year. The four importers that could potentially be allowed to buy Australian coal are China Baowu Steel Group Corp, China Datang Corporation, China Huaneng Group Co, and China Energy Investment Corporation, according to Bloomberg. China enacted an unofficial ban on Australian coal in October 2020 after Australia backed a call for an international inquiry into the way China handled the initial COVID outbreak in early 2020. In recent months, China has significantly boosted its coal production, following government orders for more coal supply. Faced with power shortages in the autumn of 2021, Chinese authorities ordered an increase in domestic coal production as global coal prices soared. China has put more emphasis on energy security since the autumn of 2021. In 2022, China said it would continue to maximize the use of coal in the coming years as it caters to its energy security, despite pledges to contribute to global efforts to reduce emissions. Coal prices further jumped after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the EU ban as of August 2022 on imports of coal from Russia as part of the fifth round of EU sanctions against Moscow. The package includes a prohibition to purchase, import or transfer coal and other solid fossil fuels into the EU if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia, as from August 2022. Chinas daily coal production hit a record high in November 2022 as demand for heating jumped, beating the previous record set in September 2022. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Almost a dozen banks and asset managers have received a warning from the state of Kentucky that it could divest from them if they continue to boycott the oil and gas industry. Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball said in a press release that When companies boycott fossil fuels, they intentionally choke off the lifeblood of capital to Kentuckys signature industries. Traditional energy sources fuel our Kentucky economy, provide much needed jobs, and warm our homes. Kentucky must not allow our signature industries to be irreparably damaged based upon the ideological whims of a select few. Reuters reported that the Treasury has asked all state agencies to notify it of their holdings, both direct and indirect, in the 11 banks and financial services companies with a view to divesting from them in case the company boycotts the oil and gas industry. According to the report, JP Morgan, Citi, and BlackRock are among the companies targeted by the Kentucky Treasury. A host of U.S. states have targeted financial services majors for their ESG agenda which has effectively put them on a collision course with the oil and gas industry. Texas was the first to threaten the financial industry to pull out its money if it continues shunning oil and gas. The environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) movement has produced an opaque and perverse system in which some financial companies no longer make decisions in the best interest of their shareholders or their clients, but instead use their financial clout to push a social and political agenda shrouded in secrecy, the state comptroller, Glenn Hegar said in August. Several more states followed, prompting banks to deny any boycott of the fossil fuel industry even as they were being pressured by activist shareholders and NGOs to make ever more ambitious net-zero commitments, including through the divestment and refusal of finance for the oil and gas industry. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Oil prices crashed early on Wednesday, with Brent Crude falling below the $80 a barrel mark again, as concerns about immediate global oil demand intensified with soaring Covid cases in China and slowing economies globally. As of 8:33 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, had plummeted below $75 per barrel and traded down by 2.68% at $74.91. The international benchmark, Brent Crude, dipped below $80 and the front-month contract was down by 2.70% at $79.92. Oil prices continued on Wednesday the Tuesday rout when both benchmarks dipped by 4% and Brent plummeted the most in one day in more than three months. The recent sell-off in oil was the result of gloomy economic expectations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the state of the Chinese and global economy in the early weeks of 2023, and a strong U.S. dollar. Surging Covid cases in China and a slowdown in the Chinese economy are expected to weigh on oil demand and prices in the immediate term. The Chinese economy is off to a difficult start to 2023, Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), told the CBS program Face the Nation in an interview aired on Sunday. Chinas re-opening and the surge in infections that followed is bad news for the global economy in the short term, Georgieva said. The market is currently focused on a short-term deterioration in demand as China struggles with Covid-19, milder weather reduces demand for heating fuels, and the IMFs latest warning that one-third of the world may suffer a recession in 2023, Saxo Bank said on Wednesday. In Brent, the uptrend from early December looks challenged with a break below $81 signalling further loss of momentum, initially towards $79.65, the banks strategists said. The most imminent catalyst for the direction of oil prices will come later on Wednesday when the American Petroleum Institute (API) will report its estimates of U.S. commercial oil inventories. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia could reduce the official selling price for its flagship Arab Light crude further for Asian buyers, Reuters has reported, citing four analysts it surveyed. The discount will be for Asian purchases. Aramco already cut the price of its Arab Light for Asian buyers to the lowest in 10 months for shipments taking place this month. The price was set at a $3.25 premium to the Dubai/Oman benchmark, a cut by $2.20 per barrel from the prior months price. Now, according to the four analysts surveyed by Reuters, Aramco could cut the price of Arab Light by another $1.50 per barrel for February shipments. This would bring the premium over Dubai/Oman to just $1.75 per barrel. "The near-term market outlook is dim. More Russian barrels are expected to flow to Asia, but demand is not picking up," one of the Reuters survey respondents said. Asia has become the primary destination for Russian oil barrels amid an import embargo from the EU and import bans on Russian crude from the UK and the U.S. Yet Asia is also the biggest market for Saudi oil, although Europe is now turning to Middle Eastern producers to replace Russian barrels. Demand from Asia was expected to pick up with Chinas post-Covid reopening but these expectations may have been overly optimistic. Any pickup in demand would take a bit more than a few days in all likelihood. At the same time, there are signals such a pickup is on the cards: the first batch of fuel export quotas issued by Beijing earlier this week was almost 50 percent higher than the first batch for 2022, which suggests an uptick in crude imports. The total volume of fuels under the quota is 18.99 million tons of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The higher exports would likely be directed to the European Union where on February 5 the embargo on Russian fuels will come into effect. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Aldrick Scott fatally shot ex-girlfriend Cari Allen in the chest after she went on a date with another man, authorities allege in newly filed court documents. Scott waited an hour at Allens northwest Omaha home until Allen returned from her date, according to a Douglas County sheriffs deputy who was quoted in an affidavit. After shooting her, the deputy said, Scott took shovels from her garage to bury her body at an abandoned farm property near Topeka, Kansas. Scott, 47, appeared in court Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors filed those charges after initially charging Scott with kidnapping and being an accessory to a felony in connection with the Nov. 19 disappearance and death of Allen, who was 43. Scott is being held without bail. Allen and a man had gone on a date that night to The Good Life Bar near 180th and Pacific Streets. Later, according to an affidavit, she told a friend that the date had gone fine and there were no problems. During the date, Allen told the friend, Scott texted and called her so much that she planned to turn off her phone. The date ended about 11:30 p.m., when the man walked Allen to her car and she left. Around midnight, the man texted her to say he had arrived home. Allen texted back about five minutes later, thanking him for the drinks and the food. The man tried to contact Allen at 12:55 a.m. but got no response, the affidavit said. Allen was reported missing by her son and ex-husband about 6:15 p.m. the next day, Nov. 20, after Allen didnt respond to a client she was scheduled to work for as an in-home caregiver. Her family also had not heard from her. Allen had been driving her sons 2010 Ford Fusion because her car was in the shop. The Fusion was found in the garage of her home near 168th and Blondo Streets with the liner in the trunk missing. Allens cellphone last was linked to a cell tower near 156th Street and West Maple Road about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 20, but then was shut off, deputies learned. Investigators called Scott. He sent them photos of text messages with Allen as late as 11:35 p.m. Nov. 19. He said he was in Topeka, Kansas, when Allen disappeared. He also said he was frustrated with Allen and suspected she was on a date with someone, according to the affidavit. Detectives later found that data from Scotts cellphone placed him in Omaha that night at The Good Life Bar. The data showed he left there around 10:30 p.m. and headed toward Allens home. Scott told deputies he was dating Allen and that they were celebrating their first anniversary. Friends, however, told investigators that the two had broken up and Scott previously had shown up where Allen was a couple of times unannounced, the affidavit said. Deputies went to Topeka to set up an in-person interview with Scott. While they were briefing Topeka Police Department officers, Topekas 911 center got a call from someone who said Scott had told them he had killed his girlfriend. Investigators determined that about 3 p.m. Nov. 21, Scott contacted a former platoon mate from their time in the U.S. military and told him he had argued with Allen and said they were throwing objects. Scott then told the man that he slammed something against the wall during their argument and then made a comment about Cari being dead, according to the affidavit. The man called a friend, a sheriffs deputy in a Texas county, and then added the deputy to the call when Scott called back. The deputy was the person who called Topeka 911, according to the affidavit. Scott told the military friend that he was in a hotel in Cancun, Mexico. Flight records showed Scott flew from Houston to Cancun around noon Nov. 21, and his 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was at the Kansas City International Airport. Investigators searched the SUV and found a Sig Sauer P320 9 mm semiautomatic handgun loaded with bullets in a handgun case in the spare tire compartment. Scott was taken into custody in Belize on Dec. 6 on the kidnapping charge. According to surveillance video, Scotts vehicle was at The Good Life Bar the evening of Nov. 19 and then in Allens neighborhood about 10:30 p.m. that night. Allen didnt return home until about 11:30 p.m. Allens car then was seen leaving her home at 2:48 a.m. toward the spot where Scotts SUV was parked, then returned to Allens home at 3:04 a.m. About 20 minutes later, a person matching Scotts description was shown on video surveillance running from Allens home toward Scotts vehicle, according to the affidavit. Investigators found that GPS data on Scotts SUV showed that the vehicle was driven to an abandoned farm property south of Topeka and stayed there for 90 minutes on Nov. 20. On Dec. 21, authorities found Allens body on the farm property. According to the affidavit, it was buried in a shallow grave and wrapped in black trash bags. LINCOLN The Nebraska Legislature avoided a partisan fight Wednesday over how to elect committee chairs but couldnt get away from partisanship in their selections. In the two leadership elections pitting a Republican senator against a Democrat, the results almost exactly matched the party breakdown of state lawmakers. State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, a Republican, defeated Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont on a 32-17 vote to take over as Education Committee chairman. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, a Republican, won against Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha on a 33-15 vote to become Rules Committee chairman. Walz, who chaired the Education Committee for the past two years, said the results were right down party lines, obviously. Nebraskas officially nonpartisan Legislature has 32 GOP members and 17 Democrats. But the first session of the 108th Legislature began with little drama, after a Republican-led push to adopt public voting for leadership elections was postponed to another day. That meant the three committees with leadership contests were decided using the traditional secret ballots. Uncontested chairmanship candidates were elected by acclamation. The first day of the session began with the swearing in of 25 senators who were elected or reelected in November, along with one appointed senator, followed by Sen. John Arch of La Vista being chosen the next Speaker of the Legislature without opposition. Lawmakers temporarily adopted last years rules, which will remain in effect until permanent rules are adopted on or before Jan. 20 under a motion from Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood. There was no attempt to amend the rules, as some suspected there might be. The suspicion stems from an ongoing Republican effort to end secret ballot voting to elect legislative leadership. The effort gained momentum last year when the Nebraska First PAC, founded by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster, set its sights on making the rules change a reality. Lawmakers still have a chance to change the permanent rules, but if the effort succeeds, it would not affect legislative leadership until the 109th Legislature begins in 2025. Under Nebraskas Constitution, the state Legislature is nonpartisan. That means state lawmakers are elected and serve without regard to party affiliation and political parties are not part of the legislative structure or process. Defenders of secret ballots said the practice helps preserve that nonpartisanship by allowing senators to vote for the best person rather than being pressured to vote for the one chosen by political leaders. But using secret ballots didnt keep partisanship out of this years leadership elections. Most of the candidates seeking chairmanships were unopposed, after potential opponents counted noses and decided against running. Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who had previously said she wanted to run for the Business and Labor Committee spot, ended up dropping out. She said she made that decision because she did not want to participate in a process that has become increasingly partisan and more influenced by deal-making. Party affiliation wasnt the only issue separating the Education Committee candidates, however. Murman and Walz outlined very different views on education in their nomination speeches. Murman said the committee should work with Gov.-elect Jim Pillen to revamp school funding to provide state aid to more school districts and help property taxpayers. Pillen has called for distributing state dollars on a per-pupil basis, rather than based on educational needs and district resources. He said parents should be recognized as the foremost decision-makers in their childs upbringing, including having a choice in where their children are educated. He also called for K-12 education to hammer down on the basics including an appreciation of the God-given rights this nation has preserved for students. Walz touted her work as Education Committee chair in responding to the COVID pandemic, the teacher shortage and the school shooting at a Uvalde, Texas, grade school, including bills providing funding for teacher incentive pay and working to set up a state school safety task force. She said she had worked to build bridges with educators and other stakeholders to make sure all were on the same page about educating kids and also providing a future workforce. She promised to continue to showcase all the good our schools do for our families, communities and the state. Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who was elected chairman of the Legislatures Executive Board, said Wednesday that he thinks an attempt will be made to change the rules but doesnt believe it will be successful. Not for lack of support, he said, but because lawmakers dont have the means to cease debate and force a vote in the event that opponents filibuster the amendment. Briese previously told The World-Herald that leadership elections are one of the most important parts of each session, so lawmakers votes should be known to the public. Rod Edwards, spokesman of the Nebraska First PAC, previously estimated that as many as 31 senators may support the rules change, but that may not matter if opposing senators opt to filibuster. Unlike bills and resolutions, a rules amendment can be filibustered, but the filibuster cant be stopped by a cloture motion, according to Patrick ODonnell, former clerk of the Legislature. In 2017, ODonnell said lawmakers spent two months debating amendments to permanent rules, and the debate only stopped when the lawmakers backing the amendments abandoned their effort. Erdman, the new Rules Committee chair and one of 25 senators who signed a pledge supporting the end of secret ballot voting, said Wednesday that he hopes this session wont see a repeat of 2017. He said the committee will start looking at proposed rules changes on Friday. We can figure out how to (adopt permanent rules) efficiently and quickly, he said. Photos: Omaha World-Herald best photos of 2022 BLOOMINGTON Ken Kesey wrote in the 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest that when you lose your laugh, you lose your footing. The chaos of modern life can be enough to drive many crazy and extinguish their spark. But through the creative process, we can learn to laugh at what hurts us the most. That theme is deeply entrenched in a new multi-genre album by 24-year-old Noah Renken-Kapatos, set for a Jan. 6 release on Bandcamp. The guitarist of Bloomington-Normal indie rock band Great Value Jesus said he solely wrote and performed 15 of the 19 tracks on his first solo album, with GVJ drummer Nick Saathoff contributing to the remaining songs. He also noted drum tracks were recorded at the Illinois State University Center for the Visual Arts Audio Lab, which he uses as a creative technologies major. Renken-Kapatos told me over email that the concept of the new album is about coming to terms with family trauma, heartbreak, love, friendship and good times. He wrote that the underlying pain he takes on in his latest music builds a self-reflective statement on what it means to grow up as weird or alternative. It rides a balance of sharing vulnerable art while using comedy as a vessel to come to terms with life, Renken-Kapatos continued. The albums title, Big Things Coming Soon, is a common term in the music community, he said, found on the social media pages of small bands that break up shortly after uniting. Intro track Slacker Song came out Nov. 11 as a single, which Renken-Kapatos is reminiscent of punk rock song and theme of the "Jackass" TV and movie series Corona by The Minutemen. Its the true embodiment of a slacker life, he said, with a dash of optimism for the future. The chorus ends, Ill get back one of these days. Baked ambition In a pre-release interview, Renken-Kapatos said "BTCS" is his most ambitious project, weaving together songs of several genres into one story and spanning rock, classic, jazz, acoustic folk and hip-hop. He lined up trip-hop tracks like Chillin and Now We Cookin,' with the latter recounting getting bad seats and pesky concert neighbors at an Alt J show in Chicago. He said his biggest challenge with this record was stepping out of his traditional element of guitar-based songs, and trying not to veer off too far into one particular genre. I forced myself to be more confident in my piano playing and in my samplings chops, Renken-Kapatos said, later adding he pushed his voice to do more as well. In Reflections from the Back of a Train, he played keys and sang about knowing the pain of two homes between BloNo and Lincoln, referring to his absentee biological father. He invoked family trauma again in Trippy Tiptoe Tango. Layering over psychedelic guitar riffs, he quoted his "bully" stepdad telling Renken-Kapatos mother: Look me in the eyes, tell me you love me more. Love me more than your only son. That tracks title, he wrote, helps symbolize the waltz of rhythm and instrumentation as an act of walking on eggshells. His humor also stands out in the form of tongue-in-cheek self-deprecation, he said, with track titles like Overconfident Cis Man Tumbles to His Demise, immediately followed by A Guy with Daddy Issues. He said the former song resolves stress from oversharing about vulnerabilities, and returns to a more relaxed, foolish vibe. In addition to A Guy with Daddy Issues, Renken-Kapatos delivers four other strongly composed tracks with acoustic folk elements. Theres Perpetual Motion Machine, representing his will to keep living; lyrics that chant winds for a wicked man in song Time; fighting hard for his inner child in The World May Change for Free, and the aptly-named I Will Forever Love My Cat. Digital dependence Apart from playing acoustic and electric guitars, plus electric bass guitar, Renken-Kapatos said he mixed tracks and created drum beats using the Logic Pro computer program. For track This Is a Computer, he said he sampled public domain clips from a 1972 broadcast of a CBS News program. Displaying a reporters shocked reaction to technological advancements, the dialogue poses the question to listeners: Do we become a computer-dependent society? Renken-Kapatos said its influenced by Radioheads song Idioteque from the 2000 album Kid A. He also shared mixed feelings on using artificial intelligence to create both visual and audible arts. Having listening to an AI-generated song crafted in the style of The Beatles, he said it can be scarily accurate. Renken-Kapatos said people are fond of an artist's struggle, because you can feel their actual struggle in their work. However, AI-made art loses that human aspect. Renken-Kapatos said while he personally doesnt like those new tools, he noted how new technology like cameras werent accepted at first in the art world. Twenty years from now, he said, AI may take us over. For now, the student-musician is reminding himself that its just a tool to learn from. TUNE IN Noah Renken-Kapatos is releasing his new solo album "Big Things Coming Soon" on Friday under the artist pages for his three-piece band Great Value Jesus. You can hear the album on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp. Lyrics to 60 famously misunderstood songs, explained 60 famously misheard songs 'Tiny Dancer' by Elton John 'We Built This City' by Starship 'Drift Away' by Uncle Kracker 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen 'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mix-A-Lot 'Message in a Bottle' by The Police 'Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In' by Fifth Dimension 'Waterfalls' by TLC 'Smells like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana 'We Will Rock You' by Queen 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles 'I'm a Believer' by The Monkees 'Blinded by the Light' by Bruce Springsteen 'Bad Moon Rising' by Creedence Clearwater Revival 'Like a Virgin' by Madonna 'It's Gonna Be Me' by NSYNC 'Cups (When I'm Gone)' by Anna Kendrick/Pitch Perfect 'Work It' by Missy Elliott 'We Didn't Start the Fire' by Billy Joel 'Forget You' by CeeLo Green 'Desperado' by The Eagles 'Blurred Lines' by Robin Thicke 'Big Yellow Taxi' by Joni Mitchell 'Our Lips are Sealed' by The Go-Gos 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' by The Eurythmics 'Dancing Queen' by ABBA 'Papa Don't Preach' by Madonna 'Purple Haze' by Jimi Hendrix 'The Sidewinder Sleep Tonite' by R.E.M. 'Like a G6' by Far East Movement 'Two Tickets to Paradise' by Eddie Money 'Summertime Sadness' by Lana del Rey 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (In the Garden of Eden)' by Iron Butterfly 'Addicted to Love' by Robert Palmer 'Take a Chance on Me' by ABBA 'SexyBack' by Justin Timberlake 'Vertigo' by U2 'Blowin' in the Wind' by Bob Dylan 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel 'Paradise City' by Guns N' Roses 'Shake It Off' by Taylor Swift 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds' by The Beatles 'Chasing Pavements' by Adele 'I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce 'Little Talks' by Of Monsters and Men 'La Isla Bonita' by Madonna 'Livin' on a Prayer' by Bon Jovi 'You Sexy Thing' by Hot Chocolate 'We Are Family' by Sister Sledge 'You're the One That I Want' by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John 'Gettin' Jiggy Wit It' by Will Smith 'The Final Countdown' by Europe 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' by AC/DC 'Rio' by Duran Duran 'Don't Bring Me Down' by Electric Light Orchestra 'Rock and Roll All Nite' by Kiss 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington man was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for two cases of aggravated battery. Leon A. Thomas, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, involving two separate instances. Thomas' attorney, John Heiderscheidt, asked Judge William Workman for probation or for a recommendation to the Illinois Impact Incarceration Program. IIP, for which Thomas is eligible, is a rehabilitative program in which people with felony convictions attend a program, generally six to nine months, while in custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. If the inmates successfully complete the program, they are released with time served and have a mandatory supervised release. If they fail, they have to serve the entirety of their sentence. The first incident for which Thomas was sentenced occurred in August 2020, when Thomas was pulled over for DUI. While being put into a police vehicle, Thomas kicked a police officer in the head, the prosecutor said. The second incident took place in February 2021, when Thomas was apprehended after sneaking up on a pedestrian and hitting them with a metal object, according to the prosecutor. Workman, noting that Thomas has several misdemeanor violations and a felony conviction from 2013, sentenced Thomas to four years for each felony, with time served to be applied. However, giving the mitigating circumstances surrounding Thomas' family life at the time and considering character witness testimony, Workman did recommend Thomas for the IIP. Heiderscheidt called witnesses to testify to Thomas' character growth and community impact since the incidents occurred. The witnesses testified that, around the time of both incidents, two of Thomas' children died in infancy. They said this caused great mental and emotional stress for Thomas. They testified that since the battery incidents, Thomas has held steady work, bought his partner and four children a mobile home, and volunteers to help the needy. In allocution, Thomas told Workman that he accepted responsibility for his actions. He said he wanted to "show myself, my kids ... that changes can be made." "I've changed," he said, "I've done everything I can do." When Thomas finished, he thanked Workman for allowing him to speak. After Workman recommended IIP, Thomas thanked him again. Workman noted, however, that this was only a recommendation. He said IDOC ultimately decides who is placed in IIP. After sentencing, Heiderscheidt said, "I'm very pleased for Mr. Thomas that the judge was willing to recommend Impact Incarceration." He said, "We're hoping for the best for Mr. Thomas." 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 Park Ridge Mayor Marty Maloney opened 2022 with the hope that Park Ridge residents would remember to be more neighborly to others. Sitting in his office and reflecting on that hope 12 months later, Maloney said he thought hed seen it fulfilled, though one can argue these are still some fairly interesting times. Advertisement But to Maloneys eyes, the pandemic feels further away, evidenced by the return of beloved community events like the Taste of Park Ridge and concerts in the park. I think that helped to make people treat each other a little bit more kindly, he said. Advertisement Now Maloney is looking ahead to a packed 2023 in Park Ridge as the city faces an election year, a new era for the Pickwick Theatre, a possible change in venue for the farmers market, significant upgrades to city service centers and the arrival of new businesses in town. Cannabis, safety Two of those businesses will be recreational cannabis dispensaries. The year 2022 saw the city approve two operators for two locations on Higgins Road after significant discussion and some pushback from residents living near one of the locations, at the old VFW building. I try to drive by there as often as I can to look for progress, Maloney said. I would anticipate that we will see both of them open in this coming year. For residents who expressed fears about crime, traffic and other negative changes the dispensaries might bring, Maloney said hes spoken with both companies who will be running the dispensaries and is satisfied with their commitment to being neighbors with Park Ridge residents. I think the city will be vigilant monitoring for any of the downsides and I feel very confident that they understand that the way these businesses function is extremely important, he said. Discussions about crime inflected many conversations beyond the dispensary debates in Park Ridge this year, from potential city action to curb misbehaving youth in Uptown to whether Park Ridge should sign onto a regional conference resolution urging higher levels of government to place some restrictions on assault rifles. That narrative of Park Ridge is changing, crimes out of control got legs during the campaign season, he said, adding that he would politely argue with someone who expressed such a stance to him. That said, Maloney added, 2023 will see the city making steps and technology improvements to help police in Park Ridge do their jobs. Hes also looking forward to the first phase of the citys renovation work at Fire Station 35, originally built in 1969 and now due for a series of major upgrades over 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Real estate, Pickwick Another focus for Park Ridge in 2023 will be implementing the states new affordable housing law that mandates all municipalities to have 10% or more of its housing stock be affordable. Maloney said in Park Ridge, planning to meet those benchmarks would come alongside the citys refresh to its comprehensive plan, which he said he hopes to have all wrapped up within this year. We want to meet the metrics that the state has set out, not just meet but exceed [them], he said. When there is a mix of housing it makes for a healthy community. Another development conversation that exploded in Park Ridge toward the end of the year was the news that the Pickwick Theatre would close. While co-owners Dino Vlahakis and Dave Loomos said they plan to keep the building itself, which is protected as a Park Ridge landmark, the idea that movies would no longer show in its 900-seat auditorium sent shock waves through nearby suburbs and Chicago neighborhoods. Maloney and other city officials have met with Loomos and Vlahakis to discuss a potential role for the city in the future of the Pickwick Theatre, but Maloney said the city is most likely to take a supervisory or assisting role in a transition if it takes any at all. I think the city is poised to help if we need to, if were called upon to help, he said. But again, Dinos got to figure out whats best for him, for that location, for his family. Advertisement The Pickwick isnt the only community institution that could see some changes in 2023, Maloney noted. The city farmers market is evaluating whether and when to move from its Prairie Avenue location to a city-owned location following the sale of some of the land to a private equity real estate firm named Reign Capital. Some of the land is still owned by telecommunications giant AT&T, and Maloney said hopefully we can still get a few more years out of [the current location]. The farmers market was one unexpected twist of 2023, Maloney said. Another unforeseen event was the Highland Park shooting on July 4. Beyond the tragedy itself, Maloney said he hadnt anticipated having a full-scale conversation with city council members and residents about gun control, but had found himself doing exactly that at the final few meetings of the year as aldermen debated whether the city should sign onto a resolution calling for more restrictive gun regulations in Springfield and Washington, D.C. The city council that debated that decision could be a very different city council a few months from now, Maloney observed. Two seats are certain to turn over as Ald. Gail Wilkening and Ald. Charlie Melidosian step down, and newly-appointed Ald. Mwende Lefler has a challenger for her seat in the 7th Ward. (Ald. John Moran is running uncontested for reelection.) Advertisement Maloney said he has served with Wilkening for forever and a day and would miss both her and Melidosian on council, but I think new members of council will be positive. NORMAL An Illinois State University professor has received a $1.6 million grant to fund his research laboratory studying cells. Martin Engelke, assistant professor of cell physiology, leads a lab looking at transport processes in cells. The lab is largely focused on cilia, small antenna-like structures on cells, and Kinesin-2, a protein that is essential to cilia functioning. The lab provides students, including undergraduates, with opportunities to get involved in the research. "If understood, these insights can potentially inform the development of treatment strategies to alleviate or even cure human diseases caused by malfunctioning transport in cilia," Engelke said in a university press release. Engelke received the $1.6 million grant, to cover five years, through the National Institutes of Health's Maximizing Investigators' Research Award. The program expands on the National Institute of General Medical Sciences funding. The additional money provides more stability to help encourage productivity, the program's website said. "I am grateful to NIGMS for considering laboratories at universities with comparatively smaller research programs, like ISU, for MIRA awards. This flexible and longer-term funding allows investigators to unfold their creativity and true passions," Engelke said. States with the most UFO sightings States with the most UFO sightings #51. Washington D.C. #50. Texas #49. Louisiana #48. Mississippi #47. Georgia #46. Alabama #45. New York #44. Maryland #43. New Jersey #42. Virginia #41. Illinois #40. Tennessee #39. Michigan #38. Nebraska #37. Ohio #36. North Carolina #35. Pennsylvania #34. Kentucky #33. Oklahoma #32. Massachusetts #31. North Dakota #30. Minnesota #29. Iowa #28. Kansas #27. Indiana #26. Florida #25. Wisconsin #24. California #23. Arkansas #22. Delaware #21. South Dakota #20. Missouri #19. South Carolina #18. West Virginia #17. Hawaii #16. Utah #15. Rhode Island #14. Connecticut #13. Colorado #12. Nevada #11. Wyoming #10. Arizona #9. New Mexico #8. Idaho #7. Maine #6. New Hampshire #5. Oregon #4. Vermont #3. Alaska #2. Montana #1. Washington UPDATE 6 P.M. A tornado warning is in effect until 6:30 p.m. for northeastern Macon County. The National Weather Service at Lincoln said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Decatur, moving northeast at 25 mph. A tornado warning was also in effect until 6:30 p.m. for southwestern Ford County. UPDATE 5:30 P.M. Tornado warnings affecting parts of Central Illinois had expired by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. A strong thunderstorm was expected to affect parts of central McLean County through 5:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service at Lincoln. Expected hazards included winds over 40 mph and penny-sized hail. Between 4:25 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., the weather service issued tornado warnings for parts of several counties, including Macon, Logan and DeWitt, in rapid succession. UPDATE 5:10 P.M. The National Weather Service said a tornado warning remains in effect until 5:30 p.m. for west central Macon County. At 5:08 p.m., a tornado was located near Harristown, or 9 miles west of Decatur, moving northeast at 30 miles per hour. UPDATE 5 P.M. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for north central Christian County and southwestern Macon County until 5:30 p.m. The weather service said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Mount Auburn, for 15 miles north of Taylorville, at 4:53 p.m. It was moving northeast at 30 miles per hour. Additionally, a tornado warning is in effect for northeastern DeWitt County until 5:15 p.m. UPDATE 4:52 P.M. The National Weather Service at Lincoln has issued a tornado warning for: central DeWitt County until 5:15 p.m. southeastern Logan County until 5:15 p.m. north central Christian County until 5 p.m. The weather service said a confirmed tornado was located over rural parts of southern Logan County at 4:40 p.m. A tornado was also located over Maroa, or near Clinton, at 4:39 p.m. UPDATE 4:45 P.M. A confirmed tornado was located at 4:23 p.m. over mainly rural areas of northern Macon County, according to the National Weather Service. A tornado warning remained in effect until 4:45 p.m. for parts of Macon and DeWitt counties. Additionally, a tornado warning was issued at 4:26 p.m. for northwestern Christian and east central Sangamon counties. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Edinburg, moving northeast at 25 miles per hour. The warning was in effect until 5 p.m. ORIGINAL STORY 4:25 p.m. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a tornado warning for southeastern Logan County, southwestern DeWitt County and northwestern Macon County. The warning is in effect until 4:45 p.m., the agency said. The weather service said a confirmed tornado was located near Latham, moving northeast at 30 mph, at 4:09 p.m. Hazards include a damaging tornado and quarter-size hail. The weather service advised residents to take cover immediately. Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Todays top pics: Killing of four University of Idaho students and more While the House Jan. 6 committee is to be commended for its exhaustive investigation, its meticulous presentation, and especially the fact that the most devastating testimony against the insurrectionists was coughed up by Trump administration insiders and their Republican poodles, much of what is concluded in its final report was plainly evident as night fell on Washington, D.C. From in and around the White House, a truth-averse man who could not accept defeat, either then nor now, summoned his most violent supporters to the city, enraged them at a midday rally, told them to fight like hell, and sent them to the U.S. Capitol to stop by any means necessary, including hanging the vice president, the Constitutional counting of electoral votes that is the essence of American democracy and that man was the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. It all happened in broad daylight on live national television. It happened despite the pleadings of the presidents own family and his most dogged loyalists to stop the violence, including the frantic texts of Donald Trump Jr., who couldnt reach his own father except through Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Trump Jr. told the committee he couldnt remember how he came to be a featured speaker at the Jan. 6 pre-attack pep rally, according to CNN, nor could he remember that something called Turning Point Action paid him and his wife $30,000 each for talking to crowd (his fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, asked for $60,000 to do three minutes). Imagine for yourself the kind of life where you cant remember exactly where or when you picked up $30,000 or $60,000 and considered it sort of paid. Thats the kind of life former Trump lieutenant Hope Hicks was lamenting in the latest dump of testimony, the kind of life where you get paid $1.9 million from Fox News then suddenly dont know where your next Hermes Birkin handbag is coming from. In one day (Trump) ended every future opportunity that doesnt include speaking engagements at the local Proud Boys chapter, Hicks moaned in a Jan. 6 text to Julie Radford, Ivanka Trumps former chief of staff. We all look like domestic terrorists now. Sympathy for Hicks and her cohorts would be in greater supply if Trumps singular manifestation of narcissistic megalomania had somehow sneaked up on them rather than having been painfully obvious all the years that they worked for him. Similarly, anyone who allowed themselves to be ensnared in the fake electors scheme in pivotal states will be able to locate few sources of empathy, as the number of regular Americans who have conspired to overthrow the government is insufficient to staff a Taco Bell. Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, who with fellow Trump lawyer John Eastman conceived and tried to implement the scheme to provide Mike Pence with electors he could substitute for the ones he was supposed to be counting on Jan. 6, wound up invoking his Fifth Amendment right when the committee interviewed him. The notion that a former president will ever be indicted, much less tried, on any of the charges the Jan. 6 committee referred to the Department of Justice remains in the tomorrow-never-comes purview of Attorney General Merrick Garland and special prosecutor Jack Smith. So far, DOJ has a 99.8% conviction rate on Jan. 6 crimes charged against more than 900 people. Many people are saying, to invoke one of Trumps most abused verbal crutches, that 2023 is the year Trump goes down hard. Believe it when you see it. MAROA A storm system with heavy rain and tornadoes barreled through Central Illinois on Tuesday evening, striking a glancing blow that ripped up a grain silo near Maroa in northern Macon County. Other major damage had not been immediately reported as of 6:30 p.m. The Macon County Emergency Management Agency, based in Decatur, said the silo went down near U.S. 51 and Washington Street in Maroa. Video posted by eye-witnesses showed twisted heaps of crumpled metal piled up by the roadside of U.S. 51 as drivers cautiously moved by. EMA said it had received reports of some storm debris here and there but no other major damage as of about 6 p.m. Monday. And there were no reports of injuries associated with the storms passage. Funnel clouds had been seen aloft near Harristown but Harristown Fire Chief Steve Gambrill said he'd received no reports of damage in the village. "We had several funnel clouds," he added. But nothing touched the ground. The tornado warnings continued their way east across Macon County, with a warning in place in Decatur until 6:30 p.m. and giving way to another that set to expire at 6:45 p.m. in the northeastern portion of the county. 217 TORNADO PIC: A grain bin outside of Maroa Thanks Alexis! pic.twitter.com/i8UNbB9cnM 217Problems (@217Problems) January 4, 2023 There were reports of downed power lines along 22nd Street, between the William Sands Viaduct and the former Pla-Mor Lanes. Tyler Abbott, of Dawson, saw a tornado while driving on Dye Road near Illiopolis. He shared the video on Twitter. He is a hobby storm chaser and said that this one was easy to see given how clear things were and with the corn out of the fields. He estimated he was around three to five miles away from it and said it did not last long enough to get much closer. "It was probably down for five minutes or so," Abbott said. It is a rare time of year for tornados but winter ones seem increasingly common, he said. There was an outbreak on Dec. 1, 2018, for instance that did extensive damage in Taylorville. "The past few winters we've had plenty of tornados," he said. Weather alerts continued into Tuesday evening with warnings of storm fronts packing hail and damaging wind gusts and more tornado threats. Tuesdays unusual January weather was marked with an unseasonal high of 66 degrees, but those temperatures werent predicted to last. Wednesdays high is forecast near 39 while the low Wednesday night was predicted to be around 31. Herald & Review Staff Writer Taylor Vidmar contributed to this report. Photos: Winter storm hits Decatur 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_02.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_01.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_03.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_05.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_09.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_04.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_06.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_07.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_08.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_13.JPG 122422-dec-loc-toocold_01.JPG 122422-dec-loc-toocold_08.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_10.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_11.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_12.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_14.JPG 122322-dec-loc-winterpics_15.JPG Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament from the Majority caucus who have called for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister are likely to lose their seats during their primaries. According to the NDC MP, plans are underway to make sure those individuals paid for their public dislike of the presidents cousin as the finance minister. Mr Ablakwa claimed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his armies are bent on sponsoring others to contest the #KenMustGo MPs in their upcoming parliamentary primaries. Meanwhile, I project that President Akufo-Addo and his cabal will proceed to victimize the #KenMustGo NPP MPs by actively sponsoring candidates against them in the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries, he said. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made this revelation in his twenty (20) events he envisions will occur within Ghanas geopolitical space in the year 2023. According to him, NPP MPs will early this year discover that they were tricked by President Akufo-Addo and that he is determined to keep his cousin at the Finance Ministry even if that will cost him his presidency. Read the full list of forecasts by Okudzeto Ablakwa below: Happy New Year, folks. Here are my forecasts for 2023: [NB: These are no charlatanic prophesies] 1) Former President John Mahama will emerge victorious from the 2023 NDC Flagbearer Primaries with more than 95% of valid votes cast; 2) Former President John Mahama expected to retain Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his Running Mate for the 2024 presidential election; 3) Public agitations against the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Ofori-Atta debt exchange programme predicted to reach a crescendo as an overwhelming majority of Ghanaians will outrightly reject the draconian terms; 4) The debt exchange resistance and considerable turmoil would lead to a substantial delay in an IMF Board Agreement, which development will further exacerbate Ghanas current economic calamity; 5) RIBADE Limited, the JV contractors (consisting Rizzani de Eccher SpA, M. Barbisotti & Sons Ltd and DeSimone Ltd) tasked to construct President Akufo-Addo's $400million Cathedral will formally announce their disinterest and final withdrawal from the beleaguered project which has consistently been a cause celebre; 6) Owners of the Waterstone Realty Luxury Apartment Complex demolished in May 2018 to pave way for the cathedral construction are expected to rebuff renewed appeals from government for an out of court settlement and will vigorously pursue their GHS120million judgment debt case; 7) NPP MPs will early this year discover that they were tricked by President Akufo-Addo and that he is absolutely determined to keep his cousin at the Finance Ministry even if that will cost him his presidency; 8)NPP MPs will bitterly regret their betrayal of the NDC caucus by not voting together with us to secure the two-third constitutional threshold that would have ousted disastrous Ken Ofori-Atta. Some of the disappointed NPP MPs will publicly concede to their tactical error and shall be seeking new belated #KenMustGo collaborations with the NDC caucus; 9) Meanwhile, I project that President Akufo-Addo and his cabal will proceed to victimize the #KenMustGo NPP MPs by actively sponsoring candidates against them in the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries; 10) The two pending nominations for Justices of the Supreme Court which have currently been caught up in parliamentary gridlock will move from bad to worse. The embattled nominees (Justices George Kingsley Koomson and Ernest Yao Gaewu) may have to brace themselves for a fatal outcome; 11) I can very safely predict that Ghana's Supreme Court shall continue to treat our e-Levy case without any sense of urgency. Unlike in the controversial Deputy Speakers Can Vote Case which was decided within an impressive 4 month supersonic speed Abdulai filed in December 2021, judgement was ready by March 2022 and by April his review application had been unanimously dismissed. Comparatively, it's been 10 painful months since Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, Mahama Ayariga, and my humble self filed our e-Levy case, specifically on March 30, 2022; and guess what, we don't even have a date for the hearing of the substantive case; 12) Like many Ghanaians, I can equally forecast with ease that Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson's injunction will remain as an effective all-year restraint and thereby guarantee the NPP a numerical advantage in Ghana's historic hung parliament; 13) When Chief Justice Anin Yeboah retires in May this year, the frosty relations with the NDC caucus and palpable bias of the apex court which he championed is most likely going to haunt his successor and thereby affect what would have otherwise been a smooth parliamentary vetting and approval process of Ghanas next Chief Justice; 14) 2023 appears set to be the year of by-elections. I can see at least two by-elections on the horizon; 15) Expect financial analysts and victims of the so-called financial sector cleanup such as Dr. Ndoum, Dr. Dufuor and Kofi Amoabeng to openly criticize what would apparently amount to patent discrimination in the projected Databank bailout; 16) Considering the monumental economic crisis created by government's mismanagement and gross ineptitude; coupled with the outrage of Ghanaians, I anticipate that President Akufo-Addo will set a refreshing record in 2023 by his own abysmal standards, as he totally avoids his infamous 20,000 (GHS218,000) an hour chartered 'sky bath' trips. By the way, that is not to suggest that I shall be dismantling my unimpeachable surveillance systems all-year-round tracking shall continue unabated, for God and country; 17) I project that President Akufo-Addo will this year succumb to IMF and incessant public pressure by significantly reducing the size of his government and rationalizing his ministries; 18) Like many pundits, I am disturbed that Ghana-Russia relations will face further deterioration despite government's strenuous efforts behind the scenes to repair President Akufo-Addo's Washington faux pas and a litany of amateurish provocations; 19) Following last month's phenomenal formal apology offered by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on behalf of the Dutch state for the Netherlands historical role in the slave trade, I expect a few more western nations to emulate the worthy example of the Dutch by rendering sincere, unqualified apologies and reopening serious discussions for reparation, albeit, after 150 years since slavery was abolished; 20) Sadly, Ghanaians should expect more scandals in 2023. The first in the ever unending series of revelations would be put in the public domain from next week. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Changing the narrative of gospel song making in Africa seems to be apparent in the career of US-based Ghanaian gospel songstress, Faustina Mawusi Seshie Appiah known professionally as Mawusi as she readies her tongue-wagging spirit-filled gospel Tune duped, Divine Selection. The song aims at rekindling the faith of believers to stand firm and be appreciative, especially in these last days when situations keep getting dire with augmented hardships. Divine Selection, an English-dominated song with a bit of Twi infusion also talks about divine protection. It was written and produced by Herbert Crassie and performed by Mawusi. With a background as a trained pharmaceutical technician and a flight attendant and currently pursuing Bachelors in Healthcare Management in Colorado Christian University, USA, Mawusi has garnered experiences from all these spheres. This goes a long way to help her music composition, no doubt she is deep in coining her words. Currently, under the management of 2Face Records, Mawusi aims to cement her name in the hearts of many by way of her soul-touching songs and donations to orphans, the homeless, the poor, etc. through her Mawusi Appiah Ministry Mawusi Appiah Ministry is purely based on the word of God. I want to help those in need, the deserted, orphans and widows in their affliction, and keep myself unstained from the world. James 1:27 is my inspiration and I believe this is achievable through the little sums I get from my music she said. Being her first single, Mawusi is ready to uplift the power of God in the Gospel music industry. She believes it is a good way to start the year and is thankful to God. ALSO READ Court sets Jan. 4th for the reappearance of Funny Face Divine selection, a Herbert Crassie-produced song, will be available on 27th January 2023 on all music portals. Follow Mawusi on all social media platforms Facebook: Mawusi Music Instagram : mawusimusic Youtube: Mawusi Music Tiktok: @mawusimusic Twitter: Mawusi Music 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 " " With a country as vast as the United States, and well-funded lobbying groups in the ear of members of Congress, what's an ordinary citizen to do? Philippe Marion/Getty Images Emily Ellsworth, a Utah-based web content creator and marketer who in a previous life worked as a Congressional staffer, created a sensation recently with a tweet storm offering her insider views on the best and worst ways to influence legislators. To people who are enthralled with online communication, it probably came as a rude shock. Posting an impassioned comment on a Congressperson's Facebook page, for example, turns out to be a complete waste of time. "I never looked at those comments except to remove the harassing ones," Ellsworth explained. Similarly, emails, no matter how eloquently worded, also tended to get lost in the electronic tsunami that Congressional offices must cope with. "We batched them with computer algorithms and sent out form letters on every topic and position," Ellworth wrote. Advertisement What worked best? Phone calls, and as old-fashioned as it might sound face-to-face contact. "If you want to talk to your rep, show up at town hall meetings," Ellsworth advised. "Get a huge group that they can't ignore. Pack that place and ask questions." What the Experts Say In Washington, activists involved in lobbying for issues on Capitol Hill and training citizens on how to join in generally concur with what Ellsworth's blunt assessment. But they also counsel that getting your opinion across to your elected official isn't just a matter of using the right mode of communication. The effectiveness of your message also depends a lot on what issues you choose to address, and whether you've got the patience and commitment to your favorite cause to follow up, repeatedly, over time. Aaron Scherb, director of legislative affairs for the government transparency and accountability lobby Common Cause, worked for three different Democratic Congress members from 2006 to 2010. He says the first step in getting your opinion across is to make sure that you're expressing it to the right legislator the one in whose district you live. "If you're from Texas and you're contacting a member from New York, his office could care less," Scherb says. That's one reason, incidentally, why social media isn't a very effective way to communicate with Congress. Even if a member gets 7,000 tweets on the issue of abortion or defense spending, there's no way to tell how many of those people are actually constituents who should be represented. "That makes it easier to dismiss them," Scherb says. And those emails that you get from advocacy groups asking you to send form letters to members of Congress? Their form nature only makes it harder to rise above the electronic noise level. Be Strategic Scherb advises a more focused, deliberate approach. Pick some things that you really care about "a niche or specialty of two or three issues," as he describes it and develop a long-term strategy for lobbying your Congress member. That strategy should include reaching out multiple times through multiple modes of communication. Instead of signing form letters, write a personalized letter with your views, and send it via email or snail mail. Then follow up with regular phone calls to the legislator's office. And eventually, if you really want to sell your point of view, try to get a face-to-face meeting. Scherb notes that surveys of Hill staffers by the Congressional Management Foundation show that in-person meetings in Washington, unfortunately are the most effective way to communicate your point, followed by district office meetings back home. " " Republican senator Rand Paul speaks with constituents in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images It's not as hard to arrange a meeting as you might think, says Alicia McBride. She's the communications director for the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker advocacy organization that teaches citizens how to lobby on social justice and other issues. One caveat: Usually, a meeting will be with a staffer, not the legislator himself or herself. But talking to a staffer actually can be a pretty effective way to exert influence, McBridge says, because busy legislators rely on their aides for information on issues. McBride also counsels that whether you're talking to a staffer or Congress member, it pays to make it a real conversation. "Listening to a member's concerns, as opposed to just yelling at them, is a more effective strategy," she says. Additionally, you want to make sure that you follow up on the meeting with additional contacts by phone or email. As Scherb explains, Congressional offices routinely compile tallies for members of how many cumulative contacts emails, calls, meetings they receive, and how many they get on each issue. If that sounds tiring, frustrating, and slow, or like it privileges those with the time, energy and resources to reach out, welcome to democracy. As Winston Churchill said, " No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." " " Congressman Gerald Ford talks with constituents outside his mobile office in Hudsonville, Michigan, in 1955. CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images Now That's Interesting In a 2014 survey of Congressional staffers, 84 percent said their bosses were more inclined to use social media in recent years, while one percent said the members were less inclined to use it. " " Actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, pictured here in 1962, famously married twice and divorced twice, too. Hulton Archives/Getty Images Ah, a new year. Time to firm up those resolutions, pare down possessions, eat more vegetables and ... get divorced. Research commissioned by a U.K-based law firm Co-operative Legal Services suggested January 2016 would bring a 332 percent increase in divorce proceedings over the previous four months, based on data from divorce cases from 2012 to 2015. At the dawn of a new year, it seems couples who have kept the peace during holiday festivities can wait no longer. Come January 1, they're ready to take official action toward marriage dissolution. Advertisement But it wasn't the hoopla of the holidays that broke the camel's back, said Sam Hickman, who was head of family law for the company when we spoke to her in 2016. More likely, the leap in divorce inquiries is the result of a collective agreement to put off the big announcement until after the kids have opened their presents and the grandparents, aunts and uncles have returned to their respective homes. The law firm also commissioned a survey of 500 divorcees. The results found that 25 percent of couples beginning divorce proceedings in January had already planned to call it quits long before revelers belted out the chorus of "Auld Lang Syne." "Many will have sought [legal] advice before the Christmas break," said Hickman, "and then chosen to move their separation forward in the new year." According to the survey's results, 43 percent of respondents who didn't announce divorce proceedings until after the holidays said they didn't want to dampen the festivities. One-third of those couples wanted to have "one last Christmas as a family," while another third cited a lack of public confirmation as their reason for keeping mum. Eleven percent didn't want to upset family members with the news, and 9 percent didn't want to spoil a child's birthday that fell around the holidays. "Many couples, especially those with children, do not want to cause unnecessary upheaval over the festive period," said Hickman. "They don't want the children distressed." But January may really be the peak for divorce inquiries rather than actual filings. Another survey conducted by the University of Washington in 2016 (looking at 14 years of data) found that March and August were both peak times for divorce filings. The divorce process does take some time so while filings did begin to climb in January, March was the peak month. And what about August? The UW researchers believed parents may have wanted their children to have a good summer experience before filing for divorce or maybe the big summer trip didn't live up to expectations, increasing the disillusionment of the spouses with their marriage. They may have wanted to file before the start of the new school year, similar to how others filed at the start of the calendar year. The August spike was almost at the level of the March peak. "I don't think that there is a right time [to file for divorce] in the vast majority of cases," said Hickman. "It is distressing news for any family at any time. There is, however, a right way in terms of the messaging especially if children are involved. Parents need to make their children aware that they love them and that they are the most important thing in their lives. It is crucial that parents get the message across that they will continue to co-parent effectively going forward." Now That's Interesting January as "Divorce Month" is a trend that has been noticed in legal circles for quite some time. USA Today further reported in 2019 that the topic of "divorce" peaked on Google Trends the week of January 6-12. Advertisement Originally Published: Jan 13, 2016 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: CC0 Public Domain A new study finds that foreign interference in an American election can reduce faith abroad in the United States as an effective and trustworthy ally, suggesting that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election had some international ramifications. The results are published in the European Journal of International Relations. "Much of the literature on the weakening of American democracy has focused on internal origins, such as the polarization of political parties," says co-author Yusaku Horiuchi, a professor of government and the Mitsui Professor of Japanese Studies at Dartmouth. "Yet, our study is the first to report on how foreign interference in U.S. elections affects the public opinion in an important U.S. ally, Japan, while also providing new insight into how democratic backsliding by external influences can impact international relations." The 2019 report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that "the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion," both through social media campaigns and by hacking materials in an effort to discredit presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. To examine how Russian election interference in U.S. elections affects foreign citizens' trust in the United States and whether the U.S. is then perceived as an effective ally, Horiuchi and co-author Benjamin Goldsmith, a professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at the Australian National University, surveyed approximately 2,600 citizens of Japan in December 2019. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group was given information stating that election interference had reduced American democracy; the second group was given information that it had not reduced American democracy; and the third cohort was given no information and was asked to proceed directly to the survey questions. The survey focused on the Japan-U.S. alliance and gauged respondents' views of the U.S. as an ally in terms of trust and effectiveness: Did they believe that the U.S. would keep its promise to defend Japan, or not? Did they believe that the U.S. can defend Japan, or not? Respondents could choose from four answers: Not at all (1), not very much (2), a fair amount (3), and a great deal (4). The researchers used a statistical analysis to review the data. The results showed that Japanese citizens' faith in the U.S. as an ally was higher when they were informed that U.S. democracy is functioning versus not functioning. In addition, their beliefs that the U.S. could effectively defend Japan were reduced when they received information stating that electoral interference was successful in damaging American democracy. As the co-authors explain, the image of the U.S. as a democracy is part of the foundation for public support for an alliance and is fundamental to America's "soft power," the term coined by Harvard political scientist Joseph Nye describing a country's ability to achieve outcomes without the use of force or coercion. "If the U.S. appears as if it cannot defend itself against foreign election interference, it may look weak and allies may begin to question whether the U.S. can be an effective ally," says Horiuchi. "Our findings provide evidence that successful electoral interference by another country also has international security implications." The research team plans to build on this work. They are currently in the process of designing a large cross-national survey to understand how much U.S. democratic backsliding caused by domestic actors also affects foreign public opinion of the U.S. More information: Benjamin E. Goldsmith et al, Does Russian election interference damage support for US alliances? The case of Japan, European Journal of International Relations (2023). DOI: 10.1177/13540661221143214 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: Image of Cas9, an endonuclease enzyme associated with the CRISPR system, acting on the target DNA. Credit: Antonio Reifs (CIC nanoGUNE) An international research group has for the first time reconstructed ancestors dating back 2.6 billion years of the well-known CRISPR-Cas system, and studied their evolution over time. The results suggest that the revitalized systems not only work, but are more versatile than current versions and could have revolutionary applications. Nature Microbiology has published the results of this research, which, in the opinion of the research team, "opens up new avenues for gene editing." The project, led by Ikerbasque research professor Raul Perez-Jimenez of CIC nanoGUNE, involves teams from the Spanish National Research Council, the University of Alicante, the Rare Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Center (CIBERER), the Ramon y Cajal Hospital-IRYCIS and other national and international institutions. The acronym CRISPR refers to the repeated sequences present in the DNA of bacteria and archaea (prokaryotic organisms). Among the repeats, these microorganisms harbor fragments of genetic material from viruses that infected their ancestors; that enables them to recognize a repeat infection and defend themselves by cutting the invaders' DNA using Cas proteins associated with these repeats. It is a mechanism (CRISPR-Cas system) of antiviral defense. This ability to recognize DNA sequences is the basis of their usefulness, and they act as if they were molecular scissors. Nowadays CRISPR-Cas technology enables pieces of genetic material to be cut and pasted into any cell, so that it can be used to edit DNA. Current research efforts focus on finding new versions of CRISPR-Cas systems with distinct properties in the farthest reaches of the globe. To do this, systems of different species living in extreme environments are explored, or molecular design techniques are applied to modify them. A radically different way of finding new systems is to look for them in the past, which is in fact the basis of this research. The Nanobiotechnology group at nanoGUNE, led by Raul Perez-Jimenez, has spent years studying the evolution of proteins from the origin of life right up to the present day. Ancestral reconstructions of proteins and genes from extinct organisms are carried out to see what qualities they have and whether they can be used in biotechnological applications. It is a journey back in time conducted by means of biocomputing techniques. In this work, which has just been published in the journal Nature Microbiology, the evolutionary history of CRISPR-Cas systems, from ancestors dating back 2.6 billion years to the present day, has been reconstructed for the first time. The research team carried out the computational reconstruction of the ancestral CRISPR sequences, synthesized them, and studied and confirmed their functionality. "What is surprising is that we can revitalize Cas proteins that must have existed billions of years ago and find that they already had the capacity then to operate as gene editing tools; we have now confirmed that by successfully editing genes in human cells," explained Lluis Montoliu, researcher at the National Biotechnology Center of the CSIC (CNB-CSIC) and CIBERER, and head of the team that has functionally validated these ancestral Cas proteins in human cells in culture. Another interesting finding in the study is that the CRISPR-Cas system has gradually become more complex over time, which is a sign of the adaptive nature of the system; it has been gradually adapting to new virus threats that have been hanging over bacteria throughout evolution. "This research signifies an extraordinary advance in knowledge about the origin and evolution of CRISPR-Cas systems. About how the selective pressure of viruses has over billions of years been fine-tuning rudimentary, initially not very selective machinery; this had been taking place until a sophisticated defense mechanism was produced; it is a mechanism capable of distinguishing with great precision between its own DNA, which it must preserve, and the genetic material of unwanted invaders, which it must destroy," said University of Alicante researcher Francis Mojica, who discovered the CRISPR-Cas technique. On the applied side, "the work represents an original approach to the development of CRISPR tools to generate new tools and improve those derived from existing ones in current organisms," added Mojica. "Current systems are highly complex and are adapted to function within a bacterium. When the system is used outside this environment, for example in human cells, it is rejected by the immune system and there are also certain molecular restrictions that limit its use. Oddly enough, in ancestral systems some of these restrictions disappear, which gives these systems greater versatility for new applications," said Perez-Jimenez. Miguel Angel Moreno, head of the Genetics Service at HRYC-IRYCIS-CIBERER, said, "The ingenuity that an ancestral nuclease could have, insofar as it does not so specifically recognize some regions of the genome, turns them into more versatile tools for correcting mutations that until now could not be edited or were not corrected very efficiently." His team has developed the Mosaic Finder tool, which, by means of massive sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, has enabled the effect of genome editing carried out by these ancestral Cas in human cells in culture to be characterized. Ylenia Jabalera, researcher in the project at nanoGUNE, says, "This scientific achievement can make available gene editing tools with properties different from the current ones, and which are much more flexible; that opens up new avenues in DNA manipulation and treatment of diseases such as ALS, cancer and diabetes, or even in diagnostic tools for diseases." More information: Borja Alonso-Lerma et al, Evolution of CRISPR-associated endonucleases as inferred from resurrected proteins, Nature Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01265-y Journal information: Nature Microbiology Provided by CIC nanoGUNE Imagination soars above the ordinary as illustrator paints a whole new world. When Liu Jiaxi looks at a bunch of sparrows, in her eyes, she imagines them as a group of schoolchildren in traditional clothes on a study tour, with each having his or her own attitude and characteristics. With wonderful imagination and exquisite drawing skills, Liu, also known as illustrator Lumingshan, turns her wildest thoughts into lively paintings. From girls and teenagers of yesteryear, she anthropomorphizes species of birds into different human characters. The 28-year-old's paintings are so adorable that they have attracted countless fans on the internet, and people online call her "the most beautiful illustrator who draws fairies". Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also forwarded her drawings on Facebook, describing them as "cute group portraits in traditional costumes by Chinese artist, based on photos of birds". Liu recalls that, when she heard the news of her paintings being endorsed by Wang, she was so excited that she jumped out of bed. "I have been engaged in the creation of Chinese-style illustrations for a long time, and in the future, I'll stick to my creation style and hope more people from home and abroad like my works," she says. Liu's route to becoming a professional illustrator was not an easy one, but it was fueled by her persistence in painting. She gave up being a doctor after eight years in college to work as an illustrator. Born in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, Liu discovered her interest in painting during her childhood. "Painting has accompanied me for my entire childhood, and I learned from various painting books," she recalls. In 2012, even though she liked drawing, she followed her parents' suggestion, and studied traditional Chinese medicine at Chengdu Sport University in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. Five years later, she continued to study for her master's degree at the same university, yet she never forgot her dream of painting and devoted all her spare time to it. The summer vacation before she became a postgraduate changed her life, as she found a part-time job working as an assistant for an illustrator in Chengdu. "That's the period when I made the most progress. Besides improving my drawing skills, I also learned how to use Photoshop software, how to communicate with people who give me drawing tasks and how to take business orders," Liu recalls. Liu says she likes classical things and she's a fan of the "retro" aesthetic. During that time, she found her interest in ancient Chinese culture, especially the epic literary work, Shanhaijing, or The Classic of Mountains and Seas. "The imaginary space for the book is huge, as the wording is beautiful and the stories are fantastic," Liu says, adding that she plans to publish an illustration book of Shanhaijing next year. "I noticed that on the market, most of the illustrations of Shanhaijing are drawn by men, so I wanted to bring a feminine expression to the stories of the book," she says. "Some are romantic, and I'll select the beautiful mythical creatures to draw." After finishing her postgraduate studies in 2020, Liu decided that it was time to become a full-time illustrator, as she can support herself with the money made by painting. She is often commissioned by magazines, book editors and video game companies to draw for them. During her postgraduate years, she also co-published a book, titled Zhongguo Shenhua Ditu ("a map of Chinese myths"), for which she drew 30 illustrations. Liu likes to read stories, especially short fiction that inspires her paintings, and she finds that ancient Chinese fairy stories inspire her a lot. "Animal photography can also be revelatory to me," she says. The anthropomorphic bird drawing actually came about by Liu casually killing time while taking care of her father, who was hospitalized last year. She saw a photo of some sparrows and decided to draw them into human figures. "I think birds are lovely, like elves, and their feathers are like colorful clothes, so I was thinking what if I turn them into lovely girls and their feathers into hanfu (a traditional Chinese style of clothing)," she recalls, adding that she is a fan of hanfu. It only took her a couple of hours to finish the painting. After she posted the drawing online, it soon attracted praise. Liu is collaborating with an animal protection NGO to help them design anthropomorphic figures of different birds and to popularize science at the same time. In November, Liu held her first exhibition in Guiyang International Fashion Release Center, which will last until Jan 15. The exhibition, titled Mountains and Seas, showcases around 120 of her works in three series, Shanhaijing, ancient Chinese myths and anthropomorphic birds. She is proud that the exhibition can be held in her hometown and that the local government set up a special bus service for residents to go and enjoy the exhibition. On the opening day, Liu's family and friends were there to support her and got a guided tour from Liu. It took over an hour to introduce all of her paintings to the audience. "My parents were quite happy that day. The exhibition showed them what I've been doing," she says. One Sina Weibo user, with the handle "Yunduanxiade Shengjiezhiguang "commented about the exhibition: "When I saw Lumingshan's anthropomorphic birds, I realized that they are such pretty, lovely, cute and playful elves! I hope she will become an artist known by everyone!" Li Liu'an, general manager of China Railway Construction Real Estate Group's Guizhou branch, a sponsor of the exhibition, says: "The introduction of Liu's exhibition not only provides a space for artistic exchange but also adds color to the city." Liu enjoys communicating with her audience through her paintings, she says. When she plans an illustration, she will design the outline of the subject and their emotions. "As an illustrator, you need to tell the audience the whole story in one single painting," Liu says. Besides the actual drawing aspect, she also runs her own accounts on social media. "Thanks to the social media era, I can be known by more people, and this made it possible for me to make a living through painting," she adds. Part of the sense of accomplishment that comes with being an illustrator is the continuous learning, she says. "You can always get in touch with new subjects, and you have to learn all about them," she adds. When she finds that she needs to strengthen some of her painting skills, such as coloring and drawing the human form, she will find relevant books and courses to improve herself. "A painting must resonate with people and it is a good piece of work if it can help people heal," she says. "I want to draw something that makes people feel happy, carefree and comfortable." Typical zooplankton found in the North Sea include copepods (top right), bristle worms (polychaetes, bottom right) and hydrome-dusae (left), a class of cnidaria. Many of the tiny organisms floating in the water are barely a millimeter long. Credit: Silke Laakmann, HIFMB The marine protected area of Sylt Outer Reef has unusually high biodiversity levels for North Sea standards: fields of hard substrates alternate with areas of gravel and coarse sand, interspersed with flat sandbanks. The stones provide a solid base for colorful reef communities of organisms such as frilled anemones, mussels, bryozoans and sponges, while the sandbanks are home to various species of brittle stars and worms. Numerous fish species thrive in these waters, among them cod, sprats and herring, as well as flatfish and rare European river lamprey. This rich food supply in turn attracts marine mammals such as harbor porpoises and seals. So far, assessing biodiversity in marine protected areas such as Sylt Outer Reef has been a very laborious process for environmental researchers: they cast nets of various mesh sizes to catch different sized marine species; use box corers to extract samples from the seafloor, and underwater cameras to take photos and make videos of the seabed. But there are other ways to go about this: "All we need is a water sample," says biologist Dr. Silke Laakmann. The researcher and her team take advantage of the fact that a highly diluted collection of biological debris is just floating around in the sea: remnants of cells, mucous, scales, hairs, feces and the remains of decaying organisms. However unappetising this might sound, the genetic material this debris contains, when analyzed correctly, can provide astonishing insights into the biodiversity of marine communities. The official term for this material is environmental DNA, or eDNA for short. How to assess biodiversity using nothing but water samples At the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Laakmann is working towards the major goal of achieving reliable assessment of marine biodiversity levels using nothing but water samples. The HIFMB was founded in 2017 as a cooperation between the University of Oldenburg and the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research. "We study whether the eDNA results correspond with realityin other words, whether we actually register as many organisms as possible present in a given region," says the researcher, who has been running the Focus Group Marine Molecular Ecology at the HIFMB since 2018. Two such focus groups are currently based at the institute. They are an instrument to provide targeted funding to promising mid career scientists and, at the same time, consolidate highly innovative research fields at the HIFMB. The procedure at the heart of the work of Laakmann and her five-member team is also very much on trend. In recent years, eDNA analysis has become a powerful new tool in the environmental sciences. The method has huge potential as it allows analyzing entire communities, however large, in one go, and provides all sorts of new insights into biodiversity. It also reduces environmental impact compared to traditional methods of sampling of marine organismsan advantage which is particularly relevant in marine conservation areas. In the collaborative CREATE project, headed by Oldenburg biodiversity expert and HIFMB Director Prof. Dr. Helmut Hillebrand, eDNA plays a central role to analyze the biodiversity of marine protected areas as well as the connections between them. The European oyster is the project's key species. "One key question is whether oyster larvae from the Borkum Reef Ground protected area move with the currents into other marine areas where they had not previously been restored," explains Laakmann. As part of the project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the framework of the German Marine Research Alliance, the biologist and her team currently compile an eDNA archive for the North Sea, aimed at documenting the current status of biodiversity and the effects of future environmental changes. Environmental scientist Dr. Kingsly Chuo Beng, a postdoctoral researcher in the focus group and an expert in eDNA research, manages the corresponding work package. From microscope to genes The researchers in Laakmann's team have been laying the groundwork for this over the past four years: "Recently, a shift has taken place in biodiversity research, from what you might call the classical morphological methods of species identification to molecular ones," the researcher explains. From microscope to genes, in other words. Her own training started in the conventional methods. "During my doctoral studies at the University of Bremen and my time as a postdoc at the Research Center Senckenberg am Meer in Wilhelmshaven, I spent a lot of time in the sorting lab identifying organisms under the microscope according to their external form," she recalls. Her specialty is zooplanktonaquatic organisms that are drifted along by currents in the oceansin particular a diverse group of tiny crustaceans called copepods. With the goal of establishing the novel genetic methods as a routine process for environmental monitoring, a comparison with conventional methods is currently underway. Laakmann and her team focus primarily on zooplankton in the North Sea and the Baltic, but also analyze material from Patagonia, the Arctic and South Africa. They have collected more than 3,000 samples which will be preserved for further studies at the HIFMB. To obtain an overview of biodiversity levels, the scientists generally use three different methods. They still collect plankton in the traditional way using long, thin nets. This often brings on board a brownish, flaky mass of sea organisms which can range in size from the head of a pin to a few millimeters. "These samples are then split in two halves," Lackmann says. One half goes to her and her team for conventional identification under a microscope or to semi-automated imaging analysis with Dr. Astrid Cornils, a colleague at AWI. The other half is homogenized and then genetically analyzed. The third method is eDNA analysis, whereby genetic material is extracted from water samples taken from various depths. The molecular biology methods used for species identification are to some extent similar to those used for PCR tests in COVID test labs, in which characteristic areas of genes are amplified and sequenced for analysis. At sea (here with the research vessel Heincke in the North Sea), the team collects water samples containing environmental DNA. Credit: HIFMB|Kingsly Chuo Beng The environmental sciences mostly concentrate on a gene segment that goes by the name of COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). "The sequence of this special gene fragment is unique in every animal species," Laakmann explains. In huge databases, researchers from various international initiatives inventory species using the genetic code of their COI gene. Just as products in supermarkets are identified by barcodes on their packaging, every animal species ever registered in a database can be identified by its genetic code. As a Ph.D. student and postdoc, Laakmann helped to expand this library of life by numerous species, among them organisms living in the water and on the seafloor of the North Sea, as well as copepods from the Arctic, the Antarctic and the deep sea. 'I think it is important to make a connection with the organisms I study.' When the vast assemblage of genetic material in an environmental sample is analyzed in parallela process that gives rise to thousands of different DNA sequencesthis is known as "metabarcoding." "In our samples we have millions of these gene snippets from all sorts of organisms. After sequencing we compare the gene sequences with the database entries, so that in the end we have a list of species or groups," Laakmann explains. Over the past four years the researchers have developed a special toolkit for dealing with the eDNA. "We were interested in questions such as: How much water do we need in order to capture as many species as possible in one area? How often do we need to take samples? What should the filter look like? What databases should we use?" the biologist notes. The team also studied threshold values and computational algorithms. Laakmann is satisfied with the results: "We now know that eDNA metabarcoding is indeed able to identify all the various groups of invertebrates and fish that live in the North Sea. And now we understand pretty good how best to apply the method to different questions." In order to examine whether or not particular species are present in large marine protected areas like Borkum Reef Ground or Sylt Outer Reef, it might make sense to take water samples from several different places, she says. In a study of bottom-dwelling organisms, the researchers are collaborating with a team from the AWI that carries out long-term observations in marine protected areas. Here, they combine DNA analyses with sediment samples and underwater photos. In particularly dynamic marine areas, on the other hand, it may be necessary to take water samples at the same location over and over again for several days on end in order to record all species present. Laakmann stresses the importance of not relying solely on the genetic method, even in the future. "I would like to use integrative methods, which means combining conventional and new methods. That delivers the best of both worlds." As a marine biologist, she wouldn't want to miss out on identifying tiny amphipods, hydromedusae and opossum shrimps under the microscope. "I think it is important so I can make a connection with the organisms I study," she emphasizesa factor that would be absent were she to work exclusively with abstract gene sequences. Moreover, interpreting eDNA metabarcoding results is often not entirely straightforward. So Laakmann controls all species lists to check that the results make sense. If, for example, a species of zooplankton appears unexpectedly on a list, the researchers might need to check how trustworthy the database entries are. "In one case we worked out that a strange pattern in the data had been caused by a faulty identification using conventional methods," she explains. The fact that land animals like chickens, cows, wild boar or mice keep turning up in the species lists is more of a curiosity. "Sometimes we can even work out why," Laakmann adds. Genetic material from farmed animals like chickens and cows probably gets into the rivers, as do deposits from wild boar living in the estuaries, she explains. Ballast water is another potential source of exotic DNA: "But the mouse remains a mystery," chuckles the biologist, who nonetheless intends to get to the bottom of the matter with Kingsly Chuo Beng. 'Now, for the first time, we can identify which larvae are floating in the water at what time of the year.' Every now and then the researchers come across what are known as cryptic speciesspecies that are genetically new but externally resemble other, already known species. Moreover, the genetic method increases the likelihood of finding rare or endangered species, including marine mammals. "We find more species than we could previously identify," Laakmann stresses. All of these factors show the huge potential of eDNA in opening up previously hidden areas of biodiversity. When it comes to the larvae found in the zooplankton samples of benthic organisms and fish, a whole new world is revealed. With conventional methods these miniscule organisms can often only be roughly assigned to the different animal groups. Metabarcoding, however, allows researchers to pinpoint what species many of these larvae belong toprovided they are already inventoried in a database. "Now, for the first time, we can identify which larvae float in the water at what time of the year. This allows us to draw conclusions about their distribution and reproductive cycles," Laakmann comments. Particularly in late spring and summer, when many organisms reproduce, eDNA analysis can detect up to four times as many species in zooplankton samples than conventional methods. The larvae of the European oyster are also almost impossible to identify under the microscope. At the free-swimming stage, when they are less than a millimeter in size, they resemble round blobs that move using lobe-like extensions, much like all other bivalve larvae. Laakmann and her team are nevertheless confident that they will be able to uncover the drift of the mollusk offspring in the vast expanses of the North Sea. In preparatory studies for the CREATE project they have already successfully identified the genetic material of the oyster larvae in water samples. Provided by University of Oldenburg 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Climate-driven heating of seawater is causing a slowdown of deep circulation patterns in the Atlantic and Southern oceans, according to Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine, and if this process continues, the ocean's ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will be severely limited, further exacerbating global warming. In a recent study published in Nature Climate Change, these researchers analyzed projections from three dozen climate models and found that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and the Southern Meridional Overturning Circulation will slow by as much as 42 percent by 2100. The simulations suggest that under worst-case warming, the SMOC could cease entirely by 2300. "Analysis of the projections from 36 Earth system models over a range of climate scenarios shows that unchecked global warming could lead to a shutdown of the ocean deep circulation," said co-author J. Keith Moore, UCI professor of Earth system science. "This would be a climate disaster similar in magnitude to complete melting of the ice sheets on land." The importance of overturning circulation In the Atlantic, as warm water flows northwards on the surface, it cools and evaporates, making it saltier and denser. This heavier water sinks into the deep ocean and proceeds to the south where it eventually rises back up, carrying from the depths the nutrients that are the food foundation of marine ecosystems. In addition, globe-spanning ocean circulation creates a powerful factory for the processing of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The basic physical and chemical interaction of seawater and airwhat Moore and his colleagues call a "solubility pump"draws CO 2 into the ocean. While the ocean circulation sends some carbon back to the sky, the net amount is sequestered in the ocean's depths. Additionally, a "biological pump" occurs as phytoplankton use CO 2 during photosynthesis and in forming carbonate shells. When the plankton and larger animals die, they sink, slowly decomposing and releasing the carbon and nutrients at depth. Some comes back up with circulation and upwelling, but a portion remains banked beneath the waves. "A disruption in circulation would reduce ocean uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, intensifying and extending the hot climate conditions," Moore said. "Over time the nutrients that support marine ecosystems would increasingly become trapped in the deep ocean, leading to declining global-ocean biological productivity." Humans depend on the solubility pump and the biological pump to help remove some of the CO 2 emitting into the air through fossil fuel burning, land use practices and other activities, according to Moore. "Our analysis also shows that reducing greenhouse gas emissions now can prevent this complete shutdown of the deep circulation in the future," he said. Joining Moore on this project were lead author Yi Liu, UCI Ph.D., a student in Earth system science; Francois Primeau, professor and chair of UCI's Department of Earth System Science; and Wei-Lei Wang, professor of ocean and Earth sciences at Xiamen University in China. The study depended substantially on simulations developed by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) project used to inform the IPCC climate assessments. More information: Y. Liu et al, Reduced CO2 uptake and growing nutrient sequestration from slowing overturning circulation, Nature Climate Change (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01555-7 Journal information: Nature Climate Change 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: The house-size STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) acts like a giant 3D digital camera to track particles emerging from particle collisions at the center of the detector. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory Nuclear physicists have found a new way to use the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)a particle collider at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratoryto see the shape and details inside atomic nuclei. The method relies on particles of light that surround gold ions as they speed around the collider and a new type of quantum entanglement that's never been seen before. Through a series of quantum fluctuations, the particles of light (a.k.a. photons) interact with gluonsgluelike particles that hold quarks together within the protons and neutrons of nuclei. Those interactions produce an intermediate particle that quickly decays into two differently charged "pions" (). By measuring the velocity and angles at which these + and - particles strike RHIC's STAR detector, the scientists can backtrack to get crucial information about the photonand use that to map out the arrangement of gluons within the nucleus with higher precision than ever before. "This technique is similar to the way doctors use positron emission tomography (PET scans) to see what's happening inside the brain and other body parts," said former Brookhaven Lab physicist James Daniel Brandenburg, a member of the STAR collaboration who joined The Ohio State University as an assistant professor in January 2023. "But in this case, we're talking about mapping out features on the scale of femtometersquadrillionths of a meterthe size of an individual proton." Even more amazing, the STAR physicists say, is the observation of an entirely new kind of quantum interference that makes their measurements possible. "We measure two outgoing particles and clearly their charges are differentthey are different particlesbut we see interference patterns that indicate these particles are entangled, or in sync with one another, even though they are distinguishable particles," said Brookhaven physicist and STAR collaborator Zhangbu Xu. That discovery may have applications well beyond the lofty goal of mapping out the building blocks of matter. For example, many scientists, including those awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics, are seeking to harness entanglementa kind of "awareness" and interaction of physically separated particles. One goal is to create significantly more powerful communication tools and computers than exist today. But most other observations of entanglement to date, including a recent demonstration of interference of lasers with different wavelengths, have been between photons or identical electrons. "This is the first-ever experimental observation of entanglement between dissimilar particles," Brandenburg said. The work is described in a paper just published in Science Advances. Daniel Brandenburg and Zhangbu Xu at the STAR detector of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory Shining a light on gluons RHIC operates as a DOE Office of Science user facility where physicists can study the innermost building blocks of nuclear matterthe quarks and gluons that make up protons and neutrons. They do this by smashing together the nuclei of heavy atoms such as gold traveling in opposite directions around the collider at close to the speed of light. The intensity of these collisions between nuclei (also called ions) can "melt" the boundaries between individual protons and neutrons so scientists can study the quarks and gluons as they existed in the very early universebefore protons and neutrons formed. But nuclear physicists also want to know how quarks and gluons behave within atomic nuclei as they exist todayto better understand the force that holds these building blocks together. A recent discovery using "clouds" of photons that surround RHIC's speeding ions suggests a way to use these particles of light to get a glimpse inside the nuclei. If two gold ions pass one another very closely without colliding, the photons surrounding one ion can probe the internal structure of the other. Left: Scientists use the STAR detector to study gluon distributions by tracking pairs of positive (blue) and negative (magenta) pions (). These pairs come from the decay of a rho particle (purple, 0) generated by interactions between photons surrounding one speeding gold ion and the gluons within another passing by very closely without colliding. The closer the angle () between either and the rho's trajectory is to 90 degrees, the clearer the view scientists get of the gluon distribution. Right/inset: The measured + and - particles experience a new type of quantum entanglement. Here's the evidence: When the nuclei pass one another, it's as if two rho particles (purple) are generated, one in each nucleus (gold) at a distance of 20 femtometers. As each rho decays, the wavefunctions of the negative pions from each rho decay interfere and reinforce one another, while the wavefunctions of the positive pions from each decay do the same, resulting in one + and one - wavefunction (a.k.a. particle) striking the detector. These reinforcing patterns would not be possible if the + and - were not entangled. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory "In that earlier work, we demonstrated that those photons are polarized, with their electric field radiating outward from the center of the ion. And now we use that tool, the polarized light, to effectively image the nuclei at high energy," Xu said. The quantum interference observed between the + and - in the newly analyzed data makes it possible to measure the photons' polarization direction very precisely. That in turn lets physicists look at the gluon distribution both along the direction of the photon's motion and perpendicular to it. That two-dimensional imaging turns out to be very important. "All past measurements, where we didn't know the polarization direction, measured the density of gluons as an averageas a function of the distance from the center of the nucleus," Brandenburg said. "That's a one-dimensional image." Those measurements all came out making the nucleus look too big when compared with what was predicted by theoretical models and measurements of the distribution of charge in the nucleus. "With this 2D imaging technique, we were able to solve the 20-year mystery of why this happens," Brandenburg said. The new measurements show that the momentum and energy of the photons themselves gets convoluted with that of the gluons. Measuring just along the photon's direction (or not knowing what that direction is) results in a picture distorted by these photon effects. But measuring in the transverse direction avoids the photon blurring. Brandenburg (front) and Xu stand beside STAR. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory "Now we can take a picture where we can really distinguish the density of gluons at a given angle and radius," Brandenburg said. "The images are so precise that we can even start to see the difference between where the protons are and where the neutrons are laid out inside these big nuclei." The new pictures match up qualitatively with the theoretical predictions using gluon distribution, as well as the measurements of electric charge distribution within the nuclei, the scientists say. Details of the measurements To understand how the physicists make these 2D measurements, let's step back to the particle generated by the photon-gluon interaction. It's called a rho, and it decays very quicklyin less than four septillionths of a secondinto the + and -. The sum of the momenta of those two pions gives physicists the momentum of the parent rho particleand information that includes the gluon distribution and the photon blurring effect. To extract just the gluon distribution, the scientists measure the angle between the path of either the + or - and the rho's trajectory. The closer that angle is to 90 degrees, the less blurring you get from the photon probe. By tracking pions that come from rho particles moving at a range of angles and energies, the scientists can map out the gluon distribution across the entire nucleus. Now for the quantum quirkiness that makes the measurements possiblethe evidence that the + and - particles striking the STAR detector result from interference patterns produced by the entanglement of these two dissimilar oppositely charged particles. Keep in mind that all the particles we are talking about exist not just as physical objects but also as waves. Like ripples on the surface of a pond radiating outward when they strike a rock, the mathematical "wavefunctions" that describe the crests and troughs of particle waves can interfere to reinforce or cancel one another out. When the photons surrounding two near-miss speeding ions interact with gluons inside the nuclei, it's as if those interactions actually generate two rho particles, one in each nucleus. As each rho decays into a + and -, the wavefunction of the negative pion from one rho decay interferes with the wavefunction of the negative pion from the other. When the reinforced wavefunction strikes the STAR detector, the detector sees one -. The same thing happens with the wavefunctions of the two positively charged pions, and the detector sees one +. "The interference is between two wavefunctions of the identical particles, but without the entanglement between the two dissimilar particlesthe + and -this interference would not materialize," said Wangmei Zha, a STAR collaborator at the University of Science and Technology of China, and one of the original proponents of this explanation. "This is the weirdness of quantum mechanics!" Could the rhos simply be entangled? The scientists say no. The rho particle wavefunctions originate at a distance 20 times the distance they could travel within their short lifetime, so they cannot interact with each other before they decay to + and -. But the wavefunctions of the + and - from each rho decay retain the quantum information of their parent particles; their crests and troughs are in phase, "aware of each other," despite striking the detector meters apart. "If the + and - were not entangled, the two + (or -) wavefunctions would have a random phase, without any detectable interference effect," said Chi Yang, a STAR collaborator from Shandong University in China, who also helped lead the analysis for this result. "We wouldn't see any orientation related to the photon polarizationor be able to make these precision measurements." Future measurements at RHIC with heavier particles and different lifetimesand at an Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) being built at Brookhavenwill probe more detailed distributions of gluons inside nuclei and test other possible quantum interference scenarios. 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: Long-term LAT light curve and three pronounced gamma-ray flares (F1, F2, F3) from 3C 279 with daily time bin in the energy range of 0.1300 GeV. Credit: Wang et al, 2022 Using NASA's Fermi spacecraft, Chinese astronomers have investigated the variability and spectral behavior of gamma-ray flares in a distant blazar known as 3C 279. Results of the study, presented in a paper published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, could help researchers better understand the flaring activity of blazars. Blazars are very compact quasars associated with supermassive black holes at the centers of active, giant elliptical galaxies. Based on their optical emission properties, astronomers divide blazars into two classes: flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) that feature prominent and broad optical emission lines, and BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), which do not. At a distance of about 5 billion light years, 3C 279 is an FSRQ with an estimated black hole mass of 300800 million solar masses. It is a bright and powerful gamma-ray source in the high-energy sky and is known as the first blazar showing strong and rapid variability at GeV energies. In the past 10 years 3C 279 experienced several outbursts, and three of them, in the gamma-ray regime, occurred in 2018. A team of astronomers led by Gege Wang of the Guangzhou University in China, observed these three gamma-ray flares using Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT). "In this paper, we analyze the LAT data and investigate the rapid variability and spectral behaviors of quasar 3C 279 during the three gamma-ray flares in 2018. In the obtained daily binned long-term LAT light curve, we pronounced three gamma-ray flares (F1, F2, F3) during MJD 58091 to MJD 58373 in the energy range of 0.1300 GeV," the researchers wrote. Wang's team managed to make only a detailed minute timescale binned light curve and a gamma-ray spectral analysis for the flare F2 as the flares F1 and F3 did not show noteworthy fast components or profiles. It turned out that the gamma-ray flux peak in F2 has exceeded the level that was recorded during previous flaring activity in 2015. The study found that the gamma-ray spectra of 3C 279 in either the flaring or quiescent states do not show any clear breaks. The finding suggests that the blazar's gamma-ray dissipation region is outside the broad-line region (BLR) and the energy dissipation may be due to the inverse Compton (IC) process of scattering the dusty torus infrared photons. The astronomers calculated the broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) for "pre-outburst," "flare" and "post-flare" states of the flare F2. They also calculated the blazar's magnetization ratio and the electron to magnetic field energy density ratio. All in all, the results indicate that the flare F2 was possibly caused by an injection of higher-energy electrons from outside of the dissipation blob. "We suggest an injection of higher-energy electrons from outside the blob and raising the flare.... Electrons are accelerated to higher energy outside and injected into the blob in a very short time," the authors of the paper concluded. More information: Gege Wang et al, Variability and Spectral Behavior of Gamma-Ray Flares of 3C 279, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (2022). DOI: 10.1088/1538-3873/ac98e0. On arXiv: arxiv.org/abs/2212.13395 2023 Science X Network 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: A bucket wheel excavator is mining coal at the Garzweiler open-cast coal mine with wind turbines in the background in Luetzerath, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. Data published Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023 by a respected environmental think tank shows Germany likely missed its target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions last year, despite a massive effort by the new government to expand the use of renewable energy. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst, File Data published Wednesday by a respected environmental think tank indicates Germany likely missed its target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions again last year, despite a big effort by the new government to expand the renewable energy use. Agora Energiewende think tank said in a report that the country released the equivalent of 761 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the main planet-warming gas, in 2022. This was slightly below the previous year but still above Germany's target of cutting emissions by 40% by 2020. While Germany met its target in 2020, that was largely due to the pandemic-related economic downturn. Emissions rose again as the economy rebounded over the following two years, when they were meant to decrease further. Germany's economy minister said official figures won't be released until mid-March, but noted that higher emissions from coal-fired power plants reactivated to make up for a lack of Russian gas had been balanced out by energy-saving measures and renewable power generation. Robert Habeck, a member of the environmentalist Green party whose ministerial portfolio also covers energy and climate, said new measures to boost wind and solar power generation would take effect in 2023. But he expressed concern over the lack of emissions cuts in the transport sector, describing it as a "problem child" that requires urgent attention. Climate activists, meanwhile, have blasted Habeck and his party for supporting plans to bulldoze a tiny village in western Germany to make way for a nearby coal mine. Protesters camped out in Luetzerath clashed with police earlier this week, and more demonstrations are planned at the site ahead of Jan. 10, when utility company RWE is expected to raze the ancient hamlet. About 150 people gathered outside Habeck's ministry Wednesday to protest against the expansion of the Garzweiler coal mine that will swallow Luetzerath, claiming that a compromise reached last year between the government and RWE will result in more emissions, not fewer. "This coal deal between the Greens and RWE is a black box that leads to climate catastrophe," said campaigner Luisa Neubauer. "This is something we won't agree to. It's diametrically opposed to the Paris climate agreement," she said, adding that Luetzerath sits atop of hundreds of millions of tons of coal. The government has acknowledged that achieving the next big climate milestonea reduction of emissions by 65% in 2030 compared with 1990 levelswill be a major challenge. Germany, which is home to many energy-intensive industries, aims to cut its emissions to "net zero" by 2045. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: Duncombe Park from near Griff Farm. Credit: Colin Grice/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA Researchers have shown how historic estates, such as Castle Howard and Duncombe Park, have helped shape biodiversity and the role they continue to play in the protection of nature. The research used archaeological dataspecifically Historic Landscape Characterization datato examine historic landscapes within protected areas like National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The research shows how historic patterns of land use have shaped the landscapes in Britain protected for biodiversity. Areas in the analysis included the Howardian Hills, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale along with 10 National Nature Reserves and 190 Sites of Special Scientific Interest across North Yorkshire. Historic houses and estates with popular nature attractions like Castle Howard, Duncombe Park and Nunnington Hall were also included in the study. At Duncombe Park, for example, a medieval deer park became a designed landscape for a stately home which maintained that woodland. This long management history is, in greater part, responsible for it now being a nationally important haven for beetles and other insects, while in other locations woodland has been dramatically reduced or cleared altogether. Influence Dr. Michael Stratigos, from the University of York's Leverhulme Center for Anthropocene Biodiversity who led the research, said, "We found that protected areas favor locations with character derived primarily from changes in land-use that occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries. How those historic changes shaped biodiversity should form a priority for research moving forward. "The data points to the influence that large estates have had, which has implications for protected area management and access to natural spaces. Large estates, like Castle Howard and many other privately owned estates, had in the past and continue in the present, to be responsible for much of the most valued biodiversity in England." Targets Dr. Stratigos said, "At COP15 in Montreal, the ambition to protect 30% of the globe by 2030 has been in negotiation. To meet these ambitions, the expansion of existing protected areas and the designation of new protected areas should take greater consideration of the types of historic landscape being designated to improve the protected area network." The research suggests that if similar types of historic landscapes are designated to meet 30x30 targets, similar outcomes and results can be expected in terms of biodiversity in protected areas. Protection Dr. Stratigos added: "Estate landscapes have often maintained certain management regimes over long periods of time resulting in highly-valued biodiversity. For example, patches of semi-natural ancient woodland were incorporated into the landscape designs of 18th and 19th-century country houses which have been maintained to this day." "On the other hand, protected areas for the most part cede management of nature to landowners, and the majority of these are owned privately. Thus biodiversity protection is most often done by, and in many ways for, those landowners who will be much wealthier than average. This history and pattern of ownership itself owes much of its origin again to those changes enacted in the 18th and 19th centuries. Expansion of protected areas via 30x30 and perhaps other biodiversity protection schemes could, if we aren't careful, exacerbate wealth inequalities." The researchers point out that designating different types of historic landscapes in these areas for nature provides an opportunity to generate diversity and perhaps improve access as a benefit to different groups of people, including members of the public who visit national parks and historic attractions. 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: Chemists from Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin showed that adding more charge-accepting ligands to the surface of semiconducting nanocrystals can produce ligand-ligand interactions that reduce the rate of electron transfer in hybrid nanomaterials. Credit: P. Rossky/Rice University Chemists from Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin discovered more isn't always better when it comes to packing charge-acceptor molecules on the surface of semiconducting nanocrystals. The combination of organic and inorganic components in hybrid nanomaterials can be tailored to capture, detect, convert or control light in unique ways. Interest in these materials is high, and the pace of scientific publication about them has grown more than tenfold over the past 20 years. For example, they could potentially improve the efficiency of solar power systems by harvesting energy from wavelengths of sunlightlike infraredthat are missed by traditional photovoltaic solar panels. To create the materials, chemists marry nanocrystals of light-capturing semiconductors with "charge acceptor" molecules that act as ligands, attaching to the semiconductor's surface and transporting electrons away from the nanocrystals. "The most-studied nanocrystal systems feature high concentrations of charge acceptors that are bound directly to the semiconducting crystals," said Rice chemist Peter Rossky, co-corresponding author of a recent study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. "Generally, people try to maximize the surface concentration of charge acceptors because they expect the rate of electron transfer to continuously increase with surface-acceptor concentration." A few published experiments had shown electron transfer rates initially increase with surface-acceptor concentration and then fall if surface concentrations continue to rise. Rossky and co-corresponding author Sean Roberts , an associate professor of chemistry at UT Austin, knew molecular orbitals of ligands could interact in ways that might influence charge transfer, and they expected there was a point at which packing more ligands onto a crystal's surface would give rise to such interactions. Credit: Rice University Rossky and Roberts are co-principal investigators with the Rice-based Center for Adapting Flaws into Features (CAFF), a multiuniversity program backed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that seeks to exploit microscopic chemical defects in materials to make innovative catalysts, coatings and electronics. To test their idea, Rossky, Roberts and colleagues at CAFF systematically studied hybrid materials containing lead sulfide nanocrystals and varying concentrations of an oft-studied organic dye called perylene diimide (PDI). The experiments showed that continually increasing the concentration of PDI on the surface of nanocrystals eventually produced a precipitous drop in electron transfer rates. Rossky said the key to the behavior was the effect that ligand-ligand interactions between PDI molecules have on the geometries of PDI aggregates on crystal surfaces. Compiling evidence to show the impact of these aggregation effects required expertise from each research group and a careful combination of spectroscopic experiments, electronic structure calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Roberts said, "Our results demonstrate the importance of considering ligand-ligand interactions when designing light-activated hybrid nanocrystal materials for charge separation. We showed ligand aggregation can definitely slow electron transfer in some circumstances. But intriguingly, our computational models predict ligand aggregation can also speed electron transfer in other circumstances." Rossky is Rice's Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Chair in Natural Sciences and a professor both of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering. More information: Matthew W. Brett et al, The Rise and Future of Discrete OrganicInorganic Hybrid Nanomaterials, ACS Physical Chemistry Au (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acsphyschemau.2c00018 Danielle M. Cadena et al, Aggregation of Charge Acceptors on Nanocrystal Surfaces Alters Rates of Photoinduced Electron Transfer, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2022). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09758 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society 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: The Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) is an ocean-color sensor that serves as a primary reference instrument for satellite measurements of the color of the ocean. Single-cell plants called phytoplankton contain chlorophyll that reflects the green in sunlight, which gives the ocean color. Researchers can study these measurements to better understand the planet's climate. MOBY received an upgrade as part of the Refresh project that will enable more precise and accurate measurements. Credit: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Marine Optical Buoy Project We typically think of the ocean's color as blue, but in some places, it looks blue-green. That's because those areas are teeming with single-cell plants called phytoplankton, which contain chlorophyll and reflect the green in sunlight. Though tiny, phytoplankton collectively absorb almost as much carbon dioxide as all the trees and land plants on Earth. They have an enormous impact on our climate, and scientists study that impact by measuring the color of the ocean with satellites and sea-based sensors. To ensure satellite measurements are accurate, researchers in the U.S. and many other nations rely on an ocean-color sensor called the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY). Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), the University of Miami and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have collaborated on an upgrade to the sensor, known as MOBY-Refresh, that will enable more precise and accurate measurements of sunlight's colors or wavelengths. "MOBY measures how much light over a range of wavelengths is being scattered out of the water at a single location in the Pacific Ocean. The ocean-color satellite sensors observe the oceans, including the MOBY site. The MOBY data then are delivered to the satellite teams, which use the data to adjust the satellite sensors' calibration, thus improving the accuracy of the global data products such as the concentration of chlorophyll," explained NIST researcher Carol Johnson. MOBY consists of two primary buoys: the optical buoy, which measures and records light, and the mooring buoy, which keeps the optical buoy in place. The optical buoy has a central mast that extends underwater. The mast has three pole-like arms, each with optical fibers that collect light. The optical fiber collectors detect light at depths of 1 meter (3.3 feet), 5 meters (16.4 feet) and 9 meters (29.4 feet). At the bottom of the central mast are spectrographs, which measure light as a function of wavelength at each of the three depths. A schematic diagram of MOBY's optical buoy, which contains a central mast that extends underwater and has three pole-like arms that collect light at different depths. At the bottom of the mast is the spectrograph, which measure light as a function of wavelength from each depth. Credit: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Marine Optical Buoy Project MOBY is located 20 kilometers (12 miles) off the coast of Lanai, Hawaii, because this location offers optimal atmospheric and water conditions for the calibration of ocean-color satellite sensors. The ocean water there is representative of the rest of the world's oceans as it is clear and has a low level of chlorophyll. The atmosphere is also clear with few clouds, which ensures the usefulness of the measurements on a global scale. "The life cycle of the optical buoy is around four months, and there are two complete systems. The one in the water is recovered on the same cruise as the new one is deployed," said Johnson. "The one in the water takes data and the one recovered is refurbished for the next operation," she said. MOBY has been in operation since 1997 and is currently on its 74th deployment of the optical buoy. In the Refresh project, MOBY is being upgraded with a new optical system, support structures and control system. The goal was to replace the aging hardware and decrease uncertainties in the measurements. A second mooring buoy was deployed in January 2021, and the first upgraded optical buoy was deployed there in late February 2022. Analysis of the data is ongoing, but initial comparisons to MOBY Buoy276, currently in the ocean, are very encouraging, Johnson said. For the optical system, the upgrade includes an improved spectrograph that can measure sunlight at all three depths simultaneously, which reduces environmental sources of uncertainty, including fluctuations in buoy tilt and arm depth and the fluctuations in light as it is focused by ocean waves. The optical buoy is now made of carbon fiber, whereas before it was made from fiber glass and metal, making the structure more robust and increasing its lifetime at sea. In parallel to MOBY-Refresh the team is developing similar instrumentation called MarONet, which will be used by an upcoming NASA satellite mission called PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem). The instrument design of the optical system will be the same as Refresh but features a more portable buoy. In the MarONet project, the optical system can be disassembled and taken to a central location for calibration and characterization. Calibration describes how the instrument output depends on the input, and characterization describes how this relationship changes with all possible influencing factors, such as ambient temperature. The deployment site for the MarONet buoy will be off the coast of Western Australia, and the central location for calibration and maintenance of the buoy will be in Hawaii, where the main MOBY hub is located. NIST's role in this process will be to check for any changes in the optical system during transportation. The site planning for Australia has begun, under the direction of co-investigator David Antoine of Curtin University in Perth. In 2023, the optical and mooring buoy equipment will be shipped to Australia. This story is republished courtesy of NIST. Read the original story here. 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: In this figure are somatic gonadal cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. The cells are aggregating and forming tubule-like structures that resemble the testis cords seen in real testis. The two left figures are bright field images and the one on the left is fluorescence image with a reporter gene that is only active in Sertoli cells present in the testis indicating that the cells are indeed very similar to Sertoli cells of the testis. Credit: Dr. Nitzan Gonen, Bar-Ilan University During embryonic development, two different cascades of genetic signals determine whether the embryo's primordial gonad will become testes or ovaries, and thus whether the embryo will develop into a male or a female. Disruptions in this process cause disorders in sexual development characterized by a mismatch between sex-determining chromosomes, gonads (ovaries or testicles) and the anatomy of the genitals. The incompatibility can be expressed in many and varied forms, such as unclear genitalia or a combination of male and female physiological characteristics. This medical condition is termed Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) with a prevalence of 1 in 4,500 newborns. One of the significant challenges in sex reversal research is the lack of an in vitro system to model and study variants found in DSD individuals. A study published today by researchers at Bar-Ilan University offers a solution to this challenge through the development of new tools to create the somatic/supporting cells of the gonad and hence be able to model stem cells derived from a DSD individual in a dish. This facilitates, for the first time, the ability to begin investigating DSD pathologies in the lab dish in a human-related context (and not via mice models). The research, led by Dr. Nitzan Gonen, of Bar-Ilan University's Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, in collaboration with The Francis Crick Institute in the UK and Institut Pasteur in France, was published in the journal Science Advances. Approximately one year ago, an article by Yoshino et al. in the journal Science showed that stem cells can be used to make both egg progenitor cells and ovarian somatic cells. When the researchers combined these two cells together, they were able to create a healthy and fertile embryo as a product of these artificial eggs. Dr. Gonen's research demonstrates the beginning stage of a similar idea, but this time in male cells. Male testicles contain germ cells that develop into sperm cells starting from puberty and throughout life. These cells are surrounded by supporting somatic (non-germ) cells that allow germ cells to function and develop. In the current study, Dr. Gonen and the researchers from The Francis Crick Institute differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells into early somatic cells in the testes. They compared the cells they created to real testis cells and showed, through RNA sequencing technology, that the two are very similar. The advantage of using mouse-derived stem cells first is that it enables proper comparison to real gonadal cells, isolated from embryonic gonads. It is very difficulteven impossibleto do this with human cells and human embryos, because the human equivalent is an embryo at week seven of pregnancy, a stage where access to embryos following abortions is challenging. Dr. Gonen's partners from Pasteur Institute, Dr. Anu Bashamboo and her lab, took this and showed that it works on human stem cells in a very similar way. Different combinations of X and Y chromosomes determine the sex of the embryo. The researchers took three types of human cellscells from a male (XY), cells from a female (XX) and cells from a sex-reversed DSD individual (XY born as female). They showed that the somatic cells produced from XX and XY are different from each other, while the cells of the sex-reversed individual are somewhere in the middle, closer to a female than to a male. However, when the variant or mutation in the DSD individual cells was corrected with CRISPR genome editing technology, the cells returned to behaving like typical XY cells. The creation of this cellular model of a human with sex reversal opens the door to understanding where the sex determination process went wrong in many other unexplained cases of DSD and what exactly is altered in the DSD individual's cells. "I think this study presents the possibility to generate various different somatic cell types of the gonad like Sertoli cells which support germ cells, or Leydig cells which secrete testosterone," says Dr. Gonen. "Combining somatic supporting cells with germ cells will enable us to create a "mini testis in a dish" to better understand cases of DSD and infertility. Hopefully, we may be able to use that in the future to generate functional sperm in the lab to allow infertile men to have a biological child." "Being able to understand the reasons behind differences in sex development is often very valuable to the individual affected and to their family. Additionally, it is often important when deciding on possible clinical treatments. For example, to potentially preserve, maintain or restore fertility," said Robin Lovell-Badge, head of the Crick's Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics Laboratory. More information: Nitzan Gonen et al, In vitro cellular reprogramming to model gonad development and its disorders, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn9793. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn9793 Journal information: Science Advances , Science FORT EDWARD Police on Thursday arrested a sex offender from Vermont now living in Washington County on a charge of failure to register his address. The Washington County Sheriffs Office arrested Patrick J. Ward, 39, formerly of Poultney, after an investigation determined that Ward failed to register his new address with the Sheriffs Office after moving to the area from his prior residence. Ward was charged with a felony count of failure to properly register as a sex offender. He was released and issued an appearance ticket for Fort Edward Town Court at a later date. Harpsichord player and organist Jiang Yushan revisits the composer Bach's rarely performed pieces for keyboards. Often eliciting curiosity from audiences, the appearance of Jiang Yushan's harpsichord is usually met with comments like "it looks different from piano", and, "the keyboard looks strange with the inverted black and white keys". For Jiang, the curiosity opens a door to new audiences that also discover the harpsichord is a joy to listen to. On Dec 9, Jiang released his new album, Johann Sebastian Bach: Works for Harpsichord, featuring seven musical works by Bach, his favorite composer of the Baroque era. Bach was a master in the art of composing fugues. On his new album, Jiang recorded Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903, and Prelude and Fugue in A Major, BWV 896. Jiang adds that two of the music pieces on the new album are very special: Suite in E Minor, BWV 996 and Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998, since they were written by Bach for lute. He once considered recording an album featuring only Bach's early musical works. However, due to Jiang's love for Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998, which was composed by Bach during his final years, he was keen to include it on the new album. "When I prepared for this album, I tried to select works written throughout the composer's life, from different eras and in different styles, which were rarely performed," says Jiang, 34. "When I compare those pieces, I realize that though they come from different eras and have been written with different techniques in mind, they all speak for the composer. He is mysterious and both he and his music intrigue me very much." Jiang's relationship with Bach is a deep one. When he was a child, Jiang loved going to bookstores, influenced by his parents who both love to read. "I still remember that I saw Bach's name in Chinese on a music score in a bookstore when I was a little boy. I could only read the first part of his name in Chinese but I didn't know the second, so I asked my father how to read it," recalls Jiang, who was born in Tianjin. Like many children in China, Jiang started to learn to play modern piano at the age of 6. His parents hoped that the piano lessons would rein in Jiang's energetic and noisy temperament. He played Bach's music and read about the composer and the keyboard instruments that he wrote music for. At the age of 13, he performed Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op 16, with the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra and then, at 15, went to Moscow to further his musical studies. After graduating from the Central Music School at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Jiang went on to seek further education there, as well as at Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany and Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland, where he trained in harpsichord and organ with eminent teachers, including German organist and harpsichordist Christian Rieger and Swiss organist and harpsichordist Jean-Claude Zehnder. "It's not purely about presenting music works which were written for old instruments like harpsichord. It is more about reimagining a piece of music over the notes on the page," says Jiang. In 2014, over the course of nearly three months and 29 concerts in Zurich, Jiang played all the keyboard works of Bach. In the summer of 2016, in Duisburg, Germany, Jiang, with his teacher Rieger, played the works composed by Bach and his sons for two harpsichords. He founded the Baroque ensemble, Z Leonis, in 2012, whose members are Chinese musicians specializing in baroque that live in Europe. As Jiang says, playing beautiful music with talented people is always an amazing experience. Away from the harpsichord, as an organist, Jiang is particularly an expert in works from the late Renaissance to Baroque periods. He is one of the few organists able to perform large organ recitals in China. FORT EDWARD Fort Ann Supervisor Samuel Hall and Argyle Supervisor Robert Henke traded places Tuesday on the Washington County Board of Supervisors, with Henke taking over as chairman of the board and Hall replacing him as vice chairman. With all supervisors present except Paul Ferguson of Dresden, the vote for each position was unanimous. Henke and Hall were sworn in by New York State Associate Justice Stanley Pritzker. Henkes adult children stood with him as he took the oath of office, and Henkes daughter Janet Dandrow sang the national anthem. Hall thanked the county department heads and fellow supervisors for their support during his time as chairman. Im proudest of how we conducted ourselves as a board, avoiding the conflicts of some other county boards, Hall said. He will deliver a state of the county address at the boards next meeting. Hall, Salem Supervisor Sue Clary, and Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell thanked the public safety personnel and utility crews who came to the aid of residents during weather-caused power outages Christmas week. Hebron lost its cellphone tower, and utility crews gave up their own Christmas to take care of it, Campbell said. Henke said he will keep committee heads as they are, unless someone strongly objects, but will change some committee assignments to balance supervisors workloads. We have almost every committee involved in something long term, he said. Campbell agreed to continue as sergeant at arms and Clary as chaplain. In other business: The board appropriated $214,000 for the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation Service, which provides soil and water conservation services for county landowners. The board appropriated $411,262 for the Washington County Extension Service, to be paid in two equal installments on Jan. 4 and July 3. The board approved an amendment to the 2023 budget so the county Board of Elections can spend a technical innovation and election resource grant of $57,772 from the state Board of Elections before a Jan. 27 deadline. The Board of Elections wants to buy printers, iPads, routers and related items with the funds. TD Banks Kingsbury office, Glens Falls National Bank and Trusts Fort Edward office, the Glens Falls National Bank Insured Cash Sweep Account, and the New York Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System were designated the countys official depositories. The boards regular monthly meeting will start at 10 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the county municipal building in Fort Edward. QUEENSBURY Ken Tingley, the retired editor of The Post-Star in Glens Falls, will be the luncheon speaker for the Adirondack chapter of the American Association of University Women on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Glens Falls Country Club. The public is invited. Tingley is an award-winning columnist and journalist who was editor of The Post-Star from 1999 to 2020 and an author of two recent books. The first The Last American Editor is a collection of 83 columns from his 30 years at The Post-Star. Ken Tingley not only writes from the heart, but he writes about the hearts of others, said author and columnist Terry Pluto. He tells great stories for those who live in his unique part of the world. Buy his book. Put it on the table next to your bed. When youve had a hard day, open it up: You can turn almost to any page and feel your heart restored. The second book The Last American Newspaper is a memoir of all the great work the reporters and editors did at the Glens Falls newspaper over the past two decades and the difference it made in the community. The Last American Newspaper is a clarion call for citizens who are rightly concerned about who is going to do the kind of journalism needed in a democracy, said former Post-Star Publisher David Stoeffler. Tingleys account is a microcosm of the triumphs and challenges experienced by community newspapers in hometowns across the U.S.A. Tingleys writing is as clear as his message. Tingley was honored eight times nationally by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and has approximately 75 state and national awards over his 40-year career in community newspapers. To attend the lunch ($20), please RSVP to Connie Bosse at aauw@adirondackny@gmail.com before Jan. 11. Tingley will be signing books after the event. The author will also be speaking at the Kingsbury-Fort Edward Senior Center at 78 Oak St. in Hudson Falls on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. Two former Queensbury residents were found murdered in their central Florida home on New Years Day, police said. Story corrected The story was updated at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday to correct the first name of Mrs. Getman, which is Sharon. The story was corrected at 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 6 to state that the Getmans were found dead on Saturday. Just after 4 p.m. Saturday, Darryl Getman, 83, and his wife, Sharon Getman, 80, were found dead in their home at 161 Lake Margaret Circle in the Waterman Village Retirement Community in city of Mount Dora, police said. The Getmans lived on Twicwood Lane in Queensbury for about 15 years and at the time of their death had two adult children. Michael Gibson, interim chief of the Mount Dora Police Department, said the couples car was stolen early Sunday morning. On December 31 at 2:02 a.m., Mr. and Mrs. Getmans vehicle was photographed leaving the facility, he said at a news conference Tuesday. Gibson stated that the woman who left in the Getmans vehicle was seen in the Waterman Village Retirement Community on Friday and had multiple run-ins with the complexs security. A black female, dressed in a certain way, was escorted out of the complex by Waterman Village security. On the same date at about 4:14 p.m., the same female was captured on security camera on Lake Margaret Circle again wearing the same outfit, he said. At about 10:58 p.m., this person of interest went to Apartment 4105, knocked on the door with the female occupant and asked to use her shower. Gibson said that the alert tenant hit her alarm she had to notify police and the facilitys security, to which the woman asked if she notified the police of her presence and then fled the scene. The woman, who has yet to be identified, was located driving the vehicle in another state and arrested, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The paper reported that the woman was arrested on charges of stealing the car but is not currently charged with the killings. Police have not identified the state where she was arrested. Gibson, in an email to The Post-Star on Wednesday, said: We have tried to release as much information that we can safely release without impeding the investigation or hopeful subsequent prosecution. He would not make further comment. The son and daughter of the Florida couple released a statement late Wednesday afternoon. We are stunned, devastated and heartbroken by the horrific murder of our parents. If there are words to describe what has happened and its impact to our family and the community, we have not found them, wrote Anthony and Brittany Getman. Mom and Dad had been residents of Mount Dora for over 20 years and truly loved the area. They were enjoying their golden years staying active and spending time with their many friends. We appreciate all the support we have received. It just shows how well thought of our parents were. The Getman siblings expressed confidence in the Mount Dora Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in their investigation. They and their teams have worked tirelessly together and with other agencies to solve this crime. We look forward to a successful resolution, they wrote. We humbly ask you to respect our privacy in this most difficult time and to allow law enforcement to complete their mission to solve this tragically unnecessary crime. Republican state Sen. Chris Connors, who followed in his late fathers footsteps by serving the public at both the state and local levels, will not seek reelection, his office announced Tuesday. Connors, R-Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, said Tuesday that after 33 years, he felt now was the right time to prepare to step aside from politics. Much of his decision was made knowing he would spend another four years in the Senate if he were reelected this fall. I can take comfort in fulfilling my final year in the Senate knowing that I served my constituents to the best of my ability, always placing their best interests and good governance before partisan politics or special interest agendas, Connors said in a statement. Always, my first and most important responsibility is to be responsive to my constituents, especially through the constituent services provided by my legislative district office to assist those in need. Connors serves the 9th Legislative District with two fellow Republicans, Assembly members Brian Rumpf and DiAnne Gove. He currently holds spots on the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability, as well as the Community and Urban Affairs and Military and Veterans Affairs Committees, according to the state Legislature website. Connors is the son of the late Leonard T. Connors, who also served in the 9th District Senate seat, advocating for New Jerseys seniors. Atlantic City Airshow expected to have major impact on local economy ATLANTIC CITY The 2022 Meet AC Atlantic City Airshow is ready to soar Wednesday, drawing h The elder Connors also was Surf Citys mayor while serving in Trenton, holding the job for the less-than-a-square-mile town from 1966 to 2015. Leonard Connors died in 2016. He was 87. Christopher Connors remembered his late father in announcing his decision not to continue in public office, praising his guidance as his son continued his political career. He always followed his moral compass and was the greatest father and mentor a person could ever have by their side, Christopher Connors said. Christoper Connors first bid in politics was in 1984, when he was voted onto the Lacey Township Committee. He went on to become the Ocean County municipalitys mayor from 1986 to 1990. Connors was sworn in to the state Assembly on Sept. 28, 1989, and was subsequently elected to the seat that November. He held the title until he was first elected to the state Senate in 2007. 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. Two Atlantic City residents and a Georgia man have been indicted in a fatal shooting in the city in September, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday. Malik Galloway, 31, of Atlantic City, is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to have a weapon. Laquan Rex, 30, of Atlanta, is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and Amari Rex, 22, of Atlantic City, is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution. Mays Landing man dies in Atlantic City shooting ATLANTIC CITY A Mays Landing man was killed while another was injured during a shooting in The three face charges stemming from a shooting that killed Malae Johnson, 19, of Mays Landing, and injured Michael DArrigo. On Sept. 25, police were called to the Pacific Food Mart in the 1000 block of Pacific Avenue, where they found Johnson and DArrigo. Both were taken to a hospital, where Johnson was pronounced dead, the Prosecutors Office said at the time. If convicted, Galloway faces life in prison without parole, Laquan Rex faces 30 years to life in prison and Amari Rex faces three to five years in prison. The mother of a 30-year-old man fatally shot by Ventnor police in 2020 is suing the department, claiming his civil rights were violated when officers didnt use milder levels of force. Amaala Medina-Johnson, of the Bronx, New York, alleges officers negligently triggered her son Amir Johnson during the fatal encounter Aug. 6, 2020. Officers Michael Arena, Pierluigi Mancuso and Robert Scarborough shot Johnson, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, during a confrontation in which he approached them with a broken glass bottle on Wellington/West End avenues. A state grand jury in June opted not to indict the officers in the shooting. State statutes permit deadly force when law enforcement sees an imminent need for it to protect themselves or others from the risk of severe injury. But in her lawsuit, Medina-Johnson maintains the officers did not consider less-lethal force, such as the use of a stun gun. They also ignored his mental state and did not perform procedures set forth to respond to people in crisis, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit was transferred to U.S. District Court in Camden last week. It was first filed in Atlantic County Superior Court on Aug. 5. Ventnor police Chief Joe Fussner could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. The lawsuit, filed by Ejikeme N. Uzor, a Union County-based attorney, said Johnson was lying injured beside the road after attempting suicide. A passing driver noticed Johnson and called 911, the lawsuit states. The suit alleges the officers response included remarks and jokes that upset Johnson. Officers also pointed a stun gun at him, leading him to believe they wanted to shoot him, the lawsuit states. Body camera footage shows one of the officers holding a stun gun he tells another wasnt operating when the encounter happened. The encounter was captured on body camera footage and released by the state Attorney Generals Office. In it, officers can be heard talking to Johnson in an attempt to calm him down and get him to drop the jagged bottle. Johnson, who can be seen on video with lacerations on his neck, moved toward the officers with the bottle still in his hand before officers fired multiple rounds at him. Since Johnsons fatal encounter with police, New Jersey has worked to improve law enforcement responses to those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Attorney Generals Office has established an ARRIVE Together initiative, a pilot program aimed at de-escalation techniques through the deployment of trained professionals. It launched in December 2021 at the State Polices Cumberland County stations in Bridgeton and Port Norris, expanding over the summer to multiple departments in Union County. Last month, the program expanded locally to the Bridgeton and Atlantic City police departments. Atlantic City police will use on-site telehealth services, connecting distressed individuals they encounter with professionals at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, the Attorney Generals Office said in announcing the expansion Dec. 21. MAYS LANDING At-large Commissioner John Risley, the longest serving of the nine Atlantic County commissioners, was unanimously elected chairman by his peers during Tuesdays reorganization meeting. County government exists to provide ... services efficiently and cost effectively, said Risley, of Egg Harbor Township, who has been a commissioner previously called a freeholder for 23 years. Thats our mission in county government. New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy attended to swear in Democratic 1st District Commissioner Ernest Coursey, of Atlantic City, for his fourth term on the board. Coursey thanked Murphy for making the long trip to support him and stressed the bipartisanship of the board. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the time we agree, Coursey said of the seven Republican and two Democratic members of the board. Third District Commissioner Andrew Parker, also a Republican from Egg Harbor Township, was sworn in as vice chair. State Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, there to swear in 4th District Commissioner Richard Dase, said Gov. Phil Murphy has been a good partner for the county in getting good things done, such as Superior Court judges sworn in and new county Prosecutor William Reynolds nominated and approved by the Senate. Nobody knows how to be a commissioner better than you, at-large Commissioner Frank Balles, of Egg Harbor Township, told Risley after he was elected and took up the meeting gavel. Maureen Kern presided during COVID times and did one heck of a job, Risley said of his Republican predecessor, the 2nd District commissioner from Somers Point. Assemblywoman Claire Swift, R-Atlantic, swore in Republican at-large Commissioner Amy Gatto, of Mays Landing, who was reelected. Gatto said there was a lot of great energy in the county in 2019 when she last ran for the board, but much of it got sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic that hit in 2020. We are coming out of the pandemic trying to put our foot on the gas to get energy back up for all those things we had planned in 2019 into 2020, Gatto said. My last term was completely different than I ever planned or imagined. Im looking forward to getting out of COVID-land and moving into all the wonderful things we had planned to do previously. Wedding bells after retirement for longtime Atlantic County commissioners' clerk NORTHFIELD The retirement party for longtime Clerk to the Atlantic County Board of Commiss Dont be strangers, Dase told the dozens in attendance to see friends and family members take new roles. Its government of the people, by the people and for the people, so its important you stay involved and hold our nose to the fire to make sure we do what we say we are going to do. After the meeting, Risley said the three main issues facing the county are the ongoing legal fight over how much casinos should pay in lieu of property taxes; the rising cost of insurance for government workers, which is going up about 28% this year, and the challenge of filling all county jobs with too few applicants for many positions. The county particularly needs more officers at the jail in Mays Landing, Risley said. It was also Clerk of the Board Tara Silipenas first meeting in her new role, after longtime clerk Sonia Harris retired Dec. 31. Harris was there in the audience to cheer on the commissioners and Silipena, she said. HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Uncertainty lingers over the workings of township government as it starts the new year, with officials seeking to fill its administrator position. The Township Committee tabled a motion to appoint an acting administrator during a special meeting Dec. 27. The person appointed to the temporary position would serve through Jan. 31, 2023. The administrator had been Joseph Kostecki II, whom the committee appointed last February. The governing body was split in a 2-1 vote on its decision to table. Township Committeewoman Sue Hopkins, one of the two members of the body who voted to table, said she was concerned a candidate the township had been considering did not meet the relevant qualifications for the position. There should be a vote, Hopkins said, on changing the description of the position before voting to appoint a new administrator. Neither Hopkins nor the other members of the committee named the specific candidates who were under consideration. Its a slippery slope when we start to bend our job descriptions, especially for the lead position of a $27 million operation, Hopkins said. Hopkins said she was particularly concerned that the committee was overlooking two well-qualified, female candidates for the position. Judge detains Hamilton Township woman charged with husband's Christmas murder MAYS LANDING A Hamilton Township woman charged with murdering her husband on Christmas Day Were not considering two women that are capable, educated and able to do the job. Were bypassing both of them for another gentleman. I have an issue with that, Hopkins said. That troubles me that weve not had female leadership in the administrative role. Committeewoman Judy Link, the one vote against tabling, spoke in favor of the candidate the committee was considering. She said the candidate had a plethora of knowledge about the township and is very qualified for the position. That is my opinion, and I do not understand why we tabled this, Link said. Committeeman Carl Pitale was the second vote to table. Mayor Charles Cain and Deputy Mayor Richard Cheek were not present to vote. The committee voted 4-1 to appoint Kostecki last year, noting his considerable experience in municipal government. Kostecki had served as borough administrator and municipal clerk for South Toms River in Ocean County since 2013. He had also served on the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Municipal Management Association, the Legislative Committee of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and the Public Information and Engagement Task Force for Sustainable Jersey. He has a bachelors degree in political science from Rutgers University and a masters degree in public administration from Penn State University. Local governments reorganize as 2023 begins Governing bodies across South Jersey are set to reorganize this week. The lone no vote was Pitale, who had taken issue with an argument Kostecki had with the local Police Benevolent Association in South Toms River. Kostecki had said his conflict with the PBA had been resolved. There was some confusion over whether the job description had been changed to suit a new candidate under consideration. Link maintained it had, while Hopkins said she thought that only an advertisement for the position had been changed, while the qualifications themselves had been unchanged. Township officials present at the Dec. 27 meeting said it was ultimately the responsibility of the township administrator to change the job description and it was unclear whether Kostecki had ever done so. The members of the committee told residents there was no position of deputy administrator who could assume administrative duties. There was also confusion over whether there was a job description for the specific role of acting township administrator. Committeewoman-elect Thelma Witherspoon, speaking during the public comment section of the meeting, asked who was running the townships daily business with the administrator position vacant. It needs to be someone that is in charge until that takes place, because there are still things that are going on and things that need to be answered, Witherspoon said. So who is in charge? Hopkins indicated that the committees decision to part ways with the last administrator lacked foresight. She said she was still waiting for information about one of the candidates being considered for the role, which she was not sent, leaving the township unprepared. When this meeting was called, I specifically asked for a job description and a resume, so that I could come in and vote in the positive or the affirmative today, Hopkins said. And in absence of any of that being sent to me, we find ourselves, yet again, without another administrator until Jan. 3. Amid a rent dispute, more troubles for Hamilton Mall MAYS LANDING In the age of online shopping and truncated mall store rosters, shoppers such The township has seen a series of administrators come and go in recent years. Peter Miller, who had worked as the administrator in Egg Harbor Township for 32 years, was appointed to an interim administrator position in Hamilton from June 2021 to February 2022. He was selected to bring experience and a steady hand as the township searched for a permanent fix. The township had voted to appoint Joseph Galdo, a former employee for the city governments of Camden and Philadelphia, to the position in October 2021. Galdo subsequently declined the job offer. Miller, in turn, replaced Arch Liston, who had told the committee he was leaving to take a position in Trenton. His tenure had only begun in March 2020. The controversy over the administrator role comes as the township undergoes significant political change. Mayor Charles Cain lost his bid for reelection in November, falling behind the incumbent Pitale and the Democratic nominee Witherspoon. Pitale was the sole member of the committee to vote against appointing Cain mayor in 2022, and the pair had previously disagreed about the position of township administrator and over a possible takeover of the township Municipal Utilities Authority. The vote on the new administrator and other appointments were scheduled to be held Tuesday night during the committees 2023 reorganization meeting. ATLANTIC CITY Who will be the new president of City Council after Wednesday evenings council reorganization meeting? Current President George Tibbitt has been elected president by fellow council members for the past three years but was not expected to continue getting majority support after his relationship with Mayor Marty Small Sr. soured last year. Tibbitt decided to step aside and let someone else take the responsibility, and the extra work, to spend more time developing his own projects and enjoying family time, he said Tuesday. Im not running, and I fully endorse Bruce Weekes as a younger, vibrant and very educated person to continue on, Tibbitt said Tuesday. Ive had the presidency three years, its time to give someone else a turn. Weekes could not immediately be reached for comment. Weekes, who ran on the same ticket with Small, Tibbitt and Councilwoman Stephanie Marshall in 2021, has often voted with a minority on council that tends to vote against Small administration ideas and preferences. Local governments reorganize as 2023 begins Governing bodies across South Jersey are set to reorganize this week. For example, Weekes and Tibbitt both supported a ballot question effort by a group of Small critics and Republicans to change the way elections are conducted in the city to a nonpartisan format. The question failed in the November election. Small and his supporters had said such a move would weaken the Democratic Party and its city committee, which is controlled by Small followers. Tibbitt, Weekes and other supporters of the change had said it would give political outsiders more of a chance to get elected and open up the political process to more people. Longtime council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz declined to predict what will happen Wednesday but said the most important thing is to show the city of Atlantic City and people who are looking to do business or are actually doing business here that the city will move forward in 2023. Shabazz said he is not expecting a contentious meeting and added Im happy where Im at when asked whether he might become president. Shabazz has been running biweekly Clean and Safe Atlantic City meetings since June that have jumpstarted successful efforts to get hundreds of streetlights repaired and working again, to arrest repeat quality-of-life offenders such as shoplifters, and to start new legislative efforts with state Sen. Vince Polistina and Assembly members Don Guardian and Claire Swift, all R-Atlantic, on a variety of issues affecting the city. Improvements made to the Atlantic City Police Department in 2022 ATLANTIC CITY It was a pretty good year for the Atlantic City Police Department. In addition to determining leadership positions on council and appointing people to boards and other positions, council will vote on adopting a cash management plan. It includes authorization for Director of Revenue and Finance Toro Aboderin to invest in tax-exempt municipal obligations. Council will also vote on accepting a $1 million state grant for anti-violence programs for out-of-school youth. Resolutions would also authorize the city to charge 8% interest a year on late property tax payments on the first $1,500 in arrears, and 18% per year on an excess amount owed; authorize the municipal tax collector to conduct an accelerated tax sale, and to cancel any tax refund for less than $10. Another item would authorize the municipal tax collector to mail notices to property owners in lieu of two publications for notice of tax sale; and yet another allows the tax collector to accept partial payments of property taxes. The city has reported an almost 98% success rate in collecting property taxes for the past two years. The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall at 1301 Bacharach Blvd. It will also be livestreamed at acnj.gov. The link to the meeting can be found on the city calendar by clicking on the Jan. 4 meeting. Divided U.S. Congress convenes in scandal, with McCarthy failing initial vote to be elected House speaker Xinhua) 10:24, January 04, 2023 The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington, D.C., the United States, Nov. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) -- U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy lost an initial vote for House speaker on Tuesday afternoon after 19 Republicans voted for others, sending the election to a second ballot. -- Public trust in the U.S. Congress reached an all-time low, with only 7 percent of Americans expressing "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in it, according to a Gallup poll released in the summer of 2022. WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A divided and new U.S. Congress convened Tuesday noon amid a bitter House leadership battle and the snowballing scandal of a congressman-elect lying about his biography. The session came nearly two months after the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans flipped the U.S. House of Representatives and Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, lost an initial vote for House speaker on Tuesday afternoon after 19 Republicans voted for others, sending the election to a second ballot. All House Democrats voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the Democratic minority, set to make him the first African American lawmaker to lead a party in either chamber of the U.S. Congress. If no candidate wins a majority of votes in the next round, House members will vote on and on until a speaker is elected. U.S. Congressman-elect George Santos, a 34-year-old Republican from New York, is among those who are waiting to be sworn in after the speaker vote. Santos has recently admitted to lying about his educational history and professional biography but rejected bipartisan calls for him not to take office. "My sins here are embellishing my resume. I'm sorry," embattled Santos acknowledged last week while alleging that the controversy would not deter him "from having good legislative success." Former U.S. Congresswoman and Fox News contributor Tulsi Gabbard commented, "Washington has created a culture where it's acceptable to lie to further your own interest." "But even when politicians do get caught, people just shrug their shoulders and move on," Gabbard continued. "So, no one should be surprised that the American people don't trust these politicians." Public trust in the U.S. Congress reached an all-time low, with only 7 percent of Americans expressing "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in it, according to a Gallup poll released in the summer of 2022. Americans' approval of Congress, a separate survey that Gallup conducted following last year's midterm elections suggested, remains largely negative, with 73 percent of U.S. adults expressing disapproval. The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington, D.C. Nov. 10, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the opening day of the Senate with Democrats having a slim 51-49 majority over Republicans, and she swore in 35 either newly elected or reelected senators Tuesday afternoon. Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, both Senate veterans, will continue to serve as the chamber's majority leader and minority leader, respectively. The divided Congress with Republicans controlling the House is likely to stall U.S. President Joe Biden's legislative agenda in the next two years. In addition, top House Republicans have vowed to launch a series of investigations into the Democratic administration, poised to augment partisan discord on Capitol Hill. "Our politics has gotten so angry, so mean, so partisan," Biden said late last year. "And too often we see each other as enemies, not as neighbors; as Democrats or Republicans, not as fellow Americans. We've become too divided." Divided government has been the reality for all U.S. presidents since Ronald Reagan for at least part of their term. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Workers assemble engines on an assembly line at a workshop of the Weichai Power Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] Business confidence in factory output going forward strengthened in China to a 10-month high upon expectations of waning COVID-19 disruptions even as a rise in infections dented manufacturing activity in December, a private survey said on Tuesday. The Caixin China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index which gauges operating conditions in the manufacturing sector fell to a three-month low of 49 in December, versus 49.4 in November, indicating a further slight deterioration in overall business conditions, media group Caixin said on Tuesday. Staying below the 50-point mark for the fifth straight month, the latest PMI reading indicates that manufacturing activity continued to shrink in December as COVID-19 outbreaks weighed on output and demand, Caixin said in a report. Manufacturers, however, expressed stronger optimism for the new year. The level of positive sentiment improved to the highest level in 10 months, with surveyed companies anticipating output to increase as the pandemic situation improves and market conditions strengthen, the report said. "Overall, the pandemic continued to take a toll on the economy in December," said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group. "But optimism in the sector significantly improved thanks to further optimized COVID controls," Wang said, adding that companies expressed strong confidence in economic recovery following the adjustments of COVID-19 containment measures. The PMI survey performed by the National Bureau of Statistics also pointed to brightening market confidence despite a slowdown in manufacturing activity. While December's official manufacturing PMI dropped to 47, the lowest level in nearly three years, most polled enterprises believe that market conditions are likely to pick up as the pandemic situation improves, the bureau said on Saturday. The improvements in business expectations came as no surprise as high-frequency data have shown signs of a recovery in economic activity over the past couple of weeks. For instance, domestic air passenger volume measured by the ratio of actual flights to scheduled flights on a seven-day moving average basis improved to 50.9 percent on Sunday, up from 41.3 percent a week earlier, analysts at Nomura said in a note, albeit cautioning that a full recovery from the pandemic remains distant. "The economy is likely to have hit bottom in December," said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank. As the peak of infections gradually passes, population mobility should recover, Wen said. This may help the Chinese economy kick off a recovery trajectory from January, especially after factoring in the boost offered by the Spring Festival holiday. While the economy may be poised for a gradual pickup, experts said it is still essential for the country to step up growth stabilization efforts as the foundation for domestic consumption recovery is not yet firm while overseas demand could deteriorate. The Caixin survey said the reading for new export orders remained in contraction for the fifth straight month, while the employment sub-gauge has not shown signs of a significant rebound, logging the second-worst performance in 34 months. As part of the country's efforts to promote economic recovery, China has announced it will adjust tariffs on a series of goods this year, bringing down the country's overall tariff level from 7.4 percent to 7.3 percent. Starting Sunday, the country has imposed a provisional import tax rate lower than the "most-favored nation" tariff rate on 1,020 items. It is necessary for various policies to work together to stabilize the job market and increase household disposable incomes, which will be key to expanding consumption, said Wang of Caixin Insight Group. High Court restrained state from prosecuting interfaith couples The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued a notice on Madhya Pradeshs government plea against a high court order restraining it from prosecuting interfaith couples, who get married without informing the district magistrate. A bench comprising Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar, during the hearing, noted that all conversions cannot be said to be illegal. The top court issued notice on the state governments plea and scheduled the matter for hearing on February 7. Mehta sought a stay on the high court order, however the apex court declined to pass any direction. Lawmakers freedom of speech has no curbs The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that no additional restrictions other than those prescribed under Article 19(2) of the Constitution can be imposed on the right to free speech of a citizen, and emphasized that restrictions under Article 19(2) are exhaustive. IANS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Same-sex marriage pleas The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list two petitions on January 6, seeking to transfer to it pleas pending in the Delhi High Court and the Kerala High Court in connection with recognition of samesex marriage. IANS Covid boosters helped limit the spread of virus in California prisons during the first Omicron wave, according to an analysis by researchers at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) that examined transmission between people living in same cell. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, demonstrated the benefits of vaccination and boosting, even in settings where many people are still getting infected, in reducing transmission. It also showed 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 per cent 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, a faculty research fellow in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at UCSF. IANS Before the government agreed to their demand against privatisation, power utility workers stayed away from work and this resulted in people facing outages for up to 12 hours; industrial units too suffered Despite the assurance of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), various areas of Pune suffered as the power utilitys employees began their 72-hour protest across Maharashtra on Wednesday. Calling the companys bluff of uninterrupted supply, citizens from areas such as Sinhagad Road, Dhayari, and Wadgaon said they faced long outages and waited for about 12 hours for the resumption of power. Many other places too faced an ordeal for up to five hours, which affected the daily schedule of people. The industrial sector also had to deal with such difficulties. MSEDCL Pune division spokesperson Nishikant Raut told Mirror: Around 92 per cent employees from the Pune division were participating in the protest. All the senior officials and the remaining staff were on duty the whole night. This helped us continue power supply to important establishments such as hospitals, mobile towers, the water supply department, government offices, etc. When told about the complaints of people from several areas in the city, he said: Power supply in most of the areas resumed by evening, and the officials are working 24x7 to resume supply in the remaining areas. The strike also had an impact on the industrial sector as over 1,200 factories in the Bhosari MIDC area stopped their work due to a power cut in the morning. Industries hit in twin town Around 1,200 companies had to stop their work for four hours. The factory owners claim that there was nobody at the MSEDCL office to respond to their calls. Sandeep Belsare, president of Pimpri-Chinchwad Small and Medium Scale Industries Association, told Mirror: The power supply in sector 7 and T Block in Bhosari MIDC was interrupted at around 8:15 am and it took four hours for the officials to resume the supply. Around 1,200 companies located in this area had to stop their work resulting in heavy financial loss. MSEDCL had planned uninterrupted supply during the strike but despite that, it took four hours for them to resume the supply. Sanjay Bansal, a businessman running manufacturing units in Bhosari, said, We could not start our work this morning due to a power cut for four hours. We manufacture products worth over Rs 15 lakh to Rs 17 lakh every day in a 12-hour shift, but we wasted a lot of time due to this chaos. Protests against privatisation Babasaheb Shinde, an operator working for the last 24 years with MSEDCL, said, We have given multiple letters to the government over our demands but they did not take any steps. We oppose the privatisation of our company. This will affect consumers because once it is privatized, all the subsidies from the government will stop. Bhimashankar Pohekar, a steno typist working for the last 34 years with MSEDCL and has only 7 months left in service, said, We cannot agree to its privatisation, because that will destroy all the efforts we have put in in all these years. Ishwar Wabale, a lineman working for the last 13 years with MSEDCL, said: The company is built by spending public money and giving it away to a private entity will be a disastrous decision. Citizens suffer I was late for work. We had to use LPG gas to boil water to bathe and it slowed down our work, complained Sonali Dharmadhikari, a resident of Shivane. Vijay Jagtap, a resident of Sinhagad Road, said that he power supply was resumed in our area almost after 12 hours. Dhayari resident Deepali Pathak was an unhappy person. As there was no electricity since 1:30 am, we could not step out of our home, she said. Amenities unaffected PMPML. that has a big share of e-buses, was unaffected as the power supply at their charging stations was uninterrupted. Besides, other facilities such as the RTO office was functioning, and so were traffic signals. Meanwhile, the employees decided to withdraw their protest after the state government agreed to their demands. The government has assured the protesting employees that three companies Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (Mahadiscom-MSEDCL), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahatransco-MSETCL), and the Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (Mahagenco-MSPGCL will not be privatised. The Maharashtra State Electricity Employees, Officers, and Engineers Sangharsh Samiti, a federation of around 32 different organisations, had started the protest against the decision of privatisation of the state utility and the entry of Adani Electricity Company into the Navi-Mumbai region. Adani Electricity Company has applied for a licence for power distribution in Mulund, Bhandup, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Kharghar, Taloja, and Uran. The federation members have alleged that giving permission to a private firm for the distribution of electricity in the area will be the beginning of the privatisation of the state utility. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power supply in Sinhagad Road, Dhayari, and Wadgaon areas was disrupted for over 12 hours while at other locations the average outage was 4-5 hours and above Around 30,000 consumers of Sinhagad Road, Dhayari, and Wadgaon areas were affected Around 1,200 factories in Bhosari MIDC had no power supply for over 4 hours ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Areas that were affected in Pune Sinhagad Road Wadgaon Dhayari Uttam Nagar Shivane Sus Road Pashan Dhankawadi Ambegaon Katraj Gokulnagar Bhilarewadi Ramtekadi Hadapsar Gadital B T Kawade Road Tingarenagar Mohannagar Press Colony Shashrtinagar, Kothrud Wakad Sanghavi Mahalunge Talegaon city Indori W Wadgaon Somatane Nanekarwadi Kurali Kadus Chakan MIDC Bhosari MIDC Junnar Otur Dehu Gaon Borhadewadi Chikhali Ota Skim area Complainant claims colleagues stalked and made working tough for her since September, management brushed incidents under the carpet rather than taking action; she approached police after quitting job; no arrests made so far A25-year-old HR executive of hotel Marriot Suits in Koregaon Park has filed a complaint with the police alleging sexual harassment by two colleagues. She also accused persons in senior ranks of trying to hush up the matter after she informed them about the incidents. The victim went on to say that the severity of the harassment compelled her to resign from the job she had been holding for four years. Acting on the victims First Information Report (FIR), the Mundhwa Police have filed a case against the hotels senior HR Manager Rahul Sanap and Security Manager Vinod Pawar. However, no arrests have been made so far. The case is registered under the Indian Penal Code Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-D (stalking), 506 (criminal Intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (common criminal intention). The victim alleged that she was forced to resign owing to sexual harassment General Manager (HR) of the hotel Sourabh Bharara said, The allegations made against the two gentlemen are a personal issue. I cannot comment on it. The complainant has gone to the police after resigning. She is no longer an employee of the hotel. The police called me too, and I am extending full cooperation to their investigations. When asked about the complainants allegation that no action was taken by the hotels management even after she had approached them, Bharara claimed, I have received no such complaint. Nobody was aware of the allegations. In her FIR recorded late Monday evening, the victim, an unmarried woman from Pune, stated that she was harassed from September 1, 2021, till the time she resigned on December 31, 2022. She said: I joined the group of hotels as an HR Executive four years ago after completing a course in Hotel Management from a reputed university. Initially, I was posted in Goa. Later, I was transferred to the hotels branch located off Senapati Bapat Road, and then shifted to the branch in Koregaon Park in April last year. I was assigned to work on a 9 am to 6 pm shift, and Sanap was my reporting authority. He would pass lewd remarks at me, and insist that I wear body-hugging clothes. Initially, I ignored this. On December 12, I met Sanap when around 2 pm he summoned me to his cabin citing official work. When I went there, he shut the door and sought sexual favours. His language was obscene, and he touched me inappropriately. I pushed him away and fled from his cabin. However, he followed me, insisting on his demand. He also threatened to kill me. Instead of informing my family about the incident, I decided to take up the issue with the hotels General Manager, and narrated the incident to him. However, he took no action, she added. The victim went on to allege, In the afternoon of December 22, Sanap tried hugging me in my cabin. He left after I warned him that I would complain to the hotels senior management. In the afternoon of December 24, Sanap and Pawar entered my cabin. Pawar passed lewd remarks and threatened that I would be killed if I refused to cooperate with Sanap or complained to the higher-ups. The incident has left me numb and I feel traumatised. On December 26, I called the Senior Director of Human Resources for South Asia Marriott International and informed him about the incidents. I was told that since it was a question of reputation of the hotel, I should not lodge a formal complaint. A promise was made to look into the matter, but no action was taken thereafter. On December 27, Sanap chased me when I was returning home and threatened to kill me, she informed. I quit the job on December 31. On the same day, I sent an email to all the higher-ups, stating that I was forced to resign owing to sexual harassment. However, there was no response of any kind. It was then that I confided in my family, and decided to lodge a police complaint. The victim also alleged that the police took time to act. She stated that though her mother and she reached the police station around 1.30 pm on January 2, they were made to sit there till 12.30 am on January 3. The policemen summoned Sanap to the police station. However, he walked out. Sub-Inspector of police Ashwini Bhosale, who is investigating the case, denied that action was delayed. It took time for us to conduct the Panchnama. We have not arrested anybody yet, but investigations are on. We are looking for the people named by the victim, she said. Group of six aspiring lawyers were partying at Gypsii Bar and Kitchen when the incident occurred While New Years Eve is a time for celebration, for some revellers, merry-making becomes a very troublesome experience. A group of youngsters from the city has one such horrifying tale to tell. When the group of three young men and their female friends stepped out for a year-end party, they were unaware what lay in store for them. The six revellers, all aspiring lawyers studying in a city-based law college, were manhandled and beaten up by the bouncers at the resto-bar where they were partying, following a minor scuffle among them. The Chandannagar police filed a case of outraging modesty, assault and criminal intimidation under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code after one of the victims, a 22-year-old girl, lodged an FIR against three bouncers of the Gypsii Bar and Kitchen. However, no arrests have been made so far. The victim, in her FIR, stated, On New Years Eve, my friends and I planned to go to the Gypsii Bar and Kitchen around 11.30 pm. We had a nice time there for a few hours. There was a large crowd and everybody was bubbling with enthusiasm. On New Years Eve, my friends and I planned to go to the Gypsii Bar and Kitchen around 11.30 pm. We had a nice time there for a few hours. There was a large crowd and everybody was bubbling with enthusiasm, she added. Around 12.30 am, I was standing in the resto-bar, holding a drink in my hand, when I accidentally brushed against a woman standing close to me, and the drink in my glass spilt over her garments, she said, adding, I was unaware then that she was the hotels promoter. This sparked a heated debate. My friends and I tried to apologise, but she was not in the mood to listen and continued to chastise us. As she continued to subject me and my friends to a torment of harsh words, three male bouncers approached us and began dragging us away. The victim alleged, Our friends tried to intervene but to no avail. The bouncers dragged us out of the resto-bar. Once outside, they felt us up. When we protested, they slapped me and my friends. One of the bouncers even hit us with his belt. I suffered an injury on my temple as the buckle of the belt hit me hard. She went on to say, Scared, we called up my cousin and informed him about the incident. He rushed to the spot and took me to a private clinic in the Mangalwar Peth area. Such was the trauma of the incident that instead of lodging a police complaint immediately, I went home to recover. When my cousin returned to his house and informed his parents about the incident, they called me up and convinced me to file a police complaint. Senior police inspector, Rajendra Landge said, We have recorded statements of the victims and filed a case against three persons under IPC section 354(A), 352, 324, 323, 504 and 34. We are yet to ascertain identities of the perpetrators. We would be questioning the hotel staff to ascertain their identities. When contacted, Akshay Nikam from the Gypsii Bar and Kitchen refuted the allegations. He said, The six youths had indulged in a squabble outside the hotel. Later, they came to our hotel to drink water and to use the washroom, when one of them picked up a quarrel with the promoter of our hotel. They were evicted by the female bouncers. No male bouncer was involved in any manner. The worker at Kings Material in Eldridge who suffered serious injuries last week after becoming trapped in a conveyor belt has been identified as 31-year-old Derek Oldfather, of Davenport. Eldridge Police Chief Joe Sisler made the announcement Tuesday, adding Oldfather is, "in stable condition at this time." He was extricated from machinery with help of numerous agencies that included a surgical team from University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City. At 1:17 p.m. last Thursday officers from the Eldridge Police Department, deputies from the Scott County Sheriffs Department and firefighters from the Eldridge Fire Department were sent to Kings Material, 3800 S. 1st St. Oldfather had become stuck in a conveyor belt. Immediately it was determined he would need to be airlifted to University Hospitals for immediate medical care. He was freed from the conveyor belt in a team effort that included Eldridge firefighters, Medic EMS paramedics, AirCare Emergency Transport medical staff and a surgical team from University Hospitals. He then was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Sisler said an investigation into the mishap would be turned over to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. Kings Material specializes in providing concrete, masonry and numerous other products and services for outdoor landscaping for homes and business. Davenport School District administration are asking for community feedback on proposed elementary school boundary changes an important step in the district's ongoing long-range facilities planning. As of mid-December, the district's website was updated to include all proposed boundary maps for each of Davenport's elementary schools to remain open next school year. Community members may view these proposals, along with the existing boundary map, on the website's Long Range-FMPC page. In an auto-dialer message sent to district parents and staff on Jan. 2, Superintendent TJ Schneckloth urged recipients to review their respective school's proposed boundary map and share feedback, using the form located at the bottom of the webpage. "Each week our board members read submissions received through the feedback form," he said in the message. "The board will vote on school boundaries at their meeting on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. We want to hear from our staff, families, and greater community. All change can be difficult, but it allows the unique opportunity to reassess and improve physical facilities, providing our students with the resources that they deserve." As the board's boundary proposal vote on Monday nears, the district will communicate additional information on the proposed maps and continued facilities planning regularly via email, school and district websites and its auto-dialer system, according to Schneckloth's message. "We encourage our community to stay involved in this process, to ask questions and to exhibit patience in the days ahead," his message closed. The proposed boundary changes come as administration, Bray Architects and the facilities master planning committee, which includes a staff member and parent from each building, spent more than a year working out a facilities master plan draft. Presented to the Davenport school board for final discussion on Dec. 5, it shifts the district into a K-5, 6-8 grade configuration in hopes of mitigating excess capacity and becoming more operationally efficient. The first phase of this plan was board-approved on Dec. 12, resulting in the closure of Washington, Buchanan and Monroe elementary schools at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. The board subsequently voted to transition district sixth-graders into middle school buildings effective in fall 2024. Photos: Sudlow students create collaborative mural entitled, Courage & Identity Two men have been sentenced for the gang-related shooting death of a Chicago woman who was hit by a stray bullet as she was out shopping with her young sons. A pair of burglars targeted gun stores in Bettendorf, Eldridge, and Muscatine early Monday but did not get away with any firearms. John VenHorst, who owns Square Shooters at 420 N. 9th Ave. in Eldridge, got a chance to review the stores surveillance tapes Wednesday afternoon. He said two men gained entry around 4 a.m. Monday by kicking out the glass in the stores front door. On the tape, you could see that they came in with their guns drawn and they swept the room in case anyone was inside, VenHorst said. As soon as they broke the glass, they had 30 seconds before the alarm started going off. There were no guns visible to steal, and once the alarm started, they scrambled out of here like roaches. All of the guns available for sale at Square Shooters are placed in a gun vault at the end of every business day, VenHorst said. I do know that we were not the only store hit that morning, VenHorst said. It looks like these two people were hitting a number of other spots. VenHorst was correct. Muscatine Police think the two men who entered Square Shooters may also have attempted to break into Lewis Firearms at 2:40 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to reports of an alarm going off at the gun shop at 210 Stewart Road in Muscatine and found damage to the stores door and door frame consistent with someone trying to force entry into the building, Lt. David OConnor said. Nothing was stolen from the store. The pairs crime spree ended with an attempted break-in at R&R Sports in Bettendorf, according to the Eldridge Police Department. When the burglars left Square Shooters, police said, they headed for Bettendorf. The men last were seen around 4:26 a.m., leaving R&R Sports. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous, and anyone who sees them should not approach them, police warned. Further details about the suspects and their vehicle were not available Wednesday. Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact police at 563-285-9822 or the Quad-Cities chapter of Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500. Reporter David Hotle contributed to this story. Arrest affidavits for the three people accused in the shooting death of a Clinton man early New Years Day have shed more light on the incident. Kimberly Anne Hammond, 25, and Justice Kiara Foley, 24, both of Clinton, each are charge with one count 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. Donivan Williams James Chambers, 28, is charged with one count of accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Clinton Police Officer Joshua Winter, at 2:11 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to 420 Glenwood Place, Apt. 8, to investigate a report of a person being shot. Officers arrived on the scene to find Randy Weimerskirch, 42, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Weimerskirch was taken to MercyOne Clinton Medical Center where he died. During the investigation, it was learned that Hammond, Foley and Chambers went to Weimerskirchs apartment in a 2007 gray Mazda. Weimerskirch had been in a relationship with Hammond and allegedly owed her money. Hammond and Justice walked to the apartment door to confront Weimerskirch and attempt to obtain the money. A witness overheard somebody banging loudly on the door to Weimerskirchs apartment. Damage was caused to the door. After Weimerskirch answered the door, he was shot in the head. Three arrested in shooting death of Clinton man Three people have been charged in connection with the shooting death of a 42-year-old Clinto A next-door neighbor of Weimerskirchs reported hearing two females yelling prior to the gunshot. At 4:19 a.m. officers located the Mazda. Hammond, Justice and Chambers were in the vehicle. Chambers was in possession of a revolver. The investigation revealed that after the shooting, Chambers drove Hammond and Justice to Hammonds residence. Chambers had taken the firearm back and had unloaded it prior to police finding him with the weapon. During a first appearance hearing in Clinton County District Court, Judge Kimberly Shepherd scheduled a preliminary hearing for Hammond and Foley for Jan. 10. Foley was being held Tuesday night in the Clinton County Jail on a cash-only bond of $1 million. Hammond was being held Tuesday night in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $1 million. Chambers was released from the Clinton County Jail on Sunday after posting 10% of a $2,000 bond through a bonding company. Chambers is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charge against him Thursday in Clinton County District Court. Crew members and airport staff members take a group photo in front of 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. [Photo/Xinhua] Entering the new year, China Eastern Airlines has increased the frequency of validation flights for C919 large passenger jetliner, China's first homegrown large jetliner. The company confirmed that on the first day of the new year, the aircraft flew from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to Beijing Daxing International Airport and then returned to Shanghai. On Monday, it departed for the Haikou Meilan International Airport in the tropical island province of Hainan in south China. The large passenger jetliner is undergoing the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process on nine air routes. Taking the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport as the base, it travels to the airports in cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Haikou, Qingdao, Wuhan, Nanchang and Jinan, and returns on the same day. Each verification flight simulates the whole flight operation process, including dispatch and release, passenger boarding, pilot operation, and maintenance, among others. The company has completed the training of nine pilots, 24 flight attendants and 13 maintenance personnel for the flights of C919 jetliner. The training for the second group of flight crew and other supporting personnel is also underway. China Eastern Airlines has given the first C919 aircraft a 164-seat layout with many humanized designs such as wide-seat economy class, pull-down luggage compartments and situational lighting. The operator said the results of the validation flight process are expected to be reviewed and inspected by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, preluding the jetliner's commercial passenger operation as early as the spring of 2023, if the test results prove satisfactory. A Bettendorf man is likely to serve about six years in prison for secretly filming people in his home, then destroying evidence relevant to the case. Clinton R. VanFossen, 61, was found guilty of recording at least two people multiple times without their knowledge or consent in late December 2019 and early January 2020. At the time, the two were staying as guests in a bedroom at VanFossens home and were recorded in various stages of undress. VanFossen also was found guilty of disposing of a cellphone, which may have contained evidence pertinent to the investigation. A former science teacher at Davenport West High School, VanFossen faced five counts of invasion of privacy, a charge of electronic and mechanical eavesdropping and another of obstructing prosecution or defense. All of the charges are aggravated misdemeanors except for the count of eavesdropping, which is a serious misdemeanor. In an October bench trial, Scott County District Judge Meghan Corbin found him guilty on all seven charges. The judge said Tuesday that VanFossen has shown a lack of remorse for his actions. She sentenced him to up to two years of prison on each aggravated misdemeanor and up to one year on the eavesdropping charge for a total of 13 years. Given the way the sentencing guidelines work, he is likely to serve about six years. The sentences for two of the invasion counts and the obstruction count must be served back-to-back, while the sentences for the remaining four will be served concurrently. Upon completion of the sentence, he must serve up to 10 years on parole. Before he was sentenced, VanFossen had the opportunity to address the court, which he did. For the first half of his life he did not know God, he said, but he has been born again during the second half of his life. He asked for Corbins mercy. Im not a threat to anyone, he said. Several members of VanFossens family also spoke before Corbin sentenced him. They asked Corbin not to sentence him to prison, saying he was a good father and teacher and that they did not feel in danger around him. The investigation that led to VanFossens arrest began in January 2020 after the Bettendorf police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to court records. A computer hacker in France reported he had accessed cameras in VanFossens home and saw what he believed were people being unknowingly filmed, records state. During the ensuing investigation, Bettendorf police found two cameras disguised as smoke detectors, records state. One was in a bedroom, the other, a hallway outside that bedroom. Portions of the footage recovered from the home were played during the trial. It showed two people at several points while they were partially clothed inside the bedroom. Those people testified they thought they had an expectation of privacy while they were in the bedroom. They said they did not know they were being recorded and did not give their consent to be recorded. When initially interviewed by police, VanFossen denied knowledge of the cameras, according to court records. Police, though, recovered footage from the cameras that showed VanFossen adjusting one of them. That footage was from October 2019. When they researched the brand of cameras recovered, investigators learned a cellphone or other device could be used to interact with them, Bettendorf Police Detective Jeff Buckles testified. Another witness confirmed that VanFossen bought two of the cameras. Shortly after he learned of the investigation, VanFossen purchased a new cellphone and the phone he possessed before that was not found during the investigation, Buckles testified. Court records state authorities think VanFossen somehow disposed of the phone to prevent police from examining it. VanFossen testified in his own defense, according to Corbin's written ruling in the case. That ruling included a summary of the proceedings. In it, she said that VanFossen testified, ad nauseum about his religious beliefs and used those beliefs to provide an explanation for the placement of the cameras. VanFossen also testified about his concern for his familys safety, but Corbin said VanFossens testimony could not explain why the cameras were placed where they were in the home. Court found Defendant to be very evasive during questioning, including when being questioned by his own attorney," the judge wrote. "Instead of answering the questions asked of him, Defendant would often cite scripture, then provide the historical background behind the scripture. During cross examination, Defendant got very defensive and at one point suggested that the real outrage was that someone hacked into his camera system and violated his privacy. The Court finds that the Defendant, Clinton Vanfossen installed spy cameras in his (family member's room) with the intent to gratify or arouse his own sexual desire. VanFossen also went out of his way to stymie the police, Corbin wrote. The Court does not believe that Defendant just happened to misplace his cell phone the same night police visited his home, she wrote. Mike Vondran, a spokesman for the Davenport Community School District, has said VanFossens employment with the district was terminated on April 16, 2020. Reporter Thomas Geyer contributed to this story. The Moline Police Department will undergo an independent assessment for accreditation and is inviting the public to provide input on the police department. Accreditation is an ongoing review process where agencies evaluate policy, procedure, and compliance against already established criteria. The on-site assessment will evaluate 69 professional standards in the areas of administration, operations, personnel, and training. Police Chief Darren Gault, along with the accreditation team, is inviting the public to meet from 4-5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at the Moline Police Department, 1640 6th Ave., to voice opinions, experiences, and other information with the accreditation team. Citizens may call 309-524-2113 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 to privately speak with representatives from the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Citizens may also email comments to ILEAP@moline.il.us. Trained assessors from the ILEAP team will conduct on-site assessments of the police department Monday, Jan. 9, and Tuesday, Jan. 10. The assessors from peer agencies across Illinois will conduct inspections, file reviews, and audits of the police department. They will also examine the department to ensure the city's police department is worthy of accreditation through the ILEAP council. Accreditation is widely regarded a high standard that can give the public trust that the police department is operating within the established practices and laws. GRACE KINNICUTT CHICAGO Two men have been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for the gang-related shooting death of a Chicago woman who was hit by a stray bullet as she was out shopping with her young sons. A Cook County judge sentenced Bryant Mitchell, 27, and Marco Zabala, 28, on Tuesday after a jury convicted them last summer of first-degree murder in the death of 36-year-old Candice Dickerson and a charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm. Mitchell was sentenced to 56 years in prison and Zabala to 51, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Dickerson, a mother of three and a pharmacy technician at Norwegian American Hospital, was at a store in April 2019 looking for a new cellphone to reward one of her sons for his educational achievements. She was talking to a store employee and standing near two of her sons, then ages 10 and 12, when a bullet came through a store window and struck her in the head. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. Mitchell and Zabala, who prosecutors said were members of the Satan's Disciples street gang, were charged in Dickerson's death in May 2019. Video of the attack showed the Chicago men and another Satan's Disciples member flashing rival gang signs at some men in a car moments before Zabala retrieved a gun and handed it to Mitchell, who fired five shots at the car, authorities said. Baby names that dropped in popularity the most in 2021 Baby names that dropped in popularity the most in 2021 #50. Genesis (male) #49. Kyleigh (female) #48. Kellan (male) #47. Annabella (female) #46. Maison (male) #45. Korbin (male) #44. Elyse (female) #43. Tori (female) #42. Brylee (female) #41. Aubrielle (female) #40. Haylee (female) #39. Kamilah (female) #38. Esperanza (female) #37. Kenia (female) #36. Justice (female) #35. Ermias (male) #34. Avah (female) #33. Darwin (male) #32. Queen (female) #31. Bobby (male) #30. London (male) #29. Madalynn (female) #28. Novah (female) #27. Tinsley (female) #26. Abdullah (male) #25. Kamryn (male) #24. Juelz (male) #23. Lauryn (female) #22. Korbyn (male) #21. Carolyn (female) #20. Marley (male) #19. Bentlee (male) #18. Hakeem (male) #17. Ensley (female) #16. Aldo (male) #15. Elliot (female) #14. Tristen (male) #13. Lyanna (female) #12. Meilani (female) #11. Willie (male) #10. Alexa (female) #9. Itzayana (female) #8. Nathalie (female) #7. Keily (female) #6. Xzavier (male) #5. Karsyn (male) #4. Karen (female) #3. Jaxtyn (male) #2. Denise (female) #1. Denisse (female) 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 they're 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 percent 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 percent 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 percent 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 people's lives and I don't think that Iowans are going to stand for that. The Helpline Center announced some volunteer needs in the Black Hills. Empty Bowl volunteers, Volunteers of America Volunteers of America, Northern Rockies needs volunteers to support its annual Empty Bowl event by painting bowls, serving soup, assisting with duties during the week of Empty Bowl and assisting with set up and tear down on the day of the event. Empty Bowl takes place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 23 at Central States Fairground. Its a fundraiser to support Volunteers of America services in western South Dakota. To paint a bowl that will be donated to the Empty Bowl event, go to Pottery to Paint in Rapid City; 600 bowls are needed. Cost is $20 (includes a bowl, your studio fee and a $10 discount on your Empty Bowl Family Ticket). Pottery to Paint will donate $2 per each bowl donated. To sign up to volunteer, go to https://www.voanr.org/volunteer. For more information, call Kelly Folsom, 605-341-8336. Volunteer mentors for people on federal probation, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services in South Dakota The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services in South Dakota, in an effort to reduce recidivism and increase pro-social connections in the lives of people that are under supervision, is looking for volunteer mentors to contribute to a safer, more just community in the Black Hills. Volunteers are needed who can commit to meeting with people under supervision for a minimum of 3 to 5 hours a month. These meetings can encompass a range of activities such as fishing, hiking, and helping people apply for employment or search for housing. Each volunteer will work with the person under supervision and their probation officer in a collaborative way to increase the persons ability to remain lawfully self-managed. U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services are required to perform a background check on volunteers at no cost to those interested in volunteering. U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services can work with potential volunteers who have previously been on federal or state probation or parole to see if they qualify to be mentors. For more information, contact Kaitlyn Ryan, 605-399-5920. Housekeeping, cleaning and dog walking, Humane Society of the Black Hills Volunteers at the Humane Society of the Black Hills are vital to the success of the Humane Society and contribute thousands of hours each year to help ensure the animals are socialized, happy and healthy while they wait to be adopted. Volunteers are needed to complete various cleaning jobs including cleaning kennels, water and food bowls, folding laundry, and making up cat boxes. If you are ordered by the court system to volunteer, you can help with housekeeping needs. Volunteers also are needed to exercise and socialize dogs at the shelter. Dog walkers can walk, play with or groom the dogs. For more information about volunteering, contact Jerry Steinley, 605-394-4170. Surrounded by a couple dozen passionate outdoorsmen clad in an array of camo and flannel, officials from South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks addressed the recent controversy over outflows from Pactola Dam into Rapid Creek. Water levels out of Pactola Dam dropped to 11 cubic feet-per-second on Nov. 30, with local fly fishers appearing to be the first that noticed. Western South Dakota Fisheries Supervisor Jake Davis explained that it was a fisherman who contacted him on Dec. 1 to ask if Game, Fish & Parks was aware of the situation. According to Davis, they were not. From our standpoint, we can find no communication with the Bureau [of Reclamation] prior to this, which is really unfortunate, he said. Davis said they reached out to the Bureau of Reclamation on Dec. 1, but the staff member who usually handles their communications with the dam was out sick. It was Monday, Dec. 5 before Game, Fish & Parks got a response from the BOR, according to Davis. Local fishermen told the City Council at its meeting that day that portions of Rapid Creek were so low people could walk across. Davis explained that a loss zone, combined with freezing temperatures, created areas of de-watering in Rapid Creek. The Bureau of Reclamation told the Journal on Dec. 6 that they chose Nov. 30 to repair gate #4 at Pactola Dam. The gate had cavitation, which had been identified during an inspection earlier that month. BOR reduced the outflow and utilized the bypass while repairing the damage. According to Darrin Goetzfried, manager of facilities and engineering with the Bureau of Reclamation, the repair was delayed because the crew ran out of product and had some older product that was no good anymore, which required them to order more and wait for it to come in. Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender told the Journal that BOR told him they needed to wait for the gates to dry out before the repairs could be made, so it didnt matter when materials came in. BOR hasnt returned the Journals phone call asking for clarification on the repair timeline. Black Hills Flyfishers President David Hanna questioned Allenders previous remarks to the Journal and said hes stuck on the who did what and why because they want to mitigate the risk of this situation ever happening again. I want our city to care more about this resource that we all take so seriously, he said during the meeting Tuesday. Wed like to see it be cared for better. Water flows were restored after eight days; on Tuesday, the current outflow from Pactola was 30.8 cfs. During the first few days of the reduction, Hanna said he could see shriveled up trout eggs on exposed rocks below Pactola Dam. A post to the Flyfishers Facebook page on Dec. 11 showed a dead, 17-inch brown trout near Johnson Siding, with the poster concerned it was related to the low water levels. Davis and Game, Fish & Parks Secretary Kevin Robling answered questions from concerned fishermen about the impact that a reduction in flow would have on the local trout population. Theyll go in and sample adult populations this summer, but it will take longer for the young year class to be sufficiently studied. The hard thing there is that we really dont get a good handle on the year class until theyre, say, age ones, Davis said. For one thing, that first summer they may not be big enough for us to effectively sample, and then beyond that, you see just high natural mortality that first winter. Robling said they suspect there will be impacts, but they havent quantified it yet and likely wont be able to for two years. Davis explained that tying impacts back to a specific event might be messy. He said they use the correlation with winter discharge because it has a strong relationship with population, but an eight-day period in the middle of a six-month winter discharge is hard to capture. We just know that fish may not have been there when we go back and sample, so tying it to any specific instance is going to be a little difficult, Davis said. The presence or absence of the year class will be the highest-level they can get, according to Robling. Davis and Robling both said communication needs to be better going forward. Our focus right now is [to] make sure that doesnt happen again, because they didnt talk to our fisheries biologist, Robling said. According to Davis, communication has been quite frequent since, not only with the Dakotas Area Office in Bismarck, but the regional office in Montana as well. The Darby Community Public Library has new artwork displayed above the fireplace to help patrons feel more comfortable. Director Stacie Rennaker said the moose print is keeping in the wildlife theme with taxidermy deer, mountain lion skin, and mounted fish displayed around the library. Ive been looking for a while for art above the fireplace, but nothing really worked because it is such a big space. Everything else just got lost up there, she said. Our friends group, Friends of the Darby Library, funded the purchase. The moose print was painted by artist James Corwin and purchased at the Corwin Gallery on Main Street in Hamilton. I had it textured so it looks like a painting, Rennaker said. I thank the Friends of the Darby Library for the beautiful artwork. The Friends group is small in numbers but mighty in their fundraising efforts and in their support of the library. Rennaker said the next step is putting up lights to shine on the new artwork to showcase its beauty. It looks nice, and I thank the Friends of the Darby Library for their support, she said. They always want to beautify the library and make it better. We have a great relationship. The Darby Community Public Library offers children's programs, teen and adult programs, books, newspapers, public access computers, a fly-tying station, a meeting room, special Montana collections, eBooks and audiobooks, Wi-Fi Hotspots, free public Wi-Fi, fly-tying books and a full calendar of events. Visit the Darby Community Public Library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, at 101 S. Marshall St. in Darby. Visit the DCPL website at https://www.darbylibrary.net/. The Ravalli County Collaborative has released a position statement regarding wildfire and prescribed burning, forest management and the use of tools available to manage national forests. The consensus document outlines the groups vision and forest management recommendations. This is a hard-fought document, retired wildlife biologist and collaborative co-chair Steve Schmidt said. We worked on this for months. The Ravalli County Collaborative (RCC) is an ideologically diverse group of individuals from throughout the Bitterroot Valley with backgrounds ranging from wildlife biology, forestry and agriculture to conservationists, legal authorities and local elected representatives. The group is appointed by the Ravalli County commissioners and work on natural resource issues, largely with the Bitterroot National Forest, with the objective of helping the Forest develop sound service projects. We produced it not only for our own use, but we've produced it to engage with the public, and help foster dialogue among the general public here about how our national forests should be managed," Schmidt said. "That's what this is all about. State Rep. Wayne Rusk (R) HD-88, of Corvallis, co-chairs the collaborative with Schmidt. He stressed the importance of finding consensus within the group. In the case of a collaborative, the government of the board is that of consensus, rather than majority, Rusk said. When you're trying to achieve consensus, everybody has to give a little more and take a little less in order to get where we're going. It's a slower process. But we've achieved it. And in doing so, we've gained the main point, which is that of the proactive management of the Bitterroot Forest. That's why we were created. That's consistent with our mission statement. And that's what we're doing here today with a particular facet of the fire that we deal with in those management schemes. The collaborative states in the document we acknowledge that naturally occurring wildfires, as well as prescribed burns, are an important part of renewing degraded forest ecosystems and we support the wise, adaptive management practices associated with returning our forests to fire-dependent and fire-adapted landscapes. Management of our forest, including mechanical thinning, fuel reduction and prescribed burning, is used to 1) reduce the extent of damages caused to natural resources by catastrophic wildfire; 2) increase the effectiveness of suppression actions; 3) improve forest health, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem function; and 4) reduce the risk to fire fighters and private landowners in the Wildland Urban Interface through integrated cross-boundary project planning and implementation. The document also states that active forest management is urgent in and around the wildland urban interface to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to private and public lands and to allow for the use of fire as a management tool. Schmidt said its important for the public to be aware and engage on the issue because the Bitterroot Valley is one of the most at-risk communities for wildfire in the country. I don't know if most people realize that, Schmidt said. But in document after document after document, they cite Ravalli County, Montana, as being very at-risk to wildfire. And one of our objectives is to try to prevent the loss of private property and human life from wildfire. So we think the public should be interested. And we hope that they won't think about fire only in July, August and September. But we need to be thinking about proactive management of our national forests to prevent this catastrophic loss of property and potentially human life. The RCC Fire Position Statement also lists recommendations in regard to planning between private landowners, fire districts and government entities, calling the need for a current, updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan vital to identifying priority management and funding needs. The statement also gives recommendations for post wildfire response, including a focus on restoring or maintaining site potential and providing optimal wildlife habitat. The way back from the threat that we face right now, is to reduce the fuel loads so that those fires don't attain to the type of proportions that they do, when there's been no management, Rusk said. Management is the way back from those scenarios that threaten life and property. And that's what our collaborative is about. That's why we're here. And we're trying to work with everybody that will come to the table, and agree that we need to go forward in those interests. At one point breaking into a rendition of Danny Boy, Montanas state Senate on Tuesday honored the late Sen. Mark Sweeney, a Philipsburg Democrat who died in office last year after a lengthy career in public service. Before leading the chamber in the traditional Irish ballad, Sen. Shannon OBrien, of Missoula, recalled how her colleague belted out an a cappella version of that countrys national anthem on St. Patricks Day last session. Which is how he operated, with a song in his heart always, OBrien said. He saw the good in everyone and he had music in his soul. And that was his wisdom. Born in Butte, Sweeney also lived in Miles City, Libby, Anaconda and Philipsburg before his unexpected death at age 62 last year. At the time, he was running for Montanas new eastern congressional district. He previously served as a county commissioner, state House representative and senator. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers introduced more than a dozen family members and friends of Sweeney who watched Tuesdays floor session from the gallery. Sen. Ryan Lynch, of Butte, said he remembered being a kid on a school field trip when he met Sweeney, then working for Fish, Wildlife and Parks at a fish hatchery in Anaconda. Mark served the public every day and inspired countless future fishermen, fisherwomen and sportsmen in this state, and thats how Mark treated every relationship, Lynch said. Mark was a public servant at heart and a friend to all he met along the way. POLSON Dozens of people crowded into a large conference room in the Lake County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon to watch county commissioners unanimously approve a resolution to withdraw from Public Law 280 a law that establishes a unique law enforcement relationship with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Prior to voting in favor of the motion, Commission Chair Gale Decker said this vote would be the most important vote I will take in my 10 years as a county commissioner." The commissioners in December passed a resolution of intent to withdraw from the law, which initiated a weeks-long public comment period. Four people offered comment on Tuesday, all of whom spoke in favor of withdrawing from Public Law 280. The withdrawal will take effect in late May, after the Legislature concludes its 2023 session. The decision to withdraw has financial and logistical consequences for the state and could prompt criminal jurisdiction over tribal members on the Flathead Reservation to change hands. What is Public Law 280? In an agreement between the state and tribes, Lake County law enforcement since 1963 has collaborated with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) under Public Law 280. The law states that felony crimes committed by tribal members on the Flathead Reservation are handled by local county law enforcement, rather than by federal agencies, like the Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI. Lake County, home to over 32,000 people, overlaps with the majority of the Flathead Reservation. The county is 67% white and 24% Native. Who is responsible for funding PL 280? Lake County has alleged through letters and litigation that the county has not been reimbursed for assuming jurisdiction. A 2017 state fiscal analysis estimated that fulfilling 280 cost the county up to $4 million. Decker said on Tuesday that the countys share of tax receipts each year is about $13 million. He said that because the county received additional funding recently from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and American Rescue Plan Act, the total county budget for the upcoming year is about $27 million. Commissioner Steve Stanley at Tuesdays meeting said if Public Law 280 is not funded, We have no choice but to pull out. However, attorneys for the state have alleged that the county is responsible for the costs it now seeks to avoid. Decker at Tuesdays meeting criticized Gov. Greg Gianforte, saying the governor has shown no interest in meeting with us. His lack of leadership has been astounding, Decker said, adding that residents safety is not a concern of his. Gianfortes spokeswoman, Brooke Stroyke, in December said, The Legislature, not the governor, has authority to fund Public Law 280. She added that the governors office recognizes the right of the county to withdraw from the law. Stroyke did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Tuesday afternoon. A representative on behalf of the tribes declined to comment. What happens now? The withdrawal, according to the resolution, will take effect on May 26, 2023. Decker said the effective date was set in May to allow the Legislature time to address this issue. Commissioner Bill Barron said his goal in passing the resolution is to get the attention of the Legislature to show them that were serious and to get us some funding. Rep. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, who has sponsored past legislation to secure funding for Public Law 280, has submitted unofficial draft legislation for a bill that would require the state and Lake County to agree on reimbursement for Public Law 280. If funding is not agreed upon, the bill reads, the state shall assume criminal jurisdiction over the Flathead Reservation. If the Legislature does not vote to fund the law, in May, the county will officially withdraw, and the state not federal law enforcement will assume responsibility for prosecuting certain felonies on federal lands in Lake County. If a tribal member commits a felony on the Flathead Reservation, for example, the case would be handled by state law enforcement and prosecuted by the state, rather than the county. Lance Jasper, an attorney representing the county, said the May 26 date also gives the state time to prepare to possibly assume criminal jurisdiction over some felonies in the county. To implement this kind of criminal jurisdiction, the state will likely need to build a police force, hire deputies and establish a detention center on the reservation. Administrative offices, buildings and new procedures would need to be established. Commissioners expect these start-up expenses to cost state taxpayers $100 million. What about the lawsuit? Lake County in July filed a lawsuit against the state, asking a District Court to rule that the state must reimburse the county for its agreement with the tribes and pay for past services rendered by the county since the law was enacted 60 years ago. The state in December filed a motion to dismiss, alleging the countys claims fail and that the county has the statutory ability to avoid costs associated with Public Law 280 and can withdraw by resolution. Visitors are seen at the venue of the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 4, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] The 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, will kick off in the U.S. city of Las Vegas this week. The show, which runs from Jan. 5 to 8, draws over 3,100 exhibitors from 170 countries and regions, according to the Consumer Technology Association, organizer of the CES. CES has traditionally been known as the venue where companies highlight new TV technology, laptops, smart phones and other products. There are some emerging trends to look forward to at this year's show. Electric vehicles Electric vehicles (EVs) will be a major category at CES once again. Besides announcing new vehicles, exhibitors will reveal innovations on connectivity, increased leveraging of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for features like self-driving technology. Brands like Mercedes-Benz and LG are expected to present what the interior of a car could look like with massive displays, headrest speakers, and interactive lights. Apart from major carmakers, a number of automotive suppliers will have a presence at CES. Besides electric cars, EVs also encompass electric mobility - e-bikes and e-scooters should be pretty bountiful at CES 2023. Digital health Health and wellness as a category has had a growing presence at CES. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health draws increasing interests and figures to have a more prominent role at CES. At CES 2022, Omron Healthcare launched its highly-anticipated HeartGuide, the first wearable blood pressure monitor with EKG capability in a single device. Samsung and Intel shared the importance of patient generated data and leveraging AI in health care. This year, the Digital Health Studio will be the focal point of digital health at CES 2023, providing sponsorship opportunities and curated conversations to all attendees on the show floor. "The digital health summit is a very prominent part of the overall experience. We're starting to see the lines between regulated medical devices and health, wellness, lifestyle devices converge," said Joel Goldsmith, director of the Digital Platform of Abbott Diabetes Care. AI, robotics AI's state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions play an active role in industry development worldwide, and have been a spotlight at CES. AI will be a recurring theme at the CES 2023 gadget show. The latest leaps in AI in everything from cars, robots to appliances will be on full display at CES 2023. The latest tech featured will also include Web 3 applications, virtual reality and people-carrying flying drones. Contactless, autonomous shopping and delivery will also be a huge trend for 2023. AI will make it easier for consumers to pay for and receive goods and services. New types of robots are expected to take the limelight at CES 2023 including event greeters, bartenders, concierges, and companions for older adults. Robots will become even more like humans - in appearance and capability. Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for an investigation into school administration at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County following allegations that school leaders deliberately withheld information from students about their earning of academic awards so that students who did not receive them wouldnt get their feelings hurt. The awards, which are determined by student PSAT scores, can boost students college applications and assist in earning scholarships. School leadership didnt notify students of the National Merit Commendations until after many early-application college application deadlines had passed. A spokesperson for National Merit Scholarship Corporation said students can find out about their status in the program on their own. In mid-September, the organization posts a guide on its website that includes the qualifying scores. Parents and students can also call the National Merit Scholarship Corporation directly to ask about a students status in the program. Youngkin urged Attorney General Jason Miyares in a letter Tuesday to investigate the delay in notification of National Merit Commendations in order to protect the civil rights of [Thomas Jefferson] students and parents. Youngkin said he believes the failure to notify students of their awards may be a violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act, which Miyares has the authority to investigate. We need to get to the bottom of what appears to be an egregious, deliberate attempt to disadvantage high-performing students at one of the best schools in the country, Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday. Miyares spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita said, The Attorney General has received the letter and has been carefully reviewing and evaluating the allegations of racial discrimination at Thomas Jefferson School of Science and Technology since the very first public reports. An author and activist who wrote a column in the New York Post about the situation said that most recipients of the awards were Asian. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears tweeted an article from a local publication that suggested a connection between the delay in notification and a school district contract for equity training that reportedly includes a goal of equal outcomes for every student, without exception. Our childrens education is not a zero-sum game, Earle-Sears said on Twitter. We cannot punish success in order to have equal outcomes at all costs. The article claims school administrators didnt want to hurt the feelings of students who didnt get the award. Fairfax County Public Schools said the school district has initiated a third-party, independent investigation into the matter. Our preliminary understanding is that the delay this fall was a unique situation due to human error, said a statement released by Fairfax Schools Tuesday. The investigation will continue to examine our records in further detail and we will share key findings with our community. Once the error was uncovered, school staff contacted colleges to update records where commended scholars had applied, according to the school district. Fairfax Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid planned to meet with families Tuesday night to listen to concerns about the incident. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. A serial grifter who gained national infamy as a teenager when he impersonated a doctor to defraud a patient is heading back to prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $10,000 from his employer. Malachi Love-Robinson, 25, received a sentence of over two years and four months last week after pleading guilty in Palm Beach County, Fla., to grand theft and organized scheme to defraud. Court documents show that in 2020, Robinson was working as a salesperson for a company that connects shippers with trucking companies. Instead of having customers make payments to the company, Love-Robinson would have them send the money to accounts he controlled. Love-Robinson first came to national attention in 2016 as an 18-year-old when he was arrested after opening The New Birth New Life Medical Center, identifying himself as Dr. Love. He stole $30,000 from a patient in her 80s during house calls and an additional $20,000 from a doctor. He was arrested after he examined and prescribed treatment to an undercover police officer who was impersonating a patient. Later that year while out on bail, Love-Robinson was arrested in Virginia, after he tried to buy a Jaguar automobile with a stolen credit card. He pleaded guilty in both cases and was released from prison in 2019. Steven Weitzman, a sculptor whose works include a bronze of Frederick Douglass for the U.S. Capitol, will sculpt Virginias statue of teenage civil rights heroine Barbara Johns for the Statuary Hall collection. The Johns statue will replace Virginias statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that the state removed from the U.S. Capitol in December 2020. Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, chair of the Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol, announced the selection Wednesday during a meeting at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Johns was 16 years old in April 1951 when she led a student walkout at Moton High School in Farmville to protest the segregated schools substandard facilities. Civil rights lawyers Oliver Hill Sr. and Spottswood Robinson took up the case, and it became part of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled race-based school segregation unconstitutional in 1954. Im just deeply grateful to be here and to have been chosen to create this monumental in so many ways piece that is representative of a most heroic person, Weitzman, a Maryland artist, said Wednesday. He noted that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was still in graduate school at Boston University when Johns had this vision and took it upon herself to create this event, with her righteous indignation, and gather her school together to walk out. Johns went on to graduate from Drexel University, married William Powell, raised a family and worked as a librarian in Philadelphia, where she died in 1991. Three of Barbara Johns siblings brothers Robert Johns and Ernest Johns and sister, Joan Johns Cobbs attended Wednesdays meeting. Robert Johns said that while the family appreciates other tributes to Barbara Johns, including her depiction on the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial at the state Capitol, and in a commissioned portrait that once hung at the Executive Mansion, those likenesses reflected the models who posed for the pieces and did not capture his sisters appearance as a teenager. He said his family wants to participate in final approval of the sculpture a request to which Weitzman readily agreed. We really want it to look like Barbara, Robert Johns said. I would like, if my parents were alive, for them to be able to look at that statue and say, Thats my daughter, he said. Weitzman told Robert Johns: The Johns family wont merely have final approval on what it will look like. If you will allow me, you will be making sure that she will look exactly like what you remember. Robert Johns told the panel in 2021 that the family has few images of his sister as a teenager because someone burned the familys home in Prince Edward County to the ground after the Supreme Courts ruling on school segregation. Weitzmans conception of the sculpture which is subject to modifications in discussions with the panel features Barbara Johns as a 16-year-old schoolgirl, with her left hand touching a podium and her right hand holding a book aloft symbolizing her action to rally fellow students and highlighting the importance of education. Julie Langan, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, said the timeline and final cost for the state-funded project will become clearer once the contract is finalized. Since Weitzman submitted his proposal more than a year ago, a lot has changed, said Langan, citing supply chain issues and rising costs for materials and transportation. According to his website, Weitzmans prominent works include a sculpture on the grounds of the United Nations in New York for the U.N.s 40th anniversary; a hand-carved sculpture from a 30-foot oak for the entrance to the National Zoo in Washington; and the bronze of Douglass, commissioned by the D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities. In December 2020, the state commission voted to recommend to lawmakers that the state produce a statue of Johns to replace Virginias statue of Lee that had stood at the U.S. Capitol for 111 years. Virginia lawmakers signed off on the panels recommendation of Johns in 2021. Each state has two statues in the collection at the U.S. Capitol. Virginias other statue depicts George Washington. The Lee statue that Virginia removed from the U.S. Capitol is now on display at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture as part of an exhibition called The Lost Cause: Myths, Monuments and Murals. Weitzman noted on Wednesday that the statue of Barbara Johns will be a tribute to her and to countless others who sacrificed for civil rights. Barbara was fortunate she survived this, but there were many during the Jim Crow era that made a stance and did not, the sculptor told the panel. So this is about her and about how it transformed education in this country and how it helped to move us closer to the kind of nation we want this to be for everybody. But it also represents a lot of people that gave a lot to do what she had the bravery and the fortitude and ... vision to do at that moment. Close In February 2017 then-Gov. Terry R. McAuliffe greeted Joan Johns Cobbs, sister of Barbara Johns, during the dedication ceremony of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond. The portrait at left is based on a photo of Barbara Johns in her cap and gown. Attorney General Mark Herring. Joan Johns Cobbs, sister of Barbara Johns, speaks during the dedication ceremony of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. The first several rows of seats were filled with family members at the dedication of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond, VA Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. The renovated structure now houses the Virginia Attorney General's office. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, at podium, foreground, gestures as he adresses the crowd at the dedication of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond, VA Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. The renovated structure now houses the Virginia Attorney General's office. PHOTOS: Barbara Johns Building Dedication In February 2017 then-Gov. Terry R. McAuliffe greeted Joan Johns Cobbs, sister of Barbara Johns, during the dedication ceremony of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond. The portrait at left is based on a photo of Barbara Johns in her cap and gown. Attorney General Mark Herring. Joan Johns Cobbs, sister of Barbara Johns, speaks during the dedication ceremony of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. The first several rows of seats were filled with family members at the dedication of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond, VA Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. The renovated structure now houses the Virginia Attorney General's office. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, at podium, foreground, gestures as he adresses the crowd at the dedication of the Barbara Johns Building in Richmond, VA Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. The renovated structure now houses the Virginia Attorney General's office. Cancun police seize illegal items but no arrests after report of armed men Cancun, Q.R. Cancun police responding to a report of armed men arrived at a construction site to find drugs and a gun but no people. Officers located the narcotics and loaded handgun at a construction site inside an ongoing residential development project. Municipal Police officers, along with State Police and the Secretary of the Navy, responded to allegations of threats made against onsite workers to sell narcotics by armed individuals. However, when they arrived, they only located a 9mm firearm and bag of narcotics with the help of a K9. While they seized the illegal items, no arrests were made. Last week, a group accused of intimidating construction workers into the drug trade were detained in Cancun. Government of Mexico attends inauguration of new President of Brazil Mexico City, Mexico A delegation from the Government of Mexico attended the inauguration of the new president of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The wife of the President of the United Mexican States, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Beatriz Gutierrez Mueller, the ambassador of Mexico in Brazil, Laura Esquivel Valdes and the executive director of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (Amexcid), Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, attended the presidential inauguration ceremony that took place in the National Congress of Brazil. President Lula da Silva received congratulations sent by her Mexican counterpart, with whom she held a personal meeting on March 2 at the National Palace in Mexico City. On October 30, the President of Mexico congratulated the Brazilian people and stated that there will be equality and humanism regarding the democratic victory of the then President-elect Lula da Silva. Both countries have maintained formal diplomatic relations for 188 years in which deep ties of friendship and cooperation have been forged. In this new stage, where two progressive visions coincide for the first time, Mexico and Brazil consolidate themselves as important strategic allies in the region. The coincidences and the fraternal bond between the peoples and governments of Mexico and Brazil guarantee a solid relationship with a view to the unity of the American continent. You are here: China China's Ministry of Education has issued a circular ordering relevant authorities to crack down on de facto academic tutoring and tighten their regulation of non-academic tutoring during the winter vacation. Localities should disseminate policies concerning off-campus training among parents, it said, asking parents to avoid blindly enrolling their children in tutoring classes. The circular also urged localities to organize sporting, cultural, or parent-child interaction activities to help children spend their winter vacation in meaningful ways. ABINGDON A man convicted of killing three women over a span of 18 days in the Mendota area of Washington County has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences after entering guilty pleas before a Jan. 9 trial was to begin. The three victims were slain by James Michael Wright in February and March 2019. All three were connected to Wright through his job working for a carnival pony show, authorities said previously. According to the commonwealths attorney for Washington County, Wright entered guilty pleas to three counts of first-degree murder in the 2019 deaths of Athena Renee Hopson, 25, of Johnson City, Tennessee, Elizabeth Marie Vanmeter, 22, of Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Joslyn M. Alsup, 17, of Cobb County, Georgia. Vanmeter was allegedly killed first on Feb. 28, 2019. Her body was buried in a shallow grave near Wrights home. Alsup was shot and killed around March 9. Her body was found covered by brush and timber. Hopsons remains were found in the same area near Wrights Mendota residence. Wright confessed to the murders in a jailhouse confession. The confession said he shot all three women. I am very happy to be able to conclude this successful prosecution for the heinous murders of these three victims, Washington County Commonwealths Attorney Josh Cumbow said. My heart goes out to their family and friends. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. From left: Graduate student Tian Gao, Harkamal Walia and Hongfeng Yu. Credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Improving agriculture in a world that's heating up and drying out isn't solely about increasing yields. Nutritional quality is also crucial. While measuring yield is as easy as weighing grain, what's inside seeds is harder to discern. To help improve the nutritional value of crops undergoing heat stress, Nebraska agronomist Harkamal Walia teamed with computer scientist Hongfeng Yu and his team. Together, they developed HyperSeed, an imaging system that uses light wavelengths to rapidly create a nutritional fingerprint of each seed. "We had a bunch of seed for which we had measured yield, but it wasn't feasible to ascertain the quality of those grains," said Walia, Heuermann Chair of Agronomy. "The cool thing was they came up with an engineering solution." The hyperspectral camera beams infrared electromagnetic waves onto seeds to measure reflection and absorption patterns. The results identify an individual seed's nutritional characteristics such as moisture content, nitrogen levels and starch content. Normally, testing multiple varieties would require months of growing large numbers of plants to assay seeds that are destroyed in the process. With just a handful of seeds, HyperSeed cuts the procedure down to seconds. Intact seeds can then be planted or further investigated. Scientists can link variations in seed traits found by HyperSeed with changes in gene sequences. The technique can also be used to study the effect specific genes have on grain quality in gene-edited crop lines. Yu, associate professor in the School of Computing and director of Nebraska's Holland Computing Center, and his team developed open-source software using affordable hardware, allowing others to customize the system for their research. HyperSeed's approach is similar to the hyperspectral camera at the Greenhouse Innovation Center on Nebraska Innovation Campus that measures plant traits. HyperSeed, however, is able to focus at the level of seeds and other tiny objects with high resolution. "Hopefully, this will help make agriculture and food more resilient to a changing climate and increasing populations," Walia said. The team detailed its system in the journal Sensors. More information: Tian Gao et al, HyperSeed: An End-to-End Method to Process Hyperspectral Images of Seeds, Sensors (2021). DOI: 10.3390/s21248184 Provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Timely new CRS review of US Sentencing Commission's guideline amendment process and plans | Main | You be the judge: what federal sentence for Varsity Blues college admission scandal mastermind Rick Singer? January 3, 2023 "The Truth About Truth in Sentencing: Tennessees Experience" The title of this post is the title of this terrific new article in the Tennessee Bar Journal authored by David Raybin. I recommend the very readable piece in full, and here are excerpts from the introduction and conclusion: The truth is that the crime rate does not drive a states prison population policy choices do. Last year the Tennessee legislature enacted a Truth in Sentencing scheme where most penitentiary-bound prisoners will now serve between 85% to 100% of their time with no parole. The increases are staggering: a burglary conviction can now net nine years in prison where under prior law parole could occur in about three years. Gov. Bill Lee reluctantly allowed this legislation to become law without his signature, saying, Widespread evidence suggests that this policy will result in more victims, higher recidivism, increased crime and prison overcrowding, all with an increased cost to taxpayers. At an eventual cost of $25 million a year, the proponent of the legislation, Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton replied, If we need to build more prisons, we can. Recent, horrid homicides in Memphis prompted the legislature to propose even more amendments to our criminal statutes. These would abolish probation for many crimes and remove parole for other offenses. Soon virtually all offenses will be punished by mandatory incarceration with little or no alternative sentencing.5 Over the last 200 years, Tennessee has experimented with several sentencing systems which have met with varying degrees of success and failure. This states problems are not unique to this decade or even this century.... When viewed from the perspective of 200 years, the most obvious conclusion is that our sentencing structure has been dramatically altered with increasing frequency in recent years. The original penitentiary law of 1829 remained substantially unchanged for 84 years until the enactment of the indeterminate sentence law in 1913. It was another 60 years before there were any major modifications. These changes, which occurred in 1973, were themselves altered less than six years later by the enactment of the Class X Felony Law. Three years later the legislature passed the 1982 Sentencing Reform Act. In another three years the legislature created the safety valve. Four years later, in 1989, a new sentencing law was enacted. In less than five years the legislature was considering yet another revision under the label of truth in sentencing. And then began 25 years of ever-increasing sentences for dozens of criminal offenses. The 2022 Truth in Sentencing law was the final and perhaps fatal conclusion to this process. Since 1970, the total jail population has increased 681%. The cost of the penitentiary and jail system is staggering: a billion dollars a year. Counting those in our county jails, Tennessee now incarcerates approximately the same number of people as does the entire continent of Australia, which has four times the population. In Tennessee, African American people constitute 18% of state residents, but 36% of people in jail and 42% of people in prison.... Although our sentencing structures have been often altered, the statutory length of sentences, as set forth by current law, is not that different from those statutes first enacted in 1829. In 1829, involuntary manslaughter was punished from one to five years. Today it is a very similar at one to six years. In 1829, the punishment for burglary of a dwelling was three to 10 years; today, for one with no record, it is three to six years. The 1829 law was enacted to replace the previous practice of corporal punishment consisting of branding and whipping people. What may have been a valid term of imprisonment in 1829 may no longer be appropriate in 2022. Perhaps we should revisit the length of our sentences. We have commissioners of education and commissioners of roads, but the commissioner of correction only houses prisoners and has no impact on who goes into his or her penitentiary system. I suggest that we do what other states and the federal government have done. I suggest that we do what we did in Tennessee between 1986 and 1995. We should have a full-time sentencing commission made up of professionals in the criminal justice system with judges, defense lawyers, prosecutors and citizens such as we had before. Perhaps we should add an ex-offender or two to give us some perspective. We need that. A sentencing commission is also a tool for discovering problems before they get out of hand. A full-time sentencing commission is the only solution to making meaningful progress. We cannot have committees or commissions who come together every 20 years to fix the system. We advocate routine maintenance on our cars, so why not our criminal justice system? January 3, 2023 at 07:56 PM | Permalink Comments The commission will be a ratchet that only goes one way (pro-crime). Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jan 3, 2023 11:17:47 PM Tarls - Why do you assume that a Tennessee sentencing commission would only be pro-defendant? I assume that there would be at least one prosecutor or judge on such a commission and even if there wasn't, I don't know that such a commission's recommendation or report would have any binding or lasting impact. Getting rid of parole (as they have started to do in Tennessee) might sound appealing to citizens but the long term impacts would probably include more inmates coming out unprepared and as such, the recidivism rate would likely increase without a parole/early release incentive. Brett Miler Posted by: Brett Miler | Jan 4, 2023 11:06:01 AM The problem is not truth in sentencing. Truth in sentencing is a good thing as it makes the sentencing outcomes more predictable. (As both a prosecutor and a defense attorney I have routinely faced questions from victims and defendants about how much time will really be served on a given sentence. Currently, the answer is "anywhere between x -- a low parole eligibility date -- and y -- a high sentence completion date.") And on open pleas, I have certainly seen judges adjust sentences to try to have parole eligibility fit their target date of how long they think the defendant needs to serve. The problem is that truth in sentencing requires adjusting the sentencing range to reflect what you really want to be served. If you don't have the sentence reflect the time that you want served, truth in sentencing does not work. Posted by: tmm | Jan 4, 2023 11:36:26 AM Brett, why didn't you just say that the nicer we are to criminals the better they will behave. Posted by: federalist | Jan 4, 2023 12:28:30 PM Federalist - I just believe that the notion that we must make criminals miserable to be safer as a society is outdated. Brett Miler Posted by: Brett Miler | Jan 4, 2023 6:56:03 PM Brett, We dont have to make criminals miserable but we dont need to make them particularly comfortable either. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jan 4, 2023 9:14:14 PM Incapacitation works. For a particularly grim anecdote about what happens when dangerous criminals are treated nicely comes from the brutalization of Dr. Petit and the murder of his family. Posted by: federalist | Jan 5, 2023 10:37:11 AM Anecdotes, such as Dr. Petit and his family are useless here and demagoguery. Incapacitation does work, probably the only one of the "four pillars" of sentencing that does. But if you follow incapacitation to its logical conclusion, then only effective life sentences are appropriate for any serious crime. The fact of the matter is that most prisoners are released. The question is how broken are they when they are released. We've mostly ignored that inconvenient fact for most of our history. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jan 25, 2023 12:04:45 AM Post a comment 25 2%4% 515.41 84.12 ChatGPTOpenAIChatGPT bug15 Twitter 10GPUAI 240IFC 0.86% 1.92%5% 397084.2 CMBS 10 IMF 7% ChatGPTAI 9600CCASS5% 0.59% 1.09%14% 14%iPhone 15 Pro 1997 11% 13.6 FRB 5%9600CCASS 16% 12% 1496H 10% 0.02% 0.19%2% 1.5 325 KOKO MARE220021 14.9% SIOUX CITY -- Nevah, a plump gray cat, flicked her tail back and forth as she laid underneath the window inside Coffee & Purrs Tuesday morning -- opening day for the cat cafe portion of one of Sioux City's newest downtown businesses, 504 Nebraska St. Nevah is up for adoption through the Siouxland Humane Society along with 10 other cats currently residing in the bright, open space, which has pastel tones on the ceiling and an assortment of wooden cat climbing structures on the walls. Nevah and her feline friends can tuck themselves into one of several cat condos or beds, swat mice toys across the floor or chow down on food in light-pink bowls. "I just wanted to create a very comfortable, modern, warm space for people to come hang out with cats," owner Megan Thompson said. Coffee and Purrs Cat Cafe Owner Megan Thompson pets a cat Tuesday at Coffee & Purrs, the cat cafe she opened Tuesday at 504 Nebraska St. in downtown Sioux City. Tho Customers can purchase a latte, frappe or another specialty drink in the next-door coffee shop, which is completely separate from the cat cafe, and, then, visit with the cats. Although walk-ins are accepted, depending on availability, online reservations are highly encouraged ahead of Coffee & Purrs' grand opening celebration on Saturday. Only 20 people are allowed admission to the cat cafe at a time. "It's just really, really cool," Thompson said of seeing her dream finally come to fruition. "I've been working on it for over a year now. There were times when I thought, 'It's not going to work.'" Code change Thompson, a 19-year-old Sioux City native, is no stranger to entrepreneurship. She has owned her own photography business for six years. She also really, really loves cats. Although Coffee & Purrs is the first business of its kind to open in Sioux City, cat cafes are springing up across the country. Omaha and Des Moines both have a cat cafe. "I thought it would benefit Sioux City a lot," Thompson said of Coffee & Purrs. "Usually, the Humane Society's always full with cats. The goal for this place is to get more cats adopted out to Sioux City and also provide them another safe space for them to be in while they wait for their 'furever' home." Thompson described opening a cat cafe as "really a new experience." The coffee shop opened on Dec. 3, ahead of the cat cafe. "There's lots of rules and regulations -- code you have to follow," she said. "I don't believe this opportunity would have been presented to me if it wasn't meant to be or be a learning experience." In order to open the cat cafe, Thompson had to convince the Sioux City Council to change the municipal code. Last January, the council voted unanimously in favor of a zoning text amendment to alter the definition of animal boarding. Coffee and Purrs Cat Cafe Yazmin lays on cat perch as cat cafe owner Megan Thompson, rear, attaches a sign to the front window Tuesday at Coffee & Purrs, the cat ca The previous definition of animal boarding prohibited the keeping of animals for profit in the Downtown Commercial zoning district. The zoning text amendment approved by the council changes the definition of animal boarding to permit the cats to reside in the cat cafe overnight. Thompson was initially looking to open her business in the Commerce Building, 520 Nebraska St. But, when that location didn't work out, she found two perfect spaces just down the street. The coffee shop, 500 Nebraska St., previously housed Subway. "The only way it was ever going to work out is if we did it this way, because the health department actually said they would have never let me open," Thompson said of the Commerce Building location. "Even if we did HVAC modifications and ventilation stuff, it was never going to work out if it was going to be in the same space. It was really good that we found this space." Home sweet home The cats seem to be loving their trendy new downtown digs. Some took turns perching on the black sofa Tuesday morning, while others excitedly pushed toys around the floor, milled about the room and batted at each other with their paws. Thompson said some of the cats are "pretty talkative," while others are a bit more subdued. Coffee and Purrs Cat Cafe A pair of cats roam through owner Megan Thompson's Coffee & Purrs cat cafe Tuesday at 504 Nebraska St. in downtown Sioux City. Thompson op Yazmin and Eliza, similar looking tabby cats wearing pink collars, are "kind of crazy," according to Thompson. She described Benji as "very cuddly," while she said Nevah craves attention. Thompson said the Siouxland Humane Society created a similar environment in effort to get the cats acclimated, before moving them to the cat cafe. She said they chose the cats that interacted the best with one another. "There are quite a few cats actually that they still have at the Humane Society that they just thought would be better to stay there than come here. It's kind of up to the Humane Society on what cats they want here." The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is getting ready to resume cross-border travel with the Chinese mainland as early as Sunday. Customs and clearance officers have been recalled to border checkpoints, cross-boundary buses are undergoing mechanical checks after three years of being idle, and train staff have been summoned to re-familiarize themselves with their work. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki revealed in a Sunday social media post that Hong Kong is striving to gradually resume normal travel with the mainland on Jan 8 at the earliest, and a quota will be set at the initial stage. Beginning Jan 8, travelers to the mainland will no longer need to quarantine. Local media reported that the Hong Kong government has submitted its proposal to the central government on the resumption of cross-boundary travel with the mainland and it will be made open on Wednesday at the earliest. Citing sources, local media reported that the quota will be initially set at 30,000 to 50,000 people per day. Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun told China Daily on Tuesday that quotas will be allocated to different checkpoints to avoid crowds at any one particular spot. Tien, a former chairman of Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation before it merged with MTR Corp, told China Daily that ticketing services for high-speed rail between Hong Kong and the mainland will be available on Thursday at the earliest. The number of tickets up for grabs will be up to the initial quota that is set for cross-boundary travel, Tien added. The rail operator has arranged for staff to return to their posts at stations for cross-boundary travel, including Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau and West Kowloon Station for high-speed rail. It was reported that train services for short-distance routes, such as Futian, Shenzhen North, Guangzhou South, will be resumed first. Medium-range routes to Changsha of Hunan province and Xiamen of Fujian province will follow. Longhaul trips to Beijing and Shanghai will be restored after that. In an earlier local radio program, Cheung Chi-keung, head of cross-boundary operations for MTR Corp, said that tickets would be available for sale three days before the full resumption of cross-boundary travel, online or on-site, and high-speed train services will begin trial operations on Tuesday. MTR, in an email reply to China Daily on Tuesday, said that it had "no arrangement for trial operation of high-speed train services", without revealing reasons for the delay. "MTR is fully cooperating with the government and liaising closely with the relevant departments to work out a plan to ensure its railroad service will gradually, orderly and comprehensively connect the SAR and the mainland," it said. Bonnie Lo Hoi-sze, chairwoman of the Association of Customs and Excise Service Officers, said that customs officers working at the borders have been well-trained and some borders are already prepared for re-opening. Cheung Kim-ping, vice-chairman and secretary of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Boundary Crossing Bus Association said about 200 to 300 buses can run during the initial stage and the industry is recruiting more drivers with competitive pay to meet demand. In addition, Cathay Pacific Airways announced on its social media that it will increase its passenger services between Hong Kong and Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou from Jan 8, and between Hong Kong and Xiamen from Jan 14. SAC CITY, Iowa A Lake View, Iowa, man involved in a string of burglaries at rural Sac County homes has been placed on probation. District Judge Christopher Polking on Tuesday suspended a 10-year prison sentence for John Bogue and placed him on three years' probation. He was sentenced according to terms of a plea agreement. Bogue, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree arson and three counts of third-degree burglary. He was one of four people charged in connection with burglaries and thefts in which copper piping and wiring and other property was stolen from at least three locations from Dec. 1, 2021, through March 4. He and Nick Bogue also set a fire that destroyed a house and two outbuildings. John Bogue was ordered to pay a total of $8,454 in restitution jointly with Kennedie Ford and James Becker. A restitution amount for the arson charge has yet to be determined. Nick Bogue, 42, of Lake View; Becker, 34, of Wall Lake, Iowa; and Ford, 27, of Lake City, Iowa, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the burglaries, and all were placed on probation. STORM LAKE, Iowa Storm Lake police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a Storm Lake liquor store at gunpoint. Police were called to Al's Liquors, 215 W. Milwaukee Ave., at 9:22 p.m. Sunday after an employee reported being robbed. The worker reported a man had entered the store, grabbed her by the hair and held a gun to her head while ordering her to open the cash register. The man took approximately $300 in cash and fled the store on foot. The employee was not injured. Police investigating the robbery executed search warrants at two Storm Lake homes on Tuesday and located clothing believed to have been worn by the suspect, cash and a black BB gun believed to have been used in the robbery. Officers arrested Eh Lwe, 24, of Storm Lake, and booked him into the Buena Vista County Jail on charges of first-degree robbery, assault while participating in a felony, going armed with intent and assault while participating in a felony. He is currently being held on a $37,000 bond. During their search of the other home, police found drug paraphernalia, marijuana, methamphetamine and two guns. The robbery remains under investigation, and more charges are possible, police said. Lwe was charged in November with child endangerment in connection with a June 20 incident in which he is accused of choking and hitting a 7-year-old child. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial March 14. ORANGE CITY, Iowa Beginning at 5:30 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 28, Northwest Iowa residents will have the chance to take in a number of different cultures with the return of the "Festival of Culture" to the Northwestern College campus. "The aim of the event is to bridge the gap between cultures represented on campus and to give students and the community a taste and feel of what other individuals eat and experience in their culture," said Kelsey Joseph, the associate director of intercultural development at Northwestern College. To that end, the event (which is $12 for adults and $7 for kids ages 4-11) will feature the food and beverages of countries around the world, a fashion show and multiple student performances including one by a group of visiting Japanese high school students. According to Northwestern, the college presently has students from: Austria, Brazil, Belarus, Bahrain, Bahamas, Colombia, Chile, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Gambia, Honduras, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines, Spain and South Korea. SIOUX CITY An appointment will be made to fill the Woodbury County District 5 Board of Supervisors position, recently vacated by Rocky De Witt. A committee made up of Treasurer Tina Bertrand, County Attorney James Loomis and Auditor Pat Gill met on Wednesday to decide how to fill the seat vacated by De Witt who left to serve as the Iowa Senate District 1 representative. Loomis said that based on the code the vacancy started on January 1. De Witt submitted his resignation this week, allowing the committee to meet. By law, the committee can make an appointment within 40 days of the vacancy or choose to hold a special election. Voters can petition for a special election within 14 days of the publication of the vacancy or appointment. Gill made the motion to fill the vacancy by appointment, seconded by Loomis. The motion passed 3-0. The committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss the timeline and process of the appointment. One concern the committee members expressed is the current budget situation for the Board of Supervisors. A special election would not occur in time for the individual to participate in the hearings. Gill has said he believes it is important to have a full board during budget deliberations. Previously, eight people had contacted Gill expressing interest in the seat. The names read were Nathan Heilman of Correctionville, Angela Kayl of Lawton, John Van Eldik of Lawton, Mark Nelson of Correctionville, Willard Brian McNaughton of Lawton, Barbara Sloniker of Sioux City, Jeanette Beekman of Pierson and Charles Clark of Lawton. Kayl and Clark were identified as having no party affiliation, while the rest were identified as Republicans. Nathan Heilman, John VanEldik, and Willard Brian McMaughton ran with De Witt and three others for the seat in 2016. If voters do not want an appointment made, or do not approve of the individual who is chosen, a petition for a special election can be made. The petition must be signed by at least ten percent of the votes cast in the last general election, which would be at least 2,882, Gill said previously. All voters in Woodbury County can vote for all seats on the board, not just the district they live in. Gill said a special election would cost around $40,000. Gill had previously said he would suggest a special election. He said the Sioux City Community School District previously expressed interest in holding a special election in March for the use of the Advanced Vision for Education Fund. Gill said they withdrew that request when informed they would have to put their recently vacated seat, currently held by Bernie Scolaro, on the ballot. Since the polling places are schools, Election Day is a no-school day for students; students would still have classes during a special election. Gill said parents have contacted him in the past stating they do not like having students in the building during elections. SIOUX CITY Matthew Ung takes the helm of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors for the 2023 year. Ung, who was recently reelected for his third term on the Board of Supervisors, served as chair in 2020 and 2017. He was unanimously selected to the one-year term as chairman on a 4-0 vote. Supervisor Rocky De Witt was not present for the vote. "I'll of course work to do a good job by this board and the taxpayers," Ung said. " You all know how I work and the methodical nature that will be applied to our meetings and our deliberation and our efforts to maintain a flat or lowered tax rate for the ninth year in a row." Supervisor Jeremy Taylor was reelected as vice-chair. Taylor was elected as vice-chair shortly after returning from deployment with the Iowa Army National Guard in November 2021. Since 2008, no board chair has served more than one consecutive year, with members of the majority party agreeing to take turns holding the post. Ung was nominated for the chair by Taylor and was seconded by Keith Radig, who served as the chair for 2022. No other supervisors were nominated to oppose Ung. The chair presides over the weekly meetings on Tuesdays, as well as makes all committee assignments, sets the tentative agenda, and oversees the daily operations of county administration, according to bylaws. The position pays $44,100.20 about $7,000 more than the regular supervisor positions. SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa The interim tag can be removed from Steve Goodlow's job title. The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Goodlow as Dickinson County attorney. Previously an assistant county attorney, Goodlow had been serving in an interim capacity since the resignation of Amy Zenor last month. There were no other applicants for the position, and county residents had not requested a special election to fill the vacancy. Zenor resigned last month after she was arrested in November and charged with public intoxication. She told the board she was resigning because of a temporary medical disability and the voluntary suspension of her Iowa law license. SIOUX CITY COVID-19 community transmission in Woodbury County has fallen from the "medium" level to "low," while the number of positive tests being reported has increased. Data updated by the Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday, shows 84 positive COVID-19 tests in the county, which is up from 74 positive tests reported on Dec. 27. COVID-19 is circulating in the community, along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which generally causes mild cold-like symptoms, influenza and other respiratory viruses. The State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa reported 384 cases of RSV in Iowa from Dec. 18 to 24, down from 655 cases and 840 cases the previous two weeks. Overall state-wide flu activity remains "high," according to the respiratory virus surveillance report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID Data Tracker rates Woodbury County's COVID-19 community transmission level as low. That level was calculated on Dec. 29 using data from Dec. 22 to 28. A new subvariant of omicron now accounts for roughly 40% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the CDC. The omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 has overtaken BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. When community transmission is low, the CDC recommends that individuals stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms. Wearing a mask is advised on public transportation and when a person has symptoms, tests positive for the virus, or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The CDC says individuals may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others. CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico Since he began volunteering two months ago for weekend shifts at a clinic in one of this border city's largest shelters, Dr. Brian Elmore has treated about 100 migrants for respiratory viruses and a handful of more serious emergencies. But it's a problem he hasn't yet managed to address that worries him the most: the worsening trauma that so many migrants carry after long journeys north that often involve witnessing murders and suffering from kidnappings and sexual assault. "Most of our patients have symptoms of PTSD I want to initiate a screening for every patient," said Elmore, an emergency medicine doctor at Clinica Hope. It was opened this fall by the Catholic nonprofit Hope Border Institute with help from Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, which borders Juarez. Doctors, social workers, shelter directors, clergy and law enforcement say growing numbers of migrants suffer violence that amounts to torture and are arriving at the U.S.-Mexican border in desperate need of trauma-informed medical and mental health treatment. But resources for this specialized care are so scarce, and the network of shelters so overwhelmed by new arrivals and migrants who've been stuck for months by U.S. asylum policies, that only the most severe cases can be handled. "Like a pregnant 13-year-old who fled gang rapes, and so needs help with child care and middle school," said Zury Reyes Borrero, a case manager in Arizona with the Center for Victims of Torture, who visited that girl when she gave birth. "We get people at their most vulnerable. Some don't even realize they're in the U.S." In the past six months, Reyes Borrero and a colleague helped about 100 migrants at Catholic Community Services' Casa Alitas, a shelter in Tucson, Arizona, that in December was receiving about 700 people daily released by U.S. authorities and coming from countries as distinct as Congo and Mexico. Each visit can take hours, as the case workers try to build a rapport with migrants and empower them, Reyes Borrero said. Sarah Howell runs a clinical practice and a nonprofit treating migrant survivors of torture in Houston. When she visits patients in their new Texas communities, they routinely introduce relatives or neighbors who also need help with severe trauma. "The estimated level of need is at least five times higher than we support," said Leonce Byimana, director of U.S. clinical services for the Center for Victims of Torture, which operates clinics in Arizona, Georgia and Minnesota. Most migrants are traumatized by what they left behind, as well as what they encountered en route, Byimana said. They need "first-aid mental health" as well as long-term care that's even harder to arrange once they disperse from border-area shelters to communities across the country, he added. Left untreated, trauma can escalate to where it necessitates psychiatric care instead of therapy and self-help, said Dylan Corbett, Hope Border Institute's executive director. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the U.S. branch of the global Catholic refugee agency, is planning to ramp up mental health resources in the coming weeks in El Paso, said its director, Joan Rosenhauer. All along the border, the most staggering trend has been the increase in pregnant women and girls, some younger than 15, who are victims of assault and domestic violence. Volunteers and advocates are encountering so many of these survivors that they had to focus scarce legal, medical and shelter resources on helping them, leaving hundreds of other victims of political violence and organized crime to fend for themselves. Service providers and migrants say the most dangerous spot on journeys is "la selva" the Darien Gap jungle separating Colombia from Panama, crossed by increasing numbers of Venezuelans, Cubans and Haitians seeking safer lives in the U.S. Natural perils only add to the risks of an area rife with bandits preying on migrants. Loreta Salgado was months into her flight from Cuba when she crossed the Darien. "We saw many dead, we saw people who were robbed, people who were raped. We saw that," she said, her voice cracking, in a migrant shelter in El Paso. Asked about "la selva," some women just suck in their breath and only later reveal having saved their daughters by speeding them along and getting raped themselves, or enduring strained relationships with their partners who were made to watch the assault, Howell said. "I don't think it's the first rape that most women I've talked to have experienced," Howell said. "But it's the most violent and the most shameful, because it was in front of other people." In many cases, forensic evaluations at border clinics that document mental and physical abuse are crucial to migrants' asylum cases, because often no other evidence is available for court proceedings, Byimana said. Asylum is granted to those who cannot return to their countries for fear of persecution on specific grounds, including sometimes very high, systemic levels of violence against women. But it takes years for asylum cases to be decided in U.S. immigration court. A long wait for resolution can intensify the trauma that migrants experience, advocates say. Cities with the largest immigrant populations Cities With the Largest Immigrant Populations The US foreign born population share was at a near historic high before the pandemic Mexican immigrants account for nearly 25 percent of the foreign born population More than a quarter of the California population is foreign born Small and midsize metros with the most immigrants 15. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 14. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 13. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 12. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 11. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 10. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 9. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 7. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 6. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 4. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA 3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance has moved to freeze the assets of a group of companies and two investment funds at the center of an investigation into an alleged bank fraud described as potentially one of the biggest in state history. Late Wednesday, Lancaster County District Judge Ryan Post granted the state's motion for a temporary injunction against Jesse Hill of Hickman, First SOJO Capital Group LLC and other related entities. And the judge set a hearing next month to consider if it should remain. Hill hasn't been charged criminally as of Thursday, according to a search of state and federal court cases. But the Attorney General's Office says the Banking Department launched its investigation into his companies following the Nov. 2 death of Aaron Marshbanks, a 45-year-old Lincoln real estate investor with ties to Hill. The Nebraska Examiner was first to report the case. Assistant Attorney General Erik Fern said following Marshbanks' death bankers across the state began "reporting that they had been victims of a fraud scheme perpetrated by Marshbanks, Jesse Hill and Hills organization, First SOJO Capital Group LLC." The first of more than 20 creditors banks, savings and loans and credit unions started filing demands for notice of an application for informal probate of will and statements of claims within two days of his death. By mid-December, they had topped $45 million. In the complaint for injunctive relief, Fern alleged between March 11, 2021, and Sept. 23, 2022, Marshbanks and Hill had made fraudulent statements with at least 14 banks, securing over $20 million in loans. To get the money, Marshbanks provided account statements that he and Hill had falsified showing the purported value of Marshbanks or a Marshbanks entitys accounts at JT Equity or First SOJO Capital Group LP. Fern said the JT Equity accounts that they gave banks security interests to in exchange for the loans didn't exist. Nor did First SOJO Capital Group LP. (Though First SOJO Capital Group LCC, did.) Despite that, Hill signed at least 22 control agreements representing to banks that the accounts were real, under his control and could be given as collateral for a loan, the AG's office alleges. Fern said as of Dec. 14, 2022, First SOJO's net capital was less than $9,300, well below the $25,000 minimum to be an investment adviser or maintain a surety bond. "First SOJO does not have sufficient assets to pay its liabilities (and) is insolvent," he said. Yet, Fern said Hill continued to represent to an investor as recently as Dec. 6 that he would get his investment back plus a 13% return in January. In the case, he alleges Hill, First SOJO and his other entities committed a number of violations of the Securities Act of Nebraska, including: * Executing over 20 fraudulent control agreements to secure nonexistent securities accounts, each of which constitutes a separate violation. * Starting a new private fund in violation of the 2018 agreement with the department. * Lying to investors concerning the value of their accounts. * Failing to send quarterly statements to investors. * And not maintaining a net capital of at least $25,000. The lawsuit sought to freeze Hill's assets and asked the judge to bar him and his entities from any further violations and to appoint a receiver to protect investor assets. Fern said this isn't the first time Hill was the subject of a financial investigation. In 2018, the Securities & Exchange Commission looked into JT Equity Trading, which Hill owned and Marshbanks had invested in, and found that Hill had sold over $4 million in unregistered securities to 47 investors while acting as an unregistered investment adviser. Hill agreed to pay a fine and not to establish any new pooled investment funds for 90 days after all the funds were returned. The company refunded all its investors their funds plus profits, aside from one who arranged for a separate repayment agreement, according to the lawsuit. Fern said in May 2019, Hill organized First SOJO and in November 2021 the business was approved as an investment adviser and Hill as an investment advisor representative. First SOJO was to act as an investment adviser for two private funds: Outlier Fund I and II. And have an outside fund administrator. But, Fern said, the administrator resigned after the first quarter of 2022 citing concerns about investment strategy after First SOJO began a highly aggressive options trading strategy in January that led to catastrophic losses for the funds, 98% and 94% respectively. In March, Chronicle Holdings, an entity owned by Marshbanks, transferred $2.2 million into the funds without disclosing it to the department and Outlier I received $1,475,000 from five people. The department currently is investigating the circumstances behind the apparent investments, which Fern says Hill and First SOJO failed to disclose to the department, along with the transfer, in response to a subpoena served Nov. 18, after Marshbanks' death. The Banking Department also is investigating why Hill distributed $11 million from his account to Marshbanks and his entities between Dec. 29, 2020, and Nov. 23, 2021. Fern said they believe that Hill had been pooling money from multiple investors in his personal account and using it to invest in securities, repeating "the exact same conduct" that had led to the fine in 2018. In a filing in Marshbanks' probate case, attorney Brandon Tomjack, who represents Midstates Bank, alleged: "Decedent with the assistance of others perpetrated what could be the state of Nebraskas largest bank fraud ever committed." Tomjack said Midstates was one of the victims. He said Marshbanks told the bank that he and/or his entity, Big Bear Capital, owned an investment account holding between $6 million and $7 million and gave documents to support his statements. Midstates loaned Big Bear more than $2 million on the condition that Marshbanks give the bank a security interest in the investment account as collateral. "In fact, the investment account does not exist, and Midstates likely has no collateral securing its loan to Big Bear," the attorney said. Tomjack said the best hope for maximizing the value of Marshbanks' estate is "most likely by determining how the claimants loan funds were used and/or to whom their loan funds were transferred." It's also possible some or all of the claimants loan funds may be in another account, he said. "Every day that passes makes it more difficult for Midstates and the other claimants to trace and/or recover the funds they loaned to decedents entities," Tomjack wrote in a motion seeking an emergency hearing, which since has been set for Jan. 11. Late this month, three men who had partnered with Marshbanks to buy and rehabilitate rental properties joined the probate case, seeking payment of $393,609 in equity on 31 properties, including 11 in the New Orleans metro area and 20 in Nebraska. In addition to the probate case, banks have filed at least four lawsuits in Lincoln and Iowa seeking more than $6 million. And in a search warrant seeking phone records, Lincoln police described the investigation into Marshbanks' Nov. 2 death. Officer Patrick Murphy, an investigator with LPD, said they'd been sent to the US Bank parking garage near 13th and M streets after Marshbanks sent a "concerning email" saying he would be found there in an unlocked silver Audi Q5. They found him dead in his car, which was running with the air conditioner on high and a drape covering the windows. Murphy said officers found suspected vomit on the back passenger side of the car, a gun under the driver's seat and a bag that contained Marshbanks' wallet, driver's license and a suspected suicide note. But they didn't find his phone. So police asked a judge for a warrant to obtain his cellphone records. Murphy said the phone data "may contain phone logs, various messages, and location data which may further the investigation and provide more information such as communications leading up to Marshbanks' death, where Marshbanks obtained the controlled substances that were in his system, and/or who he may have been with prior to his death." The autopsy showed he had several substances in his blood and urine, including fentanyl and cocaine. But the cause and manner of his death hadn't yet been determined as of Wednesday, Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon said. Photos: Capitol Art Project Nebraska Capitol Art Experience - The Story of Nebraska "Genius of Water" Capitol Art Project, 12.20 "Genius of Creative Energy" Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 Capitol Art Project, 12.20 New U.S. Census Bureau population data suggests the likelihood that Nebraska is not at risk of losing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives following the 2030 census despite weaker than typical population growth. But Idaho is on course to surpass Nebraska's population this decade, dropping Nebraska one notch to the 38th-most-populous state. Nebraska's recent growth rate was measured at 0.2%, which is half the national growth rate. The state has three seats in the House. The assessment that Nebraska's three House seats appear not to be endangered in 2030 comes in an email communication from David Drozd, a population expert now with Community Health Development Partners in Omaha. Drozd previously was research coordinator in the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. * * * Watching on TV as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the case to Congress and to the American people for continued U.S. weapons support for his embattled country was poignant along with uplifting. Suddenly he was here not just because he needs more assistance, but also because there appears to be some quit developing in Congress now. Ukrainians are doing the fighting and the dying, all the hard stuff not only on the battlefield but also in their homes, which may have no heat or light this cold night, and along with the raw darkness is the pain of missing family members. What they ask from us is help, not participation. They would continue to do the fighting, the suffering, the dying. We would just help arm them with weaponry that can help protect them. War by nature is cruel. But this one seems to be intentionally cruel; that's the strategy now. How does it end and when does it end? Russian troops were at war in Afghanistan for 10 years. U.S. troops were in combat nearly a decade in Vietnam. It's hard to imagine what would be left in Ukraine if this one continued even half that long. Maybe we can help try to make sure it doesn't. * * * As Sen. Ben Sasse prepares to depart the Senate for the presidency of the University of Florida, the House of Representatives passed his bipartisan Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, which was earlier approved by the Senate. "Sanctioning thieves for stealing American intellectual property is simple, common sense," Sasse said. "We can't sit back and keep acting like this isn't a problem we need to go after these hackers." Sasse is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. * * * The seating chart for the 2023 Nebraska Legislature appears to be settled and it's always worth a glance. Some legislative leaders choose to be up front, but I'm always inclined to take a look at who chooses to sit in the back row or two. That's where a senator can keep track of who's talking to whom and especially be aware of any brief gathering of senators on the floor or on the sidelines while the Legislature is in session. What's cooking? What's being hatched? Who's there? Who appears to be leading the discussion? Some of the most effective leaders, including those who cast many of the decisive votes, in the previous Legislature settled in the back row or two. Not all of them; there are always leaders scattered elsewhere, too. But there were a lot of difference-makers seated in the back of the chamber last year. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, a skilled and effective senator who works both sides of the aisle, has moved to the back row and will be seated next to Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood, who is likely to be the new chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who is returning to the Legislature after previously being term-limited out of the body in 2016, has secured a seat in the back row and will be next to Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. She's likely to be an active participant from Day One. Good vantage points for watchful eyes. * * * Finishing up: * Brandon Metzler will be the new clerk of the Legislature, chosen to succeed Patrick O'Donnell, who prepared him as assistant clerk and recommended him. The new Legislature is set to confirm the executive board's 7-1 decision to select Metzler on the Jan. 4 opening day of the 2023 legislative session. * Gov.-elect Jim Pillen has scored a trifecta of major appointments at the beginning of his governorship: a U.S. senator, a new state senator, a member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. * Pillen decided to keep many key members of Pete Ricketts' administration at their position, including directors of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Administrative Services. The big decision yet to be made is choosing a new director of the Department of Correctional Services. Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Nebraska Counties with the shortest life expectancy in Nebraska #42. Saline County #41. Saunders County #40. Thayer County #39. Douglas County #38. Dawes County #36. Dawson County #36. Clay County #34. Madison County #34. Jefferson County #29. Furnas County #29. Merrick County #29. Howard County #29. Red Willow County #29. Butler County #27. Hall County #27. Adams County #25. Gage County #25. Lincoln County #23. Dundy County #23. Box Butte County #19. Dakota County #19. Nuckolls County #19. Johnson County #19. Boyd County #16. Cheyenne County #16. Richardson County #16. Polk County #14. Webster County #14. Nemaha County #12. Morrill County #12. Pawnee County #10. Dodge County #10. Gosper County #9. Sheridan County #8. Nance County #5. Scotts Bluff County #5. Franklin County #5. Garden County #3. Burt County #3. Hitchcock County #2. Kimball County #1. Thurston County OMAHA A 7-year-old girl critically injured this past week in a fire in South Omaha has died, Omaha police said. The Omaha Fire Department informed the Omaha Police Departments homicide unit that the girl, injured in a fire at 2223 S St., has died, a police spokesman said. Three people who were in the house, including a man and a woman, were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition. The adults are expected to survive, the Omaha Fire Department has said. Patricia Commodore of Memphis, Tennessee, owns the home that caught fire. She said her brother, sister and a niece were injured in the fire. Family has told me theyve been taken to Lincoln (to be treated) at a burn center there, Commodore said Tuesday. The fire in the two-story home was reported about 5:15 a.m. It was declared under control in about 15 minutes. The house, valued at $110,000, sustained an estimated $75,000 in damage to the structure and contents. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Photos: Firefighters in action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Photos: Firefighters in Action Right before the holidays, the White House hosted a celebration. Actually, this was a signing ceremony; it just felt like a party. The boisterous crowd on the White House South Lawn was there to celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act, which is a law that protects the validity of same-sex and interracial marriages, both at the federal level and state by state. Strangely, its a law that doesnt do all that muchyet. The mood was victorious anyway. Advertisement Its funny, isnt it? Because its a victory against a hypothetical, says BuzzFeeds David Mack. Mack says it was a little jarring to see so much enthusiasm for what is, at its core, a defensive move. They used this moment where they had the power in Congress to pass this should the Supreme Court do to marriage equality what theyve just done to 50 years of abortion rights in this countryto protect the worst-case scenario from happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worst-case scenario seemed to be the last thing on the minds of the crowd at the White House. There were drag queens in the audience, Lady Gaga blaring out of the speakers, and Cyndi Lauper talking to reporters in the White House briefing room. When Chuck Schumer stepped up to the microphone, he gushed over his daughters gay wedding. Even though, back in the 90s, he and Joe Biden both voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman, when they passed the Defense of Marriage Act. Advertisement That just shows the remarkable transformation thats taken place in this country, where Joe Biden has become someone who gladly and willingly signs this legislation and celebrates it with a big gay party on the White House lawn, Mack says. But theres an asterisk here. This happy crowd was also feeling palpable relief. Because, Mack says, being gay in America right now means carrying two realities around with you. Gay rights are more protected than theyve ever been. But also, gay people are astonishingly vulnerable. Suddenly there were these moments where we were being victimized very openly and politically once again, and people were coming after us in a way that I dont think Ive felt in a long time. Advertisement Advertisement In the past year, theres been a sharp uptick in anti-LGBTQ incidents around the country. One group estimates that theres been a 12-fold increase in demonstrations and political violence targeted at the queer community, just since 2000. In fact, the very same people in the audience watching the Respect for Marriage Act get signed? They were fighting off harassment the moment they got home. I spoke to a drag artist by the name of Marti G. Cummings. Theyre a nonbinary performer here in New York City, and they were invited to the White House ceremony. And the night after the signing, Tucker Carlson ran a segment about this and included references to Marti Cummings, saying that they have an unusual interest in children, Mack says. Marti Cummings told me that to them, Tucker Carlson knows what hes doing. To frame drag artists as this predatory threat to children is something that felt very shocking to me in March. But now, Im not shocked at all. That focus on children is not a coincidence. It is entirely related to the events that we saw in the pandemic and the political strategy that sections of the right developed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesdays episode of What Next, we try to make sense of this bifurcated moment for the queer community by examining the common thread linking conservative activism around COVID to anti-gay demonstrations in the street. My conversation with David Mack has been condensed and edited for clarity. Mary Harris: Back when a shooter opened fire in a Colorado Springs gay nightclub, in November, BuzzFeeds David Mack wrote an article lamenting the fact that this kind of violence seemed inevitable. Mack was hurting as he wrote thishes gay himself; he felt at risk. But he also felt like he should have seen this violence coming. To him, it didnt begin with gay people at all. Instead, it began with concerns around COVID and schools. Because protecting children seemed to resonate. Over the past year, he says hes watched this political message metastasize. Advertisement David Mack: Its funny. In November 2021, I was in Grand Junction, Colorado, for a school board race, of all things. Id chosen to go there for a few reasons. Its a bit of a hotbed for election denialism. It was having this school board race that was suddenly very partisan. And its also an overwhelmingly white area where suddenly critical race theory was this big subject of debate. One of the candidates told me that shed knocked on a door and someone had told her that they blamed critical race theory for turning their child bisexual. Advertisement Whoa. Quite a leap there. It certainly was. But it spoke perfectly to this wonderful boogeyman that the right had created. Most people I spoke to, even the candidates themselves, couldnt really define what CRT was. It became this wonderful catchall for anything that could possibly influence young minds to hate America or to make them less American. And to make them less conservative is where it naturally led. Advertisement Advertisement Protecting the presumed innocence of children is what connects all this. Whether conservative parents were talking about critical race theory or LGBTQ issues, the idea was the same: to avoid corrupting the minds of young people. And to be clear, Im not the one marrying these things. In Ohio, one of the bills that was put forward to legislate against critical race theory also included, in the very same bill, language that mirrored restrictions on sexual teachings, on sexual orientation, and on gender identity that you saw famously in the dont say gay bill in Florida. Do you think it is a top-down strategy? Or do you think its more like something was successful and then it spread and morphed? Advertisement Certainly people at the highest levels of the Republican Party are aware of this strategy and are using this strategy. You saw Glenn Youngkin in Virginia run in 2021 on a campaign about giving parents more control over the curriculum and listening to parents when it comes to schools. And theyre clearly recognizing schools and classrooms are a winning issue. Steve Bannon famously said last year the path to retake the country runs through school board elections. Advertisement Advertisement This focus on kids is not new, and Im wondering if youre able to go back a little bit and explain how in the 1970s the fight for gay rights was turbocharged by these allegations that gay people were somehow going to harm children? Im thinking specifically about how in Florida this woman named Anita Bryant became a real lightning rod. Do you know Anita Bryants story? Advertisement I do. What youre talking about are some of the earliest battles that happened in the first decade of the gay liberation movement. In the 10 years or so after Stonewall, it very quickly became a debate about gay people in schools. Advertisement Anita Bryant, in 1977, she was living in Miami and the city was looking to pass an ordinance that would protect the civil rights of gay people. It was being spearheaded by someone whom shed given money to. And it just really lit a fire under her to speak out against the civil rights of gay people. She eventually became part of this political coalition literally called Save Our Children. Its interesting to look back on how that went, because she was successful and then she was not successful. Its important to remember at this moment how this push and pull might continue for a while. Advertisement Advertisement Thats exactly right. Thats why, to me at least, I felt kind of flabbergasted in March to see these arguments being made again in the mainstream political realm. It was Ron DeSantis press secretary who first brought back this term groomer in a political context in March when talking about the dont say gay bill. And from there, it took off like a rocket. It felt surprising to me, because I felt like we had left all that behind. Its felt like this is the last gasp of this kind of movement that knows that theyre losing. They know they are losing the public. They know that the ship is sailing. They are reverting back to some classics to try to fight back one final time. Advertisement The thing that makes this current attempt to frame queer people as a threat to children new is how the message is spreadingperson to person, unfiltered, straight out of the faucet of social media. The internet firehose Mack worries the most about is an account weve talked about before: Libs of TikTok. Libs of TikTok is mostly a Twitter account that has over a million followers at this point. Its run by a Brooklyn real estate agent who basically takes videos from TikTok of teachers or other public officials that she deemed corrupting to children. Shes sort of saying here is this teacher in so-and-so, Iowa, telling proudly how they are running a class on transgender issues for 9-year-olds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These innocuous videos of gay and trans teachers talking about their jobs and students can rack up hundreds of thousands of views and plenty of hateful comments. Theyre always presented with a digital eyeroll, like, Can you believe what those libs are saying now? It was drawing national attention online to random people across the country. And then it started changing to drag queen story hours and pointing out when these events were happening. Have they also been involved in promoting how hospitals are caring for trans children? Yes. There has been a huge focus on the care that some hospitals and some medical clinics will give to transgender children. And a lot of misinformation. But you look at the language again: It is centered on children and what is being done to them. Advertisement This word pops up again and againmutilatewhen theyre talking about what care is being done. The idea is that these liberal doctors are chopping off the genitals of 9-year-olds who may be corrupted by a trend that their teacher taught them in class. And we have seen hospitals go into lockdown because of bomb threats and people facing federal charges because of the threats that theyve made to hospitals, which is just an astonishing thing to say out loud. Advertisement And political people started engaging with this account, right? Its become a hugely influential account, and the right is also very protective of it. A big bunch of the Elon Musk Twitter Files that weve seen lately is whether or not this account was restricted or muted in some ways, or if it wasntif it was protected, which some of those Twitter Files seem to indicate that there were special measures given to make sure this account was not taken down, because it has become such a political lightning rod. It bridges the gap between this political strategy that weve talked about, mostly interested in mobilizing people and getting them to the polls, and then this very dark online world where there are a lot of actors who politicians famously cant control but have influenced. Advertisement Advertisement How much do you credit this account for whats being seen in the real world? People showing up at drag shows or drag story hours and being threatening, having weapons, things like that. Is that directly related to Libs of TikTok? Yes. And other accounts like them. They will promote events on that page. They will say this library is having an event or this bar is having a midday brunch for families. And people will turn up at that event. Armed people will turn up with that event. Or, the event will need to be shut down in advance because of threats that theyve received. This has happened again and again and again. They will say that they are merely highlighting public information and letting people know that there is this event going on. But the wink-wink there is that you need to do something about this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And right now, were seeing armed people turning up at not just childrens events, but outside events at gay bars and inside gay barslike in Colorado Springs. This is clearly really personal for you. Over the past year, have you had to change the way you move in the world because of what youve noticed all around you? Its funny, I cover so many of these horrible things in this country, and its horrible to say, but you do become numb to covering so many of these things. And I woke up after that Club Q thing and I was furious. I felt anger in a way that I hadnt felt because it felt to me like this was the end point that we knew was coming. It was like a car crash in slow motion that we could see all year long. And we know it will happen again. I do feel angry and scared, Im sad to say, in a way that I havent. I was in a gay bar in Raleigh the week after Thanksgiving, and I found myself for the first time looking for the exits when I got in there. I caught myself doing that and I thought just how sad that is that I am in a bar with my boyfriend trying to just have a drink and I am worried. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. We started off the show talking about the Respect for Marriage Act and how celebratory the vibe was when it was signed into law. It seems to me in this moment that the fight that queer Americans are in is a lot harder than the fight for marriage equality. And I say that because the fight for gay marriage was a fight about allowing queer people to adhere to straight norms. And the fight now is really about making straight people deal with queerness. Do you see it that way, too? I think your point, and its a fair one, is that above all its a cultural fight and its a cultural debate. My one ray of sunshine in all of this is that we gays are very good at the cultural stuff. If you think you can beat us on culture, you got another thing coming. You look at the media landscape that kids are coming up in now and the openness of queer shows and queer celebrities and I draw huge inspiration from that because if were going to be fighting this out in the cultural sphere, thats a fight Im willing to have because I think well win. Last summer, the Supreme Court launched a revolution in Second Amendment law, creating a fundamental right to carry a concealed firearm and declaring that all restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms are presumptively unconstitutional. The majoritys decision in Bruen, taken at face value, is one of the most radical rulings in American historya threat to thousands of state and federal laws that have stemmed gun violence for decades or centuries. It raised the question: Did the court really intend to give virtually every adult the right to carry a concealed firearm into almost any place they choose? Advertisement We wont have to wait long for an answer. Right now, gun advocates are asking SCOTUS to block most of New Yorks Concealed Carry Improvement Actwhich the state legislature passed in the wake of Bruenon the courts infamous shadow docket. The New York law repealed the states now-invalid limits on concealed carry, replacing them with more rigorous screenings for permit applicants plus a list of sensitive places where guns remained banned. A conservative judge promptly halted the statute, gutting the screening for permits while legalizing concealed carry in hospitals, parks, zoos, movie theaters, protests, and more. But a federal appeals court reinstated the law, leading its opponents to beg the Supreme Court for emergency relief. And so, in the coming days, we will discover how aggressively the conservative majority wants to dismantle all remnants of the nations gun safety regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This mess was foreseeable from the moment Bruen came down in June. The majority opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas imposed a maximalist vision of the Second Amendment: Every restriction on the right to armed self-defense, he wrote, is unconstitutional unless it has historical analogues from 1791, when the amendment was ratified. These analogues must demonstrate a consensus view that the gun restriction was lawful. But how many analogues make up a consensus? Two? Three? Ten? And how closely must a modern gun law align with its historical analogue? Todays firearm codes address problems that were inconceivable in 1791. Are states forbidden from banning guns on subways because subways didnt exist 232 years ago? Federal judges have grappled with these questions for six months, and the results are predictably chaotic. Since Bruen, courts have, for instance, ruled that individuals have a right to buy while under a restraining order for domestic violence, and to scratch out the serial number on a firearm, rendering it untraceable to law enforcement. After all, domestic violence wasnt a crime in 1791 (when women were not full legal persons) and serial numbers were not yet widely used. Advertisement Judge Glenn Suddaby, a George W. Bush appointee, entered the fray this fall, when gun advocates asked him to block the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, or CCIA. From the start, Suddaby did not conceal his bias against the law. After the plaintiffs failed to explain why they had standing to challenge ita crucial constitutional requirementhe invited them to do so. They declined to take up his invitation. So the judge dismissed the case. But he also penned an advisory opinion explaining why he would strike down the CCIA if the plaintiffs established standing. (Such advisory opinions are strictly forbidden.) Advertisement The plaintiffs finally took the hint and concocted dubious reasons why they had standing to challenge the CCIA. One said the new law made it too difficult to apply for a concealed carry permit (though he had never tried). Others already had permits and claimed they wanted to take their guns into the sensitive places protected by the law. Suddaby swiftly granted standing and issued a restraining order freezing most of the CCIA. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed his decision, putting the law back in place. Suddaby doubled down, issuing an injunction against most of the act. Once again, the 2nd Circuit stayed his decision. So, in December, the plaintiffs asked the Supreme Court to overrule the appeals court and enjoin the law. Now that New York has responded, a decision could come at any time. Advertisement Advertisement To intervene at this early stage, SCOTUS cannot simply hold that the 2nd Circuit was mistaken: It must conclude that the appeals court clearly and demonstrably erred in applying accepted standards. If five justices reach this conclusion, then no gun restriction is safe. Consider Suddabys ruling: The judge struck down New Yorks ban on concealed carry in public parks, zoos, airports, buses, houses of worship, bars, conference centers, banquet halls, protests, and many medical facilities, including addiction treatment centers. He also invalidated a provision of the law that stopped permit-holders from taking their weapons onto private property, like businesses or homes, unless the property owner expressly consented to their presence. Finally, Suddaby struck down a requirement that permit-holders show good moral character (which means they have no demonstrated propensity to misuse firearms), as well as a requirement that they disclose whether they have children in the home (despite the persistent and devastating problem of unintentional child shootings). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suddabys reasoning ranges from curious to laughable. He admitted that he did his own research rather than rely exclusively on the parties briefing, and it shows. Speculating about the history of allowing guns into zoos, Suddaby wrote that he could imagine some of the more trepid zoogoers of the time demanding to be armed in the presence of the more dangerous creatures. (Result: The Second Amendment protects the right to carry guns in zoos.) He made up, out of whole cloth, the possibility that state agents might require permit applicants to submit a urine sample (which appears nowhere in the New York law) just so he could strike it down. Suddabys efforts to find historical consensus were even wackier. At first, he demanded three or more historical analogues, because two can also appear as a mere trend. Later, the judge shifted his method, giving more weight to old laws in states that made up a larger percentage of the nations population at the time, according to the nearest decennial census. So laws governing Maine and Rhode Island cannot establish a consensus, but laws governing Virginia and Pennsylvania can. (Maybe!) Advertisement Advertisement This is not constitutional law and barely pretends to be. And yet it is difficult not to feel a milligram of sympathy for Suddaby. The Supreme Court set him up to fail: In Bruen, Clarence Thomas cherry-picked historical facts with almost boastful recklessness, making up Calvinball rules like laws in federal territories dont count to throw out evidence that contradicted his preferred outcome. Thats one reason why Judge Carlton Reeves recently floated appointing a historian in a Second Amendment case, since courts lack both the methodological and substantive knowledge necessary to extrapolate from the ambiguous, incomplete record. At the very least, the Supreme Court could allow lower courts to wrestle with Bruen for a time before wading in once again. The court typically lets new issues percolate in the courts before resolving them, under the theory that the airing of competing views can aid its own decisionmaking process. New York gun advocates want to stymie that process by persuading SCOTUS to kill the CCIA right now, short-circuiting both percolation in the lower courts as well as states experimentation with new gun laws after Bruen. Rewarding them would only sow more confusion about the appropriate standard for Second Amendment challenges, indicating that the law changed even more radically than Bruen admitted. It would also break a promise that Justice Brett Kavanaugh made in a concurring opinion joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, which insisted that thorough licensing requirements remain lawful, as do limits on guns in sensitive places. (Perhaps the only gun-free zone that Kavanaugh and Roberts accept is their own courthouse.) Advertisement The Supreme Court will, at some point, need to clean up the mess it made in Bruen. Right now, however, the worst thing it can possibly do is act over the shadow docket to turbocharge the Second Amendment without oral argument, full briefing, or even a decision from the appeals court. Stricter limits on concealed carry, like those passed by New York, are proven to save lives. Striking down those limits will lead to more violence, injury, and death. The Supreme Court has no business inflicting that bloodshed because a handful of disgruntled gun owners are too terrified of New York City to go anywhere without packing heat. Welcome to State of Mind, a new section from Slate and Arizona State University dedicated to exploring mental health. Follow us on Twitter. Jenny Andrews remembers her undergrad internship at a public defenders office as an aha moment. Andrews went to law school knowing exactly what she wanted to do, and as she studied under several veteran public defenders, it was really instilled in me how important the work was and how important it was to do it well and really dedicate yourself to it, she said. Advertisement Upon graduating, Andrews threw herself wholeheartedly into defense work at an office in Oakland, California. It was a frenetic, relentless environment. People came in early and worked late. They grabbed quick naps under their desks at lunchtime, spent long days in court, and prepared for trials in the evenings. Initially, Andrews said, having public defense sort of grow and expand into all parts of my life was actually really exciting and motivating and immersive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then abruptly, after around seven years of work, there was the thought: I cant do this at all anymore. Andrews wrote her resignation letter. When you ask public defenders why they entered the field, many cite the same powerful sense of purpose as Andrews. They describe an intense outrage toward the injustices of the criminal legal system and fervent dedication to fighting for the people they represent. Working in the field can be at once rewarding, stressful, and heartbreaking, a reality I encountered while working as a paralegal in a public defenders office. Like other frontline workers, public defenders experience the painful toll of facing social injustice and inequality on a daily basis. Advertisement In the several decades following Gideon v. Wainwrightthe 1963 Supreme Court decision establishing that any criminal defendant who could not afford an attorney had a right to have one appointedthe culture in public defenders offices broadly prized tireless, almost martyr-like dedication to the work. There was a sense of tough it out or else youre maybe not cut out for the work, Andrews said. That narrative is changing within the public defense community, a group that includes not only attorneys but also social workers, investigators, paralegals, and other staff. Public defenders are grappling, at the individual and systemic levels, with the mental health impacts of their work. Rather than implying weakness, public defenders suggest that recognizing and confronting the mental and emotional toll of their work may actually make them better at what they do. Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of this steady change is the recognition that public defenders face distinct mental health challenges. Given the unique character of their work, typical mental health adviceexercise, go to therapy, talk to a friendis often woefully insufficient. Structural barriers and under-resourcing take a toll on defenders sense of self and justice. Theyre also exposed to direct and secondary trauma coupled with a lack of education about traumatic effects. For many reasons, formal mental health care can be inaccessible. And yet, public defenders across the country are making significant efforts to respond to these challenges. Advertisement Public defenders represent clients facing devastating, potentially life-destroying punishments; they witness the effects of criminalizing mental health needs, substance use, and poverty. A 2020 study of public defenders, jointly conducted by faculty of Rutgers UniversityNewark and Drexel University, concluded that public defenders suffered from the stress of injustice or the demands of working in a punitive system with laws and practices that target and punish those who are the most disadvantaged. Advertisement Chronic under-resourcing compounds that toll: For every five defendants facing criminal charges in the United States, about four will be unable to pay for a private attorney. They will instead rely on public defenders or court-appointed lawyers. There are far from enough public defenders, however, to meet the need. In Oregon, the shortage of available public defenders is so acute that, as of October 2022, around 1,300 people facing criminal charges were denied attorneys. Many public defenders offices do not have the resources they need to effectively represent their clients. Advertisement Advertisement Public defenders thus shoulder immense workloads and punishing schedules. For Andrews, there was a painful disconnect between the desire to do her work well and the grueling expectations accompanying high caseloads. Very quickly, the motivation to do it well and the under-resourcing led to working later and later and later and later, she said. Andrews recalled working in the evenings, working on the weekends, falling out of touch with friends who were not in public defense, missing weddings, missing funerals, missing family reunions. Advertisement Even so, systemic obstacles within the criminal legal system itself mean that it might not matter how zealously or energetically a public defender workstheyre still often unable to have the impact they hope for. For public defenders dedicated to the work, or coming into the field with the hypercompetitive spirit inculcated by some law schools, such setbacks can be devastating. Theres a kind of frustration that eats at you, Andrews said. Advertisement Andrews believes that her experience, and the experience of other public defenders who leave the work, can be understood using the concept of moral injury. Although the term originated in studies of veterans, it has been used to describe the experiences of frontline workers in fields like health care and education. The concept captures the experience of playing a part in something that deeply offends your beliefs and morals. Journalist Diane Silver described it as a deep soul wound that pierces a persons identity, sense of morality and relationship to society. That resonated with Andrews: It makes you feel like you came to a system to try to do something helpful, and the system is really inflicting harmand there are times that you feel complicit in that, she said. Advertisement Public defenders do not, of course, only interact with systems: They interact with their clients, with judges, prosecutors, and court staff, and with their public-defender colleagues. In their day-to-day work, public defenders can be particularly susceptible to secondary traumatic stress. Also known as vicarious trauma, the concept was popularized by Charles Figley, and can be understood as the effects of being exposed to the traumatic experiences of another person. The important takeaway from the concept is that traumatic effects can be felt even if one doesnt experience the trauma firsthand. According to Andrews, secondary traumatic stress appears often in the course of public defense work: A huge piece of public defense is listening to really painful stories of experiences. Not just the facts of a particular case, which definitely can include someone being very severely harmed but its also the background information when we get to know the people that we represent and their families and communities. Advertisement Whether they experience direct or secondary trauma, public defenders grapple with the associated mental and physical effects. Unfortunately, they might not have the knowledge or tools needed to even recognize their experiences in the context of trauma. Andrews said that some might think: I dont sleep, or I have headaches, or I have stomachaches; thats just something that I deal with, as opposed to being something connected to the work and the way that we do the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public defenders who do choose to seek professional mental health care often face barriers. There are, of course, the generalized obstacles like cost and provider availability, but there are also specific struggles, like finding a therapist who understands public defense work. Tina Fang, the chief deputy public defender at the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, cited the loathed question often posed to public defenders: How could you defend that person? Ive had therapists ask that question, and nothing will shut down a therapy session faster, Fang said. Advertisement For others, taking time away from the office for therapy is untenable. Many public defenders may be behind even on medical and dental appointments, Andrews said, as getting away from the constant flow of work is a real challenge. Concerns about confidentiality may also affect public defenders willingness to seek out care. Some public defenders, particularly non-attorney staff, worry about the exact boundaries of confidentiality and err on the side of not going into much detail when discussing the stresses of the work. Andrew Strenio, a former sentencing mitigation specialist at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center, explained that when he personally sought out a counselor, even in that professional and confidential setting, I would be self-limiting of what I would be able to disclose. Advertisement After a three-year break, Andrews returned to public defense in 2007. When she first came back, she found that the messaging that I was getting was come up with a good cover story for this gap in your resume. Over time, however, she found it harder to keep things to herself. She began opening up not only about the toll of the work, but also about how she planned to approach it differently. To her excitement, she found it easy to connect with other public defenders interested in having the same conversation. Advertisement In 2018, Megan Ring was appointed as the head of the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. As state leadership held strategy meetings following her appointment, they set out to increase resourcing and, relatedly, to improve public defender well-being across the state. To Ring, this was essential: Theres nothing more heartbreaking to me than getting a resignation letter from someone who says: This is what I want to do, but my mental health cant take it anymore, and thats why Im leaving, she said. Advertisement The office formed a peer support initiative for public defenders after learning about similar programs for health care workers. They initially hired and trained more than a dozen peer support workers from their existing staff, who were then made available as an on-call resource for public defenders to speak frankly with about the demands of their work and personal concerns. Peer support workers could make referrals to outside mental health services as well. Advertisement Advertisement After the program began operating, the Colorado office received a $250,000 grant from the state, explicitly earmarked for mental health services. The office put part of the money toward lining up therapists who understood public defense work, including a retired public defender. The office also provides reimbursements and aid for people paying out of pocket for mental health expenses. The peer support program continues to operate today and has grown in size. Meanwhile, across the country, other public defender offices are exploring mental health-focused initiatives to support their staff members. Advertisement At the heart of efforts like the one in Colorado is a fundamental belief that addressing the toll of the work will make public defenders better equipped to do their jobs. In a practical sense, attending to mental health makes for more effective attorneys, social workers, paralegals, investigators, and other staff, who can be retained long-term. Advertisement Whats more, a frank discussion around the challenges of public defense work might provide another source of fuel for efforts to advocate for change in the criminal legal system. Andrews argues that the concept of moral injury can be an effective tool for turning a critical lens back on the systems in which public defenders work. In that sense, efforts to improve mental health for public defenders and advocacy efforts directed at changing the criminal legal system itself are not separate fights, but in fact inform and feed one another. In that vein, Andrews cautions against focusing the conversation about mental health and public defense around self-care and individual mental health strategies. Self-care is really not threatening to systems, she said. When you start talking about things structurally that offices need to do differently or that we need to, in the broad criminal legal system that creates a lot more tension. State of Mind is a partnership of Slate and Arizona State University that offers a practical look at our mental health systemand how to make it better. Now that its January, mock drafts will be coming fast and furious and we cant wait to bring it all to you as Aprils draft gets closer and closer. The latest one comes from Minnesota Vikings expert and current ESPN analyst Jordan Reid. He knows this team better than just about anyone in the NFL draft community and Reid showed it by sending the Vikings South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith. Here is what Reid had to say about the talented Gamecock. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah showed in his first draft in Minnesota that he values initial quickness, and after the Vikings struggled mightily in pass defense this season (7.8 yards allowed per attempt, 31st in the NFL), they will be seeking defensive backs who show good burst and can make plays on the ball. Smith checks those boxes and has experience in the slot and on the outside. He has four picks and 17 pass breakups over the past two seasons, too. Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan are on expiring deals, and Cameron Dantzler Sr. will be entering the final year of his contract in 2023, so cornerback depth will be a spot to watch. Having that type of versatility would serve the Vikings really well as they continue to rebuild their secondary. Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire Great coffee in the state of North Carolina is nothing new. The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill areaoften referred to as the Piedmont, or Research Trianglehas proved itself as a major national hub for cafes and roasters in the 21st century, with an influence extending far beyond the states borders. But travel a few hours southwest to the city of Charlotte, and youll find a city with a coffee scene totally its own. Queen City has made massive strides in the specialty sector just in the last 15 years, and today is home to a collection of great cafes on par with any city in the American South. Trail Blaze Coffee Academy founder Brady Butler, who started as a barista just as the evolution was beginning, has seen it all. From the early days of events and small cafesthink 20oz dry cappuccinos, he recallsButler has watched as the scene in Charlotte has grown tremendously. He characterizes this growth as something organic, born out of strong neighborhood connections, and its story is sustained by local cafes, owned by the same folks who cut their teeth in the original circles. Many of these career third wave folks in Charlotte have begun roasting themselves or investing in a growing number of local roasters, while keeping regional relationships strong. The donut-hole nature of Charlottes geography, which circles around the commercial Uptown, makes supporting local a natural choice. From artistic NoDa to hip Plaza Midwood and historic Enderly Park, many cafes are built on the ethos of the neighborhood where they are located. Well visit six Charlotte standouts for this guide, but theres always more brewing. If youre in the area, check out the acclaimed new Archive CLT, a Black-owned vintage book and magazine shop with great coffee and tea, and try to time your visit with the annual No Filter Coffee Fest, recently nominated for a Sprudgie Award and helping to set an inclusive direction for coffee in the southeast. Central Coffee Co. Want a home away from home? Youll find it in Central Coffee Co., which South Charlotte native Jimmy Kleto opened with his parents in 2009, in the former convenience store his grandfather bought in the 1960s. The Cheers of Plaza Midwood, as locals call it, is funky, casual, and a little granola, Kleto says, with the stained concrete floors, wooden ceiling beams, and exposed brick walls of the 1920s-era building. Co-owner Louisa Kleto, Jimmys wife, joined the family business in 2012, producing syrups, muffins, scones, and zucchini bread in-house. The pandemic couldnt keep their community away. During lock-down, the Kletos released a Zoom background with Centrals mint-green walls, Louisa says, in case anyone was missing them. The new work-from-home crowd loves the laptop-friendly community tables, and in the aftermath, very few regulars havent returned. The Kletos serve single-origins from long-term partner and roaster Joe Van Gogh (founded 1991) on a Synesso Cyncra, and employ a Nicaragua Selva Negra from a farm theyve visited personally in their chocolatey nitro cold brew. The first Charlotte cafe to offer nitro, Central now sells two kegs a day and also offers refillable, ready-to-drink versions. Customers can enjoy coffee-infused beers and a seasonal pumpkin pie latte with pumpkin puree, too. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the Kletos are considering reopening their now-closed South End cafe and building out a wholesale business that reaches beyond Queen City thanks to their partner, food and bev retailer Vibe NC. Theyve put their Innovation Grant from the City of Charlotte towards making merch and expanding their food menu to include vegan, gluten-free options from local vendors like True Flour and Crust Punk Baking. Not Just Coffee When we opened in 2011, my wife Miracle and I didnt know we were starting something so new, says James Yoder, co-owner of Not Just Coffee (NJC) and Night Swim Coffee. At the time, pour-overs or the now-ubiquitous EK43 grinders were nowhere to be seen. NJC has since grown into six cafes around Charlotte. While each offers a unique experience, all are driven by a clean, design-forward aesthetic and use La Marzocco machines, with Night Swim Ultraviolet blend as the house espresso and Immersion as the house filter, with rotating single-origins on pour-over and espresso. The caramel latte, thanks to a recipe Yoder developed 12 years ago, is NJCs most popular. So why Not Just Coffee? The Yoders brainstormed the name with the dream of drawing non-coffee drinkers too; James says it reflects the community and creative focus of their origin. The not-coffee menu includes classics like avocado toast alongside an absolutely fantastic BLT with avocado, and sources from local farms and bakeries whenever possible, James says. And about that community? Hosting events like jazz night, art openings, and womens arm-wrestling competitions is an integral part of the cafe chains identity the team hopes to restore post-pandemic. In late 2021, the Yoders joined forces with Todd and Erin Huber, founders of Undercurrent Coffee, to launch the Night Swim roasting venture, which now supplies all Not Just Coffee, Undercurrent, and Night Swim cafes. Aside from being a Charlotte staple, says James, Not Just Coffee is our baby. He anticipates this will stay consistent as they grow Night Swim. Not Just Coffee has six locations around Charlotte. Visit their official website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter Summit Coffee Co. (NoDa branch) The current evolution of roaster/cafe brand Summit Coffee Co. began with intentional franchising, which CEO Brian Helfrich introduced after taking over in 2011. Weve been trying to do specialty in an accessible way, says Helfrich, sitting in front of a light in the shape of the phrase find your summit. To be successful, you need to invite people to be a part of the process. Customer-focused from the outset, the Summit team sees value in local cafes having local ownershiplike Summit Coffee NoDas John and Melissa Varvaro. After living in NoDa for 16 years, says Melissa, We couldnt turn down the opportunity to support our own space in the neighborhood. The NoDa cafe was designed by Tyler Helfrich and showcases local artists that reflect the diverse, eclectic community. There is a familiar Summit touch and feel to our cafe but with a color-outside-the-lines NoDa vibe, Melissa says. As a roaster, Summit prioritizes strong producer relationships, sourcing 90+% of their coffee from existing partners, 62% of whom are women. Customers know theyll get good coffee, says Chief Experience Officer Dora Callahan. How do we surprise them with a great experience? At Summit cafes, youll find an approachable menu with customer favorites like the 16oz latte (with 24oz iced drinks on the way) and women-produced Basecamp blend batch brew available at a lower price point than the featured batch brew. Plant-based milks have no upcharge. We have big ambitions but never to a point where we lose sight of the customer experience, Helfrich says. Sustainability is an important part of this journey; the roasting operation became climate-neutral in 2022. Summit has 10 locations as of 2022 and is rapidly expanding in the southeast. Enderly Coffee Co. Tony and Becky Santoro co-founded Enderly Coffee Co., one of Yelps 2022 100 best coffee shops in the US, in 2012. Over the past decade, Tonya former Title 1 teacher who started out selling air popper-roasted coffee to churchesbecame a SCA-certified roaster and barista and formed his intentional wholesale company around the tagline, People First. Coffee Always. Perceiving that the typical third-wave experience lacked hospitality, Tony decided to bake approachability, quality, and community into the DNA of his brand, named for the historic, majority-Black neighborhood of Enderly Park where its based. The cafe is a bright, clean space featuring local art, where staff have free reign over the music and a cup of their top-selling, dark roast State Street Blend costs just over $2 cash. Its situated in a 40s-era grocery store, where Tony imagines nearly every local once set foot. We are joy dealers, facilitating an experience with a goal to make your day better, Tony writes on Enderlys insightful Bean Blog. Their washed Papua New Guinea, with tasting notes of lemon and honey, does that for mebut Tony humbly deflects my compliments. The bridge hes building towards the well-rounded, approachable specialty coffee his customers want doesnt necessarily begin with lemon notes. To ensure customers enjoy coffee to their tastes, the team encourages questions at the register. Our job is to blow their mind, says Tony, and Enderly regularly accomplishes this with their Honey Bee latte (made with hello honey), rotating single-origins, and seasonal flavors like pumpkin pie and salted maple. Im filled with gratitude to be here after the pandemicduring which Enderly launched a successful Friday home delivery program in partnership with local bakeriesand for all our staff, Tony says. HEX Coffee Roasters I first encountered HEXs natural Indonesia with tasting notes of blueberry wine and earl grey at No Filter Fest. It was a How is this coffee? momentturns out, thats their thing. In 2015, HEX was a popup, which served as a good opportunity to share ideas with other Charlotte coffee brands and grow together, says Tanner Morita, co-founder and Director of Coffee. The Roastery, their main production space and espresso bar, opened in 2017. The brands tagline POINTED TOWARD PROVENANCE serves as their barometer for selecting coffees that show terroir and roasting for vibrancy and sweetness. Our main goal is to be a progressive voice in Charlotte coffee, Morita tells me. We wanted to push specialty forward, and present powerfully vibrant coffees in a market that was, at that time, not familiar with this style of uniquely fruited coffee. HEXs minimalist, architecturally-minded aesthetic is designed to let the product speak for itself [and] show the incredible work being done at origin. At their South End installation Stablehand, a sister concept that combines HEX Coffee with the Good Bottle bottle shop, youll find coffee shotsfilter coffee through a La Marzocco GS3instead of pour-overs. Customers gravitate towards bright tropical flavors, and the rotating list of filter and espresso means theres always a new experience (including seasonals like a rich and buttery Kabocha pumpkin squash latte). HEX will soon open a new flagship cafe with a Modbar, full-scale restaurant and natural wine bar, to put provenance forward, says Morita. Beyond putting coffee front and center, the cafe will also showcase the local food community and the teams ventures into natural wine. HEX Coffee Roasters has multiple locations. Visit their official website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter Queen City Grounds Queen City Grounds (QCG) was founded in 2017 by childhood friends Adam Hummell and Paul Waggoner, a founding member of Between the Buried and Me and owner of sister company Nightflyer Roastworks, as a small corner coffee shop. Its since grown into three locations, including in 4th Ward, South End, and Wesley Heights, and offers in-house, small-batch roasting, beer, and wine. For me as a recently diagnosed celiac, QCGs creative, accessible food menu and knowledgeable staff stands out. I got a kick out of seasonal drink names like the Basic Witch and Chai Day the 13th. My Is It Pronounced Syrup or Syrup? featured homemade brown sugar syrup and QCGs signature Night Owl espresso blend with gluten-free oat milk. QCGs focus on community and inclusivity reflects their Core Values, which are prominently displayed behind the bar at 4th Ward and encourage staff to be genuinely hospitable, be collaborative, be stoked, and stay grounded. Theres even a Pay It Forward wall, where you can claim a drink paid for by a previous patron. The original 4th Ward shop is a big industrial space designed by Cluck Design Collaborative with a long coffee bar, exposed ceiling pipes, and black, silver, and wood accents. QCGs logo of an owl with spread wings looms large over the stairs to the mezzanine. Local art, including watercolors made with Nightflyer coffee grounds, adorn the walls above a mix of tables, stools, and comfy chairs. QCG brings the personality down to the details (read: the red 86d icon denoting a sold-out dish on their menu screen), and is a space that invites you to #StayGroundedand stay awhile. Chloe Skye Weiser (@apostropheskye) is a freelance writer based in Denmark. Read more Chloe Skye Weiser for Sprudge. All photos by the author unless otherwise noted https://sputnikglobe.com/20230103/terrorists-carry-out-two-attacks-on-syrias-idlib-zone-in-past-day-says-defense-ministry-1106021253.html Terrorists Carry Out Two Attacks on Syria's Idlib Zone in Past Day, Says Defense Ministry Terrorists Carry Out Two Attacks on Syria's Idlib Zone in Past Day, Says Defense Ministry MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in Russia) shelled Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone twice over the past 24 hours, Maj. Gen. Oleg... 03.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-03T23:49+0000 2023-01-03T23:49+0000 2023-01-03T23:49+0000 jabhat al nusra russian defense ministry russian defense ministry's center for syrian reconciliation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102273/15/1022731597_0:76:2000:1201_1920x0_80_0_0_29c1a047d56a75b275cf2dd8b621fcf2.jpg "Two shelling attacks from the positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone over the past day in Idlib province," 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. 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 jabhat al nusra, russian defense ministry, russian defense ministry's center for syrian reconciliation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230103/us-banks-get-first-ever-joint-warning-on-cryptocurrencies-from-countrys-monetary-agencies-1106020363.html US Banks Get First-Ever Joint Warning on Cryptocurrencies From Countrys Monetary Agencies US Banks Get First-Ever Joint Warning on Cryptocurrencies From Countrys Monetary Agencies WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US banks have received the first warning from the countrys monetary agencies on the contagion risks associated with cryptocurrencies... 03.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-03T22:26+0000 2023-01-03T22:26+0000 2023-01-03T22:26+0000 ftx sam bankman-fried us federal reserve federal reserve /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/04/0f/1082638867_0:0:2807:1580_1920x0_80_0_0_454f3daa2a4b91b701ca511fed885c0e.jpg In their maiden joint statement on crypto, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency expressed their worries about the safety and soundness of bank business models with concentrated exposure toward cryptocurrencies and activities related to that industry. FTX, founded in 2019, had over one million users and was the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume when it collapsed in November, filing for bankruptcy. The companys founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court on Tuesday to perpetrating what one federal prosecutor called a fraud of epic proportions. Since FTXs fall from grace, cryptocurrencies have also lost a bulk of their value, with industry leader Bitcoin hitting more than two-year lows at around $15,500, before rebounding to trade at under $16,700. The three monetary agencies said banks issuing or holding crypto tokens that are stored on a public, decentralized network are "highly likely" to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices. That stance has dealt a potential blow to several banks efforts to provide crypto services to their customers. 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 ftx, sam bankman-fried, us federal reserve, federal reserve https://sputnikglobe.com/20230103/us-maintains-direct-contacts-with-russia-on-paul-whelans-potential-release-says-state-department-1106021086.html US Maintains Direct Contacts With Russia on Paul Whelans Potential Release, Says State Department US Maintains Direct Contacts With Russia on Paul Whelans Potential Release, Says State Department WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Biden administration maintains direct contact with the authorities in Moscow on the potential release home of US citizen Paul... 03.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-03T23:45+0000 2023-01-03T23:45+0000 2023-01-03T23:45+0000 paul whelan us state department /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/13/1099746507_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7f252e6fecdff1b57ed163ec8e089d63.jpg Price declined to provide any details and pointed out that releasing details can impact the negotiation process. The US government certainly wants to see Whelan released, Price added. The Russian authorities arrested Paul Whelan in December 2018 and a Moscow court sentenced him to 16 years in prison on charges of espionage. Whelan, who is also a citizen of Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom, has maintained that he is innocent and insisted that he arrived in Russia for a friend's wedding. 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 paul whelan, us state department https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/1968-romeo--juliet-stars-sue-paramount-500mln-over-nude-scene-filmed-when-they-were-minors-1106027115.html 1968 'Romeo & Juliet' Stars Sue Paramount $500Mln Over Nude Scene Filmed When They Were Minors 1968 'Romeo & Juliet' Stars Sue Paramount $500Mln Over Nude Scene Filmed When They Were Minors The main stars of 1968 "Romeo&Juliet" 55 years after the film's release have sued for $500M over nude filming in the bed scene. According to the lawsuit, director decieved them. 2023-01-04T09:22+0000 2023-01-04T09:22+0000 2023-01-04T09:22+0000 viral lawsuit nudity child abuse /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/04/1106026020_0:153:2999:1839_1920x0_80_0_0_5642b1a1bbe31cfb69fde8952c646d4c.jpg Olivia Hussey, 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, filed a $500 million lawsuit against Paramaunt Pictures, 55 years after the filming of "Romeo & Juliet", in which they starred. They claimed that the director, Franco Zeffirelli, had broken his promise of no nudity scenes on the pretext that otherwise the picture "would fail".In the scene under discussion, Romeo and Juliet part after spending the night together. There are images of Whiting's buttocks and Hussey's bare breasts.The suit was filed on December 30, 2022, in Santa Monica Superior Court in California. The plaintiffs accuse the defendant of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.The lawsuit reportedly states that the director insisted on doing a nude shoot with a body make-up in the final days of filming - while initially, the actors had been told to perform a bed scene in flesh-colored underwear.Moreover, it was stated that Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, was dishonest with the actors because he said that the cameras would be filmed in such a way that nudity would not be in the frame. That is, the actors were alledgedly filmed naked without their knowledge.Hussey was 15 at the time and Whiting was 16."Nude images of minors are unlawful and shouldn't be exhibited," said the actors attorney, Solomon Gresen, in an interview with American magazine. "These were very young naive children in the 60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them. All of a sudden they were famous at a level they never expected, and in addition they were violated in a way they didnt know how to deal with."Accrding to the American media, the suit relies, among other things, on a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for older claims of child sexual abuse. This law had a deadline of December 31, 2022. 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 'romeo & juliet' nude scene lawsuit, olivia hussey and leonard whiting sue paramaunt pictures, franco zeffirelli decieved stars, 'romeo & juliet' bed scene naked lawsuit, 'romeo & juliet' bed scene naked https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/battered-but-not-broken-syria-continues-restoration-of-medieval-crusader-era-castle--photos-1106042547.html Battered But Not Broken: Syria Continues Restoration of Medieval Crusader-Era Castle Photos Battered But Not Broken: Syria Continues Restoration of Medieval Crusader-Era Castle Photos Syrian and foreign archeologists have defiantly continued to restore landmarks from ancient civilizations long gone which were damaged and looted by terrorists during the long-running war in the Middle Eastern country. 2023-01-04T18:26+0000 2023-01-04T18:26+0000 2023-01-04T18:30+0000 world castle homs restoration ancient middle east syria /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103787/47/1037874780_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_65979fefb5490cd1c374a46bb5b1fca0.jpg Syrian media have released images showing progress in the restoration of the Krak des Chevaliers (lit. "Fortress of the Kurds"), an ancient medieval castle situated outside the city of Homs, western Syria.The castle, which dates back to the 11th century, and was rebuilt between the 1140s-1170s by Catholic Christian Crusaders, known as the Knights Hospitaller, was damaged in Syrias war against 21st century barbarians foreign fighters, mercenaries and jihadi extremists. Militants captured the castle in the spring of 2012, turning it into a staging area for militants flooding into the country, and holding it until 2014 before being kicked out by the Syrian Army. During its occupation, the castle was subjected to the desecration of its ancient walls as rebels blasted down doorways and staircases, littered halls with broken masonry, set fire to its heart the Knights Hall, and looted its ancient artifacts.Despite the terrorists best efforts, and thanks to government forces careful effort to avoid damaging the ancient artifact during their offensive to retake the castle, the ancient site stood firm.Photos show the progress of the restoration work, from the reconstruction of ancient doorways and doors, to the rebuilding of stone stairwells, roofs, ancient arches, to efforts to save remnants of the castles priceless ancient mosaics.Castle Director Eng Hazem Hanna said work was underway to complete the third phase of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021 between the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, including plans to strengthen the northern wall of the southern stable building overlooking the moat. Work has already seen the restoration of the facade of the corridor in the inner castle yard, the entrance to the Knights Tower, and multiple staircases, and the creation of new insulation and rainwater drainage systems to shild the castle from the elements.Syrian and Hungarian archeologists have also been working together at the castle, documenting the remnants of ancient stone decorations and systematizing them, presumably to allow for future restoration work.Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006, the Krak des Chevaliers has been a part of Syrian history for nearly 900 years, witnessing fierce fighting during the Crusader period, and housing an Ottoman Imperial garrison as part of the Tripoli Eyalet. The castle became a major tourist attraction during the French occupation of Syria and Lebanon between the 1920s-1940s, and was described by T.E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia, as perhaps the best-preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world.As part of independent Syria, the castle would attract up to five million people every year, many of them coming to the country specifically to see this ancient architectural marvel with their own eyes.Syria began reconstruction of the castle in 2018. It is one of dozens of major historical monuments and artifacts which has been fortunate enough to survive the terrorist onslaught, and to receive resources and support for restoration work. Other sites, such as the ancient of Palmyra, have been less fortunate, with Daesh (ISIS)* dynamiting or smashing many of its priceless architectural elements, statues and artifacts to bits, and looting others and exporting them through Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon to wealthy collectors in the Persian Gulf and Western countries.Syria is home to some of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs settled between the early 3rd and 2ndmillennium BC.* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220714/russian-syrian-specialists-finish-first-phase-of-restoration-of-palmyras-1700-yo-arch-of-triumph-1097319039.html homs syria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov syria, castle, ancient castle, restoration, unesco heritage site, heritage https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/berlin-sends-note-saying-no-plans-for-negotiations-with-poland-on-war-reparations---warsaw-1106023529.html Berlin Sends Note Saying No Plans for Negotiations With Poland on War Reparations - Warsaw Berlin Sends Note Saying No Plans for Negotiations With Poland on War Reparations - Warsaw MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The German government has informed the Polish side in a diplomatic note that it is not intending to negotiate with Warsaw on wartime... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T02:09+0000 2023-01-04T02:09+0000 2023-01-04T02:09+0000 germany nazi germany warsaw /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/01/1100270263_0:141:2759:1693_1920x0_80_0_0_1152eb164f061de4ad7961da61641325.jpg "On 28 December 2022, Germanys Federal Foreign Office replied to Polish MFAs note of 3 October 2022. The note was delivered to Polish MFA on 3 January 2023. According to the German Government, the issue of reparations and compensation for war losses remains closed and the German Government does not intend to launch negotiations in this regard," the ministry said on the website.The ministry added that "the Government of the Republic of Poland will continue its efforts to receive the amounts due resulting from German aggression and occupation in 1939-1945." Ties between Poland and Germany have been strained by Warsaw's repeated claims to war damages. Warsaw estimates its losses caused by Nazi occupation during the Second World War at 6.2 trillion zlotys ($1.36 trillion). Berlin argues that the Polish government had relinquished all demands for reparations under the 1953 deal. On Tuesday, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, a senior official spearheading Polands demands for wartime reparations from Germany, said that Warsaw had asked the United Nations for help in receiving war reparations from Berlin. In December, Poland had already made similar appeals to the Council of Europe and UN cultural agency UNESCO. germany nazi germany warsaw 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 germany, nazi germany, warsaw https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/biden-to-receive-japans-prime-minister-on-january-13-says-white-house-1106023755.html Biden to Receive Japan's Prime Minister on January 13, Says White House Biden to Receive Japan's Prime Minister on January 13, Says White House The visit will be used to discuss security issues around North Korea, Ukraine and China. 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T02:51+0000 2023-01-04T02:51+0000 2023-04-06T12:15+0000 us joe biden biden administration japan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/10/1104280261_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_282a7f59b613d13d2022fbc625d3dc68.jpg On Tuesday the White House announced that President Joe Biden will be hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on January 13. "President Biden looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan to the White House on Friday, January 13th to further deepen ties between our governments, economies, and our people," the statement said, adding that the leaders will also discuss security issues around North Korea, Ukraine and China. japan 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 us, joe biden, biden administration, japan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/decision-on-sending-bradley-fighting-vehicles-to-ukraine-not-made-yet---white-house-1106043472.html Decision on Sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine Not Made Yet - White House Decision on Sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine Not Made Yet - White House WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has not yet decided whether it will send Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine in future assistance packages, White... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T19:59+0000 2023-01-04T19:59+0000 2023-01-04T19:54+0000 americas us m2 bradley infantry fighting vehicle ukraine crisis us military aid john kirby /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103118/31/1031183197_373:0:2048:942_1920x0_80_0_0_390c91bf2d1b73a96a257e5043036a41.jpg On December 29, reports suggested the US was considering the possibility of sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine, in future military assistance packages. "We're talking to them nearly every day about their needs and the capabilities and requirements, and we're doing the best we can to fill them in as near real time as we can," he added.Kirby also said the US is working with other nations to see what they can do on capabilities the Pentagon cannot provide. The lightly armored Bradley vehicle is armed with a 25 mm gun and TOW anti-tank missiles. During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington on December 22, the Biden administration announced a new $1.85 billion security assistance package for Ukraine that includes the Patriot system. In April, Moscow sent a note to NATO member states condemning Western military assistance to Kiev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any arms shipments on Ukrainian territory would be "legitimate targets" for Russian armed forces. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the Wests arms provisions to Ukraine undermine prospects for a future peace process. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221230/us-reportedly-mulling-sending-bradley-fighting-vehicles-to-ukraine-in-future-aid-package-1105901981.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 us, m2 bradley infantry fighting vehicle, ukraine crisis, us military aid, john kirby https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/ex-us-apollo-astronaut-walter-cunningham-dies-at-90-years-old-says-nasa-1106022925.html Ex-US Apollo Astronaut Walter Cunningham Dies at 90 Years Old, Says NASA Ex-US Apollo Astronaut Walter Cunningham Dies at 90 Years Old, Says NASA WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Former US astronaut Walter Cunningham, who was part of the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, has died at the age of 90, NASA said in a press... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T01:21+0000 2023-01-04T01:21+0000 2023-01-04T01:21+0000 nasa dead celebrity /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106097/57/1060975730_0:305:4732:2967_1920x0_80_0_0_2b13963b7e394fb3e1ae70ef794efedb.jpg "Former astronaut Walter Cunningham, who flew into space on Apollo 7, the first flight with crew in NASAs Apollo Program, died early Tuesday morning in Houston. He was 90 years old," NASA said in the release on Tuesday. Cunningham piloted the 11-day Apollo 7 mission in October 1968, marking the first human flight test of the Apollo spacecraft, according to the release. In 1963, Cunningham was selected to be part of NASA's third astronaut class, the release said. Cunningham was also a fighter pilot, physicist, and an entrepreneur, the release noted. 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 nasa, dead celebrity https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/idaho-quadruple-murder-suspect-agrees-to-extradition-from-pennsylvania---reports-1106022027.html Idaho Quadruple Murder Suspect Agrees to Extradition From Pennsylvania - Reports Idaho Quadruple Murder Suspect Agrees to Extradition From Pennsylvania - Reports WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The 28-year old suspect arrested in connection with the murder of four college students in Idaho waived his extradition hearing during a... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T00:18+0000 2023-01-04T00:18+0000 2023-01-04T00:18+0000 murder university of idaho /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/19/1081869502_0:139:1920:1219_1920x0_80_0_0_2fe5191d293640bed04f1ff69b830a53.jpg Bryan Kohberger was arrested last week in Pennsylvania on a warrant for the murders of four University of Idaho students: Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. The four students were found stabbed to death in an off-campus home in November, prompting an investigation that garnered national attention. Kohberger agreed to be voluntarily extradited from Pennsylvania to Idaho, affirming to the judge that he is not on any medications that would impact his judgment, the report said. The judge ordered Kohberger to be transferred to Idaho within ten days, the report added. Prosecutors are charging Kohberger with four counts of first-degree murder as well as with felony burglary. A probable cause affidavit detailing the factual basis for charges against Kohberger will be sealed until his return to Idaho. Kohberger resided in the city of Pullman, Washington, approximately 15 minutes away from Moscow, Idaho, where the murders took place. Kohberger attended Washington State University as a graduate student of criminology, having conducted research on the emotional and psychological influences of criminal decision making. Kohbergers lawyer, Jason LaBar, said the suspect is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. 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 murder, university of idaho https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/iranians-reportedly-rally-on-anniversary-of-assassination-of-soleimani-1106023643.html Iranians Reportedly Rally on Anniversary of Assassination of Soleimani Iranians Reportedly Rally on Anniversary of Assassination of Soleimani MOSCOW (Sputnik) - People rallied in Iran on Tuesday to commemorate the third anniversary of the assassination of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, media... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T02:43+0000 2023-01-04T02:43+0000 2023-01-04T02:43+0000 general soleimani qasem soleimani iran /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/1f/1091948574_0:0:3001:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_51e6e973cd63d858e097ff46af021998.jpg According to the Tasnim news agency, people attended rallies and commemorative ceremonies to pay tribute to Soleimani in different parts of Iran, particularly in the southern city of Kerman - the hometown of Soleimani. A national congress on the commemoration of Soleimani was held on Tuesday at the Grand Mosalla Mosque of Tehran and was attended by senior Iranian officials and foreign guests, according to the report. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Soleimani's daughter, Zeinab Soleimani, will take part in the march, the report said. Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020. Tehran imposed sanctions against a number of US citizens over their involvement in the assassination. iran 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 general soleimani, qasem soleimani, iran https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/nobel-prize-winning-scientist-lifts-lid-on-how-to-cook-pasta--save-money-1106028796.html Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Lifts Lid on How to Cook Pasta & Save Money Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist Lifts Lid on How to Cook Pasta & Save Money A Nobel Prize-winning Italian scientist has suggested how to cook pasta while saving money. 2023-01-04T09:55+0000 2023-01-04T09:55+0000 2023-01-04T09:55+0000 pasta nobel prize energy crisis europe's energy crisis science & tech /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104259/47/1042594721_0:207:3872:2385_1920x0_80_0_0_00df8d6d30d19c4091773503a75ada33.jpg Cooking ought to be left to the chefs, while physicists potter about in their labs: this was the gist of the response from Italian professional cooks after a quantum theorist advised them on cost-saving while preparing pasta.Amid the current largely self-inflicted energy crisis gripping Europe, the debate on how to slash expenses is all the rage. Accordingly, Italian Professor Giorgio Parisi, who notably won the 2021 Nobel prize in physics for "the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales" waded into the fray.Parisi suggested that there was no need to keep the water boiling for the duration of the pasta cooking time, and advised turning off the heat midway.After pasta was added to a pan of boiling water, one could wait two minutes, then place the lid on, and either lower the heat or switch off the gas completely, said the 74-year-old scientist of Sapienza University in Rome. According to him, the residual heat in the water would wrap up the cooking process without ultimately affecting the taste of the pasta. He even shared a video of the process on social media, adding that at least eight minutes of energy consumption is saved this way.However, many Italian chefs were incensed, warning in a spate of interviews and on social media that they would not serve the rubbery pasta that the so-called passive cooking method resulted in at their restaurants.Indeed, the typical cooking instructions we read on a pack of dry spaghetti tell us to indulge in both, large amounts of water and energy. 100 grams of pasta are put into 1 liter of boiling water for ten to 12 minutes, depending on the product's thickness. But there is a more energy-efficient way to cook the iconic staple of traditional Italian cuisine.Firstly, water can be absorbed by pasta to rehydrate it any temperature. Accordingly, scientists and food bloggers have suggested soaking dry spaghetti for around two hours in room-temperature water. The next part of the process, of course, is when the pasta heats up, to allow starches to be broken down. Furthermore, the proteins in the flour also need to be denatured into digestible chains. According to scientists, protein in pasta dissolve at a temperature above 80C (176F).Reducing the amount of water is also an option, together with bringing down or switching off the heat. Approximately 60 percent of the energy while cooking pasta is used to keep the water boiling. So, the cost savings are definitely tangible, it is claimed, albeit they vary depending on whether we are talking ceramic hobs, or gas and induction cooktops. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221212/head-of-german-state-restricts-hot-water-in-the-shower-time-to-two-minutes-amid-energy-crisis-1105398726.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221223/1105722929.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko how to cook pasta while saving money, nobel prize-winning italian scientist, iconic staple of traditional italian cuisine, energy-efficiant, cost saving, to rehydrate pasta, does water need to boil when cooking pasta, how to cook pasta, how to save energy while cooking, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/palestinian-teenager-killed-in-clashes-with-israeli-military-says-palestinian-health-ministry-1106021913.html Palestinian Teenager Killed in Clashes With Israeli Military, Says Palestinian Health Ministry Palestinian Teenager Killed in Clashes With Israeli Military, Says Palestinian Health Ministry DOHA (Sputnik) - A 15-year-old Palestinian teenager died in clashes with the Israeli military in the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank on Tuesday, the... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T00:07+0000 2023-01-04T00:07+0000 2023-01-15T17:27+0000 palestine palestine israeli-palestinian conflict israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/05/1100385498_0:23:3072:1751_1920x0_80_0_0_6470b56d0469528c70aed26e7bfc7a4e.jpg "The Ministry of Health has recorded the death of a boy, Adam Ayyad, 15, from a bullet wound to the chest by soldiers of the state occupying the Palestinian territories during an aggressive action in Bethlehem," the ministry told Palestinian news agency WAFA. According to the Israeli military, locals started throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police officers during the operation in the Bethlehem refugee camp, prompting the latter to open fire. According to the Palestinian news agency's report, clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians erupted when Israeli forces entered the Dheishe refugee camp in the southern West Bank to search houses. The teenager became the third Palestinian killed in the West Bank since the beginning of 2023. Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians in the city of Jenin on Monday during clashes with Palestinians who were trying to prevent the demolition of the home of the relatives of a Palestinian accused of killing an Israeli soldier last September. palestine israel 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 palestine, palestine, israeli-palestinian conflict, israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/polands-wwii-reparations-demands-of-germany-constitute-extortion-at-uss-behest-analyst-suggests-1106036031.html Polands WWII Reparations Demands of Germany Constitute Extortion at US Behest, Analyst Suggests Polands WWII Reparations Demands of Germany Constitute Extortion at US Behest, Analyst Suggests The German Foreign Ministry delivered a note to its Polish counterparts on Tuesday reiterating that as far as Berlin is concerned, the issue of World War II reparations remains closed. Warsaw wants $1.3 trillion. 2023-01-04T12:42+0000 2023-01-04T12:42+0000 2023-01-04T16:09+0000 world poland germany reparations psychological war psychological warfare vassal state vassalage diplomatic spat spat /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/03/1101475071_0:41:800:491_1920x0_80_0_0_ba14bd98f8db1288cfabe62bc6d90887.jpg Poland was almost certainly egged on by its overseas allies in Washington and London to start a diplomatic storm in a teacup with its German neighbor by demanding new World War II reparations, a former US Army psychological warfare operations officer-turned whistleblower has told Sputnik.There seems to be a concerted effort to weaken Germany out of a fear of Germany and Russia becoming closer allies. This originates from the United States and the United Kingdom, Scott Bennett, a veteran of the 11th Psychological Operations Battalion of the US Army, and former State Department counterterrorism analyst, explained.Part of this effort included the destruction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Warsaw may have had a hand in, according to the observer. In that sense, he suggested, the push for reparations could be a smokescreen to try and keep Germany from exposing Polands role.Citing the long-term US objective of enslaving Europe politically and economically, Bennett said it remains to be seen whether Berlin will allow itself to be enslaved or rediscover its national pride and reject the slavery the US is attempting to burden them with, and become their own masters of their own destiny in the future.Reparations SpatPolish Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk slammed Germany over its alleged imperialism on Tuesday after Berlin formally rejected any new negotiations on the WWII reparations issue.[Germanys] response is disrespectful toward the Polish state and the Polish people. Polands losses [in WWII] were unimaginable, the Germans received our report on this matter, Mularczyk said, speaking to Polish media. The diplomat suggested that Berlins one sentence note on the inadmissibility of reparations talks was not legally argued, and expressed annoyance over Germany shutting down the talks while paying Namibia for the colonial legacy and even discussing returning ancient museum artefacts to Egypt.Germany is not pursuing a friendly policy toward Poland. They want to build their sphere of influence here and treat Poland as a vassal, Mularczyk said. We will continue our activities in the matter of compensation consistently and intensively. The official added that Poland would be taking its case to the United Nations to try to force the creation of a platform for dialog.In September, on the 83rd anniversary of the 1939 Nazi German invasion of Poland, Warsaw officially announced plans to demand 6.2 trillion zlotys (about $1.3 trillion) from Germany for damage to the country done during WWII. A formal diplomatic note was delivered to Berlin in October, but balked at by German authorities, who pointed out that Poland waived the right to further reparations in a diplomatic agreement signed in 1953.Polands governing Law and Justice authorities dismissed the terms of the 1953 waiver, claiming the countrys post-war communist government was pressured into abandoning the reparations demands by Moscow. The government left out the part about Moscows role in assuring Polands current western borders, which include over 100,000 square km of former eastern German lands, including the coal mines of Silesia, agricultural lands a Baltic Sea coast.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indirectly waded into the WWII legacy debate with Poland in September, saying he would not like to see some people rummage through history books to introduce revisionist border changes. Polish officials and media interpreted the comments as a threat, with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki blasting Scholz as a devil [who] has dressed himself in vestments and is ringing for Mass.Warsaw has also threatened to demand WWII reparations from Russia. Moscow dismissed the idea as an immoral political fantasy, pointing out that Poland as a state and the Polish people would not exist were it not for the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in WWII, and the 600,000+ Red Army soldiers and tens of thousands of Polish Peoples Army troops who died kicking the Germans out of Poland.Over 5.8 million Poles, including up to three million Polish Jews, died during World War II, with the countrys losses constituting some of highest globally after China and the Soviet Union. In percentage terms, Polands losses of 17 percent were the second heaviest after Belarus, which lost 25 percent of its population. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221128/german-statesman-slams-eu-leaders-spinelessness-demands-natos-dismemberment-closure-of-us-bases-1104796406.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220916/polish-media-accuses-berlin-of-seeking-to-revise-border-amid-warsaws-wwii-reparations-demands-1100861555.html poland germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov poland, germany, world war ii, second world war, reparations, money, demands https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/rooted-in-colonial-notions-uk-arts-project-claims-photography-was-used-for-power--subjugation-1106026176.html 'Rooted in Colonial Notions': UK Arts Project Claims Photography Was Used For 'Power & Subjugation' 'Rooted in Colonial Notions': UK Arts Project Claims Photography Was Used For 'Power & Subjugation' UK Arts Project claims that photography has been used For power, control and subjugation. 2023-01-04T07:13+0000 2023-01-04T07:13+0000 2023-01-04T07:14+0000 world uk cancel culture woke racist london underground the tube /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105941/19/1059411961_0:255:4896:3009_1920x0_80_0_0_d74cd90ffcc3b1d1816145683512a976.jpg Woke" cancel culture appears to have the visual art of photography in its crosshairs now, accusing it of racism.Photography has been used as a technology of power, control, and subjugation, the first lecture of a new online course that is part of the Transport for London (TfL) art scheme is to tell its audience.Art on the Underground is a contemporary public art programme that commissions both permanent and temporary artworks for the London Underground. Now, it is also offering a four- week lecture course in January, entitled Uncommon Observations: Photography, Image-making, and the Black Diaspora. It is set to probe the relationship between photography, Blackness, and diaspora from the photographs invention in the 19th century to contemporary Black photography and image-making, states the project website.Curated by Black Blossoms School of Art & Culture, the course is to be taught by academic Nydia A. Swaby, a black feminist historian and ethnographer. The course overview says:Swaby will "consider how colonial documentation of the Black experience in Africa and the diaspora was framed through a white gaze, informed by white supremacy, anti-blackness, and structural racism." Another upcoming lecture will focus on the "social and political significance of Black portraiture as a practice of refusal, that is, resisting the gaze by taking control of how one is captured."The Black Blossoms group earlier stated that it was seeking to expand critical and diverse thought that will decolonise and disrupt euro-centric art and creative education.Previously, UK media reported that the much-loved novel Ivanhoe, penned by Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, had been dragged into a racism row and singled out as potentially disturbing by academics at the University of Warwick, in Coventry. The historical fiction tale has now been deemed potentially disturbing for its "treatment of racial minorities," with a Walter Scott descendant denouncing this cowardly approach as catering to political fashion. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221228/walter-scott-ancestor-brands-uk-universitys-racism-trigger-warning-for-ivanhoe-as-cowardly-1105856114.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221221/stanford-locks-its-harmful-language-guide-amid-backlash-over-call-to-ditch-term-american-1105662791.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko rooted in colonial notions, uk arts project, photography used for power and subjugation, photography as a tool of surveillance and documentation, photography influenced cultural meanings of blackness, colonial documentation of the black experience https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/russia-and-turkey-set-syria-deal-juan-guaido-fired-us-house-speakership-in-disarray-1106021763.html Russia and Turkey Set Syria Deal; Juan Guaido Fired; US House Speakership in Disarray Russia and Turkey Set Syria Deal; Juan Guaido Fired; US House Speakership in Disarray Polish leaders show muted disapproval of neighboring Banderites celebrating the heroes of the Polish genocide but continue to support Ukrainian fascism. 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T09:14+0000 2023-01-04T09:14+0000 2023-03-29T10:38+0000 the critical hour poland ukraine kevin mccarthy israel india turkiye syria radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/04/1106021617_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_816f047e6868ed1b746b268c1a425365.png Russia and Turkey Set Syria Deal; Juan Guaido Fired; US House Speakership in Disarray Polish leaders show muted disapproval of neighboring Banderites celebrating the heroes of the Polish genocide but continue to support Ukrainian fascism. Darryl Jones, attorney and voting rights activist, joins us to discuss domestic politics. The GOP faces great difficulty electing a Speaker of the US House of Representatives as their narrow victory leaves an opportunity for intra-party minority rule. Kevin McCarthy may need more votes to take the gavel as haggling for a deal pushes through to the last few hours.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss foreign policy. Russia and Turkey appear to have struck a deal that will affect the illegal US occupation of Eastern Syria. Also, the Venezuelan opposition has fired Juan Guaido, and Polish leaders show muted disapproval of neighboring Banderites celebrating the heroes of the Polish genocide but continue to support Ukrainian fascism.Nicholas Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss EU sanctions. EU leaders now openly admit that the Minsk agreements were a ruse to set up Ukraine for a proxy war against Russia. Also, US sanctions impose misery on a third of humanity, and India argues that peace talks can only resolve the Ukraine conflict,Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. Europe prepares to take in another flood of Ukrainian refugees as winter sets in and heat energy becomes a rare and highly valued commodity. Also, Zelensky cracks down on the media, and the war in Donbass rages.Miko Peled, author, and activist, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Israel faces a major problem as tensions rise over the Al Aqsa mosque. Also, international rights advocates are alarmed over Israel's new extremist government.Mukasa Dada, Civil Rights activist, former Field Secretary for SNCC, one of the creators of the phrase 'Black Power Movement,' and ally of Omali Yeshitela, joins us to discuss International politics and FBI harassment. The FBI is attacking a Black liberation group using cold war tropes of Russian collaboration. Also, the left must draw clear political and ideological lines to separate itself from the neoliberal extremists.Dr. Jemima Pierre, Professor of Black Studies and Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, a member of the Black Alliance for Peace, and an editor of the "Black Agenda Review" segment of the Black Agenda Report, joins us to discuss Haiti. Political parties in Haiti reject the "National Consensus" as a political ploy of de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry as the beleaguered Island nation struggles against US imperialism.Netfa Freeman, host of Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM, Pan-Africanist and internationalist organizer, joins us to discuss Cuba. We discuss the story of an American super spy who worked for Cuba.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik. poland ukraine israel turkiye syria cuba Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.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 Wilmer Leon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg poland, ukraine, kevin mccarthy, israel, india, turkiye, syria, , radio, cuba https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/russias-death-toll-in-makiivka-after-ukraines-jan-1-strike-rises-to-89-says-defense-ministry-1106022684.html Russia's Death Toll in Makeevka After Ukraine's Jan 1 Strike Rises to 89, Says Defense Ministry Russia's Death Toll in Makeevka After Ukraine's Jan 1 Strike Rises to 89, Says Defense Ministry Rostov-on-Don (Sputnik) - The Russian military death toll in the city of Makeevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) after a strike by Ukrainian troops on... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T01:05+0000 2023-01-04T01:05+0000 2023-01-04T04:08+0000 ukraine crisis russian military russia's special operation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/18/1105771575_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b03fed61508d526a0dda4409b4018165.jpg According to him, on January 1, at 00:01 Moscow time (21:01 December 31 GMT), Ukrainian artillery fired six HIMARS rockets at a temporary deployment point of a Russian military unit in the area of Makeevka, two rockets were intercepted by air defense. Four rockets hit the building where Russian servicemen were stationed. "The detonation of the HIMARS warheads caused the building's structures to collapse," Lt. Gen. Sevryukov said. Lt. Gen. Servryukov said deputy regiment commander Lt. Col. Bachurin was among those killed. 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 ukraine crisis, russian military https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/scientists-reveal-how-life-could-be-detected-on-enceladus-saturns-moon-1106031379.html Scientists Reveal How Life Could Be Detected on Enceladus, Saturn's Moon Scientists Reveal How Life Could Be Detected on Enceladus, Saturn's Moon Scientists have proposed a new way to detect life on Enceladus, one of Saturn's satellites. Scientists have been intrigued by this question since the Voyager era. 2023-01-04T12:08+0000 2023-01-04T12:08+0000 2023-01-04T12:08+0000 science & tech jupiter enceladus extraterrestial life spacecraft mission /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105270/72/1052707274_1:0:8534:4800_1920x0_80_0_0_78322bb2243d43ecf7537d00064bc3ab.jpg A team of researchers from the University of Arizona believes that an orbiting space probe could help to find out whether there is microbial life on Saturn's moon Enceladus. In their paper, the researchers, who simulated such a mission, described how an orbiting spacecraft probe could solve the mystery of whether microbes inhabit Enceladus' subsurface ocean. The scientists designed missions that would use upgraded instruments to sample plumes or even land on the surface of Saturn's moon.The research team modeled its calculations based on the hypothesis that Enceladus has methanogens, microbes that can live in oceanic hydrothermal vents similar to those on Earth. The researchers calculated what the total mass of methanogens on Enceladus would be, as well as the probability that their cells and other organic molecules could be ejected through the plumes.The paper includes recommendations on the minimum amount of material to be collected from the plumes to search for both microbial cells and certain organic molecules.Enceladus was first surveyed in 1980 by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft. Later, between 2005 and 2017, NASA's Cassini probe flew around the Saturn system and studied its complex rings and satellites. Scientists were stunned when Cassini discovered that beneath Enceladus' thick layer of ice lurks a warm, salty ocean of methane-emitting water.The discovery of complex organic macromolecules in samples collected by Cassini from Enceladus' jet plume on June 27, 2018 fueled discussions about the possibility of life there. 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 life on enceladus, saturn's enceladus is there life on it, enceladus mission, spacecraft to enceladus, scientists offer theory how detects life on enceladus https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/tanzanias-president-revokes-6-year-ban-on-political-rallies-1106028629.html Tanzanias President Revokes 6-Year Ban on Political Rallies Tanzanias President Revokes 6-Year Ban on Political Rallies This article is about Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan ending a ban on political rallies in the country. The move came over six years since her predecessor, President John Magufuli, first introduced the widely criticized measure in 2016. 2023-01-04T08:50+0000 2023-01-04T08:50+0000 2023-01-04T08:50+0000 africa east africa tanzania samia suluhu hassan ban rally /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/04/1106028455_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_4cf458d98e5dd698b58a690cb476881f.jpg Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday ended a ban on political rallies in the country. The move came more than six years after her predecessor, President John Magufuli, first introduced the widely criticized measure in 2016.Hassan admitted that holding rallies is the right of political parties, noting that under Tanzanias laws, organizing such events must be agreed with the countrys security forces. The president assured political leaders invited to the State House in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday that security organizations will definitely allow you to conduct your rallies unless there is any threat.The 62-year-old president, who came to power as Tanzanias first female president following the death of former head of state Magufuli in March 2021, said that the ending of the ban was part of her strategy dubbed 4Rs, which stands for Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding the nation.Initially meant to apply to all political parties, critics claimed it targeted only the opposition, while supporters of the ruling social-democrat Chama Cha Mapinduzi party were allowed to gather.However, although the measure prohibited all kinds of political rallies or protests, the ban excluded elected politicians holding rallies within their constituencies.Since Hassan took office in 2021, she revoked some of the most controversial policies imposed by her predecessor and fellow Chama Cha Mapinduzi party member, Magufuli, nicknamed The Bulldozer.Hassan, who is constitutionally serving the remainder of Magufulis second five-year term, ended a ban on pregnant girls and teenage mothers attending school. In addition, she lifted a ban imposed by the former president on four opposition newspapers and introduced a COVID-19 vaccination campaign that Magufuli rejected. africa east africa tanzania Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.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 Muhammad Nooh Osman https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/0e/1080170965_2:0:2050:2048_100x100_80_0_0_1de8233c87df0979e7e74f61b6ffacad.jpg tanzanias president samia hassan, ban imposed by magufuli, ban on political rallies, ban on rallies ended, ban on opposition rallies https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/trump-throws-his-weight-behind-mccarthy-amid-house-speaker-deadlock-1106041580.html Trump Throws His Weight Behind McCarthy Amid House Speaker Deadlock Trump Throws His Weight Behind McCarthy Amid House Speaker Deadlock House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthys expected speedy, smooth, shoe-in selection as Majority Leader came to a screeching halt on Tuesday, with the politician... 04.01.2023, Sputnik International 2023-01-04T16:21+0000 2023-01-04T16:21+0000 2023-01-04T17:00+0000 americas us house of representatives house of representatives kevin mccarthy donald trump jim jordan matt gaetz vote ballot /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/19/1097768144_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_4a2a945277641098de9bd48c4d961cc3.jpg Former President Donald Trump has waded into the historic deadlock among House Republicans about who the next speaker should be, urging the party to rally around Kevin McCarthy.Some really good conversations took place last night, and now its time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA, THE ONLY SPEAKER IN US HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE HOUSE TWICE! Trump wrote in a mostly-caps post on Truth Social on Wednesday.The former president added that if Republicans wanted to fight someone, it should be with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his domineering, China loving BOSS, I mean wife, Coco Chow.Trumps endorsement of McCarthy, who broke with his long-term support for the president in 2021 to accuse him of partial responsibility for the January 6 attack on Congress by mob rioters, and reportedly engaged him in an expletive-laden shouting match afterwards, surprised some of the former presidents supporters.Sad! Florida MAGA Republican Matt Gaetz said in a statement Wednesday. This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote.Gaetz and over a dozen members of the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus launched a brazen effort to dethrone McCarthy on Tuesday, proposing Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, who gained national prominence for his stinging questions during Russiagate and the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, for the top job. Jordan, who received 20 votes during the third ballot, is not running for the speakers position, and has endorsed McCarthy.Gaetz also sent a letter to the Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton on Tuesday to ask why McCarthy had already moved into the House Speakers office, despite the fact that he has yet to be elected.On the other side of the MAGA spectrum, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene urged Republicans to rally around McCarthy, and warned of the implications of not supporting him.If the base only understood that 19 Republicans voting against McCarthy are playing Russian roulette with our hard earned Republican majority right now. This is the worst thing that could possibly happen, Greene tweeted, linking to a report citing Democratic aides that the presidents party was talking about a coalition leadership.The GOPs failure to elect McCarthy in the first three rounds of voting was the first time since 1923 that it has taken multiple ballots to select a House speaker. 100 years ago, it took nine rounds to pick Frederick Huntington Gillett. 67 years earlier, in 1856, it took a severely divided House two months and 133 votes to pick a speaker. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230104/us-house-prepares-for-fourth-speaker-vote-as-opposition-to-mccarthy-grows-1106022414.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov kevin mccarthy, donald trump, republican party, house of representatives, house speaker, deadlock, vote, ballots The City of Omaha is requesting an evidentiary hearing in its bid for a new trial in a federal civil case won by a former Omaha police captain. In filings last week, Deputy City Attorney Michelle Peters alleges that one juror of the eight-person jury spoke to people about the trial, which was learned by a former Omaha police officer during the trial. However, that former police officer told The World-Herald that he did not even talk to the juror until after the verdict came out. After a four-day trial in September, a jury unanimously determined that former Capt. Kathy Belcastro-Gonzalez had been wrongly passed over for promotion to deputy chief because she had filed a discrimination complaint with the Mayors Office. The jury awarded Belcastro-Gonzalez a total of $700,000. The city had filed a motion for a new trial in October, alleging juror misconduct and nullification, plus other issues dealing with the admissibility of evidence. Peters wrote in a brief Wednesday that Oscar Dieguez, a former Omaha police officer, had contacted Deputy Chief Tom Shaffer, who testified in the September trial, and told him that he had a friend on the jury. The juror was not named in Peters filings, but she deduced which juror it likely was. In court documents filed this month, Peters submitted Shaffers affidavit detailing the juror misconduct allegations. That affidavit is not available to the public be Peters filed it under restricted view because it contained unspecified confidential information, including juror information. Peters wrote that the exact discussions between Dieguez and the juror are unknown and that at this time, there is not overwhelming evidence, which is why Peters requested an evidentiary hearing to listen to Dieguez and the juror. The Court can bring in Mr. Dieguez and the juror he spoke to and determine whether the conversation(s) were prejudicial and created an unfair process for the defendants, and whether those conversations improperly influenced (the juror) or whether those discussions were shared with the other jurors. Peters said the juror spoke to Dieguez or others during the trial and discussed the case, which would be a violation of the jury instructions. Dieguez disputes that. He said he heard from a mutual friend about the juror who was assigned to the case and thought that was interesting but then didnt contact the juror until after he saw an Omaha World-Herald article reporting the verdict. I saw your guys article, saying the verdict was out, and got ahold of them, he said. I didnt speak to the juror until after the verdict came out. In an interview, Peters said it would be juror misconduct for an active juror to share what trial he or she was involved with. Peters said that Dieguez texted Shaffer on Sept. 7, the second day of the trial, that he knows one of the jurors. The only way that (Dieguez) could have known that was if a juror had told him that or told somebody they mutually know, she said. That in it of itself was a violation of (the juror) oath. Judges order jurors not to read outside information about a case or discuss it with other jurors or anyone outside of trial requirements which are dropped once a verdict has been rendered. Many judges even instruct jurors to tell others who approach them about a case that they are a juror and therefore they cannot talk about it. Responding to the citys filings, Belcastro-Gonzalezs attorney Tom White wrote that the city provided no evidence that juror misconduct or nullification occurred and that the city only said there may have been. According to Whites recounting of the confidential Shaffer affidavit, Shaffer later contacted Dieguez on Sept. 13, the day after the jury rendered their verdict. Mr. Dieguez then relates he spoke to his friend who allegedly said that Mr. Shaffers testimony was sincere but that jurors did not like how things were handled after the errors were discovered and they had to send a message to the city, White wrote in his brief. White first argued that Shaffers affidavit is hearsay and then said that Shaffer never said he was aware of any current or inappropriate communications with a juror. And, White said, if Shaffer knew of the juror contacts during the trial, he did not report the matter or did not believe it was inappropriate. White also questioned why the city didnt provide an affidavit from Dieguez or supply the text communications. When reached for comment, White said he wanted the Shaffer affidavit to be public. We want the record open because then the public can realize that the jury and the verdict were in no way compromised, he said. The public has every reason to trust the integrity of our court system here in Nebraska and the evidence will justify that trust. Shaffer declined to comment and referred questions to the City Attorneys Office for further clarification. In an email, City Attorney Matt Kuhse said the citys legal arguments are sufficient comment. I would only add that the city is in the early stages of our appeal and there are other avenues that the city will pursue. One year ago: Epic wind event in Nebraska High winds Tree down Watch Now: Storm moves through Lincoln Robinson Elementary School, 12.15 Fence Watch now: December storm rolls through Lincoln Tree uprooted on Sheridan Boulevard Watch: High wind warning storm passes through Lincoln High winds roll through downtown Omaha 121621-owh-new-wind-ar02 121621-owh-new-wind-ar03 121621-owh-new-wind-pic-cm001 Watch Now: High-wind storm in Lincoln Weather, 12.15 Weather, 12.15 Weather, 12.15 Watch Now: Time-lapse of the storm rolling into Lincoln Severe weather damage Severe weather damage Severe weather damage Severe weather damage High winds High winds Watch Now: Lincoln storms High winds Watch Now: Omaha storms Tree down Watch Now: West Point storms Camper Debris Loup Watch Now: Columbus storms Watch Now: Kearney storms Watch Now: Fremont storms Watch Now: South Sioux City storms Watch Now: Papillion storms Watch Now: State Patrol cruiser captures semi tipping over near Lincoln Watch Now: Severe storms in Nebraska Flash Japan should move past a hawkish foreign policy platform and pursue a well-balanced diplomatic strategy toward Beijing to avoid needless conflict, the Japan Times has said in an article. The government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida should pursue a well-balanced diplomatic strategy toward Beijing as a fellow Asian nation, distancing Japan from the United States and its attempts to isolate China economically through an array of high-tech restrictions, said the newspaper, citing experts. Yoshihide Soeya, a professor emeritus of political science at Keio University, said Japan should "pave the way to coexisting with China" instead of focusing only on strengthening its deterrence against China. Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, said that "there are good chances" of "improving bilateral communication on a range of issues such as supply chain resilience, nontraditional threats to security and climate change." Since Year 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, the Kishida government had some incentive to cooperate with Chinese leaders to prevent bilateral ties from deteriorating, according to the article. OMAHA Since news of a too-real active-shooter drill at Catholic Charities of Omaha, authorities have wondered what kind of person would scare charity workers by pounding on windows, pointing a gun at them and firing blanks. Turns out, prosecutors allege, its the kind of guy who would terrorize an underage girl for years. Douglas County prosecutors recently filed 22 additional charges in a child sexual assault case against John A. Channels of Omaha. Channels, 27, stands accused of 31 felonies that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. His attorney has said he maintains his innocence in both the child-rape case and the Catholic Charities terrorism case. With 22 additional charges filed last week, prosecutors have now charged Channels with 12 counts of sexual assault of a child, 10 child pornography-related felonies and three assault counts in connection with a relationship they say he had with a girl from when she was 12 through her early teens. Those charges are on top of six charges Channels faces in the May 19 active-shooter drill he set up in which, prosecutors allege, he staged purported gunshot victims around the charitys central Omaha location, chased workers and fired blanks into the air. Channels attorney, Erin Wetzel, said Channels planned the drill in conjunction with Catholic Charities leaders. Catholic Charities directors have said they relied on the expertise of Channels, who had run a security company and said he wanted the active shooter drill to be life-and-death-like. Denise Bartels, executive director of Catholic Charities of Omaha, has said the charity regrets holding the training and has offered therapy to employees. Our intention in holding the training on May 19 was for the safety and security of our staff and to prepare for the sad reality that organizations face today, she said in a prepared statement after The World-Herald broke news of the ordeal. The health and safety of our staff, mentally, physically and spiritually, is our foremost concern. Omaha Police allege Channels convinced Omaha Catholic Charities directors to allow him to show up May 19, masked, wearing black and brandishing a semiautomatic handgun, and fire blanks in the presence of unwitting employees. He also staged gunshot victims, smeared in fake blood, around the organizations new office at 9223 Bedford Ave. Unbeknownst to Channels or to Catholic Charities, Douglas County sheriffs deputies were in the midst of an investigation into Channels involvement with the young girl. According to an affidavit in that case: In February, a Douglas County sheriffs deputy questioned the girl after someone found possible child porn on an iPad and contacted Atlantic, Iowa, police. Police referred the case to authorities in Douglas County. Sheriffs Deputy Neal Klein arranged for an interview with the girl. She told deputies that she had known Channels since she was 10 and he was her taekwondo instructor. Channels groomed her, she said and first started preying on her when she was 12 or 13. They were driving, she said, and he made her touch his private parts. The girl later thanked Channels in text messages for cuddles and love. Authorities allege he eventually coerced her into other sex acts. Using Snapchat, a photo-based instant-messaging app, he had her send him pictures of herself barely clothed, in underwear and a bra. The girl said she was unaware that Channels had saved the Snapchat photos on his iPad. She reviewed the pictures and told investigators that she was 12 or 13 in some of the pictures. She said the two went on to being in a quasi-dating relationship from 2019 to 2021, even though she was 13, 14 or 15 at the time and he was in his mid-20s. Channels also is accused of assaulting the girl with a weapon and assault by strangulation, though the factual basis for those charges wasnt detailed. Channels faces more than 650 years in prison if convicted of preying on the underage girl; he faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted in the Catholic Charities case. In addition to acknowledging to investigators that she was the minor in the lurid photographs, the girl also confirmed Channels Snapchat username: Devastator1995. Photos: Nebraska hosts Iowa at sold-out PBA Nebraska lawmakers appropriated $700 million in water infrastructure projects during the 2022 session. Bills to spur development of the Perkins County Canal project to tap into the South Platte River in Colorado were signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts, as were proposals to build a lake between Lincoln and Omaha, and to expand water recreational opportunities in other areas of the state. When the 108th Legislature convenes Wednesday, and along with it, 16 new faces to the body, two Lincoln state senators say water will once again be at the center of many debates throughout the 90-day session. Coming out of the drought we experienced in the state this year, I think 2023 is going to be the year of water and water infrastructure, said Sen. Anna Wishart, who will once again seek a seat on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee. One of the biggest water infrastructure projects that will come before the Legislature this year will be securing a second source of water for Lincoln. Sen. Eliot Bostar, who last year introduced a bill (LB1081) requesting $200 million in federal funds to develop a new source of water for Lincoln capable of supplying 30 million gallons of water per day, said he will once again lead the effort. That bill would have paid for land acquisition and permitting needed for any new water source, a new wellfield, water treatment plant, pumps and more than 25 miles of pipes to provide potable water for the Capital City. The future of Lincolns water isnt just a city issue, but a state issue, Bostar said. The Capital City estimates it has a safe and reliable source of drinking water available for the next 20-25 years in its wellfield along the Platte River near Ashland, according to Lincoln Transportation and Utilities, but facilitating further growth in the city will require a second source. The so-called Water 2.0 project, which could cost between $350 million and $800 million, would accommodate population growth of up to 400,000 people by 2048, as well as additional commercial and industrial growth. Meeting that demand, despite increased capacity and decreasing usage compared to four decades ago, will require Lincoln to develop further capacity through a second source, or exercise its right to water on the Platte River, which would take precedence over other uses. If we get into a situation where were running into shortages in Lincoln, the city has priority water rights on the Platte River, and could then execute a call on the river and shut down upstream irrigators, Bostar said in an interview. I think its incredibly important we dont get to that point, he added. Its in the entire states interest that we solve this problem for Lincoln. Both Bostar and Wishart served on Mayor Leirion Gaylor Bairds 27-member Water Source Advisory Council, which has met monthly during the back half of 2022 in order to forge a plan to move forward. Bostar, the vice chair of the committee, said a recommendation for how to move forward is expected to come out of the January meeting. The council has looked at several options, including expanding the city's existing wellfield near Ashland, building a connection with the Municipal Utilities Department in Omaha, which draws its water from the Missouri River, or building a new wellfield north of Nebraska City along the Missouri River. Bostars previous bill was scaled down to $20 million to be used to study the issue and potential solutions and was included among several water projects that used one-time federal pandemic relief funds. It was also pointed to as a priority by outgoing Speaker Mike Hilgers, who represented Lincoln's District 21 in the Legislature and will be inaugurated as attorney general Thursday. Hilgers' replacement, Beau Ballard, who worked in his office and was appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts and Governor-elect Jim Pillen to finish out the term, said he also plans to support Lincoln's effort to secure a second water source in the coming legislative session. Not doing so "can put a cap on our future growth," Ballard said, both in growing Lincoln's population as well as its economy. Although the focus will be on securing Lincoln a second source of water, Bostar said there is significant motivation to build a system that benefits the surrounding communities as well. I think theres a lot of opportunity to create a robust water system in Southeast Nebraska, he said. Lincoln isnt the only community that needs to look to the future and figure out where its going to get its water. That could draw support from other lawmakers who may have been skeptical of the idea when it was first proposed. Bostar said providing Nebraskans access to abundant and clean water is a uniting issue that spans the political spectrum. When it comes to water, I have yet to find someone who isnt motivated to ensure their family, their community, their neighbors have access to clean water, and they understand there are things we need to be doing to make sure thats the case, he said. Other water infrastructure projects that are expected to come before the Legislature include further development of the Perkins County Canal, which will connect Nebraska to the South Platte River in Colorado. Lawmakers previously appropriated $53.5 million to begin preliminary planning and design for the project. The Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability Committee better known as STARWARS created in 2021 to build out water infrastructure in the state, has also zeroed in on several projects that could seek legislative approval this year. Projects highlighted by the committee are a new lake adjacent to the Platte River between Lincoln and Omaha, a permanent marina at Lake McConaughy, an expanded marina at Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area, as well as an event center and lodge at Niobrara State Park in northeast Nebraska. Bostar said he believes water quality issues including mitigating nitrate or naturally occurring uranium could also be priorities for the upcoming session. We would love to hear your thoughts... 1. How did you come up with the idea for your startup? 2. What was the hardest part in the early stages of the startups growth? 3. What are the services/solutions/products that the startup offers? Who are the targeted audiences? 4. What are your strengths and advantages over your competitors? 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? 6. Is the company bootstrapped or funded? What milestones will the financing get you to? 7. What is the road map ahead? How are you planning to achieve it? Key Management : Founding Year : Milestones : Awards/Recognition : Clients : Tom Scott is right. The law professor at Grundys Appalachian School of Law noted in a story about the so-called Catfish Killer, that people make mistakes. Scott cautioned folks against losing faith in the Virginia State Police or the Washington County Sheriffs Office as details slowly come to light surrounding Austin Edwards employment with both agencies. Edwards had served for nearly a year with the Virginia State Police, based near Richmond, and for less than a month with the sheriffs office when the 28-year-old in mid-November traveled to California, where he killed a family, took off with a 15-year-old girl he had developed an online relationship with under an assumed identity and ultimately killed himself during a police chase. Scott also points out that the Edwards case shows the incredible need for mental health care reform in the nation. He will get no arguments from us on that. Our mental health services are woefully inadequate and have been for a long time. Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions for fixing something as complex as the problems impacting mental health, including, perhaps most importantly, access. With no easy solutions around, count on politicians to turn to demagoguery rather than putting in the difficult work of incrementally making things better. We can also agree with Scott that people make mistakes and that the public shouldnt lose faith due to the hiring of a now obviously bad choice. We also concur that had the Virginia State Police known everything that it should have known at the time, the agency wouldnt have hired Edwards. However. Three people are dead. A girls life is shattered. A community is in mourning. People deserve, if not answers, candor. The people are getting that from Sheriff Blake Andis. He has been open and forthright about what went wrong and what his agency is doing to ensure that the same thing doesnt go wrong again. He has already conducted firearms checks on all Washington County Sheriffs Office employees and has let the public know he has done so. Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller continues to remain tight-lipped on every aspect, which is infuriating because Edwards was on duty with her agency for nearly a year and with Andis agency for all of four days. Geller has obliquely blamed human error and an incomplete database query on the hiring. When asked point blank about whether a firearms check was part of that incomplete query, she responded, Weve given our statement and we are not commenting further. Weve provided our statement and thats all were saying. This is not how an agency that deserves our faith should act. Certainly the Virginia State Polices intentions are good. Certainly they wouldnt have hired him and handed him a firearm had they known he was legally prohibited from possessing, transporting or owning one. And certainly they regret what happened. And to Scotts point, the state police are not responsible for Edwards act in California. But they are responsible to the residents of Virginia in explaining how this happened and what they are doing specifically to prevent it from happening again. We are not asking the state police to assume responsibility for the horrific actions of their former employee, just as we would not necessarily credit to them the heroic actions of another. We arent even asking them to apologize for the events that unfolded, or to express sorrow. We are asking them to be honest with the people they are supposed to protect and serve, and they are responding by saying they dont have to, and that is not good enough. WOODLAND A kayaker is being treated for hypothermia after being rescued Sunday night from the Columbia River. Chief John Nohr of Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue said the unnamed man in his mid-50s suffered extreme hypothermia and had cardiac issues when he arrived at the hospital. Cowlitz County Fire District 1 reported to the scene at roughly 7:24 p.m. near Austin Point in Woodland, where the kayaker was found holding onto piling in the frigid river, according to Nohr. Nohr said a Cowlitz County sheriffs boat arrived at the scene and attempted to retrieve the man, but he wasnt able to get aboard the boat with higher sides due to his poor condition, so Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue recovered the victim. Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue had launched a rescue boat with a five-member crew from a boathouse in Ridgefield that included a paramedic and three rescue swimmers. Nohr said Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office utilized a drone, and the United States Coast Guard from Astoria deployed a helicopter to help locate the man. The rescue efforts were slowed due to dense fog across the Columbia, he added. There were reports that the U.S. Coast Guard also sent a boat to help, but Nohr said the ship didnt get to the scene. Nohr said the man and a friend were fishing. The friend told authorities the victim decided to kayak and fish offshore, and he later heard splashing and his friend scream for help. The man was transported to land and then into an ambulance to receive medical attention at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. 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: CC0 Public Domain For decades, inspecting power lines for defects was a largely manual taska chore for workers on the ground and crews in helicopters. But as infrastructure ages, and companies face mounting labor challenges, big utilities are turning to new sets of eyes in the skiesdrones. Utility companies must inspect their infrastructure regularly to fulfill regulatory requirements. It's time-consuming for inspections to be done manually, and flying piloted helicopters along utility lines comes with its own hazards. For drone use, "it's hugely attractive and it's one of the fastest growing segments of the commercial drone industry," said Michael Robbins, executive vice president of government and public affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, a drone industry group. Robbins said aging utility infrastructure, increasingly intense storms and a strained workforce drive the need to do inspections more efficiently. Industry proponents also say drones can reduce fatal helicopter crashes and worker accidents, cut costs, improve data collection and save time. Drones can get closer to utility lines than piloted helicopters and use autonomous navigation. Carterville-based charter operator Phoenix Air is one of several companies pitching unmanned aircraft as a more efficient and safer alternative. A division of Phoenix Air started using small battery-powered drones to inspect utility transmission lines three years ago. Now, Phoenix Air Unmanned hopes to expand its business with larger drones that fly more like helicopters. The company is seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to use SwissDrone SDO 50 V2s, which are jet fuel-powered rotorcraft that are more than 7 feet long. They could each carry two cameras and a LIDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor for the inspections. "It's definitely a more complex aircraft that allows us to fly farther and carry additional payloads," said Will Lovett, managing director of Phoenix Air Unmanned. The drones are still restricted from flying in areas with high population density. "We're not flying over downtown Atlanta," he said. Most of Phoenix Air Unmanned's work is for Midwestern electric utility Xcel Energy using smaller drones restricted to less than 55 pounds. but Lovett hopes to add more utilities to the firm's client list with the larger drones. The company plans its next demonstration flight for the FAA in the first quarter of next year along a segment of transmission line in South Georgia in collaboration with Georgia Power. Lovett hopes for approval to begin using the SwissDrone for utility inspections by the third quarter of 2023. One of the biggest hurdles to federal approval is that Phoenix Air wants to be able to fly the large SwissDrones beyond visual line of sight, to inspect utility lines much more quickly and efficiently. "It gets us farther down the power line, it allows us to fly longerwhich means we're much more efficient," Lovett said. "We're looking at flying slower and lower100 feet above the structureso you can see nuts and bolts." The inspections can also reveal when trees are encroaching on utility lines. Other companies have gotten broad FAA approvals to fly drones beyond visual line of sight for inspections, including Omaha, Neb.-based Valmont Industries, Israel-based Percepto and Soaring Eagle Technologies. Drones could also be used to inspect towers, pipelines, railroads, bridges and highway infrastructure more quickly and safely than by workers climbing structures, hanging from bridges or being hoisted in buckets, Robbins said. Drones could also allow flaws in the infrastructure to be discovered and repaired faster. "The industry is still in a very nascent stage. We've only begun to scratch the surface of the potential for drones for commercial uses," Robbins said. The inspection drone market generated $1.9 billion in 2021 globally, according to an Allied Market Research report. That's projected to grow to an $8.6 billion market by 2031, according to the report. The SwissDrone is so large that Phoenix Air is seeking to fly it as a small aircraft under an exemption, rather than under the typical commercial drone regulations. The FAA said it thoroughly reviews exemption requests for information such as how it benefits the public and how the operator plans to operate safely. If Phoenix Air Unmanned gets approval to use the SwissDrone, Lovett said the company is prepared to grow. The company currently has 16 drones and nearly 20 employees, most of them pilots, but "we would definitely scale up" if the SwissDrone is approved and the company expands, Lovett said. "To expand to two or three other utilities, we would need more pilots, staff, equipment, cameras, drones, vehicles." 2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Flash Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr said on Tuesday he looks forward to working with President Xi Jinping on a number of issues during his state visit to China to lift relations between the two countries to a "higher trajectory". Shortly before his departure for Beijing in the afternoon, Marcos held a briefing, livestreamed by Philippine presidential broadcaster Radio Television Malacanang. Marcos' visit from Tuesday to Thursday is the first state visit by a foreign leader to China this year, and it comes after the COVID-19 management policy was optimized. At the briefing, Marcos said his visit to China is his seventh foreign trip since assuming the Philippine presidency last year, and, "significantly", it is his first bilateral visit to a country that is not a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "I look forward to my meeting with President Xi as we work toward shifting the trajectory of our relations to a higher gear that would hopefully bring numerous prospects and abundant opportunities for peace and development to the peoples of both our countries," Marcos said. "In this regard, I also look forward to discussing political security issues of a bilateral and regional nature. The issues between our two countries are problems that do not belong between two friends such as the Philippines and China," he said. Marcos recalled how China extended a helping hand to the Philippines in the country's battle against COVID-19 "in the form of vaccines, personal protective equipment and technical assistance at the initial onslaught of the pandemic". "You were the first to come to our aid," Marcos said. Henry Lim Bon Liong, president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc, said Marcos' visit was "auspicious", and not only because it comes at the start of a new year. It "also comes at a time when both countries are recovering from the pandemic," Lim told China Daily. "China's reopening will strengthen Asian economic resilience in 2023 amid recession worries for the U.S. and Europe," he said. Lim added that the business sector has high hopes that exchanges and cooperation between China and the Philippines will increase by "leaps and bounds". About a dozen representatives from the federation, a grouping of over 170 Filipino Chinese chambers of commerce and various trade organizations in the Philippines, are among the Filipino delegation to China. Noting that tourism is one of the important pillars of the Philippine economy, Lim said the possible return of Chinese tourists "can be a major boost for the Philippine tourism industry". About 1.74 million Chinese tourists visited the Philippines in 2019, making China the Philippines' second-largest tourism market, according to Xinhua News Agency. Marcos said he would push for the resumption of tourism and cultural cooperation between China and the Philippines and seek to "harness the potentials of our vibrant trade and investment relations" to accelerate post-pandemic economic growth. Lim said he began building a resort in Cebu, an island province in the country's central Visayas region, before the pandemic started and that he plans to resume construction this year. "Tourism not only benefits the resorts, hotels, airline and cruise ship companies, it also gives numerous jobs, from tour guides to handicraft makers," he said. "It nourishes many diverse micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in even the most remote hinterlands, far-flung islands and rural regions of the Philippines." Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, a Philippine think tank, said Marcos' visit to China is important on several levels. "It is a chance for both sides to discuss areas of cooperation, as well as persistent disputes," Pitlo told China Daily. He said Manila will seek greater market access for its tropical fruit exports, including durians, and try to attract Chinese technological advances and investments to modernize Philippine farming. Marcos, he added, may also ask China to help the Philippines develop the country's renewables, as energy shortages have undermined efforts to boost manufacturing and court foreign investment. "Chinese innovation and investments can also spur Philippine digital connectivity and internet commerce," Pitlo added. 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: NKMOU researchers have developed a machine learning model that can predict the level of exhaust gas emissions released by ships; this will help reduce the air pollution in ports. Credit: Dr. Won-Ju Lee, National Korea Maritime and Ocean University Ships are a major means of commercial transport, contributing to 80% of global goods and energy trade. However, they emit exhaust gasesfrom the engines when they are sailing, and from the engines and boiler when they dock in ports. These emissions negatively affect not only human health, but also the environment. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization has imposed regulations on the type of fuel used in ships. While efforts are being made to reduce the level of emissions from ships, a completely eco-friendly fuel is yet to be developed. In the meantime, assessing and predicting the level of exhaust emissions from ships is of paramount importance. Given this background, a group of researchers from the National Korea Maritime and Ocean University (NKMOU) led by Dr. Won-Ju Lee, an Associate Professor in the institute's Division of Marine System Engineering, have measured the emissions of a continuously operating oil-fired boiler in a training ship under different air-to-fuel ratios. "The exhaust data for CO 2 , NO x , and SO 2 gases were collected for 18 cases and used for predicting emissions through data-driven modeling," explains Dr. Lee. Their work was published in the Journal of Cleaner Production on 15 November 2022. The researchers employed unsupervised learning to compress the original data for generating three new datasets. They combined them to create an ensemble dataset. The performance of these five datasets was evaluatedin terms of CO 2 , NO x , and SO 2 predictionsusing four base models. The Support Vector Machine-based models with the original and ensemble datasets produced the best results. Then, the researchers merged the base models to develop four base ensemble models. These models, in turn, were used to build double ensemble models. As expected, the double ensemble models made the most accurate emission predictions for all three gases. Lastly, the researchers applied the developed models to a new dataset, verifying the results and establishing the models' superiority and generalizability. How can this work help the shipping industry reduce its carbon footprint, though? Dr. Lee discusses the future implications of their work. "The results of this study can be used to predict emissions of exhaust gases and will be applied to marine boilers soon. It shall enable the marine engineers to take action to reduce emissions, curbing air pollution in port areas. Since installing expensive equipment such as gas analyzers in boilers is not economically feasible for shipping companies, the proposed technology will prove indispensable. Furthermore, the ensemble data generation and double ensemble model techniques can enhance the performance of various other machine learning applications." More information: Min-Ho Park et al, Prediction of oil-fired boiler emissions with ensemble methods considering variable combustion air conditions, Journal of Cleaner Production (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134094 Journal information: Journal of Cleaner Production Provided by National Korea Maritime and Ocean University 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: An unmanned semi-submersible vehicle prototype developed at Washington State University. Credit: Washington State University An unmanned semi-submersible vehicle developed at Washington State University may prove that the best way to travel in water undetected and efficiently is not on top, or below, but in-between. The roughly 1.5-foot-long semi-sub prototype, built with off-the-shelf and 3D-printed parts, showed its seaworthiness in water tests, moving quickly with low drag and a low profile. The researchers detailed the test results in a study published in the journal Unmanned Systems. This vessel-type isn't new. Authorities have discovered crudely made semi-subs being used for illicit purposes in recent years, but the WSU project aims to demonstrate how engineer-developed half-submerged vessels can efficiently serve military, commercial and research purposes. "A semi-submersible vehicle is relatively inexpensive to build, difficult to detect, and it can go across oceans," said Konstantin Matveev, the WSU engineering professor leading this work. "It's not so susceptible to waves in comparison to surface ships since most of the body is underwater, so there are some economic advantages as well." Since the semi-sub sails mostly at the water line, it does not need to be made of as strong materials as a submarine which has to withstand the pressure of being underwater for long periods of time. The semi-sub also has the advantage of having a small platform in contact with the atmosphere, making it easier to receive and transmit data. An unmanned semi-submersible vehicle prototype developed at Washington State University. Credit: Washington State University For this study, Matveev and co-author Pascal Spino, a recent WSU graduate and former president of the WSU RoboSub club, piloted the semi-sub in Snake River's Wawawai Bay in Washington state. They tested its stability and ability to maneuver. The semi-sub reached a max speed of 1.5 meters per second (roughly 3.4 miles an hour), but at higher speeds, it rises above the water creating more of a wake and expending more energy. At lower speeds, it is almost fully immersed and barely makes a ripple. The researchers also outfitted the semi-sub with sonar and mapped the bottom of a reservoir near Pullman, Washington to test its ability to collect and transmit data. While not yet completely autonomous, the WSU semi-sub can be pre-programmed to behave in certain ways, such as running a certain route by itself or responding to particular objects by pursuing them or running away. While the WSU semi-sub is relatively small at 450 mm long with a 100 mm diameter (about 1.5 foot long and 4 inches in diameter), Matveev said it is possible for larger semi-subs to be built to carry significant cargo. For instance, they could be used to help refuel ships or stations at sea. They could even be scaled up to rival container ships, and since they experience less drag in the water, they would use less fuel creating both an environmental and economic advantage. For now, the Matveev's lab is continuing work on optimizing the shape of semi-submersible vehicle prototypes to fit specific purposes. He is currently collaborating with the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland to work on the vehicles' operational capabilities and compare numerical simulations with results from experiments. More information: Pascal Spino et al, Development and Testing of Unmanned Semi-Submersible Vehicle, Unmanned Systems (2022). DOI: 10.1142/S2301385023500048 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: Net electricity generation from power plants for public power supply. Generation for self-consumption is not fed into the public electricity grid and is therefore not included in this representation. Credit: Fraunhofer ISE/B. Burger The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has presented its annual evaluation of electricity generation in Germany in 2022. The year was characterized by extreme prices and strong growth in renewable energies. Electricity trade with neighboring countries also picked up. The share of renewables in net electricity generation, i.e., the electricity mix that actually comes out of the socket, was 49.6% and their share of the load was 50.3%. Only photovoltaics met the expansion targets set by the federal government, increasing its contribution to electricity generation by 19%. The analysis is based on the data platform energy-charts.info. German photovoltaic systems generated about 58 TWh in 2022, of which about 53 TWh were fed into the public grid and 5 TWh were self-consumed. The addition of 6.1 gigawatts of photovoltaic power plants increased the installed capacity to about 66 gigawatts (as of November). This was the highest photovoltaic addition since 2013. Thanks to the addition and sunny weather, solar power generation increased by 19% compared to 2021. From April to August and in October, the monthly power generation of photovoltaic plants was higher than that of coal-fired power plants and from March to September higher than that of gas-fired power plants. For wind onshore, 2022 was an average year; wind offshore was rather below average. Wind on- and offshore together produced about 123 TWh, down from 112 TWh in 2021. Wind generated the most electricity, followed by lignite, solar, hard coal, natural gas, biomass, nuclear, and hydro. Onshore wind power production accounted for about 99 TWh and offshore production for about 25 TWh, of which about 21 TWh was generated in the North Sea and 4 TWh in the Baltic Sea. The addition of wind both onshore and offshore was again very weak: at the end of November 2022, the installed capacity of onshore wind was 58 GW (up 2.1 GW from 2021) and of offshore wind was 8.1 GW (up 0.3 GW). Together, solar and wind produced about 181 TWh in 2022, about 21 TWh more than in 2021. Hydropower generation of 16 TWh was significantly lower than 2021 (19 TWh) due to the hot and dry summer. Biomass, at 42.2 TWh, was slightly above the previous year's figure. There was little change in installed capacity. In total, renewable energy sources produced about 244 TWh in 2022, about 7.4% more than in the previous year (227 TWh). Their share of net public power generation increased to 49.6% (up from 45.6% in 2021), and their share of load was 50.3%. In addition to net public power generation, total net power generation includes self-generation by industrial and commercial enterprises, mainly using gas. Renewables ac-counted for about 44.5% of total net electricity generation, including power plants of "manufacturing, mining, and quarrying establishments." The load on the power grid was 484 TWh. This is about 20 TWh less than in 2021. Due to high electricity prices and higher temperatures, electricity was probably saved significantly. Load includes power consumption and grid losses, but not pumped-storage power consumption and self-consumption by conventional power plants. Comeback of coal-fired power generation Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022 led to severe distortions in the energy mar-kets and a collapse in natural gas imports from Russia. In Europe, this situation combined with an outage of half of France's nuclear power plant fleet led to high electricity prices. This shortfall was partly offset by an increase in coal-fired power generation, which now rose for the third year in succession after a downward trend since 2013. Lignite increased to 107 TWh (2021: 99 TWh), and hard coal to 56 TWh (2021: 47 TWh). By contrast, the use of natural gas to generate electricity fell from 52 TWh to 47 TWh. Due to the shutdown of the three nuclear power plants Grohnde, Gundremmingen C and Brokdorf, generation from nuclear power dropped by 50% from 65 TWh to 33 TWh. Export surplus and stock market electricity prices up sharply In 2022, electricity trading (planned or scheduled) generated an export surplus of around 26 TWh. This is 9 TWh more than in 2021, with the majority of exports flowing to Austria (16.0 TWh) and France (15.3 TWh), followed by Switzerland (6.6 TWh) and Luxembourg (3.9 TWh). Germany imported electricity from Denmark (10.3 TWh), Norway (3.7 TWh ) and Sweden (3.1 TWh). The average volume-weighted day-ahead exchange electricity price was 230.58/MWh or 23.058 cents/kWh. This is approximately 2.5 times the 2021 price (93.35/MWh) and 6.3 times the 2019 price (36.65/MWh). Due to the pandemic, 2020 should not be used for comparisons. About the data This first version of the annual evaluation takes into account all electricity generation data from the Leipzig power exchange EEX and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity ENTSO-E up to and including December 31, 2022. Using the available monthly data from the Federal Statistical Office on electricity generation up to and including September 2022, the quarter-hourly values from the EEX were corrected for energy. For the remaining months, the correction factors were estimated on the basis of past monthly and annual data. The extrapolated values from October to December are subject to larger tolerances. The data on net electricity generation for public electricity supply are used as a basis. Net electricity generation is the difference between gross electricity generation and the power plants' own consumption. It is fed into the public power grid. The entire electricity industry calculates with net figures, e.g. for electricity trading, network calculation, network utilization, power plant deployment planning etc. Only net power generation is traded on the power exchanges, transmission system operators calculate with net flows, and only net figures are measured for cross-border power flows. Net electricity genera-tion represents the electricity mix that actually comes out of the socket at home and is consumed in the household or used to charge electric vehicles in public. Hourly updated data can be found in the Energy Charts: www.energy-charts.info. The platform not only provides data on German electricity generation, but also on 44 eu countries from Albania to Cyprus. In addition to charts on European power generation, there are also charts on exchange electricity prices, the levels of storage power plants, fossil fuel power plant emissions, and the locations of power plants and power lines. Provided by Fraunhofer-Institut fur Solare Energiesysteme ISE 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: Archer's vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, called Midnight, is designed to make consecutive trips of around 20 miles. Global automaker Stellantis will produce electric "air taxis" developed by US aviation company Archer, it announced Wednesday at the major Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Stellantis will also invest up to $150 million in Archer and its vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) designed to carry four passengers in addition to the pilot, the company said in a press release. Called Midnight, the vehicle looks like a small plane with several rotors on its wings and is designed to make consecutive trips of around 20 miles (30 kilometers) with a recharge time of about 10 minutes between each trip. Archer envisions an age of aerial ride-sharing, an "Uber or Lyft of the skies," Vice President Louise Bristow told AFP last year. The two groups had previously partnered in 2021 but on a more limited scale, with Stellantis expected to provide technical assistance and access to its supply chain. This time, Stellantis is expected to mass produce Archer's aircraft as the exclusive contract manufacturer in Covington, Georgia in the southeast United States. The partnership allows Archer to accelerate production of the aircraft, which is expected to begin in 2024. It is also expected to save the US company "hundreds of millions of dollars of spending" during the production ramp-up thanks to Stellantis' expertise. Archer should be able to build up to 650 aircraft per year initially before a possible expansion to produce up to 2,300 per year, said Adam Goldstein, Archer's co-founder and chief executive, at the press briefing. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said in the statement that he is "continuously impressed" by Archer's "ingenuity and unwavering commitment to deliver." Deepening the partnership between the two companies "demonstrates how Stellantis is pushing the boundaries to provide sustainable freedom of mobility, from the road to the sky," he continued. The move "places Archer in a strong position to be first to market," said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, in the statement. "Our two companies are taking these important steps together to realize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine urban transportation." Stellantis also plans to increase its equity stake in Archer by buying back shares on the market. Archer has already received a pre-order from US carrier United Airlines for 200 vehicles. The plan is for these aircraft to fly between New York and Newark Airport initially, then expand to other cities such as Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco where United has a significant presence. 2023 AFP Former UFC fighter Phil Baroni has been arrested for homicide in Mexico following the death of his girlfriend Sunday, according to multiple reports. According to Mexican news site Tribuna De La Bahia, the 46-year-old Baroni told police he and his girlfriend got into a heated argument in a hotel room after she admitted to sleeping with another man. He is accused of throwing her into the shower, causing fatal head trauma. The police report noted that Baroni appeared to be under the influence of marijuana and alcohol when they arrived. The former pro fighter claimed his girlfriend, identified only as Poala, hit her head and slipped getting into the shower, then hit her head again when she fell down. Police arrested Baroni for homicide, and he is being held in Valle de Banderas. Baroni competed in UFC from 2001 to 2012 as a middleweight and welterweight. Nicknamed the New York Bad A, he posted a record of 15-18. The report comes just two days after news surfaced that UFC President Dana White and his wife Anne White were involved in an ugly altercation in Cabo, Mexico on New Years Eve. Video obtained by TMZ shows Anne slapping her husband. The UFC president responded by hitting her back, then seemingly pushing her to the ground. Anne explained the situation to TMZ. Dana and I have been married for almost 30 years. Unfortunately, we were both drinking too much on New Years Eve and things got out of control, on both sides, she said. Weve talked this through as a family and apologized to each other. I just hope people will respect our privacy for the sake of our kids, said Anne White. [New York Post] Iraqi protesters blast U.S. for violating sovereignty on 3rd anniversary of deadly drone strike Xinhua) 10:27, January 04, 2023 BAGHDAD, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iraqis on Tuesday rallied to mark the third anniversary of the assassination of two Iraqi and Iranian commanders in a U.S. drone attack, condemning the U.S. terror act and its violation of Iraqi sovereignty. On the al-Tahrir Square in the capital Baghdad, scores of Iraqis held high the pictures of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, and Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Both Soleimani and al-Muhandis, who played important roles in the war against the extremist Islamic State (IS) militants, were assassinated in the U.S. drone attack on a convoy of vehicles near the Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3, 2020. The Iraqi protesters denounced the United States for creating chaos or disasters in Iraq, which was invaded by the U.S. forces in 2003, and even all over the world in the name of "protecting human rights." "They (Americans) target a leader inside our country. (Therefore) there is no sovereignty. Not even the airspace belongs to Iraq. They (U.S. aircraft) enter our airspace and strike our leaders," Ahmed Kadhim, a fitness trainer, told Xinhua. He said the airstrike was a flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty, stressing that the United States is an "undemocratic and inhumane country". "America is the creator of terrorism, and it is the country of chaos and wants to spread chaos all over the world," Kadhim added. Sadid Abdul-Ghani, a retired government employee, told Xinhua that the illegal airstrike that assassinated Soleimani and al-Muhandis was a flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty, Iraqis' human rights and all international laws. "This is a painful terrorist act ... It violates human rights in this airstrike and in other acts" that spread terrorism in Iraq and other countries, Abdul-Ghani said. He said the United States has been bringing about chaos, internal fight, instability and economic crisis to Iraq and other countries. "By this airstrike, the United States aimed to dominate Iraq and the region and to control the world," he added. Ahmed Salim, a Baghdad resident, condemned the U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis, saying Washington "wanted to dominate Iraq." "It claims that it fights terrorism, but it committed a terrorist crime at dawn on Jan. 3, 2020," he said. Also on Tuesday, the Iraqi Hashd Shaabi held a memorial service at the site of the airstrike on a road near the Baghdad International Airport, which was attended by many Iraqis. "The enemies were disappointed, as they thought that by making people absent and killing leaders, the will of nations would be broken, but they missed that the martyrs are the makers of the glory of every nation," Falih al-Fayyadh, head of the Hashd Shaabi commission, said in a speech. "The assassination of the two leaders, al-Muhandis and Soleimani, was orchestrated by (former U.S. President Donald) Trump, but it will not be long before we see him in the dustbin of history," al-Fayyadh added. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said in a tweet that "it is necessary to recall the leaders of victory and their heroism in confronting the most violent extremist terrorist group (IS) known to our contemporary history." He said the assassination of the two leaders motivated the Iraqi government to work to "consolidate sovereignty and work for an Iraq that is independent in its policies and capable of protecting its people." The U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis sparked tension and reprisal attacks between Iran and the United States on Iraqi soil. Two days after the airstrike in 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country. On Dec. 29, 2021, then Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi confirmed the end of the U.S.-led coalition's combat mission in Iraq after the withdrawal of their forces from the country. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Blinn Colleges enrollment is back on the upswing. During its Dec. 13 board meeting, the Blinn College District Board of Trustees received an enrollment report that showed Blinn enrolled 17,554 students for the fall 2022 semester, a 2.79% increase over the fall 2021 semester. Last year, Blinn reported a 4.89% decrease in enrollment from fall 2020. In her report, Vice Chancellor Becky McBride said the total credit hours increased by 3.74% to 176,343 over fall 2021s decline of 5.15%, or 169,979. She also said contact hours increased from 3,061,680 to 3,170,000 (3.54%), which is noteworthy because contact hours pertain to the time students receive active instruction and is partially taken into consideration for state funding, a press release from Blinn College said. McBride noted that these totals do not include late start terms (fourth four-week and yearlong dual credit late start programs) as these are reported with the spring totals. To break these totals down, McBride provided a chart with the total headcounts at each of the Blinn College campuses: Brenham, Bryan, RELLIS, Schulenberg, Sealy, as well as distance learning and dual credit enrollment. The high school dual credit headcount received the highest increase of 14.81% 1,830 students in relation to 2021s decrease of 5.62% 1,594 students. The Brenham, Bryan, RELLIS and Sealy campuses each saw an increase in students for the fall 2022 semester. Brenham had an increase of 13.89%, raising its headcount from 1,814 students to 2,066 students. The Bryan campus had an increase of 7.74%, raising its headcount from 6,152 to 6,628 students, and RELLIS welcomed 3,046 students, which was a 10.52% increase over the fall 2021 semester total of 2,756 students. As you can see, for Brenham and Bryan and RELLIS, we have an increase in students on campus taking classes thats where we like them to be, McBride said, honoring Blinns commitment to bringing students back to campus following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sealy Campus rounded out the rise in headcounts with an increase of 5.13% from 39 to 41 students. The Schulenberg campus saw a net decrease of one student from 66 to 65 students, and distance education, or those learning virtually, also decreased by 16.54% from 4,496 to 3,752 students. Distance Education, we expect it to be a negative number since were not offering as many online courses with the transition to bringing students back to campus, McBride said. The final column on the chart was labeled other and relates to the prisons, she said, as the school was not able to go into the prisons as often with COVID-19 restrictions. Board Chair Jim Kolkhorst asked McBride whether or not Blinn College was going to continue this program. Were hoping to start a cohort again in the spring, McBride answered. We had 62 students I believe last year and then we went down to 22 so the goal is, yes, we are speaking with them to move forward again. Following her presentation, Kolkhorst expressed his excitement for the increased numbers. Looks good, Kolkhorst said. Positive numbers: moving in the right direction. On a similar note, the board approved the establishment of a textbook program entitled First Day Complete in partnership with Barnes and Noble College, Blinn Colleges press release said. Through the partnership, Blinn students will receive textbooks at heavily discounted prices and have access to those materials before the first day of class, the press release said. While this will be in place, the press release noted that students can opt out of this program and obtain course materials independently. WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Chip Roy is showing no signs of backing down in his fight to overhaul Congress, even as hes facing off against the most powerful members of his party to do so. The boisterous Austin Republican continued to issue impassioned pleas from the House floor Tuesday afternoon urging a shake-up of his partys leadership and pressing for changes to rules that he says keeps the power of Congress in the hands of a small group of party leaders. Roys stand, along with the protests from a vocal group of roughly 20 other right-wing Republicans including two Texans, blocked his party from being able to select a speaker on Tuesday the first time in a century the House was unable to select its leader on the first try. The stalemate is angering other Republicans, who fear it is self-sabotage before the party can even swear in its own members. Without a speaker, rules for the Houses day-to-day business cannot be determined, staffers could go without paychecks and laws cannot be passed. Committee assignments also remain in flux, including a handful of chairmanships that Texans are gunning for. The speaker is the third-highest-ranking elected official in the country, second in line to the presidency. The House will vote again and again until it is able to find one person who can get a simple majority to be speaker. But to Roy, the delay is worth it. For once, the entire House was physically together in the chamber to debate, just as he feels it should be. What were doing is exercising our right to vote and having a debate and have a discussion about the future of this country through the decision of choosing a speaker, Roy said from the floor. Roy insisted that this is not personal and his stance isnt out of devotion or derision for any particular member. He first voted for Floridas Byron Donalds, a relatively new representative and fellow member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, only to later switch to supporting U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a conservative standard bearer who supported McCarthy on the first two ballots. Despite Roys insistence that nothing is personal, other members are less sure. McCarthy and other establishment Republicans offered considerable concessions to the more conservative members in order to gain their support, but still were rebuffed. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said McCarthy asked holdouts during a party meeting Tuesday what else they could possibly give them and they couldnt answer the question. They say its not about [McCarthy] personally, but when youre giving them everything they want in the rules packet, I dont know what else it could be, McCaul said. The House adjourned on Tuesday evening after three historic votes. By the last vote of the evening, McCarthy lost a supporter. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, said on Fox News that the debacle makes the party look foolish. Roy responded in his own Fox appearance Tuesday that he is not blinking. I will always fight to put the American people first, not a few individuals that want something for themselves, McCarthy told reporters Tuesday after a final GOP conference meeting Tuesday before the new Congress convened. U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Victoria, and incoming freshman U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-Plano, also voted for Jordan, with the rest of the Texas Republicans voting for McCarthy. McCarthy led his party through the last four years in the minority, and there is no candidate with nearly the same amount of support among the conference. If his speakership bid completely crumbles and the stalemate continues, the fallout would deal a substantial blow to public confidence in the already polarized House. But Roy and his allies say the confidence is already lost. A major driving force in their discontent in leadership is the partys underwhelming performance in last years midterm elections, despite near-universal predictions of a knockout year. Roy said the lackluster electoral performance was a clarion call from voters fed up with a Congress unable to put into place sweeping conservative priorities on immigration, energy and competitiveness with China. Youre calling for unity? How about we unify around something meaningful? Like actually having a House of Representatives and a bunch of Republicans in a conference that are united to actually stand up for the people and do what we said we would do when we came here? he told reporters. Democrats ribbed Republicans for their lack of unity on the House floor Tuesday, but the consequences of legislating are front of mind as well. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said the fraught voting highlighted the difficult job the next speaker will have governing and called it mostly sad. This hasnt happened in generations, right? Literally have not seen this in generations, Castro said. But to me, it represents the downward evolution, I guess, the devolution of the Republican Party since Donald Trump came along. The internal GOP fight has been going on for months. During a November internal party meeting, Roy nominated Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, to be speaker, with Cloud seconding the nomination. The majority of the caucus still voted for McCarthy in the meeting. It wasnt Roys first time disrupting the expected course during his partys leadership elections. Following the ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, as the No. 3 House Republican in 2021, Roy swooped in to make an 11th-hour challenge to Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New Yorker loyal to former President Donald Trump, for the spot. The former president issued a withering rebuke against Roy, and he lost the partywide bid by a wide margin. Conservative activists close to the Freedom Caucus said Biggs was never the real end goal as an alternate speaker and was largely a placeholder to break McCarthys momentum until another contender could garner enough support. Despite Jordans vocal support for McCarthy in the past several months, his name has been floated as a contender, as has McCarthys number 2, Steve Scalise of Louisiana. But unlike Novembers party meeting, Tuesdays vote included the entire chamber, with Democrats united in voting against McCarthy. If he cant draw more of his own party members to support him, hell be short of the 218-vote majority needed to win the gavel. Before Tuesdays vote, McCarthy scrambled for weeks to secure the support of the remaining holdouts, meeting with Roy and other Freedom Caucus members to go over their complaints with how Congress is run. McCarthy offered rule changes over the weekend meant to address several of the conservative demands, including lowering the threshold of members needed to force a no-confidence vote of the speaker to just five members. Roy and the rest of the Freedom Caucus had been pushing to allow just one member to force a vote that could oust the speaker. The debate is just some simple one: Should a member of the body be able to make a motion and then have the body execute on the motion? Roy said last month. Thats the question. It was one of the biggest concessions McCarthy could give and one he was particularly slow to budge on. Lowering the threshold further would mean two years of immense leverage among his opponents within a party that already has massive philosophical divisions on major policy priorities, including government funding and continued assistance for Ukraine. McCarthy and Roy saw some agreement in their virulent opposition to the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill that passed last December to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. The package was a laundry list of everything Roy hates about Washington the over 4,000-page legislation spanned hundreds of priorities largely negotiated behind closed doors and included continued funding to assist Ukraine an issue dividing House Republicans, with Roy and other conservatives opposing. House Republicans presented a relatively united front against the measure. Fort Worth Rep. Kay Granger, the top House Republican appropriations negotiator, dipped out of talks over objections to the amount of non-defense spending. The deal ended up being an agreement between Democrats and Senate Republicans, with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, heralding it as helping Texas by increasing defense spending by 10%, boosting Border Patrol, offering funding for agriculture drought relief and investing in grants to tackle school violence. Cornyn was the only Texas Republican in Congress to vote for the package. But Roys objections went further. He and 30 other Republicans in or incoming to the House vowed to stonewall any priorities put forward by Senate Republicans who voted for the omnibus package, writing in a letter to the upper chamber that for at least nine months, this omnibus will deny the incoming House GOP majority any leverage to enact crucial policy changes needed to secure our border through the power of the purse. Roy also has a history of putting up a fight against legislation through tactics his peers decried as onerous, including forcing a lengthy series of roll call votes on a $1 trillion spending package in 2019 that prolonged passage into the early morning hours. He is armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of legislative procedure from his time as chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz. Roy and the rest of the Freedom Caucus are demanding that new Republican leadership do away with bulk legislative packages like the omnibus all together. The bills, which can stretch thousands of pages, are rife with priorities that legislators could not possibly sift through, they argue, and that never see daylight through debate on the House floor. McCarthys rules proposal includes a measure that would require members to keep bills to a single subject, but it does not have any robust enforcement. As such, we reiterate that if any omnibus passes in the remaining days of this Congress, we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for its passage including the Republican leader, they wrote. We will oppose any rule, any consent request, suspension voice vote, or roll call vote of any such Senate bill, and will otherwise do everything in our power to thwart even the smallest legislative and policy efforts of those senators. Reps. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood, and Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, also signed the letter, as did outgoing Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios. Self, of Plano, also signed on. McCarthy signaled his support for the effort, tweeting last month that when Im Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people. But for all of McCarthys concessions to the right flank, he was still not able to convert enough members to have a comfortable majority in time for Tuesdays vote. After he revealed his rules proposals, nine House Republicans including Roy released a statement on New Years Day that the proposals didnt go far enough to assuage their concerns, though they made progress. At this stage, it cannot be a surprise that expressions of vague hopes reflected in far too many of the crucial points still under debate are insufficient, the members said. This is especially true with respect to Mr. McCarthys candidacy for speaker because the times call for radical departure from the status quo not a continuation of past, and ongoing, Republican failures. Following his initial vote Tuesday, Cloud said in a statement that many of the promises made [on rules changes] lacked enforcement mechanisms necessary to ensure their implementation, casting doubt on the sincerity of reforms. When the chamber went into another round of voting, Cloud revoted for Jordan. Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry, R-Pennsylvania, said in a statement Tuesday morning that McCarthy rebuffed the groups request for promised votes on a border security plan created by Texas Republican members, balancing the budget, a phase-out of funding for the IRS and term limits for Congress. Other rules McCarthy put forward include the end of proxy voting and set the stage for new investigations into the Biden administration and the Jan. 6 committee, but McCarthy had been indicating his intention to do so for months. The Californian also characterized several Freedom Caucus demands as largely self-interested, including plum committee assignments for the groups members. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, who led the House Rules Committee in the last Congress, lamented McCarthys proposal as targeting civil servants and regressing on accommodations made to make the chamber run more practically during a pandemic. Republican leaders have once again caved to the most extreme members of their own caucus: allowing the far-right to hold the incoming Speaker hostage, McGovern said in a statement. The American people elected a divided government because they want us to put people over politics and operate in a bipartisan way not empower extremists who have no interest in working together to get things done. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Mena Sprague has a yellow T-shirt that reads, I am pro-choice, and I vote! She bought it in the early 1970s while fighting for her rights and the rights of all women. She said she never thought shed have to wear it again. That changed Friday, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, leaving abortion policy to the states. Sprague donned her time-worn T-shirt and joined dozens of other women Wednesday in a protest held on Second Street, outside of Republican Sen. Adrian Smiths Grand Island office. Sprague is a member of Central Nebraska Peace Workers, and coordinated the event in response to Fridays decision, finding herself having to fight once more to make abortions legal and safe. There will always be abortions, she told The Independent. Im old enough to remember when it wasnt legal. Women died. They did self-induced abortions. They got sepsis. They went to back alley abortionists. The only thing Roe did was make abortions safe and legal, and now thats been taken away from us. With tears, Sprague could only describe what happened Friday as terrible. You just feel like, its something weve always worked for. Were each supposed to be free, arent we? she said. They want people to be free to carry guns. They want people to be free to pray on school grounds. But I cant have control of my own body? Thats not freedom. Sprague wasnt alone in her feelings or in protest. Dressed as Lady Justice, Teresa Green raised a banner reading We wont go back! to fight for the rights of her daughters, calling Fridays decision a travesty. Its over half a century, and now were back to square one. My daughters shouldnt have to worry about their health care. Politicians should stay out of it. Theyre not doctors. It just tears my heart apart. Whats next? Are they going to control whether my daughters have contraceptives? I worry about that for the future. She added, What made it happen, right now, that its so important that these women cant have abortions? They treat us like criminals. Jen Sims, one of many young adults at the protest, was joined by friends. She mentioned a fear of what the courts decision will mean for the future. I am extremely disappointed, Sims said. I think this is just going to be a slow descent into worse things. I think it will take away all of the LGBTQ rights. I think it will ruin access to contraceptives, potentially cause more racism in the world. Its just going to cause many things. Womens rights is just the beginning. In his concurring opinion with the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas said the justices should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell, referring to cases that further established due process, privacy and equal protection rights that legalized same-sex relationships, same-sex marriage and access to contraceptives. Sims said she does not intend to be idle. I will fight as much as I can, she said. Maybe not physically, but if it means standing out here in 96 degree weather, on a very windy day, thats what I will do. She added, I will be a voice for those who cant be heard. Lynn Zeleski of Hastings organized a pro-choice protest at Adams County Courthouse Friday in response to the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade that morning. Zeleski, joining Wednesdays protest, shared how an abortion saved her life. In 1982, at 20 weeks pregnant, Zeleski had a molar pregnancy and a triploid fetus, which was nonviable and threatened her life. Finding help with the termination was a challenge, though, as most hospitals were under the banner of a religious organization. They had a policy, because it was illegal for them to flat out ban abortions, that you can only have one to save the life of a mother, you have to have two specialists, and the head of all the medical staff at the time, who was a dentist, she said. The specialists agreed, and she had the support of her husband, but the dentist was unwilling to sign, because he knew too little about gynecology. My husband talked to him for several days and finally convinced him, she said. The situation outraged Zeleski and, though she was already pro-choice, she has been an activist ever since. I dont want other women to have to die because biology does not always work out well, she said. How do you plead for your life and have it turn on deaf ears? Because they just dont hear women. If youre pregnant, they dont hear you at all. My husband would repeat verbatim what I said. Then they could hear it! Zeleski is not the only woman whose life has been saved by an abortion. Virginia Fahnestock, who served as a U.S. Army computer specialist for 12 years, starting in 1985, had an ectopic pregnancy 30 years ago. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic. An ectopic pregnancy most often occurs in a fallopian tube, which carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. The condition leaves the fetus unviable and threatens the life of the mother. according to the clinic. Theyre not making those exceptions now. Theyre just saying, Its Gods will! she said of fears that abortion bans in some states would not make an exception for an ectopic pregnancy. They want me to be less of a person. I dont feel like Im equal at this point. I fought a lot of fights. I joined the Army when they didnt know what to do with us. Now, after 50 years, were going back. Sen. Adrian Smith issued a statement Friday in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe V. Wade. It reads, in part, Life is a miracle that begins at conception. While todays decision is a win for the pro-life movement, our work does not end here. We must ensure states, which are now rightfully tasked with authority over abortion, have the resources needed to restore a culture that respects and values life by supporting at-risk mothers, fathers and children. The Nebraska Legislature is expected to hold a special session to discuss an abortion law. A pair of bills failed to pass during the regular session. What is required now, said Sprague, is for women to make their voices heard by their elected officials and to vote. If they arent going to vote for us and take care of us, vote them out, she said, just as Willie Nelson says. But he exits with an eye on another top political position, the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Nebraskas junior senator, Ben Sasse. I want to continue to look for ways to be able to serve the people of Nebraska and I believe that my experience as governor for the last eight years makes me the best candidate to be the next U.S. senator, Ricketts said in a year-end interview with The World-Herald. Ive delivered results for the people of Nebraska, whether its improving services for how we run state government or its tax relief or getting us through the challenges we had in 2019 with the most widespread flooding or the COVID pandemic. Ive got a track record that Im very proud of working with people in state government. I believe that is a strong case for why I should be the next U.S. senator, he said. Sasse is stepping down to become president of the University of Florida. The resignation takes effect Jan. 8. Ricketts has said he will leave it to the next governor, Jim Pillen, to name a replacement. Pillen, who will be sworn in Thursday, is widely expected to appoint Ricketts. Meanwhile, the 58-year-old Republican looks back on two terms at the helm of state government that included major tax cuts, spending restraint and conservative policies. They also included two unprecedented crises record statewide flooding in 2019, followed by the COVID pandemic that started in 2020. But he lists improvements in government services as one of his proudest accomplishments. Ricketts, a former T.D. Ameritrade executive, said he worked on creating a more customer-focused, efficient and effective government that would better serve Nebraskans. He created a Center for Operational Excellence that completed 900 process improvement projects, saving 900,000 hours of state employee time and reducing costs by an estimated $100 million. He also consolidated some state functions. Among the successes: cutting on-hold time for people seeking public benefits from an average of 23 minutes down to 5 minutes; streamlining registration and renewals for fleet vehicles that allowed one business to complete 4,000 renewals in three days rather than 30; and simplifying fire marshal reviews of building construction plans that cut 15 days out of the process. We found ways to ensure that Nebraskans are spending less time filling out forms, waiting in line or waiting on hold, Ricketts said. Those improvements are among the reasons outgoing Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln called Ricketts a tremendous governor for Nebraska. That does not always show up in the headlines, but his efforts to make government work better, faster and more efficiently for its customer will be perhaps one of his most important accomplishments, said Hilgers, who was elected attorney general in November. The bigger headline-grabbers have been the tax relief measures. Two major packages passed in 2020 and 2022 capped off a series of tax bills passed on his watch. Together, they are projected to deliver $12.7 billion in tax relief by the time they are fully implemented in 2027. The total includes more than $10 billion in property tax relief. They include expanded tax credits to offset property taxes, including some that directly reduce property tax bills and some offered as income tax credits. In addition, the top tax rates for individual and corporate income taxes are being reduced and the state is eliminating income taxes on military retirement and Social Security benefits. Ricketts said he was able to deliver tax relief by keeping state expenses down. He held state budgets to an average of 2.8% growth annually, while revenues grew 4.5%. During an economic downturn in 2016 and 2017, state spending grew at a 0.5% annual average. More recently, state coffers have benefited from steadily rising property valuations, which meant the state did not have to increase school aid as much as expected. Large infusions of federal pandemic relief since 2020 covered some state costs and shored up the states economy, which translated into stronger tax revenues. His legacy is one he can be proud of in the arena of fiscal restraint and tax reform, said State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion. But Ricketts failed to stop a gas tax increase in 2015. Lawmakers passed the increase over his veto to boost funding for highway construction and maintenance. Ricketts used some of that tax revenue later to help pay for a $450 million road-and bridge-building plan. Lawmakers overrode two other vetoes that year, his first in political office. One was a bill repealing the states death penalty and the other on a bill allowing illegal immigrants brought to this country as children to get Nebraska drivers licenses. Those are the youths involved with the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. He learned from those political setbacks. In later years, he worked more closely with friendly lawmakers to block bills before they came to his desk and he used his wealth to wield his political will. He was a major donor to a petition drive that restored the death penalty. He also targeted lawmakers that had voted for the veto overrides. But Ricketts bristles at the idea that he has bought political wins, including spending more than $1.3 million to get Pillen elected governor this year. The son of T.D. Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, Pete Ricketts estimated his net worth at $50 million in 2018. Supporting candidates is a matter of free speech, he said. Can you have too much free speech? I think Im exercising my free speech rights. Every American should be able to do that. He couldnt stop Nebraskans from voting to expand Medicaid to more low-income people, as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act, however. Expansion backers took the issue to voters with an initiative petition drive after Ricketts and fellow Republicans blocked it repeatedly in the Legislature. Other challenges couldnt be solved with wealth or political clout. In March 2019, a combination of heavy snow and rain with extreme cold triggered unprecedented flooding across multiple communities. The floods caused an estimated $2.6 billion in damage to homes, businesses, farmland and roads and cost four lives. Nebraska was still recovering in March 2020, when the first cases of COVID showed up in the state. Ricketts declared a coronavirus state of emergency on March 13 that year. He navigated the pandemic with a mixture of public health restrictions and resistance to federal mandates. The combination, as he frequently notes, led Politico last year to name Nebraska as the state that fared best at balancing health, economic, educational and social well-being concerns. Ricketts also had to deal with challenges inside state government, particularly Nebraskas overcrowded and troubled prison system. The governor had been in office only a few months when the Tecumseh prison erupted in a deadly riot in May 2015. He argues that the system has improved since then, with better programming and new construction that added beds. Still, Nebraskas prison system remains the nations most overcrowded and has the fastest-growing inmate population in the country. State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha said Ricketts missed an opportunity by fighting a criminal justice reform plan in 2022. The plan came out of an intensive study guided by the nonprofit Crime and Justice Institute that involved all three branches of state government. Ricketts objected to parts of the plan as being soft on crime, and the two sides could not reach a compromise. Ricketts said there were parts of the plan he supported, but those went down when the compromise efforts failed. He said there is more work to be done in corrections. He has pushed to build a new prison to replace the aging Nebraska State Penitentiary. Lawmakers set aside money for the prison but have not authorized its construction. He also said there is work to be done on reducing property taxes and major investments that need to be completed, such as the proposed Perkins County canal. Under the terms of a century-old compact with Colorado, construction of the canal would ensure Nebraskas supply of water in the South Platte River. Those tasks now fall to Pillen. Ricketts said he is confident handing over the reins because the two share a background in business. Hes going to take what weve done and take it to the next level, Ricketts said. "Tony Vaccaro, 100, Dies; Photographed War From a Soldiers Perspective," at the World's Best Photography magazine (the New York Times. You get ten free articles, but you should subscribe, because they publish a broad range of meaningful photographic content, from articles like this to original commissioned photojournalism and many other things besides). I had never heard of Tony Vaccaro before, but I like his work and I enjoyed this article. I especially liked reading the descriptions of his shooting technique. As an idle aside, if you had to choose between Karsh's photograph of Georgia O'Keefe and Vaccaro's picture of her looking through the piece of Swiss cheese, which would you choose? Those are two very different modes of what we call "photography." # # # An interesting picture of Dr. King from 1959. What's interesting about it is that it was taken by a Black photographer, Calvin Littlejohn, the chronicler of Fort Worth, Texas, who lived from 1909 t0 1993. A trope of modern criticism is the idea of the "gaze"in other words, that the view cannot be separated from whomever is doing the viewing. To me it seems clear from the evidence that this was how Dr. King looked when he felt comfortable with the person who was taking his picture. Compare this with the more serious look we're used to seeing from Dr. King in his public role, when the ones doing the viewing were mostly representing the white-dominated media and, beyond them, the white world they worked for. For more about Calvin Littlejohn, see his bio at blackpast.org. # # # As long as I am on old pictures, readers of, er, a certain age will remember a famous picture from LIFE magazine of Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm returning from a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp and being greeted by his family on an airport runway. The picture is known by the title "Burst of Joy." A print, signed by the photographer, Slava "Sal" Veder, brought in by Stirm's daughter, known as "the leaping girl" or "the jumping girl," was appraised on the most recent episode of Antiques Roadshow. This link should take you to the segment, but, if it doesn't, the segment starts at 36:26. Sal Veder won the Pulitzer for his shot. # # # Mystery Man: Who is this? Hints: his arrest was for possession of more than 650 grams of cocaine, and he served two and a third years in prison following the bust. And the guy was really a Dick. (I'll post the answer tomorrow.) UPDATE Thursday afternoon: A lot of you guessed this. It's "Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor," a.k.a. actor/comedian Tim Allen, who was born Timothy Allen Dick. He was also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies, and now has a net worth that Fox Business reports to be $100 million. Allen was the only comedian I ever saw in concert, and his language was so blue and his subject matter so filthy that I vowed to stick with clean comedians thenceforward. (Current favorite: Nate Bargatze.) I guess this was an easier "Mystery Man" than I thought. I didn't recognize him from this picture and couldn't make it look like him even after knowing who it was! # # # "'Art is dead Dude'the rise of the AI artists stirs debate," from the BBC. The quotation is from one Jason M. Allen, who went on to say, "It's over. A.I. won. Humans lost." Not sure if this really has anything to do with photography. But I'll just point out the famous quotation attributed to the French painter Paul Delaroche, who, upon first seeing a Daguerreotype in 1839, said, "From today, painting is dead." (Although one would suppose he said it in French, and I haven't been able to find that.) Curiously, Paul Delaroche's historical paintings looked a bit like A.I., don't you agree? # # # Photographers we lost in 2022: photojournalist Dirck Halstead, 85; fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier, 87; art photographer Jerry Uelsmann, 87; war photographer Tim Page, 78; Letizia Battaglia, who bravely documented the Sicilian Mafia, 87; paparazzo Ron Galella, 91; editorial and advertising photographer Kurt Markus, 75; Fred Lyon, photographer of San Francisco, 97; advertising photographer Melvin Sokolsky, 88; art photographer and filmmaker William Klein, 96; celebrity photographer Douglas Kirkland, 88; and editorial portraitist Eamonn McCabe, 74among many others. Consolations: everyone gets their favorite camera in heaven, the photo opportunities are limitless, and you never, ever miss a shot. R.I.P. Mike Flickr page / New Yorker author page Original contents copyright 2023 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below or on the title of this post.) Featured Comments from: Gordon Lewis: "It might be that Dr. King was more relaxed around black photographers. It might also be that this image was taken in 1959, before all the major stressors in his life happened, such as the Freedom Rides, March on Washington, FBI harassment, violence in Selma, etc. To put it another way, as the years wore on he had a lot less to be relaxed about. He was assassinated nine years later, in 1968, at age 39." Chris Kern: "Re 'As an idle aside, if you had to choose between Karsh's photograph of Georgia O'Keefe and Vaccaro's picture of her looking through the piece of Swiss cheese, which would you choose? Those are two very different modes of what we call "photography."' "A better comparison, it seems to me, would be with Vaccaros 1960 photograph [here's a link Ed.] of OKeefe holding one of her paintings in a field in New Mexico, with its unorthodox, arresting composition: the subject in perfect profile, revealing the characteristic contours of her face; her hands cradling the painting to signify that she is its creator; the painted canvas bleeding into the left side of the frame; and the mountain in the background conveying a distinct sense of place. The image is also technically outstandingwell-illuminated, with wide tonality and excellent color, and with the figure and canvas in sharp focus and just enough bokeh in the background to keep the viewers attention on the subject. Offhand, I cant recall seeing a superior posed photographic portrait." ASW: "I'm sure others have already answered, but that's Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor (aka the actor/comedian Tim Allen) in the mugshot. I hope he didn't drag his friendly neighbor Wilson into the drug world with him." Winfried Heyland: "I can only recommend Tony Vaccaro's work. i.e. Entering Germany." hugh crawford: "Re: Leap of joy Theres a whole lot of misery in that photo. [That's worth reading. Thanks. Mike] "Dick? I thought the guy was a tool. "Ive been playing around with AI art and I find it sort of like street photography crossed with surrealist art practices. You have a vague expectation of what you might get, but no control, and the outcome is something of a surprise. I dont think that AI software like Stable Diffusion, which I am working with, is as much a threat to photography as Photoshop and the current generation of photo editing software." Ed Hawco: "No shade on Karsh, but Ill take the Swiss cheese shot any day of the week." Steve Jackson: "Mike, I was kind of stunned that you didn't know about Tony Vaccaro. Although his B&W photos are better known, some of his color portraits are amazing. This is a link to one that I think really shows how to use environment and depth of field in a way that rivets you to the subject: Picasso. Compositionally and technically it is a lesson for all of us. Here is a link to that image (but I would suggest you look at all of them at Monroe Gallery)." Mike replies: I did look at all of them, and I'm pretty convinced I've never seen any of them before. (I no longer think I can remember every photograph I've ever seenI used to think sobut I usually get a sort of spidey-sense if I've seen a picture before.) I'm glad to find out about Tony. Bruno Gonzalez: "Hello Mike, 'A partir d'aujourd'hui la peinture est morte.' The following is an extract copied from the French Wikipedia page about Paul Delaroche; the text says the quotation is probably apocryphal. 'Apres avoir vu pour la premiere fois un daguerreotype il aurait prophetise, selon Gaston Tissandier: A partir d'aujourd'hui la peinture est morte. Cependant, cette citation, sans doute apocryphe, est contestee par Stephen Bann, pour qui il n'existe pas de phrase plus ressassee et plus fallacieuse.'" Mike replies: Thanks! For others, the French means, "However, this arguably apocryphal quote is disputed by Stephen Bann, for whom there is no more rehashed and fallacious phrase." (Google Translate.) It's odd, but at some point, does it actually matter if someone said certain things or not? The quotation is so widespread, and so consistently attributed to Delaroche, that I'm not sure it matters if anyone can prove he said it. Also, I've noticed that quotes (and facts) that have a literary rather that oral origin tend to be much more readily accepted. For an example of oral transmission, take the famous "Serenity Prayer." The earliest recorded version is from 1933, by a student of Reinhold Niebuhr, quoting Niebuhr. Niebuhr himself might well have used it before 1933. He didn't publish a version himself until 1951, but he was known to have used it in many sermons and was quoted many times between '33 and '51. For this reason, many different wordings and forms came to be accepted as the "real" Serenity Prayer, and various sources are still modifying its wording. My thought would be, how do we know that Paul Delaroche didn't speak his famous quotation orally and that it spread the same way? In any event, if he didn't say it, he might as well have. Rod S.: "I'd already taken your advice to subscribe to the New York Times and had already read that obituary on Tony Vaccaro. Imagine one morning finding and photographing a fallen soldier's body mostly covered by fresh overnight snow, and then realising that it was your friend. Imagine being in a French town so delighted in being liberated from war that its women linked arms and danced in a circle around a little ceremony in which a small girl and a foreign soldier kneel on the ground and kiss. Hard to imagine? Tony Vaccaro photographed it." darlene (partial comment): " I was once an New York Times subscriber but grew tired of their political undertones. It may go unnoticed if you like their politics, but it isn't very pleasant if you are an independent thinker." John Camp: "Timothy Dick. Another photographer took a photo that is virtually identical to Sal Veder's. Veder won the Pulitzer for it, the other guy didn't. I think it had to do with which one went out on the AP wire first." Mike replies: The Turnley twins have a version of that story. They both took the same picture, more or less, and one of them won a prize for it, the other one didn't. I'd have to look up the details. And according to one of my favorite books on photography, there were about 15 photographers present for the crash of the Hindenburg. The famous picture is the one that hit the wire services first; the rest are virtually unknown. James Kirkpatrick: "The mystery man and I attended Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Michigan. He was year behind me so would have graduated in 1970. I only found this out years later looking in my yearbook. A very funny and talented man in later years." Franz Amador: "From the article on Tony Vaccaro: 'Private Vaccaro improvised as he moved through Europe, finding his film and his processing chemicals among the ruins of camera shops in towns his unit passed through. He developed the film in Army helmets and hung the negatives on trees to dry when he wasnt on night duty. He carried them in his backpack.' Dang!" Mike replies: I was struck by that too. And have you ever photographed with an Argus? Very awkward camera, but Georgia O'Keeffe was impressed with the speed with which Tony Vaccaro used it. Keith B: "Can I choose the portrait of Georgia Ansel Adams took with her and Orville Cox at Canyon de Chelly?" [Sure. Here's that one. Ed.] Dan Gorman: "The 'mystery' man is Tim Dick, otherwise known as Tim Allen. My in-laws knew his familyhe grew up in suburban Detroit." Jerome: "AI can't create art, because AI has nothing to say about anything. It can imitate what humans have said about something, but that's like repeating a poem in a language you don't understand. AI is a pattern-matching machine. It will recognise patterns and re-arrange them, but has no idea what it's doing." MUSCATINE Reported missing on Dec. 19, Michael Little Beaver Bishop has been found and brought home. On Monday afternoon, the Chaos Divers, a dive team from Harrisburg that specializes in finding missing persons, reported Bishops 2021 Chevy Trail Boss had been located in the Mississippi River about 400 yards from the Toolsboro boat ramp. Battling ice sheets to recover the truck from the frigid waters, the team dove on the truck, confirming the license plate. The cold water produced problems, though, that made further exploration impossible. The truck was recovered with heavy equipment from shore. It was confirmed Bishop was inside the truck. One of the divers spoke of the satisfaction and the sadness associated with such work, especially knowing how important it is to family. You are telling them that you found their loved one and you are kind of stripping away any hope they will be found safe you are watching the tears roll down their face. But you are also seeing this weight lifted off their shoulders that for the first time in however many days, months, or years they get to go to bed that night and know where their loved one is, Chaos Diver Lindsay Bussick said. Its a heartbreaking feeling; you never want to give up. The dive team said there was no obvious reason the truck went into the water, nor did they have a theory about what happened, saying they dont investigate incidents and leave that to law enforcement. The incident remains under investigation by the Louisa County Sheriffs Office. Anyone with any information is asked to call 319-523-4371 and speak with the investigator, Kary Conger. The Chaos Divers include founder Jacob Grubbs, Eric Bussick and head of logistics, Lindsay Bussick. Grubbs formed the team after learning to dive as a way of cleaning up waterways. The team later moved into recovering missing persons. Bishop is the 15th subject in a year that the team has recovered. The 48-year-old Grandview man was reported missing to the Louisa County Sheriffs Department on Dec. 19 by family members who had not spoken to him since the prior evening. The sheriffs search-and-rescue team had focused their efforts along the Mississippi River, based on information they received, a news release indicated. The Chaos team began the search for Bishop after being contacted by a family member who read about them. They arrived in Louisa County on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, but the cold snap over the weekend had left the river with a foot of ice in some spots. They went home Saturday morning, Dec. 31, 2022, returning the next day. The search continued Jan. 2. The team used sonar to locate the truck, Eric Bussick said, then dove to confirm it was Bishops. We didnt know at that time (if he was in the vehicle), Eric Bussick said. We couldnt see inside. I tried to get confirmation but with the tinted windows and reflections under water, I wasnt able to get it. Plans were made to remove the vehicle, and Eric Bussick dove again to attempt to get inside. However, his dry suit leaked, allowing 32-degree water to enter. He had to resurface. Grubbs said he was amazed by how much the community came together to help the search. People were there every day, no matter the conditions, he said. Lindsay Bussick said the icy conditions had slowed the search. Several local businesses turned out to help move the ice, so the team could search, she said. Some air boats also offered assistance. "It was devastating, but it was really a team effort in every way, she said. The Chaos Divers have a YouTube Channel that chronicles their searches. Eric Bussick has a separate channel called Ride or Dive. The team also has a website and Facebook page. Most popular baby names for boys in Iowa Most popular baby names for boys in Iowa #47. Sawyer (tie) #47. Joseph (tie) #47. Ezra (tie) #47. Ethan (tie) #46. David #45. Logan #42. Miles (tie) #42. Greyson (tie) #42. Eli (tie) #39. Walker (tie) #39. Nolan (tie) #39. Harrison (tie) #38. Weston #36. Everett (tie) #36. Cooper (tie) #35. Declan #34. Aiden #32. Emmett (tie) #32. Beckett (tie) #31. Beau #30. Bennett #29. Mason #26. Waylon (tie) #26. Easton (tie) #26. Carter (tie) #24. Ryker (tie) #24. Isaac (tie) #23. Levi #22. Leo #21. Samuel #20. Wyatt #18. Jackson (tie) #18. Grayson (tie) #17. Lincoln #16. James #15. Lucas #14. Maverick #13. Benjamin #12. William #10. Jack (tie) #10. Brooks (tie) #9. Elijah #8. Owen #7. Hudson #6. Theodore #5. Asher #4. Noah #3. Henry #2. Liam #1. Oliver PRAIRIE DU ROCHER Keeping with a longstanding tradition, La Guiannee Societe will host its Twelfth Night Ball from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday in the American Legion Hall at 508 Henry St. in Prairie du Rocher. Twelfth Night Cake will be served at 8:30 p.m., with coronation immediately following. Gerry Franklin, a member of La Guiannee Societe and organizer of the ball, said the ball was cancelled two years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelfth Night is an old French custom brought to Prairie du Rocher by early French settlers. Franklin said the British settled the east while French settlers went north to Quebec and south to New Orleans. They traveled by water, so securing their spot along the Mississippi River was important. They built Fort du Chartres about halfway between Quebec and New Orleans, and settled the town of Prairie du Rocher 300 years ago. The French people were Roman Catholic and that influenced how they celebrated Christmas. A season of advent preceded Christmas, with the celebration beginning on Christmas day. It was a 12-day celebration, culminating in a party or ball on the twelfth night. "The grand celebration was that the eldest women in the village baked a cake and invited all the young people to a dance or ball. She would hide four beans in the cake. It was served to the men. The men who got beans became kings of the ball, Franklin said. Those kings would pick their queens from the young ladies at the ball. It was kind of a match-making event, Franklin said. The tradition of the Twelfth Night Ball continued in Prairie du Rocher until World War II. All the young men were at war, so the ball was not held. For some reason, it did not return after the war. In 1976, Franklin served on the Randolph County Bicentennial Commission. One of the events held for the Bicentennial was the Twelfth Night Ball. It has been held each year since then, except for the two years of the pandemic. Since reviving this old custom in 1976, an orchestra named Cousin Curtis and the Cash Rebates has provided the music, dance lessons and calling. Their personnel has varied, with three or four core members always performing. This year the band has invited all of their members, past and present, to join them in a cornucopia of music. About 15 very talented musicians will rotate on and off the stage all evening during the Twelfth Night Ball. Franklin calls the talents of the group nothing short of amazing. Dennis Buckhannon on guitar and Curtis Buckhannon on mandolin, known as the Buckhannon Brothers, have recorded several albums and enjoy frequent air play on St. Louis radio. Geoff Seitz, a violin maker, is said to be the best dance fiddler in this area. Franklin said there has never been anyone better than Emily Buckhannon to teach and call old-time line dances, reels, squares, waltzes, polkas and even a schottische or two, as well. Our caller is very good at explaining the dances. Even beginners can get in and dance, Franklin said. Everyone is invited to the Twelfth Night Ball. Admission is still $10 per person, $30 per family. Youth under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Beverages must be purchased at the bar. Franklin said the ball is not a fundraiser, but they usually break even. Its to have fun and I hope it stays going another 300 years, Franklin said. The Rumour Mill Two forwards linked as Everton seek reinforcements | 04/01/2023 Everton are said to be looking at Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom and Mislav Orsic as the need for attacking additions has been laid bare in recent weeks. The Blues were able to deploy Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a starter against Manchester City and Brighton but the striker has struggled for service while Ellis Simms was recalled from his loan at Sunderland but only came on as a substitute against Brighton last night when the Blues were dead and buried at 4-0 down. Since joining Boro from PAOK Athens where he scored 14 times in 54 games, Akpom has notched 18 goals in 58 League appearances and is reportedly attracting interest from Everton, Crystal Palace and two clubs in Germany. Orsic, meanwhile, looked set to join Southampton but that deal fell through today and has alerted the Toffees and Nottingham Forest. Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () How to get rid of these ads and support TW ToffeeWeb A Casper man died after a two-car crash in Gaines County, Texas. Joshua Duncan, 37, was airlifted to University Medical Center in Lubbock on Dec. 12, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday. He died at the hospital 10 days later from his injuries. The crash happened on U.S. Highway 62, about nine miles east of Hobbs, New Mexico. Duncan was driving his 1997 Ford F-150 when another truck struck him from behind. His truck skidded into a T-bone crash with the other truck until it finally landed against a wire barricade facing the opposite direction of traffic. Ismael Barrera, 20, of Midland, Texas, had two passengers in his black 2016 Chevrolet Silverado at the time of the crash. Barrera and his passengers were not injured. Barrera was charged with failing to control his speed, said the Texas Department of Public Safety. The posted speed limit in that section of highway is 75 mph. The road conditions were dry and clear. Both parties were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. A 20-year-old Cheyenne man was charged with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with an argument that escalated into a shooting. Solomon Nunez had an argument with a man in the basement of a residence on Tuesday, the Cheyenne Police Department said. As the dispute escalated, Nunez allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him. Another man in the building heard the fight, so he went downstairs to intervene. He witnessed the shooting. Nunez then pointed the firearm in the direction of the witness, who retreated back up the stairs, police said. He fled the building on foot. Officers responded to a report of the shooting in the 1800 block of East 19th Street shortly after 5:30 p.m. They located one man with a gunshot wound. He was transported by ambulance to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Officials determined that Nunez ran to the Pioneer Hotel at 209 West 17th St., where he was staying in a hotel room. Police were in the midst of evacuating nearby hotel rooms when Nunez surrendered. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center. The victim has not been identified. Bipartisan federal legislation to increase funding for home-visiting programs that serve hundreds of Wyoming families became law last week when President Joe Biden signed the $1.7 billion federal spending package. Home visits involve professionals making house-calls on expectant families and those with newborns to provide support, advice and health checkups. The service is primarily offered to at-risk residents facing challenges like lower incomes or a history of abuse, neglect or drug abuse. A new law tucked into the federal funding package is the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022, named after the Indiana congresswoman who died in a car accident earlier this year. The legislation increases the base amount for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program from $300 million annually to $400 million, and provides additional matching grant funding over the next five years. Studies have shown that certain home visiting programs can translate to better outcomes for children and are cost-effective. The largest benefits from evidence-based home visiting come through reduced spending on government programs and increased individual earnings, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report found. The Wyoming Department of Family Services reported that its home-visiting program supported 243 families in the 2020-21 program year. Hundreds of child welfare organizations signed onto a letter in March asking members of Congress for many of the changes that the new law will provide, including doubling the amount set aside for tribes from 3% to 6%. Historical and ongoing inequities within [American Indian and Alaska Native] communities have only been amplified by COVID-19, the letter stated. Currently, Tribal MIECHV receives $12 million annually for the more than 600 eligible Tribes and Tribal-serving organizations. An increase in tribal-specific home-visiting funds could help programs like one on the Wind River Indian Reservation that has faced its own funding troubles in recent years. Congress created the MIECHV Program in 2010, but it was set to lapse on Sept. 30. U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Illinois, introduced the legislation to reauthorize MIECHV and increase its funding on Sept. 19, but the bill didnt move for nearly two months. Like many other federal programs, MIECHV hitched a ride with short-term funding packages meant to avoid a government shutdown and buy time for Congress to agree on a larger spending package. The legislation passed the House 390-26 on Dec. 2 with support from Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney before being lumped into the $1.7 trillion spending package. That home visiting bill had 186 cosponsors, including 85 Republicans. None were members of the Wyoming delegation. The new resources going to MIECHV programs have some strings attached. That includes annual reports to support a new outcomes dashboard to help Congress and the public track MIECHVs success in improving family outcomes in every state or territory, according to House staff. At the same time, the legislation specifies that it wants to reduce administrative burden by focusing more on family outcome data than accounting at local sites. For tribes specifically, the law aims to lower barriers by exploring, in consultation with tribes and tribal organizations, ways to reduce administrative burden, respect sovereignty, and acknowledge the different focus points for tribal grantees. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus announced its official launch Wednesday, signaling the groups intention to take a more aggressive approach to promoting hard-line conservative legislation as lawmakers prepare to convene for the upcoming general session. The caucus, formerly known as the Wyoming House Freedom Caucus, has its origins in the far-right U.S. House Freedom Caucus that emerged in 2015. Initially a sort of social club-like gathering of like-minded lawmakers, as the caucus current chairman Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, described it, the Wyoming House Freedom Caucus became more formally organized in 2020. (Bear joined the caucus that year.) Its now partnered with the State Freedom Caucus Network, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that aims to establish state freedom caucuses across the country. The network will provide the Wyoming Freedom Caucus with resources like funding and training, as well as access to attorneys and political strategists. A handful of other state freedom caucuses, including neighboring Idaho, Montana and South Dakota, have also partnered with the network. I expect us to move from being a social club, if you will, to more of a military unit thats ready to fight and stand in the gap for the people of Wyoming, Bear said at a Wednesday rally hosted by State Freedom Caucus Network President Andrew Roth. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is now listed on the State Freedom Caucus Networks website, along with the names and photos of some caucus members. Bear said that isnt a complete list of everyone in the caucus right now members can volunteer to have their names listed, but arent required to do so, he said. Beside Bear and caucus vice chair Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, members who are listed on the website include Reps. Chris Knapp, Scott Heiner, Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, Pepper Ottman and John Winter. Other lawmakers, such as Reps. Mark Jennings and Clarence Styvar, have also previously identified themselves as members of the caucus. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus exists as a reflection of the God fearing, self sufficient, liberty loving people all across our State, Bear said in the statement announcing the caucus launch. The members of our caucus each have proven track records in the battle for limited government, religious liberty, protecting the unborn, and the defense of our Constitutionally protected rights. Attorney Jessica Rubino will be the Wyoming state director for the State Freedom Caucus Network. Bear said Rubino will help the Wyoming Freedom Caucus draft and review bills to make sure they stay within constitutional parameters. The State Freedom Caucus Network will pay for Rubinos position. None of the lawmakers who are members of the caucus will be able to directly access funds from the state network, according to Bear. The caucus will have to work through Rubino to use that resource. Rubino, who graduated from the University of Wyomings law school in 2021, is registered with the Secretary of States Office as a lobbyist for the state network. Shes the spouse of Joe Rubino, the nephew of Wyomings Rep. Harriet Hageman who was tapped to be Secretary of State Chuck Grays chief policy officer and general counsel. Caucus priorities A lot of the priorities that the Wyoming Freedom Caucus listed in its statement on Wednesday unsurprisingly reflect those of Freedom Caucuses across the country. Some of its goals include increasing restrictions on abortion services, expanding school choice and bolstering parental rights in education, removing books with what the caucus described as pornographic material from school libraries, reigning in property taxes, safeguarding election integrity and blocking the growth of government disguised as free health care from D.C. From a more general perspective, the caucus aims to turn the tide of a Republican-dominated Legislature that Bear described at the Wednesday rally as very purple to blue a description that points to the disgruntlement among caucus members over the voting records of fellow GOP lawmakers that theyve deemed not conservative enough. That split in the Republican Party has been showcased pretty dramatically elsewhere too, from the GOP State Central Committees votes to no longer recognize Wyomings former Rep. Liz Cheney as a Republican and to censure Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, to campaign speech accusing certain lawmakers of being RINOs (Republicans in name only) and the launch of the mysterious website WyoRINO, which rates lawmakers on how conservative their voting record is. Numerically, Republicans have a supermajority in Wyoming, but if you examine legislative output, it doesnt look that way at all, Bear said in the statement. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is going to remind the majority of Wyoming Legislators of the platform they campaigned on. Our caucus is the conscience of the Republican Party. Growing group The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has steadily gained sympathetic lawmakers since its amorphous beginnings following the 2016 presidential election. In 2017, the caucus had about six members. Then it bumped up to 17 members. This year, Bear said that sympathizers of the caucus if not members have increased by roughly 10 lawmakers. Bear has emphasized, however, that membership in the caucus can fluctuate depending on what issues the caucus is grappling with, though he expects numbers to be more concrete now that the caucus has officially launched. I believe that you will see people really commit to it, he said. Theyll see the value in it and want to be a part of it. So I think people will be more committed to (the caucus) and to the cause. Thats my expectation. At the State Freedom Caucus Network rally, Bear said the 2020 election cycle was a great recruiting year. Its likely that a number of freshmen lawmakers will join the caucus, or at least vote along the same lines as the group. At least one freshman lawmaker has taken initiative even before being sworn into the Legislature. Last month, members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and other lawmakers sent a letter to the University of Wyoming condemning the school for its decision to revoke the tabling rights of a Laramie church elder after he had targeted a transgender student by name on a sign posted to his table. A freshman lawmaker Rep.-elect Jeanette Ward, R-Casper initiated the letter and circulated it among lawmakers whom she thought would be likely to support it, she told the Star-Tribune. Several other freshman lawmakers Reps.-elect Bill Allemand, Tony Locke, Ken Pendergraft, Bob Davis, Tomi Strock, Sarah Penn, Abby Angelos, Scott Smith and Allen Slagle also signed on. Whats more, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus managed to squeak a sympathetic lawmaker Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett into legislative leadership for the upcoming session, which starts Tuesday. In November, the House Republican Caucus picked Neiman as its next House majority floor leader in a 29-28 vote. Neiman has said that he considers himself to be aligned with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. But despite these wins, Bear has previously told the Star-Tribune that he expects gains in the Legislature to be hard fought all along the way... The Wyoming Freedom Caucus other attempts to win leadership positions in the House werent successful. Rodriguez-Williams and Jennings, who vied for the speaker pro tempore and speaker of the House posts, respectively, didnt end up getting picked for those positions. And Neiman just barely won his election for House majority floor leader. Unfortunately, we are over the target, if you will, Bear said at the rally on Wednesday. We take a lot of arrows at that spot, but we know were in the right place if were doing that. This article has been updated to clarify Jessica Rubinos official title and correct the date of her graduation from the University of Wyomings school of law. Experts have identified the remains of a Sheridan sailor who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. Herman Schmidt, 28, was a Navy Gunners Mate Third Class aboard the USS Oklahoma, a Nevada-class battleship. Schmidts remains were officially identified about two years ago, though the Department of Defense held off on announcing the news until his family could be fully briefed, according to a Monday press release from the departments Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The USS Oklahoma was moored on battleship row at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, when on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941 it was attacked by hundreds of Japanese planes. The battleship was struck by several torpedoes and capsized in a matter of minutes. The attack killed 429 of the ships men, including Schmidt, the release said. The Navy also lost the USS Arizona in the attack. It was hit by multiple bombs and exploded, killing 1,177, according to the National WWII Museum. More than 2,400 Americans died in the surprise attack and over 1,100 were wounded at Pearl Harbor that day. Nearly 130 Japanese servicemen also lost their lives. The military worked for three years to recover the bodies of lost sailors and Marines, according to the release. Their remains were buried in the Halawa and Nuuanu cemeteries in Hawaii. Three years later, the American Graves Registration Service disinterred the bodies of the servicemen to try to identify them. They were only able to positively ID 35 of the men stationed on the Oklahoma. The rest were deemed non-recoverable and reburied at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu (also known as the Punchbowl), according to the release. In 2015, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the remains to try again. So far, theyve been able to identify 361 of the 394 Oklahoma personnel labeled non-recoverable after the war, according to the agencys website. Experts used a combination of dental, anthropological and DNA analysis to identify Schmidt, the release said. Schmidts name is recorded on the cemeterys Walls of the Missing, which memorializes American servicemen who were lost, buried at sea or went missing during WWII. Now that Schmidt has been accounted for, a rosette will be placed next to his name, the release said. Schmidt will be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, though the Department of Defense hasnt announced a date yet. Anyone with questions about the funeral service can reach out to the Department of Defenses Navy Service Casualty office at (800) 443-9298. Since 2015, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has identified the remains of six other fallen soldiers from Wyoming, including three who were killed during WWII, two who died in the Korean War and one who was killed during the Vietnam War. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will today turn the sod for the construction of the 112 mega watt (MWac) solar project. The sod-turning comes almost three years after the consortium of bpTT and Shell were selected as the preferred bidder on the project which has caused an escalation in cost to taxpayers. 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. 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. PHOENIX The state Court of Appeals will consider later this month whether to expedite a bid by Kari Lake to overturn the results of the gubernatorial election she lost by more than 17,000 votes. A three-judge panel has set Jan. 24 to consider her special action request. And they want a response from attorneys for now-Gov. Katie Hobbs by Wednesday, Jan. 11. But that doesnt mean the judges will give Lakes attorneys the chance to argue to them directly on that date why she believes they should order what she calls a new and fair election. If not, that leaves her to pursue a standard appeal. But the court wouldnt hear that until at least March. Lake, however, already is pushing ahead with an alternate plan. She is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to immediately intercede, bypassing the appellate court entirely, and decide whether Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson erred in rejecting her claims that there was misconduct in how the election was conducted. There has been no action yet by the high court on that petition. Her appeal consists largely of the same charges she made to Thompson that problems with printers on Election Day in Maricopa County depressed the votes of Republicans, people who Lake says would have voted for her. And she contends there is evidence that the problems that kept on-site tabulators from reading those ballots were the result of intentional misconduct by county election officials. Lake also argues that the county violated state laws dealing with chain-of-custody requirements of ballots. Thompson last month issued a detailed finding on how all the testimony on behalf of the GOP gubernatorial hopeful provided no evidence to back her claim that she should have been declared the winner. And he said some of her theories about what went wrong and why, particularly with those ballot printers, simply were not backed by facts. In her appeal, Lake contends that the judge applied the wrong legal standards in reaching his conclusions. She separately charges that Maricopa County counted early ballots that had signatures on the envelopes that did not match the voters registration file. County officials said they did do a signature comparison, though they also used other documents they had on file, like a voters request for an early ballot. And that, they said, complied with what is allowed in the Election Procedures Manual. Thompson refused to allow her to even present evidence on this charge. He said the EPM and its procedures have been in place since 2019 and if Lake believed what is allowed there is not legal she should have filed that challenge before the election. Lake told the Supreme Court justices there is good reason for them to immediately take the case, citing a new governor seated under a cloud of electoral uncertainty and impropriety. PHOENIX Abe Hamadeh wants the judge who threw out his challenge to the election returns in the race for attorney general to give him another chance to make his case. Republican Hamadeh says the fact that Democrat Kris Mayes already has been sworn in is not only not a barrier to further court review but actually is a good thing for him. Thats because his attorneys are no longer working against the post-election deadline in state law to file and complete these legal actions and have the time to conduct a more thorough review of ballots. There is precedent for tossing an apparent winner out of office long after the election if a court concludes the reported results were inaccurate, they say. In new legal papers, his attorneys say the problems found during the recount of votes in Pinal County point up the kinds of things that can go wrong in an election. Those problems were unearthed after officials there took a closer look at some of the ballots after the recount produced 507 ballots that apparently had not been counted the first time around and after the initial election results were reported and certified. Hamadeh picked up 392 of those. But it still wasnt enough to close the gap with Mayes, who was declared the winner by just 280 votes statewide out of more than 2.5 million ballots cast. Pinal County election officials have since blamed the disparity on human error. Now the lawyers who represent Hamadeh, the Republican National Committee and two voters want Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen, who limited their ballot inspections ahead of the first trial, to reopen the case. Contestants simply ask that we be given the opportunity to apply the Pinal County process across the board to conduct a physical inspection and hand count of ballots that if the Pinal County issue repeats itself anywhere else in the state could be outcome determinative in this election, they told Jantzen. And that, they said, could provide enough evidence for the judge to overturn the results even though Mayes was sworn in Monday. The court gave the Mayes team until Jan. 13 to file a formal response to the latest filing. But Dan Barr, Mayes lead attorney, told Capitol Media Services this is just another meritless, election-denier lawsuit. Barr did not stop there. He also took a shot at the lawyers representing not just Hamadeh but other Republicans who, having been defeated at the polls, now are seeking judicial intervention to overturn the results. It continues to amaze me that after continuously losing these cases around the country over the last two years, there remains a very small group of lawyers who are willing to sign their names to these complaints that are unsupported by facts and law, he said. And Barr is doing more than firing verbal salvos. He wants Hamadeh and his legal team to not just pay Mayes legal fees, but also a $5,000 penalty for filing and pursing the lawsuit even after it was clear they undisputedly knew they had zero evidence to support most of their claims. But Hamadehs lawyers, while not conceding the original lawsuit was flawed, are telling Jantzen that the results of the recount show that there were problems with how the election was conducted and not just in Pinal County. They also say the fact that Mayes has taken office actually is a good thing for them. The earlier legal contest was governed by rules that required election lawsuits be filed and completed within a certain number of days. Thats no longer a factor as Hamadeh continues to argue that thousands of Arizonans did not have their votes counted. The proceedings contestants (Hamadeh and others) requested apparently like the initial count according to the Pinal County elections director were rushed according to an artificial timetable over concerns of interfering with the transfer of power of the Office of Attorney General, his lawyers wrote. Given that Ms. Mayes has now taken office, any concerns about completing the contest up front are no longer an issue. And there is precedent for unseating an incumbent. That occurred in the 1916 race for governor between incumbent Democrat George W.P. Hunt and Republican challenger Thomas E. Campbell. Campbell was sworn in after the returns gave him a 30-vote edge. But Hunt refused to leave office while challenging the results, though Campbell did serve as de facto governor in the interim. Ultimately the Arizona Supreme Court, after looking at questions of how people had marked their ballots, installed Hunt in office in late 1917. Thus, there are no artificial time restrains on completing the contest process, Hamadehs lawyers said. As Pinal County recognized, in circumstances such as these, taking the time to perform a physical inspection of ballots plays a key role in identifying miscounts and ensuring that all votes are properly tabulated. At the first trial, Jantzen allowed Hamadehs legal team to inspect about 2,300 ballots based on laws governing what is allowed in election challenges. Out of that, the judge concluded, there were just 14 ballots presented where there could be some question of whether a vote should have been counted, whether for Hamadeh or Mayes. These were ballots where the marks made by voters were less than clear. But Jantzen said that wasnt enough for him to rule that county election officials, who checked these ballots by hand, did something wrong. For the most part, these 14 ballots would be voter error, not filling them out the way the instructions say, the judge said. The bottom line is, you just havent proven your case, he told Tim La Sota, one of Hamadehs attorneys who argued the case last month in the half-day trial. There isnt enough information I dont think even slight information the election was done illegally or incorrectly. Hamadeh has another argument of why he thinks he is entitled to a new trial. He said that then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who also was named as a defendant in the legal challenge, knew by Dec. 21 that the recount has showed discrepancies with the official vote total. But that information, which might have convinced Jantzen to allow inspection of more ballots, was not released to Hamadeh and the public for another eight days, after the trial, he said. What Hamadeh and his lawyers did not say is that Hobbs, now sworn in as governor, was under order not to release the results until they were formally unveiled in court. PHOENIX Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is pulling the plug on her predecessors taxpayer-funded fight with the Biden administration over who owns land along the U.S.-Mexico border. Hobbs is taking the actions necessary to dismiss the lawsuit that Doug Ducey filed in October asking a judge to void a 115-year-old presidential declaration that gives the federal government exclusive control of a 60-foot swath along the Arizona-Mexico border, said an aide to Hobbs, who was sworn into office Tuesday. Thats the land on which the former governor already had started to place shipping containers. In essence, he wanted a federal judge to give him the go-ahead to not just keep them there but erect more. That part of the fight came to an end after the Department of Justice filed its own lawsuit accusing Ducey and state government of trespassing and threatening to remove them and bill the state if they remained. The former governor backed down and signed a contract for the same firm that put them there to take them away, at a cost to taxpayers of $76 million. But that still left Duceys original lawsuit seeking a declaration of ownership and the right to occupy what is known as the Roosevelt Reservation. As of 10 a.m. Monday, it became Hobbs suit as Ducey had sued the federal government not in his personal capacity but as governor of the state. And that immediately made Hobbs the plaintiff. We are planning to drop the lawsuit, gubernatorial press aide Murphy Hebert said. The only thing left, she said, is to work out the timing of the court action. The new governors actions will do more than simply end the litigation. It also means taxpayers will no longer have to pick up the tab for the work of Brett Johnson, the private attorney who Ducey hired to pursue the claim. How much Johnson and his law firm, Snell & Wilmer, have been paid so far in connection with this lawsuit was not immediately available. The decision by Hobbs should immediately moot a new court filing by an organization that says it represents the victims of crime committed by people not in this country legally. In a legal brief filed just this past Sunday, attorney Michael R. Williams urged U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell to reject a bid by the Biden Administration to throw out Duceys lawsuit. The new filing parrots in part Duceys own claim that President Theodore Roosevelt lacked the legal authority to issue his 1907 proclamation declaring that 60-foot strip along the California, Arizona and New Mexico border the property of the federal government. But Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime also contend that even if it is federal land, actions by the state along the border are a legal exercise of its authority, as a sovereign state, to protect its citizens from the harm that has been inflicted by illegal immigration. Once Hobbs drops the lawsuit, the brief becomes just 18 pages of legal arguments looking for a cause. The new governors decision not to prolong the litigation should come as no surprise. Its not land thats our land to put things on, she told Capitol Media Services in an interview after winning the election against Republican Kari Lake. And she called Duceys decision to erect the storage trailers and the lawsuit that he filed to justify that action a political stunt. Hobbs also derided an argument made by Duceys attorney to Judge Campbell that Arizona should be able to take action because the federal government had failed to meet its constitutional requirement to protect each of the states against invasion. That, in turn, led to Johnson citing another provision that allows the state, when actually invaded or in such imminent danger as will not admit delay to engage in war without congressional authority. Ducey never actually formally declared that Arizona was being invaded. But Johnson told the judge that the governor, in authorizing the state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs to close the gaps, is essentially citing the constitutional provisions. The border invasion plan is ridiculous, Hobbs told Capitol Media Services, saying it wouldnt do anything to address the problem. If you declare an invasion, then what happens she said. Who are the troops that are going to come to defend it? And Hobbs said theres also a deeper issue. The border is not Arizonas to defend, she said. It is the United States border. Hobbs has said her role as governor is work with border communities, coordinating with them on what they need from the state to keep their community safe. Some people start the year with a hangover. Katie Hobbs is starting it with an overhang. Events from late 2022 will be overhanging Arizonas new governor as shes starting her first term, thanks especially to a couple of late decisions made by outgoing governor Doug Ducey, but also to peoples ongoing inability to move on from the 2022 election. Ducey, of course, is a Republican, and Hobbs is a Democrat, and they have clashed sporadically over the years. However, on Dec. 29, days before he left office, Ducey penned a gracious handwritten note to Hobbs. Every day as governor is an adventure, Ducey wrote, according to ABC 15 in Phoenix. It is the greatest job in politics and an immense responsibility. I know you will serve the people of Arizona well. He added that, if he can be helpful Im only a phone call away. But about the same time Ducey was writing that, Hobbs learned he was trying to tie her hands over how to spend federal American Rescue Plan money. This is the money, approved by Congress in March 2021, meant to salve the effects of the pandemic and our responses to it. It appears, in short, that Ducey was working in the last days to ensure that his pet projects still got funded with ARPA money even after he left office. Duceys team was altering contracts for grants of rescue plan money, inserting new clauses that took away the states ability to change the contracts, said Hobbs spokeswoman C. Murphy Hebert. In other words, Gov. Hobbs would be unable to undo the choices that Gov. Ducey made, even though she now holds the office. The Arizona Agenda, which first revealed the contract changes, reported that the state comptroller had refused to sign off on them. Instead, Duceys chief of staff, Daniel Ruiz made the changes, which he said affected about 40 contracts. Hebert told me Tuesday that they dont know how many contracts were changed and are working to figure it out. Among the examples: $6 million to the Arizona Chamber Foundation, the foundation arm of the group that was perhaps Duceys biggest supporter $1.5 million to Love Your School, which promotes the use of Empowerment Scholarship Account vouchers $50 million to the Arizona state treasurer, apparently to fund these same vouchers Theyre trying to prevent us from being able to utilize the funds, Hebert said. Ducey also ensured in his last days that Hobbs would have no opportunity to make appointments for any of the six newly created positions on the Arizona Court of Appeals, which the Legislature approved in the state budget last year. On Dec. 29, coincidentally, Ducey appointed three new judges to each of the states appeals courts the one in Tucson and the one in Phoenix. That brought the total number of appeals court judges from 22 to 28 a 27% increase. The Legislature approved the increase despite the appeals court not supporting it and the caseload in those courts declining. Ducey had already appointed 15 out of the existing 22 court of appeals judges. Now the number will be 21 out of 28 a full 75%. In that sense, the last-minute packing of the appeals court is having much the same effect as the previous expansion and packing of the state supreme court. In 2016, the state Legislature, against the wishes of the supreme court, added two seats, expanding the court from five to seven. Ducey filled those seats, and now he has appointed five of the seven justices on the Arizona Supreme Court 71%. Of course, a former governor, or president, always will have made more appointments than a new one. Last weeks appointments just built a bigger judicial overhang from the Ducey years to the Hobbs years. If that werent enough, the surprising 2022 election of Hobbs over Kari Lake is still not over for some Republican legislators notably, the ones representing Legislative District 17 in the Tucson area. Rep.-elect Rachel Jones said Monday on Twitter: I will NOT move on like everything is o.k. I will NOT pretend like Fake Katie Hobbs is the legitimate governor of AZ. I will NOT standby while my favorite state is stolen by radical leftists. I will NOT allow this election to be stolen. #decertifynow Jones said she doesn't support pursuing a recall of Hobbs, considering its cost and poor chances of success, and she wishes there was sufficient support to impeach Hobbs. Her seatmate in the House, Rep.-elect Cory McGarr, also voiced support for trying to decertify Hobbs win, something that is not contemplated in Arizona law. And in a fundraising email this week, he said Katie Hobbs is a disgrace to Arizona and is not qualified to hold elected office. The senator-elect from the same district, Justine Wadsack, said via Twitter, As an Arizona State Senator, I stand with Kari Lake! #MyGovernor (House Speaker Ben Toma, a Peoria Republican, told me late Tuesday that he does not plan to pursue decertification of the election.) Hobbs and the other winners of statewide elected office will be ceremonially sworn in Thursday in front of the state capitol in Phoenix. That is, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. But as she moves forward the events of November and December 2022 will be very much present. An Owasso band instructor recently participated in the national Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. Kyle Wiemar presented during the events clinic, titled Its Not Just Middle School Band: Buying-in to a Culture of Excellence From Day One. He spoke to music instructors from across the nation about how to exceed expectations and adopt a lasting culture of excellence in their band programs, while helping students develop a love of music. Wiemar, who is in his 13th year of teaching and third with Owasso Public Schools, was accompanied by fellow clinician and band instructor, Megan Perkins, who works at Stillwater Public Schools. It was an honor to represent not only Owasso, but our entire state at the Midwest Clinic, Weimar said. The best aspect of presenting was seeing a large number of Oklahoma band directors in the audience. It was humbling to be supported by so many friends and colleagues, especially having the staff at Owasso in attendance. After studying music education at the University of Oklahoma, Wiemar began his teaching career in Yukon from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, the Yukon 8th Grade Band was selected as an OkMEA Honor Band. That same year, he was named Yukon Middle Schools Teacher of the Year. From 2015 to 2019, Wiemar taught in Tomball, Texas, as a junior high band director in the Tomball Independent School District. In 2016, he opened Creekside Park Junior High School serving as its first band director and Fine Arts Department chair. Wiemar was named one of Creekside Parks first A+ Teachers of the Year in 2016. In the 2019 school year, he joined the Owasso band staff. He conducts the High School Symphonic Band 2 and 8th Grade Symphonic Band, teaches beginning clarinet courses and assists with the Pride of Owasso Marching Band. Ensembles under Wiemars direction consistently receive the OSSAA Outstanding Achievement and UIL Sweepstakes awards. He is an active clinician and presenter in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas, and is a member of NAfME, OkMEA, TMEA and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Madison Rhodes, an exercise physiology major from Owasso, was named to the presidents honor roll at the Wichita Falls, Texas-based school. The presidents honor roll included 438 students. A student who completes 12 hours in one semester with no grade lower than A (4.0) will be included on the list. The student cannot have semester grades of I, WF or NC. Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. will attend a reunion screening Saturday for the 1995 HBO film The Tuskegee Airmen at Muskogees Roxy Theater, according to a news release from the historic theater. The screening is scheduled 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the theater, located in downtown Muskogee at 220 W. Okmulgee St. Doors open at 2:15 p.m. Tickets for the red carpet event are $6 or $3 for cast and crew who worked on the movie. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 918-684-6366. Gooding played Lt. Billy A-Train Roberts in The Tuskegee Airmen. The news release said Gooding saw a notice about the reunion screening in an online Hollywood publication and was moved to be asked if he could be part of the event. Key Tuskegee Airmen scenes were shot in Muskogee and Fort Smith, Arkansas. People from the area made up a large contingent of background extras and behind-the-scenes workers. The reunion screening was planned to bring those individuals and their families together to see the film on the big screen. The films all-star cast recreated the exploits of one of the first classes of aviators that would become part of the famed Red Tails aviation unit in World War II. At least four Tuskegee Airmen and one instructor hail from Muskogee. At 11 a.m. Jan. 7, a special presentation by Legacy Keepers R Us will be made at Booker T. Washington Cemetery to honor Tuskegee Airmen buried there. Gooding won a best supporting actor Oscar for his work in the film Jerry Maguire. The facts of Jose Lara Garcias case were a tragic, tragic set of events, District Judge Dawn Moody said at his sentencing hearing Tuesday, but certainly (what happened that night was) not an accident. Lara Garcia, 25, was formally sentenced Tuesday after entering a blind plea two months ago to an amended charge of first-degree manslaughter in the March 29, 2021, death of 19-year-old Nathaly Medina. Medina was one of two passengers in Lara Garcias car about 3 a.m., when Lara Garcia fled from Tulsa police who were trying to stop him for reckless driving near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue. Speeding west, he lost control of his car at 61st Streets T-intersection with Riverside Drive. The car careened off the bank of the Arkansas River, hit a large rock and flipped end over end into the water, Assistant Public Defender Kyle Killam said. All three occupants were ejected, but Lara Garcia was the only one conscious after the crash, and police caught him as he tried to swim away. Another occupant floated face down in the water, and an officer pulled that man to shore. He survived serious injuries, speakers said Tuesday, but Medina was nowhere to be found. First responders didnt know there was a third occupant to search for until Lara Garcia told them several hours later. Stating that she had watched all police body camera footage related to the case, Moody described seeing multiple officers repeatedly ask Lara Garcia how many people had been in the vehicle he said two and the clear surprise shown by officers and Lara Garcias doctor when he finally mentioned the sleeping girl in the back seat. Rescue crews attempted to find Medina at daybreak, but they recovered only the car. When the water level was lowered the next day, they found her body not far from where the mangled car was recovered. Prosecutors originally charged Lara Garcia with felony first-degree murder, but he pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of first-degree manslaughter during the commission of a misdemeanor. He also pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury a blood test showed he had methamphetamine in his system at the time and endangering others while eluding police. Besides Killams asking the judge to consider split sentences due to Lara Garcias U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, neither the prosecution nor the defense made specific term requests. Moody ordered Lara Garcia to serve three 20-year sentences two to run consecutively and the last concurrently and she gave him credit for time served and earned. Lara Garcia was under suspended sentences in three Tulsa County cases at the time of the crash with convictions for obstruction, larceny of an automobile, reckless driving and possession of a stolen vehicle. Moody accelerated his sentences in each, giving him three two-year sentences to run concurrently with his manslaughter case. Lara Garcia offered a statement his translator read to the court, saying he was sorry, that he regretted being addicted to drugs and hoped Medinas family can forgive him, saying he didnt mean to hurt anyone. He also asked the judge for mercy because of his three young children. In her arguments, Assistant District Attorney Katie Koljack noted that the fatal crash happened because Lara Garcia didnt want to get caught, and she emphasized that even after crashing into the water, his actions showed that the defendant was still only thinking of himself. Lara Garcia requested immediate transportation to Department of Corrections custody. Featured video: A federal grand jury in Tulsa has named three people in indictments that charge them with Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud. Legreasha Junice Alexander, Edson Vladimir Bellefleur and Malcolm Andre Jones face wire fraud charges related to the alleged schemes. The grand jury charged Alexander, 40, of Tulsa, with four counts of wire fraud for acts dating to April 11, 2021, according to court records. The indictment alleges that she submitted two fraudulent PPP loan applications and two PPP loan forgiveness applications to an approved Small Business Administration lender in Laguna Hills, California, according to court records. Prosecutors are also seeking a money judgment of at least $48,249, the amount Alexander reportedly received in loans. Bellefleur, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with four counts of wire fraud related to actions beginning April 2, 2021, according to the indictment. He also is alleged to have submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications to an SBA-approved lender in Laguna Hills. Should Bellefleur be convicted, prosecutors are seeking a money judgment of at least $49,999, the amount Bellefleur reportedly received from the loans. Jones, 30, of Broken Arrow, is charged with six counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. He is alleged to have submitted one loan and one forgiveness application in his name. Prosecutors allege the he also submitted two loans and two forgiveness applications using the identity of someone else. Prosecutors are seeking a money judgment against Jones of at least $61,997, the value of the loans he reportedly obtained. Funds for the Paycheck Protection Program loans came from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program. Warrants have been issued for the arrests of Bellefleur and Jones, while Alexander has been issued a summons to appear in court, according to court records. Featured video: Police say inmates used pandemic loans to bond out of jail Sitting with a bouquet of flowers in his lap and a room full of visiting grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Fred Holden asked what everybody was celebrating. Your birthday, a grandson reminded him Tuesday morning. How old am I? Holden wanted to know. 100, the grandson said. One-zero-zero. Holden shook his head in disbelief. Thats really something, he said. More than 16 million Americans participated in World War II, but only 1% of them remain alive, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. That makes Holden a double rarity: Only 1 in 5,000 people reach the century mark. Growing up in the tiny town of Bluejacket, in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, Holden volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Forces one day after his 20th birthday in 1943 against his fathers wishes. Well, Im going, Holden insisted. All my friends are. A flight engineer and top-turret gunner in a four-engine B-24 bomber, Holden was flying toward a target near the Balkans when his plane was hit by friendly fire from another B-24. With two engines out, the bomber ditched in the Adriatic Sea, where the crew clung to a floating tire from the main landing gear. A U.S. Navy seaplane spotted the bandage on Holdens head, where he suffered a cut from a ricocheting bullet, and landed to pick them up. The scar remains visible under Holdens hair. Hes tough, said Carol Hawkins, Holdens 79-year-old daughter. He can be ornery sometimes, but hes strong. Holden lived alone until just year ago, Hawkins said, but now resides at the Sand Plum retirement home in Bixby. He battled COVID a few weeks ago but assured his daughter that he was not going to miss his 100th birthday. Ill make it, he told her. Tuesdays party included an exact copy of Holdens dress uniform, accurate even down to the specific ribbons and badges, assembled by Ken Collins from the Military History Center in Broken Arrow. Collins also brought a painting of a B-24 from Holdens unit when it was based at Foggia, Italy. Does that look familiar? he asked Holden. I dont remember, Holden admitted. That was a long time ago. After the war, he moved to Tulsa, started a trailer manufacturing company and raised four children. Not many people can say theyve had their 100th birthday, Holden said. Correction: Photo captions with this story misidentified the assisted living home in which Holden resides. The photo captions have been corrected. Featured video: Gallery: Tulsa World's People to Watch 2023 People to Watch: Phillip Abode says tangible results will come if 'more folks choose north Tulsa' People to Watch: Kaitlin Butts' music doesn't fit into the mainstream country mold People to Watch: Cassia Carr focuses on making city a premier employer People to Watch: Amairani Perez Chamu wants 'Dreamers' to be seen as more than numbers People to Watch: Raymond Doswell hopes to connect Greenwood Rising to the broader American story People to Watch: Jeff Edwards knows importance of building good partnerships People to Watch: Sarah Grounds hopes village of 'tiny homes' can provide community for the homeless People to Watch: Jennifer Hankins works to make sure Tulsa delivers on ambitious goals People to Watch: Dr. Chris McNeil takes pride in being approachable People to Watch: Kim Teehee hopes experience, reputation help tribe secure delegate to Congress Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now New 2nd District Congressman Josh Brecheens first act in the U.S. House of Representatives was to join the Republican bloc denying his partys leader the speakership. Brecheen voted for Indiana Rep. Jim Banks on the first ballot and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesdays two subsequent votes. It was the first time in 100 years the majority partys leader was not elected speaker on the first ballot. Oklahomas other four members, all Republicans, voted for McCarthy on all three ballots. My message to Leader McCarthy has been and continues to be that to obtain my support for Speaker, transformative rule changes that stop out-of-control spending and address our debt loading must occur, Brecheen said in a written statement after a third ballot failed to secure McCarthy the Houses top spot. Brecheens early vote in the alphabetical roll call called to mind a similar one by former 1st District Congressman Jim Bridenstine 10 years earlier. Bridenstine cast the first Republican ballot against then-Speaker John Boehner, although that intraparty revolt failed to stop Boehner from being elected on the first ballot. In 1997, then-2nd District Congressman (and later U.S. Sen.) Tom Coburn was involved in an uprising against Speaker Newt Gingrich that contributed to Gingrichs ultimate downfall. Brecheen, an Antlers rancher and construction company owner, later worked for Coburns Senate office as a field representative. Though Leader McCarthy offered some positive rule changes to the House Freedom Caucus they are not concrete reforms that will lead to a true change in our trajectory towards bankruptcy, said Brecheen, who associated himself with the Freedom Caucus during his 2022 campaign. A persons history is the greatest predictor of future behavior. Leader McCarthys past voting record supporting major spending bills as part of the Republican leadership for the past decade gives me pause. Without substantive rules changes that would guide Leader McCarthy on spending, I must vote as I have until we have a better deal for your children. Who will blink first? Hear why the vote for speaker is taking so long OKLAHOMA CITY House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat were reelected to lead their respective chambers when lawmakers held an organizational session Tuesday to elect leaders and approve rules. Gov. Kevin Stitt and other statewide elected leaders will be sworn in at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Stitt, who was elected to a second term in November, will give his fifth State of the State address on Feb. 6 to a joint session of the Legislature assembled in the House Chamber. Treat, R-Oklahoma City, outlined for the assembled senators what lawmakers have accomplished in the past, and he touched on what will be important in the coming session, including tax reform and ways to improve education and work force development. He described the Legislature as a place that can feed egos but also an environment with irate phone calls and emails that begin with slurs and threats. It includes protesters, heated arguments and social media keyboard warriors, he said. My charge to all of us is to remember we arent nearly as special as some of us think or want to believe or not nearly as bad as people believe us to be, he said. McCall, R-Atoka, described for representatives a change in culture and image in the House. He said one of his predecessors described the Senate as a retirement home and the House as a trailer park. He said it has been a while since a member stormed the dais or rudely interrupted the speakers press conference. McCall said the conversation about tax reform must continue, adding that Oklahomans need to keep more of their hard-earned money. The state needs to invest in jobs of the present and future, and the state needs to find ways to decrease state regulation, he said. McCall recalled a conversation he had with a person who was working as a receptionist because he owed taxes and couldnt work in his licensed profession, nursing, as a result. Government should not be the roadblock to progress, he said. In the past few years, lawmakers have increased teacher pay and enabled open transfer between school districts, which he called a common-sense reform. But more needs to be done, McCall added. We all must remember who we serve the people of Oklahoma and we will serve them well, McCall said. Republicans hold a supermajority in both legislative chambers and control all statewide-elected offices. Featured video: Staff Writer Barbara Hoberocks most memorable stories of 2022 Legislative staffers see raises as lawmakers fail to provide inflation relief in special session Veterans Affairs power struggle leaves agency with 'serious problem' paying its bills OSBI launches criminal investigation into Commissioners of the Land Office administration Stitt's dismissal of two Oklahoma Veterans Commission members called 'political retaliation Internal auditor at school land office ousted amid questions about Stitt appointee Stitt expresses confidence in Pardon and Parole Board Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now Viking Cruises will compensate hundreds of passengers on its Orion cruise ship after cruisers were forced to stay on board and miss multiple stops because officials blocked port access due to marine growth on the ship's hull. The 930-guest capacity Viking Orion docked in Sydney on Wednesday, the final stop on what is normally a 15-day, 9-stop cruise of New Zealand and Australia. But plans went awry, local media reported, after New Zealand officials asked the ship to leave the country's waters part way through its cruise after finding small amounts of biofoul - plants, algae and small animals - that grow on ship hulls. Steaming directly to the southern Australian port of Adelaide and bypassing planned stops in Tasmania and New Zealand's south island, officials stopped the ship approximately 12 nautical miles out to sea while professional divers cleared the hull. The four-year-old luxury vessel finished its journey as planned with stops in Melbourne and Sydney. Stranded on board for eight days, Miami-based lawyer Julie Reby Waas said missing scheduled stops like Tasmania was "enormously disappointing" but it would not dissuade her from cruising again. Most of the people I think on the ship have kept their cool and have maintained a sense of humour," Reby Waas told Reuters. "I think everybody is very tired of it. The ship is beautiful, but you know, theres only so much space to explore, and so I guess (its) claustrophobic in some ways. Viking confirmed to Reuters in a statement that all guests would receive a voucher equal to what they had already paid for use on any future voyages. Tickets for a 15-day Auckland to Sydney cruise departing Jan 10 range from A$8,995 ($6,066.23) to A$29,995 on the Viking website. Viking's Orion is the second cruise ship to fall afoul of New Zealand officials in the past month. New Zealand fisheries officials stopped cruise ship Coral Princess entering the country's waters in December after finding snails on the hull. ($1 = 1.4828 Australian dollars) Viking Cruises will compensate hundreds of passengers on its Orion cruise ship after cruisers were forced to stay on board and miss multiple stops because officials blocked port access due to marine growth on the ship's hull. The 930-guest capacity Viking Orion docked in Sydney on Wednesday, the final stop on what is normally a 15-day, 9-stop cruise of New Zealand and Australia. But plans went awry, local media reported, after New Zealand officials asked the ship to leave the country's waters part way through its cruise after finding small amounts of biofoul - plants, algae and small animals - that grow on ship hulls. Steaming directly to the southern Australian port of Adelaide and bypassing planned stops in Tasmania and New Zealand's south island, officials stopped the ship approximately 12 nautical miles out to sea while professional divers cleared the hull. The four-year-old luxury vessel finished its journey as planned with stops in Melbourne and Sydney. Stranded on board for eight days, Miami-based lawyer Julie Reby Waas said missing scheduled stops like Tasmania was "enormously disappointing" but it would not dissuade her from cruising again. Most of the people I think on the ship have kept their cool and have maintained a sense of humour," Reby Waas told Reuters. "I think everybody is very tired of it. The ship is beautiful, but you know, theres only so much space to explore, and so I guess (its) claustrophobic in some ways. Viking confirmed to Reuters in a statement that all guests would receive a voucher equal to what they had already paid for use on any future voyages. Tickets for a 15-day Auckland to Sydney cruise departing Jan 10 range from A$8,995 ($6,066.23) to A$29,995 on the Viking website. Viking's Orion is the second cruise ship to fall afoul of New Zealand officials in the past month. New Zealand fisheries officials stopped cruise ship Coral Princess entering the country's waters in December after finding snails on the hull. ($1 = 1.4828 Australian dollars) Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- All people and goods will be no longer required to undergo RT-PCR COVID-19 tests before entering Mong Cai International Border Gate, which borders China, in northern Quang Ninh Province starting January 8, according to a new policy of Mong Cai Citys authority. -- Three sixth graders have been hailed for bravely rescuing a 83-year-old woman who fell into a ditch in cold weather in Quang Ninh Province, their school principal said on Tuesday evening. -- A traffic accident involving two motorcycles and a truck killed two men in southern Dong Nai Province on Tuesday afternoon. -- Heavy rains, with rainfall of up to 400 millimeters, are in the forecast for the localities from central Thua Thien-Hue Province to south-central Khanh Hoa Province from Thursday to Saturday, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. -- Police in northern Phu Tho Province are investigating a case where a white KIA Luxury car was spotted drifting in the Red River with nobody inside. -- Vietnams artificial intelligence (AI) readiness index ranks 55th globally, up seven places compared to 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh told an online conference on Tuesday. -- Netizens have criticized a public bus driver who was filmed texting while driving a bus for dozens of kilometers in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak in a video shared on social media. -- Gene sequencing conducted on 541 COVID-19 patients samples by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health in 2022 showed that 92 percent of the patients were infected with the Omicron strain. Business -- The Ministry of Planning and Investment has consulted 14 ministries and agencies on a plan to develop a non-tariff zone project in central Da Nang City before submitting it to the prime minister for approval. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- All people and goods will be no longer required to undergo RT-PCR COVID-19 tests before entering Mong Cai International Border Gate, which borders China, in northern Quang Ninh Province starting January 8, according to a new policy of Mong Cai Citys authority. -- Three sixth graders have been hailed for bravely rescuing a 83-year-old woman who fell into a ditch in cold weather in Quang Ninh Province, their school principal said on Tuesday evening. -- A traffic accident involving two motorcycles and a truck killed two men in southern Dong Nai Province on Tuesday afternoon. -- Heavy rains, with rainfall of up to 400 millimeters, are in the forecast for the localities from central Thua Thien-Hue Province to south-central Khanh Hoa Province from Thursday to Saturday, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. -- Police in northern Phu Tho Province are investigating a case where a white KIA Luxury car was spotted drifting in the Red River with nobody inside. -- Vietnams artificial intelligence (AI) readiness index ranks 55th globally, up seven places compared to 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh told an online conference on Tuesday. -- Netizens have criticized a public bus driver who was filmed texting while driving a bus for dozens of kilometers in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak in a video shared on social media. -- Gene sequencing conducted on 541 COVID-19 patients samples by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health in 2022 showed that 92 percent of the patients were infected with the Omicron strain. Business -- The Ministry of Planning and Investment has consulted 14 ministries and agencies on a plan to develop a non-tariff zone project in central Da Nang City before submitting it to the prime minister for approval. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Netizens have criticized a public bus driver who was filmed texting while driving a bus in Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands region. Nguyen Thanh Duc, director of Quyet Thang Cooperative, said on Tuesday afternoon that the firm is verifying the incident and pledges to take strict disciplinary action against the driver in question. The video, which was posted to social media, showed the driver steering the bus with his forearms while using his hands to text. He was traveling on National Highway 26 from Dak Laks Buon Ma Thuot City to Krong Pak District. There were dozens of passengers on board at the time. A video shared on social media shows a public bus driver texting while driving in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. It is about 41 kilometers from the center of Buon Ma Thuot to the Quyet Thang bus station in Krong Pak. Quyet Thang has not released the identity of the bus driver as the verification process is underway. Duc, who was on a business trip in south-central Khanh Hoa Province at the time of the incident, affirmed that his cooperative prohibits drivers from using mobile phones while driving and condemned the actions of the driver in the video. He must be severely punished, which will be a deterrent to others, Duc said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Netizens have criticized a public bus driver who was filmed texting while driving a bus in Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands region. Nguyen Thanh Duc, director of Quyet Thang Cooperative, said on Tuesday afternoon that the firm is verifying the incident and pledges to take strict disciplinary action against the driver in question. The video, which was posted to social media, showed the driver steering the bus with his forearms while using his hands to text. He was traveling on National Highway 26 from Dak Laks Buon Ma Thuot City to Krong Pak District. There were dozens of passengers on board at the time. A video shared on social media shows a public bus driver texting while driving in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. It is about 41 kilometers from the center of Buon Ma Thuot to the Quyet Thang bus station in Krong Pak. Quyet Thang has not released the identity of the bus driver as the verification process is underway. Duc, who was on a business trip in south-central Khanh Hoa Province at the time of the incident, affirmed that his cooperative prohibits drivers from using mobile phones while driving and condemned the actions of the driver in the video. He must be severely punished, which will be a deterrent to others, Duc said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! After a collision between a truck and a motorbike on a bridge in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, a truck driver went missing as he jumped into a river to save a four-year-old boy, who had fallen into the river following the accident. Le Van Nhan, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Giong Trom District, said the body of the boy had been found, while the remaining victim was still missing. At about 6:00 am on Tuesday, the truck driven by L.V.S., 35, collided with a motorbike ridden by N.T.K.K., residing in Long My Commune, Giong Trom District, on the My Thanh Bridge in the same district. At the time, K. was carrying his four-year-old son named P.T.Q.H.. The crash happened in the middle of the bridge, causing the motorbike to lean on the bridge railing and the boy to fall into the Binh Chanh River, a branch of the Ham Luong River. The trucker immediately jumped into the river to save the boy but the strong water swept them away. Hai, a witness to the accident, recounted that residents along the river shouted for help. Many sailed their boats to the river to find the victims. About an hour later, local residents found the boy who was some four kilometers from the initial position. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be saved. The Nguyen Dinh Chieu Hospital in Ben Tre to which the boy was taken said the boy died before being hospitalized. At noon on the same day, Ben Tre rescuers and local residents were still looking for the truck driver. The My Thanh Bridge is just wide enough for a truck to pass through at a time. The bridge surface is made of wood, so it is rough, causing difficulties for motorbike drivers. In addition, the space between the bars in the bridge railings is large, which is dangerous to bridge users. The My Thanh Bridge is narrow, so it is difficult for vehicles to dodge one anothers. Furthermore, the rough wooden surface causes danger to drivers. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre The bridge railings are widely spaced, which is dangerous to bridge users. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre The My Thanh Bridge spans the Binh Chanh River, a branch of the Ham Luong River in Ben Tre Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! After a collision between a truck and a motorbike on a bridge in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, a truck driver went missing as he jumped into a river to save a four-year-old boy, who had fallen into the river following the accident. Le Van Nhan, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Giong Trom District, said the body of the boy had been found, while the remaining victim was still missing. At about 6:00 am on Tuesday, the truck driven by L.V.S., 35, collided with a motorbike ridden by N.T.K.K., residing in Long My Commune, Giong Trom District, on the My Thanh Bridge in the same district. At the time, K. was carrying his four-year-old son named P.T.Q.H.. The crash happened in the middle of the bridge, causing the motorbike to lean on the bridge railing and the boy to fall into the Binh Chanh River, a branch of the Ham Luong River. The trucker immediately jumped into the river to save the boy but the strong water swept them away. Hai, a witness to the accident, recounted that residents along the river shouted for help. Many sailed their boats to the river to find the victims. About an hour later, local residents found the boy who was some four kilometers from the initial position. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be saved. The Nguyen Dinh Chieu Hospital in Ben Tre to which the boy was taken said the boy died before being hospitalized. At noon on the same day, Ben Tre rescuers and local residents were still looking for the truck driver. The My Thanh Bridge is just wide enough for a truck to pass through at a time. The bridge surface is made of wood, so it is rough, causing difficulties for motorbike drivers. In addition, the space between the bars in the bridge railings is large, which is dangerous to bridge users. The My Thanh Bridge is narrow, so it is difficult for vehicles to dodge one anothers. Furthermore, the rough wooden surface causes danger to drivers. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre The bridge railings are widely spaced, which is dangerous to bridge users. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre The My Thanh Bridge spans the Binh Chanh River, a branch of the Ham Luong River in Ben Tre Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 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 DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran summoned France's envoy in Tehran on Wednesday to protest against "insulting" cartoons published by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo depicting the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian state media reported. The French weekly had published dozens of cartoons about Khamenei, which it said were part of a competition it launched last month to support anti-government protests in Iran sparked by the death of a young woman in September while in the custody of morality police. "The Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept insulting its Islamic, religious, and national sanctities and values in any way," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani told the French envoy on Wednesday, according to state TV. The French Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Facing their worst legitimacy crisis since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran's religious leaders have accused its foreign foes of orchestrating the anti-government mass protests to destabilise the country. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian earlier on Wednesday warned that the "offensive and indecent" move would receive a firm response from Tehran. "We won't allow the French government to go too far. They've definitely chosen the wrong path," Amirabdollahian tweeted. The magazine said it published the caricatures in a special edition to mark the anniversary of a deadly attack on its Paris office on Jan. 7, 2015 by Islamist militants, after the weekly had published cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed. It said the contest aimed "to support the struggle of Iranians who are fighting for their freedom". (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Dominique Vidalon, John Irish; Editing by Bernadette Baum) It has now been more than two decades since the signing of the Good Friday agreement in 1998, formally ending the Troubles in Northern Ireland. But the most recent attempt by the British government to deal with the past the legacy and reconciliation bill is itself provoking conflict. The bill, currently going through the House of Lords, seeks to promote reconciliation by establishing an Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. It plans to limit criminal investigations, legal proceedings, inquests and police complaints, extend the prisoner release scheme, and provide for experiences to be recorded and preserved and for events to be studied and memorialised. Victims groups, Northern Irish political parties, the Irish government, and Americans and Europeans involved in the peace process are all against the bill in its current form, especially the effective amnesty for unresolved Troubles killings. Nonetheless, the bill is still widely expected to become law early next year. What will the Catholic Church do if it does? Conflict, religion and politics Northern Ireland endured almost three decades of the deadly Troubles, which many outside of the country believed was caused by religion. Throughout the conflict, the British government regularly met with religious leaders to ask their opinions on policy initiatives and to gauge the mood of the people. British Catholics and Protestants alike wrote to Catholic bishops demanding action to end the violence. But when their efforts failed, it was thought a lack of application on the bishops part rather than a lack of influence was to blame. However, even a rare public intervention from the Pope was not enough. John Paul IIs much-celebrated three-day visit to the Republic of Ireland in September 1979 included addressing a 250,000-strong crowd 30 miles from the border at Drogheda. But his appeal for all men and women engaged in violence to return to the ways of peace fell on deaf ears. Story continues Attempts to stop the 1981 Maze Prison hunger strike through meetings with the queen and the then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, were unsuccessful. The sending of a papal envoy to speak with lead hunger striker Bobby Sands and British government officials, also ended in failure. Catholic bishops faced regular questions from the British press asking why IRA members had not been excommunicated. Officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian church is not common practice in the modern era. OUP, Author provided As the blatantly sectarian cartoon on the cover image of my book, The Catholic Church and the Northern Ireland Troubles 1968-98, demonstrates, there were those in the British press who perpetuated the idea that republicanism and Catholicism were willing bedfellows. But the church knew that excommunicating IRA members could isolate sections of the Catholic community who felt the republican paramilitaries provided protection from perceived corrupt police and British Army forces. Those who conflated the conflict with religion viewed the lack of excommunication of republican paramilitaries as the churchs compliance and support for violence. This reluctance to tackle the excommunication issue led to missed opportunities for unity. Hopes for interfaith cooperation were dashed by other issues, too: chiefly the Churchs insistence on segregated education for Catholics, and the 1970 Vatican apostolic letter Matrimonia Mixta which emphasises that children born of mixed Catholic and Protestant marriages should be raised Catholic. IRA paramilitary funerals were another dilemma for the Catholic Church. Irish priests who ministered and conducted these ceremonies were regularly accused of condoning, if not actively supporting, violence. Differing Catholic and Protestant church practices and theologies around death, funerals, and the afterlife exacerbated inter-community tensions. For Catholics, the dead would be judged when they met their maker and not by those on earth. Therefore it was difficult for the Irish Catholic Church to deny IRA members a funeral and requiem mass. In the late 1980s, Bishop Edward Daly of Derry attempted to ban the bodies of republican paramilitaries being present at their requiem mass but quickly had to reverse his decision when republican mourners brought the coffins to the cathedral and were granted entry. A carrot and stick approach emerged among the Catholic clergy. Some priests acted as mediators between the Provisional IRA and the British government, resulting in the 1974-75 ceasefire. Priests were supposed to embody neutrality and had historically adjudicated between different Irish groups. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, priests like Father Alec Reid and Father Gerry Reynolds provided rooms in the Clonard Monastery for Sinn Feins Gerry Adams and the SDLPs John Hume to meet privately. At the same time, priests like Father Denis Faul publicly denounced the IRAs violence. However, revelations of clerical child abuse in the 1990s shattered the moral authority of the Catholic Church and drastically reduced institutional church involvement in the peace process. Reconciling or deepening divisions? Depending on the final shape of the Reconciliation and Information Recovery bill, will the Catholic Church back the oral history projects? Will it support researchers writing thematic reports? Will it be inspired to open its own archives? Or will it boycott the bill in solidarity with victims groups? Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Roman Catholic primate of all Ireland, along with the queen, took part in a service of reflection and hope in Armagh in 2021 alongside Protestant church leaders to mark the centenary of partition and the creation of Northern Ireland. But the president of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, declined the invitation, saying he was not in a position to attend. While this may indicate a willingness for the Catholic Church to be a part of the legacy process, Archbishop Martin and another Church of Ireland archbishop, John McDowell, jointly warned the bill would deepen divisions in the north. Should the bill go forward in its current form, Church leadership will either have to back the British government or push against it, a doubtless tricky position for an institution declining in influence. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Margaret Scull received funding from the Irish Research Council as a postdoctoral fellow between 2018-2020. ReportLinker The Global Red Beaten Rice Market size was estimated at USD 211. 12 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 221. 63 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 5. 23% to reach USD 286. New York, Dec. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Red Beaten Rice Market Research Report by Nature, Product, End User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341084/?utm_source=GNW 74 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 Red Beaten Rice to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Nature, the market was studied across Conventional and Organic. Based on Product, the market was studied across Bhutanese Red Rice, Camargue Red Rice, Matta Rice, Thai Red Cargo Rice, and Ulikan. Based on End User, the market was studied across Cosmetics Industry, Domestic, Food & Beverage Industry, Healthcare Industry, and Nutraceuticals Industry. 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 Red Beaten Rice 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 Red Beaten Rice 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 Red Beaten Rice Market, including Amazon Vedaka, Arya Farm, Go Rustic, GreenDNA, Mr. Natures, Muktinath Krishi Company, Organic Gyaan, Parampara Organic, Phalada Pure & Sure, Pristine Organics, Pro Nature Organic, Sri Bhagyalakshmi Foods, Tata Consumer Products Limited, and Village Natural Foods. 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 Red Beaten Rice Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Red Beaten Rice Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Red Beaten Rice Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Red Beaten Rice Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Red Beaten Rice Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Red Beaten Rice Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Red Beaten Rice Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341084/?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 LITGRID In accordance with Article 25 point 3 of the Law on Joint Stock Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, on 7th December 2022 LITGRID AB (company code 302564383, registered office address Karla Gustavo Emilio Manerheimo st. 8, Vilnius) received the request from the parent shareholder UAB EPSO-G (company code 302826889, registered office address Gedimino pr. 20, Vilnius), that owns more than 1/20 of all votes at the LITGRID AB shareholders' meeting, to supplement the agenda of the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders planned on 22nd December 2022: Additional question Title: "Regarding the revocation of the board member and the election of a new board member" Proposed draft resolutions: "1. From 22 of December 2022 to recall Algirdas Juozaponis from the board members of LITGRID AB. 2. From 22 of December 2022 to elect [name, surname] to the board of LITGRID AB until the end of the cadency of the board. 3. To authorize the CEO of LITGRID AB on behalf of LITGRID AB to sign the standard terms and conditions of a Board member on activities in the Board of LITGRID AB, approved by the shareholders meeting on 20 of April 2022, with the newly elected member of the board of LITGRID AB. 4. To authorize the CEO of LITGRID AB (with the right of sub-authorization) to notify the Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Lithuania about the recalled board member and election of the new member of the Board, to register the changed data in the Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Lithuania, and to perform any other related actions. Appendix: 1. Amended general ballot. The person authorized by LITGRID AB to provide additional information: Jurga Eivaite Communications project manager phone: +370 613 19977, e-mail: jurga.eivaite@litgrid.eu Attachment Unprecedented January temperatures have been recorded in many European countries (Reuters) Winter heat records have been smashed across Europe this month as temperatures reached 19C in Poland and 25C in Spain. Just days into the new year, the mercury has already risen to levels never before seen in January in eight different countries, as the impact of climate change is felt across the continent. In Warsaw, Poland, the temperature reached a balmy 18.9C on New Years Day according to the BBC. Meanwhile, in Bilbao in northern Spain, it was an unseasonable 25.1C more than 10C above the average for this time of year, and similar to temperatures typically seen on a summers day. It comes after large swathes of Spains northeast were placed under water restrictions in November as a months-long drought devastated crops in the Mediterranean country. January temperature records have also been broken in Denmark, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech Republic, the BBC reports. * Hottest January days in history in these countries * Poland:19.0C Korbielow and Jodownik Denmark:12.6C Abed Czech Republic:19.6C Javornik Netherlands:16.9C Eindhoven Belarus:16.4C Visokaye NATIONAL RECORD BROKEN BY 4.5C ! Lithuania:14.6C Marijampole Latvia:11.1C Daugavpils pic.twitter.com/aT3h2YwKLv Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) January 1, 2023 Climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, who tracks extreme temperatures across the world via his Twitter account @extremetemps, told The Independent: Regarding the magnitude and area and how records were broken, it can be regarded as the most extreme heat wave (in anomalies terms) ever seen in Europe. This without taking into the equation the length. Some European ski resorts have been forced to shut as the record warm winter weather led to a shortage of snow across the Alps. Story continues Temperatures across Switzerland hit 20C on Monday before falling to 7C on Tuesday, leaving rolling green hillsides rather than the typical blankets of snow. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, in stark contrast the US and Canada have faced a bitterly cold winter with temperatures plummeting as low as -45C last month. At least 56 people died including some found frozen to death in their cars after the bomb cyclone swept across North America and left some areas under six feet of snow. H.R. McMaster, then the US national security advisor, at a meeting in 2018. Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster on Monday said Xi Jinping was preparing China for war. McMaster said Xi had been increasingly signaling aggression in his speeches about Taiwan. He urged the US to bolster its military presence to try to deter China from moving against Taiwan. H.R. McMaster, the former US national security advisor, said on Monday that he believed China's leader, Xi Jinping, was "preparing the Chinese people for war." Speaking on CBS' "Face The Nation," hosted by Margaret Brennan, McMaster said the US should take care "not to fall into the same traps we did with Vladimir Putin" when it came to the threat of conflict with China over Taiwan. He and several pundits, including Michele Flournoy, the former undersecretary of defense for policy, were on the show discussing US foreign policy on various fronts, such as dealing with Iran, the war in Ukraine, and China. McMaster, a retired lieutenant general who served as national security advisor in 2017 and 2018 under President Donald Trump, said the US should take threats from Xi seriously, adding that the leader "means what he says." "I think we have to be careful not to mirror-image, not to fall into the same traps we did with Vladimir Putin, of confirmation bias and optimism bias," McMaster said. He added that Xi had been posturing aggressively in recent speeches, telling the Chinese people that it would take sacrifices to restore China to national greatness. McMaster said Xi had "made quite clear" through his recent statements that he was preparing to move against Taiwan and toward "subsuming" the self-governing island. Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 1, 2023 "China has become increasingly aggressive, not only from an economic and financial perspective and a wolf-warrior-diplomacy perspective but physically, with its military," he added. McMaster urged the US to increase its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. "We talk a lot about relying on our allies and that maybe if we take a step back, the allies will do more," McMaster said. "I think actually the opposite is the case. If Americans just do a little bit more, many of our allies will follow suit and bolster their defensive capabilities and capacity as well." Story continues Xi said in October that China was "striving for the prospect of peaceful reunification with Taiwan" but also repeatedly signaled aggression toward the island while he consolidated his power in the fall. He opened China's 20th Communist Party Congress by saying his government would "never promise to give up the use of force" to seize Taiwan. In November, Xi urged the Chinese military to be ready for war and outlined a vision for the People's Liberation Army to become a world-class force by 2027. The Chinese leader also denounced "foreign interference" with Taiwan a veiled threat against the US that came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's August visit to Taipei. Beijing, bristling at the visit, responded by announcing a slew of renewed military drills near the island. Xi Jinping at an inspection of a military command center in November. Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty Images On the part of the US, President Joe Biden angered Beijing in October when he broke from long-term US policy by saying Washington would defend Taiwan if China attacked it. The White House later clarified that the president's comments hadn't signaled a change in foreign policy and that the US still opposed "any unilateral changes to the status quo." Biden's rhetoric then shifted as he met Xi in November for the G20 summit, when the president emphasized cooperation between their nations and peace in the Taiwan Strait. McMaster didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider via email. Read the original article on Business Insider Travellers walk with their luggage at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport amid a wave of the COVID-19 infections By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The New Zealand government said on Wednesday it would not require travellers from China to produce a negative COVID-19 test, bucking a trend that has seen a number of nations implement such measures as cases surge in China. New Zealand's COVID-19 minister, Ayesha Verrall, said in a statement that a public health risk assessment had concluded visitors from China would not contribute significantly to the number of cases in the country. "There is minimal public health risk to New Zealand," she said. A number of countries including Britain, the United States and Australia have demanded that travellers from China produce a negative COVID-19 test over concerns about the scale of the country's outbreak and scepticism over Beijing's health statistics. The move has been criticised by Chinese state-media as discrimatory. Infections in China have spiked after the country dropped its strict zero-cases policy on Dec 7, allowing the virus to spread. All international arrivals in New Zealand are asked to test if they become symptomatic and the country provides free tests at the airport. Officials will be asking some travellers from China to do voluntary tests to gather more information, which Verrall said reflected New Zealand's concern alongside that of the World Health Organization about China's lack of information sharing. New Zealand is also planning to trial testing waste water on international flights to see if this can replace targetted and voluntary testing of individuals. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Neil Fullick) By Anna Koper WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland's central bank on Wednesday left its main interest rate unchanged at 6.75%, playing a waiting game in light of forecasts that inflation will peak in the first half of 2023 as the economy slows. Price growth in emerging Europe's largest economy last year hit levels not seen for a quarter of a century, but central bankers have said they are waiting to assess the impact of policy tightening that has increased rates by a cumulative 665 basis points so far. In a statement following the decision, the central bank repeated the view that an expected global economic slowdown would help curb inflation in Poland. "Under such circumstances, the hitherto significant monetary policy tightening by NBP will support a decline in inflation in Poland towards the NBP inflation target," it said Analysts polled by Reuters expect interest rates to remain on hold until the end of 2023. "The position of Governor (Adam) Glapinski and the majority of the MPC clearly indicates a lack of willingness to further tighten monetary conditions," said Grzegorz Maliszewski, chief economist at Bank Millennium. "All the more so as in the external environment there are signs of a stabilisation of inflationary tensions; for example, decreases in commodity prices." Other central banks in the region have also opted to keep rates on hold because of concern over an economic slowdown. The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) left its base rate unchanged at 13% in December, while the Czech National Bank (CNB) kept rates on hold for a fourth straight meeting while not giving up the option of further tightening. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Koper, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Editing by David Goodman) HCM CITY Viet Nams leading book publishers and distributors for children have released new books introducing the traditions of Tet (Lunar New Year) as well as literary works about the special holiday to celebrate the Year of the Cat. Lion Books, a book distributor in Ha Noi, has presented the picture poem book Mo Ra La Thay Tet (Open the Book, Enjoy Tet) written by author Chieu Xuan, featuring familiar images of the holiday in Viet Nam. The book has two versions. One is about Tet in the north with ao (peach blossom) flowers and banh chung (square glutinous rice cakes), and another is the holiday in the south with mai (ochna) flowers and banh tet (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes). According to Lion Books, the book is printed in Vietnamese and English so that overseas Vietnamese children can learn about Vietnamese Tet. It is not only for children but also for all people who love the countrys traditional holiday. The book, published by the Ha Noi Publishing House, includes a set of stickers about traditional dishes for Tet, a set of six lucky money envelopes, a map of Viet Nam, and a stop-motion video based on the book. As usual, the Kim ong Publishing House presents its annual special publication for Tet. Nham Nhi Tet Quy Mao 2023 (Book for the Year of the Cat 2023) consists of 25 interesting stories, poems, songs, paintings, and illustrations about Tet and the cat, compiled by famous writers for children from different generations. The 170-page book includes funny and warm short stories, such as Bep Lua (Stove), Nhung Chuyen Ghe Nguoc Xuoi on Tet (Tet Comes to Busy River) and Ki Uc Thang Gieng (Memories of the Spring). The work also consists of the short comic story Chuyen Tren Troi Roi Xuong (Unexpected Things Happen) by Hoang Giang which is promised to bring a lot of laughs for little readers during the holiday. Musician Nguyen Hong Minh tells tales about famous cats in music. In particular, the publication features paintings on cats by late artist Nguyen Sang, one of four leading painters in Vietnamese modern fine arts, to mark his 100th birthday, as well as a story about Sangs life and career by author Chu Hong Tien. The book also has illustrations by favourite young painters Ta Huy Long, Vu inh Tuan, and Quynh Chu, among others. Nguyen Thu Ha, a mother of two daughters in ong Nai Province, said, these books about Tet for children are meaningful gifts in the holiday that help children learn more about traditional Tet. The books are available nationwide at bookstores and on e-commerce websites. VNS. Artist Tao Linh will display a series of paintings for Tet (Lunar New Year) in Ha Noi from January 8 to 11 at Exhibition House, 16 Ngo Quyen Street. Linh is a self-taught artist who specialises in oil-on canvas and do (poonah) paintings. He was born into a family of artists and initially trained as an engineer. Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Binh spoke with the artist about his upcoming exhibition. Could you tell us about your series of paintings titled Happy Cats? Purchasing ong Ho and Hang Trong folk paintings ahead of the Lunar New Year is a hobby among Vietnamese people. The paintings are used as decorations for the new year and help to protect from bad things. With a range of colours, an abundance of themes and unique traits, folk paintings not only makes homes more beautiful but also present Vietnamese cultural and aesthetic values. People nowadays buy zodiac paintings. Many artists, including me, now paint zodiac animals for the new year. I have painted zodiac animals for years. This is the year of the cat, so I called the painting series Happy Cats. At the beginning of November, one of my followers on Facebook said he will buy all my cat paintings. This is the first time he has bought my paintings after following me for a long time. He is a businessman with brands including Happy bank, Happy Zen Farm, Happy Book and Happy Pets. And I called the series Happy Cats. How long did it take you to complete the series? What message do you want to convey through each painting? Happy Cats includes 40 paintings which I created in November and December. However, I started preparing in August. I use mostly acrylic on canvas because this material offers brighter colours. For me, paintings not only portray a moment in time, a person, or an event but also show emotion. Paintings for Tet need to evoke positive feelings for the new year. Each painting is a wish that I want to send to everyone for a happy and peaceful year. Which zodiac animal do you like to paint best? I like cats. I always have cats at home. Presently, I'm raising two cats. Among domestic animals, dogs and cats are probably the closest pets to humans. I like cats more because of their characteristics. They seem strong and gentle. They are both bonded to their owners and independent. The Zodiac animal in Japan, South Korea and China is the rabbit. Only Vietnamese people celebrate the Year of the Cat. What do you think about Tet? I'm more than 60 years old and I have experienced many Tet. I have seen changes in society. My Tet differs from young people's Tet. I was born in wartime when the country was poor and people were hungry. Tet was very special to have new clothes and eat banh chung (square sticky rice cake). People now don't think much about material goods. Many of them want to improve their spiritual and cultural life. It is good for artists and art development. Why did you initially become an engineer? My father was an artist and I liked painting. I also studied painting in summer when I was young. However, when I finished high school I passed an examination at Ha Noi University of Science and Technology. At that time, studying engineering was much better than painting. My father struggled to make a living from his work, so I decided to become an engineer. However, I still paint as a hobby. I always bring painting tools when I go to work. In 2009-2010 I began painting every day. In 2014 I had my first solo exhibition in Ha Noi and it was a milestone for me. I quit my job and started painting full time. VNS HANOI, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A new version of Omicron called XBB has been recorded in southern Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, local media reported on Wednesday. The COVID-19 sub-variant was reported in December last year and accounted for a small share only, according to a COVID-19 research team of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit. During the second half of 2022, the southern city reported mostly Omicron and Delta variants, according to Vietnam News Agency. They said that the COVID-19 situation in the southern city is still under good control, showing the role of vaccines in protecting severe cases and preventing deaths. According to the World Health Organization, XBB and its sublineages are a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sublineages. The current data do not suggest there are substantial differences in disease severity for XBB infections. There is, however, early evidence pointing at a higher reinfection risk, as compared to other circulating Omicron sublineages, according to the organization. HA NOI With its success in running for a seat at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-25 tenure, Viet Nams efforts to ensure and promote human rights have been recognised globally by the international community. After Viet Nam was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his belief that Viet Nam would continue to actively promote and protect human rights. The UN chief called Viet Nam one of the indispensable members of the UN, noting the country would make meaningful contributions to the common affairs of the UN in solving global challenges towards peace and development in the world. Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador to Viet Nam Saadi Salama said that Viet Nam deserved to have a seat at the UNHRC as the country had worked tirelessly to promote and protect human rights in any circumstance. The international community also expressed the belief in Viet Nams substantial contributions during its second tenure at the UNHRC. This reflect the communitys recognition of Viet Nams efforts in preserving and promoting human rights. Over the years, Viet Nam has paid great attention to ensuring human rights. As of 2021, the country ratified and joined seven out of nine UN basic conventions on human rights. The consistent view of the Party and State of Viet Nam is to place people at the centre and consider the people as the subject, the most important resource and the goal of development, ensuring all enjoy human rights. The policy has been demonstrated and institutionalised in the Constitution and laws, and specified in socio-economic development policies and plans. According to the UNDP report on human development in the 2021-22 period, during the most trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam performed well in protecting human rights. Viet Nam's Human Development Index leapt two places in the global ranking in 2021. Caitlin Wiesen, former Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam, affirmed that Viet Nam had realised the Governments commitments to place the people at the centre of development following UN guidelines. This had been revealed in all aspects and reflected in all socio-economic development policies. Viet Nam has always taken full responsibility, and maintained transparency in realising international commitments on human rights protection, including the implementation of recommendations that the country has accepted within the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism. Over the past 13 years, Viet Nam has actively and responsibly participated in the UPR mechanism. It has accepted and implemented an increasing number of recommendations through the three cycles of its membership. This represents the countrys increasing capacity in institutions, resources and finances. At a recent conference to update the implementation of UPR third cycle recommendations in the fields of labour and society, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, Viet Nam completed 82.6 per cent of the recommendations. There were many positive results in terms of ensuring and promoting human rights in the fields of labour, society, gender equality and in the fight against human trafficking. However, there are still hostile forces targeting Viet Nam in the hope of derailing democratic and religious affairs to distort the human rights situation in the country. A number of organisations, including the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have regularly released reports with wrongful, one-sided and ungrounded comments about Viet Nam. They accuse the country of limiting religious freedom or repressing religions. These organisations used information from outdated documents provided by unrecognised religious groups and religions. They often quoted the opinions of religious extremists who are discontent with the regime. These extremists supported illegal religious activities, which are not registered with the government and operate without permission. They promoted "evil" religious activities in remote areas, aiming to increase superstitious and illegal religious activities. Regretfully, the US Department of State, based on such inaccurate and biased reports, has recently put Viet Nam in the group of countries on the Special Watch List for religious freedom. In fact, respecting the beliefs and religious freedom of all people has been a consistent and sound policy of the Vietnamese Party and State. The concept of religious freedom has been institutionalised in Viet Nams legal system. Viet Nam is home to many religions with about one-fourth of the population following a number of faiths. Vietnamese people are free to choose to follow or not follow any religion, and all are equal before the law without any religious discrimination. To date, the Vietnamese State has recognised and granted operating licences to 43 organisations, belonging to 16 different religions. These religious groups encompass more than 27 million followers, or nearly 30 per cent of the population. They include over 55,000 dignitaries, about 135,000 religious workers, and close to 30,000 places of worship right in Viet Nam. In the first six months of 2022, the Government at all levels granted licences to the construction and upgrading of 152 places of worship. It also issued registrations to 183 facilities to organise concentrated religious activities. Religious activities have been held regularly with the participation of a large number of followers across the country. In late November, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the ninth National Buddhism Congress for the 2022-27 tenure. This was an important event in Vietnamese Buddhism, showing the Party and States care for religions that have positive orientations and walk in step to help build the nation. This is a fact that is not up for debate on the topic of religious freedom in Viet Nam. The International Human Rights Day (December 10) in 2022 was themed Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All. This is also a goal that Viet Nam pursues with respect to the protection of human rights. As a member of the UNHRC for the 2023-25 tenure, Viet Nam will make direct contributions to protecting and promoting human rights all over the world. VNA Bac Giang welcomes two projects worth $700 million Bac Giang Peoples Committee granted the investment registration certificate for Singapores Ingrasys Pte.Ltd, the investor of the Fulian precision technology factory project, on January 2. At the same time, Fulian received the business registration certificate from the provincial leader. The factory will cover an area of almost 50 hectares at Quang Chau Industrial Park in Bac Giang. The project's main objective is to manufacture electronic components, computers, and communication equipment. Chinese investor Hainan Longi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Bac Giang Industrial Zones Management Authority signed an MoU. Accordingly, the Chinese investor will implement a project to produce solar panels with a capacity of 3,500MW per year. The two projects have the total investment capital of $761 million. The construction of both projects will be implemented in the first quarter of 2023. Chairman of Bac Giang Peoples Committee Le Anh Duong said that the province would create the most favourable conditions for foreign investors. The province will mobilise to resolve difficulties for investors during their investment process. In 2022, Bac Giang ranked ninth in the list of localities for foreign investment capital, with the total investment capital of $1.21 billion. Bac Giang is a production hub of many large groups, such as Luxshares, Foxconn, and Honda. Along with the existing industrial zones (IZs), the prime minister approved investment plans to build two new IZs, the 300ha Yen Son IZ in Bac Lung district and the 123ha Phuc Son IZ in Tan Yen district. Viet Han IZ will also expand by 148ha, ensuring sufficient industrial land for investors to build manufacturing facilities in the coming years. Bac Ninh IPs lure nearly 60 million USD in investment in July The total newly registered and adjusted investment capital that poured into the northern province of Bac Ninhs industrial parks (IPs) in July hit 59.96 million USD. Of the sum, 36.41 million USD was foreign direct investment (FDI). Vietnam welcomes 1.87 million foreign visitors in nine months Vietnam welcomed about 1.87 million international arrivals in the first nine months of this year, 16.4 times higher than the same period last year but much lower than that in the same time in 2019 before COVID-19 broke out, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). VPBank freshly inks syndicated loan worth $500 million With fresh international financing sources secured, VPBank has once again affirmed its reputation in the loan syndication market and strengthened its lending capacity to finance local small- and medium-sized enterprises, women-owned businesses and many social projects to enhance the overall infrastructure and improve the quality of life for Vietnamese citizens. Hanoi attracts 1.69 billion USD in foreign direct investment in 2022 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Hanoi attracted 1.69 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, still among the localities leading the nation in this field. The figure represents a year-on-year rise of 10.3 per cent, according to the citys Statistics Office. In the year, there were 365 newly-registered projects totaling 233 million USD, and 202 projects that had their capital adjusted with a combined investment of 834 million USD. Foreign investors also spent 625 million USD on contributing capital to and purchasing shares of existing ones. Foreign capital was mainly poured into import-export activities, goods distribution, construction, information technology, telecommunications, processing, and manufacturing. According to the Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA), after more than two years of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022, the city implemented a lot of trade promotion activities both inside and outside the country, with priority given to such key markets as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (China), China, the US and the European Union. Most recently, a working delegation led by Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen paid visits to the US and Belgium to step up trade promotion with traditional partners and seek new ones. For the 2021-2025 period, Hanoi has set a target of attracting 30-40 billion USD in foreign investment, and disbursing from 20 to 30 billion USD. The city is giving priority to projects in urban infrastructure, smart city building, supporting industry, information technology, tourism, finance-banking, human resources training, and hi-tech agriculture. 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. Lack of quality industrial land blamed for FDI strife Many localities such as Dong Nai, Danang, and Quang Ninh face aggravation in reaching foreign-invested capital attraction targets for the whole year due to a lack of land. Indonesia eyes 11 billion USD in capital market in 2023. (Photo: AFP) Jakarta Indonesia aims to raise 170 trillion rupiah (10.92 billion USD) in the capital market in 2023, including from initial public offerings and debt instruments, well below the amount raised in 2022, the country's financial regulator said on January 2. About 260 trillion rupiah was raised through the capital market in 2022, including the IPO of top tech firm PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO.JK), which raised 1.1 billion USD in April. Inarno Djajadi, head of capital market supervision at the Financial Services Authority, said there are 84 offerings in the pipeline with 81.41 trillion rupiah (5.23 billion USD) in total estimated value. About 54.5 trillion rupiah of that would be from 58 potential IPOs. Among firms expected to go public in 2023 are two units of state energy firm Pertamina, Pertamina Geothermal Energy and Pertamina Hulu Energi. Pertamina Hulu Energi could raise up to 2 billion USD, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters in December. State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir said in a separate event the same day that state palm oil grower Palm Co, a unit of state plantation firm PTPN III, may launch an IPO in 2023. Could you share some successful cases of 5G application globally and in Vietnam? Zeb: 5G has the capability to connect every smart device to a network, which means that everything is sending data to the cloud through private networks. Those devices will have superior connectivity and transmission speed, which means that they will be able to send lots of data, enabling digital transformation and increased productivity. Shah Zeb, senior director of Business Development at Qualcomm Technologies Inc. For locations where it is hard to provide home broadband, fixed wireless access could come in and close the digital divide. It is critical for providing broadband services at a similar speed to fibre-optic connections. In industrial processes and factories, 5G could play a huge role too. When using HD cameras, 5G networks could be utilised to send information with low latency, giving users the opportunity to send and receive real-time updates on the camera. Vietnam is accelerating its digital transformation. What has Qualcomm contributed to this effort in general and in the manufacturing, banking, and finance sectors in particular? Thieu: For 5G to happen in Vietnam, we are working with all stakeholders in the countrys mobile ecosystem. We work with the government, mostly with the Ministry of Information and Communication, and other agencies to develop the full spectrum of 5G services. Vietnam needs a wide range of spectrum options high-band, mid-band, and low-band because we need to ensure that 5G will reach its full potential here. We are also helping carriers with their network design strategies and roll-out coverage and deployment. We support the Make in Vietnam campaign, so we help the country design 5G products. Nam Thieu, general director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia at Qualcomm Southeast Asia and the Pacific Zeb: In manufacturing and private settings, by 2025, the global economic impact of 5G will be full spectrum indoors, which means that the economic value of 5G will be created when it comes to inputting processes and automation, for example connecting machines in manufacturing segments. They connect and process all those machines in small factories and smart city environments, bringing great value overall. Regarding the financial sector, when you enable low frequency one of the attractive features of 5G all transactions will be done faster and you can enable face recognition, which can help get rid of fraudulent transactions as well. It has the potential to impact different industries, not just finance. For smart factories, you can see a lot of examples of monitoring processes remotely in the UK, the US, and Europe, where they are trying to move from Wi-Fi to 5G because 5G has better mobility. When connecting those machines and processes, reliable connectivity is needed. This is where 5G comes in. The commercialisation of 5G in Vietnam remains behind schedule despite strong efforts from a number of stakeholders. What are the key factors that the government should focus on to accelerate the process? Zeb: As per my understanding, those commercial deployments in Vietnam are still in their early stages of trial. In order for Vietnam to be fully ready to adopt 5G, it is crucial to have 5G options in place. To be ready for a 5G experience, it is necessary to have a combination of high-frequency 5G bands as well as mid-band frequencies, placing them in strategic locations and with regard to what they are capable of. For example, if you place mmWave in hot zones such as shopping malls or airports, there will be a lot of congestion because there are a lot of people using it. It aligns perfectly with Vietnams vision for digital transformation. If you look into what we want to achieve by connecting and modernising the IT systems, and if you follow the presentations from the minister as well, enabling communication and faster connection to 5G is critical to facilitate Vietnam in achieving its goals. We strongly believe that when Vietnam is making the regulations from a commercialisation perspective, it should target making mmWave a part of its spectrum option process, which is scheduled for the end of this year or early next year. The pricing should be lower for mmWave as it will encourage the ecosystem to come and build a network following what they are doing in India and Brazil. How important is broadband and spectrum to 5G commercialisation in Vietnam and what collaborations have taken place to develop this elsewhere? Zeb: Qualcomm is a pioneer when it comes to wireless communication. We have a long history of building standards and innovating from 2G all the way to 5G. We strongly believe in building an ecosystem with the available technology and spectrum. Our focus is on how we can be sure that our customers, businesses, and even governments are getting access to the best experience. For 5G, we are looking at that too. We think that combining all frequency bands is the best practice so we want to build mmWave along with midland altogether. It will be the best strategy looking forward when it comes to commercialisation. We work very closely with not only carriers but also policymakers as well to understand their positioning and their goals. For example, when it comes to governments or certain spectrum regulators, they trust Qualcomm with our history of innovation and our spectrum. So we play a part in those industries through forums to provide the most valuable inputs. Vietnam is hoping to commercialise 5G in 2023. What sectors will benefit the most from 5G commercialisation and what are Qualcomms strategies in this country to benefit from this? Zeb: Consumers will gain a huge benefit because they get more reliable connectivity from 5G on their phones from enhanced mobile broadband. Fixed wireless access is second and then manufacturing and smart factories, which is such a big push for Vietnam. All those groups can receive great benefits from 5G commercialisation. 5G is like a platform where you have all these different networks. Everything is connected, from smart factory sensors and cameras to when you look at home connectivity, you have smartphone connectivity on a public network. In other words, 5G is the network of everything with all those different devices having in-built AI also a hugely important aspect of digital transformation. This is how you bring AI capability into those devices to make decisions instead of them just being dummy devices. Thieu: 5G is different from 4G and older versions because those previous technologies were mostly focused on connecting people. However, 5G is about connecting everything. Shah shared a lot of new uses for 5G in his presentation today, including non-consumer uses like IoT, smart factories, education, and pharmaceuticals. 5G will transform all industries. For Vietnam, our strategy will remain the same for next year so we can focus on those main things. We have been doing this for almost 20 years since the beginning of our operations here. Our first priority is helping Vietnam successfully deploy the 5G network. Secondly, we have a lab here and the objective is to help Vietnam build world-class products to deliver to the world. This is the right timing because companies are moving to Vietnam and it is a win for the tech industry here. Lastly, we want to help Vietnam build and develop digital skills and capacities. It is a big design and manufacturing hub for the region and the world, but the challenge is that Vietnam needs to provide sufficient human resources for the industry. We are fully committed to helping by rolling out the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge. It is in its third year and gives the green light to potential entrepreneur teams to shine in Vietnam and globally to realise their ideas. We also want to help Vietnamese universities to include the latest technology for students and teachers. We rolled out a programme with the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, sponsoring four research programmes for frontier technologies. We also fund four research projects boasting $100,000 in capital and we provide training for teachers. Our experts come to Hanoi to provide training to the teachers so they can train their students on this technology. This programme helps Vietnam develop digital skills, and this is one of the main objectives here. That will remain to be our focus for next year and beyond. MIC and Qualcomm intensify cooperation on 5G technology On April 12, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long had a meeting with ST Liew, vice president of Qualcomm Technologies Inc. and president of the company's business in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and Thieu Phuong Nam, country director for Qualcomm in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to discuss future cooperation on 5G and 6G technology. MobiFone preparing for all benefits with 5G lift-off MobiFone, one of the biggest mobile network operators in Vietnam, is gearing up preparations for 5G commercialisation to tap into future benefits. Deputy general director Bui Son Nam talked to VIRs Bich Thuy about 5G trials and future infrastructure plans. Thailand sees a bright future for the electric vehicle market in 2023. (Photo: VNA) Bangkok Thailand's electric vehicle (EV) market will continue to gain momentum in 2023, with sales expected to reach between 25,000 and 35,000 units, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The FTI said however, that whether the target will be attained depends on the availability of semiconductors which have become scarce worldwide, affecting the automotive industry. The federation believes EV sales in 2022 could reach 1,000 units. Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice-chairman and spokesman for the FTI's Automotive Industry Club, attributed the growth in EV sales to their less aggressive prices and the state incentive package aimed at stimulating sales. In February 2022, the Thai cabinet agreed to approve tax cuts and subsidies to promote EV consumption and production during the period 2022 to 2023. Surapong acknowledged that the country is seeing a bright future for the EV industry after global EV manufacturing giants, notably Tesla and BYD, launched their electric autos in Thailand while others also announced their investments in car assembly in the country. Though Thailand foresees growth in its EV industry, driven by the global campaign for zero emissions, the country has to deal with many challenges that could decelerate its growth, according to global management consultancy Arthur D. Little. The prices of renewable energy and charging services remain high in Thailand, while the number of EV charging stations is insufficient to serve EV drivers, the company said. Thailand proposes ideas for regional economic recovery Thailand, the APEC 2022 Chair, is showing close coordination with other countries in Southeast Asia to promote the regions post-pandemic economic recovery, while proposing initiatives to foster the regional economic recovery, according to Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura. A woman facing a retrial in the 2013 death of an infant at her former home day care in Waco is seeking to have the case moved, arguing publicity surrounding the childs death prevents a fair trial in McLennan County. Visiting Judge David Hodges is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on the request from attorneys for Marian Fraser, 59. Fraser was convicted of murder in 2015 in the death of 4-month-old Clara Felton, granddaughter of McLennan County Judge Scott Felton, at Frasers Spoiled Rotten Day Care. The conviction was overturned on appeal, and Fraser has been free on bond. Waco day care owner's retrial in infant's death to feature new faces The retrial of former Waco day care owner Marian Fraser will not be a carbon copy of the first trial five years ago because it will feature a Testimony from the initial trial showed the infant received a fatal dose of diphenhydramine, or Benadryl. Arguments are also expected Wednesday on the admissibility of evidence from the toxicology lab that processed samples used in the original prosecution. A state investigation last year regarding complaints of inaccurate results and misconduct at the lab, ExperTox, in Deer Park near Houston, prompted Hodges in May to postpone Frasers retrial. Frasers defense attorney, Christy Jack, filed the request to change the location of the trial Dec. 15, with affidavits supporting the request by McLennan County residents Charlene Seaman, Marvin Seaman and Gerald Villarrial. Villarrial served as Frasers defense attorney in her original trial. Even after a jury panel was picked, there was juror that later believed that they knew facts and circumstances surrounding the case that was not revealed to anyone during jury selection, Villarrial wrote in his affidavit. The defendant is unable to receive a fair trial (in McLennan County) due to inflammatory, provocative and prejudicial pretrial publicity, Charlene Seaman and Marvin Seaman assert separately in their respective affidavits. The state has filed no written pleadings responding to the change of venue request. Testimony at the original trial showed Claras parents did not give the baby girl Benadryl, nor did they give Fraser permission to do so. Fraser also testified that she never gave Benadryl to the children in her care without their parents knowledge. Toxicology tests presented at trial of 14 other children in the day care Fraser operated for 25 years showed those children also had received Benadryl without their parents knowledge or permission. ExperTox, the laboratory under investigation, performed many of the tests, Frasers defense stated in May. During its July 2022 quarterly meeting, the Texas Forensic Science Commission approved a final report on certain complaints against ExperTox, which ExperTox in turn appealed at the October 2022 meeting, minutes of those meetings show. A settlement has not been reached, a commission official said in a Tuesday email. The commission did not provide a requested copy of the report. ExperToxs vice president and lab director, Ernest Lykissa, allowed his forensic analyst license to lapse in February of last year, commission records show. In addition to the change of venue and toxicology lab considerations, Hodges is expected to hear arguments Wednesday on motions to suppress evidence from Frasers electronic devices and to quash the original indictment. WAVERLY For one night only, the Waverly High School auditoriums stage will transform into a Prohibition-era speakeasy. A barkeep will serve mocktails, a dinner will be served, and wouldnt you know it? Theres been a murder. On Jan. 12, the Waverly Theatre Company Waverly High Schools theater program will host a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, written, directed and acted by Waverly students. Only 100 patrons will be admitted for the occasion, which, for $25, will include dinner, dessert and a show. Its interactive, so the people who are attending have to try to figure out who the murderer is, said theater director Kristen Friesen. The kids will go table-to-table to drop hints as different characters. Friesen said the auditoriums stage will be arranged in a circle, and the performance will take place in the middle like a theater-in-the-round stage setup. On the floor in front of the stage, a jazz band will play deep cuts from the Waverly music departments archives. Attendees will be encouraged, but not required, to dress in 1920s-appropriate garb. The purpose of the event is to raise money for the theater department, which has to pay for the rights to its spring musical, Annie, and for that shows costumes. It also has to pay for an outside choreographer and a music director. Waverly junior Austin Ockinga said the schools theater students have put on similar fundraiser events in the past, but none since before the COVID-19 pandemic. We just wanted to bring a murder mystery back because its a really interactive, really easy-to-plan, really fun show that we can put on, Ockinga said. The best part for Friesen is shes hardly had to be involved with the planning at all. It was the students idea, and theyre in charge of just about every aspect. Junior Malcolm Witte wrote the script, and hes been in charge of casting. Friesen said she offered to buy a murder mystery box dinner party game that Witte could expand on. And he turned me down, he told me, No, no, no, Im just going to come up with it from scratch, and then we dont have to spend any money, Friesen said. I started reading the script, and I was just giggling. They have very comical characters. Ockinga said the show has four scenes, each running about five-to-seven minutes. The rest of the time, the actors will stop by tables and talk with guests, who are charged with searching for clues and ultimately figuring out who the murderer is. Neither Ockinga nor her fellow costume designer Nora Erickson are performing in the murder mystery, partially because of the challenge of improvising characters. The people there are going to ask the actors questions, and they just need to know their character enough to answer on the fly. I think thats really difficult, Erickson said. But theyre happy to be involved and have another opportunity to stage a production. Friesen said her students get restless between the end of the one acts season and the start of rehearsals for their spring musical. Theyre sort of like, What do we do, what do we do? Friesen said. I dont know, take a breather? But they dont do that. Thats not really their thing. She said she prefers a fundraiser like the murder mystery to other strategies that school organizations could use, like selling coupon books. Plus, she said its a good deal for the guests, who get dinner and a show. I think this is good for (the students) to kind of be resourceful in this way and provide a really great evening for people in order to earn the money that we need for the next show, Friesen said. We just have really resilient and creative kids. Tickets for the show can be purchased showtix4u.com by searching Waverly High School Drama Department. The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating what it believes is a murder-suicide after finding two adults dead in a home in David City on Friday. Family members called the Butler County Sheriffs Office on Friday afternoon and asked the agency to conduct a welfare check at a home in the 1100 block of North Fourth Street. Two people identified as Dagmara Dorta Diaz, 29, and Alfonso Palmero, 34 were found with suspected gunshot wounds. Investigators believe Palmero shot Diaz before shooting himself. Diaz had a protection order against Palmero. The Butler County Attorneys Office requested the State Patrol conduct the investigation, which is ongoing with the help of the Butler County Sheriffs Office. The Lincoln Journal Star's top photos from 2022 Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in Beijing on Wednesday. Marcos is the first foreign leader hosted by China in 2023. This visit is his first visit to China as president and his first official visit to a country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "All this speaks volumes about the close ties between China and the Philippines and the important place that our two countries take in each other's foreign policies," Xi told Marcos. Xi called on both sides to cultivate new highlights of partnership after choosing agriculture, infrastructure, energy and culture as four key areas of cooperation. China is willing to assist the development of agriculture and rural areas in the Philippines and advance infrastructure and connectivity projects with the Philippines, Xi said. Marcos said he hopes to prove to the world through this visit that Philippines-China relations are in good shape and important, and both sides are committed to upgrading the ties. China is the most vigorous partner of cooperation for the Philippines and nothing can stop the continuation and development of the friendship between the two countries, Marcos said. He said the Philippines adheres to the one-China policy. Thanking China for its assistance in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcos said he expects more Chinese citizens to travel to the Philippines for tourism and study. Both sides agreed to handle maritime issues properly through friendly consultation and resume talks for oil and gas exploration. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Proposals to further restrict abortion will likely be back on the table when the Nebraska Legislature convenes in January, but the specific details of the legislation remain up in the air. Republicans tried and failed to strengthen Nebraskas abortion restrictions multiple times this year, and with each failure, leading lawmakers vowed to keep trying. The issue will almost certainly come up again in the next session, but a shift in the Legislatures political landscape puts the aggressiveness of the chosen proposal and its likelihood of success in question. Scout Richters, senior legal and policy council for ACLU of Nebraska, said anything is on the table for abortion legislation in the upcoming session, and the outcome of such legislation will likely be determined by a razor-thin margin. Its not clear that we have the votes we need (to oppose abortion restrictions), Richters said. Past proposals have ranged from a trigger bill to ban all abortions in the state once the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade to simply further restricting Nebraskas current policy banning abortions past 20 weeks from fertilization down to 12 weeks. Though both those proposals failed just a few short months ago, the makeup of the Nebraska Legislature looked different then than it will come January. The midterm elections ushered in 13 new senators, and although Republicans are just short of the 33 votes needed to end filibusters, other lawmakers have noted there are anti-abortion Democrats in the body who could support abortion restrictions. However, the national temperature on abortion has also changed. After Roe was overturned in the high courts June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, voters in multiple Republican-led states have either rejected efforts to restrict abortions or approved measures to protect abortion access. John Hibbing, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said there has been a change in attitude among Republicans regarding abortion since the Dobbs decision. Whereas before Republicans could loudly proclaim their anti-abortion values, he said now officials have to grapple with what restrictions should look like. This attitude shift is present among leading Nebraska lawmakers. Even Gov.-elect Jim Pillen, who made his anti-abortion stance a pillar of his gubernatorial campaign, has toned down his rhetoric in recent months. While he previously pledged his support behind the former trigger bill, he has since revised his language to push for policy that will save as many babies as possible, but notably has refrained from explicitly backing a full ban. State Sens. Joni Albrecht, Julie Slama and Suzanne Geist all GOP lawmakers who introduced abortion-restricting bills last session did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Sandy Danek, executive director of the anti-abortion group Nebraska Right to Life, confirmed negotiations are ongoing about what anti-abortion legislation has the best chance of passing. She declined to give specifics, but said she understands why some lawmakers might be more cautious on the subject due to the change in national temperature. None of the current or incoming lawmakers have to worry about reelection for at least another two years, but Hibbing said there are still grounds for caution. Geist, for example, is running to be Lincolns next mayor in 2023, which historically has awarded the office to Democrats. Though its tough to speculate, Hibbing said he expects the next abortion proposal will be less strict than the total ban proposed earlier this year. Richters said its possible multiple bills of varying severity could be introduced, similar to last session. However, she said the changing national temperature and increased engagement from Nebraskans will likely play a role in the specifics and success of the proposals. Regardless of what legislation is introduced, Richters said ACLU of Nebraska opposes any attempts to further restrict abortion access in the state. We are very firm in our stance on that, Richters said. Danek said Nebraska Right to Life will not support any legislation that would interfere with access to contraception or in vitro fertilization, which was a big part of the opposition against the trigger bill. Since the Dobbs decision, Danek said there have been more conversations about how the state can assist pregnant women in financial need. She said she hopes that if new abortion restrictions are introduced, they also will be paired with a bill to enact more supportive measures. Whether thats going to go, I dont know, Danek said in an email. However, we are hopeful the Legislature will seriously look at support for these women in need. Though there might be some hesitancy surrounding abortion policy among Republicans behind the scenes, Hibbing said lawmakers are unlikely to show it in their public comments or their votes on the issue. If the Legislature passes a bill restricting abortions, some state lawmakers have predicted that Nebraska might see a ballot initiative introduced to protect abortion access, similar to measures that recently passed in other conservative states such as Kansas, Kentucky and Montana. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a Democrat who opposed the trigger bill earlier this year, said an initiative wouldnt surprise her if a bill passes. It will be a bill in the Legislature that will either pass or not, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who led the opposition to the trigger bill, said in a tweet Nov. 18. After that, we can decide what to do on the ballot I think voters should expect to see an initiative in Nebraska. 50 celebrities from Nebraska Scott Porter Jorge Garcia Marg Helgenberger Malcolm X Dick Cavett Willa Cather Ted Kooser Larry the Cable Guy 149. Swoosie Kurtz Preston Hillier Harley Cozak WATERLOO Bond had been set at $100,000 for a man who was arrested on weapons charges in connection with a shooting outside a Waterloo strip club that sent two people to the hospital. Officers with the Waterloo Police Departments Violent Crime Apprehension Team arrested Oshea Taelly Wright, 26, on Tuesday on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm. Police said Durius Davis, 31, and Jameel Lanier, 21, both of Waterloo, suffered non-life-threatening injuries around 12:10 a.m. Saturday when a large fight outside Flirts Gentlemens Club on Jefferson Street erupted in gunfire. Police found spent shell casings in the area. According to court records, investigators retrieved surveillance video showing Wright exit the club and become involved in a fight with several other people in the middle of the street as he walked back toward a Lincoln MKX. At some point during the fight, Wright went to the Lincoln and apparently retrieved a firearm. The video then shows Wright extend his arm and start shooting, the camera picking up the muzzle flashes, according to court records. Officers found spent 9 mm shell casings in the area where Wright had been standing. Authorities allege Wright is prohibited from handling firearms because of a prior felony drug conviction from a 2019 incident in which he was found with marijuana, scales and a loaded handgun. Meanwhile, court records show one of the men injured in the shooting Davis was out on bail and awaiting trial for a large fight inside Flirts on Oct. 1. In that case, video shows Davis throwing punches and kicks during the melee, and one of the victims was treated for possible internal head injuries. Davis and others were arrested on rioting charges in the October incident. Prosecutors have since added charges of willful injury causing bodily injury. WATERLOO Central Middle School has successfully moved into its temporary home at the Waterloo Career Centers recently constructed annex. The career center is located directly next to Central and will house students in temporary classrooms until renovations are completed on the middle school in 2024. Central students returned to school following winter break on Wednesday. Central families are invited to an open house event at the career center from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday to tour the new space and speak with teachers. Parking at Central will have a new layout and, according to Principal Ross Bauer, there is a specific lane for buses and spaces for parents to drop off and pick up their children. The school will also have a number of staff members stationed outside each day to ensure students enter and exit the building safely. Photos: Cedar Falls boys basketball vs. Waterloo East, Jan. 3 BBBall CF vs. East 2 BBBall CF vs. East 9 BBBall CF vs. East 1 BBBall CF vs. East 3 BBBall CF vs. East 4 BBBall CF vs. East 5 BBBall CF vs. East 6 BBBall CF vs. East 7 BBBall CF vs. East 8 Andy Milone's memorable stories from 2022 A reporters creed is often reflected in the stories he or she writes during a given year. I let the facts speak for themselves while informing people, but continued to reinforce in 2022 my belief that its not my job to just transcribe government officials discussions and decisions at public meetings. Instead, reporting involves asking follow-up questions, perusing documents and being in touch with as many people as possible to learn more about whats happening in the community. Digging up information and providing context is what readers deserve. It gives them a better feel for how decisions impact them and whats coming in the future. Here are five examples of stories in 2022 involving government in Cedar Falls and Waverly that hopefully made a difference. DES MOINES Over 5,000 state workers. More than $2 billion in state funding, or more than a quarter of the state budget. And millions of Iowans including those on Medicaid impacted by the services offered. There is much at stake as elected officials continue to cement in law the merger of three state departments human services, public health and aging into one mega-department: the new Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. That work will continue in the 2023 session of the Iowa Legislature, which begins Monday. State lawmakers set the legislative process in motion during last years session, in which they established a framework for the merger and created benchmarks for the newly formed department to reach before its official first day on July 1. More legislation will be required to continue the merger. Leaders among Republican state lawmakers, who have agenda-setting majorities in both the Iowa House and Senate, indicated they are deferring to Gov. Kim Reynolds, who proposed the merger in 2020, and Kelly Garcia, who directs the former human services and public health departments, and will be director of the new health and human services department. Reynolds declined to be interviewed for this series. Garcia was not made available for an interview after multiple requests. A spokeswoman cited Garcias busy schedule. I think the governor has the right person there, said Pat Grassley, the Republican House speaker from New Hartford. If youre going to make that transition, Director Garcia is someone that, of any director Ive ever worked with in that department, she is the most accessible, seems like really has things put together well over there. Garcias salary is capped by state law at $154,300 but she earns tens of thousands more. Garcia, who directs both the human services and public health departments, was among state directors previously approved by Reynolds for a bonus. Garcia was paid $231,788 in fiscal 2022, state records show. The human services department employs 5,022 state workers and the public health department another 462, according to a transition report filed by Garcia in September. State lawmakers in the current state budget appropriated just more than $2 billion collectively to the human services, public health and aging departments. The budgets for the state veterans affairs department and Iowa Veterans Home also were included in that state funding. Grassley and Jack Whitver, the Republican Senate majority leader from Grimes, said they look forward to any efficiencies that can be created by the merger. Im always supportive of trying to create efficiencies or modernizing state government, Whitver said. Some of these (state agencies), the way these are set up, have been set up that way for decades. And the world changes, organizations change, and government should change, too. So (Im) totally comfortable with trying to create efficiencies or modernize different parts of government. Democratic leaders said they will be watching the legislation to ensure Iowans who rely on the services provided by the agencies do not get lost in the shuffle. Among Democrats primary concerns is the states $6 billion Medicaid program, which served 893,804 Iowans over the past year, according to a recent state report. The Medicaid program is funded by a combination of state and federal dollars. Iowa contracts with two private health care companies and a third will join in July that manage the program. Were going to be watching pretty closely, because at the end of the day, these organizations are designed to help Iowans who are most vulnerable and in critical need, said Jennifer Konfrst, the leader of the minority party Democrats in the House. So, are we currently meeting those needs appropriately? I would say probably not. Will merging these departments make it easier for Iowans to access these services? Well, they better, if (Republicans) are going to get any support from us on this. So at the end of the day, our biggest concern is, can Iowans who need help get the help they need in a way that doesnt overburden them, and then in a way that allows them to get back to living a life that is full and whole? Zach Wahls, who leads the minority party Democrats in the Iowa Senate, shared Konfrsts concern and also said he wants to be certain that the state does not lose focus from its public health department, especially on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. I think the No. 1 concern is obviously making sure that we have a seamless transition for Iowans who depend on things like Medicaid and other state services. Thats not easy, but its critically important, Wahls said. I think No. 2 is, given how substantial the human service portion is going to be of the newly merged HHS, making sure that we dont lose sight of the public health mission that is continuing to be front and center. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird signed on to lawsuits challenging President Joe Biden's administration and Democratic-backed laws during her first day in office on Tuesday. Bird, a Republican who took over the office after defeating Democrat Tom Miller in the November election, made challenging the Biden administration in court a central plank of her campaign, along with her assertion she would "back the blue" and support law enforcement. Bird signed onto a challenge led by Nebraska to Biden's student debt forgiveness plan, as well as lawsuits challenging vaccine mandates and challenging a provision of the American Rescue Plan Act that prevented states from using federal funds to cut state taxes. The state of Iowa had already been a party to the lawsuits Bird signed onto, her office said in a press release, but Miller had not attached his name to them. Bird also appeared to represent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in her appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court seeking to reinstate Iowa's so-called "fetal heartbeat" law, which would make abortion illegal except in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. Bird's office said she would began a "top down and bottom up audit" of the office's victim services division. The effort will be led by her new Assistant Attorney General for Victim Services, John Gish. The office will also be hiring more prosecutors to serve in the Statewide Prosecutions Section. Before entering the office, Bird requested the resignation of 19 staffers, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Susan Christensen reselected as Iowa Supreme Court chief justice The Iowa Supreme Court reselected Chief Justice Susan Christensen to continue her role as chief justice for the next two years. Christensen, of Harlan, was first selected as chief justice in 2020, succeeding Mark Cady, who died in 2019. She was appointed to the states highest court by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2018. She spent the previous 11 years as a judge and practiced law for 16 years in Harlan. Christensen is the second woman to serve as the courts chief justice. "I am honored to be selected by my colleagues to continue to serve as Chief Justice of Iowa's court system," Christensen said in a press release. "In the beginning of my first term, the Governors Office and the Iowa Department of Public Health urged Iowans to prepare for COVID-19. Since then, I have seen the resilience and dedication of our judges and court staff. My pride in the judicial branch grows every day and I am grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me and for the devoted work of all judicial branch employees across the state." The chief justice sets the courts oral argument schedule, delivers the state of the judiciary address to the Iowa Legislature each year, and presides over oral arguments and court conferences. Republican leaders decline press group forum The Iowa Capitol Press Associations annual legislative preview forum was canceled this week after Gov. Kim Reynolds, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, and Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley declined to attend the forum. The forum, previously held by the Associated Press, has been held for more than 20 years, giving Iowa reporters an opportunity to ask legislative leaders of both parties about their plans for the upcoming session. The Iowa Capitol Press Association is very disappointed with this decision by Republican statehouse leaders, a decision that continues an unsettling trend of reduced availability to Iowa journalists, The association wrote in a news release. The ICPA continues to believe elected officials who craft state laws and operate state government should be accessible to the journalists who monitor that work on behalf of all Iowans. The Iowa Capitol Press Association said in the release it hopes to resume the forum next year or at another time this year. Grassley becomes longest serving Republican senator Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley became the longest-serving Senate Republican in U.S. history after being sworn into his eighth Senate term on Tuesday. He surpassed Orrin Hatch, of Utah, who served from 1977 to 2019. Grassley was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980 and has held the seat for 42 years, making him the sixth longest-serving senator of either party. Grassley, 89, is now also the longest-serving sitting U.S. senator, replacing Democrat Patrick Leahy, who did not seek reelection and finished his 48-year tenure on Tuesday. The feat grants Grassley the informal title of dean of the senate, which is given to the chambers longest-serving member. Serving my fellow Iowans in the Senate continues to be an honor of a lifetime, Grassley said in a statement provided by his office. I love Iowa and I love my work for the people of Iowa. Today, Iowa holds the number one spot in the Senate with my leadership. I look forward to continuing to deliver for Iowa. Im humbled and grateful to be entrusted with the honor to continue working for our great state. Reynolds to deliver Condition of the State address Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, will deliver her annual condition of the state address on Jan 10, on the second day of the upcoming legislative session. The address will take place at 6 p.m. on Jan. 10 in the House Chambers at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. It will be livestreamed on Iowa PBS, YouTube, and the governor's Facebook page. During the address, Reynolds will report on various aspects of state government and lay out her priorities for the legislative session, which begins Jan. 9. The Democratic National Committee's decision to drop Iowa from first-state primary status is a shift away from rural America. In early December, Democrats, led by President Joe Biden, changed the primary election order, which had put Iowa as the first state since 1972. This was a role Iowans performed diligently through their caucus process. Democrats have removed Iowa from the early primary states. Instead, South Carolina will be the first state in 2024, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, Georgia and Michigan. The new presidential nominating contest calendar is expected to be ratified by the full DNC in early February in Philadelphia. Heres the Democrats knock on Iowa: Biden, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez and others dont like caucuses because they say the in-person requirement excludes many working-class voters from the process. In a caucus, people spend the better part of election day trying to gather support for their candidates. Also, so the argument goes, Iowa is not racially diverse enough to be representative of the country and have such an important role in the primary. And finally, theres the wreck in the 2020 primary, when results were delayed due to administrative issues and a malfunctioning app. The nation waited for results that didnt come until after the next state, New Hampshire, had voted. Traditionally, a win in Iowa can supply a shot of momentum to the candidate as it did to such Democrats as Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. Before 2020, Iowa Democrats had reported the election results quickly and without issue. But after the 2016 primary, they were forced by the Democratic National Committee to change their process. Candidate Bernie Sanders pushed party leaders to require caucus states to report raw numbers as well as final numbers. That meant Iowa no longer could simply report the final results as it had for the previous 12 elections and instead had to supply results of the first alignment and second alignment of votes too. That change, along with the use of an app that wasnt properly vetted, led to the delay in results. It was a mess. But Iowa had reeled off 12 straight elections without such problems. So the narrative that Iowa lost first-state status due to a bungled 2020 primary doesnt really stand up under the historical context. We understand the criticism of the caucus system and that Iowas racial makeup is not representative of that of the nation. About 75% of United States residents are white, while 90% of Iowans are white. It makes sense the party would want more people of color involved in the early primary states. But why is New Hampshire, 92% white, in the first five states? There appears a larger political motive for national Democrats to leave Iowa in the dust, and that is that Iowa no longer is in play. In the past two presidential elections, Iowans went strongly for Trump, and the mid-terms cemented that trend. But Iowa supported plenty of Democrats: Obama (twice), Al Gore, Bill Clinton (twice) and Michael Dukakis for the presidency. Most of the new first-five states could be considered battleground states, especially Georgia, Michigan and Nevada. New Hampshire has voted Democrat in the last six elections, but Democrat Hillary Clinton won by less than a percentage point in 2016. South Carolina is the outlier here. Its a red state, even more red than Iowa. No Democrat running for president has cracked even 45% of the vote in South Carolina in recent decades. So, why South Carolina? We think Biden chose South Carolina because that was the state that put him on a path to the nomination in 2020. Biden came in fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire before South Carolina gave him a win and the momentum to earn the nomination. Its political payback. Democratic leaders can tout having more diverse, battleground states (with some exceptions) in their first five. But those gains dont come without losses. In particular, rural Americans have lost their voice among early states. Iowa offered rural representation and, in fact, is closer to the national average of rural-to-urban residents than any of the new first five states. According to the U.S. Census, the United States has an average of 93 people per square mile. Iowa has 57 people per square mile. The next closest state to the national average is New Hampshire with 154 per square mile. South Carolina, Michigan and Georgia all have 170 or more people per square mile. While Nevada is even less densely populated than Iowa, nearly all of its population comes from the metro areas of Las Vegas and Reno. The removal of Iowa from the DNC's first five primary states is a clear pivot toward urban voters and away from rural voters. About 20 percent of the nation is rural, according to the Census. Thats an important swath of the country and makes up 43% of Iowa, where farms and small towns create the state's backbone. Iowa Democrats have had a good run vetting Democratic candidates over the past 50 years. And those candidates who spoke from straw bales, frequented diners and came face-to-face with humble, practical, earnest and friendly Iowans had the opportunity to come away with a sense of what rural America is all about. Democrats will lose that in 2024. And that's a shame. We appreciate that Republicans will keep Iowa as its first primary state. The welcome mat is out. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Many Iraqi citizens on Tuesday condemned the U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, including an airstrike that killed two militia leaders three years ago. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Winter storms are affecting northern Nevada residents in many ways during the first month of 2023. The Sparks Police HOPE Team (Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement Team) recently posted warnings of potential flooding around the Truckee River and other flood prone areas of the city, in order to promote river safety before a storm hit on December 31, 2022. HOPE Officers also contacted unsheltered members of our community and advised them of the potentially dangerous river conditions. Due to those notifications, several people experiencing homelessness elected to vacate the impacted area. Notifications were made regarding potential flooding as well as the location of warming shelters. With continued active weather patterns anticipated for the Truckee Meadows over the next week, the Sparks Police Department would like to remind the public of the dangers of being near the Truckee River and flood prone areas during winter storms. Another storm is rolling in and HOPE officers will continue to monitor the Truckee River corridor along with other flood prone areas of the city and provide assistance as needed. As a reminder, a winter weather advisory will be up from 7 a.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday for the pink areas on the map (in story below), that includes the mountain areas and foothills of western Nevada. Winter Storm Warning Goes Into Effect 7am Wednesday to 4am Friday Snow levels will fluctuate with some areas seeing a rain snow mix Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has forecasted a stronger rain and snow storm impacting the Greater Reno-Tahoe area Wednesday through Thursday evening. City of Reno crews will continue monitoring the weather conditions and are working around the clock to prepare for the next series of storms. To date, the Streets team has either plowed or applied a salt/sand mixture on 6,612 miles of City streets, all completed by 36 employees working just over 1,250 hours. The crew is currently working on plowing priority 3 streets. You can see the current list of priority streets by route. The City will provide ongoing updates on Twitter and at Reno.gov/Snow. A warming center is open at the Peppermill, in the Roma Room, for anyone still without power. The forecast calls for heavy snow this week at higher elevations including Virginia City, Gold Hill and Virginia City Highlands. The warming center in Virginia City continues to remain open for residents. The center is in the small building on the south side of the Fire Station on C Street. Bring water, snacks and cell phone power cords. The county continues to assess weather and potential flooding conditions for all parts of Storey County. Updates will continue to be posted to the Countys social media: Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal The Albuquerque Police Department has formed a working group along with local African American organizations and communities to boost recruitment and retention efforts. Rebecca Atkins, an APD spokeswoman said the working group will try to recruit African American men, women and young adults to enroll in the police service aide program, become police officers or fill such civilian positions as forensic specialists, investigators and other administrative roles. The working group is aware of the need to increase the number of African Americans on the APD workforce to serve and protect the community, Atkins wrote in a news release. Collectively, community partners decided to work in concert with APD to assist in the accomplishment of its recruitment and hiring goals. The group includes the MLK State Commission, the State Office of African American Affairs, the Albuquerque NAACP, African American Student Services, and Black fraternities and sororities at the University of New Mexico, the National Council of Negro Women, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Ministers Fellowship of Albuquerque and Vicinity. Although the effort is focused on recruiting African American officers, the group will also work with other communities to reflect diversity and inclusion, Atkins said. She said just shy of 3% of officers in the department are African American. According to the most recent United States census, just over 3% of Albuquerque residents are African American alone. Atkins said representatives from the city and APD have met with the groups several times over the past several months and plan to meet again. She said they will: Develop a strategic action plan to increase the number of African Americans enrolling in the police service aide program and applying to test into the police academy. Put a retention plan in place to keep African American officers at the department. Sponsor a community, city and APD recruitment fair and forum for the African American community and other groups. Its currently scheduled for Jan. 21 at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial site. Continue a joint partnership with the Albuquerque Public Schoolss ROTC program to recruit seniors for the police service aide program. Develop a statewide plan to identify and recruit African Americans from state universities and colleges, and look at recruiting out-of-state candidates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal The Albuquerque City Council is not yet done debating safe outdoor spaces. The topic that dominated much of 2022 is back on the agenda for the councils first meeting of 2023. Mayor Tim Keller ensured that by vetoing the councils latest effort to thwart organized camp sites for people who are homeless. The council in December had voted 5-4 to remove all safe outdoor space references in the city zoning code. It was the legislative bodys third attempt to torpedo safe outdoor spaces and essentially undo the councils own decision in June to allow them. Keller has greeted each council attempt to backtrack on safe outdoor spaces with his veto pen, and the divided council has so far lacked the six votes needed to override him. The next override vote is scheduled for Wednesdays council meeting. Safe outdoor spaces managed outdoor sites where people can sleep in tents or vehicles while accessing toilets, showers and more remain legal and active. The city has partnered with the nonprofit Heading Home to launch the first two: both are limited to clients who have vehicles to sleep in and are located outside existing homeless shelters, and neither has seen much use yet. And neither has generated as much buzz as the proposed tent-based safe outdoor space planned for Menaul Boulevard near Interstate 25. Operated by Dawn Legacy Pointe on land owned by the city, the site would have 40 tent spots with room for up to 50 people. The city Planning Department first approved the project application in August, but a hearing officer subsequently determined neighbors had not received proper notice. Dawn Legacy Pointe mailed a new round of notifications and reapplied. Last month, the Planning Department once again granted approval for the safe outdoor space at the site. That kicked off a new wave of appeals; at least seven entities are fighting Dawn Legacy Pointes new approval. They argue that the project will harm an area already grappling with problems, that Dawn Legacy Pointes plans including for security are insufficient and that the city is not protecting the community. The city has no plan whatsoever to address and mitigate the impacts on the surrounding property owners and community at large, the nearby nonprofit LifeROOTS wrote in its appeal. Some also contend that the organizations application has inappropriately benefitted from the citys involvement in the project. It is clear that the issuing of the permit to Dawn Legacy Pointe has been tainted from the start by the weighing of the (citys) Department of Family & Community Services thumb upon the scales, Menaul School wrote in its appeal. Other appellants include Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association, Crowne Plaza hotel, Sunset Memorial Park cemetery, the Greater Albuquerque Hotel & Lodging Association and the company that runs the Ramada Plaza hotel. Brad Day, a volunteer consultant for Dawn Legacy Pointes project, agrees that crime and homelessness have greatly cost many Albuquerque area businesses. He, however, believes that a safe outdoor space will help, not hurt. He cited recent reporting from The Colorado Sun that showed Denver neighborhoods with safe outdoor spaces saw a year-over-year decline in total reported crime during their first year of operation even while crime was rising across Denver as a whole. While the safe outdoor space neighborhoods did see violent crime rise, the news site reported that the increase was less than seen citywide. Day disputes that Dawn Legacy Pointe is ill-prepared to run such an operation or that it is getting special treatment from the city, saying hes had at least 15 meetings with city personnel to ensure the project is safe and meets all city regulations. He said opponents unfairly liken a safe outdoor space to the large unsanctioned encampment at Coronado Park that the city shut down in August due to criminal activity and property damage. They think its going to be just like (Coronado Park), and that is 180 million miles away from the way this thing operates, Day said. A spokeswoman for the citys Family and Community Services Department said Dawn Legacy Pointes operations plan including its security underwent a review as part of its approval process, and all such projects must have fences with lockable gates, background checks for operators and residents and 24/7 staffing. Data from other cities demonstrate that Safe Outdoor Spaces do not contribute to an increase of crime, spokeswoman Katie Simon said. Safe outdoor spaces are a useful resource for people living on the street and to mitigate unsanctioned encampments. The appeals will proceed to a land use hearing officer, but its not clear when the hearing will occur. Investigators have identified a man who was shot and killed in the Siler Rufina Nexus neighborhood of Santa Fe early Friday morning as a 55-year-old visiting from Texas. James Towle had arrived in the city on Dec. 29, according to a press release from the Santa Fe Police Department. He was walking along Rufina, about half a mile from Meow Wolf, when he was shot. On Dec. 30, 2022, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Santa Fe Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Rufina Street and Siler Road regarding a shooting, police said. After officers arrived on scene, Mr. Towle was located with at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased on scene. The investigation is active and ongoing. No suspects have been identified, police said. No more information was immediately available. Tips Police ask asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Detective Javier Vigil at (505) 955-5412. Anyone with video, photographs or other sources of evidence can submit their materials here. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Some New Mexico state employees started off the new year facing a return-to-the-office mandate after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration finalized its plan to rescind a telework policy enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under a plan released late last week by the State Personnel Office, all managers and supervisors who had been working remotely were directed to return to the office on Tuesday. However, after negotiations with labor union leaders, the State Personnel Office also said it would not require rank-and-file state employees who have been working from home to go back to the office until Feb. 2, giving them an extra month or so to prepare. State Personnel Director Teresa Padilla said Tuesday the agency is working with state officials to ensure all state employees have a physical workspace available to them on or before the back-to-the-office deadline. In general, we believe most state government employees understand the benefits of being present in the office to serve our customers and constituents, Padilla told the Journal. She also said the agency had received a form email objecting to the decision to rescind the remote work policy from fewer than 5% of the roughly 16,600 classified state workers around New Mexico, while adding she was not aware of any employee resignations due to the decision. But top union officials say there is still widespread confusion and concern about the details of the plan. Dan Secrist, local president of the Communications Workers of America union, questioned whether some state office buildings are in usable condition after two-plus years of being at least partially unoccupied. Are those spaces fit to inhabit at this point? Secrist asked. He also said some state workers hired during the pandemic will have to make lengthy commutes to travel to their assigned office space, while others are currently scrambling to figure out care for their young children or elderly relatives. Weve got people that cant get child care until July or August, if they can get it at all, Secrist told the Journal. Some union leaders have predicted the mandate could end up causing a mass exodus of state workers at a time when many state agencies are already struggling to recruit and retain employees. Only about 61% of new hires lasted their first year during the 2022 budget year, according to Legislative Finance Committee data. Not enough space Labor union leaders negotiated the terms of the telework policy with the governors administration in June 2021. The policy has allowed agency heads to rescind or modify an employees telework agreement with adequate notice. It also requires that employees allowed to work remotely be able to report to their normal worksite on short notice. However, New Mexicos remote work policy came under scrutiny last year after a legislative report showed the state was paying up to $18 million for unoccupied office space primarily in Santa Fe. But at least one state agency, the Public Education Department, recently told its employees it did not have enough office capacity to accommodate all its workers. Meanwhile, some lawmakers have also expressed concern about New Mexico residents struggles to reach state offices to obtain services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governors Office has insisted the move to rescind the telework policy was in the works even before the legislative report. In addition, Padilla said Tuesday the Lujan Grisham administration plans to work with lawmakers to craft a salary increase package for state employees during the upcoming 60-day legislative session. Complaint filed The Lujan Grisham administrations decision to scrap the telework policy could ultimately be resolved, at least in part, by the outside arbiters or the courts. Thats because the CWA Local 7076 filed a complaint last month with the state Public Employees Labor Relations Board that challenges the states authority to cancel the telework policy without bargaining. New Mexicos current collective bargaining laws do not allow for government employees to go on strike, however, and the complaint could take months to be resolved. Theres also disagreement about the nature of recent discussions between state officials and union leaders over the impact of ending the telework policy. On Tuesday, Padilla said the State Personnel Office had engaged in negotiations with leaders of two labor unions that represent state government employees CWA and the local chapter of the American Federation of State, Counties and Municipal Employees union in an attempt to reach an agreement. As a result of these discussions, the state amended the full-time return to office date for non-manager/supervisor classified employees to (next month), she said. While Padilla said the state did reach an agreement with AFSCME union representatives, she said talks with CWA leaders ended in impasse. However, Secrist disagreed that negotiations were properly concluded, saying there were still areas of discussion that had not been exhausted, including the practical effects of making all state employees go back to in-office work. Grassroots doctors crucial in China's anti-COVID fight Xinhua) 10:57, January 04, 2023 Rural doctor Hou Luobo treats a villager door to door in Youxian County, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 3, 2023. (Xinhua) CHANGSHA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Hou Luobo, 27, became a rural doctor in Youxian County, central China's Hunan Province, in October 2019. About two months later, unprecedented challenges posed by a new virus, made for an unusual start to his medical career. For the past three years, the main focus of his job was COVID-19 prevention and control. Now with China having optimized relevant COVID response measures, the priorities of his daily work have shifted to monitoring the health conditions of villagers and providing them with timely medical support. "Compared with the intensity of doing mass nucleic acid testing, conducting door-to-door inspection and follow-up observation for people under quarantine in the past, the workload is less heavy now, but we still dare not slacken in our efforts," said Hou. Yanliang Village of Yajiangqiao Township, where Hou works, is located in a remote mountainous area administered by Zhuzhou City. With many young people working or settling in the city proper, most of the dwellers in the village are the elderly and children. "Since we fine-tuned the measures for epidemic response, the villagers are commuting more frequently between these two places, so we need to conduct health assessments for key populations and provide classified services in a timely manner," he noted. Recently, the number of COVID-19 patients has increased visibly in Yanliang Village, and Hou receives about 80 outpatient visits every day. "Some of the elderly are physically weak or have underlying diseases, and I will follow up on patients with chronic diseases or mobility difficulties and deliver medicines to their homes," he said, adding that most of the patients in the village only have mild symptoms. Hou is one of the millions of doctors and health workers in rural China who have long put down roots and safeguarded people's health in the countryside. Data from the National Health Commission shows that with the continuous improvement of the medical care capacity of primary hospitals -- over 90 percent of patients in China's countryside receive treatment at county-level hospitals -- while rural doctors like Hou are the first line of defense against the virus. In Dangcha Village, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, "shared medicine kits" are sources of great assistance to Hu Zhenglie, a village doctor. Dangcha Village is home to over 800 residents, most of whom are left-behind elderly. "Though the COVID-19 infection rate in rural areas is relatively light due to lower residential density, the demand for antipyretic and cough medicines has been high recently, because the residents here usually don't stock medicine in advance," explained Hu. "The 'shared medicine kits' initiated by the local Party branch have been a huge help." In Shagou Township, Ningxia's Xiji County, the local government raised 4,000 tablets of antipyretics and dispatched them to families in need -- free of charge. Ma Hongliang, a villager in Shagou Township, had a family of seven infected with the virus a few days ago. "There was no medicine at home. Fortunately, the doctor soon delivered antipyretics to us," Ma said. Official data shows that as of October 2022, a total of 19,400 fever clinics (outpatient clinics) had been built in township hospitals and community health service centers nationwide. Doctors at grassroots level have made tremendous contributions to China's anti-epidemic fight over the past years. Right after a heavy snowfall, Xiang Kaimin, a doctor in Shuanglong Township, Hunan's Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, commenced his rounds of visits to local households. "More people have recently returned home and the number of COVID infections is on the rise. However, we can only visit four families as of noon due to roads made slippery by snow," said Xiang. "But I believe everything will get better, as spring will arrive soon." (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) *This visit speaks volumes about the close ties between China and the Philippines and the important place that the two countries take in each other's foreign policies. *China and the Philippines have similar goals and paths of development and enjoy vast potential for cooperation. Both sides agree to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation and resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration. *China will work with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries to focus on cooperation and development, and uphold ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation. BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Great Hall of the People during the latter's state visit to China on Wednesday. Marcos is the first foreign leader hosted by China in 2023. This visit is his first visit to China as president and his first official visit to a country outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "This speaks volumes about the close ties between China and the Philippines and the important place that the two countries take in each other's foreign policies," Xi told Marcos. A JOURNEY TO RETRACE HISTORY AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE China and the Philippines are close neighbors facing each other across the sea. In their exchanges over a millennium, good faith and mutual assistance have remained the defining feature of bilateral relations and a precious legacy cherished by the two peoples, Xi said. Forty-eight years ago, the father of President Marcos Jr. and the Chinese leaders of the older generation keenly grasped the changing situation at that time. They followed the trend of the times and made the historic decision of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. Over the past half-century since then, despite changes in the international landscape and the domestic politics of the Philippines, President Marcos Jr. and his family have stayed committed as ever to promoting the China-Philippines friendship, a commitment that is most invaluable, Xi said. Xi expressed his hope that this visit will be a journey to retrace history and, more importantly, a journey to plan for the future. Xi said China views the Philippines as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and approaches its relations with the Philippines from a strategic and overall perspective. Xi expressed readiness to stay in regular strategic communication with President Marcos Jr. and make comprehensive plans for the growth of bilateral ties so that the two countries will stay good neighbors helping each other, good relatives sharing affinity, and good partners pursuing win-win cooperation, delivering more benefits to the two peoples and contributing more positive energy to peace and stability in the region. Marcos expressed his pleasure at making a visit that he has long looked forward to, which is also his first state visit to a country outside ASEAN. He expressed his hope to prove to the world through this visit that the Philippines-China relationship is in very good shape and is very important, and that both sides attach great importance to this relationship and are committed to taking it to a new height. Marcos said although it has only been 48 years since the Philippines and China established diplomatic relations, the friendship between the two peoples has lasted over a millennium. He underscored his privilege of being part of history in the establishment of the diplomatic ties, and noted the important responsibilities that he is taking on to carry forward the longstanding friendship between the two countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. prior to their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) VAST POTENTIAL FOR BILATERAL COOPERATION Xi emphasized that despite different national conditions and systems, China and the Philippines have similar goals and paths of development and enjoy vast potential for cooperation. He said the two sides need to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between government agencies, between legislatures, and between political parties to form greater synergy between their development strategies, seek more complementarity in each other's modernization drive, and better serve development and prosperity in both countries. The two sides have identified agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people exchanges as four priority areas of cooperation. They are the main pillars for the China-Philippines relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation, and more efforts must be made to nurture new growth areas and highlights in these fields, according to Xi. As China is advancing rural revitalization across the board and moving faster to build the country's strength in agriculture, it stands ready to help the Philippines in agricultural and rural development, by such means as turning the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology into a signature project, carrying out cooperation on the whole industrial chain including breeding, production, processing and storage, and accelerating cooperation in Juncao technology, Xi said. He called on the two countries to promote cooperation in infrastructure and connectivity, including good implementation of key cooperation projects in "hard" infrastructure and broader cooperation in "soft" infrastructure including telecommunication, big data and e-commerce, to boost the overall economic and social development of the Philippines. Xi said China and the Philippines have a lot to offer each other when it comes to cooperation on both fossil fuels and clean energy. China will work with the Philippines to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation, resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration, promote cooperation on oil and gas exploration in non-disputed areas, and conduct green energy cooperation on photovoltaics, wind power, and new energy vehicles. The Chinese president said China will continue to import more quality agricultural and fishery products from the Philippines and support Chinese business investments and cooperation in the Philippines. The two sides need to deepen people-to-people exchanges in all respects, expand cooperation on basic and vocational education, and explore innovation cooperation in such areas as meteorology and aerospace. China will continue to work with the Philippines on vaccine research and development, and foster a new mode of mutual assistance and cooperation between provinces, cities, districts and counties in light of local industrial strengths. China is taking proactive steps to adapt its COVID response and better coordinate it with economic and social development in a science-based manner. The people in China and the Philippines can soon resume close exchanges like before the pandemic, Xi said. Marcos said the Philippines is ready to work with China to unlock potentials, further enrich the bilateral relationship, and deepen cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment, science and technology, and digital economy, among others. Marcos said China is the strongest partner of the Philippines, and nothing can hold back the continuation and development of the Philippines-China friendship. The Philippines adheres to the one-China policy. It is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation, and resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration. Marcos thanked China for providing valuable support to his country's fight against COVID-19. He expressed his hope that when the pandemic is over, more Chinese tourists and students will go to the Philippines and more people-to-people exchanges will take place to lay a more solid foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations. He expressed full confidence in the outlook of the bilateral relations. CHINA, ASEAN FOCUS ON COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT Xi stressed that China and the Philippines, two developing countries in Asia, have their development rooted in a friendly neighborhood and in the big family of Asia featuring win-win cooperation. He said China will work with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries to focus on cooperation and development, uphold ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation, and advance the five proposals on building a shared home together, to ensure the region stays away from the shadow of the Cold War and from bloc confrontation and remains a fine example of development and prosperity. China appreciates the Philippines' support for the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. China will work with the Philippines to render each other greater support, uphold the common interests of the two countries and other developing countries, advocate humanity's common values, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and contribute to better regional and global governance, Xi said. Marcos expressed his readiness for close communication with President Xi and closer cooperation on all fronts to open a new chapter in the Philippines-China relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation, better resolve common challenges and issues facing the two countries, deliver more benefits to the two peoples, and make new contribution to reestablishing the region as a major engine of the world economy. After the talks, the two presidents jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation, agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, finance, customs, e-commerce and tourism. Copyright 2023 Albuquerque Journal Its the final curtain, with no encore, for one Albuquerque movie theater. After a final showing of Babylon, the screens at Regal UA High Ridge will go dark permanently. The location, next to the Hinkle Family Fun Center, is closing at 8 p.m. Thursday, the movie theater confirmed Tuesday. The closing of the Regal UA High Ridge comes after several other movie theaters in the Albuquerque area shut their doors, among them dollar theaters Movies 8 and Movies West in 2020, and Century 14 Downtown Albuquerque in 2021. Earlier this year, the former Movies 8 location was bought by Stetson Snell and turned into an Icon Cinema location. Regal Cinemas parent company, Cineworld Group Inc., filed for bankruptcy in September and reached a settlement in October. The High Ridge location is one of three Regal cinemas in Albuquerque. A Monday post on the Regal UA High Ridge Instagram page read Goodbye: Due to adverse marketing conditions, High Ridge 8 will permanently close at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 5th, 2023, along with a video of employees thanking customers. Albuquerque resident Daniel Vasquez has been going to UA High Ridge for several years. The last film they saw at UA High Ridge was White Noise starring Adam Driver. I am surprised that it survived COVID, because other movie theaters didnt, Vasquez said. Vasquez was planning to see one last movie at the theater Tuesday night Avatar: The Way of Water before it closed. Its been sad, but its mostly understandable because its been rundown for the past 10 years, Vasquez said. Vasquez said they liked that the theater wasnt very crowded and showed some independent/art films. The theater wasnt built originally as a Regal Cinema theater. In 1989, the eight-screen theater was built to house Rand Theatres, an Arkansas-based movie theater chain. But the company never moved into the location due to financial difficulties and delinquent payments from the movie theater chain. A year later, United Artists Corp. bought the theater. Regal Cinemas could not immediately be reached for comment on when it bought the theater, why it decided to close the location and what is going to happen to the theater building. Cover Images/Instagram/Milla Cochran Celebrity The 48-year-old Oscar-winning actor has been romantically linked to the 23-year-old Slovakian model/actress following his budding relationship with Gigi Hadid. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Leonardo DiCaprio is apparently still trying to figure out who's the right person for him. The "Titanic" actor was spotted enjoying a yacht party with several bikini-clad women amid rumors he's dating Victoria Lamas. In photos obtained by TMZ, the Oscar-winning star could be seen frolicking with the ladies on Monday, January 2 in St. Barts. His friend Joe Nahmad's fiancee Madison Headrick was identified as one of the bikini-clad beauties. Leo was also seen chatting the women up and going for a dip. The "Don't Look Up" star only sported a blue bathing suit while going shirtless as he soaked up some sun on a lounge chair. Later, he was joined by several more women as the sun was setting. The outing came shortly after Leo was pictured getting close to his rumored new girlfriend Victoria during New Year's Eve getaway. Paparazzi photos saw the 48-year-old actor partying on a yacht in St. Barts with Victoria, Drake as well as Tobey Maguire. At one point, Leo, who had been rumored to be dating Gigi Hadid for the past few months, was snapped getting very close to the 23-year-old daughter of Lorenzo Lamas as they enjoyed a light snack together. Despite sources previously claiming the two were just friends, the NYE getaway marked the fourth time the rumored couple had been spotted together since around the beginning of December. On December 20, Leo and Victoria were seen leaving Los Angeles' hottest private club Bird Streets Club separately but later getting into the same car. More recently, Victoria's famous dad Lorenzo said in an interview that his daughter is "very smitten" with "The Revenant" star and that she "likes him very much." The 1980s heartthrob even cryptically said, "I'm excited for her. I know that it's been a while since she's had a serious relationship. She's got a big heart and she tends to give it freely." Later during the interview, the "Falcon Crest" actor noted that Victoria "just wants to keep everything private." However, before his statement was misunderstood, he clarified that "they're friends, they're not in a serious relationship. And I just want that to be clear." You can share this post! Cover Images/Instagram/Sara De Boer Celebrity The 'Bullet Train' actor goes shirtless and his rumored girlfriend ditches her bikini top as they sit side-by-side in opposite-facing lounge chairs in Cabo San Lucas. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Pictures from Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon's romantic getaway have surfaced online, days after it was revealed that they spent New Year's Eve together. In photos from their trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the actor was seen sunbathing with her topless girlfriend, confirming their intimate relationship. The images, obtained by Page Six, featured the 59-year-old Hollywood heartthrob going shirtless while wearing teal swimming trunks, showing his chest and array of tattoos. He accessorized with a gold chain around his neck and aviator sunglasses while he read what appears to be a script from a large black binder. Pitt sat side-by-side with de Ramon, who completely ditched her bikini top, as they faced opposite each other in lounge chairs by the pool on a relaxing New Year's Eve day. The 32-year-old brunette beauty only wore a blue patterned sarong and showed off her bare back as she hugged her knees close to her chest and sported stylish shades. Her long locks looked wet and were let down on her back as she soaked up the sun. While Pitt seemed to be immersed in what he was reading, he was seen occasionally talking to his girlfriend. Pitt and de Ramon were first spotted together at a Bono concert in Los Angeles in November last year. At the time, he appeared to be smitten as he's pictured holding her arms and pulling her close outside the Orpheum Theatre. He seemingly also introduced Ines to his celebrity pals, Cindy Crawford and husband Rande Gerber, Sean Penn and Vivi Nevo, as they chatted together outside the Orpheum Theatre. In early December, the "Bullet Train" actor took the jewelry executive to the premiere of his newest movie "Babylon" in Los Angeles. While they were not pictured together on the red carpet, they reportedly got cozy to each other during the afterparty that night. A source told PEOPLE at the time that Brad "is clearly very into her given he brought her to his premiere." The ex-wife of Paul Wesley was also seen helping her boyfriend celebrate his birthday in Hollywood last month. On Sunday, December 18, they were snapped getting out of a car before making their way to his party. "Brad and Ines are officially dating now," a source told Us Weekly in December. Noting that "they really enjoy each other's company and are having a great time in the early stages of an early relationship," the source added, "but [they] are still getting to know each other." A source additionally told PEOPLE, "They are dating and having fun. They have a good thing going on. There is no stress. Brad is enjoying it." Brad, who was previously married to actresses Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, "is not seeing anyone else right now," the source claimed, adding, "He is spending more time with Ines. He is very happy." You can share this post! Cover Images/BauerGriffin Movie The 'Bullet Train' actor is rumored to be in the running for the role of the British spy in the next installment of the 007 film franchise after he filmed a secret audition late last year. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Aaron Taylor-Johnson's (Aaron Johnson) name has been thrown in contention to be the next James Bond. The English actor is said to be a frontrunner for the coveted role amid the ongoing search for Daniel Craig's replacement. According to Puck News (via Daily Mail), the "Bullet Train" star has sat down with Bond film producer Barbara Broccoli to talk about the possibility of him starring in the next installment. Sources said the meeting went "very well" after he reportedly filmed a secret audition late last year. In December, it was reported that the 32-year-old had shot scenes of the memorable "gun barrel teaser footage" seen in the films. A source told The Sun at the time, "Aaron has impressed bosses so much that he has filmed one of the franchise's famous gun barrel teaser scenes, something all the actors do. That move takes him a step closer to signing a deal." "Bosses at the brand were really impressed with his unique blend of acting intensity and his impressive back catalogue of action films," the source added. A month earlier, the same news outlet reported that Aaron was a hit with producers and particularly impressed Barbara. "Aaron went for a screen test to be the next Bond in September and producers and Barbara loved him. He is now one of the front-runners," a source gushed at the time. Despite the producers' alleged favor of Aaron, it should be noted that nothing has been officially set in stone about the next Bond film and the new lead actor. Meanwhile, Daniel, who stepped down as Bond after "No Time to Die" (2021), remains nonchalant about the chatters about his possible successor. When asked about Aaron-Johnson stepping into the shoes, he told MTV's Josh Horowitz, "I don't really pay it any attention. I just, it's a lot of noise. I don't really go on the Internet, I don't have a social media account or whatever it's called ... it is what it is." However, he's excited two watch the next Bond movie. "Yeah, of course. I'll be front and center," the "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" star revealed. Besides Aaron, other names to have been linked to the role of James Bond include Henry Cavill, "Emily in Paris" hunk Lucien Laviscount and "Bridgerton" hottie Rege-Jean Page. You can share this post! Cover Images/Tony DiMaio Celebrity In the latest episode of his 'Chrisley Confessions' podcast, the embattled reality TV star addresses his former business partner Mark Braddock's claims that they used to have an intimate relationship. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Todd Chrisley makes it clear that he is not gay. In the latest episode of his "Chrisley Confessions" podcast, the "Chrisley Knows Best" star addressed his sexual orientation amid rumors and speculation regarding the matter. During the episode, Todd and his son Chase Chrisley discussed several hot topics including claims that he had an intimate relationship with former business partner Mark Braddock. Of the allegations, which were made by Mark himself, Todd said that it didn't really bother him. "What's insulted me the most is that, out of all these 54 years, for me to finally be accused of being with a man, it would be someone who looked like Mark Braddock," Todd sarcastically said. "A toad. Someone that looks like a thumb. Someone who says he's only had sex with his wife and me." The 53-year-old embattled star continued, "Let me you tell something. I could understand if you'd have had sex with me, it would [make] you crazy. I get that. There have been many who have been d**k-notized by your daddy." He added that Mark's comments were simply "wishful thinking." The father and son duo went on to point out that Mark's story changed multiple times since he made his allegation last year. Todd noted that the most insulting part of the allegation was Mark saying, "It was just something he wanted to try." He added, "I ain't that small spoon at Baskin-Robbins. I'm the whole scoop. You don't get to just sample here." Todd also said that he wouldn't be "embarrassed" if it was George Clooney or Brad Pitt who claimed that they had sex with him. "That is the one thing that is the most insulting," Todd stressed. "To say that I couldn't pull something better than that... there's better to be had by Todd Chrisley than that." Mark testified against Todd and Julie Chrisley during their fraud trial in 2022. In November, Todd and Julie were then sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months of probation, and seven years in prison and 16 months of probation, respectively, after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud in June. The couple was ordered to begin their prison sentence in January. You can share this post! Cover Images/Walter McBride Celebrity T.J.'s estranged wife is caught liking a photo shared by Andrew's son featuring the actor hanging out with his kids while the 'Good Morning America' anchors spend the holiday together. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Marilee Fiebig and Andrew Shue have at least one thing in common now and she knows exactly what he needs amid T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's affair. The attorney has shown support for Andrew's family while they are going through separation from their respective spouses. T.J.'s estranged wife was caught liking a photo shared by Andrew's son Nate Shue, whom he shares with former partner Jennifer Hageney. In the image posted on the 26-year-old's Instagram page on December 27, the actor sat on a couch with Nate and his two other sons while on a getaway to Montana. "RIDERS ON THE STORM. ON TO '23," Nate captioned the snap. According to Us Weekly, Marilee "liked" the post, though she has since deleted her "like" as her name no longer shows up under Nate's over 3,000 likes. The photo surfaced while Amy and T.J. were traveling together to Miami, Florida ahead of New Year's Eve. On December 26, were seen stocking up on beer and supplies as soon as they arrived in what seemed to be their final destination for the holiday, after waiting for their flight to the Sunshine State at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport earlier that day. Not hiding their feelings for each other, the two "Good Morning America" anchors were caught locking lips while on a romantic stroll on a pier on Wednesday, December 28. They packed on the PDA in front of plenty of bystanders, with Amy hanging on to her 45-year-old boyfriend's arm while enjoying the view. They also sat down to enjoy cocktails, light bites and conversation as they took in their stunning seaside view. At their table, the lovebirds also managed to sneak in a few pecks on each other's lips, shoulders and cheeks. On Thursday, Amy and T.J. returned to New York City ahead of NYE. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Back in October, the blogger was ordered to pay the 'Bodak Yellow' raptress $3.8 million for spreading lies about her having an STD, working as an escort and using drugs. Jan 5, 2023 AceShowbiz - Tasha K a.k.a. Latasha Kebe wants to drag Cardi B to the court again. The blogger, who was ordered to pay the "Bodak Yellow" raptress $3.8 million after losing the defamation case, demands a new trial as she claims the verdict was improper. Radar Online reported on Tuesday, January 3 that Tasha recently filed her appeal to the judgment, claiming it was improper. In newly filed documents, she laid out her argument on why she believes a new trial should be granted. In her filing, Tasha also accused the judge presiding over the trial of improperly allowing for the exclusion of character evidence. The blogger said months before the trial, Cardi filed a motion demanding evidence of her alleged gang affiliation not be shown to the jury. She said it was not relevant to the cast at hand. Tasha opposed Cardi's request saying the jury should hear about the alleged gang ties "because it is an extremely relevant part of who [Cardi] is." The social media influencer added, "The district court prevented this evidence from coming in." No decision has been made on the matter. Tasha was sued by Cardi for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in early 2019 over the latter's claims in her vlog on "unWinewithTashaK" YouTube channel. In her lawsuit, the wife of Offset accused Tasha of spreading vicious lies about her having an STD, working as an escort and using drugs. Cardi denied all the allegations. The "Money" femcee said the falsehoods caused her to struggle emotionally and lead to problems with her marriage. Then in January last year, she won the case with more than $2.5 million in damages and another $1.3 million in legal fees. Cardi hasn't let the appeal slow down her collections. The New York-born rapper has fired off multiple subpoenas to Tasha's bank to seize any money in her accounts. However, JP Morgan Chase Bank informed the hip-hop star that Tasha and her company T Studios only have $1,083.02 held in accounts. The amount is a far cry from what is needed to satisfy the court judgment she was awarded. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Performing in New Jersey where he was shot back in June, the 'Calling My Phone' spitter takes off his shirt to reveal the scars from the multiple gunshots that he suffered back then. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - What doesn't kill you makes you stronger is perhaps Lil Tjay's motto. Refusing to be crippled by a possible traumatizing event, the young rapper has shown how resilient he is by returning to the city where he was shot several months ago. Last week, Lil Tjay returned to New Jersey, where he was shot multiple times in June 2022, for a performance. Taking to Instagram to share pictures from the show, he revealed his gunshot wounds in two of the snaps. In the said images, the 21-year-old took off his shirt to show off the scars on the front of his body while performing onstage. He sported starry beige sweatpants, which he paired with a matching hoodie in two other photos. "BACK IN JERSEY," he simply captioned the pictures. In the comment section, people expressed their support for Lil Tjay. Tana Mongeau wrote, "love to see it!!" Another follower commented, "Love to see it bro." A third user remarked, "Took 7 shot still here..," while another fan shared, "The places on his side where he got shot hurts me glad he still going strong tho." Lil Tjay was shot seven times during an attempted robbery in Edgewater, New Jersey in the early hours of June 22. He was flown to Hackensack University Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery, while a second victim, 22-year-old Antoine Boyd, who is friends with the rapper, was also shot once and was in stable condition. Meanwhile, the shooter was also hit by gunfire, but managed to escape with help from an unidentified co-conspirator. After spending months in the hospital, in September, a video surfaced of the Bronx native walking out of a hospital room with the help of a nurse. At the top of the clip, he wrote, "The blogs said I was paralyzed and couldn't walk. But I started walking in a week after surgery. I beat the odds." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The 'Tiger King' star has officially dissolved his marriage to Dillon Passage, nearly two years after their relationship fell apart when the star was thrown into jail. Jan 4, 2023 AceShowbiz - Joe Exotic has finalized divorce from Dillon Passage almost two years after their split. The 59-year-old "Tiger King" star tied the knot with his 27-year-old lover in December 2017 but the marriage crumbled and divorce papers were filed in March 2021 after Joe was jailed for a murder-for-hire plot against his rival Carole Baskin as well as animal abuse charges. Now the marriage was officially dissolved on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 with a judge in Santa Rosa County signing off on the paperwork, TMZ.com reports. While Joe underwent treatment for prostate cancer which is now in remission, divorce proceedings had previously been halted. After the couple's split, Joe moved on with John Graham, whom he met in prison in Fort Worth, Texas and they had even been planning to marry before the relationship faltered when John was released. Joe - who is serving 21 years behind bars - is now said to be dating again with his attorney recently revealing he has revived his relationship with ex-boyfriend Seth Posey. Joe is said to have previously dated Seth for a matter of months towards the end of 2021. Lawyer Autumn Blackledge told ETOnline.com, "Joe is thankful that Seth is back in his life. They are both taking things slowly and just enjoying the time to reconnect." Blackledge added, "Joe Exotic, the Tiger King, is this larger-than-life entertainer to us, and it's hard to remember that he is a real person with real challenges and needs. At the end of the day, Joe wants what everyone wants, to love and to be loved and understood." You can share this post! Paramount Pictures Movie Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are taking studio and bosses behind their 1968 Oscar-winning movie to court over the nude scene filmed when they were teens. Jan 5, 2023 AceShowbiz - The two lead actors in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet" file a lawsuit over the nude scene they shot when they were teens. Olivia Hussey, now 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, lodged the document on Friday, December 30, 2022 at the Santa Monica Superior Court, California, accusing Paramount Pictures studio of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On Wednesday, January 4, 2023, details of the pair's suit emerged with the claim stating director Franco - who died at his Rome aged 96 in 2019 - had promised them there would not be any nudity in the film. On the final day of shooting, Franco allegedly declared the movie would "fail" unless they performed a scene naked in body makeup. Solomon Gresen, attorney for the pair, said they were "very young naive children in the '60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them." Tony Marinozzi, a business manager for the two British actors, said in a statement, "What they were told and what went on were two different things. They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? There are no options. There was no #MeToo." Olivia and Leonard were 15 and 16 respectively at the time of shooting and it is believed their claim is for more than $500 million (415 million.) Their suit apparently relies on a California law that expired on December 31, which temporarily suspended the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse. The $500 million in damages the pair are said to be seeking matches the amount the film has made since it was released. Their suit also alleges Franco - nominated for an Academy Award for best director for the film - showed them where the camera would be placed when they were naked, but said no nudity would be filmed or released. The pair say the scene caused them long-lasting financial, physical and emotional pain, and alleges the film cost them a "lifetime of loss of earnings and other employment benefits and job opportunities." Olivia told in 2018 how Franco nicknamed her "Boobs O'Mina" and confessed she was the unrequited love of his life. You can share this post! Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visits the National Museum of China in Beijing with Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who accompanies Marcos on his state visit to China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday visited the National Museum of China with Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who accompanied Marcos on his state visit to China. They visited an exhibition held jointly by the National Museum of China and the Palace Museum, and recalled the history of exchanges between the older generation of leaders of the two countries and were pleased with the development of bilateral friendly relations. Peng said that China and the Philippines are close neighbors facing each other across the sea, and the Philippines is an important country along the Maritime Silk Road. "It is hoped that the two peoples can carry forward the traditional friendship and bring the bilateral relations to a new high," Peng said. Louise Araneta-Marcos thanked Peng for inviting her to visit the National Museum of China, and expressed her hope to have a better and deeper understanding of the Chinese history and culture. She said the two peoples should carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road and continue to enhance mutual trust and friendship. Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visits the National Museum of China in Beijing with Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who accompanies Marcos on his state visit to China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Instagram Celebrity The 'So You Think You Can Dance' judge, who committed suicide at the age of 40 on December 13, 2022, reportedly will be laid to rest with a private memorial service held by his family. Jan 5, 2023 AceShowbiz - A funeral will be held in Los Angeles for Stephen "tWitch" Boss. Following his tragic death last month, the former DJ of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is going to be laid to rest with a private memorial service held by his family. The intimate funeral, which will be taking place on Wednesday, January 4 afternoon, will be attended only by the late dancer's family. However, there will be a second and larger celebration of life for his friends in the near future, according to TMZ. tWitch committed suicide on December 13, 2022. He was found dead at the age of 40 in a room at the Oak Tree Motel, 15 minutes walk from his family home. It's been reported he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The "So You Think You Can Dance" judge allegedly left a suicide note in his room. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that police discovered his final message at the scene of his death, which contained vague references to issues he had been battling. The specifics of the challenges are unclear, but Stephen's wife Allison Holker reportedly told police there were no "issues" with the DJ before he took his life. An insider also told the outlet that the late star, who shared children Weslie, 14, Maddox, six, and three-year-old Zaia with Allison, was not suffering financial woes before his death, despite unsubstantiated online rumors he had lost a fortune in cryptocurrency investments. Many were left shocked by tWitch's passing, including Ellen DeGeneres. On December 23, the former TV host revealed that she was still in a grieving process, saying, "Hey everybody, I just wanted to say that the past 11 days have been really tough for everyone... Everyone is in pain and trying to make sense of it - we will never make sense of it." "And the holidays are hard, I think, anyway, but I think the best thing we can do to honor tWitch is to laugh, and hug each other and to play games and dance and sing," the comedienne added. "That's the way we honor him we do the things he loved to do." You can share this post! Timex Group is known for designing, manufacturing, and marketing around the world, timepieces which are innovative and stylish. It is a company which is privately held and is headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut with more than 3,000 employees worldwide and multiple operating units. It is one of the largest watchmakers in the world, producing watches under numerous well-known brands, which include Timex, Salvatore Ferragamo, Guess, Nautica, Ted Baker, Furla, Versus, GC, Versace, Missoni. For the last 165 years, Timex has been combining leading technology with traditional craftsmanship, in alignment with the shift from pocket to wrist watches in the 20th century. In the past years, Timex had come up with campaigns such as We Dont Stop, Given for Generations celebrating and expressing its brand ethos. Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director, Timex Group India Ltd, is leading Timex Groups business transformation and strategic growth strategy in India. In conversation with Adgully, Deepak Chhabra speaks about the growth of the company in 2022, how it is strategizing to balance the legacy brand factor with being contemporary for todays consumers, focus on digital, and more. How was Timexs performance in the year 2022? Post Covid, the consumption of fashion and luxury has seen an uptick. We have shown growth of about 64% over last year. It is growing strong, but certainly we cannot spell out the growth which we are expecting. But the trend actually continues. Our business is doing pretty well. What kind of traction did you see during the festive season? What kid of campaign did you release during that time? The festive season has been pretty good. Although we saw a minor shift from online to offline, so the contribution of the offline business was a bit bigger than the online business. Possibly because people could go out after a long time and they wanted to actually touch, feel and buy. That movement we have seen. Offline business was struggling a bit because of Covid restrictions. So, post-Covid offline came out very strongly. On the campaign part, we had our festive campaign largely around our sub-brand called Freya, which is a women occasion wear brand. We have also had a campaign highlighting the recognition that we got in the US, where we were rated as the best watch brand in the world. These are the two campaigns that we had during the festive time. Did Timex collaborate with any brand ambassador? We continuously have engagements with a lot of influencers. But we have not done any brand endorsement at this point in time. But we collaborated with more than 200 Category A microinfluencers in this campaign. We are contemplating having in 2023, but we have not settled on a name yet. What was the core of the brand messaging of Timex in 2022? There has always been a concern around being a legacy brand and a contemporary brand. So, the larger focus of the messaging was that while we are the authentic watchmaker for the last 165+ years, but we are contemporary as well. We are as relevant to Gen Z as we are to a millennial. So, the larger messaging was around this. The broad objective of this messaging was to convey to Gen Z that relevance of the brand for them as well. Most of the brands which are legacy brands do have this challenge that while they maintain the legacy, the contemporariness becomes a bit of a challenge, and we wanted to address that. How did Timex leverage the digital medium to rngage its consumers? We are digital-first in our marketing approach. About three-fourth or 75% of our marketing investments is digitally focused whether itis social media, influencer activation, ATL campaign which is digitally led. So, our major focus is to keep in mind the consumption of digital media, which is pretty high in our target audience. The balance 25% we invest largely on point of sale, constituting our BTL activities. Where is the global lifestyle industry headed? There has been a huge shift towards premium and luxury consumption in lifestyle today, whereas about two years back, luxury used to contribute minimal revenue to our overall revenue globally as well. Now we have seen in the last 4-5 quarters that the consumption of luxury watches has seen a huge uptick, and the same is being reflected in our India operations, wherein our brands such as Versace and Salvatore Ferragamo have been growing more than 100% YOY. Thus, premiumisation of the category is happening, wherein people are consuming more premium products and secondly, fashion brands, which previously were struggling in the watches category, are doing much better than before. Generally when people invest larger amount on consuming watches, they look for authentic watchmakers rather than a fashion brand who also makes watches. But since the trends are changing, watches are becoming more like an accessory to match their attire. The fashion brands, watches and accessories are doing much better than before. So, the growth that we have seen in the watches with the fashion brands is way ahead of the growth which has happened in pureplay watch brands globally as well. Thats the larger shift that we have seen. Abhishek Shahabadi has joined Pernord Richard as Marketing Director. He posted about his move on his LinkedIn account. Earlier, Abhishek was working with Diageo as VP of media, content, partnerships & productivity. He served the company for over 17 years. Shahabadi also had prior experience working with, among others, United Spirits as DY general manager, India. He has also been associated with media brands Madison Communications, MEC/Zenith Media and Starcom MediaVest Group. According to media reports, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) rejected Google's motion for an interim stay on a Competition Commission of India (CCI) decision ordering the tech giant to alter how it treats its Android platform on Wednesday. Additionally, the tribunal ordered the search engine giant to deposit 10% of the Rs 1,337.76 crore fine levied by the CCI. The NCLAT refused to provide a temporary reprieve from the CCI penalty and stated that it will make a decision post hearing from all parties. The tribunal gave CCI notifications and ordered that the case to be scheduled for hearing on February 13. According to media reports, the two-member tribunal panel stated that there was "no need to make any interim decision at this time considering the extensive size of the appeal." Senior attorney Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on behalf of Google, claimed that the CCI's judgement will compel the corporation to alter its business model and hurt consumer interests. The tribunal, however, rejected this defence. Indias award winning organic digital growth platform, Infidigit, has bagged the SEO mandate for SBI Life Insurance, one of most trusted private life insurers in the country. As part of the mandate, Infidigit is all set to create a strategy to organically boost SBI Lifes ranking through its interactive website and further consolidate brand SBI Lifes strong online identity. Kaushal Thakkar, Infidigits Founder and Managing Director said, Infidigit is proud to have SBI Life Insurance as one of our esteemed clients. SBI Life is one of the most credible and reputed insurers in the Indian life insurance space. In the post covid era, a large number of Indians have realized the importance of securing their familys financial future and the effects of this can be seen on Google search. Google has become a crucial touchpoint for brands as users turn to Google for quick answers. We aim to further drive organic traffic and rankings by optimizing for both users and search engines. Speaking on the development, Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communications & CSR, SBI Life Insurance, said, We are excited to onboard Infidigit for taking over the SEO responsibilities for SBI Life Insurance and look forward to their valuable strategic direction that will further enhance SBI Lifes online presence. Looking at Infidigits notable SEO work, we are optimistic that the team will enhance SBI Lifes presence and grow our websites organic traffic and enhance online ranking. SBI Life is the latest addition to Infidigits elite list of clientele. Infidigit continues to help their clients grow digitally and increase the online presence by assisting them in creating successful search campaigns, along with CRO, & ASO strategies. Some of their most prominent names include Myntra, Spinny, Metro Shoes and Zivame, among others. Motilal Oswal Mutual Funds has launched a new brand campaign Widest Range of Index Funds. The widest range of index funds campaign helps demonstrate the brands extensive boutique of index based mutual funds & ETFs that span across geographies, asset classes, and market-caps. These products help address demands of a variety of investors seeking products in the index investing space. Mr. Pratik Oswal, President of Passive Funds Business at Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company, joined the business in 2019 and has focused on offering easy, economical, and effective investment solutions for Indian investors. The company is known for its thought leadership with many industry-first products under its belt. Over the last 3 years, the company has launched 24 innovative products that cover 19 unique passive strategies. These products have been well received by the investor community, resulting in the AUM of passive funds business growing from less than 200 Crs in Jan-2019 to over 13,000 Crs as of Nov-2022. Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund now has 13 index funds across Domestic & International Equity as part of its product offerings. The creative idea of the campaign aims to highlight the brands extensive range of index based mutual funds by showcasing how the brand is able to cater to the demands of a wide collective of potential investors and their unique investment peculiarities & philosophies. Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Navin Agarwal, MD & CEO, Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company, said, It is incredible to see that the mutual fund industry has seen a significant increase in the number of new index based products in the past three years. The campaign aims to highlight our companys contribution in the evolution of index funds industry in India with widest range of products. We are well poised to retain this prominent position with a continuous effort to devise innovative solutions that cater to the evolving preferences of our customers. Speaking on the film, Mr. Aditya Singh, Vice President, Head - Marketing at Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company, said, At a time where mutual fund investors are spoilt for choice by the many offerings at bay, our brand film intends to voice the fact that Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund is definitely at the forefront of the progress our industry has witnessed over the recent past. We are equipped with a distinguished team of experts to fuel our tenacious pursuit of offering innovative solutions to index fund investors, & help them continually broaden their investing horizons. In the spirit of new beginnings & convictions, the campaign aims to highlight that our index fund offerings are sufficient in providing the support customers need to meet their investment objectives. Talking about the campaign creative & digital impact of the film, Nitin Mali, Founder & Director De works communications Pvt. Ltd., said, To represent the wide range of funds the brand had to offer, we envisioned a campaign that would also help portray the many investor profiles the brand is able to address. The film opens with investors who are new in the market & in search of some direction and/or advice on getting started, as it then progresses to showcase those that are relatively experienced & confident in what they are looking for out of their investments. Capturing many profiles of investors & their respective backgrounds has resulted in a film that is playfully vibrant, rife with quick transitions, & whole-heartedly captivating from start to finish. The film rightfully delivers the spirit of the Motilal Oswal brand in a refreshing yet familiar outfit. The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) has issued a circular asking various competent authorities to get all the registered publications' Circulation Verified as per the new Standard Operating Procedure. RNI has issued the circular to all generals, PIB, CBC to get publication's circulation verified The circular was addressed to All Additional Director Generals (Regions), Central Bureau of Communications (CBC), All DGs (zone) The circular also stated that no PIB office will issue an 'under process certificate' to any publisher w.e.f. 1st January, 2023 except under extraordinarily compelling situations (with reasons to be recorded on file). HUEMN, an award winning RTW fashion label, recently collaborated with Pepsi to celebrate the empowerment of the youth of India with confidence. Over the years, Pepsi has been fortifying its youth-centric strategy with various campaigns as well as strategic associations. HUEMN is homegrown in India and retails in India, Middle-East, China, Japan, Europe and the Americas. The brand completed 10 years recently and celebrated it with a fashion event to showcase its latest collection. The brand roped in Sara Ali Khan as their showstopper. In conversation with Adgully, Saumya Rathor, Category Lead, Pepsi Cola, PepsiCo India, speaks about the beverage brands association with HUEMN, marketing strategies targeted at the youth, being a culture curator, Pepsis irreverent SWAG philosophy, and more. What are Pepsis marketing plans to reach Gen Z consumers with focus on the new collection? Pepsi, a brand that fosters culture, is collaborating with the fashion brand HUEMN on their newest collection to celebrate the spirit of the younger generation. Pepsi is a brand that has always resonated with the voice of todays generation. This new generation carries swag and an inherent confidence in their own abilities. They are not afraid to express themselves, and fashion has always been an important tool through which youth can express their identities. As a result, this collaboration with HUEMN to launch this new collection celebrates this very philosophy of empowering the youth of India with self-expression, confidence, and a whole lot of swag. From the design aesthetics of our collection to our showstopper Sara Ali Khan, herself a Gen Z, who is not only a youth icon but also an embodiment of Pepsis irreverent SWAG philosophy, everything contributes to our marketing strategy, which is focused to deepen our connection with the young generation. How is this collaboration with HUEMN going to reflect the philosophies of both the brands? While Pepsi has always been a culture curator, with a finger of the pulse of the youth of India, HUEMN has been a young homegrown brand, which has championed streetwear for the new generation. Our shared brand philosophy has always been rooted in empowering the youth with confidence, self-expression, and inclusivity for the longest of time. Hence, the integration of Pepsis iconic legacy with the excellent design sensibilities and aesthetics of HUEMN was seamless and we are very excited for this collection to reach our consumers. How does Pepsi find avenues to reach out to its consumers across the year with collaborations and campaigns targeted towards the youth? Pepsi has always had its finger on the pulse of pop culture. Extensive consumer research over the years has helped us stay ahead of the curve and activate storytelling that resonates with the youth. With content consumption increasingly shifting to digital media, leveraging topicality through fixed and fluid moments is very important to be relevant to consumers. Brands need to have unique insights along with interesting and actionable content to be able to communicate with their audiences, especially the new generation who believes in original ideas, snackable content and visuals. To that end, Pepsi has identified passion points such as Bollywood, fashion, and music to connect with the SWAG generation. At Pepsi, we are committed to bring forth ground-breaking narratives to further strengthen our connection with the youth of India. What were the other successful collaborations and campaigns for Pepsi in 2022? We have always endeavoured to redefine narratives in the marketing space with something never-seen-before. Right from the beginning of this year, we aimed to bring forward a compelling storyline that not only amplified Pepsis new More Refreshing messaging, but was also underpinned by technology to capitalise on the youths growing dependence on technology. We used quirky and humorous content strategies to foster connections with the brands young audience, and our More Refreshing campaign has also stemmed from this insight. Our goal with the launch of Pepsi Black Zero Sugar was to address the evolving health-conscious Gen Z preferences. As a brand, Pepsi has always been at the forefront of cultural evolutions, globally as well as in India. Our endeavour is to transform our communications to align with the evolving youth. Pepsi has always been a brand with a strong heritage in pop culture, so it was only fitting for us to bring that legacy into the new world of NFTs. Inspired by the brand philosophy of Pepsi Black, our recent Pepsi Black Zero Sugar NFT collection was an ode to the younger generation who are deeply entrenched in technology. The NFT art collectibles were centred around the classic Pepsi Black Zero visual, with designs around the Zero inspired from varied consumer passion points such as rhythm, movement, etc. How was the year 2022 for Pepsi from a brand marketing perspective? Pepsi, as a brand, has always been a culture curator and has always endeavoured to bring entertaining campaigns for its consumers through the power of creative storytelling. With the acceleration of digitalization, the trends are evolving to accommodate virtual experiences which mirror reality coupled with a consistent metamorphosis of consumer preferences and requirements. In line with this, we have also evolved, customised, and personalised our marketing initiatives and communications this year to best suit the expectations and preferences of our consumers. Our innovative and experimental narratives this year have been a testament to our evolving brand marketing strategy, from the industry-first use of Deepfake technology in our More Fizz More Refreshing campaign to our foray into the world of Non-Fungible-Tokens through our Pepsi Black Zero Sugar collection. What new collaborations can we expect from Pepsi in 2023? We will continue to do bold, brave, and disruptive campaigns to push the envelope of creativity in the marketing and advertising space in India. While we do not provide forward guidance, we will let you know as soon as we firm our plans and get ready to make an announcement. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with visiting President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in Beijing on Wednesday. Noting that China and the Philippines are close neighbors with a long history of friendly exchanges between the two peoples and steady progress on pragmatic cooperation in various fields, Li said Marcos' visit at the beginning of the new year is indicative of a good start to bilateral ties. Li said China attaches great importance to relations with the Philippines, adding that China is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation with the Philippines to maintain regional peace and development and better benefit the two peoples. Li said China is willing to work with the Philippines to better synergize development strategies to promote infrastructure cooperation, continuously deepen economic and trade cooperation, expand imports of readily marketable quality agricultural products from the Philippines, and beef up cooperation on new energy, including wind and solar energy, and strengthen cooperation on people-to-people exchanges and the recovery of tourism, among other areas. The premier said maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea serves the interests of countries within the region, including China and the Philippines. It is hoped that all sides will work together to facilitate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to build the sea into one featuring peace, friendship and cooperation, he added. Calling China a brother, partner and friend of the Philippines, Marcos said the Philippines is willing to deepen cooperation in various fields on all levels and work to forge a strong partnership with China. He said the Philippines hopes to enhance communications with China to properly settle issues related to the South China Sea and maintain the peace and stability of the bilateral ties and the region. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with visiting President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) From ABC News. New York police today discovered the body of a 9-year old autistic boy in a luxury Manhattan hotel room, possibly strangled to death by his "socialite" mother who was found nearby suffering the effects of a botched suicide, sources told ABC News. Gigi Jordan, 49, distraught over the recent end of her marriage, checked in to the Peninsula Hotel where she allegedly killed the boy and then tried to kill herself by taking an overdose of drugs, police said. Police say she was taken to Bellevue... From The NY Daily News Gigi Jordan just wanted the pain to end - for her, and for her beloved 8-year-old son. In a bizarre message intended as a suicide note, the wealthy one-time pharmaceutical company executive detailed a life of sadness interrupted by a single ray of hope: her only child, Jude. "I hope Jude is in a better place," the 49-year-old Belgian wrote in the strange two-page note left in her 16th-floor suite at the posh Peninsula hotel. At one point, Jordan suggested her son was a rape victim and "in constant pain." She mentioned speaking with a Wyoming child porn investigator about the sexual abuse of kids... Our beloved founding editor Dan Olmsted had a saying, "Rich people are different from you and me." He'd tell me that when we were struggling to launch and continue Age of Autism, even as gobs of money swirled around us. Here's a prime example, and one that brings us back to the thick of autism agony. Gigi Jordan was a wealthy autism Mom who was convicted of murdering her son in a 5 star hotel some 12 years ago. We wrote about it, just as we wrote about the other parents who murdered their autistic kids. In 2020, I wrote WE CAN NOT KILL OUR KIDS following another murder. Jordan was back in the news this week, having likely committed suicide rather than face more prison time. I didn't have the heart to open the new year with this grim reminder story. The average Joe and Jane would never have been able to turn a vicious murder (she stuffed pills down her son Jude's throat causing his death) into a mental health excuse and then find a procedural error that sprung her. Imagine what that cost in lawyer fees? Never forget Jude and his agony. And never forget that autism affects the entire family. Even rich people. Millionaire pharma exec Gigi Jordan, who killed 8-year-old son, found dead inside NYC home in possible suicide ...During a strange, six-week trial, Jordans defense lawyers argued she killed the boy while in a state of extreme emotional disturbance, fearing he was about to be murdered by her ex-husband. A Manhattan jury acquitted her of the top murder count, but found Jordan guilty of manslaughter in 2014. Jordan was sentenced to 18 years in prison but a federal judge tossed her conviction in 2020 over a procedural misstep... Read the full story at the NY Post. Now available from Skyhorse Publishing: Cause Unknown The Epidemic of Sudden Deaths in 2021 & 2022 By Ed Dowd, from Skyhorse Publishing. The CEO of the OneAmerica insurance company publicly disclosed that during the third and fourth quarters of 2021, death in people of working age (1864) was 40 percent higher than it was before the pandemic. ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Wednesday said humanitarian access and the delivery of urgently needed assistance to conflict-affected parts of northern Ethiopia remain a key priority to ensure people's recovery from conflict. The FAO, in its latest humanitarian response overview for Ethiopia, said humanitarian assistance has slowly started to reach people affected by conflict in northern Ethiopia, following the recently signed peace agreement between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). "However, humanitarian access and the delivery of urgently needed assistance, especially in Tigray, remain key priorities to ensure people are able to recover from conflict," it said. According to the FAO, across the three conflict-affected regions in northern Ethiopia that are Afar, Amhara and Tigray, the conflict has further contributed to mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, and limited access to markets, food and basic services. "It has likewise hindered many communities from engaging in agricultural activities, as well as accessing farm inputs (seeds, fertilizer and tools) and vital services (healthcare, education, banking and water)," it said. It also said although humanitarian actors are now moving supplies into the Tigray region, they are not enough to meet growing needs. "This distinct lack of resources and limited access to humanitarian support has diminished people's coping capacities, increasing their vulnerability to additional shocks and stressors," the FAO said. According to the FAO, in the just-started 2023, it will prioritize the restoration of people's agricultural livelihoods, particularly in conflict and drought-affected parts of Ethiopia, so as to ensure people have the resources they need to strengthen their resilience. Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, has seen a devastating conflict between government-allied troops and forces loyal to the TPLF since November 2020, which left thousands dead and millions more in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. In early November 2022, the two parties in the Ethiopian conflict formally agreed to the cessation of hostilities and orderly disarmament. The deal also includes restoring law and order, restoring services and unhindered access to humanitarian supplies. [I]n 2022 the US continued to be afflicted by political dysfunction and polarization, the fallout from the Trump presidency and in particular his refusal to accept the legitimacy of his electoral defeat continues to divide America and Trump, don't forget, is running again [in 2024]. Steven Sackur, BBC Hardtalk "Year in Review," Dec. 29, 2022 In his recent "Year in Review," the BBC's Steven Sackur interviewed Jamie Raskin of the illegitimately formed House January 6 Committee and Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham about the political division in the United States. Sackur began with an unsupported causal claim that the political polarization in the United States was "due" to Trump's presidency and to Trump's "refusal" to accept the results of the 2020 election, which, by an astonishing coincidence, just happens to be the precise obsession of the Democrat party and his other guest, Jamie Raskin! Well, that seems fair! Raskin told Sackur that Trump-supporters attacked our constitutional process, but "the foremost responsibility of a political party to accept election results even if they don't go your way." Unfortunately, Raskin did not make similar statements when Democrat "election deniers" began squealing about Russian collusion immediately upon Trump's election in 2016 or when Stacey Abrams repeatedly stated that she had won the election for governor of Georgia in 2018, not to mention the plethora of other Democrat "election deniers" over recent decades. Sackur then introduced Lindsey Graham with a statement made to frame (in the psychological sense of prejudicing the outcome) his discussion: Joe Biden ... just made a very important speech to the American public saying that "the Republican Party is dominated and intimidated by Trump and MAGA Republicans and their extreme ideology. He [says] there are dark forces at work that are inciting violence and I think he may see you [Lindsey Graham] as one of them. Sackur hereby informed the audience, before Graham had even said a word, that Biden had made an important speech, that the people in the Republican Party who support Trump do not do so freely, but because they are "dominated and intimidated" by him, that Trump's MAGA is an "extreme ideology," that "dark forces ... inciting violence" support Trump, and that Biden thinks "you [Lindsey Graham]" are part of those "dark forces." Well, that sounds fair! Of course, if Biden says something, it must be true, like his claims that he graduated in the top half of his law school class, when, in fact, he graduated in the bottom 11%, or his false claim that he was a full professor at the University of Pennsylvania, or his false claim that he was arrested in South Africa trying to see Nelson Mandela, etc., etc., etc. Needless to say, Sackur gave no evidence whatsoever that Trump's refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election caused the political polarization in the United States. Anyone even minimally familiar with the philosophy of science knows that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to determine causal connections in the social world, where the variables are impossibly complex and where some philosophers, like Ludwig Wittgenstein and his disciples, argue that there are deep problems with the application of the causal model to social phenomena. Nevertheless, Sackur somehow divined that Raskin's Democrat party script about what caused political divisions in the United States was correct! Perhaps, however, the political divisions in the United States began when the Washington Post, just a few minutes after Trump was sworn into office, stated that the campaign to impeach him had begun. Perhaps they began when Hillary Clinton and the DNC paid for a fake Russian dossier, which U.S. "intelligence agencies" somehow managed not to notice, to frame Donald Trump for colluding with Russia to steal the 2016 election. Perhaps they began when Hillary's bought-and-paid-for dossier was used to justify the massive $32-million Mueller special counsel investigation that bogged down several years of Trump's presidency, thereby cheating his voters. Perhaps they began when what passes for the American "news" media, sometimes literally with eyes bulging and distended forehead veins, chanted "the walls are closing in [on Trump]" for years. Perhaps they began when the Democrat-media colluders pushed the fake Trump-tear-gassed-civilians-in-Lafayette-Park-for-a-Bible-photo-op hoax. Perhaps they began when the media pushed the discredited Russia-paid-the-Taliban-bounties-to-kill-U.S.-troops-in-Afghanistan-and-Trump-ignored-it hoax. Perhaps they began when Biden stated that Trump had refused to condemn neo-Nazis and white supremacists, a claim that even USATODAY has debunked, but which leftists continue to repeat until this day. Perhaps they began when 51 former "intelligence" officers signed a letter just before the 2020 election that falsely claimed that the Hunter Biden laptop story was probably Russian disinformation. Perhaps they began when MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace had to apologize for falsely claiming that Trump had talked about "exterminating Latinos." Perhaps it began when Big Tech colluded with our "intelligence" agencies and the Biden administration to censor the true Hunter Biden laptop story. Perhaps it began with the 157 "mistakes" made by the "news" media during the Trump era (documented by one of the few remaining actual journalists, Sharyl Attkisson). Etc. Sackur cannot, apparently, see the difference between partisan hyperventilation and actual evidence. Perhaps GWU constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley, a liberal Obama voter, but an honest man, can enlighten him. Since most "journalists" live in this comfortable navel-gazing bubble of like-minded "liberals," they easily fall into a version of the ad populum fallacy that something is true because everybody in their elite little bubble believes it. Many in the media on both sides of the pond have what Thomas Kuhn calls a "paradigm," a fundamental view about the way the world is that even informs the way one sees the evidence. The "reasoning," so to speak, goes something like this: since everybody smart and important (that is, everybody in my little elitist bubble) thinks Trump is a dangerous extremist promoting violence, any claim that he did so must be true, and any claim that he did not do it is a conspiracy theory by "dark forces." How else can Sackur dismiss the fact that Trump's exact words to the crowd on January 6, conveniently edited out by his Democrat partisan guru Raskin, were "I know you will proceed peacefully and patriotically to make your voices heard"? How else can Sackur dismiss the fact that the Democrats and most of what passes for our "news" media have downplayed the fact that the only person killed that day was an unarmed female Trump-supporter shot by a Capitol policeman (the others not "killed" by anyone, but died by natural causes). How else can he miss the fact that, as many Republicans have been saying for months, some of them under oath, that Nancy Pelosi turned down Trump's offer of National Guard troops to protect the Capitol? Unfortunately, once one buys into an ideological paradigm, one loses the ability to see. Everything confirms one's view, and anything that undermines it must be due to "dark forces"! The media are the same everywhere. One always gets the same pre-ordained outcome delivered sanctimoniously with an affected superiority and a total lack of self-awareness, all built on sloppy reasoning and loose language. Well, that sounds fair! Image: Logo via Wikipedia, fair use. As of the writing of this article (Tuesday evening Jan 3, 2023), three votes for the Speaker of the House have been taken. The last vote, the "no" votes for Kevin McCarthy increased from 19 to 20 members of the Republican Party. So 202 members still support McCarthy. The 20 votes were cast for Jim Jordan, who flatly refuses to take the job. He wants to lead the Judiciary Committee, which he is suited to do. The few opponents of McCarthy are dividing the party, not uniting It, despite their protestations (as described by Rep. Lauren Boebert). I must state clearly that I expected a larger Republican wave in November. Now I accept that our leadership and the most ardent proponents of conservatism within the party are in a death clash. This is the reason the red wave never occurred. The swamp (in this case, the bureaucracy) is a threat to our republic. Clearly, they have impacted several elections. They work with the aid of Democrat administrations to maintain and extend their control. The FBI leadership, for instance, does not love Biden, but they know they can manage him, whereas Trump is a loose cannon who would resist their influence. This is the reason they continue to go after him. The Democrats seek power at all costs. They use Marxist approaches to gain the votes of low-information people by offering free things. Lying to the citizens is no problem for the Democrats. In this way, they follow the political thesis of The Prince. They want to secure and maintain power, the rule of a dictator. They use it to effect changes that will make statism more likely. In this regard, they are consistent. For over 100 years, beginning with Woodrow Wilson, they have pursued this approach. Destroying our constitutional republic is possible, but not their aim. Their aim is power and all the trappings that result from this such as wealth. They take our income for their purposes. Only the Republicans can stop this. Niccolo Machiavelli also wrote another treatise, rarely discussed, called the "Discourses on Livy," which argues for a functioning republic. Certainly, the use of political power for good or evil is determined by the individuals who exercise it. In the end, having power and not using it wisely would be detrimental to society, according to Machiavelli. So how does this impact the process in the House of Representatives? First, I must say that Kevin McCarthy would not be my first choice for speaker. That said, he secured all but 31 votes (which went to Biggs) during the party leadership vote last year. He did lay out his Commitment to America during the midterms, which are favorable. His opponents argue that they have a consensus candidate to unite the party. But none has emerged who wants the job. The last time this occurred, Paul Ryan was unable to get a repeal of Obamacare through the Congress, as the Senate rejected all attempts a failure to keep the Republicans' promise in the 2016 elections. This loss weakened any chance to undo decades of liberalism. Ryan was a somewhat weak leader, while Nancy Pelosi was a strong (though terrible) one. The role of the speaker in modern politics is to raise money for campaigns. In this role, Kevin McCarthy is perfectly suited and successful. Yes, he has gotten money from Silicon Valley, but that means that people there support our goals or want to buy our votes. Would you rather they support only Democrats, who will pass worse legislation? McCarthy will have to guarantee to the holdouts a select committee to examine the fraud, abuse, and corruption within our police agencies, intelligence agencies, and Justice Department. Further, he will have to ensure that the facts of the January 6, 2020 Capitol riots be revealed, not select information protecting Nancy Pelosi for refusing adequate national guard help and the FBI (involving the bombs at the DNC and RNC never investigated), which cherry-picked information given to the Jan. 6 committee. He will also likely have to make more compromises to these opponents, beyond the motion to vacate. In this regard, McCarthy is skilled and capable. Given the small majority we hold, we need a leader who can navigate the press, the White House, and Senate opposition. A republic requires compromises more than I want to see, but necessary to get things accomplished. Machiavelli would likely say it is time to come together before the Democrats seize more power. McCarthy is not conservative enough, but compared to Pelosi, he is a fresh start. Do the conservatives have a plan to fix the problems created by Biden's administration that he would sign? Our leverage was wasted by the Republicans in the Senate in December. This is the reason we did not have a red wave: the people are not inspired by our Republican leaders and don't trust them. Incremental deeds that reverse the citizenry's mistrust must be McCarthy's goal. Image: Kevin McCarthy. Credit: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Does the name Emily Oster ring a bell? It likely does, given the fact her Lets Declare a Pandemic Amnesty piece in The Atlantic went viral a few months back, especially among those fashioned into second class citizens by the pandemic. Now, Oster has an echo. Alena Buyx is a professor and the chair of the German Ethics Council (a body of unelected bureaucrats advising the German government), and she recently granted an interview with Die Zeit in which she suggested that accountability should be off the table; the Council and its members were just following science. Sounds a lot like just following orders if you ask me. For a bit of context, read the excerpt below from a piece posted to the Eugyppius Substack yesterday: The German Ethics Council is an independent advisory body which has existed in some form since 2001, and which has a mandate to advise the government especially on matters of bioethics. It met its first serious test during the Corona era, when the entire political and bureaucratic leadership decided that the best way to respond to SARS-2 would be to commit massive human rights violations. Naturally, the Ethics Council not only failed to oppose these extraordinary policies, but supported them wherever possible. Eugyppius goes on to aptly describe Buyx as highly conscientious, deeply conformist, mildly intelligent, and totally bereft of all originality and independence of thought and from the interview, gleaned that Buyx decided that it would be better not to blame anyone for the hell that the Corona brigade has put all of us through. When the interviewer asks Buyx if politicians should apologize for the destruction, Buyx responds with: May I start with the Ethics Council? Weve clearly been self-critical and named our mistakes. Self criticism like this is a form of apologetic openness. Yet, its still not an apology. Buyx then goes on, and asserts: There is a deep, comprehensive need to deal with this pandemic. And apparently also find someone to blame. Um, yes Alena, when tyrannical regimes become so oppressive they commit crimes against humanity, heads need to roll. People lost everything. Their lives were destroyed. Then, Buyx discusses the publics insatiable need to find culprits actions have consequences, and the little people generally frown upon totalitarianism. Buyx says: But there is something insatiable about this need to find culprits, which sometimes seems to be more about revenge, about seeking propitiation. A search for culprits driven by revenge and anger is dangerously easy, and so its not a solution, it doesnt help at all. There is a need for much more learning and honest, serious retrospection, there is an obligation to do that, and thats what is happening. Its about learning from what didnt go well and looking to the future with new recommendations. All this should remain constructive no one would benefit from public flagellation now. What I find particularly interesting is that Buyx emphasizes the need to learn from the mistakes hasnt this woman ever heard of the Nuremberg Trials? Has she ever read an actual history book? Declaring the desire to learn and move on from mistakes is nothing more than a malicious attempt to sidestep accountability. There are no shortage of historical examples which show tyranny is tyrannical. How stupid does she think we are? Bureaucrats like Buyx can never understand, because being societal leeches, their livelihoods are secure. Public flagellation is the least we can rightfully demand. As Selwyn Duke noted, Forgiveness does not obviate punishment. Only unconditional surrender and punishment will do. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. The high mark of the rights of the Jews to Palestine, formerly known as Judea for 1,000 years, was not the 1917 Balfour Declaration, (which was just a declaration), but the San Remo Resolution of 1920. In my article, Jordan is Palestine A Legal Analysis, I wrote: The San Remo Resolution is the subject of research of international law scholar and lawyer, Jacques Gauthier, Ph.D. Gauthier, who is Christian, spent a quarter-century researching and writing a 1,300-page thesis to investigate legal ownership rights of Jerusalem, the ancient-modern capital city. Through San Remo, a legal document, Gauthier explained. The Jewish people have been given the right to establish a home, based on the recognition of their historical connection and the grounds for reconstituting this national home,. The Palestine Mandate, passed in 1922 by the League of nations, included this recital. Whereas recognition has thereby [i.e. by the Treaty of Sevres] been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine, and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country I buttressed Gauthiers opinion in Israel is the legal owner of all lands west of the Jordan River. Thats it. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Thus, to establish the basis for the Arab claim to the land, they claim to be the indigenous people. But are they? The Palestinian Indigenous Population Argument Myths and Facts by Danny the Digger, Perhaps the most powerful argument of the Palestinian-Arabs in the conflict over the land is that they are a native or indigenous population, while the Jewish-Zionists are a foreign population, who colonized their land. In line with their claim of having been a native population, in the past the Arab Palestinians claimed to be descendants of the Philistines. But are they? For one thing the Philistines themselves were immigrants from Greece. They spoke a dialect of Greek and worshipped Philistine and Canaanite gods. Moreover, in western cultures, the Philistines are perceived as barbarians. Realizing this, in recent years the Arab Palestinians changed their claim, and argue to be descendants of the Canaanites. However, the Canaanites also did not speak Arabic nor did they worship Allah. They spoke a Canaanite [language], which is close to Hebrew, and worshipped a pantheon of [g]ods. According to the United Nations, Indigenous peoples are the holders of unique languages, knowledge systems and beliefs and possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. They have a special relation to and use of their traditional land. Their ancestral land has a fundamental importance for their collective physical and cultural survival as peoples. Indigenous peoples hold their own diverse concepts of development, based on their traditional values, visions, needs and priorities. Back to Danny the Digger: The cultural roots of Arab Palestinians, most of which are Muslims, are in the Arabian Peninsula. It is the source both of their language, and their religion. They originate in the Arabian Peninsula, and that is the only place where they can claim to be an Indigenous population. But the Jews fit this definition exactly. In fact, the Palestine Mandate also recognized the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine. But what about their claim that the Jews are occupiers of Arab land? Such a claim is false on two accounts. Its not Arab land and Jews are not in any way occupiers. Its a myth. How to defeat the Israel occupation myth with facts First, just because a preponderance of countries in the United Nations vote to condemn Israels occupation doesnt make it illegal.. Second, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention (FGC) to prove Israel illegally occupies Judea and Samaria exposes equally serious flaws in the anti-Zionist argument. But the FGC is not applicable here because the FGC only applies when a country takes over the sovereign territory of another country (Art 2). The land in question was never the land of another country, whether of Jordan, or any other country. None had ever had recognized sovereignty there. The facts tell a different story. Jews have lived in the land continuously for at least 3,000 years. The San Remo Resolution in 1920 gave the Jewish people legal title to the land and the Palestine Mandate of 1922 gave them the right to settle the land. Yet, since 1999, the UN, EU and the PA refer to the land as occupied Palestinian territory. This was due to the fact that the Oslo Accords gave the Palestinians autonomy over Area A, partial autonomy over Area B, and no autonomy over Area C as delineated by the Accords. But even they recognize that these lands are not sovereign Palestinian territory. And as I pointed out in Israel should terminate the Oslo Accords, such autonomy can be cancelled by Israel at any time. In conclusion, these lands are not Palestinian lands and they are not occupied by Israel. It's wrong to think otherwise. Image: Sadalmelik, via Wikipedia // public domain Want to save the planet? Then have sex with short people. Or so say some. While I'm not against mating with the vertically challenged, I'm not buying the premise. PJ Media recently referenced a New York Times opinion piece by Gross Anatomy author (and confessed short person) Mara Altman in which she argues that "short is better, and it is the future." Altman wrote, "Short people don't just save resources, but as resources become scarcer because of the earth's growing population and global warming, they may also be best suited for long-term survival." That claim seems short on evidence and substantiation if you ask me. The PJ Media article also referenced Thomas Samaras, who, it says, has been studying height for 40 years and is apparently known in some (small) circles as the "Godfather of Shrink Think," a philosophy that believes smaller is better. Samaras calculated that if Americans were just 10 percent shorter on average, we would save 87 million tons of food per year. (And countless gallons of water...while producing much less trash.) Moreover, famed primatologist Jane Goodall, while speaking at the World Economic Forum, stated that the Earth would be far better off if 7.5 billion of us weren't alive. She opined that we wouldn't be facing the problems climate and population alarmists think we're facing if only the planet had the population of "500 years ago," which was roughly 500 million. Ms. Goodall, who is extremely fond of chimpanzees, obviously does not hold humans in such high regard if she thinks it would be best if 94% of us were not here. If it would be better if we were all 10% shorter, it stands to reason that it would be better still if we were all 20% or 50% shorter. But is this true? Better for whom? And if the planet would be better off without 94% of us, surely the best-case scenario would be our utter demise and extinction. Turns out, some people think that is the case. I might take this a bit more seriously if Altman, Samaras, and Goodall (sounds like a law firm) offered to get the ball rolling by, say, lopping off their legs or taking their own lives. But I dare say none of them is that committed. If shorter is better, we can logically assume lighter and smaller are, too. Right, ladies? Forget "tall, dark, and handsome." Hello, "short, pasty, and weak." And what about our pets? Should owners of large dogs like St. Bernards and Great Danes turn them in for Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles? Or, better yet, goldfish? According to progressives, the vehicles we drive need to get smaller and lighter to meet fleet gas mileage requirements. There is a heightened interest in "tiny homes." And we are constantly told that the "footprint" we leave create or leave behind must be smaller. It seems the only thing progressives don't want to shrink is government. Hmm. Reports indicate that I.Q.s are falling in many nations. Male testosterone levels are plummeting in much of the world. Fertility rates are dropping as well. There are fewer Christians in America, as a percentage of the population, than ever before. God's command to us to "be fruitful and multiply" aside, would everything really be better...if there were nothing? Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. Brian Kemp easily won reelection as Georgias governor. Its rumored that he has his eye on the White House. However, when you consider the draft English language standards that his education department just issued, its apparent that he does not understand conservativism at all. Mark Bauerlein, an English professor at Emory University, is unhappy with what Kemps government intends to do to education in Atlanta. In an essay at American Greatnesswhich boasts the powerful subtitle that The Georgia governor is an empty suit when it comes to understanding the education and culture issues that matter so much to conservative votersBauerlein explains just how badly disconnected Kemp is from American conservativism. Bauerlein notes that the draft standards look like bureaucratic sleepwalking, making it the kind of regulatory notice everyone ignores: The document is exactly what weve come to expect from educationists and state bureaucrats: a bunch of basic verbal skills dressed up in pseudoscientific language, while the traditional content of English, the literary-historical knowledge that kids used to acquire in high schoolsome Shakespeare, the Great American Novel, etc.is nowhere to be found. The absence of our linguistic and cultural heritage matters. It means the standards have a cultural and political impact because, after all, thats what educational bureaucrats are obsessed withthey want to change the culture and society. That means trouble for conservative, tradition-loving Americans. Image: Gov. Brian Kemp. YouTube screen grab. Dr. B asks the obvious question: Why would a Republican governor with national ambitions produce an education roadmap that is wholly devoid of conservative beliefs and goals? How did his administration come up with a pedagogy that maintains the very progressivist ideals that have dominated the public schools for decades and turned the youth vote into a heavily Democratic bloc? Dr. B warns that if you hand to anti-conservative educators a curriculum that is devoid of history and great literature, those same educators fill the void with the new anti-conservative prioritiesespecially diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Suddenly, the values-free guide is A knowledge-free roadmap of standards frees educators to favor contemporary literature and current social affairsin other words, a Woke gospel that can be peddled to 15-year-olds who have no exposure to novels and poems that might reveal just how warped that gospel is. Bauerlein states out loud what all conservatives instinctively understand: There There is great power in great literature from great minds, creating great traditions that become an antivenin for identity politics, utopian socialism, and indoctrination. We know why the educators have kept it out. They wish to abolish the American Way, to deny the youth a glorious past so that those youths grow up with no inclination to defend their country. And what about that original question Bauerlein asked, namely, why would this kind of educational policy come from a Republican administration? Bauerlein answers that Kemp has a purely business background and seems not to know or care about education. The left loves to exploit conservatives ignorance and lack of sense, and Governor Kemp gives them that opportunity. Dr. Bauerlein, therefore, makes the obvious recommendation: The Florida standards are there for Kemp and other Republicans to emulate in their own states, though it may be too late for Georgia. What a depressing reminder that John Dewey, the early 20th-century progressive, who articulated his rules for inculcating leftism into American education more than 100 years ago, is currently turning out to be the big winner. John Dale Dunn MD JD is a retired emergency physician and inactive attorney in Brownwood, Texas. David French, a lawyer who served as a Judge Advocate General in Iraq, used to write intelligent opinion pieces at the National Review. However, when National Review embraced the NeverTrump ideology, David French was the leader of the pack. Since then, like other well-known NeverTrumpers, French has turned on conservatives and on most conservative principles. No wonder, then, that he's now the New York Timess newest conservative columnist. Ill open this essay with a true story about when I met French shortly after Trump was elected for the first time in 2016. It was no secret that French despised Trump and was unhappy that Trump had been elected. When I challenged him to explain why Trump would be such a disaster, one of the main things French called upon in support of his argument was the now-infamous grab em video that Trump haters interpreted to mean that Trump was boasting about sexually assaulting women. By this time, I was a strong Trump supporter (he couldnt be worse than Hillary and, as proved true, he might well be better), so I suggested that he watch the Diana Davison video, below. I said that the video makes a very strong case that Trump was not admitting to sexually assaulting women. Instead, he was simply shooting the bull with the guys and making the completely accurate statement that there are women who will give free sexual access to rich, powerful men: Im not saying you must accept Davisons argument but, if one of the main reasons youre having something akin to an emotional breakdown over Trump is that Access Hollywood tape, if you were intellectually honest, youd at least consider the point. I dont remember Frenchs exact words, but he explicitly told me words to the effect that I dont want to hear that. He practically stuck his fingers in his ears while saying, la, la, la. French was the juror who, having made up his mind about the defendant during the prosecutions case, refuses to listen to the defendants evidence, including something that clearly exonerates the defendant. I struggled for months after that to maintain my respect for French as he became more viciously hostile to anything conservative while still hiding behind the Im conservative banner. Eventually, I gave up. Since Trump was elected, French migrated to The Dispatch, Bill Kristols home for formerly conservative Trump haters. Here are some recent examples of Frenchs conservativism. He thinks those who are hostile to Democrats instructing kids in transgenderism have crossed a line. He accuses DeSantis of attacking the First Amendment for daring to protect children from LGBTQ++ porn and grooming. Apparently French, who identifies as a First Amendment expert, forgot that the First Amendment has always bowed before giving children special protection from porn, cigarette and alcohol ads, and even advertising as a whole. He believes that the government has the right to correct misinformation by asking allies to censor people. All lawyers who have gotten through their first day of law school know how wrong this is. And again, French is a First Amendment expert. He thinks Twitter wasnt that bad for censoring the Hunter Biden laptop story because there was really nothing politically scandalous about it. Hes a self-styled Evangelical Christian who is proud of having evolved on the gay marriage issue, Bible be damned. Hes thrilled that Kari Lake lost because getting rid of her purifies America and the GOP. Hes horrified that Evangelicals supported Georgias flawed pro-life candidate rather than just embracing the pro-abortion candidate. He thinks its great to give amnesty to the people who masked children, destroyed the economy, and forced dangerous vaccines on Americans. You get the idea: David French is a conservative whose conservative values align very closely with the Democrat partys values. No wonder that the New York Times is thrilled to welcome their newest conservative columnist: Were excited to announce that writer and legal scholar @DavidAFrench is joining @NYTOpinion as the newest columnist. https://t.co/BXHrnfA12G NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) January 3, 2023 As with other so-called conservative columnists at leftist outlets (Jennifer Rubin at the WaPo, Brett Stephens at the Times), readers of the New York Times can have the thrill of finding that they agree with a reasonable conservative, one who marches in lockstep with all of their views. Its all those other conservatives, the ones who dont take orders from the New York Times, who are the real haters in America. Image: David French. YouTube screen grab. It's beginning to look like a new year because the pages are full of predictions. I do like one prediction from Michael Goodwin about the future of the media. Take a look: The decline in credibility has been astonishingly swift, beginning with an unprofessional fawning over Obama, then turning on Trump with shocking ferocity. After initially treating his 2016 candidacy as a novelty, CNN, MSNBC, broadcast networks and major newspapers and magazines came to see him as an existential threat to their status as gatekeepers. He wouldn't play by their rules, so they set out to destroy him. Their assault made them allies with Hillary Clinton's campaign, the Obama-Biden White House, the FBI and CIA. It was a travesty that led the press to abandon standards of fairness toward Trump, and eventually all Republicans and conservatives. Soon, the lack of guard rails devolved into a "woke" approach that embraces destructive nostrums from socialist-leaning economics to anti-white racism. The capitalizing of "Black" but not "white" aims to enshrine patronizing bias in the grammar rulebook. Reverting to a more even-handed media won't be easy, but it could begin with a publisher or top editor at The New York Times or Washington Post simply finding the courage to demand fairness. Good luck with change coming from the publisher or editor. My guess is that the change will come from the shareholders or the chief financial officer getting subscription reports every month or the guys at cable getting the ratings memo. For example, the Washington Post announced job cuts, and then the spokesman pulled a Biden and refused to answer questions. Is that funny or what? Over at the cable news desk, MSNBC declined 21%, and CNN dropped 33%. Fox stayed even, but they are not growing. In what they call "the key demo," or apparently the number that advertisers get excited about, Fox News had 346,000 viewers (down 7%), CNN 174,000 viewers (down 36%), and MSNBC had 133,000 viewers (down 39%). Yes, I agree with Mr. Goodwin that "a reformed media" is everyone's favorite resolution. In the meantime, more and more people are not expecting that and voting with their subscriptions or TV channel tuners. We are not sure if Roberto Duran actually said "no mas" to end that fight years ago, but U.S. media consumers are definitely saying "no more." PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. This should have been a cakewalk for Kevin McCarthy. The GOP has a majority in the House, which made him the presumptive speaker. What remained was the formality for casting votes. But these days in politics, the norm is that there are no norms. By the end of yesterday, the House was adjourned without a speaker. This is not the auspicious beginning that everyone was hoping for 2023. JUST IN: The House of Representatives adjourns after failing three times to elect a speaker pic.twitter.com/uvvE058l4B Forbes (@Forbes) January 3, 2023 The last time this happened was in 1923, when it took nine rounds and several days for a speaker to be elected. McCarthy has made history; alas for him, it is for all the wrong reasons. McCarthy has lost three consecutive votes for speaker, failing to reach the required 218-vote threshold. Among the 222 Republicans in the House, only 203 voted for McCarthy in the first two rounds. Unfortunately for McCarthy, in the third round, another Republican turned against him. It remains unclear if McCarthy has a path to victory when the House returns tomorrow. McCarthy's primary detractors were the Freedom Caucus, who think he is part of the problem, the swamp, and not of the solution. The group is led by Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona, who has put himself forward as an alternative. Biggs received 10 votes in the first round, while nine Republicans backed other candidates. In the second round, the Freedom Caucus nominated Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio to challenge McCarthy, just moments after Jordan himself nominated McCarthy for speaker. Jordan, a leading figure of the Freedom Caucus, urged Republicans to "rally around" McCarthy in the third round of voting, yet 20 Republicans voted for Jordan, again denying victory to McCarthy. The Freedom Caucus is reportedly holding negotiations with McCarthy. NPR reported that McCarthy has agreed to change the House rules to make it easier to oust a sitting speaker. This would be an essential check on power and will hold for all speakers in the future. There could be several other such concessions. If that wasnt enough drama, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who backs McCarthy, claimed that members of the Freedom Caucus like Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida were using their power of the vote to negotiate plum panel assignments i.e., their opposition was for personal gain and not based on principles. I will always tell you the truth! Watch my full segment on Bannons War Room: https://t.co/hEsjQ4M2Qi pic.twitter.com/qm7RMGU9pW Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) January 3, 2023 Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado claimed that during their morning conference, Kevin McCarthy endorsed a threat of removing all committee assignments for Republicans voting against him for speaker. Lauren Boebert said Kevin McCarthy, during their morning conference, endorsed this threat to any Republican voting against him for Speaker: If you vote against Kevin McCarthy today on the floor you will not have committee assignments. pic.twitter.com/hFfME2HsG7 PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) January 3, 2023 There was a rare display of bipartisanship; AOC was seen in conversation with GOP congressmen Gaetz and Paul Gosar of Arizona. What happened here? Can anyone read lips? pic.twitter.com/r7PR3Srcyg MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) January 3, 2023 AOC montage with Gosar and Gaetz. pic.twitter.com/laxwktKpwF Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 3, 2023 All 212 Democrats unified behind election-denier Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York for the speaker. So what are the possible outcomes now? One scenario is that McCarthy strikes deals with the Freedom Caucus and emerges with the gavel, despite being weakened by the compromises he made. Another possibility is that McCarthy relinquishes his bid and backs his second in command, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, or some other Republican to run as speaker. Now for the unlikely scenarios. Perhaps McCarthy wins over centrist Democrats to emerge as the winner. This way, he could marginalize the Freedom Caucus while compromising on the MAGA agenda. Perhaps some Republicans give Jeffries the votes he needs to become the next speaker of the House. Perhaps House Republicans build a coalition with Democrats to pick a speaker who is neither McCarthy nor Jeffries. The House is run by a coalition, and the Freedom Caucus is again marginalized. This strange solution was prescribed by John Kasich. The House cannot proceed with any other business, including swearing in of new members until they have chosen a speaker; hence, they will keep voting until a candidate emerges victorious. While the occurrences of the day may appear chaotic, it may be a sign of the MAGA wing of the party working and showing its power to push back. This is how democracy should work. Each and every elected member should vote based on the pledge he made to voters. Members are not meant to function like a flock of sheep proceeding in the same direction, without knowledge of the destination. Back to McCarthy, as Tucker Carlson summarized it well: McCarthy is not especially conservative. He's ideologically agnostic. His real constituency is the lobbying community in Washington. If you've got sincere political beliefs, thats infuriating. Carlson acknowledged McCarthy's strengths: It's not easy to be Speaker when the House is this closely divided, and in some ways Kevin McCarthy is perfectly suited for that. ... McCarthy is willing to spend the next two years living in hotel rooms raising money for his party ahead of a historic presidential election. What other Republican in the House is willing to do that? There still remain some open questions about the occurrences yesterday. Since there was talk of the red wave since the beginning of the year, why didn't the Freedom Caucus work behind the scenes to build a coalition within the party to have a candidate of preference? Perhaps someone such as Jim Jordan could have been elevated long before the vote, which would have enabled him to campaign and seek support. Would the Freedom Caucus be comfortable remaining steadfast against McCarthy such that Democrat Hakeem Jeffries gets elected? Kevin McCarthy may not be even remotely close to what the Freedom Caucus desires, but Jeffries is a far-left Democrat who opposes everything the GOP (particularly MAGA) proclaims. Back in 2017, Jeffries called Trump an illegitimate president. If Jeffries becomes speaker, the Freedom Caucus will be marginalized. Electing McCarthy may allow some of the MAGA agenda to pass, but electing Jeffries is like placing a roadblock at the last leg of the race just before the finish line. The Freedom Caucus must also think about the voters who gave the GOP control of the House via their votes. At such a juncture, if a Democrat emerges as speaker, it would be contrary to the public mandate and anti-democratic. If the Freedom Caucus isn't able to cobble together a coalition to enable another Republican to become speaker of the House, its members must vote for McCarthy. The vote should be conditional. McCarthy must lead investigations against Democrats on their abuse of power and much more. McCarthy must also lead in blocking the Democrat's far-left agenda while pushing the MAGA agenda of freedom and prosperity. If McCarthy fails, they build a coalition to oust McCarthy and use the new rule that allows a group of five members to offer a resolution to remove the speaker. While making deals, one is often compelled to strike a balance between rigidity and flexibility. Loss is often guaranteed if one treads to either of the extremes. In politics, the ideal outcome may not always be possible, and in such scenarios, it is wiser to settle for the best possible outcome instead of giving the adversary an easy victory. Image: DonkeyHotey, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. The Bible is pretty darn clear: God created two human sexes, labeling them as male and female. Male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27). One would expect that a vicar of a Christian church grounded in Biblical scripture would accept Gods foundational creations, but Bingo Allison (yes, thats his real name) knows better. The gender-queer vicar says that his epiphany came when he was reading Genesis, at which time he concluded that God intended sexual fluidity. No wonder Christianity is dying in England, even as Islam rises. Bingo, a married father of three, is very proud of his imaginary sexual identity and is currently on a PR blitz. The Daily Mail article about Bingo (from which I quote in this post) is based on an interview Bingo did with BBC Radio Merseyside and an interview he did with the Liverpool Echo. This vicar also likes using social media to post pictures of himself along with captions saying that Jesus loves sparkly eyeshadow, something that I suspect would come as a great surprise to the Biblical Jesus as opposed to the leftist fantasy Jesus. Bingo also goes to schools and youth groups to spread the gospel of transgenderism. Here's Bingos video showing him spreading some of that gospel: Surprisingly, having seen that travesty of a woman, complete with incipient male-pattern baldness and man boobs in action, I dont feel closer to God. Do you? If youre wondering how Bingo gets away with this, its not because hes hiding from the Church of England establishment. Instead, the CofE is totally on board. Bingo was halfway through the training program when he had his epiphany that, according to him, Genesis 1:27 spoke about something he calls from maleness to femaleness as opposed to men and women. I wonder what Bible theyre using at the CofE training center because all the translations at Bible Hub are consistent. God created humans in his image, both male and female. A sane person understands that he created them as humans, as opposed to parakeets. I guess transgender vicars in the CofE think the language means that God is gender fluid so, despite God creating male and female, this vicar can emulate a gender-fluid God himself. But its not just Bingo. As I noted, the CofE is totally on board, according to Bingo: 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 [he] had worked with because for them I was the first transgender person they had worked with closely. [He has] since moved to the Liverpool Diocese which does so much to support and empower LGBT people and [he has] found [his] new congregation wonderful. Talking about how it has received [him], Bingo added: On the outside you might think "oh, theyre quite a traditional church so they might have traditional views", but Ive always been treated as a person and as a priest. Just FYI, the square brackets are to correct the ludicrous they/them/their pronouns the Daily Mail uses, which render large parts of the article almost unintelligible. In a normal world, Bingo would not be a vicar bringing the word of God to Englands faithful. Instead, he would be receiving psychiatric care to help him cope with his gender dysphoria. But as we see more and more, we do not live in a normal world. We live in an increasingly abnormal world. So, the Church of England, once a reputable faith, gives a literal (and bully) pulpit to a man suffering from what was once correctly classified as a mental illness. And meanwhile, the Christian faith in England declines, while the Islamic faith, which at least can tell a boy from a girl, ascends. That pathway to Islamic supremacy is one of the reasons I write so much about the establishments push to force transgenderism on children. The other reason is that transgenderism is the vehicle by which children are taught to abandon their bodies and their familieswhich is exactly how cults isolate and destabilize people. In this case, the cult is the state. Soon, all these new acolytes will learn that, to the state, everyone is a widget, and when a class of widgets ceases to be useful, the state will dispose of it with cavalier brutality. Witness how Canada is now urging medically assisted suicide on the same people who supported and paid for their free socialized medicine system. Transgenderism is the hill to die on because it is the thin edge of the spear, the loaded virus, the indoctrination vehicle, or some other metaphor of your choice by which the state lays claim to our children and, eventually, to all of us. Image: Bingo Allison. YouTube screen grab. Jordan Peterson, a successful and respected Canadian psychologist and academic, rocketed to fame in 2016 when he took a stand against a new Canadian law that made it a criminal offense to ignore a persons self-identified pronouns. The moment he did that, Peterson became a leftist target. The most recent and serious attack comes from the Ontario College of Psychologists (OCP), a government licensing organization that insists that, because Peterson challenged Canadian politicians and belittled the transgender movement, he must submit to reeducation or lose his license. Peterson has made a name for himself over the past six years because he refuses to bow down to leftist shibboleths, whether involving transgenderism or the attack on traditional values. Despite being a psychologist, he opposes the psychology culture that says that people need to embrace their failings and demand that society must conform to them. Petersons book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, became a massive best seller because he told unhappy people that they could do the hard work of improving themselves by affirmatively becoming better, more responsible, proactive people. The leftist establishment despises Peterson. His critiques and rules for achieving success in life threaten every bit of power they have acquired by making people feel bad about themselves, whether through becoming helpless and lonely or sexually disoriented. Image: Jordan Peterson. YouTube screen grab. And thats how we get to the OCPs Maoist demand that Peterson submit himself for re-education if he wishes to continue in his chosen professionor, as Peterson says in the Twitter thread explaining whats happening to him, he must submit myself to mandatory social-media communication retraining with their experts His crimes? Retweeting content from conservative Canadian politician Pierre Poilievre and criticizing Justin Trudeau and those who support him. Here is Petersons Twitter thread, rendered through the Threadreader App: BREAKING: the Ontario College of Psychologists @CPOntario has demanded that I submit myself to mandatory social-media communication retraining with their experts for, among other crimes, retweeting @PierrePoilievre and criticizing @JustinTrudeau and his political allies. I am to take a course of such training (with reports documenting my "progress" or face an in-person tribunal and suspension of my right to operate as a licensed clinical psychologist. About a dozen people from all over the world submitted complaints about my public statements on Twitter and Rogan over a four year period (out of the 15 million who follow me on social media) claiming that I had "harmed" people (not them) with my views. In its wisdom @CPOntario decided to pursue these complaints even though they could have dismissed them@as vexatious I have been accused of harming people (although none of the complainants involved in the current action were clients of mine, past or present, or were even acquainted with any of my clients). And even though many of them falsely claimed that they were or had been clients of mine and were allowed by @CPOntario to have their complaints investigated despite this falsehood We are now in a situation in Canada under @JustinTrudeau where practicing professionals can have their livelihoods and public reputations threatened in a very serious manner for agreeing with the Official Opposition and criticizing major government figures. If I comply the terms of my re-education and my punishment will be announced publicly. I have already had the second most serious category of punishment levied against me and have been deemed at high risk to "re-offend." Canadians: your physicians, lawyers, psychologists and other professionals are now so intimidated by their commissar overlords that they fear to tell you the truth. This means that your care and legal counsel has been rendered dangerously unreliable. Ask Queen's U law@professor @PardyBruce if he concurs on the legal front. To reiterate: I face public disgrace, mandatory political re-education, disciplinary hearing and potential loss of my clinical licensing for agreeing with @PierrePoilievre and criticizing our standing PM @JustinTrudeau I am willing (if @CPOntario concurs, which they won't) to make absolutely every word of all this fully public so that everyone can decide for themselves what is actually happening And to let the chips fall where they will in consequence Thats a comprehensive and appropriate indictment. The OCP has a detailed list of how the reeducation must work for Peterson to retain his license: Here are the demands made of me with regard to my re-education. I have formally indicated my refusal to comply @CPOntario pic.twitter.com/Nl2poxgW2c Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 4, 2023 Here's the last page of the required "undertaking." pic.twitter.com/svwbDveMz8 Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 4, 2023 Many people laugh at Justin Trudeau, with his fetish for costumes and his Pajama Boy demeanor. Thats a mistake. Trudeau has consolidated power in Canada and is steadily leading it in a totalitarian direction, including making a mockery of Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That states that Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication. The catch is that all the freedoms and rights in the charter are controlled under Sec. 1: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. In other words, this is not an inherent right; instead, the government has the final say as to whats reasonable. This is how Maoist totalitarianism begins in the formerly free world. Peterson has promised that, if the OCP does not back down, he will go through the reeducation program, documenting it every step of the way to ensure that people fully understand how the government is using peoples dependence on licensure as a way of silencing them: If it becomes necessary I will do exactly this. Everything will be made public. https://t.co/13JFHoNNZC Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 4, 2023 This should be interesting. Social justice efforts in Vermont have persistently called for bans on hate speech. But that desire creates new hazards, exhibited in recommendations by Vermont's Racial Equity Task Force. A typical argument for government oversight of the content of speech deemed hateful is advanced by a Vermont school principal: [H]ate speech which is an offspring of slavery, segregation and Jim Crow is still legal and deemed constitutional. Allowing hate speech in our day is just as wrong as allowing slavery and segregation was in the past. ... Hate speech is violence, just as much as a gun or knife is. If it leads to either the immediate or long-term loss of a person's civil rights, it should be illegal. ... Laws and policies that permit hate speech against Blacks and other people of color are structural racism. Hate speech is not confined to race; it is as old as humanity and well precedes American slavery. The writer invokes "the loss of a person's civil rights" (presumably rights not to hear objectionable words) as the rationale to deprive people of their civil rights to say things that might be objectionable. He labels existing Supreme Court precedent "structural racism," while calling to implement structural racism in the name of past slavery that would silence white but not black mouths. Vermont's "Racial Equity Task Force" would deprive people charged with hate crimes from knowing the identity of their accuser a fundamental right in law: The Task Force ... recommends adding confidentiality provisions for complainants in civil hate crimes investigations conducted by the attorney general's office. Currently, no such confidentiality provisions exist. This creates a chilling effect for prospective complainants who fear publicity and retaliation[.] The very phrase "civil hate crimes" conflates civil and criminal law. Criminal defendants possess a fundamental right to challenge evidence against them. The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution provides that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to be confronted with the witnesses against him." Similarly, the Task Force advises to revise the intent requirement for Vermont's hate crime laws: [T]he Task Force recommends thorough review and possible revision of the "malicious motivation" legal standard for hate crimes in Vermont. ... [T]he legal standard to prove malicious motivation is unduly burdensome. As a result, many cases featuring egregious behavior are not pursued or do not result in a finding that a violation occurred. This further creates a chilling effect for prospective complainants who already face significant barriers in coming forward. This also gives license to bad actors to engage in bad behaviors because they're not held legally accountable. "Bad actors" such as Nazis and KKK members have the liberty to be "bad actors" without being held criminally liable unless there is an imminent or "true" threat. The government is not free to punish "egregious" and "bad" behavior. As Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote in Virginia v. Black: Intimidation in the constitutionally proscribable sense of the word is a type of true threat, where a speaker directs a threat to a person or group of persons with the intent of placing the victim in fear of bodily harm or death. ... It may be true that a cross burning, even at a political rally, arouses a sense of anger or hatred among the vast majority of citizens who see a burning cross. But this sense of anger or hatred is not sufficient to ban all cross burnings. As Gerald Gunther has stated, "The lesson I have drawn from my childhood in Nazi Germany and my happier adult life in this country is the need to walk the sometimes difficult path of denouncing the bigot's hateful ideas with all my power, yet at the same time challenging any community's attempt to suppress hateful ideas by force of law." Vermont's Task Force insufficiently restrains its own "sense of anger or hatred" it recommends eliminating core legal protections to expose innocent people to retribution for speech that should not be criminalized. Per the prevailing social justice ideology, individual racism includes "implicit" (unconscious) bias: These biases ... are activated involuntarily and without an individual's awareness or intentional control. Residing deep in the subconscious, these biases are different from known biases that individuals may choose to conceal for the purposes of social and/or political correctness. Rather, implicit biases are not accessible through introspection. Vermont's Racial Equity Task Force proposes to criminalize speech for unconscious bias, projected onto "bad actors" by unnamed accusers without proof of intimidating or evil intent. This is a prescription for unconstitutional government abuse of the First Amendment: 21st-century witch trials. Image: Tim Pierce. Google may not be the only tech behemoth rushing to make an AI chatbot to rival OpenAIs ChatGPT. Microsoft is reportedly working on something similar too. But the Windows maker will not build its own alternative. Instead, it is working with OpenAI to incorporate the artificial intelligence behind ChatGPT in a version of its Bing search engine. It plans to use the new programs AI to answer some search queries on Bing, The Information reports citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter. According to the new report, the ChatGPT-powered Bing may arrive as early as March of this year. However, this isnt an entirely new plan from Microsoft. The works have been going on behind the scenes for some time now. The Windows giant reportedly reached an agreement with OpenAI to incorporate some aspects of GPT into Bing as part of its $1 billion investment in the San Francisco-based AI research company back in 2019. That said, you cant rule out the possibility that the two firms ramped up the preparations now that ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm. The AI-powered chatbot debuted on November 30 last year and quickly gained popularity worldwide. It picked up over a million users within the first week of launch. People were in awe of ChatGPTs human-like responses to a wide range of queries. Unlike Bing or Google, which provide a list of links or a snippet from web pages to your search queries, ChatGPT provides AI-backed responses. Thats not it, though. The program can do a lot more. It can write complex essays and computer codes, draft marketing pitches, and even compose original poems and jokes. ChatGPT is so powerful that the tech industry has already started calling it a replacement for Google and other search engines. Google is already said to be in code red over it and has begun work on an alternative. But Microsoft may end up beating it to the punch, though the latters approach is slightly different. Advertisement Microsofts Bing could be the only way to access parts of ChatGPT for free ChatGPT is currently available to everyone for free. However, OpenAI eventually plans to charge for it. But the new report suggests that Microsofts Bing could offer parts of GPT for free (via). The program wont power all search results on Bing, though. Microsoft will still mostly rely on its own technology to produce results. Time will tell how ChatGPT will improve the search experience on Bing. We should soon get to learn more about this. According to Mishaal Rahman, Google is working on a new feature for Play Store developers to tell them if a real user is running their app or a bot. The feature is still in the works, and its release date is unknown. The Google Play Store is the main venue for Android users to download their apps with comfort and safety. Back in November, Google announced a big update for Play Store developers including an update to the Play console. The search giant now wants to tell developers if their app is used by real users or bots. The feature was discovered by developer @linuxct in the Play Integrity API under an undocumented field called AccountActivity. As per the current information, the API can categorize users based on their activity across the Play Store app. Users can fall into one of these categories: ACTIVITY_LEVEL_UNSPECIFIED, UNEVALUATED, UNUSUAL, UNKNOWN, TYPICAL_BASIC, and TYPICAL_STRONG. Developers on the Google Play Store will soon tell real users apart from bots The Play Integrity API came as a replacement for Plays SafetyNet to protect developers apps and games from fraudulent traffic. The new feature works in alignment with the Integrity API to identify risky and harmful traffic. App and game developers will also find it easier to identify real users from bots and farm bots. The real danger of bots for developers is the bots can create fake traffic and slow down the app for real users. Advertisement Rahman says that the feature can tell developers if their app traffic comes from a likely genuine or a likely non-genuine source. A non-genuine source means that a bot is currently using the app. Additionally, identifying traffic will be based on the presence and volume of Play Store activity. Google still needs to release the AccountActivity field to the official developer documents for the Play Integrity API, meaning developers cant access it yet. However, if youre an Android developer, you can expect to get your hands on the feature in the coming weeks or months. (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 4 - A body found near her family home near Reggio Emilia in November has been identified as that of Saman Abbas, an 18-year-old Pakistani-Italian woman who is believed to have been killed for refusing an arranged marriage in Pakistan. The body was ID'd from her teeth, said a lawyer for the Penelope women's rights group who is a civil plaintiff in a trial starting next month against five family members of the woman who disappeared at Novellara on April 30, 2021. The lawyer, Barbara Iannucelli, said a bone in Abbas's neck had been broken and further examination will be needed to establish if this injury was inflicted pre- or post-mortem. The fracture of the bone in the front of the neck would support the hypothesis that she was strangled by her uncle, as he has been charged. Other defendants in the trial include Abbas's father and two cousins, while her mother is still on the run in Pakistan. Abassa's alleged 'honour killing' after she refused the Pakistani man and stayed loyal to her Italian boyfriend has shocked Italy. (ANSA). Estonia: Moldova future 'is in the EU' Meeting between Estonian and Moldovan FM in Tallinn (ANSA) - VILNIUS, 04 GEN - "The future of Moldova is in the European Union. Moldova has shown its interest in the accession process and has supported Ukraine, under Russian aggression for almost a year. The decision to grant Moldova candidate status represents a historic step that helps to strengthen the whole of Europe, our democracy and freedom". The Foreign Minister of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu, said today at the end of a meeting in Tallinn with his Moldovan counterpart, Nicu Popescu. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved ROME - Authorities in Saudi Arabia seized rainbow-colored toys and clothes at children's shops because they believe they encourage homosexuality, the daily The Independent reported. Officers from the Ministry of Commerce entered shopping centers of the capital Riyadh to seize objects such as toys, hair pins, beauty products, clothes, hats, note pads, pen cases. A news video, which was tweeted by the Al-Ekhbriya TV channel, shows two officers that go around the shops to inspect the merchandise and then pile it on the floor all items with bright colors. One officer told the TV channel that the items with rainbow colors "promote the colors of homosexuals" and "are intended for the young generations". The Ministry tweeted that the objects were seized because "the contain symbols and signs that invite to deviation and go against common sense". The shops that will sell these items will incur in legal sanctions, he added. ROME - "Habemus Papam, nero!" ("We have a black Pope!"): is the artistic cry launched in Rome by an innovative performance of the artist Pep Marchegiani, who is part of a long tradition of satire against Popes and the Roman curia, with his image of a new African Pope (Celestine VI) over the famous statue of Pasquino, along the Tiber river in front of the Cupolone (St Peter's Dome). The image is scattered around in other iconic locations of the eternal city, for example at the feet of the statue of Giordano Bruno in Campo dei Fiori. Marchegiani, an artist who is not new to provocative art and to raising discussion around the role of contemporary art, wanted to bring to the heart of Christianity the story of the first African Pope in history. What inspired him was a dream, when then materialized in an effigy, an NFT and a website, E-pray which will sell sacred objects, authorized by the Holy Sea (the label is being registered) related to the figure of the new Pope: Celestine VI. "The idea of the performance - recounts the artist- comes from a dream, with the spiritual inheritance of Saint Peter's collected by Celestine VI, the first Pope to come from the area of Dar Gum'a, in Sudan. An African Pope, with a name that is evocative of the famous figure of Celestine V, remembered by Dante, the first Pope to renounce to the Papal seat. After him Pope Ratzinger, recently passed away, was the next to resign. Celestine VI, as his ideal predecessor represented by the hermit of the Great Refusal, is a Pope of the poor, a pure, essential Church evocative of its origins. The artist returns to Rome where he already held his first performance, by placing a hood over the statues at the Pincio, covering them with black plastic bags, denouncing the capital city's decadence. Pep Marchegiani, class of 1971, come from Abruzzo. He usually works in the realm of contemporary art and is a fervent supporter of art without masters. In 2021 he signed a painting "Fat young nameless boy, but with a diaper" which became the first NFT in the world. The itinerary of Celestine VI will continue on to other cities. PARIS - It isn't just Paris, the number of cities in France that in the name of energy-saving have chosen to shut off public lights at night, are increasing. Furthermore, it is also a response to the increase of energy bills due to the war in Ukraine and to face climate change. Thousands of municipalities in France shut off public lights, some at 9 pm other at 1 am, and turn it back on only at 5 am. While many other mayors have issued this disposition as an anti-waste New Years resolution for 2023. Among the French cities there is Bordeaux that, since 2 January, keeps 57% of its territory without public lighting. By drastically cutting lighting the municipality aims to save 880,000 euro. "But there are also the cities of Lyon, Strasbourg, Nimes, Metz, Clermont-Ferrand and Besanson, that have adopted this measure or intend to adopt it", explain those responsible of the France Urbaine association, which represents the large French cities, as mentioned by French daily Le Figaro. In terms of Paris, it has been already several months that, in the name of energy sobriety, the city had cut public lighting significantly. Now, at night, what is known across the world as "la Ville Lumiere"- the city of lights - is surrounded in darkness which however allows to see the stars even from the center of the city. The famous Christmas lighting on avenue Champs-Elysees were pulled down two days ago, 2 January, one week earlier than planned and commercial shops have been asked to turn off the lights in the windows between 10 pm until 7 am. The Parisian municipality has also decided to reduce by one degree the temperature at its public offices, and the same measure is applied to the water in public pools. BEIRUT - Another military member of Hezbollah, the military arm of the Lebanese Iranian-affiliated party, was killed in the north-east of Syria in a dynamite attack attributed to armed men co-opted by Turkey. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports this today, according to the organization the attack took place a few days ago but the details only emerged in recent hours and it was carried out by men of the Hayat Tahrir Sham (HTS), a coalition of Al-Qaeda forces present in the region of Idlib, at the border with Turkey. No additional detail is known concerning the identity of the high level Lebanese Hezbollah militia killed but what is known is that he was killed together with three body guards, one was Syrian and one was Lebanese. The jihadist Shia and Iran-affiliated militia are present at least for the past ten years in different Syrian areas, among them Aleppo and Idlib, and they are taking part in the regional and internal conflict. On the other hand, HTS has been commissioned for years by Turkey which manages de facto the political, administrative and military affairs in Idlib and in the western districts to the north of Aleppo. Borrell to visit Morocco 5-6 January, EU-Moroccan dialogue EU High Representative will meet govt and economic actors (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, 4 JANUARY- The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, will go to Morocco on an official visit on 5-6 January. This was communicated by the EU External Action Service. On Thursday, 5 January, the EU High Representative will meet in Rabat with the Moroccan head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of African Cooperation and of Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, as well as other institutional interlocutors from society and Moroccan commercial representatives. On the following day, Borrell will go to Fez for a meeting with Professors and students of the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, where he will hold a speech. His visit will be the opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the creation of a partnership between the EU and Morocco, also within scope of a new Mediterranean Agenda. Borrell will discuss the current on-going issues and explore specific areas where dialogue and cooperation could be strengthened. The meetings will also provide the opportunity to exchange opinion on regional and international issues of common interest and of particular importance in the current global scenario, not least the overall impact of war in Ukraine.(ANSAmed). Edinburgh Zoos giant pandas will return to China later this year after special farewell events in their Scottish home. Yang Guang and Tian Tian arrived in December 2011 under a 10-year agreement which was extended for two years due to the pandemic. The two bears could leave as early as October, with details due to be confirmed later. The zoo says new experiences and events will be available to book for members of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) from this week. Get ready for a GIANT farewell as we start to plan Yang Guang and Tian's Tian's return to China later this year There are lots of ways to say goodbye with our charity's new BEAR-rilliant panda experiences available to book from 9 Jan Find out more https://t.co/XFdDRBpNim pic.twitter.com/Ojh6OGnAB7 Edinburgh Zoo (@EdinburghZoo) January 4, 2023 David Field, RZSS chief executive, said: We were thrilled to extend Yang Guang and Tian Tians stay at Edinburgh Zoo, especially as the pandemic made it much harder for people to visit and would have prevented our giant panda keepers from travelling to China to help the pair settle into their new homes. As the UKs only giant pandas, they have been incredibly popular with visitors, which has helped to connect millions of people to nature as well as raising vital funds for wildlife conservation. Through a new range of events and experiences, we will be providing as many opportunities as possible for people to say goodbye and to celebrate the tremendous impact these two charismatic bears have had on our communities, helping to create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved. Panda magic moments will be popular, with our members, patrons and giant panda adopters having the opportunity to meet and feed Yang Guang. Other experiences available to everyone will include panda talks and brunch events. The funds raised will help us to save wildlife from extinction, including species in Scotland such as the wildcat and pine hoverfly, chimpanzees in Uganda and giant armadillos in Brazil. The bears will return to China (Danny Lawson/PA) Despite efforts to breed the two pandas, female Tian Tian has not produced a cub during her time in Edinburgh. She was believed to be pregnant in August 2017 but her hormone levels and behaviour later returned to normal. Mr Field added: By collaborating with partners in China and welcoming Yang Guang and Tian Tian to Scotland, we have had many successes for over the past 11 years in terms of technique exchanges, scientific research and public engagement. We are also very proud of the contribution we have made to giant panda breeding research alongside our partners at the University of Edinburgh and our findings have been of real benefit to international efforts to protect the species. After the pandas leave, we will decide on a new species, with a crucial factor being how we can support conservation in the wild. The family of Sean Fitzgerald have called on the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to conclude its investigation into the fatal police shooting of the 31-year-old in Coventry. Mr Fitzgerald, who was unarmed, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest after leaving a property in Burnaby Road at about 6.20pm on January 4 2019. Shortly after the shooting, the IOPC said it had verified that a single round was discharged by a firearms officer as Mr Fitzgerald emerged from the rear of the property while other officers were gaining entry at the front. No firearms were recovered from the property. A gross misconduct notice was issued to the officer in April 2021 in respect of their use of force on Mr Fitzgerald during the police operation. In March 2022, the IOPC announced that the officer was being investigated for potential homicide offences over the incident. In a statement, Mr Fitzgeralds brother Liam called on the IOPC to set a date for when it will complete its investigation and decide whether it will recommend the case be sent to the CPS for a charging decision. We have had to fight and argue our case to seek to ensure a thorough investigation, an investigation that we were told would take three to six months, Liam Fitzgerald said. We have waited patiently for all this time. We are not prepared to wait any longer with no end in sight, which is why we now ask that the IOPC provide a date by which they will complete their investigation and decide whether to refer the case to the CPS for a charging decision, as we believe they should. Anita Sharma, head of casework at legal charity Inquest, said the IOPCs investigation is one of the longest standing they have seen in recent years. She said: Bereaved families and the public deserve urgent and robust scrutiny of the highest standard following lethal use of police force. The IOPCs four-year investigation into Seans death is now one of the longest-standing Inquest has seen in recent times. It is unacceptable. The ongoing delay not only compounds the pain and grief of Seans family, but also frustrates the role the IOPC has in the prevention of further deaths. The IOPC must now provide the family with the dignity of a date by which their investigation will conclude and the long-awaited answers around the full circumstances of Seans death. In a statement, IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said that the investigation was delayed while they sought further independent analysis of the evidence. This has been a complex investigation and, although we were at an advanced stage last summer, I felt that further independent analysis was required in order to fully consider some of the evidence, he said. Delays, which included identifying someone suitably qualified to carry out this work, have been resolved and an experts report was received shortly before Christmas. This is now being considered. We acknowledge the concerns expressed by Mr Fitzgeralds family and the delays in bringing matters to their conclusion are regrettable. We have informed Mr Fitzgeralds family of the latest developments and our thoughts remain with them and everyone else affected by his death. In respect of the comments about timeliness generally, this remains a priority for the IOPC and, in 2020/21, we completed 90 per cent of our independent investigations within 12 months. Actor Jeremy Renner has thanked fans for their kind words in a social media post from his hospital bed two days after he was seriously injured in an accident near his US home. The 51-year-old Marvel star said he was too messed up to type as he shared a picture on his official Instagram page. Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all, he wrote. Renner was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after suffering blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries in an accident near the Mount Rose Highway, which links Lake Tahoe and south Reno, straddling the Nevada-California border. At a press conference on Tuesday, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said Renner was helping a family member, whose vehicle had become stuck in heavy snow, when the incident occurred. Sheriff Balaam said the Sheriffs office had received a call at 8.55am following reports of a crash involving a SnowCat plowing machine and a civilian. He added that there was no signs of any foul play and that the incident had been a tragic accident. Based on our investigation, Mr Renners personal vehicle, which was being driven by a family member, had become stuck in the snow near his home, Sheriff Balaam told the news conference. Mr Renner went to retrieve his SnowCat, an extremely large piece of snow removal equipment, weighing at least 14,330 pounds, in an effort to get his vehicle moving. Sheriff Balaam said that after successfully freeing his vehicle, Renner had got out to speak with the family member when the SnowCat had begun to roll. Renner had attempted to get back into the machine, at which point he was run over, he added. The two-time Oscar nominee is well-known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has also featured in films including The Hurt Locker, American Hustle, and Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol. Jeremy Renner starred in Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol alongside Tom Cruise (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA) He also stars in the Paramount+ series The Mayor Of Kingstown, with the second series set to premiere on the service in the UK on January 16. In a statement provided to the PA news agency, Renners publicist said: 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. They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has told business leaders that the current level of energy bill support for firms is unsustainably expensive and a reduced support scheme will be announced next week. Mr Hunt met with bosses at business groups including the Confederation for British Industry (CBI), Institute of Directors (IoD) and UKHospitality earlier on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting came following calls from industry for urgent clarity after the Government delayed setting out details that were originally due before the new year. Next week the Government will outline the conclusion of its review into its current support scheme in the House of Commons, the Treasury revealed in a statement. The current energy bill relief scheme, which caps wholesale energy prices on electricity and gas at about half the expected market price, ends in March. The Government has protected businesses this winter from these high energy costs through the 18 billion Energy Bill Relief Scheme one of the most generous support packages in Europe, the Treasury said. However, no Government can permanently shield businesses from this energy price shock. The Chancellor was clear that this level of support is unsustainably expensive and that the current scheme was always time-limited to six months. It claimed that extending the scheme in its current form could cost tens of billions of pounds depending on wholesale energy prices. The Chancellor heard concerns from business leaders over the current pressure caused by sky-high energy prices during the meeting. The Treasury added that Mr Hunt told the chiefs that a lower level of further support would be designed to help them transition to the new higher price environment and avoid a cliff edge in support. Households have already been told that their bills will be capped until April 2024, albeit at a higher rate than the current 2,500 annual cost, while firms have been kept in the dark. The revised scheme is expected to offer help with bills for a further year, until March 2024. Mr Hunt had promised to give firms certainty over future plans for support by the new year, saying last month the announcement would come just before or just after Christmas. Mr Hunt said at his autumn budget in November that the Government would have to target support only at the most vulnerable industries and would likely also have to lower the aid they receive. Business groups railed against the plans, warning over job losses and company failures if universal support is withdrawn. While ongoing help for companies is set to be welcomed, there are concerns over a drastic cut to support. On Wednesday, the IOD urged the Government for targeted support in its plan next week following the meeting. Alex Hall-Chen, principal policy adviser for sustainability, skills and employment at the IOD, said: The Energy Bill Relief Scheme has been a crucial intervention, with our research showing that it removed a serious risk to around a quarter of businesses this winter. Businesses will be reassured that support will continue in some form for a further 12 months. However, it is a shame that the government has not found a way to target the support to those sectors of the economy particularly exposed to volatile international energy markets. This means that the most vulnerable businesses will lose support at a critical time compared to what they have had this winter. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), which was also in the meeting, said pubs could be forced to shut without help close to current levels. We met with the Chancellor today to underline the challenges the industry face and the critical importance of extending the energy relief support to avoid significant business failure and the closure of many pubs and brewers, commented chief executive of the organisation, Emma McClarkin. Without extended support at close to current levels, pubs and brewers in communities across the country could be lost for good. The failure to safeguard pubs and breweries from price increases come April will be the last straw for businesses who have been struggling for three years to remain solvent and serving their communities. More than a million people overpaid for their prescriptions last year, data suggests. New data obtained by MoneySavingExpert.com shows that 1,064,992 people bought at least 12 single prescriptions in 2021/22. These people would have saved money with a prescription prepayment certificate, also known as a prescription season ticket. The certificate costs 108.10 for unlimited prescriptions for a year meaning anyone who buys 12 or more prescriptions at the current cost of 9.35 over the course of a year will be out of pocket if they do not purchase one of the certificates. The consumer website, which sent a Freedom of Information request to the NHS Business Services Authority to find out how many people would have benefited from the scheme but may have missed out, said that patients were overpaying by an average of 40 a year. Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: England is the only one of the four UK nations that charges for prescriptions, and so its frustrating to hear that many people are still paying more than they need to especially at a time when every penny counts towards bills. We need to spread the word to anyone who regularly gets prescriptions, including some with chronic illnesses, to check out prescription prepayment certificates. My simple rule of thumb is, if you get more than one prescription a month, on average these season tickets are the cheapest option, as they cap what you need to pay. For a one-off payment, you get unlimited prescriptions for either three months or a year. So someone getting, say, two prescriptions a month would save over 100 a year. If you think thats you, check it out now in case we see another price hike at the beginning of spring. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to launch the Admiral Gorshkov frigate to the combat mission, via video link in Moscow By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin sent a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles on Wednesday, a signal to the West that Russia will not back down over the war in Ukraine. Russia, China and the United States are in a race to develop hypersonic weapons which are seen as a way to gain an edge over any adversary because of their speeds - above five times the speed of sound - and manoeuvrability. In a video conference with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov", Putin said the ship was armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons. "This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system - 'Zircon'," said Putin. "I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats." The weapons, Putin said, had "no analogues in any country in the world". More than 10 months since Putin sent troops into Ukraine, there is no end in sight to the war which has descended into a grinding winter artillery battle that has killed and wounded tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides. Russia has also used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles in Ukraine. Along with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle which entered combat duty in 2019, the Zircon forms the centrepiece of Russia's hypersonic arsenal. Russia sees the weapons as a way to pierce increasingly sophisticated U.S. missile defences which Putin has warned could one day shoot down Russian nuclear missiles. ATLANTIC VOYAGE Shoigu said the Gorshkov would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea. "This ship, armed with 'Zircons', is capable of delivering pinpoint and powerful strikes against the enemy at sea and on land," Shoigu said. Shoigu said the hypersonic missiles could overcome any missile defence system. The missiles fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of over 1,000 km, Shoigu said. The main tasks of the voyage were to counter threats to Russia and to maintain "regional peace and stability jointly with friendly countries", Shoigu said. A U.S. Congressional Research Service report on hypersonic weapons says that Russian and Chinese hypersonic missiles are designed to be used with nuclear warheads. The target of a hypersonic weapon is much more difficult to calculate than for intercontinental ballistic missiles because of their manoeuvrability. Beyond Russia, the United States and China, a range of other countries are developing hypersonic weapons including Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, North Korea and Japan, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, +79856400243; editing by Philippa Fletcher) An author of a childrens book celebrating the endearing love story of the Queen and her corgis has praised the support of her six-year-old daughter, who helped to get the tale recognised by the late monarch. Caroline L Perry, 45, wrote The Corgi And The Queen in tribute to Elizabeth IIs decades-long relationship with the breed as it follows her and Susan, the matriarch of what became 14 generations of royal corgis, through her courtship and honeymoon with Prince Philip, the Second World War and her coronation. The story, illustrated by Lydia Corry and out in the UK on Thursday, was made known to the Queen before her death in September when Ms Perrys daughter, Eloise, sent a note and corgi drawing to Buckingham Palace in late 2021 after a year that saw the Queen mark 70 years of her reign and the death of Prince Philip. Because her husband died, (I wanted to) cheer her up, and because it was about Susan, Eloise told the PA news agency. (And) I wanted to wish her a happy jubilee. The Corgi and the Queen is out on Thursday in the UK (Lydia Corry) Ms Perry added: She wanted to cheer her up by sending her a nice card, she thought the Queen would love the book. Ms Perry, who is from London but moved to Los Angeles 15 years ago, explained that they soon received a response from Lady Elizabeth Leeming, a lady-in-waiting of the Queens. Lady Leeming wrote to Eloise: The Queen wishes me to thank you for your lovely card and for your message, written with a little help, in which you told Her Majesty of the book. Although The Queen is unable to reply to you personally, Her Majesty was touched by the nice things you said and I am to thank you, very much, for your thought for the Queen at this time which is greatly appreciated. Ms Perry said her daughter was very excited by the letter, which came with the royal seal. Eloise sent a drawing of a corgi to the Queen in 2021 (Caroline L Perry) She was really, really happy because she thought that it would have cheered the Queen up and that she now knew about her good wishes that she had sent to her from Los Angeles, the author said. Of course, sadly, she didnt live to see the book but (Eloise) was still delighted that the Queen at least knew this book was on the way because she very much sensed that the relationship with Susan was a very special one. From when I started writing the book when she was only three, (Eloise) has been asking me for her very own Susan ever since. Ms Perry said that the book, which was released in the United States in November, has already hugely impacted lives, including the adoption of a young corgi by her literary agents daughter in Ohio, who has named the puppy Susan. Its easy to see why the Queen loved them so much, she said. Theyre very feisty, very intelligent, very loyal and very charming. Caroline L Perry is author of The Corgi And The Queen (Andersen Press) Eloise added: (Corgis) are cute and clever I want 30. Ms Perry said when the Queen was given her first corgi as an 18th birthday present in 1944, it really started a love story for the ages. Susan really was there for some of these momentous moments in history and Elizabeth just adored this little dog, she said. I think before Philip, she was her true love. And the fact that all 14 generations of the Queens corgis were descended from that one dog, it was just such a remarkable story it really humanised the Queen. For me to see that she was able to express herself through her animals in a way she perhaps wasnt able to in her life with all the pressures that being the monarch entailed, a life devoted to duty (Its) an endearing love story. The book was illustrated by Lydia Corry (Lydia Corry) Ms Perry added that the book, published by Andersen Press, honours the relationship the Queen had with her royal dog dynasty. It includes two family trees one for the royals and the second for the corgis owned by the Queen throughout her life, which all started with Susan. I think she really would have loved this book, but now I really hope people view it as a tribute, she said. And also (as) something that highlights another side to the Queen that not everyones aware of. The Queen wouldnt have been the same Queen without her corgis, I think they very much helped to shape history, didnt they? The new general secretary of the TUC has called for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister in a bid to break the deadlocked industrial disputes sweeping across the country. Paul Nowak called for a change in government direction, saying ministers should open pay negotiations with unions. It comes as rail workers continue a 48 hour strike, with more stoppages planned this month in the transport industry, NHS and civil service. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Nowak said public services were in crisis after years of underfunding and understaffing. Public sector workers on strike (Gareth Fuller/PA) He wrote: We cant solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the frontline. Every month experienced employees are quitting, with one in three public service staff now taking steps to leave their professions or actively considering it. This is simply unsustainable. But we cannot fix the staffing crisis in our schools, hospitals and elsewhere if we do not fix the underlying causes. That means talking in an open and constructive way about improving public sector pay. But so far your ministers have refused to negotiate directly about pay with unions. Mr Nowak said unions worked closely with Mr Sunak during the pandemic to deliver the furlough scheme and protect millions of jobs, adding: Thats the kind of mature approach we need now. Unions have already made clear their willingness to sit down with the Government and talk about boosting pay. But while your ministers continue to refuse point blank to discuss improving wages, there can be no resolution. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Henry Nicholls/PA) In the NHS, for example, appropriate structures already exist to allow the immediate start of pay negotiations involving health unions, employers and ministers. This was exactly what happened in 2018, leading to the three-year wage deal. We want to find a resolution to the current disputes so our public service staff can get on with doing the jobs they love. And so our public services can start to improve for everyone who relies on them. Around half of Britains railway lines are closed and only a fifth of services are running as tens of thousands of workers at Network Rail and train operators walk out on the second day of the strike, with another to begin on Friday. On Wednesday, the DVSA driving examiners strike starts in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West, while traffic officer service workers at National Highways will continue their walkout. Meanwhile, industrial action by the UK-wide National Highways and Rural Payments Agency staff will continue. London bus workers at Abellio will also begin a two-day strike the first in a series of action planned by the group throughout January. Popular dinosaur exhibit Dippy the Diplodocus, which has drawn millions of visitors around the country, is heading to Coventry. The citys Herbert Art Gallery & Museum will be hosting the 26-metre long replica skeleton for three years, from February 20, in time for the start of the spring half-term holidays. Museum bosses, fresh from helping host Coventrys City of Culture festivities, including the 2021 Turner Prize, said there will be free ticketing to see the Jurassic giant so all can enjoy the world-class exhibit. Dippys skull during a recent cleaning (Jane Barlow/PA) The huge model was cast from five different skeletons, including one dug up by railway workers in the United States in 1898. It was first assembled and put on display at Londons Natural History Museum in 1905. The 292-bone structure fascinated crowds in the city for 110 years, but recently went on an eight-city tour to Dorchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Rochdale and Norwich. More than two million people went to see the sauropod model while it was travelling around the UK, with another million visitors filing past once it was back in London. Dippy the Diplodocus in 1905 (The Natural History Museum/PA) Dippy is more than four metres high and 4.3 metres wide, bringing to life the scale of a species which lived between 156 and 145 million years ago. Dr Doug Gurr, Natural History Museum director, said the much-loved and hugely popular attraction was the perfect ambassador for nature, and would continue to educate and inspire. He added: We couldnt be more thrilled that Dippy will now be taking up residence in Coventry. Dippy in Dorchester, during the replicas UK tour (Andrew Matthews/PA) Paul Breed, chief executive of CV Life, which runs the Herbert, welcomed the chance to host the UKs most popular dinosaur, adding it was a huge opportunity for Coventry and the wider economy. He added: This kind of world-class exhibit should be available to all and Im glad that with our free ticketing system Dippy will be accessible to everyone, from Coventry school kids to international tourists its going to be a brilliant three years. Free tickets will be available to book on the gallerys website nearer to Dippys arrival. A 33-year-old British man has died after being shot in St James, Jamaica. Sean Patterson, a personal trainer from West London, was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head at around midday on Monday in Bogue Hill, police said. Jamaica Constabulary Force told the PA news agency officers from Montego Bay Police had received reports the 33-year-old was standing by the pool of the guest house where he was staying when witnesses heard loud explosions. Doctors Cave Beach in the Jamaican city of St James where the 33-year-old Brit was holidaying when he was shot and killed (Alamy/PA) Mr Patterson was transported to hospital but was unable to be revived. According to local media, a 34-year-old man has been taken into custody. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed to PA they were currently supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities. The so-called Elgin Marbles could soon be returned to Greece as the British Museum reportedly closes in on a landmark deal. George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum and former Tory chancellor, is understood to have drawn up an agreement with Athens as part of a cultural exchange, according to The Daily Telegraph. It comes after the Government rejected Tory peer Lord Vaizey of Didcots call for a law change to make it easier for UK museums to deal with restitution requests. Current legislation prevents treasures from being legally given away by the museum, but Mr Osborne, its chairman, is reportedly seeking to repatriate the antiquities as part of a long-term cultural exchange. Senior conservator Karen Birkhoelzer is seen with the sculpture The River God Ilissos by Phidias, part of the so-called Elgin marbles (Dominic Lipinski/PA) However, according to the Telegraph, the loan deal will not end the long-running dispute over the 17 sculptures and part of a frieze that decorated the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple at the Acropolis. The 2,500-year-old marbles were taken by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and have been the subject of controversy over where they should be displayed. Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for the marbles to be returned to Greece on many occasions, even offering to loan some of his countrys other treasures to the British Museum in exchange. Campaigners dressed as Lord Elgin and a Parthenon Marble demonstrate outside the British Museum, calling for the museum to return the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to Greece (Stefan Rousseau/PA) A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) spokesperson told the PA news agency: The Parthenon Sculptures in the British Museum are legally owned by the Trustees of the British Museum, which is operationally independent of Government. Decisions relating to the care and management of its collections are a matter for the trustees. Last month the museum said in a statement it had publicly called for a new Parthenon Partnership with Greece and would talk to anyone, including the Greek government about how to take that forward. It added: We operate within the law and were not going to dismantle our great collection as it tells a unique story of our common humanity. But we are seeking new positive, long term partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that of course includes Greece. The daughter of a British man who was killed, alongside his wife, in a helicopter crash on Australias Gold Coast has said their family is heartbroken. Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57, from Neston, Cheshire, had reportedly been visiting his daughter and her family in Australia when the tragedy occurred. In a statement to media Jane Manns said: Our family is heartbroken and we are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know. Please respect our privacy at this devastating time. Two helicopters collided in the Australian tourist hotspot on Monday afternoon (CH9/AP) The British couple was killed alongside the pilot and another passenger a 36-year-old woman from Glenmore Park, New South Wales when their helicopter collided with another at around 2pm local time 4am GMT on Monday in Main Beach. Three other passengers, including two children, who were badly injured remain in hospital. According to the BBC, the helicopter pilot who died in the crash was originally from Birmingham but lived in the Gold Coast area. A friend of 40-year-old Ashley Jenkinson told the broadcaster the pilot was a silent hero and gentle giant who would have done everything to bring the helicopter down safely. Ritchie Gregg added: He was a top guy with so much experience. Hes flown in all sorts of terrain and environments, were completely shocked. Mrs Hughes brother Dave Boyce earlier wrote on Facebook: For those who dont know my sister and her husband were involved in the helicopter crash on the Gold Coast yesterday. We would also like to thank you all for the love and support we have received. We are truly humbled at this heartbreaking time. The force said initial investigations indicate the collision occurred when one helicopter was taking off and the other was landing. The crashed helicopter on Main Beach on the Gold Coast (CH9/AP) One of the helicopters was able to safely land on the sandbank, with five of its six passengers suffering only minor injuries. However, the other helicopter crashed, killing four of those inside, and leaving a further three critically injured. A 10-year-old boy from Glenmore Park suffered critical injuries in the incident while a 33-year-old woman and a nine-year-old boy, both travelling from Geelong West, Victoria, suffered serious injuries. The forensic crash unit is investigating the incident with help from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Australia is shocked by the news of the terrible and tragic helicopter incident today on the Gold Coast. My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving. Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 2, 2023 A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are supporting the family of two British nationals who died in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities. Australias Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said his thoughts were with those affected by the incident. Australia is shocked by the news of the terrible and tragic helicopter incident today on the Gold Coast, he said in a tweet. My thoughts are with all those affected, including first responders, and my deepest sympathies are with those who are grieving. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted it was an unthinkable tragedy. She said: My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident. FILE - Meta's logo can be seen on a sign at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Nov. 9, 2022. Irish regulators on Wednesday Jan. 4, 2023 hit Facebook parent Meta with hundreds of millions in fines and banned the company from forcing European users to agree to seeing personalized ads based on their online activity. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) LONDON (AP) European Union regulators on Wednesday hit Facebook parent Meta with hundreds of millions in fines for privacy violations and banned the company from forcing users in the 27-nation bloc to agree to personalized ads based on their online activity. Ireland's Data Protection Commission imposed two fines totaling 390 million euros ($414 million) in its decision in two cases that could shake up Meta's business model of targeting users with ads based on what they do online. The company says it will appeal. A decision in a third case involving Meta's WhatsApp messaging service is expected later this month. Meta and other Big Tech companies have come under pressure from the European Union's privacy rules, which are some of the world's strictest. Irish regulators have already slapped Meta with four other fines for data privacy infringements since 2021 that total more than 900 million euros and have a slew of other open cases against a number of Silicon Valley companies. Meta also faces regulatory headaches from EU antitrust officials in Brussels flexing their muscles against tech giants: They accused the company last month of distorting competition in classified ads. The Irish watchdog Metas lead European data privacy regulator because its regional headquarters is in Dublin fined the company 210 million euros for violations of EU data privacy rules involving Facebook and an additional 180 million euros for breaches involving Instagram. The decision stems from complaints filed in May 2018 when the 27-nation bloc's privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, took effect. Previously, Meta relied on getting informed consent from users to process their personal data to serve them with personalized, or behavioral, ads, which are based on what users search for online, the websites they visit or the videos they click on. When GDPR came into force, the company changed the legal basis under which it processes user data by adding a clause to the terms of service for advertisements, effectively forcing users to agree that their data could be used. That violates EU privacy rules. The Irish watchdog initially sided with Meta but changed its position after its draft decision was sent to a board of EU data protection regulators, many of whom objected. In its final decision, the Irish watchdog said Meta is not entitled to rely on the contract legal basis" to deliver behavioral ads on Facebook and Instagram. Meta said in a statement that we strongly believe our approach respects GDPR, and were therefore disappointed by these decisions and intend to appeal both the substance of the rulings and the fines. Meta has three months to ensure its processing operations" comply with the EU rules, though the ruling doesn't specify what the company has to do. Meta noted that the decision doesn't prevent it from displaying personalized ads, it only covers the legal basis for handling user data. Max Schrems, the Austrian lawyer and privacy activist who filed the complaints, said the ruling could deal a big blow to the company's profits in the EU, because people now need to be asked if they want their data to be used for ads or not and can change their mind at any time. "The decision also ensures a level playing field with other advertisers that also need to get opt-in consent, he said. Making changes to comply with the decision could add to costs for a company already facing rising business challenges. Meta reported two straight quarters of declining revenue as advertising sales dropped because of competition from TikTok, and it laid off 11,000 workers amid broader tech industry woes. Car being driven on an open road. (Getty Images) Car lease payments can be pricey, especially if you're looking at a high-end model with all the bells and whistles. To save money, you might think about leasing a used car instead, which could have a lower monthly payment. More dealerships are offering used car leases on vehicles that have recently come off an initial three-year lease. These vehicles are often labeled as "Certified Pre-owned" (CPO). Before you decide to lease a used car, there are a few things you should consider. Here's what you need to know about getting a lease on a used car, including how it works and the pros and cons. Looking to purchase a Pre-owned Car? Easily compare auto lenders below. What Are Certified Pre-owned Cars? You can think of a Certified Pre-owned Car (CPO) as a vehicle that has been lightly used and inspected closely by the dealership or manufacturer. These vehicles are often trade-ins or cars that have recently come off a lease, which means they generally have low miles and are in good condition. When the dealer receives the car, they do a multi-point inspection and make repairs inside and out to bring the car back to the automaker's standards. In addition, many CPO cars come with a manufacturer's warranty. Not all lightly used cars can be CPO, however. Each car company has different criteria for CPO cars, including age, mileage, and amount of wear and tear. Where to Get a Used Car Lease Getting a used car lease is more difficult than getting a standard lease. Not all dealerships offer used car leases, and you will probably have a smaller selection of cars to choose from. If you can find a dealership that leases used cars, however, it could help you save a significant amount of money. Here are a few ways to get a CPO car lease. Franchised Dealers Franchised dealers (dealers that only sell one car brand) are the only sellers that can legitimately offer CPO vehicles for lease. That's because CPO standards are unique to each car manufacturer. If you're looking for a used car lease, this should be your first stop. However, with the current inventory shortage in the car market, keep in mind that finding a used car lease could be more difficult. Take Over Another Lease Another way to lease a used car is to take over an existing lease. You can use an online matching service to find someone who wants to get out of their lease. You'll still need to get approved by the leasing company, and you'll likely have to pay a transfer fee to close on a used car lease. But unlike a traditional car lease, you might be able to avoid making a big down payment. Pros of Leasing a Used Car Leasing a used car can help you save money, but it's not the best option for everyone. Below are a few reasons why you should consider a used car lease: Lower Monthly Payment If you want a lower monthly payment than you'd get with a new car lease or a new car purchase, leasing a used car could be a good idea. Access to a Nicer, Newer Car When you lease a car vs. buy a new car, you can often afford to get into a nicer and newer car with a smaller monthly budget. Manufacturer's Warranty Many CPO cars come with a manufacturer's warranty. While each company offers its own warranty coverage, most CPO cars have a limited warranty that lasts for up to one year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. Cons of Leasing a Used Car Before you decide to lease a CPO car, it's important to consider the downsides. Below are some cons of leasing a used vehicle. Wear and Tear When you lease a CPO car, the vehicle will likely have some degree of wear and tear. Depending on the model year, the car might also lack the latest technology and advanced safety features. Maintenance Costs Not every used car lease warranty covers maintenance costs, and if you don't keep up with the manufacturer's recommended service plan, you could end up owing your leasing company more money than you anticipated. Plus, you might have to pay out of pocket for routine repairs like brake pads and new tires. Limited inventory Finding a used car that's available to lease can be challenging. Unfortunately, you won't see many dealerships advertising this option, as it's not always in their best interest to offer this type of deal. You'll probably need to call around to your local dealerships to see what deals are available. More risks Leasing can be riskier than buying a car outright (or financing a car purchase with a loan). Leasing companies charge fees for lots of things, like going over the mileage and returning the car with excess wear and tear. Depending on your driving habits and how well you treat your vehicles, you might be better off buying a used car instead. You Might Also Like Benedict Cumberbatch, seen last March, is a descendant of Caribbean plantation owners who owned slaves. (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press) It's no secret that Benedict Cumberbatch's ancestors owned slaves on a plantation on the Caribbean island of Barbados throughout the 1700s and 1800s. But just before the new year, British publication the Telegraph reported the Oscar-nominated actor and his family would be facing reparation claims from Caribbean Community nations for their involvement. News of the possible reparation claims against Cumberbatch blew up online. Then Monday, a member of the Caribbean Community reparations commission who was quoted in the Telegraph article clarified the task force's position this week and said it is not currently seeking any reparations from the Cumberbatch family. "To date, neither [the Caribbean Community's reparations commission] nor Barbados has officially leveled a Reparations claim against a European family," wrote David Comissiong, a Barbados politician, activist and member of the commission, in an op-ed in Barbados Today. He added that it is easier for the task force to focus on legal entities such as governments or companies, rather than a family. Comissiong said he was misquoted in the Telegraph article. Even so, the idea of demanding compensation from a wealthy film actor whose family benefited from slavery resonated with many. Some applauded the reports as a New Year's resolution. Many online pointed to the irony of Cumberbatch's performance as a real-life Louisiana slave owner in the 2013 film "12 Years a Slave." Although Cumberbatch will not be facing reparation claims, the reports and online buzz come amid ongoing movements to push reparations in California, the U.S. and across the globe. And it re-ignited conversations about who should pay. Cumberbatch's ancestors owned slaves In the 1700s, Cumberbatch's seventh-great-grandfather, Abraham Cumberbatch, bought two large estates in what was then a British colony. The properties would be developed into a sugar plantation the Cleland Plantation which reaped profits for the British crown, according to a 2014 Daily Mail report on the estate. On the plantation, the Cumberbatch family owned nearly 300 slaves, according to records from the early 1800s. When slavery was abolished throughout most of the British Empire in 1833, the British government compensated former slave owners for their financial losses. Benedict Cumberbatch on horseback in "The Power of the Dog," which earned him his second Oscar nomination. (Kirsty Griffin / Associated Press) Cumberbatch's great-great-great-grandfather, Abraham Parry Cumberbatch, was paid 5,388 British pounds, the present-day equivalent of more than 700,000, or $900,000. Although the Cumberbatch family no longer owns the property, Cumberbatch has acknowledged his family history, commenting in a 2007 interview with Scottish newspaper the Scotsman, that his mother told him not to use his last name professionally to avoid reparation claims. "There are lots of Cumberbatches in our former Caribbean colonies," he told the Scotsman, according to a 2014 BuzzFeed report, which included excerpts of the 2007 interview. "When their ancestors lost their African names, they called themselves after their masters. Reparation cases are ongoing in the American courts. I've got friends involved in researching this scar on human history and I've spoken to them about it. The issue of how far you should be willing to atone is interesting. I mean, it's not as if I'm making a profit from the suffering it's not like it's Nazi money." In 2014, Cumberbatch's connection to slavery resurfaced when Stacey Cumberbatch, a New York City commissioner and granddaughter of Caribbean immigrants, said she was related to the "Sherlock" actor through the slave trade. Her ancestors were slaves on a Barbados plantation and took the surname of their owners, Stacey Cumberbatch told the New York Times. Cumberbatch has acted in several films about slavery: first in the 2007 film "Amazing Grace," where he plays former British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, who is sympathetic to slave abolition, and then in 2013 as a Southern plantation owner and slaveholder, William Prince Ford, in "12 Years a Slave," which won the 2014 Oscar for best picture. "Maybe I was trying to right a wrong there," Cumberbatch said in the 2007 interview, referring to his performance in "Amazing Grace." Caribbean nations are seeking reparations For the last half-century, Caribbean nations that were once British colonies have been grappling with the social, economic and cultural effects of slavery. Barbados became an independent state within the Commonwealth in November 1966. Fifty-five years later, in November 2021, it became a republic, shedding allegiance to the crown and closing a 400-year colonial legacy. As more countries in the Caribbean gained independence, various nations formed CARICOM in hopes of boosting the region's economy. In 2013, the organization which includes nations such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, Haiti, Guyana, Belize and Barbados formed the CARICOM Reparations Commission, or CRC. The commission calls on European governments that benefited from slavery and apartheid in the Caribbean, including the United Kingdom, to take part in reparation efforts. Its main goals include formal apologies from European governments, land returned to descendants of formerly enslaved Africans, mental health and education programs for Indigenous populations, and the cancellation of public debt. Who is facing reparation claims? Although the CRC is targeting governments and companies, it has recently focused on a British politician, Richard Drax, who in 2017 inherited Drax Hall, a 600-acre estate in Barbados that used enslaved labor. The Draxes also owned a plantation in Jamaica and were instrumental in the establishment of sugar production and slavery in the Americas in the 1700s. Both the government of Barbados and the Jamaican government have expressed a desire to seek reparations from Drax. If the issue cannot be resolved we would take legal action in the international courts," said Barbados lawmaker Trevor Prescod, chairman of Barbados National Task Force on Reparations, part of the Reparations Commission, according to a Guardian report. "The case against the Drax family would be for hundreds of years of slavery, so its likely any damages would go well beyond the value of the land. Drax has reportedly visited Barbados to meet with its prime minister, Mia Mottley, to discuss the terms of possible reparations, the Guardian reported. Comissiong complained that the recent Cumberbatch reports distract from the actual reparations efforts the commission is making, such as those surrounding Drax. He accused the Telegraph of yellow journalism and "effectively putting words in ones mouth." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. What a weird choice, right? Brazils departing, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro sought refuge in, of all places, a rented house in Orlando and then went out to eat at a local KFC instead of handing over the presidential sash in a symbolic peaceful transition of power last weekend to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was returning to Brazils highest office. But, on second thought, it makes perfect sense. For Bolsonaro, whats not to like about the Sunshine State? Florida is where Donald Trump lives, making this the perfect place for someone whose nickname is the Trump of the Tropics. And Bolsonaro, like Trump, looks like he may face charges related to his presidency. Misery loves company, after all. Plus, Florida is where Gov. Ron DeSantis was recently reelected, a leader whose autocratic tendencies might make Bolsonaro feel right at home. No more immunity People with something to hide have long flourished in Florida. Its where suspected Venezualan kleptocrats have tried to hide their loot in luxury condos and exotic cars for years. Sunny Isles Beach is nicknamed Little Moscow in part because of the flow of Russian money into residential property there, something that has drawn the attention of financial regulators. In the 2018 Panama Papers investigation, the Miami Herald found 19 foreign nationals creating offshore companies and buying Miami real estate, with eight of them linked to bribery, corruption, embezzlement, tax evasion or other misdeeds in their home countries. Way back in 1979, deposed Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza chose Florida for a brief stay, defiantly flying into Miami on a jet and then taking a Cadillac to his Sunset Island mansion. Bolsonaro reportedly plans to stay for at least a month. Now that hes no longer president, he loses his immunity from prosecution. (Theres a familiar ring to that.) The New York Times said Bolsonaro has been linked to five investigations, including an attack on Brazils voting machines, and another into his connections to groups releasing misinformation on his behalf. Certainly, Bolsonaro sowed doubts about the reliability of election results by making baseless claims, just as Trump did. Its a line straight from the MAGA playbook. From what Brazils new president said as he took office, Bolsonaro may have good reason to worry. While saying that the country has no intention of revenge against those who tried to subjugate the nation to their personal and ideological plans, Lula also promised that, Those who have done wrong will answer for their mistakes. That sounds like prosecution in the offing and living in Florida, or the United States isnt likely to offer any protection for Bolsonaro if it comes to that. Dismissive gesture Lula, it should be noted, has had his own issues, going to prison for corruption only to see the charges dropped and then, three years later, being reelected as president in the closest such election in Brazils history. But thats why Bolsonaros flight to Florida is more than just a disrespectful gesture. Passing the presidential sash is a vote of confidence in Brazils democracy, where a military dictatorship that took personal freedoms away and tortured and killed dissidents ended less than 40 years ago. Its an important acknowledgment. Bolsonaro taking selfies with his new neighbors and then eating fried chicken out of a box at a fast-food restaurant is a spectacle, sure. More significantly, though, its a continuation of his damaging refusal to publicly acknowledge Lulas victory. If weve learned anything from Trumps defeat and the Jan. 6 attack on our Capitol, its that the refusal to acknowledge the loss of a fair election is a dangerous thing for democracy. FILE - Passengers wait in Montgomery Regional Airport on Nov. 26, 2014, in Montgomery, Ala. A member of an airline ground crew working at the Alabama airport died Saturday afternoon, Dec. 31, 2022, in an accident at the facility. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) An airline ground crew worker was pulled into the engine of a plane during a fatal accident at an Alabama airport, authorities said. The National Transportation Safety Board released the additional information about the Saturday accident at the Montgomery Regional Airport that claimed the life of an employee for a subsidiary of American Airlines. The agency said in a statement that the aircraft was parked at the gate with the parking brake set when a ground support personnel was ingested into the engine. The accident is under investigation and a preliminary report is expected in two or three weeks, the agency said. The accident involved an Embraer 170 aircraft operated by regional carrier Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines. The flight was set to depart Montgomery for Dallas-Fort Worth before the accident, according to officials. The airport said a ground crew worker for Piedmont Airlines, another American subsidiary, was killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the AA/Piedmont Airlines/employees family and ground crew," the airport said in a statement. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry on Wednesday blamed mobile phone use by its soldiers for a deadly Ukrainian missile strike that it said killed 89 servicemen, raising the reported death toll from 63. The New Year's Eve strike, the deadliest single incident Moscow has acknowledged since the start of the war, has angered pro-war Russian commentators, increasingly vocal about what they see as a half-hearted and incompetent campaign in Ukraine. Criticism has been directed at military commanders rather than Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has not commented publicly on the attack, which has dealt a further blow after major battlefield retreats in recent months. The Russian defence ministry said four Ukrainian rockets had hit a temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Although a probe has been launched, the Russian ministry said the main reason for the attack was the mass use of mobile phones by servicemen, which it described as illegal. "This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers' location for a missile strike," it said in a statement issued just after 1 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday. Russia has effectively shut down all direct opposition to the war, with open criticism banned by severe media rules. But it has given comparatively free rein to pro-war nationalist bloggers, many with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Semyon Pegov, a war correspondent awarded the Order of Courage by Putin, said on Telegram that pointing the finger at troops using mobile phones "looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame". There were other ways Ukraine could have spotted the base, he said. Aftermath of recent shelling in Makiivka Pegov said the death toll would rise further: "The announced data is most likely for those who were immediately identified. The list of the missing, unfortunately, is noticeably longer." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who rarely comments on specific Ukrainian military strikes, made no mention of the attack in a video address on Tuesday. Ukraine initially said hundreds of Russians were killed in Makiivka. It has since avoided giving details. Zelenskiy said Russia was set to launch a major offensive. "We have no doubt that current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat," Zelenskiy said in a video address. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail," he continued. With Russia losing territory in the second half of 2022, Putin ordered the first call-up of reservists since World War Two. Kyiv has been saying for weeks that Russia plans to order another mass conscription drive and shut its borders to prevent men from escaping the draft. In the latest sign that the Kremlin may be considering such a move, a little known group claiming to represent widows of Russian soldiers released a call for Putin to order a large-scale mobilisation of millions of men. The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces on Wednesday said Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in three cities, Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. People take part in a ceremony in memory of Russian soldiers killed in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Samara "There are casualties among the civilian population," it said. Russia denies targeting civilians. The battlefield reports could not be independently verified by Reuters. Ukraine's General Staff also said Russian forces continued to concentrate on advancing in the area of Bakhmut, a city in Donetsk now largely reduced to ruins after months of fighting, while also trying to improve their positions elsewhere along the front line in that region. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol in Crimea, said on Wednesday on the Telegram messaging app that air defence systems had shot down two drones near the Belbek military airfield. Putin plans to talk to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax, the latest in a series of conversations the two leaders have had since the start of the war. Turkey acted as mediator alongside the United Nations to establish a deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports. But the chances of serious peace talks appear remote, with Moscow demanding Kyiv accept its annexation of seized land and Ukraine vowing to drive Russian troops from all its territory. Putin launched what he calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24, citing threats to Russian security and a need to protect Russian speakers. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of an unprovoked imperialist-style grab for territory. FILE - Students walk through Sproul Plaza on the University of California, Berkeley campus on March 29, 2022, in Berkeley, Calif. U.S. News & World Report announced Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, that it will change how its rankings of law schools are calculated in response to a boycott by a number of top programs. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. News & World Report will change how its rankings of law schools are calculated in response to a boycott by a number of top programs. The magazines changes in methodology, announced Monday in a letter to law school deans, include an increased weight on outcomes for students such as bar exam passage and employment, and a reduced weight on assessment surveys from academics, lawyers and judges. The rankings will also give increased weight to school-funded fellowships, many of which steer students toward careers in public service. While we know it is challenging for diverse institutions to be ranked across a common data set, we all have the same goal - to provide the best information to prospective students so they can make one of the most important decisions of their careers. U.S. News is committed to this purpose, U.S. News executive chairman and CEO Eric Gertler said in a statement. In the fall, a majority of the top 14 law schools announced they would no longer submit data for the rankings. The magazine, which has published the rankings since the 1980s, will continue to rank schools that choose not to participate, relying on publicly available metrics to construct its list. Yale Law School, the first to withdraw from the rankings, said the ranking system was biased against programs meant to boost socioeconomic diversity and support the pursuit of public service careers. Dean Heather Gerken reiterated the school's commitment to staying out of the rankings process after the changes in methodology were announced. "Having a window into the operations and decision-making process at U.S. News in recent weeks has only cemented our decision to stop participating in the rankings, Gerken said in a statement. Following Yale's decision to withdraw in November, other law schools followed, including Harvard, the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford, and the University of Michigan. U.S. News said in the letter to deans that it had been in conversation with over 100 representatives of law schools, and that a shared set of concerns emerged, which prompted the changes in rankings. The changes will be reflected in the 2023-2024 rankings, which are expected to be published this spring. Those changes do not address all the concerns raised by law school leadership. The magazine said it was working on addressing additional issues raised by law school leaders around consideration of loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs, need-based financial aid and diversity and socioeconomic factors. The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. FILE - This July 9, 2019, file photo shows a sign outside of the Twitter office building in San Francisco. Twitter said on late Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, that it will ease up on its 3-year-old ban on political advertising, the latest change by Elon Musk as he tries to pump up revenue after purchasing the social media platform last year. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Twitter says it will ease up on its 3-year-old ban on political advertising, the latest change by Elon Musk as he tries to pump up revenue after purchasing the social media platform last year. The company tweeted late Tuesday that we're relaxing our ads policy for cause-based ads in the US." We also plan to expand the political advertising we permit in the coming weeks," the company said from its Twitter Safety account. Twitter banned all political advertising in 2019, reacting to growing concern about misinformation spreading on social media. At the time, then-CEO Jack Dorsey said that while internet ads are powerful and effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions. The latest move appears to represent a break from that policy, which had banned ads by candidates, political parties, or elected or appointed government officials. Political advertising made up a sliver of Twitters overall revenue, accounting for less than $3 million of total spending for the 2018 U.S. midterm election. In reversing the ban, Twitter said that cause-based advertising can facilitate public conversation around important topics and that the change will align the platform's advertising policy with those of "TV and other media outlets, without providing further details. Facebook in March 2021 lifted its ban on political and social issue ads that was put in place after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Musk bills himself as a free-speech warrior and bought Twitter because he apparently believed it wasn't living up to its potential as a free speech platform. But the billionaire Tesla CEO has been forced to make huge cost cuts and scramble to find more sources of revenue to justify the $44 billion purchase. Rishi Sunak reaffirmed the UKs support for Ukraine, in an early January call with Volodymyr Zelensky. The two leaders spoke after a Ukrainian rocket attack killed dozens of Russian soldiers in a town in the Donetsk region. Russia had unleashed a barrage of attacks on Ukrainian sites over the new year period. Mr Sunak told the Ukrainian President that the country could count on the UK to continue to support it for the long term. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens via video link as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit in Riga, Latvia (Henry Nicholls) A Downing Street spokesperson said: The leaders discussed the abhorrent drone attacks on Ukraine in recent days, and the Prime Minister said the thoughts of the UK were with the Ukrainian people as they continued to live under such bombardment. The Prime Minister said Ukraine could count on the UK to continue to support it for the long term, as demonstrated by the recent delivery of more than 1,000 anti-air missiles. Together with Prime Minister @RishiSunak, we discussed further defense cooperation. We agreed to intensify our efforts to bring victory closer this year already. We already have concrete decisions for this. (@ZelenskyyUa) January 3, 2023 Work was also under way to provide further equipment in the coming weeks and months to secure Ukraines victory on the battlefield, the Prime Minister added. The two leaders discussed the recent Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Latvia last month. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming weeks, the spokesperson said. In a tweet, Mr Zelensky spoke of hopes to bring victory closer in 2023, with the support of the UK. 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 Summit. We feel support & will win together. (@ZelenskyyUa) January 2, 2023 He tweeted that together with Rishi Sunak, we discussed further defence cooperation. We agreed to intensify our efforts to bring victory closer this year already. We already have concrete decisions for this. The Ukrainian leader appears to be starting the new year with a round of phone calls to European leaders and allies, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Express your opinion! Fill out this form to submit a Letter to the Editor. Submit 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. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. In order to prevent the humanitarian crisis international organizations must impose sanctions against Azerbaijan in addition to making statements condemning its actions, the caretaker Foreign Minister of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) David Babayan said in a statement. This is nothing but a challenge to the civilized world. Because an entire nation is starving to death. Elsewhere around the world children are dancing and asking Santa Claus for presents. Our children dont even have bread to eat, they are starving, Babayan said. Azerbaijan is keeping the Lachin Corridor blocked since 12 December 2022. The Lachin Corridor is the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the rest of the world. The closure resulted in 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh being isolated and deprived from the right to freedom of movement. Nearly all grocery stores and pharmacies are empty amid widespread shortages of essential items because the road is the only supply route. The blockade is organized by the Azerbaijani authorities under the fake pretext of an environmental demonstration demanding access to a mine for inspection. Furthermore, many of the self-described environmentalists blocking the road have been identified as military intelligence officers or other state-affiliated agents of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the government of Artsakh said it would halt the operations of the mine operated by Base Metals and invite an international monitoring to inspect the site. However, the road is still blocked by the Azerbaijanis, once again proving that the blockade has nothing to do with any environmental campaign. Officials in Armenia and Artsakh have numerously warned that by blocking the road Azerbaijan wants to cause a humanitarian catastrophe and commit ethnic cleansing against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass calls for an end to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. I stand with the Armenian community here in Los Angeles calling for an end to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. We must clearly demonstrate our commitment to freedom by helping the people of Artsakh. This is a crisis and will only get worse with inaction. Lives are at stake, Mayor Karen Bass tweeted. Azerbaijan is keeping the Lachin Corridor blocked since 12 December 2022. The Lachin Corridor is the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the rest of the world. The closure resulted in 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh being isolated and deprived from the right to freedom of movement. Nearly all grocery stores and pharmacies are empty amid widespread shortages of essential items because the road is the only supply route. Hundreds of families were separated and are unable to return to their loved ones. The blockade is organized by the Azerbaijani authorities under the fake pretext of an environmental demonstration demanding access to a mine for inspection. Furthermore, many of the self-described environmentalists blocking the road have been identified as military intelligence officers or other state-affiliated agents of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the government of Artsakh said it would halt the operations of the mine operated by Base Metals and invite an international monitoring to inspect the site. However, the road is still blocked by the Azerbaijanis, once again proving that the blockade has nothing to do with any environmental campaign. Officials in Armenia and Artsakh have numerously warned that by blocking the road Azerbaijan wants to cause a humanitarian catastrophe and commit ethnic cleansing against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is making arrangements to visit the Group of Seven (G7) member states next month for summit talks, NHK reports. The visits will take place ahead of the G7 summit that Japan will host in May 2023 in the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima. NHK cited government sources as saying that preparations are ongoing to pave the way for Kishida's visits to Europe and North America between early and mid-January for summits with G7 member state leaders. The Japanese PM is to seek closer ties within the leaders as well as call for cooperation to make the summit a success. During his talks with US President Joe Biden, Kishida plans to explain that Japan has revised key defense documents to significantly boost Japan's defense capabilities, NHK reported. The White House said the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is scheduled for January 13. "The leaders will celebrate the unprecedented strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and will set the course for their partnership in the year ahead," said the statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "The meeting with President Biden will be more than just a huddle on Japan's G7 chair takeover," Kishida said in a televised address. The Japanese leader will kick off a G7 tour next Monday, visiting France, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada before the United States. 12,000 endemic aquatic species specimens preserved in east China's new protection center Xinhua) 10:59, January 04, 2023 Tourists visit an aquatic organism conservation center to protect biodiversity in the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, in Hukou County of Jiujiang City in east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 31, 2022. (Xinhua) NANCHANG, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- An aquatic organism conservation center to protect biodiversity in the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, has recently begun operating. The center is located in Hukou County of Jiujiang City in the eastern province of Jiangxi. A total of 12,000 specimens of more than 120 endemic aquatic species in the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake are on display in the center. The preserved specimens include rare species under first-class state protection in China, such as the Chinese sturgeon. In addition to its function as an educational institution popularizing science, the center is also engaged in artifical breeding, conservation and rescue work, and it conducts research on the endemic aquatic species in the area, according to Ma Guang, leader of the center's expert team. This aerial photo taken on Dec. 31, 2022 shows an aquatic organism conservation center to protect biodiversity in the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, in Hukou County of Jiujiang City in east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua) This photo taken on Dec. 12, 2022 shows a bighead fish at an aquatic organism conservation center to protect biodiversity in the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, in Hukou County of Jiujiang City in east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua) This photo taken on Dec. 12, 2022 shows a Chinese sucker fish at an aquatic organism conservation center to protect biodiversity in the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, in Hukou County of Jiujiang City in east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh and representatives of the Government have started meetings with the residents of the regions in order to present information about the situation, get acquainted with the urgent problems on the spot and answer the questions of the population. The correspondent of ARENPRESS reports that on January 4, Artur Harutyunyan, head of the Artsakh National Assembly "Free MOtherland" faction, Davit Melkumyan, head of the "Artsakhs Democratic Party" faction, and Grigory Martirosyan, adviser to the State Minister, member of the operative staff, met with the population of a number of settlements in Martakert region. "We had decided to carry out these visits at the end of the year, to present the situation in the communities, what to do next, as well as to listen to the problems people raise, which arose as a result of the blockade. During this time, quite a lot of questions have accumulated that need to be answered. Through citizen feedback, we also receive from the population the questions that require urgent solutions", Artur Harutyunyan said, stating that these meetings with the population of the communities of Artsakh regions will be continuous in the coming days. During the meetings, the deputies of the Artsakh National Assembly and the representatives of the governemnt presented the problems caused by Azerbaijans blockade of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the outside world and the ways to solve them. The residents of the communities raised questions about security, providing fuel for transporting patients, and negotiations to lift the blockade. The members of the National Assembly emphasized unity and solidarity in solving the existing problems, assuring also that Artsakh has some types of essential food stocks, which will be sufficient for a long time if the blockade continues. MP Davit Melkumyan also referred to the current Azerbaijani informational falsifications regarding the blockade, the purpose of which is to sow panic in Artsakh. According to him, the purpose of such visits and meetings is to convey correct information to the population. The deputies of the National Assembly of Artsakh and the representatives of the government urged not to give in to the propaganda instilling anti-Russian moods. "The Russian Federation, in the person of peacekeepers stationed in Artsakh, is the only factor reducing the chances of a large-scale war at the moment," Artur Harutyunyan emphasized. Adviser to the Minister of State, member of the operational staff, Grigory Martirosyan, also addressed the issues related to the existing stocks of food products and fuel. "Years ago, a certain state reserve was formed. They are available and we will not starve in any case. The volume of gasoline and diesel fuel is limited. When the operative headquarters was created, first of all, their existing volumes were inventoried and control was established, according to which they are used for the organization of the work of special services: ambulance, rescue service, etc., Grigory Martirosyan said, emphasizing the need for frugal use of existing resources. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan's closure of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the outside world, continues to concern the United States, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said, commenting on the actions of Azerbaijan at the request of ARMENPRESS, which have led to severe humanitarian consequences in Artsakh. We remain concerned about impeded access to the Lachin Corridor and the humanitarian implications of this situation. This sets back the peace process and undermines international confidence. We call for the full restoration of free movement through the corridor. The way forward for all issues is through negotiations, Ned Price said. Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor since December 12, 2022, keeping more than 120,000 people of Artsakh under siege. Due to the closure of the road, 1100 people, including 270 children, could not return from Armenia to Artsakh. People's rights to free movement, minimum standard of living, receiving medical care, education and other rights are violated. Scheduled surgeries are still suspended in medical institutions. On December 19, one citizen died in Artsakh, because due to the road closure, it was impossible to transport him to Armenia to organize proper treatment. PM said that development in science should be aimed at fulfilling Indias needs and this should be inspiration for the scientific community Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the 108th Indian Science Congress on the theme 'Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment', via video conferencing, in New Delhi (PTI) New Delhi/MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called on the country's scientific community to make India "a laboratory of advanced science" in its 75th year of Independence. He outlined the vision for science for the next 25 years, urging researchers to make the country self-reliant and focus on converting their knowledge to bring about change in everyday life. Speaking at the inauguration of the 108th Indian Science Congress via video conference on the premises of Nagpur University, the PM said that development in science should be aimed at fulfilling Indias needs and this should be the inspiration for the scientific community. "The country is now ranked 40th on the Global Innovation Index 2022, up from the 81st rank in 2015. India is among the top three nations in the world in terms of the number of PhDs and start-up ecosystems. The scientific developments should ultimately make the country atmanirbhar," he said. Pointing out issues that will pave the way for the development of science in the nation, the PM said that fulfilling Indias requirements should be the root of all inspiration for the entire scientific community. He endorsed the need for the scientific community to focus on working on a National Hydrogen Mission and stressed the need to manufacture critical equipment like electrolysers in India to make it a success. Mr Modi cited the countrys growing energy needs and urged the scientific community to forge such innovations in the field as may benefit the country. Since India is home to 1718 per cent of the world's population, the progress of such a large number of people will lead to a surge in global advancement as well, he said. This year, the five-day ISC session underway at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University is celebrating its centenary. Its theme is "Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment" and will showcase achievements made by women scientists as well as young innovators across the country. It will witness discussions on issues of sustainable development, women empowerment and the role of science and technology in achieving these goals. The PM pointed out that womens participation in extramural research has doubled over the last eight years. "Women-led development is one of the high-priority subjects taken up by the government. Through the Mudra Yojana, women have showcased their strength in businesses and small industries. Womens participation in the field of extramural research and development has doubled -- the increasing participation of women is proof that women and science are both progressing in the nation," he said. Mr Modi also stressed on strengthening scientific processes, focusing on emerging areas such as quantum technologies, data sciences, the development of new vaccines, stepping up efforts on surveillance for newer diseases, and encouraging youngsters to take up research. The Prime Minister also made a strong pitch for creating an institutional framework and a mentor-mentee (guru-shishya) system that could build upon the successes of talent hunts and hackathons to attract youngsters to science. He urged researchers to focus on quantum computing and emerge as world leaders in the upcoming field. "India is moving fast in the direction of quantum computers, chemistry, communication, sensors, cryptography and new materials," Mr Modi said as he urged young researchers and scientists to gain expertise in the quantum field and become leaders. He urged researchers to include subjects such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality in their list of priorities. Mr Modi said: "India is taking several initiatives in the field of semiconductors. New innovations will be required in the field of semiconductors. Should we not think in the direction to make the country future-ready in this field?" Mr Modi also stressed on the need to promote research and development to prepare new vaccines. "Today we are living in such an era when humanity is facing the threat of new diseases. We have to identify diseases well in time through integrated disease surveillance and take measures to deal with them. Different ministries will have to work together to achieve this goal," he said. Mr Saxena, a 1990-cadre HP cadre IAS officer, will have tenure until March 2025 Prabodh Saxena has emerged as Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhus choice as the states new chief secretary, following the retirement of Ram Dass Dhiman, who has been named as the state chief information commissioner. Mr Saxena, a 1990-cadre HP cadre IAS officer, will have tenure until March 2025. As it so often happens with top-level appointments, there were several claimants to the post. Sources have informed DKB that several senior babus were trying hard to win the coveted position. These included Ram Subhag Singh and his wife Nisha Singh, 1988-batch IAS officer Sanjay Gupta and Saxena. All these babus had been superseded by Mr Dhiman, the outgoing chief secretary. Out of these, Mr Saxena was the strongest candidate who had adequate tenure left in service and had an excellent track record. It is this factor apparently that swung the scales in his favour. CM Sukhu, who led the Congress party to a memorable win in the recent state Assembly elections, will require a deft and experienced hand alongside to run his government. Mr Saxena was the one who was the most suitable and acceptable choice. Ex-babus return to advise Gujarat CM Though this is not the first time that a chief minister in Gujarat has appointed advisors, the former finance secretary Hasmukh Adhias new job as chief advisor to CM Bhupendra Patel has created a stir in babu circles. Mr Adhias nomination makes sense when you consider that he was Prime Minister Narendra Modis principal secretary when the latter was chief minister of the state. Later, Mr Modi brought him to Delhi as revenue and then finance secretary, where Mr Adhia managed the Centres implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mr Adhia went on to hold a string of distinguished roles after retiring in 2018, positions including non-executive chairman of the Bank of Baroda and Chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat. He is also vice-chairman of the boards of Pandit Deendayal Energy University and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) as well as a member of the Board of Governors, IIM Bangalore. He headed a task force that prepared a report on Gujarats road map to make India a five-trillion economy. Sources have informed DKB that Mr Adhia will assist Mr Patel on matters like finance, economic affairs, education, energy, renewable energy and investment, among others. Aside from Mr Adhia, the Gujarat government has appointed another ex-babu S.S. Rathore, and Modi faithful, as an advisor to Mr Patel. Mr Rathore is the current managing director of Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRC) and is well-known for overseeing major state infrastructure projects. Mr Rathore will assist the CM on issues related to roads and buildings, civil aviation, metro rail project, railways, water resources, and Narmada and Kalpasar projects. It is obvious that Mr Modi wants his home state to prioritise finance, investments and infrastructure. What is less clear is whether regular babus in the Gujarat government will happily accept directions from retired babus. Perhaps the name Modi will act as a magic charm. CCI chief appointment delayed The appointment of the new chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has got delayed, sources have informed DKB. Only last month some sections of the media were reporting that the selection process had entered the last leg, with Smita Jingran, Yogender Choudhry and Injeti Srinivas, all babus, emerging as front-runners. This was after some 57 aspirants had been interviewed in October last year and the second round of interviews held in November. Now it appears that the selection interview has been scrapped and a fresh round of the selection process is being rolled out. Do the powers that be have a particular candidate on their priority list? What else can we infer from the decision to restart the whole selection process? The chairpersons slot has been vacant since former IAS officer Ashok Kumar Gupta retired in October last year, and Sangeeta Verma is the acting chairperson. The decision has obviously dampened the hopes of reportedly over 100 applicants, including senior babus (including retired), economists, judges and even some members of the CCI. How long this critical position will remain vacant is anyones guess. But whoever is finally announced will undoubtedly be one who has the governments back. by Nirmala Carvalho The body of Milyakov Sergey, chief naval engineer, was found yesterday in his cockpit. In late December, two oligarchs had died under suspicious circumstances in a hotel in Rayagada. The Indian police say they have found no evidence of a 'criminal act', but the investigation continues. Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - Another Russian citizen was found dead yesterday in the eastern state of Orissa. It is the third in the last two weeks, after the bodies of two Russian oligarchs were found in late December in a hotel in the city of Rayagada. The last victim's name was Milyakov Sergey: his body was found yesterday in the cockpit of the ship MB Aldnah, anchored in the port of Paradip, in the district of Jagatsinghpur. The man, 51, was the chief engineer of the vessel, which was headed to Mumbai from the port of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The Paradip port authorities have started investigations, while officers from the Crime Investigation Department (Cid) and the Criminal Branch (Cb) are still investigating the deaths of the other two Russians. Orissa Director-General of Police S. K. Bansal said the investigation was being conducted with an 'open mind' and that so far 'no evidence of any criminal act' had been found. The two oligarchs were in the Indian state for tourism together with other men, also Russian citizens. Pavel Antov, 65, whose body was found on 24 December, had allegedly fallen from the third floor of the hotel where he was staying - the autopsy report indicates death from internal injuries, according to the police - while Vladimir Bidenov, 61, had suffered a heart attack two days earlier. The body was found in his room at the Sai International hotel surrounded by wine bottles. Antov was a Russian MP and owner of a sausage company. His death comes after the publication in recent months of a Whatsapp status deemed critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Several high-profile Russian citizens died under suspicious circumstances during 2022, including Ravil Maganov, president of Lukoil, the second largest national oil company, who had called for an end to the war. The two bodies were not sent back to Russia for burial, but were cremated in India, near Rayagada, with the consent of family members and the Russian Embassy, and some remains will be used for forensic examination. by Gianni Criveller * Elevate to the cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, Mgr Joseph Zen, will be in Rome for the funeral after his passport was momentarily returned. For Fr Gianni Criveller, PIME missionary and sinologist, the 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics was a small masterpiece of lucidity, balance and tactfulness about the Church in China, but Chinese authorities have opposed it, challenged it and persecuted people for it. After 15 years, unity for the Church in China expressed by Benedict XVI is still elusive. Milan (AsiaNews) Card Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, will be present at Pope Benedict XVIs funeral tomorrow at the Vatican. A Hong Kong court granted the 90-year-old prelate a temporary passport and a four-day leave to travel to Rome. Recently, the bishop was tried and convicted of a misdemeanour under Chinas draconian national security. For his troubles, he was fined. The veteran prelate, who was elevated to the cardinalate by Benedict XVI himself in 2006, wrote about the late pope emeritus in his blog (in Italian), expressing gratitude to Benedict XVI for defending the truth against the dictatorship of relativism, but also for the 2007 Letter to Chinese Catholics and his efforts to improve the situation of the Church in China. "He could not accept any compromise," Zen writes. I am still convinced that every effort to improve the situation of the Church in China must be made along the lines of the 2007 Letter." In view of the importance of this document for the magisterium of Benedict XVI and on how much the eight years of his pontificate have meant for China, we publish below the analysis of Fr. Gianni Criveller, PIME missionary and sinologist. Following in the footsteps of John Paul II, Benedict XVI saw improving relations with China and supporting Chinese Catholics as important objectives for his pontificate. Benedict XVIs Chinese cardinals In March 1993, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger made an important trip to Hong Kong where he met 25 bishops members of the doctrinal commissions of Asian Bishops' Conferences. On that occasion, he made a key speech centred on inculturation, proposing the term inter-culturalita (inter-culturalness) to describe the complex relationship between the Gospel and cultures. On that trip, Card Ratzinger visited Macau. He also visited The Peak, a summit with a spectacular view of Hong Kong, accompanied by Father John Tong, who is now a cardinal. After he became pope, Benedict XVI elevated two Hong Kong bishops to the cardinalate; one of them was a Salesian, Joseph Zen, with whom he had a strong and meaningful personal relationship. In 2006, the conscience of Hong Kong" received his scarlet zucchetto. The pope also entrusted him with the meditations of the Way of the Cross for Good Friday 2008. In this invitation I recognised the Holy Father's desire to show his personal concern for the great Asian continent, Card Zen wrote; in particular, the inclusion in this solemn act of Christian piety the faithful of China, who have a deep devotion for the Way of the Cross. The pope wanted me to bring to the Colosseum the voice of these sisters and brothers of ours." In 2012, it was Bishop John Tongs turn to be created cardinal. By virtue of this choice, Bishop Tong, who is now 83 years old, took part in the conclave in 2013. Benedict XVI was also knowledgeable about Matteo Ricci. He backed his cause of beatification, competently outlining Ricci's missionary qualities. And it was precisely while he was proclaiming the Gospel, the pope emeritus said on 29 May 2010 in a meeting with Catholics from Riccis native Marche region on the 400th anniversary of his death, that Fr Ricci discovered in those with whom he was conversing the request for a broader exchange, so that the encounter motivated by faith also became an intercultural dialogue; a disinterested dialogue, free from financial or political ambition and lived in friendship. The historic letter to Chinese Catholics Benedict XVIs historic letter addressed to Catholics in China was published on 30 June 2007. An ecclesial letter, addressed directly to Catholics, not to Chinas government authorities who claim the right to come between Catholics and any external authority. It is not a political letter even if it has political implications. In it, the pope expresses hope for a dialogue between the authorities of the People's Republic of China and the Holy See; the Church, in fact, teaches the faithful to be good citizens in their respective country and asks the authorities not to hinder matters that concern the faith and discipline of the Church. Benedict XVI asked Chinese authorities to recognise underground bishops. However, he admits that "almost always" official bishops are forced to adopt attitudes, make gestures and undertake commitments that are contrary to the dictates of their conscience as Catholics. Should the bishops accept recognition by the civil authorities or not? The pope left it to individual bishops to choose a path according to their own situations. The Letter to Chinese Catholics was written by a churchman describing what the Church is like. It has a foundation and a structure that is valid forever and everywhere, without which the Church is no longer herself. The faithful in China have the right to be fully part of it. The pope calls for unity between official and underground communities within a faithful Church, free, capable of bearing witness to the truth, open to acceptance and forgiveness. Truth and love, which underpin Benedict XVIs pontificate, are also the two pillars on which he built his long and articulate letter. For the pontiff declares his love and respect for the people of China, their history and culture. From the authorities, he asks freedom, not privileges. The pope notes that freedom of religion is a human right covered by international conventions signed by China. Meditating on the pages of the Book of Revelation, Benedict XVI shares the bewilderment of Christians at God's silence in the face of persecution. He urges Catholics not to turn inward, for, while the Church rejects interference by the state, she does not, however, want to go underground; her goals are to bear witness in public, serve the common good, seek the unity of believers, show visible communion with the universal Church and act as Peters successor. Despite hardships, in China, the Church has the same mission like every other ecclesial community: evangelisation. In the letter, the pope repeals some special powers granted to the underground Church during the decades of persecution, such as the possibility, in case of need, of ordaining bishops even without a pontifical mandate. Finally, it makes 24 May, the feast of Mary Help of Christians and the National Marian Shrine of Sheshan (Shanghai), a Day of Prayer for the Church in China. For Chinese communities, especially in the diaspora, this day become a great moment for great participation. Benedict XVI had a lot of courage, walking into a field full of pitfalls. Insofar as they were cognisant of what was happening in China, experts offered the pope contradictory opinions. In certain circumstances, Chinese Catholics have also been at odds with each other. The pope had his say, producing what some consider to be a small masterpiece of lucidity, balance and tactfulness. Catholics, whether in official or underground communities, greatly appreciated the letter addressed to them. Catholics, including those in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, appreciated the pope's efforts to understand their situation, to sympathise with them, to offer them clear and sustainable guidelines, without condemnations, but also unwilling to accept that the Churchs freedom be trampled upon. Some 15 years have passed since then and one may wonder if the letter has produced the desired results. His successor, Pope Francis, signed a provisional pastoral agreement with the civil authorities in 2018, which was renewed in 2020 and 2022, precisely on the very delicate issue of episcopal appointments. According to some sources, the agreement was already in the pipeline in 2009, but Pope Benedict stopped it before it was signed; the reason for that remains unclear. What is certain is that Benedict XVI's letter remains a fundamental moment in the history of the Chinese Church. It contains the seeds for the Churchs unity and freedom to blossom. Some movement has occurred on the path of unity, but religious freedom is not yet achieved. Despite the 2018 agreement, many steps still lie ahead. The government's reaction, unlawful ordinations, and the excommunication of three bishops During Pope Benedict XVIs pontificate, relations with China saw ups and downs. Chinese authorities have tried to prevent Catholics from having access to the pope's letter by blocking websites and seizing printed copies. They tried to frustrate his wishes and twist the letters meaning. As a result, Benedict XVI was forced to publicly excommunicate three unlawful bishops, a first since 1958. After a few years of lawful episcopal ordinations (i.e. approved by the Holy See), three bishops were ordained unlawfully in 2006. Between 2007 and late 2010, ordinations were jointly accepted by both sides, although approval was granted without direct negotiations. On 20 November 2010, the unlawful consecration of Guo Jincai as bishop of Chengde soured relations between the Vatican and China. When the government, with much ostentation, held the Eighth National Assembly of Catholic Representatives in Beijing in December 2010, relations went from bad to worse. The meetings agenda included the election of the new leaders of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops Conference. The Holy See asked in vain that the assembly be put off, which caused more suffering and divisions. The bishops who boycotted it, by making themselves scarce or through a passive presence, were subject to serious reprisals. Shanghais auxiliary bishop, Joseph Xing Wenzhi, who stood his ground against the government, was forced to resign after he was accused by the secret police of having an affair with a woman. Two more, Lei Shiyin and Huang Bingzhang, were consecrated without the pope's approval as bishops of Leshan (29 June 2011) and Shantou (14 July 2011) respectively. The Holy See responded by publicly excommunicating them. On 25 July 2011, Chinese authorities called the harsh sanctions as "extremely unreasonable and tough; these words were followed by deeds. Since July 2011, many Church members, mostly Hong Kong residents, have not been able to enter mainland China, despite having valid visas. The United Front offices in Beijing had a list of 23 people subject to restrictive measures (including some PIME missionaries). In April 2012, two jointly approved ordinations were held in Nanchong (Sichuan) and Changsha (Hunan), but with unlawful bishops as consecrators. On 6 July 2012, Yue Fusheng was ordained bishop of Harbin (Heilongjiang) despite the opposition of the Holy See. As a result, the Holy See publicly excommunicated Yue, known for being close to the government. All three excommunicated bishops were readmitted into the ecclesial communion thanks to the agreement between the Holy See and China of 2018. The case of Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin of Shanghai marked another low point. On 7 July 2012, he was ordained auxiliary bishop in Shanghai cathedral with the approval of both sides, but, once again, the authorities imposed the presence of an unlawful bishop, to the dismay of many priests, religious and lay people who decided not to take part in the rite. The new bishop declared that he wanted to quit the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, a courageous gesture, which he paid dearly. Government officials seized him that same evening, and more than 10 years later, he is still under house arrest in Sheshan seminary (Shanghai). The eight years of Benedict XVI's pontificate were marked by great hope for the Church in China, especially thanks to his letter, but also painful divisions. Benedict XVIS dream of freedom and unity for the Church in China remains unrealised. * PIME missionary and sinologist After failing to react to drone incursions, South Koreas president is under pressure to suspend 2018 bilateral agreement designed to ease military tensions. Since early 2022, North Korea has repeatedly violated the agreement. The risk is now of increased border clashes. Seoul (AsiaNews) Following recent North Korean drone incursions, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol today said that, if North Korea continues to violate South Korean territory, he would consider suspending a 2018 bilateral agreement that set up a maritime buffer zone between the two sides. On 26 December, five of Pyongyang's unmanned aircraft penetrated to Seoul, evading South Korean defences. According to a report for North Koreas military leadership, 12 drones were involved in the operation, the Daily NK reported. Seven ostensibly returned immediately after crossing the demarcation line with the South. The information could not be independently verified. Under pressure for the lack of response to North Koreas incursions, South Korean President Yoon announced that his country would start large-scale production of hard-to-identify mini-drones and create a unit with counteroffensive capabilities. The two Koreas are technically still at war since no peace treaty was signed at the end of the conflict they fought between 1950 to 1953. North Korea is isolated internationally (except for China and to a lesser extent Russia), and has been subject to international sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and missile programmes. The 2018 agreement is the result of diplomatic efforts of then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Its aim was to reduce tensions between the two sides after then US President Donald Trump launched negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which proved fruitless. Last year, North Korea began to shell the maritime buffer zones and beyond. According to analysts, if South Korea pulls out of the agreement, the likelihood of more dangerous border incidents will increase. Destroyed graves and damaged tombstones in the Protestant cemetery, owned by the Anglican Church. A video allegedly shows two people wearing yarmulkes entering the area and desecrating it. A UN Security Council meeting is scheduled for the "provocative" Ben-Gvir walk on the Esplanade of the Mosques. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - A new, serious episode of religiously motivated intolerance took place in Israel yesterday, as the controversy continues over Security Minister Itaman Ben-Gvir's "walk" around the al-Aqsa compound, condemned by the Arab world and a large part of the international community. As yet unidentified vandals damaged several graves at the Protestant cemetery of Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, owned by the Anglican Church; a video shows a group of people, apparently Jews, destroying tombstones. In a note, the police explain that they arrived at the scene after receiving a complaint of vandalism, accompanied by images showing (in the photos) overturned gravestones and damaged masonry parts. The security camera video recorded on 1 January at 3.25pm - and relaunched on social media - shows two men, apparently Jewish men wearing yarmulkes, hitting the tombstones and throwing stones at the graves. The then Bishop of Jerusalem Samuel Gobat opened the cemetery in 1848 and today it is owned by the Church Missionary Trust Association Ltd, an Anglican organisation. For some time, the Christian leaders of the Holy Land have been sounding the alarm about an escalation of Jewish-based radicalism, which threatens the very survival of the communities. In December 2021, the patriarchs and heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued a very harsh joint note in which they warned of the danger posed by radical groups aiming to "reduce the Christian presence". The attack on Mount Zion is only the latest in a long series of intimidating attacks, some of them signed "price tags" and linked to settlers or Jewish extremists. In the past they have struck various targets, including the church near the Cenacle, the Basilica of Nazareth or Catholic and Greek Orthodox buildings. Mosques and Muslim places of worship have also been targeted. "Price tag" is a slogan used by Israeli extremists, who threaten Christians and Muslims for "taking their land" from them. At one time the phenomenon was only widespread in the areas bordering the West Bank and Jerusalem, but today it has spread to most of the territory. In the meantime, the international outcry over the 'provocative' gesture made yesterday morning by the Israeli Minister for National Security who, escorted by a large number of agents and loyalists, visited the al-Aqsa compound has not subsided. Tomorrow the UN Security Council is supposed to meet at the request of the United Arab Emirates (Eau) and China, to discuss the issue. There is unanimous international condemnation (from Europe to the United States, passing through the Arab world) for a gesture defined as an "unprecedented provocation" by the Palestinians, from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority. US State Department spokesman Ned Price expressed "deep concern" over "unilateral" actions that could at least potentially "exacerbate tension". "The United States," he added, "strongly advocates the preservation of the status quo on Jerusalem's holy sites". Among the first consequences of Ben-Gvir's 'walkout' is the postponement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to the Emirates, scheduled for next week. It is a headache for the recently installed Chief Executive, who has repeatedly assured he wants to maintain stability on the Temple Mount, while rejecting the intimidation of Hamas against which the Security Minister has threatened to use "an iron fist". Today's headlines: Marcos in China to 'open a new chapter' in relations with Beijing; Seoul threatens to torpedo military pact with Pyongyang; to save money, Islamabad orders early closure of markets and shopping centres; no deal but 'positive' talks in first high-level summit between Ankara and Damascus. MYANMAR The Burmese army bombed another Catholic church in Kachin State. The attack on the parish of Saint Michel (village of San Hka) took place on 30 December, but the news has filtered in these hours. The toll is one victim - a 52-year-old man - and five wounded. Soldiers have been striking since November, although no Kia (Kachin Independence Army) rebels are active in the area. CHINA - PHILIPPINES Philippine President Fernando Marcos is headed to Beijing for his first official visit and to open "a new chapter". He is scheduled to meet with his counterpart and host Xi Jinping and to hold discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation in the economic field. Also on the table are disputes in the South China Sea, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and investment. KOREA South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is considering suspending the military pact signed in 2018 with Pyongyang if North Korea violates Seoul's airspace again. A sign of the further escalation of tension between the two neighbours, still formally at war since the 1950s. The agreement provides for a no-fly zone and the removal of anti-personnel mines. PAKISTAN In a bid to save energy and mitigate the effects of the crisis, Islamabad ordered shopping centres and markets to close by 8.30 p.m. Foreign currency reserves barely cover one month of imports and International Monetary Fund allocations have been delayed. The PM imposed a 30% reduction in consumption in government departments. TURKEY - SYRIA Ankara and Damascus have not reached any agreement, particularly on the withdrawal of the military from northern Syria, which would only be 'propaganda'. This was revealed by Turkish sources, although the governments of both countries judge the first high-level meeting (defence ministers) since the beginning of the war in 2011, which took place last week with Russian mediation, as "positive". RUSSIA 68-year-old Russian theatre director Dmitry Krymov suffered burns to 50% of his body after a mysterious fire broke out in his New York flat and was hospitalised on a critical prognosis together with his wife, who was also severely burned. The theatre director had spoken out against the war and in support of Ukraine, and left the country for this reason. KAZAKHSTAN Imangali Tasmaganbetov, a 65-year-old representative of Kazakhstan, is the new secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (Csto), the 'Eurasian NATO'. A former prime minister and director of the presidential administration, he was akim (mayor) of Almaty when it was the capital, minister of defence and until December 2019 ambassador to Moscow, then retired. by Vladimir Rozanskij He incites the population to accept the situation and submit. Critics: he makes a living smuggling a false religion. For social users, bureaucrats and rulers are to blame for the crisis. Local clergy obey state directives. Moscow (AsiaNews) - A serious energy crisis broke out in Uzbekistan in December. Throughout the country, electricity is rationed for a few hours a day and long queues of motorists are thronging at service stations. Faced with the growing tension among the population, the chief imam of the capital Tashkent, Rakhmatulla Sayfiddinov, who has long been known for his 'scandalous' statements, delivered a solemn speech in which he called on all believers to show gratitude and forbearance. Sayfiddinov emphasised that 'our ancestors lived without gas and electricity, one must accept the will of Allah'. According to him, local Muslims must not become 'the shame of the world', animatedly raising the issue on all social media. The preacher warned that 'panic, riots and protests will not solve the problems', but these words only caused further upset among the socially active citizens. Journalist Umid Soriev wrote on his Facebook page that "once again at the most sensitive moment, the campaign for gratitude and patience is being reintroduced, diverting citizens from actions in defence of their rights, and this campaign must be stopped immediately, one must have the courage to express one's discomfort'. In his opinion, the imam 'pushes simple people to live in slavery and subjugation." Humanitarian activist Musannif Adkham stated in turn that 'blaming people who are shivering in the cold, who spend their nights waiting for their turn at petrol stations and wander in the dark, accusing them of ingratitude and inciting them to endure a situation that seems to have no end, all this is blasphemous, a way of making a living by smuggling a false religion'. The Telegram channel Platforma.uz wrote that today "politicians are turning into petulant and bigoted mullahs, while the servants of the cult devote themselves to geopolitics." Users of social networks respond to Imam Sayfiddinov that it is not the people who should be criticised, but the bureaucrats and rulers who failed to take the necessary measures to prepare for the winter season last summer. The imam, who was appointed to the highest religious dignity in the capital last year, has long been stirring up heated discussions with his controversial lectures on various social issues. Already in 2018, as imam of the 'MirzaYusuf' cathedral mosque, he had made a plea at Friday prayers to get rid of the 'shameful phenomenon' of male gynaecologists, and had lashed out against the evil influence of Turkey's TV dramas about the genocide of the Uzbeks. During his homily, he had also proclaimed that 'women who during the sexual act with their husbands have fantasies about other men, perhaps handsome actors, will end up producing gay children'. The grand imam of Tashkent, by the way, is not the only spiritual leader in Uzbekistan to incite the population to submission and gratitude during the energy crisis, but he is in tune with most of his colleagues and brethren, and many believe that these are actually directives distributed by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, together with the Committee for Religion at the Council of Ministers. The Soviet inheritance, characteristic for all Central Asian countries, still considers religion as an 'instrumentum regni', and this also applies to Islam, assimilated more to the 'Byzantine symphony' than to the Mohammedan theocracy, forcing the local clergy to obey state directives. 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. AF Collision Becomes 1st Utah Shop to Join 1Collision Published Jan. 4, 2023 1Collision is pleased to announce the addition of AF Collision in American Fork, UT, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The business is owned by Travis Olson. We are delighted to be adding our first Utah shop to support our Utah customer base, said John Hollingsworth, 1Collision director of new location development. Travis and his team at AF Collision already operate on a high level but were looking for something to help them reach the next plateau of growth. We are excited to start supporting their team with their goals. I am looking forward to having a team and a network like 1Collision to help me refine my processes and 'sharpen my blade,'" said Olson. Sometimes in this industry, you feel like you can never get a straight answer from anyone and I feel that with 1Collision, I will have a plethora of resources to pull from. Established by Ken Murdoch in 1992, AF Collision was purchased by Olson in December 2020. The 5,000-square foot facility sits on approximately one acre of land. For a long time, people told me that I should have my own shop but I always said that I didnt want a shop, said Olson. As time passed and I learned more about the business, I started to think I wanted to try my hand at it. I felt I could do pretty well and so far, it has paid off. Olson explained that the initials AF in the companys name stand for American Fork, where the business is located. With a primary focus on collision repair work, Olson prides himself on being a hometown body shop. I feel like our industry has lost so much with big MSOs and corporate businesses running body shops, said Olson. I want customers to feel like they can walk in and talk to the owner or manager anytime. Olson has more than 28 years of experience in the collision industry. Being part of the collision business for a long time, I love the way it works, he said. I like looking at the numbers and how they translate into profit. I also like dealing with people and being around cars. Prior to purchasing AF Collision, he worked for a paint distributor in Utah and was familiar with 1Collision. During the November SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, Olson talked to the 1Collision team and felt the network would be a good fit to assist his business. Olson said he looks forward to having 1Collision help refine AF Collisions processes. I'm excited to move forward and have people I can reach out to at 1Collision and ask questions and see how other successful shops are doing things, he said. He and his 12 employees are focused on getting vehicles repaired efficiently and properly. I want to ensure my employees and customers are happy, said Olson. The shop is currently part of one DRP. Even if Im on a DRP, I still want customers to feel like were catering to their needs, said Olson. Over the last few years, Olson has focused on growing his shop, including updating the equipment and building a staff that can handle the work he believes the facility is capable of doing. His goal is to continue to expand his current location and open at least two or three more locations in the future. Joining 1Collision is a good fit to help us grow and become more efficient, said Olson. Its not that I think that I couldnt do it alone, but it definitely helps when you have a team of people to help steer the ship rather than just one individual. Source: 1Collision The newest midsize sedan benchmark comes with a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder mill as standard, connected to a continuously variable transmission instead of a stepped transmission such as a torque-converter automatic. Based on the L engine family, this lump is advertised as being smooth and responsible. Improved emissions are promised as well, along with reduced noise, 192 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute, and 192 pound-feet (260 Nm) of torque between 1,700 and 5,000 revolutions.The numbers arent bad per se, but Honda fails to mention that the previous-generation Accord is more frugal. Instead of 33 miles per gallon (7.1 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined test cycle, split between 30 city and 38 highway, the new-generation Accord makes do with 32 miles to the gallon (7.4 liters per 100 kilometers), as in 29 city and 37 highway.Said gas mileage figures are shared by the entry-level LX and better-equipped EX trim levels, which retail at $27,295 and $29,610 before the $1,095 destination charge. From the Sport up, the Japanese automaker offers the aforementioned hybrid powertrain. The most you can expect from it would be 48 miles per gallon (4.9 liters per 100 kilometers) for the EX-L trim level, which is 1 mile per gallon better than the 2022 model. The Sport, Sport-L, and Touring grades average 44 mpg (5.3 l/100 km).The most affordable hybrid-assisted 2023 Honda Accord is $31,895 excluding freight, whereas $37,890 buys you the range-topping Touring. The two-motor hybrid system is joined by a 2.0-liter Atkinson engine. The combined system output is 204 horsepower, which is 2 ponies better than before, and the traction motor can make up to 247 pound-feet (335 Nm).The question is, what are you getting for your money? For starters, the LX boasts a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, 17-inch alloys, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with physical knobs for tuning and volume, LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The EX builds on the base trim level with the likes of a one-touch power sliding moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power drivers seat with lumbar control, an 8-speaker audio system, nicer alloys, and heated front seats.As expected, hybrid customers are getting a few more goodies. The Sports highlights kick off with leather on the steering wheel, which shouldve been standard across the board given the nastiness of urethane steering wheels. 19-inch alloys finished in black are featured as well, together with 12.3 inches worth of touchscreen infotainment, wireless CarPlay, and wireless Auto. The EX-L achieves a better combined fuel economy than the Sport by downsizing to 17-inch alloys in Pewter Grey spelled the British way. It further includes leather upholstery for the front and rear seats, as well as parking sensors for both of the vehicles ends.The Sport-L includes a memory drivers seat, black exterior styling accents, a rear diffuser, 19-inch wheels, and a power passenger seat. What makes the Touring stand out from its peers? Well, how about 12 speakers from Bose? The standard features list further comprises a head-up display, 15W wireless charging for your phone, 5G Wi-Fi hotspot capability, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated outboard seats in the rear. kW Weve talked about some of these projects before, with the most advanced and likely-to-succeed being those cooked up by Blue Origin and Sierra Space (Orbital Reef), and a yet unnamed Northrop Grumman station. The Nanoracks, Voyager Space, and Lockheed Martin project called Starlab is also on this select list, and the following concerns it directly.Last we heard about Starlab was in early December 2022, when NASA awarded the first contracts for the station, valued at $160 million and meant to cover the builds design stage.Now, as the new year is kicking into gear, one of the companies involved in the project, Voyager Space, announced it managed to secure the participation of a major aerospace company. Its Airbus were talking about, and its role in Starlab is by no means small. The European company is from now on tasked with providing technical design support and expertise for the Starlab space station, although what that means exactly was not detailed.Starlab is scheduled to be launched in 2028 (earlier plans called for it to become operational in 2027, but this is space exploration were dealing with, and delays seem to be a must), and it will be placed in low-Earth orbit (LEO) as a sort of orbital laboratory.The place is described as the first-ever free-flying commercial space station, and will be made of a 340 cubic meters (12,000 cubic feet) inflatable habitat, a metallic docking node, a 60power and propulsion element, and a robotic arm. Despite being smaller than the current International Space Station ( ISS ), it is supposed to provide 100 percent of the International Space Station's payload capacity with the ability to conduct hundreds of experiments and technical investigations per year.The station will be capable of holding a crew of just four people at a time and will be comprising a biology lab, plant habitation lab, physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area. All of that will be neatly wrapped in a little package called the George Washington Carver (GWC) Science Park, located inside the structure.Nanoracks is the company that will own and operate the station, and itll also be in charge of getting the whole thing to work as advertised. Voyager Spaces role is to find funds and partners (and the Airbus deal is a sign of the role being fulfilled), while the biggest company of them all, Lockheed Martin, has been named technical integrator. EV The Israeli company believes Forster will help it make strategic decisions in its discussions with new automakers. Coincidence or not, Forster was a senior advisor for Geely Automotive and a board member at Volvo Cars. The Swedish carmaker and Polestar, both controlled by Geely, are investing in StoreDot and should be among the first companies to adopt XFC cells as soon as they are released in 2024. Mercedes-Benz and VinFast are two other investors in StoreDot that may begin using its XFC cells as soon as they are production-ready.If you dont know what that acronym means, it is extreme fast charging, something StoreDot believes it can offer without the need for different chemistries. A regular ternary cell can receive its secret sauce and help a battery pack recover 100 miles in 5 minutes, which the company also named 100in5 . It also plans to offer semi-solid-state cells called 100in3 by 2028 and solid-state batteries called 100in2 in 2032 which can be eight years after QuantumScapes solution hits the market.Forster should help the Israeli startup approach new carmakers to present its silicon-rich technology. The company said he would help encourage other car companies to independently assess the technology by receiving and testing samples, as StoreDot already does with its official partners.One of the main advantages of these first XFC cells is that they use standard lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment. In other words, current battery manufacturers can adopt the technology, just by tweaking the machines they already use to produce their cells. Currently, StoreDots A samples are made by EVE Energy, a Chinese battery manufacturer. Things should be different with 100in3 and 100in5 cells. QuantumScape is spending significant time creating machines that will ensure its solid-state platform will make sense from an industrial perspective. Developing a cutting-edge battery that is just too expensive to manufacture will not help much improve and perfectadoption. As we have pointed out before, BEVs need to have cheaper, lighter, and more convenient battery packs before most car buyers adopt them.As a manufacturing expert, Forster may be able to help StoreDot with that as well, even if his experience is with making cars, not batteries. Despite that, the executive dominates the main principles involved with the activity, which is always an asset. He is already helping the Israeli startup as its chairman, but we will have to wait a bit until Forster can make a difference at the company. kW If you think eating healthy and exercising regularly is hard, try doing it while living full time on a sailboat, on the way to the Arctic, with your partner and four dogs on board. Its not mission impossible for Wes Hyde and Judith Graile, from Manitoba.Describing themselves as avid sailors, they have recently kicked off a very ambitious multi-year expedition project thats mainly supposed to be educational.After sailing from Newfoundland, they will make their way to the Bahamas, return to Canada, and then sail to the Arctic over the course of next year. Throughout the entire journey, they plan to educate people on climate change, and promote a healthy lifestyle thats in harmony with nature.At the center of all of this is their vessel, named Hakluyt, after a small island in Greenland. This is by no means an ordinary boat. Created by an acclaimed architect, it lived a long life as a polar expedition boat with educational purposes.When Wes and Judith purchased it, they decided to also make it green. So, the boat underwent a major refit process, and became Hakluyt a rugged vessel fitted with electric motors, powered by renewable energy, and equipped with many green alternatives on board.Built in France, at the beginning of the 1990s, the boat is a 47-foot (14 meters) steel Super Disko. This is the famous design of Gilbert Caroff, an acclaimed French naval architect, and its named after the Disko Island in Greenland.The boats history isnt perfectly documented, but in the early 2000s it was owned by an explorer and participated in the Euronav expedition. Later, it would be at the center of a philanthropic program called Students on Ice.Today, following the extensive 2022 refurbishment, Hakluyt ditched its Yanmar engines for two 15motors and a LiFePo battery bank. Its fitted with a wind generator and solar panels, as well as modern technology, including custom radar and communication systems, and new electronics.The diesel stove was also replaced with a solid combustible stove, fed with recyclable, eco-friendly compressed logs. The couple lives and cooks everything onboard, following the teach by example motto.The eco-friendly Hakluyts adventures are shared on social media, and you can keep up with the boats location and movement in real time. Never thought Id see this on a cruise. Great rescue by Captain Kate here @CelebrityCruise. And yes, thats a styrofoam and wood boat. #cubanrefugees #America pic.twitter.com/F3cWJCp2Yc Dean S (@deanatl) January 3, 2023 Its never a good idea to sail away on an improvised, DIY boat that couldnt survive on a lake, let alone the ocean. Yet, folks keep doing that, sometimes with comical results (remember this guy and his floating hamster wheel?) On the other hand, theres nothing funny about refugees from Cuba using such vehicles as the only available means of transportation, hoping to arrive safely in the U.S.One of the latest watercraft of this kind that ended up needing to be rescued, looked as dangerous as can be not only was it made from Styrofoam and wood, but was obviously way too small for its 19 passengers. Hardly seaworthy, this makeshift vessel left the people onboard stranded in the Caribbean, right at the beginning of the new year.Thats when Celebrity Beyond came to the rescue. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship was completing an eight-night voyage in the Western Caribbean, after having left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 26, 2022.The Celebrity Beyond was introduced as the cruise operators most revolutionary ship yet, and it made headlines for being led by Americas first female cruise ship captain. Captain Kate McCue was also the one who coordinated this recent rescue operation, together with the Celebrity Beyonds crew. She stayed in charge of the massive vessel, as the crew brought each of the 19 passengers on the styrofoam boat, onboard.Thankfully, things ended well for everyone. All the 19 refugees were unhurt, and were later picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard, while the cruise ship made its way back to Florida, with no delay. The bad part is that this isnt a rare event, but something that happens more often that wed like to think. Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Dream were also faced with similar situations involving refugees, around the same time (from the end of 2022 to the first days of 2023). Cruise ships have to save the day, whether they like it or not. Theyre required by law to provide assistance in this type of cases, and collaborate with the U.S. Coast Guard. Superyachts are also known to provide a much-needed helping hand in case of emergency, due to the ample space onboard, and capacity to carry a rescue boat and one or more tenders.At the end of last year, the Victorious superyacht carried out an impressive salvage operation, and it was perfectly equipped to do so, as a self-sufficient explorer specifically meant to survive in challenging situations. ADAS Recent research conducted by Omdia reveals that HERE has managed to beat all its rivals, including here not only Google but also TomTom and Mapbox.This years edition of the Location Platform Index, therefore, puts HERE in first place. The industry analyst firm ranked companies investing in this space by completeness and reach, and in every single category, HERE got a better score than its competitors.When it comes to completeness, Omdia analyzed criteria like core data, mapping and platform capabilities, the services supported by the platform, and how efficient the parent companys monetization strategy is.As a result, HERE obtained an overall score of 7.88 points, followed by Google with 7.47 points. TomTom secured the third spot with 6.76 points, while Mapbox was the fourth company in the charts with 6.03 points.What sets HERE apart from the rest of the crowd is its presence in the automotive market. Its software is already being used by a growing number of carmakers , and the parent company is trying to expand its offering with new-generation traffic solutions aimed not only at companies but also at transport agencies and city authorities.Its obviously one of the leading names with it comes to data collection, which essentially makes its software more accurate, with Omdia specifically praising the company for its focus on safety solutions as well.As far as Google Maps goes, the analysis shows that the application is still behind rival HERE when looking at the existing partnerships in the automotive industry. On the other hand, the best things about Google Maps are its gigantic user base for consumer services, mostly powered by Android (where the application is offered as pre-loaded), the support for advanced solutions like crowdsourcing, the regular updates, and the way it integrates AI, AR, and cloud capabilities developed by Google.On the other hand, the study shows that Google Maps is struggling in China due to the lack of access, whereas rivals like HERE are already among the top choices in the country. Furthermore, Googles solution still doesnt seem to be fully committed to improving certain components, such as ride-sharing and asset tracking, while itssupport is yet to reach the advanced level currently available in competing products.One potential growth engine for Google Maps, however, is the adoption of Android Auto , as the platform helps the navigation app increase its market share in the automotive space. Furthermore, Google Maps is also available on Android Automotive, and thanks to partnerships between Google and carmakers, its adoption could eventually rise in the long term. Washoe County Sheriff's Office - Press Conference Jeremy Renner https://t.co/oH4BySd35g Washoe Sheriff (@WashoeSheriff) January 3, 2023 On January 1, after a massive snowstorm that hit the area around Mt. Rose Highway in Reno, Nevada, Renner went out with one of the snowplows on his property to help clear the roads around his ranch and his neighbors properties. During what his publicist called a weather-related accident, he suffered blunt force trauma to the chest and severe orthopedic injuries resulting in major blood loss, and was airlifted to a local hospital.The next day, Renner underwent two surgical interventions , with his condition described as critical but stable. According to reports, the machine that caused the accident was a PistenBully snowgroomer, from German maker Kassbohrer, which reportedly rolled over him. The Washoe County Sheriffs Office confirmed this, by means of a press conference held by Sheriff Darin Balaam, available in full below. The video only starts past the 9-minute mark, so make sure you skip to that part.The Sheriff says Renner was out with his PistenBully to help a relative that had gotten stuck in the snow, in Renners car. The previous night, a snowstorm had brought an additional 3 feet of fresh snow, and there were more than two dozen vehicles stuck on Mt. Rose Highway. Renner, the Sheriff says, is often helping out the community, because these are private roads that the county wont plow, so he does it instead.Once he towed the car out of the snow, Renner got out of the PistenBully to talk to the driver, which is when the snowplow started rolling. As he tried to get back into the cab to stop it from going any farther, Renner was run over. It took first-responders hours to get to him because of the weather, during which time he received first help from neighbors, including a tourniquet on one of his legs to stop the bleeding.The Sheriff did not go into the details of Renners condition, but did say that this was still an active investigation. That said, all signs point to this being a tragic accident, though theyre still analyzing the snowplow to determine whether some malfunction got it rolling forward when Renner stepped out. He also said that Renner, who is an honorary Deputy Sheriff, often does good neighbor things and is a very active member of the community Renner remains in the hospital, but he is well enough to address the fans and the media on his Instagram. Thank you all for your kind words, he wrote. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all. Leonardo DiCaprio continues to be one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood, spending time on a luxury yacht surrounded by a ton of hot women in bikinis. https://t.co/152UwWvaoP TMZ (@TMZ) January 4, 2023 While regular folks rang in the New Year with friends and families, maybe watching the fireworks or attending a party or a concert, many of the worlds billionaires gathered at a very informal, but now traditional superyacht party off St. Barts. The only vessels missing this year were those owned by sanctioned Russian oligarchs, which makes sense: regardless of how much fun a party is, theres no sense risking a yacht seizure or an arrest for it.Present at the festivities was also Vava II, the second, fully-custom superyacht of billionaire entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli, delivered in 2012 for the reported cost of $150 million. If the name of the watercraft rings a bell, its probably because of the association with A-list actor (and known environmentalist) Leonardo DiCaprio, who has been chartering it every holiday season for the past couple of years, at least.Case in point: DiCaprio partied on it on New Years Eve 2021, with the likes of Jeff Bezos and Lukas Haas, and then again in the summer of 2022, with Tobey Maguire and Tristan Thompson. Hes now onboard the superyacht, accompanied by the same Maguire, Drake, and his rumored new love interest, model Victoria Lamas, daughter of Renegade star Lorenzo Lamas.The only thing that has changed all these months is the location where Vava II moors: for Christmas and NYE festivities, its always at anchor in St. Barts, while in the summer, it will head to Saint Tropez . Photos of DiCaprio going for a swim and taking in the sun on the superyachts large beach club are available in the tweet at the bottom of the page.Vava II is very popular with celebrities, and the fact that DiCaprio chooses to spend every vacation on it speaks volumes about that. This also explains why not many details about the superyacht are public, including photos of the interior.What is known, though, is that Bertarelli had Vava II built to replace his previous yacht, the smaller and less luxurious Vava. Built by Devonport Yachts in England, Vava II is 97 meters (318 feet) long, with an interior volume of 3,930 GT, exterior design by Redman Whitely Dixon, and interiors by Remi Tessier.Accommodation onboard is for as many as 36 guests and 34 crew, so its effectively perfect for hosting large parties. Amenities include a helipad with storage, a large pool, and the sizable beach club, while power comes from four MTU diesel engines that take it to a top speed of 19 knots (22 mph / 35 kph) and a cruise speed of 15 knots (17 mph / 28 kph).As users on social media are already pointing out, fueling Vava II costs close to half a million dollars and produces more carbon emissions per mile (1.6 km) than one car does over a period of two months. Its not exactly in line with DiCaprios environmentalist work , and thats putting it mildly. As a result, its really not a big surprise that some users feel lost when trying to deal with Android Auto bugs . But when it comes to a glitch that causes everything on the screen to be larger than usual, the one thats causing so much frustration is the lack of response from Google.First spotted in the summer, the issue makes Android Auto impossible to use, as the icons, the status bar, and pretty much everything else are upscaled for no clear reason.Obviously, this seems to indicate a glitchy connection, but users claim theyve tried everything, from new cables to resetting both the mobile phone and the head unit.Nothing worked to produce a real improvement, and recently, several users confirmed that the same behavior keeps plaguing their devices as well.At one point, it seemed that only Xiaomi devices were affected, so users now believe that Google has decided to abandon the investigation and let the Chinese phone maker deal with the whole thing. A patch, however, is still nowhere to be seen, and nobody knows precisely who must come up with a fix.This was happening in my Chevy Malibu using the stock unit. I believe I cleared the cache and app storage and the issue went away for a while, but it then returned again and I ended up installing an older APK and the issue was no longer present, one user explained on the forums, therefore suggesting one possible fix.If the downgrade to an earlier version of Android Auto brought things back to normal, then the app itself is the one to blame for the glitch. Unfortunately, running an older version of Android Auto isnt always a solution and can only be used temporarily, as Google eventually forces the update to the latest release for obvious reasons.If you believe this solution is worth a try, you can find all the Android Auto APK builds on this page . Just download the APK installer, tap it to launch the downgrade, and then make sure that you grant the permission to install apps from sources other than the Google Play Store.At this point, nobody knows for sure if Google and Xiaomi are at least monitoring the bug reports , so youd better not hold your breath for a full fix until one of the two companies acknowledges the investigation. SUV AWD AMG And all of these posh high-riders lack any historic background. Unlike the Cadillac Escalade full-size luxurythat was created as a response to the European Range Rover, M-Class, or Japanese Lexus LX, but above all as a measured reply against 1998s release of the Lincoln Navigator. Now, although the latter was faster than the 1999 arrival of the original Escalade, it is all but certain who has the American full-size premium SUV crown , right?Following its ginormous success, which is only fitting for its behemoth size, Caddy launched the second generation in 2002, the third iteration in 2007, and the fourth Escalade back in 2015. The contemporary model again became all-new for the 2021 model year after it was introduced almost two years ago in February 2020. Sales kicked off later that autumn, complete with RWD or, a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 or 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six diesel, plus regular and ESV long-wheelbase variants.Naturally, Caddy kept things interesting with the arrival of the 2023 Escalade-V and Escalade-V ESV, both motivated by the upgraded, 682-horsepower Blackwing 6.2-liter supercharged V8. But no worries, even normal Escalades can stand out in any crowd with a little help from the imaginative realm of the aftermarket world. In this case, the emphasis was on the ubiquitous murdered-out atmosphere, and all we can say is they nailed it properly.As such, here are the custom-forged wheel experts over at Santa Fe Springs, California-based AG Luxury , who have uncovered yet another potentially outrageous all-black treat, courtesy of a couple of venues called Gas Motorcars and Butler Tires and Wheels. The treatment is pretty straightforward, as far as we can tell, and lacks any in-depth details from the customization shops. As such, what we have here is a Cadillac Escalade ESV dressed up in black and bespoke-fitted with a nice set of matching AGL60 monoblock forged wheels finished in Gloss Black and complete with ritzy Caddy-badged floating caps.Sure, maybe this is not exactly your custom full-size SUV cup of tea, since the murdered-out niche values chromatic monotony above all else. But sometimes it is better to keep things absolutely clean and simple. If not, you could end up with a tedious Mercedes-G 63 4x4 Squared that went through a Brabus B700 makeover and also landed on clear-polished AG Luxury AGL78 monoblock forged wheels! Oh, right, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, now I remember. There are couples out there who prefer going out to dinner and simply enjoying a walk, and others, like Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, who would try all kinds of adventures. And this didnt stop in 2023, as they started the year strong on Honda ATVs. 11 photos Photo: Instagram / Travis Barker EV kWh SUV AWD kW If this number is confirmed, the VF 8 will only present 55 more miles of range than the Mazda MX-30, the biggest flop in thescene in the U.S. At least the Japanese electric car had a small battery pack: 35.5. The VF 8 in the City Edition comes with an 82-kWh unit. In other words, for 44.3% more range, it carries a 131% larger battery pack. Selling it only in California is no relief.The best comparison is with the Volkswagen ID.4 , which also presents an 82-kWh battery pack even if 5 kWh are there only for buffering. The 77 kWh left can drive the German electricthrough 275 mi (442.6 km). To be fair, the VF 8 City Edition only comes with two motors (one per axle). That said, the ID.4 Prodelivers a 255 mi (410.4 km) range still a lot more than VinFast achieved with its electric SUV.In the PDF with information about the VF 8 City Edition, VinFast promises the EV will have a higher range after a software update to be performed in January 2023. Considering the vehicle is yet to reach its customers, shouldnt the company have waited for the upgrade to announce a higher EPA estimate? Thats another sign that VinFast may be rushing things more than it should.Williams discovered in his trip that the VF 8 seemed to have much less power than the 349 hp (260) up to 402 hp (300 kW) VinFast promised. It was only after talking to the companys engineers that he learned this output is only there if the battery pack has more than 80% of charge. None of the test vehicles available for the press in Vietnam showed more than 50%.VinFast is a new brand to American customers, coming from a country with no tradition in the automotive industry. A low price point would be a way to attract customers attention, but the VF 8 City Edition will cost $56,700 in its entry-level derivative, the Eco. VinFast will give it a $3,000 discount, making it cost $53,700. A capitalized cost reduction of $4,480 (whatever that means) reduces the price even further: to $49,220. It is still expensive. The ID.4 AWD Pro costs $47,795, and you can have the version with a 275-mile range for $43,995.Very few prospective buyers will feel comfortable with a car that can only run 179 mi with a fully-charged battery pack. Having Pininfarina design its EVs or a factory in the U.S. will not help VinFast as much as it probably hopes: it needs way more than that to succeed. Italy is a travelers dream, any way you approach it, and a tour of its most stunning locations is undoubtedly on many peoples bucket lists. The unique charms of Venice and Portofino, the amazing history of Rome, the vineyards of Tuscany, and the countless gems along the coast of Sicily imagine exploring all of that while traveling by train. Not just any train, but one that blends to perfection modern luxury with original vintage details, and a nostalgic atmosphere.This is one of the latest and most spectacular projects developed by the Orient Express brand, part of the Accor Group, together with Arsenale S.p.A. Dimorestudio, the architecture studio of two acclaimed Italian designers, has created the most sumptuous, retro-inspired decor you can imagine. It will be showcased in the trains 12 deluxe cabins, 18 suites, a special La Dolce Vita suite, and a restaurant.The French hospitality group is also working on bringing back the original Orient Express train, after the original cars were discovered and recovered in 2015. However, this is an ample restoration process thats still ongoing, and expected to be completed by 2025.Until then, the next best thing is the Orient Express La Dolce Vita , named this way in order to differentiate it from the original train thats being refurbished, and also because its design is meant as a tribute to a unique time in history, in Italy. A real cultural phenomenon, this period of time in the 1960s was dubbed La Dolce Vita.This modern rail version will be traveling in Italy from North to South, while passengers enjoy 5-star service onboard, including the finest meals and wines. During the trains stops, theyll even be accommodated inside the new hotels with the same iconic theme Orient Express La Minerva, in Rome, and Orient Express Palazzo Dona Giovannelli, in Venice.Although the train wont start traveling before 2024, its deluxe cabins are already highly coveted. Prices start at more than $2,100 (2,000) per person, per night. And, to make sure you get a spot, you need to make a reservation for $530 (500). If youre feeling even fancier than that (and youve got the means for it) you can even book the entire train for the ultimate private trip through Italy. It doesn't get more luxurious than that. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Before an audience of tens of thousands gathered to commemorate Youth Day: Celebrating the Power of Youth at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar on 3 January 2023, the BAPS Youth Wing presented an engaging programme of inspirational dramas, devotional songs, videos and speeches that paid tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs selfless love and tireless efforts for the moral, spiritual, social and academic development of hundreds of thousands of youths around the world. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and dignitaries also paid tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharajs visionary leadership in channelling the power of hundreds of thousands of youths worldwide towards socially constructive and spiritually uplifting activities. Since Yogiji Maharaj formally established BAPS youth activities in 1952, the love and personal efforts of our gurus have inspired hundreds of thousands of youths to live moral and spiritual lives. Today, this immense youth energy is visible in the great force of volunteers who are enthusiastically serving in the various aspects of Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar. Evening Assembly The evening assembly began at 4.45pm, in which youths presented various activities undertaken by them worldwide through videos, dramas and speeches. They also shared personal testimonies of how Pramukh Swami Maharaj had patiently moulded their lives providing guidance, solace and divine love at critical junctures. Vivekmunidas Swami of BAPS spoke about Pramukh Swami Maharajs contribution to global youth development. He said, Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired youths from across India and the world to serve selflessly, not only in times of crisis and natural disaster but also for improving all aspects of society. Hundreds of thousands of youths have enthusiastically participated in constructive initiatives, such as youth conventions, talent development programmes, academic seminars, grand festivals, and other social initiatives. Pramukh Swami Maharajs vision of creating a holistic and well-rounded young generation was given a further boost through the BAPS Youth Development Centres (Yuva Talim Kendra) that provide a months-long course of holistic development. Today, Mahant Swami Maharajs inspiration of youths can be seen in the selfless service and dynamism of the 80,000 volunteers at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar. Speaking about Pramukh Swami Maharajs inspiration of youths, scriptural orator Jignesh Dada said, Many would flock to celebrate a persons life in their presence, but when I witness hundreds of thousands of people flocking here daily to celebrate Pramukh Swami Maharajs pious life, it is conclusive proof that his divine consciousness is present here. We should applaud all the swamis, who like far-sighted sages of ancient India, have created this divine, blissful place that inspires us to strive to improve ourselves. If we implement just one lesson from this festival, our life will be transformed. Youths who are addiction-free and striving to help others have the power to change the entire world. Head of BAPS Youth Activities, Yagnapriyadas Swami, said, Children and youths yearn for love, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj has gifted pure, divine love to them. He fulfilled all their wishes, offered comfort, and showered immense love upon youths. Pramukh Swami Maharaj not only recognized and validated their affection and feelings, but he also forgave youths for their mistakes and guided them on the right path. As a result of this affection, youths have confidently navigated through difficulties, adopted religious observances, and cultivated values like integrity. Today, his love has inspired countless highly educated and professionally qualified youths serving in this Nagar. A video of Pramukh Swami Maharaj addressing youths was shown in which he said, Typically, youths crave parties and are averse to spiritual assemblies, but you have all come here inspired by Yogiji Maharaj, who had declared, Youths are my heart. Keeping youths at such an important place as his heart, we can see the immense love and compassion that Yogiji Maharaj has showered upon youths. As Yogiji Maharajs heart, youths must do good and refrain from bad habits and activities so that his heart is well protected. If we do what Yogiji Maharaj likes, he will be pleased with us. Managing Director of Torrent Power Jinalbhai Mehta said, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a divine person who inspired countless cultural, social and spiritual initiatives, providing comfort and care to millions. My family and I had often received his blessings, including in times of personal calamity. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has transformed the lives of spiritual seekers, leaders and global personalities by traversing tirelessly to innumerable cities, villages and countries. He has performed home visits inspiring over 4 million people to lead an addiction-free life. Today, I am overwhelmed by visiting this festival, inspired by the vision of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar is truly a spectacle beyond compare. Pramukh Swami Maharaj touched the lives of countless souls with the light of faith and devotion. Member of Parliament Lok Sabha and President of Bhartiya Jana Yuva Morcha Tejasvi Surya said, We are celebrating the centenary of a great soul like Pramukh Swami Maharaj because he has achieved more in one lifetime than what we can dream of achieving in a hundred lifetimes. Thus, as young Indians, we have come here to draw inspiration from his divine life and resolve to walk the path he has shown us. The Upanishads tell us that immortality is obtained not through meaningless action, public acclaim or amassed wealth, but only through sacrifice. The embodiment of such sacrifice was Pramukh Swami Maharaj. This is why our entire nation is celebrating Pramukh Swami Maharajs hundredth anniversary today. Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his dedicated volunteers have created a campus that is so clean, green and serene, it appears miraculous. Nowhere can you find a single piece of litter, nor do you see constant cleaning. But there is a miraculous atmosphere of responsibility that Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his volunteers have created. BAPS has established hundreds of schools, colleges and hospitals guided by the Upanishadic principles that service is our highest duty and service of humanity assists in liberation. These have always been our civilizations highest guiding principles, which we see in action at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar. The amazing managerial, leadership and service skills learned here will lead us to a better nation for tomorrow. BAPS represents the universal spirit of Sanatan Dharma, so it will be an eternal and guiding force for all time to come. At Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar we see service and science, renunciation and technology, purity and modernity that is a microcosm of a new India that is ambitious, a new India that can organize massive projects at scale, and a new India that can be a leader of the world. I am from South India where our ancestors had created massive temples of great ambition. Due to invasions and colonization, for more than a thousand years, we lost the ability to dream big and imagine and execute things in a grand way. But when I visited Akshardham in New Delhi, I realized that BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is rekindling this very innate Indian spirit of thinking grand, thinking audacious, thinking in an aspirational fashion, and organizing and executing it to perfection. This is what one sees in the BAPS temples in India, the US and the world over. This is a place where the youths should come to learn devotion to the nation and devotion to God, where they should come to learn self-realization and the upliftment of our nation, how to lead a life with the strength of character, courage of conviction and leadership that can transform ourselves and the nation. This is what young India needs today. The theme of todays programme is youth. Youth is not an age; it is an attitude. I believe that Pramukh Swami Maharaj is this modern ages greatest youth icon because the values he has established are timeless and universal. Many times, young people feel that religious organizations are only for the elderly. However, from organizations like BAPS, we learn lessons about how to lead a meaningful and purpose-driven life. These are not lessons to learn when we turn 75, but when we are bubbling with youthful energy at 15 or 16. That is when we must learn the art of living and equip ourselves to face the challenges of the world. Today around the nation and around the world, BAPS is doing this very necessary activity of human-making and nation-building through the language of love. BAPS works through the language of love and selfless sacrifice, encapsulating the millennia-old values of Sanatan Dharma. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the next 25 years must be the golden age of India. India needs capable leaders from the panchayat to parliament, from science to industry, from corporate to municipality. India needs young capable men and women who will be able to lead this nation to glory. BAPS is an organization through which we can be inspired and motivated to lead this great nation. I thank BAPS for giving me the opportunity of seeking Gods blessings here to return recharged and full of energy to serve India with every ounce of energy to make our country and civilization the greatest ever. Dr. Sambit Patra, National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party, said, I have not come prepared because I was not aware that I would be asked to speak. Nevertheless, I would like to begin by firstly bowing to the soil of Gujarat, because there must surely be something special about it for having has produced two of the greatest personalities of the century Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I first bow to the holy feet of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. I was not very familiar with the Swaminarayan Sampraday, but when I saw photos and videos of Pramukh Swami Maharaj on TV, I was intrigued by his eyes, his aura, his divine voice. His face has been wonderfully depicted in the bubble wrap portrait here made from 800,000 bubbles by 150 women. What an awe-inspiring devotional offering! Even upon seeing the divine eyes and tilak in the giant sculpted image of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, you will rejoice in divinity. I want to bow to the volunteers. The volunteer driving me around was a graduate from IIT. Other volunteers I was introduced to were people with their own successful businesses, and yet they were serving water to the visitors. I cannot help but ask why everything here is so clean and efficient. I realised it is because the volunteers serving here expect no worldly rewards or remuneration, but only the spiritual blessings of their guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj. I bow to the love for the guru here. I saw it within Pramukh Swami Maharaj for his guru Yogiji Maharaj as he worked only to fulfil his gurus vision. I also see it now in Mahant Swami Maharaj for his guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the magnificent creation of this grand Nagar. Where there is such divine, selfless love, even the impossible can become possible. Today, as we celebrate Youth Day, it reminds me of the boundless energy of youths. The way that the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and in particular Pramukh Swami Maharaj has positively channelized that energy is unparalleled. Gujarat High Court Senior Advocate Devang Nanavati shared, I have come here to pay my tribute to my guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Whenever I saw him, I was immersed in his eyes. Whenever I was with him, I felt as if I was with God. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a guru to millions, but what touched me deeply was his humility and simplicity. I have personally experienced his care. It was more than my own family could ever provide. He once presented me with a rosary, which I still keep with me. Muraleedharan, Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, added, I had the opportunity to participate in Pramukh Swami Maharajs Amrut Mahotsav in Mumbai in 1995, and 25 years later, I am attending his Centennial Celebrations. I was deeply touched today by the Bal Nagari and particularly by the 11-year-old boy from the UK who explained to me how Pramukh Swami Maharajs teachings and love inspired the values of culture and spirituality in him and his friends. I have personally experienced over the years how BAPSs childrens activities provide for the development of religion, spirituality, health and well-being amongst children globally. It is easy to preach but difficult to practice. Pramukh Swami Maharaj did not only preach, but he practised. I saw this when 22,000 Indian students stranded in Ukraine were provided food, shelter and support by BAPS without expecting anything in return. The love for humanity and compassion that has been inspired through Pramukh Swami Maharaj has been the guiding light for all the volunteers. This generation lacks guiding lights. The teachings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj are the guiding lights for all of humanity. We are celebrating Youth Day today and what better example can there be for youth than an institution like BAPS, which not only preaches but practises, where words and deeds match. The teachings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj will be the guiding light for generations to come and the deeds of the devotees and volunteers of BAPS will be the guiding light for the world that is searching for guidance. Shankar Chaudhary, Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, shared, As soon as one enters the Nagar, one experiences divinity, beauty and love. We can see at play here not just devotion, but devotion combined with science and management. I believe everyone should come to BAPS to learn about management. Pramukh Swami Maharaj worked constantly to help people around the world remain connected with their spiritual and cultural roots. It has been because of Pramukh Swami Maharajs tireless travels, love and vision that our cultural identity has been preserved and can flourish. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is being revered the world over because his exemplary work reached everyone around the world. He did not just preach, but practised everything to the letter. His lived his life solely for others as devotion to God. Only then could such a festival on 600 acres be possible. I urge everyone to visit Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, especially the Bal Nagari, where children and families can learn so many important values and skills. For example, the Sea of Survarna story is beautifully presented by young girls who teach us how hard and prayers can lead to success. In fact, all six exhibitions are worth watching as they teach so many valuable life lessons. Under the guidance and leadership of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS has always been at the forefront during natural calamities and helping people to overcome their sorrows. Today, under the leadership of Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS continues to grow worldwide. Because of BAPSs focus on spirituality, ethical living and the spirit of volunteerism, it has raised respect for India among people around the world. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Government of India Minister of Jal Shakti, added, I have personally witnessed Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar coming up when I visited Ahmedabad a few months ago. At the time, I was curious as to what would lie inside. After seeing it completed today, I was awestruck upon entering the ornately carved Sant Dwar welcome gate. I am left speechless by the beauty and grandeur of everything within Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar. Even though these celebrations will last only for a month, the beauty, divinity and inspiration of this creation will last a lifetime. I bow to the humility, divinity and saintliness of Mahant Swami Maharaj that has made it possible. In his blessings to the assembly, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj said, Yogiji Maharaj used to say, The youth are my heart. The heart is such a vital organ, and Yogiji Maharaj gave that place to the youth. He felt that youths should be ideals of service. They should not just be healthy in body, but cultivate the spirit of service. They should serve everyone without distinction. This is the duty of a youth. Youths should strive to be ideal in all aspects of life. In every activity, they should keep religion and ethics at the forefront. A lot can be achieved if one has good character. Our actions should be such that they reflect positively upon God and our guru. People should be inspired not just by our intelligence or talents, but by our character. No matter what obstacles we face, we must resolve to study diligently. We must also firmly resolve to worship God. With firm resolution, we will certainly be able to accomplish these two things. The youths who presented today did a fine job. These youths are not just good performers, but they are steadfast in their observance of ethical living. We congratulate all the youths as well as the swamis and volunteers who have guided them, without which their energies would be wasted. American orders for apparel made in Bangladesh are growing faster than U.S. imports from clothes manufacturing giant China, according to data compiled by the United States Department of Commerce through the first 10 months of 2022. Garment exporters and economists said Bangladesh was luring buyers in the U.S. and the European Union who have cut back on purchases from China. They said relatively low costs, reliability and easy labor availability are among the reasons for U.S.-based buyers increasing orders from Bangladesh. Bangladesh is getting Chinas customers, economist Ahsan H. Mansur told BenarNews. From January to October last year, the United States imported apparel from Bangladesh valued at about $8.5 billion representing a 49% jump from imports of Bangladeshi-made garments during the same period in 2021, according to the Office of Textiles and Apparels (OTEXA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. By comparison, the U.S. imported $19.3 billion in apparel made in China during the same 10-month period, but that increase was only about 21% over the $16 billion during the same period in 2021. The OTEXA data showed that the U.S. imported apparel valued at $7.15 billion from Bangladesh and $19.6 billion from China during all of 2021, growth rates of 37% for Bangladesh and 29% for China compared to 2020. The ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh is one of the engines of the South Asian country's export economy. The sector employs at least 3 million workers, mostly women, who work for low wages in factories that often have a poor record for workplace safety. The growth spurt surprised Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh, who had predicted that the nations exports would continue to decrease until next month. Meanwhile, the chairman of Bangladeshs Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), a non-profit and non-partisan research organization, pointed specifically to Beijings role on the world stage having a positive effect on Dhakas transactions. Chinas tensions with Western countries has a major role in increasing orders from other countries including Bangladesh. It seems that some major U.S. buyers want to reduce their business with China gradually, Mohammad Abdur Razzaque told BenarNews. The leader of garment manufacturer Crony Group, an organization of about 30,000 Bangladeshi garment workers based in Narayanganj, said that appears to be happening. We have recently received some orders from some U.S.-based companies who had previously done business with China, Neela Hosne Ara told BenarNews. Bangladesh is not the only nation and garment manufacturing hub to benefit from the trend, according to the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). The Western countries increased export orders in recent months while the ratio of exports orders are now to other countries, specifically Bangladesh and Vietnam, BKMEA Vice President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan told BenarNews. Growth expected In the near future, 55% of U.S. executives expect to import more clothing from Bangladesh over the next two years than from China, Vietnam and other countries, according to a July 2022 survey by the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA). Respondents qualitative comments also show that companies are minimizing their apparel sourcing from the country and are also exploring ways to reduce dependence on Chinas textile supply, the USFIA report said. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka acknowledged Bangladeshs role as a trade partner. The United States is Bangladeshs largest export destination, and U.S. garment sector companies increasingly identify Bangladesh among their most important trade and investment partners, the Embassy said in response to a BenarNews request for comment. We value our commercial relationship with Bangladesh, the worlds eighth most populated country in the world, and its place in U.S. commercial imports illustrates the competitive quality of Bangladesh-made products. While China remains the worlds top apparel exporter, Bangladesh is in second place. In December, Bangladesh exports totaled $5.37 billion, of which ready-made garments accounted for $4.66 billion, the most in a single month, according to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh. The Russian ship Ursa Major, which was not allowed to port in Bangladesh late last year, is seen here at a commercial port in the Baltic Sea town of Baltiysk, Russia, July 3, 2022 Bangladesh is caught in the middle of the geopolitical battle between Russia and the United States over Ukraine and must walk a fine line to line to prevent an impact on its economy. The South Asian nation does not want to strain ties with old friend Moscow, which is helping Dhaka build a U.S. $12.65 billion (1.3 trillion taka) nuclear power plant, but it balks at the idea of economic sanctions from Washington, which is a key recipient of many of its exports. This tug of war played out recently when Bangladesh blocked a United States-sanctioned Russian ship loaded with cargo destined for the power plant from docking at a local port on Dec. 24. The ship has since docked at an Indian port, according to a Bangladesh official involved in the plants construction. For Bangladeshs government, it was a difficult decision to make. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina counts Russia as one of her strongest allies. The ties between her Awami League party and the Russian state date to Bangladeshs war of independence in 1971, which the Soviet Union steadfastly supported. Immediately after she returned to power following the 2008 election, Hasina signed a treaty with Russia to build the nuclear power plant. The costliest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Bangladesh, it has solidified the bilateral ties between the two countries. In 2014 and 2018, Vladimir Putin returned the favor by congratulating Hasina on retaining power in controversial elections. The 2018 election was harshly criticized by Western democracies as rigged, while the 2014 one was boycotted by the main opposition party and its allies. When Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Hasina repeatedly criticized them and vowed to go ahead with the nuclear project in Rooppur, in the northwestern Pabna district. Her bureaucrats even mulled a currency-swap arrangement with Russia after some of its banks were delisted from the SWIFT mechanism, which facilitates international banking transactions. Russian ships, meanwhile, continued to deliver materials for the nuclear project. But when push really came to shove, Bangladesh backtracked and denied the sanctioned Russian ship, Ursa Major (also known as the Sparta III), from docking in its port. Hasinas position on the ship reflects the strategic importance that Dhaka attaches to its relations with Washington, said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, a Washington think-tank. Yes, Dhaka is keen to ensure relations with Moscow, and yes, it is not afraid to signal its unhappiness about what it believes to be U.S. meddling in its politics, Kugelman told BenarNews. But at the end of the day, Hasina wont want to get complacent about relations with the U.S. and she will look for ways to signal Dhakas desire for a strong and sustained partnership. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak during a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Jan. 15, 2013. [Mikhail Metzel/pool/AP] Workarounds Despite the setback, Bangladesh devised a workaround. The goods will be ferried via a third-party countrys ship so that the same situations dont repeat, Yeafesh Osman, the Bangladesh minister of Science and Technology, whose portfolio includes the nuclear plant, told BenarNews. While the minister did not elaborate, BBC Bangla reported that Bangladesh initiated discussions with the Indian government to allow the goods to be unloaded there and then ferried to Bangladesh on a different ship. A Bangladesh official with Rosatom, the Russian state corporation constructing the Rooppur nuclear plant, told BenarNews that Ursa Major had since docked at the Port of Kolkata, India. The official asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak for the corporation. Indias Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to a BenarNews request for comment. India has long defied the Western sanctions against Russia, buying oil and military equipment from the country. An analysis by Foreign Policy revealed in August 2022 that more than half a dozen sanctioned Russian ships docked in India during the previous month. By involving India, Bangladesh may have hoped to buffer the risks, but Washingtons reaction to Dhakas action remains to be seen. Meanwhile, India could theoretically be exposed to secondary sanctions, some analysts said, but the U.S. has so far been unwilling to enforce any penalties. The Wilson Centers Kugelman said that despite the attempts at workarounds, Russian goods are coming to Bangladesh in ways that would appear to constitute a violation of sanctions. Does Washington consider its relationship with Dhaka to be sufficiently strategically significant that it can find ways to overlook these transactions with Moscow, even if they appear to violate sanctions, Kugelman asked. If yes, then the U.S. and Bangladesh should be able to find a way out of this mess. If not, things could get even messier. Another analyst, Allen Maggard, with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies in Washington, said the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the U.S. Treasury Department has a track record of pursuing individuals and companies engaged in ship-to-ship transfers for the benefit of North Korea and Iran . But Bangladeshs context may be different, he told BenarNews. The U.S. Department of Treasury did not respond to a BenarNews request for comment. Sanctions While Science and Technology Minister Osman believes Bangladesh was overly cautious to avoid sanctions-related complications, the nations wariness is understandable. The U.S. and Europes markets are lifelines for Bangladeshs export-based economy. On Dec. 10, 2021, to coincide with Human Rights Day, the U.S. government imposed unprecedented targeted sanctions against several commanders of Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite police unit accused of rampant rights violations. Bangladesh has quietly made efforts to work with the U.S. to address Washingtons concerns about RAB that led that entity to be sanctioned by the U.S. one year ago, Kugelman said. Dhaka wants to get things right with Washington even while continuing to engage commercially with Beijing and Moscow. Still, some in Bangladesh remain critical of the U.S. approach. Its really concerning that a sanction imposed against Russia has such a ripple effect that its hurting development projects in countries like Bangladesh, said Imtiaz Ahmed, an international relations professor at Dhaka University. The United States will not escape the long-term effect of how it sanctions one country after another. The affected countries will find alternative ways for their own sake, which will hurt the U.S. interests, he said. The Russian government would agree. On Dec. 20, when the U.S. embassy alerted Bangladesh about the sanctioned ship, the Russian embassy in Dhaka immediately took the matter to the public, albeit indirectly. It issued a rare, if not unprecedented, public statement accusing developed democracies of interfering in domestic affairs in countries such as Bangladesh while adding that Russia was invariably committed to non-interference. The statement led Western embassies to ask if the Russian commitment to non-interference also applied to Ukraine. In the following days, the Russian foreign ministry doubled down. Maria Zakharova, the ministrys chief spokeswoman, specifically referred to a recent meeting between the U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh and family members of victims of enforced disappearance in the country. She alleged the incident showed the U.S. was trying to influence the domestic processes in Bangladesh. Zakharova said that by offering recommendations regarding transparency and inclusiveness in the parliamentary elections, Western countries violated the basic principles of non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. The Russian position appeared to support the ruling party in Bangladesh, whose leaders routinely complain about U.S. positions on democracy and human rights. But it wasnt clear until last week that the quibbles about interference may have been less about Bangladeshs domestic affairs than Russias own investment interests, leaving Dhaka in the midst of another tussle between big powers. We tend to think the most of how [Bangladesh has] been dragged into U.S.-China competition, but were seeing now how its also being brought into U.S.-Russia rivalry. That was to be expected, given Russias preexisting investments in Bangladeshs energy industry, Kugelman said. The challenge for Dhaka is to balance its important relations with Washington with its energy security and broader foreign policy interests. And that entails a flexible foreign policy with continued engagement with Moscow. Ahammad Foyez in Dhaka contributed to this report. Retired Gen. Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, Malaysias former military chief, is seen at the National Security Council office in Putrajaya, Jan. 3, 2023. Malaysias new government is set to name a former military chief as the new facilitator for the Thai Deep South peace talks and replace the one appointed in 2018, two sources told BenarNews on Wednesday. Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, a 65-year-old retired army general, will take over from Abdul Rahim Noor as facilitator of the talks that aim to end a long-running separatist insurgency in Thailands southern border region, according to the chief negotiator for the BRN rebels and another source close to the negotiations. We have been made aware of the changes but not officially. And the [new] facilitator is Zulkifli, said Anas Abdulrahman, who heads the delegation representing the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) group at the peace talks that began in early 2020. Another source close to the talks, but who was not authorized to speak to reporters, said the same. Yes, the new man has been confirmed. It is former army chief Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, the source said. He will be making a visit to Bangkok to introduce himself properly to the Thai government, the source, without saying when the trip would take place but that it would be soon. In Thailand, the army commander for the southern region said he was aware that Zulkifli was to replace Rahim Noor, a former Malaysian national police chief. We know about the matter and we are coordinating on it, Gen. Santi Sakuntanak told BenarNews. Noor did not immediately respond to messages from BenarNews. It was also not immediately clear why the Malaysian government decided to make the change, although there was a history of bad blood between Rahim Noor and Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysias new prime minister. When he served as police chief in 1998, Rahim Noor notoriously gave Anwar a black eye by punching him in the face when he was in jail at the time. Zulkifli, a trained sniper, and an expert in tactical weapons and anti-insurgency operations, had served in the army for more than four decades before retiring in 2020. He began his career in the army in 1978 and was made the army chief in 2011. He served as military chief in 2018. Talks between negotiators representing Thailands government and insurgents in the largely Muslim and ethnic Malay southern border region were informally on hold while Malaysia which for years has brokered the talks held a general election in November. The two sides last met in August. Prime Minister Anwar has already met with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. But the two governments have kept mum about the future direction of the peace talks. The date of the next round of talks hasnt yet been confirmed, although Noor told BenarNews in the second week of December that it would take place sometime in January. After Anwar was named prime minister, analysts had told BenarNews they expected the slow-moving and thus far fruitless peace talks to get a shot in the arm, because the new leader was keenly interested in the issue. Observers had also expected he would replace Rahim Noor who had punched Anwar in the eye in prison 24 years ago after then-PM Mahathir Mohamad had sacked Anwar as his deputy. It was Mahathir who, during his latest stint as prime minister, appointed Rahim Noor in September 2018 as facilitator for the southern Thai peace talks, despite objections by Anwars party, which was part of Mahathirs coalition. Well experienced Meanwhile, Zulkifli visited Rodzi Md. Saad, director-general of Malaysias National Security Council on Tuesday. The NSC is the agency that spearheads Malaysias initiative in facilitating the Deep South peace talks. Rodzi said he and Zulkifli discussed numerous issues, including strengthening the countrys security. There were many issues discussed during this visit, which included steps to further strengthen the countrys security management by emphasizing peace, the wellbeing and safety, he said in a social media post. Hope that the well experienced [Zulkifli], who is currently a lecturer at the National Defense University, can continue to contribute for the betterment of the nation. The armed separatist movement in the Deep South region against Buddhist-majority Thailand began in the 1960s. The Deep South encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces and four districts of Songkhla province. Since the insurgency reignited in January 2004, more than 7,344 people have been killed and 13,641 others injured in violence, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank. Workers at 9 Mile Cemetery in Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby carry out a mass burial of unclaimed bodies from Port Moresby General Hospitals morgue on Jan. 4, 2023. Papua New Guinea carried out a mass burial Wednesday of 92 unclaimed bodies from its main hospital after a viral video of decaying corpses highlighted pressures on the Pacific countrys fragile health system. There were no relatives to bid the dead farewell at 9 Mile Cemetery in the countrys capital Port Moresby. City Hall cemetery workers clad in white protective clothing stacked the thin-wood coffins in burial pits as reporters looked on. The mortuary cannot take on the load of a growing population. Its an everyday thing, only that now it has gone viral on social media. The morgue is extremely crowded, Port Moresby General Hospitals chief executive officer Paki Molumi said in a statement. Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country with more than nine million people, has a limited health system despite strong economic growth over the past decade. One in 13 children die each year from mostly preventable diseases and the risk of mothers dying during childbirth is eight times higher than the average for East Asia and the Pacific, according to UNICEF. A video posted on Facebook over the Christmas and New Year holiday period showed bodies decaying in Port Moresby General Hospitals layout room a facility where family members can view a deceased relative before the body is transferred to the morgue. Molumi said 20 bodies had been left in the layout room for several days until preparations for the mass burial had freed up space in the morgue. Workers at 9 Mile Cemetery in Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby carry out a mass burial of unclaimed bodies from Port Moresby General Hospitals morgue on Jan. 4, 2023. [BenarNews] Port Moresby also carried out a mass burial in July last year and another is planned for February. The burials Wednesday included 52 adults and 40 children and infants whose bodies had been unclaimed for at least six months. The latest mass burial comes ahead of an official visit to Papua New Guinea next week by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australia is the countrys largest aid donor. Molumi said the government, with the help of international donors, has allocated funds to address the long standing mortuary issue which I will announce when confirmed. Last month, soldiers damaged equipment at Port Moresby General Hospital and threatened staff after the overcrowded emergency department didnt immediately attend to a drunk soldier who had injuries from a car accident. Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) walks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 4, 2023. Beijing said it would work with Manila to resolve maritime issues amicably as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday amid bilateral tensions over the South China Sea. China also noted it was ready to resume talks on joint oil and gas exploration in the contested waterway, while Marcos said that Manila hoped to announce the resumption that it had earlier terminated due to Beijings territorial claims in the sea region. China will work with the Philippines to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation, resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration, promote cooperation on oil and gas exploration in non-disputed areas, and conduct green energy cooperation on photovoltaics, wind power, and new energy vehicles, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement about the Marcos-Xi meeting. The two sides have identified agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people exchanges as four priority areas of cooperation, the statement added. Marcos was undertaking his first state visit to Beijing as president weeks after Manila complained about Chinese boats swarming in South China Sea waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. For his part, Marcos said the Philippines and China should strengthen their partnership to make the two countries stable and strong. We are hoping that after the pandemic becomes more manageable, that we will not only return to the path that we were on before the pandemic but that we even build-up to greater heights [in] our participation in joint programs and joint ventures together, Marcos said, according to a statement by the Philippine Office of the Press Secretary. Marcos mentioned the continuing negotiation for joint exploration in the South China Sea, saying the issue is very important to the Philippines. I really hope I would very much like, as you have suggested, Mr. President, to be able to announce that we are continuing negotiations and that we hope that these negotiations will bear fruit because the pressure upon not only China, not only the Philippines but the rest of the world to move away from the traditional fronts of power, he said. Marcos immediate predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had ended talks over joint exploration because of Chinas claims that overlap with Manilas in the South China Sea. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea on historical grounds, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Beijing also claims historic rights to areas of the waterway that overlap Indonesias exclusive economic zone as well. Since taking office in June, Marcos has repeatedly stated that his government would assert a 2016 international arbitration court ruling, which Manila won and which invalidated Chinas vast claims to the sea region. Beijing has ignored the ruling. Manila already has filed 65 diplomatic protests against Beijing under Marcoss leadership. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) addresses Chinese legislators during a visit to Beijing, Jan. 4, 2023. [Handout Office of the Press Secretary] Earlier on Wednesday, Marcos met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and focused on discussing trade and investments, according to the office of the Philippine leader. Marcos noted that both countries should further their relationship although there were some difficulties that needed to be dealt with. He did not mention what these difficulties were, but Manila has filed numerous diplomatic complaints against Beijing since last year over Chinas continued heavy presence in South China Sea areas it considers are within its exclusive economic zone. Marcos noted that Li had told him on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia in November that their bilateral partnership far outweighs the differences. China has been the Philippines major trading partner, posting a total trade of U.S. $29.1 billion from January to September 2022, with exports amounting to $8.1 billion and imports $21 billion. China is also a major contributor to the countrys tourism industry. Last year, the Philippines recorded 9,574 tourist arrivals from China, according to statistics. House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was part of the Philippine delegation, said they also met with Chinas top legislator, National Peoples Congress Standing Committee chairperson Li Zhanshu, who expressed the same sentiment. He (Li) feels and believes that our relationship should be deepened and strengthened through our legislative bodies, acting in coordination and having more engagements and meetings. So, thats why we will look forward to the invitations that have actually been extended in the previous years but due to COVID, it did not materialize, Romualdez told Filipino reporters. But now that China is opening up this year, we look forward to seeing these same engagements and these exchanges between the Congress of China, and the Congress and Senate of the Philippines come to fruition in the year 2023, he added. Dennis Jay Santos in Davao City, southern Philippines, and Luis Liwanag in Manila, contributed to this report. RFA Mandarin, which is part of Radio Free Asia, also contributed to this report. RFA is a news service affiliated with BenarNews. The Philippines interior secretary on Wednesday called for the voluntary resignations of all national police colonels and generals, saying illegal drug syndicates may have corrupted senior leaders of the force. About 300 officers hold those ranks, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which oversees law enforcement across the country. Those cleared in an investigation will retain their posts, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said. I am calling on all full colonels up to generals, I am appealing for you to submit a courtesy resignation. I know this will surprise you, but this is the only way to make a fresh start, Abalos said. His statement, a rare direct admission from the government that corruption and drugs are entrenched in the halls of power, contrasts starkly with former President Rodrigo Dutertes stance of protecting those in uniform even from criticism. It appears that the problem is big within the police organization, as there are generals and colonels involved in the illegal drug trade, Abalos told reporters. None of the high-ranking officers, including Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Brig. Gen. Jason Ortizo, who directs the departments Chaplain Service, have been spared from the request to submit their resignations. If you are not involved in shady deals, then there is nothing to worry about, Abalos said. The appeal, Abalos said, was more of a shortcut to go around the circuitous justice system in the Philippines. Those who comply will keep their posts until and unless President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepts their resignations. He said the move would not stop the Interior Department from filing cases or going after those involved in the narcotics trade. Col. Redrico Maranan, the national police spokesman, said top officers would comply with the ministers call. This is not the first time that such a request has been made. In 1992, then-President Fidel Ramos called for all officers aged 56 or older, with more than 30 years experience, to resign. Still, Carlos Conde, a senior Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, questioned the move. He said Abalos should not skirt the legal process. Mr. Abalos is not serving the cause of justice and accountability by being so passive about this. If he is serious about accountability, he needs to ensure that police personnel who committed abuses are investigated and charged in court, Conde told BenarNews. Mr. Abalos cannot invoke the problems of the criminal justice and judicial systems to justify this shortcut, Conde said. Abalos made the request six years after Duterte directed the national police to carry out his war on drugs that killed thousands of Filipinos, mostly from poor communities. Duterte, who is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity, has promised to protect police officers facing criminal charges if they were sued by the families of those killed in the drug war. He also publicly accused judges, political foes and police and military officials of being involved in the drug trade, although investigators did not produce evidence. Corruption allegations In 2019, Dutertes drug war was in doubt after the countrys police chief at the time, then-Gen. Oscar Albayalde , was forced to quit shortly after 13 of his men allegedly sold confiscated drugs. He denied the accusation and he was later cleared by the ombudsman. Just a few months after Duterte was sworn into office in 2016, a South Korea businessman, Jee Ick-Joo , was abducted and later killed inside Camp Crame, the police headquarters in Manila. Rogue police officers were charged with the killing. In a statement Wednesday afternoon after police leaders held an emergency meeting to discuss the request, Azurin, the national police chief, said they strongly support the request. He stressed that all senior officials would be undergoing a thorough vetting process to determine whether or not they have involvement in illegal drugs activities in their entire career. An officer who has involvement in crime deserves to be cleared from all doubts, innuendos or perception as to his service integrity and reputation, the statement said. It said a five-man committee of officials with impeccable character and unquestionable integrity had been tasked to spearhead the investigation. We take this move as an opportunity to aggressively, however prudently, cleanse the ranks of the whole PNP and a chance to show the integrity of the organization amidst issues affecting its members, Azurin said, using an acronym for the Philippine National Police. The states inspector general has found that Stratford police officers were justified in the fatal shooting of Christopher W. Hagans last February. In a new report published Tuesday, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin Jr. said his investigation of Hagans death determined that officers decision to fire their weapons at Hagans was justified, given the circumstances of the shooting: Hagans was resisting arrest, was carrying a loaded handgun, fired his weapon at least once, was headed toward a civilians vehicle and was pointing his gun at officers, the report said. Hagans conduct presented an imminent and grave threat of serious physical injury or death to the officers and the civilian driver of the nearby vehicle, Devlin wrote. On Feb. 5, 2021, a woman had reported to Naugatuck police that Christopher Hagans, whom she had been in a relationship with, had unlawfully entered her home and threatened her, her neighbor and her teenage son. A warrant was issued charging Hagans with strangulation and disorderly conduct for an incident in August 2020, along with home invasion and three counts of threatening for an incident on Jan. 6, 2021, the report said. Naugatuck police contacted police in Stratford, who responded to Hagans home and followed his gray Dodge Charger. Stratford police had information alleging that Hagans was armed and dangerous, that he was possibly a Blood gang member, was a user of PCP and had a history of resisting arrest, according to the report. Officers boxed Hagans vehicle in at the intersection of Main Street and Main Street Putney in Stratford as he was stopped behind another vehicle at a red light. Hagans allegedly refused to comply with officers repeated demands to show his hands and at least one officer reported seeing him reach for a gun in his vehicle, the report said. Officers reportedly fired their weapons at the Charger, which Hagans then drove into a police vehicle. The Charger then went into a snow-covered embankment and got stuck, at which point Hagans allegedly ran from the vehicle while pointing his gun at officers. Officers said they believed he was going to fire his weapon in the residential area and that he might try to carjack the driver of a nearby Honda CR-V that he was headed toward, according to the report. Officers opened fire again and Hagans was struck and fell to the ground unresponsive, the report said. Hagan fired one bullet during the altercation with police, according to forensic evidence. He was struck by five bullets, according to an autopsy. A medical examiner ruled that Hagans died from gunshot wounds to his head, torso and left upper and lower extremities. His death was ruled a homicide, according to the report. Hagans wife, Lori Hagans, told investigators that Hagans had recently been released from jail and a halfway house. He told her that no matter what he would not go back to jail, the report said. According to the report, one officer, one detective and a lieutenant from the Stratford Police Department fired their service weapons at Hagans. They were each interviewed as part of the investigation. Officer Stephen Santoro reported seeing a dark colored semi-automatic pistol in Hagans right hand. I was highly concerned for the safety of myself, other officers on scene, and the general public in the surrounding high-traffic area, Santoro reported. Santoro said he was concerned that Hagans was not complying despite being confronted by a uniformed officer and being surrounded by clearly marked police vehicles with lights and sirens. I believed the operators intentions were hostile and dangerous, he said. Santoro said he was also concerned that they were in a residential area and that if the male fired a round toward police, the lives of residents of these homes were also in danger. I concluded that deadly force was the only appropriate tactic remaining to prevent death or serious injury of myself, fellow officers, and the public, he said. Detective Glynn McGlynn said he fired his weapon because he believed Hagans was going to shoot Santoro, based on his training and experience. Lt. Robert Rosenbaum shared concerns that Hagans was going to carjack a nearby SUV, which was struck by gunfire during the incident, and take hostage or harm its occupant or occupants so he could get away. The 57-page report includes interviews with all officers who fired their weapons, two officers who were at the scene but did not discharge their weapons, two witnesses and Hagans wife, along with forensic evidence, photos from the scene of the shooting, medical examiners findings, video footage from Hagans wifes Ring doorbell camera and video footage from police vehicle dashboard cameras. Devlin concluded the officers actions were justified. In sum, the officers use of deadly force was prompted by Hagans failure to show his hands, his possession of a gun as he desperately sought to avoid arrest, and his proximity to civilians who were at risk of being carjacked, Devlin wrote in the report. The inspector generals office said no further action will be taken on the matter. 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. An Oklahoma man was arrested in South Windsor on Tuesday for multiple warrants out of Texas that include child sex abuse charges, according to the South Windsor Police Department. William Young, 44, of Eagletown, Oklahoma is on an extradition hold for five failure to appear warrants related to charges of indecency or sexual contact with a child, criminal mischief and burglary of habitation in San Jacinto County, Texas, police said. Three of the warrants were signed on June 13, 2022, and two were signed on Dec. 16, 2022, according to South Windsor Sgt. Mark Cleverdon. Young was initially pulled over last week by a South Windsor officer for an alleged illegal plate cover, but the system did not process the active warrants before he was let go. The officer saw him driving with his plate covered again on Tuesday evening and arrested him on the active warrants, Cleverdon said. No additional charges were levied by the South Windsor Police Department, Cleverdon said. He was held on a $75,000 bond, which was increased to $200,000 during a court appearance on Wednesday. His next hearing date was scheduled for Feb. 1, according to court documents. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. As incoming Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue took the oath of office on Wednesday, a new administration took the reins of the county's top law enforcement office. What will this mean for the criminal justice system in Berkshire County? PITTSFIELD Fernando Rojas grew up in Bogota, Colombia. He came to the Berkshires in 2019 as a refugee after a gang threatened him because of his involvement in a neighborhood association. When he arrived in the United States, he could not make himself understood in English. Now that he is at an intermediate level, he has turned the tables by serving as a volunteer teacher of the language through the Literacy Network of Southern Berkshires, while working full time and continuing his own language study. He's not the only immigrant in the Berkshires now teaching a subject he has worked to master. Diandra Curich is from Lima, Peru. She spoke English well and was matched with a Litnet tutor to study for a civics test, in order to obtain U.S. citizenship. After lessons and test prep, she too has become a volunteer teacher. Litnet provides free, one-on-one tutoring sessions for adults. Founded in 1991, mainly for citizens who wanted to improve their literacy skills, the organization now mainly helps immigrants. Rojas and Curich say they seized on the chance to give back. Learning to speak English With help from a friend, Rojas found work at Harney & Sons, a tea company in Millerton, N.Y. That was a lower-level job than his managerial post in Colombia, but one of his few options, given his limited English. Rojas pledged to himself he would study on his own to improve his English. Reality intervened. He spent 12 hours each day working at the tea factory or commuting. Progress was glacially slow. He could not improve his skills at work. His tea factory job was full of people from Guatemala, Honduras, and Greece so the little English was spoken was not perfect. We laughed, but sometimes we did not even know what we were laughing about, Rojas said. Six months later, he got into a Berkshire Community College English course. There were no places for intermediate-level speakers, so BCC enrolled him in the advanced class. Though difficult, he managed and made progress. After a year, he quit the factory job. Thanks to his improved English skills, he got a better job at a home appliances store. All the other employees were Americans. He was practicing his speaking, but no longer had time to study at BCC. Thats when he discovered Litnet. With his tutor, Jed Horowitz, they spoke about everything, from mathematics to physics to politics. Together, they embarked on a learning odyssey. They spent weeks building a Parques, a popular Colombia board game. They came up with rule variations and wrote them down in English. This coming year, Rojas and his family want to buy a house. Horowitz and Rojas are working through a homeowner awareness program, which will help Rojas qualify for a first-time home-buyer program. A remaining challenge, Rojas said, is to understand young people better. Young people speak between their teeth. They whisper. They have so many idioms! he said. Learning what it takes Curich met her husband, a Dalton native, in Peru. To earn U.S. citizenship, she must pass a civics test, which includes questions about history and politics. Only 39 percent of Americans pass the test, according to a report by The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. She was nervous at first, but her tutor, Donna Morelli, was patient and guided her through 100 questions that could show up in the test. After five sessions, she felt prepared. As a Catholic school student, Curich was raised to aspire to volunteerism. I have always felt that my duty is to help others. If I have the possibility, why am I sitting at home watching TV doing nothing? When I can do something productive, I can help someone. Back in Lima, she taught math to orphans, but in the U.S., she did not know how to help others. At her first job, she met many Spanish-speaking co-workers and offered assistance informally. She saw that Litnet was looking for volunteers and signed up. She was matched with Flavia Monigan, a woman from Brazil. Monigan had been learning English alongside her daughter. Like Rojas, Monigans job provides little opportunity to improve her English. To teach her student, Curich strives to be inventive, a strategy she remembers from Donas lessons. She tells Monigan to watch Netflix with English subtitles. Curich's motivation is in part personal. I want other people to feel the same way I felt when I moved here supported, she said. The spirit of helping Rojas had experience volunteering in Colombia, where he was a member of Community Action Boards (Juntas de Accion Comunal in Spanish), which have a long tradition in Colombian social organizations, including Indigenous traditions. Today, there are approximately 70,000 of these boards, according to the Colombian government. There are always people who try to lead and try to move forward, said Rojas, commenting on the spirit of the boards. After a year or so in the United States, he felt guilty about the imbalance between the help he received and what he had been able to give back. You realize you are exploiting the country and you are not giving anything back, he said. He started by organizing language classes at home for his daughter and his partner. They would rotate who would be the teacher. Pronunciation, the thing he used to struggle with the most, ended up being one of the things he taught best. How to become a literacy volunteer The Literacy Network of South Berkshire is looking for volunteer tutors. "No experience is necessary," said Leigh Doherty, the executive director. "We provide the coaching and support for you to succeed." It is also not required to speak a second language. About 15 students are on the waiting list to be partnered with a tutor. For more information or to volunteer, call 413-243-0471 or email info@litnetsb.org. After a while, Rojas asked Horowitz if he thought he knew English well enough to teach someone through Litnet. You are past the level you need, he said he was told. Litnet matched him with Indunil Hitihame Mudyanselage, a Sri Lankan woman. It has been a challenge to teach such an intelligent woman, who often studies 15 hours a week outside of our classes, he said. He is trying to get her to speak as much as possible. Her homework is reading "Harry Potter" and doing a weekly summary. I stress pronunciation a lot, he said. Sometimes I see more of a benefit for me than for her, because she asks a lot from me, so I have to prepare for the class. Because you have a responsibility with a person, you realize they are doing their part, so you also have to do your part, Rojas said. His student's mastery has impressed Rojas more than once. Recently she taught him the word clumsy. Rojas acknowledges he has much to learn. But his wish to be of service couldn't wait. If you wait until you have resources to help people, you are usually not going to have them, so why don't you try to help them in another way, he said. His way includes a deeply personal understanding of how hard and rewarding learning English can be. As Gov.-elect Maura Healeys victory lap rounds out, the time to govern will begin when she takes the oath of office in a days time. Here is what we will be keeping our Eagle eyes on as the rubber hits the road for the Healey administration. Transparency Our Opinion: Healey's transparency pledge is a good start for a state government with a serious secrecy problem Massachusetts has a secrecy problem. We've said it before, and as stewards of the public's right to know, we'll keep saying it until commonwealth citizens have the open government they deserve. We welcome Gov.-elect Healey's verbal commitment to being a partner in advocating for that transparency. Weve consistently used this space to highlight the dreadful standard of government secrecy that Massachusetts upholds; the Bay State is the only one in the union where all three branches of state government claim exemption to public records law. During last years governors race, we were heartened to hear all of the major candidates say they would end that precedent for the states executive branch should they win its top office. After winning, Gov.-elect Healey went further, pledging to not only bring her office into compliance with public records law but support bills that would mandate similar transparency for the states Legislature and judiciary as well. That principled commitment to a less-secretive Massachusetts state government is a critical if overdue step. Now, it must be followed by swift action. It would send a powerful message if our new governor not only supported governmental transparency legislation but actually filed it herself, making full use of her inaugural momentum and bully pulpit to propel an overdue step toward open governance that lawmakers unfortunately show little interest in taking on their own. Policy priorities Get new rail service all the way to Pittsfield, officials tell a panel. Here's the case they made Don't even think of bolting on service to Pittsfield later, a lawmaker says. As a new commission begins work, a demand for regional equity in transportation sounds loud and clear. Gov.-elect Healey will inherit a leadership role of a commonwealth at a crossroads. Federal funding windfalls, robust tax receipts and tight management from the Baker administration all have left Massachusetts on strong financial footing. Maintaining that momentum will be key, as will using it wisely to pilot some ambitious systemic advancements for the state. Going full steam ahead on East-West rail including passenger trains to Pittsfield must be a priority. The same goes for continuing efforts to combat a deadly opioid epidemic that continues to rob lives and livelihoods from communities across the commonwealth. Meanwhile, cost of living remains a pressing issue for working-class households in Massachusetts especially related to housing. Gov.-elect Healey demonstrated encouraging experience with and attention to some of these key issues while campaigning. Now, we hope to see her put those skills and experience to work in collaboration with the Legislature on the states most complex and unwieldy problems. Regional equity As Healey and Driscoll prepare to lead Massachusetts' executive branch, they ask five Berkshires residents to help Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll says the new administration is serious about regional equity. Were proud of the Berkshire representation on our transition policy committees and know they will help ensure that the unique challenges and opportunities of the region are included in all of our work. For regions like Berkshire County that too often feel overlooked by business as usual on Beacon Hill, a Healey administration can demonstrate its willingness to serve the whole commonwealth simply by advancing the ball on some key statewide issues. The aforementioned East-West rail plan and opioid harm reduction; increased accessibility for all on critical resources like mental health and dental care; boosting state aid for roads, education and other crucial municipal infrastructure. But theres an even simpler step wed like to see this administration take. Show up. Listen to the concerns of your constituents on the other side of the state, and see for yourself the problems they face disproportionately. Gov.-elect Healey gave us some hope on this front, visiting the Berkshires immediately following her election win and putting some key Berkshire-based voices on her transition team. Thats great to see and we want to see more of it. The Eagle editorial board endorsed Gov.-elect Maura Healey because we saw experience, character and vision. Now, we want to see her administration put those elements to work for the people of Massachusetts. While its long overdue, we look forward to the shattering of our state governments biggest glass ceiling when she takes the oath as governor. After the historic swearing-in ceremony, we look forward to holding her administration accountable to its official duties, its leaders pledges and the people of Massachusetts especially those in Berkshire County. We wish our incoming governor luck in meeting the moment. BOSTON The day before he departs from the seat of a government that he began leaving a mark on more than three decades ago, Gov. Charlie Baker thanked the people of Massachusetts for their generosity, which he called the foundation on which we can continue to build great communities. In farewell remarks livestreamed from his office Tuesday afternoon he stressed themes of working together and rising above party politics especially considering myriad of political fights and distractions that were raging all around us during his eight years as governor. People here chose to focus on the work and it paid off, he said in what he called a proper goodbye. Baker highlighted financial gains the state has made under his watch, mentioning that when he took office Massachusetts faced a $1 billion budget deficit, while last fiscal year the state had a $5 billion surplus. The state also returned nearly $3 billion of that surplus to taxpayers last year under the terms of an old law that most on Beacon Hill except Baker had forgotten about, and under his tenure the state put $7 billion away into its rainy day fund, he said. We brought broadband access to Western Mass. so kids could research homework, parents could work from home, and businesses could grow and succeed there, Baker said. We delivered major infrastructure projects, long promised but never done. We passed the first major housing reform bill in decades so we can finally do something about the cost of owning a home. And we did it all without partisan bickering. Though he didnt delve into the details of major infrastructure projects that progressed under his administration, over the last eight years the state has made moves toward offshore wind power only last week approving contracts for two large projects, it is undergoing a major maintenance project of the highway tunnels beneath Boston, the long-promised South Coast rail is nearing completion, and very first steps have been taken toward replacing the functionally obsolete Cape Cod bridges. Baker has received criticism for mismanagement of the MBTA, which underwent a Federal Transit Administration investigation last year after a string of collisions, derailments, fires, runaway trains and the death of a passenger. Baker came into office following a disastrous winter for greater Bostons transit system in 2015, and his successor Maura Healey will aim to improve T operations and restore public confidence in the agency. Having spent the last third of his time in office during a global pandemic, Baker said state and local leaders met the moment of COVID-19 by working together. While I know that many of you didnt agree with all of the decisions the lieutenant governor and I made during the pandemic, you tried your very best to abide by the rules and to share in the work to be done, he said. I believe thats why weve recovered almost all the jobs we lost during the pandemic, why we have an unemployment rate thats below the national average, and why the nationally renowned Commonwealth Fund concluded that we did a better job of managing the pandemic than every other state except Hawaii. Baker received praise and criticism for his handling of the pandemic, causing a stir with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for executive office employees, which some are still fighting, and making calls that were lauded and condemned regarding school lockdowns and mask mandates. One of the things it seems Baker will miss most is traveling around the state to meet Bay Staters. Weve attended thousands of gatherings, fundraisers and celebrations on behalf of all kinds of good causes, he said. My staff used to give me a hard time when I would say yes to attending two or three or four of these events on a weeknight or a weekend, arguing that it would wear me out. I thought just the opposite. It was like fuel for me. Watching people do good things to benefit others gave me joy. No one cares what party someone belongs to at these events. Its all just about people helping one another. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito visited and met with local officials in all 351 cities and towns in the state, he said. Baker himself? I got to more than 250, he said. We are deeply grateful for the gifts youve given us over these past eight years, he said in conclusion. And I want you to know that you will be sorely missed by the two of us and by our teams. Baker was a top deputy in the 1990s during the tenures of Republican Govs. William Weld and Paul Cellucci. Incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick defeated Baker during the Republicans first run for governor in 2010. After he wraps up his second term, Baker plans to start a new professional foray in March as president of the NCAA. A Waterbury man was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to cocaine trafficking charges, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Felix Ortega-Pagan, 41, of Waterbury was sentenced to five years in prison followed by four years of supervised release during an appearance in front of U.S. District Judge Michael Shea in Hartford on Tuesday, federal authorities said. An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Services Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force determined that an associate of Ortega-Pagans, identified as Pierre Joshwan Rodriguez, was the head of a cocaine trafficking operation that shipped parcels containing large quantities of cocaine through the U.S. mail from addresses in Puerto Rico to several addresses in Waterbury, according to court records. Rodriguez then distributed the cocaine in the Waterbury area and then mailed money in packages back to Puerto Rico, according to court records. Ortega-Pagan frequently picked up packages and delivered them to Rodriguez at different stash locations, according to court records. Another associate named Alejandra Santiago-Miranda, of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, was implicated in sending packages from Puerto Rico to Waterbury and collecting money parcels back, federal authorities said. Over 28 kilograms of cocaine and $216,000 in cash were seized during the investigation, federal authorities said. Ortega-Pagan was arrested on Nov. 20, 2020 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2022 to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He is released on bond and is required to report to prison on Feb. 17. Rodriguez and Santiago-Miranda pleaded guilty to related charges. Rodriguez is awaiting sentencing, and Santiago-Miranda was sentenced to three years of probation on Dec. 6, 2022, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Today Cloudy skies. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. High around 55F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Low 37F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Partly to mostly cloudy. High 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Launches DeepSpine at RSNA 2022 in the US Pune-based health tech startup DeepTek has announced the global launch of DeepSpine - an artificial intelligence (AI) powered lumbar spine quantification and metrics tool designed to analyse MRI lumbar spine images. The tool was launched at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, USA. DeepTeks new innovation DeepSpine provides AI powered quantification and analysis tool for lumbar spine MRI studies and can assist radiologists, technologists, orthopaedic surgeons and physio experts to get objective automated quantification and other document of lumbar spine, adding value to the radiology reports and decongesting the radiology workflow. Lower back pain (LBP) affects up to 80%85% of the population during their lifetime. It is a leading cause of morbidity and disability, with an increasing prevalence due to the steadily aging population worldwide. According to the American College of Radiologists, lumbar spine MRI is the preferred imaging modality to rule out causes of complicated lower back pain and to decide whether conservative or invasive therapeutic approaches should be considered. Subsequently, the number of MRI studies of the lumbar spine has been rising over the last decades at a much higher rate than the number of trained radiologists who could adequately interpret the MR images. DeepTek has been instrumental in transforming the radiology workflow by leveraging the power of AI. Its AI-powered radiology orchestration solution Augmento has already created waves across the Asia Pacific (APAC) and is also getting deployed in a progressive Singapore health system. Another flagship product by DeepTek is Genki - the AI-powered public health screening solution which is helping medical professionals across India, Philippines, Mongolia, and several other countries in the APAC region to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by identifying suspected cases promptly and precisely, leading to earlier treatment and better patient care. Prime Minister addresses 108th Indian Science Congress virtually The Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) via video conferencing on 3 January 2023. The focal theme of this year's ISC is Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment which will witness discussions on issues of sustainable development, women empowerment and the role of science & technology in achieving this. Speaking about the result of Indias tryst with the scientific approach, the Prime Minister said that India is being counted among the top countries of the world as India moved to 40th place in the Global Innovation Index in 2022 from 81st place in 2015. India is among the top three nations in the world in terms of the number of PhDs and startup ecosystems. Efforts of science can turn into great achievements only when they come out of the lab and reach the land, and their impact reaches from global to grassroots, when its ambit is from journal to jameen and when change is visible from research to real life, he said. The PM further said, "We need to invest in R&D to make more vaccines for tackling newer disease. Integrated disease surveillance is being conducted at inter-ministerial level to keep a tab on emerging diseases. Make India the most advanced laboratory of modern science." After the inuagural event, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh said while interacting with the media, "By the year 2050, it is estimated that our global population will likely reach 9 billion people. And we have to ensure that every single one of these people will be able to enjoy a substantial quality of life without being detrimental to our natural resources & environment. Sustainable Development is the one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." ISC 2023 also witnessed a plenary session where Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Dr Ajay Sood, Secretary; CSIR Director General Dr N Kalaiselvi; Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr M Ravichandran and Dr Alka Sharma, Adviser, Department of Biotechnology deliberated upon the challenges and opportunities in Science & Technology for 2030. Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), one of the premier educational institutions of central India, established in 1923 & hence celebrating centennial year of establishment, is playing the role of the 'host university' for ISC 2023, which is being held till 7th January. In 1968, American computer scientist Ivan Sutherland predicted the future of augmented and virtual reality with his concept of the Ultimate Display . The Ultimate Display relied on the kinetic depth effect to create two-dimensional images that moved with its users, giving the illusion of a three-dimensional display. While the concept of virtual reality only focuses on the creation of three-dimensional environments, the metaverse a term coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 book Snow Crash is a much broader concept that surpasses this. While no official definition of the metaverse truly exists, science and technology reporter Matthew Sparkes provides a decent one. He defines the metaverse as "a shared online space that incorporates 3D graphics, either on a screen or in virtual reality". Since the term was coined, the idea of the metaverse has remained more of a fictional concept than a scientific one. However, with technological advancements in recent years, the metaverse has become more tangible. Much of the recent hype happened after Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement to rename the Facebook brand to Meta. Many retailers have since jumped aboard the metaverse train. Nike recently filed multiple trademarks allowing it to create and sell Nike shoes and apparel virtually. JP Morgan opened its first virtual bank branch. Samsung recreated its New York City flagship store in the virtual browser-based platform Decentraland, where it is launching new products and creating events. While many retailers are capitalising on the metaverse early, there is still uncertainty about whether the metaverse really is the future of retailing or whether it will be a short-lived fad. Dispelling metaverse myths Much of that uncertainty around the metaverse stems from confusion about the technology. While examining the top keyword associations related to the metaverse on Google Trends, I found what is metaverse and metaverse meaning to be the top phrases customers searched for. To alleviate some of this confusion, its important to dispel commonly held myths about the metaverse. Myth 1: You need a VR headset to access the metaverse While an optimal experience in the metaverse can be achieved through VR headsets, anyone can access the metaverse through their personal computers. For instance, customers can create their avatars and access the metaverse in Decentraland on screen without a VR headset. ((image}} Myth 2: The metaverse will replace real-life interactions Rather than replacing existing modes of communication, the metaverse provides a more interactive mode of communication. New technologies always bring about predictions of the end of physical interactions. Its helpful to compare the metaverse with the rise of smartphones. Smartphones enhance communication by allowing people to interact with their social networks, but have not entirely replaced face-to-face interactions. The metaverse will be the same. Myth 3: The metaverse is just for gaming While gaming remains the dominant driver of user involvement with the metaverse (97% of gaming executives believe that gaming is the centre of the metaverse today), its not the only activity people can take part in. In a recent survey, McKinsey & Company asked customers what their preferred activity on the metaverse would be in the next five years. Shopping virtually ranked the highest, followed by attending telehealth appointments and virtual synchronous courses. Keeping expectations realistic In its current form, the metaverse lacks the technological infrastructure to deliver on market expectations. It may be appropriate to compare the metaverse with the dot-com bubble between 1995 and 2000 that was caused by speculation in internet-based businesses. Similarly, there appears to be tremendous hype and expectations around what the technology can deliver in its current form. A recent survey of 1,500 consumers found that 51% of people expect customer service to be better in the metaverse, 32% expect less frustration and anxiety while dealing with customer service agents in the metaverse compared to phone interactions, and 27% expect interactions with metaverse virtual avatar assistants to be more effective than online chatbots. While such expectations can appear reasonable, metaverse technology is still in its infancy stage, where the focus remains on developing infrastructure and processes for the future. The unrealistic expectations may potentially lead to a metaverse bubble as reality struggles to meet expectations. Challenges for retailers As with any emerging technology, retailers need to be prepared for challenges posed by the metaverse. Some of these challenges include the following: Data security and privacy: With the novelty of metaverse technology and the wealth of personal data collected, the metaverse will be an attractive target for cyber-hackers. New approaches and methods need to be considered for a safe metaverse that customers can trust. Experienced talent: Having the right talent that can create, manage and support experiences in the metaverse needs to be at the forefront of engaging with the technology. However, due to the novelty of the technology, finding such talent will be a challenge. Regulations: With no clear jurisdictions and regulations in place, the safety of virtual spaces in the metaverse may be compromised and end up pushing customers away. Retailers need to ensure these spaces are safe and protected. Managing customers expectations: Retailers need to educate their customers about what can currently be done in the metaverse, and what customers should expect from businesses in the metaverse. Despite these challenges, retailers will still be able to craft novel shopping experiences in the metaverse it will just require appropriately skilled and qualified people to make it happen. With appropriate planning and preparation, retailers will be able to meet these challenges head-on. Opportunities for retailers As technology improves, the potential uses of the metaverse for retailers will grow. At the moment, the metaverse offers retailers three key opportunities for improving the online shopping experience. The first is brand exposure. Retailers can expand their presence through virtual billboards and interactive advertisements with less noise, compared to existing online and mobile channels. Cloud Nine, an IT services company, is one of the earliest companies to advertise their services on virtual billboards in Decentraland. Virtual billboard advertising is something marketers should keep in mind. Secondly, the metaverse offers unique experiences for customers to engage with brands through events, contests, and game-like features. Such experiences could increase loyalty and brand engagement. The Metaverse Fashion Week is an example of how retailers can create unique brand engagement opportunities. Retailers including Tommy Hilfiger, Perry Ellis and Dolce & Gabbana all participated in the pilot experience, leading the wave for immersive and unique customer-brand interactions. Lastly, the metaverse provides retailers the chance to personalize customer experiences. Similar to how retailers can customise customers online experiences through data collection, retailers can tailor customer experiences in the virtual environment. In Metas Horizon Worlds, for example, users can create their own virtual worlds, invite friends and customise their own experiences. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Eduvos is partnering with EON Reality, Inc . ("EON Reality"), a global leader in the Virtual and Augmented Reality ("XR") industry to provide students and faculty across its 12 campuses with education solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The new-age technology will transform the learning experience. Eduvos is committed to keeping its learning relevant and current. The institution has already embraced flexible learning by offering students a modern mix of in-person and online learning experiences. The partnership with EON Reality will now bring an added practical dimension to learning. EON Realitys solutions will provide Eduvos students and faculty with intuitive Augmented and Virtual Reality tools that will take learning to the next level. Combined with a groundbreaking level of AI, these tools and products will provide both lecturers and students with the ability to design highly engaging, interactive educational experiences. We are delighted to enter this partnership with EON, says Eduvos CEO Siegie Brownlee. Our philosophy at Eduvos is that learning is not only about what our graduates know, but also about what they can do. We know that learning takes place significantly faster and is more thorough when students can practically apply what they have learnt. EON technology will give our students this experiential meta learning edge, as well as an advantage in the job market. Eduvos educators are committed to preparing students for the real world of work outside of the classroom. With EONs products, instructors will be able to provide students with hands-on experiences that simulate the working world. The XR solutions are designed to be accessible via smartphones, laptops or XR headsets and can be used by anyone, without advanced technical knowledge. We plan on embedding AI and XR experiences across our faculties of law, commerce, applied sciences, arts, humanities, and technology says Brownlee. We are excited to teach law in virtual courtrooms that are modelled on the real world, and tourism by utilising the ability to teleport to those locations., says Dr Riaan Steenberg, a director of Eduvos. Dan Lejerskar, founder, chairman and CEO of EON Reality, says, Progressive institutions like Eduvos are perfect fits for EON Reality and our large suite of solutions. Eduvos mission of empowering people through education aligns with EON Realitys belief that knowledge is a human right, and their reach combines smoothly with our global network. Eduvos has been working hard to ensure South Africans of all backgrounds have access to education needed to change the world, and EON solutions will help Eduvos students and faculty take their education even further. The world is increasingly embracing the metaverse. Experts believe that the metaverse will be worth $800 billion by 2024. Around 90% of executives say their organisations see growth opportunities in the metaverse. The technology will be incorporated into Eduvoss learning from the fourth block of 2023. Read EON Realitys statement here. For media enquiries contact moc.sovude@grebdv.arak or moc.sovude@eciffosserp. Over the course of 2022, pork production increased by 9,2%. However, pork producers remained under profit pressure due to high feed prices. Since March 2022, pork prices have remained at approximately six times that of the price of maize, 33% below the long-term average. Source: Jai79 via Pixabay Between 2015 and 2022, the average market price of pork increased by 10%. However, in real terms it has decreased by 24%. This highlights the all-time low point in profitability that pig producers experienced in 2022," says Nico Scheltema, head of business intelligence at the South African Pork Producers Organisation (Sappo). Dual strategy subscription This twofold strategy will consist of a portfolio of interventions which is pinned on the existing sustainability practices embedded in Pork 360 and the developmental impact of a range of business development interventions, says Jolanda Andrag, chief operating officer. Pork 360 remains a valuable risk management mechanism and is increasingly a key pillar of the industrys future sustainability, agrees Dr Peter Evans, Sappos head of consumer assurance. The company has partnered with PwC Southern Africa to craft a sustainability framework considering a diverse set of stakeholders and needs to achieve long-term positive systemic change. This was done with the strategic objective to identify a set of viable sustainability criteria that could satisfy the needs of financiers based on local and international frameworks applicable to the pork industry. The company aligned existing sustainability practices within Pork 360 with these standards. Expanding developmental impact Concurrently, the company is also expanding its developmental impact through the combination of a viable mentorships programme, farmers days, developmental advisory services, and educating digital communications. Moreover, the company as signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Western Cape Department of Agriculture on farmer development. This will improve the companys positioning in partnering with extension officers and farmers in the Western Cape. Sappos reach into deep rural areas continues to grow and its partnerships with various input suppliers amplifies its impact, says Kgadi Senyatsi, head of business development In its endeavour to educate consumers about pork, the company also revised the strategic intent of its marketing campaigns to implement highly impactful social media and innovative QR campaigns. The objective is to increase the perceived value of pork and heighten our reach in non-traditional pork audiences, says Christian Zimelka, head of consumer education. Overall, the industry remains confident about its future. Looking ahead, producers will have to find innovative ways to improve cost efficiencies and draw resilience from its agility. Sappo remains well-positioned to enable the sustainability of the industry, says Johann Kotze, chief executive officer. Soldiers participate in fast-rope training with helicopter China Military Online) 13:14, January 04, 2023 Soldiers assigned to a detachment of the 2nd Mobile Corps under the Chinese People's Armed Police Force conduct assault boat operation during a training exercise on December 2, 2022. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Xue Dongdong) A soldier assigned to a detachment of the 2nd Mobile Corps under the Chinese People's Armed Police Force fast-ropes down from a helicopter during a training exercise on November 25, 2022. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Gao Zhebin) (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) About one thousand years ago, in an area just northeast of what is now St. Louis, Missouri, there arose a Native American settlement. Over four centuries, it became the largest urban center in North America north of Mexico. At its peak, this city and its surrounding areas had about 40,000 residents, gathered from many tribes. Nobody alive today knows what the residents called their city. Modern-day researchers call it Cahokia. Cahokia was abandoned around 1400 AD. Nobody knows why the residents left. Archaeologists and anthropologists are trying to find answers about the city, its people, their origins, their folkways, their eventual departure from the place. One of those investigators is Sarah Baires, an associate professor of anthropology at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. Baires is a principal researcher on a new project funded by a five-year, $128,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. In 2023 and 2024, Baires and her colleagues will work on-site at Cahokia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located in the town of Collinsville, Illinois. We dont know for certain what tribes lived there. We dont have a name for those communities, although the Osage have a very large interest in the area. They were a diverse people, they likely spoke different languages and dialects. People came from the American South, from Wisconsin, from all over, Baires said. It was definitely a metropolis that was occupied prior to European contact. By the time European people came, they had moved away. Baires, a graduate of University of Tennessee who did her graduate work at University of Illinois, has studied Cahokia for more than a decade. She has written or edited several books on the subject. University of Toledo anthropology Prof. Melissa Baltus is Baires partner in the NSF-funded project. Baltus will study the late collapse of the city. Baires will focus on the mystery of who were the people who heard about Cahokia and decided to move to the city and its vicinity? Sarah Baires, associate professor of anthropology at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, is an expert on the ancient Native American metropolis of Cahokia. Our main goal is to understand what was going on in the periphery of what we might call downtown Cahokia. A whole lot of people lived there. How did they integrate themselves into the community? How did they come to Cahokia? How did they become a part of what was going on in Cahokia? What was their motivating factor in putting the effort into coming here and changing their daily lives to adopt the practices in Cahokia? she said. The research, she said, will add to the knowledge, gathered through the centuries, of how humans engage in urban spaces. People move across boundaries all the time. So it fits in a broader scheme with the anthropological question. How do they do this? Why did they do this? How did they become embedded in new communities? What practices did they adopt. What practices did they bring with them? Her research will focus on domestic structures in Cahokia. The focus will be on everyday peoples households, what they left behind, she said. Think of our own houses. What we leave in houses speaks to all of us, our cultural background, our religious beliefs, how big is our family. There is lots of rich information found looking into everyday homes. Much research has been done on the large, elaborately engineered and constructed earthen mounds at Cahokia. About 80 of those earthworks survive. The largest is Monks Mound, which was named after a community of Trappist monks who found the structure and took up residence there for a while. Monks Mound is the largest earthwork in North America. Its footprint is bigger than the pyramid of Giza [in Egypt], Baires said. When studying earthworks, we can see the engineering capabilities of the communities that built them. They did them in a very specific way, very intentional, the way they layered certain soils aesthetically and in terms of engineering. One discovery near Monks Mound has been dubbed Woodhenge, similar to Stonehenge, the British prehistoric monument. Its a circle of cedar posts that was reset multiple times by the inhabitants. It is believed to be a calendar, marking the solstices as the sun rises, she said. Baires is especially excited about the 2024 portion of the research. That summer, Baires will be accompanied by students from one of ECSUs newest majors, anthropology. It will be an archaeological field school. Students will come with me to southern Illinois for six weeks. Theyll be there on the ground, excavating alongside me. It will be a real hands-on approach, she said. For details about Cahokia, visit cahokiamounds.org. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. It was former German Chancellor Angela Merkel who let the cat out of the bag. The Minsk Accord peace agreements between Russia and Ukraine signed in 2014, with European nations France and Germany as its guarantors to ensure that the deal was respected, was seen as little more than a way to give Ukraine time for military buildup against Russia, Merkel told Zeit magazine last month. Silly Russians probably thought that a peace deal actually meant securing peace not just using it as a pretext for buildup to war. If having Ukraine take on Russia was the ultimate goal, as Merkel suggests, then it got exactly what it wanted. Until the conflict between Russia and Ukraine went red hot in February 2022, it had been viewed by the Western public as little more than a regional conflict a world away. Since civilian casualties were mostly limited to the Russophone Ukrainian population as Western weapons that flooded into the zone and into the hands of Western-backed neo-Nazi fighters, according to Western press reports global concern and empathy was scarce. For years, there had been little pushback from Russia to a buildup of military hardware and fighters along its border. When Russian President Vladimir Putin responded militarily, some analysts thought that it would blow apart the transatlantic alliance if only because Europes economy is far more entwined with Russias and ultimately couldnt bear the cost of Washingtons ambitions. What very few counted on was that Europe would choose blind ideology over pragmatism to fall in line with Washington. The fools actually sanctioned their own gas supply because it was Russian. Later, they sanctioned their own oil supply for the same reason. As cost of living and energy prices skyrocketed across Europe, and threats of blackouts and deindustrialization loomed, European leaders told the plebeians to take shorter showers, use lap cats for heat, and wear multiple turtlenecks. U.S. President Joe Biden visited Europe back in March and promised to replace Russian gas. What he didnt say was that the price would be jacked up, and far more expensive than Russian fuel. After running around the world knocking on doors asking, Got gas?, European leaders had no choice but to settle for an over-reliance on the U.S. market. Ironic, considering it was Washington that had warned them about being too dependent on Russia. Having successfully convinced Europe to divorce Russia, Washington then seized the opportunity to pry it away from its largest trading partner China again using the argument that its better to be reliant on friends in Washington (the phenomenon is literally called friendshoring) rather than big bad authoritarian Beijing. In 2023, well find out if the EU gets a divorce from China, as well. In the meantime, Europe recently passed its ninth package of sanctions against Moscow since the first eight worked so well. The problem with thinking that you can embargo and isolate one of the worlds top gas stations which is ultimately what Russia is is that everyone needs it. Which is why it goes to show how clueless European elites are when the EUs chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, seemed surprised to learn that nations outside of the Western world didnt share its views on Russia or its interest in sanctions. Europes greatness was built on cheap Russian energy. In 2023, well see how great it is without it particularly when they run low on Russian gas reserves that they rushed to fill before they cut the umbilical cord. It may get them through one winter, but not two. The year 2022 may go down as the year that Europe went from being a powerhouse to a vassal. The conflict has ultimately bifurcated the planet into East and West, with globalization giving way to regionalization. The battle heading into 2023 between the two hemispheres will be for the hearts and minds of Africa and Latin America. The U.S. is trying to seduce African countries with investments while at the same time threatening sanctions for dealing with U.S. adversaries like China and Russia. And in light of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil, it didnt take long for Washington to run over to Venezuela to offer an oil deal to President Nicolas Maduro the same Maduro for whom the U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction for narco-terrorism. Perhaps just ask one of the executives at Chevron who signed the deal with Chavezs government where he is? And to think that it all started with an off-radar skirmish on the Russia-Ukraine border. Rachel Marsden is a columnist, political strategist and host of independently produced talk shows in French and English. Her website can be found at http://www.rachelmarsden.com. (C)2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC The head of the global airline body, International Air Transport Association (IATA), has urged governments to listen to health advice and not impose knee-jerk COVID-19 testing measures on China. IATA director general Willie Walsh said countries, including Australia, choosing to impose testing restrictions on Chinese travellers was extremely disappointing, especially when the virus is already widely circulating within their borders. The International Air Transport Associations chief Willie Walsh. Credit: Bloomberg It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years, Walsh said in a statement on Wednesday. The IATA represents 290 of the worlds airlines including Qantas and Virgin Australia, and Walsh said research done on the Omicron variant of COVID-19 had concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak of infections. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges and is likelyto face trial in October, which is expected to be one most high-profile white-collar fraud trials in recent years. Bankman-Fried appeared in US District Court in New York wearing a blue suit, white shirt and blue tie. He sat at the defence table between his lawyers, Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan set a trial date for October 2, after US prosecutors said they expected to produce all evidence for the case in the next four weeks. While the plea was not unexpected, it buys the 30-year-old more time, legal experts say. Bankman-Fried will get a better idea on the evidence prosecutors have against him and plan his next move. The plea puts the case on track for a lengthy trial, which could last at least four weeks. Sam Bankman-Fried arrives at court in New York ahead of his plea hearing. Credit: Bloomberg Bankman-Fried emerged from a black SUV into a crowd of photographers and TV crews on Tuesday, ahead of a 2pm hearing scheduled in New York. In December, US prosecutors in Manhattan revealed eight criminal counts against him, including wire fraud and campaign finance violations. Penned by Age writers, this series of pieces range from humorous to poignant and thought-provoking tales of love, loss and summer fun. It was my first concert, a milestone many people never forget. It also turned out to be my first brush with separation, near-death experiences, and the police. At 16, I developed a deep passion for heavy metal or post-hardcore as Id vehemently correct the ignorant. As is often the case for soul-searching teenagers, the music became a means through which I built an identity, my avenue to stand out. Nell Geraets (left) with her friends at the concert. Convincing my parents to let their youngest daughter attend a concert held across Swiss canton borders I was living in Basel at the time was not an easy feat. After several hair-pulling debates and countless chores, I was able to buy my first ticket. It was for Bring Me the Horizon, a British metalcore band known for such feel-good albums as Suicide Season. They were playing in an abandoned warehouse in Solothurn, a town about an hour-and-a-half away. My three friends were joining me, along with my friends mum, Pia, who was acting as chaperone. But what is it exactly? In simple terms, its a heist story. An ageing crim (Giancarlo Esposito, best known as Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) puts together a gang to pull off a major sting. The story spans a period of 25 years, and things get complicated. There are double crosses, theres an inside man at the bank, but theres also an inside man on the team, feeding information to the FBI. Or at least it looks that way, but of course motives arent always what they seem. The gangs all here: (L to R) Jordan Mendoza as RJ, Peter Mark Kendall as Stan, Giancarlo Esposito as Leo, Jai Courtney as Bob, Rosaline Elbay as Judy and Paz Vega as Ava in the Yellow episode. Credit: Netflix The thing is with a story like this, you never know whos zooming who until the end. And when you can watch in any order, whos to know where the end really is anyway. Wait, are you saying that its a show without an actual ending? Well, Netflix does urge you to watch the White episode last(white being what you end up with when all the colours of the rainbow are blended). But its not like theyre going to come to your house and force you to do it. But is there a best order in which you should watch it? This is tricky. Netflix does appear to have a default order, which is Yellow, Green, Blue, Orange, Violet, Red, Pink, White (aka YGBOVRPW). But while Yellow seems to be the most common starting point and White the desired finale, some users have reported being served a different starter and others have reported watching a different episode last, without suffering any untoward shock. And the order of the middle episodes can vary even when you do start at Yellow and end with White. Fresh off their election victories, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and all 187 state legislators will begin the 2023 General Assembly session Wednesday with high hopes of enacting new laws to match issues they pushed in their campaigns. Watch the days events, including Lamonts inauguration and State of the State Address here. Like opening day at Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium, the start of the session is a time of optimism, bipartisanship and backslapping before Republicans and Democrats begin clashing over major issues like taxes, education spending, and gun control. Lamont says he wants to continue his fiscal policies that helped lead to record-breaking surpluses and billions poured into the state pension fund after decades of neglect by previous governors and legislators. After his victory, Lamont told The Courant: The irony is I was probably the fiscal conservative in this race. I was running against someone who was saying Youre not spending enough money. Youre not handing out enough money. Dont worry about a rainy day fund. Lets spend it. Challenger Bob Stefanowski and other Republicans wanted much larger tax cuts, including extending the gasoline tax reduction and then cutting the diesel tax through the end of 2023. Lamont rejected those moves, saying money needed to be set aside to pay down the unfunded pension liability that had been accumulating for decades. Lamont says he wants to keep the spending and bonding caps that were reached during the bipartisan legislative deal of 2017. The fiscal constraints that were passed that year when the state Senate was tied at 18-18 and Republicans held more power than they do now have been credited with helping generate the large budget surpluses of the past few years that Lamont touted on his way to re-election. With the state in a healthier fiscal position than in the past, Lamont will address a joint session of the legislature as the Capitol will be fully open to the general public for the first time since March 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic was quickly spreading, the Capitol closed on a Wednesday in mid-March as leaders announced that the complex would be deep-cleaned on Thursday, Friday and through the weekend. See you Monday was the rallying cry at the time in 2020, but the Capitol complex has not been fully open to the public ever since. A large teddy bear sits in the place Gov. Ned Lamont at the Governor William A. ONeill State Armory a day before the inaugural ceremony, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. The return to normalcy starts at 10 a.m. with separate swearing-in ceremonies for the state House of Representatives and the Senate. Overall, 36 new legislators are taking office, including 28 in the House and 8 in the Senate. After the legislative speeches at the Capitol, officials will head to the nearby state armory at noon for Lamonts inauguration, which is open to the general public. Former governors have attended in previous years, and Lamont will be sworn in along with top state officials, including the attorney general, comptroller, treasurer, and secretary of the state. As they exit, they are expected to hear the traditional cannon salute immediately outside the armory. Following the inauguration, Lamont will deliver the State of the State Address at 1:30 p.m. in the historic Hall of the House at the state Capitol. To cap off the day, the long-running Inaugural Ball will be held from 6:30 p.m. until midnight at The Bushnell, across the street from the Capitol. The cost is $200 per person, and the maximum contribution for sponsors, such as lobbying firms and various businesses, is $25,000 to offset the costs of the ball. In a break with the past, there is no sit-down dinner this year. Actor Kevin Bacon and his brother will provide the music, following a performance four years ago by former Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Scarborough of Morning Joe fame on MSNBC. Scarborough owned a home in New Canaan, while Bacon and his wife, actress Kyra Sedgwick, own a large farm with goats in Litchfield County. Connecticut Army National Guard Master Sergeant Kyle Mish, left, and Specialist Javier Serrano, right, pick up trash around the outside of the Governor William A. ONeill State Armory as they prepare for the inauguration of Gov. Ned Lamont, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. Unlike other years, there will be no parade this year. The parades were often sparsely attended in the past with freezing temperatures as the governor walked along windswept Capitol Avenue with other top officials. When the festivities are over, lawmakers will get back to work for the next five months. One of the first orders of business is tackling the two-year state budget. In her monthly report, state comptroller Natalie Braswell announced Tuesday that the state is expecting a surplus of $1 billion in the general fund in the current fiscal year. The rainy day fund for fiscal emergencies could reach as high as $6.17 billion later this year, and $2.8 billion could be transferred to the pension funds for state employees and public school teachers. The national economy continues to show signs of slowing down, but Connecticuts fiscal discipline over the last several years has given us the stability and strength necessary to weather economic uncertainties, Braswell said. Connecticut may not be able to control global uncertainties, but we can be smart about preparing for them. Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com A severe thunderstorm warning that saw much of NSW brace for destructive winds, heavy rain and giant hail has been cancelled. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Wednesday afternoon, warning of severe weather across much of NSW. The most damaging rain fell in Penrith and Parramatta, and light rail fell across most of the city during the afternoon. Stormy weather approached Palm Beach as Bianca Wong and Nathan Au watched from Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Credit: Oscar Colman But it was cancelled just after 6pm on Wednesday after the storm front moved east to sea. Gabrielle Woodhouse, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said multiple thunderstorms developed across the state. What this looks like on the ground is water all up the main street, waist-deep in IGA, which is shut, fast-flowing dangerous water over Brooking Channel [Bridge], and the road out to Broome looking like an inland sea, she said. A lot of the river communities have water through their houses, houses built to be above the 100-year flood mark have water in them but not as bad. For the most up-to-date flood information Visit: emergency.wa.gov.au The state of emergency has meant civilian aircraft have been able to be used so all I can hear all day are helicopters bringing people in who are being rescued off balconies of their hotels or houses, or taking food out as no planes have been able to take off out of Broome as there is storm impacting there as well. The loss of vehicles has been phenomenal as there is such limited dry high ground for them to go to. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said three ADF aircraft would be deployed to relocate people from this afternoon including two C130 Hercules aircraft which can carry 80 passengers each and a C27 aircraft which can carry 30 passengers. Fitzroy Crossing is now completely isolated and the only way to get in or out of it is by helicopter or by specialised fixed-wing aircraft, he said. Dawson said seven state government aircraft as well as commercial aircraft were also being used but the ability to remove people depended on weather conditions. Wallabies crowding on dry land near Fitzroy Crossing. Credit: Andrea Myers Dawson said remote communities were used to being cut off during the Kimberley wet season, but this was an unexpected weather event, so government agencies would work to make sure they had food and medicine. He said the government was working with businesses in Perth to assess whether they could airlift fruit and vegetables to those isolated communities. Myers said some Fitzroy Crossing residents were angry with how long it took the government to arrange support, but for the most part they were in good spirits and the community was banding together. Generally, people are in good spirits, I had one local compare his house to an aquarium and laugh about it, she said. There are senior community members looking out for property by either staying in their properties or running patrols via their own dinghies and this is helping communities feel a bit calmer and relieved. Dawson described the weather event as a one-in-100-year flood. Loading From Friday to Monday, Fitzroy Crossing received 320 millimetres of rain. The Fitzroy Crossing Bridge has been seriously damaged, cutting off a major supply route between WA and the Northern Territory. A stretch of about 480 kilometres of the Great Northern Highway has been closed, prompting concerns about the ability to get supplies and essentials to remote Kimberley communities. A flood alert remains in place for the town and surrounding communities with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warns that lives and homes were at risk. A warning is also in place for communities downstream including Noonkanbah, where the river is expected to peak at 14 metres on Thursday, and Willare, which is expected to peak at 8 metres. An evacuation centre has been set up at the Fitzroy Crossing Recreation Centre on 101 Fallon Road. DFES commissioner Darren Klemm said there had been 39 requests for assistance since Monday afternoon including people stranded by flood water and property damage. He said 86 residents were at the evacuation centre, which was nearly at capacity so government agencies would soon open another one. He said flood boat rescues were continuing, but residents needed to understand this would take time. Over the coming days, emergency services will need to fly essential supplies to communities cut off by flood water and provide other urgent assistance, he said. The flooding event is far from over, and will severely impact the region for weeks ahead. Broome hit with flood warning Broome airport has been shut for at least two days and flights into the holiday town have been cancelled. Flood warnings are in place for Broome and surrounding communities as ex-tropical cyclone Ellie hovers over the region. Payne Haas will take personal leave from the Brisbane Broncos until January 16 after his mother was charged over her alleged involvement in a car accident that killed three people. The Broncos NRL squad returns from their Christmas break this week but Haas has been granted extra time away from Red Hill. The scene of a fiery two-car crash at Bonogin; (inset left) Uiatu Joan Taufua and; (right) Payne Haas. Credit: Nine News/AAP/NRL Photos Haas mother, Uiatu Taufua, was charged with three counts of manslaughter after a head-on car crash on the Gold Coast last Friday. She was also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a licence. Two teenagers have suffered serious injuries after an incident involving an e-scooter and a car on the Sunshine Coast. Police believe a 13-year-old Mountain Creek boy was riding an e-scooter with a 13-year-old Buderim girl on George Street in Alexandra Heads about 7.15pm on Tuesday when they collided with a silver Suzuki Vitara wagon travelling on Mayfield Street. The boy riding the e-scooter was flown to hosptial. Credit: LifeFlight The driver of the vehicle and multiple bystanders stopped to render immediate first aid to the teenagers ahead of the emergency response. The boy was flown from the scene to the Queensland Childrens Hospital in Brisbane and the girl was taken by road to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with critical injuries. A pilot was pulled from the wreckage of small plane after spending hours trapped when it crashed in Victorias alpine region early Wednesday. The State Emergency Service said the Bright unit was alerted to the incident at 11am on Wednesday at Porepunkah, near Bright in the states north-east. The wreckage of the small plane. Credit: Nine News Porepunkah CFA captain Mick Dalbosco, who was called to the crash site just after 11am, said there were reports from people in the area of a plane taking off earlier in the morning and then a loud noise. He was really lucky he landed in tea-tree, light bush and scrub. A lot of it broke his fall, Dalbosco said. We are just glad he has come out of it pretty well and hoping he has a good recovery. The Albanese government will spend up to $2 billion beefing up Australias missile capabilities, including buying a renowned long-range rocket system credited with helping Ukraine turn the tide in its war against Russia. The government is purchasing 20 land-based High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers from the United States, which have been hailed by one analyst as the new god of war after their success on the battlefield in Ukraine. The long-range missile launcher has been credited with a key role in Ukraines fight against Russian invaders. Credit: AP The Australian Navys fleet of Anzac Class frigates and Hobart Class destroyers will also be equipped with new cutting-edge naval strike missiles from next year, replacing the current stock of ageing Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Defence Minister Richard Marles said: In the current strategic environment, its important the Australian Defence Force is equipped with high-end, targeted military capabilities. Paris: The French government has offered a significant concession over its controversial plan to raise the official retirement age to 65 by insisting that the figure was not set in stone. It also backtracked on its intention to cut the time during which the unemployed receive benefits by 40 per cent if the jobless rate falls below 6 per cent. The measure was due to be enacted next month. Frances main unions have already warned that any increase in the pension age from the current 62 would trigger the mother of all battles through strikes and street protests, with the first proposed for January 21. French President Emmanuel Macron put the pension reform on hold after stiff opposition and the onset of the pandemic. Credit: AP Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told France Info radio that other solutions could help the government balance the pension system by 2030. Madrid: Tobacco companies will have to pay for the cost of cleaning up millions of cigarette butts under new Spanish environmental regulations. The rules, which come into force on Friday, were approved last year as part of a law banning single-use plastics such as cutlery and straws that was created in response to a European Union directive. They state that tobacco companies could also be required to pay for the installation of public receptacles for cigarette butts. Packaging should also urge smokers to dispose of butts responsibly. A worker smokes a cigarette at Cuatro Torres business area in Madrid, Spain, on Monday. Tobacco companies will be required to pay for the clean-up of cigarette butts from public spaces. Credit: Bloomberg The Spanish government has yet to calculate how much tobacco companies will have to pay to compensate for the clean-up costs borne by local authorities, but one study suggested the amount could run into hundreds of millions of euros annually. According to research by Rezero, a private foundation, the annual cost of cleaning up cigarette waste in the region of Catalonia runs from 12 to 21 ($18-$33) per inhabitant, with the higher rate for those in seaside areas where beaches are combed for butts. Washington: The US Congress remains paralysed after a mutiny waged by right-wing Republicans continued to block the election of a Speaker, preventing hundreds of new members from being sworn in and stopping all parties from doing any legislative work. Weeks after voters gave Republicans narrow control of the House of Representatives at the midterm elections, members ended their second day of the new Congress locked in a bitter stand-off over who should get the chambers top job, with many still refusing to back Kevin McCarthy even after hours of negotiations. Republican House minority leader Kevin McCarthy. Credit: AP The stalemate continued despite former president Donald Trump weighing in, using his Truth Social online platform to urge House Republicans to vote for McCarthy, close the deal and take the victory. Republicans, do not turn a great triumph into a giant & embarrassing defeat. Its time to celebrate, you deserve it. Trump wrote in capital letters. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a great job just watch! Washington: George Santos shared a falsehood on his first day on Capitol Hill: that he had been sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives. While the statement on his official website drew instant criticism because the New York Republican has been accused of fabricating key details of his biography, he wasnt the only one to send out a false announcement. The press release on Santoss House page on Tuesday, which said he was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House on January 3rd, 2023, appears to have been generic and possibly automated. Republican Representative George Santos is in the US House, even if it isnt functioning. Credit: AP Identical statements were posted on the websites of other incoming freshman representatives, including for Robert Garcia, a California Democrat; Michael Lawler, a New York Republican; and Yadira Caraveo, a Colorado Democrat. E-commerce giant Amazon has secured $8 billion in Term Loan from DBS Bank, Mizuho Bank and others, that will be used for "general corporate purposes". In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said that the loan will mature in 364 days (January 3, 2024), with an option to extend for another 364 days. "Upon funding, proceeds of the Term Loan will be used for general corporate purposes," it said in the filing. "Upon an event of default that is not cured within applicable grace periods or waived, any unpaid amounts under the Term Loan may be declared immediately due and payable and the commitments may be terminated," it added. In a statement to TechCrunch, an Amazon spokesperson said the loan has been taken to safeguard against the "uncertain macroeconomic environment". "Given the uncertain macroeconomic environment, over the last few months we have used different financing options to support capital expenditures, debt repayments, acquisitions and working capital needs," said the spokesperson. Also Read DBS Group bullish on India, to grow through 'phygital' model, says CEO DBS Bank India reports profit after tax of Rs 167 crore in 2021-22 India's robust growth gives RBI room for more rate hikes, says DBS Group Post-LVB integration, DBS aiming to treble growth in 5 years: MD & CEO DBS Bank India seeks three-fold jump in gold loan portfolio in 5 yrs: Exec Where's the New Year's party? It's everywhere, across restaurants & resorts Most of RFL lenders approve Rs 2.3k-cr OTS plan, on track to restart biz What makes state governors so important in India? Woman IAS gives speech while holding son, triggers debate on social media 'Brand Aamir' in the soup over ad controversy. Can he bounce back? To reduce costs, Amazon plans to reduce its workforce in early 2023 by as much as 10,000 employees. Some reports have even claimed the lay-off number in the range of 20,000. Amazon has frozen hiring for corporate roles in its retail business. The company has also delayed the joining dates for some university graduates who were set to join the company in May, as part of cost-cutting efforts. The company said that the students would not be able to begin until the end of 2023. The job cuts will hit several divisions, especially the Alexa virtual assistant business and the Luna cloud gaming unit, and corporate employees were being informed about being let go. --IANS na/ksk/ State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) and trade unions have agreed to a 19 per cent minimum guaranteed benefit of the monthly emolument, benefitting 2.38 lakh non-executive workers, an official statement said on Wednesday. In this regard, "CIL and the four central trade unions BMS, HMS, AITUC and CITU have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), recommending 19 per cent Minimum Guaranteed Benefit (MGB) for 2.38 lakh non-executive employees as part of the ongoing National Coal Wage Agreement XI (NCWA-XI)," Ministry of Coal said in a statement. The MoU between CIL and trade unions was signed in Kolkata on Tuesday. The MGB of 19 per cent is on the emoluments as of June 30, 2021, which include basic pay, variable dearness allowance, special dearness allowance and attendance bonus. The Telangana-based Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) was also the other signatory to the MoU. "A total of around 2.82 lakh employees of both the state-owned coal entities, CIL and SCCL, who were on the rolls of the company as of 1st July 2021, would be the beneficiaries. SCCL's employees account for close to 44,000," it said. Also Read Coal India's capital expenditure rises 33% to Rs 7,027 crore in Apr-Sep Coal India Q2 profit rises 106% to Rs 6,044 crore, net sales up 29% How CIL is chasing the monsoon to reduce coal supply disruptions Coal ministry to take up additional 19 first mile connectivity projects Indonesia's Bara Daya Energi outbids Adani in CIL tenders for coal imports Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sales up 11% at 233,151 units in Dec 2022 Adani Group plans to roll out 5G services, consumer apps this year RBI lifts curbs on loan recovery via third parties: M&M Financial Services On industry demand, ASCI extends 'Dark Patterns' paper feedback deadline CESL accelerates on the green track, opens bids for 6,465 electric buses A formal pact for the eleventh version of NCWA, effective from July 1, 2021, for five years, would be finalised after deliberations on remaining issues other than MGB are concluded, the statement said. The promoters are willing to infuse Rs 2,000-3,000 crore but it is too less to revive the company. "Vodafone Idea (Vi) needs around Rs 40,000-45,000 crore for sustaining itself. Assuming that banks fund around half of it, the promoters have to put the rest. In the absence of promoter funding, it will be difficult for the company to get external investors...Without promoter infusion, even banks are unlikely to support," a senior official told ET. The promoters of Vodafone Idea (Vi) are not willing to infuse more capital and it is making it unviable for the government to convert the accrued interest on deferred adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues into equity, a report in the Economic Times (ET) said. At the end of September 2022, according to ET, the company had a cash balance of Rs 190 crore, while its net debt stood at Rs 2.2 trillion. Its dues to banks and other lenders were at Rs 15,080 crore. The company also needs urgent funds to clear its dues to large companies like Indus Towers, ATC, Nokia and Ericsson. The company is also unlikely to raise money from foreign investors as they want the government to take the stake in the telco first. The promoters had originally told the government that they would invest Rs 10,000 crore in the firm but since January 2022, the company has received only Rs 4,900 crore from the promoters. Most of it has been used to clear the dues of Indus Towers. According to analysts, the interest on AGR-related dues stood at Rs 16,130 crore. If it is converted to equity, the government may get a hold of a 33 per cent stake in Vi. Also Read Vi to lose access to towers if it fails to clear dues, says Indus Towers Vodafone Idea decides to not convert its AGR dues into equity: Report Indus Towers to raise Rs 2,000 crore via NCDs after weak Q2 result Indus Towers accepts Vodafone Idea's payment plan for its dues Indus Towers revises report, drops para on govt stake in Vodafone Idea NARCL emerges as the highest bidder for SREI with NPV of Rs 5,555 cr Toyota Motor's Indian unit warns of a possible customer data breach BK Modi Group plans to invest $1 bn in 5 years in realty, wellness Top carmakers post double-digit export growth with Maruti at the wheel Ashneer exhibited 'unruly, threatening behaviour' in AGM: BharatPe The bill stems from the relocation and rise in value of PhonePe Pvt, which Walmart took majority ownership of after acquiring parent outfit Flipkart Online Services Pvt. Now separated from Flipkart and re-domiciled from Singapore to India, the fintech firm is raising funds at a $12 billion pre-money valuation from General Atlantic, Qatar Investment Authority and others, triggering the hefty charge, the people said, declining to be named discussing a private matter. Walmart Inc. and other PhonePe shareholders will have to pay nearly $1 billion in tax after the digital payments company shifted its headquarters to India, according to people familiar with the matter. Representatives of Walmart, Flipkart and Tiger Global did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. A PhonePe spokeswoman declined to comment. Investors including Tiger Global Management have now purchased shares of PhonePe in India at the new price, leading to tax implications of roughly 80 billion rupees for existing shareholders, one of the people said. Over 8,000 Indian startups have incorporated in Singapore since the year 2000, according to a report by India Briefing. PhonePes three major moves relocating to India, carving itself out as a separate entity from Flipkart and raising funds at a high valuation come at a time when startup firms around the world are struggling to raise funds and facing deflating valuations. PhonePe is shifting its headquarters to Bangalore, similar to online retailer and former parent company Flipkart. Its an unusual step for an Indian startup to move home. For years, technology companies with the bulk of their operations and business in India have chosen to incorporate in Singapore because of the friendlier tax regime, ease of getting foreign investments and simpler processes for public debuts on foreign exchanges. Also Read PhonePe completes process to move domicile from Singapore to India Flipkart key driver of 13% spike in Walmart's international revenue PhonePe in talks to raise $700 million at $12 billion valuation Flipkart, PhonePe complete separation as fintech firm preps for fundraise Walmart's payments startup PhonePe seeks to raise $1 billion: Report Major setback for Google as NCLAT refuses interim stay on CCI order Income Tax searches on premises of Exel Group of companies in Hyderabad Shapoorji Pallonji's housing platform to invest Rs 750 cr on new project Byju's founder raising funds to buy back as much as 15% of firm: Report Suhail Sameer to start VC fund with two former co-founders: Report A data breach at Toyota Motor's Indian business might have exposed some customers' personal information, it said on Sunday. Toyota India said it has notified the relevant Indian authorities of the data breach at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, a joint venture with Indian conglomerate Kirloskar Group. "Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has been notified by one of its service providers of an incident that might have exposed personal information of some of TKM's customers on the internet", TKM said in an emailed statement without disclosing the size of the data breach or number of customers affected. An unrelated issue at Toyota Motor's T-Connect service potentially leaked about 296,000 pieces of customer information, it said last October. (Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in BengaluruEditing by David Goodman) There has been a 98.7 per cent decline in cases of Kala-azar from 44,533 in 2007 to 834 in 2022 in India, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday. India is committed to eliminating Kalaa-azar from the country by 2023, it said. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of Kala-azar disease in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, said 632 (99.8 per cent) endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status (less than one case per 10,000). Only one block (Littipara) of Pakur district, Jharkhand is in the endemic category (1.23 cases/10,000 population). "We are working holistically with the state government and other stakeholders to achieve elimination in Jharkhand," he said. Kala-azar is the considered the second deadliest parasitic killer in the world after Malaria. Also Read Nation will always be indebted to healthcare professionals: Mandaviya RT-PCR to be mandatory for passengers from 5 countries, says Mandaviya Mandaviya launches Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav to combat disease Mandaviya to inaugurate Arogya Manthan to mark Ayushman Bharat anniversary Mandaviya to inaugurate Arogya Manthan to mark 4 years of Ayushman Bharat IndiGo aircraft suffers tail strike while landing in Kolkata; no injuries Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital Rishabh Pant airlifted to Mumbai, set to undergo surgery, says BCCI Male passenger who urinated on woman banned by Air India for a month Sonia Gandhi admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital for routine check-up: Report Mandaviya appreciated the efforts of the state governments towards meeting the elimination target. "Under the leadership of our prime minister, it remains our target to ensure health for all of our citizens," he said. The government has taken several steps towards the elimination of Kala-azar by 2023. From interventions like pucca houses through PM-AWAS yojana, rural electrification, timely testing, treatment, and periodic high-level review, to incentivising through award distribution, the government along with its stakeholders are ensuring a robust ecosystem for early detection of the disease and its timely treatment, Mandaviya said. The Centre is supporting the states in active case detection, surveillance, treatment, and supply of diagnostic kits, medicines, sprays, etc. While it is commendable that the endemic states are implementing targeted interventions, and some states have eliminated the disease in their districts, it is equally important to sustain the gain and work towards ensuring that the cases stay below 1 case/10,000 population, the minister said. He urged the endemic states to ensure that there is a regular review and micro-stratification in high-risk blocks. Since Kala-azar impacts those among the lower socio-economic strata of society, early diagnosis and complete case management, integrated control and surveillance along with the capacity building of human resource must be taken up on ground level, he suggested. For spreading public awareness, information regarding messages on prolonged fever, associated symptoms and free access to diagnosis and treatment and compensations/incentives, other government interventions are required to be widely disseminated through various mediums, further added. About 90 pc of global cases of Kala-azar were reported from eight countries: Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan in 2021, with India contributing 11.5 pc of total cases reported globally. Kala-azar was endemic in 633 blocks of 54 districts in four endemic states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It is a notifiable disease in these states. Currently, more than 90 per cent of the Kala-azar cases are contributed by Bihar and Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh (2019) and West Bengal (2017) states have achieved their elimination targets at the block level. Delhi BJP working president Virendra Sachdeva has said that the statement being made by the AAP leaders in wake of Sultanpuri mishap or the Kanjhawala case are "politically motivated" and "condemnable". "It is a matter of regret that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself has spoken irresponsibly in this matter and he has given freedom to his party colleagues to speak freely in this sensitive matter which is not desired," he said. Sachdeva said that the manner in which AAP leaders have been "making personal comments against the Lt. Governor (LG) of Delhi and a Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police is completely motivated by political bias". "The people of Delhi have seen in the last seven months that the present Lt. Governor has taken several decisions in the interest of Delhi while speeding up the development works like cleaning the Yamuna river banks and Najafgarh drain, besides his (LG's) decisions on liquor scam, advertisement scam recovery order, classroom scam inquiry, exposure of Minister Satyendra Jain's lavish jail stay have politically exposed the AAP government," he asserted. Sachdeva pointed out that AAP leaders are attacking the LG with "political bias as the Delhi Police comes under the Centre and reports to the LG, but the people of Delhi are well aware of all this and have themselves seen how in the last 48 hours the Delhi Police has been promptly piecing together the links of the Sultanpuri accident, the matter is almost on the verge of being solved". The BJP leader further claimed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, whom the AAP is targeting, "had 3 years ago inquired the case of AAP MLAs' assault on the then Chief Secretary. Since then the Deputy Commissioner was on the target of the Aam Aadmi Party leaders". Also Read Culprits should be punished severely: Kejriwal on Kanjhawala woman's death AAP MLAs to meet Delhi Commissioner today over Kanjhawala incident Home Ministry seeks report from Delhi Police on Kanjhawala incident Rs 10 lakh compensation for Kanjhawala victim's family, announces Delhi CM Don't quit BJP but work for AAP internally: Kejriwal tells Gujarat workers US President Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as envoy to India India building a world order based on spirituality, morality: Prez Murmu PM, CM do not have disciplinary control over council of ministers: SC Rajasthan has made big contributions to women's empowerment: Prez Murmu Minorities Commission to meet on Jan 17 to resolve Jain shrine issue Sachdeva has said that not only the LG but the Union Home Ministry too has taken the Sultanpuri mishap "very seriously". "The Delhi BJP too has also called it a case of murder, it would be better if AAP let the Delhi Police impartially investigate this sensitive case." --IANS dr/sha Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will brief foreign envoys about Aero India on January 9 in Delhi. The 14th edition of 'Aero India 2023' will be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru (Karnataka) from 13 to 17 February 2023, said a press release by the Ministry of Defence on December 23. The five-day event will combine a major trade exhibition of the aerospace and defence industries as well as an aerial display by IAF. Besides global leaders and big investors in the aerospace industry, the show will also see participation by think tanks from across the world. Aero India will provide a unique opportunity for the exchange of information, ideas and new developments in the aviation industry. In addition to giving a fillip to the domestic aviation industry, it would further the cause of Make in India. Delegates from over 55 countries and more than 540 exhibitors had participated in Aero India 2021. Earlier on Tuesday, the Defence Minister spoke at the inauguration of the strategically important Siyom bridge in the Siang district of the frontier state. Also Read Govt fines Ramban Tunnel contractor Rs 8.5 cr for collapse that killed 10 US-France competition heats up for fighter jets to deck INS Vikrant Hindustan Aeronautics told to conduct Aero India 2023 in February A 132-year-old tunnel-like structure discovered under Mumbai's JJ Hospital China will be a challenge for India during G20 presidency: Pankaj Saran Foreign universities to be allowed to set up campuses in India: Report Over 95,000 beneficiaries reject house sites provided by Andhra govt Woman Army officer deployed at Kumar Post in Siachen Glacier for first time Dense fog engulfs Indo-Gangetic plains, to persist over 2-3 days: IMD Matter will remain biased until Sandeep Singh resigns, says woman coach Singh said that the country does not believe in war but will fight if war is forced upon it. "We do not believe in war, but if it is forced upon us, we will fight. We are ensuring that the nation is protected from all threats. Our Armed Forces are ready and it is heartening to see that the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with them," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said in Siang. Rajnath Singh emphasised that the aim is to build a strong and self-reliant 'New India' to effectively deal with future challenges which may arise due to the constantly-evolving global scenario. "The world is witnessing a number of conflicts today. India has always been against war. It is our policy. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew the world's attention to that resolve when he said 'this is not the era of war'," Singh stated. The Defence Minister had further highlighted the crucial role being played by the BRO in bolstering the country's security through infrastructure development in border areas. The event at Along-Yinkiong Road witnessed the physical inauguration of the strategically-important Siyom Bridge, while the other projects were dedicated to the nation virtually. The Siyom Bridge is a state-of-the-art 100-meter long, Class 70 Steel Arch Superstructure Siyom Bridge over Siyom River in Arunachal Pradesh. On occasion, the Defence Minister also released a Compendium on New Technologies. It incorporates the latest technologies being adopted by the BRO in the construction of roads, bridges, airfields and tunnel infrastructure to negate the effects of remote and hostile terrain with the adverse weather condition, which unduly affects the quality of civil engineering works and meeting the completion timelines. Thousands of employees of three state-owned power companies went on a 72-hour strike on Wednesday to protest against the privatisation of power firms even as the government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), a leader from the employees' union said. The government has asked the officials concerned to take all necessary steps to ensure normal supply of electricity in the state. Thousands of employees of the three companies were participating in the strike which started from midnight, Krushna Bhoir, general secretary of the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation, told PTI. The protest was going on peacefully across the state, he said, adding the protesting employees were sitting in pandals erected outside their establishments. Bhoir said the state government has called them for a meeting and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will meet members of the action committee of the employee unions at the Sahyadri Guest House here at around 1 pm. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (Mahavitaran), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahapareshan) and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Co Ltd (Mahanirmiti) are the state-owned power companies. Also Read Power engineers body asks govt not to move electricity bill in 'haste' Bhopal gas tragedy: NGOs starts campaign for additional compensation Airline glitches: Aircraft maintenance sector in dire need of maintenance Puja stuck amid politics of 2 parties, says Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti Prez Sri Lanka to seek India or China's credit line for solar panel imports: Min Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to brief foreign envoys about Aero India Foreign universities to be allowed to set up campuses in India: Report Over 95,000 beneficiaries reject house sites provided by Andhra govt Woman Army officer deployed at Kumar Post in Siachen Glacier for first time Dense fog engulfs Indo-Gangetic plains, to persist over 2-3 days: IMD Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of 31 unions of power companies, had started an agitation last month over their various demands. Their major demand is not to issue a 'parallel distribution licence' to the Adani Group's power subsidiary. In November last year, an Adani Group company had sought licence for expanding its power distribution business into more areas of Mumbai. Adani Electricity Navi Mumbai Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Transmission, had applied to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for a parallel licence for power distribution under the jurisdiction of Mahavitaran in Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Taloja and Uran areas. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government invoked MESMA on Tuesday night, after employees of the power companies warned of the strike, so that law and order is maintained and public property is protected in the state. "In view of the strike notice served by Maharashtra state electricity employees, officers, engineers, sangharsh sameetee (approx 30 unions)...the Government has decided to invoke provisions of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act-2017 to ensure normalcy in the state," the government resolution said. It further directed all the subordinate officers to take necessary steps to ensure normal supply of electricity in the state. India will test a space-based aircraft monitoring system when it undertakes a development flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) next month, senior officials said on Wednesday. The SSLV, aimed at launching up to 500 kg satellites in planar orbit, was unsuccessful in its first development flight on August 7 last year. The second development flight of the SSLV is likely to be held next month, which if successful would allow ISRO to provide on demand launch services for smaller satellites weighing from 10 kg to 500 kg. "I cannot give you a specific date, but we are planning a test flight next month," ISRO chairman S Somanath told reporters here on the sidelines of the 108th Indian Science Congress. He said India was also planning scientific missions to Mars and Venus besides attempting a land rover to the moon sometime this year. "The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is almost ready. The orbiter, lander and rover. But we are waiting for the right time to launch the mission, which is sometime in June. We will try to meet that launch window," he said. Also Read What is ISRO's new SSLV and why is it important? ISRO all set to launch SSLV on August 7; here's all you need to know SSLV suffers 'data loss' at terminal stage: ISRO chairman Somanath ISRO launches maiden SSLV carrying earth observation and student satellites Satellites no longer usable after deviation: ISRO on maiden SSLV mission Primary schools in Jharkhand to remain closed till Jan 8 amid cold wave Biting cold in Rajasthan; 'Orange Alert' issued for several districts Science should be aimed at making India self-reliant: PM Modi at ISC Schools in Lucknow to remain closed from Jan 4-7 in view of cold wave Cold wave conditions to continue over Northwest India for next 5 days: IMD A senior ISRO official said the space agency will also test the satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver system onboard the SSLV next month. "The ADS-B receiver gets all details of an aircraft. Currently, the Air Traffic Controller gets these signals. But there are certain blind spots -- about 30 per cent of airspace across the globe -- where ATC doesn't have access. Now, we have developed a space-based ADS-B technology," D K Singh, Deputy Director, Advanced Technology Area, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad, told PTI here. He said the space-based ADS-B system will be tested on the SSLV test flight next month. Singh said the space based ADS-B technology is currently offered commercially by a Canada-based company to aircraft companies, using a payload on the Iridium Next Low Earth Orbit satellite. Singh said ISRO was also planning to launch GSAT-20 high throughput satellite next year that would facilitate in-flight connectivity for aeromobile services using Ka band. Maharashtra on Wednesday logged 16 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 81,36,725, while no fresh death linked to the infection was registered in the state, said the health department. The coronavirus death toll remained unchanged at 1,48,417. On Tuesday, Maharashtra had reported 22 COVID-19 cases and zero fatality. The Pune administrative circle logged the highest cases at seven, followed by five in Mumbai, two in Akola, one each in Nashik and Nagpur circles, said the department in a bulletin. An administrative circle consists of multiple districts and Maharashtra has eight such circles. As many as 12 patients recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours, taking their cumulative count to 79,88,168 and leaving the state with 140 active COVID-19 cases, said the bulletin. Of the 140 active COVID-19 cases, the highest are in Pune district at 75, followed by 27 in Mumbai and eight in Thane, among other districts, it said. With 14,784 swab samples examined in the last 24 hours, their overall number in the state rose to 8,59,74,748, said the health department. Maharashtra's coronavirus recovery rate was 98.17 per cent, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.82 per cent. According to the health department, as many as 1,92,568 passengers arrived at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports since December 24 when fresh screening of passengers was started in the backdrop of a spurt in coronavirus cases in some countries. Of these, RT-PCR test was conducted on 4,214 passengers and seven of them tested positive for COVID-19. Of the seven international passengers who have tested positive at the state's airports so far, three were from Pune, two from Navi Mumbai, one each from Goa and Tamil Nadu, it said. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing (a comprehensive genetic lab test) to ascertain if any new variant of coronavirus was in circulation, a health department official said. In the wake of a jump in COVID-19 cases in some countries like China, South Korea, Brazil and the USA, state authorities started screening of international passengers arriving at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur airports from December 24. Coronavirus figures of Maharashtra are as follows: Positive cases 81,36725; fresh cases 16; death toll 1,48,417; recoveries 79,88,168; active cases 140; total tests: 8,59,74,748. No-fly list Other airlines may ban the person placed on the no-fly list from taking flights to/from/within India. The duration depends on the nature of offence Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR and formed several teams to nab a flier accused of drunken misbehaviour onboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi.Air India, meanwhile, initiated steps to put the male passenger on a no-fly list after he urinated on a woman co-passenger on the flight on November 26.An internal committee has also been constituted to probe the lapses on part of Air Indias crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation, the airline said.As a first step, the Tata group-owned airline has banned the passenger for 30 days the maximum it is permitted to do unilaterally and has reported the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for further action.The DGCA had sought a report from the airline and said it would take action against those found negligent. The National Commission for Women took suo moto cognisance of the incident and asked the Delhi police and the airline to submit an action taken report.While the identity of the accused has not been disclosed by either the airline or the police, sources said he is in his 50s and a resident of Mumbai.The incident occurred on Air India's New York-Delhi flight on November 26, but the crew did not report the incident. The airline management was forced into action after a media report recounted the woman's ordeal on Wednesday.According to the report, the man, who was drunk, walked over to the victim's seat in the business class just after lunch when the lights had been dimmed, and urinated on her.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has laid down norms to deal with unruly passengers. Airlines are required to form their own standard operating procedures and train their personnel on ways to deal with them.According to the DGCA rule, unruly behaviour has been categorised under three levels. Level 1 includes physical gestures, verbal harassment, unruly inebriation. Level 2 includes physically abusive behaviour like pushing, hitting, kicking or sexual harassment. Level 3 incidents include life-threatening behaviour such as causing damage to aircraft operating systems, murderous assault etc.According to the procedure, the pilots are required to relay the onboard situation to the airlines control room. A diversion too can be carried out, if required, and upon landing a police case can be lodged.Air India has taken a very serious view of the incident, where a passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner on the New York-Delhi flight that caused extreme distress to a fellow passenger, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. We are also in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger and her family during the investigation and reporting process, Air India added.The senior citizen woman had complained to Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran that she had to sit in a soiled seat during the journey and was not offered an alternate seat in first class. On arrival in Delhi, she received no support from the ground staff.A Delhi police official said it had received a complaint from the airline on December 28 and a case had been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.Norms also require an airline to constitute a three-member independent committee to decide on the issue of putting the unruly passenger on a no-fly list within 30 days. The airline has to maintain a database of unruly passengers and inform DGCA and other airlines.The DGCA rule on a no-fly list is only prescriptive in nature and serves as a guidance to the committee members. The committee can take its own call based on the facts submitted before it, said Gautam Acharya, former general counsel of Jet Airways.Jet Airways was the first airline to put a passenger named Birju Salla on a no-fly list in 2018 for creating a hijack scare on an Ahmedabad-Mumbai flight. Kerala High Court. (PTI) Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail plea of the woman accused in the sensational human sacrifice case in which two women were allegedly killed in a brutal manner. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas rejected the plea for bail moved by Laila Bhagawal Singh, one of the three accused in the case, her lawyer said. Details of the order are not available at present. Besides her, the other two accused are Bhagawal Singh, her husband and also a massage therapist, along with Mohammed Shafi, a history-sheeter. According to the police remand report, the victims were not only killed, their bodies were mutilated and chopped into pieces. The chopped body parts of the deceased were exhumed from the premises of the couple's house at Elanthoor village in Pathanamthitta district on October 11, 2022. The first woman went missing on September 26 and the probe led to Shafi. On further interrogating him, police found that the trio had earlier murdered the second victim in a similar manner in June last year. Both women -- Roslin and Padma -- sold lottery tickets to earn a living, police had said. According to the remand report, Roslin was persuaded by prime accused Shafi after promising Rs 10 lakh to act in a porn film and brought to the crime site. The report also said it was Laila who murdered her. Padma, who went missing in September, was offered Rs 15,000 for sex and lured to the couple's home by Shafi, according to the report. While investigating Padma's disappearance, police found Shafi's involvement which led them to the couple. Only thereafter did the police come to know about the murder of Roslin in June by the trio. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said India has the potential to become a world leader in the footwear and leather sector. Addressing the gathering at the Council for Leather Exports National Export Excellence Awards here, Goyal asked the organisers to explore the possibility of encouraging new companies, entrepreneurs, startups and those who come up with innovative ideas and enter into uncharted territory with newer markets and products, by recognizing them through these awards. The Minister said the industry hopes to achieve higher exports than last year - both in goods and services. Goyal asked the leather industry to utilize the Free trade Agreement (FTA) being signed by India with various countries to grow. He cited the example of the UAE, where exports in the sector registered a jump of 64 per cent in November last year as a result of the new agreement. The Minister noted the concerns of the leather industry about import duties on certain types of leather and assured that it will be taken up for consideration. He also urged the industry stakeholders to avail MOOWR scheme by the Department of Revenue, wherein no duty is to be paid on goods which are being imported for the purpose for exports. The Minister emphasised that the Indian Industry has huge untapped potential. He noted that while the quality of products manufactured is good, more focus is required on packaging and branding to get better value for the product. Indian Mission across the world can help in providing support in terms of outreach and can help connect them with international companies engaged in the branding business, he said. Also Read Big shoes to fill for footwear firms as near-term margin worries bite UPI-type protocol ONDC to be gradually expanded to more cities: Goyal Piyush Goyal expresses desire to collaborate with Stanford University Report to restructure commerce ministry under study: Piyush Goyal IIT-Delhi's Public Systems Lab to bring efficiency in PDS: Piyush Goyal NMCG sanctioned 43 projects worth Rs 2,056 crore in 2022: Centre Drawing new scheme for machinery manufacturing for leather industry: Goyal Sugar firms may seek govt nod to retail green fuel from their own premises Domestic air passenger traffic to cross pre-Covid level in Dec 2022 India govt, ADB sign $1.2 bn loan agreements for infrastructure projects He encouraged the industry to aspire to set new goals. The Minister said the government are trying to enter into more FTA with other developed nations of the world. He urged the leather and footwear industry to aim for significant increases over the next 25 years and draw up a plan to achieve those goals. He asked them to look up at expanding horizons- explore new territories and manufacturing new products in India for import substitution. Goyal reassured that the Government is open to amending any standards which are hurting the interests of the Industry. He also assured full support in terms of setting up testing facilities and laboratories anywhere in the country to meet the needs of the industry. He said the government is willing to engage with the industry on ease of doing business and asked them to give ideas on how to bring improvement in different areas where the industry faces difficulty in business. Goyal informed that the government is working on formulating a new scheme to support the manufacturing of machinery required in the industry. He asked the industry to take advantage of all the schemes of the government. He asked the industry to look at innovation and sustainability in their products. He also called for new collaborations with international companies to bring high-quality products into India. Minister spoke about a few areas of immense potential such as Kolhapuri Chappals and asked young entrepreneurs to go beyond the routine and explore new designs/ branding in this area. MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian corporate bond issuances may come to a halt in the next two weeks as the government upgrades an online portal used by companies to file regulatory disclosures, merchant bankers have said. According to a notification from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the website companies use for electronic filings will not be available from January 7 to January 22. "We may not see any issuance for the next two weeks, as corporates will not be able to use these funds before filing the form, and hence they may avoid borrowing the same," said Ajay Manglunia, managing director and head of investment grade group at JM Financial. The procedure of raising and using funds from companies includes submitting of a "return-of-allotment" form, called the PAS-3, to the Registrar of Companies, which would also be unavailable due to the website migration. Non availability of the form while the upgradation is in process would mean that companies planning to issue fresh debt would not be able to provide information required before launching the issue, a banker with a private bank said requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media. So far this week, no new issuer has tapped the market, as they await clarity about any alternative mechanism. Bankers further said firms that may face refinancing pressures could opt for commercial papers in the interim. Also Read Sebi holds settlement hearing over probe in 2021 trading halt at NSE What is a cybercrime portal? Here's how to check complaint status online 18 states join National Career Service portal; What it does, who started it Amazon Smartphone Upgrade Days sale: Know offers detail, discounts and more Amazon Smartphone Upgrade Days sale: Know deals, discounts, bank offers Irdai to allow insurers to auto renew FRN of cross border reinsurers LIC may look at entering health, non-life insurance businesses: Source Composite insurance licence regime may trigger M&A activity: HDFC Life CFO LIC may look at composite licence post amendment in Insurance Laws Several insurance companies exceed limit on expenses in FY22: Irdai report Another banker, who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak to media said the government could activate and an email ID for issuers to use with the details being uploaded on the portal when it is up and running, but "will have to wait and see whether they actually provide any such alternative option." Reuters could not immediately clarify whether the government was working on alternative plans. Bloomberg reported the developments earlier on Wednesday. (This story has been corrected to fix a typographical error in the last paragraph) (Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee) The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a bombing near a checkpoint at the Afghan capital's military airport that killed and wounded several people. IS said in a statement late Tuesday that Sunday's attack on the checkpoint in Kabul was carried out by the same member who took part in an assault on a hotel in the capital in mid-December. The regional affiliate of the Islamic State group known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province has increased its attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Targets have included Taliban patrols and members of Afghanistan's Shiite minority. IS published a photo of the attacker identifying him as Abdul Jabbar, saying he withdrew safely from the attack on the hotel after he ran out of ammunition. It added he detonated his explosives-laden vest targeting the soldiers gathered at the checkpoint. The military airport is around 200 meters from the civilian airport and close to the Interior Ministry, itself the site of a suicide bombing last October that killed at least four people. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said after the attack that the blast left several people dead and wounded. He gave no exact figures or further information about the bombing, saying details of an investigation will be shared later. Also Read 19 killed, 27 wounded in suicide bombing near Kabul's Shiite area: Official UN chief condemns attack on cricket stadium in Kabul that killed 19 Afghanistan: Taliban condemns Kabul mosque blast that killed 20 people Car bomb blast kills 2, injures 3 in Kabul on US withdrawal anniversary ISIS causing unrest in Afghanistan, says Taliban's acting foreign minister US regulators issue their first-ever joint warning on cryptocurrency risks We see this as important nomination: White House on Eric Garcetti European nations report record high temperatures for the month of January 1 dead, 1 wounded in shooting outside Indianapolis shopping mall in US China urges 'final victory' over Covid as global concern mounts over spread Takor and Khalid Zadran, spokesman for the Kabul police chief, didn't respond Wednesday to requests for casualty figures. Although Taliban security forces prevented photography and filming directly at the blast site, the checkpoint appeared damaged but intact. It is on Airport Road, which leads to high-security neighborhoods housing government ministries, foreign embassies and the presidential palace. Theres no cause for retaliation here. Just because countries around the world are taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens, thats what youre seeing from us and others, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a Tuesday briefing. The White House said theres no reason Beijing should retaliate against the US and other nations that have imposed Covid restrictions on its travelers, saying the moves were justified on public health grounds as China experiences a surge in cases. The US and other countries will require travelers from China to show a negative test before entering. The new US restrictions take effect Thursday. China has said it would hit back at nations that impose new rules on its travelers, dismissing the measures as political goals. This decision is based on public health and science, she said. This is coming from our experts here and other countries. Coronavirus case in China have soared after the country abandoned its strict Covid Zero protocols, letting the virus run rampant. We believe that some countries entry restrictions targeting only China lack scientific basis and some excessive measures are unacceptable, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said earlier Tuesday at a briefing in Beijing. Also Read Goa to face loss of Rs 500 cr if visa restriction to UK not relaxed: GFP DGCA lifts 50% cap restrictions on SpiceJet, to operate with full capacity DGCA removes 50% capacity cap on SpiceJet flights from October 30 Planning to buy a house in Delhi? Check factors to consider, other details India will not be a US ally, it will be another great power: White House US FDA finalises rule allowing women to get abortion pills via mail-order Poland asks for UN intervention to secure WWII damages from Germany 5.1-magnitude quake hits Waikato district of New Zealand's North Island US President Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as envoy to India Fear of global natural gas crisis eased by warm start to winter Due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in the PRC, and the lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data being recorded from the PRC, were taking deliberate, proactive steps to slow the spread of Covid-19 and to be on alert for any potential Covid-19 variants, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a briefing on Tuesday, referring to the Peoples Republic of China. The US and other nations have also raised concerns about the transparency of Chinas data on the spread of the virus. There certainly is a lot of concern around the global health community and the global economy about the transparency and quality of data that we see out of China on Covid, Chalmers said. Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in a radio interview that his countrys travel restrictions were adopted out of an abundance of caution. If they take any steps in response to the responsible steps weve taken, then that will be a matter for them, Chalmers added. I think there has been a welcome level of dialogue between our country and China. Australia will require a negative coronavirus test taken within 48 hours for passengers departing mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The temporary measure will start Jan. 5. Again, there is no need for retaliation. This is something that all of us, other countries are doing to make sure that we are protecting our citizens here, she said. Jean-Pierre pointed out that the World Health Organization has called on China to release more data to help identify potential variants. A spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council said the US has offered China assistance with its outbreak, including US-developed vaccines, but that Beijing has indicated publicly it doesnt need the help. The Biden administration stands by the offer, the spokeswoman said, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Poland had asked for the intervention of the United Nations (UN) over World War II reparations with Germany, a Polish Deputy Foreign Minister has said. "The United Nations system offers instruments for dialogue as well as for introducing the international community to the scale of the damages caused by the German aggression and occupation during the war, and Poland intends to use them," Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk said during a press conference on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Later in the day, Mularczyk tweeted a photo of the letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. On September 1, 2022, the Polish government presented a report detailing the material losses suffered by Poland during World War II, along with a pledge to demand money from Germany in reparations, to the tune of 6.2 trillion zloty ($1.4 trillion). On October 3, 2022, Poland's Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to Germany demanding compensation for the damage. On Tuesday, Germany's Foreign Ministry responded to the note regarding WWII reparations, stating that the "issue remains closed". Mularczyk said this displayed a "disrespectful attitude" toward Poland and its people. --IANS Also Read Poland sends diplomatic note on request for WW II reparations from Germany 50 million people in modern slavery; women, children most vulnerable: ILO India abstains on UNGA resolution calling for Russian reparation to Ukraine UN economic body accredits 9 human rights, minority groups after US push Rajasthan's Dr. Kriti Bharti bags Global Youth Human Rights Champion Award 5.1-magnitude quake hits Waikato district of New Zealand's North Island US President Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as envoy to India Fear of global natural gas crisis eased by warm start to winter Pakistan plans to shut malls, markets early in a bid to save power China threatens tit for tat over Covid-19 curbs on its travellers int/sha The company said on Tuesday that it will expand the political advertising it permits in coming weeks to facilitate public conversation around important topics and align its advertising policy with those of TV and other media outlets, with further details to be announced. Twitter Inc. will relax a three-year ban on political advertising in a continued policy shift after its takeover by billionaire Elon Musk. Dorsey justified the ban, which attracted the ire of then-President Donald Trumps re-election campaign, by saying that political message reach should be earned, not bought. While it wasnt immediately clear how extensive the changes will be, it represents a departure from a global ban on advertisements by candidates, elected officials and political parties first announced in 2019 by Twitter co-founder and chief executive officer at the time Jack Dorsey. Twitter currently allows some so-called issue ads or cause-based ads for some economic, environmental and social topics, albeit with restrictions. The company said it will also relax its policy for such cause-based ads in the US. But since Musks $44 billion takeover of Twitter, he has alleged censorship by the previous leadership of the social media platform and enacted broad changes with little warning. Among other shifts, the company has ended a policy preventing the sharing of Covid misinformation, reinstated the accounts of Trump and other right-wing personalities, and banned users tracking Musks private jet. Also Read How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? Elon Musk defends former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, says he has a pure heart Musk subpoenas former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in acquisition case Elon Musk demands ex-Twitter product chief testify in takeover fight Biggest regret is that Twitter has become a company, says Jack Dorsey Jack Ma's Ant wins approval to raise $1.5 bn capital for its consumer unit US ordered suspension of 250k Twitter accounts, including journalists: Musk Slide in Apple's shares pushes iPhone maker's market value below $2 trn FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to cheating charges Apple's tracking application 'Find My' helps locate stolen car in US Political advertising was a minor income source for Twitter before the ban amounting to less than $3 million in sales during the 2018 US midterm elections. Still, the easing may help a company now struggling to stem losses in ad revenue as brands pull back from the site amid concern about its moderation policies. Twitter chief Elon Musk on Tuesday disclosed that US Government demanded the suspension of 250k Twitter accounts, including those belonging to journalists and Canadian officials, reported Fox News. He made the revelation while sharing the latest round of "Twitter Files," which were made public by the journalist Matt Taibbi. US govt agency demanded suspension of 250k accounts, including journalists & Canadian officials! https://t.co/kcEMMCzF7d Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 3, 2023 "US govt agency demanded suspension of 250k accounts, including journalists & Canadian officials!" tweeted Musk. The new release of internal Twitter correspondence details the relationship between the social media company and government agencies. Taibbi revealed the US government's mounting and endless pressure on Twitter to work hand-in-hand with Congress to hunt for Russian meddling on the platform, reported Fox News. Also Read Twitter Files: Select group placed people on secret blacklists, says report Working on software update to know if Twitter account shadowbanned: Musk How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? 'Top Twitter execs interfered with US election before banning Trump' Elon Musk's 'Twitter Files' details censorship, suppression of information Slide in Apple's shares pushes iPhone maker's market value below $2 trn FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to cheating charges Apple's tracking application 'Find My' helps locate stolen car in US Samsung Electronics to showcase new models in monitor lineup at CES 2023 Tesla fined $2.2 mn in S Korea for alleged violations of advertising law The Global Engagement Center -- described by Taibbi as "a fledgling analytic/intelligence arms of the State Department" -- went public by releasing a report to media with a list of "suspect accounts" which it said were "Russian personas and proxies." However, Twitter's subsequent task force to hunt Russian influence on the platform showed "no coordinated" effort and mostly "lone-wolf" accounts with low ad spends, reported Fox News. These accounts were described based on criteria like "'Describing the coronavirus as an engineered bioweapon,' 'blaming "research conducted at the Wuhan institute,' and 'attributing the appearance of the virus to the CIA'," according to Taibbi. The GEC report included a list of accounts that followed "two or more" Chinese diplomatic accounts and was 250,000 names long. Under U.S. government pressure, Twitter went on to suspend nearly 250,000 accounts, including accounts tied to journalists, some questioning the pandemic's origins, and accounts that followed "two or more" Chinese diplomatic accounts, reported Fox News. Notably, an earlier batch of the "Twitter Files" showed former President Donald Trump was de-platformed after pressure from the social media company's employees. Off lately, there have been many changes on Twitter after Musk became the CEO of the microblogging site. Recently, he announced a change in the User Interface of the platform's 'Bookmarks' feature. Musk hinted that the upcoming changes would make it "Easy to create folders to bookmark tweets into various categories". Musk had earlier announced "Significant backend server architecture changes" on the platform. The multi-billionaire announced earlier on that the new Twitter Policy will not only follow science but also question science, reasonably. "New Twitter policy is to follow the science, which necessarily includes reasoned questioning of the science," Musk tweeted. Musk stated, "Anyone who says that criticizing them is doubting science itself cannot be regarded as a scientist," in a follow-up tweet to his initial policy statement. The United States on Tuesday said that it did not recognise Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate President of Venezuela, the White House said in a press release. In the statement, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, "The United States continues to recognize the democratically elected 2015 National Assembly as the last remaining democratic institution in Venezuela, and we welcome the agreement reached to extend its authority." Notably, the US recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the Interim President of Venezuela. "We continue to call on Nicolas Maduro to make meaningful progress in the negotiations in Mexico with the Unitary Platform focused on the 2024 elections," Price said, as per the statement. "Releasing an electoral calendar, reinstating candidates, and returning control of political parties to rightful leaders, updating the electoral registry, and allowing for international electoral observation missions are all crucial elements of this negotiation," the statement quoted Price as saying. Price further said that the US continue to call on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2021 European Union Electoral Observation Mission to Venezuela, aimed at improving future electoral processes in line with international commitments on democratic elections. Also Read US court awards $73 million to family of deceased Venezuelan opponent Venezuela will be guarantor in Colombian peace talks: President Maduro Venezuelan president Maduro to fully open border with Colombia from Jan 1 Colombia, Venezuela re-establish full diplomatic ties after 3 years Venezuelan prez Nicolas Maduro says border with Colombia to reopen Sep 26 Biden to host Japan FM Kishida for talks on North Korea, economy Biden renominates several Indian Americans to key administration positions In 2023, US will continue to enhance its strategic position: White House Kevin McCarthy fails in marathon votes for speaker, US House adjourns Any action jeopardizing status quo of Jerusalem holy sites unacceptable: US The US will work with a broad range of Venezuelan and international partners to use all appropriate diplomatic and economic tools to press for the release of all those unjustly detained for political reasons, the independence of political parties, respect for freedom of expression and other universal human rights, and an end to human rights abuses, he added. "We will engage with other members of the international community to foster conditions conducive to the conduct of free and fair elections in Venezuela, and to support the objectives of the negotiations in Mexico," Price said. "The United States also supports efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people and bring the humanitarian crises in Venezuela to an end through international cooperation. Since 2017, the United States has provided more than USD 2.3 billion in humanitarian assistance both inside Venezuela and to Venezuelans forced to flee throughout the region," he added. The Maduro regime's pattern of political repression and rampant human rights abuses, as well as severe restrictions on political and civil society actors and freedom of expression, have robbed the Venezuelan people of democratic self-determination. The US support the efforts of the Unitary Platform and other actors to establish democratic order and rule of law in Venezuela. he petitioners asked how could the judge order the transfer of the investigation to the CBI when the accused had given up the prayer. When the accused had asked for a probe by any third party investigation agency, the single judge could have transferred the case to any agency other than the CBI. (File Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The state government, the DGP, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the alleged bid to purchase BRS MLAs, on Wednesday filed an appeal before the Telangana High Court challenging the order of a High Court single judge who had entrusted the investigation to the CBI, and quashed the SIT. Objecting to the observations of the single judge who had said that the SIT probe was biased and unfair, the appellants said that he had made grave errors in passing the orders. The petitioners asked how could the judge order the transfer of the investigation to the CBI when the accused had given up the prayer. When the accused had asked for a probe by any third party investigation agency, the single judge could have transferred the case to any agency other than the CBI. When the Supreme Court had aside the order of the High Court division bench which appointed the single judge to monitor the SIT probe, how could the single judge transfer the case to the CBI by expressing suspicion over the SIT, the appellants asked. The government and the SIT said that the single judge had viewed the video release by the Chief Minister as leakage of investigation details, biased investigation and prejudice to the accused: How could the single judge come to the conclusion that the SIT had handed over the investigation details. During the arguments, the SIT had assured the court that it has not released any investigation material to anybody including the Chief Minister. When SIT counsel had said that the de facto complainant P. Rohith Reddy might have handed over the material to the Chief Minister, and where no advocate representing the Chief Minister was there to say that the material received by the Chief Minister was from the authorities, how could the single judge come to the conclusion that the evidence was released by the SIT, they asked. Objection, Milord The objections made by the Telangana government and the poachgate Special Investigation Team (SIT): The single judge oversaw the issue that less than 12 hours of the registration of FIR, BJP had filed a petition for a CBI probe. Subsequently, the accused moved their writ petition on November 11, 2022. The single judge stayed the investigation by order dated October 29. It was only on November 3 that the Chief Minister held a press conference. As leader of a regional party in power, fearing the serious threat of destabilisation of his government, the Chief Minister is entitled to do so as a political leader. The press meeting cannot be a reason for the single judge to hold that investigation was not fair. The single judge does not take cognizance against the Chief Minister for the press conference. The judge fails to record that Chief Minister was not made a party respondent therefore the allegation in the writ petition that the case was politically motivated at the instance of the Chief Minister. The single judge by passing the judgment virtually set aside the entire case and granted reliefs which were not requested in the petitions. The judge quashed the SIT without any prayer, justification or basis. The initial public offer of Sah Polymers was subscribed 17.46 times on the last day of subscription on Wednesday. The initial share-sale received bids for 9,79,44,810 shares against 56,10,000 shares on offer, as per data available with the NSE. The Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) part was subscribed 39.78 times, the category for non-institutional investors received 32.69 times subscription and Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) 2.40 times. The Initial Public Offer (IPO) had a fresh issue of 1.02 crore equity shares. Price range for the offer was at Rs 61-65 a share. Pantomath Capital Advisors was the manager to the offer. Also Read Sah Polymers IPO subscribed 2.37 times on Day 2 of offer: NSE data Sah Polymers IPO subscribed 86% on first day, RII subscribed 2.07 times Sah Polymers, Sula Vineyards get Sebi's nod to float IPOs to raise funds What is a follow-on public offer? Reliance Jio Prepaid Plan, Independence Day Offer: Free perks worth Rs 3000 HealthKart eyes foray into the US market, plans IPO in next 2-3 years Sebi returns Oyo's draft IPO papers, asks to refile with certain updates IPO fundraising in India halves in 2022; 40 firms raised Rs 59,412 cr Sah Polymers IPO subscribed 2.37 times on Day 2 of offer: NSE data Rishabh Instruments files draft papers with Sebi to mobilise funds via IPO 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. Allcargo Logistics advanced 1.56% to Rs 409.10 after the company informed that its wholly owned step-down subsidiary AGL N.V. has entered into an agreement to acquire Asiapac Equity Investment for $4.99 million. In an exchange filing made during market hours today, the company said that AGL N.V. has entered into a share purchase agreement with Atlas Global Trading F.Z.C. (UAE) to acquire 100% stake in Hong Kong-based Asiapac Equity Investment. Asiapac Equity Investment is engaged in the business of Investment and related activities through its subsidiaries. On standalone basis, the company had reported zero turnover for the past three years. However, the company has a subsidiary Asiapac Turkey Tasimacilik A.S, which reported a revenue of $30.98 million and EBITDA of $ 1.07 million for the year January to December 2021. Estimated EBITDA for Year ending December 2022 is approximately $3.5 million. Allcargo stated that the said acquisition would result in increase in business of the company in Turkey in full container load (FCL) as well as less than container load (LCL) consolidation and contribute to future growth. AGL N.V. would acquire 10,000 shares of Asiapac Equity Investment, aggregating to 100% of total shareholding in the entity, for a cash consideration of $4.99 million. Also Read Allcargo Logistics to acquire Asiapac Equity Investment (Hong Kong) Allcargo's Belgium subsidiary acquires freight handling firm in Germany for 12 mn euros Allcargo Logistics to acquire Germany-based logistics company Board of Allcargo Logistics notes developments related to sale of logistics parks Jet Freight Logistics approves raising of funds Gland Pharma's Dundigal facility gets EIR from USFDA SecUR Credentials Ltd leads gainers in 'B' group Reliance Retail arm to acquire 50% stake in Gujarat-based Sosyo Hajoori Beverages National Fertilizer Ltd leads gainers in 'A' group Themis Medicare launches menopausal symptoms drug in India Allcargo Logistics is an integrated logistics service provider and operates in multiple business segments - multimodal transport operation (MTO), container freight station (CFS) / inland container depot (ICD), projects and engineering (P&E), contract logistics, and logistics parks (LPs) in which it has forayed recently. The company's consolidated net profit declined 7.21% to Rs 211.57 crore on a 6.48% rise in sales to Rs 5,300.22 crore in Q2 FY23 over Q2 FY22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Mainland China share market finished higher for second straight session on Wednesday, 04 January 2023, on hopes of more policy support to boost the economy after China's finance minister pledged to step up fiscal expansion this year, days after the central bank said it would implement prudent monetary policy to support an economy hurt by the COVID-19 disruptions. However, market gains capped amid reports of surging infections after Beijing loosened its stringent COVID-19 rules in recent weeks. Sentiment turned cautious as infections reportedly spread fast in China, with funeral homes reporting a spike in demand for their services and hospitals now packed with patients. At close of trade, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.22%, or 7 points, to 3,123.52. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, added 0.06%, or 1.23 points, to 2,005.35. The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 0.13%, or 5.05 points, to 3,892.95. China will facilitate the expansion of its fiscal policies in the year to help bring back the economy to its feet. These will include efforts to coordinate fiscal revenue, deficit and interest subsidies, Finance Minister Liu Kun told. Investors have been waiting for improvement in China's policies as the country grappled with COVID-19, supply shocks and weakening demand. CURRENCY NEWS: The Chinese currency was up against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, as China's central bank set a firmer midpoint rate. Prior to market opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate CNY=PBOC at 6.9131 per dollar, 344 pips or 0.5% firmer than the previous fix of 6.9475, the strongest since Sept. 15. In the spot market, the onshore yuan CNY=CFXS was changing hands at 6.8987 at midday, 147 pips firmer than the previous late session close. Powered by Capital Market - Live News The app will be launched by the partys president J.P. Nadda on Saturday during an online meeting with presidents and members of the partys polling booth level committees of all 119 constituencies in the state, senior party leader N. Indrasena Reddy said on Wednesday. (File Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: The BJP is planning to make it easy for its booth committees across the country by launching Saral, an app that the ground-level party workers and leaders can use to upload details right from the polling booth-level. The app will be launched by the partys president J.P. Nadda on Saturday during an online meeting with presidents and members of the partys polling booth level committees of all 119 constituencies in the state, senior party leader N. Indrasena Reddy said on Wednesday. The app is part of a digital push to bring its ground-level workers online for easier transmission of information of the partys activities, plans and programmes, Reddy, who is coordinating for the January 7 meeting, said. Information will also be shared through the app to the party workers about the failures of the BRS government using which they can educate all voters. Reddy said as part of preparation for Saturdays meeting, four party pramukhs a convener to oversee all programmes; a poshak drawn from a list of former MLAs, ministers, MPs or contestants who will spend three days a month till elections in their assigned constituencies; along with one full time booth-level worker and one full-time Prabhari per constituency, are already at work to ensure the online meeting with Nadda will go off smoothly. Held on 3 January 2023The Board of Gujarat Industries Power Co at its meeting held on 03 January 2023 approved the award of EPC Contract to Bhimji Velji Sorathia Construction at the cost of Rs. 259 crore approximately for Road, Drain and Pond Works of Solar / Wind / Hybrid RE Park of 2375 MW capacity at Khavda, Great Rann of Kutch area, Gujarat. Letter of Intent has been issued to Bhimji Velji Sorathia Construction on 04 January, 2023. Powered by Capital Market - Live News The Singapore stock market closed lower for second straight session on Wednesday, 04 January 2023, as risk sentiments muted on tracking Wall Street's losses the day before and reports of surging infections in China. At closing bell, the Straits Times Index (STI) index was down 3.34 points, or 0.1%, to 3,242.46 after trading between 3,238.70 and 3,256.37. Volume was 1.33 billion shares worth S$993.70 million changed hands. There were 286 gainers and 267 decliners. The top performing stock in Straits Times Index was DFI Retail Group which rose 2.8%, while the bottom performing stock was Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, falling 6.3%. The local banks were mostly higher. United Overseas Bank was down 0.8%, while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp added 0.4%. DBS was up 0.4%. In corporate news, ARA US Hospitality Trust shares gained nearly 3% after the company agreed to acquire a hotel in Colorado, US from CH Tenderfoot Hill for $29 million. Oue Commercial REIT's shares rose 1%, as Hilton Singapore Orchard, the Hilton brand's flagship hotel in Singapore, reopened the 446-room Orchard Wing. Aspial Lifestyle shares closed 3% higher, as its unit Maxi Cash (Malaysia) completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Malaysia-based Maxion Holdings from Ion World on Tuesday. Also Read China Stocks end softer on softer economic data Singapore Market ends softer Singapore Market ends softer Japan Nikkei extends gain on softer yen Australia Stocks end softer Hong Kong Market hits five-month high Euro Area's service sectors records margin decline in business activity in December China Market rises on stimulus optimism Australia Market rebounds from two-month low Japan Nikkei ends below 26K level on BOJ tightening fears Powered by Capital Market - Live News In an effort to draw domestic investors ahead of the Global Investors Summit, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will hold roadshows in Mumbai on January 4 and 5. According to the state government, these roadshows, which are scheduled to take place in nine major cities across the country from January 5 to January 27, will begin in Mumbai, where Chief Minister Yogi will take part in a number of events that will be hosted on January 4 and January 5 in order to attract domestic investors. During these events, the Chief Minister will present a picture of the "emerging Uttar Pradesh". He will also meet the representatives of major industrial groups in the country and invite them to invest in UP. On January 4, CM Yogi will take a flight from Lucknow to Mumbai, where he will meet with migrants from Uttar Pradesh who are currently living in Maharashtra in the evening and inform them about the opportunities in new Uttar Pradesh. CM Yogi will also meet with film artistes and producers to discuss the possibilities of the Uttar Pradesh Film City, which is currently being built. CM Yogi will also inform them about the Global Investors Summit, which will be held in February. The UP CM will also explain how UP has become a more desirable location for foreign investment in the nation and how investors from all over the world are eager to make investments in UP. On January 5, CM Yogi's tour will begin with meetings with bankers and people associated with the fintech sector. He will take part in the Mumbai roadshow following this. The opposition Congress in Karnataka on Wednesday slammed the state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel's remark at a event where he called upon the masses to "focus on love jihad and not on gutter, roads and development". U.T. Khader, the Congress MLA from Ullal constituency, charged that the state's ruling BJP government does not have the capacity, dignity and eligibility to fill up potholes or to develop roads and that's why an emotional matter such as 'love jihad' is brought up. "Even after four years, the ruling BJP government has not been able to ensure development."We have to go back to the promises they (BJP) made during elections. Leave out big projects, they are not able to deliver on the small works... The people who can't give rice to people talk about all this," he added. A video of Kateel making the remarks has gone viral on social media. "Don't talk about roads, gutters. There is a question regarding the life of your children. Considering this, you must talk about 'love jihad'. The BJP is required to stop 'love jihad'," he had stated. Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar described the comment as an "utter bad message" given to the BJP workers by Kateel. Also Read Shah will be in Mandya, as BJP focuses on Old Mysuru region for 2023 polls K'taka minister refutes claims of CM Bommai's replacement, challenges Cong Sunni Muslim groups TTP, TLP incite sectarian violence across Pakistan BJP youth leader murder: Over 15 detained for interrogation, says ADGP Congress puts up 'PayCM' QR codes at BJP's party office near Bengaluru Telangana 'power play': BJP set to launch programmes under 'Mission 90' BRS for India, journey of million km begins with single step: KCR There will be no probe by Central agencies against CPI-M leaders: Congress Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar Despite being educated, unemployment rate high among Kerala youth: Tharoor "Instead of prioritising development, the BJP is spreading hatred and trying to divide the country. This statement is testimony for their intentions," he added. --IANS mka/ksk/ West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting the Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday to review the preparations for the Gangasagar Mela, officials said. Lakhs of people gather at Sagar Island from across the country to take a holy dip at the confluence of the sacred Ganga and the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti'. While 15.5 lakh pilgrims visited Gangasagar Mela last year amid the threat of the coronavirus, the figure could reach as high as 60-70 lakh between January 8 and 16 when the fair would be held this time, an official said. During her two-day visit to the island, Banerjee will be meeting senior officers to review the preparations made for the congregation, the official said. "She will also be inaugurating three new helipads at the island," he said. Before leaving for Kolkata on Thursday, around 120 km away, she will be offering prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram. Banerjee is also expected to visit the Bharat Sevashram Sangha mutt here, the official said. Taking strong exception to RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh's objectionable remarks against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, party leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said the comment was "unacceptable" and tantamount to supporting the BJP. The matter has been brought to the notice of RJD president Lalu Prasad, Yadav said. Interacting with reporters on Monday, Singh, the former agriculture minister, compared Kumar to Shikhandi -- a eunuch character in Mahabharata -- and said he has no standing of his own. "Making such comments against the person who is leading the Grand Alliance government in Bihar is simply supporting the BJP and its policies. Whatever he has said about the CM is highly objectionable," Yadav told reporters on Tuesday. When asked whether the party would take disciplinary action against Singh, he said, "The matter is serious. That is why it has been brought to the notice of the party supremo." Party leaders are advised to desist from making such statements, Yadav said. Singh had demanded that Kumar who "has done nothing great for the state" immediately step down and offer the CM's post to Tejashwi Yadav. Also Read Bihar: Tejashwi youngest, Bijendra Yadav oldest minister in Nitish govt Aiming to unite Oppn, Nitish, Lalu to meet Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today No need to wait till 2025, Nitish should make Tejashwi Bihar CM now: Kishor Bihar CM Nitish Kumar frowns upon CBI charge sheet against Lalu Yadav RJD Bihar chief says he never gave timeline of Nitish Kumar leaving CM post Nitish 'ignoring' Sudhakar's statement, Tejashwi calls him 'BJP agent' RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh courts controversy statement against Nitish Kumar 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' of West Bengal Congress resumes from Kolkata Those involved in corruption will be thrown out of TMC: Abhishek Banerjee Paswan meets Shah, seeks ousting of Bihar govt amid worsening law situation "He (Kumar) will not be remembered at all. He is like Shikhandi, who has no standing of his own," the RJD MLA had said. Singh had resigned as the state agriculture minister in October, after he rubbed Kumar the wrong way with his repeated outbursts against corruption in the department. Leaders of the RJD and Kumar's JD(U) have already criticised Singh for the comments. On BJP president J P Nadda's allegation that "jungle raj" has returned to Bihar, Yadav, said, "Who knows Nadda in Bihar? They (BJP) have nothing else to say. People have already rejected the BJP in Bihar. The BJP which is resolute on coming to power in Telangana in the next assembly polls, is set to launch various programmes under its 'Mission 90' including 10,000 village-level meetings before April, a senior leader of the saffron party said on Wednesday. The 'Mission 90' refers to 90 seats that the BJP is looking to secure in Telangana in the 119-member House. K Laxman, Rajya Sabha member and BJP OBC Morcha National President, said the mission was decided in the recently held parliamentary 'Vistarak' meeting that saw party general secretary B L Santhosh in attendance here. "As part of the Mission 90, the BJP targets to reach out to 10,000 villages beginning after Sankranti festival (January 15) by organising meetings with a slogan 'KCR ko Hatao, Telangana ko Bachao' highlighting the corrupt and family rule of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao," Laxman told PTI. The meeting will also highlight the achievements and various schemes in Telangana being undertaken by the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he further said adding that the second round of programmes will have Assembly segment-wise public meetings with a similar campaign. Public meetings will also be held at every (undivided) district headquarters and finally to culminate the entire programme, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a massive public meeting in April. Also Read BJP Telangana prez arrested amid protest on TRS's role in Delhi liquor scam MP: Hotel of BJP leader, accused of murder, demolished amid public outrage BJP pushes MBBS in Hindi; Madhya Pradesh Congress questions timing of move Empowerment of Dalits at the core of Hindutva thought: BJP leader Paswan 2024 polls: BJP plans to expand base among Yadavs, Pasmanda Muslims BRS for India, journey of million km begins with single step: KCR There will be no probe by Central agencies against CPI-M leaders: Congress Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar Despite being educated, unemployment rate high among Kerala youth: Tharoor With foot already in door, BJP expands booth-level footprint in Telangana "Amit Shah will release 'charge sheet' against the KCR government's promises made vis--vis failures," the BJP leader said. BJP National President JP Nadda will virtually address the party's booth-level committee members of all the 119 Assembly segments on January 7. Laxman said the party is also planning to hold a meeting headed by the Prime Minister with about two lakh party workers in April to give them a direction ahead of the polls. Aiming to expand its footprint in the southern states, the BJP held its national executive in Hyderabad in July last year. Addressing a public meeting after the conclusion of the national executive, Prime Minister Modi, trying to prepare the party cadre for the Assembly polls, had said the people of Telangana yearn for a 'double engine growth' and asserted this will be fulfilled when the BJP comes to power in the state. The BJP has been making efforts to emerge as the alternative to BRS and the saffron party has had reasonable success in a couple of Assembly bypolls and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election during the last two years. Modi, during his recent visit to the city, tore into the ruling BRS alleging that people of Telangana are feeling betrayed and asserted that the 'lotus will bloom' everywhere in the state. All does not seem well between ruling allies JD-U and RJD in Bihar in the New Year, with one such example cropping up in an event of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here on Tuesday. The fourth anniversary of one of Nitish Kumar's pet projects "Jan Jeevan Hariyali Yojana" was held in Samrat Ashok convention centre but none of the ministers under the RJD quota were present. The project is primarily related to environment, forest and climate change, apart from agriculture, irrigation, water resources, and other departments but none of the ministers including Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Tej Pratap Yadav was present. Even Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, who returned from Delhi after celebrating the new year, did not go there. Besides them, Agriculture Minister Sarvajeet Kumar, Education Minister Chandrashekher Yadav, Land Reform and Revenue Minister Alok Mehta, and PHED Minister Lalit Yadav were also not present. During the event, only Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Minister Sharawan Kumar of the JD-U were present apart from Additional Chief Secretaries of various departments. Following the development, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the epic battle within Mahagathbandhan has now came into public domain after a series of attacks of former minister Sudhakar Singh on the Chief Minister and 'boycott' of RJD ministers of his event. Now, RJD leaders will intensify the battle more and will end only after they make Tejashwi Yadav as Chief Minister, he claimed. Also Read RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh courts controversy statement against Nitish Kumar Master of the U-turn: Nitish Kumar ends alliance with BJP, quits as CM RJD Bihar chief says he never gave timeline of Nitish Kumar leaving CM post Tejashwi Yadav will soon become the Chief Minister of Bihar, says RJD MLA CBI, paramilitary forces conduct raids on five RJD leaders in Bihar Modi govt does not discriminate people on political lines, says Javadekar BJP's ideology is to be self-centred, TMC abides by Constitution: Mamata BJP national executive meet in Delhi on Jan 16-17, Nadda's extension likely Rahul Gandhi a warrior, not afraid of govt's might: Priyanka Vadra Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra enters UP after resuming second leg "Now, there are only two options left in the Mahagathbandhan. The first option is that RJD chief Lalu Prasad breaks the JD-U and makes Tejashwi Yadav the Chief Minister of Bihar. The second option is to send Nitish Kumar to do the politics of the Centre and hand over the charge to Tejashwi Yadav to rule the state. Tejashwi Yadav should reply why he and his ministers boycotted the Jan Jeevan Hariyali programme," Modi asked. --IANS ajk/vd 50 Years Friendship between China and Australia: Australian expert on China David Goodman People's Daily Online) 13:18, January 04, 2023 David Goodman is a noted Australian expert on China who has been encouraging and promoting exchanges and interactions between students from China and Australia. He is the Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He has taught at various universities in China, Australia, and the U.K., and he was involved in the establishment of the Department of China Studies at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Proficient in Chinese, he has been studying China since the 1960s and has witnessed the changes from the 1970s to the present. Goodman suggested that encouraging students from the two countries to have more exchanges can help both sides to better understand each other, which in turn is more conducive to the advancement of the relationship between the two countries. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Wu Chengliang) Telugu Desam Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu waving to the public and party workers in Kuppam constituency in Chittoor district on Wednesday. (DC Image) TIRUPATI: Telugu Desam (TD) chief and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday took out a padayatra from the 121-Pedduru village in Chittoor district after he was prevented by the police from holding road shows and public meetings in Kuppam assembly constituency. Soon after Naidu arrived in Pedduru from Bengaluru, a team of police officers led by Palamaner SDPO Sudhakar Reddy stopped his convoy. Naidu was on his way to hold the partys Idemi Karma Mana Rashtraniki programme in Kuppam assembly constituency. An angry Naidu demanded that the police explain why his visit to Kuppam was being blocked. Naidu argued with the police that renewing the terms of the British Raj Act of 1861 through GO-1 was an absurd action. How can the DGP and the Chief Minister prevent me from holding road shows and public meetings? I've been the Kuppam MLA since 1989. The GO is intended to prohibit me from reaching out to my people," Naidu said. Speaking to the media, Naidu lambasted Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for issuing the order that barred public gatherings and demonstrations on roads. The YSRC government was stifling the voice of the people and the opposition, he said. Fearing loss in the next elections, Jagan Mohan Reddy transformed himself into a psychopath and is committing such deeds, Naidu added. The TD chief asked the CM to explain under what Act the government enacted GO-1 which has no legal standing. "About a month ago, I wrote to the DGP about my Kuppam programme. The state government is attempting to prevent me from meeting my own people. Jagan is behaving dictatorially and if his government continues its resort to undemocratic practices, the five crore people of AP will revolt and the CM will have to run away, he said. "I have already informed the police that I'll be visiting my constituency on January 4. However, they brought in a GO on January 2, directing that any meeting should be held at the discretion of police and the CM. Nonetheless, the CM made a visit to Rajamahendravaram on Tuesday, declaring a holiday for schools and colleges, besides using RTC and school buses to carry people to his gathering. After the GO was issued, YSRC leaders attended a rally in Vizianagaram," Naidu said. Condemning the lathi-charge on the party workers and appealing to his men to act responsibly and refrain from instigating the police, the TD chief said his fight was against the psycho CM and that the psycho government should be replaced by the cycle governance. He claimed that all sections of people in the state were vexed with the YSRC rule and they strongly believed that the TD is the saviour of the state. Economy / Cover Story: Chinas road to economic recovery faces post-Covid speed bumps Just as the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic was drawing to a close, Chinas policy pendulum finally swung from stamping out and controlling spread of the virus toward spurring economic growth, leaving everyone pondering: How will the worlds second-largest economy perform in 2023? China in late November began abandoning most pandemic restrictions, ending the hyper-strict zero-Covid strategy that had taken an increasingly heavy toll on its economy and its people. In the few short weeks since ditching the tough Covid measures, policymakers have sent clear signals that the country would be emerging from its pandemic footing and the priority is now once again fueling economic growth. Diplomacy / Year in Review: China recalibrates diplomacy after leadership reshuffle All eyes were on China in 2022 as it went through a major political reshuffle during the 20th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party. It also marked the countrys return to the world stage as President Xi Jinping ventured out of the country for the first time in almost three years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The year coincided with substantial external and internal challenges as the country entered a diplomatic vortex in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which lasted throughout the year, and continued to face technology sanctions and heightened pressure on the Taiwan issue from the U.S., all while coping with economic slowdown and public anger stemming from Covid controls. Communist Party names new diplomatic chief to shape Chinas foreign policy New China foreign minister seeks better U.S. ties in call to American counterpart FINANCE & ECONOMY PMI / China manufacturing activity shrinks for fifth straight month, Caixin PMI shows Activity in Chinas manufacturing sector contracted for the fifth consecutive month in December as Covid-19 fare-ups across the country continued to weigh on both supply and demand, a Caixin-sponsored survey showed Tuesday. The Caixin China General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which gives an independent snapshot of the countrys manufacturing sector, came in at 49 in December, down from 49.4 the previous month and remaining below 50 for five months in a row. Readings lower than 50 signal contraction. Caixin New Economy Index falls on declining labor inputs China-Singapore / China and Singapore widen investor access to each others stock markets China and Singapore widened investor access to each others stock markets through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as another two such funds listed Friday. The listings mark the latest effort by both Asian countries to deepen financial cooperation. The two funds, part of the ETF link between the Singapore Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, have combined assets under management of more than S$270 million ($201 million), the Singapore bourse said Friday in a press release. Ant / Ant Groups lending unit gets approval for $1.2 billion capital boost Ant Group Co. Ltd.s online lending subsidiary won the go-ahead from regulators to boost its registered capital by 10.5 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), marking a key step forward in the fintech giants government-driven, year-long revamp. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commissions (CBIRC) branch in Chongqing said Friday that it approved Chongqing Ant Consumer Finance Co. Ltd. to expand its registered capital to 18.5 billion yuan from 8 billion yuan. Ant Group set up the subsidiary in 2021 to operate its online lending business. Quick hits / Regulators crack down on Tiger Brokers and Tencent-backed Futu Regional trade pact RCEP takes effect for Indonesia Editorial: Face up to the changed world BUSINESS & TECH The skyline of tech hub Shenzhen on Aug. 12. Photo: VCG Property / Year in Review: Chinas property market at a turning point For 20 years, the real estate sector was a major driver of Chinas economic growth. But in 2022 it became a drag amid an unprecedented crisis in credit, confidence and liquidity. In the first three quarters, the industry took an estimated 0.39 of a percentage point off GDP growth, compared with an average annual contribution of 0.48 of a percentage point over the past 10 years, according to data from iFinD, a financial information provider. The government eased property policies on both the supply and demand side last year to prevent contagion risks in the hope that the market will rebound as it has in past business cycles. Tourism / Out-of-town trips make a New Years comeback in China More of Chinas domestic travelers took trips out of town during the past New Year holiday than in 2022, industry data show, illustrating the impact that the end of the zero-Covid policy has had on tourism in the country. About 60% of users of online travel agency Trip.com chose to travel to another provincial-level region during the three-day weekend that ended Monday, up from 40% last year, company data show. Data from another online travel agency, Ly.com, showed that holiday travelers made 67.6% of their hotel bookings in a different city, up from 51.3% in 2022. Tech Insider / GAC Aions premium EV, Huaweis flat revenue Long Read / With jobs at home scarce, young Chinese are heading to Africa GALLERY Ring in the New Year outside Recommended newsletter for you / Caixin Must-Read Newsletter brings you the best of our coverage and stories you cant miss. You can opt-in now and get hand-picked news coverage delivered to your inbox each week for free. Thanks for reading. If you havent already, click here to subscribe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: PTI) As deadly explosions continue to hit Ukraine, Russias invasion also highlights something that might explain why New Delhis global reach falls below expectations. Despite the unwarranted excitement over the routine G-20 presidency, the highest international position India has ever achieved was when career diplomat Kamalesh Sharma became the Commonwealth secretary-general in 2008. The election of a successor to Kofi Annan as United Nations Secretary-General illustrated an Indian weakness. Shashi Tharoor, the most visible of the candidates, was eminently qualified and already entrenched in the UN headquarters as under-secretary-general for communications and public information. One reason why he wasnt selected may have been the difficulty of dissociating Mr Tharoor from a plethora of controversies involving India. None of the countries that have provided UN chief executives -- Norway, Sweden, Myanmar, Austria, Peru, Egypt, Ghana, South Korea and Portugal -- aspires to world leadership as Vishwa Guru, Patron-Teacher of the Universe. None can be accused of nursing an inflated self-image. Or of being engaged in long-running quarrels with its neighbours. A superpower may be able to command obedience. Less exalted aspirants to a global role must win the worlds confidence. That includes sufficient diplomatic dexterity intelligently to disseminate relevant information to highlight favourable facts and play down the posturing and bombast of politicians which can distract attention from the more rational presentations of professional diplomatists. Claiming the mantle of Vishwa Guru is pompous and pretentious. Yet the BJPs Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a Rajya Sabha member who is also president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, dismisses domestic sceptics to write that sharing that worldview loud and clear with the requisite confidence and courage of conviction will make the world understand that yes, India is a Vishwa Guru. What wisdom will this guru who cant guard Indias own borders and who exports deadly lethal childrens medicines impart to others? Foreign governments cannot feel comfortable discussing mundane but essential aspects of governance like the need for democratic elections or demarcating maritime boundaries with a Vishwa Guru whose exalted status seems too lofty even for the top job of UN Secretary-General. Being a big fish in a small pond cant be an enviable privilege when the smallest fish enjoys exactly the same rights internationally as the biggest. Legally, the United States and Burkina Faso stand at par. Dawa Tsering, Bhutans foreign minister for a record 26 years, claimed that Indias neighbours welcomed Pakistans acquisition of the nuclear bomb because they felt safer with a balancer, especially when the regional hegemon assumes that whatever course it adopts is the moral high road. The veteran diplomatist Ronen Sen recently argued in Kolkata that no other country endorses Indias position on the various border disputes with China and that these problems cannot be solved except through negotiation. Indias partnership with Russia (and its predecessor, the Soviet Union) doesnt always impress other nations either. Narendra Modi follows the ground rules that Indira Gandhi set in refusing to allow ideological or Cold War considerations to influence her policy favouring a Moscow that extended India diplomatic support, traded extensively with us, and was also Indias most important supplier of military hardware. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar reiterated that pragmatism by exposing Western double standards in importing far more oil from Russia than India while criticising Indias purchases. Its a measure of the failure of New Delhis diplomacy that the Western alliance and many vulnerable countries nevertheless hear echoes of the sanctimonious rhetoric of the non-aligned years when Moscows occupation of Hungary was equated with the Anglo-French invasion of Egypt in Indias refusal to extend unequivocal support to Ukraine. It would jeopardise Indias vital interests directly to oppose Russias aggression. But theres always a bottom line. During the Iraq-Kuwait crisis, the Americans understood Inder Kumar Gujrals anxiety to rescue thousands of Indian workers in the Persian Gulf and secure to the extent possible Indias oil supplies from the region. But US secretary of state James A. Baker and his colleagues were not amused to see CNN pictures of Gujral and Saddam Hussein locked in a rapturous embrace in Baghdad. Did he have to demonstrate that degree of personal warmth for the Iraqi dictator? they asked in irritation. They were even less pleased when Gujral became the first foreign dignitary to call on the conquered Kuwaitis. Washington felt that a visit under the conquerors auspices proclaimed Indias recognition of the conquest. Unfortunately, the flamboyant rhetoric and public gestures of Indias leaders often distract attention from more meaningful signals. Jawaharlal Nehrus wry comment on Chinas claim to have liberated Tibet and the blind eye he turned to CIA operations there received far less notice than his seeming acquiescence in the annexation. Indira Gandhis intercession with Alexei Kosygin over Afghanistan was similarly overlooked. Perhaps because of this background, friendly elements in the West seized on and made much of Mr Modis mild this is not an era of war warning to Vladimir Putin. Perhaps India would be judged with greater discernment if its own house was in better shape. Our former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, always stressed that only an India that was internally and externally strong can play an effective international role. That means not only uniting all sections of society behind a shared national vision and making a positive effort to earn the minorities trust but also according far greater priority to the basics of life -- food, education, medicare, housing and employment -- that are in such short supply. Mr Modis gift of free food to 81.35 crore people for a year is relevant mainly because it might win additional votes for the BJP. Such largesse is in the tradition of soup kitchens that far from adding to productive activity and wealth generation, kill initiative and sap morale. Despite the grinding poverty that this statistic exposes, Indians would benefit more from a government that creates opportunities for them to fulfil themselves than from motivated charity. A New Year resolution to project a humbler government more mindful of neglected responsibilities at home and more sensitive to neighbourhood concerns would earn the worlds trust and enable Indians to be chosen for the top global jobs. Now, Indians qualify mainly for peacekeeping assignments that are universally seen as the Third Worlds most lucrative source of earning foreign exchange. Its hardly a fit role for the venerable and all-powerful Vishwa Guru that India seeks to be. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. Bangladesh and Saudi Arabian JV cement plant in doubt 04 January 2023 State-owned Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corp (BCIC) has threatened to withdraw from a Saudi-Bangladesh joint venture under which a cement factory is to be built in Sylhet's Chhatak borough, Bangladesh. In a recent letter to the Ministry of Industries, BCIC has sought the pull out of the joint venture as it found irregularities, cost escalation and anomalies by their counterpart. The deal for the joint venture between the two countries was signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Saudi Arabia visit in 2018. According to the agreement, the manufacturing unit will have a capacity of 12,000tpd of clinker and 3000tpd of cement. According to the primary estimation, the US$321m Saudi Bangla Integrated Cement Co Ltd joint venture was to incorporate 40 per cent Bangladeshi and 60 per cent Saudi investment. The chemical corporation complaints are primarily against three Bangladeshi directors, reports TBS News. In a letter to the industries ministry, the state-owned corporation mentioned that the three Bangladeshi citizens are also on the board of directors of the local engineering and construction firm Dipon Group. Moreover, the initial feasibility study for the cement manufacturing project estimated the cost at US$321m. However, a subsequent study recommended increasing the cost to US$604m, drawing objections from the company's board. The revised feasibility report also showed a cost of US$117m for a 18km-long conveyor belt to transport materials to the cement plant despite the first study estimating the cost at US$49.8m. No drawings, designs, or cost estimates were provided for the belt in the report. Published under Cambodia's cement producers output 7.7Mt in 11M22 04 January 2023 Cambodia's five cement factories produced 7.7Mt of cement in the January-November period of last year, according to a report from the Cambodian Cement Manufacturing Association (CCMA). Kampot Cement Co Ltd (SCG) was the largest producer at 2.2Mt, followed by Chip Mong Insee Cement Corp (CMIC) with 1.9Mt. Battambang Conch Cement Co Ltd (Conch) produced 1.6Mt, Cambodia Cement Chakrey Ting Factory Co Ltd (Huaxin) 1.1Mt and Thai Boon Roong Cement Co Ltd 0.88Mt, the report indicated. The booming construction industry has been fueling growing demand for raw materials, including cement. During the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction and upgrading of two roads in Kampot and Kep provinces on 30 December, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia currently produces up to 9Mta of cement while consumption is more than 10Mt, which leads to imports to meet local demand. New cement investment in Kampong Speu province is undergoing a feasibility study, according to its governor Vei Samnang. The CCMA also pointed out that the domestic cement factories produced 8.9Mt in 2021, up from 8.5Mt, reported Khmer Times. Published under This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions The celebration of a holiday to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren has come and gone without a lot of fanfare. A nine-year-old youngster in 1969 (Russel Capper) sent a letter in his youthful handwriting to President Richard M. Nixson suggesting that a special day be set aside to honor the beloved parents of his own mom and dad. The well-known secretary to the president, Rosemary Woods, responded to the request by stating that such recognition could not be established without a Congressional Resolution. Efforts by some advocates in the United States Senate and by President Jimmy Carter were tried even after the proposed resolution died in committee and it was finally signed into law on August 3, 1978, by Carter. The proclamation designated the first Sunday in September after Labor Day of each year as National Grandparents Day with the purpose to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their childrens children, and to help children become aware of strength, information and guidance people can offer. The only recognized mention of the date was on the ex-Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabees show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) who rotates interviews with celebrities, promotes Relaxium Sleep as a guaranteed 24 sleep disorder solution with his wife and two cute toy dogs and plays bass guitar during musical numbers. Proper credit is due to the father of former Donald J. (The county needs more grandparents to fawn over their grandkids and provide love (and a little loving discipline) to the upcoming generation!) * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com Authorities have released the names of the personnel involved in a gunbattle in downtown Chattanooga with a suspect last Thursday. Deputies began a pursuit of 26-year-old Damean Alexander Jones, who was in a stolen vehicle from Catoosa County, Ga. He began firing at pursuing officers. Jones eventually made his way to MLK Boulevard at Lindsey Street, where he got out of the vehicle and again fired at officers. He was shot and killed. The names of the Sheriff deputies involved are detective Jeremi Vandergriff, Corporal Chris Walker and civil process server Jason Cooper. As per standard agency policy, all three personnel have been placed on administrative leave with pay for 14 days. During the incident, detective Vandergriff was shot and received treatment at a local hospital. He was released the same day. Also, the Chattanooga Police Department had two officers closely involved in the shooting. They were o fficer Ryan Blevins and i nvestigator Brian McClard. Roger W. Grim, 84 of Rock Spring, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2022. Grim was born to the late Roger E. Grim & Virginia V. Watters on June 7th 1938 in Waynesburg, PA. He served in the US Navy on the USS Ticonderoga from 1956-1959 and later went to Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IL. He married Lettie W. Callison on June 22, 1963, and they lived in Louisville, KY where he opened a Chiropractic practice. They later moved to LaFayette, GA. in 1981 where he continued to practice Chiropractic. After practicing for 46 years, they retired and moved to Vero Beach, FL in 2010. Shortly after Letties passing in 2016 he moved back to Georgia to be close to his family & friends. During his lifetime Grim was influential in the field of Chiropractic and in its acceptance within the community. He also authored several books on the topic of Chiropractic and wellness. An avid hiker and camping enthusiast, he served as a Boy Scout troop leader for many years. He enjoyed metal detecting and attended many tournaments. As a devoted follower of Christ, he served in many offices of his church. He is survived by his three sons: Scott, Todd, & Brent; two daughters: Toni & Laci; seven grandchildren: Chase, Meagan, Drew, Morgan, Alex, Trey, & Juniper. The family is planning a private memorial service. Wallis Wilbanks Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Joel Andrew Andy Huggins went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 59 years of age. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Barbara Coker Huggins. He is survived by his sons, Drew and Stewart, two grandchildren Luna and Link Huggins, sisters Sherry Huggins and Paula (Jeff) Morris, four nieces Jerrica McEver, Ansley (Colt) Siffles, Emily (Spencer) Fogelman, Zoe Morris, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Andy was a lifelong resident of Walker County, predominately in West Armuchee. He was a 1981 graduate of LaFayette High School. After high school, he enlisted in the Georgia Air National Guard as a Security Policeman. He advanced to a Master Sergeant and served two years of active duty with the United States Air Force after 9/11. During that time, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (the National Guard equivalent of the Bronze Star) for exemplary service. He retired in 2003. After returning from Basic Training, he took a job in the Walker County Jail. After completing his POST training, he became a Sheriffs Deputy, a job he held for over 30 years. He rose to become a Sergeant and a night shift supervisor. After retiring from the Sheriffs Department, he went on to be a Police Officer with Rossville Police Department until his retirement. Andy was a protector and a leader. He affected many lives in his career and life, always willing to do what was necessary regardless of the cost to himself. His selfless actions reflected his loving heart. He will be greatly missed. A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, January 7, at Pleasant Hill UMC. A gathering for family friends will take place at the church prior to the service after 2 p.m. Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette. Beth Geer Wade White Joe Ritch Michelle Moore Robert Klein William Renick Previous Next The Tennessee Valley Authority welcomed six new board members on Wednesday. Beth Geer of Brentwood, Tn., Bobby Klein of Chattanooga, Michelle Moore of Midlothian, Va., Bill Renick of Ashland, Ms., Joe Ritch of Huntsville, and Wade White of Eddyville, Ky., officially assumed their roles after taking the oath of office from United States Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook in Knoxville. Ms. Geer, Mr. Klein and Ms. Moore were initially nominated by President Joe Biden in the spring of 2021 and re-nominated by the President in January 2022. Mr. Renick and Mr. White were nominated by the President in June 2022 and Mr. Ritch was nominated in July 2022. All six were confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 21, 2022. We are delighted to have Beth, Bobby, Michelle, Bill, Joe, and Wade join the TVA team during this challenging but exciting period, TVA Board Chair Bill Kilbride said. They each bring diverse perspectives and experience to the Board that will help guide TVA as it plans for the future while entering its 90th year of service to the region. The six new additions bring the Board to its full nine-member complement. In addition to Kilbride of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the new Board members will join current members Beth Harwell of Nashville, Tennessee, and Brian Noland of Johnson City, Tennessee, at the Boards next quarterly business meeting in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, on Feb. 16, 2023. More information about each Board member is available and below: Beth Geer serves as the chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore and participated in the Nashville Sustainability Accountability committee. She has extensive policy experience in climate change and environmental justice, having previously served in roles in the Clinton-Gore White House, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Senate. Ms. Geer holds a degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Public Leadership Executive Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Managers in Government program. Her TVA Board term will expire on May 18, 2026. TVAs history is highlighted by consistently overcoming challenges that ultimately improve the lives of more than 10 million people, Ms. Geer said. I am honored to join a team that seeks to simultaneously work to decarbonize our energy future while keeping rates low and the power system reliable. Bobby Klein is a former vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a role he assumed after a decades-long career as a lineman and foreman for the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga. He also served as president of the Tennessee Valley Trades and Labor Council for 14 years, as well as on the TVA Labor-Management Committee. Mr. Klein served honorably in the Tennessee Army National Guard and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. His TVA board term will expire on May 18, 2026. From my own experience, I know that the strength of TVA is defined by the people who work there, including the more than 60% that are union represented, Mr. Klein said. I look forward to contributing to the work the TVA team performs every day on behalf of everyone in our seven-state region. Michelle Moore is author of Rural Renaissance and CEO of Groundswell, a nonprofit that builds community power to reduce energy burdens and expand economic opportunity. From her roots in rural Georgia, she has worked to connect clean energy with affordability and quality of life for more than 25 years, including leading federal sustainability and infrastructure project delivery for the Obama White House. Her work is rooted in her faith and the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. Ms. Moore holds a bachelors degree from Emory University and a masters degree from Georgetown University. Her TVA board term will expire on May 18, 2026. TVA led the way to electrify rural America nearly 100 years ago, and its responsibility to deliver reliable, affordable energy while supporting economic development and conserving the environment remains vitally relevant to the millions of people it serves today, Ms. Moore said. Im grateful to join the Board to help carry its mission into the future by ensuring the resilient, clean, affordable power TVA is building will support its decarbonization goals and the regions growth while benefiting the people it was created to serve. Bill Renick is currently the chair of the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi and previously served 13 years as the Workforce Division Director at Three Rivers Planning and Development District. A longtime public servant, he has served in multiple local and state elected and appointed positions, as well as in the private sector. His TVA board term will expire on May 18, 2027. Ive been privileged to work with many members of the TVA team over the years to bring new opportunities to northeast Mississippi, Mr. Renick said. With the continued challenges rural communities are facing, TVAs mission remains as critical as ever and I look forward to doing my part to serve the entire region. Joe Ritch currently practices law with the firm of Dentons Sirote, PC, in Huntsville. He also serves as chairman of the Redstone Regional Alliance and remains active in the community. He has received the Redstone Good Neighbor Award, the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 2021. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System and is now a Trustee Emeritus. Mr. Ritch holds degrees from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Samford University and New York University. His TVA board term will expire on May 18, 2025. My previous time on the TVA board provided me with the unique opportunity to experience all that TVA does to benefit the people of the region, Mr. Ritch said. It also reinforced for me the ongoing need for TVA to do even more and I am honored to have another chance to serve. Wade White completed his 12th year as Lyon County Judge Executive and is now employed with Farmers Bank and Trust Co. of Princeton and Eddyville in business development and public relations. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Kentucky Elected Official Ripple Effect. An avid supporter of recreational fishing, he led initial efforts to raise awareness about the invasive Asian carp species that threatens the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers and was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2016. Mr. White graduated from the University of Kentucky. His TVA board term will expire on May 18, 2027. While serving the people of Lyon County, Ive seen TVAs impact on the lives of people, in both good times and bad, Mr. White said. Whether it is helping bring new businesses or jobs to an area or helping recover after storm damage, I am honored to be part of a TVA team that cares about the communities it serves. Funeral services will be Saturday for a Cleveland couple - known for their generosity and compassion - who died when an alleged drunk driver slammed into their truck on Christmas Day. Dustin and Brittany Dillard, both 33, left behind three young sons, who received serious injuries in the Bradley County wreck. Dustin was a lifelong resident of Bradley County and graduated from Walker Valley High School in 2007. He attended Cleveland State Community College where he received a Certificate in Construction Technology and, later, an Associates Degree in Construction Management from Chattanooga State Community College. Family members said Dustins dream was to follow in his fathers footsteps at Santek Waste Services in the landfill management industry. He began his career with Santek in 2005 managing heavy equipment after working for his uncle Jeff constructing homes. Before long, Dustin was managing Santeks publicly owned landfills and assisted with special projects in Mississippi, Texas and North Carolina. In 2021, Dustin, his father and his brother formed TMD Construction and he enjoyed working with his family on a daily basis. Dustin was described as "a complete family man. He loved his wife, parents, brother and sister-in-law, and never hesitated to express his love for them. He always looked forward to family nights, summer camping and boat rides. His children, Preston, Pierce and Pryor, were his pride and joy and, unlike many men, Dustin didnt waver to care for the trio by himself." Brittany was born at Madigan Army Medical Center in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa. She later moved to Bradley County with her family and graduated from Walker Valley High School in 2008. She attended Lee University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Secondary Education. She returned to WVHS in 2013 as a physical science teacher in the Freshmen Academy. Described by her peers as a quiet leader and a servant, Brittany had an infectious smile and quick wit. She loved teaching and was a favorite of many students. Brittany was a faithful member of WVHSs Tuesday morning Bible study and regularly shared with her peers how she was growing daily in her faith, it was stated. Family members said Dustin and Brittany "were known to be selfless and generous members of the Bradley County community. Yet, they never spoke about it. Their discreet philanthropy extended to Isaiah 117 House, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and CrossNet (formerly Bradley Baptist Association). During times of natural disasters, Dustin was the first to climb onto a piece of heavy equipment to aid relief efforts. Dustin and Brittany also participated in many mission trips together including to New Orleans, Miss. in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and to New York after Hurricane Sandy. Most recently, Dustin enjoyed quietly paying for the meals of unsuspecting patrons at the familys Green Acres market on Hwy. 60 where he would whisper to his aunt, Ring them up. This ones on me. We can only wonder about the number of lives Dustin and Brittany touched with their generosity and compassion for others." Dustin and Brittany were members of Elkmont Baptist Church where Dustin worked in the sound room and Brittany assisted in the nursery. A Remembrance of Life Service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Cleveland with Steve Morgan, Pastor Johnny Hood, Randy Bonner, Reverend Stan Cantrell and Reverend Richie Hughes officiating. The interment will follow at Stanfield Cemetery with Reverend Todd Collins conducting the service. Pallbearers for Dustin will include Tanner Dillard, Steve Rogers, Casey Stanfield, Drake Runyon, Jonathan Dillard and Christopher Dillard. Pallbearers for Brittany will include CJ Stewart, Marcus Drury, Bryce Drury, Brian Cooke, Dillion Kramer, and Jimmy Pierce. Alternate pallbearers will be Bryan Stewart, Frank Milliron and Anthony Conner. The family will receive friends Friday at First Baptist Church, from 2-4 p.m. with a pause at 4 p.m. and then resume at 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made in Dustin and Brittanys memory to the Isaiah 117 House by going to isaiah117house.com/donate or the Ronald McDonald House, rmhchattanooga.com and click on the link How can you help and follow the instructions. You can also donate money to help Preston, Pierce and Pryor by going to the Dillard Family Trust at CrossNet Baptist Network. They have a link on their website at www.CrossNetcom. Or by going to TVFCU, Kirk Campbell. Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee St. Chapel has charge of the arrangements. You can share your memories and or condolences with Dustin and Brittanys memorial page at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com. Programmable materials are true shapeshifters. They can change their characteristics in a controlled and reversible way with the push of a button, independently adapting to fit new conditions. They can be used, for example, to make comfy chairs or mattresses that prevent bedsores. To produce these, the support is formed in such a way that the contact surface is large which, as a result, lowers the pressure on parts of the body. This type of programmable material is being developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Programmable Materials CPM, who plan to bring it to the market with the help of industry partners. One of their goals is to reduce the use of resources. Many people across the world are bedridden be it due to illness, an accident or old age. Because those affected often cannot move or turn over by themselves, they often end up with very painful bedsores. In the future, it should be possible to avoid bedsores with the help of materials that can be programmed to entirely adapt their form and mechanical properties. For example, the body support of mattresses made from programmable materials can be adjusted in any given area at the push of a button. Furthermore, the support layer is formed in such a way that strong pressure on one point can be distributed across a wider area. Areas of the bed where pressure is placed are automatically made softer and more elastic. Caregivers can also adjust the ergonomic lying position to best fit their patient. Materials and microstructuring Materials for applications requiring specific changes to stiffness or shape are being developed by researchers from Fraunhofer CPM, which is formed of six core institutes with the aim of designing and producing programmable materials. So, how can we program materials? Essentially, there are two key areas where adjustments can be made: the base material thermoplastic polymers in the case of mattresses and metallic alloys for other applications, including shape memory alloys and, more specifically, the microstructure, explains Dr. Heiko Andra, spokesperson on the topic at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, one of the Fraunhofer CPM core institutes. The microstructure of these metamaterials is made up of unit cells that consist of structural elements such as small beams and thin shells. While the size of each unit cell and its structural elements in conventional cellular materials, like foams, vary randomly, the cells in the programmable materials are also variable but can be precisely defined, i.e., programmed. This programming can be made, for example, in such a way that pressure on a particular position will result in specific changes at other regions of the mattress, i.e., increase the size of the contact surface and provide optimal support to certain areas of the body. Materials can also react to temperature or humidity The change in shape that the material should exhibit and the stimuli to which it reacts - mechanical stress, heat, moisture or even an electric or magnetic field - can be determined by the choice of material and its microstructure. The programmable materials allow to adapt products to the specific application or person so that they are more multifunctional than before. As such, they do not need to be swapped out as often. It is particularly interesting in the context of material saving and sustainability, says Franziska Wenz, deputy spokesperson on the topic at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, another core institute of Fraunhofer CPM. This can also create added value, whereby products are adapted to the individual needs of the users. The journey to application A single piece of material can take the place of entire systems of sensors, regulators and actuators. The goal of Fraunhofer CPM is to reduce the complexity of systems by integrating their functionalities into the material and reducing material diversity. We always have industrial products in mind when developing the programmable materials. As such, we take mass production processes and material fatigue into account, among other things, says Wenz. The initial pilot projects with industry partners are also already underway. The research team expects that initially, programmable materials will act as replacements for components in existing systems or be used in special applications such as medical mattresses, comfortable chairs, variable damping shoe soles and protective clothing. Gradually, the proportion of programmable materials used will increase, says Andra. Ultimately, they can be used everywhere from medicine and sporting goods to soft robotics and even space research. With China's rapidly growing COVID-19 outbreak following the lifting of its strict "zero-COVID" policy, these nine countries have already enforced restrictions on travelers from the Asian nation coming into their territories. Officials from Britain and the United States have reintroduced mandatory pre-flight COVID-19 tests for travelers who came from China. Other nations, such as Italy and Japan, are requiring travelers to get tested upon arrival and quarantine for the ones who show positive results. Restrictions on Travelers from China On the other hand, Morocco has also decided to bar entry of all travelers who hail from China in a measure that was set to take effect on Tuesday. But Beijing officials have not taken the news well, labeling the new restrictions "discriminatory" and politically motivated in an effort to undermine the Chinese government. Some public health experts have also cast doubt on the effectiveness of the new measures, with the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Andrew Pollard, saying that trying to ban a virus by adjusting what is done with travel has already been shown to not work as well as authorities hope for, as per the Time. The situation comes as China prepares to lift its own border restrictions starting on January 8. The French government also announced that it will mandate travelers coming from China to show a negative COVID-19 test at most 48 hours before their departure. Furthermore, passengers will be required to wear face masks during their flight and commit to undergoing random testing upon arrival. Starting from January 3, Spain will also require travelers from China to show a negative COVID-19 test as well as proof of vaccination against the virus. Madrid also said that for the latter, it would accept any vaccine that has been recognized by the World Health Organization, including China-made Sinovac and Sinopharm. According to CNN, on the other hand, Australia's top medical officer advised the country's government against imposing COVID-19 restrictions on travelers coming from China. The remarks came a day before the country's prime minister announced new testing requirements for travelers coming from the Asian nation. Read Also: US, China Economy Slowing Down; Global Recession Looms Large This 2023, Expert Warns Proof of Non-Infection Despite the Australian government's parallel decision with many countries against travelers from China, internal documents showed that the restrictions were made against Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly's advice that they are not necessary. In a statement, Kelly said that based on available information and the absence of a specific threat from a particular COVID-19 variant, there was no need to impose any restrictions or additional requirements on travelers from China. The Canadian government was also among those that announced new restrictions against travelers from China. They are now requiring a negative COVID-19 test for people flying from China, Hong Kong, or Macao. The restrictions will be implemented for air travelers who are two years of age and must be taken no more than two days before their departure. This could either be a negative molecular (PCR test) or a negative antigen test. For the latter, documentation is needed to show that it has been monitored by a telehealth service or an accredited laboratory or testing provider, the Government of Canada reported. Related Article: Biden Administration Announces New COVID-19 Travel Restrictions on Arrivals from China @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the last couple of decades, American Christian boomers (myself included) have been given an advance peek at the kind of obituary the church and the world has already begun to write about us. Countless think pieces, podcasts, and online conversations have issued well-founded concerns and questions about the failures, flaws, and foolishness of evangelical church culture. These critiques are a magnifying mirror for baby boomers, since most of them speak directly to church cultures we helped create and support. Not all these critiques are made in good faithwhether theyre from political scientists, sociologists, op-ed writers, exvangelicals, or from the generations born before and after usbut a surprising majority of them are. For example, CTs Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast details the leadership failure and organizational implosion of the church franchise led by Mark Driscoll. And while Driscoll himself was a Gen X pastor, Mars Hill was nourished in the soil cultivated by boomer megachurch leader culture. Beyond the cavalcade of prodigal leaders exposed with predictable regularity for their abuses of power, boomer Evangelicalism has often been characterized in the broader culture by who and what we oppose, instead of whom we claim to serve. As a result, our kids and grandkids are vacating the churches we built and inhabited with the goal of passing on our faith to the next generation. But theyre not the only ones leaving. In my own writing over the past decade about spiritual formation in midlife and beyond, Ive heard from hundreds of people my age who have been wounded by the very faith systems our generation created. Some boomers were chased away, while others quietly drifted out the door. In a CT piece earlier this year, The Church Is Losing Its Gray Heads, Adam MacInnis offered a snapshot of many boomers whove exited the church building, even though just under half of Christians over 40 who stop attending church feel theyre still practicing their faith. Like some members of the younger generations, many boomers still love Jesus, but not the local churches they once attended. The late Phyllis Tickle famously observed that the church engages in a kind of spiritual rummage sale that every 500 years or soand in these times of rearrangement and upheaval, the institutionalized church throws off things that are restricting its growth, which allows a more vital form of Christianity to arise in the aftermath. Article continues below And so, in a generation characterized by an abundance of hubris, our repentance will require the opposite of us if we are to do the necessary work of reflection and repair. As we ponder the first draft of our generations obituary, we should consider what must be tossedand what is worth investing our final years to pass on to our own spiritual heirs. Michael Metzger of the Clapham Institute summed it up well: To date, our legacy as Baby Boomers is indulgence, narcissism, and moralism. If we are to emerge as wise elders, our view of faith, fame and forever ought to migrate from Boomer biases to a more biblical Christianity. Part of this reflection means recognizing the legacy-worthy gifts boomers have brought to the church. Sure, those who come after us will continue to assess the value of those giftsdeciding what to put in the rummage-sale pile of historybut it helps to recognize that our bequest contains some things that might be worth holding on to. For one, Boomers played an outsized role in encouraging greater authenticity in the church. We learned from our culture in the 1960s to let it all hang out. As that messaging filtered through the church in subsequent decades, it became more acceptable to share our struggles and questions in Christian community. The church can still be characterized, sometimes cartoonishly, as a performance-oriented place, full of plastic smiles and unwritten rules. But that stereotype is far less true now than when I first found my way into evangelical circles in the 1970s. The unwritten rule of the churches I attended back then was that it was only acceptable to talk about your struggles if they happened before you were a Christian. SNL star Dana Carveys Church Lady character may have exaggerated church life for comic effect during the 1980s, but too many congregations back then seemed to encourage a religious facade. While such church ladies still exist, their voices are not in the majority for what is considered acceptable in many church circles today. Secondly, boomers have helped lead the movement toward both destigmatization and education of mental health issues in many evangelical streams. Boomer megachurch pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, lost their son to suicide nearly a decade ago and have used the loss to launch a broader conversation about mental illness in the church. Writers like Amy Simpson and Carlene Hill Byron are challenging congregations toward understanding and meaningful care for those suffering with mental illness. The National Alliance for Mental Illness has a new division focusing on faith communities. Article continues below And the voices naming and addressing traumaincluding church-related spiritual woundinghave multiplied as well. Authors like Diane Langberg and Peter Scazzero, as well as training programs (like this and this) for church leaders are now available to help church leaders approach ministry with a fuller understanding of trauma. Theres still much work to be done in how the church embraces mental health issues, but it has certainly come a long way over the past few decades. Third, many boomers have joined, and in some cases are leading, the effort to create safe communities for those who have experienced church abuse. Christian social media can be a cesspool of conspiracy theory, bullying, and wacky theological hot takes. But it has also been an essential connection point for survivors of abusive leaders or toxic congregations. In The Four Loves, C. S. Lewis said that the typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, What? You too? I thought I was the only one. Social media has created powerful fellowship as survivors discover they arent the only onesand this has brought them together to drag into the light what has festered in the dark corners of the church. Some of those whistleblowers, like Christa Brown, have been boomers, calling out the sins of their leaders. And as such individuals courageously share their stories in public to seek justice, they pave the way for other victims to tell their own stories. Finally, many boomers are exhibiting a growing distaste for evangelical leader culture. Perhaps the boom bubble in churches built around the pastor-as-CEO or spiritual Ted Talk gurus hasnt quite burst, but it seems to be deflatingand few seem interested in reviving it. While mostly anecdotal, I hear regularly from boomers who have been burned or are burned out from their nondenominational megachurches. Many are seeking simpler, more organic forms of gathering with other believers for worship and fellowshipor theyre finding their way into churches with formal liturgy and denominational structures. In both of those seemingly divergent cases, theyre leaving aside org-chart-driven church busywork that fractured their souls and are in search of greater meaning and wholeness. In fact, these are the spiritual tasks that I feel should characterize the latter years of our lives. Article continues below More than a few boomers today are quietly seeking to dismantle the broken religious systems we helped buildas we recognize how fruitless many of them have become. Perhaps this will be our most powerful legacy of all. And while we boomers of faith wont be around to see how things unfold in the larger movement, we can spend the time we have left rewriting our own obituary. This rewriting begins with the kind of unflinching humility prescribed in James 4:710wherein we humbly submit ourselves to God and trust that he will uphold us. Only this heart posture will allow us to own our specific sins while recognizing the impact our generations proclivities have had on those who come after us. For example, I spent a couple of years on staff at a church with an abusive leader. And although I tried to effect change while on the inside of the organization, the truth was that I benefitted in some ways during those years from my access to power. Meanwhile, many members in the congregation were wounded by the churchs toxic culture. To adopt the kind of repentance James describes in his epistle, I have had some hard but cleansing conversations with those wounded by this leaderand by my apparent complicity. Now, when I hear the countless stories of spiritual abuse, I can listen without feeling the need to justify my earlier choices. Instead of responding defensively, I can grieve and lament with them. But this grief carries gospel hope. God has been at work in every age, and he is at work here and now. We cant overwrite the past, but we can amend the present for the sake of those to whom were passing the torch of faith. And while we may not be able to change the spiritual heritage of an entire generation, we can try to flip the script on the legacy of our own lives. Michelle Van Loon is the author of seven books, including Becoming Sage: Cultivating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife. The first time that abortion became real for me was not while reading a moral philosophy textbook or reviewing a Supreme Court decision. Rather, it followed from a discussion with a college friend who, as I learned, had visited an abortion clinic. All of a sudden, abortion was no longer just a theoretical reality. Instead, it was a part of the story of someone I knew wellsomeone who sat across from me in class. The experience shifted my perception of abortion as something affecting people out there while leaving my own social circles untouched. As I walked away from that conversation, wondering if I had handled it sensitively, I realized that my understanding of abortion existed almost purely in the realm of ideas, policy, and theorynot flesh-and-blood people. In the lead-up to the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, there was no shortage of stories about individual women. Stories of women shouting their abortions. Stories of women who chose life. Stories of clergy decrying abortion as a moral evil or praising it as something holy and sacred. And yet, were tempted to dissolve these individual stories into the larger abortion story, forgetting the individuals themselves. In all our discussions of public policy and our abstract reflections on human dignity, we can often forget the real people involved in this system of death: doctors and nurses who perform the procedures and provide medication; women who seek out clinics willingly or because they feel trapped or coerced; men who may be present or absent; and children at their most vulnerable stage of life. A new book from Marvin Olasky and Leah Savas endeavors to fill this gap, foregrounding the stories of those affected by abortion, both as an institution and a practice. Their bookThe Story of Abortion in America: A Street-Level History, 16522022effectively employs an on-the-ground perspective that so often goes missing. Frontline experiences Olasky and Savas approach this subject as pro-lifers but also as journalists, with Olasky having served as World magazines longtime editor and Savas currently working as a World reporter. In good journalistic fashion, they provide a window into frontline experiences across the abortion landscape, delving into the lives of defenders and opponents, providers and victims, and the women and children who bear the deepest scars. The book surveys a surprisingly broad historical canvas, correcting our habit of viewing the abortion debate as something that only erupted in earnest during the latter part of the 20th century. As the authors note, for instance, its likely that the first recorded abortion in America occurred in 1629. Article continues below Readers will be unsurprised by the conclusions that Olasky and Savas draw. Fundamentally, this is a volume dedicated to revealing abortions pernicious and dehumanizing effects on our culture. The authors sweeping history, while not an ethics text, is forthright in depicting abortion as an assault on the dignity of human beings. Yet the power of their street-level, story-based approach lies in how it cuts through our own grand narratives about abortion. Contrary to those who loudly proclaim that abortion brings freedom and empowerment, history shows that individuals have often exploited it to further control the bodies of women and prey upon them. Many of the books early chapters abound with stories of women who were lied to and seduced by men with promises of marriage only to be abandoned after their pregnancies came to light. Abortion became one piece in a larger structure that allowed men to use these women as they wished. Take, for instance, the example of Dorcas Howard, a 17th-century servant thought to have obtained the first recorded abortion in American history. According to court records the book cites, Howard told her master that she was sick and could not work. Rather than responding with care for his servant, the master suspected she was pregnant, which prompted him to threaten her with violence. Upon hearing her confess the pregnancy (and disclose the name of the father), he sent her to bed and called some women to help her. As the authors make clear, we dont know exactly what happened in Howards room, but the next morning there was a child on the floor, who another woman testified had been stillborn with a bruise on the head. Howards master had seen a potential loss on his investment, and hed acted quickly to prevent it. His economic interest outweighed any concern for the mother or child. Profit considerations also proved irresistible to those providing abortions. Consider Ann Lohman, a 19th-century woman who took the pen name Madame Restell because the French were considered the most knowledgeable about intimate matters. Taking up residence in New York City, she and her husband began advertising abortion pills and medications in their newspaper. She managed to skirt the laws of the time by speaking in euphemisms about regulating womens menstruation or preventing menstrual blockages, coded terms for pregnancy. Article continues below The business proved quite lucrative. Madame Restells advertisements were a boon for the newspaper and for the couple. Her office was filled with young, desperate women, and because she was apparently capable of performing the procedure without killing patientsat least the adult patientsher popularity grew. Because of well-placed bribes, she was unlikely to face prosecution, though eventually she was tried and convicted after police found a woman willing to testify about a mistake she made that caused a woman to die. However, Restells short prison stay only opened the door for others to try claiming her business, and it didnt prevent her from continuing her practice once she was released. The stories of Dorcas Howard and Madame Restell highlight trends in abortion policy that continue to this day. In particular, they illustrate how economic interest and legislation are always intertwined. But they also pose a warning to those who would hang all their hopes on the power of law to prevent abortions. In 1716, New York became the first state to pass an abortion restriction when the city council forbade midwives to aid or administer an abortion. By 1829, New York City had passed a law banning abortion by any meanssurgical or medicinaland imposing fines on violators. And yet, Madame Restell was allowed to operate her business with little interference because of lax enforcement. Olasky and Savas do not discount the value of legislation, and the later chapters are filled with examples of its powerful effects, but their stories do caution pro-life advocates to address issues fueling the demand for abortion, and not only its supply. Cries of conscience Olasky and Savas have no appetite for harshly condemning women in a culture that has held up bodily autonomy as a supreme right while often placing them at the mercy of unjust systems. Clearly, they believe that abortion has two victims: mother and child. This was straightforwardly true in the early centuries of American history, when both mother and child were likely to die from the procedure. But it is no less true in contemporary times, when abortion poses less risk (at least physically) for the mother. With certain exceptions, the women profiled in this book arent seeking abortion purely of their own volition: They are trapped by circumstance, coerced by family and lovers, or deceived by those who stand to gain from the procedure. Even those who remain supportive of abortion rights describe a sense of longing and mourning for their lost children. One woman who believes she made the right choice in having an abortion also describes seeing a very little ghost that only appears when Im seeing something beautiful, like the full moon on the ocean. Others describe the whispers they hear on the wind from children they never had. Article continues below Such testimonies reveal an ugly truth often overlooked in pro-choice advocacy: We intuitively know the procedure is wrong. Each of us recognizes on the level of conscience that something violent and horrible occurs at an abortion. Whether or not abortion is permitted by law, common sense rails against our attempts to describe the procedure in sanitized and morally neutral language. Olasky and Savas profile one doctor who experienced this tension when he shifted from performing early-term abortions to doing a procedure known as a D&C (dilation and curettage). He had been comfortable with abortion in the abstract, but when faced with a procedure that required using medical knowledge to determine the best way to disarticulate a childs bodybreak it apart at the jointseverything within him rebelled. His conscience would not allow him to look at an arm with a hand and five fingers as mere tissues and cells fit for the medical waste bin. The laws approval could not overcome his God-given knowledge that this was a person possessing God-given dignity and worth. Thinking back on that moment in my life when abortion became not just a concept but a person with a face and name, Im reminded that so often we have to do as that doctor did, stepping outside familiar conversations on abortion to get a clearer picture of its brutalities. Olasky and Savas paint a disturbing picture of a culture that prioritizes so many thingseconomic prosperity, individual freedom, sexual liberty, personal reputationsover the life of a child. They confront us with the disastrous and deadly effects of abortion on every individual it touches: mother, child, father, doctor, legislator, and neighbor. But they remind us also that our collective conscience, though seared, is capable of recognizing error and striving for a culture that affirms the dignity of all people, born and unborn. Alex Ward is lead researcher for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is pursuing a PhD in history at the University of Mississippi. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. When Paul Pelosi, husband of speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was attacked, social media erupted with jokes. Why? What is at the heart of such a calloused response to violence? On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore welcomes Elizabeth Neumann to discuss online radicalization, loneliness, and how Christians can navigate an era of political hatred. Formerly the assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention at the Department of Homeland Security, Neumann is now a commentator on ABC News and the chief strategy officer at Moonshot, a social enterprise working to end online harms ranging from child sexual exploitation to political extremism. Neumann and Moore talk about the environmental factors that are creating the right conditions for political violence in America. They consider the role of online communities in radicalization, the power of rhetoric, and how to build resilience in children and teens. And they candidly address the ways the church has negatively contributed to the modern state of affairs, while also expressing hope and sharing ideas for a better way forward. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. The Russell Moore Show is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and Azurae Phelps CT Administration: Christine Kolb Social Media: Kate Lucky Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Production Assistance: coreMEDIA Audio Engineer: Kevin Duthu Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Video Producer: John Roland Theme Song: Dusty Delta Day by Lennon Hutton There are no oranges in Artsakh for Christmas. Celebrated on January 6 according to the local Orthodox calendar, holiday festivities will be curtailed this year in the disputed Caucasus enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Demonstrations by reported environmental activists from Azerbaijan have closed the one road connecting the mountainous territory to Armenia, and Russian peacekeeping forces have failed to intervene. Over 100,000 Armenians depend on daily imports of 400 tons of food and medicine to the enclave they call Artsakh. With the blockade of the Lachin corridor now in its third week, local officials are warning of a humanitarian disaster as they implement price controls and ration remaining goods. But the Christmas tree is lit in the central square of the capital, Stepanakert. People will carry on with the traditions as best they can, said Aren Deyirmenjian, country representative for the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA). But we will reflect the love of a God who stays by your side, even when all goes wrong. During a 44-day war with 6,500 casualties in 2020, Azerbaijan recaptured three-quarters of its internationally recognized sovereign territory, before Russia engineered a ceasefire. The indigenous Armenian inhabitants controlled the enclave for the previous 30 years, claiming the right of self-determination in an unrecognized 1991 independence referendum. Following its defeat two years ago, Armenia pursued peace treaties with neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey, which had backed their Turkic Azeri kin with decisive drone technology. But these were interrupted by further clashes in which Azerbaijan seized more territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and even along Armenias border. And beginning December 12, Azerbaijani activists set up camp to protest alleged illegal gold and copper mining, exported through Lachin back to Armenia. Terms of the armistice left Russian peacekeepers in charge of the road, with no Azerbaijani oversight. We can stay here for months, stated one demonstrator. Local residents have reported shortages, with no fruit in Artsakhs marketspart of the traditional Christmas Eve feast alongside fish, rice pilaf, and raisins. More critically, hospital patients lack essential medicines, with only a handful allowed transfer to facilities in Armenia proper. Gas supplies were cut for three days in the winter cold. And about 1,000 residents were stranded in the border town of Gorisincluding 18 members of a childrens choir that had performed in Armenias capital, Yerevan. Azerbaijan has denied it is imposing a blockade. Officials have said that anyone will be allowed travel through the Lachin corridor upon prior permission and submission to local inspection. If none pass through, they blame the Russians and Armenians. So far, only the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has gained access to Nagorno-Karabakh. Deyirmenjian said the Armenian social affairs ministry contacted the AMAA to participate in the ICRCs 10-ton aid delivery, adding 220 pounds of infant formula to the first effort and 1,100 pounds of rice alongside two tons of sugar in the second. Upon the aids arrival, the AMAA center in Stepanakert, located near the only Armenian Evangelical church in the enclave, coordinated distribution in the neighborhood, which included the congregations 125 members. So far, local morale is high. Our office manager told me, We are happy we are on this side of the blockade, Deyirmenjian said. It gave me chills. Garegin Hambardzumyan concurs. A priest in the Armenian Apostolic church, he heads the Oriental Orthodox denominations Department for the Preservation of Cultural and Spiritual Values of Artsakh. Generations of Armenians have lived in the rugged, mountainous land for a thousand years, he said. They will not be scared away easily. The Divine Liturgy for the January 5 Christmas Eve mass will be the traditional candlelight service, after which the faithful will carry the symbolic light of Christ back to their homes. Many will exchange gifts, and the church has distributed chocolate and Bibles to the 3,000 children who live in Nagorno-Karabakh. The family is the best place to feel the warmth of Jesus love, said Hambardzumyan. Continuing their life as if it were normal is a sign of dedication to their homeland. Last week, Armenia lodged a protest with the United Nations International Court of Justice, demanding the blockade be lifted. UNICEF, the UN institution for children, issued a warning. Pope Francis has expressed concern, and human rights organizations have called for unfettered access. But some anticipate worsea sinister continuation of history. The process of the Armenian Genocide has been ongoing since the Ottoman massacres of the late nineteenth century, stated John Eibner, president of Christian Solidarity International (CSI). Now, by placing Nagorno-Karabakh under blockade, the dictatorship of Azerbaijan is clearly telegraphing its intent to carry out another phase of the Genocide. Cosignatories to the statement include In Defense of Christians, International Christian Concern, and the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in Eurasia. Prior to the blockade, Genocide Watch had already identified four of its ten stages of genocide at play. An anonymous Christian leader in Azerbaijan pushes back against the charge. Withholding his name due to the sensitivity of commenting on political issues, he said the local discourse emphasizes the governments intention to treat the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh as citizens, living peaceably in a multicultural nation. If they fight, they will be driven out, he warned. But there is no fear of genocide. At the same time, he concurred with skeptical analysis about the protesters. We dont care about ecology as such; this is not Sweden and Greta Thunberg, said the source, who has authored a series of books exploring the spiritual consequences of historic geopolitics. It is ridiculous; it cannot happen without direct order of the government. Peoples of the East are indirect, he said, dressing their pressure campaign in the guise of environmentalism to resonate with Western concerns. He believes the goal is to push Armenia to finalize a peace deal while Russia is distracted by its war in Ukraine. Azerbaijan wants to make clear it holds the upper hand. Additionally, if the blockade sets up a checkpoint system into Nagorno-Karabakh, it will aid Azerbaijans national security. The government issued reports that allege Iranian security services have entered the enclave. Azerbaijan, though a Shiite Muslimmajority nation, is allied with Israel and is a key supplier of natural gas to Western nations. Tensions with Iran have increased recently as both sides conduct military drills on the border. Others posit a different rationale. Azerbaijan cannot take this step without the agreement of Russiait is a combined action, said Vazgen Zohrabyan, pastor of Abovyan City Church, northeast of Yerevan. Moscow is ready to sacrifice the people of Nagorno-Karabakh for its economic interests. Also a political analyst with a masters degree from Yerevan State University, he believes the Ukraine war has pushed Russia to side with Azerbaijan over interpretation of a clause in the armistice agreement. While the Lachin corridor was left under Russian peacekeeper supervision, the agreements final point called for the opening of all transportation routes, specifically mentioning the link between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan enclave. A 20-mile railway once linked the oil-rich nation with its noncontiguous territory to the west, stretching along Armenias border with Iran. Azerbaijan calls it the Zangazur corridor (Armenians call it the Meghri highway) and wants an access arrangement similar to Lachins status now, with no customs control. The armistice says that Russian border police will oversee security. For Azerbaijan, this will create a direct link with Turkeybordering Nakhchivanand the rest of Turkic Central Asia to the east. For Russia, this will provide a path to export its own natural resources through Azerbaijan to Turkey and eventually Europe, evading sanctions and the Western boycott, said Zohrabyan. But as a pastor, his chief concern is humanitarian. Abovyan City Church currently supports 30 families in Nagorno-Karabakh, a continuation of its emergency relief to hundreds during the war. And it recently partnered with a local businessman to open a bakery in Stepanakert, with 10 percent of its bread supply dedicated to the needy. Zohrabyan was due to attend the grand opening with the chief adviser to the enclaves presidentuntil the blockade halted traffic. The bakery remains closed, unable to find the necessary flour. Holding the unpopular opinion that Armenia must forge peace with its enemy, he blames both sides for maintaining an atmosphere of distrust. But while the comparison between corridors is logical, he said, it is not diplomatically legitimate. Lachin is the status quo and must remain open. Other routes are to be negotiated. Until then, like many, he fears Azerbaijan is using its superior position to impose a checkpoint. He does not readily raise alarm but is concerned. When Lachin opens, it will be one wayout, said Zohrabyan. It smells like another genocide, to make life as hard as they can so that the Armenians will leave. In his New Years speech, Azerbaijans president Ilham Aliyev stated the Zangazur corridor would be opened whether Armenia wants it or not. But his rhetoric has gone further. He has highlighted the surrounding region as Azeris ancestral landto which they will definitely return. He even described Yerevan as a political and strategic goal that Azeris must gradually approach. Some view this language as positioning for negotiation. But others see a wider territorial ambition. Last month, Aliyev called the ethnic Azeris of Iran our people and said he would protect [their] secular lifestyle. And of the Zangazur corridor, his ambassador to Turkey stated it would connect the torn Turkic world. Armenia is in between. But within the current crisis, so are a few scattered villages. Armenia closed its border to prevent confrontations with Azerbaijani activists, isolating ethnic Armenian hamlets in the process. Inside Nagorno-Karabakh but on the other side of the blockade, they are suffering also. In a testimony to Gods work, the AMAA was able to reach them. A female staff member in Yerevan loaded her car with flour, oil, and other necessities and went in faith. Along the way, she received a telephone call from the office of the prime minister. She did not know the female staffer or how her number was obtained but politely thanked her for the offer of help. Upon reaching the border, she needed it. Blocked by authorities, a quick phone call back to the official allowed her to pass. The beleaguered villagers received a testimony to Gods love amid geopolitical tension. Azerbaijan says it wants to live in peace, said Deyirmenjian. But starving a people gives little evidence you want to live together. Passion 2023: Disabilities advocate Katherine Wolf poses challenge to Gen Z Disabilities advocate and Christian author Katherine Wolf challenged thousands of young people gathered at Passion 2023 to see pain as a path toward growth and to find the hidden treasure in the darkest times of life. Speaking Wednesday afternoon from the Passion Conference stage in Atlanta, Georgia, the 40-year-old speaker and author commended conference founders Louie and Shelly Giglio for putting a wheelchair and the lady with disabilities on your stage." I have to say that it doesn't happen nearly enough in our world," she said. They say currently that 20 percent of our world is people living with disabilities, she added. And yet, only 2 percent are put on display in media context at conferences and churches. It's not as if there's appropriate representation for the community living with disabilities. And I say that the voices of folks with disabilities are voices that should be heard because we've got things to say and in the Christian community context; we've got so much to say about the hope of Jesus Christ. On April 21, 2008, Wolf, who was just 26 years old and a mother of 6-month-old James, unexpectedly experienced a brain bleed from a massive brain stem stroke that nearly killed her. After hours of micro-brain surgery, the former beauty queen and model miraculously lived but was left unable to walk, talk or swallow. She was left with severe double vision, right ear deafness, and right-side facial paralysis. And though she remains in a physical wheelchair, she pointed out that every human has multiple invisible wheelchairs. She challenged the audience to embrace their own invisible wheelchairs. I heard early on after the storm, Katherine is wheelchair bound, she said. You may have heard this expression, wheelchair-bound. And it just never really settled right with me. And I realized that's because I'm not wheelchair-bound; I'm actually living in wheelchair freedom. And the reason for that is because this wheelchair enables me to go where I need to go this is my vehicle, the means, to where I live out my story for God's glory. And the same is true for you and your inner wheelchair. You dont have to overcome your wheelchair, she said. No, embrace it, seeing the need for Jesus to meet you and carry you where you need to go. Today, Katherine and her husband, Jay, are behind Hope Heals, a nonprofit that serves to offer rest, resources and relationships to broken bodies, brains and hearts. They're also internationally-recognized communicators and advocates for those with disabilities. In 2015, the Wolfs miraculously welcomed their second child, John Nestor Wolf, named after Katherines three-time-life-saving neurosurgeon, Dr. Nestor Gonzalez. The couple shared their powerful story in the bestselling book, Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love, and in a second book, titledSuffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything. Life is hard, she said. Life is going to be hard if it's not already really, really hard. But I believe we can live so well in the hard. You have a stunning capacity to endure incredibly hard because of Jesus in your story. You are actually anti-fragile. You are not nearly as fragile as everything in this world is telling you you are. With Jesus in your corner, you are so much stronger than you think; you can endure very, very hard things. You can stay in the hard, you dont have to leave. You can do it. You can do this, because of Jesus, she added, citing 1 John 4:4, which states, in part: the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. She urged listeners to find emotional agility and pivot in life when needed. She said there is a profound beauty in growing in the knowledge of Christ and considering Him when suffering well, rejoicing no matter the situation. Some people spend their whole lives looking for the miracle in their story, but they miss the miracle right in front of them, she said. Wolf reminded attendees that they get to decide how they feel about their story: Your life is a story and not a moment, she said. There are chapters and there are seasons in stories we cant control what happens to us but we have control over how we respond to what happens to us. We get to decide how we move forward. Christians can find beauty in suffering, she said, because they know of the hope that is to come. She urged listeners to be unafraid of challenges in their lives, adding: God made you to do hard things in the good story He is writing in your life. Wolf previously shared what her struggles have taught her in an interview with The Christian Post. I had to learn how to find God in the midst of it, she said. I learned that Gods goodness was not attached to my earthly circumstances, and God being good was not based on anything going on in the physical world. The cross put everything in perspective. Jay Wolf offered the reminder that Gods goodness never fails and there is hidden treasure in the darkness. Weve discovered this is true in our life, he said. If we have eyes to see it, well find that God is making Himself known to us even in the places that look like the dark. Theres a sacred darkness that we dont necessarily lean into as a Church. We often believe that darkness equals bad but, throughout Scripture, you see how new life often begins in the dark. Since the first Passion Conference in 1997, the ministry has encountered millions of students. Other speakers at this years three-day event included Louie Giglio, David Platt, Christine Caine and others. Ahead of Wolfs message, Passion Music led attendees in worship. The annual event, held Jan. 3-5 this year, is geared toward young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 and aims to glorify God by uniting students in worship, prayer and justice for spiritual awakening in this generation. Kevin McCarthy loses sixth speaker vote amid resistance from minority of Republicans Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California has again failed to be elected speaker of the United States House of Representatives, having failed to dislodge the resistance from a sizable minority of Republican members. Representatives cast three more ballots on Wednesday to determine the next speaker of the House, but no one received a large enough majority to gain the position. The House adjourned after the third vote of the day. Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin nominated McCarthy for the fourth ballot vote, arguing that nobody has done more to lay out a plan for how we restore the basic functioning of this institution than Kevin McCarthy. You may not have gotten everything you wanted, Gallagher added. But Mr. McCarthy has gone above and beyond in terms of listening to people with concerns and laying out a plan for how we restore the basic functioning of the House of Representatives. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who on Tuesday had previously endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio for House Speaker, rose on Wednesday to endorse Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida for speaker. Roy argued that he supported Donalds because this country needs a change and that this country needs leadership that does not reflect Washington, D.C. insider politics. With Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York being nominated by the Democrats, it reportedly marked the first time in history that two African Americans were nominated for House speaker. On the fourth ballot, McCarthy received 201 votes while Donalds received 20 votes, and Jeffries garnered 212 votes. Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, who had voted for McCarthy on the first three ballots, voted present instead. Former President Donald Trump had weighed in on the issue on Wednesday morning, expressing support for McCarthy, imploring Republican members to not turn a great triumph into a giant and embarrassing defeat. For the fifth ballot, Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, a member of the Freedom Caucus, nominated McCarthy for speaker, pleading with all of my Republican colleagues to let cooler, more rational heads prevail. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado nominated Donalds for speaker, arguing that the Florida congressman is better qualified and that McCarthy should withdraw his nomination. The fifth ballot and sixth ballot had the exact same tally as the fourth ballot. Rep. Kat Cammack of Florida nominated McCarthy on the sixth ballot, calling on her colleagues to vote for a speaker, saying that voters sent them to Washington to get things done. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania nominated Donalds for the sixth ballot, declaring that Washington is broken and that Congress needed to stop doing the same things. The election of the speaker of the House is the first official order of business, with the lower house being unable to move on any business until a speaker is chosen. On Tuesday, the House held three votes to determine the speaker and the minority leader, in a vote that is normally decided on the first ballot. All 212 Democrat lawmakers voted for Jeffries, as Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California had announced last year that she was stepping aside from leadership roles in the House. McCarthy failed to get the necessary 218 votes to become speaker, getting 203 Republicans to support him in the first and second ballots, and then 202 when Donalds changed his vote. In a tweet posted shortly after the third ballot was cast on Tuesday, Donalds explained that he believed Kevin McCarthy doesnt have the votes to become speaker. I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor. 218 is the number, and currently, no one is there. Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps," tweeted Donalds. Those opposed to McCarthy had coalesced around Jordan on Tuesday, even though Jordan himself nominated McCarthy on the second ballot and subsequently voted for McCarthy. Nearly 40% of voters say Democrats, Republicans are America's biggest enemy, not China or Russia Nearly four in 10 likely voters in the United States say that Democrats or Republicans are the countrys biggest enemy, even when compared to foreign powers such as North Korea and Iran. In a survey of 900 U.S. likely voters conducted by Rasmussen Reports from Dec. 19 to Dec. 21, 39% of participants named one of the countrys political parties as the nations greatest threat compared to 25% who named China. The survey had a sampling error margin of +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed said that Democrats are the nations biggest enemy, and 17% said Republicans, with 5% naming North Korea and another 2% naming Iran. Another 20% think Russia is the greatest threat to America. When surveying participants that belong to a specific political party, 33% of Republicans said that Democrats are Americas biggest enemy, compared to 26% of Democrats who think that Republicans are the greater enemy. Another 39% of voters not affiliated with any of the two political parties think Democrats (21%) or Republicans (18%) are the countrys biggest enemy. The share of voters who see certain political parties as the countrys biggest threat appears to have increased since Rasmussen conducted a similar survey two years ago. In that survey, 24% of participants viewed people who voted for Joe Biden as Americas biggest enemy, compared to 22% who regarded those who supported Donald Trump as the countrys biggest enemy. In the most recent survey, Democrats (31%) were more likely to see Russia as the biggest enemy, while 16% said China. On the contrary, Republicans (35%) were more likely to view China as Americas biggest enemy, while only 12% named Russia. Opinions varied by gender, as 26% of women named China Americas biggest enemy compared to 24% of men. Twenty percent of women regarded Russia and Republicans as the greatest enemy to the country, while 19% of men said Russia and 15% named Republicans. Another 18% of women view Democrats as the countrys biggest enemy, compared to 27% of men. Age also appears to have had an impact on voters perception of who is the countrys worst enemy. For those under 40, 28% said Russia is Americas biggest enemy, while older voters think China is the greater enemy. Participants in the under-40 category are equally likely to see Republicans or Democrats as Americas biggest enemy. Older voters believe Democrats are the biggest enemy by a 7-point margin. The responses to the survey differed among racial categories as well, as 28% of white respondents said China was Americas biggest enemy compared to 15% of black voters. Twenty-three percent of other minorities who participated in the survey also named China the countrys biggest enemy. In addition, black voters were significantly more likely to see Republicans as the countrys biggest enemy. Income levels appear to have been relevant to participants responses, with voters making over $200,000 a year more likely to view Republicans as Americas biggest enemy. Participants earning between $50,000 and $100,000 annually were more likely to view China as the bigger enemy of the country. Strong supporters of President Biden were the least likely to view China as the countrys biggest enemy. Among those who strongly approve of Bidens job performance, only 11% named China the biggest enemy, while 38% think Republicans are the biggest enemy. In the category of voters who strongly disapprove of Bidens job performance, 40% said that China is Americas biggest enemy, and 44% think the same about Democrats. As The Christian Post reported, a survey of 1,000 Americans released in November by Lifeway Research found that 50% of Protestants prefer to attend a politically homogenous church, while 41% disagreed and 10% were uncertain. UN accused of 'Palestinian hypocrisy' as resolution calls for ICJ opinion on Israel Proponents of Israel condemned the United Nations General Assembly for approving a resolution accusing the country of illegally occupying Palestinian territories, a move the Israeli prime minister called a "despicable decision." In a Saturday statement, the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry welcomed a U.N. General Assembly vote asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to provide a legal opinion regarding the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. The resolution, titled "Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories," accuses Israel of "discriminatory legislation and measures." In addition, the document calls for the ICJ to offer an advisory opinion on Israel's "prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory." The ICJ is the top court in the U.N. handling disputes between countries. The resolution passed Friday in an 87-26 vote, with 53 abstentions. The United States, the United Kingdom and Germany were among the countries that voted against the resolution. France was among those that abstained. Disputed territories are located in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza Strip, which were captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. Israel has controlled those territories for over five decades although the international community has long debated sovereignty over those territories. The United Nations has opposed Israel's plans to annex the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, "The Jewish people are not occupiers in their own land nor occupiers in our eternal capital Jerusalem." "[N]o U.N. resolution can distort that historical truth," Netanyahu stated, adding that Israel was not bound by the "despicable decision." Netanyahu was reelected as Israel's prime minister this year after Yair Lapid conceded defeat. Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party had formed a political alliance with two other political parties known as Jewish Power and Religious Zionism. Israel's new Foreign Minister Eli Cohen criticized the U.N. resolution in a speech Monday, saying, "Palestinian hypocrisy was also manifested during the vote at the UN last Saturday." "The Palestinians have rejected every single peace agreement offered to them. Palestinian attempts to harm Israel will cost them and will distance resolution of the conflict," Cohen said, according to Al-Monitor. "The one who should really stand trial is the Palestinian leadership, which is the only place in the world that rewards those who murder Jews simply because they are Jews." B'nai B'rith International, an organization dedicated to defending Israel and combating anti-Semitism, condemned the UNGA's request in a Monday statement. The organization accused the UNGA of passing more resolutions against Israel than any other of the 192 U.N. member states. "This singling out of the Middle East's sole democracy, one continually forced to battle regional fanaticism and brutal terrorism, is deplorable," B'nai B'rith continued. "Representing more than politicization of legal instruments, and the diverting of resources and focus from truly critical global priorities, it seeks to delegitimize, indeed criminalize, only the presence of Jews in their one ancestral homeland." The organization questioned why the U.N. hasn't subjected the Palestinian Authority or other terrorist groups in the region, such as Hamas, to greater scrutiny. As CP reported, the Palestinian Authority provides stipends to terrorists, and their families, who have attacked Israelis. The Palestinian Authority claims the payments prevent terrorists' families from becoming destitute if their relative, who may have been the "breadwinner," is imprisoned. However, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), a defense and strategic advisory organization, reports that the Palestinian Authority provides payment for acts of terrorism, regardless if a terrorist is the breadwinner or employed. According to U.N. Watch, a pro-Israel watchdog group, the General Assembly approved 15 resolutions against Israel last year, compared to 13 resolutions criticizing other countries. Russia was at the center of six resolutions for invading Ukraine, while North Korea, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Iran and the U.S. were hit with one resolution each. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, praised the U.N. vote. In a statement published by Reuters, Abbas said that the "time has come for Israel to be a state subject to law and to be held accountable for its ongoing crimes against our people." Basem Naim, an official with the military terror group Hamas, which controls Gaza, made a similar statement, claiming that it was "an important step toward confining and isolating the state of occupation (Israel)." In 2005, Hamas seized control of Gaza after Israel withdrew from the area. A former prisoner in the Islamic Republic of Iran speaks out I have followed and written about Iran since its 1979 Islamic takeover. Given my long professional interest in communicating about the dangerous Islamic Republics leadership, I was fortunate to meet and interview Iranian Christian Marziyeh (Marzi) Amirizadeh, who was formerly jailed in the notoriously brutal Evin prison. Amirizadeh spoke about the current Women, Life, Freedom movement protesters, who are still in the streets opposing Iran's ruthless authoritarian regime despite public hangings, murders, political repression, and the ongoing arrests of more than 18,000 people, including Iranian journalists. The current protests began in September 2022 following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was under arrest for improperly wearing her head covering (hijab). Amini was beaten to death while in morality police custody. Amirizadeh observes, Its not just about a piece of cloth. The protesters are not in the streets facing guns and bullets just for that. Our people wonder if the Western nations are going to stand with them for regime change rather than betraying them by making deals. The Women, Life, Freedom movement embodies decades of simmering frustrations, especially among the younger population, which has given up on reforms. Amirizadeh explains that Iranians consider themselves and their country separate from what they view as a criminal regime, and believe that they and Iran have been taken hostage by the Islamic Republic authorities. She explained, Sharia law has ruined their lives, but it is not that they are turning their back to God. As soon as you are born, there is no option for you. Papers are filled out right away and you became a Muslim. She added that only the Koran is available in bookstores and that millions of people never practice Islam. Amirizadeh and her close friend Maryam Rostampour were arrested in 2009 when officials caught on that they were giving away Bibles (20,000 in total) and had founded several secret house churches. When the guard booked them, he hung a sign around their necks with their names and their charges: Accused of promoting Christianity in Iran. They were smiling when their pictures were taken in prison, viewing the accusations as an honor. They were jailed in Irans Evin prison, notorious for its harsh treatment of political prisoners. The two women remained in the prison for 259 days. Amirizadehs best-selling books, Captive in Iran and A Love Journey with God, detail the severe hardships and the miracles she experienced. She recalls her imprisonment, I was witness to how many people got arrested and tortured right in front of my eyes. It broke my heart. Since immigrating to the United States, Amirizadeh continues to draw attention to the oppression of Irans 85 million people, 70% of whom are under 30 years old. During my interview, she reflected on her life growing up. Every morning at school, they forced us to stand in line and say, Death to America and death to Israel, that Israeli people are our enemies, and they should be eliminated from the face of the world. That is cruel to brainwash little children. She explained that the radical clerics ideology teaches students that the 12th Imam will come to conquer the world through an Islamic caliphate and that you will go to heaven by destroying Israelis and Americans. She views it as a miracle and a dream to be living in America. Finally, God brought me here and Im so blessed and honored to live in this great country. Persecution is helping people to see the truth in Iran. When we were evangelizing in Iran, Amirizadeh recalls, we did not have even one bad experience. Everyone was so thirsty to find the truth and I could see that God had prepared their hearts even before we talked to them. She added, The Church in Iran is suffering for justice and we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with Iranians who are fighting against the enemy of the church and the world. Our duty is not just to read our Bibles at home, enjoy our freedom, and go to church. For me, faith without action is dead. Everywhere Christians must stand up for freedom before it is too late. The Islamic Republic regime is a threat to the whole world. They are spreading agendas into your soul. Do not invite this evil to your home and to your country. Wake up! She recommends that nations can show their support for the Women, Life, Freedom protesters by recalling their ambassadors, stopping negotiations, and any financial support that could be used to suppress and kill more people. The Biden administrations temporary decision to keep the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Foreign Terrorist Organizations List was welcomed by Iranians. Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that since September, 19,200 people, including journalists, lawyers, teachers, students, and civil rights activists have been arrested. The prison population is bloated and 39 may face the death sentence. One protester, Majid-Reza Rahnavard, 23, was executed publicly. He was convicted of waging war against God, a capital offense. His body hung from a crane in the northeastern city of Mashhad. This time, people are saying enough is enough and say they will fight until the regime collapses, Amirizadeh stated. The New York City subway shooter, identified as 63-year-old Frank James, who called himself the "Prophet of Doom," pleads guilty to terrorism charges for shooting 11 passengers in a rush-hour attack. The suspect reportedly opened fire on a packed Brooklyn subway train last year that resulted in the injury of 10 people. On Tuesday, James pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges that could place him inside a jail cell for the rest of his life. New York City Subway Shooter Pleads Guilty The shooter admitted in Brooklyn federal court to pulling the trigger on a Manhattan-bound train as it was moving between stations on Apr. 12, 2022. It was an assault that prosecutors said was "intended to inflict maximum damage at the height of rush hour." The defendant was seen wearing a beige jail jumpsuit in court and read from a prepared statement. He said that he only intended to cause serious bodily injury and not death, but noted that he was well aware that his actions could have been lethal to his victims in the station, as per the Associated Press. At the time of the shooting, James was dressed as a maintenance worker and equipped with a 9mm handgun. After setting off a pair of smoke grenades, the suspect fired his weapon at least 33 times, wounding several victims ranging in age from 16 to 60 in the legs, back, buttocks, and hand. As the train pulled into a station in Sunset Park, the shooter fled in the haze and confusion of the situation, setting off a 30-hour citywide manhunt that ended when he called law enforcement to turn himself in. James was charged with 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack and other violence against a mass transportation system and vehicle carrying passengers and employees. Also, the shooter pleaded guilty to one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Read Also: Times Square Machete Attack: Teen Suspect in Attempted Murder on New Year's Eve Was on FBI Radar - Here's Why Intent To Cause Serious Bodily Injury According to CNN, while James injured 10 people with his handgun, he also wounded several others when he used his smoke grenades, with a total of 29 people being hospitalized after the crime. In a statement, the defendant's attorneys said that their client accepted the responsibility for the shooting "since he turned himself in to law enforcement." In their statement, attorneys Mia Eisner-Grynberg and Amanda David said that a just sentence in the case will carefully balance the harm that James caused with his age, health, and the Bureau of Prisons' allegedly inadequate medical care. While the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, prosecutors said that they were willing to recommend a sentence in the range of 31 to 37 years if James shows enough remorse. This was revealed in a letter sent by Breon Peace, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to District Court Judge William Kuntz. Peace noted that James' crimes of violence were met with swift justice, calling the guilty plea an important step towards holding the shooter fully accountable for his actions and helping the victims and the city heal from the horrific attack, the New York Times reported. Related Article: Idaho College Murders: Family of Suspect Breaks Silence on Son's Arrest; Shocking Student History Revealed @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A liberal professor admits to the leftist takeover of America How do we explain the increasing radicalization of our country? How do we explain the decided shift left? Writing in the year 2000, Roger Kimball noted that, The Age of Aquarius did not end when the last electric guitar was unplugged at Woodstock. It lives on in our values and habits, in our tastes, pleasures, and aspirations. It lives on especially in our educational and cultural institutions, and in the degraded pop culture that permeates our lives like a corrosive fog ... Although sometimes tempted to ignore it, we are living in the aftermath of a momentous social and moral assault. Kimballs book was aptly titled The Long March: How the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s Changed America. Eight years later, in 2008, Kimball wrote Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Our Higher Education. How far has this corruptive process gone? Writing for the Washington Post in 2016, Christopher Ingraham noted that, If youve spent time in a college or university any time in the past quarter-century you probably arent surprised to hear that professors have become strikingly more liberal. In 1990, according to survey data by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA, 42% of professors identified as liberal or far-left. By 2014, that number had jumped to 60%. He continued, In the academy, liberals now outnumber conservatives by roughly 5 to 1. Among the general public, on the other hand, conservatives are considerably more prevalent than liberals and have been for some time. Thats why Jon A. Shields penned an article for National Affairs in 2018 titled, The Disappearing Conservative Professor. Shockingly, he wrote, According to a recent [2018] study on faculty party affiliation by the National Association of Scholars, the ratio of Democrats to Republicans at Williams College is 132:1; at Swarthmore it is 120:1; and at Bryn Mawr it is 72:0. At many of Americas best research universities, the ratios are only moderately better. As I noted in my 2022 book The Silencing of the Lambs, A recent [2020] survey by the Harvard Crimson found that conservatives make up just over 1% of the schools faculty (see here for more details.) The handwriting has been on the wall and this radical shift has long been predicted. But not everyone saw this coming. Russell Jacoby, professor emeritus, Department of History, UCLA, admits that in the late 1980s, I argued that the conservatives should awake from their nightmare of radical scholars destroying America and relax; academic revolutionaries preoccupied themselves with their careers and perks. If they made waves, they were confined to the campus pool. Today he writes, Only now do I see I got something wrong as did my critics ... I missed something, the dawning takeover of the public sphere by campus denizens and lingo. Indeed, Jacobys December 19, 2022 article in The Tablet is titled, The Takeover. Self-righteous professors have spawned self-righteous students and unleashed them into the public square. That is exactly what has happened and exactly what conservative intellectuals had feared. Jacoby taught for years in one of the hotbeds of leftist radicalization, UCLA. And he says this of his generation, the generation of the 1960s: In pose we were much more radical than previous American intellectuals. We were the leftists, Maoists, Marxists, Third Worldists, anarchists, and protesters who regularly shut down the university in the name of the war in Vietnam or free speech or racial equality. Yet for all our university bashing, unlike earlier intellectuals, we never exited the campus. We settled in. We became graduate students, assistant professors and finally a few of us leading figures in academic disciplines. He continues, Within 30 years, the timber and tone of faculties were refashioned. In the 1950s the number of public leftists teaching in American universities could be counted on two hands. By the 1980s, they filled airplanes and hotel conference rooms. In the 1980s a three-volume survey of the new Marxist scholarship appeared (The Left Academy: Marxist Scholarship on American Campuses, vol. 1-3). Endless new journals, each with their own followings, popped up, such as Studies on the Left, Radical Teacher, Radical America, Insurgent Sociologist, Radical Economists. In the coming years leaders of the main scholarly organizations like the Modern Language Association or American Sociological Association elected self-professed leftists. Now, go back to Kimballs quote, cited at the beginning of this article. Things unfolded just as he said. But, Jacoby adds, the story becomes a bit more entangled, since universities were unable to place these graduating radicals into meaningful academic posts. As a result, It is the exodus from the universities that explains what is happening in the larger culture. The leftists who would have vanished as assistant professors in conferences on narratology and gender fluidity or disappeared as law professors with unreadable essays on misogynist hegemony and intersectionality have been pushed out into the larger culture. Specifically, They staff the ballooning diversity and inclusion commissariats that assault us with vapid statements and inane programs couched in the language they learned in school. We are witnessing the invasion of the public square by the campus, an intrusion of academic terms and sensibilities that has leaped the ivy-covered walls aided by social media. The buzz words of the campusdiversity, inclusion, microaggression, power differential, white privilege, group safetyhave become the buzz words in public life. Already confusing on campus, they become noxious off campus. The slovenliness of our language, declared Orwell in his classic 1946 essay, Politics and the English Language, makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. Now foolish thoughts rule the culture, exhibited most prominently in transgender ideology, resulting in phrases like her penis and birthing persons and menstruating males. As Jacoby writes, When women are dropped from Planned Parenthood literature with the explanation, Its time to retire the terms womens health care and a womans right to choose these phrases erase the trans and non-binary people who have abortions. Or when the NARL (National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws) announces it is replacing the phrase pregnant women with birthing people and declares, We use gender neutral language when talking about pregnancy, because it is not just cis-gender women who get pregnant; we know those who authored these changes majored in gender studies and critical blather. Blather is a good way to describe this. Worse still, as many of us have warned for years, those most loudly championing diversity and inclusion have become the leading opponents of free speech. And so, Jacoby concludes, the students of these radical professors constitute an unmitigated disaster, intellectually and politically, as they enter the workforce. They might be the American version of the old Soviet apparatchiks, functionaries who carry out party policies. Intellectually, they fetishize buzz words (diversity, marginality, power differential, white privilege, group safety, hegemony, gender fluidity and the rest) that they plaster over everything. The results have been catastrophic, to say the least. Jacobys article should be read in full, as my quotes here provide only a sampling of his insights. But my hope for those who have mocked our concerns over the decades is very simple: Please listen to us now. We said these days were coming, the fruit of the sexual revolution of the 1960s, empowered especially by LGBTQ+ radicalism. And we have said that things will only get worse unless we make a radical course correction. Will you listen to us now? 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. Apple Watch mistakes John Piper's exuberant preaching for emergency fall John Piper experienced a brief snafu during an Advent sermon after his Apple Watch mistook his dramatic preaching gesticulations for an emergency fall. On Dec. 11, the theologian and bestselling author preached a sermon titled "The Lord Governs My Good and Is My Good: All of Psalm 16 for a New Year" at South Cities Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, when his Apple Watch began beeping mid-sentence. "God is God!" the pastor declared, waving a fist in the air, prompting his Apple Watch to beep. "You know what? My phone is telling me that I fell down," the 76-year-old pastor said as he attempted to silence his watch. "I'm OK. I did not fall down. Did you hear it? This has happened twice in my life. I'm preaching and they think I fall down. I'm not falling down. I'm standing up. I'm preaching. Good grief, Apple." It looks like youve taken a hard fall. Emergency call? Piper: No, Im preaching! pic.twitter.com/m3YFRGlqIa Tony Reinke (@TonyReinke) January 2, 2023 Piper's sermon focused on finding the fullness of joy through God as part of South Cities Church's Advent Series. The church was previously known as Bethlehem Baptist Church, South Campus, one of Bethlehem's three campuses, but was launched on Dec. 1 as a new distinct church. Following the mishap, the Desiring God author challenged the church to embrace the reality presented in Pslam 16:10: "because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay." "My sins and your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus if we trust in Him. Therefore, there's forgiveness in the blood, and there's a future in the resurrection. And therefore, Psalm 16 is yours because of Christ. Verse 10 is true. He did die; He did rise; His flesh did not see corruption. And therefore, you can bank on these promises," he said. "So what should you do? You should set Him always before you. You should keep Him at your right hand. And if you do, and if your good pastors do, and if your council of elders does, if they and you keep God in Christ clearly before them as their treasure and good and Lord and cup and inheritance and portion, and God cherished and loved and honored at their right hand, this church will not be moved away from Christ, away from salvation, away from the Bible. It will be strong until He comes." This is not the first time Piper, one of today's most well-known pastors, experienced a hiccup from the pulpit. In 2009, he spoke at the American Association of Christian Counselors gathering at the Gaylord Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. He vulnerably shared some of the sins he struggled with throughout his life. To his evident bewilderment, the crowd began uproariously laughing as he recounted his sins. Piper was confused and commented on how strange their reaction was. The incident, which went viral on social media, has been analyzed by other pastors over the years. "My thought was that I would begin my talk by listing my most besetting sins so that they could get some sense of whether this speaker was in touch with his own reality," Piper later explained on his website. "Now, what was disorienting to me was that there was laughter from the audience at points in this litany of my failures a good bit of it. It took me totally off guard. I wasn't sure what to make of it, and I still don't know what to make of it." Piper chalked up the experience to the likelihood that participants had been trained to expect comedy from conference speakers. "Our culture thinks that if you're a happy pastor, you're going to tell jokes. If you're a happy pastor, you're not going to talk about serious joy, but only the happiness in joy. You're not going to have this sad strain running through your life. The world doesn't compute with that very easily," he said. "I suspect that I walked into a set of expectations at that conference given the way it had been flowing, and given the American culture of Nashville and the world. I walked into a set of expectations that were so different from my own, that I didn't help people make the transition as well as I might have." 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! Biden won't attend Pope Benedict XVI's funeral, White House says The White House has announced that President Joe Biden, a Catholic, will not attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. EWTN reporter Owen Jensen asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at a White House press briefing Tuesday if the U.S. was "sending a delegation to Rome" for the funeral, scheduled to take place Thursday. Jean-Pierre indicated that U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Joe Donnelly will represent the U.S. at the memorial service. She suggested that Donnelly's presence and the absence of Biden from the funeral were "in line with the wishes and the Vatican," adding, "this is what their requests were." Who will represent the US at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's funeral? And what did the late Pope mean to Catholic President Joe Biden? Correspondent @owentjensen asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about both of these topics relating to Pope Benedict. pic.twitter.com/Iaahas5XMa EWTN News Nightly (@EWTNNewsNightly) January 3, 2023 Jean-Pierre noted that President Biden "joins Catholics and so many others around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI" and "will always remember the Pope's generosity and meaningful conversation they had when he visited the Vatican in 2011" as vice president. Jensen inquired, "what did Pope Benedict mean to President Biden as a Catholic." Jean-Pierre responded by stressing that "the President, as you know, he takes his faith very seriously." "This is someone who is passionate about his faith. That's not something I even need to tell you. You know this for yourself," she added. Jean-Pierre reiterated that Biden "remembers the Pope's generosity and his meaningful conversation they had when the President visited the Vatican back in 2011." Benedict XVI served as Pope from April 2005 until February 2013, when he resigned due to health concerns. Following the conclusion of his papacy, he received the title of pope emeritus and was succeeded by Pope Francis. Benedict XVI died Saturday at the age of 95. According to the Vatican Press Office, there will only be two official state delegations attending the funeral from Italy and Germany. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will attend the funeral. According to Catholic News Agency, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid their respects at St. Peter's Basilica on Monday. Before becoming Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger sent a letter to high-ranking Catholic Church leaders in the U.S. urging them to withhold communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians because "abortion or euthanasia is a grave sin" and "it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law" supporting the grave sins "or vote for it." Biden is a practicing Catholic who presents himself for communion despite advocating for laws and policies that ensure legalized access to abortion. Amid much debate among U.S. bishops since Biden took office on whether pro-choice politicians should be able to receive communion, Benedict weighed in on Biden's Catholic faith in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera last year. He told the publication that Biden "is a practicing Catholic and observant." At the same time, the late Pope Emeritus expressed concern that while "he is personally against abortion," the president "tends to present himself in continuity with the platform of the Democratic Party." As Benedict suggested, support for legal abortion is a central tenet of the Democratic Party platform. In addition to his comments about the president's views on abortion, Benedict remarked that "on gender politics, we have not yet fully understood what his position is." Biden issued a statement reacting to Benedict's death Saturday, describing the pontiff as a "renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith." Biden echoed comments made by Benedict during a 2008 visit to the U.S., where he proclaimed that "the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity." Biden expressed hope that "his focus on the ministry of charity" will "continue to be an inspiration to us all." International Churches of Christ abused, pressured members financially to the point of suicide: lawsuit The International Churches of Christ, a racially diverse, and theologically conservative nondenominational body of co-operating Christian congregations, along with their affiliated organizations, have been accused in a lawsuit filed by five women in California of covering up child sexual abuse and pressuring members so much for money that some left the church and later killed themselves. The five women include two sisters, Darleen Diaz, 33, and Bernice Perez, 31, as well as Ashley Ruiz, 31, Salud Gonzelez, 30, and Elena Peltola, 23. All are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit first reported by Rolling Stone. The women alleged that the ICOC along with affiliates Hope Worldwide, Mercy Worldwide, the International Christian Church and the City of Angels International Christian Church, indoctrinated them and kept them isolated from the outside world while they were exploited sexually and manipulated through a rigid system of belief. Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are two leaders of the church including founder Kip McKean and the estate of the late Charles Chuck Lucas. The women further allege that the churches and their leaders created a system of exploitation that extracts any and all value it can from members. Church members the lawsuit alleges are forced to tithe 10% of their income to the church and also fund special mission trips twice yearly to the point of suicide and depression. If the tithing budget was not satisfied, leaders or disciplers were forced to contribute the financial shortfall themselves, or members were required to locate the offending member who failed to tithe and sit on their porch until they arrived home in an attempt to obtain their tithe funds before Sunday evening was over, the lawsuit says. The pressure to comply with the churchs rigid demands was a source of anxiety and depression for many members. So much so that several ex-members committed suicide. Church leaders also allegedly placed heavy recruitment demands on followers who were given quotas to convert in a bid to generate more tithing followers for the church. In discussing their sexual abuse, the sisters Diaz and Perez, along with Ruiz, identified a man who is now a convicted pedophile, David Saracino, as abusing them at the same time. They claim that the church did nothing to protect them from the abuse. They allege that Saracino would invite children to his house to swim but as soon as they undressed he told the girls that they needed a bath and he used that opportunity to heavily fondle their naked bodies while they were bathing, explains the lawsuit. Ruiz alleged that Saracino performed oral sex on her. When the mother of the sisters eventually reported Saracinos abuse, leaders allegedly alerted him so he could flee town before police could arrest him. The law finally caught up with him in 2012 when he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for raping a 4-year-old child. Even though the sexual abuse happened to me in the ICOC at around age five and robbed me of my childhood, the trauma also followed me into my adulthood, where I feel like I am always in survival mode, Ruiz told Rolling Stone. Having some sort of legal closure and acknowledgment about what happened to me as a child will be tremendously helpful! Gonzelez said she was sexually assaulted by a Sunday School teacher for five years starting when she was 4. She was abused again in a rehab program connected to the church at the age of 15 and again when she was 17. The abuses, she said, caused her to try to end her life because the church failed to give her any help. Peltola alleges that she was raped in 2012 by an ICOC member when she was just 13, while she was on a mission trip to Honduras. She said when she reported the rape, ICOC and Hope Worldwide leaders victim-blamed her and called her a slut for several months before kicking her out of the church for being a liability Rolling Stone said. For decades, members of the ICOC/ICC and its affiliates groomed and sexually abused children as young as three years old, Bobby Samini, an attorney for the plaintiffs told Rolling Stone in a statement. Instead of reporting the sexual abuse to law enforcement, church leaders shamelessly targeted and blamed the survivors, admonishing them that they risked losing their salvation unless they forgave their abusers. The lawsuit will expose the perpetrators at the ICOC/ICC and its affiliates who claim piety, all the while enabling the sexual abuse of children. When the church was contacted for comment by The Christian Post on Tuesday, a member of the New York City branch of the church for more than three decades, who said she was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said there is no umbrella authority for the churches in the ICOC, they are only connected by their beliefs. Church of Englands first 'gender-queer' priest shares hope of 'normalizing it for children' 'When Im wearing my collar, it lets children know that is OK,' priest says The first gender-queer priest in the Church of England hopes normalizing it for children will be a priority for the church. Rev. Bingo Allison, a biological male who identifies as non-binary, said God was guiding the 36-year-old into a new truth about gender identity, according to an interview with a British newspaper. Allison, who has a wife and three children, told the Liverpool Echo that a late-night study of Genesis 1:27 and its language of maleness to femaleness led to what Allison called a deepening spiritual experience. In the NIV, Genesis 1:27 reads: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. I properly felt God was guiding me into this new truth about myself, Allison was quoted as saying. One of the things that has kept with my ministry ever since is that transition and coming out can and should be a spiritual experience, as well as an emotional and social and sometimes physical one. There is something beautiful about growing into who we were created to be and growing into our authentic selves. After taking on a new identity, Allison was quoted as telling the Echo about plans to help make a huge difference in normalizing it for children. "One of the biggest things is just being a visual representation in my community and going into schools, doing assemblies and making a huge difference in normalizing it for children, Allison told the Echo. When Im wearing my collar, it lets children know that is OK and that there is a place in church and the outside world for people like me. Ordained at the Liverpool Cathedral in September 2020, Allison told the outlet about growing up in a strongly religious home where gay people were viewed as a sinful thing. But upon coming across the term gender-queer about seven years ago, Allison said thats when everything suddenly clicked. It was a lot harder than I thought having come out to myself to then remain in the closet, said Allison. There were definitely lots of times before when I kind of questioned my identity but growing up in a more conservative form of Christianity meant that it was just so far beyond my imagination. The Church of England did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday from The Christian Post. In response to the interview, Anglican priest and Church of England critic, the Rev. Calvin Robinson, called Allisons comments heresy and blasphemy. Robinson tweeted: His appearance is shocking, but lets focus on his words. Call out his heresy and blasphemy. Challenge the Churchs apparent apostasy. Dont resort to ad hominem attacks. We know how this story goes. The conversation gets shifted from truth/lies to bullying. Robinson who was denied a position in the CofE for speaking against critical race theory and raising concerns about Marxist ideology infiltrating the denomination also predicted the denomination would double-down and say it needs to be even more inclusive instead of rebuking Allison. Allisons interview comes as the CofE grapples with whether to bless or marry gay couples ahead of the General Synod in February, where a historic vote could take place on the topic. Currently, Church of England priests are prohibited to bless or sanction such unions. FDA rule change 'turns neighborhood pharmacies into abortion providers,' pro-lifers say The first drug in the chemical abortion pill regimen can now legally be dispensed via prescription at major retail pharmacy chains after a regulatory change by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a move that pro-life groups warn threatens women's safety. The FDA modified restrictions on the abortion pill Tuesday after reviewing the Mifepristone REMS Program, which the agency started in 2021. Mifepristone, the generic version of Mifeprex, falls under the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), which sets standards for abortions up until 10 weeks gestation. In response to a Wednesday inquiry from The Christian Post, the FDA pointed to its web pages on mifepristone and some frequently asked questions regarding the drug. The information page about mifepristone was updated Tuesday. Under the new regulation, retail pharmacies that complete a certification process may dispense the abortion pill. Women can also obtain a prescription through a telehealth appointment and receive the pills by mail. On its frequently asked questions page, which the FDA updated Wednesday, the agency denied that the new regulations had anything to do with the overturn of Roe v. Wade and several states outlawing or restricting abortion. The agency has been reviewing published literature and data from advocacy groups and "applicants related to the modifications" since 2021. Danco Laboratories, an abortion pill manufacturer, released a statement proclaiming it is "pleased" with the change. The manufacturer claimed that chemical abortion access is "critically important" nowadays and that the updated regulations will "provide healthcare providers with an additional method for providing their patients with a safe and effective option for ending early pregnancy." In a Wednesday statement provided to CP, Chelsey Youman, national legislative advisor for the pro-life group Human Coalition Action, condemned the move, calling it "indefensible." "This is an unconscionable act by an agency tasked with upholding public health and safety, and is pure sop to the abortion industry," Youman stated. "It eliminates safety requirements that these pills be given by a physician and turns neighborhood pharmacies into abortion providers, putting many pharmacists in an impossible position of having to dispense abortion pills against their conscience beliefs." Youman expressed concern that women taking the abortion pill at home without a doctor present could lead to serious side effects, such as hemorrhaging. According to the FDA, heavy bleeding is one side effect of taking mifepristone. Youman worries that the FDA under the Biden administration is prioritizing the expansion of abortion pill access over women's safety. March for Life President Jeanne Mancini seconded this concern in a statement to CP. "The Biden administration's doing away with even the most basic of medical oversight for the very serious chemical abortion regimen is simply heartbreaking, and women will suffer the most from this reckless decision," Mancini wrote. "Access to chemical abortion without proper medical oversight runs contrary to science and is not in the best interest of women's health." Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, contends that the pill has a track record of being a "safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy." The group says it's most effective when pregnancies are nine weeks old or less. "Being able to access your prescribed medication abortion through the mail or to pick it up in person from a pharmacy like any other prescription is a game changer for people trying to access basic health care," Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement. Sue Liebel, director of state affairs and midwest regional director of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, cited a 2009 study that found chemical abortions have four times the complication rate of surgical abortions. "The immediate message that we are sending is that this is very reckless, and this is the FDA, yet again, peeling back health and safety regulations surrounding these dangerous drugs," Liebel told CP. In December 2021, the FDA permanently lifted the requirement for women to obtain mifepristone in person from a health provider after temporarily suspending the requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Tuesday, the FDA officially removed the in-person requirement for mifepristone but still mandates that dispensers show they're certified to treat abortion pill complications and that women complete a consent form. The FDA claims on its updated webpage that "available data and information" support the REMS modification "to reduce [the] burden on the health care delivery system and to ensure the benefits of the product outweigh the risks." However, Liebel said the data collection on abortion in the U.S. is "abysmal," noting that the country does not have a federal mandate requiring states to report abortion complications. The pro-life advocate cited a 2021 peer-reviewed longitudinal study conducted by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm for SBA Pro-Life America. Researchers claim that the rate of emergency room visits after a chemical abortion increased by over 500% from 2002 through 2015. The researchers also noted that by 2015, 60.9% of emergency room visits due to chemical abortion pill complications were miscoded as miscarriages. The study suggests that Mifepristone abortions grew from 4.4% of total abortions in 2002 to 34.1% in 2015 Liebel believes that state legislatures should require better reporting of emergency room complications and still require an in-person exam before dispensing the abortion pill. As the pro-life advocate noted, the FDA did not prohibit states from requiring an in-person examination at the local level. She also emphasized the importance of screening women for health complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy or RH compatibility, which would require medical treatment. "There's a lot of opportunity here for misuse, including a woman not correctly anticipating the gestational age of her baby," Liebel said, noting that women are not supposed to take the abortion pill beyond 10 weeks gestation. As CP reported, multiple medical professionals, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, filed a lawsuit in November, challenging the FDA for approving chemical abortion pills and repeatedly loosening restrictions. "The only way the FDA could have approved chemical abortion drugs was to use its accelerated drug approval authority, necessitating the FDA to call pregnancy an 'illness' and argue that these dangerous drugs provide a 'meaningful therapeutic benefit' over existing treatments," the lawsuit reads. "But pregnancy is not an illness, nor do chemical abortion drugs provide a therapeutic benefit over surgical abortion," the legal filing continues. "In asserting these transparently false conclusions, the FDA exceeded its regulatory authority to approve the drugs." 'We need help': Homeless encampment outside Seattle church impacting worship over safety fears Updated Jan. 8 at 8 a.m. ET The head of a Greek Orthodox church in Seattle where a homeless encampment has grown outside the building says the city is ignoring the churchs complaints. Penny Peppes, president of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, told local ABC affiliate KOMO-TV that members of the church are fearful of attending services due to the encampment, which reportedly includes several tents and a mattress. We want them to get help, we want them to get off the streets. We dont have the infrastructure as a small church to do that ourselves. We need help," Peppes reportedly told KOMO. The Church of the Assumption is located in Seattles Capitol Hill neighborhood, about a block away from another large homeless encampment at the intersection of 13th and Howell Streets, according to KOMO. Peppes said the lack of response is directly impacting the churchs worship services. Our parishioners who come from all over are very worried about their safety, she said. They are afraid to come. Its beyond frustrating because its impacting our ability to come to church to worship. Perhaps the most brazen part of the encampment is that people living in the encampment are using the churchs address to receive Amazon packages, according to Peppes. One of the homeless folks knocked on our door and asked, did you get my package, so they are using our church as their mailing address," she told the TV station. The Church of the Assumption has volunteered to provide food to a pair of homeless shelters in the community twice a month, according to Peppes. Anne Martens, spokeswoman for the Regional Homelessness Authority, said the agency which she clarified is separate and independent from the King County government is aware of this encampment and recognizes the challenges it creates for both housed and unhoused neighbors and we share the urgency felt by the community. As we continue to adjust and improve our homeless response system, we hold weekly coordinating calls with contracted outreach providers to assess encampments across the City and County and organize responses, Martens said in an emailed statement to The Christian Post. The need for housing and outreach is greater than current capacity, and outreach teams are working outside all day, every day to assess needs, build trust, and connect people with services. The Regional Homelessness Authority is working on a five-year plan for dramatically reducing unsheltered homelessness across King County, added Martens. Homelessness continues to plague Seattle after an annual assessment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found Seattle had the third-largest homeless population behind only New York City and metro Los Angeles last year. The number of homeless people in Seattle and King County jumped about 14% during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 through 2022. The HUD assessment also found Washington state was second only to California in homeless populations. Last July, Matthew Meinecke, known as The Seattle Preacher on Twitter, was surrounded by Seattle police officers as he was reading his Bible. Meinecke, who was subsequently arrested and fingerprinted at a police station before being released, later contrasted his arrest with the citys response to rampant crime and homelessness. Weve got a city full of crime. Weve got needles all over the place. Lawless homeless camps everywhere. Weve got assaults. Weve got broken glass. Weve got Antifa running the place, said Meinecke in a video shared on social media. But theyve got time to send in 10 police officers to arrest a street preacher reading his Bible in a park. 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. Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to win the speakership on the first three votes as 20 GOP members rejected the party leader's bid and instead supported Jim Jordan of Ohio. The situation comes after the 118th Congress convened on Tuesday that saw the election for House speaker devolve into a pitched floor fight. Mutiny among hard-right lawmakers resulted in the political chaos that has not been seen in the chamber for the last century. The House adjourned until noon Wednesday after three failed votes to produce a winner. Kevin McCarthy's Bid For House Speaker McCarthy's failure to secure his role as House speaker turned what was expected to be a triumphant moment for the new GOP House majority into a political crisis. It has exposed the fissures within the party just as it assumed control. Moreover, since the chamber cannot swear in members or perform actual work until a speaker is chosen, the country's legislative process was at a standstill. The California lawmaker needed 218 votes with all members present and participating to secure the position of House speaker. However, he only received 203 in the first two rounds of balloting, then lost a supporter in the third round, finishing off with 202 votes, as per the New York Times. On the other hand, the Democratic Party was united behind their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who earned the most votes, 212, on all three ballots. However, he will almost certainly not win because his party controls only 212 seats, which is short of the needed 218 votes. Prior to Tuesday, the House had not failed to elect a speaker on the first roll call vote since 1923 when the election stretched for nine ballots. Based on House precedent, members will continue to take successive votes until someone, McCarthy or otherwise, secures the majority needed to prevail. The situation comes as the Republican's House majority is a narrow one and GOP candidates far underperformed expectations during the midterms. This was despite former United States President Donald Trump promising a red wave of Republican winners. Read Also: Republican Adam Kinzinger Expresses Fear if Donald Trump Escapes Charges Over Capitol Riot Opposition From Far-Right Members According to CNN, voters were found to reject Republican extremism but the GOP has, despite this, moved toward conspiracy. Furthermore, Trump's allies, including Rep. Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs, Matt Gaetz, and Jim Jordan, were re-elected. Greene, who was furious, was among those on the far right of the GOP to vote for McCarthy. Currently, there are no signs to suggest how many rounds of balloting it would take for members to decide on a speaker. If no consensus is reached, the process could continue for several more days. While previous speakers faced challenges coming into a new Congress, they managed to rally their caucus by the time the official vote arrived. However, McCarthy had a difficult time convincing the far-right members of his own party. McCarthy's failure to secure the needed votes stem from opposition to his speakership on ideological and personal grounds. Biggs leads this group of Republicans and has placed himself forward as an alternative for GOP members to vote for, BBC reported. Related Article: US Congress 2023: Rep. Kevin McCarthy House Speakership Bid in Trouble @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pro-lifers respond to Trump's claim 'abortion issue' cost Republicans in the midterms Former President Donald Trump has suggested that Republican candidates' positions on abortion led to the party's lackluster performance in the midterm elections, drawing strong reactions from leading pro-life activists and figures on both sides of the political aisle. In a statement on Truth Social Sunday, Trump argued that it wasn't his fault that "Republicans didn't live up to expectations" in the 2022 midterm 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 wrote. "Also, 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." Trump's comments come as the 118th U.S. Congress takes office Tuesday. While Republicans hoped to make significant gains, as the party out of power typically does in midterm elections, they only netted nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives elections and lost a seat in the U.S. Senate. The midterm election results were enough to secure a Republican majority in the House, but the net loss of a Senate seat means Democrats will maintain control of the chamber for the next two years. One of the nation's leading grassroots pro-life organizations Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which spent around $78 million to mobilize the pro-life vote in the 2022 midterms, reacted to Trump's comments in a statement Monday. "The approach to winning on abortion in federal races, proven for a decade is this: state clearly the ambitious consensus pro-life view on abortion and contrast that with the extreme view of Democrat opponents," the organization shared in a statement. "We look forward to hearing that position fully articulated by Mr. Trump and all presidential candidates." The group's statement concludes by stating that "a profound midterm lesson" in 2022 is "those who adopted the Ostrich Strategy on abortion lose." Lila Rose, president of the pro-life activist organization Live Action, believes that Trump "is way out of line here on life." "He does not have a pulse on where his potential base is as many believed he has in the past. This kind of nonsense will be a losing political strategy for him," she tweeted. In another tweet, she claimed that "midterm losses has ZERO to do [with] the pro-life cause & more to do with poor election strategies that the Republican Party has been employing for years." "Hardcore pro-lifers won re-election in states across the country; bad candidates & bad campaign strategies lost," Rose wrote. The fault of midterm losses has ZERO to do the pro-life cause & more to do with poor election strategies that the Republican Party has been employing for years. Hardcore pro-lifers won re-election in states across the country; bad candidates & bad campaign strategies lost. Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) January 3, 2023 Trump is way out of line here on life. He does not have a pulse on where his potential base is -- as many believed he has in the past. This kind of nonsense will be a losing political strategy for him. https://t.co/Doq2SSBCoA Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) January 3, 2023 "I think a lot of Republicans didn't handle the abortion question properly," Trump asserted in the interview. "I think if you don't have the three exceptions, it's almost impossible in most parts of the country to win. If you don't have three exceptions I said to a very nice man running for governor of Pennsylvania 'If you don't have the three exceptions, you can't win.'" Trump was referring to Pennsylvania's Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano, who lost his race by double digits in a state the former president only narrowly lost in 2020. Similarly, Trump pointed to the abortion stance of Michigan's Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon as the reason for her loss. Dixon also lost by double digits in a state that Trump lost by a much smaller margin in 2020. Ben Domenech, editor-at-large of The Spectator, also disagreed with Trump's analysis. In a Twitter thread Sunday, Domenech rejected the idea that "Republican candidates think abortion should be banned when a mother's life is at risk." "The most pro-life R incumbent candidates won," Domenech stated. He listed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine as examples of pro-life Republican candidates who won re-election this year as other Republican candidates lost. Domenech also pushed back on the idea that pro-life voters "disappeared, not to be seen again," contending that "there is no evidence for this whatsoever." "The GOP maxed out its voters, so that makes it impossible. Increased young women pro-abort voters doesn't decrease other side." Second, Trump claims the pro-life position moved large numbers of voters against Republicans. Yet the most pro-life R incumbent candidates all won! DeSantis, Kemp, Abbott, DeWine, go down the list. And all the Senate candidates who won were super pro-life too. Oops! Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) January 1, 2023 Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., a critic of the former president, cited his most recent comments about the 2022 election as evidence that "Trump never believed life began at conception." In a tweet published Monday, Lieu concluded that "he was using the abortion issue only to gain power." Dear anti-abortion voters: Trump never believed life began at conception. He was using the abortion issue only to gain power. Now that youre no longer useful to him, Trump blames you for losing and wants you to shut up. If you still support him, you are disrespecting yourself. https://t.co/p2ryydlOnl Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 2, 2023 "Now that you're no longer useful to him, Trump blames you for losing and wants you to shut up," Lieu maintained. "If you still support him, you are disrespecting yourself." In a post-election press call, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser criticized Republican strategists for failing to make the party's position on abortion clear in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade as the pro-choice side spent hundreds of millions on pro-abortion advertising. Democrats accused Republicans of trying to prosecute women for having abortions. Dannenfelser, who co-chaired the Trump campaign's pro-life coalition in 2016, believes that candidates like Trump-backed Mehmet Oz, a Republican who ran for Senate in Pennsylvania, lost because they assumed the abortion issue would "go away." "Even though we wanted him to win and we broke our backs trying to help him to win, he did a very poor job of saying what he would do if he were elected for the people of Pennsylvania on the life front," Dannenfelser said. Man identifying as female accuses women-only social media platform of trans discrimination The Australian creator of a women-only social media app has been sued by a man who identifies as female and accused the platform of discrimination for barring him from using the app because he is a man. In a federal court lawsuit filed last month, the man, who goes by the name Roxanne Tickle, claimed that he was unfairly prohibited from using the female-only platform, Giggle for Girls, last September 2021. Tickle also claims that the company and its CEO Sally Grover said he was a man. I believe that I am being discriminated against by being provided with extremely limited functionality of a smartphone app by the app provider compared to that of other users because I am a transgender woman, Tickle, who is a man, wrote in a complaint filed with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Lawyers for Giggle at the Feminist Legal Clinic asserted in March that the decision had nothing to do with Tickles chosen gender identity, stating that Tickle was considered male based on his appearance, prompting his removal from the women-only app. Tickle initially sued Giggle and Grover in federal circuit and family court in July. However, he dropped the case due to concerns about legal expenses after Grover indicated shed take the case to the high court if necessary. Tickle has asked the federal courts approval to launch the case and is seeking damages along with a written apology and complete access to the platform. Giggle for Girls and the Feminist Legal Clinic did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. Grover told CP on Monday that she had no comment. The Giggle CEO published an open letter on Medium in January 2021 stating that she created Giggle because she needed a strong female support network after suffering abuse. During the apps development phase, Grover said she fought to ensure that men who identify as women were welcome on the platform. She claims that her company created an alternative onboarding process for men who identify as female so they would not be misgendered. I wanted trans women to feel welcome. After what the CEO called the trans activist corners of the internet discovered Giggle, men identifying as women who did not make it onto the application created KILL TERF profiles. TERF stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. Grover stated that the trans activists also lashed out by sending her rape and death threats. The Giggle CEO added that she ultimately decided to change her platforms policy, making the app exclusively for biological women. She also highlighted in her open letter that Giggle is used in 88 countries by a variety of women, including mothers, domestic abuse survivors, and women of every political affiliation. The women before us fought for and earned the right for us to have our own opinions, Grover wrote. It is sad that in 2021 there are threats made to women that we must conform to a particular narrative in order to be heard. In a Dec. 14 tweet, Grover shared a clip of her interview on Sky News expressing concern about the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Bill 2022. The Australian bill would remove a requirement that trans-identifying individuals undergo sexual reassignment surgery to formally register as the opposite sex. The legislation would also allow children younger than 16 to register as the opposite sex. Beyond being in direct conflict with womens rights, Im also opposed to it because its completely anti-reality, and I think that every Queensland resident and every Australian resident has a right to at least ask, do I have to abide by a law that says if I see a man and he says hes a woman, I have to agree with that despite the fact that I can clearly see that Im looking at a man? Grover claimed that Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman refused to meet with her or other women that had concerns about the laws potential impact on them. After she sent the minister an email asking if there was a legal avenue for residents that dont adhere to gender ideology, Grover said that Fentiman blocked her email. In a press release from the Queensland Government last month, Fentiman argued that sexual reassignment surgery is not always accessible or affordable for trans-identifying individuals. With a few exceptions, all other states and territories in Australia have removed the requirement for individuals to undergo a sex change surgery before they can change the gender on their birth registration. We are committed to strengthening the legal recognition of trans and gender diverse people, and better recognizing contemporary family and parenting in our modern society, the minister said. As The Christian Post reported, the U.S. took similar actions in June 2021, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken announcing that the U.S. State Department would allow people to identify as the opposite sex on their passports. The news followed an October announcement by the Biden administration allowing individuals who identify as nonbinary or intersex to use an X marker on their passport instead of M for male or F for female. In April, the Biden administration announced that airport security would allow passengers to select their gender identity at security checks without supporting medical documentation. Creating the illusion of scientific consensus to demand censorship During the 2022 address to the Federation of State Medical Boards, Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Rachel Levine exclaimed: There is substantial misinformation about gender affirming care for transgender (youth) the country is facing an onslaught of anti-LGBTQI+ actions at the state levels across the United States ... The positive value of gender-affirming care for youth and adults is not in scientific or medical dispute, and we need to use our clinicians voice to collectively advocate for our tech companies to create a healthier, cleaner information environment. This address came after multiple conservative states began to restrict what many doctors and scientists believe to be unethical and harmful genital mutilation of our young. Though the first part of Levines statement could be considered a misguided opinion, his claim that the positive value of sex change treatment for minors is not in scientific or medical dispute was fraudulent and demands redress. This lie is used to censor opposing voices fighting for children. Its time to end the destructive illusion of scientific consensus for censorship. Let me explain. First, Levines claims on this subject are clearly scientifically unsound. Congressman Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) put it best in his tweet responding to Levine: Admiral (Levine) asserts 'need' for Ministry of Truth. To deny this: xy does not equal xx. It takes male & female to reproduce. Every egg is x. Sperm is y or x. At conception (save exceedingly rare cases), the baby human is xy (male) or xx (female). Nothing changes reality. Embrace the science. Contrary to Levines claims, there is no consensus in favor of minor sex change procedures. Sweden, Finland, the U.K., and the state of Florida have reviewed the data and all came to the same conclusion that the alleged benefits of sex change treatment do not outweigh the risks. The primary advocate of minor sex change treatment, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) has unfortunately become politicized. It bases its position supporting gender-affirming treatment for youths on one non-peer-reviewed article that misrepresents the research and omits all studies that undermine the position. Additionally, the AAP suppresses all efforts by opposing pediatricians for a systematic review of the alleged AAP research on the topic. Of note, the AAP has been previously proven wrong in its COVID guidelines regarding masking, school closures, and other public health measures. The bottom line is that the alleged scientific support for sex change procedures for our young is lacking in true science and is politically tainted. To censor debate on this topic, as Levine demands, is to risk ruining the lives of countless children. Unfortunately for America, the fraudulent illusion of a consensus has become the norm on the Left. In October 2020, the fraudulent expert consensus among the top 51 retired intelligence officials, including former heads of the CIA and DIA, was that the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian Disinformation. This statement was used to support big tech and media censoring and discrediting the story, which turned out to be true. The dynamic of the illusion of consensus was in high gear during COVID and allowed for mistakes, including draconian mask and lockdown policies, to cause much harm. With the Wuhan lab leak theory, the illusion of scientific consensus against the lab leak theory was ruthless. According to Fox News: The scientists who supported the (lab leak) theory had research papers rejected, and the media branded them conspiracy theorists Lord Matt Ridley, author of the book Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, told Fox News that funding was also a motive for silence. Senior scientists were quietly saying to me, We think you're right that it does need to be taken seriously, but we don't say so because the funding agencies might give us a hard time. Americans can no longer tolerate the Progressive tactic of appealing endlessly to an alleged consensus in order to end every debate. It has been catastrophic for America and continues to destroy not only dissenters of the party line, but any form of constructive dialogue as well. The future of our children is now at stake. The God who created us man and woman and who established the order of the universe will not be mocked. His Truth must be allowed to penetrate the darkness in America. 'Mass graves litter the countryside': Over 40 Christians slaughtered, 58 kidnapped in Christmas attacks ABUJA, Nigeria One Christian was killed and 53 were kidnapped on Christmas Day in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria, after more than 40 Christians were slain in the week leading up to the holiday, sources said. Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on Dec. 25 attacked Angwan Aku village in Kajuru County, Kaduna state, at about 10 a.m. local time, area resident James Akawu said. Church worship service was about to commence when the attackers arrived at the village riding on motorbikes and shooting sporadically, Akawu told Morning Star News in a text message. They killed one Christian and kidnapped 53 other Christians who are still being held captive. In Kaura County, residents said herdsmen and other terrorists killed 40 Christians in Mallagum on Dec. 18 and another three Christians in Kagoro on Dec. 23, area sources said. Were being attacked again by terrorists. There are gunshots everywhere again this night, Kagoro town resident Jay Awan told Morning Star News in a Dec. 23 text message. This is worse. Please we need help. Another resident, Amos David, on Dec. 19 sent a text message saying Kagoro was attacked beginning the prior Sunday night. Homes and barns are still burning as I send out this message to you, he told Morning Star News. The Rev. Stephen Panya Baba, president of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), sent out a prayer request in a group text message on Dec. 23. Right now (9:45 p.m.) there are gunshots from the suspected Fulani herdsmen, Baba said, recalling that the assailants had struck nearby Mallagum the previous Sunday. The dead were just buried yesterday, Thursday. Now in less than a week, they are back again. Kagoro is home to the ECWA Theological Seminary, the ECWA College of Health Technology and several churches. Town resident Emmanuel Gandu said terrorists were destroying both lives and property. Family life has been disrupted, the lucky survivors have become refugees in their land waiting for palliatives in an endless genocide they cant understand, Gandu said. Mass graves litter the community and the countryside. Our people can no longer go to their farms for fear of being gunned down or macheted. Settlements and villages yet to be attacked have become ghost towns as people have fled, he said. Lamentably, the Fulani terrorist attacks have continued unabated as they are heard chanting, Allah Akbar [Allah is greater] during the killing and destructive expeditions, Gandu said. It is on record that Kagoro has suffered 13 deadly attacks with catastrophic consequences from 2011 to Dec. 23, 2022. Without decisive and urgent action, he said, Christians in Kagoro could be wiped out. In nearby Mallagum, 40 Christians were killed and more than 100 houses were burned down on Dec. 18, area sources said. The attackers, whom we know are herdsmen and armed bandits, attacked our town at about 11 p.m. on Dec. 18, Mallagum resident Rikichi David said in a text message. Six members of my family were among those killed. Speaking at a funeral for the slain on Dec. 22, the Rev. Benjamin Bala, a Roman Catholic priest, noted that he and others began hearing gunshots after 11 p.m. on Dec.18. We made efforts to contact security agents. After one or two calls, however, the network became inaccessible, Bala said. Within few minutes, many houses were in flames as we could hear helpless people who were trapped, crying for help that did not come until their voices went silent in painful death. By the next day, Dec. 19, at least 40 people were killed, many others wounded, 102 homes were burned down along with grain houses, and many people were displaced, the priest said. The attack was executed simultaneously across various villages, he said, with ammunition shells apparently from machinegun-like weapons recovered. In this attack, about six families were entirely wiped out, Bala said, adding that the assailants fled after police later arrived with counter-gunfire. The Rev. John Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, corroborated that 40 Christians were killed at Mallagum, as did Luka Biniyat, spokesman for the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). Members of six families who totaled 40 were killed by the herdsmen and bandits, while 102 houses were burned down, Biniyat said. Their homes were also looted as food stuffs and other household valuables were carted away by the terrorists. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a recent report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP [Islamic State West Africa Province] and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in recent years (Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report. Nigeria trailed only China in the number of churches attacked, with 470 cases, according to the report. In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year. Mexican president pledges to urge U.S. to end interventionist policy Xinhua) 13:26, January 04, 2023 MEXICO CITY, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday said he will at a summit urge the U.S. government to end the interventionist Monroe Doctrine it has followed for the past 200 years. As the host of the North American Leaders' Summit next week, Lopez Obrador is set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau here in the Mexican capital. Lopez Obrador plans to call on Biden to change the U.S. policy of "intervening in" countries throughout the Americas in a bid to dominate the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine, formulated in the early 1800s by then U.S. President James Monroe, "has been in place for 200 years," he told reporters during his daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City. The principle deems any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas as a potentially hostile act against the United States, and has been giving Washington reasons to exercise control over Latin America. "Respect the autonomy and self-determination of the peoples. It is a very important change," said Lopez Obrador. He also aims to propose integrating North America with the rest of the Western Hemisphere economically to promote development and tackle immigration. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Russian Deputy FM Andrei Rudenko says that peace treaty talks with Tokyo will not happen if Japan's Russophobia is fostered by its US allies. Russian Deputy FM Discounts Any Peace Treaty Talks The Russian official stated that these comments aired last Tuesday, reported TASS. The quarrel over archipelagos just off Japan's most northern island, Hokkaido, which the Soviet Union took up at the end of World War II, deterred Moscow and Japan from officially deciding to end tensions in the discord, reported Zawya. The contest islands are the Kurils in Russia, Japan's northern territories. Rudenko indicated that it is challenging to discuss the decision to sign this type of document (a peace treaty) with a state that assumes forthrightly unwelcoming stances and permits itself straightforward provocations against the country, noted Taipei Times. He added that Japanese leaders choose to take up a US position that is openly anti-Russia and leaves no room for any agreement. Japan's Russophobia Is a Hindrance Moscow did not continue talks in March last year when Tokyo followed Joe Biden's lead in sanctioning Russia over the Donbas special operation. However, Tokyo would find the move of Moscow unfair and unacceptable despite sanctioning at the behest of Washington. On one side, Rudenko indicated the Kremlin upholds the "One China" policy that the US trashed on the Taiwan issues. He made it clear that Beijing got its support over the enclave, where defeated Chinese forces went after the defeat in 1949. He added that Russian support in Taiwan was clear. Saying that the mainland government that the PRC is for all of China, even Taiwan. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Issues Chilling Warning That the EU, US Is Next After Kyiv Was Left Defenseless, Begging for Assistance Beijing has not let go of its claim that Taiwan is a part of greater China and the pressure on the enclave, which wants sovereignty. Russian Officials Strengthen Trade in the Middle East In a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov supposedly managed to negotiate ways to enhance economic and trade collaboration prospects between Moscow and Tel Aviv, citing ANews. The Russian Foreign Ministry put out a statement in which the heads of the foreign ministries mentioned pertinent activities on the bilateral initiative, focusing on the value of reinforcing the prospects for trade and investment. This context was emphasized when it was suggested that the upcoming conference of the Joint Russian-Israeli Commission be organized. Based on the statements of the two diplomats who evaluated the circumstances in the Middle East and North Africa, even further acknowledging that Lavrov as well as Cohen was briefed on some aspects of the crisis in Ukraine As Cohen took office, Lavrov complimented him and said he was willing to collaborate with him to promote several areas of mutually beneficial collaboration between Moscow and Israel. The Israeli official was appointed as a foreign minister as a member of the 37th administration led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he presided over the Knesset last Thursday. He will be the foreign minister for only a year and rotate with Israel Katz, who is the present energy minister, as a highlight of the negative Japan Russophobia that stops peace treaty talks, Russian Deputy FM Rudenko. Related Article: Turkish Foreign Minister Says US Is Interfering in Stabilizing Relations with Greece @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Retired NASA astronaut Walter Cunningham, the last surviving Apollo 7 astronaut, died at age 90 early Tuesday morning, the space agency announced. Cunningham was one of the earliest members of NASA's human spaceflight program and was the pilot of the first crewed flight in the famed Apollo program. He and his team went on to land humans on the moon for the first time in history. Walter Cunningham's Death The late astronaut's family released a statement that was shared by NASA where they were expressing their immense pride in the life that Cunningham lived and their gratitude for the man that he was. They considered him a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, husband, brother, and father. He was the last surviving astronaut of the Apollo 7 crew, which included astronauts Wally Schirra and Donn Eisele. Cunningham was born in Creston, Iowa, and was a recipient of an honors bachelor's degree in physics and a masters with distinction in physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, as per CNN. The late astronaut was 36 years old when NASA launched the Apollo 7 mission and during an interview in 1999, he reflected on his career path and motivations. He said that he was one of the people who never really looked back. While Cunningham ventured into outer space only once, he went on to become a leader in the space agency's Skylab program, which was the United States' first space station that orbited Earth from 1973 to 1979. Before he joined NASA, the late astronaut enlisted in the United States Navy and began training as a pilot in 1952, based on his official NASA biography. He also served as a fighter pilot with the US Marine Corps on 54 missions in Korea. According to NASA, Cunningham also worked as a scientist for the Rand Corporation for three years, working on classified defense studies and problems related to our planet's magnetosphere. He was able to accumulate more than 4,500 hours of flying time in 40 different aircraft, which included more than 3,400 in jet aircraft. Read Also: China Aims To Build Territory on Moon Amid Space Race, NASA Chief Warns Foundation of Human Space Exploration The director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche, said that they were beholden to Cunningham's service to the United States and his dedication to the advancement of human space exploration. She added that the late astronaut's accomplished legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration to all of them. Before being a part of the Apollo 7 crew, Cunningham was assigned to the prime crew for Apollo 2, until it was canceled, and the backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 1. He was designated the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 7 mission which was designed for 11 days and launched on Oct. 11, 1968. On Tuesday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that Cunningham was "above all" an explorer whose work also laid the foundation for the space agency's new Artemis moon program. The astronauts who were part of the Apollo 7 mission won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, KOLD reported. Related Article: Scientists Work on Implementing GPS System on Moon To Aid Astronauts Shuttle Back and Forth @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Stuart Templeton, Head of UK, Slack Despite its potential for relieving pressure on the workforce, automation in the workplace is often seen negatively, as a cause of job losses or a growing skills gap. Yet, done well, automation can provide critical support that frees people up to focus on more impactful work and can lead to happier, more motivated and productive employees. At a time when burnout has become a major issue with Future Forum data showing 40% of workers globally experience it automation can also help employees by simplifying work and saving them time. So, how can IT leaders help reduce the cognitive load and automate common tasks such as creating sales decks using Salesforce data or raising purchase order requests? One way is through the digital headquarters (HQ). Making automation a reality with the digital HQ The key to effective workplace automation is keeping it simple and empowering end users. If a system is too complicated to set-up it becomes a burden on the tech team and is not scalable. With most businesses still navigating the shift to hybrid, the one office that every employee comes into each day is the digital HQ a single digital space where workflows between your people, systems, partners and customers. In transforming how teams work, communicate and collaborate, the digital HQ sits at the heart of automation initiatives, with free-flowing conversations built around specific projects or teams taking place in channels. Heading into a tough economic climate, its more important than ever for organisations to keep teams motivated and engaged, so they are able to perform and deliver results quickly. Automation within the digital HQ is a major step towards this empowering employees to liberate their time from manual tasks and helping them breeze through multiple requests that might otherwise perforate their day. Offering a no-code solution that everyone can use, Slacks Workflow Builder hands control back to the team, boosting efficiency in the process. Just ask telecommunications giant Verizon, who used Slacks digital HQ alongside automations to improve output and employee experience. Slack Personalised problem-solving Verizons Planning and Engineering team were the first to identify the potential of Slacks Workflow Builder to bring solutions to, not just their own department, but the whole company. This is because Workflow Builder is an easy-to-use tool that requires no coding experience, with over 400,000 people around the world having built workflows so far 80% of whom are in non-IT roles. It was therefore easy for Verizon to see its potential to give teams autonomy in solving their own pain points. Verizon launched the Citizen Builder Programme, encouraging staff to leverage automated workflows to create solutions. This level of personalised problem-solving meant issues were resolved with far greater precision than if another team had been tasked with the job. With one impactful example being how Verizons Wireline Network Operations team used Slacks Workflow Builder to coordinate field technicians for last-mile service calls. Automating parts of this process not only reduced the load on the team but also led to more accurate customer appointment times all without adding any additional pressure to Verizons IT team. With an expansive telecommunications operation, and a reputation for excellent customer service, Verizon faces a huge amount of admin every day. But with Slacks Workflow Builder, they have ensured it doesnt take its toll on workforce motivation, and satisfaction isnt reserved exclusively for its customers. For more information on how Slacks Digital HQ can help your business click here. The last thing any CIO wants is to experience catastrophic operational issues during a peak season, but thats exactly what executives at Southwest Airlines faced last week. While weather may have been the root cause, the 16,000 flights canceled between Dec. 19-28 far exceeded any other airlines operational impacts. Experts point to Southwests point-to-point operating model as problematic in recovering from major weather issues compared to the hub-and-spoke model used by many major airlines. But Southwests technology was also cited by experts and the companys leadership as contributing to the calamity. IT and infrastructure from the 1990s, said Casey A. Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, and Southwest has always been a laggard when it comes to technology, according to Helane Becker, an aviation analyst with Cowen. Even before the blizzard hit, Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan acknowledged on Nov. 30, Were behind. As weve grown, weve outrun our tools. If youre in an airport, theres a lot of paper, just turning an aircraft. Surely many more details about this failure will surface over the next several months. CIOs know that tech issues get the trigger finger of blame when businesses experience operational disasters, but we also know there are culture and process issues that can be primary and often untold contributors both well within the CIOs purview. So, Ill use this opportunity to point out what questions CIOs should be asking about their enterprises based on what we can already discern from last weeks Southwest Airlines IT disaster. 1. Are you investing enough in digital transformation? Southwest Airlines recently announced a quarterly dividend that will pay out to shareholders starting Jan. 31 what amounts to $428 million a year. They also received $7 billion in pandemic aid and performed $5.6 billion in stock buybacks between 2017 and 2019. Eurocircuits Moving into New Hungarian Facility Published: 04 January 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes EGER, HUNGARY Eurocircuits is currently in the process of moving into its new assembly facility in Eger, Hungary, with an expected completion of the move by the end of the week. The new facility features seven assembly lines two more than the company's old assembly building the production floor of the new building is 2,500 sq. m. compared to the 840 sq. m. of the old one. The new facility also features a second selective soldering machine, a second vapour phase soldering machine, a third reflow oven, and a third solder paste jetter. It also includes additional storage capacity for components and feeders, with six additional Mycronic storage towers joining the eight existing ones and two more Dexon paternoster storage systems bringing the total number to three. The machines for the new building were delivered last month, and the company began the moving process at the beginning of this week. During the move, the company has kept one assembly line working in its old plant, along with another line in its facility in Aachen, Germany. The old Hungary plant's line will remain active until the new facility has an assembly line up and running. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir drew international criticism, particularly among Palestinians, after making a visit to the Temple Mount holy site in Jerusalem that some have considered an "unprecedented provocation." The lawmaker, who has called for a harder line towards the Palestinian, walked around the site while being surrounded by police personnel. There are competing claims to the compound that is bitterly divided between Israel and Palestinians. Itamar Ben Gvir's Visit to the Temple Mount Tensions between the two sides have risen with the advent of Israel's new nationalistic government. Ben Gvir's visit to the holy site is his first public act since the government, which is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was sworn in five days ago. The temple, which is a hilltop site, is considered to be the most sacred place in Judaism and the third holiest in the Islamic religion. It is also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, the site of two Biblical temples, and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, the site of Muhammad's ascent to Heaven, as per BBC. Furthermore, the entire compound of Temple Mount is considered to be al-Aqsa Mosque by Muslims. Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to go inside the compound but are not allowed to pray. However, Palestinians see visits by Jews as attempts to change the delicate status quo. The national security minister, who is also the leader of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, has long said that he wishes to bring a change to the rules to allow Jewish Worship at the site. There was also no indication that Ben Gvir prayed at the holy site during his visit on Tuesday. Following Ben Gvir's visit to the Temple Mount, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry released a statement. They said that they strongly condemned "extremist Ben Gvir's storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque." Read Also: Pope Benedict XVI's Final Dying Words, Last Letter Revealed; Vatican Shares Photos in Resting Place Rising Tensions According to CNN, the ministry added that they held Netanyahu responsible for its consequences on the conflict and the region. The Israeli national security minister was previously convicted for supporting terrorism and inciting anti-Arab racism. The Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, Hamas, warned that the Israeli national security minister's visit to the Temple Mount would be a "precursor for the ignition of the region." In response, Ben Giv posted on Twitter, saying that the Israeli government will not surrender to what he called a "vile murdering organization." He added that the holy site was open to everyone, saying that if Hamas thinks they can threaten him, he will let them understand that the times have already changed. In the so-called status quo agreement, which dates back to Ottoman rule of Jerusalem, non-Muslims are only allowed to visit the area at certain times. On the other hand, German authorities urged everyone to "avoid actions that could increase tensions." They added that the status quo has helped to maintain the fragile peace and security around the holy sites. Berlin's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, posted on Twitter that they wanted everyone to avoid conducting actions that could worsen the situation or trigger violent responses, the Times of Israel reported. Related Article: Damascus Airport Out of Service Following Israeli Missile Strike That Kills At Least 2 @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Income at Age UK edged higher last year despite the charity receiving 10m less through fundraising. According to its recently filed accounts for the year ending March 2022, the charitys finances were boosted by an increase in legacy income and its retail chain reopening after Covid-related lockdowns the year before. Age UKs income increased to 73.5m from 71.8 in 2020-21, with charity shops bringing in 32.8 compared with 11.4m the year prior. The accounts state: This was an unexpectedly good performance, thanks to the committed hard work of our retail staff and recovery from the lockdowns of the pandemic. Expenditure was 62.8m compared with 69.3m the year prior, and broadly in line with 2020. As the charity continued to see the impact of Covid-19 on beneficiaries, the accounts also state that the cost-of-living crisis has been the greatest concern of all for older people, such as the scale of the energy crisis. Nonetheless, Age UK looks to have navigated the impact of the pandemic. The accounts read: The financial recovery plan we developed in the early days of the pandemic has stood us in good stead and kept us firmly on track. Weve seen strong performance this year from legacies and our retail network and a 17.4m increase in net resources. Fundraising down after Covid-19 appeal In 2021-22, 61% of the charitys gross income came from fundraising activities and in total raised over 77m. Fundraising continues to be Age UKs most vital and significant source of income, powering all that we do to help older people most in need, state the accounts. Nonetheless, fundraising in the previous financial year was notably higher at 87m, which the charity says was largely due to the fundraising success of its Covid-19 emergency appeal. In the year to March 2022 income from legacies totalled 30m, which was up from 23.7m the year prior this helped to offset some of the reduction in donations and grants. Age UK received 329 complaints about its fundraising, and of those 70% were made about lottery and raffle. The previous year it received 618 complaints about its fundraising, which the accounts say was mainly driven by an increase in the number of donors as a result of the emergency appeal. Employee numbers decline Paul Farmer, the former chief executive of Mind mental health charity, joined Age UK as chief executive in October 2022. Total redundancy costs for 2021-22 were 716,082 for the group and 227,666 for the charity. In 2020-21 they were around 2.8m and 330,000 respectively. The average number of employees was 1,481 in 2021-22 down from 1,645 in 2020-21. The highest paid received between 240,000 and 250,000. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, According to royal expert Kinsey Schofield, Prince Harry will "turn on" his brother Prince William in his forthcoming memoir 'Spare' as part of a new attack on the Royal Family. As speculation grows that the Duke of Sussex will "attack" the Prince of Wales in his highly-anticipated memoir, due out next week, US royal correspondent Kinsey Schofield told GB News that it's time for Prince Harry to "move on" as she agreed with predictions about an attack on Prince William, who has been "the one person in the world to make his life easier." Prince Harry's Memoir to Hit Prince William The Hardest Experts expect that Prince Harry will shift his attention to Prince William now that his father, King Charles III, is monarch. As the release date for Spare nears, experts speculate about the book's subject matter. It comes only weeks after the release of Harry & Meghan on Netflix, in which the pair makes new allegations against the royals. Kinsley asserted on Tuesday's GB News that Prince Charles will be "attacked" by Harry. In a preview for his candid interview with ITV's Tom Bradbury, Prince Harry states: "I would like my father back. I would like to have my brother back." Per Express, it was announced today that the duke has participated in two fresh interviews, one with ITV and the other with 60 Minutes on CBS. The trailers for both interviews were posted on Twitter this morning, but the complete interviews will run only days before the release of the duke's "explosive" new book Spare. In the ITV preview trailer, Prince Harry also claims that the Royal Family has "displayed zero inclination to reconcile" with him. The complete interview shot at the Sussexes' California residence, will appear on Sunday, only two days before the release of the Duke's highly awaited memoir. In his "revealing" US television appearance, the prince is anticipated to reveal further information about the controversial book. In the interview with CBS anchor Anderson Cooper, body language expert Judi James believes Prince Harry is attempting to appear "superior" and "victimized." In the teaser, he portrays himself as an "authoritative prince," a "guru," and a "bean-spilling victim," according to her. Read Also: US, China Economy Slowing Down; Global Recession Looms Large This 2023, Expert Warns Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Still Invited to King Charles' Coronation It follows criticism of Harry and Meghan's Netflix series, which TalkTV's Piers Morgan described as "worse than the Kardashians." The couple was also accused that their "truth" as depicted in the new program did not correspond with reality, according to The Sun. In the document, it is said that Prince William yelled at Prince Harry during Megxit negotiations while the future king lied. Since leaving the Royal Family, the 38-year-old Duke has granted a number of interviews to the media in an effort to raise his public profile. Reportedly, he has also held discussions with a number of big US networks on more TV discussions. Last year, he and Meghan Markle appeared on Oprah Winfrey's talk show. A month later, Prince Harry stated on NBC that he intended to "protect" the Queen by surrounding her with the "right people." A source familiar with the upcoming memoir of Prince Harry has stated that it is "particularly harsh on William." The "personal and emotional" book ghostwritten by Pulitzer Prize winner JR Moehringer will be published on January 10 by Penguin Random House. The same cannot be said about the Prince of Wales, the insider said. The six-part Netflix series was published over the course of two weeks in December 2022, with the pair discussing the treatment of Meghan Markle by the British media, their love story and their choice to move to the United States in 2020. Per The Independent, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have not yet replied to the allegations made in the documentary series. It was stated after the premiere of the show that Harry and Meghan intend to "sit down with the royal family" to discuss their "problems." Despite their criticism of the institution in the Netflix series, recent rumors indicate that the couple will be invited to King Charles' coronation in May. Related Article: Prince Louis Dubbed as the 'Superstar' of Sandringham Christmas; Why Royal Kids Can't Sit with the Rest of the Family? @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) - San Miguel Corporation, along with Rural Rising Philippines, has helped save over a million kilograms of harvest from farmers throughout the pandemic. The partnership has so far boosted the income of about 4,500 Luzon farmers, and has also provided consumers with fruits and vegetables sold at more affordable prices. Over 1.7 million kgs of produce have been rescued as a result of this effort. "Food security remains to be one of the pressing concerns today and in the coming years, and we are happy to help bridge the gap between farmers and end-consumers by ensuring farmers get better-than-farmgate prices for their agricultural produce to earn higher incomes while offering these directly to consumers, including our employees," SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said in a statement released on Wednesday. From the 1.7 million kgs rescued, Better World Diliman donated over 14,000 kgs of agriculture produce, including sayote, cabbage, lemons, and watermelons to Tondo-based communities since 2020, while its more recent Box-All-You-Can activities at the SMC head office yielded 2,260 kgs of fruits and vegetables sold to employees. The initiative is part of SMC's program to help boost farm incomes, prevent food waste, and ensure the country's food security amid the ongoing pandemic. (CNN) Japan is offering to pay families to move out of its overcrowded capital, in an effort to revitalize countryside towns and boost the falling birth rate. Starting in April, families in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including those headed by single parents, will be eligible to receive 1 million yen ($7,700) per child if they move to less-populated areas across the country, according to a spokesperson from the central government. The incentives apply to children aged under 18, or dependents 18 and over if they're still attending high school. It's not the first time the government has tried to use financial incentives to encourage people to leave, but this plan is more generous at three times the amount currently offered. For decades, people across Japan have migrated to its urban centers seeking job opportunities. Tokyo is the country's most populous city, with roughly 37 million residents. Before the Covid pandemic, the number of people moving into Tokyo outnumbered those leaving the city by up to 80,000 each year, according to government statistics released in 2021. But this migration pattern, combined with Japan's rapidly aging population, has left rural towns with fewer and fewer residents, as well as millions of unoccupied homes. More than half of the country's municipalities, excluding Tokyo's 23 wards, are expected to be designated as underpopulated areas in 2022, according to a national census. Meanwhile, in major cities, space has rapidly run out and prices have skyrocketed. Tokyo is consistently one of the world's most expensive cities to live in, ranking fifth globally in 2022. Super-aged nation This problem, the migration of young people from the countryside to crowded cities, is a key factor in Japan's larger demographic crisis, according to experts. The country has long struggled with low birth rates and long life expectancy, and has seen the number of deaths outnumber births in recent years. Experts point to several factors: the high cost of living, limited space and lack of childcare support in cities make it difficult to raise children, meaning fewer couples are having kids. Urban couples are also often far from extended family who could help provide support. For example, Tokyo has the lowest fertility rate of all 47 prefectures in Japan. Current migration patterns are resulting in deserted hometowns with few children. In the riverside village of Nagoro in southern Japan, there were fewer than 30 residents in 2019, with the youngest resident over the age of 50. The village's only school shut down a few years ago after its last students graduated. To combat these issues, authorities launched an initiative in 2019 to attract people to regional areas. Under this plan, individuals who have lived and worked in the Tokyo metropolitan area for at least five years could receive 600,000 yen ($4,500) if they moved to rural areas. That incentive is higher for couples, at 1 million yen ($7,700). Last year, the government allowed single parents or couples with children to receive 300,000 yen ($2,300) per child if they relocated. Those who relocate could work in that area, set up their own business or keep working remotely at their Tokyo-based jobs, said the government spokesperson. "Tokyo has a very high concentration of people, and the government wants to increase the flow of people to the regional areas to revitalize areas with declining populations," he added. There is some evidence the program is gaining traction, though numbers are still low. In the first year of launch, only 71 households participated, compared to 1,184 households in 2021. Japan's government has also made other efforts to address the population decline, including introducing policies in the past few decades to enhance child care services and improve housing facilities for families with children. Some rural towns have even begun paying couples who live there to have children. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Tokyo is so crowded the government is paying families to leave" (CNN) "Hawkeye" star Jeremy Renner thanked well-wishers for their "kind words" in his first post to social media since his New Year's Day snow plowing accident. In a short post to Instagram, where he shared a selfie reflecting some facial bruising, Renner wrote, "Thank you all for your kind words. Im (sic) too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all." Earlier on Tuesday, Samantha Mast, Renner's publicist, provided more details on the accident that landed Renner in the hospital, saying the actor was near his Nevada home, clearing driveways prior to the incident. Renner was moving snow from his driveway on Sunday, so that his family members could depart his residence after they celebrated the holidays together, his representative added. Members of Renner's family were with him when the accident occurred. The Reno Gazette Journal reported on Monday that Renner had been assisting a stranded motorist at the time of the accident, citing Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. Mast said he was helping clear a neighbor's driveway. More details about what led to the accident will be shared by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office at a press briefing scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, Mast said. Renner remains hospitalized under intensive care. He is recovering from surgery after suffering "blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries," a spokesperson for Renner previously told CNN. The 51-year-old actor has so far undergone two surgeries to address injuries he sustained in the accident, a source close to the actor told CNN. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office has said its deputies responded to a "traumatic injury" involving Renner in the area of Mount Rose Highway in Reno. Deputies found Renner injured and coordinated his transport to an area hospital, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release, adding that the actor was the only person involved in the accident. At the time of the accident, parts of western Nevada were covered with snow. The Reno area received around 6-12 inches of snow at elevations below 5,000 feet between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and up to 18 inches at higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. Renner has shared multiple videos and photos on his verified social media accounts showing him in snowy conditions, including one Instagram video posted two weeks ago in which the actor appears to be driving a snowplow. Renner's family released a statement Monday evening thanking hospital staff and first responders as the actor remained hospitalized. "Jeremy's 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," a statement from his spokesperson read. "They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans." Renner stars in the Paramount+ series "Mayor of Kingstown" and is best known for his role as Hawkeye in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films. His "Avengers" co-star Mark Ruffalo asked for prayers of support for Renner on Monday. "Prayers up for our brother @jeremyrenner on a full and speedy recovery," Ruffalo posted on his Instagram stories. "Please send healing goodness his way." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Jeremy Renner shares first photo since snow plowing accident." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) The Year of the Water Rabbit will be a good time to find love and cultivate romantic relationships, according to Feng Shui expert Marites Allen. She revealed to CNN Philippines her predictions for the year, reminding the public to manage their stress levels. "I declare 2023 as the year of love," Allen said in an interview on Tuesday. "This is the year of moving on. This is a good year to be engaged, to be married, to have babies rabbits make a lot of babies." "We have to be careful with anything to do with our hearts, so less stress," she added. Allen said the population rate normally increases during the Years of the Rabbit and Dragon, the Chinese zodiac in 2024. She added in her forecast that it will be a calmer year compared to 2022. "There's going to be more peaceful negotiations rather than arguments because it's going to hurt the rest of the world," Allen noted. "Basically, the leaders could think peaceful negotiations are better, she also said. Forecast for PH leaders The Feng Shui expert also gave her predictions for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte for 2023. She said it will be a good year for Marcos and Duterte who were born on the Years of the Rooster and Horse, respectively, since they are both going through what she called "wealth luck cycle." "Naturally when the leaders of the country are going through a good luck, it could also benefit the country," she said. Allen said it is better for Marcos to travel since it is his Chinese zodiac sign's conflict year, since the rabbit and rooster are incompatible. She added that Marcos and others born in the Year of the Rooster are blessed with windfall this year. "The more he goes out and gets investments from abroad, it's good for him to keep traveling because it's his conflict year," Allen said. "The more he goes out, it's going to be very good for the country." For Duterte who was born in the Year of the Horse, she said the year will bring good fortune to the vice president. She also said that those born in the same Chinese zodiac sign should push themselves to the limit and keep working smart. Lucky, unlucky signs and other tips The other lucky signs are those born in the Years of the Sheep, Monkey, and Rat, according to Allen. For those born in the Years of Boar and Dog, she said they will have good fortune and career, but they must be mindful of their health. The Feng Shui expert warned those born in the Years of the Dragon and Snake to be careful of misunderstandings and arguments. She advised them to opt for red clothes to ward off bad luck. In terms of clothing, she said it is generally lucky to wear metallic colors since the Year of the Water Rabbit lacks the element of metal. Metal is like magnet affiliation and networking..." Allen pointed out. "Gold and silver are good for the year. But we also have our own personal colors." A top Russian diplomat has praised North Korea for its "firm" support of Moscow's protracted invasion of Ukraine, which has found few steadfast foreign backers. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told the state-run Tass news agency that Pyongyang's backing for the Kremlin's strike on its neighbor will aid in advancing bilateral relations. Russia-North Korea Ties He said that North Korea was one of the few nations that supported Moscow's September claim of annexing four partially occupied Ukrainian provinces in Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, and Lugansk. Alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang on a variety of topics and expanding diplomatic connections, Rudenko continued, "provide favorable conditions for this." North Korea is apparently providing diplomatic and military backing for Russia's invasion, while China and India have attempted to bridge the increasing gulf between Moscow and its Western adversaries. The invasion is already in its eleventh month, with little indication that Russia would retreat despite repeated combat failures and deteriorating economic conditions, as per Newsweek via MSN. In March, North Korea was one of only five countries, together with Belarus, Eritrea, Syria, and Russia, to vote against a United Nations General Assembly resolution denouncing Moscow's incursion, which at the time threatened to capture Kyiv. In April, North Korea was one of 24 countries that voted against suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. And in October, North Korea joined Russia in opposing a UN General Assembly resolution - approved by an overwhelming majority of 143 nations - urging member states not to acknowledge Moscow's purported annexations. In addition to Russia, Belarus, Nicaragua, and Syria voted against the measure. North Korea has previously formally acknowledged the independence of Moscow's puppet republics in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, whose alleged protection was one of Putin's stated grounds for his war. Ukraine broke diplomatic ties with Pyongyang as a result of this recognition. In the meanwhile, Russian diplomats have supported their North Korean colleagues at the United Nations as Pyongyang conducts an unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches that have angered the United States and its regional allies South Korea and Japan. Read Also: US Air Force Plane Forced To Do 'Evasive Maneuvers' To Avoid Collision with Chinese Fighter Pilot [VIDEO] North Korea Vows to Expand Military, Nuclear Capability North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has ordered a massive expansion of the country's military, including its nuclear capability. The statements were delivered on the first day of the new year, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Kim Jong Un discussed his aspirations to strengthen the military during a Workers' Party of Korea leadership conference. A report from the conference urged for the "bulk production of tactical nuclear weapons" and for government authorities to "create another ICBM system whose primary task is the rapid nuclear counterattack." Saturday morning, North Korea launched three ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, a further escalation after earlier launching drones into South Korean territory. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said that they had detected three missile launches from North Korean territory south of Pyongyang, Fox News reported. From their launch location into the Sea of Japan, the three missiles traveled nearly 350 kilometers. The distance implies an increase in North Korea's capabilities to attack South Korea. The missiles were only the most recent demonstration of the hermit kingdom's growing military might. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden disputed that the allies were planning joint nuclear exercises, but South Korea reaffirmed on Tuesday that Seoul and Washington are discussing Seoul's participation in US nuclear asset management in the light of escalating North Korean nuclear threats. Per Business Mirror, some analysts believe Kim Jong Un may eventually attempt to utilize his augmented arsenal to extract concessions from the international community, such as sanctions relief. In an interview with a South Korean newspaper published on Monday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that the two nations were pressing for collaborative planning and training including US nuclear capabilities and that the United States replied favorably to the notion. Later, when asked by a reporter at the White House if the two nations were contemplating combined nuclear drills, Biden responded, "No." Related Article: Russia To Arm Warplanes with Long-Range Hypersonic Missiles in Attempt To Further Escalate War Against Ukraine @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) The countrys air traffic system is not outdated and still serves its purpose for controllers, but an upgrade is needed, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Wednesday. When they mentioned outdated, they would mean it is not really obsolete at this point, CAAP Deputy Director for Operations Edgardo Diaz told CNN Philippines The Source. It just requires some upgrading of some of the features but it is working perfectly for as long as we follow the maintenance program requirement and that is being done, he explained. Diaz was referring to an earlier statement made by CAAP Director General Capt. Manuel Tamayo who admitted that the technology behind the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) of the countrys Air Traffic Management Center is already outdated. Tamayo said the technology was conceptualized in the late 1990s, but was started only in 2010 and completed in 2018. RELATED: DOTr: Over 13B needed to modernize outdated system that caused NAIA glitch According to Diaz, a CNS/ATM is being used by air traffic controllers to monitor all airplanes in the countrys air space and as means of communication to guide pilots. So when power went down, controllers lost these, he noted. Diaz said that when the system was purchased in 2010, it was state-of-the-art and was at par with what was being used in neighboring countries. It also has a lifespan of minimum of 15 years, he added. Even if five years already passed since it was completed, the countrys current CNS/ATM is still serving its purpose, he pointed out. Maintenance of the system is regularly done, while upgrading is being implemented based on recommendations made by the manufacturer, Diaz said. To further improve the countrys air traffic monitoring capacity, Diaz said there are plans to purchase a new CNS/ATM. He said this is being discussed even prior to the incident on Jan. 1. Once built, the new CNS/ATM, which will be located outside of Metro Manila, will serve as the primary system, while the existing one will be a backup, Diaz noted. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Wednesday said an internal investigation is still ongoing on what led to the New Year's Day technical breakdown that caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights and affected 65,000 passengers. "The internal investigation is ongoing and we will try to complete it as soon as possible," CAAP Deputy Director for Operations Edgardo Diaz told CNN Philippines' The Source. He also said CAAP is open to an external investigation into the incident. During a briefing on Sunday, CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo said the issue occurred after one of the uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) failed to operate and troubleshooting had to be done. The technical issue affected the whole Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), which is used by air traffic controllers for visibility of air space and for communication with pilots. Diaz said the investigation is pointing to the UPS as the cause of the disruption in operations and that CAAP engineers are already looking into it. Meanwhile, the possibility of the problem coming from power source Meralco has been ruled out, he noted. "If there is power, it passes through several equipment and one of that equipment is the UPS. If there is something wrong with the UPS then that can cause the cut of power going to the equipment we are using for our CNS/ATM," he said. Diaz noted that daily checks, aside from the regular maintenance checkup program, are being done in the CNS/ATM and that it was even checked the day the glitch occurred. For now, the current CNS/ATM is still functional and just needs further updating, Diaz said. He said the government has also been planning to purchase a new system to be used as the primary CNS/ATM, making the existing one a backup. Following the air traffic mess, local think tank Infrawatch PH said high-ranking officials of CAAP must resign, as the crisis brought "international embarrassment" to the Philippines. For Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the probe into the incident must first be completed. But he said should there be officials found responsible for the breakdown, resignation will not be enough. "Kung mad-determine natin na merong neglect, kailangan talagang parusahan natin itong mga nagkasala. Hindi lang magre-resign, but kailangan parusahan," Bautista told CNN Philippines' News Night on Wednesday. [Translation: If we determine that there was neglect, we really need to punish those responsible. Not only should they resign, they should also be penalized.] Bautista also said that while the investigation currently does not point to sabotage, they are still not discounting the possibility as all angles are being considered. In a statement, Sen. Grace Poe said she will call for a hearing on Jan. 12 to look into the issue. "Allowing CAAP & DOTr (Department of Transportation) to normalize airport operations before conducting a hearing. By that time key executives should not have an excuse not to attend," she said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has appealed to full colonels and generals of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit courtesy resignations from their posts as the government aims to cleanse their ranks of illegal drug ties. Abalos made the call in a media briefing Wednesday, as he cited cases of police officials supposedly involved in the trade. I do believe we must cleanse our ranks," he told reporters. "Kaya ako ay umaapela sa lahat ng full colonel hanggang general (Thats why Im appealing to all full colonels and generals) to submit a courtesy resignation. The pronouncement was upon the recommendation of the PNP chief, Abalos noted, as he expressed concern over the number of law enforcers reportedly linked to drugs. RELATED: PDEA district chief, 3 others fall in drug bust in Taguig City Mahirap lumaban sa giyera na ultimo ang kakampi mo ang babaril sa likod mo," the DILG chief said. [Translation: Its hard to go to war when your allies themselves will shoot you in the back.] According to Abalos, the government will form "a committee of five" which will review the records of police officials to determine if they are involved in the illegal trade. He did not release the names of the committee members as of publishing. Abalos also clarified that police officers will remain in the service as long as their courtesy resignations are not accepted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Those innocent will have nothing to worry about, he added. Fastest way to clean the ranks Pressed further about the recommendation, the secretary explained that this would be a shortcut to clean the PNP, citing the long judicial process for erring officials. Weve been doing that for so long alam mo naman ang tagal ng proseso ng husgado. Ang technicality, ang lahat, said Abalos. This is the only way to cleanse the ranks na mabilis. [Translation: Weve been doing that for so long. You already know how long the judicial process takes its technicality and all. This is the only way to cleanse the ranks fast.] Speaking to CNN Philippines' News Night, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. expressed support for Abalos' appeal and said he will submit his courtesy resignation to Marcos on Thursday. Azurin urged other concerned officers to do the same, as he called it an opportunity not only to rid the organization of scalawags but also for PNP leaders to prove their innocence. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo also backed Abalos, saying this shows the DILG chief's "strong commitment" to win the war against illegal drugs. Stressing that they have nothing to fear or hide, Estomo said he and his team of NCRPO generals and police colonels composed of nearly 70 individuals will likewise submit their courtesy resignations. Last month, Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa who also previously served as PNP chief called for a stronger anti-drug campaign and revealed the supposed return of syndicates under the current administration. Dela Rosa and other past leaders of the PNP had also vowed to prioritize internal cleansing among the ranks during their time. CNN Philippines Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) Eight Filipinos who arrived from China from Dec. 27, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023 tested positive for COVID-19 through antigen test upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Department of Health said Wednesday. Citing reports from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Filipinos, who were unvaccinated for the coronavirus, are now isolated and have undergone confirmatory RT-PCR testing on Dec. 31, but it was unclear if all of them got positive results. Based on current protocols, non-fully vaccinated individuals who are unable to present a negative pre-departure test result are tested upon arrival at the airport, the DOH said. In light of this, the DOH assures the public that government continues to conduct COVID-19 monitoring and surveillance activities in the country, as well as keeping an eye for global health events that may occur, it added. Authorities have yet to report if there were other foreign travelers from China who tested positive for the coronavirus. There was also no additional information on what COVID-19 variant the Filipinos were infected with. DOH said it will continue to monitor developments. Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Dec. 31 ordered heightened surveillance on travelers from COVID-hit China at all ports of entry. READ: Chinese tourists are ready to travel abroad again. Here's why some countries are hesitant The DOH continues to remind our kababayans to help prevent transmission through our layers of protection such as sanitation, masking, distancing, good ventilation, and vaccination in addition to practicing healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle, the agency said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the need to expand the Philippines' cooperation with China in separate meetings with Beijing's top officials on Wednesday. On the second day of his state visit, Marcos first met with National People's Congress chairman Li Zhanshu. They tackled the importance of the two nations' trade and economic ties. "The relationship must extend to commerce, culture, education, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people exchanges, the President stressed," read a statement from Malacanang. Marcos also expressed hope that the East Asian giant will continue its investments in the Philippines, it added. Later in the day, Marcos sat down with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Their discussion also centered on forging partnerships, including those with other partner countries. "We have many, many, many areas that we continue to have cooperation in. And I think that they should be encouraged because they are in the precise areas that are necessary to develop so that we are strong financially as a country, we are strong in our society, and we are strong in our partnerships with our friends and allies around the world," Marcos told Li. The Philippine leader earlier said that over 10 key bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during his state visit, which will run until Jan. 5. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno also said key agreements set to be signed would bolster the government's "Build Better More" infrastructure agenda, as quoted by the Malacanang in a separate statement. Furthermore, in an interview with CNN Philippines Politics as Usual, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) said billions of dollars would be coming in for infrastructure and investments. They want to hopefully jumpstart the infrastructure commitment they have for our country and we will start very soon as soon as we get back to the Philippines, FFCCCII vice president Cecilio Pedro said. And they want the businessman, the business delegation, to also take part in in this very important venture which is to bring investment in and hopefully to, to also export our products to China, he added. Pedro said the delegation will be having a roundtable discussion with its Chinese counterparts on Thursday to iron out details on the projects China will be investing in, including how it can help the Philippine government in the future. So those are things that will be discussed in the coming days and even beyond this trip and they will come to the Philippines and we will also, hopefully, send some business delegation back to China to negotiate, he said. Kasi ngayong nakakulong kami eh [Because right now we are confined], we are isolated in a bubble and we have very short time talking to them, they are also isolated. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) Playwright Bonifacio Ilagan, who was detained in the 1970s during Ferdinand E. Marcos' Martial Law regime, received death threats from an unknown number where the caller identified himself as Kumander. According to Ilagan, he received the call on Monday saying that the caller and his unit were tasked to wipe out communists. Although the caller said he still had some respect for Ilagan, he added that his unit is just waiting for the final order from the higher ups. They would surely get me, and that I should not ask for mercy, it would be futile, because I had already been warned, Ilagan said, quoting the warning he received. Prior to the call, the playwright said he also received text messages containing curses and threats on account of his activism. This is the first time that I got a call that said much more, he told CNN Philippines in an email, adding he has since then not received another death threat or similar call. We went to the police only to have the incident recorded in the blotter for our next legal move, he said. On Nov. 17, 2021, Ilagan was among the Martial Law survivors who filed the first disqualification case against then presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his 1997 conviction for failure to file income tax returns when he was vice governor and governor of Ilocos Norte in the 1980s. Ilagan is also the co-convenor and spokesperson of the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) guaranteed the continued rollout of benefits for its members following the suspension of increases in the premium contribution rate and income ceiling for 2023. The state-run health insurer said the suspension would neither affect the implementation of the health insurance program nor the operations of the agency. "Wala ring magiging epekto sa current benefits natin na natatanggap," Rey Balena, senior manager for corporate communications of PhilHealth, said during a public briefing on Wednesday. [Translation: The benefits being distributed to members will not be affected.] "Wala pong magiging pag-urong, pagbaba, o pagbawas sa current level of benefits natin," Balena added. "At 'yung [nakaplanong] benefits for rollout sa mga susunod na panahon, 'yan po ay mangyayari." [Translation: The current level of benefits will not be retracted, lowered, or deducted. The benefits set for rollout in the coming months will push through as well.] Balena said only the implementation of benefits scheduled for release this year would be "adjusted." These include the outpatient packages for mental health and severe acute malnutrition, he said. "Sa konsulta o 'yung ating expanded primary care benefit package, tuloy-tuloy na ang implementation nito," Balena said. "Kung meron mang adjustments sa implementation ay very, very minor lang po." [Translation: In terms of consultation or the expanded primary care benefit package, implementation is continuous. Should there be adjustments, these are very, very minor.] But as to how the implementation of the new benefits will be adjusted, the PhilHealth spokesperson said the public should wait for further announcements. Meanwhile, when asked if the health insurer has enough funds to cover the whole year despite the suspension of the premium rate hike, Balena reiterated PhilHealth "is here to stay." He cited waived membership contribution fees, government subsidy, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office as fund sources. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered PhilHealth to suspend the increase in premium rate from 4% to 4.5%, and block the increase in income ceiling from 80,000 to 90,000. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) Should President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accept the courtesy resignation of some senior police officials, this will "automatically be considered as their retirement" and would mean they will receive benefits, the country's police chief told CNN Philippines on Wednesday. "They will be entitled to receive their entitlement benefits dahil sabi nga kanina, pinaghirapan nila lahat kung ano man ang narating po nila [because as earlier said, they worked hard for whatever they have achieved]," Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said in an interview on News Night. In a text message, he clarified this would also mean resignation from service and not just from their positions. Earlier in the day, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. appealed to full colonels and generals of the PNP to submit courtesy resignations from their posts, as the government aims to rid the organization of illegal drug ties. He said this would be a "shortcut" to cleanse the PNP, citing the long judicial process to convict erring officials. According to Abalos, the government will form a five-man committee that will review the records of police officials to determine if they are involved in the drug trade. After the evaluation, the decision to accept the courtesy resignation would ultimately lie with Marcos. CNN Philippines sought clarification from Azurin if the automatic retirement and issuance of benefits would mean that those found to have links to illegal drugs will be allowed to go scot-free. He said if evidence warrants, cases will be filed against concerned officials. However, even with a pending case, they will still get benefits, he added. The PNP chief explained there are two kinds of benefits the retired officers could receive: commutation of accrued leave (CAL) which would depend on one's available leave credits and outright pension which would be given monthly while the case is pending. The individual can receive his monthly pension until he is finally convicted," Azurin said. During the News Night interview, the PNP chief expressed support for Abalos' call, saying it is also an opportunity for officers to prove their innocence. He said he will personally submit his courtesy resignation to Marcos, through Abalos, on Thursday and urged full police colonels and generals -- or third-level officers -- to do the same. "I encourage lahat po ng aming third-level officers to start submitting 'yung kanilang courtesy resignation so that ma-clear naman natin, ma-clear ng bawat colonel, bawat heneral ang kanilang sarili para nang sa ganoon ay hindi po pinagdududahan ang aming hanay," he said. [Translation: I encourage all our third-level officers to start submitting their courtesy resignation so that all colonels and generals can clear their names to put an end to suspicions against our ranks.] Azurin also noted that neither he nor Abalos will be part of the five-man committee that will assess the integrity of police officers. He added: "Definitely po everybody will get a chance to face the committee that will assess and evaluate them so that they can expound and explain 'yun pong mga report po sa kanila [on the reports regarding them]." Azurin also confirmed he knows some people within the organization who are allegedly involved in the illicit trade. "Kilala po natin sila," he said. "Unfortunately, sabi ko nga, nangyari is during the past na mga, recent past or yung mga nakaraan po, hindi ho kasi sila sinawata, 'di ba? Parang tinolerate po...So, I think this is a very right time to start cleansing our ranks." [Translation: We know them. Unfortunately, in the past, they were not stopped. It was as if they were tolerated.] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) A lawmaker is pushing for subsidized and discounted airfares for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by a spike in ticket prices after the New Year's Day system glitch at the country's main airport. In a statement on Wednesday, Sen. Raffy Tulfo urged airline companies to provide special rates to affected migrant workers who wish to return home. His office also said he has coordinated with the Department of Migrant Workers on possibly subsidizing airfares. Some OFWs have turned to the senator to express frustration over the surge in airline ticket prices following the technical issue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights and affected 65,000 passengers. The glitch affected the whole Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), which is used by air traffic controllers for visibility of air space and for communication with pilots. "It would be unfair for our OFWs to absorb the fault or negligence of CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) for the maintenance of their CNS/ATM system," Tulfo said. "Marami sa kanila isang beses lang o mas malimit pa makauwi sa isang taon. Yung pera na sana pangpasalubong o di kaya pang suporta sa kanilang pamilya ay pilitang napunta na lang sa pamasahe [A lot of them go home only once a year, maybe even fewer times than that. The money that they could've been used to buy things for their family or support them instead just goes to airfares]," the senator added. Tulfo's office said it has talked to an airline company, which explained that the sudden increase in prices was based on a "demand-based algorithm." CAAP said an internal probe to determine the cause of the incident is still ongoing. Senators, meanwhile, will be conducting a hearing into the matter late next week to allow airport and other transport officials to normalize operations first. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) to further streamline the administrative structure of the Office of the President "as part of continuing efforts towards efficient and responsiveness in the delivery of its critical mandates" to Filipinos. According to EO 11, which Marcos signed on Dec. 29, 2022 and posted Wednesday on the Official Gazette website, the OP will now consist of five major offices under the president's direct control and supervision. These are the Executive Office, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Private Office, Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), and the Office of the Press Secretary which Marcos renamed to Presidential Communications Office (PCO). The PCO is responsible for "crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing, and coordinating the messaging system of the Executive branch and the Office of the President." Marcos has yet to appoint a Press Secretary after Trixie Cruz-Angeles resigned due to health reasons. Cheloy Garafil acts as the officer-in-charge. EO 11 also said the Private Office will now oversee the Protocol Office and Social Secretary's Office, and attend to the needs of the president and the first family. The OSAP, on the other hand, will direct presidential assistants and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office to push Marcos' priority measures in Congress. In the new structure, the Executive Office headed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin will now have direct supervision and control over the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) which was formerly under the OSAP. The PMS performs the functions of the Cabinet secretariat, assisting the president in establishing agenda topics for Cabinet deliberation, and facilitating discussions of Cabinet meetings. "For this purpose, the Cabinet Clusters System shall be under the PMS," the order said. "The PMS shall also exercise administrative supervision over the Correspondence Office," it added. PMS currently has no chief as Naida Angping asked for time off work last Dec. 2. Malacanang said EO 11 will supersede relevant provisions of Marcos' first EO in July, which also reorganized the OP and abolished the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary. Russia's defense ministry attributed the lethal missile attack by Ukrainian forces to its troops' impermissible use of cell phones, as the death toll dramatically increased on Wednesday. Moscow first reported that 63 Russian servicemen were killed in the weekend onslaught, while Kyiv stated the number was closer to 400 dead and 300 wounded in the Ukraine missile attack, according to a report from Euronews. Some Russian pundits are becoming more and more outspoken about what they regard as a lackadaisical campaign in Ukraine, and this prompted a response from the defense ministry. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not made any public statements on the Russia Makiivka attack, which was another setback following huge combat defeats in recent months of the Russia-Ukraine War. Russian officials have claimed that four Ukrainian missiles struck a makeshift barracks at a vocational college in Makiivka, the eastern Ukrainian twin city of Donetsk, which is now under Russian occupation. Despite an official investigation being opened, the ministry has said that widespread unauthorized usage of mobile phones by personnel was the primary basis for the assault. It added that its rival was able to "track and determine the coordinates" of Russian troops' position for a missile attack because of this. The statement was released early on Wednesday morning, Moscow time. Regiment's Deputy Commander Killed Russia claims that a HIMARS rocket system, manufactured in the United States, was used to launch six rockets at a vocational school on New Year's eve, the BBC reported. Two rockets were intercepted by a Russian military aircraft. Read Also: Iran's Drone Threatens Unknown Recon Plane as It Spies on Iranian War Games Wednesday, the Ministry of Defense released a statement confirming that Lt. Col. Bachurin, the regiment's second-in-command, was among the dead. According to the statement, the Russia Makiivka attack is being looked into by a committee. Responsible officials will be brought to justice, and that measures were being made to avoid a recurrence. Different Death Toll Reports Casualty estimates differ. Reuters was unable to confirm the death toll without help from authorities. A source close to Donetsk's Russia-installed separatist leadership told the media outlet that scores of people had been killed in the hit, a number that was corroborated by Monday's statement from the Russian defense ministry. Russia frequently downplayed death estimates, notably saying that just one man perished when the warship Moskva sank in April 2022, per Al Jazeera. Ukraine reports a considerably greater death toll, estimating 400 people lost their lives in one of the worst attacks in the Russia-Ukraine War. Numerous Russian military bloggers, who have amassed sizable followings by fusing pro-Kremlin lobbying with unfiltered reporting on the situation on the front, have also provided casualty counts in the Ukraine missile attack that are somewhat near the Ukrainian figures. Igor Girkin, a former officer in the Federal Security Service (FSB) who had a key role in sparking the original 2014 fighting in the Donbas, said on the messaging app Telegram that "many hundreds" had died or were wounded. Girkin said that explosives and military supplies were stashed in the structures, which contributed to the intensity of the Russia Makiivka attack. He said the defeats were the fault of Russia's "untrainable" generals. According to the Wagner-affiliated Telegram group Grey Zone, the compound houses about 500 mercenaries. The vocational school, a massive complex of buildings from the Soviet period, seems to have been virtually obliterated in a Ukraine missile attack video shared on social media and geolocated by Reuters. Related Article: North Korea Supports Russia's Aim To Invade Ukraine, Russian Diplomat Reveals @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jennah Kitchell will soon join the executive team leading Colorado's state fire agency, after being selected to serve as chief administrative officer of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control beginning next week. Kitchell currently works as the internal audit director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, a position she has held since 2021 after joining the agency as an auditor in 2016. She will leave this role to begin her work as chief administrative officer on Monday. As a fifth generation Coloradan and a lover of the outdoors, I appreciate the important work DFPC does to protect the people and resources of this state, Kitchell said. I want to apply my leadership skills to help DFPC achieve its goals and fulfill its vision, while advocating for the personnel who make it possible to provide vital services to the residents of this great state. The Division of Fire Prevention and Control was created in 2012 to consolidate state fire functions. The division's responsibilities range from wildland fire management to firefighter training to building code enforcement. As chief administrative officer, Kitchell will supervise the division's daily operations. Kitchell's addition to the division comes as record-breaking wildfires have become more and more common in Colorado in recent years. One year ago, Colorado suffered its most destructive wildfire in state history, when the Marshall fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County. Shortly before, the three largest wildfires in Colorado history all occurred in 2020. Michael Morgan, director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said Kitchell's experience in the Department of Public Safety will lend well to her new responsibilities, saying she assisted the department in becoming more efficient and effective with her audits, while collaborating with stakeholders and supporting departmental goals. I am excited to bring Jennah Kitchell onboard at this key time in DFPC history, Morgan said. We are going through some big changes and she will play a key role in seeing these challenges and opportunities through successfully. Jennah is the right person for the job, and I look forward to her joining DFPCs leadership team. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. It has been discovered that the British couple who perished in a horrific collision involving two helicopters in Australia yesterday was on a trip of a lifetime to visit their relatives. Ron and Diane Hughes, ages 65 and 57, were two of the four people killed when two helicopters crashed in mid-air in front of hundreds of terrified tourists. Couple Among Dead in Australia Helicopter Collision Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, from Merseyside, were married in August 2021 and were on vacation in Australia, where Mr. Hughes' daughter, Jane Manns, and his grandchildren resided. The third British casualty was 40-year-old pilot Ash Jenkinson, who grew up in the West Midlands before migrating to Australia and had recently become a parent. Vanessa Tadros, 36, an Australian mother thought to be linked to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, was also gravely injured when the aircraft crashed near Sea World on the Gold Coast of Queensland. Nicholas, who survived the crash but is in serious condition, had boarded the flight with her. The ten-year-old was extricated from the wreckage and transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, where family members, including his father, who witnessed the incident from the ground, stay by his side. Two further passengers, Winnie De Silva, 33, and Leon, nine, were also hospitalized, as per Daily Mail. Five of the six occupants of the second helicopter, piloted by Michael James, had minor injuries, while one escaped unharmed. Mrs. Manns and her husband Ben sent the following statement: "Our family is sad, and we are still attempting to notify friends and relatives. Please respect our privacy at this difficult time." The Queensland Police Commissioner, Katarina Carroll, intimated that criminal charges may be made, while the inquiry was "still in its infancy." Commissioner Carroll requested 'patience' from the public throughout the Australian Transport Safety Bureau-led investigation. Friends of a British father who tragically died when the helicopter he was operating crashed onto the sands of Australia's Gold Coast have expressed heartfelt memories. Mom Vanessa Tadros, 36, from New South Wales, also passed away, but her son Nicholas, 10 years old, survived. Critically ill, he was transported to the hospital, where his grieving father remains at his side, Mirror reported. Ash, who grew up in the West Midlands but relocated to Australia to start a new life, was regarded as a compassionate and generous pilot who delivered emergency supplies during the 2022 floods. Friends who shared their condolences on Facebook recalled him as being "kind-hearted than everyone else." Read Also: Idaho College Murders: Suspect in Horrifying Killing of 4 Students Believes He's Going To Be 'Exonerated' Fatal Midair Collision Cause is Still Undetermined Kristy Frost, a close friend, wrote: "It is nearly difficult to put into words how much of an influence Ash Jenkinson had on my life and everyone who had the privilege of meeting him." Per BBC, officials said that investigators are still attempting to determine what caused a fatal midair collision between two helicopters on Australia's Gold Coast. Monday's disaster at Sea World in Queensland claimed the lives of two British citizens and two Australians. According to officials, it occurred less than 20 seconds after one helicopter took off from a sandbar and crashed with a landing aircraft. All fatalities and serious injuries occurred in the rising helicopter, which collapsed seconds after its main rotor blade collided with the cockpit of the other aircraft. Last year, floods ravaged New South Wales, particularly around Lismore. Police reported that a 33-year-old mother had serious injuries but was stable in the hospital, while her 9-year-old son remained in critical condition. They were the sole survivors of the wrecked helicopter, along with the 10-year-old child. Both helicopters were doing tourist flights for Sea World, one of the Gold Coast's major amusement parks. Village Roadshow Theme Parks, the company's owner, has expressed sympathy and stated that Sea World Helicopters is an independent operator. 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. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form (Posted Jan. 4, 2022) By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor Local government leaders have started the process of creating a land bank. The first organizational meeting likely will take place later this month. A land bank, known formally as a land reutilization corporation, is a public authority or non-profit organization that acquires unproductive properties for the purpose of returning them to productive use in the community. Their parameters are outlined in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). Our goal is to take properties that are not contributing to the local tax base and local communityproperties the private market doesnt seem to want at this timethen make them attractive for new investment, said David Kell, Madison Countys director of economic development and planning. Land banks can acquire land through tax foreclosures, municipal government transfers, auctions, donations, or open-market purchases. The Madison County land bank likely will focus on acquiring land through foreclosures, Kell said, with some land donations, as well. We dont want to disrupt the private market, Kell said. If an individual or company wants to buy a property through the normal processes, thats what we encourage. This is more for donated property or property that doesnt sell at auction. By law, land banks can acquire land at little or no cost through property tax foreclosures and with a clear title and/or elimination of back taxes. Land banks can hold properties tax-free. They must manage and maintain the properties. Responsibilities could include mowing, making sure the property is secure, environmental cleanup, and/or rehabilitation. The Madison County land bank does not plan to hold onto properties for a long time, nor does it plan to acquire every foreclosed or donated property that comes along, Kell said. The idea is to turn the properties around and sell them for productive use, whether thats for housing, commercial development, or other purposes that benefit the community. Were going to be selective, Kell said. Everything will be evaluated on a case by case basis. As for funding for property purchases and management, Kell said the land bank has a few avenues it can pursue. The county treasurers office can set aside some of its Delinquent Tax and Assessment Collection funds for the land bank. Government entities in the county can put seed money into the land bank. We will need to have those dollars if we take on property, Kell said. Once the land bank is up and running, proceeds from its property sales will go back into maintaining and managing its other properties. The land bank will work closely with townships and municipalities in the county. The last thing we want to do is have a local community out of the loop, not knowing whats going on, and get surprised by something happening in their community, Kell said. County officials have been talking for several years about creating a land bank. They have seen other communities use them successfully and thought now was the right time to create one, Kell said. More than ever, in the decade Ive been here, this is the most active its been when it comes to developers of all sizes and all types of real estate being interested in Madison County, he said. As an example, he pointed to Hondas announcement last fall that it plans to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Jeffersonville. We are in a sweet spot between the (Jeffersonville) plant and Marysville (where Honda operates an auto assembly plant). Two days after the announcement, we had people calling our office about land for end-users supplying that battery plant, Kell said. We want to have tools (like the land bank) to make sure we develop responsibly and allow for any opportunity to be considered, he continued. To get the ball rolling, late last year, the Madison County commissioners passed a resolution to form a land bank and filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. The next step is to form a board. The board must include two county commissioners, the county treasurer, a representative from the largest municipality in the county (London), and three other members, including one with experience in real estate. Mark Forrest and Dr. Tony Xenikis plan to fill the commissioner seats. County Treasurer Stacey McKenzie will fill a seat, as will Rex Castle, Londons safety service director. We will discuss appointments for the other three seats at our first meeting, Kell said. Our goal is to try to have a representative from the north end of the county and one from the south end of the county, plus someone with a real estate background. Meeting dates, times, and places will be posted to the Madison County government website, www.co.madison.oh.us. Meetings will be open to the public. 2023 has finally arrived and it seems that it's going to be another busy year for iPhone software. As one of the most popular smartphones in the world, iPhone's iOS is also the most utilized. With the introduction of iOS 16, there are some features that were promised and speculated to arrive soon. While the details about iOS 17 are still quite slim, there are several features that Apple already announced to be released this year as part of the upcoming updates. In this article, we listed some of the iOS features that Apple plans to launch this 2023. 1. Apple Pay Later Apple Pay Later was announced at WWDC 2022 in June 2022. It is a financing feature that will allow qualifying customers in the US to split a purchase into four equal payments over six weeks. And this doesn't come with any interest or fees to pay. The said feature will be integrated into the Wallet app. According to Apple, the feature is coming in a future software update for qualifying applicants in the US. However, the feature may not be available in all states. This feature is currently not available with iOS 16.2. Likewise, it is not present in the first beta of iOS 16.3. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple Pay Later might launch with iOS 16.4 this year. 2. Security Keys for Apple ID The first iOS 16.3 beta enables new Security Keys for Apple ID. According to Apple, the feature will roll out globally in early 2023. With Security Key for Apple ID, you will have the option to use hardware security keys to further protect your account. If you enable this feature, Security Keys will strengthen Apple's two-factor authentication. It will be done by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors instead of just having a verification code from another Apple device. According to MacRumors, Apple is not planning to release its own hardware security keys. Instead, the feature will use third-party security keys. Read Also: iOS 16 Will Not Have the iCloud Shared Photo Library at Launch 3. Apple Card Savings Account Apple announced in October 2022 that Apple Card users would soon be able to open a new high-yield savings account from Goldman Sachs. With this, users could have their Daily Cash cashback rewards automatically deposited into it. It will come with no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements. The account is said to be managed through the Wallet app on the iPhone. While the savings account was included in the release notes for the iOS 16.1 Release Candidate, and Goldman Sachs updated its Apple Card customer agreement for the feature, the feature has still not been launched. We also did not also see this feature in the first iOS 16.3 beta released last month. Thus, we could only hope to see this in the upcoming updates this 2023. 4. Next-Generation CarPlay Apple previewed the next-generation iPhone-based software platform CarPlay at the WWDC 2022. The next-generation CarPlay features support for multiple displays and widgets. In addition, it also features integration with vehicle functions such as instrument clusters, climate controls, and FM radio. According to Apple, the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience will be announced in late 2023. Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, and Volvo are among the committed automakers. 5. Emergency SOS Satellite Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite was first launched in November in the US and Canada. The feature requires an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, or iPhone 14 Plus running iOS 16.1 or later. Last month, the service became available in select countries. According to Tech Times, this feature will soon become available in more countries and regions. Related Article: iPhone Users, Heads Up! These Models are NOT Compatible with iOS 16 Remote work is reshaping industries, allowing for greater employee work-life balance and flexibility while also enabling companies to consider a geographically borderless pool of talent. The "Computer & IT" category was the top career category for fully remote jobs in 2022, with fully remote listings growing 24% year-over-year, according to job search site FlexJobs. Employers like Twilio, HubSpot, and AnywhereWorks are a few examples of IT companies that have increased hiring for remote jobs, according to a FlexJobs spokesperson. Online job search site Indeed recently published a list of the best remote jobs available now. That list included technical support engineer, application developer, and software engineer positions. Technical support engineers, with a national average salary of $67,326, were in the eighth spot in Indeed's top 14 jobs report; application developer positions were in the 13th spot with an average annual salary of $80,761; and software engineer jobs landed in 14th place, with an annual average salary of $113,660. While not strictly a tech job, project engineers also were also on the Indeed list, with an annual average salary of $74,169. Top cybersecurity jobs include analysts, managers, engineers, and penetration and vulnerability testers. All but two of the top 10 cybersecurity jobs, on average, pay more than $100,000, according to jobs website CyberSeek. Meanwhile, according to a new study from HR consultancy Remote, web developer jobs offer the best opportunity for remote work, with data scientists, software engineers, data analysts, and cybersecurity positions rounding out Remote's top five list. Remote analyzed the 40 most commonly advertised job roles on employer review site Glassdoor, as well as the percentage of listings for each that allowed employees to work outside the office. The study looked at job offerings in the US and UK. In the US, web developers have the highest chance of working remotely, with nearly 37% of positions advertised as having that option, according to Remote. Web developers also can earn 31% more than the US industry average by working in a remote role. Remote IT industry association CompTIA publishes an IT salary calculator that includes salary estimates for 15 different jobs (early, mid and advanced career levels) and geographies (50 states plus DC and 400 metro markets). For example, a mid-career software developer could expect to earn a median salary of $122,780 in Denver, $99,880 in Des Moines or $98,540 in Duluth. The top tech jobs available, according to CompTIA are: Software developer/engineer (74,668 positions); IT support specialist (17,376 positions); Systems engineer (16,984 positions); IT project manager (16,062 positions); Network engineer (14,609). Remote The percentage of job postings listed as "remote". With employees now demanding more flexibility, companies around the world have had to reconsider their business models to attract and retain top talent, Remote stated in the study. As a result, many sectors, job roles, and countries are rapidly embracing a future of remote work. A growing number of companies have instituted policies allowing any employee to work fully remote, including Twitter, Meta (Facebook), Airbnb, 3M, Atlassian, Lyft, SAP, Slack, Spotify, and VMware. Many are taking a cue from employees who want to work in a fully remote world, choosing to shutter offices and manage from a distance; other organizations have permanently closed offices that were used infrequently by a small number of employees. CompTIA In terms of industries embracing remote work, in a list of 10 industries, IT was third, with 15.4% of all IT jobs in the US being fully remote. Telecommunications was also in the top 10, but offered only 9.4% fully remote positions, according to Remote. The numbers from Remotes study, however, were much lower than those from other research firms. Currently, 43% of knowledge workers, including web designers, system analysts and technical writers, can work fully remote, according to Gartner. CompTIA Interest in remote work continues to rise, with 65% of people saying that fully remote work is their ideal arrangement, according to a survey by online job search site FlexJobs. In its report, FlexJobs compared the number of completely remote jobs posted in January 2022 to December 2022 across 50 career categories in its database. Each of the categories increased at least 20% during that period. "As our latest list of growing remote careers demonstrates, the range of remote work continues to span various industries, career levels, and roles creating many opportunities for workers," Toni Frana, career services manager at FlexJobs, said in a statement. "We anticipate this trend to continue well into the future as more employers embrace permanent remote workplaces." FlexJobs' survey found most respondents chose flexibility over a bump in pay. In fact, 63% of the 4,000 respondents said they would choose better work-life balance over higher pay. Job seekers are also heavily invested in keeping or obtaining a remote or hybrid job, according to FlexJobs. Eighty-seven percent of respondents indicated a remote or hybrid job would (or already has) improved their work-life balance. Only 3% said they're looking to go back to the office 100% of the time. Additionally, FlexJobs found: In a renewed effort to challenge search giant Google, Microsoft is planning to integrate the AI engine behind the popular ChatGPT3 chatbot from OpenAI into its Bing search engine, according to reports from The Information and Bloomberg. Microsoft is betting on the rising popularity of ChatGPT3, as it showcases a new way to search the internet and responding to queries using conversational language different from what Google offers currently in the way of links, Bloomberg cited a company source as saying. Google commands more than 91% market share in the internet search category globally, compared to Bings 2.95% as of November 2022, according to data from similarweb.com. The source cited by Bloomberg also said that Microsoft was evaluating the accuracy of the ChatGPT3 AI engine and was working on understanding how soon it could be integrated with Bing, but warned that it could take several months before the chatbot engine is integrated into Bing and is released to the public. The Information report claims that Bings March 2023 release could include the chatbot engine integration going live. An email sent to Microsoft and OpenAI didnt immediately elicit a response. The addition of the new AI engine would not be Microsofts first effort to integrate of an OpenAI tool with Bing. In October 2022, Microsoft in a blog post said that it was looking to integrate the image generation software engine, DALL-E 2, into the image creator inside Bing. Both the planned integrations can be traced back to Microsofts $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019 to expedite efforts to further artificial general intelligence for widely distributed economic benefits. Artificial general intelligence is a term applied to AI systems that can learn to perform any intellectual task a person can, and communicate in natural language the way a person can, as opposed to systems that are trained to do specific tasks. Were partnering to develop a hardware and software platform within Microsoft Azure which will scale to AGI (artificial general intelligence). Well jointly develop new Azure AI supercomputing technologies, according to a joint statement. In addition to integrating new AI features into Bing, Microsofts renewed efforts to grab market share from Google, especially on the mobile side, include plans for a new super app for mobile phones that will combine shopping, messaging, web search, and newsfeeds, according to a separate report from The Information. The Irish Data Protection Commission announced Wednesday that it would fine Meta Ireland a total of $413 million for breaches of the EUs GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) related to the companys handling of personal information on Facebook and Instagram. Under the GDPR, companies looking to process users personal information must do so under one of six identified legal bases, which include the consent of the user, necessity to the performance of a contract, and necessity to comply with a legal obligation. Meta, in response to the original user complaints filed under the GPDR in 2018, stated that it would rely on the contract justification, rather than the consent prong, as it had previously done. (The complaints argued that, by requiring users to agree to Metas use of personal information for ad targeting purposes, the company wasnt offering users any real choice in the matter.) The Irish DPCs initial investigation, that regulator said, didnt find any fault in the companys decision, but fined Meta instead for failing to provide a clear explanation of the legal basis required to its users. As part of the procedure required by the GDPR, however, the DPCs peer organizations reviewed the draft decisions against Meta and argued that the contract basis for data processing was legally problematic, saying that the provision of personalized advertising wasnt necessary, as a matter of law, to the fulfillment of the contract entered into by Meta and its users. The DPC said Wednesday that it disagreed with this, but that the structure of the GDPR specifically, the required review by the European Data Protection Board required it to amend its earlier decisions to reflect the idea that Meta cannot rely on the contract justification for its processing of personal information, and amended its proposed fines accordingly. The DPC pushed back, however, against the Data Protection Boards instruction that the Irish data regulator conduct fresh investigations into Facebook and Instagram data processing, saying that the EDPB doesnt have the authority to do that. The group said it would file a complaint with the European Court of Justice to forestall new investigations, arguing that the instructions amount to overreach by the EDPB. Meta, separately, expressed disappointment with the decisions in a public statement, and said that it will appeal both the substance of the rulings and the fines. While the DPCs decisions outline a three-month timeline for the company to comply with the new rulings, the pending legal action could drag the process out far longer. Wabtec, the leading locomotive and rail system company in the market, confirms a cyberattack it suffered brought by the LockBit ransomware group. They claimed that malware was installed on some systems within their network which led to data theft that was leaked online. What Kind of Data Was Stolen? By the end of the investigation on November 23rd of 2022, review specialists confirmed that Webtac had fallen victim to a cyberattack by the LockBit hacker group, wherein sensitive personal information had been stolen which are the following: Name Date of Birth Non-US National ID Number Non-US Social Insurance Number/Fiscal Code Passport Number IP Address Employer Identification Number USCIS/Alien Registration Number UK National Health Service Number Medical Records Photographs Gender/Gender Identity Social Security Number Financial Account Information Account Username and Password Biometrics Criminal Records Union Affiliation This exposes the data of the company's employees which employs 25,000 people in 50 countries where the company operates. All the stolen data had been leaked on August 20th of 2022, according to Bleeping Computer. The company warns individuals to remain vigilant as they may fall victim to fraudulent activities like identity theft. Victims should monitor their financial accounts and credit reports should there be anomalies present. The company also suggested that the victims should get in touch with their banks to ask for additional security measures. As for identity protection and credit monitoring, they may use services capable of guarding them against possible identity theft or fraud. It was also mentioned on their website that victims can consider implementing two-factor authentication, which could protect accounts from unauthorized access. Should victims receive emails asking for personal data, they should not provide it unless they are certain of its credibility. They should also avoid clicking links or opening attachments to messages that may appear malicious. Indicators include typos, bad grammar, formatting errors, the offer of unsolicited freebies, or requests for disclosure of financial information or passwords. Read Also: LockBit Ransomware Strengthens Extortion Schemes Amidst DDoS Attacks How is Wabtec Resolving the Incident? The rail giant claims to take its responsibility to secure data seriously and has taken steps to reinforce its systems and operations security. The company's efforts include additional safeguards and notifying applicable regulatory and data protection authorities. The earliest report regarding the cyberattack brought by the ransomware group was on March 15th of 2022, wherein the hackers had installed malware on specific systems. It wasn't until June 26th that they detected unusual activity within their systems. Investigations began and news of the cyberattack broke, although the company did not confirm it. The LockBit ransomware group eventually leaked the data that was stolen from Wabtec on August 20th of 2022, which could be due to the company not paying for the ransom. It was months later, specifically on December 30th of 2022, before the company informed the affected individuals. A formal letter has been sent to inform the victims that their personal data was among the ones that were stolen by the hacker group. Related: LockBit Ransomware Extends Decryptor to SickKids Hospital, Apologizes for the Cyberattack The fallen founder of FTX pleaded not guilty to the multiple charges he was facing including wire fraud. Bankman-Fried posted a $250 million bond for bail two weeks ago and made an appearance in a Manhattan court this Tuesday claiming he was innocent. Events at the Court Hearing If things don't go the FTX founder's way, he may receive heavy consequences brought by the charges against him. He is battling a criminal indictment from the Justice Department on top of the civil suit from the Securities Exchange Commission. Bankman-Fried is facing eight criminal charges including multiple counts of wire fraud, according to Engadget. Among his accusations was an attempt to commit commodities fraud, donating more than legally allowed regarding the election and a multiyear scheme for fraud. Bankman-Fried's plea of not guilty was brought forth by Mark Cohen, the former CEO's lawyer. SBF did not speak for the duration of his hearing. His decision to deny the charges could lead to a trial, for which a tentative date has already been set by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on October 2nd. The hearing also led to prosecutors requesting a new bail condition which basically ties the hands of Sam Bankman-Fried. Since the new condition has been granted by the court, he will not be allowed to transfer funds that are controlled by FTX or Alameda Research. The new bail condition was prompted by claims that SBF was still able to handle digital assets from the accounts controlled by Alameda Research. Bankman-Fried, who still has access to his Twitter account, denied the accusations. US Attorney Danielle Sassoon claimed that prosecutors failed to provide evidence that SBF did transfer the assets himself, but they still did not trust his statements via Twitter considering he has made false statements before, as mentioned in The New York Times. The FTX founder's lawyers requested that the identity of the other two people who signed SBF's bonds remain undisclosed. This was brought on by the threats that SBF's parents, Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried are facing. According to Bankman-Fried's lawyers, his parents have received messages that expressed the desire to harm them physically. Although the request was granted, it was still possible for the Judge to revise it if there was opposition to sealing the information. Read Also: FTX Calls For Politicians To Recoup Bankman-Fried's Donations What's in Store for the Disgraced Founder Bankman-Fried and his legal team may have a hard time fighting the charges of prosecutors. Attorney Sassoon stated that the government had acquired hundreds of thousands of documents from banks, employees, political campaigns, ISPs, and the new FTX head. Reports say that SBF has been more careful than ever. Compared to how active he was on Twitter before, he has only published two tweets in the last three weeks, wherein he denied being the one who moved the funds from Alameda's wallet. 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.https://t.co/5Gkin30Ny5 SBF (@SBF_FTX) December 30, 2022 Tiffany Fong, a content creator on YouTube about cryptocurrency, also mentioned that Bankman-Fried was cautious with his answers in their recent interview so he wouldn't upset his lawyers. Fong added that SBF wasn't as trepidatious in their past meetings. If Sam Bankman-Fried is found guilty, he may be facing more than a decade behind bars. Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes also faced fraud charges and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. In comparison, SBF is accused of defrauding twice the amount that Holmes did. Related: Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison Over Fraud The number of attacks targeting the government sector increased by 95% worldwide in the second half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, according to a new report by AI-based cybersecurity company CloudSek. The increase in attacks can be attributed to rapid digitization and the shift to remote work during the pandemic, which broadened the attack surface of government entities and paved the way for an increase in cyberwarfare waged by nation-state actors, according to the report. Government agencies collect and store huge amounts of data, which include information about individual citizens that can be sold on the dark web. There is also a risk that national security and military data can be used by terrorist organizations. Increase in hacktivism and ransomware In 2022 there was an increase in so-called hacktivist activity hacking for political purposes which accounted for about 9% of the recorded incidents reported in the government sector. Ransomware groups accounted for 6% of the total incidents reported. LockBit was the most prominent ransomware operator, the report noted. The number of government-sponsored attacks has also multiplied. This increase is due to the advent of offerings such as initial-access brokers and ransomware-as-a-service. These statistics are suggestive of the fact that cyberattacks in this particular industry are no longer limited to financial gains; rather, they are now used as a means to express support or opposition for certain political, religious, or even economic events and policies, the report said. Threat actors have started developing and advertising services of dedicated criminal infrastructure which can be bought by governments or individuals and used for various nefarious purposes, the report added. Meanwhile, the average total cost of a breach in the public sector increased from $1.93 million to $2.07 million a 7.25% increase between March 2021 and March 2022 according to IBM. KelvinSecurity, AgainstTheWest are most prominent threat actors KelvinSecurity and AgainstTheWest were the two most prominent threat actors last year, according to Cloudsek. The two groups were the most prominent in 2021 as well. KelvinSecurity, operating under the handle Kristina, uses targeted fuzzing and exploits common vulnerabilities to target victims. The group shares their tools for free and targets victims with common underlying technologies or infrastructure. The group publicly shares information such as new exploits, targets, and databases on cybercrime forums and Telegram. They also have a data-leak website where other threat actors can share databases, the CloudSek report notes. AgainstTheWest started operations in October 2021 and identifies itself as APT49 or BlueHornet. It is focused on exfiltrating region-specific data and selling it on the dark web. The group has launched campaigns such as Operation Renminbi, Operation Ruble, and Operation EUSec, which targeted various countries. They also collaborate with different threat actors. A confidential source in contact with the group ascertained that the group was exploiting SonarQube zero-day and Swagger UI vulnerabilities, the CloudSek report noted. SonarQube is an open-source tool by SonarSource that automates code inspections; Swagger is a set of tools for API developers from SmartBear Software. India, US, and China are most affected India, the US, Indonesia, and China continued to be the most targeted countries in the past two years, accounting for 40% of the total reported incidents in the government sector. The attacks on the Chinese government were mainly attributed to APT groups. AgainstTheWests campaign Operation Renminbi was responsible for almost 96% of attacks against China, the report noted. The operation began as retaliation for Chinas activities against Taiwan and the Uyghur community. Allegations that China was responsible for the outbreak of the pandemic also contributed to the increase in attacks. The Indian government was the most frequently targeted in 2022 due to the hacktivist group Dragon Force Malaysia's #OpIndia and #OpsPatuk campaigns. Several hacktivist groups joined and supported these campaigns, which led to further attacks. Government agencies in India have become popular targets of extensive phishing campaigns, the report noted. After Russia attacked Ukraine, several state-sponsored actors and activists showed their support for Ukraine by attacking Russia. Attacks against Russia increased by over 600% during the year, as the Russian government became the fifth most targeted public sector in 2022. To prevent future attacks government agencies need to shift to a zero-trust model, wherein it is assumed that the user identities or the network itself may already be compromised, proactively verifying the authenticity of user activity, CloudSek noted. Chinas New Development Philosophy 14:01, January 04, 2023 By Paul Tembe ( People's Daily Online Like the rest of the world, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is battling the negative effects of colliding crises. Chief among these crises are the Covid-19 health and economic pandemics, deglobalisation from unipolarism, and neutering of multilateral organisations. The threat of nuclear war from the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio has exacerbated these colliding crises further by hurting global economic growth and driving up prices for basic consumer goods like food and energy. In this maelstrom of both man-made and natural crises, one question that comes up concerns identifying the response of the worlds second largest economy. The PRCs strategic response namely the New Development Philosophy (NDP) is noteworthy for its clarity, relevance and transparency. What are its constituent elements and why should we be interested to know about it in South Africa? Chinas NDP was placed forward in 2015 by President Xi Jinping and has been re-emphasised recently to address decisively with present interruptions to international trade, climate vulnerability, introverted national policies and persistent conflicts in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In essence, the NDPs objectives are anchored in innovation to give China a competitive advantage, balance inequalities between the countrys regions and social groups, forge harmony between nature and humanity, and continue to promote common prosperity for all. In addition, there is an identified need to build a dual circulation economy whereby the domestic Chinese market is reinforced with international market forces. The cumulative results of the NDP are evident in the PRC relatively withstanding the effects of Covid-19 and registering, in comparison with other countries, positive growth in 2020 and 2021 which saw an average GDP growth of more than 5 percent. In turn, this has had a sizeable stabilising impact and influence on the global economy sorely requiring openness and shared material benefits to offset the headwinds of disrupted global industrial and supply chains. In practical terms, Chinas continued vanguard of international trade and cooperation in Africa has seen it offering project assistance in various areas of socio-economic development. These include in Africa the joint construction of 100 ports, 10,000km of railways, 100,000km of roads and 1,000 bridges. The link of the NDP to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), during the height of the coronavirus when most countries closed their borders, China was an economic mainstay in Europe. For one, the China-Europe freight train remained on operational trek throughout 2021 to transport a total of 15,183 freight train trips. As South Africa battles to rebuild its infrastructure arteries as a result of the KwaZulu-Natal floods, we look to the PRC for inspiration and assistance to rebuild back better climate-resilient roads, ports, bridges and water canals. This emergency call is made, to underline Chinas NDP, given the uncharacteristic praise made by Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the transparent and progressive development path pursued by China. In her own words, she is on record stating that China achieved a truly remarkable recovery, and as such, this country remains a vital engine for global growth, taking strong actions to support high-quality growth will help not only China, but the world. Of course, the NDP is guided by Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan (20212025), which is a plan of action which has specific targets of growing the economy in a reasonable range, keeping its overall grain production capacity over 650 million tons, reducing by about 13.5 percent energy consumption per unit of GDP, and ushering in a new stage in Chinas peaceful rise. These targets, on their own, build on the 40-year reform and opening up period which has positioned China as the worlds second-largest economy, an incontestable industrial powerhouse and the worlds largest holder of foreign exchange reserves. Additionally, these targets are living proof and a lesson for the Republic of South Africa (RSA) of what is possible when there is decisive executive leadership, policy certainty, legislative continuity, bureaucratic support, and grassroots support to achieve common prosperity and socio-economic rights. This has seen China becoming a moderately prosperous socialist country with 60 percent urban population. It is not inconceivable for RSA to try and equal these human development indexes. In the words of President Xi, what propels his leadership and programmes is the basic understanding that principles are precursors to actions and what is more, it is these principles that ultimately determine the effectiveness of development and its success or failure. These words uttered on October 29, 2015, are not instance of empty rhetoric. As far back as November 15, 2012, President Xi stressed that at heart,"People's yearning for a good and beautiful life is the goal for us to strive for." As RSA navigates treacherous waters of a post-pandemic period and July 2021 civil unrest in KZN and Gauteng plus the 2022 KZN floods, quite clearly something has to change in the governing partys attitudes and policy implementation strategy. There has to be iron will determination to implement policies and programmes, working with the private sector and civil society, national plans of actions such as the 2012 National Development Plan (NDP), the 2020 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Programme (ERRP) and in RSAs economic engine province, the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 (GGT2030). Chinas NDP is remarkable when contrasted with the shortcomings of the pre-1990 Soviet Union, which eventually collapsed because the governing party became detached from its historical mission and from the ordinary people by focusing on its own party interests. Therefore, Chinas NDP is commendable in realising in word and deed the Chinese maxim that: As vast as heaven and earth may be, the people must always come first. Paul Tembe is a South African expert on China. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) Korean director Park Chan-wook poses for a photo upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, holding the Best Director trophy he won for his latest film, "Decision to Leave," at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in this May 30, 2022 file photo. Newsis Korean director Park Chan-wook headed to the United States to attend the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony, where his latest film "Decision to Leave" is competing for the best non-English language film, its distributor said Wednesday. Park departed for Los Angeles on Tuesday to attend the 80th Global Globe Awards slated for Jan. 10 (U.S. time), according to CJ ENM and Moho Film, Park's own production company. During the stay, Park is also expected to work on the upcoming HBO drama series "The Sympathizer," which he is on board as a co-showrunner and director. "Decision to Leave," starring Korean actor Park Hae-il and Chinese actress Tang Wei, tells the story of a detective who suspects a mysterious Chinese widow is the culprit of a murder case and later falls in love with her. It brought home the Best Director prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival and has been chosen as Korea's entry for the best international feature film category of the 94th Academy Awards slated for March. (Yonhap) This images shows a scene from Market Kurly's television commercial. Courtesy of Kurly Kurly, the operator of Korean e-grocery platform Market Kurly, said Wednesday it will postpone the initial public offering (IPO) originally planned for early this year, due to harsh market conditions. "We decided to push back our planned IPO with the Korea Exchange (KRX), considering the contracting investor confidence amid global economic uncertainties," the company said in a statement. "Kurly will resume our public listing at an optimal moment when the company can be fully valuated for its worth." Kurly received preliminary approval for its public listing in August last year. The e-grocery giant originally sought to complete its public listing in the second half of 2022, but the review process had been delayed amid worries over its "unstable" ownership structure in which its founder has a small stake, along with continuing losses from its business. The company reportedly promised in its IPO plan that its financial holders will maintain their stakes in the company for a certain period after the KOSPI debut. Founded in December 2014, Kurly has appealed to customers by providing early morning deliveries of fresh food through its e-grocery platform, Market Kurly. The company has been expanding business to other areas, such as cosmetics, ahead of its market debut originally planned for last year. Following its decision, Kurly will have to undergo a preliminary review again should it hope to push ahead with the public listing again in the future. Various companies had withdrawn their IPO plans last year due to harsh market conditions. CJ Olive Young, Korea's largest health and beauty store operator, refinery Hyundai Oil Bank and SK shieldus, a securities subsidiary of SK Group, also gave up their IPO plans in 2022. (Yonhap) People all over the world have their own set of health and beauty secrets and everyone could fare well from learning a little bit about them. Two of the top global beauty regimens are from Japan and Korea. Both rooted in tradition, treat skincare routines as a form of self-care. Experts reveal everything you need to know about their techniques and products - because there's no time like the present to make yourself a priority! The Asian beauty craze kicked off with Japan's beauty products, but Korean beauty products successfully captivated global audiences with the rise of K-pop J-Beauty is holistic The Asian beauty craze kicked off with Japan's beauty products, but Korean beauty products successfully captivated global audiences with the rise of K-pop. 'Appreciation for ritual and thoughtfulness,' is how Hinako Sugioka beauty advisor and product curator for Shiko Beauty Collective, describes J-Beauty. Going beyond the exterior, J-Beauty sees the multi-step act of product application as a sensory experience and part of a holistic platform for self-care. Instead of lathering lotions in haste, the regiment takes time and patience. 'Through the ordered layering of face products, the massage technique in application, the consciousness of being in the moment, enjoying the process, and not being rushed, rituals are an important part of J-Beauty,' said the expert. J-Beauty believes skincare should be an indulgent moment of one's day. The order of product application is incredibly important for ingredients to penetrate into the skin. Hinako Sugioka, beauty advisor and product curator for Shiko Beauty Collective, recommends layering products from light to rich in this order: essence, serum, lotion, oil and cream 'Our products are developed to deliver an experiential moment,' said Kazuko Tatsumoto, Deputy General Manager, ALBION America. 'We carefully chose ingredients so that one can relax with aroma of the products while using them. It is not just about the efficacy and end-results that we care, but we value the enjoyableness of our products. 'Thus, we see skincare as a moment of taking care of yourself. Beyond skincare, 'In Japan, we take holistic approach to beauty,' said Kazuko. 'Very simple things: such as, eating fresh vegetables and fruits, and taking a hot bath at the end of the day to relax.' Less steps than K-Beauty According to Kazuko Tatsumoto, one of the biggest differences between K-Beauty and J-Beauty is the number of steps. 'K-beauty has multiple steps (7-10 steps), while J-beauty skincare is usually 3-4 steps,' said the expert. There are less steps in the process because Japanese product tend to do more. 'For example, one of the J-beautys categories is Kesyo Sui, which usually covers 3 steps of K-beauty skincare (Toner, Essence Treatments).' Lala Vie, Seiso, and Dr. Medion are the top selling brands on Shikobeauty.com The correct order to apply skincare products The order of product application is incredibly important for ingredients to penetrate into the skin. Hinako recommends layering products from light to rich in this order: essence, serum, lotion, oil and cream. According to Kazuko, the goal for Japanese women is "Baby's Skin." Meaning smooth, soft, plump, clear and pore-less. 'Thus, for many of Japanese skincare items, rich-hydration and brightening are quite important aspects.' Albion's Skin Conditioner Essential N is the best-selling item on their site. Its an essence that has the longest history in the company (1974) that helps keep skin clear, it's perfect for acne-prone skin. Lala Vie, Seiso, and Dr. Medion are the top selling brands on Shikobeauty.com. According to Kazuko Tatsumoto, Deputy General Manager, ALBION America, one of the biggest differences between K-Beauty and J-Beauty is the number of steps. 'K-beauty has multiple steps (7-10 steps), while J-beauty skincare is usually 3-4 steps,' said the expert Beauty when in balance Japanese culture tells us that beauty lies in the little things and that it's a balancing act of nurture and nature. 'Good skin is largely dependent on genes,' reveals Hinako. Adding: 'We can make subtle changes (i.e. well-balanced nutrition, quality sleep, managing stress, avoiding sun and smoking, finding some form of enjoyable exercise, spending spending time in nature), they are not quick solutions, but important for long term quality of life, health and beautifully radiant skin.' Hinako believes Americans over wash and over scrub their faces. 'Gentle cleansing, appropriate moisturizer and SPF during the day are sufficient for most skin.' Secret weapon products Masks are great for a weekly self-indulgent treat, such as Dr. Medion Spaoxy Gel Mask, which helps firm, plump and hydrate skin,' says Hinako. Kazuko recommends a Balancing Milk. 'Its a multi-tasking skin moisturizer that can replace ones toner and moisturizer in one. It mimics skin's natural moisture factors and balances water and oil levels for improved barrier function and a brighter, healthier complexion.' The beauty expert also suggests a weekly facial message using Herbal Oil Trinity Fusion to soften and deeply hydrate skin for deeply dehydrated skin. Japanese culture tells us that beauty lies in the little things and that it's a balancing act of nurture and nature Compared to French beauty The French beauty routine is effortless, it's deemed a necessity and focuses on removing skin impurities. 'French skincare is centered on quality, simplicity, minimalism, and appreciation for time tested products,' said Hinako Sugioka. Hinako believes K-Beauty is more fun loving, playful and novelty seeking. Head makeup artist for 'Emily in Paris,' Aurelie Payen, tells DailyMail.com that for the French, 'less is is more.' 'My main priority is to maintain the skin as fresh as possible from day one of shooting until the end; and we just shot Emily in Paris over 4 months,' she revealed. For healthy skin, the makeup artist says the right products are imperative. She is a big fan of Payot's mist. 'I use the mist every day. I apply it during the day to refresh the makeup and use at night after removing the makeup and before applying a night moisturizer.' With a certain je ne sais quoi approach to skincare, the award-winning makeup artist recommends product experimentation. 'Serums can be mixed with cremes, moisturizers can be combined with foundation, everything can be mixed together,' says Aurelie. 'The most important thing is feeling confident in your skin, then you can do whatever you want.' Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella wish world a Happy New Year in the video Prince Albert of Monaco has appeared in a festive New Year's Eve address to the nation with his family after a year which saw his wife, Princess Charlene, return to royal duties. Monaco's crown prince, 64, spoke directly to his compatriots in the address, before being joined by his wife and their eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, to wish people a Happy New Year. The yearly address gave a hopeful outlook for 2023 while also recognising the 'tribulations' faced by many in 2022. Albert said that he and Charlene, 44, offered their 'support, compassion and affection' to all those 'affected by war, oppression, violence, and intolerance in our troubled world.' The Prince added that their 'thoughts are also with those afflicted by illness, or who have seen loved ones suffering, reminding us not just how fragile life is, but sometimes also, how resilient we can be when faced with adversity.' The nearly four-minute-long message was filmed against a festive backdrop featuring a beautiful Christmas tree in the palace's Salle des Gardes. Prince Albert wore a smart navy suit with a pale blue tie, while Charlene looked stunning in a metallic chainmail-style dress as she joined the Prince towards the end of the video message. Prince Jacques wore a simple black suit while his little sister donned a matching tweed skirt and jacket as they smiled for the cameras. The nearly four-minute-long message was filmed against a festive backdrop featuring a beautiful Christmas tree in the Salle des Gardes Albert said that he and Charlene, 44, offered their 'support, compassion and affection' to all those 'affected by war, oppression, violence, and intolerance in our troubled world' The family appearance came after a year when Princess Charlene returned to royal duties following a spell in her native South Africa last year while she was unwell. After having treatment at home, she then checked into a clinic in Switzerland before returning to her husband in Monaco. However, this year the mother-of-two has eased herself back into royal duties, taking her children back to school in September and taking on engagements such as trips to animal shelters. Last month Charlene addressed her health issues, telling told local newspaper Monaco Matin she felt 'so much better' than she has in recent years. Revealing she has 'less pain and much more energy', she said she 'is continuing to recover, to rebalance herself.' In a poignant concluding remark, the Prince told viewers: "'Tomorrow" is not a vain word, but the future prospect of our common desire.' The video ended with an appearance from the whole royal family, who wished Monagasques Happy New Year in French, English and their native language She added: 'My family and those I love are my rock. I approach the future, step by step, one day at a time.' The new year message from the Monagasque royal family covered climate change and importance of democracy as Prince Albert encouraged people in his principality to exercise their right to vote in the elections later this year. The prince took the opportunity to affirm that those elected to Monaco's government will do their part to preserve democracy in the tiny nation. This year will also be an important one for the royal family itself, as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Prince Albert's father, Prince Rainier. In a tribute to his father, the crown prince said: 'He made Monaco a modern and dynamic constitutional monarchy, outward-looking and active on the international stage.' He also added that 2023 will mark 30 years since Monaco joined the United Nations. 'I want to reaffirm my strong belief in multilateralism and respect for our international commitments,' he added. In a poignant concluding remark, the Prince told viewers: "'Tomorrow" is not a vain word, but the future prospect of our common desire.' Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco in their 2022 Christmas card, which shows their family gathering around a tree The video ended with an appearance from the whole royal family, who wished Monagasques Happy New Year in French, English and their native language. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene also made public appearances with their children over Christmas, with family traditions like the annual tree ceremony being upheld in a show of unity this festive season. The family have revealed their 2022 Christmas card in the run up to the holiday, which shows their family gathering around a tree in the palace's Salle des Gardes. The text accompanying the card reads: 'My family joins me in wishing you peace and joy for Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023' in English, French and Monegasque. Read more: A TikToker has revealed a Terry's Chocolate Orange hack that fans of the sweet treat are rushing to copy. British vlogger Neil Adams, known as @michael_adams1138 on the global platform, captioned the video 'I was today years old when I discovered this feature.' He starts the video, which has by removing the Chocolate Orange and plastic packaging from inside the box and putting them both to one side. From what looks like useless plastic, Neil folds the opposite sides together to make a stand for his treat. Foodies can enjoy a Chocolate Orange without cramming their fingers inside the box to grab a piece. One user wrote: 'Nice one never new that,' while another added, 'Could've done with this before Christmas! It's gonna be 12 months before I eat another Chocolate Urange and what're the chances of me remembering?' A third joked: 'My Terry's oranges don't last long enough to put them on display.' While a fourth added: 'I never knew either, but it never lasts long once I open one.' This is the moment a TikToker revealed an amazing Terry's Chocolate Orange hack that social media users needed in their life Neil Adams starts the video takes out the Chocolate Orange and plastic packaging from inside the box and puts them both to one side The video is shot with four Prime bottles in the background, which were popularised by social media stars KSI and Logan Paul. Neil's decision to film his trick in front of the drinks, which ae listed on eBay for as much as 50,000, received many negative comments. One person wrote: 'This vid is just to show off the prime. Nothing to do with the chocolate orange. Another added: 'Tryna flex a chocolate orange as well as some prime?' From what looks like useless plastic (pictured), Neil begins to fold it together to make a stand for his treat Resting on a piece of plastic, foodies can enjoy a Chocolate Orange without cramming their fingers inside the box to grab a piece A third wrote: 'I mean its a great find but honestly you're just showing off your Prime arent you. put them in a safe.' Neil responded to this comment with the response 'lmao, they are all empty but my son won't let me bin them so they are forever on display.' Advertised as a 'hydration drink', Prime contains mostly water added with vitamins and minerals and has few calories with no added sugar. It mostly contains water and coconut water and does not contain any caffeine in it. The video is shot with four Prime bottles in the background (pictured), which were popularised by social media stars KSI and Logan Paul When Aldi announced it would stock the product and flog them for as little as 1.99 demand demand went through the roof. Scenes of pandemonium exploded in some stores last week, with children captured on video climbing over the aisles in one shop to try and get them. In some shops the drink sold out within three minutes, according to Prime Tracker UK, who traces supplies. One mother told MailOnline her son had a bottle stolen out of his hand by an elderly pensioner while another father said: 'People who were in the queue first were pushed and shoved out the way when the doors opened. Neil claimed all the Prime bottles (pictured) in the back were empty and said his son will not allow him to bin them 'People losing their minds my kids were pushed by grown adults over a drink.' Lengthy queues were seen forming from 6am with footage inside the shops showing adults tussling with children to try and get their hands on them. Commenting on one of the videos, KSI denied they were making too few drinks in order to increase hype. He tweeted: 'Were not even trying to do that. Were making loads of Prime daily, the demand is literally too high man.' When it was launched the drink was shipped in from the US to be sold. READ MORE: Are these the best hacks EVER? From how to heal a paper cut instantly to bagging an extra seat on the plane, these tricks will change your life Are these the handiest food hacks ever? People share their simple but ingenious culinary tricks to make life in the kitchen A LOT easier Is this the best food hack yet? Savvy home bakers transform $4 mud cakes from Coles and Woolworths into eye-popping desserts worthy of a wedding A TikToker has been slammed for her 'privileged' behavior after posting a video about the benefits of lounge access while thousands of Southwest passengers were left stranded amid travel chaos. @merg0at posted a video on December 30 from the Sky Lounge at Denver International Airport and it has since been viewed more than 600,000 times, with hundreds of viewers deeming it 'classist'. The clip shows two lounge staff wheeling by a trolley of treats, while an overlaying caption reads: 'People choose to fly Southworst and Delta is over here serving frozen espressos in the Sky Lounge.' An annual membership for Sky Lounge access costs $695 and so many TikTokers have branded @merg0at's clip 'classist'. A TikToker has been slammed for her 'privileged' behavior after posting a video about the benefits of lounge access while thousands of Southwest passengers were left stranded amid travel chaos @Poplockitdropit commented 'not everyone has access to the sky lounge', while Mr. Magoo wrote 'this is giving off Marie Antoinette vibes'. @Rory IntheHouse echoed similar sentiments, exclaiming: 'This screams out of touch.' In her defense, @merg0at said gaining lounge access had 'nothing to do with being rich'. She explained: 'I have a credit card that allows me access and save money to travel.' While many viewers called @merg0at out for her post, some TikTokers used it as an opportunity to share their own experiences of the Delta Sky Lounge. @Nicholas Smart said: 'Sky Lounge food is crazy. They just pulled up to my table and set a cocktail and parfait down.' An annual membership for Sky Lounge access costs $695 and many TikTokers have branded @merg0at's clip 'classist' @merg0at posted the video last week when thousands of Southwest travelers found themselves stranded amid storms and operational difficulties And @Emile said she got ravioli and ice cream before a trip to England. @Ye revealed that one time she visited the Sky Lounge, they served up BBQ ribs along with mac and cheese. Because the food was so good, she said she got distracted and ended up missing her flight. According to the Delta website, the Delta Sky Club gets you access to more than 50 lounge locations. The lounges are described as 'retreats' where you can 'work or relax' before flying with some of the perks including 'complimentary cocktails, fresh and healthy food options, free high-speed Wi-Fi and more'. An individual membership costs either $695 or 69,500 Delta miles. Alternatively, an American Express Delta Sky Miles card will get the card holder access. @merg0at posted the video last week when thousands of Southwest travelers found themselves stranded amid storms and operational difficulties. The Dallas carrier accounted for half of worldwide canceled flights on Monday, December 26. As a result, Federal regulators have vowed a rigorous review of what happened at the airline, 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 carrier's operations. If you enjoyed reading this article... 'I am devastated': Heartbroken bride reveals she missed her own WEDDING, lost $70,000, and was stuck 2,000 miles from her fiance on New Year's after Southwest canceled her flight Secrets of the skies: American Airlines pilot reveals fascinating details about airplane travel - from where to sit to avoid turbulence to captains making a whopping $300,000 A YEAR Do YOU know how to spot a narcissist? Psychologist reveals 10 telltale signs that indicate someone has the personality style - and shares simple tips to help you deal with them Lee Jun-kyo, director general of the International Financial Market Department at the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Yeouido, Seoul, Dec. 28, 2022. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Seoul's global ranking as favored financial hub continues to rise By Anna J. Park Seoul's ranking as a favored global financial hub city has been on the rise since 2019, coming in at the 11th spot in this year's Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI). It is an impressive climb of 25 places in the past three years, since the city was ranked the 36th most favored in 2019. The ranking of the southeastern port city Busan, the second-largest city of Korea, also rose to the 29th spot, up 14 places in three years. "Korea is evaluated to have posted a significant development in its capital market system and financial infrastructure during the past few years. The country's world-class digital environment and information technology infrastructure are also part of the favorable assessments attributed to the increase of the financial hub ranking," Lee Jun-kyo, director general of the International Financial Market Department of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), said during a recent one-on-one interview with The Korea Times. "Specifically, Seoul was particularly assessed positively in the realm of financial sector development, business environment, human capital, infrastructure and city reputation in the CFCI evaluation," the director general highlighted. As he noted, Seoul is ranked fourth in terms of financial sector development in this year's GFCI ranking. Financial sector development is evaluated over a broad range of industry clusters in the country, and also considers availability of capital, market liquidity and economic output. Seoul was also ranked within the global top five in the sub-categories of human capital and infrastructure. Seoul's business environment ranked 9th and its city reputation ranked 12th. Seoul was also one of 15 cities that GFCI survey respondents think will become more significant over the next two to three years. A view of Seoul's financial district on Yeouido / gettyimagesbank The director general also leads the Financial Hub Korea, or Fn Hub Korea, as its chief. It was established as a sub-institution under the FSS by the Act on the Creation and Development of Financial Hubs that took effect in 2008. In 2009, the Korean government designated Seoul as a comprehensive financial hub and Busan as a hub city for maritime finance and derivatives. In order to propel forward the ambitious plan, the center has been devoted to facilitating supports for foreign financial companies that either maintain a presence in the Korean market or attempt to foray into the country. It also helps Korean financial companies to expand operations in overseas countries. As of the end of June 2022, a total of 165 branches of foreign financial firms from 32 countries are operating in Korea, whereas a total of 478 branches of Korean financial companies are maintained in 44 countries. During the past decades, the center has served various roles as a gateway to the Korean financial market. The center covers a variety of tasks, ranging from conducting investor relations (IR) shows, hosting seminars inviting CEOs of foreign financial companies, as well as operating as a communication channel to listen to foreign companies' opinions and complaints. The center also published a 1,000-page-long licensing manual in English, which has translated all the relevant laws and financial regulations governing foreign financial companies' licensing and approvals of their business operations in Korea So far, the government announced a total of five rounds of three-year goals since 2008 to realize the country's vision to make Korea a global financial hub. The fifth set of three-year strategies had been implemented from year 2020 to 2022. "While the previous rounds of three-year goals placed priority on facilitating overall globalization of the country's capital market system, the fifth plan kept a laser focus on fostering areas on which Korea enjoys comparative advantages, such as fintech and asset management. The government's strategic goals also emphasized further advancing financial infrastructure systems to global standards, especially its anti-money laundering system, foreign exchange system, financial regulations and usage of financial data," the director general explained. Currently, the financial authorities are brushing up on the sixth strategic three-year goals, which will be announced by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country's top financial regulator, during the first half of this year. "While most of the general public might not have noticed the government's decades-long efforts in this area, the Korean financial authorities have consistently come up with laws and initiatives to advance the country's capital market and financial infrastructure to a top global level," he stressed, adding that the government's persistent efforts evidently contributed to Seoul's and Busan's rise in the recent GFCI rankings. The launch of the Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) in 2005, the establishment of the Act on Capital Market in 2007 and granting licenses to mega-sized investment banks in Korea with the passage of relevant laws in 2013 and 2016 are all part of a series of government measures to develop the country's capital markets to meet global standards, the Financial Hub Korea head enumerated. Busan International Financial Center (BIFC) II, slated for completion by 2025, is expected to add vigor to Busan's maritime finance and derivative products expertise. Courtesy of Maxerve Consortium The chief of the Fn Hub Korea noted that the center strengthened communications with foreign financial companies that operate businesses in Korea during the pandemic era. The center held talk sessions with CEOs of foreign financial firms four times in 2022 alone, listening to their suggestions or complaints about operating a business in Korea. "During the pandemic, ironically, it was easier to meet up with the heads of foreign financial firms, as we could easily link up through online meetings. The things these leaders told us during the meetings are all reflected in financial authorities' key agenda items for advancing globalization and innovating financial practices in Korea," the director general said. Fn Hub Korea also held IR shows in Silicon Valley in the U.S. and Singapore in 2022, to promote Korea's attractiveness as a financial market, while providing chance for networking and investment opportunities for local fintech companies. Enhancing speed and transparency of financial regulations Despite such efforts, there has been a long-held prejudice by foreign financial firms against the Korean financial market due to the country's low predictability in financial regulations and high corporate tax rates. These are considered key hurdles that prevent foreign firms' entry into the Korean financial market. Some of these prejudices are based on fact. Korea has a corporate tax of as high as 25 percent, which is far higher than Singapore's 17 percent and Hong Kong's 16.5 percent. The country also tends to spend a longer time reviewing and granting licenses to foreign financial firms wishing to conduct business in Korea. Regarding such criticisms, the director general said the financial authority is currently working to improve on these matters. With respect to corporate taxation, the financial authority has been delivering foreign financial firms' requests to lower the rates to the relevant ministries. When it comes to licensing procedures, the FSS launched what it calls its "F.A.S.T." project standing for fairness, accountability, support and transparency to streamline the country's licensing and approval process for entering foreign financial companies. Under the initiative, the FSS is slated to open up a one-stop online portal system, where all licensing will be dealt with quickly and transparently. The online system is expected to be made available during the first half of this year. "The innovative project is expected to make the Korean financial system take another leap forward," FSS Governor Lee Bok-hyun said, announcing the project in October last year. In addition, with the goal of becoming a global top-five financial city by 2030, the metropolitan city of Seoul has supported foreign financial firms' operations in the city with increased subsidies for employment and rent support. Lee Jun-kyo, director general of the International Financial Market Department at the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), poses for a photo during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Yeouido, Seoul, Dec. 28. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul A college student has gone viral after discussing the concept of kinkeeping, which she says is the art of 'women doing everything but going unseen.' The 19-year-old creator, known as @thought_dumpy, reveals in a post that she learned about the topic in her women and gender studies classes, and it's been on her mind '24/7' as it's the 'root of stress in most women's lives.' To explain the concept, she likens it to a theater production where all of the actors and actresses are the 'men' who get all of the praise, while the backstage crew or the 'women' are the ones who get no thanks for their hard work behind the scenes. Addressing the topic further, she continues: 'The women are the people who go unseen during the holidays. 'There's a lot of cooking and cleaning and planning and organizing but a lot of it goes unnoticed because the whole role of this job is to be invisible and to perform and to perform convenience for everyone... to put on a show.' The TikTok creator known as @thought_dumpy, aged 19, reveals in a post that she learned about the topic of kinkeeping in her women and gender studies classes The 'invisible' emotional burden at the root of women's stress: What IS kinkeeping? Dawn O. Braithwaite, Ph.D. explains in Psychology Today that kinkeepers are 'family members who help enable and assist family communication.' These people 'plan family gatherings or help the family keep in touch with one another by providing updates on issues such as graduations, birth of a baby, or publicizing support needs if a family member becomes unemployed or is having surgery.' Braithwaite says that to this day, kinkeepers are still mostly women. The first study on kinkeepers in 1996 revealed that 85 per cent were women - mostly mothers, aunts, and grandmothers - who ranged from 40 to 69 years old. This role was then passed down to younger family members. While she says there are benefits to being a kinkeeper, the role also comes with downsides including 'time or financial commitments and emotional demands.' Advertisement Meanwhile, she says the men can be seen 'sitting at the table, talking and laughing and telling stories... relaxing with their feet up not knowing what time anything starts.' So far the creator's video has been viewed more than 4.4 million times, with thousands of viewers thanking her for speaking out about the phenomenon. 'Wow! This is soooo [sic] true. Creating that magic is always the mom's job. Thank you for educating us!' one person said. 'Spoken beautifully! This screamed at my soul. This is soooo (sic) accurate, and sad simultaneously,' another added. Some women revealed that it isn't so one-sided in their households, but they appreciated the creator's insights. 'This was so interesting. I feel so lucky that my husband shares the load with me. And I shouldn't feel lucky. It should be the norm,' a third TikTok user mused. But some accused the teenager of not knowing what she was talking about. 'I think you're making sweeping statements. Not all men are like this, I don't see this as a typical behavior showing off their efforts. Not all women keep themselves hidden. Maybe the men in my life are all just better people? What you are describing is far from my normal life,' someone else said. In response, the TikToker said: 'I've also never had a boyfriend, but I notice it so much in my friend's boyfriends or the adult men in my life. It's actually one of the main reasons I haven't dated.' She added: 'It's not my life either. I'm literally 19 and don't have kids. It's what I learned in my women and gender studies class [and] it's backed up by others.' In a follow-up video, the TikToker acknowledges that sometimes men do the 'kinkeeping,' but 'they don't typically do it as invisibly as women are taught to.' The TikToker says: 'I've also never had a boyfriend, but I notice [kinkeeping] so much in my friend's boyfriends or the adult men in my life' Offering an example, she says: '[When] my uncle puts the buns on the table he normally says, "I made these buns this morning." '[Men] love to show off and women just wouldn't do that because they're so fixated on the fact that it has to be hidden.' Asked if there is something that can be done to help female family members out, the creator, concludes: 'My solution is start talking about it. Show your husband this video. 'And not only is it important to educate our daughters about this but our sons [too]... tell them dates and times, help them memorize birthdays... and as women don't be afraid to receive where credit is due.' If you enjoyed reading this article... Illinois mother, 28, is slammed as a 'bad parent' for allowing her NINE-YEAR-OLD daughter to get her nose pierced... so do YOU think she's in the wrong? Thrifty father-of-two who organised a 'free' Christmas reveals his top tips for cutting down energy bills (including how he makes it fun for his children!) New WAG on the block! Enzo Fernandez's teenage sweetheart Valentina Cervantes 'dropped out' of English teacher training to follow the midfielder to Lisbon (and he's set to become the Premier League's most expensive EVER signing!) ABC News has racked up millions of loyal viewers who tune in every day to watch its bevvy of popular anchors deliver the news on leading shows like Good Morning America, 20/20, and Nightline. It's become a staple in many homes across America - but its gleaming image of on-screen wholesomeness has started to crack recently, with the network facing a host of controversies over the last 18 months. From reports of illicit affairs between co-workers to accusations of sexual assault to fierce feuds between co-hosts, ABC has been rocked by a number of scandals during the last year-and-a-half. Most recently, ABC producer Dax Tejera passed away after suffering from a heart attack while out to dinner with his wife, Veronica, just days before Christmas - but his death was shrouded in scandal as it was reported that the couple had left their two young daughters alone in a hotel room while they dined, which resulted in Veronica being arrested and charged with child endangerment. Days after ABC News producer Dax Tejera suffered from a heart attack and died, news hit the web that he had left his two young daughters alone in a hotel room to go out to dinner From illicit affairs to accusations of sexual assault to feuds between co-hosts, ABC has been riddled with numerous scandals recently. TJ Holmes and Amy Robach are pictured The shocking incident is the latest in a line of controversies to plague the network in recent months. Back in November, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that GMA3 stars TJ Holmes and Amy Robach had become embroiled in a secret romance while they were both married to other people. And months before that, a former Good Morning America producer accused a longtime executive at the network of forcibly touching and kissing her during a work trip that they had taken together in 2015. It was also reported that the producer's claims caused tension between George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts - after Roberts reportedly found out that Stephanopoulos knew about the alleged assault and became furious that he didn't do anything about it. As details of the Tejeras' decision to leave their toddlers alone in a hotel room come to light, FEMAIL has revealed all the other controversies and behind-the-scenes drama that ABC News has been hit with in recent months. ABC producer Dax Tejera passed away after suffering from a heart attack - but it has now come to light that he left his two young daughters alone in a hotel room Tejera passed away at age 37 after suffering from a heart attack while out to dinner in New York City with his wife Veronica, 33, on December 23 But days after, it was revealed that he and his wife (seen) had left their two young daughters, aged five months and two years, in a hotel room alone so that they could enjoy a date night Tejera passed away at age 37 after suffering from a heart attack while out to dinner in New York City with his wife Veronica, 33, on December 23. Staff at the Yale Club in Manhattan (seen) where the family was staying called the police, after they discovered the children had been left unattended while the Tejeras enjoyed dinner But his sudden passing was plagued with scandal. Days after news of his death rocked the TV industry, it was revealed that he and his wife had left their two young daughters, aged five months and two years, in a hotel room alone so that they could enjoy a romantic date night. Staff at the Yale Club in Midtown Manhattan where the family was staying called the police at around 11pm, after they discovered the children had been left unattended for at least two hours while the Tejeras enjoyed dinner a block away. Veronica was then arrested by the NYPD at around 12:20am on Christmas Eve, and charged with two counts of 'acting in a manner injurious to a child.' She was ultimately released from jail four hours later, and was given a desk ticket which will require her to appear in court at a future date, police said. Veronica was then arrested by the NYPD at around 12:20am on Christmas Eve, and charged with two counts of 'acting in a manner injurious to a child.' She is seen with Dax She insisted that she and her husband 'had two cameras trained' on the children as they slept and that she 'monitored them closely' during the 'time she was away from them' Veronica, a senior producer at the Washington Post, insisted that she and her husband 'had two cameras trained' on the children as they slept and that she 'monitored them closely' during the 'time she was away from them.' The mother-of-two (seen with Dax) added that while her daughters 'were unharmed,' she now realizes 'it was a poor decision' 'My family and I are devastated by Dax's sudden passing. He has left behind a heartbroken family, and two daughters he loved with all his heart,' she said in a statement. 'When Dax collapsed on December 23rd, I accompanied him in an ambulance to the hospital. 'I asked both a close friend and my parents to rush to my children's hotel room to attend to them as I monitored them by camera. The hotel would not allow my friend in and instead called the NYPD.' The mother-of-two added that while her daughters 'were unharmed,' she now realizes 'it was a poor decision.' 'Our family has suffered a terrible tragedy. I respectfully ask for privacy while my children and I mourn Dax's death,' she concluded. Co-hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach became embroiled in a secret love affair while they were both married to other people In November, DailyMail.com revealed that Holmes and Robach - who worked on Good Morning America's lunchtime segment GMA3 together - had become embroiled in a secret affair Their relationship was said to have blossomed while Robach was still married to actor Andrew Shue (left) and while Holmes was married to lawyer Marilee Fiebig (right) Back in November, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Holmes and Robach - who worked on Good Morning America's lunchtime segment GMA3 together - had become embroiled in a secret affair while they were both married to other people. A series of pictures obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com showed the couple enjoying flirty post-filming sessions at a New York City bar, spending alone time in each other's apartments, and - two weeks before Thanksgiving - going on a weekend away in a secluded cottage in Upstate New York. It's unclear when exactly their romance first started, but it was said to have blossomed while Robach was still married to actor Andrew Shue - whom she wed in February 2010 - and while Holmes was married to lawyer Marilee Fiebig, who he also tied the knot with in 2010. Both of the marriages reportedly ended in August 2022 after their spouses became aware of the affair. Before their relationship came to light, the co-hosts often shared social media pictures and videos that showed their close bond - which seemed innocent at the time Afterwards, both were suspended 'indefinitely' from the show and the network has yet to make a final decision on whether either or both will return Before their relationship came to light, the co-hosts often shared social media pictures and videos that showed them giggling together, partaking in flirty banter, and engaging in playful touches - all of which, seemed innocent at the time. Afterwards, Holmes and Robach - who have both deleted their social media accounts - were suspended 'indefinitely' from the show following the revelation that their well-publicized friendship and on-screen chemistry had 'crossed the line.' The future of their employment at ABC is still up in the air, as the network has yet to make a final decision on whether either or both will return to their lunchtime show. They tried to keep their distance in the immediate aftermath of the story breaking, as sources questioned whether the relationship could survive the onslaught of attention. However, that didn't last very long as they were recently photographed packing on the PDA in Miami, Florida, while ringing in the New Year. Former GMA producer Kirstyn Crawford accused longtime executive Michael Corn of sexual assault in an explosive lawsuit filed in August 2021 Back in August 2021, Good Morning America producer Kirstyn Crawford (seen), 31, accused longtime executive producer Michael Corn of sexual assault An explosive lawsuit filed by Crawford alleged that Corn (seen) forcibly touched and kissed her while the pair were in Los Angeles to cover the Oscars in 2015 Back in August 2021, the network faced more controversy when former Good Morning America producer Kirstyn Crawford, 31, accused longtime executive producer Michael Corn of sexual assault. An explosive lawsuit filed by Crawford alleged that Corn forcibly touched and kissed her while the pair were in Los Angeles to cover the Oscars in 2015. 'Corn grabbed Crawford's hand and told her that he wanted to be able to help her with her career,' the lawsuit stated. The pair had just left a company party, and when they got back to the hotel, Crawford said she helped Corn to his room, where he allegedly pulled her head onto his chest and patted her hair. She also claimed that he stumbled into her room drunk and laid down on her bed, leaving her 'shaking' and 'terrified,' according to the lawsuit. She said that the morning afterwards, 'not only did Corn fail to acknowledge his inappropriate and inexcusable behavior, but he was also dismissive and rude to Crawford, which made her feel self-conscious and uncomfortable.' After the incident, she avoided traveling with him on business and 'lost work opportunities as a result,' the complaint stated. The lawsuit also included a story from Jill McClain (seen), who worked with Corn on World News Tonight in 2010 Crawford also alleged that Corn withheld raises and promotions, as well as created a hostile work environment as retaliation for her 'rebuffing' his sexual advances. She was about 25 years old at the time of the alleged attack. Crawford's lawsuit alleged Corn had a pattern of verbally abusive tirades, which left her feeling like she 'walked on eggshells, unsure of when Corn would explode.' 'Corn would waffle between berating Crawford publicly and emailing her privately about personal and confidential matters to make her feel like she was some sort of confidante,' the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also included a story from Jill McClain, who worked with Corn on World News Tonight in 2010. She claimed to have been assaulted under 'eerily similar circumstances several years prior.' During a red-eye flight from Los Angeles, McClain said Corn 'slid his hand from [her] upper right thigh to her vagina, and began rubbing her vagina, over her jeans.' New York State Supreme Court judge Barbara Jaffe ultimately dismissed the suit, ruling that the three-year statute of limitations on the alleged assault had passed. The judge also said that the behaviors described in Crawford's suit did not prove Corn fostered a hostile work environment after the alleged incident. Corn 'vehemently' denied the allegations, calling them 'demonstrably false' in a statement to DailyMail.com, accompanied by screenshots of alleged emails sent from Crawford to him the day after he allegedly assaulted her, in which she tells him he's the 'best.' McClain claimed that during a red-eye flight from Los Angeles, Corn 'slid his hand from [her] upper right thigh to her vagina, and began rubbing her vagina, over her jeans' 'I vehemently deny any allegations that I engaged in improper sexual contact with any woman,' he said. 'Kirstyn Crawfords claims are demonstrably false - and I am providing contemporaneous emails to prove it. 'Hours after the supposed incident, Ms. Crawford offered to bring me coffee and breakfast to my hotel room and asked for my hotel room number because she didnt know it - the very same room where she now claims this incident occurred. 'The same day, she repeatedly offered for me to share a car her. And the same day she emailed me, after I helped counsel her through a work problem, Why are you so great? 'These are not the words and actions of a woman who had been assaulted hours before.' Corn left ABC News in April 2021 as a result of an internal investigation into Crawford's allegations. He now works as the head of programming at Chicago-based NewsNation, owned by Nexstar Media Group. As for Crawford, who said in June 2022 that she was going to appeal the judge's ruling, she no longer works at ABC after opting not to renew her contract. The Sun reported that she did file an appeal days later, but it is unclear what the outcome was. The lawsuit reportedly caused tension between Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos Days after the lawsuit against Corn was filed, it was reported that tensions formed between GMA hosts George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts over Crawford's claims Sources told the Daily Beast that Roberts was furious that staff - including Stephanopoulos - knew about the incident years earlier and didn't do anything about it Days after Crawford filed her lawsuit against Corn, it was reported that tensions were brewing between Good Morning America hosts Stephanopoulos and Roberts over Crawford's claims. Sources told the Daily Beast that Roberts was furious that staff - including Stephanopoulos - knew about the incident years earlier and didn't do anything about it until Crawford made a formal complaint. 'If this happened to someone on my team, I would have burned the place down,' she said on a call with other staff. But ABC News spokesperson Caragh Fisher insisted at the time that everything between the co-hosts was 'fine.' 'Robin and George are fine. She told him personally that she wasnt referring to him and called the team the next day to reiterate that her comment was not about any one individual,' she said. Prince Joachim of Denmark and his family spent Christmas in Vietnam as his children were officially stripped of their prince and princess titles, it has been revealed. According to Danish magazine, Her & Nu, Queen Margrethe's youngest son and his wife Princess Marie celebrated on holiday with Count Henrik, 13, and Countess Athena, ten, along with Joachim's sons, Count Nikolai, 23, and Count Felix, 20. The magazine detailed the trip had been rescheduled from 2020 due to the pandemic, writing: 'Joachim finally got the opportunity to show the children the country where their grandfather, Prince Henrik, spent many of his childhood and youth years.' 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. Prince Joachim of Denmark and his family spent Christmas in Vietnam as his children were officially stripped of their prince and princess titles, it has been revealed (pictured on holiday in 2018) Prince Henrik lived in Vietnam for the early years of his childhood, and spoke the language throughout his life. The royal, who was married to Queen Margarethe, died in 2018. Days ago, Prince Joachim attended the New Year's reception alongside his family, however other family members were absent, including his wife Princess Marie. It came as the royal family updated their website to show the new status belonging to four of Queen Margrethe's grandchildren after they were stripped of their HRH 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 (pictured, Queen Margarethe with her sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and their wives Crown Princess Mary and Princess Marie) 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. 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. 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. Prince Henrik, who was married to Queen Margrethe before his death in 2018, lived in Vietnam for the early years of his childhood, and spoke the language throughout his life Denmark's Prince Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik and Prince Nikolai in September - the children have now been stripped of their titles, and are Counts and Countesses 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. 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.' 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 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. '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 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. While Prince Joachim's family spent Christmas in Vietnam, his brother Crown Prince Frederik and his children travelled to Crown Princess Mary's native Australia for the holiday 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. While Prince Joachim's family spent Christmas in Vietnam, his brother Crown Prince Frederik and his children travelled to Crown Princess Mary's native Australia for the holiday. Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, all lost their titles on January 1 2023 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.' She added that she was 'sure that the family can enter the new year together with confidence, understanding and new courag A pub manager has revealed how he was left overwhelmed when friends and strangers alike donated over 8,000 to save his Bernese Mountain Dog in just 15 hours. Ben Evans, 47, who runs the Windmill Hotel and Pub in Clapham, London, was devastated after eight-year-old Max was diagnosed with cancer. In December 2022, Max was given just two months to live unless he received chemotherapy, a treatment that would cost several thousand pounds. Determined to give his best friend a longer life, Ben set up a GoFundMe but had not expected the response that followed. Pub manager Ben Evans (pictured left), 47, was overwhelmed when strangers donated 8000 in just 15 hours so his Bernese Mountain Dog could have cancer treatment After just 15 hours, 8,000 had been donated by people all around the world. 'He is constantly by my side, if you can see me, you know Max is going to be there too,' Ben said. 'Max has been the pub dog for almost eight years now, has his own Instagram and is a local celebrity. 'People from America and Australia book at the hotel because they know Max will be there and they want to see him. Eight-year-old Max (pictured) was given just two months to live unless he received chemotherapy Ben (pictured with Max) runs the Windmill Hotel and Pub in Clapham, London said his dog is a 'local celebrity' 'He was diagnosed with canine lymphoma just before Christmas this year and I was told it would cost 8,000 for treatment it would mean he would have an extra year to live. 'There was no way I wasn't going to give him that chance but he is uninsured after his insurance didn't cover his last operation. 'It really is impossible to put into words what raising this money means to me, the fact that even people from Australia have donated is just amazing. 'It was just absolutely heartwarming to see all these people wanting to give him a chance.' Ben revealed he planned to give the dog plenty of trips to the beach in Cornwall because it is one of his favourite locations This isn't the first time people have come together to help Max, as just last year 5,000 was raised for him after an injury to his cruciate ligament. The then seven-year-old had to undergo surgery, which was 'tough' as it left him housebound for three months but luckily he was able to make a full recovery. Unfortunately, it was only a few months later when Max fell ill again and this time it was cancer. He has already begun his treatment with vets Ellie and Michael at Vets On The Common in Clapham and owner Ben said he is doing really well. Last year 5,000 was raised for Max after an injury to his cruciate ligament and he had to undergo surgery Because of the chemotherapy, Max now has an extra year to live and his owner can't wait to take him on some final adventures. Ben added: 'Max is on lots of pills and medication at the moment and has had his ups and downs. 'The vets have been brilliant, he has been in every day and now we managed to fund a mix of medication which is just right for him. 'He was feeling sorry for himself but now he is back to his normal self, going up to everyone and eating his treats. Max has already begun his treatment and now has an extra year to live because of the chemotherapy 'We had such a tough Christmas last year after his surgery, so we took Max on lots of trips, his favourite being Cornwall as he just loves beaches. 'Now, because of the kindness of others, I have another year to take him on more adventures, which means everything to me. 'I just want to say thank you to everyone who donated and shared the link, and all the people that have and still are sending messages and wanting updates and sending love, it does mean everything.' If you enjoyed this story... Ex BBC journalist who adopted 'terrified' Romanian rescue dog says turkey scraps and pet psychology have helped coax traumatised animal from behind the sofa - where she's been hiding for 10 days Why rabbits aren't a good pet for young kids: Vet busts common misconceptions about owning bunnies - and why you shouldn't feed them carrots or keep them in hutches When is it too cold to walk my dog? Experts reveal the precautions pet owners should take McDonald's has launched a new spicy chicken wrap and brought back the popular Cheesy Garlic Bites as part of a menu update. The fast food chain released the Spicy Sriracha Chicken One today, which will be available exclusively in the UK, and Ireland until the middle of February. The 'big flavour' wrap comes with either crispy chicken breast or grilled chicken, spicy sriracha sauce, cucumber, slivered onions, and lettuce, in a soft, toasted wrap. Mc Donald's released the Spicy Sriracha Chicken One today, which will be available exclusively in the UK, and Ireland until the middle of February You can get your hands on the new wrap for just 3.89 or 6.19 as part of a large meal. But this new wrap isn't the only new addition to the menu. The burger joint also brought back some old favourites such as the Aero Chocolate McFlurry, Aero Peppermint McFlurry, and Cheesy Garlic Bites. The fast food chain also brought back the popular Cheesy Garlic Bites as part of a menu update The Cheesy Garlic Bites cost 2.59 for a portion of five bites and a share box of 15 bites cost 6.69 The Cheesy Garlic Bites cost 2.59 for a portion of five bites and a share box of 15 bites cost 6.69. The Aero Chocolate and Aero Peppermint McFlurry's are 1.99 for a regular or 1.49 for a small. It comes after Mc Donald's revealed last week it will launch a new vegan burger - with social media users branding the sandwich a 'game changer'. The Double McPlant, which will be available in all restaurants across the UK and Ireland from today, boasts two vegan patties from plant-based brand Beyond Meat. McDonald's says its extra large new sandwich is for vegans, flexitarians and meat-eaters alike to enjoy, and features a sesame bun, mustard, ketchup, sandwich sauce, fresh onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese that 'tastes just like [its] iconic cheese slices'. It is vegan certified and cooked separately from other McDonald's burgers and sandwiches, using dedicated utensils. McDonald's launched a new vegan burger - the Double McPlant (pictured) which boasts two plant-based patties from Beyond Meat The chain's latest development follows the launch of its McPlant burger, which the brand says took three years to develop, and has 'proved wildly successful with customers' since its launch in September 2021. Following the launch of the McPlant, fans have been clamouring for the fast food giant to double-up and offer a bigger meat-free option. Ahead of the news, one fast food lover took to Twitter to write: 'McDonald's really needs to make a double McPlant.' And one branded the double-up version a 'game changer', writing: 'Double McPlant is a game changer. I've really enjoyed it the couple of times I've had it, but it's just not big enough.' Fans have been clamouring for the fast food chain to launch a Double McPlant (pictured) since it released its single-patty version of the sandwich in 2021 Another said: 'Apparently mcdonalds are bringing out a double mcplant in January, drunk me can't wait to devour that.' The new sandwich follows the success of McDonald's McPlant, which it released last year. Before its nationwide rollout, the McPlant - its first ever plant-based burger - was trialed in 10 restaurants in Coventry from September, then a further 250 stores from October before being rolled out nationwide this January. McDonalds UK & Ireland spent three years on research and development before unveiling their plant-based offering. Fast food fans have been calling on the chain to release an extra large version of its McPlant for some time Announcing the new option, Michelle Graham-Clare, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald's UK and Ireland said: 'We're so pleased to be finally launching McPlant in the UK and Ireland. 'As with every McDonald's offering, we take our time to ensure it meets the highest standards and is something that all our customers will enjoy. 'We are always looking for different ways to innovate and meet our customers' needs, and with McPlant we have a delicious plant-based burger that will appeal to everyone. The Double McPlant (pictured) features a sesame bun, mustard, ketchup, sandwich sauce, fresh onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese that 'tastes just like McDonald's iconic cheese slices' 'Whether you're vegan or just fancy a plant-based patty, we're confident you will enjoy the McPlant.' The McPlant is aimed at so-called flexitarians those who follow a semi-vegetarian lifestyle rather than vegans. Ethan Brown, of Beyond Meat, said the deal with McDonald's was 'an exciting milestone' for the firm. 'We will combine the power of Beyond Meat's relentless approach to innovation with the strength of McDonald's global brand to introduce new plant-based menu items,' he added. READ MORE Are 'healthy' posh crisps anything but? With up to 588 calories a bag, they're the party snack you may regret Heinz launches vegan versions of its classic cream of tomato soup and baked beans with sausages My new year dinner fit for a MasterChef: Nikita's the new champion of TV's toughest cookery show. But there's only one critic who really matters her mum. Here they present a showstopping feast they promise is as easy as pie to make A mother has succeeded in getting a children's toy removed from Walmart, after revealing that it played a number of inappropriate jokes, with the topics including Catholic priests 'screwing' and drive-by shootings. Ashley Lynn, who uses the handle @mommabearash on TikTok, explains in a video that her grandmother got the toy - labeled as 'educational' - from Walmart for her nine-month-old son for Christmas. However, when the baby started 'going to town on it' and pressing the buttons, Ashley's mom noticed it saying something about drive-by shootings. Recalling her reaction when she heard the reference to shooting, Ashley said: 'I'm like, there's no way. What, what! A kids' toy... There's a baby on the box. Sold at Walmart. Walmart, explain this! Linsay toys (the Florida-based toymaker) explain this! Blow this up! Do I have a lawsuit? Lawyers help me out!' In the clip, which has since been viewed more than 14 million times, Ashely reveals some of the shocking jokes the 'Electronic Educational Toy' plays. A mother has succeeded in getting a children's toy removed from Walmart, after revealing that it played a number of inappropriate jokes. She voiced her outrage on TikTok LEFT: In a follow-up video, Ashley shows viewers the original packaging the toy came in to prove that it is real. RIGHT: How the now-discontinued toy appeared on the Lowes website As she presses a button, the toy responds: 'How many Catholic priests are required to screw a lightbulb into its socket? Two, one to do the screwing and one to hear the confession.' JOKES PLAYED BY LINSAY'S EDUCATIONAL TOY FOR AGES 3+ How many Catholic priests are required to screw a lightbulb into its socket? Two, one to do the screwing and one to hear the confession. You'll never guess what makes a clip clop, clip clop, bang bang, clip clop, clip clop, bang bang? An Amish drive by shooting. The Easter bunny, an honest lawyer, Santa Claus and a drunk find a $50 bill together. Can you guess you gets to keep it? Of course it's the drunk because the other three don't exist. Tom told his friend, 'my brother has a job with 10000 people under him'. His friend replied: 'Wow he must be the CEO of a corporation.' Tom said: 'No, he cuts the grass at a cemetery.' An elementary school teacher asked a student why he was late. He replied: 'A nearby said "school ahead, slow down go slow", so that's what I did. Do you know why the chicken crossed the road? Either to escape Kentucky Fried Chicken or just to get to the other side. Advertisement The next joke then plays out: 'You'll never guess what makes a clip clop, clip clop, bang bang, clip clop, clip clop, bang bang? An Amish drive by shooting.' While Ashley was shocked by these jokes programed into the toy, she said the one that upset her most was one regarding Santa Claus. After pressing a number of buttons on the toy she finds the joke she was after. The gadget says: 'The Easter bunny, an honest lawyer, Santa Claus and a drunk find a $50 bill together. 'Can you guess you gets to keep it? Of course it's the drunk because the other three don't exist.' Ashley explains in the clip: '[This joke] got me actually upset because it's Christmas and its saying Santa, the Easter bunny don't exist.' The mother-of-three highlights that her grandmother was unable to test the toy before purchasing it as it didn't come supplied with batteries. Since the TikToker posted her initial clip, thousands of viewers have thanked her for the warning and agreed with her sentiments. Sabrina Addison wrote: 'I actually got this for my niece. I am glad I seen this before I gave her the present... now I got a buy something else... this is crazy.' And another commenter, @Kenz, said: 'Regardless of where its sold, it shouldve gone through testing. And if it did and it passed, the person who passed it should be fired.' Some viewers said they didn't believe Ashley. However, @Foxtato said that after she researched the toy online, she found a slew of negative reviews 'stating the same issue going a year back'. In a follow-up video, Ashley shows viewers the original packaging the toy came in to prove that it is real and marketed for children. Since the TikToker posted her initial clip, thousands of viewers have thanked her for the warning and agreed with her sentiments There is a photo of a baby on the front implying it is suitable for infants although it is labeled for ages three and up because the batteries could present themselves as a joking hazard. One panel on the box says the jokes are intended to be 'interesting' stories' to 'help the baby to learn cultural knowledge in play'. While she mentioned filing for a lawsuit in her first video, Ashley says in her follow-up that she can't afford to take the company to court. She tells viewers: 'I've never sued anyone in my life. I work, my husband works we have three children under our roof. Am I looking to get rich off of this and make a huge thing? No. Am I mad? Yeah, absolutely that my kid has this.' Instead of going down the legal route, Ashley registered a complaint with Walmart. In a third clip on the matter titled 'update' she reveals that the retailer got back to her in a 'very timely manner and responded that they would open an investigation'. Regardless of where its sold, it shouldve gone through testing. And if it did and it passed, the person who passed it should be fired They also promised her that the toy would stop being sold at all Walmart stores and online. After checking for herself, Ashley discovered that the toy had indeed disappeared from the Walmart site and it is also no longer available at Lowes, Macy's, Office Depot and the Military Depot. Some TikTok commenters said that they wanted to get their hands on one because they found the jokes funny and it would make a better gift for one of their adult friends. Creator @johnnyslad quipped: 'I gotta [sic] get me one of those just for the novelty before they are taken off the shelf.' While @Mavis mused: 'Honestly just advertise them for adults (or teenagers) not kids.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Walmart and the toymaker Linsay for comment. If you enjoyed reading this article... Therapist reveals her number one parenting tip inspired by dogs - but you have to start young and quit once they become teens Now Mrs Hinch is expanding into CHILDREN's books: Cleaning sensation unveils her latest business venture based on her family moving to their 1 million pad I've already bought and wrapped my presents for Christmas 2023 - I have 16 grandchildren so I like to be organised by Philippa Warner Theres nothing more terrifying than starting to doubt your own sanity, feeling so undermined and belittled that you begin to wonder if you are losing your mind. I still feel a sense of creeping dread and nausea when I recall just one incident of many that gave me this sensation: how my childrens nanny swore Id agreed to launder their uniforms, the morning after I was sure shed said she had it in hand. Hands on hips, she barked: Blame your mother that you dont have any clean clothes. She told me that she was doing the washing last night! Had I? After years of her gaslighting tricks behaviour I cottoned on to far too late I almost believed I must be in the wrong. Philippa Warren explains how she hired a dream nanny for her three children. However, things turned and she is still shaken at the mention of her name And though its five years since she lets call her Diana finally left our family, even now at 51 Im shaken at the mention of her name, the smell of someone wearing her perfume or the sight of her car, which I still see as she lives just a few miles away. They serve as unwelcome reminders of the way she tried to turn my children against me, slowly eroding my confidence. Initially, Diana seemed like a brilliant hire: kind to my three children (Harry*, then ten, Oscar, eight, and Amelia, seven) and doted on by them. Yet during her eight-year reign of terror, she tried to convince me that my children didnt love me while simultaneously telling them that Mummy didnt love them either. She questioned the clothes and toys I bought, the way I ran my home. She repeatedly hid school snack money that I knew Id left out for my children. The nanny questioned the clothes and toys she bought, the way she ran her home. The nanny repeatedly hid school snack money that she knew she'd left out for her children Shed lose or break things she knew were important to me, such as a lovely set of teaspoons that had been my late mums. She put them in the kids lunch boxes with their yoghurts because she knew theyd lose them or leave them at school. You may wonder why on earth I endured Dianas presence for eight long years. The truth is that Diana was more than a nanny who took a bizarre dislike to me. She was a spy for my former husband, Roger, one whom I felt forced to tolerate for fear he might try to take my children away. I never even sought help. How could I, when any hint that I was feeling vulnerable would have given him the chance to paint me as an unfit mother? Diana had worked for us for two years when my husband and I separated, at his behest, after several years of ugly rowing and unhappiness. Soon after, the two of them formed a secret allegiance, bent on grinding me down and persuading the children to live with their father (they never did). From being helpful and sunny, almost overnight Diana became critical, spiteful and always took my exs side. I never understood why. My husband and I had agreed I would have full custody, but I encouraged his contact with the children. And yet Diana was wily and conniving in her campaign to ruin my life subtly demoralising me at first, but slowly building over six years of negativity, mind games and bullying. The culmination of her campaign was making an anonymous call to social services to accuse me of neglect. Im still shaken by the mention of her name or sight of her car Needless to say, when two social workers knocked on my door one July morning six years after our divorce to say theyd been given a referral for parental neglect, I was as stunned as I was devastated. My disbelief and fury rose as they insisted on a tour of the house and interrogated me for an hour. Five long weeks of anxiety later, I received a letter telling me I had no case to answer. But the damage had been done by then, and the emotional impact was catastrophic, resulting in me being signed off work with stress. With no initial clue who had accused me, I had sunk into a depression, barely getting dressed each day and sleeping fitfully. I was terrified people might think me a bad mother, even though I knew deep down I had done nothing wrong. So, how did Diana come into our lives? By the time all the children were in primary school, I was working almost full-time as a university lecturer while my then husband worked long hours running his own company. Like millions of working parents, I needed help. Diana lived locally, was in her late 40s and was a single mother with teenage children. Her remit was to do the school run, look after the children on inset days or if any of them was poorly, take them to their various clubs, and feed them dinner. With the nanny gone, the kids admitted that she had secretly been taking them to visit their dad when their mother thought they were at after-school clubs Until Roger and I separated, everything was fine. But when he moved out of the five-bedroom marital home and into a property nearby, insisting we keep Diana on and split the cost, almost immediately her behaviour became abrupt. If I asked Roger to pick up the kids one day as Id got stuck at work, shed snipe that I wasnt being fair to him, and should be more organised. Anything the kids brought home from school, such as pictures theyd painted and even their class photos, she would give straight to my husband without ever showing me. I never felt confident enough to have this out with her. Could she be doing all this deliberately? Surely not. In many ways she was great with the children, taking them to parks after school and on other outings, otherwise Id never have let it carry on. But she continued to nitpick at everything I did, from the food I bought for the children to what they watched on TV. If I bought new school jumpers, shed huff and say: Well, they need entire new uniforms! and if I gave them expensive cheese for their lunch boxes, shed pipe up I wouldnt allow this!, ignoring the fact that they were my children. When we eventually moved out of the old family home to a new house on the outskirts of our large village, I gave an old mobile phone to my daughter, Amelia, then 11 and terribly sensible, when she wanted to walk to the park to play with her friends one day. Diana told her in front of me: Your mother is stupid, sending you with a phone to the park, when I was simply being protective. I was hurt, but again I didnt feel brave enough to rock the boat with Roger. By then, I felt completely worthless. Ironically, it was Dianas behaviour that made me feel too terrible to contemplate managing without her. She even told my precious children that I didnt love them Before she died, my elderly mother came to live with us. I later discovered that Diana had told people locally and at the school gates that I didnt look after Mum properly. She also lied to a lot of people that I was on antidepressants and incapable of being a mother. Repeatedly I told my ex-husband that she was undermining me and that we needed to end her employment with us. His response was always: No, shes great. Wed had such a bitter divorce that I couldnt face yet another argument, or more mean comments from him. So I let things lie, desperate to keep the peace. Ultimately, there were two incidents that broke me. The first was the day Amelia, then 14, told me: Diana says youve had your go at looking after us, and you didnt do it properly so its Dads turn now. Tearfully, I swore that wasnt true. By now, I felt a sense of utter dread each day I knew I would have to see her. I was under attack in my own home. I didnt think it could get any worse, until the aforementioned knock on my door from social services. Once I had been cleared, something about the phrases the social workers had used in their description of my neglect seemed familiar. Although they didnt name Diana, I knew that she was behind this. All the lies, the belittling comments, the constant chipping away at my self-esteem, and now this despicable failed attempt to have my children taken from me Id well and truly had enough. When she arrived one morning, I let rip: What have you done, what do you think you were doing contacting social services? She admitted it, then told me: I dont like you. I dont think you should have the children they should be with their father. Suddenly, my creeping suspicion that she might have feelings for him seemed to crystallise. I told her to leave my house, that she was banned from ever looking after my children again when they were with me. With her gone, the kids admitted that she had secretly been taking them to visit their dad when I thought they were at after-school clubs. No wonder she was so cross when I occasionally turned up at the school gates to surprise them with an afternoon of Mum Time. My ex-husband flatly refused to fire Diana from his house. People have assumed they were having a relationship, but Im pretty sure they werent, despite my sense that she might have that ambition. Once she was out of my house, my younger son confided he didnt like going to his dads because Diana was there and he didnt want to see her because she made him feel sad. I probed but he refused to explain what he meant. Now, he and his siblings are happy to pretend those years didnt happen. None of them has a strong relationship with their dad I believe they realise how manipulative hes been and nor do they have fond memories of Diana. Though they were safe with her physically, emotionally she abused them. She told my most precious beings that I didnt love them. That still breaks my heart. With the benefit of bitter experience, my advice to other women looking to hire a nanny is this: go through a reputable agency so that you have recourse in the event of any problems. And if alarm bells start ringing, take action immediately so you dont suffer the way that I did. An Australian finance guru who was listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2021 has shared the two major mistakes couples make - and how you can avoid them for financial success this year. Victoria Devine, from Melbourne, is the host of the popular podcast She's On The Money podcast, and she also works as as a wealth management adviser dedicated to making financial jargon understandable and relatable. In one of her most recent posts, Victoria said there are two mistakes a lot of couples make - and both of them have to do with getting married. An Australian finance guru who was listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 list in 2021 has shared the two major mistakes couples make - and how you can avoid them (Victoria Devine pictured) The first is that couples do not often plan for the adjacent occasions and celebrations around a wedding, which quickly add up. While the second is that they don't have a 'f**k up fund', which means you need to have a little extra cash set aside for if and when things go wrong. 'We think there are two major things people stuff up with their wedding budget,' Victoria posted on Instagram. 'But luckily for you, they are two things that are very easily fixable with a bit of pre-planning.' Victoria (pictured with her husband) said you need to factor in wedding-adjacent celebrations to your budget, as well as making sure you have a 'f**k up fund' for emergencies 1. Factor in wedding-adjacent celebrations into your budget The first thing Victoria said couples who are wedding planning need to do is factor in any 'wedding-adjacent celebrations'. 'So many people skip out on including things like the engagement party, hen do, bucks party, kitchen tea and night before the wedding into their wedding budget,' she said. 'But it really should be in there, as those celebrations can end up costing a LOT.' To give yourself a true indication of where you're at with costing your wedding, the financial adviser recommends you 'paint yourself a better financial picture of the whole wedding'. This will avoid scaring you when you check your bank account at the end of proceedings. Victoria (pictured) said a 'f**k up fund' means you will always have some spare dollars for a financial emergency, and won't be scared by your outgoings 2. Have a 'f**k up fund' The second thing you should think about when wedding planning is planning for the unknown or unforeseeable. 'While we hope nothing goes wrong with your wedding day, taking inspiration from the last two years of COVID mayhem, it's good to factor in a little surplus cash for any dramas,' Victoria said. 'Think a last minute alteration on a dress, a wet weather panic of buying 40 umbrellas or some spare dollars to pay for the photographer to stay overtime to capture some hilarious dance floor shots of your family.' The adviser said it's always a good idea for couples to have 'f**k up funds' of extra money 'squirelled away' so you're never panicked. Victoria (pictured) shared the six separate bank accounts you need, including the cash hub, food, fuel and fun account, two emergency funds, a short and long-term savings account The six bank accounts you need 1. The cash hub 2. The food, fuel and fun account 3. The emergency fund 4. The short-term savings account 5. The long-term savings account 6. The other emergency fund Advertisement Previously, Victoria shared the six separate bank accounts that will help you to spend and save, without feeling deprived. 'It's very personal how many bank accounts you have, but personally I always suggest clients have at least six in their possession so they are able to keep on top of their budget and cashflow,' Victoria told FEMAIL. The six separate accounts include one called 'the cash hub', one for 'food, fuel and fun', an 'emergency fund', a bank account for 'short-term savings', one for 'long-term savings' and another 'emergency fund' for other last-minute situations. 'The two most important of these account are the cash hub, so that you don't mindlessly spend everything that comes into you account, and the emergency fund, so you're not tempted to dip into it,' Victoria said. To find out more about Victoria Devine, please visit her website here. She appears in a tongue-in-cheek series called day in the life of gothic baby Former pro wrestler Rebecca Hardy dresses her daughter Eevee as a goth A mum-of-four has been slammed by women from around the world after 'turning her baby into a tiny goth'. American mum Rebecca Hardy copped the hefty criticism for her parenting style after posting a video to TikTok titled 'day in the life of a gothic baby'. The tongue-in-cheek clip, which Rebecca regularly reminds fans is simply a fun skit, shows the baby 'entering the new year' the same way she starts every day: 'begrudgingly'. Rebecca, who is married to pro-wrestler Matt Hardy, has three other children and makes it clear the nursery room is the only 'goth' room in the house. A mum has been slammed over her portrayal of her young daughter as 'Gothic Baby' She narrates the story from the point of view of her baby daughter Eevee, telling the audience she likes to start her day with a beauty routine which included a black face roller and 50s style brushes and combs. Eevee then goes to her wardrobe - the top section a mass of colour, the bottom every shade of black. 'Last year I resolved to stop wearing black, but no one like a quitter,' the narration said as baby picked out a black and brown tulle gown. The former pro wrestler and model then filmed her daughter scrawling in a book titled 'people I want to punch in the face'. The list inside the book read '1 - Father. 2 - Loose women.' The video ends with baby 'saying goodnight to the monster under the bed' and 'falling asleep to Depeche Mode'. The video went viral - and followers had plenty to say about it. 'Its toxic, I dont like it, its a baby,' one woman slammed. 'I hate that you put makeup on her,' said another. But most expressed their love for the family. 'Gothic baby will have no fears in this world,' one woman said. While another admitted 'You are my favourite people on here (TikTok).' The baby stars in a 2-part series where she explains her life as a tiny gothic child 'I too start my morning begrudgingly,' a third fan wrote. The Gothic Baby series has 27 parts so far - with one showing baby Eevee being exposed to 'colour therapy'. She is filmed inside her colourful play room - Rebecca asks if she likes colour and she says 'no' before tackling her toy globe or 'taking over the world'. The family don't seem to mind when people don't like their aesthetic - the Loose Women television program in the UK publicly slammed them and their response was to make a video mocking them. In the video Gothic Baby sits on a throne and announces she is the new queen. Rebecca's page has 1.2million followers. An adorable 126lb dog has been booted out of puppy school for sitting on smaller pooches - because he doesn't seem to understand how hefty he is. One-year-old Newfoundland pup Franklyn still appears to think that he's a lapdog, often squashing his owners with cuddles despite his 'bear-like' stature. Shauna Connors, from Nova Scotia, Canada, is worried that her sofa will buckle in the next year, when he's fully grown and could reach a whopping 196lbs. The gentle giant has 'no idea how big he is', she explained. 'It's hard to say no when he wants to cuddle. It's difficult to stop him because there's room for him to climb up there.' 'Clumsy' Franklyn is also not known for his dexterity, often shoving past objects as he walks through a room and trying to sniff out scraps under the dinner table - although he's much too big to fit under it. 'He is a bull in a china shop,' Shauna said. 'He doesn't mean to be destructive but he's so big and his tail is so fluffy we can't keep anything on the coffee table because they tend to go flying. 'Our reflexes have definitely improved over the past year to save the least...Catching glasses and things like that.' A viral video shows him stretch across her husband Travis Connors' lap as he lies down on the sofa before lifting his giant rear paws up to stand on his stomach. The clip of Travis being squashed by Franklyn (pictured left and right) has been viewed more than 30.3 million times and has earned more than 2.9 million likes An adorable six-foot, 126lb dog (pictured with his owner Travis Connors) has been booted out of puppy school for sitting on smaller pooches - as he doesn't seem to understand how hefty he is Shauna (pictured with the pup) admitted that Franklyn does 'whatever he wants' thanks to his determined and stubborn nature Travis, 47, can be heard shouting in pain as Franklyn moves around as if to get settled and then drops to sit on his chest while looking innocently at the camera. The excitable pup is six-feet tall when stood on his hind legs and the family - including children Alice and Paige Connors, both 18 - even have to clean drool off the ceilings. Shauna admitted that Franklyn does 'whatever he wants' thanks to his determined and stubborn nature, making it difficult to stop him from jumping around on furniture. 'Everyone says he would be so cuddly, cute and fun to have, but they're a lot of work,' she said. 'We take it day by day.' The family bought Franklyn (pictured) from a breeder in March, two months after his birth in January The excitable pup is six-feet tall when stood on his hind legs and the family - including children Alice and Paige Connors (pictured), both 18 - even have to clean drool off the ceilings Even walks in the neighbourhood are a terse affair as friendly Franklyn wants to play with small dogs - but is 'too big for them and they'd go flying'. 'He'd squash them,' Shauna said. And it's not just other dog who are at risk. Franklyn's owner says sometimes he knocks the kids over with his hugs, and - even though he prefers lying on the floor - he'll crawl on top of whoever is on the sofa for a cuddle. The family bought Franklyn from a breeder in March, two months after his birth in January, because they wanted a large dog to suit the family who are all above 5ft 10in. Franklyn's owner says sometimes he knocks the kids over with his hugs, not realising his hefty build Even walks in the neighbourhood are a terse affair as friendly Franklyn (pictured squashing Travis) wants to play with small dogs - but is 'too big for them and they'd go flying' The video of Travis being squashed by Franklyn has been viewed more than 30.3 million times and has earned more than 2.9 million likes. One commented: 'Big dogs either couldn't care less that they're big or have no idea that they're big.' Another joked: 'Yes dad, I'm a lapdog.' A third said: 'I've had a horrible day and this stopped me crying. Thank you.' One worried user asked: 'Are his ribs fine?' Shauna replied: 'He's good.' Another joked: 'There's a grizzly bear in your living room.' READ MORE: Life after the lab: Patched-up Violet the hound was used as surgery practice, while cats Delilah and Petite survived cannibalism experiments - all three now have loving homes thanks to adoption EXCLUSIVE: Man, 24, faces animal neglect charges after he left his dog, Stella, tied up at Iowa airport while he caught a flight because he didnt take a kennel for the pup to travel in Cartoon villain! Miami puppy dog store owner fined for dyeing his Pomeranian red and yellow to look like Pokemon character PIKACHU Pixar Animation Studios senior animator Kim Hye-sook poses with a Buzz Lightyear figurine, a character popularized through the Toy Story film franchise. She has been working at Pixar since 2021. Courtesy of Kim Hye-sook 'Animators breathe life into characters like Pinocchio's father, Geppetto' By Lee Gyu-lee Growing up in the small town of Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province, located about 150 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Kim Hye-sook was just an ordinary girl from the country who loved drawing. But when her teacher in middle school, after seeing her drawings, introduced her to possible professions in the animation industry, Kim began to imagine that drawing could become a career for her. About 25 years later, she came to work for one of the biggest animation studios, Pixar Animation Studios, as a senior animator, taking part in the production of the 2022 film "Buzz Lightyear." "When I moved abroad (from Korea), I started to have more thoughts about empathy and understanding. The language and culture; the confusion and struggles that come from the new environment can lead people to empathize with each other, and to communicate to comfort one another," the animator said in a recent written interview with the Korea Times. "People might feel like they are different from the rest of the group, but the moment when these individuals realize that others are just like them always resonates with me. I believe that a warm hug and strong support can create a healthy society. And I hope to continue to create animations that can deliver these messages to children." Senior animator Kim Hye-sook in front of the Pixar Animation Studios in California / Courtesy of Kim Hye-sook Kim started her career in Korea after studying animation at the Kaywon School of Art and Design. She found her passion as an animator while working on short films in school and took her first job at a local production studio, Toiion Animation Studios. While working at the studio, she took on several TV animation projects like "Pororo the Little Penguin," and led two short films "Mung" (2003) and "Herstory" (2004) which were both invited to international festivals like the Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival. "As I met these awesome artists from abroad at the international film festivals, I was inspired to excel at my job like them," she said. And when she took part in making Disney's animation series "Sofia the First" under the studio, she saw a vision in pursuing her talent in the global industry. "When we asked the director from Disney why he chose to work with us, he said they liked our work the best. And that was when I gained confidence as one of the animators who took part in the test project," she said. A scene from Kim Hye-sook's short animated film, "Herstory" (2004) / Courtesy of Kim Hye-sook Before Pixar, she had worked for another animation powerhouse, Sony Pictures Imageworks in Canada, for about six years, taking part in the creation a total of 10 films, including Academy Award-winning feature "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) and director Glen Keane's "Over the Moon" (2020). "I learned a lot through working with director Keane for over a year. And in the same year, our team had the honor to be nominated for the?Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature," she said. Kim is currently working on Pixar's highly-anticipated upcoming animated feature, "Elemental," which is scheduled to debut this year. Kim noted that animators have the ability to make characters come to life. "Animators are people who breathe life into the characters like Pinocchio's father Geppetto. So I think it's very important to be keen to observe things," she said, adding she closely works with the directors to create the scenes and movements of the characters. Senior animator Kim Hye-sook, center, poses with Oscar trophies for the film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," in which she took part while working at Sony Pictures Imageworks. Courtesy of Kim Hye-sook "I discuss the characters' emotional state and (the scene's) purpose with the director regarding the shots. So, I grasp the director's intention and the flow of the film to come up with the ideas which are presented through 3D character movement, 2D drawing, or in videos of me acting in person. And when my ideas are confirmed, we create shots by arranging characters through a 3D program. At Pixar, all the animators, whether juniors or seniors, are involved in various stages of the work we do." The animator said that since starting working overseas she was most shocked, in a good way, by the working environment which involved more communication than she experienced in Korean studios. "What surprised me the most is the number of meetings and discussions. There were so many opportunities to communicate. So I was and still am continually surprised to see how actively people exchange ideas and understanding of the projects they are working on," she said. "In Pixar, especially, these types of meetings are always open to everyone and they share their ideas in a horizontal environment. As everyone is on board with a single goal to make a good movie and passionately take part in 'brainstorming' meetings, I often learn and get inspired a lot by just participating in a meeting." A scene from Pixar's upcoming animated film, "Elemental" / Courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios The all-new Toyota Corolla Cross SUV has arrived in Australia and aims to break the company's record for selling the world's best-selling car. The Toyota Corolla is the world's best-selling car with a total of 51 million cars produced. The next highest is the original VW Beetle with 21.5 million. This small SUV is the perfect vehicle for summer weekend getaways offering seamless connectivity, practical functionality, hybrid efficiency and class-leading technology. The all-new Toyota Corolla Cross SUV has arrived in Australia and aims to break the company's record for selling the world's best-selling car It provides Aussies with a practical and spacious vehicle for those with an adventurous lifestyle. The Corolla Cross is designed for simple and intuitive use with the Toyota Connected Services functionality and a new-generation Toyota multimedia system, connecting Toyota drivers with their cars more than ever before. Drivers can remotely check the status of the doors and lights, access information including the vehicle's last known location and recent trips, or start the engine or climate control, all through the myToyota Connect app on a smartphone or tablet. Drivers can remotely check the status of the doors and lights, access information including the vehicle's last known location and recent trips, or start the engine or climate control, all through the myToyota Connect app on a smartphone or tablet How much does the new Toyota Corolla cost? Corolla Cross pricing GX Petrol: $33,000 GX Hybrid 2WD: $35,500 GXL Petrol: $36,750 GXL Hybrid 2WD: $39,250 GXL Hybrid AWD: $42,250 Atmos Petrol: $43,550 Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $46,050 Atmos Hybrid AWD: $49,050 Advertisement Its stylish exterior design is reflected inside where high-quality materials and finish give the car a premium look to complement any weekend getaway wardrobe, while the look and feel of the car is matched by a dynamic and comfortable driving experience. Whether it's singing along to your favourite track or catching up on a weekly podcast, the decision is made simple with top tunes, podcasts, and audiobooks easily accessible with the use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through the large multimedia display. The system can now be activated through voice recognition by simply saying the command 'Hey Toyota!' and Apple CarPlay users can also use Siri Voice Wake-up, which activates Siri simply by saying 'Hey Siri!' instead of pressing the 'Voice' button on the steering wheel. Use the voice control for functions such as changing the in-car temperature for ultimate driving comfort when zipping around the city or on those longer road tripping adventures Use the voice control for functions such as changing the in-car temperature for ultimate driving comfort when zipping around the city or on those longer road tripping adventures. The upgraded Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features offer new technologies including lane change assist and safe exit assist, providing further security and peace of mind for drivers. Whereas for those high pressure parking situations, the Advanced Park Assist featured in the flagship Corolla Cross Atmos will create more Zen when driving with the memory function enabling the driver to register up to three parking spaces used regularly for easy parking. The Corolla Cross range opens from $33,000 plus on-road costs for the petrol-powered GX variant, with three trim levels on offer consisting of GX, GXL and the flagship Atmos. For Aussies looking for power and fuel efficiency to take on the week and plan for the weekend they can also choose the GX with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain for just $2,500 extra, with the GX 2WD hybrid priced at $35,5005. DEA has likened the emerging crisis to that involving opioids, in letter yesterday Telemedicine companies are believe to have driven the 16% surge in users Some 41million Americans now have an Adderall prescription, estimates suggest Have you or anyone you know been negatively impacted by Adderall? Get in touch: Luke.A.Andrews@mailonline.co.uk One in eight Americans are now hooked on Adderall after Covid pandemic policies during the Trump administration made the powerful stimulant available online with just a few clicks of a button. The Federal Government relaxed rules around prescribing medicines in March 2020, just as the virus started to take off in the US, allowing telemedicine companies to dish out the drug online without an in-person consultation. The aim was to keep people out of hospitals and doctors' clinics, while ensuring access to medicines. But it inadvertently created a booming market for start-ups who brazenly advertised their '60-second assessments' and aggressively marketed the medication on social media. Today, some 41million Americans have a prescription for Adderall, estimates suggest, a 16 percent surge from before Covid struck. Four million new patients got prescriptions last year, double the previous year. Millions of these patients are children and young adults. Up to 10 percent of school children are estimated to be on the drugs, as well as a third of college students. Adderall prescriptions have steadily increased over the last 12 years. The figures include prescriptions for both Adderall, brand and generic, in the U.S. Telehealth company Done has run advertisements featuring images of pills and promising quick ADHD diagnoses One mother whose 21-year-old son killed himself while playing Russian Roulette with a loaded gun and high on Adderall, said he was able to lie to telemedicine providers to get the drug despite a slew of mental health problems that should have raised red flags. Adderall is a schedule II drug the same category reserved for opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone meaning it has a 'high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. The drug is a combination of two stimulants, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, used to treat patients with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). These stimulants ramp up activity in the central nervous system, which controls pathways in your brain and spinal cord responsible for most bodily functions. Experts believe ADHD is caused by an imbalance of the hormones dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Not having sufficient levels of these hormones can lead to symptoms like an inability to focus and low motivation. Adderall works by causing the brain to release extreme amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine. A separate, brightly-colored advert on Instagram features ice cream cones and tells patients to consume sugary snacks every 30 minutes while on the drug But this can become dangerous when abused and used excessively. If a high enough dose is taken, the user will experience euphoria likened to molly or MDMA. Adderall may cause sudden death or strokes among children and adults, especially those with heart defects or serious heart problems. Around 1,000 Americans die from prescription stimulants and benzodiazepines like Adderall and Xanax every year. Insomnia and poor sleep are two more common symptoms among heavy Adderall users. This can lead to exhaustion, severe mood swings, irritability, and restlessness during the day. A chronic lack of sleep can also raise the risk of a host of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and delusions. Weight loss is also a potential side effect of Adderall addiction. This can happen due to decreased appetite or excessive exercise. Adderall increases the amount of glucose or sugar released into the body, which increases blood sugar levels and can lead to stomach pain and diarrhea. Those who have taken the drug for a long time or misused it will develop a physical dependence on the drug, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to come off, including depression, irritability and problems sleeping. Cerebral and Done have both stated they do not pressure clinicians and provide essential services but the DEA is currently investigating the prescribing practices of the companies. Pictured, a snapshot from a Cerebral video ad that ran in 2021 on Facebook 41 million prescriptions for Adderall were filled last year With the advent of telemedicine and Covid, Adderall prescriptions have surged from 35.8million in 2019 to 41m in 2021. There are fears the overprescription of the drug is leading to a new wave of addictions on par with the opioid crisis. Telemedicine companies saw their profits grow to monumental levels over the pandemic. Cerebral Inc which is currently under investigation for aggressively advertising Adderall on Facebook and Instagram hit a valuation of $4.8billion a little over two years after it was founded in 2020. Done Global Inc also under investigation for its prescribing practices has seen its revenues quickly eclipse the $3million offered, people familiar with the company told Bloomberg. The top maker of Adderall for the US market accounting for more than 80 percent of all sales worldwide is Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals. The company has a revenue of some $3.59billion a year and specializes primarily in generic medicines. There are fears that overprescription of the drug raises the risk of more patients becoming addicted, in turn putting further pressure on healthcare services. It also means ADHD sufferers who need the drug are struggling to get hold of the treatment. In October, some patients warned they were considering turning to the black market just to fill their prescriptions. And others said they were having to visit more than 40 pharmacies to ensure they could get the treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared a shortage of Adderall the same month, about 90 days after suppliers warned of shortages. Teva blamed the situation on heightened demand as well as labor shortages at its factories. Last month a mother blamed lax Adderall prescription rules brought in during the Covid pandemic for her son's death. Elijah Hanson was found dead on the kitchen floor in Tacoma, Washington, on June 25 after filming himself playing Russian Roulette with a loaded handgun. The 21-year-old had been written a prescription for Adderall by a telemedicine pharmacy despite suffering from red-flag mental health issues, his brother Ethan said. Mother Kelli Rasmussen, blamed Adderall for his suicide, telling CBS that despite her son not having ADHD he was still able to secure a prescription for the drug by lying to telehealth providers. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is legally required to set production quotas each year for ingredients in Schedule II drugs. In December, the DEA announced that it would not permit any increase in the production of pharmaceutical ingredients used to make Adderall and other stimulants for ADHD treatment in 2023. The DEA's decision to limit production, coupled with a rise in prescriptions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has reportedly contributed to a shortage of Adderall, as noted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October. Ministers were today begged not to reintroduce any Covid-era restrictions amid claims face mask and work from home guidance could be adopted to stop the NHS from meltdown. Hospitals are buckling under winter demand, soaring rates of flu, staff shortages and bed-blockers. Covid's resurgence and the emergence of the XBB.1.5 'Kraken' variant could cause even more chaos. Health chiefs and scientists have already advised adults and pupils to stay at home if they are unwell and to wear masks if they must venture outside when sick. They also called for the booster rollout to be widened in a bid to protect the NHS. Now ministers are understood to have last-resort plans to advise Britons to wear masks on public transport, WFH and socially distance if the health service 'is at risk of collapse'. Critics have, however, hit out at the response, warning the NHS's annual winter crisis can't be used as an 'excuse to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions'. Others said such measures could leave Britons 'more vulnerable' to the virus and flu. People wear face masks on the London Underground today after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase A commuter wears a face mask on the London Underground today Two mask-wearers on Nottingham high street today More mask-wearers on Nottingham high street today London shoppers wearing face masks in shops on Oxford Street yesterday Pictured: London shoppers wearing face masks in shops on Oxford Street on January 3 Which, if any, Covid-era measures should return? Vote here and tell us why... Pictured: People wearing face masks on the London Underground on January 4 after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase Advertisement Official sources have suggested that the Government could issue fresh advice for the public to wear face masks on public transport and work from home, if the NHS situation gets worse. A 'well-placed' source told the i that there is a 'list of potential measures' under consideration. However, lockdowns and school closures are not among them and no advice is expected to be mandatory or legally enforceable. They said: 'Softer, less intrusive measures could soon be introduced if the NHS is at risk of collapse. 'While the guidance is for people who are ill to wear face masks if they leave their homes already, it may well be that the wearing of a mask could again be the guidance for all those using public transport.' A separate government source told the newspaper: 'We're not there yet, but guidance for everyone, ill or not, to wear face masks on public transport is not really going to inconvenience people. 'It would also make perfect sense to ask people who can work from home to do so if the NHS need us all to support them through this busy period of the year.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'It is inaccurate to say we are considering implementing any such measures. We are working hard with the NHS to tackle the pressures faced this winter.' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week issued fresh calls for Britons who are unwell to stay at home and wear face coverings if they must venture outdoors. It also said children who are unwell and have a fever classed as 38C or more should stay at home until they feel better. The advice was backed by Transport Secretary Mark Harper, who previously advocated against Covid restrictions. He said yesterday that it would be 'very sensible' for people who have Covid or flu to wear a mask. However, some Tory MPs have called the advice 'madness' and said face coverings make 'no difference at all to the transmission of a virus'. And some experts have warned that a Covid-esque response can't be brought back every winter. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show 1.2million had the virus on any given day in the week up to December 9 in England UK Covid infection data shows 97 people per million tested positive in the week to December 27. For comparison, 2,699 Covid cases per million were confirmed during the peak last winter 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 NHS England data today showed that an average of 63,000 staff were off work every day in the week to Christmas (red line). Around 8,000 of the absences were due to Covid (blue line) 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) Ambulance handover delays peaked on December 19 with more than 3,000 patients forced to wait over an hour in the back of an emergency vehicle, unable to be offloaded to a hospital bed Ambulances parked outside the Royal London hospital in east London today Emergency vehicles outside the Royal London hospital in east London today Ambulances wait outside Portsmouth Hospital yesterday due to shortages of rooms The UK Health Security Agency this week issued fresh calls for Britons who are unwell to stay at home and wear face coverings if they must venture outdoors. They also said children who are unwell and have a fever classed as 38C or more to stay at home until they feel better Pharmacists 'to treat more illnesses' as the government considers handing them greater powers to ease the pressure on waiting times for GPs and A&E Rishi Sunak is expected to lay out his long-term blueprint to rescue the NHS later this month, with a focus on cutting waiting times for GPs, ambulances and A&E treatment Advertisement Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the public is more vulnerable to viruses due to prior Covid restrictions and it is a 'period we have to pass through'. 'Hiding away again will only delay our immune recovery and make it harder,' he said. Professor Livermore said: 'There is absolutely no good reason to demand the return of masks. They have failed epically. 'Worse, they cause harm. They impede communication. They impede childhood learning. They create a scurf of poorly degradable street litter. 'Nor is there good reason to reinstate other restrictions, such as social distancing and WFH. 'A large part of our present problems is that, through two years of restrictions, we lost our natural equilibrium of repeated asymptomatic infection and re-boosted immunity with other pathogens, such as flu, RSV and even Strep A.' Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, told MailOnline that staying at home when ill and infectious is 'always good advice'. He said: 'But we mustn't allow the NHS's annual winter crisis to be used as an excuse to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions. 'There is no evidence that the latest sub-variant of Omicron is more dangerous and the Chicken Littles warning of disaster have been wrong again and again for 18 months. 'Rather than demanding behavioural change of the whole population, we should ask why it is only the UK, of the all major economies, that has a healthcare system that collapses every winter and barely functions the rest of the year. 'The NHS is not the envy of the world. It is a national embarrassment, burning our money and incapable of reform.' However, some scientists are already urging Britons to follow restrictions similar to those brought in during the pandemic in a bid to lower pressure on the over-stretched health service, warning that the UK has 'sleepwalked into another avoidable crisis'. Professor Sam Wilson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, said 'taking familiar Covid precautions' will help limit the spread of Covid. He told The Guardian: 'Regardless of the impact of a new variant, the NHS is already under tremendous pressure from a cocktail of different viruses this winter. 'Where it is possible, taking voluntary steps to reduce transmission reducing contacts, wearing high-quality masks in crowded indoor spaces, and isolating if you have symptoms will help reduce the pressure on the NHS.' Man suffering from acute appendicitis had to sleep in his CAR outside Scarborough hospital because there were no beds to treat him in An NHS patient has revealed how he had to wait for eight hours to be seen by doctors and chose sleep in his car outside Scarborough Hospital (above) amid the winter bed shortage Advertisement Dr Stephen Griffin, an infectious disease expert at the University of Leeds, told MailOnline that he 'fully endorses' limiting contacts. He said: 'I would advise people to limit contacts wherever possible, working from home if possible, and not mixing at all if feeling unwell. 'Naturally, not everyone can afford to due a lack of support for isolation at present. 'Testing is ideal if you can access them, which is more and more difficult nowadays as well. 'In areas that are poorly ventilated, including most public transport, a well fitted filtering mask is the best protection for you, and for others.' Dr Griffin said that Omicron variant XBB.1.5, which is fuelling a surge in cases in the US and was behind at least one in 25 UK Covid cases in the week before Christmas, is 'both highly antibody evasive and more highly transmissible'. He added: 'It is growing quickly as a result, but we already have high prevalence from existing viruses which, combined with resurgent influenza, is putting incredible strain on the NHS. 'These pressures are exposing the brittleness of the NHS infrastructure caused by 12 years of under resourcing. 'We have yet again sleepwalked into another avoidable crisis. 'It pains me that the Government are able to accept this, or even pretend that this constitutes "living with" Covid, or any other disease.' Professor Martin McKee, president at the British Medical Association and public health expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told MailOnline: 'When the NHS is facing unprecedented pressure from respiratory infections, anything we can do to reduce them makes even more sense than normal.' Professor Karl Friston, scientific director at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, told MailOnline that it is 'sensible' to self-isolate and wear masks when unwell or if there is a high risk of transmission. He noted that the number of contacts people have per day is still 15 per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels. 'As a population, we are more aware of the dangers of unmitigated viral spread and how to respond sensibly,' Professor Friston added. The NHS crisis has seen patients face record delays in A&E this winter, with some reporting waits of up to four days for a bed, while others are treated in cupboards, corridors, meeting rooms and even outside hospitals. Doctors have described 'Dickensian overcrowding' in emergency departments, with some staff being forced to ask seriously ill patients to monitor their own vital signs. Last week, one in five ambulance patients in England waited more than an hour to be handed over to A&E teams. In a bid to boost 'atrocious' response times, London Ambulance Service yesterday ordered its teams to leave 999 patients in chairs or trolleys, raising patient safety fears among some medics. Some hospitals have cancelled all appointments and operations deemed 'non-urgent', with leaders warning more will follow suit, and others have reported that they are running out of oxygen. Some are considering using 'field hospitals' with tents to cope with the 'unprecedented' influx in patients. Experts have called for the reopening of Nightingale hospitals, which are staffed by the Army and built during the pandemic but saw little use, to prop up the ailing health service. 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 'I'm in charge of curing the NHS now': Rishi Sunak unveils blueprint to help tackle the crisis in UK hospitals - in the first major speech of his premiership Mr Sunak will set out his broad approach to resolving the pressure on the health service, including a renewed focus on tackling the delayed discharges clogging up hospital beds Advertisement Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said up to 500 patients could be dying each week due to delays in emergency care. NHS chiefs have warned the crisis could continue until Easter. The health service has blamed ongoing pressures in part on workforce shortages, with 130,000 vacancies across its entire workforce. On top of this, staff absences are on the rise. It is also battling a 'twindemic' of flu and Covid, with an average of 3,746 flu patients in hospital each day last week up seven-fold in one month. Around 8,600 Covid patients were taking up beds on December 21, up 84 per cent on last month. Health chiefs warned today that flu and virus cases are expected to keep rising throughout January. Further adding to the crisis is the fact that 12,000 hospital beds were taken up by 'bed-blockers' in the last week. Demand for A&E has also skyrocketed because of difficulties accessing GPs. One in five patients unable to get an in-person appointment in December turned up at hospitals instead, according to polling by the Liberal Democrats. On top of these pressures, experts have warned that the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 is set to pile further demand on the health service. The strain has gained mutations which helps it to bypass Covid-fighting antibodies generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the country's largest Covid surveillance centres, suggests at least 4 per cent of cases in England in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5. The situation saw Labour MP Rachael Maskell yesterday call for compulsory isolation for those infected with Covid, saying 'we need' those with the virus to stay at home. Ms Maskell also called for arrivals from China, which is battling its biggest outbreak since the pandemic began, to isolate in the UK if they are infected. As it stands, those travelling to England must show proof of a negative test taken up to two days before flying. Some passengers will also be asked to take a voluntary test on arrival at Heathrow to monitor for new variants. But those who test positive will not have to isolate. Ms Maskell told MailOnline that as well as obliging arrivals from China to quarantine if they test positive, there needed to be a 'discussion' about bringing back more widespread isolation. Isolation for those infected with Covid was ditched under the Government's 'Living with Covid' plan, which sets out actions people can take to reduce the risk of catching the virus and spreading it to others. But the guidance still advises people who have symptoms of a respiratory infection and a fever to 'try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people'. The plan also urges people to get vaccinated and keep up-to-date with the booster doses they are eligible for, as well as ventilate rooms, such as by opening windows and vents. Britons should also wear masks when in close contact with someone at-risk from Covid and in crowded public spaces with infections are high, the guidance states. In other health news... 'I'm in charge of curing the NHS now': Rishi Sunak unveils blueprint to help tackle the crisis in UK hospitals in the first major speech of his premiership Pharmacists 'to treat more illnesses' as the government considers handing them greater powers to ease the pressure on waiting times for GPs and A&E Man suffering from acute appendicitis had to sleep in his CAR outside Scarborough hospital because there were no beds to treat him in DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Britain has to say no to mandatory masks Travellers on indirect flights from China will be forced to take Covid tests before departing from tomorrow, Government officials have confirmed. No10 is bringing back travel restrictions for passengers from the Chinese mainland apart from Hong Kong amid a surge in cases that is blighting the nation. Concerns had been raised people flying from the country could avoid a pre-departure test via a 'loophole' allowing them to board a flight to another nation first. But in an update to restrictions issued last night, the Government said transiting passengers will not be exempt from the rules. Travellers on indirect flights from China will be forced to take Covid tests before departing from tomorrow, UK Government officials have confirmed. Pictured: A health worker guides travellers arriving from China in front of a Covid-19 testing centre at Incheon International Airport in South Korea yesterday Covid patients receive treatment at Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, China, yesterday Patients wait to fetch medicine at Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, China, yesterday Travellers from China who test positive for Covid will NOT have to self-isolate despite fears country's virus chaos may spawn new doomsday variant after wake-up call of the 'Kraken' XBB A passenger arriving from China is tested for Covid at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on Sunday Advertisement Should passengers test positive before flying, they will not be allowed to travel. The joint statement from the Department for Transport and Department of Health and Social Care read: 'From January 5, 2023, there are different rules if you travel to England from mainland China. 'You will need to take a Covid test no more than two days before you travel. 'Children aged 11 and under do not have to take a Covid test before travelling to England from mainland China. 'This applies to all direct and indirect flights originating from mainland China. 'An indirect flight involves stops in one or more other countries or territories before arriving in England. This includes if you are travelling through Hong Kong or Macao.' The update also said voluntary tests on arrival to track for new variants will not start until January 8. Ministers have said they plan to test a 'sample' of passengers on arrival in the UK to check for dangerous strains such as XBB.1.5, which has been nicknamed 'the Kraken'. But passengers arriving in Britain will not be forced to take the tests, which are only available at London Heathrow one of two airports direct flights from China arrive at, alongside Manchester. And even if passengers do take them and test positive, they will not have to self-isolate, the Transport Secretary admitted yesterday. The new travel restrictions were first announced on December 30 because of fears China's outbreak could introduce a deadly strain in the UK. Other countries including the US, Canada, Italy, Japan, India, Spain, South Korea, Malaysia and France all brought in similar measures to deal with the threat of potential doomsday variants. Covid is currently overwhelming hospitals in China after cases surged in the country when Beijing's controversial 'zero-Covid' policy was lifted last month. Experts believe low vaccination levels combined with weak natural immunity caused by delaying lifting the policy is behind the sudden rise. But they also fear the latest wave which is thought to be causing more cases than ever in the country could spawn the perfect breeding ground for a new variant. The Our World in Data graph shows the daily confirmed Covid cases in China. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention last week 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 China admits its Covid deaths are 'huge' and 70% of Shanghai's 25m residents have been infected as Beijing warns Western nations of 'countermeasures' over restrictions on air passengers Chinese officials have admitted that the country's total number of Covid-related deaths is 'huge'. Pictured: Patients on stretchers at Tongren hospital in Shanghai Advertisement China has also been accused of under-reporting its cases and withholding virus samples, reducing the likelihood of any new variant being spotted. XBB.1.5 has already caused alarm in the US over its quick spread and a recent rise in hospital admissions. 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. It has been spotted in Shanghai but it is not clear yet how dominant it might be in the country because of low testing. In a separate bid to track any new variants, hospitals in Britain are being asked to identify and test Covid patients who arrived from China in the last fortnight. Health chiefs have written to trusts asking them to take the 'precautionary measure' so it can 'undertake enhanced surveillance' on the variants circulating in China. In a letter signed by NHS England's national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite and Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor with the UK Health Security Agency, they warn China is in the midst of its 'most serious Covid-19 wave since the start of the pandemic.' They said the limited evidence coming from China suggests the new wave is due to Omicron sub-variants, which have been widely detected in other countries including the UK. But they are wary a new variant could surface, with the more Covid circulating, the greater the risk of the virus mutating. In the 'urgent public health message' sent by the UK Health Security Agency to NHS staff yesterday, they wrote: 'If new sub-lineages or variants emerged which evaded the immune response of highly vaccinated individuals, they could pose a threat if they were successful enough to outcompete other variants and spread internationally. 'As a precautionary measure, we are therefore requesting your assistance in the coming weeks to identify any Covid-19 hospitalised cases who have arrived from China in the preceding 14 days for sequencing. 'This will allow us to undertake enhanced surveillance on the variants circulating in China.' Tongren hospital in Shanghai, pictured, has been overwhelmed by patients after Beijing's 'zero-Covid' hardline approach was abruptly loosened last month Which, if any, Covid-era measures should return? Vote here and tell us why... Pictured: People wearing face masks on the London Underground on January 4 after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase Advertisement Experts believe that at least 18million Chinese were infected with Covid in December, causing 100,000 deaths. However, health officials have shut down testing sites and have reported only a few thousand cases. Yesterday, Chinese officials admitted that the country's total number of Covid-related deaths is 'huge'. One doctor said as many as 70 percent of Shanghai's 25 million residents may have been infected. However, state media in China played down the severity of infections to its own residents on the same day. The People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper, cited Chinese experts as saying the illness caused by the virus was relatively mild for most people. 'Severe and critical illnesses account for 3 per cent to 4 per cent of infected patients currently admitted to designated hospitals in Beijing,' Tong Zhaohui, vice president of the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, told the newspaper. Kang Yan, head of West China Tianfu Hospital of Sichuan University, said that in the past three weeks 46 patients had been admitted to intensive care units, representing about 1 per cent of symptomatic infections. But the World Health Organization invited Chinese scientists to present detailed data on viral sequencing at a technical advisory group meeting on the same day. The global body asked China to share data on hospitalizations, deaths and vaccinations. A spokesperson said the agency expected a 'detailed discussion' about circulating variants in the country, and globally. China's foreign ministry labelled travel entry curbs imposed by some countries as 'simply unreasonable', saying they 'lacked scientific basis'. 'We are willing to improve communication with the world,' foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. 'But [...] we are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the epidemic prevention and control measures for political purposes.' While travel to the UK from China is currently low, it is likely to increase once quarantine requirements on return to China are removed, they said. Healthcare professionals are being asked to collect samples of patients who have travelled back from China in the last 14 days. NHS labs should identify swabs from these patients, then send them to UKHSA labs for expedited genome sequencing to identify strains. In other health news... Eight in 10 Brits WANT Covid quarantine to return for infected travellers from China as new testing rules start on THURSDAY China admits its Covid deaths are 'huge' and 70% of Shanghai's 25m residents have been infected as Beijing threatens retaliation against Western nations over restrictions on air passengers Travellers from China who test positive for Covid will NOT have to self-isolate despite fears country's virus chaos may spawn new doomsday variant after wake-up call of the 'Kraken' XBB After all Covid restrictions were finally dropped under Boris Johnson's plan to live with the virus last year, many assumed Britain had seen the back of pandemic-era curbs. But with the NHS battling its worst-ever crisis, the threat of some restrictions being brought back has reared its head again. The virus' resurgence is one of several factors piling pressure on the crippled health service. Experts have warned the new XBB.1.5 variant, nicknamed 'the Kraken', may exacerbate the current dire situation. Here, MailOnline breaks down everything you need to know about the current virus situation... Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show 1.2million had the virus on any given day in the week up to December 9 in England 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, the latest data available shows. The figure has jumped 29 per cent in a week 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) Poll Which Covid-era measure would you most like to see return, if any? None Face masks Self-isolation WFH Social distancing Mass testing School closures Full lockdown Which Covid-era measure would you most like to see return, if any? None 8698 votes Face masks 2983 votes Self-isolation 489 votes WFH 538 votes Social distancing 286 votes Mass testing 127 votes School closures 54 votes Full lockdown 292 votes Now share your opinion Is Covid running riot in Britain? With the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) daily dashboard data and the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) weekly Covid report paused over Christmas, it's difficult to get a clear picture of where Britain currently is with the virus. And the situation could become murkier yet, with data including the R rate set to stop being published publicly this month. But the ONS' last release, back on December 23, showed 1.2million had the virus on any given day in the week up to December 9 in England, up 9 per cent in a week. It was equivalent to around one in 45 people. One of Britain's top experts predicted cases could reach more than 1.5million by Christmas. But Professor Paul Hunter, a public health expert at the University of East Anglia, also told MailOnline cases would likely start to fall as festive socialising trickles off in January. His comments came before the emergence of 'the Kraken', however. More recent UKHSA figures show 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 soared above 8,600 on December 21, the latest data available shows. The figure has jumped 29 per cent in a week. But it was still a fraction on the numbers seen during the earliest days of the pandemic. Up to 34,000 beds were taken up in January 2021. Experts and medics have warned the virus is currently battering NHS hospitals in a 'twindemic' with the flu, with demand for beds soaring. What is the situation abroad and will it affect the UK? While Covid may already be blighting Britain's shores, other countries around the world are struggling far worse. Since lifting its controversial 'zero Covid' restrictions in early December, China has been hammered by rising cases, which have seen hospitals pack out and mortuaries fill up. Experts believe low vaccination levels combined with weak natural immunity caused by delaying lifting the policy is behind the sudden rise. But they also fear the latest wave which is thought to be causing more cases than ever in the country could spawn the perfect breeding ground for a new variant. Chinese officials have admitted that the country's total number of Covid-related deaths is 'huge'. Pictured: Patients on stretchers at Tongren hospital in Shanghai today Tongren hospital in Shanghai, pictured, has been overwhelmed by patients after Beijing's 'zero-Covid' hardline approach was abruptly loosened last month China has also been accused of under-reporting its cases and withholding virus samples, reducing the likelihood of any new variant being spotted. It has led to Britain announcing new travel restrictions for passengers from the country, with pre-departure tests set to be made mandatory from tomorrow. Optional PCR tests on arrival to track for new variants will be rolled out from January 8, but if travellers choose to take one and test positive, they won't have to isolate in Britain. Officials are concerned China is not sharing all its Covid data, meaning the chances of a more contagious variant slipping by unnoticed are greater. Are current variants in circulation a threat? The 'key thing to look out for' with Covid in Britain currently is a new variant, according to health minister Will Quince. Not only are there fears around a potential doomsday strain coming in from China, but experts are concerned about the 'Kraken' XBB.1.5 that is already on UK shores. The strain, a mutated version of Omicron XBB that caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations, has additional mutations that some fear could help it bypass natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Latest surveillance data suggest it is behind up to half of all Covid cases in the worst-hit regions. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows 50 per cent of cases in Wirral last week were caused by XBB.1.5. 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) Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, show XBB.1.5 was spotted nine times in the week to December 17. Five of the cases were spotted in Wirral in Merseyside, where scientists estimate it is behind 50 per cent of cases. One XBB.1.5 sample was sequenced in Stroke-on-Trent, where 20 per cent of cases are thought to be caused by the strain. Telford and Wrekin in Shropshire (11 per cent), Tower Hamlets in London (50 per cent) and Cornwall (33 per cent) all each reported one strain caused by the Omicron sub-variant 'We can't do this EVERY winter': Fury over Government plans to bring back Covid-era measures to avoid full-blown NHS meltdown - as zealots demand masks in public, WFH by default and return of social distancing Pictured: People wearing face masks on the London Underground on January 4 after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase Advertisement It is also currently running rife in the US, accounting for more than 40 per cent of cases across the country. Hospitalisations rose 40 per cent in the the country in the month up to December 28. 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. But experts said there is no indication XBB.1.5 is behind the uptick in severe cases. 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. 'There's no suggestion at this point that XBB.1.5 is more severe.' Even if the vaccines do not work perfectly against the variant, immunity is likely to still hold up, with most Brits also having been exposed to former Omicron variants. High levels of protection against the virus gave ministers the confidence to ditch all Covid measures last year as the country moved to living with the virus. BA.5 Omicron, which most people have some level of immunity to already, remains the dominant variant in the UK, making up around 80 per cent of cases as of December 17. Does the variant cause different symptoms? In short, no. Experts believe XBB.1.5 causes the same sort of symptoms as the other current variants of Covid. These include a high temperature or shivering, when skin feels hot to touch on the chest or back. Patients are still experiencing a new and continuous cough, with the NHS suggesting three or more coughing episodes in a day could be a sign. XBB.1.5 can also cause a loss or change to the sense of smell or taste, shortness of breath, feeling of exhaustion, body aches, a headaches and sore throat. A blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and feeling sick or being sick can all also indicate an infection. Many of these symptoms are similar to those caused by other winter illnesses, including colds or flu. However, Dr Allison Arwady, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner, yesterday said symptoms were more likely to be less severe than flu. She told NBC: 'Covid is showing up very much like it already has. I think, if anything, we are seeing it a little bit less likely to have the more severe symptoms. 'Definitely people get the severe symptoms still, especially if they're not up-to-date with their vaccines. 'But more often now we are seeing people especially if they're fully up-to-date, maybe it's their second time getting Covid, whatever it might be we're seeing more people actually just have cold-like symptoms, less likely to have those flu-like, really feeling very sick, the high fevers.' Will restrictions return? The pressures on the NHS and threats of variants at home and abroad have led some experts to call for the return of Covid restrictions. Health chiefs and scientists have already advised adults and pupils to stay at home if they are unwell, don masks if they must go outside when sick and called for the booster rollout to be widened in a bid to ease NHS demand. Now, ministers are understood to have last-resort plans to advise Brits to wear masks on public transport, WFH and socially distance if the overwhelmed health service 'is at risk of collapse'. But critics hit out at the response, warning the NHS's annual winter crisis can't be used as an 'excuse to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions'. Others warned that further restrictions now will only leave Britons 'more vulnerable' to Covid and flu. Pictured: People wearing face masks on the London Underground on January 4 after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase Pictured: London shoppers wearing face masks in shops on Oxford Street on January 3 Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, told MailOnline that staying at home when ill and infectious is 'always good advice'. He said: 'But we mustn't allow the NHS's annual winter crisis to be used as an excuse to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions. 'There is no evidence that the latest sub-variant of Omicron is more dangerous and the Chicken Littles warning of disaster have been wrong again and again for 18 months.' No10 vowed never to return to lockdown when it ushered in its 'living with Covid' plans in April. The move saw the end of the 2billion-per month Test and Trace scheme and legal requirement to self-isolate. Leading experts said it was time to drop measures because of the wall of immunity built by vaccination and natural infections. In other related news... Covid-style measures COULD return 'under official plans to save the NHS': Zealots call for masks in public, WFH by default and return of social distancing as schools tell ill kids to stay away Rishi Sunak vows to get a grip on NHS crisis in New Year push: PM will give first big speech TODAY trying to show he has a plan to revive UK's fortunes and boost maths skills - as poll finds he has leapfrogged Keir Starmer as 'best premier' 'Kraken' Covid variant XBB 1.5 already makes up HALF of cases in worst-hit places... so has it reached YOUR area? A 92-year-old crying grandmother asked her family to let her die during a 33-hour wait on a trolley for a hospital bed, while a Welsh man claimed to have slept on the floor after spending an entire day in an ambulance. These are just two of the never-ending list of horror stories coming out of Britain's broken NHS. The ongoing crisis, partly fuelled by exploding rates of Covid and flu, has prompted calls for pandemic-era face mask and WFH guidance to be reintroduced, in order to protect the health service from crumbling. Meanwhile, it also emerged today that trust bosses are considering treating patients in field hospitals, or tents, to cope with the dire situation. A corridor in Aintree University Hospital - where Graeme Smith's grandmother was forced to wait for 33 hours until she was moved to a ward Meanwhile, on Christmas Day in Wales, 63-year-old Wayne Erasmus (pictured speaking on S4C's Newyddion programme) claimed he spent 24 hours in an ambulance before being forced to sleep on the floor Meanwhile, it also emerged today that trust bosses are considering treating patients in field hospitals, or tents, to cope with the dire situation 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) Why IS the NHS struggling this winter? Bed blockers Some 12,000 hospital beds across the country roughly one in seven are currently filled with patients declared fit for discharge. The figure is triple the pre-pandemic average. Experts say numbers are being driven by a crisis in social care, leaving patients left to languish on wards for up to nine months because there is no suitable nursing accommodation or care available for them in the community. The lack of beds has seen ambulances stuck in queues for 20 hours outside of hospitals this summer, as emergency medics scramble to find beds for patients. This has had a knock-on effect on response times. Workforce shortages The NHS, which employs over a million people, has around 130,000 vacancies across its entire workforce in England. This reduces productivity, with fewer staff to carry out appointments and procedures. Health chiefs also warn that it stops staff from delivering high-quality care as they rush between patients, and can lead to safety concerns if too few staff are working. In turn, medics are at a higher risk of burnout, illness and early retirement due to these factors. Surge in seasonal viruses Flu has surged in recent weeks, with over 4,000 beds per day being taken up by hospital admissions for the virus in the week to December 25. Sickness from seasonal winter bugs not only increases demands on the NHS but also damages its capacity. This is due to staff falling ill with the bugs themselves which prevents them from working. NHS staff sickness has surged recently with 63,000 staff missing work per day in the week running up to Christmas Day. Strep A fears 30 children in the UK have died in so far this winter due to an ongoing outbreak of Strep A. The bacterial infection is harmless for the vast majority. But it can cause life-threatening illness if the bacteria invade the blood, muscles or lungs. Doctors have warned that A&E, GPs and ambulances are in meltdown due to a surge in demand from parents worried that their child is infected. Patients have faced longer emergency department waits, while some hospitals have postponed routine procedures to cope with demand. Covid pressures Around 7,700 beds per day were occupied by a patient infected with Covid in England in the week to December 18. Two-thirds are primarily admitted for another ailment, such as a broken leg, but happen to test positive. However, infected patients still pile pressure on the health service as they have to be isolated from others. The virus also contributes to higher rates of staff sickness. GP appointment crisis Campaign groups, MPs and senior medics say desperate patients are turning to emergency and walk-in services because they can't get a face-to-face appointment with their GP. The average GP in England is responsible for 2,200 patients now up from 1,900 in 2016. In the areas with poorest access, up to 2,600 patients are fighting over one family doctor. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has previously warned difficulties in seeing a GP was leading to a crisis in emergency departments. Advertisement Graeme Smith, 37, from Merseyside, told of his grandmother's horrifying NHS wait. An ambulance was called to take the care home resident to hospital on New Year's Eve after she suddenly fell unwell. But it took 'hours' to turn up. She arrived at Aintree University Hospital at 9pm on December 31. But Mr Smith's sick grandmother was left in a corridor until around 6am on January 2, when she was eventually moved onto a ward, it was claimed. Mr Smith told the Liverpool Echo that his grandmother was waiting on a hospital corridor with 'about 40 other elderly or very sick people' and was in such a state she was 'telling us she wanted to die'. 'They were all being treated as well as staff could manage, but a number of them were in distress. It was horrendous to be honest,' he added The harrowing case is the latest to shine a grim light on the chaos surrounding the NHS, with hospitals and A&Es across the country completely overwhelmed. Several NHS trusts have declared 'critical incidents', meaning they cannot function as usual due to extraordinary pressure. Speaking about his grandmother's state during the 33-hour wait, Mr Smith said: 'She was very distressed after a while, she was crying and telling us she wanted to die. 'She was praying and asking to be taken. I've never heard her say anything like that before.' Mr Smith described the situation as 'horrendous' and said there were people in the corridor who couldn't have their 'basic needs met because there weren't enough staff'. He said some ill patients were unable to get to the toilet and 'had soiled themselves'. 'The staff were trying their best, they were so apologetic,' he added. 'They are victims of this as well. Seeing this made me angry and that anger should be directed at the government.' In November, around 37,837 patients waited more than 12 hours in A&E for a decision to be admitted to a hospital department, according to figures from NHS England. This is an increase of almost 355 per cent compared with the previous November, when an estimated 10,646 patients waited longer than 12 hours. Meanwhile, on Christmas Day in Wales, 63-year-old Wayne Erasmus claimed he spent 24 hours in an ambulance before being forced to sleep on the floor. Mr Erasmus, from Carmarthenshire, was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. But he said he was in the ambulance overnight at Swansea's Morriston Hospital before sleeping on the floor of the acute medical unit. He told S4C's Newyddion programme the unit was 'a shambles' and said everyone was over the age of 60 and 'roughing it'. Swansea Bay University Health Board said it would investigate. In other developments, NHS trust bosses are now considering using 'field hospitals' to deal with patient surges and the bed-blocking crisis caused by delays in discharging healthy patients. Sarah Whiteman, chief medical director of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, told colleagues the use of tents was a 'real possibility', according to the BBC. In an email from Ms Whiteman to colleagues, obtained by The Sunday Times, she described the extreme pressures faced at hospitals within her area. It began with the statement 'call to arms' and asked staff to sign temporary contracts to work within emergency departments. At Royal Liverpool Hospital, New Year's Eve saw similarly distressing scenes of elderly and vulnerable people left in corridors because of a lack of beds and staff. A nurse, who asked not to be named, said: 'My grandma is almost 89 and she was on a trolley, in a corridor, from just before midnight on December 31 until 5pm on Monday January 2 - that's 41 hours. She said she was having to help other patients on the corridor who were crying out for help while others were trying to climb off their trolley. She added: 'There is not enough staff to look after people and I think if we hadn't been there to feed and water my grandma she could have died there. A tea trolley came by at 5pm on one evening, there was no one else who came until 11am the next day. 'I'd heard about how bad things are but to feel it first hand has just really knocked me sick.' Directing her anger at the government, she suggested ministers should 'try lying on a hospital corridor for 41 hours and see how they cope'. David Melia, chief nurse at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Like many emergency departments across the country, we continue to face an unprecedented demand on our services. This map shows the NHS organisations which have declared critical incidents within the last few days Paramedics have been forced to assemble makeshift wards in corridors of Aintree Hospital A&E due to a surge in demand Some patients were forced to lie on the floor in the busy A&E due to a lack of beds Patients were seen to be lying on the floor at Aintree Hospital's A&E in Fazakerley, Liverpool 'Our staff are working incredibly hard to provide safe care for patients in what are extremely challenging circumstances.' He added: 'Unless their condition is life-threatening, we are urging people not to attend the emergency department. 'To help support our teams in caring for our sickest patients, local communities can help us by only using A&E when it is an emergency, and to contact NHS 111 to find alternative services if they have less urgent concerns.' Last week grim images showed people lying on hospital floors because of a lack of space in A&E waiting rooms. Other pictures showed paramedics tending to patients on trolleys in waiting areas and huge queues of ambulances with patients being treated and unable to get into the hospitals. The President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has predicted that as many as 500 people a day are dying because of delays in emergency care. Dr Adrian Boyle, believes waiting times for December will be the worst he has ever seen, with more than a dozen NHS trusts and ambulance services declaring critical incidents over the festive period. In related news... 'We can't do this EVERY winter': Fury over Government plans to bring back Covid-era measures to avoid full-blown NHS meltdown - as zealots demand masks in public, WFH by default and return of social distancing Pharmacists 'to treat more illnesses' as the government considers handing them greater powers to ease the pressure on waiting times for GPs and A&E Are Brits ALREADY turning to masks? Pictures show commuters wearing coverings amid flu and Covid outbreak after SAGE expert's plea to 'protect the NHS' - as poll reveals nearly 60 PER CENT don't want any return of one of the main pandemic-era curbs NHS hospitals are in crisis-mode because of 'structural' problems and Britons' poor health, a Tory MP claimed today. Hospitals are buckling under winter demand, soaring rates of flu and bed-blockers. Covid's resurgence and the emergence of the XBB.1.5 'Kraken' variant are expected to cause even more chaos. A&E patients have waited up to four days for a bed. Others are treated in cupboards, corridors, meeting rooms and even outside hospitals. Steve Brine, chair of the Health Select Committee, argued the 150billion/year NHS has 'never had more cash' and that it did not need extra funding. He blamed the NHS's issues on the UK's 'ill health as a nation', along with exhausted staff, the twindemic of Covid and flu and record demand. The NHS spends around 150billion-a-year, of which just under 43 per cent is spent on staff wages. Graphic shows: A pie chart of Department of Health and Social Care revenue spending on the NHS (left) in 2019/20 and areas where expenditure is seen to have been wasted (right) HM Treasury data shows the NHS annual budget. In 2020/21, the NHS was given 129.7billion of core funding for its usual services, which was topped up with an extra 18billion to help with the pressures from the pandemic. For 2021/22 the Treasury said the health service received 136.1billion pounds of core funding, as well as 3billion to help with the Covid recovery. The health service has been allocated 151.8billion for 2022/23 and 157.4billion for 2023/34. The Autumn Statement topped up these figures by 3.3billion each Steve Brine, chair of the Health Select Committee, said the NHS, which will receive 152billion in 2022/23, is being given 'vast, vast sums' and has 'never had more cash' What is truth about NHS funding? The NHS posted 16 job vacancies at trusts in England and Wales in October that focused on diversity, equality, inclusion and wellbeing. The roles have a combined annual salary of more than 700,000 Advertisement Mr Brine, MP for Winchester, told Times Radio: 'We spend 152billion in England on the NHS every year, what should we spend, 300billion? 352 billion? 'And then you come down to the point of well how are you going to pay for that? And are the public prepared to pay for that? 'Because look back to... Liz Truss, look what happens when you make unfunded spending commitments in Government. 'The markets don't like that so much and then that has all sorts of horrible impacts on people's mortgages, etc. 'I think [the Government] have been absolutely honest. I think they are giving the NHS vast, vast sums. It's never had more public money than it has right now.' HM Treasury data shows that the NHS is set to receive 151.8billion for 2022/23 and 157.4billion in the following year. For comparison, the NHS was allocated 129.7billion during the first year of the pandemic, which was topped up with an extra 18billion to help with Covid pressures. Mr Brine said the NHS is in a 'very serious situation and it is every single winter'. He admitted the crisis in care, which has seen health chiefs consider using 'field hospitals' with tents to cope with the 'unprecedented' demand, is 'worse than last year'. The MP blamed the situation, in part, on staff struggling to go the 'extra mile' because they are 'exhausted' and 'burnt-out' following the pandemic. The twindemic is also to blame, with fears about a surge in both Covid and flu admissions being 'realised', he said. Nearly 3,800 flu patients were in hospital each day last week, on average up seven-fold in one month. And around 8,600 Covid patients were taking up beds on December 21, up 84 per cent on last month. Health chiefs warned today that flu and Covid cases are expected to keep rising throughout January. On top of this, demand for care is so 'phenomenal' and 'through the roof' that the NHS 'can't keep up', Mr Brine said. He said the Government had to be 'honest' about the problems facing the NHS because they are 'structural' and 'about our ill health as a nation'. 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) The number of people infected with Covid taking up beds in wards across England soared above 8,600 on December 21, the latest data available shows. The figure has jumped 29 per cent in a week NHS England data today showed that an average of 63,000 staff were off work every day in the week to Christmas (red line). Around 8,000 of the absences were due to Covid (blue line) Ambulance handover delays peaked on December 19 with more than 3,000 patients forced to wait over an hour in the back of an emergency vehicle unable to be offloaded to a hospital bed Shadow health minister refuses to endorse boss Wes Streeting's call for NHS reform A Labour MP today dodged questions on whether she supported the party's stance that the NHS must be reformed. Last month, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted the NHS must 'reform or die', calling for more staff, greater use of the private sector and faster diagnoses. But when asked whether she backed the stance today, Shadow Mental Health Minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan refused to support Mr Streeting's comments. Dr Allin-Khan, who is also an A&E medic, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What we have is a plan to tackle the workforce issue which is what I stand by. 'Labour have a plan to historically grow the workforce.' Asked about using the private sector, a plan backed by Mr Streeting, Dr Allin-Khan said: 'In my own brief in mental health we have use of the private sector, which ultimately often lets patients down. 'This is about putting patient care first. Labour have a plan to grow the workforce.' Discussing the crisis in the NHS, she said: 'I've been an emergency doctor for 17 years and this is the worst I have ever seen our NHS, which is a sentiment shared by most of my colleagues.' Asked a number of times on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if providing more staff to the NHS should be accompanied by better standards for patients, Dr Allin-Khan said: 'People are being treated in the most undignified of ways. Of course things need to be improved for patients. 'But that is currently at the hands of the Government and they are failing to do that... we have a Prime Minister that is missing in action.' She added: 'For Stephen Barclay and Rishi Sunak to blame the pandemic and the flu crisis on the issue, we actually had in January 2020, just one A&E across the country met the four-hour waiting target.' Advertisement The Health Select Committee will launch a 'major piece of work' this year on preventing illness, as the health service will be 'unsustainable' unless Britons get healthier, which is a 'terrifying situation', Mr Brine added. The NHS crisis has seen patients face record delays in A&E this winter, with some reporting waits of up to four days for a bed, while others are treated in cupboards, corridors, meeting rooms and even outside hospitals. Doctors have described 'Dickensian overcrowding' in emergency departments, with some staff being forced to ask seriously ill patients to monitor their own vital signs. Last week, a fifth ambulance patients in England waited more than an hour to be handed over to A&E teams. In a bid to boost 'atrocious' response times, London Ambulance Service yesterday ordered its teams to leave 999 patients in chairs or trolleys so they can respond to incoming 999 calls, raising patient safety fears among some medics. Experts have called for the reopening of Nightingale hospitals, which are staffed by the army and built during the pandemic but saw little use, to prop up the ailing health service. NHS chiefs have warned the crisis could continue until Easter. The health service has blamed ongoing pressures in part on workforce shortages, with 130,000 vacancies across its entire workforce. On top of this, staff absences are on the rise. Further adding to the crisis is the fact that 12,000 hospital beds were taken up by 'bed-blockers' in the last week, along with rising Covid and flu admissions. Demand for A&E has also skyrocketed because of difficulties accessing GPs. One in five patients unable to get an in-person appointment in December turned up at hospitals instead, according to polling by the Liberal Democrats. On top of these pressures, experts have warned that the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 is set to pile further demand on the health service. The strain has gained mutations which helps it to bypass Covid-fighting antibodies generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. In other health news... 'We can't do this EVERY winter': Fury over Government plans to bring back Covid-era measures to avoid full-blown NHS meltdown - as zealots demand masks in public, WFH by default and return of social distancing 'I'm in charge of curing the NHS now': Rishi Sunak unveils blueprint to help tackle the crisis in UK hospitals - in the first major speech of his premiership Pharmacists 'to treat more illnesses' as the government considers handing them greater powers to ease the pressure on waiting times for GPs and A&E Britons should go back to meeting their friends and lovers online again, one expert claimed today as ministers were begged not to reintroduce any Covid-era curbs. The return of the 'Saturday night family Zoom quiz', face masks and work from home guidance have been floated by some infectious disease experts as methods to stop the NHS from meltdown. Hospitals are buckling under winter demand, soaring rates of flu, staff shortages and bed-blockers. Covid's resurgence and the emergence of the XBB.1.5 'Kraken' variant could cause even more chaos. Health chiefs and scientists have already advised adults and pupils to stay at home if they are unwell and to wear masks if they must venture outside when sick. Ministers are also understood to have tougher health advice ready to go if the health service 'is at risk of collapse'. Critics have, however, hit out at the response, warning the NHS's annual winter crisis can't be used as an 'excuse to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions'. Others said such measures could leave Brits 'more vulnerable' to the virus and flu. Members of the public wearing masks at Westminster Station on the London Underground today Two men wear face masks on the London Underground this morning on their way to work No 10 has stressed that it is 'not compulsory' to wear a mask while ill after a Cabinet minister said it was 'sensible' to do so if travelling. Pictured: A Londoner wears a mask on the Underground this morning Dr Trish Greenhalgh, a primary healthcare expert and GP at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline people should avoid seeing their friends and family face-to-face to slow transmission of the virus Is Covid about to run riot in Britain? And could pandemic-era measures really make a comeback? Everything you need to know about current virus situation Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show 1.2million had the virus on any given day in the week up to December 9 in England Advertisement But Dr Trish Greenhalgh, a primary healthcare expert at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline people should avoid seeing their friends and family face-to-face to slow transmission of the virus. Asked if people should be limiting their contacts, she said: 'Yes they should or at least, they should be limiting their in-person contacts. 'We have a perfect storm brewing here: an NHS on its knees because of huge demand "winter crisis" hardly captures it rapidly rising rates of Covid and flu and a prevailing, incorrect belief that the pandemic is either over or on its way out. 'The higher the levels of Covid, the more likely it is that someone in your circle will be incubating it and perhaps passing it on before they develop symptoms. 'So its a mathematical certainty that reducing the number of close indoor contacts will reduce the chance of transmission.' Dr Greenhalgh, a member of the group Independent SAGE, said people should meet contacts outside 'where the chance of transmission is only 1/20th that of indoor spaces' if they want to keep friendships going. She added: 'Meet in well-ventilated spaces for example by the open window in a cafe. Wear a mask, and ask your colleagues to do the same. 'Or, of course, meet online.' Her pleas come as official sources suggested that the Government could issue fresh advice for the public to wear face masks on public transport and work from home, if the NHS crumbles even further. A 'well-placed' source told the i newspaper that there is a 'list of potential measures' under consideration. However, lockdowns and school closures are not among them and no advice is expected to be mandatory or legally enforceable. They said: 'Softer, less intrusive measures could soon be introduced if the NHS is at risk of collapse. 'While the guidance is for people who are ill to wear face masks if they leave their homes already, it may well be that the wearing of a mask could again be the guidance for all those using public transport.' A separate Government source told the newspaper: 'We're not there yet, but guidance for everyone, ill or not, to wear face masks on public transport is not really going to inconvenience people. 'It would also make perfect sense to ask people who can work from home to do so if the NHS need us all to support them through this busy period of the year.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'It is inaccurate to say we are considering implementing any such measures. 'We are working hard with the NHS to tackle the pressures faced this winter.' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week issued fresh calls for Brits who are unwell to stay at home and wear face coverings if they must venture outdoors. It also said children who are unwell and have a fever, classed as 38C or more, should stay at home until they feel better. People wear face masks on the London Underground today after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase A commuter wears a face mask on the London Underground today Two mask-wearers on Nottingham high street today More mask-wearers on Nottingham high street today London shoppers wearing face masks in shops on Oxford Street yesterday Pictured: London shoppers wearing face masks in shops on Oxford Street on January 3 Which, if any, Covid-era measures should return? Vote here and tell us why... Pictured: People wearing face masks on the London Underground on January 4 after new advice has been given to curb rising infections as flu and Covid number increase Advertisement The advice was backed by Transport Secretary Mark Harper, who previously advocated against Covid restrictions. He said yesterday that it would be 'very sensible' for people who have Covid or flu to wear a mask. However, some Tory MPs have called the advice 'madness' and said face coverings make 'no difference at all to the transmission of a virus'. And some experts have warned that a Covid-esque response can't be brought back every winter. Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the public is more vulnerable to viruses due to prior Covid restrictions and it is a 'period we have to pass through'. 'Hiding away again will only delay our immune recovery and make it harder,' he said. Professor Livermore said: 'There is absolutely no good reason to demand the return of masks. They have failed epically. 'Worse, they cause harm. They impede communication. They impede childhood learning. They create a scurf of poorly degradable street litter. 'Nor is there good reason to reinstate other restrictions, such as social distancing and WFH. 'A large part of our present problems is that, through two years of restrictions, we lost our natural equilibrium of repeated asymptomatic infection and re-boosted immunity with other pathogens, such as flu, RSV and even Strep A.' Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, told MailOnline that staying at home when ill and infectious is 'always good advice'. He said: 'But we mustn't allow the NHS's annual winter crisis to be used as an excuse to reintroduce Covid-era restrictions. 'There is no evidence that the latest sub-variant of Omicron is more dangerous and the Chicken Littles warning of disaster have been wrong again and again for 18 months. 'Rather than demanding behavioural change of the whole population, we should ask why it is only the UK, of the all major economies, that has a healthcare system that collapses every winter and barely functions the rest of the year. 'The NHS is not the envy of the world. It is a national embarrassment, burning our money and incapable of reform.' Daniel Pryor, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, told MailOnline that the UK 'needs to learn to live with Covid' now that everyone has been offered a vaccine and the most vulnerable have been invited for multiple boosters. UK Covid infection data shows 97 people per million tested positive in the week to December 27. For comparison, 2,699 Covid cases per million were confirmed during the peak last winter 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 NHS England data today showed that an average of 63,000 staff were off work every day in the week to Christmas (red line). Around 8,000 of the absences were due to Covid (blue line) 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) Ambulance handover delays peaked on December 19 with more than 3,000 patients forced to wait over an hour in the back of an emergency vehicle, unable to be offloaded to a hospital bed Ambulances parked outside the Royal London hospital in east London today Emergency vehicles outside the Royal London hospital in east London today Ambulances wait outside Portsmouth Hospital yesterday due to shortages of rooms The UK Health Security Agency this week issued fresh calls for Britons who are unwell to stay at home and wear face coverings if they must venture outdoors. They also said children who are unwell and have a fever classed as 38C or more to stay at home until they feel better Pharmacists 'to treat more illnesses' as the government considers handing them greater powers to ease the pressure on waiting times for GPs and A&E Rishi Sunak is expected to lay out his long-term blueprint to rescue the NHS later this month, with a focus on cutting waiting times for GPs, ambulances and A&E treatment Advertisement He said: 'We should not default to knee-jerk impositions of restrictions every time a variant emerges or cases rise. As with the flu, we unfortunately will see seasonal fluctuations. 'Ministers need to focus their efforts on protecting the vulnerable, and place greater trust in the British public to take reasonable precautions. 'We should look to better serve the unvaccinated, particular where they are vulnerable and willing to be vaccinated, but still haven't had the opportunity, for example, offering home visits. 'In all the Government does, it must consider the costs and benefits. Stringent restrictions come with huge harms too, not only in exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis and damaging our economy, but also to healthcare outcomes, with many appointments and treatments missed. We must consider the knock-on effects of any policy.' However, some scientists are already urging Britons to follow restrictions similar to those brought in during the pandemic in a bid to lower pressure on the over-stretched health service, warning that the UK has 'sleepwalked into another avoidable crisis'. Professor Sam Wilson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, said 'taking familiar Covid precautions' will help limit the spread of Covid. He told The Guardian: 'Regardless of the impact of a new variant, the NHS is already under tremendous pressure from a cocktail of different viruses this winter. 'Where it is possible, taking voluntary steps to reduce transmission reducing contacts, wearing high-quality masks in crowded indoor spaces, and isolating if you have symptoms will help reduce the pressure on the NHS.' Dr Stephen Griffin, an infectious disease expert at the University of Leeds, told MailOnline that he 'fully endorses' limiting contacts. He said: 'I would advise people to limit contacts wherever possible, working from home if possible, and not mixing at all if feeling unwell. 'Naturally, not everyone can afford to due a lack of support for isolation at present. 'Testing is ideal if you can access them, which is more and more difficult nowadays as well. 'In areas that are poorly ventilated, including most public transport, a well fitted filtering mask is the best protection for you, and for others.' Dr Griffin said that Omicron variant XBB.1.5, which is fuelling a surge in cases in the US and was behind at least one in 25 UK Covid cases in the week before Christmas, is 'both highly antibody evasive and more highly transmissible'. He added: 'It is growing quickly as a result, but we already have high prevalence from existing viruses which, combined with resurgent influenza, is putting incredible strain on the NHS. Man suffering from acute appendicitis had to sleep in his CAR outside Scarborough hospital because there were no beds to treat him in An NHS patient has revealed how he had to wait for eight hours to be seen by doctors and chose sleep in his car outside Scarborough Hospital (above) amid the winter bed shortage Advertisement 'These pressures are exposing the brittleness of the NHS infrastructure caused by 12 years of under resourcing. 'We have yet again sleepwalked into another avoidable crisis. 'It pains me that the Government are able to accept this, or even pretend that this constitutes "living with" Covid, or any other disease.' Professor Martin McKee, president at the British Medical Association and public health expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told MailOnline: 'When the NHS is facing unprecedented pressure from respiratory infections, anything we can do to reduce them makes even more sense than normal.' Professor Karl Friston, scientific director at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, told MailOnline that it is 'sensible' to self-isolate and wear masks when unwell or if there is a high risk of transmission. He noted that the number of contacts people have per day is still 15 per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels. 'As a population, we are more aware of the dangers of unmitigated viral spread and how to respond sensibly,' Professor Friston added. The NHS crisis has seen patients face record delays in A&E this winter, with some reporting waits of up to four days for a bed, while others are treated in cupboards, corridors, meeting rooms and even outside hospitals. Doctors have described 'Dickensian overcrowding' in emergency departments, with some staff being forced to ask seriously ill patients to monitor their own vital signs. Last week, one in five ambulance patients in England waited more than an hour to be handed over to A&E teams. In a bid to boost 'atrocious' response times, London Ambulance Service yesterday ordered its teams to leave 999 patients in chairs or trolleys, raising patient safety fears among some medics. Some hospitals have cancelled all appointments and operations deemed 'non-urgent', with leaders warning more will follow suit, and others have reported that they are running out of oxygen. Some are considering using 'field hospitals' with tents to cope with the 'unprecedented' influx in patients. Experts have called for the reopening of Nightingale hospitals, which are staffed by the Army and built during the pandemic but saw little use, to prop up the ailing health service. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, show XBB.1.5 was spotted nine times in the week to December 17. Five of the cases were spotted in Wirral in Merseyside, where scientists estimate it is behind 50 per cent of cases. One XBB.1.5 sample was sequenced in Stoke-on-Trent, where 20 per cent of cases are thought to be caused by the strain. Telford and Wrekin in Shropshire (11 per cent), Tower Hamlets in London (50 per cent) and Cornwall (33 per cent) all each reported one strain caused by the Omicron sub-variant 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 'I'm in charge of curing the NHS now': Rishi Sunak unveils blueprint to help tackle the crisis in UK hospitals - in the first major speech of his premiership Mr Sunak will set out his broad approach to resolving the pressure on the health service, including a renewed focus on tackling the delayed discharges clogging up hospital beds Advertisement Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said up to 500 patients could be dying each week due to delays in emergency care. NHS chiefs have warned the crisis could continue until Easter. The health service has blamed ongoing pressures in part on workforce shortages, with 130,000 vacancies across its entire workforce. On top of this, staff absences are on the rise. It is also battling a 'twindemic' of flu and Covid, with an average of 3,746 flu patients in hospital each day last week up seven-fold in one month. Around 8,600 Covid patients were taking up beds on December 21, up 84 per cent on last month. Health chiefs warned today that flu and virus cases are expected to keep rising throughout January. Further adding to the crisis is the fact that 12,000 hospital beds were taken up by 'bed-blockers' in the last week. Demand for A&E has also skyrocketed because of difficulties accessing GPs. One in five patients unable to get an in-person appointment in December turned up at hospitals instead, according to polling by the Liberal Democrats. On top of these pressures, experts have warned that the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 is set to pile further demand on the health service. The strain has gained mutations which helps it to bypass Covid-fighting antibodies generated in response to vaccination or previous infection. Figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the country's largest Covid surveillance centres, suggests at least 4 per cent of cases in England in the week to December 17 were caused by XBB.1.5. The situation saw Labour MP Rachael Maskell yesterday call for compulsory isolation for those infected with Covid, saying 'we need' those with the virus to stay at home. Ms Maskell also called for arrivals from China, which is battling its biggest outbreak since the pandemic began, to isolate in the UK if they are infected. As it stands, those travelling to England must show proof of a negative test taken up to two days before flying. Some passengers will also be asked to take a voluntary test on arrival at Heathrow to monitor for new variants. But those who test positive will not have to isolate. Ms Maskell told MailOnline that as well as obliging arrivals from China to quarantine if they test positive, there needed to be a 'discussion' about bringing back more widespread isolation. Isolation for those infected with Covid was ditched under the Government's 'Living with Covid' plan, which sets out actions people can take to reduce the risk of catching the virus and spreading it to others. But the guidance still advises people who have symptoms of a respiratory infection and a fever to 'try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people'. The plan also urges people to get vaccinated and keep up-to-date with the booster doses they are eligible for, as well as ventilate rooms, such as by opening windows and vents. Britons should also wear masks when in close contact with someone at-risk from Covid and in crowded public spaces with infections are high, the guidance states. In other health news... 'I'm in charge of curing the NHS now': Rishi Sunak unveils blueprint to help tackle the crisis in UK hospitals in the first major speech of his premiership Pharmacists 'to treat more illnesses' as the government considers handing them greater powers to ease the pressure on waiting times for GPs and A&E Man suffering from acute appendicitis had to sleep in his CAR outside Scarborough hospital because there were no beds to treat him in DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Britain has to say no to mandatory masks Every patient in America should be screened for cannabis before surgery, an influential medical panel has recommended. Doctors are concerned marijuana may interact with anesthetics and blunt the effect of pain medication post-operation. As a result, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) has issued fresh guidance calling on anesthesiologists to ask patients about their cannabis use - and be prepared to delay surgery or change their treatment plan depending on the answer. The recommendation suggests pushing the operation back at least two hours after the patient last smoked cannabis because patients high on the drug are at a higher risk of heart attacks when given anesthetics. Every patient in America should be screened for cannabis before surgery, according to the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) Marijuana raises people's heart rate and lowers their blood pressure, a combination that can lead to a lack of supply to the heart muscles. Doctors should also cancel surgery when cannabis users appear to be 'high' because they cannot consent, according to the guidelines. It comes amid a wave of cannabis legalization across the US in recent years, with 38 states allowing the drug to be used medically or recreationally. Estimates suggest one in 10 Americans are regular cannabis users. The new surgery guidance also urges medical professionals to educate patients on the risk of smoking cannabis after operations and how it can weaken the effects of pain meds. There is some evidence heavy marijuana use makes pain receptors less sensitive, meaning more opioids, which carry significant side effects, are required. This puts regular marijuana users at risk for opioid use disorder after surgery, the ASRA said. Under the recommendations, anesthesiologists are urged to screen all patients for cannabis use, asking about the product type, dose, frequency of use and whether the drug is smoked or eaten. The ASRA warns that patients are already asked about illicit drug use prior to surgery, but the drug is legal in most states so it does not fall into that category. The group's recommendations have been published in the BMJ journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. They are based on a meta-analysis of existing studies on marijuana and surgery, and the experiences of a 13-member working group that included anesthesiologists, chronic pain physicians and a patient advocate. Dr Samer Narouze, the medical society's president and senior author of the guidelines, told UPI: 'Every day, you're encountering a patient in the [operating room] who's been smoking cannabis. 'This is a daily occurrence. This is the norm now to see patients presenting for surgery who are using cannabis, whether medicinally or recreationally.' A new strain of Covid nicknamed 'The Kraken' is 'the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet', according to the World Health Organisation. The latest subvariant - another spinoff of Omicron officially named XBB.1.5 - has already taken hold in the US where it is thought to be behind roughly 70 per cent of new infections in the worst affected areas and 4 in 10 overall. Now it has started to sweep across the UK, indicating it has a major growth advantage over rival strains. But XBB.1.5 appears to be just as mild as its ancestor Omicron and its variants. A new strain of Covid nicknamed 'The Kraken' is 'the most transmissible subvariant that has been detected yet', according to the World Health Organisation Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead for Covid, told a press conference Wednesday: 'We are concerned about its growth advantage in particular in some countries in Europe and in the US' Concern about XBB.1.5 is largely based on how it is currently surging in the US, but it has also already been spotted in Britain and other countries around the globe. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's technical lead for Covid, told a press conference Wednesday: 'We are concerned about its growth advantage in particular in some countries in Europe and in the US... particularly the Northeast part of the United States, where XBB.1.5 has rapidly replaced other circulating variants. 'Our concern is how transmissible it is and the more this virus circulates, the more opportunities it will have to change.' Statistics from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed the strain is behind 41 per cent of cases in America. In the UK meanwhile, data from GISAID and CoVariants.org suggests that XBB.1.5 was responsible for just under 8 per cent of cases in the two weeks to January 2. But the latest figures from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, suggests XBB.1.5 is behind up to half of all Covid cases in the worst-hit regions. The Sanger Institute's research shows 50 per cent of cases in Wirral last week were caused by the 'Kraken'. XBB.1.5 has also been detected in countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Australia, Singapore and India. Data from GISAID and CoVariants.org suggests that XBB.1.5 was responsible for just under 8 per cent of cases in the UK in the two weeks to January 2. Scientists estimate XBB.1.5 is behind 50 per cent of Covid cases in the worst hit areas in Britain NHS hospitals have been ordered to sequence positive swabs from infected travellers from China over concerns a mutant variant will emerge The UK Health Security Agency is stepping-up its Covid sequencing for hospitalised patients who have travelled to Britain from China over concerns a mutant variant will emerge. China is battling is biggest outbreak since the pandemic began, with some estimates suggesting that it is experiencing one million cases and 5,000 deaths per day, with hospitals and crematoriums overwhelmed. The nation has stopped sharing data on daily Covid cases and deaths and is only sharing a low level of sequencing data. While travel from China to the UK is 'currently low' it is 'likely to increase' next week in response to Beijing lifting quarantine requirements for returning travellers, the UKHSA said. Available genome data from China and other countries testing arrivals from the nation suggests Omicron sub-variants including those already circulating in Europe are spreading. But leaders remain concerned that a new variant will emerge from the surge in cases that evades the immune response which could 'pose a threat'. In a bid to stay ahead of worrying strains, the UKHSA has told hospitals to inform it of any Covid patients who have been to China in the previous two weeks, conduct a PCR test and alert laboratories to the case. In a letter, sent by UKHSA chief medical advisor Professor Susan Hopkins, the agency's deputy chief medical officer Dr Thomas Waite and NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Power, labs were told to send any swabs from travellers from China to the UKHSA for 'expedited sequencing'. Advertisement Experts are concerned XBB.1.5's rapid rise 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. 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.' XBB.1.5 has gained 14 new mutations to the virus' spike proteins compared with its ancestor strains, which appear to have given it enhanced antibody-resistance. This means people who are vaccinated or have had a previous infection are more susceptible to an infection - though not necessarily severe illness. But what appears to be spooking the WHO is the prospect of XBB.1.5 being the gateway to a scarier variant. The more infections that occur, the more opportunities the virus has to mutate and evolve. The F486P vaccines could make it more resistant to antibodies brought on by the Covid vaccine. Some lab tests have indicated it can better evade jab-induced immunity, although the jury is still out in the real world. Professor Young said: '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.' Not all experts are so concerned, however. 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 Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show 1.2million had the virus on any given day in the week up to December 9 in England 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, the latest data available shows. The figure has jumped 29 per cent in a week 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) Even if the vaccines do not work perfectly against the variant, immunity is likely to still hold up, with most Brits also having been exposed to former Omicron variants. High levels of protection against the virus gave ministers the confidence to ditch all Covid measures last year as the country moved to living with the virus. 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. '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: 'It is far from clear XBB.1.5 will cause a massive wave on its own.' Backlash as experts urge return to masks and online working By Victoria Allen, Joe Davies, Shaun Wooller and Kate Foster Britons should go back to online or outdoor meetings with friends and mask wearing to slow the spread of Covid, claims a group of health experts. But opponents say a return to such measures would be a 'retrograde step' and others accused the experts of reigniting a 'climate of fear' around Covid. Health bosses have so far advised that only the unwell should wear a face covering in public, amid high levels of flu, Covid-19 and Strep A. The advice was given this week by Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, and backed by Scotland's national clinical director, Professor Jason Leitch. TUBE: Britons should go back to online or outdoor meetings with friends and mask wearing to slow the spread of Covid, claims a group of health experts STATION: But opponents say a return to such measures would be a 'retrograde step' and others accused the experts of reigniting a 'climate of fear' around Covid SHOP: Health bosses have so far advised that only the unwell should wear a face covering in public, amid high levels of flu, Covid-19 and Strep A But there has been a resurgence of dire warnings as a winter crisis batters the NHS and a new Covid variant, called XBB.1.5, triggers cases. Dr Trish Greenhalgh, a primary healthcare expert at the University of Oxford, was asked if individuals should be limiting contacts. She said: 'Yes they should or at least they should be limiting their in-person contacts. We have a perfect storm brewing: an NHS on its knees because of huge demand [and] rapidly rising rates of Covid and flu.' Dr Greenhalgh, a member of the controversial group Independent Sage, which has advocated tough Covid curbs, said people should meet outside 'where the chance of transmission is only 1/20th that of indoor spaces'. She added: 'Wear a mask, and ask your colleagues to do the same. Or, of course, meet online.' Susan Michie, professor of health psychology at University College London, and also a member of Independent Sage, used Twitter to repost a petition calling for the reintroduction of masks in public indoor places. She said those still wearing masks in shops and on public transport, were 'showing social responsibility'. However, Professor Robert Dingwall, a sociologist from Nottingham Trent University, who advised on the Covid response at the start of the pandemic, said: 'It feels like the climate of fear is being reignited.' Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, said giving in to calls for the reintroduction of masks would create an escalating risk of further curbs. The World Health Organisation yesterday accused China of under-representing its number of Covid hospitalisations and deaths. There are growing concerns about the rapid spread of the virus in China. PETER HITCHENS: Wear a mask if you want - but understand it's about fear and control, NOT health... the clamour for their return is a triumph of unreason and a blow to science ByPeter Hitchens for The Daily Mail The clamour for the return of face masks is a triumph of unreason, and a blow to science. But I would fiercely defend your freedom to wear one if you want to. If covering your face with a piece of cloth makes you feel safer or kinder, far be it from me to stop you. It is none of my business, and none of the Government's business, what other people wear, on their faces or anywhere else (except for the needs of personal modesty). In return, I ask only that you do me the same favour, and do not urge me, let alone try to compel me, to don a garment which I think silly, pointless and politicised. A member of the public wears a mask while cycling past a government poster in Glasgow in January 2021 If I put it on, I would be pretending to believe controversial things that I don't think are true. It would be like forcing someone who loathes Donald Trump to wear a 'Make America Great Again' baseball cap in public. And so it would be enforced speech, and a major blow to liberty. Yet we could be heading towards such things again. An editorial in The Times today asserted, beneath the headline 'Wear a Mask', that this is 'the responsible thing to do'. Is that really so? Evidence The frenzy for face masks is one of the oddest crazes to sweep the advanced world. Let's begin with the evidence, and the mighty and revered World Health Organization (WHO). As the great Covid fear was getting into its stride, on March 31, 2020, the executive director of the WHO health emergencies programme, Mike Ryan, spoke on the issue. He said at a briefing in Geneva: 'There is no specific evidence to suggest the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. In fact, there's evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly.' Daily Mail columnist Peter Hitchens says the return of face masks would be a 'triumph of unreason' Not much later, in a series of official pamphlets for reopening shops and services, the Department for Business and Enterprise said: 'The evidence of the benefit of using a face covering to protect others is weak and the effect is likely to be small.' This was true then, and it is still true. The evidence was indeed weak. But, even so, we saw changes of position among experts in spring and early summer 2020. For example, Dr Jenny Harries, then a Deputy Chief Medical Officer, warned on March 12, 2020, that people could be putting themselves more at risk from contracting Covid by wearing masks. She said they could 'trap the virus', and cause the person wearing it to breathe it in. She explained: 'For the average member of the public walking down a street, it is not a good idea.' On April 3, 2020, the other Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said he did not believe healthy people wearing them would reduce the spread of the disease in the UK. Yet within months, the pressure to wear masks in public places would become almost irresistible. Why the shift away from scientific caution? In The Spectator magazine, Isabel Oakeshott, who co-authored former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's Covid memoir, concluded from all that she'd heard during her research that 'Hancock, Whitty and Johnson knew full well that non-medical masks do very little to prevent transmission of the virus'. She reckoned the origins of mask mandates in the community were the Prime Minister's adviser Dominic Cummings's obsession with masks and a desire to please Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon 'and above all because they were symbolic of the public health emergency'. Here is a strong clue that the campaign for mask-wearing was basically political, and not medical. Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus ttends an ACANU briefing on global health issues, including the Covid pandemic in December 2022 On July 12, 2020, Deborah Cohen, the then medical correspondent of BBC2's Newsnight, reported that the WHO had reversed its advice on masks, from 'don't wear them' to 'do wear them'. But it had not done so because of scientific information. The evidence had not, in fact, backed the wearing of face coverings. The change was down to political pressure. Ms Cohen said on Twitter: 'We had been told by various sources [that the] WHO committee reviewing the evidence had not backed masks, but they recommended them due to political lobbying.' Infected She said the BBC had then put this to the WHO, which did not deny it. But it became increasingly unpopular to say any of these things. In November 2020, two first-rate independent experts - Carl Heneghan of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford and the epidemiologist Tom Jefferson - walked into a storm of abuse after reporting the results of the only full-scale European study of the effectiveness of masks on those who wear them. This Danish project, actually the work of pro-mask researchers, came up with a result that authority did not want to hear. As Jefferson and Heneghan summed it up: 'In the end, there was no statistically significant difference between those who wore masks and those who did not when it came to being infected by Covid-19; 1.8 per cent of those wearing masks caught Covid, compared to 2.1 per cent of the control group.' Attempts have been made to minimise this result, or to claim it supported mask-wearing. The researchers themselves described the results as 'inconclusive'. But it is hard to argue with these figures. If the Danish study favoured mask-wearing, as has been claimed, why is it still virtually unknown? Members of the public wear masks as they queue for a dose of their Covid vaccinations in Walthamstow, London, in December 2021 Supporters of masks also rightly say that the Danish study looked only at whether masks protected their wearers, not at whether they stopped the infection from spreading. But in a letter to the British Medical Journal, Dr Antonio Lazzarino, a medical doctor and epidemiologist from Imperial College London, pointed out: 'The study did not evaluate whether people with masks are less likely to infect someone else. 'However, given we now know surgical masks have limited filtering capacity, we must derive that it is very unlikely that surgical masks provide a substantial protection from an infectious wearer.' Much credit goes to The Annals of Internal Medicine, which eventually published the Danish study. Other major scientific journals are known to have turned it down, although it has never been explained why. Reliable Publication was months later than expected, again for unexplained reasons. The data had been gathered in spring 2020, in a large randomised controlled trial (by far the most reliable test of such things), and had involved nearly 5,000 people. But apart from the Heneghan-Jefferson article in The Spectator and accounts in the Mail on Sunday by me and my colleague Stephen Adams, Britain's vast, diverse print and broadcast media somehow missed the story and continue to miss it. I believe this is because some officials and politicians thought mass mask-wearing maintained the fear and alarm that allowed them to continue with unprecedented restrictions on all our daily lives. This method works, and could work again, unless our politicians and media act decisively against it. Harry Harris, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, is seen speaking in a webinar hosted by the Washington Times Foundation, a think tank based in Washington, Jan. 3. Yonhap Negotiations alone will not rid North Korea of its nuclear ambition, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris argued Tuesday, insisting that U.S. policy of using negotiations to remove North Korea's nuclear weapons is no longer useful. The former U.S. ambassador stressed the need to combine dialogue with strong sanctions and deterrence to convince North Korean leader Kim Jong-un otherwise. "The U.S. intelligence community assesses that KJU views nuclear weapons as the ultimate deterrent against foreign intervention," Harris said in a webinar hosted by the Washington Times Foundation think tank, referring to the North Korean leader by his initials. "KJU declared last year that he would be willing to employ nukes more broadly in wartime, and last September, he stated unequivocally that he would never give up his nukes and the North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state is irreversible," he added. Harris, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, also pointed to Kim's remarks at the recently concluded plenary meeting of the North's ruling Workers' Party that Pyongyang will "exponentially" increase the number of its nuclear arsenal. "That doesn't sound to me like he's going to get rid of his nukes any time soon. In fact, he's telling us precisely the opposite," he insisted. The former U.S. ambassador to Seoul highlighted the importance of maintaining pressure on the North through deterrence and sanctions. "We must not relax sanctions or reduce joint military exercises just to get North Korea to come to the negotiating table. This is a fool's error," he said. "While we hope for diplomacy with North Korea to be successful, we must recognize that hope alone is not a course of action. The quest for dialogue with the North must never be made at the expense of the ability to respond to threats from the North," he added. (Yonhap) Energy bills for a typical household are expected to fall below the government's Energy Price Guarantee from July this year, experts at Cornwall Insight claim. However, energy bills are set to remain 'significantly above' pre-pandemic levels and settle at around 2,800 for the second half of the year, which is 300 more than the current capped EPG rate of 2,500. Falling wholesale energy prices are the main driver behind the predicted drop in the cap forecast, Cornwall Insight, which is an energy market analyst, added. What's next? Energy bills are expected to be below the government's Energy Price Guarantee from July this year, Cornwall Insight experts claim It added: 'These falls will not have their main effects until Q3 2022 as energy suppliers typically buy their energy ahead of time (hedging) to comply with the cap. 'This means falling day-to-day wholesale prices (spot prices) have a limited impact in the short-term.' > Why it might take some time for falling gas prices to be seen in our bills In October, Cornwall Insight predicted energy bills could rise to over 4,000 a year in April 2023. With the EPG currently set to rise to 3,000 a year from April, if the price cap does end up below the prevailing EPG level, then the support scheme will effectively no longer be a cost to the government as we move into the second half of the year, according to Cornwall Insight experts. Despite the drop in the price cap, the overall cost to the government of the EPG for the period to 31 March 2024 is still estimated to be in the region of 37billion. This is 'money which will need to be recovered through the taxpayer', Cornwall Insight said. Forecasts: Cornwall Insight's Default tariff cap forecasts for 2023 Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: 'While it is positive to see a drop in the price cap forecast, household bills are set to remain high. 'With the Energy Price Guarantee rising in April, the second half of the year will still see a typical household facing bills that are well above historic levels and facing costs that many can ill afford. 'The cap's fall below the threshold of the EPG will, if wholesale prices continue at this level, effectively see the scheme no longer costing the government. 'We must remain cautious as the government has essentially been underwriting a volatile wholesale energy market - one which is likely to remain unstable throughout the year. Then and now: Default tariff price cap levels chart since 2018 and Cornwall Insight's predictions for the next three cap rises 'Even if energy prices continue at current levels - which is a big if - the costs to the government over the full period of the EPG are still contributing to government borrowing and will ultimately fall at the feet of consumers in the form of higher taxes.' He added: 'The government has indicated a desire to see reform in the energy market, including a review of domestic energy prices. 'It is clear that blanket measures of bill support are not providing adequate protection for the most vulnerable and more targeted measures including social tariffs may be something for the government to consider. 'While the details of future support are best left up to the judgement of politicians, the forecasts demonstrate we must look beyond the current policy if we are to see a fairer, more cost-efficient and enduring way of reducing household energy bills for those who need it the most.' The current energy price cap is 4,279 a year and will be reviewed again soon for the April to June window. While households are protected by the EPG, the cap still reflects the cost of supplying energy and will be used by the government to set the guarantee. The Energy Bills Support Scheme, which provides a 400 subsidy to households to help with their energy bills over the winter, will end in April. Payments have been made monthly since October, with the last being paid in March. Energy bills were the biggest shock to many households last year, as wholesale gas prices were sent soaring following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Waiting times for new electric car orders have tumbled by 13.2 per cent in the last three months, according to a new study. Motorists buying an electric vehicle in January on average can expect to wait up to 28 weeks for their car to arrive, down from 35 weeks for orders placed back in October. Experts say this is due to an increase in production following two years of parts supply shortages that caused a log-jam of orders. However, cost-of-living concerns are also weighing on demand as consumers delay big ticket purchases. Is Britain's appetite for electric cars showing signs of waning? Long delivery delays for new models is starting to decline, with orders times shrinking by 13% in the last three months, says one report The report comes just a week after photos emerged of huge queues at Tesla Supercharger sites across Britain over the Christmas period, with drivers forced to wait hours to charge their expensive electric cars while travelling to visit friends and family. And it reveals that Tesla is one of the brands with the biggest decline in waiting times for new models. In fact, delivery times for the US auto firm's most popular models have evaporated entirely, it says. In recent months, Elon Musk's car brand was selling vehicles faster than it could import them into the UK. However, today it has 'hundreds' of its 48,500 Model 3 and 52,000 Model Y vehicles in stock for instant delivery - some with huge discounts of over 7,000, according to market research conducted by specialist website, Electrifying.com. Not only does Tesla have examples of the popular Model 3 (left) and Model Y (right) available, they're offering discounts of up to 7,000 Just THREE electric cars sold in Britain cost under 30,000 Britons are being priced out of electric car ownership because there are no affordable battery-powered models in showrooms, according to a review of vehicle costs. While the cheapest petrol-powered motor - Dacia's Sandero - starts from 12,995 in the UK, the cheapest electric car is twice the price at a bank-busting 25,995. In fact, there are just three new battery cars in UK showrooms today that cost under 30,000 - and some of the smallest EVs on the market have rocketed in price in recent months and now cost the same as a petrol executive saloon. It believes that waiting times for electric cars have tumbled as drivers pause purchases in the face of higher energy prices and the wider cost of living worries. This fall in demand has corresponded with a gradual increase in supply of components as production recovers after the pandemic and the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine. However, motorists may also be put off the idea of switching to EVs now by the growing concerns that there are not enough public charging devices available - and that the grid will be unable to cope with a surge in electricity demand from millions of battery-powered cars. Images of huge queues forming at public electric car charging locations over the festive period reignited unease about the country's lacking charging infrastructure. Industry insiders and electric car owners have called on Government to install more rapid devices to allow for faster charging times, especially outside of the capital and at motorway services when motorists need to boost batteries during long-distance journeys. Currently, of the 36,752 public charging points available in the UK, 11,515 (31 per cent) are installed in Greater London compared to 1,106 in the North East, latest figures show. One central London borough has more charging points than six of Britains largest regional cities combined; 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 electric cars you can get your hands on quickly - and those you can't... Order a 30,000 Renault Zoe today and it should be delivered by May, dealers told Electrifying.com The all-new Renault Megane E-Tech is also subject to delivery periods of up to four months Last summer, Electrifying said some battery models were subject to delivery delays of over a year, with some brands - including MG Motor - closing order books for some battery models due to high demand. However, that's not the case for all car manufacturers today, Other electric models with short waiting times this month include Renault's 30,000 Zoe and 37,000 Megane E-Tech, with some dealers offering delivery in just four weeks. Order one of Volvo's 45,000 XC40 Recharge SUVs today and it should be delivered within three months, which is a significantly shorter waiting time than consumers will experience when trying to buy an EV from some rival brands. A 51,000 Audi Q4 e-tron or 64,000 BMW iX3, for example, have waiting times of nine months, the website said. Volvo dealers said they are able to deliver a brand new XC40 Recharge within three months Similar-sized SUVs, like the Audi Q4 e-tron (left) and BMW iX3 (right), have longer delivery delays of up to nine months Customers waiting on a new Volkswagen will also find theyre waiting for longer than they may expect, with delivery not expected for at least 10 months on all of their electric models. Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said: 'The news that waiting times are decreasing by a significant amount will be welcomed by many, however it also signals a change in consumer behaviour driven by the cost-of-living crisis. 'If the car industry is to ride through this turbulent time, it needs to think about the impact of prioritising the production of SUVs and more premium models. 'Going into the new year, we need to start seeing more affordable cars brought to market to encourage private buyers to make the switch; at the moment there are just three electric cars available which are priced under 30,000 and the lack of affordable models is having a detrimental effect on the market.' Missouri inmate Amber McLaughlin, who was executed Tuesday for a 2003 killing, is believed to be the first transgender prisoner to be put to death. McLaughlin, 49, who previously went by Scott, was executed 19 years after she was convicted of killing and stalking her girlfriend Beverly Guenther, 45, and dumping the body near the Mississippi River in St. Louis in 2003. McLaughlin was put to death by lethal injection after Republican Governor Mike Parson declined a clemency request hours before. The murderer started transitioning three years ago while in prison. Amber McLaughlin, 49, who is transgender, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday. McLaughlin is believed to be the first transgender person to be executed. She became transition three years ago while in prison in Potosi McLaughlin died 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 A database on the website for the anti-execution Death Penalty Information Center shows that 1,558 people have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in the mid-1970s. All but 17 of those put to death were men. The center said there are no known previous cases of an openly transgender inmate being executed. McLaughlin began transitioning about three years ago at the state prison in Potosi. McLaughlin spoke quietly with a spiritual adviser at her side as the fatal dose of pentobarbital was injected. She breathed heavily a couple of times, then shut her eyes. She was pronounced dead a few minutes later. 'I am sorry for what I did,' McLaughlin said in a final, written, statement. 'I am a loving and caring person.' In addition, the clemency petition cited McLaughlin's traumatic childhood and mental health issues, which the jury never heard during her trial. She claimed in her petition that a foster parent rubbed feces in her face when she was a toddler and her adoptive father used a stun gun on her. It also cited severe depression that resulted in multiple suicide attempts, both as a child and as an adult. The petition also included reports citing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a condition that causes anguish and other symptoms as a result of a disparity between a person's gender identity and their assigned sex at birth. But McLaughlin's sexual identity was 'not the main focus' of the clemency request, her attorney, Larry Komp, said. In 2003, long before transitioning, McLaughlin was in a relationship with Beverly Guenther. After they stopped dating, McLaughlin would show up at the suburban St. Louis office where the 45-year-old Guenther worked, sometimes hiding inside the building, according to court records. Guenther obtained a restraining order, and police officers occasionally escorted her to her car after work. Beverly Guenther, 45, was killed by McLaughlin on November 20, 2003 Republican Governor Mike Parson denied her clemency request hours before her execution Guenther's neighbors called police the night of November 20, 2003, when she failed to return home. Officers went to the office building, where they found a broken knife handle near her car and a trail of blood. A day later, McLaughlin led police to a location near the Mississippi River in St. Louis, where the body had been dumped. Authorities said she had been raped and stabbed repeatedly with a steak knife. McLaughlin was convicted of first-degree murder in 2006. A judge sentenced McLaughlin to death after a jury deadlocked on the sentence. Komp said Missouri and Indiana are the only states that allow a judge to sentence someone to death. A court in 2016 ordered a new sentencing hearing, but a federal appeals court panel reinstated the death penalty in 2021. An undated post-transition photo of Missouri inmate Amber McLaughlin 'McLaughlin terrorized Ms. Guenther in the final years of her life, but we hope her family and loved ones may finally have some peace,' Parson said in a written statement after the execution. McLaughlin began transitioning about three years ago, according to Jessica Hicklin, who spent 26 years in prison for a drug-related killing before being released a year ago. Hicklin, now 43, sued the Missouri Department of Corrections, challenging a policy that prohibited hormone therapy for inmates who weren't receiving it before being incarcerated. She won the lawsuit in 2018 and became a mentor to other transgender inmates, including McLaughlin. McLaughlin did not receive hormone treatments, however, Komp said. Hicklin described McLaughlin as a painfully shy person who came out of her shell after she decided to transition. 'She always had a smile and a dad joke,' Hicklin said. 'If you ever talked to her, it was always with the dad jokes.' The Bureau of Justice Statistics has estimated there are 3,200 transgender inmates in the nation's prisons and jails. Perhaps the best-known case of a transgender prisoner seeking treatment was that of Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who served seven years in federal prison for leaking government documents to Wikileaks until President Barack Obama commuted the sentence in 2017. The Army agreed to pay for hormone treatments for Manning in 2015. In 2015, the US Department of Justice wrote in a court filing that state prison officials must treat an inmate's gender identity condition just as they would treat other medical or mental health conditions, regardless of when the diagnosis occurred. The only woman ever executed in Missouri was Bonnie B. Heady, who was put to death on December 18, 1953, for kidnapping and killing a six-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 was put to death in November for the ambush killing of a Kirkwood, Missouri, police officer. Carman 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 on February 7 for killing his girlfriend and her three young children. Advertisement Thousands more people are queuing outside St Peter's Basicilia to pay their respects to the late Pope Benedict XVI who is lying in state in the Vatican for one more day before his funeral on Thursday. The Vatican said about 25,000 more people had visited the body by noon on Tuesday, following the 65,000 who passed by Benedict's remains on Monday. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban was among the thousands paying tribute yesterday, following Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in going to St Peter's Basilica and standing besides Benedict's body for a few moments with his head bowed in prayer. Pope Emeritus Benedict passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, two days after Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray for him as he was 'very sick'. Sombre new images show the late Pope Benedict XVI lying in state in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican today The Vatican said 25,000 more people visited the body on Tuesday morning, following the 65,000 who visited on Monday. Above: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St Peter's Basilica today Benedict became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down from the role in 2013, citing ill health. Among the mourners today was Rome resident Loredana Corrao, who said she was a great admirer of the late pope. 'It was a fitting tribute. It was very emotional and moving. I also came yesterday but I had things to say to him and I also came today,' she said. 'I am sure that an important part of the Church's history has closed and now we have to move on without him.' The new images showed him wearing a white mitre with his hands clasped around rosary beads. Pope Francis, 86, has been carrying on his normal workload since Benedict died. Faithful wait to see the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica on January 3, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican Faithful leave St. Peter's Basilica after paying their respects to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, on January 3, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican Orban, who followed Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in going to St Peter's Basilica, sits next to his wife after he stood before Benedict's body for a few moments in prayer The basilica's doors opened before dawn today. Above: Benedict lies in state today Francis will preside at Benedict's funeral in St Peter's Square on Thursday with tens of thousands of mourners expected to attend. Because Benedict was no longer a reigning pontiff when he died, official delegations have been limited to those from Italy and his native Germany. The liturgy for Thursday's funeral Mass will be based mostly on that for a reigning pope, with some minor modifications, particularly in the prayers, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. Palliums will be placed in Benedict's coffin along with coins and medals minted during his eight years as pope and a sealed lead tube holding a deed written in Latin describing his pontificate - all customary for funerals of popes. As is traditional for popes, Benedict's body will be placed in a cypress coffin which will be carried out of St. Peter's Basilica and into the square for the funeral. Later, as is also traditional, that one will be placed into a zinc coffin and then both will be placed into another coffin made of wood. 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. Catholics attending the funeral will include Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, his secretary said. Zen, 90, has been at odds with Pope Francis over the Vatican's agreement with Chinese authorities on the appointment of bishops. Zen says the deal betrays pro-Vatican Catholics in China and the clergy who have suffered persecution there. The basilica's doors opened before dawn today. Also among those paying respects was Miriam Groppelli, six, an altar server in her parish in Milan. Miriam and her father, Giuseppe Groppelli, 40, travelled by train in the early hours to pay their respects, along with her grandparents and siblings. 'I told her his story and she was really excited to come to Rome to say goodbye,' Mr Groppelli said. 'Benedict has been very important for the Church, his speeches were so clear and beautiful, he leaves a great legacy of knowledge.' Commenting on Benedict's relationship with Francis, who was elected to succeed him in 2013, Mr Groppelli said: 'I believe there's no real war or competition within the church and between popes. The church lives and grows every day, also thanks to their words.' The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican today Benedict resigned from his position in 2013, making him the first pope in more than 600 years to do so Benedict has been lying in state without any papal regalia, such as a crosier - a silver staff with a crucifix - or a pallium - a band of cloth worn around the neck Mourners gather near the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as it lies in state The former pope died on Saturday - just days after Pope Francis called for prayers as he was very ill Mourners hold pictures of Benedict and the Virgin Mary as they wait in line to pay their respects at St Peter's Basilica Francis will preside at Benedict's funeral in St Peter's Square on Thursday with tens of thousands of mourners expected to attend Benedict was elected as the 265th pope in April 2005 at the age of 78 and spent eight years leading the world's 1.3 billion Catholics before he stepped down Benedict, who as German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had served for decades at the Vatican as the church's guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was known for his theological knowledge as well as for eloquent speeches, which - unlike like many of his predecessors - he would write himself. He was elected as the 265th pope in April 2005 at the age of 78 and spent eight years leading the world's 1.3 billion Catholics before he stepped down. The lovechild, Navy Joan, is the fourth of Hunter's five children but neither he, nor his parents, have ever met the child or publicly acknowledged her existence 'If Hunter wants to renegotiate the child support on financial grounds he'll have no choice but to disclose details of all his income,' a source said DailyMail.com can reveal that Roberts, 31, is demanding to know how much Hunter received from selling his artwork and the names of the buyers Wannabe artist Hunter Biden has continued to brush aside awkward questions about who exactly is ponying up $500,000 for his novice paintings - especially as his dubious business dealings with foreign adversaries keep coming back to haunt him. But that could change in a stroke thanks to the First Son's brazen bid to pay less child support for his four-year-old lovechild, Navy Joan Roberts, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Hunter, 52, has asked an Arkansas judge to recalculate the money he hands Navy Joan's mom, Lunden Roberts, each month, citing a 'substantial material change' in his personal finances. But single mom Roberts, 31, has pushed back by demanding to know exactly how much her former flame has pocketed from his pictures - and the names and details of all his buyers. The move would force Hunter to finally disclose in publicly-filed court documents the identities of the mystery art lovers who are shelling out between $75,000 and $500,000 for works by a self-taught beginner. This comes days after Roberts filed a petition to change Navy Joan's last name from Roberts to Biden. Clinton Lancaster, Roberts' attorney, said that Navy would 'benefit from carrying the Biden family name,' adding that the name is 'now synonymous with being well educated, successful, financially acute, and politically powerful.' Hunter Biden is attempting to lower his child support payments for his four-year-old lovechild who he shares with Lunden Roberts. The First Son cited a 'substantial material change' in his personal finances DailyMail.com can reveal that Roberts, 31, is demanding to know how much Hunter received from selling his artwork and the names of the buyers. Georges Berges, an art dealer hosting Hunter's works at his trendy Manhattan gallery, had ignored three letters from incoming House Oversight Committee Chairman. Pictured: Hunter with art dealer George Berges (left) and Hunter's son Beau (right) Roberts and Hunter conceived Navy Joan the fourth of his five children - around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie Biden Additionally, if Roberts can prove the recovering drug addict is actually banking more thanks to his newfound vocation the court could decide to raise his child support payments instead of lowering them. 'If Hunter wants to renegotiate the child support on financial grounds he'll have no choice but to disclose details of all his income. 'And art sales would absolutely qualify as income under Arkansas law,' a reliable source told DailyMail.com. Neither Hunter, nor his parents, have ever met the Navy Joan or publicly acknowledged her existence 'Lunden has submitted through her attorney a long list of questions under the discovery process. She wants to know every cent Hunter has made from his art, what exactly he's sold and the names of all his buyers. 'All that information will become public in the court records unless Hunter can persuade a judge to seal the records. He may find that he's bitten off more than he can chew.' Roberts won a reported $2.5 million settlement from Hunter after taking him to court in 2019 and forcing him to take a DNA test to prove he fathered Navy Joan during their short-lived fling. The adorable, blonde-haired girl is the fourth of his five children but neither he, nor his parents Joe and Jill Biden, have ever met the child or publicly acknowledged her existence. Hunter claimed during the bitter, 10-month case that he was 'unemployed and had no monthly income' despite living in a $12,000-per-month Hollywood rental and driving a Porsche. But when an Independence County, Arkansas judge ordered him to produce financial records he balked and settled out of court, the two sides announcing a 'global, final settlement of all issues'. The deal proved anything but final when Hunter filed in September to have the case reopened, writing: 'Since the entry of the existing child support order there has been a substantial material change in the Movant's financial circumstances, including but not limited to his income.' Roberts' attorney Clinton Lancaster responded by firing off a fresh discovery request running into hundreds of questions covering the First Son's assets, earnings, overseas business dealings in Ukraine and China, plus any payouts to attorneys and agents. Sources say the list also honed in on Hunter's recent income, asking him to itemize any artworks he's sold in the past couple of years, the names of the buyers and any paperwork related to the purchases. So far the President's second son is yet to comply, instead complaining that the lengthy interrogatories are 'vague and ambitious' and asking the court to strike down some of the queries. Hunter filed a motion to reset child support in September, citing 'a substantial material change' in his 'financial circumstances, including but not limited to his income' 'Even though the defendant has been the subject of articles by the New York Times regarding his 'art,' President Biden's administration has taken measures to shield the White House from the buyers of the defendant's 'art,' and the defendant was seen in New York City as recently as a few months ago showing and selling his 'art,' the defendant has refused to provide any information about his 'art' or the income derived from it,' Lancaster protested in a December 27 filing. 'Instead, history repeats itself and Mr. Biden seeks a protective order.' If Roberts succeeds in procuring fresh details of Hunter's foray into the art world she will succeed where a host of lawmakers and conservative media outlets have failed. The lobbyist-turned painter reportedly made $375,000 from five prints sold at an pop-up show in 2021, prompting concerns that buyers could snap up artworks to earn political favor from the Bidens. The White House dismissed concerns about the unprecedented prices by insisting the sales would be anonymous to prevent corruption - a step that critics complained would make it even more ripe for influence-peddling. The New York Post reported Friday that Georges Berges, an art dealer hosting Hunter's works at his trendy Manhattan gallery, had ignored three letters from incoming House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky) citing 'serious ethical concerns.' Comer wanted to know the names of buyers and whether they 'intended to benefit from President Biden's elected office'. 'My goal has always been to discover work with artists that I think are important culturally and historically,' Berges clapped back, in an interview with the Post. 'Hunter Biden is all of those things.' Despite tabloid reports suggesting Hunter met Roberts while she was working as a stripper, DailyMail.com has previously revealed that the pair hooked up while she was employed at his DC-based investment firm, Rosemont Seneca. She and Hunter conceived Navy Joan around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie. The little girl has always gone by the last name Roberts but her mother's latest round of court filings includes a request that the youngster be able to call herself Navy Joan Biden to 'benefit from carrying the Biden Family name.' Hunter took up art as a way to help him in his recovery from addition to alcohol and drugs. 'If Hunter wants to renegotiate the child support on financial grounds he'll have no choice but to disclose details of all his income,' a source said In an effort to prevent any ethical breaches, White House officials have said they put measures in place to shield information about how much Hunter's work was selling for and to whom. But ethics experts have scoffed at the measures and said it was clear the current way the galleries operate is unacceptable Hunter reportedly made $375,000 from five prints sold at an pop-up show in 2021, prompting concerns that buyers could snap up artworks to earn political favor from the Bidens Lancaster wrote: 'The defendant, the President, First Lady, and other members of the Biden family remain estranged from the child. 'To the extent this is misconduct or neglect, it can be rectified by changing her last name to Biden so that she may undeniably be known to the world as the child of the defendant and member of the prestigious Biden family.' In February last year Roberts gave evidence to a Delaware grand jury investigating Hunter for alleged tax crimes, joining a growing list of former business partners and associates who have been drawn into the Department of Justice's secretive three-year probe into his overseas dealings. Federal prosecutors were particularly interested in what she learned about Hunter's finances, according to her attorney. Roberts declined to comment on the latest court filings. A father-of-four who was left paralysed after a serious crash is now dreaming of walking his daughters down the aisle after receiving innovative robotic therapy. Luke Louden suffered a broken neck and back, alongside multiple serious leg injuries, in August 2020. The 32-year-old, of Whauphill in Dumfries and Galloway, said he 'knew instantly' after the crash that he was paralysed. He said: 'The doctors didn't say there was no chance of walking but they said there was a slim chance.' Luke Louden suffered a broken neck and back, alongside multiple serious leg injuries, in August 2020 But that slim chance has now started to become a reality after he became the first patient to receive a new type of therapy at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow. Mr Louden said: 'Quite quickly I began to feel the benefits, and now there's less pain, fewer spasms, I sleep better and I have lost weight. It's also been huge for my mental health.' It is his wife Anna and his children Anna, eight, Chloe, six, Mary, four, and Isaac, three, who have been his inspiration and support during his recovery. 'They have kept me going especially my wife,' Mr Louden said. 'I don't know how I would have managed without her. I've had some really dark times, but now I can look forward with real hope. Physiotherapist Claire Lincoln is pictured with patient Luke Louden on the newly installed ZeroG Gait and Balance System 'The dream would obviously be to walk my girls down the aisle, so I'm going to keep going, to keep trying, for Anna and all my children. 'I mean, look what this system has done for me up to now you never know what further advances are round the corner. 'Don't get me wrong, it's been tough and the future is daunting, but the team here have been amazing, and I know they've got my back.' Before Mr Louden started his therapy on the ZeroG Gait and Balance System, which NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said is the first of its kind in Scotland, he said he 'put so much work in and didn't see any return, and I could feel my hope just draining away'. He added: 'It was really hard at the start, and I didn't really know what to do. I was really fit and active, so to lose the use of my legs was tough.' The ZeroG Gait and Balance System is a robotic apparatus where a patient is supported during therapy In September last year, he started using the robotic apparatus, which supports him during therapy and automatically synchronises with his movements to help him walk and prevent falls. 'It's transformed my life and how I feel,' Mr Louden said. 'I've gone from hardly being able to move to being able to walk 20 metres non-stop on the bars. My record on the ZeroG system is 57 metres. 'I'd love to keep improving but to be honest, if I couldn't achieve any more I'd be happy the way I am. Just to be able to stand, even if it's with a frame, is amazing. 'If you'd asked me six weeks ago if I could even achieve that I'd have said don't be daft. But now I can stand next to my kids.' Claire Lincoln, senior research physiotherapist at the hospital, said patients using the machine can do a lot more before becoming too tired. 'The system also allows us to be more creative with the activities we undertake, which means the patient gets more enjoyment and satisfaction while also seeing additional benefit,' she said. 'We are still learning the full potential of the system, but because of the support and added safety it gives patients, already it's allowed us to try therapies earlier than would have been possible before.' Dr Mariel Purcell, consultant in spinal injuries, said since he started his career 30 years ago more patients now have the potential to get back on their feet. 'We used to see a lot of young males, who had perhaps been in a car crash or suffered an industrial accident, but the advances in safety seatbelt wearing and health and safety laws have made a real difference,' he said. 'Now we are seeing damage that isn't as bad, and we're seeing older patients who have experienced lower-velocity injuries. 'This gives us a real chance to help these patients, and the ZeroG system will be instrumental in this work.' But one expert believes the move is only a 'band-aid solution' to housing issues Many Aussies have called on the Australian govt to adopt the same measure A controversial housing policy introduced in Canada where foreigners are banned from buying property has gained public support in Australia, but some experts believe it's a 'band aid solution' and that the government is better off building more houses instead. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implemented the measure on Sunday after floating the idea during last year's election campaign to ensure more homes were made available to citizens. 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. While the policy bans foreigners from purchasing properties, it does allow refugees and permanent residents to buy houses. Canada's move has been well received in Australia, with many calling on the government to adopt a similar policy. A new housing policy that bans foreigners from purchasing property in Australia has gained widespread support (stock image) The recent backing for the measure was sparked by the policy being implemented in Canada last Sunday by the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) after he previously proposed banning foreigners buying property in Canada last year 'It's a big solution. Australia should follow in Canada's path to tackle the housing crisis,' wrote one social media user on Twitter. Poll Should Australia ban foreigners from buying property? Yes No Should Australia ban foreigners from buying property? Yes 206 votes No 21 votes Now share your opinion Another said: 'I think Australia should seriously consider it for the same reason Canada did it, and for all foreigners.' 'Come on Anthony Albanese. Let's help Aussies afford housing and stifle foreign purchases. Can we follow Canada's lead?' commented a third. 'Australia needs the law banning foreign ownership of property like Canada does. Might help ease the housing crisis,' added another. Thousands of social media users across both Facebook and Twitter posted comments in support of the measure. But PropTrack director of economic research, Cameron Kusher, does not recommend the policy for Australia's housing market and warns it is a 'band-aid' solution to availability. 'Certainly foreigners have more buying power than first-time buyers. But I don't think it's the crux of the issue. These things do tend to play up on xenophobia a bit,' he told News.com.au. Mr Kusher said foreign investment was only 'a small part of the housing market' and that foreigners will only look for other markets if they were banned from buying in Australia. While many Aussies have called on the government to adopt the measure, PropTrack director of economic research, Cameron Kusher, says the policy is only a 'band-aid solution' to housing availability in Australia (stock image) The Albanese government has committed to one million new affordable homes and social housing (stock image) He suggested building more homes so that supply and demand was balanced out. The Albanese government is already working on funding the construction of one million new homes and more affordable and social housing. The Prime Minister put $350million towards delivering 10,000 new homes, a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund which will build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties and created a council to advise government on housing supply and affordability. Foreigners purchasing property in Australia can only buy new properties or a vacant lot. They cannot buy existing property unless it's undergoing a major renovation that increases housing stock, such as turning one house into two townhouses. Two boys critically injured in the mid-air collision between two Sea World helicopters are fighting for their lives as their fathers make heartbreaking pleas for prayers and support. Neil de Silva's wife Winnie, 33, and nine-year-old son Leon were among three passengers who sustained critical injuries on the Gold Coast on Monday after the helicopter they were flying in clipped another and crashed seconds after take-off. The disaster claimed the lives of pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros, 36, and British couple Ron, 65, and Dianne Hughes, 57. Leon, who arrived in Australia last year to be reunited with his mum, has been placed in an induced coma at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane. His shattered stepfather revealed on Wednesday Leon's condition remains a major concern. 'My wife and stepson were injured in the helicopter crash at Sea World yesterday while we were on a quick holiday from Geelong,' Mr de Silva wrote on a fundraising page. 'Thankfully they are both alive but have a lot of surgery ahead of them which means the family will need to stay here on the Gold Coast and I won't be able to return to work.' Simon Tadros - the grief-stricken father of 10-year-old Nicholas, who was also critically injured in the crash that killed his mother Vanessa - has revealed how he could only watch on as the tragedy unfolded. Simon Tadros (left) is keeping vigil at his son Nicholas' hospital bedside as his mourns the loss of his wife Vanessa (right) Vanessa Tadros (left) was killed instantly in the helicopter crash, but her son Nicholas (right) survived and is in hospital in a critical condition Leon (left) is in an induced coma in Brisbane while his mum Winnie (right) is in intensive care on the Gold Coast Mr Tadros told The Courier-Mail on Wednesday to: 'Ask everyone to pray for my son that he wakes up and makes a good recovery'. 'He is on life support in a critical condition. So please he needs all the prayers he can get,' Mr Tadros posted on Tuesday night. 'Please keep your prayers strong, may God pull him back with me and make a good recovery.' Friends and neighbours back home at Glenmore Park in Sydney's west have paid tribute, including local state MP Tanya Davies. 'So often tragedies like these seem so far away from us but this devastating accident brings to home how precious and fragile life can be,' she wrote. 'Vanessas son Nicholas, is still in a critical condition in hospital. I pray for him and all the other surviving victims at this time. I especially think of Simon Tadros, Vanessa's husband and Nicholas' dad, who was on the ground at the time of the accident. He is by his son's side in hospital.' 'Life is precious and fragile. Treasure and appreciate your loved ones every day.' Nicholas' tutor Jenny Jordan also paid tribute. 'What an absolute tragedy. Our beautiful Tadros family, Aced It Tutoring are feeling the pain of this loss. Hold your loved ones close.' Nicholas Tadros continues to fight for life in hospital following the crash that killed his mum Vanessa (pictured) Winnie de Silva has two broken legs, a broken right shoulder, a broken collarbone and a damaged left knee after the Sea World helicopter crash An online fundraiser has raised almost $5,000. 'We are praying for a miracle that our Nicky, (as he is playfully known) can be brought back to his grief stricken father Simon,' family friend Rochelle Fajloun said. 'If by God's grace Nicky survives his catastrophic injuries, he will have an intense and protracted recovery period. Please keep him in your prayers.' 'Simon distressingly witnessed the accident unfold and is totally shattered. 'With all of the emotional pain that death brings, it can also bring significant financial burden. Any donations that can help the family during this difficult period will be most appreciated. 'Please keep this genuinely wonderful and much loved family in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare for a life like they've never expected.' Mr de Silva broke down on Wednesday morning as he told how the Geelong family had travelled to the Gold Coast for a 'budget' holiday when he shouted Winnie and Leon a 10-minute joy flight. Leon (pictured) has a fractured skull and is in an induced coma 'Leon's the worst at the moment, he's in an induced coma because of the head trauma and trauma on the brain,' Mr de Silva told the Today show on Wedesday. 'Our major concern is Leon when they wake his up today that he's okay.' 'I'm just doing what I can for them, I've got no choice.' The mid-air collision claimed four lives and critically injured three others on board (pictured, the crash scene) Mr de Silva watched in horror as his loved ones plummet to the ground moments after their helicopter 'I thought they were dead, I couldn't imagine anyone surviving,' he recalled. The 52-year-old pilot of the second helicopter, Michael James, and four of his five passengers suffered shrapnel wounds when the cockpit was struck by the main rotor of the other aircraft. Three of the six people from the second helicopter, including the pilot, are still in hospital, a Queensland Health spokesperson confirmed. That second helicopter's passengers included a Western Australian woman and two New Zealand couples in their 40s who were travelling together. Allegedly stole hundreds of personal possessions sent to residents A pair of alleged thieves have brazenly targeted a Sydney apartment complex with police accusing the couple of stealing hundreds of parcels delivered to its residents. Police will allege the duo, a man and a woman both in their 30s, swiped the packages from the entrance of the Pyrmont apartment building before residents could collect them. The couple are accused of getting more and more brazen before allegedly stealing two expensive e-bikes from the unit block's carpark - triggering a police investigation into all the parcels that had vanished from the Saunders Street complex. A pair of thieves has brazenly targeted a Sydney apartment complex, allegedly stealing hundreds of packages delivered to residents Police will allege the duo, a man and a woman in their 30s, swiped the packages from the entrance of the building before residents could collect them NSW Police's Proactive Crime Team later raided a second Pyrmont address, finding property 'relevant to the investigation' inside a unit and its car space. Police recovered shotgun shells, replica firearms, credit cards and a large collection of Star Wars action figures. A collection of sneakers still in their boxes, clothing, pre-packaged meals and prescription medications were also found. NSW Police's Proactive Crime Team later raided a second Pyrmont address, finding property 'relevant to the investigation'. Sneakers and shotgun shells were recovered A large collection of Star Wars action figures was also among the allegedly stolen goods found by police A 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman were arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station. They face 18 charges relating to theft and drug offences, and to possession of ammunition without a licence or permit. 'Police will allege in court that the pair were stealing packages and parcels intended for other residents from the entrance of a Pyrmont unit complex,' a NSW Police statement said. Both face charges of supplying prohibited drugs and the woman was allegedly in possession of drugs. The were refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday. Police are urging anyone with information relevant to the alleged crimes to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Family and friends have remembered him as a 'Top Gun' pilot with a 'big heart' Friend says that would be eternal wish of pilot who aided fire and flood missions But he has pledged money will be divided evenly between all four victims His best mate has started a fundraiser for fiancee and toddler son of pilot Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, was one of four killed when two choppers collided The best mate of helicopter pilot Ash Jenkinson has started a fundraiser for his fiancee and toddler son, but has pledged to aid all four victims as the deceased aviator's eternal wish. Praising the pilot who helped out 'in floods, fires and animal rescues', Ritchie Gregg said the funds raised would be divided evenly between the four victims of the crash so that 'Ash will continue to help ... that's what he would want'. Mr Gregg, who flew with 'Jenko' on one of his missions last year to drop food and rescue people during the Northern New South Wales flood relief operations, launched the gofundme.com campaign overnight. His plea on behalf of his mate states 'its what the deceased pilot would want. Our great mate Ash Jenkinson the pilot that tragically passed away. 'A guy with a huge heart and always ready to help the community and friends. Ash was an integral part of the Northern NSW flood relief work, Australian bushfire work, and animal rescues. 'Ash always helped people! He leaves behind a loving fiancee and son, Kaiden. This Gofundme has been set up not only to support his family but for all the victims involved in the accident on January 2. 'All donations will be split evenly to the victims of the accident to help in anyway during this devastating and difficult time.' Mr Jenkinson welcomed his first child, a son, Kaiden, with his partner Kosha back in September last year Vanessa Tadros (above) was tragically killed in the crash, but her 10-year-old son Nicholas is on life support in hospital with his father Simon yet to tell the boy the news of his mother's death Vanessa Tadros (left) pictured with her son Nicholas (right) before the horrific crash that claimed her life British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57 of Liverpool in England were confrimed as among the victims after taking the Sea World joyride while on holiday ion the Gold Coast Tributes have poured in for the victims of the horrific Sea World chopper crash, and the pilot of the Sea World EC130 helicopter which 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 - whose 10-year-old son Nicholas is on life support in hospital - have been confirmed as the other victims. Another mother and son - Winnie and Leon De Silva - are both in hospital, with the nine-year-old boy in a coma and suffering a fractured skull from the crash. The stricken helicopter piloted by Ash Jenkinson collided 20 seconds after take-off and the main rotor and gearbox separated causing the craft to plunge into the sand bank Winnie and Leon De Silva (above) survived the crash and both are in hospital with injuries Leon De Silva suffered a fractured skull and is fighting for his life in Gold Coast Hospital after the crash in which he and his mother were passengers in a Sea World joyflight The pilot of the second helicopter, which had five passengers on board, miraculously managed to land upright on a sand bar, with everyone aboard able to walk away despite minor injuries. Pilot Michael James, 52, who has been operated on for injuries, has been praised for his his calmness and cool reaction in the face of the sudden emergency which occurred as he was landing his helicopter at the end of a joyflight. He is understood to have only joined Sea World as a pilot about a year ago, whereas Ash Jenkinson had been flying with the theme park for several years and was well known as a rescue mission aviator and instructor of numerous novice pilots. Ritchie Gregg, says he was 'a top guy, top gun and the best dad' and that hisyoung son Kaiden 'would probably be asking where dad is' right now. Ritchie Gregg, pictured second left, with Ash Jenkinson, on their flood rescue trip to northern NSW last year said the funds should be divided evenly between all four victims 'because that's what Ash would have wanted' Sea World helicopters chief pilot Ash 'Jenko' Jenkinson, 40, died in the helicopter crash (pictured with his wife, Kosha) Gofundme campaign launched by pilot Ash Jenkinson's mate who says the aviator who helped out on fire, flood and animal rescue mission's eternal wish would be to keep on helping so the money will be divided evenly between all four victims 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. '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. One of Jenkinson's closest mates, Ritchie Gregg, sent a text message to Ash after learning about the tragedy on social media 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.' 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) The main body of the destroyed helicopter on the is slumped on the sandbank by the landing helicopter, right, which miraculously managed to stay upright thus preventing further loss of life The crashed chopper is lifted in the air as crews work to extract it from the sandbank as the tide comes in following the devastating crash which took four lives 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'. The man inspects the interior of the wrecked Sea World helicopter on Tuesday as crews worked on recovering the remnants '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'. 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.' Mr Jenkinson was a hero during the 2022 flood crisis on the Northern Rivers. Picture: Supplied ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said it appeared 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. South Korean soldiers dismantle stacked loudspeakers in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in this May 2018 photo. Joint Press Corps Experts divided over effectiveness of loudspeaker use By Kang Seung-woo The resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts has been emerging as a possible counter-measure in response to North Korea's security threats as South Korea has limited options to take in response to the North's recent use of drones to cross the inter-Korean border, infiltrating the South for the first time in five years. The South Korean military used to operate propaganda broadcast posts along the border as a key part of its psychological warfare tactics against North Korea. The broadcast messages were mainly critical of the North Korean regime, leading Pyongyang to express strong opposition to such tactics, apparently concerned about the possible effects they might have on its military and people. The use of the loudspeakers has been suspended since the inter-Korean summit in April 2018. "What Kim Jong-un fears the most are loudspeaker broadcasts targeting North Korean soldiers deployed on the border," Rep. Tae Yong-ho of the ruling People Power Party said last week. The audio messages can be heard some 10 kilometers into Gaeseong in the daytime and for 24 kilometers at night, according to the South Korean military. "History has proven that loudspeaker broadcasting to North Korea is the quickest and most effective way to peacefully manage the situation along the border and deter war," the defector-turned-politician added. In the wake of North Korea's landmine attack in the Demilitarized Zone that seriously injured two South Korean soldiers in August 2015, the South Korean military resumed broadcasting propaganda directed to the North for the first time in 11 years. While North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared a "quasi-state of war" in frontline areas at that time, Pyongyang offered high-level inter-Korean talks, where Pyongyang expressed regret for the mine explosions in exchange for Seoul's suspension of propaganda broadcasts. Previously, the lawmaker also proposed that South Korea resume the use of loudspeaker broadcasts as part of efforts to prevent North Korea from conducting a seventh nuclear test in advance by preemptively warning its resumption to the North in the event of another nuclear test. Cha Du-hyeogn, a principal fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, also said the government needs to consider the option. "We can respond to the drone infiltrations in the same way, but exploring options that North Korea is the most fearful of, they are loudspeaker broadcasts and propaganda leaflets. We need to consider resuming them in this case," he said in a recent radio interview. The loudspeaker broadcasts have been a hot-button issue between South and North Korea, leading to many disputes over the decades. Both sides have deployed speakers to direct propaganda at one another, and the North Korean regime has on many occasions responded sensitively to the matter. In that respect, former President Moon Jae-in and the North Korean leader held a summit at the truce village of Panmunjeom on the inter-Korean border, April 27, 2018, where they agreed to stop all hostile acts including loudspeaker broadcasting and the scattering of leaflets in areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), to dismantle their means and to transform the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into a peace zone in a genuine sense. Another barrier to resuming the propaganda broadcasts is the so-called "anti-leaflet law" that prohibits the launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, with violators subject to a maximum prison term of three years or a fine of 30 million won ($23,000). In that regard, President Yoon Suk-yeol called the law "a wrong decision" when he was the president-elect, while Unification Minister Kwon Young-se also said in an opinion submitted to the Constitutional Court that the law is unconstitutional and restricts freedom of expression and political activities. However, Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, questioned if loudspeaker broadcasting will be effective in defusing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "The South Korean government's stance is focused on deescalating tensions and deterring provocations, but loudspeaker broadcasting may provide an excuse for North Korea to make further provocations, so I think it would be better no to resume it preemptively," Shin said. A Qantas plane has been forced to make an emergency landing due to an in-flight health emergency. The international flight, travelling from Singapore to London, made an unforeseen landing in Athens, Greece, on Monday local time after a passenger fell ill. A Qantas spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the flight had to make an 'unscheduled landing at Athens International Airport in Greece after a passenger became critically unwell on the flight'. In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, the spokesperson said crew and passengers performed life-saving first aid 'on the advice of medical experts' before the flight was diverted so the patient could receive emergency medical treatment. A Qantas plane has been forced to make an emergency international landing due to an in-flight health emergency (stock image of Qantas aircraft) An international Qantas flight was travelling from Singapore to London when it made an unforeseen landing in Athens, Greece, on Monday local time after a passenger became critically unwell The spokesperson said Qantas was 'unable to get the flight back underway before the crew reached their duty limits' due to Athens being an airport the airline does not usually service. 'Passengers are being provided with hotel rooms and meals, with their flight to London now scheduled to depart Athens on Wednesday afternoon,' the spokesperson said. 'We understand this delay would be incredibly frustrating for passengers and we thank them for their understanding.' The emergency comes just one day after Qantas regained its position from Air New Zealand as the airline rated the safest in the world in AirlineRatings.com's 2023 list. AirlineRatings.com based its rankings on a number of factors including serious incidents, recent fatal accidents, audits from aviation's governing and industry bodies, profitability, industry-leading safety initiatives, expert pilot training assessment and fleet age. Qantas' budget offshoot, Jetstar, also made the list of world's safest low-cost airlines. The latest emergency is the airline's second major incident this week, after a Qantas flight to the Philippines was forced to return to Sydney following a power outage at a Manila international airport on Sunday. The aircraft had to trek back down the east coast of Australia after the Philippines' capital city airport was hit by a power cut which blacked out air traffic control and shut down airspace. Passengers wait for information about their flights at terminal 3 of Ninoy International Airport in Pasay, Manila on January 1 after a Qantas plane was forced to return to Sydney following a power outage at the Manila airport The QF19 flight to Ninoy Aquino International Airport had left Sydney at 12.30pm on New Year's Day but returned to its starting point at 7.50pm. Qantas chiefs had feared the plane could have run out of fuel if it flew on to Manila and it was forced to circle for hours while technicians struggled to restore power to the airport. On December 23, a Qantas flight carrying 356 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Azerbaijan, Central Asia, after pilots were alerted to 'potential smoke' in the cargo hold, however Qantas later confirmed there was no evidence of smoke. Qantas has long had a reputation as one of the world's safest airlines, and has not had a fatal jet airliner accident since 1951. An unusual quirk of the two luxury helicopters involved in the Sea World chopper crash may have played a key role in causing the tragedy that killed four people. Sea World Helicopters had only taken delivery of their high end $2.5million Eurobus EC130 choppers in November to supplement their two older Squirrel 350s. But the two new aircraft were both configured with the pilot sitting in the left hand seat, which is unconventional in helicopters, with two passengers on his right. Now investigators are probing if the pilot's view was blocked by the sightseers which may have led to the crash. Pictures of the wreckage reveal passengers sitting on the right side of the chopper which smashed into the ground, killing pilot Ash Jenkinson and three passengers Flight controls can be seen on the left hand seat of the helicopter which pilot Michael James managed to crash land safely on the sandbar The unusual set up meant chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, would have had a restricted view up to his far side where the second aircraft was flying towards him. The Gold Coast company's two other Squirrel aircraft are set up with the more traditional right-hand seat controls. The pilots' view will be part of the inquiry into the cause of the crash, revealed Air Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell on Tuesday. 'We have a reasonable understanding of what the two helicopters were doing in those critical phases of flight,' he said. 'But exactly why this occurred, what was the range of visibility from both the pilots, what was happening in the cabins at the time they're the things that will help us piece together potentially what may have been a contributing factor here.' As Mr Jenkinson took off, the second helicopter was above him on his right, flying at a 90 degree angle to him, and may have been invisible from his vantage point How the tragedy unfolded in just 20 seconds The lower helicopter rose 60m into the flightpath of the second aircraft, slicing its rotor blades into the other aircraft's cabin and ripping its own rotor unit and gearbox off Just 20 seconds later, his helicopter rose into the flightpath of the second aircraft, slicing its rotor blades into the other aircraft's cabin and ripping its own rotor unit and gearbox off. The lower plane spun out of control, flipped on its back and plummeted to the ground, smashing into the Broadwater sandbar below around 2pm on Monday. Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, British newlyweds Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, died in the crash with the pilot, originally from Birmingham in the UK. Three other passengers on board - Ms Tadros's 10-year-old son Nicholas, Geelong mother Winnie de Silva, 33, and her son Leon, 9 - are being treated in hospital. Winnie de Silva has two broken legs, a broken right shoulder, a broken collarbone and a damaged left knee after the Sea World helicopter crash Leon (pictured) has a fractured skull and is in an induced coma Leon (left) is in an induced coma in Brisbane while his mum Winnie (right) is in intensive care on the Gold Coast Leon's shattered stepfather, Neil, revealed on Wednesday Leon's condition remains a major concern. He broke down on Wednesday morning as he told how the Geelong family had travelled to the Gold Coast for a budget holiday when he shouted Winnie and Leon a 10-minute joy flight. 'I thought they were dead, I couldn't imagine anyone surviving,' Mr de Silva told the Today show on Wednesday. 'Leon's the worst at the moment, he's in an induced coma because of the head trauma and trauma on the brain. 'Our major concern is Leon when they wake his up today that he's okay. 'I'm just doing what I can for them, I've got no choice.' Simon Tadros (left) is keeping vigil at his son Nicholas's hospital bedside as his mourns the loss of his wife Vanessa (right) Vanessa Tadros (left) was killed instantly in the helicopter crash, but her son Nicholas (right) survived and is in hospital in a critical condition Simon Tadros - the grief-stricken father of 10-year-old Nicholas, who was also critically injured in the crash that killed his mother Vanessa - has revealed how he could only watch on as the tragedy unfolded. '[Nicholas] is on life support in a critical condition. So please he needs all the prayers he can get,' Mr Tadros posted online. He said the child remained in a 'very serious and critical state'. He added: 'Please keep your prayers strong, may God pull him back with me and make a good recovery.' Sea World Helicopters had only just brought the crashed EC130s into service in time for the peak Christmas holiday season after trialing one earlier in the year. Sea World Helicopters had only just brought the new EC130s into service in time for the peak Christmas holiday season after trialing one earlier in the year They were billed as the ultimate luxury options with leather seats and a curved glass cockpit to maximise passengers' sight-seeing opportunities at beauty spots below They were billed as the ultimate luxury options with leather seats and a curved glass cockpit to maximise passengers' sight-seeing opportunities at beauty spots below. One of the aircraft was set up for five passengers plus the pilot, while the other was set up for six passengers and pilot. The larger combination had two passengers to the right of the pilot's seat on the left, with four more in the row behind. Unlike aeroplanes, helicopter pilots traditionally, but not always, sit on the right side of the plane, as the sensitive joystick-like rotor control needs to be held at all times. Sitting on the right usually allows the pilot better access to the other controls and instruments with his free hand. But the EC130s are configured with pilot controls on the left by default. Salvage crews remove one of the wrecked helicopters revealing the flight controls on the left hand side of the aircraft Sea World Helicopters' Squirrel choppers (pictured) are set up with the more conventional seating with the pilot on the right of the aircraft Pictures of the wreckage confirm flight controls on the left side of the aircraft, with the passengers on the right potentially blocking the view of the chopper's imminent danger. The pilot of the second aircraft Michael James was also seated on the left, closest to the oncoming helicopter, but it may have been in a blind spot below him. The 52-year-old has been praised for his quick thinking and cool reactions after his cockpit was smashed in by the rotor blade of the other aircraft, spraying him and his passengers with shattered glass and debris. Mr James is believed to have only worked as a Sea World helicopter pilot for a year, although he is said to be highly skilled with many prior years of flying. He has since undergone surgery at Gold Coast University Hospital for 'shrapnel wounds' he suffered when the rotor blades sliced through the glass and metal of his chopper's cockpit. He is yet to give his version of events to police and aviation investigators. Why neither pilot saw the other, or were in radio contact, and failed to take evasive action will be the focus of the air crash investigation. 'Both aircraft were EC130s and the pilot sits on the left-hand side, so they could have two passengers on the right-hand side,' said aviation expert Professor Ron Bartsch. Judging by the direction of both aircrafts, he believes it's possible the pilot's line of sight could have been obscured by the passengers. Investigators will now be scrutinising eye witness accounts and videos and CCTV footage of the crash for clues to the cause of the horror collision. Sea World helicopters chief pilot Ash 'Jenko' Jenkinson, 40, died in the helicopter crash (pictured with his wife, Kosha) British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57 died when a Sea World EC130 helicopter collided with another chopper mid-air and plummeted 30 metres near the Sea World theme park at 2pm on Monday Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, was killed while her 10-year-old son Nicholas survived the helicopter crash on Monday On Tuesday, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was 'still early days' in the investigation when asked by reporters if charges were likely. 'All of the evidence will form part of the investigation and at the end of the day, there will be conclusionsand that may be the case,' she said. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas said it can often be very difficult to see a lower helicopter flying above a complex landscape such as a city. 'A whole series of events could have conspired in lead up to what happened,' Mr Thomas added. 'A few seconds is all you need for a tragedy like this.' Mr Thomas praised the surviving pilot on his efforts to safely land his damaged aircraft. 'If it wasn't for that extraordinary piece of airmanship, another four-five people would have lost their lives,' he said. Officers scour the sand for pieces of debris that could assist the investigation into the cause First hand accounts from survivors and witnesses' will be crucial to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation, he added. Most helicopters don't have black box flight recorders, unlike larger aircraft. 'Investigators will look at the communication between the pilots, their flying histories, conditions and vision taken by witnesses,' Mr Thomas said. 'The investigation will take weeks, months, possibly even years.' The latest documents released from Twitter details how the company was pushed into the arms of the FBI following pressures from Democrats. In the new installment of the Twitter Files, journalist Matt Taibbi broke down the stress the company was under in 2017 following calls from Democrats for social media companies to crack down on Russian misinformation. According to emails from Twitter's leadership, the company was initially focusing on passing any blame to Facebook, touting that Twitter had only a few accounts with 'suspected Russian origin.' Everything changed, however, when Hillary Clinton called for the company to take the issue seriously, with former Twitter Public Policy Vice President Colin Crowell emailing then-CEO Jack Dorsey about the growing push from the left. 'Democrats also taking cues from Hillary Clinton, who in her 'What Happened' book tour is pointedly talking about [the] role of Russian propaganda and dirty tricks that were pushed through social media had in her demise,' Crowell wrote. Just days later, Twitter formed its Russian Task Force, which was only able to find three accounts directly connected with Russia, two of which were actually tied to Russia Today, a state-owned news network. The latest Twitter files detail how the company was under pressure from Hillary Clinton (above) and Democrats and the media to crack down on Russian propaganda, even though its internal investigations found only three accounts linked to the foreign nation A message to then-CEO Jack Dorsey, former Twitter Public Policy Vice President Colin Crowell warned that Democrats were focusing on Clinton's claims that Russian misinformation on social media played a key role to her loss against Donald Trump in 2016 Although Twitter paid no mind at first, it was soon forced to conduct its own investigation, with the findings repeatedly showing 'no evidence of a coordinated approach' from Russia According to the latest trove of documents from Twitter, the social media company began eyeing Democrats' concerns with Russian misinformation in August 2017, when Facebook announced it would suspend 300 accounts tied to the foreign nation. Twitter, however, did not appear too preoccupied with the problem, with internal messages saying there were 'no larger patterns' of Russian misinformation spreading on its platform. 'FB may take action on hundreds of accounts, and we may take action on ~25,' one message read. Other internal memos called on the company's communications team to make sure the public conversation was focused on Facebook's Russia problem. 'Twitter is not the focus of inquiry into Russian election meddling right now - the spotlight is on FB,' Crowell wrote to the company's leadership. Amid mounting pressure, which was tied to Democrat's outcry alleging that Russian interference played a hand in Clinton's defeat against Donald Trump in the 2016 elections, Twitter submitted a report to the US Senate that it suspended 22 possible Russian accounts. The social media company said there were about 179 other accounts with 'possible links' to the banned accounts, and about 2,700 suspected accounts under examination. Dwarfed by Facebook's suspension of 300 accounts, Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, condemned Twitter's report as 'frankly inadequate on every level.' Warner's criticism appeared to strike a nerve with Crowell, who forwarded a campaign fundraiser email for Warner's re-election and simply wrote '#irony.' Given the lack of evidence that Russian accounts were flooding Twitter, leadership at the social media company didn't appear fazed by Warner's calls as they accused the senator of politicizing the issue to get attention from the media. 'Warner has political incentive to keep this issue at top of the news, maintain pressure on us and rest of industry to keep producing material for them,' Crowell wrote in an email to Dorsey on September 29, 2017. The tipping point came when Clinton herself pushed for greater scrutiny on Twitter. 'It's time for Twitter to stop dragging its heels and live up to the fact that its platform is being used as a tool for cyber-warfare,' Clinton had said during her book tour. Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, led the wave of criticism on Twitter for not finding enough Russian propaganda accounts on its platform The criticism led to Twitter's leadership joking about receiving a fundraising email from Warner's re-election campaign (pictured) Following the formation of the Russian Task Force, Twitter said it would investigate 8,000 accounts with possible connections to Russia, which would prove to be 'a dud,' Taibbi noted. 'First round of RU investigation 15 high risk accounts, 3 of which have connections with Russia, although 2 are [Russia Today]' the Task Force wrote on October 18, 2017. Less than a week later following alterations to their systems to find suspected accounts, the team concluded that there was a lack of coordinated Russian misinformation efforts on Twitter. 'Finished with investigation 2,500 full manual account reviews, we think this is exhaustive,' the team wrote. 'Thirty-two suspicious accounts and only 17 of those are connected with Russia, only 2 of those have significant spend, one of which is Russia Today...remaining <$10k in spend.' Despite the lack of evidence, the public perception turned to Twitter in the wake of Warner's condemnation and a flurry of media reports about the alleged problem. The company highlighted stories and calls from journalists from the Washington Post, Politico, and Buzzfeed. The files reviewed by journalist Matt Taibbi revealed that the pressures from Congress was fueling media reports, which led to further scrutiny for Twitter Taibbi concluded that Twitter was ultimately stuck in a vicious cycle, which would lead to it cooperating with the FBI It soon caused Twitter to further move with the narrative that Russian misinformation was running rampant, with the company having 'pledged to work with' the Intelligence Committee 'on their desire to legislate.' But despite their now willing to work with the government, a leak from Congress about the 2,700 suspected accounts that were initially probed sparked further outrage from the public. It eventually led to Twitter offering an apology over the accounts, despite earlier dismissing all but three of them in their internal review. Taibbi concluded that Twitter was stuck in a vicious cycle fueled by Democrats and the media that it could not escape and would eventually lead to its cooperation with the FBI. 'This cycle threatened legislation, wedded to scare headlines pushed by congressional/intel sources, followed by Twitter caving to moderation asks would later be formalized in partnerships with federal law enforcement.' In a previous installment of the Twitter Files, it was revealed that the FBI appear to have inundated the social media network with so many requests to tackle obscure accounts posting 'misinformation' that staffers had to triage the bureau's emails. Taibbi posted the latest stream of emails on Christmas eve - revealing the FBI inundated the social media network with requests and went to extreme lengths taken to 'validate theories of foreign influence' Taibbi posted the stream of emails on Christmas Eve starting with a Bureau-issued statement - which doesn't refute allegations but instead criticized the release of the files. 'The men and women of the FBI work every day to protect the American public It is unfortunate that conspiracy theorists and others are feeding the American public misinformation with the sole purpose of attempting to discredit the agency,' the statement read. Taibbi took a swipe at the agency noting that they must think of those who helped release the files as 'unambitious' if their 'sole aim' is to discredit the FBI. 'After all, a whole range of government agencies discredit themselves in the #TwitterFiles. Why stop with one?' he said. The Substack writer went on to say that the FBI had been acting as 'doorman to a vast program of social media surveillance and censorship.' 'Encompassing agencies across the federal government from the State Department to the Pentagon to the CIA,' he wrote. 'The operation is far bigger than the reported 80 members of the Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF), which also facilitates requests from a wide array of smaller actors - from local cops to media to state governments. 'Twitter had so much contact with so many agencies that executives lost track. Is today the DOD, and tomorrow the FBI? Is it the weekly call, or the monthly meeting? It was dizzying. 'A chief end result was that thousands of official 'reports' flowed to Twitter from all over, through the FITF and the FBI's San Francisco field office.' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre chided reporters Tuesday that spreading 'misinformation' about the border could aid smugglers who ferry migrants into the U.S. She was asked to comment about a jump in border crossings, with 6,000-7,000 people crossing the southern border each day amid uncertainty about the future of Title 42 border policies. 'And we have to be very careful here on how we talk about this because if we talk about it in a way that is misinformation, that helps the smugglers and so these are the issues that the President has taken incredibly seriously,' she told Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. She didn't specify precisely what misinformation she was referring to. She talked up administration efforts to deal with an influx of migrants and what she repeatedly termed 'irregular migration,' amid a major deployment of Border Patrol agents at the southern border. It came on a day when New York Mayor Eric Adams took aim at Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis for an 'unfair' plan to send migrants to New York. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said misinformation about the border 'helps the smugglers' bringing people illegally into the U.S. Biden 'has taken historic actions that no other president has been able to do when you think about the 23,000 agents that he's been able, we've been able to put out there to deal with the issue.' She called on Republicans to 'think about the smugglers really putting a plan in place that we deal with the smugglers.' Her comments come as Republicans have vowed to probe the administrations immigration policy, following weeks of a spike in crossings amid a court fight over Trump era-policies that allow asylum seekers to be turned away on COVID emergency grounds. Those probes won't take effect until the GOP-led Congress is able to organize, amid internal turmoil over who to elect as House Speaker. New York Mayor Eric Adams called immigration ''This is a Biden issue' that needs to be dealt with Jean-Pierre said misinformation aided migrant smugglers Adams blasted an effort by governors of shipping immigrants from border states to New York and other cities President Biden is set to visit Mexico City next week The border crisis has gotten increased play in mainstream media, and New York Mayor Eric Adams chided the administration, after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott led an effort to bus migrants and drop them off in New York, Washington, and other Northern cities. 'This is a Biden issue, a Democrat issue that now folks like you have to deal with. To be specific and fair, that's just the truth,' he said Tuesday on WABC, Fox News reported. 'Well, when we think about the immigration reform, we're going to need the help from Congress as well,' Adams said. 'I think the president has an obligation to deal with the immediate concerns. But when we talk about immigration, it is going to take a combination of the executive and the legislative body. We have to address this.' He also called the issue a 'real embarrassment.' "It's a real embarrassment, I believe, on a national level, and we must have an appropriate response. We have had conversations around the issues on migrants for decades. This is a national issue. It must have a national response," he said on 'Sid & Friends in the Morning.' The criticism from inside the Democratic tent comes as Biden prepares to make a trip to Mexico for the 'Three Amigos' summit with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and French President Justin Trudeau. In late December Jean-Pierre also warned that misinformation helped smugglers, in the context of confusion over the fate of Title 42. 'What I can say is that we know smugglers will try to spread misinformation to take advantage of these vulnerable migrants,' she said. 'But I want to be very clear here: The fact is that the removal of Title 42 does not mean the border is open. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply doing the work of these smugglers who, again, are spreading misinformation, and which are which is very dangerous.' Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he's not concerned about China threatening retaliatory action with new COVID testing requirements due to come into effect. Travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macau will need to return a negative COVID test within 48 hours of departure from Thursday despite Australia's chief medical officer recommending against the new measure. Australia joins the U.S., Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Canada India and Japan in introducing mandatory testing. China criticised the measures, threatening to retaliate with reciprocal measures. Australia has introduced mandatory Covid testing for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong and Macau (stock image) Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the entry restrictions targeting China lacked scientific basis. 'We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity,' she said. 'New strains can emerge anywhere, so there is no need for special entry restrictions on China. 'China always believes that the epidemic prevention measures of various countries should be scientific and appropriate, and should not take the opportunity to engage in political manipulation, discriminatory practices, and normal personnel exchanges, exchanges and co-operation should not be affected.' But details of the measures remain unclear, with China already requiring a negative test within 48 hours of departure and travellers only able to board a flight with a negative result. China is fighting a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus, with hundreds of millions of people possibly contracting the virus. It came after the country abruptly eased restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says mandatory testing was implemented in Australia as a precaution despite conflicting advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly. China criticised the measures, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning (pictured) saying the restrictions lacked scientific basis. She added that China would adopt 'countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity' China is fighting a nationwide outbreak of Covid-19 after the nation abruptly eased restrictions in place during the pandemic (stock image) 'Every decision that we take is influenced by the [CMO's] advice but we decided to err on the side of the caution,' he said. Dr Chalmers says he's not particularly concerned about the threat made by China for going through with the measure. 'Countries will make their own decisions about travel arrangements and how they manage COVID more broadly,' he told ABC Radio. Dr Chalmers added that the requirement to have a medical practitioner supervise a rapid antigen test wasn't an onerous one for travellers despite China's hospital system facing immense strain. The treasurer also maintained the measures were not discriminatory despite no new COVID-19 variants being discovered in China, saying the decision was cautionary with Beijing not being forthcoming with data. 'It's about a part of the world where we've got concerns about transparency ... and where there is quite an extraordinarily large wave of COVID,' he said. 'We do need to make sure that we've got the best possible surveillance of strains as they emerge but also waves as they emerge and become more difficult to manage. 'That's really one of the key considerations here as we put these responsible restrictions in place.' Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) said the government's decision to enforce mandatory Covid testing was cautionary despite conflicting advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly Australian Medical Association President Steve Robson says a genuine strategy rather than a 'series of political responses' is needed to keep Australians safe from Covid (stock image) Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said the government needed to explain why it didn't follow expert advice after Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly advised there were no public health reasons for the measure. 'This government made a commitment to the Australian public that we were going to learn to live with COVID,' she told Sky News. 'A decision that has been based without any medical advice or medical necessity shows we aren't really pursuing that. 'It's a breach of faith with the Australian public about that commitment to say we were going to get on with our lives.' Australian Medical Association President Steve Robson says a genuine strategy rather than a 'series of political responses' is needed to keep Australians safe. 'We want to see a comprehensive strategy that's informed by public health practice, to just say, 'what needs to be done to protect Australians at this vulnerable time?'' he told AAP. One lucky woman, who has started the New Year as a millionaire, has shared her lotto-winning strategy. The woman, from Springfield in Queensland, last weekend won one of 12 division one prizes in the Saturday Gold Lotto prize, taking home over $3.3 million. While confirming her win with an official from The Lott, she said she sourced the money for her winning ticket from a recent Instant Scratch-It win. 'It's funny because we bought some Instant Scratch-Its tickets and I won about $50 on those. I bought this Lotto ticket using those winnings,' she said. The woman purchased the winning ticket with money from an instant Scratch-It win. Picture: The Lott 'It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision to get this ticket because I'd won on the Scratchie. 'I've had this ticket sitting in my wallet for about two weeks. She said she checked the ticket at about 1am on January 1 and was in disbelief. 'I was almost having a panic attack - I couldn't breathe!' she said. She told The Lott she was going to use the prize money to help her family, and maybe buy a new house. 'And maybe go on a holiday! There's a few things on the list!' She purchased the winning ticket at Nextra Orion, on Main Street in Springfield. Store owner Vivek Ganesh said selling another division one ticket from his shop was a great talking point for customers, and everyone was very happy for the winner. 'Seeing a win land in the outlet makes it all so real,' Mr Ganesh said. 'During the past nine years, we've sold four top prize-winning Instant Scratch-Its tickets and this is our third division one-winning Gold Lotto entry. 'It's great to have another one. 'Everyone at Nextra Orion wishes our latest big winner all the best and a happy New Year!' Across the country, 12 lucky winners took home the division one prize - four each in Queensland and Victoria, three in NSW and one in Western Australia. The British actors claim they were originally told no nudity would be filmed or released Zeffirelli, who earned an Oscar nomination for best director for it, died in 2019 The film was directed by Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli and released through Paramount Pictures They are seeking damages 'believed to be in excess of $500 million' The complaint accuses the studio of sexual harassment, abuse, and fraud The stars of Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 movie Romeo and Juliet are suing over the nude scene they filmed when they were just 15 and 16 years old. Olivia Hussey, 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, filed a lawsuit Friday in Santa Monica Superior Court in California accusing Paramount Pictures of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Hussey and Whiting, both British, say Zeffirelli originally told them there would not be any nudity in the film. However, on the last day of filming, they claim he said the film 'would fail' unless they performed a scene nude while wearing body makeup. Olivia Hussey, 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, filed a lawsuit against Paramount Studios Friday in California seeking damages 'believed to be in excess of 500 million' (pictured in 2018) The pair were just 15 and 16 when they were cast in the film adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli 'What they were told and what went on were two different things,' said Tony Marinozzi, a business manager for the actors, in a statement. 'They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had,' the manager said. 'Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do?' Marinozzi added in a statement to the outlet. 'There are no options. There was no #MeToo.' The lawsuit alleges the pair were filmed nude without their knowledge and they are now seeking damages 'believed to be in excess of $500 million.' In the lawsuit Hussey and Whiting are accusing Paramount Pictures, which released the film of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional distress The movie directed by Franco Zeffirelli (pictured with Hussey and Whiting at the movie's Paris premiere) was released in 1968 to critical acclaim and earned the Italian filmmaker an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Zeffirelli died in 2019 at the age of 96 The lawsuit alleges that the teens 'had no choice but to act in the nude with body makeup as demanded on the last day of filming,' despite having originally been promised that no nudity would be filmed or released The lawsuit alleges Zeffirelli showed the actors where the camera would be placed but that no nudity would be filmed or released. Hussey and Whiting thought 'they had no choice but to act in the nude with body makeup as demanded on the last day of filming.' The movie was released in 1968 to critical acclaim and earned Zeffirelli an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. He died in 2019 at the age of 96. In a statement to Variety, Solomon Gresen, attorney for the pair, said the actors 'were very young naive children in the '60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them' and that the scene caused them long-term financial, physical, and emotional pain In a statement to Variety, Solomon Gresen, the attorney for the pair said the actors 'were very young naive children in the '60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them.' The pair said the scene caused them long-term financial, physical, and emotional pain. The film also cost Hussey and Whiting 'a lifetime of loss of earnings and other employment benefits and job opportunities,' according to the complaint. 'All of a sudden they were famous at a level they never expected, and in addition they were violated in a way they didn't know how to deal with,' Gresen said. The $500 million in damages the pair is seeking matches the amount the film has made since its release in 1968. According to Variety, the actors' lawsuit relies on a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims. That law had a December 31, 2022 deadline. The actors' lawsuit relies on a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims. That law had a December 31, 2022 deadline The $500 million in damages the pair is seeking matches the amount the film has made since its release in 1968 Hussey continued to pursue her acting career and even reunited with Zeffirelli to play Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the director's acclaimed 1977 mini-series Jesus Of Nazareth. In an interview from 2018, Hussey claimed Zeffirelli referred to her as 'Boobs O'Mina' and that he had admitted she was the unrequited love of his life. At the time, Hussey also said she 'loved playing Juliet' but that the press was 'exhausting.' Whiting also went on to enjoy a career as an actor and singer in his native Britain. Former President Donald Trump declined to say whether he would continue backing Rep. Kevin McCarthy's House speakership bid after the California Republican came up short three times on Tuesday. 'We'll see what happens,' Trump told NBC News during a brief phone conversation. The ex-president, who announced a 2024 White House run in mid-November, also boasted that he was receiving a flurry of calls from lawmakers hoping to gain his endorsement. 'I got everybody calling me wanting my support,' Trump told the network. 'But let's see what happens and we'll go - I got everybody calling, wanting my support. That's all I can say. But we'll see what happens. We'll see how it all works out.' Former President Donald Trump declined to say whether he would continue backing Rep. Kevin McCarthy's House speakership bid after the California Republican came up short three times on Tuesday The House of Representatives voted three times Tuesday for speaker of the House and GOP leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy came up short thrice due to a group of 'Never Kevin' lawmakers in his caucus - who say they're closer to Trump than McCarthy is Later Tuesday night, the former president said those truly responsible for Republican 'turmoil' were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other 'RINO allies.' He also used a racist name for McConnell's wife, Trump's former Transportation secretary Elaine Chao Later Tuesday night, Trump focused on the other Congressional chamber, saying those truly responsible for Republican 'turmoil' were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other 'RINO allies.' Trump also used a racist name for McConnell's wife, his former Transportation secretary Elaine Chao, who quit over the January 6 Capitol attack, referring to her as 'Coco Chow' and saying she's a 'sellout to China.' He said McConnell, Chao and other moderate Republicans 'make it difficult for everyone else by constantly apitulating to Hopeless Joe Biden and the Democrats.' 'The 1.7 Trillion Dollar Green New Deal "booster" that McConnell and the RINOS handed to the Dems last week was a real downer and embarrassment to Republicans!' Trump also said, referring to the government funding bill that Biden signed while on vacation last week on St. Croix. McCarthy's speakership bid was tanked Tuesday - the opening day of the new Congress - by a handful of rogue Republicans who claim they represent the MAGA movement moreso than the California Republican, who's been the leader of the House GOP since 2019. Now as they enter the majority, the Republican rebels want an alternative to McCarthy, with 20 members settling on Rep. Jim Jordan by the end of the day. The House went into recess around 5:30 p.m. until noon Wednesday, giving Republicans the night and morning to sort out their affairs. Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, one of the most prominent members of the Never Kevins, still held McCarthy's criticism of Trump in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack against him. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy talks with colleagues amid Tuesday's drama as a group of rogue Republicans derailed the speakership vote for the California Republican, who's been the leader of the House GOP since 2019 HAPPIER TIMES: Then President Donald Trump (center) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (right) celebrate House Republicans rolling back Obamacare in May 2017. The Senate never followed suit and so the bill never fully passed By the end of the day, 20 rogue Republicans had decided to back Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who is set to take over the chairmanship of the powerful House Judiciary Committee 'Well, I wish I could say that Kevin McCarthy supported President Trump as much as we do and as much as President Trump is supporting him right now, but that's just not the truth,' Boebert said on Newsmax. 'I sat on the house floor directly behind McCarthy almost two years ago and listened to a speech where he wanted to censure President Trump.' 'Anytime that it's convenient for him or the pressure is too much he seems to wave on President Trump,' she said of McCarthy. Boebert said that the Republican rebels had 'been in communication' with Trump. 'I just don't think he's got this one quite right,' she said of Trump's then-support for McCarthy. She also said that Trump had pushed McCarthy to take a deal with his band of critics. Boebert et. al. want for a single member to be allowed to offer a motion to vacate, which means that one member of a conference can call a vote to oust McCarthy from the speakership at any time. Aaron Zeman, a 26-year-old Arizona man, was arrested on December 28 in Grand Island, Nebraska on suspicion of kidnapping a 13-year-old boy from Layton, Utah Friends of a teenager from Utah who was allegedly abducted by a 26-year-old man from Arizona pleaded with the kidnapper to release the boy. Twitter accounts belonging to Aaron Zeman contained all manner of sick and disturbing imagery together with messages in the lead-up to 13-year-old Evan McConney's disappearance from Layton, Utah. A number of people pleaded with Zeman over Twitter to release the child. 'Give him back you jerk. That is my friend [redacted],' tweeted one boy to Zeman who had attended elementary school with the missing teen. He also tweeted a message of support to the youngster: 'Stay strong be careful me and [redacted] have been talking all day about this. I don't know if you are going to read this, but if there is any way you do just remember to be strong.' Zeman was arrested on December 28 in Grand Island, Nebraska, on suspicion of kidnapping the 13-year-old. Zeman is a self-proclaimed 'furry' and dog fetishist who allegedly groomed the child Friends of a teenager from Utah who was allegedly adducted by a 26-year-old man in from Arizona pleaded with the kidnapper to release the boy An AMBER Alert had been issued for the child the previous day and the alarm was raised after an attendant at a gas station became suspicious. Zeman, who identifies as a 'furry' and has an interest in 'puppy play' fetish, went by the alias 'Hunter Fox' online and had been interacting with the victim for some time on social media. Zeman is alleged to have groomed the child and made explicit references to sexual activity. In one instance, he posted a video of himself masturbating along with a message for the victim. In a series of Twitter posts last month that led up to the abduction, Zeman could be seen allegedly interacting with the child that he referred to as his 'lamb.' Zeman allegedly groomed the child through disturbing online interactions under the alias 'Hunter Fox' and 'HunterFloofyFoxAD' Other disturbing imagery sees the suspect sending messages to a boy he was allegedly grooming while half naked His Twitter accounts included posts in which he referred to the child as his 'lamb' together with sexually suggested comments Under the handle HunterFloofyFox, Zeman is alleged to have continued to tweet about the teen referring to him as 'lamb' In one photo, he posted a text about having his 'lamb' perform oral sex together with a photo of his erect penis. He is later alleged to have written: 'I'm the map. I'm the map, I'm the map.' It is believed 'M.A.P.' refers to an acronym for a minor-attracted person, itself a euphemism used by some, including activists and academics, to describe pedophiles. He is also believed to have operated a Twitter account under the name 'SadiqWolfe,' which he also used to interact with the child. The accounts have all since been shut down, but each appeared to use similar phrases. 'I'd never hurt a kid. In fact, as 'pedophile' implies - I love kids,' read one post. 'Love me, hate me, I am who I am.' Aaron Zeman is alleged to have operated a number of social media accounts Zeman allegedly groomed the child through disturbing online interactions under the alias 'Hunter Fox' and 'HunterFloofyFoxAD' Zeman allegedly made explicit references to sexual acts he wanted to perform In one video posted on December 15, Zeman allegedly filmed himself masturbating together with the text: 'A very special video for a very special boy! Your vids are so friggin' hot, hehe. You know who you are.' The teen was seen responding to the message but has been restricted by Twitter. The following day, Zeman allegedly posted how he was sexually aroused and ready to meet the boy: 'I'll march beside you with pride, my Lamb. I love you with all my heart and soul, you loving sexy frigger. You'll be in my arms soon, my love.' Ten days later, Zeman allegedly abducted the boy and drove him 800 miles away from his family home in Utah. A number of explicit exchanges saw Zeman and the boy on interacting on Twitter as Zeman continually stated how he wanted to have sex with him. The only thing that belongs inside you is me,' Zeman allegedly wrote on December 18. Zeman is being held in jail in Hall County, Nebraska pending charges and extradition to Utah. The Layton City Police Department in Utah is leading the investigation. Hunter Fox aka 26-year-old Aaron Zemen, and Tadashi Kojima has recently been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a 13 year old boy Russia has blamed its soldiers illegally using their mobile phones for giving away their location before a deadly Ukrainian strike killed 'hundreds' of their troops at a military college. The Kremlin has raised the death toll from the New Year's Day strike in Makiivka from 63 to 89, the highest acknowledged loss in the war, although Ukraine says the true number is around 400 dead. The Russian defence ministry said four Ukrainian HIMARS missiles hit a temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. At the time of the attack, Vladimir Putin had just delivered his traditional New Year's address, hailing 'our heroes' fighting in Ukraine. Emergency workers remove debris from the destroyed vocational college building in Makiivka struck on New Year's Day Although an official probe has been launched, the main reason for the attack was clearly the illegal mass use of mobile phones by servicemen, the ministry said. 'This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers' location for a missile strike,' it said in a statement issued just after 1 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday. However, Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian war correspondent awarded the Order of Courage by Putin in late 2022, questioned the ministry's reasoning. In a Telegram post, Pegov said that Ukraine could have been able to locate the troops via drones and intelligence, not necessarily through mobile phones. 'The story of mobiles is not very convincing,' Pegov said. 'I rarely say this - but this is the case when it would probably be better to remain silent, at least until the end of the investigation. As such it looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame.' 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 Pictured: The aftermath of the HIMARS missile strike is seen in Russian-occupied Makiivka on December 31. Russia has admitted 63 soldiers were killed in the strike, although Ukraine's military has said this number if far higher Pegov also said that the number of casualties would rise. 'Unfortunately, their number will continue to grow. The announced data is most likely for those who were immediately identified. The list of the missing, unfortunately, is noticeably longer. I cannot disclose the sources, but I consider them reliable.' The ministry's reaction came amid mounting anger among some Russian commentators, who are increasingly vocal about what they see as a half-hearted campaign in Ukraine. Most of the anger on social media was directed at military commanders rather than Putin, who has not commented publicly on the attack which was another blow after major battlefield retreats in recent months. Volodymyr Zelensky, who rarely comments on specific Ukrainian military strikes, made no mention of the attack in a video address on Tuesday. Mourners gather to lay flowers in memory of Russian soldiers that were killed in a Ukrainian strike Pictured: Honour guards fire a farewell salute during a ceremony in memory of Russian soldiers SAMARA, RUSSIA: Russian mourners voiced grief and anger at Moscow's commanders on Tuesday during a rare public commemoration for the scores of soldiers that were killed Ukraine's military has said it launched a strike that resulted in Russian loss of equipment and possibly personnel near Makiivka. But it has given no further details. Russian nationalist bloggers and some pro-Russian officials in the region put the Makiivka death toll in the hundreds, though some say that those estimates are exaggerated. The new announcement came after mourners gathered in several cities of the Volga region of Samara -- where some of the servicemen came from -- to mourn the dead. Some 200 people laid roses and wreaths in a central square in the city of Samara as an Orthodox priest recited a prayer. Soldiers also fired a gun salute at the commemoration, where some of the mourners could be seen holding flags for the ruling United Russia party. 'It's very tough, it's scary. But we cannot be broken. Grief unites,' Ekaterina Kolotovkina, head of a group of army spouses, said at the ceremony. Slide me MAKIIVKA, DONESK OBLAST: This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the before and after scene at Makiivka on December 20 (left) and January 2 (right) Similar gatherings were reported in other cities including Tolyatti, home to Russia's largest carmaker AvtoVAZ It comes as Zelensky said Russia was set to launch a major offensive. 'We have no doubt that current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat,' Zelensky said in a video address. 'We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail,' he continued. A little known patriotic group which supports the widows of Russian soldiers is calling on Putin to order a large-scale mobilisation of millions of men and to close the borders to ensure victory in Ukraine. Zelensky reiterated Ukrainian assertions that Moscow is planning a full-scale mobilisation, a step that Russian officials say is not currently being considered. Putin plans to talk to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax, the latest in a series of conversations the two leaders have had since the start of the war. Turkey acted as mediator alongside the United Nations last year to establish a deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports but the chances of serious peace talks look remote, especially as fighting continues to rage. Ukraine's General Zaluzhny, summarising a Tuesday call with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, thanked the American for helping ensure the provision of anti-missile weapons systems that Kyiv says is knocking out more and more of the Russian missiles aimed at power-generating plants. Zaluzhny said he had discussed what equipment Ukraine needed to increase its chances against Russia, a message that senior officials have hammered on a daily basis. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Zelensky that he can count on Britain for support over the long run 'as demonstrated by the recent delivery of more than 1,000 anti-air missiles', Sunak's office said on Tuesday. The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces on Wednesday said Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in three cities, Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. 'There are casualties among the civilian population,' it said. Russia denies targeting civilians. The battlefield report could not be independently verified by Reuters. Quarantine officials guide travelers from China in the arrivals hall at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. Newsis Travelers from China account for 76% of 172 imported infection cases, Tuesday By Lee Hyo-jin A man of Chinese nationality has escaped a quarantine facility, Tuesday night, where he was placed in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 upon arriving in Korea earlier in the day. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said Wednesday that the 41-year-old Chinese national, who had tested positive in a PCR test upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, disappeared from a hotel on Yeongjongdo Island at around 10 p.m. Tuesday. The hotel is currently being used as a government-designated isolation facility for foreign nationals. The man allegedly ran away after arriving at the hotel with other virus carriers via a government-provided bus. Footage from surveillance cameras showed that he was last spotted near a large retailer located about 300 meters from the hotel, but his whereabouts are still unknown. Footage has emerged of a furious tradesman unleashing into an expletive-filled tirade at shocked bystanders moments after ramming into a parked car in a busy supermarket car park. A stunned bystander filmed his confrontation with the motorist in a Coles car park in Hampton in Melbourne's southeast last Friday. The footage, which has gone viral on TikTok, begins with a man driving a red Honda Civic erratically as he slams into a parked silver car while attempting to park on a pedestrian crossing near the supermarket. Several shoppers are seen watching on in horror. 'Gee mate, that's pretty close to your car,' a man calls out to another bystander. The father of two decides to confront the erratic driver. The Honda Civic driver slams into a silver car as he attempts to park on a pedestrian crossing in a Coles car park 'You just crashed into that car, mate,' he explained. The comment sparks a fiery response from the tattooed driver, seen wearing an orange hi-vis vest. 'F*** off dog!' the motorist yelled. The bystander replied: 'Mate, you can't be driving.' The clip ends with the motorist reversing backwards into another parked car before speeding off towards Bluff Road. A noticeable dent is seen on the driver's door, while eagle-eyed viewers spotted the side mirror on the front passenger door already hanging off before the crash. Victorian Police confirmed they're aware and are investigating the road rage incident. No arrests or charges have been laid so far. The TikTok video has attracted more than 1.3 million views and thousands of comments. Many viewers praised the bystander's bold move to confront the driver. A shocked bystander copped a tirade of abuse when he confronted the driver (pictured) 'Oh mate you really tried, you did a great job here, can't be easy to confront someone like that, my hat off too you,' one commented. The bystander replied: 'When you a 40 yo boomer like me with two kids you don't want to confront people like this anymore.' Some viewers suggested he shouldn't have confronted the driver. 'Best not to confront. Just call 000. He ain't listening. Good job getting video,' one commented. Others questioned why the bystander was filming. 'Why would anyone just happen to be randomly filming a car park?' one asked. A noticeable dent was seen on the driver's door as the man departed the car park Locals also weighed into the online debate. 'That car park is a nightmare at the best of times yet alone with this guy driving around,' Some saw the funny side. 'It's the other cars' fault, he was wearing high vis and clearly visible,' one woman joked. Another added: 'At least he is wearing the hi vis vest... Safety first!' Police urge any witnesses or have more footage of the incident or the car to contact Crime Stoppers. A family fed up with the state of their local wetlands have taken to the water to try and clean it - unearthing more than they bargained for when they uncovered a massive stash of used nangs. Paul Rushworth, his daughter Jane Rushworth and her partner Dylan Forbes scoured the waters in the 35-hectare Heathdale Glen Orden Wetlands in Werribee, in Melbourne's southwest, last month. The trio pulled out 'loads of rubbish', using a 22.5kg salvage magnet, including a mangy motor scooter, a pram, three bicycles and other smaller scooters. Locals Paul Rushworth (pictured), Jane Rushworth and Dylan Forbes scoured the waters in the 35-hectare Heathdale Glen Orden Wetlands in Werribee, in Melbourne's south west last month pulling out 'loads of rubbish' A few kicks to keep the spirits high.. Posted by Paul Rushworth on Monday, December 26, 2022 The group also discovered a large haul of small nitrous oxide or laughing gas canisters, colloquially called nangs, which are typically used in whipped cream dispensers but have become a popular inhalant for people looking to get high. It is an offence in Victoria to supply or sell nitrous oxide if it is suspected to be inhaled for non-therapeutic purposes. Mr Forbes told Daily Mail Australia the disposal of the nangs in the waters was 'pretty gross'. '[There were] 100 probably, I think we still had bits of the box it came in, probably only been in there a day or two,' Mr Forbes said. 'The scooters and bike are still working pretty well and we are giving them away to a few people me and Jane know.' Mr Rushworth even jumped in the murky water after the magnet got stuck as they retrieved the heavy motor scooter out of the wetlands (pictured) Vision of Mr Rushworth riding a 'b****y good bike' the group had dragged from the mire along a pathway was also posted to social media. The keen environmentalist even jumped in the murky water after the magnet got stuck as they retrieved the heavy motor scooter out of the wetlands. 'Some junk (motorcycle in particular) was too heavy for the magnet so in I went,' the father said on social media. 'I find it sad that some people could care so little for their environment but it was good to give something back to those in the community who do appreciate the wetland.' Mr Rushworth said the 'Co2 canisters' were used for 'some sort of 20-second high, they call them Nangs apparently' (pictured, the nitrous oxide canisters used as illicit recreational drugs The group discovered a large haul of small nitrous oxide canisters, which are manufactured for pain and sedation for hospital use but are also illicitly used for getting a quick high Vision of Mr Rushworth riding a 'b***** good bike' the group had dragged from the mire along a pathway was also posted to social media The salvagers live within walking distance from the wetlands and did the clean up over concerns about their local environment. Other recovered items included two shopping trolleys, a tyre, fishing paraphernalia and a listless eel Mr Rushworth tried to save before returning it to the water. They took the mound of mess to a bin in the park area with the hope the Wyndham City Council would take it away. Last week only the motor scooter and shopping trolleys remained at the site. 'I find it sad that some people could care so little for their environment but it was good to give something back to those in the community who do appreciate the wetland,' Mr Rushworth said (pictured, the motor scooter) Following news that Benedict Cumberbatch faces a possible compensation claim from Barbados over his slave-owning ancestors, there has been a curious twist in the story. No one disputes that the actors family used hundreds of slaves to harvest sugar in the 18th century. But it emerges that his plantation-owning great-great-great-grand-uncle Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch had a love match with Elizabeth, a mixed-race slave who died in 1824 after having two illegitimate sons. This opens the possibility of Benedict having mixed race genes. Could the Sherlock star be entitled to compensation from his own family for being the descendant of a slave? Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch in the film 12 Years a Slave. Could the star be entitled to compensation from his own family for being the descendant of a slave? King Charles has retained the Christmas tradition of giving and receiving naff gifts. One of his presents was a pair of yellow crocs as worn by David Hockney at Novembers Order of Merit lunch at Buck House. The King liked Hockneys galoshes saying they were wonderfully chosen. Will he be seen sporting his new footwear? Unlikely, says my mole, suggesting he will stick to the non-technicolour handmade creations of John Lobb. ITVs smirking over Tom Bradbys promotional book chat with Harry is tempered by annoyance after the King gave his inaugural Christmas broadcast to the BBC instead of ITV, whose turn it was. Was he irked over Bradbys scoop? Not at all, says a courtier. He felt as it was his first TV message as King it should go to the BBC. Tony Blair tried to charm Vladimir Putin in 2001 by giving him some silver cufflinks for his birthday, according to newly declassified documents. Two years later he arranged for Putin to make the only state visit by a Russian president to London. The Queen wasnt as easily taken in as Blair. Home Secretary David Blunkett, waiting with her to greet Putin, was startled when his normally placid guide dog barked as the Russian leader approached. Dogs have interesting instincts, dont they? she observed. Tony Blair tried to charm Vladimir Putin in 2001 by giving him some silver cufflinks for his birthday, according to newly declassified documents US TV doyenne Barbara Walters, who has died aged 93, once interviewed Margaret Thatcher, asking if she resented being described as the Iron Butterfly. I am actually called an Iron Lady, retorted Maggie. But arent you as well? Margaret, meeting the late Pope Benedict at the Vatican, was shown the pen full of newlyweds awaiting papal approval. Elbowing in she said, We did that a long time ago, recalling her wedding to Denis, and its a wonderful thing to do. Is there a handful of couples in Italy still baffled by the identity of the wide-eyed Englishwoman who interrupted their blessing? Comedy veteran John Cleese tweets tastelessly: I keep dreaming about the Vatican, and I know why its because Im worried theyre going to bury the wrong Pope. Will someone please tell the Cardinals that its the German we dont need any more? Remember those far-off days when Cleese used to be funny? Sea World pilot Michael James already had a five-star reputation before he kept his cool to make an emergency landing after the cockpit of his helicopter imploded into him, leaving him bloodied and wounded. The 52-year-old had been working for the theme park for about a year and earning rave reviews before tragedy struck on Monday when fellow Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson's ascending helicopter collided with his when he was about to land. Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Angus Mitchell has already cited the cause of the crash as 'the main rotor blade of the helicopter taking off colliding with the front cockpit of the descending helicopter'. 'The main rotor and the gearbox (separated) from (Mr Jenkinson's) helicopter which has meant that it then had no lift and has fallen tragically to the ground,' he said. Sea World pilot Michael James (above) had already earned 5-star reviews before Monday's miraculous landing He coolly landed his aircraft upright despite being cut with shrapnel when the cockpit imploded in on him in the crash Michael James takes a family on a recent joy flight over the Gold Coast, with an excited boy in the front seat, on one of several flights which have earned him 5-star reviews for his flying skills and ability as a tour guide The ill-fated helicopter flown by 'Top Gun' pilot Ash Jenkinson crashed into the Broadwater sand bank (above) after shearing off a rotor and gearbox when it collided with a descending craft flown by Michael James Passengers Vanessa Tadros, 36, and British tourists Ron and Diane Hughes, aged 65 and 57, perished in the crash along with Mr Jenkinson. Mr James managed to land on the bar despite major damage to his cockpit, with all five passengers onboard his helicopter surviving the accident. Commissioner Mitchell described Mr James' safe landing as 'remarkable', while Gold Coast Heli-Tours director Scott Menzies marvelled at 'a bloody fantastic job' '(It would have been) nearly impossible ... to keep himself under control (with) a lot of shrapnel wounds, and failures to deal with,' Mr Menzies said. The passengers on board Mr James' chopper included a 27-year-old West Australian woman and two New Zealand couples travelling together - a 44-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman - and a man and woman aged 48 and 45. Images of Mr James being helped onto a rescue vessel off the Broadwater sandbar show him bleeding from the head and arms with his right hand and knee hastily bandaged before he was taken to hospital for surgery. The experienced pilot is believed to have been living in temporary accommodation four nights a week on the Gold Coast and commuting to his Clontarf home north of Brisbane. Since joining Sea World's pilot crew last year, Mr James has attracted the accolades of passengers for his flying skills and knowledge as a tour guide in five-star reviews . Michael James welcomes patient Chris on his birthday adventure flight in which the wheelchair-bound 35-year-old fulfilled a dream Helicopter pilot Michael James, praised for calmly landing after horror Sea World crash, is pictured above with patient Chris on a 'dream come true' trip for the action movie fan facilitated by Ambulance Wish Queensland and Sea World Helicopters Michael James has earned 5-star reviews since he started working for Sea World as a helicopter pilot, with passengers describing him as 'fantastic, awesome and very, very knowledgeable' An October review said 'Michael was our pilot, and he was awesome', while two others in November called him 'very friendly and informative' and thanked him for his 'outstanding job and professionalism'. One rave review from mid-2021 of an 'amazing experience' said: 'The pilot Michael we had today was a fantastic pilot and host. Very, very knowledgeable and just a beautiful flight over the Gold Coast.' Just two months ago, Mr James flew cancer patient Chris from Robina Palliative Care on the Gold Coast on a trip organised by Ambulance Wish Queensland (AWQLD) in conjunction with Sea World Helicopters. Mr James flew the wheelchair-bound for the action and movie adventure fan to see 'some stunning views of the Gold Coast' for his 35th birthday. In a post on their Instagram page, AWQLD said it was a 'dream come true' for Chris. Gold Coast man Chris strapped in for the flight with pilot Michael James over the Gold Coast, an adventure organised by James employers' Sea World helicopters and Ambulance Wish Queensland Another five-star review, posted in December, for Michael James who has been credited for saving lives by being able to land upright after Monday's crash 'So, on Chris's 35th birthday Ambulance Wish Queensland, turned it into reality (and) made the impossible possible, enabling Chris, as Arnie would say to "Get to da Chopper!" to take to the air on a helicopter adventure, like so many heroes in the action movies he loves. 'We are so pleased we could be a part of Chris's Wish, @awqld.' Mr James is expected to be released from hospital soon and may even be recommended for a bravery award after his quick thinking and composure under pressure almost certainly prevented many more deaths. Commissioner Mitchell said it was a miracle more people weren't killed. '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, does appear to be a remarkable job to have got it down,' he said. 'We are very fortunate that were not standing here with far more deaths.' It is understood Mr Jenkinson's helicopter had spent all of 20 seconds in the air after take-off before crashing into the left side of Mr James' cockpit. Mr James managed to keep his Sea World helicopter (right) upright during a crash on Monday after colliding with co-worker Ash Jenkinson, whose craft (left) tragically crashed, killing four of the seven passengers on board 'Top Gun' Ash Jenkinson (above with his partner Dosha and son Kaiden) tragically lost his life after the helicopter he was piloting collided with another Sea World craft on Monday afternoon Scott Menzies, who was in the air nearby at the time of the crash, said it was remarkable Mr James was able to land his craft safely in the moments after the collision, saving his life and those of his five passengers, including one who was completely unharmed. 'I think (James) did a great job to keep himself under control knowing that he probably would have had a lot of shrapnel wounds and bits and pieces and a lot of failures to deal with,' Mr Menzies told Daily Mail Australia. 'So I think he did a bloody fantastic job under the circumstances to try and get the thing back on the ground. British couple Ron and Diane Hughes (left) and Australian mother Vanessa Tadros (right) were killed in the horror helicopter collision on Monday Pilot and witness Scott Menzies said it was a wonder Mr James was able to keep his helicopter upright during the crash, saving the lives of his passengers (pictured, the wreckage of one of the helicopters) 'I mean, really... we're looking at 13 people dead on that one. 'There's not too many mid-air collisions where one aircraft can actually land. If you think about it, it's nearly impossible that it happened... especially helicopters. 'He did a good job just to keep it all together and calm down. A very good job under the circumstances.' How the crash unfolded: A step-by-step run through of how the crash that killed four is understood to have happened Queensland Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding Monday's helicopter crash Queensland Police are investigating the crash with divers collecting evidence from the scene on Monday (above) Crash investigators are still in the early stages of determining what caused the two helicopters to collide mid-air just after 2pm on Monday. Vanessa Tadros's 10-year-old son, Nicholas survived the crash but was left in a critical condition. He has undergone several surgeries since and is believed to not know his mother tragically died. Witnessing the crash, Mr Menzies described what he saw as a 'terrible accident' and one which appeared to be a case of both pilots misjudging exactly where the other was at the time. Sea World offered its condolences to the loved ones of the crash victims but would not comment further due to an active police investigation (pictured, a Queensland Police diver collecting evidence from the scene of the crash) Four people were killed in a horror helicopter crash on Monday after two Sea World aircraft collided on the Gold Coast (pictured, the wreckage of the crash) Mr James' actions were praised for saving the lives of his five passengers (pictured, the wreckage of the helicopter Mr James was flying) 'It's a hard one because it was done in clear sky and, you know, everyone could see the two helicopters closing in on each other,' he said. 'I mean, it's pretty hard not to not to see the other helicopter... one of those helicopters should have been able to see the other one. 'It was just amazing that they both didn't see each other till too late.' Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told Daily Mail Australia that although the two pilots would have been in radio communication before and during the doomed 20-second flight, something had clearly interrupted their vision. He said either or both may have been 'distracted by something or a passenger pointing to something on the left. 'The pilot coming down could have been simultaneously distracted by something on the right. 'Both pilots were very experienced, well respected and the helicopters were the best there were'. Mr Thomas said with a combination of clear skies, low wind and experienced pilots who knew the area well, the two aircraft should have seen each other approaching. Mr James, along with passengers Winnie De Silva and her nine-year-old son Leon, were hospitalised following the crash (pictured, the crash scene) Victorian mother Winnie De Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon (both left) were also hospitalised following the crash (right, Mrs De Silva in Gold Coast University Hospital) Vanessa Tadros (left) was killed instantly in the helicopter crash, but her son Nicholas (right) survived and is in hospital in a critical condition 'They could have also been distracted by something happening inside the helicopter such as warning lights, so their eyes would have been looking down,' he said. Another possibility is that one or both pilots had a blind spot or were hindered by the sun and didn't see each other. It's understood Mr James remains at Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition. Victorian mother Winnie De Silva, 33, and her son, Leon, were also hospitalised following the crash, with the nine-year-old flown to the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane where he remains in a critical condition with a skull fracture. A British personal trainer was shot and killed as he stood by the pool of the guesthouse he was staying in while on holiday in St James, Jamaica. Sean Patterson, of west London, was found with gunshot wounds to his head and upper body at around midday on Monday in Bogue Hill, police said. Officers from Montego Bay Police received reports that the 33-year-old was standing by the pool of the guesthouse when witnesses heard 'loud explosions'. Mr Patterson was taken to hospital but could not be saved. Sean Patterson was standing by the pool of the guesthouse where he was staying, pictured, in Jamaica when witnesses heard 'loud explosions' Mr Patterson, a personal trainer from west London, was taken to hospital but could not be saved A 34-year-old man has been taken into custody, according to local media A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed they are currently 'supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities'. Prince Harry's suggestions that his family have shown no desire to reconcile with him have been tossed aside by royal sources who say his father invited him to visit over Christmas. The Duke of Sussex claimed a potential reunion with his relatives in the UK did not seem on the cards, saying his father and brother had 'absolutely no willingness to reconcile'. He made the claim in a trailer for an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, part of the publicity blitz for his memoir, Spare, which comes out next week. But insiders at Buckingham Palace have poured cold water on the claims, branding them 'nonsense' and saying Harry and his wife Meghan had an open invitation to join the rest of the Firm this Christmas. Royal sources have said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited to join the family this Christmas. Pictured: King Charles and his wife Camilla lead the Royal Family on a walkabout at Sandringham on Christmas Day That is despite the release of their bombshell Netflix programme last month, which saw them launch a series of attacks on the monarchy. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, one source said the latest claim by Harry was 'complete and unadulterated nonsense'. They said: 'It takes some audacity to say that when his father invited him to stay at his house when in the UK, invited him to spend Christmas with the rest of the family and continued to make public statements of support.' They also told the publication: '[The King] has been saddened that he hasn't had the opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren. He has always left the door open for his son and will continue to do so.' Representatives of Prince Harry have been contacted for comment. There have been suggestions by some royal experts though that the already tense relationship between Harry and the rest of his family could become even more frayed upon the release of his memoir. Insiders fear that the Duke of Sussex and his brother William, the Prince of Wales, will 'never reconcile' after Spare is released, with the book set to feature stinging attacks on him and his wife Kate. 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 memoir has been penned by ghostwriter JR Moehringer, with some of the proceeds being donated by the duke to charity. There are fears there will be no chance at reconciliation after the publication of Harry's memoir. Pictured: William, Harry, Meghan and Kate at Westminster Abbey in 2018 A promotional poster for Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, which is being released next week Before it is published next week, two interviews with Harry by Mr Bradby and CBS's Anderson Cooper, both conducted at a hired ranch in Montecito, will be released. In a trailer for the sit-down with Mr Bradby, the Duke of Sussex said he would 'like to have my father and brother back', adding his family 'have shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile'. Harry says 'it never needed to be this way' and refers to 'the leaking and the planting' before adding 'I want a family, not an institution'. He also says, in an apparent reference to the royals, 'they feel as though it is better to keep us somehow as the villains' something not likely to help the frayed relationship between the Sussexes and the rest of the Firm which sources say is already 'hanging by a thread'. But one royal expert said Harry and Meghan need to learn 'silence is common sense' and that airing dirty laundry in public is not likely to help bring about the reconciliation the duke claims he wants. Richard Fitzwilliams said proclamations made by the Sussexes in the Press are not helping the fractured relationship. 'Harry might like to "get his brother back" and "his father back", but must surely know giving this catalogue of woes even more exposure, is not the way to do so. 'Further accusations of stories being planted against them by the Palace in both interviews show how bitter he and Meghan still are but, though their fans may support it, there will come a time when even the media tire of exposure at this level. 'Harry says in the trailer for the CBS interview, referring to the Palace's inability to protect them from false reports, that "there comes a point when silence is betrayal". 'There is also a point, if they wish any relationship, however distant, with the Royal Family, when silence is common sense. When will the Sussexes learn this?' In a trailer for his interview with US TV personality Mr Cooper, Harry was asked why he had not communicated his grievances with the family in private. In response he said: 'Every single time I've 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 and never explain it's just a motto.' He added: 'They [Buckingham Palace] will feed or have a conversation with a correspondent, and that correspondent will literally be spoon-fed information and write the story, and at the bottom of it, they will say they have reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. 'But the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting. 'So when we're being told for the last six years, ''we can't 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.' The clips appear to confirm reports that Harry will use his memoir to reveal details about disagreements between him and his brother the Prince of Wales, 40. It comes after the duke claimed in his Netflix documentary that William broke a promise to never to leak stories or brief against one another after witnessing the fallout of such actions in their father's office. The latest Twitter documents revealed that the CIA sent warnings about a book claiming that Joe and Hunter Biden conducted corruption in Ukraine. Following up a breakdown of what led to Twitter's cooperation with the FBI, journalist Matt Taibbi's latest Twitter Files dump detailed how that partnership allowed the agency to become the 'belly button' to filter government demands. Among those demands included a message from the CIA warning about a new book by former Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, which contained claims of corruption by the US government, specifically, by the Bidens. 'We assess with high confidence that in the summer of 2020 members of a Russian influence organization, which is at least partially directed by Russian Intelligence, were aware of a production plan associated with an upcoming book,' the message read. 'While it is unclear at this time how involved Russian intelligence might be in the creation or promotion of this book, they have been known to direct this same influence organization to propagate similar information in previous operations.' The latest trove from the Twitter Files revealed the CIA sent warnings about a book claiming that Joe and Hunter Biden (above) took part in corruption in Ukraine In 'True Stories of Joe Biden's International Corruption in Ukraine,' ousted former Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin reiterated claims of the Bidens' alleged wrongdoing It is unclear if Twitter took any action against the book, with Shokin's claims being debunked amid intense scrutiny over the Bidens' alleged conflict-of-interests It is unclear if Twitter took any action against the book, 'True Stories of Joe Biden's International Corruption in Ukraine.' Shokin was Ukraine's top prosecutor from 2015 to 2016 before being fired for allegedly turning a blind eye to corruption. His book reiterates his claims that Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden was a board member, paid Hunter millions of dollars to stop prosecutors from cracking down on corruption at the company. He further alleged that Joe Biden himself had ordered Shokin fired before he could crack the case, however, reports revealed that Hunter was never involved in any probe. Although Hunter's role with Burisma raised concerns of a conflict of interest at the time, the allegations of corruption have since been debunked despite claims to the contrary by Donald Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani, who reportedly admitted earlier this year that he failed to dig up any dirt on the Bidens. The new Twitter Files also revealed that the social media company had a falling out with the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC) in February 2020. According to the internal memos, the fledgling intelligence agency flagged Russian and Chinese misinformation being spread about the coronavirus. The GEC highlighted accounts as 'Russian personas and proxies' that were 'describing the Coronavirus as an engineered bioweapon,' blaming 'research conducted at the Wuhan institute,' and 'attributing the appearance of the virus to the CIA.' As Twitter tried to crack down on who had access to former Trust and Safety head Yoel Roth, who was busy coordinating requests from intelligence agencies, the GEC decided to go public with its own findings on misinformation. Along with a list of 5,500 accounts the GEC claimed would 'amplify Chinese propaganda and disinformation' about COVID, the agency published a list of nearly 250,000 such accounts to the public, much to Twitter's dismay. 'Roth saw GEC's move as an attempt by the GEC to use intel from other agencies to 'insert themselves' into the content moderation club that included Twitter, Facebook, the FBI, DHS, and others,' Taibbi wrote. The Twitter files also showed that former Head of Safety Yoel Roth (above) sought to undermine the Trump administration's agency in flagging misinformation Internal memos shows the FBI's willingness to serve as a funnel for intelligence agencies The FBI would essential work as the 'belly button' to relay requests between intelligence agencies and social media companies Following the fallout, the Twitter documents show that the FBI warned the company that the GEC wanted to be in the industry calls between social media and intelligence leaders. Roth, however, appeared hesitant to let the GEC join because the agency, operating under the Trump administration at the time, was too political, unlike the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, which Roth dubbed 'apolitical' in a May 6, 2020 email. 'I think they thought the FBI was less Trumpy,' a former Department of Defense official told Taibbi. Roth also suggested in an email the following month that bringing in the GEC to the table would pose 'major risks' as the 2020 elections heated up. As the GEC and other agencies attempted to offer more input, the FBI came in and offered to serve as 'conduits' for the rest of the intelligence agencies. A church judge has banned an X as a symbol for a kiss being included on a grave stone, branding it excessively casual and informal. Commissary General Robert Hopkins, in his role as a judge of the Church of Englands Consistory Court, had been asked to approve a replacement memorial stone for a grave at St Marys Church at Great Chart near Ashford, Kent. The proposed memorial is to husband and wife Frederick Edward Champion and Doreen Patricia Champion. A Church judge has banned an X representing a kiss being included on a gravestone, branding it excessively casual and informal [File photo] Their son, Nigel, had asked the court to approve a memorial which would include a pair of carved swans, a dove at the stairway to heaven and an X to represent a kiss. However, an objector challenged use of the kiss and the inclusion of the swans, claiming among other things that the swans were too big and of no spiritual significance. While the judge allowed inclusion of the swans which were Mrs Champions favourite birds, he refused permission for the kiss. This symbol is not appropriate, he said. In my view it conveys a tone that is loving, but excessively casual and informal. Prized sculptures were removed from Athens in the 1800s and taken to Britain The Elgin Marbles may soon return to Greece under a 'cultural exchange' deal drawn up by the chairman of the British Museum, ex-Chancellor George Osborne. The prized artefacts, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, were made between 447BC and 432BC and decorated the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. British diplomat Lord Elgin removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the ruins of the Parthenon between 1801 and 1805 when Greece was under Ottoman Turkish occupation and brought them to England. The sculptures have since been the subject of a 200-year-old dispute over ownership between Athens and London - Greece argues the sculptures were taken illegally and should be returned for permanent display. Current laws prevent the removal of historical artefacts from the British Museum, but Osborne is said to have negotiated a long-term loan deal which would see some of the Marbles returned to Athens in return for other 'cultural artefacts'. The Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, were made between 447BC and 432BC and decorated the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. But some of them were removed and taken to England by British Diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 1800s Lord Elgin removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the ruins of the Parthenon between 1801 and 1805, before they entered the British Museum Sources told the Daily Telegraph that the loan agreement could be solidified 'sooner rather than later', but the prized sculptures would still ultimately remain under the ownership of the British museum - something which Greece's government is likely to fight tooth and nail to change. According to Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea, Mr Osborne and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis met at a five-star hotel in Knightsbridge, west London, in early December to discuss the sculptures. They are also said to have first held 'exploratory talks' in November last year at the Greek ambassador's Mayfair residence. The British Museum has not denied Mr Osborne had held talks with the Greek premier. A spokesperson said: 'The British Museum has publicly called for a new Parthenon partnership with Greece and we'll talk to anyone, including the Greek government, about how to take that forward. 'As the chair of trustees said last month, we operate within the law and we're not going to dismantle our great collection as it tells a unique story of our common humanity. 'But we are seeking new positive, long-term partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that of course includes Greece.' George Osborne, the ex-chancellor who is now chairman of the British Museum, has been holding talks with Greece's PM over the possible return of the sculptures The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are displayed at the British Museum in London October 16, 2014 Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan in December said returning the Elgin Marbles to Athens would be a 'very dangerous and slippy road' as it could spark a wave of demands from various countries for the return of other artefacts held in Britain. Downing Street also ruled out changing legislation that prevents the British Museum from handing the sculptures back to Greece. 'I think George Osborne's position is a little bit different to has been portrayed,' Ms Donelan told MPs last month before the House of Commons' Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. 'But there are some people that are strongly advocating to return some of these items permanently. The current law does not allow that, it should be acknowledged. 'I can completely understand the position that they are taking and I can sympathise with some of the argument. But I do think that is a very dangerous and slippy road to embark down.' The Culture Secretary added that Britain had 'taken great care' over artefacts held in the country's museums 'for decades' and had conducted 'considerable' research into historical items. Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan suggested handing back the 'Elgin Marbles' would spark a wave of demands for the return of other artefacts held in Britain She told the committee: 'Once you start giving one back, where does that end? 'It's also very difficult to know who to give these things back to. We're talking about very ancient items in many respects. 'There are certain examples where it is not clear over exactly who the owners are. And others where I would argue it is more clear that we have a direct link to ownership. 'But, certainly, I think the current status quo is working and we should protect it.' Donelan's comments were made after the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We have no plans to change the law, which prevents removing objects from the British Museum's collection, apart from in certain circumstances. 'Our position on this hasn't changed. Decisions relating to the care and management of the collections are a matter for the Museum and its trustees. 'The Parthenon Sculptures are legally owned by the trustees and operationally independent of the Government.' No. 10 also claimed the public would 'vote with their feet' if they dislike museums removing controversial objects from their collections. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is 'forging ahead and taking a stand,' a senior GOP House source told DailyMail.com, after he was denied the House speakership after three votes Tuesday. Ultimately, 20 rogue Republicans stood in McCarthy's way - and there's no sign they would be swayed overnight to back his bid, while their pick, Rep. Jim Jordan has continually said he doesn't want the gig. McCarthy backers are mad, with Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska dubbing the group the 'Taliban 20' and the 'chaos caucus.' Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of those 20 Republicans, expressed his own anger that McCarthy had already moved into the speaker's office - sharing a letter he had written to the Architect of the Capitol 'demanding answers.' 'How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?' Gaetz asked Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton. The Democrats have no plans to budge, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries - the Democrats' pick for House Speaker - indicating the party wouldn't get behind a moderate 'consensus candidate.' 'We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction,' Jeffries told reporters at a press conference Tuesday night, after the Republican majority adjourned Congress for the day so they could try to work their leadership issues out. He also tweeted: 'Day one. House Dems are united and ready to get to work. Complete chaos on the other side of the aisle.' Earlier, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told two of the Republican rebels - Reps. Paul Gosar and Gaetz - that the Democrats didn't have a deal with McCarthy to sit the votes out, in order to decrease the threshold, he would need to capture the majority. Without a chosen speaker the House of Representatives cannot conduct business, nor can new members be sworn-in. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is 'forging ahead and taking a stand,' a senior GOP House source told DailyMail.com, after he was denied the House speakership after three votes Tuesday Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Democrats' pick for House Speaker, said Tuesday night that Democrats had no plans to get behind a consensus candidate. 'We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction,' he said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democrats' leader and pick for House speaker, marveled the 'complete chaos' that engulfed House Republicans on the first day of their slim majority The House GOP caucus is expected to meet again Wednesday morning, before the opening gavel at noon, CNN reported Tuesday night. Those tripping up McCarthy's leadership bid tend to be from the ultra-MAGA part of the party, claiming to be better supporters of former President Donald Trump than the California Republican. Trump, who previously said he supported a McCarthy speakership, told NBC News Tuesday evening, 'we'll see what happens,' further confusing the process. The ex-president then railed against the Senate's top Republican, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a post on Truth Social. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top ally of Trump's in the U.S. Senate, fretted Tuesday night that the Republicans playing chicken with the speakership could produce an undesired result: Jeffries getting the gavel. One of the 20 members of the Never Kevin group, Rep. Matt Gaetz, shared a letter Tuesday night he sent to the Architect of the Capitol complaining about how Rep. Kevin McCarthy had moved into the speaker's office. Gaetz asked how long McCarthy could remain there before he was deemed a 'squatter' 'To those Republicans who suggest it is better to have Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker you must understand that means backing policies like: D.C. statehood, Puerto Rican statehood, Abolishing the Electoral College, Packing the Supreme Court and continued broken borders,' Graham tweeted. 'Trust me when I say the legislative filibuster in the Senate is hanging by a thread,' Graham further warned. 'The last thing we need is Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker.' Tuesday's legislative session concluded with McCarthy getting less support than what he had in the morning with 20 House Republicans now backing Jordan. It came after 19 Republican rebels derailed McCarthy's bid on the first and second votes to become speaker. On the third vote, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds dropped McCarthy in favor of joining the conservatives who backed Jordan. He said afterwards that McCarthy simply does not have the votes to be Speaker. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the incoming House Majority Leader, nominated Kevin McCarthy ahead of the third round of House Speaker votes And as expected, another conservative McCarthy critic - this time, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas - rose to nominate GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio in his place REPUBLICAN REBELS VOTING AGAINST MCCARTHY Andy Biggs - Arizona Dan Bishop - North Carolina Lauren Boebert - Colorado Josh Brecheen - Oklahoma Michael Cloud - Texas Andrew Clyde - Georgia Eli Crane - Arizona Byron Donalds - Florida Matt Gaetz - Florida Bob Good - Virginia Paul Gosar - Arizona Andy Harris - Maryland Ana Paulina Luna - Florida Mary Miller - Illinois Ralph Norman - South Carolina Andy Ogles - Tennessee Scott Perry - Pennsylvania Matt Rosendale - Montana Chip Roy - Texas Keith Self - Texas Advertisement 'Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps,' Donalds wrote on Twitter. 'But these continuous votes aren't working for anyone. When the dust settles, we will have a Republican Speaker, now is the time for our conference to debate and come to a consensus.' It is the first time in 100 years a Speaker has not been chosen in the first ballot. Now McCarthy, who can only afford to lose four votes out of the 222 Republican members, is facing an uphill battle to take over the gavel from Nancy Pelosi. If the 20 Republicans stand firm in their opposition of McCarthy, the GOP will have to find another candidate or the leader will have to find another way to gain their support. He has already given concessions, including the motion to vacate the chair, in an unsuccessful bid to win their backing after heated meetings and negotiations. Congress cannot start official business until a Speaker is elected. Jordan nabbed six GOP votes in the first round, despite previously stating that he did not want the job. He then rose to nominate McCarthy of California ahead of the second vote, calling on his party to 'come together' in spite of conservatives' open rebellion against him. But McCarthy's critics resisted. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, among his most vocal detractors, in turn rose to nominate Jordan for the gavel. Gaetz said Jordan's speech nominating McCarthy showed 'more vision than weve ever heard from our alternative.' 'Maybe the right person for the job of Speaker of the House isn't someone who has sold shares of themselves for more than a decade to get it,' Gaetz said. McCarthy smiled faintly as Gaetz railed against him. He told reporters after his second failure, 'We're unified. This isn't about me. This is about the conference now because the members who are holding out.' GOP Rep. Bob Good, another member of the so-called 'Never Kevin' coalition, told reporters in between rounds that conservatives wanted Jordan specifically because the Ohio Republican said he does not want to be Speaker. 'Hes a reluctant warrior who I think is gonna ultimately answer the call of his country,' Good told reporters including DailyMail.com. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reacts to cheers from supporters in his caucus as he is nominated for House Speaker for a second time today One of McCarthy's biggest opponents, GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, then stood to nominate Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio for the Speakership Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi got a standing ovation after she cast her vote for Democrats' new leader Hakeem Jeffries Some members of the House of Representatives were seen keeping tallies of the votes Republican Rep. Pete Sessions signaled that he believes Tuesday's vote could be a long one - complicating a day that's normally reserved for ceremony and new members of Congress' celebrations with family. 'I don't think anybody's gonna get tired that's here right now. And then at some point, somebody's gonna have to figure out at what point enough is enough,' Sessions told reporters between the second and third round votes. He noted that 'the whole world is watching' the GOP squabble over their leadership. McCarthy lost the first round of votes for the Speakership earlier in the afternoon, kicking off a dramatic session that is expected to last hours. Nineteen House Republicans backed someone other than McCarthy in the initial vote. McCarthy ended up finishing second behind House Democrats' new leader Hakeem Jeffries. McCarthy clinched 203 votes, while Jeffries won the support of all 212 members of his caucus. It's the first time in a century that a House Speaker was not elected on the initial round. It became apparent soon after the roll call vote began that McCarthy did not have the votes to outright win the gavel. Audible gasps could be heard in the cavernous House chamber as more than a dozen Republican lawmakers stood in defiance to the California legislator's bid. Proceedings began with GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik nominating McCarthy, as expected, and Democrats' new No. 3 Pete Aguilar naming the 118th Congress' new Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Then, far-right Rep. Paul Gosar stood to nominate GOP Rep. Andy Biggs - one of the original five Republican lawmakers to lead opposition to McCarthy. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) receives applause from fellow Representatives at the start of start of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 3, 2023 in Washington, DC McCarthy embraced New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik after she formally nominated him Like McCarthy, Democratic Leader Hakeen Jeffries also got a standing ovation from his party when his name was put forward as a Speaker candidate Over the course of the vote, however - done in alphabetical order - some members threw wild cards into the mix. Biggs got 10 of the rebel votes, while nine members voted for someone else. GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert cast her vote for fellow GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, who himself voted for McCarthy and has said he does not want the job. Freshman Republican Rep. Josh Brecheen cast his vote for Indiana Rep. Jim Banks, last year's Republican Study Committee chairman. Another conservative member, Rep. Andy Harris, voted for Lee Zeldin - who left Congress at the end of last year to unsuccessfully run for governor of New York. Throwing yet another twist into McCarthy's would-be ascent, conservative Rep. Chip Roy put his support behind pro-Donald Trump Republican Rep. Byron Donalds. It had been reported earlier that conservatives would offer up Biggs as a spoiler to McCarthy to prevent him from reaching a majority threshold. Voting is done in rounds until a majority consensus is reached. When Congress comes back into session Wednesday, it's unclear how many more rounds lawmakers will go. GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw indicated to DailyMail.com earlier on Tuesday that he would stick by McCarthy no matter how much time it took. After both McCarthy and Jeffries were nominated, as expected, far-right Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona (pictured) stood to put Arizona conservative Rep. Andy Biggs' name into the mix Many of McCarthy's dissenters also voted for Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker - despite the Ohio Republican claiming he did not want the job McCarthy appeared on edge at times during the first round of votes but was careful not to let much emotion slip Echoing a similar sentiment, Republican Rep. Kat Cammack told reporters after House Republicans' closed-door meeting earlier today: 'Kevin McCarthy will be Speaker of the House. I don't care if it's the first ballot or 97th ballot.' The GOP's public disputes over their next House Speaker has put their majority in the chamber off to a bumpy start. House Republicans held a closed-door meeting before the vote where McCarthy made a last-ditch appeal to his critics, telling them he's 'earned' the right to the Speaker's gavel. His impassioned remarks did not sway his critics - namely, the five GOP lawmakers who swore to never support him - but it did seem to put allies' minds at ease. Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate Republican who previously said he'd be open to working with Democrats to find an alternative Speaker if the McCarthy rebellion succeeded, told DailyMail.com after the meeting, 'I think were not gonna get there after today.' He said McCarthy 'did a great job' in his appeal for the gavel. Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul was seen in the viewing gallery for the vote Embattled Congressman-elect George Santos representing Long Island, New York, was seen by himself for much of the time, rarely interacting with his soon-to-be-colleagues McCarthy himself told reporters after the meeting that he could see 'maybe 20' members of his own caucus voting against him - at least on the first round. 'I will always fight to put the American people first. Not a few individuals that want something for themselves. So, we may have a battle on the floor,' the GOP Leader said. In the House chamber ahead of the Speaker vote, members were milling around socializing - many with young children in tow. McCarthy confidently schmoozed with new and old members, appearing unperturbed by his inter-party battle. Congressman-elect George Santos, who's been embroiled in scandal over misrepresentations about his background, sat by himself in a corner of the chamber. He rarely spoke to anyone except for a handful of Republicans who were seen briefly shaking his hand. Also in attendance was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul, who was recently hospitalized after a brutal attack by a home intruder looking for his wife. By Ellie Goodwin The reasons for choosing to teach English in another country, like Korea, will vary between individuals, as is the case with any job. For some, it's part of a long-term career plan, and for others it's a valuable albeit temporary experience. For those who do not consider teaching as a long-term career, the profession is a stepping stone for gaining work experience with the added benefits of living in a foreign country, saving money and an abundance of travel opportunities ready for the taking. Twenty-nine-year-old Denis Poden, who has taught abroad in Thailand and Vietnam, and is presently into his second year in Korea, shared his motivation for teaching abroad. "I started teaching in my early 20s. I wanted to travel and work this was the best option. I think that's the case for a lot of people who come here." There is a noticeable demographic trend amongst those choosing to teach abroad with many falling between the ages of 22 and 30. It's a feasible option for those incentivized by travel opportunities and without the burden of obligations such as children or mortgages. These factors, in addition to years of travel restrictions and mandatory lockdowns, have seen people who had not considered teaching previously choose to move abroad, while simultaneously propelling those who had an interest prior to the pandemic. Ellen Cornforth and Nastasia Dentwon, two 23-year-olds who work together at a public kindergarten, illustrate both ends of the spectrum. Cornforth told The Korea Times, "I wanted to live in a foreign country and I wanted to travel but I was nervous and stalled my decision." In contrast, Dentwon shared her frustrations with the pandemic interfering with her longstanding plans. "It was so annoying. I'd planned on moving to Korea for a year. Then I graduated and COVID hit but being stuck at home just made me want to do it more." Kieran Wright shared a similar perspective. "I always wanted to travel after university I always remember thinking, if not now when? I think lots of people around that age were thinking the same thing especially during lockdown." Graduation is the milestone marking an end to roughly 16 years in education and the commencing of careers. Oftentimes, students have the time but not the financial means to travel, whereas working professionals have the means but not the time. Teaching abroad strikes the right balance: the chance to travel and earn. It is, financially speaking, a sounder choice than alternatives such as bar or farm work. Zaki Lew, a Canadian, explained why he switched to teaching abroad in his early 20s, a decision that has resulted in a six-year-long career at present. "I used to work on the farms in Australia and I'd pick vegetables and fruits. It helped fund my travels but I was always breaking even. I can travel and still save money by teaching." Eleanor Baumber, 27, voiced the thought that many openly hold. "Traveling was a part of it, but the fact that I have no idea what I want to do with my life career-wise also led to me being here." Not knowing what career to pursue has become a shared sentiment among many, rather than an isolating one. "Teaching isn't my dream job I have no idea what my dream job is, but I know that I enjoy teaching, I'm good at it and it will help me in the long run when I do decide what I want to do," she added. Finding and pursuing a "dream job" is a goal instilled into us from a young age. This is reinforced in our education, with consideration for careers becoming serious at as young an age as 16, when deciding the subjects or courses to study at a higher level, be it university or apprenticeships. For the undecided, teaching abroad offers many transferable skills which will be beneficial in the long term even if the profession itself may not be. Delilah Usher, a former teacher and current self-employed recruiter, agrees that the benefits of teaching abroad are not limited to travel opportunities. "Most of the teachers I recruit have graduated within the past five years the extent of their work experience is mostly a weekend retail or bar job. Teaching does wonders for a resume tailoring communication skills, developing creative thinking as well as organizing and prioritizing heavy workloads and schedules that's just listing a few." She added that a common reason to teach internationally rather than domestically stems from dissatisfaction with one's birth country. "Many of the teachers I've recruited say that there are few opportunities in their home country they feel that it has worsened since the pandemic." Inflated utility bills, the housing crisis and ever-mounting student debt are some examples of prevalent socio-economic issues in Western countries, though with varying degrees of severity. Teaching abroad offers an appealing lifestyle where the individual does not have to make financial compromises often. "Why would I live in the U.S. at the moment? Getting a job is so difficult and competitive any job I could get would be entry level. The salary would barely cover rent, gas, bills and basic groceries," said first-time teacher Grace Paige. "In Korea I travel, eat out at restaurants, spend money on noraebang and I still have a decent amount left over." The already common decision to teach abroad has undoubtedly been propelled by the social and economic repercussions of the pandemic. As was the case before, teaching will continue to be a popular career move, showing itself to be sustaining even in cases when it may not be fulfilling. Ellie Goodwin is a teacher from the U.K. in Gwangju. She also writes for Gwangju News A man has been arrested after a shopper was reportedly stabbed and suffered serious injuries during a mass brawl at a Tesco store. Emergency services rushed to the supermarket's Meir Park branch in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, at 2.05pm on Friday, December 30. Staffordshire Police cordoned off a section of the car park for a number of hours as part of their investigations. A 37-year-old Stoke-on-Trent man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. Emergency services rushed to the supermarket's Meir Park branch (pictured) in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, at 2.05pm on Friday, December 30 Two men, one in his 20s with facial injuries and one in his 40s with arm and knee injuries, were taken to hospital. An ambulance service spokesman said: 'We were called to reports of a stabbing on Lysander Road, Meir Park. One ambulance, a paramedic officer, and the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car from Cosford attended the scene. 'Upon arrival we found a man with serious injuries. He received treatment at the scene and was conveyed to hospital for further assessment.' MailOnline has approached the police for a statement regarding the latest on the suspect and the condition of the two men taken to hospital. Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact them with any CCTV or dashcam footage via Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 338 of 30 December. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. More Britons now oppose the strikes which are crippling Britain's rail network than those who back them, a new poll has suggested. Public support for striking railway workers is also dwindling in comparison to backing for those walking out from other professions, according to a YouGov poll. The survey revealed less than half of the public back industrial action on the railways (43%) compared to 66% who support nurse walk outs and 50% who agree with teachers going on strike. The news could come as a shock to RMT's general secretary Mick Lynch, who only yesterday proclaimed his striking workers had 'massive public support' for frustrating businesses and forcing employees to abandon the office. Public support for striking railway workers is dwindling in comparison to backing for those walking out from other professions, according to a YouGov poll from December The survey revealed less than half of the public back industrial action on the railways (43%) compared to 66% who support nurse walk outs and 50% who agree with teachers going on strike. Pictured: RMT's Mick Lynch appears at a picket line at Euston Station Britain's cities were left looking as though they were in lockdown yesterday after striking rail workers were accused of 'exploiting' the chance to walk out on the first day back at work for millions after the Christmas break in another hammer blow to the economy and businesses. RMT boss Mr Lynch spoke from a thin-looking picket line at Euston as rail bosses claimed that members have gone back to work after months of industrial action. He told Sky News workers were getting 'massive support from people online, in person, on our picket lines'. Mr Lynch added: 'We've got a mandate that runs through to May this year, and if we have to go further, that's what we'll need to do. We don't want that, though. 'Our members are taking action right across the country, from the north of Scotland to the tip of Cornwall. The railway service has ground to a halt and it will be severely disrupted this week we don't take any pleasure in that.' The RMT turned down a pay rise offer of 9 per cent over two years from Network Rail that also includes a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for two years. Mr Lynch also blamed ministers for an 'unprecedented level of interference' and said they had blocked a possible agreement between employers and his trade union. The union baron had earlier insisted he does not want disruption on the railways, ahead of two 48-hour walkouts by his members that will mean only one in five trains run. The empty streets of Central London yesterday as RMT members walked out yet again A generation of passengers will be put off the railways forever by persistent train strike, unions have been warned, as they prepare for another five-day walkout Drivers in the separate Aslef union will strike on Thursday amid claims ministers are seriously considering offering sweeteners to rail workers including more days off, pension benefits and bonuses to end months of strikes. As fresh rail strikes began yesterday, Mark Harper told Times Radio: 'There is a very fair pay offer on the table which has been accepted by two of the trade unions on Network Rail. 'The RMT recommended that their members didn't accept it, but actually a third of their members still voted in favour of it. 'I think it is time that the RMT got off the picket line and round the negotiating table to try and hammer out a deal with the train operating companies and Network Rail. 'It is a fair and reasonable offer on the table and... this is a very difficult week for those that depend on the train to get to work, to carry out important appointments, and for businesses who depend on those commuters.' The advice is to only travel if absolutely necessary on strike days, allow extra time and check when first and last trains will depart. There may also be disruption to services on Sunday as striking workers return to their duties. On RMT days of action, around half of the network will shut down, with only about 20 per cent of normal services running. Trains that do run will start later and finish much earlier than usual with services typically running between 7.30am and 6.30pm. The train drivers' strike on Thursday will affect 15 operators and will result in even fewer services running, with some companies operating 'very significantly reduced' timetables. Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at the Rail Delivery Group, said: 'No one wants to see these strikes go ahead, and we can only apologise to passengers and to the many businesses who will be hit by this unnecessary and damaging disruption. 'We would advise passengers to only travel if it is absolutely necessary during this period, allow extra time and check when their first and last train will depart. Passengers with tickets for between 3-7 January can use their ticket the day before the ticket date, or up to and including Tuesday 10 January. 'This dispute will only be resolved by agreeing the long overdue reforms to working arrangements needed to put the industry on a sustainable footing, rather than unions condemning their members to losing more pay in the new year.' Train drivers may be offered an extra 2,000 a year as part of a new pay incentive to end the winter strikes chaos, while Britain is braced to endure one of its largest rail strikes ever tomorrow with just one in ten services running. Most unions are expected to reject the new package, worth four per cent over two years to drivers on an average salary of 59,000. However, rail firms hope that if one of the biggest unions - Aslef - can be convinced to accept the revised pay offer, it may put pressure on the RMT 's leader Mick Lynch, to agree on a compromise, The Sun reports. The offer may be formally put to Aslef early next week. In what has been dubbed 'Tragic Thursday', some 12,500 train drivers across 15 companies will abandon their shifts tomorrow, continuing the New Year's disruption. RMT boss Mick Lynch (centre) has accused ministers of 'undermining efforts to get a settlement' and added that an agreement was 'torpedoed' last month. 21,000 Aslef workers will walk out in a mass strike tomorrow on what has been dubbed 'Tragic Thursday' - with less than ten per cent of train services running Some 40,000 RMT rail workers walked out of work yesterday for the first of two 48-hour strikes this week. Just one in ten train services will run on 'Tragic Thursday', forcing commuters to endure the worst single day of strike action in a working week for decades. Tomorrow's strike is compounded by the walkout of 21,000 workers from Aslef, on top of the continuing strike action by the RMT on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week - with few drivers expected to cross picket lines. Insiders say it is the biggest disruption for commuters since the days of British Rail, The Telegraph reports. Transport Secretary Mark Harper insisted to union leaders that there is 'not a bottomless pit of taxpayers' money'. He said: 'Taxpayers have paid a huge amount of investment into the rail industry over the last few years when it was hit with a huge impact from the pandemic when people weren't travelling. Transport Secretary Mark Harper insisted to union leaders there is 'not a bottomless pit of taxpayers' money' 'I think you have got to have an offer that is both fair to the people working in the industry but that is also fair to the taxpayer that is picking up the tab.' The Centre for Economics and Business Research says strikes this week will cost the economy 330million, bringing the overall cost of industrial action to 1.3billion since last July. Network Rail is said to have a skeleton team of contingency signal workers on strike days, allowing one in five services to operate during RMT's previous strike days. No wonder workers are backing him! Strikes could see banking and City staff happily WFH PERMANENTLY, experts warn - as Mick Lynch boasts 'we're getting massive support' for walkouts that are crippling economy Mick Lynch on a very thin picket line at Euston station Advertisement But with significantly fewer contingency drivers available, timetables look set to slashed even further. There will be no train services to southwest England beyond Plymouth, while Scottish journeys will stop 18 miles north of Edinburgh. Among the stations expected to be left without any services this week are Aberdeen, Penzance and Gloucester. Passengers have been warned to avoid rail travel for the first week of 2023. RMT boss Mick Lynch has accused ministers of 'undermining efforts to get a settlement' and added that an agreement was 'torpedoed' last month. Mr Lynch yesterday raised the prospect of walkouts dragging on until May, when the RMT's current strike mandate expires, as 40,000 of his members walked out for the first of two 48-hour strikes this week. But he also said a deal was possible within 'the next few days', while Network Rail's chief negotiator said an agreement was potentially within 'touching distance'. New details emerged showing the offer on the table is worth 14 per cent over two years for the lower paid among Mr Lynch's members 2.5 per cent a year higher than what most nurses have been offered. Aslef's mandate lasts until the end of June, meaning rail strikes look almost certain to drag on until then even if the separate RMT disputes are resolved. A source close to the negotiations said: 'Ministers are prepared to have a fight with Aslef.' It came as business chiefs yesterday hit out at the RMT for turning city centres into 'ghost towns' on the day workers should have been flocking back after the festive period. Many opted to work from home instead in a fresh blow to firms who suffered from lower footfall during the RMT's pre-Christmas strikes. Figures showed passenger footfall yesterday at 20 major stations managed by Network Rail, such as London Waterloo, Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street, was the lowest on a Tuesday for five weeks. Ministers are preparing to go to war with the train drivers' union, meaning rail strikes could drag on until the summer (Pictured: Striking rail workers and the RMT general secretary Mick Lynch (C) attend the picket line at Euston station on December 13, 2022 in London) Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, said the strike has cost the industry 2.5 billion, since June (Pictured: Passengers at Kings Cross Station in London during strike action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) in December) January strikes laid out in full across the calendar pages this month from various unions Just 131,613 people passed through between the hours of 5am and 11.30am, compared with 141,737 on December 27, when the RMT was striking in the morning. Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce, told the BBC: 'Businesses retail particularly but also hospitality are not going to get the customers in the first week of the year which they need after a pretty dismal end to last year.' Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, said the strike has cost the industry 2.5 billion, since June. RMT workers snubbed the latest pay increase of 9 per cent over two years in a referendum. But Network Rail argues that the union advised members to reject it and gave them false grounds for doing so. For instance, union bosses told members they will be forced on to new contracts which reduce overtime rates and make them worse off. But the contracts would only apply to new starters, with existing staff given a choice whether to switch. The new contracts would actually be worth more in the long-term because they boost base pay and pension outcomes. An insider added: 'The other 'misunderstanding' is the graduated nature of the deal. The RMT during the referendum presented it as a straight 9 per cent over two years. It's not. It's worth up to 14 per cent for the lower paid and for the majority of our maintenance workforce is actually worth over 10 per cent.' Mr Lynch told Sky News: 'The Network Rail offer was rejected by our members because of the conditions on it...there's got to be an improvement on the pay and an agreement on our conditions and job security. All that is achievable in the next few days.' Transport Secretary Mark Harper urged unions to 'get off the picket line and back around the negotiating table'. Speaking to Sky News, he added: 'The trade unions decided they wanted to go on strike this week, which is deeply unhelpful, damages the rail industry, damages the interests of the people that work in it. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has launched a last-ditch attempt to keep the mother of severely abused boy Tony Hudgell in jail after she became eligible for release this week. Jody Simpson, 29, and her partner Anthony Smith, 52, abused Tony so badly as a baby he required 23 operations and eight blood transfusions, before doctors were later forced to amputate his legs. The pair were found guilty of child cruelty in 2018 and are both currently serving a ten-year prison sentence, however Simpson was due out this week. It comes after she won a High Court challenge against Mr Raab's decision to delay her release. Tony Hudgell, 8, uses prosthetic legs to walk after both of his legs were amputated when he was four months old. He raised more than 1million for Evelina London Children's Hospital by completing a walking challenge Justice Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) has launched a last-ditch attempt to keep the mother of tortured boy Tony Hudgell in jail after she became eligible for release this week Jodie Simpson, 29, and her partner Anthony Smith were jailed for 10 years in 2018 for torturing Tony Hudgell Adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell who had both legs amputated after suffering abuse at the hands of his parents is awarded an OBE in New Year honours after campaigning for tougher jail terms for child abusers Advertisement Ministry of Justice officials have put in an application to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court ruling. Simpson will remain behind bars until a decision is made on whether or not to grant a hearing. Tony's adoptive mother Paula Hudgell, 55, told the Sun: 'Any extra time Simpson spends behind bars is justice for Tony. She and Smith are monsters.' Mr Raab added: 'Tony Hudgell was mercilessly tortured by his birth parents, the very people who should have loved and cared for him. 'It's my duty to protect other children from that awful experience which is why we will be challenging this ruling and Jody Simpson will remain behind bars while the courts consider our appeal.' Tony was rushed to hospital with life changing injuries in 2014 when he was 41-days-old, following horrific abuse from his parents. In 2017, Tony had both legs amputated due to the injuries he sustained as an infant. He is still learning to walk on prosthetic legs without crutches. His fortunes turned around after his life was saved by specialists at the Evelina London Children's Hospital, of which the Princess of Wales is an official patron. Little Tony has since been hailed a hero by Prince William and wife Kate over his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children. He set out to raise 500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days in 2020 after being inspired by Sir Captain Tom Moore, who raised more than 33 million walking in his backyard. Tony Hudgell had both legs amputated when he was four months old, after he was abused by his birth mother and her partner Paula Hudgell (pictured), 55, was honoured after campaigning for tougher jail sentences for convicted child abusers Little Tony (pictured) has been hailed a hero by Prince William and wife Kate over his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children. Paula said she was 'really humbled' by being named in the New Year's Honours list which she described as 'an incredible end to 2022' Paula and husband Mark, from Kent, have since set up the Tony Hudgell Foundation to help enhance the lives of children who have been affected by physical, emotional, or psychological abuse. Paula was named in the New Year's Honours list for her campaigning efforts. It led to the establishment of Tony's Law, named after the eight-year-old, which has seen the maximum penalty for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child to increase from ten to 14 years, while causing the death of a child has risen from 14 years to life. Paula said she was 'really humbled' with the award which she described as 'an incredible end to 2022'. WA has declared an emergency situation and advised residents to evacuate The record-breaking deluge has been caused by downpour from Cyclone Ellie Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding areas in WA's Kimberley region are flooded Outback towns have experienced their worst flooding in history due to downpours from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie - as the government issues an emergency warning. The deluge has inundated Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas in the Kimberley in Western Australia. Cyclone Ellie has brought continuous rainfall that's lifted the Fitzroy River to its highest level ever, resulting in homes being flooded, roads being turned into rivers and residents forced to use boats to get around. The Fitzroy River was still rising on Wednesday morning before a possible peak of 15.7 metres. Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia's Kimberley region has experienced its worst flooding on record The deluge has been caused by continuous rainfall from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie WA's Minister for Emergency Services Stephen Dawson declared an Emergency Situation and advised residents in flood-affected areas to evacuate immediately. 'This is a dangerous and fast-changing situation,' Mr Dawson told reporters on Tuesday. 'We have not seen rain like this for at least a hundred years so it's kind of shocking to see the water as high as it is.' He added that 'Emergency services have completed a number of flood rescues for people in Fitzroy Crossing'. Mr Dawson said there had been 18 calls for assistance from people in flood-affected areas. 'This is a dangerous and fast-changing situation and more rain is expected over the next few days,' he said. The Western Australian government has declared an emergency situation and warned residents to evacuate immediately The state's minister for Emergency Services, Stephen Dawson, revealed there had been 18 calls for assistance from people in flood-affected areas Downstream at Noonkanbah, major flooding was also likely. The Fitzroy River there was at 12.15m and rising on Wednesday morning. Travellers in Derby have been warned to leave the area and go to Broome. Defence personnel have been called in to help evacuate residents who are isolated. Federal Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt said the Albanese government approved a WA request for Australian Defence Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas. Defence force personnel have been called in to help evacuate residents who are isolated after the federal government approved a WA request Residents in the town of Derby and the communities of Willare and Noonkanbah have been advised to evacuate due to flooding The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in a statement that they were also 'bringing in more aircraft' to help with evacuation and re-supply efforts. Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm warned residents in the communities of Willare and Noonkanbah on Tuesday to get to higher ground as they would be flooded in the next 24 to 48 hours. He said roads had been cut and it was too late to leave as the region faced 'at least a one-in-100-year' flood event. Rain from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie has dumped between 200mm and 600mm since Saturday and is predicted to deliver further widespread heavy falls into the week. Samsung users are being warned to avoid updating the software on their phone after thousands of Aussies were left with nothing but a blank screen. Concerns are mounting around Samsungs latest routine update as smartphone owners said their phone was 'wiped' moments after running the software. Angry customers lined the streets outside Samsung's customer service centre in Adelaide on Tuesday demanding their phones be fixed. Thousands of Samsung users have been left with nothing but a blank screen after running a routine software update issued by the tech giant The faulty update has phones stuck at the start-up screen showing the Samsung logo and the only way to fix the glitch is a factory reset. A factory reset means any priceless photos, contacts, work and data not backed up will be wiped from the device and lost for good. One unfortunate Samsung user has been locked out of her phone since New Years Day as service centres were closed over the long weekend. 'New Years Day I woke up and it said that an update was available, so foolishly I did it and that's all I've got [blank Samsung screen] ever since,' she told 7News. 'I'm losing a lot of photos, mainly of the grandchildren, and contacts. I'll have to track down all my contacts again.' Another upset Samsung customer said she has lost a year's worth of memories after mistakenly updated the software on her phone. 'Not being super tech savvy, unfortunately, I haven't backed anything up,' she said. 'So I'm losing all my 2022 photos because I take everything on my phone nowadays.' The faulty update has phones stuck at the start-up screen showing the Samsung logo and the only way to fix the glitch is a factory reset - meaning anything not backed up would be lost (pictured, frustrated customer outside Samsung Service Centre in Adelaide) Tech expert Richard Pascoe said the software error has come at the worst timing for the technology giant. 'Worst timing ever for the company, I think Samsung will be guttered by this,' Mr Pascoe said. 'We're expecting any week now a brand new Samsung premium phone to come out and when these sort of things happen people lose confidence in that brand.' Mr Pascoe urged Samsung users to hold off from updating their devices until the tech giant is confident the fault has been fixed. Samsung (pictured) insists it is aware of the faulty software and is working towards a solution, however the update is still available for customers nationwide Samsung Australia told Daily Mail Australia it is aware of the issue and is working towards a solution, and claim only Samsung users in South Australia are affected. 'Samsung has received reports from customers of an issue when updating their phones,' Samsung said. 'At this time, these reports are from customers based in South Australia only. 'We are continuing to investigate this matter.' The tech giant is urging any customer, who has made the update and is experiencing the glitch, to contact their local Samsung service centre. Notifications for the latest software update are still being sent to Samsung users nationwide, despite reports of the glitch. A bone rush could be underway in New York City's East River after a Wooly mammoth expert revealed the location where thousands of tusks were reportedly dumped. Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, the gold miner turned bone mogul John Reeves said he wanted to kick off a 'bone rush' and mapped out the location of tons of mammoth tusks that could be at the bottom of the East River. Reeves read from a draft report from the Fairbanks mining District Alaska, which detailed the transportation of thousands tusks from Fairbanks bound for New York City's American Museum of Natural History in the 1940s. They took 500,000 or so bones from Fairbanks to New York City, left them in the crates... they took about a whole box car load of these bones they ran out of storage and they dumped them in the East River.' The report specifies that 100,000 of the bones were shipped directly to the museum, suggesting tens of thousands could have been tossed out. Reeves, who owns thousands of acres of mining grounds in Fairbanks, got a hold of the report from the company he bought, and also spoke to its lead author, Richard Osborne of the University of Alaska. Alaskan gold miner turned mammoth expert John Reeves revealed the location of thousands of tusk bones allegedly dumped in the middle of New York City's East River The report revealed the location of the dumping site at East River Drive and 65th Street. Wooly mammoth Tusks can go for around $20,000 each depending on their condition, putting the potential value at the bottom of the river at around tens of millions of dollars. 'If any of you guys want to go out and find some bones I'll tell you exactly where the f*** they're at,' Reeves said as he spelled out the location. 'They're finders keepers.' Some boners, the term used for people who search for valuable bones, have already taken up the call, sharing videos of their trips to the East River. Citing the draft report, Reeves said that gold miners shipped off 500,000 tusks because the owners saw 'no value.' 'You got to remember this was in 1928 to 1958,' Reeves told Rogan. 'People, you know miners, didn't collect the bones.' According to the report about the tusks, 'mistakes' were made over the 'acceptable condition' of the bones shipped to New York. The tusks were ultimately tossed in the river at the former New York City Hospital dumping site. Reeves said the tusks were dumped by 'mistake' along the East River Drive near 65th Street The revelation has kicked off a bone rush, with fortune seekers already out on the river in search of the tusks, which could fetch $20,000 a piece All together, the tusks, which were reportedly dumped in 1940s Although Reeves said the exact method and location of the dump were unknown, he noted that mammoth tusks were dense and would not float away, suggesting they could still be somewhere at the bottom of the river. Reeves mused: 'If I was listening to your podcast, and I happen to have a boat, and I happen to have a little scuba equipment?' Rogan was also enamored by the prospect of the successful bone rush that Reeves was proposing. 'Do you know how crazy it would be if there's f****** mammoth bones right there in the East River,' Rogan said. 'Dude let me tell you something about mammoth bones mammoth tusks, they're extremely valuable,' Reeves replied. Alaskan miners who saw no value in the tusks allegedly shipped them off to New York City's American Museum of Natural History. Pictured: Tusks found in 1907 in an Alaskan expedition Reeves (right) said he wanted to kick off a bone rush. The gold miner has found thousands of preserved bones on his land Reeves, a self-made millionaire, knows a little something about the value of tusks after discovering perfectly-preserved mammoth bones as he was mining for gold in Alaska. Reeves, the owner of Fairbanks Gold, LLC, owns thousands of acres of mining grounds along rivers in the state. In an interview with academic researchers, Reeves described himself as a champion swimmer who went to college in Florida before dropping out and deciding to join prospectors in Alaska searching for gold. In the 1980s, Reeves bought a gold dredging site outside Fairbanks, which was transformed into a tourist site where visitors could search for gold along the river. The site has since been sold to Holland America. Reeves moved on to expand his stake in mining grounds in Fairbanks, buying up state and federal land as well. In a 2012 National Geographic documentary following Ice Age fossil collectors in Alaska, Reeves boasted that he had found thousands of specimens on his land. While his fellow miners quipped that searching for gold is more lucrative, Reeves said he's become a passionate collector of the ancient bones. 'Mammoth tusks are more fun to look at,' he had said. 'I like them more than the stacks of $100 bills.' Since finding Mammoth bones decades ago, Reeves has built up a collection dubbed the Boneyard Alaska that houses his rare specimens Pictured: Wooly mammoth tusks found on Reeves' land The 'Boneyard Alaska' documentary, which followed Reeves' bone searching earlier this year, echoed his passion of searching for ancient bones. 'I was always captivated by finding something in the ground or in the earth that told me a little bit about our culture and where we came from and what was here before us,' Reeves said in the film. 'Those cool things that we find need to be saved.' In the documentary, Reeves excavations could be seen unearthing 100 bones in a single day, with researchers touting that Reeves could recreate a whole herd of animals with his collection. Reeves' collection is notably impressive because the permafrost in Alaska keeps the specimens perfectly preserved. Pictured: About 100 bones found on Reeves' land in a single day Researchers noted that the amount in Reeves' collection could be used to recreate a whole herd of ancient animals An aviation expert says the Sea World chopper crash that killed four and left two children fighting for their life was likely caused by something distracting the pilot. Nicholas Tadros, 10 and Leon de Silva, 9, are both clinging to life in Queensland Children's Hospital after they suffered serious injuries in Monday's accident at Southport on the Gold Coast. Leon is in an induced coma with a fractured skull while Nicholas has been put on life support in a critical condition. Nicholas' mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died in the crash, along with British newlyweds Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, and pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40. Leon's mother Winnie, 33, was also airlifted to hospital with multiple broken bones after their chopper collided with another helicopter and plunged into the ground. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas is convinced something unusual occurred in one or both of the cockpits to draw the pilots' attention away from scanning for danger. Vanessa Tadros (left) was killed instantly in the helicopter crash, but her son Nicholas (right) survived and is in hospital in a critical condition 'The pilots must have been distracted by something,' he said. 'We don't know what caused that. 'Whether it was an engine warning light and the pilot lost focus or a passenger having a medical episode who lurched forward onto the controls. 'It's speculation, but I'm certain something has happened to distract one or both of the pilots, or there has been a tragic miscommunication between them. 'These are both very good pilots in very good helicopters at a very good company. This is not a cow rustling operation. 'This should never have happened.' How the tragedy unfolded in just 20 seconds The two helicopters involved in the collision can be seen on the sandbank - with one crashing into the sand and the other safely crash landing upright The two Eurocopter EC130s - which Gold Coast company Sea World Helicopters had only just leased in November - ploughed into each other just after one took off. Mr Jenkinson's aircraft left the Sea World helipad and 20 seconds later, rose straight into the flight path of the second helicopter above, piloted by Michael James, 52. The lower helicopter's rotor blades sliced through the cockpit of the second chopper, spraying shattered glass and shards of metal at the pilot and passengers. Ms de Silva who was in the lower helicopter said on Wednesday from her hospital bed that she heard a 'loud bang' and felt 'shaking' when the two helicopters collided. 'I could see the pilot pressing all these buttons, stressed out he didn't know what to do. I don't remember much [after that] but everyone was trembling and worried,' Ms de Silva told the Herald Sun. Gripped with terror as the Eurocopter EC130 started to nosedive towards the ground, she squeezed her son's hand as tightly as she could. 'The only thing I could see was death in my eyes. I didn't want to see death in my eyes so I closed them and held my son's hand beside me,' she said. Ms de Silva (pictured with son Leon) who was in the lower helicopter said on Wednesday from her hospital bed that she heard a 'loud bang' and felt 'shaking' when the two helicopters collided Leon de Silva, 9, (left) has a fractured skull and is in an induced coma. His mother Winnie, 33, has two broken legs, a broken right shoulder, a broken collarbone and a damaged left knee She remembers opening her eyes while trapped in the wreckage. 'My feet and right arm were stuck. I remember screaming and yelling out for help I wasn't able to get out,' Ms de Silva said. Her husband Neil de Silva - who treated them to the joyride and waved his wife and stepson off - said he didn't understand why the two helicopters were so close in the first place. He and other families affected by the tragedy are now demanding answers as the investigation continues by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Video from inside the cockpit of Mr James' helicopter shows a passenger in the back attempting to warn him of the approaching lower aircraft - repeatedly tapping him on the shoulder with increasing urgency moments before impact. Footage shows inside the higher positioned helicopter before the collision (pictured) Gold Coast pilot Ash Jenkinson is being remembered as hero following the tragedy, for his work during the flood crisis delivering aid and rescuing those trapped Vanessa Tadros who died in the chopper crash is pictured with her husband Simon - as their son Nicholas, 10, fights for life in hospital Moments later the glass front of the helicopter's cockpit explodes into shards as it's hit by the blades of the other aircraft. The impact ripped the rotor unit and gearbox from Mr Jenkinson's plane, sending it tumbling out of control and plummeting upside down onto the sandbar below. Incredibly the other pilot managed to keep control of his aircraft despite extensive damage to the front of the fuselage and his injuries from the shrapnel tearing through the cockpit. His quick actions saved the lives of his five passengers, four of whom also suffered glass shrapnel injuries. The passengers were two New Zealand couples - Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart - in their 40s who were travelling together, along with an unnamed West Australian woman. A second video shows Mr James, after the remarkable landing rushing over to the other chopper and helping those trapped inside by handing a knife to bystanders to cut them free from their seatbelts. Footage shows Michael James, the pilot of the second helicopter, helping to free passengers from the wreckage of the other chopper The Air Transport Safety Bureau has now launched its investigation into the crash and has vowed to look at all possible causes of the accident The impact ripped the rotor unit and gearbox from pilot Ash Jenkinson's plane, sending it tumbling out of control and plummeting upside down onto the sandbar below Mr Thomas said the accident is baffling. 'This is uncontrolled airspace which is known as G-Class airspace,' he said. 'They would have been in constant radio contact and had visuals on each other. 'It's a very professional operation.' Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas According to Airservices Australia, which manages Australian airspace, G-Class airspace is not overseen by central air traffic control but constant radio contact is usually required around heliports and aerodromes. Questions remain about the protocols in place at Sea World Helicopters that allowed the two aircraft, understood to be fitted with GPS positioning systems, to be taking off and landing in such close proximity to each other. The Air Transport Safety Bureau has now launched its investigation into the crash and vowed to look at all possible causes of the accident. 'We now have a painstaking job of trying to recreate exactly what's occurred in the lead up to this,' ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said. 'We know the takeoff and the landing phases of any aircraft operations are critical phases of flight, where the the cognitive workload of pilots are at their greatest. Sea World Helicopters' chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, died in the helicopter crash (pictured with his wife, Kosha) Newlywed British couple Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane , 57, were killed in the tragic crash 'What we need to know now is what was occurring inside those two cockpits at the time. 'The process now for the ATSB is to gather all the intelligence and all the evidence we can we.' Statements from those on board the helicopters who survived will be crucial to the investigation, but the ATSB chief admitted that may be delayed while they recover from the tragedy. Mr Mitchell added: 'We will be interviewing as many people as we need to from around here. 'From witnesses to those on the helicopter that survived but we are also very mindful that today is obviously an extremely difficult day for a lot of people, particularly those that were involved in it.' But she was flooded with vitriol on not spending more money to support locals A traveller keen to save pennies at a popular international destination has been trolled after asking about how much a nasi goreng costs. The tourist enjoying a holiday in Bali in Indonesia with her family, was mocked on a popular Facebook page after asking about the cost of the meal on Wednesday. 'What are people paying for a serve of nasi goreng average?' she wrote. A traveller keen to save pennies at a popular international destination has been trolled after asking about how much a nasi goreng costs (stock image) But some in the group warned her she'd get food poisoning by aiming for the cheapest meal, while others slammed her for not trying to spend more on the island to help locals. 'It's the dish made in honour of the Emperor that kept rabbits out of China. Don't be stingy,' one wrote. But most of the comments were shut down by the group moderator, who said 'some people are on a tight budget backpacking around the globe'. 'It's getting to the point where people are afraid to post a question without being trolled and judged,' another commenter wrote. 'Maybe she is just trying to get a rough guide to prices so she can be informed and save money for the holiday. 'Not everyone can just go on a holiday, some of us have to plan, save etc.' Another commenter estimated the cost of the popular dish in Bali (pictured, stock image) to be around '$2.50 with an egg' 'Why is this lady getting hammered for asking the question she's asked?' another asked. 'Not everyone has been to Bali before! Why do people have to be jerks?' Meanwhile, another commenter estimated the cost of the popular dish in Bali to be around '$2.50 with an egg'. A few Bali travel experts recommended the cheaper 'Warung' kiosk or small shop to get the cheapest food. One said eating the dish at the 'Lusy Warung' restaurant would put an Aussie tourist back by $3, while other eateries charged $5 to $8. Nasi goreng is an Indonesian fried rice dish with meat, vegetables, egg and spices, with a smoky aroma. A father-of-two was arrested after 'intentionally' launching his Tesla with his family inside off California's 'Devil's Side' cliff, police said. Doctor Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 41, of Pasadena, was charged with attempted murder and child abuse after he, his wife, also 41, and their two children, four and seven, were found 250 feet down a cliffside on Monday. California Highway Patrol (CHP) has determined that 'based on the evidence collected, investigators developed probable cause to believe this incident was an intentional act.' The radiologist will be booked into the San Mateo County Jail after he is released from the hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Doctor Dharmesh Arvind Patel, 41, of Pasadena, was charged with attempted murder and child abuse after he, his wife, and their two children, four and seven, were found 250-feet down a cliffside on Monday in their Tesla (pictured) Patel will be booked into the San Mateo County Jail after he is released from the hospital California Highway Patrol believes the accident was 'intentional' His wife Neha, also 41, also suffered injuries and his children had moderate injuries. CHP also said it was unsure what 'driving mode' the Tesla was in when the crash occurred, but that it 'does not appear to be a contributing factor in this incident.' The agency did not elaborate as to why it was believed Patel intentionally drove off the cliffside with his family. Authorities said they first received a call about a Tesla careening off California's scenic Highway 1 near Pacifica, and tumbling down the cliff south of the Tom Lantos Tunnel at around 10.50am on Monday. Robin Johnson was driving by at the time and recalled thinking: 'Wow, he's driving extremely fast to take that exit. You're not even supposed to be going up that way.' 'And I can see in my rear-view mirror this car just go over the edge and straight down,' she told NBC Bay Area. Johnson said that is when she decided to call 911. About 30 to 50 rescuers immediately responded to the scene and tried to reach the electric vehicle, which was estimated to be about 250 feet below the highway. CHP said 'based on evidence' it determined there was 'probable cause' the accident was intentional, but it is did not elaborate on what evidence brought them to that conclusion Rescue teams used ropes to rappel down the slope carrying Jaws of Life with them to breach the door, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. They were not expecting to find anyone alive inside the vehicle and were surprised when they found all four people alive and conscious inside. At that point, the crews worked to the children from the car first, KTVU reports, and were able to hoist them up to the road with ropes. Once back on land, they were put on stretchers and assessed for any injuries. But authorities still had to rescue the parents and needed air support to do so. Patel and his wife had to be rescued via helicopter after the crash Dramatic videos posted online by CalFire showed choppers hovering over the water to pick up the adults and bring them to a landing area where first responders were waiting for them. The helicopter pilots were careful to maintain a safe distance from each other and the rocky cliffside as they dug through the wreckage to rescue the parents. Once they were freed, the entire family was promptly transported to Stanford Medical Center. 'We came out here, unfortunately for things like this,' Brian Pottenger, a battalion chief with Coastside Fire Protection District said in a statement. 'And it was nothing short of a miracle that they survived.' President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. Yoon said Wednesday that he will review whether to suspend a 2018 military pact signed between the two Koreas if the North intrudes inter-Korean border again. Yonhap By Jung Min-ho President Yoon Suk-yeol said Wednesday that he will consider suspending a 2018 military pact signed between the two Koreas if North Korea violates the inter-Korean border again. The warning comes a week after five North Korean drones entered the South's airspace in a clear violation of the pact, under which the two sides agreed to cease hostile activities and take steps to build military trust. According to a high-ranking official at the presidential office, Yoon said there are no reasons for South Korea to adhere to the deal, which the North frequently ignores by testing missiles or sending unmanned aerial vehicles. "As the commander-in-chief, Yoon called for stern readiness against such provocations so that no citizen would feel unsafe," the official told reporters. "We hope there will be no more provocations by North Korea." At a meeting with security and defense officials, Yoon also told Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup to expedite the process of launching a full-fledged drone unit, improve the radar system to detect small-size drones and finish the development of a stealth drone by the end of this year, the official said. On Dec. 26, South Korea's military detected the North Korean drones entering its airspace. One traveled as far as northern Seoul, while the other four hovered in and around Ganghwa Island off the west coast. The military responded by sending attack helicopters, but failed to destroy any of them. Yoon criticized the response, telling the military to retaliate by sending South Korean drones to the North. While visiting the Daejeon-based Agency for Defense Development three days later, Yoon said strong military capabilities are the most effective deterrence against North Korea and met scientists developing new weapons including drones. The military pact was signed in Pyongyang by former Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his North Korean counterpart No Kwang-chol when there were high hopes of inter-Korean cooperation and peace. North Korea's military conducts a weapons test at an unspecified location in North Korea, Dec. 31, in this photo released on Jan. 1. Yonhap Fox News host Tucker Carlson says the ongoing 'chaos' surrounding congressional Republicans' attempt to choose a House Speaker is 'refreshing.' House Republicans failed repeatedly on Tuesday to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy to become the chamber's leader, creating an intra-party divide that remains unsolved heading into Wednesday, when voting will resume. On his Tuesday evening show, Carlson celebrated McCarthy's ongoing battle with members of his own party, which has so far included three failed rounds of voting and 20 members of his caucus turning against him. He advised McCarthy to get serious about releasing January 6 information to the public and investigating the FBI for corruption, if he wants to earn the speakership. Rep. Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday failed three times to secure the necessary votes to become Speaker of the House 'The fact that this race has not been settled by now is being described especially online by many as 'embarrassing,'' said Carlson. 'It is embarrassing if you prefer the Soviet-style consensus of the Democratic Partys internal elections, where votes are merely a formality and all of the really big decisions - the meaningful ones - are made years in advance by donors,' he said. Carlson argued that Republican infighting in selecting their leader was a mark of democracy, as opposed to the Democrats, who fall in line behind a pre-selected candidate time after time. 'But, if you prefer democracy to oligarchy. If you prefer real debates about issues that actually matter. It's pretty refreshing to see it. Yes it's a little chaotic, but this is what it's supposed to be,' he said. He further lambasted McCarthy as a gifted politician, but an opportunistic man with little ideological loyalty. 'McCarthy is not especially conservative. Hes in fact ideologically agnostic. Hes flexible. His real constituency is the lobbying community in Washington. So, if youve got sincere political beliefs, thats infuriating to watch,' he said. 'On the other hand, to be fair, this is politics and McCarthy does have strengths. Its not easy being speaker when the House is this closely divided. 'And in some ways, Kevin McCarthy is perfectly suited for that. Hes skilled in politics. Not a small thing,' he added. Because the group of 20 Republicans who have so far denied McCarthy the speakership have not yet put forward another candidate to lead the House, any path forward is uncertain. So, Tucker said, there are still moves McCarthy can make to attempt to secure the top job that he's after. Tucker advised McCarthy to release all documents and videos pertaining to the January 6 Capitol breach to the public In addition to appointing Rep. Thomas Massie as the head of a new Frank Church committee to uncover increased FBI supervision and corruption Carlson said McCarthy must immediately commit to releasing all documents and videos pertaining to the January 6 Capitol breach and congress' subsequent actions. He emphasized that the information should not be funneled through a congressional committee, or released piecemeal, but rather, should be dumped into public view on the double. And added that McCarthy should pledge to appoint Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky - a staunch libertarian - at the head of a new Frank Church Committee to investigate the corruption of the FBI. Frank Church was a Democratic Senator from Idaho who served for several decades during the last century. In 1975, Church was stunned by what the committee bearing his name discovered about the enormous surveillance state being run by the National Security Agency, an agency most Americans at the time didn't know existed. About the agency's ability to spy on everyday Americans, he said: 'That capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn't matter. There would be no place to hide,' he said. A Colorado funeral home owner who sold hundreds of corpses to medical researchers and giving grieving families fake ashes has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Megan Hess, 48, and her mother, Shirley Koch, 69, transferred bodies and body parts from their Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in the western city of Montrose to third parties for research without the grieving families' knowledge before charging them $1,000 for fake cremations, US authorities said. A former employee of the funeral home, which Hess and Koch ran together, said the 48-year-old had earned $40,000 by extracting and selling the gold teeth of some of the deceased. U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello in Grand Junction sentenced Hess to the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud in November under a plea agreement in which other charges against her were dropped. Koch was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Megan Hess, 48, (pictured) and her mother, Shirley Koch, 69, transferred bodies and body parts from their Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in the western city of Montrose to third parties for research without the grieving families' knowledge before charging them $1,000 for fake cremations, US authorities said U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello in Grand Junction sentenced Hess (right) to the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud in November under a plea agreement in which other charges against her were dropped. Koch (bottom left) was sentenced to 15 years in prison FBI agents found that Hess forged dozens of body-donor consent forms at the Sunset Mesa funeral home, with the fraudster allegedly giving one family an urn of concrete dust, instead of their loved one's ashes. Instead of cremating the bodies, court records show, her body broker company harvested heads, spines, arms and legs and then sold them, mostly for surgical training and other educational purposes. Hess and her mother were arrested in 2020 and charged with six counts of mail fraud and three counts of illegal transportation of hazardous materials. Hess is said to have sold the remains to medical research firms and colleges which use the bodies to train medical and dental students. Hess charged $1,000 per cremation - only to pass on body parts to buyers, and also offered poor families free undertaking services, only to steal their remains. Judge Arguello sentenced the pair on Tuesday after victims testified about the pain they'd suffered under the scheme. Hess, pictured working as Funeral Director at Sunet Mesa in Montrose, Colorado, was sentenced to 20 years in prison A grand jury indictment said that from 2010 through 2018, Hess and Koch offered to cremate bodies and provide the remains to families at a cost of $1,000 or more, but many of the cremations never occurred. Hess created a nonprofit organization in 2009 called Sunset Mesa Funeral Foundation as a body-broker service doing business as Donor Services, authorities said. On dozens of occasions, Hess and Koch transferred bodies or body parts to third parties for research without families' knowledge, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The transfers were done through Sunset Mesa Funeral Foundation and Donor Services and families were given ashes that were not those of their loved ones, authorities said. Hess and Koch also shipped bodies and body parts that tested positive for, or belonged to people who died from, infectious diseases including HIV and Hepatitis B and C, despite certifying to buyers that the remains were disease-free, authorities said. Hess was previously accused of spending that money on a trip to Walt Disney World. Hess' attorney, Ashley Petrey, told the court onTuesday Hess was motivated by a desire to advance medical research. Assistant Unites States Attorney Tim Neff scoffed at the argument. 'Eight years of repeated conduct of this nature is all the court needs to know about her history and character,' Neff said. Koch said during the sentencing hearing, 'I acknowledge my guilt and take responsibility for my actions. Im very sorry for harm I caused you and your families.' Hess declined to address the court. A victim restitution hearing was scheduled for March. To increase sales, Hess targeted poor and vulnerable families as they grappled with a relative's final days, according to government court filings. She would offer them free cremations, but give out urns which were full of other dusty material. 'Meeting with hospice on the 4th ... opening the floodgates of donors,' Hess wrote to a prospective body-part buyer in 2014. 'They have four or five deaths a day. Get ready!!!! ... How about a deal on full embalmed spines ... $950?' Selling organs such as hearts, kidneys and tendons for transplant is illegal in the United States. But the sale of cadavers and body parts for use in research or education, which is what Hess did, is not regulated by federal law. Few state laws provide any regulation, and almost anyone, regardless of expertise, can dissect and sell human body parts. After an investigation first started by Reuters in 2018, Colorado's legislature strengthened the state's oversight. The mother of NRL star Payne Haas has been sent to a women's jail after it was found she allegedly broke her parole by evading police in the lead up to a horror crash that killed three people. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, 46, was jailed in the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre on Wednesday after she was spotted limping from a police van into the Southport watch house. The Brisbane Broncos forward's mother was hospitalised last Friday after allegedly veering onto the wrong side of the road in a black Mercedes and crashing into a white Mercedes while fleeing police in the Gold Coast hinterlands town of Bonogin. She was pulled from the burning wreckage and was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital with extensive external injuries and a bruised rib. Police charged Taufua with three counts of manslaughter and one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a driver's licence. Retired doctor Chris Fawcett, 79, his partner Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie, 35, were all killed in the collision. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua (centre) was jailed on Wednesday after it was found her alleged involvement in a car crash that killed three on Friday breached the conditions of her parole Police allege Taufua veered into the wrong lane in Bonogin and collided with a car carrying three (pictured, the aftermath of the crash) Taufua was pulled from her burning vehicle (above) while retired doctor Chris Fawcett, 79, his partner Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie, 35, died at the scene Taufua's high-profile lawyer Leigh Johnson was expected to submit a bail application in a hearing next week but Taufua was found on Wednesday to have allegedly broken the conditions of her parole from prior offences, Courier Mail reports. The mother pleaded guilty to assaulting two security guards at the Star Casino in September and was sentenced to nine months in jail. She was granted parole after serving a month behind bars. On Tuesday afternoon she was seen leaving a police van and entering a watch house while wearing her hospital wristband, a cast and compression socks. Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie, 35, (pictured together above) were killed in Friday's tragic crash Retired doctor Chris Fawcett, 79, (above) was killed after Taufua allegedly veered into the wrong lane Police laid three charges of manslaughter against Taufua on Monday for her alleged involvement in Friday's crash (pictured, tributes left at the scene of the crash) Footage showed her limping into custody while wearing a baggy T-shirt with the print 'the world is yours'. Meanwhile, her son Payne Haas has been granted leave from NRL training to support his family. Daily Mail Australia makes no suggestion he was involved in the crash. Queensland Police said they've been able to 'paint a picture' of how the crash allegedly unfolded through CCTV and eyewitness accounts. It will be alleged Taufua was driving dangerously at a high speed in the 'preceding 10 minutes of the crash' before she allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road. Officers had turned on their lights and sirens in the minutes before Taufua crashed but did not begin a pursuit due to public safety concerns. Broncos player Payne Haas (pictured with Leilani Mohenoa) has been granted leave from NRL training to support his family Taufua was moved to the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre (above) on Wednesday after it was found she allegedly breached her parole Police allege Taufua was driving her black Mercedes (above) in a 'dangerous manner on the wrong side of the road at high speed' 'Police are alleging (Taufua's) vehicle was driven in an extremely dangerous manner on the wrong side of the road at high speed,' Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter told reporters on Monday. 'Police activated lights and sirens and when she accelerated and police followed procedure and pulled over.' Det Sen Sgt Procter said officers were advised Taufua's car had been involved in a crash 1km further up the road one minute later. 'We have seized a lot of CCTV and painted a picture of what happened,' he said. It is understood Taufua's licence was suspended at the time of the incident. Witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the crash or moments leading up to it are being urged to come forward. Australia's bright and sunny start to 2023 is officially over as wild weather batters the country with giant hail, high and dangerous winds, flooding and evacuations. Record-breaking floods have already inundated the Kimberley Region in Western Australia as flood warnings remain in place in almost every state. Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie is bringing very heavy rainfall east of Broome, with up to 200mm likely to fall in 24 hours. Parts of NSW have had severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon caused by a moist unstable air mass. Here is what the weather is looking like in your state. Australia's bright and sunny start to 2023 is officially over. Pictured is a woman enjoying the previous warm weather on Sydney's Bondi Beach WESTERN AUSTRALIA Floodwaters have inundated the homes of around 1,200 Fitzroy Crossing residents with residents being flown to Broome. The Fitzroy River is expected to peak at 15.7m - exceeding flood records by almost two metres. Fire and emergency services commissioner Darren Klemm called it 'a one-in-100 year' flood event and an urgent evacuation order has been issued for residents of Willare and Noonkanbah to get to higher ground. The Federal government has approved a request for Australian Defence Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas. Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie continues to wreck havoc east of Broome with heavy rain totals forecast for the region into Thursday. Up to 200mm are likely to fall in 24 hours. 'People in the north of WA experience these types of weather conditions at this time of year but the extended nature of this event and associated flooding is unusual and dangerous,' a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology said. Locations which may be affected include Broome, Derby, Cape Leveque, Cockatoo Island, Fitzroy Crossing and Kuri Bay. In the Dampier Peninsula, up to 250mm could fall in the next 24 hours. Record-breaking floods have already inundated the Kimberley Region in Western Australia (pictured) as flood warnings remain in place in almost every state Damaging winds are averaging speeds of up to 70km/h with peak gust of around 100km/h occurring at Cape Leveque including Broome until late Thursday morning. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie is expected to finally move steadily to the east on Friday. VICTORIA Upstream floodwaters are prolonging flooding along the Murray River which are expected to stick around until mid-to-late January. A moderate flood warning is in place at Mildura and Wentworth. Minor flooding is occurring at Wakool Junction, Boundary Bend and Euston. Edward River at Moulamein fell below the minor flood level of 4.6m on Tuesday morning and is currently falling. NEW SOUTH WALES A moist unstable air mass has triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon across parts of NSW. The Bureau of Meteorology warns severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Bilpin, Colo Heights and Badgerys Creek. The east coast of Australia (pictured) is in for a soaking in the coming days These thunderstorms are moving towards the south and are forecast to affect Camden, Campbelltown, Picton, Richmond, Penrith and Appin. Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding in Grafton, Penrith, Katoomba, Tamworth, Gunnedah and Tambar Springs. Major flooding is occurring at Menindee, where river levels are currently steady near 10.2 metres. A further river rise could bring the flood level to 10.7m - above the 1976 flood record of 10.47 metres. A moderate flood warning remains in place along the Lachlan River at Hillston and the lower Murrumbidgee River at Balranald. Minor flooding continues at Booligal. Upstream flood waters are causing prolonged flooding along the Murray River. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Ten flood warnings remain in place in South Australia after they were issued last Friday. Despite this, the weather has cleared over Adelaide where cloudy but warm conditions will stick around to the end of the week. The sun is expected to come out by Friday, when temperatures in the high 30s stay for the weekend. Unlike most of the country, Adelaide will be scorching by the weekend, with temperatures in the high 30s. Pictured are two women on a beach TASMANIA Cloudy conditions are constant in the island state for the rest of the week. However, Hobart will remain relatively dry with temperatures in the high teens. AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall are expected and may lead to flash flooding. Canberra will be mostly cloudy in the coming days. QUEENSLAND Queensland is experiencing a drenching this week as the remnants of Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie cover most of the state. It has brought flooding to multiple regions including major flooding on the Georgina River and moderate flooding on the Flinders River. Minor flood warnings are in place in the Norman, Gilbert, Nicholson, Leichhardt, Upper Herbert and Diamantina rivers. A severe thunderstorms has been issued for the Southern Coast district on Wednesday afternoon. Wild weather, including heavy rain and flooding, is on the way for much of Australia. Pictured are two women holding umbrellas in the rain in Brisbane It is likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Beaudesert, Boonah and Springbrook. NORTHERN TERRITORY The Northern Territory is still covered in a massive band of rain left behind by Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie. It's wet and steamy in Darwin on Wednesday, with up to 35mm of rain expected to fall on the northern capital. Another 25mm is expected to fall each day until the weekend when the rain is expected to ease. A Tesla crash has sparked the fury of locals after it mounted the kerb on a busy city street, with concerns that speeding in the area could end up with someone being killed. The car was allegedly travelling at 'high speed' down Bowman Street, Pyrmont in Sydney's inner city when the dramatic crash took place on Wednesday. The Tesla allegedly mounted the kerb and travelled into a park before returning to the street, according to witnesses. 'It's so lucky that someone didn't get hurt,' one witness said. Another wrote on social media that 'The owner of the Tesla gave me the finger while being questioned by police!' Witnesses said the car (pictured) was allegedly travelling at more than 100km/h before crashing Pictures is a side view showing the extent of the damage to the Tesla that crashed on Wednesday 'There are so many pedestrians, it's school holidays and there's a busy park next door.' Another witness described how another car turning into the street was taken out by the Tesla. 'It didn't see the car flying down so tried to turn onto Bowman street,' local Tobias Goodman said. 'The impact of the two cars caused the Tesla to go flying, it hit two poles and swerved back onto the street and hit another car. 'It was left in pieces.' NSW Police are currently investigating after they were called out to the scene following reports of a two-vehicle crash between a Tesla and a Mazda 3. 'A crime scene has been established and investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the crash,' the police said. The back of the car (pictured) was also badly damaged in the crash in the Pyrmont area of Sydney Locals are pictured at the scene of a crash in an inner city Sydney street on Wednesday Luckily, no one was seriously injured in the crash, with the driver of the Tesla questioned by police. The Tesla driver, believed to be in his 30s, was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with minor injuries in a stable condition, while the Mazda 3 driver, also in his 30s, was uninjured. The crash has drawn the ire of those living in the area, who said they are afraid to cross the street, which is often used as a thoroughfare for speeding cars. 'I've seen so many moments of danger with so many cars speeding down there, it's a straight road and people think that it's fine to speed down. 'But unfortunately it's a highly densely populated area with the high rises,' said local woman Tessa Goodman. Pictured is an overhead view of the scene after a Tesla crashed on an inner city street 'I've got a four-year-old, we cross the street to go to the swimming pool, to go to the cafe, to go to the park, we're constantly crossing.' Mr Goodman said the 'most upsetting' part of the crash is that he and other locals have been in contact with the council to try to have speed bumps and other deterrents put in place to stop the speeding. 'I've emailed council a year ago and I got a response from the mayor, but this is the closest that someone has come to getting seriously hurt.' The crashed Tesla is pictured being moved onto a truck to be taken away from the scene Despite the speed limit in the area being reduced to 40km/h, locals say that more needs to be done. 'There's no pedestrian crossing ... It's a highly dense residential area and there's nowhere for people to cross safely,' said Mr Goodman. 'We need a speed bump before someone actually gets seriously injured ... please let's take the opportunity to prevent (a serious accident) and avoid acting when its too late,' said Ms Goodman. 'I don't understand why they don't want to fix the problem.' Police investigating the fatal stabbing of Adrian Keise in south London have released images of two men they wish to speak to. Mr Keise, 32, was stabbed outside the Cubana Restaurant on Lower Marsh Street, Lambeth on October 29. He was found near a block of flats on Frazier Street at around 2.30am and was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital. He died a short time later. Adrian Keise (pictured) died from stab injuries on October 29 outside a Cuban restaurant in Waterloo Police investigating the fatal stabbing of Adrian Keise in south London have released images of two men (pictured) they wish to speak to A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as stab injuries. Three men have been charged with Mr Keise's murder and are next due to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, January 24. Officers believe the two men in the images may have witnessed the incident but have not yet come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'If you are the people in these images, or if you know who they are, then I urge you to please get in touch with us. 'I'd like to stress that you are not in any trouble. We believe that you may have important information relating to the brutal murder of Adrian outside the Cubana Restaurant. 'Please, do the right thing and contact my team today of if you'd prefer to stay anonymous then contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.' It comes as data revealed that the Met Police responded to 13,405 incidents involving knives in just 12 months, in a further sign Lawless London has become the knife crime capital of the country. Between October 2021 and June 2022, 49,991 non-fatal crimes using knives were recorded across England and Wales, according to crime survey data released by the Office for National Statistics. This is equivalent to 136 incidents every single day. Four people have died after a car collided with a ute near the rural Victorian city of Shepparton. The crash occurred about 4.45pm on Wednesday afternoon with the driver of the car being flown to hospital in a serious condition, while the driver of the ute walked away with minor injuries. Traffic has been halted at the site - an intersection in Pine Lodge just east of Shepparton - as emergency crews attend the scene. The car was knocked off the road and has ended up in a paddock, with Victoria Police confirming four passengers perished. The crash occurred in Pine Lodge (pictured) east of Shepparton in rural Victoria Detectives are being flown up from the Victorian capital Melbourne to investigate the scene The driver of the ute remained at the scene to assist emergency crews. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are being flown from Melbourne to investigate the scene and determine the cause of the crash. Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. More to follow. A man has thrown his search for a home loan out the window after securing a huge $20 million win in the latest Oz Lotto draw. The man from Findon in South Australia was the only division one winning entry in draw 1507, pulled on January 3. The man said he was feeling 'fantastic' and had been waiting for the call from Oz Lotto after spending the night celebrating with his wife. 'Last night, I remembered I had a ticket and thought I'd take a look. I was so shocked. I just turned the phone over to my wife and said, 'have a look',' he said. The man was the only winner from the division one entry in draw 1507. Picture: Stock/OzLotto 'She started screaming and crying. What a moment! We couldn't believe it. I can't believe how much we cried.' He said he physically felt the effects of the excitement of the win. 'We were awake until about 4am this morning. My chest was pumping all night. I felt like I could see my heart beating. I just kept looking at my phone thinking, 'am I dreaming? What's happening to me?'.' The man has revealed how he plans to spend the huge sum of money, planning on buying his family their first home and supporting loved ones. The first thing the man has decided to take care of with the money is buying his first home. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard 'We've been wanting to buy our first home for a while. We've been looking for a loan from different banks and there have been so many ups and downs. Not anymore!' The happy husband also stated that he has always told his wife he would win the lottery. 'I've said to her 'one day I will win. I don't know how much it will be or when, but I will win,' he said. 'I've been thinking about it. This has been my vision.' The last photo of a mother and son before a horror helicopter crash at SeaWorld shows them holding a ticket for the fatal joy flight. Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, and her 10-year-old son Nicholas took their last photo together just moments before boarding a chopper flight at Gold Coast theme park on Monday afternoon. Their flight was only in the air for 20 seconds before crashing slicing its rotor blades into the other aircraft's cockpit and ripping its own gearbox off. Mrs Tadros, pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57 were all tragically killed in the crash. Three others were left fighting for life. Nicholas was severely injured with his father, Simon Tadros, revealing on Wednesday the little boy is in a critical condition and does not yet know his mother is dead. Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, and her 10-year-old son Nicholas took a photo (above) before boarding a Sea World helicopter Mrs Tadros, pilot Ash Jenkinson and British couple Ron and Dianne Hughes were killed after their helicopter (above) collided with another Sea World aircraft just 20 seconds after take off 'He's not good, he's on a life support machine. I'm not in a good headspace at all,' he told Daily Telegraph. One of Nicholas' cousins said several other family members had gone to Sea World with Mrs Tardos and her son but didn't go on the flight due to long wait times. 'The saddest part of it all is that the family had to witness all of it, there's a lot of them up there together,' they said. 'There are more of us on the Gold Coast and we've also got family overseas who need to be kept in the loop. It's a tragedy.' Mrs Tadros' mourning family have begun closing her popular Sydney-based event planning business, Vee Vee Creations. 'It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to inform everyone of the passing of my beautiful wife and mother to my son Vanessa,' Mr Tadros wrote on the business' Facebook page. How the crash is believed to have unfolded: A step-by-step account of the Gold Coast Sea World helicopter crash on Monday British-born pilot Ash Jenkinson (pictured with his family) was killed alongside three of his passengers on Monday British couple Ron and Diane Hughes (above) and Australian mother Vanessa Tadros were killed in the horror helicopter collision on Monday 'Vanessa was one of the victims in the SeaWorld helicopter crash that happened on the Gold Coast a couple of days ago. While my son is fighting for life in the ICU of Gold Coast Hospital. 'As a result, Vee Vee Creations will be closing down. I will be going through Vanessa's records to see which events have to be refunded or cancelled. I'm sorry to anyone that this has inconvenienced.' More than 200 of Mrs Tadros' customers commented under the post wishing the best for her struggling family. 'My most sincere condolences to you Simon. I am still in shock, Vanessa was a beautiful person and she will be so missed. I hope your little boy pulls through. Sending prayers for him,' one person wrote. 'This is really awful news. Absolutely devastating for you and all your loved ones. I hope that your son is able to pull through and your family can have joy and light in your future again after this tragedy,' another commented. Pilot Michael James (above) has been praised for managing to keep his aircraft upright after the collision and landing it safely on a nearby sandbar The Air Transport Safety Bureau said it is investigating whether the helicopter model contributed to the horror crash (pictured, the wreckage of Mr Jenkinson's helicopter) Queensland Police is investigating the helicopter that killed four. The two helicopters, driven by pilots Ash Jenkinson and Michael James, collided shortly after Mr Jenkinson's took off. Meanwhile, another young boy who narrowly survived the crash is also fighting for life. Leon de Silva, nine, suffered a fractured skull, brain trauma and facial injuries and is now in an induced coma at Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane. His mother Winnie, 33, is also recovering in hospital with two broken legs, severe damage to her left knee, a badly broken right shoulder and shattered her collarbone in the impact. All five passengers on board the second helicopter piloted by Michael James escaped serious injury. The Air Transport Safety Bureau said it is investigating whether the helicopter model - which unusually seats the pilot on the left side of the cockpit - contributed to the crash by creating blind spots. Winnie de Silva, 33, moved to Australia from Kenya and her son Leon, 9, (pictured together) joined her just a year ago MailOnline has spent years tracking the activities of arrested influencer Andrew Tate, from his upbringing in Chicago and Luton to his arrest in Romania. Our video guide reveals some of his most shocking social media videos and where he is believed to make most of his money. Reporter Vivek Chaudhary also joins us from Bucharest to explain what the influencer has been doing there and why he fled the UK. Watch it here: Park Gyeong-seok, center, a representative of Solidarity against Disability Discrimination (SADD), remains on the platform inside Hyewha Station on Seoul Metro Line 4, Wednesday, as commuters pass by. Police officers stay close to Park watching out for any movements by his group. Yonhap Protesters clash with police, subway officials at station for hours earlier this week By Ko Dong-hwan Subway protests by disability rights activists who are demanding an increased government budget to protect the rights of people with disabilities are becoming increasingly tense. Since last year, the activists have been disrupting subway operations throughout Seoul's subway system for long periods of time. They announced on Tuesday that they will continue with their protests "every day except on weekends and holidays," until their demands are met. On Wednesday morning, the disability rights activists of Solidarity against Disability Discrimination (SADD), whose members consist of people with disabilities and their supporters, posted on Facebook that Seoul Metro, the city-run subway operator, agreed to meet representatives of the group later that day. The meeting is to negotiate whether the city-run company will introduce additional elevators inside more subway stations around the city so as to improve accessibility and whether the protesters will halt their ongoing demonstrations, which have been ongoing for months causing serious frustrations to both the subway passengers and the protesters also. Earlier on Wednesday, members of the group resumed their daily protests as members, including some 20 people in wheelchairs, gathered at the southbound platform of Hyehwa Station on Seoul Metro Line 4. In a public statement, they said it was the 255th day of their protest. A station official reportedly said the protesters blocked several doors on the platform making it impossible for passengers to board or exit the train. The protesters then went inside a subway car and got off at Samgakji Station, the nearest station to the presidential office in Yongsan District, where the protesters have been assembling frequently. On Wednesday, the group also said via their official Facebook page that they will protest only at stations on Line 4 in the future and will notify the public in advance as to which stations they will protest at every morning at 8 a.m. in order to minimize clashes with commuters. A member of Solidarity against Disability Discrimination is blocked by Seoul Metro officials from entering a train car at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station, Tuesday. Yonhap Previously on Tuesday, a heated clash between protesters and police officers as well as Seoul Metro officials lasted for nearly six hours after starting during the morning rush hour. Initially, 20 protesters boarded a train at Sungshin Women's University Station traveled southbound. Some of the protesters got off at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station while the rest of them stayed aboard, heading for Samgakji Station. The group who had left the train attempted to get into another train, but were blocked by 100 police officers and station officials, who had been on the lookout for the protesters at the platform. The police had anticipated that the protesters would try to occupy a train and delay it from leaving the station. "Let us use the subway, we are citizens too!" said Lee Hyeong-sook and Park Keong-seok, both wheelchair users who represent the group, along with other protesters as they were surrounded by the authorities on the platform. During the clash, the station's head operator sustained an injury and was taken to a hospital after a protester rammed his legs with a wheelchair. The station chief warned the protesters at the scene that they were violating the country's Railway Safety Act by causing a commotion inside the station. As the clash went on, subway trains had to bypass the station, frustrating commuters hoping to get on or off there. The clash ended after the protest stopped just after 2 p.m. A similar situation erupted at Samgakji Station on Monday. It went on for over 13 hours, virtually cutting the station off from the metro system during that period. Last year, Seoul Metro sued SADD for disrupting the subway company's operations and demanded restitution for its losses. The Seoul Central District Court on Dec. 21 enforced a compulsory mediation, mandating the company to construct new elevators at 19 subway stations under its control by 2024. The court also banned the protesters from rallying inside subway trains for more than five minutes. They will be fined 5 million won ($3,900) for violations, the mediation stated. Police officers block the subway safety doors at Samgakji Station to prevent members of Solidary against Disability Discrimination from boarding, Monday. Yonhap Vladimir Putin is leading Russia towards revolution, making the same catastrophic military mistakes as Russia did in 1917, warns a leading pro-Kremlin war analyst. His army is at the point of no return where he loses if it attacks and if it retreats, said Igor Strelkov, a former FSB colonel and ex-defence minister of self-styled Donetsk People's Republic in Russian-occupied Ukraine. 'Intelligent people have come to the conclusion that, in the current situation, Russia is in a complete Zugzwang,' he said, in reference to a chess dilemma in which a player is put at a disadvantage because of their obligation to move. The word is German for 'compulsion to move'. 'It is impossible to keep on defending because it quickly worsens [our] strategic position,' Strelkov said. 'And it is impossible to attack, since this is fraught with a quick military catastrophe.' Vladimir Putin is leading Russia towards revolution, making the same catastrophic military mistakes as Russia did in 1917, a leading pro-Kremlin war analyst has warned. Pictured: Ukrainian forces launch grad missiles against Russian positions in Donesk He warned: 'The combat effectiveness and morale of the army is strongly reminiscent of the same before the July 1917 offensive of [Alexander] Kerensky.' Strelkov - real name Igor Girkin - was one of the key players in Putin seizing control of Crimea in 2014, and subjugating Ukrainian region Donetsk the same year. He has key support among army and secret services commanders below the top level. He has long criticised the Russian leader's current war strategy, and demanded the rushed mobilisation of one million more fighters to defeat Ukraine, as well as a clear-cut of Putin's top commanders and defence ministers. In his latest critique, he said: 'There is not a word said about the Kremlin going for radical personnel changes and other necessary reforms. 'No-one believes in this anymore.' He warned of a repeat of Russia's errors in the months before the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 which led to the defeat of a 'liberal' government ushering in seven decades of communist tyranny. He implied Putin's military strategy is triggering his own downfall. Putin's army is at the point of no return where he loses if it attacks and if it retreats, said Igor Strelkov, a former FSB colonel and ex-defence minister of self-styled Donetsk People's Republic in Russian-occupied Ukraine. He also said Russians do not understand what they are fighting for in Ukraine Pictured: Adestroyed Russian BMP infantry fighting vehicle lies on the side of the road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine on January 2, 2023 Kerensky, head of the Russian provisional government after the toppling of last tsar Nicholas II, insisted on a disastrous, ill-timed World War One counter-offensive under supreme commander General Aleksei Brusilov. This turned his troops to mutiny, tens of thousands of dead soldiers, and a collapse of the offensive. Strelkov warned that Putin's top commanders were bent on a counteroffensive in Ukraine, aiming to catch Ukraine and its NATO supporters by surprise, with likely disastrous results. This had been advocated among others by retired Lt-Gen Andrey Gurulev, a pro-Putin TV advocate for the high command, he said. This 'clearly demonstrates the general level of brainlessness of our top generals, to which he recently belonged,' said Strelkov. 'Probably, the general forgot - or perhaps he never knew - that NATO has a large space capability and effective modern air reconnaissance. 'There is also radio interception and radio location. 'They also have brains in their headquarters and analytical centres. 'Let me remind you that the enemy predicted the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces a year ago - and even posted this information in the media ahead of time and with an accuracy of several days.' Separately in a video, he said: 'I stress one more time - our [Russian] army does not understand what it is fighting for.' Volunteer battalions knew their purpose but were a 'drop in the ocean compared to the overall number of soldiers and officers at the front'. The problems are in Putin's regular forces, he said. Strelkov, 52, a staunchly pro-war blogger, is among three convicted by a Dutch court last year for the downing of a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet in which all 298 on board were killed in 2014. Despite this, he remains a key voice inside Russia on the conduct of the war. Men watch workers removing debris of a destroyed building purported to be a vocational college used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers. Russia has admitted that 89 of it soldiers were killed in the attack, although Ukraine claims the figure is much higher Mourners lay flowers near the Eternal Flame memorial as they gather in Glory Square the day after Russia's Defence Ministry stated that dozens of Russian servicemen were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on their temporary accommodation in Makiivka Strelkov's comments came after Ukraine claimed on Tuesday that it had destroyed a Russian ammunition store in the latest blow to Putin's war effort. The dramatic aerial attack in Svatovo, eastern Luhansk region, was captured on video. Footage from the drone that dropped the explosive showed Russian troops fleeing moments before a huge blast ripped the building apart. The strikes are the latest in a series of attacks carried out by Kyiv's forces in recent days that have dealt devastating blows against Vladimir Putin's invading forces. Ukraine said two other attacks had taken out 500 Russian troops in the southern Kherson region. One of the strikes - a major attack on a farm in Chulakivka - was claimed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, adding to the scores killed in Makiivka, in occupied Donetsk region, on 31 December. And in the other strike, Ukraine is believed to have hit a recreational facility called Grand Prix used by Russian military occupiers in the village of Sahy, including GRU military intelligence special forces. The scale of any losses here is not yet clear. These strikes came just a day after after Moscow made a rare admission of massive loss of life in a separate strike by HIMARS missile systems on December 31 on a military barracks. Pictured: The Russian ammo depot is seen in flames after a drone dropped a bomb on it As the scale of the devastation was made public, Russian mourners voiced grief and anger at Moscow's commanders during a rare public commemoration for thesoldiers that were killed in the New Year's Eve strike. Russia first admitted that 63 solders were killed. This number has since been raised to 89 - the highest acknowledged loss in the war, although Ukraine says the true number is around 400 dead. And to make matters worse for Russia's embattled president Putin, explosions were heard today at a Russian military base in Novy Oskol, Belgorod region, amid suspicions of yet another daring Ukrainian attack across the border on Russian soil. Smoke was seen in a video pouring into the sky from the facility. Santander is changing its degree requirements in an attempt to increase socioeconomic diversity in the workplace. The bank will no longer require a 2:1 degree for graduates as recruiters try to find the 'best candidates from a wide range of backgrounds' - meaning those with third class degrees will now be able to apply. Santander, which is the first major bank in the UK to lower its degree requirements, told The Telegraph the move will open its graduate programme to an additional 64,000 people each year. The move comes after other City companies, including consulting firm PwC, implemented similar policies last year. Santander is dropping its degree requirements in an attempt to increase socioeconomic diversity in the workplace. The bank will no longer require a 2:1 degree for graduates as recruiters try to find the 'best candidates from a wide range of backgrounds' The bank claims around 16 per cent of university graduates earn a 2:2 degree and that the move will open its programme to an additional 64,000 people each year Applications are expected to open later this month. The bank claims around 16 per cent of university graduates earn a 2:2 degree, meaning the move will allow for thousands of new potential candidates. A Santander spokesperson told MailOnline today: 'Our decision to update our degree criteria for graduate roles reflects our focus on a broad range of assessments to measure potential and is an acknowledgement that performance at university is not the only indicator of success in the workplace. 'We receive a high volume of applications for our graduate roles each year.' The spokesperson argued that academic achievement is 'only one of many factors' the bank considers when recruiting staff. The Spanish lender reportedly believes 'potential can be found anywhere' and the changes only 'reinforce' the firm's commitment to finding the best candidates across all backgrounds. The spokesperson added: 'Our decision to update our degree requirements means that we are enabling more people from a range of backgrounds to enter banking.' It is unclear if other major banks - such as Lloyds, HSBC or NatWest - plan to implement similar policies. MailOnline has approached the firms for comment. Last year, PwC and asset manager Schroders changed academic requirements for graduate staff as Britain battled difficulties in the labour market. Simon Roderick, of financial services recruitment firm Fram Search, told MailOnline that Santander changing its criteria could be in response to several factors such as customer needs, creating a more inclusive workforce and meeting regulator expectations. He added: 'At the heart of their approach will be an intensive search for talent and skills, rather than just focusing on exams results. 'The world of work is changing fast, client bases are diverse, a team of many talents is needed, and firms need to reflect this in their approach to hiring.' Academic achievement is 'one of many factors' Santander considers when recruiting staff as 'potential can be found anywhere' Samuel Leach, director of Samuel and Co Trading, argued that although the banking sector is not currently in a hiring crisis, when the economy moves out of the recession there is 'indeed a risk within the banking sector for recruitment.' 'The current banking sector is experiencing a lot of disrupter firms like Monzo, and Revolut and the pay packages are competitive meaning it's very cut-throat and competitive. This also has a knock-on effect on retention as individuals get poached and offered better packages with competitors,' he told MailOnline. 'I think it's a strategic move to balance the cost of hiring and maintaining a lower level of current standards, it also opens up the doors to further candidates that aren't necessarily fitting the fixed requirements at other firms so it opens up the candidate pool options.' Mr Leach argued disrupter firms may take a different angle on their recruitment process if they feel they are not getting the candidates they require, adding: 'But I do not foresee this happening until Q3/Q4. 'With the banking sector worried about the shortage of well-trained candidates and also cautious about the time to train candidates and the cost behind this when they can be poached/offered higher pay at another firm, it's a lost investment and a waste of time training.' He predicts that other firms may turn to degree equivalents to expand their applicant pool 'but not necessarily lower the degree class requirements.' The experts' commentary echoes that of a recent report published by the Josh Bersin Company, a California-based HR consulting firm, detailing how the banking industry is 'rapidly changing.' Their research, conducted in the US but allegedly reflective of the global industry, revealed that the real issue banks are facing is the 'problem of recruiting, retaining, reskilling, and redesigning bank operations to build internal talent.' In a statement to MailOnline, he warned: 'Digital transformation of banks is a talent challenge (not a technology one), as most banks are falling behind in terms of the skillsets their employees have. 'Despite attempts to hire fresh talent, the sector will be 350,000 people short of suitable digital and technology skills by 2025. 'The banks that will be successful in the future are the ones proactively reskilling current employees with future-ready tech skills and retaining them by designing "irresistible" workplaces. ' He added: 'This may reflect Santanders approach to lowering their degree requirements, focusing on people skills and enthusiasm to technology rather than more traditional metrics.' Just last week the Daily Mail revealed that the five biggest banks in the UK have closed more than half their branches since 2015, with HSBC the worst offender. Lenders have taken the axe to their bricks-and-mortar network as more households turn to digital banking. Analysts say Santander changing its higher criteria could be in response to several factors such as customer needs, creating a more inclusive workforce and meeting regulator expectations Santander's graduate requirement changes also come just one month after the bank was fined 107.8million over 'serious and persistent gaps' in its anti-money laundering controls. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said in early December that the bank 'failed to properly oversee and manage' these systems, which impacted its oversight of more than 560,000 business customers. Santander had 'ineffective' systems to adequately verify the information provided by customers about the business they were doing, the FCA said. The failures led to more than 298million passing through the bank before it closed accounts. Just before Christmas, it was revealed that Santander and the FCA are also reviewing allegations that the chief risk officer at Santander's UK investment bank harassed and bullied staff. Eduardo Consolini Bastida has been accused of making jokes of a sexual nature and inappropriate comments to female employees at social gatherings with colleagues. Complaints, which involve at least three employees, span several years and also include allegations of bullying in the workplace. The bank is working with US law firm Gibson Dunn to review the allegations. The probe is still ongoing and no conclusions have been reached yet. The driver was described as 'almost in tears' as he came to the door to apologise A delivery driver was forced to apologise after he dumped a 22lb (10kg) grocery parcel on top of a sleeping baby in a pram. The mother had left her child in a pushchair outside her house in Sweden when the large Hello Fresh package was placed on the infant. It is common to leave your baby sleeping in a pram outside in Scandinavian countries even in cold weather as they believe it brings the youngster health benefits. The mother said in an Instagram post: 'Congratulations, you crushed a sleeping baby in its pram with a 10kg parcel and have no shame. Thank God the baby is OK! Never again!' The woman left her sleeping baby in a pushchair outside her house in Sweden only to find a large Hello Fresh cardboard box on top of the infant Social media blogger Camilla Gervide shared the case on her website Bloggbevakning and said that the mother had complained to Gordon Delivery, the firm responsible for the grocery service. It was said that the mother was initially offered 250 Swedish krona, equivalent to 20, in compensation. Mikael Sahlsten, a spokesman for the business, told the Aftonbladet newspaper that the driver wanted to leave the parcel in a dry area and thought the pram, which was by the front door, would be suitable. He added that the employee did not see the sleeping baby and was 'very sorry'. The driver went back to the house to apologise, bringing the mother flowers and chocolate. The mother wrote in another Instagram post that she had been given two free deliveries after the incident and that the man had been 'almost in tears' on her doorstep. A teacher left his job after being suspended for misgendering a pupil in 2017 A teacher who said he was forced to leave two schools after calling a transgender pupil a girl and then Muhammad a 'false prophet' will appear at a professional conduct hearing. Joshua Sutcliffe, who taught maths at Cherwell School in Oxford and then at a Catholic school in Islington, has a hearing scheduled for January 9. In 2017 Mr Sutcliffe was suspended by, and then left, Cherwell School after he praised a group of students by saying 'well done girls' to a group that included a pupil who identified as a boy. He later took legal action against the school for constructive dismissal and discrimination. Joshua Sutcliffe, who taught maths at a school in Oxford, faces a misconduct trial on January 9 after he 'accidentally' misgendered a transgender pupil In 2019 the Christian preacher said he had to leave a school in London, which he had been at for over a year, after posting a video in which he called Muhammad a 'false prophet'. The hearing, which is due to last until January 13, is in relation to Mr Sutcliffe's time in Oxford. Mr Sutcliffe said: 'Teaching mathematics has always been a great joy of mine. The potential for me to be prevented from teaching for holding and expressing my Christian beliefs is wrong and I believe I am being discriminated against in ways other religions and philosophical beliefs would not be. 'As a society we must be free to critique other religions and beliefs, including Islam, without fear of losing our livelihoods. 'I have been hounded out of two jobs for expressing my beliefs in the workplace and in my personal time. Dissatisfied with that, the TRA are now seeking to force me out of the profession indefinitely. 'However, I would rather lose my profession than be silenced. 'I was determined to comply with the school's policies so long as I was not unlawfully coerced to act contrary to my conscience. 'My teaching record is exemplary. I believe this case is not about my ability to teach but about me being a Christian and believing in the gospel and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.' In 2017 Mr Sutcliffe was suspended by Cherwell School (pictured) after he said 'well done girls' to a group of pupils, including one who identified as a boy While teaching in Oxford, Mr Sutcliffe said, 'well done girls', to a group of pupils when he spotted them working hard. He apologised when corrected by the pupil about their gender, but six weeks later he was suspended from teaching after the pupil's mother lodged a complaint. At the time he said he had no official instructions about how to address the student, but along with other staff decided to use the pupil's chosen first name. However, he has admitted that, as a Christian, he avoided using male pronouns such as 'he' and 'him'. He believed this was consistent with the school's code of conduct and equality policies to show respect and tolerance, and he said he had encountered no problems with this. Following an investigation, he was summoned to a formal disciplinary hearing to face misconduct charges for 'misgendering'. He then took the school to an employment tribunal, claiming he had been victimised for his Christian beliefs - though both parties settled out of court. After leaving the school in Oxfordshire, he started working in London in September 2018. Mr Sutcliffe said he had to leave the second school because of views he shared on his YouTube channel. A parent is said to have reported one of his videos to the school, Mr Sutcliffe told Premier Christianity: 'I had to leave that post as well, because of the pressure that was put on me from the school.' On his channel, which has hundreds of uploads and over 500 subscribers, he posted a video called: 'What does the Bible say about false prophets?'. In the video he said: 'I know this is controversial and I know that people might be offended by what I'm saying but I do it in love and because I want to speak the truth. 'I believe Muhammad is a false prophet. I would suggest that Muslims have a false understanding of God because they've been led by a false prophet. On his YouTube channel, Mr Sutcliffe posted a video called: 'What does the Bible say about false prophets?' 'Jesus is the only true prophet because he is God in the flesh, he is the voice of God, he brings true revelation and understanding because he is God.' In another video posted later in the year, Mr Sutcliffe said he lost his first job due to the 'LGBT mafia' and the second job to the 'Islamic mafia'. He said: 'Both camps used bully tactics and intimidation and they're getting people sacked all around the country. 'This is very dear to my heart, I love education, I love teaching and I really enjoy teaching maths. 'The sad thing for me is that I'm not allowed to be me, I do my job excellently, I teach maths very well and I understand the curriculum. 'The problem is that we've got the LGBT mafia which got me kicked out of one school and the Islamic mafia who got me kicked out of another. 'Teachers are scared stiff of these bullies.' Cherwell School has been contacted for a comment. Koryn Kraemer was arrested on an accusation of assault in the second degree The elderly man was left with sickening injuries that left his skull exposed The suspect chewed off a victim's ear and half of his face in a violent attack A suspect has chewed off an elderly man's ear and some of his face in a horrific attack on a Portland train platform. The injuries were so severe that some of the 78-year-old man's skull was exposed after the violent attack in the suburb of Gresham in the state of Oregon on Tuesday morning. Police were able to intervene but not before the elderly man was left sickeningly maimed, authorities said after the attack. Police arrested 25-year-old suspect Koryn Kraemer and booked him on an accusation of assault in the second degree. Authorities are also investigating as to whether drug use may have prompted Kraemers behavior. Gresham Police Officers and a Multnomah County Sheriffs Office deputy responded to the attack at the Cleveland Avenue MAX platform, in Gresham, Oregon (pictured) The attack occurred in the early hours of the morning on a MAX train platform, the metropolitan area express service in Portland. Police said they responded to the vicious incident at around 2.17 am where witnesses had reported an attack with a significant amount of blood. Gresham Police Officers and a Multnomah County Sheriffs Office deputy responded thinking the attack had been a stabbing. When they arrived at the Cleveland Avenue MAX platform, the responding officers found the suspect still engaging in the attack and lying on top of the elderly victim, police said. Police then confirmed that the elderly man had not been stabbed but that his ear and part of his face had been chewed off, exposing some of the 78-year-old's skull. Officers called for paramedics to provide the victim with emergency medical attention. Police said they responded to the vicious incident at around 2.17 am where witnesses had reported an attack with a significant amount of blood (file image of a police car) The police officers then took the suspect into custody. But police said that the suspect gave a fake name, identifying himself as 'El Baker'. Once lodged in jail, Multnomah County Jail staff took his fingerprints and correctly identified the man to be Koryn Kraemer. The 25-year-old had recently moved to Portland, Oregon from the Georgia, police confirmed. No case information has yet been listed for Kraemer in Oregon's online court system. He is also yet to make a court appearance. It is also unclear if Kraemer had an attorney who could comment. The unidentified victim, from Hillsboro, Oregon, is in a stable condition and should make a full recovery. Passengers have hailed the hero helicopter pilot who incredibly managed to land his crippled chopper safely as chilling video of the tragic Sea World crash emerges. But for those who have lost loved ones in the tragedy which killed four and left three others critically injured, their grief has turned to anger. 'There is no need to do it - the two helicopters take off about 400 metres apart,' said Neil de Silva, whose wife Winnie and stepson Leon are fighting for life in hospital. 'For me, I think, 'Why on earth would you have them cross each other's path?' It's just not necessary.' Neil de Silva (pictured) is demanding answers following the horrific helicopter crash that left his wife injured Shocking video footage shows the moment one passenger tried to warn pilot Michael James, 52, of the other chopper on a collision course with their aircraft. He can be seen pointing wildly out the window and tapping the pilot's shoulder urgently before tightly gripping the seat in front of him as he braces for impact. Moments later the helicopter cabin explodes in a shower of shattered glass and metal as the rotor blades of the other chopper slice through the cockpit. The pilot and passengers are blasted by the shards of deadly debris but amazingly Mr James manages to keep control of the badly damaged aircraft and land nearby. One of the passengers can be seen pointing out the window before the collision. He then taps the pilot on the shoulder to draw his attention to the impending danger The passenger then grip the pilots seat tightly to brace for impact Moments later the helicopter cabin explodes in a shower of shattered glass and metal as the rotor blades of the other chopper slice through the cockpit Now his grateful passengers say they owe him their life for his cool head and quick response in the face of unimaginable terror in a cockpit destroyed in the impact. Two couples from Auckland in New Zealand were on board the pleasure flight with another tourist from Western Australia when the accident happened around 2pm on Monday at Sea World on Queensland's Gold Coast. The two couples who were travelling together - Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart - paid tribute to the pilot in a joint statement on Thursday. 'To our pilot, who, through all the chaos, landed the Helicopter safely, keeping us and other bystanders safe. You are our hero. Thank you so very much,' they said. Two New Zeaand couples who were travelling together on board the aircraft - Riaan and Elmarie Steenberg and Marle and Edward Swart - have hailed the hero pilot 'Our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the injured and the deceased and their families. 'We are grateful and blessed to have been spared but very sad for the people who lost loved ones and the little ones and mum fighting for their lives in hospital. 'Our hearts are so heavy for them.' Four people in the second helicopter died in the crash when the rotor unit and gearbox were ripped off their aircraft, sending it plummeting upside down into the sandbar below. British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57 died when a Sea World EC130 helicopter collided with another chopper mid-air and plummeted 30 metres near the Sea World theme park at 2pm on Monday Sea World helicopters chief pilot Ash 'Jenko' Jenkinson, 40, died in the helicopter crash (pictured with his wife, Kosha) Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, was killed while her 10-year-old son Nicholas survived the helicopter crash on Monday Vanessa Tadros, 36, died along with British newlyweds Ron Hughes, 65, and wife Diane, 57, and chief pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40. Vanessa's son Nicholas Tadros, 10 and Leon de Silva, 9, are both clinging to life in hospital. Leon is in an induced coma with a fractured skull at Gold Coast Hospital while Nicholas has been put on life support in a critical condition at Queensland Children's Hospital. Nicholas' mother Leon's mother Winnie, 33, was also airlifted to hospital with multiple broken bones. Ms de Silva who was in the lower helicopter said on Wednesday from her hospital bed that she heard a 'loud bang' and felt 'shaking' when the two helicopters collided. Survivors of the Sea World helicopter crash. Geelong residents, Winnie de Silva (mother) and Leon de Silva (son) Winnie de Silva (left) has two broken legs, a broken right shoulder, a broken collarbone and a damaged left knee after the Sea World helicopter crash. Leon (right) has a fractured skull and is in an induced coma 'I could see the pilot pressing all these buttons, stressed out he didn't know what to do. I don't remember much [after that] but everyone was trembling and worried,' Ms de Silva told the Herald Sun. Gripped with terror as the Eurocopter EC130 started to nosedive towards the ground, she squeezed her son's hand as tightly as she could. 'The only thing I could see was death in my eyes. I didn't want to see death in my eyes so I closed them and held my son's hand beside me,' she said. She remembers opening her eyes while trapped in the wreckage. 'My feet and right arm were stuck. I remember screaming and yelling out for help I wasn't able to get out,' Ms de Silva said. It is understood the helicopter taking off clipped another helicopter above and then nosedived into the sand Mr de Silva has relived the moments leading up to the crash and his horror as he watched it unfold. 'It was almost as if it wasn't real,' he told Nine's A Current Affair. 'Part of your brain (is) saying it is real, the other part's just comprehending it. 'I thought everyone would die on the helicopter and I'm sort of fighting myself to be positive. 'So we feel incredibly grateful and just that they're both alive. It's just amazing.' One of the first on the scene has revealed how he tried to help fatally injured British newlywed Ron Hughes before hearing the screams of Ms de Silva. Ron Drevlak and his wife were walking their dog on the Gold Coast when the horror happened just above their heads on Monday. Ron Drevlak has described how he rushed to the aid of those in the helicopter. 'The noise and the thud of it hitting the ground, I cannot get it out of my head,' Mr Drevlak told 7 News. 'The first person I saw was Ron, we cut the seat belt we pulled him out and pulled him away but he was very pale. 'That's when I heard Winnie, she was just screaming. 'I said, 'Look don't worry, help is on the way, it's only water we're just trying to dilute the fuel'.' The New Zealand survivors in the other aircraft also paid tribute to those who arrived on the scene to help. Ms Steenberg revealed that she was still being treated for her injuries after the fragments of the cockpit peppered the passengers with shrapnel wounds 'We saw mateship in action,' they said. 'Australians come together to help in time of need. 'Our gratitude goes out to every bystander who ran to help, every police officer and emergency services personnel who helped us with our immediate needs keeping us calm and making us comfortable. 'We would like to extend our great thanks to the hospital staff taking care of us for their kindness and compassion during this traumatic experience.' Ms Steenberg revealed that she was still being treated for her injuries after the fragments of the cockpit peppered the passengers with shrapnel wounds. 'I am still in hospital in the Gold Coast, recovering from my injuries,' she posted on Facebook. 'All I can say thank you to God for sparing all of us.' The Steenburg's son Enrico also added his gratitude to the pilot for his display of airmanship and skill to bring his helicopter down without a fatality. 'Thanks to the pilot for saving my parents from the crash and all prayers to the family who lost their loved ones,' he wrote on Instagram. Prince Harry is 'wrong' to claim that King Charles has shown 'no willingness' to repair relations and his door has 'always been open', sources have said. The Duke of Sussex said a potential reunion with his family in the UK did not seem on the cards, suggesting his father and brother were to blame for their continuing rift. He made the claim in a trailer for an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, part of the publicity blitz for his memoir Spare, which comes out next week. But those close to the King say he has constantly reiterated how much he loves both of his sons and made it clear that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are welcome to meet him at any time. Harry claimed a potential reunion with his family across the pond did not seem on the cards, saying his father and brother had 'absolutely no willingness to reconcile' Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, they pointed out that the monarch has kept a line of communication with the Sussexes despite the many barbs they have targeted at the Royal Family. They say he saw 'tremendous flickers of hope' in his interactions with the couple following the Queen's death. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, another source said the latest claim by Harry was 'complete and unadulterated nonsense'. They said: 'It takes some audacity to say that when his father invited him to stay at his house when in the UK, invited him to spend Christmas with the rest of the family and continued to make public statements of support.' They also told the publication: '[The King] has been saddened that he hasn't had the opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren. He has always left the door open for his son and will continue to do so.' Representatives of Prince Harry have been contacted for comment. There have been suggestions by some royal experts though that the already tense relationship between Harry and the rest of his family could become even more frayed upon the release of his memoir. Insiders fear that the Duke of Sussex and his brother William, the Prince of Wales, will 'never reconcile' after Spare is released, with the book set to feature stinging attacks on him and his wife Kate. 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 been 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 memoir has been penned by ghostwriter JR Moehringer, with some of the proceeds being donated by the duke to charity. Royal sources have said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited to join the family this Christmas. Pictured: King Charles and his wife Camilla lead the Royal Family on a walkabout at Sandringham on Christmas Day A promotional poster for Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, which is being released next week Before it is published next week, two interviews with Harry by Mr Bradby and CBS's Anderson Cooper, both conducted at a hired ranch in Montecito, will be released. In a trailer for the interview with Mr Bradby, the Duke of Sussex said he would 'like to have my father and brother back', adding his family 'have shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile'. Harry says 'it never needed to be this way' and refers to 'the leaking and the planting' before adding 'I want a family, not an institution'. He also says, in an apparent reference to the royals, 'they feel as though it is better to keep us somehow as the villains' something not likely to help the frayed relationship between the Sussexes and the rest of the Firm which sources say is already 'hanging by a thread'. But one royal expert said Harry and Meghan need to learn 'silence is common sense' and that airing dirty laundry in public is not likely to help bring about the reconciliation the duke claims he wants. Richard Fitzwilliams said proclamations made by the Sussexes in the Press are not helping the fractured relationship. 'Harry might like to 'get his brother back' and 'his father back', but must surely know giving this catalogue of woes even more exposure, is not the way to do so. There are fears there will be no chance at reconciliation after the publication of Harry's memoir. Pictured: William, Harry, Meghan and Kate at Westminster Abbey in 2018 'Further accusations of stories being planted against them by the Palace in both interviews show how bitter he and Meghan still are but, though their fans may support it, there will come a time when even the media tire of exposure at this level. 'Harry says in the trailer for the CBS interview, referring to the Palace's inability to protect them from false reports, that "there comes a point when silence is betrayal". 'There is also a point, if they wish any relationship, however distant, with the Royal Family, when silence is common sense. When will the Sussexes learn this?' In a trailer for his interview with US TV personality Mr Cooper, Harry was asked why he had not communicated his grievances with the family in private. In response he said: 'Every single time I've 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 and never explain it's just a motto.' He added: 'They [Buckingham Palace] will feed or have a conversation with a correspondent, and that correspondent will literally be spoon-fed information and write the story, and at the bottom of it, they will say they have reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. 'But the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting. 'So when we're being told for the last six years, ''we can't 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.' The clips appear to confirm reports that Harry will use his memoir to reveal details about disagreements between him and his brother the Prince of Wales, 40. It comes after the duke claimed in his Netflix documentary that William broke a promise to never to leak stories or brief against one another after witnessing the fallout of such actions in their father's office. Rishi Sunak is today facing a growing Tory revolt over soaring childcare costs as his own supporters joined the campaign demanding action. The PM is under increasing fire over a decision to scrap a plan to reform pre-school care to help parents afford places and return to work. He has axed proposals outlined by his brief predecessor Liz Truss to ditch mandatory staff-child ratios in nurseries, aimed at reducing overheads. Plans to extend free care for toddlers from 30 to 50 hours a week are also under review. Previous criticism was limited to supporters of Truss, but today backers of the PM himself urged action. Robin Walker, the chairman of the education committee who backed Mr Sunak for the leadership last year, today said there was 'a strong case for intervening further'. He is to launch an inquiry into the problem. At the same time former minister Dame Andrea Leadsom warned that the issue of childcare could be a key battleground at the next election. The PM is under increasing fire over a decision to scrap a plan to reform pre-school care to help parents afford places and return to work He has axed proposals outlined by his brief predecessor Liz Truss to ditch mandatory staff-child ratios in nurseries, aimed at reducing overheads. Plans to extend free care for toddlers from 30 to 50 hours a week are also under review Robin Walker, the chairman of the education committee who backed Mr Sunak for the leadership last year, today said there was ''strong case for intervening further'. At the same time former minister Dame Andrea Leadsom warned that the issue of childcare could be a key battleground at the next election. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, and comparing spending to that in other countries, Mr Walker said it has been increased a 'great deal over the last decade' on three- and four-year-olds, but added 'we spend far, far less on the twos and under' compared with other countries. Speaking about support for early years, he said: 'I think there is strong political support for doing more in that space, but we haven't yet seen the money flowing through.' And he said the tax-free childcare policy 'is only reaching about a third of the people it was designed to', saying the funding there 'isn't currently making the difference that it could'. 'There's been a number of recent think tank reports... on looking at the costs and impacts here, which I think do show that there is a strong case for intervening further to support families. And it needn't necessarily all come at extra cost to the Treasury,' he said. And in an interview with Politics Home, Dame Andrea warned that a failure to act could hammer the party at the next election. 'I think it's a major, major battleground issue for the next election, and I want every Conservative to have on their pledge cards 'we have delivered the best start for life programme',' she said. 'We have a problem with younger voters, we have a problem with particularly young female voters.' It came after Ms Truss warned her successor not to scrap her proposed childcare reforms. It comes amid growing concern among Tory MPs over the 'unaffordable' and spiralling costs that parents face. During her short stint as prime minister, Ms Truss fast-tracked plans to offer more help. A third of women say childcare costs have forced them or their partners to consider quitting work. During her short stint as prime minister, Liz Truss fast-tracked plans to offer more help. A third of women say childcare costs have forced them or their partners to consider quitting work A source close to Ms Truss told The Times: 'Excessive bureaucracy is making childcare in England increasingly unaffordable. Junking Liz's plans for this critical policy area seems economically and politically counterproductive.' And Kit Malthouse, education secretary under Ms Truss, urged Mr Sunak to 'push the go button as soon as possible' on the former PM's proposals. He said: 'The current system is a complicated Heath Robinson affair that means no one, parents or providers, is happy. 'It's fundamental for economic growth that parents are supported in work and my team and I had formed up a 'childcare big bang' plan to do just that.' UK parents spend around 26 per cent of joint income on childcare against a 9 per cent average in other developed nations. But the issue has slipped down Mr Sunak's list of priorities amid crippling strikes and record numbers of Channel migrants. English parents with children aged three to four can get 30 hours of free childcare a week. The Times says Mr Sunak is considering extending this to all two-year-olds rather than Miss Truss's 50-hours proposal. Currently only parents on benefits get free care for children at two. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We're certainly continuing to review all options to improve the cost, choice and availability of high-quality childcare for working parents.' Nelson Mandela's granddaughter today tore into Harry and Meghan, accusing them of 'stealing' the statesman's words and using his name to 'make millions'. Ndileka Mandela, 57, slammed the Sussexes over the Netflix documentary Live To Lead, where the couple use footage of the anti-apartheid campaigner leaving prison in 1990. Harry says in the trailer for their latest film, part of their $100million (83million) deal with the streaming giant: 'This was inspired by Nelson Mandela'. Ndileka said she was angry that the couple appear to compare their own battles in the Royal Family with her grandfather's long walk to freedom, calling it 'upsetting and tedious'. She said: 'That's chalk and cheese, there is no comparison. I know the Nelson Mandela Foundation has supported the initiative but people have stolen grandfather's quotes for years and have used his legacy because they know his name sells Harry and Meghan are no different from them.' Harry says in the trailer for their latest film, part of their $100million (83million) deal with the streaming giant: 'This was inspired by Nelson Mandela' Ndileka Mandela (left), pictured with sister Nandi Mandela (right) and her son Luvuyo Madasa in London last month, has hammered the Sussexes for their use of their family name The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela, on the last day of their tour in Africa in 2019 She added in an interview with The Australian newspaper: 'I admire Harry for having the confidence to break away from an institution as iconic as the Royal Family. Grandad rebelled against an arranged marriage to find his own path in life. SUE REID: So why DID researchers for Harry's new memoir quiz me about Diana's death crash? Entitled Spare a reference to the Prince's secondary place in the royal pecking order, behind the 'heir', his brother William it is expected to explore in detail Harry's thoughts about his emotional role at Diana's funeral and, it appears, much else Advertisement 'But it comes at a price, you have to then fund your own life, I've made peace with people using granddad's name but it's still deeply upsetting and tedious every time it happens.' In the trailer for Live To Lead, co-produced by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Harry quotes Mandela and says: 'What counts in life is not the mere fact that weve lived'. Meghan then appears on screen and finishes the quote: 'It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead'. The couple were both executive producers, according to the credits, and introduce each of the episodes, talking over the opening credits. Ndileka has said she doesn't believe Harry properly met her grandfather. And with the duke's book Spare out next week, Ndileka warned: 'Harry needs to be authentic and stick to his own story, what relevance does grandad's life have with his? 'I don't believe he nor Meghan have ever properly met granddad, maybe when Harry was young at Buckingham Palace, but they are using his quotations in the documentary to draw in people and make millions without the Mandela family benefiting'. MailOnline has asked a spokesman for the Sussexes to comment. It is not the couple's first run-in with the Mandelas. Questions were raised in August over the Duchess of Sussex's suggestion that her wedding to Prince Harry prompted jubilant celebrations in South Africa. Meghan, 41, told a US magazine that a South African actor had told her his country had 'rejoiced in the streets the same we did when [Nelson] Mandela was freed from prison'. The interview with Meghan prompted anger in South Africa, where Mr Mandela's grandson said his release from prison should not be compared to a royal wedding. South African president Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana at Mandela's home in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 17, 1997 Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie, walking hand in hand, raise clenched fists upon his release from Victor prison, Cape Town, in this Sunday, February 11, 1990 Extract from Meghan's interview in The Cut on Mandela and her wedding day She [Meghan] recalls a moment from the 2019 London premiere of the live-action version of The Lion King. 'I just had Archie. It was such a cruel chapter. I was scared to go out.' A cast member from South Africa pulled her aside. 'He looked at me, and he's just like light. He said, "I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison." ' Of course, she knows she's no Mandela, but perhaps even telling me this story is a mode of defense, because if you are a symbol for all that is good and charitable, how can anybody find you objectionable, how can anybody hate you? Advertisement Zwelivelile Mandela said: 'Madiba's [Mandela's] celebration was based on overcoming 350 years of colonialism with 60 years of a brutal apartheid regime in South Africa. So it cannot be equated to as the same.' The hashtag VoetsekMeghan trended on social media. Voetsek is an offensive Afrikaans word meaning 'go away' or 'get lost'. Meghan insisted the encounter took place as she attended the London premiere of the live-action version of The Lion King in 2019. But an actor who says he was the only South African cast member in the film told MailOnline he was 'baffled' because he has never met the duchess. Dr John Kani said Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry was 'no big deal' in South Africa and could not be compared to the landmark release of the anti-apartheid campaigner after 27 years in prison. The former Royal Shakespeare Company actor told MailOnline: 'That was a world event. Surely Miss Meghan or whatever marrying into royalty cannot in any way be spoken in the same breath or even the same sentence as that moment.' The duchess faced an international backlash over her interview with The Cut magazine in New York, in which she said she and Prince Harry were treated differently from other senior royals and felt forced out of Britain. She told the interviewer she had been pulled aside by a South African cast member at the 2019 premiere, a year after her lavish royal wedding. Meghan said the unnamed male actor told her: 'I just need you to know. When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison.' Zwelivelile 'Mandla' Mandela told MailOnline he was 'surprised' at her remarks in The Cut magazine when she claimed that three years ago a cast member of the Lion King told her that 'we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the premiere of The Lion King at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on July 14, 2019 Dr Kani, 79, said he was the only South African cast member in the film, and did not attend the London premiere. He said the only other South African involved was Lebo M, a composer who was not in the cast. He said: 'I have never met Meghan Markle. This seems like something of a faux pas by her. 'I am the only South African member of the cast and I did not attend the premiere in London... It just may be a mis-remembering on her side.' Dr Kani, who voiced the monkey shaman Rafiki in the film, said he was in Hollywood when the film opened in the US and then had to travel to shoot another movie in Paris, so was unable to attend the London premiere. The actor, a friend of Mr Mandela, said the moment the anti-apartheid campaigner walked free from prison could not be compared to a royal wedding. He said: 'It lives in our memories forever to the world. It is a kind of "Where were you when JFK was shot... where were you when Nelson Mandela was released"? 'You can't really say where you were when Meghan married Harry. I am confused about this. She is an important person in her own life. 'I cannot even tell you now what month she married or what year.' Dr Kani said he had been 'truly surprised' by Meghan's account of her encounter with a South African actor at the London premiere. He told MailOnline: 'It is baffling me. I am the only South African in the cast. I play Rafiki, Seth Rogen plays Pumbaa, Donald Glover plays Simba and Beyonce plays Nala.' He added: 'I am truly surprised by this. For me it is a non-event, the whole thing.' Spare is on sale for $22.40 on Amazon in US and half price at 14 on the UK site Prince Harry's memoir is expected to double down on his attacks on Royal Family Prince Harry's tell-all memoir Spare is already No2 on Amazon's best-seller list in pre-sales in North America and the UK. The Duke of Sussex's book, which is set to be released early next week, is expected to double-down on his attacks on the Royal Family. Spare is currently on sale for $22.40 on Amazon in the US and half price at 14 on the UK site. Spare is currently on sale for $22.40 on Amazon US and 14 on the UK site. The book has already become the No.2 on Amazon's best-seller list in pre-sales in the US (pictured) and the UK How much is Prince Harry's book being sold for? Amazon US: $22.40 Amazon UK: 14 Waterstones UK: 14 WhSmith UK: 14 Advertisement The hardback of Spare will be in UK bookshops when they open on Tuesday morning, with the e-book edition available to download on Kindle from shortly after midnight on the same day. In the United States, which is five to eight hours behind Britain, it will be the evening of Monday January 9 when e-book copies of the book become available on Kindle, at the same moment as the clock strikes midnight on Tuesday morning in the UK. There are ultra-secure arrangements in place, with the duke and his publishers going to great lengths to ensure it is published simultaneously around the world next Tuesday. Prince Harry has been secretly working on the book about his life in the Royal Family for over a year as part of a reported $20 million book deal with Penguin Random House. He has collaborated with the Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter J. R. Moehringer in a rare move from a senior member of the royal family. Moehringer is reported set to be paid $1million for her contribution. Spare is being published in 16 languages including Chinese, Finnish, Hungarian, Spanish and Portuguese, but - in theory - no one in any country will be able to get their hands on an early copy. Prince Harry's book is expected to double down on his attacks on the Royal Family. While King Charles may be spared the worst of the duke's rage, the book is understood to contain damaging details about his bitter fallout with his brother, with both William and his wife Kate coming under fire in its 416 pages. Prince Harry's book is expected to double down on his attacks on the Royal Family. Pictured: Prince Harry on CBS News Spare tells Harry's story with 'raw, unflinching honesty', according to Penguin Random House. Publishing sources said arrangements for Harrys explosive memoirs release were ultra-closely guarded and being managed in minute detail, with only a handful of senior executives aware of the exact details. Deliveries to bookshops are being scheduled to be last-minute to avoid unauthorised copies being leaked. Guarded sites across the world have been secured to house copies of the book prior to distribution. One likened the sophisticated security operation to the 2007 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when JK Rowling was determined her young fans would not have the experience spoilt by learning of the boy wizards fate before reading the seventh and final novel in the series. An army of guards, satellite tracking systems and legal contracts were all deployed to protect the 10 million first copies of the new Harry Potter book. When the finished manuscript was taken by hand from London to New York, a lawyer for the American publisher sat on it during the flight. When copies were sent out to retailers, lorries were fitted with satellite tracking systems which would reveal if any of the vehicles deviated from their intended routes. Prince Harry and Meghan are said to have signed a $20million four-book deal with the publishing giant Penguin Random House, with the fourth reportedly being an autobiography by the Duchess of Sussex. It comes as the Royal Family are 'completely exhausted' with the 'stream of misinformation' from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, sources have claimed. The comments come in the wake of Prince Harry's publicity blitz for Spare, during which he has claimed his family 'have shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile'. He also claimed he would 'like to have my father and brother back' in trailers for two interviews with ITV's Tom Bradby and CBS's Anderson Cooper which dropped yesterday. A royal insider told the Mirror: 'It all feels very repetitive. Harry's constant sniping is rather draining and he knows full well it is highly unlikely they will engage in a tit-for-tat battle of words.' The book will be published just weeks after he and his wife Meghan released their Netflix series detailing their relationship and split from the Royal Family, while reports have emerged that Meghan is also planning to publish her own bombshell memoir. According to one source, the Duchess of Sussex 'is contemplating getting entirely candid about her time in the Royal limelight and leaving no stone unturned'. Meghan has already released her children's book The Bench with the same publisher, and it is rumoured that the couple are working on a 'wellness' book. Now it is believed the mystery fourth book will be the duchess's autobiography. It comes as royal sources rubbished Prince Harry's suggestions that his family have shown no desire to reconcile with him, saying that King Charles invited him to visit over Christmas. The Duke of Sussex claimed a potential reunion with his family across the pond did not seem on the cards, saying his father and brother had 'absolutely no willingness to reconcile'. He made the claim in a trailer for an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, which he has done as part of the publicity blitz for his new memoir, Spare, which comes out next week. But insiders at Buckingham Palace have poured cold water on the claims, branding them 'nonsense' and saying Harry and his wife Meghan had an open invitation to join the rest of the Firm this Christmas. Chinese medical team departs for DR Congo Xinhua) 16:19, January 04, 2023 Members of the 21st batch of medical team pose for group photos in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province before departure for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jan. 3, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Zhai Yujia) SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A medical team of 21 members departed Wednesday from Shijiazhuang, the capital of north China's Hebei Province, for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a one-year medical aid mission. The team members are mainly from the provincial and municipal hospitals and the provincial center for disease control and prevention in Hebei, covering 12 departments, including internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). "We will earnestly fulfill our duties and coordinate with local medical workers to treat patients and popularize health knowledge," said Yang Wu, the team leader. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hebei's medical aid work in foreign countries. The province has sent 21 medical teams to the DRC and 14 teams to Nepal, respectively. (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, center, attends a meeting in this Nov. 16, 2022 file photo. Newsis Police looking into the Itaewon crowd crush have decided not to press charges against officials of the interior ministry and the Seoul city government after determining that the responsibility lies with local authorities, rather than the central or the metropolitan government, officials said Wednesday. A special investigation team has judged that police, fire authorities and the ward government of Yongsan covering the Itaewon district have "concrete" responsibility over the bungled response to the deadly tragedy that killed 159 people, mostly those in 20s, on Oct. 29. Under the Management Of Disasters And Safety, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Seoul metropolitan government do not have concrete responsibility to make a plan for disaster response that is limited to the Itaewon district, the team said. "It is judged that preparation for and response to the disaster should be carried out by the local government after reviewing the overall provisions and purpose of the Management Of Disasters And Safety," said an official of the team who asked to not be named. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who is in charge of commanding and overseeing the police, is not expected to be charged despite mounting criticism that he should directly carry out disaster responses and prevent disaster situations. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is also expected not to be held accountable for the tragedy. In accordance, the team is expected to wrap up its monthslong probe by referring heads of Yongsan Police Station, Yongsan Fire Station and Yongsan Ward Office to the prosecution for the indictment. (Yonhap) A mother on board one of the Sea World helicopters that collided in a horrific tragedy killing four people revealed the chaos onboard as the chopper went down. Winnie de Silva, 33, spoke for the first time about the tragedy at the Gold Coast theme park which has left her son Leon, nine, fighting for life in a coma. Originally from Kenya and now living in Geelong, the community support worker had dreamed of taking her little boy on a helicopter joy flight. But just 20 seconds after take-off she heard a 'loud bang' and felt 'shaking' as the main rotor blades smashed through the cockpit of a second helicopter. 'I could see the pilot pressing all these buttons, stressed out he didn't know what to do. I don't remember much (after that) but everyone was trembling and worried,' Ms de Silva told the Herald Sun. Ms de Silva (above) has two broken legs, a broken right shoulder, a broken collarbone and a damaged left knee after the Sea World helicopter crash The two Sea World helicopters (above) clipped each other in front of hundreds of holidaymakers on the Gold Coast Winnie de Silva, 33, moved to Australia from Kenya and her son Leon, 9, (pictured together) joined her just a year ago Gripped with terror as the Eurocopter EC130 started to nosedive towards the ground, she squeezed her son's hand as tightly as she could. 'The only thing I could see was death in my eyes. I didn't want to see death in my eyes so I closed them and held my son's hand beside me,' she said. Just seconds later the chopper burst into flames as it crashed into a sandbar, claiming the lives of pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros, 36, and British couple Ron, 65, and Dianne Hughes, 57. The other helicopter piloted by Michael James, 52, miraculously landed safely on a nearby sandbar with no fatalities. She remembers opening her eyes while trapped in the crumpled wreckage. 'My feet and right arm were stuck. I remember screaming and yelling out for help I wasn't able to get out,' Ms de Silva said. Shortly after, a police officer came to her aid asking for her name and date of birth but she couldn't remember. Ms de Silva's son Leon (above) suffered a fractured skull in the tragic crash and is fighting for life in hospital Four people were killed in a horror helicopter crash on Monday after two Sea World aircraft collided on the Gold Coast (pictured, the wreckage of the crash) She suffered two broken legs, severe damage to her left knee, a badly broken right shoulder and shattered her collarbone in the impact. Doctors expect her to remain at the Gold Coast University Hospital for several weeks and she now faces months of surgeries, rehabilitation and recovery. However, her horrific injuries pale in comparison to nine-year-old Leon - who only moved to Australia a year ago to be with his mother. He suffered a fractured skull, brain trauma and facial injuries in the crash. He is being treated in Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane and is now in an induced coma. How the crash unfolded: A step-by-step run through of how the crash that killed four is understood to have happened Ms de Silva's husband Neil (above) decided to shout her and Leon a 10-minute flight so they could have the experience despite being on a 'budget holiday to save money' 'The hospital rang me early this morning to say the left side wasn't responding how they liked,' Mr de Silva told the Herald Sun on Tuesday. 'They asked my permission to drill a hole into the right side of his skull to attach a device to monitor his brain pressure.' Ms de Silva's husband Neil had taken the family on a quick holiday to the Gold Coast and decided to shout the pair a 10-minute flight so they could have the experience despite being on a 'budget holiday to save money'. After waving the pair off Mr de Silva watched on in 'numb' disbelief as they ascended into the flightpath of the other helicopter, collided in an explosion of glass and crashed to the ground. Mr De Silva added that despite their significant injuries he felt fortunate they had both survived. He has set up a GoFundMe to help with their hospital bills. Investigations are continuing into what caused the crash. The popular walrus Thor has been spotted back in the sea after delighting crowds along the British coast over the past week. Hundreds of people have gathered in costal towns to see the famous walrus who has been making his way north following his 3,000-mile journey down from the Arctic. On New Year's Eve Thor stayed in Scarborough, where they cancelled their firework display to not disturb him. Though the walrus, the first recorded in Yorkshire, had left by the time clocks struck midnight. Most recently he was resting in Blyth on the Northumberland coast, but on 7am on Tuesday morning he was seen swimming away, according to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR). Thor the Walrus had been seen swimming in the sea after resting at the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club in Blyth The sighting of the popular walrus (pictured in Blyth) has been drawing huge crowds to costal towns including in Scarborough on New Year's Eve Thor travelled all the way down from the Arctic circle late last year and has been making his way back north for the past few weeks The marine mammal delighted crowds in Scarborough on Friday, weeks after he was spotted resting up on a beach in Southampton. When Thor left Yorkshire on January 1 many believed he was heading back to his Arctic home, before he appeared in Blyth - where thousands went to see him. The BDMLR 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 (pictured January 2) left Yorkshire, with many believing he was heading back to his Arctic home, but reappeared in Blyth 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 the walrus spotted lounging on a pontoon in Blyth, Northumberland 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 Scarborough 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.' 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.' An illegal immigrant from Romania deported from the UK six times in the last seven years for theft and fraud offences has been jailed for two years after returning to Britain again. Nicu Marin, a 44-year-old with an extensive criminal record, has finally been imprisoned after new legislation gave judges greater sentencing powers. The father-of-five, who was found living at a terraced home in Leeds, was handed a 27-month jail term. It is now expected that he will be deported for a seventh time once he has served half of his prison sentence. Nicu Marin, a 44-year-old with an extensive criminal record, has finally been imprisoned following proceedings at Leeds Crown Court Appearing at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Simon Batiste told Marin that the UK had enough 'homegrown criminals' before warning him not to return to this country. He said: 'Britain has no need for criminals such as you coming into this country. Sadly we have our own homegrown criminals. 'As such, a deterrent sentence must [be] imposed, especially someone like you [who] has regularly and flagrantly breached a deportation order. 'You must understand that you are not allowed in the UK and must not return to this country. If you do, the sentences will become longer and longer.' Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, earlier told the court that that Marin has 20 convictions for 41 offences - many of which are for theft and fraud. He said Marin was first deported in October 2015, but was back in the UK in 2016 when his name was flagged after he was caught shoplifting. The Romanian was deported again in November 2016, but two weeks later he came back into the country via Holyhead. Again he was deported, but was removed from the UK twice more in March 2017 and April 2018. In November 2019, he was found living at an address in Chapeltown and given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. The father-of-five was handed a 27-month jail term at Leeds Crown Court (pictured) yesterday and it is now anticipated that he will be deported for a seventh time Marin then applied to marry a woman in the UK in September last year, before being arrested at his address in Beeston in November. He claimed he came back into the country in August last year via Dover and had gained employment. Mr Ahmed added: 'Since 2015 he has made a concerted effort and was successful in entering the UK, entering via various ports from Ireland and Northern Ireland.' Marin, appearing via video link from HMP Doncaster where he was being held on remand, admitted breaching his deportation order. Andrew Petterson, representing Marin, said in mitigation: 'He acknowledges it must be a term of imprisonment. 'He has asked me to apologise to the court on his behalf.' 'He tells me that his sole motivation is to support his five children who live in Romania and who reside with his 75-year-old mother.' But Judge Batiste was sceptical about the claim, pointing to Marins marriage suggestion. He said: 'Its not clear if it was a legitimate attempt to marry or a sham marriage that was to take place. 'Your immigration history is appalling. You were aware that were no longer entitled to enter the UK. 'Since that order was made you have entered the UK on six separate occasions. 'Its clearly carefully planned to come to the UK in the full knowledge you are not allowed. It must have involved some deception to gain entry.' British firms are in a race against time to exit Taiwan and China before Beijing launches an invasion of the island nation. Brompton Bicycle - which manufactures commuter-friendly foldable pedal bikes out of parts sourced from both Taiwan and China - is among one of the first Western companies to sound the alarm in the face of the impending conflict. Taiwan lives under constant threat of invasion by China, which claims the self-ruled democracy as part of its territory to be retaken one day, by force if necessary. The threat means the company is now working towards sourcing parts from other Asian countries instead, according to The Daily Telegraph, amid a growing rift between the countries that experts have likened to a new Cold War. Brompton Bicycle, which manufactures commuter-friendly foldable pedal bikes out of parts sourced from both Taiwan and China - is among one of the first Western companies to sound the alarm in the face of an impending Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Pictured: Brompton folding bicycles are assembled by hand at the Brompton factory in west London (file photo, 2020) Taiwan lives under constant threat of invasion by China, which claims the self-ruled democracy as part of its territory to be retaken one day, by force if necessary. This graphic shows areas Chinese troops are likely to launch from and where in Taiwan they are likely to land if Beijing did launch an invasion '[Should China invade] what does that mean for Taiwan? And what does that then mean for imports/exports out of China?' Brompton Bicycle's managing director Will Butler-Adams told the newspaper on Wednesday. 'Taiwan probably makes the best quality, most innovative bicycle components. We are very unlike most other bike brands, where we make most of the parts ourselves. But we still need some of those unique, very bike specific elements. 'There is actually a more nuanced de-risking of the China/Taiwan supply chain rather than necessarily trying to pull everything from Asia into Europe,' he said. A third of the company's suppliers are Asian, while two-thirds are Europe-based. He said that many countries that find themselves in a similar situation are seeking 'dual source' supplies, which would see them work with partners in both China and Taiwan, but ensures business can continue in the event of an invasion. Butler-Adams told the newspaper that Giant - the world's largest bicycle manufacturer - had 'thrown down the gauntlet' to some of its suppliers by ordering them to move away from Taiwan in the next two years. Brompton's managing director explained that Giant is not asking its suppliers to move to Europe, or change suppliers, but is rather pushing for the same suppliers to set up subsidiary companies in places such as Vietnam or Thailand. This, he said, would mean the company would have the same knowledge base, but mean that they diversify away from a conflict zone. In a statement to MailOnline, Butler-Adams said: 'Like many businesses, we have faced a number of global challenges in recent years. In light of that, we think it is sensible to introduce a number of mechanisms to safeguard against potential future risks - including having dual supply for some parts. 'For our business, we are now at a size where we are able to do this, and doing so is beneficial for a number of reasons, including navigating the ongoing impact of Covid. We're looking at working with our existing suppliers to ensure that the supply chain is robust and that we can continue to meet demand.' Brompton folding bicycles CEO Will Butler-Adams poses for a portrait at the Brompton factory in west London, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 (file photo). Butler-Adams In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese navy destroyer Jinan, foreground, sails along with Russian navy cruiser Varyag during a joint naval drills in the East China Sea on December 21, 2022. Fears are growing that China could launch an invasion of Taiwan In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, a Chinese fighter jet is seen flying near the island The bicycle industry is not the only industry that would be severely impacted by China's potential future invasion of Taiwan. Taiwan produces a third of the world's microchips that are needed for countless products, including fridges, smartphones, laptops and electric cars. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and United Microelectronics Corporation, both based in the country, and the world's largest chip makers. However, China's economic shutdown caused by the pandemic demonstrated that Western companies can manage supply chain disruption. Research by trade body Make UK, cited by the Telegraph, found more than half of companies have increased the number of suppliers they use. In recent years, fears have been increasing in the West that China could launch an invasion of its neighbour, with some analysts suggesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine has emboldened President Xi Jinping after seeing the West's reaction - and could be used as a blueprint on how to deal with economic sanctions. Taiwan has been a thorn in the side of China's ruling Communist party ever since Mao Zedong's victory on the mainland in 1949. Xi Jinping has made his intentions to take the island clear. At the party's 20th National Congress in October - when he secured a third term as leader - he said that 'complete reunification of our country must be released, and it can, without doubt, be realised'. Writing for MailOnline in August last year, military expert Samuel Cranny-Evans said that China would likely attempt to starve Taiwan into submission. 'There are two scenarios that defence analysts tend to settle on when thinking about China's military options against Taiwan,' he wrote at the time. 'The first is a naval blockade, an enormous challenge for an island nation that is reliant upon its ports for survival as only 35 per cent of its food is produced domestically - according to 2018 figures - with the rest of it imported.' The second, he said, was an amphibious invasion of Taiwan akin to the D-Day landings. 'It is thought that a naval blockade conducted by the People's Liberation Army Navy and the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia would present a significant challenge to the US Navy,' Cranny-Evans wrote. 'And, as demonstrated by China's frequent flights into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, Taiwan is within easy reach of the PLA Air Force.' China's president Xi Jinping has made his intentions to take the island clear. At the party's 20th National Congress in October - when he secured a third term as leader - he said that 'complete reunification of our country must be released, and it can, without doubt, be realised' Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (centre right) greeting a member of former NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen's (right) delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei on Wednesday Meanwhile, NATO's former head warned on Wednesday that democracies must join together to resist 'advancing autocracies' during a high-profile visit to Taiwan, which he said must be allowed to decide its own future. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister who served as secretary general of NATO from 2009 to 2014, made the remarks at a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. 'We need to strengthen our fight against, or our attempts to counter, the advancing autocracies,' said Rasmussen, founder of the Alliance of Democracies foundation, which hosts an annual democracy summit in Copenhagen. 'The world's democracies represent 60 percent of the global economy, if we can work together, then we are representing a formidable force that will create respect in Beijing and other capitals of autocratic nations'. In his remarks to Tsai, Rasmussen said Taiwan had the 'right to exist in freedom and peace' as well as the right to decide its own future. Last year saw a spike in tensions as Beijing ramped up military pressure and launched its largest war games in decades to protest against a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August. China opposes any official exchanges between other countries and Taiwan and has reacted with increasing anger over visits by Western politicians. Rasmussen's foundation, which invited Tsai to address its annual democracy summit for three consecutive years from 2020, was sanctioned by Beijing in 2021. In a New Year speech Sunday, Tsai said ramped-up Chinese military activities around Taiwan were 'unhelpful' for maintaining relations between the two. 'War has never been an option to solve problems. Only dialogue, cooperation and the common goal of promoting regional stability and development can make more people feel safe and happy,' she said. The heartbroken mother of a British man shot dead in Jamaica told today how her son had travelled to the Caribbean island for the first time to meet family. Lesley Wright said her youngest son Sean Patterson, 33, had only been in the country for two days when he was murdered. He lived with his fiancee in Hounslow, west London, and the couple were planning on marrying later this year. Speaking to MailOnline at her home in Shepherds Bush, west London, Mrs Wright, 63, said: 'I've lost my baby. No mother should have to bury her child. Lesley Wright said her youngest son Sean Patterson, 33, had only been in the country for two days when he was murdered 'He'd gone to Jamaica with my godson and one of my best friends and had only been there for two days. 'He'd been having the time of his life. He'd never been before but sent me a photo of himself basking in the sunshine and a video of himself leaping off a cliff into the sea. 'Sean has family in Jamaica through his father. They are very well-to-do over there and he'd hoped to meet them. He never got the chance.' Officers from Montego Bay Police received reports that the personal trainer was standing by the pool of the guesthouse when witnesses heard 'loud explosions'. Mr Patterson was taken to hospital but could not be saved. Mrs Wright added: 'The local police have told me that Sean was at a big party over New Year and was sitting by a pool talking to friends. The personal trainer was standing by the pool of the guesthouse where he was staying, pictured, in Jamaica when witnesses heard 'loud explosions' 'Someone pulled at his arm and he shrugged the person off but about four gunshots were fired immediately afterwards and Sean was hit in the upper body. 'I don't know any other details but he wouldn't quarrel with anyone, he just wasn't the argumentative type. 'I'm absolutely broken, I'll never be the same again. 'He has four sisters and three brothers and he was the youngest. He was born premature and for a while it was touch and go as to whether he would survive. 'But he grew up to be the loveliest, sweetest boy and the kindest, most happy-go-lucky man. 'He worked as a personal trainer and had been with his girlfriend for about 13 or 14 years. They'd got engaged about five years ago and were hoping to marry later this year. 'They lived in Hounslow and had a dog. His fiancee is in bits, devastated. As the whole family are. Mr Patterson, from west London, was taken to hospital but could not be saved 'People say that Jamaica is a paradise but there is a lot of violence there, so many guns and so much poverty. 'We hope for justice and that my son's killer is taken off the street where they can't hurt anyone else and destroy another family. 'Sean was a diamond who shone bright and when he shone, he lit up everyone's life.' A family source told MailOnline that a man being held on suspicion of Sean's murder had previously lived in London but was deported back to Jamaica. The source said: 'Sean had been friends with the man when he lived in the UK and had sent him money, trainers and clothing when he was sent back to Jamaica. 'What he has got to do with it we just don't know yet but he's in custody in Jamaica and is apparently involved somehow.' A 34-year-old man has been taken into custody, according to local media A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed they are currently 'supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities'. Thousands of taxpayers are facing fines due to HMRC phone delays as it was revealed that civil servants at the government department are working from home. There were reports of people waiting for more than an hour on phone lines yesterday and again today as they waited for call handlers to answer their queries. Others claimed they had been disconnected before getting a response, as many rushed to get their tax returns in before the January 31 deadline. Those who do not file before the cut off point a minimum 100 fixed penalty. HMRC department building in Whitehall, central London Furious taxpayers complained of 'wasting hours holding on the phone' Meanwhile, MPs have hit out at the department's work from home police which allows staff to spend at least two days a week out of the office. Official figures revealed that HMRC had the lowest office occupancy rate of any Whitehall department - except the Foreign Office - last year. Government data showed it to be as low as nine per cent and no higher than 61 per cent. It comes after a HMRC computer blunder saw nearly 100,000 callers turned away from phone lines and online services at the beginning of December. Chair of the Commons Treasury committee, Harriet Baldwin, said an investigation would be launched into reported failings when MPs return from the Christmas recess on January 9. There were reports of people waiting for more than an hour on phone lines as they waited for call handlers to answer their queries HMRC's customer support Twitter feed has been flooded with complaints, with callers reporting to have been on hold for 'nearly two hours' before being cut off without speaking to an adviser. Another said: 'It's impossible to speak to HMRC these days. I've spent all afternoon on hold, and getting cut off each time after about 25 mins each time.' A third user wrote: 'Three calls today 58 mins 59mins 55 mins still no answer worse service ever encountered.' A fourth added: 'Stop issuing penalty notices when you are ridiculously understaffed. I spent 95 minutes today waiting for somebody to pick up the phone and even then issues dating back to 2020 remain unresolved. I've now been told to write a letter #its2023'. The department introduced a flexible working policy last summer, enabling staff to work two days a week from home. Since it came in, average call wait times have risen from eight minutes and 45 seconds to 14 minutes and 17 seconds, official data recorded in October found. HMRC found no link between between service performance and working from home. An HMRC spokesperson said: 'Our colleagues work effectively wherever they are, and our customer service staff support customers whether they are working at home or in the office. 'We encourage customers to check online before calling. The quickest and easiest way to manage tax affairs and answer queries is often digitally through Personal Tax Accounts or the HMRC app.' More than 12 million taxpayers are expected to file a return for the 2021-22 tax year by January 31. Some 42,500 people chose to see in 2023 by submitting their return on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. People who miss the deadline could face an initial 100 fixed penalty, even if there is no tax to pay, followed by further charges. The revenue body said it will treat those with genuine excuses leniently, as it focuses on those who persistently fail to complete their tax returns and deliberate tax evaders. A businessman falsely accused of running an Asian grooming gang revealed he contemplated taking his own life after a 22-year-old woman made up a string of horrific rape and trafficking lies. Serial liar Eleanor Williams posted graphic images on Facebook in May 2020 during the coronavirus lockdown of injuries she caused to herself alleging she was trafficked for sex abuse in Blackpool and Amsterdam. A jury at Preston Crown Court found her guilty of eight counts of perverting the course of justice. She claimed restaurateur Mohammed Ramzan, known as Mo Rammy, had trafficked her since the age of 12 and threatened to kill her - allegations which he always denied. He also denied having any contact with Williams, said he received hundreds of death threats and abuse from people as far away as the US, and self-harmed and considered taking his own life. Eleanor Williams claimed she was abused by an Asian grooming gang in Barrow, Cumbria She claimed restaurateur Mohammed Ramzan, known as Mo Rammy, had trafficked her since the age of 12 and threatened to kill her. Father-of-four Mr Ramzan denied ever having any contact with Williams and said he was abused by people as far away as the US, and told a jury he received 500 death threats Mr Ramzan now has a CCTV camera beside his TV in Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and a court heard English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson turned up on his doorstep. The lies led to threats, intimidation and slurs, as well as damage to his home and vehicles. Mr Ramzan said: 'It absolutely ruined me to the point where I smashed a bottle on my head. I wanted to kill myself because of the damage it did. The reputation I'd made was ruined. My neighbours turned on me. People dropped me. I lived in hell.' In July 2019, Mr Ramzan was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and investigated for three weeks but no charges were brought. When the allegations became public in May 2020, Mr Ramzan said he received hundreds of threatening or abusive messages via Facebook. He said: 'It was like the whole world was against me - literally the whole world.' Mr Ramzan was among five named men accused of being involved in rape or human trafficking by Williams. She was found guilty of eight counts of perverting the course of justice, including two directly relating to Mr Ramzan. Williams alleged Mr Ramzan had been involved in trafficking her to Amsterdam to be sold for sex in 2018 but cops found he had been shopping at B&Q on the dates in question. Williams claimed he was involved in trafficking her to 'parties' in Blackpool where she was forced to have sex with multiple men. Preston Crown Court heard Williams later changed her story about Blackpool, telling police she had been told to lie by members of a grooming gang as a 'test'. Mr Ramzan said he was 'absolutely ecstatic' she was convicted. After an 11-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Williams was convicted of eight counts of perverting the course of justice He said: 'The truth has come out. I've forgiven her for what she put my family through - otherwise I wouldn't be able to carry on.' The town's MP Simon Fell said the allegations brought far-Right 'vultures' to the area and caused hatred and suspicion during lockdown. He said: 'I was relatively new to the job when the first email pinged in about Ellie Williams and the now infamous post that she'd put on Facebook. We were locked down. The streets were quiet, people were at home, keeping in touch with the world through social media. 'The walk to my office in Cavendish Street was marked with posters of elephants with the hashtag JusticeForEllie, and a similar banner hung across the A590 for a time. 'The community were outraged and didn't know where to turn. The images that Ellie shared were horrific. 'The story she told - of being groomed, beaten, and abused - were every parent's nightmare and the vultures began to circle - those who make their money and reputations out of others' misery. 'The far right were the most obvious and insidious, with the indignity of Tommy Robinson whipping up tensions still further in pursuit of 'justice' being perhaps the icing on the cake. 'For many people reading about a great injustice being done to one of their own, this provided a perfect opportunity to vent steam. But for a sad minority it spilled out to violence and intimidation. Soon my surgeries were peppered with families who had been torn apart by the allegations made against them, and local people who feared for their and their children's safety due to the colour of their skin. 'For a community like ours, where our very geography makes us close, this was unbearable. And for a good deal of these tensions to play out during the lockdown when neighbours were literally each others' lifelines was just heartbreaking to witness. 'People's lives have been ruined as a result of her stories, and Barrow has been put through the wringer. One man spent time in prison due to her (false) allegations. Others saw their windows put in. Or received death threats. Others still left town and have not returned. 'And trust in the Police has been shaken. 'The other person in need of support is Ellie herself. It may be her stories that provided the fuel for this fire, and which have unleashed genuine hurt on people and the wider community. 'At the end of the day, no person commits the kind of physical abuse against their own body that we saw in that first Facebook post, or fabricates the lies that she did, unless that are deeply unwell. I hope she gets the help she needs.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details Shocking footage has emerged of a teenage girl being attacked by a crowd of men for dressing 'immodestly' at a motorcycle event in Iraq. The 17-year-old was targeted by a male mob who accused her of distracting riders at the racing event in Iraq's Kurdistan region. Video filmed and shared by a racegoer in Sulaymaniyah showed the teenager attempting to walk away from the area before being forced to run as a crowd of men pursued her screaming: 'B****'. The girl, who is an Iranian national, was wearing a black vest top with a cardigan and a skirt. Shocking footage shows a girl holding a tissue to her face while fleeing from a large mob of boys and men who attacked her for dressing 'immodestly' at a motorcycle event in Iraq One man is seen kicking her as she falls on to a parked car, while others surround her at the event in Sulaymaniyah She is seen holding a tissue to her face while walking away from the large mob of men and boys who continue to shout and record her on their phones. Other videos posted on TikTok showed her being surrounded by bikers on the track as spectators cheer them on. One man is seen kicking her as she falls on to a parked car, while others surround her. The site is said to be a famous spot for racing events that often have female participants, and the girl, identified as L Tehrani, is reportedly a regular at the track. Sixteen men have been arrested by Sulaymaniyah police in connection with the incident and multiple weapons were recovered Hundreds of men and boys chased after the 17-year-old as she ran away to escape them The teenager, identified as L Tehrani, was accused of dressing 'immodestly' for wearing a black vest top with a cardigan and a skirt Men at this specific event, on December 30, demanded that women be excluded, according to a report by Kurdistan's Draw Media. The girl was accompanied a male friend, named as A Khanaq, who tried to intervene and escort her to safety. But he was beaten and stabbed by the crowd, according to a report in The National News. Sixteen men have been arrested by Sulaymaniyah police in connection with the incident and multiple knives and swords were also recovered from the suspects' possession. The incident comes as female demonstrators in neighbouring Iran continue to tear off their hijabs, cut off their hair and battle officers in protest after a young woman died in police custody having been arrested for not wearing the veil. Just days ago an Iranian woman was jailed for ten years for 'encouraging prostitution' after she removed her headscarf at a protest last year. This photo shows suitcases in front of a COVID-19 test center at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Jan. 3. Yonhap A 41-year-old Chinese national has escaped a government-designated quarantine facility for foreigners after testing positive for COVID-19 upon entering Korea, police said Wednesday. The whereabouts of the Chinese is unknown since he refused to enter a hotel designated by health authorities as a temporary foreign quarantine accommodation in Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul, around 10:07 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Incheon Metropolitan Police. The Chinese tested positive for the virus after undergoing a PCR test conducted at the country's main gateway, Incheon International Airport. Staring Monday, all arrivals from China are obliged to undergo a PCR test within the first day of their entry. "We are continuing to chase the man with the cooperation of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency," said a police officer who asked not to be named, adding that a formal investigation will also be launched. Staring Monday, all arrivals from China must remain in separate facilities here until their test results. Those who test positive for COVID-19 must be quarantined at the facilities for one week. (Yonhap) Vladimir Putin has gleefully launched a warship armed with new Mach 9 nuclear-capable hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles on a mission to challenge the West. The Russian despot took part in an online ceremony with Sergei Shoigu to deploy the Admiral Gorshkov for its mission in which it will pass Britain to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and Mediterranean Sea, armed with one of the world's deadliest weapons. The vessel immediately fired a test launch of the nuclear-capable cutting-edge Zircon missiles, which travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph, into the Barents Sea, hitting a target 620 miles away in the White Sea, the Kremlin claimed. The new mission is set to take the Gorshkov from Severomorsk past Britain ahead of war games in the Mediterranean - but Moscow has yet to reveal the exact timings or route for the warship. Putin as previously claimed the missiles have 'no equivalent in the world' and their arrival comes at a much-needed time for Russia after multiple setbacks in Ukraine, with nearly 3,000 troops lost already this year. Vladimir Putin has gleefully launched a warship armed with new Mach 9 nuclear-capable hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles on a mission to challenge the West (pictured on a test launch last year on board the Admiral Gorshkov) The tyrant could hardly contain his joy announcing the news today, saying: 'I am sure that such powerful weapons will make it possible to reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country.' The president proudly said today it was an 'important, if not momentous, event' as the vessel set sail in a task force from Severomorsk. He added: 'I am very glad. My congratulations. This is a very big, collective piece of work which ended up with a good result as expected. Begin your task.' More than 10 months into the fighting, Russia has faced a series of humiliating setbacks on the ground in Ukraine. The Russian military's high command has come in for particular criticism in recent days following a strike by Ukrainian forces over New Year in which Moscow said 89 of its soldiers died. Shoigu said today: 'The main focus of the mission will be countering threats to Russia and supporting regional peace and stability together with friendly countries. The Russian frigate 'Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov' armed with Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic weapons leaves the naval base in Severomorsk today The Russian despot took part in an online ceremony with Sergei Shoigu to deploy the Admiral Gorshkov (pictured) The nuclear-capable cutting-edge Zircon missiles, which travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph, have 'no equivalent in the world', Putin has previously claimed 'In exercises, there will be training for the crew on deploying hypersonic weapons and long-range cruise missiles,' he said. Shoigu said the Zircon missiles were 'able to overcome any modern or future air defence' and could deliver 'pinpoint and powerful strikes against the enemy at sea and on land'. Earlier TASS state news agency had stated: 'It will perform its combat tasks in the Mediterranean Sea, with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles on board.' The frigate had been undergoing scheduled maintenance at Kronstadt Marine Plant. The new mission is expected to take the Gorshkov past the coast of the British Isles as it heads on a mission during the bloody conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, the Russians have not disclosed the exact routing or timings. Shoigu said the Zircon missiles were 'able to overcome any modern or future air defence' Moscow has boasted that the Gorshkov is 'the most dangerous enemy of surface ships in the world's oceans' now it is armed with the new hypersonic missile. It is also carrying state-of-the-art Kalibr missiles - used against Ukraine - in its armoury. Russian media reports have said Zircon tests would be carried out during the voyage without saying at what stage. The deployment of the sea-fired 6,670 mph missile with a range of some 625 miles follows tests in the Barents Sea. Oleg Gladkiy, commander of the Russian Northern Fleet's missile vessels, said:'The ship is armed with cruise missiles, including long-range and hypersonic Zirkon missiles. 'Of course this carries a certain responsibility.' Putin has taken a close interest in the development of the Zircon, a year ago announcing a 'flawless' salvo launch involving the new-era missile. Earlier it was identified by Moscow's state-controlled TV as Putin's weapon of choice to wipe out American cities in the event of an atomic conflict. Workers remove debris of a destroyed building purported to be a vocational college used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers, dozens of whom were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike People stand near a destroyed residential building in the town of Borodyanka Putin has hailed 'our newest [Zircon] missiles fired from the sea at sea targets, and land targets. 'The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly. 'This is a big event for our country, a significant step in improving Russia's security, in increasing (our) defence capability.' He said it was in 'serial production', calling the weapon 'truly unparalleled in the world'. TV Zvezda - a channel owned by the Russian defence ministry - said: 'The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents the opponent's air defence system from detecting its impact in time. 'In fact, its launch will be known only after the target has been hit.' The missile has a 'variable trajectory' to avoid detection, viewers were told. The frigate's captain Igor Krokhmal has said previously: 'No one will see the missile launch or its flight. 'They will only see when the missile hits the target. 'A surface target, a coastal target. I don't think there will be anything to counter this in the next few years.' He told Putin today: 'The frigate's crew is ready for military service. The president said: 'I am very glad, congratulations. 'This was big, big work that finished with the good result we expected. 'Start completing the tasks.' Captain: 'Yes sir.' Putin: 'Fair seas!' More than one million lightning strikes were recorded during a widespread storm event that took place across two states this week. Victoria and NSW were hit by huge thunderstorms as a cold front spread from the north-west of the country all the way to the south-east on Monday. It was then that 1,023,173 lightning strikes were recorded within 700km of Wagga Wagga from the early morning through to the late evening according to Weatherzone. Many of the storms were accompanied by large hail and damaging winds, with the largest wind gust of 96km/h recorded in Wilcannia in western NSW. The wild weather in NSW and Victoria comes as record-breaking floods have inundated the Kimberley Region in Western Australia as flood warnings remain in place in almost every state. Here is what the weather is looking like in each state. More than one million lightning strikes were recorded during a widespread storm event that took place across two states this week (Sydney, pictured) Victoria and NSW were hit by huge thunderstorms as a cold front spread from the north-west. Pictured is a woman holding an umbrella WESTERN AUSTRALIA Floodwaters have inundated the homes of around 1,200 Fitzroy Crossing residents with residents being flown to Broome. The Fitzroy River is expected to peak at 15.7m - exceeding flood records by almost two metres. Fire and emergency services commissioner Darren Klemm called it 'a one-in-100 year' flood event and an urgent evacuation order has been issued for residents of Willare and Noonkanbah to get to higher ground The Federal government has approved a request for Australian Defence Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas. Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie continues to wreck havoc east of Broome with heavy rain totals forecast for the region into Thursday. Up to 200mm are likely to fall in 24 hours. 'People in the north of WA experience these types of weather conditions at this time of year but the extended nature of this event and associated flooding is unusual and dangerous,' a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology said. Locations which may be affected include Broome, Derby, Cape Leveque, Cockatoo Island, Fitzroy Crossing and Kuri Bay. In the Dampier Peninsula, up to 250mm could fall in the next 24 hours. A shocking number of lightening strikes were recorded in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania thanks to the widespread storm, details pictured Damaging winds are averaging speeds of up to 70km/h with peak gust of around 100km/h occurring at Cape Leveque including Broome until late Thursday morning. Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie is expected to finally move steadily to the east on Friday. VICTORIA Upstream floodwaters are prolonging flooding along the Murray River which are expected to stick around until mid-to-late January. A moderate flood warning is in place at Mildura and Wentworth. Minor flooding is occurring at Wakool Junction, Boundary Bend and Euston. Edward River at Moulamein fell below the minor flood level of 4.6m on Tuesday morning and is currently falling. NEW SOUTH WALES A moist unstable air mass triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon across parts of NSW. The Bureau of Meteorology warned that severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Bilpin, Colo Heights and Badgerys Creek. These thunderstorms are moving towards the south and are forecast to affect Camden, Campbelltown, Picton, Richmond, Penrith and Appin. Large hailstones were seen in many of the storms like these found near Primrose Sands in Tasmania Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding in Grafton, Penrith, Katoomba, Tamworth, Gunnedah and Tambar Springs. Major flooding is occurring at Menindee, where river levels are currently steady near 10.20 metres. A further river rise could bring the flood level to 10.7m - above the 1976 flood record of 10.47 metres. A moderate flood warning remains in place along the Lachlan River at Hillston and the lower Murrumbidgee River at Balranald. Minor flooding continues at Booligal. Upstream flood waters are causing prolonged flooding along the Murray River. Pictured: Scone in NSW SOUTH AUSTRALIA Ten flood warnings remain in place in South Australia after they were issued last Friday. Despite this the weather has cleared over Adelaide where cloudy but warm conditions will stick around to the end of the week. The sun is expected to come out by Friday, when temperatures in the high 30s stay for the weekend. TASMANIA Cloudy conditions are constant in the southern state for the rest of the week. However, Hobart will remain relatively dry with temperatures in the high teens. AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall are expected and may lead to flash flooding. Canberra will be mostly cloudy in the coming days. A moist unstable air mass triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon across parts of NSW. Pictured is a woman sheltering from the rain under an umbrella while crossing a street in Sydney QUEENSLAND Queensland is experiencing a drenching this week as the remnants of Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie cover most of the state. It has brought flooding to multiple regions including major flooding on the Georgina River and moderate flooding on the Flinders River. Minor flood warnings are in place in the Norman, Gilbert, Nicholson, Leichhardt, Upper Herbert and Diamantina rivers. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Southern Coast district on Wednesday afternoon. It is likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over several hours. Locations which may be affected include Beaudesert, Boonah and Springbrook. NORTHERN TERRITORY The Northern Territory is still covered in a massive band of rain left behind by Ex-tropical Cyclone Ellie. It was wet and steamy in Darwin on Wednesday, with up to 35mm of rain expected to fall on the northern capital. Another 25mm is expected to fall each day until the weekend when the rain is expected to ease. A police officer pulled down a teenage woman's top and took a photograph of her breasts after pretending to ejaculate on her chest during a work night out, a court has heard. PC Paul Hinchcliffe, 46, is also alleged to have taken a picture of the woman wearing her glasses before showing it to others and saying he would use it to masturbate. The South Yorkshire Police officer, who is suspended from duties, is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court charged with sexual assault. The court heard the alleged incident took place when he was drinking with three other members of the force in a pub in Rotherham on October 3, 2020. The alleged incidents took place at The Church House Wetherspoon pub in Rotherham, South Yorkshire (pictured) During the course of the evening, jurors were told the police training officer had simulated 'ejaculating into her breasts' by flicking beer foam down her chest and 'grunting' after the woman said she wanted a 'boob job'. He is also accused of telling the woman, 18, that she had a 'bum like a 12-year-old'. The court heard that when the woman later returned home and 'cried her eyes out', she received a message from Hinchliffe saying: 'God Id do you, is that bad?' The text was accompanied by a number of emojis that the woman took to represent masturbation, the court heard. Louise Reevell, prosecuting, said Hinchliffes alleged victim was invited to the night out through a WhatsApp group that another woman, Jade Henry, had set up called 'Sesh'. She said woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, met Hinchcliffe and three others at The Church House Wetherspoon pub in the town for drinks. The prosecutor said that, during the evening, Hinchcliffe began making inappropriate comments after the womans proposed 'boob job' came up in conversation. She said: 'The group were drinking alcohol throughout the afternoon and into the early part of the evening. The defendant began making inappropriate comments to [the alleged victim]. 'This seemed to come about because Jade Henry mentioned that she [the alleged victim] was going to have a boob job. She told her that she didnt need to. 'But [the alleged victim] said that she did because she had the breasts of a 12-year-old. The defendant then commented that she had the bum of a 12-year-old.' Ms Reevell added that Hinchcliffe went on to tell woman she had a 'good' behind before making comments about masturbation. The South Yorkshire Police officer, who is currently suspended from duties, is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court (pictured) charged with sexual assault The prosecutor continued: 'He said she had a "good bum" and also took a picture of her in her glasses and then said: "Im going to have a w**k to that tonight". 'She tried not to acknowledge it and to move on, even though it was a bit weird. The defendant then flicked foam at [her]. Initially it hit her glasses. 'But the defendant then began flicking bits of foam into her chest and down into her breasts and made grunting noises. 'He then pulled out his phone and took a photo down her top, saying he was going to send it to a friend as he would regret not coming. It was that particular incident that initially constituted the offence. 'The prosecution say that its clear that the defendant was trying to make it appear that he was ejaculating into her breasts.' Ms Reevell said the victim felt 'uncomfortable' and called a friend to take her home. During her police interview on October 8, 2020, played in court, the woman said she 'cried my eyes out' after arriving back at her parents' property. The woman told officers: 'I just sat on the settee and cried. It was all so weird and awful. 'I didnt want to be upset because I didnt want people thinking I couldnt take that banter. That just upset me. However, the court heard that Hinchcliffe continued making inappropriate comments towards the woman as she wept at home through WhatsApp messages. She went on: 'When I got home, he sent a picture of me that he took and put emojis, like w*nking emojis, and put "God Id do you. Is that bad?" I said "Yeah it is". 'He said "Sorry, sorry, Im just drunk." I just stopped replying and put him on mute. He sent one, then another and another.' Ms Reevell said the defendant was arrested and interviewed on October 9, 2020, on suspicion of sexual assault. When he was interviewed again in April last year, his solicitor made a prepared statement saying the alleged victim had consented to him taking the photograph of her. He has since been suspended from duties while an internal misconduct investigation is on hold pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. He denies sexual assault. The trial continues. A brave dog owner has suffered serious bite wounds and his labrador is lucky to be alive after two other dogs being walked by a woman attacked them. Joe Chan, 40, was taking the family pet Momo for a walk on Lakeview Avenue in Rowville in Melbourne's east at around 11pm when two dogs walking ahead with a woman turned and attacked. They set upon Momo, who suffered six bites in the ordeal. Mr Chan was so badly injured he had to spend two nights in hospital. Momo the beloved Labrador (pictured) is alive but suffered multiple bite injuries 'I'm scared he would die, he's my family,' Mr Chan told 9News. 'That dog tried to attack my dog (on the neck), so my dog may die.' Mr Chan then put his own body on the line, prising one of the dogs' jaws off of Momo, before it turned to attack him. 'I tried to use my hand just to move (Momo) away from the mouth,' he said. He was dragged onto the ground and bitten seven times. He was left calling for help before neighbours came to his aid, calling an ambulance for him. Mr Chan claims that the woman collapsed against a wall during the ordeal, before getting up and walking off, all without saying a word to him. Mr Chan had to spend two nights in hospital being treated for his injuries (pictured) He waited two hours for an ambulance, then spent two nights in hospital. Momo survived the ordeal but is left with the physical and mental scars from the incident. Mr Chan is not calling for the animals to be put down but does want the woman to apologise to him for the incident. 'I hope that woman can come out and say sorry,' he said. Police arrested and charged a suspect with the quadruple murders in November The University of Idaho is keeping an increased level of security on campus Campus security at the University of Idaho will not be stepping back its security protocols despite charges being brought in the quadruple murder. An increased number of foot patrols and security went into effect after the murders of the four students on November 13 with many students refusing to return after the Thanksgiving break. But despite the arrest and charges against Bryan Kohberger, 28, patrols are set to remain in place as the college town tries to overcome the shock of the bloody slayings. While there is a sense of relief with Kohberger in custody, there are no plans to scale anything back. Despite the arrest and charges against Bryan Kohberger, 28, patrols are set to remain in place as the college town tries to overcome the shock of the bloody slayings He was arrested Friday in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20 Personnel increases are set to remain in place, which was beefed up as an incentive for students to return, according to TMZ. The University hired more campus police and increased the numbers on the ground with sources saying they are still getting tips about the killings and are handing information to the police and FBI. It comes after Kohberger waived his right to extradition and will be returned to Moscow, Idaho to face the four charges of murder and one of felony burglary,. Authorities in Pennsylvania confirmed that they believe he is eager to get back to Idaho after traveling home for the holidays to see what evidence law enforcement have to link him to the crimes. He was arrested Friday in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The criminal justice graduate student drove more than 2,500 miles across the country with his father, Michael, in early December more than a month after the murders. The University hired more campus police and increased the numbers on the ground with sources saying they are still getting tips about the killings and are handing information to the police and FBI Personnel increases are set to remain in place, which was beefed up as an incentive for students to return The investigation of the house comes after the court ordered a clean-up mission to be halted, when it was announced that authorities had made an arrest in the chilling case His public defender in Pennsylvania confirmed that he had been pulled over twice for driving too close to the car in front in Indiana. Police bodycam footage captured the moment an officer approached Kohberger's sedan on December 15 on the I-70 just outside Indianapolis. During the stop, Kohberger's father also appeared concerned as the officer asked Kohberger for his license and registration. A Hancock County Sheriff's Deputy had stopped him earlier for the same issue of following too closely. Kohberger is currently being returned to Idaho to face the charges within 10 days, but law enforcement are expected to want to move him as soon as possible. Hours after his extradition hearing investigators hired by Kohbergers defence team arrived at the property on King Road to take pictures and footage. Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger was pulled over by Indiana State Police on December 15 - but cops didn't have information that he was a suspect in the student murders His public defender in Pennsylvania confirmed that he had been pulled over twice for driving too close to the car in front in Indiana Kohberger's therapist sister, Melissa, attended the extradition hearing on Tuesday with her parents They reportedly spent around 45 minutes taking video footage inside and outside the property. Four of the investigators then left the property, but a crime scene reconstruction analyst remained. Chief Public Defender of Kootenai County Ann Taylor will be representing Kohberger Idaho. However, it is unusual for defense attorneys paid by the state to create a reconstruction of the crime scene. Meanwhile, Kohberger's parents have insisted they don't have the money for a private attorney. They attended his court hearing yesterday, covering their faces from the media, as he appeared in a red prison-issued jumpsuit and was handcuffed. The investigation of the house comes after the court ordered a clean-up mission to be halted, when it was announced that authorities had made an arrest in the chilling case. Photos show that an Idaho State Police trooper accompanied the group, but the lawyer in Idaho representing Kohberger has yet to be identified. Ex-homicide detective and attorney Ted Williams said: The fact that Bryan Kohberger's attorney has brought in private investigators to go throughout this crime scene leads me to believe that he is definitely going to mount a strong defense. The suspect's father, Michael Kohberger, is shown arriving at the courthouse in a summer hat to obscure his face Monroe County Sheriff Deputies escort Bryan Kohberger into the courthouse on Tuesday morning Kohbergers public defender in Pennsylvania, Jason LaBar, said that the alleged killer expects to be exonerated - with his family standing by him. He claims that the family think it is completely out of character for him to be accused of the bloody slayings. The PhD student was arrested at his parents' house, with victims' families are eagerly awaiting Kohberger's extradition, and for the probable cause affidavit to become public. Investigators started tracking Kohberger's movements across the US, with witnesses claiming that they saw both him and his father getting repairs done to a white Hyundai Elantra on December 16. Police then impounded the vehicle from outside his parents' home when they swooped on the property in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County. 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, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals. Protesters accuse the University of ignoring its commitment to the environment University of Winchester students have accused bosses of 'greenwashing' in a protest over its 24,000 life-size Greta Thunberg sculpture after they ignored calls to ban beef and make buildings more energy efficient. Protesters staged a demonstration on campus at the university, accusing the 'upper echelons' of ignoring its self-proclaimed commitment to the environment and and 'wasting money on meaningless statues'. Among their demands are a drive to remove beef from the canteen menu, make vegan options cheaper as well as to make the buildings more energy efficient. The university hit the headlines in March 2021 when it unveiled the statue of Thunberg, believed to be the first life sized depiction of the 20-year-old. University of Winchester students have accused bosses of 'greenwashing' in a protest over its 24,000 life-size Greta Thunberg sculpture (pictured) Protesters want the university to remove beef from the canteen menu, make vegan options cheaper as well as to make the buildings more energy efficient. Pictured, the statue Furious locals slam Winchester University's plan to erect 24,000 statue of Greta Thunberg who has no links with city and demand they put up a tribute to cult hero Kev the Big Issue seller instead Locals reacted angrily to the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev Collick, the local Big Issue seller, would have been a more popular choice Advertisement Locals expressed bemusement as the Swedish activist has no connection with the Hampshire city, while students said it was a waste of money. The then President of the SU, Megan Ball, said the erection of the sculpture showed the issues of 'unimaginable financial impacts', staff redundancies, library cuts and a 'crippling mental health crisis amongst students' were 'not priorities' of the university. In the latest demonstration, Members of the Labour Society, the Allotment Society, and the Sustainability Society gathered at the West Downs Centre - where the statue was built - to show their discontent. The demonstration was centred around the three main demands of reinstating sustainability and social justice as key university values; make real short and long term commitments to these values; and stop greenwashing students. A third year archeology student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'I am discontent with the uni because I came here understanding that they believed in certain values, which I now know are moot. 'They promised me they care about the environment and cared about social justice, neither of which have fully materialised my entire three years of being here. 'When I came here, they still had those two values as core values at the university, but those have since been removed for no good reason.' He explained the university needed to make a 'meaningful commitment to making a difference'. The sculpture is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the Swedish activist since she gained international attention by starting a school climate strike in 2018 Then President of the SU, Megan Ball, said the erection of the sculpture showed the issues of 'unimaginable financial impacts', staff redundancies, library cuts and a 'crippling mental health crisis amongst students' were 'not priorities' of the university. Pictured, the statue being created 'Take beef off the menu and replace it with chicken and fish if need be. Make your plant based meals affordable,' he added. 'Focus on making the university buildings energy efficient and sustainable rather than wasting money on meaningless statues, the meaning of which have been completely wasted on the universities upper echelons.' A university spokesman said: 'For many years the University of Winchester has led the way on issues of sustainability and social justice in the higher education sector and we look forward to continuing to do so. 'These values are embedded in everything we do to provide an excellent educational experience for our students. 'We are pleased to have now finished the important work to complete our project using 3.1m awarded from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to make our campus more energy efficient and reduce our environmental impact. 'We are always happy to meet with students to discuss any concerns they might have.' In March 2021, the controversial life-size statue of Thunberg was unveiled despite being branded a 'vanity project' by critics. Many locals questioned the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev Collick, the local Big Issue seller, would have been more popular. It is believed to be the first life-sized depiction of the Swedish activist since she gained international attention by starting a school climate strike in 2018. The statue cost 23,760 and was funded by the university as part of its 50million West Downs Centre development. The backlash included Winchester University and College Union (UCU), which called the sculpture, which was commissioned in 2019, a 'vanity project'. The 24,000 bronze sculpture of Greta Thunberg (pictured), 18, was placed on Winchester University's campus to reflect its values on 'sustainability and social justice' It said the funding should have been spent on preventing redundancies and cuts at the university. It added: 'To be clear our concerns are about the expenditure and transparency of decision making by the university, which have long been opaque, not the subject of the statue.' The university's vice-chancellor Professor Joy Carter said at the time that no funds were diverted from student support or from staffing. She said: 'The university's approach to art is to commission or purchase unusual and striking pieces which embody our distinctiveness and values. 'Greta is a young woman who, in spite of difficulties in her life, has become a world leading environmental activist. 'As the university for sustainability and social justice we are proud to honour this inspirational woman in this way. 'We know that many find her a controversial figure. As a university we welcome reasoned debate and critical conversations. The university's vice-chancellor Professor Joy Carter said at the time that no funds were diverted from student support or from staffing The demonstration was centred around the three main demands of reinstating sustainability and social justice as key university values. Pictured, the statue of Greta Thunberg being created 'We hope her statue will help to inspire our community, reminding us that no matter what life throws at us we can still change the world for the better. 'That is a message we want all our students and all young people to hear.' The sculpture, titled Make a Difference, was created by artist Christine Charlesworth and depicts the activist with her arms outstretched. She said: 'It is hard to deny her courage and determination. As is often the case with people on the autism spectrum, social interaction is difficult for her. 'It is therefore even more remarkable that she has been able to forefront the mobilisation of young people in support of global environmental protection and to address world leaders on a face-to-face basis.' She previously revealed the interview committee for the sculpture wanted Miss Thunberg to be sitting on the ground in a yellow coat - in reference to her attire when skipping school in favour of a solo strike to campaign for better climate policy. The University of Winchester, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2025, declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019 and has eliminated all unnecessary single-use plastic across its campus. Many locals have reacted angrily to the decision, with some saying a tribute to Kev Collick (pictured), the local Big Issue seller, would have been a more popular choice The university hit the headlines in March 2021 when it unveiled the statue of Thunberg, believed to be the first life sized depiction of the 20-year-old. Pictured, the statue being created Not everyone in the cathedral city agreed that it was a good way to spend the cash as one critic, Anne Goodchild, said a sculpture of a well known local would have more support. She said at the time: '[What about] Kev the guy who sells the homeless paper in the high [street]...[he's] definitely a Winchester icon.' Kev, who is no longer homeless, is a fixture of Winchester's streets and has supported several charities alongside selling the Big Issue for years. The 45-year-old, who found himself on the streets after he was put into care as a child, is regularly spotted donning a Christmas tree costume to raise funds for Children in Need. Another local, Michelle Coombs, added: 'I think the sculpture itself is very good but Greta has no connection with Winchester, or am I wrong?' The 24,000 bronze design sculpture of the environmental campaigner - named 'Make a Difference' - was commissioned by Winchester University as an 'inspiration for all students', and will feature on the new 50million West Downs Centre campus Another, Simon Dixon, said the statue was a 'total waste of money' as others questioned whose 'bright idea' it was in the first place. Mark Robinson acknowledged students at the university may feel differently. He said: 'To be fair Greta probably is inspirational to many of the current generation of students and given that it's at the university I don't think there is a particular reason for a strong Winchester connection. 'Usually statues are erected to reflect a long lasting legacy and that will be the test with this one.' In August 2019, members of Extinction Rebellion organised a 'Die in' protest in the affluent Hampshire city where they laid in the middle of the high street to protest against air quality monitoring on local roads. Kevin McCarthy's bid to be House Speaker is in peril after a group of Republican rebels nicknamed the 'Taliban 20' and 'chaos caucus' derailed the first three ballots. The GOP is in disarray after a chaotic first day in the majority, where the dissenters threw their weight behind Jim Jordan instead of the leader. McCarthy and his team will be in talks with members of the party to try and find a path forward before voting restarts at noon. Last night a senior Republican source in the House told DailyMail.com that McCarthy is 'forging ahead and taking a stand' in a sign he will keep fighting as his critics dug in and looked for more ways to derail his campaign. Matt Gaetz, who nominated Jordan, sent a letter to Capitol officials on Tuesday night asking why McCarthy has already moved into the Speaker's office before winning the gavel. Byron Donalds, who flipped his vote from McCarthy to Jordan during the farcical day in the House, hinted on Wednesday morning he is open to switching his vote back as negotiations continue. He also criticized Rep. Don Bacon for saying colleagues had privately called the McCarthy opponents that 'Taliban 20'. Byron Donalds, who flipped his vote from McCarthy to Jordan during the farcical day in the House, criticized Rep. Don Bacon for saying colleagues had privately called the McCarthy opponents that 'Taliban 19' during the first two votes Kevin McCarthy's bid to be House Speaker is in peril after a group of Republican rebels nicknamed the 'Taliban 20' and 'chaos caucus' derailed the first three ballots REPUBLICAN REBELS VOTING AGAINST MCCARTHY Andy Biggs - Arizona Dan Bishop - North Carolina Lauren Boebert - Colorado Josh Brecheen - Oklahoma Michael Cloud - Texas Andrew Clyde - Georgia Eli Crane - Arizona Byron Donalds - Florida Matt Gaetz - Florida Bob Good - Virginia Paul Gosar - Arizona Andy Harris - Maryland Ana Paulina Luna - Florida Mary Miller - Illinois Ralph Norman - South Carolina Andy Ogles - Tennessee Scott Perry - Pennsylvania Matt Rosendale - Montana Chip Roy - Texas Keith Self - Texas Advertisement 'We're in a process where votes have been earned not given,' Donalds told CNN. 'For that language to be used is reprehensible, I like Don Bacon, this is like any negotiation. 'So to refer to people on the other side of the a negotiation as to be aligned with some of the worst terrorists the world has ever seen is outrageous.' Donalds did hint that he is open to switching his vote back to McCarthy. 'What Im going to do right now is vote for who I think is in the best interest of the conference. 'My vote yesterday was basically to break a deadlock, because we were deadlocked, and we were not getting anywhere.' However he did say the leader doesn't have a 'strategy' and there needs to be 'serious conversations' about the way forward. Donalds added that 'very little' progress had been made in negotiations overnight after the House adjourned for the evening. Gaetz, one of those 20 Republicans, expressed his own anger that McCarthy had already moved into the speaker's office - sharing a letter he had written to the Architect of the Capitol 'demanding answers.' 'How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?' Gaetz asked Architect of the Capitol Brett Blanton. The Democrats have no plans to budge, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries - the Democrats' pick for House Speaker - indicating the party wouldn't get behind a moderate 'consensus candidate.' 'We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction,' Jeffries told reporters at a press conference Tuesday night, after the Republican majority adjourned Congress for the day so they could try to work their leadership issues out. He also tweeted: 'Day one. House Dems are united and ready to get to work. Complete chaos on the other side of the aisle.' Earlier, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told two of the Republican rebels - Reps. Paul Gosar and Gaetz - that the Democrats didn't have a deal with McCarthy to sit the votes out, in order to decrease the threshold he would need to capture the majority. Without a chosen speaker the House of Representatives cannot conduct business, nor can new members be sworn-in. Matt Gaetz, who nominated Jordan, sent a letter to Capitol officials on Tuesday night asking why McCarthy has already moved into the Speaker's office before he winning the gavel Donalds speaks to colleagues on the floor of the House on Tuesday after the House failed to elect a Speaker in the opening round of votes for the first time in 100 years Some members of the House of Representatives were seen keeping tallies of the votes Republican Rep. Pete Sessions signaled that he believes Tuesday's vote could be a long one - complicating a day that's normally reserved for ceremony and new members of Congress' celebrations with family. 'I don't think anybody's gonna get tired that's here right now. And then at some point, somebody's gonna have to figure out at what point enough is enough,' Sessions told reporters between the second and third round votes. He noted that 'the whole world is watching' the GOP squabble over their leadership. McCarthy lost the first round of votes for the Speakership earlier in the afternoon, kicking off a dramatic session that is expected to last hours. Nineteen House Republicans backed someone other than McCarthy in the initial vote. McCarthy ended up finishing second behind House Democrats' new leader Hakeem Jeffries. McCarthy clinched 203 votes, while Jeffries won the support of all 212 members of his caucus. It's the first time in a century that a House Speaker was not elected on the initial round. It became apparent soon after the roll call vote began that McCarthy did not have the votes to outright win the gavel. Audible gasps could be heard in the cavernous House chamber as more than a dozen Republican lawmakers stood in defiance to the California legislator's bid. Finley, who is also facing criminal charges, has denied the allegations Ms Dolatabadi, originally from Iran, was allegedly hit, thrown to the floor and punched so hard that she was left with broken toes, broken ribs and concussion A surgeon has been accused of beating his dentist ex-girlfriend in more than a dozen brutal attacks that caused her to suffer a miscarriage, broken bones and concussion. Dr Joseph Finley, 53, an ears, nose and throat surgeon affiliated with Northwell Health in New York City, allegedly launched a series of violent attacks on his now ex-girlfriend, Negar Dolatabadi, over a period of two years. Finley would drink excessively - at one point drinking on average 1.75 liters of bourbon per day - before violently assaulting Ms Dolatabadi, 40, on seven different occasions, according to civil court documents filed in the New York County Supreme Court on Friday. Ms Dolatabadi, originally from Iran, was allegedly hit, thrown to the floor and punched so hard over the two years that she was left with serious injuries including a broken toes, broken ribs and concussion. During these violent assaults, Finley would scream 'whore' at Ms Dolatabadi, according to the court documents seen by DailyMail.com. Finley, who is also facing criminal charges, including strangulation and assault, has 'vigorously' denied the allegations. Dr Joseph Finley (pictured), an ears, nose and throat surgeon affiliated with Northwell Health in New York City, allegedly launched a series of violent attacks on his now ex-girlfriend, Negar Dolatabadi, over a period of two years. A month after finding out Ms Dolatabadi was pregnant with their first child, Finley allegedly attacked her at their home, kicking her in the stomach and throwing her across the room. Shortly after this attack, Ms Dolatabadi learned that she had miscarried and lost the baby, according to Manhattan prosecutors. 'He's ruined my life and he shouldn't get away with it,' Ms Dolatabadi told The New York Post. 'I have a lifetime injury. I'm in pain every night. There is not a single second when I'm not aware of the pain in my foot.' Finley was arrested on September 25, 2022 and charged with one count of second-degree strangulation, six counts of third-degree assault and two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, according to a Manhattan criminal court complaint. He is due back in court on February 8 in that case. The couple began dating in March 2018 and in August that same year they moved in together. But within three months of them living in New York, Finley violently assaulted Ms Dolatabadi while repeatedly calling her a 'whore', accusing her of cheating on him and threatening to call her employer to 'let them know she is a whore', the lawsuit claims. This first assault left Ms Dolatabadi with broken ribs, nerve damage to her left hand as well as bruises across her body, according to the court documents. Ms Dolatabadi, originally from Iran, (pictured) was allegedly hit, thrown to the floor and punched so hard over the two years that she was left with serious injuries including a broken toes, broken ribs and concussion. Finley has 'vigorously' denied the allegations Finley promised he would stop drinking - and this worked until July 2020. Finley started drinking excessively - which led to violent outbursts - during the Covid pandemic lockdown. On July 5, 2020, Finley launched an attack on Ms Dolatabadi while threatening: 'I will kill you. I have people in high places,' according to the lawsuit. Ms Dolatabadi was allegedly left bleeding and concussed on the bathroom floor. On the same day, Finley slapped Ms Dolatabadi across the side of her head, landing a blow directly to her ear - causing the alleged victim to suffer from excruciating pain and nausea. She remained on the bathroom for two days throwing up and with oozing liquid coming from her ear, the lawsuit claims. After this incident, Finley began drinking more and more alcohol - and was drinking on average 1.75 litres of bourbon per day, Ms Dolatabadi claims in her lawsuit. In October 2020, Finley slammed a door on Ms Dolatabadi's foot while repeatedly screaming at her that she was a 'whore' in an attack that left the dentist with a broken big toe. In another attack a year later, on October 4, 2021, Finley pushed Ms Dolatabadi so hard that her right foot hit the TV stand, causing her to suffer a broken ring toe on her right foot. Finley would drink excessively - at one point drinking on average 1.75 liters of bourbon per day - before violently assaulting Ms Dolatabadi, 40, on seven different occasions, according to civil court documents filed in the New York County Supreme Court on Friday 'Moments before breaking Ms Dolatabadi's toe, Finley shouted the words to the effect of 'I'll get you kicked out of the country, I'll tell the FBI who you really are' and 'I'll make sure you will never look the same again',' the court document claims. A week later, Finley allegedly tried to strangle Ms Dolatabadi while shouting: 'If you hurt my career I have to kill you. You know that right?' On December 17, 2021, Finley also pushed Ms Dolatabadi onto the floor so hard that she re-injured her previously broken big toe. 'Ms Dolatabadi sustained a substantial re-injury to the previously operated on right food causing severe hematoma, swelling, and inability to walk, as can be verified by Ms Dolatabadi's orthopedic surgeon and medical records,' the court filing claims. During this assault, Finley allegedly shouted at Ms Dolatabadi, who is originally from Iran, 'I'll send your terrorist ass back to Iran' and 'I'll make sure you never see your mother again' and 'I'll disfigure you!' Finley would often leave the apartment after the assaults for fear that the neighbours would call the police after hearing MsDolatabadi's screams, the court documents claim. In February 2022, Ms Dolatabadi found out she was pregnant and told Finley. A month later, Finley allegedly violently attacked his then girlfriend, kicking her in the stomach and throwing her across the room. Not long after the attack, Ms Dolatabadi learned that she had suffered a miscarriage. Three months later, in April 2022, the couple were travelling in a car when Finley allegedly reached across and punched Ms Dolatabadi in the face, breaking her sunglasses and cutting her face. He allegedly shouted: 'You deserve this, what kind of kid wants you for a mother?' On May 19, 2022, following yet another alleged attack, Ms Dolatabadi left Finley and reported him to police. In September, he was arrested and charged with domestic violence offences. Dolatabadi's lawyer Kenneth Belkin told The Post the dentist couldn't work for two years because of her foot injury. 'You can't do a [hospital] rotation as a dentist if you have broken toes,' Belkin said. 'She is an immigrant to this country from Iran and worked very hard to become a dentist and it was not easy,' Belkin said. 'She has essentially been robbed of this by this man's action.' An Aussie beachgoer on holiday in Bali catching some sun stubbled across the moment a monster crocodile was carried out of the water by about 20 locals. Nicole Gonzales was strolling along with her husband and daughter, 12, when she captured the bizarre moment at Legian Beach - a popular spot on the party island known for its golden sand and dazzling blue water. While saltwater crocodiles are found on Indonesia's west coast, the predators normally steer clear of the beaches favouring coastal areas with mangroves, swamps and wide river mouths. While saltwater crocodiles are found on Indonesia's west coast, the predators normally steer clear of the beaches favouring coastal areas with mangroves, swamps and wide river mouths 'First time for everything! Just saw a crocodile wash up on Legian Beach,' Ms Gonzales posted to the Bali Bogans Facebook page along with the 14-second clip. Lifesavers dressed in red and yellow can be seen leading the group of locals along the sand as the croc is being carried away from the water. The creature is semi-restrained with blue rope around its back legs. 'We were just walking along the street and saw a big group of people gathered on the beach,' Ms Gonzalez told 7NEWS. 'I went down to the water to see what was happening and that's when I saw the crocodile.' She asked people at the scene but nobody had any idea where it came from. Horrified holidaymakers were shocked by the discovery. 'Wtf! Omg no swimming for us,' one person wrote online. Another said: 'I'm sticking to the pools!' Nicole Gonzales was strolling along with her husband and daughter, 12, when she captured the bizarre moment at Legian Beach - a popular spot on the party island known for its golden sand and dazzling blue water. Lifesavers dressed in red and yellow can be seen leading the group of locals along the sand as the croc is being carried away from the water Other's felt sorry for the wayward creature. 'How awful for this poor animal, I can imagine how distressed it would be,' one person wrote. Another person on the popular social media page said: 'A local told me it's a pet that's escaped its cage. 'Police don't want to answer any questions about what's going to happen to it, (but it will likely go to the zoo.' The UK's highest representative at the funeral of controversial Pope Benedict XVI will be Education Secretary Gillian Keegan with no members of the royal family expected to attend. Keegan, will join cardinal Vincent Nichols the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, for the ceremony on Thursday morning at the Vatican, in what some insiders have seen as a snub to the German born pontiff who died last Saturday aged 95. MailOnline understands no senior members of the Royal Family will be in Rome for the event, which is expected to draw a global TV audience of hundreds of millions as it is beamed live around the world. Other senior European royals including Queen Sofia of Spain and King Philippe of Belgium will be at the open air Mass which will take place in St Peter's Square along with other Catholic noibility. A Vatican insider said: 'Although no one was realistically expecting King Charles to attend, it was hoped that perhaps a junior member of the Royal Family would have attended the funeral Mass, especially given King Charles poignant tribute to Francis when he died.' No senior members of the royal family are expected to attend the funeral of controversial Pope Benedict XVI The funeral will be held on Thursday at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City and will be presided over by Pope Francis The UK's highest representative at the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI will be Education Secretary Gillian Keegan Speaking of Benedict who was dubbed the Panzer Cardinal or God's Rottweiller for his hardline stance Charles praised the former Pope's efforts to 'promote peace' between Catholic and Protestant communities, adding that he had received the news 'with deep sadness.' Charles also recalled Benedict's historic tour of the UK in 2010 when the Pope also met the late Queen and said: 'His visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 was important in strengthening the relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom.' The insider added: 'Unless there is a last minute change of plan as far as we are aware the only representative from the UK will be the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.' She will be among more than 100,000 mourners due to attend the service which will be led by current Pope Francis in an open-air ceremony in St Peter's Square. The Tory MP for Chichester was a close friend of murdered Catholic MP Sir David Amess, and last October she visited Pope Francis in Rome following a memorial service for her colleague who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in 2021. Writing in her local paper of the meeting she said how she was 'thinking of him and it was thanks to Sir David' that she 'had one of the most incredible experiences when I had the opportunity to meet with his Holiness, Pope Francis at the Vatican'. Queen Sofia of Spain and King Philippe of Belgium were among the first foreign royals to announce their attendance at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's funeral this week (pictured, Queen Sofia) King Philippe of Belgium and his wife Queen Mathilde will also travel to the Vatican for the event She added: 'It was a huge honour to meet the Pope, an experience that will stay with me for ever. I am particularly grateful to his Holiness, as he also blessed a photograph of my nephew, Joseph, who's recently had some serious health concerns'. Last month she blamed 'inverted snobbery' after she was slammed for wearing a 10,000 Rolex watch while talking about nurses relying on foodbanks if they have 'been dumped or their boiler has broken'. No members of the British royal family will be participating but European nobility including Queen Sofia of Spain and King Philippe of Belgium will be there. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, and the leader of Britain's Roman Catholic community will also be at the funeral and is expected to take part in the service. Benedict died last Saturday aged 95 and made history in 2013 when he became the first Pope to retire in office in 600 years. The 'simple' service will begin at 9.30am and is expected to have a TV audience of millions and it will be unique as the current Pope will lead the funeral of a former Pontiff. Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger in Marktl, Germany , will lie in state until Wednesday and his funeral will be held on Thursday His body has been lying in state inside St Peter's since Monday and more than 130,000 people have filed silently past to pay their respects. Only Germany where Pope Benedict was born and Italy, will be sending official delegations to the funeral and other dignitaries attending will be there in a private capacity. Readings at the service will be in Italian, Latin, Spanish and English while prayers will be said in Pope Benedict's native German. Despite Vatican officials the service will be 'simple' the funeral will be similar to that of a reigning Pope who died on office, with his body having three caskets. The first will be cypress wood, then zinc and finally a wooden coffin and his Papal regalia will be added for the funeral he has not been wearing it while lying in state as a nod to the fact he is no longer in office. A spokesman said a written account of his eight years as Pope from 2005 to 2013 will be buried with him along with Vatican coins carrying his profile. Sombre images show the late Pope Benedict XVI lying in state in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican After his retirement Pope Benedict who was dubbed the Panzer Cardinal and God's Rottweiler for his hardline stance spent most of his time in a monastery within the Vatican and was rarely seen. The last funeral for a Pope was in 2005, when Pope John Paul II was buried and more than four million people packed into Rome for the event with former PM Tony Blair and Prince Charles among mourners. Pope Benedict has been lying in state inside St Peter's since Monday and the Vatican has released pictures of him dressed in his robes, holding rosary beads and lying on a simple dais. His body will be moved from inside the Basilica to the square outside early on Thursday morning and following the funeral he will be taken back inside buried in the crypt containing other Popes. Among those who have paid their respects is controversial Hungarian PM Viktor Orban who was later pictured ticking into a lavish seafood platter at a beachside restaurant on the outskirts of Rome. The May 18 Memorial Foundation holds a press conference in the southern city of Gwangju, denouncing revised writing guidelines for textbooks by the Ministry of Education, Jan. 4. Newsis The education ministry said Wednesday that omitting descriptions of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju from the latest textbook guidelines is part of efforts to give textbook writers more autonomy. Criticism arose after revelations that there was not a single mention of the May 18 uprising in revised writing guidelines for textbooks that will be used in elementary, middle and high schools. The guidelines, finalized on Dec. 22, will serve as a key reference for textbook writers. The Ministry of Education said the revision is part of the curriculum change to minimize descriptions of specific and individual historical events, including the crackdowns during the pro-democracy uprising in 1980, in an effort to ensure more autonomy for the textbook writers. "The draft proposal by a policy research committee was released in late July, and learning elements such as the May 18 uprising were not described at the time," Jang Hong-jae, an education policy adviser, told a press briefing on Wednesday. He also said other historical events, such as the April 3, 1948, uprising on the southern island of Jeju, were excluded. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other civic groups, including the May 18 Memorial Foundation, strongly denounced the revised guidelines, saying such omission is damaging the spirit of democracy. Some even further argued that the omission was intentionally executed to meet the taste of the conservative Yoon Suk-yeol administration. "The government is trying to outright erase the May 18 uprising," DPK leader Lee Jae-myung said at a party meeting, adding the move is "unacceptable." "The government should immediately stop erasing the May 18 uprising," Lee said. "An administration that denies history will be sternly tried before the judge of history." The ruling People Power Party (PPP), on the other hand, claimed it was the former government that decided to revise the textbook guidelines. "The PPP and the government of President Yoon Suk-yeol uphold the May spirit, and the DPK should not misstate the facts with political motives," PPP spokesperson Yang Geum-hee said, noting the PPP calls on the government to come up with measures to describe the democracy movement in textbooks. On May 18, 1980, the military cracked down on demonstrators, including students, protesting against then President Chun Doo-hwan, who had taken power in a military coup a year earlier. The harsh quelling of the uprising left more than 200 dead and 1,800 others wounded. (Yonhap) Donald Trump played a round at his Palm Beach golf course on Wednesday after throwing his weight behind Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker of the House. The former president donned his trademark red MAGA hat and white shirt in photos captured by DailyMail.com, hours after he urged Republicans to unify behind the candidate and end the voting in the House. Trump has been a longtime ally of McCarthy and was calling Republicans overnight to try and drum up support after 20 Republican saboteurs derailed his bid to take the gavel from Nancy Pelosi. 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,' Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday morning. 'REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT,' he continued in all caps. 'IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT.' 'Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!' Donald Trump played a round at his Palm Beach golf course on Wednesday after throwing his weight behind Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker of the House The former president donned his trademark red MAGA hat and white shirt in photos captured by DailyMail.com, hours after he urged Republicans to unify behind the candidate and end the voting in the House The former president urged Republicans not to turn their victory taking the House in the 2022 midterms into an 'embarrassing defeat.' Republicans met in the morning in attempt to reach an agreement between McCarthy and the 20 dissenters - nicknamed the 'Taliban 20' by Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska and the House will reconvene at noon to continue efforts to elect a new House Speaker. Representative Matt Gaetz, one of the lawmakers holding out against McCarthy' said that Trump's endorsement is 'sad.' 'This changes neither my view of McCarthy nor Trump nor my vote,' he told DailyMail.com. REPUBLICAN REBELS VOTING AGAINST MCCARTHY Andy Biggs - Arizona Dan Bishop - North Carolina Lauren Boebert - Colorado Josh Brecheen - Oklahoma Michael Cloud - Texas Andrew Clyde - Georgia Eli Crane - Arizona Byron Donalds - Florida Matt Gaetz - Florida Bob Good - Virginia Paul Gosar - Arizona Andy Harris - Maryland Ana Paulina Luna - Florida Mary Miller - Illinois Ralph Norman - South Carolina Andy Ogles - Tennessee Scott Perry - Pennsylvania Matt Rosendale - Montana Chip Roy - Texas Keith Self - Texas Advertisement Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who defected against McCarthy, was far more blunt about the criticism on the 'Never Kevin' coalition. In a radio interview on Wednesday morning, Roy lashed out against former speaker Newt Gingrich who criticized the impasse. 'I don't have time for listening to fossils... sitting on Fox News.' A senior Republican source in the House told DailyMail.com that Trump's post was 'definitely helpful,' but it's unclear yet if it's done anything to move the needle on 'Never Kevin' lawmakers. Gaetz tweeted Monday that 'Supporting McCarthy is the worst Human Resources decision President Trump has ever made.' The ex-president, who announced a 2024 White House run in mid-November, also boasted that he was receiving a flurry of calls from lawmakers hoping to gain his endorsement. 'I got everybody calling me wanting my support,' Trump said. 'But let's see what happens and we'll go - I got everybody calling, wanting my support. That's all I can say. But we'll see what happens. We'll see how it all works out.' Trump pleaded with Republicans to take their 'fight' to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao, who was the former president's Transportation Secretary. He also apologized for endorsing McConnell and helping him win another term in the 2020 election cycle. 'If Republicans are going to fight, we ought to be fighting Mitch McConnell and his domineering, China loving BOSS, I mean wife, Coco Chow,' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post including a racist nickname for his former Cabinet official. 'The harm they have done to the Republican Party is incalculable,' the ex-president added. 'Today, he couldn't be elected 'Dog Catcher' in Kentucky (Sadly, he only won because of my Endorsement, went up 21 points - SORRY!).' Republicans' first day in the House majority did not go as planned. Trump looks on after playing a shot. Republican dissenters have stood firm in the opposition of McCarthy despite the ex-presidents rally cry Trump made calls to Republicans overnight to try and drum up support for McCarthy after the three failed Speaker votes on Tuesday Trump lines up a putt on his Palm Beach golf course, with Congress still in limbo without a Speaker Comes after McCarthy failed three times on Tuesday to garner the votes needed by his caucus to become the next House Speaker Donald Trump's met with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy at Mar-a-Lago in late January 2021, just days after the former president vacated the White House McCarthy lost three ballots for Speaker because of opposition from a growing group of conservative rebels despite House Freedom Caucus Vice Chairman Jim Jordan coming out in strong support for the California Republican. Instead, 20 House Republicans sunk McCarthy's bid by throwing their support behind Representative Jordan, who has repeatedly said he does not want the gavel. The House adjourned after the third vote and will reconvene at noon on Wednesday. The failed bid Tuesday was the first time in 100 years that a Speaker was not chosen in the opening vote. The first and second votes for speaker saw 19 Republicans vote against McCarthy for other candidates. The third round of votes saw McCarthy's hopes of the top spot in the House shrink even further, with at least one more Republican voting against him. When his name was called for a vote, Florida GOP Representative Byron Donalds dropped McCarthy in favor of joining the conservatives who backed Jordan. He said afterwards that McCarthy simply does not have the votes to be Speaker. Police have said they are treating deaths as 'unexplained' but not suspicious A mother who was found dead alongside her teenage daughter at a home in the New Forest has been named as Suzan Mahmoud. Sources close to the investigation confirmed that Mrs Mahmouds death had been reported to the coroner with an inquest to be opened at a later date. Mrs Mahmoud, 42, was found with her 17-year-old daughter, who has not been named, at the rundown detached property in the tiny hamlet of Downtown, near Lymington, Hampshire, on December 29. Neighbours said they saw another young woman wrapped in a blanket and being comforted by police after the discovery of the bodies were made. This is the property where Suzan Mahmoud, 42, and her daughter, 17, were found dead Hampshire Police said they are not treating the deaths as suspicious but said they are unexplained. A spokesman said a file had been prepared for the coroner. Neighbours said Mrs Mahmoud had bought the house in January 2022 following the death of her husband. She is understood to have been living in the Maidenhead area of Berkshire and travelling down to the south coast to work on the house. The girl and the woman have been found dead at a New Forest National Park property One neighbour said: We did not really see her that often, but when they bought the house she told us her husband had recenltly died and the family wanted to move to the country to start afresh. The house needed completely renovating and they were doing it with the help of local builders as well as work themselves. They were not here that often but it is just awful to think what has happened. We asked the police if we should be worried with two bodies beging found and they would not say anything. The police were not here very long, so there is no investigation. The Fire Brigade were called to the scene but a spokesman said they were not required to take any action. Other neighbours of the 620,000 five-bedroom home said after the initial police activity they had not seen any other emergency services at the house. Property records show that it was bought last year by a woman Laura Allen. The 22-year-old was named by neighbours as the young woman who was seen wrapped in a blanket standing outside the house. It is thought she made the discovery of her mother and sister and called the police to the property at 1.45pm on December 29. Ms Smith said: 'It's so quiet around here - nothing happens around here. It's very sleepy. 'The family purchased the house last January, but didn't really move in. 'They were doing renovations and they had done a lot of work on the house. 'We know they spoke to another neighbour on Christmas Eve. 'On the day [of the deaths], we saw another daughter wrapped in a blanket outside with police. 'It's incredibly sad, I can't stop thinking about it. Just horrific. 'We don't really know anything about what happened. 'When something like this happens - you're just a bit worried.' The neighbours said they did not know how the mother and daughter died, and didn't know them by name. The boyfriend of MLB legend Dennis Eckersley's homeless daughter who was allegedly present when she gave birth in a freezing tent last week has been pictured. George Theberge was arrested by New Hampshire police back in 2017 during a drug raid that saw cops confiscate $24,000 worth of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and several thousands of dollars in cash. At some point after his release, Theberge, 45, became acquainted with 26-year old Alexandra Eckersley, the daughter of the Red Sox closer, who herself was arrested last Monday. She is facing multiple charges for allegedly misleading Manchester police in a search for her newborn baby boy in woods, and abandoning him in below freezing temperatures. The boy was found and survived, and Alexandra was promptly arrested. While being interrogated, she said Theberge left the baby behind as well, even going back to the tent - where the pair had allegedly been living - to turn off a propane heater. His photo had not been circulated until DailyMail.com released it today. This is the boyfriend of MLB legend Dennis Eckersley's homeless daughter - 45-year-old George Theberge - a convicted drugdealer who was allegedly present when she gave birth in a freezing tent last week Alexandra Eckersley, 26, the homeless adopted daughter of MLB legend Dennis Eckersley, allegedly gave birth to the baby in a freezing tent and misled cops after the fact A friend of Theberge's in Manchester, who spoke to DailyMail.com, told how the ex-con had been living in a tent for the past several years prior to Alexandra's bombshell arrest last week. 'I've known him for years,' said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 'I run into him from time to time. I think the last time I saw George was about five or six months ago. 'He doesn't have a house he's been living in tents for years,' he said. The woods where the couple had been living is the site of several homeless encampments, including one disbanded by cops last year known as 'The Bucket', with Theberge among the several squatters kicked out. The pair had allegedly been living at this squalid campsite before Alexandra's arrest last week Police allegedly found the baby uncovered and 'struggling to breathe' on the floor of a tent near the Piscataquag River At the time, Theberge gave a quote to local news outlet describing his disdain for the city's decision to break up the encampment - while also expressing his and others' preference to living outdoors as opposed to a shelter. 'Some people don't want to be inside,' Theberge told NPHR in June 2021. 'If they want to come to an encampment like this, or a community, [the city] could give us that option. Don't force us to go into a shelter.' Prior to that, TheBerge had been staying at 472 Granite St, property records show - a drug den that came under cops' radar as a suspected crack house back in 2017. On July 28, 2017, at approximately 5:50 am, a SWAT team executed an early-morning raid of the premises, arresting Theberge and three others. She is the adopted daughter of Dennis Eckersley (pictured), a MLB Hall of Famer MLB legend Eckersley - who has also commentated for the Red Sox - is reportedly fighting to be the guardian of his homeless and adopted daughter's newborn after she allegedly abandoned him Cops discovered a litany of drugs, cash, and other illicit paraphernalia - though Theberge was arrested on another police department's warrant. Records show that Theberge has had multiple other run-ins with the town police force, being arrested at least nine times for offenses including felony stalking, assault, and possession of a weapon. A woman who has interacted with him on Facebook told DailyMail.com: 'To me he's just one of the random guys that always send me friend requests on Facebook.' Theberge, however, was not arrested Monday after cops responded to a call from his girlfriend reporting she was giving birth in woods near city's the West Side Arena hockey rink - not far from the evacuated encampment - just after 12am. Cops would eventually make contact with Alexandra - just outside the wooded area - who had already given birth. The baby, however - as well as Theberge - were nowhere to be found. Alexandra - who was adopted by the Eckersley and ex-partner Nancy O'Neill in 1996 - then allegedly proceeded to lead police around the wood for 73 minutes, telling them she was bringing them to the child. Eventually they arrived at the tent she shared with Theberge, where the baby was found, alone, in temperatures that reached as low as 10F. Officers said the infant was found 'unclothed,' and had been struggling to breathe. The tent was in the woods near the West Side Arena in Manchester Police were misdirected by Alexandra at first and after an hour found the baby struggling to breathe and unclothed in 18-degree weather The homeless adopted daughter of MLB legend Eckersley allegedly gave birth to her baby in the tent before leading police to the wrong spot to find the infant struggling to breathe When asked why she didn't bring her baby to meet with police and the ambulance, she told officers: 'What do they tell you when a plane goes down? Save yourself first.' She was subsequently hospitalized and booked by officers, charged with felony reckless conduct, endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree assault with extreme indifference and falsifying physical evidence. She was arraigned over the phone on Tuesday, and appeared in court virtually while being treated at the hospital. The case has since garnered national attention due to the celebrity status of Alexandra's adopted father, who is now reportedly fighting to gain guardianship of the newborn after his daughter's alleged actions. In a statement to WCVB on Thursday, the Eckersley family said they are 'in complete shock' after learning about the tragedy through the outpouring of new reports, and said they did not even know that Alexandra had been pregnant. 'We are utterly devastated by the events that unfolded on Christmas night when our daughter Allie delivered a baby while living in a tent,' the family's official statement read. 'It is heartbreaking that a child was born under such unthinkable conditions and in such tragic circumstances. 'We learned with everyone else from news reports what happened and are still in complete shock. We had no prior knowledge of Allie's pregnancy.' The family then thanked first responders in Manchester for saving their 'innocent' grandson - as well as hospital staff for everything they did to ensure his well-being. 'Allie is our beloved daughter who we adopted at birth. Though it is painful to share, we feel it necessary to offer greater context of Allie's circumstances and background,' the statement continued, before claiming that 'the system' had failed the 26-year-old, who they said struggles with mental illness. 'Allie has suffered from severe mental illness her entire life. Allie was hospitalized numerous times for her illness and lived in several residential programs. We did our very best to get Allie all of the help and support humanly possible. 'Once Allie became an adult there was even less, we could do because she was legally free to make her own decisions as long as she was not a danger to herself or others. The family went on to say they could not 'force her to receive treatment' but try to provide the young mother support where they can. 'Since she was twenty, Allie chose to live on the streets in New Hampshire. As in many states, the mental health system in New Hampshire is broken,' the statement said. 'The state hospital used to have 2500 psychiatric beds. Now there are less than 200 for more than 1.2 million citizens and the state was forced to eliminate another 48 beds this fall because of staff shortages. 'Without adequate inpatient beds for crisis, treatment and stabilization, a state mental system fails,' the statement continued. 'We have always offered Allie a path home, but she has made other choices. We hope Allie now accepts the treatment she desperately needs for her mental health issues. 'We also hope that all those who have heard this tragic story withhold judgment about our daughter until all the facts come out.' The family added that they have filed a petition for guardianship for Allie's son. Their tent was found in Piscataquog River Park, where signs are posted about no camping or cooking 'We are in the process of filing a guardianship petition so that we may receive information and have decision making with respect to Allie's son,' the statement said. 'We thank you for your support and prayers for this beautiful, innocent baby boy. We hope people understand what an agonizing situation this is, and we respectfully ask for privacy. 'Accordingly, we will have no further comment on this matter for the time being.' Currently in police custody, Alexandra has since claimed that Theberge was also present during her baby's birth, and that he actually went back to the tent to turn off his tablet and propane heater, leaving the baby behind in the cold. She also claimed that prior to police arriving, the pair agreed they would not lead officers to their tent in fear it would be torn down and taken away, leaving them without shelter during the winter. 'Eckersley admitted that she had a conversation with George where they agreed to tell the police that the incident occurred at the soccer fields so that the police would not find and take their tents,' police said in Alexandra's arrest report. 'Eckersley was stating that it is very hard to survive if they had lost their tent because of the cold temperatures during the winter in Manchester. Eckersley stated that this is the reason they turned off the propane heat.' Outreach workers who had interacted with Eckersley in October were shocked to learn that she was pregnant, as she did not appear to be when they last saw her. It is not clear if Theberge is the baby's father. He has yet to be arrested. The child is currently in the custody of child protective services. Eckersley, nicknamed 'Eck,' was an American professional baseball pitcher and former commentator, who gained superstar status as a starter and eventually a closer for teams including he Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. With a career spanning 1975 and 1998, the 68-year-old gained prominence after becoming the first of two pitchers in major league history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career. He played 24 seasons and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, after which he served as a commentator for Red Sox broadcasts. Her parents' lawsuit alleged that Laundrie's parents as well as Bertolino were aware that their son had killed Petito and were not being forthcoming Petito, 22, was strangled on a road trip with Laundrie in the summer of 2021 Petito's parents allege that Bertolino knew their daughter was dead when he made a public statement about the search on September 14, 2021 Laundrie's parents argue that having their former lawyer Steven Bertolino added as a co-defendant in the suit against them would pit them against each other A lawyer for Brian Laundrie's parents has responded to a motion from Gabby Petitio's side to have another Laundrie family attorney listed as a defendant in their case. In a response filed by their current attorney Matthew Luka on Tuesday, Laundrie's parents argue that having their former lawyer Steven Bertolino added as a co-defendant in the suit against them would pit them against each other. Petito's parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, allege that the Laundrie's family lawyer, Steven Bertolino, knew their daughter was dead when he made a public statement about the search for her. Bertolino said in September 2021 that the Laundrie family hoped 'the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family.' Petito, 22, was strangled on a road trip with Laundrie in Wyoming in the summer of 2021. Her mother and father earlier sued their daughter's killer boyfriend and his parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, over her death. A month after her body was discovered, Brian Laundrie was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida. Laundrie's parents argue that having their former lawyer Steven Bertolino (pictured) added as a co-defendant in the suit against them would pit them against each other 'This amendment would create the unusual circumstance of clients being codefendants with an attorney who currently represents them,' wrote an attorney for Laundrie's parents (pictured) in a response submitted to the court on Tuesday Luka filed the response in opposition to Petito's motion on January 3 in the Sararsota County Court in Florida, around a month after the original motion was filed. 'This amendment would create the unusual circumstance of clients being codefendants with an attorney who currently represents them,' wrote the attorney. He added: 'Pitting the Laundries and Mr. Bertolino as co-defendants undoubtedly creates a conflict because both have an interest in defending themselves to the potential detriment of the other. 'It invades the relationship between attorney and client which is a foundational principle of our legal system.' Gabby Petito, 22, was strangled on a road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Wyoming last summer Gabby Petito's parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, pictured together in June 2022 The original lawsuit alleged that Laundrie's parents were aware that their son had killed Petito and were not being forthcoming. A statement released last month by Petito's parents said: 'When they did choose to speak, it was through statements issued by Steven Bertolino.' It continued: 'It is believed that at the time the September 14, 2021 statement was issued, the Laundries and Steven Bertolino knew that Gabby Petito was deceased, and that under those circumstances, the statement was insensitive, cold-hearted and outrageous.' 'The Laundries should be able to defend this case without worrying whether their attorney will take an antagonistic position against them,' Luka wrote in Tuesday's filing. Petito's family has long alleged that Laundrie's family they knew their son killed their daughter after he returned to their Florida home alone - and tried to help him flee authorities Steve Bertolino said earlier this year that Christopher and Roberts Laundrie (pictured at their Florida home in September 2021) 'did everything the right way, and they have no regrets' The crux of his argument was that if the court were to allow Bertolino to be added it would be a breach of attorney-client privilege. 'By attempting to add Mr. Bertolino as a defendant, Plaintiffs are effectively invading the attorney-client privilege by putting Mr. Bertolino in an untenable conflict between his duty to his clients and his right to defend himself in a lawsuit. However, he also suggested it was important that Bertolino made the statement last September in the process of trying to defend Brian Laundrie, who was his client at the time. 'Mr. Bertolino was Brian Laundrie's attorney as well as counsel for his parents.' he wrote. 'And, Mr. Bertolino made the statement that is the crux of the cause of action at issue in the course of his representation of all three Laundries. Mr. Bertolino did not make that statement in a vacuum, nor did it come out of the blue.' It's still not clear if the House will vote in a new Speaker on Wednesday after Kevin McCarthy failed three times on Tuesday to convince GOP dissenters to back his efforts. McCarthy needs 218 votes to take the gavel from outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi meaning with 222 Republican members, he can only afford to lose four votes if he wants to clinch the top House spot. On Tuesday, 19 Republicans voted against McCarthy in the first and second ballot and his support shrunk by one more when 20 members voted against his third attempt. It's unclear who Republicans can get behind, but speculation is swirling that if they don't choose someone soon, Democrats could try to swoop in and garner support for a moderate candidate on their side. DailyMail.com breaks down which lawmakers Republicans might rally behind as an alternative for McCarthy as Speaker if he still cannot sway the nearly two-dozen members of his own party who don't want him in leadership anymore. It's still not clear if Kevin McCarthy will become the next House Speaker as the lower chamber prepares to reconvene for more voting at noon on Wednesday. The GOP Leader failed on three ballots Tuesday to earn the 218 votes needed to take the gavel JIM JORDAN Vice Chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus Jim Jordan earned 20 votes from the GOP dissenters on Tuesday, making him the most likely alternative for McCarthy. Even though the Ohio representative challenged McCarthy for House minority leader after the 2018 election, he has repeatedly thrown his support behind the GOP leader in his bid for Speaker. Jordan gave an impassioned speech from the House floor on Tuesday urging his counterparts to vote for McCarthy. He has also repeatedly said that he doesn't want the gavel. Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, one of the holdouts for McCarthy, has pushed for Jordan to seek the job, but more moderate Republicans could have a hard time getting behind the firebrand conservative. The most likely alternative for McCarthy is Representative Jim Jordan, who is vice chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Jordan has backed McCarthy and said he doesn't want the gavel, but all dissenters voted for the Ohio lawmaker rather than McCarthy on Tuesday STEVE SCALISE Even though none of the 20 lawmakers against McCarthy didn't vote for the No.2 House Republican, GOP Whip Steve Scalise is an obvious and readily available choice he is also more likely to garner support from both moderate and far-righters. Representative Scalise is more aligned with the party's conservative wing than McCarthy and earned some goodwill from McCarthy loyalists when he declined to challenge him as the official nominee last month. While much focus is put on the House Freedom Caucus members and those staunchly opposed to McCarthy, votes from those who strongly back the GOP Leader are just as crucial. The Louisiana lawmaker could face the same problem as McCarthy, however, by failing to earn the support of hold-out rank-and-file members who say there needs to be a shake-up in leadership. Steve Scalise is also a potential alternative considering he is the No. 2 Republican in the House and could appeal to conservatives and moderates. He might not be a good option for hold-outs considering he is currently part of the leadership they want to shake-up ELISE STEFANIK Similar to Scalise, GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik might be able to earn more support than McCarthy but is also part of the current leadership. Stefanik, however, has the advantage of only being in Republican leadership for a little over a year-and-a-half, which could make her more appealing to those who aren't pro-status quo GOP leadership. First elected to the House in 2014, Steanik, who at the time was 30, joined as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Although she started out in Congress as a relative moderate, she has recently aligned herself with the MAGA wing of the Republican Party, which could sour her chances with middle-of-the-line Republicans. Rep. Andy Biggs may have once been considered a good option, but he failed to earn enough support considering his far-right leanings ANDY BIGGS The Arizona ultra-MAGA congressman is only on the list because he helped lead the original five 'Never Kevin' lawmakers into a movement that grew to nearly two dozen. Representative Andy Biggs has little chance of becoming Speaker because of his far-right ideals and close alignment to former President Donald Trump, whom some moderates are trying to distance from in recent months. Biggs ran an unsuccessful bid last month against McCarthy to be the Republican nominee for Speaker. PATRICK MCHENRY The North Carolina Republican was once floated as a potential future speaker when he joined the House in 2005 at the age of 29. 'McHenry's going to be the speaker one day,' former GOP House Speaker John Boehner said in 2017. McHenry served under Boehner as chief deputy whip. It appears McHenry could appeal to instigator Republicans, considering he was one during his early career but also might win support among those moderates looking for a serious, policy-oriented legislator. LEE ZELDIN While highly unlikely, the House rules dont require that a Speaker be a sitting lawmaker. Lee Zeldins tenure as a lawmaker ended on Tuesday with the conclusion of the 117th Congress after he decided not to run for reelection to the House and to instead take on New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. His spirited, but unsuccessful, challenge inspired many Republicans and could be the left-field option should no other sitting lawmaker gain enough support. Zeldins name has come up among some holdouts. Representative Lauren Boebert has floated Zeldins name private, and Gaetz has done so publicly. Representative Ralph Norman has suggested that the holdouts might be more interested in a nonmember becoming Speaker, but clarified that he wasnt specifically pushing for Zeldin. Investigators said they would be held as collateral for any payments that need to be made to the alleged victims of the Tate brothers Romanian police have seized 11 luxury cars from notorious misogynist Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan after the pair were arrested on trafficking charges. The cars were taken in the wake of their high-profile arrest on December 29, with with Romanian investigators confirming the seizures today. Romanian news outlet Gandul published photos it said showed the 11 cars, potentially worth millions of pounds, in the driveway of Tate's Bucharest property. If it is found that they were purchased through criminal activity by the brothers, the luxury vehicles could end up in the custody of the authorities. Romanian police have seized 11 luxury cars from notorious misogynist Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan after the pair were arrested on trafficking charges. Pictured: Tate appears in a video in front of at least two of the cars that have been seized by investigators (a Rolls-Royce and a Aston Martin) Andrew Tate, 36, was seen in pictures earlier this week behind bars as he had been 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. Among the collection of cars seized by the authorities is a Rolls-Royce Wraith from the carmaker's Black Badge range and an Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate, that have both featured in videos posted online by Tate. According to TopGear.com, the Rolls-Royce is worth at least $300,000, while the Aston Martin goes for around $250,000. A video posted by the former Big Brother contestant to YouTube shows he seemingly purchased the Wraith on a whim while he was walking around London with an entourage, which included his brother. According to Romania's Spy News, a Buggati Chiron (worth around $2.9 million), two Ferraris and a Porsche were among the other cars to have been seized. Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romania's DIICOT investigations agency, confirmed that the cars had been seized to Insider.com. She told the publication the fleet was being held to 'sustain the cost of the investigation' into Tate, and that they would be used as collateral to fund any payments to the alleged victims of the brothers' alleged crimes. Bolla added that investigators were working on establishing whether the Tate brothers purchased the car with funds made through human trafficking. Pictured: Andrew Tate poses next to a Buggati Chiron in a now-famous photograph after he used it to taunt environmental activist Greta Thunberg shortly before his arrest. According to Spy News, the Buggati is one of the cars that was seized Tate's copper-coloured Buggati Chiron became infamous after he posted a picture of him filling up its tank while bragging about his collection of 33 luxury cars in an effort to mock Swedish 19-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg. 'Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions,' he tweeted along with the picture, tagging Miss Thunberg. She replied: 'Yes, please do enlighten me. email me at smalld***energy@getalife.com,' to which Tate replied with a two minute video of himself smoking a cigar in a bathrobe, sitting in front of pizza boxes. Tate was branded the 'emperor of cringe,' before he and his brother were arrested a matter of hours after he posted the video, with Miss Thunberg getting in the last laugh, writing in jest: 'This is what happens when you don't recycle your pizza boxes'. Andrew Tate is 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) Pictured: Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Bucharest (DIICOT) after being detained for 24 hours, in Bucharest, Romania, December 29, 2022 In pictures released earlier this week, the influencer was seen behind bars. The images, also taken by Gandul, showed 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. 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. 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 pictures from Gandul of the luxury fleet appear to have been taken on the driveway of the same property. 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 claimed that she received a message online from Tate 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.' Inside Romanian jail where Andrew Tate will spend the next 30 days amid trafficking and rape probe Advertisement 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. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment has found that a single Iranian-made attack drone launched by Russia contained parts made by more than a dozen US companies. The Iranian Shahed-136 drone, downed during an attack last fall, contained 40 components manufactured by 13 different American companies, according to a CNN report citing the assessment. For months, Russia has been hammering Ukraine's civilian infrastructure with waves of drone attacks, which are designed to overwhelm air defenses and demoralize the population. Though the company that built the drones, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (HESA), has been under US sanctions since 2008, Iran appears to be obtaining the sophisticated electronics using intermediaries. To investigate the issue, the White House last month launched an 'all hands on deck' task force involving agencies from across Washington - including the departments of Defense, State, Justice, Commerce and Treasury. Part of a downed Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone launched by Russia is seen near Kupiansk, Ukraine. A new report found parts manufactured by 13 US companies in a similar drone This microcontroller with a Texas Instruments logo was found in the drone examined by Ukrainian officials, according to an intelligence report cited by CNN It follows a separate report from UK-based investigative group Conflict Armament Research, which found that 82 percent of the components in a downed Iranian drone were commercially available parts made by US companies. The US-made components included many commonly available parts such as microelectronics, and there is no evidence that American firms are intentionally violating sanctions laws. Rather, Iran appears to be using shell companies and middlemen to obtain the parts on the open market in violation of sanctions intended to cut off its access to sophisticated electronics that could be used in warfare. The latest Ukrainian assessment found that out of 52 components removed from a downed drone, 40 appear American-made. The remaining 12 components were manufactured by companies in Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, and China, the assessment claimed. Nearly two dozen of the parts were manufactured by Texas Instruments, including microcontrollers, voltage regulators, and digital signal controllers, according to the report. A Shahed-136 drone is seen during a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine in October Debris fragments collected as evidence by a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal team aboard M/T Pacific Zircon from an Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone A Texas Instruments spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com, but the company told CNN: 'TI is not selling any products into Russia, Belarus or Iran,' Texas Instruments said in a statement.' 'TI complies with applicable laws and regulations in the countries where we operate, and partners with law enforcement organizations as necessary and appropriate. Additionally, we do not support or condone the use of our products in applications they weren't designed for,' the statement added. After launching its invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia's expectations of a lightning takeover of the former Soviet satellite have been frustrated, and last fall Moscow's stockpiles of precision munitions appeared to be dwindling. Instead, Russia turned to relatively cheap Iranian-made drones, including the Shahed-136, which Russia rebranded with markings designating it the 'Geran-2'. Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia but said they were sent before Russia's February invasion. Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia is planning a protracted campaign of attacks with Iranian drones to 'exhaust' Ukraine's defenses. Firefighters help a local woman evacuate from a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv in October. Officials blamed Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones 'We have information that Russia is planning a protracted attack using Shahed drones,' Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. 'It is probably banking on exhaustion. Exhausting our people, our anti-aircraft defenses, our energy.' Ukraine, he said, had to 'act and do everything so that the terrorists' fail in their aim, as all their others have failed.' The discovery of Western components in the drones demonstrates how relatively cheap consumer products can be retrofitted for military purposes. Such items often fall outside of sanctions and controls on export, and are available on the open market. Iran has already started to transfer drone blueprints and components to Russia to kick-start the production there, CNN said, in what represents a dramatic escalation in the military partnership between the two ostracized nations. Police officers shoot at a drone during a Russian drone strike, which local authorities consider to be Iranian-made Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 17, 2022 Locals gather outside after Russian forces' drone attack hit a house in Kyiv on December 14 The new initiative to investigate how US components are being used in the drones is being overseen by the White House National Security Council, as part of a wider 'holistic approach' to dealing with Iran, a senior source told the news network. This will also cover Tehran's crackdown on protestors, its nuclear program, and its involvement in the on-going war in Ukraine. However, it is the Iranian drones that are perhaps the most pressing issue, on account of their use of US equipment. Many of the components in the drones were manufactured in the last couple of years. Conflict Armament Research said it its report that the drones they examined in November had 'higher-end technological capabilities.' These included tactical-grade sensors and semiconductors sources outside of Iran. This, the report said, demonstrates that Tehran 'has been able to circumvent current sanction regimes and has added more capabilities and resiliency to its weapons.' A tiny Cavachon has been left with horrific injuries after its collar got caught when a carjacker tossed him out of his owner's Range Rover. The one-year-old pooch, whose name has not been released, was rushed to an animal hospital following the terrifying ordeal in Long Island. The thief crept up on his owner's flashy 2020 SUV - which sells for around $70,000 - while she was filling up at the BP gas station on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola. He then sped away and chucked the dog out of the window before his collar fast and he was dragged across the road. Cops are still hunting for the suspect, who was wearing a black ski mask, gloves and a black hoodie, during the attack at 2.45pm on Monday. The one-year-old pooch, whose name has not been released, was rushed to an animal hospital following the terrifying ordeal in Long Island Security camera footage shows the 60-year-old car owner filling up at the gas station as the masked thug crept up on the other side of her car. He jumped into the driver's seat of the 2020 Range Rover as her one-year-old puppy sat inside tucked into her handbag. The thief then sped away before trying to launch the dog out of the window, where his collar got caught and he was dragged along the busy road. The pooch was ripped across the tarmac for miles before he was finally able to free himself. The dog survived the terrifying ordeal after a Good Samaritan called 911, but sustained serious injuries. Police rushed to the scene and brought the dog to Mineola Animal Hospital. The operator at the vets said the male pup 'was doing okay' and 'no limbs were broken.' Security camera footage shows the 60-year-old car owner filling up at the gas station as the masked thug crept up on the other side of her car He jumped into the driver's seat of the 2020 Range Rover as her one-year-old puppy sat inside tucked into her handbag The thief then sped away before trying to launch the dog out of the window, where his collar got caught and he was dragged along the busy road Police rushed to the scene and brought the dog to Mineola Animal Hospital. The operator at the vets said the male pup 'was doing okay' and 'no limbs were broken' The owner of the vehicle was unharmed. The Land Rover was later found on North Walnut Street near Parkway Drive in East Orange, New Jersey, approximately 45 miles away from where the car was stolen. The suspect remains at large and is described as a thin dark-skinned man, wearing grey sweatpants and white and black sneakers. On December 13, another carjacking took place at a gas station at 76 Glen Cove Road in Glen Head when a woman was dragged as a thief tried to steal her Range Rover, 1010 WINS reported. The BP gas station where Monday's car theft took place is located on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola in Nassau County The thief stole the woman's purse and laptop, and left the car after fleeing in a Porsche with several other men, police said, the news outlet reported. Officials said the victim was not seriously hurt. Range Rovers are a pricey vehicle that start at around $70,000 and have been some of the high-end vehicles that are getting targeted on Long Island that police said are being used in other crimes or even for racing. Cops said thee thieves sometimes use the cars to commit other crimes like robbery or loan out the vehicles for money to other crooks. Anyone with information about the theft should call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous. Christians have been left outraged after more than 30 graves were vandalised at a protestant cemetery in Jerusalem, in an act described as 'blasphemous' by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Stone graves lay in pieces with crosses toppled at the cemetery on Mount Zion, near where Christians believe Jesus's Last Supper took place. Some of the graves are of British Commonwealth war dead. Church authorities said the damage was discovered on Tuesday, while security camera footage from January 1 showed two men or boys vandalising the site. A Jerusalem bishop said on Wednesday he was 'dismayed' by the desecration of dozens of the Christian graves, as police probed the vandalism. Christians in Jerusalem have been left outraged after more than 30 graves were vandalised at a protestant cemetery by two men or boys, in an act described as 'blasphemous' by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Pictured: An aerial view shows vandalized tombstones at the Protestant Mount Zion Cemetery where acts of vandalism took place in Jerusalem, January 4 Church authorities said the damage was discovered on Tuesday, while security camera footage from January 1 (pictured) showed two men or boys vandalising the site 'We discovered that more than 30 tombstones and crosses were smashed to pieces,' Hosam Naoum, an Anglican bishop, told journalists at the cemetery. The CCTV footage showed that the men were wearing what appeared to be Jewish attire. The pair were seen walking through a gate into the cemetery before toppling stone crosses and throwing rocks at gravestones. The two vandals have been accused of being Jewish extremists. 'These criminal acts were motivated by religious bigotry and hatred against Christians,' the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem said in a statement. Israeli police said Tuesday they had launched an investigation into 'the defacement of a large number of tombstones in the Protestant cemetery'. Archbishop Hosam Naoum inspects a vandalized tombstone at the Protestant Mount Zion Cemetery in Jerusalem January 4, 2023 A general view of the damaged Protestant cemetery by Jewish settlers who sneaked into on Mount Sion in East Jerusalem on January 1 in Jerusalem A vandalized tombstone is seen at the Protestant Mount Zion Cemetery, January 4 The Anglican Church and the United Kingdom both condemned the attack on the cemetery on Wednesday. They were joined by Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who tweeted: 'This shameful vandalism is a disgraceful desecration for which I hope the perpetrators will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' On Twitter, the Archbishop of Canterbury called the vandalism 'blasphemous'. 'The desecration of Christian graves in Jerusalem is a blasphemous act,' he said. 'I join the @chiefrabbi and religious leaders in Jerusalem in condemning it and hope those responsible will be brought swiftly to justice.' He added in a second message: 'As we continue to pray for peace in the Holy Land, I stand with Archbishop Hosam Naoum and other Jerusalem church leaders in calling for respect, protection, equality and justice for its Christian community who are the Living Stones of the church.' Standing before one of the damaged graves, Hosam Naoum said: 'We are not only dismayed but we are very much saddened.' The bishop said the cemetery was established in the mid-19th century and is the final resting place of figures including clergy, scientists and politicians. Iska, a worker of the church, inspects a vandalized tombstone at the Protestant Mount Zion Cemetery in Jerusalem January 4, 2023 Pictured: A broken tombstone is seen at the cemetery in Jerusalem An aerial view shows vandalized tombstones at the Protestant Mount Zion Cemetery where acts of vandalism took place in Jerusalem January 4, 2023 Among them were 'people of great importance that have contributed to the history of Jerusalem and to the life of the people here,' he said. The British consulate in Jerusalem said in a Tweet: 'This is the latest in a string of attacks against Christians and their property in and around the Old City. The perpetrators of religiously motivated attacks should be held accountable.' In a statement to MailOnline, the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East said: 'Among the obliterated tombstones was one containing the bust of the Right Reverend Samuel Gobat, the second Protestant Bishop in Jerusalem and founder of the adjoining Jerusalem University College, formally known as the Gobat School. 'Three commonwealth graves of Palestinian police officers were among those destroyed. Many stone crosses were also the targets of the vandals, clearly indicating that these criminal acts were motivated by religious bigotry and hatred against Christians.' Israel's foreign ministry called for the perpetrators to be prosecuted, writing on Twitter that 'this immoral act is an affront to religion'. Mount Zion lies outside the Old City walls and has drawn pilgrims for centuries. It is also revered by Jews, as the burial place of biblical King David. In December 2021, church leaders warned that 'Christians have become the target of frequent and sustained attacks by fringe radical groups' in Jerusalem and the wider Holy Land. Tn the Holy Land this Christmas, in the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem where the 'story' of Christianity began 2,000 years ago, local Christians are calling for help as their numbers continue to dwindle and they face discrimination and economic hardship. Above: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre - built on the reputed site of Jesus's tomb - in April The statement criticised inaction by law enforcement and local officials, accusations deemed 'baseless' by the Israeli foreign ministry. And in the build up to Christmas 2022, the Church expressed its fears the faith will be little more than a 'museum piece' in Jerusalem after followers of Jesus fell by two thirds to 10,000 since 1948 in the city. In 1948, Jerusalem's 31,000 Christians represented around 20 per cent of the population. Now they number just 10,000 less than two per cent. The numbers are continuing to fall, despite the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem being where the 'story' of Christianity began 2,000 years ago. Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare of basic cough and cold medicines amid a surge in demand over winter. Pharmacy bosses have warned of Calpol shortage with stores struggling to get hold of 'very basic' cough and cold remedies amid a 'high level' of winter bugs, as ebay sellers cash in by flogging Lemsip for up to 12 a packet. The children's medicine is in short supply along with other popular cold and flu remedies as demand soars for over-the-counter treatments. Medicine advertised on ebay has leapt in price, with one seller advertising 24 Lemsip Max Cold and Flu Capsules for 11.99. Others are selling the brand's Day And Night Capsules for 10.99 - and limiting sales to one pack - with Lemsip's 180ml cough liquid listed for 11.49. As cases of cold and flu continue to rise, those who are unable to see their GPs are turning to shop-bought treatments which has seen a spike in demand, according to an expert. Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare of basic cough and cold medicines amid a surge in demand over winter One seller is advertising 24 Lemsip Max Cold and Flu Capsules for 11.99 on EBay Cold and flu medicine appeared in short supply at a Morrisons in the market town of St Ives, Cambridgeshire One wholesaler has listed 87 per cent of Calpol formulations unavailable And with Strep A continuing to cause concern among parents of young children, Calpol has become 'virtually non existent' in some areas, The Sun reported. Somerset pharmacist Mike Hewitson told the news site that he had 'never seen the situation this bad'. One wholesaler has listed 87 per cent of Calpol formulations unavailable. The 'higher demand' at the moment has also seen medicines like Lemsip, Day and Night Nurse, as well as throat lozenges, cough mixtures and some pain killers selling out, with pharmacists taking pictures of depleted shelves. This is leaving pharmacists struggling to find alternative remedies for patients. The head of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMP), Dr Leyla Hannbeck told MailOnline the problem was 'widespread' and not isolated to just one product. Pharmacy leaders have said that a 'lack of planning' from Government officials is to blame for a shortage of cough and cold medicines. Describing the situation as a 'nightmare at the moment', Dr Hannbeck said: 'Pharmacists can't get hold of some of the most common cold and flu medicines, and are sending me pictures of how empty shelves are. 'People cannot get GP appointments and are told to look after themselves not to put pressure on the NHS. 'With cases of cold and flu being higher this season, this has led to many people buying over the counter medicines and has led to higher demand. Lemsip's 180ml cough liquid has been listed for 11.49 on EBay as sellers cash in on the shortage of cold and flu medicine Another seller is selling 10 sachets of Lemsip Max for 10.99, meaning that each dose costs more than 1 Another seller, who has listed day and night capsules for 10.99 is limiting the buyers to one packet each A shopper places a bottle of Covonia Chesty Cough Mixture in their basket at Tesco in Bristol as low supplies of cold and flu medicine continue to hit the country Lemsip Max Day and Night Capsules are sold out in a Tesco Superstore in Bristol on Wednesday 'The Department for Health (DHSC) and Government are in denial that shortages exist. As long as this is the case we're going to be seeing this going forward. 'During the winter period, when so many people are suffering from cold and flu symptoms, as soon as a little bit of demand goes up we're stuck.' She continued: 'It's not just one brand, it's a range of products that are unavailable. 'But we are keen not to create panic. What we are saying is some of these basic medicines that we should have at this time are unavailable.' The UK Health Security Agency has warned that winter illnesses including flu and Covid-19 continue to circulate at 'high levels'. As a result, officials urged people to keep children with a fever off school and urged unwell adults to wear face masks to stem the spread of infections. The association said that the latest shortages - which come off the back of supply issues with antibiotics and HRT last year - could cause additional pressures on the NHS. Dr Hannbeck said: 'Pharmacists are struggling to obtain the very basic, most common cold and flu medicine. 'This isn't just the branded medicines, it is also simple things like throat lozenges, cough mixtures or pain killers - particularly the ones that are soluble. Tesco in Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire, also had low stocks on some cold and flu medicines Pharmacists have reported low stocks of some over-the-counter cold and flu medicines People have been taking picture of depleted shelves as cold and flu medicine stocks run low Scramble for cold and flu drugs: Pharmacists say they face shortages of Lemsip, Night Nurse and other medicines amid huge demand as people who can't see their GP turn to over the counter remedies instead Cold and flu medicine appeared in short supply at a Morrisons in the market town of St Ives, Cambridgeshire Advertisement 'The demand has been high because this season we've seen higher cases of colds and flu and people are obviously trying very hard to look after themselves and making sure that they use the relevant products to manage the symptoms. 'And that has led to a shortage of these products in terms of us not being able to obtain them.' Ms Hannbeck added: 'But this is part of a bigger issue - from HRT to antibiotics to this, we are constantly finding ourselves in a situation when as soon as the demand for something goes up we are struggling with the supply. 'Unfortunately part of that is a lack of planning by officials (at the Department of Health and Social Care) in terms of foreseeing the problems and trying to plan in advance to sort it. 'For example, with cold and flu, we knew some months ago cases were going up and it was anticipated that there would be higher demand for these products. 'So you would have thought that plans would have been in place in terms of managing this with regards to liaising with manufacturers and getting the products in.' Not being able to access self-care products in pharmacies is leading to more pressure for the NHS, she added. 'What we are seeing, which is concerning, when people go to pharmacies and try and get hold of the products over the counter, particularly for small children, then people start to stress and panic and what we don't want to happen is for more people to go to their GP or A&E when the NHS is already under a lot of strain,' Ms Hannbeck added. 'It comes back to a broader issue of our supply chain not functioning properly. 'And every time there is demand for something - like with Strep A (which saw a spike in demand for antibiotics) cases were going up in October, and then in early December the Government said there were no supply issues - when clearly there were supply issues - and then they had to issue a serious shortage protocol which demonstrates that there actually is a supply issue. 'So it becomes trouble shooting rather than having robust plans to sort problems out.' She added: 'If you're in denial that there are supply issues, if you don't want to admit there is a problem, how can you find solutions? 'On the front line it is very difficult because we're seeing these shortages but those people who are in charge of supporting us with it are denying it.' But she added: 'We don't want people to panic - as pharmacists we do everything we can to ensure we support patients in every way possible and try and sort alternatives, or give advice on how to manage cold and flu symptoms.' MailOnline visited some Boots stores in London yesterday and found that Lemsip Max sachets are entirely sold out, with just boxes 'day and night' tablets left. One Boots store worker said: '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.' Lemsip manufacturer Reckitt said it was 'doing all we can to minimise the disruption' as demand for the product was high during the cold and flu season. A Boots spokesperson said: 'We have seen higher than usual demand for Lemsip. 'There is still availability in many of our stores, and although there may be temporary shortages in some, there will normally be suitable alternatives available. 'If in doubt, customers should speak to their pharmacist for advice on alternatives.' Meanwhile Superdrug said it was currently experiencing 'exceptionally high demand' both for their branded and own-brand cold and flu products. Niamh McMillan Superdrug pharmacy superintendent, added that demand for their own-brand remedies had exceeded the demand seen during 'its biggest week in the Covid-19 pandemic'. Meanwhile, scores of social media users 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.' Retailers seeing empty shelves as stock of cold and flu remedies run low during the winter season Packets of painkillers and cough medicine were out of stock at Morrisons in Cambridgeshire this morning 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!?' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said yesterday: 'We are having ongoing discussions with suppliers to help ensure there is a wide variety of over-the-counter cold and flu medicines available to buy across the country. Should any supply issues arise, we have well-established procedures to deal with these. 'We work closely with industry, the NHS and others to prevent shortages and resolve any issues as soon as possible.' Park Kyoung-seok, co-head of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD), speaks during a meeting with reporters in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap A disability rights advocacy group said Wednesday it will suspend its rush-hour subway protest for two weeks, demanding a meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Since late last year, the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) has staged subway-riding protests at major stations in central Seoul on and off, demanding increased government funding to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including mobility rights. Wheelchair-bound activists have repeatedly boarded and disembarked trains to cause delays in metro services during the morning rush hour, drawing intense complaints from commuters. "Waiting for a response from Mayor Oh to our dialogue request, we will suspend subway riding protests until Jan. 19," SADD co-head Park Kyoung-seok told reporters. The group plans to resume subway protests on Jan. 20 if Oh rejects the request. (Yonhap) The mother of a British teenager who killed herself after being groomed by an American white supremacist and charged with terror offences said she 'became obsessed with neo-Nazism' and hated 'anyone who wasn't Aryan'. Emily Carter also slammed authorities for accusing her daughter Rhianan Rudd when she was herself a victim. The Derbyshire schoolgirl, 16, was found hanged in May last year just months after charges against her were dropped. She had been groomed and sexually exploited online by US extremist Christopher Cook and her mother's former partner Dax Mallaburn. Ms Carter said: 'They should have seen her as a victim rather than a terrorist.' Emily Carter has slammed authorities for accusing her daughter Rhianan Rudd when she was herself a victim Rhianan Rudd was groomed and exploited online from the age of 14 by an American extremist as she found herself lured in to white supremacist views Speaking for the first time about the family's ordeal, she told how concerned she had become about her daughter's behaviour and had even referred her to a Government de-radicalisation scheme Prevent. Ms Carter said: 'She became very withdrawn, very secretive. You'd say 'what you been doing upstairs' and she would say 'nothing' where before she would say she was 'searching, doing this, doing that.' 'She wasn't racist at all and then all of a sudden she didn't like blacks, didn't like Jews, didn't like anybody who wasn't white. 'If you didn't have blonde hair and blue eyes and were Aryan, as they say, she didn't want to know you, you were an inferior race, you shouldn't have been alive.' Ms Carter told how her daughter became obsessed with neo-Nazism and was soaking up views 'like a sponge.' Rhianan became the youngest girl in the country, aged 14, to be arrested over terrorism offences in October 2020 after downloading a bomb making manual and later charged. She was accused of plotting an attack and other offences in April 2021, which were ultimately dropped because of the abuse. Rhianan was groomed and exploited online by American extremist Christopher Cook (left). It was also claimed that she was influenced by her mother's then-partner Dax Mallaburn, an American white supremacist Six months later in October Rhianan took her own life at a children's home in Nottinghamshire where she was living and was preparing to take her GCSEs. A BBC investigation found that evidence the teen was being groomed and exploited was handed to MI5 months before she was accused. Her mother told Radio 4's PM programme that her autistic daughter was placed in a care home after the case against her collapsed and warned staff she was deemed vulnerable and at risk of self harm. She said authorities should have dealt with her daughter 'completely differently', warning: 'She is an autistic child who had been groomed and sexually exploited. She should have been treated as a child.' She added: 'No I do not feel my daughter was a terrorist, she was a child who fixated on things and when they fixate on something they just take it in like a sponge, and she was changing herself. That is not Rhianan. Before that she was fixated on my little pony.' Rhianan is believed to have hanged herself, an inquest into her death heard in October last year. The body of the tragic teen was found by her carer Georgina Smythe at Bluebell Church Care Home in New Ollerton, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. Susan Evans, Coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, told the brief hearing that initial cause of death was 'compression to the neck.' The Essex-born teenager was resident at the care home. Her mother was not present but dialled into the opening of the inquest at Chesterfield. The coroner 'expressed her condolences' to the family. She adjourned the hearing until February 28, 2023. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details A New Jersey mother who has admitted to shooting dead her Republican-activist husband on Christmas day sobbed in court as she pleaded self-defense. According to court documents, Marylue Wigglesworth, 51, called the Hamilton Township police claiming she and her husband, David Wigglesworth, 57, had gotten into an argument that night. Her lawyers claim she 'feared for her life' before she picked up a handgun and shot David dead. When police arrived on the scene that night, Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy said in court on Tuesday, they found David 'naked' in bed suffering from a gunshot wound with the television on. A handgun was found nearby, and police say Marylue confessed to the crime at the scene. She is now being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility without bail until her murder trial. Marylue Wigglesworth, 51, is claiming she acted in self-defense when she shot dead her husband, David, on Christmas Day. She is now being held without bail ahead of a murder trial She had appeared to be in a happy relationship with her husband, with whom she shared one son, with pictures online showing them smiling on different vacations Marylue Wigglesworth appeared in court Tuesday, emotional but silent when Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M Wild decided to deny her bail, the Press of Atlantic City reports. She had appeared to be in a happy relationship with her husband, with whom she shared one son, with pictures online showing them smiling on different vacations. But in court on Tuesday, Marylue's defense attorneys, Melissa Rosenblum and Jonathan Diego, argued she was in an abusive relationship and is being 'overcharged' for the homicide. Marylue Wigglesworth faces murder charges They submitted character letters from David's own brother, who wrote that he was 'fully aware of his brother's inner battles and struggles, and his short fuse and temper.' And in an affidavit submitted by their son, also named David, he 'says he loves his dad, and this is hard, but he also talks about the fact that his dad was violent and his dad was abusive. 'This was during the course of her whole marriage,' Rosenblum said of Marylue's relationship, claiming the abuse was the reason the couple only ever had one child, according to Breaking AC. On the night of the murder, an affidavit of probable cause shows, Marylue called police at 10.19pm, and requested help from the Hamilton Township police because she and her husband were fighting. She suffered bruising and injuring to her arms and torso from her husband that night, Rosenblum claimed, and 'feared for her life' before she 'acted in self defense' and shot her husband. A press release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office says the officers responded to a call about an 'injured male' at the Wigglesworth's Mays Landing home just before 10.20pm. When the cops arrived, it says, they found both the Wigglesworths inside their bedroom with a handgun, and Marylue admitted to shooting her husband, whom Levy said was laying in bed naked with the television on as he died at the scene. Marylue was emotional in court on Tuesday as her defense attorneys detailed alleged abuse she endured at the hands of her husband Authorities say Marylue had admitted to shooting dead her 57-year-old husband that night following an argument When cops arrived at their Mays Landing home, authorities said they found David naked in bed suffering from a gunshot wound while the television was on. A handgun laid nearby Rosenblum argued in court that the detectives failed to look into her claims of abuse and had yet to share key information with the defense. 'What the state did not do and did not present you, your honor, is that when she did talk to the police, she admitted that she shot him,' Rosenblum said of her client. 'She stated at least six times to the officers that there was a fight and an altercation. They never took pictures of her that night to see what her injuries or bruising were, or at least I have not received them, Your Honor.' The attorney then went on to argue that Marylue's history of volunteering at local churches and her lack of a criminal history suggest she is not a danger to the community and she should therefore be allowed to roam free until her trial. She claimed that Marylue would not attempt any obstruction of justice if she were granted pre-trial release. But, Levy countered: 'The fact that she hasn't been violent to the rest of the community is all well and good. However, she was extremely violent on this night.' In the end, Wild sided with prosecutors, saying: 'This court does not find that those particular arguments have overcome the resumption of detention.' Marylue had previously called the cops to report that the two had gotten into an argument Marylue and David Wigglesworth share one son, David, an economist Friends and family were shocked following Marylue's arrest late last month. David had been known in the community as a Republican activist, working to support local GOP candidates and even running for a town position in 2019 though many of his recent posts have been in favor of socialism and supporting liberal ideals like defunding the police. He also volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, and served on the Hamilton Township Planning Board. But in private, Francis Gallagher told DailyMail.com, Marylue's relationship with David was very 'off and on.' They could argue about anything,' he said. 'I have no idea what happened and I cannot comment over whether this was the result of political differences. I havent seen Marylue since this happened, said Gallagher, her brother Nobody from our family has. Ive tried to see her but Ive been told we cant until she has been up before a judge. I support my sister, and my nephew David. However, Ive been told not to say too much. Marylue is now due back in court on February 6 for a pre-indictment conference. President Joe Biden called the Capitol Hill chaos over the speakership 'embarrassing' as he left the White House Wednesday for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. 'That's not my problem, I just think it's a little embarrassing it's taking so long,' Biden told reporters on the South Lawn, after GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy, long expected to be elected House speaker, couldn't get to a majority Tuesday after three rounds of voting. The president added that 'the rest of the world is looking, they're looking at, you know, can we get our act together,' noting that 'this is not a good look, this is not a good thing' for the country. Biden answered 'no' to the question of whether he enjoyed seeing the House Republicans in disarray and pointed out that things are finally settling down after January 6 only for Congress to be paralyzed - as the Tuesday votes marked the first time in 100 years that a speaker wasn't immediately chosen. 'It's not a good look, it's not a good thing. This is the United States of America, and I hope they get their act together,' he said. President Joe Biden called the Capitol Hill chaos over the speakership 'embarrassing' as he left Wednesday for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One for this trip to Kentucky Wednesday, to tout bipartisanship, as the House is still embroiled in drama over who will become the next speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (left) ascent to the speakership was derailed Tuesday when ultimately 20 Republicans decided to back Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (right) instead. Jordan was set to take over the chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee Without a speaker, members of the House of Representatives can't be sworn-in and no business can be conducted. 'I have no idea,' Biden answered when asked who he thought the speaker would be. Biden was flying to Kentucky to tout the bipartisan infrastructure law where he'll appear alongside the other top Republican in Congress, McConnell. Also flying on Air Force One was former Sen. Rob Portman, the Ohio Republican whose seat went to the Trump-backed author J.D. Vance, who was sworn-in with the rest of his colleagues Tuesday. McConnell and Portman were among the 19 Republicans to sign onto the infrastructure law, which passed in August 2021. Additionally, the $1.6billion bridge project Biden will showcase is the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Covington, Kentucky with Cincinnati, Ohio. Overall, the infrastructure law allocated $40billion toward rebuilding the nation's crumbling bridges. 'What I am focused on is getting things done,' Biden said at departure. 'And one of the things I'm going down to Kentucky and Ohio today is to demonstrate we can get things done. We passed an enormous bill, bipartisan-ly and it works.' 'You can't be the No. 1 economy in the world unless you have the No. 1 infrastructure in the world,' he added. When asked specifically why Kentucky Biden answered, 'We worked like hell to get the most significant infrastructure bill in our history of the United States other than the Eisenhower interstate highway system.' It's been suggested that Biden standing alongside McConnell was the splitscreen moment the White House wanted as shenanigans continue in the House. 'Look, I think our administration has begun to move the economy where we're investing in America again. How can you remain the leading economy in the world absent having the greatest infrastructure in the world?' Biden mused. He also suggested that the drama was ultimately Congress' problem when asked if he was concerned about his ability to govern with the House lacking a speaker. 'Not me,' he replied. 'Congress to govern.' McCarthy's speakership bid has been derailed by 20 rogue members who represent the more conservative, pro-MAGA side of the Republican Party. On the third vote, they coalesced around Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who has said he doesn't want the speakership and is content with taking over the House Judiciary Committee from Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. That has left the party in a stalemate, with both the pro-McCarthy faction and the 'Never Kevins' digging in. On Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump also called the situation 'EMBARRASSING' on his Truth Social platform. 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and its now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE "HOUSE" TWICE!' the ex-president wrote. 'REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.' 'ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!' Trump added. Kevin McCarthy dissenters are unfazed by former President Donald Trump's warning that standing in the way of the California Republican's speaker bid will cause the GOP an 'embarrassing defeat.' 'Sad!' Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told DailyMail.com of Trump weighing in on the House Speaker's race. 'This changes neither my view of McCarthy nor Trump nor my vote,' he added. Gaetz tweeted Monday that 'Supporting McCarthy is the worst Human Resources decision President Trump has ever made.' In the first two rounds of voting on Monday 19 Republicans voted for a candidate other than GOP Leader McCarthy for speaker. In the third round, 20 did so, and they all rallied around Rep. Jim Jordan, who himself is supportive of McCarthy. He tore into McCarthy ally Newt Gingrich, saying the former speaker 'doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.' 'I don't have time for listening to fossils... sitting on Fox News.' Trump seemed to waver on his support of McCarthy in an interview with NBC Tuesday evening, but his tune switched back to staunch support after conversations overnight. Former President Donald Trump came out in staunch support of Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid on Wednesday morning. He pleaded in a Truth Social post that Republicans not 'turn a great triumph into a giant & embarrassing defeat' Comes after McCarthy failed three times on Tuesday to garner the votes needed by his caucus to become the next House Speaker 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,' Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday morning. 'REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT,' he continued in all caps. 'IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT.' 'Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!' Trump told NBC on McCarthy before the overnight conversations: 'I got everybody calling me wanting my support. But let's see what happens and we'll go - I got everybody calling, wanting my support. That's all I can say. But we'll see what happens. We'll see how it all works out.' Trump on Truth Social pleaded with Republicans to take their 'fight' to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao, who was the former president's Transportation Secretary. He also apologized for endorsing McConnell and helping him win another term in the 2020 election cycle. 'If Republicans are going to fight, we ought to be fighting Mitch McConnell and his domineering, China loving BOSS, I mean wife, Coco Chow,' Trump wrote including a racist nickname for his former Cabinet official. 'The harm they have done to the Republican Party is incalculable,' the ex-president added. 'Today, he couldn't be elected 'Dog Catcher' in Kentucky (Sadly, he only won because of my Endorsement, went up 21 points - SORRY!).' McCarthy has already made concessions that some Republicans say go too far - including bringing back a motion to vacate where just five members of Congress can call a House vote to oust the speaker. Donald Trump's met with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy at Mar-a-Lago in late January 2021, just days after the former president vacated the White House But the rabble-rousing McCarthy deflectors say the rules changes he's conceded don't go far enough - they want commitments to bring certain legislation to the floor, like the Texas GOP border plan, and essentially to be able to handpick committee assignments for a number of House Freedom Caucus members. For some of them, the opposition is personal. 'If you want to drain the swamp, you cannot put the biggest alligator in charge of the exercise. I'm a Florida man and I know what I speak,' Gaetz told reporters after a GOP conference meeting Tuesday. The House has not needed multiple votes to elect a speaker in 100 years. Now they've gone through three ballots with no progress and are beginning a second day of voting on Wednesday at noon. Rishi Sunak tried to see off a growing Tory revolt over soaring childcare costs today as he played up the importance of family. The PM is under increasing fire over a decision to scrap a plan to reform pre-school care to help parents afford places and return to work. He has axed proposals outlined by his brief predecessor Liz Truss to ditch mandatory staff-child ratios in nurseries, aimed at reducing overheads. Plans to extend free care for toddlers from 30 to 50 hours a week are also under review. Previous criticism was limited to supporters of Truss, but today backers of the PM himself urged action, including Education Committee chairman Robin Walker. In a speech in east London this afternoon Mr Sunak insisted he was committed to improving the situation for hard-pressed families, saying 'we need to support parents to manage the demands of modern workplaces without weakening the irreplaceable bonds of family life'. Pressed later by reporters, he added: 'I talked about part of modern families today (being) making sure we can balance between work life and family life and childcare is obviously an important part of that. 'The government and I are completely committed to ensuring good availability and affordability and flexibility of childcare. The PM is under increasing fire over a decision to scrap a plan to reform pre-school care to help parents afford places and return to work He has axed proposals outlined by his brief predecessor Liz Truss to ditch mandatory staff-child ratios in nurseries, aimed at reducing overheads. Plans to extend free care for toddlers from 30 to 50 hours a week are also under review Robin Walker, the chairman of the education committee who backed Mr Sunak for the leadership last year, today said there was ''strong case for intervening further'. At the same time former minister Dame Andrea Leadsom warned that the issue of childcare could be a key battleground at the next election. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, and comparing spending to that in other countries, Mr Walker said it has been increased a 'great deal over the last decade' on three- and four-year-olds, but added 'we spend far, far less on the twos and under' compared with other countries. Speaking about support for early years, he said: 'I think there is strong political support for doing more in that space, but we haven't yet seen the money flowing through.' And he said the tax-free childcare policy 'is only reaching about a third of the people it was designed to', saying the funding there 'isn't currently making the difference that it could'. 'There's been a number of recent think tank reports... on looking at the costs and impacts here, which I think do show that there is a strong case for intervening further to support families. And it needn't necessarily all come at extra cost to the Treasury,' he said. And in an interview with Politics Home, Dame Andrea warned that a failure to act could hammer the party at the next election. 'I think it's a major, major battleground issue for the next election, and I want every Conservative to have on their pledge cards 'we have delivered the best start for life programme',' she said. 'We have a problem with younger voters, we have a problem with particularly young female voters.' It came after Ms Truss warned her successor not to scrap her proposed childcare reforms. It comes amid growing concern among Tory MPs over the 'unaffordable' and spiralling costs that parents face. During her short stint as prime minister, Ms Truss fast-tracked plans to offer more help. A third of women say childcare costs have forced them or their partners to consider quitting work. During her short stint as prime minister, Liz Truss fast-tracked plans to offer more help. A third of women say childcare costs have forced them or their partners to consider quitting work A source close to Ms Truss told The Times: 'Excessive bureaucracy is making childcare in England increasingly unaffordable. Junking Liz's plans for this critical policy area seems economically and politically counterproductive.' And Kit Malthouse, education secretary under Ms Truss, urged Mr Sunak to 'push the go button as soon as possible' on the former PM's proposals. He said: 'The current system is a complicated Heath Robinson affair that means no one, parents or providers, is happy. 'It's fundamental for economic growth that parents are supported in work and my team and I had formed up a 'childcare big bang' plan to do just that.' UK parents spend around 26 per cent of joint income on childcare against a 9 per cent average in other developed nations. But the issue has slipped down Mr Sunak's list of priorities amid crippling strikes and record numbers of Channel migrants. English parents with children aged three to four can get 30 hours of free childcare a week. The Times says Mr Sunak is considering extending this to all two-year-olds rather than Miss Truss's 50-hours proposal. Currently only parents on benefits get free care for children at two. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We're certainly continuing to review all options to improve the cost, choice and availability of high-quality childcare for working parents.' A mountain rescue dog named Isla has been praised as a hero after finding a couple who became lost after climbing Scafell Pike on New Year's Day. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out shortly after 5.30pm on Sunday to England's highest peak in the Lake District after two people and a dog became lost on their return to Seathwaite after successfully completing their climb. Sharing the mission with their social media followers, a spokesperson for the team said Isla 'suddenly bolted' away from the search and rescue team. They followed in pursuit, only to find she had stopped running and was barking loudly to indicate that she had found the lost couple. Isla (pictured) successfully found the couple down in a gully on their return from Scafell Pyke, far from the main paths The rescue team was comprised of nine members, and was called at just after 5.30pm on New Year's Day Keswick mountain rescue team hailed the 'amazing' pets and the passer-by for their potentially life-saving intervention. The large-scale search was undertaken by nine team members and Isla, and the operation lasted almost four hours. The couple had made it to the top of Scafell Peak before becoming confused on their descent. Although they initially corrected their mistake, they then got lost a second time near to Sty Head Pass. A spokesperson for Keswick Mountain Rescue said one of the party at this point 'suffered a panic attack' while trapped on steep ground, and so called 999 for Mountain Rescue. Fortunately, they were well-equipped and had head torches, and were able to find a mobile signal nearby to call the emergency services and give an approximate location. A small team then went out with Isla to try to locate the missing couple. The rescue team had already conducted an extensive search when they decided to separate and search several paths for the couple. After Isla (bottom of image) found the couple, the team ensured they were unhurt before walking them back to Seathwaite As they were making the plan, however, search dog Isla 'bolted off away and down a steep gully away from the main paths'. The spokesperson continued: 'We gave chase only to find Isla barking as she had successfully located the couple, an excellent and impressive find. 'It is doubtful if we alone without Isla would have found the couple as they were hidden in a steep-sided gully away from the paths.' The couple were found safely and then walked back to Seathwaite by the rescue team. The team's followers were quick to praise Isla for her hard work and bravery. Marilyn Nichols said: 'It's fabulous when theres a happy outcome - it's a little shot of dopamine to read a post like this. Isla - here's a scratch round your ear.' Many recognised her 'amazing' skills, and even joked she was clearly the 'star of the show' in the team. The call was the team's second of 2023 having been earlier deployed to rescue two women near Great Gable, one of whom had broken her ankle in snow and wind. In total there have been three call-outs in 2023 for the Keswick team, in what proved to be a dangerous period into the New Year across the UK's slopes. One man was killed and another injured after an avalanche on Ben Nevis on December 30 led to them plunging around 2,000ft. A helicopter as well as the Lochaber mountain rescue team were tasked with the rescue, which lasted around eight hours. Isla's success came after Keswick Mountain Rescue Team reported an amazing double rescue effort by two dogs after a man collapsed while walking in 2021. The man's Labrador and Golden Retriever appeared to recognise the urgency of the situation and could have saved the man's life. Eyewitnesses said the black Labrador 'incredibly' rushed towards a nearby walker, barking and gesturing at her to follow back to the owner. Meanwhile, his golden retriever was found lying beside the unconscious man, at which point the woman dialed 999 for help. More than a quarter of serving military members struggle to put enough food on the table and many are too worried about committing career suicide to ask for help, warns a Pentagon report. An exhaustive study by RAND Corporation researchers paints a grim picture of military life, with 25.8 percent of service people unable to provide their households with enough food to 'live an active, healthy life.' Those most affected were at the start of their careers, serving in the Army, or to a lesser extent in the Navy, frequently living on bases in Texas, Georgia, California, North Carolina, and Virginia, researchers found. Many complained that they often had to skip meals, that grocery shopping trips did not fill pantries for as long as expected, or that they simply could not afford to put balanced meals on the table. Worse still, many refuse to ask for help, in case commanders thought they managed their finances poorly, hurting their career chances and even leading to a loss of security clearance. The 181-page document, which was produced for Congress, is just the latest study to spotlight the struggles of cash-strapped service members, and it comes as the Army faces its worst recruitment crisis in decades. 'The survey indicates that a high percentage a quarter of people are reporting being food insecure. And that's a high level,' Beth Asch, a RAND economist who co-authored the report, told DailyMail.com. Using data from 2018, researchers found that two thirds of the service members without enough food were in their early or the middle of their careers. Many were from an ethnic or racial minority. Those living on military bases were the most profoundly affected 30 percent lacked enough food to keep their families healthy, compared to 23 percent for service members living off post. Even so, only 14 percent of those in need reported using food banks or financial support schemes to help them make ends meet in the previous 12 months. Many do not seek help because of the 'military culture of self-sufficiency and pride', researchers said. Others worried about a career stigma or losing their security clearance if they told commanders about their financial problems, they added. Asch says there is 'no silver bullet' to fix a problem with a range of underlying causes. A member of the 82nd Airborne Division feeds her five-month-old child at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where poverty, hardship and food insecurity are rife Service members are often young, supporting themselves for the first time, and cannot manage household budgets well, she added. Some have had to bail out cash-strapped relatives. Many also work irregular hours and have to relocate frequently, which can make it harder for spouses to keep a steady income. 'While the military does offer financial literacy training, maybe there are opportunities for improving that,' said Asch. The findings echo concerns about money, pay, benefits and hardship faced by many service members and their spouses who have told DailyMail.com about family life in uniform. President Joe Biden last month signed into law a record $858 billion in annual defense spending, which included a 4.6 percent pay increase for the troops and more money for the basic needs allowance. A Family Day ceremony at Fort Jackson in September 2022 in Columbia, South Carolina. Newcomers to the Army serving at bases are among the most likely to struggle putting enough food on the table The spending boost comes as Pentagon officials warn that the forces, especially the Army, are struggling to attract new recruits, hurting efforts to maintain a military lead over strategic competitor China. The Army missed its recruitment goal for the 2022 fiscal year by 25 percent or 15,000 soldiers, the Pentagon said last year. In July, it also cut its projection for the overall size of its force and projected another decline in 2023. Researchers from the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) last year found that the number of military personnel who would advise others to enlist sank nearly 12 points to 62.9 percent between 2019 and 2021. Three quarters of those surveyed were in debt, more than half could not save, 61 percent had trouble paying rent and a troublesome 17 percent said they were so cash-strapped they could not always put enough food on the table. Chief Public Defender Anne Taylor, 57 The attorney representing mass-murder suspect Bryan Kohberger is the Kootenai County public defender who previously overturned a murder conviction after catching out false statements from Idaho police. Anne Taylor, 57, has already sent a team of investigators to the house on Kings Road in Idaho to start a crime scene reconstruction ahead of Kohberger's return to the state. He left Monroe County Correctional Facility at 6am this morning, and was transferred into the custody of Pennsylvania State Police who are handling his transport back to Idaho. Taylor and a team of four others visited the home where the bloody slayings took place on Tuesday, the same day as Kohberger waived his extradition in court. Taylor, 57, has already sent a team of investigators to the house on Kings Road in Idaho to start a crime scene reconstruction ahead of Kohberger's return to the state Taylor worked on the case of Jonathan Ellington, who was accused of using his car to run over a woman in a road-rage incident. She is now representing Kohberger She has worked for the Kootenai County Public Defenders office since 2004, and was given the top job in 2017 after John Adams retired. Taylor worked on the case of Jonathan Ellington, who was accused of using his car to run over a woman in a road-rage incident. Ellington, who was 45 at the time, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years for the crime before having it overturned because of an Idaho police officers false testimony. At the time, Taylor said that Rise was pivotal in the verdict of Ellington, adding that he had a presence in the courtroom. Fred Rice was accused of lying to the court in relation to the incident, with Taylor representing Ellington throughout. He was later re-convicted of the charges during a second trial, after the Supreme Court ruled that Rice lied on the stand. Ellington, who was 45 at the time, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years for the crime before having it overturned because of an Idaho police officers false testimony Hours after his extradition hearing investigators hired by Kohbergers defense team arrived at the property on King Road to take pictures and footage. Pictured is Ann Taylor (centre) Taylor serves on the board of the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is death penalty certified in Idaho He is expected to arrive late on Wednesday at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport - just 10 minutes from Latah County Jail The Idaho native graduated from the University where all four victims were studying with a bachelors degree in political science and a masters degree in public administration. She went on to get a doctorate from the same establishment, before practicing law at federal, state and local levels. Taylor serves on the board of the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is death penalty certified in Idaho. Speaking when she took the job as Chief Public Defender, she said: It's such necessary work. It's important to make sure Constitutional rights apply to everybody. You help people who are facing horrible times. I love the work. Chief of Moscow Police James Fry confirmed at a press conference on Friday that the clean-up plan was called off because of a court order linked to the arrest of Bryan Kohberger Kohberger signed his own extradition waiver in court in Pennsylvania on Tuesday On Friday, the criminal justice graduate student was arrested in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20 Taylor has not been available for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com, with an Idaho judge issuing a gagging order for legal teams and law enforcement working on the case. Her team spent around 45 minutes taking video footage inside and outside the property. Four of the investigators then left the property, but a crime scene reconstruction analyst remained. It is unusual for defense attorneys paid by the state to create a reconstruction of the crime scene. Meanwhile, Kohberger's parents have insisted they don't have the money for a private attorney. The investigation of the house comes after the court ordered a clean-up mission to be halted, when it was announced that authorities had made an arrest in the chilling case. Photos show that an Idaho State Police trooper accompanied the group when they attended the property. He was arrested after being tracked by the FBI for four days near his parents home in Pennsylvania, with authorities narrowing down the suspect from genetic genealogy The suspect's father, Michael Kohberger, is shown arriving at the courthouse in a summer hat to obscure his face Kohberger's therapist sister, Melissa, attended the extradition hearing on Tuesday with her parents Ex-homicide detective and attorney Ted Williams said: The fact that Bryan Kohberger's attorney has brought in private investigators to go throughout this crime scene leads me to believe that he is definitely going to mount a strong defense. Kohberger. a criminal justice graduate student, 28, was arrested Friday in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20, on November 13. He was being represented by a public defender during his extradition hearing in Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon, and was seen in public for the first time wearing a red prison-issued jumpsuit. Author Fay Weldon, known for works including The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil and Praxis, has died aged 91. The novelist, playwright and screenwriter's body of work includes more than 30 novels - as well as short stories and plays written for television, radio and the stage including ITV's popular drama Upstairs, Downstairs and the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. A family statement said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Fay Weldon (CBE), author, essayist and playwright. She died peacefully this morning January 4, 2023.' The writer previously told her readers in a statement posted on her website that she had been admitted to hospital with a broken bone in her back and then with a stroke. Author Fay Weldon has died aged 91 Fay Weldon pictured with her son Nick Weldon and grandson Felix Weldon in 1998 A family statement said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Fay Weldon (CBE), author, essayist and playwright. She died peacefully this morning January 4, 2023' Author Jenny Colgan led tributes, describing Weldon as 'formidable, fierce and wonderful Author Jenny Colgan led tributes, describing Weldon as 'formidable, fierce and wonderful'. Chocolat author Joanne Harris tweeted: 'RIP Fay Weldon: what a loss, and what a remarkable woman.' The Rev Richard Coles also revealed he took her Holy Communion as he remembered the late author, writing on Twitter: 'So sorry to see news of the death of #FayWeldon. 'I started out as an admirer of her fiction and I ended up taking her Holy Communion. She was amazing. May she rest in peace.' The novelist, playwright and screenwriter's body of work includes more than 30 novels including The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil Born in Britain in September 1931, Weldon was brought up in New Zealand and returned to the UK as a child. She went on to read economics and psychology at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and later received an honorary doctorate from the institution in 1990. Weldon worked briefly for the Foreign Office in London and as a journalist before moving to work as an advertising copywriter. She left this career to focus on her writing and published her first novel, The Fat Woman's Joke, in 1967. Alongside her prolific novel career, she also wrote children's books, non-fiction books and newspaper articles. She was also one of the writers on the popular drama series Upstairs, Downstairs which ran from 1971 to 1975, receiving an award from the Writers Guild of America for the show's first episode. Much of her fiction explores issues surrounding women's relationships with men, children, parents and each other, including the novels Down Among The Women (1971) and Female Friends (1975). Her 1978 novel Praxis was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction and she later chaired the judges' panel for the prestigious award in 1983. A post on the Booker Prizes Twitter account said they were 'saddened' to hear the news as they recalled how she had 'delivered one of the most memorable speeches in Booker history' during her time as a judge for the award. She published a memoir called Auto Da Fay in 2002 when she was 70. Weldon worked briefly for the Foreign Office in London and as a journalist before moving to work as an advertising copywriter. She left this career to focus on her writing and published her first novel, The Fat Woman's Joke, in 1967 Weldon was also a professor of creative writing at Bath Spa University, retiring in 2021 Marjorie Wallace and Fay Weldon at the Serpentine Gallery in 2006 Her most famous work, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, followed Ruth Patchett, a woman who sought revenge after discovering her husband has been having an affair with a novelist. It later became a BBC series starring Miriam Margolyes, Dennis Waterman and Patricia Hodge. Weldon's other best-known works included 1989's The Cloning of Joanna May, which was also adapted for television and again starred Hodge, alongside Brian Cox and Peter Capaldi. She said she deliberately wrote about women who were often wronged or not featured in the media. Weldon once wrote: 'What drove me to feminism 50 years ago was the myth that men were the breadwinners, and women kept house and looked pretty. That myth finally exploded, and I helped to explode it.' Tributes have poured in for the 'groundbreaking' author Weldon was also a professor of creative writing at Bath Spa University, retiring in 2021. After spending nine years teaching at the institution she was awarded Emeritus Professor status in recognition of her dedication to the university. She was made a CBE for her services to literature in the New Year Honours list in 2001. Her later books included an Edwardian-themed trilogy and a self-help book for aspiring novelists, Why Will No-One Publish My Novel? (2018). Weldon married for a third time in 1994, to the poet Nick Fox. The couple became an item when she was 60 and he 45. At the time, the age gap caused a scandal. But they endured for more than 30 years until her passing this week. Fay previously told the Daily Mail: 'There's an age difference between us, but our mothers were born in the same year: 1903. So I was an early baby and Nick a late baby. And, oddly enough, the age difference almost doesn't seem to be there.' The couple lived in a rambling 1840s townhouse in north Dorset which was adorned by Fay's fine art collection. In her later years, the novelist said she rarely went out 'because of my legs', having had two knees replaced. She remained committed to looking glamorous, however, including having her eyelashes dyed in her late 80s. 'I wear clothes from 30 years ago Jean Muir and so on,' she told the Mail in an interview in 2019. She hilariously recalled not knowing whether or not she had had a facelift. Fay said: 'I was having an eye lift in Hollywood by the person who did all the famous people. Whether they did anything else, I don't know. It certainly wasn't a case of: 'I'm going to have a full facelift.' When I came home to London, my then-husband said: 'You look very expensive.' So I thought that was quite nice.' Fay packed as much if not more into her middle-age and beyond as her youth. She had her fourth son at 47 and published The Life And Loves Of A She Devil, the book that made her famous, at 52. She didn't have an easy start as a writer. She had a series of odd jobs, before becoming a top advertising copywriter (coining the phrase: 'Vodka gets you drunker quicker'), and then moved into TV drama, writing the pilot for Upstairs, Downstairs. Weldon didn't have an easy start as a writer. She had a series of odd jobs, before becoming a top advertising copywriter (coining the phrase: 'Vodka gets you drunker quicker'), and then moved into TV drama, writing the pilot for Upstairs, Downstairs She published her first novel, The Fat Woman's Joke, in 1967 'which was about the struggle between domesticity and dieting'. She wrote on the stairs while the children were small so that she could keep an eye on them. Fay once recalled how male writers were furious with her for writing about women's topics. She told the Mail: 'Men would walk out of rooms when I walked in because they were so angry and upset that women were no longer willing to iron men's shirts. 'But then money crept in and people began to buy women's books in rather enormous quantities. And they had to respect them because they were doing all right in the market.' The Life And Loves Of A She Devil, in which wronged wife Ruth steals her husband's money and has plastic surgery to look like his mistress, was a case in point. When the TV series adaptation came out in 1986, it shaped the cultural conversation for months. Her husband Nick once said she would go 'a bit funny' if she was not writing something, adding: 'It's like an athlete if they're not training.' Fay's husband Nick (pictured together) once said she would go 'a bit funny' if she was not writing something, adding: 'It's like an athlete if they're not training' Fay told the Mail: 'I never wanted to write. But I think the money is the most important thing. I don't feel squeamish about money. I was born into the very poor middle-classes, with a single mother. We got scholarships, but I never had any money. Then I had a baby out of wedlock, but one survived.' For more than 40 years she took HRT (hormone replacement therapy), firmly believing in oestrogen as a source of creativity. 'These days, I take bioidentical hormones, but I don't think they're as good as the 'hard' stuff,' she told the Mail while laughing. 'I had my last baby at 47 and went on writing on oestrogen. I had to bully doctors to get it.' Fay, who had a heart condition from a young age, was candid about the idea of death, and previously said one cannot delay ageing indefinitely because you are eventually going to die. She added: 'I'm fairly used to dying because I'd go to hospital and they would stop my heart at least once a month and everyone would gather round for the sideshow, to watch you flatline. Eventually, they came up with a solution I had a cardiac ablation [to stop the abnormal heart rhythm]. But I rather miss the drama.' Fay had two near-death experiences (one when she was 17; one in 2009). She recalled: 'I saw the doors of paradise, which were not pearly, but all sorts of vivid colours, like an Indian temple. But I got to see through to the other side of the gates. And I came back saying: 'Oh, I see, it's just the same but different. You pass from one stage to another. It's the same work and effort . . . but on a different scale.' Just four years before her death she said she did not worry about her legacy as a writer. 'I've never had time to think about it,' she said. 'But I hope I've left behind lots of stories that will be useful.' *Do you have footage from the flight? Email: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk* *Do you have footage from the flight? Email: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk* The two men, both from Manchester, England, were charged with federal crimes One man allegedly got into a fist fight with another of the passengers The cabin erupted into chaos with the men forcing the plane to divert to the US A pair of British passengers who disrupted a flight from Mexico to England, causing it to make an unplanned landing in the US, have been charged with federal crimes. The two were among a group of three disruptive passengers who retrieved alcohol from a carry-on bag after being denied service. One of the men then allegedly got into a fist fight with another passenger, according to the FBI. If convicted following their charge, the two men could expect to face up to 20 years in prison. The TUI Airways captain was forced to divert the the flight travelling from Cancun, Mexico, to Manchester, England, to the Bangor International Airport (file image) The men also allegedly made racist remarks about the flight crew and passengers while filming the interactions, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court in Bangor, Maine. The men were refused alcohol by the plane staff but one of the men retrieved a bottle from his carry-on luggage. The FBI affidavit said the two men's behavior then escalated over US airspace. The TUI Airways captain was forced to divert the the flight travelling from Cancun, Mexico, to Manchester, England, to the Bangor International Airport on Monday night. Do you have footage from the flight? Email: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement The cabin erupted in chaos with multiple passengers out of their seats and shouting at each other, the FBI said. The flight had a total of 328 passengers. The plane made the diverted stop in Bangor, Maine, at around 10pm. A third man was also removed from the plane but he was not charged. He was not identified by the FBI affidavit. The court documents read: 'During the flight the men became loud and disruptive. 'While the aircraft was over Florida, Kirby, Murphy and the third man made racist comments to the crew and passengers while filming their interactions with the crew and the other passengers with their cameras. The behavior caused the flight crew to change seats.' Anthony Joseph James Kirby and Damien Jake Murphy, both 36, of Manchester, England, were removed from the plane and arrested, officials said. They were both charged with one count of interference with flight crew and assault. The charges came under a special aircraft jurisdiction in the US. Kirby and Murphy were ordered detained without bail after initial court appearances Tuesday on federal charges of assault and interfering with a flight crew. Kirby's attorney said Wednesday he needed more information about what happened on the plane. A phone message was left with Murphy's attorney. *Do you have footage from the flight? Email: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk* Lawmakers pass a law revision at a plenary session of the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, in this Dec. 28 file photo. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo Heated debates arose at the National Assembly after President Yoon Suk-yeol floated the idea of altering Korea's electoral system to introduce multiple representatives for electoral districts. Parties are struggling to find alignment as each lawmaker has their own interests depending on their constituencies and political stature, lowering the chances of seeing drastic changes in the upcoming 2024 general election. "We need to consider strengthening the representative nature (of elections) by using an electoral district system with multiple representatives per constituency," Yoon said in an interview published by Chosun Ilbo newspaper on Monday. "Since the current single-member district election results in an all-or-nothing outcome, elections get overheated, aggravating partisan divides and conflicts between people." He suggested constituencies elect two to four representatives each depending on their attributes. National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo provided momentum for Yoon's idea, saying he is planning to "fix the rules for next year's general elections no later than mid-March" and propose multiple plans to a special committee on political reforms. Currently, Korea uses a single-member district system, in which a constituency elects a single representative. Since it is a winner-takes-all system, it embodies the risk of failing to represent those who didn't vote for the winner. Also, it has been argued that the system only strengthens the presence of the two major parties. For example, during the general elections in 2020, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) garnered 49.9 percent of the total votes, but gained seats in 163 out of 253 constituencies, or 64.4 percent. The United Future Party, the predecessor of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), gained 41.5 percent of the total votes, but won only in 84 constituencies. Hypothetically, a system allowing multiple candidates to be elected for a single constituency would allow the voices of those who voted for the No. 2 or 3 candidates to be represented. Also, candidates from minor parties have better odds of getting elected. This, however, also has some shortcomings, because the No. 1 candidate who wins 90 percent of votes will have the same influence as the No. 2 candidate who won only 10 percent. Also, some argue that this will only promote the two-party system further, because major parties will likely forward multiple candidates to a single constituency. During last year's June 1 local elections, Korea tested a multiple-representative system in electing municipal council members in 30 out of 1,030 constituencies. Out of 109 winners, however, 105 were from either the PPP or the DPK, and only four were from minor opposition parties. Ruling People Power Party floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young reponds to reporters' questions at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap The 50-year-old has been jailed for life after admitting to 41 rapes and assaults Police tracked him down after technology allowed them to unscramble his face He filmed himself abusing his victims and pixelated footage to hide his identity An 'evil' child rapist was tracked down by police after 17 years when new technology allowed them to unpixelate his face on videos of him committing his vile crimes. Martyn Armstrong, from Pembrokeshire, took footage of himself raping, sexually assaulting and abusing children between 2005 and 2007. The 50-year-old targeted three victims - one of whom was as young as one - and posted the pictures and videos to the dark web with his face blurred out. He was arrested 17 years later after police developed a tool that allowed them to unmask him from his own videos. Martyn Armstrong, pictured here in his police mugshot, raped and abused children between 2005 and 2007 The 50-year-old, pictured here being arrested by police, was caught 17 years later after new technology allowed investigators to unmask him Armstrong has now been jailed for life after he was hauled before the courts for his crimes, many of which he had shared with other depraved perverts on the dark web. He pleaded guilty to a total of 41 counts of rape of a child under the age of 13 and sexual assault related to two victims, and to making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children in relation to them both and a third victim. Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court Armstrong had taken the images of him abusing children between 2005 and 2007, and between December 16, 2009, and February 6, 2011, and had admitted to taking photos of a third child on a beach in 2010. Armstrong had posted online a series of 200 extremely graphic images and a video under the file name 'Father Jones' which shows him repeatedly raping his youngest victim. The series has been known to crime agencies across the world since 2013 due to the file being shared and downloaded across 18 countries, not including the UK, within South America, Australia and Europe. The folder was still being shared in the UK in early 2022 across six websites, and had been found by police forces in 583 forensic submissions. Mr Griffiths said Armstrong had used photoshop to place a zig-zag distortion across his image, but made no attempt to disguise the identities of his victims. Due to his face being blurred, investigators were unable to identify the paedophile for almost a decade, despite attempts by law enforcement partners from Australia, Italy and France, with an officer from the latter country identifying the exact beach location in Wales which had featured in some of the images. Mr Griffiths said: 'One image featured the offenders face with a zig zag distortion. 'As a result in July 2022 and the National Crime Agency officers using their new tool they were able to unpixelate the image of the defendant in that series.' The software was developed by NCA officers in the UK and is the first of its kind to be developed in the world. It is expected the programme will help future perpetrators to be identified. From the undistorted image, the officers were able to identify Armstrong's Facebook profile leading to his arrest. Officers seized a number of his devices and discovered a disturbing cache of images including 789 category A, 989 category B and 2227 category C. Mr Griffiths said: 'Mr Armstrong was tracked down and asked if he was guilty of the offences and he answered "to some of them yes".' Armstrong admitted to distributing photos and to naming the Father Jones series, saying he had also taken images of one of his victims on a beach, telling officers: 'I always have a camera with me.' Armstrong was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) to life in prison with a minimum term of 14 years Adam Sharp, defending, said: 'Mr Armstrong does not want me to try to mitigate the depravity of his actions or the impact they had on his victims.' Mr Sharp said his client has taken full responsibility for his actions, but asked the judge to take into account how he cooperated with officers and had led them to identify other victims. In a victim impact statement read to the court, one of his victims said: 'The second I saw the piece of paper (with the images), it felt like I couldn't breathe. 'I saw my smiley, younger self full of happiness, confidence and innocence. 'I am no longer able to look at these pictures without a rush of panic and heartache. 'I feel betrayed, manipulated and deceived.' Addressing Armstrong, they said: 'You abused me, manipulated me and have forever darkened a piece of my childhood. 'When I think about the type of person who could commit such horrific crimes, I feel like only a monster could ever be responsible. Never did I think that all along, the only monster was you.' Sentencing Armstrong to a life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years, Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: 'In these courts we deal with the most serious sexual offences but the nature and depravity of your offending is shocking. 'No doubt you thought the precautions you took to hide your identity would protect you from being identified. 'Thanks to the good work of officers from the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies across the world you were apprehended.' The judge said probation officers had categorised Armstrong as high-risk and found he had an 'obsession with the sexual abuse of children and babies'. 'You distributed images of children for the sexual gratification of other paedophiles,' she added. 'That will continue for the rest of their lives because these photographs cannot be recalled.' Armstrong was also made the subject of a 25-year sexual harm prevention order, along with restraining order in relation to the three victims. Wearing a navy blue fleece and blue polo shirt, he showed no emotion as he was taken down. Martin Ludlow from the NCA said: 'It is over 17 years since Armstrong began to abuse these young children. I don't believe he thought he would ever be caught and that the distortion techniques he used would protect him. 'However, the NCA and our international partners were determined to ensure his evil actions did not go unpunished. 'Our commitment to identifying him was unwavering and ultimately, NCA officers developed a completely new programme which led to his unmasking. 'We will continue to work together and do all we can to bring offenders like Armstrong to justice and protect innocent children from child sexual abuse.' She was seen speaking to Republicans Paul Gosar and Matt Gaetz on the floor during the Tuesday vote Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has suggested a 'coalition government' between the Republicans and Democrats in the House after rebels derailed Kevin McCarthy's opening bid. The Squad member hinted that her party could be open to an 'unprecedented' deal to help McCarthy get the votes in return for some power with the GOP in disarray. The liberal raised the possibility of negotiations after the 20 dissenters voted against McCarthy in three speaker ballots on Tuesday and put Congress in limbo. On Wednesday morning it seemed the GOP hardliners would keep voting against him, leaving McCarthy's campaign to take the gavel up in the air. She told MSNBC on Tuesday night: 'I do not believe that Kevin McCarthy has the votes. I believe that a lot of the opposition to him is very personal. 'I believe his leadership style is incompatible with a lot of Republican members and certainly the Democratic Caucus. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has suggested a 'coalition government' between the Republicans and Democrats in the House after rebels derailed Kevin McCarthy's bid. Kevin McCarthy's bid to be House Speaker is in peril after a group of Republican rebels nicknamed the 'Taliban 20' and 'chaos caucus' derailed the first three ballots 'So the question is, is there anyone in their caucus that can build that consensus? If there isn't, McCarthy's team may have to come to the Democratic Party? 'And, if that's the case, then what would that even look like. It's rather unprecedented? Could it result in a potential coalition government?' she asked. 'Really, it's about the cards that are in McCarthy's hands. And if he chooses to approach the Democratic Caucus, then that would be a negotiation, in and of itself, for a potential coalition government. But, again, this is very much an unprecedented time.' REPUBLICAN REBELS VOTING AGAINST MCCARTHY Andy Biggs - Arizona Dan Bishop - North Carolina Lauren Boebert - Colorado Josh Brecheen - Oklahoma Michael Cloud - Texas Andrew Clyde - Georgia Eli Crane - Arizona Byron Donalds - Florida Matt Gaetz - Florida Bob Good - Virginia Paul Gosar - Arizona Andy Harris - Maryland Ana Paulina Luna - Florida Mary Miller - Illinois Ralph Norman - South Carolina Andy Ogles - Tennessee Scott Perry - Pennsylvania Matt Rosendale - Montana Chip Roy - Texas Keith Self - Texas Advertisement AOC also questioned whether a deal could include Democratic committee chairs and reiterated in an Instagram post that McCarthy should open talks across the aisle in order to secure the vote. 'If this goes on, and on, and on, and the Republican Party has no speaker nominee, something has got to give,' she said. She was pictured talking to Republican Rep. Paul Gosar on the House floor on Tuesday, 14 months after the Arizona Republican was censured for sharing an anime video of him killing her. The left-wing New Yorker and right-wing Arizonan were seated next to one another and were caught in animated conversation for several minutes amid the drama Tuesday afternoon of who would become the next House speaker. Talking Points Memo reported that Gosar - one of the Republican rebels trying to take down Rep. Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid - wanted to know from AOC if Democrats would leave the floor in an effort to help the California GOP leader. In order to be elected speaker, a candidate most receive a majority of the votes from members present. If all members are voting the magic number is 218. However, members can leave or vote 'present' instead of for a particular candidate, lowering the threshold McCarthy would need to ascend to the role. 'Gosar heard from McCarthy that McCarthy could get Dems to leave [and] thereby lower the number of votes needed,' a source told TPM. 'She said, no, it wasn't [true].' After the image of Gosar and Ocasio-Cortez started to go viral, Gosar tweeted a caption: 'So then I says "The combustion engine was actually a miracle of engineering that people take for granted today...,"' he wrote. The Intercept reported Tuesday that Rep. Matt Gaetz, another rogue Republican, had made a similar inquiry to AOC. 'McCarthy was suggesting he could get Dems to walk away to lower the threshold,' Ocasio-Cortez told the publication. 'And I fact checked and said absolutely not.' AOC speaks to one of the Republican dissenters Matt Gaetz during the Speaker votes on the floor on Tuesday She was also pictured talking to Republican Rep. Paul Gosar on the House floor on Tuesday, 14 months after the Arizona Republican was censured for sharing an anime video of him killing her During Tuesday afternoon's speakership drama, the Democrats have remained a solid bloc in support of New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the agreed upon Democratic replacement for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But all afternoon a band of rogue Republicans have cast votes for other candidates - mainly Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who under McCarthy was set to become the chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee. AOC told The Intercept that she checked with Democratic Party leadership and found that there were no plans for a group of Democrats to vote 'present' to help McCarthy out. The New York City Police Department has released its annual round-up of crime over the past year - and it has revealed that crime is up in virtually every category, despite recent assertions from the city's mayor. The statistics paint a bleak picture of the city's efforts to address crime that's rocketed since the pandemic - a campaign that has been touted as successful several times over the past year by Mayor Eric Adams. However, statistics show the politician - who ran on promises of addressing violence on the city's streets and is now entering his second year as mayor - was mistaken. The data, released by the department Wednesday, comes exactly two weeks after Adams assured citizens that officials had taken strides in the unrest, while touting supposed gains in public safety. Adams, who himself is a former NYPD police captain, unveiled his 'Blueprint to End Gun Violence' early last year, along with a 'Subway Safety Plan' - both of which have so far proved largely ineffective, according to the new statistics. Scroll down for video: The statistics paint a bleak picture of the city's efforts to address crime that's rocketed since the pandemic - a campaign that has been touted as successful several times over the past year by Mayor Eric Adams Adams has claimed there is only a perception that crime is out of control in the city - with the most recent assertion from the mayor coming last week (pictured) The data shows that rapes, robberies, and assaults are all up from last year, since hitting highs not seen in decades in both 2020 and 2021. Rape - which rocketed in 2020 when streets were empty and unemployment rife due to unrest caused by the coronavirus - rose by 7 percent, with more than 120 occurring this year than last. Robberies, meanwhile, rose a shocking 20 percent, despite recent measures taken by Adams, 62, to increase police presence throughout the city. Assaults and theft throughout the city, meanwhile, show a similarly pronounced rise, with felony assaults up 12 percent - 26,039 incidents this year compared to 22,835 seen last year - and burglaries up an alarming 25 percent. All other crime categories - including grand larceny and motor vehicle theft - showed similar rises except for murders, despite the outset of the pandemic coming now nearly three years ago. The statistics directly contradict repeated statements from Adams that New York - which saw incidents of violence and shootings swell to historic highs in 2020 when its streets were hollowed out by lockdowns - was well on the path to recovery, the most recent of which came just last month. 'Anyone who studies crimes, they know its about,' the mayor began, speaking at a presser in Midtown. 'How do we continue to trend in the right direction?' He added that he and his team, upon taking office nine months into the pandemic, had known 'wouldnt happen overnight.' 'But we pushed ahead in spite of that,' he continued, before citing statistics that showed recent headway cops have made in quelling murders and shootings. 'New York remains and people sometimes forget this, but I really want to highlight this,' Adams said, 'the safest big city in America.' He went on to add: 'And in 2023, we want to push this city to be safer. The mayor then showed statistics he called 'very important', which highlighted a 17 percent drop in shootings from that time a year ago, and a more than 12 percent drop in homicides - after murders reached levels not seen since the 80s when then-crime-ridden New York was labeled 'Fear City.' The mayor also touted a '27-year high for gun arrest,' after the city saw shootings double from 2019 during the first year of the pandemic. Adams seemed to reference statistics that showed the total rate of serious crimes is up 23.5 percent this year compared to 2021, as well as a surge in killings, robberies and rapes in the subway system that has seen ridership fail to return to levels seen before 2020. 'I think that New Yorkers should feel better about the direction that we are heading in the city around public safety,' he said. 'And the hard work of the NYPD and other agencies have been focused on making the city safe. Some of the numbers are reflecting that.' While some of the statistics Adams cited were true, they failed to provide a full picture on the current state of the nation's most populated city, which has evidently struggled to see crime return to prepandemic levels. During the initial months of the coronavirus outbreak, burglaries and car thefts - as well as other crimes usually deterred by potential witnesses - spiked. Bodegas and boutiques alike all saw stark increases in robberies and shootings. By summer, the frustrations of shutdowns and the chances of a potential economic collapse had spilled over onto the city's streets, with shootings in a matter of months having doubled from the same time the previous years, with most incidents concentrated in the areas hardest hit by the coronavirus and unemployment. Since then, some crime rates have trickled down from historic highs recorded during the pandemic, but remain markedly higher than levels seen prior to 2020. Some crimes, the NYPD data shows, have even increased The former NYPD captain has laid most of the blame for the city's slow recover on Manhattan's DA Alvin Bragg, and has criticized the prosecutor's soft-on-crime approach and policy changes that have lightened punishments for armed robbery and burglary suspects. The changes, made after Bragg assumed office along with Adams, makes it easier for career criminals and repeat offenders to be reentered to society while being prosecuted for violent, and often felony-level offenses. 'Let's be clear. We are in a city, in a country, where consequences must go with inappropriate actions,' Adams said of the correlation between Bragg's policies and the surge of crimes last year. The former NYPD captain has laid most of the blame for the city's slow recover on Manhattan's DA Alvin Bragg, and has criticized the prosecutor's soft-on-crime approach and policy changes that have lightened punishments for armed robbery and burglary suspects Bragg has come under fire for polices that aim to eliminate prison sentences for all but the most serious crimes, downgrade felony charges in certain cases of armed robbery and burglary, and drop charges for many low-level offenses At the time, the mayor said that 'there is no appropriate response to [criminals'] bad behavior' because of Bragg's policies, which aim to eliminate prison sentences for all but the most serious crimes, downgrade felony charges in certain cases of armed robbery and burglary, and drop charges for many low-level offenses. 'The laws have shown that and it's troubling, when you could have a person that carries a gun repeatedly, and theyre treated in family court instead of criminal court,' the mayor said, adding that 'we need to tweak, tweak the law to reflect that that's unacceptable,' he added. Bragg, 48, has also revamped he city's prosecuting policies regarding bail for criminals with violent offenses, after the previous DA eliminated the cash-bail system used in the city for decades before the pandemic in 2020. That, experts and criminologists say, spurred an alarming spike in violent crimes that year that was in turn exacerbated by the pandemic. 'New York City is a corporation, I'm the new CEO,' Adams has been quoted as saying. 'And as in any new CEO, you have to put your plan and programs in place to turn around a failing company. And that's what we're experiencing right now.' But despite these promises - and multiple measures costing taxpayers billions of dollars such as his Subway Safety plan - crime has persisted, with a recent spate of violent incidents making headlines during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, a career criminal with 12 prior arrests was cuffed by cops after allegedly carrying out a five-day spree of violent knife attacks spanning two boroughs. Roland Codrington, 35, now faces with murder and attempted murder for the deadly crime binge, which left two dead, including a pediatrician - and at least three others injured. Despite Adams' promises - and multiple measures costing taxpayers billions of dollars such as his Subway Safety plan - crime has persisted, with a recent spate of violent incidents making headlines during the holidays On Christmas Eve, Rolland Codrington a career criminal with 12 prior arrests was cuffed by cops after allegedly carrying out a five-day spree of violent knife attacks spanning two boroughs. Adams' has criticized policies that let people like Codrington back on the streets Less than a week later, Trevor Bickford, a 19-year-old man accused of being a domectic terrorist, was arrested in Times Square after slashing two cops with a machete on New Year's Eve Frank James, who opened fire on a crowded New York City train in one of the worst attacks on the subway systems in years, pleaded guilty Tuesday to terrorism charges in connection with an April shooting that left Adams with egg on his face after promising to clean up the subway Cop Friday revealed that Codrington has 12 prior arrests, and was nabbed while driving the black Mercedes of Bruce Maurice Henry, the pediatrician who cops said was the last confirmed victim of the slew of slayings. Less than a week later, Trevor Bickford, a 19-year-old man accused of being a domectic terrorist, was arrested in Times Square after slashing two cops with a machete on New Year's Eve. A few days after that, Frank James, who opened fire on a crowded New York City train in one of the worst attacks on the subway systems in years, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to terrorism charges in connection with an April shooting that left Adams with egg on his face after promising to clean up the subway for straphangers. The mayor, meanwhile, argues that 'its just a small number of people around 1,694 people who are just wreaking havoc on our city.' He has yet to comment on the recently released statistics. This is the chilling moment a stepfather confessed to shooting his wife dead in front of her teenage daughter - by pointing to the word 'yes' after he was left unable to speak due to a botched suicide bid. Cheryl Gabriel-Hooper, 51, was shot twice with a double-barreled shotgun by her ex-partner Andrew Hooper as she sat in her car after being subjected to years of domestic abuse. Her daughter Georgia, who was just 14-years-old at the time, was standing by the front of the Land Rover Evoque when she witnessed her stepfather firing an antique gun at her mother in January 2018. Hooper fled the scene and turned the shotgun on himself after the attack. His face remains severely disfigured and he can no longer speak. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 31 years. Never-before-seen footage has now emerged showing him in hospital admitting to the murder by pointing at the word 'yes' on a board with his trembling finger when asked in a police interview if he was responsible for his wife's death. Never-before-seen footage of the police interviewing Andrew Hooper in hospital has emerged Cheryl Gabriel-Hooper, 51, was shot twice with a double-barreled shotgun by her ex-partner Andrew Hooper In the clip, which is part of a new ITVX documentary A Murder in the Family, a police officer says the investigation was an 'emotional rollercoaster for 18 months full of unexpected twists and turns'. By the time police got to interview Hooper it was 10 months down the line - he didn't have a mouth or a nose and the interview was described as 'extraordinary'. Georgia's stepfather, Andrew Hooper, had already been convicted of previous domestic abuse offences before he met her mother. But Cheryl never knew this when the relationship began. Georgia spoke to MailOnline back in December 2020, saying: 'I wish there could have been a domestic abuse register when my mum was alive. 'My stepdad had a history of domestic abuse before even meeting my mum so if there had been a register, it could have prevented her from entering into a relationship with him.' Hooper pointing to the word yes in a police interview when asked if he was responsible for Cheryl's death Cheryl Hooper, with her daughter Georgia, who was 14 when she witnessed the shooting 'A register would save lives because it would potentially stop someone from entering a relationship with an abusive partner,' Georgia added at the time. 'A lot of abusers turn into serial abusers, attacking every woman they go out with. It's rarely an isolated incident so we need that register to keep women safe.' 'Something needs to be done. We have a sex offenders register, so why don't we have a domestic abuse register?' Police said the investigation was an 'emotional rollercoaster for 18 months full of unexpected twists and turns' Andrew Hooper who was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of murdering his estranged wife Cheryl Hooper Cheryl, who had been abused by the 'cowardly' farmer for seven years, had moved out of their shared house at Guild of Monks Farm, near Newport, Shropshire, in December 2017 and moved to another house with Georgia in the town.She was murdered six weeks later on January 26, 2018. Georgia and her mum had just parked in the driveway of their new home when Hooper, who had earlier confronted Cheryl at a pub after putting a tracking device on her car, pulled up behind them in his truck. 'My mum said 'Oh my god he's here',' Georgia previously told. Knowing instinctively that something didn't feel right, the 14-year-old schoolgirl got out of the car. 'But by the time I got to the front of the car he had shot through the car window to break it and then he shot at mum again,' she said. 'I tried to find a pulse or get a reaction from her, but there was nothing. 'I never thought he was going to kill her. I never thought he would take it that far.' A Murder in The Family lands exclusively on ITVX on Thursday 5th January. If you have been affected by the issues in this story, Women's Aid offers a free support line: 01708 765200 What a contrast. In Washington, DC it's all chaos and confusion. But in Tallahassee, Florida, it was blue skies as far as the eye can see. In a sweeping and poetic 20-minute inauguration speech on Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mesmerized an adoring crowd with two themes sorely lacking from American political life: truth and common sense. These were the tools of a governor who refused to bend to Covid panic, who more than any other elected leader, pushed back against absurd and needless lockdowns, who opposed the latest cultural perversities and advanced conservative governance. 'Over the past few years, as so many states in our country grinded their citizens down, we in Florida lifted our people up,' he declared, kicking off his second term. Indeed. 'When other states consigned their people's freedom to the dustbin. Florida stood strongly as freedom's linchpin.' I couldn't say it better myself. 'When the world lost its mind when common sense suddenly became an uncommon virtue Florida was a refuge of sanity, a citadel of freedom for our fellow Americans and even for people around the world.' There is no arguing with that. Today, as the wages of pandemic lockdowns crush the residents of states such as New York, California, and Michigan, it is easy to forget just how reviled, how castigated, how hated DeSantis was when he re-opened Florida in April 2020. In a sweeping and poetic 20-minute inauguration speech on Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mesmerized an adoring crowd with two themes sorely lacking from American political life: truth and common sense. 'Over the past few years, as so many states in our country grinded their citizens down, we in Florida lifted our people up,' he declared, kicking off his second term. It all seems so obvious now. But it didn't then, or as he put it, 'We face attacks, we take hits, but we weather the storms, we stand our ground, and we do what is right.' This was a victory lap. And a hopefully, more than that. Dare I say, a new beginning? It was impossible to miss the fact that as DeSantis spoke a broken national GOP was flailing in Washington, unable to elect a new speaker of the House, a sizable amount of its members more concerned with bickering and posturing than the people's business. Washington is leaderless for conservatives. And while the DC set plays petty politics DeSantis is getting things done. 'Florida is proof positive that We the People are not destined for failure. Decline is a choice. Success is attainable. And freedom is worth fighting for,' he said. It wasn't just the prescience of his pandemic policies on display in his address, as it turns out that was merely the appetizer of his fine first term. The entree, the meat and potatoes of the American body politic and its discontents, is the fight against the cultural excesses of the left and a defensive of conservatism. The speech celebrated the 'Free State of Florida,' but its message was just as easily applied to the nation. 'Fighting for freedom is not easy because the threats to freedom are more complex and more widespread than in the past the threats can come from entrenched bureaucrats in D.C., jet-setters in Davos, and corporations wielding public power. But fight we must,' he insisted. And now, DeSantis has the record to prove that he's able to offer more than just talk. According to the CATO institute, Florida leads the national in economic freedom and education freedom. It is no wonder, as the governor pointed out, that refugees from deep blue states are flocking to Florida like a gaggle of geese, their flying-V pointed south. Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation. And that's not only due to solid economic stewardship and an emphasis on personal liberty. DeSantis has also shown a brave willingness to aggressively fight the culture war. What a contrast. In Washington, DC it's all chaos and confusion. But in Tallahassee, Florida, it was blue skies as far as the eye can see. DeSantis has also shown a brave willingness to aggressively fight the culture war. 'We reject this woke ideology. We seek normalcy, not philosophical lunacy! We will not allow reality, facts, and truth to become optional. We will never surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die.' It's a line we've heard before and we will do well to hear again. There is a lot of talk about populism and the new right, a lot of factions fighting to define and own the movement, but with his speech, DeSantis, maybe for the first time, articulated the basic principles of today's GOP and conservative movement. For over a decade a fearful conservative movement bowed to the shibboleths and orthodoxies of a progressive left gone off the rails. The cultural arsonists have become entrenched in academic, medicine, law and early education. But DeSantis will not pretend that biological men can become women, he will not pretend that the United States is a racist enterprise, and he will not allow these fabrications to be taught to our kids. These are the battles that American conservatives want to fight and in DeSantis they have a champion. 'We must ensure school systems are responsive to parents and to students, not partisan interest groups, and we must ensure that our institutions of higher learning are focused on academic excellence and the pursuit of truth, not the imposition of trendy ideology.' Again, a clarion call for sanity. DeSantis is saying the things you aren't supposed to say. As we know, truth these days can be considered hate speech. DeSantis will not pretend that biological men can become women, he will not pretend that the United States is a racist enterprise, and he will not allow these fabrications to be taught to our kids. And make no mistake, if DeSantis thinks, rightly, that unfair attacks have been waged against him he ain't seen nothing yet. This speech, this manifesto for freedom and the American Dream will fire up his detractors just as much as his admirers. Soon will come the parade of pundits postulating that he is worse than Donald Trump, that he is a fascist hell bent on destroying the marginalized or some such nonsense. Don't be fooled, see through it. He is hated for loving all that is great about our nation. Speeches rarely matter in our cynical time more prone to Twitter dunks and viral videos, but on Tuesday this much was made clear. There is a leader for the right. And in a tip of the hat to one of the greatest Republican leaders in America history, DeSantis closed his speech aptly. 'We insist on the restoration of time-tested constitutional principles so that government of, by and for the people shall not perish from this earth.' President Joe Biden told a reporter 'you know why' Wednesday when he was asked why he wouldn't be attending the late Pope Benedict's funeral on Thursday. 'Well why do you think? You tell me,' the president responded on the South Lawn when asked why the White House was sending an ambassador to the memorial and not him. 'The reason why I'm not attending the funeral tomorrow is because it takes an entourage of 1,000 people, not literally, but we would move everything in the wrong direction,' Biden then answered. Benedict, who died Saturday at the age 95 as the Pope Emeritus after giving up the role of Pope in 2013, said he had wanted a 'simple' funeral. 'The express request on the part of the emeritus pope is that everything be simple, both with regard to the funeral as well as the other celebrations and gestures during this time of pain,' Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said, according to the Catholic News Agency. President Joe Biden told a reporter 'you know why' Wednesday when he was asked why he wouldn't be attending the late Pope Benedict's funeral on Thursday The body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Wednesday The Vatican confirmed Monday that only two state delegations, Germany and Italy, were invited to the Thursday affair. Pope Benedict XVI was born in Germany and lived in Italy for more than 40 years. Biden said Wednesday that he 'inquired about it,' but that other countries were sending their apostolic delegates or ambassadors based in Rome. 'That's what we're going to do,' he acknowledged. At Tuesday's press briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Joe Donnelly, would represent the United States. 'We would just get in the way, but I've made my views known,' Biden continued. 'Any rate, I think he was a fine man.' When Biden traveled to Rome and the Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis and G20 leaders in October 2021 he traveled around in a motorcade consisting of 85 vehicles. President Joe Biden (right) recalled his 2011 meeting with Pope Benedict (left) in a statement Saturday expressing his condolences and on the South Lawn Wednesday Masses in remembrance of Pope Emeritus Benedict are being held around the world. Here a service is captured taking place Wednesday in Hong Kong The length was in part due to COVID restrictions, which allowed fewer individuals to ride in each car. Biden met with Pope Benedict in Vatican City in 2011 for an unannounced visit while serving as vice president. At the time, the Pope chose not to make an example of Biden - the country's first Catholic vice president - over his support of abortion rights, which is contrary to the church's teachings. Biden recalled their meeting in a statement sent out Saturday. 'I had the privilege of spending time with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in 2011 and will always remember his generosity and welcome as well as our meaningful conversation,' he said then. Biden is only the second Catholic president of the United States. On the South Lawn, Biden recalled his visit with Benedict saying it reminded him 'of going back to theology class,' saying they spoke about the Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas. 'I found him to be relaxing, very rational and he was a more conservative view in the Catholic realm than I have. I'm closer to the Pope, the present Pope, in terms of philosophy, his view,' Biden added. 'But I admired him. I thought he was a fine man.' The mother of double amputee Tony Hudgell has praised the Justice Secretary's last-ditch effort to keep one of her young son's abusers behind bars. Paula Hudgell, 55, adopted the little boy after his biological parents inflicted horrific injuries to him when he was just six weeks old. She fully supports Dominic Raab's decision to challenge a High Court ruling that could imminently lead to Jody Simpson's prison release. She and boyfriend Anthony Smith were both jailed for 10 years in February 2018 and were due for automatic release in August last year. Paula Hudgell (left), 55, adopted Tony (middle) after his biological parents inflicted horrific injuries to him when he was just six weeks old She fully supports Dominic Raab's decision to challenge a High Court ruling that could imminently lead to Jody Simpson's prison release But the Ministry of Justice stepped in at the last minute to exercise new powers under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act to keep the pair behind bars. Lawyers on Simpson's behalf successfully challenged that action as 'unlawful' in the High Court but Mrs Justice Williams gave the MoJ 21 days to apply for leave to appeal. Mr Raab's decision to do so was announced yesterday and Simpson will remain in prison until a final ruling is made. Speaking from her home in Kings Hill, Kent, Paula said: 'Any extra time Simpson spends behind bars is justice for Tony. 'We realise she will eventually be released but we have always been comforted by the fact all is being done by Mr Raab and the Ministry of Justice to keep her in prison for as long as her 10-year jail term allows. 'Her lawyers argued that by blocking her release in August last year, Mr Raab acted unlawfully. Simpson (left) and boyfriend Anthony Smith (right) were both jailed for 10 years in February 2018 and were due for automatic release in August last year In November 2014, Simpson and Smith left Tony with numerous limb fractures and blunt force trauma injuries which developed into multiple organ failure and sepsis Adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell who had both legs amputated after suffering abuse at the hands of his parents is awarded an OBE in New Year honours after campaigning for tougher jail terms for child abusers Advertisement 'But in our eyes the only ones who have been unlawful are the two monsters who beat Tony.' In November 2014, Simpson and Smith left Tony with numerous limb fractures and blunt force trauma injuries which developed into multiple organ failure and sepsis. This resulted in both his legs having to be amputated at the knee three years later. Paula was instrumental in bringing Simpson and Smith to justice after the Crown Prosecution Service had decided no action was to be taken against them. They were eventually convicted at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, of causing or allowing serious harm to Tony and of child cruelty and sentenced to what was then the maximum jail term. This led to Paula's campaign for tougher punishments and last year saw the introduction of Tony's Law which has increased the sentence for those guilty of causing or allowing serious harm to a child from 10 years to 14 years. Those convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child now face life imprisonment, up from 14 years. Paula has now been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours for services to children. But she said the support from the public, her MP, Tom Tugendhat, and Mr Raab had been vital in her campaign's success. 'There is no end in sight for the physical challenges our little boy faces, so there's a sense of justice knowing Simpson does not have an end to prison life in immediate sight either,' added Paula. 'But this isn't just about Tony. Simpson and Smith's jail terms led to me fighting for Tony's Law to protect all children in the future, and Mr Raab has given us his full support. This resulted in both his legs having to be amputated at the knee three years later 'We are truly thankful that the government is taking child cruelty so seriously.' Smith is also still in custody but has a parole hearing scheduled for January 17. Tony, now eight, has captured the nation's heart and earned himself several awards for his 1.8million fundraising efforts for the Evelina London Children's Hospital where medical staff not only saved his life but also provide ongoing treatment. The Tony Hudgell Foundation has also been set up to help other children who have been subjected to emotional, physical and psychological trauma. Paula is now campaigning for a child cruelty register to help the authorities keep track of known offenders. Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show just how Kay LeClaire was able to transform herself over the course of just two years from a white college student to an Indigenous two-spirit fooling even some in the Native American community itself. LeClaire identified themselves on Facebook as a 'white woman' in July 2017 as they spoke of they nuptials with Adam Pagenkopf the following summer. But by 2019, they publicly identified as a Native American 'two-spirit,' which is a term many Indigenous people use to describe a non-binary gender identity. LeClaire even went on to co-found a queer Indigenous artists' collective in Wisconsin, and started buying Native American art from Etsy which they would passing off as their own and sell to unsuspecting buyers. Some in the Native community have now said they had their suspicions about LeClaire, who went from a light-haired brunette to a tan woman with dark hair over the course of just a few years. LeClaire was ultimately forced to step down from their community positions last month after it came to light that they were actually a 'pretendian' a term Natives use for people who pretend to have Indigenous lineage. It is unclear whether they will face charges for their false claims, as profiting off a false Native American identity is a federal crime. Kay LeClaire, who also went by the name Nibiiwakamigkwe, and has claimed to be Native American is being accused of being a white woman by hobbyist genealogist AdvancedSmite. They are pictured in their high school graduation picture in 2012 By 2019, they publicly identified as 'two-spirit,' which is a term many Indigenous people use to describe a non-binary gender identity AdvancedSmite, a hobbyist genealogist, has laid out how LeClaire has claimed to have Metis, Oneida, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cuban and Jewish heritage. But using online records and resources, AdvancedSmite discovered LeClaire's true lineage is German, Swedish and French Canadian. The anonymous genealogist told Madison365 that they first became aware of LeClaire through a Facebook ad for an upcoming talk on Indigenous feminism. It identified LeClaire under her 'Native name' Nibiiwakamigkwe, which AdvancedSmite said they found unusual because the given Ojibwe name is 'typically something that would just be used in ceremony or with other people who are Ojibwe or a part of your community,' they said. AdvancedSmite, who is also of Indigenous then conducted some research and found that while LeClaire is 'a common Native American last name,' there were social media posts in which they identified as Anishinaabe. The genealologist also discovered that LeClaire had previously claimed to be Cuban in bios, interviews and elsewhere through August 31, 2020. AdvancedSmite then reportedly used online records and resources to find LeClaire's true lineage German, Swedish and French Canadian, Madison365 reported, and reported their findings on the New Age Fraud Forum. It was also claimed on the forum that LeClaire graduated from Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin, where they were known as Katie Le Claire, in 2012. They apparently attended the University of Wisconsin and in the summer of 2018 married fellow Hamilton alum Adam Pagenkopf, a research specialist at UW, it was reported. LeClaire graduated from Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin, where they were known as Katie Le Claire, in 2012. At the high school, they met Adam Pagenkopf LeClaire is pictured at her wedding to Pagenkopf in 2018. She is now accused of being a 'pretendian' a term Natives use for people who pretend to have Indigenous lineage LeClaire is pictured in the back right with members of her husband's family in a recent photo In a 2017 Facebook post, LeClaire publicly identified themselves as a white woman AdvancedSmite claimed on the forum that LeClaire worked their way into many institutions and exhibitions and made money by claiming Indigenous heritage. LeClaire earned several artists' stipends, a paid residency at the University of Wisconsin, a place on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force and many speaking gigs and art exhibitions, it was reported. It was also revealed that they bought Native American artwork online, which they would then pawn off to unsuspecting buyers. As Laura Le Fay posted on Facebook on December 30: 'I bought a coyote bag that KLC claimed they spent four hours creating in January of 2021. 'I now know, and have confirmed with the actual artisan, this bag was bought from an Etsy shop and resold.' And in 2019, LeClaire founded the Giige Collective, a group of nonbinary Native artisans in Teejop who would provide customers with traditional Native tattoos. A poster she made under her fake Native American name was even selected to appear on the Madison Metro Transit. LeClaire co-founded the Griige Collective, , a group of nonbinary Native artisans in Teejop who would provide customers with traditional Native tattoos, in 2019 A poster she made under her fake Native American name was even selected to appear on the Madison Metro Transit Several people in the Native American community have since expressed their shock that LeClaire lied about her heritage. Kanyhtakelu Becky Webster, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, for example, posted on Facebook on Saturday: 'I've sat with this Kay LeClaire situation a bit, going through all the emotions, hurt, anger, disbelief. 'I welcomed them into my home, brought them to ceremonies and bartered my artwork for their fakes,' she wrote, revealing: 'Others warned me, but I was hesitant to believe someone could weave such an elaborate web of lies. 'They were so kind and eager to help and share. They were a ray of sunshine,' Webster said of LeClaire. 'They embodied everything you would want in a friend.' LeClaire had previously disparaged Elizabeth Hoover, who came under fire for falsely claiming Native American ancestry She continued: 'Kay stayed with us right after Liz Hoover released her statement admitting she had no verifiable Indigenous ancestors. 'Kay and I had deep discussions about it. We lamented how much we were hurt by Liz's actions and her inactions for so long. We were astonished anyone would base an entire identity around unfounded family lore. 'I thought Kay and I were on the same page with our stance on pretendians and how dangerous they are to our communities. I thought Kay was my friend.' Speaking to DailyMail.com, Webster said she met LeClaire through the Indigenous food sovereignty movement and 'we became friends.' She said LeClaire identified herself as New York Oneida and Ojibwe. When asked whether she ever doubted those claims, Webster said: 'There were signs, but I ignored them. 'Then a couple mutual friends reached out and shared their doubts. During my last visit with Kay, we talked extensively about the Liz Hoover incident (another pretendian). 'Kay doubled down and spoke about how terrible Liz's actions were. It wasn't until the genealogy report was released before I fully accepted Kay's lies.' 'I went through all the emotions, denial at first (I even reached out to Kay with the allegations), then shocked that our doubts were right, sad, angry, betrayed, confused [and] hurt,' she said. 'Most of all, I am mourning a person I thought was my friend, a person that never really existed.' Webster added that she now hopes LeClaire 'gets the help she needs' and 'apologizes for the damage she caused and admits to what she has done. 'She has already started giving back to the people they came from,' Webster said. Kanyhtakelu Becky Webster posted on Facebook Saturday how she was in disbelief when she saw the news about LeClaire Namaewkukiw Rachel Fernandez also commented on Webster's post: 'You're not alone. I feel this too.' She said she had connected with LeClaire on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Committee. But others had their doubts, as Webster mentioned, including Vanessa Besha Casillas who posted on December 28: 'I will admit I was a bit sus ... mostly because of the fake looking mocs and the dyed hair paired with the tanning booth lookin' complexion.' A Twitter user also posted: 'Oh my god, Kay LeClaire being a fraud pretending to be native (but they're white) has gotten out and I'm shaking with adrenaline because I was waiting for this to spread.' Namaewkukiw Rachel Fernandez also commented on Webster's post: 'You're not alone. I feel this too' Others, though, posted online that they had their suspicions of LeClaire's claims LeClaire later apologized in a statement to Madison365. 'I am sorry,' they wrote. 'A lot of information has come to my attention since late December. I am still processing it all and do not yet know how to respond adequately. What I can do now is offer change. 'Moving forward, my efforts will be towards reducing harm by following the directions provided by Native community members and community-specified proxies.' The statement went on: 'Currently, this means that I am not using the Ojibwe name given to me and am removing myself from all community spaces, positions, projects, and grants and will not seek new ones. 'Any culturally related items I hold are being redistributed back in community, either to the original makers and gift-givers when possible or elsewhere as determined by community members. Thank you.' DailyMail.com has also reached out to LeClaire for comment. LeClaire, pictured in 2020, has said they have started to give back all of the items they stole to the Native American community But in a statement posted to Instagram, the other executives at the Giige Collective that they were already working to remove LeClaire as an owner of the company. In a lengthy statement, they said: 'The collective at Giige would like to extend our gratitude to the Indigenous community within and surrounding Teejop in the wake of the recent revelation of the many harms committed by former cofounder Kay LeClaire. 'Evidence has come to light indicating that Kay LeClaire has made false claims regarding their heritage, their art and their position in the community,' they continued. 'It is with great relief and a legal feat behind the scenes that the team at Giige announce our separation from co-founder Kay LeClaire, effective 12/31/2022. 'The foundation of our collective encompasses gender and trauma-informed care within an Indigenous tattooing space, bringing healing through ink back to Indigenous and queer bodies. 'This person has gone against our inherent values and perpetuated harm within the Teejop community and beyond. 'Without our knowledge and consent, Kay LeClaire used our position as an Indigenous-led business to inflate their platform and expand their access to an already vulnerable community.' They continued to explain: 'Our collaboration with Kay LeClaire came from the ethics that form the foundation our business as well as a place of trust. 'Communities are built on trust and while Kay LeClaire violated that trust, we will not let thier actions shake our beliefs, limit the trust we give our community or compromise our ethics due to their harmful behavior, 'We want to acknowledge how our platform and community standing allowed Kay LeClaire to increase the amount of harm they were able to do. 'We express immense gratitude to those that brought this issue to our attention, and sincerely thank everyone who has informed us of the ongoing harm happening outside of and through Giige.' The company also sought to clarify what role LeClaire played, writing: 'Kay LeClaire was our administrative associate and our event planner as well as a member of our artist collective. 'Kay LeClaire was NEVER a tattoo artist at Giige and any tattoos they claim to have created did not take place on the premises.' The other Giige executives have called on LeClaire, pictured with their husband, to 'offer a formal apology for any fraud, lies and theft of culture, art and opportunities' The executives then went on to say they first met LeClaire in late 2019, at which point 'they were already claiming to be Indigenous... and were vouched for by other trusted community members. 'We have also been hurt by Kay LeClaire on personal, cultural and financial levels and, unrelated to the allegations made in the NAFPS thread, had been in the process of removing them from ownership of Giige since October 2022. 'We were still unaware of the extent of their behavior, so we began a process of resolving our internal conflicts through mediation in November 2022. We were met with resistance and obstruction at every step of the way. 'We did not become aware of the full extent of their lies until 12/23/2022, at which point we took their removal from ownership of Griige to our lawyer for immediate action instead of continuing discussion with them.' Griige is now calling on the 'non-Indigenous businesses that have platformed Kay LeClaire and their work to offer a formal statement on their work with this individual and commit to paying reparations to the Tribes. 'We call on you to match the amount of money you paid Kay LeClaire for their false knowledge and misrepresentation of our people in a donation to an Indigenous organization harmed by Kay LeClaire,' the company said. 'Our collective is committed to a process of rematriation and redistributing the art and c7ultural items that Kay LeClaire is in possession of, should they do the right thing and relinquish them. We are working with the Indigenous community in Teejop to accomplish this process and appreciate your patience. 'We are also committed to maintaining our shop as an Indigenous and queer space for the community in and around Teejop,' it continued. 'Our hearts, space and resources are open to you.' He and Jerry Chris Van Dyke, 67, sold totems like the one pictured here, claiming to be Native American artists At the same time, Griige called on LeClaie to 'offer a formal apology for any fraud, lies and theft of culture, art and opportunities. 'We call on them to acknowledge the harm they have committed, gracefully accept the consequences and sincerely apologize to those they have harmed, including the Tribes they claimed, the communities and organizations they worked with and anyone who called them a friend.' 'It is unfortunate, disturbing an da clear symptom of ongoing colonialism that Indigenous people continually have to face the consequences for trusting someone who is pretending to be our kin. 'What has been unveiled over the past few months has taken a huge emotional toll of all of us and we ask for your patience as we take the time to heal ourselves. 'Please do not ask us for permission regarding actions to be taken in the wake of this tragedy,' the company continued. 'This requires a great deal of labor on the part of people already harmed by Kay LeClaire and puts us in a position where we are then in charge of the fallout for their actions. 'Follow your best judgment when deciding how to respond to this an dhow to personally make things right.' Griige concluded: 'We deeply appreciate the community support we have so far received and ask that you continue to support us as we reorganize and heal. 'Kay LeClaire is still a part of the broader Madison community and is a human being deserving of care, despite their egregious actions. 'While this is a call to action and attention, we do not condone harassment or violence of any kind directed towards Kay LeClaire. 'We will not tolerate discussion of Indigenous identity issues by non Indigenous communities on our page, nor will we tolerate speculation or diagnoses of Kay LeClaire's mental or physical health status,' the executives said. 'We ask you to encourage them to seek help and take accountability for their actions.' Stealing Native American artwork and passing it off as your own is a violation of the federal 1990 Indian Arts and Crafts Act. In 2021, Lewis Anthony Rath, 52, and Jerry Chris Van Dyke, also known as Jerry Witter of Seattle, 67, were charged with violating the act after they sold masks, totems and pendants claiming to be Native Americans. Rath was charged with four counts of misrepresentation of Indian produced goods, which is punishable by five years in prison, while Van Dyke faces two counts. In a statement at the time, Edward Grace, the assistant director of US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement said: 'By flooding the market with counterfeit Native American art and craftwork, these crimes cheat the consumer, undermine the economic livelihood of Native American artists and impair Indian culture.' They were each sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment The thefts were carried out between May 24 and June 30, 2021 Two mobile phone robbers who stole 72 handsets from a moped in just six weeks have been jailed. Randy Kavungu, 21, and Darius James, 22, rode a black Beverly ST350 towards their victims, approaching from behind at speed, with the passenger then snatching their phone. The robbers struck between 7am and 9am as they targeted lone morning commuters using their phones on the way to work. One victim had a coffee thrown in their face, while another had their finger broken. Randy Kavungu (pictured left), 21, and Darius James (pictured right), 22, rode a black Beverly ST350 towards their victims, approaching from behind at speed, with the passenger then snatching their phone The thieves covered their number plate before carrying out the thefts between May 24 and June 30, 2021. This meant that there was no simple way to link the bike and the suspects. Police used overt police patrols, CCTV, witness testimony and other communications data to build a profile of the two offenders. Both were arrested on July 14, 2021. The thieves covered their number plate before carrying out the thefts between May 24 and June 30, 2021. This meant that there was no simple way to link the bike and the suspects Police used overt police patrols, CCTV, witness testimony and other communications data to build a profile of the two offenders Both men were arrested on July 14, 2021. At Kavungus address, officers found a blue Nike jacket and a black Spada helmet, the same as those seen worn in CCTV of the incidents. A black puffer jacket, also worn by one of the suspects on various days, was found at James address Pictured: Video grab of one of the crimes taking place. The robbers struck between 7am and 9am as they targeted lone morning commuters using their phones on the way to work At Kavungus address, officers found a blue Nike jacket and a black Spada helmet, the same as those seen worn in CCTV of the incidents. A black puffer jacket, also worn by one of the suspects on various days, was found at James address. Kavungu, of Union Square, Islington, and James, of Old Farm Road, Barnet, both pleaded guilty at Hendon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, January 3, to offences including robbery and threatening with an offensive weapon. They were each sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment. Randy Kavungu, 21, and Darius James, 22, were each sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment Detective Inspector Alan Biggs, from Operation Venice, said: 'Kavungu and James set out with a pre-agreed plan to steal the phones of as many people as they could, using a moped to target lone victims in open spaces' Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, Head of the Violent Crime Taskforce, said: 'Our Operation Venice team was set up in direct response to a spike in moped-enabled robberies and as this case demonstrates, they have been working ever since to target repeat offenders and linked series of offending across the capital' Detective Inspector Alan Biggs, from Operation Venice, said: 'Kavungu and James set out with a pre-agreed plan to steal the phones of as many people as they could, using a moped to target lone victims in open spaces. 'They had no regard for the harm they could have caused by their dangerous driving and it is only by extreme fortune that no-one was more seriously injured. 'We were determined to catch these two suspects who were causing so much harm within our city. Our investigation involved examining hundreds of hours of CCTV as well as complex mobile phone analysis and we are pleased this means they will now be off our streets and unable to commit further offences for a long time.' Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Hill, Head of the Violent Crime Taskforce, said: 'Our Operation Venice team was set up in direct response to a spike in moped-enabled robberies and as this case demonstrates, they have been working ever since to target repeat offenders and linked series of offending across the capital. 'The team have a unique insight into offending patterns and the way these gangs operate which assists our uniformed officers conducting patrols in hotspot locations. This means they can be in the right place at the right time more often to prevent further offences and hopefully catch those intent on committing crime in the act. Video footage has surfaced of the moment Puerto Rican chart-topping artist Bad Bunny snatched and tossed two cellphones across a bar in the Dominican Republic. The controversial seven-second clip shows the 28-year-old reggaeton superstar making his way through a mob of surprised customers inside the lounge in the Mediterranean-style village of Altos de Chavon in the eastern city of La Romana on Sunday. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, quickly grabbed a mobile device and tossed it back before snatching the second one and flipping it across the crowd. The incident took place moments after the Grammy Award-winning artist was seen in a video grabbing another woman's cellphone and throwing it into a body of water below a bridge. Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Bad Bunny has been criticized for snatching and tossing the phones of three fans in the Dominican Republic Bad Bunny appeared in a video grabbing a fan's phone and tossing it across a bar in the Dominican Republic The fan, who has not been identified, walked up to Bad Bunny to snap a selfie, but the rapper appeared to be bothered by the crowd that was following him on the bridge and lost his cool. The woman watched as her cellphone sailed away from her while another person said in Spanish, 'Wow, seriously?' Bad Bunny went on Twitter to explain his version of the events and indicated that he felt disrespected because the fan had stuck her cellphone in front of his face. 'The person who comes up to me to say hello, to tell me something, or just to meet me, will always receive my attention and respect,' he wrote. 'Those who come to put a f****** phone in my face, I will consider it for what it is, a lack of respect, and I will treat it as such.' Fans did not hold back from criticizing Bad Bunny's behavior while others have backed the performer. 'As a person you suck,' @ColladoJccd tweeted. 'You are disrespectful and inconsiderate with women. An apology is what that lady deserves, not another tweet insulting her.' Bad Bunny, who celebrated New Year's Eve in the Dominican Republic resort village of Altos de Chavon, has been criticized for grabbing the phone of a woman (pictured) and tossing it to a body of water under a bridge Bad Bunny grabs one of the two phones he took from fans at a bar and tossed to the ground 'Fame got to you and you no longer remember being a fan of someone and the emotion they may feel when they meet their idol,' @iJhonParis tweeted. 'The consequences of fame are the loss of privacy and having these fan interactions, but you think that will you be famous and have a normal life?' Influencer Un Tal Fredo defended Bad Bunny and called on fans to respect his personal space. 'Let's normalize the fact that artists are human beings and deserve to be treated with respect always,' he wrote. 'It's not a show away from the stage, you cannot record them without their consent. Approach, say hello and ask for permission.' Another user said, 'Look people this is simple. Respect and everything goes well. Common sense. 'Artist or not, be aware that we are all the same. Maybe throwing away the phone wasn't the best idea, but do you know what it's like to have your space invaded 24/7? Much respect and love has been given to ALL OF YOU.' The weekend incidents come on the heels of Bad Bunny establishing himself as the highest-grossing touring artist in 2022. His World's Hottest Tour - which featured 81 shows - amassed $435.38 million, eclipsing Ed Sheeran's Divide tour, which grossed $432.3 million in 2018. The last two shows of the tour were held in Mexico City on December 9 and 10, and left several hundred fans stranded at the entrance gates after they were denied entry due to tickets that were duplicated or cancelled. By Kim Ae-ran "Gather, gather yourselves together, O nation without shame! Before you are driven away, like chaff that disappears; Before there comes upon you the blazing anger of the Lord; Before there comes upon you the day of the Lord's anger. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who have observed his law; Seek justice, seek humility; Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:1-3) In the midst of my annual retreat, especially reflecting on the theme of humility in the Bible, I joined in the community's thanksgiving prayer starting at 8 p.m. on the last day of December 2022. In the middle of the prayer, the breaking news was announced: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger) passed away at 9:34 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2022. It seemed that the flowing piano rhythm of Mozart was reaching to the heavens above, thanks to him who enjoyed playing the piano. He had a preference for Mozart and Bach. His nearby acquaintances witnessed that he never lost his temper and he always maintained composure and calmness regardless of the situation. Benedict XVI was born the youngest on April 16, 1927, in Bavaria, Germany. Ordained as a priest in 1951, together with his elder brother, he began his academic career and became a highly regarded theologian. He was appointed a full professor in 1958 at the age of 31. He was appointed a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977, and then he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981. He also became Dean of the College of Cardinals in 2002. He was one of the closest confidants of John Paul II. He was originally a liberal theologian but adopted conservative views. Thus, he emphasized returning to fundamental Christian values against increased secularization. Being a member of several social science academies, he was known as "the main intellectual force in the Catholic Church." In addition to his native German language, he had some level of proficiency in French, Italian, English and Spanish. He also knew Portuguese, Latin, Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Greek. He was elected pope in 2005 but he announced his resignation in February 2013 because of his "lack of strength of mind and body" coming from his advanced age. His resignation was the first such decision made by a pope since Gregory XII in 1415. Before his election as pope, he wanted to retire to have free time to write, but he had to continue his post in obedience to Pope John Paul II. In September 1991, he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, which slightly impaired his eyesight temporarily. A stroke caused from an age-related heart condition happens naturally to elderly people. He already had a pacemaker when he was still a cardinal. He knew well both his capabilities as the pope and his human condition. He accepted the reality as it is in composure and finally chose resignation. Such is an act of humility. In his well-known bestseller, "Jesus of Nazareth," he invites us to have a living relationship with Jesus Christ. "We are all called to open ourselves to the friendship with God... speaking to Him as to a friend, the only One who can make the world both good and happy..." The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. When available, please feel free to visit her blog, "A piece of sunshine," at mtorchid88.blogspot.com. A British holidaymaker who was mown down by a 4x4 while on a winter break to Majorca was a keen ballroom dancer, MailOnline can reveal. Former dental nurse Jennifer Worth was today named as the woman who lost her life in the horror crash on the Spanish island, while her partner remains in intensive care in an island hospital. The female driver of an Opel Frontera that careered into them as they waited to cross the road outside Palma Cathedral on December 21 was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and reckless injury. Claire and James Taplin, who run ballroom and Latin dance classes from a school based in Southampton where Jennifer practised, spoke of their devastation at her death in a message to students. Former dental nurse Jennifer Worth lost her life in the horror crash, while her partner remains in intensive care in an island hospital Tributes flooded in for Jennifer Worth who was today named as the woman who died Jennifer was a keen ballroom dancer A message posted online by CJ Dancing described her as a 'beloved student and friend'. The post read: 'Jennifer was one of the most uplifting, vivacious, funny and charismatic souls you were ever likely to meet, and would light up any room. 'We were utterly heartbroken to receive the news of her accident and we cannot think of a world without her in it.' The ex-competitive ballroom dancers added in their tribute message: 'Rest in peace sweet girl, dance with the angels, love you.' Friend Judie Middlewick said: 'I am still trying to come to terms with it, she has been completely on my mind since hearing the news. 'Such a lovely and bubbly person. Going to miss your smiley face Jen. God bless and dance with the angels.' Fellow dance student Ann Moore added: 'Such sad news. I can't really believe it. We will all miss her bright, sunny personality in our Thursday class. 'Sincere condolences to her family.' Gillian Klein said in a touching tribute: 'I'm so upset by this sudden news. She was so so lovely. Condolences to her lovely partner and family. What a loss.' The female driver of an Opel Frontera (pictured) that careered into the holidaymakers as they waited to cross the road outside Palma Cathedral on December 21 was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and reckless injury Jennifer, who had left dental nursing to become a successful self-employed businesswoman, ran a Southampton-based property management company but also specialised in email marketing. Paramedics tried to revive her for nearly an hour following last month's tragedy after discovering she had gone into cardiac arrest. She was declared dead at the scene around 7pm on December 21. Witnesses said both victims were flung 'high in the air' and landed several feet down the road. Paramedics and police officers work at the scene of the tragic incident which left Jennifer dead and her partner in critical condition The holidaymakers were ran down as they tried to cross the road in front of a cathedral Footage taken at the scene showed paramedics practising CPR on the woman who was eventually declared dead while colleagues tended to the injured man a few metres further down the road by ambulances with their sirens flashing. The unnamed female driver arrested, believed to be in her thirties, was released after being held for more than 12 hours by police pending an ongoing probe by a local court. She hit the British pair as they waited on a pedestrian crossing regulated by traffic lights in the middle of a dual-carriageway. Reports at the time said the 4x4 she was driving was her father-in-law's and investigators were trying to establish whether one of her tyres punctured before or after she ploughed into the tourists. She was released from custody after passing drink and drug tests. The Majorca crash happened days after a 50-year-old British woman died in hospital in Tenerife four days after being mown down by a hit-and-run driver in Tenerife. Her 75-year-old mum was also injured but survived. Court officials in Majorca could not be reached today for comment on how their investigation is developing, but it is thought there have been no significant updates in the past fortnight. A well-placed local health source confirmed: 'The British man taken to hospital critically injured after the accident remains serious in intensive care.' President Joe Biden united with Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky Wednesday and preached that bipartisanship in Washington was possible. 'I believe it sends an important message, an important message to the entire country,' Biden said of the Covington, Kentucky photo-op that included not just McConnell, but Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and outgoing GOP Sen. Rob Portman. 'We can work together, we can get things done, we can move the nation forward if we just drop a little bit of our egos and focus on what is needed in our country,' the president said. Back in Washington, factions of the new Republican majority were still at war over who would become the next speaker of the House. That provided a splitscreen moment for the president and for McConnell, making them look like the adults. President Joe Biden (right) united with Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (left) in Kentucky Wednesday and preached that bipartisanship in Washington was possible 'We can work together, we can get things done, we can move the nation forward if we just drop a little bit of our egos and focus on what is needed in our country,' the president said After his speech, President Joe Biden used the bridge to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to eat lunch at the Just Q'in BBQ restaurant Biden heaped praise on the Kentucky Republican, who has been at odds with former President Donald Trump since December 2020, when he refused to concede the presidential election to Biden. 'Mitch, it's great to be with you,' Biden said. 'I asked permission if I could say something nice about him. ... I said I'd campaign for or against him, whatever would help him the most,' the president said to laughs. He gave credit to McConnell for getting the bipartisan infrastructure bill, passed in the Senate in August 2021, across the line. 'Leader McConnell and I don't agree on everything. In fact we disagree on a lot of things, but here's what matters - he's a man of his word,' Biden said. 'When he gives you his word you can take it to the bank, you can count on it, and he's willing to find common ground to get things done for the country. So thank you Mitch, thank you.' Biden acknowledged that partisanship has gotten worse in the 'last four or five years,' describing the situation as 'less than cooperative.' Biden spoke from a platform located next to the Ohio river, with the Brent Spence Bridge and several other bridges hovering in the background and an old-fashioned riverboat floating nearby President Joe Biden was joined by (from left) Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike Dewine, outgoing GOP Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell The bright light that Biden was marking Wednesday was that 19 Senate Republicans voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law - which will funnel $1.6billion to rebuild the Brent Spence Bridge that connects Covington, Kentucky with Cincinnati, Ohio. Another bridge, for local traffic, will also be constructed, to help alleviate 'the second most congested truck bottleneck in the United States,' Biden described. The president visited a Cincinnati restaurant - Just Q'in BBQ - with officials after his speech, to show how local businesses will be helped by better traffic flow. Biden ordered brisket, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, jalapeno cornbread, and peach cobbler, the White House said. 'It's really good. Seriously,' he said diving into the peach cobbler. President Joe Biden poses for a picture with a t-shirt from Just Q'in BBQ in Cincinnati, Ohio after speaking about the bipartisan infrastructure law - and building bridges - across the river in Covington, Kentucky President Joe Biden (right) eats peach cobbler at a Cincinnati restaurant alongside Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (left) President Joe Biden looks at his food order at Just Q'in BBQ in Cincinnati after speaking across the river in Kentucky about a bridge project funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law A parton reacts to President Joe Biden showing up for lunch at Just Q'in BBQ in Cincinnati Wednesday afternoon during a trip to both Ohio and Kentucky President Joe Biden (right) eats alongside Cincinnati's Mayor Aftab Puerva (left) during a lunch stop Wednesday President Joe Biden talks to workers at Just Q'in BBQ in Cincinnati, Ohio following his speech in Covington, Kentucky alongside Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Overall, the bill allocated $40billion to go toward rebuilding the nation's crumbling bridges. Vice President Kamala Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are also traveling this week to tout bridge projects, the White House said. Biden spoke from a platform located next to the Ohio river, with the Brent Spence Bridge and several other bridges hovering in the background and an old-fashioned riverboat floating nearby. During his opening moments onstage in Covington, Biden noted how Rep.-elect Greg Landsmen was supposed to be joining them but couldn't make the trip due to having to be on Capitol Hill for additional speaker votes. 'He couldn't be here today. He's dealing with trying to figure out who's going to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives,' Biden said to laughs. 'And I wish him a lot of luck.' 'He may be the freshman ever elected speaker of the House of Representatives,' the president joked. President Joe Biden called the Capitol Hill chaos over the speakership 'embarrassing' as he left Wednesday for a bipartisan event in Kentucky with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Talking to reporters on the South Lawn, Biden called the speaker's fight 'not my problem.' 'I just think it's a little embarrassing it's taking so long,' Biden said after GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy, long expected to be elected House speaker, couldn't get to a majority Tuesday after three rounds of voting. By the time Biden departed Kentucky, it was nearing six failed votes. The president added that 'the rest of the world is looking, they're looking at, you know, can we get our act together,' noting that 'this is not a good look, this is not a good thing' for the country. Biden answered 'no' to the question of whether he enjoyed seeing the House Republicans in disarray and pointed out that things are finally settling down after January 6 only for Congress to be paralyzed - as the Tuesday votes marked the first time in 100 years that a speaker wasn't immediately chosen. 'It's not a good look, it's not a good thing. This is the United States of America, and I hope they get their act together,' he said. President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One for this trip to Kentucky Wednesday, to tout bipartisanship, as the House is still embroiled in drama over who will become the next speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (left) ascent to the speakership was derailed Tuesday when ultimately 20 Republicans decided to back Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (right) instead. Jordan was set to take over the chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee Without a speaker, members of the House of Representatives can't be sworn-in and no business can be conducted. 'I have no idea,' Biden answered when asked who he thought the speaker would be. Biden was flying to Kentucky to tout the bipartisan infrastructure law where he'll appear alongside the other top Republican in Congress, McConnell. Also flying on Air Force One was former Portman, the Ohio Republican whose seat went to the Trump-backed author J.D. Vance, who was sworn-in with the rest of his colleagues Tuesday. 'What I am focused on is getting things done,' Biden said at departure. 'And one of the things I'm going down to Kentucky and Ohio today is to demonstrate we can get things done. We passed an enormous bill, bipartisan-ly and it works.' 'You can't be the No. 1 economy in the world unless you have the No. 1 infrastructure in the world,' he added. When asked specifically why Kentucky Biden answered, 'We worked like hell to get the most significant infrastructure bill in our history of the United States other than the Eisenhower interstate highway system.' It's been suggested that Biden standing alongside McConnell was the splitscreen moment the White House wanted as shenanigans continue in the House. 'Look, I think our administration has begun to move the economy where we're investing in America again. How can you remain the leading economy in the world absent having the greatest infrastructure in the world?' Biden mused. He also suggested that the drama was ultimately Congress' problem when asked if he was concerned about his ability to govern with the House lacking a speaker. 'Not me,' he replied. 'Congress to govern.' McCarthy's speakership bid has been derailed by 20 rogue members who represent the more conservative, pro-MAGA side of the Republican Party. On the third vote, they coalesced around Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who has said he doesn't want the speakership and is content with taking over the House Judiciary Committee from Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. That has left the party in a stalemate, with both the pro-McCarthy faction and the 'Never Kevins' digging in. On Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump also called the situation 'EMBARRASSING' on his Truth Social platform. 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and its now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE "HOUSE" TWICE!' the ex-president wrote. 'REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.' 'ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!' Trump added. Sultan Kosen, 40, who measures 8ft 3in, proudly flaunted his Tallest Man in the World certificate following reports that Sulemana Abdul Samed had overtaken him. Beanpole Sulemana, 29, gained attention across the world after doctors estimated his height at 9ft 6in at a rural clinic in Ghana, where the staff lacked the correct equipment to measure him. He was attending a monthly appointment to deal with health complications. The unverified record would make him the tallest man in history - 15 inches higher than Mr Kosen. Sultan Kosen, 40, who measures 8ft 3in, proudly flaunted his certificate an during an interview with Anadolu Agency in the Dede village of Mardin, Turkey on January 3, 2023 There have been reports that Sulemana Abdul Samed (pictured left), 29, stands at 9ft 6in. Sultan Kosen (pictured right), 40, is the world's tallest man, measuring 8ft 3in Guinness World Records recognises Mr Kosen, a Turkish farmer, as the tallest living person. He told Andalou news agency today in the Dede village of Mardin, Turkey: 'I have the biggest feet in the world. I wear size 61 shoes. 'I also own the largest hands in the world. My records are registered. I am world cultural heritage. 'I hear some news saying, "Sultan's record is over, there are people taller than Sultan". 'If there is, let's measure our height.' Mr Kosen added: 'I've held my record for 14 years. I will not lose my record to anyone. I'm determined about it.' Pictured: Sultan Kosen, 40, poses in the Dede village of Mardin, Turkey on January 3, 2023 Mr Samed has Marfan syndrome, a growth disorder of the body's connective tissues, which children usually inherit from one of their parents. In Ghana, where he is a local celebrity, many call him the 'friendly giant'. Mr Samed is also known as Awuche, which means 'Let's Go' in Hausa. He was diagnosed with gigantism a few years ago. Mr Samed was forced to abandon his dream of being a driver, due to his health, and returned to his village from the capital, Accra. As reports of Mr Samed's unofficial record spread online, a BBC reporter came to visit him. He asked a neighbour to stand on a chair and mark his height with a piece of charcoal against a wall. The tape measure recorded 7ft 4in. Mr Samed said: 'The way they measure me, I cannot say everything is perfect. 'I'm still growing tall. Who knows, maybe one day I may get to that height too. 'Every three months of four months I grow. 'If you've not seen me for three months and you see me, you'd realised I have increased.' Mr Kosen became the world's tallest living man in 2009 when he was 8ft 1in at the age of 26 Ethiopia's tallest man, Nagawo Jimaa, who is 7ft 4.6in, posted a photo on Facebook beside one of Mr Samed with the message: 'Never give up'. An earlier post read: 'Bring him if you want - this guy will not be taller than me.' Guinness World Records said it is aware of only ten confirmed or reliable cases in history of people hitting the 8ft mark. Morteza Mehrzad, 35, of Iran and Brahim Takioullah, 40, from Morocco, both hold the record for second tallest living man at 8ft 1in. Around 50 living people have reached 7ft 5in or above. The tallest man of all time was Robert Wadlow, from the US, who was 8ft 11in when he died in 1940. Mr Kosen became the world's tallest living man in 2009 when he measured 8ft 1in at the age of 26. 'It's once-in-a-lifetime type stuff,' said one person who witnessed the birth Video shows the moments the calf and the new mom approach the group This is the incredible moment a huge gray whale gives birth in front of a lucky group of whale watchers. The sprawling female was spotted lying on her back out to see near Dana Point, California, just south of Los Angeles on Monday. But suddenly she is joined by her baby as it emerges through the bloody water and swims happily around her. The astonishing scenes happened just yards away from the boat of a group of whale watchers, who took in the spectacle in awe. The passengers on the boat, which is operated by Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari, looked on in shock and astonishment while watching Southern California whale watchers witnessed the birth of a gray whale just feet away from their boat Monday One woman who was on the boat that witnessed the birth said: 'It's once-in-a-lifetime type stuff.' Passengers were first alerted to the birth when they noticed blood in the water and thought the whale may have been injured. Quickly, the group realized, however, the 35-foot whale was in fact giving birth. The boat's captain, Gary Brighouse, said the entire outing turned celebratory after the realization set in. The passengers on the boat, which is operated by Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari, looked on in shock and astonishment while watching, according to the captain. 'The range of emotion couldn't have been more extreme,' said Brighouse in an interview with the Orange County Register. 'It went from horror to pure joy and astonishment,' the captain continued. 'It moved me to my core.' Gray whales like the one caught on camera are often seen in Southern California as they make their winter voyage from Alaska to Mexico for warmer waters. Births being caught on camera are rare, however. 'As far as I know, no one has filmed a gray whale giving birth or even seen it before,' said Dave Anderson, the owner of Capt. Dave's. Brighouse also described the group as 'lucky' for witnessing such a spectacle, but also shared how he and others were concerned by their proximity. 'We were like, 'Wait a minute, don't come too close. That mom wants to protect you,'' Brighouse said. 'Mom calmly cruised between the baby and the boat, she rubbed up against our boat and our boat lifted out of the water, which was a little unsettling,' he said. The spectacle happened near Dana Point, California, just south of Los Angeles One woman who was on the boat that witnessed the birth said: 'It's once-in-a-lifetime type stuff' Gray whales like the one caught on camera are often seen in Southern California as they make their winter voyage from Alaska to Mexico for warmer waters Stacie Fox, who was on the boat and took photos of the birth, said she was overjoyed to witness the birth and described it as a unique experience. 'I was screaming my head off, I was super excited,' Fox said. 'I definitely thought that it was something I would not see unless I was going down to the lagoon. It's once-in-a-lifetime type stuff.' Others on the boat appeared to agree. In video posted to YouTube on Tuesday, one woman can be heard screaming 'oh my God, oh my God' at the birth. The video, posted by Capt. Dave's, has amassed more than 18,000 views. Comments have piled up on the post, with viewers sharing the joy the video brought them. 'I've been on some amazing whale watches, with Capt. Dave's and on Maui, but this would have topped them all! Happy mama, happy calf,' said one YouTube commenter. 'Omg! Just bought my tickets,' wrote another person. One person who was on the boat and celebrating his birthday suggested to the group the calf should share his name, 'Severin,' since they also share birthdays. Brighouse also described the group as 'lucky' for witnessing such a spectacle, but also shared how he and others were concerned by their proximity In video posted to YouTube on Tuesday, one woman can be heard screaming 'oh my God, oh my God' at the birth The group agreed, according to the Orange County Register. The Monday trip out on the waters was the first of the year for the boating company, due to rocky waters on New Year's Day. Another boat captain called to the scene described the 'Once we returned, we saw the newborn calf just minutes old,' Moore said. 'The mom was gently lifting the calf to take breaths, while the calf seemed to be resting on her back. 'Other moments we could see the calf's floppy fluke, as this newborn calf was learning to swim.' Researchers have been watching the West Coast gray whale species carefully in recent years. According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, an alarming number of whales have washed up dead on shores. Many of the whales appear starved and emaciated. In 2020, 172 washed up on shores from Canada to Mexico. In 2021, the number was 115, and 2022 recorded 104 incidents. Scientists are still keeping an eye on the species, which neared extinction in the 1800s, but has since seen a healthy bounce back thanks to protections put in place in the 1930s and 1940s. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration estimates there are currently about 17,000 gray whales in the world. That number is down nearly 10,000 from 2016, however. Tourists took tons of pictures and videos of the whales in the water A powerful House Republican lawmaker who supports Rep. Kevin McCarthy's stalled bid for speaker says if a group of 20 arch conservative holdouts don't fall in line within days, rank-and-file Republicans will cut a deal with Democrats. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who is in line to chair the House Armed Services Committee if Republicans manage to coalesce behind a leader, accused a rump faction he termed '20 belligerents' of being 'legislative terrorists' who are engaging in 'narcissistic behavior' by issuing demands McCarthy can't possibly meet. If there isn't agreement by the end of the week, he raised the possibility, floated by a some rank-and-file Democrats, of trying to secure some of their votes for speaker in exchange for concessions to the minority. 'And so that's why I say I hope next week we come back you'll find a lot of us will well either see there's a path, or we've got to go across the aisle,' Rogers told DailyMail.com while fellow Republicans were battling inside the House chamber. Rep. Mike Rogers, a senior GOP lawmaker, dubbed a group of 20 Republican holdouts 'legislative terrorists' who have 'got a gun' to Rep. Kevin McCarthy's head. He said Republicans would reach out to Democrats if the 'belligerents' don't fall in line He said rank-and-file members would start working with Democrats to see how to accommodate them on rules or policy matters, and that the group of 202 lawmakers had 'hardened' in their support of McCarthy. 'The 200 of us are getting more annoyed and hardened. And then you will see us move to a different direction, if we find this is not an option,' he said. 'You get to a point and you say, Kevin, we love you, but you're not we're not dealing with [them] anymore. Because it's not about McCarthy. This is about the conference. They want to go around the conference and get the things they want by dealing with one person they've got a gun to his head. You don't negotiate with terrorists, whether they're Islamic terrorists who have a sword to somebody's head, or these people with, basically a political gun to Kevins head,' he said. 'You don't negotiate with terrorists, whether they're Islamic terrorists who have a sword to somebody's head, or these people with, basically a political gun to Kevins head,' said Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert (R-CO) backs a rival for House speaker while McCarthy looks on 'You don't negotiate with these kinds of people. These are legislative terrorists who have no problem killing the hostage, and you can quote me on that,' he added for emphasis. Rogers spoke after a few Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), had held informal talks with Republicans, while longtime rep. Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), floated the idea of a 'unity caucus.' Rogers wasn't talking about going so far to entice Democrats to such a creation, but was instead suggesting buying off sufficient votes with rules or even policy gestures to establish GOP control. 'Oh, well give them something. One thing about votes in the minority: theyre always rentable. Sometimes theyre expensive, but theyre always rentable,' he joked. He brushed off the unity government gambit, in an institution where the majority wields near total power. 'It wouldnt be that. Trust me there are things that they would like to have in exchange for that,' he dangled. 'I mean, there's a whole host of things that would be beneficial to them in the minority, that a lot of us would find more more palatable than dealing with' the GOP holdouts, he said. 'Its very malleable, the universe of things that that are negotiable,' he said. Rogers, whose committee staff is sidelined until a speaker is elected, works on one of the few panels in the House that tends to work in bipartisan fashion. 'I run the Armed Services Committee with Adam Smith. We come out with a completely bipartisan bill every year. It's very doable. When you're not an ass****, you can get a deal cut in this place. Democrats don't all have horns coming out of their heads. So that's why I say time is on our side. We'll work with these people as long as we can, but once we realize we cant, we'll deal with the other options. And theyre there.' He said McCarthy 'told a bunch of this morning that he has been having some productive meetings with the 20 belligerents and and that he thinks that progress is being' made and that things might be at a 'good point for tomorrow.' But the Californian who has long dreamed of being speaker lost on multiple floor votes again Wednesday. Rogers said of the holdouts: 'They love the attention. This is all narcissistic behavior. It's all it is. They love it. They're not going to love it so much after it goes on for a while. People back home start recognizing what they're doing to this country.' During an angry GOP conference meeting Tuesday, he suggested kicking Republicans who refuse to back McCarthy off committees. Rogers serves on the Steering Committee, which makes panel assignments, and which the speaker influences but does not completely control. 'I promised it,' he said of the threat. Whether Democrats will actually be open to a deal that would bail out McCarthy remains to be seen. 'I haven't heard of any offers or anything. And I just don't know what they can offer that would be appealing to make Kevin McCarthy the speaker,' Rep. Joaquin Castro told DailyMail.com. McCarthy losing vote after vote gives Democrats a potential opportunity to try to play in the speaker contest. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (r), a New York Democrat, has repeatedly been the vote leader Trying to elevate a moderate Republican like former Michigan GOP Rep. Fred Upton could be even more far-fetched. The turmoil on the floor is not incentivizing Democrats to come to the GOP's rescue. 'The chaos that you see weighs against the American people. The Republican Party is an almost non-functioning Party right now. And that's what the American people are seeing,' Castro said. 'I mean there's always a possibility,' said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), whose January 6th Committee has already been disbanded, with Republicans vowing to pore through its records and archives. 'I'm just not sure what's been offered already to the people who didn't accept it that would be tolerable to our side. More importantly, getting elected is one thing. But being able to govern once you're elected ... l and think this demonstrates that that's a missing equation right now.' 'I think what the three votes yesterday, what the public saw was exactly what's going on: chaos.' Police have issued an appeal for help to find a missing teenage girl from Tameside in Greater Manchester. The 13-year-old, named as Payton Farnell, was last seen on Monday January 2 at around 8.22pm. Police said she was seen at an address in Ashton-under-Lyne. She is described as being a white, British girl, who is around 5ft 4in tall.. She has long brown hair and a nose piercing. The 13-year-old, named as Payton Farnell, was last seen on Monday January 2 at around 8.22pm Greater Manchester Police shared a picture of Payton as part of an appeal to find her. They said that officers are becoming increasingly concerned about her. Anyone with information should contact officers on 0161 856 9561 or via gmp..police.uk. In July 2019, Ledyard's previous wife Susan Morrissey Ledyard, was found dead in the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware. Her murder remains unsolved It was revealed that Ledyard was also charged on Sunday with a previous incident last summer in which he allegedly bit off the tip of Stephanie's finger Ledyard, who married Stephanie Nixon in 2021, is accused of striking her with a pool cue and smashing her head into the floor of their Delaware home on Sunday The husband of a Delaware woman whose 2019 murder remains unsolved has been arrested on a slew of assault charges after allegedly attacking his current wife and biting off her finger. Benjamin Ledyard, 55, has been charged with second-degree assault, terroristic threatening, and menacing in the New Year's Day assault on Stephanie Ledyard, whom he married in 2021. Delaware State Police say the New Castle County assault case is 'separate' from the homicide of Ledyard's previous wife, Susan Morrissey Ledyard, and 'has no bearing on our investigation at this time.' Susan's body was discovered on July 23, 2019, in the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware. Her murder investigation is 'still active and ongoing,' state police say. Ledyard, who has not been named a suspect in Susan's murder, was arrested on separate assault charges on Sunday and is being held on $77,000 cash bond at the Howard Young Correctional Institution. He is set to appear in court on January 25. Benjamin Ledyard, 55, faces assault charges in the attack on current wife Stephanie Ledyard, 54, more than three years after his previous wife Susan Morrissey Ledyard was murdered In the most recent photo posted to Ledyard's Facebook page, he and current wife Stephanie Nixon Ledyard pose at Christmas just days before he allegedly assaulted her Ledyard was taken into custody on Sunday after New Castle County police were called to the couple's home on Camp David Road in the Talleyville neighborhood of Presidential Estates. The couple had gotten into an argument over loud music, and he allegedly chased her around the house swinging a pool cue at her, according to the police report. Stephanie Nixon Ledyard, 54, who had fled the house to call for help, was suffering from injuries allegedly caused by her husband. According to the arrest warrant obtained by WHYY, Stephanie told police that Ledyard had been drinking while playing pool when she asked him to turn down the loud music. The couple began arguing and Ledyard told his wife, 'Tonight I'm going to definitely give you a good beating,' before he picked up a cue stick and 'started swinging' it at her. Stephanie told police that he chased her around the house with the cue stick and hit her with what she believed was a 'white square marble block with a black figurine on it,' the warrant said. Ledyard then pushed Stephanie to the ground, grabbed her hair, and 'repeatedly smashed' her 'head into the hardwood floor,' she stated. Officers wrote in the report that Ledyard 'refused' to speak with them. The court documents also revealed that Ledyard was charged in a previous attack on Stephanie last summer, in which he allegedly bit off the tip of her pinky finger. Stephanie told authorities at the Wilmington Hospital emergency room at the time that she injured her finger in a door frame, and that Ledyard was with her. But this week, she told police this week that Ledyard had bit the tip of her finger off and told her, 'I think I swallowed it.' Ledyard was charged on New Year's Day with first-degree assault. The couple had gotten into an argument over loud music, and he allegedly chased her around the house swinging a pool cue at her, according to the police report The court documents also revealed that Ledyard was charged in a previous attack on Stephanie last summer, in which he allegedly bit off the tip of her pinky finger Ledyard's New Year's Day arrest comes more than three years after his previous wife Susan was found dead in the Brandywine River in Wilmington on July 23, 2019. Her car was found parked on Walkers Mill Road, about three miles upriver. Susan's death was not determined to be a homicide until months later. In September 2019, Delaware State Police said they did not believe Susan committed suicide, and said they were confident she did not enter the water where her car was found. The state medical examiner's office determined Susan's cause of death to be blunt force trauma and drowning. In November, 2019, state police officially declared her death a homicide. Ledyard had previously told police that he went to a movie the night Susan was last seen in July 2019. He said he came home and went to bed while Susan stayed up texting friends on the West Coast. He told Dateline that he was awoken the next morning by Delaware State Police looking for Susan. They told him they found his wife's car. Months after Susan's body was found, Delaware State Police labeled her death a homicide, saying she died from blunt force trauma and drowning. Susan's sister Meg Morrissey Heinicke told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that they 'cannot comment on the recent arrest.' 'We want to remind the public that Susans case is an active, open homicide investigation,' she wrote in an email. 'We will continue to do everything in our power to help get this case solved. There is a $50k reward for information leading to an arrest. Susans family and friends love and miss her terribly and we will continue to fight for answers.' The alleged assault happened more than three years after Ledyard's previous wife was found dead in the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware in July 2019. Her murder is unsolved Susan's family is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case Ledyard's family has created The Susan Morrissey Foundation in her honor which awards a cash scholarship to a student at Academy Park High School, where Susan used to teach before she was killed. Susan was an English teacher in California and Pennsylvania for over 20 years and loved sharing her passion for the written word, according to the foundation's website. In June 2021, the foundation gave out the first $2500 Susan Morrissey Ledyard prize for Achievement in English to Nicholas Manus, a student at Academy Park High School. Academy Park High School seniors Rodney Brown and Jeannot Palimens were recipients of the 2022 scholarship prize. Detectives continue to seek information from the public regarding Susan's murder and her activities in the hours before her death. Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Detective Daniel Grassi of the Homicide Unit at 302 365-8441 or daniel.grassi@delaware.gov. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-333 or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppersweb.com. If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll free hotline 1800 VICTIM-1. (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the unit Director at debra.reed@state.de.us. The House GOP continues to be in disarray for a second day The House GOP continues to be in disarray for a second day The House GOP continues to be in disarray for a second day All work in the House is delayed until a leader has been elected All work in the House is delayed until a leader has been elected What is behind the 'Never Kevin Caucus' which keeps blocking the votes? What is behind the 'Never Kevin Caucus' which keeps blocking the votes? McCarthy has lost six times in his bid to become the next Speaker of the House McCarthy has lost six times in his bid to become the next Speaker of the House It's Groundhog Day on Capitol Hill as House Republicans failed - miserably - for a second day on Wednesday trying to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker in what's proving to be political chaos at the start of the new majority. For a sixth time, mainstream Republicans nominated McCarthy as their speaker as the House plunged deeper into disarray. The House gaveled in at noon, and a McCarthy ally quickly re-nominated him for the job with a rousing speech on the House floor. 'Sure, it looks messy,' said Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin. But democracy is messy, he said. 'The American people are in charge.' But right now, no one appears to be in charge except for GOP hardliners who keep spiking the California Republican's chances to become the 118th Speaker. DailyMail.com answers six key questions about the race for Speaker - which seems to have no end in sight. WHY DOES THE HOUSE KEEP FAILING TO ELECT A NEW SPEAKER? Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the GOP leader of the House, perhaps in name only, needs 218 votes in the full House. However, a consortium of 19 ultra-conservative Republicans - who call themselves the 'Never Kevin Caucus' - have been warning the California Republican that he did not have the votes. Two days and five speaker ballots later, the House is no closer to a speaker than it was on Tuesday. House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California has lost multiple votes for the House Speaker since Tuesday WHAT DOES THE 'NEVER KEVIN CAUCUS' WANT? Most are members of the House Freedom Caucus, a hard-right group that also had strained relationships with former House speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan. 'They can't tell you what they're for. They can tell you everything they're against. They're anarchists. They want total chaos. Tear it all down and start over. That's where their mindset is,' Boehner once told Vanity Fair. The 'Never Kevin Caucus' includes Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Chip Roy of Texas, amongst other. The rebels presented McCarthy with their final offer on Monday: high-profile committee assignments, sizable budgets to investigate the Biden administration, and the ability of any lawmaker to force a vote on whether to remove the future speaker in exchange for their votes. McCarthy refused to oblige, saying he had gone far enough to appease the lawmakers. Based on the past six votes, the NKs now appear to just want him out - in short, anyone BUT McCarthy. U.S. Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert of Colorado wants former President Donald Trump to withdraw his support for McCarthy. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE LOWER CHAMBER? Without a speaker, the House, simply put, cannot function. It needs a leader to swear in 74 new members, assign committee chairs, decide on floor proceedings and launch oversight investigations. Everything will be delayed until a speaker is elected and sworn into office. 'The spotlight needs to be put on these 19 now 20 that are stopping the business of Congress that we got elected to do,' Rep. Don Bacon on Nebraska said. 'It's on them.' Rep.-elect George Santos of New York (right) talks to Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz (R-FL) (L) in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. WHAT ARE MCCARTHY'S OPTIONS? The beleaguered GOP leader is left with two options: keep 'fighting the floor' or step down. McCarthy supporters, who represent the majority of the vote, are vowing to vote for him. Rep.-elect Michael Lawler on New York says he's supporting Kevin McCarthy 'whether it's the first vote, the second vote, the third vote, or the hundredth vote' during an interview on Meet the Press. Detractors, however, want him to end the battle for control of the House - the sooner the better. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a firebrand Colorado conservative, nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., the chosen protest candidate of the day and called for former President Donald Trump, the conservatives' hero, to tell McCarthy, 'Sir, you do not have the votes and it's time to withdraw.' Just a handful of votes - five - is separating McCarthy from his ultimate goal: Speaker of the House and there's no indication that he's going to stop campaigning until he wins the election. If there is a full House, he would need 218 votes but there is a caveat: if he can win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he can lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority. It's a strategy used by former House speakers, including outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Speaker John Boehner when they confronted opposition, winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes. One Republican, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana, voted present in the fourth and fifth and sixth rounds, but it made no difference in the immediate outcome. If House Minority Leader U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy wins 213 votes, and then persuades the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he can lower the threshold required under the rules to have the majority. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? To date, a solution appears out of reach for all sides, and it's been a century since this last happened. It remains unclear if and when McCarthy passes the threshold to become the next speaker of the House. The current number of Republicans who have pledged support to other candidates is at 20, with some suspecting that list will grow. On Tuesday, Republicans opposing McCarthy nominated a slew of other candidates, including Biggs, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and even former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York. And on Wednesday, the first black Republican was nominated for the role, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida. The candidate to become speaker needs a majority of the votes from House members who are present and voting. Every lawmaker voting 'present' lowers the overall tally needed to reach a majority but that's not a winning solution. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida was nominated as House Speaker multiple times on Wednesday as an alternative to McCarthy. HAS THIS HAPPENED BEFORE? The last time the House did not elect a speaker on the first ballot was 1923 when the election stretched for nine ballots. At the time, Republicans had won the majority despite losing a staggering 77 seats, shrinking their margin over Democrats from 171 to just 18. The majority party had named incumbent Rep. Frederick Gillett of Massachusetts but several other candidates, including a Democrat, received votes during the roll call. This resulted in a series of ballots over three days before House Majority Leader Nicholas Longworth of Ohio held an emergency meeting with those opposing. Their concern, similarly, to those issued against McCarthy, was over a series of rules changes that they believed deserved a fair hearing. Longworth obliged and the next day Gillett garnered the 215 votes he needed to remain speaker. Vladimir Putin's troops are piling up the bodies of their dead comrades in a bid to shield themselves from Ukrainian bullets, it has been claimed. The head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said he witnessed the shocking scenes during a visit to Bakhmut in Donetsk in late December, one of the fiercest battle zones along the 800-mile frontline in the war against Russia. He also insisted Ukraine would not give up an inch of territory and said Russia's failure to win the war after almost a year proved the country 'is not a threat to the world anymore', branding its military might a 'tell tale.' However he predicts the war will drag on for some months at least, with the fiercest fighting expected to take place in March as Ukraine plots a big push in the spring. The head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov (pictured), said he witnessed shocking scenes during a visit to Bakhmut in Donetsk in late December, one of the fiercest battle zones along the 800-mile frontline in the war against Russia Emergency service workers extinguish a fire after shelling on the Bakhmut frontline in Ivanivske, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues Speaking of his public appearance in Bakhmut, he told ABC News: 'Soldiers showed me a section where dead bodies are piled up like something you would see in a movie. 'There are hundreds of dead bodies just rotting away in the open field, in places they are piled on top of other bodies like makeshift walls, when Russian troops attack on that field they use those bodies for cover, like a shield. 'But it's not working. There are actual fields of dead bodies there.' Budanov claimed Putin's weapons stash is running low, meaning they had to seek out 'cheaper' and more 'plentiful' options. Among these are the alleged Iranian self-destructing Shahed drones - although Iran has denied selling Russia hundreds of the deadly weapons. It comes after Russia attempted to inflict mass casualties with 84 drones on January 1 and 2, all of which were neutralised by Ukraine's air defences. Budanov said he foresees the 'hottest' fighting in March and the spring, when he believes there will be more liberation of territories that will 'deal the final defeats to the Russian Federation... from Crimea to the Donbas.' He vowed to return the Ukrainian borders to those of 1991 and said the West must not fear 'the transformation of Russia', saying it would 'only benefit the whole world.' Budanov branded Putin's regime a 'laughingstock' and said his troops have been reduced to defending the territories that they still hold in Ukraine. 'Russia is not a military threat to the world anymore, just a tall tale,' he added. Ukrainian soldiers pictured on standby with a US made Stinger MANPAD (man-portable air-defense system) on the frontline on December 29, 2022 in Bakhmut, Ukraine Budanov claimed Putin's weapons stash is running low, meaning they had to seek out 'cheaper' and more 'plentiful' solutions (Pictured: Emergency service workers extinguish a fire after shelling on the Bakhmut frontline in Ivanivske, Ukraine on January 2) He admitted that Russia's mammoth nuclear weapons arsenal was a concern, calling for the country's denuclearisation or 'at least an international overseeing' of its nukes. It comes after Russia yesterday blamed its soldiers illegally using their mobile phones for giving away their location before a deadly Ukrainian strike killed 'hundreds' of their troops at a military college. The Kremlin raised the death toll from the New Year's Day strike in Makiivka from 63 to 89, the highest acknowledged loss in the war, although Ukraine says the true number is around 400 dead. The Russian defence ministry said four Ukrainian HIMARS missiles hit a temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. At the time of the attack, Vladimir Putin had just delivered his traditional New Year's address, hailing 'our heroes' fighting in Ukraine. Emergency workers remove debris from the destroyed vocational college building in Makiivka struck on New Year's Day Although an official probe has been launched, the main reason for the attack was clearly the illegal mass use of mobile phones by servicemen, the ministry said. 'This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers' location for a missile strike,' it said in a statement issued just after 1 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday. However, Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian war correspondent awarded the Order of Courage by Putin in late 2022, questioned the ministry's reasoning. In a Telegram post, Pegov said that Ukraine could have been able to locate the troops via drones and intelligence, not necessarily through mobile phones. 'The story of mobiles is not very convincing,' Pegov said. 'I rarely say this - but this is the case when it would probably be better to remain silent, at least until the end of the investigation. As such it looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame.' 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 Pictured: The aftermath of the HIMARS missile strike is seen in Russian-occupied Makiivka on December 31. Russia has admitted 63 soldiers were killed in the strike, although Ukraine's military has said this number if far higher Pegov also said that the number of casualties would rise. 'Unfortunately, their number will continue to grow. The announced data is most likely for those who were immediately identified. The list of the missing, unfortunately, is noticeably longer. I cannot disclose the sources, but I consider them reliable.' The ministry's reaction came amid mounting anger among some Russian commentators, who are increasingly vocal about what they see as a half-hearted campaign in Ukraine. Most of the anger on social media was directed at military commanders rather than Putin, who has not commented publicly on the attack which was another blow after major battlefield retreats in recent months. Volodymyr Zelensky, who rarely comments on specific Ukrainian military strikes, made no mention of the attack in a video address on Tuesday. Mourners gather to lay flowers in memory of Russian soldiers that were killed in a Ukrainian strike Pictured: Honour guards fire a farewell salute during a ceremony in memory of Russian soldiers SAMARA, RUSSIA: Russian mourners voiced grief and anger at Moscow's commanders on Tuesday during a rare public commemoration for the scores of soldiers that were killed Ukraine's military has said it launched a strike that resulted in Russian loss of equipment and possibly personnel near Makiivka. But it has given no further details. Russian nationalist bloggers and some pro-Russian officials in the region put the Makiivka death toll in the hundreds, though some say that those estimates are exaggerated. The new announcement came after mourners gathered in several cities of the Volga region of Samara -- where some of the servicemen came from -- to mourn the dead. Some 200 people laid roses and wreaths in a central square in the city of Samara as an Orthodox priest recited a prayer. Soldiers also fired a gun salute at the commemoration, where some of the mourners could be seen holding flags for the ruling United Russia party. 'It's very tough, it's scary. But we cannot be broken. Grief unites,' Ekaterina Kolotovkina, head of a group of army spouses, said at the ceremony. Slide me MAKIIVKA, DONESK OBLAST: This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the before and after scene at Makiivka on December 20 (left) and January 2 (right) Similar gatherings were reported in other cities including Tolyatti, home to Russia's largest carmaker AvtoVAZ It comes as Zelensky said Russia was set to launch a major offensive. 'We have no doubt that current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat,' Zelensky said in a video address. 'We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail,' he continued. A little known patriotic group which supports the widows of Russian soldiers is calling on Putin to order a large-scale mobilisation of millions of men and to close the borders to ensure victory in Ukraine. Zelensky reiterated Ukrainian assertions that Moscow is planning a full-scale mobilisation, a step that Russian officials say is not currently being considered. Putin plans to talk to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax, the latest in a series of conversations the two leaders have had since the start of the war. Turkey acted as mediator alongside the United Nations last year to establish a deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports but the chances of serious peace talks look remote, especially as fighting continues to rage. Ukraine's General Zaluzhny, summarising a Tuesday call with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, thanked the American for helping ensure the provision of anti-missile weapons systems that Kyiv says is knocking out more and more of the Russian missiles aimed at power-generating plants. Zaluzhny said he had discussed what equipment Ukraine needed to increase its chances against Russia, a message that senior officials have hammered on a daily basis. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Zelensky that he can count on Britain for support over the long run 'as demonstrated by the recent delivery of more than 1,000 anti-air missiles', Sunak's office said on Tuesday. The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces on Wednesday said Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in three cities, Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. 'There are casualties among the civilian population,' it said. Russia denies targeting civilians. The battlefield report could not be independently verified by Reuters. The first ever strike by UK workers at online giant Amazon is to be held later this month, it has been announced. Members of the GMB union based at a Coventry warehouse will walk out on January 25 in a dispute over pay after voting in favour of taking industrial action. Amanda Gearing, GMB senior organiser, said: 'Amazon workers in Coventry are set to make history on January 25, becoming the first ever Amazon workers in the UK to go on strike. 'They've shown they're willing to put themselves on the line to fight for what's right. Members of the GMB union based at the Amazon warehouse in Coventry (pictured) will walk out tomorrow in a dispute over pay 'But people working for one of the most valuable companies in the world shouldn't have to threaten strike action just to win a wage they can live on. 'GMB urges Amazon UK bosses to give workers a proper pay rise and avoid industrial action.' Warehouse operatives for Amazon are currently being recruited for wages of 10.75 an hour, which equates to nearly 21,000 per annum for those working 37 and a half hours a week. Operatives also have the option of working overtime. An Amazon spokesman said: 'We appreciate the great work our teams do throughout the year and were proud to offer competitive pay which starts at a minimum of between 10.50 and 11.45 per hour, depending on location. 'This represents a 29 per cent increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to Amazon employees since 2018. Employees are also offered comprehensive benefits that are worth thousands moreincluding private medical insurance, life assurance, subsidised meals and an employee discount, to name a few.' The walkout by Amazon workers comes amid a winter of discontent, with Britons braced for one of the country's most disruptive days of strike action ever tomorrow. Just one in ten train services will run on 'Tragic Thursday', forcing commuters to endure the worst single day of strike action in a working week for decades. Tomorrow's strike is compounded by the walkout of 21,000 workers from Aslef, on top of the continuing strike action by the RMT on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week - with few drivers expected to cross picket lines. Insiders say it is the biggest disruption for commuters since the days of British Rail, The Telegraph reports. Transport Secretary Mark Harper insisted to union leaders that there is 'not a bottomless pit of taxpayers' money'. He said: 'Taxpayers have paid a huge amount of investment into the rail industry over the last few years when it was hit with a huge impact from the pandemic when people weren't travelling. Transport Secretary Mark Harper insisted to union leaders there is 'not a bottomless pit of taxpayers' money' 'I think you have got to have an offer that is both fair to the people working in the industry but that is also fair to the taxpayer that is picking up the tab.' The Centre for Economics and Business Research says strikes this week will cost the economy 330million, bringing the overall cost of industrial action to 1.3billion since last July. No wonder workers are backing him! Strikes could see banking and City staff happily WFH PERMANENTLY, experts warn - as Mick Lynch boasts 'we're getting massive support' for walkouts that are crippling economy Mick Lynch on a very thin picket line at Euston station Advertisement Network Rail is said to have a skeleton team of contingency signal workers on strike days, allowing one in five services to operate during RMT's previous strike days. But with significantly fewer contingency drivers available, timetables look set to slashed even further. There will be no train services to southwest England beyond Plymouth, while Scottish journeys will stop 18 miles north of Edinburgh. Among the stations expected to be left without any services this week are Aberdeen, Penzance and Gloucester. Passengers have been warned to avoid rail travel for the first week of 2023. RMT boss Mick Lynch has accused ministers of 'undermining efforts to get a settlement' and added that an agreement was 'torpedoed' last month. Mr Lynch yesterday raised the prospect of walkouts dragging on until May, when the RMT's current strike mandate expires, as 40,000 of his members walked out for the first of two 48-hour strikes this week. But he also said a deal was possible within 'the next few days', while Network Rail's chief negotiator said an agreement was potentially within 'touching distance'. New details emerged showing the offer on the table is worth 14 per cent over two years for the lower paid among Mr Lynch's members 2.5 per cent a year higher than what most nurses have been offered. By Lee Hyo-sik It is widely known that there are two things humans cannot avoid: death and taxes. Everybody dies at some point and people have to pay taxes when making money to live. Many often go to great extents to not pay any tax or to pay only the minimum. Tax significantly influences how we behave and the same goes for corporations. Companies want to build plants, hire workers and produce goods in a place where they pay less taxes. Given this simple fact, the National Assembly's recent passage of the drastically modified "K-Chips Act" was such a disappointment as it deals decisive blow to Korea's semiconductor industry when Samsung Electronics and SK hynix struggle to compete with TSMC, Intel and other foreign rivals on the global stage. Under the initiative of President Yoon Suk-yeol, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) launched a special committee to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic semiconductor industry. After a series of deliberations, the committee chaired by independent lawmaker Rep. Yang Hyang-ja finalized the act and submitted it to the Assembly for ratification. The bill allows Samsung, SK and other large chipmakers to claim tax credits as high as 20 percent when making facility investments, up from the current 6 percent. This means companies can deduct 20 percent of their facility investments from taxable income. Many industry analysts have said this would certainly encourage Samsung and SK to build more manufacturing plants in Korea rather than go abroad. However, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which has 169 seats in the 300-member Assembly, refused to agree, arguing that the bill would benefit the nation's major conglomerates, not small businesses. Even more disappointing was that the Ministry of Economy and Finance defied President Yoon's drive by saying the tax credit should not be more than 8 percent, insisting tax revenue is expected to start falling sharply in 2025. On Dec. 23, lawmakers ratified the modified version of the K-Chips Act, raising the credit to only 8 percent. Yang lamented the passed bill is tantamount to a death sentence for the Korean semiconductor industry when global competition to attract high-tech plants has been intensifying in line with the realignment of the global supply chain initiated by the United States. The former Samsung Electronics executive was right that Korea desperately needs to provide larger incentives to chips and other key high-tech industries to curb the ongoing hollowing out of manufacturing, which had been accelerating under the previous labor-friendly Moon Jae-in administration. According to the Federation of Korean Industries, the U.S. offers a 25 percent tax credit for semiconductor facility investments, while the Taiwanese government has proposed a bill to increase tax credits for investments by Taiwan-headquartered semiconductor firms to 25 percent from 15 percent. China and Japan have also been moving to revise their laws to increase tax credits for chip facility investments, on top of providing tens of billions of dollars in other non-tax incentives. The DPK must realize that Samsung and SK hynix are in competition with their American, Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese rivals, not with local small companies. Giving bigger tax credits to the two chipmakers in itself benefits small firms because they will have more business dealings when more plants churn out semiconductors here. The opposition party's politically motivated slogan of "only-for-the-rich" has no grounds and is not well-received by the public as Korean companies, large or small, compete not among themselves, but with their global rivals. Officials at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which manages the state coffers, should also break with convention and think outside the box. Giving larger tax credits may lead to an immediate fall in tax revenues as companies are allowed to deduct more from their taxable income. But if chipmakers decide to build more plants and hire more workers than initially planned thanks to tax incentives, the government will be able to collect new corporate and individual income taxes, in addition to other accompanying economic benefits. Only after being censured by President Yoon, the ministry belatedly announced Tuesday that it will increase the tax credit for large semiconductor makers to 15 percent from 8 percent, adding it will forward the revised bill to the Assembly for approval this month. This is a belated but welcome move and the opposition party must not block the bill from passing this time. DPK lawmakers should set aside political differences with PPP and the Yoon administration and act for the sake of the country. If they plan to run for reelection in 2024, they should remember they were elected to serve the people and do what's right for the nation. The people are watching. The writer (leehs@koreatimes.co.kr) is business editor of The Korea Times. The alleged 'All-American jihadi' who stabbed three NYPD cops in Times Square on New Year's Eve wanted 'to kill and carry out jihad', a court has heard. Trevor Bickford, 19, tried to grab an officer's gun 'to kill them' before he slashed them with a machete, his arraignment hearing was told. Manhattan Criminal Court also heard him say Muslim US officials were fair to target because 'they can't be proper Muslims... because the government supports Israel'. He was arraigned from his bed at Bellevue Hospital on Wednesday and was charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault. During his arraignment, Bickford was ordered and held without bail. He did not enter a plea. If convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence on charges of attempted murder of a police officer. His next court date is scheduled for Friday. The radicalized teen, from Wells, Maine, took the Amtrak down to the city with plans to target isolated officers, prosecutors told Manhattan Criminal Court. Bickford allegedly stabbed three officers - rookies Paul Cozzolino, Michael Hanna and Louis Iorio with an 18-inch blade during the vicious rampage on New Year's Eve. Trevor Bickford also tried to grab an officer's gun 'to kill them' before he slashed them with a machete, his arraignment hearing was told DailyMail.com can reveal NYPD officers Paul Cozzolino (left) and Louis Ioirio (center) were injured in the attack. A third officer Mickel Hanna (right) had fired at Bickford in response Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on 8th Avenue near Times Square around 10pm Saturday night where thousands of revelers prepared to ring in the new year In court documents prosecutors highlight part of the interview Bickford allegedly told investigators after the New York's Eve attack when he went on an extremist Islamist rage. 'I wanted to kill an officer in uniform. I saw the officer and waited until he was alone. I said, 'Allauh Akbar,' Bickford said. 'I walked up and hit him over the head with a kukri. I charged another officer but dropped the knife and I tried to get the police officer's gun but couldn't.' Assistant District Attorney Lucy Nicholas told the judge, the 'defendant admitted that he purposely waited until he saw a moment when the officer was isolated and not near any civilians when he could attack him.' He said after he dropped his knife after attacking the first officer, he wanted to grab the other officer's firearm to kill them but was unable to get the gun out of the holster,' Nicholas said. 'He specifically targeted a uniformed police officer because an officer is a man in a uniform with a weapon.' The Legal Aid Society that is representing Bickford issued a statement, WGME reported. 'Trevor Bickford, who is just a teenager, has no prior contact with the criminal legal system. 'Earlier today, Mr. Bickford was arraigned from Bellevue Hospital after languishing in NYPD custody for nearly four days despite a well-established court requirement that an arraignment take place within 24-hours of arrest,'; they wrote. Bickford (on far right) is pictured on many social media posts with brothers Devin and Travis Bickford's mother has a slew of photos on her Facebook page where she gushes about the 19-year-old, calling him an 'old soul' and says she's lucky to be his mother 'We've just received initial discovery from the District Attorney's office, and we'll have more to say about this case after a thorough review and investigation. 'For now, we ask the public to refrain from drawing hasty conclusions and to respect the privacy of our client's family.' During the attack, Bickford was carrying a handwritten diary professing his desire to join the Taliban in Afghanistan, also writing that he he wished to die as a martyr, CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources. After Bickford allegedly slashed two officers shortly before midnight Saturday, another NYPD officer shot him in the shoulder and he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, along with the two cops. They are all expected to survive. On Sunday, the FBI raided the teen's family home in Wells, Maine, where Bickford was by all appearances an upstanding high school student before allegedly radicalizing himself to Islamic extremism. In addition to the diary, Bickford reportedly carried a chilling letter in which he he urged his family to 'repent to Allah' so they 'may be taken out of the hellfire.' 'To my family specifically, mother I'm sorry for not having been a good enough son,' the note read, according to a police source who spoke with the New York Post. Photos posted online by his family show Bickford with his brothers or with his dog The note, which has not been released publicly, continued with Bickford allegedly writing his hopes that his family will one day see the world the way he does. Before the attack on New Year's Eve, Bickford had been an honor roll student, won awards for his artwork, and was a member of the championship football team in his hometown. But after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018, it appears Bickford's life descended into turmoil. His dad Thomas Bickford died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 41, according to his obit 'I fear greatly that you will not repent to Allah,' he wrote in the note to family reported by the Post. 'And therefore I hold hope in my heart that a piece of you believes so that you may be taken out to the hellfire.' Bickford went on to call his brother Devon a traitor for serving in the U.S. Army. 'To Devon, there was a time when we were close, but that time has passed,' the manifesto said, according to the Post. 'You have joined the ranks of my enemy. And for that I can give you no kind words return to Allah,' wrote the 19-year-old, who does not have a criminal record according to a preliminary investigation. 'To [my brother] Travis. Of anyone I've known who I have felt is closest to faith it's you,' Bickford allegedly wrote. 'Of anyone I've ever wanted to accept Islam with me it's you. Please repent to Allah and accept Islam. I fear for you.' On Saturday night, Bickford allegedly attacked two NYPD police officers on Eighth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Street, right outside Times Square where thousands of revelers were ringing in the new year. Another officer shot at Bickford, striking him in the shoulder. He remains hospitalized at the Bellevue and charges are pending. Bickford's house is located on Alpine Street in Wells, Maine - nearly five hours north of NYC The whole family is pictured at the Tower of Terror in Disney World Bickford does not have a criminal record according to a preliminary investigation, but police sources say the FBI's field office in Boston has an open case on him. Authorities have told NBC they were looking into whether the suspect had previously posted what they called jihadist writings online and then traveled to New York City to target police. Photos posted to Facebook show Bickford at different times of his life, many with his two brothers Devin and Travis. There are photos of him playing football with the championship Wells High School Warriors football team, singing in the choir, and marching with the color guard. As recently as 2020, he was among a group of students to win awards for their artwork. Bickford won for his work in jewelry, Seacoastonline reported at the time. Prior to his death in 2018 - reportedly of a drug overdose - his father Thomas Bickford proudly posted photos of his sons and their achievements. Family and friends were quick to praise the boys and their bright futures. Bickford's father died at the age of 41, according to his obituary. His parents Thomas and Audra D'Antilio married on September 9, 2001, and raised three sons, Devin, Trevor, and Travis, in Wells, Maine. The patriarch of the family could often be found coaching them at football and wrestling, according to the obituary. It also said he was sometimes hard on his sons in terms of his style of coaching, but 'he loved his boys more than anything.' Another officer fired on the suspect, hitting him in the shoulder. All of the injured were taken to Bellevue Hospital where they are in serious but stable condition, officials have said Bickford's mother Audra D'Antilio, who eventually remarried, also has a slew of photos on her Facebook page where she gushes about her son, calling him an 'old soul' and writes that she feels lucky to be his mother. On July 28, she shared a photo of Bickford for his 19th birthday and wrote: 'Happy 19th Birthday Trevor. So proud and lucky to be able to call you my son. 'You're an old soul and you amaze me every day with all that you enjoy to explore and do. I love that you have no fear of trying new things, and you truly are the best brother ever. I am so beyond proud of the man you are becoming, I love you.' Just six months later, Bickford is being accused of the attacks on the NYPD officers. Bickford and the cops are all at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where are all expected to survive. Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York field office, said the FBI's Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York City was investigating but investigators believe the attacker acted alone. The attack happened just outside of the high-security zone where thousands of revelers were screened for weapons as they prepared to ring in 2023. Bickford is accused of slashing one officer in the head, striking a second officer with the machete, and swinging at a third cop, who fired his weapon, striking Bickford in the shoulder. 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.' Iran has summoned the French ambassador over the publication of 'offensive caricatures' of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the country's satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The magazine has a long history of publishing cartoons mocking Islamists, which critics say are deeply insulting to Muslims. Two French-born al-Qaida extremists attacked the newspaper's office in 2015, killing 12 cartoonists, and it has been the target of other attacks over the years. Its latest issue features the winners of a recent cartoon contest in which entrants were asked to draw the most offensive caricatures of Khamenei, who has held Iran's highest office since 1989. Iran has summoned the French ambassador over the publication of 'offensive caricatures' of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) in the country's satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian (pictured) has vowed a 'decisive and effective response' to the publication of cartoons in Charlie Hebdo, which he said had insulted Iran's religious and political authorities The contest was billed as a show of support for anti-government protests currently rocking Iran. One of the finalists depicts a turbaned cleric reaching for a hangman's noose as he drowns in blood, while another shows Khamenei clinging to a giant throne above the raised fists of protesters. Others depict more vulgar and sexually explicit scenes. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian vowed a 'decisive and effective response' to the publication of the cartoons, which he said had insulted Iran's religious and political authorities. The French government, while defending free speech, has rebuked the privately-owned magazine in the past for fanning tensions. Iran has been gripped by nationwide protests for nearly four months following the death in mid-September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's strict Islamic dress code. Women have taken the lead in the protests, with many stripping off the compulsory Islamic headscarf in public. This file photo taken on January 7, 2015 shows a general view of firefighters, police officers and forensic investigators gathered in front of the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, after the brothers Kouachi stormed the offices leaving twelve dead The protesters have called for the overthrow of Iran's ruling clerics in one of the biggest challenges to their rule since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought them to power. Charlie Hebdo, which has published similarly offensive cartoons about dead child migrants, virus victims, neo-Nazis, popes, Jewish leaders and other public figures, presents itself as an advocate for democracy and free expression. But it routinely pushes the limits of French hate speech laws with often sexually explicit caricatures that target almost everyone. The paper drew fire for reprinting caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad that were originally published by a Danish magazine in 2005. Those cartoons were seen as sacrilegious and deeply hurtful to Muslims worldwide, many of whom nevertheless condemned the violent response to the drawings. The Charlie Hebdo attack, the first to be claimed by ISIS in Europe, began when brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi (pictured) opened fire on the magazine offices, killing 12 Al-Qaeda threatened Charlie Hebdo with a repeat of a 2015 massacre of its staff in September 2020, after it republished controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Al-Qaeda in its publication One Ummah warned that Charlie Hebdo would be mistaken if it believed the 2015 attack was a 'one off', after the magazine printed the 'contemptible caricatures' in a defiant issue that marked the start of the trial in Paris of the accomplices in the attack. The comments came in an English edition of the Al-Qaeda publication that purported to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States carried out by the terror network. It said it had the 'same message' for President Emmanuel Macron as it did for his predecessor Francois Hollande who was president at the time of the 2015 attacks. It said France under Macron 'gave a green light' to the republication of the cartoons. Twelve people, including some of France's most celebrated cartoonists, were killed on January 7, 2015, when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, whose no-taboo style, including publishing cartoons of the prophet, had divided the country. France was hit by joint terror attacks in January 2015 which began when brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi opened fire in the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine, killing 12, as 'revenge' for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Twenty four hours later, Amedy Coulibaly - who was friends with the Kouachi brothers - launched his own attack targeting Paris's Jewish community. He was later killed in a police raid (pictured) The brothers identified themselves during the attack as members of Al-Qaeda. Charlie Hebdo's director Laurent Sourisseau, known as 'Riss' and who was himself badly wounded in the shoulder in the attack, told the court during their trial that there was nothing to regret in publishing the cartoons. 'What I regret is to see how little people fight to defend freedom. If we don't fight for our freedom, we live like a slave and we promote a deadly ideology,' he said at the time. Charlie Hebdo's republication of the cartoons drew new condemnation from states including Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. But Sourisseau, who now lives under round the clock protection, said it had to republish them. 'If we had given up the right to publish these cartoons, that would mean that we were wrong to do so' in the first place,' he said. France was hit by joint terror attacks in January 2015 which began when brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi opened fire in the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine, killing 12, as 'revenge' for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Twenty four hours later, Amedy Coulibaly - who was friends with the Kouachi brothers - launched his own attack targeting Paris's Jewish community. After failing to attack his planned target - a Jewish community centre in the suburb of Montrouge - Coulibaly shot and killed policewoman Clarissa Jean-Philippe, 26. He then stormed a Kosher supermarket in Porte de Vincennes where he shot another four dead and took 20 hostages. Amedy Coulibaly was then involved in an hours-long siege with police during which he demanded that the Kouachi brothers - then holed up in a printing workshop in Dammartin-en-Goele with their own hostages - be freed. All three would ultimately be killed in near-simultaneous raids by French commandos. The attack was the first claimed by ISIS in Europe, marking the start of a wave of terrorist violence that the group would carry out in France and elsewhere. A total of 14 people were found guilty over the joint attacks. Legal action and police charges haven't been ruled out after a little boy tragically drowned in a neighbour's backyard pool as his aunty gives a heartbreaking update. Isaac Powell, 3, was playing at his new home in Canning Vale, Perth, last Thursday when he slipped through a gap in the fence and snuck into a neighbour's backyard. His frantic mum Zahra noticed the toddler was missing and searched nearby streets for 15 minutes before Isaac was found lifeless by teens in the neighbour's pool. Isaac was on life support in Perth's Children Hospital for five days before his parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn it off on Monday. His grieving parents Zahra and Stephen and older brother Daniel will unlikely return to their 'forever' home the family purchased days earlier, his aunty revealed on Wednesday. Authorities are investigating whether the neighbour's backyard pool was properly fenced after Western Australia Police requested City of Canning Council's inspection records for the pool. Police are now investigating after Isaac Powell tragically drowned in a neighbour's pool A criminal lawyer told The West Australian the homeowner and local council could both be found liable. 'The people next door have liability because they've got a pool so they've got to have it properly fenced off,' Carolyn Smiddy-Brown told the publication. 'But it's not just the homeowner, it's the council who certifies that the fence is compliant with all the appropriate regulations...so I'd say they could also be liable if it wasn't compliant. 'There was a hole in this fence and that's tragic but how he got into that pool is the real issue here.' City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall confirmed the council has been contacted and is working with police. 'Meanwhile, give your children a hug, keep them safe near pools and waterways, and spare a thought for this little boy and his family,' he posted on Wednesday. It comes after Isaac's shattered dad issued a powerful message to every pool owner. 'If you've got a pool, maintain your fences, and, the people that found him they didn't know CPR,' Mr Powell told Nine News. 'I'm not saying it could've saved him but it's better than just doing nothing.' Isaac's parents and older brother Daniel (pictured with the little boy) will unlikely return to their new home Little Isaac snuck through a gap in the fence (pictured) and got into a neighbour's backyard before he was found lifeless in their pool Almost $40,000 has been raised within two days, almost doubling the initial fundraising target for Isaac's funeral. Isaac's aunt Ummu Bakri revealed his parents have been involved in talks in how donations will be used when she provided a new update on Wednesday. 'As Stephen, Zahra and their son Daniel are unlikely to return to their Canning Vale house where this tragic and traumatic event took place, it is the intention that any donations received over and above funeral expenses will be applied towards relocating the family to temporary alternative accommodation, together with other medical expenses and grief and support counselling,' Ms Bakri posted on Facebook. 'Your generosity and kind words are truly appreciated by Stephen, Zahra and the family. 'Isaac's funeral is currently being organised and will be held shortly for family and close friends. Stephen and Zahra request privacy during this time of mourning.' Mr Powell added: It was meant to be our family home and we have to sell I think, we dont want to go back. He fought back the tears as he paid tribute to his beautiful boy and revealed the family had moved into the area days earlier. Isaac Powell was found lifeless in a neighbour's backyard pool. His parents has made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support 'He was just playing in the backyard and he managed to find a hole in the fence,' he said. 'He's gone through to our neighbour's house, I haven't even met them yet, I don't know them at all... and he's fallen in their pool. 'He's at peace now and we've got to take comfort in that.' Mr Powell described his youngest son as full of energy with a cheeky giggle. 'He was the cutest little boy, you wouldn't see him without a car in his hand,' he said. 'He'll have some cars when he goes.' Isaac Powell (right) is pictured with his older brother Daniel (left) The tragedy happened on the birthday of his mum Zahra (pictured with Isaac right) Ms Bakri also revealed her sister was getting organised for a family get-together at the new house when Isaac vanished. 'I don't think time will ever heal as every birthday she'll have a reminder of her child dying,' she said. 'Setting up the new house, she had realised her three-year-old son was missing,' she posed. 'Searching the house and the backyard, she couldn't find him. All she could think was maybe he had managed to open the side door to the garage and escaped onto the street. The tragedy followed a spate of drownings across Australia over the Christmas/New Year holiday season. An indie romance novelist has been accused of faking her own suicide in a bizarre alleged scheme to deceive her fans and fellow authors. Author Susan Meachen was believed dead since September 2020, when someone claiming to be her daughter posted from her Facebook account saying she had died of suicide. On Monday, however, the same account posted to a private fan group, claiming that Meachen's family had faked her death while she was in a mental health crisis, and revealing she had continued to publish under the pseudonym TN Steele. 'I debated on how to do this a million times and still not sure if it's right or not,' the account wrote in announcing Meachen's return. 'I am in a good place now and I am hoping to write again. Let the fun begin.' Fellow author Samantha A. Cole, who was online friends with Meachen and had grieved her purported death two years ago, expressed outrage over the apparent hoax. In 2020, author Susan Meachen's Facebook account claimed that she had died by suicide, saying her final book (right) would be published posthumously On Monday, author Susan Meachen's Facebook account posted to a private fan group, claiming that her family had faked her death while she was in a mental health crisis 'That is beyond psychotic, whether it was Susan herself or her daughter making these comments, to knowingly mislead somebody who's grieving,' Cole said in an emotional Facebook video on Wednesday. 'Now I am wary of anybody I have never met in person, that I am friends with on Facebook, and that's really sad,' added Cole. Public records show a 47-year-old Susan Meachen with prior addresses in Tennessee and Georgia, one of which closely matches the Eton, Georgia hometown listed on the TN Steele pseudonym's Facebook page. There is no death record associated with that Meachen, and DailyMail.com could not find records of an obituary by that name. Attempts to reach Meachen by phone, email and Facebook were unsuccessful. The author Meachen has independently published 10 romance novels, including Smokey Mtn. Love, Stolen Moments, and His Wicked Way. Her 'final' novel, Love To Last A Lifetime, was supposedly published posthumously in October 2020 with final rewrites from the author's daughter. Meachen has independently published 10 romance novels, including such titles as Losing Him & Finding You and Chance Encounters A fellow author dedicated one book to Meachen, presuming she was dead, writing 'the world is a little less bright without her' Since 2020, Meachen has apparently continued to publish under the name 'TN Steele' According to Cole, Meachen's apparent resurrection has caused a firestorm of controversy in the tight-knit world of independent romance authors and fans. 'I've spoken to others who were much closer to Susan than I was, and they were all blindsided by this,' she said. 'They were as shocked as everybody else when the post appeared in Susan's group saying that basically she was alive and tired of being under her alias name,' added Cole. After Cole saw the Facebook post announcing Meachen's return, she engaged in a private Facebook chat with Meachen's account - screenshots of which she shared publicly. Fellow author Samantha A. Cole (above), who was online friends with Meachen and had grieved her purported death two years ago, expressed outrage over the apparent hoax In the exchange, Meachen claimed that she was hospitalized when her family announced her death through her Facebook account in 2020. 'I had no control over what my family did. I was in the hospital fighting for my life. But I understand what they did,' the person controlling Meachen's account wrote. The account claimed in the exchange that Meachen had remained silent about the false reports of her death while working with a psychiatrist and therapist to 'get in a better place'. 'I am happy she is alive because I don't want to wish death on anybody,' said the fellow author Cole in her video statement. 'But I cannot condone what she did, and I cannot forgive what she did.' 'I was floored, the emotions that went through me felt like I got kicked in the chest,' Cole said of finding out that Meachen is apparently alive. 'I felt like I got kicked in the gut, I was sick to my stomach for 36 hours.' Cole posted screenshots of private Facebook chat with Meachen's account, in which the author claimed that she was hospitalized when her family announced her death in 2020 Meachen insisted she had remained silent for two years while working with a therapist Cole said that her foremost wish is that Meachen 'gets the help she needs' and implored her followers not to attack Meachen online over the alleged fake suicide. Likewise, Cole insisted that her posts speaking out about the issue were not a ploy to sell books. 'This is not a publicity stunt on my behalf by exposing this horror story,' said Cole. 'Please do not run out and buy my books because I was hurt by this.' 'I hope the book world can heal from this, it's gonna take time,' the author added. 'I don't know who I can trust anymore, except the people that I have met, that I am closest to.' If you or a loved one is in crisis, call or text 988 for confidential mental health support. Rail services will be crippled tomorrow because of a strike by train drivers - with a warning of 'faster and harder' industrial action unless their pay dispute is resolved. Thousands of Aslef members working for 15 train operators will walk out, leaving large parts of the country with no trains all day. Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said it is 'inevitable' that further strikes will be held unless there is a breakthrough to the long running row. He warned that strikes could escalate, saying train drivers wanted to go 'harder and faster' after years of not receiving a pay rise. Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said it is 'inevitable' that further strikes will be held unless there is a breakthrough to the long running row. Thousands of Aslef members working for 15 train operators will walk out tomorrow, leaving large parts of the country with no trains all day. His comments came as train passengers suffered more disruption on Wednesday because of the second day of a 48 hour stoppage by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) in a separate dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Another RMT 48 hour strike will start on Friday, ending a week of travel chaos on the railways, On Wednesday, around half of Britain's railway lines were closed and only a fifth of services ran as tens of thousands of RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators walked out. Mr Whelan told PA he felt rail employers and the Government were 'playing games' rather than making any serious attempt to resolve the pay dispute. The last trains leave London this evening, before a mass strike culls 90 per cent of services tomorrow 21,000 Aslef workers will walk out in a mass strike tomorrow on what has been dubbed 'Tragic Thursday' - with less than ten per cent of train services running 'The situation is getting worse and my members now want to go harder and faster because of the lack of progress. 'We are in a weird world where the Government will do anything to keep private companies in the industry. 'It is inevitable that more strikes will be held and probably escalate. 'The train companies say their hands have been tied by the government. While the government - which does not employ us - says it's up to the companies to negotiate with us. 'We are always happy to negotiate - we never refuse to sit down at the table and talk - but these companies have offered us nothing, and that is unacceptable.' Among the operators which will run no trains all day on Thursday are Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Northern, Southern, Southeastern, Thameslink and TransPennine Express. RMT boss Mick Lynch (centre) has accused ministers of 'undermining efforts to get a settlement' and added that an agreement was 'torpedoed' last month. Rail links to the UK's two busiest airports will be cut, with Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express shutting down. Areas where trains will run on Thursday include: Wales; the Central Belt, Fife and the Borders of Scotland; and parts of the South Western Railway network. Services will also operate on London Overground and the Elizabeth line. Around 20% of normal services will run, according to the Rail Delivery Group. Companies affected by the strike are Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; London North Eastern Railway; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway (depot drivers only); SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains. New TUC leader Paul Nowak has written to the Prime Minister calling for an urgent meeting to discuss the wave of industrial disputes across the country including on the railways, NHS and civil service. He called for a change in government direction, saying ministers should open pay negotiations with unions. In the letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Nowak said public services were in crisis after years of 'underfunding and understaffing'. He wrote: 'We can't solve these problems without a fair deal for the people on the frontline. 'Every month experienced employees are quitting, with one in three public service staff now taking steps to leave their professions or actively considering it. This is simply unsustainable. 'But we cannot fix the staffing crisis in our schools, hospitals and elsewhere if we do not fix the underlying causes. 'That means talking in an open and constructive way about improving public sector pay. But so far your ministers have refused to negotiate directly about pay with unions.' Mr Nowak said unions worked closely with Mr Sunak during the pandemic to deliver the furlough scheme and protect millions of jobs, adding: 'That's the kind of mature approach we need now. 'Unions have already made clear their willingness to sit down with the Government and talk about boosting pay. But while your ministers continue to refuse point blank to discuss improving wages, there can be no resolution. 'In the NHS, for example, appropriate structures already exist to allow the immediate start of pay negotiations involving health unions, employers and ministers. This was exactly what happened in 2018, leading to the three-year wage deal. 'We want to find a resolution to the current disputes so our public service staff can get on with doing the jobs they love. And so our public services can start to improve for everyone who relies on them.' RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has warned that industrial action will need to continue beyond May unless a reasonable offer to resolve the row over pay, jobs and conditions is made to the union. On Wednesday, the DVSA driving examiners' strike started in London, the South East, South Wales and the South West, while traffic officer service workers at National Highways and Rural Payments Agency staff continued their walkouts. London bus workers at Abellio began a two-day strike - the first in a series of action planned by the group throughout January. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds said it is 'up to' embattled GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy as to whether he drops out of the running for House Speaker during an impromptu press conference on Wednesday after his own name was put forward in the race. Donalds spoke to reporters on the steps of the US Capitol after voting for himself in the second round of Wednesday's Speaker vote, and the fifth round overall. Asked by DailyMail.com about his reaction to Donald Trump supporting McCarthy, Donalds - a supporter of the ex-president himself - brushed off the high-profile backer. 'President Trump has been in that position for several months. Knowing President Trump, he doesn't change his mind,' Donalds began. 'That's all well and good, but the members are going to decide this process. And you know, that's, that's no disrespect at all to President Trump. That's just the reality of the House.' Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds held an impromptu press conference on the steps of the US Capitol It comes after Colorado GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, another Trump ally, publicly demanded that the ex-president call McCarthy and tell him to withdraw from the race as she nominated Donalds in his place during one of Wednesday's votes. The House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker on the first-round vote for the first time in 100 years on Tuesday - and then fell further into disarray as McCarthy failed multiple times on Wednesday. It's set the GOP's new - albeit slim - House majority off to a chaotic start. A group of 19 conservatives derailed McCarthy's bid, despite his making last-minute concessions they had asked for including greenlighting a measure that would allow any five Republicans to call for a new Speaker vote at any time - known as the motion to vacate. Donalds joined their rebellion on the third round, by which point McCarthy's critics had all coalesced around GOP Rep. Jim Jordan - who has repeatedly said he does not want the gavel. Then on Wednesday, Donalds was nominated by Texas Rep. Chip Roy in the first round and Boebert in the second round. He told reporters on Wednesday that he did not 'actually' desire the Speakership, adding, 'I really never came here to try to be in leadership.' House Republicans have been in disarray with a second day in session without a Speaker It's led to multiple heated moments on the House floor between GOP members for and against Kevin McCarthy 'I didn't come to DC being interested in becoming Speaker of the House,' Donalds said. 'But I also understand that, you know, part of my responsibility is to make sure that our conference gets to a point where we are doing the things in an effective and constructive way.' Unlike Jordan, however, who also said he did not want the role he was being nominated for on Tuesday - Donalds has voted for himself in all three rounds on Wednesday. Republicans have fallen into disarray already on the second day of their slim majority. The 118th Congress has not yet been sworn in due to the delay in picking a new Speaker. GOP lawmakers could be seen having intense conversations on the House floor and in various hallways outside of the chamber. McCarthy's critics have made clear that his concessions are not enough, signaling that the inter-party fight has taken a deeply personal turn. Donalds originally supported McCarthy but has since called for more discussions and meetings for his party to work out a compromise. However, he told reporters that the fight may not be over yet for the current House GOP chief. 'I don't think we're there at this point,' he said when asked if McCarthy should step aside. 'I think there's a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all, you know, to a close.' 'But I'm not going to speak for Kevin, and that's something that he and his team got to figure out.' He suggested he hadn't yet spoken with McCarthy but 'anticipated' a conversation later Wednesday. When nominating Donalds in the first round, Roy noted the historic nature of having two black candidates for House Speaker. It came after Democrat Rep. Pete Aguilar nominated incoming Democratic Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the gavel. It earned a standing ovation from both sides of the House chamber - but progressive Missouri Rep. Cori Bush was not moved. 'He is a prop,' Bush, who is also black, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. 'Despite being Black, he supports a policy agenda intent on upholding and perpetuating white supremacy. His name being in the mix is not progressits pathetic.' President Joe Biden said Wednesday he hoped to see 'peace and security' if he visits the southern border next week, as he plans to make a speech on migration Thursday from the White House. Biden was asked Wednesday on the South Lawn what he hoped to see if he made a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, his first as president. 'Peace and security,' he first answered. Before saying, 'No, I'm going to see what is going on. I'm going to be making a speech tomorrow on border security and you'll hear more about it tomorrow.' Earlier, as he departed Kentucky and Ohio, he confirmed he was preparing to make a trip. 'That's my intention, we're working out the details now,' Biden told reporters. His comment followed a report in the Wall Street Journal that he was 'strongly considering' a trip there. President Joe Biden said Wednesday he hoped to see 'peace and security' if he visits the southern border next week, as he plans to make a speech on migration Thursday from the White House Earlier he told reporters as he departed Kentucky and Ohio that it was his 'intention' to make a border trip next week, as he's already due in Mexico for the 'Three Amigos' summit Biden fielded questions throughout his first two years in office about why had not done a border visit. His comment came a day after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said 'misinformation' about immigration could help human smugglers. It is a politically treacherous move. Vice President Kamala Harris took hits when she told migrants on a trip to Guatemala 'do not come' to the U.S. Then she contended with blowback when she called the border 'secure' last year as migrant arrests passed 2 million. The Trump-era Title 42 authority, used to return migrants citing the COVID pandemic, was set to expire before Christmas, then got extended after Chief Justice John Roberts issued a stay of a lower court ruling. The Supreme Court ruled after Christmas that the authority will be kept in place indefinitely, with the case set to be argued next month. President Joe Biden and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Puerval eat part of their orders as they visit Just Q'in BBQ in Cincinnati, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Biden commented on the border as he made a trip to view the Brent Spence Bridge with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Big river: Biden appeared with Democrats and Republicans in Covington, Kentucky. A border trip would meet one demand of his GOP critics. Here he appears on stage with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, former Ohio Senator Rob Portman, Ohio Senator Sherod Brown, and Senator Mitch McConnell Biden's trip comes after thousands of people have been crossing the border daily amid confusion over Title 42 Vice President Kamala Harris walks with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and former Spokesperson Symone Sanders on her trip to the border in 2021 So far Biden's only itinerary is to visit Mexico City, where he will meet President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian President Justin Trudeau at the re-started 'three amigos' summit. Immigration is certain to be on the agenda, with thousands of migrants crossing the southern border each day. By going to the border, Biden is making a concession to critics, and will be expecting hits. The RNC has been asking for months when Biden last visited the border. In late November, Jean-Pierre said Biden had been to the border, although Fox News reported he hadn't been there as president or during two terms as vice president but had driven through El Paso in 2008. Authorities have released footage of the first time suspected quadruple murderer Bryan Kohberger was pulled over for driving too close to the van in front. The Hancock County Sheriffs Department confirmed Kohberger was pulled over by a deputy at around 10:41 a.m. on December 15. Police bodycam footage captured the moment an officer approached the 28-year-old in his sedan on December 15 on the I-70 just outside Indianapolis. He and his father Michael told the officer there had been a 'mass shooting' at his university before his dad added that a 'SWAT team' descended on the campus. Michael then described the shooting as horrifying, just days before his son was arrested by another SWAT team that swooped on their home. Kohberger and his father Michael told the officer there had been a 'mass shooting' at his university before his dad added that a 'SWAT team' descended on the campus Kohberger was again in the driver's seat next to his father, Michael, during the stop and then handed over his license. Michael was quick to tell officers where they have traveled from, explaining that they left Washington State University to head home to Pennsylvania. Kohberger himself speaks calmly to officers explaining that they have been driving for hours after a SWAT team descended on WSU. The incident, which was linked to a shooting on campus, was strangely brought up by Kohberger after the officer asked where they had come from. Kohberger was pulled over twice within nine minutes while driving along I-70 in December. On both occasions, he was given a verbal warning, with Kohberger and his father both appearing more concerned on the second occasion they were pulled over. Bryan Kohberger's extradition has begun, with sources confirming that he left Monroe County Correctional Facility at 6am on Wednesday Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger was pulled over by Indiana State Police on December 15 - but cops didn't have information that he was a suspect in the student murders Idaho cops first appealed for information on a white Hyundai Elantra on December 7 - a week before the Indiana traffic stop. Kohberger was eventually arrested on December 30 at his parents' house in Pennsylvania over the massacre of four University of Idaho students on November 13. The footage was released hours after Kohberger started his extradition process back to Idaho after leaving Pennsylvania at around 6am this morning. Kohberger left the Monroe County Correctional Facility after waiving his right to extradition in a hearing on Tuesday. He is expected to be brought to the Latah County Jail in Moscow, which is less than two miles from where the brutal slayings took place on November 13. Criminal justice graduate Kohberger mouthed I love you to his mother while in the courtroom, with his sister comforting her as she cried throughout the hearing. Kohberger appeared in court on Tuesday and waived extradition during a brief court hearing 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 The suspect's father, Michael Kohberger, is shown arriving at the courthouse in a summer hat to obscure his face Warden Garry Haidle confirmed that Kohberger is no longer in his custody, adding that he is being moved by Pennsylvania State Police. It is understood that Kohberger will be transported via plane back to Idaho, possibly arriving later today. A judge in Idaho has issued a gagging order on Moscow Police and legal teams in relation to the case, barring anyone linked to the case from talking about it. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said: Once he gets here, hell have an initial appearance with our magistrate. Theyll deal with issues such as making sure competent counsel is representing him, and the case will be scheduled for hearings. Chief Public Defender of Kootenai County Ann Taylor will be representing Kohberger Idaho, however a five-strong team of investigators hired by his defense team were sent to the home where the quadruple slaying took place. Kohberger signed his own extradition waiver in court in Pennsylvania on Tuesday He was arrested after being tracked by the FBI for four days near his parents home in Pennsylvania, with authorities narrowing down the suspect from genetic genealogy It is unusual for defense attorneys paid by the state to create a reconstruction of the crime scene. Once Kohberger arrives in Idaho the state law will allow the court to unseal the probable cause affidavit something which the victim's families have been keen to see. He will need to appear in court before that can happen, on four counts of murder and one of felony burglary. Kohberger was arrested Friday in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Michael Mancuso, Monroe County 1st Assistant District Attorney, yesterday confirmed that they believed Kohberger is so desperate to return to Idaho to find out the contents of the affidavit. Monroe County Sheriff Deputies escort Bryan Kohberger into the courthouse on Tuesday morning On Friday, the criminal justice graduate student was arrested in connection with the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20 Three men and two women arrived at the property on King Road in Moscow at around noon on Tuesday The PhD student was arrested at his parents' house, with victims' families are eagerly awaiting Kohberger's extradition, and for the probable cause affidavit to become public. Investigators started tracking Kohberger's movements across the US, with witnesses claiming that they saw both him and his father getting repairs done to a white Hyundai Elantra on December 16. Police then impounded the vehicle from outside his parents' home when they swooped on the property in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County. 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, but those who knew Kohberger say he had a deep interest in the psychology of criminals. The final picture of a mother and her son posing while holding their ticket for a doomed helicopter flight has emerged. Vanessa Tadros, 36, and her 10-year-old son Nicholas had beaming smiles in the picture which was taken as they waited to board their flight over the Gold Coast skyline on Monday afternoon. But just seconds into the flight, their helicopter collided with another chopper. Ms Tadros was among four people who died in the crash. Ten-year-old Nicholas is still fighting for life in hospital. Vanessa Tadros and 10-year-old son Nicholas before riding the helicopter. Nine News Credit: NCA NewsWire The helicopter crash killed four people including the pilot Ash Jenkinson. NCA Newswire/ Scott Powick Credit: NCA NewsWire The image of the pair is the final happy memory heartbroken husband and father Simon Tadros has of them. He watched on in horror from the ground as the collision unfolded. In a post to social media on Tuesday night, he thanked the Australian community for their support and asked for their prayers. 'I do ask that if everyone can please say a prayer for Nicky, so he can wake up and make a good recovery,' he wrote on Facebook. 'He is in an induced coma on a life support machine to help him breathe. 'He is in a very serious and critical state. I'm asking for all your prayers to bring my little man back to me.' His post comes as harrowing footage emerged from inside the cockpit of the other helicopter involved in the Sea World crash, showing the brutal impact of the crash. In the video a passenger can be seen trying to alert the pilot moments before the horrifying collision. A passenger on the helicopter that landed without casualties took the chilling video during the joy flight. Investigations are underway to discern what caused the fatal crash. Credit: News Corp Australia, NewsWire / David Clark Authorities have said they want to know what happened inside the cockpits. Credit: News Corp Australia, NewsWire / David Clark The hand of one of the passengers can be seen tapping the pilot's chair, with the video paused just before impact. Pilot Ash Jenkinson, British newlyweds Ron and Dianne Hughes and Sydney mum Vanessa Tadros lost their lives after the two helicopters collided on the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon. One of the passengers can be seen trying to alert the pilot. 7 News Credit: Channel 7 They appear to be pointing at the other helicopter. 7 News Credit: Channel 7 Winnie de Silva and son Leon were among the three sole survivors of the helicopter that plummeted the ground after the collision. The Geelong West mum has woken up in Gold Coast University Hospital overnight and described the terrifying moments after the crash as pilot Ash Jenkinson desperately tried to save their lives. 'I heard a huge bang and the only thing I could feel was the shaking of the helicopter,' she told the Herald Sun. 'I could see the pilot pressing all these buttons, stressed out - he didn't know what to do. Leon is in a stable condition at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane. A step-by-step run through of how the crash that killed four is understood to have unfolded Winnie De Silva has woken in hospital on the Gold Coast. Picture: GoFundMe page It comes as one of the first people on the scene after the horrific Sea World helicopter crash has spoken out about the efforts to save the victims. Ron Drevlak and his wife were walking their dog on the Gold Coast when the horror happened just above their heads on Monday. 'The noise and the thud of it hitting the ground, I cannot get it out of my head,' Mr Drevlak told 7 News. He and others immediately rushed to help those trapped inside the wreckage of the helicopter and was met with a horrific scene. British couple Diane and Ron Hughes were killed in the crash. Picture: Supplied. Mr Drevlak first saw Ron Hughes, who had been visiting the Gold Coast with his new wife Diane when they decided to board the helicopter. 'The first person I saw was Ron, we cut the seat belt we pulled him out and pulled him away but he was very pale,' he recounted. The couple were among the four killed in the crash. His attention then turned to two other victims from the same helicopter, Winnie and Leon de Silva. 'That's when I heard Winnie, she was just screaming,' Mr Drevlak said. 'I said, 'look don't worry, help is on the way, it's only water we're just trying to dilute the fuel'.' Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been criticized for the city's rampant crime problem The shooting is the latest incident for the city which saw 695 murders in 2022 No suspects have been arrested or identified at this time, police said Video shows three men jump out of a car and begin shooting at the men's car Two men were shot, one fatally, early Tuesday morning in Chicago Chicago Police are investigating after video shows the horrifying moment three armed suspects jumped out of a vehicle and began firing at another vehicle. One man has died and another was injured in the possible 'gang hit' incident which took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 3. Shocking video posted online of the shooting shows the unidentified and still at large male suspects approaching the car and opening fire on the two victims. The shooting comes as the Midwest Dem-run city, managed by Mayor Lori Lighfoot, continues to experience a rampant crime wave with more than 695 murders and more than 2,800 shootings in 2022. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (left) alongside Vice President Kamala Harris (right). Lightfoot's city saw more than 690 murders in all of 2022 The video of the January 3 shooting shows two small vehicles at the CitGo gas near West 63rd Street and Racine Avenue just after 2.30am. Police said the victims, two unidentified men, were sitting in their car when three men got out of a gray Hyundai sedan and fired shots. Chicago Police detectives confirmed with DailyMail.com that one of the two victims was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center with wounds to the chest. The man, who was 45 years old, was later pronounced dead from his injuries. A 35-year-old man who was in the car at the time of the shooting was also transported to the hospital. That victim sustained gunshot injuries to his right leg and is in fair condition. Video of the incident shows the second victim narrowly running away from a stream of bullets fired at him in the parking lot. One man has died and another was injured in the potential 'gang hit' incident which took place in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 3 The incident happened at this CitGo gas station in the 1100 block of West 63rd Street The shooting, which is potentially gang related, happened just after 2.30am DailyMail.com reached out to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office for the identification of the deceased. 'Next of kin has not been notified at this time,' an official with the agency said in a statement sent Wednesday. At this time, police have no suspects and no one in custody. It's unclear whether the shooting was random or targeted. Area One detectives are investigating the matter. At this time, police have no suspects and no one is custody It's unclear whether the shooting was random or targeted The shooting is just the latest in a string of violent crimes sweeping the city, run by Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot The shooting is just the latest in a string of violent crimes sweeping the city, run by Lightfoot. Just hours after the shooting took place, Lightfoot sparked outrage for sharing an article covering the dip in homicides Chicago saw in 2022. 'We have more work to do, but through police training and accountability with strategic community investments, we're seeing steady improvements in public safety efforts,' Lightfoot tweeted. Constituents were not having it, however, filling her replies with references to recent crimes, including the Tuesday morning gas station shooting. We have more work to do, but through police training and accountability with strategic community investments, we're seeing steady improvements in public safety efforts. https://t.co/QAWy0wwYDA Lori Lightfoot (@LoriLightfoot) January 3, 2023 'Yeah, Chicago looks awesome,' one person said, attaching the video of the shooting. 'You have failed. Public safety has never been worse,' responded another person. 'I saw an improvement in my overall safety as soon as I left the city,' said another. 'There used to be safe neighborhood in Chicago before you became Mayor now no neighborhood is safe,' wrote another person. Just hours after the shooting took place, Lightfoot sparked outrage for sharing an article covering the dip in homicides Chicago saw in 2022 The city saw a decrease in shootings and murders, which one local law enforcement official said makes little difference in how residents feel. 'I dont think that those numbers are going to say anything other than yeah, its a little bit lower than it was last year, but are you safe? Do you feel safe? And the answer to that is unequivocally no,' said former federal prosecutor Duane Deskins. Overall crime was up a staggering 41 percent from 2021. 'Economic vitality of this city is tied to safety. If people dont feel safe, theyre not going to restaurants. If people dont feel safe, theyre not going to establish businesses,' Deskins said. 'You have to reduce the violence significantly this is not significant and then prevent it from coming back,' the former prosecutor said. Chicago residents have reported feeling increasingly unsafe in recent years In 2021, there were more than 800 murders in a single year There were also more than 3,550 shootings in 2021, which equals out to 9.73 shootings per day In 2021, the Chicago Police Department laid out plans to improve community relations, including town halls to address residents' concerns. The ideas, Deskins told WGN-TV, only go so far, however. The former prosecutor said he believes policy changes are the way to make the residents feel safer and respected. 'We should be thinking about a long-term strategy to bring us all together businesses, cops, courts, nonprofits to try and think about a comprehensive solution to reduce the violence in this city and not simply a week-to-week, holiday-to-holiday type [of] strategy,' Deskins said. The city saw a decrease in shootings and murders, which one local law enforcement official said makes little difference in how residents feel 'I dont think that those numbers are going to say anything other than yeah, its a little bit lower than it was last year, but are you safe? Do you feel safe? And the answer to that is unequivocally no,' said former federal prosecutor Duane Deskins 'You have to reduce the violence significantly this is not significant and then prevent it from coming back,' the former prosecutor said Lightfoot, a once major proponent of defunding the police, has come under fire by those on the left and right over her funding of the Chicago police force. The mayor proposed a $64 million increase to the Chicago Police Department, including the addition of 35 new officers, in 2022, which a sparked backlash from her left-wing followers. Voters who endorsed the Democrat called her to move a stark 180-degree change and labeled the move 'refund the police.' In 2021, Lightfoot raised the Chicago Police Department's budget from $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion. Lightfoot is up for re-election as mayor on February 28. Despite the influx of cash, the city continues to see high crime rates, especially in comparison to other U.S. cities. In 2021, Lightfoot raised the Chicago Police Department's budget from $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion Lightfoot is up for re-election as mayor on February 28 While murders and shootings were down, overall crimes were up 41 percent in 2022 In late December, DailyMail.com reported that young men in Chicago's worst neighborhoods are more likely to be shot and killed than those who fought on the bloodiest front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq. A study published by Brandon del Pozo, a former New York City cop, and Brown University scholar, found that gun deaths in Chicago and Philadelphia's most crime-ridden neighborhoods are worse Del Pozo's study examined data from 2020 and 2021 in four major US cities, focusing on shootings involving nearly 130,000 men aged between 18 and 29. 'Working as a police officer, I witnessed the toll of gun violence, and how disruptive it was for families and communities,' del Pozo said. 'It stood out to me that the burden was not distributed evenly by geography or demographic. Some communities felt the brunt of gun violence much more acutely than others.' Researchers examined data from 2020 and 2021 in four major US cities, focusing on shootings involving nearly 130,000 men aged between 18 and 29 Black and Hispanic men accounted for 96 percent of those shot and killed, and 97 percent of those injured in a shooting, according to the data. 'We often hear opposing claims about gun violence that fall along partisan lines: One is that big cities are war zones that require a severe crackdown on crime, and the other is that our fears about homicides are greatly exaggerated and don't require drastic action,' del Pozo said. 'We wanted to use data to explore these claims and it turns out both are wrong. While most city residents are relatively safe from gun violence, the risks are more severe than war for some demographics.' By Marty Natalegawa The world has concluded a difficult year that has shaken the global community to its core. Concerns over the use of nuclear weapons and increasing proliferation challenges underscore the need to focus on realistic and practical steps to reduce nuclear risks in 2023 and beyond. Despite the seemingly daunting challenges, the outlook is far from hopeless, and the time to act is now. In 2022, the world experienced a litany of challenges to long-established consensus views and practices designed to limit and eventually eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons. Risks to non-proliferation were dealt a blow as talks between Iran and major powers aimed at limiting Tehran's development of a nuclear program stalled. The world had long ago decided that there will be no further nuclear weapons tests, and yet is anxiously awaiting whether North Korea will conduct its seventh test, once again thumbing its nose at the international community and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Organization. The year's most severe challenge to the global nuclear order arose when Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion shredded the negative assurance guarantee to Ukraine the promise that Russia wouldn't threaten its neighbor in exchange for Kyiv handing over its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal in its possession. Moscow's subsequent threats of nuclear retaliation against any state or military alliance that may intervene in the war increased the potential for further escalation and a disastrous conflict between several nuclear weapon states and a nuclear alliance. After a long delay, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference finally took place this past summer only to end in failure and disappointment as divisions made sharper by Russia's actions in Ukraine, particularly control of and military actions in and around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, made it all but impossible to reach a consensus. We briefly saw hope for renewed negotiations on extending the New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia, but that hope is under threat as the first round of talks is postponed. Yet despite their differences, the NPT nuclear weapon states were able to once again come to an agreement at the Review Conference that a nuclear war between them is unwinnable and must never be fought. Their joint statement to this effect serves as a public reminder of the contradictions inherent in nuclear deterrence. If nuclear weapons can never be used, why must they exist? If a nuclear war can never be fought, why are countries racing to expand and modernize their nuclear arsenals? If these states are unwilling to part with their own nuclear weapons, how are we to convince others to do the same, such as North Korea? In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, how are we to convince other states that they must never acquire nuclear weapons of their own? Risks of nuclear proliferation and a further weakening of the disarmament commitments enshrined in the NPT are increasing daily in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Republic of Korea, opinion polling now purportedly shows that a majority of the South Korean public now supports the idea of Seoul building a domestic nuclear weapons capability of its own to face the rising threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea. During the Cold War, the U.S. and its NATO allies established nuclear sharing to deter the Soviet Union; today, some Japanese and South Koreans feel a nuclear weapons-sharing arrangement is necessary to deter threats they perceive from North Korea and a rising China as Beijing moves rapidly to expand the number and range of its nuclear weapons. Risks are increasing, but so are opportunities for countries as well as organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament to play a constructive role in holding nuclear threats at bay. Last year, APLN issued proposals that, if implemented, could reinvigorate efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in our region and throughout the world. Our work at encouraging a more frank and open dialogue between the U.S. and China stands a chance of reducing tensions and building trust between these new rivals, confidence-building that would forego the need for any potential NATO-style nuclear sharing arrangements in our region. We're encouraging a constructive tension-reducing security dialogue between southern Asia's three nuclear weapons-armed states: China, India and Pakistan. Track 2 and track 1.5 talks between these three powers and between China and the U.S. may eventually culminate in official track 1 diplomatic discussion if we persist. Renewed efforts need to be made to increase momentum for the entry into force of the CTBT and the accession of the nuclear weapons states to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. Meanwhile, Russia has backtracked somewhat from its nuclear threats, avoiding further escalation and affording us a window of opportunity to reestablish the norm against threatening other states with nuclear attacks. And at the end of the last year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida established and hosted the first meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons whose mission is to build momentum for discussions on the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons ahead of the 2023 Group of 7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima. Five APLN members were appointed to this esteemed group. The year 2022 saw several serious setbacks in our mission to realize a world free from nuclear weapons, but there's no cause for despair. We all must press forward to strengthen the nuclear taboo and see that 2023 becomes the year when we put the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament agendas back on track. Dr. Marty Natalegawa is the chair of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN). He is a former foreign minister and ambassador of Indonesia. This article is published in cooperation with APLN (www.apln.network). A wearable headband claims to help users go to sleep 56 per cent quicker by monitoring their brain activity in bed. The 405 Frenz Brainband invented by a former Oxford professor - is able to work out what sounds make wearer's drowsy. A study of 1,000 people by the firm Earable found it helped people suffering from sleep problems doze off 19 minutes faster on average. Sensors within the device track the users brain signals, eye motion, and facial movements to work out how they react to certain sounds. The 405 Frenz Brainband invented by a former Oxford professor - is able to work out what sounds make wearer's drowsy The headband has a vast library of content clinically proven to help people fall asleep, such as cognitive behavioral therapies and soothing noises. Whichever the user responds to best to are then played through bone-induction speakers just behind the ear, meaning it is still possible to wear earplugs. Research by the firm on over ten thousand hours of users sleep found the device helped them doze off on average 56 per cent faster. The headband, which is worn throughout the night, also wakes the user up at the optimal time of their lightest sleep cycle within a selected time frame. The device available now for pre-order ready to ship this Spring won a prestigious innovation award at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. The headband has a vast library of content clinically proven to help people fall asleep, such as cognitive behavioral therapies and soothing noises It is based on nearly a decades worth of research by the firms founder Tam Vu, who left his job as associate professor at Oxford University early last year after to work full time on the project after receiving 10m in funding. Mr Vu told the Daily Mail the device is currently focused on helping users get to sleep but in the future could have far wider capabilities in fully unlocking the brains potential. This could include wearing it in the office, with the headband working out what sounds help you focus better and get you in the right flow. He also suggested It could also be worn by children in schools, to work out what sort of teaching each individual responds best to. He said: Our vision is to make daily advantages of neuroscience accessible to everyone, everywhere through improved sleep quality, enhanced cognitive functions, and unlocked brain power. The device should provide the best sleep quality during the night so that the users can deeply recover and enhance their body and brain capacity and performance during the day. By combining real-time precise tracking and instant personalized stimulation, FRENZ holds the keys to unleash human potential. It is unclear whether or not Padilla is the resident in the vulgar clip, but she has been outspoken in local media asking people to behave if they visit The Albuquerque, New Mexico, home is owned by Frances Padilla and her family, who allowed the show to film there and said they had a great time doing it One of the owners of the New Mexico house prominently featured in Breaking Bad was filmed slinging racist slurs at a car of tourists driving by. A clip posted to TikTok showed a man and woman cruising by the house and greeting a white-haired woman standing in the driveway, who responded by yelling 'Get out, you Mexican trash!' The couple in the car said they weren't Mexican, then honked their horn and kept driving. The white-haired woman could then be heard responding 'Oh yeah, blow your horn like an a**hole.' It is not the first time the owners of the Walter White's home have got into altercations with Breaking Bad fans, as a litany of clips online show them shouting abuse at visitors and telling them to move on. A woman who lives at the house used as Walter White's home in Breaking Bad called visitors passing by 'Mexican trash' in a video which surfaced online The home is owned by Frances Padilla, whose family has lived there for at least forty years. Padilla agreed to let Breaking Bad film there in 2008, an experience which she told KOAT was 'six years of fun with the nicest people she has ever met.' The fun ended, however, when tourists began showing up in droves to pay homage to the House of Heisenberg, with the more brazen among them waltzing up onto the property, attempting to scale fences into the back yard, and attempting to or succeeding in reenacting the show scene where Walter White tosses a large pepperoni pizza onto the garage roof. 'Most people are respectful, and we appreciate that. It's the jerks that ruin it for everybody,' she said in 2016. The home is owned by Frances Padilla, whose family has lived there for at least forty years. It is unclear if she was the woman in the latest video A scene from Breaking Bad where Walter White hurls a pizza onto the garage of the Albuquerque home's garage Padilla has since put a fence in to keep trespassers out, installed security cameras to catch those who make it in, and lines the street in front of her house with cones to keep people from parking there. The house is even blurred out on Google Street View. She told Time magazine in 2013 that she sometimes saw up to 200 visitors passing by the house per day. The problem has grown so bad that Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan even issued a statement asking fans to leave Padilla alone. 'There is nothing original, or funny, or cool, about throwing a pizza on this lady's roof,' he said in a Better Call Saul podcast. 'She is the sweetest lady in the world, and if you are getting on her nerves you are doing something seriously f**king wrong.' One of the residents of the Albuquerque home who has frequently been seen berating tourists in videos online Clips from two videos showing the owner of the Walter White house yelling at visitors passing by It is unclear whether or not Padilla is the home resident in the 'Mexican trash' video, but it seems she and her fellow homeowners are finally at their wits end. Scores of videos across TikTok and Instagram show residents at the house getting into verbal altercations with visitors on the street, and tossing them rude hand gestures as they pass by. In one clip, a home resident can be heard repeating 'get the h**l out of here' to a man posing in front of the house on the street. 'It's the old people are a pain in the ass,' she says, then repeats 'just get the h**l out, you're rude,' as the man talks back to her. US President Joe Biden will on Friday mark the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, delivering remarks at the White House set to once again condemn an act of democratic vandalism. He'd just better not ask the American people what they think. A YouGov poll released on Wednesday found that instead of becoming less popular these past two years, the number of US adults who approve of the Capitol attack has risen markedly. The shift in attitudes comes despite months of congressional investigations into former president Donald Trump's role in sparking the deadly siege, and as US Capitol Police ready for any potential rerun of the violence this week. 'While most Americans disapprove of the January 6 Capitol takeover, the share who approve has increased significantly since the event first took place,' YouGov said in a statement. A YouGov poll released on Wednesday found that instead of becoming less popular these past two years, the number of US adults who approve of the Capitol attack has grown markedly Poll Do you approve or disapprove of the Trump supporters taking over the Capitol building on January 6, 2021? Approve Disapprove Do you approve or disapprove of the Trump supporters taking over the Capitol building on January 6, 2021? Approve 203 votes Disapprove 128 votes Now share your opinion 'Two years ago, just 9 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat approved of the takeover; now, 20 percent say they do.' Perhaps even more startling is who has changed their mind. The share of Republican voters who now support the riot has grown from 16 percent in the days after the attack to 32 percent this week, according to the survey of 1,500 adults. But the shift among Democrats has been even more pronounced. Just 3 percent of them approved of the attack when it happened but that has risen fivefold to 16 percent this week. The survey comes ahead of the second anniversary of the attack, when then-President Trump violently breached the Capitol as lawmakers and Trump's vice president, Mike Pence, were set to certify his loss in the 2020 presidential election to Biden, a Democrat. It followed a speech in which Trump falsely claimed the election had been stolen. The assault left five people dead and more than 140 police officers injured. On Monday, US Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said his officers were prepared for any possible future attacks, warning of the 'polarized state of our nation'. The 'current threat climate, particularly against elected officials, will require continued and heightened vigilance,' added Manger. A bipartisan House panel investigating the attack said last month that Trump should face criminal charges for his role in sparking the deadly siege. Two years ago, just 9 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat approved of the attack on the US Capitol; now, 20 percent say they do, YouGov says US President Joe Biden will on Friday mark the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol In releasing its final cache of documents on Monday, the panel cited security concerns as Congress changes hands, sending some records to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to review and return to the National Archives About 900 people have been charged so far with taking part in the riot, including about 470 guilty pleas, according to a tally released last month by the Department of Justice, which is conducting its own investigation into the attack. While attitudes to the insurrection have shifted over time, attitudes towards Trump's role in the attack have held steady. At the time, 64 percent of people said he bore at least a little responsibility. Now, 66 percent hold Trump at least in part responsible. Again, opinion is shifting fastest among Democrats. Just after the attack, 76 percent said Trump bore a lot of responsibility; now, just 69 percent do, according to YouGov. Biden has slammed the riot as a threat to democracy and the rule of law, but he rarely discusses his predecessor by name publicly and has framed his presidency around uniting and healing a divided nation. Soon to enter his third year in office, Biden says he intends to seek another four-year term, but has yet to formally his candidacy. Trump, who never conceded defeat in the 2020 election, has already announced his bid to secure his party's nomination again in 2024. Glitter was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexual crimes against a young girl Paedophile pop star Gary Glitter allegedly believes a 'psycho' could attack him if he is moved to an open prison. The 78-year-old, who could be released as early as February, is reportedly at HMP The Verne on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on a vulnerable person wing. Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, could have been recategorised and transferred 12 months ago, according to The Mirror. 'He's a coward. He doesn't want to move because he knows that there'll be a target on his back,' a source told the newspaper. Paedophile pop star Gary Glitter allegedly believes a 'psycho' could attack him if he is moved to an open prison Glitter (pictured in 1974), whose real name is Paul Gadd, could have been recategorised and transferred 12 months ago 'He feels safe where he is because it's a prison for sex offenders. But if he moved he honestly believes some psycho could get to him.' A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Recategorisation decisions are taken by governors based on thorough risk assessments. We do not comment on individual prisoners.' Glitter was jailed for 16 years for attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecent assault in 2015. However, a report claimed he will be released from prison after serving just half of his 16-year sentence. Sources in the Ministry of Justice reportedly said that the 'nature of his determinate sentence means the case won't go to the Parole Board.' 'It simply means that as soon as his sentence is over, he is free to walk out of the prison gates,' the source told The Sun. They said that Glitter had 'kept his nose clean in prison' so his sentence will be nearly over. An offender who is convicted of a sexual offence is released on a strict licence. The terms of the licence can include staying in an approved premise, obeying a curfew and having GPS tagging, not having unsupervised contact with children and restrictions on internet usage. Victims' families can also be protected from unwanted contact through exclusion zones being set up. If offenders breach the conditions, the Probation Service can recall them to prison. Glitter found fame in the 1970s as part of the glam rock scene, scoring number one hits with I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am), I Love You Love Me Love and Always Yours. The 78-year-old, who could be released as early as February, is reportedly at HMP The Verne (pictured) on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on a vulnerable person wing In 2002, he was expelled from Cambodia over unspecified allegations, and in March 2006 he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Vietnam He suffered a spectacular fall from grace in 1999 when he admitted possessing child pornography images, and was sentenced to four months in jail. In 2002, he was expelled from Cambodia over unspecified allegations and, in March 2006, he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Vietnam. Glitter was able to travel to Cambodia due to gaps in the legal system an Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has found. Shamed rockstar Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, admitted possessing child pornography images and was sentenced to four months in 1999. But he was still able to travel to Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. In 2002, he was expelled from Cambodia over unspecified allegations, and in March 2006 he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Vietnam. Glitter was later found guilty of abuse relating to a girl aged 12, one of 13, and another aged under 10, committed when he was at the height of his fame in the 1970s and 1980s. Glitter found fame in the 1970s as part of the glam rock scene, scoring number one hits with I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am), I Love You Love Me Love and Always Yours He was jailed for 16 years in 2015. His lawyers lodged papers at the Court of Appeal following his conviction for abusing a string of girls as young as eight. Sentencing Glitter after his trial, Judge Alistair McCreath said: 'I have read the victim impact statements of all three victims. It is clear, in their different ways, they were all profoundly affected by your abuse of them. 'You did all of them real and lasting damage and you did so for no other reason than to obtain sexual gratification for yourself of a wholly improper kind.' During his trial, Glitter broke down in tears after he tried to explain to jurors why he had been apprehended with images of child sexual abuse. He tried to blame his offending on financial troubles as well as abusing alcohol and drugs. He claimed: 'I lost my own dignity, and I am so sorry. I am very sorry. 'I am sorry today and every day of my life ever since. I am sorry to my fans.' Glitter was jailed for 16 years for attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecent assault in 2015 However, a report claimed he will be released from prison after serving just half of his 16-year sentence In November 1997, when Glitter went to pick up a Toshiba laptop he had given for servicing at a Bristol PC World, he was arrested, Southwark Crown Court in London heard. The engineer who examined the machine had discovered images on it related to child sexual abuse. Glitter subsequently admitted responsibility for a 'large number' of images - depicting a full range of sexual activity taking place between men and very young children - being on his computer. He complained on the stand that he had invested 200,000 into his career and was facing growing legal fees as the number of allegations against him increased. He told jurors: 'I was drinking heavily, I was doing drugs, and the other thing of course is that I had to find this money to pay for the legal costs and studio, and I was asked by my management to seriously do the one thing which was absolutely terrible - which was to sell my songs. 'To sell my songs to Universal Pictures, and I regret it. 'I was just in a bad place. I went to prison, I came out. I was remorseful and I am remorseful. I am so sorry. It changed my life forever. I lost my honour, I lost my family.' Glitter added that he was just in the most 'awful, awful place'. Dos Santos and Nunes admitted to swallowing the cocaine but did not say who the shipment belonged to They were in communication with their families from December 13 to December 18 before they cut off communication A couple that was once reported missing by their family members in Brazil is now stuck behind bars in Lebanon on drug smuggling charges. Igor dos Santos, 26, and Juliana Nunes, 31, were taken into custody at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport on December 19 after they tried to enter the country each carrying half a kilo of cocaine in their stomachs. Dos Santos and Nunes left from Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil, aboard a Qatar Airways flight that connected in Doha, Qatar. The pair admitted to Lebanese authorities that they had swallowed the cocaine, but didn't say who the shipment belonged to. Juliana Nunes (left) and her husband, Igor dos Santos (right), are being held in a Lebanese jail for smuggling half a kilo of cocaine in their stomachs. The Brazilian couple had told their families that they were going to go shopping, leaving their home in Rio Grande do Sul on December 13 and arriving in Sao Paulo the next day It's unknown if they had ingested the cocaine before boarding the flight in Brazil or when they arrived in Qatar. Dos Santos and Nunes were married in February 2022 according to Brazilian news outlet G1. Their families became concerned when they traveled from Carazinho, Rio Grande do Sul to Sao Paulo to go shopping on December 13. They arrived in Sao Paulo on December 14 and kept in contact until December 18, when they ceased communications with their loved ones. Juliana Nunes (left) and Igor dos Santos (right) have been married for two years. They kept in communication until December 18 before cutting off all means of contact. They were arrested in Beirut on December 19 Police report filed by the family of Igor dos Santos, who reported him and his wife missing before they discovered the couple was sitting in a Lebanese jail on drug smuggling charges Igor dos Santos was busted with half a kilo of cocaine in his stomach at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport on December 19 Their family reported them missing December 28 and learned the next day of their legal troubles in Lebanon. Dos Santos' mother, Claudete dos Santos, blamed Nunes for cutting off all lines of communication and said that her son was not used to making long distance trips. 'He is not a criminal,' she told RBS TV. 'I swear by all that is most sacred that my son is not a criminal, he is not a criminal.' A Pennsylvania cop who helped bring the Idaho quadruple murder suspect from his court appearance Tuesday has caught the eye of several social media users - and soon received pronounced praise not for his heroics, but for his good looks. The Monroe County officer, identified as 32-year-old Deputy James Nunez, who was one of several officers pictured ushering suspected murderer Bryan Kohberger out of Monroe County Courthouse. The scheduled appearance saw Kohberger, who lives in Washington near Idaho State but was visiting family in the Poconos for the holidays, begin his extradition process back to Idaho. However, it also saw Nunez - a hulking man with a chiseled jaw line and toned physique - enjoy some newfound celebrity for his devilishly good looks. Many were quick to point out some of the officers' arresting attributes on social media, with some of the posts proving more graphic than others. Deputy James Nunez was one of several officers pictured ushering suspected murderer Bryan Kohberger out of court Tuesday Many were quick to point out some of the officers' arresting attributes on social media, with some of the posts proving more graphic than others 'Seen enough of BK for now,' one user wrote, referring to the suspect, a 28-year-old PhD candidate at Idaho University accused of killing students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20. 'Let's just look at these pictures for a while to brighten the feed,' the woman wrote, before thanking the law enforcement official for his service. 'Hello officer,' another coy comment from one captivated onlooker read, with the user adding several emojis to indicate the well-proportioned policeman had caught her eye. 'I suddenly feel like committing a felony,' someone else added. Nunez, a former corrections officer who hails from the Poconos, has been with the force for more than three years, and before that worked as a Monroe corrections officer Another user gushed: 'Def noticed all that glory before I noticed bk.' One post read: 'I noticed him the moment I saw the video clip on the news.' A more senior suitor added: 'Old lady here but hot dam.' Many shared memes to capture their feelings for the officer, while others stuck to the written word. Within days of the deputy's TV debut, dozens of women remarked that they had seemingly come to a consensus that, even with the news surrounding Kohberger's capture and alleged crimes, Nunez had 'broken the internet' Within days of the deputy's TV debut, dozens of women remarked that they had seemingly come to a consensus that, even with the news surrounding Kohberger's capture and alleged crimes, Nunez had 'broken the internet.' Nunez, a former corrections officer who hails from the Poconos, has been with the force for more than three years, and before that worked as a Monroe corrections officer. Even as Kohberger's court case looms after his sensational capture earlier in the week, users asked aloud whether or not the deputy - who was pictured escorting the suspect Tuesday - is single. Many shared memes to express their feelings for the cop, while others stuck to the written word That said, while it was a Monroe County officer who garnered the storm of attention, it was a discovery from deputy from the Hancock County Sheriff's during a traffic stop in Indiana that led to Kohberger's capture at his family's home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. The arrest came after a more than monthlong investigation into the murders, which had garnered national attention due to its mysterious nature. Roughly two weeks before his arrest, Kohberger was stopped over by the deputy at around 10:41 a.m. on December 15, with the officers' bodycam footage capturing the moment he approached the 28-year-old and his father Michael in his sedan on December 15 on the I-70 just outside Indianapolis. Kohberger and his father Michael told the officer there had been a 'mass shooting' at his university before his dad added that a 'SWAT team' descended on the campus Idaho cops - who for weeks were seemingly confounded by the murders - first appealed for information on a white Hyundai Elantra on December 7, about a week before the Indiana traffic stop. Kohberger was eventually arrested on December 30 at his parents' house in Pennsylvania over the massacre of four University of Idaho students on November 13. The footage was released hours after Kohberger started his extradition process back to Idaho after leaving Pennsylvania at around 6am this morning. Kohberger left the Monroe County Correctional Facility after waiving his right to extradition in a hearing on Tuesday. He is expected to be brought to the Latah County Jail in Moscow, which is less than two miles from where the brutal slayings took place. Kohberger appeared in court on Tuesday and waived extradition during a brief court hearing. Nunez is seen in the background 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 If youre sitting in an office, surrounded by empty desks and dusty computer screens, this may come as little surprise to you. Working in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has become the new normal, a report revealed yesterday. Bosses are still struggling after the pandemic to get staff back in five days a week, with many employees working from home on Mondays and Fridays. Analysts looked at mobile phone data on more than 500 high streets between 2019 and 2022. Working in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has become the new normal, a report revealed yesterday They found increased activity in suburban areas and small towns, which was linked to the trend for working from home. The data confirms what inner city retailers, restaurant and bar owners have been feeling, having hoped things would return to normal once the pandemic was over. Mark Allan, chief executive of property firm LandSec, backed up the data, saying that Tuesday to Thursday was busy again in the City of London. However activity on Mondays dropped to just 50 per cent of that level and Fridays were almost as quiet as weekends. Were not going back to how things were pre-Covid, said Mr Allan. The data confirms what inner city retailers, restaurant and bar owners have been feeling, having hoped things would return to normal once the pandemic was over. Glasgow Central Station is seen above yesterday during the train strikes Working in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has become the new normal, a report revealed yesterday. Empty train tracks are seen above in London yesterday amid the train strikes We certainly believe there are going to be fewer people in offices for the longer term and we are planning accordingly. Real estate firm CBRE said empty office space in London has more than doubled over the past three years. CBREs head of research, David Inskip, suggested a basic office set-up might put off staff, adding: It has to be a high quality built environment that draws you in. Placemake.io and Visitor Insightss data suggested that smaller towns and suburbs have gained from city centre losses, as high street footfall has increased. In Kirkby, Merseyside, footfall has increased by 60 per cent over three years, aided by a new supermarket in the town centre. PlaceMake.io founder Chlump Chatkupt said: The places that have thrived have a more balanced, diverse mix of office, residential and retail. People could also be treated at home 'virtual wards' in a bid to slash waiting lists The Prime Minister has said more NHS patients could be sent to private hospitals More NHS patients will be sent to private hospitals and new surgical hubs or treated at home in 'virtual wards' under Rishi Sunak's plan to slash waiting lists. The Prime Minister today identified cutting record waiting times as one of five key pledges voters should judge him on at the next general election. He ruled out cancelling planned non-emergency surgery to ease the pressure on hospitals this winter, saying that a similar policy during Covid was 'the reason we've got a huge waiting list now'. Instead he detailed a string of changes designed to free up hospital beds and reduce demand. Rishi Sunak smiles as he arrives to deliver a speech on his 'five promises' on the NHS on Wednesday Ambulance workers hold placards as hey picket outside London Ambulance Service headquarters during a strike on December 21 Latest figures show that more than 7.2million patients are currently waiting for treatment. The PM admitted Britons 'aren't receiving the care they deserve' despite 'record sums' being pumped into the NHS. He stressed: 'We need to recognise that something has to change.' He ruled out major 'structural change' before the election and vowed that the principle that the NHS should be free at the point of use would never be altered. But he said he was 'comfortable' with the NHS making more use of private hospitals 'if that's what it takes to get patients quicker and better care'. Patients will also be given 'as much choice as possible', including options to travel to a hospital further away for faster treatment. And the PM said he would 'no longer expect' huge variations in performance between health trusts. Sources said poorly-performing trusts would be required to match the most efficient ones. Mr Sunak said his immediate focus would be on tackling delays in discharging patients from hospitals to free up beds. This would be achieved by putting more money into social care. He insisted: 'The biggest problem that we have is there are at the moment around 13,000 in hospital beds who should ideally be back in their communities or in social care. And that's what's making our hospitals full.' But he said that a combination of the private sector and 300 new 'surgical hubs' and diagnostic centres could start tackling the huge backlog of routine operations. He added: 'One of our initiatives to stop [backlogs] happening again is to create what are called elective surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres where people can get all the scans and the tests they need and indeed the routine electives like hip replacement and cataracts away from the acute part of the hospital. 'Because if you do that, what you do is really increase our ability to treat people because you don't have doctors constantly disrupted by doing routine appointments and then having to rush to deal with an emergency.' Ambulances sit idle outside the Accident & Emergency department of Leicester Royal Infirmary Rishi Sunak made the announcements in his first major domestic speech of 2023 at Plexal in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, east London (pictured) Mr Sunak also outlined ideas to reduce demand on hospital services, including allowing pharmacists to operate 'more flexibly'. And he said medical developments meant that some people who would previously have been admitted with respiratory problems or after suffering a fall could now be treated at home in 'virtual wards'. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents the healthcare system, warned the plans would not be enough to fix 'the toughest winter we have faced'. He claimed that money to tackle delayed discharges of patients from hospitals this winter had arrived 'too late', and warned it would be needed much earlier to prevent a repeat of the crisis next winter. He said resolving the nurse and ambulance strikes in the NHS was critical to cutting waiting times and warned that a better pay offer would be needed. Mr Taylor said of the PM: 'He is willing the ends, but not the means.' But a senior Tory MP yesterday urged Mr Sunak to resist calls to increase NHS spending. Steve Brine, chairman of the Commons Health Select Committee, said the service 'has never had more public money than it has right now' as he questioned how critics expected to fund extra spending. He said Britain is a 'sick patient that is calling for help more often' and measures must be taken to improve the health of the nation and reduce demand on NHS services. He told Times Radio: 'We spend 152billion in England on the NHS every year. 'What should we spend 300billion? 352billion? 'And then you come down to the point of 'Well, how are you going to pay for that? Are the public prepared to pay for that?' He added: 'If you put this much money into a system that delivers this poor an outcome, then you have to continue to be honest about the problems and they are structural, and they are about our ill health as a nation. 'If we don't prevent ill health in this country better than we are then the NHS in itself is not sustainable. And that's a terrifying situation.' The amount spent on health and social care is forecast to hit 168billion this year almost two-fifths higher in real terms than when the Tories came to power. UK spending on health lags behind many of its peers. As a proportion of gross domestic product, it was the second lowest in the G7 group of rich nations in 2019 less than the US, Germany and France. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has denied ordering the culling of a wolf suspected of killing her pet horse. Dolly, a pony belonging to Mrs von der Leyen, was savaged at her home in rural Lower Saxony, northwest Germany, on September 1. The European Commision president, a keen equestrian, said her family were 'horribly distressed'. DNA evidence identified the culprit as a wolf linked to 12 other killings. Officials had previously issued a bounty for it to be shot but the wolf was never caught. Dolly, a pony belonging to Ursula von der Leyen (pictured together), was savaged at her home in rural Lower Saxony, northwest Germany, on September 1 DNA evidence identified the culprit as a wolf linked to 12 other killings (stock image) Shortly after Dolly's death, Mrs von der Leyen ordered EU officials to carry out analysis into the dangers posed by wolves. In November, she wrote to members of her German People's Party saying: 'The Commission recognises that the return of the wolf and its growing numbers lead to conflict.' That same month, centre-Right members of the European Parliament secured a resolution calling for laws protecting wolves to be eased. However, the European Commision has denied the proposed change was driven by a desire from Mrs von der Leyen for revenge. Agricultural groups and politicians in Germany had previously called for rules to be relaxed over all forms of catching and killing wolves, although environmental campaigners accuse Mrs von der Leyen of stoking a culture war over the wolf. They said it was good that 'after being on the brink of extinction, large carnivores have been making a remarkable comeback to Europe's landscapes'. But Pekka Pesonen, secretary general of agricultural group Copa-Cogeca, claimed wolf attacks are forcing farmers to quit. President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine was being considered to help the that country fight Russia's invasion. 'Yes,' Biden said when asked if the option was on the table. The armored vehicle with a powerful gun has been used as a staple by the U.S. Army to carry troops around battlefields since the mid-1980s. The Army has thousands of Bradleys, which could give the Ukrainians more firepower on the battlefield. President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine was being considered to help the that country fight Russia's invasion when talking to reporters as he left the Cincinnati area A 2006 photo shows soldiers sitting on a turret of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle in front of a Patriot missile system. Biden said Wednesday he was open to sending the aging Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine Biden's move, however, is short of sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which the Ukrainians have been requesting. It was not clear how many Bradleys are destined for Ukraine, but the United States is preparing another weapons aid package which could be announced in the coming days. Late last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Congress that the tens of billions of dollars of aid it had approved to help it combat a Russian invasion was not charity, but an investment in global security. The United States has sent about $21.3 billion in security assistance to Kyiv as Europe's biggest land conflict since 1945 grinds on, killing tens of thousands. The United States has increasingly sent more capable weapons to Ukraine. Initially, Raytheon Technologies Corp-made shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as well as Javelin anti-tank missiles, were used to beat back the Russian advance. Javelins are made by a Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon joint venture. As the war progressed and Ukraine's needs changed, more complex weapons systems, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems were shipped to Kiyv. Most recently, the United States pledged to send a Patriot missile system to repel Russian missile and drone attacks. Training and other logistics still need to be worked out. The Army is working to retire its Bradley fleet, and is working with industry to build a replacement as it seeks to modernize. Biden confirmed sending Bradleys to Ukraine was on the table as he answered questions from reporters on the tarmac after spending time in both Kentucky and Ohio Wednesday. The trip was to highlight a bridge renovation project - connecting Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio - made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law. Biden had Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell ride along with him to the speech site. On the tarmac of the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, Biden told reporters Ukraine was the main topic of conversation with the top Senate Republican. 'We talked about foreign policy, about Ukraine, about keeping everybody together - not in the Congress, but just internationally,' Biden said. Rep. Kevin McCarthy - who is still trying to get his caucus in line to become House speaker - has suggested House Republicans won't be as keen to throw tax dollars at the war in Ukraine as when Congress was under complete Democratic leadership. Bigger budget needed to improve access for disabled It is a citizen's right to use public transportation. Every Seoulite should be able to use the Seoul subway. On Monday, however, Seoul Metro and the police joined forces to block the disabled from taking the subway. It was unprecedented that citizens were denied access to the subway. Stressing the need to "move on schedule" and putting forth a "zero-tolerance" principle, Mayor Oh Se-hoon kept a group of disability rights activists from staging a subway-riding protest during the morning rush hour. It was a pathetic excuse. Punctuality cannot come ahead of human rights. Since late 2021, the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) has been staging subway-riding protests at major transfer stations in central Seoul. Most commuters did not complain, calling or texting their bosses to say they would be late due to SADD. Of course, some complainants were taking issue with the group's "method of demonstrating that harms others." For instance, a young woman told demonstrators, "You live off our taxes. Still, you made me 20 minutes late for work." She should have known the protesters have struggled to secure their mobility rights for more than 20 years. A middle-aged man was more direct, saying, "Are you proud of being disabled?" Such cruel reactions even forced other disabled groups to call for SADD to stop its campaigns. However, no right is earned for nothing. In 2016, a wheelchair user tried to ride an express bus. The bus company told him to put the wheelchair in the luggage department and go up the stairs. It prompted several such people to protest the infringement on their mobility rights. Finally, someone filed a lawsuit against the bus operator. The company lost, paying about 3 billion won ($2.3 million) to 2,100 wheelchair users. Who filed the lawsuit? No, it was not some disabled group but the Ministry of Justice. Another anecdote shows how disabled Americans earned their mobility right in a fight against Greyhound after they first stopped the bus in the 1980s. The U.S. Department of Justice stepped in because the company violated a federal law, the American Disabilities Act, implemented in 1991. Likewise, physically challenged people in the U.K. blocked bus operations in London with wheelchairs. In the 1970s, their Japanese counterparts occupied buses, roads and public bathrooms, saying they rejected the "civilization of the non-disabled." Korea has a similar law the Disability Discrimination Act legislated in 2007. However, the justice ministry has never filed a suit against anyone for violating it. A dispute usually ends with a recommendation by the state human rights agency and a court order for mediation. The government is very passive in resolving discrimination against disabled people compared to advanced countries. A Seoul court intervened in the Seoul subway case, suggesting allowing five minutes for SADD. The group accepted it, promising to pay a 5 million won fine if it exceeded the time. The mayor rejected it. "It is preposterous to delay the metro's operation by five minutes," he said. "One-minute's delay is unthinkable." The politician from the conservative governing party then mobilized 600 riot police to block the tube-riding protest, jamming the narrow subway station and risking injuring commuters and protestors. We can't help but wonder where all those riot police were when at least 158 youngsters died in a crowd crush disaster in Itaewon in October. The right to move is the right to work and live. Commuters should direct their complaints about being late to the Seoul mayor or the finance ministry, which reflected only 0.8 percent of the requested spending by SADD in the 2023 budget. A society's dignity is determined by how it treats its most vulnerable people. A good government does not divide its citizens into the disabled and non-disabled, but helps everyone to understand and respect each other. President Yoon Suk-yeol should tell his budgeters to allocate the entire amount. He must figure out why the group is holding protests at Samgakji Station, near where his office is located. At the Coronation of George VI in 1937, one man in the packed pews at Westminster Abbey was seen with his head bowed and his lips moving constantly throughout the ceremony. The foreign royals, aristocrats and politicians around him assumed he must be praying. He was not. He was Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, a son of the richest family on the planet, and also a celebrated journalist. Hidden in his waistcoat was a pocket radio transmitter and his whispered commentary was being picked up by a receiver in a trailer parked outside the Abbey and beamed across the Atlantic to millions of U.S. listeners. It was a completely unauthorised broadcast and a phenomenal scoop. Writer Robert Graves gleefully noted the story in his history of the interwar era, The Long Week-End Cornelius (known as Neily) had been able to wangle a seat in the Abbey because his parents, Cornelius III and Grace, were friends of the Royal Family. At one of their famous parties held at Claridges in 1921, Grace had introduced Lord Louis Mountbatten to his future wife, Edwina Ashley, the richest heiress in England. Forget Prince Harry's latest broadside, the real royal scandal is the raunchy family history of his US interviewer, Anderson Cooper (pictured with the Duke above), writes Christopher Stevens Cooper's great-aunt Thelma had an affair with the future King Edward VIII (pictured together in 1932) What was less well-known to the public - and a fact not shared with his American audience on that momentous Coronation Day - was that the secret commentator was also a relative of the socialite Thelma Furness, a former mistress of the previous Prince of Wales, Georges brother Edward VIII. Now, nearly a century later, another journalist from the Vanderbilt clan has landed a royal scoop that threatens seismic repercussions. Step forward, Anderson Cooper, the 55-year-old CNN anchor, whose interview with Prince Harry will be aired to a global audience this Sunday on 60 Minutes, the venerable current affairs show on the American channel CBS. The interview, billed as revealing and explosive, is the main event in a publicity drive for Harrys ghost-written memoir, Spare. And so a scion of the Vanderbilt family is continuing in the family tradition. Anderson Coopers great-grandfather, Cornelius II, was the grandfather of Neily Vanderbilt. That makes the two journalists first cousins once removed, in a clan whose colossal fortune was built on the steamboat and railroad industries, but whose history is so littered with scandal, plots, betrayals, court cases and royal liaisons that it more than gives the Windsors a run for their money. Little wonder that, when he published a family memoir in 2021, Cooper described it as The Crown on steroids. The most dramatic and vicious Vanderbilt feud was fought over Anderson Coopers mother, Gloria. She became an artist and fashion designer famous for her husbands, lovers and high society connections. But as a child of ten, she had been at the centre of a court battle dubbed the custody trial of the century. Gloria was the daughter of Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (Neilys uncle), who inherited a vast fortune and squandered it all. A gambler, alcoholic, playboy and drug addict, Reginald once declared that it was impossible to inherit great wealth and be happy. An unearned fortune, he said, was as corrosive to ambition as cocaine was to personal morals. Divorced from his first wife in 1920, he began taking an interest in his daughter Cathleens teenage friends. One of them was Gloria Mercedes Morgan, aged just 15 when he met her. Reginald proposed and three years later they were married. On the night before their engagement party, he threw a lavish costume ball, with Gloria appearing as Marie Antoinette. Yet Reginalds mother, Alice, was suspicious of the teenagers virtue. She insisted that before any wedding could take place, the girl must be examined by the Vanderbilt physician to prove she was virgo intacta. Gloria was 19 when their daughter confusingly also named Gloria was born in 1924. Eighteen months later, Reggie died from cirrhosis of the liver. In his death throes, with his mother beside him, he haemorrhaged blood so violently that his young wife was not allowed to see his body. Reginald Vanderbilt died in debt, owing a colossal sum in taxes and unpaid bills, including one for $9,000 to the jeweller Tiffanys (about 130,000 today). Lady Thelma Furness (pictured here in 1925) introduced Prince Edward to his future wife, Wallis Simpson The widowed Gloria was left penniless . . . with the exception of a $2.5 million trust fund (175 million today) for their baby daughter. The trust supplied the young widow with a monthly allowance, worth about 50,000 now, to cover her expenses, including servants wages. Baby Gloria, notes Cooper in his family memoir, was now the piggy bank for her entire household, and she couldnt even talk. Her widowed mother Gloria had a twin sister, Thelma. Leaving the baby with a nanny in New York, the two women embarked on a liner for Europe to try their luck in its aristocratic scene. And how Europe adored them! They became known as The Magnificent Morgans, and may have been the inspiration for Anita Looss 1925 novel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, about two American girls who cut a dazzling swathe through Paris and London society (Marilyn Monroe later starred in the movie). Gloria became briefly engaged to Gottfried, a German prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who proved to be rather less wealthy than hed appeared at first sight. Another of her close friends was Nadejda Mikhailovna de Torby Mountbatten, wife of the Marquis of Milford Haven and daughter of a Russian Grand Duke known to all her friends as Nada. Thelma, meanwhile, married Marmaduke, Viscount Furness - and, the day after their wedding in June 1926, she was introduced to Edward, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII). High society on both sides of the Atlantic was shamelessly promiscuous. Shortly after giving birth to a son, Thelma made a bet with her husband that he wouldnt be able to persuade the vaudeville performer Peggy Hopkins to dance with him at a party. It was a rash bet. Peggy once boasted that shed sleep with anyone who bought her diamonds (by the end of her life, she reckoned shed been through 50 fiances, although only six made it to the altar). Soon after he claiming his dance, Marmaduke became her latest conquest, and his marriage broke up. Thelma took revenge by turning to the heir to the British throne and fell in love. The feeling was mutual - for a time at least - and Thelma and the Prince began spending romantic weekends together at Fort Belvedere in Windsor Great Park. But, once again, she was to ruin her own love life with a hopelessly naive mistake. This time, she introduced the future king to one of her girlfriends. Her name? Wallis Simpson. Edward quickly became besotted and, in 1936, just months after ascending to the throne, gave up his crown for the woman I love. Thelma never recovered from the betrayal. When she died of a heart attack in 1970, aged 65, a tiny teddy bear was found in her handbag. A gift from the Prince of Wales, she had stroked and clutched it so much through her life that all the fur had rubbed off. Thelma and her twin sister Gloria (pictured together) were members of American high society Thelma (pictured) married Marmaduke, Viscount Furness - and, the day after their wedding in June 1926, she was introduced to Edward, the Prince of Wales Her sister Glorias party lifestyle ran aground in the early 1930s. When her daughter fell ill with tonsillitis, rather than staying at her bedside, she left the child to recover with a Vanderbilt aunt, Gertrude Whitney and sailed back to Europe. Gertrude was disgusted and paid detectives to investigate how the little girls trust fund was being spent and discovered it was largely on parties and love affairs for the mother. And so she sued for custody of the child, declaring Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt to be an unfit parent. The details laid bare at the trial in autumn 1934, in New Yorks Supreme Court, made worldwide headlines. Gloria, now 30, was charged with maternal neglect. The court heard how she and her German lover, Prince Gottfried, used to lounge in bed, drinking cocktails and reading pornographic magazines. To the scandalised public, the idea of the couple lazing all day in silk pyjamas was as decadent as the porn photographs said to feature nuns, flagellation and naked men with womens tongues. One doctor told the court that the child was suffering hysterical fits and that her health could be in danger if she was forced to return to her mother. This testimony, wrote one court reporter, was a blistering tale no skin lotion could soothe. But the evidence that caused the greatest sensation came from a maid, a Frenchwoman named Maria Caillot, who was asked whether she had ever seen anything improper. Yes, she replied, I remember one thing . . . Mrs Vanderbilt was in bed . . . and there was Lady Milford Haven [Glorias great friend Nada] beside the bed with her arm around Mrs Vanderbilts neck kissing her, just like a lover. This revelation, that Nada and Gloria were lesbian lovers, caused such an uproar the judge had to clear the court and ban reporters and the public the following day. Buckingham Palace was also rocked. Rumours about Nada and her sister-in-law, Edwina now married to Lord Louis Mountbatten had swirled for years. The two women revelled in each others company, travelled together and were said to be enthusiastic participants in naked, moonlit swims. The Supreme Court awarded custody of ten-year-old Gloria to her aunt Gertrude, with weekend visits allowed to her mother, who also received an annual allowance of $21,000 (about 390,000 today). The young Gloria grew up to have no less lurid a life. Like her mother, she married before she was 18, to a Hollywood producer and part-time mobster called Pat DiCicco. That ended in divorce after he beat her by slamming her head against a wall. She had two sons with her second husband, conductor Leopold Stokowski, before divorcing him in 1955 and marrying director Sidney Lumet. By this time, she had cut off her mothers allowance, remarking that Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt had earned a living by working in the past and could do it again. Over the years, gossip columnists linked the younger Gloria with lovers including Roald Dahl, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Howard Hughes. Her fourth husband was author Wyatt Emory Cooper, to whom she was married until his death in 1978. He was the father of her second two sons Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, who killed himself aged 23, and Anderson Cooper, the news anchor who has landed the interview with Prince Harry. Gloria Vanderbilt died in 2019, aged 95. She was the last of the Vanderbilt dynasty to be born in the era of limousines with liveried chauffeurs and to be guarded by private detectives, wrote her son Anderson Cooper and the last to be born before the Depression, when the Vanderbilt riches seemed as limitless and eternal as the stars in the sky. 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 But he will say that it cannot be done with a 'big government cheque book again' The Labour leader is expected to promise 'a decade of national renewal' Keir Starmer will give a keynote speech setting out his vision for UK on Thursday Sir Keir Starmer will tomorrow vow to ditch Labour's traditional 'tax and spend' approach. In a keynote speech, he will promise 'a decade of national renewal' but say it can't be done by getting a 'big government cheque book out again'. The Labour leader will acknowledge the need for investment, but will add: 'I can see the damage the Tories have done to our public services as plainly as anyone. But we won't be able to spend our way out of their mess it's not as easy as that. 'There is no substitute for a robust private sector, creating wealth in every community.' Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) will vow to ditch Labour's traditional 'tax and spend' approach in a keynote speech Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi (pictured) branded Kier Starmer's speech a 'desperate relaunch attempt' But Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi said of the speech, details of which were released on Wednesday night: 'This is yet another desperate relaunch attempt by Keir Starmer his tenth since he became Labour leader. 'Every week he changes his position depending on what he thinks is popular from supporting free movement to supporting the unions, he'll say anything if the politics suits him. 'He should stop giving cliche-laden speeches, and instead finally unveil a plan for people's priorities. 'He's got nothing to say on how to cut crime, get immigration down, and reduce borrowing that's what the nation wants to see.' It comes amid a split among Sir Keir's frontbenchers after one refused to endorse a 'reform or die' call to the NHS made by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting. He said he could not understand why the British Medical Association union was 'hostile' to the idea that with more staff must come better standards. And he said that 'we cannot continue pouring money into a 20th-century model of care that delivers late diagnoses and more expensive treatment'. But Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour's mental health spokesman, refused to back the approach three times in an interview on Wednesday. Asked if she agreed with Mr Streeting, she would only say that she stood by the commitment to increase staff numbers. It comes amid a split among Sir Keir's frontbenchers after one refused to endorse a 'reform or die' call to the NHS made by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) Sir Keir will give his speech in east London on Thursday in an attempt to rival Rishi Sunak's first major address as PM yesterday. He will pledge to deliver the 'economy and the politics Britain deserves' and end the era of 'sticking plaster politics' with 'a new way of governing' that will help build a fairer, greener, more dynamic Britain. He will say: 'I believe in our country, I believe in our businesses, I believe in our people, I believe in our spirit, in the ambition they have for themselves...' Police investigating the shooting death of a Briton in Jamaica on Monday say that his murder was a contract killing. Sean Patterson, 33, a personal trainer from West London, was visiting the Caribbean island on a short stay when he was chased by a gunman and shot several times. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey said: 'Our investigation so far has theorised that the murder was a contract killing that emanated from Britain. There is no evidence that Patterson was robbed or has any connection in Jamaica. The commissioner went on to say that the Londoner was well known to British police: 'From credible information received Sean Patterson was well known to the UK authorities and has an extensive criminal record for a number of criminal offences which includes narcotics violence and firearms.' Lesley Wright said her youngest son Sean Patterson, 33, had only been in the country for two days when he was murdered The personal trainer was standing by the pool of the guesthouse where he was staying, pictured, in Jamaica when witnesses heard 'loud explosions' Patterson is pictured in younger days Local police say Patterson was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head at around midday on Monday. Jamaica Constabulary Force says its Montego Bay officers received reports that the British national was standing by a pool at the villa when witnesses heard 'loud explosions'. According to a published report in Jamaica, Mr. Patterson was then shot multiple times after a short chase. He was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead. A 34-year-old man from Kingston, Jamaica, has been now taken into custody in connection with the incident, according to local media. Reports in Jamaica claimed the suspect had been deported from the UK in 2013 for drug offences. Meanwhile, Patterson's heartbroken mother today told how her son had travelled to the Caribbean island for the first time to meet family. Lesley Wright said her youngest son Patterson had only been in the country for two days when he was murdered. He lived with his fiancee in Hounslow, west London, and the couple were planning on marrying later this year. Local police say Patterson (pictured) was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head at around midday on Monday Sean's mother said: 'He'd been having the time of his life. He'd never been [to Jamaica] before but sent me a photo of himself basking in the sunshine and a video of himself leaping off a cliff into the sea (pictured)' Speaking to MailOnline at her home in Shepherds Bush, west London, Mrs Wright, 63, said: 'I've lost my baby. No mother should have to bury her child. 'He'd gone to Jamaica with my godson and one of my best friends and had only been there for two days. 'He'd been having the time of his life. He'd never been before but sent me a photo of himself basking in the sunshine and a video of himself leaping off a cliff into the sea. 'Sean has family in Jamaica through his father. They are very well-to-do over there and he'd hoped to meet them. He never got the chance.' Mrs Wright added: 'The local police have told me that Sean was at a big party over New Year and was sitting by a pool talking to friends. 'Someone pulled at his arm and he shrugged the person off but about four gunshots were fired immediately afterwards and Sean was hit in the upper body. Mr Patterson, from west London, was taken to hospital but could not be saved. This image shows the view from the guesthouse where he was shot 'I don't know any other details but he wouldn't quarrel with anyone, he just wasn't the argumentative type. 'I'm absolutely broken, I'll never be the same again. 'He has four sisters and three brothers and he was the youngest. He was born premature and for a while it was touch and go as to whether he would survive. 'But he grew up to be the loveliest, sweetest boy and the kindest, most happy-go-lucky man. 'He worked as a personal trainer and had been with his girlfriend for about 13 or 14 years. They'd got engaged about five years ago and were hoping to marry later this year. 'They lived in Hounslow and had a dog. His fiancee is in bits, devastated. As the whole family are. Speaking to local media, the father of Sean Patterson said his son was killed days after arriving in the Caribbean outside a guest house in St James 'People say that Jamaica is a paradise but there is a lot of violence there, so many guns and so much poverty. 'We hope for justice and that my son's killer is taken off the street where they can't hurt anyone else and destroy another family. 'Sean was a diamond who shone bright and when he shone, he lit up everyone's life.' Speaking to local media, Patterson's father, Alan, said his son was 'starting to live his life and find himself' in Jamaica. 'I'm trying to process this. I'm Jamaican parentage, I've been to Jamaica, all the family has been to Jamaica,' Alan Patterson said. 'We need justice, we want justice, he deserves justice because he was somebody.' A family source told MailOnline that a man being held on suspicion of Sean's murder had previously lived in London but was deported back to Jamaica. The source said: 'Sean had been friends with the man when he lived in the UK and had sent him money, trainers and clothing when he was sent back to Jamaica. 'What he has got to do with it we just don't know yet but he's in custody in Jamaica and is apparently involved somehow.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed they are currently 'supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities'. A missing nine-year-old boy with autism has been rescued shivering and exhausted from the Maribyrnong River more than two hours after he vanished. He had disappeared from the suburb of Braybrook in Melbourne's west at about 5.30pm on January 2. He was spotted by a member of the public struggling in the river two hours later. He was plucked from the water 'exhausted and unable to walk' a short time later by First Constable Jesse Kozak, who said if he hadn't been noticed by a nearby resident 'the consequences would have been tragic'. First Constable Jesse Kozak carried the boy about 1.5km from the river to Peerless Ct, Avondale Heights. Picture: Victoria Police The Maribyrnong River runs along Melbourne's north and western suburbs to Port Phillip Bay. 'The child was not only struggling in the water, we soon realised he was also struggling to communicate and was unable to shout for help,' he said. 'He was shivering in the water and when we managed to rescue him, he was exhausted and unable to walk. 'We were shocked when we realised he was reported missing in Braybrook and had managed to travel down the river to Avondale Heights.' The boy was rescued near Peerless Ct in Avondale Heights about two and a half kilometres from where he was last seen. He was carried about 1.5km uphill to waiting paramedics. First Constable Kozak said he wanted to thank the person who alerted police to the struggling boy. Officials also claimed that their technical labelling was 'invalid' and 'improper' Ministers have accused a firm linked to Michelle Mone of supplying defective gowns that could have compromised patient safety had they been used during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was reported tonight. Health officials paid PPE Medpro 122 million for 25 million sterile surgical gowns under a contract agreed in June 2020. This was after Baroness Mone approached ministers offering to supply PPE. But the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has alleged that the gowns were rejected because they were not sterile, their technical labelling was 'invalid' and 'improper' and they 'cannot be used within the NHS for any purpose', The Guardian reported. Ministers have accused a firm linked to Michelle Mone of supplying defective gowns that could have compromised patient safety had they been used during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was reported last night (Pictured: Ms Mone with her husband Doug Barrowman) The department's allegations are in court documents which have been served on PPE Medpro as part of legal action launched by the Government last month to recover its money, the newspaper reported. The DHSC is sseeking the full 122 million in public money and a further 11.6 million for storing and disposing of the gowns, plus interest. 'The gowns... were not designed, manufactured or packaged in such a way that they would be suitable for use as sterile gowns,' the claim alleges. It adds: 'The gowns were not manufactured in such a way that if used as sterile gowns in the NHS, they would not compromise the clinical safety of patients.' It will pile pressure on the peer, nicknamed Baroness Bra after making her fortune in the lingerie trade, over her apparent involvement in PPE Medpro. It comes after it was reported that a secret offshore trust which had Baroness Mone and her children as its beneficiaries received 29 million originating from the profits of PPE Medpro. The funds were allegedly ultimately transferred into the Isle of Man trust by her husband Douglas Barrowman, who according to leaked documents was paid at least 65million in profits from PPE Medpro. Baroness Mone has previously denied that she had any involvement in the company, despite telling Michael Gove in May 2020 she could to supply PPE through 'my team in Hong Kong'. Baroness Mone's office and lawyers were contacted for comment. A High Court battle has broken out over the estate of the late Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath - a man who was as famed for keeping mistresses as 'wifelets' as his love of the arts. During the course of a 51-year marriage to his Hungarian-British wife, actress Anna Gael, Lord Bath enjoyed the favours of 74 lovers or wifelets'. He immortalised his entanglements with them in a series of murals which he prominently displayed at Longleat House, the family seat and safari park in Wiltshire. But his relentless pursuit of pleasure meant that he bequeathed not just a 23 million personal estate but also a legal and emotional quagmire, as made plain by the High Court claim. Amanda Doyle, one of the lovers or 'wifelets' of the late Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, is suing his estate after she was left out of her lover's will upon his death aged 87 in 2020 Lord Bath (pictured with Ms Doyle in 2005) was as famed for his colourful private life and keeping 'wifelets' as he was for love of the arts It has been brought against Alexander Baths trustees by Amanda Doyle, a former music producer estimated to have been wifelet 69. Doyle insists that she was entirely financially dependent on the Loins of Longleat, as Bath was popularly known, for 21 years a period which, she says, ended only with his death, aged 87, in April 2020 after contracting coronavirus. Like all her fellow wifelets, Doyle went unmentioned in Baths will, in which he left everything to Anna, their daughter Lenka and son Ceawlin, now the 8th Marquess. The late 7th Marquess of Bath pictured outside Longleat House, Wiltshire, in 1997 Lord Bath and Amanda Doyle are pictured in London in 2002 together. She was one of his wifelets The current Marquess is married to Strictly star Emma Weymouth. Bath's widow Anna died in September last year. Doyle says she first encountered Bath at a Tommy Hilfiger launch party in the late 1990s, and is now seeking such reasonable financial provision as the court thinks fit. She went to live in a cottage on the 10,000-acre Longleat estate in 2004 and will hope that The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 will aid her case. It states that those who were financially dependent on the deceased can, in certain circumstances, claim for financial provision. Shortly after Baths death, Doyle insisted that she mattered more to the lusty aristocrat than any other wifelet. Im the one who had the long relationship, the emotional relationship, the sexual relationship, she said. We were twin souls, two peas in a pod. He was my life. Only a few of the 7th Marquess's wifelets remained at the Longleat site at the time of his death, including Trudie Juggernauth-Sharma and Amanda Doyle. Researchers were inspired by how a leaf uses sunlight and CO2 to make energy Small circular device extracts vapour in the air and turns it into hydrogen gas A small circular device inspired by a leaf can extract water from air to produce a clean energy source, a new study shows. The 'transparent porous conductive substrate' (TPCS) is a small circle of compressed glass fibre, coated with a thin layer that absorbs light. When the device is exposed to sunlight, it takes water from the air and produces hydrogen gas, which could potentially be used as fuel. The hydrogen gas could be extracted and stored in large facilities and used when needed, such as for powering cars or heating homes, researchers say. Researchers have created 'novel gas diffusion electrodes' that can turn water vapour in its gas state from the air into hydrogen fuel Hydrogen: A clean energy source Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind. These qualities make it an attractive fuel option for transportation and electricity generation applications. There are already cars that run on hydrogen fuel cells. It's also a lightweight fuel option for road, air and shipping transportation. Source: energy.gov Advertisement The research has been conducted by chemical engineers at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. 'To realise a sustainable society, we need ways to store renewable energy as chemicals that can be used as fuels and feedstocks in industry,' said study author Professor Kevin Sivula at EPFL. 'Solar energy is the most abundant form of renewable energy, and we are striving to develop economically-competitive ways to produce solar fuels. The team were inspired by 'how a leaf works', namely photosynthesis - the process by which plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar. Scientists have already performed 'artificial photosynthesis' by generating hydrogen fuel using sunlight and liquid water using a device called a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. But Professor Sivula wanted to show that the PEC technology can be adapted for harvesting water vapour from the air, instead of from liquid water, which could lead to more use cases, such as in humid environments. To make their TPCS, they started with a type of glass wool, an insulating material made from glass fibre that has a similar texture to textile wool. The glass wool was processed in a commercial kitchen blender and compressed into circular felt 'wafers' by fusing the fibres together at high temperature. Next, each wafer was coated with a transparent thin film of tin oxide, an inorganic compound known for its excellent conductivity. They ensured the coating was porous in order to increase its surface area and maximise contact with water in the air. Pictured is the 'transparent porous conductive substrate' (TPCS) with and without the coating that absorbs light Professor Kevin Sivula at EPFL is pictured holding the small chamber and one of his 'transparent porous conductive substrates' What are PEC cells? Photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) are devices that use light to stimulate a photosensitive material, like a semiconductor, immersed in liquid solution to cause a chemical reaction. PEC cells offer a promising method of hydrogen production driven directly by solar energy. The discovery that PECs can convert solar energy into useful fuels or electricity dates back to the early 1970s. Advertisement The wafer was then coated again with a chemical compound called copper(i) thiocyanate, a sunlight-absorbing semiconductor material. This second thin coating still lets light through, even though it appears opaque. 'The semiconductor absorbs the light, so it appears dark,' Professor Sivula told MailOnline. 'Importantly, we do not want light absorption by the electrode without the semiconductor coating as this would mean that it cannot absorb very much light.' The scientists went on to build a small chamber containing the coated wafer, intended to collect the hydrogen. Researchers say the system works in humid environments where there is a high amount of water vapour in the surrounding air. This could make it ideal for installation in high humidity countries such as India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Potentially, large facilities containing the system could operate in remote areas in these countries, giving cars a supply of hydrogen fuel, for example. The scientists also built a small chamber containing the coated wafer, as well as a membrane for separating the produced hydrogen gas for measurement Image from the team's paper. C) and D) show scanning electron micrographs of the transparent porous conductive substrate's morphology 'In a future implementation of this technology, hydrogen collection would be needed,' said Professor Sivula. 'However, the chamber could be as simple as a plastic bag or sleeve that would contain the produced gases.' The team's study, published today in the journal Advanced Materials, marks 'only a first stage' in rolling out this technology. 'The overall solar to hydrogen efficiency is still quite low, but our invention of the TPCS now opens the door to advance this technology further,' Professor Sivula said. The researcher said TPCS is currently at a low 'technology readiness level', so 10 years or more would be needed to realise a practical device, he estimated. At the moment there is no precise information on how much a rollout would cost, although Professor Sivula said the device uses inexpensive materials and processing techniques. If you enjoyed this article... Start-up plans to drill a 12-mile hole to tap geothermal energy Terminator-style robot can survive being cut with a knife Airbus' hydrogen powered fuel cell could power zero emissions travel The device is set to be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show this week Qbear is said to determine that sound in 10 seconds and with 95% accuracy It comes with a companion app that shows parents what their baby needs Qbear is an AI-powered device that analyzes a baby's cry to determine if they are hungry, tired, need comfort or have a dirty diaper A new artificial intelligent-powered device is helping to answer the million-dollar question for new parents - why is my baby crying? Qbear is a circular, silicone-covered device with software that analyzes cries to determine if the baby is hungry, tired, needs comfort or has a dirty diaper - and it does so in just 10 seconds with 95 percent accuracy. Parents receive notifications about their child's noises through a companion app, which also displays updates on their baby's comfort level and room temperature. Qbear is currently showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, showcasing the latest products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry. Qbear sits on the side of a crib, bassinet or stroller and activates when it hears the baby crying and 'tells' parents what their child needs via a companion app Qbear has three available placement options: tabletop, wall hanging and crib stand. The technology was developed using an 18-layer deep learning architecture and processed GPU pre-training mode through more than 10,000 rows of crying data from babies. And the AI can perform a pain and discomfort analysis to keep track of a baby's physiological condition at any time. The device is also programmed to automatically play a lullaby and patented womb-simulating noise while turning on the carefully designed sleep aid light when it detects the baby is 'tired.' Hikari TSAI, CEO of Quantum Music, the company that makes Qbear, said in a statement: 'Parents, especially first-time parents have a difficult time juggling career demands and family life. 'We invented Qbear to assist parents in understanding their babies and consequently providing more support to both parent and child.' The device comes with a companion app and other readings that display why your baby is crying. The app is also compatible with Alexa, suitable to use in modern households. While the AI is trained on baby cries, it also learns the unique sounds of the user's child to produce even more accurate results. However, Quantum Music notes that there are times when a baby is crying that do not align with one of the four detected by the AI. Other features within the system monitor the room's humidity and indoor temperature. Qbear is a circular, silicone-covered device with software trained to recognize different cries to determine if the baby is hungry, tired, needs comfort or has a dirty diaper - and it does so in just 10 seconds with 95 percent accuracy Parents can also keep a diaper index within the app and input urination frequency to understand better when their little one might need to be changed. The company states that nurses, doctors and scientists had a hand in helping with the development of Qbear, but when the technology is available has not yet been revealed. Until Qbear hits markets, scientists have offered a 'recipe' to lull a baby to sleep that is surprisingly simple. Researchers from the RIKEN Centre for Brain Science in Japan claim that the trick to soothe a crying infant is to carry them in your arms for five minutes, then sit with them in your arms for five to eight minutes before placing them in their cot. Kumi Kuroda, the corresponding author of the study, said in a statement: 'For many, we intuitively parent and listen to other people's advice on parenting without testing the methods with rigorous science. 'But we need science to understand a baby's behaviors because they're much more complex and diverse than we thought.' The researchers theorized that the transport response might help soothe human infants. To test if this was the case, the team compared 21 crying infants' responses under four conditions being held by their mothers and their sitting mothers, lying in a still crib, or lying in a rocking cot. The system was trained through more than 10,000 baby crying data rows. The company notes that not every cry will be one of the four detected by the AI Other features within the system monitor the room's humidity and indoor temperature. The company has not year revealed when Qbear will hit the market The team's observations revealed that when the mother walked while carrying the baby, the crying infant calmed down, and their heart rate slowed within 30 seconds. A similar effect was seen when the infant was placed in a rocking cot. If you enjoyed this article... New mother reveals the secret to knowing what a newborn wants is understanding NINE different baby cries I'm a new mother and this quick trick stops my baby crying in seconds at bedtime! Advertisement It may look a little like the inside of the Back to the Future DeLorean or KITT from Knight Rider, but this is actually a real concept by car brand Chrysler. The firm Stellantis unveiled the two-seater cockpit design at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 in Las Vegas. It features a 37-inch glass 'infotainment system', an AI assistant that can plan routes based on your calendar and 'wellness experiences' that include meditation, karaoke and a DJ game. The AI assistant, known as MyDay, would provide a 'welcome' to the driver based on biometric recognition, while also updating them on the vehicle's charge status and the weather forecast. It may look a little like the Back to the Future DeLorean or KITT from Knight Rider, but this is actually a real concept by car brand Chrysler The firm Stellantis unveiled the two-seater cockpit design at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 in Las Vegas There is still no sign of what Chrysler's first electric vehicle will look like on the outside, but this concept offers of glimpse of how their cars of the future may appear on the inside. The cockpit concept also includes self-driving features. This Level 3 autonomous driving would allow motorists to multitask and access features such as video conferencing. CHRYSLER COCKPIT CONCEPT FEATURES Level 3 autonomous driving 37-inch glass 'infotainment system' AI assistant known as MyDay 'Wellness experiences' that include meditation, karaoke and a DJ game Video conferencing Advertisement The AI imagined in the design could also recommend lunch locations with convenient parking and charging options, while performing a smart home 'wake up' upon arrival at a property. The demonstrator even features what has been dubbed a 'Synthesis Music Experience', which allows customers to create and synthesise their own music while the car is self-driving. STLA Smart Cockpit, STLA Brain and STLA AutoDrive will make their debut in a production vehicle on Chrysler's first battery-electric vehicle expected in 2025. The car brand billed the concept as 'Harmony in Motion'. 'For nearly 100 years, Chrysler has created ingenious products and technologies for mainstream customers, and Chrysler will continue that legacy of innovation as the first to launch the STLA Smart Cockpit in North America,' said Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO at Stellantis. 'The Chrysler Synthesis shown at CES 2023 represents the future of Chrysler brand design, technology, and customer experience, by introducing customer-centric design and intuitive, seamlessly connected technology for real life.' She added: 'Chrysler is focused on delivering Harmony In Motion for every aspect of the customer experience with the product, technology, purchase and ownership experiences, resulting in harmony with the planet, our products, services and customer experiences.' The design of the Synthesis cockpit was inspired by Chryslers Airflow, which was released in concept form at CES last year. The STLA Brain works within the STLA Smart Cockpit infotainment system, which features a 37-inch sculpted black glass screen for both front occupants. Meanwhile, Chrysler says its advanced AI technology adapts and enhances the user interface over time, with the capability to 'learn' owner preferences. It features a 37-inch glass 'infotainment system', an AI assistant that can plan routes based on your calendar and 'wellness experiences' that include meditation, karaoke and a DJ game The AI assistant, known as MyDay, would provide a 'welcome' to the driver based on biometric recognition, while also updating them on the vehicle's charge status and the weather forecast 'The virtual personal assistant helps make life easier by automatically installing updates, synching to calendars for schedule and route planning, allowing multi-tasking while driving autonomously, recommending parking and charging options, assisting with e-commerce services, seamlessly connecting to devices and smart homes and offering tranquil in-vehicle experiences,' the car brand said. 'The day in the life experience kicks off when the day begins, as the vehicle provides a "welcome" to the owner and maps out an intelligent trip plan for the day. 'The AI advanced technology handles autonomous driving, locating parking spaces and charging ports and much more, in a cockpit enhanced by an electrified, clean and smart connected experience.' If you enjoyed this article... Scientists have developed a solar-powered artificial LEAF that takes in water and produces hydrogen gas when exposed to sunlight A Sony car, 3D laptop with images that 'leap off the screen' and PlayStation VR2 are among the announcements expected at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 And an analyst has shared 10 actions for Elon Musk to improve the opinion of Tesla in 2023 Seen is a concept image of the self-driving car solution that will be completed in cooperation between LG Electronics and auto parts company Magna. LG said Tuesday that the two companies will expand cooperation in self-driving technologies. Courtesy of LG Electronics By Baek Byung-yeul LAS VEGAS LG Electronics will expand cooperation with Canadian auto parts company Magna to jointly produce next-generation self-driving car solutions, according to LG, Tuesday (local time). The two companies said they are promoting strategic technology cooperation with the goal of occupying the emerging autonomous driving market by integrating LG's infotainment technology and Magna's advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and autonomous driving-related technologies. "LG and Magna will have their own promotional booths at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Officials of the two companies will meet at the CES to further discuss cooperation measures," an LG spokesperson said. Shoppers will no longer have to squeeze their fruit and veg in British supermarkets to guess how ripe it is. Three of the UK's biggest retailers are in talks to install new state-of-the-art scanners that predict the shelf life to within a day. Customers will be able to simply pick up an item - such as an avocado or mango and put it under a machine that scans it with an infra-red beam. In under a second, a screen above will flash up with a score out of a 100 revealing how ripe it is and estimate the number of days until it goes off. Three of the UK's biggest retailers are in talks to install new state-of-the-art scanners that predict the shelf life to within a day. Pictured, what the product will look like in shops The 'ripeness checker' will be used for soft, exotic, and stone fruit and vegetables, which are particularly prone to spoilage Dutch company OneThird say their invention will stop the huge levels of food waste that cost retailers and consumers billions of pounds every year globally. The 'ripeness checker' will be used for soft, exotic, and stone fruit and vegetables, which are particularly prone to spoilage. Using infra-red, the machine scans the product on a molecular level, for example its water, sugar, and starch content. Sophisticated AI then compares this to hundreds of thousands of other examples on its database and see how similar items fared. The accuracy of the machine which is expected to be able to predict the shelf life of ten fruit and vegetables by the end of the year - depends on what is being tested. For avocados, a score will appear on the screen from zero to 100 with those scoring over 70 likely to go off in four to five days for example and those in the mid-range around two to three days. For strawberries however the machine will be able to narrow its estimate down to a day. OneThird founder Marco Snikkers told the Daily Mail they were in talks with three major British retailers to install the machines, though he would not reveal exactly who. But he said all were already using the machines in their supply chains. The firm is named after the amount of food that goes to waste every year. Around 40 per cent of this is fresh produce largely due to spoilage. The device is ready to work with avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, and blueberries. By the end of 2023, the company is extending it to grapes, bananas, mangoes and raspberries. Speaking at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Mr Snikkers said: 'The astronomical volume of food that goes to waste each year is heartbreaking, particularly since so much is wasted in affluent countries. The device is ready to work with avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, and blueberries. By the end of 2023, the company is extending it to grapes, bananas, mangoes and raspberries. Pictured, a handheld version of the scanner 'We've worked hard to create technology that helps to address this persistent, global challenge which directly impacts food scarcity.' In other related news... Say goodbye to painful high heels: Ex-Balmain footwear designer develops a smart insole that distributes pressure and promises to make wearing stilettos a 'walk in the park' You're taking the p***! Withings unveils a smart device that you stick in your toilet and WEE on to monitor your metabolic and reproductive health Why is your baby crying? New AI-powered device knows if your child is hungry, tired or has a dirty diaper in just 10 seconds of analyzing their noises - and it is 95% accurate A court hearing in February is set to make history when the defendant is advised by artificial intelligence. The technology stems from the company DoNotPay, founded in 2015 by a then-Stanford University freshman, that was initially developed to appeal parking tickets. The world's first robot lawyer will run on the defendant's smartphone and listen to commentary to provide its client with instructions on what to say in arguments. The courthouse location, charges and name of the defendant have not been revealed, according to New Scientist. The defendant will use a smartphone app powered by the robot lawyer, which will advice them on what to say during the court case set for February Joshua Browder initially created the robot to appeal parking tickets in the UK when he first launched the technology but has since expanded it to the US. However, this technology was designed in a chat format where the bot would proceed with questions to learn the details of your case, such as 'were you or someone you know driving?' or 'was it hard to understand the parking signs?' After it analyzes your answers, the robot decides if you qualify for an appeal, if yes, it will generate an appeal letter that can be brought to the courts. A similar format will be used in the February court case, but will 'listen' to conversations between the prosecutor and defendant to advise its client on what to say next. The AI, however, was trained on factual statements to 'minimize legal liability,' Browder told New Scientist. He also tweaked the audio tool not to react to statements instantly, instead letting the offense finish their discussion, analyze comments and then present a solution 'It's all about language, and that's what lawyers charge hundreds or thousands of dollars an hour to do,' Browder said, who believes this technology will one day replace lawyers. 'There'll still be a lot of good lawyers out there who may be arguing in the European Court of Human Rights, but a lot of lawyers are just charging way too much money to copy and paste documents and I think they will definitely be replaced, and they should be replaced.' DoNotPay's website shows its technology can be used for things other than a robot: fight corporations; beat bureaucracy; find hidden money; and sue anyone. The robot has learned the laws about canceled and delayed flights and payment protection insurance. DoNotPay also offers consumer and workplace rights advice to people in the US and the UK, including harassment at work or misleading claims in adverts. And it will connect users to outside help, such as pro bono legal representation, for more serious cases. China has been the first to use artificial intelligence in the courtroom. Last July, it was revealed the nation is using the technology to 'improve' its court system by recommending laws, drafting documents and alerting 'perceived human errors' in rulings. Judges must now consult the AI on every case by law, Beijing's Supreme Court said in an update on the system published this week, and if they go against its recommendation, they must submit a written explanation for why. The DoNotPay robot, developed in 2015, was designed in a chat format where the bot would proceed with questions to learn the details of cases dealing with parking tickets The AI has also been connected to police databases and China's Orwellian social credit system, handing it the power to punish people by automatically putting a thief's property up for sale online. China has been developing a 'smart court' system since at least 2016 when Chief Justice Qiang Zhou called for technology to improve the 'fairness, efficiency, and credibility' of the judicial system. That has meant introducing robot receptionists to courthouses to offer online legal help, automatic voice recognition recorders in courtrooms that eliminate the need for transcribing, and 'virtual courtrooms' where cases can be heard online. China has even introduced a highly specialized' internet court' that deals solely with cases related to the virtual world - such as online loans, domain name disputes, and copyright issues. If you enjoyed this article... Study shows artificial intelligence quickly becomes bigoted after learning 'toxic stereotypes' on the internet China develops AI 'prosecutor' that can identify 'dissent' and press charges for common crimes 'with 97% accuracy' Michigan high school to deploy artificial intelligence system to detect guns in real time While the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth for at least two minutes each time, data shows most people do a quick 45-second clean. A French company has developed a toothbrush for those who do not adhere to expert advice - and it claims to clean teeth in 10 seconds flat. Y-Brush is a mouthguard-shaped device with 35,000 nylon bristles that vibrate over teeth as users chew on the silicon tray and rotate it inside their mouth. The device was showcased at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but it can also be purchased on Amazon for $89.99. Y-Brush is a toothbrush that looks like a mouthguard. The company claims it uses supersonic vibrations to clean teeth in 10 seconds On Tuesday night, the show kicked off with media previews from just some of the 3,000 companies signed up to attend. CES officially opens Thursday. Y-Brush does not claim to be more effective than leading toothbrushes but touts itself as a way to brush in a rush. Users place the device in their mouth, activate it and let the thousands of bristles go to work. Once done with one set of teeth, the same process is repeated with the other half. The brush is placed in the mouth and users gently chew on it while the bristles clean their teeth Y-brush is available in adult and children sizes and has three months of battery life. And while the company states it takes only 10 seconds, brushing an entire mouth of teeth can take up to 30 seconds - it takes 10 seconds to clean one set at a time. Y-brush is available in adult and children sizes and has three months of battery life. While this toothbrush may seem bizarre, another gadget showcased at CES may take the cake. Another company debuted a smart device that sits in a toilet to monitor your metabolic and reproductive health when you urinate on it A company debuted a smart device that sits in a toilet to monitor your metabolic and reproductive health when you urinate on it. Withings, known for its smartwatches, has branched out with its latest product, dubbed the U-Scan. It is described as a 'miniaturized health lab that hygienically sits within any toilet bowl,' sending the results to an app on your phone. The device comprises two parts - a reader and a replaceable cartridge containing a thermal sensor to differentiate between urine and toilet water. Advertisement The first light shines through the curtainless window, then I hear a faint trickle of water and a chorus of birdsong. My eyes open to see the lone picture of Mother Mary beside my bed. And bells begin to chime, reverberating across the rocky, green landscape. This isnt Tuscany or Provence. Instead, Im surrounded by soaring trees, brown bears and Eastern Europes tallest peaks in Bulgarias holiest location, Rila Monastery. I swing open the door of my modest 18-a-night room to reveal black-and-white enclaves, narrow arches and circular domes topped with crosses. Charlie Kitcat stays in a modest 18-a-night room in Bulgarias holiest location, Rila Monastery (above) Below me, in the cobbled courtyard, the monastery begins its daily routine. A bearded monk, robed in midnight black, saunters towards the peach-coloured church in the centre. Decorated on the outside with bright 19th-century frescos, inside nothing is illuminated but the golden halos of shrouded saintly figures on the walls. Thousands of monks have resided in Rila Monastery since its foundation in the early 900s. It was established by St Ivan of Rila, a hermit revered as a saint while still alive, before the area around his cave was gradually transformed. Today, around 60 monks call it home. The occasional tourist is welcome if you call ahead and then drive two hours south from Sofia, the countrys ancient capital city. Thousands of monks have resided in Rila Monastery since its foundation in the early 900s Sofia itself is a joy. A city of almost 1.3 million people, it offers charm, beauty and culture in abundance. And, thanks to the modern Metro, its easy to reach from the airport. Suddenly, we find ourselves among the ruins of the Roman city of Serdica. A short stroll away, the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral towers over us, and next door, St Sofia Church stands modestly, hiding Roman mosaics in its underbelly. Close by, there are synagogues and mosques, reminders of the citys diverse heritage. Farther south, in the foothills of the Vitosha mountain, the Unesco-heritage Boyana Church hides frescos to rival Michelangelo, only from three centuries before. Charlie flies into Sofia, above, a city of almost 1.3 million people that offers 'charm, beauty and culture in abundance' The golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (above) towers over Charlie in Sofia In the foothills of the Vitosha mountain, the Unesco-heritage Boyana Church (above) hides frescos to rival Michelangelo, writes Charlie My companion and I meet Georgi, a Bulgarian friend, and we wander Sofias quiet roads, with kebab shops and bakeries selling traditional banitsa pastries. Communism here fell in 1990, but Bulgarias transition towards capitalism was challenging. Although the main streets buzz with stylish bars and burger joints, the citys tired Soviet-style buildings illustrate the harsh reality faced by many Bulgarians. Corruption is rife and poverty is everywhere, even though were part of the EU, Georgi laments. He takes us to a traditional Bulgarian restaurant on the outskirts. Plates of steaming chicken livers, pork stew and a mountain of Bulgarias most iconic dish, Shopska salad (like its Greek cousin but with sirene cheese instead of feta) arrive at our table. A circle of locals dance to traditional folk music. Onlookers sip small glasses of home-brewed rakia. Soon enough, were on the dancefloor. While Charlie dines out in Sofia, he sees a circle of locals dance to traditional folk music. Above are Bulgarian women in national costumes The Pionerska chairlift, pictured, leads Charlie to the start of the Seven Rila Lakes trail The glacial lakes along the Seven Rila Lakes trail 'sparkle like sapphires', Charlie reveals How do you solve a problem like a hangover? With a hike, of course. Now sober, we rent a car and drive an hour south towards the Seven Rila Lakes trail. We jump aboard the Pionerska chairlift before stumbling up the first steep, winding track. The path evens out as the landscape transforms into a flowery meadow glittering with tumbling waterfalls and winding streams. The first glacial lake appears as we climb above 2,300 m, then six more emerge. After two hours of rambling, we reach the top. Below us, the seven lakes sparkle like sapphires. An immense panorama of rolling hills and distant towns stretches nearly all the way back to Sofia. The hordes on the coast are missing out. Channel 10 has been forced to make last minute edits to The Bachelors after one contestant went rogue and appeared on a rival dating show. Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Jessica Tomlinson will not be one of the featured hopefuls on the series after an 'unauthorised' stint on Channel Nine's Married At First Sight - which will air on January 30. According to a network source, the 24-year-old's scenes will be heavily reduced to 'make it look like she wasn't there' in the hopes she is 'completely forgotten about'. Channel 10 has been forced to make last minute edits to The Bachelors after contestant Jessica Tomlinson (pictured) went rogue and appeared on a rival dating show 'Channel 10 and Warner Bros. are completely livid with the last-minute change after they noticed Nine was heavily featuring Jess in the ads for one of the MAFS weddings,' said the insider. Back in October, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that that one wedding will descend into chaos after Tomlinson accused her former best friend's groom of hooking up with her Bachelor co-star just days before walking down the aisle. Jess was seen pulling bride Bronte Schofield aside to let her know that her she recognised her partner Harrison Boon and that he shouldn't be trusted. Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Jessica Tomlinson will not be one of the featured hopefuls on the series after an 'unauthorised' stint on Channel Nine's Married At First Sight - which will air on January 30. Jessica pictured left filming MAFS According to a network source, the 24-year-old's scenes will be heavily reduced to 'make it look like she wasn't there' in the hopes she is 'completely forgotten about' 'Jessica couldn't believe it when she realised it was the guy her co-star was hooking up with and felt it was right to confront Bronte about it on her wedding day,' the insider explained. 'Jessica was desperate to get her five minutes of fame and decided to tell Bronte on camera by pulling her a side and essentially sabotaging the wedding.' Her contract with Warner Bros. states she must not appear on any other television or media program of any nature without written consent from the network. Upon learning of her appearance on MAFS, producers called up Jessica for an explanation, before telling her she may not be eligible for her one-off payment. 'Channel 10 are completely livid with the last-minute change after they noticed Nine was heavily featuring Jess in the ads for one of the MAFS weddings,' said the insider Back in October, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that that one wedding will descend into chaos after Tomlinson accused a groom of hooking up with her co-star just days before walking down the aisle. Pictured on the MAFS commercial 'Jessica was devastated. She had no idea she was going on the show, it was all a surprise. They came at her hard,' said a friend. Warner Bros. decided to further punish Jessica by leaving her out of the official cast announcement on Instagram. Tomlinson remains to be one of the only contestants that hasn't had her account taken over by production or had her account switched to public. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel 10 for comment. Lord Sugar refuses to bail out any of his flop Apprentice winners if their businesses run out of money. The tycoon, 75, worth a reported 1.2billion, admits many of the BBC One show's 17 champions have failed in business, despite his assistance. And speaking before the launch of the latest series, which begins on Thursday, Lord Sugar has warned his new hopefuls that he will cut ties with the eventual winner should they burn through his 250,000 investment without return. 'Not everyone succeeds': Lord Sugar refuses to bail out any of his flop Apprentice winners if their businesses run out of money He said: 'In the past 17 years, let's be open about this, not everyone succeeds. 'They're told at the beginning here's 250,000 and that's it. 'Again, no more, all you're going to get is my mentoring, my help, my assistance from my staff. If you run out of money, you're done.' Despite the misfortunes of several former Apprentice champs, Lord Sugar points to the fact that 'at least five' other winners have gone on to become 'millionaires' proving successful companies can be born out of the show. 'If you run out of money, you're done': The tycoon, worth a reported 1.2billion, admits many of the BBC One show's 17 champions have failed in business, despite his assistance Indeed, 2011 winner Tom Pellereau is viewed as the show's most successful ever candidate as his grooming business has made over 5m per year, while 2013 champion Dr Leah Totton has a skincare company worth over 7m. Lord Sugar added: 'What happens to the winners is that their lives change. Out of the candidates I can name at least, well I won't name them because it's not right, there are at least five of them who are millionaires in their own right.' However, recent winners including Joseph Valente, Alana Spencer, Sian Gabbidon and James White all no longer work with him. The business mogul insists the challenge of creating new tycoons is the main reason why he returns to the show every year. He explained: 'That's what brings me along every year, to try and make the winner very successful. I enjoy doing it and if I didn't I wouldn't be here. In the running: Online sweet business owner Victoria Goulbourne (pictured) is hoping to win Lord Sugar's 250,000 investment as she battles against 17 other candidates for the prize Going for gold: Entrepreneurs including Rochelle Anthony, Joseph Phillips, Marnie Swindells, and Reece Donnelly complete this year's lineup of BBC One stars 'What happens is as you will appreciate we have a new bunch of characters and so that's why it's not the same because all the characters and personalities of the candidates are different and they stand out in the episodes themselves.' And Lord Sugar says he's so involved in the TV series, he even vets those who take part. He said: 'It is a private process we go through and it is a stringent process that we go through, which includes making sure that the people will be able to stand up to the pressures that are put upon them. 'Obviously I get to do a deep dive into their CVs and it's an elimination process because it's something like 6,000 people turn up at the hotels where we do the auditioning and we have to home in on them. Ex-partnership: Lord Sugar admitted 'not everyone succeeds' after winning his investment after former champions including Welsh bakery owner Alana Spencer no longer work alongside him 'The candidates do not see me until boardroom zero. That's the first time they see me and the first time I see them face-to-face.' Despite this year's lineup being compared to the cast of Love Island due to the young age and glamorous appearance of the candidates, Lord Sugar insists mature contestants aren't overlooked and he has no idea why his show is likened to the ITV2 dating hit. He said: 'There is no age limit to our application and in the past series there was someone more mature than the other candidates so there is no age limit and we don't restrict people of more mature age.' When asked if he understands the Love Island comparisons, he replied: 'I don't know, I would be able to answer that question if I've ever watched Love Island.' The former Spurs chairman has confirmed he is still keen to carry on in the Apprentice hot seat, and won't stop until he reaches at least 20 series. He added: 'This is officially the 17th series and the next year is 18th and it would have to be 2024-2025 for it to be 20 years and I have agreed to do two more series, which brings me up to 19 and dependant on how well that is received and the BBC do their statistical numbers, I will be delighted to do a 20th. 'Bear in mind I've also done three junior Apprentice shows so in a way you could argue that I've already done 20.' Victoria Derbyshire has revealed she wed her long term partner Mark Sandell as they wanted a 'massive party to celebrate' following her battle with breast cancer. The Newsnight host, 54, gushed about her radio producer beau and said he was 'incredible' during her illness. Victoria who is now 'embracing her 50s' also hopes to be considered for the latest series of Strictly of Dancing. Wedding bells: Victoria Derbyshire, 54, has revealed she wed her long term partner Mark Sandell as they wanted a 'massive party to celebrate' following her battle with breast cancer The couple, who share sons Oliver, 18, and Joe, 15, tied the knot in 2018 after doctor's gave the television host the all clear. Following 301 days of treatment including six sessions of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiotherapy, the mother-of-two was given the all clear with an 11 per cent chance of the cancer recurring. She told Woman & Home: 'Mark totally stepped up. He was incredible. He did everything to look after me and the boys'. Love: The television host, 54, gushed about her radio producer beau and said he was 'incredible' during her illness 'We got married after I got the all-clear. We wanted to have a massive party and celebrate with our boys, Mark's daughter my stepdaughter, Lizzie and with our family and friends'. It was amazing,' She went on to reveal her secret to a happy relationship was laughter: 'Mark is really funny and that is just a joy'. 'You also need to realise when the other person needs a bit of support. Be a team. And don't sweat the small stuff. Back to health: The couple, who share sons Oliver, 18, and Joe, 15, tied the knot in 2018 after doctor's gave Victoria the all clear Chic: Stylish: Victoria looked gorgeous in the glossy magazine shoot, modelling an array of stylish ensembles Adding: 'I don't care about laundry on the floor or toothpaste spills there are bigger fish to fry'. Victoria looked gorgeous in the glossy magazine shoot, modelling an array of stylish ensembles. She accentuated her age defying features with make-up and oozed confidence in front of the camera. On Sale: The February issue of Woman & Home is on sale 05 January 2023 She went on to discuss the death of Dame Deborah James, who sadly lost her own battle with cancer aged just 40 in June 2022. 'On the day she [Deborah] died, my mum texted me saying, 'Vic, I love you so much, I'm really feeling it for Deborah's family.' Because I was lucky'. 'None of us know how long we've got, so I want to have incredible life experiences and enjoy it.' Gorgeous: She accentuated her age defying features with make-up and oozed confidence in front of the camera One thing she hopes to take a shot at is strutting her stuff to the Glitterball trophy as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. She said: 'If I get asked to do Strictly which I honestly don't think I will be I'd totally consider it. I'm not sure if it would be the right thing to do because I do Newsnight'. 'But hey, I did I'm a Celebrity two years ago, and now I'm doing Newsnight and people are cool with it. People are less likely to put you in boxes these days. ' RIP: She went on to discuss the death of Dame Deborah James, who sadly lost her own battle with cancer aged just 40 in June 2022 She then went on to discuss ageing and said she was now 'embracing her 50's'. 'My sister had a 50th birthday party in August and she had a board of pictures of us when we were younger and my god, I looked ridiculous!' She laughed: 'No fashion sense and stupid make-up. I hope I've learnt to look a bit less stupid and a bit more elegant.' The February issue of Woman & Home is on sale 05 January 2023 Selling Sunset stars Jason and Brett Oppenheim recently spent the Christmas holidays in Sydney, but don't expect the brothers to open a brokerage Down Under. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the twins gushed about the harbourside city, but admitted that the property prices are too expensive to justify opening a new office. 'We toured a couple of listings in the $15 million to $50 million dollar range. Theyre expensive for what they are,' Jason, 45, told the publication. Selling Sunset's Jason and Brett Oppenheim (pictured) spent the Christmas holidays in Sydney, but the brothers won't be opening a brokerage Down Under 'I was at my buddys place, which he said was AU$8m, that wouldve been worth 25-35 per cent less if it was in LA,' he continued. Jason went on to say that some properties in Sydney can be up to 'fifty per cent more expensive' than in Los Angeles. Despite the cost, the real estate mogul praised the beauty of Sydney. 'You have the best views of maybe any city in the world, between all the beaches and the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and the bays, its unbelievable.' Jason said that some properties in Sydney are up to 'fifty per cent more expensive' than Los Angeles 'We toured a couple of listings in the $15 million to $50 million dollar range. Theyre expensive for what they are,' Jason said of Sydney's prices In Sydney, the median house price of $1.243million is 10.8 times an average, full-time salary of $92,030 - even after a 20 per cent mortgage deposit, CoreLogic data showed. Little more than two decades ago, a house in Australia's most expensive capital city market was still affordable for an average-income professional buying on their own, historical data from Macquarie University showed. While fans can't expect a Sydney spin-off of Selling Sunset any time soon, the city will be featured on an upcoming season of the Netflix series. 'You have the best views of maybe any city in the world, between all the beaches and the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and the bays, its unbelievable,' Jason gushed Jason and Brett have been filming while in Sydney with Jason's girlfriend Marie-Lou Nurk, Brett's ex-girlfriend Tina Louise, and Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause, who has been in the country with her Aussie girlfriend, G Flip. Jason and Marie-Lou were first linked in July 2022 - six months after Jason split from his co-star Chrishell. Although they have not been together for very long, the pair spoke with People magazine in August about being on the same page for their future plans. Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause has also been in Australia recently with her Aussie partner G Flip. Their relationship is expected to be featured on the next season of Selling Sunset Marie-Lou resides in Paris where she works as a model and perhaps they will move there after filming the next season of the real estate reality show. Jason also previously spoke about not wanting children but is now considering the next step with his girlfriend. Meanwhile, G Flip recently introduced Chrishell to her family while the pair spent the Christmas holidays together Down Under. Sydney will be featured in the next season of the hit Netflix series The next season of Selling Sunset is expected to feature the couple's relationship and to delve more into the cast's personal and dating lives. Season seven, which will premiere this year, will be the first not to feature original cast member Christine Quinn. Fans are also hoping for a second season of the spin-off Selling the OC, which premiered on Netflix last year. Dionne Warwick revealed she and Dolly Parton are planning to join forces on a new gospel song. The 82-year-old songstress and 76-year-old country star will record Peace Like A River, a tune penned by the latter artist. The New Jersey-bred vocalist announced the collaboration while guest starring on the Tamron Hall Show on Tuesday. New music: Dionne Warwick revealed she and Dolly Parton are planning to join forces on a new gospel song 'She sent me a song that she wanted me to record, and I said, "Okay, that sounds like a deal." She's such a sweetheart. I love her,' Dionne gushed to the talk show host. Warwick continued, 'She sent me another song, the one that we're going to be doing. It's a duet. It's a gospel song called Peace Like a River.' While appearing on the episode in a black blazer and red trousers, the music legend went on to say, 'She wrote it. I'm very excited about this, I really am.' Remembering her late cousin Whitney Houston, Warwick noted, 'I've done so many duets over the years, but his one is going to be very special.' TV spot: The New Jersey-bred vocalist announced the collaboration while guest starring on the Tamron Hall Show on Tuesday; seen with author and host Bevy Smith The distinctive tie in the musical partnership is that Houston covered Dolly's song I Will Always Love you back in 1992. It was recorded as the lead single for the Bodyguard soundtrack, shooting the tune to the top of the charts and cementing it as a classic as Whitney lended her powerhouse vocals to it. 'It's preordained,' Warwick commented about the imminent duet. 'God's got a purpose.' Dolly recently performed the song alongside goddaughter Miley Cyrus, as she joined her onstage at last weekend's New Year's Eve Party in Miami. How it came to be: 'She sent me a song that she wanted me to record, and I said, "Okay, that sounds like a deal." She's such a sweetheart. I love her,' Dionne gushed to the talk show host Dionne most recently took the stage at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade last November. In a rare appearance, she bundled up while riding on a float in the 96th annual event in New York City. The six-time Grammy award winner marked her third performance since 1984 at the beloved parade as she sang What The World Needs Now. It was a full-circle moment as the vocalist initially sang the song during the procession in the 1960s. Advertisement Kaia Gerber's boyfriend Austin Butler served as the ultimate Instagram boyfriend as he shot sizzling snaps of his bikini-clad girlfriend in the pool on New Year's Day. The 21-year-old posed up a storm in her sexy swimsuit as her boyfriend took photos of her during her getaway to Cabo San Lucas with her family. During breaks from their photo shoot, Kaia and Austin, 31, were the epitome of couple goals as they packed on the PDA in the pool. Instagram boyfriend! Kaia Gerber's boyfriend Austin Butler served as the ultimate Instagram boyfriend as he shot sizzling snaps of his bikini-clad girlfriend in the pool on New Year's Day Kaia clung to her beau as he leaned down to press his lips against hers beneath the sunshine. The statuesque stunner looked sensational in a bronze bikini top paired with taupe bottoms as she soaked up the sun with shades concealing her eyes. During her shoot with Austin, she looked phenomenal putting her bikini body on display whilst posing languidly in the water. Austin threw himself into the role of photographer, crouching down low to the floor to capture his girlfriend in the very best light. Bikini babe! Gerber dropped jaws in her sexy bikini as she made her way out into the sunshine Strike a pose! Kaia made Austin's job as photographer easy as she struck an array of perfect poses for him Like! Austin dutifully fulfilled his role as Instagram boyfriend But Kaia made his job easy as she served an array of perfect poses. Once she was out of the pool, Kaia displayed her stunning physique as she wandered out into the sunshine. The beauty, who is the daughter of modeling icon Cindy Crawford, beamed with happiness as she wandered along the pool deck. Packing on the PDA! The couple shared a sweet smooch Couples goals! Kaia held her beau as they shared a moment in the romantic setting As Kaia walked around the deck, her boyfriend cooled down in the pool. The Elvis star was the epitome of relaxation as he lounged in the water wearing his sunglasses. The Carrie Diaries actor also sent temperatures soaring as he emerged from the water with his muscles on full display. Kaia and her beau have been enjoying a holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with Kaia's parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, her brother Presley and his girlfriend. Sizzling: Gerber looked breathtaking in her skimpy swimsuit Cheeky! As Butler relaxed in the water, Kaia worked her cheeky bikini The two lovebirds were first linked in December 2021, following the model's breakup from Euphoria star, Jacob Elordi, a month earlier in November. Austin previously dated actress, Vanessa Hudgens, from 2011 to 2020. After Kaia's split from Euphoria star, Jacob, the two were first linked in December 2021. The stars were spotted together throughout the beginning of this year and spent Valentine's Day together. Fun in the sun: The Babylon actress and her beau have been enjoying a holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with Kaia's parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and brother Presley and his girlfriend Scene stealer! The beauty laid out in the water as her beau snapped away on his camera Va va voom! The star's bikini left little to the imagination The two attended the 2022 MET Gala together in New York City, and were all smiles at the glamorous and star-studded annual event. Kaia showed her support for Austin at the Elvis premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival earlier in May. The couple were caught sharing a passionate kiss on the red carpet as the camera flashes swirled around them. In between both of their upcoming projects, the couple took time to have a romantic date. Model behavior: Kaia leaned against a barrier in the pool as she displayed her best angles for the camera Hunky! Austin showed off his muscles as he emerged from the pool Aww: The couple enjoyed some quality time together in the pool U.S. House adjourns after failing to elect speaker in historic political stalemate Xinhua) 16:22, January 04, 2023 Photo taken on Jan. 3, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned on Tuesday evening after its members failed to elect a speaker for the lower chamber. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes in three ballots earlier in the day after a group of House Republicans voted against him. There will be at least a fourth vote as House members agreed to adjourn until Wednesday noon. McCarthy is reportedly negotiating with fellow Republicans on Tuesday night. The political drama came nearly two months after the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans flipped the House and Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate. HISTORICALLY DIVIDED CONGRESS This was the first time in a century that the U.S. House speaker was not elected on the first ballot. The House will have to vote on and on until a speaker is elected with a majority of votes. A candidate needs 218 votes to become speaker if no lawmaker skips the vote or votes "present." All House Democrats voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the Democratic minority in the three rounds of voting on the speakership. It also followed the convening of the new and divided Congress on Tuesday noon. Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that "what we're witnessing today in American politics is just another brutal indictment of this dysfunctional political system." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that U.S. President Joe Biden, a former six-term senator from Delaware, "will not insert himself in that process." Photo taken on Jan. 3, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "The president served as a U.S. senator for 34 years and he understands how this process works," Jean-Pierre said. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the opening day of the Senate -- where Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority over Republicans -- when she swore in 35 either newly elected or reelected senators Tuesday afternoon. Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, both Senate veterans, remain the chamber's majority leader and minority leader, respectively. PUBLIC TRUST IN CONGRESS AT LOW LEVEL U.S. Congressman-elect George Santos, a 34-year-old Republican from New York, is among those who are waiting to be sworn in after the speaker vote. Santos has recently admitted to lying about his educational history and professional biography but rejected bipartisan calls for him not to take office. "My sins here are embellishing my resume. I'm sorry," embattled Santos acknowledged last week while alleging that the controversy would not deter him "from having good legislative success." Former U.S. Congresswoman and Fox News contributor Tulsi Gabbard commented, "Washington has created a culture where it's acceptable to lie to further your own interest." "But even when politicians do get caught, people just shrug their shoulders and move on," Gabbard continued. "So, no one should be surprised that the American people don't trust these politicians." Public trust in the U.S. Congress reached an all-time low, with only 7 percent of Americans expressing "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in it, according to a Gallup poll released in the summer of 2022. A separate survey that Gallup conducted following last year's midterm elections suggested that Americans' approval of Congress remains largely negative, with 73 percent of U.S. adults expressing disapproval. The divided Congress with Republicans controlling the House is likely to stall Biden's legislative agenda in the next two years. In addition, top House Republicans have vowed to launch a series of investigations into the Democratic administration, poised to augment partisan discord on Capitol Hill. "Our politics has gotten so angry, so mean, so partisan," Biden said late last year. "And too often we see each other as enemies, not as neighbors; as Democrats or Republicans, not as fellow Americans. We've become too divided." (Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun) Head of the Franchisee Association of Paris Baguette Jang In-moon, left, poses with CEO of Paris Croissant Lee Myeong-wook, center, and Chief of Deputy Head of Paris Croissant Union Song Young-soo, while declaring the company's safety management charter at the SPC headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SPC By Kim Jae-heun SPC promised Wednesday to practice workplace safety management with the firm will to adopt changes and share a concrete vision in connection with a fatal accident that occurred due to negligence at its affiliate production facility in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, last October. After the accident, the company immediately reflected the results of safety inspections conducted by an external professional institution and the Ministry of Employment and Labor while launching a safety management committee composed of independent experts. It has also been laying the foundation for the company's safety management by establishing special task forces to improve the working environment and innovating corporate culture there, last year. "Starting with our declaration today, we will do our best to build a safety management system to the global level and establish a culture of respect and consideration for our employees so that the company can be reborn as a 'New SPC,'" SPC Group CEO Hwang Jae-bok said during a "Safety Management Declaration Ceremony" held at the group's headquarters in Yangjae, Seoul, Wednesday. Based on the safety management committee it launched last November, SPC plans to create three departments that secure industrial safety, improve working conditions and practice corporate social responsibility. The industrial safety department will actively promote global safety certification to establish a global standard-level safety and health management system while introducing relevant IT systems. In addition, the company will secure safety management organizations and manpower to conduct joint inspections with the relevant labor union to identify harmful and risk factors in the workplace. The labor environment improvement division will push for the reorganization of the worker's shift system through the special task force established with the union. The company will further make various efforts to give workers more rest and take care of their health. SPC vowed to strengthen relief activities for disasters and promote campaign to spread safety culture in the company. "The company is listening to workers' opinions and truly improving the working environment for employees. We will also work together to create a safer and happier workplace," a labor union official said. Shanna Moakler says her mother Gail has died at the age of 77. The former Miss USA, 47, confirmed to People on Tuesday her mother's passing, saying, 'I am so thankful for all the friends and family that have reached out and sent their condolences.' The reality star added, 'My mother was a beautiful and kind and loving woman and she was everything that I hope to be.' The latest: Shanna Moakler says her mother Gail has died at the age of 77, as she confirmed to People the sad news on Tuesday Moakler said that 'as a mother, [Gail] was loving, kind and supportive,' noting that 'more than anything, she was my best friend and I will miss her every day of my life.' She wrapped up her statement in saying, 'I understand that this is a part of life and something that we all can actually support one another with, which is the loss of someone we love. Godspeed.' Moakler is mother to son Landon, 19, and daughter Alabama, 17, with ex Travis Barker, 46, who she was married to from 2004 to 2008; and daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 23, from her former engagement to boxer Oscar De La Hoya, 49. Last May, she took to Instagram with a Mother's Day tribute for her parent via Instagram. Moakler was pictured at a holiday event in December 2019 in LA For Mother's Day in 2021, she shared a series of pics of Gail with the caption, 'Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mom @gailmoakler how lucky I am to have a mom like you! You're my best friend and my idol! I love you so much!' Moakler is mother to son Landon, 19, and daughter Alabama, 17, with ex Travis Barker, 46, who she was married to from 2004 to 2008; and daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 23, from her former engagement to boxer Oscar De La Hoya, 49 Moakler wrote: '#happymothersday @gailmoakler there will never be enough words to express how thankful I am to have you as my mom! Thank you for always standing by me and supporting me through this crazy life. I love you so much! You truly are the most amazing mother....' For Mother's Day in 2021, she shared a series of pics of Gail with the caption, 'Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful mom @gailmoakler how lucky I am to have a mom like you! You're my best friend and my idol! I love you so much!' Moakler in August of 2021 took to the site to wish her parents Gail and John a happy 50th anniversary. 'Today is my mom and dads 50th wedding anniversary officially!' she wrote. 'Taking them to #capriccios with the family! To have a love like this love you @gailmoakler @drjohnmoakler you inspire me everyday.' Joey King and her fiance Steven Piet stepped out for a romantic stroll with their dog in Los Angeles on Monday. During their outing, the actress, 23, showed off her engagement ring while walking alongside her director beau. Nearly a year ago, she announced their engagement on social media with photos documenting the proposal on their third anniversary of dating. A stroll down lover's lane: Joey King, 23, and her fiance Steven Piet stepped out for a romantic stroll with their dog in Los Angeles on Monday The Kissing Booth star donned a casual and comfortable look perfectly appropriate for their walk. She wore a pair of white-framed sunglasses hooked onto the neckline of a long-sleeved shirt in a denim blue color and a pair of black mid-calf leggings. For shoes, she sported a pair of muted pink high-top sneakers. Side-by-side: During their outing, the actress showed off her engagement ring while walking alongside her director beau The Bullet Train actress also carried a light gray fanny pack that she wore across her torso and behind her back. She opted for a makeup-free look to show off her natural beauty and tied her strawberry blonde hair in a low bun. Her fiance - who she met on the set of the 2019 Hulu true-crime series The Act - wore a white henley long-sleeved shirt as he walked their dog. Casual outfit: She wore a pair of white-framed sunglasses hooked onto the neckline of a long-sleeved shirt in a denim blue color and a pair of black mid-calf leggings The director and co-executive producer of The Act wore a pair of gray sweatpants and brown hiking boots for their outing. In September 2019, they made their red carpet debut at an afterparty at the Emmy Awards show. Three years later, the director proposed to the actress and the couple both took to their Instagram accounts to announce the engagement. Lovebirds: Nearly a year ago, they announced their engagement on social media with photos documenting the proposal on their third anniversary of dating 'I never knew happiness could be so powerful that it can take the air from your lungs, overwhelming every part of you that you can't help but feel your eyes well from the undeniable joy,' she wrote in her post. 'The date was 2/2/22 when you asked me to marry you and made me the luckiest lady alive. I love you more than an Instagram caption could ever do justice. Hanging out with you forever sounds like a real dream, so let's do it.' Steven wrote on his Instagram: 'The weather was less than perfect. Cold. Windy. Perfectly imperfect to ask my best friend to spend a lifetime together.' He continued, 'A lifetime of incredibly safe and vulnerable conversations. Holding hands on silent cab rides home, exhausted from great food and red wine. And oh, the laughter. The uncontrollable laughter. You've unlocked a dimension of love in me that I never knew existed.' She gushed: 'The date was 2/2/22 when you asked me to marry you and made me the luckiest lady alive. I love you more than an Instagram caption could ever do justice. Hanging out with you forever sounds like a real dream, so let's do it.' James Marsden revealed his disappointment at Westworld's cancellation in an interview with Rolling Stone published Tuesday. The 49-year-old actor played cowboy Teddy in the show, which HBO canceled back in November before the creators could wrap up the show with a fifth season. Not only was the series canceled, but Warner Bros. Discovery announced last month that it would remove the show from its streaming service HBO Max. Frustrated: James Marsden said he's upset with Westworld's cancellation in an interview with Rolling Stone published Tuesday (pictured in show with Evan Rachel Wood) 'Id be lying to you if I told you that the way we ended Westworld wasnt a disappointment,' Marsden said in the interview. 'Im never going to speak without gratitude about any of my experiences, but it would have been nice to be able to complete the story we wanted to finish.' He added that he loves his 'Westworld family' before adding that he would go home and watch the show as a fan as well. 'I totally understand its an expensive show and big shows have to have big audiences to merit the expense, I just wish it was about more than financial success,' he said. Canceled: The 49-year-old actor talked about the show which HBO canceled back in November before the creators could wrap up the show with a fifth season (pictured November 2022) 'Disappointment: 'Id be lying to you if I told you that the way we ended Westworld wasnt a disappointment,' Marsden said in the interview (pictured in show with Evan Rachel Wood) The Enchanted actor said he's holding out hope that the show may one day be finished. 'Maybe thats just wishful thinking, because I know we had plans to finish it the way we wanted to,' he added. Westworld was reportedly canceled because of the high cost of producing the show. It had been reported that season one carried a hefty budget of $88million, with the figure growing to $107million in season two. One day: The Enchanted actor said he's holding out hope that the show may one day be finished (pictured June 2022) Critcally acclaimed: Westworld had earned an impressive nine Primetime Emmy awards throughout its run, as well as a total of 54 nominations The axing came during an 'ongoing evaluation of programming' with HBO's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. Westworld had earned an impressive nine Primetime Emmy awards throughout its run, as well as a total of 54 nominations. It was launched by HBO back in 2016 as a prestige drama with high hopes of it becoming another long-running show amid the success of Game of Thrones, and boasted a stellar cast with Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins. Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright and Thandiwe Newton were also part of the original cast. Terri Irwin has revealed the three things she does before bed every day to keep her happy hopeful and kind'. The 58-year-old zookeeper told her fans on Twitter she has a regular bedtime ritual she follows daily including reflecting on the day, reminiscing on the best part of the day and planning ahead. 'Happy New Year!! This year, celebrate every day by practising these 3 things before you go to bed,' she began. Terri Irwin (pictured) revealed the three things she does in bed to stay 'happy' - after urging her son Robert 'to keep things PG' with his first girlfriend 'Revel in your favourite part of the day. Think about what you're most looking forward to tomorrow and reflect on your good deed for the day. This will keep you happy, hopeful, & kind,' Terri said. It comes after reports claimed Terri is reportedly urging her 19-year-old son Robert to 'take things slow' with his first girlfriend Rorie Buckey. The zookeeper is said to be keeping a close eye on the couple to make sure they 'keep things PG', New Idea reported last month. The 58-year-old zookeeper told her fans on Twitter she has a regular bedtime ritual she follows daily including reflecting on the day, reminiscing on the best part of the day and planning ahead 'Terri is really happy for Robert, and she likes Rorie, but she's urging him to take it slow for both their sakes,' a source told the magazine. 'Terri knows all too well what it's like to be in a relationship in the public eye. She wants to make sure they're ready.' The young couple had previously been spotted spending time together near the Sunshine Coast zoo. It comes after reports claimed Terri is reportedly urging her 19-year-old son Robert to 'take things slow' with his first girlfriend Rorie Buckey The pair went for a stroll before getting takeaway from Grill'd and eating it on a beach. Robert was seen pulling his girlfriend in for a hug as the sun went down. Rorie is the niece of the late Heath Ledger, and she has an identical twin sister named Scarlett. Robert and Rorie have plenty in common; both grew up in the public eye after suffering the devastating loss of a family member. Heath was at the top of his Hollywood career when he was found dead in January 2008 following an accidental prescription drug overdose. Robert's father Steve Irwin, known to the world as the 'Crocodile Hunter', died aged 44 on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray. Khloe Kardashian hit back at fans who claimed that she'd 'changed her face' after she tried out clip-on bangs for a cover shoot for Sorbet magazine. The reality star, 38, shared a snap of her new look in an Instagram post on Tuesday as she credited the hairstyle with changing the 'shape' of her visage. 'Fun fact: I wore clip on bangs for this shoot,' she penned. 'It was fun to give a different look and not be committed. I am surprised with how much I liked the bangs even though they changed the shape of my face.' Just temporary! Khloe Kardashian claimed that wearing clip-on bangs 'changed the shape' of her face while posing for the latest cover of Sorbet magazine Many of her fans praised the bangs for making her look 'younger' and more like Heidi Klum and Denise Richards, while others marveled at her striking resemblance to Taylor Swift in the image. Yet other followers were quick to remark that they could see other changes, noting: 'I dont think it was the bangs that changed your face'; 'Literally who is that??'; 'Ohhh it was the bangs that changed your face so much in these pics?' While the post appears to have been since deleted, Just Jared claims that Khloe then responded: 'I openly talk about my nose job and anyone who looks up to me must know Ive lost over 60 pounds over the years. So recently the only change is the bangs. I didnt know I had to do a running list. 'Either way, attacking someone is sad in my opinion. Unprovoked is the saddest part. If you are offended or dont like what you see, you simply dont have to say anything. I hope you have a great first week of the new year. Thanks for making mine so jolly.' After social media users marveled at her striking resemblance to Taylor Swift in the images, the 38-year-old reality star contributed her different look to her wispy fringe, which softened her features; seen in 2017 In May 2022, the mother-of-two admitted to feeling 'offended' by trolls accusing her of '12 face transplants' and thinks the constant hate is 'crazy.' While appearing on the Dear Media podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat with Amanda Hirsch, the star confirmed again that she has had only one plastic surgery operation: her nose job. The author said that she has been very upfront about her nose job and that is why it is so offensive that people have accused her of lying about other work. Now and then: On the left she is seen this month modeling Good American. On the right Khloe is spotted in 2012 on the set of The X Factor Changing looks: In May 2022, the mother-of-two admitted to feeling 'offended' by trolls accusing her of '12 face transplants' and thinks the constant hate is 'crazy' (seen in 2022) The author said that she has been very upfront about her nose job and that is why it is so offensive that people have accused her of lying about other work. And the reality sensation has also changed her hair dramatically. She was born with dark brunette locks, but usually goes blonde these days. But Khloe has shared that when it comes to going under the knife, she has done it only once with her nose. Honest: While appearing on the Dear Media podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat with Amanda Hirsch, the star confirmed again that she has had only one plastic surgery operation: her nose job 'Like, I want everyone to know. I don't care to lie about it,' she said. 'But the 'transplant thing,' is irritating: 'I just want to understand why.' And she added that she gets trashed for her looks much more often than her sisters Kim, Kourtney, Kendall or Kylie. 'Either with the old me versus what I look like now or even just comparing me to my sisters all the time. It's like, you guys, this is what we look like, so I feel like you should know by now, and enough,' said Khloe. Karrueche Tran stunned in new photos uploaded to Instagram on Tuesday featuring the star in a racy little black dress. The 34-year-old Claws actress bared her long, tanned and toned legs in the getup, which boasted dangling pieces of fabric. The beauty, who formerly dated Chris Brown and Victor Cruz, was all dolled up in the snapshots. Gorgeous: Karrueche Tran stunned in new photos uploaded to Instagram on Tuesday featuring the star in a racy little black dress In two outtakes the superstar sat on a cream-hued bench, posing for photos with dangling earrings in the shape of martini glasses. She flaunted her footwear in the images, which were black open-toe heels with wrap-around straps going up her legs. She bared her toes, revealing a fresh white manicure that nicely coordinated with her long, milky manicure with white polka dots. Her hands were additionally accentuated with a generous amount of showy rings. Leggy: The 34-year-old Claws actress bared her long, tanned and toned legs in the getup, which boasted dangling pieces of fabric Tran, who's a native of Los Angeles, skipped a necklace as she displayed some cleavage in the low-cut number. The TV star's hair was slicked back into a low bun with spiky pieces left out and a side part. She flashed her adorable cheek dimple as she was a ham for the camera in the fun flicks shared to the platform. Karrueche used no words in her caption, instead employing a single black heart emoji as the post racked up likes from her 12.9 million followers. Looking good: The beauty, who formerly dated Chris Brown and Victor Cruz, was all dolled up in the snapshots Selfie: Tran posed alongside friend Lauren in one photo shared in the carousel of snaps The entertainer made sure to give props where due, tagging her makeup and hair stylists, Maddy Allure and Kookie Maffett, in the images. Her tantalizing look included a glittery eyeshadow pallet, blushed and bronzed cheeks, and a glossy lip. Karrueche enjoyed the company of friends Lauren Rodgers and Lydia Asrat for the Miami outing. In one detailed capture the socialite showed off the specifics of her outfit, snapping a shot of her sparkling silver Dolce & Gabbana purse and sequined frock. Girls' night: Karrueche enjoyed the company of friends Lauren Rodgers and Lydia Asrat for the Miami outing On Monday night the superstar left little to the imagination as she donned a sheer crochet nude midi dress while heading to dinner at Carbone. She currently stars in the web series The Bay, which is produced by Ronn Moss and his wife Devin Devasquez, and appears on Peacock. Tran, who won two Daytime Emmy Awards for producing the series, plays the role of Vivian Johnson. The show's sixth season earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Daytime Fiction Program in 2021. Up-close: In one detailed capture the socialite showed off the specifics of her outfit, snapping a shot of her sparkling silver Dolce & Gabbana purse and sequined frock Edward Norton discovered that he is a direct descendent of Pocahontas while making a guest appearance during an episode of the hit PBS show, Finding Your Roots, that is set to air on Tuesday. The Fight Club actor, 53, additionally learned from host and historian, Henry Louis Gates Jr., that his ancestors were once slave owners, prompting the star to admit, 'these things are uncomfortable,' reported Metro. The Golden Globe winner, who most recently starred in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, kicked off the popular show's ninth season, which takes a closer look at celebrities and their family ancestry. A revelation: Edward Norton, 53, discovered that he is related to Pocahontas during Tuesday's episode of Finding Your Roots which airs on PBS; seen in October 2022 in London The award winner was surprised to find out about his ancestral lineage, especially to learn that his 12th great-grandmother was none other than Pocahontas, who had a monumental impact in history, and was linked to the Jamestown colonial settlement in Virginia. 'This is about as far back as you can go, unless youre a Viking,' the actor had expressed on the episode, according to NBC Philadelphia. The Primal Fear star further added that, 'It makes you realize what a small piece of the human story you are.' According to the publication, Edward was a direct descendant of Pocahontas through her marriage to tobacco planter, John Rolfe, that took place in 1614. Three years later, she had reportedly passed away in 1617. Reaction: Upon learning about his ancestral roots, the Golden Globe winner expressed during Tuesday's episode, 'It makes you realize what a small piece of the human story you are'; seen in October 2022 in London History: Edward was a direct descendant of Pocahontas through her marriage to tobacco planter, John Rolfe, that took place in 1614, reported NBC Philadelphia; a statue of Pocahontas Edward discovered an additional piece of information, which he admitted left him feeling 'uncomfortable.' According to Metro, the actor was later shown a photo of a husband and wife, along with their five daughters, the oldest only being ten-years-old. The host of Finding Your Roots and Harvard professor informed the Oscar nominee that his ancestors owned the family as slaves in the past. Edward opened up about his feelings upon learning the information, and expressed to Henry that, '...these things are uncomfortable, and you should be uncomfortable with them. Everybody should be uncomfortable with it.' He then added, 'Its not a judgement on you and your own life but its a judgement on the history of this country.' Additional history: During the episode, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. informed the Oscar nominee that his ancestors were once owners of slaves; seen in December 2022 in NYC Latest episode: Edward made a guest episode to kick off Finding Your Roots ninth season during an episode that airs on Tuesday; seen starring in Glass Onion on Netflix 'It needs to be acknowledged first and foremost, and then it needs to be contended with,' Edward stated. 'When you go away from census counts and you personalize things, youre talking about, possibly, a husband and wife with five girls, and these girls are slaves. Born into slavery,' the American History X star stated, He then emotionally added, 'Again, when you read 'slave aged eight,' you just want to die.' The ninth season's first episode of PBS' Finding Your Roots, which looks closely into the ancestry of both Edward and Pretty Woman actress, Julia Roberts, is set to air on the network on Tuesday. The series first premiered back in 2012, and has welcomed a number of celebrity guests in the past, such as Lupita Nyong'o, Issa Rae, Jordan Peele, and Glenn Close. In the upcoming season, viewers will have a chance to see not only Edward on the screen, but other stars such as Claire Danes and Sofia Vergara's husband, Joe Manganiello. Waterloo Road Rating: * The Hairy Bikers Go Local Rating: **** With a flourish of a vandals spray can, any pretence at BBC impartiality has gone for ever. The culture wars are raging and Auntie is on the barricades. Our state broadcasters school soap opera, Waterloo Road (BBC1), returned with a full-scale student revolution with pupils inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests. The show, which last aired eight years ago, re-opened with a girl scrawling the word racist across a metal plaque depicting her schools 19th-century founder, one William Beswick. At least she managed to spell racist correctly. Thats a decade of education well spent. Her gesture sparked a playground putsch, with pupils waving placards proclaiming Not my school and Students against slavery. Gallons of red paint were lobbed around, representing the blood of slaves. A bunch of thuggish boys turned up and started yelling Snowflake! and other insults at the rioters. Our state broadcasters school soap opera, Waterloo Road (BBC1), returned with a full-scale student revolution with pupils inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests The anti-woke brigade all appeared to be white, working-class and male. However much lip-service the Beeb might pay to its diversity agenda, promising to represent and even (gasp!) employ young white Brits from low-income backgrounds, its obvious that BBC bosses regard them as the cultural enemy. Teachers trying to quell the riot made no secret of their support for the pupils violent grievance. Weve got a white supremecists name on our blazers, shrieked one girl. That is not OK. William Beswick was torn down from the wall. What crimes he may have committed were not revealed but evidently, one was to set up a free school for underprivileged children, in an era when the government didnt pay for universal education. What a cad. None of the characters discussed this, because the drama has no intention of being balanced or tackling complex social issues seriously. The intention is only to posture and establish the BBCs moral superiority. As well as being blatantly political, it is irresponsible of the corporation, even reckless, to inflame racial unrest in schools. Waterloo Road aired at primetime, just before the beginning of a new term. Are BBC executives deliberately trying to stir up violence and unrest in British schools? Do they care that countless young people will watch and might think it looks glamorous and virtuous to start a classroom riot? Not everyone at New Broadcasting House is thrilled with the virtue-signalling agenda. Si King and Dave Myers, on The Hairy Bikers Go Local (BBC2), were struggling to hide their loathing for their new electric motorcycles. Theres no clutch, groaned Si, scrabbling with the controls. Theres no engine noise, theres no vibration. Weve got to embrace the future, agreed Dave with a half-hearted attempt at enthusiasm. But misery was written all over the pair when they arrived in silence at a South Wales farm. Whats the point of being a biker if you cant rock up with that Harley-Davidson animal roar? Their new format was in better fettle. Dave and Si find a friendly restaurateur who is keen on local produce. Then they scour the surrounding countryside for rare produce. This time, they found Wye Valley mead and truffles, and green tea grown on the banks of the Bristol Channel. These boys love their grub so much, they sometimes resort to poetry. Watching Si garnish a rice dish, Dave sighed: The delicacy of a butterfly landing on a geranium. Dave didnt mention his recent cancer treatment, other than to say he hasnt had much time for cooking lately. But these two old geezers always look out for each other. Theres a genuine friendship thats lovely to see. Hypocrite of the week: PM Harold Wilson was a Pipesmoker of the Year... but Kevin McNally, playing the PM in Stonehouse (ITV), is chain-smoking cigars. Thats historically accurate Labour leader Wilson hid his love of Havanas, fearing voters would think hed gone posh. She launched her career as a social media influencer after rising to fame on the sixth season of Married At First Sight. But behind the shiny veneer of fame, makeup artist Lauren Huntriss has been struggling with a secret health battle. On Tuesday, the 34-year-old revealed she has been battling from severe skin flare-ups for some time. Married At First Sight star Lauren Huntriss (pictured) has revealed her secret health battle on Tuesday Lauren shared a series of photos to Instagram of her face and hands covered in red marks. 'After several years of managing to keep my skin flare-ups at bay they are back in full swing. Yay!' she began. 'I know I promised you all a NYE Makeup tutorial but to be honest with you, applying makeup to my skin is honestly the last thing I want to do right now.' The 34-year-old revealed she has been battling from severe skin flare-ups for some time 'I know I've said no to a lot of your invitations to hang out lately. The truth is, I start getting ready, I pump myself up then I look in the mirror and suddenly tears start to flow.' Lauren continued: 'I come up with any excuse under the sun to get out of any and every social interaction.' She explained she is 'turning her weakness into a strength' this year and isn't going to hide her condition anymore. 'I'm no longer going to hide my condition or waste another day feeling sorry for myself! I have so many reasons to be grateful and I will be putting all of my focus on those things,' she wrote 'I'm no longer going to hide my condition or waste another day feeling sorry for myself! I have so many reasons to be grateful and I will be putting all of my focus on those things,' she wrote. 'I am SO grateful for those of you who post about your skin struggles on here. It makes me feel less alone knowing there is a whole supportive community out there. Hopefully I can be that person for you.' Lauren rose to fame on Married At First Sight Australia on season six, back in 2015. She 'married' virgin Matthew Bennett on the show but they failed to last. DJ Diplo proved he certainly doesn't need a turntable to get attention as he went for a dip at Bondi Beach on Monday. The American star, real name Thomas Wesley Pentz, showed off his muscular figure as he stripped down to a pair of tight red shorts as he did laps at Bondi's famous Icebergs pool. The 44-year-old showcased his toned stomach and meaty pecs as he soaked up the sun after playing at several New Year's events Down Under. Shirtless DJ Diplo, 44, (pictured) showcased his muscular chest and extensive tattoo collection as he enjoyed a swim in a pair of tight red shorts at Icebergs pool in Sydney on Monday The star showcased his extensive tattoo collection on his biceps and toned torso. He also happily flaunted his muscular legs before donning a pair of goggles and doing laps at the heavily Instagrammed pool. Diplo showcased her toned stomach and meaty pecs as he soaked up the sun following New Year's events Down Under. The star did a couple of laps at the pool He later basked in the sun at the ocean pool alongside an entourage of bikini-clad women. Diplo has been at a string of events including at Perth's Wildlands Festival 2022. He later played at Sydney's Field Day festival on New Year's Day. The star opted to keep hydrated as she drunk water at the heavily Instagrammed pool Diplo has been at a string of events including at Perth's Wildlands Festival 2022. He later played at Sydney's Field Day festival on New Year's Day The American star was joined by Yung Lean and Dom Dolla on the festival circuit. Diplo was only recently spotted frolicking around a Miami beach alongside model Chantel Jeffries after setting off dating rumours in 2020. He first rose to fame in the late 1990s, while Chantel started out as a model, but entered the music business about four years ago and occasionally goes by CJ the DJ. The American star was joined by Yung Lean and Dom Dolla on the festival circuit Diplo looked toned and tanned in his shorts showcasing his musclebound legs Diplo was only recently spotted frolicking around a Miami beach alongside Chantel Jeffries after setting off dating rumours in 2020 The dynamic duo first set off romance rumors nearly three years ago in January 2020, when they were seen wrapped around each other in the ocean in Mexico. In the intervening time they have been seen traveling together to multiple locations, including around November last year when they indulged in a vacation to Cabo San Lucas. However they never publicly declared that they were an item. Diplo first came up in the late 1990s, while Chantel rose to fame as a model but entered the music business about four years ago and occasionally goes by CJ the DJ In December, Diplo was seen performing a headstand during a beach day with a different bikini bombshell, Sheribel Suarez, 24, of Love Island fame. He was in Miami attending Art Basel. A Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries-built LNG ship / Courtesy of KSOE By Kim Hyun-bin Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) decided not to take Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries public due to a rise in economic uncertainties that has seen stock prices plummet, according to industry officials, Wednesday. According to DART, a repository of Korea corporate filings, KSOE will purchase 4,647,201 shares of Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries held by private equity fund IMM PE. The purchase of shares follows the signing of an agreement in July 2017 to terminate the equity investment contract with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries between KSOE and IMM PE. IMM PE acquired shares of Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries under the condition that the latter, a subsidiary of KSOE, go public. According to this agreement, KSOE plans to purchase Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries shares held by IMM PE at 88,157 won ($69.2) per share in January. The acquisition amount is 409.7 billion won, of which KSOE planned to pay 266.7 billion won in cash and the remaining in shares of Hyundai Heavy Industries worth 143 billion won. Many believe KSOE felt burdened by minority shareholders' fierce opposition to the listing, which could have impacted the withdrawal. Shareholders of KSOE established a non-profit organization in October of last year and started collecting shares. So far, 1,168,984 shares have been collected, and their stake in the company stands at 1.65 percent. "Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries succeeded in turning a profit in the third quarter, and expectations for performance improvement are high," an official from KSOE said. "Nevertheless, in the current stagnant stock market, it would be difficult to properly evaluate the value of Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries even if pursued listing, so we decided to terminate the contract under an agreement between the two companies." KSOE stock price rose 7.05 percent recording 74,400 per share at market close, Wednesday. Meanwhile, Kurly, which operates the early morning delivery platform Market Kurly, postponed its listing on the Korea Exchange, due to a decline in investor sentiment caused by deteriorating global economic conditions, the company announced, Wednesday. "We plan to re-promote it at the optimal time to fully evaluate the company's value in the future," the company said. Kurly passed the preliminary screening for listing in August last year, raising expectations in the market to become the first listed e-commerce company in Korea. However, the possibility of delisting came to the fore as the company could not decide on the timing of filing a securities report. Previously, in the IPO market, it was predicted that Kurly's deficit would increase each year, which would become a barrier to listing the firm. Kurly's deficit increased every year from 33.7 billion won in 2018 to 101.3 billion won in 2019 and 116.3 billion won in 2020, and recorded 217.7 billion won in deficit in 2021. Jodie Foster was spotted out and about with wife Alexandra Hedison in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The longtime couple, 60 and 53 respectively, bundled up on the unusually gloomy day to grab lunch in West Hollywood. The Flightplan star wore a gray-trimmed navy blue beanie hat on her head, with bits of her short blonde hair poking out underneath. On the town: Jodie Foster was spotted out and about with wife Alexandra Hedison in Los Angeles on Tuesday The silver screen star was makeup free and she wore a pair of thin-rimmed seeing eyeglasses. Jodie layered up in a cropped black double-breasted coat that she sported on top of a gray hooded sweatshirt. She wore light beige pants and carried a large red utilitarian fanny pack for the outing. Finishing the casual and comfortable look, she walked in a pair of dark sneakers with a white platform sole. Keeping warm: The longtime couple, 60 and 53 respectively, bundled up on the unusually gloomy day to grab lunch in West Hollywood For her part, Alexandra, a photographer, zipped up a dark puffer vest that she wore over a green sweater. She added a tight, neck-hugging orange scarf with a horizontal tube-like ribbed design. The former actress and director added khaki-hued cargo pants, punctuating the ensemble with well-worn sneakers. Her graying brunette pixie haircut was styled in a side part and cropped neatly above her ears. Longtime love: The twosome married in 2014 after one year of dating in a private ceremony held in April The twosome married in 2014 after one year of dating in a private ceremony held in April. A source once told People about the under-the-radar couple, 'They are very private when they're around people they don't know.' The insider added, 'But when they're together, it can be like they're in their own world.' Alexandra was previously in a relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Meanwhile, Jodie was in a relationship with Cydney Bernard from 1993 until 2003, and the former couple shares two sons, Charles, 24 and Kit, 20. It was recently reported she Had 'fallen out' with staff members on the set of MasterChef Australia. But Melissa Leong appears to be putting her woes behind her and making the most of her summer break. The 40-year-old took to Instagram on Tuesday to share photos of her luxury retreat while holidaying in Bali. MasterChef judge Melissa Leong showed off her cleavage in a swimsuit during a trip to Bali on Wednesday after reflecting on 'bad behaviour' - amid claims of strained relations between judge and staff on the cooking show Leong showed off her incredible physique in a white one-piece swimsuit while posing for a mirror selfie before heading to the pool. 'If anyone needs me, don't. I'll be here though,' she captioned a photo of her laying down on a sunbed. She then shared a second photo of herself in the swimsuit and wrote: 'Never in my life did I see myself wearing a white swimsuit, but I love her.' Leong also shared a photo of a pond full of Koi fish. Leong showed off her incredible physique in a white one-piece swimsuit while posing for a mirror selfie before heading to the pool Leong also shared a photo of a pond full of Koi fish It comes after Leong broke her silence amid claims of tension with staff members on set of the Channel 10 cooking show. She revealed she has taken some time out to reflect on her year while sharing a cryptic quote about finding grace and optimism. Uploading a photo of her new talisman tattoo on Instagram last week, she wrote: 'A talisman for the year ahead.' It comes after Leong recently revealed that she has taken some time out to reflect on her year while sharing a cryptic quote about finding grace and optimism 'This year has shown me the best and the worst of human behaviour, both in the world at large, as well as in my own life. 'May we always find the grace and fortitude to meet people as they are, never losing our capacity for optimism, hope and goodness.' Leong went on to encourage her followers to question motive, listen to their gut, but never dim their light. Uploading a photo of her new talisman tattoo on Instagram last week, Leong wrote: 'A talisman for the year ahead' She continued: 'Realise there is power in cutting people off from your energy who don't deserve it. They're always watching though, so give them a goddamn good show. 'And if all else fails, wear an evil eye or two... Karma will balance the scales without your help, and some people are just d**ks.' It comes after it was revealed crew from the hit cooking show were reminded of a confidentiality clause in their contracts. It comes after it was revealed crew from the hit cooking show were reminded of a confidentiality clause in their contracts amid claims Leong has 'fallen out' with some staff members MasterChef's production company Endemol Shine has warned cast and crew about breaching the rules. The company reportedly told staff they would have their contracts torn if they breached the confidentiality clause or spoke to media about behind-the-scenes secrets. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel 10 for comment. The show's production company Endemol Shine has warned cast and crew about breaching the rules According to The Daily Telegraph, the fan-favourite food critic now 'does her own hair and make-up' due to tension with Endemol Shine's beauty crew. Sources told the paper that production staff and Leong 'no longer want to work together' but Ten hasn't addressed the issues. Insiders at Ten say the situation was aggravated after a freelancer was hired to do Leong's hair, before later being asked to not work with her. The company reportedly told staff they would have their contracts torn if they breached the confidentiality clause or spoke to media about behind-the-scenes secrets According to The Daily Telegraph, the fan-favourite food critic now 'does her own hair and make-up' due to tension with Endemol Shine's beauty crew Confidential also claimed that Leong accused the crew of bullying in April after staff didn't provide her with a cake on her birthday. The Sydney-born food writer has become extremely popular since joining the show in 2020. Despite rumours of a rift with staff, Leong appears to be friendly with her fellow judges and attended the AACTA Awards with Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo at the end of last year. The trio had plenty to celebrate during the ceremony as MasterChef was awarded the trophy for Best Reality Program. Teresa Giudice showed off her fit physique in a black bikini in an Instagram post on Tuesday from her family vacation in Mexico. The 50-year-old reality star had her curves on display in a tiny Chanel two-piece as she posed near a pool at Rosa Negra in Tulum. 'Tulum,' Teresa wrote as a caption along with a black heart emoji for her roughly 2.3 million followers. Black bikini: Teresa Giudice showed off her fit physique in a black bikini in an Instagram post on Tuesday from her family vacation in Mexico The Real Housewives Of New Jersey star also posted a group portrait that included her husband Luis Ruelas, 47, and their children from previous relationships. The dynamic couple have a combined six children: Giudice shares daughters Audriana, 13, Milania, 16, Gabriella, 18, and Gia, 21, with ex-husband Joe Giudice, while Ruelas is dad to sons Louie Jr., 19, and Nicholas, 21, from a previous relationship. 'White Party New Years Eve 2023,' Teresa wrote as a caption. Teresa and Luis got married last August in East Brunswick, New Jersey, after getting engaged in October 2021. Group photo: The Real Housewives Of New Jersey star also posted a group portrait that included her husband Luis Ruelas, 47, and their children from previous relationships Wearing white: 'White Party New Years Eve 2023,' Teresa wrote as a caption Dynamic couple: The dynamic couple have a combined six children: Giudice shares daughters Audriana, 13, Milania, 16, Gabriella, 18, and Gia, 21, with ex-husband Joe Giudice, while Ruelas is dad to sons Louie Jr., 19, and Nicholas, 21, from a previous relationship Cute couple: Luis also shared a photo of himself with Teresa in her black bikini The lead-up to their wedding and Teresa's family drama with brother Joe Gorga, 43, and her sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, 43, will be shown on the upcoming season of RHONJ. Teresa's fellow RHONJ co-stars Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jennifer Aydin and Jackie Goldschneider attended the wedding, but her fellow co-star Melissa and brother Joe skipped it. Luis and Teresa have been enjoying the holidays together for the first time since getting married. Beach fun: The couple also relaxed on the beach together Good times: Teresa and Luis beamed as they posed near a pool Still newylweds: Luis and Teresa, shown last month on Instagram, have been enjoying the holidays together for the first time since getting married It comes after the loved-up duo admitted that they are still keeping the spark alive in the bedroom, after claiming they have sex five times a day in August. Teresa told People on Friday: 'That was on our honeymoon. You figure morning, afternoon, nighttime and in between. But I mean listen, my point is, if you don't do that, then that's not normal. That means you love the person you're with and want to be with ... I mean if not, then why be with that person?' 'It's a normal thing when you love someone,' she added. Meanwhile Ruelas concurred, stating: '[During the honeymoon] I'm like, "I'm going home with a lot of clean clothes," 'cause we stayed naked a lot of the time, but it was like... I'm attentive to [her] needs.' The Real Housewives Of New Jersey will return for its season 13 premiere on February 7. Waterloo Road was back on our screens on Tuesday night and Ryan Thomas was proud as punch as he watched his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett make her acting debut. The teenager has acting in her blood as her mother is Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien, with Ryan, 38, also having found fame on the soap. But now Scarlett is stepping out of her parents' shadows and has a main role in the revamp of Waterloo Road, which returned to BBC after an eight-year break. Runs in the family: Waterloo Road was back on our screens on Tuesday night and Ryan Thomas was proud as punch as he watched his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett make her acting debut Taking to Instagram ahead of the show, Ryan said: 'What a time to be alive. Tonight, BBC One, 8pm, Waterloo Road, my little brother Adam, my little nephew Teddy and eldest daughter Scarlett take over the TV screen together as a family. 'Talk about a proud moment for the Thomases! Wow. I can't wait for you guys to see it. We watched it together as a family.' The episode ended in heartache for Scarlett's character Izzie after her mum Chloe dramatically died after being hit by a car. Excited: The teenager has acting in her blood as her mother is Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien, with Ryan, 38, also starring in the soap. The actor took to Instagram ahead of the show After seeming alright at first, Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, took a turn for the worst and collapsed on the kitchen floor, before being rushed to hospital but it was too late. The show is a full family affair as Scarlett plays the on-screen daughter of her uncle Adam, while Adam's seven-year-old son Teddy, whom he shares with wife Caroline Thomas, also stars. Adam returns to his role Donte Charles in the school based series this summer after a 15 year break from the show. Family: Donte and his on-screen wife Chloe had a baby called Izzie years ago on the show and now she's grown up and making an appearance, with Adam's son Teddy also part of the family Tragic: Scarlett plays the on-screen daughter of her uncle Adam. The episode ended in heartache for Scarlett's character Izzi after her mum dramatically died Donte and his on-screen wife Chloe had a baby called Izzie years ago on the show and now she's grown up and making an appearance - played by Scarlett. The secondary school-set show first aired in 2006 and won legions of fans by tackling numerous tough issues over its 200-episode run. Now it will tackle the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on school kids. The gritty show - which was written by the creators of ITV prison drama Bad Girls - was originally set in Rochdale but later series saw a relocation to Greenock, Scotland. The new episodes will be set once again in Greater Manchester. Adam made the adorable announcement about Scarlett, the child of Coronation Street's Ryan and his former co-star Tina O'Brien during BBC's Morning Live. Big break: Scarlett is stepping out of her parents' shadows and has a main role in the revamp of Waterloo Road, which returned to BBC after an eight-year break. Filled with glee, the proud uncle began: 'I can't believe I'm actually saying this. I feel like I'm working for Marvel, I can never say too much about what is going on... 'But what I can tell you is my little niece Scarlett Thomas is going to be joining the cast of Waterloo Road. She doesn't know it yet so congratulations Scarlett. 'Only joking. She's playing my daughter, I really don't know how that's gonna be.' As well as Scarlett, Ryan and his fiance Lucy Mecklenburgh are proud parents to son Roman and daughter Lilah Rae. Tiger King star Joe Exotic is now a single man again, after his divorce from third husband Dillon Passage is now finalized... just a week after teasing it was close. The 59-year-old Exotic (real name Joseph Allen Schreibvogel) had tied the knot with Passage, 27, in December 2017. Passage revealed on Instagram in March 2021 that he was seeking a divorce, and now his dissolution of marriage has been finalized in Santa Rosa, Florida, via TMZ. Final: Tiger King star Joe Exotic is now a single man again, after his divorce from third husband Dillon Passage is now finalized... just a week after teasing it was close Passage and Exotic tied the knot just months after Exotic's last husband, Travis Maldonado, died in a tragic accident at just 23 years of age. The next year, Exotic was arrested for hiring two men to kill Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin, and he was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire. Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison in January 2020, which he served at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, though he managed to get his sentenced reduced to 21 years. Sentenced: Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison in January 2020, which he served at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, though he managed to get his sentenced reduced to 21 years The first sign of trouble in the relationship came in March 2021, when Exotic's attorney Francisco Hernandez told TMZ that Exotic was, 'distraught after getting a phone call in prison from Dillon saying he's planning to leave him.' Passage said in a since-deleted Instagram post that he was seeking a divorce and still on good terms with Exotic... though the TMZ report claimed Joe was so hurt by the revelation that he was considering filing for divorce before Dillon could. Divorce papers weren't actually filed until late March 2022, when Exotic filed, with Dillon already moving on in another relationship. Trouble: The first sign of trouble in the relationship came in March 2021, when Exotic's attorney Francisco Hernandez told TMZ that Exotic was, 'distraught after getting a phone call in prison from Dillon saying he's planning to leave him' The dissolution now restores Exotic's name to Joseph Allen Maldonado, after previously going by Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage. Both Passage and Exotic teased on social media last week that the marriage was almost officially over. Exotic tweeted, 'Just waiting on the final order from the judge,' with the hashtags #JoeExotic and #Divorce. Final: Exotic tweeted, 'Just waiting on the final order from the judge,' with the hashtags #JoeExotic and #Divorce Passage shared a new snap of him flashing the peace sign last Tuesday, revealing Exotic finally signed the papers. 'WOOHOO! I dont think anybody can understand the excitement I feel today! Divorce papers have finally been signed by the other party and I FEEL SO FREE!' Passage began. 'Its been a battle and tens of thousands of dollars spent over the past year and a half trying to be released from my own kind of prison but it was all so worth it!' he added. 'Excited to move forward with my life and with my amazing partner John @devarti_j who supports me in all things! Next step: engineering school!' he concluded. Despite the fact that they announced their breakup five months ago, Zach Braff didn't forget his ex-girlfriend Florence Pugh's birthday this year. The Scrubs star, 47, took to his Instagram Stories to share a snap of the Don't Worry Darling actress as she turned 27, and wrote, 'Happy birthday, legend.' The black and white photo featured the British star sitting on the slopes of Mount Lee in Los Angeles, looking over the Hollywood sign, with a fantastic view of Tinseltown behind her. 'Legend': Zach Braff, 47, took to his Instagram Stories on Tuesday to wish his ex Florence Pugh a happy 27th birthday, as he shared a snap of the actress and wrote, 'Happy birthday, legend' Pugh announced she and Braff split up after three years together last year, in an August interview with Harper's Bazaar, where she said they went their separate ways earlier that year. The pair worked to keep their relationship out of the public eye, with Florence saying they wanted to break up in private. She said: 'We've been trying to do this separation without the world knowing, because it's been a relationship that everybody has an opinion on.' Friendly: Pugh announced in August of 2022 that she and the Scrubs star split up earlier that year, after three years together 'We just felt something like this would really do us the benefit of not having millions of people telling us how happy they are that we're not together. So we've done that. I automatically get a lumpy throat when I talk about it.' Florence did not reveal when exactly she and Zach broke up, but they were still together in April when she wished him a happy 47th birthday on Instagram. The 21-year age gap between the pair drew attention during their three-year courtship. In 2021, Florence spoke to The Sunday Times about the cruel comments she received from trolls after wishing Zach a happy 46th birthday. Age difference: Throughout their union the couple battled negative comments about their their 21-year age gap. 'I think it bugs people that it's not who they expected,' Florence said; Pictured 2020 She said: 'I think it bugs people that it's not who they expected. But it's my life and I'm not doing anything to please people or to make it a better headline or story. I want to also be a person!' Prior to their split, Florence and Zach were working on the film A Good Person together, which he directed. The premise of the feature follows Pugh's character, Allison, 'whose life falls apart following her involvement in a fatal accident,' according to an IMDB synopsis. Careers: Prior to their split, Florence and Zach were working on the film A Good Person together, which he directed Moving film: Florence was cast alongside Oscar winner Morgan Freeman. The film is set to premiere in March 2023 A Good Person is set to premiere in March 2023, and also cast Oscar-winner, Morgan Freeman, to take on the other leading role. Zach sang Florence's praises during the production of the project, calling her 'one of the best actresses working' today. The couple first met on the set of his short film In the Time It Takes to Get There, and they first ignited romance rumours in April 2019 when they were spotted holding hands, but neither confirmed anything until the following December. Special day: Florence celebrated her birthday as her fans declared it an 'international holiday' Florence celebrated her birthday earlier in the day, as her fans declared it an 'international holiday.' The Oscar-nominated actress took to her Instagram on Monday to remind fans of her birthday with beaming selfie, while sporting a face mask. She wrote: 'Tomorrow's not just any day 03.01.' Holiday: Florence has encouraged her fans previously to celebrate 'National Florence Pugh Day' with special reminders for the past four years Florence has encouraged her fans previously to celebrate 'National Florence Pugh Day' with special reminders for the past four years. And her followers took up the challenge, taking to Twitter to celebrate by sharing photos of the Little Women star and watching her filmography, so much so that her name was soon trending. One fan wrote: 'Happy Florence Pugh birthday to all the girls, gays, and theys who celebrate'. Another echoed: 'It's florence pugh birthday & it's a special international holiday hello give me my day off @ work'. A third tweeted out: 'I know tomorrow is technically a bank holiday for new years, however due to how it's fallen I've decided it's a bank holiday for @Florence_Pugh birthday instead. Buck Fizz's ready.' And a fourth declared: 'gorgeous gorgeous girls celebrate Florence Pugh's birthday like she's your girlfriend'. The actress is set to appear in Dune: Part Two along with other talented cast members such as Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. The film is slated to premiere in theaters in November 2023. Rachael Finch and Michael Miziner celebrated nine years of marriage on Monday. The pair, who met on Dancing With The Stars in 2010, proved stronger than ever as they celebrated with a boat trip in Noosa. The couple could barely keep their hands off each other as they basked in the sun while sitting on the deck of the vessel. Rachael Finch and husband Michael Miziner couldn't keep their hands off each other as they stripped to swimwear for a nine-year anniversary cruise in Noosa on Monday. Pictured At one point, the couple shared a passionate kiss, with Rachael sitting in the dancer's arms as they locked lips. Rachael looked more in shape than ever in a turquoise bikini and cane sunhat to protect her picture perfect complexion. The star tied a blue and white striped towel around her waist. Meanwhile, Michael bared his torso in a pair of grey shorts while standing on the deck of the boat. The dancer shielded his eyes from the sun with a pair of designer sunglasses. The couple could barely keep their hands off each other as they basked in the sun while sitting on the deck of the vessel At one point, the couple shared a passionate kiss, with Rachael sitting in the dancer's arms as they locked lips The happy couple appeared to be deep in conversation after sharing a kiss together Rachael looked more in shape than ever in a turquoise bikini and stylish sunhat to protect her picture perfect complexion On Monday, Rachael took to Instagram to share a gushing tribute to her husband as they celebrated their nine year wedding anniversary. 'The best decision I ever made in my life is you. 9 years married, 12 together, feels like 5 minutes,' she captioned a photo of the couple looking as loved-up as ever. Rachael shared a photo of the couple ringing in the new year alongside their two children Dominic, three, and daughter Violet, seven. Rachael was also seen texting on the side of the boat while Michael chatted to a friend The former Miss Universe Australia recently told fans that compromise and communication are key for a successful marriage. 'What are ways to create and support a happy marriage?' one fan asked Rachael. She explained: 'Work together, learn to compromise, communicate, continue to evolve as a couple, take time out for just the two of you, to keep an open mind and find fun in every day.' The star tied a blue and white striped towel around her waist The fitness influencer clung to the side of the boat to maintain her balance Rachael met her husband Michael on the 2010 season of Dancing With The Stars - he was her dance partner, and she a contestant. The couple, who married in 2013, now balance parenthood with a burgeoning fitness empire. They share daughter Violet, seven, and son Dominic, three. Michael wore a pair of grey shorts and a trucker cap while standing on the deck of the boat The dancer shielded his eyes from the sun with a pair of designer sunglasses Last year, Rachael and Michael celebrated their wedding anniversary by sharing a video to Instagram in which they did a couples quiz, hosted by Rachael's sister. As Rachael and Michael sat on their bed, the model giggled as her sister fired off sweet questions. Those questions included, 'Who initiated the first kiss' and Rachael pointed to herself to indicate it was her. Rachael met her husband Michael on the 2010 season of Dancing With The Stars - he was her dance partner, and she a contestant Asked who was 'more patient', Michael said it was him, and he also said 'I love you' first. Michael likewise said he was the 'social butterfly' of the pair, but Rachael was more likely to get a tattoo. 'How did I get so lucky @mikemiziner? I couldn't imagine my life any other way,' she wrote. Tracee Ellis Ross has joined the cast of the Eddie Murphy starrer Candy Cane Lane, which is already in production. The 50-year-old daughter of Diana Ross is best known for her roles on two long-running successful sitcoms, Girlfriends and Black-ish. Now with those shows in the rearview, she has hopped aboard Eddie's upcoming Christmas movie for Amazon Prime, Deadline reports. What a pair: Tracee Ellis Ross (left) has joined the cast of the Eddie Murphy (right) starrer Candy Cane Lane, which is already in production Candy Cane Lane is the first movie being made as part of Eddie's three-picture first-look deal on Prime Video, which he struck in 2021. The agreement came after Eddie scored a professional triumph on Prime Video with Coming 2 America, the sequel to his iconic 1988 movie Coming To America. Although Coming 2 America divided the critics to the tune of 49% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie was a big success with audiences. In fact it became the first Prime Video movie to achieve the number one position on the Nielsen weekly streaming chart, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Back at it: The agreement came after Eddie scored a professional triumph on Prime Video with Coming 2 America (pictured), the sequel to his iconic 1988 movie Coming To America Meanwhile last year Black-ish aired its series finale after an eight-season run that, by the time the show was over, had already sprouted more than one spin-off. After the finale, Tracee spoke to People magazine about the rush of feelings she experienced around the time she wrapped. 'I think there's something really special when you know something's coming to an end that you really get to kind of revel in all that you love about something,' said she. End of the road: Meanwhile last year Black-ish, Tracee's latest big sitcom, aired its series finale after a successful eight-season run As the project drew to a close, she 'was able to talk to everybody, really specifically, and hear from so many people what exactly their takeaway was and why this show was impactful personally in their lives. The last week was filled with a lot of that.' She 'hugged the kids in a way that was annoying, I'm sure,' and found herself getting so weepy that even her TV husband Anthony Anderson was taken aback. 'And I gave myself permission to cry as much as I needed to, to the point that Anthony was like: "Seriously, are you crying again?"' she shared gamely. Lil Keed's cause of death has been attributed to natural causes as result of eosinophilia by medical officials in Los Angeles. People reported the cause of death Tuesday after reviewing the release from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. The musical artist, who was affiliated with Young Thug's YSL Records, died at the age of 24 on May 13, 2022, hours after he entered Burbank hospital while dealing with stomach and back pain. Details: Lil Keed's cause of death at 24 has been attributed to natural causes as result of eosinophilia by medical officials in LA. The musical artist was pictured in 2021 in Atlanta According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is one in which patients have 'a higher than normal level of eosinophils,' which 'are a type of disease-fighting white blood cell. 'This condition most often indicates a parasitic infection, an allergic reaction or cancer.' Medical officials said in the coroner's report that the underlying cause of the condition was not clear. In the report reviewed by the outlet, officials said that the rap artist said he needed to head to the hospital due to 'stomach and back pains' on the evening of May 13 at around 7:30 p.m. local time. Lil Keed, who was affiliated with Young Thug's YSL Records, died at the age of 24 on May 13, 2022, hours after he entered Burbank hospital while dealing with stomach and back pain The musical artist, whose real name was Rahqid Render, was pictured at an Atlanta Hawks game in March of 2022 The musical artist, whose real name was Rahqid Render, 'had been sick in bed for 4 days with complaints of stomach and back pains' and that 'his brother noted that [his] eyes were jaundiced and drove him to the hospital in a private vehicle.' While headed to a nearby hospital, Lil Keed had a seizure and subsequently went unresponsive. He died at the medical facility on 10:14 p.m. later in the night. Lil Keed had a prior stint in a hospital in Georgia after experiencing stomach pain and subsequently 'left against medical advice and did not seek follow-up care,' according to the coroner's report. The rap artist regularly consumed alcohol and smoked from a vape pen, according to the coroner. According to his relatives, he was not a drug user and didn't have any unrelated medical conditions. The rapper's brother Lil Gotit remembered her his late sibling via social media in the wake of his death In the wake of his passing, his brother Lil Gotit took to Instagram with a memorial for his sibling. 'Can't believe I seened u die today bro I did all my cries I know what u want me to do and that's go hard for Mama Daddy Our Brothers Naychur and Whiteboy,' he said alongside a photo of them together. Lil Keed's girlfriend Quana Bandz, who is mother of his daughter Naychur, said, 'I love you sooooo much baby what I'm post to do with out you I can't breathe right sleep right nothing I don't even wanna talk to nobody Keed I can't take this.' Tammy Hembrow is no stranger to flaunting her sensational figure. And the star, 28, set pulses racing yet again on Wednesday as she donned a skimpy colourful bikini for a photoshoot. Tammy flaunted her flat stomach and ample chest as she posed in the striking swimwear which showcased her figure. Tammy Hembrow, 28, (pictured) flaunted her sensational figure in a colourful bikini as she shared a special New Year's message to her fans Tammy was seen touching her bikini top in the photos as she sat on the sun lounge of her Gold Coast home. 'Wealthiest thing to have this year is peace of mind,' she captioned the post. Tammy recently revealed she's split with Matt Poole during a photoshoot in Sydney. She confessed it was 'tough work being a single mother of three,' according to one of the makeup artists on set. Tammy flaunted her flat stomach and ample chest as she posed in the striking swimwear 'Wealthiest thing to have this year is peace of mind,' Tammy captioned the post 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 daughter to set'. 'Tammy said they were doing the best to keep a friendship while sharing their little one'. It comes after Tammy hit back at a fan when asked if she and ironman Matt have split. When asked why Matt hadn't featured in any of her recent YouTube videos, Tammy replied: 'That's just a part of my life I'm choosing not to share anymore.' Tammy appeared to have finally 'confirm her split from ex fiance Matt Poole' during a recent trip to Sydney in December 'And out of respect for everyone and for my kids I just don't feel like I need to give an explanation.' It was first rumoured the couple had split in August, just three months after welcoming their daughter Posy in June. The pair began dating in 2020 and became engaged in November 2021. Hembrow confessed it was 'tough work being a single mother of three,' according to one of the make-up artists on set 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. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Tammy and Matt for comment. Seen is a currency exchange shop with a photo of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, in Hong Kong, Dec. 25. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-won By Park Ji-won HONG KONG In June 2020, China passed the new national security law (NSL) for Hong Kong, making it easier for Beijing to prosecute Hongkongers, including extraditing citizens to the mainland. As the law can punish anyone who "endangers national security" and can be interpreted in different ways, many Hongkongers have been staying low key ever since the passage of the law or have decided to leave the city for good. Statistics from the U.K. show during the period from Jan. 31, 2021, to the end of June 2022, there were some 140,500 applications from Hong Kong for British National Overseas (BNO) citizenship, which allows Hongkongers born before 1997 to get U.K. citizenship. An estimated 5.4 million Hong Kong people out of its 7.5 million population are eligible for the move, according to the South China Morning Post. The COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 may have contributed to the government banning protesters from gathering as well as to the swift passing of the law. A street in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on July 5, 2019. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Some people have made the life-changing move to emigrate to other countries, but most Hongkongers carry on their lives in the city in the post-NSL era. Over the last couple years, things might not have changed dramatically, but there have been both subtle and major changes for some. "I don't say things that go against the government or China via messaging apps because I heard our messages can be wire-tapped anytime and the NSL can be applied," said a Japanese banker surnamed Suzuki who has been living in Hong Kong for the last five years. The resident said he and his Japanese friends "self-censor" when talking about many subjects with others electronically. "Compared to 2019, 2020 and 2021, I do care less, but if sensitive subjects related to China pop up, I try to talk about them in person. I am definitely more careful than before in my behavior." He is not the only person who acts discreetly in daily life, seeing the mainland gaining influence in Hong Kong. "In the subway, I can hear more students in their teens speaking Mandarin than before. School education is more focused on teaching the language than before," a private language school lecturer surnamed Wong, in his 40s, said. "There is a glass ceiling in promotion especially for foreigners in companies here. To get into upper positions, you should speak Mandarin Chinese well nowadays to do business with the mainland. I was able to get hired without speaking Mandarin Chinese about eight years ago, but now the language is required," said an office worker surnamed Kim, who has worked for an investment company over the last eight years. A window at Wan Chai Muay Thai in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, offers a glimpse inside the martial arts school where students are warming up on July 5, 2019. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk Some said the virtue of Hong Kong as a cultural melting pot is disappearing, losing the diversity of people from different countries. "Hong Kong used to be a place where there are always new people from all over the world and welcoming of new immigrants. But people are leaving the city and there are still mainland Chinese immigrants coming to Hong Kong," a merchandise shop owner surnamed Ng, in her 50s, said. "I am sad that the only thing I can say is, 'There is no way to change the situation.'" The total population of Hong Kong fell from 7.41 million people to 7.29 million as of August this year, a 1.6-percent decrease year-on-year, according to the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the number of immigrants from mainland China posted an average of around 40,000 every year between 2010 and 2019. But with the coronavirus pandemic, the number stood at some 10,000 from mid-2020 to mid-2021 and 18,000 from mid-2021 to mid-2022. Some companies have relocated to Singapore for good, but insiders point out that it cannot be a major trend if they consider their relationship with mainland China. "Companies cannot pull out of Hong Kong as it is considered as in opposition to mainland China," a banker surnamed Chang said. "There are businesses in the mainland too, but if companies pull out of Hong Kong, businessmen all know that there is a possibility that Chinese authorities may give them disadvantages in business." "In terms of corporate taxes, both Hong Kong and Singapore are attractive. Also, Singapore is family-oriented and considered boring, which means Hong Kong, which is still dynamic, can be an attractive city to many talented global professionals," a banker surnamed Cho in their 40s said. "Singapore cannot be an alternative to Hong Kong for political reasons, as Singapore also has a strong central administration." For some, including legislator Frankie Ngan Man-yu of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), a pro-Beijing party in Hong Kong, the passage of the law is a game changer in terms of offering the city "stability." Calling the protests "endangering public and national security," Ngan told The Korea Times, "The action indeed has made a significant contribution to reverting the chaotic situation, bringing unlawful acts to justice, suppressing the riots, and restoring normal lives for the members of the public so as to protect their lives and property and, more importantly, enable them to enjoy their legitimate rights and freedom without fear and threat to their safety." Seen is a restaurant with stuffed frogs and pigs symbolizing support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong on Dec. 27. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-won The city is still largely divided into two, so-called "yellow" or "blue" labels according to their pro-Beijing political stance. "Many restaurants and shops, which support the pro-democracy movement or so-called 'yellow' side, still have the characters of a frog, a pig and a man in a helmet of any form inside as signs to show their supportive stance for the movement," a Hongkonger surnamed Liu said. "It is no longer as big a thing as when the demonstrations were active. But we all know that from the characters whether it a shop is 'yellow' or not." Roughly speaking, being "yellow" means supporting the pro-democracy protesters while being "blue" means they support the police and are pro-Beijing. When there were fierce demonstrations between 2019 and 2020, protesters attacked shops that were considered pro-Beijing. For some, talking about politics among friends or out loud is considered taboo, as doing so may harm friendships due to political differences. "If I go to a restaurant, sometimes I can see the frog character and know it supports the movement. So even if I get closer to the owner of the restaurant, I try not to reveal my 'blue' stance because it may harm our relationship," Liu added. Interviewees' surnames only were used due to the sensitivity of the issue. Jennifer Aniston looked well-rested and ready to take on 2023 as she arrived back in Los Angeles after her annual New Year's trip to sunny Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Tuesday. The Friends alum, 53, was joined on the trip by a number of her A-list pals, including talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, 55, and Ozark star Jason Bateman, 53. She gave hugs and kisses to each member of her tight knit friend group as they bid farewell following the tropical getaway. Glowing: Jennifer Aniston looked well-rested and ready to take on 2023 as she arrived back in Los Angeles after her annual New Years trip to sunny Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday. The Friends alum, 53, was joined on the trip by a number of her A-list pals, including talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and Ozark star Jason Bateman (pictured) Comfy: She layered up with an oversized black batwing cardigan with light gray stripes that bordered the hem and sleeves. The Along Came Polly star slipped her fit figure into high-waisted light wash jeans and strolled out of the terminal in gray slide sandals Sun-kissed: The actress had a radiant, sun-kissed glow to her seemingly ageless visage The actress had a radiant, sun-kissed glow to her seemingly ageless visage. She was makeup-free and wore her wavy golden blonde hair down for the crew's flight back in LA. Aniston decked herself out in shiny gold jewelry to spruce up her casual look. She layered up with an oversized black batwing cardigan with light gray stripes that bordered the hem and sleeves. Farewell: She gave hugs and kisses to each member of her tight knit friend group as they bid farewell following the tropical getaway Packing up: Meanwhile, Kimmel loaded up the back of his family's vehicle in a navy blue long-sleeve top with denim jeans and brown suede shoes The Along Came Polly star slipped her fit figure into high-waisted light wash jeans and strolled out of the terminal in gray slide sandals. She grabbed her large black suitcase off a luggage cart that was wheeled outside by an airport employee. Before taking off, Aniston spent some time chatting with her pals and their respective families. She was engaged in deep conversation with Bateman, who was clad in a long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans. Effortless: She was makeup-free and wore her wavy golden blonde hair down for the crew's flight back in LA. Aniston decked herself out in shiny gold jewelry to spruce up her casual look Bateman's spouse Amanda Anka and Kimmel's wife Molly McNearney were standing right beside the longtime friends as they spoke. Aniston and Bateman eventually leaned in for a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Bateman and Kimmel brought along their respective children for the annual trip. Kimmel and McNearney share daughter Jane Kimmel, eight, and son William John, five, while Bateman and Anka have two daughters, Francesca, 16, and Maple, 10. Chatty: Before taking off, Aniston spent some time chatting with her pals and their respective families Focused: She was engaged in deep conversation with Bateman, who was clad in a long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans One-on-one: Aniston was captured having a sweet one-on-one chat with one of the couples' little girls Aniston was captured having a sweet one-on-one chat with one of the couples' little girls. She warmly placed a hand on the child's face before moving towards the sidewalk's edge near the rest of the group, who were busy packing up. Aniston was later seen saying goodbye to Kimmel's wife while their young son stood close by. Sweet: She warmly placed a hand on the child's face before moving towards the sidewalk's edge towards the rest of the group, who were busy packing up Jovial: Fresh off a vacation, Aniston looked to be in a jovial mood McNearney looked chic in a white blouse and black high-waisted pants styled with black-framed glasses and her blonde hair worn sleek and straight. They hugged and shared a kiss on the cheek. Meanwhile, Kimmel loaded up the back of his family's vehicle in a navy blue long-sleeve top with denim jeans and brown suede shoes. The friend group have made the New Years getaway to Cabo an annual tradition. So long: Aniston was later seen saying goodbye to Kimmel's wife while their young son stood close by. They hugged and shared a kiss on the cheek Chic: McNearney looked chic in a white blouse and black high-waisted pants styled with black-framed glasses and her blonde hair worn sleek and straight Also in Cabo this year was Aniston's ex-husband Brad Pitt, 59, who was spending his first New Years with his new girlfriend Ines de Ramon, 29. He went public with the romance last month. Aniston and Pitt were famously married from 2000 to 2005 before he moved on with his Mr. And Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina Jolie. He and Jolie, 47, wed in 2014 and divorced just two years later. The couple are still embroiled in a bitter divorce battle. On New Year's Day, Aniston took to Instagram to share a highlight reel featuring her favorite moments of 2022. The clip featured her close friend Adam Sandler multiple times, as well as rare footage of her private life with friends and family. What a year! On New Year's Day, Aniston took to Instagram to share a highlight reel featuring her favorite moments of 2022 Famous friends: Working with her close friend Adam Sandler, 56, was a big one The quiz king who became famous across Australia in the late '80s for winning Channel Nine's Sale of the Century a record 60 consecutive times has died. Cary Young, 83, passed away peacefully in Melbourne with his family by his side after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. His family paid moving tribute to the quiz legend on Thursday, whose easygoing nature and laid-back persona saw him become popular with audiences. Cary Young (pictured), the quiz king who became famous across Australia in the late '80s for winning Channel Nine's Sale of the Century a record 60 times, has died 'People just had this affection for him because he was just this very average person. He wasn't an academic or professional,' his daughter Michelle told The Herald Sun. 'He was working in an abattoir when he went on the show - he saw an opportunity to make a better life for his family,' she added. Michelle told the publication her dad picked up his incredible general knowledge as a kid when he was bedridden with asthma and had nothing to do except read. Cary Young, 83, passed away peacefully in Melbourne with his family by his side after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease Cary's success on the show won the hearts of audiences and host Tony Barber, who awarded the mastermind the grand prize of a $35,000 fiery red Holden Piazza. The Chase's Brydon Coverdale, AKA The Shark, led the celebrity tributes to the iconic quizmaster. 'Cary became a really recognisable face on Australian television throughout that era, despite the fact he was just a normal everyday person,' he said. His family paid moving tribute to the quiz legend on Thursday, whose easygoing nature and laid-back persona saw him become popular with audiences 'He would go through encyclopedias and sources and write a whole list of names and memorise them,' he added. Young's success on the show opened doors for him and between 2000 to 2006 he wrote a daily quiz for The Herald Sun. The New Zealand-born intellect is survived by his wife Lyn and their children Peter and Michelle. Gemma Collins has revealed her eardrum burst during her holiday in Israel. The TV personality, 41, took to Instagram on Tuesday as she thanked a doctor for treating the painful condition during her time in Haifa. The TOWIE star - who recently broke down in tears after visiting Bethlehem - went on to reveal she's heading to Tel Aviv alongside fiance Rami Hawash, 48, and his son Tristan, five, as they continue their trip around the Holy Land. 'It could only happen to me': Gemma Collins was forced to seek immediate medical attention after her eardrum burst on Tuesday following her 'emotional' visit to Bethlehem Sharing a snap with her doctor, Gemma penned: 'Thank you so much to this wonderful doctor in Israel who helped me today when my eardrum burst!!! 'It could only happen to me this doctor was wonderful.' Perforated eardrums do not always need to be treated because they often get better by themselves within a few weeks but it is advised to see a doctor as it can cause problems such as ear infections. She went on to add: 'Everyone in Haifa has been so kind and welcoming I am now off to Tel Aviv.' Ouch: Perforated eardrums do not always need to be treated because they often get better by themselves within a few weeks but it is advised to see a doctor Thanks: The TV personality, 41, took to Instagram on Tuesday as she thanked a doctor for treating the painful condition during her time in Haifa Gemma has been enjoying the trip as her fiance and stepson's family live in Israel, and recently branded their visit to a 'breathtaking and unreal' experience. She shared a snap of herself and Tristan as they shared a 'beautiful' moment visiting the landmarks in Bethlehem on Tuesday, after she broke down in tears at the Church of the Nativity. The snap, taken from behind, showed Gemma sporting a white jacket as she knelt down beside her stepson Tristan, who wore a padded jacket. She penned: 'Such a beautiful moment shared with my stepson in Bethlehem.' Cute couple: The TOWIE star - who recently broke down in tears after visiting Bethlehem - went on to reveal she's heading to Tel Aviv alongside fiance Rami Hawash, 48 The picture was Gemma's latest update from their Bethlehem trip, after she broke down in tears while visiting the birthplace of Jesus on New Year's Day. She described it 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. 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.' Memories: Earlier in the day, Gemma shared a sweet snap of herself and her stepson Tristan as they visited Bethlehem in a 'breathtaking and unreal' experience Holy land: The former TOWIE star, 41, took to Instagram as she continued to document her trip to Bethlehem with Rami and his son, five Gemma admitted she was 'blown away' by the experience, after visiting the site with Rami during a new year's holiday to Israel to see Rami's family who live there. 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'. 'The most breathtaking and unreal experience of my life': It comes after Gemma broke down in tears while visiting the birthplace of Jesus on New Year's Day 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. '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. Eva Mendes was the epitome of chic as she flaunted a flowy, blue-patterned dress that she donned to celebrate ringing in 2023 and shared a stylish snap of the ensemble on her Instagram stories on Tuesday. The Hitch actress, 48, flaunted a fashionable pose while surrounded by scenic nature to better show off her 'New Year's dress.' The mother of two was recently spotted arriving in Sydney with her long-time partner, Ryan Gosling, just ahead of the special holiday on Friday. Stunning: Eva Mendes, 48, showcased her eye-catching New Year's dress in a new snap that she shared onto her Instagram story on Tuesday The talented businesswoman donned Australian designer Carla Zampatti's Icon Waterfall Dress that is priced at $926, according to the official website. The blue printed dress contained both long sleeves and a classic high neckline, with various striped patterns embroidered on the fabric. Eva opted to add a thick, dark green crocodile embossed belt to better accentuate her waist and for a stylish edge. The Ghost Rider actress penned a short caption, 'Giving my @carlazampatti New Year's dress some more love,' and gushed, 'Love! Love! Love!' followed by a black heart emoji. So chic: The Ghost Rider actress donned a dress from Australian designer, Carla Zampatti, to ring in the New Year with her loved ones Her voluminous locks, which she recently dyed a reddish color, were parted to the side and cascaded past her shoulders in elegant waves. Eva slipped into a pair of one-of-a-kind, open-toed heels that contained a purple strap with white-shaped embellishments over her toes while gold, thinner straps were secured around her ankles. The entrepreneur chose to not add any flashy pieces of jewelry in order to allow the dress and platform heels to be the main focal point. She additionally shared a clip on New Year's Day of herself modeling the dress, and typed a motivational caption, 'Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage.' In the clip, the star stood at the top of the steps, and posed under an archway of tree branches as a gentle breeze lightly moved her dress and hair. Embracing the New Year: She additionally shared a clip on New Year's Day of herself modeling the dress, and typed the caption, 'Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage' Ready for a change: Eva revealed on an Instagram post last month in December that she had dyed her hair red: 'Mira esto! I went red' During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Eva opened up to the publication and revealed that she didn't have any future upcoming film or television projects in the works. 'Im focusing on [Skura] right now. I have some other side hustles, Im so superstitious, that I cant talk about,' she admitted. Skura Style is a kitchen-centered company known for creating cleaning products such as sponges. Eva became a big fan of the sponge and brand, and has become not just a celebrity brand ambassador, but also a co-owner of the company. 'As far as acting, it has to be right. It has to be exciting, because at this point I mean, its gotta be something super exciting. That doors not closed, its slightly ajar! But its not shut,' The 2 Fast 2 Furious actress added. Main focus: Although Eva told The Hollywood Reporter that her main focus was being the co-owner of Skura Style, the 'doors not closed' on her acting career She explained that one of the big draws to work with Skura was that, 'Its a female-owned business, that was a big interest to me and I wanted to be a supporter,' and later added, 'The one thing I always hold onto is that Im not scared to fail.' Eva and her long-time partner of over ten years, Ryan Gosling, were recently spotted arriving in Sydney along with the actor's mother and sister to celebrate the New Year. The two lovebirds share daughters, Esmeralda, 8, and Amada, 6. The talented duo, who began dating after meeting on set of The Place Beyond The Pines in 2011, have been residing in Australia, along with their children, while The Notebook star films his upcoming film, The Fall Guy. The action feature, which is an adaptation of the 80s series of the same name, is set to additionally star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Stephanie Hsu. Eva has shown support for Ryan's work in the past, and recently shared an adorable post as she expressed her excitement to watch Gosling in Great Gerwig's 2023 film, Barbie, where he plays Ken. Jacqueline Jossa has shut down rumours that claimed she is set to comeback to EastEnders full time. Earlier this month, the actress, 30, returned to Albert Square to reprise her role as Lauren Branning for the first time since leaving the soap in 2017. Penning a lengthy message to Instagram on Wednesday, Jac made it clear that she is 'not coming back to the square full time' as she thanked fans for their support. Not returning: Jacqueline Jossa, 30, has shut down rumours that claimed she is set to comeback to EastEnders full time on Wednesday She explained: 'Just been inundated with people being lovely, but thinking I'm coming back to Eastenders full time, I don't know if something has been taken out of an interview or been completely made up but either way I'm just shutting down any rumours or stories. 'I am not on the way back the the square full time, it's not in talks, I 100 have not confirmed a return. 'That's also not me saying I would never go back, when and if the time is right, I would love to.' On set: Earlier this month, the actress returned to Albert Square to reprise her role as Lauren Branning for the first time since leaving the soap in 2017 Sorry! Penning a lengthy message to Instagram on Wednesday, Jac made it clear that she is 'not coming back to the square full time' as she thanked fans for their support Jac continued: 'Hope you're all okay. Like I have said many times and continue to say, Eastenders is the best job ever and was an honour for the 8 years. 'As of right now, I am not going back atm thanks so much for all the excited DM's and phone calls and texts.. sorry lol.' The actress was said to be set for a return to EastEnders after reportedly approaching bosses about a comeback following her feature at Dot Cotton's funeral. Her seven years in Walford could be extended, sources claimed, after reportedly having a conversation with executive producer Chris Clenshaw. Not yet: She explained: 'I am not on the way back the the square full time, it's not in talks, I 100 have not confirmed a return' Speaking to The Sun at the time, an insider revealed: 'Jacqueline hugely enjoyed reprising her role as Lauren for Dot's funeral. EastEnders was a huge part of her life and she absolutely loves her character. 'She had a conversation with EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw when she was back filming and made it clear she would be up for Lauren returning to Walford.' They went on to explain that the job would now need to fit around her family life, which involves her taking care of her children. MailOnline has contacted EastEnders and Jacqueline Jossa for comment. Shutting it down: The actress was said to be set for a return to EastEnders after reportedly approaching bosses about a comeback following her feature at Dot Cotton's funeral Ex-NRL star Beau Ryan celebrated a decade of friendship with fellow player Quade Cooper on Wednesday by having a fun day out at his hometown in Queensland. The Amazing Race host, 37, shared a gallery of sweet photos to Instagram showing the besties living life to the fullest at sunny Tallebudgera Beach. One snap captures the topless mates flexing their washboard abs and bulging biceps at the camera as they both grin from ear to ear. Ex-NRL star Beau Ryan (right) celebrated a decade of friendship with fellow player Quade Cooper (left) on Wednesday by having a fun day out at Quade's hometown on the Gold Coast Another photo showed the lads rocking their best angles as they posed on bicycles ahead of a gruelling workout. Beau wrote some heartwarming words next to the gallery: '10 years of friendship. Loved my bro @quadecooper taking me round his home town.' It didn't take long for many of Beau's 379,000 followers to compliments their jaw-dropping physiques. The Amazing Race host shared a gallery of sweet photos to Instagram showing the besties living life to the fullest at sunny Tallebudgera Beach 'No dadbods there!' wrote one enthusiastic fan, before another commented that the lads were 'looking ripped'. 'Looking awesome and what a way to spend a 10 year anniversary... hold on so Quade ended up in budgies and ur wearing shorts,' wrote another eagle-eyed follower. Elsewhere, NRL star Braith Anasta also weighed in on Beau and Quade's rigs, writing, 'Take a breath bro f*ck'. 'Could yas get any more shredded,' added another fan. Last year, Beau revealed a celebrity version of The Amazing Race Australia may be on the way. He made the surprising announcement during Nova's 96.9 breakfast program in August. One photo shows the lads rocking their best angles as they posed on bicycles The hunky ex-NRL star told hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli that he was 'pushing hard' for a future season to undergo a shake up. 'The thing about the show that I love is that anyone can win, just your average person,' Beau told listeners. He then added he would like to see a season with 'half celebrities and half public'. Beau wrote some heartwarming words next to the photos: '10 years of friendship. Loved my bro @quadecooper taking me round his home town' Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery has become the third most-watched film Netflix has released. The mystery film, a sequel to Rian Johnson's Knives Out, began streaming on December 23 following a one-week limited theatrical release. After drawing in 82.1 million hours viewed during its Christmas debut, the film has now notced up 209.4 million hours of viewing time. Success: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery has become the third most-watched film Netflix has released Only two films currently have more hours viewed on the streamer, politcal satire Don't Look Up and action comedy Red Notice. Red Notice, starring Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot, is currently the most-watched English language film on the streamer with 364 million hours viewed. Don't Look Up, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, garnered 359.8 million hours viewed in its first 28 days of release. Glass Onion follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he tries to solve a mystery in Greece involving a tech billionaire and his friends. Sequel: The mystery film, a sequel to Rian Johnson's Knives Out, began streaming on December 23 following a one-week limited theatrical release The film has received widespread critical acclaim and has bee pending nominations at several award shows including the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards. Director Rian Johnson has said he is annoyed that Knives Out had to be included in the title of the Glass Onion sequel. The filmmaker told how he worked hard to make the original Knives Out and its sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery feel like separate movies that could exist independently of each other. Speaking to The Atlantic, he said: 'I've tried hard to make them self-contained. Honestly, I'm p***** off that we have 'A Knives Out Mystery' in the title. You know? I want it to just be called 'Glass Onion'. Views: After drawing in 82.1 million hours viewed during its Christmas debut, the film has now notced up 209.4 million hours of viewing time 'I get it, and I want everyone who liked the first movie to know this is next in the series, but also, the whole appeal to me is it's a new novel off the shelf every time. But there's a gravity of a thousand suns toward serialised storytelling.' Rian also admitted that he would have liked a longer theatrical release from Netflix. He said: 'I'd love it to be longer; I'd love it to be in more. But also, I appreciate that Netflix has done this, because this was a huge effort on their part, and the chains, to reach across the aisle and make this happen. 'I'm hoping it does really well so we can demonstrate that they can complement each other.' Adam Thomas has revealed what it was really like working with his son Teddy, 7, and niece Scarlett, 13, on the Waterloo Road reboot. The actor, 34, has told how he was wondering what he'd 'got himself into' after the young pair argued on the first day on set - before things calmed down. Adam is set to return to his role Donte Charles in the school based series this summer alongside on-screen wife Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, after a 15-year break from the show. Honest: Adam Thomas has revealed what it was really like working with his son Teddy, 7, and niece Scarlett, 13, on the Waterloo Road reboot Scarlett - who is the daughter of his twin brother and former Coronation Street star Ryan - has been cast as Adam's on-screen daughter Izzie while Teddy will play his son. Speaking on Wednesday's Lorraine Adam said: 'I know the children very well, I've got my son Teddy and my niece on the show with me as my children. 'The first day on set they were arguing, Teddy was crying and I was thinking "what have I got myself into". 'But they have been amazing and I hate to say it but they are better than me!' Family affair: The actor, 34, told how he was wondering what he'd 'got himself into' after the young pair argued on the first day on set - before things calmed down On his return to the show in general he added: 'I did the first ever series, I was there for four series, and it was the best time of my life so to get asked to go back 13/14 years later was amazing.' 'To go back so many years later and see our characters (Dante and Chloe) as a big happy family was nice.' Adam has been married to wife Caroline Daly since 2017. The couple have two children - son Teddy and a daughter called Elsie-Rose. Yay! Adam is set to return to his role Donte Charles in the school based series this summer alongside on-screen wife Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, after a 15-year break from the show The Waterloo Road reboot cast have begun filming in Greater Manchester in time for an expected release later this year, almost seven years after it was axed by the BBC. Fellow actors playing the pupil characters have been announced as Adam Abbou as Danny Lewis, Priyasasha Kumari playing Samia Choudhry, with Noah Valentine joining as Preston Walters. Adam Ali has been cast as Kai Sharif while Alicia Forde joins as Kelly-Jo Rafferty, Francesco Piacentini-Smith cast as Dean Weever, Liam Scholes as Noel McManus and Lucy Eleanor Begg as Caz Williams. Busy: Scarlett - who is the daughter of his twin brother and former Coronation Street star Ryan - has been cast as Adam's on-screen daughter Izzie while Teddy will play his son The junior student cast also includes Summer Violet Bird playing Tonya Walters, Ava Flannery as Verity King, Thapelo Ray cast as Dwanye Jackson, Inathi Rozani joining as Zayne Jackson, Chiamaka (ChiChi) Ulebor playing Shola Aku. Finally, Sahil Ismailkhil will be become Norrulah Ashimi - who was talent scouted following a production research trip to a local Leeds school. Across the term, teachers and parents are going to have to learn on their feet as they try to navigate the ever changing social landscape - from teen homelessness to the cost of living, being LGBTQ+, racism, sexism, mental health and everything else facing young teens today. Candid: Speaking on Wednesday's Lorraine Adam said: 'I've got my son Teddy and my niece on the show with me as my children. The first day on set they were arguing, Teddy was crying and I was thinking "what have I got myself into" Amongst the chaos, the students, faculty and parents still make time for friendships, fun, and a few romances. The pupils have a lot to contend with this term, but they will learn to lean on one another to survive the year and try to stay out of detention as much as possible. Riots, scandals, fractured families and challenging kids for Headteacher Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) and her team, fire-fighting is a way of life. The secondary school-set show first aired in 2006 and won legions of fans by tackling numerous tough issues over its 200-episode run and now its coming back and will tackle the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on school kids. Cast: The secondary school-set show first aired in 2006 and won legions of fans by tackling numerous tough issues over its 200-episode run and now its coming back and will tackle the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on school kids Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, said: 'Waterloo Road is the perfect lens through which to explore post-COVID Britain, from the perspective of those who have arguably been affected most young people in education.' The gritty show - which was written by the creators of ITV prison drama Bad Girls - was originally set in Rochdale but later series saw a relocation to Greenock, Scotland. It has been confirmed that the new episodes will be set once again in Greater Manchester. Executive producer Cameron Roach said: 'Waterloo Road will continue its reputation for kickstarting, supporting and enabling careers both in front of and behind the camera, in a truly inclusive way, from our base in Greater Manchester.' Adam made the adorable announcement about Scarlett, the child of Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas and his former co-star Tina O'Brien during BBC's Morning Live. Filled with glee, the proud uncle began: 'I can't believe I'm actually saying this. I feel like I'm working for Marvel, I can never say too much about what is going on... 'But what I can tell you is my little niece Scarlett Thomas is going to be joining the cast of Waterloo Road. She doesn't know it yet so congratulations Scarlett. 'Only joking. She's playing my daughter, I really don't know how that's gonna be.' Role: Headteacher Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) will have to deal with riots, scandals, fractured families and challenging kids in the new series When asked by presenters Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh if he's given his relative any advice, Adam replied: 'To be fair, she doesn't need any. I saw her at the audition and I was blown away.' He continued to gush: 'She's a force to be reckoned with. A triple threat. She can sing, she can dance, she can act. Oh man, she's amazing and she's stunning. 'It's her first day filming today so good luck Scarlett. It's all kicking off.' Waterloo Road will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2022. "Romeo and Juliette" movie director Franco Zeffirelli, left, actors Olivia Hussey, center, and Leonard Whiting are seen after the Parisian premiere of the film in Paris on Sept. 25, 1968. AP-Yonhap The two stars of 1968's ''Romeo and Juliet'' sued Paramount Pictures for more than $500 million on Tuesday over a nude scene in the film shot when they were teens. Olivia Hussey, then 15 and now 71, and Leonard Whiting, then 16 now 72, filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud. Director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, initially told the two that they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in the bedroom scene that comes late in the movie and was shot on the final days of filming, the suit alleges. But on the morning of the shoot, Zeffirelli told Whiting, who played Romeo, and Hussey, who played Juliet, that they would wear only body makeup, while still assuring them the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity, according to the suit. Yet they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge, in violation of California and federal laws against indecency and the exploitation of children, the suit says. Zeffirelli told them they must act in the nude ''or the Picture would fail'' and their careers would be hurt, the suit said. The actors ''believed they had no choice but to act in the nude in body makeup as demanded.'' Whiting's bare buttocks and Hussey's bare breasts are briefly shown during the scene. Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting speak in a Paris hotel on Sept. 19, 1968, about the British film "Romeo and Juliet." AP-Yonhap She's taking a break from This Morning over the festive season. And on Tuesday, Holly Willoughby appeared to be enjoying her time off as she enjoyed a family break at a ski resort in the French Alps. The presenter, 41, stood out in a bright pink Christmas jumper and a matching beanie hat as she tucked into a delicious meal. Beaming: Holly Willoughby stood out in a bright pink Christmas jumper and a matching beanie hat as she enjoyed a family break at a ski resort in the French Alps Holly sported a blush makeup palette with a swipe of pink lipstick and matching nail varnish. She styled her platinum blonde locks in loose waves while sitting inside the cosy wooden chalet. The This Morning star then detailed her New Year's resolutions which include reading, cooking, meditation, family walks, soundbaths and journaling. Holly spared no expense for a pre-Christmas family break at the ski resort, costing 1,000-per-night. Luxury: Holly spared no expense for a pre-Christmas family break at the ski resort, costing 1,000-per-night She stayed at Hunters Chalets, who describe themselves as one of the 'most luxurious chalets in France' where guests are treated to a private chalet complete with a hot tub and personal chef. Holly took to Instagram to share photos of her time there, gushing that she'd made 'memories that she would cherish for life'. The swanky accommodation is filled with cosy furniture, wooden beams and a roaring log fire, where Holly and her family could warm up after a chilly day on the slopes. The chalet also boasts a selection of dining areas and plush bedrooms, as well as an outside table, with a huge hot tub allowing guests to take full advantage of the views. Luxury stay: Holly took to Instagram to share photos of her time there, gushing that she'd made 'memories that she would cherish for life' Holly is in the middle of her Christmas break from This Morning, and will return to the series in the New Year. However, she and co-host Phillip Schofield have already filmed their annual festive special, which will air on Christmas Day. Ahead of the Special, Holly admitted that looking on towards New Years resolutions, she is thinking about the challenges she's to be faced with as a mum. 'Looking ahead to next year, as I'm sure any parent would say that with every year brings new challenges,' she said. 'But the flip side of that is that you're watching these little humans grow and develop and become fully formed people so I think I'm just looking forward to what's next to come with them and seeing who they are turning out to be. Revealed: Holly and her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield have already filmed their annual festive special, which will air on Christmas Day 'My oldest is 13 now and the relationship changes hugely. You know, they sit at the table with you and you are talking about things that aren't just about what they got up to at school that day, it's about how they view and see the world and I'm really enjoying it. 'I'm enjoying this phase and seeing all those things that you put in place throughout their early childhood years, suddenly blooming and I can't wait for more of that and just being a bit of a spectator with a helping hand!' Phillip quipped of his own New Year's plans: 'That really is a lovely phase. I never tend to do New Years resolutions as I know I won't keep them! 'But for 2023 we will both be back on This Morning and then for Dancing on Ice which is always the next thing to look forward to for us in the New Year and before you know it when Dancing on Ice finishes, it's Spring' Gold Coast influencer Skye Wheatley has encouraged her fans to 'sprinkle their sparkle' after returning to social media following backlash for an 'insensitive' video about the deadly Sea World helicopter crash. The Big Brother star, 28, dressed up in a skimpy sheer dress and G-string with towering black heels as she headed into the Marina Mirage Shopping Centre on Wednesday. 'Sprinkle your sparkle, kids, the world needs it,' she wrote in the caption to the clip showing her strutting into the shopping centre. Gold Coast influencer Skye Wheatley (pictured) has encouraged her fans to 'sprinkle their sparkle' after returning to social media following backlash for an 'insensitive' video about the deadly Sea World helicopter crash Skye added fluffy embellishments to her sleeves while tying her hair up a long blonde braid. The outing comes after Skye took 'the day off social media' on Tuesday after receiving backlash for posting an 'insensitive' video of the deadly Sea World helicopter crash. Wheatley, 28, was slammed after she posted a video she filmed of the aftermath of the tragic crash to her Instagram story on Monday. Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, and British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, 57, died when a helicopter collided with another chopper near the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast at 2pm on Monday. Influencer Skye Wheatley 'took the day off social media' after receiving backlash for sharing 'insensitive' video of horrific Sea World helicopter crash which killed four people Pilot Ash Jenkinson, 40, originally from Birmingham in the UK, is the fourth person who was killed in the crash. Following the backlash, Wheatley posted a tribute to the four people who died in the tragic incident and said she'll be taking a break from social media. 'Can everyone please pray with me for the families affected by yesterdays devastating events, I feel sick to my stomach today and I am praying for everyone in hospital that they are going to make it,' she wrote. Following the backlash, Wheatley posted a tribute to the four people who died in the tragic incident on Tuesday and said she'll be taking a break from social media '[I'm] taking the day off social media, counting my blessings and want to be present with family. This could happen to anyone and it really makes you take a step back and realise how lucky we are to wake up each day ALIVE.' 'Love you all! Go give your loved ones a big kiss and cuddle. We are so lucky to be here on each so whatever you're struggling with please try and see the beauty in today.' Wheatley ended: 'I know a lot of families are hurting badly today and I'm sending them all my love and prayers.' Wheatley had posted a video she filmed of the aftermath of the tragic crash to her Instagram story on Monday Wheatley had posted a video she filmed of the aftermath of the tragic crash to her Instagram story on Monday. Instagram gossip account DutchMinty reposted the footage to their page and their followers slammed Wheatley for her 'insensitive' post. 'Wtf is wrong with her. People died. Why is it her first thought to film it?' one person questioned. 'I just don't think she gets the severity,' another commented. Instagram gossip account DutchMinty reposted the footage to their page and their followers slammed Wheatley for her 'insensitive' post 'It shows such a clear lack of empathy that the first thing you would think to do when seeing an accident is pull your phone out and record to show people you saw it,' one said. 'Why feel the need to post it on social media?' a fourth questioned. Pilot Ash Jenkinson 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 Sea World theme park. Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, and British couple Ron, 65, and Diane Hughes, also lost their lives. 'It shows such a clear lack of empathy that the first thing you would think to do when seeing an accident is pull your phone out and record to show people you saw it,' one person said Mrs Tadros is believed to be related to the British couple and had been holidaying with her family when she boarded the chopper with her 10-year-old son Nicholas while her husband stayed behind. Nicholas survived the crash but was left in a critical condition and has already undergone four surgeries since he was taken to hospital. The young boy is still not aware that his mother has died as his devastated family remain by his bedside. A 33-year-old woman and a nine-year-old girl related to Mrs Tadros are also being treated for serious injuries. The pilot of the second helicopter, which had five passengers on board, miraculously managed to land on a sand bank in the middle of the Broadwater, with everyone aboard able to walk away. She announced last week that she is pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend Mark O'Connor. And Montana Brown showed off her blossoming baby bump in a patterned bikini as she shared a snap to her Instagram Story on Wednesday in Barbados. The former Love Island star, 27, displayed her changing shape in the purple and white number - as she revealed in the caption that lots of fans have warned her about Zika virus during her holiday. Expecting: Montana Brown showed off her baby bump in a patterned bikini on Wednesday in Barbados - as she revealed fans have warned her of the dangers of Zika virus during her trip She penned in the caption: 'A few of you have flagged about Zika virus and me being away, it seems there is always a risk in a lot of countries and tbh I wasn't aware of it. 'I've been coming to Barbados for over 10 years and didn't know it existed there. But it's definitely made me think before booking any more 'olidays!' She also posted a radiant selfie to her Instagram as she enjoyed a boat ride in a one-shoulder green swimsuit, sunhat and sunglasses. Glowing: She also posted a radiant selfie to her Instagram as she enjoyed a boat ride in a one-shoulder green swimsuit, sunhat and sunglasses According to the NHS website: 'Zika virus can harm a developing baby if you get it when you're pregnant. 'It can cause problems with the baby's brain and the baby having an unusually small head (microcephaly). 'You can have Zika virus without having any symptoms. This is why it's important to avoid getting pregnant for up to 3 months after you've come back to the UK from a country where there's a Zika virus risk. Secret: She later added another Story as she revealed her and Mark have not found out the gender of their child yet 'Speak to your midwife or doctor for advice if you're worried your unborn baby may be affected by Zika virus.' She later added another Story as she revealed her and Mark have not found out the gender of their child yet. Montana penned: 'Also we don't know the gender for all those asking... lots of people say they can tell due to the bump which is cool. 'I'm not sure if you can tell with my bump being quite small at the minute but I'd love to hear your theories! I feel like it may be a girl tbh just feeling in my bones! Place your bets!' Updates: Montana penned: 'Also we don't know the gender for all those asking... lots of people say they can tell due to the bump which is cool!' (pictured with Mark) It comes after Montana admitted that she has 'thought a lot' about how her heritage and race will impact her unborn baby. She said she sometimes forgets where she's from after being raised in 'predominantly white areas' as she took to her Instagram Stories on New Year's Day to share her thoughts. Montana shared a snap of her blossoming baby bump while getting candid as she shared her musings about race and parenthood. She wrote: 'So excited for this new year, so many feelings ran through my head at the strike of midnight. I'm so excited and can't wait for this new chapter. Candid: It comes after Montana admitted that she has 'thought a lot' about how her heritage and race will impact her unborn baby 'I feel grateful for this year and everything it's brought to our life. It's so crazy how your body is changing and growing something so special. I feel very blessed as I know it's not possible for a lot of people. 'I also feel like I'm growing a lot as a person and my values are shifting. I'm seeing a lot more importance on things going on in the world and how on an individual level we can make the world a better place. 'I'd like to do more for racial inequality. I sometimes forget where I'm from as I've grown up in predominantly white areas my whole life! 'Especially since I've been pregnant; I've thought a lot about my race, my heritage and how that will impact my child. 'It's crazy how bringing life into the world makes you really look inwards and made me realise I've still got a lot of self development and work to do.' It comes after the reality star revealed she was 'so shocked' to find out she was pregnant because she had been trying to conceive at the start of the year but it didn't happen. She took to Instagram to do a Q&A when she told how her and beau Mark struggled to get pregnant due to her low oestrogen levels. Montana took to Instagram on Christmas Eve to share the jovial news of her pregnancy with her 1.2million followers. She shared a video montage documenting the initial stages of her pregnancy, including her and her boyfriend grinning with their positive test. In her caption, she wrote: 'Baby O'Connor coming next summer [white heart, baby emoji].' Other clips in the post saw the reality star undergo an ultrasound scan and cosy up to Mark on the beach as he cradled her bump during a recent getaway. Montana was seen lifting a small child into her arms, whose identity is unknown, before writing 'Baby O'Connor' in the sand. Loved-up: Montana took to Instagram on Christmas Eve to share the jovial news of her pregnancy with her 1.2million followers Waterloo Road returned the TV screens following an eight year break on Tuesday, with many famous faces returning to the BBC One drama. But one child star is part of a famous family, Scarlett Thomas, 14, who plays Izzie Charles on the show, shares showbiz connections. The budding actress is not only the daughter of actor Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas and Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien, 39, having found fame on the soap alongside Scarlett's dad, 38. Tina famously played Sarah Platt and Ryan played Jason Grimshaw. Scarlett is also the niece of Ryan's brother Adam, who plays her onscreen dad Donte. On screen: Waterloo Road returned the TV screens following an eight year break on Tuesday, with many famous faces returning to the BBC One drama, including Scarlet Thomas (pictured) Adam returned to his role of Donte in the school based series alongside on-screen wife Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, after a 15-year break. The show is a full family affair with Adam's son Teddy, 7, whom he shares with wife Caroline Thomas, also starring as his on screen son. Cast: Scarlett Thomas, 14, (centre) who plays Izzie Charles on the show is the daughter of ex Corrie stars Ryan Thomas and Tina O'Brien, who played Jason Grimshaw and Sarah Platt Parents: Tina and Ryan found love on the soap - pictured in a Coronation Street still in 2006 and dated from 2003 for six years - he is now in a relationship with former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh It comes after Adam revealed what it was really like working with his son Teddy and niece Scarlett on the Waterloo Road reboot. The actor, 34, has told how he was wondering what he'd 'got himself into' after the young pair argued on the first day on set - before things calmed down. Speaking on Wednesday's Lorraine Adam said: 'I know the children very well, I've got my son Teddy and my niece on the show with me as my children. Family: Ryan pictured with Scarlett, his partner Lucy Mecklenburgh - and their two children New life: Tina is now married to husband Adam Crofts, 37 - pictured with Scarlett, 14, and Tina and Adam's son Beau, eight 'The first day on set they were arguing, Teddy was crying and I was thinking "what have I got myself into". 'But they have been amazing and I hate to say it but they are better than me!' On his return to the show in general he added: 'I did the first ever series, I was there for four series, and it was the best time of my life so to get asked to go back 13/14 years later was amazing.' 'To go back so many years later and see our characters (Dante and Chloe) as a big happy family was nice.' Honest: Ryan's brother Adam also stars in Waterloo Road and recently revealed what it was really like working with his son Teddy and niece Scarlett on the reboot The Waterloo Road reboot cast have begun filming in Greater Manchester in time for an expected release later this year, almost seven years after it was axed by the BBC. Fellow actors playing the pupil characters have been announced as Adam Abbou as Danny Lewis, Priyasasha Kumari playing Samia Choudhry, with Noah Valentine joining as Preston Walters. Adam Ali has been cast as Kai Sharif while Alicia Forde joins as Kelly-Jo Rafferty, Francesco Piacentini-Smith cast as Dean Weever, Liam Scholes as Noel McManus and Lucy Eleanor Begg as Caz Williams. Denise Van Outen showed off her figure in a plunging swimsuit as she enjoyed a relaxing spa day on Wednesday. The television personality, 48, looked incredible in the slinky black one piece that was nipped in at her tiny waist with a gold band. Posing for a series of photos to her Instagram Story, Denise joined her pal Jade at the luxury hotel spa Beaverbrook in Surrey Hills. Kicking back: Denise Van Outen, 48, showed off her figure in a plunging swimsuit as she enjoyed a relaxing spa day on Wednesday She wore her long blonde hair in a sleek straightened style and opted for minimal makeup to enhance her flawless complexion. Denise smiled for a selfie before joining her friend for a photo as they documented their girls day out. The exclusive wellness centre features stunning stained glass windows and boasts a heated outdoor pool. Glowing: The television personality looked incredible in the slinky black one piece that was nipped in at her tiny waist with a gold band Cute: Posing for a series of photos to her Instagram Story, Denise joined her pal Jade at the luxury hotel spa Beaverbrook in Surrey Hills It comes after Denise was seen enjoying a spot of winter sun during a trip to Dubai over the Christmas break. And Denise Van Outen was glowing on Saturday as she sported a gorgeous white swimsuit for some beachy snaps. The TV personality beamed for an impromptu photoshoot while donning the all-in-one, which featured a one-shouldered design. Relaxing: She wore her long blonde hair in a sleek straightened style and opted for minimal makeup to enhance her flawless complexion Denise' swimwear retails for 150 from Tess Daly and Gayle's brand Naia Beach, and was complete with a ruched design and gold ring detail. The beauty had her bright blonde locks styled into a tousled bun, with two sections left to fall around her face. Her fair complexion appeared natural for the sunny day, as the Celebrity Gogglebox star added a pair of oversized black sunglasses. Emily In Paris fans have been shocked to discover Lucien Laviscount previously dated Kerry Katona when he was 19 and she was 31. The actor, 30, and the former Atomic Kitten star, 42, took part in Celebrity Big Brother back in 2011 and quickly struck up a romance. Lucien, who plays Alfie on the hit Netflix show, was best known at the time for appearances on Coronation Street and Waterloo Road. Surprise: Emily In Paris fans have been shocked to discover Lucien Laviscount previously dated Kerry Katona when he was 19 and she was 31 Blast from the past: The actor, 30, and the former Atomic Kitten star, 42, took part in Celebrity Big Brother back in 2011 and quickly struck up a romance His success on the series, which stars Lily Collins in the lead role, has seen him tipped for more high-profile roles including replacing Daniel Craig as James Bond. The pair were seen getting cosy in the house and even kissed on camera before posing for the front cover of OK! magazine when they left the house. Several fans of the actor took to social media to react to the discovey he was previously in a relationship with Kerry. One wrote: 'Wait how did I not know that Lucien Laviscount used to date Kerry Katona, what the F'. Romance: The pair were seen getting cosy in the house and even kissed on camera before posing for the front cover of OK! magazine when they left the house Another wrote: 'In 2011, Lucien Laviscount was 19 and Kerry Katona was 31'. One user added: 'Am I the only one who remembers Lucien Laviscount on Celebrity Big Brother and his love triangle with Kerry Katona and Amy Childs?!' A fourth user wrote: 'Omg Kerry Latona managed to pull Lucien Laviscount? Go on the girl'. On their loved-up OK! magazine shoot, Kerry and Lucien declared: 'We hope we'll be together forever'. In their candid interview, Kerry wasn't shy about revealing the spark between the pair, saying: 'There was a lot of sexual tension, definitely. Career: Lucien, who plays Alfie on Emily In Paris, was best known at the time for appearances on Coronation Street and Waterloo Road Reaction: Several fans of the actor took to social media to react to the discovey he was previously in a relationship with Kerry 'If the cameras hadn't been there, God knows what would have happened.' Lucien said he had a 'thing' for older women and insisted: 'She's not too old for me.' The pair's fling didn't last long however and they both moved on, with Lucien being linked to Jesy Nelson last year after they were seen getting cosy on a night out. It was recently revealed Lucien has caught the eye of James Bond boss Barbara Broccoli and is being lined up to become the new 007 to replace Daniel Craig. The Burnley-born actor caught the attention of the movie franchise's bosses for his role in Emily In Paris. Lucien, whose first role was as a child model for Marks & Spencer when he was ten, is also deemed to be the perfect age to play Bond. According to the Mail On Sunday, Ms Broccoli has made it clear she wants the next actor to portray the character for 15 years, which rules out former favourite Idris Elba, who turned 50 in September. It is also thought that Ms Broccoli and her team are keen to have an ethnic-minority star to play 007 so the franchise is reflective of modern society. Potential role: It was recently revealed Lucien has caught the eye of James Bond boss Barbara Broccoli and is being lined up to become the new 007 to replace Daniel Craig However, some executives are fearful Laviscount's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, when he finished in fifth place, will tarnish his chances of getting the job because previous Bonds have been more highbrow. A source said: 'Lucien ticks all of the boxes. He is a super talented actor, is extremely handsome and in the past 18 months has won lots of new fans since he joined Emily In Paris. 'Bond bosses are already saying how you can see him in the 007 tuxedo, how dapper and fitting to the role he will look. 'But, there is a sticking point, and that is Big Brother. Lucien appeared on the show at a time when his acting career was not as high-profile as it is now, but he was very popular then and has a fan base now which stretches generations. That is a dream for Barbara who is very taken with him.' Hugh Jackman's fake feud with his friend Ryan Reynolds got kicked up a notch on Wednesday after he campaigned to prevent his pal from getting an Oscar. The 54-year-old Logan star shared a video to social media urging the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to not nominate the 46-year-old Deadpool star in the Best Original Song category. Ryan inched closer to a potential Oscar nomination when he was included in the Oscars shortlist for the song category, which was announced in December. The actor was nominated for the song Good Afternoon, which is featured in his musical Christmas comedy Spirited, which costars Will Ferrell. Pleading: Hugh Jackman, 54, continued his fake feud with friend Ryan Reynolds on Wednesday when he urged the Academy not to nominate Ryan, 46, for Best Original Song Hugh sounded somber and reserved at the start of his video, as if he was preparing to deliver a dose of bad news. 'Hey everybody, its 2023 and I really, really wanted to send out a positive message at the beginning of the year but recent events have made that impossible. Dont get me wrong, I love Spirited, its a great movie, we had a blast, the entire family watched it,' he began. 'I love Will [Ferrell], I love Octavia [Spencer], obviously I did The Greatest Showman with [songwriters] Benj [Pasek] and Justin [Paul], theyre incredible and I love their music.' 'And Good Afternoon, the song, I laughed the entire way through,' he continued. 'Its absolutely brilliant. However, I just heard the Academy have shortlisted Good Afternoon in the Best Song category. 'Ryan Reynolds getting a nomination in the Best Song Category would make the next year of my life insufferable,' he explained. 'I have to spend a year with him shooting Wolverine and Deadpool. Trust me. It would be impossible. It would be a problem. Getting closer: Ryan was shortlisted for Best Original Song for his Christmas comedy Spirited (pictured), which costars Will Ferrell. The list will be whittled down with the eventual nominees Looking out for himself: 'Ryan Reynolds getting a nomination in the Best Song Category would make the next year of my life insufferable,' Hugh joked, before praising the rest of the cast and the songwriters Snappy: Ryan responded and joked that deepfakes had performed his songs in Spirited 'Just to recap: love Spirited, love Will, love Octavia, love the song but please, please, from the bottom of my heart, do not nominate Ryan Reynolds in this way, please,' he pleaded in a comic deadpan. Of course, Ryan saw the video and was quick to share a snappy reply. 'Disagree,' he wrote. 'I think the deepfakes that sung and danced for Will and I would love to perform at the Oscars.' Ryan's film is an updated modern-day adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Tale, in which Will stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, who has become the Ghost of Christmas Present, while Ryan plays his potential successor to the role. The film received modestly positive reviews and boasts a 63 percent fresh rating from the most high-profile critics surveyed by Rotten Tomatoes. Christmas spirit: Spirited is an updated adaptation of A Christmas Tale, in which Will Ferrell stars as Ebenezer Scrooge, who has become the Ghost of Christmas Present, while Ryan plays his potential successor to the role Doing it for laughs: Hugh and Ryan met on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and became fast friends, before launching a years-long fake feud Hugh and Ryan have collaborated several times, and Ryan played an early version of his Marvel character Deadpool in Hugh's spinoff X-Men Origins: Wolverine, though it was substantially different from the wisecracking character he would debut in the Deadpool solo films. After meeting on the film shoot, the two became fast friends. They regularly make cameo appearances in each other's films, but they also launched a fake feud which continues to this day. Last month, Hugh posted a humorous video in which he joked that Ryan had broken into his Manhattan penthouse after he put up a cardboard cutout of the comic actor from Spirited. 'How did he get in here? What the hell?! This is my home,' he joked, before layering in some police sirens into his video. Alessandra Ambrosio modeled a white bikini while taking a dip in the clear waters of Isla Holbox on Wednesday. While in Mexico, the 41-year-old supermodel basked in the sun and took bikini snaps to document her tropical getaway. Just earlier this week, she traveled to Tulum and showed off a plunging one-piece swimsuit to celebrate the beginning of the new year. Stunning: Alessandra Ambrosio, 41, modeled a white bikini while taking a dip in the clear waters of Isla Holbox on Wednesday The former Victoria's Secret Angel sported an all-white ensemble with a triangle bikini top with braided straps and the cheeky bottoms to match. For accessories, she rocked shell chokers and necklaces to highlight her decolletage and cleavage. She wore a pair of dangling earrings with pearls with various rings and bracelets while posing in the ocean water and in front of the bright blue sky. Taking a dip: While in Mexico, the supermodel basked in the sun and took bikini snaps to document her tropical getaway The brunette bombshell left her beachy hair loosely flowing while taking a dip and later slicked her hair back after diving into the saltwater. In her caption, she used ocean emojis and wrote: 'Vitamin sea'. Two days ago, the beauty posted various photos of her celebrating the New Year with her family in Mexico. Enjoying the sun: The former Victoria's Secret Angel sported an all-white ensemble with a triangle bikini top with braided straps and the cheeky bottoms to match She showed off her collection of bikinis with a red string bikini beachside snap as well as a photo of herself enjoying a pink sunset with a strapless hot pink bikini to match. She wrote in her captions, 'Soaking up the last moments of the year' and also wished her 11.5 million followers 'Happy New Year'. Later, she shared a group photo of her entire family as well as solo shots showing off her show-stopping sequined and mesh halter dress during the festivities. Having fun: She wore a pair of dangling earrings with pearls with various rings and bracelets while posing in the ocean water and in front of the bright blue sky 'Happy new year from my family to yours,' she wrote for the carousel post on Instagram. For the past week, the model has been enjoying Mexico with her boyfriend Richard Lee. Alessandra has been dating the fellow model for over a year. Her two children - Anja, 14, and Noah, 10 - that she shares with entrepreneur Jamie Mazur, 41, also joined the group on the tropical getaway. Love Island star Millie Court has defended her pal Chloe Burrows after fans claimed she was being 'rude' by smashing plates in a restaurant in Dubai. The reality star, 26, recently returned from a lavish girls' holiday to the UAE with her villa co-star, after openly documenting their trip on social media. And in a Q&A with her followers on their flight home, Millie clarified that Chloe had been smashing plates at the swanky restaurant Opa, where the move is part of the eatery's traditional Greek experience. What's going on? Love Island star Millie Court has defended her pal Chloe Burrows after fans claimed she was being 'rude' by smashing plates in a restaurant in Dubai Asked about the funniest part of her trip, Millie replied by posting a video of Chloe smashing her plate while standing on her chair in the restaurant, but hit back at fans claiming that their behaviour was 'rude.' She wrote: 'Definitely Opa, we had the best night this night and for those who thought we were being rude just throwing plates. Everyone does it, it's part of the whole experience.' Both Millie and Chloe had openly documented their break on social media, after jetting to Dubai to ring in the New Year. Good time? The reality star recently returned from a lavish girls' holiday to the UAE with her villa co-star, after openly documenting their trip on social media Wild! Asked about the funniest part of her trip, Millie replied by posting a video of Chloe smashing her plate while standing on her chair in the restaurant Explanation: Millie clarified that Chloe had been smashing plates at the swanky restaurant Opa, where the move is part of the eatery's traditional Greek experience Just hours earlier Millie revaled that they were on their way home, posting a snap of lavish Emirates plane seat with the caption: 'Hair of the dog then konk out for 8 hours... Essex see you soon.' On Tuesday, Millie showed off her incredible figure in a black and white bikini while sharing a series of racy snaps with her followers. Sharing a series of pictures on Instagram with fans, Millie captioned her post: 'Fresh-faced beach babez.' Millie's bikini and matching sarong featured an eye-catching zebra print. Jetting off: Just hours earlier Millie revaled that they were on their way home, posting a snap of lavish Emirates plane seat Good time? Both Millie and Chloe had openly documented their break on social media, after jetting to Dubai to ring in the New Year Living it up! The trip marked Millie's 14th holiday of 2022, with the girls jetting to the Middle East just after Christmas Chloe meanwhile stripped off into a tiny black string bikini and pulled her blonde locks back and off her face into a high bun. The trip marked Millie's 14th holiday of 2022, with the girls jetting to the Middle East just after Christmas. ASOS ambassador Millie had already holidayed last year in the French Alps, Thailand, Ibiza, Paris and Portugal. In the alps, Millie was slammed by fans for wearing a bikini in the snow. The Love Islander, 26, admitted that the comments 'hurt' and confessed that perhaps she doesn't have as thick skin as she needs, with some internet users thinking she's 'not human' because she appeared on a reality show. U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida / AP-Yonhap Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday he would hold talks with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Jan. 13, and would also visit other G7 allies this month. The visit will be Kishida's first trip to the U.S. capital since taking office in October 2021, though he has held talks with Biden several times, including in Japan. Japan is assuming the presidency of the G7 grouping and Kishida said he also planned to visit members France, Italy, Canada and Britain this month. He said the meeting with Biden would be "extremely important" and demonstrate "the strengthening Japan- U.S. alliance." The White House said in an earlier statement the trip would "further deepen ties between our governments, economies, and our people." The two leaders are expected to discuss regional security challenges, including North Korea and China, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and ways to address climate change. Kishida said he would also raise Japan's bolstered defense policy. Japan's government approved a major defense policy overhaul last month, including a significant spending hike, as it warned China posed the "greatest strategic challenge ever" to its security. In its largest defense shake-up in decades, Japan vowed to increase security spending to two percent of GDP by 2027, reshape its military command, and acquire new missiles that can strike far-flung enemy launch sites. Before arriving in Washington, Kishida will start his diplomatic journey in Paris on January 9, followed by stops in Rome, London and Ottawa. Kishida will host the G7 leaders summit in Hiroshima in May and wants to put achieving a world free of nuclear weapons on the international agenda. He said he expected the G7 to reaffirm support for Ukraine but also to display "solidarity with the rest of the world" and engage the "global south" on issues such as climate change and food and energy crises. (AFP) Nicola Peltz's pal joked he was making her husband Brooklyn 'jealous' as he kissed her on the cheek in a striking snap uploaded to Instagram on Wednesday. The actress, 27, sported a red lip as she cosied up to designer Giuliano Calza before uploading a photo with Brooklyn, 23, who sported a red-stained cheek after being smothered in kisses. In the arty shot, Nicola looked incredible with the bold rouge lip and leant her head back into GCDS fashion founder Giuliano. 'Make Brooklyn gelly': Nicola Peltz's pal joked he was making her husband Brooklyn 'jealous' as he kissed her on the cheek in a striking snap uploaded to Instagram on Wednesday Taking to the comments, Giuliano wrote: 'make Brooklyn gelly'. Brooklyn was in on the joke as he posed with Nicola for another snap which showed lipstick mark stained onto his lips. It comes as the couple recently jetted off to Mexico with Selena Gomez and pals to ring in the New Year. Cheeky: Taking to the comments, Giuliano wrote: 'make Brooklyn gelly' Sealed with a kiss: The actress, 27, sported a red lip as she cosied up to designer Giuliano Calza before uploading a photo with Brooklyn, 23, who sported a red-stained cheek The Only Murders in the Building star, 30, has grown increasingly close with Nicola and Brooklyn and jokingly branded them a 'throuple'. And speculation is growing that Selena is dating none other than Brad, the brother of her close friend Nicola. Selena also celebrated Thanksgiving with Brooklyn and Nicola, going to their house where Brad, 33, was also present for the festivities. Romance? It comes as the couple recently jetted off to Mexico with Selena Gomez and pals to ring in the New Year (Nicola and Selena pictured together) Yale graduate Brad is an entrepreneur who serves as founder and CEO of Mymo, an automated scheduling solution that 'enhances the experience between patient and physician'. Pop culture podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat has speculated Selena and Brad are dating along with many of the star's fans. 'Streets saying Selena Gomez dating Brad Peltz omg', one fan wrote while another added: 'Selena is dating Brad Peltz?' Festivities: Selena celebrated Thanksgiving with Brooklyn and Nicola, going to their house where Brad (pictured) was also present for the festivities It is not known how Selena originally met Brooklyn and Nicola or how this unexpected friendship blossomed, but it seems as though the friendship group is certainly enjoying their time together. Brooklyn missed out on a family Christmas with dad David, mum Victoria, brothers Romeo, 20, and Cruz, 17, and sister Harper, 11. And reaching out to her eldest son via social media, Victoria penned that she missed him while sharing a picture of the rest of the family. She wrote: 'Dad keeping up the Beckham family tradition! We love and miss you @brooklynpeltzbeckham x Kisses @davidbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham.' Harry Hamlin has enjoyed a five decade career and counting as a successful actor. But it may not have turned out like that if it wasn't for a pivotal moment in his life - when he took a psychedelic given to him by a stranger. The actor, 71, explained that he was originally supposed to study architecture but after a road trip to 'one of the most magical places on Earth' and a 'blue pill,' he began studying acting instead, according to People. Throwback: Harry Hamlin has enjoyed a five decade career and counting as a successful actor. But it may not have turned out like that if it wasn't for a pivotal moment in his life - when he took a psychedelic given to him by a stranger; seen in 1980 He told the outlet that two days before he was set to register for architecture classes at UC Berkeley, he got invited to go on a road trip. Harry said it took him 'to one of the most magical places on Earth.' He and his friends traveled to La Honda, California and stayed at a hidden compound that had tree houses. While there, Harry said a Hells Angel came and asked for a wrench as he and his friends sat around a campfire. His journey: The actor, 71, explained that he was originally supposed to study architecture but after a road trip to 'one of the most magical places on Earth' and a 'blue pill,' he began studying acting instead, according to People; seen December 7, 2022 Harry said that the man brought 'blue pills' and gave each person one psychedelic to express gratitude for their help. 'I began to see things in a different way and my curiosity was sort of turbo-charged,' he explained. He ended up missing the first day of registration due to the spontaneous road trip. Career move: Harry said that the man brought 'blue pills' and gave each person one psychedelic to express gratitude for their help; seen in 1982 promotional material for the film Making Love with Michael Ontkean and Kate Jackson 'By the time I got there, a guy said classes had filled up but if I hot-footed it over to the drama department, I might be able to satisfy my requirements,' he said. 'I ended up in Acting 101. I never got back to the architecture school,' Harry said. Harry revealed he still takes acting classes: 'I've been studying at the Beverly Hills Playhouse on and off for 40 something odd years, and that class has now morphed into a new class at the Hudson Theater.' The father of three is currently studying Shakespeare's King Lear during the class he takes on Saturdays. Harry is set to star in AMC's upcoming series Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches, which is set to premiere on January 8, 2023. The actor is dad to three kids: one son, named Dmitri, 42, with Ursula Andress and two daughters with wife Lisa Rinna: Delilah Belle, 24, and Amelia Gray, 21. Renner, who was in a critical condition following the accident, has had two surgeries that involved metal pins being placed around his leg 'Thank God you're healing. We are sending you love and prayers for a speedy recovery,' they Oscar nominee wrote on her Instagram Story The 51-year-old actor's Hawkeye costar, 26, wished him a 'speedy recovery' after learning he sustained blunt chest trauma and other injuries from a snow plow Hailee Steinfeld wished Jeremy Renner a speedy recovery after his was airlifted to a hospital with 'extensive injuries' on New Year's Day near his home in Reno, Nevada. Days after the actor, 51, suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries from a horrifying snow plow accident, his Hawkeye costar, 26, reacted to the news on her Instagram Story. 'Come on partner!!! Thank God you're healing. We are sending you love and prayers for a speedy recovery,' they Oscar nominee wrote under a selfie of the father-of-one in his hospital bed with visible bruises and scratches on his face. She was joined by several of Renner's other Marvel costars, including Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Chris Pratt. In her prayers: Hailee Steinfeld wished Jeremy Renner a speedy recovery after his was airlifted to hospital with 'extensive injuries' on New Year's Day near his home in Reno, Nevada; seen in 2021 'Speedy recovery buddy. Sending love your way!' Hemsworth commented, while Evans said Renner was 'tough as nails,' and added, 'Love you buddy.' Pratt wrote that he would be sending 'continued prayers your way brutha,' along with a heart emoji. Renner's Avengers costar Paul Bettany added, 'Love you mate. Sending you love and healing,' while Thanos actor Josh Broline wrote, 'Close but no cigar. Youre blessed. Quick recovery, brother.' The actor and director Taika Waititi, who directed the last two Thor films, commented, 'My brother I love you,' while the Russo Brothers, who directed Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, wrote that they were 'Sending all of our love.' Renner, who was in a critical condition following the accident, has had two surgeries that involved metal pins being placed around his leg. Sending love: Days after the actor, 51, suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries from a horrifying snow plow accident, his Hawkeye costar, 26, reacted to the news on her Instagram Story Friendly support: Renner's Marvel costars Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Chris Pratt also wished him well in the comments to his selfie Renner had been helping a family member with a personal vehicle that was stuck in the snow, Washoe County sheriff Darin Balaam said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. He used the 14,330-pound snow plow to help the family member before getting out to speak with them. During the conversation, 'it was observed that the PistenBully [snow plow] was starting to roll,' said Balaam. At that point, Renner tried to get back in and was run over. The sheriff added that police do not suspect foul play, nor does it suspect Renner was at all impaired at the time. Scary: Renner, pictured in Lake Tahoe last year, is in critical but stable condition after an accident involving a snow plow 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 He said that neighbors 'came out with towels' and gave him first aid, though none were doctors. Renner spoke with emergency services before being airlifted to a nearby hospital just before 10am local time. Washoe County Sheriffs Office public information officer Kristin Vietti revealed he was 'receiving excellent care' and with 'his family.' Bindi Irwin's fans are still convinced the Wildlife Warrior is expecting her second child. The 24-year-old sparked more rumours she's pregnant when she encouraged her fans 'to have cheat day'. Bindi posted a photo of her and husband Chandler Powell posing with Theo, a red kangaroo from Australia Zoo. Bindi Irwin sparked more pregnancy rumours on Thursday when she encouraged her fans to have a 'cheat day' She wrote in the caption: 'Have a cheat day because you know youll never be as ripped as gorgeous Theo the red kangaroo.' Her fans immediately rushed to the comments section to point out that Bindi was once again hiding her stomach in the photo. 'Bindi is hiding her abdomen a lot, maybe theres a cub in it,' one wrote, while another said 'yet you're still HIDING that BUMP!' Pregnancy rumours surrounding Bindi were first sparked when she posted pictures of Chandler's 26th birthday on November 14. Eagle-eyed followers pointed out she was hiding her stomach behind a strategically-placed birthday cake. Her fans immediately rushed to the comments section to point out that Bindi was once again hiding her stomach in the photo Sources close to the pair told Woman's Day the lovebirds will be announcing the big news 'any day now'. The publication alleged the conservationist duo were waiting for Chandler's US-based parents, Chris and Shanna, to arrive in Australia for his birthday to spill the happy news to them first. 'They're hoping to officially announce another baby is on the way any day now,' an insider allegedly told the publication. 'They also can't wait to give Grace a sibling close in age. They really want a boy, given that both Bindi and Chandler grew up with a brother each and loved it.' Pregnancy rumours surrounding Bindi were first sparked when she posted pictures of Chandler's 26th birthday on November 14. Eagle-eyed followers pointing out Bindi was hiding her stomach behind a strategically-placed birthday cake The insider went on to claim that 'Bindi's sad the infant months are over' and is hoping to give her 20-month-old daughter Grace Warrior a sibling 'sooner rather than later'. 'Bindi's already hinted to her mum that she might be a grandma for the second time and [her mum] Terri's over the moon at the mere thought of it,' they claimed. Fans wildly speculated about a potential pregnancy when Bindi hid her belly behind her husband's birthday cake in their Instagram photos. Sources close to the pair have alleged the lovebirds will be announcing the big news 'any day now'. Pictured: Bindi when she was pregnant with Grace The couple posed for photos at The Crocodile Lounge in Queensland alongside Chandler's family from Florida as he held baby Grace. In all the photos, Bindi strategically stood with her belly covered by the three tiered birthday cake decorated with wild animals. 'There is 100% a bun in that oven,' one fan wrote, while another said: 'Looks like Bindi is hiding something behind that cake!' Fans speculated wildly as Bindi appeared to hide her belly in her most recent photographs Another commented: 'Am I paranoid, or is Bindi hiding her stomach in every pic? Lol happy birthday chandler!' 'Not sure, maybe grace is going to be a big sister, only a guess. If it's true they'll tell the world when they're ready,' someone else said. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Australia Zoo for comment. Sarah Hyland celebrated the New Year with her husband Wells Adams and their friends in Lake Tahoe over the weekend. On Wednesday, the actress, 32, shared snaps on Instagram of the couple sharing their first New Year's kiss as a married couple as well as group photos with their pals celebrating with them. Last summer, the pair tied the knot in August at their star-studded wedding ceremony held at a winery near Santa Barbara in California. Sharing a kiss: Sarah Hyland celebrated the New Year with her husband Wells Adams and their friends in Lake Tahoe over the weekend To ring in the New Year with her loved ones, the Modern Family alum wore a stunning midi dress that was adorned with eye-catching, sequined details and featured a plunging neckline. She paired the look with black, open-toe stiletto heels. For other accessories, the Love Island US host donned a silver headband ornate with stars and wore a pair of dangling earrings. New Year's festivities: Sarah Hyland, 32, celebrated the new year with her husband Wells Adams, 38, and their friends in Lake Tahoe over the weekend In one photo, she showed off her stunning wedding ring while posing with The Bachelorette alum, 38. The brunette beauty tied her hair up in a ponytail and left her bangs in a perfectly imperfect style. Her other half looked dapper while dressed formally in a tie and suit. Taking a dive: To ring in the New Year with her loved ones, the Modern Family alum wore a stunning midi dress that was adorned with eye-catching, sequined details and featured a plunging neckline In one photo, the cheerful couple posed with the Glee actor, Chord Overstreet, 33, in front of a fireplace and a homemade banner. Later, the entire group of pals posed together with New Year's celebration-themed props. The newlyweds first met on social media in 2017 and started dating shortly after. Three's not a crowd! In one photo, the cheerful couple posed with the Glee actor, Chord Overstreet, 33, in front of a fireplace and a homemade banner The couple got engaged during their vacation in Fiji in July 2019 and tied the knot in August 2022. Initially, the newlyweds had postponed their original wedding plans in 2020 due to the pandemic. Although their wedding was postponed, the couple still celebrated their would-be wedding date on August 9, 2020 with a photo of the pair at a vineyard on the special date. Emmy winner Keke Palmer was every bit the glowing mom-to-be as she arrived at The Whitby Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday. The expecting 29-year-old showcased her burgeoning baby bump in a glittering lavender halter dress, silver heels, and a khaki trench coat selected by styling duo Wayman and Micah. Hairstylist Ann Jones twisted Keke's (born Lauren Keyana) long hair extensions. Glowing and showing! Emmy winner Keke Palmer was every bit the glowing mom-to-be as she arrived at The Whitby Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday Make-up artist Sheika Daley brought out Palmer's natural beauty so she could look her best for the day of press. On Tuesday, the Illinois-born triple threat's babydaddy-to-be Darius Daulton shared an ultrasound of their precious fetus. The Philly-born fitness trainer - turning 29 on January 21 - captioned his Instagram slideshow: 'To 2022, thank you for giving me a family.' Keke and Darius - who met at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Memorial Day party last year - just flew back from a lavish babymoon at a tropical destination in a private jet. Baby on board! The expecting 29-year-old showcased her burgeoning baby bump in a glittering lavender halter dress, silver heels, and a khaki trench coat selected by styling duo Wayman and Micah Long hair, don't care! Hairstylist Ann Jones twisted Keke's (born Lauren Keyana) long hair extensions Hey mama! Make-up artist Sheika Daley brought out Palmer's natural beauty so she could look her best for the day of press Squeee! On Tuesday, the Illinois-born triple threat's babydaddy-to-be Darius Daulton shared an ultrasound of their precious fetus Blessings: Keke and Darius - who met at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Memorial Day party last year - just flew back from a lavish babymoon at a tropical destination in a private jet 'I'm going to be a mom!' The Nope actress first revealed she was pregnant with her fist child while hosting NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live on December 3 In 2021, The Jasmine Brand reported that Daulton's (last name Jackson) ex-girlfriend Taylor Marie Sandova claimed he pressured her to have an abortion three weeks before he began dating Palmer. In a since-deleted TikTok post, Taylor wrote: 'When he gets you pregnant presses you to have an abortion and 3 weeks later is boo'd up with Keke Palmer [tea emoji].' The Nope actress first revealed she was pregnant with her fist child while hosting NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live on December 3. On Tuesday, Keke - who boasts 21.6M social media followers - tweeted: 'It kills me when guys are disappointed that they are having a girl, like they aren't the reason for that genetic outcome lmao. Also, baby girls are a blessing' 'So it's a girl?' At that, fans of Palmer were absolutely convinced that she was hinting that she was going to have a daughter, and the funny memes followed On Tuesday, Keke - who boasts 21.6M social media followers - tweeted: 'It kills me when guys are disappointed that they are having a girl, like they aren't the reason for that genetic outcome lmao. Also, baby girls are a blessing.' At that, fans of Palmer were absolutely convinced that she was hinting that she was going to have a daughter, and the funny memes followed. That same day, the Lightyear actress shared snaps from her babymoon and posted about her new theme being 'rest' because she normally has a tight schedule for herself 'even on vacation.' 'Happy new year!' That same day, the Lightyear actress shared snaps from her babymoon and posted about her new theme being 'rest' because she normally has a tight schedule for herself 'even on vacation' 'Enjoy the peace while you can!' Keke's post received supportive comments from her child's future aunties - Iman, Naomi Campbell, Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Ashanti, Sherri Shepherd, Normani, Niecy Nash, Tamera Mowery, and Holly Robinson Peete Keke's post received supportive comments from her child's future aunties - Iman, Naomi Campbell, Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Ashanti, Sherri Shepherd, Normani, Niecy Nash, Tamera Mowery, and Holly Robinson Peete. Palmer will next reprise her voiceover role as 14-year-old activist Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins in the February 1st episode of Disney+ animated sitcom The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder's second season. The KeyTV Network founder has two upcoming films - Sister Act 3: Kicking the Habit for Disney+ and Aziz Ansari's feature directorial debut Being Mortal, which might never be released. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America 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 passenger arriving from China is tested for COVID-19 at the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, north of Paris, Jan. 1. AP-Yonhap The European Union and China on Tuesday moved closer to a political standoff over the COVID-19 crisis, with Beijing vehemently rejecting travel restrictions some EU nations have started to impose that could be expanded in coming days. An EU offer of help, including vaccine donations, was also as good as slapped down, with Beijing insisting the situation was ''under control'' and medical provisions ''in adequate supply,'' government spokesperson Mao Ning said. And as the 27-nation bloc moved closer to imposing some sort of restrictions on travelers from China, Beijing threatened countermeasures. ''We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity,'' Mao said. Still, the EU seemed bent on taking some sort of joint action to ensure incoming passengers from China would not transmit any potential new variants to the continent. A special EU health security committee joining representatives from the EU member nations discussed potential measures Tuesday, and EU spokesman Tim McPhie said that ''the overwhelming majority of countries are in favor of pre-departure testing'' in China. French Health Minister Francois Braun, right, French Junior Minister for Transports Clement Beaune, center, and French Aeroports de Paris (ADP) group CEO Augustin de Romanet, left, arrive to visit a COVID-19 testing area set for passengers arriving from China, at the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, north of Paris, Jan. 1. AP-Yonhap Travelers with luggage gather at the Air Macao flight check in counter at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Dec. 29, 2022. AP-Yonhap The United States said Tuesday that the requirement of COVID tests for travelers from China was based on science and due to Beijing's lack of transparency on surging cases. China earlier Tuesday denounced measures taken by a number of countries on its travelers as "unacceptable," two days before air passengers two years and older will be required to show a negative COVID test to enter the United States. "This is an approach that is based solely and exclusively on science," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters when asked about the statement by his Chinese counterpart. A senior water board official said that to put an end to such unfounded allegations, consumers will now be able to check the quality of water supplied to them. (Representational Image.File) Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has decided to provide consumers with water quality checking kits to curb unfounded allegations of water contamination and related illnesses from across the city. Consumers can check water quality through specially designed kits and upload the parameters to a dedicated mobile application for authorities to monitor water quality. Officials said they will procure around 12 lakh metres and supply them to 10.2 lakh consumers within the limits of Outer Ring Road. Over the last month, residents of Jahanuma in Bahadurpura have been complaining of contaminated water supply and alleging inaction by authorities. They claimed that sewerage was mixing with drinking water, causing health issues. In another instance, two persons died in Mailardevpally due to an illness caused by consuming contaminated water, according to residents, even as the water board denied the same. HMWS&SB also conducted a probe and stated that the water was not contaminated, warning those blaming the Board of filing cases. A senior water board official said that to put an end to such unfounded allegations, consumers will now be able to check the quality of water supplied to them. If an instance of contaminated water supply emerges, the Board will immediately stop the supply and make alternative arrangements. The official said that the authority also developed a mechanism to rectify water quality within hours. The official said that the water board would give subsidies on the water bills for those who do not avail of the 20 KL free drinking water scheme. Hyderabad Metro rail Contract ticketing (TCMO) employees protestat Ameerpet Metro station demanding salaris hike and various other issues . (Photo: S. Surender Reddy) Hyderabad: While the Telangana government embarked on the ambitious Hyderabad Airport Express Metro project, which will connect Mindspace Junction to Shamshabad Airport at a cost of Rs 6,250 crore, employees of the Hyderabad Metro Rail went on strike on Tuesday morning, demanding a salary increase. Red Line (Miyapur to LB Nagar) staff called for a strike and abstained from work because they have not received salary increases for five years. The Ameerpet metro station was filled with employees shouting in support of a pay increase. Passengers bore the brunt of the disruption at stations along the Red Line as ticketing personnel staged a sit-in near metro stations in protest of their demands, causing a brief halt in metro services. In addition to regular weekly off days, employees demanded a minimum monthly wage of Rs 25,000, adequate leaves, annual increments, and free metro transit if they work night shifts. The protesters stated that they had been suffering for some time as a result of non-payment of salary, while some contract workers said that their pay, which can be as low as Rs 11,000 per month, has not been increased in the last five years. According to a ticketing staff, the problem is exacerbated since relievers were not attending to duties on time, requiring them to stretch their hours. "On top of that, we are required to work like donkeys for several hours every day. When one shift ends, there aren't enough relievers, forcing others to work someone else's shift. We barely have time to have our meal, a staffer bemoaned. According to V. Prasad, a TCMO, new workers are being hired with the same base wages as him and his friends who joined five years back. Another employee demanded that HMRL management consider a raise of up to Rs 25,000 depending on seniority and experience. Naveen S, a ticketing employee, stated that despite being a staff member, they do not have free access/passes to Metro services, nor do they receive a reasonable discount. "Even our sick, emergency, and other leaves comprise 20 in total, which is not in line with industry standards," another employee remarked. According to the Hyderabad Metro Rail management, the striking employees were recruited through a contracting agency and 'connived and abstained from work with the intent of disrupting metro services and causing passenger inconvenience. "They spread rumours and misinformation with vested interests. Their claims are false, and their actions are severely detrimental to the public interest, necessitating stern action by the management. The management ensures that enough facilities and benefits are provided to employees. However, we will have discussions to understand their grievances. Train operations are on schedule, and sufficient staff is available, the HMRL stated. Meanwhile, services at the Ameerpet Metro functioned nearly smoothly, but one of its eight concourse entries was closed. When questioned why, authorities skirted the issue, while others indicated it was 'under maintenance'. On a regular day, each entry has roughly four ticketing officials, but on Tuesday, there were just two, resulting in somewhat longer lines as most other customers used Paytm and PhonePe to purchase tickets. Key demands > Regular weekly off days, a minimum monthly wage of Rs 25,000, adequate leaves, annual increments >Free metro transit if they work night shifts. We are required to work like donkeys for several hours every day. When one shift ends, there aren't enough relievers, forcing others to work someone else's shift. We barely have time to have our meal. A staffer "Even our sick, emergency, and other leaves comprise 20 in total, which is not in line with industry standards A staffer Marredpally station house officer C.H. Nethaji said that the accused did not confess to having sexually assaulted the dog, but admitted to hitting the dog with stones. These animal activists just want to make a case out of nothing. We have booked a case under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and we need more evidence on sexual assault,. (Representational Image: PTI) Hyderabad: A 62-year-old man was booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act after activists alleged that the man had sexually assaulted a dog in West Marredpally on Tuesday night. The culprit was seen sexually assaulting dogs a year ago and he is repeating the act without facing any action. At the police station, the culprit said that he sexually assaulted the dog but was just counselled and released the same day. After being released, he sexually assaulted another dog in the same area the same day, said Y. Pradeep, an animal activist who filed a complaint. However, the police rebuffed the claims of activists. Marredpally station house officer C.H. Nethaji said that the accused did not confess to having sexually assaulted the dog, but admitted to hitting the dog with stones. These animal activists just want to make a case out of nothing. We have booked a case under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and we need more evidence on sexual assault, he said. This also brought to the limelight a topic, which, according to activists, is not given enough importance. Dr Virinchi Sharma, a consultant psychiatrist, said that zoophilia is a paraphilic disorder (abnormal sexual behaviour) wherein humans are attracted to animals. Not having an emotional and sexual maturity, inadequacy in obtaining sexual pleasures, inability to delay gratification of impulses, lack of empathy, having voyeuristic tendencies are some of the important factors, Sharma said. Individuals who experienced childhood sexual abuse and suffered from a hostile childhood environment are more prone to zoophilia, said experts. Such people generally select an animal that doesnt fight back; their helplessness attracts them, said Rachel Nandi, a psychologist. With regard to the alleged incident at Marredpally, Dr Nandi said, We can never say whether it was the man's first time assaulting the dog or an animal. He may have been doing it for years. Detailed psychological evaluation and therapy help in understanding the details of it if there is any active psychological illness. Medical treatments can be planned similarly, advised the doctors. Activists, meanwhile, alleged that such incidents are common in the Nallakunta-Narayanguda zone and Mahbubnagar. They alleged police laxity. What the law says Sexual crimes against animals are covered under Section 377 of the IPC which talks about unnatural offences against the order of nature. Its ambit includes man, woman and animal. Hence, it has vast coverage under the eyes of the law. Punishment is either life imprisonment or imprisonment extending to 10 years and also a fine. For the protection of animals against cruelty there is a separate act called the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, but it doesnt have sufficient protections and is liberal towards humans, said Mihir S., an advocate. No non-fortified rice will be accepted for PDS after Jan. 9: FCI. (Image: PTI) HYDERABAD: In a move that is likely to trigger a fresh controversy between the BRS government and the Centre, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has issued directions to its officials in Telangana state to accept only fortified raw rice for public distribution (PDS) starting on January 9. The FCI's circular may spark a verbal spat between the Telangana government and the Centre because some rice mills throughout the state have failed to upgrade machinery to produce fortified rice. Rice millers must install blending machines to mix fortified rice kernels (FRKs) with rice during the paddy milling process. This machine, according to rice millers, will cost around `5 lakh. Although the majority of the rice mills in Telangana have installed blending machines, a considerable number of rice mills lack the facility. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in 2021 that all rice distributed through food security schemes/ PDS will be fortified with iron and folic acid by 2024 to combat malnutrition and anaemia among women and children. Telangana Rice Millers Association president Tudi Devender Reddy stated the majority of the state's 2,200 rice mills installed these machines because the state government was already procuring fortified rice and supplying it to students in government schools, welfare hostels, anganwadi centres to provide nutritious food to children and pregnant mothers. "There could be some 400 to 500 rice mills which are yet to install these machines. This would not pose a big problem as millers can install these machines by spending nearly Rs 5 lakh each. The deadline of January 9 may pose a problem and if the deadline is extended by two or three weeks, this problem could be resolved," Devender Reddy said. Last year, the Centre and state governments were embroiled in controversy over parboiled rice procurement in rabi season. The Centre refused to accept parboiled rice stocks and insisted on raw rice stocks in rabi, while the Telangana government argued that due to summer heat, only parboiled rice could be produced in the state, and if raw rice was produced in mills, broken rice would be produced in large quantities, causing losses. The circular sent by FCI general manager, Telangana stated that, "It is to inform that as on date FCI is accepting some quantity of non-fortified raw rice only from kharif season 2021-22. For rabi season 2021-22 and kharif 2022-23, only fortified rice is being accepted. Now, in the coming days, there will be no demand for non-fortified rice in recipient regions. The circular was issued to FCI Divisional Offices in Hyderabad, Sanathnagar, Tarnaka, Warangal, Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Khammam and Karimnagar. The officials were directed to accept only fortified raw rice with effect from January 9, 2023. The same may be intimated to all divisional managers concerned and all rice millers associations in advance to implement the same. "All DMs will ensure that no non-fortified rice is accepted beyond January 7, 2023, the circular noted. Mr Jaishankar further said if Europe was trying to cushion its population on the issue of Russian oil imports, then the same option has to be available to other nations as well. (File Photo: PTI) New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday hit out at China for not respecting bilateral pacts signed earlier not to amass forces on the border and not to try to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) unilaterally. On the import of Russian oil by India, the minister, speaking to the Austrian state broadcaster TV channel in Vienna on the last day of his current three-day visit to Vienna, questioned European hypocrisy and asked why Europe had not cut off Russian oil and gas supplies to it the moment the Ukraine conflict broke out, adding that Europes actions like increasingly turning to the Middle East for oil supplies were putting pressure on global oil markets at a time when developing countries like India cannot pay high prices for fuel. In response to a question, the minister also said there have been many instances in the past when a nations sovereignty had been violated and if Europe is asked about those instances, there will be a long silence from it. On the issue of terrorism, Mr Jaishankar openly accused Pakistan of masterminding the Mumbai 26/11 attack in 2008 and the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001. Criticising China, the minister said it had not observed agreements with India inked in the past that included not amassing troops on the border and not trying to unilaterally change the LAC. The written agreements were not observed (by China), the EAM said, adding that satellite imagery and other records are very clear that it was China that amassed troops at the border first. On the Ukraine conflict, the EAM made it clear that Indias view was that the conflict was not in anyones interests, including that of Russia. On the import of Russian oil by India, the EAM referred to continuing European imports of Russian oil, even if reduced, and asked why Europe did not altogether stop the imports the moment the Ukraine conflict broke out. Europe cant say its my principle but I will do it by my timing, he said. Mr Jaishankar further said if Europe was trying to cushion its population on the issue of Russian oil imports, then the same option has to be available to other nations as well. Asked about his referring to Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism, Mr Jaishankar said Pakistan was a country that had attacked the Indian Parliament and the city of Mumbai, including foreign tourists, and that it is also a country that sends terrorists across the border. He wondered how terror camps on Pakistani soil or territory controlled by Pakistan can operate in broad daylight with such impunity. Can you tell me the Pakistani State does not even know what is going on?, the EAM asked, adding that epicentre is a diplomatic term and that he could have used much harsher language against Pakistan. Mr Jaishankar also wondered why there was no open condemnation by the West of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, adding that India had begun sourcing Russian arms at a time when Western democracies thought that their natural partner in South Asia was a military dictatorship in Pakistan. On reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and Indias aspiration for permanent membership, the EAM made it clear that those enjoying permanent membership of it are not in a hurry to see reform. It (UNSC reform) will take some time, hopefully not too much time, he said, while conceding that while it was a tough task, India would not give up. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai paying homage to Shri Siddheshwar Swamiji (Photo by arrangement) Mangaluru: The last rites of Jnanayogi Shri Siddheshwar Swamiji of Sri Jnanayogashrama, who passed away on Monday, were held with full state honours on Tuesday. The 82-year-old seer who was suffering from age-related ailments for a few days passed away on Monday evening. The mortal remains of the seer were placed for the public to pay respect at Ashram and later at Sainik School. He was cremated in the Math premises in the presence of seers and political leaders. Thousands of devotees from Karnataka and also bordering villages of Maharashtra thronged to pay homage to the seer who was known for his sermons and simplicity of life. Seers of various Maths and politicians led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai paid last respects to the seer. Leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of Swamiji. According to sources, the seer had made it clear that his mortal remains should be cremated and no memorial should be constructed. A soft-spoken Seer with a simple appearance, Swamiji enjoyed great love and respect among the devotees. He was famous for his discourses in Kannada, English, and Marathi. People were used to eagerly attend his sermons. They found solace in the sermons when he addressed the topics related to the common man. He would explain even the complicated matters of the scripts in an easily understandable language. Swamiji used to visit the rural areas of the region and the number of devotees who visited him when he was unwell was a testimony for the love and affection he enjoyed. At the very young age of 14, Swamiji got his spiritual calling and became the disciple of Shri Mallikarjuna Swamiji. The TPCC has invited senior party leaders to attend the training workshop on January 4 at the Gandhian Ideology Center in Bowenpally. The training session will be addressed by Girish Chodankar, the observer for Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyan (Telangana), as well as TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy. Hyderabad: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) is holding a training programme for the party's cadre in order to effectively expose the BRS party's failings and counter its claims on a range of issues, including the Dharani portal, and to strengthen Rahul Gandhi's hands for his upcoming Haath se Haath jodo Abhiyan. The TPCC has invited senior party leaders to attend the training workshop on January 4 at the Gandhian Ideology Center in Bowenpally. The training session will be addressed by Girish Chodankar, the observer for Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyan (Telangana), as well as TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy. PCC vice-president (media and communications) told Deccan Chronicle that the day-long programme experts deliberating on important issues such as the Dharani portal, Rahul Gandhis Haath se Haath jodo Abhiyan, which set to begin on January 26 as a follow-up to the Bharat Jodo Yatra), issues related to voter enrolment, and the effective use of social media. "Experts both from within the party and from outside will be speaking on matters of importance. It will be followed with the speech of the PCC president," he stated. Telangana High Court (Representational Image) HYDERABAD: Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the Hyderabad police commissioner and the central zone DCP to permit the dharna planned by the state Congress in protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the state government towards sarpanchs and public representatives of local bodies. An application from senior leader Mahesh Kumar Goud, on behalf of the Congress, seeking permission for the dharna on January 2 had been rejected by Hyderabad police hours before the scheduled programme. Challenging it, Goud had approached the High Court. Police had arrested several top leaders of the state Congress to prevent the dharna on January 2. Ponnam Ashok Goud, arguing on behalf of the petitioner, regretted that the state government was not giving its nod for a peaceful and democratic protest. The judge directed the police to grant permission for the dharna, albeit after submitting a fresh application to the police. The court asked the petitioner to submit an application along with undertaking that not more than 300 people will attend the dharna and that Covid-19 precautions would be followed. The court further said that if the petitioner violated the conditions, the authorities were at liberty to take the necessary action. TD chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu (DC File Photo) TIRUPATI: Tempers flared in Kuppam assembly constituency after police tried to prevent Telugu Desam supporters from gathering at Gadduru village in Santhipuram mandal of Chittoor district on Wednesday to welcome TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. Palamaner subdivision police enforcing state governments latest G.O. against public gatherings lathi-charged to disperse TD workers. At least 20 of them, including women, have been injured at Gadduru. A woman party worker fell unconscious and has been shifted to a hospital, said former TD MLC Gownivari Srinivasulu. According to information, hundreds of police had been deployed on Wednesday in Kuppam over Naidu's scheduled visit to prevent public meetings on roads. Earlier, Palamaner SDPO N. Sudhakar Reddy had written to Naidu's office that no permission will be granted to hold any road shows or meetings on public roads. He quoted state governments GO No.1 and requested the office to respond with locations of meetings, based on which permissions will be given. Late in night, the SDPO issued a letter saying as TD has not responded, no road shows or meetings will be allowed. However, TD erected a pandal at Gadduru village for the proposed Rachhabanda meeting of the TD chief as part of his three-day Kuppam tour. On Wednesday, before Naidus arrival, police removed the pandal at Gadduru and a stage at Kenumakulapalli village. They also confiscated a campaign vehicle of the TD and another vehicle carrying sound systems while these were being driven to Santhipuram, where Naidus first road show had been scheduled. Meanwhile, police repeatedly tried to prevent TD workers from travelling to Santhipuram to attend Naidu's programme. They also sought to stop party cadres from reaching AP-Karnataka border to receive their leader. Police had to struggle in keeping crowds at bay since they got outnumbered by thousands of TD workers from Kuppam and other mandals. Police thus summoned additional forces. When Naidu's convoy arrived at the bordering village, a police team led by SDPO Sudhakar Reddy approached the TD chief and attempted to give him notices. Refusing to accept them, Naidu got into a heated argument with the police. As police made it clear that they would not permit him to conduct roadshows or meetings, Naidu took up a door-to-door campaign in the Pedduru village. M. Raghunandan Rao. (Photo:Facebook) HYDERABAD: Internal strife is yet again to the fore in the BJP in the Dubbak Assembly constituency with some party leaders accusing M. Raghunandan Rao, the party MLA of high-handedness and ignoring long-time party leaders and workers. A group of BJP leaders from the constituency met on Monday in the city to discuss how Raghunandan was ignoring party leaders who have been with the BJP for long, as well as those from the partys affiliated organisations and instead relying on those who joined the party recently. It is learnt that they would approach the party leadership at the state level with an allegation that Raghunandan Rao was a BRS covert operative in the BJP, and seek action against him with a plea that he not be given the party ticket in the next Assembly elections. Raghunandan Rao had faced similar dissidence in the run up to the Dubbak bypoll in 2020. At the core of the problem is believed to be, his followers claim is the speculation that there could be a change in the state party leadership with some in the party saying that the Dubbak MLA, along with a couple of others, could be front runners for the state party chiefs position in an expected reshuffle of partys organisational leadership at the national level, and in some states. Raghunandan Raos followers say that this is a deliberate attempt to malign the reputation of their leader and that those claiming to be in the party and are opposed to him in the constituency, were not associated with the party since 2014, and never worked for the party in the 2014, 2018 elections, or in the 2020 byelection that saw Raghunandan win the Dubbak seat. When contacted, Raghunandan Rao said he had nothing to say on the issue, but that there were some who were unhappy with his growth in the party who could be behind such moves. Newly appointed Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Prabodh Saxena calling on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan. (Photo: Twitter) Prabodh Saxena has emerged as Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhus choice as the states new chief secretary, following the retirement of Ram Dass Dhiman, who has been named as the state chief information commissioner. Mr Saxena, a 1990-cadre HP cadre IAS officer, will have tenure until March 2025. As it so often happens with top-level appointments, there were several claimants to the post. Sources have informed DKB that several senior babus were trying hard to win the coveted position. These included Ram Subhag Singh and his wife Nisha Singh, 1988-batch IAS officer Sanjay Gupta and Saxena. All these babus had been superseded by Mr Dhiman, the outgoing chief secretary. Out of these, Mr Saxena was the strongest candidate who had adequate tenure left in service and had an excellent track record. It is this factor apparently that swung the scales in his favour. CM Sukhu, who led the Congress party to a memorable win in the recent state Assembly elections, will require a deft and experienced hand alongside to run his government. Mr Saxena was the one who was the most suitable and acceptable choice. Ex-babus return to advise Gujarat CM Though this is not the first time that a chief minister in Gujarat has appointed advisors, the former finance secretary Hasmukh Adhias new job as chief advisor to CM Bhupendra Patel has created a stir in babu circles. Mr Adhias nomination makes sense when you consider that he was Prime Minister Narendra Modis principal secretary when the latter was chief minister of the state. Later, Mr Modi brought him to Delhi as revenue and then finance secretary, where Mr Adhia managed the Centres implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mr Adhia went on to hold a string of distinguished roles after retiring in 2018, positions including non-executive chairman of the Bank of Baroda and Chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat. He is also vice-chairman of the boards of Pandit Deendayal Energy University and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) as well as a member of the Board of Governors, IIM Bangalore. He headed a task force that prepared a report on Gujarats road map to make India a five-trillion economy. Sources have informed DKB that Mr Adhia will assist Mr Patel on matters like finance, economic affairs, education, energy, renewable energy and investment, among others. Aside from Mr Adhia, the Gujarat government has appointed another ex-babu S.S. Rathore, and Modi faithful, as an advisor to Mr Patel. Mr Rathore is the current managing director of Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRC) and is well-known for overseeing major state infrastructure projects. Mr Rathore will assist the CM on issues related to roads and buildings, civil aviation, metro rail project, railways, water resources, and Narmada and Kalpasar projects. It is obvious that Mr Modi wants his home state to prioritise finance, investments and infrastructure. What is less clear is whether regular babus in the Gujarat government will happily accept directions from retired babus. Perhaps the name Modi will act as a magic charm. CCI chief appointment delayed The appointment of the new chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has got delayed, sources have informed DKB. Only last month some sections of the media were reporting that the selection process had entered the last leg, with Smita Jingran, Yogender Choudhry and Injeti Srinivas, all babus, emerging as front-runners. This was after some 57 aspirants had been interviewed in October last year and the second round of interviews held in November. Now it appears that the selection interview has been scrapped and a fresh round of the selection process is being rolled out. Do the powers that be have a particular candidate on their priority list? What else can we infer from the decision to restart the whole selection process? The chairpersons slot has been vacant since former IAS officer Ashok Kumar Gupta retired in October last year, and Sangeeta Verma is the acting chairperson. The decision has obviously dampened the hopes of reportedly over 100 applicants, including senior babus (including retired), economists, judges and even some members of the CCI. How long this critical position will remain vacant is anyones guess. But whoever is finally announced will undoubtedly be one who has the governments back. Captain Shiva Chouhan. (Photo: Twitter) To say women have reached the heights is a cliche in the modern age, but this is literally what Captain Shiva Chouhan has helped them achieve in becoming the first to be deployed operationally at the worlds highest battlefield in Siachen. Her ascent symbolises the granting of equal opportunities to women in all fields, including in combat action in hostile terrain adjacent to a prickly neighbour. India being a deeply conservative society that is just shedding old taboos, it may have taken a while to drop gender prejudices in the workplace. In fact, the Supreme Court may have nudged the Indian armed forces in several cases of opportunities being denied in chauvinistic fences being put up only to discriminate against the fairer sex. In going to duty at an altitude of 4,765 metres at the Kumar Post in the Himalayas, Shiva has struck a resounding blow for womens rights. Engineers have always been part of military operations as sappers and miners in advance positions on the frontiers, but an engineering degree is only one of her many accomplishments . She joins several other women who have been shining as fighter jet pilots in the Indian Air Force and helicopter and air transport pilots in the services. Being in the forces, Shivas case should be considered most encouraging for the sheer romance of proving equal to men in daring tasks. The sheer visibility of her posting may lead to more young women aspiring to join the services and prove themselves the equal of men. The glass ceiling may have been broken long ago in the corporate world where Indian women have proved outstanding leaders in biotechnology and IT sectors. But, even in a country that had in Indira Gandhi only the worlds second woman Prime Minister in 1966, it took decades more for women to break through in other fields. It is a sign of progress as well as progressiveness of attitude that gender walls built by men have been broken thus. There is still some way to go before real equality is attained in all walks of life. Shiva will always be remembered as the first who broke the barrier in such an illustrious manner. President Joe Bidens administration has renominated former Los Angeles mayor Eric M Garcetti to be the ambassador of the United States to India, although his confirmation was blocked at the Senate of the American Congress last year in the wake of the allegation that he was aware of sexual harassment committed by one of his top aides. The renomination of Garcetti, 51, to be the US ambassador to India has triggered a strong protest from the legal organisation Whistleblower Aid. The organisation represents a woman, who earlier worked as a communications director in the office of the Mayor of Los Angeles and accused Garcettis top aide Rick Jacobs of harassing her sexually. Renominating Garcetti does a grave disservice to victims and survivors of workplace sexual harassment, Libby Liu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Whistleblower Aid, said. The White House, however, appeared confident about securing the US Senates confirmation for the appointment of Garcetti as the envoy of Washington DC to New Delhi. Well continue to seek the confirmation of Mayor Garcetti, who has who was, as you all know, voted out of committee unanimously and with strong bipartisan support to serve as ambassador to India, Bidens Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said. She was briefing media persons at the White House shortly after the administration announced that it had sent to the US Senate nearly 60 nominations for key positions in the government and the judiciary including several, who could not secure the confirmation during the tenure of the last Congress. As Secretary (of State, Antony) Blinken, said very recently, our relationship with India is crucial and its consequential, so we see this as a very important nomination, she said, adding: And as been as you know been reported, well continue to seek the confirmation of Mayor Garcetti, who has who was, as you all know, voted out of committee unanimously and with strong bipartisan support to serve as ambassador to India. The optimism of the Biden Administration over getting Garcetti confirmed as the US ambassador to India apparently stems from the fact that the Democratic Party now has a 51-49 majority in the Senate. The party earlier had the bare minimum hold in the 50-50 Senate with Vice President Kamala Harriss tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided upper chamber of the US Congress. Biden had first nominated Garcetti, then the Mayor of Los Angeles, as the next US ambassador to India on July 9, 2021. Garcetti, however, could not take up his assignment in New Delhi as his nomination has not been confirmed by the US Senate. He was accused of being aware of the alleged sexual misconduct of his top aide Jacobs. The then Mayor of Los Angeles denied the allegation persistently during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination in December 2021. But a whistle-blower, Naomi Seligman, who had earlier worked as the communications director at the office of the Mayor of Los Angeles, urged the US Senate officials to examine his claims further. This prompted Republican Senator Chuck Grassley to get his office to conduct a probe and come out with a report on May 10 this year. The report concluded that Garcetti was likely aware of the alleged misconduct by Jacobs. Earlier, Garcettis nomination was blocked by Republican Senator Joni Ernst. The Biden Administration in October 2022 appointed career diplomat Elizabeth Jones as the new acting envoy of Washington DC to New Delhi. The US Embassy in New Delhi has been headed by acting envoys ever since the term of Kenneth L Juster as the American Ambassador to India concluded in January 2021 with the end of the presidency of Donald Trump. Two car bombs detonated by al Shabaab militants in central Somalia on Wednesday killed at least 35 people, including eight members of a single family, and wounded 40 more, a senior police officer said. The attack in the town of Mahas was the latest in a series by al Qaeda affiliate al Shabaab since government forces and allied clan militias last year began pushing the insurgents out of territory they had long held. "Most of the dead are civilians. They are women and children," Hassan-Kafi Mohamed Ibrahim, deputy police commissioner of Hirshabelle State, told Reuters. "Only one child survived from a family of nine members. Other families also lost half of their members. The two suicide car bombs burnt many civilian homes to ashes." Mahas District Commissioner Mumin Mohamed Halane told state radio that one bomb targeted his house and the other hit the home of a federal lawmaker. Al Shabaabs media office claimed responsibility in a statement, saying it had targeted "apostate militias and soldiers" and put the number of dead at 87. Al Shabaab often gives higher casualty figures than local officials and residents. Al Shabaab has been waging an insurgency against Somalia's government since 2007. It was pushed out of Hiraan, the region where Mahas is located, last year by government forces and allied clan militias known as macawisley. The soldiers and militiamen have received support from United States and African Union troops during their offensive. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's government says the operations have killed hundreds of al Shabaab fighters and recaptured dozens of settlements, although many battlefield claims cannot be independently verified. Despite the offensive, al Shabaab has carried out frequent attacks in recent months, including several in the capital Mogadishu against government installations and hotels. Al Shabaab's activities have also restricted deliveries of international aid, compounding the impact of the Horn of Africa's worst drought in four decades. A small plane with four passengers crashed at a Utah airport on Monday, killing one and injuring the other three, according to city officials in Provo. The plane crashed immediately after takeoff and one of the three survivors was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The other two sustained minor bumps and bruises," officials said. The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that it was investigating the crash of the aircraft, which it identified as an Embraer 505, a light business jet. The airport in Provo, just south of Salt Lake City, will remain closed until noon on Tuesday, and a number of flights have been cancelled, according to the airport's website. Brian Torgersen, the airport manager, told FOX13 that the scene of the crash was devastating" and was surprised that two of those on board made it out with relatively minor injuries. Other details of the crash, including its destination and the identities of those on board, have yet to be released. A day after some prominent Ayodhya seers showered their blessings on former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Khestra Trust general secretary Champat Rai on Wednesday heaped praise on Rahul for undertaking the yatra and said that neither the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi had criticised the yatra. ''A young man (Rahul) has been walking on foot in this cold weather. It is praiseworthy. This young man is trying to understand the nation and walking for 3000 km. We will only praise it,'' Rai said. Also Read: Rahul's Bharat Jodo Yatra gets 'blessings' of Ayodhya seers ''I think you all (journalists) should also do the same (undertake padyatra to study the country),'' he added. ''I am an RSS worker and RSS never criticised the Yatra,'' Rai said. Another member of the Trust, Mahant Govind Dev Giri also praised Rahul and wished his yatra a success. Rai's praise of Rahul's Yatra came a day after the seers of Ayodhya extended their 'blessings' for the same. Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the makeshift Ram Temple in Ayodhya, in a letter to Rahul, had expressed the hope that Rahul's 'Yatra' would be able to 'unite' the country. ''The objectives of the Yatra will be fulfilled with the blessing of Lord Rama,'' Das said in the letter. The support from the seers came amid the Opposition leaders' shunning the Yatra in the state. SP President Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati, though wished success for the Yatra, decided not to join the same nor send any of their senior leaders. Congress had invited Akhilesh, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra, CPI leader Atul Anjan, former minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and Suheldev Bharat Samaj Party leader Om Prakash Rajbhar to join the Yatra in the state. The Yatra entered UP's Ghaziabad district from Delhi on Tuesday. Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR and formed several teams to nab the passenger who urinated on a co-passenger onboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi, officials said. A senior police officer said based on the complaint of the victim given to the Air India, a case has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections 294 (obscene act in public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) as well as under Aircraft Rules. Also Read | Air India plane returns to Delhi due to snag "We have formed multiple teams to keep a track of the accused passenger and he will be arrested soon," he said. Air India on Wednesday said it has imposed a 30-day flying ban on the passenger who had urinated on a co-passenger onboard a flight from New York to Delhi in November last year and set up an internal panel to probe whether there were lapses on part of the crew in addressing the situation. Separately, aviation regulator DGCA said it has sought a report from the airline on the incident and will "take action against those found negligent". On November 26, an inebriated male passenger had urinated on a female co-passenger during a flight from New York to Delhi, according to reports. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would meet captains of the Indian industry and Bollywoods whos who in Mumbai on Thursday as he arrives for a whirlwind tour of the financial capital ahead of the global summit in Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 is slated to be held from February 10-12 in Lucknow. The three-day long investors' summit will bring together policy makers, corporate leaders, business delegations, academia, think-tanks and political and government leadership from across the globe to collectively explore business opportunities and forge partnerships. During the two-day visit, Yogi Adityanath is expected to meet top brass of Reliance Industries Ltd, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekharan, Aditya Birla Group, Piramal Enterprises, JSW Group, Torrent Power, Hiranandani Group, Hinduja Group, Ever Stone Group, Hero Cycles, RPG Enterprises, L&T among others. He would be holding a separate meeting with the titans of the banking sector in Mumbai. He would also be meeting top Bollywood producers, directors and actors. The UP government is planning a Film City near the proposed Jewar International Airport, which would be the biggest in Asia. Besides, a FinTech City and Electronic City will also be there in the vicinity. In December, 2020, too, Yogi Adityanath had undertaken a similar visit to Mumbai to garner investments. The UPGIS 2023 is an initiative aligned to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making the country a $5 trillion economy, towards which the Government of Uttar Pradesh has set an aspiration target of making the state a $1 trillion economy in the next five years. Uttar Pradesh has set a target of attracting investment of worth Rs 10 lakh crore at UPGIS 2023 and has come out with a new online system for signing Memorandums of Understanding and monitoring their implementation. Protesting against privatisation, more than a lakh employees of Maharashtras power sector companies are going on a three-day strike which would have an impact on the supply system. The employees of all the three companies - Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MahaDiscom), Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MahaGenco) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (MahaTransco) are involved in the 4-6 January agitation. The government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has invoked the provisions of Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and has asked people to report to work. Also Read | Power deficit rises slightly to 0.6% in April-November; demand surges around 11% Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home, Finance and Energy portfolios, has convened a meeting with top officials to discuss the emerging situation. The Shinde-Fadnavis government has put an emergency plan in place so that people are not inconvenienced. Officials of various unions have also been invited for a meeting with the government. The agitation is being spearheaded by Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari, and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, which is an action committee of power company unions, which has given the strike call. More than 30 unions of drivers, wiremen, engineers, and other employees have come together to protest against the attempt of privatisation in the state-owned power companies. Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of 31 unions of power companies, had also started an agitation last month over their various demands. Their major demand is not to issue a 'parallel distribution licence' to the Adani Group's power subsidiary. In November last year, an Adani Group company had sought licence for expanding its power distribution business into more areas of Mumbai. Adani Electricity Navi Mumbai Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Transmission, had applied to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for a parallel licence for power distribution under the jurisdiction of Mahavitaran in Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Taloja and Uran areas. According to Krushna Bhoir, General Secretary of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation, nearly 86,000 employees, officers, and engineers of the three power companies, along with 42,000 contract employees and security guards will go on a 72-hour strike starting to protest against privatisation. The protest was going on peacefully across the state, he said, adding the protesting employees were sitting in pandals erected outside their establishments. Meanwhile, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged the Shinde-Fadnavis government to intervene. (With inputs from PTI) Released: December 29, 2022 Delaware County Council is proud to highlight the County's many 2022 achievements that are fundamentally changing the County's operations and building a stronger future for every resident and worker in the county. From January's swearing-in of the most diverse Council in the Countys history to the 2022 Alternative Fuel Leadership Award being presented to the Sustainability Office in December, each month of 2022 has included accomplishments and changes to how the County operates through deliberate and purposeful action to implement impactful programs and policies and key investments in the future of Delaware County. "This year represented the transition from promises and plans to implementation and unprecedented change at the County level," said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. "From launching a new County health department to assuming control of the George W. Hill Correctional to planning for the County's largest park at the former Don Guanella site to continuing to protect people and businesses from the ongoing impact of COVID-19 all while holding the line on taxes, this has been a year of extraordinary progress and achievements for the County. Since a new majority assumed control of Council in January 2020, Delaware County has begun to fundamentally rethink how it delivers services and invests in its future and the future of its residents. Plans began in those early first days and went from being ideas to ongoing, successful operations. Among the major achievements in Delaware County this year were: January Swearing in of the most diverse and first majority female Council in the Countys history Prison Warden Laura Williams hired and begins work to ensure the care, custody, and control of the incarcerated population at George W. Hill prison and the preparation for their successful reintegration into the community February Health Department Director Melissa Lyon introduces the Delaware County Health Department leadership team that includes: Division Administrator of Environmental Health; Division Administrator of Population Health; Division Administrator of Personal Health; a Public Health Physician; and an Epidemiologist County offers continued mortgage and housing-related assistance made available for residents affected by the pandemic March Council approves a proposal to create a plan to transform the 213-acre Don Guanella property in Marple Township into the largest public park in the county and its first major park in more than two decades. The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Office offers a free property fraud protection tool, called FraudSleuth, that helps Delaware County property owners safeguard against property fraud April The Delaware County Health Department is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to act in its official capacity as a health department Delaware County officially assumes control of George W. Hill Correctional Facility Delaware County receives $1M in funding for Congressionally directed spending projects to be used for Safety Improvements Project Delaware County awarded two Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants totaling $600,000 by the DEP to be used by the County for the purchase of new electric vehicles and related charging stations Delaware County receives the prestigious Governors Award for Local Government Excellence in recognition of the Countys successful Emergency Rental Assistance (Delco ERA) Program The Delaware County Office of Sustainability hosts the 1st Annual Sustainability Conference Delaware Countys first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer joins the County team Delaware Countys Office of Sustainability receives the Governors Award for Environmental Excellence May Delaware County Elections holds successful and secure Primary Election A graduation ceremony is held for the first class of cadets at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility Training Academy since the facility was de-privatized Delaware County announces $475K in grants for community and neighborhood projects specifically designed to provide outreach to historically underserved communities Delaware County launches a series of public workshops to gather community feedback as part of an effort to update the Countys 10-year Municipal Waste Management Plan June Delaware County raises the Pride flag outside of the Courthouse, celebrating diversity in the community and County workplace Delaware County Holds Mid-Year Budget Workshop for the public Delaware County Park Police launches a new bike patrol Delaware County holds first ever County Juneteenth Celebration in Rose Tree Park Delaware County Council adopts resolution setting first ever diversity goals Delaware County awarded $2M for Gun Violence Prevention Efforts July The Delaware County Controllers Office awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting The Delaware County Workforce Development Board awarded a $1.5M Pathway Home Program grant to provide training and employment services to adults reentering the workforce following incarceration at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility August Council approves major upgrade of the public safety radio system to improve public safety response and safety of first responders and the community Delaware County breaks ground for new County park at Upland Park September Delaware County announces historic $62.5M opioid settlement with pharmaceutical distributors Delaware County Council votes to establish The Delaware County Commission for Immigrant Affairs October Delaware County relaunches an enhanced Veterans Discount Program District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer provides a progress report on the work of the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods (CPSN) in curbing gun violence in the city: There has been a 59.7% decrease in non-fatal shootings since 2019 There has been a 60% decrease in gun violence homicides since 2020 There has been a 55% decrease in gun violence incidents since 2019 Delaware County forms a new committee to lead the planning process for the America250 Celebration and announces plans to hire a Director to leads efforts November County holds safe, secure, and accountable General Election Delaware County Council authorizes $1.7M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide grants to local fire departments across the county Fair Acres recognized as one of Americas Best Nursing Homes for 2023 by Newsweek December Delaware County awarded 2022 Alternative Fuel Leadership Award County awards $5 million in new Green Ways Grants to 24 projects across the county Delaware County announces plans to create a new land bank to allow the County to reinvest abandoned properties for affordable housing, businesses, and green space Delaware County receives grant to create a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQIA+ community Through a partnership with the Delaware County Veteran Affairs Office, Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on four new affordable houses in Lansdowne Delaware County Council unanimously approves the Countys FY 2023 budget and holds the line on taxes. The Delaware County Health Department has administered over 172,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses since the Health Department was established April The County accomplished a great deal in 2022 and it would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and insight of the members of our County team, said Dr. Taylor. We are proud of the work we have done to improve and invest in our county and were excited about our goals for 2023. The management of Seagate Technology in the city, which employs more than 1,400 people, has refused to meet a delegation of Derry City and Strabane District councillors to discuss the terms and conditions of the workforce. The decision has been described as a mistake by Ballyarnett councillor, Emmet Doyle (Aontu). Cllr Doyle said councillors had agreed to request a meeting via the Mayors Office in early December following a meeting with workers, but a reply from Management turned down the request. He added: Seagates response to this issue is misguided. They have the opportunity to meet with the elected representatives of the city and district and to discuss issues important to our constituents and their workers and they should want to engage. Workers have spoken to me about serious issues at the Derry site and I intend to see that their concerns are treated with the respect they deserve. It is clear from what I have been told that Seagate only wants an internal mechanism to engage with staff, that attitude coupled with the refusal to meet me and other councillors has done nothing to improve confidence in managements ability or intention to address problems. What respected business in the City would want to engage in a public spat with the local authority? said Cllr Doyle. Cllr Doyle said that Aontu would not be found wanting in 2023 in continuing to put pressure on Seagate not only to meet with elected representatives, but to meet the demands of workers. Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy will host a talk shedding light on how the County Derry environment and its pollution influenced Heaney's outlook and writing. It will explore how Heaneys poems not only focused on nature but also advanced environmental causes. British poet and academic, Yvonne Reddick, will deliver the talk. She says Heaney was conscious of environmental issues since childhood. He saw waste from the milk factory at Castledawson polluting the Moyola, and he knew that water from a flax dam could kill fish if it got into the river, she said. Later on, Heaneys poetry tackles environmental issues more openly: his poems express concerns about dwindling bird numbers, deforestation, and especially climate change, which is an important focus of his book District and Circle. This influence was apparent later in Heaney's life when he donated poems to environmental causes close to his heart. He donated poems to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and to the 'Save the Bog' campaign. He was also involved in conservation in more direct ways. For many years, he opposed the new route of the A6 road, which cuts through boglands near Lough Beg. The Irish Times reported that he wrote, Those undisturbed acres are as much a common spiritual resource as they are an ecological treasure. He was involved with the conservation of the Lough: he contributed a lyrical foreword to an environmental management plan for Lough Beg, Dr Reddick said. She became interested in Heaney's environmental conscience when she looked at the National Library of Ireland's archive. She got in touch with some of Heaney's relatives and was delighted to hear more about his support for environmental causes. Her talk will explore in more detail how Heaney used his 'famous nature poems to help nature itself.' Ill be speaking for 45 minutes about Heaneys environmental writing, awareness and activism. Ill be showing how he was concerned about, and helped to protect, landscapes close to his boyhood home the River Moyola, Lough Begs wetlands and wildlife. Im also planning to show how he supported bog conservation in the Republic of Ireland, worried about a melting Icelandic glacier, and imagined what one of his famous bog-people' from Denmark would think about pollution and climate change, she said. Dr Reddick is excited to take the opportunity to check out some of the County Derry landmarks that feature in Heaney's poems. Im looking forward to seeing Mossbawn, to visiting Anahorish, Heaneys place of clear water, and to seeing the Turfman sculpture at Bellaghy Bawn. I hope Ill also be able to see some bird life near Lough Beg. Dr Reddick has experience examining the environmental motivations of poets. In 2017 she released a book about English poet Ted Hughes which interprets Hughes as an ecopoet, a writer of environmental prose, a green activist, and a promoter of environmental education. A pamphlet of her own poetry Translating Mountains won the Mslexia Magazine Pamphlet Competition and was selected as a favourite pamphlet of the year in the Times Literary Supplement. The talk will take place on Saturday, January 7 at 2pm. Tickets are available on the Seamus Heany HomePlace website. The 600 government energy payment promised to households in Northern Ireland has begun its rollout. Households will receive their payments in different ways depending on how they pay for domestic electricity. Electricity customers who pay their bills on a quarterly basis will receive vouchers in the post as opposed to the 600 credited to their bank accounts. Households who pay for electricity via a keypad or pre-payment meter will also receive their 600 via posted vouchers. The vouchers can either be deposited in a bank or credit union or redeemed for cash at the Post Office and must be cashed in by March 31 2023. An estimated 500,000 households in Northern Ireland will be eligible to receive vouchers. Proof of address and photo identification will be required to exchange the vouchers for money. However, for direct debit customers, the energy firm they are signed up to on January 2 will be tasked with distributing 600 directly into their bank accounts. The payments are expected to arrive between mid-January and late March. The money is intended to help households with their home energy costs, however the recipients can spend it in any way they choose. The one-off payments are part of the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme and will be distributed automatically to customers who pay for a domestic electricity supply. Details of the payments were announced last year as part of the UK-wide energy support scheme, a government response to help people with record wholesale energy costs. Households in Great Britain are currently receiving a total of 400 in instalments. In Northern Ireland, households are set to receive a total of 600 by March. The extra 200 is being regarded as an "oil payment" to reflect the fact that a large proportion of customers in Northern Ireland use home heating oil. All households in Northern Ireland will qualify for the 200 oil payment, regardless of whether or not they use home heating oil. A 49-second clip of a Pixel 7a hands-on video was posted online. The Google Pixel 7a is the brands mid-range Pixel offering and has not been formally announced by the tech giant yet. Google Pixel 7a leaks A leaked video of Google Pixel 7a has been spotted on Slashleaks (via 9to5Google, which they spotted on. The design itself looks fairly similar to the Google Pixel 6a and other Pixel smartphones that came out in 2022. As far as the Android 13 settings go, the device has been labeled as the Pixel 7a, and it uses a design validation test software which is pre-release software. As per the video, the language of the smartphone was set to Vietnamese and it pays to note that Google A-series smartphones are manufactured in Vietnam. Google Pixel 7a specifications (expected) It is believed that the Google Pixel 7a has a display that adjusts the refresh rate based on content, from 60Hz to 90Hz. This would be the first time that such a feature has been included in an A-series smartphone. Other leaks have indicated that the smartphone will be equipped with a Samsung display along with a primary camera from Sony. The video leaked online doesnt refute or confirm these claims. Some also believe that the Google Pixel 7a will support wireless charging, making it the first of the A-series smartphones to offer this feature. Want to know if you should get your hands on the Google Pixel 6a? Read our official review here! For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Apple iPhone 15 series has hit the rumour mill again and this time its Jeff Pu, a tech analyst of Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities who has claimed that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are gonna roll out with some new features like a titanium frame, volume buttons with haptic feedback and increased RAM of 8GB, unlike iPhone 14 series which had 6GB RAM. Jeff Pu on a research note for Hong Kong investment firm Haitong International Securities has also outlined the expected specifications of the iPhone 15 series such as an A17 Bionic chip with 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile, in iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, he expects an A16 Bionic chip and 6GB of RAM. All four models are expected to have Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 modem for 5G and LTE. Jeff Pu has tipped the camera specifications as well. He said the iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a periscope technology for increased optical zoom and iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be featuring a 48-megapixel rear lens. No discussion on the camera specs of the iPhone 15 Pro. For display sizes of the iPhone 15 lineup, Jeff Pu expects the models to roll out with a 6.1-inch iPhone 15, 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max. iPhone 15 series is also rumoured to roll out with a USB-C type port and not a lightning port as Europe officially mandated the use of USB-C for all smartphones. Basically, all these specifications were previously rumoured except the rumour of increased RAM. However, no information has been officially announced by Apple about the new features. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Samsungs latest offering, the Samsung Galaxy F04, entered Indian markets today. This device has been confirmed to be a Flipkart-exclusive smartphone, which means that consumers can only purchase it via this e-commerce website. Flipkart also created a landing page dedicated to this entry-level smartphone and confirmed some of the critical specifications of the smartphone. Samsung Galaxy F04 specifications 1. Display Samsung Galaxy F04 comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The display houses a water drop notch for the front camera. 2. RAM+ option Samsung Galaxy F04 offers 8GB RAM with 4GB LPDDR4x RAM + 4GB Virtual RAM. It runs on a MediaTek Helio P35 SoC, and up to 128 GB of onboard storage. 3. Two major OS updates Another key feature offered by the Samsung Galaxy F04 is the support for two major OS updates. It runs on Android 12 (Go edition) right out of the box, but can accommodate two future updates to ensure customers can keep up with the Joneses. 4. Large Battery The Samsung Galaxy F04 comes with a 5,000mAh battery capacity. This is backed by 15W charging support. 5. Design The Samsung Galaxy F04 is offering a glossy finish. The smartphone is available in two colour options, viz. Jade Purple and Opal Green. The rest of the repertoire also consists of a fingerprint reader, 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C socket, WiFi, Bluetooth, and dual SIM support. Samsung Galaxy F04 price in India The Samsung Galaxy F04 is available on Flipkart and Samsung Indias website for 7,499. The sale begins on January 12 at 12 PM. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Most Realme fans are gearing up for the launch of the Realme 10 which is said to hit Indian markets on January 9. Now, ahead of the launch, theres one more product to be excited about - its the Realme Slim Pad. The listing for this product has been spotted on Flipkart, with text saying that its coming soon. Most people are speculating that this tablet will be launched alongside the Realme 10 series. Realme Slim Pad specifications (Expected) As of now, the specifications that have been listed on the Realme Slim Pad page are the same as the specifications of the Realme Pad which hit markets in 2021. These could just be placeholders. According to the listing, the Realme Slim Pad will offer a 6GB + 128GB configuration and will run on a MediaTek Helio G80 processor. It may also have a 10.4-inch Full HD display and 7100 mAh battery capacity with 18W fast charging. The tablet is also rumoured to have an 8MP primary camera along with an 8MP front camera. Realme Slim Pad price in India (Expected) As per the listing on Flipkart, the Realme Slim Pad price in India might be 32,999. Considering the fact that the tablet only has a MediaTek Helio G80 processor, this pricing (or the specification itself) may just be a placeholder. More details may be revealed as we inch closer to launch. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Regardless of where you work, technology remains a staple in facilitating productive and collaborative employee experiences. At the center is the overarching PC experience driven largely by an entire ecosystem of devices bringing employees closer to their teams, customers and clients. With more than 50% of employees surveyed rating monitors as the most important device to improve productivity across different workspaces in a recent Dell-Forrester study, our newest additions to the UltraSharp family promise to up-level the performance and experience on which youve grown to depend on. Raising the Bar for Innovation Dell ups the ante with another game changer in display innovation with the worlds first 6K-resolution monitor with IPS Black panel technology1 that provides higher contrast and deeper blacks. Fully compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, the Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor (U3224KB) raises the bar with exceptional details, sharpness and color accuracy in stunning 6K resolution and VESA DisplayHDR 600 for detail-oriented professionals like graphic designers, engineers and data scientists where every pixel counts. With 150% more pixels on 6K resolution compared to 4K, the new UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor brings extra details and additional clarity to your data sets and graphics. But its not just about 6K resolution. The inclusion of IPS Black technology means an increase in depth for dark objects - even in dark environments - and accurate colors viewed from virtually every angle. Dells recently commissioned Hot Tech study revealed monitors with IPS Black technology offer up to 41% deeper black levels3**and up to 1.2 times better color accuracy than conventional IPS4**especially in displaying low grays. The UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor is also ideal for users looking for excellent video conferencing capabilities, especially under low light conditions. It features a built-in dual gain HDR 4K webcam and provides auto framing, light adjustments plus enhanced clarity, automatic SafeShutter, echo cancellation mic and dual 14W speakers for an intelligent and more secure collaboration experience. Putting less stress on cables to keep your office clean and neat, the integrated front-facing pop-out feature provides intuitive easy access to ports so you can connect your accessories and devices easily. Enjoy effortless transferring capabilities for images with DisplayPort 2.1 that helps ensure seamless image transmission without compression. Lastly, ThunderboltTM 4 connectivity together with Extended Power Range provides up to 140W power delivery letting you charge and connect to more powerful workstations. More Productivity Powerhouses For creatives and business users who dont require 6K resolution, were also introducing two new UltraSharp monitors to suit your everyday needs. * Our first curved WQHD monitor with IPS Black technology, the Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved USB-C Hub Monitor (U3423WE) allows you to connect and display content from two PCs using Picture-by-Picture (PBP) and Picture-in-Picture (PIP) features, while enjoying clear audio with the integrated dual 5W speakers. * A productivity powerhouse and a collaboration dream wrapped into one, the Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U4323QE) allows you to connect one PC to the monitor and split it into multiple (up to four) screen partitions, as well as the ability to connect up to four different PCs to the monitor, view all four inputs and switch between them using KVM. Sustainability on Dell Monitors In staying true to our mission and purpose, when building the designs of our monitors we take a three-prong approach to 1) whats within the packaging, 2) whats around the packaging and 3) meeting Environmental Eco Labelling Standards as we march toward our 2030 Goals. These monitors contain up to 85% post-consumer recycled plastics2 and up to 90% recycled aluminum9. They also ship in select packaging components made with up to 90% recycled materials.5 Dell will continue our commitment to be ENERGY STAR, EPEAT and TCO Certified Edge. Next Up, Innovative Peripherals for Maximized Collaboration 2022 was a big year for us. 2023 will be even bigger as we focus on bringing more peripherals to market to improve the overall PC experience. Were kicking off the year with the worlds first Zoom-certified6 collaboration keyboard, the Dell Premier Collaboration Keyboard (KB900). Its sleek design features dedicated touch controls to manage Zoom calls easily, allowing you to mute and unmute the microphone, toggle between video on and off, easily screen share and bring up the chat panel. Stay on track with features like smart backlighting with hand-proximity detection, 15 programable keys and fast one-minute USB-C charging for a full day7 of battery life or up to 20 days7 on a single charge. Pair the keyboard with the new Dell Premier Rechargeable Mouse (MS900), featuring a thoughtfully crafted design with a comfortable palm grip. This mouse has a track-on-glass sensor that allows you to work seamlessly on virtually any surface, while smooth gliding advanced four-way scrolling provides a more intuitive navigating experience. You can switch between three devices and fine tune speed, tracking (with up to 8K dpi) and precision with Dell Peripheral Managerall while not worrying about battery life. The mouse provides half a day7 of use with one-minute USB-C quick charging and up to three months7 of battery life on a full charge. Both devices are seamless and more secure with Dell Pair one click connectivity8 and transmission is encrypted to help keep your data safe. Availability Feel inspired and motivated with these new devices that increase productivity and collaboration. The Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor (U3224KB) will be available in the first half of 2023, while the Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved USB-C Hub Monitor (U3423WE) and Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C Hub Monitor (U4323QE) will be available on January 31, 2023. The Dell Premier Collaboration Keyboard (KB900) and Dell Premier Rechargeable Mouse (MS900) will be available January 31, 2023 or as a bundle on March 23, 2023. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. The Minister for Health has said it is likely that pressure on hospitals due to a surge in respiratory illnesses will get worse in the coming weeks. It comes after the highest number of people waiting on trolleys was recorded on Tuesday, and as the Health Service Executive (HSE) advised people to consider attending their GP or minor injury units before an emergency department. Speaking to reporters after visiting emergency departments at Vincents and Beaumont Hospital, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: The advice I have from the chief medical officer is the modelling is difficult in terms of being accurate. However, what I can tell you is the HSEs view today, when I met them, was that this is likely to get worse, we are likely to see more pressure. 931 patients are on trolleys in our emergency departments or elsewhere in our hospitals today. Overcrowding isn't just confined to a small number of hospitals, it is impacting most. We need immediate and decisive action from the HSE and Government. https://t.co/r1TcUdRmB2 pic.twitter.com/CagkK0YCk2 Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) January 3, 2023 They dont believe that the flu wave has peaked. What we want to see happen obviously as quickly as possible is that the flu wave peaks and then recedes because what Im hearing repeatedly from the nurses, from the consultants in the hospitals, is more and more patients are coming in with the flu, and particularly those who are older or those who have other underlying conditions, it is making them quite sick. He added: What Im hearing here today, and then in Vincents today, is that the flu wave is very severe, its hit earlier than it normally would. And so we have this perfect storm of RSV, flu, Covid obviously, as well as all of the normal pressures, that really that has absorbed the significant additional capacity that has been put into the system. Emergency attendances have been fuelled by a rapid increase in flu, Covid-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) cases, with nearly 1,500 people currently in hospital with those illnesses. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (Inmo) said 931 patients were counted as waiting on trolleys in Irish hospitals, the highest number without a hospital bed since the trade union began the count in 2006. Of those, 767 were on trolleys in emergency departments while 164 were on trolleys elsewhere in hospitals. Limerick University Hospital declared a major internal incident on Monday after an unprecedented number of people presented seeking emergency care. Children are more likely than adults to catch the flu. The nasal spray flu vaccine is for all children aged 2 to 17. Make an appointment with your GP or pharmacy: https://t.co/55wpYBQqDC#FluVaccine | #YourBestShot pic.twitter.com/joOnf3mk0C HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 2, 2023 In a statement on Tuesday, the HSE asked those who need medical care or assessment to consider all options before going to an A&E during what is going to be the busiest ever period experienced by the health service. It said: While this surge of winter virus infections was predicted and planned for, the trends being seen are following the more pessimistic of predicted models and also appear to be increasing earlier than had been hoped. While some patients will regrettably experience long wait times in our emergency departments, urgent patients will always be prioritised for treatment and care. Although RSV cases fell for several weeks, they are now also surging. Figures show there are almost 700 people in hospital with Covid-19, with 78 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. Damien McCallion, the HSEs chief operations officer, said the unprecedented combination of very high levels of respiratory illnesses has led to stress on hospitals. The HSE expects the rise to continue for a number of weeks, which will seriously impact hospitals. Mr McCallion asked people with flu-like symptoms to check undertheweather.ie in the first instance, secondly for people to consult their pharmacist or GP, and thirdly for them to attend a minor injury unit before considering attending an emergency department. Those who believe they may be seriously ill and require emergency care should of course come to hospital, but we would urge others to consider seeking support from pharmacists, GPs, GP out-of-hours services and minor injury units, he said. These services have emergency responses in place for patients presenting with respiratory and other urgent health issues. Inmo general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the numbers require immediate and serious intervention from the Government, and called on a mask mandate to be introduced in congregated settings. We do not need those at the top to describe how we got here; we need to know what exactly the plan is from today until the end of February. Just telling people to avoid hospitals is not a plan or indeed safe. Our members are treating patients in inhumane and often unsafe conditions. Mr Donnelly said the official advice to the Government is that mask mandates are not required, but that they would keep the situation under review. The crisis in our hospitals is getting worse driven by rapidly increasing Covid, Flu & RSV cases & a lack of capacity in many hospitals. A senior medic has described UHL as a national basket case & conditions as inhumane. The Oireachtas Health committee needs to meet urgently. David Cullinane T.D. (@davidcullinane) January 3, 2023 I spoke to the chief medical officer in the last few hours on exactly that, Mr Donnelly said. So I dont anticipate any change coming in terms of the public health advice from the chief medical officer. The public health advice to Government, to me at the moment, it is not a move to mask mandates, but obviously we will keep the situation under review on a daily and on a weekly basis. Chief medical officer Breda Smyth has urged people to wear masks on public transport and to stay at home if they have flu-like symptoms over the coming weeks in an effort to reduce transmission. People are also encouraged to get a flu or Covid-19 booster vaccine if they are due one. On Thursday, a second booster vaccine was made available to people aged 18 to 49, which can be booked through the HSE website. The Taoiseach has said there are no early warnings of further job cuts in the technology sector this year despite a slowdown in recent months. Leo Varadkar said the Government will be monitoring very closely the performance of big tech firms in the coming months. Mass job cuts were announced by Stripe, Meta and Twitter late last year, affecting thousands of workers in Dublin and across Ireland. The digital sector directly employs more than 270,000 people in Ireland. Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed that employees in the ICT sector have the highest average earnings in the country, receiving 8.5 billion euro in wages in 2019. It is understood that thousands of Irish workers lost their jobs as the sector continued to downsize. Mr Varadkar said: I suppose when it comes to tech companies, we are monitoring the situation very closely, we dont have any early warnings at the moment of digital job losses. There have been a number in the past couple of months. And obviously, the tech sector is downsizing internationally, were not going to be immune from that here. A slightly more positive picture, perhaps the last few weeks, than would have been the case six or 12 weeks ago. I know a lot of tech companies that are still recruiting, and thats very positive as well. But its a situation that well obviously be keeping under review. Im certain though that in the medium term to long term, were going to see further growth in the tech sector, the future is digital. Mr Varadkar said he would encourage people to pursue careers in the technology sector. All of those technologies were going to see more of in the future, not less, he added. Id certainly say to anyone whos thinking of subject choices in school or thinking of what course theyre going to do consider science, technology, engineering and maths, because theres going to be more jobs in those areas, not less. The 9th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) conducts foot patrol. KHARTOUM, Jan.4 -- Recently, the 9th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) completed its first long-range patrol assigned by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) since deployed to the mission area. Upon receiving the order, the peacekeeping infantry battalion immediately held a task deployment meeting to formulate an operation plan, while comprehensively studying and judging the social and natural situations along the patrol route. At the same time, specific course training was carried out according to the task needs. The long-distance patrol mission lasted for 3 days and 2 nights, with a total journey of more than 280 km and emergency handling of over 10 times. It served to comprehensively test the peacekeepers ability of operational command, emergency handling, military-civilian coordination, and integrated support. During the patrol, the Chinese peacekeepers established friendly relations with the local government and other foreign peacekeeping forces, while vigorously carrying out humanitarian relief activities such as condolences and donations, well demonstrating the good image of the Chinese military. Members of the 9th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) stand on guard during the long patrol mission. Friday 13 January is the final day for students from Louth to enter the ActionTalks national speech writing competition. The competition, now in its ninth year, is an opportunity for young people to explore the root causes of local and global injustices and inequalities. This years themes focus on the climate emergency, unpaid care work and economic injustice. Entries to the competition can be submitted to ActionAid by email in written form and fifteen successful entrants will go forward to the regionals final, with six regional winners winning a 50 voucher each. At the national final in March, the six finalists will be asked to present their speech to a panel of esteemed judges. The national prize is a 500 voucher for the winner and a 100 voucher for their teacher. ActionAid is hoping entrants will come up with innovative, well-researched, and creative speeches, using their own unique perspective. The competition is designed to build students skills such as researching, writing, critical thinking and public speaking. Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland said: Weve heard from teachers across the country that students have been writing speeches on economic and climate justice. "Were excited to read the speeches and to hear what young people have to say on important issues like unpaid care work, how we can promote education as a human right, and on climate loss and damage. Today we are reminding students to be sure to enter their speeches before the deadline of Friday 13th January. ActionAid works with women and children, as they take the lead in claiming their human rights to build a more just world. ActionAids Womens Rights programme, funded by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, works to eliminate violence against women and girls. Irish Aid programmes are funded by Irish citizens and are part of Irelands important global role. To enter, students can ask their teacher for details or visit https://actionaid.ie/speech- writing-competition/ The Dundalk Democrat asked local TDs, councillors and senators from north and mid Louth to share their hopes, ambitions and predictions for the year ahead. In this article, Fine Gael's Cllr John Reilly shares his thoughts on 2023 Going into next year, one of the biggest highlights for me will be our new bank holiday in honour of our local saint, St Brigid, who of course was born in Faughart. In 2024, it will be 1500 years since she passed away. During this year, I have focused on getting new signage and a clean-up of Faughart graveyard in order to promote tourism in the area, especially due to the new bank holiday in her honour due next year. I will be working on a cross-border walk at Urney Graveyard this year in Dungooley as it is to be a stop on the Ring of Gullion. The lobbying for the extension of the footpath on the Armagh road is a priority for road safety for pedestrians in that area. I am confident that this matter will be addressed in early 2023. I am currently working with Get Connected to improve different mobile blackspots, especially the one in the Templetown area. The Roche Tractor Run in aid of North Louth Hospice, which raised 6,150 in 2022, will take place again in 2023 and is an event I look forward to. I believe we will have the same government this time next year. On a personal basis, I would like to continue with my hard work and my priority on a political level will be to get re-elected at the local elections in June 2024. The Dundalk Democrat asked local TDs, councillors and senators from north and mid Louth to share their hopes, ambitions and predictions for the year ahead. In this article, Sinn Fein's Cllr Antoin Watters shares his thoughts on 2023 Looking back at 2022 it has been a busy and enjoyable year for me on Louth County Council. I will continue to work on road safety issues especially around our local schools and I hope to see further road safety measures in 2023 to address safety concerns raised by the local community. During the year I was elected joint chair of the Strategic Alliance between Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Louth County Council. Funding was announced under the Shared Island unit for a cross border feasibility project to develop the Carlingford Lough as a tourism destination. The whole North Louth area has massive potential. I look forward to working to develop this further in 2023 including the progress around the Narrow Water Bridge Project. It is great to see the progress on it and I expect the project to make massive strides in 2023. The development of Greenways in the area is also continuing and the Newry to Omeath greenway is due to go to tender in early Q1 2023. I look forward to the prospect of a Greenway from Newry to Dundalk. I hope to see a Greenway Ranger to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the greenways. Following on from the success of the joint fireworks between Omeath and Warrenpoint at Halloween I am working with my colleagues in NMD district council to run a joint festival in 2023. This has the potential to be a fantastic annual event for the area. In 2023 I hope to see the establishment of a Citizens Assembly on Irish Unity. This decade will be a turning point in our history with the aim of reunification of our island. We need the Irish Government to step up to the mark and start the process. The time for Irish Unity is now upon us. I commend the local residents associations, community groups and local tidy town groups who have done tremendous work in 2022 and won many awards. They are a credit to the area and look forward to working with them again in 2023. Finally, I want to thank my wife Fionnghuala for her continued help and support during the year. It makes my life as a Councillor possible. AS a young garda in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, in the early 1980s, I went to the main street one evening to deal with an incident. It was around teatime and the usual rush-hour traffic had come to a complete standstill. The reason for the upheaval soon became obvious. A large crane had been operating earlier on a nearby building site. They finished work for the day, so the crane was unattended, with its arm extended out over the main street. Some guy had managed to climb up onto the arm of the crane and he was threatening to jump. It was a first for me. Negotiations were underway to encourage him to come down, while at the same time, members of the fire service were making their way slowly up the ladder of the crane. This went on for some time and the traffic by then was chaotic. Cars were bumper to bumper, nothing was moving, and tempers were beginning to fray. Car horns were sounding, and whatever sympathy existed for this unfortunate character earlier on was quickly disappearing. Suddenly, a guy jumped out of his car and shouted abuse at the guy on the crane before getting back into his car and slamming the door. You could almost see the steam coming out of his ears. Fortunately, the-would-be jumper was later brought safely down by the firemen, and the traffic slowly but surely got back to its normal rush- hour crawl. That was more than 40 years ago, and fortunately things have changed a lot since then. These days, the world is more tuned into mental health issues. If the same set of circumstances presented themselves today, the guy on the crane would be treated more sympathetically. At least, I would hope so. Suicide is a sensitive subject and opinion is often divided on how to approach it. Some say that suicide is a waste of a life when so many are fighting disease and struggling to live. Others will argue that the unfortunate victims are not in control of their senses at that time and are therefore unfit to make rational decisions. Unfortunately, in my time in An Garda Siochana, I had to deal with quite a few incidents of suicide. I tried to remain detached as much as possible, but when youre dealing with the families, in the course of the normal investigation that occurs after such an event, it is difficult not to become emotionally involved to a certain extent. Nothing can prepare a policeman for dealing with bereaved families. You can be trained in procedures and how to complete the paperwork required for the investigation, but there is no training that can prepare you for knocking on the front door of a house to tell the parents of some young person that their child wont be coming home. It is one of the most difficult tasks that any policeman will ever have to undertake. Its a lonely path walking up to that front door. There is no manual to refer to, there are no rules and no hiding place. At that stage, youre relying on gut instinct and empathy. In the aftermath of those events, I often questioned whether I could have handled the situation better, but it is impossible to know because feedback is rare. The families have only one thing on their mind, and it doesnt include worrying about how you feel about yourself or how you performed your duty. But it did happen one time. One night, many years ago, I was approached by an elderly man. I didnt know him, but he identified himself as the grandfather of a young lad who had committed suicide some years before. I had been involved in the case and I remembered it vividly for reasons I wont go into for fear of identifying that family. He took my hand in his and he looked me straight in the eye and he told me that I would never know what I had done for his family. He thanked me and then walked away. That had a profound effect on me, and I have never forgotten it. It took an effort for that man to approach me and say what he did, and I will be forever grateful that he took the time to do so. That is as much of an acknowledgement as you can wish for that you did something right. A friend of mine took his own life a few years back and I remember going to the funeral home to pay my respects to the family. When I saw him laid out in the coffin, I was angry with him for doing what he did. I was annoyed that he hadnt said something. I had been with him a few days earlier and hadnt noticed anything untoward, and I wanted to throttle him for not speaking up. It was a reaction that was based more on grief than logic. Experts tell us that many people find themselves under pressure at this time of the year. Thankfully, there is more understanding of mental health these days and greater awareness of the help that is available, so hopefully those who need it will reach out. The advice from the professionals is clear. If you cant think of solutions other than suicide, it isnt that other solutions dont exist, but rather that you are currently unable to see them. The intense emotional pain that youre experiencing in that moment can distort your thinking, so it becomes harder to see possible solutions, or to connect with those who can offer support. Therapists, counsellors, friends or loved ones can help you to see solutions, but you must give them a chance to help. Samaritans services 24 hours a day. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie. Pieta provide suicide and self-harm prevention services. Freephone 1800 247 247 any time. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (2nd L) talks with fellow Republican members of the House in between roll call votes for Speaker of the House of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) failed, again, and again to secure election as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday as 20 members, including 18 election deniers, refused to support his candidacy. McCarthy also ran for Speaker in 2015 and his failure to secure victory after the first ballot is the first such failure in a century. The unsteadiness circular firing squad [and] dysfunction (as Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) described it to Politico) of the House Republican caucus augurs ill for stable governance. House Republicans have vowed to attack the consideration of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investing in the new Congress and whatever may happen at the federal level, state GOP officials are forging ahead. Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball threatened to divest state funds from 11 major financial firms including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and BlackRock unless they invest in fossil fuel companies. As reported by Inside Climate News: Republicans may not be able to turn back the ESG movement, which has taken such a firm hold that 90 percent of companies say they either have or are developing a formal strategy to manage corporate environmental, social and governance practices, according to the mutual fund research firm Morningstar. But the politicization of ESG could make it something like school textbooks, mask-wearing and Covid vaccines. Where investors stand on the nations political divide and to a large extent, what state they live in could determine whether their savings are exposed to the risks of climate change or the opportunities of the clean energy transition. This is clearly kind of a bizarre effort to open up a new front in the culture wars, and its really at odds with how the market works and the fundamentals of capitalism, said Gregory Wetstone, president and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy. Theyre sacrificing other peoples financial well-being for their political agenda. For a deeper dive: Speaker election: The Washington Post; Future chaos: The Washington Post, Politico, E&E News, The New York Times; Election deniers: The Washington Post; ESG attacks: Inside Climate News; Kentucky: Reuters, Politico Pro, The Hill For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, sign up for daily Hot News, and visit their news site, Nexus Media News. Pakistan permits import of soybean meals Pakistan's Ministry of Food Security and Research (MoFS&R) has decided to allow and facilitate import of soybean meals to resolve the issue of oilseeds stuck at a port. The months-long saga of the oilseeds stuck at Port Qasim had been settled with the government making special provisions to release the oilseeds stuck at the port due to bureaucratic red-taping. The issue had seriously impacted the poultry and livestock industry. According to a source in the ministry, the food department would be issuing import permit and facilitate the import of soybean meals as an alternative solution to a crisis that happened after the suspension of imported oilseed vessels at Karachi due to shipments being genetically modified organisms. The move came as an announcement of countrywide protest on January 5 was made by the Pakistan Poultry Association which protests the shortage of feed. "We demand the government to allow import of soybean meals, the basic ingredient of poultry feed," the association said. "What we need is the availability of meals for the poultry industry and enough stock of feed can pave the way for the availability of affordable chicken for the masses." Soybean meal is the key ingredient of poultry feed, accounting to around 80% of it. As Pakistan is facing a soybean shortage, feed mills have not been able to meet demand. Mian Tariq Javed, president of the Punjab Poultry Farmers Association, said that if import is allowed with a relaxed duty, the shortage of feed can be resolved within 15 days. - PT Profit Michigan State University to assess aquaculture in Asia With new funding secured through a nearly US$800,000 grant from the NASA Land Cover/Land Use Change programme, researchers from Michigan State University will be working to assess aquaculture in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Thailand. Using satellite imagery and survey information, researchers Lin Yan, Ben Belton and David Roy will analyse how the industry is driving land cover and land use change in aquaculture hot spots. "Aquaculture contributes substantially to global food and nutrition security and is projected to expand further in response to demand from an increasingly populous, affluent and urbanising world," said Yan, assistant professor with the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations at MSU. "When implemented sustainably, aquaculture can contribute substantially to addressing the challenges of global food and nutrition security. Yet, for many years, poor practices have often led to significant environmental damage in areas where it is employed." "Approximately 80% of global aquaculture production is currently taking place in Asia," said Belton, an associate professor with the MSU Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. "Yet, it's long been assumed that much of Asian aquaculture has been implemented on a small scale. However, the size and tenure of aquaculture farms have been poorly documented. The factors that drive and mediate aquaculture change have been understudied in the past, and there are few sources of publicly available data on the boundaries of aquaculture ponds,'" "This research is of great academic interest but also has practical implications for policies affecting land use and aquaculture in key global aquaculture hot spots," said Roy, professor of Geography and the interim director of the CGCEO. - MSU Today This is the text of a leaflet, issued by the comrades of the IMT in Peru on 4 January, when there was a call for an indefinite general strike in the southern regions of the country, as part of the struggle to oppose the coup against President Castillo. Read in Spanish | Almost a month has passed since the coup against the government of Pedro Castillo. A coup orchestrated by CONFIEP [the bosses organisation], the bourgeois state apparatus, Fujimorism, the mining multinationals and the US embassy against a president democratically elected by the working people of Peru. The government of Pedro Castillo represented the hopes of the oppressed to improve their living standards, but for the Peruvian bourgeoisie and imperialism, he always represented a latent threat to their economic interests, and that is why it was necessary for them to get rid of him. Finally, on 7 December, they succeeded in doing so. Through the coup-congress, which had guaranteed that the president could not carry out his mandate, Dina Boluarte was appointed as president. In less than a month she is already responsible for the death of almost 30 Peruvians who have been vilely murdered by the National Police and the Army during the protests against the coup. The situation in Peru today is a reflection of the fact that the capitalist system, which is rotten to the core, cannot be reformed, it must be abolished. The only way out of this crisis, which is favourable to all the oppressed of Peru, is through the organised struggle of our class. The demands of the movement are clear: the closure of the coup-congress, the resignation and imprisonment of Dina Boluarte for murdering demonstrators, freedom for Pedro Castillo, early elections for 2023 and the convening of a Constituent Assembly. But who will be in charge of enforcing these demands? The same institutions of the bourgeois state that have provoked the coup? To leave the process of early elections and the Constituent Assembly in the hands of the bourgeois legality would be to leave our destiny in the hands of these exploiters once again. That is why, for our demands to lead to real, revolutionary change, the organised working people must take the reins of these processes in every region of Peru. New elections in 2023, or 2024, as the coup-congress wants, while keeping intact the institutions that serve the ruling class, is the perfect trap that the bourgeoisie will use to demobilise and to put up candidates who are in tune with them, like Keiko Fujimori, or in the best of cases, fearful reformists incapable of confronting and fighting for their own limited programme. What is at stake is not new elections within the bourgeois framework, but to put on the table who rules the country: the working people, the oppressed majority; or the 17 big national and foreign economic groups that control the country's economy? Bourgeois laws and constitutions have shown us that they are designed to protect the interests of a privileged class, so why let them redraft the constitution? As long as they have control of the state, they will be the ones to apply the law and use the state at their convenience. Only we, the exploited, know our needs well and the assembly we need must be a National Revolutionary Assembly of Workers and Peasants, composed of delegates, elected and with the right of recall, from the factories and workplaces, the peasant communities, among the university and working-class youth; an assembly freed from the interests of the exploiters, so that we are the ones who decide the political and economic course that Peru will take. That is why we of the International Marxist Tendency - Peru join the call for an indefinite strike, the call for the formation of United Struggle Committees and the March of the Four Suyos. We call on all organisations in all regions of Peru to join this call, to unite all the forces of our class in this battle for the dignity and liberation of our people. The March of the Four Suyos, in 2000, was able to overthrow the Fujimori regime; now we have the historic opportunity to defeat capitalism, in order to no longer continue under a regime of exploitation and barbarism. With all the strength of the working class, the peasants, the women, the students and all the oppressed of Peru, we can bring down the bourgeois regime. Let us expropriate the big economic and transnational groups that control the wealth of our country. Let us put the wealth created by our work and our resources at the service and disposal of the majority. This is a historic moment, where the conditions for transforming our reality are at hand, and the only way for the oppressed of Peru to triumph will be by organising our ranks, trusting in our strength and leading the movement towards the seizure of power. Not a step back, comrades! Forward to the National Strike! Let's build the Struggle Committees and Popular Assemblies! Let the working people decide, not the oligarchy! Close down the bourgeois and parasitic congress! Kick the coup plotters out! Freedom for Castillo! Expropriate the oligarchy and the multinationals! For a Revolutionary National Assembly of Workers and Peasants! Ireland's Bord Bia: Mostly optimistic outlook for beef market in 2023 The beef market outlook for 2023 remains broadly optimistic but this optimism is "surrounded by a fair degree of uncertainty," according to Mark Zieg, beef sector manager at Ireland's Bord Bia. Giving his analysis of how beef markets are looking for 2023, Zieg told Agriland: "The European Commission forecasts that the EU beef herd will decline further" in 2023. He outlined that a 0.8% decline has been forecast in the EU beef herd for next year and said "notable declines" in the number of finished beef cattle are forecast in many of Ireland's key markets. Some of the key markets for Irish beef which a decline in supply has been forecast for 2023 are: - France: 2% decline; - Spain: 2.3% decline; - Italy: 1.4% decline; - The Netherlands: 0.8%. As a result of these declines, the Bord Bia beef sector manager believes "supplies of beef will be relatively tight and should underlay a positive market environment for Irish exports." Zieg said that the United Kingdom "expects to see a small increase in beef supplies across 2023. "However, the cost-of-living crisis and weakening economic situation is expected to continue to impact on beef demand in the UK, while the European Commission also forecasts a 1.5% decline in consumption. "Irish beef exports to these markets will be determined by the ability to represent a value proposition that can stimulate demand for Irish beef, against lower-priced proteins and imports from third-country suppliers." Bord Bia's market outlooks for Irish beef appear relatively positive in 2023, and Teagasc's outlook for finished and young cattle prices reflect this forecast trend. Teagasc said the average Irish finished cattle prices in 2023 are forecast to be 4% higher relative to 2022. The average Irish young cattle prices in 2023 are forecast to be 5% higher in 2023 relative to 2022, according to Teagasc. While cattle prices are forecast to be higher, these prices will not necessarily reflect higher gross margins on beef farms in 2023. Direct costs of production on cattle finishing farms are forecast to increase by 5% in 2023. On suckler farms, the cost of production is forecast to go up by 3% in 2023. The introduction of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) scheme and other policy supports can contribute to increases in farm income on cattle farms in 2022, according to Teagasc. - Agriland Estonia to receive US$102.4 million from European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Following the adoption of the preceding of the Partnership Agreement 2021-2027 with Estonia, the European Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme for Estonia, to implement the EU common fisheries (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal, the European Commission announced last month. The total financial allocation for the Estonian programme 2021-2027 is 139.1 million (US$147 million), of which the EU contribution accounts for 97.4 million (US$103 million). Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius, said: "I am pleased to announce the adoption of the Estonian EMFAF programme. The programme will focus on enhancing the resilience of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors by stimulating research, innovation, knowledge transfer, reducing the operating costs through investments in energy efficiency, aiming towards green and digital transition. The programme will continue to provide support to coastal and island communities for their future sustainable development." 34% of the programme allocation will be dedicated to sustainable fisheries and conservation of aquatic biological resources; 38% will be invested in sustainable aquaculture and in processing and marketing of fisheries and aquaculture products; and 22% will be dedicated to sustainable blue economy in coastal areas, all contributing to the European Union's environmental and climate objectives. The main focus of the programme will be towards: - Sustainable fisheries: Research, innovation and knowledge transfer, investments in energy efficiency, support to control and data collection activities, actions to reduce marine litter, investments in fishing vessels to improve health, safety and working conditions on board and improving fish spawning conditions; - Sustainable aquaculture and processing of fisheries and aquaculture products: Research, innovation and knowledge transfer, investments in sustainable aquaculture to ensure growth, while mitigating the environmental impact and increasing climate resilience, energy efficiency and decarbonisation in aquaculture and the processing sectors, including through the use of alternative energy; - Sustainable blue economy (i.e. economic activities related to seas and oceans): Development and economic diversification of coastal and island areas through Local Action Groups (LAG). The Estonian EMFAF programme will contribute to the EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. The programme aims to boost the resilience of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors, through promoting research, innovation and knowledge transfer, skills development and the use of modern technologies. It also provides for emergency support for the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors in case of significant market disruption. The programme will support the green transition of the sector through research and innovation aiming at decarbonisation, replacement of fishing vessels' engines, investments in energy efficiency and solar panels as alternative source of energy. Based on the budget allocations, the programme contributions to fight climate change and protect the environment represent 47% and 51%, respectively, of the total EU allocation, which is well above the 30% target for climate contribution set in the EMFAF Regulation. The contribution of the programme to biodiversity amounts to 21%. The digital transition of the Estonian fisheries sector follows the national Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Plan 2021-2035, which aims at providing digital solutions in all areas of life. The EMFAF programme will raise digital skills and keep the sector up to date with new technologies and developments and maximise the use of digital technology in the areas of control and enforcement. The small-scale coastal fisheries sector will receive support to develop digital skills, and create and extend digital sales channels. The programme will also support specific actions contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as fighting against marine litter. These will include the continued support to more selective fishing gears, the restoration of fisheries spawning areas and fish migratory routes, the control of invasive species, improved knowledge of the marine environment and the collection of marine litter. The Estonian EMFAF programme will support the development of the coastal economies and their diversification into other areas of the blue economy. This will be done through the implementation of the community-led local development (CLLD) strategies, a bottom-up approach to policy development that encourages local partnerships to form a Local Action Group (LAG) and take initiatives to support their local development. - European Commission ASUS' latest Zenbook Pro 16X OLED has more space to stay cool A whole bunch of upgraded ASUS laptops will arrive this spring. Along with its gaming-focused laptops and models that offer 3D visuals without the need for glasses, ASUS had some upgraded general-purpose systems to show off at CES. Depending on how you spec them, though, the likes of Elden Ring should still look pretty great on these laptops. First up is the latest Zenbook Pro 16X OLED, which ASUS says is the most powerful Zenbook to date. You'll be able to kit it out with up to a 13th-gen Intel Core processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series laptop GPU and 32GB of LPDDR5X DRAM. ASUS says the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602BZ) has a "unique" Intel processor and a Supernova System-on-Module design that reduces the size of the motherboard core area by 38 percent, allowing for more efficient cooling. There's also more space for the graphics unit's power components, which ASUS says will deliver higher and more stable GPU performance. ASUS As the name suggests, this model has an OLED display. It's a 16-inch, 3.2K HDR touchscreen with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a 120Hz refresh rate. There's an auto-tilting keyboard that could help you to find the ideal typing angle. You'll also be able to take advantage of the ASUS Dial, which should offer more precise control in creativity-focused apps. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. The Zenbook Pro 14 OLED is getting a glow up too. The UX6404 model has a 2.8K, 120Hz NanoEdge Dolby Vision display with a 100 percent DCI-P3 gamut and Pantone validation for accurate colors. It comes with up to a 13th-gen Intel Core processor, a GeForce RTX 40-series laptop GPU, a 2TB SSD and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. There's a memory slot that can accommodate up to 32GB SO-DIMM, as well as WiFi 6E connectivity and a 76Wh battery. ASUS says it packed all of this into a body that weighs 3.64 lbs (1.65 kg) and is less than 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) thick. ASUS As for the Zenbook 14X OLED (UX3404), that has a 14.5-inch, 2.8K HDR display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate. The laptop comes with up to a 13th-gen Intel Core processor, GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and a 70Wh battery. The thin and light 14X comes in two colors, Inkwell Gray and Sandstone Beige. The latter has a lid with what ASUS describes as "a new ecofriendly Plasma Ceramization coating technique that creates a ceramic-like finish and stone-like feel." Meanwhile, the business-oriented ExpertBook B9 OLED (B9403CVA) is an all-metal laptop. The company claims the "ecofriendly manufacturing process helps to reduce production materials by up to 29 percent, and shortens manufacturing time by up to 75 percent to maximize energy efficiency." It's said to be lighter than most 13-inch laptops too. The latest ExpertBook B9 has a 14-inch 2.8K display with a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. There's a touchpad that's almost 27 percent larger than the previous model and you can expect a raft of security features, including NFC login, face login and a physical webcam shutter. ASUS hasn't revealed pricing for any of these models as yet. The laptops should start shipping between April and June. Williams-Sonoma is closing its location at Lehigh Valley Mall, the second business to leave the shopping centers outdoor lifestyle section in four months. A closing date for the store hasnt been announced, but an employee who answered the phone Wednesday afternoon said it could be by the end of this week as most of the remaining stock has been sold. The employee said all food and glassware is marked 30% off, while furniture is 50% off. The California retailer of upscale cookware, appliances and home furnishings isnt going out of business and will continue to sell via its website and a smaller footprint of brick-and-mortar stores. In its latest earnings report, Williams-Sonoma reported year-over-year revenue growth of 8.1%. With the Lehigh Valleys only location shuttering, shoppers who still want to shop in person, and maybe get a free sample of peppermint bark or cake, will have to drive to King of Prussia, Harrisburg or Bridgewater, New Jersey. Another recent departure from the lifestyle center was Bravo! Italian Kitchen, which left in October. Williams-Sonoma is an original tenant in the lifestyle center that opened in 2008. Thirteen of the centers 15 spots remain occupied, including Pottery Barn, an Apple Store, Chicos and White House Black Market. According to its 2021 earnings report, Simon Property Group, which partly owns and manages Lehigh Valley Mall, said the 150-store mall was at 94.4% capacity. Its down from 97% in 2019, but up from 91% in 2020. Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com. Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has agreed a $100 million settlement with the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), which accused it of violating regulations related to virtual currency, money transmitting, transaction monitoring and cybersecurity. "These failures made the Coinbase platform vulnerable to serious criminal conduct, including, among other things, examples of fraud, possible money laundering, suspected child sexual abuse material-related activity and potential narcotics trafficking," the agency said. The company will pay the state a $50 million fine and invest $50 million to address the issues flagged by the regulator and comply with a DFS-approved plan. The agency claimed that Coinbase's practices concerning due diligence, transaction monitoring and sanctions compliance (among others) were "inadequate for a financial services provider of Coinbases size and complexity." It accused the company of failing to carry out sufficient background checks on customers before they opened accounts and being unable to keep up with transaction monitoring system (TMS) alerts. The DFS added that Coinbase had a months-long TMS backlog that meant the company "routinely failed to timely investigate and report suspicious activity as required by law." By late 2021, the DFS said, Coinbase had a backlog of more than 100,000 transaction monitoring alerts it had not reviewed. It also noted that by that time, the backlog of customers who required "enhanced due diligence exceeded 14,000." Coinbase's approach to background checks amounted to a simple check-the-box exercise, regulators claimed. The DFS granted Coinbase a license to operate in New York in 2017. Compliance issues first emerged during a safety and soundness examination that the agency conducted in 2020. Following that probe, the DFS ordered Coinbase to hire an independent consultant to review the compliance program and offer recommendations on how to improve in areas in which the agency felt the company was falling short. As a result, Coinbase adopted a plan to bolster its compliance program. However, following an investigation it began in 2021, the DFS determined that the program could not "keep up with the dramatic and unexpected growth of Coinbases business." Coinbase now has more than 100 million users worldwide. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. The agency brought in an independent monitor in early 2022 to evaluate the state of the compliance program and work with Coinbase to address the issues all while the investigation was ongoing. As part of the settlement, the monitor will work with Coinbase for another year. The DFS can extend that timeframe at its discretion. The agency pointed out that Coinbase has started to address many of the issues and develop "a more effective and robust compliance program" under the eyes of the DFS and the monitor, though it noted that the company still isn't moving quickly enough to review older suspicious accounts. Other crypto firms have faced penalties in recent months for allegedly violating financial regulations. The DFS fined Robinhood $30 million in August, while the Treasury Department reached a settlement with Kraken over claims that the exchange provided services to customers in Iran in violation of US sanctions. According to The New York Times, regulators are investigating Binance over possible money laundering violations. Before its collapse in November, FTX was said to have been under investigation too the company's founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, pled not guilty to federal fraud charges this week. It was also reported last summer that the Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating Coinbase over possible securities violations. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. The platform also revealed when 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' will be available to stream. Disney+ is adding DTS audio to IMAX Enhanced Marvel films The platform also revealed when 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' will be available to stream. Disney+ is bolstering its IMAX Enhanced films , including some Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, with another audio option. The streaming service will enable IMAX signature sound by DTS on select titles this year, offering viewers high-fidelity audio to go with the expanded aspect ratio. You'll need compatible equipment to hear DTS audio, however. At the outset, some IMAX Enhanced -certified TVs from manufacturers such as Sony and Hisense will support DTS on Disney+, as will certain AV receivers from the likes of Denon, Marantz and JBL. However, you don't need any particular devices to view IMAXs expanded aspect ratio of 1.90:1, which offers up to 26 percent taller pictures during certain sequences. Some may find that the addition of DTS audio will help them to better replicate the IMAX experience at home. DTS will provide a higher bitrate alternative to Dolby Atmos , but many folks prefer the latter. In the near future, you may be able to watch a Disney+ movie in either audio format and decide for yourself. Meanwhile, Disney+ has announced when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is coming to the platform. You'll be able to stream the most recent MCU movie at home starting on February 1st. The film will have IMAX Enhanced support. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. Yukai Engineering, the team behind the strangely adorable cat tail pillow, is back with a new quirky invention. Unveiled at CES 2023, the Fufuly is yet another anxiety-reducing cushion from the Japanese company, but this time featuring a gentle rhythmical pulsation as the main therapeutic tool. The idea is that when you're hugging a Fufuly, its life-like behavior stimulates your belly to induce slower and deeper breathing. Despite its thought-bubble shape (supposedly to evoke the image of a puff of air), the cushion felt more like a mellow creature dozing off in my arms. I even mistook the quiet mechanical noise as a cat's purr, to which CEO Shunsuke Aoki assured me this was purely a coincidence. For this project, Yukai Engineering partnered with the University of Tokyo, which researched on the "phenomenon of rhythmical synchronization between individuals or between individuals and objects" as they interact with one another. Think how we usually feel calm when we're holding a baby or pet in our arms it's all subconscious. "Using the cushion for just 5 minutes can reduce users stress levels and make them more alert," according to Aoki. The Fufuly comes with three operating modes: you have the self-explanatory "regular" and "deep" modes to suit your calming needs, with the third mode based on common relaxation breathing techniques. Sadly, we couldn't change modes with the prototype on the show floor. Aoki added that his team already had the idea of a pulsating cushion around the same time as the Qoobo cat tail pillow, but in the end, they decided to develop the latter first. Richard Lai/Engadget Another new device shown off by Yukai Engineering was Lightony, a cute humanoid bedside lamp which literally nods off after a while. Supposedly, the robot's life-like head tilt and eye roll movements will encourage you to fall asleep faster, though it's also possible that kids would just stay up as they play with this toy. Lightony also responds to voice commands (all processed locally instead of the cloud), so you can tell the robot to set a countdown when you're in bed, or say "good morning" to wake it up. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. Aoki told Engadget that the Fufuly will be launching in Japan this year by way of crowdfunding, followed by a global launch eventually, though no price is announced just yet. As for the Lightony, it's still in its early development stage, so we'll have to circle back later for an update. Meta isn't the only tech heavyweight making tools to help root out terrorist content. The Financial Times has learned Google's Jigsaw is developing a free tool to help smaller websites detect and remove extremist material. The project, built with the help of the UN-supported Tech Against Terrorism, makes it easier for moderator teams to deal with potentially illegal content. The effort has the assistance of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (founded by Google, Meta, Microsoft and Twitter), which offers a cross-service database of terrorist items. Two unnamed sites will test the code later this year. As with Meta's open source utility, Google's tool is meant to assist sites that can't afford to develop AI detection algorithms or hire a large moderation staff. That may be critical when the European Union's Digital Services Act and the UK's looming Online Safety bill will both require that site operators pull extremist content to avoid penalties. Both Google and Tech Against Terrorism see their project as necessary to close a gap in countering online terrorist activity. Extremists and misinformation peddlers kicked off mainstream platforms frequently turn to smaller outlets that can't always adequately police users. Ideally, this reduces the chances of terrorists finding safe havens. There are limitations. Some social platforms have been reluctant to moderate content even when app store operators say it incites violence Google's tool won't be very useful on websites that don't want it. It also won't stop terrorists from sharing material over well-encrypted messaging services or the Dark Web, where providers can't easily snoop on data traffic. This might, however, make it harder to jump to online alternatives. OnePlus 11 5G and Buds Pro 2 will be available in China on January 9th The devices will make their global debut on February 7th. OnePlus has officially launched its new flagship phone and earbuds in China, more than a month before their global debut. The OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will be available in the company's home country starting on January 9th before their worldwide release on February 7th. OnePlus had already revealed most of the new phone's features back in December, and its most notable offerings include the Alert Slider, which was absent from the OnePlus 10T. True to its name, the slider makes it easy to shift from alert mode to silent or vibrate and vice versa. The OnePlus 11 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that promises AI, camera and 5G speed upgrades and comes with support for ray tracing. In addition, it uses Oppo's SuperVOOC charging technology to be able to quickly charge its 5000 mAh dual-cell battery, has 16GB of RAM and has a 6.7-inch 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has three camera sensors, with the main one being a 50-megapixel lens, and it marks the return of Hasselblad camera tuning on the brand's phones. As for the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, they feature MelodyBoost Dual Drivers, which is what the company calls the "technology derived from premium speakers" that it had developed with Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. They also come with one default equalizer (EQ) and three customized EQs. OnePlus says it will reveal more information about the earbuds during its February 7th event in New Delhi, India. We asked the company for information regarding pricing in China and will update this post when we hear back. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has unveiled Qi2, the wireless charging successor to Qi that borrows some tricks from Apple's MagSafe charging. The idea is to create a unified system that (should) work with both Android and Apple devices, the WPC wrote in a press release Qi2 will replace the current Qi standard that has been around for over 13 years. It'll be built off of Apple's MagSafe technology that came along with the iPhone 12, using a similar system of magnets and a wireless charging coil. However, it will introduce something called the Magnetic Power Profile that ensures phones and other devices are perfectly aligned to maximum charging speed and efficiency. It also assures compatibility among brands. "Qi2s perfect alignment improves energy efficiency by reducing the energy loss that can happen when the phone or the charger is not aligned," said WPC's executive director Paul Struhsaker in a statement. "Just as important, Qi2 will greatly reduce the landfill waste associated with wired charger replacement due to plugs breaking and the stress placed on cords from daily connecting and disconnecting." The first Qi2.0 version will launch this year, with support for 15 watt charging, foreign object detection and more. It'll also provide faster charging for some devices, improve safety and prevent device damage or battery life shortening. Subscribe to the Engadget Deals Newsletter Great deals on consumer electronics delivered straight to your inbox, curated by Engadgets editorial team. See latest Subscribe Please enter a valid email address Please select a newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Engadget's Terms and Privacy Policy. The Magnetic Power Profile standard also makes improvements easier down the road. Future iterations will "significantly" raise charging levels past 15 watts, WPC told The Verge. It could also allow wireless charging for unusually-shaped accessories that aren't compatible with the current crop of flat charging pads. There are still some question marks, like whether Qi2 will be backwards-compatible with the current Qi standard or Apple's MagSafe. It will reportedly also require authentication, which may allow manufacturers to refuse charging from non-certified devices. Hopefully, device and charger manufacturers will strive to main compatibility. The Qi2 spec should be ready by this summer, and products are set to arrive by the holidays in 2023. CES is typically the place a lot of companies debut new soundbars and this year is no different. Samsung has announced the HW-Q990C and HW-G60C models, both of which offer Dolby Atmos audio but do so in different formats and in different sizes. If you're looking for a robust surround sound setup with multiple speakers or smaller all-in-one option, Samsung's two latest soundbars tick both of those boxes. First, the HW-Q990C is a flagship model that comes with two rear speakers and a wireless subwoofer. The 11.1.4-channel setup uses Samsung's Q-Symphony 3.0 to "precisely direct individual audio elements" via the soundbar and TV speakers. With the display and speaker combo, Samsung explains that Q-Symphony can leverage 22 total audio channels with the help of the processor inside one of the company's compatible televisions. The company says the Q990C can also "pair acoustically automatically" with its TVs so that the entire system is tuned for its best performance. When paired with a Samsung TV, the soundbar handles the dialogue while surrounding audio comes from the display's speakers. The company says this contributes to improved 3D audio. Billy Steele/Engadget To tailor the entire set to your living room or home theater, Samsung's SpaceFit calibration is onboard. The company explains that this technology leverages AI to adjust individual driver frequencies and gain levels to properly fill a room. A nighttime mode adjusts for low-volume listening, Adaptive Sound 2.0 uses AI to optimize audio and Game Pro 2.0 tweaks the settings for various genres. The HW-Q990C is also a SmartThings hub, offering voice control and the ability to change things inside the SmartThings app. For more compact spaces, the HW-G60C is an all-in-one option that uses a combination of beamforming tech and virtualized Dolby Atmos to create a 3D feel. Samsung says this more compact unit can also be used as both computer speakers and a smart speaker thanks to echo-canceling microphones and bi-directional audio. HDMI/ARC, USB, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast connectivity are all here and there's customizable LED lighting and specific sound profiles for gaming. What's more, Samsung says a set of four microphones are tuned for chat by isolating voices, which the company explains will also help when summoning a virtual assistant. Gallery: Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar | 8 Photos /8 Gallery: Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar | 8 Photos /8 All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing. If you need to transfer money to Papua New Guinea from the UK or any other country worldwide, Exchange Rates UK provides you with the latest Papua New Guinea Kina exchange rate comparison. Whether you're looking for the best Pound to Papua New Guinea Kina exchange rate or using any other base currency, we provide the live inter-bank exchange rates and links to futher detailed information such as converters, historical data and charts. Remember, if you want to get the best return on your Papua New Guinea Kina exchange rate for your currency transfer, using a foreign exchange broker could see you secure a better rate and fee-free transfers. If you are looking to make an international money transfer , we recommend TorFx as our preferred currency provider. Sending money overseas over 5000? Free Transfers, No Fees! Request a quote today! Currency in Papua New Guinea: There is 1 official currency of Papua New Guinea. The Papua New Guinea Kina which has the ISO of PGK (see Papua New Guinea Kina exchange rate) . Top 10 Money Transfers to Papua New Guinea on website popularity: Below we show the top 10 most popular currency conversions for sending money abroad... Sending Money to Papua New Guinea Money transfers to Papua New Guinea There are many reasons you may want to transfer money: Buying property in Papua New Guinea? Emigrating to Papua New Guinea? Importing from Papua New Guinea? Exporting to Papua New Guinea? Regular Payments to Papua New Guinea? When it comes to carrying out a money transfer to Papua New Guinea from UK, you really should get the professional help from a money transfer broker. Whether you wish to send money regularly to Papua New Guinea, make a high value purchase in Papua New Guinea Kina, purchase a property in Papua New Guinea or just make an international money transfer to Papua New Guinea, a foreign exchange broker will not only be able to save you money but even help you to make profit with each transfer. While the often wildly fluctuating foreign currency exchange rate is not something anyone can control, making your money transfer to Papua New Guinea will be vastly improved by avoiding the high street banks. Banks not only levy additonal service charges and fees, but provide very little help in the crucial aspect of timing and often give a very low exchange rate. So to make a cheap money transfer to Papua New Guinea from UK or send money to Papua New Guinea from USA choose a FCA regulated foreign exchange broker and get the best exchange rate possible for your currency transfer. Croatia Airlines has successfully postponed the repayment of a 33.7-million-euro shareholders loan it received from the Croatian government in 2019, which was aimed at financially stabilising the carrier prior to its privatisation, which was later shelved due to complications resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The loan, which received European Commission approval, was to be repaid in full last year at a 2% fixed default interest rate. However, the Croatian flag carrier requested for a deferral, which has been approved by the Croatian Ministry for Finance. The shareholders loan will now mature in January 2025 instead. The airline has since been the recipient of several direct state aid packages to alleviate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and will soon receive a 39.2-million-euro state injection in form of a recapitalisation package, which was approved by both the state and Croatia Airlines two weeks ago. Croatia Airlines has successfully postponed the repayment of a 33.7-million-euro shareholders loan it received from the Croatian government in 2019, which was aimed at financially stabilising the carrier prior to its privatisation, which was later shelved due to complications resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The loan, which received European Commission approval, was to be repaid in full last year at a 2% fixed default interest rate. However, the Croatian flag carrier requested for a deferral, which has been approved by the Croatian Ministry for Finance. The shareholders loan will now mature in January 2025 instead. The airline has since been the recipient of several direct state aid packages to alleviate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and will soon receive a 39.2-million-euro state injection in form of a recapitalisation package, which was approved by both the state and Croatia Airlines two weeks ago. The Croatian government previously said it would strictly monitor spending at the countrys national carrier as part of the 2019 loan agreement, in arrangement with the European Commission. However, the state auditor has warned that this obligation has not been met. Under the agreement, Croatia Airlines was to submit a report on where the funds were being spent each fifteenth of the month, which has not occurred. According to the auditor, only two reports have been submitted by the airline. By the end of the third quarter of last year, Croatia Airlines had 3.2 million euros worth of long-term loan repayments and 67 million euros worth of shareholder loan repayments. Croatia Airlines is looking to improve its finances through its ongoing post-Covid strategy. The carrier recently ordered six Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with the company telling EX-YU Aviation News last month that a financing model for the acquisition of the jets is still under consideration. Delivery of the planes is due to commence next year. Potential financing options include an operating lease, finance lease, as well as sale and leaseback agreements. The A220-300 aircraft is valued at approximately 91.5 million US dollars per unit at list price, before the customary discounts, bringing the Croatian carriers order for six to over half a billion dollars at list price. The airline also has plans to lease an additional nine A220 jets in order to operate a single-type fleet by 2026. The pace of deliveries over the two-year period has not been disclosed. You may want to press pause on your New Years resolution. We have the details on a trio of winter restaurant weeks on tap over the next month. As always its best to call ahead and make a reservation. Heres everything you need to know about the events: Billys Downtown Diner Easton is among the restaurants lined up to take part in Easton Restaurant Week. which will run Jan. 15 to 21. Easton Restaurant Week When: Jan. 15 to 21 Details: Eastons top restaurants will take part in this special event, offering curated menus and more. Participating restaurants include: Stoke Coal Fire Pizza, Porters Pub, The Bayou, Tierra De Fuego, River Grille, Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee House, Thrive, Billys Downtown Diner, 3rd & Ferry Fish Market, La Perla Tapatia, Pearly Bakers, Amans Artisan Indian Cuisine, Black and Blue, the Local Eatery, Boser Geist Brewing Co., Antonios Pizzeria & Restaurant,Marblehead Chowder House, Easton Wine Project, Colonial Pizza and Spaghetti House and more. Info: https://eastonrestaurantweek.com/ Hellertown-Lower Saucon Restaurant Week When: Jan. 15 to 21 Details: The Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual winter restaurant week, offering diners a variety of specials that include, but are not limited to, set-price or prix fixe menus, gift card deals and discount opportunities. Participating restaurants include: Art Cafe, Braveheart Highland Pub, Drip The Flavor Lab, Lost Tavern Brewing, Roma Pizza, The Hellertown Crossroads Hotel, The Springtown Inn, The Vibe Nutrition, Yiannis Taverna, Nicks BBQ, Vassis Drive-In, PA House, Wings on Main and more. Info: https://www.facebook.com/hlschamber/ Historic Downtown Bethlehem Restaurant Week When: Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 Details: The Downtown Bethlehem Association will host its most delicious week of the year, bringing together top restaurants which will offer fixed menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner and some curbside. No passes, tickets or coupons are required. Simply, visit your favorite participating restaurants throughout the week and enjoy prix fixe breakfast, lunch, or dinner menus. If you are dining in Historic Bethlehem, public parking is available in two garages: Walnut Street (33 W. Walnut St.) and North Street, 75 W. North St. On-street parking may also be available throughout the district. Participating restaurants include: Apollo Grill, Edge Restaurant, Fegleys Bethlehem Brew Works, Historic Hotel Bethlehem, McCarthys Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar, The Melting Pot of Bethlehem and more. Info: https://www.visithistoricbethlehem.com/event/winter-restaurant-week/ More than 180 projects across rural Scotland will receive grants ranging from 100,000 to several hundred pounds, the Scottish government has announced. The Rural & Island Communities Ideas into Action (RICIA) fund, which totals 3m, spurs on innovative approaches to community-led local development in rural areas. Projects awarded include work towards net zero and transition goals, tackling rural poverty and supporting farming communities through the cost of living crisis. One project seeks to open up a community hall as a warm space over the winter months, while providing suppers to alleviate rising costs facing farmers. The 3 million funding is being delivered in partnership between the Scottish government and Inspiring Scotland. Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon said: We are working to ensure local communities are empowered to tackle local challenges. This investment comes at a critical time for our rural and island communities, who are disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis compared to the rest of the country. I wish all the successful community groups well as they now look to take forward these projects and make a positive difference to their local areas. Earlier this year, Ms Gougeon approved a hybrid approach to deliver this years 11.6m Rural Community Led Fund. This approach saw the majority of the funding directed to the LEADER Local Action Groups (7.6m), with a second tranche (4m) to be delivered via two routes. This includes a 1m funding top up to accelerate cooperative projects between the Local Action Groups and new external partners. The second route includes a 3m Rural Communities Ideas into Action fund to be delivered directly to community groups via Inspiring Scotland with input from Local Action Groups. Inspiring Scotland CEO, Celia Tennant said: We know local, grassroots groups are best placed to respond to the needs and opportunities most important to their communities. "We look forward to working alongside successful applicants and will support them to make meaningful change in their local area. A survey to gauge the impact of the Scottish farming industry's soaring costs on future production will close for responses next week. NFU Scotland seeks to assess the scale of change that unprecedented input costs and flat-lining output prices are having on farmers' business plans. The survey, which went live on 14 December 2022, is still available to participate in, with almost 150 responses received. The union said concrete evidence on the business intentions of the industry would accurately illustrate the current challenges facing farmers, and how that would impact on their plans for 2023. The results of the survey would also indicate the ramifications for the wider food supply chain and the nations food security, NFU Scotland explained. When the union conducted its first short-life intentions survey in June 2022, it showed that production on farms was set to be scaled back as producers responded to unprecedented cost increases for key inputs. A combination of several factors, including the tragic events in Ukraine, has seen fertiliser and energy prices treble and prices for fuel and animal feed double. A total of 340 responses were recorded in June, with 92% of respondents indicating then that they had already altered production plans with the biggest reductions in output predicted to occur in livestock, pigs, poultry, and horticulture. Commenting on the survey, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy said the union would continue to put food security at the top of the political agenda. "We must have a robust evidence base to inform our discussions with politicians, stakeholders, and the wider agri-food supply chain, including consumers," he added. Since June, the cost pressure on farmers, regardless of whether they produce cereals, beef, lamb, pork, milk, eggs, poultry meat, soft fruit, potatoes or vegetables has remained intense, causing high levels of uncertainty Mr Kennedy said it was vital to know if that picture had deteriorated: The results in June pointed to significant ramifications for our food and drink sector and all those businesses upstream and downstream who rely on farmers and crofters. "This survey will provide an immediate snapshot of confidence levels as the farming sector enters what is certain to be an incredibly challenging 2023. Supporting the survey, Sarah Millar, chief executive of Quality Meat Scotland, said Scottish livestock producers were facing unprecedented challenges. We know through talking to livestock producers that they are facing a perfect storm of challenges," she said. "We want to hear how producers are shaping their businesses to respond to these challenges and, more importantly, how we can support the industry in these unprecedented times. Myron Barnstone, arguably one of the Lehigh Valleys most influential artists and educators, believed that artists should not acquire their skills through replication of other artists pieces. His philosophy was that artists should undergo years of rigorous training, mastering the structured, geometric systems used by artists such as Picasso, Michelangelo and Da Vinci known as the Golden Section. Barnstone held this belief so firmly that none of his own pieces, many of which were shown in major art galleries around the world, hung in his Coplay art school, where he taught for nearly 30 years. To mark the one-year anniversary of Barnstones death, three never-before-displayed paintings by Barnstone will be on display during two events Oct. 20 and 21 at the former Barnstone Studios, 52 N. Second St. in Coplay. The late Myron Barnstone was arguably one of the Lehigh Valleys most influential artists and educators. Barnstone, who died Oct. 29, 2016 of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at age 83, had a profound impact on the Valley art scene, and helped launch the careers of many in both fine and commercial arts. The three pieces that will be displayed are oils on canvas, with one being a favorite of Barnstones that he painted in 1972 and hung in his home in England. The pieces are untitled. On Oct. 20, Bartnstones daughter, Catherine Barnstone Szafran, will unveil the pieces. Also, Lehigh Valley photographer Bill Stank will display 68 photos of additional Barnstone paintings in the third floor walk-up studio. Barnstones pieces as well as those from some of his many students will be on display noon-4 p.m. Oct. 21. At 2 p.m., Roger Brinker, a student of Barnstones, will discuss Barnstones artistic lineage. Brinker teaches foundation and figure drawing, sculpture and contracted study at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem. Over three decades of his school, Barnstone taught about 70 students a semester, ranging from preteens to adults. He closed his studio in 2014 and he moved from Whitehall to Maryland, where he lived until his death. Barnstone recorded his lectures, and they continue to be available online at BarnstoneStudios.com. DETAILS What: Open house, exhibit of the late Myron Barnstones paintings as well as photographs of his works. When: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 20; noon-4 p.m. Oct. 21 Where: The former Barnstone Studios, 52 N. Second St., Coplay Info: barnstonedvd@gmail.com; or Catherine Barnsone Szafran at 301-788-6241 jsheehan@mcall.com Twitter @jenwsheehan 610-820-6628 The Indian textile industry is very eager to see Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place with the United Kingdom. The industry expects that it will be able to better compete with neighbouring Bangladesh once there is duty-free access to the large garment market. Both India and the UK have indicated that they are working for early conclusion of FTA negotiations. Last month, Indian commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and UK secretary of state for international trade Kemi Badenoch met for the sixth round of FTA negotiations after a gap of more than four months. They directed their negotiators to not to stick with sensitive issues but iron out the differences and move ahead. The Indian textile industry is very eager to see Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place with the United Kingdom. The industry expects that it will be able to better compete with neighbouring Bangladesh once there is duty-free access to the large garment market. Both India and the UK have indicated that they are working for early conclusion of FTA negotiations. The proposed trade deal with the UK is very important for Indian industry as UK is a large market and Indian textile industry will have duty-free access to the important market. It will provide much needed boost to the industry, Sanjay Jain, managing director of TT Limited and former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI), told Fibre2Fashion. He expects the trade deal to get signed in the first half of 2023. Indian industry expects the FTA to provide a level-playing field with Bangladesh, which has duty-free access to the UK due to preferential treatment on the basis of its Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Currently, Indian apparel exports to the UK attract around 10 per cent duty. K Vel Krishna, managing partner of Deiveegam Dyers, had said during a session of CIIs Texcon conference held recently in New Delhi, Proposed FTA with the UK is expected to be landmark development as it can provide better edge to Indian exporters. They will be able to offer competitive prices to UKs buyers. They will also get duty-free access to the market similar to Bangladeshi exporters. Raja M Shanmugham, former president of Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), told Fibre2Fashion, FTAs are very important trade arrangements between the trading countries in this era of universal market. The proposed trade deal with UK is important because it will open large consuming market further. It would also be followed with similar trade arrangement with Europe. He said that speedy completion of FTA negotiations with all the prospective trading countries would help the Indian economy too. K Selvaraju, secretary general of South Indian Mills Association (SIMA), told Fibre2Fashion, The proposed trade deal with the UK is expected to open doors to an important market. Indian textile sector, more specifically the garment industry, will get a boost as Indian exporters will be able to export there without duty. However, Indian government needs to ensure raw material security. Currently, Indian cotton is costlier than ICE cotton which is paralysing competitiveness of Indian exporters. As per trade data, India is the fifth largest garment supplier to the UK, while Bangladesh is the second. According to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro, UK had imported garments worth $20.889 billion during 2021. With garment supply of $3.019 billion, Bangladesh accounted for 14.45 per cent in UKs total apparel imports. Chinas share was 21.57 per cent. Turkiye and Italy also had a share greater than Indias 5.24 per cent ($1.094 billion) in 2021. Once the FTA is in place, India can expect to improve its share in the UK market. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) NORTHAMPTON, MASS / ACCESSWIRE / January 3, 2023 / We're thrilled to welcome you to Expedia Group, Kathy! For our readers, please could you tell us a bit about yourself and your career journey? I come from a large family of LatinX heritage. My parents did not have much formal education, and their English skills were still poor when I was growing up. When I was eight months old, they discovered that I'd probably never be able to see. Both parents felt an overwhelming sense of self-blame, guilt, helplessness and fear for their child. This reaction is almost inevitable given the social stigma, isolation, and misinformation about disabilities in the larger society. Additionally, like many parents from communities of color, my parents knew instinctively that as a Latina and a person with a disability I would experience many layers of barriers to thrive in mainstream society. While a teenager, I was involved in a variety of political/social movements. Experiences in these social justice environments began to shape my sense of purpose in life - meaning that many of my values were formed and I learned a lot about working with different types of people on a daily basis. I had the opportunity to live in Japan for two months as part of a youth exchange program, to travel to Nicaragua to do organizing for disability rights, and to live in Mexico for three years when my partner and I adopted our son. These experiences exposed me to the realities of most disabled people in developing countries: few sidewalks, no transportation, no services, and no awareness of disability as a social issue. The opportunity to get out of the States and experience different cultural values, beliefs and approaches to disability helped me understand my own struggle in the United States where so much emphasis is placed on individuality and independence, and further developed my commitment to disability rights. In 1988, I entered college at San Francisco State University. I became the first in my family to pursue postsecondary education and graduated with a degree in Speech and Communication Studies. Through my experience in community organizing I had found that I was good at connecting people, communicating with people, and I really enjoyed it. I found meaning in bringing about change through bringing people together. Subsequently I had many jobs where I was able to advocate for people with disabilities including leading two nonprofits, serving as an Assistant Secretary of Labor and led the disability/accessibility initiatives for Wells Fargo bank and now here I am at Expedia. What about Expedia Group (EG) appealed to you? I was very happy in my previous job position in a disability advocacy non-profit and wasn't necessarily looking for another role. But during my interviews with EG, I was convinced that I wanted to work here. I had travelled a lot in my life and travel is an experience that is very meaningful to me. I knew that joining EG meant helping people with disabilities have better travel experiences and I loved the idea of contributing to EG's mission that travel is a force for good. What impact are you wanting to have as you step into your role as VP, Disability Inclusion? First and foremost, I want people in the travel industry to understand that disability is a natural part of the human condition, and that people with disabilities are travelling more and more. Within EG, I want to build a bench of advocates and allies around disability and accessibility awareness both internally and externally, whether that's towards our employees, travelers, or partners. We are currently at the beginning of launching strategies to make EG more welcoming to people with disabilities. We are, for example, streamlining our accommodations/adjustments processes to offer better interviewing experiences to candidates and equipping our recruiters and Hiring Managers with the tools to effectively recruit and hire people with disabilities. We are also working on Self ID processes to allow employees to safely disclose their disability. On the employee side, we know that the biggest obstacle to disclosing is fear. The more conversations we have around weaving disability into our consciousness, practices and processes, the more people will feel comfortable coming out as being disabled and together we will build a more welcoming workplace and travel experience. What are your thoughts on the current state of travel for people with disabilities? Travel destinations are becoming more and more accessible due to various laws and rules in countries. But there is still a lot of opportunity - we have an aging population with a strong willingness to travel. There is a tremendous opportunity to work with travel partners to identify accessibility features, and share information on properties that offer specific accessibility options, therefore allowing travelers to make better-informed travel decisions. What advice do you have for people with disabilities seeking to advance in their careers? My advice to people with disabilities is to understand that companies are very interested in your point of view and perspective and my advice to companies is that people with disabilities bring so much innovation and creativity to the workforce, which makes us worth hiring. Disability crosses every other identity so it's important that we are able to contribute to and participate in all aspects of the workplace and travel market. As we do, awareness will increase, attitudes will change and people of all abilities will avail themselves of the opportunity that both work and travel offers. We are hiring! Check out our Expedia Group roles here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Expedia Group on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Expedia Group Website: https://www.expediagroup.com/media/default.aspx Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Expedia Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733914/Kathy-Martinez-My-Journey-to-Becoming-VP-Disability-Inclusion-at-Expedia-Group Bedford, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 3, 2023) - Sylla Gold Corp. (TSXV: SYG) (OTCQB: SYGCF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press releases of October 20, 2022 and December 8, 2022, the Company has closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement through the issuance of 3,151,420 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.10 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $315,142 (the "Offering"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share (each, a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.15 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the closing of the Offering. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid certain eligible persons (the "Finders") a cash commission in the aggregate amount of $15,693.44 and issued and aggregate of 113,849 broker warrants ("Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.15 per Common Share for a period of two (2) years from the closing of the Offering. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. The proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for corporate and general working capital purposes, and exploration activities. The closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, the Company has applied to the TSX Venture Exchange for an extension of its price protection for an additional 30 days in order to complete an additional tranche of the Offering. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The Offering constituted a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), as certain insiders of the Company subscribed an aggregate of 500,000 Units. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21 days before the closing of the Offering, which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances in order to avail itself of the proceeds of the private placement and complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. In addition, the Company announces that is has entered into an advertising campaign agreement (the "Agreement") with Dig Media Inc. dba Investing News Network ("INN"). During the term of the 14-month Agreement, INN will introduce the Company to INN's audience of educated, active investors. Using a variety of methods, including an enhanced advertiser profile, news marketing, website and newsletter advertising, and dedicated emails, INN will encourage its audience to engage directly with the Company to consider investing in the Company. INN does not provide Investor Relations or Market Making services. The cost of the campaign is $45,000. INN can be reached at 604-688-8231 or info@investingnews.com. INN currently holds 450,000 common shares and 225,000 common share purchase warrants in the Company. INN and the Company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities. For more information, please contact: Regan Isenor President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: (902) 233-4381 Email: risenor@syllagold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150218 HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / January 3, 2023 / Today, MedMira Inc. (MedMira) (TSXV:MIR) announces the publication of Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Trichomonas vaginalis, the Most Prevalent, Non-Viral Sexually Transmitted Infection - (available: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/1/77 ), in the special edition of Pathogens by MDPI, a Swiss based medical journal. The article written by Professor John Alderete from the School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, outlines the successful development of a POC diagnostic device for Trichomonas vaginalis based on MedMira's RVF Technology. Dr. John Alderete discovered ACT::SOE3, a stable and highly sensitive biomarker for Trichomonas vaginalis, to be used for diagnostic purposes. Dr. Alderete required a rapid diagnostic technology to mobilize his developments and achieve a proof-of-concept and the required validation. MedMira's Miriad Rapid Vertical Flow Assay Toolkit was created to empower researchers and developers by offering an easy-to-use toolkit containing all components to create a high quality rapid test. "We are impressed by how effective the RVF Technology can turn a concept into a functional product within a short timeframe. This revolutionary test will be an important tool for health care providers and individuals infected with T. vaginalis that will significantly help to provide a cost-efficient and high quality diagnostic tool for routine and universal screening of all age groups and of at-risk populations," said Dr. John Alderete. "With MedMira's technical support and our expertise in T. vaginalis research, I am very hopeful that this new test once becomes commercially available will enhance the reproductive health of women and men around world." Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent for trichomoniasis, is the number one, non-viral Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) with an estimated incidence of 156 million yearly cases worldwide. Studies have shown the extent of the prevalence and incidence numbers of T. vaginalis STIs among the age groups 15 to 59 years are high and indicates that this STI is both underreported and neglected. This is evident also in the studies that show the high numbers of undiagnosed, persistent infections, especially within certain racial/ethnic groups, such as among African Americans in certain settings. Most T. vaginalis STIs are asymptomatic, which contributes to chronic subclinical and adverse health outcomes for individuals. This STI causes maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, adverse birth outcomes, and congenital infections. T. vaginalis infections enhance the acquisition of HIV, which is disproportionately higher among African Americans. Recent literature continues to suggest a relation between T. vaginalis and prostate cancer. These facts reinforce the need for enhanced routine and universal screening to prevent the adverse morbidity by this STI in our country and worldwide. "The New Year 2023 starts with another important milestone for our RVF Technology development. The collaboration effort between Dr. Alderete's group and our product development team, clearly demonstrates our leadership on the diagnostic development in addressing the significant increase of sexually transmitted infections globally", Hermes Chan. "This newly developed rapid POC test features the same advantages for fast turn around and high accuracy as found in our other infectious lines of product such as HIV, Hepatitis C and Syphilis". Abstract A point-of-care (POC) diagnostic is needed for both women and men to establish universal screening and surveillance for the number one, non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. A POC diagnostic test was developed for this STI using the MedMira Rapid Vertical Flow (RVF Technology) test cartridge with a membrane that includes a vertical procedural/reagent control line (referred to as CVL) and spotted actinin called ACT::SOE3. This protein is a specific diagnostic target for antibody in sera of individuals with trichomoniasis. Serum antibody to ACT::SOE3 is a positive reaction with the test spot. Specificity of ACT::SOE3 was revealed with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) generated to ACT::SOE3. Addition of negative control serum with MAb 67B reactive to ACT::SOE3 shows detection of both ACT::SOE3 and the CVL. Only positive sera of individuals had antibody reactive with ACT::SOE3 and detected the presence of the spot and the CVL. Negative control sera were unreactive with ACT::SOE3 and only showed the presence of the CVL. Importantly, to show proof-of-principle for POC application, ACT::SOE3 was detected with the positive patient sera spiked with whole blood. The prototypes have been extensively validated over the course of 12 months and show a high sensitivity. About MedMira MedMira is a leading developer and manufacturer of Rapid Vertical Flow diagnostics. The Company's tests provide hospitals, labs, clinics and individuals with instant disease diagnosis, such as HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis, and SARS-CoV-2, in just three easy steps. The Company's tests are sold globally under the REVEAL, REVEALCOVID-19, Multiplo and Miriad brands. Based on its patented Rapid Vertical Flow Technology, MedMira's rapid HIV test is the only one in the world to achieve regulatory approvals in Canada, the United States, China and the European Union. MedMira's corporate offices and manufacturing facilities are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. For more information visit medmira.com . Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn . This news release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risk and uncertainties and reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events, including statements regarding possible regulatory approval, product launch, future growth, and new business opportunities. Actual events could materially differ from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of clinical studies, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, establishment of corporate alliances and other risks detailed from time to time in the company quarterly filings. 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. MedMira Contact Markus Meile Chief Financial Officer MedMira Inc. ir@medmira.com SOURCE: MedMira, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733915/Point-of-Care-Diagnostic-for-Trichomonas-Vaginalis-Based-on-MedMiras-RVF-TechnologyR Leading College Station web design company Jeremy McGilvrey fuels business growth through modern design and click-worthy custom websites and sales funnels. College Station, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - January 3, 2023) - For businesses looking to grow and scale, top-rated College Station web design company Jeremy McGilvrey has announced its conversion-focused site and sales funnel design services. Jeremy McGilvrey, A Web Design Agency Announces Web Design Services In College Station, Texas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8843/150225_c06b0796644a9888_001full.jpg When businesses require profitable websites and sales funnels, they turn to Jeremy McGilvrey because of the agency's extensive experience, results-driven designs, and customer-friendly satisfaction guarantee. The team focuses on creating innovative online and sales funnel designs that are aesthetically beautiful, user-friendly, and customer-centric, providing each site visitor the feel of a personalized browsing experience. A user-friendly browsing experience is provided by Jeremy McGilvrey's College Station web design company, built on a foundation of clean, straightforward design. This tactic encourages users to stay on the website longer and helps to spotlight the client's value proposition and brand messaging. Jeremy McGilvrey's team works to create customized web solutions and better lead conversions in part due to mobile-optimized design. According to GoodFirms research, 73.1% of web designers cite non-responsive design as the primary cause of users leaving websites. To mitigate such losses, the team is committed to helping clients increase conversions by meticulously testing each site in a number of viewing environments to guarantee the website looks amazing, loads quickly, and operates flawlessly, ensuring that more leads are generated. While Jeremy McGilvrey's designs are all visually appealing, the team also ensures the backend provides crucial insights so that clients can receive the data they need to run marketing campaigns and fully understand the impact of their websites. "Clean, modern website designs that are considerate of users' needs and viewing circumstances are now a must for every company, not a competitive advantage," said Jeremy McGilvrey. "Our talented design team is in tune with this reality and uses forward-looking designs that make browsing easier. Additionally, by establishing their online authority with a great website, brands may take advantage of an endless stream of leads and sales to expand and scale their enterprises." To create the highest-converting websites and sales funnels, Jeremy McGilvrey's web design company works with skilled designers from all around the world. Every designer is vetted to ensure that they understand proven techniques that increase conversions in order to guarantee that every website and sales funnel design sells for its clients, even while they're sleeping. Customers also trust the College Station web design company due to its outstanding satisfaction guarantee. If a client is not completely satisfied with the results, they receive a full refund. The company's confidence and success in creating sales funnels and websites that drive business growth are demonstrated in this ironclad guarantee. For over ten years, Jeremy McGilvery's top-rated College Station web design company has garnered praise from thousands of satisfied customers. The company has also received recognition from Forbes, Entrepreneur, ClickFunnels, HuffPost, and NBC. Visit Jeremy McGilvrey College Station Web Design Company for more information. Media Contact: Contact: Jeremy McGilvrey Address: 1 Riverway Ste. 1724, Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (713) 300-3778 Email: Hi@JeremyMcGilvrey.com Website/URL: https://www.jeremymcgilvrey.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150225 Regulatory News: CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR), designer and developer of Aeson, the world's most advanced total artificial heart, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, today announced the first implantation of its Aeson artificial heart within the framework of the EFICAS clinical study in France. On October 26, 2022, CARMAT announced that it had received the necessary regulatory approvals to resume the EFICAS clinical study. The first Aeson implantation within the framework of this study was performed during the last week of December 2022 by Prof. Andre Vincentelli and his team at Lille Regional University Hospital. In addition to the Lille hospital, five other medical centers take part in this study: Pitie Salpetriere University Hospital and Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris, Rennes University Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital and Lyon University Hospital (Hospices Civils de Lyon). This prospective study will involve a total of 52 patients eligible for a heart transplant in France and will allow CARMAT to collect both additional data on the efficacy and safety of its artificial heart and medico-economic data to support its value proposition and the device's reimbursement, notably in France. The study's primary endpoint is survival for 180 days after implantation of the device without a disabling stroke, or a successful heart transplant within 180 days of implantation. CARMAT benefits from 13 million euros in funding from the French National Innovation Fund to partially finance this study. In accordance with the principles it has consistently applied, the Company does not plan to communicate on the state of health of individual patients nor on the performance of each implantation. CARMAT will continue to communicate on its progress when it reaches significant milestones and when it publishes its financial results. Stephane Piat, Chief Executive Officer of CARMAT, said: "EFICAS is the largest study undertaken by CARMAT at this stage, and I am delighted that it will entirely take place in France, thus enabling our country's patients to benefit from our therapy. This is a crucial study, as it will eventually notably allow us to obtain Aeson's reimbursement in France. I would like to thank Professor Andre Vincentelli and his team for their trust, as well as the teams in the five other medical centers that will contribute to this study". About CARMAT CARMAT is a French MedTech that designs, manufactures and markets the Aeson artificial heart. The Company's ambition is to make Aeson the first alternative to a heart transplant, and thus provide a therapeutic solution to people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, who are facing a well-known shortfall in available human grafts. The world's first physiological artificial heart that is highly hemocompatible, pulsatile and self-regulated, Aeson could save, every year, the lives of thousands of patients waiting for a heart transplant. The device offers patients quality of life and mobility thanks to its ergonomic and portable external power supply system that is continuously connected to the implanted prosthesis. Aeson is commercially available as a bridge to transplant in the European Union and other countries that recognize CE marking. Aeson is also currently being assessed within the framework of an Early Feasibility Study (EFS) in the United States. Founded in 2008, CARMAT is based in the Paris region, with its head offices located in Velizy-Villacoublay and its production site in Bois-d'Arcy. The Company can rely on the talent and expertise of a multidisciplinary team of more than 200 highly specialized people. CARMAT is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris (Ticker: ALCAR ISIN code: FR0010907956). For more information, please go to www.carmatsa.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Name: CARMAT ISIN code: FR0010907956 Ticker: ALCAR Disclaimer This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to, shares in CARMAT (the "Company") in any country. This press release may contain forwardlooking statements that relate to the Company's objectives and prospects. Such forwardlooking statements are based solely on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and involve risk and uncertainties including, without limitation, the Company's ability to successfully implement its strategy, the rate of development of CARMAT's production and sales, the pace and results of ongoing and future clinical trials, new products or technological developments introduced by competitors, changes in regulations and risks associated with growth management. The Company's objectives as mentioned in this press release may not be achieved for any of these reasons or due to other risks and uncertainties. The significant and specific risks pertaining to the Company are those described in the Universal Registration Document ("Document d'Enregistrement Universel") filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF, the French stock market authorities) under number D. 22-0332. Readers and investors' attention is, however, drawn to the fact that other risks, unknown or not deemed to be significant or specific, may or could exist. Aeson is an active implantable medical device commercially available in the European Union and other countries that recognize CE marking. The Aeson total artificial heart is intended to replace the ventricles of the native heart and is indicated as a bridge to transplant in patients suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure (INTERMACS classes 1-4) who are not amenable to maximal medical therapy or a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and are likely to undergo a heart transplant within 180 days of the device being implanted. The decision to implant and the surgical procedure must be carried out by healthcare professionals trained by the manufacturer. The documentation (clinician manual, patient manual and alarm booklet) should be read carefully to understand the characteristics of Aeson and information necessary for patient selection and the proper use of Aeson (contraindications, precautions, side effects). In the United States, Aeson is currently exclusively available within the framework of an Early Feasibility Study authorized by the Food Drug Administration (FDA). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005647/en/ Contacts: CARMAT Stephane Piat Chief Executive Officer Pascale d'Arbonneau Chief Financial Officer Tel.: +33 1 39 45 64 50 contact@carmatsas.com Alize RP Press Relations Caroline Carmagnol Tel.: +33 6 64 18 99 59 carmat@alizerp.com NewCap Financial Communication & Investor Relations Dusan Oresansky Quentin Masse Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92 carmat@newcap.eu Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center made waves earlier this year when it announced the completion of a clinical trial that saw colorectal cancer in 18 patients disappear. The patients received a drug that helped their immune system target and attack cancer cells, driving their cancer into remission and rendering it undetectable within six months. Now, Lehigh Valley Health Network has joined a select group of networks and hospitals participating in the expanded clinical trial of the drug. Dr. Suresh Nair, chief physician at LVHNs Topper Cancer Institute, said patients already had been requesting the treatment; now LVHN will be able to offer it to those patients who qualify to participate. When this came out in the news in the summer, we had patients with all different types of cancer coming in and saying, I want this treatment, the one with 100% response rate,' Nair said. Miami Baptist Hospital in Florida and Hartford Healthcare in Connecticut are also participating in this expanded study, which aims to have about 100 participants and is expected to take a little less than a year to complete. Nair said the expanded trial will make the treatment accessible to a wider, more diverse array of people who may benefit from it, and provide more comprehensive data on its effects. If youre only doing it at just a couple of big city centers the patients may not be representative of the community or the nation at large, Nair said. You want to make sure that treatment works in everyday patients and all over the country. The Lehigh Valley is a good testing site because we have a mix of ethnicities, we have a mix of socio-economics and us being at a nonprofit hospital is a good thing, too. The trial, titled MSK 19-288, is open for sign-up through LVHNs website. Nair said the network is screening existing patients for the trial but participation isnt limited by geographic area, and they are hoping to let others outside the Lehigh Valley know this is available for them as well. No patients are so far enrolled. Despite how promising the treatment appears to be, the trial is only open to about 10% of colorectal cancer patients who experience a high level of mutation in tumor cells, Nair said. Cancer is caused by damage to the DNA within cells resulting in gene mutations. Normally the body will fix damage or errors in DNA, but when it doesnt, cancerous cells and malignant tumors can occur. Some people, whether it is because of inherited conditions or other factors, will experience high levels of mutation. Rectal cancer has been treatable and curable for years. Early stages of colorectal cancer can be treated with a simple surgery that removes cancerous tissue; in later stages more advanced treatments like chemotherapy along with surgery are used. Nair said this small group of colorectal cancer patients has proven difficult to treat with those methods, but this experimental treatment may reverse the trend if the results of this wider study stay in line with what was seen with the small trial. This experimental procedure skips chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or other treatments and goes straight to using a monoclonal antibody drug called dostarlimab, which makes it easier for the body to fight these highly mutated cancer cells. The more mutated the tumor is from the rest of the cells, the easier it is for our T cells when theyre stimulated by the immunotherapy drug to just say, You dont belong, were going to attack you,' Nair said. The cancer can cause some immune suppression, so this immunotherapy medicine takes the brakes off our T cells so that they can properly function. Besides its effectiveness, the treatment also isnt invasive or particularly time-intensive patients only need to receive infusions of the drug once every three weeks over a six-month period, and each infusion procedure only takes about 30 minutes to complete, Nair said. The infusion doesnt temporarily affect cognitive or motor function either, which should make traveling for it easier for many. He said cost shouldnt be a barrier either. While each dose of the drug is about $11,000, federal law requires most health insurance plans to cover patient costs in clinical trials. Nair added that LVHN provides financial assistance to uninsured patients. The side effects for this immunotherapy, though present for some, have been shown to be a bit more manageable compared to those associated with chemotherapy. If all goes well with this treatment patients also dont have to worry about a colostomy bag or getting surgery that could cause problems with sexual, bowel or urinary dysfunction. With research, you cant guarantee a 100% cure. This is still preliminary but its a chance for the patients who are eligible to have a less invasive type of treatment. Potentially theyll still need monitoring, but potentially theyll be avoiding surgery, chemo or radiation, Nair said. Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com. PRESS RELEASE Indigo Diabetes Business Update SHINE clinical trial enrolment progressing well following positive results from the GLOW early feasibility trial Several key senior appointments made in Europe and the US, reflecting the growth and evolution from an early stage to a development stage organisation with clinical proof of concept BELGIUM - Ghent,4January 2023 - Indigo Diabetes N.V. ('Indigo' or the 'Company'), a pioneering developer of Continuous Metabolite Monitoring (CMM) devices utilising proprietary nanophotonics technology, today provides an update on recent and ongoing business activities. Indigo is developing a fully implantable CMM system for people living with diabetes to access accurate information on their glucose, ketones and lactate levels. The CMM sensor is inserted subcutaneously, avoiding the need for people with diabetes to wear an external device on their body. It is designed to give people living with diabetes and their caregivers instant access to the augmented metabolic information they need to better manage their diabetes and improve therapeutic decision-making. Clinical study progress In September 2022, Indigo announced the enrolment of the first participant in the SHINE clinical trial at the Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium. SHINE is designed to evaluate the longer-term stability of Indigo's continuous multi-metabolite ('CMM') device. This represented the first of up to 15 participants to be recruited in the trial across Belgium, France and Slovenia, the latter two sites of which are due to start enrolment in Q1 2023. The GLOW clinical trial was a prospective, single-center early feasibility study conducted at the Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium to evaluate the safety of Indigo's CMM sensor and its short-term integration into the tissue. Data was collected from the seven trial participants (three healthy subjects, and four subjects with type 1 diabetes) and the results have helped progress the development of the device to allow real-time, continuous measurement of glucose, ketone, and lactate levels in adults with diabetes. The full GLOW trial results have recently been submitted to a peer reviewed journal. Towards the end of 2022 Indigo received the ISO 13485:2016 medical recertification from TuV SUD for the provision of its design and development of biomarker sensing devices and services. This achievement is a significant milestone for Indigo highlighting the suitability of the Company's Quality Management System and its commitment to quality. ISO 13485:2016 is an internationally recognised quality standard specific to the medical device industry that ensures the quality of medical devices. Key appointments A number of senior hires were made during 2022 taking the total headcount to 45, reflecting the ongoing growth of the business and evolution from an early stage to a development stage organisation with clinical proof of concept. In October, Indigo appointed Peter Devlin as President of Indigo Medical US Inc, establishing its presence in the US, a market that it has identified as having significant potential for its CMM devices. Peter, who is based in Boston, is managing and overseeing Indigo Medical's activities. His focus is on accelerating product development for the Company's CMM devices, driving business development, and facilitating talent acquisition in the US. Another key hire was made in May, with the appointment of Emmet Lydon as Chief Operating Officer. Emmet brings more than 30 years of experience working as a senior leader operating in a multinational life sciences environment with extensive experience in Asia, North America and Europe. In addition, Indigo appointed Michael Malecha as VP, Digital. Michael now leads the software team, developing digital strategies for Indigo's CMM device. Dr. Danae Delbeke, CEO, Inventor and Co-founder of Indigo Diabetes, commented:"2022 was a great year for the team at Indigo where we achieved a number of key milestones including theenrollment of the first participant in the SHINE trial and establishing our presence in the US. We look forward to the year ahead where we continue to work towards our mission to provide an innovative, accurate and convenient monitoring solution to light up the life of millions of people living with diabetes." Dr. Danae Delbeke, CEO and Peter Devlin, President of Indigo Diabetes will be visiting San Francisco in January at the time of the 41st JP Morgan Healthcare conference and are currently arranging meetings with investors and partners. Please contact the company directly if you would like to arrange a meeting. - Ends - Contacts Indigo Diabetes N.V. Dr Danae Delbeke, CEO Email: info@indigomed.com Consilium Strategic Communications Ashley Tapp, Alexandra Harrison Tel: +44 About Indigo Diabetes N.V. Indigo Diabetes N.V. . About Indigo Diabetes's CMM sensor Indigo Diabetes's CMM sensor is the world's first, subcutaneously inserted evanescent field sensor to measure multiple metabolites invivo simultaneously and continuously. The inert, miniature integrated silicon photonics chip measures the absorption of light in interstitial fluid to quantify the concentration of a broad range of metabolites simultaneously without the use of enzymes or fluorophores. Once inserted under the skin the CMM sensor is invisible to the naked eye and will connect securely and wirelessly to mobile devices to show and capture the concentration profiles of the metabolites for the user. A rechargeable sensor battery powers the measurements. It is expected that the sensor will have a lifetime up to 2 years. Preclinical studies have successfully demonstrated proof of concept with promising accuracy with GLOW early feasibility study results providing further validation. The European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, through the EIC Accelerator Program, and Cap Horn join existing pool of strategic investors. Bpifrance, the French national investment bank, adds 1 M debt financing on favorable terms. Funding will be used to finalize development of Company's unique surgical robotic assistant for knee arthroplasty and prepare for commercial launch. Ganymed Robotics, a developer of computer vision software and robotics technologies for orthopedic surgeons, announced it has extended its Series B with an additional close of 15 million, bringing the total Series B amount to 36 million. The Fund of the European Innovation Council, through its Accelerator Program, and Cap Horn invest 14 million. Bpifrance, the French national investment bank, extended a 1 million loan to finance market access work. The initial Series B close of 21 million, led by Cathay Health and joined by Credit Mutuel Innovation, Kurma Partners and BNP Paribas Developpement, was announced in July 2022. The combined funds will be used to complete development of Ganymed Robotics' surgical robotic assistant for knee arthroplasty (TKA), accelerate regulatory and market access activities, and diversify the innovation product pipeline. "Welcoming such highly valuable investors a few months after an oversubscribed Series B first close, puts us in an extremely solid position amid a worldwide financing crunch for start-ups. We now have the resources and expertise to bring our unique patented technology to market, with the aim to become standard of care for joint replacement," says Sophie Cahen, CEO and co-founder of Ganymed Robotics. "Robotic assistance, together with image guidance and clinical decision tools, will be pivotal to push the limits of what can be achieved surgically and even more important to offer quality care to everyone, everywhere, in the context of a worldwide shortage on medical expertise and staff. Ganymed Robotics, with its proprietary intuitive technology and highly talented team, is uniquely positioned to win on both aspects in the field of joint replacement," added Michel Therin, DVM, PhD, Chairman of Ganymed Robotics' Board. Ganymed Robotics' ambition is to democratize access to quality care in orthopedics and allow all such patients throughout the world, to benefit from high-quality care. It has developed a proprietary technology platform built around two disruptive innovations: contactless localization of the bones and human-machine collaborative movement. The first application is a co-manipulated surgical robotic assistant for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The market for TKA is expected to rise from 2.4 million procedures in 2021 to 5.7 million in 2030 in the OECD alone. Yet 95% are performed without technological assistance, leading to sub-optimal outcomes; patient dissatisfaction rate is above 20%. Ganymed's device aims to improve both patient outcome and surgeon experience in a value-based-care environment. After total knee arthroplasty, Ganymed is planning to expand its technology platform to address other market needs. About Ganymed Robotics Ganymed Robotics is a medical device company founded in 2018, developing the next generation of robotic assistance technologies for orthopedic surgery. The company's mission is to improve patient outcome, surgeon experience, and overall efficiency of care delivery for its target indications. Based in Paris, Ganymed Robotics currently employs 30 people who develop a proprietary technology platform combining computer vision, a branch of artificial intelligence, and mechatronics, in close collaboration with world-class clinicians and advisors. The first application is a robotic surgical assistant for knee arthroplasties, a common and fast-growing intervention associated with high dissatisfaction rates of above 20%. Ganymed Robotics intends to progressively deploy its technology to address several other orthopedics indications. Ganymed Robotics won national and international innovation awards, such as I-Lab, French Tech DeepNum20, French Tech Emergence, Deep Tech Pioneer, EIT Health, Wilco, EIC Accelerator. For more information: www.ganymedrobotics.com About Investors of Series B Extension About the EIC Fund The European Innovation Council Fund from the European Commission is an agnostic Fund: it invests across all technologies and verticals, and all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It provides the investment component of the EIC Accelerator blended finance. The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies, bridging with and crowding in market players, and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding. The Fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries. About Cap Horn Cap Horn is a Paris-based VC firm investing in innovative companies across Europe, focusing on Healthtech, Sustainability, and Entreprise software. We partner with outstanding entrepreneurs and commit investments from 1M to 15M in high growth companies, from early to late stage. Cap Horn has an active portfolio of 50 companies and supports their development by leveraging its extensive network of business leaders. The firm, established in 2011, is part of the Anaxago Group. Cap Horn investment in Ganymed Robotics is led by Alex Heraud and Gaston Vasseur. About Bpifrance Bpifrance is the French national investment bank. It finances businesses at every stage of their development through loans, guarantees, equity investments and export insurances. Bpifrance also provides extra-financial services (training, consultancy.) to help entrepreneurs meet their challenges (innovation, export). For more information, please visit: www.bpifrance.fr and presse.bpifrance.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005725/en/ Contacts: Strategies Image (S&I) Anne Rein +33 6 03 35 92 05 anne.rein@strategiesimage.com Simplification of Casino Group's corporate structure in France Paris, 04 January 2023 As part of the legal reorganization of the Group's food retailing activities in France announced in a press release dated June 15, 2022, Casino Group confirms that it has proceeded with the structuring of the joint holding company. Following the information and consultation of the employee representative bodies of the subsidiaries concerned in accordance with legal provisions, the group's subsidiaries within the Monoprix perimeter have already been placed under this holding company, which is wholly owned by Casino, Guichard-Perrachon. The transfer of the activities of Distribution Casino France to this holding company, which constitutes the final stage of this reorganization, should take place during the first half of 2023. Important Information This press release and the information contained herein does not constitute an offer to repurchase the bonds or an invitation to sell the bonds or an invitation to participate in such an offer to repurchase in, or from, any country in or from which, or from or to any person to whom, such invitation is prohibited by applicable laws and regulations. The distribution of this press release in certain countries may be restricted by law and/or be subject to specific regulations. Persons in possession of this document are required to inform themselves and to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory restrictions. ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS CONTACTS Christopher WELTON - Phone number: +33 (0)1 53 65 64 17 cwelton.exterieur@groupe-casino.fr or +33 (0)1 53 65 24 17 IR_Casino@groupe-casino.fr PRESS CONTACTS Casino Group - Communications Director Stephanie Abadie - sabadie@groupe-casino.fr - +33 (0)6 26 27 37 05 or +33(0)1 53 65 24 78 - directiondelacommunication@groupe-casino.fr Agence IMAGE 7 Karine Allouis - Phone number: +33(0)1 53 70 74 84 - kallouis@image7.fr Laurent Poinsot - Phone number: + 33(0)6 80 11 73 52 - lpoinsot@image7.fr Attachment LONDON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anissa Helou, the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks, has been named the winner of the Foodics Icon Award by the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants organisation. Helou will be presented with the award at the second edition of MENA's 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, taking place in Abu Dhabi on 30 January 2023. In presenting this accolade, the 50 Best organisation honours outstanding figures in the food industry within the Middle East and North Africa region and celebrates an individual who has used their platform to raise awareness and drive positive change. Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, to a Syrian father and a Lebanese mother, Helou is as well versed in Mediterranean cuisines as only a native can be. Her first book, Lebanese Cuisine, originally published in 1994, was nominated for the prestigious Andre Simon Award and was named one of the best cookbooks of 1998 by the Los Angeles Times, following its reprint.Mediterranean Street Food, described by The New York Times as "a marvellous book", won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award 2002 as the best Mediterranean cuisine book in English. William Drew, Director of Content for 50 Best, comments: "Anissa Helou's relentless efforts in documenting historical culinary traditions serve to both educate and highlight the cultural nuances as well as the shared connectivity of different customs in the age of food globalisation. With this award, we celebrate the impact her research and work has had on preserving food communities." Helou says, "It wasn't until I started researching and writing my first cookbook, some 30 years ago, that I realised that food is culture, and that through cuisine and foodways, one can come to understand better a country or a region and its people." In recent times, Helou worked with the Culinary Arts Commission of Saudi Arabia to standardise traditional and contemporary recipes collected from cooks across the Kingdom, bringing an experienced cookbook writer's hand to the preservation of foodways to produce Saudi Feast, which was published in 2022. She has also featured in TV cooking shows in the Middle East and Italy, runs culinary tours in various countries and teaches cooking classes, while dividing her time between homes in Sicily and London. Media centre access: https://www.theworlds50best.com/mediacentre/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1972084/50_Best_Anissa.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1957807/50_Best_Mena_2023_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/middle-east--north-africas-50-best-restaurants-announces-anissa-helou-as-the-winner-of-the-foodics-icon-award-2023-301710582.html SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO announced that it has been registered as an authorized e-cigarette brand by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), becoming the first open-system vaping device brand to obtain such approval that grants the company the entitlement to market and sells its e-cigarette in the country. The UAE has enforced laws that aim to regulate all nicotine-containing components used in e-cigarettes, refill packages, e-liquids, and tobacco products sold in the country. The regulations demand that the manufacturers and companies of vaping devices must meet Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) standards, which set out strict quality and safety requirements for e-cigarettes and related products, before placing them on the market. The initial approval by the MoIAT, which allows the company to establish legal sales channels, both online and offline, for VAPORESSO's Xros Nano, Xros Mini, Xros 2, and ZERO S across the UAE, is the testimony to the company's commitment to offering market-leading vaping products with unmatched quality and functionality, allowing the global vapers to enjoy the fun and flavors unique in VAPORESSO's products. The market authorization also marks a significant step forward in its effort to further expand its presence in the Middle East. "We are thrilled by the MoIAT's decision to grant our flagship products the marketing and sales authorization, this has boosted our confidence in obtaining the approval for other seven premium products, including Luxe X and GEN PT SERIES, that are in the process of application," said Middle East team of VAPORESSO. VAPORESSO has a proven record of developing some of the best vaping devices, with the XROS series receiving exceptionally high ratings in the vaping community thanks to its ergonomic design and great craftsmanship. Looking forward, VAPORESSO aims to build on its market success to achieve new milestones in the UAE as it continues to pioneer state-of-the-art vaping technology that improves the safety, reliability, and quality of its products. About VAPORESSO VAPORESSO was created in 2015 and is dedicated to establishing a smoke-free world while raising the quality of life for its users. Based on its continuous innovation, strict quality control, and substantial commitment, VAPORESSO creates products that can fit all levels and styles of vapers. Website | Instagram | Facebook | Shop Contact: nedia@vaporesso.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976889/1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847940/OV_1__2_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vaporesso-acquires-authorization-from-moiat-to-market-and-sell-in-uae-301713176.html EQS-News: African Energy Week / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Invest in African Energy: African Energy Chamber to Host New Year Reception in London on 26 January 04.01.2023 / 10:30 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Invest in African Energy: African Energy Chamber to Host New Year Reception in London on 26 January Exploring new opportunities for financing energy projects in Africa, the African Energy Chamber will host a special New Year reception at the Waldorf Hilton in London, which will support European investment opportunities across the continent and drive economic growth and socioeconomic development The voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC), will host a special New Year reception event at the Waldorf Hilton luxury hotel in London on 26 January where participants will be encouraged to explore new avenues in financing energy projects on the African continent. During the event, investors and African energy leaders will be given a platform to support energy initiatives that drive economic growth and human development across the continent. Upholding a results-focused business environment for international companies and investors operating in Africa's dynamic energy industry, the AEC's Invest in African Energy Reception Event will focus on developing an oil and natural gas market in Africa to serve as the foundation of the continent's energy industry and transition, facilitating a platform for strong domestic trading and investment while reducing barriers of entry into the sector and thus ushering a wave of opportunities for new players to participate in one of the world's most burgeoning investment destinations. "African nations must focus on developing a natural gas market to serve as the foundation of the continent's energy industry," states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, adding, "Africa will be unable to meet the UN's sustainable development goals unless we tap into all resources available, which is why we must encourage and facilitate international investment, specifically from Europe, in oil and gas in order to fairly and economically participate in the global energy transition and drive socioeconomic development throughout the continent." Advancing a bold agenda for the African energy sector, the AEC strives to unite governments and credible businesses to spur growth under international standard business practices and position Africa to capitalize on energy investment through strategic partnerships and trade. With the African continent focusing its efforts on lifting 600 million people who currently lack access to reliable and affordable electricity and 900 million who lack access to affordable clean cooking solutions out of energy poverty, the Invest in African Energy Reception will provide an opportunity for investors to explore various initiatives, which include gas-to-power and renewable energy developments, as well as oil and natural gas exploration and production prospects. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, demand for gas in Europe is expected to rapidly increase in the coming years, thus positioning Africa to take advantage of its immense untapped resources and become a major supplier of oil and natural gas and ensure global energy security while tackling the challenges and opportunities across the continent. Set to serve as the first of many of the AEC's Energy Receptions globally business leaders, investors, and government representatives will unite in London - a city that boasts many Africa-focused investment firms - in good faith to advance mutually beneficial trade and investment partnerships under the common goal of advancing African governance while improving energy access, human rights, food and water security, and education on the continent. Additionally, the Reception event comes on the heels of a partnership between pan-African trade finance institution, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) which officially partnered with the continent's premier energy event, African Energy Week (AEW) in 2022 in a move expected to reawaken a new era of deal-signing, local content and multi-sector expansion. Under a mandate to make energy poverty history in Africa by 2030, the partnership will see both AEW and Afreximbank uniting the power of investment and value creation, driving stronger energy developments in 2022 and beyond. The partnership also aims to further attract investment from the UK to facilitate capacity building, the advocacy and financing of African companies, and the development of infrastructure in the continent's energy sector. The Invest in African Energy Reception Event will serve as the premier platform for international dignitaries, executives, and companies to participate and operate in Africa's energy sector, where access to affordable and reliable energy will be fundamental towards development, while simultaneously showcasing the pressing need to balance all forms of energy development to ensure a just energy transition and mitigate the global energy crisis. Taking place on 26 January 2023, the Invest in African Energy Reception Event will be held at the Waldorf Hilton luxury hotel in Aldwych, London. Participation is open to all guests and RSVP is essential. RSVP to registration@aecweek.com. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW). Download image: https://bit.ly/3VDSZVz 04.01.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Malaysia's property investment, management and development company surpassed S$100 million market valuation, a milestone reached by the company after it successfully listed on 1Exchange ("1X") platform, Singapore's first private securities exchange regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - HOMEVEST, Malaysia's property investment, management and development company surpassed S$100 million market valuation, a milestone reached by the company after it successfully listed on 1Exchange ("1X") platform, Singapore's first private securities exchange regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8621/150160_023bf349547fab5f_001full.jpg HOMEVEST consists of 3 divisions including HOMEVEST Capital, HOMEVEST Living and HOMEVEST Development. Over the years, HOMEVEST has won numerous recognitions and awards throughout the region. Today, HOMEVEST has a total of MYR341 million of Assets Under Management (AUM) with properties portfolio covering the central region of Malaysia. HOMEVEST's signature programme, Home Ownership Programme for Employees (H.O.P.E.) aimed at enabling corporations and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to empower their employees to own a home. This programme is officially supported by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and endorsed by the Malaysia Book of Records as the "First Property Company to Provide Homeownership Programme for Employees in Malaysia." HOMEVEST Group Managing Director KY Lim said in a statement, "Moving forward, we will continue to source for new acquisitions and development opportunities in Malaysia. We are very enthusiastic about the property market in Malaysia with continued long-term growth where we continue to make property investment and home ownership simple and sustainable." Figure 2 To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8621/150160_023bf349547fab5f_002full.jpg HOMEVEST seeks to continue to innovate the approach to real estate investment and management that creates outstanding value for the customers and adds distinct advantages for the investors. Detailed trend analysis, experiences local market knowledge, and a professional team allows the company to seize opportunities swiftly and optimize every aspect of real estate. Media Contact Contact Person: JK Soo Company Name: HOMEVEST Sdn Bhd Email: jk.soo@homevestglobal.com Website: https://homevestglobal.com/ Address 1: Level 23, Menara Exchange 106 Lingkaran TRX Address 2: Tun Razak Exchange City: Kuala Lumpur Country: Malaysia To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150160 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Metal Energy Corp. (TSXV: MERG) ("the "Company" or "Metal Energy") is pleased to announce the acquisition of 100% interest in the Manibridge project ("Manibridge" or the "Project") concurrently with the completion of the Phase Two 10,000 metre drill program (the "Program"). All completed drill holes intersected visible nickel sulphides. The Company has released assays from 14 of 30 holes, with 16 holes to be released in early 2023. "Metal Energy is proud to have completed and accelerated its 100% ownership milestone on the Manibridge project. Manibridge has demonstrated that it has potential for future re-development and mining. The demand for nickel, a key component in many green technologies, has been high recently due to the push for the deployment of electric vehicles and battery storage capacity. The Company fast-tracked its 100% ownership of Manibridge in order to capitalize on this opportunity presented by the high demand and limited supply of nickel. The Phase Two drill program has been very successful in the discovery of larger intervals of nickel sulphide mineralization that remain open along strike and at depth. We expect continued high-grade intervals with our remaining assays as these drill holes are closer to the old mine workings," said James Sykes, CEO of Metal Energy. Manibridge Phase Two Drill Program Results A total of 10,091.6 metres were completed over 36 diamond drill holes, including 6 abandoned drill holes, with all completed drill holes having intersected visible nickel sulphides. The drill hole collar locations were all within 150 to 600 metres of the old mine workings. The drill holes targeted the shallower parts of the Manibridge nickel sulphide system at depths between 200 and 400 metres. Figure 1 shows the drill hole locations on a long-section of the Manibridge trend. Assay results have been released for drill holes MNB007 to MNB023 (see Company news release dated November 28, 2022). Highlight assay results from the first eleven drill holes include 0.84% Ni eq. over 20.0 metres starting at 268.5 m drill hole depth in MNB014. Assay results for drill holes MNB024 to MNB040A are still pending, and the Company has sampled a few new intervals from drill hole MNB022 based on encouraging spot sample results (i.e., 0.1 m sample length). Assay results will be reported after the data has been received, reviewed, and approved. 100% Project Interest Acquisition From CanAlaska Metal Energy has completed all cash payments, share issuances, and exploration expenditures to achieve 100% of the earn-in option agreement with CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. The Company completed the Project acquisition within 12 months of starting exploration work activities, a testimony to the Company's belief that Manibridge has the potential to be re-developed and mined in the future. 15% Project Interest Acquisition By Mistango Pursuant to the Option Agreement between Metal Energy and Mistango River Resources ("Mistango", see news releases dated November 2, 2022 and December 30, 2022), Mistango has acquired from Metal Energy a 15% interest (the "Interest") in the Manibridge project. The Company reserves the right to re-acquire the Interest in the Project from Mistango at any time after February 28, 2023 and before April 30, 2024 (the "Closing Date"). The purchase price payable by Metal Energy to Mistango for the Interest on the Closing Date is $2,250,000 in cash or common shares of Metal Energy. The Manibridge project is currently held 85% Metal Energy and 15% Mistango. Options The Company also announces a grant of stock options to officers and consultants, allowing for the acquisition of up to 450,000 shares of the Company. These options will vest in 12 months and are exercisable at CAD $0.07 for five years from the date of grant and are subject to regulatory policies. About the Manibridge Project Manibridge encompasses 4,368 hectares and is within the world-class Thompson Nickel Belt. The Project is 20 kilometers southwest of Wabowden, Manitoba with significant infrastructure and capacity supporting previous exploration programs, including year-round highway access via Highway 6. About Metal Energy Corp. Metal Energy is a nickel and battery metal exploration company with two projects, Manibridge and Strange, in the politically stable jurisdictions of Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, respectively. The Strange project is subject to an earn-in agreement where the Company can acquire 100% exploration rights to approximately 11,900 hectares. QP Statement The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Sweeny, P.Geo., Vice-President, Exploration & Development for Metal Energy, and a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects." For further information, please contact: Metal Energy Corp. MERG on the TSXV James Sykes, CEO jsykes@oregroup.ca 306-221-8717 www.metalenergy.ca Reader Advisory Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"), including details about the business of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in our public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com including the Filing Statement dated November 15, 2021. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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. FIGURE 1 - Manibridge Phase Two Drill Hole Intersections on Long Section of Mineralization (view looking west-northwest) To view an enhanced version of FIGURE 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7926/150239_9862bc84048429ae_005full.jpg TABLE 1 - 2022 Phase Two Drill Hole Collar Location Information DDH Target Area Section East North Elevation Azimuth Dip EOH Individual Assay Highlights MNB007 Manibridge Mine 11 North 510,914 6,062,356 236 293 -45 272.5 0.80% Ni Eq. over 5.2 m at 233.5 m MNB008 Manibridge Mine 11 North 510,914 6,062,356 236 297 -59 302.5 1.10% Ni Eq. over 7.0 m at 266.5 m MNB009 Manibridge Mine 11 North 510,914 6,062,356 236 295 -67 325 0.95% Ni Eq. over 10.0 m at 280.8 m MNB010 Manibridge Mine 11 North 510,914 6,062,356 236 293 -76 350.5 0.75% Ni Eq. over 12.0 m at 302.5 m MNB011 Manibridge Mine 11 North 510,914 6,062,356 236 292 -83 377.5 0.56% Ni Eq. over 8.0 m at 317.5 m MNB012* Manibridge Mine 10 North 510,871 6,062,333 236 297 -47 120 NA - abandoned MNB013 Manibridge Mine 10 North 510,871 6,062,333 236 295 -61 260.5 0.90% Ni Eq. over 5.0 m at 225.5 m MNB014 Manibridge Mine 10 North 510,871 6,062,333 236 295 -70 323.5 0.84% Ni Eq. over 20.0 m at 268.5 m MNB015 Manibridge Mine 10 North 510,871 6,062,333 236 299 -81 350.5 0.34% Ni Eq. over 10.0 m at 267.5 m MNB016* Manibridge Mine 9 North 510,841 6,062,303 236 300 -47 140.5 NA - abandoned MNB017 Manibridge Mine 9 North 510,841 6,062,303 236 297 -59 251.5 0.39% Ni Eq. over 6.0 m at 227.5 m MNB018 Manibridge Mine 9 North 510,841 6,062,303 236 294 -70 302.5 1.17% Ni Eq. over 3.0 m at 169.0 m MNB019 Manibridge Mine 9 North 510,841 6,062,303 236 296 -78 328.5 0.71% Ni Eq. over 11.5 m at 245.0 m MNB020 Manibridge Mine 8 North 510,825 6,062,267 236 291 -70 302.5 0.63% Ni Eq. over 19.5 m at 253.5 m MNB021 Manibridge Mine 8 North 510,825 6,062,267 236 294 -79 350.5 0.63% Ni Eq. over 25.0 m at 287.5 m MNB022 Manibridge Mine 8 North 510,825 6,062,267 236 291 -58 260 0.51% Ni Eq. over 16.5 m at 223.0 m MNB023* Manibridge Mine 8 North 510,825 6,062,267 236 291 -46 62.5 NA - abandoned MNB024 Manibridge Mine 7 North 510,812 6,062,230 236 307 -75 342 pending MNB025 Manibridge Mine 7 North 510,812 6,062,230 236 297 -67 308.5 pending MNB026 Manibridge Mine 7 North 510,812 6,062,230 236 294 -60 290 pending MNB027* Manibridge Mine 7 North 510,812 6,062,230 236 296 -47 108 NA - abandoned MNB028* Manibridge Mine 7 North 510,812 6,062,230 236 295 -48 26 NA - abandoned MNB028A Manibridge Mine 7 North 510,812 6,062,230 236 297 -52 266 pending MNB029 Manibridge Mine 5 North 510,770 6,062,158 236 299 -79 377 pending MNB030 Manibridge Mine 5 North 510,770 6,062,158 236 297 -74 353 pending MNB031 Manibridge Mine 5 North 510,770 6,062,158 236 295 -63 299.4 pending MNB032 Manibridge Mine 6 North 510,794 6,062,195 236 300 -80 368 pending MNB033 Manibridge Mine 6 North 510,794 6,062,195 236 301 -72 341 pending MNB034 Manibridge Mine 6 North 510,794 6,062,195 236 300 -63 314 pending MNB035 Manibridge Mine 6 North 510,794 6,062,195 236 299 -51 282 pending MNB036 Manibridge Mine 4 North 510,738 6,062,122 236 294 -82 401.7 pending MNB037 Manibridge Mine 4 North 510,738 6,062,122 236 292 -73 356 pending MNB038 Manibridge Mine 4 North 510,738 6,062,122 236 294 -60 296 pending MNB039 Manibridge Mine 4 North 510,738 6,062,122 236 294 -48 263 pending MNB040* Manibridge Mine 3 North 510,713 6,062,093 236 306 -79 36 NA - abandoned MNB040A Manibridge Mine 3 North 510,713 6,062,093 236 299 -80 383 pending 36 DDH (includes 6 abandoned drill holes "*") 10,091.60 NOTES: East and North units are metres using NAD83 datum, UTM Zone 14N Elevation is recorded as "metres above sea level" EOH = End of hole, measured in metres NA = not applicable, drill hole did not hit bedrock Ni Eq. = nickel equivalent, which is calculated as the sum of Ni% + (Co% x $50,354/t Co / $27,065/t Ni) + (Cu% x $6,680/t Cu / $27,065/t Ni) Metal prices were derived from Shanghai Metal Market website (www.metal.com) on July 22, 2022 Bold text indicates drill hole intersection with "Grade x Thickness" values exceeding 8 and/or where average grades exceed 0.80% Ni To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150239 NORTHAMPTON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Points of Light On January 18 at 2 p.m. ET, Points of Light's Corporate Service Council will convene a special meeting, "Pathways and Pitfalls: Reprioritizing and Advancing Corporate Racial Equity Commitments," featuring leaders from the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity, PolicyLink and the Corporate Racial Equity Alliance. With competing priories and evolving challenges, it is critical that companies double down on their commitments in the years ahead to advance racial equity in their business and in partnership with their community. Attendees will hear from peers and leaders at the forefront of this work including: Tiffani Daniels, managing director, Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity Mahlet Getachew, managing director of corporate racial equity, PolicyLink "Since May 2020, the corporate community has been engaged in a serious and sustained effort to advance racial equity, following through on significant financial commitments, deepening expertise, building internal capacity, and forging external relationships with organizations and people with lived experiences. The role of companies in advancing racial equity remains critical, and the members of the Points of Light's Corporate Service Council continue to lead in this important work," said Christine Schoppe, chief strategy and growth officer, Points of Light. The Corporate Service Council represents more than 300 CSR, corporate citizenship, social impact and corporate philanthropy leaders from more than 100 leading brands and Fortune 500 companies. Throughout the year, the council convenes its membership, in person and virtually, for learning opportunities and training to advance their work as well as to connect them to a network of thought leaders and experts at the forefront of sector innovation and insights.? To learn more about the Corporate Service Council, please email support@pointsoflight.org or visit, pointsoflight.org/corporate-service-council. ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 177 affiliates across 38 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 16 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it's needed most. To learn more about Points of Light visit pointsoflight.org. ### View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Points of Light on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Points of Light Website: http://www.pointsoflight.org/ Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Points of Light View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733940/Points-of-Lights-Corporate-Service-Council-To-Host-Pathways-and-Pitfalls-Reprioritizing-and-Advancing-Corporate-Racial-Equity-Commitments Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - P ancontinental Resources Corporation (TSXV: PUC) (OTCQB: PUCCF) ("Pancon" or the "Company") announces that it has mailed its management information circular (the "Circular") and related materials for the special meeting (the "Meeting") of the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") that will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 10:00 am EDT at 217 Queen Street West, Suite 401, Toronto, ON, Canada. A copy of the Circular can be found on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. During the Meeting, the Company will ask for shareholders to vote for: (i) a name change to Carolina Rush Corporation (the "Name Change"); and (ii) a proposal to consolidate its common shares on the basis of every ten (10) issued common shares for one (1) new common share (the "Consolidation"). No fractional shares will be issued and any fractional shares will be rounded down to the nearest lower whole share. The Name Change and Consolidation are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, applicable securities regulatory authorities, and the approval of the shareholders of the Company. Pancon President and CEO Layton Croft stated: "As announced yesterday, our Company has identified some very strong drill targets and extensions of known mineralization at our Brewer Gold and Copper Project, which we are excited to resume drilling (see the January 3, 2023 news release). We intend to apply our strategic exploration model and experience at Brewer to acquire other high potential gold and copper projects in the Carolinas region. The name change and share consolidation will be a cornerstone to attract strategic investors to help us fund aggressive exploration of the large gold-copper system at Brewer. With the restructuring of the Company we intend to strengthen our Management Team with the addition of more technical expertise and executive experience." If 67% of voting shareholders at the Meeting approve the Name Change and Consolidation, the Company plans to raise capital to resume drilling at its flagship Brewer Gold and Copper Project. Brewer will anchor the Company's vision to be the leading explorer in the southeastern US. How to Vote at the Special Meeting Shareholders must vote their proxy before 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Janurary 31, 2023. If you are a registered shareholder, whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, to vote your shares at the Special Meeting, you can either return a duly completed and executed form of proxy to the Company's transfer agent, TSX Trust Company, by mail at: TSX Trust, 100 Adelaide Street West, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4H1, or via the internet at www.voteproxyonline.com no later than 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Janurary 31, 2023. If you hold Shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary, you should follow the instructions provided by your intermediary to ensure your vote is counted at the Special Meeting. Zoom Townhall Discussion on January 5 The Company will host a live zoom townhall discussion tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 4:30-5:30 pm ET to discuss the Company's plans for 2023. The discussion will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing afterwards. There are 2 different ways to join the zoom webinar: 1) Click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81335292486?pwd=UzRyZjlrd2pTWlYvczlPRFU0Z2JLUT09, Meeting ID: 813 3529 2486; Passcode: 095977 2) By phone: In Canada: Dial: +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099 or +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588 or +1 778 907 2071 or +1 780 666 0144 Webinar ID: 813 3529 2486 and Passcode: 095977 In the US: Dial: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 646 931 3860 or +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 689 278 1000 or +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 305 224 1968 or +1 309 205 3325 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 360 209 5623 or +1 386 347 5053 or +1 408 638 0968 or +1 507 473 4847 or +1 564 217 2000 Webinar ID: 813 3529 2486 and Passcode: 095977 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kiH9huJ1I Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Patrick Quigley, MSc, CPG-12116, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About Pancon Pancontinental Resources Corporation (TSXV: PUC) (OTCQB: PUCCF), or Pancon, is exploring the, underexplored Carolina Terrane in the southeastern USA. In January 2020, Pancon won the exclusive right to explore and purchase the former Brewer Gold Mine property, with an option period through 2030. Brewer is a breccia-hosted, high-sulphidation epithermal gold-copper system which is likely related to a copper-gold porphyry system at depth. Total historic production at the Brewer property is estimated to be a minimum of 200,000 ounces of gold. Most of the gold production occurred between 1987-1995 when 178,000 ounces of gold were recovered mostly from oxide ore extracted from open pits that extended to maximum of depth of 65 meters (Zwaschka and Scheetz, 1995, Detailed Geology of the Brewer Gold Mine, Jefferson, South Carolina). Pancon's 100%-owned, 1,730-acre Jefferson Gold Project mostly surrounds the 1,000-acre Brewer property. The Brewer-Jefferson area of interest, in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, is 12 kilometers along trend from the producing Haile Gold Mine, which has Proven and Probable reserves of 2.55 million ounces of gold with a production guidance of 165,000 - 175,000 ounces of gold in 2022 (https://oceanagold.com/operation/haile/). For further information, please contact: Jeanny So, External Relations Manager E: info@panconresources.com T: +1.647.202.0994 For additional information please visit our new website at http://www.panconresources.com/ and our Twitter feed: @PanconResources. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150202 A woman was shot Tuesday night in a private community in Luzerne County and later died, as police search for her boyfriend, saying he is responsible. Police responded to Foster Township for a gunshot victim at 6:46 p.m., state police at Hazleton said. The investigation showed Jessica Romano, 35, was shot by her boyfriend, Scott A. Oliver, 30, inside their home. Oliver fled into the woods. Romano was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton by EMS, where she died. Troopers have an arrest warrant for Oliver, charging him with criminal homicide. Oliver should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts may contact troopers at 570-459-3890. Police from White Haven, Hazleton, Freeland, Butler Township and Wright Township, assisted as did Freeland EMS. BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - ReneSola Ltd. (SOL), a solar project developer, said on Wednesday that it has signed a securities repurchase deal with its subsidiary ReneSola Singapore Pte. Ltd., to buy back 3 million American Depository Shares of $13.2 million, at a price of $4.4 per ADS. The company said Shah Capital will purchase the remaining 2.05 million ADSs of ReneSola Singapore at the same price, amounting to a sum of $9.02 million. Both transactions are privately negotiated. The purchase price represents around a 25 percent discount on SOL's net asset value as of September 30, 2022. The closing of the transaction is expected to be within three business days from January 4. Following the completion of the two transactions, ReneSola's primary shareholders will be all domiciled outside China. SOL is trading up by 0.69 percent at $4.38 per share in pre-market on the New York Stock Exchange. 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. NOV03 is Being Investigated to Treat the Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease Associated with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction NOV03 PDUFA Action Date is June 28, 2023 Bausch Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO) ("Bausch Lomb"), a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, and Novaliq GmbH, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in class ocular therapeutics, today announced that Ophthalmology, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, has published results from the pivotal Phase 3 trial GOBI, which is one of two pivotal Phase 3 trials for NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane). NOV03 is being investigated to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assigned NOV03 a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of June 28, 2023. "NOV03 was specifically developed to address excess tear evaporation and alleviate the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction," said Christina Ackermann, president, Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals, Bausch Lomb. "These findings reinforce NOV03 as a potential new treatment option that is distinct from anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents. We are excited that the FDA is reviewing the New Drug Application for NOV03, which, if approved, would provide millions of patients with dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction a prescription treatment option."1 DED is one of the most common ocular surface disorders, with MGD as a major cause of development and progression, affecting approximately nine out of 10 people with DED.2,3 DED due to MGD is caused by a deficient tear film lipid layer that leads to increased tear evaporation.4 There is currently no approved prescription eye drop in the United States indicated for DED associated with MGD. "These data show that the GOBI trial met both co-primary endpoints and all key secondary endpoints, with statistical significance achieved in treating the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction as early as day 15," said Christian Roesky, Ph.D., CEO, Novaliq. "We are pleased to be able to share these exciting findings in Ophthalmology, and we look forward to our continued collaboration with Bausch Lomb to hopefully bring NOV03 to market in the United States, and ultimately address an unmet medical need for those suffering with dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction." "All of the patients in the study were required to meet specific criteria indicating presence of Meibomian gland dysfunction. The findings of this study reinforce NOV03 as a potential treatment option for this patient population with unmet medical needs," said Yehia Hashad, M.D., executive vice president, Research Development and chief medical officer, Bausch Lomb. The data from the Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, hypotonic saline-controlled, double masked GOBI study was based on results from 597 subjects aged 18 years and older who were randomized to either receive treatment with NOV03 four times daily or hypotonic saline solution four times daily (n=303 NOV03; n=294 saline). The two primary endpoints were change from baseline at Week 8 (Day 57 2) in total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS) and eye dryness Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score. Key secondary endpoints included change from baseline in eye dryness VAS score and tCFS at Week 2 (Day 15 1) and eye burning/stinging VAS score and central corneal fluorescein staining (cCFS) at Week 8. Significant improvements vs. hypotonic saline solution were seen as early as day 15. Data highlights include: Primary endpoints At Week 8, change from baseline in tCFS was statistically significantly greater in the NOV03 arm compared to the control saline group (least-squares [LS] mean treatment difference, -0.97; (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.40 vs. -0.55) (P<0.001)). At Week 8, eye dryness VAS score was statistically significantly improved in the NOV03 arm compared to control group (LS mean treatment difference, -7.6; (95% CI: -11.8 vs. -3.4) (P<0.001). Key secondary endpoints At Week 2 (day 15), tCFS and eye dryness VAS score were statistically significant compared to saline, with an LS mean treatment difference (95% CI) for change from baseline in tCFS of -0.6 (-0.9, -0.2) (P<0.01) and VAS score of -4.7 (-8.2, -1.2) (P<0.01). At Week 8, VAS burning/stinging score and cCFS also favored the NOV03 group, with an LS mean treatment difference (95% CI) for change from baseline in VAS burning/stinging score of -5.5 (-9.5, -1.6) (P<0.01) and cCFS of -0.2 (-0.4, -0.1) (P<0.01). In the study, NOV03 was well tolerated with few subjects experiencing ocular adverse events (AEs) (9.6% NOV03 group, 7.5% control group) or treatment-related ocular AEs (6.3% NOV03 group, 3.1% control group). Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity. The most common AEs (incidence =1%) experienced in the NOV03 group were blurred vision, mostly mild and transient (3.0% vs 0.3%), instillation site pain (1.0% vs 1.0%), and eye discharge (1.0% vs. 0.0%). Ocular AEs led to treatment discontinuation in one subject in the NOV03 group (eye irritation) and three subjects in the saline group (conjunctivitis, dry eye, punctate keratitis). About NOV03 (perfluorohexyloctane) Ophthalmic Solution NOV03 is an investigational, proprietary, water-free, single-component preservative-free eye drop.5 In 2019, Bausch Lomb acquired an exclusive license for the commercialization and development of NOV03 in the United States and Canada.Results from the pivotal Phase 2 trial (SEECASE) were published in Cornea in September 2021. Data from the first pivotal Phase 3 trial (GOBI) were presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2022. Data from the second pivotal Phase 3 trial (MOJAVE) were presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Denver on May 2, 2022. The clinical program for NOV03 concluded with the completion of a multi-center, open-label, single-arm, 12-month safety extension trial (KALAHARI). In September 2022, Bausch Lomb and NOV03 announced that the U.S. FDA had accepted the NDA filing for NOV03 and assigned a PDUFA action date of June 28, 2023. About Novaliq Novaliq is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol, the worldwide first water-free technology. Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing today's unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases. Novaliq GmbH is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany and Novaliq Inc. has an office in Cambridge, MA, USA. The long-term shareholder is dievini Hopp BioTech holding GmbH Co. KG, an active investor in Life and Health Sciences companies. More on www.novaliq.com. About Bausch Lomb Bausch Lomb is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world from the moment of birth through every phase of life. Its comprehensive portfolio of more than 400 products includes contact lenses, lens care products, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Founded in 1853, Bausch Lomb has a significant global research and development, manufacturing and commercial footprint with more than 12,000 employees and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Bausch Lomb is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario with corporate offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.bausch.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Forward-looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Bausch Lomb's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and the fear of that pandemic and its potential effects, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on Bausch Lomb, including but not limited to its project development timelines, launches and costs (which may increase). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Lomb undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law. References National Eye Institute. Dry Eye. Last updated April 8, 2022. Accessed December 21, 2022. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye Leonardi, A., Modugno, R. L., Salami, E. (2021). Allergy and Dry Eye Disease. Ocular immunology and inflammation, 29(6), 1168-1176. https://doi.org/10.1080/09273948.2020.1841804. Lemp, MA, Crews, LA, Bron AJ. (2012). Distribution of Aqueous-Deficient and Evaporative Dry Eye in a Clinic-Based Patient Cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea, 31(5), 472-478. https://journals.lww.com/corneajrnl/Abstract/2012/05000/Distribution_of_Aqueous_Deficient_and_Evaporative.2.aspx Geerling G, Baudouin C, Aragona P, et al. (2017). Emerging strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction: Proceedings of the OCEAN group meeting. The Ocular Surface,15(2): 179-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2017.01.006 In December 2019, Bausch Health acquired the rights from Novaliq GmbH to pursue development and commercialization of NOV03 for DED and combination products based on NOV03 in additional ophthalmic indications in the United States and Canada. All product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the respective owners. 2023 Bausch Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. NOV03.0064.USA.22 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005244/en/ Contacts: Novaliq Media Contact: Simone Angstmann-Mehr info@novaliq.com Bausch Lomb Investors: Arthur Shannon/Allison Ryan arthur.shannon@bausch.com;allison.ryan@bausch.com (877) 354-3705 (toll free); (908) 927-0735 Bausch Lomb Media Contacts: Lainie Keller/Kristy Marks lainie.keller@bausch.com;kristy.marks@bausch.com (908) 927-1198; (908) 927-0683 The global omnichannel retailer has engaged with the retail consulting firm, Columbus Consulting, to oversee digital and process transformation associated with the partnership BOSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunkemoller, one of the largest global omnichannel lingerie brands, recently selected Bamboo Rose Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Sourcing, and Purchase Order Management applications to connect and streamline design, development, sourcing, and supply chain processes as the brand pursues aggressive domestic and international growth plans. Columbus Consulting has been working with Hunkemoller to support their growth and transformation needs. The teams have partnered for years to audit, source, and implement allocation and replenishment systems, optimise the wholesale side of the business, manage the master data initiative and, now, support the implementation of the Bamboo Rose PLM. In this role, CCI will work alongside the Hunkemoller team to ensure that the design, integration, execution, and change management aspects of the project are seamlessly addressed. Bamboo Rose's Multi-Enterprise Platform and suite of connected business process applications will help Hunkemoller digitize product development processes to improve transparency to downstream teams, suppliers, and logistics partners. This end-to-end visibility and collaboration will help the brand to accelerate design and development cycles, reduce administrative burden, and allow teams to focus on developing high-quality, innovative products that align with consumer trends and expectations. Digitizing the product lifecycle and supplier collaboration on Bamboo Rose will also enable Hunkemoller to more cost effectively prepare products for different selling markets and account for impending Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulations that will impact core product development and sourcing operations. "We're thrilled to partner with Bamboo Rose and Columbus Consulting who will be key players in digitizing and streamlining our product management processes through seamless digital transparency and communication," said Charlotte Davies, Chief Product Officer at Hunkemoller. "Hunkemoller has built a strong reputation across 19 countries in Europe for high-end products, innovative new collections, and targeted sub-brands regardless of taste and budget," said Chirag Patel, President at Bamboo Rose. "We're excited to partner with the brand as they extend their market-leading reputation to new markets and sales channels while maintaining their dedication to product excellence and innovation." Similarly, Columbus Consulting Partner, Charlotte Kula-Przezwanski is looking forward to expanding the partnership with Bamboo Rose and continuing to work with Hunkemoller. "Our relationship with Hunkemoller has been both rewarding and exciting. Bringing new technologies and processes to this strong brand has helped the organization by further establishing them as a leader in the industry. Leveraging the Bamboo Rose platform will prove to be another successful layer to their digital transformation." In January, the Bamboo Rose leadership team will be in attendance at NRF 2023, Retail's Big Show , meeting with clients on platform strategy, demonstrating industry leading software, and discussing the trajectory of the retail industry in 2023 and beyond. To meet with Bamboo Rose at NRF, schedule a meeting to visit us at Booth #3966. The experts at Columbus Consulting will also be featured at the show exhibiting at Booth #6815. The team will be addressing retailers needs and taking appointments in advance at https://www.columbusconsulting.com/event/nrf-big-show-january-15-17-2023-nyc/ About Hunkemoller Hunkemoller is one of Europe's leading and fastest-growing lingerie brand, with over 900 stores across 19 countries. Founded in Amsterdam in 1886, the company has since developed into a pan-European omnichannel lingerie brand. Hunkemoller delivers perfect fitting, fashionable, and high-quality bodywear products (bras, underwear, nightwear, swimwear, and other categories including fitness gear). Hunkemoller is a truly omnichannel retailer and has integrated technology into every aspect of the business; from extensive customer profiling based on an extensive base of active loyalty program members, to a digitalised recruitment and training process for retail employees. The customer journey is at the heart of Hunkemoller's strategy and has resulted in a seamless interaction between the physical and digital environment through its click2brick initiatives. Sustainable journey Together Tomorrow was launched in 2020, a name created to unite all activities that look after the planet and its people. www.Hunkemoller.com About Bamboo Rose Bamboo Rose is the industry-leading Multi-Enterprise Product and Supply Chain Platform, connecting the entire retail community and helping companies bring great products to market faster, more efficiently, and at higher margins. The platform features a suite of patented supply chain solutions, including Bamboo Rose B2B Marketplace, Product Lifecycle Management, Sourcing, Purchase Order Management, Global Trade Management, and Financing, each one supported by intelligent engines for optimization, costing, and scheduling across the platform. About Columbus Consulting Columbus Consulting delivers solutions that drive true value and have been transforming the retail and CPG industries for over two decades. We are a boutique retail consulting company of industry experts. Our approach is simple, if you do it, we do it. We are more than consultants; we are experienced practitioners who actually sat in our clients' seats. We understand the challenges, know what questions to ask and deliver the right solutions. Columbus offers a unique, consumer-centric approach with an end-to-end perspective that bridges functional & organization silos from strategy to execution. Our specialties include: unified commerce, planning & merchandising, sourcing & supply chain, inventory management, finance & operations, data & analytics, information technology and people & organization. Let us know how we can help you. To learn more, visit COLUMBUSCONSULTING.COM. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1430723/Bamboo_Rose_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hunkemoller-selects-bamboo-rose-to-support-digital-plm-and-sourcing-operations-amidst-growth-plans-301712592.html Ensuring continued U.S. / European collaboration in space DENVER, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space are partnering to develop and operate Starlab, a free-flying space station to serve the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and a global customer base of space agencies and researchers. Starlab is planned to be launched in 2028 to ensure a continued human presence in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Airbus Defence and Space will provide technical design support and expertise for the Starlab space station which will serve as an on-orbit laboratory for astronauts to conduct investigations and advance scientific discovery. Starlab is designed and architected to provide 100 percent of the International Space Station's payload capacity with the ability to conduct hundreds of experiments and technical investigations per year. "We are proud to partner with Airbus Defence and Space to bring Starlab to life. Our vision is to create the most accessible infrastructure in space to serve the scientific community," said Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Voyager Space. "This partnership is unique in that it engages international partners in the Commercial Destinations Free-Flyer program. Working with Airbus we will expand Starlab's ecosystem to serve the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member state space agencies to continue their microgravity research in LEO." "This partnership with Voyager Space is the first step toward fielding the next generation of space stations to serve international astronauts. We are excited to support a project aimed at changing history," said Jean-Marc Nasr, Executive Vice President of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space. "This collaboration is an important step in making Starlab a reality, providing a foundation for long-lasting European and American leadership in space. Our team is looking forward to diving in on the technology and putting our best engineers to work." Voyager and its operating company, Nanoracks, were awarded a $160 million Space Act Agreement from NASA in December 2021 to create Starlab, a continuously crewed, free- flying space station to replace the International Space Station. Starlab is designed to serve as the home for the George Washington Carver Science Park, the first science park in space, where scientists and industry experts can share findings, collaborate, and use new technologies to advance both scientific and commercial endeavors. "Thank you to NASA and our US government partners for their steadfast support of our efforts to build a commercial destination in LEO that serves the US and international research community." continued Dylan Taylor. "We want Starlab to be the platform of choice for customers around the world. Today's partnership with Airbus provides the potential for significant continued US and European access to space." About Voyager Space Voyager Space is a space technology company dedicated to building a better future for humanity in space and on Earth. With nearly 20 years of spaceflight heritage and over 1500 successful missions as of Fall 2022, Voyager delivers space station infrastructure and services and technology solutions to commercial users, civil and national security government agencies, academic and research institutions, and more, with the goal to accelerate a sustainable space economy. About Airbus Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space, Inc.'s (the "Company's") mission statement and growth strategy, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976848/Voyager_Starlab_Airbus_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/voyager-space-and-airbus-announce-international-partnership-for-future-starlab-space-station-301713034.html CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The smart airports market size is projected to grow from USD 7.0 Billion in 2022 to USD 8.3 Billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2022 to 2027 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growing demand for advanced smart solution to cater the increased demand of air-passenger footfall to drive the market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=544 Browse in-depth TOC on "Smart Airports Market" 100 - Tables 60 - Figures 250 - Pages Upgrades & Services is expected to account for the largest share in 2022 Based on End Market, Upgrades & Service segment is projected to lead the smart airports market during the forecast period. Existing systems and solutions are being upgraded with advanced technology and solutions to improve the passenger experience and operational efficiency. The market is being driven by the desire for enhanced maintenance and services to ensure their continued operation. The Endpoint Devices is projected to dominate market share in the system segment during the forecast period Based on System, the Endpoint Device segment is projected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. To expedite the screening process, airports use dependable endpoint devices like biometrics, RFID, beacons, and so forth. The customer experience and airport operations have both improved with the deployment of end point devices. Furthermore, improvements in endpoint devices have raised security standards and streamlined airport security checks. The Airside is projected to dominate market share in the system segment during the forecast period Based on application, the airside segment is projected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. Smart operations are frequently used at the airside to improve ground staff management and hasten aircraft turnaround. Thus, over the past few years, there has been a growth in demand for smart airside operations solutions, such as sophisticated aircraft parking solutions and cutting-edge maintenance and health monitoring systems. The medium segment projected to lead smart airports market during the forecast period Based on airport size, the medium segment is projected to lead the smart airports market during the forecast period. The market is further segmented into small, medium and large. This expansion is connected to the increasing need for the installation of advanced technologies in airports, as well as the increased demand for system modification throughout the world. The non-aeronautical segment is projected to dominate market share in the operation segment during the forecast period Based on operation, non-aeronutical segment is projected to dominate the market share during the forecast period. Airports are focusing on targeted digital advertising as well as other initiatives like inventory management and intelligent transport services in order to satisfy consumer expectations and assist the growth of the non-aeronautical segment. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=544 Asia Pacific is expected to account for the largest share in 2022 The smart airports market industry has been studied in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific accounted for the largest market share in 2022, and North America is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The market for smart airports in the aviation sector is expected to benefit from rising air travel demand. The regions the growth of international tourism, and low-cost flights to developing nations like India are the main factors fueling the increase in passenger traffic in the area. The demand for automated procedures such as baggage handling and self-check-in services will rise as the number of passengers rises. This will support the remarkable rise of smart airports in the Asia-Pacific region, which will support the markets overall expansion. Major players operating in the smart airports market include SITA (Switzerland), THALES (France), Siemens AG (Germany), Amadeus IT Group SA (Spain), IBM Corporation (US), Cisco Systems Inc. (US), Indra Sistemas S.A. (Spain), Honeywell International Inc. (US), L3Harris Technologies Inc (US).are some of the market players. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=544 Browse Adjacent Market: Aerospace and Defence Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Ground Support Equipment Market by Point of Sale (Equipment, Maintenance), Type (Mobile, Fixed), Power Source (Non-Electric, Electric, Hybrid), Platform (Commercial, Military), Autonomy, Ownership and Region- Global Forecast to 2027 Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market by Offering (Hardware, Software & Solutions), Investmet Type (Brownfield, and Greenfield), Airspace (ARTCC, TRACON, ATCT and Remote Tower), Service, Application, Airport Size and Region- Global Forecast to 2027 Passenger Security Market by Security Solution (Baggage Inspection Systems, Explosive Trace Detector, Hand Held Scanner, Full Body Scanner, Access Control), End User (Airport, Seaport, Railway), Investment Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2024 Airport Lighting Market by Type (Runway, Taxiway & Apron Lighting Systems), Position (In-Pavement Lighting, Elevated Lighting & PAPI), Technology (Non-LED and LED), and by Geography - Global Forecast to 2021 Airport Baggage Handling System Market by Airport Class (A, B, C), Identification Technology (Barcode, RFID), Service (Self-Service, Assisted-Service), Type (Conveyors, Destination-Coded Vehicles), Efficiency, Geography - Global Forecast to 2020 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/smart-airports-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/smart-airports.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/smart-airports-market-worth-8-3-billion-by-2027---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301713124.html LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / OneMeta AI WHAT: OneMeta AI (OTC PINK:ONEI) will unveil Verbum v1.0 this week to over 1,000 total journalists that are expected to attend the two premier independent media receptions held during CES 2023, the world-renowned and largest technology tradeshow in the United States. The two media receptions noted above are Digital Experience! and ShowStoppers. A revolutionary web-based application, Verbum provides near-realtime language translation and transcription services during one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many conversations, meetings, and online chat sessions for up to 50 people in as many as 82 languages and 40 dialects. Verbum also serves as the technology platform for delivering future products and services to OneMeta AI customers. WHO: Saul Leal (CEO and Founder), Rowland Day (President and Chairman), and Julio Aguirre (Head of Sales) will provide live demonstrations of Verbum to interested journalists, analysts, and influencers attending either media reception. WHEN: Pepcom's Digital Experience! media reception will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 from 7 pm to 10:30 pm (PT), while, the ShowStoppers media reception will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 6-10 pm (PT). WHERE: The Digital Experience! media reception will be held in the Julius Ballroom of Caesar's Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada (3570 So. Las Vegas Blvd.). The ShowStoppers media reception will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada (3600 So. Las Vegas Blvd.). WHY: OneMeta AI believes that one of the fastest ways to educate prospective Verbum customers and partners about its unique benefits and features is though unbiased product evaluations and media coverage. In the U.S., no other event attracts more technology- and business-focused professional journalists, analysts, and influencers than the annual CES trade show. HOW: Professional journalists, analysts, and influencers interested in attending the Digital Experience! and/or ShowStoppers media receptions should contact Pepcom and/or ShowStoppers via their respective websites. Additionally, journalists, analysts, and influencers interested in signing-up for a free, one-month evaluation Verbum account should email David Politis at david@verbum.ai. About OneMeta AI OneMeta AI's proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools allow the spoken and written word to be translated and transcribed in approximately one second across of dozens of languages. Its first product, Verbum, supports near-realtime web-based conversations, discussions, meetings, events, and online chats in 82 languages and 40 dialects. Verbum: Speak. Hear. Read. Understand. OneMeta AI, Verbum, and "Speak. Hear. Read. Understand." are trademarks of OneMeta AI, as are the OneMeta AI and Verbum logos. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. # # # MEDIA CONTACT: David Politis for OneMeta AI, me@davidpolitis.com C: +1-801-556-8184 SOURCE: OneMeta AI View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733929/OneMeta-AI-Will-Unveil-Version-10-of-Verbum-to-Over-1000-Journalists-Attending-Pepcoms-Digital-Experience-and-the-ShowStoppers-Media-Receptions-This-Week-in-Las-Vegas-Nevada-During-CES-2023 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. BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German automakers sentiment turned positive at the end of 2022, but the overall business situation was strained for both manufacturers and suppliers, and expectations for the coming months remain cautious, survey results from the ifo Institute showed on Wednesday. The auto industry index rose to 1.5 in December from -1.5 in November, the Munich-based institute said. This clearly indicates that confidence is returning to automakers, as demand declined less than in November, while the order situation stabilized and they were significantly more satisfied with their order books, the think tank said. 'However, automakers continue to suffer from a shortage of intermediate products,' said Prof. Oliver Falck, director of the ifo Center for Industrial Organization and New Technologies. Consequently, they were unable to process some orders. But they expect to be able to produce more in the months ahead. As late as September, Germany's automotive industry was still expecting earnings to plummet in the second half of the year, ifo said. In the case of suppliers, the current situation and business expectations remained negative in December. However, the supply of intermediate products eased only marginally. In December, 55 percent of suppliers still reported problems with raw materials deliveries, which was the lowest percentage since this question was first asked in August 2021, Ifo said. 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. Italian competitor's infringement claims rebutted once again, marking its sixth defeat to date GUILFORD, Maine, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Puritan Medical Products-the world's most trusted manufacturer of swabs and specimen collection and transport devices -is proud to celebrate yet another affirmation of patent law, this time in Sweden. The Swedish patent lawsuit filed by Italian swab-maker Copan Italia S.p.A. hit a dead end earlier this month, with the Swedish Court of Appeals confirming that Puritan's flocked swabs do not infringe any claims of Copan's European Patent that supposedly protects the Italian company's core flocked swab technology. Copan launched a patent offensive against Puritan distributor Svenska LABFAB in Sweden back in April 2019, after losing a competitive bid in Sweden. The Italian company announced the Swedish lawsuit during a trade show in the Netherlands, handing out flyers claiming "that Svenska LABFAB has committed a willful infringement of the patent covering COPAN's core flocked swab technology." By June 2020, however, the Swedish courts sided with LABFAB and handed Copan a resounding defeat. LABFAB successfully defeated the infringement claims and even earned legal fees for its efforts. Later that year, in November 2020, Puritan similarly defeated the Italian competitor in a string of German lawsuits and appeals, also earning legal fees. Fast forward to 2022, and Copan suffered another defeat at the hands of the International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, D.C. In that case, Copan accused rival Chinese swab makers of infringing its patents, only for the claims to be denied by an ITC judge. Copan has now lost six lawsuits in which it asserted flocked swab patent infringement. "Heading into 2023, Puritan's hard-working team can celebrate yet another legal victory that upholds patent law," said Bob Shultz, President and CFO at Puritan. "Copan's latest defeat is a strong message to our entire industry that good-faith business practices are paramount in this day and age. We are happy that this most recent distraction is now behind us, as we look ahead to doing right by our customers in the new year." To schedule an interview, please contact Virginia Templet, vatemplet@puritanmedproducts.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703607/Puritan_Medical_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/puritan-secures-another-legal-victory-against-copan-in-sweden-301711068.html Despite one director arguing Parkland School Board was violating the Sunshine Act, the body voted 7-1 Tuesday to appoint Robert Bold to fill the vacancy left by state Sen. Jarrett Coleman, who resigned last month. Before the vote, the board faced heated comments from district parents, residents and fellow board members about transparency and the process for filling the vacancy, rather than Bolds qualifications to hold office. Bold, who taught in the Allentown School District for 30 years, served on the Parkland School Board multiple times as both president and vice president. He will now serve as school director until December 2023, but does not plan to run in the November 2023 election. Whoever is elected to Colemans former seat at that time will serve out the remaining two years of his four-year term. School Director Patrick Foose voted against Bolds appointment. He made a motion Tuesday instead to appoint parent Natalie Janotka, but failed to gain the support required for a vote. Foose said he does not doubt Bolds qualifications, but took issue with the appointment process. He claimed the board violated the state Sunshine Act, which governs the procedures for open meetings. I dont think this decision should have been made behind closed doors, Foose said, claiming the board decided on Bold as the only candidate for the vacancy in an executive session rather than a public meeting. Robert Bob Bold, who taught in the Allentown School District for 30 years, was appointed to fill Jarrett Colemans seat during a special meeting Tuesday. (CONTRIBUTED) According to the state Public School Code, a school board has 30 days to fill a vacancy before the court of common pleas steps in to do so. State law does not outline how the board must fill vacancies, but Solicitor C. Steven Miller said the board considered two options for filling Colemans seat. One allowed the board to appoint someone who is nonpartisan, meaning he or she doesnt plan to run for a seat in the upcoming school board election; the other allowed residents to apply and publicly interview for the position before the board appoints someone. School Board President Carol Facchiano said the board chose the first option because there is less than a year until the next school board election. The board chose the same route to appoint Bold to fill former director Marie Maritchs seat in April 2021. (Foose voted to approve Bolds appointment then, which some board members pointed out Tuesday.) Asking residents to apply and interview to fill a vacancy would be better suited for scenarios when there is more than a year left until an election, Facchiano said. The board used this process in January 2022 when it selected Jay Rohatgi to fill the vacancy left by former director David Kennedy. Foose said he was in favor of the application process this time because multiple community members expressed interest in the vacant seat. I believe we owe it to the community to hold interviews to maximize public participation in this appointment, he said Tuesday before the vote. After all, while it is our duty to fill the vacancy, the seat does not belong to the eight of us, it belongs to all Parkland electors. Foose said the board wasnt transparent with the public at the last public meeting when some board members said that a process for filling the vacancy wasnt yet chosen. Foose said Bold was the only person discussed for filling the vacancy at an executive session held before the Dec. 20 public meeting. Foose said Bold was in essence already chosen for the appointment at that time. Board Vice President Marisa Ziegler said Tuesday Bold was not the only candidate discussed to fill the vacancy. Other potential candidates were discussed at a second executive session held following the Dec. 20 public meeting, but she said Foose was not present. Subsequently, the board announced via a district news release Dec. 27 that it intended to appoint Bold to the vacancy. But Facchiano said Tuesday no final decisions had been made prior to the special meeting. Although Bob Bolds name appears on the agenda, there has been no deliberation or official action taken prior to this special meeting on his appointment or the appointment of any other person for the vacant position, she said, adding the board could vote on the agenda item, or nominate other persons to include on the agenda before the vote. When asked if she had a response to Fooses concerns about the Sunshine Act being violated, Facchiano said she had no comment. Multiple board members, including David Hein, criticized Foose for expressing his views on school board business to local media ahead of Tuesdays meeting, and said his critiques of board transparency were not valid. There has been no decision made, we have not voted yet, this is the process here for voting and discussing and debating, Hein said. The decision to appoint someone to fill a vacancy is a board decision and like all other matters voted on by this board, it is being done in a public business meeting, where public comment is allowed and appreciated. Facchiano added that the board consulted the solicitor throughout this process, with the Sunshine Act requirements in mind. Miller told The Morning Call the board discussed the process for filling the vacancy outside a public meeting, but did not discuss which person would be the best candidate. He said it was legal for the board to discuss Bold for the position in executive sessions as long as no deliberation or official action, such as a vote, occurred. Miller said theres a fine line between discussions and deliberations. If youre not making any decisions, youre not engaging in any deliberations, youre not engaging in any official action, he said. But Melissa Melewsky, in-house counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, disagreed, arguing that even though the board has the right to fill a vacancy without a public interview process, discussions of any potential candidates the board might appoint should have happened in public, not in an executive session. Its a distinction without a difference because the definition of deliberation is the discussion of agency business held for the purpose of making a decision, Melewsky said. This is the school board stepping into the shoes of voters and filling an elected office. Thats a significant action, and one that should be entirely public. There was a mixed response to the boards appointment decision from parents and community members who spoke during Tuesdays public comment. Some, like David Ellowitch, a district parent, praised the school board. When I learned about Mr. Bolds resume and your intention to remain nonpartisan, the wisdom of your decision becomes clear, Ellowitch told the board. But others agreed with Foose that the board wasnt being transparent; they felt the public was excluded from this process. The example youre setting by not even opening the conversation to anybody, particularly anybody who may show disagreement or rock the boat, is, If you dont agree with us, sit down, and shut up. You dont have a voice here,' said community member Mike Bodnar. The good news is theres an election coming up, he added. In addition to Colemans former seat, five other school board positions are on the ballot in November. Facchiano, Ziegler, Foose, Rohatgi and Lisa Roth will be up for reelection, if they choose to run. Morning Call reporter Jenny Roberts can be reached at 484-903-1732 and jroberts@mcall.com. Study met all primary endpoints ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alphyn Biologics, a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class multi-target therapeutics, announced today positive results from the first cohort of its Phase 2a clinical trial of AB-101a, a topical therapeutic for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). The trial met all of its primary endpoints, highlighting AB-101a's potential to be an effective and safe treatment for AD. The randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind trial is evaluating the treatment protocol of AB-101a across multiple sites using standard scales for assessing AD. The trial, conducted in Australia, enrolled 41 AD patients, and treatment was evaluated after four weeks. "As a physician who treated 15 percent of the patients in the clinical trial, I am encouraged by the results with AB-101a," said Dr. Stephen Shumack, Clinical Associate Professor Dermatology, University of Sydney, and Principal Investigator at St George Dermatology & Skin Cancer Centre. "I look forward to future trials and gaining a better understanding of AB-101a's potential benefits for patients." "Patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis suffer considerably from the symptoms of this often debilitating disease, yet available treatments come with side effects and safety concerns," said Alphyn CEO Neal Koller. "We are excited by these results and look forward to the results of our ongoing cohort treating infected AD. We plan to further study AB-101a in a Phase 2b/3 trial next year in conjunction with a Series B financing." Alphyn intends to present the full results of this trial at a scientific conference and submit a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Enrollment is ongoing in the second cohort of the Phase 2a clinical trial. This cohort is investigating the unique ability of AB-101a to treat the infected component of AD in AD patients who are suffering from bacterial infections, including Staphylococcus aureus, or "Staph," and MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant Staph. Alphyn anticipates AB-101a will be effective in treating non-infected AD and infected AD. AB-101a should provide AD patients and physicians a comprehensive, safe, and convenient treatment option. AB-101a was developed using Alphyn's proprietary AB-101 platform. The platform has multiple bioactive compounds and, therefore, multiple mechanisms of action to address multiple problems of any target disease. Alphyn was able to begin the AB-101a clinical trial program in Phase 2 due to the strong safety profile of its AB-101 platform. ABOUT ALPHYN BIOLOGICS Alphyn Biologics is a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class multi-target therapeutics for severe and prevalent skin diseases based on its AB-101 platform. Its lead product candidate, AB-101a, is being developed as a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema. AB-101a has demonstrated a strong safety profile and is in development to uniquely target AD's immune system and bacterial components, making it ideal for treating AD and infected AD. Alphyn's AB-101 platform has multiple bioactive compounds and therefore multiple mechanisms of action to support a robust pipeline of dermatologic therapeutics that have potential safety, efficacy and regulatory marketing authorization advantages. Alphyn is based in Annapolis, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio, and has a wholly owned Australia subsidiary. The company became operational in 2020 and has raised approximately $6.9 million. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1899346/Alphyn_Biologics__LLC__Logo_Hi_Res_Transparent_Bckgrd_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/alphyn-biologics-reports-positive-results-from-first-cohort-of-phase-2a-trial-of-mild-to-moderate-atopic-dermatitis-treatment-301713110.html TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / AI/ML Innovations Inc. (CSE:AIML)(OTCQB:AIMLF)(FWB:42FB), a company committed to acquiring and advancing Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning technologies that address urgent societal needs, announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Health Gauge Inc., is investigating the possibility of enforcement action regarding its patent rights for its personal health monitoring (smartwatch) & management solution. "The wearable health-tech market is worth multiple billions of dollars per year in the US alone," said Tim Daniels, Chairman of AI/ML Innovations. "It is our belief that there may be several notable industry participants who are currently infringing upon our patented technology. As a result, we are giving careful consideration to potential courses of action to defend our patented Intellectual Property and technology rights." As announced in a press release dated February 1, 2022, Health Gauge, has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US Patent No. 11183303), titled "Wearable Health Monitors and Methods of Monitoring Health" (the "Patent"). The Patent includes the use of multiple configurations of wearable health monitors, in conjunction with methods of analyzing bio-signals and monitoring health metrics for the purpose of assisting the user in achieving their personal health and wellness objectives by utilizing both behavioral and predictive analysis. In all, more than 65 claims were granted as a part of this Patent. Amongst other things, these claims detail: various wearable hardware specifications, configurations, combinations, and operations; data collection and analysis methods; and the application of Machine Learning software and/or algorithmic data and behavioral analysis software. About Health Gauge www.healthgauge.com Health Gauge's patented solution is a personal health monitoring & management system, which combines the latest wearable health monitors with sophisticated artificial intelligence software tools and proprietary cloud computing software, to help caregivers, patients, and healthcare professionals access and utilize relevant data, resulting in better recovery outcomes and healthy living objectives through the ability to make immediate and better health choices. About AI/ML Innovations Inc. https://aiml-innovations.com/ AI/ML Innovations Inc. has realigned its business operations to capitalize on the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with an initial investment focus on emerging digital health and wellbeing companies that leverage AI, ML, cloud computing and digital platforms to drive transformative healthcare management solutions and precision support delivery across the health continuum. Through strategic partnerships with Health Gauge (100% owned by AIML), Tech2Heal (up to 22% ownership rights, with 9.44% currently owned), AI Rx Inc. (70% owned by AIML) and other planned accretive investments, the Company continues to capitalize on expanding growth areas, to the benefit of all the Company's stakeholders. AI/ML's shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "AIML", the OTCQB Venture Market under "AIMLF", and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under "42FB". On behalf of the Board of Directors Tim Daniels, Executive Chairman For more information about AI/ML Innovations : For detailed information please see AI/ML's website or the Company's filed documents at www.sedar.com. For further information: Blake Fallis at (778) 405-0882 or info@aiml-innovations.com. Corporate video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2QSjo7clXc&feature=youtu.be Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCfOj2P_Fu3TOK6Jl1G9vEQ Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For AI/ML Innovations Investors Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, AI/ML Innovations' expectations concerning management's plans, objectives and strategies, including strategies for defending the Company's intellectual property. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. AI/ML Innovations Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise except as expressly required by applicable securities law. Further information regarding the uncertainties and risks can be found in the disclosure documents filed by AI/ML with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: AI/ML Innovations Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733822/AIML-Innovations-Health-Gaugeto-Investigate-Potential-Patent-Infringement-Enforcement Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc. (TSXV: LPC) ("LPCP") is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.006 per common share, payable on January 31, 2023, to the shareholders of record as of January 17, 2023. The dividend payments qualify as eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes. The declaration, amount and payment of future cash dividends are subject to the Board of Directors' continuing determination that the payment of dividends is in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and is in compliance with all laws and agreements of the Company applicable to the declaration and payment of cash dividends. The ability of the Company to pay future dividends will be reviewed on a quarterly basis taking into consideration actual and forecasted cash flows and the macroeconomic outlook at that point in time. About Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc. LPCP was created to bring together boutique investment management and wealth advisory firms in order to deliver robust, cost-effective investment solutions to affluent investors, foundations, estates and trusts. LPCP's unique strategy creates better alignment between investment managers and wealth advisors while providing them with additional resources to accelerate their growth. For further information, please contact: Robert Sewell Chief Executive Officer Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc. investor.relations@lpcp.ca (905) 337-2227 Cautionary Notes Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", "plan", and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, LPCP's objectives, goals and future plans. Forward-looking information addresses possible future events, conditions and financial performance based upon management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. In particular, the forward-looking information contained in this news release reflects assumptions about the timing and results of the amalgamation and regulatory approvals. Management of LPCP considers the assumptions on which the forward-looking information contained herein are based to be reasonable. However, by its very nature, forward-looking information inherently involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information. Such risks include, without limitation, changes in economic conditions, applicable laws or regulations. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. LPCP disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/149123 PALAKKAD, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chilean Ambassador to India, His Excellency Mr. Juan Angulo Monsalve, recently visited the Athachi Biodiversity Farm at Elappully in Palakkad. Accompanied by his wife, Mr. Angulo spent hours at the farm, understanding its intricacies, and went around the Athachi Nakshatra Vanam, Goshala, and Navagraha Vanam at the farm with great interest. Mr. Raju N Subramanian, Chairman of Athachi Group, briefed the Ambassador and his wife on the unique More than Organic? farming methods of Athachi, the Trust Nature? philosophy, and the future plans of the group in the field of agriculture, Ayurveda, green energy etc. Dr. Vishwanath N Subramanian, Managing Director of Athachi Group, briefed the Ambassador on the findings of over five years of research conducted at the Athachi Farms, including studies on the unique ecological wonder in the Western Ghats called Palakkad Gap. The research is currently underway. The Trust Nature? philosophy is a powerful stream of thought that guides Athachi Group as it seeks to craft solutions that respect the environment, promote holistic living and harmonious coexistence with all living beings. As Mr. Raju enumerated to the Ambassador, Trust Nature? is about harnessing the regenerative power of nature in every step, to build resilience in the ecosystem of the universe. The Ambassador spoke about how the Trust Nature? philosophy is universal in ethos, where plants and animals, as well as weather and landscape, blend to maintain the delicate balance between the organisms and environment, and can be adapted to the ecosystem of Chile and all other nations. He also agreed with Athachi's belief system that the Trust Nature? philosophy offers a way of life, aimed at limiting global warming and it is a perfect example of a globally scalable campaign on climate change and sustainability program by United Nations. More Than Organic? - This innovative farming method is one of the outcomes of the Athachi Trust Nature? philosophy. Dr. Vishwanath took the Ambassador through the finer details of the method, co-evolved with nature, and how it has helped build healthy, organic strategies that eliminate the need for artificial chemicals. The More than Organic? methodologies employ the rich biodiversity introduced in the land, to nurture and enrich soil. It is a balanced farming method that combines the proven, nature-revering agriculture system that was prevalent in India for generations, with the latest technologies. Special efforts are taken to identify those pests which are harmful to the ecosystem and employ holistic methods like planting countering herbs, and in special cases, solar bio-traps, to limit their growth, as referenced in the ancient Indian text Vrikshayurveda. Aiming to protect endangered trees and plants along with conservation of nature, Athachi Farms has been producing a variety of products upholding the country's Agro-Ayurvedic legacy. The Athachi Trust also conducts numerous programmes to inculcate faith in nature among future generations. Meanwhile, reinforcing its commitment to the cause, Athachi Group has initiated extensive research, involving academia and experts from the domain, to unravel the biodiverse hotspot called Palakkad Gap to the wider world. About The Athachi Group: Based in India and the UAE, Athachi has evolved as businesses in natural progression. From Finance, Consulting and Trading to products for Wellness and Ayurveda. The Group which has been successfully creating authentic ayurvedic solutions for over 3 decades, established the Athachi Biodiversity Farm. The Group is in the process of crafting products that are exciting outcomes of the biodynamic and biodiverse methodology. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1977104/Juan_Angulo_Monsalve_Athachi_Group.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1886734/Athachi_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/athachis-trust-nature-philosophy-is-powerful-and-unique-chilean-ambassador-on-visit-to-athachi-farms-301713320.html Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - California Nanotechnologies Corp. (TSXV: CNO) (OTC Pink: CANOF) ("Cal Nano" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a service agreement ("Agreement") with Ontario-based Otis Investor Relations Inc. ("Otis IR"), to develop and execute a comprehensive, digital-first investor relations program. The program's goal is to broaden the Company's shareholder base, manage investor communications and expectations, and provide Cal Nano with strategic capital markets advisory. "We are excited to start work on our first investor relations program as we continue to execute our long-term growth plan," stated Eric Eyerman, CEO of Cal Nano. "With the milestones we have executed in the last year, we feel it is an appropriate time to start being more present in the investment community and build further confidence. Brandon at Otis IR will play an important role in supporting us in this journey as we leverage his expertise in microcaps." "Cal Nano has impressed me with their recent traction in deploying their novel technologies into new markets with meaningful commercial contracts," said Brandon Chow, Principal & Founder at Otis Investor Relations Inc. "As the world looks toward next generation materials in aerospace, automotive and renewable energy, I expect that Cal Nano will benefit from these tailwinds. I am excited to leverage my past success in executing investor relations programs for technology-driven microcaps with Eric and his ambitious team." Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will pay Otis IR a monthly fee of US$2,525, plus applicable taxes and reasonable expenses, on a month-to-month basis. The Agreement remains in effect until either party terminates the Agreement by providing the other party 30 days' prior written notice of termination. As additional consideration for the services, the Company has agreed to grant 110,000 stock options at an exercise price to be determined by the Company at a future date and will vest in quarterly instalments over a 12-month period. All stock options are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's previously approved Stock Option Plan and approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. Brandon Chow, the principal and sole shareholder of Otis IR, has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 74,500 common shares ("Common Shares") of Cal Nano. In addition, Brandon Chow intends to acquire, through open-market transactions, additional Common Shares of the Company for personal investment purposes. The Agreement is subject to the regulatory acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. Related links: www.calnanocorp.com For further information, please contact: California Nanotechnologies Corp. Eric Eyerman, CEO T: +1 (562) 991-5211 info@calnanocorp.com Otis Investor Relations Inc. Brandon Chow, Principal & Founder T: +1 (647) 598-8815 brandon@otisir.com Reader Advisory Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to the expected future performance of the Company. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, governmental regulation, including environmental regulation; unanticipated operating events or performance; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; competition for, among other things, capital, skilled personnel and supplies; changes in tax laws; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150192 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - SOL Global Investments Corp. (CSE: SOL) (OTC Pink: SOLCF) (FSE: 9SB) ("SOL Global" or the "Company") announces that the Company transferred and divested an aggregate of 4,182,316 common shares ("Captor Shares") of Captor Capital Corp. ("Captor") and 2,052,632 Captor Share purchase warrants, representing all the Captor Warrants held by the Company ("Captor Warrants"), with each Captor Warrant exercisable for one Captor Share at an exercise price of $1.20 per Captor Share until April 30, 2023 (collectively, the "Dispositions"). The Dispositions were made to certain arm's length parties in private market transactions occurring simultaneously on January 3, 2023. The Company received investment securities with an aggregate deemed value of $1,716,564 in consideration for the Dispositions. The deemed value attributed to the Captor Shares was $0.40 per Captor Share or $1,672,926 in the aggregate. The deemed value attributed to the Captor Warrants was $0.02 per Captor Warrant or $43,638 in the aggregate. As a result of the Dispositions, the Company's holding percentage of Captor Shares was reduced from 17.9% to 9.9% on a non-diluted bases, representing a decrease of 8.0%. Following the Dispositions, the Company continues to have ownership and control over 5,161,647 Captor Shares and nil Captor Warrants. The completion of the Dispositions resulted in SOL Global's beneficial ownership of, or control or direction over, the Captor Shares to decrease below 10% of the issued and outstanding Captor Shares. Accordingly, following the filing of the early warning report described below, the Company will no longer file early warning or insider reports in respect of the Company's ownership of Captor Shares, except as may be required by applicable law. The Dispositions of Captor Shares and Captor Warrants was undertaken by the Company as part of its strategy to broaden its investment strategy. While the Company has no current plans or intentions relating to Captor securities, depending on various factors including, without limitation, Captor's business or financial position, the price levels and trading volume of Captor Shares, conditions in the securities markets, general economic and industry conditions, and other factors and conditions deemed appropriate, the Company may acquire or dispose of additional securities of Captor in the future. This press release is being issued in pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which also requires an early warning report to be filed with the regulatory authorities in each jurisdiction in which Captor is a reporting issuer containing information with respect to the foregoing matters. A copy of the early warning report will be filed on SEDAR under Captor's profile at www.sedar.com, and is available on request at the number and email address below. Captor's head office is located at 4 King Street, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1B6 and the Company's head office address is located at 100 King Street West, Suite 5600 Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C9. CONTACT INFORMATION SOL Global Investments Corp. Paul Kania, CFO Phone: (212) 729-9208 Email: info@solglobal.com Cautionary Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, without limitation, the Company's strategic investment plans in Captor. By their nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release including: Captor's future business and financial position, the price levels and trading volume of Captor's common shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the risks resulting from investing in the U.S. marijuana industry, which may be legal under certain state and local laws but is currently illegal under U.S. federal law; reliance on management; the ability of the Company to service its debt; the Company's ability to obtain additional financing from time to time to pursue its business objectives; competition; litigation; inconsistent public opinion and perception regarding the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry; and regulatory or political change. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150215 CZ Smart YouQ Forecasts 24-Hours Ahead to Help the Wearer Extend Peaks and Curb Drops in Alertness, Leverages NASA Scientific Research and AI Models Built with IBM Watson Studio Designed to Offer Radically Personalized Actions to Optimize Wearer Wellness NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CITIZEN, an innovator in watchmaking, announced today the launch of its newest version of CZ Smart, the Smarter Smartwatch, at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2023. The revolutionary wearable provides a built-in self-care advisor through the proprietary CZ Smart YouQ application, developed using research pioneered by NASA's Ames Research Center and AI built through CITIZEN partnerships using the environment and tools within IBM Watson Studio on IBM Cloud. The CZ Smart YouQ software helps the wearer understand and anticipate patterns of fatigue and alertness and offers customized insights and personalized strategies to build better habits to maximize a wearer's daily potential. CZ Smart watches combine timeless watch design, purposeful function, and innovative technology in a game-changing wearable device. The CZ Smart YouQ application provides insights that help make the wearer smarter about their own wellness, syncs with their daily life, and provides real-time biofeedback. Using neural networks developed within the IBM Watson Studio workspace, CZ Smart YouQ can learn and understand the wearer's chronotype (an individual's preferred timing of sleep and wake) within seven to ten days by processing their sleep data and Alert Scores and deepens that understanding over time. Alert Scores are generated when a wearer takes a custom-designed Alert Monitor test, a consumer-facing iteration of NASA's Psychomotor Vigilance Task Test (PVT+), originally developed to determine the mental acuity of astronauts. The CZ Smart YouQ Alert Monitor was designed based on NASA's PVT+ test and utilizing research from leading science and academic experts at NASA's Ames Research Center Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory. The Alert Monitor tests are brief, gamified, and can be taken daily to measure the wearer's alertness. Through personal data points captured with the watch, including Alert Scores, chronotype, sleep patterns, activity, and heartrate monitoring, CZ Smart YouQ quantitatively analyzes and learns about the wearer's unique characterization, rhythms, and habits to enhance personalization. By utilizing a dynamic recognition model to match wearers to their chronotype, the CZ Smart YouQ application recommends highly personalized Power Fixes, suggested actions to help the wearer mitigate the effects of fatigue, improve alertness, and promote the building of better habits, readying the wearer to meet whatever the day may bring. Over time, aggregating wearer data will enable CZ Smart YouQ to cater to wearers more personally; not just in understanding them, and their relationship to chronotypes, but also in understanding the effectiveness of certain Power Fixes for each person. "The latest CZ Smart watch is a game-changing product that brings CITIZEN's legacy of watchmaking together with best-in-class research and technology of NASA and IBM, directly to wearers' wrists," said Jeffrey Cohen, President at CITIZEN Watch America. "Coupled with the proprietary CZ Smart YouQ application, this smartwatch is a revolution in wearable wellness." The YouQ Software is available exclusively on the second generation of CZ Smart watches. Styles include a sport model, available with silicone, leather, and stainless-steel straps and a casual model in mesh bracelet, stainless-steel links, and silicone straps. All CITIZEN CZ Smart watches offer downloadable, customizable dials and a range of interchangeable bracelet, mesh, leather, and silicone straps for practicality and style preference. CITIZEN also highlighted a new second generation Hybrid smartwatch at CES 2023, which will launch to consumers in the second half of 2023, with the YouQ wellness software implemented in due course (date to be confirmed). Citizen launched the first generation of CZ Smart watches in November 2020 with the brand's first-ever touchscreen smartwatch, followed by a hybrid model in Fall 2021. The latest generation of CZ Smart watches with the proprietary CZ Smart YouQ application will be available in the U.S. at www.citizenwatch.com starting in March 2023. Details on international availability (UK, Canada, and Mexico) will be furnished upon request. Technical Specifications Brand CITIZEN CZ Smart PQ Smartwatch Model Sport: MX1010-59X, MX1017-50X, MX1011-05X, MX1018-06X, MX1016-28X Casual: MX1000-52X, MX1002-57X, MX1005-83X, MX1003-71X, MX1000-28X, MX1000-01X Launch March 2023 Case Size / Display Size / Display Type 41mm Casual and 44mm Sport / 1.3" / AMOLED Processor / Storage Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear4100+ / 8GB Rechargeable Battery 24+ hour battery life, varies based on usage. Full charge in 40-minutes Sport and Casual Smartwatch: Up to 20% better battery life Hybrid Smartwatch: Up to 50% better battery life Play Store Auto Install / Pre-Loaded Apps Google Fit, CZ Smart YouQ Strava, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Alexa Sensors Gyroscope, altimeter, barometer, accelerometer, heart rate sensor, SP02, ambient light sensor Specifications Android and iOS compatible*/ Bluetooth / Wi-Fi / GPS / NFC / Microphone / Speaker *Supported features may vary between countries with compatibility subject to change. This device and its related software are not intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or other conditions. Citizen Connected works with phones running the latest version of Android (Excluding Go Edition and phones without Google Play Store) or iOS. Supported features may vary between platforms and countries with compatibility subject to change. About CITIZEN Citizen, a pioneer in watchmaking and innovation since 1918, promotes excellence and creativity with a deep-rooted respect for craftsmanship. Citizen advocates "Better Starts Now," searching for and accomplishing goals that cultivate positive change. Citizen was an early pioneer in advocating for the environment, launching the first light-powered watches with proprietary Eco-Drive technology in 1976, thus adding eco-mindful as a core company value. For over 100 years, Citizen has been operating on its corporate philosophy of "Loved by Citizens, Working for Citizens", with a focus on designing innovative watches that are good for people, society, and the planet. Citizen is dedicated to expanding its business while earning the trust of its stakeholders and continuously improving its corporate value through management that takes into consideration social issues such as human rights and the global environment throughout the value chain. Citizen's diverse portfolio of high-performance and eco-mindful watches is accessibly priced and ranges from professional-grade, sport-inspired designs with advanced functions to sophisticated, timeless silhouettes that are beautiful as well as collectible. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976835/CZ_Smart_YouQ_Sizzle_Video.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976836/CZ_Smart_YouQ_Watches.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976832/CZ_Smart_YouQ_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/citizen-debuts-cz-smart-watch-with-proprietary-wellness-software-that-anticipates-learns-and-gets-smarter-with-the-wearer-301712812.html Validates Support for Platform Features Identified in the Dresner Advisory Wisdom of Crowds Analytical Platforms Report Pyramid Analytics (Pyramid), a pioneering provider of an augmented analytics platform for decision intelligence, is identified as a Top-Rated Vendor in Dresner Advisory Wisdom of Crowds Analytical Platforms 2022 Edition. The new report assessed sixteen vendors. Ratings are based on collective functionality as reported and confirmed by vendors and weighted by user and analyst importance. Included in the assessment are scores for data engineering, data catalog, self-service BI, embedded BI, and data science and machine learning. Vendors had to demonstrate sufficient capabilities in at least four of these categories to be included. Key Points: Pyramid Analytics is a Top-Rated Vendor in Dresner Advisory Wisdom of Crowds Analytical Platforms. Integrated Analytical Platforms provide many benefits versus best-of-breed in 2022, according to users surveyed for the report. Organizations with Integrated Analytical Platforms reported it was easier to find analytical content. Organizations applying consolidation and standardization in pursuit of cost and complexity containment favor an integrated single-vendor Analytical Platform. Guided Analytics importance is increasing because it improves time to insight and action. Governed self-service remains a top priority. Download Dresner Advisory Wisdom of Crowds Analytical Platforms for free. Dresner Advisory Services defines Analytical Platforms as integrated technology environments that include all needed functionality to support multiple analytical or business intelligence (BI) use cases, including data engineering, data catalog, self-service BI, data science and machine learning, embedded BI and analytics, and cloud support. Decision Intelligence is the Next Big Analytics Innovation The next major innovation in analytics is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Applying AI across Data Prep, Business Analytics, and Data Science is what separates decision intelligence from traditional business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Qlik, and Tableau. AI lowers the skills barrier by automating the highly technical work needed to prepare and analyze data and create and share reports and dashboards. The Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform delivers data-driven insights for anyone to make faster, optimized decisions. The Pyramid Platform provides instant access to any data, enables automated governed self-service for any person, and serves any analytics need, from the simple to the sophisticated. By uniquely combining Data Prep, Business Analytics, and Data Science with AI guidance in a single environment, the Pyramid Platform reduces cost and complexity while accelerating growth and innovation. This enables a strategic, organization-wide approach to Business Intelligence and Analytics. Complete, Unified Decision Intelligence Platform For the new study, Dresner asked respondents to quantify seven specific advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of single-vendor integrated analytical platforms. Dresner found that, "Overall flexibility and state-of-the-art functionality are now the least advantageous attributes of integrated platforms (compared to most advantageous for best-of-breed approaches). In return, cost reduction, security, platform management, and user and data governance become far greater advantages of single-vendor integrated platforms. While acknowledging trade-offs, we also note that the sum of mean benefits is clearly higher for integrated platforms versus best-of-breed in 2022." Only the Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform unifies Data Preparation, Business Analytics, and Data Science on a single, integrated platform. This eliminates the need to use multiple disparate tools and the associated license cost and management complexity. Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), rapid rollout and Return on Investment (ROI), direct query access to all available data, and industry-leading user adoption means faster time to value. The Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform can be deployed on-premises, into a private or public cloud, embedded into other apps or delivered through Managed Services Providers (MSP). Quotes Omri Kohl, CEO and Co-Founder, Pyramid Analytics: "Dresner Advisory Wisdom of Crowds Analytical Platforms report is a valuable guide for consumers of both business intelligence and analytics solutions and developers of those products and platforms. Knowing the rigorous and multi-dimensional methodology used by Howard Dresner and his team makes Pyramid Analytics coming out as a Top-Rated Vendor of Analytic Platforms that much more gratifying." Howard Dresner, Founder and Chief Research Officer, Dresner Advisory Services: "We congratulate Pyramid Analytics for its success in this year's report. Pyramid Analytics demonstrated a strong showing across many of the key criteria that customers use in assessing Analytical Platform vendors. In a competitive market, our research and evaluation showed Pyramid as a top-rated vendor." About Pyramid Analytics Pyramid is what's next in analytics. The award-winning Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform delivers insights for making faster, optimized decisions by providing direct access to any data, enabling governed self-service for any person, and meeting any analytics need in a no-code environment. The Pyramid Platform uniquely combines Data Prep, Business Analytics, and Data Science in a single environment with AI guidance, reducing cost and complexity while accelerating growth and innovation. This enables a strategic, enterprise-wide approach to Business Intelligence and Analytics, from the simple to the sophisticated. Schedule a demo. Pyramid Analytics is incorporated in Amsterdam and has regional headquarters in global innovation and business centers, including London, New York City, and Tel Aviv. Our team lives worldwide because geography should not be a barrier to talent and opportunity. Investors include H.I.G. Growth Partners, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Sequoia Capital, and Viola Growth. Learn more at Pyramid Analytics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005209/en/ Contacts: UK Alex Izza Resonance +44 (0) 759 189 9654 pyramidanalytics@resonancecrowd.com US Heather Racicot Resonance +1 360-632-5616 pyramidanalytics@resonancecrowd.com Chas Kielt Vice President, Global Corporate Communications, Pyramid Analytics 617.687.3371 chas.kielt@pyramidanalytics.com SURREY, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Gungnir Resources Inc. (TSXV:GUG)(OTC PINK:ASWRF) ("Gungnir" or the "Company") is very pleased to report the highest-grade nickel intercept drilled to date at the Company's Lappvattnet nickel deposit in northern Sweden. Hole LAP22-25 drilled 4.04% Ni over 5.76 metres within a broader interval of 1.49% Ni over 18.28 metres starting at a down-hole depth of 57.72 metres. Click link to view drill core ( see photos ). Table of individual, consecutive assays for the 5.76 metre high-grade nickel interval in hole LAP22-25 (70.0 to 75.76 metres): From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ni % 70.00 70.51 0.51 4.93 70.51 71.20 0.69 3.73 71.20 72.00 0.80 2.87 72.00 72.86 0.86 3.17 72.86 73.20 0.34 7.18 73.20 73.68 0.48 3.14 73.68 73.86 0.18 5.17 73.86 74.28 0.42 1.13 74.28 74.91 0.63 5.52 74.91 75.14 0.23 5.94 75.14 75.52 0.38 4.15 75.52 75.76 0.24 5.70 "Another impressive nickel intercept for Gungnir at Lappvattnet, this time the highest-grade nickel interval drilled to date. All of our hits are less than 100 metres below surface and cover a strike length of 400 metres in the western and central parts of the Lappvattnet deposit. Looking ahead, our plan is to continue defining this high-grade nickel deposit, and the new footwall target, further to the east and at depth where it has been only sparsely drilled in the past," commented Jari Paakki, CEO. Hole LAP22-25 was drilled in the central part of the Lappvattnet nickel resource on section 14E splitting a 50-metre gap between historic holes LAP74292 and LAP76008. The hole appears to have drilled into a thickened mineralized zone, possibly a fold hinge similar to LAP22-19 drilled on section 16E (80 metres to the east) which cut 2.35% Ni over 9.0 metres including 3.02% Ni over 5.66 metres starting at a down-hole depth of 66.0 metres (see news release dated October 18, 2022). The nickel intercept in LAP22-25 (1.49% Ni over 18.28 metres from 57.72 to 76.0 metres) occurs below a 4-metre jack-straw textured peridotite unit. It consists of an upper disseminated sulphide interval hosted in sedimentary gneisses from 57.72 metres and a lower, high-grade massive and semi-massive sulphide zone (4.04% Ni over 5.76 metres) from 70.0 metres down-hole. Notable, previously reported near-surface, high-grade nickel intersections drilled by Gungnir at Lappvattnet include: 3.19% Nickel over 4.25 metres within a 10.4-metre interval grading 1.51% Nickel in hole LAP21-02 (240 metres west of LAP22-25); 2.62% Nickel over 5.65 metres within a 14.0-metre interval grading 1.40% Nickel in hole LAP21-05 (200 metres west of LAP22-25); and 1.74% Nickel over 10.00 metres in hole LAP21-13 (260 metres west of LAP22-25). See news releases dated November 15 and December 1, 2022 for drill plan map, long section (with hole LAP22-25 highlighted), a table of all 2021/2022 drill hole co-ordinates, and details on the new footwall target. Further results from holes drilled in the central part of Lappvattnet (12 drill holes) are expected to be reported in January and into early February 2023. Drilling is part of the systematic program at Lappvattnet with the plan of upgrading and expanding the existing resource following general recommendations outlined in the 2020 Technical Report (see reference below). Complete 2022 results will be collectively tabulated once all results are received. To date, the Company has drilled a total of 5,435 metres in 45 holes in 2021 and 2022. Lengths noted are core length; true width has not been determined as structural interpretations are on-going. Core was logged and tagged for sampling at the Company's logging facility in Lycksele, Sweden, then shipped to ALS Minerals' Core Services Laboratory in Mala, Sweden. Core was sawed on site in Mala by ALS staff and prepped sample material was sent to ALS's Lab in Ireland. Core was analyzed for multi-elements using code ME-MS41, CuOG46 analysis for >10000 ppm Cu, NiOG46 analysis for >10000 ppm Ni, and Pt, Pd, and Au were analyzed using fire assay method PGM-ICP27. Blanks, certified standards and duplicates are routinely included in sample batches for quality assurance and control. Nickel Resources Gungnir's nickel sulphide resources in Sweden include Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget. In 2020, the Company updated both resources which collectively total 177 million pounds of nickel. The properties are accessible year-round with good transportation and industrial infrastructure including shipping facilities and are located about an hour drive from Boliden's mill complex. Lappvattnet: Inferred Resource of 780,000 tonnes grading 1.35% nickel for 23.1 million lbs (10.5 million kg) of nickel. Rormyrberget: Inferred Resource of 36,800,000 tonnes grading 0.19% nickel for 154 million lbs (70 million kg) of nickel. The NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled "TECHNICAL REPORT on the LAPPVATTNET and RORMYRBERGET DEPOSITS, NORTHERN SWEDEN" was prepared by Reddick Consulting Inc. Qualified Persons are John Reddick, M.Sc., P.Geo., and Thomas Lindholm, M.Sc., Fellow AusIMM. The Effective Date is November 17, 2020. The technical information in this news release has been prepared, verified and approved by Jari Paakki, P.Geo., CEO, and a director of the Company. Mr. Paakki is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. About Gungnir Resources Gungnir Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based TSX-V listed mineral exploration company (GUG: TSX-V, ASWRF: OTCPK) with gold and base metal projects in northern Sweden. Gungnir's assets include two nickel-copper-cobalt deposits, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, both with updated nickel resources, and the Knaften project which hosts a developing intrusion-hosted gold system, and VMS (zinc-copper) and copper-nickel targets, all of which are open for expansion and further discovery. The Company has also recently added the Hemberget property to its Swedish Property Portfolio which covers an 11 km long gabbro-ultramafic intrusion, a greenfield copper-nickel target. Further information about the Company and its properties may be found at www.gungnirresources.com or at www.sedar.com. On behalf of the Board, Jari Paakki, CEO and Director For further information contact: Head Office/Investor Relations Phone: +1-604-683-0484 Jari Paakki, CEO Email: jpaakki@eastlink.ca Chris Robbins, CFO Email: robbinscr@shaw.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (also known as forward-looking statements). Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and may cause actual results, performance or achievements or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements or industry results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information generally can be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "feel", "intend", "may", "plan", "predict", "project", "subject to", "will", "would", and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Some of the specific forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: plans to continue defining certain parts of the Lappvattnet deposit and the timing thereof; the possible structure of any mineralized zones; the receipt of assay results and timing of reports relating to same; and plans for advancement of its properties and the timing thereof. Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by Gungnir, including, without limitation: expectations of expanding and defining the existing resources are reasonable and possible; Gungnir will be able to receive and report assay results as expected; access to the resource will remain available; transportation and infrastructure will remain available as anticipated; the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian and global economy and Gungnir's business, and the extent and duration of such impact; no change to laws or regulations that negatively affect Gungnir's business; there will be a demand for Gungnir's services and products in the future; Gungnir will be able to operate its business as planned; Gungnir will be able to access capital markets on and successfully complete financings on terms it determines to be reasonable; and Gungnir's plans for future exploration and development of its properties is reasonable and will be possible within the anticipated timelines. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what Gungnir believes to be reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such information. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to: expectations related to upgrading and expanding existing resources may not be accurate in part or at all; no certainty that any economically viable mineral deposit will be located on Gungnir's properties; that Gungnir may not be able to complete its planned drilling as anticipated; the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; the impacts of war and/or other international conflicts; ability to access capital markets and complete successful financings on terms Gungnir determines to be reasonable; environmental matters; changes in legislation or regulations; receipt of required licenses, permits and approvals; and resource estimates may not be accurate and may differ significantly from actual mineral resources. Management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information contained herein are based upon reasonable assumptions and information currently available; however, management can give no assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Gungnir. The forward-looking information is stated as of the date of this news release and Gungnir assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. SOURCE: Gungnir Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733879/404-Nickel-Over-576-Metres-for-Gungnir-at-Lappvattnet-Highest-Grade-Nickel-Intercept-Drilled-to-Date Carlos Gallardo, Chairman of Almirall, will represent the company in a session scheduled at 9am Pacific Standard Timeon January 10th, 2023 Almirall, S.A. (ALM), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health, today announced that it will participate in the upcoming 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, USA from 9-12 January 2023. Carlos Gallardo, Chairman and CEO of Almirall, is scheduled to give a presentation at 9 am Pacific Standard Time (6pm CET) on January 10th, 2023. The presentation will be available at https://www.almirall.com/investors Almirall's executive team will host one-on-one investor and business development meetings in San Francisco from 9 to 12 January 2023. The individual meetings will take place at the same time as the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. For more information and to schedule an investor or business development meeting, please contact Pablo Divasson del Fraile, at pablo.divasson@almirall.com. About Almirall Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on skin health. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patient's needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: "Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life". We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients' needs. The company, founded in 1943 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 79-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2021 were 836.5 million euros. For more information, please visit almirall.com Legal warning This document includes only summary information and is not intended to be exhaustive. The facts, figures and opinions contained in this document, in addition to the historical ones, are "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on the information currently available and the best estimates and assumptions that the company considers reasonable. These statements involve risks and uncertainties beyond the control of the company. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those declared by such forward-looking statements. The company expressly waives any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, goals or estimates contained in this document to reflect any changes in the assumptions, events or circumstances on which such forward-looking statements are based, unless required by the applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005535/en/ Contacts: Media contact Almirall: Tinkle Laura Blazquez lblazquez@tinkle.es Phone: (+34) 600 430 581 Investors' Relations contact Almirall Pablo Divasson del Fraile pablo.divasson@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 3087 Corporate Communications contact: Almirall Mar Ramirez Mar.ramirez@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 659 614 173 Two workers make black tea using a traditional method in a workshop in Xianyang, Shaanxi province, on Dec 2.ZOU JINGYI/XINHUA Zongzi tea, a type of tea that comes wrapped in the shape of the traditional Chinese delicacyzongzi, is gaining in popularity in China as the new wrapping technique gives the product fresh appeal. Pyramid-shaped zongzi are made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings that are wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. The sticky food is eaten to celebrate the annual Dragon Boat Festival. Zongzi tea is made with Keemun black tea, which is wrapped in the same bamboo leaf that has long been used as food packaging to add a special flavor to the tea. Jiang Xuexia runs a tea plantation and processing plant in Qimen county, Anhui province. She first introduced the new tea to consumers in 2018. The 35-year-old quit her job in Shanghai and returned to her home village of Xiejia in Qimen to help revive the black tea business in 2014. At the time, the local specialty, Keemun black tea, was not selling well or for a good price, so Jiang and her sister Jiang Xueqin set up a business to find ways to expand the market. In the early years, they focused on making the same kind of traditional tea products their market peers made, but later they began to try new product designs as well as marketing strategies. "By chance, I saw my mother wrapping some zongzi to serve guests. I wondered what our black tea would taste like if it were wrapped in the bamboo leaves used for zongzi. That was the idea behind our zongzi tea," Jiang Xuexia said. Bamboo grows abundantly in Xiejia. Using bamboo leaves adds a hint of bamboo fragrance to the tea, and Jiang bet that many tea drinkers would welcome the novel idea. To introduce their new product, the sisters experimented to find the best flavor. Zongzi tea proved to be an instant success when it hit the market in 2018. China's younger generation of tea lovers have welcomed the tea and turned it into a bestseller on leading e-commerce platform Taobao. Thanks to their idea, the sisters have driven up annual sales of their black tea by 70 percent, making 10 million yuan ($1.44 million) a year. The pair, who run a 130-hectare tea plantation in Qimen, sell their tea both through e-commerce and in brick-and-mortar stores, but their sales surge was largely the result of livestreaming e-commerce and community group-buying. To cash in on the e-commerce boom, Jiang Xuexia livestreamed herself picking and roasting tea leaves, and also made clips about tea culture and associated New Year traditions. She is now busy preparing promotional activities for the Lunar New Year holiday. "For our traditional tea products, innovation is important and so is marketing," she said. Lehigh Valley developer Abe Atiyeh is seeking at least $10 million in damages from Bethlehem over his rejected efforts to build a psychiatric hospital in the city. In a civil complaint, filed Dec. 29 by Atiyehs lawyers in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, Atiyeh accuses the city of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in its denial of a proposed psychiatric hospital at 1838 Center St. The federal complaint also claims the city has cost Atiyeh millions in lost profits and legal and application expenses because of the repeated denials. We started a business plan, and then we went through the whole process, applied to the state and then all the sudden, the road blocks started. They absolutely stalled us delayed us when we were ready to build it, Atiyeh said in an interview with The Morning Call. All along they played us. They played us; we did everything they said. Although Atiyeh ultimately prevailed in a separate, state court case that challenged the citys legal denials of the proposal, he is now seeking millions in restitution from the city. The complaint requests a jury trial that could decide how much, if anything, the city owes to Atiyeh in damages. Bethlehem, Bethlehem City Council and former Mayor Robert Donchez were named as defendants in the case. Council President Michael Colon said he had not read the complaint and could not comment. Bethlehem solicitor Maraleen Shields said the citys policy is not to comment on pending lawsuits. Donchez could not be reached for comment. Atiyeh owns real estate firm Pennsylvania Venture Capital, which specializes in adaptive reuse and owns multiple senior living facilities including Saucon Valley Manor and Whitehall Manor. Atiyeh first applied to build an 84-bed psychiatric hospital called Bethlehem Manor Villages in 2013, and received conditional approval from the planning commission that year. Final approval rested upon the citys decision on whether the hospital was permitted under institutional zoning. The plot of land is zoned institutional, meaning it can be used for educational, medical and health purposes, according to the citys 2012 zoning ordinance. The question at the core of the dispute is whether or not a psychiatric hospital can be defined as a hospital or as a treatment center. A 2013 planning commission opinion required that the facility not be used as a treatment center, because that use is not allowed under the institutional zoning designation. A hospital, however, is a permitted use by right on institutionally zoned parcels of land. Atiyeh claims that soon after the citys zoning officer affirmed in 2015 that a psychiatric hospital is a hospital and therefore a permitted use of the property, the city embarked on a full-scale effort to oppose the hospital and actively discouraged a prospective buyer, Acadia Healthcare, from purchasing the property to build it. According to the complaint, some of the actions the city took to discourage the hospital include: amending the zoning ordinance in 2017 to change the definition of hospital to mean no more than 25% of its floor space could be dedicated to behavioral care; denying a second land development application Atiyeh submitted in 2017; and holding a meeting with Atiyeh and city staff that was highly irregular and far outside the citys regular land development procedures. Atiyeh also alleges that in that highly irregular meeting, Donchez said the city would try to prevent hospital plans from going forward because the city does not want those people here, referring to psychiatric hospital patients. City zoners ultimately rejected the project, and a subsequent appeal, in 2018. Atiyeh successfully challenged the citys denial of the psychiatric hospital plan in Commonwealth Court, with a panel of judges ruling in 2021 that the citys zoning hearing board was in error when it defined the proposed hospital as a treatment center. The city unsuccessfully petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to have the ruling overturned, according to the complaint. Atiyeh alleges that the citys attempts to stonewall the psychiatric hospital plans cost him a projected $2.5 million in yearly profits. He and his lawyers estimate that the citys actions delayed the hospital for at least four years, meaning the city could be liable for $10 million in damages. But Atiyeh claims the real losses he has suffered could be even higher: As his psychiatric hospital plan stalled, others opened around the Lehigh Valley area, making the original plan unfeasible as demand for psychiatric beds is diminished. If Atiyeh and his lawyers can prove that the psychiatric hospital is no longer feasible because of reduced demands, Atiyeh claims the city could be liable for up to $50 million in lost profits over the course of 20 years, or nearly half of the citys 2023 budget. It hurts me to think that they would do something like this and get away with it, Atiyeh said. A federal judge and jury are going to punish them, theyre going to be punished, and I dont forgive them at all until they say they are sorry for what they did. Atiyeh said he is exploring selling the property to open a STEAM Academy Charter School, but receiving full approval for the project is likely to take several years. Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at liweber@mcall.com. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge") is pleased to announce diamond drill results from its Destiny Gold Project, located 100 kilometres northwest of Val d'Or, Quebec. The drill holes reported in this press release are from the central portion of the DAC Zone and Gap Zone designed to confirm the mineralized structure identified in past drill programs. Highlights: Drill hole DES-21-173 intersected 8.90 g/t Au over 0.4 m, Drill hole DES-21-177 intersected 5.17 g/t Au over 5.8 m including 43.1 g/t Au over 0.6 m, Drill hole DES-21-179 intersected 3.78 g/t Au over 16.3 m including 8.85 g/t Au over 6.7 m and 42.6 g/t Au over 1.0 m. Drilling successfully intersected gold mineralization across the DAC zone in the 2021 drill program with results being reflective of the variable gold content seen in historic drilling with intersections of visible gold creating significantly higher localized grades. The 2021 Destiny drill program completed by Big Ridge's past project partner totalled 10,600 m of diamond drilling in 27 holes at the DAC and Gap Zones. Results reported herein are from the final nine drill holes from the 2021 program at Destiny. Destiny 2021 Drill Program Results released today from the Destiny drill program are the remaining unreported hole results from the 2021 drill program completed by the past project partner Clarity Gold Corp. Clarity released results from the first 18 diamond drill holes in Clarity news releases dated June 16th, September 15th and December 2nd, 2021. Reported results for Drill Holes DES21-156 to DES21-171 are related to exploration in the central portion of the Destiny project claims targeting the DAC and Gap Zones. Clarity also completed two drill holes on the eastern end of the property, no significant results were reported in these holes. The 2021 drill program focused on infill drilling and extension of gold mineralization between, the DAC and Gap Zones as well as testing the deposit at depth. The program was successful in both areas and demonstrated that the Destiny gold project remains open for further expansion of the DAC deposit. Table 1 - Destiny 2021 Unreported Drill Holes Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length(1) (m) Assay(2) g/t Au Lithology DES21-172 263.0 280.0 17.0 0.54 Sheared, alternating Felsic Quartz Eye Porphyry Intrusive (QEP) and Gabbro DES21-173 63.2 67.0 3.8 0.87 Moderately to strongly sheared Gabbro DES21-173 72.7 73.0 0.4 8.90 Felsic Intrusive (QEP) DES21-173 234.0 238.4 4.4 0.89 Fine grained Felsic Intrusive DES21-174 194.0 195.7 1.7 1.36 Mafic Volcanic rocks DES21-174 200.0 206.9 6.9 0.82 DES21-174 276.5 278.0 1.5 2.12 DES21-175 198.9 208.0 9.2 1.23 Fine grained Felsic Intrusive DES21-176 202.0 204.0 2.0 1.28 Mafic Volcanic rocks DES21-177 268.6 274.4 5.8 5.17 Mafic Volcanics, quartz feldspar porphyry intrusive, quartz veining DES21-177 incl. 268.6 269.2 0.6 43.1 DES21-177 418.0 418.3 0.3 37.8 Thin felsic intrusive in Gabbro DES21-178 268.3 271.9 3.7 1.93 Felsic Intrusive (QEP) and Gabbro DES21-178 incl. 269.4 271.9 2.5 2.80 DES21-179 366.5 382.8 16.3 3.78 Altered Basalt and Felsic Intrusive (QEP) DES21-179 incl 374.0 380.7 6.7 8.85 DES21-179 incl 379.7 380.7 1.0 42.6 DES21-179 413.5 414.4 0.9 2.30 Felsic Intrusive (QEP) DES21-179 472.9 476.9 4.1 2.78 Mafic Volcanics and Quartz Gabbro DES21-179 incl 472.9 474.2 1.4 4.65 DES21-180 442.4 448.0 5.6 2.06 Mafic Volcanics DES21-180 468.0 469.0 1.0 1.52 DES21-180 603.6 604.3 0.7 4.39 DES21-180 607.8 608.4 0.6 2.97 Intervals are presented in core length; holes are generally planned to intersect mineralization as close to perpendicular to strike as possible. Assays results presented are not capped. Intercepts have not been correlated to individual structures/ horizons within resource estimated zones at this time. To view drill hole locations in plan and sections please click on the following link: https://bigridgegold.com/site/assets/files/5583/destiny_pr_planview_01042023.pdf Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) This press release includes information from assay certificates and core logging and drill locations provided by Clarity Gold upon return of the project to Big Ridge. Big Ridge has reviewed the information from the program, including assay Quality Assurance/Quality Control information and core logs and are satisfied with the reliability of the information and its consistency with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. The information in this news release has been reviewed Big Ridge's Vice President Exploration, William McGuinty P. Geo. During the 2021 drill program, Clarity Gold secured and transported core from the Destiny project by road to a facility in Val d'Or where it was logged, photographed, marked and cut for sampling. Core samples were sawn and half core prepared, tagged and securely shipped to Bureau Veritas ('BV') Laboratories in Timmins for processing and analysis. Samples received by the BV lab were crushed to 70% passing 2mm sieve size and a 250-gram subsample was pulverized to 85% passing 75m sieve size. The subsample was analyzed by a combination of fire assay with atomic absorption and gravimetric finish techniques for gold and using AQ300 Aqua Regia digestion ICP-ES analysis on a small sample aliquot of each sample to provide results for a suite of 33 additional elements. Overlimit gold assays from initial BV FA430 (AA finish) procedure were re-assayed using BV's FA530 (gravimetric finish) procedure. Samples containing visible gold or which returned over 2.0 g/t Au were analyzed using BV's metallic screen + fire assay FS652 procedure. Clarity established a QA/QC program consisting of inserting quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks, duplicates, and reference materials. About the Destiny Project The Destiny Gold Project is located is Despinassay Township, 100 km northeast of the city of Val d'Or, QC. The property is accessible by provincial highway 397 which passes through the property. The property consists of 127 mineral claims totaling 5,013 Ha and is owned 100% by Big Ridge (formerly Alto Ventures). The property hosts the DAC Deposit comprised of high-grade quartz veins occurring within five parallel altered gold bearing shear zones. Two other target areas, the Gap and the Darla Zones are also exploration targets of continued interest. In 2011 a mineral resource estimate was completed by Wardrop Engineering for the DAC Zone and reported in "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Resource Estimate of the DAC Deposit, Destiny Property, Quebec", dated March 1, 2011 and described below. DAC NI 43-101 Resource Estimate (2011)* 0.5 g/t cut off Class Tonnes g/Au/tonne Au(ounces) Indicated 10,800,000 1.05 360,000 Inferred 8,300,000 0.92 247,000 DAC NI 43-101 Resource Estimate (2011)* 0.8 g/t cut off Class Tonnes g/Au/tonne Au(ounces) Indicated 5,359,000 1.48 255,000 Inferred 3,534,000 1.35 153,000 * Gold price of $US973/troy oz, $US to $CAD conversion of 1.02, Gold Recovery of 94% About the DAC Deposit The DAC deposit is located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of western Quebec. It is a shear-hosted lode gold deposit located in mafic volcanic rocks bounded on the north and south by mafic intrusions. The deposit has been delineated over a strike length of approximately 600 m on an easterly trend and is comprised of 5 defined south dipping mineralized bodies ranging from 5m to 15 m in thickness across a stratigraphic width of 150 m and to a depth of 700 m. Mineralization is commonly hosted in quartz carbonate veining with a halo of variably intense phases of biotite, sericite and carbonate alteration and silicification. Two phases of mineralization are prevalent in the deposit. Anomalous to sub-economic gold mineralization occurs in two wide gold-bearing shears lying along or close to the north and south boundary of the mafic volcanic assemblage. These shears display very strong mylonitic deformation, biotite and sericitic (potassic) alteration and locally, silica alteration. The volcanic assemblage has been intruded by fine grained and quartz-porphyritic felsic intrusive sills. The host volcanics and mineralized zone are flanked both to the north and south by gabbroic units characterized locally by abundant blue quartz eyes. Shears also occur within the southern gabbroic unit, paralleling the main gold-bearing shears in the volcanic assemblage. These can also host very high-grade gold mineralization locally. Higher grade gold mineralization occurs where two shear zones and their felsic intrusives are strongly folded, brecciated and quartz flooded. Based on drill core, geologists have interpreted the higher-grade zones as being hosted within a large "Z" fold structure. About Big Ridge Gold Corp. Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company's flagship property is the Hope Brook Gold Project located in southwestern Newfoundland. Hope Brook produced 752,163 ounces of gold between 1987 - 1997, 19,892 meters of diamond drilling was completed by the company in 2021 - 2022 and an updated Mineral Resource Estimate will be completed during H1, 2023. Big Ridge owns a 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec. The company is committed to the development of advanced-stage mining projects using industry best practiced combined with strong social licence from our local communities. For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO For further information, including a copy of the corresponding report filed with Canadian securities regulators, please visit www.sedar.com or contact: Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP. 18 King St. East, Suite 1400 Toronto, ON, M5C 1C4 Tel: 416-540-5480 Email: Mike@bigridgegold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Table 2 - Drill Hole Locations* Hole number Zone Depth Azimuth Inclination Northing Easting Elevation DES21-172 DAC 426 175.2 -50.3 5401817 317532 303 DES21-173 DAC 363 180.3 -50.1 5401701 317584 302 DES21-174 DAC 390 180 -50 5401770 317589 304 DES21-175 DAC 330 179.9 -50 5401682 317734 303 DES21-176 DAC 300 180 -50.1 5401665 317786 302 DES21-177 DAC 480 180.3 -50.1 5401850 317669 307 DES21-178 DAC 351 180 -50 5401738 317858 306 DES21-179 DAC 576 180 -55 5401953 317587 305 DES21-180 DAC 651 175 -55 5402020 317377 308 * Hole collars are in NAD83 / UTM Zone 18 N coordinates and drilled NQ diameter. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, and include, without limitation, statements with respect to Big Ridge's intentions with respect to Caprock's shares. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150211 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY) (OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that Mr. Richard Naden has been retained as a Senior Petroleum Advisor to the Company, to consult on matters related to oil and gas production, exploitation and enhanced recovery for the Company's Permian Basin focused US Subsidiary, Wedgemount Texas Corp. Mark Vanry, President and CEO of Wedgemount comments, "We couldn't be more pleased to have Richard join the Wedgemount team and work in coordination with our geoscience and field operations groups. Richard brings a wealth of both North American and International experience which will be invaluable in helping the Company achieve its goal of growing both production and reserves on our recently acquired Willowbend property located in central Texas. In particular, Richard's engineering perspective in well planning, recompletions, stimulation and enhanced oil recovery is a perfect fit for the mature conventional assets found in central Texas." Richard Naden is a US-based advisor and senior petroleum consultant having spent 30+ years focused on domestic and international oil and gas development. His past experience as a professional engineer in both technical and executive roles, includes VP, Engineering and Operations with Baytex Energy, then founding Enriched Petroleum Consulting and carrying out prominent consulting assignments with Pearl E&P, P1 Energy, and Bankers Petroleum. Richard has extensive expertise in asset reviews, due diligence, economic modeling, field exploitation, secondary and enhanced recovery schemes, and production operations. Mr. Naden has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary. About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior natural resources company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, discovery and advancement of natural resource projects in North America. On behalf of the Board of Directors, WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP. Mark Vanry, President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Telephone: (604) 343-4743 info@wedgemountresources.com www.wedgemountresources.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements made in this news release include the Company's plans for exploration of the property and anticipated exploration results. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, availability of funds, personnel and other resources necessary to conduct exploration programs, successes of the Company's exploration programs, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150216 Peter Dasler Retires as President, Remains as Non-Executive Director Dr. Karl Schimann Retires as Director, Remains as Geological Consultant Cory Belyk, CEO and Executive Vice-President, Joins Board of Directors Rayleigh Capital Ltd to Provide Communication and Marketing Services Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska or the "Company") is pleased to announce changes to the Company's senior management team, board of directors and investor relations services. Mr. Peter Dasler To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/150219_a086b99184efe88b_001full.jpg Mr. Peter Dasler, in 2004, positioned CanAlaska, (then CanAlaska Ventures Ltd.), to become a significant presence in the field of Canadian uranium exploration by staking mineral claims in the most favorable districts of Canada's Athabasca Basin, home to the world's largest-richest uranium mines. He has since assembled an expert geological team that has enabled CanAlaska to carry out extensive exploration programs and advance multiple uranium projects towards discovery, including the recent Pike Zone and 42 Zone discoveries on the West McArthur project near the giant McArthur River mine. Mr. Dasler was instrumental in maximizing periods of growth for the Company and weathering significant market downturns by strategically bringing in outside investment to CanAlaska's uranium portfolio from major industry players like Kepco, Kores, Mitsubishi, De Beers, Cameco and Denison Mines. These partnerships have ultimately led to multiple discoveries, the most significant of which is the Pike Zone on the West McArthur project. With his vision of a carbon free future, Mr. Dasler also led the Company toward assembly of a district-scale sulphide nickel portfolio second only to Vale in size in the Thompson Nickel Belt of Manitoba, the fifth largest nickel belt in the world. Through this leadership, CanAlaska and its shareholders are well positioned to take advantage of future demand for clean energy and storage and delivery of that clean energy to end-users. Mr. Dasler has resigned his role as President and will remain as a non-executive director of CanAlaska. Peter Dasler, Director, comments, "I am very pleased to be able to hand over my duties to Cory. His team is experienced and energetic and capable of completing tasks that we commenced in the last uranium cycle. The Athabasca has new discoveries, and that is good for our shareholders." Dr. Karl Schimann To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/150219_a086b99184efe88b_002full.jpg Dr. Karl Schimann's extensive experience is in mineral exploration. His career in exploration geology spans over 50 years and across three continents. He has participated in significant discoveries for uranium and base metals and has also led exploration and mining initiatives for gold and diamonds. Between 1977 and 1997, Dr. Schimann was employed by French uranium giant AREVA (previously COGEMA) as a Senior Geologist and Project Manager, where he was a key member of the team that undertook the discovery and development of the massive Cigar Lake uranium mine. In total, he spent twenty years with AREVA, ten of which were based in Canada's Athabasca Basin, home to the world's largest and richest uranium mines. Dr. Schimann joined CanAlaska in 2004, returning to Canada to immerse himself in a fresh challenge towards the discovery of yet another world-class uranium mine. Dr. Schimann played an integral role in development of CanAlaska's large uranium and nickel project portfolios through application of industry leading ore deposit knowledge based on many years' experience, specifically in the uranium sector. Dr. Schimann led the application of new technology to help push the envelope of information gain from each exploration program ultimately allowing the Company to attract major outside investment and make uranium discoveries such as the Pike Zone and 42 Zone on the West McArthur project. Dr. Schimann has resigned his role as Director and will remain as a Geological Consultant to CanAlaska. Dr. Karl Schimann, comments, "Cory and Nathan and their new geologists are the right team to bring a new and exciting life into CanAlaska and to advance the potential of the Pike and the 42 zones into deposits. It will be a pleasure for me to continue to support them in their drive towards new uranium and nickel discoveries." Board of Directors Cory Belyk, CEO and Executive Vice-President of the Company, has been appointed to the Board of Directors effective December 31, 2022. Rayleigh Capital Ltd The Company is also pleased to announce that on January 1, 2023, it has retained the services of Rayleigh Capital Ltd. ("Rayleigh Capital"), which will provide corporate communications and marketing services to the Company, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Rayleigh Capital focuses on global investor relations for junior and small cap companies specializing at exposing companies to a wide audience of investment professionals. Under a services agreement between the Company and Rayleigh Capital (the "Agreement"), Rayleigh Capital has been retained for an initial term of six months, subject to either party terminating the Agreement by providing 30 days written notice to the other party. Under the Agreement, the Company will pay $5,000 per month (plus GST) to Rayleigh Capital to provide liaison, coordination, corporate growth strategy, communications and other services to the Company. The Company and Rayleigh Capital act at arm's length, and Rayleigh Capital has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities. The fee to be paid by the Company to Rayleigh Capital under the Agreement is for services only. CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "Since 2019 I have had the pleasure to work for, along side, and as a leader with Peter and Karl at CanAlaska. The gracious sharing of their immense knowledge base in the junior capital markets and geological sciences has been a real benefit to my growth and the growth of the newly formed CanAlaska exploration team led by Mr. Nathan Bridge. The current and future successes of CanAlaska will in many ways come from the solid foundation built by these two very talented individuals. It has been an incredible honour to work with Peter and Karl, and I look forward to building on their CanAlaska legacy in the years to come at a time when a carbon-free energy future is being realized on a global scale." About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 300,000 hectares (750,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The qualified technical person for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P.Geo., CanAlaska's Vice President, Exploration. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, Executive Vice-President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Cory Belyk, CEO and Executive VP Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 306 Email: cbelyk@canalaska.com General Enquiry Tel: +1.604.688.3211 Email: info@canalaska.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150219 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. (CSE: FAT) (OTCQB: FRRSF) (FSE: F0R0) (WKN: A3DCC8) (www.foremostlithium.com) ("Foremost Lithium", "Foremost" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has been approved for a $300,000 grant for the second time in just over two years (see the Company's news release dated September 30, 2021) from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund ("MMDF"). The funds will help support and advance the ongoing 2022/23 3,000-meter diamond drill program (see the Company's news release dated November 21, 2022) on its Jean Lake Lithium Project located in the Snow Lake area of the province of Manitoba. The drill targets at the Jean Lake Lithium property include the high-grade spodumene-bearing B1 and B2 pegmatite dykes and Mobile Metal Ion lithium-anomalous magnetic trends defined by a UAV-assisted geophysical survey completed earlier in 2022. The Jean Lake Property is adjacent to Snow Lake Resources Project which includes the Sherritt Gordon and Grass River pegmatites and the Thompson Brothers lithium-bearing pegmatite with a recently announced historic (SEC in S-K 1300) indicated mineral resource of 9.08 million tonnes @ 1% lithium oxide and an inferred resource of 1.96 million tonnes @ 0.98% Li2O based on a 0.3% cut-off. 1 Drill Rig at B1 Pegmatite Dyke next to drill shack at the Jean Lake Lithium Project in Snow Lake, Manitoba To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4689/150229_b2b9ca1a64161a85_001full.jpg It is intended that ongoing exploration in 2023 on the Lithium Lane's Snow Lake properties will include focused prospecting and surficial geochemical surveys designed to follow-up drone-assisted magnetic and LIDAR surveys on the Grass River, Zoro and Peg North properties. Recent and historical geoscientific databases will be integrated to provide targets on the properties. The MMDF was launched by the Government of Manitoba in August 2020 with the stated goal of jump-starting mineral and economic development initiatives throughout the province. The MMDF is administered through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and aims to support new economic development opportunities that capitalize on existing assets and infrastructure across Manitoba. Jason Barnard, Foremost's President and CEO, states, "We are pleased to once again receive this support from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund. Historic as well as current base and precious metal mining and developing battery metal projects have provided employment and economic development opportunities in the Snow Lake region. With this assistance from the MMDF and the Government of Manitoba, Foremost Lithium plans to contribute to the growth and prosperity to Snow Lake and nearby communities. The top 10 battery manufacturing plants are currently in China2. Europe and North America are looking to reduce their reliance to Asia, and are seeking domestic supply chains, to which they can procure their critical minerals locally, as well as secure partnerships with local battery metal suppliers and manufacturers. As we advance our Lithium Lane Projects in Snow Lake, we envision that we will be forming great strategic partnerships and are thankful to have contributions from the MMDF assisting our company." On Behalf of the Board of Directors Jason Barnard, President and CEO Email: info@foremostlithium.com Phone: +1 (604) 330-8067 The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. About Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. Foremost Lithium is a hard-rock exploration company strategically located to capitalize on the world's growing EV appetite and is committed to being a premier supplier of North America's lithium feedstock. As the world transitions towards decarbonization, the Company is focused on exploration and growth on its 5 Lithium Lane Projects in Snow Lake Manitoba. Foremost Lithium also has the Winston Gold/Silver Property in New Mexico USA. Follow us or contact us on social media: Twitter: @foremostlithium Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foremost-lithium-resourcetechnology/mycompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForemostLithium Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the plans for future exploration and development of the Company's properties and the acquisition of additional exploration projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and third party approvals for the proposed operations of the Company's business and exploration activities, completion of the Company's recently announced financing, risks related to the Company's exploration properties; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of commodities including lithium and gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in reserves; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. 1 https://ir.snowlakelithium.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings/content/0001213900-21-017941/ea138244-f1_snowlake.htm 2 https://www.ecolithiumbattery.com/top-10-chinese-lithium-battery-manufacturers-in-2022/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150229 Recognized innovator will contribute to WEF's Centre for Cybersecurity's initiative to address systemic challenges, improve digital trust, and build cyber resilience SecurityScorecard, the global leader in cybersecurity ratings, today announced it has joined the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Innovators Community. The Global Innovators Community is an invitation-only group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of ethical technological and business model innovation. SecurityScorecard was the only security ratings company to be honored as a 'Tech Pioneer' by the World Economic Forum in 2020, and as a global innovator, SecurityScorecard will continue to contribute content and insights to WEF's Centre for Cybersecurity. SecurityScorecard CEO and co-founder, Aleksandr Yampolskiy, will attend the Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, Switzerland this month. "The World Economic Forum is pleased to welcome SecurityScorecard," says Verena Kuhn, Head of the Global Innovators Community at the World Economic Forum. "As a member of the Forum's Global Innovators Community, SecurityScorecard will have the opportunity to engage with the world's foremost public- and private-sector leaders, many of whom are focused on mitigating global cyber risk." "Geopolitical tensions, increased nation-state activities, and a more interconnected world has made the job of cyber defenders extremely difficult, necessitating the need to measure and quantify risk with SecurityScorecard's trusted ratings data," said Aleksandr Yampolskiy, CEO and co-founder of SecurityScorecard. "We are honored to join the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community to join other leaders in driving meaningful progress towards making the world a safer place." As the world's most comprehensive ratings platform for identifying and quantifying cybersecurity risk, SecurityScorecard customers and partners can instantly measure their organizations' security posture and improve their resilience with trusted, real-time security ratings data. The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. Established in 1971 as a nonprofit foundation and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it is independent, impartial, and not tied to any special interests. About The Global Innovators Community The Global Innovators Community is a group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. The World Economic Forum provides the Global Innovators Community with a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency. About SecurityScorecard Funded by world-class investors including Evolution Equity Partners, Silver Lake Waterman, Sequoia Capital, GV, Riverwood Capital, and others, SecurityScorecard is the global leader in cybersecurity ratings with more than 12 million companies continuously rated. Founded in 2013 by security and risk experts Dr. Aleksandr Yampolskiy and Sam Kassoumeh, SecurityScorecard's patented rating technology is used by over 30,000 organizations for enterprise risk management, third-party risk management, board reporting, due diligence, cyber insurance underwriting, and regulatory oversight. SecurityScorecard is the first cybersecurity ratings company to offer digital forensics and incident response services, providing a 360-degree approach to security prevention and response for its worldwide customer and partner base. SecurityScorecard continues to make the world a safer place by transforming the way companies understand, improve and communicate cybersecurity risk to their boards, employees and vendors. Every organization has the universal right to their trusted and transparent Instant SecurityScorecard rating. For more information, visit securityscorecard.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005269/en/ Contacts: Derek Delano SecurityScorecard ddelano@securityscorecard.io (646) 457-4513 First-of-its-kind features dramatically simplify installation, functionality and mass deployment of 3D perception systems IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 04, 2023, the company powering smart 3D infrastructure solutions, today introduced SENSR 3.0, the most advanced iteration of the SENSR 3D perception platform to deliver unprecedented ease of use and simplify the deployment of large-scale 3D systems across an array of industries. With the release of SENSR 3.0, Seoul Robotics is furthering its mission to make groundbreaking, comprehensive 3D perception easily accessible for any application and user, regardless of previous experience with this technology. SENSR 3.0 features new updates and added functionality that make it easier than ever to implement, navigate and scale 3D systems with the most accurate 3D perception software on the market. When embedded into 3D sensors such as LiDAR, SENSR uses AI deep learning to track, detect, and identify hundreds of objects at once within a 4 centimeter range. As it collects more data, SENSR 3.0 continues to improve over time, unlocking unparalleled insights into environments. Included with the software is QuickTune, a new snap-to-point tool to expedite sensor calibration; and QuickSite, a first-of-its-kind site simulation tool that enables users to virtually design and scale 3D systems, reducing installation times. QuickTune makes it easier for any user to install and calibrate 3D systems, whether an expert or a novice. During setup, QuickTune finds commonalities in an environment, such as a wall or corner, and automatically calibrates multiple sensors in a system to speed up deployments. In addition to leveraging QuickTune to automatically identify a common point, users also have the option to select a specific spot for sensors to calibrate around. QuickTune is especially valuable for multi-sensor installations, requiring just a few clicks to dramatically reduce calibration time. QuickSite removes the uncertainty around setup, leveraging location information to automatically calculate where to position sensors to optimize insights without having to physically travel to an installation site and take measurements. Through a greater understanding of a location and its size, the cloud-based QuickSite tool can account for positions and angles and virtually adjust sensor positions until coverage is optimal. By simulating a setup outcome, Seoul Robotics is ensuring a more accurate and robust design while reducing the installation time from as long as a week to less than an hour. Because the SENSR platform is both hardware- and sensor-agnostic, it is compatible with a range of different systems and can be configured depending on application, needs, and budget. This flexibility, coupled with the platform's sensor fusion capabilities, makes it highly scalable even across large footprints. Furthering the platform's versatility, SENSR 3.0 enables dockerization, which simplifies the process to build and deploy the software for different solutions. Dockers also support compatibility with other applications on the same device and broaden the pool of compatible hardware. Additionally, Seoul Robotics has added more guidance to the SENSR 3.0 setup and maintenance platform to make it even easier to navigate, and SENSR 3.0 is verified to have OS support on multiple versions of Ubuntu. Organizations are increasingly looking for solutions that can provide an additional dimension of intelligence without the privacy concerns of always-on recordings. With the price point of 3D systems now in the same bracket as 2D cameras, a growing number of cities, states, and private companies are leveraging this technology to create smarter, safer, and more efficient spaces. For example, Seoul Robotics works with partners across the Intelligent Transport Systems, security, retail, airport, rail, and smart city industries to construct and deploy these transformative solutions that avoid collisions, make traffic flow more efficient, and monitor spaces for unauthorized personnel. "Imagine what we can accomplish if we can more accurately perceive our world beyond what's visible to the human eye: roadways will be safer for both drivers and pedestrians, stores are optimized based on the customer journey, and airports experience reduced wait times. Those are just the immediate benefits that come from installing 3D systems," said William Muller, Vice President of Business Development at Seoul Robotics. "With SENSR 3.0, never before has it been so simple to set up, calibrate, and scale a 3D system, and this will revolutionize how companies gain value from our technology." Seoul Robotics will be showcasing SENSR 3.0 along with its full suite of 3D solutions and features during CES 2023. Visit Booth #5408 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center to learn more about the company's comprehensive, scalable 3D offerings. To learn more about Seoul Robotics, please visit www.seoulrobotics.org . About Seoul Robotics Seoul Robotics was founded in 2017 with a mission to unlock unparalleled insights and capabilities by capturing the world in 3D. The company's core technology, SENSR, is a patented 3D perception software that uses AI deep learning and weather-filtering capabilities to provide the most advanced, accurate environmental insights. Today, this industry-leading software delivers transformative intelligence and capabilities across a wide range of industries, including, Intelligent Transport Systems, security, smart cities, and autonomous mobility. Powered by SENSR, Seoul Robotics is pioneering a new approach to automating vehicles called 'Autonomy Through Infrastructure,' providing infrastructure-based autonomous driving systems that do not require any hardware changes to vehicles themselves. Seoul Robotics has offices in Seoul, Munich, Irvine, and Raleigh and is backed by leading global financial institutions. For more information, visit www.seoulrobotics.org . Contact Ann Gargiulo ann.gargiulo@seoulrobotics.org Catalyst Advisors LP, an international executive recruitment and assessment firm singularly focused on life sciences, today announced that Cissy Young, PhD, will join the firm as a partner. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005303/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Based in Boston, Dr. Young is a trusted advisor to Boards and CEOs on leadership topics, including assessment, recruitment and development of executive talent, bench building and succession planning, and board composition and evolution. Dr. Young will join a team at Catalyst Advisors that assembles exceptional boards and executive leadership teams for companies committed to transforming the lives of patients and their families through innovative therapeutics. "Cissy will make an immediate impact and we are thrilled to have her join our growing team of life science experts," said John Archer, Founder and Partner at Catalyst Advisors. "Cissy's commitment to advancing DE&I and innovation is a valuable asset as we continue to advise life sciences organizations on building diverse and inclusive boardrooms and executive leadership teams seeking to make life-changing scientific contributions to society." "With her rich set of experiences in biotechnology including scientific, business, and people leadership, along with her prior leadership experience at a global executive recruitment firm, Cissy is a perfect fit at Catalyst Advisors," said Gilbert Forest, Partner, Catalyst Advisors. "Cissy's stellar reputation in the industry precedes her, and her insights and experiences will be incredibly valuable to our clients as they look to recruit diverse talent and build inclusive, growth-oriented cultures." "I am thrilled to join Catalyst Advisors and work with a talented team that is committed to advising our clients on best-in-class leadership," said Dr. Young. "I am excited to leverage my scientific background and operational experience to bring insights and perspectives on assembling impactful leadership teams." Dr. Young brings over a decade of executive recruitment and DE&I leadership experience to Catalyst Advisors. Previously, she was a Managing Director at a top global executive search and leadership advisory firm, where she led the Diversity Inclusion practice and served as a senior member of the Global Biotech Pharmaceuticals Practice. Most recently, she was the Chief People Officer at Valo Health, where she led the talent and people strategy for assembling tech and pharma/biotech talent to build an AI-powered computational platform for drug discovery and development. Dr. Young's earlier professional experiences also include leading business development and strategy at several emerging growth biotech companies. Dr. Young received her B.A. in biology from Brown University, her Ph.D. in cancer biology from Columbia University, and her M.B.A. in entrepreneurship and strategic management from The Pennsylvania State University. About Catalyst Advisors LP Catalyst Advisors is a global executive recruiting firm that is singularly focused on connecting visionary leaders with life sciences organizations at all stages of growth. Their team includes a purposeful mix of seasoned recruiters and category experts who employ a white-glove approach to help their clients build transformational boardrooms and executive teams. For more information, please visit: https://www.catalystadvisorslp.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005303/en/ Contacts: dlawall@theblissgrp.com WATSONVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Demand Brands, Inc. (OTC PINK:DMAN), ("Company" or "Demand Brands") http://dman.co, a leading vertically integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce it has signed a Letter of Agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire, in an all-stock transaction (the "Transaction"), three (3) synergistic operational businesses, which we anticipate closing in the First Quarter 2023, that will add an estimated USD 1million in revenue in the first year. This Transaction is part of the Company's focus on building its capabilities in the medical segment and marks the first step in this direction. "This transaction furthers Demand Brands' mission of expanding our vertically integrated business model into a multi-state operation and advances our plans on capturing the medical cannabis market," said Kevin Sparks, CEO of Demand Brands, and further added, "Our target is to close the transaction in Q1." The portfolio of acquired companies includes: L Grove MMJ Park, LLC, a cultivation operation with a retail footprint located in Oklahoma that will make Demand Brands a multistate operator and opens up opportunities for subsidiary businesses to scale operations into a market with a lower cost of production and business-friendly regulations. Company subsidiary Viridi Farms is also in late-stage conversations with additional potential management consulting and distribution clients in Oklahoma. Hello Mary Inc, a B2C cannabis software platform that leverages artificial intelligence technologies to provide delivery on-demand and budtender services for medical and recreational consumers. Hello, Mary is a development stage business. The Company plans to develop and build Hello Mary to allow it to further automate its wholesale distribution model and enter the retail cannabis market. MediGrow LLC, a company with real property in California that will become the Company's flagship site consisting of a 1.5 million sq ft cannabis campus that is to be converted into a vertically integrated, pharmaceutical-grade, GMP-certified enterprise. To sign up to Demand Brand's Investor Email Alerts, click here . About Demand Brands Demand Brands is a publicly traded company in the cannabis industry that has vertical integration, optimization, and innovation at the heart of its core strategy. We strategically invest in, acquire & partner with synergistic cannabis companies. Our goal is to optimize and expand our vertically integrated platform into a multi-state operation. We seek to capture value at every stage of the soil to sale process. Our capabilities include cultivation, processing, brand & supply management, and real estate. PRESS CONTACT ir@dman.co +1 (415) 685-0317 Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements. This press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "intend," or "believe" or the negatives thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties, certain assumptions and factors relating to the operations and business environment of DMAN that may cause the actual results of DMAN to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include future acquisitions, the ability to successfully integrate future acquisitions, the ability to obtain financing, and future sales and operating income. SOURCE: Demand Brands, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733942/Demand-Brands-Signs-Agreement-to-Acquire-New-Businesses NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / All Things Mobile Analytic, Inc. (OTC PINK:ATMH) and SpeedTel com1 will start a Marketplace using NB-IoT. The Global IoT market size is projected to reach USD 650.5 Billion by 2026 at CAGR of 16.7 % during the forecast period. Sectors like: Smart Metering - Healthcare - Asset Tracking - POS - Fleet management - Smart House, this Marketplace will be managed by ATMH and SpeedTelecom1" https://speed-tel.com "- " https://allthingsmobileanalytic.com ". Additional services like VPN " Virtual Private Network " Dedicated APN - Pooled Data plan - White Label sim and eSim and AI (Artificial Intelligence). eSim Profile : SpeedTel data eSim profile enables enterprise, MNO or OEM customer to integrate SpeedTel 's profile into their eSim solutions. Benefiting from over 600 roaming agreements in more then 190 countries, SpeedTel eSim profile provides a truly global intelligent connectivity solution for bootstrap, fallback or production use cases. NB-IoT : Narrowband IoT solution ideal for high volume of low data in remote location and long term battery life. NB-IoT allows for long range coverage and strong signal penetration with low latency. Ideal use in underground environments like gas and water meter, monitor equipment and commercial meters and Smart & Health devices. We 'll be ready to launch it before the end of the Q4 ( January 31st, 2023 ) a new Smart Watch suitable for elderly and people of all ages to wear, real-time care for your health, real-time location, heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, exercise step counting , blood pressure, Blood Oxygen Sensing values and anti detachment alarm in case of fallings. Another outstanding product will be a wearable smart "RING " also with NFC capable contactless, it will be able to connect with an intuitive app and a portal thought B2C and B2B wellness solutions. The new plan and the strategy of ATMH is based on emphasizing the determination to focus on these priorities and building a proper portfolio of revenues which will flow into the company in order to improve the market position and ultimately, maximize shareholder value. In line with this turn-around process, just after the Q4 we'll sign a long term contract with new office location in Miami with full time employees. Relevant goals are in the agenda of ATMH as outcome of the new approach for 2023. We will keep you informed in the coming weeks to highlight what we are executing to support our ambitious new M & A's. Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding ATMH's plans, objectives, future opportunities for ATMH's services, future financial performance and operating results and any other statements regarding ATMH's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, many of which are beyond ATMH's control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and include, without limitation, results of litigation, settlements and investigations; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; volatility in customer spending; global economic conditions; ability to hire and retain personnel; loss of, or reduction in business, with key customers; difficulty with growth and integration of acquisitions; product liability; cybersecurity risk; and, anti-takeover measures in our charter documents. Any forward-looking statement is made only as of the date of which such statement is made. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. All other trademarks cited herein are the property of their respective owners. For Further Information: Investor Relations Contact: Amy Samantha Gonzalez Email: inquiries@allthingsmobileanalytic.com Massimo Meneghello, President Company Telephone: (888) 350-4660 Company Website: http://allthingsmobileanalytic.com SOURCE: All Things Mobile Analytic, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733938/All-Things-Mobile-Analytic-Inc-ATMH-and-SpeedTelecom1-Launches-IoT-Marketplace-with-Devices-Enable-Mobile-IoT-Internet-of-Things-Solutions-Used-for-Health-Monitoring-and-Wellness CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / IIOT-OXYS, Inc. (OTC PINK:ITOX) ("Oxys" or the "Company") announces the signing of a non-exclusive Distributor Agreement with Denmark based ElastiSense ApS ("ElastiSense") for their proprietary sensor technology. ElastiSense's sensor technology is ideal for structural health monitoring, off-road machinery, factory automation and many other sensing purposes. Cliff Emmons, Oxys CEO, stated, "We are excited to partner with the ElastiSense team and apply their proprietary sensor technology to two of our important markets - Structural Health Monitoring and Smart Manufacturing. We're particularly focused on deploying their rugged displacement sensors for discrete smart manufacturing processes and equipment for stamped metal components used in medical devices and other industries." The worldwide Industry 4.0 (also known as Smart Manufacturing) market was estimated at $64.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at 20.6% CAGR to $165.5 billion by 2026.[1] Independent research shows that the world-wide Structural Health Monitoring market size was $2.0 billion USD in 2021 and will reach $4.0 billion USD by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 14.6%.[2] Rahim Sarban, ElastiSense CEO, commented, "Our sensors and sensing solutions offer robust and reliable measurement of displacement, frequency, and speed in a wide variety of applications. We're pleased to sign this agreement with Oxys. Their experience in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning technology to Smart Manufacturing goals such as predictive maintenance, reduced downtime, process optimization, and overall productivity, combined with our sensor technology, is the foundation for a successful partnership." Mr. Emmons concluded, "We're confident this partnership will lead to additional new business in both our Smart Manufacturing and Structural Health Monitoring verticals in due time." About ElastiSense ApS. ElastiSense is a technology company specialized in industrial sensor products utilizing its proprietary technology. ElastiSense offer standard and customized sensors with unique technological features enabling simple and cost-efficient instrumentation and monitoring of industrial assets operating under harsh and all-weather conditions. The data generated by ElastiSense sensors are exploitable by digital tools such as IIoT, AI, ML, and Digital Twins for predictive maintenance, damage prevention, and operation optimization. For additional information visit www.elastisense.com About IIOT-OXYS, Inc. IIOT-OXYS, Inc. (OTC PINK: ITOX) is a technology company at the intersection of IIoT, AI & Machine Learning, Edge Computing and Manufacturing Operations. We provide actionable mission-critical insights for the Medical/Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Defense, and Structural Health, and other industries. IIOT-OXYS's edge computing open-source hardware and proprietary ML algorithms employ our Minimally Invasive Load Monitoring (MILM) technology to simply gather data and gain insights to monitor, scope, move from preventive to predictive maintenance, and even optimize development and manufacturing processes. For additional information visit www.oxyscorp.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Management's current views about future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' or 'believes.' Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect us include, without limitation, the loss of major customers, our failure to obtain new contracts, our inability to patent products or processes, our infringement of patents held by others, our inability to finance our business and the other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact Information: IIOT-OXYS, Inc. Clifford L. Emmons CEO contact@oxyscorp.com www.oxyscorp.com SOURCE: IIOT-OXYS, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733924/IIOT-OXYS-Inc-Signs-Distributor-Agreement-with-ElastiSense-ApS-for-Proprietary-Sensor-Technology A well-known lawyer is returning to the Lehigh County district attorneys office after years in private practice. Gavin P. Holihan will take over Jan. 9 as first assistant district attorney. He was an assistant district attorney from 1992 to 1997. In a statement, District Attorney Jim Martin said Holihan has all of the qualities necessary and desirable to fulfill the responsibilities of this important position. The position is the most important attorney position in the office, Martin said. The First Assistant acts as and for the District Attorney when he is out of the jurisdiction, or otherwise unavailable. And, he would succeed the District Attorney in the event of a vacancy in the office. The position was previously held by Jeffrey S. Dimmig, who has returned to his duties as chief deputy district attorney. Holihan is a 1988 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and a 1991 graduate of Fordham University School of Law in New York. After his earlier stint in the district attorneys office, he worked as the countys deputy solicitor and with the firm of Huber and Waldron. He started his own practice in 2004. He has served as a part-time trial attorney with Lehigh Countys Office of the Public Defender since 2015. His many cases have included six capital homicide trials in four counties. In one high-profile case, he represented former South Whitehall police Officer Jonathan Roselle, who was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Joseph Santos outside Dorney Park in 2018. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Keysight Technologies: Keysight Malaysia recently won one of the country's top corporate responsibility honors for the fifth consecutive year. Keysight was among nearly 50 companies recognized by The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) with the MY AMCHAM Cares award during an event in Kuala Lumpur attended by the U.S. ambassador to Malaysia. Specifically, the companies were recognized for developing and deploying corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, and for achieving high scores in five key categories: strategy, sustainability, measurability, communication, and partnerships. AMCHAM granted All-Star Achiever status to Keysight and 12 other companies for winning the Cares award for five consecutive years. AMCHAM's award honors its corporate members for their continued commitment to the best environmental, sustainable, and responsible business practices, giving back to communities, and enriching lives. The goal is to recognize efforts to create long-term economic and social value. In Malaysia, Keysight continuously nurtures the upcoming generation of engineers and strives to uplift the community in which it operates. They do this through: Empowering employees to impact the community positively. Keysight supports and strengthens the community through volunteerism, financial assistance, and community outreach programs. Focusing on STEM education. Partnering with governmental and community-based institutions in effort to drive educational science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Net zero emissions with rooftop solar panel installation. Keysight upholds its long- term commitment to achieve low-carbon future. Keysight hits another milestone with the completion of the largest industry rooftop solar panel in Penang. The 5.8-megawatt solar installation that covers the rooftops of all eight buildings at the Bayan Lepas site is also the largest solar power generation system for Keysight globally. Empowering tomorrow's technologies. Keysight continues to enable purposeful innovations in clean technology, wellness, safety, and security through products, solutions, and services-with a goal of making further progress towards building a better planet. Left to right: Siobhan Das, AMCHAM CEO; Brian McFeeters, U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia; Keysight's Jessica Lim and Jerry Yeoh; and Steven R. Clayton, AMCHAM vice chair. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Keysight Technologies on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Keysight Technologies Website: http://threeblpro.prod.acquia-sites.com/dashboard/keysight-technologies Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Keysight Technologies View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733974/Keysight-Malaysia-Wins-CSR-Award NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Gilead Sciences On any given day on the west side of Chicago, you might encounter something unexpected. Outside a retail store or hair salon, there may be a table providing breast cancer education and resources - and it's most likely staffed by Equal Hope, an organization that provides support and education for women facing or at risk of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Paris Thomas, PhD, Equal Hope's Executive Director, says this unconventional form of outreach is a vital part of what the organization does. "I think it's amazing that our health workers reach the community in places like that," she says. "You don't have to come to us, we'll come to you. This helps us have personal conversations where people feel comfortable to tell us their truth." Equal Hope Addresses Cancer Health Disparities in Chicago In a two-year period, from 2005 to 2007, published research showed Black women in Chicago had a 62% higher mortality rate than White women, Paris says. The statistic was shocking to her when she saw it, not just because of the number, but because it set Chicago apart - other major cities were not seeing the same level of disparity. When Equal Hope was founded in 2008, it was to tackle this issue from multiple angles: demanding that medical centers hire more skilled workers, educating the community around preventative care and early treatment, and urging the local government to invest more in underserved communities. For Paris, this work has always been personal: She was born and raised in the west side of Chicago, and breast cancer runs in her family. Her mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor. "As a Black mother myself, I saw my mother go through breast cancer and the struggles that came with that," says Paris. "I really connected to the mission and vision of Equal Hope to help underserved women access quality care." Increasing Outreach Efforts But that mission became more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started, elective procedures were put on pause for a few months," explains Paris. "During that time, Black women who are particularly high-risk for breast cancers like TNBC were not being seen." Two years in, that delay has continued, says Paris. Breast cancer centers are still catching up on their backlog, and COVID-19 safety protocols and understaffing slow down the care they can provide. For the community Paris and Equal Hope serves, this could have severe impacts. "People aren't able to get the necessary timely screenings they need in order to detect cancer," says Paris. "And if you're not detecting cancer in a timely fashion, it's more likely to metastasize." Equal Hope is trying to catch its community up. With support from Gilead, the organization has been able to increase outreach efforts and close the waiting gap between appointments and treatment that grew during COVID-19. But addressing the medical hurdles is only part of what Equal Hope does, which brings us back to the tables outside of salons and retail stores. "Everyone has so many other things that they're focused on," Paris says. "But we want to keep it in the forefront of people's minds that preventative breast health screenings are still critical. We don't want a cancer diagnosis to be missed." Read more Gilead community stories like Latinas Contra Cancer, a nonprofit advocacy organization raising awareness about cancer in the Latinx community. Originally published by Gilead Sciences View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gilead Sciences on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Gilead Sciences Website: http://threeblpro.prod.acquia-sites.com/dashboard/gilead-sciences Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Gilead Sciences View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/733970/Gilead-Sciences-Connecting-Breast-Cancer-Education-to-Community-Equal-Hope The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) says that polysilicon prices have fallen by more than 42% since November, when the raw material reached its highest price point.The silicon branch of the CNMIA has released an update on polysilicon prices. It reports that prices for monocrystalline silicon currently range from CNY 148 ($21.50)/kg to CNY 182/kg, while polycrystalline silicon prices are between CNY 145/kg and CNY 177/kg. Compared to the peak registered in November, the average price of the raw material has fallen by more than 42%. The CNINA said the decline was due to a slight ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Institute for Supply Management released a report on Wednesday showing U.S. manufacturing activity contracted at a slightly faster rate in the month of December. The ISM said its manufacturing PMI edged down to 48.4 in December from 49.0 in November, with a reading below 50 indicating a contraction. Economists had expected the index to slip to 48.5. Manufacturing activity contracted for the second consecutive month after expanding for 29 straight months, with the manufacturing PMI falling to its lowest level since hitting 43.5 in May 2020. 'The U.S. manufacturing sector again contracted, with the Manufacturing PMI at its lowest level since the coronavirus pandemic recovery began,' said Timothy R. Fiore, Chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. He added, 'With Business Survey Committee panelists reporting softening new order rates over the previous seven months, the December composite index reading reflects companies' slowing their output.' The report said the new orders index fell to 45.2 in December from 47.2 in November, while the production index slid to 48.5 in December from 51.5 in November. Meanwhile, the number of employees index climbed to 51.4 in December from 48.4 in November, indicating job growth in the manufacturing sector. The ISM also said the prices index dropped to 39.4 in December from 43.0 in November, falling to its lowest reading since April 2020. Paul Ashworth, Chief North America Economist at Capital Economics, called the decrease by the manufacturing PMI 'another sign that the economy was losing momentum at the tail-end of last year.' 'Nearly all the survey-based evidence points to a complete stagnation or even contraction in activity,' Ashworth added. On Friday, the ISM is scheduled to release a separate report on activity in the service sector in the month of December. The services PMI is expected to slip to 55.0 in December from 56.5 in November, although a reading above 50 would still indicate growth. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - On Wednesday, President Joe Biden will announce more than $2 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade four most economically significant bridges in the United States. The President will make the announcement during a visit to Brent Spence Bridge in Covington, Kentucky. At 12.45 PM ET, he will speak about how his economic plan is rebuilding the nation's infrastructure, creating good-paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree, and revitalizing communities left behind, the White House said. He will be joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Oh), Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and former Senator Rob Portman. The Biden administration is awarding $1.64 billion funding to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project connecting Kentucky and Ohio across the Ohio River. Today's announcement of the first year of Large Bridge Project Grants from the infrastructure law's Bridge Investment Program are for bridges with a total cost of more than $100 million. This includes four economically-significant bridges. In Cincinnati and Covington, grant funds will upgrade the existing Brent Spence Bridge and build a new bridge dedicated to interstate drivers to improve traffic along I-71/I-75, a critical freight route from Canada to Florida. In Chicago, Illinois, grant funds will help rehabilitate four moveable bridges crossing the Calumet River that are critical for marine traffic to and from the Illinois International Port and surrounding industry. In New London, Connecticut, grant funds will rebuild the northbound structure of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge which brings I-95 over the Thames River, a vital connection on the I-95 corridor for people and goods traveling between New York and New England. In San Francisco, grant funds will replace, retrofit and install critical structural elements on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to increase resiliency against earthquakes. The Golden Gate Bridge is vital to an estimated 37 million vehicles crossing the bridge per year, including 555,000 freight trucks, as well as waterborne commerce through the Golden Gate Strait connected to the Port of Oakland. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $40 billion to repair and rebuild the nation's bridges. It will help repair or rebuild ten of the most economically significant bridges in the country along with over 15,000 additional bridges nationwide. The vast majority of the projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are covered by Davis-Bacon requirements, which ensures the construction workers who build the projects good pay and benefits. It is estinmated that approximately 43,000 bridges nationwide are currently rated in poor condition, which could include requiring weight restrictions and closures of bridges large and small. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX The strength of applications for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's ultra-low-cost solar research funding round was so strong that the agency had to add AUD 1.5 million ($1.03 million) to its original allocation. The strength of competition pushed the process into 2023, but the 13 research projects aiming to achieve ultra-low-cost solar have now been awarded.From pv magazine Australia The notion of ultra-low-cost solar (ULCS) has been gaining traction since Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) CEO Darren Miller made it the topic of a plenary session at the 2022 All-Energy Australia ... 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. Industry-leading Provider of eCommerce Data and Content Optimization Bolsters Leadership Team with CEO Experienced in Growing and Managing Large Technology Companies CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Syndigo, a leading provider of data management, syndication, and analytics to power eCommerce, today announced that Simon Angove has been named Chief Executive Officer. Paul Salay, who has been Chief Executive Officer for the last six years, will continue to support Syndigo's Board of Directors, advising on company strategy and mergers & acquisitions. Mr. Angove brings over 25 years of leadership experience building technology businesses, having both launched and grown innovative start-ups as well as run large companies in several industries, including retail, financial services, and the public sector. Most recently, Mr. Angove served as CEO of CentralSquare Technologies, a market leading provider of public safety software formed through the multi-billion-dollar merger of Superion and two other companies. Prior to leading CentralSquare, Mr. Angove was CEO of Superion where he led that company's growth and transformation, helping to drive product innovation, optimize go-to-market execution, enhance operational excellence, and build a high-performing team. Prior to Superion, Mr. Angove led global business units focused on digital solutions at Verint, an omni-channel customer engagement software provider. Earlier in his career, he founded several businesses in the areas of cloud computing, retail in-store video analytics, and workforce optimization. "I am incredibly excited to serve as Syndigo's next CEO and to join the company at a time of exciting innovation and transformation in the eCommerce industry," said Mr. Angove. "In partnering with our customers and team, I look forward to scaling Syndigo with a strong focus on customer centricity, product innovation, and world-class talent. I believe we are well positioned to help both brands and retailers optimize their data and content to drive success in the fast-growing and competitive eCommerce channel." "We are thrilled to welcome Simon as Syndigo's next CEO, and we look forward to working closely with him as the company continues to pursue its ambitious goals for growth and customer success," said Peter Rottier, Managing Director at Summit Partners and a member of the Syndigo Board of Directors. "Under Paul's leadership, Syndigo established itself as a market leader in a new category of content optimization for eCommerce. We are grateful for his service, vision, and leadership and look forward to his continued guidance to the board as he transitions to an advisory role. " "It has been an honor to lead and build Syndigo, together with our team, over the last six years. Syndigo has always been defined by our commitment to help customers optimize their content and digital assets in an age of eCommerce," said Mr. Salay. "Today, I am as confident as I have ever been about the company's future. I believe Simon is the right CEO to lead Syndigo through its next phase, and I look forward to supporting him and the team in the journey ahead." About Syndigo Syndigo is the first Active Content Engine built to power modern commerce by enabling the continual flow of data and content throughout the entire commerce ecosystem. With industry-leading data management, syndication, and analytics, combined with the largest two-sided network for content distribution, we deliver accurate information that improves decision-making and accelerates sales on every shelf. Syndigo serves more than 12,000 manufacturers, and 1,750 retailers and distributors globally across key industries including grocery, foodservice, hardlines, home improvement/DIY, pet, health and beauty, automotive, apparel, oil & gas, and healthcare. Syndigo is backed by Summit Partners and The Jordan Company. For more information, visit www.syndigo.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About Summit Partners Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $35 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 550 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. Summit has partnered with more than two dozen companies across the e-commerce and consumer landscape, including Brooklinen, Klaviyo, Philz Coffee, Reverb.com, Sezane, Sifted, TinyPrints, and MercuryGate. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or follow on LinkedIn. About The Jordan Company TJC (www.thejordancompany.com), founded in 1982, is a middle-market private equity firm that has managed funds with original capital commitments in excess of $18 billion since 1987 and a 40-year track record of investing in and contributing to the growth of many businesses across a wide range of industries including Technology, Telecom & Utilities, Supply Chain & Logistics, Industrials, and Consumer & Healthcare. The senior investment team has been investing together for over 20 years and is supported by the Operations Management Group, which was established in 1988 to initiate and support operational improvements in portfolio companies. Headquartered in New York, TJC also has offices in Chicago and Miami. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/811698/Syndigo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/syndigo-announces-the-addition-of-simon-angove-as-chief-executive-officer-301713040.html Scientists in Morocco recently conducted a year-long study on the impacts of soiling on PV modules in arid, dusty conditions. They found that soiling could contribute to daily performance losses of as much as 15%.The arid, dusty regions of the world present a great opportunity for solar energy - often pairing consistently high irradiation with large areas of land that have few other practical uses. But such regions also present a challenge in the form of harsh weather conditions and dust particles that can badly affect the performance of a PV system. Soiling has been well studied as an issue affecting ... 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. NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Facts and Factors study, Theglobal Energy as a Service market size was estimated to be worth roughly USD 54.32 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 144 billion by 2028. The global Energy as a Service market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of roughly 10.24% during the forecast period. Energy as a Service Market: Overview Technology, energy, analytics, access to the grid, and specialized services are all sold under the umbrella term "energy as a service" (EaaS). Environmental protection is seriously threatened by the problem of carbon emissions. With the growing use of renewable energy sources to provide electricity, decentralized energy distribution has been observed. Rapid industrialization drives up global energy demand and contributes to the depletion of fossil fuels in developing nations. The demand for renewable energy sources has increased as a result of the growing need to lessen our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce the carbon emissions that result from burning them. This, in turn, is expected to continue to drive the growth of the EaaS market over the course of the time period under consideration. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted every industry. Since 2020, the majority of the world's nations have seen a dramatic increase in the number of impacted cases. The pandemic's aftermath caused instability in the economics of several quickly developing nations. The onset of this global epidemic has had an immediate impact on the EaaS business. Many countries and regions have seen a sharp reduction in commercial and industrial activity, which has decreased many vertical energy demands. The sharp decline in energy intake has limited the adoption of new technology around the world. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/energy-as-a-service-market Our Free Sample Report Includes: 2022 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included 231+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research) Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request 2022 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes an Updated List of tables & figures Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Facts and Factors methodology Key Industry Insights & Findings of the Energy as a Service Market Reports: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global Energy as a Service market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 10.24% over the forecast period (2022-2028). In terms of revenue, the global Energy as a Service market size was valued at around USD 54.32 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 144.00 billion by 2028. in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around by 2028. Due to a variety of driving factors, the market is predicted to rise at a significant rate. The increasing adoption of distributed energy generation in commercial & industrial sectors, stringent energy efficiency regulations, and supportive government initiatives are expected to drive the market during the forecast period. Based on service, the supply segment was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2021 Based on end user, the commercial segment was predicted to show maximum market share in the year 2021 On the basis of region, North America was the leading revenue generator in 2021. Facts and Factors published the latest report titled "Energy as a Service Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report By Service (Supply, Demand, Energy Optimization), By End User (Industrial and Commercial), and By Region - Global and Regional Industry Insights, Overview, Comprehensive Analysis, Trends, Statistical Research, Market Intelligence, Historical Data and Forecast 2022 - 2028" into their research database. Industry Dynamics: Energy as a Service Market: Growth Drivers Increasing Adoption of Renewables Owing to their Environmental and Economic Advantages to Favor Overall Market Growth. The principal goals of governing authorities in nations all over the world are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the rising demand for energy. Following this, the installation of renewable energy sources is anticipated to increase significantly during the following ten years, which will result in the market's rise. The global energy as a service market size has been positively impacted by new energy targets that have been introduced by various governments to encourage the tendency toward sustainable electricity. For instance, by the end of 2023, Brazil wants 42.5% of its primary energy supply to come from renewable sources. Similar to this, the U.K. government intends to have around half of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2025, according to the carbon short analysis. Energy as a Service Market: Restraints Heavy Capital Investment for Establishment and Switch to Advanced Grids to Impede Market Growth. Energy produced by renewable energy sources requires a substantial investment. For instance, according to Bloomberg, from 2010 to 2019, investments in renewable energy sources totaled over USD 2.9 trillion. Only 8% of the world's energy is produced by solar energy, and 9% by wind energy. As a result, the majority of initiatives require the assistance of government-owned businesses. Additionally, governments only contribute a small portion of the total investment; the remainder is up to the business. The cost of the grid upgrade work, which calls for the installation of smart equipment at both the utility and customer ends, may restrain the growth of the EaaS market. Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/buynow/su/energy-as-a-service-market Energy as a Service Market: Opportunities Growing Peak Energy Demand and Favorable Regulation Framework to Aid Industry Outlook. The need for energy efficiency has been bolstered by the energy as a service model, allowing for the update of the newest technology without the need for an initial capital outlay. Owners of commercial buildings are apprehensive about entering into long-term financing arrangements or service procurement contracts with energy as a service provider. Customers could be unsure of whether to approach the contract as a service agreement or a lease because energy as a service owns and maintains the energy equipment. The worry of investing in an upgrade with the wrong cost, life span, or outcome may induce risk-averse clients to pause. The customer's confusion can be reduced by education on energy as a service contracts, which can also make communication between the many departments engaged in the decision-making process easier. Energy as a Service Market: Challenges Uncertainty about the agreement structure. AUV drones being completely automated, communication and navigation become issues. These systems communicate using radio signals, which get absorbed in water at a higher rate in comparison to other mediums such as air and vacuum. Radio signals face difficulties in terms of deep-sea communication, posing an issue for the increased application of AUV submerged drones. Global Energy as a Service Market: Segmentation The global Energy as a Service market is segmented based on service, end-user, and region. Based on service, the market has been segmented into supply, demand, and optimization services. The demand services category is expected to grow at the quickest CAGR throughout the projected period, while the supply service sector held the greatest market share in 2021. Rising government initiatives to promote renewable energy together with the requirement for cost control and energy conservation are projected to favorably impact the segment's expansion in the next years. Demand services held the largest market share in 2021, and it is projected that they will hold that position throughout the forecast period. Consumers are searching for reliable energy sources without a grid due to rising rates. This element is anticipated to accelerate the segment's growth in the near future. Based on end-user, the market has been segmented into commercial and industrial users. During the forecast period, the commercial segment is anticipated to increase at the fastest rate. The segment includes businesses including hospitals, educational institutions, information hubs, and airports, among others. Buildings alone account for more than 30% of total consumption in the commercial sector. According to the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), these organizations and establishments use more than 18% of the energy consumed by different American industries. Furthermore, lighting and heating consume 50% of the energy used in the commercial sector. Get More Insight before Buying@: https://www.fnfresearch.com/inquiry/energy-as-a-service-market List of Key Players in Energy as a Service Market: Schneider Electric Siemens Engie Honeywell International Inc. Veolia EDF Johnson Controls Bernhard General Electric Entegrity Enel SpA rsted A/S NORESCO LLC Centrica plc Wendel Key questions answered in this report: What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Energy as a Service Market? What are the key driving factors propelling the Energy as a Service Market forward? What are the most important companies in the Energy as a Service Market Industry? What segments does the Energy as a Service Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Energy as a Service Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 54.32 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 144 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 10.24% 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Type, By Application, By Payload and By Propulsion System Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Schneider Electric, Siemens, Engie, Honeywell International Inc., Veolia, EDF, Johnson Controls, Bernhard, General Electric, Entegrity, Enel SpA, rsted A/S, NORESCO LLC, Centrica plc, Wendel, and others. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail of customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.fnfresearch.com/customization/energy-as-a-service-market Free Brochure: https://www.fnfresearch.com/ask-to-analyst/energy-as-a-service-market Recent Developments In October 2021 , British Petroleum and Infosys, a provider of information and technology services, jointly announced plans to create a pilot Energy as a Service (EaaS) solution project aimed at assisting companies in increasing the effectiveness of their energy infrastructures and achieving their decarburization objectives. The businesses plan to work together to create a digital platform data center that will gather information from various energy sources and utilize artificial intelligence to balance the supply and demand for energy for things like power, heat, cooling, and EV charging. The project needs a setting that resembles a small city, where energy is produced, stored, and used at various locations. At the Infosys Pune Development Center in the Indian city of Pune , the businesses will test the digital platform there. British Petroleum and Infosys, a provider of information and technology services, jointly announced plans to create a pilot Energy as a Service (EaaS) solution project aimed at assisting companies in increasing the effectiveness of their energy infrastructures and achieving their decarburization objectives. The businesses plan to work together to create a digital platform data center that will gather information from various energy sources and utilize artificial intelligence to balance the supply and demand for energy for things like power, heat, cooling, and EV charging. The project needs a setting that resembles a small city, where energy is produced, stored, and used at various locations. At the Infosys Pune Development Center in the Indian city of , the businesses will test the digital platform there. In November 2021 , Rolls-Royce and Sustainable Development Capital (SDCL), a major worldwide investor, have decided to work together to provide Energy as a Service (EaaS) solutions that can hasten the adoption of cleaner energy. The agreement, which was signed at the 26th annual meeting of the "Conference of the Parties" (COP26) , permits Rolls-Royce to offer customers electricity and/or heat produced by an efficient and sustainable energy system as a subscription service, eliminating the need for customers to obtain upfront infrastructure financing or manage the system themselves. Regional Dominance: North America to lead the market growth during the projection period. During the projection period, North America is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global energy as a service market, with the U.S. accounting for the majority of demand. The nation is well-known for having used EaaS in a number of industries. The area has embraced a number of projects, particularly in the business sector, that are anticipated to improve energy storage efficiency and lower operating costs. The area has also seen notable investment in the production, exploration, and refining sectors, which is expected to increase demand for energy as a service model in the upcoming years. Furthermore, Europe's market benefits from supportive organizational and governmental policy frameworks that encourage the implementation of green energy solutions and considerable installation of power generation technology in various locations. Currently, among other nations, Germany, the U.K., and Italy are the main nations making significant contributions to the region's EaaS industry. Additionally, it is projected that rising investments and plans to strengthen and expand grid infrastructure networks to support the rising installation of renewable energy will further advance the business. Global Energy as a Service Market is segmented as follows: Energy as a Service Market: By Service Outlook (2022-2028) Supply Demand Energy Optimization Energy as a Service Market: By End User Outlook (2022-2028) Industrial Commercial Energy as a Service Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2028) North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Press Release for Energy as a Service Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/news/global-energy-as-a-service-market Browse Other Related Research Reports from Facts and Factors Coal Water Slurry Market Report 2022 - 2028 - According to the report published by Facts Factors, the global coal water slurry market size was worth around USD 2398 million in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 6366 million by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 15% between 2022 and 2028. According to the report published by Facts Factors, the global coal water slurry market size was worth around in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 15% between 2022 and 2028. Coal Water Slurry Market Report 2022 - 2028 : According to the report published by Facts Factors, the global coal water slurry market size was worth around USD 2398 million in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 6366 million by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 15% between 2022 and 2028. According to the report published by Facts Factors, the global coal water slurry market size was worth around in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 15% between 2022 and 2028. Power EPC Market Report 2022 - 2028: According to the report published by Facts Factors, the global power EPC market size was worth around USD 654.5 billion in 2021 and is predicted to grow to around USD 848.7 billion by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 4.9% between 2022 and 2028. Browse through Facts and Factors's coverage of the Global Energy & Mining Industry Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook About Us Facts and Factors is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, and company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to us-after all-if you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Facts and Factors Tel: +1 347 690-0211 USA/Canada Toll-Free No. +44 2032 894158 Email: sales@fnfresearch.com Website: https://www.fnfresearch.com/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-energy-as-a-service-market-size-statistics-segments-forecast--share-worth-usd-144-billion-by-2028-at-10-27-cagr--energy-as-a-service-industry-trends-demand-growth-value--analysis-report-by-fnf-research-301713414.html The modern connected risk platform also extends streak of leading the Audit Management and GRC categories to three consecutive years. AuditBoard, the leading cloud-based platform transforming audit, risk, and compliance management, today announced that it once again received Leader distinction in both the Audit Management and GRC Winter 2023 Grid Reports from G2.com, Inc. AuditBoard has now been named Leader in the GRC and Audit Management categories for 12 and 13 consecutive quarters, respectively. In addition, AuditBoard has been recognized as a Leader in Security Compliance Software, reflecting the growing base of IT professionals benefiting from the company's solutions. AuditBoard's connected risk platform continues to receive top ratings from customers for its intuitive user experience, seamless implementation process, and exceptional customer support. AuditBoard's dedication to empowering customers to meet the rigorous security standards and frameworks of today's business world is demonstrated in the most recent Security Compliance Leader badge. The ongoing recognition from AuditBoard customers in the G2 Winter 2023 report further reflects AuditBoard's commitment to providing enterprises with the most powerful, easy-to-use, and value-driven risk management solutions. In 2022, AuditBoard extended its industry innovation by introducing new capabilities including AuditBoard Automation Analytics, AuditBoard Third-Party Risk Management, and AuditBoard ESG. "We are thrilled that our customers continue to share the significant benefit they're experiencing from the power and ease of use of our platform," said AuditBoard CMO, John Reese. "We have devoted ourselves to developing solutions that solve the most pressing, modern-day business problems for practitioners, and this recognition is a testament to our team's unrelenting customer focus, hard work, and dedication." AuditBoard's dedication to expanding the capabilities of its connected audit, risk, and compliance platform to meet the rapidly evolving needs of risk teams continues to drive strong growth. In 2022, AuditBoard was named Best SaaS for Enterprises in the Cloud Awards and AuditBoard CrossComply won the Fortress Cyber Security award for the second year running. AuditBoard was also recently honored for the fourth consecutive year as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America by Deloitte and for the second consecutive year with a 2022 Stratus Award for Cloud Computing. To receive a complimentary copy of the complete G2 Winter 2023 Grid Report, visit AuditBoard.com About AuditBoard AuditBoard is the leading cloud-based platform transforming audit, risk, and compliance management. More than 35% of the Fortune 500 leverage AuditBoard to move their businesses forward with greater clarity and agility. AuditBoard is top-rated by customers on G2, Capterra, and Gartner Peer Insights, and was recently ranked for the fourth year in a row as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America by Deloitte. To learn more, visit: AuditBoard.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005254/en/ Contacts: Mila Taylor press@auditboard.com Before he led the Roman Catholic Church as Benedict XVI, and before he loomed over the church as a powerhouse cardinal and the Vaticans chief doctrinal watchdog, Joseph Ratzinger, archbishop of Munich, attended a 1980 meeting about a priest in northwestern Germany accused of abusing children. What exactly transpired during the meeting is unclear but afterward, the priest was transferred, and over the next dozen years, moved around Bavaria to different parishes before he ended up in the tiny village of Garching an der Alz, where he sexually abused Andreas Perr, then 12. It feels so heavy, Perr said, puffing cigarettes outside the house where he was molested, just a few steps from the white steeple of the village church. He said his abuse had led him down a road marred by drugs and prison while Ratzinger had risen up the ranks of the church. Speaking of the retired Pope Benedict XVI, who died Saturday, he added, to think of the power that one person could have over your life. A report last year commissioned by the Catholic Church in Munich accused Benedict of mishandling cases of sexual abuse by priests. Benedict apologized for any grievous faults but denied any wrongdoing. The scourge of child sexual abuse in the church haunted Benedict, from the beginning of his rise through the hierarchy to his last year as a frail, retired pope, when the Munich investigators added a final complication to a deeply conflicted legacy. To supporters, he is the leader who first met with victims and more than anyone before him forced the church to finally face its demons, change its laws and get rid of hundreds of abusive priests. He raised the age of consent and included vulnerable adults in laws that protected minors. He allowed the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse to be waived. To critics, he protected the institution over the victims in its flock, failed to hold even a single bishop accountable for shielding abusers and did not back up his words with action. He preferred to keep discipline in house, never requiring cases to be reported to the civil authorities. We can be grateful for what Benedict XVI did in bringing the fight against abuse in the church to a new level by introducing tighter procedures and new laws, said the Rev. Hans Zollner, one of the Vaticans top experts in safeguarding minors and in sexual abuse. He was the first pope to meet with survivors of abuse. At the same time, given the report that during his years as archbishop of Munich he failed to give due attention to victims of abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, we cannot ignore that victims and others are hurting. Perr, now 38, is still trying to rebuild a life after what the church put him through. He is no longer a member of the Catholic Church. As Ratzinger ascended to greater heights, Perrs life spiraled into an ever deeper abyss. His mother refused to believe him, and he fled home and got into heavy drugs such as heroin, living out on the streets. After it happened, I started having nightmares, he said. Thats what made me start doing drugs. I wanted to stop dreaming, to stop feeling guilty and disgusting. I just didnt want to feel anything anymore. Over the years, Perr ended up in prison twice, getting out on parole only last year. That was when he found criminal lawyer Andreas Schulz, after learning Schulz was representing other abuse victims of the same priest. Together, they decided to aim higher: They would file a lawsuit, not just against the priest accused of molesting him and several boys in Garching, but also against the Archdiocese of Munich and Joseph Ratzinger, then its archbishop. Before Benedict died, the pope emeritus hired a large international law firm and said he planned to defend himself in a trial set to start this year. Now, Schulz and his client plan to pursue the case even after his death, and they still want to hold Benedict XVI, or the heir to his estate, accountable. Schulz said it might even be Benedicts successor, Pope Francis, who inherits the case, should he become Benedicts heir. The lawyer argued that the church should accept the trial as an opportunity to finally clear up the complicated history Benedict XVI left behind. His theological achievements are one side of his legacy, Schulz said. But there are shadows that hang over him, and those shadows can only be removed now if the right thing is done and accountability is accepted. That is something only Pope Francis can do now, and that is what our trial is trying to push toward: People want transparency, they want acceptance of accountability, they want compensation. Accounts such as Perrs have become painfully familiar in the church over recent decades. The revelation of systemic abuse gutted dioceses and chased away the faithful in countries all around the world. In the United States, a scandal that erupted in Boston has shaken nearly every part of the country. The church in Ireland, once a fortress for Catholicism, was so decimated by abuse scandals that Benedict in 2010 wrote the first pastoral letter from a pope on the issue of abuse. You have suffered grievously, and I am truly sorry, he wrote. A 2021 report in France alleged that hundreds of thousands of children had been abused by the church there. Church leaders, who once considered the crisis an invention of liberals and lawyers, or a problem of Anglophone countries drummed up by an anti-Catholic news media, now acknowledge that it is everywhere, and Francis, after his own missteps, introduced rules to hold the hierarchy more accountable. But supporters of Benedict, and even his critics, acknowledge that Francis built on Benedicts reforms. Before the deluge that overwhelmed the church, the cases dripped in during the 1980s often from English-speaking countries and fell on his desk at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In 1988, he pressed the Vaticans canon law department which required long church trials to address accusations to give him a freer hand to more quickly remove abusive priests. It refused, arguing that such a move would deprive priests of due process, and as a result, bishops sought to cure them with prayer and therapy or simply relocated abusers to other parishes, where they preyed on more children. But Ratzingers office also failed to act in egregious cases. In the 1990s, it halted a secret trial of an American priest who had molested as many as 200 deaf boys and wrote to the cardinal insisting the priest had already repented. He was never defrocked. In 2001, Ratzinger persuaded Pope John Paul II to let him try to get the problem under control. He drafted a church law that required bishops to forward all credible allegations of abuse to the Vatican, where his office was made responsible for the cases. He backed up American bishops who sought to adopt a zero tolerance policy that expelled priests who engaged in a single episode of sexual abuse. As John Paul reached the end of his pontificate in 2004, Ratzinger ordered a review of the pending cases in his department. In 2005 for the Good Friday Via Crucis procession at Romes Colosseum, Ratzinger wrote, How much filth there is in the church, especially among those who, in the priesthood, are supposed to belong totally to Christ. When he became pope, he disciplined and ultimately defrocked the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, a serial abuser and the Mexican founder of the religious order the Legionaries of Christ. A prodigious fundraiser, Maciel had won the loyalty of Pope John Paul II and his inner circle, which had for years blocked Benedicts efforts to investigate him. The issue is very mixed and complex, said Marie Collins, an Irish survivor of abuse who resigned in frustration in 2017 from a Vatican commission on protecting minors created by Francis. She said that Benedicts reading of so many cases as head of the doctrinal congregation made him grasp the enormity of the problem when he became pope, and that he brought in new procedures against sexual abuse. Collins said that it was unfair to make too much of the mistakes he made in handling cases during his own personal ministry, when he was a bishop in Germany, but that Benedict, as pope, didnt do enough in-depth work on the issue or pursue it to the fullest. For many, he did not go nearly far enough. Anne Barrett Doyle, a co-director of BishopAccountability.org, a victims advocacy and research group, said in a statement the day of Benedicts death that he left hundreds of culpable bishops in power and a culture of secrecy intact. On Tuesday evening in the Munich cathedral that Benedict led as bishop 40 years ago, the current archbishop, Reinhard Marx, began a Mass in honor of Benedict by inviting everyone to pray, including those who have experienced abuse and suffering in the space of the church. All those who have received good gifts from Joseph Ratzinger. And all those who now, in this hour, trust that Gods goodness and mercy will heal everything. c.2022 The New York Times Company Bordeaux (France), January 4, 2023 - Hydrogene de France SA ("HDF Energy") has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) to jointly develop, finance and build HDF's Renewstable and HyPower hydrogen power plants in Vietnam. In addition, both parties will explore the potential of producing green hydrogen in Vietnam for the local market and the Asia Pacific region. Over the past decade, Vietnam has seen rapid economic growth leading to a substantial increase in energy demand. The majority of Vietnam's energy today comes from fossil fuels (coal and gas). The Vietnamese government has shown particular ambition to decarbonize its electrical grid and has already made a strong effort to develop renewable energy sources. However, in some areas of the country, it has led to grid integration issues due to their intermittent nature. PTSC, subsidiary of Vietnam Oil & Gas Group (PetroVietnam - PVN), is a leading company providing technical services for offshore oil and gas, industrial plants and renewable energy in Vietnam and the region. In order to support the country in addressing these economic, environmental, and technical challenges, PTSC has partnered with HDF Energy whose Renewstable (power to power) and HyPower (gas to power) multi-megawatt hydrogen power plants can deliver firm, non-intermittent, non-polluting power to the grids, 24/7. Through this MoU, both parties will be combining their efforts and expertise to develop, finance and implement HDF's multi-megawatt hydrogen power plant projects. In addition, HDF and PTSC will jointly explore the potential of producing green hydrogen in Vietnam and in other regional markets such as South Korea, Japan and Singapore. They will primarily examine offshore wind projects, through which green hydrogen can be produced to decarbonize local industries. These ambitions are in line with the PDP8, Vietnam's primary energy planning instrument for the period 2021-2030, which states the role that hydrogen can play in the country to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Le Manh Cuong, President & CEO of PTSC, and Mr. Tr?n Hoai Nam, Vice President of PTSC, as well as, for HDF, Mr. Jean-Noel de Charentenay, Deputy CEO, Ms. Hanane El Hamraoui, VP Industry, and Mr. TranKhanhViet, Director Vietnam. Mr. Geze, HDF's Director for Asia, declared: "We are glad to collaborate with PTSC and explore synergies with the PetroVietnam group to develop green hydrogen projects in Vietnam. PTSC has demonstrated its technical leadership in managing complex projects in Vietnam and abroad. Combined with HDF Energy's experience in hydrogen projects, we can offer unique expertise to hydrogen offtakers and EVN. HDF Energy has started addressing the Asian market in 2021 and this MoU signing with PTSC will accelerate our developments in the region." Mr. Le Manh Cuong, PTSC President & CEO, shared: "Entering into this MOU is an important milestone for PTSC's strategic business plan which includes investment in and development of renewable energy projects. With HDF's proven hydrogen technology and expertise, I believe that PTSC and HDF together can promote green hydrogen projects in our country and contribute to the Vietnamese government's commitment to zero carbon emissions in 2050, as announced at COP 26." ABOUT HDF ENERGY HDF Energy is the global pioneer of high-power hydrogen power plants. The company develops, finances, builds, and operates two power plant models that produce non-intermittent, non-polluting renewable energy, 24/7: Renewstable (POWER TO POWER): Multi-megawatt power plants producing firm power from an intermittent renewable energy source (wind or solar) and massive energy storage in the form of green hydrogen generated on site; HyPower (GAS TO POWER): Multi-megawatt power plants producing electricity on demand from decarbonized hydrogen coming from gas transport networks or from industries wasting unvalued hydrogen. HDF Energy is also an industrial company that will mass produce from 2023 in its French factory the most strategic component of its power plants: high-power fuel cells. By taking part in this industrial activity, HDF Energy, which is already a worldwide major player in the power sector, will also become a player in the heavy marine and rail mobility. Together with strategic partners, the company is developing hydrogen freight locomotives and projects for the propulsion of large ships and the generation of their auxiliary power. Present on five continents, HDF Energy has a business portfolio of more than 5 billion euros to date. HDF Energy is listed on Euronext Paris. More information: www.hdf-energy.com ABOUT PTSC PTSC is the leading technical services contractor in Vietnam and in the region with more than 30 years of experience in providing services and performing engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (EPCIC) projects for local and international oil & gas operators/clients with high appraisal. To cope with energy transition worldwide, and in Vietnam in particular, PTSC is expanding its business to offshore renewable projects with an aim to: Become investor/project developer for renewable projects in Vietnam; Providing its services to renewable projects in Vietnam and the region. PTSC has actively participated in providing services for most of the nearshore wind power projects in the Southwest region of Vietnam, such as the provision of transportation, installation of wind towers & turbines and underground cable laying works, CTVs for windfarm operation and maintenance. In the overseas market, PTSC has won the international tender to construct two offshore substations (OSS) for Hai Long 2 and three offshore wind projects in Taiwan. In addition, with the registration of offshore wind power to its business license, PTSC is the only member of PVN which has full capacity and legal basis to invest, develop and operate offshore wind power projects in Vietnam. More information: www.ptsc.com.vn Contact PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation NGUYEN Tuan - General Manager, Commercial +84 (28) 3910 2828 tuann@ptsc.com.vn HDF Energy Director Asia, HDF Energy Investors Relations Press Relations Mathieu GEZE +62 812 8952 9057 mathieu.geze@hdf-energy.com Margaux ROUILLARD + 33 (0)1 53 67 36 32 hdf-energy@actus.fr Serena BONI +33 (0)4 72 18 04 92 sboni@actus.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: x2hwZslsamnGnp2bk8htZmmVZmxlmWiZZ2SelZJvYpmVnXGWxpqXapWXZnBonWtr - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-77865-pr_hdf-ptsc-vietnam_en.pdf VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The antifungal drugs market size reached USD 13.81 Billion in 2021 and is expected to register a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period, according to latest analysis by Emergen Research. Growing prevalence of various fungal skin infections coupled with rising awareness about fungal diseases is a few of the key factors driving the revenue growth of market. Moreover, rising Research & Development (R&D) projects for novel drugs as well as rapid adoption of nanotechnology for advanced formulation of medications are also major factors significantly contributing to the growth of market. Various fungal diseases, which affect the skin, eyes, hair, and lungs, such as ringworm, toenail fungus, athlete's foot, and rhinosinusitis, are caused by exposure to unclean surroundings and by weakened immune systems. Every year, fungal pathogens cause at least 13 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths worldwide, mostly in those with weakened immune systems. Request Free Sample Copy (To Understand the Complete Structure of this Report [Summary + TOC]) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/1146 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 7,199 deaths from fungal diseases occurred in 2021. Demand for antifungal treatments is also significantly influenced by the accessibility of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals as well as ease of administration via oral pills, topical creams, ointments, and IV drips. Increasing collaboration among major companies is contributing to the growth of market. On 16 May 2022, F2G, a portfolio company of Novo Holdings, and Shionogi form a strategic partnership to promote the company's novel antifungal drug Olorofim across Europe and Asia. A brand-new oral antifungal medication called Olorofim was developed by F2G to treat invasive aspergillosis (IA) and other uncommon mold diseases. Olorofim exerts fungicidal activity by inhibiting the pyrimidine synthesis pathway, a unique mode of action that sets it apart from all other families of antifungals. As the global immunocompromised population rises mainly owing to an increase in HIV infections and in part because of the effective management of major underlying illnesses, invasive fungal infections continue to emerge in record numbers. Those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory diseases, and post-primary TB infection are among the populations most at risk for invasive fungal infections. Such factors are expected to boost the growth of the market. Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + Infographics@ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/antifungal-drugs-market Drivers: Growing prevalence of fungal infections and increasing number of product launches are a few of the key factors boosting the revenue growth of market. Global warming, surge in international travel, and increased commerce are all contributing to a rise in both the prevalence and geographic range of fungal illnesses. The reported prevalence of invasive fungal infections among hospitalized patients increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks for the emergence of more invasive types of diseases in the general population are rising along with the resistance of the fungi that cause common illnesses (such candida oral and vaginal thrush) to treatment. On 25 2022, World Health Organization (WHO) released a study outlining the first-ever list of 19 fungi that pose the highest risk to public health, or "priority pathogens," in the form of fungus. The WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL) is the first global attempt to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens, considering the unmet needs for research and development (R&D) and the relevance that is associated with public health. To boost the international response to fungi infections and antifungal resistance, the WHO FPPL seeks to direct and motivate more research and policy measures. Restraints: Antifungal resistance develops when antifungal medications fail to inhibit the spread of a fungal infection. Individuals with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable. Antifungals do not work on superbugs like Candida auris, limiting therapy choices. Various antifungal drug adverse effects such as allergic reactions, liver damage, itchy skin, and diarrhea, among others, as well as rising antifungal treatment resistance, are expected to constrain growth of market. Emergen Research is Offering Limited Time Discount (Grab a Copy at Discounted Price Now) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-discount/1146 Growth Projections: The antifungal drugs market is expected to register a CAGR of 3.6% over the forecast period and revenue is projected to increase from USD 13.81 Billion in 2021 to USD 18.89 Billion in 2030. Rising awareness about fungal infections is expected to support revenue growth of the market. Current Trends and Innovations: Increasing incidence of Invasive Fungal Infection (IFI), high levels of associated mortality, limitations in existing agents (such as toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and resistance), and the need for agents against difficult-to-treat infections such as Scedosporium and Fusarium are some of the primary factors leading to improvement of new antifungal drugs. The development of novel formulations for antifungal medications, as well as interest in nanoparticles as new forms of antifungal drug carriers, is boosting the revenue growth of the market. Traditional antifungals' efficacy and pharmacokinetic characteristics are being enhanced by making alterations to their chemical structures. Strategic Initiatives: Major companies included in the market report are GSK Group of Companies, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Bayer AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Abbott, Astellas Pharma Inc., Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Glenmark Pharmaceutical Inc., and Leadiant Biosciences, Inc. On 12 October 2021 , Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited announced the launch of Itaspor-SB Forte/Subawin, a novel antifungal medicine containing Super Bioavailable Itraconazole-SB 100mg. The medicine is predicted to significantly lower the cost of fungal infection therapy, as well as enhance patient compliance and minimize the Doctor's counseling time. Scope of Research Report Details Outcome Market Size in 2021 USD 13.81 Billion CAGR (2022-2030) 3.6 % Revenue Forecast to 2030 USD 18.89 Billion Base Year for Estimation 2021 Historical Data 2019-2020 Forecast Period 2022-2030 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 Drug type, indication analysis, route of administration, distribution channel, and region Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Benelux, Rest of Europe, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of APAC, Brazil, Rest of LATAM, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa, Turkey, and Rest of Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled GSK Group of Companies, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Bayer AG, Merck & Co., Inc., Abbott, Astellas Pharma Inc., Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Glenmark Pharmaceutical Inc., and Leadiant Biosciences, Inc. Customization Scope 10 hours of free customization and expert consultation Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/1146 Emergen Research has segmented antifungal drugs market on the basis of drug type, indication analysis, route of administration, distribution channel, and region: Drug Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019-2030) Azoles Polyenes Echinocandins Allylamines Indication Analysis Outlook (Reveue, USD Billion; 2019-2030) Dermatophytosis Candidiasis Aspergillosis Others Route of Administration Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019-2030) Topical Oral Parenteral Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019-2030) Online pharmacies Retail pharmacies & drug stores Hospital pharmacies 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: Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing Market, By Offering Type (Hardware and Software), By Services Type (Testing Services, Inspection Services, Certification Services, and Other Services), By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Fire Alarm Market Size, Share, Trends, By Type (Heat Detectors, Audible Alarms, Visual Alarms, and Manual Call-points Alarms), By Technology (Addressable and Conventional) By Application, and By Region, Forecast to 2030 Endoscopic Closure Systems Market, By Product (Endoscopic Clips/Endoclips (Over-the-scope Clips), Overstitch Endoscopic Suturing System), By Distribution Channel, By End-use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Vitamins and Supplements Market, By Ingredient (Vitamins and Supplements), By Form, By Application (Immunity and Menopause), By End-Users (Adults and Geriatric), By Type, By Distribution Channel, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Alkoxide Market, By Type (Aluminum, Antimony, and others), By Application (Pharmaceutical, Fine Chemicals, and others), By Methods (Metathesis Reaction, Reducing Metals, and Electrochemical Methods), and By Region Forecast to 2030 Borescope Market, By Type (Video, Rigid, and Flexible Borescopes), By Angle (0 to 90 and 90 to 180), By Diameter (0 mm to 3 mm and 3 mm to 6 mm), By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Market, By Equipment (Light Source, Mask, Mirrors, and Others), By End-Use (Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs), Foundry, and Others), and By Region Forecast to 2030 Wireless Microphone Market Size, Share, Trends, By Product Type, By Technology (Bluetooth, Radio Frequency, Bluetooth + Wi-Fi, Airplay, and Wi-Fi), By Application, 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: sales@emergenresearch.com 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-antifungal-drugs-market Trending Titles LiDAR Market | Metaverse Market Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579538/Emergen_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/antifungal-drugs-market-size-to-reach-usd-18-89-billion-in-2030--emergen-research-301713243.html Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - ATI AirTest Technologies Inc. (TSXV: AAT) (OTC Pink: AATGF) ("AirTest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to the Press Release on November 25, 2022, Lorne Stewart is now President of AirTest, having signed a formal employment agreement. George Graham, the Company's Chairman and Founder will work alongside Lorne to assist in a transition of responsibilities and provide support in new initiatives to grow the company. Mr. Graham will continue to serve the Company as Chairman of its Board of Directors. Ted Konyi, the Company's CEO, commented, "With Lorne's first day under his belt, I am already seeing some exciting new initiatives in the sales and marketing of the Company's Energy Efficiency solutions. It is clear that the Company has some tremendous opportunities in this perfect storm of high and ever-increasing energy costs and strengthening ESG mandates. This should be a fantastic time for growing the Company's revenues and profitability and I believe that Lorne has the skill set to lead the Company to a very successful future." Lorne added, "AirTest has generated business over the last 20 years with over 1,600 customers. This existing base of customers represents a database that can be introduced to the Company's latest offerings with tremendous potential. In addition to this existing database of clients, a large number of prospective customers are also reaching out to the Company driven by our quality, value proposition and industry expertise. I'm looking forward to leading AirTest to significant sales growth and profitability." About AirTest: AirTest Technologies is a Green-Tech company specializing in Demand Control Ventilation systems that improve commercial building operating efficiency and generate proven energy savings. The company has developed new wireless sensors with dynamic real-time communication and control technologies, which builds upon ten years of experience and thousands of installations amongst clients such as Lowe's, Shoppers Drug Mart and Ikea. Airtest solutions provide data on levels of Indoor Air Quality required by Schools, Retail Stores and Offices. For further information, please contact: Mr. Ted Konyi, CEO Phone: (604) 225 2209 Fax :(604) 517 3900 Email: ted.konyi@airtest.com Website: www.airtest.com Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are projections of financial performance or future events. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "estimate" and words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and they are subject to risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include those concerning Mr. Stewart's belief that the Company can grow rapidly and that he can lead it to significant sales growth and profitability. These statements are subject to risks that may cause the actual results to be materially different in future periods from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks that may prevent or delay the forward-looking statements from coming to fruition as anticipated include the availability of working capital, risks inherent in product development, as well as market factors that may increase costs or time to market. It is our policy not to update forward-looking statements except to the extent required under applicable securities laws. Further information on the Company is available at www.sedar.com or at the Company's website, www.airtest.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) is responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150276 BERWYN, Pa., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prepay Nation, a leading global B2B prepaid products marketplace, announces the appointment of Paolo Montessori as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Board of Directors has chosen Montessori to succeed A.J. Hanna as CEO by January 2023 after a thorough succession planning exercise. After over 3 1/2 years at Prepay Nation, including the past 2 1/2 years as CEO, A.J. Hanna announced he will be leaving his role as CEO and Chairman of Prepay Nation by December 31st, 2022. A.J. will continue to support the transition as a special advisor to the Board of Directors and newly appointed CEO. Paolo Montessori joined Prepay Nation in October 2021 as the Chief Revenue Officer. Throughout his more than 25-year career, Montessori has established a solid record of accomplishments leading telecom and financial services firms on a wide range of strategic and business-building possibilities during a time of constant evolution in the financial services and payments world. As CEO, Montessori's primary goals will be to strengthen Prepay Nation's financial position and solid foundation of assets, including a worldwide interconnected distribution network and prepaid marketplace, as well as to accelerate the company's growth plans and expand its payment alternatives. Prepay Nation Board Chairman and CEO A.J. Hanna said, "We are delighted to welcome Paolo Montessori as the next CEO of Prepay Nation. Paolo is a proven leader known for talent development and leadership of teams while spurring growth and innovation in the fintech and telco industries. With his extensive experience expanding Comviva into new geographic regions, as the CEO of eServGlobal where he formed HomeSend, the cross border joint venture with MasterCard, as Chief Executive of Novatti's transaction processing business and CEO of innovative AI powered risk analytics fintech LenddoEFL, he is well-positioned to lead Prepay Nation in this new era. Paolo's focus on accelerating the company's growth and gaining wider adoption of our ecosystem offerings and prepaid marketplace capabilities with users and businesses will launch Prepay Nation 2.0." Anurag Jain, Co-Founder of Prepay Nation added: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, our global employees, clients, and business partners, I want to thank A.J. for his dedication and enthusiasm to Prepay Nation and congratulate him on the many achievements and milestones we celebrated while he has been at the helm of this dynamic company. Under A.J.'s leadership, Prepay Nation expanded its global reach and grew an industry-leading marketplace for prepaid products and turned our capabilities into a competitive advantage." Incoming CEO Paolo Montessori said, "Being selected to lead such a well-respected organization as Prepay Nation, a global technology and prepaid global marketplace, serving more than 150+ countries and over 5 billion users is a great honor and a tremendously exciting opportunity. The passion for innovating with customer needs at heart is what has guided Prepay Nation since its start over a decade ago. I look forward to leading the team at Prepay Nation and working together to chart a future of growth, creating value for our shareholders while supplying essential prepaid services to our global audience." A.J. Hanna added, "It has been an honor and privilege to lead Prepay Nation and help serve our worldwide partners and their users. I have many cherished memories of the time I spent working with our colleagues, whose talent, loyalty, and commitment to our clients are unmatched. I am proud of the purpose-driven business we shaped together, and I look forward to seeing the company and team flourish under Paolo's leadership." About Prepay Nation: Prepay Nation is a leading global B2B prepaid products marketplace that facilitates the purchase of cross-border top ups of mobile airtime, data, gift cards and utility payments across international borders. It boasts an operational presence in 150+ countries, with over 600+ mobile operator's partnerships across 300,000+ retail locations - backed by a globally distributed team in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. We enable local and global brands to distribute their prepaid products through our omni-channel worldwide reseller network. Our partners benefit from increased sales, customer acquisition, engagement, retention and loyalty. For more information, please visit www.prepaynation.comor contact Janis D'souza on hello@prepaynation.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e6e795e8-3952-4fac-be39-a9e19eaaf650 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday, extending recent losses, as worries about energy demand amid rising fears of a global recession continued to weigh on the commodity. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for February ended down $4.09 or about 5.3% at $72.84 a barrel, the lowest settlement in more than three weeks. Brent crude futures were down $4.10 or almost 5% at $78.00 a barrel a little while ago. China's decision to increase export of refined oil products has fueled concerns of weaker demand in the country. Meanwhile, Japan has announced that it would tighten borders controls for travelers from China, in response to a surge in Covid cases among visitors. Traders also took note of comments from former New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley, who said a recession in the U.S. is likely because of what the Fed has to do. Traders are looking ahead to weekly inventory reports from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The API's report is due later today, while EIA's inventory data will be out Thursday morning. 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. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of a new interview with Jackpot Digital discussing their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Jackpot Digital (TSXV:JJ) signs partnership agreement with leading global gaming equipment manufacturer Jackpot Digital (JJ) has signed a partnership agreement with a leading global gaming equipment manufacturer. Jackpot's partner shall manufacture Jackpot's dealerless electronic table games and deliver fully assembled Jackpot Blitz ETGs ready for installation in casinos worldwide. Head of Business Development & Investor Relations Mathieu McDonald sat down with Sabrina Cuthbert to discuss the partnership. For the full interview with Mathieu McDonald and to learn about Jackpot Digital, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit? The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. 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CONTACT: The Market Herald marketing@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE:?The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/734058/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-a-New-Interview-with-Jackpot-Digital-Discussing-Their-Latest-News Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - McLaren Resources Inc. (CSE: MCL) (FSE: 3ML) ("McLaren" / the "Company") announces that it has closed the final tranche of a non-brokered private placement financing consisting of flow-through share units (the "Flow-Through Units") for gross proceeds of $107,870, in addition to the gross proceeds of $420,070 from the first tranche. The Company has issued a total of 1,541,000 Flow-Through Units. The Flow-Through Units were issued at a price of $0.07 per unit, with each Flow-Through Unit consisting of one common share in the capital of McLaren issued on a flow-through basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant is exercisable at a price of $0.10 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Gross proceeds from the financing will be used by McLaren for exploration expenditures on its McCool, Blue Quartz and Kerrs gold properties located in the prolific Timmins Gold District in Northern Ontario. As a result of the financing, Accilent Capital Management Inc., a principal shareholder of the Company as a finder and also as a subscriber of Flow-Through Units through its affiliate Pavilion Flow-Through L.P., has increased its direct and indirect holding of the voting securities of the Company from 26.60% to 27.56% on a fully diluted basis. In addition, an insider of the Company acquired 108,000 Flow-Through Units under the financing. In connection with the financing, McLaren paid finder's fees consisting of $2,402.40 in cash, 58,000 shares and 92,500 warrants of the Company, including a finder's fee of 58,000 shares and 58,000 warrants of the Company to Accilent Capital Management Inc. The Company also announces that it has paid $2,000 and issued 80,000 shares of McLaren to two prospectors in conjunction with the acquisition of an additional 7 mineral claims to further expand its 100%-owned McCool gold property. In addition, the Company has issued 1,100,000 shares as a payment for services to its directors, officers and consultants. About McLaren McLaren has been focussed on exploration work on its gold properties in the Timmins Gold Region of Northeastern Ontario. McLaren owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, 640 ha, Blue Quartz Gold Mine property as well as the 1,650 ha McCool and 775 ha Kerrs gold properties, all located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt along the Destor-Porcupine Deformation Zone, which is host to many of the gold deposits in the area, approximately 85 km east of Timmins city centre. McLaren also owns a 100% interest in the 408 ha Augdome gold property which is located in Tisdale and Whitney Townships immediately east of the Dome Mine owned by Newmont. The Augdome property is currently under a four-year option to Newmont. For more information, please contact: Radovan Danilovsky, President, Phone: 416-203-6784, www.mclarenresources.com MCLAREN RESOURCES INC. 44 Victoria Street, Suite 1616 Toronto, Ontario M5C 1Y2 The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of the press release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management; however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. McLaren Resources Inc. does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws. This news release which announces a completed financing is not for distribution in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150304 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Phenom Resources Corp. (TSXV: PHNM) (OTCQX: PHNMF) (FSE: 1PY0) ("Phenom" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drill results from RC22-016, the second deep hole drilling in 2022 into the gold system that is present under the vanadium resource on its 100% owned Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project, Nevada. RC22-16 was drilled 200 metres (650') south of RC22-15. The attributes of RC22-16 are strikingly better than RC22-15; RC22-16 is the strongest to date within the gold-bearing hydrothermal system which is hosted by Devonian Rodeo Creek and Popovich Formations. Highest priority future targeting has narrowed around the vicinity of RC22-16 and continues south for 1.5 kilometres (0.93 miles), between the convergence of the north-south large-displacement graben fault and NW Fault (see Figure 1). Highlights of RC22-16 are: First hole in the system to date to have 155m (510') of massive Popovich limestone starting at a depth of 512m (1680') to hole bottom The entire limestone section is intensely dolomite and silicified altered - more than any other hole we have drilled The entire limestone section is strongly multi-stage brecciated with quartz and pyrite veining - more than any other hole we have drilled Multiple felsic intrusives, possible dacite, are present just beneath Woodruff Formation within the top of the underlying breccia of probable collapse origin. Felsic intrusives are integral elements present in Carlin gold deposits A continuous intercept of elevated gold within the limestone of 300' grading 80 ppb Au from 1780-2080', including 45' of 112 ppb Au and 90' of 110 ppb Au Southern stepping vector strategy is working - significant rapid lateral changes can be seen between RC22-15 and RC22-16 suggesting closer proximity to a feeder According to Mr. Mathewson, geological consultant to the Company, "I am impressed with the presence and look of this intensely altered, brecciated and mineralized limestone section in RC22-16. It reminds me of other places on the Carlin trend I have observed and explored. This is very compelling. "Around RC22-16 and to the south, is a very favourable geological setting with the convergence of two major faults, the N/S Graben fault and the NW fault both of which appear to be long-lived, multistage, potential feeder-zone structures. Both fault orientations are typical of controlling faults to Carlin type gold deposits. The highest priority area to drill test has narrowed but remains quite voluminous. The main area is 1.5 km long and 200-500m wide shown in Figure 1. This area remains untested; holes RC20-02, 3, 4 and 7 early in our efforts all fell short of the target depth by at least 800' yet all showed clear signs of strong dolomite alteration. A second high priority target area 1.2 km further south of RC22-16 south is 275m x 275m. High grade feeder zones in Carlin systems can be in the order of 150-200m x 150-200m in size and very attractive targets. These feeder zones in Carlin deposits were and are the real profit centers for these big low grade open pits. "The IP chargeability anomaly underlay of Figure 1 are interpreted as sulfide plumes related to the gold hydrothermal system. I have used IP to guide my exploration efforts in the Carlin Trend. One can see a string of IP hot spots along the west side of the N/S Graben Fault. There's a particularly large one where RC22-16 is located. The IP hotspot 1.2 km further south of RC22-16 is interesting as it is proximal to an area of gold anomalies at the surface." Figure 1: Gold Target Drilling to Date on Carlin Gold-Vanadium Project and its Highest Priority Untested Areas To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3372/150318_ae0407fc04b64ab0_002full.jpg Drill Program QAQC The 2022 drill programs are being planned and executed under the supervision of Dave Mathewson, MSc., Geological Advisor for the Company, Qualified Person for the program. Industry standard quality control and quality assurance protocols have been followed throughout in handling, sampling and shipping the chips. Continuous sampling of 5-foot intervals were taken. Samples were analyzed by ALS Global. 2022 AGM Results The Company also wishes to announce the results of its 2022 Annual General & Special Meeting of shareholders held on December 15, 2022. Paul Cowley, Michael Mracek, John Anderson and Dr. Radomir Vukcevic were all re-elected as directors of the Company. Shareholders voted in favour of all matters brought before the meeting, including re-appointing Charlton & Company, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company's auditors, approving the Company's new Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the "Omnibus Plan"), and approving the issuance of 87,500 bonus shares (the "Bonus Shares") to a private company controlled by Paul Cowley, the Company's CEO and President, in recognition of the attainment of certain milestones for the bonus year ended September 30, 2021. The Omnibus Plan, which is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange, provides the Company with a variety of security-related mechanisms to attract, retain, and motivate qualified directors, employees, and consultants. The Omnibus Plan replaced the Company's prior stock option plan and includes (i) a 10% "rolling" option plan, permitting a maximum of 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as at the date of any option grant to be reserved for option grants; and (ii) a fixed plan permitting 8,703,839 common shares to be reserved for grants of restricted share units, deferred share units, performance share units and other share-based compensation awards. The purpose of the Omnibus Plan is to align the interests of directors, employees, and consultants with the interests of shareholders and the long-term goals and success of the Company, and to enable and encourage the directors, employees and consultants to acquire shares as long-term investments. A summary of the Omnibus Plan can be found in the Company's 2022 Information Circular, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The Omnibus Plan, in its entirety, is also attached as Schedule "B" to the Company's 2022 Information Circular. The Company has now issued the 87,500 Bonus Shares, which are subject to a hold period expiring April 29, 2023, in accordance with applicable securities laws and policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. ON BEHALF OF PHENOM RESOURCES CORP. per: "Paul Cowley" CEO & President (604) 340-7711 pcowley@phenomresources.com www.phenomresources.com Technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dave Mathewson, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and Geological Advisor to the Company. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150318 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / An upcoming segment of Military Makeover: Operation Career spotlights Enbridge employees who've transitioned from the U.S. Armed Forces to successful careers with North America's leading energy infrastructure company. Military Makeover is hosted by former talk show host Montel Williams, an advocate for U.S. military veterans who himself retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1996 after 22 years of service. The episode focusing on Enbridge airs today and again on Dec. 22 on the Lifetime Network in the U.S. It will be syndicated on regional network affiliates across the U.S., and also be shown on American Forces TV Network at bases, Navy ships and U.S. diplomatic compounds worldwide. Small spoiler alert: Interviewed participants impactfully cite a specific word on several occasions that links the two institutions intrinsically together. The word is "values." As well, a resounding sense of appreciation and respect between company and employee is conveyed throughout. "The values of Enbridge as a corporation are integrity, respect, safety and inclusion-very much in line with the military," says Stephanie Guerrero, who joined Enbridge in 2008 following time working in health care. Prior to that, Guerrero began her military career serving in the IL Army National Guard at age 17, and she later joined the U.S. Navy. Guerrero is a field operations area manager in Kingsport, Tennessee, who is "responsible for about 1,000 miles of pipe and 13 compressor stations" on Enbridge's natural gas transmission pipeline system. For Guerrero today, there is a rewarding sense of purpose that comes with the responsibility of delivering energy "safely and reliably to millions of people." Says Perry Cole, a senior station operator on the same gas transmission line who joined Enbridge in 2017 following a successful career in the U.S. Marine Corps: "My military values transcribe to Enbridge very easily. In the military we're taught honor, courage, commitment and integrity in all things you do. I take great pride in that." Enbridge is a top employer with a diverse workforce of more than 12,000 people, primarily based in the U.S. and Canada. We're proud to support our military service members, veterans and their families. "Diversity, equity and inclusion are important to us because it's how we win as a business," says Melissa Moye, Enbridge's Chief Human Resources and Inclusion Officer, whose insights are also captured in Military Makeover: Operation Career. "A diverse perspective is super important . . . people are our biggest asset as a company." This people-first approach is supported at Enbridge through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are employee-led groups that bring people together in the workplace based on shared characteristics or life experiences. Joining an ERG helps employees stay connected to colleagues, and also helps shape our culture of inclusion and belonging. Enbridge's Veterans ERG for active and former members of the armed forces and allies engages leadership and other stakeholders to advance the business, including change programs, recruiting, and community outreach. Tune in to Military Makeover: Operation Career on the Lifetime Network today or on Dec. 22 to find out why Enbridge is a great place to work for veterans. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Enbridge Website: http://threeblpro.prod.acquia-sites.com/dashboard/enbridge Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Enbridge View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/734007/Veterans-Values-in-Lock-Step-with-Enbridge-Principles M33 Growth, a Boston, MA-based venture and growth stage investment firm, closed its Third Fund, at $340M. Investors included endowments, philanthropic foundations, and family offices. Led by Michael Anello, Gabe Ling, and Brian Shortsleeve, M33 Growth is a venture and growth stage investment firm that seeks to partner with founders and CEOs who have successfully bootstrapped their companies to strong growth and are positioned to rapidly scale their companies and break through as market leaders. With experience on sales and marketing engines, driving acquisitions, and building value through data assets, M33 Growth seeks to propel portfolio companies to success in their markets. This fund follows the firms $260 million Fund II that closed in early 2020, and its $180 million debut Fund I that closed in late 2017. Since its debut Fund I, M33 Growth has invested in 16 companies across a range of end-markets. FinSMEs 04/01/2022 Three Lehigh County residents Jarrett Coleman, Nick Miller and Josh Siegel took oaths of office as first-time lawmakers amid fanfare and before loved ones in the state Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday. The three said they were humbled and excited to work out of an ornate and historic building recognized around the state. Just the majesty of this place is overwhelming, Siegel said. In the Senate chamber shortly after noon, Republican senators took their oaths first, administered by state Supreme Court Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy. Among them was Coleman, the 33-year-old airline pilot and former Parkland School Board member who defeated longtime Sen. Pat Browne in the May Republican primary. Among those watching Coleman were his wife, Katie, their two young children and his grandfather. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman Below the soaring ceiling of the chamber and standing in a line of senators with their left hands on Bibles, Coleman and the others raised their right hands and took their oath. A short time later, Miller an Allentown Democrat who turned 28 on Dec. 1 and is the youngest state senator in more than 135 years joined a group sworn in by Millers mother, Lehigh County Judge Michele Varricchio. MIller had a bouquet of flowers on his desk, and among the first handshakes he received was from veteran Democratic Sen. Lisa Boscola of Northampton County. Among Republicans who took the oath was Sen. Rosemary Brown of Monroe County. While newly elected to that job, Brown was a veteran of 12 years in the House of Representatives. At roughly the same time in the House chamber, Siegel, a Democrat, was sworn in to his seat representing the eastern end of Allentown and part of Salisbury Township. The 29-year-old Siegel previously worked as a top staffer in the Lehigh County controllers office, ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2017 and then won a seat on Allentown City Council in 2019. Rep. Josh Siegel, an Allentown Democrat, was sworn into office on Tuesday in the state Capitol. This is really humbling, to be honest, Siegel said. He added, My goal in the House is to try and be a consensus-builder. Colemans newly redrawn 16th Senate District includes parts of Lehigh and Bucks counties. His mission, he said, is to return government to working for the people and to empower Pennsylvanians by giving them a seat at the table. Miller has run his own real estate business and about a year ago climbed to the 19,341-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa as part of a fundraising effort to buy exercise equipment for Allentown schools. Sen. Nick MIller of Allentown was sworn into office on Tuesday at the state Capitol His 14th Senate District is new in the Lehigh Valley and includes parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties. Miller said he has put together a strong staff and plans to focus on education, helping small businesses and a housing-repair initiative, among other things. Other, veteran Lehigh Valley lawmakers sworn in Tuesday included Republican Reps. Ryan Mackenzie of Lower Macungie Township, Milou Mackenzie of Lower Saucon Township, Zachary Mako of Lehigh Township, Ann Flood of Moore Township and Joe Emrick of Upper Nazareth Township, and Democratic Reps. Mike Schlossberg of South Whitehall Township, Peter Schweyer of Allentown, Jeanne McNeill of Whitehall Township, Steve Samuelson of Bethlehem and Robert Freeman of Easton. Boscola, of Bethlehem Township, was sworn in to a seventh four-year term in the Senate. Both the House and Senate have the highest number of female lawmakers in their histories. The 16 women in the Senate include eight Democrats and eight Republicans. The 63 women in the House include 35 Democrats and 28 Republicans. Morning Call Capitol correspondent Ford Turner can be reached at fturner@mcall.com. Thomson Reuters Corporation (NYSE / TSX: TRI), announced it has closed on its previously announced acquisition of SurePrep, an Irvine, CA-based 1040 tax automation software and services company. On November 11, 2022, Thomson Reuters announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire SurePrep for $500M in cash. With the acquisition, SurePrep will become part of Tax and Accounting Professionals operations, with revenues in both Tax & Accounting Professionals and Corporates. Thomson Reuters will add David Wyle and SurePrep colleagues to the team, ensuring continuity for customers, partners and employees as they continue to offer SurePrep as a market solution. Led by CEO Dave Wyle, SurePrep is a provider of automation solutions for tax professionals. Its solutions deliver integration with tax software to automate and streamline the entire 1040 process for both the taxpayer and tax professional. Its core software and services include 1040SCAN, SPbinder and TaxCaddy. They are used by over 23,000 tax professionals ranging from Big 4 firms to sole practitioners to reduce administrative costs, automate workpaper preparation, and improve client service. SurePrep is expected to generate approximately $60m of revenue in 2022 and grow in excess of 20% annually in the next few years. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be neutral in the first year, followed by annual increases thereafter, as integration costs subside and revenue scales. Acquired deferred revenue is expected to be a modest free cash flow drag in the first year. FinSMEs 04/01/2023 On January 2, Ambassador Qin Gang bid farewell to people of various sectors of the United States on Twitter. The full tweet is as follows: I am completing my duty as Chinese Ambassador to the United States. I came to assume office in 2021 at a time of severe challenges for China-US relations. During my tenure here, I have been working to implement the common understandings of our two Presidents, serve as a bridge and bond of communication between the two countries, and explore the right way to get along for China and the US in the new era. I want to pay sincere thanks to the people of the United States for the strong support and assistance given to me and the Chinese Embassy during this period. In the past 500+ days, I have visited 22 states. I went to government agencies, Congress, think tanks, enterprises, factories, ports, farms, schools and sport fields, and made many friends across the US. I have been deeply impressed by so many hard-working, friendly and talented American people that I met. Whats past is prologue. Going forward, I will continue to care about and support the growth of China-US relations, encourage dialogue, mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, work for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between our two countries, and make my due efforts for the wellbeing of the two peoples and for world peace, stability and development. On September 21, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York. Wang Yi said, pragmatic cooperation between China and Norway has made positive progress in recent years. Last year, bilateral trade increased by nearly 40 percent year on year. Free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations have entered the final stage, and a new version on avoidance of double taxation will soon be signed. In the face of world changes and chaos, stability and confidence are more important than gold. The two sides should respect each other and treat each other as equals, increase understanding and eliminate misunderstanding, maintain the sound momentum of sound and stable development of China-Norway relations, strengthen exchanges at all levels, and promote pragmatic cooperation to achieve more results. China is ready to work with Norway to strengthen communication and coordination in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions and jointly practice true multilateralism. Huitfeldt said that the Norwegian side is pleased that the two sides have overcome the pandemic and continued to advance bilateral relations. Norway and China have great potential for cooperation in such areas as climate change response, economic transformation, renewable energy, and green development. Norway looks forward to speeding up FTA negotiations and continuing to conduct constructive cooperation with China. Wang Yi expressed, China has played an important role in promoting the conclusion of the Paris Agreement. China will continue to show its responsibility as a major country and shoulder its due responsibility for the future of humanity. We stay committed to the path of green, low-carbon, and sustainable development, and have set two ambitious goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality to achieve the largest reduction in carbon emission intensity in the world. We vigorously develop renewable energy, with electricity generated by wind and solar power ranking the first worldwide, as well as the world's largest production and sales of new energy vehicles. Developed countries are expected to honor their commitments and provide financial, technological, and capacity-building support to developing countries. Huitfeldt said that Europe is deeply worried about the current situation in Ukraine and hopes that China will play an important role. Wang Yi expounded on the principled position of the Chinese government and stressed that what President Xi Jinping has proposed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported is the fundamental guide for China in dealing with the Ukraine issue. The international community should support all efforts conducive to peace, and cope with the challenges brought by the spillover of the crisis to world economic recovery. China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace talks in its own way. On the afternoon of 4 January, President Xi Jinping held talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Great Hall of the People during the latters state visit to China. President Xi welcomed President Marcos Jr. on his first visit to China as the Philippine President. President Xi noted that this is the first official visit of President Marcos Jr. to a country outside ASEAN, and that he is the first foreign leader China hosts in 2023. This speaks volumes about the close ties between China and the Philippines and the important place that the two countries take in each others foreign policies. China and the Philippines are close neighbors facing each other across the sea. In their exchanges over a millennium, good faith and mutual assistance have remained the defining feature of bilateral relations and a precious legacy cherished by the two peoples. Forty-eight years ago, the father of President Marcos Jr. and the Chinese leaders of the older generation keenly grasped the changing situation at that time. They followed the trend of the times and made the historic decision of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. Over the past half-century since then, despite changes in the international landscape and the domestic politics of the Philippines, President Marcos Jr. and his family have stayed committed as ever to promoting the China-Philippines friendship, a commitment that is most invaluable. President Xi expressed his hope that this visit will be a journey to retrace history and, more importantly, a journey to plan for the future. China views the Philippines as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and approaches its relations with the Philippines from a strategic and overall perspective. President Xi expressed readiness to stay in regular strategic communication with President Marcos Jr. and make comprehensive plans for the growth of bilateral ties so that the two countries will stay good neighbors helping each other, good relatives sharing affinity, and good partners pursuing win-win cooperation, delivering more benefits to the two peoples and contributing more positive energy to peace and stability in the region. President Xi emphasized that despite different national conditions and systems, China and the Philippines have similar goals and paths of development and enjoy vast potential for cooperation. The two sides need to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between government agencies, between legislatures, and between political parties to form greater synergy between their development strategies, seek more complementarity in each others modernization drive, and better serve development and prosperity in both countries. The two sides have identified agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people exchanges as four priority areas of cooperation. They are the main pillars for the China-Philippines relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation, and more efforts must be made to nurture new growth areas and highlights in these fields. As China is advancing rural revitalization across the board and moving faster to build the countrys strength in agriculture, it stands ready to help the Philippines in agricultural and rural development, by such means as turning the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology into a signature project, carrying out cooperation on the whole industrial chain including breeding, production, processing and storage, and accelerating cooperation in Juncao technology. The two countries need to promote cooperation in infrastructure and connectivity, including good implementation of key cooperation projects in hard infrastructure and broader cooperation in soft infrastructure including telecommunication, big data and e-commerce, to boost the overall economic and social development of the Philippines. China and the Philippines have a lot to offer each other when it comes to cooperation on both fossil fuels and clean energy. China will work with the Philippines to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation, resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration, promote cooperation on oil and gas exploration in non-disputed areas, and conduct green energy cooperation on photovoltaics, wind power, and new energy vehicles. China will continue to import more quality agricultural and fishery products from the Philippines and support Chinese business investments and cooperation in the Philippines. The two sides need to deepen people-to-people exchanges in all respects, expand cooperation on basic and vocational education, and explore innovation cooperation in such areas as meteorology and aerospace. China will continue to work with the Philippines on vaccine research and development, and foster a new mode of mutual assistance and cooperation between provinces, cities, districts and counties in light of local industrial strengths. China is taking proactive steps to adapt its COVID response and better coordinate it with economic and social development in a science-based manner. The people in China and the Philippines can soon resume close exchanges like before the pandemic. President Xi stressed that China and the Philippines, two developing countries in Asia, have their development rooted in a friendly neighborhood and in the big family of Asia featuring win-win cooperation. China will work with the Philippines and other ASEAN countries to focus on cooperation and development, uphold ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation, and advance the five proposals on building a shared home together, to ensure the region stays away from the shadow of the Cold War and from bloc confrontation and remains a fine example of development and prosperity. China appreciates the Philippines support for the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. China will work with the Philippines to render each other greater support, uphold the common interests of the two countries and other developing countries, advocate humanitys common values, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and contribute to better regional and global governance. President Marcos Jr. expressed his pleasure at making a visit that he has long looked forward to, which is also his first state visit to a country outside ASEAN. He expressed his hope to prove to the world through this visit that the Philippines-China relationship is in very good shape and is very important, and that both sides attach great importance to this relationship and are committed to taking it to a new height. Although it has only been 48 years since the Philippines and China established diplomatic relations, the friendship between the two peoples has lasted over a millennium. President Marcos Jr. underscored his privilege of being part of history in the establishment of the diplomatic ties, and noted the important responsibilities that he is taking on to carry forward the longstanding friendship between the two countries. He expressed his readiness for close communication with President Xi and closer cooperation on all fronts to open a new chapter in the Philippines-China relationship of comprehensive strategic cooperation, better resolve common challenges and issues facing the two countries, deliver more benefits to the two peoples, and make new contribution to reestablishing the region as a major engine of the world economy. The Philippines is ready to work with China to unlock potentials, further enrich the bilateral relationship, and deepen cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment, science and technology, and digital economy, among others. The cooperation documents to be signed today in the presence of the two presidents will lend a strong impetus to economic development in the Philippines. China is the strongest partner of the Philippines, and nothing can hold back the continuation and development of the Philippines-China friendship. The Philippines adheres to the one-China policy. It is willing to continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultation, and resume negotiations on oil and gas exploration. President Marcos Jr. thanked China for providing valuable support to his countrys fight against COVID-19. He expressed his hope that when the pandemic is over, more Chinese tourists and students will go to the Philippines and more people-to-people exchanges will take place to lay a more solid foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations. He expressed full confidence in the outlook of the bilateral relations. After the talks, the two presidents jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation, agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, finance, customs, e-commerce and tourism. Prior to the talks, President Xi held a welcoming ceremony for President Marcos Jr. at the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People. A 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square. A guard of honor lined up in salutation and fanfare trumpets were played. The two presidents stepped onto a stand and a military band played the national anthems of China and the Philippines. President Marcos Jr. reviewed the guard of honor of the Peoples Liberation Army and watched the march-past in the company of President Xi. Madame Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi, and Madame Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of President Marcos Jr., also attended the welcoming ceremony. On the evening of the same day, President Xi and Madame Peng hosted a welcoming banquet for President Marcos Jr. and his wife at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the events. During President Marcos Jr.s visit to China, the two sides will release a Joint Statement Between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines. Twenty-four hours after his appearance in a Pennsylvania courtroom, Bryan Kohberger arrived in Idaho late Wednesday to face charges in the slayings of four college students. Kohberger, 28, arrested Friday at his parents house in Chestnuthill Township, left the Monroe County jail early Wednesday and was handed into the custody of the Pennsylvania State Police, according to reports. The director of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport told The Times-Tribune of Scranton that Kohberger was flown out of the airport in a state police plane at 10:30 a.m. Around 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, a plane registered to the Pennsylvania State Police landed at Pullman-Moscow Airport, located in Washington just over the border from Idaho. Live video from the scene showed Kohberger, dressed in a red jail jumpsuit, being escorted from the plane to waiting police vehicles. Local and national media began gathering early Wednesday afternoon at the Latah County Courthouse in Idaho, where Kohberger was to make his first appearance, as well as at the airport. Pullman is home to Washington State University, where Kohberger, a graduate of Northampton Community College and DeSales University, was enrolled as a doctoral student studying criminal justice. It was unknown when Kohberger would make his first appearance in Idaho court, but could be as early as Thursday morning. It will be a routine but highly anticipated appearance, because once its over, the arrest affidavit and other paperwork can be released to the public. Idaho law prohibits the release of such documents before arraignment and limits what information can be released by police and prosecutors, who have not been able to say how they connected Kohberger to the crime. In addition, Latah County Judge Megan Marshall on Tuesday issued a gag order barring any communication by investigators, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and agents of the prosecuting attorney or defense attorney concerning this case, the Moscow, Idaho, Police Department said in a news release. Latah County Sheriff Richard Skiles, responding to media questions about the way Kohberger will be housed at the county jail, said in a statement that housing classification isnt decided until inmates are evaluated by staff. Kohberger has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 13 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kernodles boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20. Idaho authorities have said Kohberger broke into the students home near the University of Idaho campus intending to commit murder. Kohberger, who earned a masters degree in criminal justice from DeSales University, on Tuesday waived his extradition hearing, clearing the way for his return to Idaho within 10 days. Monroe Countys chief public defender, Jason LaBar, who represented him in the extradition matter, said Kohberger was eager to exonerate himself. A portion of the document signed by Bryan Kohberger waiving the murder suspects right to an extradition hearing in Idaho slayings. On Sunday, Kohbergers family released a statement supporting him. We will continue to let the legal process unfold and as a family we will love and support our son and brother, they wrote. Kohbergers father, Michael, flew to Washington in December and returned to Pennsylvania on a cross-country trip with his son. On Interstate 70 in Indiana, the younger Kohberger was at the wheel of a white Hyundai Elantra when the pair were pulled over by police twice within 10 minutes. Both times, Kohberger was following a vehicle too closely, police said. He was released with a warning in each case. The traffic stops happened Dec. 15, two days before authorities in Idaho announced they were seeking a white Hyundai Elantra spotted near the murder scene. Details about Kohbergers life have emerged in bits and pieces since Friday through interviews with former public school and college friends and classmates. They paint a picture of a bright, solitary man who overcame drug addiction after high school and earned degrees at Northampton Community College and DeSales, where he was a standout student. However, he was also described as awkward, especially around women, and had an unpredictable personality. He was always a strange person, one former friend, Lawrence Rosenberg, told The Morning Call. Another former friend said he cut ties with Kohberger because he had grown aggressive and confrontational over time. The owner of Seven Sirens brewery in Bethlehem said Kohberger was flagged as a problem patron because he harassed staff, according to a report from NBC News. When contacted by The Morning Call, the brewerys owner said he would not be speaking with any more news outlets because he received death threats. In 1981 Mr. Conservative Barry Goldwater gave us a dire warning. Goldwater lashed out at the Moral Majority and political preachers, calling them obsessive fake conservatives. By invoking Gods will on every issue, Goldwater argued, they attack the very concept of our representative system. Jerry Falwells plea for Christians to take back their nation and Pat Robertsons rant about fumigating termites in America were bad enough. Now Goldwaters concern needs to be revisited. Rick Joyner has preached that the armed forces may have to overthrow the federal government to save America. Then the military junta would Christianize us. Joyners mum on how his gunpoint theocracy would treat dissenters though. My own guess would be a shot to the back of the head. James Guiducci of Easton is a former adjunct professor of Western Civilization at Lehigh Carbon Community College. Andrew Torba wants Jews and pagans to be removed from all leadership posts in the U.S., and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn says we cant be one nation under God without one religion under God. This brings us to the latest Bible bungler to join this genocide monger love in. Milo Yiannopoulos wants a national blasphemy law and exclusion of non-Christians from government. On top of this, Yiannopoulos says only Christians can have First and Second Amendment rights. Christianity is the only creed that produces people who can handle those freedoms, thats why. The doctrine that Christians have a duty to control the societies they live in is known as the cultural mandate. Trump attorney Jay Sekulow has defended this mandate by name, although he admitted hes no theologian. Rousas John Rushdoony is the theologian who dreamed up this nightmare. Rushdoony used some crafty sleight of hand to build his case for the divine lordship of the Christian. He went to Genesis 1:28-29 where God gave the command to take dominion over the earth to Adam and Eve. Then he took that command given four millennia before the Christian church existed and transferred it to the church. As a result of this, the Christian inherits a divine right to rule over nonbelievers. In addition, he made a case for imposing Old Testament criminal laws on modern society including the punishments. In his tome The Roots of Reconstruction, he proposed the death penalty for adulterers, blasphemers, witches, homosexuals, astrologers and teachers of false doctrine. Any student of American history knows this happened before. Puritan New England was ordered along Old Testament lines. The Massachusetts Body of Liberties of 1641 imposed the death penalty for all of the above with one exception. Antinomians, Baptists, Quakers and other dissenters could accept banishment. Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson and John Wheelwright were ejected from the colony. Only Christians who agreed with Puritan theology (and its politics) could qualify as Gods elect or visible saints. To the Puritan leadership, freedom of religion was freedom to lie about God: the crime of heretical blasphemy. Quakers were particularly verboten to the Massachusetts rulers. If a Quaker returned to the colony multiple times after banishment the death penalty was imposed, as Mary Dyer, William Leddra and others found out the hard way. To paraphrase Orwell, in a Bible State all Christians are equal, but some Christians are more equal than others. Few Christian nation fist-pounders mention Rushdoony by name anymore. They just try to restate his idea. Pat Robertson disavows dominion theology but believes in the law of dominion. Others call it the New Apostolic Reformation. Another catchy sales pitch for this bunk goes by Reclaiming the Seven Mountains. Whatever Christian nation dreamers call it; their vision of America has a built-in trap. Electronic cults like The 700 Club love to spew the one way wall of separation theory: First Amendment rights protect the church from state interference, not the other way around. However, if only Christians will be admitted to the state, then the state decides who qualifies as one and defines the church. Weve seen this bloody act before. When one human being assumes a divine birthright to rule over another, no atrocity is off limits. Anything goes in Gods name. Barry Goldwater warned us, and so do the zealots with their own words. Religious freedom hangs in the balance. James Guiducci of Palmer Township is a former adjunct professor of Western civilization at Lehigh Carbon Community College and author of Natural Religion Against Slavery: William Ellery Channing on Slavery and The Political Speech Myth: How the Cult of Original Meaning Endangers Our Free Speech Rights. Did you quiet quit last year? Quiet fire someone? Return to the office? Go hybrid? Search for remote jobs? In 2022, the workplace made headlines. The Great Reshuffle continued, public support for unions reached a 57-year high and being in the office meant Tuesday through Thursday for many employees. During this transformational year, Gallup researchers made new discoveries about what employees want from work, the best ways to lead hybrid teams and the changing nature of workplace culture. ###Embeddable### Here are some of Gallup's most-read workplace articles of the past year: 1. Is Quiet Quitting Real? The concept of quiet quitting went viral in online culture during 2022. But many wondered if it was a real trend or just hype. Gallup found that U.S. employee engagement continued to decline in the second quarter of 2022, while actively disengaged employees rose. Half of U.S. workers are doing the minimum required and are psychologically detached from their job. And the ratio of engaged to actively disengaged employees is now 1.8 to 1, the lowest in almost a decade. See also: Quiet Firing: What It Is and How to Stop Doing It 2. The Future of Hybrid Work: 5 Key Questions Answered With Data Approximately half of U.S. full-time workers report that their current job can be done remotely, at least part of the time. These workers have experienced a year of tug-of-war as leader expectations clashed with employee desires. Most organizations are settling on some kind of hybrid work. But whats the best way to navigate hybrid work? In March, we broke down our key findings on the most productive and engaging way to do hybrid. In August, we revealed worker preferences about hybrid and remote. But dont miss our November update on the best ways to coordinate hybrid work. 3. U.S. Employee Engagement Drops for First Year in a Decade At the start of 2022, U.S. employee engagement saw its first annual decline in a decade, and this trend continued into the spring. This means that across the country, employees feel less connected to and less enthusiastic about their work -- which aligns with a sharp decline in employees who feel their employer cares about their wellbeing. This is concerning for many organizations, but an opportunity for some to distinguish themselves as exceptional workplaces that attract and keep talented people. 4. 7 People Management Skills You Need to Succeed This Year Gallup analyzed what separates top performers from everyone else across hundreds of job roles and a variety of industries to identify the most important skills to be successful in any role. The top seven skills all deal with interacting with others, and they are especially important for managers. In addition, while these skills are universal, they may require special attention and intention in a new world of remote and hybrid work. 5. The Top 6 Things Employees Want in Their Next Job When Gallup studied what employees are looking for in their next job, we discovered something surprising: Both pay and wellbeing have risen significantly in importance for employees. Employees may be seeking higher pay because they are aware that wages are increasing in the competitive job market. On the other hand, employees increased desire for personal wellbeing may be due to high levels of burnout and stress and a new awareness of job flexibility following the COVID-19 pandemic. 6. Don't Confuse 'Being in the Office' With 'Culture' One of Gallups most surprising workplace findings of 2022 is this: Hybrid workers feel more connected to their organizations culture than do fully on-site workers. This challenges the common view that being in the office preserves company culture. The truth is that few employees feel connected to their organizations culture -- but hybrid work may be making remote work and in-office work more intentional and meaningful. 7. The Increasing Importance of a Best Friend at Work Over the years, Gallups research has consistently shown that having a best friend at work makes work itself more engaging. Recent Gallup data reveal that work friendships have become even more important since the start of the pandemic. A best friend at work can provide emotional support and help employees shoulder an intense workload and stay in the loop on important team information. They also help employees own their work, even when working remotely. Dont miss Gallups best workplace advice and discoveries in 2023. Subscribe to the Gallup at Work newsletter to get our latest workplace insights delivered to your inbox twice monthly. The end of disposable packaging has come: Since the 1st of January in France, fast food restaurants have to use reusable tableware. But are restaurant owners prepared for this change? Forde, Jan. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Open Innovation Ecosystem EarlyBirds.io is pleased to partner with the Leading Innovation Summit being held in Sydney from 28 31 March 2023. This first of its kind event, will provide leaders with the skills they need to encourage and drive innovative thinking throughout their organisations. The summit was created by The Leadership Institute with the aim of helping all types of leaders with continuous learning to develop and hone their management and leadership skills. The four-day immersive program will provide learning and mentoring from the best innovative leaders globally. The Leading Innovation Summits programs are based on The Leadership Institutes four pillars of ethics: trust and purpose; innovation, technology and digital leadership; equality, inclusion and diversity; and strategy, growth and development. According to The Leadership Institute, the winners of the global innovation race will land the next generations of consumers and provide better services to stakeholders more efficiently. A recent McKinsey survey indicated that 70% of senior executives view innovation as one of the top three drivers of growth for their companies in the next three years. Yet most executives are generally disappointed in their ability to stimulate innovation. More information about the event can be found at the event homepage, https://www.theleadershipinstitute.com.au/leading-innovation-summit/. There are two main types of innovation. The first is sustaining innovation typical pursued by businesses wanting to stay on top of their market. The other is disruptive innovation when smaller companies challenge larger businesses ranging from low-end disruption to new market disruption where new market segments are created. The most successful companies incorporate both types of innovation into their business strategies. While maintaining an existing position in the market is important, pursuing growth is essential to being competitive. It also helps protect a business against other companies affecting its standing. These types of innovation foster adaptability to market forces, stimulates growth and separates businesses from competitors. One dilemma for organisations is balancing the demands of the operational world with the innovation world. The operational world reflects an organisations routine processes and procedures where risk taking in usually discouraged. In the Innovative world creativity and experimentation is encouraged to enable creativity and experimentation to openly explore ideas and trends. However, both worlds are necessary for innovation as creativity must be grounded in reality. According to McKinsey leadership in innovation requires a commitment to an operating model based on it. Organizations that hope to catch up to the leaders must stop treating innovation as a product game and instead evolve new business models. They should also take a more iterative approach to development and make scale a requirement from the start. Even committed innovators have room to improve, but the volume of innovation during the recent crisis shows that companies can overcome even the harshest challenges if they have the right practices in place and believe that innovation matters. For companies that understand this, EarlyBirds offers its Early Adopter programs, which can be found here: https://earlybirds.io/en/early_adopter EarlyBirds offers its unique and world leading open-source intelligence platform and services to leaders and managers, across all types of business sectors, who need to function in both the operational and innovative worlds. The platform holds data on over 4.5 million global innovators covering startup, scale-up and mature companies across all types of technologies. Its range of offerings and services is designed to enable organizations with the capabilities they need to address the strategic and tactical needs to function effectively in the operational and innovative worlds. EarlyBirds ecosystem innovation maps are created on a business or technical theme and populated with global industry data that is dynamically updated. The maps have multiple uses from providing critical data for strategic decision making including the impact of emerging and disruptive technologies through to solving wicked problems, understanding strengths and weaknesses, and determining opportunities for collaboration. The EarlyBirds framework and collaboration tools are designed to assist companies and leaders to scale their capability edge. Innovative companies interested in connecting with other organizations via the EarlyBirds platform can find out more here: https://earlybirds.io/en/innovator ### For more information about EarlyBirds, contact the company here: EarlyBirds Mr Kris Poria and Mr Jeff Penrose +61 401 287 060 support@earlybirds.io FORDE SUITE 10, LEVEL 1, 26 FRANCIS FORDE BOULEVARD, FORDE, ACT 2914 CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FluroTech Ltd. (FluroTech or the Company) (TSXV: TEST) announces that it has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (Agreement) to sell all of the shares of FluroTest Diagnostic Systems Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to an arms length individual (the Purchaser). The Purchaser has agreed to pay total cash consideration of $1.00 in lawful Canadian currency. The completion of the transaction is effective December 31, 2022. Additionally, the Company announces the cancellation of an aggregate of 3,435,050 options to purchase Common shares previously granted under the Companys stock option plan (the Stock Option Plan) to certain directors, officers and employees (the Cancelled Options). Under the Stock Option Plan, the Company may grant up to an aggregate 12,068,554 stock options. As of the date of this release, the Company has 5,996,097 options outstanding, that will likely be forfeited over the next 90 days. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, technology or operations that is prospective in nature. The forward-looking information in this news release includes the completion of the Agreement, the ability of the parties to complete the transactions as contemplated in the Agreement and disclosure about the future plans of the Company. The Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the benefit or account of U.S. persons, absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. For general FluroTech inquiries: FluroTech Ltd. Danny Dalla-Longa, CEO info@flurotest.com NEW YORK, Jan. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA), and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and docketed under 23-cv-00003, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Avaya securities between November 22, 2021 and November 29, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchase or otherwise acquired Avaya securities, you have until March 6, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Avaya purports to be a global leader in digital communications products, solutions and services for businesses of all sizes delivering its technology predominantly through software and services. The Company claims that its global, experienced team of professionals delivers award-winning services from initial planning and design to seamless implementation and integration, to ongoing managed operations, optimization, training and support. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Companys internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) was deficient in several areas; (ii) as a result of these deficiencies, the Company had failed to design and maintain effective controls over its whistleblower policies and its ethics and compliance program; (iii) the Companys deteriorating financial condition was likely to raise substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern; and (iv) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On July 28, 2022, Avaya announced the termination of its Chief Executive Officer James M. Chirico, Jr.. The Company also announced preliminary Q3 2022 financial results that included expected revenues and adjusted EBITDA well below previously given guidance and an unquantified but significant impairment charge. In addition, Avaya withdrew its 2022 guidance. On this news, Avayas stock price fell $1.19 per share, or 56.99%, to close at $0.90 per share on July 29, 2022. Then, on August 9, 2022, Avaya announced that: (1) it determined there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern; (2) it would not timely file its financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2022; (3) its Audit Committee commenced internal investigations into circumstances surrounding the Companys financial results for the quarter; and (4) the Audit Committee also commenced an investigation into matters raised by a whistleblower. On this news, Avayas stock price fell $0.51 per share, or 45.54%, to close at $0.61 per share on August 9, 2022. Finally, before the market opened on November 30, 2022, Avaya disclosed in a Current Report filed on Form 8-K with the SEC that control deficiencies [] management had been reviewing represent material weaknesses in the Companys internal control over financial reporting and that managements assessment of ICFR included in Item 9A of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year 2021 ended September 30, 2021, filed with the [SEC] on November 22, 2021 [] should no longer be relied upon. Specifically, the Form 8-K stated that the Company did not design and maintain effective controls related to the information and communication component of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission framework, did not design and maintain effective controls to ensure appropriate communication between certain functions within the Company, and did not design and maintain effective controls over the ethics and compliance program. On this news, Avayas stock price fell $0.16 per share, or 14.28%, to close at $0.96 per share on November 30, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Dublin, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Growth Opportunities in Smart Manufacturing" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. With the advent of Industry 4.0 and smart factories, digital manufacturing technologies have been experiencing exponential technological growth. Disruptive technologies are playing a vital role in the revolutionary transformation of many key industries, such as aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, healthcare, and oil and gas. 3D printing, advanced robotics, IIoT, and many data-driven technologies are not only redefining manufacturing but also fundamentally reshaping product design. Industries and manufacturers have adopted these transformative technologies to achieve maximum benefit, in terms of operating profits and achieving sustainability in manufacturing. Data technologies and data analytics define the entire new transformation and revitalization of manufacturing and make it a highly automated and self-sufficient entity. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies drive intelligent automation and serve as a catalyst that increases productivity in industrial operations. Monolithic architecture is prevalent in industrial and manufacturing software development and deployment. Rigid and complex, a monolithic application is a large code repository where changes or updates require manual installation and scheduled downtime. Patches released during the release cycle can take months. A single failure can affect the entire application, and the system must recover completely to resume operations. In increasingly changing and digitalized business environments, business agility and flexibility have become pivotal and rendered monolithic architecture inadequate. AR technology simplifies complex processes by placing the right information in the right place at the right time. It also bridges the gap between the cyber-physical IoT and the real world and creates a composite environment in real time. Manufacturers are implementing advanced AR technology into their shop floor and assembly processes, to reduce cost, increase efficiency, and improve overall production; this trend is changing the face of manufacturing. AR superimposes holographic images and merges them with the real world and enables workers to identify effective ways to enhance the product design process. Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Mega Trend Universe - Overview 2. Executive Dashboard Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine The Mega Trend Universe - Smart Manufacturing Key Findings Growth Opportunities Vital to Future Success 3. Strategic Context Global Manufacturing Output Forecast - An Overview Changing Dynamics of the Manufacturing Industry Reimagining Manufacturing and Smart Factories in 2030 Smart Factory - A 4IR Production Environment Enforcers that Call for Adoption of Smart Manufacturing Automation Levels in a Smart Factory Setup Growth Prospect of Global Factory Automation Characteristics of 4IR-based Smart Manufacturing How 4IR Revolutionizes Manufacturing Technology Drivers for Smart Factory Environment 4. Industry Best Practices Case Study: Data Analysis from Industrial Sensors Case Study: Robots Helping in Factory Automation Case Study: Virtual-reality-based Production Case Study: Predictive Maintenance Case Study: In-factory Autonomous Vehicles Case Study: Blockchain Helping with Vendor Management Case Study: 3D Printing for Lightweight Components Case Study: Flexible Manufacturing Case Study: Advanced Computer Vision Case Study: IoT Platform Assists Human Operators Case Study: Equipment Monitoring Case Study: Assembly Line Automation Case Study: Cobots Case Study: Blockchain-driven Digital Provenance Case Study: Precision Additive Manufacturing Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Trend Opportunity - Attractiveness Analysis 5. Trend Impact Analysis Trend Opportunity Impact and Certainty Analysis Trend Opportunity Disruption Index Trend Disruption Attractiveness Score Trend Opportunity Growth Index Growth Attractiveness Score Trends Beets Implications 6. Growth Opportunity Universe Growth Opportunity 1: Automation to Reduce Waste-related Losses Growth Opportunity 2: Automation to Assist Manufacturing-to-zero Initiatives Growth Opportunity 3: Automated Microfactories-as-a-Service Model to Empower SMBs 7. Next Steps Identifying Your Company's Growth Zone Your Next Steps About the Growth Pipeline Model 8. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f20ujo Dublin, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cough Syrup Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global cough syrup market size reached US$ 5.4 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 7 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.42% during 2021-2027. Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 145 Forecast Period 2021 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2021 $5.4 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $7 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.4% Regions Covered Global Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Cough syrup is a combination drug that is used to provide temporary relief from cough, common cold, hay fever and other respiratory allergies. It is manufactured using non-opioid cough suppressants, expectorants and antihistamine compounds to block the symptoms. The suppressants aid in alleviating the symptoms of dry cough by minimizing the activity of the cough reflex and reducing the urge to cough. The expectorants aid in treating cough with mucus by loosening the mucus, thereby making it easier to expel from the body. The antihistamines are used to relieve cough caused by minor throat or airway irritation. Cough syrups are usually prescribed by doctors or are available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacy stores in a wide variety of flavors, such as cherry, orange, honey and bubblegum. Cough Syrup Market Trends: The increasing prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and other respiratory disorders across the globe is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market. Moreover, the rising geriatric population, which is more susceptible to such ailments, is providing a thrust to the market growth. Cough syrup is primarily used for the treatment of dry cough developed due to the prolonged exposure to poor air quality, tobacco and indoor smoke and air pollution. In line with this, the rising health consciousness among the masses and convenient product availability in pharmacies and general stores are also contributing to the growth of the market. Additionally, various product innovations, such as the development of cough syrups with minimal side effects, are acting as other growth-inducing factors. Product manufacturers are developing variants fortified with natural herbs and ingredients with immunity-boosting effects. Other factors, including rising expenditure capacities of the consumers, along with significant growth in the pharmaceutical industry, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Acella Pharmaceuticals LLC, Bayer AG, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc., Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc., Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited and The Procter & Gamble Company. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global cough syrup market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global cough syrup market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the product type? What is the breakup of the market based on the age group? What is the breakup of the market based on the distribution channel? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global cough syrup market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Cough Syrup Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Product Type 6.1 Expectorants 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Cough Suppressants/Antitussives 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Combination Medications 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Age Group 7.1 Pediatric 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Adult 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Distribution Channel 8.1 Retail Pharmacy 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Hospital Pharmacy 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Online Pharmacy 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 Acella Pharmaceuticals LLC 14.3.1.1 Company Overview 14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.2 Bayer AG 14.3.2.1 Company Overview 14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.2.3 Financials 14.3.3 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 14.3.3.1 Company Overview 14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.3.3 Financials 14.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.4 Johnson & Johnson 14.3.4.1 Company Overview 14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4.3 Financials 14.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.5 Pfizer Inc. 14.3.5.1 Company Overview 14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5.3 Financials 14.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.6 Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. 14.3.6.1 Company Overview 14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.6.3 Financials 14.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.7 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 14.3.7.1 Company Overview 14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.7.3 Financials 14.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.8 Sanofi 14.3.8.1 Company Overview 14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.8.3 Financials 14.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.9 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited 14.3.9.1 Company Overview 14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.9.3 Financials 14.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.10 The Procter & Gamble Company 14.3.10.1 Company Overview 14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10.3 Financials 14.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1vbbi0 Attachment Dublin, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Home and Small Business Security System Market in Europe and North America - 12th Edition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Cellular connectivity is rapidly becoming a standard feature in security alarm systems for the consumer and small business markets. The analyst estimates the number of cellular IoT connections for home and small business security systems in Europe and North America will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent from 39.9 million in 2021 to 55.2 million in 2026. Learn about the business opportunities associated with wireless IoT solutions for the alarm system industry in this 100-page report covering both Europe and North America. Read the new findings about the market for home and small business security systems. The number of professionally monitored alarm systems in Europe is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5 percent, from 17.6 million in 2021 to reach 21.9 million in 2026. In North America, the number of monitored alarm systems is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 3.0 percent, from 33.6 million in 2021 to 39.0 million in 2026. Security systems for small businesses and private homes can be divided into three main categories - local, self-monitored and professionally monitored security systems. When activated, a local security system emits an alarm sound to alert the surroundings and scare off intruders. Such systems are not monitored and cannot be accessed from remote. A self-monitored security system is connected and informs the owner of the premises upon activation by sending a text message, email or push notification through a smartphone app. A professionally monitored security system is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). When the system is activated, the ARC can dispatch a security patrol and contact emergency services. The traditional home and small business security systems market in Europe and North America is served by specialist home security companies such as ADT, Verisure, Brinks Home (Monitronics) and Sector Alarm; security service companies such as Prosegur, Securitas and G4S; telecommunications and cable television companies such as Comcast, Telus, Cox Communications and Bell Canada; as well as utilities, banks and insurance companies such as EPS (Credit Mutuel), Credit Agricole and Groupama. Traditional home security systems include professional alarm monitoring. Providers of DIY home security systems include SimpliSafe, Frontpoint, Ring (Amazon), Yale (Assa Abloy), Arlo, Somfy, Scout Security, Canary, Minut and Wyze Labs. DIY security systems typically include self-monitoring as a standard feature and professional alarm monitoring services are offered as an option. ADT and Verisure are the two largest providers of professionally monitored alarm systems for homes and small businesses, with 6.3 million and 4.3 million customers respectively at the end of 2021. ADT is only active in the US while Verisure is active in 13 European countries and four countries in South America. Highlights from the report: Insights from 30 executive interviews with market leading companies. New data on alarm system adoption by country and segment. Comprehensive overview of the home and small business alarm system value chain. Detailed profiles of key players on the European and North American security markets. In-depth analysis of market trends and key developments. Market forecasts by region, lasting until 2026. This report answers the following questions: Who are the leading providers of monitored home and small business alarm systems? Why are alarm system providers investing in smart home technology? Are DIY home alarm systems providers a threat to traditional players? What is the potential market size for cellular IoT in the alarm systems industry? Which are the leading providers of secure alarm communications services? What is the market value of the alarm system industry in Europe and North America? What are the latest trends and developments in this market? Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary 1 The Security Industry 1.1 Market overview 1.1.1 Security services 1.1.2 Enterprise security systems. 1.1.3 Home and small business security systems 1.1.4 Cash handling 1.2 Key industry players 2 Home and Small Business Security Systems 2.1 Technology overview 2.2 European standards for intruder alarm systems 2.3 Alarm system value chain 2.3.1 Traditional home security system providers 2.3.2 DIY home security system providers 2.3.3 Home security system manufacturers and platform providers 2.3.4 Secure alarm communications service providers 3 Market Forecasts and Trends 3.1 Europe 3.2 North America 3.3 Vendor market shares 3.4 Market drivers and trends 3.4.1 Interactive smart home systems fuel interest in security services 3.4.2 DIY and traditional home security systems offerings are converging 3.4.3 Security cameras and analytics are now integral parts of security systems 3.4.4 The pandemic's impact on the security industry 3.4.5 Security and integrity issues when the home is connected 3.4.6 Security systems and smart home products enable insurance discounts 3.4.7 Network sunsets - an opportunity and challenge for the security industry 4 Company Profiles and Strategies Companies Mentioned AddSecure ADT Ajax Systems Alarm.com Altice France Alula Arlo Technologies Bosch Brinks Home (Monitronics) BT Redcare Canary (Smartfrog Group) Chubb Fire & Security (APi Group) Comcast Cox Communications CSL DMP DSC (Johnson Controls) EPS Telesurveillance Frontpoint G4S (Allied Universal) Guardian Protection Johnson Controls M2M Services Minut Napco Security Technologies Nortek Control (Nice) Prosegur Resideo Technologies Ring (Amazon) Scout Security Sector Alarm SecureNet Securitas SimpliSafe Somfy Stanley Security (Securitas) Telular (AMETEK) Telus Texecom Uplink Security (M2M Services) Vector Security Verisure Vivint Smart Home Wyze Labs Yale (Assa Abloy) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/grl7u8 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment An Emerging Markets Sponsored Commentary ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GoLogiq, Inc. (OTC: GOLQ), a global provider of mobile fintech solutions for digital transformation and consumer data analytics in Southeast Asia, announced its plans to join forces with GammaRey, a privately-held fintech ecosystem for the New World Digital Economy, in a merger valued at $320 million based on per share pricing of $3.00. So, what does this mean for the two companies? We will make it simple: Bigger and Better. Technological development has made the trend of Fintech company collaboration and partnerships more popular. 2021 was a huge year for fintech mergers and acquisitions with deals totaling $348.5 billion, according to FT Partners, an investment banking firm focused on financial technology. Now, for 2022, this year could be potentially bigger. Fintech Companies merge for many reasons with the ultimate goal of scaling and growing into a bigger and more resilient company. Increased funding in the fintech marketplace has made it possible for many companies to join forces and combine their skills. Fintech company mergers or acquisitions are also a potentially more cost-effective option compared to building a whole new technology. As for the specific plans for GoLogiq and GammaRey, the two companies are focusing on the high-growth market of wealth management for Generation Z and Millennials, followed by the launch of a new digital payment platform designed for the sharing economy. This is what GammaRey CEO, Timothy Alford, had to say about the merger: Given the tremendous opportunities for growth in wealth management, the time has come to address the market on a larger scale through this highly synergistic merger. As a publicly traded company with more favorable access to the capital markets, it affords our GammaRey shareholders, as well as those of GoLogiq, numerous benefits. This includes greater liquidity, higher brand visibility, and recognition of the tremendous value we have created with our proprietary fintech platform. GoLogiq CEO, Matthew Brent also chimed in, Combining forces with GammaRey along with its capable and accomplished executive team represents a significant step toward realizing GoLogiqs vision for a comprehensive fintech platform for underserved businesses and consumers when it became a public company last year. We see huge opportunities as we look to integrate our respective powerful fintech platforms, and set the stage for strong growth and profitability in the new year. In conclusion, the merger between GoLogiq Inc. and GammaRey is huge for both companies, creating a potentially bigger, better and brighter future in the Fintech Industry. We will leave you with a couple of reasons why GoLogiq Inc. is a company with significant opportunities in the ever-expanding Fintech Industry. Profitable business with strong cash flow. Nearly $800 million in customer financial assets. Full-stack ecosystem for the New World Digital Economy: commodity-backed digital currency, digital wallet, and proprietary transaction platform for securities, goods and services. About GoLogiq, Inc.: GoLogiq, Inc. provides mobile solutions for digital transformation and financial inclusion in Southeast Asia and emerging markets. Its software platforms include CreateApp, a mobile app development and publishing platform for small business; AtozGo, a hyper-local app-based delivery system for ordering and fulfillment needs of residential and office towers; and AtozPay, an eWallet for mobile top-up, e-commerce purchases, bill payment, and microfinance in Indonesia. About The Emerging Markets Report: The Emerging Markets Report is owned and operated by Emerging Markets Consulting (EMC), a syndicate of investor relations consultants representing years of experience. Our network consists of stockbrokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets. For more informative reports such as this, please sign up at: https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/ Must Read OTC Markets/SEC policy on stock promotion and investor protection Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 requires that any person that uses the mails to publish, give publicity to, or circulate any publication or communication that describes a security in return for consideration received or to be received directly or indirectly from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, must fully disclose the type of consideration (i.e. cash, free trading stock, restricted stock, stock options, stock warrants) and the specific amount of the consideration. In connection therewith, EMC has received the following compensation and/or has an agreement to receive in the future certain compensation, as described below. EMC has been paid $25,000 by GoLogiq, Inc. and has been paid an additional $25,000 by Lynette Hannahs on behalf of GoLogiq, Inc. EMC does not independently verify any of the content linked-to from this editorial. https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/disclaimer/ Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC Florida Office 390 N Orange Ave. Suite 2300 Orlando, FL 32801 E-mail: jamespainter@emergingmarketsllc.com Web: https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/ VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silver Hammer Mining Corp. (CSE: HAMR; OTCQB: HAMRF) (the "Company" or "Silver Hammer") is pleased to report drill results from the Phase II drilling program at the Silver Strand Project (Silver Strand or the Project). The Company completed nine drillholes from its previously established underground drilling station that were generally focused on testing the historically mined zone of gold-silver (Au-Ag) mineralization at greater depth and further along strike. Key Highlights and Takeaways: Six of the nine drillholes returned >100 grams per tonne (g/t) Ag and/or >1 g/t Au intercepts. SS22-017 intersected 2.9 g/t Au over 8.4 metres (m) , including 4.4 g/t Au and 74.5 g/t Ag over 1.8 m, demonstrating the potential for significant gold grades at Silver Strand. , including over 1.8 m, demonstrating the potential for significant gold grades at Silver Strand. SS22-015 intersected three mineralized zones, including 613 g/t Ag over 0.5 metres (m) extending mineralization to 65 m below historical workings. over 0.5 metres (m) extending mineralization to 65 m below historical workings. SS22-18 also intersected multiple zones: 212 g/t Ag and 0.67 g/t Au over 1.5 m, and 2.45 g/t Au and 8.9 g/t Ag over 4.4 m. and 0.67 g/t Au over 1.5 m, and and 8.9 g/t Ag over 4.4 m. SS22-011 intersected 115 g/t Ag and 2.0 g/t Au over 0.7 m within a broader 5.5 m interval of lower grade Ag mineralization, and an additional 9.9 g/t Ag and 1.7 g/t Au intercept over 2.1 m further downhole in an area with no previous drilling. over 0.7 m within a broader 5.5 m interval of lower grade Ag mineralization, and an additional 9.9 g/t Ag and 1.7 g/t Au intercept over 2.1 m further downhole 2022 drilling results extend mineralization further along strike to the northwest, southeast and to depth (see Figure 1 and Table 1). These new results demonstrate consistent gold and silver values in mineralization beneath and adjacent to the historical mine workings at Silver Strand, stated Interim President and CEO, Warwick Smith. We are particularly encouraged to see elevated gold values in mineralization extending beyond our previously modeled and interpreted zone that was based on limited historical drilling. We believe we are still very much in the upper part of the structurally controlled Ag-Au system and these new results from a modest (667 m) and cost-effective drilling program coupled with our recently completed geophysics point to the potential for additional lenses of mineralization that we can pursue in subsequent drilling campaigns. Figure 1: Previously modelled mineralized zone and mined out areas shown with highlighted Phase II results. Downhole grade class colours shown on drillhole traces combine anomalous values for gold and silver. Program Details and Interpretation and Summary of Results A total of nine HQ (6.35 centimetre) core holes were completed by local drilling contractor, Nasco Industrial Service and Supply (NISS), totaling 667 metres (m). Eight of the nine holes, drilled from an underground drilling station established by the Company, encountered mineralization within the anticipated structural and silicified zone which measures 30 m wide over a 170 m strike length to-date. This structural zone is defined by multiple, near-vertical fractures some of which are intruded by post-mineral mafic dikes that can be traced along the surface by magnetics surveying. The results from the Phase II drilling program at Silver Strand demonstrate that the mineralized system continues well outside of the previously mined areas. Drillholes SS22-009, SS22-011, SS22-012, and SS22-013 were designed to test to the southeast beyond the modelled Silver Strand mineralization. Three of these drillholes successfully intersected Au-Ag mineralization and lend support to the Companys view that the known Silver Strand zone can be extended to greater depth and that there is good potential for additional mineralized chutes along strike. Besides yielding encouraging intercepts of Au-Ag mineralization the Phase II drillholes confirmed that the known mineralization is hosted within a 20 to 40 m wide zone of pervasive silicification that is superimposed on fractured quartzite rocks believed to belong to the Revett formation, the most productive ore-hosting formation in the Coeur dAlene mining district. Also, the drillholes intersected at least four post-mineral mafic dykes that are interpreted to have been intruded into the quartzites along structures some of which had already acted as conduits for the precious metal-enriched hydrothermal fluids. In fact, the better mineralized intercepts are found along the faulted contacts of a number of the mafic dykes. Going forward, the Company will be updating its 3D model of the Silver Strand deposit, incorporating lithological and alteration information as well as the multi-element geochemical data produced by the drillhole assays from the two drilling programs. The new model will then be examined in the context of the existing magnetics and induced polarization survey data the Company has acquired over the known mineralization. It is anticipated that a geophysical signature will be defined for the Silver Strand structure which will allow it to be traced across the property, a potential strike length of five kilometers. This will then translate into new high-potential drill targets being defined on the 5.85 km property. Technical Background The world-class northern Idaho silver-lead-zinc mining district is underlain by Proterozoic fine-grained metasedimentary rocks of the Belt Supergroup. Regional compressive tectonism folded the quartz-rich sandstones, siltstones and mudstones into WNW-ESE trending anticlines and synclines, with steeply inclined major fractures being developed along the limbs of these folds, particularly within quartz-rich meta-sandstones (eg. Revett formation quartzites). A major hydrothermal event, possibly related to the emplacement of the Idaho Batholith to the south of the district, deposited into some of the more continuous quartzite-hosted fractures iron carbonate and quartz followed by Pb, Zn, Cu-Sb-Ag sulphides giving rise to the productive Pb-Zn and Ag-rich veins of the Coeur dAlene district. Subsequent to the regional Pb-Ag-Zn mineralizing event, the folded Belt metasedimentary rocks were subjected to ESE-WNW directed compression that resulted in dextral shearing along pre-existing structures giving rise to the districts major strike-slip faults, including the Osburn Fault. Table 1: Highlighted Drill Results from Phase II Campaign at Silver Strand *All reported intervals are downhole core lengths. Estimated true thickness range from 50% to 90% depending on the angle of the drillholes. Quality Assurance, Quality Control Sample Security The following measures were taken to ensure sample security: samples were submitted to the American Analytical Services (AAS) by company personnel following the guidelines and procedures of Silver Hammer Mining Company; only authorized personnel have attended the samples; core was logged at the Silver Hammer core processing facility and then transferred to the AAS lab in Osburn, Idaho. Analysis Suite All drill core samples were analyzed by AAS using conventional assay methods involving the fire assaying of 30-gram charges of pulverized sample material for gold and silver, with ICP finishing. Gravimetric analyses were to be applied to any samples that yielded Au values greater than 10 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag. In addition, pulverized charges were collected for all core samples and were entirely dissolved using 4-acid digestion, with the final solution being analyzed for 35 elements using the ICP-MS method. Audits or reviews Internal review of sampling techniques, data, and drilling results by the Companys management is routinely done through the course of the project. Standards, Blanks and Duplicates For quality assurance/quality control purposes, the batches of core samples sent to AAS for assaying and ICP analyses were regularly infused with duplicate, standard and blank samples. So-called standard samples consisted of certified reference material (OREAS 611) of pulverized rock obtained from OREAS, a company that provides certified reference materials. The blank samples consisted of barren landscaping gravel, while the duplicates were in fact laboratory duplicates created during sample preparation at the labs of AAS. The laboratory also provided analytical results for their own reference samples for further a QA/QC check. The standards and blanks were inserted into the assay stream by Silver Hammer geologists. Qualified Person Technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Philip Mulholland, P.Geo., the designated Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101. On Behalf of the Board of Silver Hammer Mining Corp. Warwick Smith, Interim President and CEO Corporate Office: 551 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2C2, Canada For investor relations inquiries, contact: Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp. T: 604.908.1695 E: investors@silverhammermining.com For media inquiries, contact: Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc. T: 416.489.0092 E: media@primorisgroup.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Graphics accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b8059f87-f960-4471-9c29-310263797766 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12d7c627-c3f2-45f0-b1c7-1e5e8837f547 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VITAL BATTERY METALS INC. (the Company or Vital) (CSE: VBAM) (OTCQB: VBAMF) (FSE: C0O) is pleased to provide the exploration results for the initial exploration program at its Sting Copper Project. The objective of this program is to confirm the previously reported high copper grades in mineralization at Jumbo Lode Prospect (Jumbo) and prospect for adjacent mineralized zones. The exploration program confirmed the very high copper grade of the massive sulfide at Jumbo as well as demonstrating the anomalous gold values associated with the mineralization. A mineralized zone was located 1 km northeast of Jumbo exposed on Gregory River with high gold values and elevated silver and zinc. Vital is targeting high grade copper and precious metals in western Newfoundland on its Sting Copper Project. This news release covers the first pass at Jumbo Lode Prospect, the most significant occurrence within the Sting Copper Project. The mafic rocks that underlie the Jumbo Lode Prospect are part of the Bay of Islands Complex that is host to high grade copper and copper/zinc deposits including the York Harbour Mine, a former producer located 35 km to the south-southeast. Table 1 : Rock Sample Assay Results from Jumbo Lode Area SAMPLE # Au g/t Ag ppm Cu - % Zn ppm Co ppm 646152 .079 2.4 2.82 341 44 646153 .322 4.2 10.4 779 74 646154 .227 4.7 8.73 805 110 646155 .410 13.9 17.0 1032 29 646156 .178 3.4 3.89 266 35 646157 .404 4.6 11.6 1059 260 646158 .100 1.8 2.48 238 100 646159 .023 0.7 0.37 117 36 646160 .019 <0.2 0.05 78 53 646161 .634 11.3 0.1 1825 19 646162 .583 3.5 0.03 135 11 The western part of the claim blocks is underlain by leucogabbro and sheeted dykes and similar gabbro underlies the eastern part of the property. Massive and pillowed basalt flows are exposed along the north-northeast trending Gregory River which defines a probable regional gently plunging syncline. The basalt is structurally and conformably above the gabbros and depositional features indicate sub-horizontal stratigraphy (See Figure 1). Adrian Lamoureux, the company's CEO and President, comments: "The first phase of exploration of our Sting property has impressed with the first set of very high-grade Copper and Gold results. We are very excited to explore this area in further detail given the extent of the mineralization discovered to date, and its proximity to the relatively new and significant Copper discovery of our neighbor York Harbour Metals Inc. We are in a strong cash position and will be pushing forward with our next phases of exploration. Figure 1 - Sting Copper Project Regional Map Figure 2 - Jumbo Lode Area Rock Sample Locations Table 2 : Rock Sample Locations & Descriptions Sample # Type UTM_X UTM_Y Description Area 646152 float 417821 5464600 calcopyrite, malachite, massive sulfide Jumbo 646153 float 417830 5464597 calcopyrite, malachite, massive sulfide Jumbo 646154 outcrop 417831 5464598 massive sulfide, rust, malachite Jumbo 646155 outcrop 417831 5464596 massive sulfide, rust, malachite Jumbo 646156 float 417832 5464592 lower adit opening, sulfides, malachite Jumbo 646157 float 417833 5464594 gray sulfides, malachite staining Jumbo 646158 float 417837 5464580 upper adit, massive sulfide, rust, malachite Jumbo 646159 outcrop 417798 5464472 gray sulfides,5% calcopyrite, malachite staining South of Jumbo 646160 outcrop 418528 5465319 gray sulfides,5% calcopyrite, malachite staining Northeast of Jumbo 646161 outcrop 418526 5465325 5% calcopyrite, wallrock Northeast of Jumbo 646162 outcrop 418574 5465338 massive sulfide, yellow staining Northeast of Jumbo Figure 3 - Jumbo Lode Rock Sample Locations The Jumbo occurrence is characterized by black chloritic altered gabbro and mafic dykes locally with silicification, disseminated sulfides and lenses of massive pyrite and chalcopyrite. Prospecting near the Jumbo Lode along Gregory River showed basalt displays strong chloritic alteration locally with heavy pyrite and minor chalcopyrite. Samples were collected near the east boundary of license 027460M. Analysis Methodology Vital adheres to strict Quality Assurance and Quality Control protocols. The rock samples are kept under secure control by the prospector and delivered directly to Eastern Analytical at 403 Little Bay Road, Springdale, NL. The rock samples are assayed for 34 elements utilizing a four acid digestion and analyzed by ICP-OES. Gold is analyzed by fire assay (30g) utilizing an AA finish (Code Au (Fire assay) @ 30g + ICP-34). Ore grade analysis provides a higher dissolution with a higher metal content and was carried out for samples with greater than 10,000 ppm Cu and greater than 6 ppm Ag. Eastern Analytical is I.S.O. 17025 Accredited in Fire Assay Au and multi-acid ore grade assays in Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Fe and Co. Samples are analyzed with strict quality control utilizing blanks, duplicates and standard reference material. Qualified Persons Garth Graves, P. Geo., consultant geologist for Vital Battery Metals Inc. and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release. About Vital Battery Metals Inc. Vital Battery Metals Inc. (CSE: VBAM) (OTCQB: VBAMF) (FSE:C0O) is a mineral exploration company dedicated to the development of strategic projects comprising of battery, base and precious metals in stable jurisdictions. The Company is working to advance its Sting Copper Project and its Vent Copper-Gold project. The Sting Project covers approximately 30.6 km (3,060 ha) and hosts multiple historic Newfoundland and Labrador Government documented mineral occurrences and is located within a 50 km corridor known for significant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), copper quartz vein lode and low sulphation epithermal gold showings. The Vent Copper-Gold project covers 1,562 hectares in British Columbia. Vital continues to evaluate value-add assets to bolster its project portfolio. For more information, please visit www.vitalbatterymetals.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors Adrian Lamoureux Chief Executive Officer, Director +1 (778) 945-2950 info@vitalbatterymetals.com This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the effect of marketing campaign are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Jumbo and the Sting Copper Project; the Companys objectives, goals or future plans; the commencement of further drilling or exploration programs in the future; the completion of the foregoing. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Companys public filings under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein. WILMINGTON, Mass., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tecomet, a leading contract manufacturer of orthopedic implants, instruments and sterilization trays, announced the appointment of Andreas Weller as its new President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 3, 2023. Mr. Weller succeeds Bill Dow, former Tecomet CEO and current Chairman of the Tecomet Board, who has served as the interim CEO since June 2022. In addition to orthopedic products, Tecomet develops proven, full-spectrum scalable manufacturing solutions for leading medical device technology, aerospace and defense companies. Its core capabilities include forging, casting, precision machining, photochemical etching, welding, and finishing. Tecomet is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners. The Search Committee conducted a thorough exploration, reviewing numerous profiles and interviewing many qualified candidates. Andreas is the best of a select group. He has extensive experience successfully running manufacturing companies around the world. We are very pleased to welcome Andreas as the new leader of the Tecomet team, said Mr. Dow. Mr. Weller has over 25 years of diverse, progressive experience in the business world, including seven years with The Boston Consulting Group, a preeminent management consulting firm, and 20 years of increasing responsibility in the contract manufacturing industry. He joins Tecomet after serving as President & CEO of Aludyne, a leading global light-weighting solutions and components supplier to the mobility industry. Mr. Weller said, Tecomet has a long history as a steadfast partner to the medical device industry, including the top medical device and orthopedic companies. I look forward to joining this talented management team and helping the company continue to build on its culture of excellence. Tecomet stands out in the field for its relentless focus on precision, rigorous standard of quality, and commitment to collaboration with its global customers. Andreas brings a track record of outstanding leadership and operational success that makes him an excellent fit to lead Tecomet, said John Flannery, Managing Director at Charlesbank. We are grateful to Bill Dow for his steady leadership over the past several months, and we look forward to the companys continued growth in the years ahead. Mr. Weller earned a graduate degree in Engineering and Business Administration from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, and a masters degree in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. About Tecomet Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, with over 16 facilities worldwide across 3 continents and 5 countries, Tecomet is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacture of orthopedic, robotic assisted, and minimally invasive surgical products. Tecomet provides a full range of metal and material conversion technologies, for long-term implants and instrument solutions, including forging, casting, precision-machining, and other value-add services. Tecomet is also a leading manufacturer of precision components to the aerospace & defense industry, producing products used in aircraft engines, missile & satellite propulsion systems, vision systems, and infrared applications. Tecomet meets the requirements of ISO 9001, AS9100, ITAR, ISO 13485, and for decades has been a steadfast partner of quality to its customers. For more information contact 978-642-2400 or visit www.tecomet.com. About Charlesbank Capital Partners Based in Boston and New York, Charlesbank Capital Partners is a middle-market private investment firm with more than $15 billion of capital raised since inception. Charlesbank focuses on management-led buyouts and growth capital financings, as well as opportunistic credit and technology investments. The firm seeks to build companies with sustainable competitive advantage and excellent prospects for growth. For more information, please visit www.charlesbank.com. Contacts: Maura M. Turner 617-619-5457 mturner@charlesbank.com Rob Sullivan Tecomet 574-527-0443 rob.sullivan@tecomet.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6845ba31-f624-4ca7-b9b9-446376881827 New York, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Farm Animal Healthcare Global Market Report 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377781/?utm_source=GNW The global farm animal healthcare market is expected to grow from $16.97 billion in 2021 to $18.52 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in the short term. The war between these two countries has led to economic sanctions on multiple countries, surge in commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions, effecting many markets across the globe. The poultry vaccines market is expected to reach $23.83 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 6.5%. The farm animal healthcare market includes revenues earned by entities by offering farm animal healthcare services such as farm animal health management, vaccination to poultry farm animals, vaccination knowledge management, trainings.The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. The farm animal healthcare refers to a proactive service that outlines steps for disease prevention, identification, and management in order to promote the health and wellbeing of farm animals. It ensures that disease, injury, and mortality among farmed animals are kept to a minimum. North America was the largest region in the farm animal healthcare market in 2021.Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the farm animal healthcare market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from goods and/or services sold within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of currency (in USD ($) unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that is, they are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the specified market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales either further along the supply chain or as part of other products. The main products of farm animal healthcare are vaccines, parasiticides, anti-infectives, medical feed additives, and other products.Vaccination is administering a vaccine into the body to create immunity to a specific disease. Vaccination improves animal health and welfare while increasing livestock productivity and preventing disease transmission from domestic and wild animals to people.The different applications include cattle, swine, poultry, fish, and sheep. The several end users include reference laboratories, point-of-care testing or in-house testing, veterinary hospitals and clinics, and others. The increase in livestock is expected to drive the growth of the farm animal healthcare market going forward.Livestock refers to agricultural animals that are housed, reared, and used by people, such as cows, horses, and pigs. The need for farm animal healthcare services grows along with the increase of livestock since these services help protect animals from illnesses including swine flu and avian flu, which can also infect humans, workers, and veterinarians. For instance, according to a report published by the US Department of Agriculture in 2022, Indias national herd of cattle increased from 1.2 million in 2021 to 306.7 million in 2022. Therefore, the growing livestock population will propel the farm animal healthcare market. Rapid developments in technology have emerged as a key trend gaining popularity in the farm animal healthcare market.Major companies in the farm animal healthcare sector are focused on developing new technologies to meet consumer demand and strengthen their position. For instance, in January 2020, Boehringer Ingelheim, a Germany-based pharmaceutical company, launched the VAXXITEK HVT+IBD+ND vaccine based on trojan horse vaccine technology to protect poultry from three types of diseases. This vaccine technology is similar to a trojan horse in that it protects against disease by employing a non-pathogenic substance as a vector to carry pathogen-protective genes VAXXITEK HVT+IBD+ND builds a solid immune foundation and provides enhanced protection against mareks disease, infectious bursal disease (classic and variant kinds), and newcastle disease. In April 2020, Heska Corporation, a US-based advanced veterinary diagnostic and specialty products company, acquired Scil Animal Care Company for $110 million.Through this acquisition, Heska Corporation aimed to expand the company with veterinarians and point-of-care analyzers to serve companion animals. Scil Animal Care Company is a US-based company that specializes in animal health laboratories and imaging diagnostic products and services. The countries covered in the farm animal healthcare market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. The farm animal healthcare market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides farm animal healthcare market statistics, including farm animal healthcare industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a farm animal healthcare market share, detailed farm animal healthcare market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the farm animal healthcare industry. This farm animal healthcare market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377781/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ New York, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Phenolic Resins Global Market Report 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377803/?utm_source=GNW , SI Group, Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd, BASF SE, Arizona Chemical Company LLC, Kangnam Chemical Co. Ltd., and Seiko PMC Corporation. The global phenolic resins market is expected to grow from $11.49 billion in 2021 to $12.44 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in the short term. The war between these two countries has led to economic sanctions on multiple countries, surge in commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions, effecting many markets across the globe. The phenolic resins market is expected to grow to $15.67 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.9%. The phenolic resins market consists of sales of modified resin, solid resoles and liquid resoles.Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods. Phenolic resins are resins made from the polymerization of phenol and formaldehyde.The resins are known for high chemical, water, and temperature stability. Therefore, they are used in many commercial applications such as electronic circuits, automotive tires, and other automotive parts. Phenolic resins are not re-mouldable but are recyclable. North America was the largest region in the phenolic resins market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the phenolic resins market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from goods and/or services sold within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of currency (in USD ($) unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that is, they are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the specified market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales either further along the supply chain or as part of other products. The main types of phenolic resins are resol, novolac, and others.The resol is used in a variety of high-temperature and chemical concentration applications such as adhesives, abrasives, coatings, tires, foams, etc. The resol resin is made when a basic (alkaline) catalyst is used to make phenolic resin. It is high-temperature, water, and chemical-resistant. The different applications include wood adhesives, molding, insulation, laminates, paper impregnation, coatings, refractory materials, friction materials, rubber, and tire, refractory materials, and others that are used by building and construction, furniture, automotive, electrical and electronics, and other end users The growing need for lightweight, eco-friendly synthetic structures in the automotive industry is driving the phenolic resin market going forward.The automotive industry is concerned with designing, manufacturing, distributing, and sales of automobiles. Automotive manufacturers are constantly using lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency.Phenolic resins are used in the manufacturing of lightweight tires, brake pedals, and other under-the-hood automotive parts. For instance, according to the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a government organization working to build a clean energy economy for America, a 10% reduction in the weight of an automobile can increase fuel efficiency by 6%-8%, and the use of lightweight materials in one-quarter of the U.S. fleet could save about 5 billion gallons of fuel annually by 2030. Therefore, the growth of lightweight materials in the automotive industry is propelling the phenolic resin market. Technological advancements are a key trend gaining popularity in the phenolic resin market.Major companies operating in the phenolic resin market are focused on developing new technological solutions to strengthen their position in the market. For instance, in September 2020, Allnex, a Germany-based producer of industrial coating resins and additives for various industries, launched PHENODUR PR 616/65B, a new, eco-friendly phenolic resin for interior and exterior coatings. The resins are made using technology that contains neither Bisphenol-A nor Bisphenol-F and a very low free monomer content and the level of free formaldehyde thus making the resin eco-friendly. In May 2022, Bakelite Synthetics, a US-based producer of thermoset specialty resins, solutions, and compounds, acquired Georgia-Pacifics Chemicals for an undisclosed amount.The acquisition would allow Bakelite to deliver greater value to its customers by broadening its product portfolio and expanding its geographic reach. Georgia-Pacific Chemicals is a US-based company that manufactures formaldehyde-based phenolic resins. The countries covered in the phenolic resins market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. The phenolic resins market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides phenolic resins market statistics, including phenolic resins industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a phenolic resins market share, detailed phenolic resins market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the phenolic resins industry. This anomaly detection market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377803/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ New York, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Smart Retail Global Market Report 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377801/?utm_source=GNW com Inc., NCR Corporation, PAX Global Technology Limited, Fiserv Inc., Google LLC, AWM Smart Shelf, and Bossa Nova Robotics. The global smart retail market is expected to grow from $27.46 billion in 2021 to $34.51 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.7%. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in the short term. The war between these two countries has led to economic sanctions on multiple countries, surge in commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions, effecting many markets across the globe. The smart retail market is expected to reach $82.68 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 24.4%. The smart retail market includes revenues earned by entities by data management, business consulting, data analytics, internet of things ( IoT), and cloud.The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. Smart retail refers to the use of intelligent technologies in commerce to offer consumers a better, faster, safer, and more convenient purchase experience. It applies new technologies to digitally enhance traditional shopping for customers and businesses. North America was the largest region in the smart retail market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the smart retail market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from goods and/or services sold within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of currency (in USD ($) unless otherwise specified). The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that is, they are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the specified market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales either further along the supply chain or as part of other products. The main systems in smart retail are digital signage solutions, smart labels, smart payment systems, intelligent vending machines, augmented reality solutions, virtual reality solutions, and others.Digital signage is a type of signage that uses a digital screen rather than an acrylic or polycarbonate board to show information, advertising, or any other content. Digital signage is used for wayfinding, communications, marketing, and outdoor advertising. The different technologies include visual recognition, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and mobiles that are used in foot-traffic monitoring, inventory management, loyalty management and payment, predictive equipment maintenance, brand protection, and other applications. The increasing use of robots and automation is expected to propel the smart retail market growth going forward.Automation refers to the employment of autonomous physical devices, computer programmes, and other technology to carry out tasks that are typically completed by humans. Robotics is the design, development, and use of machines to carry out tasks.Robots and automation improve collaboration between the R&D, manufacturing, and marketing departments by automating processes related to the alerts and monitoring client opinions in real-time. The use of robots and automation offer exceptional shopping convenience to customers, that increase the demand for smart retail market. For instance, according to a report released by the International Federation of Robotics in September 2020, 2.7 million industrial robots were in use in industries worldwide, which showed an increase of 12%. Therefore, the increasing use of robots and automation is driving the growth of the smart retail market. Technological advancement is a key trend gaining popularity in the smart retail market.Major companies operating in the smart retail market are focused on developing new technological solutions to strengthen their position. For instance, in June 2021, Amazon Inc, an American multinational e-commerce company, launched just Walk out technology for Amazon Fresh grocery store.Customers are given the option to use Just Walk Out shopping or the standard checkout lines at the stores entry gates. Customers who choose Just Walk Out shopping have three options for entering the store, they can input a credit or debit card connected to their Amazon account, scan a QR code with their Amazon app, or use Amazon One to scan their palm.Once inside, visitors can shop as they normally would. When they remove an item from the shelf, it is immediately added to their virtual cart, and when they return it, it is taken out. When finished shopping, customers who use the Just Walk Out service simply scan or re-insert their admittance method to exit. In October 2021, Instacart, a US-based online grocery platform, acquired Caper AI for an undisclosed amount.This acquisition widens the scope of Instacarts comprehensive retailer enablement platform, and assist shops in integrating the in-store and online shopping experiences for customers, supporting their operations regardless of the method of shopping chosen by customers. Caper AI is a US-based software technology company that provides AI-based software applications for retailers and other general merchandising store formats. The countries covered in the smart retail market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. The smart retail market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides smart retail market statistics, including smart retail industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a smart retail market share, detailed smart retail market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the smart retail industry. This smart retail market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377801/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ New York, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Natural Stone Global Market Report 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377794/?utm_source=GNW The global natural stone market is expected to grow from $28.25 billion in 2021 to $30.49 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in the short term. The war between these two countries has led to economic sanctions on multiple countries, surge in commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions, effecting many markets across the globe. The natural stone market is expected to grow to $37.90 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.6%. The natural stones market consists of sales of porphyry, quartzite, basalt, sandstone, flagstone, onyx, serpentine, soapstone, travertine, and dolomitic limestone.Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods. Natural stone is an organic rock that is mined (quarried) from the earths surface and is hard and strong enough to be used for building or decorative purposes. Silica is the primary mineral component of natural stone. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the natural stone market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the natural stone market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from goods and/or services sold within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of currency (in USD ($) unless otherwise specified). The revenues for specified geography are consumption values that is, they are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the specified market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales either further along the supply chain or as part of other products. The main types of natural stones are marble, granite, limestone, and others.Marble refers to the metamorphic rock composed of calcite and dolomite. It is formed by the metamorphism of limestone and is commonly found in mountainous regions.Marble is used to enhance the aesthetic look of home decor and is commonly used in flooring, countertops, fireplace facing, windowsills, wall claddings, table tops, and other decoration applications. The different construction types include new construction and renovation. The natural stones are distributed through online channel and offline channel and applied in flooring, memorial arts, wall cladding, and other applications. The increase in the number of constructions projects is driving the growth of the natural stones market.The construction sector refers to the organizations that deals with creating, maintaining, and repairing infrastructures. Natural stones in construction projects provide permanent natural building materials than other natural building materials, used in flooring, roofing, masonry, paving roads, and as aggregates for concrete.Additionally, natural stones are highly preferred in heavy engineering such as bridges, harbor walls, sea-side walls, ballast for railways, the foundation works, and others due to their strength, durability, and weather-resistance properties. For instance, according to a report released in June 2021 by Canadas national statistical office, the investment in building construction rose from $14294 million in April 2019 to $19273 million in 2020. Therefore, the increase in the number of construction projects in the infrastructure sector is expected to propel the growth of the natural stones market going in the coming years. Technological advancement is the key trend that is gaining popularity in the natural stones market going forward.Major companies operating in the natural stones sector are focused on technological advancements to strengthen their position. For instance, in January 2022, Hafele GmbH & Co KG, a Germany-based manufacturer, and supplier of furniture fittings and architectural hardware, introduced Dekton, a commercial surface that incorporates components of metamorphic rocks, sand, soil, and even marine surfaces.It uses super compacting technology to recreate and reimagine these characteristics as natural stone. Dekton surfaces provide higher resistance to abrasion and ultraviolet (UV) light which prevents them from fading or degrading over time and makes them an ideal surface for high-traffic areas and outdoors. In October 2019, Polycor Inc, a Canada-based natural stones manufacturer acquired Elliott Stone Company Inc for an undisclosed amount.Through this acquisition, Polycor Inc aims to expand its ability in delivering a comprehensive offering of natural stone building products for the hardscapes and masonry industry. Elliott Stone Company Inc is a US-based natural stones quarrier and fabricator. The countries covered in the natural stone market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. The natural stone market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides natural stone market statistics, including natural stone industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a natural stone market share, detailed natural stone market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the natural stone industry. This natural stone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377794/?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. __________________________ West Trenton, New Jersey, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NJM Insurance Group today announced a $100,000 donation to benefit hunger relief efforts across the Mid-Atlantic region. This contribution is part of the Companys yearlong commitment to supporting communities through donations totaling more than $2 million in 2022. NJMs support of communities is rooted in a culture of purpose-driven service. The Company directs charitable contributions toward organizations that support arts and culture, health, community assistance, safety, and financial literacy. Other areas of focus include education and enrichment and revitalization programs such as those offered by social service organizations and food banks. NJM is a service organization working on behalf of our policyholders and the communities in which they live and work, said Mitch Livingston, NJM president and CEO. We partner with nonprofits and organizations dedicated to delivering needed resources that can positively impact lives, and we are privileged to support these causes throughout the region. NJMs $100,000 donation will be distributed among 20 organizations in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The full list includes: Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Ohio Arm In Arm Inc, New Jersey Bucks County Opportunity Council, Pennsylvania Cathedral Kitchen, New Jersey Community Food Bank of NJ, New Jersey Connecticut Foodshare, Connecticut Food Bank of South Jersey, New Jersey Fullfill Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties, New Jersey Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Pennsylvania Human Needs Food Pantry, New Jersey Jewish Family & Childrens Service (Greater Mercer), New Jersey Manna Food Center, Maryland Meals On Wheels of Mercer County Inc., New Jersey Mercer Street Friends, New Jersey NORWESCAP, New Jersey Nourish NJ, New Jersey Philabundance, Pennsylvania Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, New Jersey St. Vincent de Paul Society, New Jersey TASK, New Jersey "We are thankful for NJMs generous donation to help fight food insecurity in our communities, said Loree D. Jones Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Philabundance. Partnerships like this help Philabundance serve nutritious food to more than 135,000 people each week -- an astounding one-third of whom are children. We know that fighting hunger requires all hands-on deck and NJMs donation to fight hunger is an example of that. NJMs philanthropic efforts extend far beyond its charitable donations. The Companys employee engagement activities, including food and clothing drives, provide opportunities to connect and give back to communities. In addition, NJM's Matching Donation Program provided more than $50,000 in 2022 to a variety of organizations. Community service programs offer employees opportunities to attend community outreach events and volunteer their time and talents, including membership on multiple nonprofit committees and boards. About NJM Insurance Group Founded in 1913, NJM is among the Mid-Atlantic region's leading property and casualty insurers. One of the Company's core values is to support the communities it's privileged to serve, a value exercised through year-round employee volunteer efforts at local nonprofits and a formal corporate giving program. NJM operates in a mutual fashion for the exclusive benefit of its policyholders and is consistently recognized for its award-winning customer service, superior claims handling, and overall customer satisfaction. NJM's personal insurance products are available direct to consumers in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Company also works with a preferred network of independent agents to deliver business insurance in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Visit njm.com to learn more. EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Extensiv (formerly 3PL Central) delivering omnichannel software solutions for warehouse, inventory, and order management today announced the winners of the Spring 2023 Supply Chain Scholarship. Now in its fourth year, the Extensiv scholarship program supports education for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in supply chain management, logistics, and operations management programs. "As 48% of third-party logistics (3PLs) providers cite that finding and retaining qualified workers is their top business challenge, we absolutely need to do more to attract new talent into this industry," said Rachel Trindade, chief marketing officer at Extensiv. "We've created this scholarship to meet that need, to bring fresh ideas, different perspectives, and new voices into the supply chain. This year, Ashley, Noah, and Tess offered strong industry insight and vision balanced with real-world practical applications, which is exactly will drive the future of our industry." Extensiv, formerly 3PL Central, launched the Supply Chain Scholarship in Fall 2020, and has given more than $14,000 to scholarship winners and finalists. Past winners have focused on topics including how artificial intelligence (AI) can optimize end-to-end documentation, how 5G data transmission can speed the application of augmented reality (AR), and improvements within circular supply chains. Scholarship Winner This year's winner is Ashley McMillon, a student pursuing her B.S. in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ashley's winning essay highlights the potential of AR to transform the supply chain, saying, "Starting with big tech companies such as Google, augmented reality will solve many logistical issues, provide employees with helpful guides and insights into their work, increase efficiency and productivity, and will streamline supply chain processes within logistical channels." "Thanks to your scholarship, I can continue to excel in university and obtain a degree in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management," said Ashley McMillon, scholarship winner. "I am the first one in my family to attend university, so I will ensure that I make both you and my family proud. It is my goal to remain innovative and creative and continue to push the limits of technology for the betterment of the industry." Extensiv also extended awards to two runners-up: Noah Walker of Duquesne University and Tess Porter of Arizona State University. Fall Scholarship Application Window Opens Feb. 1, 2023 On Feb. 1, 2023, Extensiv will open the scholarship application submissions again for the Fall 2023 semester scholarship, with the deadline to apply on June 1. Applicants must be enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in supply chain, logistics, or operations management; MBA students who are employed in the supply chain and logistics industry may also apply. Interested applicants should submit their name, school, major, contact information, and a 1000-word (maximum) essay on the next big advancement in supply chain management by June 1, 2023 to be considered for the $2500 Fall Semester 2023 Extensiv Supply Chain Scholarship. Winners will be notified before July 1, 2023. To apply for the scholarship or to find more information, please visit https://www.extensiv.com/supply-chain-scholarship. To read the winning essay, go to https://www.extensiv.com/blog/augmented-reality-in-the-supply-chain-industry. Other finalist essays will be featured on our blog in the coming weeks. About Extensiv Extensiv, formerly 3PL Central, is a visionary technology leader focused on creating the future of omnichannel fulfillment. We partner with warehouse professionals and entrepreneurial brands to transform their fulfillment operations in the radically changing world of commerce and consumer expectations. Through our unrivaled network of more than 1,500 connected 3PLs and a suite of integrated, cloud-native warehouse management (WMS), order management (OMS), inventory management (IMS), and integration management software, we enable modern merchants and brands to fulfill demand anywhere with superior flexibility and scale without painful platform migrations as they grow. More than 25,000 logistics professionals and thousands of brands trust Extensiv every day to drive commerce at the pace that modern consumers expect. Learn more at www.extensiv.com. Contact Information: Bret Clement Clement | Peterson for Extensiv bret@clementpeterson.com Rachel Trindade Chief Marketing Officer rtrindade@extensiv.com Related Images Image 1: Logo This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment SAN BRUNO, Calif., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Police Credit Union of California celebrates a milestone anniversary in 2023, marking 70 years dedicated to supporting the financial success of law enforcement professionals and their families. Established in 1953 by officers in the San Francisco Police Department, the financial institution began serving eligible members throughout the state of California in 2019. Since its inception, the credit union has focused on providing solutions that address the financial challenges and concerns of those employed in law enforcement and public safety. Police officers put themselves at risk every day to provide protection and safety for our communities. They can have unpredictable schedules, work long hours, and may experience the heavy toll of repeated exposure to trauma and on-the-job stress, said President and CEO Eddie Young. These sacrifices come with a unique set of potential financial pressures as well. We understand those pressures, which is why our mission is focused on ensuring the process of members managing their financial lives be as easy as possible. This includes providing tools that help them reach important personal goals tied to their economic well-being and security. Weve earned the hard-won trust of these professionals over 70 years by remaining committed to our founding principle: Providing Financial Solutions to Take Care of Our Own. In the credit unions commitment to serving members with empathy, all new employees take part in sensitivity training developed by the San Francisco Police Departments Behavioral Science Unit in order to better understand the pressures those who work in law enforcement regularly face. While The Police Credit Union provides an array of highly competitive financial solutions for its members, its offerings notably include signature products and services customized exclusively to the needs of active-duty law enforcement. These include: End of Watch Debt Forgiveness Benefit, which provides invaluable protection for active, full-time sworn peace officers and reserve officers in California. By funding a loan for a minimum of $10,000, all additional loan balances at the credit union up to a combined maximum value of $850,000 will be canceled if the member is killed in the line of duty. This benefit is provided at no cost to the borrower for qualified members who enroll. Eligible products include mortgages and home equity loans, auto loans, credit cards, personal loans, lines of credit, and more. The H.E.R.O. Mortgage Loan, offering 100% financing with no down payment and no PMI (private mortgage insurance) requirements. Short for Helping Enable Residential Ownership , this option is available to eligible first-time homebuyers. , this option is available to eligible first-time homebuyers. The 10-Eight Loan exclusively available for newly hired law enforcement officers. Named for the police code that means ready for service, this personal loan lets officers borrow up to $5,000 at a low rate so that they can get the items needed to start a new job. Programs and benefits available to all members of The Police Credit Union include but are not limited to: Checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements plus rebates for fees charged by using other institutions ATMs. A robust array of digital and mobile banking services including mobile deposit, mobile wallet for credit and debit cards, bill pay, and the P2P money transfer service Zelle. Free financial literacy seminars and low-cost debt counseling from GreenPath Financial Wellness. Discounted pricing for estate planning services through Affinity Trusts. 24/7 Contact Center support. About The Police Credit Union of California Founded in 1953 by a group of San Francisco police officers, The Police Credit Union is the trusted financial partner for its more than 42,000 members comprised of law enforcement professionals, their civilian co-workers, and their families. A full-service provider with assets exceeding $1 billion, it offers competitive financial products including savings, checking, home, auto and personal loans, Visa credit cards, investment services and more. For details, visit www.thepolicecu.org , or call 800.222.1391. CHICAGO, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Stop Health (FSH), a leading virtual care company for primary, urgent and mental health care needs, today announced the promotion of Teira Gunlock to Chief Executive Officer. In her role, Gunlock leads a dynamic, growing organization focused on delivering convenient, high-quality and affordable care to U.S. members of its employer clients. "When I joined First Stop Health eight years ago, it was because I cared deeply about expanding access to healthcare," said Gunlock. "I wanted to work towards a world where, no matter where you lived or how much money you had, high-quality healthcare would be within reach. At First Stop Health, we get to bring that world a little closer to reality. I am thrilled to lead such a talented group of people who believe that healthcare should be more accessible and affordable for patients, and who dedicate themselves to making it so." Gunlock started at FSH in 2015, where she held the Director of Client Care role until she was promoted to Vice President in 2016. During the next few years, Gunlock continued her move up the FSH leadership team and held the roles of Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer. She was promoted to FSH President in April 2022, which she held before her CEO promotion. "I cannot tell you how satisfying and pleasing it is to have someone who has come up through the FSH ranks, as Teira has, and achieve the highest position in the company," said Patrick Spain, Co-founder and Executive Charmain at FSH. "Teira has demonstrated superb leadership abilities, which are reflected in the great results of the company this year and the overall satisfaction of all our patients, clients, doctors and partners." Earlier this year, FSH announced the addition of Virtual Primary Care to help improve members' health with integrated clinical services for urgent, preventive and chronic care needs. With Virtual Primary Care, in addition to its Virtual Urgent Care (Telemedicine) and Virtual Mental Health services, FSH drives high utilization with continuous, targeted employee engagement and an amazing patient experience, ensuring high-value performance and lower total healthcare costs for its employer-clients. Learn more about First Stop Health by visiting fshealth.com. About First Stop Health First Stop Health (FSH) provides care that people love with various digital healthcare services. Patients can access virtual care 24/7 via app, website or phone. We help them save time and money with safe, convenient, high-quality virtual care solutions - Virtual Primary Care, Virtual Urgent Care (Telemedicine) & Virtual Mental Health. FSH was named one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces of 2022 and ranked one of the fastest-growing private companies for the past five years by Inc. 5000. Contact Information: Nick Severino Vice President of Marketing nseverino@fshealth.com 6302173067 Related Images Image 1: Teira Gunlock This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment DENVER, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Those seeking a new career path in real estate, a growing Connecticut profession, have a new flexible learning option for a career with consistent market demand. The CE Shop is the first real estate education provider to offer this type of flexible learning for the Connecticut Salesperson Pre-Licensing course. The Connecticut Salesperson Pre-Licensing course is 60 hours and is structured into a number of learning modules. Students can choose to complete the course entirely through the company's self-paced delivery method, attend live online, instructor-led courses, or utilize a combination of both learning methods. Connecticut's state requirements include no timed final exam and unlimited attempts allowed to complete the Salesperson Pre-Licensing exam. Most people are able to finish their real estate education and pass their exam within a month or two, and can start their real estate career and potentially earn the average real estate agent salary in Connecticut, which is $90,726 per year, according to indeed.com. Connecticut boasts one of the best real estate markets in the country, and The CE Shop is the leading provider to guide you into your next career. For less than the average cost of one month's rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in the United States, anyone over 18 years of age with either a high school diploma, or a GED, may take part in the application process for a real estate salesperson, upon completion of the state approved Pre-Licensing course, and pay for the additional application and exam fees which is approximately $59. Upon successful completion of the Connecticut Pre-Licensing course and passing of the final exam, a newly acquired real estate license is recognized by these additional states through a reciprocity agreement, which can be used to increase earning potential: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island. All applicants applying for this reciprocity from Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, or applicants who have not taken a written exam in a reciprocal state, will be required to take the State Portion of the Connecticut Real Estate Examination. About The CE Shop The CE Shop is the leading provider of professional real estate education with online mortgage, real estate, and home inspection courses available throughout the United States. The CE Shop produces quality education for professionals across the nation, whether they're veterans in their industry or are looking to launch a new career. We believe that the right education can truly make a difference. Visit TheCEShop.com to learn more. Media Contact: The CE Shop Press Press@TheCEShop.com 720.822.5314 Contact Information: Liz Meitus VP of Communications and Brand liz.meitus@theceshop.com 720-822-5314 Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment English French Dassault Aviation Group Order intakes, deliveries and backlog in number of new aircraft as of December 31st 2022 (unaudited figures) AIRCRAFT ORDERED IN 2022 92 export Rafale were ordered (80 United Arab Emirates, 6 Greece, 6 Indonesia), compared to 49 (37 Export and 12 France) in 2021. 64 Falcon(*) were ordered , compared to 51 in 2021. (*) Net of cancelled Russian orders. AIRCRAFT DELIVERED IN 2022 14 Rafale (13 Export and 1 France) were delivered, while 13 had been guided. 25 Export Rafale were delivered in 2021. 32 Falcon were delivered, while 35 deliveries had been guided. 30 Falcon were delivered in 2021. AIRCRAFT IN BACKLOG As of December 31st 2022, the backlog includes: 164 Rafale compared to 86 Rafale as of December 31 st 2021, compared to 86 Rafale as of December 31 2021, 87 Falcon compared to 55 Falcon as of December 31st 2021. UPCOMING FINANCIAL RELEASE Dassault Aviation Group will release on March 9th 2023 its full year results. The above figures relate only to the number of new aircraft . The Group recalls that amounts in euros will be published on March 9th 2023. ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION: With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2021, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 7.2 billion. The company has 12,400 employees. dassault-aviation.com CONTACTS: Corporate Communication Stephane Fort - Tel. +33 (0)1 47 11 86 90 - stephane.fort@dassault-aviation.com Mathieu Durand - Tel +33 (0)1 47 11 85 88 - mathieu.durand@dassault-aviation.com Investor Relations Nicolas Blandin - Tel. +33 (0)1 47 11 40 27 - nicolas.blandin@dassault-aviation.com Attachment BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. (IVFH), a leading specialty food-focused eCommerce platform with comprehensive direct-to-consumer (DTC) and B2B omnichannel offerings, today announced that The Simple Root has selected IVFHs end-to-end managed solutions to quickly launch its rapidly growing brand of plant-based food products. The Simple Root is a global plant-based food brand backed by Pilot Lite and McCain Foods. The company uses an innovative process to craft versatile and delicious veggie-packed foods. The Simple Root Certified Plant Based products are a creamy blend of wholesome vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. Vegetables are the number one ingredient in all The Simple Root products, unlike other plant-based foods that rely on allergens like soy, nuts and nut milks, or highly processed starches and oils. The products are not made with dairy, nuts, soy, eggs, gluten, wheat, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The Simple Root brand provides tasty options for everyone including consumers eating plant-based or looking to reduce dairy and meat, and those avoiding key allergens and seeking simple ingredient lines. The Simple Root selected IVFHs managed eCommerce and foodservice platform to accelerate the national launch of its products in high-growth categories across multiple distribution channels. The Simple Roots products include plant-based Dips, Cream Cheese-Style Spreads and Artisan Cheese-Style Spreads. Upcoming expansion plans for the innovative brand include plant-based cheeses (shreds, slices, snacking) and plant-based desserts. Sam Klepfish, CEO of Innovative Food Holdings stated, We are excited to partner with The Simple Root and help them rapidly grow their emerging portfolio of plant-based products. The powerful end-to-end platform we have developed provides new food brands, like The Simple Root, to reach scale faster by offering a seamless, turnkey, and managed solution. This includes leveraging IVFHs fulfillment capabilities, 3PL services, and omnichannel distribution resources across B2B, DTC, and marketplaces such as Amazon, and national in-store channels. Todays announcement reflects the compelling platform we have created to solve many of the challenges small and emerging brands face. As a result, we are seeing an increasing number of opportunities for our services to meet the complex needs of U.S. and European based emerging brands. We look forward to working with The Simple Root as they focus on growing their brand. David Behringer, CEO of The Simple Root stated, IVFH provides us with an end-to-end food-based platform that will enable us to quickly grow our brand of plant-based products. In addition, our partnership with IVFH provides us with a committed partner with the resources and experience to serve our customers and expand our distribution throughout multiple channels. As a result, we are leveraging the unique capabilities across IVFHs family of businesses including igourmet and igourmet.com, mouth.com, PlantBelly.com, Food Innovation, and Organic Food Brokers. We are excited to reach more customers with our plant-based brand by leveraging IVFHs managed eCommerce and foodservice platform. About The Simple Root The Simple Root is a global plant-based food brand backed by Pilot Lite and McCain Foods. The company uses an innovative process to craft versatile and delicious veggie-packed foods in multiple categories. The Simple Root plant-based products are a creamy blend of wholesome vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. They are not made with dairy, nuts, soy, eggs, gluten, wheat, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. About Pilot Lite Pilot Lite Group, the parent company of Pilot Lite Ventures and Pilot Lite Capital, is a pioneer and international leader in venture management, with a successful track record of helping Fortune 500/FTSE 100 corporates accelerate the commercialization of innovation. Pilot Lite Ventures helps corporate clients identify, de-risk, validate and launch early-stage technology, new ventures, and stranded intellectual property across developed and emerging channels and markets. Pilot Lite Capital directly invests in Corporate IP, products, and brands and converts the assets into free-standing, revenue-generating businesses. About McCain Foods McCain Foods is the world's largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and supplies french fries, potato specialties, appetizers and desserts to retail and foodservice customers around the globe. McCain is the international leader in the frozen food industry, employing over 21,000 people and operating 52 production facilities on six continents. McCain Foods USA Inc., headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, employs 4,000 people and operates production facilities in Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, Washington, and Wisconsin. About Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. IVFHs leading end-to-end direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform and direct-to-chef platform connect the worlds best artisan food makers with top chefs and epicurean consumers nationwide. Our unique ability to reach both specialty foodservice B2B customers and consumers positions IVFH as a compelling resource for artisanal food producers, CPG brands, chefs, and consumers. IVFHs owned online retailer brands on its leading DTC eCommerce platform include www.igourmet.com , www.mouth.com , and www.plantbelly.com . Additional information is available at www.ivfh.com . Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. (the Company) that are based on the current beliefs of the Companys management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain assumptions, including those described in this release. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as should, could, will, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, might, potentially targeting or expect. Additional factors that could also cause actual results to differ materially relate to the global COVID-19 crisis, international crisis and other risk factors described in our public filings. The Company has not verified any information with respect to third parties contained herein and disclaims any responsibility for such statements. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. The content of the websites referenced above are not incorporated herein. Unprecedented merger of two leading Canadian cannabis companies with demonstrated expertise in cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and scalability, together with three Israeli companies skilled in import, marketing, distribution and sales of cannabis for medical purposes Strategic synergies covering the full value chain with a history of sales in eight international markets VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, EDMONTON, ALBERTA and TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Global Brands Inc. (formerly Silver Phoenix Resources Inc. Silver Phoenix) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its previously announced business combination, pursuant to a reverse take-over transaction (RTO Transaction), with each of Atlas Biotechnologies Inc. (Atlas Biotech), AgMedica Bioscience Inc. (AgMedica) and Cambrosia Ltd. (Cambrosia) and the concurrent acquisition by Cambrosia of each of Tlalim Pappo Ltd., Pharmacy Baron Ltd., and R.J. Regavim Ventures Ltd., privately held operating cannabis pharmacies in Israel (collectively, the Cambrosia Acquisitions and together with the acquisition of Silver Phoenix by Atlas Biotech, AgMedica and Cambrosia, the Transaction), all to form Atlas Global Brands Inc. (Atlas Global or the Company). The RTO Transaction constitutes a "fundamental change" of Silver Phoenix pursuant to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The RTO Transaction was completed pursuant to the terms of conditions of the amalgamation and share exchange agreement dated July 14, 2022, as amended, among Silver Phoenix, Atlas Biotech, AgMedica, Cambrosia, 2432998 Alberta Ltd. (Subco 1), 14060407 Canada Inc. (Subco 2) and the ordinary shareholders of Cambrosia (the Amalgamation and Share Exchange Agreement). Concurrently, with the completion of the Transaction, Cambrosia completed a financing pursuant to which it issued of 100,000,000 ordinary shares of Cambrosia with S.H.R. Group Management (KSN) Ltd. (the S.H.R. Group) for gross proceeds of ILS 9,000,000 (approximately CAD$3,487,441) with a further commitment of ILS 6,000,000 to finance future acquisitions. The Company expects to commence trading on the CSE on or about January 13, 2023 (upon submission of final documentation), under the ticker symbol ATL. Atlas Growers is a federally licensed Canadian cultivator and processor with a focus on genetics, brands, and unique cannabis delivery formulations. Atlas operates two brands in the Canadian adult-use market: Natural History and Atlas Thrive and distributes a handful of sought-after adult-use partner brands. AgMedica is a federally licensed Canadian cultivator and processor. In addition, AgMedica is EU-GMP certified (European Union Good Manufacturing Practices) for production of cannabis dried flower and oil and it exports medically formatted cannabis products to medically legalized global markets. AgMedicas EU-GMP facility was purpose-built to grow high-quality cannabis genetics with a low-cost growing model. Together, Atlas and AgMedica generate revenues across eight countries. Cambrosia is an Israel-based group with expertise in international acquisitions and owned pharmaceutical distribution to drive global growth. The Transaction positions Atlas Global as a leading international cannabis company with operations in Canada and Israel, with combined expertise in all facets of the cannabis value chain. We believe the North American industry has seen the bottom and we are starting the next chapter of cannabis where innovation, synergy, business efficiency and international reach converge. We have thoughtfully brought together a group of industry leading players to build a fully integrated cannabis company that will serve eight countries as of today, said Sheldon Croome, Interim CEO of Atlas Global. This transaction demonstrates that the industry has come a long way over the past decade, and there is a global commitment to redefining the future of cannabis. Sheldon added: We believe consolidation, integration and international expansion will drive the future of the cannabis industry. We have set Atlas Global up to capture market share and accelerate growth with all these factors in mind. We are committed to making strategic decisions that will benefit yield, profitably and sustainability over the long term. Further details regarding the Transaction are provided in the Form 2A Amended and Restated Listing Statement of Silver Phoenix dated December 29, 2022 (the "Listing Statement"). Please refer to the Listing Statement for full particulars of the Transaction, which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the issuer profile of Atlas Global. Key Company Highlights: Leveraging synergies and strategic supply chain: The international reach of the combined Company will leverage efficiencies from cross-selling, sales channel alignment, and coordinated operational and distribution strategies. The international reach of the combined Company will leverage efficiencies from cross-selling, sales channel alignment, and coordinated operational and distribution strategies. Global footprint: Exposure to advanced and developing medical cannabis markets, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Norway, Spain and United Kingdom. Exposure to advanced and developing medical cannabis markets, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Norway, Spain and United Kingdom. Leadership team bring industry expertise: The new management team, board of directors and advisors includes seasoned professionals with diverse professional experiences and operational track records in the cannabis industry, food, beverage, FMCG and health care. The new management team, board of directors and advisors includes seasoned professionals with diverse professional experiences and operational track records in the cannabis industry, food, beverage, FMCG and health care. Brand and product portfolio: An expansive product portfolio of EU-GMP manufactured flower, extracts, topicals, and smokeless cannabis products including transdermal patches, creams, tinctures and chewing gums. An expansive product portfolio of EU-GMP manufactured flower, extracts, topicals, and smokeless cannabis products including transdermal patches, creams, tinctures and chewing gums. Cannabis industry catalysts: There are significant long-term catalysts to support market expansion including additional regulatory developments offering a path to new markets. Existing consumers represent the greatest growth opportunity in the near term accounting for an estimated 75% of Canadas cannabis-volume consumption while making up just 58% of the cannabis-using population(1). An increase in the demand for cannabis to address insomnia, medical conditions and stress drives consumption together with product innovation and demand for variety such as edibles and beverages, also provides opportunities for growth. The combined entity is now positioned to take advantage of these catalysts through its brands, distribution to new markets, purposeful capital deployment and acquisitions. Note 1 Source: 2021 Cannabis Consumer Report Deloitte - https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ca/Documents/consumer-business/ca_cannabis_consumer_survey_en_aoda.pdf Reconstituted Management Team and Board Management and the Board of Directors of the Company changed to consist of persons that have experience in the new business to be undertaken. Sheldon Croome, Interim C EO Sheldon was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Growers. He has a track record of launching successful start-ups with international operations in cannabis, liquor distribution, retail and online accessories. Sheldon has over 12 years of experience in import and export and mass distribution in government regulated CPG industries. Sheldon was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Growers. He has a track record of launching successful start-ups with international operations in cannabis, liquor distribution, retail and online accessories. Sheldon has over 12 years of experience in import and export and mass distribution in government regulated CPG industries. Bernard Yeung, MBA, General Manager, Head of Global Operations Bernie is expected to become Atlas Globals Chief Executive Officer upon conclusion of a transition period. Bernie has held senior executive roles in cannabis, including leadership positions with multiple publicly traded Licensed Producers. Bernie is the former Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Aphria and the newly merged Tilray. Previously, Bernie was the former head of marketing for Brown Forman (parent company of Jack Daniels). Bernie has international experience with Keurig and Dr. Pepper and has experience navigating regulated and controlled products industries. Bernie has a MBA from Laurier University and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from York University. Bernie is expected to become Atlas Globals Chief Executive Officer upon conclusion of a transition period. Bernie has held senior executive roles in cannabis, including leadership positions with multiple publicly traded Licensed Producers. Bernie is the former Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Aphria and the newly merged Tilray. Previously, Bernie was the former head of marketing for Brown Forman (parent company of Jack Daniels). Bernie has international experience with Keurig and Dr. Pepper and has experience navigating regulated and controlled products industries. Bernie has a MBA from Laurier University and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from York University. Jason Cervi, CPA, Head of Finance & Administration Jason is expected to become Atlas Globals Chief Financial Officer upon conclusion of a transition period. Jason has over 20 years of experience working in large global publicly traded organizations with market capitalizations in excess of US$10 billion, across several highly regulated industries including health care, medical devices, and aerospace and defense with extensive background in building and leading high performing teams. Jason has deep technical and operational knowledge and expertise in M&A and business integrations. Jason is a Chartered Professional Account and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a minor in Economics from DeGroote school of business at McMaster University. Jason is expected to become Atlas Globals Chief Financial Officer upon conclusion of a transition period. Jason has over 20 years of experience working in large global publicly traded organizations with market capitalizations in excess of US$10 billion, across several highly regulated industries including health care, medical devices, and aerospace and defense with extensive background in building and leading high performing teams. Jason has deep technical and operational knowledge and expertise in M&A and business integrations. Jason is a Chartered Professional Account and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a minor in Economics from DeGroote school of business at McMaster University. Jeffrey R. Gossain , P. Eng., C OO Jeffrey was previously the President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Atlas Growers. Jeffrey will lead all internal operations for Atlas Global as Chief Operating Officer while developing valuable partnerships for distribution, technology, product formulation and revenue growth. He has 10 years of experience in construction and asset management including management of a fleet of equipment assets, valued at more than $300 million. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta and is licensed as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.). Jeffrey was previously the President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Atlas Growers. Jeffrey will lead all internal operations for Atlas Global as Chief Operating Officer while developing valuable partnerships for distribution, technology, product formulation and revenue growth. He has 10 years of experience in construction and asset management including management of a fleet of equipment assets, valued at more than $300 million. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta and is licensed as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.). Dr. Trevor Henry, DVM, Director and President of AgMedica Dr. Henry has been the President and CEO of AgMedica since 2019 and 2021, respectively. Dr. Henry has over 25 years of entrepreneurial and veterinary experience as the Founding Partner and President of a multi practice veterinary corporation in Ontario. Dr. Henry has been the President and CEO of AgMedica since 2019 and 2021, respectively. Dr. Henry has over 25 years of entrepreneurial and veterinary experience as the Founding Partner and President of a multi practice veterinary corporation in Ontario. Peter Van Mol, CPA, CA, Director and CFO of AgMedica Peter was a founder and became Chief Financial Officer of AgMedica in 2020. Previously, Peter held other senior executive roles in the cannabis industry. Peter has over 30+ years of corporate finance experience, supporting ten-fold revenue growth at large diversified agricultural companies with operations across Canada. Peter was a founder and became Chief Financial Officer of AgMedica in 2020. Previously, Peter held other senior executive roles in the cannabis industry. Peter has over 30+ years of corporate finance experience, supporting ten-fold revenue growth at large diversified agricultural companies with operations across Canada. Cale Alacer, P.Eng, PMP, Director Cale was a founding director and long-standing member of Atlas Biotechs Board of Directors, where he served as the chair of the Audit Committee, Strategic Planning Committee. Outside of Atlas, Cale is responsible for a portfolio of projects and services to help modernize services, technologies and operations for the Canadian government. Cale holds a Professional Engineering designation and was previously certified as a Professional Cloud Architect and is Lean Six Sigma and PMP certified. Cale was a founding director and long-standing member of Atlas Biotechs Board of Directors, where he served as the chair of the Audit Committee, Strategic Planning Committee. Outside of Atlas, Cale is responsible for a portfolio of projects and services to help modernize services, technologies and operations for the Canadian government. Cale holds a Professional Engineering designation and was previously certified as a Professional Cloud Architect and is Lean Six Sigma and PMP certified. Elan MacDonald, ICD.D, Director Elan is currently Vice President of External Relations for the University of Alberta. Previously, Elan built and ran a public affairs firm, Impact Consulting, which was recently acquired by Global Public Affairs. Elan is also a director of the board of Edmonton Global and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. Elan holds the ICD.D designation. Advisory Board Concurrently with completion of the Transaction the reconstituted board of directors of the Company appointed the following persons to a newly formed advisory board. Jonathan Ben-Cnaan, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board Jonathan was previously, Chief Financial Officer of Bateman Engineering NV, where he played a key role in its development from US$120 million to US$650 million in revenue, with a substantial part of the growth coming from acquisitions in Australia, India, South Africa and Canada. Jonathan was previously, Chief Financial Officer of Bateman Engineering NV, where he played a key role in its development from US$120 million to US$650 million in revenue, with a substantial part of the growth coming from acquisitions in Australia, India, South Africa and Canada. Dr. Tamir Gedo, PhD, Executive Chairman of the Advisory Board Tamir is the Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Oil Ltd., a CSE-listed food technology company. Tamir is also founder and former CEO of BOL Pharma, a leading Israeli cannabis company, and the former Chairman, cannabis section at the Industrial Association of Israel. Tamir is the Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Oil Ltd., a CSE-listed food technology company. Tamir is also founder and former CEO of BOL Pharma, a leading Israeli cannabis company, and the former Chairman, cannabis section at the Industrial Association of Israel. Prof. Itamar Grotto, Advisor Itamar is the former Associate Director, Israeli Ministry of Health, and head of the Medical Cannabis Unit in Israel. Itamar is currently an advisor to the MedTech group of companies, a visiting professor at the Cyprus University of Technology and a full professor at Ben Gurion University. From 2018 to 2021, Itamar was a member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. Itamar is the former Associate Director, Israeli Ministry of Health, and head of the Medical Cannabis Unit in Israel. Itamar is currently an advisor to the MedTech group of companies, a visiting professor at the Cyprus University of Technology and a full professor at Ben Gurion University. From 2018 to 2021, Itamar was a member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. David Pappo, Advisor David is the Chairman of the Israeli Association of Pharmacists and Head Pharmacist at Tlalim Pharmacy, one of the Cambrosia Acquisitions. David is the Chairman of the Israeli Association of Pharmacists and Head Pharmacist at Tlalim Pharmacy, one of the Cambrosia Acquisitions. Iftach Seri, Advisor Iftach has 20 years of senior management experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Iftach was previously the Head of API Division of Sun Pharma (NYSE, turnover > 3 billion), CEO of Wavelength Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients, with exports to over 20 countries and CEO of the second largest pharmacy chain in Israel. Completion of RTO Transaction, Share Consolidation and Name Change The RTO Transaction was structured as a three-cornered amalgamation and share exchange, pursuant to which (i) Subco 1 , a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and AtlasBiotech, amalgamated (the Atlas Amalgamation) to form a newly amalgamated company (Atlas Amalco); (ii) Subco 2 , a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and AgMedica, amalgamated (the AgMedica Amalgamation) to form a newly amalgamated company (AgMedica Amalco); and (iii) the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding securities of Cambrosia pursuant to a share exchange with the holders thereof (the Cambrosia Share Exchange). Prior to the completion of the Atlas Amalgamation, the AgMedica Amalgamation and the Cambrosia Share Exchange, the common shares in the capital of Silver Phoenix (the SPR Shares) were consolidated on a 2.44139 to 1 basis resulting in 3,445,380 SPR Shares outstanding post consolidation. Pursuant to the Atlas Amalgamation, former holders of common shares of Atlas Biotech received an aggregate of 38,550,838 post-consolidation shares of the Company on a pro-rata basis and Atlas Amalco became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the AgMedica Amalgamation, former holders of common shares of AgMedica received an aggregate of 38,550,870 post-consolidation shares of the Company, on a pro rata basis and AgMedica Amalco became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Cambrosia Share Exchange, the former holders of ordinary shares of Cambrosia received an aggregate of 62,282,313 post-consolidation shares of the Company together with options to acquire an additional 2,621,027 post-consolidation common shares of the Company and Cambrosia became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Concurrently, the shareholders of Tlalim Pappo Ltd., Pharmacy Baron Ltd., and R.J. Regavim Ventures Ltd., exchanged their shares of those entities with Cambrosia for an aggregate of 8,237,380 post-consolidation shares of the Company, and became wholly owned subsidiaries of Cambrosia, and indirect subsidiaries of the Company. Following completion of each of the Atlas Amalgamation, the AgMedica Amalgamation, the Cambrosia Share Exchange and Cambrosia Acquisitions, the Company became the parent and the sole shareholder of Atlas Amalco, AgMedica Amalco, Cambrosia and is the indirect sole shareholder of the Cambrosia Acquisitions and thus will indirectly carry on the business of AtlasBiotech, AgMedica, Cambrosia and the Cambrosia Acquisitions under the new name Atlas Global Brands Inc. As a result of the completion of the Transaction, former holders of Silver Phoenix now hold approximately 2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Atlas Global, former shareholders of Atlas Biotech now hold approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Atlas Global, former shareholders of AgMedica now hold approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Atlas Global, former shareholders of Cambrosia together with the vendors of the Cambrosia Acquisitions now hold 70,519,693 post-consolidation common shares of Atlas Global, representing approximately 48% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Atlas Global, in each case, based on an aggregate of 151,066,781 common shares currently issued and outstanding. Escrow and Lock-Up Due to certain contractual lock-up agreements between former Cambrosia shareholders, former Atlas Biotech shareholders and former AgMedica shareholders, an aggregate of 63,641,117 common shares are locked up from trading and will be gradually released from lock-up over a period of 36 months from the listing of the common shares on the CSE, and another 82,908,208 common shares of Atlas Global are subject to escrow pursuant to the policies of the CSE, also to be released over a period of 36 months from the listing of the common shares on the CSE. In addition, all of the common shares issued to the former shareholders of Cambrosia and the vendors of the Cambrosia Acquisitions are subject to a hold period of 4 months and one day, from the date of issue. For full details of the lock-up and escrow arrangements, please see the Listing Statement. Required Early Warning Report Disclosure Following completion of the Transaction, Tamir Gedo and S.H.R. Group respectively, holds the following securities of Atlas Global: Pursuant to the Transaction, Tamir Gedo a founder and director of Cambrosia acquired beneficial ownership and control over 27,883,263 Atlas Global Shares at a deemed issue price of $1.00 per share, in exchange for Mr. Gedos ordinary shares in the capital of Cambrosia. Mr. Gedos common shares of Atlas Global represent approximately 18% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Atlas Global. Prior to completion of the Transaction, Mr. Gedo did not hold any securities of Silver Phoenix (predecessor to Atlas Global). Pursuant to the terms of the Amalgamation and Share Exchange Agreement, Cambrosia was entitled to nominate 5 persons to the board of directors of Atlas Global, one of whom was Mr. Gedo. Also, pursuant to the Amalgamation and Share Exchange Agreement, until all applicable regulatory approvals are obtained, those nominees, including Mr. Gedo were appointed to the Advisory Board of Atlas Global. Further, in accordance with the terms of a representation agreement to be entered into, these members of the advisory board will be granted shadow representation on the board of directors of Atlas Global, until the initial nomination rights have been fully exercised. An early warning report will be filed by Mr. Gedo in respect of Atlas Global with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities. To obtain copies of the early warning report filed by Mr. Gedo please contact Mr. Gedo as indicated below. A copy of the early warning report filed by Mr. Gedo will be available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the issuer profile of Atlas Global. For more information or to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact: Dr. Tamir Gedo tel: +972 54 4271014. Pursuant to the Concurrent Cambrosia Financing, S.H.R. Group, acquired beneficial ownership and control over 27,883,263 Atlas Global Shares at a deemed issue price of $1.00 per shares, representing approximately 18% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Atlas Global. Prior to completion of the Transaction, S.H.R. Group did not hold any securities of Silver Phoenix (predecessor to Atlas Global). Pursuant to the terms and conditions of an investor rights agreement dated as of December 30, 2022 between Atlas Global and S.H.R. Group (the Investor Rights Agreement), S.H.R. Group has the right to subscribe for common shares of Atlas Global or any security convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for or into common shares of Atlas Global or other equity securities of the Company, that the Company may sell or issue, from time to time for cash proceeds pursuant to a public offering, private placement or otherwise (other than issuances to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company in such capacity for the primary purpose of soliciting or retaining their services and pursuant to the terms of the Companys long term incentive plan, or otherwise as agreed in writing by the S.H.R. Group) in order to maintain S.H.R. Groups pro rata percentage ownership of Atlas Global. An early warning report will be filed by S.H.R.Group in respect of Atlas Global with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities. To obtain copies of the early warning report filed by SHR Group please contact SHR Group as indicated below. A copy of the early warning report filed by SHR Group will be available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the issuer profile of Atlas Global. For more information or to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact: S.H.R. Group c/o Avi Elkayam +972 3 576 9217. Change in Principal Regulator As a result of the completion of the Transaction, the Company has changed its principal regulator for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 11-102 Passport System from the securities regulatory authority in British Columbia to the securities regulatory authority in Ontario. About Atlas Global Atlas Global is a global cannabis company operating in Canada and Israel with expertise across the cannabis value chain: cultivation, manufacturing, scalability, marketing, distribution and pharmacy. Atlas currently serves eight countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In addition to a differentiated product mix, geographic dispersion of brands demonstrates additional diversification. Atlas currently operates two fully accredited and licensed cannabis facilities, including one EU-GMP facility. Additional Information Sheldon Croome Interim CEO 780-784-5920 invest@atlasglobalbrands.com Alyssa Barry Media Relations 1-833-947-5227 invest@atlasglobalbrands.com Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: Information contained in forwardlooking statements, including the anticipated benefits of the Transaction and were derived, in part, from making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, current information available to the management of the Company, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. The Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect the Company and its business. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forwardlooking statements made in this news release concerning the Company, see the risk factors outlined in the Filing Statement, which is available electronically on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Companys issuer profile. The forwardlooking statements set forth herein concerning the Company reflect management's expectations as at the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) today announced contract awards or extensions for five of its drilling rigs. Together, the fixtures represent approximately $488 million of firm backlog. Deepwater Invictus, an ultra-deepwater drillship, was awarded a new three-well contract with an estimated 100-day duration in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico with an independent operator. The contract contributes an estimated $43 million in backlog and is expected to commence in direct continuation of the rigs current program. Transocean Barents, a harsh environment semi-submersible, was awarded a new one-well contract with an estimated 110-day duration in the U.K. North Sea with a major operator. The contract contributes an estimated $34 million in backlog and is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, Harbour Energy exercised the third option on its U.K. North Sea contract with Paul B. Loyd, Jr., a harsh environment semi-submersible, for eight P&A wells, adding an estimated $48 million in backlog. The additional term is expected to last 275 days and extends the contract to the third quarter of 2024. In Norway, certain previously disclosed options under the Transocean Norge contract with Wintershall DEA and OMV have now been added to backlog. The incremental term is expected to last 773 days and contribute an estimated $331 million to backlog. Finally, TotalEnergies exercised a one-well option on its contract with Development Driller III, an ultra-deepwater semi-submersible, working in Suriname. The incremental well is expected to last 90 days and contribute an estimated $32 million in backlog. About Transocean Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. Transocean specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on deepwater and harsh environment drilling services, and operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world. Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 38 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 28 ultra-deepwater floaters and 10 harsh environment floaters. In addition, Transocean is constructing one ultra-deepwater drillship and holds a partial ownership interest in a company that is constructing another ultra-deepwater drillship. Forward-Looking Statements The statements described herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements could contain words such as "possible," "intend," "will," "if," "expect," or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, estimated duration of customer contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects and other out-of-service time, sales of drilling units, timing of the companys newbuild deliveries, operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the fluctuation of current and future prices of oil and gas, the global and regional supply and demand for oil and gas, the intention to scrap certain drilling rigs, the success of our business following prior acquisitions, the effects of the spread of and mitigation efforts by governments, businesses and individuals related to contagious illnesses, such as COVID-19, and other factors, including those and other risks discussed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the company's other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at: www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize (or the other consequences of such a development worsen), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date hereof, except as otherwise may be required by law. All non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations to the most comparative GAAP measure are displayed in quantitative schedules on the companys website at: www.deepwater.com. This press release, or referenced documents, do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and do not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA) or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of Transocean and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of Transocean. Analyst Contact: Alison Johnson +1 713-232-7214 Media Contact: Pam Easton +1 713-232-7647 China has recently optimized its COVID-19 response, shifting the focus from infection control to case treatment, and making it easier for people to travel and for businesses to grow. From Jan. 8, authorities will drop quarantine measures against people infected with novel coronavirus and lift COVID restrictions for international arrivals. Xinhua correspondent Huang Aiping talked to two expats who have experienced different stages of China's COVID-19 policies, and they shared their opinions on these changes. Produced by Xinhua Global Service 1D1F: Alan Kyerematen inaugurates rice processing factory in Savelugu Graphic.com.gh Business News Dec - 30 - 2022 , 10:05 The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen has inaugurated a rice processing factory in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region. The factory which has the capacity to produce 1.5 and 2.8 tonnes of processed rice per hour is under the government's One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative. The event was held under the theme "Boosting Local Enterprise For Job Creation and Economic Prosperity Towards a Ghana Beyond Aid." The Savelugu rice processing factory, the latest to be inaugurated adds to several local enterprises boosted by the 1D1F. To ensure efficiency and to serve its intended purposes, Mr Kyerematen also swore into office a nine-member board of directors to oversee the management and operations of the factory. Technology Solution Centre Mr Kyerematen also inaugurated the Savelugu Technology Solution Centre to facilitate the production of spare parts and repair services and the manufacturing of agro-processing equipment. The centre under the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) and the GRATIS Foundation is to provide training for human resource and capacity building for various businesses in the area, including the factory. Inauguration Speaking at the inauguration ceremony last Wednesday (December 28, 2022) at Savelugu, Mr Kyerematen said the rice processing factory would go a long way to increase the productivity of farmers and create jobs in the area. He said it would also help increase the incomes of the farmers in the area by adding value to their produce to enable them to become more competitive on the market. Touching on the centre, Mr Kyerematen said it was expected to support not only the rice factory, but to also provide modern-day technology support services to all factories in its catchment area. He gave the assurance that the Ministry would continue to create the enabling business environment to ensure the sustainability of businesses. The National Director of the REP, Akwasi Attah Antwi, said the factory was expected to employ about 118 people, including management professionals, factory floor workers and plantation workers, who would work on the nucleus rice farms. He said, In addition, over 754 farmers in the Savelugu Municipality and neighbouring communities will be directly engaged to supply rice to the factory. The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu said the factory would serve as a catalyst that would bring about the needed development in the region while enhancing food security in the country. The Municipal Chief Executive of Savelugu, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu, said it would help address unemployment and attract young people into the agricultural sector. She urged residents to take advantage of the initiative to enhance sustainable growth and development of the area. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the factory, Alhaji Sayibu Braimah,pledged to discharge their duties efficiently to ensure that the factory achieved its intended purpose. Background The Savelugu rice processing factory is under the government's 1D1F Common User Facility (CUF) initiative, a farmer-owned agro-industrial processing facility established with seed funding from the Ministry of Trade and Industry under the Rural Enterprises Programme. It seeks to enhance the ability of farmers and other agricultural value chain actors, with little or no financial capacity , to establish their own common user processing facilities to process their farm produce. Similar facilities under the initiative have been established in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region, Sefwi Akontombra District of the Western North Region, Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region and Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region. In the coming months, Mr Kyerematen is expected to inaugurate such facilities under the government's 1D1F initiative in other parts of the country. EBIDs Agyekum Donkor named in list of 100 personalities transforming Africa Zadok Kwame Gyesi Business News Dec - 28 - 2022 , 16:39 Ghanas Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, has been recognised by a news magazine, Financial Afrik, as the Development Banker of the year in their 2022 list of 100 personalities who are transforming Africa. Dr. Agyekum Donkor, President and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), was awarded for his exceptional efforts at cleaning up the institutions balance sheet and strengthening its fundraising programme. Appointed as head of EBID since 2020, George Agyekum Donkor ensured that the bank improved its ratings with the ratings agencies in 2021 and 2022 with Fitch and Moodys improving the banks outlook from B2 (negative outlook) to B2 with a stable outlook despite the exigencies of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. In early November 2022, the bank approved its capital increase which will move from 1.5 to 3.5 billion dollars from January 2023. Launched in 2013, Financial Afrik is a pan-African newspaper specialising in financial information which targets the business community across Africa and particularly the West African bloc through its website and various media. It has correspondents across major capitals and introduced the prestigious awards eight years ago. The Financial Afrik rankings are carried out by a selection committee on the basis of achievements over the last 12 months, the social and environmental impact, and for self-made men who have taken risks to ensure the awakening of the African continent. Extra effort is placed on the independence of the selection jury and that credibility has ensured that the rankings have gained significant global prestige. Agyekum Donkors recognition comes on the back of a recent honour by the Crans Montana forum in Geneva, Switzerland for his numerous contributions to the socio-economic development of the sub-region. Under Agyekum Donkors capable leadership, EBID has achieved several remarkable successes including balance sheet growth of 22% and 158% oversubscription of its 2021 UEMOA bond issuance concluded within 24hrs, both an indication of increased investor confidence. The EBID President and Board Chairman has supervised significant financial achievements including the mobilisation of USD 404 million and the recovery of over USD 20 million of impaired and written-off loans, reducing the bank non-performing loans to five per cent. Other remarkable achievements recorded include improvements in governance, human resource development, the Banks visibility, processes and procedures, and information technology, among others. Dr. George Agyekum Donkor has over 28 years experience in senior management roles in finance, strategic management, marketing, legal, compliance and administration. He was previously Vice-President in charge of Finance and Corporate Services for over seven years and Head of Legal Division/Compliance for four (4) years of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development. For the Development Banker of the Year, others listed in the category include, Sidi Ould Tah, Director General of the Arab Bank for International Development in Africa, Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, United Nations Assistant Secretary General (ASG) and Director General of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group, Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank and Admassu Tadesse, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trade and Development Bank (TDB Group, former PTA Bank), the COMESA Trade and Development Bank (Eastern and Southern Africa). Elegant Homes honoured at Ghana Property Awards Graphic.com.gh Business News Dec - 27 - 2022 , 12:18 The Ghana Property Awards organised annually to promote and celebrate individuals and businesses in the real estate sector has awarded Elegant Homes as Best Residential Developer Middle Income Luxurious. This years award ceremony was on the theme, Sustainable Architecture in Ghanas Housing Mix. This years ceremony was the 14th by the Ghana Property Awards and was held on November 25, 2022 at the Accra International Conference Centre. The CEO of Elegant Homes and General Construction Limited, Samuel Quarshie attributed the companys success to the hardworking staff and expressed gratitude to clients for the confidence reposed in the company. This achievement was made possible through the tireless efforts of our hardworking and dedicated staff. We are also extremely grateful to our cherished clients for their confidence in our products and services and dedicate this award to them. Our Vision to become a household name is unfolding much faster than we envisaged. This award reflects our vision to maintain our standards by providing affordable luxury properties for Ghanaians both home and abroad. We are very grateful to God for how far he has brought us, he said. BoG promotes innovation in financial services sector Juliet Akyaa Safo Business News Jan - 04 - 2023 , 10:03 The Head of Fintech and Innovation at Bank of Ghana, Kwame Oppong, has said the central bank has implemented a regulatory reform to enable innovation in the financial services industry without compromising financial stability. He said, for instance, that the BoG in 2020, established a Fintech Innovation Office, one of the few of such outfits among central banks globally, to regulate, supervise and nurture Fintech in line with its commitment to innovation. So far, a total of 47 payment service providers and mobile money operators have been given approval - both Ghanaian and foreign across various license categories to provide payment services, he said. Mr Oppong made the call when leading Fintechs, investors and digital finance stakeholders converged on Accra to connect and build network at the Africa Money and Decentralised Finance (DeFi) Summit. The two-day summit organised by the Africa Tech Summit; a leading tech event series, shared insights on payments, crypto, DeFi, mobile money and investing and connected corporates, investors, start-ups, regulators, media and industry stakeholders. The summit showcased industry leaders including Polygon, Celo, Paystack, Visa, Workpay, among others. It featured over 400 delegates, more than 150 companies, and over 75 speakers covering topics through panel session, keynotes and fireside chats, plus multiple networking events, masterclass sessions and an exhibition showcasing top products and innovations. Open door policy Mr Oppong said the central bank had an open door policy where it engaged with industry stakeholders, prospective service providers and innovators towards the promotion of a safe, sustainable and inclusive innovation. Mr Oppong added that the BoG had also invested resources to study and monitor the development in virtual assets and similar products, including Decentralised Finance Applications and non- tangible tokens. The study revealed some challenges in cryptocurrencies as regards to volatility, consumer protection, money laundering, terrorism financing risks, which has led various policy makers to react in short of effective regulation, he said. On that basis, he said the BoG did not recognise the crypto currency for regulatory purposes. We have, however, noted recent efforts by the crypto currency industry to remedy some of these volatility concerns of regulators in a form of stable coin but the significant risks still persist, he added. He said despite the challenges, the potential opportunities for block chain in driving innovation could not be discounted although it was yet to fully mature. He said the BoG would continue to monitor development and implement measures fit for virtual assets to forestall any risks with the ecosystem in collaborating with other regulators and stakeholders when necessary. Crypto growing The Founder of Africa Tech Summit, Andrew Fassnidge, said the summit was organised in Ghana after calls from Fintech industry players to bring the summit to West Africa following a sold-out Money and DeFi Summit organised in Nairobi early this year. He said it was an exciting time in the digital finance space as crypto was growing across Africa and the new wave of DeFi. He noted that a live pitch organised as part of the summit provided a platform for 10 ventures to pitch their businesses to investors and partners who were looking to invest in them. He said the traditional Fintech banking and financial services and the new world of DeFi and crypto were coming together, stating that there would be lots of innovations and investments. For instance, there are a lot of Fintechs built by Africans such as Zeepay and others, which have revolutionised payments for the man on the street, he noted. New rate for freight forwarders takes effect January 2023 Maclean Kwofi Business News Jan - 01 - 2023 , 00:02 The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) and freight forwarders aiding importers to clear goods at the countrys point of entry have agreed on a new freight forwarding and clearing agents charges for the next two years. The new rates, which takes effect January 1, 2023, affects activities at Ghanas two seaports (Tema and Takoradi ports), Kotoka International Airport (KIA), as well as Aflao and Elubo borders. It is in accordance with the Ghana Shippers' Authority Regulation, 2012, (L.1.2190) which mandates the authority to negotiate charges of shipping service providers on behalf of shippers (importers and exporters), Graphic Onlines Maclean Kwofi reports. The rates were reached after negotiations and extensive deliberation between the GSA and Committee of Freight Forwarder Associations (CoFFA) representing the forwarders and clearing agents. During the negotiation, the proposed individual line items and justifications were thoroughly examined by the GSA to ensure that the levels of the charges were commensurate with the service being provided. The negotiated rates which would last for the next two years are to guide importers and exporters to plan their operations. It is also to check the cost of doing business in Ghana and ensure price predictability. Signing ceremony Speaking at the signing ceremony in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GSA, Benonita Bismarck, encouraged the forwarders to abide by the negotiated rates to create a congenial business environment. We have gone through a tough time to get to these rates, which as we agreed, is 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, she said. Gratitude The Vice President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Peter Mensah, who signed on behalf of the freight forwarders, expressed gratitude to the GSA for the openness and fairness at all levels of negotiation. He promised that forwarders would comply with the agreed rates with the good faith that characterised the negotiations. It is for the good of not only the sector but the nation at large. A better economy would translate into profits. We would like to offer our customers the chance to also recognise the professionalism we bring to the table. We also want to use this to check our members and caution the public to be wary of the activities of fake forwarders. The rate for the services of De-consolidator is yet to be finalized for implementation. Attached below is thr details of the agreed rates. Reversal discount policy on imported vehicles, general goods effective Jan 1, 2023 Enoch Darfah Frimpong Business News Dec - 29 - 2022 , 08:26 The Ghana Revenue Authority has reminded all sector commanders of the Customs Division, that the complete reversal of the discount on Free on Board (FOB) value on general goods and home delivery value (HDV) of vehicles is effective January 1, 2023, and therefore they should ensure full compliance. The move is in reference to the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, which is aimed at raising revenue and also to boost the local productive capacity, introduce policies for the protection and incubation of newly formed domestic industries to allow them to make the goods produced in Ghana competitive for local consumption and also for export. Per the new policy, discounts on import values have been revised from the prevailing 30 percent for vehicles to 10 percent. All other goods will have discounts on import values of 30 percent instead of the prevailing 50 percent. A memo from the Commissioner General of the GRA, Rev Dr Ammishadai Owusu Amoah gave a reminder of the effective date as January 1, 2023 and asked Custom officers to ensure strict compliance to prevent any possible losses of revenue. There is however a transitional arrangement for the provision of storage free period for consignments discharged on December 31, 2022, from arriving means of conveyance to go through clearance without being affected by the reversal policy. In addition, all pre-arrival declarations processed and tax paid even when the goods have not arrived before January 1, 2023, shall not be affected by the reversal policy. Related: Discretionary discounts on imported vehicles, goods; OSP expresses gratification over reversal Meanwhile the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has expressed gratification over the reversal of the discretionary discounts. On August 3, 2022, the Office of the Special Prosecutor published an investigative report in respect of a complaint against Labianca Company Limited and the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority. A major finding of the investigation, which led to the recovery of GHC1,074,627.15, is that there appears to be an institutionalised culture of lighthearted unconcern regarding impropriety of action at the Customs Division in respect of the grant of customs advance rulings and other rulings regarding the importation of goods - which indicates a high propensity to engender corruption and corruption-related activities. On the basis of the report, the Special Prosecutor directed the commencement of a wider investigation into the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns of benchmark values and an attendant investigation in respect of the auction of goods and vehicles by the Customs Division. In a statement issued Thursday afternoon (December 29, 2022), the OSP noted, "with gratification, that following its various investigations and interventions at the Customs Division, the Government has reversed the discretionary discount on the free on board (FOB) value of goods and the home delivery value (HDV) of vehicles effective 1 January 2023." "The new policy effectively shuts all avenues for officers of the Customs Division to grant discretionary markdowns and removes opportunity for corruption and corruption-related activities," the OSP stated. "The various investigations commenced by the OSP at the Customs Division would still proceed nonetheless and the Office will monitor the implementation of the new policy." Attached below is a copy of the GRA memo Attached below is a copy of the OSP's statement Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Lancaster Accra Afehyiapa Family lunch Kofi Duah Showbiz News Dec - 31 - 2022 , 07:28 The Lancaster Accra Hostel is hosting many events this Christmas and ending it with Afehyiapa Family party on Sunday January 1. The 12:00 pm will event will have variety of foods on display alongside wines and some expensive drinks. There will also be some performances from jazz musicians to calm the nerves of patrons. Some of the activities on the night will be fireworks, Christmas carols among others. The organizers are asking families to come in their numbers to have a good treat. For some years now, Lancaster Accra Hotel has held Successful events at their premises but this year promises to be more fun as management of the place intends to gift patrons some surprises this Christmas as a way of giving back to the society Suspect in theft of rapper Meek Mill's phone remanded Kweku Zurek Showbiz News Jan - 04 - 2023 , 12:39 The man accused of stealing US rapper Meek Mill's iPhone 14 Pro Max during the musician's visit to the country last month has made his first court appearance. Nuhu Sule, a 33-year-old scrap dealer who allegedly stole the rapper's phone during a programme at Independence square, has been remanded into police custody. Nuhu Sulley, a 33-year-old scrap dealer who allegedly stole #MeekMill, an American rapper's iPhone 14 Pro Max during a programme at Independence square, has been remanded into police custody. #GNA 1/2 pic.twitter.com/7VuCqPYcyo January 4, 2023 Nuhu Sulley, who appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday, has been charged with stealing. He pleaded not guilty and is expected to reappear on January 17, 2023.#GhanaNewsAgency #GNA #MeekMill pic.twitter.com/3g0WrDD8Rt Ghana News Agency (@GHANANEWSAGENCY) January 4, 2023 Sule appeared before an Accra Circuit Court today (January 4, 2022) and was charged with stealing. He pleaded not guilty and is expected to reappear on January 17, 2023. Sule alias Ababaawa was arrested Friday, December 30, 2022, at his hideout in Accra. The victim, Meek Mill, reported his phone stolen in Accra on December 29, 2022. Meek Mill backtracks theft claim The rapper on December 31 backtracked on his claim that the phone was pickpocketed during his visit to Ghana for this years Afro Nation music festival. They pick pocketed me for my phoneeeeeee SMH.Bring that Jawn back if you got it!! he wrotein his IG stories. The phone was found and returned to the Philadelphia rapper on Friday (December 30) by the Ghana Police who revealed that they had arrested a suspect named Nuhu Sule. I coulda dropped that phone on a dirt bike I dont actually know for a fact somebody went in my pocket! I got it back thats all I needed I dont need anybody locked up for a phone.., I dont even know what happened to it MeekMill (@MeekMill) December 31, 2022 I wanna say thank you guys for getting my phone back to my life, man, Meek can be heard saying in a video he posted to his Instagram Story showing his phone being returned. Yall aint let him hack me or nothing, did yall, Commander? Meek later admitted that maybe his phone wasnt stolen and instead it could have fallen out of his pocket while he was out riding his dirt bike. I coulda dropped that phone on a dirt bike I dont actually know for a fact somebody went in my pocket! he tweeted on Friday night. I got it back thats all I needed I dont need anybody locked up for a phone, he wrote. I dont even know what happened to it. Today in history: Ghana becomes the first African country to give bulk Citizenship to "African Descendants of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. By Graphic online Showbiz News Dec - 28 - 2022 , 21:27 Exactly six years ago, through the initiative of Ministry of the Future (MOF), a non-governmental organization, 19 people of black descent were given a Declaration of Right to Return" on December 28, 2016. The initiative formed part of the larger commitment of the Government of Ghana at the time to make Ghana a preferred home for African Americans and people of Black race. The initiative was instrumental in the launch of the Year of Return, Ghana 2019 for Africans in the Diaspora, giving fresh impetus to the quest to unite Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora. It was based on A Two Tier Reciprocal Principle, presented by MOF to the Government of Ghana. The Two Tier Principle Was "Moral Obligation," And, "Economic Added Value" To Ghana's National Economy. Specific and Unique Diaspora group This Historic event gained popularity across the world, enabling Ghana to capture the loving hearts and minds of the global African Diaspora. This has undoubtedly pushed Ghana to become a preferred tourist destination for Diasporas, contributing significantly to the success of the Year of Return, Beyond the Year of Return and December in GH. New article Bob Marley's grandson, Joseph 'Jo Mersa' Marley, dies at 31 The African Diasporas presence in Ghana Injected $2.2 Billion U.S. Dollars into Ghanas economy. The success of the initiative has motivated other African countries such as Sierra Leone, Gabon, Tanzania, The Gambia Republic Of Benin, Liberia, Togo, Mali, Guinea Bissau, and, Senegal to also provide citizenship to people of Black descent. It is anticipated that more African countries will emulate Ghanas worthy cause to give proper identity to people of the Black race. Mole National Park - A must-visit animal, plant kingdom Mohammed Fugu Features Dec - 24 - 2022 , 10:18 The chirping of birds, screeching of monkeys and yaking and wahoos of baboons welcome every tourist to the park. It has very rich flora and fauna and is arguably Ghana's first, largest and most prestigious national park. Located near Damongo in the West Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region, the Mole National Park is managed mainly for its outstanding natural, physical, historical and cultural values. Established in 1958, the park covers an area of 4,840sq km of undulating terrain with steep scarps. Biodiversity It is rich in biodiversity and home to some 742 vascular plant species and over 90 mammal species, including five primate species. Some of the species of conservation and tourist interest include Elephants, Buffalos, Kobs, Western Hartebeests, Roan Antelopes, Defassa Waterbucks, Oribis, Bohor Reedbucks and Red-flanked Duikers. Rare and endangered species include the Yellow-backed Duiker, Black and White Colobus Monkey, Leopard and Lion. Also, the park is home to 334 bird species, 33 reptiles, nine amphibian species and some 120 butterfly species. The park has the most viable elephant population in Ghana, and as such, is a hotspot for elephant conservation. It is also said to have a unique breed of elephants, which are not hostile, not aggressive or insecure, compared to other elephant populations in the rest of Africa. Mole shares its borders with 33 fringe communities in two regions - Northern and Upper West. Adjoining communities In addition to savouring the precious flora and fauna through game viewing, bird watching, informative walks and camping, visitors to the park can also visit some of the neighbouring communities and experience their rich cultural heritage, architecture and traditional livelihood activities, among others. Located near the park are the ancient Larabanga Mosque, Mystic Stone, Mognori Eco-Village and a host of sites that revellers can also visit to spice up their tour. The park is also Ghanas most developed tourism site in terms of tourist amenities, as it has West Africas first luxury safari lodge nestled in the heart of the Mole forest. Known as the Zaina Lodge, it provides world-class hospitality service with a unique touch. There are also very affordable guest houses within the parks community. Serene environment The Manager of the Park, Chief Ali Mahama, in an interview, said: "For those who want to interact with nature and also a serene environment to relax, Mole is obviously the best destination." He indicated that the park had put in place stringent measures to provide quality services to tourists while ensuring their safety. Chief Mahama added: "We have reviewed our prices upwards marginally to reflect the current economic situation, we have packages for both middle and low-income earners." However, poaching and illegal logging have been the biggest threat at the Mole National Park. Chief Mahama expressed worry about the increasing cases of poaching around the reserve and said management had put in place stringent measures to help protect the wildlife in the park. Experiences A Canadian reveller, Irene Thompson, who shared her experience with the Daily Graphic, said, "I am really enjoying the place, I get to connect with nature and have a good rest and that's all I need to end the year with." Another tourist, Abubakari Salifu, said he had enjoyed his visit to the place and would continue to share fond memories with friends. Pay Day at Electrochem Nii Narh Narte Atwele Agbo Opinion Dec - 29 - 2022 , 10:56 Conspicuously, there is one sensitive issue that most employers are guilty of. That, in our view, is one of the frustrating factors responsible for corruption within the space of work environments in Ghana. It is the same cause that creates tensions and contentions between the employer and the employee. That industrial deficiency, which is the neglect of employees and their welfare on the part of certain employers has actually resulted in the collapse of many businesses. Most people see underpayment as an act of cheating and a denial of workers' right, and workers who feel that cheated usually develop some resentment against their employers. Such negative feelings may invariably culminate also in workers' mediocrity and apathy towards work which may eventually affect productivity. Even without the existence of certain work conditions such as access to health, loan, rent, and insurance facilities among others, if workers are well paid, they will be well positioned to manage most of the above-mentioned conditions. A worker once lamented: "Our boss is very wicked. Out of our hard work, he has been able to build many houses while we are struggling to pay for the rent of a single room." He added: "They live in luxury while our annual salary cannot buy us a plot of land." Those are some of the sad comments by workers who feel incensed as a result of their hirers' stingy demeanour. What do you think may be the attitude of this disgruntled and begrudging employee? Gratifyingly, same cannot be said of the CEO of Electrochem Ghana Limited, McDaniel Makorley alias McDan about his attitude towards the staff of the company in Ada. For the peace, progress and prosperity of Ada, the CEO of Electrochem made a profound decision for his staff to find happiness in their own homes and personal relationships and for them to become contributing members of the community. His decision is to sufficiently remunerate all his staff as a way of compensation to help them make good the financial losses of the past and the long suffering they may have been experiencing. In Ghana, most organisations ordinarily pay their drivers between the average amount of GH800 and GH1,200. But an average driver at Electrochem is receiving GH2,500 per month. Against the norm, the CEO. of Electrochem never laid off the old staff at Songhor when he took over the company. Instead, he maintained the old staff and increased their monthly income. Again, to demonstrate his good intentions for the people of Ada, the CEO resolved to pay labourers GH1,800, and GH2.50, instead of the previous GH1.00 per bag, to the casual workers who assist in carrying bags of salt from one point to another. Formerly, workers had to go through the ordeal of waiting for a very long time to receive payments for the salt supplied because their salt was usually bought on credit and were paid after their product had been resold. The writer is a member of the Ga Royal Stool and a social commentator Dubai scraps 30% alcohol tax and licence fee in apparent bid to boost tourism International News Jan - 02 - 2023 , 13:13 Dubai has scrapped its 30% alcohol tax in an apparent bid to boost tourism. It will also stop charging for personal alcohol licences - something residents who want to drink at home must have. Dubai has been relaxing laws for some time, allowing the sale of alcohol in daylight during Ramadan and approving home delivery during the pandemic. This latest move is thought to be an attempt to make the city more attractive to foreigners, in the face of competition from neighbours. The two companies which distribute alcohol in Dubai, Maritime and Mercantile International (MMI), and African & Eastern, said they would reflect the cut in tax for consumers. "Since we began our operations in Dubai over 100 years ago, the emirate's approach has remained dynamic, sensitive and inclusive for all," MMI spokesman Tyrone Reid told AP. "These recently updated regulations are instrumental to continue ensuring the safe and responsible purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Dubai and the UAE." It is not clear if the move, which took effect on Sunday, will be permanent. The Financial Times described the move as a one-year trial, citing "industry executives informed of the decision". Expatriates outnumber nationals by nine to one in Dubai, known as the Gulf's "party capital", and residents commonly drive to Umm al-Quwain and other emirates to buy alcohol in bulk. Dubai has historically managed to attract more tourists and wealthy foreign workers than its neighbours, in part because of its tolerance of a more liberal lifestyle. But now it faces increasing competition from rivals developing their hospitality and finance sectors. Non-Muslim residents in Dubai must be at least 21 years old to drink, transport or store alcohol at home and have an alcohol licence - a plastic card issued by police. credit: BBC Former Pope Benedict XVI, the first to resign in centuries, dies aged 95 International News Dec - 31 - 2022 , 09:44 Former Pope Benedict XVI, the first to resign in centuries, dies aged 95. The health of the Pope Emeritus, as Benedict was called after he stepped down, had undergone a "worsening in the last hours" due to his age, the Vatican said, and doctors were constantly monitoring his condition. Former Pope Benedict XVI, became the first pontiff to resign in some 600 years. He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican. His successor Pope Francis said he had visited him there frequently. The Vatican said in a statement on Saturday morning (December 31, 2022): "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. "Further information will be provided as soon as possible." Pope Francis, who replaced him as head of the Catholic Church, had asked the faithful to pray for him at the end of his general audience on Wednesday morning. Pope Francis had gone to visit Benedict at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery in Vatican City after the audience. Benedict had lived in The Vatican, a separate nation-state that is within the boundary of the Italian capital Rome, after he ceased being Pope in 2013. He had become increasingly frail in recent years after dedicating his post-papacy life to prayer and meditation. For hundreds of years before Benedict became the Holy Father, popes had headed the Catholic Church until their deaths. Although the former pontiff had been ill for some time, the Holy See said there had been an aggravation in his condition because of advancing age. On Wednesday, Pope Francis appealed to his final audience of the year at the Vatican to "pray a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict", whom he said was very ill. Born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, Benedict was 78 when in 2005 he became one of the oldest popes ever elected. For much of his papacy, the Catholic Church faced allegations, legal claims and official reports into decades of child abuse by priests. Follow @Graphicgh Earlier this year the former Pope acknowledged that errors had been made in the handling of abuse cases while he was archbishop of Munich between 1977 and 1982. 'God's Rottweiler' Before being elected pope in 2005, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger served as the head of the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He held the powerful role for 24 years, earning the nickname "God's Rottweiler" for his strictly conservative theological views. Speaking before his death was announced, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster said Benedict would be remembered as "one of the great theologians of the 20th century". Cardinal Vincent Nichols told Times Radio he had met Benedict several times and he "was always so courteous". "When he came to this country in 2011 he was described as 'God's Rottweiler', but by the time he left I think he was considered to be everybody's great uncle. "There was a real gentleness about him, and when I saw him just over a year ago, September last year, that hadn't changed. He was very, very weak, but very bright and very alert and very with it." Pope Francis leads prayers to Benedict XVI International News Jan - 02 - 2023 , 00:25 Catholics on Sunday started gathering in Saint Peter's Square to see Pope Benedict XVI lying in state as thousands prepare to say goodbye after ailing Pope Francis, 86, prayed for his predecessor's passage to heaven in special New Year's Day Mass at the Vatican. St Peter's Basilica will host Benedict's body from Monday for mourners to visit Follow @Graphicgh Pope Francis presided over prayers for his late predecessor at a New Year Mass today The pontiff looked weary, arriving in a wheelchair to St Peter's Basilica Sunday Crowds of Catholics gathered in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican tonight as they prepare to say goodbye to Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict, the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role, died in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican at 9.34am on Saturday and will be lying in state for mourners to pay their respects from Monday. It comes after 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. The huge basilica will host Benedict's coffin from Monday, and thousands of faithful are expected to attend the first of three days of viewing. The former pope's body has been dressed in a mitre, the headgear of a bishop, and a red cloak-like vestment in preparation. A rosary was placed in his hand. Francis, who looked weary after arriving to St Peter's Basilica in a wheelchair this morning, will lead Benedict's funeral on Thursday in St Peter's Square where mourners gathered today. The pontiff departed from his written homily this morning to pray aloud for Benedict, imploring the Virgin Mary to 'accompany him in his passage to the hands' of God. Benedict's funeral will be a simple one, the Vatican has said, 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. An array of world leaders honoured Benedict's legacy, with King Charles expressing his 'deep sadness' at his death in a message to Francis, as the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, also paid tribute. US president Joe Biden called Benedict an 'inspiration to all' and 'a renowned theologian, with a lifetime of devotion to the Church, guided by his principles and faith'. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales confirmed that Catholics up and down the UK will be praying for Benedict on Sunday. Its general secretary, the Reverend Canon Chris Thomas, said: 'We encourage Catholics in England and Wales to keep Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in their prayers.' Benedict became the second pontiff in history to visit the UK in 2010 when he met the Queen and made a historic address at Westminster Hall. From Monday, his body will be in Saint Peter's Basilica so the worshippers can pay their respects. Speaking on Saturday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said he wants Catholic churches in the UK to 'echo the funeral Mass' with their own ceremonies on Thursday. Offering words of comfort to UK Catholics, he added: 'We draw strength and comfort from our faith when anybody dies and when it's the pope that dies it's the same story, it's the same prayers. 'We commend them to God and we thank God for the great gifts of their life and especially of his life.' He added: 'I was consoled by a comment I heard that somebody had made in Rome a couple of days ago, where they put it rather beautifully they said, 'The angels are gathering, they're coming to take him home'.' In a statement, Charles paid tribute to Benedict and recalled visiting him at the Vatican in 2009. He said: 'I remember with fondness my meeting with His Holiness during my visit to the Vatican in 2009. His visit to the United Kingdom in 2010 was important in strengthening the relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom. 'I also recall his constant efforts to promote peace and goodwill to all people, and to strengthen the relationship between the global Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.' credit: Daily Mail Uganda government uses banned Facebook to celebrate milestone International News Jan - 04 - 2023 , 12:19 Puzzled Ugandans are still commenting on the government's New Year's post on Facebook celebrating 50,000 followers. The authorities banned Facebook in January 2021 accusing the social media platform of meddling in the country's affairs. Facebook said at the time it acted after an investigation found that the accounts were involved in a coordinated effort to undermine political debate in the country ahead of Uganda's elections. President Yoweri Museveni then banned the social media platform. For the last three years, users have been using Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to access Facebook. "I think even Facebook is laughing at Uganda, how can the whole government post on something it blocked!," one user commented about the government's New Year's post. We have our problems with Facebook and we have expressed them. If they are worked on, we have no problems opening Facebook. At least, life has not stopped because of it; Boda Bodas are moving well, and commuter taxis are making their trips as usual. Life goes on. #M7Presser pic.twitter.com/cWBSFNOmHU Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) December 23, 2022 "I thought the same government banned the use of Facebook in Uganda!" another posted. Two weeks ago Mr Museveni said that Facebook would remain blocked in the country. "We have our problems with Facebook and we have expressed them. If they are worked on, we have no problems opening Facebook," he tweeted. The Mirror's Health , Lifestyle and Fashion Akwaaba to Dikan Centre Kofi Akpabli Lifestyle Dec - 27 - 2022 , 12:25 Last Saturday afternoon at South La Estate was one of those moments you know are very special, much more special beyond the moment itself. We were at the opening of Dikan Centre, a vision I shall be dwelling on in a minute. But let me first talk about the company. You know that feeling when you find yourself in a group and immediately realise that you are surrounded by people who think, live and love like you? Exactly! The audience was made up of outgoing personalities who love the media and the arts and who care for Africas place on the world map. I mention the world map because what was rolling before our eyes was of global significance. The event was being streamed live to the rest of the world; and there were many, mostly Ghanaians who had come from different parts of the globe to participate. To top it all, there was, on the stage, one of the most well-loved story tellers of our time. Ever heard about the Humans of New York? No worries, just google it. Cool Dude Brandon Stanton, author of the book Humans of New York, a bestseller, was the Guest Star to talk about himself, his work, Dikan and the future of man in a story-soaked world. For those who want instant perspective, Brandon has an online following far beyond 20 million people. He is one of the most read writers of our time, easily the most famous photographer too. He is a millionaire, a philanthropist and someone who is devoted to giving voice (and upliftment) to random individuals he meets on the street. I mean he has turned many ordinary people into very successful folks, just like that! I just said quick perspective, right. Let me thicken the plot a wee bit. Let me drop in one line by the human behind Humans of New York. Actually its a simple story. Act One: Brandon Stanton lost his job as a bond trader. Act Two: With his little money, he bought a camera and took up photography. But the way he executed Act Two (while sleeping on couches and borrowing chop money from family and friends) is what has made him who he is today. His pictures of strangers on the streets of New York became huge hits on Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram. Hear him: I think people try to put it (Humans of New York) into a box of showing the commonality of humanity, my purpose in Humans of New York is not to tell the story of humanity, its to tell the story of the person right in front of me. Brandon has been listed as one of the very few individuals changing the direction of the world. Enough about one hero. Now to the next, the hero of todays column. Paul Ninson, an Accra boy and a photographer, went to school in the US. Encountered all there is to encounter out there and he is back to Ghana with a vision. A vision made possible by his ingenuity and the crowd funding campaign of Brandon who had arrived hours earlier from the US to be part of history. When I hugged Paul later that evening, I confirmed what I had observed from afar sitting in the crowd. Boy has been teary-eyed all afternoon. So we had gathered last Saturday to inaugurate Pauls dream, a non-profit visual education centre to promote visual and photography education in the country. In Akan, Dikan means To take the lead and that illuminates the vision. The facility is an educational and cultural place where people of all ages and backgrounds can go to learn and share their perspectives through exhibits, workshops, film screening and training in photography. It has a photo gallery, story laboratory, studio, classrooms and Africa's first photo library. It is said to be the largest photography library in Africa showcasing the work of the continent and diasporas forgotten, established and emerging talent. According to Paul, who is also a film-maker, the Dikan Centre houses more than 30,000 books he has collected so far. For a private space, this is a first of its kind in Ghana. But any idea whats in store in this library? In addition to books of work by pioneering black photographers, such as Gordon Parks, who was the first African American photographer to have a staff position at Life magazine, and publications including National Geographic, there are rare books including one signed by Stephen Hill, who was governor of Gold Coast as Ghana was known before independence, dated 1852. I started buying African photo books, with the idea of sharing them with young photographers back home, but as my collection grew, it dawned on me that I could create a library dedicated to photography and visual education, so I started reaching out to booksellers for donations. I also received donations from private galleries and collectors, says Ninson. My tour led me to a photo studio and classrooms which provide space for workshops. I walked into an exhibition space which was hosting the exquisite works of the late Ghanaian documentary photographer, Emmanuel Bobbie (also known as Bob Pixel), who died in 2021. Here, I spent some minutes on painful and fond memories. The Mirror's Health , Lifestyle and Fashion When mumps outbreak hit schools Dr Frank Owusu-Sekyere Lifestyle Jan - 02 - 2023 , 08:06 For the past few weeks, I have received a lot of emails about mumps outbreak in schools. Most of the mails talk about possible infertility as a complication. I, therefore, write on mumps this week to allay their fears. Mumps or epidemic parotitis is a viral infection that affects the salivary glands. There are several sets of these glands, but the one mostly affected is the parotid gland located near the jaw. It is caused by the mumps virus. It is a very common disease of childhood worldwide, but more especially in the developing world because of the advent of vaccination for this virus introduced in the developed world. It is a contagious disease that is spread from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions and saliva from an infected person. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the droplets aerosolise and can enter the eyes, nose or mouth of another person. Mumps can also be spread by sharing food, drinks and kissing. The virus can also survive on surfaces and spread after contact in a similar manner. A person infected with mumps is contagious from approximately six days before the onset of symptoms until about nine days after symptoms begin. The incubation period (time of infection until symptoms begin) can be from 1425 days, but is more typically from 1618 days. It was so contagious that we were admonished not to laugh at people with mumps, else we risked contracting it when we were young. Cases of mumps may start with a fever (over 39 C), as well as a headache and loss of appetite. The well-known hallmark of mumps is swelling and pain in the cheek (parotid glands), making the child look like a hamster or rabbit with food in its cheeks. The glands usually become increasingly swollen and painful over a period of one to three days. The pain gets worse when the child swallows, talks,chews or drinks acidic juices. Both the left and right parotid glands may be affected, with one side swelling a few days before the other, or only one side may swell. In rare cases, mumps will attack other groups of salivary glands instead of the parotids. If this happens, swelling may be noticed under the tongue, under the jaw or all the way down to the front of the chest. Mumps can lead to inflammation and swelling of the brain and other organs, although this is not common. Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord) are both rare complications of mumps. Symptoms appear in the first week after the parotid glands begin to swell and may include high fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, convulsions and other signs of brain involvement. Mumps in adolescent and adult males may also result in the development of orchitis, an inflammation of the testicles. Usually, one testicle becomes swollen and painful about seven to ten days after the parotids swell. This is accompanied by a high fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain that can sometimes be mistaken for appendicitis if the right testicle is affected. After three to seven days, testicular pain and swelling subside, usually at about the same time that the fever resolves. In some cases, both testicles are involved. Even with the involvement of both testicles, sterility is only a rare complication of orchitis. Additionally, mumps may affect the pancreas or, in females, the ovaries, causing pain and tenderness in parts of the abdomen. In some cases, signs and symptoms are so mild that no one suspects a mumps infection. Other symptoms of mumps can include dry mouth, sore face and/or ears and occasionally in more serious cases, loss of voice. A physical examination confirms the presence of the swollen glands. Usually, the disease is diagnosed on clinical grounds and no confirmatory laboratory testing is needed. If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, a test of saliva or blood may be carried out. A newer diagnostic confirmation, using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, has also been developed but is not available in Ghana. An estimated 20 to 30 per cent of cases are asymptomatic as with any inflammation of the salivary glands, serum amylase, an enzyme that helps with digestion of carbohydrates, is often elevated. The most common preventive measure against mumps is immunisation with a mumps vaccine, which may be given separately or as part of the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the use of mumps vaccines in all countries with well-functioning childhood vaccination programmes. In the United Kingdom, it is routinely given to children at age 15 months. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends the routine administration of MMR vaccine at ages 1215 months and a booster at four to six years. In Ghana, the vaccine given is MR (Measles and Rubella) and MMR. However, the vaccine is available in certain private facilities such as Akai House Clinic. Due to the outbreak in schools, many governments have established vaccination programmes to prevent large-scale outbreaks. In Ghana, periodic outbreaks have been recorded as is being recorded now in many schools. Awareness campaigns may help get a lot of children immunised against this virus. The public health outfit of the ministry of health may have to take this up. Some people protest against the administration of a vaccine against mumps, claiming that the attenuated vaccine strain is harmful, and/or that the wild disease is beneficial. There is no evidence whatsoever that the wild disease is beneficial. Recently, the coverage of MMR vaccination dipped in the developed world due to claims that the MMR vaccine is associated with development of autism and inflammatory bowel disease. However, all further studies since that time have indicated no link between vaccination with the MMR and autism or bowel disease, and the researchers who falsified those findings have been punished. Before the introduction of the mumps vaccine, the mumps virus was the leading cause of viral meningoencephalitis in the United States. However, encephalitis occurs rarely (less than two per 100,000) after the vaccines are used. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Symptoms may be relieved by the application of intermittent ice or heat to the affected neck/testicular area and by paracetamol (Tylenol) for pain relief. In severe cases, ibuprofen (Brufen) can be used. Warm salt water gargles, soft foods and extra fluids may also help relieve symptoms. Patients are advised to avoid fruit juice or any acidic foods such as orange, pineapple and apple juices, since these stimulate the salivary glands, which can be painful. Death is very unusual. The disease is self-limiting, and general outcome is good, even if other organs are involved. After the illness, life-long immunity to mumps generally occurs; reinfection, however, is possible with milder symptoms. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. A member of Paediatric Society of Ghana. Ghana Education News 15% fee increase based on parliamentary approval University of Ghana Management Emmanuel Bonney Education Jan - 04 - 2023 , 06:55 Continuing students have raised concerns about the fees being charged by the University of Ghana for the 2022/2023, saying it will make access to university education difficult. Instead of the approved 15 per cent, students of University of Ghana are required to pay 20 per cent, five per cent more. The University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), in a statement to react to the new fees being charged, said: The recent astronomical hikes in school fees of public universities in the country will make access to education become increasingly difficult. However, the university maintains that the fees being charged are legal as they are based on approved fee levels as authorised by Parliament. The university in a statement to explain the fee adjustment, said it had adjusted fees for the 2022/2023 academic year upwards by 15 per cent, based on the gazetted approved fees for the 2019/2020 academic year. Fees This year, continuing students in the humanities are required to pay GH1,524 while students offering Law and Administration will pay GH1,640 instead of the GH1,098 and GH1,688 paid respectively. Full fee-paying students have their fees for 2022-2023 pegged at GH5,045 for Humanities and GH6,128.00 for Law and Administration For freshmen or Level 100 students, their fees range between GH2,069 and GH2,185 for students offering courses in the Humanities instead of the GH1,516 paid for the 2021/2022 academic year. Science students have their fees in the range of GH2,288 to GH2,858 for continuing students while fee-paying students will pay between GH6,231 and GH8,523, depending on the course. Last academic year, continuing student from Levels 200, 300 and 400 paid GH1,688. Freshmen are required to pay between GH2,833 and GH2,992. Payment plan The university said to make the situation bearable for students, it had rolled out a payment plan for students to pay their fees in tranches, instead of at a go. "The university recognises the current difficult economic situation in the country, and as such has provided for flexible fee payment terms for students. "For example, students are allowed to register for the first semester upon payment of 50 per cent of their academic facility user fees, with the remaining amount due in the second semester," a statement signed by the Registrar of the university, Emelia Agyei-Mensah, said. Financial difficulties Additionally, it said students with genuine financial difficulties were encouraged to apply to access support through the Universitys Students Financial Aid Office, adding that management operated an open-door policy and had engaged student leadership on these issues. "We will continue to dialogue with student leaders, the general student body, parents and guardians and all stakeholders for a better understanding and appreciation of all matters that concern the welfare of stakeholders of the university," the statement further said. Explanation Mrs Agyei-Mensah said the University of Ghana found it necessary to set the records straight and to correct false information being circulated about adjustments of Academic Facility User Fees by the University for the 2022/2023 academic year. The statement emphasised that the adjustment was based on rates approved by Parliament and communicated through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). For the sake of clarity and to ensure that students and stakeholders were not misled, it said in the 2019/2020 academic year, public universities, including the University of Ghana, were given approval by Parliament to increase their fees by five per cent cumulatively based on the 2016/2017 approved fees. This was in the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year, after the university had already announced fees for that academic year. By this time, it was too late for the university to implement the new fees, it said. The statement said though the gazetted approved fees for 2019/2020 academic year were found to be higher than what the university had earlier requested students to pay for the academic year, the university management decided to suspend the implementation of the new fees until the 2020/2021 academic year. That, it said was to spare students from a fee increase in the middle of the 2019/2020 academic year. USAG Responding to the statement from the management of the University of Ghana, the General Secretary of USAG, Bismark Yaw Ofori, told the Daily Graphic that the universities must be considerate in charging the fees in view of the increasing cost of living. He said although the university had some cost incurred in running the institution, it was able to suspend some fees till now and we are pleading with them that even if they are going to increase the fees, they should just consider the 15 per cent instead of adding the other five per cent they were supposed to charge from 2019. Mr Ofori advised students to remain calm, do the 15 per cent calculation and pay as USAG continued to engage the university management. The university is allowing for part payment, it means they can pay and even if we are not successful with our negotiations, they can later go and pay the difference, he said. Background In 2021, the management of the University of Ghana accepted a plea from the student leadership (SRC and GRASAG) to further suspend the implementation of the parliamentary approved and gazetted fees until the 2021/2022 academic year. In effect, therefore, the University of Ghana charged students subsidised fees for the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years, rather than the approved rates. Following all the necessary internal consultations and approval by the University Council, on December 13, 2022, the university announced that due to the increasing cost of operations, it had become necessary for the university to implement the 2019/2020 approved fees. On December 21, 2022, the university received a letter from GTEC dated December 16, 2022, communicating that Parliament had approved an upward review of academic fees by ...15 per cent of the last approved rates. It is important to note that the only previously approved fees were those gazetted in 2019/2020 (Ref.RMERD/ NTPU/12/19/ MDAS/FEES/5) and not the subsidised rates the university had to implement due, initially, to the late timing of the fee announcement in January 2020, and later by concessions made due to COVID-19 and pleas from student leadership, it said. Ghana Education News Conversion of polytechnics to technical universities: 7 years on... so far so good, but... Delali Sika Education Jan - 04 - 2023 , 09:37 In 2016, the government announced the conversion of all polytechnics in the country to technical universities in order to deal with challenges facing technical education in the country. The conversion also served as a blueprint to address academic progression as most graduates of polytechnics after their Higher National Diploma (HND) went back to the traditional universities to pursue top-up programmes in order to obtain bachelor degrees. However, the conversion was met with anxiety and fears that the change of polytechnics to technical universities might not yield the desired outcome. The vice chancellors (VC) of three of the technical universities spoke highly of the conversion, describing the decision as a step in a good direction. Those who spoke to the Daily Graphic were the VC of the Takoradi Technical University (TTU), Professor John Frank Eshun, the VC of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, and the VC of the Accra Technical University (ATU), Professor Samuel Nii Odai. Good move and prestige When contacted, Prof. Eshun commended the decision, stressing that it was a step in the right direction. Its been good so far, the government has done a lot, in terms of retooling the technical universities of which TTU is a beneficiary. Now the onus is on us to make it work, do our best and drive the government agenda, he said. Prof. Eshun noted that due to the transition, some adjustments had been made to the already existing courses in the university. We currently have degree and masters programmes which we will roll out in the next academic year, he said. Though they were converted just two years ago, Prof. Alnaa said the journey so far had been good. The journey has been good, we had to quickly put together new university structures such as the university council. It is a good step, we are now a fully fledged university which means we can collaborate with international partners. So, the step is a good one, it can only get better," he said. For his part, Prof. Nii Odai also reiterated the fact that the decision for the transition was spot on. Ill say it was a very good decision because all the developed countries we see, that we aspire to be like, have these things. The transition is fantastic because it gives opportunity to students who did not want to be here to desire to be here now, he said. Subsequently, Prof Nii. Odai noted that the conversion to technical universities has added some prestige to the institutions. Awarding degrees, adds prestige to schools and students have access to hands-on experience, he said. Increased programmes Prof. Nii Odai added that currently Accra Technical University also awarded Bachelor of Technology and were working to award masters certificates. Gradually, we are moving on to doctorate. Becoming a technical university also opened the door for those who did Higher National Diplomas (HND) and would want to go for higher degrees. Now they know that, theres an opportunity to climb in the same area for technical education, he stated. Number of students The conversion has not only affected courses of institutions but the number of students in-take as well. The TTU for instance, Prof. Eshun said, due to the change, the number of students entries has increased. We are churning out students who are now employable because they have the opportunity of combining practical work with theory, he said. However, the story from the BTU, is different but Prof Alnaa, stated that, all hope was not lost. A lot of people dont know that we have been converted and so, we are engaging in a lot of marketing activities in the region and its environs. This is to create awareness that there is a university at their doorstep, he said. Challenges Nonetheless, Prof. Alnaa, noted that the BTU had some challenges to surmount. So basically, it is an infrastructure issue, our lecturers dont have offices, lecture halls among others. Additionally, we are financially handicapped; we need funds to purchase equipment, furniture for the offices, and some books for the library, and then most importantly ICT. To be able to get reliable Internet resources is most challenging, he said. Prof. Alnaa also noted that a lot of people were grappling with the fact that BTU was now a technical university. Others were converted before us and so it has become difficult convincing people that we are also technical universities and so we need to go out and undo all these, he said. He stated that the school was engaged in aggressive advertisement to help change the narrative. Prof. Nii Odai, for his part, also stated that the challenges the ATU was facing were infrastructural development, equipment and human resources. Nonetheless he acknowledged that it would take time for the government to fix all the challenges since his school was not the only institution in need of a facelift. Support Prof Nii. Odai, however, asserted that the government had received equipment especially in the area of mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. Engineering comes in with the highest demand for heavy expensive equipment. The government has taken a big chunk so we have to make do with what we have and also grow along, he said. Additionally, he stated that ATU was putting up a five-story auditorium and lecture theatre which he believes would resolve a lot of issues when it comes to lectures. 4 Busted for smuggling cocoa Alberto Mario Noretti Jan - 04 - 2023 , 07:36 The Police Intelligence Department, acting on a tip-off on Christmas Day, intercepted two vehicles loaded with a total of 219 bags of cocoa beans at Fume and Ve-Golokwati in the Volta Region, heading for Togo. The KIA truck, GS 3107-13, and Benz bus, GR 6999-K, were transporting the items delivered to them on the Spintex Road in Accra by other vehicles from Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region. The police team caught up with them in the two towns along the Kpeve-Hohoe road. Briefing the Daily Graphic after the operation, Director, Special Services, COCOBOD; Charles Amenyaglo, said the drivers and their mates were arrested and initially placed in the custody of the newly-created Volta North Regional Police Command in Hohoe. He disclosed the names of the suspects as Kwame Delali, Senyo Aniawu, Ali Fataw, and Adi Tahiru. Mr Amenyaglo said some of the cocoa beans were covered with flour bags to avoid detection by the personnel of the security agencies. Concealed in bags The cocoa beans in the Benz bus were in jute bags covered by other sacks, with some packed on top of the vehicle concealed in straw bags, he added. Mr Amenyaglo said the suspects, who were later granted police enquiry bail, would soon be arraigned before court for purchasing cocoa without lawful authority, and attempted smuggling of cocoa. He said the cocoa beans were not thoroughly dry and it was also an offence to buy and convey such a commodity. Mr Amenyaglo expressed gratitude to the Police Intelligence Department for acting swiftly on the tip-off to arrest the suspects. Meanwhile, the two vehicles have been impounded by the police while the bags of cocoa beans have been handed over to COCOBOD. Agric Minister appeals to Thai investors to invest in Ghanas rice sector Kweku Zurek Jan - 01 - 2023 , 14:05 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 an 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), 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 could boast of about 40,000 hectares of land readily available to support large scale rice production and encouraged 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 Mr. Siaw Agyepong 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, Mr. 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. Finance Minister lauds Jospong Groups decision to invest in rice sector Kweku Zurek Jan - 01 - 2023 , 11:06 The Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) decision to invest in the rice sector has been hailed as a great booster towards the governments vision of ensuring that Ghana becomes a net exporter of rice. According to the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, this decision by JGC was not only timely but more importantly, illustrates the genius of a Ghanaian entrepreneur. "...and we commend Siaw Agyepong for that. We will back this decision with the various government inter-ministerial financial support in a pragmatic way so that we can encourage more people to take this position that you have taken, he gave a firm assurance," Mr Ofori-Atta said. Mr. Ofori-Atta made the observation when a delegation of investors from Thailand, led by the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr. Sicha Singsomboon, paid a courtesy visit to the Finance Minister on Friday, December 30, 2022. The association and collaboration between JGC and Thailand rice industry, he continued, was in the right direction, adding that it should trigger transformation of Ghanas rice sector. We shall become exporters of rice and not importers within the period of three years and that is a commitment, the finance minister optimistically expressed. Furthermore, he entreated the partners in the Ghana-Thailand rice project to ensure that the collaboration advances production, intensive research, and the knowledge that Thailand brings. It should also provide value addition and market linkages and self-sustained models, he added. To this end, Mr. Ofori-Atta assured the project of governments strong support to ensure its success. We are resolute and determined to catalyse the operations of businesses such as Jospong Group of Companies to propel the economic transformation and growth of our country, he underscored. In the firm view of the finance minister, it was criminal that for Ghana to have so much arable lands, water, and favourable weather conditions, yet continue to import over two billion dollars worth of rice. Since 2017, weve spent over a million dollars importing rice. Whats more embarrassing, is that a country like Ukraine exports about 74 million tons of grains despite the current conflict, and you wonder why Ghana and Africa have fallen asleep, he lamented. He, therefore, pointed out that this trend must be curtailed, indicating that this was not the legacy the Akufo-Addo-led government would want to leave. So lets continue to promote the private sector leadership and ensure that this becomes a thing of the past. He stressed that the Ghana Cares Obaatanpa programme is one key initiative by the government to mitigate the current economic challenges bedveilling the country. Its the vision of President Akufo-Addo to use a well-capitalised development bank to push such initiatives, he noted. In a brief remark, the Executive Chairman of the JGC, Mr. Siaw Agyepong, said venturing into rice production needed skills and the technical knowledge to increase yields, thus the need to woo investors with the right experience and mechanical assets into Ghana. From the Ministry of Finance, the Thai delegation called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, where the latter assured them of her ministrys full support to ensure the successful implementation of the project. She was particularly excited to hear the delegation of Thai investors have plans to set up an organic fertiliser plant in Ghana. Such a move, she intimated, will help boost agriculture production and also reduce the operational cost of Ghanaian farmers. Akosua Agyapong receives death threats from unknown persons graphic.com.gh Dec - 28 - 2022 , 11:15 Ace musician Akosua Agyapong says her life is in danger as she has been receiving death threats from some unknown persons. She said the threat is in relation to her constant criticism of the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO). She has recently been criticising the organisation over corruption allegations. Akosua Agyapong made this known in an interview on Accra-based Onua TV/FMs Maakye hosted by Nana Kwame Gyan on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. She said she received the death threats immediately after an interview on one of the radio stations in Accra. The musician says she has reported the case to the Tuba Police Station in the Greater Accra Region. I have received death threat text messages over the GHAMRO issues so on Monday, December 26, 2022, I went to Tuba police station to report, she said. They told me I should go to the headquarters so I will go there today to give a further report to the police, she stated. Ghanas national e-pharmacy platform goes live today - Dr Bawumia Graphic Online Jan - 03 - 2023 , 12:32 The Ghana National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, otherwise known as e-Pharmacy platform, goes live nationwide today, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced. Ghana's nationwide e-pharmacy platform is a platform of registered pharmacies, which allows the Ghanaian public the ease of uploading and buying prescribed medicines on the platform and getting them delivered to their locations, once they register on the platform with their Ghana card. Announcing the full operationalisation of the initiative on his Facebook page after a six-month pilot, Dr. Bawumia, who spearheaded the e-pharmacy with stakeholders of the pharmaceutical industry, expressed delight at the convenience it will bring to Ghanaians, as well as its expected boost to the pharmaceutical industry. The e-pharmacy platform joins a list of digitalisation initiatives, which have been implemented over the past six years under the President Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party administration. Key among them are: the digital national identification system (Ghana card), the national digital property address system, mobile money interoperability, universal QR Code, as well as the digitisation of government services at the ports, registrar general, DVLA and passport application. Below is the full Facebook post by Vice President Dr. Bawumia: In 2019, I challenged the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to take steps in ensuring that Pharmacy services are digitized through the introduction of a national scale e-pharmacy platform. The Pharmacy Council took up the charge (with coordination from my office) and I was honored to launch the Ghana National Electronic Pharmacy Platform (GNEPP) in July 2022. After, a successful pilot, I am delighted that today, the GNEPP goes live and Ghana becomes the first country in Africa and one of only a few countries in the world with an operational national scale e-pharmacy platform. With GNEPP, after registering with your Ghanacard, any prescription can be uploaded onto the platform via mobile phone through https://www.gnepplatform.com/ (or through a USSD code). You can find which pharmacies close to you have the medicines and compare the prices of the medicines across different pharmacies. Using your mobile phone, you can order the medicine, pay for it, and have it delivered at home through your digital address or pick it up. You can also be sure that the drugs are not fake because the GNEPP platform is integrated with the FDA platform. With the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, Ghana will be part of the new pharmaceutical digital economy to boost pharmaceutical sales and generate revenue. GNEPP will also result in less Wahala for Ghanaians in the pharmacy space. My thanks to the Minister for Health, the Pharmacy Council, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, the NHIA, FDA, Medical and Dental Council, HeFRA, Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Council, Allied Health Professions Council, and the private sector partners for their leadership in making this possible for Ghana. It is a major feat. Ayekoo! God bless our homeland Ghana. Ghana to review existing COVID-19 measures to avert further outbreaks Enoch Darfah Frimpong Jan - 02 - 2023 , 00:04 Ghana is to review the existing COVID-19 measures to avert further outbreaks in the wake of a change in the global situation of the pandemic. To tackle the Coronavirus pandemic, some countries across the world have implemented a range of stringent policies. The change in the global situation of COVID-19 particularly with reported increase in new cases in China and other countries as well as Ghanas relatively low vaccine coverage poses a major threat of importation and a new wave of COVID-19 infection in the country. There has been a decline and sustained low levels of COVID-19 cases in Ghana over the past three months. As of December 16, 2022 there were four active cases of the virus recorded by the GHS in Ghana. The COVID-19 virus has been around for the past three years and even though the numbers are down in Ghana, it is up in some other countries. It is unclear when the pandemic will end. Ghana has seen a very significant decline in the last three months with a low active number of cases. Ghana has not recorded any deaths for a while now. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said the new global situation calls for tightening and reviewing of existing measures in Ghana to avert further outbreaks. In a press statement issued by the Director General of the GHS on Sunday, January 1, 2022, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said the GHS and the Ministry of Health were critically monitoring the situation in consultation with key stakeholders. "We will shortly come out with our country specific measures to address the current threat of COVID-19 especially with respect to importation." Below is a copy of the press statement There has been a decline and sustained low levels of COVID-19 cases in Ghana over the past three (3) months. However, the change in the global situation particularly with reported increase in new cases in China and other countries as well as Ghanas relatively low vaccine coverage poses a major threat of importation and a new wave of COVID19 infection in the country. This situation calls for tightening and reviewing of existing measures to avert further outbreaks. Follow @Graphicgh Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health are critically monitoring the situation in consultation with key stakeholders. We will shortly come out with our country specific measures to address the current threat of COVID-19 especially with respect to importation. We want to use this opportunity to encourage all Ghanaians who have not availed themselves for the COVID-19 vaccination to do so. 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. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Ghana: Visitors arriving from China to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing Kweku Zurek Jan - 03 - 2023 , 10:43 Passengers originating from China will be required to undergo free mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as part of updated travel guidelines for visiting the country. The passengers from China must also present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure from their originating country per the latest guidelines which come into effect on January 6, 2023. All other passengers from countries asides from China who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will be required to present a valid COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure from the originating country. In addition, such passengers will be required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival at the KIA at no cost. The new guidelines are in response to the change in the global COVID-19 situation, particularly with a surge in new cases in China and other countries as well as Ghanas relatively low vaccine coverage. The measures are to address the current threat of COVID-19, especially with regard to the importation of cases. Sanctions Passengers may also be selected at random and offered COVID-19 tests on arrival while non-Ghanaians travelling to the KIA with fake or forged vaccination certificates shall be quarantined and returned to the point of embarkation at their own cost. Airlines that bring passengers to the KIA who are not fully vaccinated or passengers originating from China without a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure would be surcharged $3,500. All arriving passengers will also undergo temperature screening, Yellow Fever Card verification and COVID-19 vaccination certificate verification. Exemptions - Children less than 18 years of age are exempt from mandatory vaccination, predeparture PCR testing and testing on arrival in Ghana - Airline crew are exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the Airline policy for testing. - Passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not be required to undergo testing if they do not leave the airport or remain in isolation in their hotel. Vaccination Definition of Fully Vaccinated - A person is said to be fully vaccinated when he/she has taken the full dose of vaccines approved and registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana or other vaccines prequalified by WHO (https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who). All Passengers must present a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before embarkation except partially vaccinated or unvaccinated Ghanaians who are required to present a negative 48hrs PCR test result to the airline before embarkation and to Port Health upon arrival. Similar actions Morocco has also announced similar directives for passengers from China. From Tuesday, Morocco will ban travellers from China regardless of their nationality until further notice. The Morocco Foreign Ministry said the move is aimed at preventing a spike in infections in the country. The moves come after China abruptly dropped its Covid-19 controls in December last year. Other countries outside Africa have also imposed restrictions. For example, passengers arriving in England from China now have to provide a negative Covid test before they board a flight. The US is testing people on arrival. Read all the guidelines below; IBCI donates to Motherly Love Orphanage Kofi Duah Dec - 25 - 2022 , 16:08 The Impact Believers Church International (IBCI) has assorted items including an undisclosed sum of money to the Motherly Love Orphanage, Kwabenya. The donation which took place last Saturday saw members of IBCI including former beauty Queen Akweley of Ghana Most Beautiful giving away food items including fast food to inmates of the orphanage. The members of the church also pledged to assist the orphanage in the future. Speaking in an interview with Graphic Online, an elder of IBCI Mr Philip Boafo said the gesture was a way of showing love to the inmates during the Christmas festivities. We believe in showing love to the less privileged and we are willing to help the orphanage anytime they call on us. In fact we have adopted this orphanage and we will be coming in from time to time to help out with their needs. Authorities of the orphanage have told us what they need and we will make sure we help them out, he said Speaking on behalf of the orphanage, Rev. John Azumah said he was happy to have received the donations adding that it had come at the right time. The donation was timely, especially in the festive season. I pray that they come more often to bless the children he said. Make AESL viable Asenso-Boakye Doreen Andoh Jan - 04 - 2023 , 11:59 The Ministry of Works and Housing has charged the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) to devise innovative ways of doing business to increase its viability and fortunes. It said considering the background of AESL, initially as a public corporation and later a limited liability company wholly owned by the government, it had become imperative for the company to find more viable ways of attracting new clients. Addressing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Accra just before the turn of last year, the minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, said as technology was evolving, companies were devising modern ways of accelerating growth and development and the AESL had to follow suit. He said technology such as the use of building information and modelling systems to address design and operational challenges in modern building were ways that could be used to attract new clients. It has always been difficult adopting private sector techniques, and that is one of the companys challenges. It is, therefore, important that you innovate and move away from the government-owned mentality in order to appeal to new clients and remain competitive. Mr Asenso- Boakye said depending solely on government contracts was no longer viable and feasible in enhancing the socio-economic status of the organisation. He said the government appreciated the companys role in providing quality consultancy services towards the socio-economic growth and development of the country. The minister added that it was public knowledge that the AESL was a reputable brand with presence in all regions and that provided it with a competitive advantage that should be leveraged to ensure the organisation excelled better than it was doing. Regardless, Mr Asenso- Boakye said the ministry had taken notice of the companys challenges and concerns and was making conscious efforts at addressing them. Report Presenting his report for 2019 to 2021, the Board Chairman of AESL, Professor Kwame Asamoah, embraced the sectors ministers challenge to think outside the box in order to deploy innovative ways of attracting more jobs from both the private and public sectors. He said the AGM offered the company and its stakeholders a platform to physically assemble to share the company's financial performance with shareholders, in this case the government, and to also account for their stewardship. Also, given that the company operated in a macroeconomic environment characterised by slower and uncertain global economic conditions, Prof Asamoah said that negatively affected its operations. A major devastating effect on AESL was its inability to receive payment from the government for works done. He said such a situation had serious ramifications on the operations of the company as it has made it difficult to honour some of our financial obligations when they fell due. Appeal AESL also found it difficult to get consultancy jobs in this period of economic challenges. I humbly request the government to give about 70 per cent of its consultancy jobs in the built environment to AESL since the company belonged to the government and the company also had the expertise and the competencies to perform such jobs, he said. The Managing Director, Isaac Agyei Marfo, in his report, said the company experienced a marginal drop of 5.92 per cent in Consultancy Service in 2020. He said revenue decreased from GH13.90 million in 2019 to GH13.31 million in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2021, the company recorded a consultancy revenue of GH17.14 million, representing a remarkable growth of 28.78 per cent above 2019 revenue. On debt collection, he said, the company collected GH28.06 million and GH20.44 million from clients as fee claims during 2020 and 2021 respectively. High attrition Mr Marfo said the company suffered high attrition rate during the period under review due to poor conditions of service, including low salary levels. He said to stem the tide, salaries were reviewed upward by 20 per cent and some allowances approved. This is because fees owed the company were not paid and a number of projects were suspended. In order to maintain strict control over cost increases and raise our earnings compared to 2020, we made a commitment to consolidate the improvements made in our operations in past years. The staff strength as at December 2019 was 420. This number was reduced to 321 in 2021 after the Human Resource Auditing (HRA) exercise, he said. Mr Marfo added that out of the number, 128 representing 41.16 per cent were professionals, with the non-professional staff being 183, representing 58.84. Prospects For the companys outlook, the Managing Director said AESL would continue to focus on the many initiatives to acquire more jobs. We will keep searching for chances in West Africa and other African countries. As long as they are performing their jobs, employees must adhere to the company's code of conduct, which management will continue to enforce. Najel Foundation, GOWA hold second street Love campaign GraphicOnline Dec - 31 - 2022 , 18:08 Najel Foundation has for the second consecutive year demonstrated love for the less privileged in some communities during this festive season. This year's came on the heels of the successful maiden edition which fed two thousand people on the streets of Accra. But unlike last year's editon, this year's on December 27 saw Najel Foundation partnering organizers of Ghana Outstanding Women Awards (GOWA) for the Christmas charity work. The Executive Director of Najel Foundation, Mrs. Naomi Naa Adjeley Anang said: "It is a season of love, and there is no better way to demonstrate our love than to share the little we have with those for one reason. This year, we are partnering GOWA for this charity project, and our target is to feed over two thousand people on the streets of Accra." The CEO of ASKOF Productions, Mrs Afua Asantewaa Aduonum stated: "You know we are a community impact-driven outfit and so we thought it prudent to support this worthy cause. A smile on the faces of the less fortunate ones means so much for us at ASKOF Productions." The exercise saw the organizers reaching out to the less fortunate from Teshie, through Tema Station in Accra, New Town and Nima. The event was sponsored by Twellium Industrial Limited, Top Survey Consult Ltd., Bedds Freight Services, Kiss Condoms Gh, BitAfrika and Aayalolo. Self-sufficiency, food security priority - President charges citizenry Daily Graphic Jan - 04 - 2023 , 07:59 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed the need for the country to make a systematic and conscious effort towards self-sufficiency and food security. He said achieving that goal was arduous and required hard work but that would be a worthy compensation for the lots of money 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 assertion when a delegation of investors from Thailand called on him at the Jubilee House in Accra last Friday. The delegation, which comprised 20 investors, was in Ghana to cement a Ghana-Thailand Rice Project being spearheaded by the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) and also explore other possibilities of investing in the countrys agricultural sector. The Executive Chairman of JGC, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and Ghanas Honorary Consul in Thailand, Dr Sicha Singsomboon, led the delegation to call on the President. Worthy partnership The President expressed satisfaction at the partnership and collaboration between Ghana and Thailand in rice production. Countries like yours (Thailand) and others have done it; and if you have done it, others can also follow and emulate your example, President Akufo-Addo stated, adding I am excited by the idea of getting into bed with people who are known to have succeeded. The President said he was upbeat that Ghana would be moving towards a new system of agricultural inputs that would reduce its dependence on agricultural chemicals imported from countries such as Russia and Ukraine. Now we are going to be dealing with organic fertiliser, which is better for our soil, better for our pockets and, generally, more environmentally friendly and conducive than what we have been using up till today, President Akufo-Addo stated. Developing that in the country meant that we would not have to worry ourselves importing inorganic fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia so much and be dependent on others, he said. The President, therefore, tasked the Thai investors to endeavour to have some concrete understandings and arrangements with the various stakeholders in the countrys rice sub-sector and agricultural industry in general. He said that should bring forth a roadmap on how the two countries would grow and develop the 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 stated. Dr Singsomboon also presented a specially made set of Thai teacups and jar to the President. Other visits The delegation also paid courtesy calls on the Ministers of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen. The ministers assured the Thai investors of the governments support to ensure that the Ghana-Thailand Rice Project became successful. Background The JGC commenced its integrated rice farming project towards the end of last year. A JGC team, led by Mr Siaw Agyepong, visited Thailand to understudy the Thai rice sector in order to replicate that countrys experiences and strategy in Ghana. The objective of JGC was to partner major rice industry players in Thailand to provide technical and equipment support for the entire rice value chain in Ghana to boost rice production in Ghana. [VIDEO] TikTok is digital fentanyl, incoming GOP China committee chair says CNN Jan - 02 - 2023 , 13:26 TikTok is an addictive drug Chinas government is providing to Americans, says the incoming chairman of a new House select committee on China. GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin told NBCs Meet The Press in an interview that aired Sunday that he calls TikTok digital fentanyl because 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, and also because it effectively goes back to the Chinese Communist Party. Gallagher, whom House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has appointed to chair the new select committee in the new Congress, has said he believes the video app should be banned in the United States. (McCarthy is the apparent front-runner to become House speaker when the new session begins Tuesday, though he still does not have enough vote commitments to be elected in the floor vote.) TikTok, whose parent company, ByteDance, is Chinese-owned, has been banned from electronic devices managed by the US House of Representatives, according to an internal notice sent to House staff. Separately, the US government will ban TikTok from all federal devices as part of legislation included in the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill that President Joe Biden signed last week. The move comes after more than a dozen states in recent weeks have implemented their own prohibitions against TikTok on government devices. The company in a statement said Gallaghers comments contain zero truth. The Chinese Communist Party has neither direct nor indirect control of ByteDance or TikTok, the company said. ByteDance is a private, global company, nearly 60% of which is owned by global institutional investors, with the rest owned primarily by the companys founders and its employees including thousands of Americans. TikTok has previously called efforts to ban the app from government devices a political gesture that will do nothing to advance national security interests. TikTok declined to comment on the House restrictions. Reining in TikTok Gallagher says he wants to go further. As TikTok surges in popularity, he believes it needs to be reined in. We have to ask whether we want the CCP to control whats on the cusp of becoming the most powerful media company in America, he told NBC. Gallagher supported the ban on TikTok on government devices and said the United States should expand that ban nationally. The company has been accused of censoring content that is politically sensitive to the Chinese government, including banning some accounts that posted about Chinas mass detention camps in its western region of Xinjiang. The US State Department estimates that up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in these camps. What if they start censoring the news, right? What if they start tweaking the algorithm to determine what the CCP deems fit to print, Gallagher warned, analogizing the situation to the KGB and Pravda buying The New York Times and other major newspapers during the height of the Cold War. US policymakers have cited TikTok as a potential national security risk, and critics have said ByteDance could be compelled by Chinese authorities to hand over TikTok data pertaining to US citizens or to act as a channel for malign influence operations. Security experts have said that the data could allow China to identify intelligence opportunities or to seek to influence Americans through disinformation campaigns. There is no evidence that that has actually occurred, though the company last month confirmed that it fired four employees who improperly accessed the TikTok user data of two journalists on the platform. But TikTok has hundreds of millions of downloads in the United States, and the highly influential social media platform has helped countless online creators build brands and livelihoods. As its popularity soars, TikTok may have grown too big to ban. Working toward a resolution Since 2020, TikTok has been negotiating with the US government on a potential deal to resolve the national security concerns and allow the app to remain available to US users. TikTok has said that the potential agreement under review covers key concerns around corporate governance, content recommendation and moderation, and data security and access. The company has also taken some steps to wall off US user data, organizationally and technologically, from other parts of TikToks business. But an apparent lack of progress in the talks has led some of TikToks critics, including in Congress and at the state level, to push for the app to be banned from government devices and potentially more broadly. Gallagher said on Meet the Press that he would be open to a sale of TikTok to an American company, but the devil is in the details. He continued, I dont think this should be a partisan issue. When asked about Russias investment in Telegram and the Saudi investment in Twitter, Gallagher said that his broad concern, of which both of those are part, is where we see authoritarian governments exploiting technology in order to exert total control over their citizens, calling it techno-totalitarian control. Gallagher also called for reciprocity, noting that Chinese officials are allowed on apps like Twitter but Chinese citizens are not allowed access to those same apps. He said he would like to see an arrangement under which if your government doesnt allow your citizens access to the platform, were going to deny your government officials access to that same platform. The government cant raise your kids, cant protect your kids for you, Gallagher said, but there are certain sensible things we can do in order to create a healthier social media ecosystem. credit: CNN Time for systematic effort towards self-sufficiency - President Akufo-Addo Kweku Zurek Jan - 02 - 2023 , 12:06 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 food security was one major challenge. He also 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), Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and the Honorary Consul of Ghana in Thailand, Dr. Sicha Singsomboon, on Friday, December 30, 2022, at the Jubilee House in Accra. The delegation, which comprised 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 said. 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 four ministers assured the investors from Thailand of the 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. Adjustments in user fees include suspended fees from 2019/2020 - UG Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Jan - 02 - 2023 , 20:55 The management of the University of Ghana has clarified the recent adjustments in the academic facility user fees for 2022/2023, explaining that the new fee is cumulative of suspended implementation of fees which were approved in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 academic years. The management of the university has been accused of adjusting fees more than the 15 percent recently approved by Parliament. But in a statement dated January 2, 2023, signed and issued by the Registrar, Mrs Emelia Agyei-Mensah, the University of Ghana management explained that in 2020, "with the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, coupled with its associated challenges, Management accepted a plea from the student leadership (SRC and GRASAG) to further suspend the implementation of the parliamentary approved and gazetted fees until the 2021/2022 academic year." In effect, the University of Ghana charged students subsidized fees for the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years, rather than the approved rates. Following all the necessary internal consultations and approval by the University Council, on December 13, 2022, the University announced that due to the increasing cost of operations, it had become necessary for the University to implement the 2019/2020 approved fees. It said: "on 21st December, 2022, the University received a letter from GTEC [Ghana Tertiary Education Commission] dated 16th December, 2022, communicating that Parliament had approved an upward review of academic fees by 15% of the last approved rates. Per this, the management urged students and all stakeholders not to be misled into assuming that the new fees announced were in breach of the 15 percent approval granted by Parliament recently. Rather, the 15 percent, adds up to the 5 percent approved in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic years, whose implementation were all suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a copy of the statement issued by the university management ADJUSTMENTS IN ACADEMIC FACILITY USER FEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA The University of Ghana finds it necessary to set the records straight and to correct false information being circulated about adjustments of Academic Facility User Fees by the University for the 2022/2023 academic year. The adjustment of fees by the University is based on rates approved by Parliament and communicated through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). For the sake of clarity and to ensure that our students and stakeholders are not misled, we wish to explain that: 1. In the 2019/2020 academic year, public universities, including the University of Ghana, were given approval by Parliament to increase their fees by 5% cumulatively based on the 2016/2017 approved fees. On 27th January, 2020, the University received the approved and gazetted fees (Ref. RMERD/NTPU/12/19/MDAS/FEES/5) from the Ministry of Finance through the then National Commission of Tertiary Education (NCTE). This was in the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year, after the University had already announced fees for that academic year. Follow @Graphicgh By this time, it was too late for the University to implement the new fees. 2. Though the gazetted approved fees for 2019/2020 academic year were found to be higher than what the University had earlier requested students to pay for the academic year, University Management decided to suspend the implementation of the new fees until the 2020/2021 academic year. This was to spare students from a fee increase in the middle of the 2019/2020 academic year. 3. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, coupled with its associated challenges, Management accepted a plea from the student leadership (SRC and GRASAG) to further suspend the implementation of the parliamentary approved and gazetted fees until the 2021/2022 academic year. 4. In effect, therefore, the University of Ghana charged students subsidized fees for the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years, rather than the approved rates. 5. Following all the necessary internal consultations and approval by the University Council, on 13th December, 2022, the University announced that due to the increasing cost of operations, it had become necessary for the University to implement the 2019/2020 approved fees. The statement also noted that the fee schedules published at the time were provisional, and that amounts to be paid would be updated once fees for the 2022/2023 academic year were approved by Parliament. 6. On 21st December, 2022, the University received a letter from GTEC dated 16th December, 2022, communicating that Parliament had approved an upward review of academic fees by 15% of the last approved rates. 7. It is important to note that the only previously approved fees were those gazetted in 2019/2020 (Ref. RMERD/NTPU/12/19/MDAS/FEES/5) and not the subsidized rates the University had to implement due, initially, to the late timing of the fee announcement in January 2020, and later by concessions made due to COVID and pleas from student leadership. 8. In line with this, the University of Ghana has adjusted fees for the 2022/2023 academic year upwards by 15% based on the gazetted approved fees for the 2019/2020 academic year. Management therefore assures students, parents and all stakeholders that fees charged for the 2022/2023 academic year are legal and duly based on approved fee levels as authorized by Parliament. The University recognizes the current difficult economic situation in the country, and as such has provided for flexible fee payment terms for students. For example, students are allowed to register for the first semester upon payment of 50% of their academic facility user fees, with the remaining amount due in the second semester. Additionally, students with genuine financial difficulties are encouraged to apply to access support through the Universitys Students Financial Aid Office. Management operates an open-door policy and has engaged student leadership on these issues. We will continue to dialogue with student leaders, the general student body, parents and guardians and all stakeholders for a better understanding and appreciation of all matters that concern the welfare of stakeholders of the University. Writer's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Be hopeful, 2023 holds a lot of promise - Alan K Graphic.com.gh Politics Jan - 02 - 2023 , 13:32 The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen has inspired Ghanaians to be hopeful of the future as 2023 held a lot of promise. He said despite the difficulties the country faced in 2022, measures put in place with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would help turn things around for the better. Speaking at the New Year's Eve service at the Calvary Charismatic Church (CCC) in Kumasi, he urged Ghanaians to trust in the prudent management of the economy as against serious odds, Ghanaians have coped better with the global economic crises than other countries. "Find out from even the most advanced countries like 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. These are even rich nations, but for Gods grace we never queued for petrol or any of these commodities," he intimated "This was not because of our might or knowledge or the governments power. It was by the grace of God", the Minister said and asked Ghanaians to be thankful to God for his mercies on the nation. Mr Kyerematen chronicled the woes of other countries across the globe as against the current state of Ghana. He thanked the Almighty God for His Mercies on Ghanaians at a time globally respected economies were on their knees. Mr Kyerematen ended 2022 with prayer visits to Faith Gospel Church, Family Chapel International, St Cyprian Anglican Cathedral, CCC to usher in 2023. Stop politicisation of national issues Prof. Teye Ezekiel E. Sottie Politics Jan - 04 - 2023 , 09:20 The Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Joseph Kofi Teye, has bemoaned the excessive politicisation of national issues. He said it had been the bane of the country's sluggish socioeconomic development. Delivering the keynote address at the maiden Homecoming Summit of the people of Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region at Somanya, the municipal capital, last week Tuesday, Prof. Teye, therefore, called on citizens of the area not to allow partisan politics to divide them but to strive to work together for the sake of the development of their communities. Theme The theme for the maiden event was: "Yilo beyond partisan politics: Harnessing our development potentials." The event, which attracted many indigenes from the area across the country, included a former Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper; former Volta River Authority Chief Executive, Kiki Kofi; former Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo, Magnus Kofi Amoatey; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EMIGHO Ghana Limited, Stephen Eku; the Yilo Krobo Paramount Queen mother, Naana Korlekuor Adjado II, among others, was organised by the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly. National interest While urging Ghanaians to always place the national interest above all others, Prof. Teye equally called on the government to also take on board concerns of the citizenry to foster unity and oneness for the development of the country. Pointing out issues that could minimise the excessive partisanship in the country, Prof. Teye called for transparency in the award of government contracts, saying government contracts should not only be given to members of the ruling party but must be awarded on merit and competence basis and the capacity to deliver. He further urged ruling elites to treat businesses connected to previous regimes fairly while appointment procedures in the local government ministry should be based on merit rather than party affiliation. There should be equity in resource allocation to communities and individuals, irrespective of party affiliation, and supporters of both the ruling government and opposition parties should be involved in the design and implementation of development projects," he said. The Yilo Krobo Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Eric Tetteh, in his welcome address noted that the theme for the event was appropriate and timely as he realised that the way they did politics in the Yilo Krobo Municipality was rather divisive, which was not promoting the expected and needed development. He said the theme chosen was based on his conviction that all the sons and daughters of the Yilo Krobo area must partner the assembly to develop the Yilo State with the many natural and human resources available in the traditional area. The CEO of MCDAN Group of Companies, Daniel Mckorley, who was the guest of honour, lauded the MCE for his foresight for the programme, which he said all the Ga-Dangmes should learn from as they all have the talent and potential of developing their respective areas. The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, who also graced the occasion, was full of praise for the MCE for his foresight in organising the Homecoming Summit, which brought together the indigenes to think about the Yilo State. May this New Year open the pathway and bring us to the cusp of building the Ghana We Want - Mahama Graphic.com.gh Politics Jan - 01 - 2023 , 00:00 May this new year open the pathway and bring us to the cusp of building the Ghana We Want a Ghana of opportunities for all and one in which our individual and collective aspirations are achieved, former President John Dramani Mahama has said. In his New Year message, he urged Ghanaians to keep hope alive. Mr Mahama said despite the economic battering the country has suffered in the closing year, Ghanaians cannot give up on our dear motherland Ghana in the face of incoming austerity measures and sacrifices 2023 brings. Attached below is the full New Year message of the former President It may be dangerous for leaders to 'stretch patience of Ghanaians' - NDC Benjamin Xornam Glover Politics Dec - 31 - 2022 , 13:28 The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, December 31 held a ceremony to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the 31st December Revolution. The ceremony was held at the Dawhenya Town Park in the Ningo Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region. The anniversary, which was on the theme; "31st December Revolution, remembering our heroes for greater works" was characterised by a wreath laying, lighting of the perpetual flame, and a durbar. The 31st December Revolution anniversary is marked as a reminder of the ideals of - probity, accountability, freedom and justice on which the NDC was founded. Speakers at the event were Sam Nartey George, MP for Ningo Prampram, Comrade Shine Gaveh, National Chairman, United Cadre Front, Dr Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings, MP Korley Klottey, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of NDC and Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman of the NDC. The National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah noted that the current administration has plunged the economy into a "worse condition akin to the situation that existed prior the revolution in 1981." "So if we are repeating the history now, what does it tell us? It means that we failed or rather refused to learn lessons from our own history." He said contrary to expectation of the government of a revolt of a sort, the only lifeline was that Ghanaians have taken a decision not to engage in any disruptive change in government. "Otherwise, we will not be here today. That is our only lifeline. However, the patience of the people have a limit," he said. He said as the NDC and a section of Ghanaians commemorate the revolution, let the leaders of the country be reminded that they should not stretch the patience of Ghanaians too far, and warned that it may be dangerous for all the nation. "We have created this democracy and we want the democracy to last. Even if their intention is to misbehave so that there's disruption and our record of giving to Ghanaians a lasting constitution is erased, we refuse to follow their bait because we want the constitution to last and to use the same constitution to pass judgement," he said. Principles The General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey bemoaned the level of selfishness that he said had eaten into the body politics of Ghana. He said it was sad how the country has drifted over the period of 41 years adding that, political parties have moved away from their original principles such as the love of nation. He called for the return to the core principles of the NDC which is the wellbeing of the nation first and foremost before individual interests. Mr Kwetey said over the period the NDC has become too much of a political party of policies which though were brilliant and beautiful but not helpful. He said the NDC must revert to its original foundation of principles and values. "This party must come back to the Bedrock of principles and values. This party can just be a party that is known for building roads and building schools and building infrastructure. There are even wicked rulers who managed to build roads. This party must fundamentally be a party that love this country enough to make sure the principles we set will forever help this country. He said although the NDC has done a great job as a party, so much more remain to be accomplished. Decency Dr Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings expressed concern about the worsening monetisation of politics and urged members of the party to return the core values and principles of the revolution which is accountability, probity and transparency. "In the midst of all that, we must add one more thing. Let us add decency to our practice of politics," she said. The MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George urged every member of the party at whatever level to involve themselves in mass mobilisation of voters across the nation toward election 2024 and to ensure victory of the party so that they can restore the country to the path of dignity and growth. Present at the event were Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the NDC running mate in the 2020 presidential election, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, a former Minister of Finance and an an aspiring presidential candidate on the ticket of the NDC for 2024, Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of Kumasi, who is also aspiring to be a flagbearer of the NDC in 2024, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, an elder of the NDC and former General Secretary of the NDC. Commodore Steve Obimpeh, Kofi Attoh, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, Moses Asaga, Sam Pee Yarley among other stalwarts were also present. Nigel Gaisie and his New Year 'prophecies' from Republic of Umuofia to Republic of Ymp Nokor Kwame Asare Boadu Politics Jan - 01 - 2023 , 03:19 For the second time running, the General Overseer of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Nigel Gaisie adopted the armorphous description of a country to release his prophecies at the 31st Watch Night service. At the 2021 Watch Night service he used the name of a certain indeterminate country, which he called the Republic of Umuofia. And at the 2022 Watch Night service, he came up with another vague nation which he called Republic of Ymp Nokor. Ymp Nokor is a Twi expression literally translated as 'We don't like the truth". Ahead of the Watch Night services, the police, like in the previous year, issued a statement reminding religious groups and leaders to be measured in the communication of end-of-year prophecies to avoid panic and fear in Ghana. "Let us continue to remember that whereas we have the right to practice our faith in religion, freedom of worship and speech, this right must not be exercised in violation of the rights of others and the public interest, the police said. Before launching into his prophecies, Nigel Gaisie issued a disclaimer that the Republic of Ymp Nokor was not Ghana. Although most of the prophecies pointed to Ghana, he expertly crafted them in a way that perhaps sought to avoid the police descending on him. In one of the prophecies, Nigel Gaisie said he saw Kwame Dramani in white, sitting at the Jubilee House. Special Prosecutor lists corruption cases in court or under investigation; 120 others under consideration Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Jan - 04 - 2023 , 06:23 The Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) has published its half year report ending December 2022, naming cases it was currently investigating or prosecuting and related to corruption. The half-year report is in pursuant to section 3(3) of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), which mandates the Office to publish, on a half-yearly basis, cases it was investigating or prosecuting. 120 cases Apart from the named cases in the report, the Special Prosecutor said the Office was also investigating 120 other cases at various levels of consideration. These would be publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the Office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage. "This is a policy intended to protect the privacy of individuals and the business operations of institutions and companies, and to avoid unnecessary stigmatisation," the OSP stated in the half year report ending December 2022 published in the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, Jan 4, 2022. Two cases in court There has not been any convictions or acquittals in respect of the cases pending before the criminal courts during the period under review, August 2022 to December 2022. There are two criminal cases being tried before the courts. Republic v. Adjenim Boateng Adjei & Another The trial of the former Chief Executive of Public Procurement Authority and his brother-in-law is pending before the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra. Mr. Adjei has been charged with eight counts of using public office for profit and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of public contracts. His brother-in-law has been charged with one count of using public office for profit. Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka The trial of the Presidents nominee for the position of Chief Executive of Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region is pending before the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kumasi. Mr. Sarfo-Kantanka has been charged with 26 counts of corruption in respect of a public election. Concluded Investigations The Special Prosecutor said investigations into two cases of corruption in the use of public office for profit against former Secretary of the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue and the suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in the award of a contract by the Northern Development Authority (NDA) for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), especially in respect of the quantum of the contract sum have been completed. Charles Bissue It said the Office has concluded investigation into allegations of the use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue, during his tenure as Secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), arising from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part I published by Tiger Eye P.I. and the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. It said the Special Prosecutor or an authorised officer will issue directives and further action on the matter in due course. Northern Development Authority The Office has concluded investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of a contract awarded by the Northern Development Authority to A&QS Consortium Limited for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), especially in respect of the quantum of the contract sum. Again, in this matter too, the reported that that the Special Prosecutor or an authorised officer will issue directives and further action on the matter in due course. Other cases unnamed businessman, the alleged improper acquisition of state-protected land at the Achimota Forest enclave and the Sakumono Ramsar site by the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), a former Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission and an investigation in respect of suspected corruption and corruption related offences in respect of the recruitment exercise of Course 51 of Cadet Officers Training at the Ghana Police Academy. Other cases under investigation include the alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, in respect of the sale and purchase of military aircraft for the Republic of Ghana, the banking and financial sector crisis, the allegation of attempted bribery of Members of Parliament by anbusinessman, theKwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), aand an The OSP said it is also investigating 120 other cases at various levels of consideration. These would be publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the Office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage. This is a policy intended to protect the privacy of individuals and the business operations of institutions and companies, and to avoid unnecessary stigmatization, the report by the Special Prosecutor stated. In a preface in the report, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng stated: "Notwithstanding continuous debilitating financial and material constraints and the non-issuance of its establishment budget, the OSP has performed its fourfold functions of investigating, prosecuting, asset recovering and preventing corruption and corruption-related offences commendably. "We are conscious of the practical consideration that we cannot snuff out corruption. There is force in that reckoning. However, as we apply well-structured systems, technology and intelligence led operations, we are rendering corruption a highly risky enterprise for the criminally-minded. As we firm up the drive against corruption and our message is registered strongly in the minds of people that sooner or later they will be arrested, prosecuted and their assets seized and confiscated to the state, the incidence of corruption will surely decline. This will restore confidence, promote the rule of law, and assure fairness and justice.' Attached below is a copy of the report Piedmont Lithium (earlier post) has amended its earlier agreement with Tesla to supply the US automaker with spodumene concentrate (SC6) from North American Lithium (NAL). North American Lithium is a brownfield open pit mining and spodumene concentrator operation in Quebec owned 75% by Australia-based Sayona Mining and 25% by Piedmont. In December 2022, NAL was issued the last remaining permit required to restart operations at the site. Receipt of the key permit from Canadas Department of Fisheries and Oceans paves the way for an expected restart of spodumene concentrate production at NAL in H1 2023. Piedmont holds an offtake agreement for the greater of 113,000 tons per year or 50% of spodumene concentrate production from NAL at a ceiling price of US$900 per metric ton on a life-of-mine basis. Piedmont plans to deliver SC6 to Tesla from NAL under Piedmonts offtake agreement with Sayona Quebec. In 2020, Piedmont had entered into a binding agreement with Tesla for the supply of SC6 from Piedmonts planned wholly-owned Gaston County, North Carolina operation. The agreement was for an initial five-year term on a fixed-price binding purchase commitment from the delivery of first product, and represented approximately one-third of Piedmonts planned SC6 production of 160,000 tonnes per annum for the initial five-year term as well as an additional quantity to be delivered at Teslas option. The agreement was conditional upon Tesla and Piedmont agreeing to a start date for spodumene concentrate deliveries between July 2022 and July 2023 based on the development schedules of both parties. At the time, Piedmont had envisioned starting production by July 2022; however, the company ran into permitting delays and obstacles, and has yet to begin development of its Carolina Lithium operation. Piedmont and Tesla now have now mutually agreed to amend the previous offtake agreement with the terms of this new agreement, which are binding for a three-year term and include an option to renew for another three years. Under the amended agreement, Piedmont has agreed to deliver approximately 125,000 metric tons of SC6 to Tesla beginning in H2 2023 through the end of 2025. According to the terms, the SC6 pricing will be determined by a formula-based mechanism linked to average market prices for lithium hydroxide monohydrate throughout the term of the agreement. The pricing received by Piedmont under the agreement with Tesla will be determined by market prices at the time of each shipment. Lithium Americas has awarded the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contract for the construction of the Thacker Pass open-pit mining project in Nevada (earlier post) to Bechtel, a firm that has built more than 25,000 projects for industries and governments in 160 countries on all seven continents. Lithium Americas has all federal and state permits needed to commence construction at Thacker Pass. It anticipates a ruling on the Thacker Pass Record of Decision appeal in early 2023. Motorola has teased the ThinkPhone we've been hearing about for the past few months. The Lenovo-owned brand posted the smartphone's picture on Twitter with the caption "Business-grade upgrade." The image shared by Motorola officially gives us a glimpse of the ThinkPhone's design. Its back panel flaunts a fiber design and has the "ThinkPhone by Motorola" text at the bottom right corner. The ThinkPhone also has an aluminum frame, with the left-side frame sporting a red-colored button. The picture shared by Motorola doesn't show us the front side of the ThinkPhone, but thanks to previously leaked renders, we know what the smartphone looks like. Motorola ThinkPhone's leaked images (Source: Evan Blass) Motorola hasn't revealed any specs of the ThinkPhone yet, but since it's slated to be unveiled at CES 2023, which starts on January 5, there's not much waiting to know more about Motorola's smartphone for business users. Source These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Identical twins Francisca Untalan Pangelinan and Teresita Untalan Rosario turned 89 a few months ago doing one of their favorite things: playing bingo. They didnt win but enjoyed playing and blushed when the bingo caller called their names and the hall, filled with 300 people, broke into singing Happy Birthday. Such is the adventures of these manbrabu manamko dinga, well known among San Francisco Bay Area CHamorus for their active and independent lifestyle the last two decades, since Rosario moved in with Pangelinan after their husbands died and their children moved away. Were OK. Were doing OK. Life must go on, right? Rosario said while sitting beside her twin on a dark velvet couch surrounded by walls and shelves filled with awards, family pictures, knickknacks from Guam and around the world, and religious statues, including two identical Santa Marian Kamalan statues. One of our priests asked, because were always together. Isnt it a hard life and do we fight? I say, No, we hardly fight, we dont know how to fight. If theres disagreement we just say it and thats it. Just let it go. No use fighting and thats not how our parents taught us anyway. Both are still driving their low mileage mid-2000 Nissan Altima, though they prefer avoiding freeways. Their churches, grocery store, pharmacy, medical facilities and favorite restaurants are all within a 1- to 2-mile radius of their Washington Manor-Bonaire neighborhood in San Leandro, California. They diligently attend Sunday and holy days of obligation services at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish and St. Felicitas Church in San Leandro. Teresita even volunteers several days a week at the gift shop at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. We have the Chacos down here and the Duenases and us. We have the Ignacios down that way, we have the Torres, Teresita said, listing CHamoru families in their immediate vicinity. Francisca added the Balajada family, but Teresita reminded her they lived a little further away. There are more CHamorus they know in the wider Bay Area whom they visit, and they love attending CHamoru events, especially the annual St Joseph fiesta in March in Sunnyvale and the Santa Maria Kamalin celebration in December in Hayward. They are grateful having family friends Rudy Meno and Carmen Torres drive them to these events and to funerals and rosaries of their CHamoru contemporaries. Confusing the twins CHamorus in the area know the twins as Francis and Terry. For the manhoben, its Auntie Frances and Auntie Terry. Rudy Meno remembers at times being confused as to who is who. I will call Auntie Francis Auntie Terry and feel bad when I get it wrong, Meno said. People get confused too, so I dont feel so bad. It was Meno who called them and asked if they wanted to play bingo at nearby Foothill Square Bingo in Oakland for their birthday. They were so excited; when I pulled up to their house, they were already outside waiting, he said. It was also Meno who alerted the bingo caller it was their birthday and was just as surprised as the twins when everyone started singing Happy Birthday to them. Fun facts: Francis and Terry were named in honor of Guam village patron saint celebrations in September and October St. Francis in Yona and Santa Teresita in Mangilao. They both graduated from George Washington High in 1955 and a few years later both married CHamoru men in the military and they both had one son. They both put in over 20 years in their jobs before retiring. And their husbands both died in the mid-1990s. And, in 2001, the wombmates became roommates. Early, early days Francesca and Teresita are the second oldest of 10 children born to Maria Castro Ignacio Untalan, familian Bibic, of Hagatna and Hizinio Camacho Untalan, familian Casimero, also of Hagatna. Teresita says three of their siblings have passed away. They were 8 years old when the Japanese occupied Guam during World War ll. I remember we went to Japanese school and they made us do work, sweeping around the school and picking up rubbish, Teresita said. The Japanese let us walk down to Manengon and then when we were there, thats when the Americans came. I remember sleeping in a cemetery in Hagatna with my grandmother, Francesca added. And I remember walking to Manengon. My mom was pregnant right when the Japanese came in. She gave birth by herself because the midwife left. My oldest sister, Julita, is the one to help her out, Teresita said. This is the second (set of) twins that my mom had, (the others) a boy and a girl. Vicente and Tomasa were born June 22, 1944. They were named after my grandmother and grandfather. After the war they both went to George Washington High School when the campus was in Mongmong and graduated in 1955. Teresita married Jose Rosario, who was in the Army, in 1956. Francesca married Alejandro Arriola Pangelinan, who was in the Navy, a year later in 1957. They said their wedding vows at St. Anthony Church in Tamuning when it was still a Quonset hut. After his tour of duty, Jose moved back to Guam with Teresita and lived in Yigo. She worked at Guam Memorial Hospital doing payroll for 21 years and retired to care for her husband, who died in 1996. She stayed on Guam until after her mother passed away in 2001. Their son, Raymond Rosario, is retired Air Force and lives in Mangilao. She has two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. After retiring from the Navy, Alejandro and Francesca settled in San Leandro, where they bought a three-bedroom, one-bath, 1,452-square-foot house for $24,500 in 1970. Similar homes in their neighborhood have recently sold north of $800,000. Alejandro, or Al as he is better known, had a second career as a bus driver for Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, working for several decades until he retired in 1992. His bus route was around Alameda, where Francesca worked for 23 years as a civilian contractor at Naval Aviation Depot. Their son, Freddie Pangelinan, lives in Tucson and she has five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, who are all boys. I visited Auntie Frances and Auntie Terry the day after Christmas with fellow CHamoru Johnny Gogo, a Santa Clara Superior Court judge. Gogo has spent the last few years traveling the country getting CHamoru World War II survivors to sign a Guam flag. Its a personal passion project and when he has enough signatures, he will donate the flag to the Guam Museum. Ready for us The dinga served us a soft drink and said they had a friend bring them bonelos dago the other day but they ate it all. They showed us around the house, pulling out photo albums and taking down photos from the wall and telling us about them. In the middle of their living room on a coffee table was a small artificial Christmas tree and a small bilen, the nativity scene dwarfed by an 11-inch baby Jesus they picked up during their last trip to Guam in 2014. They lit the tree and bilen with small, battery-powered teacup candles. We usually go in December for vacation so we can attend the Santa Marian Kamalen and then we stay up till after Christmas, Teresita said. Then we come back and we usually do that every year, but not lately. The last time in 2014. Lately they have been seriously considering moving back home. Its nice out here when you have family with you, but its just us and its OK. But, yeah I want to go back, Teresita said, adding that she always wants her twin to join her. She has to come with me, we have to be together, or she will be alone. Id like to go back and be with my family, but I dont have a place, I dont have a house (on Guam) anymore, Francesca chimed in. Teresita quickly reminded her that their younger sister, Pilar, and her husband, Frank Taitague, added an extension to their Ipan, Talofofo, house for them whenever they are ready to come home. We can live with Pilar, you know she extended her house and its ready for us, Teresita told her older (by six minutes) twin. When pressed about when they plan to move back, Teresita said, I dont know. I still want to go back. Its a question mark. Come join us Jan. 6 is Three Kings Day, one of five last (finakpo) days of the Nobenan Nino, nine days of devotional prayer. In keeping with her mothers promesa, the twins have the Nobenan Nino end on Three Kings Day. Its just the two of them, with Teresita being the techa and Francesca singing all the Nobenan Nino songs she has memorized by heart. When asked what her favorite CHamoru song is, Francesca quickly replied Puengen Yuus, and when coaxed to kanta, she sang the nobena hymn the CHamoru version of Silent Night. We say the nobena at five in the evening and on the last day we go out to Elios Family Restaurant, just out here, Teresita said. They usually order the vegetarian omelet. We usually share because its too much. Many times we dont finish it so we take it home. Come join us. Its an open invitation to be part of Auntie Francis and Auntie Terrys adventures. More Information Find out more about the Job Corps program by visiting the American Job Center on the 3rd floor of GCIC Building in Hagatna or call 671-475-7000/1. More information also can be found online at dol.guam.gov/employment-and-training/job-corps/. As employers struggle to fill jobs post-pandemic, there are programs that allow businesses to hire and retain more skilled employees at a lower cost in the short- and long-term, Guam Department of Labor Director David DellIsola said Wednesday at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa. DellIsola, the groups first guest speaker for 2023, encouraged employers to avail of Guam Department of Labor programs that either provide tax credits or subsidize the pay of employees while they are getting work experience. Its probably the best program that nobody knows and those who do know are saving millions of dollars, DellIsola said of the Guam Registered Apprenticeship Program. The program, he said, has given local businesses in the last four years some $17 million in tax credits toward the salaries of apprentices trained into positions for which they may not otherwise qualify. About half of the $4 million in average yearly tax credits has gone to telecommunications companies that he said have found a way to hire and retain employees with the right skills, DellIsola said in a later interview. The chance of keeping an employee is greater when you get them through GRAP. The retention rate is 40%, which is huge, he said, adding that the program has had an average of more than 250 apprentices with over 15 employers every year. DellIsola acknowledged the difficulty of not only finding employees these days but, more importantly, finding employees who are qualified, in terms of skills and training, for the jobs that employers need filling. Work experience DellIsola also touted the Work Experience Program, which pays for up to 480 hours of an individuals compensation while that person is learning about the job. You bring in somebody who may not have the level of skills you want and we pay 480 hours. We pay their salary so you skill them up, he told Rotarians. Within a matter of four months, the participant becomes the skilled employee that the business needs. By then, its easier for the employer to decide to retain the skilled-up worker. DellIsola said the amount of paperwork for both programs takes a long time to complete, especially the Work Experience Program, because it involves contracts that require the attorney generals and governors review. But he said its worth employers efforts because, in the end, it means a business will be able to retain qualified, skilled employees. He encouraged Rotarians and employers to get in touch with the Guam Department of Labor, not only for the apprenticeship and work experience programs, but also for job fairs, labor compliance and related matters. Skilled workers In addition to the impact of the pandemic on the job market, the massive military-related construction in Guam also requires more skilled workers, the labor director said. Its not cheap to bring in skilled foreign workers under the federal H-2B program, DellIsola said. But even with more H-2Bs on island, he said, there is just so much demand for skilled and technical workers because of construction projects linked to the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. DellIsola also shared the Guam Department of Labor and its American Job Centers paradigm shift. We want to help those who want a career path, not just those who just want jobs, he said, especially with Guams ongoing post-pandemic economic recovery. Franklin Cooper-Nurse has been appointed the acting superintendent of the Guam Department of Education, following the resignation of Francis Santos Friday. Cooper-Nurse will serve for up to 30 days until the new superintendent, Kenneth Swanson, assumes the post. Swanson was selected last week to lead the department. Board of Education members voted in an emergency meeting early Wednesday. During the meeting, board member Peter Alecxis Ada said while he supported the nomination of Cooper-Nurse, he thought Santos had agreed to stay through the transition. All of a sudden I hear that he left the department on Friday, Ada said. What happened? Where did things fall? I dont know, Board Chairwoman Mary Okada responded. Okada said after learning of the resignation, she arranged for the emergency meeting. I just thought it would be good to bring out, Ada said, because it just left me in the clouds, asking what happened. Swanson, a former Guam resident, was selected to replace Jon Fernandez as head of the school system. Fernandez stepped down last July. Swanson previously served as a school superintendent in Omak, Washington. He received a doctorate in leadership in educational administration from Capella University in 2009. A cultural resources fair, open to the public, will be held 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 by Joint Region Marianas, said Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson during the Mayors Council of Guam meeting Wednesday. We will have various stations highlighting a lot of the things going on both culturally and environmentally that we have been doing here over the last several years to bring back some of the protected areas and endangered species and preserve the cultural and history here on Guam, said Nicholson. Archeologists and environmental experts who work with JRM will attend to answer questions. A topic that will be discussed is invasive species such as the brown tree snake, pigs and deer and efforts to control and eradicate them, said Nicholson. He said a location for the event is still in the works, but one option theyre exploring is the Guam Cultural Repository at the University of Guam campus in Mangilao. During the meeting, Nicholson also invited the mayors to a special session for them at the JRM headquarters on Jan. 18. Weve called in some folks from Indo-Pacific Command and from the Defense Intelligence Agency and they are going to give you a briefing on threats to the region, he said. A similar briefing was held for the mayors in 2022 which Nicholson said was a success, but he hopes for more mayors to attend this year. The mayors are welcome to ask questions from the representatives of both agencies. A delay in the election of a new speaker for the House of Representatives has held up the swearing in of Del.-elect James Moylan, according to a news release from his office. Moylan was set to be sworn in alongside members of 118th U.S. Congress during a ceremony that began around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Guam time, in Washington D.C., according to his office. The house adjourned after Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the votes necessary for a win after three rounds of voting, CNN reported around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Guam time. The delay has prevented the introduction of committee assignments, the introduction of legislation and other official activity, a release from Moylans office stated. The delay in Congress mirrors the stalemate over the election of leadership for the 37th Guam Legislature. Moylan has been in discussions with his colleagues about co-sponsoring a bill with Puerto Rico which would authorize Supplemental Security Income for residents of Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The federal SSI program provides financial benefits to the elderly and those with disabilities but excludes residents of the territories. The intent is to promote equality for all territories with this program which would benefit so many U.S. citizens residing in the territories, and the legislation will be filed once all members are sworn in. Additional information on legislation is forthcoming, the release stated. Moylan also took the time to inaugurate officers of the Guam Society of America at Guams Congressional Office in 1628 Longworth. The organization has existed for more that 70 years and is one of the largest Guamanian associations in the nation, with the aim of perpetuating the CHamoru traditions and culture. Office closed The Guam District office will remain at 330 Hernan Cortez Avenue, Suite 300, in Hagatna, the address of outgoing Del. Mike San Nicolas. Because of congressional protocol, however, the office wont be able to open to the public until the contracts can be approved by the House. Because member-elect Moylan has expressed making constituent affairs a priority, island residents seeking assistance at this time from their district congressional office can contact 671-922-6673. Additional contact information, along with the official opening of the office, will be provided in the coming days, a release from Moylans office stated. Ron McNinch is a longstanding member of the Guam community and frequently gives his opinion on a wide range of topics. Cheers fill the Calvo Field House as Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio take the stage during an inauguration ceremony celebrated at the University of Guam Calvo Field House in Mangilao on Jan. 2, 2023. Published on 2023/01/03 | Source All MBC drama stars who have been active this year will participate in the "2022 MBC Acting Awards". Advertisement The "2022 MBC Acting Awards" which will air on the 30th, is a place to look back on the drama works that have presented emotions of joy and sorrow to viewers regardless of genre. Earlier, Kim Sung-joo, the host of the MBC Drama Awards, and Choi Soo-young, an all-around entertainer, met as MCs to lead the war of stars and expected special chemistry. In 2022 MBC drama, was literally reminiscent of a 'genre buffet', from heart-throbbing thrillers to emotional romance. In 2022, the mini-series was outstanding. First of all, "Big Mouth", where actors Lee Jong-suk and Yoona worked together as a couple, gave a refreshing impression with the rebellion of small citizens' families against the huge worldview and conspiracy of the power class. "The Golden Spoon" which tells the story of young people whose lives have been reversed by accidental golden spoon, achieved the feat of discovering new stars by proving Yook Sung-jae's delicate inner conflict acting and presence as actors such as Lee Jong-won-I, Jung Chae-yeon and Yeonwoo. The funeral instructor and service company staff's mutual assistance project, "May I Help You?" which grants the wishes of the dead, left a lingering impression as well as a mystery that stimulates the intuition of reasoning. On top of that, the sensational palace scam of the king and the marriage fraudster, "The Forbidden Marriage" is a chemistry between So-Heon (So-rang + Lee Heon) couple, causing viewers to smile. "Tomorrow", which tells the story of grim reapers who saves people who want to die, presented a touching comfort, and "From Now On, Showtime!", which depicts the collaboration between a charismatic magician and a hot-blooded policeman, delivered a variety of fun by going back and forth between romance and rhetoric. Actor So Ji-sub's return film "Doctor Lawyer" which he returned with after four years, stimulated the desire to watch it live with a chewy development and perfect strength control. On the other hand, the daily drama "The Secret House" was praised as a well-made revenge drama, raising tension with its spiraling development and rapid speed. In addition, the short drama "Hunted" which raised the sense of immersion to the extreme with a short breath, repeatedly turned around in each episode, giving an eye-catching thrill. The drama "Fan Letter Please" showed a fresh youth romance by unraveling the memories of the first love with the subject of 'fan letters'. As such, MBC dramas have been attracting attention as fresh stories regardless of genre, from romance to thriller to fusion historical dramas. Attention is focusing on the results of the award, which of them will be the winner of the grand prize that was responsible for viewers' overindulgence in 2022. Published on 2023/01/03 | Source New behind-the-scene 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 Almost half of the pupils tested in rural municipalities were in such a poor physical condition that it can have a negative impact on their health and well-being, the study found. THE LARGER THE CITY , the better the physical condition of primary school-aged children, reveals Move , a nationwide study that measures the physical condition of fifth and eight-grade pupils across Finland. Mikko Huhtiniemi, the development manager of the monitoring system from the University of Jyvaskyla, viewed that the regional differences may be attributable to the availability and accessibility of hobbies and physical activities. Regional differences in the physical functional capacity may stem from there being more hobby and physical activity opportunities near pupils in cities than in the countryside, he analysed in a press release. In the countryside, the distances to school and hobby facilities are often long, which leads to a lot of sitting in a car. The study measured the endurance, strength, speed, mobility, balance and basic motor skills of approximately 107,000 primary-school pupils during the course of last autumn. Pupils in Western Uusimaa and North Ostrobothnia were found to be in the best condition, with both boys and girls in the regions outperforming the national average. The worst results, by contrast, were produced in Kanta-Hame, Paijat-Hame, Ostrobothnia and Lapland. Huhtiniemi told YLE in December that the results are alarming from a number of perspectives even though on the whole they did not deteriorate from the last year. Roughly 40 per cent of the tested pupils, for example, had such a low physical functional capacity that it make it challenging to go through everyday life. After the school day, you dont have the energy to go out and play with your friends. Maybe the couch and smart devices beckon you in the evening. Theres a risk of a vicious cycle that further reduces activity, he warned. Tommi Vasankari, the director of the UKK Institute, reminded in the press release that the physical ability of children has an impact on the well-being of individuals both today and in future, with the limitations later possibly reflected in studies, work, morbidity, retirement, and social and welfare costs. The results had some positive trends, too. The endurance of primary-school pupils has deteriorated in the longer term, but it appears that the deterioration halted between 2021 and 2022. Huhtiniemi stated to the Finnish public broadcasting company that in other respects the results have varied only moderately during the seven-year history of the study as is expected from a population-wide study. Municipalities and well-being services counties, he underscored, should broaden the range of measures adopted to encourage pupils to improve their physical functional capacity. Also families have a critical role in promoting physical activity among children and young people. Reporting on regional differences offers decision-makers an opportunity to target measures and resources at the right places, he stated to YLE. Huhtiniemi also acknowledged that many municipalities have succeeded in promoting physical activity with, for example, measures adopted within the framework of Schools on the Move. Among the effective measures are activity-focused recesses and activity-based lessons. I personally believe physical activity at school is particularly important because it reaches all pupils equally on a weekly basis and you have trained top professionals promoting their functional capacity, he said. Aleksi Teivainen HT Half Moon Bay, CA (94019) Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High 53F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 43F. NNW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. In high anticipation, Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton has opened its doors to guests. In a complex of seven rebuilt and new buildings, the 163-room hotel sits at the doorstep of the Icelandic parliament - Alingi - joining Curio Collection by Hilton, a global portfolio of more than 130 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts handpicked for their distinct character. New construction, reconstruction, and careful preservation maintain the important heritage of the building, presenting irresistible class to the cityscape. Between the Ladies' School and Independence Hall, to the modern new building, the most striking feature is the restoration of the old Landsimahusi, which reflects the elegant and classic architectural style of the local Austurvollur Square. In keeping with the local social culture, the hotel offers more access to the public than ever before, with Telebar and Hja Joni Restaurant welcoming guests and locals to take in the country's capital in what was once the headquarters of Iceland Telecom. Furthermore, on display inside the hotel is a part of the largest privately owned art collection, giving guests unique access to renowned Icelandic art. Surrounded by three lively squares, and just steps away from Reykjavik Cathedral, Harpa Concert Hall, City Hall, and the trendy harbour area, the hotel opens in a prime location within the city's most high-profile zone. Additionally, the nearby old Reykjavik harbour offers spectacular scenes of the northern lights in winter, and midnight sun during the peak of summer. Hotel Highlights: Local Design & Architecture: Offering 163 guest rooms, family rooms, and suites - each equipped with a 55-inch HDTV, espresso machine, and mini-fridge - the hotel is a feat for design where the seven rebuilt and new buildings reflect the different eras of Icelandic history, making the Iceland Parliament Hotel a visual landmark in the city center. Offering 163 guest rooms, family rooms, and suites - each equipped with a 55-inch HDTV, espresso machine, and mini-fridge - the hotel is a feat for design where the seven rebuilt and new buildings reflect the different eras of Icelandic history, making the Iceland Parliament Hotel a visual landmark in the city center. Hja Joni Restaurant: Serving local delicacies with an international flair, the restaurant is bordered by large windows which frame the views of Austurvollur central square and the statue of Jon Sigurdsson - the founding father of Icelandic independence in the 19th century. The name Hja Joni translates as 'By John' and commemorates the national hero and his role in the development of modern democracy in Iceland. Serving local delicacies with an international flair, the restaurant is bordered by large windows which frame the views of Austurvollur central square and the statue of Jon Sigurdsson - the founding father of Icelandic independence in the 19th century. The name Hja Joni translates as 'By John' and commemorates the national hero and his role in the development of modern democracy in Iceland. Telebar : The lively Telebar is inspired by the former headquarters of Iceland Telecom and the center of international communication in the 20th century, which once operated within the main building of this hotel. Telebar connects with Hja Joni Restaurant to make a delightful combination of a quiet retreat and bustling socialisation. : The lively Telebar is inspired by the former headquarters of Iceland Telecom and the center of international communication in the 20th century, which once operated within the main building of this hotel. Telebar connects with Hja Joni Restaurant to make a delightful combination of a quiet retreat and bustling socialisation. Spa & Fitness : The hotel features a beautiful spa area with traditional Icelandic geothermal hot tubs, sauna and steambaths, as well as offering massage and wellness treatments. The exercise area is also open to guests 24/7. : The hotel features a beautiful spa area with traditional Icelandic geothermal hot tubs, sauna and steambaths, as well as offering massage and wellness treatments. The exercise area is also open to guests 24/7. Meetings & Events: As a leading conference and event venue in Reykjavik, Iceland Parliament Reykjavik offers various function rooms and event spaces. The newly-renovated Independence Hall is one of the most elegant and magnificent banquet halls in the city, and can accommodate up to 200 guests, fitting for the grandest of occasions. Other function spaces include the Ladies School, a perfect setting for both formal and informal events, with a capacity of up to 100 guests. Iceland Parliament Hotel is also part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's 18 distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits and the Hilton Honors mobile app. Book direct at Hilton.com, through the Hilton Honors app or through other official Hilton channels for more perks and a price match guarantee. Hilton Honors members can redeem Points using the Points Explorer tool. Hotel website At Tennessee-based McNeill Hotel Company, an owner-operator of 24 branded hotels across the U.S., change management was already underway prior to COVID. Leadership had outlined a plan for centralization - moving many of the back-office operations away from the property level and under the purview of the centrally located leadership team based outside Memphis. The goal was to remove the often tedious and manual accounting and financial tasks from employees at the hotel, freeing them up to focus their attention on providing an exemplary guest experience. Modern tools - specifically the ability to share data and reports across the entire portfolio in an easily accessible location - would assist in this transformation. When COVID hit and demand plummeted, the need for leadership at central headquarters to take on more responsibility heightened. We have centralized so much. Pre-COVID, we moved Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable off property and into the central office. We want our managers to do more than just sit and do paperwork. But COVID kicked it into gear. GMs were doing everything, including checking in guests, and they just didn't have the time to be building and running reports. Meanwhile, we didn't slow down in the corporate office. Travis Murray, President of McNeill Now, with the right resources, McNeill is able to keep operations lean. Building Labor and Rate Strategies On property, spiking labor costs are requiring more detailed focus on hiring and training, specifically in the housekeeping department. There's only so much that we can cut from the expense side, Murray says. Hourly labor costs are up 50% since 2019. The jump in labor costs attracted extra attention and scrutiny, including a closer look at data to analyze housekeeper performance and costs. Fortunately, demand across McNeill's portfolio of mainly Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt brands continues to be incredibly strong, showing no cracks due to economic uncertainty. We've shattered all previous marks for everything, Murray says. But, factor in labor costs, and commodity costs are up 30% - operational costs are also skyrocketing. Technology Powers Centralization Prior to COVID, McNeill adopted MDO's myDocs, a Digital Document Management Solution, to ensure critical reports were easily shareable and accessible, and to be better stewards of the environment. By 2021, hotels stopped printing night audits entirely and instead adopted digital storage and workflows. Now the overnight desk clerk pushes one button, that's it, and they get one report with the night audit, Murray says. Having the documents indexed in a digital environment also came in handy when McNeill recently went through an audit process of its sales tax records. It made it much easier because we just pulled up exactly what they needed through the digital night audit, Murray says. As COVID forced further centralization, the team adopted MDO's suite of reporting and BI tools - adding myPlan, myPerspective and myRevenue - to extract the data and build real-time dashboards that unlock the insight into the business that they need. We looked at other systems, but when they pulled the data together, all the reports still looked different, Murray says. MDO provided a process that was much less manual and looks much more sleek and user friendly. Of course, reducing McNeill's environmental footprint by eliminating paper waste was an added benefit that led to cost savings as well. McNeill recently received MDO's Sustainability Certification, which shines a spotlight on hotel owners and operators dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint. Since adopting MDO's myDocs in April 2021, McNeill has contributed to saving 207 trees, 164 gallons of wastewater, and 20 pounds of landfill waste across its 24-hotel portfolio. About MDO myDigitalOffice (MDO) is the world's fastest-growing hotel data platform, providing nearly 10,000 hotel owners and operators across the globe with centralized, digital access to their most critical documents and cross-functional performance metrics. Through integrated data feeds, document workflow management, and award-winning custom dashboards, hoteliers are able to reach greater levels of profitability by operating more efficiently, improving budgeting and forecasting, and reducing their environmental impact. Learn more at www.mdo.io. Jason Freed Hospitality Data Evangelist myDigitalOffice View source Singapore - 2022 has been a banner year for BLINK Design Group and its founder, Clint Nagata, even by the design visionary and pioneer of placemakings own high standards. BLINK has scooped an impressive selection of regional and international awards for its work on hotels and resorts that are setting a new bar for excellence in hospitality design. In Asia, BLINK won the award for Best Guestrooms at Ahead Asia awards for Roku Kyoto, Hiltons first LXR resort in the Asia Pacific. BLINKs concept is steeped in the culture of Kyoto but presented with a beautifully restrained hand, described by one judge as fresh and contemporary whilst still honouring tradition. The framing windows draw focus to the lush mountain landscape and flood natural light upon the series of lacquerware and wooden craftsmanship incorporated to create a rich cultural backdrop, the judges said. Roku Kyoto was also a finalist for Best Resort at the Ahead Asia awards, while also scooping Best Resort at Kohler Bold 2022 and Best Hotel Interior at the International Property Awards. Further afield, Roku Kyoto was a finalist in the US at the prestigious 42nd Gold Key awards, for Best Luxury Guestroom and Best Luxury Lobby. BLINK also made the finals for its Regent Phu Quoc project for Best Luxury Resort at the Gold Key awards. Regent Phu Quoc Photo by BLINK Design Group Regent Phu Quoc, the new jewel in the crown of Regent Hotels, required the creation of something special on Vietnams premier paradise island; an all-suites and villas luxury beach resort, utilising a multi-dimensional approach for every major guest-facing space, deliberately spread horizontally and stacked vertically so that all guests enjoy an optimum view of the natural setting. Nagata says the initial architectural ideas were steeped in the Vietnamese vernacular. One of the key elements in the masterplan is the courtyard-like villas, each with its own infinity pool and plunge pool and layers of privacy and intimacy. This is inspired by another key feature in the Vietnamese vernacular known as Gian Nha. In the UK, at the 6th Brit List Hotel Design Awards, Nagata and BLINK were shortlisted in the International Award category. In the Middle East, BLINKs interiors for W Dubai - Mina Seyahi won the Ahead 2022 award for Best Guestrooms, as well as being a finalist for Best Newbuild Hotel. And at the Commercial Interior Design Awards 2022, W Dubai - Mina Seyahi also saw BLINK shortlisted as Interior Designer of the Year. W Dubai - Mina Seyahi saw BLINK created a stunning modern bohemian vision inspired by traditional Dhow boats, the romance of travel and the ancient Arabic storytelling tradition of Al-Halqa, located in the heart of Al Mina Al Seyahi, the legendary Port of Travellers' district of Jumeirah Beach, home to the glittering Dubai International Marine Club and its 300-berth marina. W Dubai Mina Seyahi Photo by BLINK Design Group Roku Kyoto, as well as the Fullerton Ocean Park Hong Kong, both made DestinAsian magazines prestigious 2022 Luxe List. Of the latter, DestinAsian enthused: Hong Kong Islands Southside area looks like its been pulled from a Chinese watercolor painting, all rambling mountains, squiggly islands, golden beaches, and blue-green seas, which makes it all the more surprising that no one has thought to build a hotel here before now. Filling the gap for a luxury leisure resort within easy distance of the city center is The Fullerton Ocean Park, which opened in July with a prime waterfront position overlooking Aberdeen Harbour and the South China Sea. Theres a glorious outdoor infinity pool, a lush Bamford spa, rooftop pool suites, rooms with balconies, and a clutch of tip-top restaurants. And to round out a year of success for BLINK and its founder, Nagata was also delighted to take out Singapores coveted Interior Designer of the Year 2022 Designers Choice award. Nagata said he was humbled and honoured by the success of his firm and its brilliant team. As Founder and Creative Partner, Nagatas passion for travel, hospitality and design is the inspiration behind BLINK Design Groups vision. Born and raised in the Hawaiian island of Oahu in a Japanese American family, he has spent a lifetime imagining concepts, delivering smart and considered spaces, and wowing guests in some of the worlds most desirable destinations. After 13 years with WATG in Honolulu, Nagata relocated to Thailand 17 years ago. BLINK has since expanded its presence in Asia with studios in Shanghai and Singapore, and in 2017 acquired the Jaya Interior Design Business (JID). Nagata spearheads a collective of bold thinkers with an open-minded approach that nourishes collaboration and creativity. Under a guiding philosophy he has dubbed placemaking, Nagata steers projects from conception through to completion based on big ideas rooted in a deep dive into the culture, people and design vernacular of a place. My design philosophy is to take both out clients and guests on a journey that tells the story of a place through a modern design lens, Nagata says. We seek to create wonderful interior based designs that capture the spirit of the place through simplicity, balance, and proportion. Throughout the years I have never been one to get caught up in trends and trends come and go. I have always felt a strong desire to be timeless and believe in simplicity, balance, and proportion. These design traits have always been synonymous with our designs regardless of the location. At the start of every project we make it a point to look at the project through the lens of a local - as if we were born and raised there and not through the lens of a foreigner. To be successful, the design needs to resonate with locals and visitors alike. Although it seems quite simple, it can be challenging and requires us to deep dive into the place in order to understand the true elements that define the uniqueness of a place through its history. About BLINK Design Group (BLINK) BLINK Design Group, founded by Clint Nagata, is a leading multi-disciplinary design studio with 17 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. With projects spanning almost every continent and having worked with the world's most renowned luxury hotel and resort brands, BLINK truly believes that creating memorable spaces is taking every client on a shared journey, made by people and place. Inspired by Clint's passion for travel, constant exploration and enjoyment of the world, is what has shaped BLINK's design philosophy and approach for each and every project. For more information about BLINK Design Group, please visit www.blinkdg.com. HOUSTON - Researchers at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership say many skilled hospitality workers who were furloughed or laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic are angry and unlikely to return to the industry. During the first few months of the pandemic in 2020, travel and dining out declined rapidly putting severe financial strain on hospitality organizations, especially those in the lodging and food and beverage sectors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hospitality industry lost nearly 8 million hospitality jobs were lost, making it the hardest-hit industry in the U.S. by the pandemic in terms of workforce reduction. I dont think any industry was prepared, but the hospitality industry really wasnt prepared. Their solution to cutting costs and saving the business was to let people go and then try to rehire them when it was over. Juan Madera, the Curtis L. Carlson endowed professor at Hilton College Fast forward nearly three years, and the overall U.S. jobs market has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. But the hospitality industry remains far behind in its recovery with roughly 1.3 million jobs still available as of July 2022. Madera and his Hilton College colleague, Ph.D. candidate and teaching fellow Iuliana Popa, along with two of his former students, wanted to figure out why. In a study published in the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the team focused on two basic emotions: anger and fear. They collected data from over 300 online surveys and over 100 responses to a scenario-based experimental study. Participants included hospitality students, as well as current, former, and aspiring hospitality industry professionals. Your job, your livelihood is taken away, so a natural response is fear for your future, Madera said. But we found anger was a bigger driver in explaining why these workers arent coming back. They were angry over how the industry responded to the pandemic. According to Popa, the results of the study point to a problematic trend for the industry. If skilled workers switch industries due to job loss amidst another industry-wide negative event, it may be difficult for businesses to find qualified employees once the recovery and rehiring begins. I think by and large, people who were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic probably moved on to different industries altogether, she said. Something more stable and less dependent on those in-person interactions where their skills were transferable, like business or real estate. Unlike other industries, the hospitality industry already faced challenges in finding and retaining highly skilled workers due to the nature of the business, according to Popa. Workers in the hospitality industry already had it hard, whether its low wages or having to work weekends, overnights and holidays, Popa said. Its a very demanding job, so to go through all of that and then be laid off was kind of the last straw. The research team came up with recommendations for businesses to consider going forward, including offering higher compensation and better benefits and doing a better job of protecting workers health. But Popa said the most important priority should be rebuilding trust with their employees. Its important that organizations understand this anger among workers and build better communication with them, she said. If theres another crisis in the industry, theyll want to know theres a plan in place and that theyll be protected, financially, emotionally and physically. Despite the massive impact of the pandemic and the ongoing challenge to restore the workforce, Madera said not all hope is lost. There are people who are still motivated to work in hospitality because its a unique industry, he said. You can travel the country or the world, you have a lot of personal interaction. Even people from outside the industry could be attracted to that. About The University of Houston The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with enrollment of more than 47,000 students. For more information, visit http://www.hrm.uh.edu. Bryan Luhn University of Houston Vancouver, B.C. Coast Hotels Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc. and one of North Americas fastest-growing and one of Canadas largest hotel brands, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a master franchise agreement inclusive of all existing franchised hotels from Coast Hotels USA, LLC. The USA expansion plan will enable Coast Hotels to increase its footprint, particularly throughout the West Coast. Operating as Coast Hotels USA, Inc., a newly established subsidiary of Coast Hotels Limited, the company aims to achieve significant growth through a combination of new franchise and hotel management contracts, mergers and acquisitions and the purchase of hotel real estate in key locations by 2027. Todays announcement and our plans for the USA expansion represent one of the most important milestones in our 50-year history as a hospitality company. The opportunity to focus on USAs most dynamic destinations and introduce our unique, localized approach and our unmatched dedication to our guests will present outstanding opportunities for expansion. We look forward to working with our parent company, APA Hotels, and all of our partners as we embark on a new era as a company. Mr. Jin Sasaki, President of Coast Hotels The USA expansion plan represents the latest phase of Coast Hotels growth strategy. In 2022, the company added five hotels to its portfolio including the acquisition and conversion of the Regency Suites Hotel to the Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel & Suites by APA. About APA Hotels Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, APA has a network of more than 620 properties and over 93,000 rooms in Japan making it the countrys largest hotel group. It also has one hundred percent ownership of Coast Hotels, the brand, and owns the six by APA hotels in Vancouver, Victoria, Chilliwack, Prince George, Edmonton, and Calgary. APA is known for their urban-style hotel concept that delivers high-quality, highly functional, and environmentally friendly hotels to the market. About Coast Hotels Each Coast Hotel property is as unique as the destinations they are located in, yet they all have something in common: friendly service and our always pleasant amenities. Coast Hotels offers properties throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Washington in cities large and small. As one of North America's fastest-growing hotel brands, Coast Hotels owes its continued expansion to its friendly service, prime locations, value, and guest satisfaction. Coast Hotels owns and franchises hotels under the Coast Hotels brand and manages hotels on both a Coast Hotels branded and independent basis. Visit coasthotels.com or call 1.800.663.1144. Brigitte Diem-Guy VP Revenue Strategies & Communication Coast Hotels The global supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have revealed the weaknesses created by our society and economic model's dependence on global trade. This has led to a unique opportunity for businesses and individuals to review and adapt their business models in order to build a more workable and sustainable future. With an increasing number of customers demanding sustainability in hospitality and hotels, innovation of the logistics of supply and value chains demonstrates a committed approach across all processes. Some experts argue that local and human supply chains are the most sustainable and resilient ones. Businesses should encourage their stakeholders - associates, customers, business partners and competitors - to educate themselves and initiate change regarding sustainable initiatives. Many companies are in the process of reviewing the logistics behind their supply and value chains in a step towards more workable and renewable practices. Supply chains link a company and its suppliers; they represent the steps taken to transform raw materials into a marketable product or service. A value chain goes further as it enables a company to maintain a competitive advantage by optimizing its strategy in order to maximize efficiency and profitability. Source: ETH Zurich In 2018, the travel and tourism industry accounted for 8% of global GHG emissions. Indeed, every aspect of a hotel supply chain, from the physical construction of its facilities to natural resources, energy and goods' usage, can negatively impact a hotel's environment. However, hotels rely on the preservation of ecosystems and natural resources to attract a steady flow of tourists. Hotels and airlines are directly threatened by increasingly frequent large-scale events such as water scarcity, wildfires, hurricanes, floods and rising sea levels. According to the Global Hotel Decarbonization Report published in 2017, the hotel industry must reduce its GHG emissions by 66% based on 2010 levels by 2030 and by 90% by 2050. Such targets will only be achieved through a rapid transition to an efficient and renewable business model. Therefore, the survival of the industry depends on the ability of hoteliers to change their ways to uphold environmental sustainability. Green supply chains One solution in the transition to sustainable business models is implementing Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM). It is defined as integrating sustainable environmental processes into the traditional supply chain. Its scope encompasses product design and raw material sourcing, manufacturing and production, operations, and end-of-life management. It aims to create value throughout the entire supply chain by increasing asset efficiency and reducing total environmental impact, costs and energy usage. When applying GSCM, a company should hold all its upstream and downstream partners accountable and collaborate with them in order to achieve transparency and efficiency. Circular supply chains Going one step further, companies have the choice to create Circular Supply Chains (CSC) by stopping waste from being created. The concept is characterized by the elimination of waste and pollution, the circulation of products and materials, and the regeneration of nature. Such a system supports the three pillars of sustainability: economy, people and environment. Across all industries, products and components must be redesigned to build capital rather than reduce it. Creativity and innovation therefore become the key to rethinking and redesigning our future for the better. Unfortunately, green and circular models are costly and complex to implement overnight, but other initiatives can be taken to help hotel properties in their ecological transition. Procedures should be set to ensure that procurement departments buy exclusively from certified sustainable firms and emphasize the purchase of reused and recycled products to minimize the amount of resources used. Moreover, SC risk mapping is recommended to assess supplier performance; criteria can include, but are not limited to, environmental sustainability, human rights, and Research & Development. GSCM can be applied to every aspect of a hotel's activities, from energy and water usage to human resources, linen, amenities, furniture and food sourcing. If managed and advertised properly, CSR practices linked to GSCM and/or to CSC can help to increase guest loyalty and satisfaction, as well as the guests willingness to pay a premium. Source: SWITCH to Green Sustainable value chain A second element to consider is the value chain (VC), whose study will enable hotels to enhance their competitive position in their market, hence rendering them more profitable. Sustainable VCs include both the social and environmental costs linked to the production and distribution of a product or service. Sustainable Value Chain Analysis (SVCA) seeks to determine the value that final consumers attach to the activities that contribute to emissions and how consumer perception is affected by changes to production processes and product attributes. By considering the market requirements, SVCA ensures that a company will make choices that benefit their competitive advantages. Moreover, including environmental impact assessment facilitates effective resource allocation by identifying priority areas and bottlenecks. Factors such as a hotels location, its distinctive and innovative features or the offer of personalized services are considered value-creating. They play a large role in attracting high-end tourists to a destination and, therefore, can benefit local economies. There are a few remarkable examples of carbon-neutral, innovative and forward-looking hotels in Switzerland. One of them is Maya Boutique Hotel in Valais. The hotel was the first one in Europe entirely made of straw - an agricultural by-product of a dry grain crop. Nearly 55 tons of straw bales, clay, lime and glass make up the composition of the building. Another example is the Valsana hotel in Arosa, Switzerland, which was built and is operated with sustainable principles in mind. The hotels building materials (wood, glass and metal) are natural and recycled, and the restaurants furniture was upcycled from recycled materials. Moreover, whenever possible, the hotel calls upon local and Swiss suppliers for material, amenities and food sourcing. The hotels energy is supplied by hydropower, and its heating is obtained through geothermal energy and heat recovery thanks to an ice battery. Companies in other sectors can provide examples of how to integrate sustainability ambitions in the existing value chain. For example, Georg Fischer, a leading business in manufacturing technologies, addresses the broad spectrum of sustainability topics in all steps of its value chain. The initiatives shown in the image below are examples of actions that hotels around the world could also take to reduce the negative impact of their activities on the planet. Source: Georg Fischer The transformation of the industrys supply and value chains is a long-term project which should be carefully thought through, as many variables must be considered. It is therefore important to promote inter-team collaboration to ensure that appropriate changes are made to each department, and to use SVCA to ensure that the measures taken are well interpreted by final consumers. For example, the CSR and procurement departments could jointly create a list of criteria to be respected by suppliers in order to work with the hotel. This will help reduce the overall CO2 emissions of companies in the various tiers of a hotel's supply chain and create a greener economy. When looking at the costs linked to running a hotel, it is essential to consider energy, which is the second largest spending category after employment and accounts for around 60% of a hotels CO2 emissions. Insulating a building or switching to renewable energy sources in the supply chain and activities, will help hotels reduce both energy costs and emissions in the long term. Ideally, hotel owners should take advantage of energy sources available near their property; for example, geothermal energy can be used when the hotel is near hot springs, and biodiesel can be used when the hotel is located in a rural area and surrounded by farms. Such investments might frighten investors since they are costly, which is why measures such as energy monitoring or reducing the heating and cooling temperatures in public areas can be an excellent first step. However, investors should keep in mind that going green is becoming the norm, and the longer they wait before investing, the more market share and, therefore, profit will be lost. With a growing number of guests looking for sustainable hotels, going sustainable has become more than the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do as it provides businesses with a competitive advantage. In the next few years, supply and value chain analysis and creativity and innovation will be the key to transforming the industry. EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Joshua Vallieres being sworn in as city clerk in July 2022. The post has cost him his seat on the School Committee. School Committee Member Vallieres Resigns in North Adams NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The School Committee is down one member as Joshua Vallieres has resigned effective immediately. The School Committee accepted his resignation on Tuesday with regrets, with member Tara Jacobs voting no "just because I'll miss him." "Just my thanks to Josh for his service, and he was a delight to serve with, and I'll miss him, and I wish him well. And, so it's a bittersweet moment," she said. In his brief resignation letter dated Dec. 20, 2022, Vallieres said he could no longer fulfill his duties on the committee. "Unfortunately, I must resign from my position as a school committee member. I am very grateful for the committee's hard work and the votes of confidence from the North Adams public," he wrote. Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the committee, said Vallieres' departure was based on a finding in the charter that an elected member could not also be paid by the city. Vallieres was appointed as the city clerk in July 2022 and had been elected to the committee in November 2021 to complete the final two years of a four-year term. Macksey said she had first asked a former city clerk to look into the ethics of Vallieres running an election in which he might be a candidate. Further review o the ordinances found the prohibition on serving on the School Committee. "No member of the school committee, except the mayor, shall, while a member thereof, hold any other office or position the salary or compensation for which is payable out of the city treasury," the ordinance reads "That's very sad because Mr. Vallieres had a lot to contribute to our team," the mayor said. She wanted to have someone ready to appoint by the City Council's Jan. 24 meeting but there was some debate over how the post will be filled until the next election. The mayor said an ordinance allows for her to make the appointment "Under our ordinance, the mayor is able to appoint someone to fill Josh's term and have it confirmed by the City Council," she said. "I have a few people in mind, but I would love the input of the School Committee if you know of anyone who is interested." Committee members, however, said that was not how it had been done in the past. Rather, letters of interest had been solicited, applicants allowed to speak and a joint vote taken by the School Committee and City Council. This occurred when Emily Daunis was elected to a vacanc y in 2020. Member David Sookey III, who had been one of the applicants in 2020, said he remembered submitting a letter to the mayor and having time to speak at the joint meeting. "Then am I right by saying that the committee then voted at that point to fill versus having one person to elect that person?" he asked. Nancy Rauscher, business administrator, said there were procedures in Superintendent Barbara Malkas' office to "facilitate the process when somebody is going to be newly appointed to the School Committee. So that's something that needs to be referenced." She thought the way the last vacancy was filled for Robert Moulton Jr. had been "more elaborate" because he also had served on the City Council. Jacobs and member Karen Bond also recalled the selection as being more of a group effort. Members did not feel there would not be enough time for applicants to submit letters of interest and schedule a vote by Jan. 24. "I am certainly open to what everyone has said here about a letter of interest, and I'm just trying to move this along because I would like to have a full committee in February," the mayor said. "So if I'm hearing from the committee that we want to hit pause and maybe not move it, I'm truly OK with that, and entertain letters of interest." She said she would "dig a little bit more" into the ordinance and procedure and get back to the committee on Wednesday. The ordinance states "the city council and the remaining members of the school committee shall meet in joint convention and elect a suitable person to fill the vacancy" but does not outline any other procedure. In other business, the committee approved a tuition agreement with Readsboro (Vt.) Central School to educate its Grades 7 and 8 in addition to Grades 9-12. The Vermont school board voted to send their middle schoolers to Drury High School last year. The tuition for this school year is $13,443 per student plus 100 percent of the costs of special education. The committee heard a presentation on "Profiles of Berkshire County graduate" program and learned that the application to provide for early college curriculum at Drury High had been submitted last month. Malkas updated the committee on COVID-19, saying it was one of a triad the school system was dealing with including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). She anticipated the number of absences to spike in the next week or so before settling down as they did last year. Absentee rates had run between 10 and 20 percent of students because of illness and 5 to 8 percent of staff prior to the holiday. Staff and students are still encouraged to vaccinate against viruses and to mask if they have respiratory issues or have been exposed. "In the past, Massachusetts has always had very, very high rates of flu vaccination. There is some suspicion around vaccination fatigue," she said of lower rates of inoculation this year. "And so those are factors that are being attributed to higher rates of flu this flu season." MCLA Leadership Academy Applications Open NORTH ADAMS, Mass. MCLA's Leadership Academy, a postgraduate program for educators seeking administrator licensure, will host a series of information sessions between January and March for prospective students. Applications will be accepted through April 15 and information sessions are scheduled in person and remotely this winter. The 12-month program starts on July 7 with an on-campus, in-person 14-day residency followed by online courses and three-weekend residencies. Leadership Academy alumni and administrators will answer questions about the program and application process during the following information sessions: Virtual Dates: January 17 at 4:30 p.m. February 1 at 4 p.m. February 7 at 4 p.m. March 27 at 6:30 p.m. On-Site Dates: January 17 at 4:30 p.m. at MCLA Pittsfield, 66 Allen St. On-Campus Open House: March 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested should register at this link: https://bit.ly/3PIoADW Since 1997 the Leadership Academy has served over 2,000 school and district leaders and is sanctioned by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It was created to cater to working professionals in a low residency model with classes during the summer and on weekends with independent and online work between sessions. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today released its annual list of journalists and media staff killed in work-related incidents, warning of the return of the open season on media professionals with a spike in the numbers of killings from last year. The IFJ has recorded 68 killings of journalists and media staff during 2022 compared to 47 last year - a reversal of the decline recorded in recent years. There were also 11 deaths linked to accidents and illness, including three journalists and media workers who passed on while reporting on the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. These numbers show that there is no end to the safety crisis in journalism and, instead, represent a real threat of the return to the open season on media professionals in many parts of the world, said IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger. The war in Ukraine accounts for 12 media fatalities, the highest number in the 21 countries where deadly incidents have been recorded. But the rule by terror of criminal organisations in Mexico, and the breakdown of law and order in Haiti, have also contributed to the surge in killings, with 11 and seven documented respectively. Journalists in Colombia face renewed violence, threatening to make the country a killing zone for journalists and media workers once again and shattering the prospects for media freedom following the political settlement to end decades of bloody civil war. In Asia Pacific, the new leadership in the Philippines brought no respite to deadly attacks on journalists with four killings in the first year of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jrs presidency, while five journalists lost their lives in the political crisis in Pakistan. The Middle East and Arab World saw the killings of media professionals rise from three last year to five, including the shooting in broad daylight of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Four journalists were killed in Chad and Somalia, meaning Africa recorded the lowest number of deaths among the five regions on the IFJs Killed List behind the Americas (30), Asia Pacific (16), Europe (13) and Middle East and Arab World (5). The IFJ renewed its call for greater protection of journalists, warning that failure to address threats to journalists safety risks jeopardising democratic rule without the contribution of journalism in informing the public on matters of general interest. The surge in the killings of journalists and other media workers is a grave cause of concern and yet another wake up call for governments across the globe to take action in the defence of journalism, one of the key pillars of democracy, said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger. The failure to act will only embolden those who seek to suppress the free flow of information and undermine the ability of people to hold their leaders to account, including in ensuring that those with power and influence do not stand in the way of open and inclusive societies. To address governments lack of action and political will to tackle impunity for crimes committed against journalists, the IFJ calls for an International Convention at the United Nations dedicated to the protection of journalists and media professionals. Download the IFJ's list of journalist killed in 2022. For interviews in English, please contact: Jeremy Dear, Deputy General Secretary +32 470 21 43 54 [email protected] For interviews in French, please contact: Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary +32 471 23 61 27 [email protected] For interviews in Spanish, please contact: Natalia Queralt, Communications and Campaigns Officer [email protected] The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) raise the alert on the increasing threats surrounding journalists and media workers reporting on the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo from the North of Kosovo, and joins its affiliate the Association of Journalists in Kosovo (AJK) in asking the competent authorities, including the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the police, to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of journalists reporting on the ground. Increasing threats surrounding journalists and media workers reporting on the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo from the North of Kosovo have increased in the last days of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. Credits: STRINGER / AFP Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have escalated recently, especially in the divided city of Mitrovica, with Belgrade (Serbia) accusing Pristina (Kosovo) of infringing on the rights of the Serbian community. New barricades were erected on Tuesday 27th, a few hours after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic put the army on the highest level of alert. Recent shootings and roadblocks led the countries to believe a violent conflict could flare up soon: at the National Convention in the Parliament of Serbia, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that the tensions were on the brink of armed conflict. While significant progress had been made when it comes to the safety of journalists in Kosovo, thanks to the work of the partners of the Council of Europes Platform on Safety of Journalists, the media sphere is endangered by the recent physical assaults and their implication on press freedom in the country, and on reporting on developments in the northern part of it. Albania Live journalist Leonita Bajrami was targeted by pyrotechnic explosives as she was reporting on the new barricades that Tuesday, in the sixth attacks against journalists and media workers in the North of Kosovo. Earlier in the month, five other attacks were reported. A Kallxo.com team was attacked near Mitrovicas technical school on December 9th, and a RTV Dukagjini attacked with explosives the next day; on the 19th, a Klan Kosova team of two was reporting near barricades in Zubin Potok when masked individuals threw stones at them. A TeVe1 team found itself under an explosive attack in Mitrovica on the 20th, and on the 26th, another team from Klan Kosova had the same experience the previous team from the same media had when their car windows broke following an attack with stones. Driver Elsad Sinani was present both times. We are relieved to hear that tension has decreased after the Serbs began dismantling roadblocks in northern Kosovo on 29 December, but diplomatic efforts must continue so that journalists can operate safely in the region, said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutierrez. We now need to make progress in the dialogue necessary to ensure the safety of journalists, but also to finally make progress on the many cases of impunity for the killings and disappearances of journalists in the region. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Attacks against journalists and media workers are unacceptable. We welcome the progress that has been made to decrease tensions and ask the authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of journalists reporting on the ground. Too many cases of missing and killed journalists are still unpunished in the region. This is why the adoption of a UN Convention for the safety and independence of journalists is badly needed." Reliance Consumer Products Limited has announced that it will acquire a 50% stake in Gujarat-based beverage company Sosyo Hajoori Beverages (SHBPL). The 100-year-old company is a major player in the domestic soft drinks market, with brands including Sosyo, Kashmira, Lemee, Ginlim, Runner, Opener, Hajoori Soda, and S'eau. The existing promoters, the Hajoori family, will retain control of SHBPL. Reliance Industries' FMCG arm stated that it intends to empower Indian consumers with a bouquet of indigenously developed consumer brands and products that offer superior value. The brand portfolio of the company includes the beverage brand Campa and the packaged consumer products brand 'Independence,' which was launched earlier this month. Reliance announced last week that it would acquire a 51% stake in Lotus Chocolate Co from its promoters for Rs74 crore and make an open offer to public shareholders to acquire the remaining 26%. For feedback and suggestions, write to us at editorial@iifl.com 1. Tunisha Sharma's Mother Vanita Sharma Cuts A Cake In Her Memory On Her Birth Anniversary TV actress Tunisha Sharma would have turned 21 on 4th January 2023. But the day has turned doomed as the actress is no more with us. Tunisha passed away by an alleged suicide on December 24th 2022. On her birth anniversary, Tunisha Sharmas mother has opened up about her plans for this memorable day. Quoting that she was planning a surprise for Tunishas birthday, Vanita Sharma revealed that shell still cut the cake. Read More! Instagram 2. Child Welfare Body Demands Removal Of SRK's Pathaan's Besharam Rang Song From Social Media The controversy around Pathaan's 'Besharam Rang' song featuring Shah Rukh Khan and actress Deepika Padukone has intensified. According to IANS reports, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh has asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to get the video clips of Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Pathan's song 'Besharam Rang' and other obscene content, removed from social media. Read More! screengrab 3. Pushpa Continues To Achieve Milestones, Is Set To Become Russias All-Time No. 1 Indian Film Allu Arjun-led 'Pushpa: The Rise' holds the record of Indias highest-grossing film of 2021. The film to date is continuing its winning streak. The film has gone global and is currently running in Russia. If reports are to be believed, Pushpa will anytime be termed the No. 1 All-Time Indian Hit Film released in Russia. Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa has collected more than 10 million roubles (about Rs 13 crore) in Russia now. Read More! Koimoi 4. Fans Speculate If SRK's Son Aryan Khan And Nora Fatehi Are Dating After These Pictures Go Viral The internet knows it before these celebrities make it official. Bollywood buffs are always keen to know who is dating whom. The gossip mongers recently found out that Darlings and Gully Boy fame Vijay Varma and Baahubali fame Tamannaah Bhatia are the new couples in the tinsel town. And now, there's a crazy rumour floating across that Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan and Nora Fatehi are dating. Is this true? No one knows, but this Redditor has taken the internet by storm. Read More! ILN 5. Chris Hemsworth & Chris Evans Send Love To Jeremy Renner As He Shares First Photo From Hospital Marvel star and Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner recently suffered injuries following a snow-plowing accident on New Years Day. The Avengers actor had to undergo emergency surgery on Monday due to the severity of the accident. Jeremy Renner's snow plowing accident took place in Reno, Nevada. The actor popular for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was reportedly clearing out the snow when a piece of the heavy plowing equipment ran over him. Read More! web screen grab (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.) Google claims that India's antitrust body copied parts of European Union's ruling against the company for exploiting the market dominance of its Android smartphone operating system. Legal papers show that Google is asking for the decision to be quashed on these grounds. Unsplash Did CCI copy EU's ruling? In October 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined Alphabet Inc's Google $161 million for exploiting its powerful position - for Google Search engine and its Android app store. At that time, CCI asked Google to ease restrictions on manufacturers to pre-install apps. Sources told Reuters that Google was worried about India's ruling at the time, viewing it more far-reaching that the European Commission's 2017 ruling that imposed a $4.3 billion fine. Unsplash Also read: Google Fined Rs. 1,337 Crore In India For 'Abusing Dominant Position' In its filing to an Indian appeals tribunal, Google has claimed that CCI "copy-pasted extensively from a European Commission decision, deploying evidence from Europe that was not examined in India". Google added that "there are more than 50 instances of copypasting," in some cases "word-for-word." "The Commission failed to conduct an impartial, balanced, and legally sound investigation... Google's mobile app distribution practices are pro-competitive and not unfair/exclusionary," the filing seen by Reuters said. Unsplash Google decided to appeal the CCI's decision as it thinks that the antitrust decision "presents a major setback for our Indian users and businesses." Also read: India Fines Google Second Time In A Week, Company To Pay Rs. 936 Crore Penalty In October, the CCI ruled that Google's licensing of its Play Store "shall not be linked with the requirement of pre-installing" Google services like Search, Chrome, YouTube, etc. But US-based Google claims that the CCI found infringements related to Google Search app, Chrome, and YouTube but its order "extends beyond" that. Unsplash In a different antitrust decision, the CCI fined Google $113 million for limiting the use of third-party payment services in India. Google is also appealing this decision. What do you think about Google's antitrust woes in India? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. References Kalra, A., & Vengattil, M. (2023, January 4). Google alleges India antitrust body copied parts of EU order on Android abuse. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/google-alleges-india-antitrust-body-copied-parts-eu-order-android-abuse-2023-01-03/?utm_medium=Social Offices switched to a virtual setup during the COVID-19 pandemic, with meetings happening at all hours and work extending well past regular shift hours. Canadian e-commerce company Shopify probably gets this, and it wants to help employees overcome their anxiety of daily meetings as a result. Shopify Shopify has a new policy where employees can refuse to attend meetings. The e-commerce company confirmed its New Year's gift by stating it will help clear employees' schedules. The company also said it would stop holding meetings with more than two members. People at CNN reviewed the internal business memo the company sent out. Shopify also told its employees that Wednesdays are off-limits for scheduling meetings and that large meetings comprising more than 50 people can take place just once a week, for six hours, on Thursdays. Nejatian tweeted the company-wide policy change, saying, "to start 2023, we're canceling all Shopify meetings with more than two people. Let's give people back their maker time. Companies are for builders. Not managers." To empower its staff, Shopify has strengthened its flexibility and freedom. The company encourages its employees to decline pointless meetings. Nejatian said employees should "be critical" when deciding which meetings to set aside time for. The e-commerce giant also declared that employees are free to quit larger workgroups to reduce the number of unnecessary meetings held each day. At the moment, Shopify is evaluating its various channels of communication. It has announced that it will divide internal communications across Slack and Workplace by Meta so that employees may prioritize which teams need their attention. The new policy was announced by Shopify's Chief Operating Officer, Kaz Nejatian, who announced that the company has decided to discontinue all meetings to use employees' time better. @CanadaKaz/Twitter "Over the years, weve seen excess meetings creep back into our day-to-day, and we know no one joined Shopify to sit in meetings," Nejatian told The Financial Post. An Indian company has made a similar effort to simplify working conditions. Unsplash Dream11 has an Unplug policy called Dream 11 Unplug that allows employees to disconnect from work on their days off completely. Under the new rules, workers can take a week off without responding to their work phones, checking their work emails, or interacting with their coworkers. "At Dream11, we actually log off the 'Dreamster' who is unplugged, off from every possible stadium communication platform, be it slack, emails, and even WhatsApp groups. We do this to ensure absolutely no one from the Dreamsters work ecosystem can contact them while they are on their well-deserved break," the company noted in a LinkedIn post announcing the new policy. "We understand that spending quality time with loved ones or just relaxing altogether on vacation, can immensely improve the overall mood, quality of life, productivity in general, and more," the company added. (For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes) The former owner of a funeral home and her mother were found guilty of dissecting bodies and selling body parts without getting permission from the people who had died. Between 2010 and 2018, Megan Hess, then 46, and her mother, Shirley Koch, then 69, dissected 560 corpses in Colorado, USA. According to the prosecution, Hess, while operating the Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in the town of Montrose, charged families up to $1,000 (834) for cremations that she did not perform. They further claimed that while some of the cremated remains were used for dissection and sale, Hess provided partial cremations for free in exchange for body parts donations. THE DENVER POST/GETTY Hess, with the help of her mother, sold the stolen body parts to medical training businesses. The prosecution has alleged that the whole corpses were sold. Hess also extracted and sold the gold teeth of some of the deceased. Even though the FBI caught Hess lying on donor consent forms, she sold body parts to the medical community. In the United States, giving an organ for transplant is legal, but selling one is illegal. Hess received a 20-year prison term, while Koch received 15 years for her crimes. Donor Services, a different business she ran out of the same building, sold organs from people. This afternoon, a federal judge in Grand Junction sentenced Megan Hess to 20 years in prison and Shirley Koch to 15 years in prison after their guilty pleas in the Sunset Mesa case. pic.twitter.com/BpdAwEDKnU FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) January 4, 2023 Relatives who had employed Hess for cremations later found out that the ashes they had gotten back were a mixture of ashes from many cremations. The FBI Special Agent in Charge in Denver, Leonard Carollo, stated in a statement that the two women targeted those who were emotionally vulnerable during their "time of grief and sadness." Reuters "But instead of helping, these greedy women broke the trust of hundreds of people and cut up their family members," he said. A Reuters investigation in 2018 led to a home invasion and subsequent court action. On Tuesday, the mother and daughter appeared in court to face their sentencing. Montrose Daily Press A victim statement delivered by Nancy Overhoff was quoted in the Denver Post as follows. "When Megan stole my mom's heart, she broke mine." Another victim, Erin Smith, said: "We came today to hear the handcuffs click." In her ruling, Judge Christine Arguello referred to the case as the "most emotionally draining case I have ever experienced on the bench" as she ordered the two women to be sent to prison immediately. (For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes) By Chen Yang Well-trained pawn Illustration: Vitaly Podvitski Well-trained pawn Illustration: Vitaly Podvitski According to the Yomiuri Shimbun in late December, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) was considering deploying a surface-to-air guided missile unit on a Ground Self-Defense Force camp on Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture. The ministry has included the cost of acquiring the land in the draft budget for fiscal 2023. Some Japanese media outlets believe that this move is intended to deal with the so-called an emergency in Taiwan. Yonaguni is the westernmost island in Japan. The island has an area of nearly 30 square kilometers and a population of under 2,000 people. Regardless of the size or the population, Yonaguni is not so conspicuous on the map of Japan. However, because it is about 110 kilometers away from the Taiwan island, the Japanese government is paying more attention to the strategic position of Yonaguni. For example, Japan's three defense ministers in recent years, including Yasukazu Hamada, visited the island after taking office. The MoD also plans to deploy an Electronic Warfare unit to Yonaguni to enhance intelligence collection and analysis capabilities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. In November 2022, "Keen Sword," a large-scale Japan-US joint exercise on Yonaguni as one of the key military exercises, was conducted, and the US military established a "Joint Tactical Coordination Center" with the Japan Self-Defense Forces on the island. Japan's strengthening of its military deployment on Yonaguni will only increase the risk of getting involved in unnecessary conflicts. In recent years, Japan has actively served as a strategic vassal of the US. It has not only made irresponsible remarks over the Taiwan question on bilateral and multilateral occasions, but also has actively shared the US' strategic burden by increasing its own security and defense capabilities. As an independent and sovereign country, Japan has the right to choose its own strategic development direction, but it also needs to know that closely aligning its national strategic development with the US' interests is ultimately likely to involve itself in unnecessary conflicts. Even if there is "an emergency in Taiwan," the US, as an extraterritorial country, may not "fight side by side" with Japan. After all, the US has always insisted on "America First" at critical moments - the scene of the US military's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 is still impressive. Japan's actions to strengthen military deployment on Yonaguni will undermine the healthy and stable development of China-Japan bilateral relations. The Taiwan question concerns China's core interests, the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and the basic trust between the two countries. According to the Japan-China Joint Communique signed in 1972, the Japanese government fully understands and respects the Chinese government's position on Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory. Japan should not forget this history. However, it is regrettable that Tokyo has repeatedly interfered in the Taiwan question, using dealing with "an emergency in Taiwan" as an excuse to push for rearmament. This not only sends the wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" forces but also seriously undermines the existing political consensus and mutual trust between China and Japan, which will not help build a "constructive and stable Japan-China relationship" proposed by Japan. Japan's move will also exacerbate tensions in the region. To strengthen military deployment on Yonaguni, Japan also has another important purpose, that is, to take the opportunity to break through the restrictions of its pacifist constitution. In view of the fact that Japan has always lacked real reflection on its previous wars of aggression, and that it has closely followed Washington in the Asia-Pacific region, neighboring countries and regions have the reason to worry that Japan, which is actively seeking to develop its military power, may become the biggest disrupter of regional peace and stability. Whether Japan's plans to strengthen military deployment on Yonaguni are to protect the safety of Japanese nationals, or to provoke conflicts among major powers through the excuse of "an emergency in Taiwan," undermine regional peace and stability, and then profit from them, this deserves vigilance. 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. China-Japan relations are now at a critical crossroads. Therefore, we advise Japan to treat China in a right mentality, recalibrate its strategic direction, and contribute to building a constructive and stable relationship with China. Only in this way can we avoid greater damage to the bilateral relationship and be responsible for the safety and well-being of regional countries and people. The author is a visiting researcher at the Institute of Japan Studies, Liaoning University. Scott Hesford, director of Solutions Engineer Asia Pacific at BeyondTrust, has called on local governments to step up on access control as Australia continues to face significant security challenges. Hesford noted state auditors' desktop review of annual local government reports, highlighting key areas that must be urgently addressed, including access controls and privileged user account monitoring and management. These are crucial areas because, without good system and data access and change permissions, it is hard to identify instances of misuse or abuse, and even harder to mitigate against these threats, he said, as reported by Government News. Common results New South Wales (NSW) The recent audit found a lack of periodic user access review designed to ensure that users' access to key IT systems was appropriate and commensurate with their roles and responsibilities at 42 councils. It also found insufficient control over privileged users at 73 councils, compared to 68 last year, including gaps in restricting privileged users or monitoring the privileged accounts' activity logs. Queensland The audit found prevalent information system control weaknesses across the sector the most common being related to incorrect levels of system access assigned to staff. A Donegal soldier serving overseas has come up with a unique idea to raise funds for those killed or injured in the Creeslough tragedy. Corporal John Gallagher serves with the 66th Infantry Group Undof in Syria. A native of Downings/Carrigart, Cpl Gallagher often visits the village at the centre of the explosion which occurred on October 7 in which 10 people lost their lives. Three of Cpl Gallagher's's colleagues serving with the Defence Forces lost relatives when an explosion ripped through the heart of the town's Applegreen service station. The 43-year-old soldier said he and his colleagues wanted to come up with a unique way to raise funds to help the victims of the tragedy. Now, Cpl Gallagher and his colleagues will literally put their shoulders to the wheel in a test of strength and endurance while remembering all those affected by the tragedy. On January 17, three platoons will compete against each other by pulling an 18 tonne Mowag Piranha 3 Armoured Personnel Carrier over a distance of 100m. The teams competing include the 1st and 2nd mechanised platoons and CSG/RECCE and the team with the fastest time will be crowned the strongest platoon. Corporal John Gallagher: 'We want to help Creeslough to move forward but also to let them know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.' However, Cpl Gallagher said the most important thing was that as much money could be raised as possible for the victims of the tragedy. He said "It's our way of honouring all those affected by this awful tragedy but also our small way of giving something back to that community which many of us know very well. Three of our comrades serving within the Defence Forces lost family members in this terrifying disaster. "This really brought it home to me and this is why myself and the members of the 66th Infantry Group Undof would like to do something to offer our support and condolences to the people of Creeslough. "We want to help Creeslough to move forward but also to let them know that they are in our thoughts and prayers." The group has already surpassed its initial goal of 2,000 thanks to the kindness of people donating on their GoFundMe page and would like to raise as much money as possible before the event on January 17 next. Cpl Gallagher stressed that every cent raised will go towards the Creeslough Fund to help the families in any way. Donations can be made here Over-indulgence during the festive season may have led to extra poundage. For some, this will translate into new years resolutions. Others wont give a toss, and good luck to them. Last month, when Kirstie Alley, the American actress famous for her role as Rebecca in the hit sitcom Cheers, died, The New York Times wrote that it was radical in the 80s and 90s for Alley to be a fat, glamorous actress. She spent years as a tabloid punching bag because of her weight, with weight gain being seen as a moral failing, and weight loss as the only possible response. For those of us who grew up in Generation X, there was a point when thinness felt compulsory. In the 90s, we were bombarded with the heroin waif look which brought a whole generation of women into conflict with their bodies. Many of us shrank alongside the actresses from Friends. The body positivity movement has meant that your weight is now theoretically your business. When controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson tweeted last year about a plus-sized Sports Illustrated model and musician Yumi Nus cover shoot for the magazine, writing: Sorry. Not beautiful. And no amount of authoritarian tolerance is going to change that, he was roundly castigated. There still isnt nearly enough body diversity reflected in fashion campaigns and on our screens. Articles written about the democratisation of fashion on foot of bigger models being used point to an underlying tokenism. Standards of thinness held up as culturally desirable makes less sense than ever to the average woman who is now a size 14-16. Obesity And obesity is a growing problem. A Royal College of Surgeons study last year found that worrying levels of obesity and being overweight are seen at a very young age in Ireland, with 32% of five-year-olds being overweight or obese. Ireland has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe, with 60% of adults and over one in five children and young people living with being overweight or obese. Multiple drivers influence obesity, including genetics as well as environmental and socioeconomic factors. Excess weight drives up to 65%-85% of type 2 diabetes and in 2022 Ireland was in the top 25% for diabetes incidence worldwide, although this figure is said to be stabilising. Last year, in May, a report, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, revealed that obesity is among the leading causes of death and disability in the European region. Ive heard several parents speak of anxiety about broaching problematic weight gain with teenage daughters, specifically because of the risk of triggering eating disorders. And theyre right to be fearful. Eating disorders skyrocketed among teens during the pandemic. According to the latest figures published last November by the Irish Health Research Board, the number of admissions related to eating disorders among children and adolescents continued to rise, with females accounting for 96% of psychiatric admissions. Powerful cultural messages, along with personality traits and life experiences, cause eating disorders. Most women reading this article will know exactly how hypersensitive young females are to any insinuations about their weight. Media treatment Research clearly shows that media exposure contributes to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, which is far more common than full-blown eating disorders. Unrealistic images and editing on social media have made a bad situation worse. A recent headline in the New York Post ran: Bye-bye booty: heroin chic is back. This headline encapsulates the idea that womens bodies are viewed as trends while attempting to resurrect a body type that did so much damage to young women. Its high time the media thought twice about running irresponsible, offensive headlines like this because frankly, its unacceptable. In 2015, the French passed a law banning the use of models that are size zero, which is a UK size four although this caused some exceptionally thin models to say they were being body-shamed. Last year, a photo of a famous musician in a bikini on a magazine cover provoked commentary because she was clinically obese and possibly because she looked happy. Online she was both celebrated and reviled. My thoughts were conflicted. They included good for you, which tells its own none-too-subtle story about my cultural conditioning why should she need my patronising imprimatur? The second was if I had a teenage daughter, Im not sure that I would want her to internalise the message that it was desirable to be perilously obese any more than I would want her to decide that it was desirable to be size zero. Is this not the supplantation of one unhealthy body archetype (ultra-thin) with a different one (clinically obese)? Or is it simply a woman being celebrated for being a different size, or simply a famous woman in a bikini? In reality, its unlikely my fictive teenage daughter would internalise the message from one photo that being clinically obese was desirable, its hardly a bombardment. Because thin is better remains the dominant message. Its the baton of unhealthy body image that has been passed from generation to generation of women. But when body sizes are increasing, the stage is set for an even bigger clash between the somatic reality of womens actual real-life bodies and the default shape being presented as culturally desirable. Too fat, too thin how are young women to make sense of this? Our Obesity National Clinical Programme points out that obesity is a highly stigmatised condition. It says that negative attitudes to the overweight, even amongst healthcare professionals, lead to shame and slowness in seeking help. Last year, Roisin Ingle in wrote powerfully about fat shaming. She wrote about being addressed as Dear Fatty in an email written to her. She wrote, and shes right: I do not believe my body (or your body) whether bigger or smaller or anything in between is anybody elses business. We have a problem with obesity in both males and females, but the plague of hating their bodies continues to be deeply, pathologically ingrained in women, which further complicates things for them. Size-acceptance or size-inclusivity is crucial if women are ever going to attempt to have healthier relationships with their bodies, but health counts too. Maybe we frame public discussions around weight on having functioning, healthy bodies and scrap words like skinny and obese. After all, our lexicon around race has shifted in recognition of the fact that racism and language work together in important ways. More generally, unless we address the ticking time bomb of obesity and diabetes, were looking at a full-blown public health emergency. The first of January marks the 50th anniversary of Irelands accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), the forerunner of todays EU. It was one of the most important decisions ever taken by the Irish people and foundational to our subsequent success. The accession itself occurred 50 years after the formation of the Free State. The promised benefits of an independent Ireland had not been experienced by the population at large. The number of people in employment was precisely what it had been in the 1920s at less than 1.2m. National income per person remained only two-thirds that of the UK. And education levels were very low with free secondary-level education having only been introduced in 1966, 20 years after the UK had done so. With two-thirds of our exports still going to Britain, arguably little at all had been achieved by independence. The inflexion point in our national development was joining the EEC. Ireland first applied to join in 1963 but French president General Charles de Gaulle made it clear that France did not want Britain as a member, and Ireland was not in a position to proceed without its largest trading partner. A second application in 1967 was again blocked by de Gaulle. Ireland and the UK had to wait until his retirement to successfully conclude accession negotiations. A referendum was held in May 1972 to decide on entry. The yes campaign posters promised more jobs, better standard of living, guaranteed export markets, less emigration, better social welfare. Entry was opposed by the Labour Party, which feared that increased competition from European companies would result in job losses, and by Sinn Fein, concerned about the loss of sovereignty. President Michael D Higgins with his wife, Sabina Higgins and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: Maxwells The vote was overwhelmingly in favour, with 83% of voters endorsing membership. Its positive impact was wildly underestimated, if anything. All of the campaigners promises were to be bountifully delivered on. We gained access to the largest market in the world, enabling us to radically diversify our export markets. The union invested many billions of euros in modernising our infrastructure in the 1970s and 80s. And the introduction of the single market in the 1990s enabled the IDA to promote the country as a single base of operations for companies that wanted to sell into continental Europe. Fifty years later, the number of people in jobs exceeds 2.5m. Our gross national product per capita is amongst the highest in the world. Our goods and services exports are valued at nearly 400bn, and we are the largest exporter of beef in the northern hemisphere. We are now a country of net immigration. And our tax and welfare system is amongst the most equalising in developed nations. The transformative benefits of membership have included many in the social arena too. Gender equality legislation was a requirement that delivered immediate benefits for mna na hEireann. It was the European Court of Human Rights that declared our criminalisation of homosexuality to be illegal in the 1980s, with subsequent EU equality legislation amongst the most comprehensive in the world. Today, quality of life in Ireland is among the very highest in the world. The UN judges us the eighth best country on the planet in human development, for example. Of course we have many challenges facing us what country does not? but we are now a wealthy, modern, liberal democratic state and EU membership has been integral to achieving that. Membership was an embodiment of Irelands retreat from a failed policy of self-sufficiency and a shift towards greater openness. Our open economy is now a world-leader in attracting inward investment and job creation. It has also proven itself a magnate for the skilled professionals that we lack indigenously. The 2022 census showed that we added 1m people to our population in less than two decades making us one of the fastest growing countries in Europe. Half of this is attributable to significant reductions in our death rate as we win battles against disease and live longer than any previous generation. Half was due to net immigration. As we head into our second century of independence, it is critical that we retain the open disposition that has proved so critical to our success. While population growth will pose us challenges in housing, healthcare, and carbon emission reduction, it will underpin the continued economic growth we need to finance the solutions to these. We have reason to be optimistic. EU research undertaken in Ireland this year found that 89% of us think positively about free trade and 75% are positive about globalisation. 80% of us are satisfied with how democracy works in the EU and 86% say we are optimistic about the future of the EU. That makes us the most optimistic nation in all of Europe about the unions future. We recognise how beneficial membership has been for us. In contrast to the poor living conditions that drove waves of emigration in the 1950s and 60s, today 97% of us say that we are happy we live here. We must be thankful to our European neighbours for helping us achieve that. DESPITE supply shortages, inflation, interest rate increases, a cost of living crisis and war in the Ukraine, first time buyers (FTBs) managed, in the first nine months of the year, to buy 2,100 more homes and borrow 957 million more than they did in the same period last year. Banking & Payments Federation Ireland figures show that between January and September, FTBs borrowed 4,656 million for the purchase of 17,761 properties. Some 12,104 of these were second hand while 5,657 of them were new, which is 1,171 more second-hand units and 929 more new homes than in the same period last year. A 2022 report from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) showed that the average home purchase mortgage for first-time buyers increased by 20,000 over the past year. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie During the first three quarters of the year, FTB borrowing was 1,620 million for new houses and 3,035 million for second-hand properties. The average drawdown for a new property was 286,000, up from 251,000 for the same period in 2021, while the average for secondhand homes was 250,000, up from 230,000. BPFI reported high levels of FTB activity in the third quarter. The volume and value of FTB mortgages on new properties rose by 14.7 % and 33.5% respectively, they said. Noting that the Q3 value of FTB mortgages for second hand properties reached 1,151 million, the report states that this is the highest quarterly value seen since split records for new and second hand properties were introduced in 2005. According to the BPFI, FTBs accounted for 78.2 % of the value of home mortgages on new properties in Q3. The report notes that this is the 13th successive quarter in which FTBs accounted for over 70% of home mortgages on new properties - a figure not achieved between 2005 and 2008 when the FTB share of new home mortgages didnt exceed 55%. Sherry Fitzgerald New Homes in Cork has reported a high level of FTB purchasing. Auctioneer Rachel OLeary says that 80% of the 200 new houses they sold in Cork during the year went to FTBs, up from 75% last year. Estimating that the average FTB spend was in the region of 380,000, she says that in some of the more active developments, the FTB purchase level was even higher than 80%. At Harbour Heights, Rochestown Road 94% of buyers this year were FTBs and the average price they paid was 380,000. At Abbey Fort, Kinsale 83% were FTBs and the average price was 400,000. At Ballinglanna, Glanmire 82% of buyers were FTBs and the average price paid was 390,000. Ms OLeary says the highest volume of sales was in Ballinglanna, one of the largest developments in the county. We sold approximately 80 houses there this year and are planning for the release of another 120 in 2023, she reveals. Ballinglanna, Glanmire, is popular among first time buyers. Butlers Green, Ballinglanna Another new release is scheduled in Ballinglanna for February and one is also planned early in the year at Harbour Heights, Rochestown, where 40 properties sold this year. Savills New Homes in Cork had 20 launches in 12 developments around the county with around 80% of sales going to FTBs. It was a busy year and the launches sold out quickly sometimes within a week, reveals auctioneer Kate Buttimer. She says FTBs are now availing of the newly introduced First Home Scheme in addition to the Help to Buy scheme. The renewal of the HTB Scheme was vital for a large number of first-time buyers who would otherwise have been unable to afford a home. The announcement by the government of the new rule allowing first time buyers to borrow up to four times their gross income has given a boost to sales in recent weeks,'' she adds. While little new stock remains, Savills are planning six new releases in the first quarter of 2023 which will include properties in Carrigtwohill, Ballincollig, Kinsale, Mallow, Whitechurch and Kerry Pike, which are likely to attract FTBs. Because of the shortage of supply of new homes, first time buyers are as shown by the BPFI figures - buying high levels of second hand homes. Michael Downey of ERA Downey McCarthy believes that FTB demand is being fuelled by high rental prices and says he has seen sales of second hand properties to first time buyers go up 20% on last year. It is now cheaper to buy than to rent you can pay 2,000 a month to rent a three bed semi but you can get a mortgage on one for less. He says that FTBs purchasing second hand are typically spending between 320,000 or 330,000 but that some are going as high as 400,000 for properties on the south side of Cork city. Demand is particularly high in established residential areas such as Ballinlough, Douglas, Bishopstown, Wilton and Glasheen. Mr Downey says that between April and June he witnessed a buying frenzy. It was at Celtic Tiger levels and first time buyers were leading the charge - we saw properties going for 50,000, 60,000 and 70,000 above their guide prices, with first time buyers bidding against each other. Sales started strong slowed in February due to the war in the Ukraine -but resumed again in April, reveals Mr Downey, estimating that prices rose by 10% in the first six months. He says that in the second half of the year, FTBs became more cautious, while sales picked up noticeably at the end of the year. We saw a lot of first time buyers who were determined to buy a home for Christmas, Mr Downey said. Burma Kachin Independence Leader Steps Down General N Ban La and his successor General Gam Shawng. The chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) General N Ban La, 79, stepped down on Monday and has been replaced by General Gam Shawng. A commander from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the KIOs armed wing, said changes are made to the KIOs central executive committee every four years and Gen NBan La was in poor health. The general has served a four-year term and he said last year that he wanted to step down. He has been treated in hospital recently, the commander, who requested anonymity, told The Irrawaddy. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu was unavailable for comment. The KIA has been fighting the regime since shortly after the 2021 coup. In his New Years Day speech, Gen N Ban La called the junta the enemy of all citizens and asked everyone and all ethnic armed organizations to attack decisively as no regime can resist a revolution of the entire people. Gen Gam Shawng is known for his discipline and dedication. He played a major role in the seizure of the strategic Alaw Bum hilltop base near the border with China from the junta in 2021. The general has taken responsibility for training more than 4,000 anti-regime resistance fighters in Kachin State. U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst, said the leadership change would make no difference. All the KIO and KIA leaders have a strong commitment to the revolution, all internal discussions are handled well and they work well with the National Unity Government [NUG]. They will keep working hard for the revolution, despite the leadership change, he said. U Than Soe Naing said the KIO had already accepted the NUGs Federal Democracy Charter and will continue to fight alongside the NUG. Gen Gam Shawng was the KIA commander-in-chief and KIO chief of staff and has been replaced in those roles by Lieutenant General Khaung Lun. Burma Myanmar Junta Marks Independence Day With Show of Force, Mass Amnesty Myanmar regime chief Min Aung Hlaing stands in a car as he oversees a military display at a parade ground to mark the country's Independence Day in Naypyitaw on Jan. 4, 2023. / AFP NAYPYITAWMyanmars junta announced an amnesty for 7,000 prisoners to mark Independence Day on Wednesday following a show of force in the capital, days after increasing democracy figurehead Daw Aung San Suu Kyis jail term to 33 years. Swaths of the Southeast Asian country have been engulfed by fighting between junta troops and anti-coup rebels since the military seized power almost two years ago. The junta, which recently wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, is preparing for fresh elections later this year that the United States has said would be a sham. Tanks, missile launchers and armored cars rolled through the dawn air to a parade ground in the capital Naypyitaw, AFP correspondents said, kicking off a military display marking 75 years since Myanmar gained independence from Britain. Civil servants and high school students followed the troops, accompanied by a military band as 750 peace doves were released to mark the occasion, according to state media. Later in the day, the junta announced it would free 7,012 prisoners to mark the anniversary. Some political detainees including a handful of senior National League for Democracy (NLD) figures were among those freed, but the total number of political prisoners released remained unclear. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not respond to an AFP request for comment on whether Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be moved from her prison to house arrest as part of the amnesty. In a speech to assembled troops, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing accused unidentified countries of intervening in Myanmars internal affairs since the February 2021 coup. The military was meeting with political parties for discussions on the proportional representation electoral system, he said, without giving further details. Analysts say the junta may scrap the first-past-the-post system that saw Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy win sweeping majorities in 2020 and 2015. Muted celebrations Myanmar declared independence from British colonial rule on Jan. 4, 1948, after a long fight championed by General Aung San, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis father. The junta has handed out hundreds of awards and medals to its supporters in the run-up to the event, including to a firebrand monk known for his role in stirring up religious hatred in Myanmar. Wirathudubbed The Buddhist bin Laden by Time Magazine in 2013 following deadly communal riotswas awarded the title of Thiri Pyanchi on Tuesday for outstanding work for the good of the Union of Myanmar. Independence Day is normally marked with festive street games, marches, and gatherings in public parks and spaces. But celebrations of public holidays have been largely muted since the putsch as people stay home in protest against the junta. AFP correspondents said there was an increased security presence in the commercial hub Yangon, which has been hit by a string of bomb attacks in recent months. The US Embassy warned of potential increases in attacks, targeted shootings, or explosions on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, marked the day by sending sincere greetings, adding that he anticipated the further development of relations, according to state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar. Russia is a major ally and arms supplier of the isolated junta, which has said Moscows invasion of Ukraine almost a year ago was justified. Myanmars military has made unsubstantiated allegations of massive voter fraud during elections in November 2020, which were won resoundingly by Daw Aung San Suu Kyis NLD, as a reason for its coup. International observers said at the time the polls were largely free and fair. Burma Myanmar Junta Releases Some Political Prisoners in Independence Day Amnesty (Left to right) U Htin Lin Oo, Daw Than Myint Aung and Thura U Aung Ko Myanmars military regime has released the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) governments Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture, Thura U Aung Ko, philanthropist and writer Daw Than Myint Aung and ex-NLD information officer, writer U Htin Lin Oo, along with some detained journalists, as part of the juntas prisoner amnesty to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Myanmars independence from the UK. The junta announced on Wednesday that 7,021 prisoners were freed from jails across the country. It is not yet clear how many political prisoners were among those released. Family members said that former Brigadier General Thura U Aung Ko was released from Yangons Insein Prison on Tuesday night. The 75-year-old was arrested after the February 2021 coup and charged with alleged corruption. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with labor in March 2021. Relatives of Daw Than Myint Aung and U Htin Lin Oo were waiting at the gate of Insein Prison on Wednesday morning to welcome them. The pair were released Wednesday afternoon. Daw Than Myint Aung was a member of the Yangon City Development Committee during the NLDs time in power. She was arrested on the first day of the military takeover and sentenced to three years in prison for incitement. Former NLD information officer U Htin Lin Oo faced the same charge as Daw Than Myint Aung, and was also sentenced to three years by the Insein Prison Court. U Tun Kyi, the head of a political prisoners group, said that Thura U Aung Ko is known to be in poor health and that his release was a cynical ploy by the regime. The junta released the political prisoner hostages for its own political gain, said U Tun Kyi, referring to international pressure on the regime to free political prisoners. On Wednesday, Kyaw Zay Ya, the chief reporter of Mawkun Magazine, was released from Daik-U prison in Bago Region, but was then detained again by police for unknown reasons. Family members of other detained journalists were eagerly awaiting the release of their relatives. The husband of Thuzar, a journalist arrested in September 2021 and sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for spreading false news, said that she had been freed. I am now on my way to East Dagon Police Station to get her, said her husband Ko Ye Ko. Another journalist Sai Ko Ko Tun, a former reporter from the now defunct 7 Days News, was released from Dawei prison, too. As of Tuesday, some 16,862 people have been detained by the junta since the coup, of whom 3,463 have been released, according to the rights group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). The AAPPs joint secretary Ko Bo Kyi said that with many political prisoners still locked up, the regimes amnesty does not herald any meaningful changes for Myanmar. That will happen only when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Win Myint and all the other political prisoners are freed, he added. Both Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint were arrested on the first day of the coup. Former State Counselor Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison, while ousted President U Win Myint has been given 12 years by the regime. Burma Myanmar-Thailand Border Trade Almost at Halt as Junta Battles Karen Army Myawaddy border trade zone / The Irrawaddy Ongoing fighting along the Asian Highway between Kawkareik and Myawaddy townships in Karen State has almost brought Myanmars border trade with Thailand to a complete halt, according to merchants and cargo truck drivers. Junta troops have been fighting Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)-led resistance forces since last month, seriously disrupting trade via Karen States Myawaddy and Thailands Mae Sot, the major border trade route between Myanmar and Thailand. Some cargo trucks are still taking the risk of transporting goods along the route, but prices have increased as a result. Trucks are using forest paths, said a Yangon-Myawaddy cargo transportation service provider. Travellers also have to use forest paths. It has been around 20 days since the road section was inaccessible. Freight charges have increased as a result. Three bridges on the Asian Highway suffered damage in clashes last month. One merchant from a Myawaddy border town said: Yes, there has been fighting and the road is inaccessible. Some smaller vehicles travel by the old road and forest paths. Border trade via Myawaddy is also suffering from tight junta security checks along the route and rules including that the value of imports and exports must be equal. The regime also demands that 65 percent of export revenues be converted to kyat at the official exchange rate of 2,100 kyats per dollar. The market exchange rate is around 2,830 kyats per dollar. Cargo transport operators are charging higher rates due to the risks. The situation is getting worse as the road is completely inaccessible now, the merchant added. Junta forces have been conducting air and artillery strikes near the Asian Highway. A junta airstrike on Kaw Nwe Village in Kawkareik in the last week of December forced thousands of residents to flee their homes. Myanmar mainly exports rice, broken rice, rice powder, rubber and seasonal crops like pepper, while importing food, consumer goods, building materials, industrial raw materials, and machinery. Myawaddy border trade was worth US$1577.654 million from April 1 to December 23 last year, according to juntas Ministry of Commerce. War Against the Junta Myanmar Resistance Groups Claim 30 Junta and Militia Deaths Shwebo District People's Defense Force in Taze Township in August last year. / Myanmar Defense Force At least 30 Myanmar junta soldiers and pro-regime militia members were reportedly killed in Taze Township, Sagaing Region, on Tuesday when six resistance groups raided a regime camp at Sin Nge village on Tuesday, according to media reports. Shwebo District Peoples Defense Force and five other groups attacked the Pyu Saw Htee militia camp, according to Kaduma Platform, the resistance media wing. Around 50 troops and militia members had been stationed in the village for three months, looting homes and stealing food from nearby villages which have been deserted. After an hours fighting resistance forces occupy the camp and the enemy fled to a pro-regime village. A resistance fighter said they saw more than 30 bodies in Sin Nge and seized large amounts of weapons and ammunition. A resistance fighter was killed and another was injured in his face. At the same time resistance forces attacked another militia camp in Kokkar village and troops stationed at a fuel station in Taze town. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. On Tuesday evening junta troops from Division 33 and militia members stationed at two villages in the township reoccupied Sin Nge. On December 21 and Christmas Day, resistance fighters ambushed troops and militia members from Sin Nge while they were stealing rice from the paddy fields around Phalan Chaing and Sin Nge villages, said the Guerrilla Warfare group that joined the attack. Since the February 2021 coup, more than 3,500 houses in 83 Taze Township have been burned down by regime forces and 76 civilians have been killed, according to Taze News that monitors the regime. War Against the Junta Over 40 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed by Resistance Forces in Recent Days Troops of PDF-Kalay during an operation / PDF-Kalay At least 42 military regime forces including pro-regime militia members were killed in recent days as the Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) escalated their attacks on regime targets. In one case, a combined PDF group occupied a military camp in Sagaing Region. Incidents were reported in Sagaing, Magwe, Bago and Tanintharyi regions. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs. Some military casualties could not be independently verified. 30 regime forces killed in PDF raid in Sagaing At least 30 regime forces including pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed in Taze Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when four Shwebo District PDF battalions including local PDF groups raided a military camp at Sin Nge Village, according to local media reports citing the resistance groups. The PDF groups raided the military camp in the village at 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning. After an hourlong firefight, they managed to occupy the camp. Ammunition and at least 10 weapons were seized from the junta camp. Many regime forces abandoned the site and fled to a nearby pro-regime village, the media reported, quoting the PDF fighters. In the clash, a resistance fighter was killed and another suffered injuries to his face. Four junta soldiers killed by PDF land mines in Sagaing Peoples Defense Force (Kalay) claimed to have killed four regime troops and injured many others as they used four land mines to ambush a military detachment of 60 forces in Kale Township, Sagaing Region on Monday. The regime forces were ambushed while they were heading to the east of the township for raids. After the ambushes, regime forces randomly opened fire. Regime forces bombed in Sagaing Four regime forces including a captain were injured in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when local resistance group Daung Yarzar used mines to ambush eight regime forces including pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members in Chat Thin Village, said Kyunhla Activist Group, a media wing of local PDF groups. The regime forces were ambushed while they were going to a teashop for breakfast. Five regime forces killed in PDF drone strikes in Sagaing PDF drones drop bombs on regime targets in Shwebo Township last week. / C&T Shwebo Local PDF group C&T Shwebo on Tuesday claimed to have killed at least five regime forces including pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members and injured many others in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region in late December as it and another PDF group conducted 12 drone strikes on the regime forces. Regime forces stationed in Thelone Village were bombed while stealing paddy from rice fields owned by residents who have fled junta raids. The regime forces used looted agricultural machinery to steal the paddy. A PDF video shows drones dropping bombs on regime forces harvesting paddy fields. Military detachment ambushed in Sagaing Many regime forces including pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members are believed to have been killed and injured in Kani Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when three PDF groups ambushed a military detachment of 70 forces, said Anti-Dictatorship Revolution Peoples Army, which joined the attack. The military detachment was ambushed as they were transporting rations from the town of Kani to the pro-regime village of Alal Kyun using bullock carts. During the ambush, a military base in the town of Kani used 60-mm and 80-mm explosives to defend their ground troops from the PDFs ambush. However, there were no PDF casualties, the resistance group said. Junta-run immigration office bombed in Bago The junta-controlled immigration office was bombed by the Oakpho Underground Resistance Group in Oakpho Township, Bago Region, claimed Bago Region PDF. The attack, in which an immigration official was injured, was part of Operation Nann Htike Aung against regime targets. The PDF group claimed that the immigration office is notorious for extorting a lot of money from civilians. Regime camps bombed in Magwe At least three junta forces were killed and many others injured in Myaing Township, Magwe Region on Sunday night when five PDF groups conducted artillery strikes on junta forces and pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia groups in the pro-regime village of Thayatkan, said resistance group Wolf Guerrilla Force-Myaing, which coordinated the attack. They used seventy 100-mm and 80-mm improvised mortar rounds to bomb the village. In the attack, a junta vehicle was destroyed by the shelling. All PDF fighters retreated from the area despite regime forces responding with both heavy weapons and firearms. Military convoy ambushed in Tanintharyi Many regime forces are believed to have been killed or injured in Palaw Township, Tanintharyi Region on Monday when Palaw-Karen Peoples Defense Force used four land mines to ambush a military convoy of 10 vehicles near Tapo Village, claimed the PDF group. All resistance fighters retreated from the area without casualties despite regime forces randomly opening fire. Guest Column Myanmar Crisis Among Indonesias Challenges as ASEAN Chair Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as the ASEAN chairmanship is passed to Indonesia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh in November 2022. / AFP Over the course of 25 years of democratic transformation that followed the Suharto era, whenever Indonesia served as the ASEAN chair, new ideas and plans seemed to mushroom. The ASEAN Charter and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) are the latest examples of the ways in which Indonesia, the worlds third-largest democracy, has sought to shape the future of the regional organization, of which Jakarta is one of the founding fathers. In terms of the ASEAN-led principles and guidelines, ASEAN, under the helm of Indonesia, will, as in the past, aim to improve the organizations effectiveness and dynamism in managing its own affairs as well as external relations with all great powers. However, this time around, the new chair is facing new challenges caused by seismic shifts in geopolitics and geo-economics from within and abroad. During the handover ceremony in Phnom Penh in November, Indonesian President Joko Widodo made it crystal clear that he would promote the blocs relevancy and maintain Southeast Asias position as a hub of economic growth. That explains why Jakarta has come up with the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. Jakarta carefully selected the word Epicentrum to highlight the quintessential role of ASEAN, which the chair will initiate and undertake for the rest of the year. To pick up where the predecessor left off, the incoming chair has to manage a whole gamut of ASEAN cooperation issues in all three pillarspolitical/security, economic and social/culture, not to mention the nitty-gritty stuff that has made ASEAN what it is today. In the post-pandemic era, ASEAN needs stronger cooperation and commitment to recover from the negative economic impacts and increase the blocs resilience to counter whatever future shocks there may be. At the next ASEAN retreat scheduled for Feb. 3-4, Indonesia will outline the ASEAN agenda and priorities. Fresh from the success of the G20, the Indonesian presidents stature has gone up several notches. As such, Indonesias new global profile cannot afford to allow the ASEAN chair to be benign and non-productive. Some observations can be made beforehand as to what the new chair has in store. The chairs priorities can be identified as regional health and food security, energy transition, and digital transformation, all of which were highlighted throughout last year. Given the size of Indonesia, continued economic progress and non-disruptive production chains will be essential. Furthermore, today ASEAN is a non-threatening political and economic space, welcoming all development partners. Such a status quo must be maintained even if the competition among contesting powers will intensify by many folds. Of late, Indonesia has been bold in proposing new ideas at the High-Level Task Force for the ASEAN Post 2025 vision. At the Kuala Lumpur meeting in September, Jakarta proposed to change the way ASEAN leaders make decisions based on consensus to a majority vote of at least seven members. The idea caused quite a stir among the senior officials drafting the vision. There will be more proposals coming along as the consultative process continues. For Indonesias president, popularly known as Jokowi, the optics and stakes are high as the public this year will also be zeroing in on one important issuewho will succeed him in the 2024 presidential election? Contending parties will begin to search for presidential candidates for next years campaign. Therefore, Indonesia has to walk a tightrope to underline his continued leadership and maintain his political legacy vis-a-vis other matters that might rear their ugly heads. Beyond the inter-ASEAN related issues, and just as it did the outgoing chairs Brunei and Cambodia, various issues such as the Myanmar crisis, the South China Sea conflict, Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula, among others, will also be discussed. But the quagmire in Myanmar will continue to haunt the incoming chair. Given its geographical distance from the hotspot and its previous strong positions against the military junta in Naypyitaw, Jakarta will certainly adopt a more moderate position on the issue now that it occupies the chair. It does not mean that Indonesia will shy away from further engagement, but it will tackle the Myanmar crisis with prudence and in a different way from the previous two chairs. For instance, Jokowi will not visit Myanmar and meet with the junta leaders under any circumstances unless there is substantial progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC). For the past two years, ASEAN has been seeking to enforce its 5PC, which was agreed upon in April 2021. At that time, the blocs top priorities were an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of necessary humanitarian assistance. For the time being, these two objectives have made little progress due to the ongoing fighting in various parts of Myanmar. Overall, the war between the junta and the resistance forces, including the Peoples Defense Force (PDF), has intensified, as have the civilian casualties. Fighting among ethnic groups and with the central government has been ongoing since 1948 when Myanmar (then Burma) gained independence. Unless these stakeholders express a readiness to negotiate, it would be difficult for ASEAN process to proceed. They must hold a dialogue among themselves on their common future. As such, there could be some refocusing of the 5PC to kick off an inclusive political dialogue instead of treating the conflicts among various stakeholders as a zero-sum game. Indonesia hopes to seek indirect or direct engagement with every conflicting party. During the ASEAN summit, the leaders agreed that new approaches should be explored to resolve Myanmars crisis. But at the moment, high levels of civilian casualties cast a dark cloud over the idea of dialogue. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, to date, the regime has killed a total of 2,273 civilians and arrested more than 15,400. Civilian casualties have also been caused by the PDF, armed ethnic groups and local militias, but no organizations have kept any record. At all the past meetings between the ASEAN special envoys and the junta, officially known as the State Administration Council (SAC), this issue has been raised. Due to the juntas continued violence and brutality against its own people, no one is willing to listen. Recently, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to condemn the regime and called on the SAC to end the violence and release all political prisoners. Whatever Jakarta plans to do about Myanmar, it will need assistance from member countries that have been directly affected by the conflict. Thailand and Malaysia immediately come to mind. Thailand shares a common border of 2,401 km with Myanmar, which has not yet been demarcated. Thai authorities are nervous every time there are clashes among the numerous ethnic groups and against Naypyitaw, fearing an influx of villagers fleeing across the border. Meanwhile, each day a few hundred Myanmar villagers are smuggled through natural channels at various places. Local residents fleeing from Myanmars North and Northwest regions are congregating along the Thai-Myanmar border. At the February retreat, Bangkok will report the outcome of the Dec. 22 meeting for further deliberation. Malaysia is another country affected by the Myanmar crisis. More than 300,000 people from Myanmar are living in Malaysia, especially a large group of Muslim Rohingya, who have been discriminated against in Myanmar. During the dry season, hundreds of these refugees flee Myanmar and Bangladesh and risk their lives on the high seas to reach Malaysia. Constructive ways must be found to jumpstart inclusive political dialogues, especially issues concerning Myanmars election set for August. If the poll proceeds as planned, the outcome will not be recognized by the region or the international community. The junta cited electoral irregularity in November 2020 as one of the reasons for seizing power. It would take a collective decision to decide on the electoral process in order to gain recognition. From Jakartas perspective, the priority is to get all stakeholders together to begin a dialogue on issues of concern, but as the conflicting groups are using weapons at present to engage with one another, this is immensely challenging. Moving them to a negotiating table requires both goodwill and good faith from all concerned. For ASEAN, dialogue partners are as important as ever. For any future ceasefire and humanitarian assistance to be effective and sustainable, their cooperation is indispensable. It remains to be seen how the chair would like to approach the Myanmar crisis. The onus is on Indonesia as to whether the bloc, under the leadership of the biggest and most powerful ASEAN member, can make a breakthrough. Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs. This article first appeared in The Bangkok Post. Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High around 90F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Tonight Partly cloudy and windy. 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. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Amnesty International has applauded the Tanzanian governments decision to lift the blanket ban on political rallies in the country Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government, Wednesday condemned the incursion of the extremist Israeli minister of the Israeli occupation government of the Esplanade of the Mosques of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) under the protection of security forces in an attempt to change their historical and legal status A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Russia on Monday said more than 60 soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russian-controlled territory in a New Year assault, the biggest loss of life reported by Moscow so far. Kyiv took responsibility for the strike, which it said took place in the occupied city of Makiivka in eastern Ukraine on New Year's Eve. In a rare announcement that followed criticism by Russian military correspondents, the defence ministry in Moscow said 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 the Russian defence ministry 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. Earlier in the day, the strategic communications department of Ukraine's armed forces said nearly 400 Russian troops were killed in Makiivka. The general staff, which usually communicates on such incidents, did not confirm the figure and said the human "losses" were still being established. Russian war correspondents, who have gained influence in recent months, said hundreds could have been killed in the strike on a vocational school in Makiivka and accused Russia's top commanders of not learning from past mistakes. 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" had 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 Russian authorities of downplaying the death toll. "Dear God, who will believe in the figure of 63? The building has been completely destroyed," one Russian, Nina Vernykh, wrote on the country's largest social network, VKontakte. An announcement on the social network urged Russians to collect clothes, medicines and equipment for those who survived the strike. "Everything that the mobilised had on them remains under the rubble," said the announcement. Another announcement said that residents in four of the region's cities -- Samara, Tolyatti, Syzran and Novokuibyshevsk -- will gather on Tuesday to mourn the troops. - Explosion in Kyiv - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country's forces had shot down more than 80 drones since the start of 2023. "In the near future, this number may increase," he said. He also said it was paramount to increase "the cost of a new mobilisation and the war on the whole for the terrorist state". Russian strikes across Ukraine on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day killed at least five people and wounded dozens. Kyiv again came under fire from Iranian-made drones on Monday, although Ukrainian forces claimed the majority were shot down by air defences. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in northeastern Kyiv and said emergency services were dispatched. "An injured 19-year-old man was hospitalised in the Desnyanskyi district of the capital," he said. On Monday evening, Kharkiv region head Oleg Synegubov said Ukraine's second-largest city and the surrounding region had once again been attacked with Russian missiles. "Critical infrastructure has been targeted," he wrote. General Valery Zaluzhny, commander in chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, said the army had so far liberated "40 percent of the territories occupied after February 24". - 'Extreme hardship' - AFP journalists in Kramatorsk, the de facto administrative capital of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, reported four loud explosions on Monday evening. The Russian Defense Ministry said on social media Monday night that it had conducted strikes near the city and in the Kharkiv region, claiming to have killed "more than 70 foreign mercenaries." After suffering a series of humiliating battlefield defeats, Moscow began targeting electrical and other critical infrastructure in October. The strikes have caused sweeping blackouts and cut off water supplies and heating to civilians as the temperature in some regions dropped below freezing. The UN's human rights chief has warned the campaign has inflicted "extreme hardship" on Ukrainians and decried probable war crimes by Russian forces. Ukraine and the European Union will hold a summit in Kyiv on February 3 to discuss financial and military support, Zelensky's office said in a statement on Monday that followed a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The leaders discussed the supply of "appropriate" weapons and a new 18 billion euro ($19 billion) financial assistance programme to Ukraine, with Zelensky pushing for the first tranche to be sent this month, according to the statement. Nate Thayer, the larger-than-life American freelance journalist who scored a massive scoop with his 1997 interview with Pol Pot, the genocidal leader of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge, has died at 62, his family said Wednesday. Thayer was discovered dead by his brother Rob Thayer at his Falmouth, Massachusetts home Tuesday. "He had a lot of ailments, he was seriously ill for many months," the brother told AFP. Nate Thayer spent years reporting on Cambodian politics and society, including the Khmer Rouge, the brutal communist regime that left more than one million people dead between 1975 and 1979. Beginning in 1989, he worked for the Associated Press, and then publications like the Phnom Penh Post and the Far Eastern Economic Review, building contacts in the dangerous jungle border region of Thailand and Cambodia. With his shaven head, chewing tobacco and handiness with guns, he gained a reputation as a gonzo journalist, setting out on crazy adventures, like traveling with a well-armed reporting team from Soldier of Fortune magazine into eastern Cambodia in search of a likely extinct forest ox called a kouprey. In the wild west frontier of Thailand and Cambodia, he braved firefights and was severely injured by a landmine in 1989 while riding with Cambodian guerillas. His work paid off in 1997 when he sent a cryptic message to Far Eastern Economic Review editor Nayan Chanda that he would interview "uncle," or Pol Pot, whom no journalist had met for two decades. From Thailand Thayer slipped into Pol Pot's Anlong Veng jungle redoubt, beating out a New York Times team that had arrived near the border thinking they would see the shadowy Cambodian. Days later, he broke the story in the Far Eastern Economic Review. Pol Pot, blamed for murdering over a million people, told him: "Am I a savage person? My conscience is clear." Chanda attributed his journalistic success to a distinct "doggedness." "He was very intense, very focused on the story he was working on, almost like a force of nature," Chanda said. "He actually knew quite a few of the Khmer Rouge... Nobody else spent as much time pursuing those guys, going to dangerous places, being with them in a firefight," he added. A year later Thayer scooped others with Pol Pot's death and an interview with the one-legged Khmer Rouge army commander and Pol Pot rival Ta Mok. But by then he was embroiled in a fight with ABC News' "Nightline" program over its use of his video footage and reporting on the Khmer Rouge, which Thayer said violated their agreement. Thayer rejected a prestigious Peabody Award which cited him as a correspondent for "Nightline," and the two sides later settled his suit. The son of a former US ambassador to Singapore, Thayer spent most of his career focused on Asia, reporting from combat situations like the Myanmar border and investigating North Korea. He also traveled to Iraq to report on the 2003 US invasion. He won a number of journalism awards, including the ICIJ Award for Outstanding International Investigative Reporting, and was proud of being a freelancer, calling for more respect and better pay for reporters not employed full time. Phnom Penh Post founder and former publisher Michael Hayes praised Thayer's legacy. "Nate Thayer played an extremely critical role in getting the Phnom Penh Post off the ground and helping it become a respected newspaper," Hayes said. "He played a much more important role in bringing to the world's attention many painful insights into the nature of the Khmer Rouge, especially their genocidal leader Pol Pot." Slowed by the long-term ailments, some dating to his injuries from the mine explosion, in the past decade Thayer reported online on right-wing extremism from Washington and Massachusetts. With his health failing, he spent his final months posting poetic odes to his "best pal," his dog Lamont. ss-lpm/smw THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY In 2021, Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun and Park Ji Hu became the hottest sisters in the history of K-drama after they headlined the South Korean remake of "Little Women." During the broadcast of the series, "Little Women" dominated the Netflix Global Charts, creating huge buzz worldwide. With this, fans are curious whether there will be a new installment for the award-winning show. Read on to know more. Kim Go Eun Kim Go Eun recently returned to the silver screen with the historical film "Hero" last December 21 with Ahn Jung Eun. It tells the story of the resistance of the South Korean independence activist who killed Ito Hirobumi, the Prime Minister of Japan. In the series, Kim Go Eun took on the role of an Independence Army informant, and showed off her fantastic acting filled with emotions. Kim Go Eun is currently preparing for another film with Lee Do Hyun, entitled "The Unearthed Grave," which focuses on a shaman's life as a dead body collector. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Go Eun & BTS V Dating? Speculations Arise Because of THIS The film will hit the screen in the first quarter of 2023 so stay tuned for more updates! Nam Ji Hyun "Little Women" marks Nam Ji Hyun's latest work and up until this writing, there is no news of her return to prime time yet. If you want to see more of her, you can check out Netflix dramas "The Witch's Diner" and "100 Days My Prince"! Park Ji Hu Before joining the Oh sisters in "Little Women," Park Ji Hu fought the zombies in the apocalyptic series "All of Us Are Dead." For occult fans, the Netflix series returns with a new installment as it was green-lit in early December last year. In addition to that, Park Ji Hu is also gearing up for another high-scale work called "Concrete Utopia," a disaster film starring veteran stars Lee Byung Hun and Park Bo Young. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THIS: Park Ji Hu Fashion: Trendy Pieces To Hop in the Gen-Z Style Like 'Little Women' Star Like the second season of the zombie apocalypse-centered series, the disaster film is also slated to air in the early part of 2023. As for their reunification as Oh sisters, Kim Hee Won and Jung Seo Kyung, who directed and wrote the drama, haven't hinted at any intention to release a new season yet. However, a second season for the widely acclaimed series is not far-fetched, and Netflix might give the go signal for the production soon. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says he wants to see more competition within Canada's airspace in order to make flying more affordable for people.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward British Columbia's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. British Columbia is boosting funding for the Human Rights Tribunal and Community Legal Assistance Society by as much as $4.5 million per year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld The story of the Christmas Tree Ship is a beloved tale of Wisconsin history. The three-masted schooner was named Rouse Simmons, after a Kenosha merchant. Rouse was the brother of mattress magnate Zalmon Simmons. In 1912, the ship Rouse Simmons, with Capt. Herman E. Schuenemann at the helm, left the Michigan coast with a load of Christmas trees bound for the Chicago harbor when it was caught in a terrible snow squall. At that time, the schooner was 44 years old, long past its peak sailing days. It sank in Lake Michigan off the coast of Two Rivers, Wis. on Nov. 23, 1912, with all aboard. But there is more of a Kenosha and Kenosha County connection to the ship besides the Rouse Simmons name. The Rouse Simmons was built in 1868 by Allan McClelland and Co. in Milwaukee and a Kenosha resident, Capt. Alfred Ackerman, was superintendent at the shipyard during the time it was built. According to his obituary, Ackerman had a part in the building of many of the historic vessels on Lake Michigan, including the last vessel he worked on, the Rouse Simmons. A mariner family The Ackerman family hailed from Jefferson County, in upper New York on the shore of Lake Ontario. Alfred and his twin brother, Albert, took very different occupational paths. Albert became a farmer, eventually ended up in Blue Earth, Minn., farming, while Alfred followed his heart on the inland waters. Alfred joined the crew of the ship Rainbow at age 14 and began his sailing career the Great Lakes. He served on the ships Whig and Dexter. In 1844, before he was 19, he piloted the schooner Herald. For years he sailed between Sackett Harbor, N.Y., and the ports on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Some of the large Ackerman family came to Kenosha after Alfreds father, John W., died in 1855. Alfred, at age 34, was listed in the 1860 census with his wife Jane, 21, and 2 year-old son, Edwin. Also living in their home was Alfreds brother, Theodore, 28, and mother Irene, 70. Both Alfred and Theodore list their occupations as schooner captains, presumably sailing out of the Kenosha harbor. Years later, Theodores son John also took up the life of a sailor. Heading west Alfred sailed the Great Lakes for more than 25 years when, at the age of 40 in 1865, he decided to escape the growing city of Kenosha for the western reaches of the county. He moved his wife and four children Harriet, Edwin, Alfred, Jr., and Ada to a farmhouse in Randall Township in what is now the Village of Twin Lakes. The long strip of farmland of 149 acres they purchased had waterfront property on Lake Elisabeth. (At that time, the larger of the Twin Lakes to the south was name Lake Mary. The two lakes switched names in the 1880s.) Thats where the Federal Census found them in 1870, Alfred still claiming his occupation as sailor. He built a modest cabin on the lakefront, but a few years later, realizing the potential of owning a resort, he built the Ackerman Hotel in 1874. This was the first hotel in the western part of Kenosha County. It was four stories and could hold nearly 200 guests, a massive establishment. His hotel became a magnet for influential men of Milwaukee and Chicago and reminisces flowed in the hotel lounge of the history of early Chicago, Kenosha and Milwaukee. He later added a restaurant, tavern, ice cream parlor, bath house, and a dance pavilion that was later converted to a bowling alley. During the winter, they cut ice on the lake and stored it in an ice house next to the waterfront to use all summer long. Ever the mariner, Capt. Ackerman took the wheel of his steamboat to host cruises on Lake Mary. He built more cabins and hotel additions and the place thrived for about 30 years. But Ackerman was into his 80s now. He retired in 1905, handing off the operation to his son, Alfred L., but they couldnt keep the place running. Several years later William Schwardt bought the hotel from the Ackermans. Schwardt flipped it, but the name remained. The Ackerman Hotel was a fixture in Twin Lakes into the 1950s and the building was nearly 100 years old when it burned in October of 1965. As for the good captain, it wasnt long before he sailed to his last port. When Capt. Ackerman died on Dec. 2, 1913, at the age of 88 of hardening of the arteries, it was front page news in the Kenosha Evening News. The paper reported the captain took great pride in the Rouse Simmons and he was heart broken when it went to the bottom of the lake one year and 10 days before he died. The brother of a young Laois woman who went missing 29 years ago this week, has said the family believe that several people are withholding vital information that could lead to her discovery. Imelda Keenan from Manor Road, Mountmellick was aged 22 when she went missing on January 3 1994 after leaving her flat in William Street, Waterford which she shared with her boyfriend. Despite extensive searches and a Garda investigation that remains unsolved, Imelda has never been found. Her family had a plaque erected on a bridge in Waterford, and each year on her birthday they gather there to remember Imelda. Below: Imelda's sister-in-law Cheryl and brother Gerry at her plaque. Imelda would reach 52 years of age this March 24. Speaking to local radio in Waterford, her brother Gerry Keenan says he believes someone knows something. "There are two or three people in Waterford who are holding back vital information. It's hurting us so badly, it has really taken its toll. We don't think anything bad happened to her, we don't think this was suicide or that she is in the river, the Keenan family thinks they have found that there are two or three people who are keeping information." Missing Persons Helpline Ireland has urged anyone with information, to again come forward. "Today we remember Imelda Keenan originally from Mountmellick, Co. Laois, who disappeared on 3 January 1994. Aged 22 at the time, the last confirmed sighting of her was crossing the road on Lombard Street, Waterford at 1:30 P.M. She has not been seen since. "Her brother Gerry has worked tirelessly to find out what happened to Imelda but says they still don't have the answers they desperately want. On Imelda's 50th birthday which was during the Covid pandemic, Gerry spoke to the Leinster Express about the family's anguish and ongoing faint hopes. I cant believe she would be 50, she was the youngest girl in our family. I imagine what she would be like as a mother. We have seen a lot of birthday parties, Christmasses and funerals without her. The pain never goes away, our family is in turmoil. We still believe there is light at the end, that there might be life there still. I cant give up unless there is concrete evidence that Imelda is deceased. I feel for people who havent seen their family in 12 months because of Covid, but we are in lockdown for the past 27 years, he said. Their parents Florence and Liz, and Imelda's brothers Ned and Donal have all passed on without knowing of Imeldas whereabouts. Gerry lives in Waterford and it was he who brought Imelda there to live. She was doing an Anco computer course and living with her boyfriend Mark Wall on William Street. She loved it in Waterdord, loved being so near the seaside. She was quiet and very shy. When Mark reported her missing, our world fell around us. Not an hour goes by in the day that I dont think of her. Four or five times a week I stand on that bridge where we put a little plaque up for her. No one is accusing anyone, we are not looking for revenge. We are looking for closure, even if we found a shallow grave, we could take her bones and give her a christian burial beside our mother and father. Our own mother prayed for her all those years and went to her grave with a broken heart, Gerry said. "If you have any information which might help in bringing this family's pain to an end, please contact the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. You can also call the National Missing Persons "Help bring them home" line 1800 911 999 - a Confidential service where you can leave a message with details which will be passed to the investigating team." Imelda is 5ft 4in, of slim build with brown hair and blue eyes. When she was last seen, she was wearing a white jumper, leopardskin ski pants, blue denim jacket and black shoes. Tesco are the owners of the old mart site in Kilkenny, a submission to Kilkenny County Council has confirmed. The submission was prepared on behalf of Tesco Ireland Limited by RMLA Limited, in response to Kilkenny County Councils Draft Residential Zoned Land Tax Map. RMLA Limited, acting on behalf of Tesco, state that their client is not liable for a new tax earmarked for the site under the Draft Residential Zoned Land Tax Map. The old mart site extends to approximately 8.57ac (3.47 ha) and has the benefit of approximately 530 meters of road frontage onto New Road, Castlecomer Road and Old Mart Road. The surrounding area is primarily made up of a mixture of residential and commercial development with both the IMC Cinema and MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre located nearby. The submission on behalf of Tesco also notes that 'any future residential development of these lands would also be dependent on understanding the appropriate infrastructure which will be determined in the Masterplan which has yet to be prepared'. "We respectfully request that the local authority take into account the content of this submission and we look forward to receiving confirmation that the lands are removed from the Residential Zoned Land Tax Map," read the statement from RMLA Limited, acting on behalf of Tesco. Kilkenny Live have reached out to Tesco Ireland for further comment. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday ordered the establishment of new drone troops and the development of stealth drones by the end of the year, Yonhap reported, citing a senior press secretary at the presidential office. Yoon also said he will consider suspending a 2018 inter-Korean military pact if the Democratic People's Republic of Korea violates its airspace again, the press secretary added. The Cabinet is to be updated on the pressures hospitals are facing after the Health Minister warned that the situation is likely to get worse in the coming weeks. Nurses union the INMO counted a record high of 931 people waiting on hospital trolleys on Tuesday, with 767 waiting for a bed in emergency departments (EDs). The trolley count had fallen to 838 people on Wednesday. After visiting two hospital EDs in Dublin on Tuesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was unacceptable that some people are sleeping on floors and waiting in chairs for a bed. He said he would be updating the Cabinet, and meeting with senior HSE officials on Friday. Mr Donnelly said that despite unprecedented permanent investment in the healthcare sector including 950 extra hospital beds, extra ICU capacity and community beds, and thousands of additional staff a perfect storm of factors has used these additional resources. Infection prevention control measures around Covid has used up beds, and a huge wave of RSV is now in decline, but Mr Donnelly said they want to see it continue to fall further. Speaking outside Beaumont Hospital on Tuesday night, Mr Donnelly said: But what Im hearing this week, what I was hearing last week, and what Im hearing here today and then in Vincents today, is that the flu wave is very severe, its hit earlier than it normally would. No hospital is unaffected by overcrowding today with patients on trolleys or chairs in each of our hospitals. Nurses cannot continue to weather this storm without adequate support and protection from their employer. Government must treat this like the crisis it is. pic.twitter.com/rKtp5RHV3n Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) January 4, 2023 In spite of unprecedented additional public capacity we put in, and we will continue to add that, this perfect storm of Covid, RSV, the flu, unfortunately has put pressure on us here in Ireland, in the UK as well. Mr Donnelly said the pressure on hospitals is likely to get worse as the HSE does not believe that the flu wave has yet peaked. He said: Well have more up-to-date figures tomorrow and the following day, well have live indicative figures for this week in two days time that will really help us understand where were at with Covid, where were at with the flu. He said the use of all available private capacity private hospitals, private diagnostics as well as home care support, and additional hours by GPs are being provided. He said that discharge options to community nursing units and home support beds are also being considered. The HSE has asked those who need medical care or assessment to consider all options before going to an A&E during what it said will be the busiest ever period experienced by the health service. Top-up your immunity with the COVID-19 and flu vaccines to make sure you're protected in the months ahead. If you are pregnant, book an appointment to receive your COVID-19 and flu vaccines: https://t.co/InLljQZKY2#FluVaccine | #COVIDVaccine pic.twitter.com/2Ev9VLbEOw HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 4, 2023 Chief medical officer Professor Breda Smyth has also urged parents to keep children home from school and childcare facilities if they have new respiratory symptoms, ahead of schools returning this week. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said nurses were treating patients in inhumane and often unsafe conditions and called on a mask mandate to be introduced in congregated settings. But Mr Donnelly said that Prof Smyth had not advised that such a mandatory mask rule was required. The public health advice to Government, to me at the moment, it is not a move to mask mandates, but obviously we will keep the situation under review on a daily and on a weekly basis, he said. The Cabinet is due to meet at 11am on Wednesday. Irish Water, in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, wish to remind customers supplied by Clogh-Castlecomer Public Water Supply that a Boil Water Notice remains in place to protect the health of approximately 3,300 customers. This is necessary due to increased turbidity impacting the treatment processes at the water treatment plant. Areas impacted include Clogh, Moneenroe, Castlecomer and surrounding areas. Customers can check if their property is included by visiting our Water Quality page and entering the propertys Eircode or by calling the Irish Water customer care helpline, open 24/7, on 1800 278 278. A map of the area is attached and available to view on the supply and service section of our website. Drinking water experts from Irish Water and Kilkenny County Council are working to rectify the turbidity issues at the treatment plant and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, in consultation with the HSE. In the meantime, all customers on this supply are advised to continue to boil water before use until further notice. Irish Waters, James OToole said, Public health is Irish Waters number one priority and I again want to acknowledge the inconvenience that these Boil Water Notices are causing to the local community. While we continue working to resolve the issue and lift the notice as quickly and as safely as possible, it is unlikely that we will be able to do so before Christmas. We will however continue to provide regular updates to the community as we work to address these issues. Irish Waters drinking water standards, as per EU Drinking Water regulations, are strict and include wide safety margins. Where risks to water quality are identified through Irish Waters enhanced testing and monitoring programme, the Health Service Executive (HSE) are consulted and Boil Water Notices are issued to protect public health. In all instances immediate action is taken to address the cause of the issue to enable the lifting of the notice as quickly as it safe to do so, in agreement with the HSE. Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water receive direct communication on Boil Water Notices. Customers are reminded that the water is safe to consume once boiled. Water must be boiled for: Drinking; Drinks made with water; Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating; Brushing of teeth; Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water. For further information please contact Irish Water web site www.water.ie What actions should be taken: Use water prepared for drinking when preparing foods that will not be cooked (e.g. washing salads); Water can be used for personal hygiene, bathing and flushing of toilets but not for brushing teeth or gargling; Boil water by bringing to a vigorous, rolling boil (e.g. with an automatic kettle) and allow to cool. Cover and store in a refrigerator or cold place. Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic water filters will not render water safe to drink; Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure that they do not swallow the bathing water; Preparing Infant Formula: Where a Boil Water Notice is in place, you can prepare infant formula from tap water that has been boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute) and cooled beforehand. Bottled water can also be used to make up infant formula. All bottled water, with the exception of natural mineral water, is regulated to the same standard as drinking water. It is best not to use bottled water labelled as Natural Mineral Water as it can have high levels of sodium (salt) and other minerals, although it rarely does. Natural Mineral Water can be used if no other water is available, for as short a time as possible, as it is important to keep babies hydrated. If bottled water is used to make up infant formula it should be boiled once (rolling boil for 1 minute), and cooled in the normal way. Ready-to-use formula that does not need added water can also be used. Great care should be taken with boiled water to avoid burns and scalds as accidents can easily happen, especially with children. Updates are available on Irish Water's Supply and Service Updates section, on Twitter @IWCare and via Irish Water's customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. A stinger device was used on a car which had crossed the border into Northern Ireland after it had refused to stop for police in Donegal Five teenagers have been arrested following the incident which occurred shortly after midnight on Wednesday. A white Toyota Aqua failed to stop for gardai in the Lifford Bridge area before driving off towards Strabane, Co Tyrone. The PSNI observed the car heading towards Newtownstewart where it failed to stop for police again. A stinger device, which is used to deflate tyres, was deployed and the vehicle was stopped on Beltany Road in Omagh. The driver, aged 16, was arrested on suspicion of driving-related offences, including aggravated vehicle taking causing damage to the vehicle, driving when unfit through drink or drugs, dangerous driving, going equipped for theft, and driving without a licence. The four teenage passengers, aged between 15 and 18 years old, were arrested on suspicion of offences including going equipped for theft. All five teenagers remain in custody at this time. PSNI Inspector Kyle Rowntree said: These arrests are as a result of good work of local officers in Strabane and tactical support group colleagues. As enquiries continue, and as we liaise with An Garda Siochana, were appealing to anyone who captured dash cam footage of a white Toyota Aqua, from around midnight, being driven between Lifford Bridge and Beltany Road in Omagh to call 101 and quote reference number 13 of 04/01/23. Students from Kilkenny City Vocational School successfully completed their Safe Pass training with the Construction Industry Federation and SOLAS before Christmas. Safe Pass is the national mandatory safety training for the construction industry and students from the college undertook the training as part of their transition year and senior cycle programmes. Dermot Carey, Director, Safety & Training at CIF congratulated the students and wished them well over the coming year. Congratulations to the students of Kilkenny City Vocational School on completing their Safe Pass training. Ms Purcell and the school must be commended for giving their students every opportunity to develop their skills and their career options. Students from Kilkenny and across Ireland are undertaking Safe Pass training with Construction Industry Federation as part of Transition Year, Leaving Cert and Leaving Cert Applied courses in schools this year. The initiative is part of the CIFs Careers Campaign to support students interested in a career in the construction industry According to Jane Purcell, a teacher with Kilkenny City Vocational School, who coordinated the training: The students really enjoyed the day. Our trainer was patient and kind with our students, and we really appreciated his time with us. Across Ireland from civil engineers, architects, site managers to work experience labourers, Safe Pass is what we all have in common and it is the gateway to some great career options for the future. I hope Kilkenny City Vocational School enjoyed the training and learned a lot, said Dermot Carey, Construction Industry Federation."" The attacks occurred on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019: official figures state that these resulted in the deaths of 269 people, plus the eight suicide bombers involved. by A.G. Rousselle The Voice of Khorasan, a magazine by the media outlet for the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), recently published a brief bio of and a statement by Shaykh Shaheed Abu Ubaitha, the alleged mastermind of the 2019 attacks in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The profile was titled Shaykh Abu Ubaitha: the Amir of the Istishadi Knights Who Wreaked Havoc on the Crusaders in Srilanka (sic.). The attacks occurred on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019: official figures state that these resulted in the deaths of 269 people, plus the eight suicide bombers involved. The Islamic States Amaq News Agency released this photo of two jihadists killed during a security raid in Sri Lanka. [ File Photo] The article claims that Ubaitha was born and raised in Kattankudy (Kaathankudi), a township on Sri Lankas east coast. It includes few personal details on him, stating he had immense love for jihad and zeal for the Ummah (Islamic community) from his childhood, as he bore enmity towards the kuffar (infidels) and mushrikin (polytheists). It also claims that sometime prior to the attack, Ubaitha and 800 other individuals pledged their allegiance to former Islamic State (IS) Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It states that Ubaithas 2019 attacks killed 650 Christians and mushrikin and 22 Mujihideen (who were) martyred. It also claims that the attackers left a message to the world in their own blood, that states Allah willing, the Khilifah will be raised through our blood that has flown from our bodies and fallen on this earth. Ubaitha is quoted directly in reference to the attacks. If you ask us why we did these attacks, there is a village named Baghuz in Sham (Syria). This land was governed by the law of Allah only. Over 80 crusader countries destroyed this area and its people. They showered white phosphorus bombs, which has (sic.) been banned by the crusader countries [themselves]. After killing our people, making our children orphans, making our sisters widows, and after killing the mujahedeen they (the crusaders) come here for tourism and holidays. So we have embarked on a noble cause to kill them by sacrificing our lives! In his lengthy statement, Ubaitha also addresses future potential targets, stating Do not think you can negotiate. There will be explosions here and there. This is [just] the beginning! The statement also mentions the March 2019 Christchurch Mosque shooting in New Zealand as justification for attacks on Churches in Colombo. Other than the brief bio and photos provided in this recent publication, practically nothing is known of Shaykh Shaheed Abu Ubaitha. One of the known attackers named Mohammad Cassim Mohammad Zahran (aka Zahra Hashmi) came from Ubaithas reported hometown of Kattankudy. A suspected ringleader in the attacks, he was killed in a suicide explosion at the Shangri-la hotel in Colombo in 2019. It is possible that Shaykh Shaheed Abu Ubaitha may have been another of Zahrans nom de guerres. According to Sri Lankan officials, the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in Colombo were perpetrated by the National Thoweeth Jamaath (NTJ). Translated from Arabic as the National Monotheism Organization, the NTJ is believed to have ties to IS: it and one of its suspected splinter groups were banned by the Sri Lankan parliament on April 27, 2019, shortly after the attacks. Although now-former Sri Lankan Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene has claimed that the attacks came in response to the March 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings, this has been disputed by some experts. If true, this latest statement from the ISKP would corroborate the Sri Lankan governments official narrative on the matter. Source: Militant Wire A.G. Rousselle is an author and editor with a background in geopolitics and political economy. Netanyahu has extensive networking with American elites and he wont hesitate to leverage it if Israeli interests are at stake. by M. K. Bhadrakumar In his second coming as Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has hit the ground running. The international climate in which he skilfully operated for close to 15 years in two stints as prime minister has changed beyond recognition. Netanyahus foreign policy legacy has become listless principally, the Abraham Accords and Israels hugely consequential relationship with Russia, both of which significantly impacted the tough neighbourhood in which he successfully navigated Israels core interests. Vladimir Putin met in Sochi with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Russia on a short working visit on August 2017 [ File Photo: Kremlin] For sure, breathing new life into the above two vectors Abraham Accords (Israel- Saudi ties) and Israels relations with Russia will remain top priorities for Netanyahu. While Israel-Saudi relations impact regional security, Israels relations with Russia will have far-reaching consequences for Israels security. That is for three reasons. First, Putin is at war with the US and the Western world who are Israels traditional allies. But Netanyahu is anything but a one-dimensional man. Trust him to turn challenges into new opportunities. Second, recapturing the verve in the relationship with Moscow has a great deal of collateral significance. Russia has become a full-fledged West Asian actor today and, arguably, in certain ways makes a more effective regional partner for Israel than the US. The US retrenchment is plain to see and the ensuing decline of its capacity to leverage allies such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE or Egypt hits Israeli interests. Third, during these 18 months that Netanyahu was out of office, Russia and Iran have turned around their difficult relationship into a quasi-alliance, thanks to western sanctions against Moscow. Netanyahu senses the folly of the West trying to erase Russia. The media is discussing a possible deal between Moscow and Tehran over Russias Su-35 Super Flanker multi-role 4+ generation fighter jets. What lends an intriguing touch is that the deepening military ties between them coincide with Tehrans intention to expand its uranium enrichment program. Iran reportedly reached 60% enrichment of uranium at its Fordow enrichment plant and has reportedly informed the IAEA that it had started to enrich uranium at the higher levels. Then, there is the Syrian sub-plot where Israel continues to operate in that countrys air space, which Russia controls, largely due to the secret understanding between Netanyahu and Putin whereby Moscow acquiesced with Israeli activities to contain Iran and its militia groups and squash its attempt to turn Syria into yet another resistance front like Lebanon or Gaza. However, it is the Ukraine war that has dramatically uplifted Russia-Iran strategic ties. Netanyahu realises that the fledgling Russo-Iranian quasi-alliance can be tackled if the Russian dependency on Iranian military technology is rolled back. That ultimately requires that the Ukraine war should be brought to an end sooner rather than later and also an easing of western sanctions. Most certainly, the war should not be allowed to run its current indeterminate course. This is precisely where Netanyahu can be expected to concentrate his formidable diplomatic skill. The signs are there already. Soon after taking over as the new foreign minister in Netanyahus cabinet, on Monday, Eli Cohen stated that he was planning to have a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on January 3. The manner in which way Cohen framed this disarmingly simple proposition during his inaugural speech (which was broadcast live by Israeli Foreign Ministrys press service) needs to be carefully noted: Tomorrow, I am supposed to talk with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and later on with other European ministers. Earlier, in a recent speech, Cohen hinted that on the issue of Russia and Ukraine, Netanyahu government will be discreet in its public utterances, pointing toward a major course correction toward engaging Russia. The outgoing Israeli PM Yair Lapid had condemned Russia publicly. Since the Russian operation in Ukraine began on February 24, Lapid as FM never once spoke with Lavrov or with Putin, while officiating as interim PM. However, even under Lapid, Israels pro-Kiev policies did not go far beyond rhetoric. The Israeli ambassador to Kiev, Michael Brodsky told Washington Post recently that Israels relations with Russia are creating limits that cannot be overcome. Brodsky added that Israel is aware of the frustration of some Ukrainian Jews, but no government in Israel is going to jeopardise this interest [with Russia] for anybody else, including the Ukrainians. Brodsky also noted that Israels situation is fragile, as it is not part of NATO, and most Ukrainian Jews understand that Israel is in a tough position. For Israel, Russia is not like any country. Russian-speakers constitute 15% of Israels population. It is an influential constituency in Israeli domestic politics and has kinship with the Jewish population in Russia. Russian investment in Israel is rather substantial and it is an open secret that Russias oligarchs viewed Israel as a home away from home. Truly, the umbilical chords that tie Russian culture and history with Jerusalem cannot easily be ruptured. Only last week, Moscow reiterated its demand to reclaim Russian assets in Israel. Former prime minister Sergei Stepashin who handles the issue announced in Moscow that Russia will submit a claim to Israeli court for the Church of Mary Magdalene, Chapel of the Ascension, and the Viri Galilaei Church! Putin has also demanded an end to the litigation preventing the transfer of Alexander Nevsky Church in the Old City, after commitments made by Benjamin Netanyahu during a previous term as prime minister. Conceivably, such demands are part of internal Russian politics as well. The Kremlin feels elated that Netanyahu is back in the diplomatic circuit. What is most gratifying will be that unlike the previous Israeli set-up, Netanyahu will not passively accept a subaltern role in the US-Israeli partnership. Netanyahu has extensive networking with American elites and he wont hesitate to leverage it if Israeli interests are at stake. And, without doubt, Israel is a stakeholder in the Ukraine crisis and Israeli interests are well served by creating space for peace talks to commence between Moscow and Kiev. Netanyahu has Putins ears and can play a role for the Biden Administration, too, like no other western leader can perform today. On the other hand, Irans nuclear programme is turning into a fuming volcano and a point may come very soon when Netanyahu will be compelled to act. And that could happen in the 2024 election year, something that the Biden Administration can ill-afford to see happening. Suffice it to say, the Ukraine conflict and Irans bomb are joined at the hips, as it were. Putin said in a message to Netanyahu on Thursday, In Russia, we greatly appreciate your personal and longstanding contribution to strengthening friendly relations between our countries. Russias foreign ministry said it was ready for constructive cooperation with Israel to clear up the climate in the Middle East and the international scene in general. On December 22, Putin called Netanyahu to congratulate him on his election victory and the establishment of a new government, while Netanyahus office disclosed in a statement that the conversation mainly revolved around the conflict in Ukraine. Netanyahu told Putin he hopes a resolution to end hostilities will be found as soon as possible, and the consequent suffering. Netanyahu also told Putin that he is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Tehrans attempts to establish military presence in Lebanon and Syria along Israels northern border. To be sure, Putin is all ears and eyes for Netanyahu. The point is, Moscow gains if diplomacy reappears on the wasteland of Ukraine issue. Certainly, it is far from the case that Russia is enjoying the destruction of Ukraine or the sorrows of the fraternal people. Source: India Punchline M. K. Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat by profession. Roughly half of the 3 decades of his diplomatic career was devoted to assignments on the territories of the former Soviet Union and to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Other overseas postings included South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey. He writes mainly on Indian foreign policy and the affairs of the Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Riz Khan, President of the Little Angels Foundation, converted his home into a community kitchen for the homeless. Khan has served 150,000 hot meals. In a vlog, ASTRO Cha Eun Woo described the visuals of his biological younger brother. Is he handsome as the "Face Genius" idol? Find out what the celebrity said below! ASTRO Cha Eun Woo Describes Younger Brother Cha Eun Woo mentioned his real younger brother's visuals. On January 2, the ASTRO member uploaded a new vlog on his personal YouTube channel, CHAEUNWOO. The video was particularly taken behind the scenes of his appearance in the 2022 film, "Decibel." Cha Eun Woo, who played the role of Jeon Tae Ryeong, showed his hair being cut short for the first time. In "Decibel," he made an appearance as a Naval Submarine acoustic detection officer, the younger brother of Jeon Tae Seong, portrayed by Lee Jong Suk. There, Cha Eun Woo said: "I'm trying to have short hair for the first time for a movie. If it gets shorter, can I wash my hair while washing my face? It would be convenient." While having his hair cut, Cha Eun Woo also drew laughter as he expressed regret. "Is my back hair getting shorter? It shouldn't be cute. (Jeon Tae Ryeong) is a soldier." As the vlog went on, Cha Eun Woo then drew more attention after mentioning his younger brother. The idol described his sibling's appearance, saying: "Having my hair cut short like this, do you know who I see in the mirror?" The hairdresser guessed: "Your dad?" Cha Eun Woo then responded: "My younger brother. Dong Hwi and I looked exactly the same, and he still has short hair. It's been almost a decade since my debut, and I cut my hair short like this for the first time." After seeing the vlog, fans became more curious about Cha Eun Woo's younger brother's appearance. Although a lot of Dong Hwi's supposed photos are online, no one actually knows his actual appearance. But with Cha Eun Woo's description, fans are visualizing that his younger brother's appearance would probably look just like Jeon Tae Ryeong in "Decibel"! Know More About Lee Dong Hwi, ASTRO Cha Eun Woo's Younger Brother Despite his busy schedule, Cha Eun Woo is a family-oriented person. He would always find time to spend with his parents and younger brother, such as watching his own film together with them. But to protect them from the limelight, Cha Eun Woo never shared a photo of him with his family, leaving their faces an imagination only to fans. Nevertheless, the male idol would describe them from time to time, especially his brother's identity to satisfy fans' curiosity. According to Cha Eun Woo, his younger brother's name is Lee Dong Hwi, born in 1999. He's the same age as ASTRO Rocky, and he entered the military along with EXO D.O. He studies in China, majoring in journalism and broadcasting. When asked if Lee Dong Hwi is handsome, Cha Eun Woo described him as "cute, more talented (than him) and has a face smaller (than him)." Rocky, who met Dong Hwi in real-life, also described him as, "shockingly attractive, has a handsome face smaller than Eun Woo, has a beautiful nose and is taller than his brother." READ MORE: Korean Idols Siblings with Stunning Visuals For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. New Delhi [India], January 4 (ANI/PNN): Direct Mutual Funds officially completed ten years of existence on January 1, 2023, allowing Indian investors to earn 1 per cent more than regular funds by saving on commissions. To mark this occasion, ET Money, one of India's largest wealth tech platforms that helps Indians manage more than Rs 30,000 crores of mutual fund investments, has released a study that shows this landmark reform's impact on investors' wealth. The study indicates that Indian investors who opted for direct mutual funds in the last 10 years have collectively earned thousands of crores in extra returns. The results are based on the analysis of return differences between direct and regular plans for both SIP and lumpsum Investments for key Equity, Debt, and Hybrid categories. Also Read | UK: British-Indian Man Attacks Son-in-Law With Meat Cleaver After Quarrel Over Trip to India; Arrested. The study found that, on average, a Rs 10,000 SIP in Direct Equity Funds started a decade ago resulted in a corpus of Rs 28.1 lakhs against Rs 26.6 lakhs in regular plans, thereby earning an extra Rs 1.5 lakhs. A lumpsum investment of Rs 5 lakh at the same time delivered an average of Rs 21 lakhs in regular, whereas Rs 23.09 lakhs in direct plans, earning an extra Rs 2.09 Lakhs or 10 per cent extra returns. The funds in the Hybrid and Debt categories, too, created an excess wealth of 6 per cent and 3 per cent for SIP and 11 per cent and 6 per cent for lumpsum investments. Also Read | Delhi: Jilted Lover Stabs Girl in Adarsh Nagar, Arrested; Stabbing Caught on CCTV Video. The impact of these excess returns has resulted in over Rs 183 crores of extra wealth for investors on ET Money alone in 4.5 years since it started offering Direct Mutual Funds on its platform. And with around Rs 18,16,920 crores (45 per cent of the Indian Mutual Fund industry's AUM) in Direct Plans, the total money saved on commissions and thus added to the returns of Indian investors would have been 1000s of crores. As per ET Money, the top 5 AMCs in terms of extra wealth created on its platform are - Axis Mutual Fund, Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, Quant Mutual Fund, Kotak Mutual Fund, and ICICI PrudentialMutualFund. On completion of this industry milestone, Mukesh Kalra, Founder & CEO of ET Money, said, "Direct plans remove the bias of commission and its introduction has been the single most effective initiative to curtail miss-selling in the MF industry. We feel privileged to be one of the first platforms to help Indians access direct investment plans at scale. Through the use of powerful decision-making tools and hyper-personalized investments via Genius, we aim to significantly enhance the wealth-creation journeys of our users by compounding returns and increasing additional returns from Rs 183 crores to at least Rs 1,000 crores over the next 5 years." ET Money started in 2016 with a mission to simplify the financial journey of new-age Indians. Today, over 10 million users from more than 1400 cities trust ET Money with over Rs 30,000 crores of their investments. Over Rs 600 crores of additional money is invested through ET Money every month, with a SIP processed every 2.5 seconds on the platform. Their latest offering, ET Money Genius, allows investors to access personalized investment strategies across mutual funds and stocks. Through this membership, they are building India's largest financial subscription that provides superior investment advisory, completely aligned to investors' interests, at a fraction of the cost. Website link - https://www.etmoney.com/ This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) (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 4 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Centre's move to mandate MGNREGA workers to register their attendance through a mobile application is aimed at reducing the budget for the flagship scheme providing employment to the poor, and claimed this is a proof of the Modi government's "insensitivity" towards the disadvantaged. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the the Ministry of Rural Development has mandated that every MGNREGA worker at 9 crore worksites register their attendance via an app, replacing physical muster rolls. Also Read | Maharashtra: Man Beaten to Death by Three at Mumbra Railway Station. "This move, apparently to increase transparency, will have the exact opposite effect. It will introduce new avenues for corruption. Workers will find it harder to get paid. People without expensive smartphones, especially women and those from marginalised communities, will be disempowered. In sum, it undermines the MGNREGA, a 'sanjeevini' for crores of rural poor," he said in a statement. He later claimed that the ministry has mandated that every MGNREGA worker at 1.58 crore worksites register their attendance via the app, while the earlier figure quoted (of 9 crore) included worksites which are not active as of date. Also Read | 63,000 Animals, Including Four Asiatic Lions and 73 Elephants, Died on Rail Tracks From 2017-2018 to 2020-21: CAG. "Modi government's latest assault on the poor is a backdoor move to reduce expenditure on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Forcing MGNREGA workers to register their attendance via an app will introduce new avenues of corruption, and disempower women, dalits and adivasis," Ramesh said on Twitter. "The Congress calls on the Modi government to scrap the app, compensate all workers who have lost their wages due to technical errors, and strengthen transparency and accountability through open muster rolls and social audits," he said in the statement. The Congress leader claimed that the app requires the mate at a worksite to record attendance of all workers and take a group photograph at two specified times before and after the work begins. "Records are only on the mate's phone, and there is no way to verify the group photo. What is worse, MGNREGA payments are linked to measurement of work done, which is completely absent from the app. The new system is not only unfit for purpose, but undermines transparency. Earlier physical muster rolls required each worker to sign, were available to all, and subject to social audit," he said. The new app has caused workers to be denied work or payment when "the server is down, Ramesh said, claiming that the workers often wait for hours for the specified time for a group photo. In addition, all mates must now have smartphones to use the app. People without expensive smartphones especially women, Dalits and adivasis cannot be mates, he said. "This is a backdoor move by the Modi government to reduce expenditures on MGNREGA. As it is, payments worth Rs 8,450 crore are delayed this financial year, including to the entire state of West Bengal. It also ties with the move to halve food grains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). MGNREGA and the NFSA have been the lifelines of the poor through the Modi government's mismanagement of COVID-19 and the economy," the Congress leader said. He recalled that the nation remembers that Modi mocked MGNREGA in Parliament, and was then forced during the pandemic to make yet another "U-turn" and realise its value. "The twin assault on these schemes today is a clear sign of Modi's insensitivity to the poorest and most vulnerable Indians," he alleged. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Jan 4 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to investigate an allegation by a woman that she was asked by some "influential persons" to file a police complaint against a contractor who was then arrested, and ordered that he be freed immediately. The court also directed the CRPF to provide security to the woman who said she cannot name the influential persons as she fears for the safety of herself and her family. Also Read | Maharashtra: Man Beaten to Death by Three at Mumbra Railway Station. The woman filed an affidavit before the court stating that she works for a contractor firm based in Purba Medinipur district and was forced to sign on the pages of the Bengali typewritten complaint, without knowing the contents. The contractor against whom the complaint was made was associated with another firm. Also Read | 63,000 Animals, Including Four Asiatic Lions and 73 Elephants, Died on Rail Tracks From 2017-2018 to 2020-21: CAG. The court said that in view of the averments in the affidavit of the complainant, it has serious reservations regarding the bona fides of the FIR which was filed against contractor Ram Chandra Panda on December 28 at Contai police station in Purba Medinipur district and he was arrested on its basis on the same day. "This is a clear example of the often made allegation before this court that FIRs are registered in the state after complaints are procured by unfair means to implicate political opponents in criminal cases for collateral purposes," Justice Rajasekhar Mantha observed. Directing that the entire proceedings in the FIR will remain stayed, the court ordered that the arrested man be "set at liberty forthwith unconditionally." Justice Mantha directed that a copy of the affidavit filed by the woman be served on the director, CBI at Kolkata, by her advocate. She claimed that she cannot reveal the names of the influential persons who made her sign the document as she fears for the safety and security of herself and her family. "I am humbly praying for the safety and security of myself and my family members as well as protection from registration of false police cases against me and my family members," she said in the affidavit filed before the court through her lawyer Sabyasachi Chatterjee on Wednesday. The court also directed the commandant, CRPF, who is in charge of the forces at Kolkata and Contai, to provide sufficient security to the woman until further orders. Justice Mantha directed the CBI to submit a report on the investigation conducted by it when the matter is taken up for further hearing after filing of affidavits by the parties involved in the matter. The court directed the state to file a list of all cases registered against Ram Chandra Panda on January 10 before it. Panda earlier filed a petition before the high court seeking liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution against malicious arrest and prosecution and quashing of the case filed against him at Contai police station. Article 21 deals with protection of life and personal liberty. The petitioner also prayed for transfer of the investigation into the case to the CBI. (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 4 (PTI) The CBI has filed a charge sheet against CG Power & Industrial Solutions Ltd and its former promoter Gautam Thapar in an alleged bank fraud of Rs 2,435 crore, officials said Wednesday. The agency has alleged that the accused had availed loans from a consortium of 13 banks against the same securities without disclosing finances taken from other banks. Also Read | Thirumahan Everaa, Tamil Nadu Congress MLA, Dies at 46; Rahul Gadhi, Mallikarjuna Kharge Express Condolences. In its charge sheet filed before a special court, the CBI has alleged that the accused also borrowed funds from the bank by misrepresentation and falsifying of books of accounts, entries and vouchers, a CBI spokesperson said. The CBI had registered the case on June 22, 2021. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: State Government Determined To Ensure No Illegal Conversions, Says Home Minister Narottam Mishra. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai, Jan 4 (PTI) Two DMK functionaries have been arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a woman police constable, said police on Wednesday. Also Read | Sonia Gandhi Health Update: UPA Chief Admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infection, Say Doctors. The police arrested the two after examining CCTV footage of the incident that occurred on December 31 at a public meeting got up here by the DMK to commemorate the birth centenary of party leader K Anbazhagan. The woman constable raised an alarm when the two men allegedly misbehaved. Her colleagues caught the two. The police were then met with resistance from other workers of the DMK. Also Read | Punjab State Dear Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2023: Know Prize Money, Draw Result Date and Other Details. However, the victim preferred a complaint, but withdrew it after the two apologised. The Tamil Nadu administration came under criticism from the Opposition parties, particulary the AIADMK and BJP. Chief of BJP unit of the State K Annamalai accused the State government of being in "deep slumber" and tweeted "...what's disgusting is that the DMK men ganged up and stopped police from arresting those two individuals." The episode caused an embarrassment leading to the DMK leadership announcing the suspension of Pravin and Ekambaram. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ballari (Karnataka) [India], January 4 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai on Wednesday hit out at the Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and said that the people of Karnataka will give a fitting reply to Siddaramaiah in the Assembly elections. The statement comes in the backdrop of Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah stroking a controversy after he said CM Bommai and BJP leaders shiver like "puppy" in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read | Maharashtra: Woman Hangs Self to Death in Thane; Husband Booked for Suicide Abetment. Reacting to Siddaramaiah's statement of comparing the CM to a puppy, Bommai told reporters here on Wednesday, "It will show the personality of the Congress leader. The dog is a faithful animal and it's doing its job faithfully. I will save by faithfulness for the sake of people. I have not divided society as Siddaramaiah did. We have given happiness and not the misfortune given by them. This kind of job is not done by us". On Siddaramaiah inviting him for an open debate, Bommai said there is no big forum than the Vdiahana Soudha. Also Read | Delhi Temperature: National Capital Logs Seasons Lowest of 4.4 Degrees Celsius; Orange Warning for Next Two Days. "Recently, the session was held for 15 days and also previously. When there is a forum they will not discuss but issue political statements outside. The session will meet again in January-February and there everything will be discussed. There is no more sacred forum than the Legislative Assembly," said Bommai. Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'Kamadhenu' he said that PM Modi has made special contributions like 6,000 km of highway to Karnataka which is a record in the post-independence period. "Narendra Modi after he became the Prime Minister, has made special contributions like 6,000 km of highway to Karnataka which is a record in the post-independence period. Besides, PM Modi has given approval to the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway project, Mangalur-Karwar Ports and Kalasa-Bandura project. In the coming day, the Upper Krishna project will be declared as a national project and release grants. The Smart City project has been given to all the major cities. These things were not there during the UPA regime. All the important projects are given by PM Modi who is like a Kamadhenu," said CM Bommai. He said the opposition leader developed the habit of making politically motivated statements which will not be having any base. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kochi, Jan 4 (PTI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday arrested two staff of Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) from the Cochin International Airport here for allegedly possessing over one kg of smuggled gold. Also Read | Karnataka Murugha Mutt Seer Sex Scandal: No Sign of Rape of Minor Girls, Says Medical Examination Report. The DRI sleuths said 1.375 grams of gold in compound form was seized from the staff of AISATS at the CIAL. Also Read | Did Rishi Sunak Deliver Video Message on New Year 2023 From Toilet? Edited Footage of UK Prime Minister With Flush Tank in Background Goes Viral. The DRI officials told PTI that the smuggled gold was handed over by some people who arrived at CIAL on a flight from Dubai. "DRI Officers discreetly followed the suspected persons and the staff was intercepted after exchange of gold inside the toilet near the baggage belt in the arrival hall," officials said. On interrogation, the staff admitted his role and also connivance of another employee of AISATS. The officials have also informed that upon interrogation, it was found that both staff have smuggled gold on several previous occasions evading customs checks. (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 4 (PTI) From showcasing Incredible India visiting delegates to positioning the country as a major travel destination during its year-long presidency, G20 will be the Union Tourism ministry's focus area in 2023. India assumed the presidency of the influential bloc on December 1, setting the tone for the ministry's calendar this year. Also Read | Drunk Delhi Police's Car Hits Six Other Vehicles at Traffic Signal in Dwarka. More than 200 meetings will be held across 55 locations, culminating with the annual G20 summit on September 9-10. The Tourism ministry is geared up to put its best foot forward and showcase to the guests from different countries the cultural heritage and culinary delights of India. Also Read | Air India Flight Horror: Drunk Man Unzips His Pant, Urinates on Female Flyer in Business Class of US-Delhi Plane, Says Report. The first G20 meeting -- the Sherpa meet -- was held in the first week of December in Rajasthan's Udaipur. From artistic murals to decking up of heritage sites with lights, the old city played the perfect host as iconic buildings were chosen as venues, besides sightseeing to Kumbhalgarh Fort -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Preparations for the G20 meetings are underway and the first meet under the tourism track will be held in the picturesque Rann of Kutch in Gujarat in late January or early February, Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh had said. "The second meeting (in this category) will be held in Siliguri (West Bengal), the third one in Srinagar and the fourth one in Goa," Singh had said, adding sustainability would be one of the priority areas when India hosts the G20 events. The 55 locations for the meetings span big metros to smaller cities, including those rich in history and scenic beauty such as Hampi and Khajuraho. These locations will also include Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities that have picturesque landscapes and are rich in cultural heritage. "So, these cities will also get spruced up as part of the preparations for the G20 meetings," Singh had told PTI in November. At a press conference in Aizawl, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy had said some of the meetings of the influential group were planned to be held across the Northeast and the Mizoram capital would host one of these. Also, 100 viewpoints would be constructed along highways in the Northeast, starting with nine in Mizoram, he had said. Twenty-two of these viewpoints with wayside amenities are expected to be completed before next monsoon, the ministry has said. Reddy took part in the the 10th International Tourism Mart (ITM) for the Northeast that put a spotlight on the region's tourism potential and was held in Aizawl from November 17-19 to facilitate interaction among government agencies, business fraternity, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders. Private companies in the hospitality sector are "showing an appetite to invest in the Northeast," Tourism Secretary Singh had said in Aizawl. The event also focused on "priorities of G20 for tourism track". This was Mizoram's first time hosting the ITM. "We have to use this occasion (G20 meetings) to showcase our cultural and traditional heritage to the foreign guests," Reddy had later said during the event's opening ceremony. India sharpened its focus on G20 much before the presidency was handed over by Indonesia. During a national conference of state tourism ministers in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala from September 18-20, Singh had said India planned to position itself as a "major tourism destination" during its G20 presidency. Tourism-related aspects of the G20 leaders' summit were also discussed during the conference organised by the ministry in the hill town. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dharmashala, Jan 4 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday launched 'Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan' here. He said the campaign is an extension of the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra and would begin throughout the state from January 26. Also Read | Prime Minister #NarendraModi Will Preside over a Brainstorming Session with Chief Latest Tweet by IANS India. The abhiyan will reach up to the village and block-level in two months and at least one meeting will be ensured in every village, Sukhu added. State Congress president and Member of Parliament Pratibha Singh and other Congress leaders were present on the occasion. Also Read | Indian-Origin Woman Convicted of Abusing Domestic Help, Covering Victim's Bruises With Make-Up in Singapore. The chief minister said a strategy should be chalked out for promoting the abhiyan and electronic and print media will also be involved in a big way for its publicity, an official statement said. Sukhu said the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would enter Himachal Pradesh on January 19. This massive campaign launched by Gandhi has gone a long way in upholding the unity and integrity of the country, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, January 4: India recorded 175 new Covid infections in a day while active caseload declined to 2,570, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The tally of Covid cases in India is at 4.46 crore while the death toll is 5,30,707, data updated at 8 am stated. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.09 per cent while the weekly positivity was 0.12 per cent. Active caseload declined by 12 in a day and now comprises 0.01 per cent of the total infections. COVID-19 Surge in China: Hospitals Scrambling To Source Ventilators, Medical Supplies, Says Report. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,45,854 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. China COVID-19 Surge: Country To Scrap Coronavirus Quarantine Rule for Inbound Travellers From January 8. According to the ministry's website, 220.11 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the COVID-19 vaccination drive. India's Covid tally crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Samba (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 4 (ANI): A night curfew has been imposed along the International border in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the increasing movement of terrorists on the border, informed officials on Wednesday. As per an order from the District Commissioner of Samba Anuradha Gupta, the night curfew will be applicable from 9 pm to 6 am in areas up to 1 km from the International Border. Also Read | USA President Joe Biden Re-nominates Eric Garcetti as US Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services. "Appeal to people not to move unnecessarily and carry documents during emergency travel," said Deputy SP, Garu Ram Bhardwaj, SOG, J&K police. District Commissioner of Samba Anuradha Gupta gave the order after a meeting with the officials of the Border Security Force. Also Read | Flipkart Fined Rs 20,000 by Bengaluru Consumer Court for Not Delivering Cellphone to Customer Despite Receiving Payment. "Due to heavy snowfall in the hilly areas, the possibility of infiltration on the international border increases and these days there is a lot of fog in the plains and this order will prove to be very helpful for the security forces to monitor the border wall," said Garu Ram Bhardwaj. He said that the order will continue for the next two months and all the villagers have been informed about this order. There are many small and big villages along the 55-kilometre-long international border of the Samba district. "There is a lot of fog in the plains these days and the presence of terrorists on the border is also being recorded, due to which it is feared that infiltration attempts may increase in the coming days," said Deputy SP, Garu Ram Bhardwaj, SOG, J&K police. Border Security Force officials said the jawans are ready and capable to deal with any situation at all times irrespective of the weather or any other challenge. "Our jawans are very ready and capable at all times to deal with any situation irrespective of the weather and any challenge. Our jawans are doing their duty promptly on the border round the clock. The imposition of Section 144 would be of great help to the security forces," said Border Security Force officials. (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, Jan 4 (PTI) Striking down a clause in the guidelines of the Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement which made married daughters of ex-servicemen below the age of 25 ineligible for dependant ID cards, the High Court of Karnataka said that the guidelines depicted gender bias. Also Read | Maharashtra: Man Beaten to Death by Three at Mumbra Railway Station. Guideline 5(c) for issuance of the dependant ID card made daughters who are married ineligible. But for sons of service personnel it is at the age of attaining 25 years. Also Read | 63,000 Animals, Including Four Asiatic Lions and 73 Elephants, Died on Rail Tracks From 2017-2018 to 2020-21: CAG. Justice M Nagaprasanna in a judgment dated January 2, 2023 struck down the words "till married" in the clause terming it as unconstitutional and against the provisions of Article 14 and 15 of the Constitution. "The very object with which the welfare schemes are created for the benefit of the kith and kin of a deceased ex-servicemen is taken away, because the petitioner is the daughter and the daughter is married. If the ex-servicemen had sons, marriage would not have made any difference. It is for this reason, the guideline falls foul of the tenets of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The guideline is a depiction of gender stereotypes which were existent decades ago, and if permitted to remain would be an anachronistic obstacle in the march towards women's equality," the Court said. The petition was filed by Priyanka R Patil from Mysuru. Her father Subedar Ramesh Khandappa Police Patil died while clearing land mines in Punjab in 2001 and was declared 'killed in action.' Priyanka had applied for a post of assistant professor under the ex-serviceman quota of 10 per cent. However, the Department refused to give her an ID card following which she approached the High Court. Ordering the Department to provide Priyanka the ID card within two weeks, the High Court said, "The guidelines will fly on the face of the tenets of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India. If any Rule/Policy/Guideline, which would be in violation of the Rule of equality, such Rule/Policy/Guideline cannot but be obliterated, as being unconstitutional. The issue in the list is not the Rule, it is a Policy or a Guideline for grant of I-card to the dependants of the ex-servicemen and is therefore necessarily to be annihilated." Further, the High Court suggested that gender neutral terms should be used and the State and Central governments should consider changing the nomenclature of 'ex servicemen' to 'ex-service persons.' "The word 'men' in the title, a part of word ex-servicemen, would seek to demonstrate a misogynous posture of an age old masculine culture. Therefore, the title wherever reads as ex-servicemen in the annals of policy making of the Government, be it the Union or the State concerned, should be made Gender neutral. There has to be a change in the mindset of the rule making authority or the policy makers, it is only then there could be recognition of commitment of the values of the Constitution, as equality should not remain a mere idle incantation, but has to be a vibrant living reality. It must be remembered that extension of women's right is the basic principle of all social progress," the Court said. "It is for the Union Government or the State Government to address this imperative need of change of nomenclature wherever it depicts to be 'ex-servicemen' to that of 'ex-service personnel' which would be in tune with ever evolving, dynamic tenets, of Article 14 of the Constitution of India," the judgment concluded. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Palghar, Jan 4 (PTI) The police on Wednesday filed a charge sheet in a court here in Maharashtra, four months after former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and a co-passenger were killed in a car crash in Palghar district. Also Read | #Bangladesh | PM Sheikh Hasina Has Said That Election Commission of Bangladesh is Very Latest Tweet by DD News. Mistry (54) and Jehangir Pandole were killed on September 4 when their luxury car hit a divider on a bridge on the Surya river on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway. Anahita Pandole (55), who was at the wheel, and Darius Pandole were seriously injured. Also Read | Thirumahan Everaa, Tamil Nadu Congress MLA, Dies at 46; Rahul Gadhi, Mallikarjuna Kharge Express Condolences. Palghar district rural police on November 5 registered a case under sections 304-A (Causing death by negligence), 279 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (Causing hurt by an act which endangers human life) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Motor Vehicles Act. Police had questioned witnesses and obtained reports from the RTO (Regional Transport Office) and Mercedes Benz India Pune. Police had earlier said Mistry and Jehangir Pandole were not wearing seat belts. Prima facie, over-speeding and the "error of judgement" by the driver caused the accident, they had said. Anahita Pandole, a gynaecologist, was discharged from a Mumbai-based hospital after undergoing treatment for 108 days in December. (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 4 (PTI) Punjab and Haryana chief ministers met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday to discuss the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue but a resolution remained elusive as both the CMs stick to their stands. While Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said his state does not have "even a single drop of water" to share, his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar said the full construction of the canal and getting water through it was a matter of "right" for his state. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Preside Over Meeting With Chief Secretaries of All States on Achieving $5 Trillion Economy Target. Khattar also said Haryana will inform the Supreme Court that Punjab was not abiding by its order in the matter. "Instead of discussing the issue of the construction of the canal, the Punjab chief minister kept on saying there is no water to share," Khattar said in a statement later. The Supreme Court had in September nudged the two chief ministers to meet and work out an amicable solution to the SYL canal row. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: 35-Year-Old School Teacher Dies While Taking Selfie From Cliff in Pune's Varandha Ghat. During the meeting on Wednesday, Shekhawat asked the two chief ministers to come up with a solution, the sources said. But Mann said, "More than 78 per cent of our 150 blocks are in extreme dark zone due to depletion of ground water table. So Punjab can't afford to share its water with any other state." "The state does not have even a single drop of water to share with Haryana," he said in a statement, and demanded his state should get water from Yamuna river in Haryana instead. "No SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link), Haryana should talk about YSL (Yamuna-Sutlej Link)," he said. Mann also sought setting up of a fresh tribunal to assess water available with the state, while Khattar said his state has the right to get water from Ravi and Beas rivers by the full construction of the SYL Canal, sources said. The SYL canal has been a bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana for decades. Shekhawat called the meeting after both the chief ministers failed to reach a consensus over the issue. Punjab has been maintaining that the quantum of water flowing through Ravi and Beas rivers had come down considerably and therefore, their water volume should be reassessed. "Both sides presented their arguments and the Jal Shakti minister asked them to come out with a mutual solution of the matter," a source said. The SYL canal was conceptualised for effective allocation of water from Ravi and Beas rivers. The project envisaged a 214-km canal, of which 122 km was to be in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana. Haryana has completed the project in its territory. Though Punjab took up the work in 1982, it was later shelved. (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 4 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday discussed with Satya Nadella, the chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp, issues relating to governance and security in the digital domain. Nadella, who is currently on a visit to India, called on Jaishankar. Also Read | West Bengal Chief Minister #MamataBanerjee Launched a Scathing Attack Against the Centre Latest Tweet by IANS India. "Great to meet Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Corporation @satyanadella. Discussed delivery, governance and security in the digital domain," Jaishankar tweeted. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaislamer, January 4: The helicopter joy ride service which was inaugurated by two ministers and the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) chairman in Jaisalmer was stopped within a week due to violation of forest rules. The helipad is located in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), adjacent to desert national park (DNP) which is the habitat of the endangered bird the Great Indian Bustard or Godawan. There was no environmental clearance for this activity following which the forest department wrote a letter to the Jaisalmer district collector to ensure that the service was immediately stopped. A forest official said the activity was a violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. The helicopter joyride was an initiative of the RTDC under which a private company was providing the service. Australia Helicopter Crash: Chilling Video Shows Movements Inside Cockpit Moments Before Two Helicopters Clipped Into Each Other at Sea World. "The helipad was located in the eco-sensitive zone adjacent to the desert national park. The company had no clearance from the forest department to operate flying from there. Such activities are prohibited as per the central government's guidelines regarding ESZ," Ashish Vyas, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of the Desert National Park (DNP), told PTI. He said the service was stopped on Tuesday. DNP is famous for Godawan or Great Indian Bustard. Wildlife lovers and locals had raised objections over flying near the DNP with an argument that this was disturbing the wildlife. Mal Singh Jamda, secretary of Godawan Conservation Society, said the helicopter was ferrying over Godawan habitat, which was a disturbing activity for the bird. He said such activities should take place in areas where there is no disturbance to Godawan. The helicopter joyride service was started on December 28. It was inaugurated by Minority Affairs Minister Saleh Mohammad, State Minister for Tourism Murarilal Meena and RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore. A maximum of 40 flights per day for 200 tourists was allowed for the company. The joyride was available in two slot packages of five minutes and 15 minutes. (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 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Khushi Dubey, the wife of a close aide of slain gangster Vikas Dubey, in a case related to the killing of eight policemen who had gone to arrest him in a Kanpur village in July 2020. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices S Abdul Nazeer and P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of senior lawyer Vivek Tankha that Khushi was a minor at the time of offence and regular bail be granted to her as the charge sheet has also been filed in the case. Also Read | Maharashtra: Man Beaten to Death by Three at Mumbra Railway Station. Having regard to the... facts and circumstances, we are of the view that the continued custody of the petitioner at this stage would not subserve the ends of justice. We accordingly direct that the petitioner be released on bail subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Sessions Court in connection with Sessions Trial No..., the bench said in its order. The local court shall ensure that one of the conditions to be imposed for the grant of bail is that Khushi shall appear at least once every week before the station house officer (SHO) of the police station concerned and cooperate in the trial. Also Read | 63,000 Animals, Including Four Asiatic Lions and 73 Elephants, Died on Rail Tracks From 2017-2018 to 2020-21: CAG. The top court took note of the submissions that the petitioner was a minor on the date of the incident. In pursuance of the provisions of Section 18 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, she is being tried as an adult. She had been married shortly prior to the incident, it noted. The apex court was hearing the appeal of the accused against the high court order denying her bail based on the circumstance that as many as eight police officers who had gone to arrest one Vikas Dubey were killed in the act of firing by the co-accused. Khushi is the wife of Amar Dubey, who was also killed in a police encounter later. She is accused of pointing out the presence of policemen who had gone to arrest Vikas to her co-accused and that allegedly led to the massacre of the men in uniform. She is also accused of exhorting the armed co-accused of gangster Vikas to kill the policemen. Khushi's counsel said it is a case of an innocent person at a wrong place at the wrong time as she was married to Amar only seven days before the July 3 incident. Eight policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Mishra, were ambushed in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur, when they were going to arrest Vikas and fell to a hail of bullets shot from rooftops shortly after midnight on July 3, 2020. Vikas was killed in an encounter on July 10 when a police vehicle carrying him from Ujjain to Kanpur met with an accident and he tried to escape, police had said. Khushi's lawyer Vivek Tankha, who was assisted by advocate Sumeer Sodhi, told the court that more than 100 witnesses were to be examined in the case and it was a fit matter for the grant of bail keeping in mind the allegations against her. The court took note of the fact that the accused was 16/17 years of age at the time of commission of the offence and granted bail saying the trial court would be setting the terms for her release. The bench said one of the conditions will be that the accused will have to appear before the SHO once a week besides cooperating in the trial and probe if any. In 2021, the top court had agreed to hear Khushi's bail plea. Following a massive search launched by the police after the July 3 incident, two of Vikas's alleged associates, Prem Prakash Pandey and Atul Dubey, were killed by police in an encounter in Kanpur. On July 8, police had killed Amar who carried a reward of Rs 50,000 in Maudaha village in Hamirpur district. On July 9, two more alleged aides -- Kartikeya alias Prabhat and Praveen alias Bauwa Dubey -- were killed in separate encounters in Kanpur and Etawah districts. (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 4 (ANI): Supreme Court on Wednesday granted regular bail to Khushi Dubey, a relative of slain gangster Vikas Dubey in the case in which eight police officers were killed in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Khushi Dubey had challenged the Allahabad High Court order denying her bail in the case. Also Read | Tamil Nadu: Wild Boars Die in Large Numbers Due to Suspected African Swine Flu, Carcasses Burnt To Prevent Further Spread. The apex court while granting bail to Khushi, said that she was a juvenile at the time of the incident in July 2020. Khushi is the widow of Amar Dubey, an aide, and relative of the slain gangster. Days after the ambush in which several policemen were killed and many injured, Vikas Dubey was shot dead by the Uttar Pradesh Police as he allegedly tried to flee from their custody. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Road Accident: Sanitation Worker Couple Killed After Govt Bus Knocks Them Down in Coimbatore. "She has to report to the SHO of the concerned police station once a week and cooperate with the trial," the apex court said asking Sessions Court to impose necessary bail conditions on her. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh police opposed the bail plea of Kushi Dubey. Before the High Court, Khushi had said that she was declared a juvenile by a board on September 1, 2020. She had also pleaded that she was not a member of the gang of Vikas Dubey, rather her husband was a relative of the slain gangster and they had gone to Vikas Dubey's house on the day of the incident. In the High Court, the state government had opposed her bail plea on the ground that as per statements of the policemen who survived the ambush, she actively participated in the assault. On July 2, 2020 a police raid team was attacked by the Vikas Dubey and his aides in Bikru village of Kanpur. Eight policemen were killed by the gangster and his aides in the attack. On July 10, he was killed in an encounter after he "attempted to flee", Uttar Pradesh police 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) New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to transfer criminal cases against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, pending in a Rampur special court, outside Uttar Pradesh on grounds of alleged "persecution". A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice SA Nazeer and Justice PS Narasimha said it needed more cogent reasons for transferring the ongoing criminal cases against Khan. Also Read | UK: British-Indian Man Attacks Son-in-Law With Meat Cleaver After Quarrel Over Trip to India; Arrested. "I will not get justice in the state. I am being persecuted... It is not a judge... It is the state. Everywhere, the situation will be the same inside the state," senior advocate Kalip Sibal, appearing for Khan, said. "When we transfer (a case), we need far more cogent reasons for the transfer. Sorry. We are giving you the liberty to approach the Allahabad High Court," the bench said. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Man Tries To Drag Girl Inside Car, Threatens Her With Acid Attack in Pandav Nagar. The Samajwadi Party leader had sought transfer of several ongoing criminal cases against him in a special trial court in Rampur outside Uttar Pradesh. Khan was recently convicted in a criminal case relating to hate speech and disqualified as a lawmaker in the state assembly. (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 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court has dismissed with a cost of Rs 50,000 a plea seeking a direction to not consider advocates practising in the apex court for judgeship in the high courts, saying it is "meritless" and "complete wastage of judicial time". A bench of Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka observed there is nothing in the Constitution which prohibits lawyers practising in the top court to be appointed as a judge of the high courts. Also Read | Australia Helicopter Crash: Chilling Video Shows Movements Inside Cockpit Moments Before Two Helicopters Clipped Into Each Other at Sea World. Advocate Ashok Pandey, who filed the petition, told the bench that as per his interpretation of Article 217 of the Constitution, a person who may have been enrolled with a state bar council and subsequently shifted practice to the apex court is ineligible to be appointed as a judge of that court. Article 217 of the Constitution deals with appointment and conditions of the office of a judge of the high court. Also Read | Karnataka High Court Upholds Life Term to Four Students for Kidnapping, Murdering Friend for Money. The bench noted in its January 2 order that the petitioner has referred to some letters released by the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association seeking out a case for appointment of lawyers practising in the apex court to different high courts and seeks to contend that this has an "imprimatur (mark of approval) of this court". "We have given the full say to the petitioner though on a bare reading of the petition it is meritless and complete wastage of judicial time," the bench said. It said the reading sought to be put to Article 217(2) of the Constitution would amount to saying that the Supreme Court is not one of the courts from which lawyers can be appointed to the high court. "There is nothing in the Constitution which provides the prohibition for lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court to be appointed as a judge of the high court. In fact every lawyer is enrolled with the bar council of a particular state," the bench said. It said what the president of the Bar may say would be his views and the apex court has not given any imprimatur to any aspect for the same other than the larger principle that in suitable cases, lawyers practising in the top court can be considered for appointment to the high court. "It is not as if mere filing of the petition by the petitioner would entitle him for consideration before a Constitution bench of this court," the bench said. It noted that the petitioner is an advocate and is supposed to be well versed in law. The bench dismissed the petition with a cost of Rs 50,000 to be deposited within four weeks in the Supreme Court Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee. The petitioner had urged the apex court to interpret the provision contained in Article 217 (2) of the Constitution where it says that a person shall not be qualified for appointment as a judge of a high court unless he is a citizen of India and has for at least ten years been an advocate of a high court or of two or more such courts in succession. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kulgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 4 (ANI): The construction of south Kashmir's longest bridge in Kulgam district is in the final stages and this bridge will be thrown open for commuters next month, an official said on Wednesday. This Chambgund Bridge in Kulgam district is being funded by the World Bank and will benefit the people of South Kashmir, an official said. Also Read | Punjab State Dear Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2023: Know Prize Money, Draw Result Date and Other Details. The 400-meter-long bridge at Chambgund is being constructed over the Vaishaw stream, a major tributary of the Jhelum river in Kulgam district. "The estimated cost of this bridge is Rs 32 crore and with the help of this bridge, people will have a lot of benefits in their daily travel," the official said. Also Read | Shraddha Walkar Murder: Mitochondrial DNA Report of Hair & Bone Matches With Her Father's Samples. The local residents are happy with the construction as this bridge will solve many problems they are facing in daily life. Speaking to ANI, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat said, "Chambgund Bridge in Kulgam district is a World Bank ERA (Economic Reconstruction Agency) project and Roads and Building (R&B) is executing the project which is a 400-meter bridge and total cost of the bridge about Rs 32 crore." "It was completed within 18 months and very soon this bridge will be commissioned and this will benefit the people of the district as this is a double-lane bridge," he added. Local residents lauded this step taken by the J-K administration as it will connect many villages of the Kulgam district of south Kashmir. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 4 (ANI): The police on Wednesday arrested two Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) functionaries for allegedly harassing a Chennai police constable during DMK public meeting. The accused identified as Praveen and Ekkambaram were booked under sections 353,354 IPC r/w 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, 1998. Also Read | Bengaluru Airport Shocker: Woman Forced To Take Off Shirt for Security Check, Narrates 'Humiliating' Incident on Twitter. On Sunday, a complaint was lodged by the woman constable at the Valasaravakkam Police Station in this regard. In her complaint, the woman constable mentioned that she was harassed by two DMK youth wing members identified as Praveen and Ekambaram during the event. However, when the policemen went to arrest the two, they were stopped by DMK members. Also Read | Tripura: Clash Between Cadres of BJP, CPI Near Former CM Biplab Kumar Deb's House in Gomati District; Two Injured, Shops Torched. Meanwhile, DMK also suspended Praveen and Ekkambaram from the DMK Youth wing for anti-party activities. However, the constable on Tuesday withdrew her complaint. On December 31, two DMK functionaries allegedly harassed a woman police personnel while she was on duty during a public meeting of the party at Virugambakkam. Several top DMK leaders like MP Kanimozhi, Health Minister M.Subramaniam and MLA Prabhakar Raja were present at the meeting where the alleged incident happened. The event was organised to mark 100 years of former party General Secretary K Anbazhagan. (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 4 (PTI) The Reserve Bank on Wednesday said it has received an application from Bhubaneswar-based Annapurna Finance for setting up a universal bank. During the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received one application under the Guidelines for on tap' Licensing of Universal Banks in the Private Sector dated August 1, 2016, the central bank said in a statement. Also Read | Punjab State Dear Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2023: Know Prize Money, Draw Result Date and Other Details. Annapurna Finance, according to the company's website, was established in 2009, and is one of the top 10 NBFC-MFIs in the country. It provides loans to economically weaker sections of the society with a view to bringing them to the mainstream banking system. Also Read | ITR Filing: Know How To File Income Tax Returns Online, A Step-By-Step Guide. As per the RBI's 'on tap' licensing guidelines, the initial minimum paid-up voting equity capital for a universal bank should be Rs 500 crore. Thereafter, the bank should have a minimum net worth of Rs 500 crore at all time. In April 2014, the RBI had given in-principle approval to Bandhan Bank Ltd and IDFC Bank to start universal banking operations. IDFC Bank has since merged with Capital First Ltd to form IDFC First Bank. The RBI in 2021 had announced a five-member Standing External Advisory Committee, headed by former RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath, for evaluating applications for universal banks and small finance banks. Revathy Iyer, Director, Central Board, RBI; B Mahapatra, former Executive Director, RBI; T N Manoharan, former president, ICAI; and Hemant G Contractor, former MD, SBI and former Chairman, PFRDA, are members of the committee. (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 4 (PTI) Global airlines grouping International Air Transport Association (IATA) has termed the COVID restrictions on China a 'knee-jerk' reinstatement of measures, which have proven "ineffective" in the last three years. IATA chief Willie Walsh in a statement on Wednesday said that "Governments must base their decisions on 'science facts' rather than science politics". Also Read | Punjab State Dear Lohri Makar Sankranti Bumper Lottery 2023: Know Prize Money, Draw Result Date and Other Details. Several countries are introducing COVID-19 testing and other measures for travellers from China, even though the virus is already circulating widely within their borders, according to IATA. "It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years," Walsh, who is the Director General of IATA, said. Also Read | ITR Filing: Know How To File Income Tax Returns Online, A Step-By-Step Guide. Several countries, including India, have announced fresh testing and other requirements for travellers arriving from China amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases. A negative COVID report is a must for passengers transiting through China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, irrespective of their originating countries, before landing at any Indian airport. Besides, a negative COVID report from the RT-PCR test is a must for passengers arriving in India from these five countries. The test must be conducted within 72 hours of undertaking the journey to India and the negative report from the RT-PCR test has to be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal before their departure. Also, airports have been mandated to carry out random testing of 2 per cent of arriving passengers on each international flight. According to the IATA chief, "Research undertaken around the arrival of the Omicron variant concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak spread of infections. "At most, restrictions delayed that peak by a few days. If a new variant emerges in any part of the world, the same situation would be expected," he added. Walsh said that is why the governments should listen to the advice of experts, including the WHO, that advise against travel restrictions. IATA represents some 300 airlines, comprising as much as 83 per cent of the total global air traffic. "We have the tools to manage COVID-19 without resorting to ineffective measures that cut off international connectivity, damage economies and destroy jobs," Walsh said in the statement. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Singapore, January 4 (ANI): An Indian-origin woman in Singapore Wednesday got convicted of three counts of assault for abusing her domestic help. Singapore's District Judge Ow Yong Tuck Leong convicted 38-year-old Deepakala Chandra Secharan of three counts of assault for abusing Eni Agustin, The Straits Times newspaper reported. Also Read | New York Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal General Electric Technology for China. Eni's case came to light when another maid called Singapore's Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE), which alerted the police, and officers arrived at Deepakala's flat. When the accused realised the police were at her doorstep, she took Eni to a bathroom. Also Read | Indian-Origin Woman Convicted of Abusing Domestic Help, Covering Victim's Bruises With Make-Up in Singapore. "The accused then brought an ice pack for the victim and instructed the victim to lie to the police about the origin of the injuries," said Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) Yang Ziliang and Chong Ee Hsiun. "The accused told the victim to tell the police the injuries were sustained by the victim when she underwent a traditional body-scratching treatment," they were quoted as saying by The Straits Times. Upon inquiry, a policeman noticed the victim Eni Agustin had a thick foundation on her face. Later, Eni confessed to the officers about her ordeal after wiping her makeup. Eni Agustin, who started working at Deepakala's house in December 2019, was abused two weeks into her job when she mixed up some cutlery while placing them in a kitchen drawer. According to The Strait Times report, Deepakala became angry when she saw this and repeatedly poked Eni's forehead with her index finger, causing a scratch. "The accused then took a nearly depleted roll of masking tape... and hit the victim's forehead with it," the prosecutors said. Deepakala denied hitting Eni and instead alleged that the maid's injuries were self-inflicted. "She alleged that the victim was upset with her for wanting to send the victim back to her home country and that the victim was trying to garner sympathy for herself," the prosecutors said. Deepakala's sentencing will take place on Feb 6, the Singapore newspaper 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) Kaushambhi, Jan 4: In yet another shocking incident, a high-speed car hit a woman bicyclist and dragged her for more than 200 metres in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambhi district, police said on Wednesday. The woman has been admitted to the district hospital in Kaushambhi, and the driver, who was also injured, is in a hospital in Prayagraj. Delhi Hit-and-Run Case: No Sign of Woman Present Inside Car Found So Far, Says FSL Report. Quoting the complainant, the police said due to the crash, the woman got stuck onto the wheel of the car along with the bicycle and was dragged for about 200 meters. Karnataka Kidney Selling Case: Victim Died on Operating Table, Body Cremated Under Different Name; Inquiry Ordered Against Five Cops As Shocking Details Emerge. The accident occurred when the woman was on her way to attend computer classes. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2023 01:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Jan 4: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has attached assets worth more than Rs 10 crore in a money laundering investigation against former Maharashtra minister Anil Parab and others. Parab, 58, is a Shiv Sena leader from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the party. He is a three-time Shiv Sena legislator in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, the upper house of the legislature, and has held transport and parliamentary affairs portfolios in the state. IT Conducts Raids on Premises of Close Aides of Shiv Sena Leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Parab. He has been questioned by the federal agency in this case earlier. Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab Summoned by ED, Claims Shiv Sena Leader Sanjay Raut; Says It Was 'Expected'. The agency issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for the attachment of certain properties in the probe linked to the alleged violation of coastal regulation zone provisions in the construction of a resort in Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district of the state. Five security guards were injured in a clash with vendors near central Delhi's India Gate, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday at Children Park on Shahjahan Road, they said. Two persons were injured as BJP and CPI (M) supporters clashed near the ancestral house of former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb in Gomati district, police said on Wednesday. Jenista Joakim Mhagama, Minister in Presidents Office of the United Republic of Tanzania, along with a high level delegation called on Union MoS @DrJitendraSingh to discuss and learn about Indias best practices in governance, which they could replicate in their country as well. pic.twitter.com/uZQCfomHHA Prasar Bharati News Services & Digital Platform (@PBNS_India) January 4, 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.) India's premium airline, Air India on Wednesday banned a passenger who urinated on a female passenger in an inebriated state aboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi on November 26 on Air India flight AI-102. The ban has been imposed for 30 days. The incident came to light only after the woman sent a letter to N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Group. Air India spokesperson said "We've also constituted an internal committee to probe lapses on part of Air Indias crew & address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation. We're in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger & her family during the probe and reporting process." Air India Flight Horror: Drunk Man Unzips His Pant, Urinates on Female Flyer in Business Class of US-Delhi Plane, Says Report. Air India Bans Passenger Who Urinated on Fellow Flyer: We've also constituted an internal committee to probe lapses on part of Air Indias crew & address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation. We're in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger & her family during the probe&reporting process: Air India Spox ANI (@ANI) January 4, 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.) We've given notice in the newspapers (to vacate the land). 5 PAC companies deployed on the spot & 3 PAC companies will also reach by 8th Jan. We've also asked for 14 companies of Central Para Military Force. Around 4000-5000 police personnel will be deployed: DIG Kumaon Range ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 4, 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.) New details on what really happened in that New Year's Day incident when a snow plow ran into "Hawkeye" actor Jeremy Renner. It turned out that he is a real-life superhero as he was trying to help out another before his snow plow ran him over. In an interview with the Reno Gazette Journal, Mayor Hillary Schieve (Independent) stated, "He was helping someone stranded in the snow." She added that the Avenger is "always helping others" in their community. Renner has been calling a mountain pass between Reno and Incline Village home for several years now, and he is calling Tahoe his "happy place." A freak blizzard blew throughout the United States on New Year's Eve, leaving cars and houses buried in snow. Renner was trying to clear around three feet of it and create a pathway in and out of his Nevada home. A neighbor stated that Renner likes doing this and has been doing what is largely considered a chore for many years. "He's a good guy. We don't talk to him all the time but he's nice. On the tough snow years, he did come by with his plow and asked people if they needed help," the neighbor said and added that the "Hawkeye" actor has a lot of toys in his Tahoe home. Reno Mayor Tells Story of What Really Happened to Hawkeye Star Jeremy Renner According to Mayor Schieve, Renner was plowing snow just outside his home on New Year's Day. It was then that he saw a stranded car and decided to help. He got off the snow plow to help but was run over by his own vehicle. The plow has since been towed and police are investigating what happened. The plow ran over his leg but the actor also suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries. As reported earlier, he required two surgeries and is in critical condition but is now stable. READ MORE: Jeremy Renner Accident Update: Avengers Star Still in Critical Condition, Requires Second Surgery According to The New York Post, the mayor admitted she was friends with Renner and said that the "Avengers" actor was an "unsung, real-life hero who supports many local charities," and added that while he would post about some of the things he donated, some of the things he did for the community remain unknown to the general public. "There are a few times he'll post about what he has done or donated toys, but most of it you would never know he is doing," she stated. Jeremy Renner Now Out of Surgery A representative for Renner spoke to PEOPLE magazine and confirmed that the actor is now out of surgery, though he has suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries. The actor is currently remaining in a Nevada hospital's ICU. The injuries to the actor were described as "extensive," and family, friends, and fans are praying that he will pull through. Renner is slated to return in the lead role for the Paramount+ series, Mayor of Kingstown, on January 15. The second season has now wrapped up filming, with Jeremy Renner having finished filming all his scenes before the accident even occurred. READ MORE: Donald Trump NFTs Crash in Value by 80% After Just 2 Weeks This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Jeremy Renner in ICU After Snow Plowing Accident: NEW DETAILS | E! News China and the United Arab Emirates have requested a United Nations Security Council meeting to address an Israeli minister's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as the Temple Mount, that has brought an outcry from the Palestinians, according to China Media Group. The meeting is likely to take place on Thursday, two days after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the site that is holy to both Muslims and Jews. Jordan and Palestinian factions have denounced Ben-Gvir's move as provocative. - 7 ... New York City Mayor Eric Adams labeled the migrant issue that he believes is overwhelming the Big Apple a "national embarrassment," claiming that the self-described sanctuary city has "no more space at the inn," according to Fox News. Adams answered the question about the U.S. migrant crisis that has struck New York City in recent months, as tens of thousands of refugees have made their way to the city, including by bus. "It's a real embarrassment, I believe, on a national level, and we must have an appropriate response. We have had conversations around the issues of migrants for decades. This is a national issue. It must have a national response," he said Tuesday on WABC's "Sid & Friends in the Morning." Adams added that he believes the president must address the pressing issues. However, when it comes to immigration, the executive and legislative branches must work together. Under President Joe Biden's administration, the border has been hammered by a historical number of migrants, with more than 2.3 million interactions in FY 2022. FY 2023 is on track to eclipse those massive figures. In response to criticism of its policies, the White House cited the Department of Homeland Security's record funding levels, improved smuggling operations, and cooperation with countries in the Western Hemisphere. Republicans were asked to back its attempts to win additional funds and approve comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would give millions of illegal immigrants a road to citizenship. READ NEXT: Florida Keys Faces Crisis After Roughly 500 Migrants Land on the Island Colorado to Send More Migrants to New York Mayor Eric Adams cautioned that Colorado Governor Jared Polis wants to send migrants to significant cities, including New York, noting that the country's largest city is already struggling to handle an influx of people brought in from Texas and other Republican-led states. Yahoo! noted that the state has been assisting asylum seekers in reaching their final destinations, including New York City, for weeks, the Democratic governor claimed shortly afterward. The only thing that has changed is the recent winter storm, which caused a travel disaster and a bottleneck of migrants trying to depart Denver. In a radio interview, Adams stated that they were informed that the Colorado governor said they would send migrants to locations like New York and Chicago. Adams added that it is simply unfair that local governments must shoulder this national responsibility. Adams' assistant said the mayor's office was informed of the influx Monday evening. New York City Has No Room for Asylum Seekers, Says Mayor Denver is located roughly 700 miles directly north of El Paso via Interstate 25. Asylum seekers were still being bused to the city by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who boasted about sending more than 4,900 to New York on Monday. According to Polis, many of the migrants who would be taken to New York were delayed in Colorado owing to transportation delays brought on by "weather and workforce shortages." Polis stated that no one should play politics with the lives of migrants who came to the country to flee injustice. He also said that Colorado respects their ideals of treating people with "dignity and respect." According to Polis, many migrants the state was assisting with transportation were Venezuelan. The city's most recent internal figures show that 35,700 asylum seekers have landed in five boroughs since last spring. According to Fabien Levy, the press secretary for Mayor Eric Adams, more than 24,000 were lodged in 68 emergency shelters and four Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers, per the New York Post. Since many of the asylum seekers stayed with relatives and friends, there were more migrants in the city than city statistics indicate, according to Levy. Before the anticipated expiration of Title 42, Adams had notified city lawmakers that its shelter system was "at capacity" and urged Albany and Washington to provide funding for its initiatives to care for migrants. The Supreme Court upheld the pandemic emergency measure that had sent 2.5 million migrants away from the border despite legal objections. Still, border communities had been inundated by a flood of newcomers who had flocked to the border in anticipation of the policy's expiration. READ MORE: US Migrant Problem: New York Governor Kathy Hochul Urges Joe Biden to Take Notice of Massive 'Humanitarian Crisis' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover Watch: NYC Mayor Says Colorado Is Sending Migrants To NYC And Chicago - From 9NEWS Seventeen people have now died because of a bold attack on a state jail in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, located over the border of El Paso, Texas. AP noted that the attack looked like it was carried out to free the local gang's boss. According to security minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez, ten of those who died were prison guards ambushed by shooters who came early on Sunday in armored trucks and opened fire on the front door and inside the dormitories. The remaining seven were prisoners. The escaped prisoners were members of the Mexicles gang, which Rodriguez connected to the Caborca Cartel. She claimed that one of them was the leader of the Mexicles gang. For many years, it was known that the Mexicles collaborated with the Sinaloa Cartel and has been one of the principal gangs in Juarez for decades. Two other shooters who were killed after shooting at local police just before the attack on the prison, according to Sandoval, were probably just a diversion. They were not among the first 17 fatalities reported. READ NEXT: Mexico Border Prison Attack Kills 14, Allows 24 Juarez Prison Inmates to Escape Hunt for Mexico Prison Attack Escapees Turns Bloody As authorities hunted for 30 prisoners who launched a deadly jailbreak on Sunday, a shootout left at least seven people dead in Mexico. As state detectives searched for the fugitives, shooters opened fire on them, killing at least two. It is unknown if any of the escapees were part of the five shooters who were also killed in the shootout. Initially, authorities reported that around 20 prisoners had fled, but the director of the state prison system has since stated that "at least 30" prisoners had escaped. According to BBC, Ernesto Pion de la Cruz, also known as El Neto, the leader of the Mexicles gang, escaped. El Neto, 33, has been serving a term for kidnapping and murder for 14 years. His group tried to rescue him during a jail transfer in 2010, but it was unsuccessful, and he was hurt. He appears to have wielded considerable power from behind bars, where he lived in greater comfort than less well-connected inmates. An investigation of the prison allegedly "discovered" 10 "VIP cells," according to Mexico's minister of defense. A jacuzzi, plasma TV, and 1.7 million Mexican pesos ($87,000) in a safe were just a few luxuries in El Neto's cell. On top of the weapons, the police discovered 16 kilograms of marijuana, four kilograms of crystal meth, and 1.5 kilograms of heroin. Prison officials in Chihuahua have accused the federal government of negligence for failing to monitor the facility properly. In contrast, federal authorities have denied the state's requests to transfer El Neto to a federal facility with tighter security. Ciudad Juarez locals expressed fear to the media following the breakout. El Neto is blamed for a series of killings on "Black Thursday" in August 2022, when ten citizens with no ties to criminal gangs were murdered in the city. To stop him and the other fugitives from leaving the state, police are conducting checks at nearby airports and on major highways. Jail Director Fired Following Mexico Prison Attack As police began a search for missing convicts, Mexican authorities announced Tuesday that they had dismissed the director of the prison near the U.S. border. At least 30 inmates escaped over the weekend following a deadly riot, per US News. Chihuahuan border state prosecutors announced the dismissal of the prison's director, Alejandro Alvarado, and said he was being investigated for his potential role in the jailbreak. Meanwhile, the death toll from the events on Sunday was one of the highest from prison violence in Mexico in recent memory. READ MORE: New York Mayor Eric Adams Slaps Joe Biden With Harsh Reality of Migrant Crisis This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover Watch: Head of cartel in Juarez among 27 prison escapees - From KTSM 9 NEWS Controversial Representative-elect George Santos of New York came to the U.S. Capitol in Washington in hopes of being sworn in. However, he was swarmed by reporters upon his arrival and was shunned by fellow Republicans. According to the New York Times, the Republican representative-elect, who lied about his resume, particularly regarding his career, education, and Jewish background, spent his first day in Congress as an outcast. Santos had been ignoring calls and text messages all week and hiding from the public in Long Island and Queens. He only appeared briefly via several conservative outlets but kept on dodging interviews about him lying about his background. He finally came out of hiding on Tuesday to attend his first session in Congress. Reporters were waiting for him outside his new office in the Longworth Building, trying to have him answer several questions. Fellow House Republicans kept their distance from the embattled lawmaker, with Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin saying that "the guy who lied about his resume" has "demonstrated he doesn't have a grasp on the truth." Democrats are calling for him to resign, while members of his party have questioned him about his conduct. Federal prosecutors are now investigating Santos with the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York, which is looking into his finances and financial disclosures. The Republican district attorney for Nassau County is also reviewing the alleged embellishments on his resume. He is also in trouble in Brazil, as Brazilian authorities plan to revive fraud charges against him. It is related to a 2008 incident involving using a stolen checkbook and a false name. READ NEXT: Kevin McCarthy Loses House Speakership Vote for Third Straight Time; House Adjourns Without New Speaker George Santos Not Sworn-In as Speakership Drama Unfolded When George Santos arrived on Capitol Hill, he was expecting to be sworn in. All incoming members of the 118th Congress were scheduled to be sworn in following the vote for House speaker at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. However, the Republicans' division in the House speakership election preoccupied them and delayed Santos' swearing-in. Several senior House Republicans were fighting with each other on who should be the new Speaker of the House. Santos voted with the majority of Republicans in support of Kevin McCarthy. The House held three straight votes to elect a speaker during the session, with McCarthy failing to win all three times. Ohio Republican Jim Jordan is getting much support from a big part of the pro-Trump faction of the Republican party. Jordan managed to get 20 votes from far-right Republican members of the House Freedom Caucus on the third ballot. The race for House speakership has been placed on hold at the moment as the Congress adjourned without a House Speaker elected. The voting was set to resume Wednesday. Santos, the first openly gay GOP member to win a House seat as a nonincumbent, may not support the more radical members of the Republican far-right. The Associated Press reported that during much of the session, Santos sat by himself on the Republican side of the House floor and was often seen looking at his phone. George Santos Charged Donors to Attend His Swearing-in Ceremony George Santos remains a Representative-elect as he has yet to be sworn in. However, those who wanted to see him sworn in were told to pay. The Hill reported that the New York Republican has advertised to donors that they could pay between $100 and $500 to attend his swearing-in ceremony. It is part of a package that includes a round-trip bus ride from New York to Washington, D.C., a luncheon, and a tour of the Capitol grounds. The invitation has reportedly added more scrutiny for the embattled Republican, who faces fraud claims in Brazil and lies about his background. READ MORE: Donald Trump Tax Report Finally Released by House Ways and Means Committee This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: George Santos Shows up for His First Day of Work Amid Growing Scrutiny - From MSNBC Amber McLaughlin, who was convicted of a murder in 2003, was put to death by lethal injection in Missouri on Tuesday. She became the first openly transgender woman to be executed in the United States after the state governor denied her clemency. In a statement, the Missouri Department of Corrections said McLaughlin, 49, was "pronounced dead at 6:51 p.m." McLaughlin noted in her final statement released by the department of corrections: "I am sorry for what I did. I am a loving & caring person." CNN reported that McLaughlin's execution was the first in the U.S. this year, but it was unusual since women's executions in the country are already rare. USA Today reported that the Missouri convict spoke softly with a spiritual adviser at her side as the fatal dose of pentobarbital was administered. McLaughlin breathed several times heavily before shutting her eyes. She was pronounced dead after a few minutes. According to the non-profit organization Death Penalty Information Center, only 17 people had been executed before McLaughlin's execution since 1976, when the Supreme Court restored the death penalty after a brief suspension. The non-profit group confirmed that McLaughlin is the first openly transgender person to be executed in the country. READ NEXT: Missouri Federal Court Denies Teen's Request To Be at Her Father's Execution Missouri Convict Amber McLaughlin's Traumatic Childhood and Mental Health Problems The camp of Amber McLaughlin had petitioned Missouri's Republican governor Mike Parson for clemency last month, urging him to commute her death sentence. McLaughlin's lawyers asked for a life sentence without a chance of parole in place of capital punishment. The clemency request delves into several issues, including McLaughlin's traumatic early years and mental health problems, which the jury was unaware of during her trial. The petition noted that a foster parent put feces in her face when the petitioner was a child, and her adoptive father used a stun gun on her. It resulted in McLaughlin suffering from depression, and she even tried to take her own life several times. The petition also includes reports citing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, a condition characterized by emotional distress and anxiety when there is a conflict between a person's gender identity and assigned sex at birth. In confirming the State of Missouri in carrying out the death penalty sentence of McLaughlin, Parson said the family and loved ones of Beverly Guenther, who was murdered by McLaughlin, "deserve peace." "The State of Missouri will carry out McLaughlin's sentence according to the Court's order and deliver justice," the governor noted in a statement. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, five people in Missouri have been executed since Parson took office in June 2018 after he refused to grant clemency in each case. Missouri Convict Amber McLaughlin Case Amber McLaughlin has only transitioned while in prison. She was reportedly known as Scott McLaughlin at the time of trial and conviction. Before the murder, McLaughlin was in a relationship with Beverly Guenther, 45. However, after they broke up, McLaughlin sometimes showed up at her office in St. Louis and hid inside the building. According to court documents, Guenther decided to get a restraining order, and police sometimes escorted her to her car after work. Guenther's neighbors alerted the police on the evening of November 20, 2003, when she did not return home. When police went to Guenther's workplace, they found a trail of blood near her car and a broken knife handle. The following day, McLaughlin led police to an area on the Mississippi River in St. Louis, where the body of Guenther had been dumped. Guenther was reportedly raped and stabbed to death. After a lengthy trial, AP reported that McLaughlin was convicted of first-degree murder in 2006 and was sentenced to death after a jury deadlocked on the sentence. Fox News reported that a court ordered a new sentencing hearing in the same year, but a federal appeals court panel reinstated the death sentence in 2021. READ MORE: Scott Peterson Moved off California's Death Row 2 Years After Death Sentence Overturned in Killing of Pregnant Wife This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Missouri Executes Convicted Murderer Amber McLaughlin - From FOX 2 St. Louis A California Tesla driver was arrested after he drove his vehicle off a 250-foot cliff on purpose. Officials said it was an attempt to kill himself and his family. The 41-year-old driver was identified as Dharmesh Arvind Patel of Pasadena. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Patel, his wife, and their two children survived the crash and were rescued at Devil's Slide in San Mateo County. The CHP said Tuesday that Patel will face charges of attempted murder and child abuse once he is out of the hospital. The highway patrol noted that the Tesla vehicle was 250 to 300 feet down, with rescuers having to rappel down the cliff to get the two children, ages four and seven. Officials said a helicopter crew rescued the couple from the vehicle. Incident commander for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Brian Pottenger, noted that witnesses called 911 after the crash around 10:50 a.m. Monday. Pottenger said they were shocked to see survivable victims in the vehicle as the incident was "very, very rare" for people to survive such a steep fall. The incident commander added that the children's car seats may have saved their lives. READ NEXT: Scott Peterson's New Trial Hearing Canceled; Judge Did Not Cite Reason on Decision Tesla Vehicle Plunged Off a Cliff in California Dharmesh Arvind Patel was being treated for injuries he sustained from the crash. Pottenger said they always go over the Devil's Slide cliff since it is known for fatal crashes, and most of the drivers and passengers never live. The battalion chief described the incident as an "absolute miracle." Pottenger noted that the Tesla vehicle seemed to have flipped a few times before it landed on its wheels and wedged against the cliff. Investigators formed a "probable cause" to believe that the crash of the Tesla vehicle was "an intentional act" after looking at the evidence. However, authorities have not identified the Tesla vehicle's driving mode. Investigators do not believe the vehicle's driving mode contributed to the crash. The rescue operation took several hours as crews made an effort to free the four occupants from the car while waves were crashing on the rocks below the cliff. The children were reportedly lifted by hand in a rescue basket by rope while the couple was taken by helicopter. Devil's Slide Cliff in California In September 2021, a driver was killed when his car flew off Devil's Slide in Pacifica. The driver was identified as 73-year-old Anthony Colonnese Jr. of San Francisco. Colonnese was heading towards the Toms Lantos Tunnel when his car swerved into the opposite lane and drove off the cliff. Investigators noted that the car was recovered, with CHP investigating at the time what caused the driver to steer off the opposite lane and then off a cliff. Officer Mark Andrews noted that mechanical defects of the car could also contribute to the accident. The section of Highway 1 heading towards Half Moon Bay is considered to be a dangerous area. In 2020, two drivers were killed after sliding over a cliff near the same place. READ MORE: Scott Peterson Case Update: Convicted Murderer Moved Back to State Prison as He Awaits Next Court Hearing This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Driver Arrested for Intentionally Driving Tesla off NorCal Cliff, Injuring 3: CHP - From ABC7 News Bay Area While Mexico is known for spicy food, its people are also known for having a sweet tooth. Mexican pastries are quite unique, using Spanish techniques mixed with local ingredients. Mexico has a lot of legendary sweets, but we will tackle those famous sweet pastries rather than savory ones like meaty empanadas. Eating these pastries is a sweet way to start 2023 and may bring some sweetness into the new year. Mexico: 5 Mexican Pastries For Your Sweet Tooth Here are the five famous Mexican pastries many people really love, but no flan as it is not a pastry since it is considered more of a custard. Here are our picks. Tres Leches Cake When we talk about Latin cakes, there is certainly one that is mentioned more than any others: Pastel de Tres Leches or just Tres Leches. This moist and fluffy cake is simply a yellow sponge cake with three kinds of milk added: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and cream. It is then coated with some whipped cream. It is not all-milk, though, as Insanely Good Recipes pointed out that some variants add toppings like strawberries and cinnamon. Churros It's winter, and the cold weather may have you wanting to tuck inside a blanket and sip some hot chocolate. Churros seem to be the perfect Mexican pastry for this cold season, as this beloved Mexican classic is often consumed with either hot cocoa or melted chocolate. READ NEXT: Mexican Food: Top 5 Taco Varieties You Have to Try in Mexico Sopapillas Sopapillas are basically Mexico's answer to doughnuts. They are soft and pillowy on the inside and often have a slightly crispy exterior. These lovely fried pastries are often sprinkled with powdered sugar or lightly glazed with honey. Conchas Conchas are an extremely popular traditional Mexican sweet bread that was named after the conch shell for similarity in appearance, according to All Recipes.. Their exterior is quite colorful and crispy, while the inside is sweet and fluffy. The bread is often topped with a mixture of sugar, butter, and flour. Sometimes, food coloring is added to make them more colorful. These are akin to Japan's Melon Pan, a sweet bread topped with a mixture of sugar, butter, and flour. Orejas Orejas are a type of Mexican puff pastry cookie sold by panaderias all over Mexico. It takes inspiration from the French but has permeated Mexican culture, becoming one of the country's most loved desserts. According to The Other Side of the taco, it was introduced in the late 1800s when Mexican President Porfirio Diaz allowed French influence to grow into Mexican cuisine. It flourished in the country around the 1900s. READ MORE: Mexico: 5 Underrated Mexican Food That Are Not Tacos This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Tres Leches Cake - Original Mexican Recipe - From Miriam's Cuisine Royal sources have slammed Prince Harry's recent claims that the royal family had shown "no willingness to reconcile" with him. According to Daily Mail, royal insiders hit back at the Duke of Sussex, branding his claims "'nonsense" as he and his wife, Meghan Markle, had an open invitation to join the rest of the royal family last Christmas. A source told Mirror that the latest claim by Harry was "complete and unadulterated nonsense." Royal sources noted that King Charles III invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to spend Christmas with the rest of the family despite the release of their controversial Netflix docuseries where the couple launched a series of attacks on the royal family. The insiders noted that Charles has been "saddened" that he has not had the opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren, They also said that the king has always "left the door open for his son," Harry, and "will continue to do so." There have also been concerns regarding the upcoming memoir of the Duke of Sussex entitled "Spare," with one source saying that book will feature stinging attacks on Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. The source noted that the book will be "worse" for the Prince and Princess of Wales than the royal family expected. The insider added that Charles came out of the memoir "better than it had expected." Harry's memoir "Spare" was written by ghostwriter JR Moehringer. Some of the proceeds from the books will reportedly be donated to a charity of choice. READ NEXT: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Netflix Mansion in Montecito on Sale for a Whopping $33.5 Million Prince Harry's '60 Minutes' Interview Regarding Royal Family In the Duke of Sussex's "60 Minutes" interview with Anderson Cooper, he said every time he tried to address their decision to step back from their royal duties, there have been "briefings and plantings" of stories against him and his wife. Harry then cited their family motto: "never complain, never explain." He noted that it was just a motto and did not 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," he noted. He added: "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." In the Netflix docuseries, Harry claimed it was "heartbreaking" to see Prince William leave his promise to "never plant stories against him." He noted that they were first-hand witnesses of "what happened in our dad's office." Harry said in the docuseries that he meant the "constant briefings about other members of the family" and sending invitations to the press. He went on to describe the incident as a "dirty game." The Duke of Sussex further noted that if one's communication team wants to remove a negative story about them, they will give the press something about someone else's principle. Harry said it resulted in "offices end up working against each other." He concluded: "I would rather get destroyed in the press than play along with this game or business of trading. To see my brother's office copy the exact same thing the two of us promised we'd never do... that was heartbreaking." Prince Harry on King Charles III and Prince William In a recently released clip from his upcoming ITV interview, Prince Harry claimed that he would like to "get my father back" and his older brother, Prince William. In their Netflix docuseries, Harry also recounted when his brother did "scream and shout" at him while his father was saying things that were not true when he expressed his plan to move to America. He said the late Queen quietly sat there and just took it all in. In the ITV interview, Harry said he doubts there will be a true apology from his family. King Charles III has reportedly not watched the series but has been "deeply saddened" by the criticisms. But despite their strained bond, the king will reportedly still invite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to his coronation on May 6. 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: Prince Harry Discusses New Memoir In "60 Minutes" Interview - From CBS New York A process called genetic genealogy has reportedly played a significant role in identifying Bryan Kohberger as the Idaho murder suspect. A source close to the Idaho student murders probe told WPBF 25 News that it only took genetic genealogists a few days to identify Kohberger as the suspect. The source noted that the genealogy part of the investigation went quickly and smoothly. However, authorities initially had difficulty collecting DNA at a chaotic crime scene. Detectives scoured the house in Moscow, Idaho, where four college students, namely Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20, were found stabbed to death in their beds. Retired FBI special agent John MacVeigh told the outlet that the crime scene technicians probably had to separate the students and other people's DNA first to find the killer. "They're going to have to analyze that and... go through every droplet and things like that. Because if the suspect cut himself, he clearly wasn't bleeding as bad as they were. So you could have one droplet somewhere, and you're looking at a room and there's droplets all over the place... you're testing every single one of them," MacVeigh noted. Police said the unknown DNA sample was run through a public genealogy database. But authorities noted that the national CODIS DNA database came up empty, as Kohberger had no criminal history. Investigators reportedly had genetic genealogists post the samples to a public database like Family Tree DNA to see if any relatives matched up. Sources noted that genealogists then built a family tree using census records, birth and death records, and other clues until they formed a whole tree, including extended family going back generations. Genealogists then move from great, great-parents to living people to check who is the right age in the area that could be a possible suspect. Sources said authorities narrowed the possible suspects to Kohberger, the owner of a white Hyundai Elantra that was seen near the crime scene. From that point, the FBI began its investigation, tracking Kohberger and collecting some discarded items with his DNA on them that police positively matched to the crime scene. READ NEXT: Idaho Killings Suspect Tracked; Family Vows to 'Promote His Presumption of Innocence' Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Agrees to Extradition During his court hearing on Tuesday in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, the 28-year-old man accused of killing four students from the University of Idaho in November agreed to be extradited to Idaho. Authorities said Bryan Kohberger is unlikely to fly back to Idaho Tuesday night as different agencies involved in the case are still finalizing who will transport him and how. Major Christopher Paris of the Pennsylvania State Police did not estimate when the extradition would happen, but he did say it would happen within the 10-day window set by the court. Kohberger was a Ph.D. student in Washington State University's criminal justice and criminology department. He was arrested Friday in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains on first-degree murder and burglary charges. In a statement, his attorney, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, said Kohberger "is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible." LaBar told ABC News that the death penalty is on the table. Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Updates Car Title Five Days After Killings According to a Carfax report, five days after the Idaho student murders, the title of the white Hyundai Elantra used by suspect Bryan Kohberger was updated. On Tuesday night, Nicole Hernandez of KREM 2 News tweeted that she and her colleagues looked up the vehicle's VIN Number using the license plate in the body cam footage released by Indiana State Police. Crime Online reported that they got the Carfax report by using the VIN Number. According to Hernandez's screenshots, the car was last purchased in 2019 in Pennsylvania, where Bryan Kohberger resides. Both the November 2020 and November 2021 screenshots show the car registration being "issued or renewed" in Pennsylvania. Screenshots of the report also showed the vehicle's "title was issued or updated" in Pullman, Washington State, on November 18, 2022, or only five days after the four students were murdered. A notation that the registration was updated when the vehicle's owner moved to a new location is included in the report. Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, was where Kohberger pursued his doctorate. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing website, a new license plate can be obtained "right away" if the Vehicle Title Application is submitted in person at a vehicle licensing office. In the body cam footage, the white Hyundai Elantra driven by Bryan Kohberger had a Washington state license plate. READ MORE: University of Idaho Murder Victim's Mom Feels 'Left in the Dark' on Police Investigation, Fears Case Could Go Unsolved This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Spotted for First Time Since Arrest - From FOX 13 Seattle A Laois animal welfare organisation has added to calls for people to secure their dogs. Laois Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(LSPCA) said it has been inundated with messages about lost and found dogs over the Christmas and New Year with some entering farm land. Late last year gardai issued a warning to dog owners to keep their pets under control. The Irish Farmers Association(IFA) and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association both urged people to control their dogs. In December sheep were killed by dogs on a farm in Ballybrophy and around 50 sheep were killed in a dog attack in neighbouring Offaly while a dozen were killed in kildare. Over the Christmas and New Year we have been inundated with messages about lost and found dogs, some of which have gone onto farmland where there are sheep. It is very important to make sure your dog is secure and can't wander off your property, Laois SPCA said on social media. Over the Christmas and New Year we have been inundated with messages about lost and found dogs, some of which have gone onto farmland where there are sheep. It is very important to make sure your dog is secure and can't wander off your property. pic.twitter.com/kDxRAb7dVf Laois SPCA (@LaoisSPCA) January 3, 2023 Also important to keep your dog on a lead when they are off your own property. Lambing season will be starting soon and farmers need to protect their sheep and not have pregnant ewes stressed. Please be a responsible dog owner, Laois SPCA added. A new entitlement to employer-paid sick leave has come into effect today (January 3). Workers across Ireland will now be entitled to up to three days of employer-paid sick leave in a year paid at 70% of gross salary up to a cap of 110 per day. According to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, it is "the latest in a series of improvements" to the rights and social protections of workers and the self-employed. He said, "As with all workers rights legislation, this new law sets out the minimum standard that an employer must provide. Many employers have superior sick pay schemes to help attract and retain staff or on foot of an agreement with a trade union." Where an employee has an extended period of illness, the scheme will operate alongside the existing illness benefit system which begins on day four of an absence. Once an employee has exhausted their entitlement to employer-paid sick leave, they will move onto this system if eligible. In addition, the National Minimum Wage today increased from 10.50 to 11.30 per hour. This 80 cent, or 7.6%, increase will see someone on the National Minimum Wage working a 39-hour week receiving a pay increase of 31.20 per week (more than 120 per month or 1,600 per year). The minister said the increase is an important step in the progression to a living wage. He said, "Government has agreed to introduce a living wage by January 2026. This 80-cent increase will see at least an estimated 164,700 people get a boost to their wages. Corresponding increases have been made for those aged under 20. I look forward to receiving the Low Pay Commissions recommendations on these youth rates later this year." The family of a woman found dead in Cork city are on track to raise 50,000 to assist in the repatriation of her body to her home in Brazil. Bruna Fonseca, 28, was killed on New Years Day, just months after she moved to Ireland. The fundraiser, set up by family member Maria Luiza Fonseca, was launched on Tuesday and within 24 hours it had already raised almost 48,000 euro in donations. Meanwhile, a vigil in memory of Ms Fonseca will take place at 10am on Sunday at The Lough in Cork. Those attending have been asked to wear white, and to bring candles and white roses. Ms Fonseca was socialising with friends in Cork on New Years Eve and was found dead at a flat in Liberty Street at 6.30am the following day. A man has appeared in court charged with her murder. Miller Pacheco, 29, appeared before a special court sitting on Monday evening. Ms Fonsecas death takes the number of women who have died in violent circumstances in Ireland to 254 since 1996. Sarah Benson, chief executive of Womens Aid, said the death of Ms Fonseca is a shocking start to 2023. Especially as 2022 was a terrible year for violence against women both in Ireland and globally, Ms Benson said. Just less than one year ago, the nation reacted strongly to the killing of another young woman, Ashling Murphy. Eleven women have since lost their lives in violent circumstances. In the aftermath of Ashlings death, there has been an outpouring of feelings, fears and emotions in Irish society, particularly for women, with conversation focused on the question of why violence against women happens and how we can end it. Womens Aid believes that every person and organisation has a role to play, including by calling out casual sexist comments and putting in place workplace policies on sexual harassment and domestic violence. The focus needs to be on intervention that tackles gender inequality, including how children are socialised from birth and the role this plays in relationships. Equality and respect must be embedded in the school curriculum and in all policies across society. With the new national strategy on tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, we do have the ingredients provided we have the investment, resources and commitment at government level to do whats in the plan. This is urgent and the stakes are very high because we also know that 254 women in Ireland have now died to violence since our records began in 1996. Every woman should have the right to be safe, both in their own homes and in their communities. We need zero-tolerance to all forms of male violence against women and it will take all of us to commit to lasting change. This includes men who must act as allies in tackling misogyny and inequality. There needs to be an investment in resources for education to change attitudes and we need an improved criminal justice system that better protects women. If we do this, we will ultimately create a more equal and safer society for everyone men and women alike. A mural calling for an end to the killing of women has also appeared in Dublin. The mural, created by street artist Emmalene Blake, shows a woman appearing to defend herself with the words Stop Killing Women written across her arms. Ms Benson said the image conveys a clear fundamental statement. We welcome these creative acts of expression that amplify the pressing need for activism to end male violence against women, she added. Different modes of communication help to connect with wider audiences and ending violence does require a whole community response. Womens Aid offers a 24-hour national freephone helpline on 1800 341 900, open seven days a week. Male advice can be found on the freephone number 1800 816588, or at mensnetwork.ie/mal/ or stillhere.ie. Join in is the message from the team at Abbeyleix Bog are starting the new year on the front foot with a new project to improve accessibility to people who want enjoy the wonderful Laois amenity. Volunteers are being sought for infrastructure upgrade and maintenance in start on Saturday, 7 January 2023. "We will add a third sleeper to and a galvanised grid on top of the remaining 550 metres of bog-bridge on the southwestern (Killamuck) side, as well as adding a new 200 metres of bog-bridge. "The work will be undertaken by the Abbeyleix Bog volunteers. There are more than enough tasks and jobs for all abilities," they say. Work begin last November when great progress in clearing brush and Rhododendron along the bog-bridge on the southwestern side in preparation for an upgrade and widening. Last March work was carried out on the upgrade the first section of bog-bridge on the western edge of the project, by adding a third sleeper to the width. Abbeyleix Bog is a community-led conservation project, covering 200 hectares of various natural habitats near the centre of the Laois Heritage Town. A big project in 2022 was rehabilitation work in three cutaway areas. The work involved the construction of 3.5 km of bunds or berms, together with nearly 160 individual peat dams in old drains in areas where turf was cut previously. The creation of nearly 3,000 dams were created 13 years ago played a major part in the bog's rehabilitation. The aim in 2022 was to rewet of the areas by retaining as much water as possible. The bog team says rewetting to surface level will create conditions favourable for the establishment and re-growth of Sphagnum mosses, the building blocks of peatlands. The impact in certain areas was almost immediate. The work is made possible through 75,000 in funding from the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme of Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Abbeyleix Bog always welcomes volunteers to geet involved with more than enough tasks and jobs for all abilities. If you feel like joining in send an email to info@abbeyleixbog.ie or have a chat with team members Ricky Whelan, Garry Luttrell, Fiona Dunne, Kris Uys, Hugh Shepherd or Joe Cahill. It was saved from the Bord na Mona peat machines some 20 years ago and is now an award winning project which has become model of conservation in Ireland and abroad. Now the project is hugely popular with local people, tourists and conservationists. The Project team say they always welcome visitors, especially walkers, photography enthusiasts, nature and wildlife hobbyists and families who love the outdoors. Naas General Hospital (NGH) has officially imposed visiting restrictions, due to 'high levels of COVID-19 and flu in the community.' The announcement follows after NGH recently stressed that its emergency department has been experiencing a high level of attendance and admissions in recent days. Management at NGH had asked patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service, such as their local Pharmacist, Minor Injury Clinics, GP, or the GP out-of-hours service. It also follows after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) yesterday called for 'serious intervention' by the government to tackle overcrowding in hospitals across Ireland. In its latest statement, the hospital has said that there is strictly one visit per day from one person only and visits can be no longer than 30 minutes in length. Visiting times from Monday to Sunday: are from 2pm to 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm (one per day, 30 mins max). Management added that visitors to the hospital must: Check in with security Wear a surgical face mask Use hand gel Keep social distancing Not attend if you have any cold/flu/COVID symptoms NGH added that visiting the Moate ward is 'on a compassionate basis only, and staff will continue to liaise with individuals and families to accommodate this.' For up-to-date guidelines on visiting patients at each hospital, please visit: https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospital-service-disruptions/hospital-service-disruptions-covid19.html NGH's management concluded its latest statement by saying that it would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thanked the public for their understanding and consideration. The proposal by the government to accommodate Ukrainians displaced by the Russian militarys invasion of Ukraine proved to be a massive point of contention in Kildare. A number of factors have been cited by both Kildare residents and politicians as reasons why the sites were unsuitable, with occasional far-right discourse making its way into the discussion, which was criticised by local councillors. The three main sites in Kildare that have been proposed by the Department of Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are located in Newbridge, Rathangan and Kill. NEWBRIDGE Things came to a head in Newbridge when it was reported back in August that Sinn Fein (SF) representatives were seeking a separate meeting with Minister Roderic OGorman and his department, regarding the installation of 30 modular homes at Lakeside Park, with other homes proposed for Beechgrove, Rathangan. On August 25, over 100 people gathered at a heated meeting in the Lakeside Park/Highfield/Dara Park (LHD) area to express their concerns over modular homes for Ukrainian refugees being placed there. The meeting was spearheaded by local resident Noreen O' Shea. The majority of residents said they did not have an issue with the presence of Ukrainian refugees, but instead took issue with placing them in an area with issues ranging from sewage to flooding problems, concerns about lack of garda vetting, and anti-social behaviour fears. There were also concerns about the proposed development encroaching on green space. Many of the residents were visibly upset and frustrated by a lack of local consultation. The lack of political representatives, aside from Fianna Fails Cllr Noel Heavey and two SF representatives who appeared on behalf of Patricia Ryan TD, was widely criticised at the meeting. The meeting subsequently led to the formation of the LHD Action Group, an organisation made up of LHD residents to put pressure on Minister O Gorman and his department to scrap their plans for the area. RATHANGAN Shortly after the Newbridge meeting, a meeting between local representatives and residents at Beechgrove in Rathangan was held in Rathangan Community Hall on August 31 last. Between 80 and 90 people attended the meeting, which was chaired by local resident Aine Donegan, in the towns community centre. Cllr Mark Stafford (LEFT) and Minister Martin Heydon TD (RIGHT) were among the attendees at a public meeting in Rathangan. Ms Donegan listed a number of reasons why the community objected to the development, which echoed similar complaints made by residents with the LHD Action Group. Attending the meeting on the date in question were Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon and his colleague, Cllr Mark Stafford. At the end of the meeting, the attendees were given assurance by Minister Heydon that officials with Minister O Gormans department will meet with the residents, and said that it will happen soon. Ms Donegan also urged those in attendance to make their voices known at an upcoming peaceful protest in Newbridge, being held by the LHD Action Group. POSTPONEMENTS Just two days later, the first protest was briefly postponed pending the outcome of the meeting with Minister Roderic O Gorman and the Office of Public Works (OPW). Former LHD member and resident Tom McDonnell said at the time: "We have been given assurances from the Minister that no construction works will take place in the interim. "We welcome the commitment from the Minister to engage with the LHD Action Group." Another LHD member, Angela Ni Fhicnaigh, later told the Leinster Leader that a certain number of people planned to turn up to Ballymany (where the starting point of the planned protest was to be held) despite the postponement, but she added that the LHD Action Group 'has no affiliation with them and we distance ourselves from them.' Then, on September 9, the group was told by Minister O Gorman and his department that the construction of the proposed modular homes in Newbridge had been postponed. The proposed construction for homes in Rathangan was also postponed on September 15. On September 20, LHD member Noreen OShea said in a statement that due to a lack of response from the government, the group would plan a new protest, which was later decided following a meeting held by the LHD Action Group. A number of protests were then held by the group that went through the town of Newbridge, starting on October 1, although one of them drew criticism on social media due to the attendance of far-right figure Derek Blighe. Mr McDonnell told the Leader at the time that the group would continue protesting 'until we get it in writing that there will be nothing built on our greens.' CURRAGH CAMP On October 26, Minister O' Gormans Dept said that it didnt rule out refurbishing vacant buildings in the Curragh Camp for displaced Ukrainians. Independent TD Dr Cathal Berry, who is also a former member of the Army Ranger Wing in the Defence Forces, discussed the potential refurbishment of buildings in the Curragh Camp on RTE Radio 1. He said that while the buildings would be 'very palatable' to house displaced Ukrainians, he stressed that 'there needs to be communication with the local population and local community, it can only take place with their consent.' His sentiments were echoed by Deputy Martin Heydon, who told Kildare FM radio station that he 'would expect' certain army barracks to be used to accommodate displaced Ukrainians. On November 18, Angela Ni Fhicnaigh sent in a video to the Leinster Leader showing extensive flooding in the LHD area following heavy rainfall. SITE IN KILL In early November, it was revealed that another proposed site for the placement of modular homes to help displaced Ukrainians would be the former Equestrian Centre in Kill. This drew concerns from local residents, which resulted in a consultation between local residents and politicians on November 4, similar to those seen in Rathangan and Newbridge. Two days later, on Sunday night, November 6, a fire broke out in a shed at the back of the privately-owned Kill Equestrian Centre. Gardai later said that an investigation was underway into the cause of the fire. Following the initial consultation, a number of protests were held by Kill residents during November, including one which saw 50 vehicles on Sunday, November 27, take part in a slow drive protest which left from St Brigids parish church in the village. The cars travelled through Johnstown and into Naas. A slow drive protest involving up to 50 cars against proposed modular homes, which took place in Kill back in November. A flood of ads featuring bikini-clad sunbathers, intrepid explorers and kids splashing about in the sea can mean only one thing: the summer holiday sales are in full swing. Tour operators, hotels and airlines are urging us to bag a bargain, and the thought of getting an exotic escape in the diary is highly appealing during one of the greyest months of the year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TravelSupermarket (@travelsupermarket) As we enter the new year and Blue Monday and winter weather hits home, its no wonder January is always a popular time to book a holiday, says Sebastien Texier, travel expert at Hopper. But is now really the optimal time to secure a summer getaway or could you save money by waiting for a last minute deal further down the line? We asked travel experts to weigh in and offer their tips on how to make the most of the January sales Book early to avoid disappointment Travel gurus are in agreement: theres no time to waste if you want to lock in your dream holiday at the lowest possible price. Definitely get on and book quickly, suggests Cat Jones, founder and CEO of slow travel company Byway. She says the last two years have been complete mayhem with people waiting until the middle of the year to book their summer holiday. People have gone Surely I must be able to go somewhere in Europe in August, and its just not been possible. Lee Thompson, co-founder of solo travel company, Flash Pack, agrees, saying: Waiting to book your holiday until later in the year means you have fewer options, and might have to choose lower quality hotels at a much higher price point in destinations that arent as exclusive. For example, our trip to see the popular cherry blossoms in Japan for April has already almost sold out. In fact, around 20% of all our January bookings so far have been for December next year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Flash Pack (@flashpack) Indeed, if you can plan ahead for 2024 now youll fare even better, says Texier: The cheapest time to bag a holiday bargain tends to be at the end of the year in November and December when demand is at its lowest. But you can still take advantage of new year savings for this summer, he says, citing European city breaks as an example: Prices for trips to Krakow or Berlin are set to rise 30% between now and April. Compare before you buy A word of warning on so-called deals, says Jessie Moore, founder of luxury travel blog Pocket Wanderings. Often travel companies will inflate their prices after Christmas, only to then add a big discount. So although it may look like youre getting a great deal, thats not always the case. Thats why its important to compare prices instead of leaping at the first offer you see. My best piece of advice is to simply shop around, so you can gauge whether youre getting a genuinely good deal or not, Moore says. Planes, trains and sustainable travel If youre not opting for a package holiday, Thompson says its best to look at flights first. Flights are extremely expensive right now, so looking for the best options through companies such as Jacks Flight Club, will help guide you on where you can travel to at a price you can afford. Some airlines use dynamic pricing, meaning ticket costs vary in the run up to departure. Texier advises: Some apps and websites let you set price alerts for the destinations and dates youre looking to jet off to, so youll always know when holidays are at their cheapest for your dates. If youre keen to take the low-carbon route, its worth knowing popular train routes can sell out months in advance. Theres been a huge rise in demand for sleeper trains over the last year or two, says Jones. [Rail companies] are introducing new routes, but there arent enough routes yet to meet the demand that there is if you can book in January, you can [hopefully] grab those trains. Hotels and booking sites View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hotels.com (@hotelsdotcom) Theres one exception to the always book early rule, and thats with hotels, says Moore. Aggregator sites like booking.com often offer an option for a 24 to 72 hour cancellation policy. As a result, hotels frequently get last minute cancellations, opening up cheaper stays to last minute bookers. However, there are some advantages to reserving rooms direct with the property. Booking sites charge hotels hefty fees, so hotels will do what they can to encourage you to book direct and this often means more attractive prices, Moore continues. If you do finder a cheaper price elsewhere, then I recommend contacting the hotel to see if they will price match. Youre also more likely to get a room upgrade if you book direct, but on the other hand you could take advantage of booking site loyalty schemes: They often have their own loyalty programmes, saving you money in the long-run if you book with them regularly, meaning youre not limited to one particular hotel brand to gain loyalty points. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling on the government to provide supplemented emergency supports to hospitals nationwide. According to the INMO's latest Trolley Watch report, all hospitals across the country are experiencing overcrowding today (January 4). Over 900 admitted patients waited on trolleys yesterday (January 3), marking the highest figure since records began, with over 800 patients remaining on trolleys today. Nineteen admitted patients currently waiting for beds in hospital are children under the age of 16. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said, "We again repeat our call for the current approach of telling people just to avoid hospitals to cease The focus should be on providing supplemented emergency supports until the end of February. "It is time for the Government to call this what it clearly is an out and out crisis. A crisis warrants an extraordinary response from Government and the HSE. "When nurses who are at the frontline dealing directly with patients and often the ones apologising to patients and their families on behalf of the State because of the chaotic conditions are calling on the Government to take action including but not limited to the immediate cessation of all non-urgent activity and the introduction of a time-limited mask mandate, then it must not continue to fall on deaf ears." Seventy six patients are currently waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick, with 65 at Sligo University Hospital, 62 at Cork University Hospital, and 51 at University Hospital Galway. Ms Ni Sheaghdha described conditions for patients as "most undignified". She said, "This is not the type of care they should be providing in a country that has the resources to provide additional capacity and support. "Nurses and other healthcare staff cannot continue to weather this storm without adequate support and protection from their employer, it will add to the increasing intention to leave of staff which is exactly what this health service does not need." Irelands data watchdog has fined Facebooks parent company Meta Ireland 390 million euro as a row erupted over whether further investigation of the use of peoples data is warranted. Meta Ireland was fined 210 million euro for breaches of EU data privacy rules relating to Facebook, and 180 million euro for breaches on Instagram. Meta said it was disappointed by the decision and intends to appeal against both the substance of the rulings and the fines. Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) is also to seek a court order to side-step a problematic direction from the European Data Protection Board to investigate Facebook and Instagrams data processing operations further, which it said could be an overreach. This comes after a disagreement between the Irish watchdog and the EU data authority on the level of fines against Meta Ireland over a lack of transparency over how users data would be processed, and whether a contract was entered into between users and the company to allow their data to be used for personalised ads. Two complainants had argued that Meta Ireland was forcing them to consent to their personal data being used for behavioural advertising and other services by making the use of its social medias conditional on accepting its terms of service. The complainants argued this was in breach of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Meta Ireland argued that on accepting the updated terms of service, a contract was entered into between it and the user, and that processing users data for its Facebook and Instagram services was necessary for the performance of that contract. The complainants maintained that contrary to Meta Irelands position, Meta Ireland was in fact still looking to rely on consent to provide a lawful basis for its processing of users data. The DPCs draft decisions found that Meta Ireland was in breach of GDPR in that users personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner, and said users had insufficient clarity as to what processing operations were being carried out on their personal data. But it also found the forced consent aspect of the complaints could not be sustained, and GDPR did not preclude Meta Irelands reliance on the contract legal basis. The draft decisions were submitted to its peer regulators in the EU, also known as Concerned Supervisory Authorities (CSAs). On the question of whether Meta Ireland had acted in contravention of its transparency obligations, the CSAs agreed with the DPCs decisions, but said the fines proposed by the DPC should be increased. Ten of the 47 CSAs said Meta Ireland should not be permitted to rely on the contract as a legal basis as personalised advertising were not necessary to perform the core elements of a much more limited form of contract. The DPC disagreed, reflecting its view that the Facebook and Instagram services include, and indeed appear to be premised on, the provision of a personalised service that includes personalised or behavioural advertising, the DPC said. In effect, these are personalised services that also feature personalised advertising. In the view of the DPC, this reality is central to the bargain struck between users and their chosen service provider, and forms part of the contract concluded at the point at which users accept the terms of service. The matter was referred to the EDPB, which ruled on December 31 that Meta Ireland was not entitled to rely on the contract as providing a lawful basis to process personal data for behavioural advertising. Accordingly, the DPCs decisions include findings that Meta Ireland is not entitled to rely on the contract legal basis in connection with the delivery of behavioural advertising as part of its Facebook and Instagram services, and that its processing of users data to date, in purported reliance on the contract legal basis, amounts to a contravention of Article 6 of the GDPR, the DPC said. Meta Ireland has been directed to bring its data processing operations into compliance within three months. A Meta spokesperson said in a statement that it strongly believes its approach respects GDPR and it intends to appeal against the decision. These decisions do not prevent targeted or personalised advertising on our platform, it said. The decisions relate only to which legal basis Meta uses when offering certain advertising. Advertisers can continue to use our platforms to reach potential customers, grow their business and create new markets. There has been a lack of regulatory clarity on this issue, and the debate among regulators and policymakers around which legal basis is most appropriate in a given situation has been ongoing for some time. Thats why we strongly disagree with the DPCs final decision, and believe we fully comply with GDPR by relying on contractual necessity for behavioural ads given the nature of our services. As a result, we will appeal the substance of the decision. The Data Protection Commission also said that it intends to take legal action to annul an EDPB direction to examine data processing at Instagram and Facebook further. It said: Separately, the EDPB has also purported to direct the DPC to conduct a fresh investigation that would span all of Facebook and Instagrams data processing operations and would examine special categories of personal data that may or may not be processed in the context of those operations. The DPCs decisions naturally do not include reference to fresh investigations of all Facebook and Instagram data processing operations that were directed by the EDPB in its binding decisions. The EDPB does not have a general supervision role akin to national courts in respect of national independent authorities and it is not open to the EDPB to instruct and direct an authority to engage in open-ended and speculative investigation. The direction is then problematic in jurisdictional terms, and does not appear consistent with the structure of the co-operation and consistency arrangements laid down by the GDPR. To the extent that the direction may involve an overreach on the part of the EDPB, the DPC considers it appropriate that it would bring an action for annulment before the Court of Justice of the EU in order to seek the setting aside of the EDPBs directions. Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has called on the government to recall the Dail immediately to deal with the crisis in our hospitals. The Deputy also wants Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to immediately enlist private hospitals to help alleviate pressure on the public system. The Dail must be recalled to discuss this national emergency. As public representatives we need to hear the Minister account for himself and the government and explain why, for instance, he is not fully utilising the capacity of the private hospitals. They have that extra capacity, expertise and beds that are badly needed at the moment. Why is he not using them and pressing them into service straight away? The fact that some people are scared to go to hospital, no matter how ill they are, is indicative of the depth of the crisis. The public is alarmed and the government should be equally alarmed. Meanwhile, all Minister Donnelly has to say is that things are about to get even worse, she said, this is not a policy response and it is certainly cold comfort to the patients lying on trolleys and the overworked staff in these hospitals who are at breaking point in the face of the tsunami overwhelming them. Today, Sligo University Hospital has 65 people on trolleys waiting for beds. With a capacity of 350 beds this means that the hospital is at 118% capacity, the worst in the country despite the headline figures quoted for other hospitals, for example Limerick at 113% capacity. There is a full-blown crisis across the public hospital system and yet some private beds are lying empty. Ms Harkin said the Dail must be afforded the opportunity to demand an immediate response from the government to the crisis. We must remember this crisis is about vulnerable people who may die for want of health care on the watch of this government. And people will continue to die in the days and months ahead because of the care they are not getting now. Poor health outcomes will affect other patients for months and years because of delayed interventions, delays caused by a system that is not fit for purpose and on the verge of collapse. It is an indictment of the hospital system that some people who urgently need health care are too frightened to entrust themselves to the services that are meant to provide this care. We need urgent action now, this is a national emergency and in that context the Dail must be recalled, Deputy Harkin said. Sligo University Hospital, like hospitals right around the country, is experiencing significantly high levels of activity with large numbers of people presenting to the Emergency Departments. In a statement issued to the Leitrim Observer, Sligo University Hospital (SUH) acknowledged that many of those attending need to be admitted for ongoing treatment which is leading to pressure on bed availability. The high levels of flu, Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses are also impacting on bed capacity across the hospital. These ongoing pressures are resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the ED who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward. At the time of going to press, the hospital was treating 24 patients with Covid-19, 19 patients with flu and was also managing four outbreak wards. At present visits to outbreak wards are on compassionate grounds only, and all visitors are asked to contact the ward manager in advance. Given the pressures on the hospital, SUH are appealing to the public that visiting times to all other wards is 6-8pm and also reminding the public not to visit the hospital if you have any symptoms of flu or Covid-19 or feel unwell. We would also remind the public of services available through Community Pharmacies, GPs and GP Out of Hours Services for those whose health problem is not of an emergency nature, concluded the SUG statement. The HSE has acknowledged that health services across the country are under pressure. Yesterday, Tuesday, January 3, the HSE appealed to members of the public to consider all care options before going to a hospital Emergency Department (ED) during what is shaping up to be one of the busiest ever periods experienced by the health service. The statement from the HSE acknowledged some patients will experience long wait times in EDs, but said urgent cases will be prioritised for treatment and care. Damien McCallion, the HSEs Chief Operations Officer said: As expected, Emergency Departments are becoming extremely busy due to the unprecedented combination of very high levels of flu, Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses in the community. Those who believe they may be seriously ill and require emergency care should of course come to hospital, but we would urge others to consider seeking support from pharmacists, GPs, GP Out of Hours Services and Minor Injury Units. His comments came as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) urged the HSE to do everything necessary to protect the physical and mental wellbeing of nurses and midwives who are struggling with increased demands on hospitals. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: Our hospitals have never seen this level of activity at this time of year with high levels of overcrowding impacting care in hospitals large and small. Our fragile health service is being held together by an exhausted and burnt-out workforce. We know anecdotally that many rosters are depleted due to illness. We know that our public health system is not equipped to deal with providing emergency care, Covid care and elective care at the same time. The HSE must outline both locally and nationally what resources they are utilising from the private sector from now until the end of February. The health service, both public and private, must work as one. Our members are working in situations that are extraordinarily dangerous. There is now a real concern that nurses cannot provide safe care when conditions are so difficult, and rosters so stretched. The HSE must do everything that is necessary to protect the physical and mental wellbeing of our nursing workforce at this challenging time. Pressure on Out of hours doctor services Locally out-of-hours doctor services NoWDOC and Caredoc have also experienced their busiest Christmas period in years. One local doctor said that he had never seen NoWDOC so busy in its 17 years of existence. The HSE said GP out-of-hours (OOH) services across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of patient activity as a result of persistent levels of raised respiratory infections in the community. One local doctor told the paper I did a shift in the NoWDOC centre in Carrick on December 27 and it was certainly as busy as I've ever seen it, even with an extra doctor on duty. The HSE have asked GPs to consider putting on extra evening clinics after their normal working hours and also some Saturday morning clinics but I cannot see any uptake on this locally as the demand is already so great in normal hours and all the local GPs are on the rota to do out of hours shifts in NoWDOC as well. It is predicted that the weeks ahead will be extremely busy and all efforts are being made, however please expect to wait in a queue to have your call managed during our peak times, the HSE warned in a statement issued just before the New Year. The Cabinet is to be updated on the pressures hospitals are facing after the Health Minister warned that the situation is likely to get worse in the coming weeks. Nurses union the INMO counted a record high of 931 people waiting on hospital trolleys yesterday, with 767 waiting for a bed in emergency departments (EDs). After visiting two hospital EDs in Dublin on Tuesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was unacceptable that some people are sleeping on floors and waiting in chairs for a bed. He said he would be updating the Cabinet, and meeting with senior HSE officials on Friday. Mr Donnelly said that despite unprecedented permanent investment in the healthcare sector including 950 extra hospital beds, extra ICU capacity and community beds, and thousands of additional staff a perfect storm of factors has used these additional resources. Infection prevention control measures around Covid has used up beds, and a huge wave of RSV is now in decline, but Mr Donnelly said they want to see it continue to fall further. Speaking outside Beaumont Hospital on Tuesday night, Mr Donnelly said: But what Im hearing this week, what I was hearing last week, and what Im hearing here today and then in Vincents today, is that the flu wave is very severe, its hit earlier than it normally would. In spite of unprecedented additional public capacity we put in, and we will continue to add that, this perfect storm of Covid, RSV, the flu, unfortunately has put pressure on us here in Ireland, in the UK as well. Mr Donnelly said the pressure on hospitals is likely to get worse as the HSE does not believe that the flu wave has yet peaked. Top-up your immunity with the COVID-19 and flu vaccines to make sure you're protected in the months ahead. If you are pregnant, book an appointment to receive your COVID-19 and flu vaccines: https://t.co/InLljQZKY2#FluVaccine | #COVIDVaccine pic.twitter.com/2Ev9VLbEOw HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 4, 2023 He said: Well have more up-to-date figures tomorrow and the following day, well have live indicative figures for this week in two days time that will really help us understand where were at with Covid, where were at with the flu. He said the use of all available private capacity private hospitals, private diagnostics as well as home care support, and additional hours by GPs are being provided. He said that discharge options to community nursing units and home support beds are also being considered. The HSE has asked those who need medical care or assessment to consider all options before going to an A&E during what it said will be the busiest ever period experienced by the health service. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said nurses were treating patients in inhumane and often unsafe conditions and called on a mask mandate to be introduced in congregated settings. But Mr Donnelly said that chief medical officer Breda Smyth had not advised that such a mandatory mask rule was required. The public health advice to Government, to me at the moment, it is not a move to mask mandates, but obviously we will keep the situation under review on a daily and on a weekly basis, he said. The Cabinet is due to meet at 11am on Wednesday. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is urging parents to keep sick children at home due to high levels of respiratory viruses in the community. Professor Breda Smyth made the appeal as flu, Covid-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remains prevalent across Ireland, with the viruses accounting for more than over 1,000 hospitalisations last week. Speaking today (January 4), she said, "As schools and childcare facilities re-open after the Christmas break, I am urging parents to be vigilant for symptoms of respiratory viruses in children. If your child has any new-onset flu-like symptoms such as congestion, cough, runny nose or high temperature, parents should continue to be mindful of others and, if possible, keep their children at home from school or childcare facilities. "Children should be kept at home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have fully or substantially resolved. The vast majority of respiratory illnesses can be treated successfully at home with over-the-counter medication. There is very good advice on the HSE website, Under the Weather. "However, parents should trust their instincts and seek medical attention if required." To aid the overburdened healthcare system, people are being urged to help reduce the spread of infection by practising good respiratory etiquette, cleaning hands, wearing masks on public transport and in crowded places, and ensuring good ventilation where possible. Eligible people can also still receive a flu vaccine, which takes two weeks to become effective. She said, "As we are still in the middle of flu season, I am appealing to parents to please consider the flu vaccine for your child. Its a nasal spray and is administered free of charge by GPs and pharmacists. "I would also encourage people to keep up to date with their Covid-19 vaccines and please make an appointment for a booster if you are eligible." Ivorian writer Tanella Boni. OUMEYA EL OUADIE/EDITIONS BRUNO DOUCEY A novelist, philosopher, poet and professor emeritus at the University Felix-Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Tanella Boni is a prolific observer of the reality for people in her native Cote d'Ivoire. Alongside her academic output, she also looks at current affairs, as seen in her latest novel, Sans Parole ni Poignee de Main ("With Neither a Word Nor a Handshake"), which revisits the toxic waste scandal that rocked Cote d'Ivoire in 2006. What's the first contact with France that you remember? Tanella Boni It wasn't the first contact, because at least 90% of my teachers in high school were French, but here's the first memory that comes back to me. I must have been about 15 years old when I received an award in high school that allowed me to make my first trip to France. It was my first time on a plane and I arrived in Paris with a number of Africans from Senegal, Madagascar, Niger and Benin which was Dahomey at that time. We were welcomed by French people but also by African instructors with whom I've not lost contact since. This experience was created so that people could meet one another, and I'm talking about it because I think that young people lack this today. It was actually in France that I opened myself to the rest of Africa. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Africa's moment of reckoning with France In the newly independent Cote dIvoire of the 1960s, how did you view the still very present French? They were everywhere. But I must say that while I came to know France in situ at 15, it was already present in my father's stories during my early childhood. He had been in the Second World War, lived in France and made friends there. He came back with some habits, like a taste for wine, and knew how to instill in us a taste for this country while leaving us free to have our own experiences there. Cote d'Ivoire and France have a special relationship. How would you describe it today? Politically, there's an impression that everything is going well. Emmanuel Macron and his ministers visit regularly. It's a country where the French feel good despite the violence of 2002 [after the outbreak of rebellion, France interposed itself between the two camps rather than siding with President Laurent Gbagbo] and then in November 2004 [many French assets were vandalized after the Ivorian air force was destroyed by the French army following the bombing of the French enclave of Bouake]. However, it seems to me that relations are not really what they used to be. This is for the good reason that Cote d'Ivoire has turned to other countries such as China, the Arab countries and South Korea. France is no longer alone in Cote d'Ivoire. At a time when there's a great deal of talk about challenging French policy in Africa, do you think that Cote dIvoire has paved the way for this challenge? We can recall the phrase that appeared in 2003-2004: "To each his own French." At the time, Young Patriots [from Charles Ble Goude's movement] carried out attacks on the French Cultural Center and the Mermoz High School in Abidjan. Even if they might have been manipulated by the regime, these young people were expressing their frustration. Today, they no longer seem to be in the same frame of mind, or they're not expressing it openly. "The French law on student fees has had a chilling effect in Africa" A distance has been established. We know that if we ask them to choose among foreign countries for their studies, France will not necessarily come first. I think that the fantasy has shifted toward America and Canada. This has been reinforced by the French law on student fees, which has had a chilling effect in Africa. From now on, young Ivorians, even dual-nationals, aren't sure that they'll be able to find their place in France. We might question whether France still needs Africans because there's always such suspicion of them there. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes France forced into redefining military presence in Africa Since coming to power, Emmanuel Macron has said that he's trying to renew relations between Africa and France. Do you notice a change? President Macron is making an effort, for example on the issue of reparations. There are a number of things happening, but I wonder if the French themselves are hearing it the same way. I believe that they're not ready to rethink their perception, and this isn't just among those at political extremes. Are they ready to change their mindset? To put an end to condescension and intolerance of differences? One can always say that racism doesn't exist, but it's still present in actions, words and attitudes. However, change must also come from African countries. Are we ready to be responsible for ourselves? Mali, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso are saying, "We don't want the French anymore," but at the same time, they're throwing themselves into the jaws of a bear from the great cold [Russia]. If we no longer want the French, that's quite commendable, but we must then give ourselves the means to be fully free. At a time when we feel unwanted in France, we're struggling to be truly ourselves. What actions could breathe new life into this relationship? First of all, relations must be balanced, and that means trusting Africans and deconstructing prejudices. This work must be done on both sides. While France brings its language, its culture and its values, Africa also has values and knowledge to contribute. Our knowledge and savoir-faire must be shared. How would you like to see the French-African relationship evolve in 2023? I often talk about education, which obviously involves language. The French language is losing ground in Africa and perhaps we should seize this opportunity to develop or even resurrect certain African languages. This would contribute to a rebalancing. I'm in favor of not letting our languages die out and, at the same time, ensuring the teaching of good-quality French. Having a strong identity is not synonymous with withdrawal. To be aware of one's own values is to have a "strong mind," with which one can endure the suspicious views of others. Cyril Bensimon Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. CALLS have been made for Stephen Donnelly to visit the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick. Senator Maria Byrne has sent a letter to the Minister for Health asking him to visit the ED after days of unprecedented demand at the hospital. There are 76 people waiting on trolleys at UHL today, the highest number in the country. Senator Maria Byrne wrote to the minister after the hospital declared a "major internal incident" saying: "I consider it vital that Minister Donnolly should visit UHL as a matter of urgency to ascertain how this problem is continuously arising with a view to resolving it as soon as possible". Speaking to RTE Radio One's News at One, Minister Donnelly said that there is "worse to come" regarding the current pressure on the healthcare system. "Some of the best run healthcare systems across Europe are experiencing the same pressures as we are here. We have a comprehensive winter plan in place to deal with this 'perfect storm' that we are currently seeing". There have been unconfirmed reports today that a team from HIQA have been sent to UHL to assess the situation in the Emergency Department. Limerick Live has contacted University Hospital Limerick and the Department of Health for comment. THE CEO of UL Hospitals Group Colette Cowan has apologised to the people of Limerick and the Mid-West for the number of patients that have had to wait on trolleys following record overcrowding. In an online statement, on the same day where rumours circulated that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was due to visit the crisis-ridden University Hospital Limerick, Ms Cowan said "it is the patients that matter most." "Our emergency service is overwhelmed, yet we continue to keep our hospitals running to serve the public. We are deeply sorry patients have to wait on trolleys," she said on Twitter. While HIQA has denied the rumours of an emergency visit to UHL this Wednesday, the hospital has been under enormous media scrutiny after it declared a "major internal incident" on Sunday, when the Emergency Department was seeing "unprecedented demand". At a meeting of the Hospital Crisis Management Team this Wednesday, the decision was made to cancel most outpatient appointments scheduled for the rest of the week, with hospital-wide visiting restrictions in place at UHL to remain in place. Speaking this Wednesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly acknowledged that people will die because of risks posed by overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs). In her statement, Ms Cowan highlighted that UHL has a very busy intensive care, high dependency unit and cardiology service, a surgical and a cancer centre. She also stated that it has a "tri-county catchment area and one emergency department serving 380,000+ population." While thanking her 5,000 strong staff for their tremendous work during the pandemic, she said: "We have been consistent in our message, the demand on our services is not matched by enough beds." New Delhi: State-owned Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for technical collaboration to increase the state-owned firms copper ore production. This is the first technical collaboration between the two organisations. HCL is the only copper miner in India and owns all operating mining leases for copper ore in the country. At present, majority of ore production comes through from underground, with an estimated 4 million tonne produced annually. However, due to complex geological characteristics of the ore body and increased depth of mining, various geo-technical and ground water related issues along with technical/ operational problems are being faced during the process of production along with maintaining safety standards and dealing the emerging sustainability issues. HCL plans to increase its ore production capacity threefold in the coming years wherein development activities in projects are either on-going in nature or already planned in most of its mines. At present, the mined out ore is processed at the companys ore beneficiation plants and metals in concentrate is sold in domestic and international markets. IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, being an institute of national repute, particularly in the fields of mining of minerals and its beneficiation and Earth Sciences, will play a key role in solving the emerging geological, technical, environmental, sustainable and ore beneficiation issues for achieving the envisaged expansion programme of HCL. The MoU will allow HCL to receive technical assistance, guidance and consultancy work from IIT-ISM for enhancing copper ore production through modifying mining methods with application of state-of-the-art technologies, improvement of productivity and safety in mines, environmental clearance issues, various hydrological & hydro-geological studies and in areas of unconventional exploration methods like Geophysical exploration, Remote Sensing etc. for depth exploration of copper ore. The company desires to partner IIT-ISM in taking up R&D projects for improvement of Indian copper mining sector, training and development of HCL engineers and managers for skill set development and knowledge up-gradation in the areas of exploration, ore beneficiation and various other statutory/ mine regulation amendments or related issues. KRBL Ltd-owned India Gate Foods, a company that sells basmati rice, has launched a new campaign Basmati Rice Se No Compromise", nudging consumers to pick packaged basmati over loose basmati. With actor Pankaj Tripathi featuring in the campaign, the firm has depicted various aspects of family relationships in a series of films. The campaign is playing across 40 TV channels, digital and social media platforms and other major media dissemination platforms. CreativelandAsia has worked on the creatives for the campaign. In Hindi-speaking markets, the campaign objective is to drive consumers to switch from unbranded basmati rice to branded basmati rice. The commercials are based on an emotional approach that hints to the customers that whenever they are purchasing and utilising, they should not cut corners or compromise on the quality. In West Bengal, the company said it has taken a regional approach with a similar objective of driving conversion from loose to packaged basmati using a regional celebrity. In Bengal, the lady of the house is very particular about the quality of food that comes home to the point that she links it to the stature of her family. In Maharashtra, the campaign focuses on creating preference amongst Marathi consumers for its rice. Kunal Sharma, head of marketing, KRBL India Ltd said, With the help of this multi-market brand campaign, we are asking people to switch over. Pankaj Tripathi, who has considerable influence in the Hindi-speaking markets, aids in effectively communicating our point. On the other end of the spectrum, we have massive regional campaigns that have been launched in line with our brand objectives. According to research firm IMARC Group, the India packaged rice market reached a volume of 10.96 million tons in 2021. It expects the market to reach 15.33 million tons by 2027, at a CAGR growth of 6.1%. Microsoft Corp is in the works to launch a version of its search engine Bing, using the artificial intelligence behind OpenAI-launched chatbot ChatGPT, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the plans. Microsoft could launch the new feature before the end of March, and hopes to challenge Alphabet-owned search engine Google, the report from the San Francisco-based technology news website said. Microsoft said in a blog post last year that it planned to integrate image-generation software from OpenAI, known as DALL-E 2, into Bing. OpenAI declined to comment, while Microsoft did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company OpenAI was backed by Microsoft with $1 billion in funding in 2019. The two had formed a multi-year partnership to develop artificial intelligence supercomputing technologies on Microsoft's Azure cloud computing service. OpenAI made its creation ChatGPT chatbot available for free public testing on Nov. 30. The chatbot is a software application designed to mimic human-like conversation based on user prompts and can respond to a large range of questions while imitating human speaking styles. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. NEW DELHI: Hospitality body Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has submitted a representation to the tourism ministry explaining concerns faced by hotels over the delay in classification or reclassification of 1, 2 and 3 star hotels in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. Pending classification, some of the hotels have not been able to renew their licences for past three to six months. Some hotels have not been able to renew their liquor licences as well, the Federation said. "...having suffered massive losses over the last couple of years of the pandemic, we requested the MoT for an early resolution. Our members in the states of Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have informed us that the classification of 1, 2, and 3 star hotels have been pending for quite some time now," as per the letter. The delay has hit operations at these hotels, it added. According to industry estimates, India has about 1.5 lakh branded hotel rooms in the country. The Federation said the delay may be because the process of scrutiny has shifted to the ministry of tourism in Delhi instead of it happening at the state level, like it was done previously. The association has suggested that the ministry should consider extending the validity of existing classification in the interim to enable the hotels to renew requisite licences for them to continue operations. Due to delays in the classification process, the hotels are unable to renew their licences. After facing two tough tourist seasons due to the pandemic, the hospitality sector has been looking forward to some business revival in the current tourist season. However, such long delays and pendency are creating hindrances in hotel operations and affecting business adversely. In the larger interest of tourism and hospitality in the two states, we request the ministry to consider extending the validity of existing classification to enable hotels to renew the requisite licenses, said Jaison Chacko, secretary general, FHRAI. New Delhi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Indian government have signed a $350 million loan pact to build new lines and improve the connectivity of metro rail system in Chennai with the citys existing public transport system. The tranche 1 loan for the Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project is part of the $780 million multi-tranche financing facility for the project approved by ADB in December last year to develop three new metro lines in Chennai. Rajat Kumar Mishra, additional secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, stated that the project would help expand connectivity of Chennais central areas to major destinations in the south and west of the city and integrate the metro system with existing bus and feeder services to benefit thousands of daily commuters. Beside expanding the metro network in Chennai, ADBs support will facilitate better integration between inclusive urban renewal measures and urban mobility improvements through transit-oriented development (TOD)," said Nilaya Mitash, officer-in-charge, India Resident Mission, ADB. Such integration will improve access to jobs and socioeconomic services, curb urban sprawling, and reduce dependency on motorized vehicles that will make the city more livable." The investment project supports the development of three new metro lines - 3, 4, and 5. For line 3, the project will construct 10.1 km of the elevated section between Sholinganallur to State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu-2, including nine metro stations and system components. For line 4, the project will help construct 10 km of the underground section between Lighthouse and Meenakshi College including nine stations. For line 5, it will finance 31 km of system components, such as electrical, mechanical, power, and telecommunication infrastructure, between Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus and Okkiyam Thoraipakkam. A statement from the ministry of finance said the stations would incorporate disaster- and climate-resilient features and would be responsive to the needs of the elderly, women, children, differently-abled, and transgender people. Multimodal interchanges and facilities would be established along metro rail corridors to improve commuters experience such as drop-off and pick-up areas, sheltered waiting areas, bicycle facilities, and passenger information," the ministry said. An additional $1 million ADB technical assistance grant will help the Chennai Metro Rail Limited with the planning and management of the metro systems multimodal integration, it added. At the G20 Leaders Summit in Bali, India affirmed that data for development" will be integral to its G20 presidency. More recently, India emphasized that the strategic use of data for governance and public service delivery, especially in its aspirational districts, is its key focus. This brings fiscal data to the fore. The scale of the fiscal response to the covid crisis makes sound fiscal reporting and transparency critical. Governments must monitor their fiscal position reliably in a context of heightened uncertainty, to instil market and public confidence that state resources are being used effectively, and outline a medium-term strategy for the risks associated with the response. This is particularly so where public borrowings exceed net household financial savings, which risks crowding out private investment. Many countries face information gaps that impede their ability to fully grasp the impact of policies. And without comprehensive and internationally comparable data to monitor progress, it is difficult to know what works, and where corrections are needed. All this makes the full availability of fiscal data across all levels of government a public good. What needs to be done: Fiscal reporting practices in India are still behind most peer G20 economies, implying that policymakers lack key data to anchor economic policies. New Delhis commitment under the G20 Data Gaps Initiative to compile and disseminate internationally comparable government finance statistics (GFS) on a quarterly basis, covering the general government, is critical. But India is not there yet, being among the G20 countries that do not produce or report full general government (GG) data in line with GFS standards. This needs to be fixed. Lessons can be drawn from Brazil, a large federal emerging market, which has managed to produce consolidated general government data within a few years by setting up a dedicated IT system and smart incentives for states to share their fiscal data on time. There are several factors embedded in Indias public financial management (PFM) system that contribute to data gaps in Indian numbers. The system has a complex history that dates back to the colonial era, when it had little transparency and citizen oversight. Since independence, the system has undergone significant reforms and changes. However, the Constitution covers only a basic framework and many operational budgetary reforms have no specific legal framework governing them; documentation requirements and budget timelines are not legally defined. Key practices, accounts and classifications have stayed unchanged, and the use of public accounts that conceal expenditures and result in a misleading picture of fiscal activity. The main issues are: Complex and fragmented structure: Indias PFM system has multiple layers of government and multiple agencies responsible for different aspects of financial management. This has led to comparability and classification problems, duplications of effort, and related inefficiencies that create data gaps. Inconsistent fiscal definitions and targets: The Unions definitions of deficit and debt in its fiscal rule are mutually inconsistent, and the GG debt target is not consistent with the wider definition of Central Government Debt in the updated FRBM Act. Many states do not have a wider definition of debt and deficit to cover extra budgetary expenses. Lack of standardization: This is seen in the way different agencies and levels of government collect and report numbers. Low use of technology: Indias PFM system still relies heavily on manual processes and the absence of a dedicated platform for all government units hampers streamlined financial management. This can lead to errors. Weak transparency and accountability: This is another contributor to gaps. External evaluation: At the Centre and in states, external assessment and evaluation mechanisms for fiscal plans, performance and macro forecasts are not fully in place. Timelines: The swiftness of audited annual financial statements could be improved. Report delays must end. Theres progress being made: In the July 2019-20 Budget, the Union finance minister introduced Statement 27 on Extra Budgetary Resources; it disclosed the borrowings of government agencies that funded central schemes and whose repayment burden was on the government. In subsequent budgets, the finance minister enhanced the scope and coverage of the statement, in part, by including loans extended by the Centre to the Food Corporation of India. Agenda ahead: Most states are well behind the standards achieved by the Centre. Some, like Telangana and Kerala, have been in the spotlight for fiscal strains borne by their economies, rendered more severe by off-budget borrowings. In March 2022, the Centre announced that it will retrospectively include states off-budget borrowings within their net borrowing ceiling under Article 293. PFM reforms at the sub-national level should be consistent with reforms at the Union government level in terms of a clear framework that ensures consistent and well defined targets and accounting standards, timely and reliable reporting of sub-national fiscal operations, and strengthens automatic mechanisms for deviation correction and sanctions for non-compliance. Also helpful would be the support of G20 leaders for a new Data Gaps Initiative to make fiscal statistics more detailed and timely. Fiscal data needs to be broader, more detailed and timely, and must include the translation of state fiscal data into a GFS template. Anoop Singh is a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, and a former member of the 15th Finance Commission Russia blamed the use of banned mobile phones by soldiers for a strike by Ukrainian forces on a facility that housed newly mobilized Russian soldiers and raised the death toll to 89, as Ukraines president warned that the Kremlin was preparing for a new offensive in the war. As the Covid-19 pandemic sent global markets swooning in early 2020, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sensing opportunity, pressed the countrys sovereign-wealth fund to go on an international stock-buying spree. New and exclusive surveillance video shows what leads up the the fight in front of a bar on Station Street that left one man unconscious. The man has now filed a civil lawsuit against the owners of the bar and security guards. Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is seen after falling short of the necessary votes to become speaker of the House at the US Capitol in Washington on January 3. 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. MANZINI A police officer allegedly went berserk on the first day of the year and jumped on top of cars, vandalising furniture in the process at Ezulwini Sunset Township. The police officer, who is said to have vandalised the property of his baby mama and that of his childs grandmother, is known to this publication but will not be named for now, as he is yet to be paraded before a court of law. The law enforcer is said to have been in a questionable state of sobriety. According to sources, the incident happened on January 1, 2023, at Sunset Township, wherein the police officer said to be stationed at Lobamba, used an Opel Corsa hatchback as a trampoline. Smashed The law enforcer is alleged to have also smashed the sedans windscreen and its passenger windows. Shattered glass was found next to the vehicle. While in the same state of mind, the police officer is alleged to have also broken the headlights switch of a Suzuki Vitara. Apart from vandalising the vehicles, the officer, according to sources, is purported to have also emptied food from the refrigerator and threw it onto the floor, while also turning the furniture upside down. Broken It was said that in the process, a flat screen television set and its glass stand were broken. Also, the law enforcer is alleged to have thrown stones at windowpanes of the house before emptying cupboards and breaking kitchen utensils. The sources claimed that police officers were contacted to calm him down. However, he continued to assault the 26-year-old mother of his child. It was purported that the law enforcer further pushed and shoved the grandmother of his child, who is aged 45. The sources bemoaned the gender-based violence (GBV), saying law enforcers were the custodians of the law in the country and should protect the citizenry. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that a case was registered with the police. She said they were investigating the case. It is worth noting that the Deputy Prime Ministers Office, in its Second Quarter Report for the 2022/23 Financial Year reported that the National Surveillance System on Violence recorded a total of 15 498 incidences of violence for the year 2021. On the other hand, the police, in a similar report, said in terms of serious crimes that were proving to be a serious cause for concern, sexual and GBV cases were listed among many. Charged Also, there have been instances where police officers have been cited as perpetrators. In one instance in 2020, a police officer was charged with two counts of murder, after he allegedly killed his spouse and her male companion, who was a civil servant under the Ministry of Agriculture. The pair was shot dead at Madonsa, Extension 6 with a gun belonging to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). Malangeni Julius Dlamini (47), of Nyakeni under Chief Malunge II, was in the first count accused of unlawfully and intentionally killing Sipho Zungu (51) by shooting him with a pistol once in the head, which resulted in his death. In the second count, Dlamini was charged for allegedly killing his wife, Dumile Kunene (48), who was also a police officer under the royal guard and based in Matsapha. Dlamini allegedly fired the pistol twice at Kunene. Also, in 2018, a nurse, Dolly Mlangeni, was found unresponsive in her rented flat situated at New Town, one of the residential areas of Hlatikhulu. Her body was found wrapped in a towel along the passage. Her police officer boyfriend, Constable Sibusiso Shongwe, was subsequently arrested for the murder, as he was reportedly the last person to have entered and exited her house, according to neighbours. Outrageous The Communications and Advocacy Officer for Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA), Sakhile Dlamini, said it was the most outrageous thing to hear of a law enforcement officer perpetrating violence. Dlamini said this was wrong on so many levels and quite alarming. She said their greatest cause for concern was that this was the very behaviour that deterred survivors of violence from freely and confidently reporting the cases. Such characters are what is referred to as rotten potatoes and the national commissioner (NATCOM) of police needs to display zero tolerance towards GBV within the police by ensuring that such people are dealt with properly and in accordance with the law, Dlamini said. Clinical Psychologist Nomfundo Simelane said the act depicted the depth of the challenges with mental health. Simelane said there was no psychological diagnosis for such acts and they could never be predicted. She said mental health was essential and the family affected by this should undergo psychological assessment to assess the impact of what they had witnessed. 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. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: January 04 2023 Credit Acceptance Corporation Pushed Consumers into Unaffordable Loans and Cut Secret Financial Deals with Car Dealerships. New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today sued Credit Acceptance Corporation (CAC), one of the nations largest subprime auto lenders, for deceiving thousands of low-income New Yorkers into high-interest car loans. The lawsuit alleges that CAC pushed unaffordable loans onto tens of thousands of low-income consumers throughout the state without considering their ability to repay their loans in full. CAC misstated key terms on loan agreements, including the principal and interest amounts, and did not disclose thousands of dollars in credit charges. In addition, CAC packaged these illegal loans into securities that it sold to investors. These deceptive lending practices lowered consumers credit scores and cost New Yorkers millions of dollars. The lawsuit seeks to end CACs abusive and deceptive practices, reform or eliminate existing CAC loan agreements, and collect restitution for impacted consumers. CAC claimed to help low-income New Yorkers purchase cars, but instead, drove them straight into debt, said Attorney General James. CAC steered hardworking New Yorkers toward financial ruin by tricking them into unaffordable, high-interest auto loans while cutting backroom deals with dealers to protect their own profits. These predatory actions hurt innocent people and left them with mountains of debt. I thank the CFPB for their partnership to stop this harm and protect everyday New Yorkers. Credit Acceptance obscured the true cost of its loans to car buyers, leading to severe financial distress for borrowers and subjecting them to aggressive debt collection tactics on loans its own systems predicted that borrowers cant afford to repay, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. The CFPB's action with the New York Attorney General seeks to end Credit Acceptance's unlawful practices and makes consumers whole. CAC is a subprime auto lender that claims to help low-income borrowers with low or little credit history get loan approval and improve their credit. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that CACs lending practices were deceptive and left tens of thousands of New Yorkers with massive debt. The OAGs investigation also found that CAC routinely pushed borrowers into purchasing vehicles that were worth far less than their loans. This predatory practice led many borrowers to lose their vehicles through repossession, while still owing thousands of dollars on the loans. CAC attempted to collect on those loans through lawsuits, default judgments, debt collection, and wage garnishment. Even borrowers who paid off their CAC loans ended up paying thousands of dollars more in hidden credit charges that CAC and car dealerships they were affiliated with built into the loan agreements. The OAGs investigation found that while CACs loan agreements in New York claimed an annual percentage rate (APR) of 22.99 percent or 23.99 percent, CAC actually charged more than 38 percent APR on average and on numerous occasions charged more than 100 percent APR. As a result of CACs high-interest loans, nearly 90 percent of New York borrowers became delinquent on their loans at some point, often leading to additional fees that added to the cost of their already expensive car loans. More than half of New York borrowers failed to repay their loans by the terms of the loan agreements, with 44 percent of New York borrowers experiencing repossession at some point. As an example of CACs typical business practices, one consumer, who supports two minor children, signed up for a CAC loan requiring her to pay more than $13,000, despite the dealer needing only $5,614 to sell her the car. After she paid more than $7,600 to CAC, they repossessed her vehicle, sold it at auction, and sued her for more than $7,500. The lawsuit alleges that CAC projected, down to the penny, how much money it could extract from borrowers through loan payments, late fees, repossession and auction, debt collection, and wage garnishment, without considering a consumers ability to repay their loan. CAC then offered to split the projected collections with its affiliated dealers. Through this practice, CAC ensured that as long as it collected the projected amount, both CAC and the dealer would profit even if the borrower ended up in delinquency, default, or had the vehicle repossessed. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that CAC cut deals with its affiliated dealerships and assisted them in misleading consumers by including costly add-on products in their purchases. Despite receiving repeated complaints that its dealers fraudulently told consumers that these products were required and that dealers even included the products without the consumers consent, CAC took no action to stop this. Instead, CAC continued to incentivize its dealers to push these products and actually adopted e-signing practices that made it easier for dealers to include the products with little or no notice to consumers. The final step in CACs deception was to unload a large proportion of the loans onto unsuspecting investors, packaging the consumer loans into securities. In creating, marketing, and selling these securities, CAC represented to initial purchasers, rating agencies, and investors who purchased the securities that the underlying loans complied with applicable law. However, these representations were false, and the lawsuit alleges that CACs statements constituted securities fraud under New Yorks Martin Act. Through this lawsuit, Attorney General James seeks to stop CACs abusive and deceptive practices, reform or rescind existing CAC loan agreements, provide restitution to impacted New Yorkers, and secure penalties and damages from CAC due to this unacceptable and illegal behavior. The OAG encourages New Yorkers who have had negative experiences or feel they have been taken advantage of by CAC or its affiliated dealers to submit an online complaint with the Consumer Frauds Bureau. This litigation is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Christopher L. Filburn of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine, and by Assistant Attorney General John Ruth, Senior Enforcement Counsel Roger Waldman, and Legal Assistant Charmaine Blake of the Investor Protection Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe and Acting Deputy Bureau Chief Kenneth Haim, all with assistance from Data Scientist Jasmine McAllister of the Research and Analytics Department, Director of Research and Analytics Jonathan Werberg, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Rochester Regional Office Bruce Benjamin. The Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau and Investor Protection Bureau are part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris DAngelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. (Correcting company description.) CyanConnode Holdings PLC - Cambridge, England-based designer and developer of narrowband radio frequency smart mesh networks - Says its subsidiary, CyanConnode India Pvt Ltd, has received an order from Montecarlo Ltd for 983,525 Omnimesh Modules. Notes the order relates to a smart metering deployment in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The supply of Omnimesh Modules is expected to start during the first quarter of 2023. The installation of smart meters will be completed within 30 months and will be followed by a seven-and-a-half-year support and maintenance contract, which will start upon completion of the installation phase. Chair John Cronin says: "I am delighted to announce our first order from Montecarlo, who are a diversified infrastructure development company based in India. The contract is another circa one million Omnimesh Module order, which is testament to our standards-based cutting-edge technology, skills and understanding of the Indian smart metering ecosystem." Current stock price: 16.19 pence, up 14% in London on Wednesday around midday 12-month change: down 31% By Xindi Wei, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. PRAGUE, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic has signed a non-binding memorandum with Sweden for the delivery of more than 200 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said on Wednesday. The Czech government had announced in July it would start talks to buy the vehicles from a Swedish subsidiary of BAE Systems after cancelling a tender. The memorandum "confirms the agreement of all three parties (the Czech Republic, Sweden and BAE Systems) on the basic parameters for the procurement of CV90 infantry fighting vehicles," Cernochova said, without giving details. The Czech Republic, a NATO member, earlier this year cancelled a long-running $2.6 billion tender for around 210 tracked fighting vehicles that had included BAE Systems, General Dynamics and Rheinmetall. CTK news agency reported that under the proposed agreement, the Czech army will receive the newest version of the CV90 vehicle. (Reporting by Robert Muller and Jason Hovet Editing by Mark Potter) (Alliance News) - Fenikso Ltd on Wednesday said it has completed its settlement agreements with Lekoil Nigeria Ltd and Olalekan Akinyanmi, the former chief executive of the company. Fenikso is a Cayman Islands-based litigation asset company with an investment in oil & gas assets in Nigeria. It was previously known as Lekoil Ltd; the name change was approved at the end of December. In December, Fenikso agreed to end all legal proceedings against each other and settle all claims with Lekoil Nigeria. Under the settlement, the two companies agreed to surrender all shares in each other. Fenikso agreed to waive all rights to repayment of debts owed by Lekoil Nigeria and Olalekan Akinyanmi, the former CEO of Fenikso. It also said it will will grant a new loan of USD51.9 million to Lekoil Oil & Gas Investments Ltd in consideration for the transfer to LOGI of loans made to Lekoil Nigeria, the release of security related to those loans, and the waiver of any repayment due for the loans. The company also agreed to change its name to Fenikso and stop using the Lekoil name or brand. On Wednesday, Fenikso said that Lekoil Nigeria has not surrendered its 107.7 million shares in the company, which were due to be surrendered due to to technical reasons. The company noted that it has therefore agreed to extend the period for the shares to be surrendered until no later than Tuesday. Fenikso also said that Guy Oxnard, Dipo Sofola and Adeoye Adefulu have stepped down as directors. Meanwhile, Thomas Richardson has been appointed as interim chair, with Marco D'Attanasio and Pade Durotoye remaining as non-executive directors. The company expects to announce its revised strategy following completion. Richardson said: "We are pleased to have closed the transactions with Lekoil Nigeria and Savannah with the support of the company's shareholders. We will now seek to stabilise the company's financial position. We will also seek to engage with our shareholders about the preferred options to realise the value of the company's assets and cash flow stream going forward." By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - hVIVO PLC on Wednesday said it signed a GBP5.2 million contract with a "global biotechnology company" headquartered in Asia Pacific in order to test their respiratory syncytial virus vaccine candidate. Shares in hVIVO were up 8.6% to 12.70 pence on Wednesday morning in London. The London-based contract research organisation, formerly known as Open Orphan PLC, said the unnamed company will use hVIVO's respiratory syncytial virus human challenge study model for the testing. The Phase 2a double-blinded placebo-controlled human challenge trial will take place at the hVIVO's specialist quarantine facilities in London, and the trial will evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the client's vaccine candidate against the infection. The study is expected to commence in the second half of 2023, with the revenue to be recognised across 2023 and 2024. As part of the study, hVIVO said it will recruit "healthy" volunteers via its volunteer recruitment arm FluCamp. This is the first human challenge trial contract that hVIVO has signed with a client in the Asia-Pacific region in over a decade, and the company said it marks a growth area for hVIVO as it plans to diversify its client base and order book. "APAC has been identified as a key growth region for the company, and this contract is an encouraging indicator that our strategy there is bearing fruit. I am optimistic that more biopharma companies in the APAC region will increasingly recognise both the value of human challenge trials, and hVIVO's reputation as the 'go-to' partner in the market," hVIVO Chief Executive Yamin 'Mo' Khan said. Andrew Catchpole, hVIVO chief scientific officer, added: "Although RSV has a low chance of causing serious illness in healthy adults, it can be highly virulent for children and the elderly... The hVIVO RSV Human Challenge Model can play a critical role in bringing these treatments to market more quickly." By Jaskeet Briah, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - United Oil & Gas PLC on Wednesday said drilling had failed to find hydrocarbons at the Abu Sennan licence. The oil and gas company with exploration and appraisal assets in the Abu Sennan licence, onshore Egypt, announced it completed its drilling operations on the ASW-1X exploration well, drilling the well to a depth of 3,640 metres. The company said although the well encountered net reservoir in the Abu Roash, Bahariya, and Alam El Bueib targets, the logs did not indicate that there were hydrocarbons present. United Oil holds a 22% non-operating interest in the Abu Sennan licence - which is operated by Kuwait Energy Egypt. United oil said the results from the drilling operation will add to its understanding of the Abu Senna licence subsurface, and be used to prioritise future drilling locations. Chief Executive Officer Brian Larkin said: "Although the results of the ASW-1X well are disappointing, the JV partners are positive about the remaining prospectivity on the licence and will continue to deliver the maximum value from it. We are looking forward to the 2023 drilling campaign, which will initially focus on further development of the asset by the drilling of ASH-8 followed by the ASD-3 well." "These development wells are targeting the most prolific areas of the Abu Sennan licence, to maximise production before the drilling of at least one further exploration well in Abu Sennan later in the year," he said. The ASW-1X well will be plugged and abandoned, and the Sino Tharwa-1 rig will be used to drill the ASH-8 development well, the first of the 2023 drilling campaign, the company said. United Oil shares were down 20% trading at 1.02 pence per share on Wednesday morning in London. By Harvey Dorset, Alliance News reporter Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. As a vibrant industry of legal cannabis businesses and restaurants continues to grow around Nashville, Tennessee remains one of just 13 states that has not comprehensively legalized medical marijuana. Will 2023 be the year? Changes in federal law may propel updates in how the state deals with medical marijuana and cannabis research. Last month, President Joe Biden signed into law the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, which lifts restrictions on doctors discussing cannabis with their patients and streamlines the process for legal research and drug development of marijuana products. House Health Committee Chairman Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, who has sponsored legislation to expand access to medical marijuana in the past, says the federal governments move is a small step forward, but federal law still maintains barriers to research progress. Terry plans to sponsor legislation to permit more medical cannabis research in Tennessee. I believe there could be some adaptations with current federal law that could help with passage of a medical cannabis bill, Terry told Main Street Nashville in an email. At the minimum, I plan on bringing legislation that will decriminalize possession of cannabis-based research medicines that would fall under this new law. Terry said hes also planning to sponsor a bill to clean up conflicts between state and federal law relating to universities and cannabis research. As a patient advocate, the failure of the federal government to take the necessary steps to help patients with access to cannabis-based medicines is beyond disappointing, he added. Tennessee law currently prohibits the possession, use, sale, and distribution of marijuana and cannabis products with more than 0.3% THC content. Due to federal law, CBD products with a THC content of less than 0.3% can be sold nationwide. Tennessee is one of 19 states that still imprisons individuals for possessing even half an ounce or less of cannabis. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk has said he will not prosecute individuals for possession of under half an ounce of marijuana. Five of Tennessees neighbors Missouri, Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama have all legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Missouri and Virginia also allow recreational use, as have 19 other states. Under a law passed in 2021, people diagnosed with certain illnesses may use CBD oil with up to 0.9% THC if it is recommended by their doctor to treat epilepsy, seizures, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis, certain cancers, HIV/AIDs and ALS. This year, lawmakers added quadriplegia to the list of qualifying medical conditions for medical cannabis use. Also in 2021, state lawmakers created a commission to study the possibility of future medical marijuana legalization. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission released a report last year analyzing other states legalization models, proposing language for how Tennessee could do so. Legislation to do so did not move forward last spring. As lawmakers consider regulations, a vibrant cannabis industry has cropped up around Nashville, with interstate billboards advertising Consider It Flowers Nashvilles own THC delivery service, and DAZED8, a recreational hemp superstore. Tennessees first-ever cannabis bar and restaurant, Buds and Brews, opened this year in Germantown. The spot offers bar fare paired with craft sauces infused with hemp-derived THC. Across town, Holistic Connection dispensaries offer a variety of baked goods and snacks made with Nashville-grown craft cannabis, all remaining under legal limits. A proposal for full recreational legalization is coming, though, from Nashville Democrats Sen. Heidi Campbell and Rep. Bob Freeman, who announced their plans to file a recreational legalization bill this month. As of Dec. 30, the bill had not yet been filed. House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons praised Campbell and Freemans proposal. The legalization of cannabis in Tennessee is long overdue. For too long, much of the TN GOP has stood in the way, Clemmons wrote in a tweet. Lets do this in 2023! Tullahoma Republican Sen. Janice Bowling has sponsored several bills to allow cultivation, sale and use of medical marijuana for the last several years, but none have passed out of committee. Terry says he is not committed to sponsoring a comprehensive medical legalization bill, but if he does decide to, it will not allow for smoking, vaping, recreational use or marketing to children similar to legislation hes sponsored in the past. House Speaker Cameron Sexton told Main Street Nashville that he supported Terrys proposal for a pilot program last year, and would support something similar in the future, but he is not in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. Delta-8 Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol products a hemp-derived compound that has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, according to the FDA are unregulated in Tennessee and remain legal to purchase, use, possess, sell and distribute. A proposal by House Republican Leader William Lamberth last year would have limited sale of Delta-8 products to people 21 and older, established licensing and product testing requirements for retailers, and created a 5% excise tax, projected to bring in $10 million in tax revenue annually. The bill passed through 7 legislative committees, but ultimately stalled in the Senate. MBABANE - The Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA) will announce the dates for the release of the 2022 external examinations results next week. These are results of Form III learners, who sat their Junior Certificate (JC), and Eswatini Primary Certificate (EPC), written by Grade VII pupils in 2022. To ensure that the results of these learners are not delayed as some of them will need to secure spaces in new schools, marking of these examination scripts commenced while the learners were writing other papers. The marking of the examinations scripts started while the examinations for other grades were ongoing. The external examinations were written by completing pupils, which included Form Vs, Form IIIs and Grade VIIs. Form IIIs, the first paper was written on November 28, 2022, while Grade VIIs sat their first paper on December 5, 2022. Normally, certain schools per region are used as marking centres. The last examination paper was written on December 19, 2022 by Form III pupils. Normal The 2022 academic year had only two terms, not the normal three terms. The last time the country had a normal school calendar was in 2019. This was due to the outbreak of COVID-19. ECESWA Communications Officer Hlengiwe Ndlovu stated that the marking of the examination papers was progressing well and by next week, the council would be ready to announce proper dates for the release of the results. ECESWA will have a definite response on the dates of the release of the results next week, she said. Worth noting, for some private schools, including primary and high schools, the 2023 academic calendar will begin next Tuesday (January 10, 2022), while others will open on January 17, 2022. Ndlovu stated that the marking of Form V papers would start this week. She said they deliberately began marking the EPC and JC examination papers early because these pupils had to receive their results before the opening of schools for the 2023 academic year. The marking of Form V examinations commences this week, she said. Pupils who were enrolled for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) wrote their first paper on October 4, 2022, while those under the Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) started their examination on November 14, 2022. SITEKI It took the police less than 24 hours to crack the case of the murdered teacher of Mpophotha High School. Within that period, Siphofaneni police arrested the teachers husband, who is a well-known public transport operator, for the murder of Angel Zanele Shongwe (50). The teacher was killed execution style at around 9:50am on Monday while on her cellphone at her homestead. The incident happened at Maphilingo, Siphofaneni, where Zanele resided. The popular public transport operator, Sifiso Dlamini (44), has been charged with murder and is expected to appear in court today for a remand. Sifiso and Zanele were married in terms of Swazi Law and Custom. At the time of Zaneles death, she and her husband were in separation as they had marital problems. Restraining She met her death at a time when the Siphofaneni Magistrates Court had issued an interim restraining order against Sifiso on October 19, 2021. The order was issued by Magistrate Vincent Nhlabatsi. Zanele was also running a public transport business. A source in the know informed this publication that Sifiso allegedly shot his wife in full view of their minor children. According to a police report released by Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni, the teacher was shot once in the head with a shotgun, while at her homestead at Maphilingo area under Siphofaneni Inkhundla on Monday at around 9:50am. Sifiso appeared at Simunye Magistrates Court, where he made a confession before a judicial officer. Yesterday, the family of the deceased and the school Head teacher, Jabu Dlamini, met the Deputy Regional Education Officer (REO), Thami Dlamini, to officially report the demise of the educator. The family is yet to make a decision if we can make an official comment regarding the death of my sister. We are still traumatised and shocked about what has befallen us as a family, briefly said Sithembile Shongwe, her sister. It was established from sources that the person who shot Zanele entered through a fence and found her on her mobile phone at her homestead. After the shooting, according to sources, the suspect, who was still unknown, fled the scene. The Deputy REO, Thami, mourned the death of the educator, indicating that the office would send a team of inspectors to pass their heartfelt condolences to the family when schools reopened. Thami further sent condolences to the school, teaching staff, parents and pupils for the demise of Zanele. He pointed out that it was the second incident to happen in the region in a short space of time. We also mourn with the Mpompotha community as teachers are a bedrock and assets to communities, considering the role they play in grooming future leaders. We are still shocked and may God comfort her family and friends at this sad moment, he said. The court order states that the respondent (Sifiso) was interdicted and restrained from displaying any form of violent behaviour towards the applicant (Zanele). Restrained It also states that the respondent was interdicted and restrained from using any form of vulgar language, insulting the applicant. It further states that the respondent was interdicted and restrained from assaulting the applicant. The respondent is interdicted and restrained from setting foot at the partys homestead at Maphilingo, pending finalisation of this matter. The above orders are to operate with immediate and interim relief, reads the court order. Worth mentioning is that this incident is the second to take place under the same constituency, involving the shooting of an educator. In October last year, Sayinile Sikhondze, a former Head teacher at Mabhensane Primary School, was shot dead by an unknown person while also outside her homestead, and also on the phone. Sikhondze met her death amid a restraining court order against 25 members of Nceka and Mabhensane communities to desist from harassing, intimidating, verbally and physically abusing her. The restraining order was issued by Siteki Principal Magistrate Dumsani Magagula. In November last year, 19 of the 25 residents were acquitted on the basis that they obeyed the restraining order. The late head teachers husband, December Sikhondze, has since replaced her in this case. Order The six residents whose court order was made permanent were Sibandze, Thokozani Dlamini, Casper Mhlanga, Zodwa Dlamini, Mongi Khumalo and Doctor Dlamini. The acquitted 19 residents are; Pilosi Masina, Mcolisi Khumalo, Zakhele Sikhondze, Themba Mathabela and Bongani Tfwala. Others are Gungubele Tfwala, Bhekimpi Lukhele, Sipho Simelane, Mbhuluko Ndwandwe, Mfankhona Shongwe, Bhekane Mdluli and Sigodo Simelane. The rest are Phumlani Simelane, Phumzile Gwebu, Mandla Dlamini and Senzo Dlamini. The trio of Mbhekeni Simelane, Sifiso Mamba and Mphikeleli Mamba are Mabhensane community members. Worth mentioning is that this court order was issued against the backdrop of the mob attack by about 200 residents at the head teachers home, after they implicated her in stock theft. The residents from three chiefdoms, namely; Mphumakudze, Maphilingo and Nceka, were on board nine vehicles and a mini-truck. The school administrator, Sikhondze, was running a restaurant and a liquor shop. After the angry mob was dispersed by the police, they resorted to looting stock at the restaurant and liquor shop belonging to the deceased. The US Army has awarded Boeing a $426 million contract to produce 12 new CH-47F Chinooks for the Egyptian Air Force. With this foreign military sale, Egypt will replace its fleet of CH-47D aircraft with the modern F model, and benefit from its advanced multi-mission capabilities. The F-model aircraft will enhance Egypts Chinook capabilities and help effectively accomplish its heavy-lift objectives, said Ken Eland, vice president and H-47 program manager. Boeings partnership with the Egyptian Air Force remains strong as we continue to work together to modernise their fleet. The CH-47F is an advanced multi-mission helicopter for the US Army and international defence forces. It contains a fully integrated, digital cockpit management system, Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit and advanced cargo-handling capabilities complementing the aircraft's mission performance and handling characteristics. Best capability Boeing is committed to supporting the defence modernisation mission of the Egyptian armed forces and ensuring the best capability for Egypts national defense and security, added Vince Logsdon, vice president, Boeing International Business Development. Team Chinook is led by the US Army, who with 19 allied international customers, collectively operate a fleet of more than 950 aircraft. As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top US exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity.-- TradeArabia News Service Researchers in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health Conduct Vaccine Trials and Analysis on Effectiveness of Immunizations In the two years since the first COVID-19 vaccines were given to patients in the U.S., the vaccines had the cumulative effect of preventing 18 million hospitalizations and 3 million deaths. That is based on a new modeling analysis conducted by a researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and her colleagues. Results of the analysis were published by the Commonwealth Fund. The researchers relied on a computer model of COVID-19 transmission to estimate the number of deaths and hospitalizations that were prevented from December 2020 through November 2022. Since the vaccine was approved near the end of 2020, more than 655 million doses have been administered and 80 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one shot. Without vaccination, there would have been nearly 120 million more COVID-19 infections, according to the new analysis. The vaccination program also saved the U.S. $1.15 trillion in medical costs that would otherwise have been incurred. Our findings highlight the substantial impact of the U.S. vaccination program on reducing infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, said study leader Meagan Fitzpatrick, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at UMSOM and a vaccine researcher at UMSOMs Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD). Researchers from Yale School of Public Health and York University were co-authors on this analysis. UMSOM researchers played a significant role in helping to test the COVID vaccines in clinical trials to determine whether they were safe and effective. This analysis shows the immeasurable value that these vaccines have had on saving lives and preventing severe illness from COVID, said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean, UMSOM, Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. Our researchers led the way in clinical trials for all three vaccine candidates and provided more than one million COVID-19 tests to the State of Maryland. Important modeling studies such as this one remain crucial for determining how we can ready ourselves for future pandemics and other global health crises. About the University of Maryland School of Medicine Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 46 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs, and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1.3 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic, and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has nearly $600 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 students, trainees, residents, and fellows. The combined School of Medicine and Medical System (University of Maryland Medicine) has an annual budget of over $6 billion and an economic impact of nearly $20 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine, which ranks as the 8th highest among public medical schools in research productivity (according to the Association of American Medical Colleges profile) is an innovator in translational medicine, with 606 active patents and 52 start-up companies. In the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of the Best Medical Schools, published in 2021, the UM School of Medicine is ranked #9 among the 92 public medical schools in the U.S., and in the top 15 percent (#27) of all 192 public and private U.S. medical schools. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu Going by Jimmy Shergills evergreen looks, its hard to believe that he is father to an 18-year-old son. But, come to think about it, Jimmy has been in the industry for almost 27 years making his acting debut with the 1996 film Maachis. Moreover, he may look forever young but a hard fact is that Jimmy is actually 52 years old. Anyway, recently, Jimmy made a rare public appearance with his son Veer at the screening of An Action Hero and the video has once again resurfaced online with people getting bowled over his teenage sons handsomeness. While there are a lot of people who are finding it hard to believe that Jimmy has a grownup son, there are others who are comparing his looks to the likes of Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Pete Davidson and even Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan. The general consensus is that Jimmys son looks like a Hollywood celebrity. Check out the video below: Reacting to the video, one user wrote, Bro .. his son is Hot. Another user reacted, shergil to Buddha hoga nahi. ise koi vardaan mila h shayad. A third user wrote, how handsome he is,even more than the aryan khan and our blind media always keep focusing on them instead of these brillian actors sons. A fourth user commented, Oh wow his son is so good looking. Atleast better than other actors son. Check out some of the responses below: Zoom TV Instagram Zoom TV Instagram Zoom TV Instagram Zoom TV Instagram Zoom TV Instagram Zoom TV Instagram Recently, Jimmy took to Instagram and shared a picture with his wife & son wishing his fans & followers a happy new year. His caption read, From Us to You .. Happy New Year. Check out his post below: It wont be a surprise if one of these days we see an announcement of Jimmys son making his acting debut. LUSAKA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Tuesday dispelled reports that it has allowed for the importation of wheat. Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri said the government has so far not issued any permits for the importation of wheat contrary to reports, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, the state broadcaster, quoted him as saying. He said the government was committed to working with wheat farmers in the country, and any developments will be communicated to stakeholders in an amicable manner. The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), an umbrella body of farmers in the country, on Monday expressed dismay that the Ministry of Agriculture has allowed for the importation of 125,000 metric tons of wheat when local farmers have produced adequate stocks for national consumption. Jervis Zimba, the president of the association, told local media that it was unfortunate that the government took the decision barely three months after local farmers harvested their wheat. He said any decisions on wheat imports should be done in consultation with local producers, adding that the country was currently enjoying a stable of wheat because of local production. On the back of an unprecedented volume of new business wins, award-winning agency BPG (Bates PanGulf, part of WPP) is undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at boosting its specialist consultancy services and meeting client needs. Underpinned by a digital first, integrated by intent positioning, the transformation aims to create a simplified, silo-free organisation; ready to seize opportunities across the Mena region. Revenue from these recent wins alone will clock over $6 million. Avi Bhojani, Group CEO, BPG said: Three pivotal moments have shaped BPG over the last three decades. In 1995, BPG 1.0 was born after winning an integrated mandate from the Dubai Government to build and execute Dubai Shopping Festival. We evolved into BPG 2.0 in 2003, after winning mandates for public advocacy in Iraq. Its now time for BPG 3.0 after a significant, game-changing creative win in Saudi Arabia, crowning a host of wins through 2022. We are transforming into an agile integrated agency, able to scale up swiftly to meet client demands and deliver disruptive work in a fast-evolving commercial landscape. With our client-centric strategy and execution, we look forward to building and strengthening many more Mena brands in 2023 and beyond. Robust pipeline A host of multi-sectoral business wins will supplement a robust pipeline of existing work in 2023. Notably, this includes Jumeirah Group after BPG bagged the remit for design, content, and creative for the global luxury hotel company, which operates a world-class 6,500+ key portfolio of 25 luxury properties across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. BPGs multi-year remit with one of the Sultanate of Omans larger banks includes delivering brand, advertising, content, and CX across the country, as well as supporting regional expansion. BPGs wins in fiercely competitive pitches against global network and independent agencies testifies to the power of its compelling integrated by intent offering. Other significant recent new business wins include GROHE, Kwai, Titan Eyewear, and Zayed Sustainability Prize in the UAE and Assima Hospital, Dhaman National Health Insurance, Ooredoo Telecom and Weyay Bank in Kuwait. Mandates encompass integrated marketing, communications, influencer marketing, creative advertising, branding, media services, digital and performance marketing, social media, and content management. BPG will continue its expansion trajectory in 2023, with 15 key hires across PR, Media, UX, content and creative in the UAE. The agencys strategic transformation is powered by a reimagined structure and business processes to deliver silo-free, location-agnostic and client-focused integrated solutions. Solutions such as the BPG CX Multiplier harness the power of data, technology, creative and strategy to fulfil customers needs. Notably in 2023, BPG will offer productisation to meet specific client needs, priming the agency for greater scalability and success. To ensure successful execution, Souheil Arabi has been promoted as Chief Operating Officer, BPG Group. Souheil will oversee BPGs Mena-wide expansion, consulting and productization initiatives, in addition to consolidating the Kuwait practice. A BPG veteran since 2001, Souheil has built BPG Kuwait into the nations leading agency, in demand for award-winning, digitally savvy integrated solutions, developed and delivered by a multicultural team. Collaborative culture Arabi said: BPGs success has been built on our continuous evolution and collaborative culture. With this transformation, we go a step further: leveraging technology to create an agile, integrated and collaborative platform, built around exceeding client needs and creating customer delight, keeping our customers needs at the heart of all that we do. Darius LaBelle has been promoted as President, BPG UAE and Viju Varghese has been promoted as President, BPG Kuwait. Ketaki Banga has been appointed Chief Communications Officer, and Mark Soufiar has been appointed Chief Media Officer. Aaron Arthur is now Chief Creative Services Officer, overseeing Kuwaits creative output as well as building a cloud-based remote services offering. Ramy ElSakka, Chief Creative Officer will oversee all branding, creative and content output out of Dubai. Darius LaBelle, President, BPG UAE said: Our teams, structure, and services are designed to build on the BPG CX Multiplier, through which we use data and human insights to deliver targeted personal messages across digital and physical channels. We can truly put customers at the heart of both our strategy and our product by leveraging integrated teams in content, comms, media, data, experience, and brand on every brief. Its an exciting proposition, as evidenced by our 2022 successes and new business wins. Full-service hubs BPG is working on a unified customer experience through its full-service hubs in Dubai and Kuwait, supported by remote talent from North America and Europe to Egypt, Lebanon, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Its strategic transformation is inspired by culture, powered by data-driven insights, human by design and integrated by intent. Born in Dubai more than four decades ago, BPG has always been part of the growth and evolution of the Mena region. Its silo-free culture integrates all its disciplines, from advertising and public relations to media buying, digital marketing and more, into a unified offering built around customers' needs.-- TradeArabia News Service Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways has announced the launch of a new route to Moscow, Russia, serving an increasing demand for flights to the Middle East region and beyond. Jazeera will be the first airline to operate flights between Kuwait and Moscow. The route will cater to the increasing demand for tourist destinations for Russian travellers. They will be able to connect through Kuwait on to places such as Dubai, Sharm El Sheikh and popular cities in Turkiye. Jazeera Airways Chief Executive Officer, Rohit Ramachandran, said: We expect high demand for this route from Day One, as our service comes at a time of a scarcity of flights serving Moscow. We are ideally placed in Kuwait to attract connecting leisure passengers from Russia as well as religious pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. We hope to expand the number of flights to our schedule during 2023. Flights will commence on February 2, 2023 with four flights weekly leaving Kuwait on Mondays, Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights land at Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME), one of the four major Moscow airports, and one of the busiest airports in Russia. TradeArabia News Service The first female active-duty soldier ever to graduate from a prestigious heavy armor course passed and graduated last month, the Army announced right before the calendar flipped to the new year. Sgt. Cinthia Ramirez, a soldier at Fort Hood's 1st Cavalry Division, passed the M1A2 Abrams Master Gunner Course, a 43-day school that teaches noncommissioned officers how to be weapons experts in heavy armored units across the Army. In a press release from the service, Ramirez described a difficult start to her Army career. Read Next: No Action Taken Against Army Officer After Public Dustup with Tucker Carlson over Women Serving "I was always getting in trouble as a private because I never really had a goal for myself other than 'get through this contract'. But once I got promoted and became a noncommissioned officer, everything changed," she said in the release. "In the past, I had some examples of pretty bad leadership, and I told myself I did not want to be that type of leader." The Master Gunner is critical for any line unit, especially in a tank unit where the Abrams and its military capability is a point of pride and discipline for the tankers who operate them. Master Gunners advise unit commanders on their weapon systems and are the go-to subject matter experts. The course, which includes intensive education on broad vehicle issues ranging from maintenance to minutiae covering hydraulic systems and "gun tube technology" is difficult, and draws a "very low graduation rate," according to the Army release. "Master Gunners are standard bearers for unit training, gunnery, and weapon maintenance," Col. Ryan Kranc, 316th Cavalry Brigade commander, told Military.com via email. "By satisfying the course requirements and graduating, [Sgt.] Ramirez and her nine graduating classmates will be relied upon by their units to uphold the standards of training and realize excellence in their collective warfighting tasks." The Master Gunner position was created in 1974. Graduates not only earn a badge, but an Additional Skill Identifier that shows extra prowess in soldiers who earn them. Sprinkled throughout the Master Gunner course are numerous exams. Even getting to the Fort Benning, Georgia, school requires a significant level of prior experience: Participants must be at least the rank of sergeant to attend, they must have qualified as an Abrams tank commander during gunnery, and their battalion sergeant major must certify that they have completed skills tests even before they depart from their home station. Ramirez was not immune to the course's intensity. She failed the first time she attended. "I didn't pass the first time, and I got down on myself. I didn't want to go back. Thankfully, I had some amazing people on my side that believed in me and reminded me of my potential," she said. Ramirez graduated the course Dec. 14, becoming the first active-duty woman ever to earn the Abrams version of the coveted identification badge, which is adorned with cross-laid weapons in a wreath. The last decade has seen many uniformed women earning jobs often dominated by their male counterparts as the military continues its long and often arduous effort to integrate women into combat roles. Then-Staff Sgt. Jessica Ray, a Florida National Guardsman, was the first woman to earn the Master Gunner designation for the Avenger weapon system, a surface-to-air missile system. Following the armor theme, in 2020, then-Sgt. Shawna Tipton earned the badge for the Bradley, a tracked fighting vehicle used by infantrymen and scouts. But the increase in women in these critical roles, and specifically lifting the ban on women joining direct combat jobs in 2013, has experienced pervasive issues since. Ill-fitting body armor and uniforms for female service members, criticism from politicians and talk-show hosts, and -- for the Army -- years of consternation about a gender-neutral fitness test that saw nearly half of women failing in 2021 have been a few of the problems for women who serve. That has not stopped progress, with junior leaders -- often young sergeants and officers -- appearing to lead the charge in creating reform and breaking glass ceilings. "Mistakes shouldn't stop you from wanting to be a better person. So, just because we as females might fail the first time we try, it doesn't mean we stop. We have to keep going and pushing," said Ramirez. -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence. Related: These Were the First Women to Join Each US Military Service An officer with the Minnesota National Guard is set to be awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during the collapse of Afghanistan when U.S. troops worked frantically to evacuate as many allies as possible as the Taliban took over the country. Maj. Katie Lunning, who is assigned to the 133rd Airlift Wing, will be presented with the award Saturday, according to a press release from the National Guard. She'll be the second nurse ever to have earned the award and the first in the National Guard. Lunning and her team rescued and cared for at least 20 patients in the aftermath of the attack on Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 160 Afghan civilians. Read Next: No Action Taken Against Army Officer After Public Dustup with Tucker Carlson over Women Serving "We were pulling them out as they are getting injured," Lunning said in a Department of Veterans Affairs press release. "August 26th, when the suicide bomber exploded at Abbey Gate, we were the first [critical care air transport team] in. It was the largest medical evacuation out of that coalition hospital ever, and very dangerous on the ground. We had to leave the airplane to go get our patients as well. We took injured Marines and Afghan civilians who really weren't flight worthy, but there was no choice. We just had to get them out of there. So, a lot of medical events occurred on the airplane, but we ended up being able to safely deliver everybody to Landstuhl, Germany [for further medical care]." Lunning was serving as a member of a Critical Care Transport Team during her six-month deployment based in Qatar. Those teams usually consist of three service members who are tasked with caring for critically injured or ill patients, providing care during flights to hospitals. In most cases when flights originate out of the Middle East, patients end up in Germany. When not in uniform, Lunning works as an intensive care nurse manager for the VA in Des Moines, Iowa. "We focused very much on getting people home," she said in the release. "We all have kids right around the same age that we wanted to get home to. So, we just focused on getting everybody home to their people because everybody's going to have a why, right? We talked about that and how it was our role to get them back to their reason for being there." -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: Major Congressional Probe into Afghanistan Withdrawal Gearing Up The military's top general recommended against recalling retired generals to active duty in order to court-martial them in testimony to the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a closed-door session in November 2021, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley was asked by then-Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., about stripping retirement benefits from retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, who advocated for the military to help "rerun" the 2020 election after former President Donald Trump lost reelection, according to a transcript of the testimony released by the committee this week. In response, Milley said the Trump administration had wanted to recall and court-martial retired generals who were critical of Trump and that he recommended against that at the time and would make the same recommendation about Flynn. Read Next: Major to Be First Air National Guard Flight Nurse Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross "Mike Flynn is saying things and doing things that I absolutely fundamentally disagree with on so many levels. Bringing him back on active duty to court-martial him and subject him to crimes based on the Uniform Code of Military Justice is a giant step. I'm not saying it can't be done or shouldn't be done. I'm just saying that that would be a presidential decision," Milley said. "Currently, and my advice to you as a member of Congress, or if the president were to ask me, I would say: Not yet, no. I don't think it rises to that level," he added. "I think that's a very serious thing, though, and it further politicizes. And I'm really concerned about politicizing the military." Milley's 302-page transcript was part of a tranche of thousands of pages of underlying evidence the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol released before it officially shut down Tuesday with the end of the previous congressional session. In its final report, the committee found that no one at the Pentagon deliberately delayed the National Guard's deployment to the Capitol after it was breached by Trump supporters. To reach that conclusion, investigators interviewed more than a dozen Pentagon and military officials past and present, mostly about the events of Jan. 6 and how the Pentagon's response to racial justice protests in summer 2020 informed their reaction that day, but also about the waning days of the Trump administration more broadly. The idea of recalling Flynn to active duty to court-martial him or take other punitive action such as cutting his pension has been periodically raised by pundits. In his interview with the Jan. 6 committee, Milley said the idea of recalling retired officers back to active duty to be court-martialed was raised by the Trump administration -- not for Flynn, but for officers criticizing Trump. "There was a couple of editorials written by retired flag officers that you would recognize their names that were very critical of then-President Trump, highly critical of President Trump," Milley said. "And there was actually discussions with me: Bring him back on active duty, court-martial him, you know, make him walk the plank sort of thing, right? I advised them not to do that, because that would further politicize, in my personal view. And I said, please give me a chance to calm the waters a little bit." Milley framed the idea of recalling retired officers around growing politicization of the military and opined at length about his concern that the issue has been made worse by the actions of both politicians and retired officers. Milley cited several incidents in recent years, including Flynn speaking at the Republican National Convention and retired Gen. John Allen at the Democratic National Convention in 2016; Trump signing his Muslim travel ban at the Pentagon; Trump intervening in the punishment of former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher after his court-martial conviction; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt firing the head of the Oklahoma National Guard for following Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Milley also decried critics who have made him a "lightning rod for politicization of the military," saying he and Austin are "constantly strung out" by conservative lawmakers and media that also "smear" other military leaders. "I think it's fundamental to the health of the republic that we have an apolitical military," Milley said. "And apolitical means nonpartisan, neither Democrat nor Republican, and we execute the lawful orders of the civilian leadership that's appointed over us. The key is 'lawful' orders, and therein lie some judgment calls." Milley himself has been accused of contributing to the politicization of the military by joining Trump on his infamous walk across Lafayette Square outside the White House after law enforcement forcibly cleared the area of racial justice protesters -- a point raised by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., during the committee interview. Milley previously apologized for his participation in the incident, and he said he agreed when Schiff called Milley's actions that day "a serious body blow" to the military's apolitical image. The chairman said Flynn was a "high-quality intelligence officer who served his country honorably and served it well in peace and war" when he was in the military but demurred on his opinion of Flynn now. "The Michael Flynn that I see? I'll just reserve comment," Milley said. "But I can tell you that comments like what he said, I think those comments are absolutely fundamentally wrong, and they run at cross-purposes to the oath of office about protecting and defending the Constitution. The United States military doesn't go out to polling stations and start counting votes. We don't do that, period." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Guard Deployment Wasn't Intentionally Delayed on Jan. 6, House Committee Finds Military families hoping that a new clinic for patients with illnesses linked to fuel contamination near Honolulu, Hawaii, would provide answers on their health say the hastily established facility is an appeasement to their community with little to offer. The Defense Health Agency Region Indo-Pacific Red Hill Clinic began scheduling appointments Dec. 27 for military patients sickened by a massive fuel leak into the drinking water system last year at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and saw its first patients starting Tuesday. But the rollout, according to families, has been anything but smooth, and patients say the level of care they received on opening day was not what they expected. Read Next: No Action Taken Against Army Officer After Public Dustup with Tucker Carlson over Women Serving Bel Miles, a retired Navy sailor and Navy spouse, was one of 17 patients who called for an appointment prior to the clinics opening on Jan. 3. Using the system set up by the Defense Department to schedule visits for herself, her active-duty husband and two children, she faced long periods on hold, was disconnected several times and met with confusion by staff at the Tricare Nurse Advice Line -- the military health system's national appointment call center -- who were unfamiliar with the new facility. She was told that her husband could not be seen at the facility, since he is on active duty, and was asked to give a medical history for herself and her children -- a process that took nearly two hours. Yet she still was unable to make appointments. When she finally was transferred to a local person in Hawaii, she was able to book appointments for the first day of the clinic's opening, only to be called two days later by a nurse asking for the family's complete medical history -- the same information she had supplied to the Nurse Advice Line. Miles said she could understand the second request, as she learned that the clinic didn't have access to Nurse Advice Line data, but when she and her family arrived at the clinic for their appointments, their provider told the family she had had access to the medical records for only a few minutes before the appointment and needed to go over the history again. "I wanted to get really upset and angry about it, but I know how this show works, so I answered the questions and, in the back of my mind, I really thought we were going to get the care we needed a year ago," Miles said. She added, however, that the provider seemed interested only in acute symptoms, like her son's skin rash, and not any chronic conditions like her son's complaint of bone pain. "I thought they were going to help us, that they would do tests and want to see where we're at, that they'd want to make follow-up appointments, and they didn't do any of that. It was really heartbreaking," Miles said. The Red Hill clinic was established to "exclusively provide care for patients experiencing symptoms that may be related to the Red Hill fuel spill," according to DHA Indo-Pacific Public Affairs Chief Whitney Trimble, providing access to primary-care providers and expedited referrals to specialty care clinics. It is supposed to serve all affected patients enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, including active-duty service members and those enrolled in Tricare Prime, the main health program for patients at military treatment facilities, and Tricare Select, a network health system that allows patients to see private providers. Eventually, it will have a virtual component so that personnel who transfer off the island will have access to care. But confusion reigns over who is eligible to receive care at the clinic -- at least at the call centers and appointment lines. Families say their active-duty loved ones have been told they must get care from their unit's sick call. Some families also have been told they aren't eligible for the clinic because they are enrolled in Tricare Select, with access to private physicians, and not Tricare Prime. Army Maj. Mandy Feindt, who has become an outspoken advocate for families exposed during the contamination in 2021, called the rollout a missed opportunity to help suffering families, many of whom have sought medical care in the community because they didn't feel supported in the military health system. "Why don't they have a dedicated phone line? [Families] are having to retell their stories to people on the mainland who don't know anything about Red Hill. For as much money and time as the department had for getting this right, it's a huge slap in the face," Feindt said. More than 93,000 people living in military housing on and around Pearl Harbor were affected by a massive spill of 20,000 gallons of fuel at the Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility in May 2021 that eventually leached more than 5,000 gallons into the ground and tap water in November. Military families living in and around the Honolulu base woke up Nov. 30 with the obvious smell of fuel in their tap water. Many developed unexplained symptoms, including rashes, nosebleeds, vomiting, sore throats and headaches, in the months leading up to and immediately following the admission that the drinking water supply to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam was contaminated. The incident forced thousands from their homes while others opted to remain, living on bottled water for cooking, cleaning and bathing. Eventually, the World War II-era bulk fuel farm was closed and is being drained. More than 110 plaintiffs have joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Navy over the contamination, seeking compensation for the physical, emotional and financial strain they say was placed on them as a result of the Navy's failure to investigate and adequately respond to the spill. What many of them want, however, is access to quality health care and for their voices to be heard. A Navy wife told Military.com that she finally was able to make appointments for her family at the new clinic after a two-hour hold. But when she learned that the doctors staffing the clinic were military primary-care providers, not specialists in environmental exposures, she decided against using the clinic. They arent using new doctors. They are all military doctors and the doctors that most people have seen before and gotten nowhere with, she said, asking that her name not be used because she fears retaliation against her husband by his command. It's a dog and pony show," Feindt added of the clinic. "Everyone truly believes it's a PR stunt." Depending on the product, petroleum hydrocarbons contain chemicals that can harm the human body, with the potential to cause various types of cancer, neurological effects, hypersensitivity, respiratory conditions and organ damage, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Those who have filed the lawsuit say they have been hospitalized or treated for "seizures, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological issues, vestibular dysfunction, brain injury, impaired hearing, renal complications, skin tumors, lung damage, liver damage, kidney lesions, burns, rashes, lesions, thyroid abnormalities, migraines, baby loss, and other maladies," according to the suit. Military families say the Navy is missing an opportunity to study and treat people affected by long-term exposure to chemicals, adding that they are dismayed by the lack of interest and intellectual curiosity by service public health officials. Feindt, who now lives in Colorado and whose husband has been hospitalized for the past week with exposure-related neurological issues, said the level of care her family now receives, including at a military treatment facility, has been outstanding. But for families in Hawaii, the care must improve. "The military keeps saying that people are our greatest asset, but it feels like my family has been treated like collateral damage on American soil," Feindt said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime Related: Were Dangerous 'Forever Chemicals' Released in the Red Hill Fuel Spill? The US Navy Isn't Saying A Navy officer has been accused of using chat programs to try and lure a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl into meeting him for sex, federal court documents show. Christopher Paul Hetherington, a 33-year-old lieutenant, was arrested Dec. 21. According to an affidavit filed in the case, he was stationed on the destroyer USS Ross as its weapons officer and had been selected for promotion to lieutenant commander. The investigation, which began in late October, started looking into Hetherington when he allegedly responded to a post that an undercover agent from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service made on Whisper -- an app that allows anonymous posting of photos and video. The Ross had just completed a homeport change to Norfolk from Rota, Spain, in early September. Read Next: New Clinic for Military Families Exposed to Red Hill Fuel a 'Dog and Pony Show,' Patients Say After the agent told the suspect she was in 9th grade, he moved the conversation to Snapchat where, according to the court document, his username was "sw0daddy" and he had "a display name of 'Chris H.'" This detail, among a few others, quickly led investigators to suspect they were dealing with a sailor. "As a former Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) in the U.S. Navy, I know that 'SWO' is short for Surface Warfare Officer," the agent wrote in the affidavit. She also noted that, at one point, the suspect said "he was wearing 'coveralls,' which I know to be a common uniform for SWOs and other U.S. Navy service members that work on ships." Military.com reached out to the Navy for a comment and independent confirmation of Hetherington's status but did not hear back by publication. Hetherington's lawyer told Military.com she had no comment in an email Wednesday. Hetherington would go on to converse with the account that he believed belonged to a young teenage girl for more than a month, according to the affidavit. Early on in their conversations, he would ask for assurances that the person on the other end of the conversation was not a cop. "You not a cop right, Like can you show me your I'd? [sic]" Hetherington asked the agent on Nov. 5, as recounted in court filings. The conversation eventually became more and more sexual and, by Dec. 11, the Navy officer asked the agent for pictures of what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in her underwear. That same day, Hetherington suggested having sex and assured the undercover agent that he "would wear a condom." Days later, the court documents describe that agents began to confirm Hetherington's identity by not only searching databases for his Navy status but verifying his address and phone number. On Dec. 15, the undercover agent called a number tied to the Navy officer and listened to a voicemail message. "I recognized the voice of the individual leaving the voicemail as the same individual as Snapchat user 'sw0daddy' during our Snapchat audio calls," the agent wrote in the document. Hetherington is at least the second sailor to be arrested recently on charges related to child pornography. In May 2022, the Justice Department announced it had arrested 34-year-old Adam Lee-Fucci Ferenbach, "an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy, stationed at Naval Station Mayport" after agents found a cellphone of his that had "several videos in the device's photo application depicting young children being sexually abused." Hetherington has been charged with attempting to coerce a minor and attempting to make child pornography. Court records show he is in jail ahead of his trial. His next hearing is set for Jan. 10, 2023. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Navy Cop, an Officer in Norfolk, Is Arrested on Sex Trafficking Charges In late December, the Pentagon was faced with Congress repealing its requirement that all troops be vaccinated against COVID-19, an issue that had wide public interest. The department whipped up a fact sheet and talking points on Dec. 23 so its spokespeople and public affairs officers could answer questions from curious reporters. All of the information in the seven-page document, which was obtained by Military.com, had been released before or was intended to be made public. But the document itself was labeled "CUI/NOT FOR RELEASE." The label designates "controlled unclassified information," or info that has not been classified in the traditional way but the Pentagon has decided should be kept from the public based on a 2020 policy. That withholding of a wide array of documents, such as press releases on vaccinations, has drawn scrutiny, with critics arguing that the designation is being used more to prevent embarrassment than protect national security. Read Next: New Clinic for Military Families Exposed to Red Hill Fuel a 'Dog and Pony Show,' Patients Say Now, the Pentagon is being forced to review the new practice, and prove it's not abusing its power to conceal documents. Congress included the order in its $1.7 trillion annual spending bill, which includes 2023 funding for the military. The massive piece of legislation was signed by President Joe Biden last week. Tucked into the law is a measure that gives Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks less than a month to review the use of CUI and brief congressional committees on the findings, according to an explanatory statement included with the spending bill. Congress set a 30-day deadline on the review when the bill was passed. The Senate Appropriations Committee said in the explanatory statement released with the spending bill that, while it "supports common sense security practices, it is concerned that the extensive use of CUI will result in less transparency, accountability, and congressional oversight." Put simply, they are worried the Pentagon could be keeping basic info from taxpayers for no good reason. Meanwhile, the Pentagon was also ordered in the National Defense Authorization Act to update guidance for the use of CUI as part of classified and protected unclassified programs, as well as updated training on how to use those guidelines. The department's independent watchdog, the inspector general, also announced in October it had launched an audit of the policy and use of the "controlled unclassified information" label. "The Department of Defense is aware of the provision in the enacted fiscal 2023 Consolidate Appropriations Act to conduct a review of the use of controlled unclassified information and will respond accordingly to Congress. The DoD remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust, but must balance that with the vital need to protect critical and sensitive non-public information," Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough wrote in an email response to Military.com. The Pentagon sees tighter control of the massive amount of information and documents it produces -- the department is the largest federal agency -- as an issue of national security. Many individual documents on their own may not contain information that can be used against the U.S., but when thousands are compiled, they can reveal details about defenses that could be useful to other nations or hostile groups. For example, China or Russia could gain insight into weapons programs, personnel or force posture around the world by sifting public documents. The vast sea of public military documents has been the "path of least resistance for adversaries," according to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. The Pentagon issued its policy on the use of CUI in March 2020, following creation of the designation by former President Barack Obama a decade earlier as a new way to manage information. The designation is used by other federal agencies as well. The guidance from 2020 bars the use of CUI to conceal violations of law, administrative error and inefficiencies; prevent embarrassment to the Pentagon or personnel; or to prevent open business competition. The Pentagon's top spokesman, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, declined to answer whether the label was overused during a public press briefing last month, ahead of passage of the spending bill as the department typically does not comment on pending legislation. "My response is CUI. Sorry," Ryder joked to the reporter who asked the question. -- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten. Related: FBI Seized 'Top Secret' Documents from Trump Home WASHINGTON The Biden administration is plowing ahead with plans to re-open the U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands in a bid to counter Chinas increasing assertiveness in the Pacific. The State Department has informed Congress that it will establish soon an interim embassy in the Solomons capital of Honiara on the site of a former U.S. consular property. It said the modest embassy will at first be staffed by two American diplomats and five local employees at a cost of $1.8 million per year. A more permanent facility with larger staffing is eventually envisioned, it said. The department notified lawmakers nearly a year ago that Chinas growing influence in the region made re-opening the U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands a priority. Since that notification last February, the Solomons have signed a security pact with China and the U.S. has countered by sending several high-level delegations to the islands. The U.S. closed its embassy in Honiara in 1993 as part of a post-Cold War global reduction in diplomatic posts and priorities. But it has since determined that China's rise as a regional and global power demands American attention as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy to counter Beijing, particularly in the Solomon Islands, which were a key battleground in the Pacific theater during WWII and where pro-American sentiment had been high. We are seeing this bond weaken as the Peoples Republic of China aggressively seeks to engage Solomon Islands political and business elites, utilizing a familiar pattern of extravagant promises, prospective costly infrastructure loans, and potentially dangerous debt levels, the department said in a notice to Congress dated Dec. 23 that was obtained by The Associated Press. The United States needs a permanent diplomatic presence in Honiara to effectively provide a counterweight to growing (Chinese) influence and deepen our engagement with the region commensurate with its importance, the notice said. Before (China) becomes strongly embedded in Solomon Islands, now is the opportunity to bolster Solomon Islands resilience and deepen cooperation on security, democratic governance, and a free and open economy, it said. The absence of an embassy has severely constrained our ability to engage with this strategically situated country with alacrity and precision. Since the administration first announced its plan to re-open the U.S. embassy in the Solomons in February, the nation moved ahead with a security pact with China, sparking fears that Beijing might establish a military base on the islands. China has also increased its economic and infrastructure assistance to the Solomons as it has done with other Pacific islands. The Solomon Islands prime minister assured the U.S. and other Western allies, like Australia and New Zealand, after signing the deal with Beijing in April that he would not allow China to set up a naval base in his country, but concern about Chinese intentions has not abated. In July, the U.S. sent two senior officials Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy to the Solomons to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal and to highlight nearly century-long ties between the islands and the U.S. The fathers of both Sherman and Kennedy fought in the Solomons during the war. As it moves to enhance ties with the Solomon Islands, the U.S. is also seeking to shore up relations with other Pacific nations that it fears may also be drawn into China's orbit. Negotiations are ongoing for the renewal of so-called Compact of Free Association" agreements between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Those pacts expire within the next two years. In late September, President Joe Biden convened a summit of Pacific Island leaders to unveil a new strategy for the region that included pressing issues like climate change, maritime security and protecting the area from overfishing. Biden pledged that the U.S. would add $810 million in new aid for Pacific Island nations over the next decade, including $130 million on efforts to stymie the impacts of climate change. The White House also announced plans to recognize the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign states, after appropriate consultations. The U.S. currently recognizes the islands as self-governing territories. At the time, White House officials acknowledged that U.S. inattentiveness toward the region since the end of the Cold War has left an opening for Beijing to exert its influence. Saudi Arabias flynas, a leading low-cost airline in the region, has doubled annual growth in operation and performance during 2022, increasing passengers by 91% to 8.7 million; flights by 45% to 66,000 and seat capacity by 46%. Additionally, flynas launched 16 new destinations and 30 new routes as the fleet upscaled to 43 aircraft, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The growth rates recorded by flynas during 2022 in performance, operations, and localization programs reflect the companys commitment to continuing expansion under the slogan We Connect the World to the Kingdom and to consolidating its leading position as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East and one of the top 10 airlines in the world of its category, said CEO and Managing Director of flynas Bander Almohanna. The annual results confirm the progress in the companys strategic plan with the receiving of 8 new Airbus A320neo and joining 2 Airbus A330 aircraft, which will contribute to serving pilgrims and Umrah performers as well as expanding to new markets. Moreover, the company's Board of Directors approved raising the booking orders of 250 aircraft, in line with the goals of the Saudi vision 2030, and the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers, 250 international destinations, and 100 million tourists annually, he added. Almohanna stressed the company's commitment to the localization of jobs, qualifying young Saudi talent, and the empowerment of women in the aviation sector, as flynas launched the Future Engineers program in 2022 to localize the aircraft engineering and maintenance jobs, and to graduate and employ 150 engineers over the coming years. The program started with 30 Saudi engineers, while 100 Saudi first officer cadet pilots were accepted in the Future Pilots training program. Regarding cultural, sustainable initiatives that impact the community, flynas allocated one of its newest aircraft to be decorated with the visual identity of the Saudi Coffee 2022 initiative launched early in 2022 by the Ministry of Culture and supported by the life quality program -, one of the Saudi vision 2030 programs. Moreover, flynas sponsored two flights to coffee plantations in Al-Baha and Jazan to promote Saudi culture and tourist attractions along with developing opportunities in the provinces and celebrating the national identity with the support of the provinces' emirates. In terms of work environment, flynas has been recognized as one of the best four workplaces in the Kingdom for 2022, according to the annual survey by the global organization Best Places to Work (BPTW). The success of flynas was recognised with many international awards, including Skytrax International Award as the Best Low-cost Airline in the Middle East for the fifth year in a row. It is the highest award given in the aviation sector at the global level since its launch in 1999, and flynas was also ranked among the Skytrax top 10 low-cost airlines in the world. Meanwhile, flynas won the Best Low-cost Airline Award in the Middle East from the World Travel Awards in 2022 for the eighth year in a row. In an assessment by the non-profit organization APEX, one of the largest international airline associations, which included 600 airlines of various categories around the world, flynas came in the four-star category, which is the highest category for low-cost airlines in the world. The Ghana Chamber of Construction Industries is pressing on government to declare revenue allocated for road construction in 2023 from the collection of E-levy. The government in courting public support for the passage of the E-levy Bill in 2022 indicated that revenue generated will be used to address the countrys unemployment rate and construction of roads. Speaking to Citi News, CEO of the Chamber, Emmanuel Cherry lamented the delay in the payment of road contractors. We are hoping that if government doesnt divert the funds as it has done in the past, then 2023 is going to be a good year for the construction sector in terms of roads and other buildings. Given the approval of the 2.5 percent VAT increase, I pray that government maintains what it has said. But as we speak, we do not know how much of the E-levy revenue has been set aside for the construction sector. So we want clarity, he said. Road contractors across the country had on several occasions lamented about government's indebtedness to them. The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta indicated that government will clear a chunk of outstanding debts owed road contractors for work done before the end of 2022. By Citi Newsroom Twenty-eight bodies were found in northwest Burkina Faso at the weekend, the government said, as rights campaigners blamed a volunteer militia created to support the army's battle against jihadists. Attacks targeting the security forces and civilians have increased in recent months, especially in northern and eastern regions bordering jihadist-torn Mali and Niger. "The government was informed of an incident at Nouna... during the night of December 30-31," a government statement said late Monday. Preliminary reports "indicate 28 people killed," it said, adding that an investigation had been opened in order to shed "full light" on what had happened, and urging calm. But a rights group called the Collective of Communities against Impunity and Stigmatisation (CISC) pointed the finger at the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP) -- a civilian auxiliary force that supports the military in its seven-year-old fight against jihadists. "Armed civilians claiming to be" VDP have been "freely carrying out organised looting and abuses targeting civilian populations on the basis of appearance and stigmatisation," the CISC said. The public prosecutor in Nouna, Armel Sama, said in a statement that "most of the victims, all of them males, were shot dead." The landlocked West African country is one of the poorest and most volatile nations in the world. Since 2015, it has been grappling with an insurgency led by jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group that has killed tens of thousands and displaced around two million people. Volunteer force The VDP, set up in December 2019, comprises civilian volunteers who are given two weeks' military training and then work alongside the army, typically carrying out surveillance, information-gathering or escort duties. Commentators have long worried that the poorly-trained volunteers are easy targets for the jihadists -- and may also dangerously inflame ethnic friction without proper controls. The CISC said the weekend events in Nouna had begun with a reported "terrorist attack" on a local VDP headquarters. Armed men then carried out "deadly attacks in reprisal," it said. Victims said the assailants were VDP who were members of a traditional hunting community called the Dozo, according to the CISC. CISC Secretary Daouda Diallo called on the authorities to pay "special attention" to the situation. "Armed terrorist groups exploit these kinds of transgression to attract recruits among the public," Diallo warned. Three incidents of abduction and extrajudicial killings allegedly involving Dozo or VDP had occurred in the runup to the events at the weekend, CISC said. A man writes out his application letter to join the VDP during November's recruitment drive. By OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT (AFP) Government spokesman Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo said the "drama" at the weekend "unfolded at a time when Burkina Faso has launched an operation to mobilise the entire population in a united action in the fight against terrorism." In November, the authorities, backed by a patriotic campaign, launched a drive to recruit 50,000 VDP -- 90,000 signed up. The government is "fundamentally opposed to all forms of abuse or violations of human rights for whatever reasons," the statement said. Turmoil The VDP has been in the brunt of losses suffered by the security forces in the face of the jihadist campaign. Hundreds of volunteers have died, especially in ambushes or explosions caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along roadsides. Burkina Faso. By (AFP) The escalating toll among the army, police and VDP unleashed two military coups last year, launched by officers angered at failures to stem the bloodshed. The latest strongman is Captain Ibrahim Traore, who on September 30 ousted Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. Damiba had seized the helm in January 2022 from the last elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. On December 29, military prosecutors said they were probing a new attempt to "destabilise" the country. They said they had arrested a chief warrant officer and a sergeant who according to a whistleblower had been in contact with Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana -- a prominent officer who had been arrested in January 2022 and released in December. Tanzania's president on Tuesday lifted a ban on opposition rallies imposed in 2016 by her strongman predecessor, in an overture to political rivals seeking the restoration of democratic traditions. "I am here to declare that the ban on political rallies is now lifted," President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took power after the death of John Magufuli in 2021, told a gathering of political leaders at State House in Dar es Salaam. "The government will be responsible for ensuring security during rallies, but I urge all politicians to also practise civilised politics," she added. Hassan has been under pressure to break with some of the more hardline policies of Magufuli, who came to power in 2015 as a no-nonsense man of the people but became accused of crushing dissent. Nicknamed "the Bulldozer" for his uncompromising style, Magufuli banned political rallies early in his first term, but critics said the ruling was applied only to opposition groups. Free speech and the press were also curbed and opposition leaders detained in a sweeping crackdown on dissent under his leadership in a country once seen as a democratic beacon in East Africa. Hassan has sought to make conciliatory moves to the opposition since taking office, but has previously been branded a "dictator" by her critics, and fears remain about the state of political and media freedoms. In 2021, a newspaper owned by the ruling party was suspended for publishing a story saying Hassan would not run for office in 2025. Britain and Mauritius have begun talks aimed at ending a decades-old spat over the legal status of the Chagos Islands, whose population was forcibly cleared in the late 1960s to allow the building of a joint UK-US military installation. Mauritius lays full claim to the remote Indian Ocean archipelago, currently administered by Britain, which has a joint military base there with the United States. In his New Year address, Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said, "the latest developments on the Chagos issue are very encouraging. Negotiations between Mauritius and Britain have begun." In November, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a written ministerial statement that the countries "have decided to begin negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago". Cleverly added they had agreed to hold "constructive negotiations" and hope to reach an agreement early this year. Military interests His statement followed a meeting in September between the countries' prime ministers at the United Nations General Assembly. The UK foreign secretary said that Britain intends to "resolve all outstanding issues, including those relating to the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago". The countries agreed that a joint UK and US military base on Diego Garcia the largest of the seven main atolls will continue to operate whatever the results of the talks, the minister said. In 1965, Britain decided to separate the islands from Mauritius and set up a military base there. International pressure Mauritius which became an independent Commonwealth country in 1968 has long fought to return the archipelago to its territory and has gained international support for its cause. An International Court of Justice ruling in 2019 backed Mauritius' claim and said Britain should give up control of the islands. Following the move, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favour of a resolution recognising that "the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius" and recommending Britain withdraw within six months. 04.01.2023 LISTEN Director of Business Operations at Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has urged the government to expedite negotiations on the debt exchange programme by the end of January 2023 or the country will be heading for doomsday. Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, January 4, Mr Jackson said the government must change its approach and properly engage bondholders to accept the programme. In my mind, by the end of this month, it should have been tied up, it is hard to imagine going into February without this issue being resolved then we will be heading into the doomsday scenario, Mr Jackson told sit-in host Nathan Quao. Mr Jackson added that the International market is still being kind to the country due to the recent stability of the economy following the staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The reason why the markets havent punished Ghana as badly as they could have punished us is that there is a sense that the IMF will come in and provide some stabilitybut we then need to negotiate with all these constituencies that we are asking to take a haircut, and it has to be voluntary. So we are walking on a knife edge, and we have to come to a conclusion very soon. I dont think that there is a lot of time at all. Ghana in December further extended the deadline to register for its domestic debt exchange to January 16 in order to secure internal approvals from the financial sector, according to the Finance Ministry. The Ministry of Finance also announced a change to the debt exchange, with eight additional instruments to be created. The ministry had previously extended the registration deadline for the domestic debt exchange to December 30, from December 19 originally. This extension affords the governmentthe opportunity to consider suggestions made by all stakeholders with the aim of adjusting certain measures, the Finance Ministry said in a statement, echoing the language of the first extension announcement. Under the original plan, local bonds were to be exchanged for new ones maturing in 2027, 2029, 2032 and 2037, with annual coupons set at 0% in 2023, 5% in 2024 and 10% from 2025 until maturity. Announcing the latest extension, the Finance Ministry said that eight additional instruments would be created, bringing the total number of new bonds to 12, with one maturing each year from 2027 to 2038. citinewsroom Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutuwm is scheduled to meet management of some public universities, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) over agitations that have met the increase in academic fees on Thursday, 5 January 2023. The student body has accused the University of Ghana (UG) and other public universities of increasing academic fees by 15%, without any stakeholder engagements. The management of UG has, however, justified its decision to increase fees. But the Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng has said he is hopeful that a consensus would be arrived at the meeting on Thursday, January 5. The Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, has once again intervened and has invited the universities in question. We have the University of Ghana (UG), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and some other public universities. So we have extended invitation to them, hopefully, we will meet them together with GTEC this Thursday [January 5, 2023]. The entire aim is to be able to find a lasting solution or resolve this issue, the Public Relations Officer of the Education Ministry stated. Meanwhile, the University of Ghana has set the record straight on the increase in Academic Facility User Fees (AFUF) for the 2022/2023 academic year. This comes on the back of concerns raised by student leaders that the increase in fees exceeds the 15 per cent threshold approved by Parliament. A statement issued by the University of Ghana on Monday, 2 January 2023, signed by its Registrar, Emelia Agyei-Mensah, sought to correct false information being circulated about adjustments of Academic Facility User Fees by the University for the 2022/2023 academic year. According to the University, the adjustments of fees by the University is based on rates approved by Parliament and communicated through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). It explained that Parliament had approved a 5 per cent increment for the 2019/2020 academic year, which the University had staggered, with the authorisation coming mid-semester. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, though the increment should have been implemented, student leaders pleaded for a suspension due to the economic impact of the pandemic on parents. In effect, therefore, the University of Ghana charged students subsidised fees for the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic years, rather than the approved fees, the statement said. Source: Classfmonline.com 04.01.2023 LISTEN The Agona Swedru Divisional Police Command has arrested a man, 25, for allegedly shooting and killing Kweku Yeboah, a sawmill worker, at Agona Asafo in the Central Region. Patrick Sowatey, the suspect, allegedly shot Yeboah, 48, with his pump action gun after a quarrel had ensued between the two last Thursday. The police source said the misunderstanding ensued when the deceased, who worked at a sawmill at Agona Asafo, went to check on his sister's building, which shared a wall with the suspects land. It said the deceased made a phone call during the verbal exchanges, which infuriated the suspect and he pulled the trigger. The source said after the gun shot the suspect warned people around not to go near the deceased, but they ignored him and took the body, in a pool of blood, to the Swedru Municipal Government Hospital where he died later. The police got wind of the incident and arrested the suspect. Investigations are underway to arraign him, it said. GNA The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that it still investigating the banking and financial sector crisis that necessitated the financial sector clean-up and recapitalisation reforms. In its half-year report for the year ending December 2022, the OSP said it has targeted some officials of the Bank of Ghana, banks, and specialised deposit-taking institutions for their alleged involvement in corruption and corruption-related offences. Investigation is ongoing in respect of the banking and financial sector crisis that precipitated the collapse of some banks and financial institutions and the financial sector clean up and recapitalisation reforms. The investigation targets alleged corruption and corruption-related offences perpetrated by some officials of the Bank of Ghana, banks, specialised deposit-taking institutions, and financial holding companies, parts of the OSPs release said on Wednesday, January 4. Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has also provided an update on the Airbus scandal. In its report, it said investigation is ongoing in respect of alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, in respect of the sale and purchase of military aircrafts for the Republic. According to the OSP, the office is engaged with INTERPOL and the central authorities of the United Kingdom and the United States under the mutual legal assistance regime. Lucknow, Jan 4 (UNI) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday stressed the need for developing a self-sustainable model for running a Gaushala and said that the gaushalas should be constructed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. While reviewing a presentation regarding the large cow shelters, the CM said that these cow shelters should be linked to natural farming, cow dung paint, CNG and CBG. "This will make the gaushalas financially strong and they will be able to bear the expenses for the maintenance and rearing of the cows themselves," he said. He said that for the operation of gaushala, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) must be signed with the interested Non Government Organisations (NGOs) while making the necessary arrangements. Along with the Animal Husbandry Minister, officials from the departments of Finance, Energy, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development were present during the meeting. A presentation was made about the construction of shelters in UP that could accommodate 2,0003,000 animals. Yogi said that the 'Sahbhagita Yojana' launched by the state government should be taken forward rapidly in the entire state. "Under this scheme, farmers rearing destitute cattle are being given Rs 900 per cow per month. It should be paid to the farmers after land verification," he said. After seeing the presentation, the CM said that the state government is making continuous efforts for animal promotion and protection with a sense of service. "Many schemes are being run by the government for the encouragement of cattle rearers. Ensure that the eligible people get its benefits," he directed. He said that the Animal Husbandry department should plan practically whereas the departmental officers should avoid the situation of indecision and prepare an action plan for cow service on the basis of interest and priority. "Accountability should be fixed at every level," he said. Giving directions to the officers, Yogi said that an action plan should be prepared keeping in mind the management of gaushala for the entire year. "Green fodder, straw and bran should be arranged for the whole year in April-May itself," he said. He also directed the authorities concerned to release funds to cow shelters wherever they are operating. "Release the cattle herders' funds as well who rear destitute cattle", he said. The CM said that the cows of the Indian breed need cleanliness and a space to pasture and if they do not receive these things they become unwell. "Cowsheds should be constructed with this in mind," he said. He said that the destitute cow shelter, Sahbhagita Yojana and scheme of providing one cow each for malnourished families run by the state government are very effective in cow protection. "Take these three schemes forward by campaigning in the entire state," he said. Yogi said, "Special care should be taken so that no cow dies due to cold and hunger in the state. To increase milk production and to control destitute cattle, speed up the breed improvement scheme. Under this scheme, cattle rearers can improve the breed of cattle by getting artificial insemination done in government veterinary hospitals. With this, the production of milk will increase, as well as a new breed of cattle will also be developed." UNI AB GNK Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a ban on opposition rallies imposed in 2016 by her strongman predecessor, in an overture to political rivals seeking the restoration of democratic norms. Addressing party leaders invited to State House on Tuesday, Hassan announced that the "ban on political rallies is now lifted". "The government will be responsible for ensuring security during rallies, but I urge all politicians to also practise civilised politics," she said. "You are all free to criticise the government wherever you see challenges, so that we address them for the benefit of our people." Hassan had been under pressure to break with the hardline policies of John Magufuli, who died in 2021 after six years of heavy-handed rule in a country once seen as a democratic beacon in East Africa. Magufuli came to power in 2015 as a no-nonsense man of the people but presided over a sustained crackdown on political freedoms, earning the nickname "Bulldozer" for his refusal to brook any dissent. Early in his tenure, he banned political rallies, saying it was time for work, not politics. But critics said the ban applied only to opposition groups, with the ruling party free to assemble, while rival gatherings were violently broken up by police and their officials thrown in jail. In 2018, police fired live rounds to disperse a rally by the Chadema opposition party, and its leader Freeman Mbowe was later charged with unlawful assembly and inciting violence. 'Cleaned up the mess' Mbowe, who spent seven months in prison under Hassan on terrorism charges, reacted cautiously to the president's announcement. "It is good that the president has allowed political meetings, but we are now waiting to see the implementation by other government officials," he said. Zitto Kabwe, another opposition leader, said the decision was a first step toward greater political reforms. "I am exhilarated! This is the right that was snatched by the state through an illegal presidential decree. President Samia has cleaned up the mess. It is a normal thing but huge," he told AFP news agency in a WhatsApp message. The opposition hoped that Hassan, a ruling party stalwart herself, and deputy president at the time of Magufuli's sudden death, would turn the page on the autocratic-style rule of her predecessor. There was early optimism when Hassan, the country's first female president, reached out to rivals, reopened banned media outlets, and reversed some of Magufuli's most controversial policies. Those hopes were dimmed with Mbowe's arrest in July 2021, and observers say more needs to be done to reform the country's battered reputation. "President Suluhu should definitely go beyond this announcement. There has to be concrete action to restore a fair democratic playing field in Tanzania," said Oryem Nyeko, a researcher on Tanzania for Human Rights Watch. 'Welcome step' Amnesty International said it was "a welcome step in the right direction". "We urge Tanzanian authorities to go further and work towards greater protection of human rights, including by repealing or amending the Political Parties act to remove all obstacles to rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression," said Amnesty's regional researcher Roland Ebole. Hassan said Tuesday that she was committed to "reconciliation and reforms" including a long-awaited rewriting of the constitution, a key opposition demand. "More legal reforms are coming soon to ensure that the rights of all parties are accommodated," she said. Hassan has battled division within her Chama Cha Mapinduzi party since taking office, shuffling her cabinet three times in 2022 as internal fissures broke into the open. She has accused rivals inside the government of trying to damage her leadership, and last year suspended a party-owned newspaper for publishing a story saying she would not run in elections set for 2025. (with newswires) Following ten years of criminal investigation, French legal officials have called for the trial of Bernard Squarcini, former head of the French internal security agency, and 10 others, on charges of abuse of office, fraud and complicity in breaches of professional and judicial secrecy. The case in centred on alleged links between the French national security services and private businesses, including the luxury goods retailer, LVMH. In 2012 Bernard Squarcini was relieved of his duties as director general of the DGSI, the police agency responsible for internal security. President Francois Hollande sacked him, believing Squarcini to be too close to former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy. Squarcini, whose professional nickname was The Shark, then founded a consulting firm, Kyrnos, offering business intelligence to clients including LVMH, a conglomerate of high-income companies. LVMH incorporates the Louis Vuitton fashion label, Moet champagne and Hennessy brandy. The company is estimated to be worth more than 350 billion euros and is quoted in the top bracket of the Paris Stock Exchange. World's richest man questioned by police Investigators suspect Squarcini used his ties to the police and other intelligence networks to access confidential information to the benefit of LVMH. Squarcini was originally charged in 2016. In 2021, prosecutors added new charges on the basis of suspicions that Squarcinin had spied on Francois Ruffin, then a journalist and film maker, now a member of the French parliament and part of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party. At the time, Ruffin was working on a documentary about LVMH and its boss Bernard Arnault, the world's wealthiest individual. The film, entitled "Merci Patron! (Thanks Boss!)," was a commercial success and won the French equivalent of an Oscar as best documentary of 2017. The revelation of the way in which the 14th richest company in the world treats some of its "minor" employees is, to say the best of it, unflattering. Arnault himself has been interviewed as a witness in the case. LVMH is not included in the list of the individuals or entities charged. In late 2021, the company paid a fine of 10 million euros to settle a claim that it had hired Squarcini to spy on private citizens. When I first read Okot P'Bitek's "Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol", I was in a school library at Malosa Secondary School in Zomba in 1991. It is one book of poetry that I can truly claim was a conscientising journey for me. I cannot claim that at the time my level of analyis was advanced -- not that I claim so now -- but I thought then that the book appealed easily to any reader of conscience, and one who wanted to understand exactly what was happening to the African psyche and personality under colonialism. Even at the time, I thought P'Bitek had placed the beginning of African revolution at the heart of African Personality. For the poem examines how colonialism distorted African thinking by condemning and demonising everything that Africans ever revered, or what they had been about -- our culture, spirituality, emotions, worldview, our relationships with ourselves and with the continent that gave birth to us, and with other people around the world. Even then, the poem was carrying two messages: 1) We have to reclaim and develop African Personality, and 2) Have African Personality drive the African Revolution. Quite a conundrum if you ask me, but something to think about. What is African Personality If I were to define it, then, I would venture to say, African Personality is the idea that Africans should recall their history and develop a character with the aim of reclaiming their dignity and cultural prowess through a revolution that would count them as humans with other members of the human race. Quite a mouthful, but I am sure that -- as I said above -- a fuller meaning will be acquired as the revolution develops. For, as I think of that revolution, the concept will have its completeness and meaning once Africans have reached the goal of having united, and had embarked on the ultimate objective of being one with the human race. Fighting Slavery Thus, the journey was supposed to start with reclaiming dignity. Both slavery and colonialism dehumanised Africans to a point of them losing their self-worth. They were enslaved and belittled because both the slave master and the colonist -- two sides of the same coin -- saw the African as some animal, a sub-human. Those who had some civilisation saw Africans as boys and girls, but who still had to work for the master and madam! It is against this background that some who saw the injustice started to fight. Hence the Haitian uprising that toppled the slave machinery and established a government. The first government ever to be formed by people who had been captive slaves on that island. This in many ways was the first step to reclaiming personhood -- the realisation that Africans were not the subhumans the European enslavers wanted them to be. Another claimant was Harriet Tubman, who rescued many of her fellow enslaved Africans through the Underground Railroad. It must have taken a strong person with great character to execute such a daring act. Indeed the fight for freedom is a daring action. Had she been of a weak character she surely wouldn't have pulled off this job. As an empowered person, she strived to empower others, and others, until slavery as it was known then was abolished. Then started another form (of slavery) in the manner of colonialism. We must recall that in the interim -- the transition between slavery and colonialism, another strong character in Marcus Garvey was born. With it, the movement for Africans to go back to the motherland was formed, which instilled in the recovering African the idea of self-reliance. The building of the African personality was taking shape gradually, but needed to have a universality which could only be developed on the continent. Confronting Colonialism Meanwhile, anti-colonial sentiments were also growing African Personality as resistance to colonialism grew. Then, with that also came the realisation that the African battles across the oceans were related. Something which gave birth to Pan-Africanism, an idea Henry Sylvester-Williams married to Blyden's African Personality. Other people who gave shape to these character-building ideas are, among others, WEB Du Bois and George Padmore. The commonality shared by Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora was itself a foundation rock that propelled the African revolution. Kwame Nkrumah saw this connection through Pan-Africanism as a guide giving direction "towards specific and definite goals." He said that Pan-Africanism was centered around "the belief that Africans share common bonds and objectives and advocates unity" of all Africans. African Personality, as a concept on which Pan-Africanism hinges, is at the same time a vehicle to ferry it. Once the anti-colonial wars intensified, it was because of the determined characters who realised that they could not lose their personhood, hence their Africanhood. And that it was only through fighting that they could restore those characteristics. As Nkrumah pointed out, African Personality could be put in motion by African genius, in characters who valued Africa and being African. For him African Personality could be developed once the African could meet and defend four objectives: 1) consolidation of political independence; 2) Eradication ofracialism and colonialism in Africa (and everwhere); 3) development of the economy; and a foreign policy which promoted Pan-Africanism. Thus, the new African of which he spoke, would fight for these objectives, which would ultimately restore the dignity of Africa, and reclaim her culture including her languages and history. It was his desire for this 'new African' to be proud and independent in thought, free of influences outside of principles that build African society. He had determined quite early that Africans had serious problems with 'self-confidence', which deficit is responsible for the feeling of inferiority. African Personality does not have room for inferiority-superiority complex. In fact, it wants to exterminate such complexes. One person who managed to do that was Malcom X. According to Ossie Davis, who eulogised him in 1965 when he was buried, Malcolm X "kept snatching our lives away. He kept shouting the painful truth we did not want to hear from the housetops. And he would not stop for love nor money." Davis said that Malcolm X stood for freedom in the US not only for his African brothers and sisters, "but for everybody." One of the haunting questions he left us with was: "Who taught you to hate yourself?" And perhaps he wouldn't have cared whether we answered it, because he knew very well what the answer was. While we may think that Malcolm X was a daring personality for speaking his mind to power, we equally had a strong personality in Ossie Davis. Indeed, it took a strong character to speak fearlessly about Malcolm X in the America of the time. But also, no weak character could admit as Davis did, that "Malcolm X was our manhood... This was his meaning to his people. And, in honoring him, we honor the best in ourselves..." African Personality Has no Apology It is not in vain, therefore, that we seek examples of these characters who personify African Personality. Nkrumah despised those that could not defend Africa at any stage. For instance, he said African Personality was distinct from (Leopold Senghor's) negritude, which wad apologetical. He despised the "vague brotherhood based on a criterion of colour, or on the idea that Africans have no reasoning but only sensitivity." He said African genius meant something positive. I would like to believe that such apologetical attitudes are still present with us. In South Africa, long before Nkrumah's pronouncements on the African genius, Mangaliso Sobukwe, following on the footsteps of Anton Lembede, had already spoken to the concept of African Personality. This after the Africanists had pointed out the flaws in the relationship of the African National Congress (ANC) and the congress alliance. The sell-out Charter document was giving away the African land by claiming it belonged to all, oppressor and oppressed. This was defeating the African revolution as pronounced in Pan-Africanism, and given character in the African Personality. Hence, the Pan-African character which was infused by Pixley Ka Seme in the ANC diminished, never to recover. It does not even seem that Thabo Mbeki's later perception of the African Renaissance could rescue it. It was the Status Campaign which revealed the character of personality that Sobukwe and his party, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania sought to inject. They made it clear that the cap-in-hand apologetic politics, once the trademark of ANC, had come to an end. Sharpeville, part of the positive action campaign (the PAC of the PAC), was actioning that Status Campaign, thus showing that the apartheid government was not dealing with boys and girls, and were not apologetic about it. It was Sobukwe who said, in not so many words, that African Personality can be achieved when one had "a consuming love for African people" and the continent at large. Other strong characters of the revolution in South Africa included Abram Tiro and Steve Biko who dared the regime that eventually killed them because they wouldn't yield for anything. We also give reverence to people like Patrice Lumumba, Sekou Toure, Julius Nyerere, Robert Mugabe and others who fought and stood against the adversity of the colonial oppressor. We thank them for showing us how character is built toward developing African Personality. Forces of Doom Still in Our Midst We are still experiencing those apologetical tendencies in the current crop of African leaders, who in their indecisiveness are progressively yielding Africa to colonists. Many of these have become agents for colonialism in all its stripes. They would rather enjoy crumbs from the European and American and now Chinese masters, while the majority of Africans die of hunger and want. These are the forces of doom, trying to hold back the march toward freedom. From these, we cannot learn and teach our children how character for the African personality, and hence African liberation is built. These are spineless, characterless, mis-leaders that dim beacons of hope. Yet, the revolution cannot be halted for their sake. More strong men and women must rise who must develop that vital ingredient for African liberation -- African Personality! Wole Soyinka summed up the current condition in Africa in his drama, "The Lion and The Jewel", showing that it is a long way from the cries of B'Tek's Lawino and Ocol. 04.01.2023 LISTEN Marcus Garvey, though with no spirito-cultural foregrounding in Afrikan-Centredness, was, in no uncertain terms, a racial exclusionist/separatist, and definitely not a Pan-Africanist!!! It is an ahistorical assertion to say he was a Pan-Africanist, given the apologism and mediocrity that plagued the pioneers of the ideology called Pan-Africanism. I call this kind of revisionism, intellectual subversion and falsification of history! Marcus Garvey spoke of Negro/Black Nationalism!!! 'BLACK NATIONALISM VS PAN-AFRICANISM AND BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS' All the Pan-Afrikanist and Black Consciousness "struggle icons" who feature in the mainstream knowledge and information sharing outlets had white handlers/softners/tamers. All these men envisioned some humanity melting pot as the output end of our liberation struggle, and not a sovereign, independent, structurally and institutionally autonomous Afrikan world that is unapologetically and exclusively Afrikan-ruled and participated, under which all others (non-Afrikans) can come as guests. This is what any sensible Self-determining and Self-ruling Nation in the world does. I realised I've actually been trying to make Pan-Afrikanism and Black Consciousness say what I wish them to say. When you're called anti-white bigots by Pan-Afrikanists and Black Consciousness adherents, you should know you have just had a slap on your head to sober you up from a phenomena of illusions. I am not only for Afrikan liberation, I'm also for an exclusively Afrikan rule on Afrikan Soil. And by Afrikan I mean people of your and my phenotype. This is Black Nationalism! 'HOW THE "FATHER OF PAN-AFRICANISM" W.E.B DUBOIS RESPONDED TO BLACK NATIONALISM, AS ANNOTATED BY GARVEY' While W. E. B. Du Bois felt that the Black Star Line was "original and promising", he added that "Marcus Garvey is, without doubt, the most dangerous enemy of the Negro race in America and in the world. He is either a lunatic or a traitor." Du Bois considered Garvey's program of complete separation a capitulation to white supremacy; a tacit admission that Blacks could never be equal to Whites. Noting how popular the idea was with racist thinkers and politicians, Du Bois feared that Garvey threatened the gains made by his own movement. - "The Collapse of the Only Thing in the Garvey Movement Which Was Original or Promising", retrieved 2 November 2007 - Du Bois, The Crisis, Vol. 28, May 1924, pp. 89. GARVEY'S 'PAN-NEGROISM' Marcus Garvey was phenotypically specific when he referred to Africans, hence his use of the term 'negro' for emphasis.But in the traditional BC/PA lexicography, both 'Black' and 'African' are plagued with hybridity. Their inclusivity to Arabs and Indians attests to my assertion. We can be sure of the fact that no Indian or Arab was called 'Negro', we unambiguously know the phenotype Garvey referred to. Garvey was not an intellectual victim of an a priori African continentalism that's ecunimical to Arabs and Indians, and at worst, whites, in some "BC/PA political cubicles" Nkadimeng Dlamini says; "The genealogy of Pan Africanism can be traced to Sylvester Williams. He established the Pan African Congress which had about 150 whites sympathisers as honorary members. From this we can see that the defining feature of PA from its inception was its integrationist impulses. The movement was later patronised by the likes of DuBois, CLR James, George Padmore etc. On the other hand, a parallel movement was underway. That led by Marcus Garvey. This was an exclusively blacks only movement. To be sure, Garvey distanced himself from Pan Africanists and identified himself as a Negro Nationalist. Of all the Pan-African congresses organised and attended by the likes of Williams, DuBois, Padmore, CLR James etc, Garvey was never part of them. He was always viewed as an arch rival of pan Africanists with his Black Nationalism." 04.01.2023 LISTEN Myanmar declared independence from British colonial rule on January 4, 1948, after a long fight championed by General Aung San. Ceremony to hoist and salute the State Flag to mark the 75th Diamond Jubilee Independence Day was held in Nay Pyi Taw on the 4th of January 2023. On the occasion of the diamond jubilee of the independence of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the people of Bangladesh extended warm greetings and felicitations to the people of Myanmar and wish them inclusive peace and prosperity. On the auspicious occasion of Diamond Jubilee, 75th Anniversary of Independence Day of Myanmar, congratulatory message was sent to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Bangladesh wishes progress and prosperity for the people of Myanmar. In the message, it was said that over the last fifty years Bangladesh and Myanmar have enjoyed warm and cordial relations based on values of mutual respect and understanding. The two countries will continue to strengthen multilateral cooperation through the framework of the United Nations, as well as other international and regional structures including the BIMSTEC, ASEAN cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has said that as a next-door and friendly neighbour, Bangladesh has been committed to developing an amicable relationship with Myanmar, the ministry said. Myanmar's junta chief on Wednesday lashed out at countries for intervening in his country's affairs while thanking others for "positively" cooperating, noting how it was working closely with neighbours such as Bangladesh, China, India and Thailand. Myanmar junta hits out at critics, thanks neighbours for help. We are closely working with neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, China, India and Thailand. We will work together for border stability and development, Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised speech. "I want to say thank you to some international and regional countries and organizations and individuals who positively cooperated with us... in the midst of all the pressure, criticisms and attacks," Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech to mark Myanmar's 75th Independence Day. "We are closely working with neighbouring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development," Min Aung Hlaing said in a televised speech from a national day parade in the capital Naypyitaw. Myanmar troops and weaponry have paraded through the capital Naypyidaw to mark 75 years of independence from Britain. Bangladeshs relation with Myanmar goes back to history. Myanmar is the only country apart from India with which we share both land and maritime borders. Myanmar was amongst the first neighboring countries to have recognized Bangladesh on 13 January 1972. Myanmar was the sixth country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent country. Immediately after the independence, Bangladesh established diplomatic relations with Myanmar and quickly opened its Embassy in Yangon on 01 April 1972. The then Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. Abdus Samad Azad, visited Myanmar as early as in May 1972. Both the neighbours signed their first bilateral agreement; the Trade Agreement, in August 1973. Exchange of many high-level visits including Presidential, Prime Ministerial and Foreign Ministerial level visits steered bilateral relations between the two countries. Myanmars the then President General Ne Win was the first Asian Head of State to visit independent Bangladesh in April 1974. He again visited Bangladesh in May 1979 and November 1982. The then President of Bangladesh paid state visit to Myanmar in July 1977. The then President of Bangladesh visited Myanmar in February 1982. The then Chief Marshal Law Administrator (CMLA) of Bangladesh visited Myanmar in May 1983. Myanmar's Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) paid a state visit to Bangladesh in December 2002. The then Prime Minister of Bangladesh visited Myanmar in 19-21 March 2003. Former Prime Minister of Myanmar General Khin Nyunt visited Bangladesh in April 2004. Former Vice Senior General of Myanmar U Maung Aye, Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) visited Bangladesh from 7-9 October 2008. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to Myanmar on 5-7 December, 2011 at the invitation of the President of Myanmar. PM Sheikh Hasina again visited Myanmar in March 2014 to participate in the 3rd BIMSTEC Summit. Since establishing diplomatic relations, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed more than 30 (thirty) Agreements, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and Protocols. The history of relations among the people from some territories, which currently exist as the political entity of modern-day Bangladesh and Myanmar, dates back to centuries, with renewed elements added to the relations every now and then. As the communities around the globe are globalizing, it would be disadvantageous for any country not to be proactive in seeking greater engagement with other countries, especially when it is a next door neighbour. Therefore, Bangladeshs recent attempt of seeking greater engagement with its next door neighbour Myanmar is a pragmatic approach on the part of Bangladesh. Trade & investment, BCIM-EC, environment, insurgency etc. are the areas where both sides may cooperate The message that Bangladesh wants to forge friendship, good neighbourliness and close cooperation with neighbouring Myanmar in all areas of common interests. Myanamr should respond with a sincere and warm gesture by expressing its willingness to move forward bilateral relations with Bangladesh. It emphasized that there should be frequent engagements between the two neighbours. No issues and incidents should distract the willingness of frequent engagements and increasing cooperation between the two countries. Both neighbours should face all challenges jointly. The relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar should not be hostage to any third party, be it any third state or any other non-state actors. There is a vast scope for the bilateral relationship between Myanmar and Bangladesh. There are a number of areas where the two countries may cooperate and work together; the key area being the improvement of existing trade relations, which is not in good shape at the time being. Bangladesh has lot to gain from the improving trade relations with Myanmar. Countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, which are the major victims of climate change with the worst victimization still awaiting, may work together in order to address the issues related to the global environmental deterioration. Besides the major problems of poverty and illiteracy, Bangladesh and Myanmars vulnerability to environmental deterioration is very alarming. Another challenge posed to the relations between the two countries is the cross-border communication of general people from the two sides of Bangladesh and Myanmar. People to people connection between two sovereign countries is the most effective way to progress together and to keep a peaceful relationship between the concerned countries. This factor is particularly important when the concerned countries are neighbours. There was a smooth and vibrant relation between the people of both Bangladesh and Myanmar in the pre-Mughal era that continued till the British era. However, the post-British era saw degradation in the relationship between the people from both sides and circumstances only got worse when the Rohingya issue took the centre stage in shaping up Bangladeshis perceptions towards Myanmar. A positive gesture was shown from Myanmars side in working with Bangladesh now. Myanmar senior general's televised speech, which was made from Myanmars side, highlighted Myanmar governments firm resolve to find solutions to the challenges with BD. Moreover, taking a step towards genuine solution regarding the Rohingya issue would likely to normalize and smoothen the communication between the people from both sides. Since Bangladesh and Myanmar governments have good relations, a good relation between the general mass from both sides would help to make ideas like BCIM-EC to become operational and, thereby, functional. For Bangladesh, the only relevant thing that is to be taken into account is that there are immense economic opportunities for Bangladesh within Myanmar. There should be no concern on Bangladeshs part as to who runs the show in Myanmar.Instead, Bangladesh should push for closer ties with Myanmar irrespective of who holds Myanmars power. Therefore, being one of the five neighbours of Myanmar, Bangladesh should try to grab such opportunities, should bolster its relations with Myanmar and take the benefit of Myanmars economic liberalization. Accra-based Marhaba Fm's morning show host and Radio France International Journalist, Mr. Sham'un Abdallah Bako has been adjudged the overall Muslim Journalist of the year 2022 at the Ghana Muslim Excellence Awards for the second consecutive time. The award which was organized by the Muslim Groups Ghana, organizers of the Ghana Muslim Excellency Award and Zongo Day Celebration was aimed at awarding hardworking Muslim personalities. The local and International Journalist, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shaltoot Media was awarded for his hardwork, dedication and commitment to the growth and progress of Muslim Communities in the country. The three qualities gave him the edge over other Muslim morning show hosts in the country. Mr. Sham'un Abdallah Bako was also recognized for his efforts in promoting the good image of the Muslim community by changing the narrative of Zongo Communities in the country. Mr. Bako through his Shaltoot Media has organized a series of events to write home the good story of the Zongo people and has organized many orientation programs to bridge the gap of gender inequality and how women are treated with impunity within the Zongo Communities. Many were those who wondered how he manage to execute his everyday activities as well as how he is able to handle the stress he goes through as a Journalist. His hard work, commitment and dedication to the Zongo Communities have compelled many to describe him as one of the few Muslim Journalists who have used their profession to change the bad perception about the Zongos. Mr. Sham'un Abdallah Bako also doubles as newscaster and Master of Ceremony (M.C) and he is well known for his outstanding performance and golden voice presentation. Apart from the morning show, newscasting, reporting for RFI, Media Event Organization, Public Relations Officer of Al-Firdaws Modern Bakery and Pastries and M.C he is also a host of health matters and other educative programmes on Marhaba Fm, Gaskiya TV, and Hijra TV all in Accra. In an interaction with the media, Mr. Sham'un Abdallah Bako dedicated the award to the Management and Staff of Marhaba Fm, Radio France International, the CEO of Al-Firdaws Group of Companies, Alhaji Abdul Razak Isifu, the National Chief Imam and all those who have in diverse ways contributed to his success. The award, he said came as a result of his hardwork, dedication, resilience and tenacity adding that with all this, glory comes at the lowest point of view. He said, when one keeps working in realism and thinks nobody is noticing that is when people identify and reward you. According to him, he sees the work of a Journalist as a preacher who use the podium to draw people to God hence his efforts as a Journalist is to also call people to do the right thing. He added that combining Marhaba Fm and RFI job with other activities for the benefit of the Zongo Communities is what he enjoys doing most and he is ready to offer more for the development and well-being of the people of the Zongos. He assured the people of the Zongos that he will engage some corporate institutions to come on board to identify the major challenges within the Zongo Communities and bring a lasting solution to make the Zongos a lovely Community for all. Some residents of Kotokrom, Wawasua, Yawmiri and Nkrankrom, all within the Sunyani municipality have commended the Deputy Attorney-General/Deputy Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah for his care and support during the New Year. This was after the deputy minister, through his Tuah-Yeboah Foundation, a registered non-profit-making organisation, presented several quantities of clothing and footwear to the residents of these towns and their surrounding communities. The items included school bags, sets of jerseys, tracksuits, casual wear, cardigans and variety of footwear including boots, among others. The beneficiary communities could not hide their joy after taking delivery of the items, which are valued at several thousands of Ghana cedis. They expressed their appreciation to Lawyer Alfred Tuah-Yeboah for his kind-heartedness and for remembering them during the New Year and wished him well in all his endeavours. Tuah-Yeboah Foundation, which is run by Lawyer Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, mobilises support from individuals and organisations - both within and outside Ghana - for communities in and around Sunyani periodically. Lawyer Tuah-Yeboah assured them of more of such assistance this year and beyond saying his Foundation exists to champion the welfare of all, especially those in deprived communities, irrespective of one's political affiliation. He said the Tuah-Yeboah Foundation will soon take delivery of hospital equipment for distribution to health facilities in Sunyani. In another development, the deputy minister held separate meetings in Sunyani with the Bono Regional Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party as well as the members of the partys Regional Communication Team. Discussions centred on the growth of the NPP in the region, among others, especially with regard to building a strong and united front to improve the partys electoral fortunes in the region. The French foreign ministry says it has received a letter from the Burkinabe authorities requesting the departure of France's ambassador from Burkina Faso a move the ministry called "not standard practice". The Burkinabe government has declined to comment officially on reports it sent this request to Paris in December. The French ministry confirmed to RFI on Tuesday that it had received such a letter, but declined to give further details or say how it had responded. "We have indeed received a letter from the Burkinabe transitional authorities. This is not standard practice and we have no public comment to make in response," a spokesperson said. According to a diplomatic source, quoted by French news agency AFP, French Ambassador Luc Hallade was "still working" in Ouagadougou and the embassy's team was "accomplishing remarkable work in difficult conditions". It remains unclear why the Burkina authorities requested Hallade's departure. According to Le Monde newspaper, it is linked to a letter of 12 December in which the ambassador requested French nationals in Koudougou 100km west of Ouagadougou leave the area for security reasons. He advised them to move to the capital or to Bobo-Dioulasso, the country's second largest city. So far, Burkina's interim government does not appear to want to sever diplomatic relations with France. Jeune Afrique reports that the Burkina Minister of Foreign Affairs favours Hallade's replacement. Worsening relations The apparent expulsion nonetheless signals a further deterioration in relations between France and Burkina Faso, a former French colony in West Africa where France maintains strong ties and has stationed special forces. Protests by opponents of the French military presence have surged there this year, partly linked to perceptions that France has not done enough to tackle an Islamist insurgency that has spread in recent years from neighbouring Mali. The prolonged insecurity led to political instability and military coups in August 2020 and May 2021 in Mali, and in January 2022 and September 2022 in Burkina Faso. Angry mobs targeted the French embassy, cultural centre and military base in Burkina Faso on the day of the second coup and on 18 November. In late December, Burkinabe authorities ordered senior UN official Barbara Manzi to leave the country, accusing her of painting a negative picture of the security situation. (with newswires) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has raised concern over the surge in Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in China. As a result, the Ministry has advised that Ghanaians should only travel to the Asian country for essential services. As much as possible, only essential travel should be undertaken, until further notice, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement dated January 3. In the statement, the Ministry also disclosed that effective Friday, January 6, all persons travelling from China to Ghana will now have to produce a 48-hour negative PCR test and undergo mandatory antigen testing at the point of entry free of charge until further notice. Despite a daily surge in Covid cases in China, the country has vowed not to let its guard down in the fight against the pandemic. It is in response to this that the government of Ghana has issued new guidelines to respond to the change in the global COVID-19 situation. Not just Ghana, but several countries have announced new entry restrictions on people travelling from China and warned against travel to the country. At the moment, it is estimated that there are close to 4,000 new Covid cases in China every day amid accusations of lack of transparency from the government of the Asian country. The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat (NSS), Mr. Alex Opoku-Mensah has been transferred to the Head Office in Accra to work under direct supervision. This follows the recommendations of a committee of inquiry tasked to probe Mr. Opoku-Mensah who verbally assaulted a nurse at the Manhyia Government Hospital. He was earlier suspended pending investigations into the matter but his suspension has been extended for two more months. In a new directive captured in a letter dated December 23, 2022, Mr. Opoku-Mensah will report to the Head Office of the Secretariat after the suspension. This implies that he may not return to the position any time soon. He has also been directed to issue an official apology to the National Service Scheme within seven days for bringing the name of the institution into disrepute. The order takes immediate effect. Mr. Opoku-Mensah was caught on tape insulting a nurse who is reported to have had a misunderstanding with his daughter, a doctor at the Manhyia hospital. He subsequently apologised after his conduct was widely condemned by the majority of Ghanaians on social media. In a statement on his Facebook page, Mr. Opoku-Mensah said, I do apologise for any mishap and assure all, there shall not be a repetition of such. I understand the disappointment and appreciate the inconvenience my action has caused the public as well as the Nursing Fraternity and Manhyia Hospital, the statement also said. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association also threatened to strike if the director is not sacked within the next 72 hours. The Ashanti Regional Vice Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Philemon Adu Brempong, said they have given the government a 72-hour ultimatum to sack the appointee else they will embark on industrial action. Mr Adu Brempong said the NSS Regional Director is not fit for the Director position he holds in the Public Service. citinewsroom The Ashanti regional director of the National Service Scheme, Mr Alex Opoku-Mensah , has been suspended for two months without pay, as punishment for raining insults on a nurse, with whom his daughter, a houseman at the Manhyia Hospital, had a misunderstanding. He has also been transferred to the NSS headquarters in Accra to work under direct supervision. Also, he has been given up to seven days to issue an official apology to the NSS for bringing its name into disrepute. Mr Opoku-Mensah was suspended last year after an audio recording of the encounter went viral. However, the management of the NSS, following a probe into the incident, issued a statement announcing Mr Opoku-Mensah will not be paid for his two-month suspension. https://www.classfmonline.com/news/general/Do-you-know-who-I-am-NSS-boss-suspended-37534 Mr Opoku-Mensah was first suspended with immediate effect on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 after the management of the NSS held an emergency meeting with him. The suspension, according to the NSS, was to allow for a further probe into the incident. https://www.classfmonline.com/news/general/NSS-probes-A-R-Director-37495?fbclid=IwAR3Njsl7dgBRRxouOuogAPw0Z8uzhJCIliwknA2uEVtRudzx-7ns7Q43mxw Mr Opoku-Mensah went to the hospital to fight the nurse on behalf of his daughter after the nurse had questioned the house officer on an issue. The nurse is believed to have used her own phone to call Mr Opoku-Mensahs daughter to come to the hospital and log into the E-Health System and update a patients prescription order so that the patient is not billed for unissued drugs. It is not clear how the nurse communicated with Mr Mensahs daughter on the phone which made her feel disrespected. Mr Opoku-Mensah then followed his daughter to the hospital and was captured on tape insulting the nurse and threatening to mastermind her removal from the hospital. He went on further to say his daughter is more intelligent than the said nurse and further threatened to come to the hospital in his daughters defence anytime she is intimidated by anyone in the facility. https://www.classfmonline.com/news/general/Junior-Doctors-condemn-Rambo-Dad-s-effusions-insults-on-lady-nurse-at-Manhyia-Hospital-37502?fbclid=IwAR15f9py-XIsdUZJXrZvh5XWBdlSqBlpz9XAp1HYD2OPWYRcmzDOiWoLOyE The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, in a statement, said they want Mr Mensah sacked in the next 72 hours or they will call on the nurses and midwives of the Manhyia District Hospital to lay down their tools, followed by the whole region and then escalate it to the national level. The statement said Mr Mensah had no right to enter the hospital to abuse a nurse. The group said as a Regional Director of the NSS, he should have known that the Manhyia District Hospital has management with whom he could have lodged a complaint instead of barging into the facility to attack the nurse. Mr Opoku-Mensah later apologised for his action. He apologised after the GRNMA called for his dismissal within 72 hours or they strike for disrespecting their member and nurses in general. In a Facebook post, the embattled Mr Opoku-Mensah said: I understand the disappointment and appreciate the inconvenience my action has caused the general public as well as the Nursing Fraternity and Manhyia Hospital. This has never been my style but for a genuine reason to mediate a persistent issue between my daughter (Doctor) and a colleague nurse who, I, as well, consider my daughter. I do apologise for any mishap and assure all, there shall not be a repetition of such. I look forward to maintaining a cordial relationship with any affected person. Source: ClassFMonline.com The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is ready to take up power in 2024 and deliver Ghanaians from the present socio-economic hardships, Mr Joseph Yamin, National Organizer, has stated. He said bad leadership under the current NPP government had thrown the country into economic abyss and it was only the NDC that could rescue the country from the present turmoil. Addressing a get-together organized for NDC party faithful in Kumasi, Mr Yamin said the party was poised to take up the challenge to deliver the country from the current severe socio-economic hardships caused by inefficient leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He, however, stressed the need for the party members to work extra hard since the victory could not be achieved easily. Mr Yamin said Ghanaians were suffering under the bad leadership of the NPP government and it was the obligation of every member of the NDC party to respond to the cries of Ghanaians by working extra hard to win victory in the 2024 elections to take up the mantle of leadership and serve the people. He called on the party members to strongly rally behind the leadership of the party and support the various strategies and programmes that had been put in place to strengthen the grass-root structures to function and work effectively to win the elections. GNA Equatorial Guinea's vice president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has accused Spain of interference after Madrid opened a probe into top officials for the alleged kidnapping and torture of two Spanish nationals. In 2019, four opposition members, including two with Spanish citizenship, went missing while in South Sudan and were flown to Equatorial Guinea aboard a presidential plane, according to the Spanish daily El Pais. A Spanish court is investigating three people close to Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo over the treatment of the two Spaniards, a judicial source told AFP Tuesday. The vice president -- the son of Obiang, who is the world's longest-serving president -- wrote on Twitter late Tuesday that former colonial power Spain was seeking to "tarnish" his country's reputation. "These terrorists were detained by Sudanese authorities and extradited to Equatorial Guinea" under an "international arrest warrant," he wrote. He said Spain sought to "humiliate, interfere with and disrespect our sovereignty." The Spanish High Court is investigating one of Obiang's sons, Carmelo Ovono Obiang, his security director Isaac Nguema Endo and Security Minister Nicolas Obama Nchama, the judicial source said. According to police reports seen by El Pais, the three "repeatedly participated in torture sessions" to extract confessions from the four -- members of exiled opposition group, the Movement for the Liberation of Equatorial Guinea Third Republic. Aside from the two Spanish citizens, the other two had been longtime residents of Spain. The four were hung by their feet, causing their "blood vessels to explode", received electrical shocks and had boiling water thrown on their naked bodies, El Pais reported. On the basis of these confessions, they received jail terms of between 60 and 90 years for allegedly taking part in an attempted coup against Obiang. Aged 80, Obiang has ruled the oil-rich Equatorial Guinea with an iron fist since taking power in a coup in 1979, 11 years after independence from Spain. Rights groups have often accused his government of arbitrary detentions and torture. Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry has stated that effective Friday, January 6, all persons travelling from China to Ghana will have to produce a 48-hour negative PCR test. Inadditon, there will be reintroduction of mandatory antigen testing at a point of entry free of charge until further notice. The Ministry is further cautioning Ghanaians against travelling to China as Covid-19 cases spike in the Asian country. In a travel alert, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said as much as possible, only essential trips should be undertaken until further notice. In the last few months, Covid-19 cases in China have increased rapidly after the country relaxed its Covid rules. While official estimates suggest there are 4,000 cases of Covid a day, scientists estimate the number is more like 1 million. Analysts believe the official death tolls are similarly unreliable. The lack of transparency from the Chinese government, and the lack of trust in what it's saying about its domestic outbreak, has prompted concern across the world. China is set to lift its travel ban on January 8, 2023 after it had introduced travel restrictions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The US, Italy, Japan, Taiwan and India are among the countries that have already introduced strict checks on flights coming from China. DGN online The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Alex Opoku-Mensah is serving a two-month suspension without pay following the conclusion of an investigation into a verbal assault case involving him at the Manhyia Government Hospital in Kumasi. A committee comprising representatives fro1m1 the National Service Scheme, the Public Services Commission, and the Ministry of Education, was set up to investigate the matter and to submit its report to the NSS Management within one month. In a letter dated December 23, addressed to the Ashanti regional NSS Boss, communicating the suspension thereon said Management's decision on the sanctions arises from a report submitted to the NSS by a Committee of Enquiry that investigated the matter. At its sitting on Wednesday, 21st December 2022, the Board after extensively deliberating on the Committee's report, unanimously adopted the recommendations proffered by the Committee, the letter read in parts. Mr. Opoku Mensah has been asked to report to the Head Office to work under supervision after the two calendar month suspension. The Regional NSS boss, Alex Opoku-Mensah is said to have verbally abused a nurse at the Manhyia Hospital who had a misunderstanding with his daughter (a house officer). Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, who is mediating in a diplomatic row over 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali, arrived in Bamako Wednesday for a "friendly working visit", the Malian presidency said in a statement. A Malian court last month sentenced the troops, accused of being "mercenaries", to 20 years in prison, despite a threat of sanctions from West African leaders. The statement said that Gnassingbe had been "welcomed" by junta leader Assimi Goita before heading for "a working session" at the Koulouba Palace presidency. Malian authorities detained 49 Ivorian soldiers after they arrived at Bamako airport on July 10 to provide backup security for a UN peacekeeping mission. Three women soldiers were freed, but later sentenced to death in absentia. The West African bloc ECOWAS had given Mali a deadline of January 1 to free the troops or face sanctions. However, it has remained mum since the December 30 sentencing. The troops were found guilty of an "attack and conspiracy against the government" and seeking to undermine state security, public prosecutor Ladji Sara said in a statement last month. In his New Year's address, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara promised that the imprisoned soldiers "will soon return to Ivorian soil". "We must trust the head of state," Ivorian government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "Ivory Coast has chosen a way -- that of negotiation -- it is the diplomatic way, we remain resolutely committed to this path," he added. He declined to comment on the convictions of the Ivorian soldiers. "We never comment on court decisions taken in Ivory Coast; there is no reason for us to comment on court decisions taken abroad," he said. Ivory Coast has categorically denied the soldiers were "mercenaries" and insists that they were on a mission for the UN to provide logistical support for its MINUSMA operations. On December 22, an Ivorian delegation visited Bamako to discuss the detention of the soldiers. At the end of that visit, a memorandum was signed and Ivorian Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara said the matter was "on the way to resolution". The agreement leaves the door open for a possible presidential pardon by Goita, who did not mention the Ivorian soldiers in his end-of-year speech on Saturday. Professor Ransford Gyampo, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG), says the decision of the leadership of the University to relocate continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and male students of Mensah Sarbah Hall will not be changed. He said the University leadership was resolute in its decision to forestall further clashes between the rivaling two halls to protect lives and property on campus. Prof. Gyampo said this to the Ghana News Agency after the Old Vandals Association old students of the Commonwealth Hall had demonstrated over the relocation of continuing students of the Hall. A section of the Old Vandals Association converged yesterday, January 03, 2022, at the Commonwealth Hall of UG to register their disagreement with the University's management over the relocation of continuing students of the Hall. Professor Gyampo said the University would not sit down unconcerned for activities of the two halls to bring chaos and disaster to the campus. He said the students could hold their traditional programmes at the halls, however, practices that brought chaos and harmed human rights would not be tolerated by the University. University of Ghana will not tolerate any nonsense sentimental attachment to halls of residence, he stressed. He alleged that the decision was earlier communicated to and accepted by the leadership of the Old Vandals Association, adding that, a section of the Association that demonstrated at the hall yesterday was only bent on causing havoc. The University of Ghana Council had warned all continuing students of Commonwealth Hall and all continuing male students of Mensah Sarbah Hall not to return to the halls, or any of the traditional halls. The students are to be randomly assigned to available rooms in any of the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited or private hostels. The Council said continuing female students in Mensah Sarbah Hall and students with special needs in both halls would not be affected by the directives. The changes were necessitated by repeated cases of violence involving students of both halls. GNA The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given the assurance that Chairman Wontumis Akonta Mining is not engaging in illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey. The mining company was cited for engaging in galamsey in 2022 when it was caught operating in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve with a license and permit. When the attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was drawn to its activities, the Minister for the sector, Samuel Abu Jinapor in a letter ordered the company to immediately halt its operations. The Minerals Commission of Ghana also issued a statement indicating that Akonta Mining Limited has no mining lease, mineral right, and/or permit to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve or any other reserve. Speaking at an event organised by the Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests' Association in Koforidua today where the issue came up, President Akufo-Addo provided an update on the reported illegal mining activities of Akonta mining. According to him, the mining firm as of now is not engaged in illegal mining in any part of the country. I want to assure him and all of you that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak, the President noted. The President further disclosed that his government is keen on ridding the country of all illegal mining activities and remains firm in the fight against galamsey. This government is determined to win the fight against galamsey no matter the cost in effort, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stressed. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. The Regional Managing Director (MD) for Acreaty in Africa, Ms Elsie Appau has been appointed the new President of the Women Economic Forum (WEF), Ghana with the mandate to steer administrative affairs of the forum in the country. The appointment of Ms Elsie Appau who is a Lawyer, entrepreneur and water governance specialist is good news and a great movement for the WEF, Ghana. This is because Ms Elsie Appau who has over 13 years of work experience as a policy analyst, project management expert and social development specialist with particular expertise in water governance, gender and public financial management issues has the capacity to move the forum to another level. Aside being a lawyer and an HR Expert, she also has businesses in the real estate, fashion and agriculture sectors. The appointment of Ms Elsie Appau as the new president of the Forum was contained in the notice letter signed by the President and Host of WEF AFRICA, President and Chair, Pilot International, Vice President, East Africa, World Economic Forum for Asia-Africa and Global Advisor of Global Chamber Hon. (Prof) Robinah K. Nanyunja and copied to this news outlet. The letter reads in part; "The Women Economic Forum is the largest voluntary international network connecting women entrepreneurs and leaders from all countries across the globe, based on free association. "WEF comprises of a league of luminaries of eminence and excellence including Noble laureates, formers heads of state, Ministers, Business and corporate women, entrepreneurs and community leaders all joined together in this network to create massive opportunities for women across Africa and worldwide. "The purpose of WEF is to establish a powerful women network across the globe to support and elevate women in development, business, leadership and connect them to market opportunities. "It is a networking platform that depends on women putting other women onboard for purposes of establishing a pool for joint and mutual collaboration and progress." Confirming her appointment in an interview via telephone in Accra, Ms Appau, urged Ghanaian women, especially those in the enterprises to join the movement of WEF to help boost their businesses. According to her, the WEF has strong solid and huge opportunities, structures and good foundations which could help the women to improve their economic wellbeing, hence the need for women in Ghana to join the forces of WEF. "I want to state that that the future belongs to the women, particularly the ones in enterprises. We have talked a very long time about women empowerment, women legal socio-cultural empowerment and not much focus has been placed over the years of economic empowerment of women in Ghana "So l see this call as a major one to duty and l am looking forward to working with women entrepreneurs across the country. We cannot depend on other economies to feed ourselves. "We are focusing merely and majorly on women agribusiness, we are focusing on women manufacturing, we are focusing on women providing essential services because we believe that Ghana belongs to Ghanaian women. However Ghanania women must play significant roles in the development and sustainability of Ghana's economic development. "I am excited and want to use this opportunity to invite women entrepreneurs all over the country to join the movement of the WEF which has affiliations over the world," she stated. Ms Elsie Appau re-emphasized that Ghana belongs to Ghanaian women in enterprises adding that "we are looking forward to strategic progress." If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit 04.01.2023 LISTEN Half Yearly Report 1 August 2022 A Publication of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, The Republic of Ghana 6 Haile Selassie Avenue, South Ridge, Accra a Office of the Special Prosecutor, Ghana Accra, August 2022 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder Preface Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) mandates the Office of the Special Prosecutor to publish, on a half yearly basis, the list of corruption cases investigated and prosecuted by the Office and the number of acquittals, convictions and pending cases and the value of any recovered proceeds. I am pleased to present the first report under my tenure as the Special Prosecutor. Upon assuming office on 5 August 2021, it became clear to me that though the establishing Act of the Office was enacted in 2017, the Office had not yet been set up and operationalised and it was still being housed in a small and crammed three-bedroom house and it had no staff of its own. To bridge the four-year delay in its set-up, I immediately commenced steps to operationalise the Office. Notwithstanding debilitating budgetary and material constraints, I gratifyingly state that the Office is now functional and it is performing its role as the flagship public agency fighting corruption and corruption-related offences. This report, though titled Half Yearly as required by law, spans the period covering 5 August 2021 to 31 July 2022. This unusual periodical is one-off and it is borne of the already recounted circumstances confronting my assumption of office. It offers an insight into the work of the Office and the highly commendable strides being undertaken to place it as the foremost anti-corruption agency in Africa. The Office remains focused and innovative on its four-way mandate of investigating corruption and corruption-related offences, prosecuting suspected offenders, taking steps to prevent corruption, and recovering the proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offences. Kissi Agyebeng Special Prosecutor The Republic of Ghana 1 August 2022 I Introduction 1.1 The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is the gold standard and flagship specialised independent anti-corruption institution in Ghana. It was created in 2017 under an Act of Parliament, Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) in pursuance of the objects of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. 1.2 Two legislative instruments have also been enacted to augment the effect of Act 959. The first is the Office of the Special Prosecutor Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2373), which regulates the management of human capital and discipline. The second is the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374). As the nomenclature suggests, it regulates the operational activities of the Office. 1.3 The Office has the object of investigating and prosecuting specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences, recovering the proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offences, and taking steps to prevent corruption. 1.4 In effect, the Office has been designed in response to the manifest weaknesses in the anti-corruption regime with the aim of comprehensively curtailing corruption and leaving little else to chance. 1.5 On this score, the Offices reach is multifaceted. It has full police powers and it exercises national security functions, including intelligence gathering, surveillance and countersurveillance. It is also a vital revenue generating agency through its asset recovery and management function of the disgorgement of illicit and unexplained wealth. Its independence, by law, is assured in the proper sense, as the Special Prosecutor retains full authority and control over the investigation, initiation, prosecution and conduct of cases. 1.6 Apart from the receipt of complaints from private persons, Parliament, the Auditor-General, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Economic and Organised Crime Office and other public bodies, the Office acts on its own initiative and authority in the investigation and conduct of cases. 1.7 The Offices mandate is not only in respect of public officials. It has the authority to investigate and prosecute private persons and politically exposed persons. In this context, politically exposed persons are those who have been entrusted with prominent public functions in Ghana or in a foreign country or an international organisation such as senior political party officials, government officials, judicial officials, military officials, or a person who is or has been an executive in a foreign country of a state-owned company, or a senior political party official in a foreign country, or an immediate family member or close associate of such persons. II Developments 2.1 The Office moved into its permanent assigned offices a ten-storey building at 6 Haile Selassie Avenue, South Ridge, Accra in September 2021. The Office is in the process of retrofitting and remodeling it to fit it for the purpose of its functions and activities. The object is to furnish the offices with modern corruption fighting equipment and materials including surveillance and countersurveillance items, forensic and cybersecurity laboratories and call centres. 2.2 The Office has developed and launched its website www.osp.gov.gh to interface with the public. This is the first website to be wholly developed and owned by the Office. Prior to August 2021, the Office used a private site which has since been shut down. Integrated into the website is a complaint reporting web application that allows for the filing of named-author and anonymous corruption-reporting. The website also incorporates a live interactive chat application. 2.3 The office has created two social media handles on [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ospghana and on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/ospghana . These accounts have each garnered an organic growth of over ten thousand followers. These platforms have been instrumental in soliciting support, encouraging the filing of complaints, announcing investigations, programmes, projects and updating the public on the activities of the Office. 2.4 The office has also partnered with traditional media outlets including television and radio stations and news printers, and it has also developed a social media anti-corruption campaign including the use of audio-visual advertisements and fliers to inform and educate the public on the mandate of the Office and its activities, the adverse effects of corruption and the need to curtail corruption and corruption-related activities. 2.5 The Office has provided a toll-free line 0800-000-700 for the reporting of corruption and the filing of complaints. It accepts calls from all networks in Ghana without charge. 2.6 These innovate interactive communication tools have improved the visibility of the Office, and the building of trust and confidence in its operations. They have also improved the filing of complaints and volunteering of information. 2.7 The Office has commenced its corruption prevention drive under the headline Pressure-for-Progress. The flagship programme is the Ghana Corruption League Table, which the Office launched in March 2022. 2.8 The project is akin to a combination of the corruption perception index of Transparency International and the scorecards of Afrobarometer. It is a research-based model designed to assess real and perceived levels of public sector corruption. In aid of this, public sector agencies would be ranked against each other on a corruption barometer and the results would be published annually on International Anti-corruption Day. The results would form the basis for enhanced pragmatic suppression and repression of corruption in the public sector. 2.9 The project also seeks to identify the causes that advance corruption in the public sector including deficiencies in regulations and procedures, deficiencies in administration of instructions (including lack of internal control mechanisms), individual interest (including greed, lack of ethicalness and legal awareness), and external influences (including public attitude, culture and traditions) to facilitate the prevention of corruption. 2.10 The Office recognises that there are various corruption rankings, scorings and surveys. However, it comes down to the nature of the information gathered and the use to which such information is put. In our context, we are documenting corruption, measuring corruption, ascertaining the breeding of corruption, naming and shaming peddlers of corruption, examining the impact of anticorruption initiatives and taking curative and remedial measures to crack down on corruption through prosecutions and asset recovery and management. 2.11 The Office is moving beyond the composite annual ranking of countries on a corruption drop list to own our local narrative and fashion and retool our reformation by prodding our public sector into real and concrete action against corruption and corrupt practices, while also keeping the private sector alive by assuring a life of less corrupt practices. 2.12 On 21 June 2022, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Godfred Yeboah Dame inaugurated the Governing Board of the Office comprising the Special Prosecutor, the Deputy Special Prosecutor, and statutory institutional representatives from the Audit Service, Ghana Police Service, Economic and Organised Crime Office, Financial Intelligence Centre, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and a representative from Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations. The nomination from the Ministry of National Security was subsequently communicated to the Special Prosecutor. 2.13 Mrs. Lydia Ofori-Kwafo, the representative from Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organisations, was elected as Chair of the Governing Board by the members on 30 June 2022. III Cases 3.1 In respect of the investigation and prosecution of specific cases of suspected or alleged cases of corruption and corruption-related offences, the Office first engages in intelligence gathering or pre-investigation to determine whether it should open investigation into a matter. The Special Prosecutor will direct the opening of a preliminary enquiry or investigation where he determines that the matter is within the mandate of the Office. Where sufficient information is gathered, the Special Prosecutor will direct the initiation of a full investigation. The Special Prosecutor will proceed to institute criminal proceedings where he determines that the Office has probative evidence to meet the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. 3.2 The Office takes especial care to protect the privacy and reputations of persons it investigates. To this end, the Office seeks to avoid unnecessary stigmatisation by conducting its operations with as little intrusion into the privacy of individuals and the business operations of companies as the circumstances permit. 3.3 The following are the various cases handled by the Office during the period under reference: A Prosecutions There were no convictions or acquittals in respect of the cases pending before the criminal courts. MSFT/23/2019 The Republic v. Mahama Ayariga & Another This case was pending before the High Court, Financial Division, Accra against the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and another. The Special Prosecutor entered a nolle prosequi on 11 October 2021. The Special Prosecutor explained to the Court that upon further scrutiny of the available evidence the Republic would be unable to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt on the allegation of abuse of public office for private gain. CR/0492/2022 The Republic v. Adjenim Boateng Adjei & Another On 18 May 2022, the former Chief Executive of Public Procurement Authority was charged with eight (8) counts of using public office for profit and nine (9) counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract. His brother-in-law was also charged with one (1) count of using public office for profit. The accused were arraigned before the High Court, Criminal Division, Accra on 25 May 2022. The trial is ongoing. D13/01/22 Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka On 24 May 2022, the Presidents nominee for the position of Chief Executive of Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region was charged with twenty-six (26) counts of corruption in respect of a public election. He was arraigned before the High Court, Criminal Division, Kumasi on 1 June 2022. The trial is ongoing. B Concluded Investigations Agri-Plus Horizon Farms Limited On 9 December 2019, the Financial Intelligence Centre transmitted an Intelligence Report to the Office on the allegation that Ghana Cocoa Board sole sourced a contract to Agri-Plus Horizon Farms Limited on the ground of nepotism and/or trade-based money laundering. In February 2022, the Office terminated the investigation for lack of evidence. It was also established that the suspected nepotism was a case of mere coincidence of names and/or mistaken identity. Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea In July 2022, the Office terminated investigation into a complaint of alleged financial malfeasance filed against the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South for lack of evidence. The complainant admitted that he filed the complaint without any basis and that he was paid to fabricate the content of the complaint. The complainant and his accomplices are under investigation for filing the complaint with the singular aim of tarnishing the reputation of the respondent. Labianca Company Limited and Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority From November 2021 to July 2022, the Office investigated a complaint of alleged ongoing corrupt, illegal and questionable dealings between Labianca Company Limited and the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority resulting in unlawful markdown or reduction of benchmark values of frozen food products imported by Labianca Company Limited under the guise of customs advance rulings. The investigation concluded that a decision to render a customs advance ruling to Labianca Company Limited by reducing the values of their intended imports between a range of 5% - 10% below the benchmark values was wrongful and unsupported by the requirements of the law for the issuance of customs advance ruling. And that there was strong evidence to suggest that the decision was a product of influence peddling or trading of influence by the owner of Labianca Company Limited, Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, at all material times a member of the Council of State and a member of the Governing Board of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. The report indicted Mr. Joseph Adu Kyei, the Deputy Commissioner of the Customs Division in charge of operations, for bending over backwards to render the unlawful decision; and Col. Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.), the Commissioner of the Customs Division, for placidly coddling the actions of Mr. Joseph Adu Kyei. The report concluded that the conduct of the investigated officers portends an institutionalised culture of lighthearted unconcern regarding impropriety of action at the Customs Division which indicates a high propensity to engender corruption and corruption-related activities; and that the officers ignored mandatory provisions of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and engaged in their own predilections. The investigation led to the first recovery by the Office in the sum of One Million Seventy-Four Thousand cedis Six Hundred and TwentySeven cedis Fifteeen pesewas (GHC1,074,627.15) on 31 March 2022. C Ongoing Investigations Airbus SE Investigation into alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, in respect of the sale and purchase of military aircrafts for the Republic is ongoing. The Office is engaged with INTERPOL and the central authorities of the United Kingdom and the United States under the mutual legal assistance regime. Banking and Financial Sector Crisis On 25 January 2022, the Special Prosecutor announced the commencement of investigation into the banking and financial sector crisis that precipitated the collapse of some banks and financial institutions and the financial sector clean up and recapitalisation reforms. The investigation targets alleged corruption and corruption-related offences perpetrated by some officials of the Bank of Ghana, banks, specialised deposit-taking institutions, and financial holding companies. Recruitment to Cadet Officers Training at the Ghana Police Academy On 17 March 2022, the Special Prosecutor announced the commencement of investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of the recruitment exercise of Course 51 of Cadet Officers Training at the Ghana Police Academy. The investigations target specific cases of alleged corruption and corruption-related offences of the use of office for profit, abuse of office, abuse of power, favouritism, nepotism, victimisation and the selection of unqualified persons. Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie alias Sir John On 26 May 2022, the Special Prosecutor announced the commencement of investigation in respect of alleged improper acquisition of state protected land at the Achimota Forest enclave and the Sakumono Ramsar site by the deceased former Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission. On 30 May 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the freezing of the Estate of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John (deceased). On 9 June 2022, the Special Prosecutor applied to the High Court, Financial Division, Accra for a confirmation of the freezing order. On 12 July 2022, the High Court refused the application. On 19 July 2022, the Special Prosecutor filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal, Civil Division, Accra against the decision of the High Court. Northern Development Authority On 30 June 2022, the Office commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of a contract awarded by the Northern Development Authority to A&Qs Consortium for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), especially in respect of the quantum of the contract sum. On 1 July 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the Controller and Accountant General to immediately freeze payments arising from the contract. Other Cases The Office is also investigating seventy (70) other cases at various levels of consideration. These would be publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the Office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage. This is a policy intended to protect the privacy of individuals and the business operations of institutions and companies, and to avoid unnecessary stigmatisation. IV Miscellaneous Activities 4.1 On 9 April 2022, the Special Prosecutor participated in panel discussions at the Sloan Africa Innovate Conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. The conference was on the theme A Way Forward: Leveraging Innovation as a Catalyst for Growth. 4.2 On 28 April 2022, the Special Prosecutor conducted a lecture on the activities and operations of the Office at the Centre for Human Rights of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa. 4.3 On 4 May 2022, the Special Prosecutor delivered a paper on the uniqueness of the Office at the Twelfth Annual Regional Conference of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa in Kigali, Rwanda. V Collaboration 5.1 The Office is collaborating with law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office, to adopt a standard operating procedure for asset recovery and management. 5.2 The Office commends the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice for its investigation report on the Adjenim Boateng Adjei case and for its collaboration with the Office by transmitting vital documentary evidence which form the foundation of the case. 5.3 The Office is in active collaboration with anti-corruption civil society, nongovernmental and community-based organisations in the fight against corruption. Our strategic partners are Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the Afrobarometer Directorate of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) two institutions that have matchless reputations in the field. 5.4 The Office is also employing the services and expertise of investigative journalists to assist with investigations. 5.5 The Office has opened insightful interactions and meetings with foreign and diplomatic missions and international organisations. These include the missions of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). VI Conclusion 5.1 The Office shows much promise and it is poised to deliver on its mandate notwithstanding its formidable challenge of funding and material support. There is much force in the often-quoted observation that the law always appears to be a step behind criminal innovation. As technological advancement ushers in marvels hitherto unknown, perpetrators of corruption and corruption-related offences device sophisticated ways adapted to avoid detection. On this score, corrupt public officials and private persons exploit legal systems by employing diverse means to push back against law enforcement especially through intimidation and sometimes open threats directed at anti-corruption officials. 5.2 The Office requires adequate support and funding and the assurance of protection for its staff to perform their functions devoid of unjustifiable recrimination. 5.3 We invite the public to take a firm stance against corruption and corruptionrelated offences and to report and file complaints where such offences are suspected. This is the surest way to curtail corruption in the Republic. Muslim Media Voice Ghana, organisers of Ghana Muslim Excellence Awards has held its 2022 edition of the awards ceremony and Zongo Day at the forecourt of the Greater Accra Zongo Chief's Palace in Accra. The award is aimed at rewarding hardworking Muslim Chiefs, Philanthropists, Journalists and Politicians for their contributions towards the development of Muslim and Zongo communities in the country. The award is also aimed at motivating and acknowledging hardworking personalities within Muslim communities across the country. The award ceremony and the Zongo Day Celebration brought together high-profile Muslim personalities including politicians, businessmen, entrepreneurs, Chiefs and Imams from the various Zongo Communities in Ghana. Notable personalities such as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Dr. Mustapha Hamid, the Greater Accra Youth Chief, Sarki Alhaji Salisu Maude, a Member of NPP legal team, Lawyer Faisel Ibrahim Cisse, the Chief Executive Officer of Hijra TV, Dr. Abdul Razak Toure. Others include Chief Executive Officer of Afro-Arab, Ambassador Salamu Amadu, the Chief Executive Officer of Shaltoot Media and RFI correspondent, Mr. Sham'un Abdallah Bako, Marhaba Fm, Lawyer Musah Ahmed among others were honoured and celebrated for their contributions to the development of Muslim communities. The Deputy Communication Officer at the office of the President Mr. Jefferson Sackey who received the award on behalf of the CEO of NPA, Dr. Mustapha Hamid applauded the organizers for the hard work and ideas they put into organizing such an amazing and wonderful event which seeks to help in the development of Zongo Communities. On his part, the Coordinator of Muslim Groups Ghana and Muslim Media Voice Ghana, Alhaji Abubakar Galaxy, reiterated that the Awards was to recognize and acknowledge the hard work of personalities within Muslim communities for their numerous contribution towards the development of Muslim communities across the country. According to him, the awardees have over the years impacted positively in their various roles in the various communities as Zongo people. Alhaji Abubakar Galaxy called on Muslim Philanthropists to roll out initiatives that will help empower the Muslim Youth to build on their God-given talent and as well support organizations that sought to raise and promote the image of Zongos. He revealed that the issue of sponsorship has been a major challenge confronting the organizers of the Awards Scheme due to the model used in awarding the personalities. Talking about the lack of unity and backbiting in the Zongo Communities, Alhaji Galaxy stated that the act has been ongoing for decades and it has been the major challenge within the Zongoes adding that there are some horrible experiences of hatred whenever well-meaning indigenes of Zongo come out with initiatives to help the people. This according to him is not the right way to go as Muslims, considering the fact that Muslims must show love, support and respect to one another as well as follow the deeds of the Holy Prophet adding that backbiting and hatred will not help the development of the Zongo Communities. Below is the list of awardees: Heroes Muslim Award 2022 Awardees' name. Hon. Mustapha Abdul Hamid. Best Muslim Personality and Politician Award for West African 2022. Lawyer Musah Ahmed Best Muslim Lawyer Award for West African 2022. Lawyer Faisal Ibrahim Cisse. The promising Muslim and politician award for west African 2022. Sarki Salisu Maude Hero of Zongo 2022. Dr.Abdul Razak Toure Best Muslim personality 2022. Ambassador Salamu Amadu. Best Muslim philanthropists 2022. Sham_un Bako Best Muslim Journalists. Hijrah tv is the best Islamic television in 2022. Marhaba Fm is Best Islamic Radio Station in 2022. 04.01.2023 LISTEN The Executive Director of Onadipe Technologies and Founder of internet safety magazine, Mr. Rotimi Onadipe has told Nigerians to educate themselves about how to avoid online scams in the new year 2023. Mr. Onadipe made the call on Saturday during a weekly awareness seminar on cyber safety which took place at Internet safety magazine office, Ibadan on Saturday, December 31, 2022. According to the cyber safety advocate, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless policy will increase the number of online transactions in the new year and cyber criminals will also try to take advantage of vulnerable individuals and organizations who are ignorant of how to protect themselves against online scams. Speaking to journalists in Ibadan during the awareness seminar, Onadipe said "we must always be informed that no matter how spiritual, educated, intelligent or influential we are, we are not exempted from the danger of cyber criminals and cyber crimes." Onadipe noted, "The cyber crooks are getting smarter in their criminal activities and they are always prepared to take advantage of any vulnerable person irrespective of age or tribe. We must be prepared not to fall victim to their scams and our only weapon against them is knowledge about their criminal activities and how we can protect ourselves. "In this new year 2023, please search for every information that can help you to avoid falling victim to internet fraud because payment of goods and services through electronic channels will increase in this new year and online scammers are already searching for unsuspecting victims. More importantly, contact cyber safety experts to educate you about the tricks of cyber criminals and how to avoid falling victim." January 04, 2023 Ukraine - The Big Push To End The War Over Christmas I had a short talk with a relative about the war in Ukraine. He asked me who would win and was astonished when I said: "Ukraine has zero chance to win." That person reads some German mainstream news sites and watches the public TV networks. With those sources of 'information' he was made to believe that Ukraine was winning the war. One may excuse that with him never having been in a military and not being politically engaged. But still there are some basic numbers that let one conclude from the beginning that Russia, the much bigger, richer and more industrialized country, had clearly all advantages. My relative obviously never had had that thought. The 'western' propaganda is still quite strong. However, as I pointed out in March last year propaganda does not change a war and lies do not win it. Its believability is shrinking. Former Lt.Col. Alex Vershinin, who in June pointed out that industrial warfare is back and the 'West' was not ready to wage it, has a new recommendable piece out which analyses the tactics on both sides, looks ahead and concludes that Russia will almost certainly win the war: Wars of attrition are won through careful husbandry of ones own resources while destroying the enemys. Russia entered the war with vast materiel superiority and a greater industrial base to sustain and replace losses. They have carefully preserved their resources, withdrawing every time the tactical situation turned against them. Ukraine started the war with a smaller resource pool and relied on the Western coalition to sustain its war effort. This dependency pressured Ukraine into a series of tactically successful offensives, which consumed strategic resources that Ukraine will struggle to replace in full, in my view. The real question isnt whether Ukraine can regain all its territory, but whether it can inflict sufficient losses on Russian mobilized reservists to undermine Russias domestic unity, forcing it to the negotiation table on Ukrainian terms, or will Russian attrition strategy work to annex an even larger portion of Ukraine. Russian domestic unity has only grown over the war. As Gilbert Doctorow points out wars make nations. The war does not only unite certain nationalistic parts of Ukraine who still dream of retaking Crimea. It also unites all of Russia. Unlike Ukraine Russia will be strengthened by it. Casualties are expected in wars and the Russians, with their steady remembrance of the second world war as their Great Patriotic War, know this well. Screw ups also happen and at times some bad leadership decisions puts people into the wrong place where the enemy can and will kill them. That is what happened in Makeyevka (Donetsk) on New Years day 2 minutes after midnight. Some 100 Russian reservists died. The Russian leadership pointed out that they were killed by U.S. HIMARS missiles. The former Indian diplomat M. K. Bhadrakumar judges that this was a U.S. escalation which will likely receive a response: The intelligence inputs in real time show direct American participation in the horrific operation targeting the Russian conscripts New Year party just when the toasts began. Of course, whipping up public sentiments in Russia against Putin is a core American objective in the war. We are entering a grey zone. Expect surgical strikes by the Russian forces, too. After all, at some point soon enough, it will emerge that whats sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Some retaliation has already happened. Yesterday the Russian Defense Ministry reported that over 130 foreign mercenaries were killed in attacks on their bases near Maslyakovka and Kramatorsk. Those Polish soldiers are now gone. The Russian military also continues its quite successful counter-artillery campaign: Missile and air strikes launched at a hardware concentration near Druzhkovka railway station (Donetsk People's Republic) have resulted in the elimination of: two launching ramps for U.S.-manufactured HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS); four armoured fighting vehicles for Czech-manufactured RM-70 Vampire MLRS; over 800 rockets for MLRS; six motor vehicles, and up to 120 Ukrainian personnel. Within the counterbattery warfare, two launching ramps for U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS, that were used for shelling settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic, have been detected and destroyed near Kramatorsk. Three U.S.-manufactured M-777 artillery systems have been destroyed at their firing positions near Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). Two Ukrainian fighting vehicles for Grad MLRS have been destroyed near Volchansk (Kharkov region) and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic). Two D-30 howitzers have been destroyed near Kamenskoye and Gulyaypole (Zaporozhye region). Those are four HIMARS, three M-777, some Czech 'aid', 800 HIMARS missiles and some Ukrainian guns that were lost in just one day. That was probably more than the 'West' can deliver over the next months. Even the New York Times notes that Russia is exhausting the Ukraine as well as its western support by simply throwing cheap stuff at it: The Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones that Moscow has increasingly been relying on since October are relatively uncomplicated devices and fairly cheap, while the array of weapons used to shoot them out of the sky can be much pricier, according to experts. The self-destructing drones can cost as little as $20,000 to produce, while the cost of firing a surface-to-air missile can range from $140,000 for a Soviet-era S-300 to $500,000 for a missile from an American NASAMS. This only confirms the point Alex Vershinin was making. Russia has cared for its resources while the Ukraine, and NATO, have wasted their stuff mostly in senseless frontal campaigns against well protected Russian troops. Yves Smith of Naked Capitalism points out that Vershinin has left out the economic side of the war where the picture is as bad for Ukraine as it is on the ground: Ukraine is dependent on the West to fund its government, giving new meaning to the expression client state. Ukraines GDP contraction is estimated to be on the order of 35-40% for 2022. Ukraine in November projected its 2023 budget deficit to be $38 billion. Mind you, that is for essential services and is likely to underestimate the cost and knock-on effects of dealing with Russias attacks on its electrical grid. Again, before the grid strikes, the IMF had estimated Ukraines budget needs at $3 to $4 billion a month. Its an easy bet that that $38 billion funding gap will easily come in at more than $50 billion. And paying for teachers salaries, pensions, road repair, hospitals, are not the sort of thing that enriches the military-industrial complex. This is a huge amount for the West. Euronews, in discussing the then estimated $38 billion hole, strongly hinted Ukraine would come up short: ... Yves Smith also points out that, as we predicted in March, the pro-Ukraine propaganda is not really fixing the war: Last and not at all least, the success of Ukraine propaganda seems to be falling despite the media and politicians doing their best to create the impression otherwise. Lambert and I were both very much surprised to read that a recent poll of likely US voters (as in presumably politically engaged) found fewer than 1/3 thought Ukraine was winning the war. Lastly to find out who will win this war we can point to the mid December interview the Ukrainian war leader General Valery Zaluzhny gave to the Economist.: General Zaluzhny, who is raising a new army corps, reels off a wishlist. I know that I can beat this enemy, he says. But I need resources. I need 300 tanks, 600-700 IFVs [infantry fighting vehicles], 500 Howitzers. The incremental arsenal he is seeking is bigger than the total armoured forces of most European armies. What Zaluzhny really says is that the war is lost if he does not get those resources. He knows well that is he will not receive them. So how will Russia proceed towards the end game? Dima of the Military Summary Channel discussed yesterday how two big moves, one up from the Mariupol area and one down west of Kharkiv, can cut all railroad lines that connect west Ukraine with the eastern frontline where some 80+% of the Ukrainian army is now deployed. I agree that the move from the south will happen but I am less sure about the northern branch. bigger The Ukrainian army, just like the Russian one, depends on railroads for medium and long range transport. Neither has enough trucks to move the big amount of supplies that are needed to support the war. Ukrainian railways Source - bigger To be able to supply its forces any Russian move must follow the rail lines and create some safety corridor left and right of them. Some railways will be damaged by fighting but Russia has special railroad regiments that are trained and equipped to do repairs under war conditions. The move from the south would go to Pavlovgrad (Pavlovhrad) while the move from the north would pass Kharkiv in the west and aim at Lozova. When both are taken the Ukrainian army at the eastern front will be completely cut off from the rest of Ukraine and, without supplies, will have to surrender or die. Both are big 200 kilometer (120 miles) long moves that require significant amounts of forces. But after its mobilization and with volunteers Russia has 350,000 additional forces it can move in. 75 to 100,000 are sufficient for each push while the rest can keep the Ukrainian troops in the east very busy and fixed in their position. Then comes the question of when. Due to currently warmer than normal weather the ground in Ukraine is not yet frozen and the mud will return in March and April. That gives only a two months window to move forward. If I were the Russian commander I would probably wait and use the six dry months during the summer. But there are other criteria, like politics and economics, that will come into play and which may require an earlier move. If the plan works the war will largely be over. Russian troops will be free to move anywhere in Ukraine with only little resistance. A move to retake Kherson and Odessa will then be a rather easy and short affair. The big question is how the U.S. will respond. If the Ukraine falls the U.S. and NATO will have lost their war against Russia. That will cause serious political damage. Thomas H. Lipscomb writes that war will be lost because it was badly planned and in a way that could never have changed its direction: American military planning was once world class. But who would plan a proxy war against Russia, one of the acknowledged masters of artillery with far better air defense technology than any in the West, and then equip our puppet Ukraine with inferior weapons and only enough ammunition to last six months? And surely American planners couldnt help knowing that there was no longer a manufacturing base for resupply, and NATO warehouses were practically empty? This will have wide ranging consequences: [T]he United States current leadership is a bunch of total idiots, blinded by ideology, arrogance and illusions of pursuing a rule-based global hegemony, an opportunity long passed, as our performance in this proxy war shows. The United States may have won the Cold War but it lost the peace. Its strategic thinking and its military is obsolete and configuration of both forces and equipment is based on assumptions from the past millennium. The battle for a Great Global Reset under a unipolar American hegemony has been lost as well. The World Economic Forum is now about as relevant as the Holy Roman Empire. All they can continue to do is terrorize the increasingly authoritarian states of the West with asinine policy proposals. The attempt to destroy Russia prodded it to a burst of brilliant diplomacy and leadership by Putin and his team that has quietly established that the rest of the world prefers sovereignty and a multi-polar world. The post Cold War Pox Americana as Larry Johnson has called it, is over. Historians of the future will study this period of history with fascination. Few times in history has such immense change happened so fast. The effect of losing the war will be noticed in global and domestic politics. 'Western' global standing will be degraded and the leadership of the war party will receive some well deserved bashing. But will the U.S. let that happen? Can it allow itself to lose this war? Or will it escalate? Even when that is likely to only worsen its situation? I have no idea yet how and who in Washington will decide on those questions. Posted by b on January 4, 2023 at 19:00 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Newsletter Enter your e-mail address below to join our mailing list and receive our weekly newsletter directly in your inbox! Even western experts call German Gref a champion leader. He is a man who has achieved outstanding success in his business. Gref's biography is a brilliant example of a self-made man, whose triumph depended only on his determination to achieve his goals. Childhood, Education, And Early Career German Gref was born on the 8th of February 1964 in a small village in Northern Kazakhstan. There were many ethnic Germans living in the Tselina region at the time, who had ended up there as a result of the resettlement during the Second World War. The Gref family moved to that remote region from Ukraine. The mother's parents had to move there from Leningrad. In an interview, Gref noted that in Kazakhstan he managed to get a good secondary education thanks to teachers who were also exiled there. Though he also mentioned that he had to relearn some of his subjects later on. The head of Sberbank graduated from Omsk State University with a law degree in 1990. He taught there for a few months before leaving for Leningrad in order to continue his postgraduate studies at Leningrad University. There, Anatoly Sobchak became his academic supervisor. Sobchak was shortly elected an MP and afterwards the Chairman of the Leningrad City Council. German Gref's first position in public service was Legal Advisor in the Petrodvorets Administration. After that, the young energetic executive rose quickly through the ranks. First, he became the head of the State Property Management Committee in his district, and then that of the whole St. Petersburg. In 1997, he was already a Vice-Governor. Gref was in charge of reforms in the city economy, fighting natural monopolies and promoting a new financial model for the housing and public utilities sector. German Gref In The Reformist Government In 1998, German Gref was offered a promotion to Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Property. At the national level, he was involved in the step-by-step reform of the housing and public utilities sector. It was his ideas that provided the basis for the establishment of homeowners' associations and apartment-based metering of utilities. A new stage in German Gref's career began in 2000, when the Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to develop an economic programme for the next 10-15 years. Gref became the head of the drafting committee. Over 100 organisations were involved in the work. The programme was approved by the President, and the new Ministry of Economic Development and Trade spearheaded by German Gref was supposed to tackle the challenges ahead. Today, Gref does not like to recall working in the government. Back then, the minister had to work tirelessly. Participating in hours-long meetings and forgetting about holidays took its toll. The chief executive tried to resign several times, but he only managed to get a transfer to another position after seven years as the Head of the MEDT. The minister has managed to accomplish more than a half of the tasks set out in the programme he devised. He created free economic zones, reduced tax burden on businesses, devised a development programme for the city of Sochi and much more. Heading Sberbank In 2007, many people were surprised to hear that former MEDT minister German Gref's future workplace was to be Sberbank. This financial institution primarily needed to boost its business processes and increase its product portfolio. Meanwhile, Gref's area of focus had always been the civil service. For the first six months the Head of Sberbank was at work all day and night, learning the ins and outs of running the country's largest bank. The result was a development programme that prioritised technology. It is hard to overestimate the scale of the transformation of Sberbank. The top manager and his team managed to implement an innovative IT-platform, open multifunctional service centres and launch their own innovation centre. Sberbank was the first bank to use blockchain technology and apply ESG principles. It created its own ecosystem of in-demand services. German Gref accomplished all these against the backdrop of two global crises and subsequent recessions in the world economy. Today Sber can hardly be called just a bank it is one of the largest fintech companies in Russia, operating according to the highest global standards. German Gref continues to be the driving force behind all transformations and reforms. The news confirms that the top manager keeps working on the digitalisation of Sberbank. The financial institution supports young IT start-ups, helps businesses to implement innovations and develops artificial intelligence. German Gref Wife And Children Yves here. While Medea Benjamins and Nicolas Davies hearts are in the right place, I find it appalling that they are promoting a new Rand report which is a naked piece of bogusly-premised scaremongering to justify more NATO/Ukraine war funding. Russia is not going to attack NATO. Biden recently let the cat out of the bag that major NATO members have no appetite for going to war with Russia. The only NATO member that might, stress might, try to mix it up with Russia is Poland. As Alexander Mercouris explained long form yesterday, if that were to happen, it would be the end of NATO. Peace advocates need to get a better grip on geopolitical and military realities rather than parrot self-serving assessments that depict Russia is set to escalate or the even more spurious claim, that Russia threatened to use nuclear weapons (that was Liz Truss; Putin merely restated Russian doctrine in response). It is also disappointing to see the authors keep talking up negotiations when there is no good faith interest on the Western side. The Ukraine backers act as if its reasonable to demand Russia to shrug its shoulders and retreat to its February 21, 2022 position, and up Crimea, even before getting to the loud and proud confirmations by Merkel and Hollande that they signed the Minsk accords with Russia and had no intention of honoring it. How can Russia negotiate with the Collective West when the West has broadcast that it is completely untrustworthy? By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies, the authors of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, published by OR Books in November 2022. Medea Benjamin is the cofounder of CODEPINK for Peace, and the author of several books, including Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist, a researcher with CODEPINK and the author of Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, known for his staunch support for Ukraine, recently revealed his greatest fear for this winter to a TV interviewer in his native Norway: that the fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control and become a major war between NATO and Russia. If things go wrong, he cautioned solemnly, they can go horribly wrong. It was a rare admission from someone so involved in the war, and reflects the dichotomy in recent statements between U.S. and NATO political leaders on one hand and military officials on the other. Civilian leaders still appear committed to waging a long, open-ended war in Ukraine, while military leaders, such as the U.S. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, have spoken out and urged Ukraine to seize the moment for peace talks. Retired Admiral Michael Mullen, a former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair, spoke out first, maybe testing the waters for Milley, telling ABC News that the United States should do everything we possibly can to try to get to the table to resolve this thing. Asia Times reported that other NATO military leaders share Milleys view that neither Russia nor Ukraine can achieve an outright military victory, while French and German military assessments conclude that the stronger negotiating position Ukraine has gained through its recent military successes will be short-lived if it fails to heed Milleys advice. So why are U.S. and NATO military leaders speaking out so urgently to reject the perpetuation of their own central role in the war in Ukraine? And why do they see such danger in the offing if their political bosses miss or ignore their cues for the shift to diplomacy? A Pentagon-commissioned Rand Corporation study published in December, titled Responding to a Russian Attack on NATO During the Ukraine War, provides clues as to what Milley and his military colleagues find so alarming. The study examines U.S. options for responding to four scenarios in which Russia attacks a range of NATO targets, from a U.S. intelligence satellite or a NATO arms depot in Poland to larger-scale missile attacks on NATO air bases and ports, including Ramstein U.S. Air Base and the port of Rotterdam. These four scenarios are all hypothetical and premised on a Russian escalation beyond the borders of Ukraine. But the authors analysis reveals just how fine and precarious the line is between limited and proportionate military responses to Russian escalation and a spiral of escalation that can spin out of control and lead to nuclear war. The final sentence of the studys conclusion reads: The potential for nuclear use adds weight to the U.S. goal of avoiding further escalation, a goal which might seem increasingly critical in the aftermath of a limited Russian conventional attack. Yet other parts of the study argue against de-escalation or less-than-proportionate responses to Russian escalations, based on the same concerns with U.S. credibility that drove devastating but ultimately futile rounds of escalation in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other lost wars. U.S. political leaders are always afraid that if they do not respond forcefully enough to enemy actions, their enemies (now including China) will conclude that their military moves can decisively impact U.S. policy and force the United States and its allies to retreat. But escalations driven by such fears have consistently led only to even more decisive and humiliating U.S. defeats. In Ukraine, U.S. concerns about credibility are compounded by the need to demonstrate to its allies that NATOs Article 5which says that an attack on one NATO member will be considered an attack on allis a truly watertight commitment to defend them. So U.S. policy in Ukraine is caught between the reputational need to intimidate its enemies and support its allies on the one hand, and the unthinkable real-world dangers of escalation on the other. If U.S. leaders continue to act as they have in the past, favoring escalation over loss of credibility, they will be flirting with nuclear war, and the danger will only increase with each twist of the escalatory spiral. As the absence of a military solution slowly dawns on the armchair warrior politicians in Washington and NATO capitals, they are quietly slipping more conciliatory positions into their public statements. Most notably, they are replacing their previous insistence that Ukraine must be restored to its pre-2014 borders, meaning a return of all the Donbas and Crimea, with a call for Russia to withdraw only to pre-February 24, 2022, positions, which Russia had previously agreed to in negotiations in Turkey in March. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told The Wall Street Journal on December 5th that the goal of the war is now to take back territory thats been seized from [Ukraine] since February 24th. The WSJ reported that Two European diplomats said [U.S. National Security Adviser Jake] Sullivan recommended that Mr. Zelenskyys team start thinking about its realistic demands and priorities for negotiations, including a reconsideration of its stated aim for Ukraine to regain Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. In another article, The Wall Street Journal quoted German officials saying, they believe it is unrealistic to expect the Russian troops will be fully expelled from all the occupied territories, while British officials defined the minimum basis for negotiations as Russias willingness to withdraw to positions it occupied on February 23rd. One of Rishi Sunaks first actions as U.K. Prime Minister at the end of October was to have Defence Minister Ben Wallace call Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for the first time since the Russian invasion in February. Wallace told Shoigu the U.K. wanted to de-escalate the conflict, a significant shift from the policies of former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. A major stumbling block holding Western diplomats back from the peace table is the maximalist rhetoric and negotiating positions of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government, which has insisted since April that it will not settle for anything short of full sovereignty over every inch of territory that Ukraine possessed before 2014. But that maximalist position was itself a remarkable reversal from the position Ukraine took at cease-fire talks in Turkey in March, when it agreed to give up its ambition to join NATO and not to host foreign military bases in exchange for a Russian withdrawal to its pre-invasion positions. At those talks, Ukraine agreed to negotiate the future of Donbas and to postpone a final decision on the future of Crimea for up to 15 years. The Financial Times broke the story of that 15-point peace plan on March 16, and Zelenskyy explained the neutrality agreement to his people in a national TV broadcast on March 27, promising to submit it to a national referendum before it could take effect. But then U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened on April 9 to quash that agreement. He told Zelenskyy that the U.K. and the collective West were in it for the long run and would back Ukraine to fight a long war, but would not sign on to any agreements Ukraine made with Russia. This helps to explain why Zelenskyy is now so offended by Western suggestions that he should return to the negotiating table. Johnson has since resigned in disgrace, but he left Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine hanging on his promises. In April, Johnson claimed to be speaking for the collective West, but only the United States publicly took a similarposition, while France, Germany and Italy all called for new cease-fire negotiations in May. Now Johnson himself has done an about-face, writing in an Op-Ed for The Wall Street Journal on December 9 only that Russian forces must be pushed back to the de facto boundary of February 24th. Johnson and Biden have made a shambles of Western policy on Ukraine, politically gluing themselves to a policy of unconditional, endless war that NATO military advisers reject for the soundest of reasons: to avoid the world-ending World War III that Biden himself promised to avoid. U.S. and NATO leaders are finally taking baby steps toward negotiations, but the critical question facing the world in 2023 is whether the warring parties will get to the negotiating table before the spiral of escalation spins catastrophically out of control. The evolution of my position with the Post dates to 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and TCP, with the latter ceasing operations in 2013. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post, for which I have served as managing editor since 2011. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today (Natural News) Weapons expert Mark Steele has warned the public that 5G is a weapons system designed to kill people masquerading as a benign advanced technology for enhanced communications and faster downloads. In an expert report, Steele said 5G represents a heinous crime if a person understands the motive behind its deployment. Steele previously acted as a witness and provided statements in several court cases, exposing the lack of any credible evidence that the 5G light-emitting diode (LED) network and planned neural connection to the 5G grid are safe. He also exposed the nano metamaterial technologies that are contaminating Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations. His efforts paid off as a judge at Newcastle Crown Court declared that the 5G risk must be debated. The evidence I presented to the court defeated the attempt by the local authorities and actors in the British establishment to silence me from providing the published scientific evidence on the risks posed to the public and environment from the 5G urban radar network and its ultimate purpose, Steele said. That victory in legal battlefield created a publicity storm that helped highlight the actual risks of 5G deployment across the world, as well as the total lack of care by regulators. Steele lamented that the world is blindly following the plans of the technocratic elite and the military-industrial-pharma complex to terminate large numbers within populations across the world. The compartmentalization of weapons systems development has played a crucial role in not alerting those within the regulatory authorities and telecommunications industry to the real purpose and intentions of those driving and funding the deployment of 5G and biological chemical weapons masquerading as COVID-19 vaccines for a planned control and command kill grid, he said. Steele explains connections between 5G and COVID-19 vaccines Elsewhere in the report, Steele elaborated on the connections between 5G and COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions data read like the destruction of mankind as millions of North American citizens die and are injured in the medical experiment that is in breach of the Nuremberg Code and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Steele said. The fact that the COVID-19 vaccines vector data was made in biological chemical weapons laboratories proves that they are only masquerading as vaccines, with the emerging data of sterilization, ill health and death across the West revealing their true purpose, Steele said. (Related: Study: 5G exposure a significant factor in higher covid cases, deaths) According to Steele, the 5G network has the capability to target acquire and attack the vaccinated due to the nano metamaterial antenna from COVID-19 vaccine. Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) need the 5G networks to maintain their geoposition and navigate their environment to the target, he explained. These weapons cannot rely on satellite communications due to the potential for inclement weather events and signal latency to disrupt their signals so they must have localized 5G networks for the upcoming cityscape battlefield environment, for assassination capability and for battlefield domination in planned future wars. Follow 5GAlert.com for more news about the dangers of 5G technology. Watch the video below to know why weapons expert Mark Steele called 5G a weapons system designed to kill people. This video is from the Sons of Liberty channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Bombshell study confirms link between 5G wireless exposure and COVID disease. 5G rollout must be stopped to avoid widespread exposure to EMF and RF radiation. Experts in epidemiology, occupational health, toxicology, physics and engineering agree: 5G radiation is toxic to humans. Crime against humanity: 5G is a weapons deployment system masquerading as a communications enhancement. 5G radiation causes BEHAVIOR changes in humans, causes ion potentiation poisoning of brain cells, leading to mass insanity. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca Clinics.Law.Harvard.edu (Natural News) As it teeters on the verge of collapse, the Chinese economy is the Xi Jinping regimes top priority as it concludes three years of zero covid policies. Starting on January 8, the communist country will resume normalcy. There will be no more lockdowns, no more masks, and no more travel restrictions though some worry that opening up the floodgates like this will create even more problems. One of them is The Epoch Times Nathan Su, who wrote that Xi is ending zero covid and replacing it with zero non-covid to save the regimes ruling power at the cost of Chinese peoples lives. Su clearly believes that covid is a threat, and that reopening China will spread new variants around the world. In March, Chinas annual rubber-stamp legislature, as Su calls it, will convene as it does every year. He expects that the number-one focus will be on saving Chinas economy because it is on the edge of collapse after three years of zero covid tyranny. Party leader Xi Jinping is clearly willing to pay any price to reopen the country, Su writes. (Related: At one point, New Zealand tried covid zero, only to have it fail after the number of new covid cases began to skyrocket.) Will Chinas rapid reversal of zero covid be good or bad for the world? Chongqing City and Zhejiang, two provinces covering 88 million people, are already reopening as normal, urging employed citizens to return to work even if they test positive for the Chinese Flu just so long as their symptoms are mild. A local official in Shanghai says that his office similarly received a notice urging everyone to get back to work. The goal, the notice explained, is to push the city towards covid peak status. Let those who are supposed to become positive become positive, and let those who are supposed to die, die, this person explained anonymously, using a pseudonym, about what the notice stated in practical terms. Already, other countries are starting to see an influx of covid-positive travelers from China. In Italy, for instance, some 50 percent of incoming Chinese visitors are testing positive for the disease. According to World Health Organization (WHO) emergencies chief Michael Ryan, the reason for Chinas sudden uptick in covid cases has nothing to do with the country reopening. The disease was spreading intensively because I believe the control measures in themselves were not stopping the disease, he stated about the millions of new cases being reported. And I believe China decided strategically that was not the best option anymore. Some of the earliest signs of a reversal of Chinas zero covid policies came on September 30 of last year when Xi and other top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders showed up at Tiananmen Square for a memorial service mostly unmasked and in close proximity to one another. The pictures of the service show hundreds of people at the event who are not wearing masks, Su writes. For a country that has been enforcing the mask wearing principle as a part of its zero-COVID policy, the event was the first clear sign of the regimes impending policy change. Time will tell how Chinas reopening affects the rest of the world. We are just days away, after all, from the floodgates being blown wide open and life returning back to normal in Far East Asia. True virology science reveals that solitary segregation absolutely weakened the immune system, wrote a commenter about how the lockdowns that were imposed on most of the world during covid made people sicker, not healthier. The latest news about the Chinese Virus can be found at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) There are 13,266 McDonalds stores in the United States as of this writing, but one in Fort Worth, Texas stands out. It is the first fully automated outlet of the giant fast-food chain. The customer can go in, order the food, get the meal and pay the bill without human interaction. Of course, the food will still be cooked and prepared by people, but theyre all tucked in the kitchen, out of sight and out of contact. Also, the store is just about half the size of the traditional McDonalds store and theres nowhere to sit down customers. Theres a creepy silence as nobody is manning the counter. TikToker @foodiemunster took a peek inside this new style of McDonalds and got an eerie feeling sans the usual busy atmosphere of traditional fast-food outlets. A customer can place an order and receive the food without interacting with people as the automated delivery system sticks the order on a conveyor belt and carries it out as well. Delivery drivers from various takeaway apps like Uber Eats can still pick up food for people on a driveway. According to Max Carmona, McDonalds senior director of global design and restaurant development, the company is finding new ways to serve customers faster and easier than ever before. The automation process has been going on slowly for the past few years at McDonalds. Most orders arent placed at the counter anymore, but in kiosks. Now, customers can choose and then press what they want onto those touchscreens that had been installed all over the restaurant. In such setups, however, there is still human interaction as there are a few workers shouting the order numbers for collection and checking the receipts to make sure each customer gets the right meal. Recovering from a 21.49 percent decline in sales worldwide in 2020 brought about by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, McDonalds intends to blaze the trend and is planning to field more robots to save on labor costs. (Related: McDonalds to outsource more human jobs to machines as human workers become increasingly irrelevant.) But first, automation must gain universal acceptance or at least wide support from customers. Customers can drive to the golden arches and expect to be served a Big Mac or a Happy Meal by a food and beverage conveyor instead of an actual, real-life human being, said a McDonalds spokesperson, who explained to the Guardian that the test concept still employs a team comparable to that of a traditional store. With the application of enhanced technology, the restaurant staff can begin preparing customers orders when theyre near the restaurant and pick up their meals in a drive-through order ahead lane, with the food conveyor belt proceeding in a consistent smooth movement. McDonalds believes the concept will make its service more seamless than ever before. Automation experiment draws criticism While McDonalds claim may be true, it doesnt stop activists from lambasting the costly automation experiment. They point out that the company should make paying a decent living wage for its employees a priority over such experiment. McDonalds employees normally make less than $15 an hour. In fact, McDonalds is one of 300 publicly held companies with the lowest median worker wages, based on the 2021 Institute for Policy Studies report. Also, a lot of workers are going to be dismissed, with their jobs taken over by robots and automation. Theres no official report yet on how the Fort Worth store is faring. If it succeeds, expect more branches or other restaurants and fast-food chains to follow suit. Technology experts believe its no longer a question of whether robot chefs and automated processes will engulf the food industry. The McDonalds experiment is a clear manifestation that they will eventually. Visit Robotics.news for more about robots taking over jobs meant for humans. The video below tackles the increasing number of robot chefs being employed by fast food chains. This video is from the high impact Flix and more!!! channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: McDonalds announces kiosks will replace cashiers in 2,500 restaurants. Fast food industry rapidly moving to replace employees with robots and eliminate payroll, health benefits and human unreliability. The wage-earner robot apocalypse arrives: Wendys to install 1,000 fast food kiosks to replace humans. Wendys to replace thousands of cashiers with automated kiosks $15 wage demands lead to accelerating unemployment and social unrest. Sources include: LADBible.com MSN.com TikTok.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Physician and freedom fighter Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet shared with host Dr. Peter Breggin her fight to defend the rights of American people during the December 21 episode of ReFounding America on Brighteon.TV. Vliet, president and CEO of Truth for Health Foundation (THF), lamented the fact that the field of medicine is now under the control of Big Pharma. The highly politicized decisions coming out of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) are proof of this, she said. The independent practicing physician and founder of Vive Life Center explained that THF is a public charity and human rights organization that is faith-based and operates on many fronts. Vliet said they have legal defense programs, a hospital and a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) care strategy team. They have also developed citizen action tools, such as the citizens vaccine injury reporting system, an early treatment guide for COVID-19 and a vaccine injury treatment guide. (Related: Truth for Health Foundation launches new global vaccine reporting system to track covid jab injuries.) We organize treatment at home for people to help keep them out of the hospital. We have the fact sheet on steps to take to avoid hospitalization and save your life. We are doing a legal symposium in different areas of law with highly experienced and dedicated attorneys speaking on different legal topics and strategies to fight for medical freedom. We have the sentinel event reporting system project that is encouraging citizens to file joint commission complaints against the hospitals where their loved ones have been harmed or died, Vliet said. According to Vliet, THF is conducting a weekly seminar titled Faith over Fear, which gives people practical tools to combat the pandemic of fear and emphasizes the building of psychological, spiritual and physical strength and resilience. It also releases daily whistleblower reports, vaccine report, medical freedom report, legal report, military report, pediatrics report and faith report. THF defends military service members who say no to vaccine mandates Vliet, a former member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons board of directors, added that the foundation has been very active on the legal defense front, particularly in cases involving military service members. If they dont want to get the vaccine, I realized thats a difficult choice. The military service members can be prosecuted, court-martialed and even imprisoned if they say Im not going to get the shot, Vliet said. And what weve seen is over 10,000 military service members already discharged with no due process and infringement on all of their constitutional and human rights simply because they exercised their legal right under military law, constitutional law, medical freedom, Nuremberg Code and every other medical ethics thats ever existed to refuse an experimental treatment. Defending the military personnel has become a priority of the foundation because vaccine mandates on the U.S. Armed Forces have been terribly abused, Vliet said. She shared that whistleblower reports have told several heartbreaking stories of military personnel who had been mistreated by their leadership. Were actually in the trenches fighting for the human rights of military and civilian Americans who have been so trampled upon by this lawless government and weaponized federal agencies, said Vliet. Follow HealthFreedom.news for more news about fighting for health freedom. Watch the December 21 episode of ReFounding America below. ReFounding America with Dr. Peter Breggin airs every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and every Saturday at 1 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Major General Paul E. Vallely tells Dr. Peter Breggin: America is facing external and internal enemies Brighteon.TV. WATCH: Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet says that hospitalized U.S. COVID-19 patients are actually being treated worse than prisoners in American jails. Our nations security is at risk due to Bidens illegal military vaccine mandate, experts warn. Dr. Sam Sigoloff tells Mike Adams: Pentagons vaccine mandate was legally written but applied in an ILLEGAL manner. Know Your Rights Australia teaches citizens how to resist mandatory vaccinations and medical tyranny. Sources include: Brighteon.com CaravantoMidnight.com (Natural News) The Biden administration expressed support toward solar geoengineering, which involves proposals to block the suns rays before they hit Earth. It suggested financing and outlining five year research into the endeavor in a bid to address climate change. A report by the Guardian said the White House is mulling a proposal to send planes to spray reflective particles into the upper atmosphere. In theory, it seeks to block sunlight and keep surface temperatures from increasing. A spokesperson for the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) explained that the basis for its current proposal is not new research, but a report that highlights some of the key knowledge gaps and recommendations of priority topics for relevant research. The spokesperson added that the Biden administration has taken extreme measures to reduce carbon dioxide levels and greenhouse gas emissions. (Related: White House now pursuing same sun-blocking geoengineering scheme that was called a conspiracy theory just two years ago.) Some American scientists think reflecting sun rays can be a possible solution to climate change. Until recently, I thought it was too risky, but slow progress on cutting emissions has increased motivation to understand techniques at the margins like solar geoengineering, said climate researcher Chris Field, who chaired a National Academies of Sciences report last year that suggested at least $100 million being spent studying the issue. I dont think we should deploy it yet and there are still a ton of concerns, but we need to better understand it, Field added. Climate change is causing widespread impacts, its costing lives and wrecking economies. Geoengineering project to block suns rays is a threat on food supply The Biden administration, through OSTP, will study the efficacy of various solar geoengineering climate interventions. A stratospheric aerosol injection through which aerosols are sprayed into the stratosphere to block and reflect sunlight back into space will also be put into consideration. Spraying sulfate aerosols and other reflective substances such as calcium carbonate particles, aluminum dioxide or diamonds into the atmosphere, about 12-16 miles above Earth, can achieve what volcanic eruptions have accomplished when it comes to partly blocking sunlight and temporarily cooling global mean temperatures. The idea essentially replicates the aftermath of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines Zambales province. The volcanic aerosols spewed out by Pinatubo reportedly reduced the global mean temperature for at least a year. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, sulfate aerosols do not absorb sunlight but instead reflect it, decreasing the amount of solar radiation that reaches Earths surface. Critics, however, expressed skepticism of the proposal. They put forward the dangers of blocking the suns rays, including negative impacts on photosynthesis in plants. Those that are part of the food cycle would definitely bear the most impact of these solar geoengineering proposals, they added. In an interview, political scientist David Victor warned that solar geoengineering lays the stage for a crooked plot. A Greenfinger self-appointed protector of the planet could force a lot of geoengineering on [their] own, said Victor, who is from the University of California San Diego. Follow GeoEngineering.news for more news about climate manipulation. Watch this Epoch TV report about solar geoengineering attempts. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Many geoengineering projects are still underway despite experts warning against climate modification. The globalist plan: Block the sun and turn Earth into a frozen ice ball in the name of fighting climate change. Climate change scientists launch geoengineering experiment that may accidentally cause global famine. New research exposes the risks of geoengineering to artificially intervene in global warming: It may devastate the planet. Geoengineering and weather modification: The dangers of environmental modification techniques. Sources include: HeadlineUSA.com TheGuardian.com TheBlaze.com (Natural News) President Joe Bidens infrastructure bill includes a provision that will force all newly made vehicles in the United States to have kill switches. Bidens infrastructure bill, officially known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, became law after passing through Congress in late 2021. According to former U.S. Attorney and Republican Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia, buried within the 2,702-page infrastructure legislation is a rider that will take effect five years after its passing, or in 2026. (Related: Breathalyzer-style tracking devices to be required in all cars by 2026 does this mean they will also require proof of vaccination before your car will be allowed to start?) The choice as to whether a vehicle can or cannot be driven for vehicles built after 2026 will rest in the hands of an algorithm over which the cars owner or driver have neither knowledge nor control, wrote Barr in an opinion piece for the Daily Caller. This added provision was marketed to Congress as a benign safety tool that will help prevent drunk drivers from causing fatal accidents. The measure mandates that automobile manufacturers in the U.S. install into every car a vehicle kill switch. According to Barr, there are very serious legal issues that come with allowing this mandate to be implemented without challenge. Most important among these concerns is the potential violations this mandate may make with regard to the Fifth Amendments right to not self-incriminate and the Sixth Amendments right to face ones accuser. Barr added that this concern added to the constitutionally questionable vehicle-related enforcement methods already used by federal, state and local governments, such as traffic cameras and license plate readers. Car kill switch mandate a privacy disaster in the making In his opinion piece, Barr pointed out that the wording of the rider strongly implies that this driving quality surveillance system will always be on and constantly monitoring the vehicle. The system must connect to the vehicles operation controls, so as to disable the vehicle either before driving or during when the impairment is detected, he noted. Furthermore, Barr added that this system will likely have a backdoor that could provide the authorities with the means to remotely access the vehicles data at any time. This presents with it the possibility that illicit third parties could also use this backdoor for nefarious means. This is a privacy disaster in the making, and the fact that the provision made it through Congress reveals yet again how little its members care about the privacy of their constituents, wrote Barr. The lack of ultimate control over ones vehicle presents numerous and extremely serious safety issues; issues that should have been obvious to members of Congress before they voted on the measure. Barr noted that there will be situations wherein the driving of a person would be affected despite not being under the effects of alcohol. What if a driver is not drunk, but sleepy, and the car forces itself to the side of the road before the driver can find a safe place to pull over and rest? wrote Barr. Considering that there are no realistic mechanisms to immediately challenge or stop the car from being disabled, drivers will be forced into dangerous situations without their consent or control. The former congressman noted that Congress failed to define what it means by a driver being impaired. Does it mean legally drunk, or perhaps under the limit, but still impaired to a degree? he asked. He also asked whether or not the system will automatically summon local law enforcement to make the determination or if the system itself will handle this. These are questions that should have been addressed openly and thoroughly during the legislative process, not left to later, backroom negotiations between interested parties other than individual car buyers manufacturers, regulators, insurance companies and law enforcement, he wrote. Learn more about government vehicle policies at RoboCars.news. Watch this short video discussing the controversy surrounding the new car kill switch mandate. This video is from the PureTrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Ticking time bombs: Biden administration does not have a concrete plan for recycling or reusing EV battery packs. Business groups oppose Joe Bidens dangerously misguided plan to pay for $2.3 trillion infrastructure bill by raising taxes. The next car bomb: Cars already on the road can be hacked and taken over, used to kill millions, according to expert. Self-driving cars could easily turn into self-crashing cars that deliberately target and kill humans, expert warns. Feds may force all new cars to broadcast their location, speed and direction to government authorities. Sources include: Motorious.com DailyCaller.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) A Colorado lawyer who sued for documents in relation to Hunter and Jim Bidens business dealings overseas says Joe Bidens Justice Department is hiding hundreds of them and has refused so far to turn them over. Attorney Kevin Evans filed suit against the department in March after officials refused to provide him access to documents related to those business dealings under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, which most of the time has proven to be quite useless because federal agencies get away with just ignoring it. The Department of Justice is trying to prevent disclosure of 400 pages of sensitive documents on Hunter and Jim Bidens dealings with China, Russia and Ukraine by pretending they dont exist, the UKs Daily Mail reported exclusively, citing the lawsuit and the DoJs response thus far. Evans, a FOIA expert, asked for documents pertaining to any relationship, communication, gift(s), and/or remuneration in any form between the presidents son Hunter or brother Jim, and China, Russia or Ukraine. Evans went on to say that government attorneys at one point admitted in court that DOJ was in possession of at least 400 pages of potentially relevant documents, but they are now claiming that they can neither confirm nor deny that records exist matching his FOIA request. Translated, that means, Yeah, we have them; no, we dont want to turn them over because they are incriminating and will harm our deep state presidential plant, Joe Biden. A Justice Department prosecutor, David Weiss, is currently considering a criminal case against Hunter with potential allegations of money laundering, illegal foreign lobbying and tax crimes in relation to the First Sons overseas business dealings, the Daily Mail reported, but hes supposedly been considering a case now for years which, again, translated, means that nothing is going to come of it because Bidens DOJ isnt going to charge and prosecute his son or his brother. Otherwise, charges would have been filed by now. But in order for Americans to make smarter choices about who they vote for, there at least needs to be full disclosure in this matter, and thats what Evans is attempting to achieve: To expose Biden and his party as corrupt and interested in nothing but political power for the sake of wielding it. Heres more evidence of that, per the Daily Mail: The 400 pages are not the only cache of Biden records being sought from the government. The National Archives and Records Administration is preparing to release hundreds of Obama White House internal documents containing information about Hunters relationship with controversial Ukrainian gas company Burisma, Business Insider reported this month. Joe Biden was vice president at the time, with responsibility for relations with Ukraine. His son was serving on the board of Burisma, getting paid $83,000 per month. Bidens administration is able to veto the release, but must decide by February whether to invoke executive privilege to keep them hidden until 2029. That tranche of records dates back to 2014, the outlet reported, and includes 260 emails mentioning Burisma along with 69 images. For his part, Evans told the British outlet that he filed his initial FOIA request in November 2020 and, after Donald Trumps reelection was stolen from him, Bidens DOJ strung Evans along for nearly two years, prompting his lawsuit. They eventually produced about 60 pages of documents, but theyre all letters from senators and congressmen asking about Hunter, and letters from DoJ back, he said. Then, towards the end of last year, they said, well, we have these 400 pages of potentially responsive documents, we need to review them. In March, I filed suit, and before Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty they made the same representation: theyve done a thorough search, theyve uncovered 400 potentially responsive documents, he continued. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified hundreds of safety signals for the two most widely administered COVID-19 vaccines, according to monitoring results obtained by The Epoch Times. (Article by Zachary Stieber republished from TheEpochTimes.com) Bells palsy, blood clotting, and death were among the signals flagged through analysis of adverse event reports submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The CDC, which runs VAERS with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), describes it as the nations early warning system for vaccine issues. The CDCs primary analysis compared the reports made for specific events suffered after receipt of a Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the reports lodged following vaccination with any other vaccine, or all non-COVID-19 vaccines. The type of analysis is known as Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR). Safety signals mean a condition may be linked to a vaccine. Signals require further analysis to confirm a possible link. The CDC analysis was conducted on adverse events reported from Dec. 14, 2020, to July 29, 2022. The Epoch Times obtained the results through a Freedom of Information Act request after the CDC refused to make the results public. VAERS is a passive reporting system that accepts reports from anybody, but most are lodged by health care professionals, who were told during the COVID-19 pandemic that they were required to lodge reports if post-vaccination issues cropped up. People who lodge false reports face penalties. Reports dont prove causality or a link between an event and a vaccine. At the same time, studies show that the number of reports is often an undercount of the actual occurrence of post-vaccination events. Onus Is on the Regulators The CDC and FDA stated in operating procedure documents that officials would monitor VAERS to identify potential new safety concerns for COVID-19 vaccines, with the CDC performing PRR analysis. The CDC has issued multiple false statements on the data mining but ultimately acknowledged that it didnt start performing the monitoring technique until 2022more than one year after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were authorized. PRR involves comparing the incidence of a specific adverse event after a specific vaccine to the incidence after all other vaccines. A signal is triggered when three thresholds are met, according to the CDC: a PRR of at least two, a chi-squared statistic of at least four, and three or more cases of the event following receipt of the vaccine being analyzed. Chi-squared tests are a form of statistical analysis used to examine data. The results obtained by The Epoch Times show that there are hundreds of adverse events (AEs) that meet the definition, including serious conditions such as blood clotting in the lungs, intermenstrual bleeding, a lack of oxygen to the heart, and even death. The high numbers, particularly the chi-squared figures, concerned experts. For many of the events, the chi-squared is so high that, from a Bayesian perspective, the probability that the true rate of the AE of the COVID vaccines is not higher than that of the non-COVID vaccines is essentially zero, Norman Fenton, a professor of risk management at Queen Mary University of London, told The Epoch Times in an email after running the numbers through a Bayesian model that provides probabilities based on available information. There was a probability of less than 0.5 percent that the rate of hepatic cirrhosis, for instance, was less following COVID-19 vaccination than non-COVID-19 vaccination. For myocarditis, or heart inflammation, in the 12- to 17-year-old group, the probability was close to zero. The CDCs results also show that a much higher proportion of events after COVID-19 vaccination were serious. For adults, for instance, the proportion was 11.1 percent, compared to 5.5 percent after non-COVID-19 vaccines. The proportion of deaths for adults was 15.4 percent after COVID-19 vaccination, much higher than the 2.5 percent after other shots. The onus is on the regulators to come up with some other causal explanation for this difference if they wish to claim that the probability a COVID vaccine AE results in death is not significantly higher than that of other vaccines, Fenton said. The CDC and FDA didnt respond by press time to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. A CDC spokesperson previously told The Epoch Times in an email that the PRR results were generally consistent with EB data mining, revealing no additional unexpected safety signals. The agencys records office, in a letter accompanying the results, stated that the results generally corroborated findings from Empirical Bayesian (EB) data mining, a method employed by the FDA. The FDA has refused to release the EB mining results. Should Be Taken Seriously and Investigated U.S. health officials have been cautious in tying adverse events, or side effects, to the COVID-19 vaccines. But theyve acknowledged that some side effects are caused by the Moderna and Pfizer vaccinesboth of which utilize messenger RNA (mRNA) technologyincluding myocarditis and a related condition called pericarditis. Some age groups are actually at higher risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination than after COVID-19 infection, leading a growing number of experts to warn against vaccinating certain people. The newly obtained PRR results returned more than 500 adverse events larger than myocarditis and pericarditis. We know that the signal for myocarditis is associated with something that is caused by the mRNA vaccines, so its more than reasonable to say that anything with a signal larger than myocarditis/pericarditis should be taken seriously and investigated, Josh Guetzkow, an Israeli professor who trained in statistics at Princeton University and has been studying VAERS data during the pandemic, told The Epoch Times via email. The CDC and FDA stated in their operating procedures that safety signals would be reviewed as appropriate. The pattern or trend of PRR and data mining results over a period of time (e.g., several weeks) will be monitored before initiating a clinical review. Other factors, such as clinical importance, whether AEs are unexpected, seriousness, and whether a specific syndrome or diagnosis is identified rather than non-specific symptoms will be considered in determining if clinical review will be performed, the documents read. If a clinical review was triggered, that would include reviewing reports and associated medical records regarding the adverse event, confirming the time from vaccination to symptoms onset and other work. The FDA recently revealed that out of four signals identified for older individuals after Moderna or Pfizer vaccination, three were ruled out with further analysis, but onepulmonary embolismcontinued meeting the criteria. Pulmonary embolism was identified as a signal in the PRR analysis for individuals as young as 12. Download the Files The results of the analysis are in Excel sheets. The results can be downloaded from the links below. Tables one and two werent provided. 7.29.22 Table3 PRR of PTs for COVID19 Pfizer Compared to Moderna 7.29.22 Table 4 PRR of PTs for COVID19 Moderna Compared to Pfizer 7.29.22 Table 5 PRR of PTs for COVID19 mRNA Compared to Non-COVID 7.22.29 Table 3 PRR of PTs for COVID19 Pfizer Compared to Moderna 7.22.29 Table 4 PRR of PTs for COVID19 Moderna Compared to Pfizer 7.22.29 Table 5 PRR of PTs for COVID19 mRNA Compared to Non-COVID 7.15.22 Table 3 PRR of PTs for COVID19 Pfizer Compared to Moderna 7.15.22 Table 4 PRR of PTs for COVID19 Moderna Compared to Pfizer 7.15.29 Table 5 PRR of PTs for COVID19 mRNA Compared to Non-COVID Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com (Natural News) Gigi Jordan, a former pharmaceutical executive, was found dead inside her home in Brooklyn, New York, in an apparent suicide just hours after the Supreme Court revoked the bail for her manslaughter conviction. Jordan, 62, was found dead in her apartment in the Stuyvesant Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn on Friday, Dec. 30. Jordans lawyer, Normal Siegel, confirmed her death to news outlets and said the citys medical examiners office plans to conduct an autopsy. Just hours before her death, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued an order revoking her bail, requiring her to return to prison while the courts considered her appeal over accusations of manslaughter. The millionaire and former Big Pharma executive initially came into the spotlight in 2010 when she admitted to force-feeding a lethal dose of medications down the throat of her autistic eight-year-old son, Jude Mirra, in a hotel room before ingesting multiple medications herself. The cocktail of medications killed her son but not her. At her trial, Jordan claimed that she decided to kill herself and her son because otherwise one of her ex-husbands would have killed her and then the boy would fall under the care of another ex-husband who would sexually abuse him. Jordans defense attorneys argued she murdered Mirra while in a state of extreme emotional disturbance over her fears regarding her two ex-husbands. In Nov. 2014, she was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 years in prison. (Related: Rich pharma executive sociopath gets 18 years for killing her son in cold blood and happily watching him suffer.) Jordans pending return to prison may have triggered her suicide Jordan continued to appeal her case while in prison, citing her Sixth Amendment right to a fair and public trial. Her appeal rested on an incident at her trial during which the courtroom was closed for about 15 minutes to hear arguments regarding an email and a web posting. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office noted that Jordan accused the court of undermining the fairness of the trial. Bragg argued that the 15 minutes of closed proceedings did not otherwise affect any substantive matter before the jury, and multiple lower courts agreed, noting that this did not violate Jordans Sixth Amendment rights. But in 2020, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave agreed with Jordan, tossing her conviction out. She noted that, while the error itself did not harm Jordans case, it did violate her Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial and a new trial should be conducted. On Dec. 9, 2020, after serving more than 10 years of her sentence, Jordan was sprung from prison. Cave ordered her released to home confinement on a $250,000 bond while the district attorneys office appealed her case before the Supreme Court. On Dec. 20, 2022, after over two years in home confinement, Sotomayor reaffirmed Jordans bail while the Supreme Court considered her case. But after Bragg filed papers before the court arguing against Jordans case, Sotomayor announced on Thursday, Dec. 29, that she was reversing herself, issuing an order that was expected to send the former pharmaceutical executive back to prison. Hours later, at around 12:05 a.m. on Friday, she was found dead. Sources that spoke with media outlets noted that suicide is highly likely due to the recent revocation of her bail, with one even noting she was found dead in her bathtub with a possible suicide note nearby. A New York Police Department spokesperson said the exact cause of her death is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing. In his briefing to media outlets, Siegel said that he last spoke to his client by phone around 7:30 p.m. the day before her suicide was discovered. He said she was in good spirits and said that she will catch up with him again soon. Its unbelievably sad. Gigi Jordan had a lot to offer society, claimed Siegel. In the end, she did not have her opportunity to contribute to society. Watch this clip from Next News Network discussing how the author of the book How to Murder Your Husband murdered her husband. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Childrens director accused of raping dozens of boys found dead at home on Christmas eve. Nearly half of all murders in the US go unsolved due to understaffed police departments. Two days after exposing pedophile ring run by CIA and Mossad, crypto developer found DEAD. Deaths at the border: For every dead body found, 5 to 10 MORE are never recovered. FBI chief was found dead after exposing sickening truth about the elite. Sources include: NYPost.com NYDailyNews.com NBCNewYork.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Over the past several months, France has had to close even more of its nuclear power plants due to issues, which is pushing the country ever closer towards having to ration energy this dark winter. Emmanuel Macrons France is now dangerously close to suffering prolonged blackouts unless something is done, and quickly, to ensure that there is enough energy to go around to power at least the basic elements of society. Back in November, we reported that half of Frances nuclear power plants were already offline due to routine maintenance. Now, even more of them are offline, which does not bode well for the coming months. Since France is among the European Union countries that are no longer receiving cheap and abundant energy from Russia France also went green just like Germany did the nation faces the very real prospect of energy losses once the worst of winter strikes. Right now, weather conditions in France are said to be warmer than usual, which is a good thing based on the circumstances. Should a cold snap hit, though, energy rationing could very quickly become a necessity in order to avoid a full-scale blackout across the country. Until January 15, we know that we will have no difficulty, announced Emmanuelle Wargon, who serves as President of Frances Energy Regulation Commission. Afterwards, if there is a cold snap, the situation will inevitably be more tense. To keep its economy afloat, nearby Germany must cut gas consumption by at least 20% In recent weeks, energy production across France has dwindled to worryingly low levels. Cracks were discovered at numerous power stations throughout the country this in addition to half of the countrys nuclear generators being offline. All the problems France is now seeing with energy production spell disaster at the first sign of colder weather. Once the warm spell passes, serious measures may have to be introduced to prevent the entire power grid from collapsing. For the time being, France is having to massively scale back the amount of energy it supplies to neighboring countries that import it. One such country is the United Kingdom, which relies on French energy to keep its lights on. Nearby Germany is also facing similar extreme energy-cutting measures as gas supplies dwindle downward due to the loss of Russian energy and the loss of its own domestic energy production due to having gone green. It turns out that wind turbines and solar panels are not enough to keep a country and its economy running, which Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and other globalist-controlled nations are now having to learn the hard way. In Germany, gas consumption this winter will need to be reduced by at least 20 percent throughout the winter in order to keep the lights on and the economy afloat. Anything less than that could lead to a total collapse of the former economic powerhouse of Europe. Germany relies, in some part, on French energy as well, which could complicate the matter even further. If France stops exporting energy to Germany like it is doing to the UK, then Germanys consumption levels will need to drop even further to compensate. Imagine if these countries didnt have all of the new citizens that were forced upon them by the New World Order, one commenter wrote about how globalism has destroyed France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Subtract those millions and they wouldnt need so much power. They have adopted climate change as their new religion and freezing is just their way of doing penitence, responded another. It will bring them closer to their heaven of a world without themselves. Saint Greta and Lord Schwab will be pleased. The latest news about the energy crisis can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to legalize human composting on December 31, 2022. The bill, which was introduced by Democrat State Assembly Member Amy Paulin and Democrat State Sen. Leroy Comrie, states that natural organic reduction (NOR) accelerates the process of biological decomposition in an aboveground container, naturally converting human remains to the soil. The Gateway Pundit reported that this method will provide New Yorkers with the option of choosing an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective alternative to burial and cremation. The human composting process works by placing a persons remains in a vessel and filling it with a mix of wood chips, alfalfa and straw. Microbes break down the corpse and the plant matter, transforming the various components into nutrient-rich soil. New York is the sixth state in America that has legalized composting dead human bodies. Natural Organic Reduction was first legalized in Washington State in 2019. Governor Gavin Newsom legalized it in California in September last year. Californias Assembly Bill 351 explicitly allows for NOR beginning 2027. Until then, dead bodies in the state will still have to be either buried or cremated. (Related: Soylent Green: California legalizes composting of HUMANS.) Human bodies are not household waste The state order did not sit well with the New York State Catholic Conference. Composting is something we as a society associate with a sustainable method of eliminating organic trash that otherwise ends up in landfills. But human bodies are not household waste, and the bishops do not believe that the process meets the standard of reverent treatment of our earthly remains, said Dennis Poust, executive director of the states Catholic congregation. According to Poust, no public hearings were held to allow New Yorkers to weigh in on the pros and cons of the bill. It was all done behind closed doors, Poust added. The average New Yorker has no idea this bill was introduced, let alone passed. While it has been covered here and there in the press, it has received very little attention, which is troubling, because we certainly think that new methods of disposition of human remains ought to be talked about in society, and the public should have a chance to consider if this is a direction we want to go. Back in June, the catholic conference said in a statement: While not everyone shares the same beliefs with regard to the reverent and respectful treatment of human remains, we believe there are a great many New Yorkers who would be uncomfortable at best with this proposed composting/fertilizing method, which is more appropriate for vegetable trimmings and eggshells than for human bodies. Recompose, a funeral home in Seattle, Washington D.C., claims on its website that it can turn the deceased into soil in as fast as 30 days. The funeral home also offers a laying in ceremony when the body is placed in a vessel to compost. For every person who chooses Recompose over conventional burial or cremation, one metric ton of carbon dioxide is prevented from entering the atmosphere, the website stated. In addition, our approach to human composting requires 1/8 the energy of conventional burial or cremation. Recompose allows you to choose an end-of-life option that strengthens the environment rather than depleting it. Check out Twisted.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below that talks about Newsoms approval of composting dead bodies. This video is from the New Prisoners channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biosludge spread on food crops will soon contain dead human tissue as Washington legalizes human composting. Human composting legalization now promoted as organic: fertilizer, just like biosludge sewage sludge from cities. Composting dead humans creates bio-goo that gets flushed down sewage pipes, turned into biosludge, then deposited on crops. Urban Death Project seeks to compost dead humans to feed the crops: has it really come to this? Sources include: NewsPunch.com NYSenate.gov TheGatewayPundit.com Recompose.life Brighteon.com (Natural News) Podcaster and author Melissa Red Pill believes the intelligence community is now serving as the investigative and police arm of the New World Order (NWO). The intelligence community is the police arm and basically the investigative arm of the NWO, she said during the Dec. 28 episode of the Brighteon.TV program Freedom Force Battalion. She added that the intelligence community also serves the interests of the United Nations (UN) cabal. The UN is a criminal mafia. When you think of the UN think of the criminal mafia worldwide, how they gathered forces from all over the world. Dont think of it as intending to bring peace on the planet; thats not what they are doing at all, Red Pill pointed out. (Related: Melissa Red Pill: FBI, CIA taking orders from the Cabal to spy on US presidents Brighteon.TV.) She then cited a post from the Independent Sentinel stating that Google currently employs at least 165 people from the intelligence community in high-ranking positions. This, Red Pill added, proves two things: Google is controlled by the intelligence community and the globalist cabal has weaponized Big Tech against the American people. Thats what it is. [Google] is managed by three ex-CIA agents who control misinformation and hate speech. While there is no way for people to extricate themselves from this situation, Red Pill said people can still use for good what the cabal has intended for evil. While the globalists thought they could use things to spy on, control and silence Americans white hats led by former President Donald Trump turned the tables. Kennedy familys multi-generational feud with the CIA Red Pill showed a video clip of Childrens Health Defense (CHD) Chairman Robert Kennedy Jr.s interview with CBS News journalist Michelle Miller where he talked about his fathers life and death, as well as their familys feud with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to Miller, the Kennedy feud with the CIA was multi-generational. The family patriarch, Joseph Kennedy, had sat on a commission that called for an end to the CIAs paramilitary operations. Josephs sons former President John F. Kennedy and former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr. also opposed the CIAs involvement in Vietnam. The former AG is the father of the CHD founder and chairman. The younger Kennedy said that prior to his fathers assassination, he was planning to remove the CIAs clandestine service and make it a real intelligence-gathering organization. He also admitted that the elder Kennedy had made a lot of enemies not just from the CIA. The CHD chairman told Miller he never suspected anybody other than Sirhan Sirhan as his fathers murderer. But this changed when union leader Paul Schrade, a close friend of his late father, brought up the possibility of a second shooter. Schrade, who was injured when Sirhan shot the older Kennedy in 1968, died last November. According to the younger Kennedy, it was hard to believe that Sirhan shot his dad since all four shots that hit his father came from behind him. While he does not have any conclusion about his fathers assassination, he insisted that his opinion is really irrelevant. The CHD founder continued: Whats important is what the facts say, what the autopsy says, what the ballistic evidence and what the eyewitnesses say. Red Pill also played Kennedy Jr.s interview with Tucker Carlson of Fox News. The CHD chairman said he believes the CIA may have been involved in the assassination of his uncle, former President Kennedy, in 1963. The younger Kennedy mentioned that when his uncle was killed, his father lost his investigative capacity at the Department of Justice and his control of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Follow DeepState.news for more stories like this. Watch the Dec. 28 episode of Freedom Force Battalion below. Freedom Force Battalion with Melissa Red Pill airs every Wednesday at 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Treason in America: An overview of the FBI, CIA and matters of national security. How the media secretly carries out assignments for the CIA. Melissa Red Pill: The Cabal is inciting Russia into war Brighteon.TV. Deep State intelligence community secretly changed first-hand knowledge rules to allow Ukraine whistleblower to file complaint against Trump. Evidence shows that its not just Twitter and the FBI, the State Department, CISA, Facebook. YouTube and Google are also working to censure and ban the information you receive. Sources include: Brighteon.com IndependentSentinel.com CBSNews.com (Natural News) The number of illegal immigrants that have crossed into the United States during the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 (FY begins Oct. 1) is larger than most big American cities, according to a new report. About 844,000 migrants were either apprehended after crossing the southwest border or were classified as got-aways during the first quarter of the fiscal year, Breitbart News reported, citing unofficial numbers from the U.S. Border Patrol. The number represents the reported apprehension of 631,000 migrants and an additional 212,000 migrants classified as known got-aways, the report continued. The top 117 U.S. cities have a population of 212,000 and above, but that figure is higher than many other notable American cities like Rochester, N.Y,; Little Rock, Ark.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Tallahassee, Fla., Montgomery, Ala.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Eugene, Ore., to name a few. Breitbart News further explained: Gotaways are an estimate by Border Patrol officials of migrants that are either seen and not apprehended or are counted by other means including technology and tracking. These are migrants who illegally cross the border with no intention of surrendering to law enforcement to claim asylum, officials previously told Breitbart. The El Paso Sector alone accounted for approximately 32,000 of these got-aways just in December. Agents in the El Paso Sector apprehended nearly 56,000 migrants in December. This brings the total of known border crossings to 88,000 for the month. But this isnt the only insult to American taxpayers thanks to Joe Bidens refusal refusal to enforce current immigration and border security laws that are on the books like Donald Trump did. The most recently passed $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill Congress passed contains a shocking $785 million to transport, feed, and house illegal migrants. (Imagine how many miles of highway that would finance or electric lines it would replace or outdated water and sewage systems it would upgrade.) Included in that bill is the transfer of $800 million from CBP to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $785 million of which will go to support sheltering and related activities provided by non-Federal entities, including facility improvements and construction, in support of relieving overcrowding in short-term holding facilities,' noted Center for Immigration Studies senior fellow Andrew Arthur last week. Oh, and an additional $1.6 million for CBP suicide prevention and wellness activities. Congress needs to investigate. It should come as no surprise that Bidens border fiasco has taken a toll on CBP employees at the Southwest border. Morale is at all-time lows and the administration doesnt seem to care much, Arthur continued. As of late November, 14 CBP employees committed suicide in 2022, the last three of whom were Border Patrol agents at the Southwest border who took their lives less than two weeks apart. Im not saying that the Biden-created disaster at the border either led to or precipitated those deaths. Having been a former congressional oversight staffer, however, I would like to know. The Federation for American Immigration Reform, meanwhile, noted that the massive amount of money earmarked for migrants in the spending bill actually encourages more illegal immigration (which, of course, is the point). The final spending package approved by a Congress on their way out the door leaves little doubt that chaos at the border is the policy of the Democratic Party today and that their goal is to create even more of it, said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. Only a party that affirmatively wants open borders regardless of the fiscal, security, and humanitarian costs would let the one remaining policy that allows for the expedited removal of even some illegal migrants lapse, and deliberately tie the hands of our border enforcement agency. Lets be clear, the president can restore operational control of the border simply by enforcing laws that are already on the books many of which he voted for as a senator. Instead, he and his party continue to deflect blame by claiming they inherited a broken system. The truth is they deliberately broke it themselves and are standing in the way of efforts to fix it, he continued. Rather than do anything to regain control of our borders, the omnibus is focused entirely on processing illegal aliens as quickly as possible and transporting them to already overwhelmed communities all across the United States. This massive spending bill effectively turns CBP into a federally administered travel agency for illegal aliens and saddles state and local governments with the costs of education, health care, housing and other basic needs for the endless flow of illegal aliens the Biden administration is waiving into the country, he concluded. Sources include: FAIRUS.org CIS.org Breitbart.com (Natural News) Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree to temporarily ban the export of oil products to the United States and other nations that implement a price cap. The ban will take effect from February 1 to July 1. Deliveries of Russian oil and oil products to foreign entities and individuals are banned, on the condition that in the contracts for these supplies, the use of a maximum price fixing mechanism is directly or indirectly envisaged, the decree stated. The established ban applies to all stages of supply up to the end buyer. The decree, published on the Kremlin website, was a direct response to actions that are unfriendly and contradictory to international law by the United States and foreign states and international organizations joining them. (Related: Russia to halt oil exports to nations that impose price cap on Russian crude.) The Group of Seven (G7), the European Union and Australia made an agreement in December that a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude will be imposed beginning Dec. 5. The price cap, unseen even in the times of the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union, is aimed at crippling Russian state coffers and Moscows military efforts in Ukraine. According to analysts, the cap will have little impact on the oil revenues that Moscow is currently earning. But Russian Federation Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Moscows budget deficit could be more comprehensive than the planned two percent of GDP in 2023, with the oil price cap squeezing export income. The G7 price cap allows non-EU countries to continue importing seaborne Russian crude oil, but prohibits the shipping, insurance and reinsurance companies from handling cargoes of Russian crude around the globe unless it is being sold for less than the price cap. Russia is the worlds second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, and a major disruption to its sales would have far-reaching consequences for global energy supplies. China, India take advantage of Russian oil discounts Germany seemed unthreatened by Russias oil export ban. According to Robert Saverin, spokesperson for Germanys Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Moscows decision to ban oil sales to countries that impose a price cap on Russian fuel has no practical significance to Berlin. I dont want to say that it is irrelevant, but it has no practical significance. We have been preparing to replace Russian oil exports since early summer, Saverin said. Overall, we have been working to ensure the security of supply. It continues to be assured, regardless of whether this decree has been issued or not. Western sanctions on Russian fossil fuels are accelerating the shift in global energy flows. China and India are increasingly taking advantage of Russian oil discounts and Middle Eastern suppliers are redirecting their crude to Europe. Russia is offering big discounts to Asias biggest oil buyers as it tries to retain market share after banning the sale of its crude and petroleum products to countries imposing a price cap. Follow FuelSupply.news for more updates about the ban on Russian oil exports to countries that implement a price cap. Watch the video below that tackles Russias oil export ban. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: US-EU price cap on Russian oil threatens Indias crude imports and economic growth. US oil price to surge again in December as Saudis cap production and EU embargo takes effect. ENERGY REDIRECTED: Two-thirds of Russian seaborne oil exports are now going to Asia. Hungary, Serbia building pipeline for Russian oil and gas to dodge EU sanctions. Sources include: Breitbart.com Reuters.com TheGuardian.com PNA.gov.ph WSJ.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Again, it should be obvious that the deep state insiders running Joe Bidens regime are doing everything they can to provoke a full-scale nuclear war with Russia, as evidenced by a deadly incident this week involving American-made and supplied weapons. According to multiple reports, dozens and perhaps hundreds of Russian conscripts were killed by American HIMARS rockets fired by Ukrainian troops when they struck a makeshift barracks that also contained ammunition and supplies for those Russian troops. Russias Defense Ministry said Monday that Ukrainian forces used a U.S.-supplied Himars rocket system to destroy a facility used as a base for mobilized troops in the city of Makiivka, The Wall Street Journal reports of the attack in the Russian-occupied Donbas region. Meanwhile, Ukraines forces claimed they downed about 39 Russian drones in a swarm meant to attack the countrys infrastructure, the WSJ reported. In a statement carried by Russian state news agencies, the ministry said 63 troops had died in the blast after four Himars rockets carrying high-explosive warheads struck the facility, the paper noted further. Top Russian military commanders confirmed the death toll in a statement carried by Tass, a state-run news agency: The Kiev regime delivered a strike firing six projectiles from the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher on a Russian unit near Makeyevka in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR). The attack left 63 Russian service members killed. Ukrainian sources, however, put the death toll much higher, and while that could be propaganda, it also makes sense hundreds could have been killed at a site housing several hundred Russian conscripts for training. Citing those sources, Zero Hedge noted: The Ukrainian side is meanwhile claiming the true numbers among the Russian dead is much higher, with the Ukrainian military asserting that some 400 were killed and other 300 wounded though Kiev didnt directly take responsibility in the immediate aftermath. Rybar, a Telegram news channel with links to the Russian military, said that about 70 people had been confirmed dead and more than 100 wounded as debris continued to be cleared at the site. Russian President Vladimir Putin last month included Rybars founder, Mikhail Zvinchuk, in a new Kremlin-run working group producing a monthly report on the progress of Russias troop mobilization, the WSJ reported. In addition to at least several dozen soldiers killed, Russian military officials also said that a great deal of military equipment was also destroyed in a strike that, to be honest, was probably aided by U.S. military intelligence sources such as satellite surveillance. Al Jazeera, meanwhile, went on to cite another Russian source who indicated that the death toll could actually be far higher: Igor Girkin, a former Federal Security Service officer who helped Russia annex the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and then organize pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, said on Monday that the number of dead and wounded runs into many hundreds. Girkin noted on Telegram: This is not the only such [extremely dense] deployment of personnel and equipment in the destruction zone of HIMARS missiles, meaning that there are likely other sites housing troops, equipment, and ammunition in close proximity. CNN reported that in Russia, several military bloggers expressed outrage that Russian commanders would have stationed troops so close to ammo dumps and storage areas. Meanwhile, Russian rockets continue to pound Kyiv and other civilian targets, giving Moscow little political cover to claim that its own cities should nevertheless be spared similar attacks if and when the Ukrainian military obtains the means to reach them. All of this points to one conclusion: As we approach the one-year mark since Russias invasion, it does not look like this war is going to end anytime soon, especially with continually escalating attacks that are becoming more deadly. Sources include: CNN.com AlJazeera.com WSJ.com (Natural News) CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen is now speaking out against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines that she previously advocated for. According to World Alternative Media CEO Josh Sigurdson, Wen is now changing her tune regarding the COVID-19 vaccines and the vaccine mandates. Wen previously said unvaccinated people should not be allowed to walk outside their homes. The medical analyst also branded those refusing to wear face masks as mass-murdering people. Now, Wen is opposing mask mandates. She said face coverings are destroying childrens childhood and development. (Related: Covid tyranny mask pusher Dr. Leana Wen admits masks mandates RETARDED her childs language development.) Wen even wrote a column for the Washington Post (WaPo) wherein she said the COVID-19 injections are dangerous and should not be made mandatory. The Shanghai-born Wen, one of the most aggressive advocates of COVID-19 medical fascism, has switched sides. Still, Wen is insisting that her previous positions were based on the science of that time. But things have since changed, she said. Wen used to encourage everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 Wen wrote in her WaPo piece that she now believes military personnel should not be forced to take the COVID-19 vaccines. This contrasted with her earlier remarks about how everyone must be injected with the safe and effective vaccines. Its time for the Biden administration to end the vaccine mandate for service members. And businesses, universities, schools and other entities that were once justified in implementing these requirements should consider removing them, too, she wrote. Things changed with the arrival of omicron. For months, research has shown that [the] effectiveness [of the vaccines] in reducing infection against the omicron subvariants is low and not lasting. Sigurdson mentioned that Wen wrote the article after it became obvious that forcing the shots on people is no longer as popular as it once was. It was politically expedient for her to suddenly start playing the other side, he added. Moreover, Sigurdson stated that Wens sudden about-face appears to be a desperate attempt to save herself from what is coming for those who pushed the COVID-19 scam, given the talk of a potential Nuremberg 2.0 trial. He pointed out that Wen is worried that continuing to push the COVID-19 jabs will deter people from taking jabs for other illnesses. Equating this (vaccine) to others could have an unintended consequence of extending the backlash from COVID-19 to other inoculations, she wrote. That would be a profound tragedy. Sigurdson said those are also mass-murdering injections. Ultimately, the independent journalist noted that many doctors are now coming out and echoing the talking points of those opposing the COVID-19 vaccines. Follow Vaccines.news for more news about COVID-19 vaccines. Watch the full WAM segment below with Josh Sigurdson talking about why mainstream vaccine propagandists such as Dr. Leana Wen are changing their tune over the COVID-19 shots. This video is from the World Alternative Media channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Dr. Leana Wen is now being rejected by the Fauci Flu propaganda machine for not being 100% compliant with the scamdemic LIES. Psycho medical tyrant Dr. Leana Wen demands 100% COMPLIANCE of all Americans with perpetual masks and vaccine passports. Shocking data show a 4,800% increase in US vax deaths, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations from covid-19 jabs. Illnesses intensified, compounded and exacerbated by COVID vaccines. Vaccine expert warns the unvaccinated to never take COVID vaccines. Sources include: Brighteon.com NaturalNews.com Revolver.news (Natural News) There is another new covid variant (or so we are told) that is spreading across the Northeast. And The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) admits that covid vaccines are making people more susceptible to it. XBB, as they are calling this latest variant, is not necessarily any deadlier than previous variants. It is also a lot different, we are told, than previous variants in that it evades protection from the injections. Growing evidence also suggests that repeated vaccinations may make people more susceptible to XBB and could be fueling the viruss rapid evolution, writes Allysia Finley, admitting what many of us have known for years now. XBB supposedly belongs to the Omicron (anagram for Moronic) family of variants, which comes with numerous descendants, according to Finley, many of which have popped up in different regions of the world curiously bearing some of the same mutations. A study published on December 19 explains that the rapid and simultaneous emergence of all these variants possessing enormous growth advantages is unprecedented. The reason, we now know, is the jabs. Under selective evolutionary pressures, the virus appears to have developed mutations that enable it to transmit more easily and escape antibodies elicited by vaccines and prior infection, Finley clarifies. (Related: Here is more proof showing that covid injections are spreading more variants). Pre-print study says covid bivalent booster jab responsible for spreading new variants Another study currently in pre-print contains similar revelations. This one looked at the so-called bivalent booster jab for covid, which authorities are pushing on the masses as the solution to all the new variants. Workers at the Cleveland Clinic were used to assess the efficacy of bivalent boosters, which were found to provide modest protection. The key sentence in that study, though, is one specifying that the virus strains dominant in the community were those represented in the vaccine. This would seem to suggest that the variants supposedly covered by bivalent boosters at any given time just so happen to be the very same ones that continue to spread like wildfire, particularly among the fully vaccinated. In Finleys article, it is further admitted that covid vaccines provide poor and inadequate protection against new strains of the virus that come along. As opposed to natural immunity, which is generalized, jab immunity is strain-specific (or so we are told), meaning when new strains come along there is no available protection against them. Bivalent vaccines that target the Wuhan and BA.5 variants (or breakthrough infections with the latter) prompt the immune system to produce antibodies that target viral regions the two strains have in common, Finley writes. XBB has evolved to elude antibodies induced by the vaccines and breakthrough infections. This immune imprinting caused by the injections, as they are calling it, was also addressed in a New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) study published last month. That one, along with another one published this month in Cell, both show that those who get injected are only protected against older strains of the virus because their immune systems were imprinted, aka damaged, to not generally recognize all mutations of viral invaders. A bivalent booster only slightly increased antibodies against XBB, Finley writes. Experts nevertheless claim that boosters improve protection against XBB. Thats disinformation, to use their favored term. It might not be a coincidence that XBB surged this fall in Singapore, which has among the highest vaccination and booster rates in the world. Over the past several weeks a XBB strain has become predominant in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, making up about three-quarters of virus samples that have been genetically sequenced. The latest news about covid jabs can be found at Immunization.news. Sources for this article include: WSJ.com NaturalNews.com MedRxiv.org A recent news report showed the megadrought in Utah's Great Salt Lake reached historic lows. The low-level water raised concerns among communities and environmentalists, especially about the agricultural water supply and biodiversity. The megadrought has been concerning and serious, the same as situation in the Mississippi River reaching historic lows. The place was beautiful for many tourists visiting Utah. It is one of the best spots because of its biodiversity and cultural background. According to Utah.com, the Great Salt Lake is considered the largest between the Pacific Ocean and Great Lakes. The article also added that the lake is said to be the most-asked place in Utah, knowing that bird watching is a good activity in the area. Being abundant in biodiversity and surface area, the Great Salt Lake is considered a home for a vibrant ecosystem and migrating birds. In the Live Science previous report, the Great Salt Lake provided a place for about 7.5 million bird visitors in the lake. The rich habitat and wetlands make it more attractive to various birds. Megadrought However, the Great Salt Lake has suffered from a pressing concern of water loss. Live Science reported that the lake lost about 40% of water in 2011 due to drought and human-caused pollution. The water decline to extreme drought showed in NASA satellites how the Great Salt Lake reached a saddening historical low. The report also explained that the exceptional drought cycle contributed to the decline. Snowpack and rain could be helpful to recover the water loss, but it has become less in the area. On the other hand, a recent report in Newsweek showed that the megadrought and warming of temperatures in the southwestern portions added to the problem. Newsweek said that the satellite records from NASA Earth Observatory in 1985 and 2022 revealed that the lake's declining water is noticeably smaller than before. Also Read: Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to Unload in Western U.S.; Major Travel Disruptions Expected from Washington to California The megadrought and water loss could impact migrating birds and biodiversity. According to the report, Professor Wayne Wurtsbaugh explained that historically low water revealed the lake bed. Toxic dust storms could emerge-noting that the lake lost about 9.2 feet in the last ten years. Wurtsbaugh is also an emeritus professor at Utah State University. Agricultural water and migratory birds In addition, the Great Salt Lake is an important place for agricultural water and other uses. The increasing water demand could be associated with the growing population. Animals and humans are heavily affected by the water loss in the Great Salt Lake, which would be costly to the economy and animal biodiversity. The ecosystem in the lake would be impacted, including the millions of migratory birds visiting the lake. On the other hand, last year's weather conditions would be helpful for the lake. The snowpack and rainfall would provide a short-term to the drought in the lake. Related Article: U.S Midwest Farmers Worry About Drought that Could Threaten Major Crops' Harvest For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. The public has been outraged by pollution in rivers and waterways in the last year. People are increasingly taking pollution monitoring into their own hands, according to the environmental organization Earthwatch. John Pratt liked to fish on the Evenlode, a river that runs through the Cotswold Hills. He now takes a chemistry set. The river has been a part of his life as a resident for the past 33 years. Citizen scientists join the fight to clean up rivers So when the beautiful waters resembled soup one summer, Pratt was resolved to take action. Some people may participate in a demonstration or post photographs of filthy rivers on social media, but John became a citizen scientist. He is one of the thousands throughout the country who are hopeful that their data will aid in the endeavor to clean up waterways. Thousands of people have protested sewage leaks in rivers and on beaches from Essex to Edinburgh this year. At the same time, there has been a surge of citizen scientists focusing on the health of the nation's rivers. The public has a long history of participating in scientific studies in the United Kingdom, including counting the number of plants, birds, and insects. However, as more people spend time on the water, paddleboarding, or wild swimming, there is a rising interest in raising awareness about pollution, from trash to chemicals. According to Earthwatch, which teaches citizen scientists, the number of community organizations monitoring chemical pollution has more than quadrupled in the last year. And citizen scientists are now taking more samples on this section of the Evenlode than anyone else. Volunteers like John Pratt are trained by Earthwatch to test for nitrates and phosphates, which are substances present in fertilizer, sewage, and farm slurry. These are normally present in modest amounts, but in large concentrations, they may generate massive algal blooms and kill fish and animals. The data collected by John on the Evenlode assists scientists and regulators with getting a better understanding of how pollution levels fluctuate over time. "I'm simply one of many citizen scientists worried about the river's health," John says, gazing out over a region of remarkable natural beauty in Charlbury. The Evenlode meanders through several communities before joining the Thames. Hilaire Belloc, an early twentieth-century poet, spoke about the "beautiful" Evenlode and how it connected his heart to English soil. Nonetheless, the river is polluted now, producing weed growth, falling fish and bug populations, and cloudiness for most of the year. It is not by itself. According to a study by MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee, England's rivers are "in a state of disarray," poisoned by "a toxic cocktail" of sewage, agricultural waste, and pollution. The biggest issue for the Evenlode, like with many rural rivers, is pollution from sewage and agricultural waste, according to Dr. Izzy Bishop, an ecology lecturer at UCL in London. The "great rise" in people gathering data through citizen science is also helping to keep river pollution on the political agenda. "One of the major factors for moving this up the political agenda is the visibility and transparency of data that is being collected by the public," she adds. Read more: New Study Shows River Pollution Are Caused by Mixture of Chemical Cocktail Things You Can Do To Reduce Water Pollution Do not throw cooking fat or any other sort of fat, oil, or grease down the drain. Keep a "fat jar" beneath the sink to collect fat and dispose of it in the garbage when it is full, as per The Simsbury Connecticut. Do not flush tablets, liquid or powder pharmaceuticals, or narcotics. For advice on how to properly dispose of various sorts of medical waste. Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket. The majority of tissues, wrappers, dust cloths and other paper products should be disposed of in a wastebasket. Popular fiber-reinforced cleaning products should never be thrown away in the toilet. Use waste disposal sparingly. Solid waste should be kept solid. Compost food leftovers in a mound. Install a water-saving toilet. Meanwhile, place a brick or a 1/2 gallon container in the normal toilet tank to limit the amount of water used every flush. Only use the dishwasher or clothes washer when there is a full load. This saves both power and water. When washing clothes or dishes, use the least quantity of detergent and/or bleach possible. Only phosphate-free soaps and detergents should be used. Reduce your usage of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. DO NOT DUMP these chemicals, motor oil, or other automotive fluids into sanitary or storm sewage systems. They both lead to the river. Related article: Water Pollution: Orange Peels Can Suck Up Mercury, New Study Shows Evolutionary biologists have long held the view that most new species arise as a result of adaptation to various environments. However, a recent study from the University of Toronto suggests otherwise. The research, which was reported in the journal Science, fills in a knowledge gap that scientists have dubbed a "blind spot" in our comprehension of how and why new species emerge. Most species evolve by adaptation Sean Anderson, who co-authored the paper with Professor Jason Weir while pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto Scarborough, says that "we found species are actually consistently adapting to similar environmental pressures." Although they're not adapting in drastically different environments, they are going through classic Darwinian evolution. Although it's generally accepted that populations need to be physically separated in order to start evolving into new species, scientists say it's unclear what happens during that isolation. Ecological speciation has been the prevailing theory for many years. According to this theory, groups evolve as a result of migration to new environments and encountering pressures that the rest of their species do not, such as predators or new food sources. The natural selection that results in the emergence of a new species is then called divergent adaptation. One illustration is Darwin's finches, which evolved beaks that were better suited for seeds than they were for insects. However, it is also common to see species that have developed to the point where they are no longer able to breed with their closest relatives but still exhibit the majority of the same characteristics. This led scientists to suspect that, despite being geographically remote, the environments in which evolution occurred may not have been as distinct. Parallel adaptation is a well-known but less popular explanation. The researchers used the biggest and most comprehensive collection of sister pairs, or closely related species, of divergent traits, ever put together. Additionally, they developed a statistical model that can now be used to calculate whether a species evolved through parallel or divergent adaptation. Nearly 3,000 sister pairs of birds, mammals, and amphibians revealed that most of their species underwent comparable intense environmental pressures during their evolution. According to Anderson, who is currently completing post-doctoral research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "We found this really consistent signature where parallel adaptation seems to be what dominates and it doesn't matter what traits you look at, it's the same in just about every group of species pairs you've got." We were taken aback by how reliable this signature was. According to Anderson, species may occasionally be evolving similar traits while going through genetic changes. They might evolve into a different species as a result. The findings may have wide-ranging effects because biologists can infer information about biodiversity from theories about how species evolve. Building biodiversity necessitates diverse habitats with various resources and difficulties since the majority of species evolve through divergent adaptation. Biodiversity, however, is dependent on both time and geographic distance if parallel adaptation is taking place. Read more: Bering Land Bridge Connecting Asia and North America Did Not Develop Until Roughly 35,700 Years Ago How are living things adapted to their environments Living things adjust to their surroundings. This indicates that they are adapted to survive and reproduce in their habitats due to the way they appear, behave, are built, or live, as per American GeoSciences Institue. For instance, giraffes have extremely long necks that enable them to consume tall vegetation that is out of reach for other animals. Cats have eyes that resemble slits. The cat's eyes can thus adapt to both bright light when the slits are narrow and to very dim light when the slits are wide open. A crucial adaptation is behavior. Animals pass along a variety of adaptive behaviors. Meerkats, a small species that inhabits southern Africa and resides in sizable colonies. The meerkats alternately stand on their hind legs and scan the sky for raptors. The remaining meerkats in the colony go about their daily lives in the meantime. There are probably a lot more physical or behavioral traits that animals have that make their lives easier. A crucial adaptation is behavior. Animals pass along a variety of adaptive behaviors. Meerkats, a small species that inhabits southern Africa and resides in sizable colonies. The meerkats alternately stand on their hind legs and scan the sky for raptors. The remaining meerkats in the colony go about their daily lives in the meantime. There are probably a lot more physical or behavioral traits that animals have that make their lives easier. In biology, a species' overall place in its environment is referred to as its ecological niche. There are many niches in most environments. A new species is likely to evolve to occupy a niche if it is "empty" (i.e., not occupied by any organisms). Natural selection is the process that results in this. Natural selection causes a species' nature to gradually change so that it can fit into the niche. A species can persist for a very long time before going extinct if it becomes extremely well adapted to its environment and if the environment does not change. Related article: Climate Change Adaptation: Setting New Rules to End 'Throwaway Culture' The largest wolf slaughter in recent history has begun in Sweden, with environmentalists warning that it may severely affect the population. On Monday, The Guardian joined 200 hunters as they hunted wolves in the frost-covered woodlands between Gavleborg and Dalarna, from midnight until 3 p.m. Throughout the month, groups will be sent around Sweden to hunt the enormous predators. On Monday, the hunters encircled places where they suspected wolves were hiding. They released dogs, whose mission it was to find the wolves and then drive them down a trail to the waiting hunters, but they were unsuccessful, and the hunters returned home empty-handed. The biggest wolf cull in Sweden Wildlife activists in Sweden and elsewhere denounced the commencement of what is being termed the world's largest wolf cull on Monday, claiming that killing over a fifth of the country's critically endangered lupine species might have serious effects on biodiversity, as per Common Dreams. Last winter, Sweden sanctioned the slaughter of 27 wolves, while hunters in neighboring Norway were granted permission to slaughter 51 wolves-roughly 60% of the lupine population-and Finland approved the slaughter of 27 wolves. While Gunnar Gloersen, the Swedish Hunters' Association's predator manager, believes that "hunting is definitely required to curb the spread of wolves," Daniel Ekblom of Sweden's Nature Conservation Society termed the slaughter "tragic." Other opponents of the cull emphasized Sweden's tiny wolf population. Italy, for example, is just around half the size of Sweden but contains roughly 3,000 wolves that are legally protected. "Wolves as top predators in the food chain are a necessity for biodiversity," Marie Stegard, head of the anti-hunting group Jaktkritikerna, warned, warning that killing such a large proportion of the population through hunting has severe effects on animals and the environment. Hunting is a contentious political issue in Sweden, with a large lobby able to persuade lawmakers to allow more animals to be slaughtered. "It is evident that there is a considerable political demand for regulated hunting for wolves, as well as lynx and bear," Stegard remarked. Read more: The Fox and the Wolf: an Unlikely Duo Swedish government aims to cull the wolf population Last May 2022, Sweden's government stated that it intends to conduct a massive wolf cull, perhaps decreasing the present population of approximately 400 animals by half in a move that may violate EU rules. The organization previously projected that wolf numbers in Sweden should not go below 300, with fresh arrivals from outside the nation occurring on a regular basis, if the population was to stay sustainable and not be harmed by inbreeding. Wolf populations in Sweden declined after a 1789 ordinance permitting commoners to hunt destroyed deer and moose herds, forcing wolves to feed on cattle. By the mid-1800s, they had gone from the south and were thought to be extinct a century later. However, in the 1980s, three wolves from the Russian-Finnish population relocated to southern Sweden, establishing a new Swedish-Norwegian population today estimated at around 480 animals in 40-odd packs, the great majority of which are in central Sweden. Conservationists contend that a population of 300 is the very bare minimum and that Sweden's ecosystem could easily sustain a population of 1,000. They accuse the government of caving down to the country's formidable hunting lobby, which claims wolves feed on moose and endanger hunters' dogs. Related article: New System Can Identify Individual Wolf Howls with 100 Percent Accuracy Due to the threats to endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins in Cambodia, authorities said they would provide conservation zones, protecting and saving the dolphins. Law enforcement would help the conservation and protection of the Irrawaddy Dolphins from potential threats, including illegal fishing. Recently, many raised concerns over the deaths of healthy Irrawaddy Dolphins in Cambodia due to fishing net entanglement. The declining population could lead to extinction without urgent policies and actions. Declining population Recently, the Associated Press and a report from Nature World News explained that the Irrawaddy Dolphins were in an alarming situation due to recently reported deaths. They can be found in Cambodia's freshwater, including Mekong, Borneo and Myanmar. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the said dolphins are endangered because of the declining population. The report said there were 89 Irrawaddy dolphins in 2020, with 29 deaths recorded over the past three years. The steady decline is a serious concern that could affect the said dolphin population. The protection and urgent conservation of endangered species are essential to save them from more threats and extinction. Meanwhile, the alarming deaths of dolphins were due to entanglement, illegal fishing and habitat loss. The said challenges could put endangered dolphins at risk. Conservation zones According to a recent report, Cambodia's premier, Hun Sen, said conservation zones in the Mekong River would protect the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. The Cambodia official urged to protect dolphins completely, which has helped communities in the area with tourism. Also Read: Their species can be found in Cambodia's freshwater, including Mekong, Borneo and Myanmar A floating marker will be placed in the conservation and protected zone, where fishing will be banned. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) explained that dolphin tourism in the Lao and Khmer helped communities for jobs. All about Irrawaddy dolphins The critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) thrive in rivers, lakes, coasts or estuaries and can be seen in South and Southeast Asia. According to the WWF, the Irrawaddy dolphins could weigh up to 440 pounds. Meanwhile, IUCN explained that the Irrawaddy dolphin population suffers from habitat loss and degradation due to the construction of dams. As mentioned, Gillnetting has been banned in Cambodia, which patrol guards confiscate. IUCN also added that river guard programs protected the Mekong River from illegal fishing. The report explained that the guard's priority is to confiscate fishing gillnets. The report said that the guards in the river managed to remove about 99,125 meters of illegal gillnet from 2015 to 2020. In the same years, the river guards 48 apprehended people who used unlawful fishing gear. With low population growth, the population of the said dolphins is closely monitored due to few people. The conservation cooperation of communities and the government has been vital to protecting Irrawaddy dolphins. Urgent policies and law enforcement have helped prevent the use of illegal fishing in the conserved areas. 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 report warned that a storm could become a bomb cyclone, unloading heavy rain, strong winds, mudslides and flooding in portions of California. The forecast added that potential power outages and significant travel delays could be expected. People in the affected areas should keep updated with weather forecasts and developments as the storm could result in life-threatening flooding rainfall, and strong winds. Recently, the weather forecast warned that the atmospheric river could unload moisture-packed storms in portions of California. The start of the year would be challenging as the storm could unleash severe weather conditions this week starting Wednesday and Thursday, January 4 and January 5. Recently, CNN News reported that flooding rainfall unloaded in California that could continue until this week. Heavy rain and flooding Meanwhile, AccuWeather's latest forecast this January 4, showed that the storm on the California coast could bring mudslides, flooding rainfall, power outages and avalanche risk. The forecast showed that the storm could unload starting Wednesday until Thursday, affecting portions of Medford, Redding, San Francisco, Reno, Los Angeles and Bakersfield. On the same day, strong winds could unleash that could cause downed trees and power lines. Residents in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco could expect heavy rain. Potential flash floods and mudslides could occur. Due to persistent rain, the forecast emphasized that the rain with atmospheric rivers could result in serious flooding in Northern and Central California. With the storm rapidly intensifying, the forecast explained that heavy rain could, with strong winds persist this week, causing potential mudslides. AccuWeather forecasted emphasized that the stormy weather could cause widespread flooding and heavy snowfall. Although the rain could benefit drought-stricken areas, flooding concerns could still emerge. Due to the threat of the storm, the report said that officials announced evacuation advisories: in San Mateo County and Watsonville. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) said heavy rain could result in road closures, collapses and debris. Motorists driving at night should drive cautiously due to wet roads. The advisory said residents should remain alert for potential floods or when they live in flood-prone areas. Also Read: Utah's Great Salt Lake Reaches at Historic Low Level Due to Megadrought; Agricultural Water Supply in Surrounding Communities Could Suffer Motorists should observe the current weather and forecasts before departing. Significant delays and slowed commutes are expected due to potential flooding. Road closures could also occur. Weather safety and preparations Being prepared during a storm unloading flooding rainfall is important. The forecast said the storm was rapidly strengthening and could become a bomb cyclone. Stay alert with weather advisories. Keep updated with weather alerts from your local weather stations or officials. Monitor the storm's development, especially if your area could be hit. It is important to evacuate when your area is flood-prone or when instructed by the local authorities. Keep your emergency supplies and kits A handy emergency bag would be the best during a storm. You could bring it inside your car when traveling or evacuating. The emergency bag should include the following emergency kits: Medicine kit Flashlight and a battery-powered radio Food supply with bottled water Power bank Raincoat and blankets Related Article: Heavy Snow to Unfold in Upper Midwest and Northern Plains in First Week of January; Motorists to Expect Slowed Travel For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. As damaging thunderstorms move eastward across the south US on Wednesday, severe weather and flash flooding are still possible, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. A big, powerful storm system is responsible for the threat of severe weather, and it will move from the Rockies through the Upper Midwest and into central Canada by midweek. Through the middle of the week, a large region of unseasonably warm weather will be concentrated mainly east of the Mississippi River, contributing to the risk of severe weather and flash floods. This scenario will continue through Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Strong wind gusts and flash flooding will be the main dangers from the storms, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Andrew Johnson-Levine. Tornadoes can, however, form in a small number of the strongest thunderstorms. Tornadoes On Monday, there were three tornadoes reported, one of which was close to Jessieville, Arkansas, and it damaged at least 14 homes, numerous commercial buildings, and a number of the buildings at a nearby school district, including a high school. The superintendent of the school district reported two minor injuries as a result of trees and powerlines falling while classes were in session, per the Garland County Sheriff's Office. There were no missing staff members or students. After the storm, it was reported that most of Jessieville were without electricity. A tornado that occurred on Monday night in Montrose, Arkansas, reportedly caused structural damage and trapped people inside homes. @NWSJacksonMS getting reports several people in Montrose Arkansas are trapped inside their homes around 2nd & 3rd street #arwx #arnews South Arkansas Weather (@searkweather) January 3, 2023 Prolonged Heavy Rain, Flash Floods Aside from tornadoes, there were other dangers associated with these storms. Long periods of heavy rain caused flash floods and river flooding in some areas, poor visibility, and several accidents on the region's highways. Flash flood advisories and warnings were in place from central Kentucky to southwestern Pennsylvania as of early Tuesday afternoon. A portion of Interstate 55 in Memphis, Tennessee, was shut down because of flooding on Tuesday morning. 4.51 inches of rain fell on Memphis in less than 24 hours. From central Georgia to southeast Louisiana, both flood and tornado watches were in effect. In Arkansas, Flash Flood Warnings are still in effect and in some areas, they will remain to be in effect indefinitely. The earliest expiry will be on January 5 for Clay and Greene Counties, the National Weather Service reported. In addition to the flood, Clay County, Arkansas will have a gradually increasing chance of rain into the weekend, according to The Weather Channel. Rain-Wrapped Tornado Tornadoes may occasionally become engulfed in rain. A tornado may also be hidden by hilly, forested terrain until it is just seconds away from making landfall on a person's property. In other situations, a tornado could happen at night. If a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for a particular location, AccuWeather forecasters advise all locals in the storm's projected path to seek shelter right away. Read also: Damaging Storms Could Unload in Southern United States This Week; Houston and Dallas at Risk of Isolated Tornadoes Thunderstorms Storms moving eastward will coalesce into a line of torrential rain, brisk winds, and frequent lightning. As a result of the storms' linear structure, tornadoes will be less common and pose mainly a threat from straight-line winds, though some cannot be ruled out. On Wednesday, there will be a continued risk of severe weather farther to the east. In the afternoon and evening, there will be a chance of severe thunderstorms as far north as southeastern Virginia and the northern part of the Florida Peninsula. Compared to Monday and Tuesday, the overall density of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday is probably going to be lower, Johnson-Levine said. There may only be a few downpours in many places, along with a few gusty winds and thunderclaps. On Wednesday, a severe thunderstorm could still hit a small number of towns. These storms have the potential to produce a few tornadoes, flash flooding, and strong wind gusts, AccuWeather reported. Related article: Heavy Rain to Continue in Portions of California This Week; Flooding and Mountain Snow Possible, Forecast Warns 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. Are the forces behind todays teacher shortages the same as always? Or is something new happening in the wake of the pandemic? To understand this issue, the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative surveyed 3,478 current and former educators in Illinois. In advocating for wife Carol Ammons to be chosen to fill the late Scott Bennett's state Senate seat, Aaron Ammons wrote: "History and the community is watching to see if the self-proclaimed progressive whites will demonstrate a true commitment to ending racism and sexism and simply DO THE RIGHT THING, or they will cave to the racism and sexism they claim to despise?" In a recent study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers analyzed and compared pre and postCOVID-19 diagnostic codes to identify symptoms that had higher encounter incidence in the postCOVID-19 period as sequelae. COVID-19 sequelae and future emerging diseases can be generated and monitored using this method. Study: Longitudinal Analysis of Electronic Health Information to Identify Possible COVID-19 Sequelae. Image Credit: p.ill.i / Shutterstock SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019, which may result in several post-infection health conditions, including a broad spectrum of long-lasting sequelae. Previous studies have described symptoms experienced in the post-acute phase of COVID-19, including chest pains, malaise, fatigue, and conditions such as kidney failure, cardiomyopathy, venous thromboembolism, and lung diseases. Clinical experiences have been documented to identify probable sequelae of emerging diseases; however, the approach may miss rare sequelae or those in which an increase in parameters is not very obvious. Large electronic medical record databases could help detect early warning signs, especially if the events leading to probable sequelae are dispersed over time. About the study The study aimed to identify possible COVID-19 sequelae in a nationwide database of healthcare encounters in the United States (US) by comparing pre-COVID-19 diagnosis codes with post-acute COVID-19 diagnosis codes. The PHD-SR (premier healthcare database, special coronavirus disease 2019 release) database released on February 4, 2021, was used for the analysis. In addition, variables for the type of healthcare encounter (outpatient, inpatient, outpatient, and emergency encounters) and variables for the sequence of encounter dates were analyzed. The encounter date variables included hospitalization date, duration of hospitalization, duration between healthcare encounters, the month of hospital discharge), and ICD-10-CM (international classification of diseases, 10th revision, clinical modification) codes at discharge. Individuals with an initial outpatient or inpatient encounter due to COVID-19 (i.e., ICD-10-CM codes for discharge after COVID-19-associated hospitalization), who received hospital discharge between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, were analyzed. Pregnant women were excluded from the analysis. The index date of COVID-19 considered was the date of the initial healthcare encounter. Healthcare encounters in the pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection period comprised encounters a year prior to an individual's initial healthcare encounter due to COVID-19. Healthcare encounters in the post-SARS-CoV-2 infection period comprised the initial healthcare encounter due to COVID-19 and the subsequent health encounters. RR (relative rate) of post-SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnoses to pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnoses were calculated in the period after acute COVID-19, stratified as 60 days to 89 days, 90 days to 119 days, and 120 days to 149 days, wherein day 0 represented the index date. Diagnoses with significantly higher rates of healthcare encounters > 60.0 days post the index date from the pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection period was defined as probable post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection sequelae. Results A total of 385,067 eligible individuals were considered for the analysis, most (59%) of whom were women with a median age of 54. The median values for healthcare encounters per COVID-19 patient were two pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection encounters and one post-SARS-CoV-2 infection encounter. Most (87%) of the encounters were in outpatient settings, and the median duration of hospitalization for encounters in inpatient settings was 4.0 days. Healthcare encounters associated with parasitic and infectious disease sequelae were greater after 149.0 days of the index COVID-19 dates (RR 12 for 120 days to 149 days). In addition, many months after the post-acute COVID-19 period, physicians encountered more cases of headache, fatigue, pneumonia, and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). Sequelae of intensive care unit treatment were identified, including myopathy (RR of 5.0 at 60 days to 89 days), polyneuropathy (RR of 9.1 in the 90-day to 119-day period), pressure-type ulcers (third and fourth stage, RR of 1.6 to 1.7 at 60 days to 89 days) and non-scarring loss of hair (RR of 2.3 to 3.5 at several intervals after 60 days). Codes for sepsis and cardiomyopathy (RR of 9.8 in the 60-day to 89-day period) were increased only in the initial 90 days post-index date. The rates for non-follicular diffuse lymphoma were elevated at 60 days to 119 days (RR of 273 to 411), but most healthcare encounters had been reported for a single COVID-19 patient. The healthcare encounters for third-stage chronic renal disease [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values of 30 to 59 mL/min/1.7 m2] with RR of 2.5 to 6.4 after two months and for elevated hepatic aminotransferase values (RR of 4.8 to 6.5 after 60.0 days) were increased for many months post-index date through the 120-day to 149-day period post-acute COVID-19. Infective myocarditis encounters (RR of 13) were more significant in the 90-day to 119-day period. The probable respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, and renal COVID-19 sequelae identified in the present study were concordant with previously published studies' findings. In the post-SARS-CoV-2 infection period, there were more cases of third-stage renal disease than in the pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection period. Overall, the study findings showed a hypothesis-generating approach that could aid in identifying the initial signals of probable sequelae of novel emerging diseases and inform studies for identifying, characterizing, and refining probable sequelae for COVID-19 and other diseases. The study findings were consistent with the results of other studies that used different methods for identifying probable COVID-19 sequelae, such as directly surveying individuals with or without previous COVID-19 test results. Due to its increasing prevalence and psychological and physical effects in recent decades, food allergy (FA) has become a chronic condition in the United States (US). Recent research highlights that about 10.8% of adults and 7.6% of children in the US are affected by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated FA. When cases are limited to those diagnosed by a physician and those confirmed by allergy testing, the rates drop to 5.1% of adults and 4.7% of children. Contrary to this, 11.4% of children were indicated to have parent-reported FA, while 19% of adults were indicated to be allergic to at least one food. Living with FA not only adversely affects physical health but also causes emotional distress, leads to economic burden, and negatively affects the quality of life, even for individuals who avoid exposure to triggering foods. Previous studies have also indicated that the prevalence of FA is higher among patients who have allergies to multiple foods. Patients with multi-FA have been observed to show higher rates of adverse clinical outcomes, which include the risk of anaphylaxis, the severity of food-related adverse reactions, and increased prevalence of other atopic diseases. Although several studies have estimated the prevalence of multi-FA in the United States, little is known about the multi-FA phenotypes and their prevalence. Understanding multi-FA can help in their prevention and treatment and help clinicians guide patients regarding disease prognosis. A new study in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology aimed to characterize the characteristics, prevalence, determinants, distribution, and psychosocial burden of multi-FA among adults and children in the US. Study: The Epidemiology of Multi-food Allergy in the United StatesA population-based study. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock About the study The study involved the administration of a national cross-sectional FA questionnaire via telephone and web from 1st October 2015 to 31st September 2016. It was based on the probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel. Thereafter, the prevalence of IgE-mediated allergy to multiple foods was measured among adults and children in the US. The FAs were considered to be convincingly IgE-mediated (convincing) if the reaction to the food led to at least one symptom, which matched with the symptom list developed by the expert panel. The food allergy independent measure (FAIM)-Adult Form and the FAIMParent-Form was used to understand the psychological burden of living with FA for adults and children, respectively. A 1-to-7-point scale was used for this assessment, where greater scores indicated a more significant psychological burden. Finally, latent class analyses (LCA) were carried out using nine indicators of FA prevalence to determine latent classes of multi-FA risk within the study population. Study findings The results indicated that a total of 40,443 adults and 38,408 children completed the survey. Among the 11.8% of children who reported one or more current FAs, 45% reported multiple FAs. Among the 7.6% of children who met the criteria for convincingly IgE-mediated FA, 40% reported multiple current convincingly IgE-mediated FAs. Among the 4.7% of children who reported one or more physician-diagnosed current FAs and met the convincingly IgE-mediated FA, 38% reported multiple physician-confirmed FAs. Moreover, 4.6% of children reported a single convincing FA, 1.8% reported 2-3 convincing FAs, and 1.2% reported more than three convincing FAs. For adults, among the 19.0% of individuals who reported one or more current FAs, 48% reported multiple FAs. Among the 10.8% of adults who met the convincingly IgE-mediated FA criteria, 46% reported multiple current convincingly IgE-mediated FAs. Among the 5.1% who met one or more physician-diagnosed current FAs along with the convincingly IgE-mediated FA criteria, 42% reported multiple physician-confirmed FAs. Moreover, 5.9% of adults reported a single convincing FA, 3.1% reported 2-3 convincing FAs, and 1.7% reported more than three convincing FAs. The results also reported that 33% of children with convincing FAs below 3 years of age reported multiple FAs, while 40% above 3 years of age reported multiple FAs. 48% of adults between 18 to 49 years with convincing FAs reported multiple FAs, which decreased to 44.5% for those between 50 to 59 years, 41.2% for those between 60 and 69 years, and 37.5% for those who were 70 years and above. Additionally, non-Hispanic White adults and children were reported to be less likely to have multiple food allergies than non-Hispanic Black adults and children. An increase in atopic comorbidities was also observed with an increase in current convincing FAs. The number of current convincing FAs was also associated with an increase in FA-related emergency department (ED) visits, severe FA reaction, psychosocial burden, and use of epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) for treatment. Results of the latent class analysis indicated class 1 to comprise a subgroup with higher probabilities of allergies to each of the 9 FA, class 2 to comprise a subgroup with high probabilities of peanut and tree nut allergies, class 3 to comprise a subgroup with high probabilities to fin fish and shellfish allergies, and class 4 to comprise a subgroup with high probabilities to milk allergy and lesser degree egg allergy. Children with doctor-diagnosed asthma and eczema were observed to belong to classes 1 and 2. Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic Black children were observed to belong to class 3. Adults with allergic rhinitis were observed to primarily belong to class 2. Moreover, children born in the US were less likely to belong to a broad multi-FA class than non-native US-born children. Also, the psychosocial burden was observed to be most significant for adults and children who belonged to the broad multi-FA class, followed by those who belonged to class 2. Therefore, the current study demonstrates that multi-FA prevalence is high among children and adults, and four major phenotypes of multi-FA occur in them. Further research is required to develop targeted therapies that will reduce the physical and psychological impacts of the disease. Limitations The study has certain limitations. First, misinterpretation or misdiagnosis of patients with non-food allergies that got resolved by the time the study took place. Second, the study was unable to confirm the clinically confirmed reported allergy cases. Anyone who enjoys taking walks through the woods or grassy fields when the weather is warm knows that checking for ticks afterward is a must. Ticks can spread numerous diseases to humans as well as to our pets, and some of these diseases can be life-threatening. However, getting a tick-borne disease tested and confirmed by physicians can often be tricky. This is a something you hear all the time if you work with tick borne diseases, or TBDs. We often hear from people that had Lyme disease talk about how hard it was to get doctors to understand, to listen, to diagnose them. This got us thinking, what do doctors in Illinois actually know about tick borne diseases?" Rebecca Smith (IGOH), Professor of Epidemiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Smith explored this question through a recently published study with two goals in mind: the first was to find out how much doctors knew about ticks and TBDs, and the second was to use the data from the study to design a training program to better educate doctors on tick and associated diseases. There are currently 4 species of vector ticks that inhabit Illinois, with their ranges encroaching into the state over time. Blacklegged ticks can carry Lyme disease, the most common TBD which causes headaches, fever, and rashes. Other TBDs in Illinois include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which is carried by dog ticks and can be fatal if untreated, and ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, all of which have increased tenfold in incidence in the last twenty years. Lone star ticks have also gained the spotlight in recent years due to their increasing range and ability to trigger Alpha-Gal syndrome, which induces allergic reactions to red meat. To examine how much medical professionals knew about ticks and TBDs, the team designed web-based surveys that utilizes the KAP model, which assesses the participants' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in this regard. Questions were designed in collaboration with the Illinois-Tick Inventory Collaboration network, which includes researchers in the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, and the Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute. The survey included questions about types of diseases, the ticks that can carry those diseases, symptoms, treatment, feelings of risk, preventative practices, training, and more. These surveys were then passed around to local hospital associations including Carle, the State Medical Association, public health groups, and local public health departments throughout the state, resulting in 346 participants. "We're really grateful for everybody who stepped up, especially all of the physician, medical, and public health groups that encouraged people to take the survey," Smith said. "We could not do what we're doing without the participation of all of these medical professionals." The researchers found that while physicians were relatively knowledgeable about diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, they did not know much about other diseases. Practitioners were least knowledgeable about Alpha-Gal syndrome, which Smith says is concerning given how abundant Lonestar ticks have become in Southern Illinois. The researchers found only one factor that influenced how knowledgeable participants were about TBDs, and that was how recently they had completed training on the topic, if ever at all. Many practitioners had not had any training on ticks except for medical school, meaning the information they received was likely not comprehensive and now out of date. "We are on the leading edge of range expansion for three of the four vector ticks that live in the state," said Smith. "With all of those ticks expanding their range, it might be that physicians haven't heard about the diseases that they carry because it just wasn't an issue when they graduated from medical school or when they started practicing in the area." In response to the troubling findings, Smith's team is designing a continuing education course that will inform practitioners on current ranges of ticks and risk of disease, as well as practices they can implement into their care to increase prevention of TBDs. A similar course is already offered for veterinarians, and has found to be effective towards diagnosis and treatment of TBDs in pets. The course is created in partnership with Carle, and set to open in February 2023. "We want to get the training out there so physicians can get people to a diagnosis faster," explained Smith. "Once it's out we will start fine-tuning how often practitioners will need to take it so they can have updated information as things progress." Smith hopes that this educational course will prompt more tick training programs to be made for other areas of the country, where seasonality and habitat can result in completely different tick species and TBDs to watch out for. With the introduction of this training, doctors and practitioners in Illinois can be better prepared to handle the increase in incidence of TBDs. Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. Owing to environmental and lifestyle changes in modern society, physical and mental stress is on the rise among the population in attempting to compensate for the changes. Stress, defined as a series of non-specific responses to abnormal internal and external stimuli, has long been recognized to increase susceptibility to various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a neurotropic herpes virus, establishes latent infections in the trigeminal ganglia for the lifetime of the host. Upon reactivation, the latent HSV-1 enters the lytic cycle, which not only causes a substantial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the neurons, but also induces glial cells to produce inflammatory mediators, eventually resulting in neuronal damage and occurrence of NDs. Remarkably, both physical and psychological stress are common stimuli leading to latent HSV-1 reactivation. Acyclovir is a classic antiviral drug for the treatment of HSV-1 infection and recurrence, but acyclovir cannot reverse neuronal damage caused by HSV-1 reactivation. Recent studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has advantages in the treatment of NDs. In addition, TCM is thought to prevent latent HSV-1 reactivation and NDs, which may involve regulation of the neuro-endocrine-immune network, treatment of emotional disorders, and modulation of oxidative stress. Understanding the mechanism underlying stress-induced reactivation of latent HSV-1 and the potential consequences of NDs is needed. TCM may be a promising alternative therapy for related diseases. If having the family on your employer-sponsored health plan has been a financial hardship, or outright impossible to afford, help may be on the way. The federal government recently fixed a controversial Treasury Department rule tied to the Affordable Care Act that denied assistance to many families whose workplace coverage busted their budgets. Because of the so-called family glitch, if a worker had access to employee-only coverage deemed affordable under federal guidelines, a spouse or dependents could not get help to buy a health plan through Covered California, the state's ACA insurance marketplace, even if it was not affordable to put them on the employer plan. This affected an estimated 5.1 million people nationally, more than half of them children, since employers often contribute only to an employee's premium, leaving workers to pay full fare for other family members. Under a new rule that took effect Dec. 12, if the cost of having you and your family on a workplace plan exceeds an affordability threshold set at 9.12% of household income for 2023 your spouse and dependents could qualify for financial aid to purchase insurance through Covered California. Affordability will be determined by how much you would have to pay to have them and you on your employer's cheapest health plan. ACA insurance subsidies come in the form of federal tax credits that can be taken upfront or settled with the IRS when you file your taxes the following year. Estimates from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the UC Berkeley Labor Center show that 391,000 Californians previously excluded from subsidies in Covered California would be eligible for them under the new rule. Of those, an estimated 149,000 would likely enroll in a Covered California plan. Those switching from an employer-sponsored plan would save an average of $1,478 per person this year, according to the two centers. "Fixing the family glitch is a critical step in really delivering on the promise of the ACA," says Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. "If you don't have affordable coverage from another source, the marketplace is where you should be able to come for affordable coverage." So, if you are paying too much to cover your family members on your employer's health plan, it is definitely worth finding out whether you can get a tax credit to help pay their premiums on a Covered California plan. But finding the answer is complicated and will take considerable legwork. If you have steady employment, last year's income will probably be a good proxy for 2023, adding any pay raise you expect in the coming year. You'll also need to calculate how much you would pay for your employer's lowest-cost health plan both for employee-only coverage and for family coverage. If the cost for you alone is under the 9.12% threshold, you will not qualify for a subsidized Covered California plan, even if your spouse and dependents do. That means a family could be split between two policies, with separate deductibles and different provider networks. You also need to determine whether the lowest-cost plan offered by your employer meets the minimum coverage standard under the ACA. That means it must cover at least 60% of your total allowed medical expenses during the year and provide sufficient coverage for hospital and physician services. If it does not meet those requirements, you and your family might be able to get a subsidized plan through Covered California, depending on your income. If two spouses have access to employer coverage, you'll need to perform this exercise for both options. Is your head spinning yet? You're not alone. "This stuff is just really complicated," says Kevin Knauss, an insurance agent in Granite Bay. "And how can we possibly expect families that are doing all kinds of different things kids, Christmas to really focus on this stuff?" But don't ignore the new rule, because you could be leaving money on the table. Covered California has a worksheet to help calculate your eligibility for subsidies. Your human resources department might be willing to help you fill it out. Or you could seek professional help, whether an insurance agent or other certified enroller. You wouldn't need to pay a penny for either. To find an insurance agent or certified enroller, log on to Covered California's website (www.coveredca.com) and click on the "Support" tab. Or call 800-300-1506. Covered California has a very useful FAQ all about the fix to the family glitch. The enrollment period for 2023 coverage started on Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. If you buy coverage this month, it will start on Feb. 1. The family glitch fix isn't the only new thing with Covered California. Starting this year, you can put a dependent parent or stepparent on your health plan, as long as they are not eligible for or enrolled in Medicare. And, in case you missed it, Congress extended through 2025 the supplemental tax credits that increase aid to people who were already getting some before and are available to many middle-class households that did not previously qualify for financial assistance. The idea behind the expanded financial help is to limit the amount people spend on health care premiums to no more than 8.5% of household income, no matter how much money they make. Knauss said he talked to a man in Marin County who was seeking a Covered California health plan for his family of four and qualified for a monthly subsidy of $1,400, even though he makes $200,000 a year. Being over 60 and living in Northern California, an expensive region, pushed his family's premium to a level that opened the door for significant financial assistance, Knauss said. If you are already enrolled in Covered California, don't simply renew coverage for this year. Prices and provider networks can change from year to year, and there might be a new, cheaper option in your region. So shop around. And whether you are new or returning to Covered California, know what your medical needs are likely to be. If you have a condition that requires intensive services, you might consider paying a higher premium in exchange for lower deductibles and coinsurance when you seek care. Happy hunting. Jessica Altman is the daughter of Drew Altman, who is president and CEO of KFF. KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. A clinical research team from the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) leads the discovery of applying amniotic fluid cells obtained during 16-24 weeks of pregnancy as a novel sample type for RNA-sequencing in prenatal diagnosis to help more families with tailored clinical management. It is the first proof-of-concept study to demonstrate the potential clinical utility of amniotic fluid cells RNA-sequencing in the literature. The ground-breaking findings have been published in the leading academic journal, npj Genomic Medicine. Background Rare diseases are usually genetic in origin. Although individually rare, collectively rare diseases were found to be 1 in 67 in the Hong Kong population, based on the team's previous study. The identification of genetic cause in rare diseases can provide accurate counselling for better clinical management and future pregnancy planning, which is essential to support the patients. Current technologies for prenatal diagnosis are largely DNA-based, with a large proportion (60-70%) remains undiagnosed, leading to clinical uncertainty and parental anxiety. Recently, RNA-sequencing has been found to increase diagnostic yield by 10% to 36%, however, none of these studies focused on prenatal diagnosis. In addition, in spite of the availability of well-established large database cataloging the gene expression profile of different tissues for adult, similar publicly-available dataset for amniotic fluid cells reflecting the embryological and fetal stage is lacking. Further study and research on RNA-sequencing in prenatal setting is thus necessary. Research findings The research team demonstrated the potential clinical utility of amniotic fluid cells RNA-sequencing. A baseline for gene expression profile of amniotic fluid cells is established by performing RNA-sequencing on over 50 amniotic fluid samples. Establishment of gene expression profile is an essential step in applying RNA-sequencing to the current selected clinical diagnosis workflow. They found that the number of well-expressed genes in amniotic fluid cells was comparable to other clinically accessible tissues commonly used for genetic diagnosis across different disease categories. The research team also compared RNA-sequencing data of four affected fetuses with structural congenital anomalies with the established baseline to detect potential outliers. In collaboration with the Technical University of Munich in Germany, a bioinformatics pipeline was adapted to enhance the detection of outliers for subsequent analysis. Further in-depth curation showed that outliers can be identified in genes associated with the corresponding structural congenital anomalies in all four affected fetuses. Identifying the outliers provide more evidence at the RNA level to help diagnosis. Significance of the study The findings of this study have significant implications in solving undiagnosed rare diseases in Hong Kong. It is the first time that amniotic fluid cells RNA-sequencing is reported to provide potential clinical utility in prenatal diagnosis in literature. With the identification of the genetic cause, precision medicine such as tailored clinical management and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for families with family history is possible. This study was selected as the 'Reviewers' Choice Abstract' (top 10% of poster abstract) at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting 2022, one of the largest conferences of its kind, in which scientists from around the world are selected to present their cutting-edge research findings collaboratively. It is an honor for HKUMed poster to be selected and scored as the top 10% of poster abstracts in this prestigious international conference. RNA-sequencing has great potential in solving unexplained genetic disorders. We will continue to strengthen ties and collaborations with institutions in Hong Kong and abroad, contribute to international scientific research and bring benefits back to our local patients." Dr Brian Chung Hon-yin, Clinical Geneticist, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed Dr Anita Kan Sik-yau, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed cum Deputy Laboratory Director of the Prenatal Diagnostic Laboratory at Tsan Yuk Hospital added, 'On the memorable occasion of Tsan Yuk Hospital (TYH)'s 100th Anniversary, this study demonstrated TYH's exceptional service for Hong Kong over the past century, and continuous effort to contribute to all those in need, alongside innovative research.' About the research team This research was led by Dr Brian Chung Hon-yin, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed; Dr Anita Kan Sik-yau, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed. Mianne Lee, MPhil candidate, and Dr Anna Kwong Ka-yee, Assistant Research Officer, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed are the first authors. Other contributors included Dr Christopher Mak Chun-yu, Martin Chui Man-chun, Jeffrey Chau Fong-ting, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed; Dr Kelvin Chan Yuen-kwong, Dr Sandy Au Leung-kuen and Lo Hei-man, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed. International collaborators were Professor Julien Gagneur and Dr Vicente A Yepez from Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Occasional snow showers. High near 25F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 1F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The High Criminal Court of Appeal upheld a one-year prison sentence followed by deportation for a beggar who assaulted a policeman who was carrying out his duty as part of a security operation to eliminate vagrancy in Muharraq Governorate. A police patrol was dispatched to an area in Qalali, Muharraq, where there had been reports of beggars as part of a combined effort to arrest them. The policeman approached the defendant for arrest after seeing him standing in front of a mosque. The defendant made an attempt to flee when he sensed the approaching policeman. The victim managed to stop the defendant who tried to escape again by assaulting the policeman, but the latter managed to subdue him. A report of the assault was issued and the defendant was referred to prosecution. The defendant tried to flee again, but the victim was able to stop him. Despite being attacked, the police officer was able to subdue him. A report of the assault was issued and the defendant was referred to prosecution. He was charged with assaulting a member of security forces in September wherein the assault did not lead to the victims illness or inability to carry out duties for a period longer than 20 days. The Court of First Instance ruled that the defendant be imprisoned for a year and deported permanently from the country afterwards. The Court of Appeal upheld this ruling. OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 3, 2023 /CNW/ - "In accordance with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requirements, Environment and Climate Change Canada submitted Canada's Eighth National Communication and Fifth Biennial Report on December 31, 2022. This report was postponed for an extra year by the UNFCCC. "The report shows the real progress that Canada is making, thanks to our accelerated climate action in recent years, fighting climate change while also building a strong economy. Some fluctuations across years in projected emissions are to be expected, in addition to emissions reductions that are a result of the development of new climate actions. These fluctuations are the result of changes in historical emissions estimates, changes in estimation methodology, as well as to respond to new information including changing global context. Continuous improvement is a key principle underlying Canada's GHG modelling. (CNW Group/Environment and Climate Change Canada) "Since the last Biennial Report to the UNFCCC in December 2019, Canada has faced the public health and economic challenges resulting from COVID-19, as well as a global energy crisis resulting from Russia's unjustified and illegal invasion of Ukraine that has changed the emissions and energy outlook of all nations. "In this context, Canada's resolve to fight climate change and move toward a clean energy future has only grown stronger. Although events like the global energy crisis affect Canada's modelling for this year, this report shows that Canada's commitment to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030 remain not only within reach, but realistic. With the addition of measures that are not currently modelled in this reportincluding the cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector, and further climate programsCanada is well positioned to reach our emissions reductions goals. This is the time to double down on climate actionto build a strong economy, create jobs, and ensure a bright future for generations to come. "The 2019 Biennial Report projected that Canada would reduce emissions by 227 million tonnes from the 2015 Biennial Report. I am happy to state that the 2022 report shows that Canada is on track to reduce another 97 million tonnes by 2030, in addition to the 227 million tonne reduction projected from the 2015 report. This is another 16 percent drop from the 2019 projections. This is the result of the measures we announced since the last Biennial Report, and highlights the major strides we have made toward our greenhouse gas-reduction targets. They also reflect Canada's strengthened position as a reliable and trusted global energy and clean technology supplier. "Canada has been focused and relentless in pursuing climate action since 2015. A series of major environmental policy plansstarting with the Pan-Canadian Framework in 2016began to correct the alarming upward trajectory of Canada's emissions profile. Since the 2019 Biennial Report to the UNFCCC, Canada published a strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, in December 2020, which included 64 strengthened and new federal policies, programs, and investments to cut pollution and build a stronger, cleaner, more resilient and inclusive economy. We adopted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act in June 2021, enshrining in law Canada's enhanced new target to reduce emissions 4045 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. We have also implemented and strengthened a national pollution pricing system in Canada, that is not only one of the most effective ways to fight climate change but also makes life more affordable for Canadian families. Canada also became the first country to commit to reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector by at least 75 percent below 2012 levels by 2030. "In March 2022, Canada released its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Canada's Next Steps for Clean Air and a Strong Economy, the most comprehensive emissions reduction plan in Canada's history. This plan includes $9.1 billion in new investments, and reflects economy-wide measures such as pollution pricing and clean fuels, while also targeting actions ranging from buildings to vehicles and industry. In December 2022, we published draft regulations for a regulated zero-emission vehicle sales target, the first regulations to come out of the Emissions Reduction Plan. "More measures are coming in 2023, including taking steps to become the first major oil and gas producer to put in place a cap on oil and gas sector emissionsa significant measure that is not yet included in Canada's 2030 UNFCCC emissions modelling. "A cleaner, healthier, more efficient, and affordable net-zero future for Canada is within our reach. Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories, municipalities, Indigenous peoples, the financial community, innovators, and businesses, as well as the international community, to ensure that it is on good footing to achieve all of the many benefits that come with its 2030 target, and firmly on the path to net zero by 2050." SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada For further information: Kaitlin Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-230-1557, [email protected]; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected] Previously in 2020, NuraLogix was the first to achieve this level of accuracy for contactless video camera based BP devices with N=85 subjects which is the minimum requirement according ISO 81060-2:2018 the standard used by all BP devices to measure accuracy. The current testing was done on N=554 subjects which represents a new benchmark and that the technology is more generalizable to a broader population. It is the company's intention to publish results as part of a planned series of clinical trials in the U.S and other countries in 2023. NuraLogix will be demonstrating this capability at the CES tradeshow held from January 5-8, 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Visit NuraLogix in booth #8233 in the North Hall to get your blood pressure checked and experience this development for yourself. About NuraLogix NuraLogix are the creators of the world's first contactless blood pressure measurement technology. The company's patented technology can measure 30+ health and wellness parameters using Transdermal Optical Imaging (TOI), a patented technique developed by the company in which a conventional video camera is used to extract facial blood flow information from the human face. This is demonstrated in the company's ground-breaking app Anura and Anura Lite. For more information about NuraLogix, please visit: https://www.nuralogix.ai/ SOURCE NuraLogix Corporation For further information: Chris Lin, Chief Marketing Officer, [email protected] Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has refuted the remarks he purportedly made against All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, ahead of the 2023 election. A rebuttal on Wednesday by media adviser Sola Fasure noted that jittery politicians are scared of full reconciliation. Fasure said a pattern has emerged of sinister and coordinated efforts to frustrate the reconciliatory moves being championed by notable stakeholders. He said meetings within and beyond the APC seek to rally all necessary factors for the success of the ruling party at the February 2023 election. The statement accused the authors of the malicious manuscript of paying a handful of rent-a-crowd comedians to react to a non-existent attack to frustrate peace talks for their selfish interest. Fasure advised Nigerians to be wary of the evil machinations of fifth columnists, whose sole business is to cause disaffection, manufacture distractions and sow discord within the APC. Rauf Aregbesola is focused on delivering key reforms in the Ministry and its agencies as championed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and also ensure that the APC emerges victorious at the General Elections, the aide added. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has commiserated with the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force on the death of LCPL Goselle Nanpon who was killed by a truck driver at a security point in Ilorin, Kwara State. The condolence message to the Air Force authorities was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye in Ilorin on Wednesday. Governor Abdulrazaq, also sent a get-well-soon message to LCPL Yahaya Ayuba who sustained a spinal cord injury in the accident, according to the statement. He described the incident as tragic and painful and commended the Air Force for the maturity and professionalism with which its officers handled the unfortunate incident. My heartfelt condolences go to the highest echelon of the Nigerian Air Force and to the families affected. It was indeed a regrettable tragedy and one occupational hazard too many. That incident again underpins the need for citizens to show due respect to the security operatives for the weight of sacrifices they make in the course of keeping our country safe. We truly appreciate them and regret the huge loss of an officer and a serious injury to the other, the governor said in a statement. A state government delegation is being despatched to visit the families of the officers as a mark of respect for their service and sacrifices. We pray the Almighty God to grant speedy recovery to the injured officer and repose the soul of LCPL Goselle Nanpon and comfort his family, the statement added. Festus Keyamo, spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, has described Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as the greatest weapon of the ruling party to retain power. Keyamo spoke in a chat with Arise TV on Wednesday. The minister of state for labour and employment said Obis movement has turned the election into a one-horse race in favour of APC. He added that the LP candidate has taken a significant support structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with him, causing mounting problems for the party. The truth of the matter is that this election appears to be over already. It is a one-horse race. I am not hyping our candidate because I am the spokesperson but any close watcher of events should know by now so the result will not shock anybody when it drops, he said. The problems are mounting for the PDP. Both in and out of the party. Every person who supported PDP against us in 2019 [has left]. Ohaneze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, PANDEF, Afenifere, Obasanjo and Ayo Adebanjo all endorsed Atiku in 2019. But now, they have pulled out. They are supporting Labour Party. We said Peter Obi is the greatest weapon that Asiwaju has. Obi is the biggest reason Asiwaju will win this election. The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, on Wednesday threw its weight behind the former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, the South-South leader and elder Statesman Chief Edwin Clark over the endorsement of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi for the February elections. Recall that Obasanjo, Ortom, Clark and other individuals had in the last few days, declared Peter Obi their preferred presidential candidate for the coming poll. Reacting, the coalition in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, said the move by the patriotic Nigerians showed that they mean well for the country. According to the coalition, those kicking against the endorsement are in support of the countrys current economic and security woes. Anyone who is against these men of good conscience is just telling Nigerians that he/she is comfortable with the price of fuel selling at N600 per litre, exchange rate of N720 for $1, insecurity and other social vices that have taken over the entire nation. We commend the boldness of Governor Samuel Ortom, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief Edwin Clark to say the minds of Nigerians who have no means of doing so, the statement added. Gun-wielding men suspected to be cultists on Tuesday shot and killed a tricycle operator close to the back gate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The incident was said to have happened in the evening. There have been killings, which have been traced to rivalry between various cult groups in the state. This has led to many people decrying the spate of violence and bloodletting in the state. An eyewitness, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, who declined to be named, while speaking about the killing of the tricyclist, said: Residents and students are currently living in fear as incessant killing and shooting has started again in Awka and environs. For the past two or three days, there have been records of young people being gunned down, and that of today (Tuesday) has happened at Unizik school gate in ifite Awka. Meanwhile, police authorities in the state have confirmed the incident, saying it is cult related. The state police commands spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, who spoke with our correspondent, said its operatives had intensified surveillance in the city, especially around Ifite, close to Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He said: Our operatives have been deployed in the area, and the situation is closely monitored. Preliminary information shows that the shooting is a result of a cult-related clash between two rival groups. Police patrols have been intensified within awka and other sides of the state. 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. Locally reported news and sports Stay Current with What's Happening Get the most of NNY360, register today! By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails and special offers from NNY360.com You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A Gary attorney was recently inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Attoney Michael E. Tolbert was welcomed into the New Jersey-based group that bills itself as "Americas foremost professional organization for experienced mediators and arbitrators practicing in the field of civil and commercial conflict resolution." It welcomes members by invitation only, screening Alternative Dispute Resolution professionals who have distinguished themselves with sterling reputations and commitments to excellence in the field of dispute resolution. Tolbert, of Tolbert & Tolbert LLC, located in the former Post-Tribune building in Midtown Gary, was selected because of his hands-on experience in both civil and commercial conflict resolution. Were delighted to recognize Michael Tolbert to the Academys Indiana chapter in recognition of excellence in his mediation practice, said Darren Lee, executive director of NADN. "This is really great news and will be a game changer for our firm," Tolbert said. "We feel blessed that our firm will now be on the radar for individuals across the country looking for mediators that provide ADR services with the backing of the NADN certification. Since our goal has always been to establish a globally recognizable firm that extends beyond Indiana this induction is extremely significant." Peoples Bank has shuttered its branch in downtown Hammond. The Munster-based branch closed its office at 130 Rimbach St. on Dec. 31, the same day Franciscan Health shuttered its emergency room and inpatient services. Downtown bank branches often primarily serve customers from major employment centers, such as with the Centier and Chase branches just outside the gates of the Gary Works steel mill in downtown Gary. "This Peoples Bank location is permanently closed," a sign posted on the door stated. It directed customers to Peoples Bank's Woodmar branch at 7120 Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond and at 4901 Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago. Peoples Bank only had the branch downtown for eight years, but its history there combined with the previous owner's covered the better part of a century. First Federal Savings and Loan Association was chartered as Hammond's first savings and loan in 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression. Known as the Bailey Building and Loan of Hammond in an allusion to the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," the bank originally sat across from the Goldblatt's Department Store. First Federal was located just across the street at 131 Rimbach St. for 61 years. The original First Federal Savings and Loan, which had wooden teller booths and a marble-clad interior, came down in 2007 to make way for a city redevelopment project. First Federal moved to a newly constructed bank branch with a drive-thru that Peoples Bank took over less than a decade after it was built. Peoples Bank purchased First Federal, which had branches in Hammond and Highland, in 2014 after First Federal's owners had shopped around for a buyer for a few years, after deciding the savings and loan didn't have the size, scope or technology to compete in a modern banking environment littered with the graves of many smaller community banks. The Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative is planning to continue several programs in 2023. The nonprofit and land trust got $1,000 from the north Hammond Walmart by the Chicago border to fund its Save the Mudppuppy campaign. It launched the program to save the dwindling number of aquatic salamander in Wolf Lake watershed with a $3,000 grant from Fund for Wild Nature last year. "AWLI alerts those who fish locally to release back into the water mudpuppies they catch by mistake. To get this message out, AWLI began dispensing table-top displays to public libraries, public and private schools, and other public buildings with heavy foot traffic," Executive Director Michael Boos said in a press release. "AWLI also helped three libraries make wall-sized displays, as well. The campaign followed five years of research at Wolf Lake by students from Southern Illinois University and funded by Chicagos Shedd Aquarium." The Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative also plans to launch a 10-year effort to test the water quality in Wolf Lake, George Lake, Powderhorn Lake, Indian Creek and Eggers Grove. Purdue University Northwest, Calumet College of St. Joseph and community volunteers will help out. "Most of the water flows into Lake Michigan, which is the drinking water of Chicagoans and residents of Northwest Indiana," Boos said. "The watershed serves a population base of 3.4 million in Southeast Chicago and suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Grants from Freshwater Future and Cleveland-Cliffs, $1,500 and $5,000 respectively, are funding this bi-state effort." The nonprofit also got a $5,000 grant from Ford to sponsor the internship of a college graduate, a $2,200 grant from Indiana Humanities to support the Calumet Revisited Forum and a $600 grant from Hammond to fund the Wolf Lake Watershed Advisory Committee meeting. It also got a $500 grant from the Legacy Foundation to put on the Greening of the Arts Reception and Show with Calumet College. "Another project going into its third year is the Calumet Nature Exchange, an on-line education program which offers licensed teachers in Indiana and Illinois an opportunity to earn an hour of professional development credit per meeting at no cost," Boos said. "In 2023, AWLI will be seeking new funding to continue these projects and seek support for other research and on-line education programs." For more information or to volunteer, call 219 933-7149 or visit wolflakeinitiative.org. HIGHLAND The leader of Lake County Republicans is giving up his party post to focus on his new job as an Indiana state senator. State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, announced Wednesday his intent to resign as Lake County Republican Party chairman once his replacement has been selected. Dernulc has led Lake Countys GOP organization for nearly 10 years while serving on the Lake County Council. He said the party has grown its support among voters over the past decade and now counts more than 100 elected GOP officials in communities across Lake County. Im very, very happy with the results. But its time for somebody else to take it over. Ten years is a long time to be at the helm, Dernulc said. Weve made a lot of inroads. The Democratic straight-party voting is down quite a bit from 2018. Straight-party Republican voting is up. Dernulc did not immediately identify or endorse a potential successor. Hes expected to preside in coming weeks over a countywide meeting of Republican precinct leaders that will elect a new party chairman. He believes the next Lake County GOP leader will inherit a streamlined organization, thanks to the precinct consolidation championed by Dernulc, poised for even more success in future elections. The people downstate do listen to us now, I believe. I think the party in general, up here, is engaged. We have a big tent. We have a lot of ideas, Dernulc said. At the same time, Dernulc said hell miss working with Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, particularly when it comes to ensuring the fairness and security of Lake County elections. I appreciate us working well together as two chairmen getting stuff done for our election board. That I will miss. Honestly, the election board is probably the best-run election board that weve ever had, Dernulc said. Dernulc was elected Nov. 8 by voters in the 1st Senate District, which includes all or portions of Highland, Dyer, Griffith, Merrillville, St. John and Schererville, to represent their interests at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores EAST CHICAGO The East Chicago Common Council has adopted an ordinance that realigns city districts to make the number of residents in each more equally placed. The council was required by state law to evaluate its districts following the 2020 census. Council attorney Angela Jones said one requirement is that each district should contain, as nearly as possible, equal populations. Upon review of the numbers that came through in the last census, the current districts did not comply with the statute, she said. Jones said that the total population in East Chicago, according to the 2020 census, is 26,370 residents. She said that broken down by districts, that came to 4,934 residents in District 1, 5,580 in District 2, 3,015 in District 3, 4,832 in District 4, 3,705 in District 5 and 4,304 in District 6. The council was required to pass an ordinance by the end of 2022 that either certified or changed the districts. The ordinance was adopted by a vote of 6-3. Councilman Terrence Hill, D-3rd, was among those who did not vote in favor of the ordinance. He said that the map had been changed since the council approved the ordinance on first and second readings two weeks prior and that not all council members had the opportunity to discuss the changes. Council President Monica Gonzalez, D-1st, disagreed with Hill. Every councilman here was invited via email to attend a meeting or asked for input, Gonzalez said. Councilman Lenny Fracincki, D-2nd, voted in favor or the ordinance even though his district took the biggest hit in regard to a reduction in residents. I dont want to lose any constituents, but the law is the law, and its something we have to do, he said. HOBART The U.S. Department of Education says 1 of 5 students experiences bullying during their lifetime. About 40% of children whove been bullied at least once believe its likely to happen to them again, federal education officials say. Although children are often warned to beware of bullying and stranger danger, too many kids are unaware how to properly react during a physical or dangerous situation. Simple self-defense tactics, such as yelling, punching and kicking, can be vital when conditions turn violent. Learning self-defense strategies is a way to add more tools to peoples toolboxes. Kids arent self-aware, said Hobart police Sgt. Timothy Pochron, the departments self-defense instructor. If kids were to get involved in a situation where they have to fight out of it, I want to give them opportunities to know what to do and how to deal with it. Pochron's department has hosted adult self-defense classes for more than five years. He felt that it was time to provide that opportunity to children. The class was offered at no cost because childrens safety is priceless, according to a flyer for the class. At the departments gym, nearly a dozen children spent an hour practicing with officers on how to properly defend themselves. At the end of the session, boys and girls showed off their new-found techniques on the RedMan, a padded suit worn by Hobart police Reserve Officer Justin Shutz. I learned many strategies to defend myself, 9-year-old Edan Haro of Hobart said. I really liked being able to practice strategies with the RedMan. My wife signed our daughter up for this because she wants her to be able to defend herself. I agree as well, said Andrew Ables of Hobart. This is kind of a bonus because Im off of work for a few days and it gives us something to do and a reason to get out of the house. Ables said he is grateful to the department for hosting the class and teaching safety tactics to his 8-year-old daughter, Ruby Ables. He said it was also an opportunity to learn something new as opposed to sitting in front of an electronic device. Pochron said the overall goal is to expand childrens and adults self-defense classes outside Hobart. Im not teaching these children to go out there and start beating people up, he said. Im using this as an opportunity to be more self-aware and have a better thought process if someone were to grab them, or theres unwanted touching. Community partners for the class include Case Files Chicago, the school city of Hobart, Southlake Mall, Pam Ridings State Farm, St. Jude House, Fair Haven, Damsel in Defense, Hobart Councilmen Chris Wells and Josh Huddlestun, and the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. This is so important because its the first time weve done a self-defense class for children. We want to reach to kids at a young age, said Lisette Guillen, Case Files Chicago executive producer and host. I would like to see this pilot program we started today trickle off into other police departments. For more info If you're interested in private classes for a group or more information on future classes, contact Suzanna Enslen, senslen@cityofhobart.org or 219-942-1125, ext. 1070. LAPORTE Most employees in the LaPorte County Government Complex are in the process of relocating after the building was heavily damaged in a flood caused by a broken frozen water pipe. The two-inch diameter line froze after temperatures plummeted to below zero during a blizzard a few days prior to Christmas, said LaPorte County Commissioner Joe Haney, R-3rd. Haney said the broken line feeding a sprinkler head was discovered Christmas Day during a routine check of the building in downtown LaPorte. Employees had not reported for work Friday because of the hazardous travel and had Monday off because Christmas fell on a Sunday. Haney said building checks are ordered during long weekends as a precaution. If it wasnt for that, we may not have known at least until folks came in, which would have been on that Tuesday, he said. Haney said that a lot of drywall, from soaking up standing water on floors at each level of the five-story structure, along with carpeting, light fixtures and ceiling tiles will have to be replaced. Two dozen or more computers and other pieces of equipment also seem damaged beyond repair, he said. The amount of damage was still being tabulated, but Haney roughly estimated it is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, he said, the county has insurance to cover the damage and will only have to pay a $25,000 deductible on the policy. Haney said employees from areas like the health department and prosecutors office are relocating to other places inside the complex unaffected by the flooding. Space has also been found to place them inside the nearby courthouse and across the street at the LaPorte County Government Annex building. Workstations were also being created at the Michigan City courthouse and a former county government office building at 302 W. 8th St. in Michigan City. Other employees are working from home. Haney said he hopes the repairs can be finished for all of the employees to return in the spring. The LaPorte County Sheriffs Office on the main level was impacted to a lesser degree by water running down from the upper floors. Sheriff Ron Heeg said the damage was limited mostly to offices used sparingly by patrol supervisors toward the end of their shifts. Just one member of his administrative staff had to relocate. A little bit of an inconvenience, but nothing we cant handle, he said. Heeg said the jail, which has about 350 beds, was not impacted by the flooding. Members of the public with business to conduct at the complex are urged to call in advance to find out where the departments and individuals they need to see are located and whether contact should be done with them electronically, Haney said. Bernardini, an Italian citizen, worked as a rights coordinator for Simon & Schuster UK, and in his phishing attempts he displayed an insiders knowledge of how the industry works. He deployed shorthand like using ms instead of manuscripts, and had a detailed understanding of how agents, publishers, editors and translators operate. To impersonate publishing professionals, he would make small changes to the domain name of an email address, so that an email that appeared to come from penguinrandomhouse.com in fact read penguinrandornhouse.com, with an rn in place of an m. According to the indictment released when he was arrested, Bernardini registered more than 160 fraudulent internet domains that impersonated publishing professionals and companies. His phishing scheme dated to at least August 2016, and continued until the summer of 2021, the indictment said. They know who our clients are, they know how we interact with our clients, where sub-agents fit in and where primary agents fit in, Catherine Eccles, an owner of a literary scouting agency in London, told The New York Times in 2020. Theyre very, very good. Bernardini at times appeared to choose his targets based on deal announcements in industry publications like Publishers Marketplace and Publishers Weekly. After Publishers Marketplace ran a small item noting that the novelist James Hannaham had sold his book Re-Entry to Little, Brown, Hannaham received an email that appeared to be from his editor, Ben George, requesting the latest draft. But the email went to an address that Hannaham seldom used, so instead of replying, he wrote to his editor directly, with the document attached. His editor called and said hed never sent the message. The rescue was described as almost miraculous. A family of four whose car had careened off a treacherous cliff-top road in Northern California, plummeted more than 250 feet and trapped them on Monday managed to survive and avoid life-threatening injuries. But now, the authorities say their cars dramatic drop wasnt an accident, but an intentional act, and that the father could face charges. Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, of Pasadena, Calif., was arrested late Monday on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse, the California Highway Patrol, Golden Gate Division said on Tuesday afternoon. He will be transported to San Mateo County Jail after being released from the hospital, the authorities said. The San Mateo County district attorney said that it had not received the case from the Highway Patrol to determine whether Mr. Patel should be charged. The rescue of the family from their mangled, white Tesla involved numerous emergency responders and officers and the use of a helicopter. John Fetterman has a new suit. On Jan. 3, the junior senator from Pennsylvania, whose penchant for Carhartt sweatshirts, Dickies and baggy shorts was as much a part of his political brand as any stump speech, was sworn in as part of the 118th Congress wearing a relatively tailored, previously unseen light gray two-button number. This is a big deal, in part because during his time as lieutenant governor, Mr. Fetterman had made a point of stating that he had only one dark suit. On a day notable for the chaos around the election of Speaker of the House, that suit, as well as the light blue striped tie and polished black lace-ups Mr. Fetterman also wore, may have been the biggest political fashion statement of the incoming class. It was more symbolic even than Nancy Pelosis bright pink passing-of-the-baton outfit, or the smattering of suffragist white worn by some women in the House, or even J.D. Vances Trumpian uniform of navy suit, white shirt and glowing red tie. And it confirms Mr. Fetterman as one of the more unexpected image makers in Washington. Its not that he dresses particularly well, though the new suit was a step up. Its that he dresses with purpose. Indeed, Mr. Fettermans new suit was as notable as any of the fashion statements made by various members of Congress since clothes began to play a bigger role in electoral communications. To wit: January 2019, when a large group of women of the newly elected 116th Congress wore white to their swearing-in in honor of their suffragist predecessors (and as a counterstrike to the image-making focus of the Trump administration). Follow for the latest on the battle to choose a speaker in the House of Representatives. WASHINGTON House Republicans began their new majority rule on Tuesday with a chaotic and historic debacle, an embarrassing failure to rally around a leader that showcased the difficulties they will face in performing even the basics of governing and their lack of a unifying agenda. Handed narrow control of the House by voters in November, Republicans squandered the opening hours of the new Congress they could have used to dispel concerns about their capabilities. Instead, they feuded in a disorderly display over who among them should be speaker as the most extreme elements of the new majority repeatedly rejected Representative Kevin McCarthy of California. Despite Mr. McCarthys prominent role in fund-raising and delivering the House to Republicans and his backing among most in the party ranks, about 20 Republicans refused to support him and for the first time in a century forced repeated rounds of voting for the speakership. After three flailing attempts at electing a speaker, Republicans abruptly called for the House to be adjourned until noon Wednesday as they scrambled for a way out of their leadership morass. The stalemate meant the usually routine organization of the new House did not occur and its members were not sworn in, nor could any legislation be considered. The paralysis underscored the dilemma facing House Republicans: No matter the concessions made to some of those on the far right, they simply will not relent and join their colleagues even if it is for the greater good of their party, and perhaps the nation. They consider themselves conservative purists who cannot be placated unless all their demands are met and maybe not even then. Their agenda is mostly to defund, disrupt and dismantle government, not to participate in it. The actor Jeremy Renner, who was critically injured on Sunday, was run over by a snow plow weighing more than 14,000 pounds that he had used to tow his car on a snowed-in private road near his home in Reno, Nev., the authorities said on Tuesday. Mr. Renner, 51, had been helping a family member who was driving the car and had gotten stuck, Sheriff Darin Balaam of Washoe County said during a news conference at which the authorities offered new details about the accident. After successfully towing the car, Mr. Renner got off the plow, which then began to roll, the sheriff said. He said that Mr. Renner had attempted to get back into the drivers seat to stop the rolling vehicle, but was run over. On Tuesday, Mr. Renner, who underwent surgery on Monday and had blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries, remained in intensive care in critical but stable condition, according to a statement from his representative, Samantha Mast. None of those other Republicans are able to throw around seven figures for a charity ham. But Craft has never run for office, and money alone wont be enough to win the primary, which is scheduled for May and will pit her against more established Kentucky politicians like Daniel Cameron, the well-known attorney general. The race should tell us some important things about American politics in 2023. How much will Republicans will be drawn into the whirlwind around Trump, whose involvement in primaries in 2022 left him damaged in the eyes of many Republicans? And can a talented Democratic politician again defy his states conservative bent? Canny political maneuvering Beshear, whose father, Steve, ran the state from 2007 to 2015, has become one of the countrys most popular governors, after winning office in 2019 over a widely detested incumbent by just over 5,000 votes. The reasons arent complicated: He focuses relentlessly on local issues like the flooding that devastated the eastern part of the state last year talks often about his faith and tries to keep national politics at bay. He brands his regular news conferences as a Team Kentucky Update. Beshears ideology is hard to pin down, though Republicans see him as a doctrinaire Democrat in disguise. He has supported some tax cuts while opposing others. He raised pay for state troopers but restored voting rights to felons, albeit with a lengthy list of exceptions. He issued an executive order last year to allow medical cannabis, angering Republicans, who said he had overstepped his authority. This is Day 3 of Wells 7-day Happiness Challenge. To start at the beginning, click here. Often on my daily neighborhood walk, I pass a woman and her dachshund, who used to bark at me frantically. I found it irritating. One day, on a whim, I decided to go beyond our customary nods. I asked her how I could make friends with her dog. Oh, Petey gets upset when he sees people wearing hats, the woman said. Its just too tiring to tell everyone. Because more people wear headgear in winter, she went on, its a hard season for Petey. That was enough to make me fall in love with that dachshund. Now, when I spot Petey in the distance, I quickly pull off my hat. Its become a bit of a game for me. I can honestly say that if Id never chatted up this woman, my daily walk would be a lot less fun. Todays exercise is to talk to someone you dont know well. Or to a total stranger. Or to both. Happiness Challenge Day 3: Chat up someone you dont know. As often as you can today, advised Bob Waldinger, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the author of the new book The Good Life, seek out and notice opportunities for friendly moments of uplift. Exploding drones are lumbering and noisy and relatively easy to shoot from the sky and, over the New Years weekend, Ukraine says, its military downed every single one of about 80 that Russia sent the countrys way. Such results have never been achieved before, a Ukrainian air force spokesman said on Tuesday. But some military experts wonder if the successes are sustainable. Ukraine is getting more and more skilled at knocking down drones, but there is a growing imbalance: Many of its defensive weapons like surface-to-air missiles cost far more than the drones do. And that, some military experts say, may favor Moscow over the long haul. Artem Starosiek, the head of Molfar, a Ukrainian consultancy that supports the countrys war effort, estimated that it costs up to seven times more to down a drone with a missile than it does to launch one. That is an equation that the Kremlin may be banking on, some analysts say. Lately The New York Times has asked jazz musicians, writers and scholars to share the favorites that would make a friend fall in love with Duke Ellington, Alice Coltrane, bebop, Ornette Coleman and jazz vocals. Now were putting the spotlight on Sun Ra, the experimental pianist, organist and bandleader whose idiosyncratic blend of jazz imagined life on other planets. Born Herman Poole Blount in Birmingham, Ala., he wore ornate robes and Egyptian headgear, and composed progressive music meant to commune with Saturn, a place he said he felt a connection with after an out-of-body experience in college. My whole body was changed into something else, Sun Ra once said. I could see through myself. He said aliens spoke to him: They would teach me some things that when it looked like the world was going into complete chaos, when there was no hope for nothing, then I could speak, but not until then. I would speak, and the world would listen. In turn, Sun Ras music centered on space travel as a form of Black liberation. He believed Black people would never find freedom on Earth, and that real emancipation resided in the cosmos. Over the course of his career, Sun Ra recorded more than 200 albums with his band called the Arkestra before his death in 1993 at 79. Sun Ras music can be challenging both artistically and through the intimidating size of his discography. So while this isnt a comprehensive list (what could be?), the songs chosen here by a range of musicians, writers and critics represent a cross-section of swing, fusion and free jazz. Enjoy listening to the excerpts or the full playlist at the bottom of the article, and be sure to leave your own Sun Ra favorites in the comments. Nicole Mitchell, creative flutist El Is a Sound of Joy has a symphonically blue, melodious, laid-back vibe that expresses the core of Sun Ras soul his incredible love for Black folks. His piano solo knocks with grace through the changes that life puts us through in a mellow tempo that resists the stressful segregation and poverty that the Black community faced in Chicago in 1956, when this song was recorded. Just as Ras founding of the Saturn record label was a model for self-determination, El Is a Sound of Joy a central track on this first Saturn album, Super-Sonic Jazz is a mission statement that sings of our audacity to be beautiful. El, meaning might, strength and power in Hebrew, and a distinction of wisdom for the Moors, ties philosophical wisdom with sound intended to liberate. Climbing effortlessly through whole tones, on the backdrop of baritone blues shouts, we levitate into ethereal pleasantries. Its the sound offered for our saving. He needs 218 votes to win, but in the first two votes, he got only 203. OK, he lost twice, but you know what they say: Third times the he also lost. STEPHEN COLBERT Kevin McCarthy is being held hostage by a group of Republican extremists who dont believe he leans far enough to the right. He lost three rounds of voting today, even though hes made multiple offers to these lunatics. He even agreed to cut the Office of Congressional Ethics. This is one of their demands, which is basically like replacing seatbelts with fettuccine. JIMMY KIMMEL You know, I looked it up. Technically, the Constitution does not require the speaker of the House to be an elected member of Congress it could be any American, which, to me, sounds like the premise for a pretty solid Pauly Shore movie. JIMMY KIMMEL But remember, theres more important things in life than winning or losing theres making fun of Kevin McCarthy for losing. STEPHEN COLBERT Reportedly, interns in his office are already expected to call him Mr. Speaker, and this weekend, staffers were seen moving his boxes into the speakers office. I wouldnt be in a big hurry to unpack. He may not be great at counting votes, but hes good at counting chickens before they hatch. STEPHEN COLBERT Which classic authors should I read? With the influx of Western thought and ideas in the newly open Tokyo in the late 19th century, intellectuals wrestled with the conflicts that arose between traditional Confucian ideologies and contemporary European spirituality. Natsume Soseki taught literature at the University of Tokyo after studying abroad in London, and, when he later became an author, he brilliantly sublimated those very conflicts in his novels. Such ideological tensions are not, however, outwardly apparent in his fantastical short stories, Ten Nights Dreams. Although these 10 absurd tales may seem immeasurably delirious, as if drawn from the depths of the unconscious, they possess timeless and universal qualities. And what vivid depictions of life in 19th-century Tokyo! The author Kafu Nagai traveled to the United States and France, where he was profoundly immersed in Western thoughts and ideas. He began publishing fiction at the turn of the 20th century. In A Strange Tale from East of the River (also translated as Something Strange Across the River), the stage is Tokyo as it undergoes tremendous changes in the days leading up to World War II. The appeal of this work is its metafictional structure, which features a poignant relationship between a writer and a prostitute. Just when you think the story has ended, the author himself makes an appearance in order to relay various episodes from the ever-changing city as part of the plot. Here, too, a nesting-box narrative enables the reader to contemplate the passage of time. Now, at last, we are nearing the layers that make up present-day Tokyo. After Japans defeat in World War II, the country again underwent drastic changes. The narrator of Kenzaburo Oes novel Seventeen is a young man who has assassinated a politician. The novel is a detailed portrayal of a young man who is adrift, descending into depression and being driven to terrorism. The story alludes to an event that occurred not long before it was published, in which the chairman of the Japan Socialist Party was stabbed to death by an ultranationalist at Tokyos Hibiya Public Hall. There were many protests and threats made against Oe himself after Seventeen was published, in a literary journal. Despite having been translated into various languages and published in numerous countries, the novel was only made available in Japan in book form four years ago 57 years after it was written when it was included in a collected edition of Oes complete works. Any short fiction to read while on my trip, especially if I have jet lag and cant sleep? The short story Final Moments, from the 1961 collection Toddler Hunting and Other Stories, by Taeko Kono, is about a woman who suddenly learns that she will die the following day, and describes how she spends the hours after that realization. In spite of its terrible premise, the story is surprisingly tranquil and matter of fact. I have often heard people say that it is difficult to tell what a Japanese person is thinking, and this woman is no exception: She does not let her feelings show. Whenever I reread this story, I always marvel at how Kono chose to illustrate the workings of this womans mind with such audacious and sophisticated creativity. The women who appear in the stories included in Kuniko Mukodas collection, The Woman Next Door, epitomize the values of the generation who came of age during World War II. Although Mukodas stories were written 20 years after Konos, somehow Mukodas women feel more remote. Nevertheless, Mukoda skillfully captures these Tokyo women who, nearing the end of the 20th century and at a time of economic prosperity in Japan, continue to struggle to improve their standing. They offer a testament to their quest for even the simplest of freedoms despite the societal oppression they faced. In early December, China suddenly reversed its zero Covid policy. That set off a wave of infections that has swept across the nation, overwhelming hospitals and funeral parlors. Two events this month could further inflame the already raging outbreak. On Sunday, the country will reopen to tourists, and visitors will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival. A few weeks later, China will celebrate Lunar New Year, the countrys biggest holiday typically the largest annual migration of people on the planet. For insight into the situation in China, I spoke with Keith Bradsher, The Timess Beijing bureau chief. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For those who arent familiar, what was life like in China before the restrictions were removed? Almost overnight, the rules changed on Dec. 7. Until then, people were at constant risk of being sealed in a hospital room for weeks if they caught a Covid infection. Until Dec. 7, people who even went to the same shop or eatery as someone who later turned out to be infected, or even passed an infected person on the street, could end up being taken away to a quarantine center for a prolonged stay, sometimes with meager food and sanitation, or sealed in their homes. Russia blames its dead soldiers Russia said yesterday that their soldiers unauthorized use of cellphones in the Donetsk region was the main reason that Ukraine was able to launch a deadly attack on New Years Day. The Ministry of Defense said Ukraine used cellphone data to home in on their locations. Some Russian lawmakers and military bloggers pushed back against the swift assignment of blame. They said the statement from the Defense Ministry was an attempt to fault the rank and file rather than their commanders. They argued that leaders did not take precautions to protect troops, such as dispersing the newly arrived soldiers to safer locations and housing them away from munitions. Context: Russian soldiers use of open cellphone lines has been a known vulnerability, often revealing forces positions. Ukraine killed at least one general and his staff after he spoke over an unsecure phone, U.S. officials say. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced on Wednesday that Andrew Morse, an architect of the shuttered CNN+ streaming service, would be its new president and publisher. Mr. Morse, a longtime digital news executive whose career has included stops at Bloomberg Media and ABC News, will start on Monday. As the largest newspaper in the South, weve got an active audience in a part of the country that is at the center of a lot of important stories, Mr. Morse said. I think we have the ability to be an essential source of news not just for Atlanta but for the South. Mr. Morse, 48, joins The Atlanta Journal-Constitution amid a crisis in local news. More than 2,500 newspapers across the United States have closed over the last two decades, as revenue from print advertising dwindles, leaving one-fifth of Americans with limited access to local news. Coinbase initially agreed to hire an independent consultant to help overhaul its day-to-day operations so that they met requirements set by anti-money-laundering laws to know the identities of customers and monitor their behavior for suspicious activity. But that did not fix the companys problems, and regulators opened a formal investigation in 2021. The exchange had fallen behind on two key operations: digging deeper into the backgrounds of customers whose identities seemed murky at first glance and following up on the suspicious-activity alerts that its internal monitoring system generated. By late 2021, Coinbase had a backlog of more than 100,000 alerts about potential suspicious customer transactions that were not being properly examined, according to the Department of Financial Services. Regulators also found that Coinbase performed only the most rudimentary know your customer checks on people before letting them open accounts. The exchange treated customer background checks as a simple check-the-box exercise, they said. In one instance, Coinbase unwittingly helped a digital thief steal $150 million from an unnamed company by claiming to be an employee of that company when opening a Coinbase account. The companys procedures in vetting the backgrounds of customers were so inadequate that early last year, regulators ordered Coinbase to hire an outside monitor separate from the independent consultant the firm had previously agreed to hire to oversee its compliance, even as the formal investigation was underway. When California, New York, Texas and other states began deregulating their electricity markets in the 1990s, officials promised that those changes would foster competition and make energy more affordable. But it hasnt worked out that way. Average retail electricity costs in the 35 states that have partly or entirely broken apart the generation, transmission and retail distribution of energy into separate businesses have risen faster than rates in the 15 states that have not deregulated, including Florida and Oregon. That difference has persisted for much of the last two decades or so, including in the last year, when energy prices increased worldwide after Russia invaded Ukraine. On average, residents living in a deregulated market pay $40 more per month for electricity than those in the states that let individual utilities control most or all parts of the grid. Deregulated areas have had higher prices as far back as 1998. After the numbers are that far apart for this long you have to wonder if something isnt working very well, said Robert McCullough, an energy researcher and consultant who analyzed electricity rate data at the request of The New York Times. If your car hasnt been working for 20 years, maybe you should take it to the dealership. Irelands data privacy board, which serves as Metas main regulator in the European Union because the companys European headquarters are in Dublin, said E.U. authorities had determined that placing the legal consent within the terms of service essentially forced users to accept personalized ads, violating the European law known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or G.D.P.R. Meta has three months to outline how it will comply with the ruling. The decision does not specify what the company must do, but it could result in Metas allowing users to choose whether they want their data used for such targeted promotions. If a large number of users choose not to share their data, it would cut off one of the most valuable parts of Metas business. Information about a users digital history such as what videos on Instagram prompt a person to stop scrolling, or what types of links a person clicks when browsing Facebook feeds is used by marketers to get ads in front of people who are the most likely to buy. The practices helped Meta generate $118 billion in revenue in 2021. The judgment puts 5 to 7 percent of Metas overall advertising revenue at risk, according to Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities. This could be a major gut punch, he said. The penalty contrasts with regulations in the United States, where there is no federal data privacy law and only a few states like California have taken steps to create rules similar to those in the European Union. But any changes that Meta makes as a result of the ruling could affect users in the United States; many tech companies apply E.U. rules globally because that is easier to put in effect than limiting them to Europe. The New York Times is well known for its award-winning reporting, influential critical reviews and thought-provoking opinion essays, and we know teachers frequently use these articles and opinion pieces as teaching resources. But all over The Times, there are many more hidden gems that are ripe for classroom use such as My Ten, a column about celebrities cultural must-haves that can inspire your students own lists of favorite things; The Playlist, a column about todays best songs that your students can use to make annotated playlists about a subject they are studying; or Live Art, a video series that invites viewers to learn about the creative process from childrens book illustrators. In a special series of lessons, weve dug up 13 of these treasures that your students can use as models for writing and creating. In each one, we invite students to read, listen to or look closely at a column or series and then emulate it. The lessons are intended to be flexible you can spend a day or two weeks on them, and we suggest ways you can adapt them across subject areas. Do you teach with a Times column in your classroom? Is there one youd like us to create a lesson for? Tell us in the comments or write to us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com. When Franco Zeffirellis film Romeo and Juliet was first released in 1968, a brief scene of its teenage star-crossed lovers waking up in bed together nude caused what the film critic Roger Ebert described as a lot of fuss, including blaring headlines that Queen Elizabeth II had witnessed the scene at the London premiere. Earning two Oscars and critical acclaim, the film became a classic adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy and a staple of many English classrooms for decades. But now, more than 50 years later, the two actors who portrayed the titular characters, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, have filed a lawsuit against the films distributor, Paramount Pictures, claiming that the bedroom scene was deceptively filmed when they were underage and that they had been assured that no nudity would be included in the final product. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, lays much of the blame for the deception at the feet of Mr. Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, but it asserts that Paramount Pictures knew or should have known images of plaintiffs nude bodies were secretly and unlawfully obtained during the performance. Bosmans and Henri are both obsessed with Jean, although Bosmans has a yen for Henri as well. Given the rough and tumble physical as well as psychic they absorb, any one of them could be the title character. All three are ruled by impulse but only Bosmans is the slightest bit introspective: There are things you have to do to regret them later on, he explains. Jean sets up Henri as bait in one appalling scene. He also brings him home to his long-suffering girlfriend (Lisa Kreuzer) after which Henri pilfers Jeans outfit and begins living in the station. According to a profile of Chereau published in The New York Times before the movies American release, The Wounded Man was inspired by Jean Genets quasi-autobiographical book The Thiefs Journal. Its obsessive characters, abrupt transitions, abstract narrative and hyper-naturalistic attention to detail also recall the French nouvelle romans of Marguerite Duras and Alain Robbe-Grillet. The movie is both stylized and visceral. The Wounded Man has nearly as much nudity (all of it male) and graphic sex as Intimacy, Chereaus kitchen sink riff on the anonymous coupling of Last Tango in Paris. Still, the careful framing of frenzied activity gives the movie a measure of detachment. (Janet Maslins Times review found it solemn to a fault and consequently laced with a certain amount of inadvertent comedy.) Appearing a couple of years into the AIDS epidemic, The Wounded Man was criticized both for its violence and its tormented vision of gay love. Henris approach-avoidance ballet inevitably climaxes in a dance of death. Chereaus willingness to plumb that abyss mirrors that of his protagonist. The Wounded Man Jan. 5-12, Anthology Film Archives, Manhattan; anthologyfilmarchives.org. The state secretary of education, Ryan Walters, demanded that her teaching certificate be revoked. She resigned before officials could do that and visited Brooklyn Public Library a few weeks later. When I left, it felt like I was leaving home, she said. It wasnt the building or even the books themselves that created that feeling, it was the people. The librarians. One thing led to another, and last month she moved to Brooklyn to join the librarys staff as the teen initiatives project manager. Boismier said 2022 was utterly tragic because book bans had escalated. The people who are primarily affected are the most disenfranchised, she said. These are our young people. Weve all seen the images, the video, of contentious school board meetings or people talking about what I believe to be a misnomer, which is parents rights. Ive talked about teachers rights and the right to free expression in a classroom. But at the end of the day, it really comes back to students right to read what they want. But she said she was hopeful about the direction of the national conversation about book bans. Weve seen the headlines of young people whove said enough is enough. Thats the courage it takes to stand up to adults. I dont know if I had been 15 in 2022 I could have done that. Boismier said she has been adjusting to Brooklyn, a place she said she had assumed was like my moms subdivision in size. I seem unable to master the subway, she said, adding that she had hate-Googled the M.T.A. the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency that runs the subways which is incredibly cathartic if youve never done it before. Trevor Bickford, who is accused of attacking three police officers with a knife on New Years Eve, told authorities he had come to New York in order to kill people and carry out jihad, prosecutors said Wednesday. Mr. Bickford, 19, was charged by the Manhattan district attorneys office with attempted murder in the first degree and attempted assault. The attack occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday just north of Times Square. Mr. Bickford, a Maine resident who converted to Islam within the past year and a half, said Allahu akbar before hitting one officer over the head with a long knife known as a kukri, according to court documents. He then charged another officer, dropping the knife in the process, and made an unsuccessful grab at the officers gun before he was apprehended. One of the prosecutors, Lucy Nicholas, said that Mr. Bickford had at first wanted to travel internationally but had changed his mind, and that he had come to New York to commit murder. At the same time, the field of anti-aging is gaining credibility, with tantalizing data that suggest that science might be able to extend not only life span but also health span the amount of time that people spend healthy and active, with a good quality of life. Though I am a critical-care doctor who tells patients and their families to look death in the eye and acknowledge reality, I am captivated by the promise of longevity medicine. Throughout my 20s and much of my 30s, the years melted one into another, and I barely noted their passing. But now, at 41, I am pregnant for the first time, an act that assumes a reasonably long future. Perhaps it is also an act of denial. I will be in my 60s when my child goes to college, my partner not much younger. As I plan for new life, I am more aware than ever that time is finite. Yet aging looks and feels so different to me from what I once thought it would. On a recent trip to my familys home in Miami, I stood in the backyard and watched as my formerly sedentary 70-year-old father leaped up to grab a set of pull-up bars. He lifted his body against gravity, one pull-up after another, a feat that I have never achieved even before pregnancy. He keeps a half dozen supplement bottles in his refrigerator, on the same shelves where I once found half-eaten chocolate bars. As his 60s drew to a close and the reality of old age began to creep in, my father a cardiologist and researcher who has no plans to retire in the foreseeable future started to delve into the growing body of academic papers on how he might slow the ticking clock. He emails me the research from time to time, and I sift through it. One message was titled, Will prob be around for high school graduation. I took a beat before realizing that he was referring to the high school graduation of his first grandchild, to the fear that his own life will intersect with this little persons only briefly, to all that we wish we could ignore. They say that thinking about death is like staring at the sun you can tolerate it only for a moment before it becomes too painful. It is easier to come at it from my fathers angle, reading not about death but about the science of how to extend life. I find myself drawn in by images of aging mice racing longer, the promise within the science. What if the arc of aging that I have come to expect while working in the hospital is not inevitable? McCarthys approach to the far right has always been one of indulgence. Despite his own apparent lack of ideological conviction, he recruited many of the Tea Party candidates elected to the House in 2010. As Robert Draper, the longtime chronicler of the Republican Party, wrote in 2011, they represented McCarthys more entrepreneurial approach to politics: seize upon a trend (in this case, government phobia), put all your money on it and then work hard to make the trend last. McCarthy persisted in this approach as the Tea Party evolved into Trumpism, earning Trumps patronizing sobriquet: My Kevin. Marginalizing Trump after Jan. 6 would have been politically risky for McCarthy, no doubt. But by flying to Mar-a-Lago to abase himself before Trump just weeks after the attack on the Capitol signaling to all that Trump remained the leader of the Republican Party McCarthy helped seal his own fate. Trump is a major reason the Republican House margin is as small as it is; voters rejected many of Trumps handpicked candidates as well as the partys broader election denialism. And though Trump himself has endorsed McCarthy, many of his disciples are hostile to anyone associated with the Republican establishment. As The Times reported, of the 20 lawmakers who, as of this writing, have voted against McCarthy, 17 were endorsed by Trump in 2022. Five of them are freshmen these are people who are part of Trumps remaking of the Republican Party. Arizonas Eli Crane, for example, is a former contestant on the business reality show Shark Tank, where he pitched bottle openers made of dummy .50-caliber bullets. (Shoot open some bottles in the manliest way possible, says an ad for the product.) Floridas Anna Paulina Luna, an ally of the Trump die-hard Matt Gaetz, is a veteran and former swimsuit model who built a career as a conservative rabble-rouser, most recently running Hispanic outreach for the right-wing outfit Turning Point USA. These people seem to be crafting brands as much as political careers, meaning they benefit from high drama and have little need to work their way through Republican institutions. The movement these characters are part of one McCarthy hoped would carry him to power isnt simply ideological. Its also a set of defiant, paranoid, anti-system attitudes, and a version of politics that prioritizes showboating over legislating. Thats why McCarthy has found himself unable to negotiate with the holdouts. There are no real policy stakes, no concessions he can make on issues. The anti-McCarthy factions demands are largely about power and visibility, and whenever he meets those demands, they move the goal posts. You dont see the same sort of green space as in Teaneck, Ms. Kates said. But the borough government has tried to create small parks that preserve a slice of nature, she added, and she loves the New York City views. Empty nesters from nearby suburbs, like the Kateses, are a consistently strong market for Fort Lee, said Nelson Chen, a real estate broker and the president of the Chen Agency, in Fort Lee. The borough also appeals to commuters, including many now returning to their New York City offices after working remotely during the pandemic, Mr. Chen said. For all borough residents, the George Washington Bridge, which clocks about four million vehicle crossings every month, is central to life in Fort Lee. Its brought us such incredible prosperity, said Mark J. Sokolich, the mayor, who grew up in Fort Lee. But its also brought us headaches; its brought us traffic. White scientists are generally more successful at winning federal research money from the National Science Foundation than Black, Latino and other nonwhite scientists, a new study finds. Lagging the most are scientists of Asian descent. The National Science Foundation is a federal agency that finances several billion dollars in grants each year to support a swath of basic science research in the United States, including biology, chemistry, computer science, geosciences, mathematics and physics. For university professors and others in academia, the N.S.F. often provides the crucial financial lifeblood for a successful career. The success rate of proposals led by Asian scientists is about 20 percent below the overall rate a disparity that has persisted for two decades and runs counter to the common narrative that Asian Americans dominate the sciences and engineering fields in the United States. The findings appear in a paper published in November in the journal eLife. Theres this model minority myth that is a stereotype that suggests that Asians dont experience academic challenges, said Christine Yifeng Chen, a geoscientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and the lead author of the eLife paper. And thats not true. New Year, new you. January often starts with resolutions about self-improvement of mind and body. For many, that can mean an embrace of clean beauty, in its myriad forms. Swiss glacier water to remove your makeup? La Prairie can give you that for $120. Intrigued by the possible regenerative powers offered by the microbes in Finnish forest mulch? Snap up a cleansing cake from Luonkos for 33 euros (about $35). Curious about algae and sea kale sunscreens, vegan lipsticks or gritty exfoliating soaps made from spent coffee grounds? Look around and it seems as if more and more consumers are jumping on a beauty bandwagon that promises clean skin and an even cleaner conscience. The research consultancy Brandessence estimates that nearly one-third of the United States market is now labeled clean, with an increase of 12 percent expected from 2020 to 2027. Currently, clean beauty has 5.6 million hashtag views on Instagram and 1.2 billion on TikTok. And many brands are jostling for a place in the market, among them indie start-ups like Merit and Saie Beauty and major luxury names like Dior, which released its first alcohol-free, water-based perfume, and Stella McCartney, fashions eco-queen, who introduced a natural origin skin-care line. The video surfaced online around October. Filmed from a distance, it shows an antelope grazing on the African plain. Suddenly, two cheetahs race toward it and the antelope takes off, running toward the camera. But the cats are too fast. They converge on it and bring it down. They begin to feed. Almost at that exact moment, a second drama unfolds: The safari vehicles that have been parked in the background begin to move. One dark-colored 4x4 hits the gas and begins driving closer to the animals. Then vehicle after vehicle is on the move green, brown, white, in various states of repair. You can hear the voices of the guides within yelling at one another. Some start to honk their horns. The vehicles form a circle, jockeying for position as their passengers hold up cellphones to record the cheetahs and their meal. A womans voice can be heard in the background. Are they stupid? she asks. The video was filmed in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, home to many of the Big Five animals (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinoceroses) that safari participants tick off their lists. The identity of the videos creator remains unknown, as does the date it was shot. It was originally shared by a Twitter account using the name @DrumChronicles and has been viewed more than 175,000 times since it appeared. Guides and conservationists who have seen it said the video underscored a problem many of them have observed since the Kenyan government began lifting most pandemic-related travel restrictions: safari vehicles packed with cellphone-wielding tourists led by guides who are willing to get too close to the animals. SACRAMENTO A powerful winter storm, the latest in a series of atmospheric rivers, roared across California on Wednesday, battering the coast, inundating city streets, toppling trees and burying the mountains in snowfall even as the nations most populous state reeled from a similar drenching only days before. The storm which intensified from predawn showers to heavy rain, high winds and, in some places, flash flood warnings sent Californians from the Northern California coast to Santa Barbara scrambling for shelter, and left hundreds of thousands without power. A succession of similar weather systems is expected to pound the state for the next several days. Usually, rainfall amounts like those expected this week would not have a significant effect. But the rain over the past weekend saturated the ground across much of California, forecasters said, leaving it like a wet sponge and making it more susceptible to flooding and rapid runoff. Parched by drought for the past three years and scorched by wildfires, the state is spotted with vast scars that are especially vulnerable to landslides. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency throughout California on Wednesday in order to more quickly marshal a storm response, and the authorities in several communities issued evacuation orders. Los Angeles in 1923 had just become Californias most populous city and was the hub of the upstart motion picture industry. This year will be the centennial of some of the landmarks that arose amid that boom, including the Biltmore Hotel, the Hollywood sign and the Coliseum. It will also be the 100th anniversary of a dining destination for generations of Angelenos: El Cholo. When it was established by Alejandro and Rosa Borquez, immigrants from the Mexican state of Sonora, going out to a restaurant was kind of a special thing it wasnt what it is today, Ron Salisbury, their grandson, told me in an interview for an article published this week. So the fact that they opened a restaurant was kind of a leap of faith. A branch location on Western Avenue opened in 1927 by Salisburys parents soon became the restaurants flagship, and Salisbury, 89, has managed the operation since 1954. As a native Southern Californian, Ive been acquainted with it almost as long. My minds eye has me in a booster seat there, and my earliest restaurant memories are tastes of El Cholos cheese enchiladas, with their tangy reddish-brown sauce, and of warm corn tortillas, oozing with melting butter and a bit of salt. In those Catholic days of meatless Fridays, the Mexican menu was a refuge with its chiles rellenos, rice and beans, so my mother and my older brother and I would collect Dad at his aerospace plant and head into the city. It was even worth the inevitable wait of 45 minutes to an hour the restaurant was half its current size and took no reservations and many walks around the block before we took our spot in one of the booths. Harrisburg is not the only capital where the mere act of deciding who is in charge has proved fraught in the early days of the new year. Before the session in Pennsylvania began, the repeated botched attempts by Republicans in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to elect a speaker in the U.S. House of Representatives were playing out on televisions in the Pennsylvania statehouse. Meanwhile, Democratic state representatives next door in Ohio helped elect a Republican House speaker there who is not as conservative as the candidate backed by most Republicans in their supermajority. The fights in Washington and Ohio were ideological, but the maneuvering in Pennsylvania was largely about strategy, given the bizarre circumstances leading up to Tuesdays vote. Democrats outperformed expectations on Election Day in Pennsylvania, winning a U.S. Senate seat, the governors office and, perhaps most surprising of all, control of the state House, where they had been out of power for more than a decade. It was only a one-seat majority, though, and one of the winning candidates had died a few weeks before the November election. Then, in early December, two Democrats who had been re-elected to the House and at the same time had been elected to higher offices resigned their House seats. At issue in the weeks that followed was whether majority meant the party that the voters in the most districts had chosen, or the party that had the most members at the moment the session began. The Democrats argued for the former, the Republicans the latter. The question was put to the courts, even as Republicans and Democrats held dueling swearing-in ceremonies last month for House majority leader. COVINGTON, Ky. President Biden on Wednesday embraced his reputation for compromise and cooperation at a moment of peak Republican chaos in the House, celebrating a vital new bridge alongside the Republican senator who has long vowed to block his agenda. Standing in front of the Ohio River, the president joined Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican minority leader, and an improbable mix of political rivals to highlight new funding for the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Covington to Cincinnati. The rare joint appearance was an effort by Mr. Biden, who has said he intends to run for a second term, to focus voter attention on moments of bipartisan accord during his first two years in office. We disagree on a lot of things, Mr. Biden said of Mr. McConnell, who remains a political villain in the eyes of many of the presidents supporters. But heres what matters: Hes a man of his word. When he gives you his word, you can take it to the bank, you can count on it, and hes willing to find common ground. The appearance by both men offered a remarkable split-screen moment in American politics. In Washington, the House leadership debacle continued into a second day on Wednesday. Representative Kevin McCarthy of California has repeatedly failed to win election as speaker thanks to a small group of 20 conservative hard-liners who accuse him of being insufficiently aggressive in opposition to Mr. Bidens presidency and the Democrats agenda. The House remained in a leaderless limbo after Mr. McCarthy lost three consecutive votes on Tuesday for the top job the first time that has happened in a century and three more on Wednesday. The 20 Republicans opposing Representative Kevin McCarthy of California for the House speakership have coalesced, for now at least, around Representative Byron Donalds of Florida. Mr. Donalds is a second-term House member or would be if any House members had been sworn in. That makes him an unusual candidate for the job of speaker, which normally goes to more experienced legislators, though there is no formal requirement that a speaker have served in Congress for a certain length of time or even that they be a member. Mr. Donalds, 44, worked in finance before being elected to the Florida House in 2016 and then to the U.S. House in 2020. He ran for Congress as a conservative ally of then-President Donald J. Trump, and was one of 147 Republicans who voted to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Mr. Donalds defended the Republicans passage of voting restrictions in many states, including Florida, and said he did not believe Mr. Trumps rhetoric was connected to Trump supporters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. WASHINGTON After helping to foment a right-wing rebellion that dealt Representative Kevin McCarthy three humiliating losses on Tuesday in his bid to become speaker, Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, added insult to injury, sending a letter to the Architect of the Capitol accusing the California Republican of illegally occupying the speakers office. After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office, Mr. Gaetz wrote in his letter. How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter? Mr. McCarthy over the weekend moved his things into the large, ornate suite in the center of the Capitol reserved for the speaker of the House, though he had yet to win the post or even cement the votes needed to do so. Mr. Gaetzs letter was a slap that highlighted how Mr. McCarthy has for years campaigned for the job and assumed he would eventually have it, even telling Republicans privately on Tuesday before the voting commenced that he had earned the position, further rankling his opponents. Follow for the latest on the battle to choose a speaker in the House of Representatives. WASHINGTON A right-wing Republican revolt paralyzed the House for a second painful day on Wednesday, leaving Representative Kevin McCarthy of California fighting for political survival after losing a half-dozen consecutive votes for speaker and no clear path forward to allow Congress to function. In a spectacle on the House floor not seen in 100 years, unrelenting hard-right lawmakers refused repeatedly to throw their support behind Mr. McCarthy, the party leader, who suffered another three humiliating defeats in a grim replay of the three he endured on Tuesday. The episode again put Republican divisions on vivid display, grinding the House to a standstill and extending an ignominious start to the new Republican majority, potentially foreshadowing an era of dysfunction and disarray. Mr. McCarthy vowed to keep fighting, and he and his allies adjourned the House temporarily late Wednesday afternoon so he could huddle with his top deputies and the ringleaders of the opposition to explore a resolution. But there was little sign that the stalemate could be broken, and even an entreaty from former President Donald J. Trump for the party to unite around Mr. McCarthy fell flat. By Wednesday night, the House had adjourned again with no resolution, agreeing to return at noon to plunge back into the fight. WASHINGTON The rebellion against Representative Kevin McCarthy of California and his bid for the speakership is rooted not just in personal animosity, but in a deeply ideological drive by a group of hard-right conservatives to drastically limit the size, scope and reach of the federal government, and overhaul the way Congress works to make it easier to do so. The dissidents challenging Mr. McCarthy have pressed for a balanced federal budget one that would not permit any deficit spending. They want special rules that would make it easier for lawmakers to zero out federal offices and fire government workers, and would make it much harder to secure earmarks to direct federal money to individual projects. The group is also seeking to heavily fortify the U.S. border with Mexico and dismantle the Internal Revenue Service, getting rid of federal income taxes and replacing them with a consumption tax. My personal belief is and that of many of my colleagues is if you dont stop spending money that we dont have to fund the bureaucracy that is undermining the American people, we cannot win, said Representative Chip Roy, Republican of Texas and a leading McCarthy opponent. This town is badly broken, and we need to fix it. To further their policy goals, the hard-right lawmakers have also long pushed for overhauling the way the House operates to give individual rank-and-file members more influence over what legislation is considered. Before he led the Roman Catholic Church as Benedict XVI, and before he loomed over the church as a powerhouse cardinal and the Vaticans chief doctrinal watchdog, Joseph Ratzinger, archbishop of Munich, attended a 1980 meeting about a priest in northwestern Germany accused of abusing children. What exactly transpired during the meeting is unclear but afterward, the priest was transferred, and over the next dozen years moved around Bavaria to different parishes before he ended up in the tiny village of Garching an der Alz, where he sexually abused Andreas Perr, then 12. It feels so heavy, Mr. Perr said on Tuesday, puffing cigarettes outside the house where he was molested, just a few steps from the white steeple of the village church. He said his abuse had led him down a road marred by drugs and prison while Archbishop Ratzinger had risen up the ranks of the church. Speaking of the retired Pope Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday, he added, to think of the power that one person could have over your life. A report last year commissioned by the Catholic Church in Munich accused Benedict of mishandling cases of sexual abuse by priests. Benedict apologized for any grievous faults but denied any wrongdoing. BRUSSELS The European Union on Wednesday strongly encouraged its 27 member nations to require a negative Covid-19 test for travelers boarding flights from China to the region, amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the country and Beijings lifting of its draconian travel restrictions. The blocs recommendation, an attempt at a unified policy, came after three major European tourist destinations France, Italy and Spain as well as Britain, introduced testing and other requirements for travelers from China. The E.U. move would bring back a tough pandemic-era measure for travelers that the tourist and aviation industries had hoped was a thing of the past. Countries in the European Union are strongly encouraged to introduce, for all passengers departing from China to member states, the requirement for a negative Covid-19 test taken not more than 48 hours prior to departure from China, the advice said. About 200,000 people paid their respects to Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus, during the three days his body was lying in state in St. Peters Basilica, Vatican officials said on Wednesday evening. Some traveled from abroad specifically to honor his memory, while others took the opportunity to come to St. Peters during their vacations in Rome. Benedict, who resigned in 2013, the first pontiff to do so in six centuries, died on Saturday and will be buried Thursday. It was beautiful to see him, said Stefania Isaila, 42, who flew from Romania to attend Benedicts funeral with a friend. He appeared happy to be with God, the encounter that he has always talked about. Ms. Isaila entered the basilica at 7 a.m., among the first to do so on Wednesday, before large lines formed, and she stayed to attend a Mass in Benedicts honor. She was among the 60,000 people who came to St. Peters on Wednesday alone. While John Paul II was the pope she grew up with, Ms. Isaila said, I really loved Benedict. Amid anger in Russia over one of the deadliest strikes on Moscows forces in the war, official blame has fallen on the targeted soldiers themselves, with the suggestion that their cellphone use enabled Ukrainian forces to home in on their location. The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Wednesday that it was clear the main reason for the strike, which took place on New Years Day in the city of Makiivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, was the collective use of cellphones by personnel within reach of Ukraines firepower. They were using the phones despite a ban, the ministry said. Russian soldiers use of open cellphone lines in Ukraine has been a known vulnerability for its military, often revealing forces positions. Intercepted calls have revealed the disarray and discontent in Russias ranks. Some Russian lawmakers and military bloggers have pushed back against the swift assignment of blame, calling it an attempt by the military to fault the rank and file rather than their commanders. A number of influential bloggers criticized commanders for not taking basic precautions to protect troops, such as dispersing the newly arrived soldiers to safer locations and housing them away from munitions. Early in their invasion of Ukraine, some Russian fighters closing in on the capital, Kyiv, made calls with cellphones and uploaded videos to TikTok, betraying their location to Ukrainian eavesdroppers. The Ukrainians used the cellphone signals to launch missiles at their location to devastating effect, according to Ukraines head of military intelligence. Now, almost a year later and despite a ban on personal cellphones, Russian soldiers in the war zone are still using them to call wives, girlfriends, parents and each other, and still exposing themselves to Ukrainian attacks. After a strike that killed dozens possibly hundreds of Russian soldiers this week, one of the deadliest since the invasion began, the Russian military itself acknowledged the problem, using it to explain the heavy losses. It is already clear that the main reason of what took place included the massive use, contrary to the ban, of personal mobile phones in the range of enemy weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. The cellphone data allowed Ukraine, it said, to determine the coordinates of the location of military service members to inflict a rocket strike. McCarthy has sworn allegiance to Trump, who has called him my Kevin. But while McCarthy has courted far-right members, he takes a more pragmatic view of politics than much of the partys far right. He believes that for Republicans to accomplish anything, they have to nominate more moderate candidates who can win in swing districts. And to pass major bills, Republicans may occasionally have to compromise. McCarthys Republican opponents take a more hard-line approach. Many do not believe in compromising with politicians who do not believe in Trumpism. They would like to oust Trump critics from the party. And they dont trust McCarthy to carry out that vision. These ideological divides animate many of the debates over who should be the next speaker. They are also driving other debates within the party, including over who should be the partys presidential nominee in 2024. No compromise In party politics, extreme flanks frequently butt heads with more moderate figures. Whats unusual about modern-day far-right lawmakers is their willingness to reject compromise and take on their own leaders. They effectively evicted the past two Republican speakers, John Boehner and Paul Ryan. McCarthy himself had to withdraw from the speaker race in 2015 after a right-wing revolt, giving way for Ryans bid. Since then, McCarthy has made overtures to ultraconservatives to shore up their support. One example: Before yesterdays vote, he announced that he would allow just five lawmakers to call a vote at any time to oust the speaker. The move was a shift from his previous stance opposing a snap vote altogether, but it still fell short of the view of the partys hard-liners, who said such a vote should require only one lawmaker proposing it. The concession was not enough for those ultraconservatives, who still see McCarthy as too moderate. The right-wing Club for Growth released a statement on Monday that suggested it opposed McCarthys bid for speaker unless he met specific demands. It criticized House Republican super PAC spending in primaries, which McCarthy has leveraged to boost more moderate candidates. Potential consequences Because Republicans dont control the Senate or White House, their infighting in the House may not lead to immediate, broader consequences. Lifte is a Japanese clothing brand that specializes in hospital patient gowns that are not only comfortable to wear but also look stylish. Fashion is probably the last thing on most peoples minds when they need to spend time in a hospital, but Japanese clothing brand Lifte claims that dressing well is one important way to relieve stress as a hospital patient. You may not have your health, but thats no reason not to dress nice. Lifte actually specializes in stylish, high-quality hospital gowns that not only look good on the wearer but are also considerably more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Photo: Lifte No one likes being sick, so why make things even worse with ordinary hospital gowns? Most of the time, they dont even fit well, and if they do, the fabric is so stiff that it makes them uncomfortable to wear. Thats where Lifte comes in. A joint venture between Classico, a medical supply company, and Elan, a company that provides hospital suit services, Lifte is a clothing brand catering exclusively to hospital patients. Not only are Lifte gowns designed with fashion in mind, but they are also made from a special fabric that maintains its softness for longer, making the clothes more comfortable to wear. After more than 80 wash cycles with strong detergents, Lifte gowns still maintain their softness. Lifte gowns come in two types classic and bathrobe and four colors: pink rice, dusk blue, gray and wine red. Photo: Lifte Lifte strives to achieve the ultimate in design and aesthetics when it comes to hospital gowns. The brands ultimate goal is to make wearers less depressed about their situation by providing them with stylish, high-quality garments. No word on pricing, but considering that Lifte is a premium alternative to standard hospital gowns, I think you can expect a spicy price tag. Photo: Lifte Police in Santa Marta, Colombia, recently attracted criticism for publishing a wanted poster of alleged cartel members with no actual photos or names. On January 2nd, the Santa Marta police department published a poster of 12 of the most wanted criminals in the Colombian town, asking the general public for help in apprehending the alleged criminals, who were all members of the Los Pachenca drug cartel. All 12 individuals were also suspects in a series of criminal acts committed in Santa Marta in recent months, so it made sense to ask locals for assistance in catching them as soon as possible. The only problem was that the published poster only mentioned the suspects nicknames instead of their actual names and the same generic graphic where their photos should have been It is very important that citizens help us identify the people who are affecting life throughout the city, the police high command said, adding that we are going to provide payments for data that allow us to identify them. As you can imagine, police didnt receive too many useful leads, considering the vague information in their poster. not only that, but many actually criticized the department for even putting out the poster in that state. Los Simpson lo volvieron a hacer y predijeron lo que hace la Policia de Santa Marta en su tiempo libre. pic.twitter.com/e8tfHPYfbx Alejo Gonzalez (@DonCachaco) January 2, 2023 First lead: they all look identical, one person mocked the poster on Twitter. That is the Colombian police investigation body. An outstanding job! They dont post the photos because then they lose their salary, someone else wrote. Polemica por cartel de los mas buscados en Santa Marta: no habia foto de los criminales https://t.co/hFaBlL0PJe pic.twitter.com/a14nJuZud6 Noticias Caracol (@NoticiasCaracol) January 3, 2023 I already see a multimillion-dollar contract coming for silhouette identification courses in the police a person joked. The Santa Marta police department pulled the wanted poster soon after the first tweets mocking it started going viral, but by that point, the damage was done. An 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. Stood atop a stack of ancient balancing rocks, the sight below me is extraordinary. Large herds of oryx shift across open grasslands as clouds lift to reveal the curves of grassy mounds. Glinting in the distance, the snow-capped tip of Kilimanjaro soars upwards in a perfect cone. Today, the only rumblings I hear are from lions and elephants, but this undulating landscape was once a hothouse of volcanic activity. Part of a range that formed 1.4 million years ago, the Chyulu Hills are relatively young in geological terms, with the last recorded eruptions occurring in 1855. And although blankets of grass have since softened any angry tectonic upheavals, energy from fiery lava flows still runs through hilltops and stimulates life from the fertile soils below my feet. Theres something very special about this place, whispers my safari guide, Jackson, as we watch a hazy dawn sun emerge from the mist. Some people even say it sits on ley lines. Regardless of whether supernatural pathways pass through the Chyulus or not, this national park in southeast Kenya certainly has the power to captivate imaginations, supposedly providing the inspiration for Ernest Hemingways book Green Hills Of Africa. Although it receives far less visitors than flagship wildlife destinations, such as the Maasai Mara and Lewa, its an equally important ecosystem. Sandwiched between the red earth soils of Tsavo and the swamps and marshlands of Amboseli on the border with Tanzania, its an important migration corridor for elephants. I meet some of the regions male bull residents later that morning, when I visit a hide built next to a man-made watering hole. Some have tusks so long they spa like fencers as they battle greedily for the water source. At a time when most big tuskers have been almost genetically wiped out by decades of ivory poaching, they are a reminder of how magnificent this species once looked. A particularly striking example is an elephant affectionately known as One Ton. Hes one of our regulars, explains Graham Mckittrick, host manager at Ol Donyo Lodge, one of the few places to stay in the area. Set at the foothills of the Chyulu Hills National Park, 11 thatched cottages are spread across a gentle slope on the 111,000-hectare Mbirikani Group Ranch community land owned by 4,000 Maasai. Built with ancient lava rock which once flowed from Kilimanjaro, the space radiates a warm and earthly glow. Between game drives, I sit in my private plunge pool, watching giraffes glide across the horizon, their tall frames dwarfed by the epic scenery. During the day, klipspringers bolt through bushes, bright hornbills flash between treetops, and langur monkeys bathe boldly on terraces making themselves just as much at home as paying guests. Even after dark, nature continues her display. One night, I crawl into a star bed on the rooftop of my suite, listening to lions roar somewhere below the burning bright constellations, until I drift off to sleep. Filmmakers and photographers with an eye for beauty, Dereck and Beverly Joubert were so captivated by the Chyulu Hills, they chose to bring Ol Donyo Lodge under their Great Plains Conservation umbrella 15 years ago. The couple quickly recognised its ecological importance. We have one of the only continuous unfenced populations of black rhino in Kenya, explains Graham, when we head out early one morning on a walking safari. In so many places, populations have been poached to extinction, with animals reintroduced at a later date. But here, lava flows have created a fortress, providing a natural refuge. Climbing over sharp, rough parapets and a moat of whistling thorns, its no surprise to learn the rhinos are rarely seen. But its still reassuring to know they are tucked safely somewhere inside. Along with geological fortifications, non-profit organisation Big Life has played a key role in securing the survival of these animals, employing community scouts and establishing a security monitoring programme at the peak of the poaching crisis. The son of a well-known Kenyan game warden, conservationist Richard Bonham was one of the first people to negotiate a tourism land lease from communities when he started building Ol Donyo in the 1980s. He later sold the property to Great Plains but continues to live nearby in a bohemian open-air house with his wife Tara. Co-founded with photographer Nick Brandt and entrepreneur Tom Hill, Big Life has successfully co-ordinated cross-border anti-poaching operations between Kenya and Tanzania, protecting more than 1.6 million acres by employing hundreds of local rangers. But the biggest threat, Richard tells me when we meet at his home, is ongoing conflict between communities and wildlife, made worse by the sub-division of farmlands which block elephant corridors. Like so many conservationists, he faces ongoing challenges and frustrations, with no easy solutions readily available. His ongoing commitment is testimony to how special this place is. Late in the afternoon, I hike to one of the Chyulus many viewpoints. Perhaps its the fronds of red oat grass tickling at my skin, but the sensation of standing here is electrifying. Whether mapped by lava flows, ley lines or ancient migratory paths, Chyulus hills have a magnetism that will continually draw you back. How to plan your trip Rooms at Ol Donyo Lodge start from $1,045USD/872 per person per night (two sharing) full board, including Big Life conservation fees. Visit greatplainsconservation.com. Exceptional Travel can arrange packages with flights. Visit exceptional-travel.com. For more information on Big Life Foundation, visit biglife.org. BARRY Cowen TD has clarified that a third party service will provide out of hours doctor cover until January 15. This follows the shock announcement on Christmas Eve that the MIDOC out of hours service was to cease on December 31. Deputy Cowen said that the company MIDOC GP CLG had provided the service and employed doctors and locums etc. However, they have now ceased operations. In the meantime the HSE has stepped in to pay those who were employed by the company in order to continue with the service. He says the HSE is continuing to try to put a more permanent structure in place after January 15. Barry Cowen says he has sought a meeting with the HSE to ensure this will happen. There had been a lot of confusion locally after Deputy Cowen and Deputy Carol Nolan appeared to suggest that some type of agreement had already been reached for the service to continue as normal. On December 30, 2022 Barry Cowen TD said, ''Im pleased that extensive discussions between the HSE, local GP's and IMO (Irish Medical Organisation) have ensured that the current out of hours GP service will continue as normal. However I am urging all parties to continue these discussions to ensure that we secure an out of hours GP service that works best for the public and medical practitioners,'' said Deputy Cowen. Carol Nolan TD said on social media that, ''following discussions in recent days between HSE, GP's and IMO a decision has been reached that the MIDOC service will continue to operate in Offaly, Laois and the wider Midlands region as normal, however there are many questions that need answers in terms of how this vital service was even being considered by the HSE for closure in the first place and I will certainly be posing these questions.'' Today January 3 a statement from the HSE said: ''As outlined in our press statement 23 December 2023, the HSE has engaged a 3rd party agency (that has already been providing medical support to MIDOC GP CLG) to provide appropriate cover until 15 January 2023 based on normal and scheduled GP out of hours practice and rosters while the HSE confirms an alternative provider. This means that as of 01 January 2023, patients call the same number and attend whichever of the existing treatment centres they are directed to attend, if required. The HSE is working to ensure that the interim solution will be extended to facilitate discussions on a long term solution. The HSE will provide ongoing updates as we support the GPs and members of the public due to the untimely departure of MIDOC GP CLG.'' Fears that the service will close couldn't have come at a worse time, as hospital emergency departments are trying to grapple with overcrowding. Tullamore and Portlaoise hospitals are experiencing a high level of attendances and admissions in recent days. Where possible management is asking patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service such as their local Pharmacist or GP. Tullamore hospital says that ''unfortunately, patients who are presenting at the Emergency Departments with non-urgent conditions may experience long waiting times to be seen.'' Upworthy 04 Jan 2023 Taraneh Alidoosti, the acclaimed Iranian actress who was arrested after criticizing the government for its response to protests in.. Japan will toughen its COVID-19 border control measures for travelers from China from Sunday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, in response to a surge of infections. Additional measures Authorities have released an update on the circumstances around actor Jeremy Renners freak, weather-related accident that put him in hospital on the first day of the New Year. Renner himself has issued a statement on his social media. On January 1, after a massive snowstorm that hit the area around Mt. Rose Highway in Reno, Nevada, Renner went out with one of the snowplows on (continue reading...) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden's visit to a notoriously dilapidated bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky is a chance for him to showcase accomplishments and talk up the virtues of bipartisanship while rubbing shoulders with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The trip on Wednesday is also about cold, hard cash. Its a giant bridge, man, Biden said this week when asked about his planned trip to the Brent Spence Bridge. Its a lot of money. Its important. Indeed, the nearly $1 trillion that Biden's administration is doling out for roads and bridges, broadband networks and water projects across America will be critical not just for the communities getting the help but to the Democratic presidents political theory that voters are hungry for bipartisanship that delivers tangible results. As the prospects for massive, transformational legislating diminish rapidly this year in a divided Washington, the White House and top Cabinet officials aim to focus instead on selling Bidens recent achievements and demonstrating how the new laws directly affect Americans. That new effort kicks off as Biden stops in northern Kentucky at the perennially congested bridge spanning the Ohio River that has frustrated motorists for decades. The infrastructure law enacted in late 2021 will offer more than $1.63 billion in federal grants to Ohio and Kentucky to build a companion bridge that will help unclog traffic on the Brent Spence. Other top administration officials are holding similar events Wednesday and Thursday at other major bridges in the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is stopping by the collection of bridges crossing the Calumet River in Chicago; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was appearing at the Gold Star Memorial Bridge in New London, Connecticut; and... Wibbitz Top Stories 06 Apr 2023 US Sending $2.6 Billion , in Weapons to Ukraine , Ahead of Counteroffensive. On April 5, the Pentagon said that the United.. The European Union has "strongly encouraged" all members to impose the tests amid a spike in COVID-19 infections in China. Beijing has already reacted angrily to restrictions set by individual EU states. Men who held two people captive for nearly two weeks and subjected them to "barbaric treatment" in a Sheffield house have been jailed for almost 20 years. The Avengers star was run over by his own snow plough, the local sheriff said in a press conference. The judge has tentatively set the trial for the founder of the now-bankrupt FTX crypto exchange for October 2. Bankman-Fried was also barred from accessing FTX or Alameda Limited assets, as a new bail condition. Almost three weeks after the Ontario government gave pharmacists the green light to prescribe Paxlovid as a treatment for COVID-19, prescriptions for the antiviral drug more than doubled. The EU had tried everything to stop the Ukraine war, Germany's top diplomat has said. Meanwhile, a report says poor training of mobilized Russian personnel may be hampering Moscow's efforts. Follow DW for more. Unauthorized use of cell phones by Russian soldiers led to a deadly Ukrainian rocket attack on the facility where they were.. CTV News 04 Jan 2023 Travel in and out of China gets easier from Sunday, as it moves away from its zero-Covid strategy. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson warned that China's Moon ambitious could see them dominate resource-rich areas, or completely claim it, barring the US from the lunar surface. Spain's Iberia Airlines, which also flies to Israel, is the most punctual in Europe this year per the report, while Delta Airlines is the most punctual in North America. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. If Donald Trump was hoping his endorsement would help Kevin McCarthy secure the votes he needs to become House Speaker, it seems.. Upworthy 04 Jan 2023 Rep. Byron Donalds defended his decision to flip his vote for House speaker away from Kevin McCarthy in the third round of voting on Tuesday. Republican Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene lashed out at her Freedom Caucus colleagues over their demands during negotiations over who they will support for House Speaker. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced scrutiny after President Biden called for an end to "poison" politics despite smearing Republicans as racists in 2022. Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA's Apollo program, died Tuesday in Houston. He was 90. NASA confirmed Cunninghams death in a statement but did not include its cause. His family said through a spokesman, Jeff Carr, that Cunningham died in a hospital "from complications of a fall, after a full and complete life. Cunningham was one of three astronauts aboard the 1968 Apollo 7 mission, an 11-day spaceflight that beamed live television broadcasts as they orbited Earth, paving the way for the moon landing less than a year later. Cunningham, then a civilian, crewed the mission with Navy Capt. Walter M. Schirra and Donn F. Eisele, an Air Force major. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot on the space flight, which launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, Florida, on Oct. 11 and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda. NASA said Cunningham, Eisele and Schirra' flew a near perfect mission. Their spacecraft performed so well that the agency sent the next crew, Apollo 8, to orbit the moon as a prelude to the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday that Cunningham was above all an explorer whose work also laid the foundation for the agencys new Artemis moon program. The Apollo 7 astronauts also won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, during which they clowned around, held up humorous signs and educated earthlings about space flight. It was NASA's first crewed space mission since the deaths of the three Apollo 1 astronauts in a launch pad fire Jan. 27, 1967. Cunningham recalled Apollo 7 during a 2017 event at the Kennedy Space Center, saying it enabled us to overcome all the obstacles we had after the Apollo 1 fire... La lucha contra el delito, sostuvo la mandataria, requiere de un Estado firme y unido, y de un Ministerio Publico consciente de su responsabilidad, comprometido con la defensa de los derechos humanos y los intereses publicos. pic.twitter.com/0ODXUJhpFO The so-called Elgin Marbles could soon be returned to Greece as the British Museum reportedly closes in on a landmark deal. Aiden Aslin says he will not return to being a soldier after being captured by Russian-backed troops. The president, who has said he intends to run for re-election, will travel to Kentucky to emphasize that he is determined to reach across the aisle. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Damar Hamlins recovery is moving in a positive direction two days after the Buffalo Bills safety collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a game against Cincinnati, the players marketing representative said Wednesday. We all remain optimistic, Jordon Rooney, a family spokesman who described himself as a good friend of [...] Many commentators are suggesting that if Russia loses its war in Ukraine, the country will disintegrate, Pavel Pryanikov says. But history shows that even a loss in a war by itself wont lead to that outcome. It will occur only if there are forces within Russia pointing in that direction, and as of now, they arent sufficient... Republican Kevin McCarthy has lost a dramatic first vote for speaker of the US House of Representatives as hardline conservatives from his own party voted against him, leaving the new Republican majority in turmoil. President Joe Biden's visit to a notoriously dilapidated bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky is a chance for him to showcase accomplishments and talk up the virtues of bipartisanship while rubbing shoulders with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The trip on Wednesday is also about cold, #mitchlandrieu #rohio #kamalaharris #newlondon #democrat #airforceone #sherrodbrown #trump #transportation #donaldtrump Meta has been hit with a 390m fine (343m) fine by European regulators for forcing users to agree to personalised adverts. Here are all the latest stories from the world of MMA Tyson Fury wants Conor McGregor link up Tyson Fury says he is considering.. talkSPORT 28 Oct 2019 Other Side: Genesis Global Lays off All Employees and Declares Insolvency Published January 4, 2023 by Lee R Despite the writing on the wall, the shuttering of Genesis was still surprising. Embattled iGaming Operator Genesis Global revealed the extent of its troubles by recently laying off its entire workforce to start the holidays. Sayonara 2022 The Malta-based former global iGaming heavyweight ended the year quite conclusively, sending off their employees that December wages were in doubt, and the company was launching insolvency proceedings a mere two days before Christmas. The Announcement The Times of Malta published the letter that Genesis Global sent to all 140 employees on 23 December: Earlier this week, the company initiated proceedings in the courts of Malta to be declared insolvent. As a consequence, this has unfortunately resulted in your position being declared redundant. No Wages Available Redundant means obsolete in this case, as confirmed in the language that continued the letter, stating that the company may not be able to pay all or any of the dues that are due to you in terms of law, which include both December salaries as well as notice pay. Seeking Hope In conclusion, all Genesis could promise was that the company is currently trying our best to find a solution to this issue while continuing to work withthe authorities concerned to find alternative solutions for delivering due compensation and proper severance packages. Recent Indicators The announcement was foretold by other recent organizational developments, including the departure of Genesis Global chief executive Ariel Reem and the companys full exit from the UK gambling market, the latter of which entailed the closing of 14 online ships in total. CEOs Departure Reem was not specific about his reasons, simply posting on LinkedIn: It is time to move on to the next challenge/adventure. Compliance Issues Other difficulties Genesis has failed to weather include the involuntary suspension of its UK license in 2020, and costly difficulties in multiple other jurisdictions for repeated failure to comply with respective anti-money laundering AML guidelines. Precursor Fines The multi-region violations included a $4-million fine in the UK; a $5-million fine in Belgium; and a $418K fine in Sweden. Layoffs Had Begun The dwindling of the workforce was already in process, as the company had previously employed 200 workers, and some 40 had been laid off abruptly before this final stroke. Goodbye Malta HQ The insolvency also means that Genesis Global will permanently shutter its Malta headquarters, bringing to a close the end of an era in iGaming after ten years of operation could not be resuscitated. Outlook for Optimism With Maltas gaming economy posting some 700 openings, the majority of workers from Genesis have a chance to land at their feet in one of iGamings busiest jurisdictions. Director of Content and Operations Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half. FILE--This is an undated file photo of JonBenet Ramsey, who was found dead in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colo., Dec. 26, 1996. The grand jury investigating her death met again Friday, Oct. 8, 1999, and the lead prosecutor said its work is coming to a close. Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter also said an announcement of the results of the investigation could come at any time, telling reporters to stay in contact with his office this weekend because 'it's a fluid process.'(AP Photo/Boulder Police Department, File) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambian police prosecutors have charged two civilians and a policeman with treason and concealment of treason for their alleged participation in a coup plot against President Adama Barrow Swiss Post has strengthened its network in Germany by acquiring two transportation specialists at the beginning of the year. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> On January 1, 2023, it acquired the forwarding company Gaiser, based in Rielasingen-Worblingen, including its Swiss subsidiary based in Ramsen in the Canton of Schaffhausen. Founded in 1964, the company has 61 employees and focuses on providing cross-border transportation services between Germany and Switzerland. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Swiss Post also acquired Spedition Nolden, based in Kerpen-Turnich near Cologne, on the same date. Founded in 1890, the company has 50 employees and provides transportation services throughout Europe with its fleet of around 60 vehicles. By strengthening its portfolio, Swiss Post will be able to provide Swiss companies with even more comprehensive logistics solutions. Johannes Cramer, head of logistics services and member of executive management at Swiss Post, said, Germany is the most important trading partner for many Swiss companies of all sizes. Theyre reliant on seamless supply chains to help them to ship products to customers quickly and easily. Its precisely these supply chains that were strengthening by acquiring the two forwarding businesses. This will, in turn, allow companies to focus on their core business. And Swiss Post will ensure the goods are transported from A to B on time. Swiss Post will integrate the German part of Gaiser and Spedition Nolden into the transportation company Bachle Logistics based in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany. Bachle Logistics has been under Swiss Posts ownership since 2018. Photo: (Photo : Pexel/William Fortunato) Two Indiana mothers were hailed as heroes after they saved the life of a missing Ohio baby and helped in capturing the kidnapper. Five-month-old twins Kason and Kyair Thomas were left in the backseat of a family Honda at Donato's Pizza in Columbus last December 19 when Nalah Jackson stole the vehicle. One of the twins, Kyair, was soon found at the Dayton International Airport parking lot after a bystander witnessed him being abandoned on the spot. However, Kason remained missing, which led the authorities to issue an Amber alert. People reported that the other twin, Kason, was found safe in Indianapolis near a Papa John's pizza location three days later, as announced by the Columbus Division of Police on their Facebook page. Thanks to Shyann Delmar and Mecka Curry, whom the authorities described as "quick-thinking women" that immensely helped in solving the case. He and his wife as villains When Kason was missing, Jackson allegedly began selling toys from a car. Delmar, an Indiana mom, bought some toys from her and even gave her a ride to a nearby store. However, at those times, Delmar felt there was something fishy as Jackson's story seemed contradictory. She felt so strange that it pushed her to take a video of the suspect. They even swapped phone numbers if Delmar wanted to purchase more toys. The next day, Delmar saw a mugshot of Jackson while she was scrolling on Facebook. Thus, she contacted authorities immediately, News 5 Cleveland reported. Delmar then asked her cousin, Curry, for help. The two women went to Jackson and told her they wanted to buy more toys. They were already part of the authorities' plan to get Jackson into their vehicle. When the plan worked, the authorities pulled the vehicle over and arrested Jackson. However, Kason still needed to be found. Read Also: Baby Brandon Cuellar Rescued, Suspects Arrested in San Jose 3-Month-Old Kidnapping It took courage Delmar and Curry had the initiative to check every bus stop in the area as they knew that the suspect had been traveling by bus. They could not locate the bus until they spotted a Honda in a parking lot and saw baby Kason inside. They signaled the police, who identified the baby and was found still wearing the same clothes he had when he was kidnapped. IMPD Sgt. Shawn Anderson, a Columbus Police spokesperson, told News 5 how social media could be a "positive tool" to help spread important information and help solve cases effectively. "Mecka and Shyann, I appreciate you. My family appreciates you. What you guys did, it took courage," said LaFonda Thomas, baby Kason's grandmother. Jackson, in the meantime, has been charged with two counts of felony kidnapping, according to People. No plea has been entered, and online court records do not reflect any attorney representative on her behalf. Related Article: New Jersey Mom Who Risked Life to Save Children From Drowning Recovers From Serious Injuries Presidenta @DinaErcilia Boluarte participa en la ceremonia de apertura del ano fiscal 2023 en la sede del Ministerio Publico. En vivo: https://t.co/jY441igmfG Photo: (Photo : Monstera from Pexels) Childhood trauma can be a heartbreaking and difficult experience for both child and parent alike. It can take months or even years to process the traumatic event and find ways to cope with the aftermath. As a parent, it's important to know how to help your child heal from childhood trauma in healthy and supportive ways. Here are five top tips for helping your child heal from childhood trauma. Talk About It Talking about traumatic experiences can be a difficult and sensitive subject for both parent and child, but it's an important step in the healing process. Most children find it reassuring when their parents are available to support them and address any issues that arise from trauma. One way to make this process easier is by maintaining an open dialogue with your child that is both honest and age-appropriate. Thinking of creative ways to talk to your little one can help keep the conversation light-hearted and positive, while still recognizing the gravity of the situation. Allowing your child to express their feelings when they're ready, trusting their judgment, and offering unconditional support are great ways to foster a healthy recovery. Reach Out for Professional Help Seeking professional help is key when dealing with childhood trauma. A therapist or other mental health professional can provide invaluable guidance on how to best support your child during this time and give you insight into what could be causing the trauma in the first place. Not only will they be able to work directly with your child, but they can provide advice on how you as a parent can better understand and support them through their healing journey. They can also recommend resources such as books, online courses, or other materials that could help you both cope better together. Therapists are also knowledgeable on different therapies that could be helpful for childhood trauma like EMDR therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and art and play therapy. Create a Safe Space By providing them with physical and emotional safety, you will allow them the opportunity to rebuild their sense of security that has likely been damaged by their past experiences. Simple things like creating consistent routines that they can count on, establishing healthy boundaries, and offering unconditional support are just a few ways to help restore stability in a child's life. Remember to moderate the levels of technology in their daily life so they have time away from the world to work on themselves. Find Healthy Coping Mechanisms Finding healthy coping mechanisms works like a charm when it comes to helping your child heal from childhood trauma. Rather than jump automatically to medication or traditional therapy,you can explore the huge array of techniques that can help your child work through their emotions? Teaching them yoga postures or breathwork can build self-confidence and body awareness; journaling, art projects, and storytelling can help kids express their feelings in an outlet they feel comfortable with; guided meditation encourages mindfulness and reflection; and spending time in nature gives them a chance to peacefully connect with the world around them. It may take a bit of work to figure out which coping mechanism resonates with your child, but making the effort will be worth it in the end. Set Boundaries Setting clear boundaries around conversations about traumatic experiences is essential when trying to help someone recover from childhood trauma because it allows both individuals to feel safe in their interactions with one another without feeling overwhelmed by too much information or uncomfortable topics being brought up again and again. Setting boundaries also helps create an environment where both parties feel heard and respected which is vital when discussing sensitive issues. Helping a child heal from childhood trauma can be difficult, but with the right support and guidance, it is possible. With these tips, you can create a safe and supportive environment that will enable your child to work through their trauma most healthily. His death has received (to me) surprisingly little coverage, probably because he was no longer the reigning pope and because he had gone into fairly complete seclusion since resigning the papacy nearly a decade ago. Those are, of course, very much the reasons why his funeral although it will take place in St. Peters Basilica and although the currently reigning Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, will preside over it (which is, to put it mildly, a rarity) will be a rather small one. But Pope Benedict XVI was a consequential Catholic thinker and leader even apart from his tenure as the Supreme Pontiff. Here, to help to illustrate that fact, are two groups of short appreciations of him by a number of prominent Catholic writers (including Robert Royal, a historian whose work Ive enjoyed, and Anthony Esolen, who is currently my favorite translator of Dante): The Catholic Thing: Benedict XVI: A Tribute The National Catholic Register: Benedicts Books: Unpacking the Late Popes Theological Impact: Six prominent theologians illustrate Benedict XVIs great contributions to the life and mind of the Church by reflecting upon some of his most significant theological works On Saturday last, when I heard the news of the passing of Pope Benedict, I posted a few sentiments and a memory about him here on this blog. (See The Passing of a Pope, and of a Year.) Shortly thereafter, voices at the Peterson Obsession Board began to express their indignation at what I had written, pronouncing it a slam against the former leader of the worlds Catholics. The parade example? After referring to the late pope multiple times under his regnal title of Pope Benedict XVI (or some variant thereof), I had closed my blog entry with this statement: I firmly believe [that] Joseph Ratzinger has now entered into a new life after decades of attempting to serve God in the best way he could. Requiescat in pace. How arrogant! I had insulted him as having merely attempted to serve God. And I had disparaged Catholicism. For example, my use of the late Pope Benedicts name Joseph Ratzinger was allegedly disrespectful in the extreme, discourteous, mean spirited, lacking simple decency, hypocritical, and incredibly offensive. Well, I think that Ill briefly respond. (You can read or re-read my previous blog entry yourself in order to judge whether it is fairly characterized as a slam that was incredibly offensive, lacking simple decency, hypocritical, mean spirited, discourteous, and disrespectful in the extreme.) I absolutely do not believe that Pope Benedict XVI would have been even slightly outraged at my summarizing his mortal life as decades of attempting to serve God in the best way he could. Anybody who has read what he wrote (or glanced through the links that I supplied on Saturday) would recognize that characterization as nothing more nor less than his very own, very modest self-understanding. (See, too, Former Pope Benedict XVI asks for forgiveness, thanks God in final published letter.) Moreover, my personal view of our universal human condition is that attempting to serve God in the best way we can is the best that any of us can hope to achieve here in mortality. My description of Pope Benedict as having done so was intended to praise him, not to denigrate him. And as for the use of his pre-papal name, Joseph Ratzinger, please read through the tributes to which Ive linked above and notice how frequently that name is used by devout, conservative Catholics to refer to him, along with his regnal title of Benedict XVI. When I wrote my final line, thinking of Pope Benedicts entry into eternity, I had in mind not only the fact that, when we die, we probably dont carry many of our earthly titles (e.g., Doctor, Professor, President, Senator, Congresswoman, or Mayor) with us into the next world, where theyre irrelevant and count for nothing, but also a very specific ritual that has been connected with the death of popes for centuries now. It originated in a world where confirming death was a bit more uncertain than todays medical technology allows: When a pope is thought to have died, the papal chamberlain (who assumes temporary stewardship of the Vatican after a pontiffs death) takes a silver hammer expressly made for the occasion and taps the popes head three times, all the while calling out the popes baptismal name with each tap. Whether this was actually done in the case of the no-longer-reigning Pope Benedict XVI, I currently have no idea. (Its a situation without traditional precedent.) But it means that, in the case of Pope Benedict, the chamberlain would not have called out his regnal name, Benedict, after each tap of the hammer but, rather, his given baptismal name of Joseph (or perhaps, depending upon the nationality of the chamberlain, Giuseppe). At that moment of transition into the world to come, Pope Benedict XVI would have been, simply, Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger. If the pope does not respond to the three taps, the chamberlain then turns to the others in the room and ceremonially declares, The pope is truly dead. Thereupon, he immediately falls to his knees and prays Psalm 130, the De Profundis, which is a penitential psalm. I note, too, just as an interesting but supportive detail, that there is, so far as I can recall, only one pope who is explicitly identified in the early-fourteenth-century Paradiso of Dante Alighieri as residing in heaven. It is John XXI, who briefly occupied the papacy from 8 September 1276 to his death on 20 May 1277, the only physician and the only Portuguese ever to have held the office. But does Dante, that great and devout late-medieval Catholic poet, refer to him as Pope John XXI? No. He does not. Instead, he refers to him as Pietro Ispano or Pietro Spano (Peter of Spain). Pope John XXI, you see, was born as Pedro Juliao in what is now Portugal, and was widely known before (and, clearly, after) his pontificate as Petrus Hispanus in Latin and, in Portuguese, as Pedro Hispano. I dont believe that anybody on the Peterson Obsession Board can plausibly argue that Dante intended to be disrespectful, discourteous, mean spirited, without simple decency, hypocritical, or incredibly offensive when he singled Peter of Spain out as being in Paradise. Biblical Proof That Three Named Brethren of Jesus Are Non-Siblings + Harmonious 2nd Century Evidence Regarding the Fourth (Simon) Iceman2525 is some sort of Protestant. His Disqus profile offers no further information about him. Much of this exchange took place underneath my article, Jesus Brothers: Anti-Catholic Lies from a Tiny Lutheran Sect (ELS). I compiled my counter-responses into a new article: Dialogue w a Protestant on Marys Perpetual Virginity (1-2-23), which he has now responded to in turn. I appreciate the substantive, cordial dialogue. His words will be in blue. I have made some slight editorial corrections or additions in his text (playing editor a bit). ***** See Part I Thank you for sharing your article. Theres a few things I could challenge in the article but to keep this short Ill limit [my response]. No need to keep it short. The more arguments, the merrier! I dont think all the adelphos usages for fellow countrymen or fellow believers really affects the other family relationship contested uses. By context we can nearly always know if adelphos is referring to a sibling/relative situation or fellow countrymen, non-related. Even today we can clearly know by context if someone is talking of an actual sibling or something else to refer to strong friendships, such as soldiers calling fellow soldiers their brothers. One example: Paul uses adelphos as brethren/fellow believers almost entirely of course as thats how he addresses church members in his writings. But this fact says nothing about how commonly adelphos is used for relative/kin. I reviewed all the verses in Mark with adelphos, using a Bible app search. Ten uses definitely refer to siblings. One use was ambiguous. Six uses involved the contested Mark 3:31 Mark 3:35 and Mark 6:3 passages. In Matthew I found 30 verses with adelphos. Ten uses clearly mean sibling. Thirteen were for fellow countrymen or followers, and five uses concerned Jesus brothers. With just a few like Matthew 10:21 Im not sure, but I doubt that cousin would fit the context. So in my findings for Mark and Matthew regarding adelphos, I find twenty refer to actual siblings, thirteen to fellow countrymen, eleven in disputed Jesus brothers passages, and maybe three are ambiguous, but [in my opinion] I cant fit cousin into the context of any of them. Since twenty usages refer to siblings and I cant find any other passage in Matthew or Mark where cousin would fit in context, I believe this gives strong weight to [the view that] adelphos [in the] Jesus/brothers passages refer to actual brothers and not cousins. I really dont have time now to examine the rest of the New Testament, but I think this is a fair start. I can, of course, elaborate on my findings if you have questions. Thank you. I appreciate all this research and your response. We both have researched and written extensively about the usages of adelphos. I believe that what we can readily agree upon is the fact that examinations of variable usage alone are not the definitive solution to the determination of the exact nature of Jesus brothers in the NT. We will have to look at those passages in particular and see whether any exegetical or cross-referencing considerations can give us any solid clues as to what were disputing. I have done that already in many papers of mine, which is why I urged you last time to grapple with some (hopefully much) of that, so that this dialogue can helpfully advance to the next stage. I summarized these sorts of arguments that I have made (and that Catholics and others who agree on this doctrine with us traditionally have made), in my article, Jesus Brothers: Anti-Catholic Lies from a Tiny Lutheran Sect (ELS). Here are two that specifically look at the most relevant passages: In comparing Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, and John 19:25, we find that James and Joseph (mentioned in Matthew 13:55 with Simon and Jude as Jesus brothers) are the sons of Mary, wife of Clopas. This other Mary (Mt 27:61; 28:1) is called the Blessed Virgin Marys adelphe in John 19:25. Assuming that there are not two women named Mary in one family, this usage apparently means cousin or more distant relative. Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3 mention Simon, Jude and sisters along with James and Joseph, calling all adelphoi. The most plausible interpretation of all this related data is a use of adelphos as cousins (or possibly, step-brothers) rather than siblings. We know for sure, from the above information, that James and Joseph were not Jesus siblings. . . . Jude is called the Lords brother in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3. If this is the same Jude who wrote the epistle bearing that name (as many think), he calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James (Jude 1:1). Now, suppose for a moment that he was Jesus blood brother. In that case, he refrains from referring to himself as the Lords own sibling (while we are told that such a phraseology occurs several times in the New Testament, referring to a sibling relationship) and chooses instead to identify himself as James brother. This is far too strange and implausible to believe. Moreover, James also refrains from calling himself Jesus brother, in his epistle (James 1:1: servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ): even though St. Paul calls him the Lords brother (Gal 1:19). Lets look at these matters more closely: Matthew 27:56 (RSV) among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, . . . Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, John 19:25 . . . But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. There is some significant early patristic evidence (see more on this below) suggesting that Clopas was St. Josephs brother, in which case, Mary his wife would be the Blessed Virgin Marys sister-in-law (which would be in the range of uses for adelphe: sister). If that is the case, then James and Joseph / Joses would be Jesus first cousins, or more accurately, his step first cousins (Joseph not being literally His father). Note that this is not consistent with the sons of Joseph from a previous marriage / Epiphanian explanation. Moreover, if someone wishes to assert that this other Mary (Mt 27:61; 28:1), who is described as the mother of James and Joseph (Mt 27:56; Mk 15:40), is Jesus mother, thats a real stretch, since it would entail her being described in two passages as the mother of these two or three persons, but not the mother of Jesus: Whose crucifixion she was watching at that very moment. Thats simply not plausible at all. Besides, in John 19:25, the two Marys are shown to be sisters (which can have meanings other than sibling). It seems obvious that they would not be siblings, having the same name, so sister-in-law or cousin makes much more sense. This is why it is so important to synthesize and harmonize all the information that we can obtain in the four Gospels. Whoever believes in biblical inspiration holds that they are all harmonious, since the omniscient God is the ultimate author. The named brothers of Jesus are James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude. Unnamed sisters are also mentioned (Mt 13:55-56; Mk 6:3). We know for sure that this other Mary is the mother of two of the four named brethren (James and Joseph). So that is virtual proof that 50% of the named brethren are children of Mary Clopas, the other Mary, whereas neither they nor any of the others (named or not) are ever called sons of the Blessed Virgin Mary: mother of Jesus. This is what the Bible informs us. I didnt make it up! Catholics didnt pull it out of a hat like a rabbit. This is Gods inspired revelation: the Holy Bible. If two of these four named persons are known to be cousins, with a different mother than Jesus mother, then it is perhaps more likely (though not provable) that the whole group are non-siblings. Furthermore, it is known that extended families were the norm in ancient Israel (as indeed they probably still are today). I wrote abut this aspect in my article, Jesus Brothers Always Hanging Around: Siblings? [National Catholic Register, 5-11-18]. Here is one portion of that: The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (edited by Allen C. Myers, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, rev. ed., 1975) makes the nature of the Israelite family very clear, by noting that it could include more than one nuclear family (thus, cousins would be residing together): The basic social unit, comprised of persons related by kinship and sharing a common residence. The Israelite family was an extended family known as the fathers house or household (Heb. bet-ab), consisting of two or more nuclear families (i.e., a married couple and their children) or composite families (an individual with multiple spouses and their offspring) . . . other kin (including grandparents), servants, concubines, and sojourners might also be reckoned part of the household (cf. Gen. 46:5-7, 26). (Family, p. 376) Moreover, on the next page, this reference work noted that clans also usually occupied the same or adjacent towns. Extended families stuck together. It was like a perpetual family reunion. This would account for first or second or third cousins (all referred to as brothers in Semitic or Near Eastern culture: then and now) hanging around in one place. Commenter Alex Lielbardis brought up this further argument: Mark 6:4 And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin [(, / suggenes)], and in his own house. (cf. Jn 7:5: For even his brothers did not believe in him.) He added: The plural Greek word used refers to kinsfolk, relatives, or fellow countrymen. This same word is used by Luke in his account of the Annunciation which in the singular form specifically means a cousin: And behold, your kinswoman [ / syngenis] Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren (Luke 1:36). Thus, Jesus apparently replies with his cousins (relatives or kin) in mind, in response to what was said by those who were offended at him. As for Jude, I made my argument above. He called himself a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James (Jude 1:1). Now, were supposed to believe that if he were literally Jesus sibling, this is how he would describe himself? That makes no sense whatsoever and stretches credibility beyond the breaking point. The fact that he says he is James brother is our first clue that he is the same person as the brother Jude. James does the same, writing that he was a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas 1:1), while St. Paul calls him the Lords brother (Gal 1:19). All of this fits in perfectly with the cousins explanation. It does not harmonize with a siblings interpretation. The only question remaining concerning this brother Jude, is whether he is the same person who wrote the epistle of Jude. The New Bible Dictionary (Eerdmans, 1962, Jude, Epistle of) states: In the early Church there was only one James who could be referred to in this way without further specification James the Lords brother (as he is called in Gal. 1:19). This points to an identification of the author with the Judas who is numbered among the brothers of Jesus in Mt. 13:55 and Mk 6:3 . . . (p. 675) Likewise, An Introduction to the New Testament (D. A. Carson, Douglas J. Moo, and Leon Morris; Zondervan, 1992) observes: [T]hough he does not say [in Jude 1:1] which James he has in mind, it is generally held that this must be James the brother of Jesus, . . . If so, Jude is himself a brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3). (p. 459) Both of these sources likely think as typical Protestants today that Jude was Jesus sibling, but for my present purposes, that doesnt matter. Im simply trying to establish that the consensus of scholarship is that hes the same Jude who is one of the named brethren. This work offers a theory as to why Jude and James dont call themselves Jesus brother: in their epistles: [I]t seems that the brothers preferred to see themselves as servants of Christ rather than to claim kinship. In a spirit of true Christian humility, they preferred to class themselves with other believers rather than to take up a position that might be thought to assume a specifically close connection with Jesus. (p. 459) I dont think this is nearly as plausible or likely as their doing this because they werent His siblings. I submit that this argument proves too much. If the goal was humility, then why would Jude bother to say he was the brother of James: an eminent bishop at the time? That might be considered non-humble status-seeking name-dropping as well. He would more likely (under the exceptionally humble hypothesis) have said that he was a servant of Jesus, as James did. I contend that he wasnt trying to be self-effacing. He was simply broadcasting his credentials of a sort: as the brother of a great Christian man. * I am maintaining that he is using adelphos in the sense of sibling, in describing James as his brother. We know that they are brothers because the Bible teaches (see above) that they had the same mother: which it never does when referencing his [Jesus] brothers : eight times in the four Gospels, or his sisters twice (Mt 13:56; Mk 6:3). But the New Testament never says they were sons of Mary, mother of Jesus. If it had done so, we wouldnt be arguing this. There would be no case at all for Marys perpetual virginity, and it would never have become a dogma of the Catholic Church and held by the great majority of Christians all through Church history. * History of the Church, documents Based on these considerations, I consider it to be biblically proven that 75% of the named brothers or sisters of Jesus are non-siblings (though the proof for Jude is less compelling than that for James and Joseph). That leaves Simon: the fourth named brother. There is no further relevant biblical information about him that I know of. But we have significant patristic data (from the second century), and further confirmation of Judes already biblically established cousin of Jesus status. Eusebius, in his, documents Hegesippus (c. 110 c. 180) as follows: After the martyrdom of James and the conquest of Jerusalem which immediately followed, it is said that those of the apostles and disciples of the Lord that were still living came together from all directions with those that were related to the Lord according to the flesh (for the majority of them also were still alive) to take counsel as to who was worthy to succeed James. They all with one consent pronounced Symeon, the son of Clopas, of whom the Gospel also makes mention; to be worthy of the episcopal throne of that parish. He was a cousin, as they say, of the Saviour. For Hegesippus records that Clopas was a brother of Joseph. (Book III, section 11, parts 1-2; translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 1. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. [1890], pp. 123-124 in the version translated by G. A. Williamson, Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1965; cf. Book III, section 32, part 4: Mary, the wife of Clopas, who was the father of Symeon and Book III, section 32, part 1: Symeon, the son of Clopas) Hegesippus also describes the beginnings of the heresies that arose in his time, in the following words, rescued from oblivion by Eusebius: And after James the Just had suffered martyrdom, as the Lord had also on the same account, Symeon, the son of the Lords uncle, Clopas, was appointed the next bishop. All proposed him as second bishop because he was a cousin of the Lord. (Book IV, section 22, part 4; Williamson translation, p. 181) Thus, at this point, we have express biblical evidence that James and Joseph are sons of Mary Clopas; the other Mary and not of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its most plausible to hold that Jude also was; or was, at least, not a sibling. Now, thanks to Hegesippus, we know that Simon, or Symeon (a variant of Simon; see, e.g., Acts 15:14; 2 Pet 1:1), was also a son of Clopas and the other Mary; therefore also a cousin of Jesus and not a sibling. Hegesippus confirms that Simon: mentioned together with James and Joseph and Jude in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, is the son of Mary wife of Clopas, who was an aunt of Jesus (St. Josephs brother and his and Marys sister-in-law). Scripture directly affirms that James and Joseph were the sons of Mary and Clopas (Mt 27:56; Mk 15:40). These are my exegetical arguments regarding three of the four named brothers, and additional early patristic evidence for the fourth. I think they need to be grappled with by those who think that Jesus had literal siblings, so that Mary was not a perpetual virgin, which would disprove a Catholic and Orthodox dogma and also the belief of all of the Protestant founders and earliest leaders. If our Protestant brethren want to argue Bible, Ive done that and am always more than willing and happy to do so. I think I have presented some very strong biblical arguments above, with also some good corresponding patristic evidence. Lastly, Iceman2525 previously stated: If the popular tradition before Jerome was that Jesuss brothers were from Josephs prior marriage, then I find it odd for Catholics to support any other theory/tradition that would come later from Jerome. I have provided strong evidence for the cousins theory both from the Bible itself (and of such a nature that contradicts the step brothers theory), and also from the second century (Hegesippus, cited by Eusebius). So it is incorrect to claim that Jerome invented or first wrote about this in the 4th-5th centuries. Hegesippus died about 162 years before Jerome was born. Even Eusebius, who recorded Hegesippus mostly lost words, died a few years before Jeromes birth. As always, then (as I have invariably discovered in my 32 years of Catholic apologetics), both the Bible and early tradition support the Catholic position, and refute Protestant in this case, later, not initial Protestant departures from it. * I researched the uses of adelphos in the Gospels to counter what you presented as strong arguments [regarding] ratios of usages that supposedly cast doubt on the actual brother meanings. * In one of your replies you assured me that there would be lots of times adelphos would have a cousin usage for the New Testament. * Thats not quite accurate. I stated: I dont have time to go through all the usages and determine when cousin or any other non-sibling was meant, but it surely must be a lot of times. [italics added presently] However, my review of the four Gospels has shown zero usages for cousins (Im excluding the usages referring to Jesuss brothers). But the brothers are what we are discussing! I have shown that Joseph and James are Jesus cousins; therefore, when they were called adelphos / brothers, it meant, in fact, cousin. So adelphos meant cousin in at least those two cases. So far my assumption would be that a cousin meaning would be an uncommon one. Yet if there are lots of cousin usages in NT besides the ones you site relating to Jesus then please share. Ive shown that two of the four brothers were cousins. Thats what matters in this discussion. You have to now directly grapple with that. For the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John I found adelphos usage 41 times clearly indicating actual brothers/sisters, and 19 uses for fellow countrymen/fellow believers. Thats why I claimed that cousin or any other non-sibling was the meaning a lot of times. You have verified 19 of these. Thanks for making my point! 18 were associated with Jesus. Maybe three other verses not clear enough but context doesnt seem to support any meaning for cousin. Disregarding all the counts associated with Jesus brothers I find it interesting that I found over forty instances of adelphos used for sibling and zero uses for cousin. Yet we are supposed to believe the only exceptions to the overwhelming meaning as sibling are when its used concerning Jesuss brothers really means cousin. Again, I am making arguments regarding the brothers of Jesus. You will have to address those eventually. Your sorting out all the Marys as in John 19:25 is intriguing and something that can take a little time to sort out, as I still am [doing]. Fair enough. You make some fair points and well thought out but cant say you settled it. Thanks! Then please show me where my argument for Joseph and James went astray. You of course say there are three Marys listed but there are some who say the grammar shows four women. I have no Greek studies so Im not qualified in this. But apparently the names Mary, James and Joseph were quite popular at that time and so very plausible two Marys could have sons with the same names. Possible, but surely not plausible . . . Plus Mark 15:40 calls this James the less along with Joses perhaps to erase confusion with James the Lords brother. But this whole sorting out all the Marys and who they are can be complex and as I see elsewhere there are a variety of theories. As for Jude referring to himself as a servant of Jesus Christ instead of the Lords brother, this is nothing but an act of humility and putting Christ first. Should we expect Jude to go around town telling everyone Hey! Im Jude the Lords brother with a proud look on his face? Youre assuming that it must be an act of pride to do so. But that doesnt follow. It could simply have a meaning of hey, I grew up with Jesus [as His blood brother]! I know Him very well, so I have a strong basis for my opinions. Jude could go around calling himself the brother of Christ or recognize he is first a servant of Christ before anything else. Its not an either/or scenario. Thats where your premise is dubious. Thank you again for your replies. Thank you, too, for the continuing cordial interaction. As I said before, I think we have exhausted the procedure of counting up uses of adelphos. I started to again directly examine the named brothers of Jesus (as I had already done at the outset). As far as I am concerned, its proven from cross-referencing that Joseph and James were His cousins: sons of the other Mary who is called the Blessed Virgin Marys sister (adelphe). Do you grant that this is the case? If not, why? Your burden would then be to show from the Bible that they are actually siblings. Best wishes in that endeavor. But if you concede that point, then thats half of the named brothers shown to be cousins (two of four), which is quite significant, I think. I made a biblical argument from plausibility for Jude being a non-sibling. I think it works; you dont. Thats the nature of those sorts of arguments; people disagree on what is plausible. Theyre not airtight arguments, by their very nature. So theres nowhere else to go with that. My argument for Simon being a cousin came from early tradition (Hegesippus: 2nd century). This contradicted your claim that Jerome basically came up with the cousins theory much later. Youd have to tell me why you would question that (if you do). *** See the follow-up article: Hegesippus (2nd c.) and the Brothers of Jesus (Including a New Argument from How Jesus is Described in Relation to Mary and Joseph) [1-5-23]. *** 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. Advertisement Scroll to continue 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. 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' intrusioninto 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. Source: Reuters Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said they are supporting the families of two British nationals who died after the two helicopters crashed mid-air. A British couple who were among four people killed when two helicopters collided in mid-air near a theme park in Australia have been named. Diane and Ron Hughes, 57 and 65, were from Liverpool and married in 2021. In a statement, their family said they are heartbroken and are still trying to contact friends and family to let them know. he crash happened on the Gold Coast - not far from Sea World in the state of Queensland - at about 2pm local time on Monday. The park would have been filled with families enjoying the school summer holidays. Initial investigations have shown that one helicopter taking off, which contained seven people, collided with another helicopter coming into land, which contained six people. Mr and Mrs Hughes were on the helicopter carrying seven people, which crashed. The 40-year-old pilot and a 36-year-old woman from New South Wales also died. A 10-year-old boy who was on board is in a critical condition, while a 33-year-old woman and a nine-year-old boy are seriously injured. The helicopter coming into land "remarkably" landed upright, despite considerable damage to the front left section of the aircraft, where the pilot was sitting. Five occupants on this aircraft sustained minor physical injuries, while the sixth was uninjured. Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said that the incident was a "tragic start to the new year". He explained that the main rotors of the helicopter taking off collided with the landing helicopter around 200m in the air, causing considerable damage to the front section. During the process, the main rotor blade and gearbox detached from the main body of the aircraft. Mr Mitchell told reporters: "We are very fortunate that we're not standing here with far more deaths." A sandbank made it difficult for emergency service workers to access the site of the crash. Sea World Helicopters, a separate company from the theme park, expressed its condolences, saying it was "devastated" by what had happened and was cooperating in an investigation opened by authorities exploring the cause of the crash. A statement read: "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 witness named John described to Melbourne radio station 3AW that there was a "massive, massive bang" and staff at the theme park moved swiftly to close off areas closest to the crash. "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". She said: "My deepest sympathies are with each of the families and everyone affected by this terrible accident." Mr Mitchell said officials will continue to gather all possible intelligence, including camera footage taken by members of the public and CCTV from nearby buildings. He said: "What we need to know now is what was occurring inside them two cockpits at the time. We know the take off and landing are critical phases of any flight where the cognitive workload of pilots are at their greatest." Source: Skynews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The French foreign ministry on Tuesday said it had received a letter from the Burkinabe authorities in December requesting the departure of Frances's ambassador from Burkina Faso - a move the ministry called "not standard practice." The Burkinabe government has declined to comment officially on reports it sent this request to Paris last month. In emailed comments, the French ministry's spokeswoman confirmed it had received such a letter, but declined to give further details or say how it had responded. "We have indeed received a letter from the Burkinabe transitional authorities. This is not standard practice and we have no public comment to make in response," she said. The whereabouts and status of French Ambassador Luc Hallade could not immediately be confirmed. The embassy in Ouagadougou declined to comment. The apparent expulsion signals a further deterioration in relations between France and Burkina Faso, a former French colony in West Africa where France maintains strong ties and has special forces stationed. Protests by opponents of the French military presence have surged there this year, partly linked to perceptions that France has not done enough to tackle an Islamist insurgency that has spread in recent years from neighbouring Mali. The prolonged insecurity led to political instability and military coups in August 2020 and May 2021 in Mali, and in January 2022 and September 2022 in Burkina Faso. Angry mobs targeted the French embassy, cultural centre and military base in Burkina Faso on the day of the second coup and on Nov. 18. Demonstrators demanded France leave and called on the interim military authorities to ask Russia for help fighting the insurgents, like in Mali. In late December, Burkinabe authorities ordered senior U.N. official Barbara Manzi to leave the country, accusing her of painting a negative picture of the security situation. Source: Reuters Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dan Botwe, Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development has urged citizens of Bawku in the Upper East Region not to allow conflict to dictate the pace of life in the area. He said healthcare delivery, access to education, agriculture and socioeconomic activities were at the lowest end in Bawku, leading to loss of lives, properties and compelled many to flee due to the protracted chieftaincy dispute. The guns must be silenced, and cool heads must prevail for the restoration of normal social life and peaceful coexistence. We cannot allow criminals and conflict profiteers among our ranks to destabilise the peace of the area and dictate the pace of life of the vulnerable. Criminals should be viewed and treated as such from both sides, he said. Speaking at the 35th annual Samanpiid festival of the chiefs and people of the Kusaug Traditional Area, Mr Botwe said it required the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to restore peace in Bawku to achieve the needed development. He said the theme for this years celebration, Building Peace: The role of all Stakeholders was apt considering the reemergence of the conflict and said all residents and stakeholders had roles to play individually and collectively to attain lasting peace in Bawku. The Minister underscored the urgent need for stakeholders especially factions in the conflict to use social interaction to complement each others efforts to avoid and condemn conflicts at all levels to promote respect for human rights and dignity, social justice, and rule of law. I wish to passionately appeal through our revered king (Bawku Naba) to urge our brothers, Kusaasis, to return to the Bawku Interethnic Peace Committee to facilitate dialogue among you and our brothers on the other side on the way out of this crisis, he added. He reiterated the resolve of government to continue to engage all relevant stakeholders to achieve lasting peace and restore the lost glory of Bawku of economic prosperity. Mr Cletus Avoka, Member of Parliament for Zebilla Constituency who spoke on behalf of all the six MPs of Kusaug Traditional Area including Bawku, Zebilla, Tempane, Garu, Pusiga and Binduri, said conflict had destroyed the reputation Bawku once held as the life and commercial business centre of the Upper East Region and Ghana. Mr Avoka noted that the government and other stakeholders had made efforts to ensuring peace in Bawku, but the situation remained the same, and worsened by the day and added that the strict stands by factions in the conflict did not help to resolve the issue. He said the conflict was retarding development of the area as projects implementation in the area had been stalled including those working on the main Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road as contractors were afraid to work there. Many of the homes are empty, young men and women and business people are all vacating Bawku and that is a sorry sight. Education, business, and healthcare are declining, if not at a standstill and so we have the collective responsibility to make sure we have peace in Bawku, he said. Zugraan Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of Kusaug Traditional Area, through a speech read on his behalf, commended the government for the efforts made so far to restore peace and underscored the need to expedite actions to achieve lasting peace for sustained development. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 22:00 | Lima, Jan. 3. convey a message in the face of the violent protests that had taken place in various cities and The purpose of said event was toin thethat had taken place inand which caused the death of citizens over recent weeks Carrying posters with messages of peace and white balloons, marchers in Lima left the Campo de Marte park and walked through various streets in the Downtown area, until they reached Plaza San Martin (San Martin Square). At the site, the main activity took place within the framework of the March for Peace. Similar mobilizations were held in Cusco, Arequipa, Puno, and Trujillo, among other Peruvian cities. National Police members were deployed to various zones where the aforementioned march took place, in order to guarantee order. The Ghana National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, otherwise known as e-Pharmacy platform, goes live nationwide today, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced. Ghana's nationwide e-pharmacy platform, the first of its kind in any African country, and one of the few in the world, is a platform of registered pharmacies which allows the Ghanaian public the ease of uploading and buying prescribed medicines on the platform and getting it delivered to their locations once they register on the platform with their Ghana Card. Announcing the full operationalisation of the initiative on his Facebook page after a successful six-month pilot, Dr. Bawumia, who spearheaded the e-pharmacy with stakeholders of the pharmaceutical industry, expressed delight at the convenience it will bring to Ghanaians as well as its expected boost to the pharmaceutical industry. The e-pharmacy platform adds to the numerous digitalisation initiatives which have been successfully implemented in the past six years under the NPP government. Key among them are the digital national identification system (Ghanacard), national digital property address system, mobile money interoperability, universal QR Code as well as digitisation of governemnt services at the ports, registrar general, DVLA, passport application and many others. In the health sector, the e-pharmacy platform adds to the successful medical drone delivery service which delivers essential drugs in real time through drones to remote parts of the country. Below is Dr. Bawumia's full Facebook post: In 2019, I challenged the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to take steps in ensuring that Pharmacy services are digitized through the introduction of a national scale e-pharmacy platform. The Pharmacy Council took up the charge (with coordination from my office) and I was honored to launch the Ghana National Electronic Pharmacy Platform (GNEPP) in July 2022. After, a successful pilot, I am delighted that today, the GNEPP goes live and Ghana becomes the first country in Africa and one of only a few countries in the world with an operational national scale e-pharmacy platform. With GNEPP, after registering with your Ghanacard, any prescription can be uploaded onto the platform via mobile phone through https://www.gnepplatform.com/ (or through a USSD code). You can find which pharmacies close to you have the medicines and compare the prices of the medicines across different pharmacies. Using your mobile phone, you can order the medicine, pay for it, and have it delivered at home through your digital address or pick it up. You can also be sure that the drugs are not fake because the GNEPP platform is integrated with the FDA platform. With the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, Ghana will be part of the new pharmaceutical digital economy to boost pharmaceutical sales and generate revenue. GNEPP will also result in less Wahala for Ghanaians in the pharmacy space. My thanks to the Minister for Health, the Pharmacy Council, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, the NHIA, FDA, Medical and Dental Council, HeFRA, Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Council, Allied Health Professions Council, and the private sector partners for their leadership in making this possible for Ghana. It is a major feat. Ayekoo! God bless our homeland Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a six-year ban on political rallies imposed by her hard-line predecessor, John Magufuli. Her decision is part of her 4Rs initiative - Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding. She acknowledged parties had the right to hold rallies but she urged them to be "civil" and not to "trade insults" Mr Magufuli had banned rallies in between elections in what was seen as an attempt to weaken the opposition. He dismissed rallies as a waste of time and money, and said they detracted from the key challenge of building the economy. Mrs Samia announced the reversal of his policy at a meeting with opposition politicians. "Our duty as a government will be offering protection for the rallies," she said. The chairman of the main opposition Chadema party, Freeman Mbowe, said he welcomed the announcement. "The move is first of all a return to a right guaranteed in the constitution and our laws," he added. Mr Mbowe spent seven months in prison, before the prosecution dropped charges of terrorism against him in March 2022. His arrest had raised doubts about Mrs Samia's commitment to reforms after she became president following Mr Magufuli's death in 2021. Anther opposition politician, Zito Kabwe, told AFP news agency that the president's decision to lift the ban was a "big move". "This is the right that was snatched by the state through an illegal presidential decree," he added. Mrs Samia also promised to look into opposition demands for changes to the constitution. Opposition parties say the constitution gives too much power to the president. They also want changes to safeguard the independence of the electoral commission and the courts. Mrs Samiah is the leader of the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has been in power for more than half a century. It has often been accused of rigging elections, and of harassing and intimidating the opposition. It denies the allegations. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the 2023 budget of more than $45bn (37bn) into law. It is the last budget of his administration. The budget reveals that the government wants to sell some public assets in order to lessen the huge deficit, which amounts to just less than 5% of GDP. Alongside the main spending plan is an additional spending plan to deal with the aftermath of the recent nationwide floods which damaged vital infrastructure. A large portion of the budget is funded by the earnings from crude oil but volatility in the oil price has meant that borrowing has increased and forced the government to look for other ways to raise funds. Mr Buhari's two terms in office will come to an end after voters elect his successor next month. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong is the Chief Executive Officer of Special Group of Companies and Co-founder of United Television (UTV), all based in Accra in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The business magnate with a heart of gold has a pristine credibility and integrity worth emulating by all young entrepreneurs and upstarts. Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong has over the years positioned himself in the business world not just outstandingly but also become the source of livelihood and inspiration to many Ghanaians and the world at large. Bridging the unemployment gap, he has created several jobs for tons of people, provided for the needy and the deprived in society in a way that leaves many people in awe admiring his magnanimity. Philanthropically, Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpongs name will for a lifetime remain on the lips of his beneficiaries as he gives cheerfully and willingly with love and a sense of responsibility to be genuinely good to people. In the corporate and business world, one cannot mention names without this foremost figure whose business acumen is second to none. Dr. Ernest Ofori is a global icon, a humble man and leader with an immaculate record distinguishable from others and a great inspiration to both the young and old. PROFILE Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong is an astute businessman with many years experience. He is a product of the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (Presec). He has an amazing business career in the small and medium enterprise industry; an industrialist and holds MSc in Finance and Investment Management from Salford University Manchester in United Kingdom. He set up the SPECIAL INVESTMENTS LTD which is a real estate and construction business and can boast of a significant number of estate houses and apartments in very strategic areas of the city and numerous office complexes and shops. In 2011, he solely founded and set up the mineral water company, SPECIAL ICE LTD. He also founded SPECIAL HOMES LTD, a real estate company. He co-founded with a close friend; BESTPOINT SAVINGS AND LOANS CO. LTD which is already a highly recognized financial institution in Ghana, BEST ASSURANCE LTD, which is a renowned insurance company. U2 SALT LTD a 600 acre salt mining company and a refinery at Winneba in the Central Region. UNITED TELEVISION (UTV Ltd), which is currently the leading TV station in the country. Honors The Peristrofi World Honorary International Award Conference bestowed on him an Honorary Ambassador of Business Entrepreneur in West Africa. He has been conferred with a Doctorate Degree of Philosophy in Law from Barkley University for his contribution to the socio-economic development of Ghana. He has been decorated with the Highest Distinction of Global Dignity Awards for Service to Humanity at the United Nations, New York with the Proclamation by the Senate of New York. He has received lots of recognitions and awards locally and internationally and has attended various local and international conferences, seminars and business workshops among others. He is; Honorary Fellow Chartered Institute of Credit Management Ghana Honorary Member, Ghana Institute of Journalism The President of East Legon Executive Fitness Club. The Global President of PRESEC Old Boys Association The Board Chairman of the Governing Council, PRESEC The Board Chairman Emy Awards He has been appointed to the Board of National COVID Trust Fund of Ghana by the President of Ghana. Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw/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 Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. Debate over medical assistance in dying is heating up as a deadline approaches to expand the program to people whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Presidenta @DinaErcilia Boluarte ratifica compromiso de trabajar en conjunto por una justicia que responda a expectativas de todos los peruanos. Lee la nota en: https://t.co/HYswYaX1W7 " " Leucochloridium paradoxum is a parasitic flatworm (or "helminth") that uses a gastropod, or snail, as an intermediate host in order to intice its ultimate target, a bird. Henri Koskinen/Shutterstock Look, something had to inspire those "Alien" movies. By one estimate, somewhere around 40 percent of all known animal species are parasitic. From 30-foot (9-meter) fish tapeworms to Orthione griffenis, a "cough drop-sized" crustacean that drinks shrimp blood to survive, planet Earth is crawling with parasites. Advertisement Many of them have evolved to find very specific hosts. Take Strigiphilus garylarsoni, a "chewing louse" named after cartoonist Gary Larson (you may remember him as the creator of "The Far Side"). It spends its entire life cycle on the skin of an unsuspecting owl, where the stowaway feeds on feathers and other organic materials. Besides owls, no other animals are known to harbor this particular kind of louse. But sometimes, one host isn't enough. Sometimes, the only way for a parasite to reproduce and complete its own life cycle is by passing through multiple carriers. Such is the case for Leucochloridium worms, biological oddities that have been accused of turning snails into "zombies." This behavior is said to be part of an elaborate scheme that also involves hungry birds and their poop. Supposedly, if things go according to plan for the worms those poor old snails get their eyes pecked out. Dallas Contemplates Spending Additional Taxpayer Money to Fight Poker Rooms January 03, 2023 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. The fight between the city of Dallas and the local poker rooms could turn out to be a costly one for lawmakers. One year ago, the city revoked the Certificate of Occupancy from Texas Card House Dallas, one of the top card rooms in the state. That was just the beginning of an ongoing legal battle that has already gone through multiple appeals and could potentially end up in the Texas Supreme Court where a ruling on the legality of poker statewide could be made, if it gets that far. Last spring, the city's Board of Adjustment ruled to reinstate TCH Dallas' Certificate of Occupancy. Andrew Espinoza, a chief building official in Dallas, then sued the BOA for as he claims they illegally reversed the COO revocation. He won the case and now an appeal is in the process. Learn more about poker in Texas here! Taxpayers to Front Bill to Stop Texas Poker Rooms? Texas Card House and Shuffle 214, another Dallas poker club facing similar legal issues, have their own attorneys, but for this case to continue moving forward, the city of Dallas must decide if it wants to spend additional taxpayer money. According to the Dallas Morning News, the city has already spent $200,000 on this case. Future expenses could surpass $600,000, a hefty bill for taxpayers, especially those who have no vested interest in poker. The price tag for legal fees is two-fold. Per the Dallas Morning News report, $300,000 would be used for Espinoza's defense and the other half to defend the Board of Adjustment in an appeal. Texas poker rooms operate in a rather unique manner due to strict gambling laws in the Lone Star State. Instead of collecting rake, which is illegal in Texas, the businesses charge membership and seat fees. This practice, however, is still considered illegal by some lawmakers. But dozens of poker rooms in the state have popped up in the past few years as many others believe the wording in Texas Penal Code 47.04 permits gambling under the social club model. Shuffle 214 Dallas Texas Card House and Shuffle 214 have remained in operation during the legal battles. Last month, a Texas judge ordered the city of Dallas to leave the poker rooms alone during the appeals process. The legal poker battle in Texas is expected to heat up in 2023, not only in Dallas, but also in regards to the October raid at the Watauga Social Lounge Poker Club. A court date for that incident is set for later this month. Additionally, late last year Texas lawmaker Gene Wu (D-Houston) introduced House Bill 732 to address the social club loophole. He told PokerNews in an interview that his intentions aren't to ban poker in the state, but instead leave it up to individual counties to determine legality. "We're supportive of full legalized gambling across the state," the Democratic politician said. The Texas Legislative Session convenes the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years (its a biennial system), so poker players in Texas will have to wait until 2023 to see what ultimately develops. PokerNews will bring updates if and when they happen. verything's Bigger in Texas - Especially Poker! Sharelines Will Texas taxpayers be on the hook for a legal battle against local poker rooms? Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print New records reveal that George Santos lied to voters and the American people when he claimed he was not a criminal. CNN reported, Republican Rep.-elect George Santos admitted to stealing a mans checkbook that was in his mothers possession to purchase clothing and shoes in 2008, according to documents obtained by CNN. The admission came in a statement Santos gave to police in 2010, according to 150 pages worth of case documents. DCCC Spokesperson DCCC Spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre said in response to the report, George Santos is a liar, fraud, and cheat whos proven he cant even issue an apology without spewing more lies. New Yorkers cant trust a single thing he says. Hes an embarrassment to Long Island and is completely undeserving of being a member of Congress. Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Democrats are already targeting George Santoss seat to flip. However, Santos might not make it to the next election as a member of the House. When Santos tries to explain himself, he tells more lies. House Republicans cant elect a speaker much less afford to lose 25% of their current majority. If Santos gets criminally charged in Brazil, it is safe to expect Republicans to ignore the charges. The real problem will arrive for House Republicans if US prosecutors find that he committed crimes. Whether it happens in 2023 or 2024, it looks like George Santoss stay in the House could be short. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The thing speaks for itself, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, showing his Democratic Caucus the cover of the New York Daily News labeling George Santos and Kevin McCarthy the liar and the loser. Meanwhile, in House Democrat Land Minority Leader Jeffries showed the caucus the NY Daily News cover from today. The thing speaks for itself, he said. Heather Caygle of Punchbowl reported: Meanwhile, in House Dem Land Minority Leader Jeffries showed the caucus the @NYDailyNews cover from today The thing speaks for itself, he said. pic.twitter.com/dRbOj7IZl4 Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) January 4, 2023 When the media tried, once again, to lay Republican dysfunction at the feet of Democrats to fix, Jeffries responded, We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction. We need a partner in governance to build upon the incredible progress that we made for the American people over the last few years, by the way, with a similar majority. Listen To My Podcast And Get Fresh News By Subscribing To Our Newsletter: Democrats arent going to be bullied into cleaning up the Republican mess yet again, after a decade of doing just that. As hard as it is to watch Republicans in such dramatic and dysfunctional disarray, every parent knows there comes a time when they need to let their child fail so the child can grow. And that time has long since arrived for Republicans. Since there is no one left in their own party in the House with the courage to stand up to them, Democrats will once again be the grown ups in the room. But this time its tough love. No more enabling. Jeffries is coming out of the gate already prepared and on point. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the most effective speaker in our lifetime, didnt just leave her caucus hanging when she stepped back. Instead, she trained Jeffries first, and he smartly chose to learn from her (the best), because Democrats are (currently) not clowns. Democrats are showing how it should be done when professional, serious people with policy ideas take the reins. Imagine what we could be getting done if the Republican Party were not the diseased, hate-ridden, organized crime operation it has willingly become. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Former president Donald Trump did what he always does in times of trouble, attacking a person of color, on Monday evening with three nonsensical screeds about Ruby Freeman. Apparently, attacking this Black woman yet again failed to offer the relief from his dangerously wounded ego, and so he flailed about and reloaded Wednesday morning with a new pair of attacks on this woman who did nothing wrong except count votes that didnt give Trump what he wanted. Here is one of Trumps wounded animal wails, offered with the caveat that he does these rants knowing they will be shared and thus his lies will be elevated and slink into the national consciousness. Trump lost Georgia fair and square. The 2020 election was the most secure election in U.S. history. Trumps own Attorney General and officials in 50 states found no evidence of widespread fraud. Trump never provided evidence of his claims of fraud and his campaign lost their challenges based on claims of election fraud. Yet, Trump is unwilling to accept that truth even now, so he punches down like he always has. Hence: The Ruby Freeman tapes that I put up on Truth Social are AMAZING. Now they have been heard and seen all over America, together with the actual act of stuffing the ballot boxes with far more votes than needed for me, and Senator Perdue, to win GEORGIA. At first she thought that they had been caught, got VERY nervous, and wanted to spill the beans on everyone. Then the SOS, GBI, FBI, calmed her down, helped CLEAN her social media, took her away (for two months!). SHE THEN CHANGED HER STORY! None of that happened. What did happen was Trump lost the 2020 election by millions of votes. But still, Ruby Freeman was forced to shut down her own small business and flee her home to live in an undisclosed location on the advice of the FBI because of Trumps accusations against her after he lost the 2020 election. You see, Ruby, a grandmother, volunteered to do that job that citizens across America used to do to give back to their communities: She volunteered to do the tedious job of counting votes. And those votes did not add up to a win for Trump, and so he honed in on Ruby and her daughter Wandrea Shaye Moss, attacking them with lies, accusing them without evidence of rigging the November 2020 election for Joe Biden with suitcases of ballots. It got worse. Reuters reported: Freeman made a series of 911 emergency calls in the days after she was publicly identified in early December by the presidents camp. In a Dec. 4 call, she told the dispatcher shed gotten a flood of threats and phone calls and racial slurs, adding: Its scary because theyre saying stuff like, Were coming to get you. We are coming to get you. Two days later, a panicked Freeman called 911 again, after hearing loud banging on her door just before 10 p.m. Strangers had come the night before, too. She begged the dispatcher for assistance. Lord Jesus, wheres the police? she asked, according to the recording, obtained by Reuters in a records request. I dont know who keeps coming to my door. Freeman and Moss were working the Fulton County election. Fulton County is predominantly Black or African American, like many of the other areas Trump focused on with unproven and false accusations of fraud, like Detroit. There is an undeniable racial component to Trumps accusations of fraud focusing on cities with predominantly Black voters. Its problematic that this is not discussed and accepted more broadly. Justice Jill Karofsky of the Wisconsin Supreme Court pointed out that the [t]wo counties . . . are targeted because of their diverse populations. Because theyre urban. I presume because they vote Democratic. Addressing Trump attorney Jim Troupis, Justice Karofsky said, This lawsuit, Mr. Troupis, smacks of racism. Of course, the man who has been a known racist also used racism to dog whistle to his followers who have been primed to believe racist lies about people in predominantly Black cities. Fundamentally, these attacks based on nothing but lies are an attempt to disenfranchise people of color, and the continued attacks on Ruby Freeman serve as a warning to other Black women not to participate in the electoral process, lest they also be accused based on nothing and driven out of their homes and businesses. In June of 2022, we learned how Ruby Freeman felt after these attacks. Do you know how it feels to have the President Of The United States target you? Ruby Freeman asked. Trumps attacks on Freeman were a part of a widespread Trump campaign of pressure and intimidation of election officials. This is Trumps way of handling ego wounds. He lashes out and tries to draw blood. Other peoples pain and fear is the only salve he has when hes hurt. And right now, he is hurt. Just the other day he went so far as to blame the midterm losses on Republicans for how they handled the overturning of Roe, in an attempt to point out that he is not the cause. That was the rare occasion when the former president had a point. But he is wrong that he is not part of the brand problem facing the Republican Party. Trump is a lost cause when it comes to seeking integrity and decency. However, where are the Republicans willing to stand up for Ruby Freeman? There should be at least a few in Republican leadership who could find a desire to even offer a modicum of decency enough to protest publicly against this ongoing assault on a private citizen in her 60s. Its likely that Freeman will consider litigation, which the Maddow Blog pointed out would be easier now that Trump is no longer a sitting president. The profound lack of decency in Trumps ongoing attacks on Ruby Freeman should not be brushed off as more of the same. They are dangerous, we all learned just how dangerous these election lies are on January 6th and then again with the attack on Paul Pelosi. Someone in Republican leadership should be willing to stand up for an election worker who was forced to flee her own home due to violent threats from their party leader. Anyone? Anyone? YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian officially asked United States President Joe Biden to help the people of Artsakh who are now under blockade. In a joint letter addressed to President Biden, Bass and Krekorian said : Vladimir Putins brutality in stifling democracy is not limited to Ukraine. Today, because of his actions, 120,000 ethnically Armenian med, women and children in the democratic Republic of Artsakh are facing a slow death by freezing, starvation or lack of medical care. This unfolding humanitarian catastrophe is the result of a deliberate blockade instigated by Azerbaijans dictator Aliyev, with the support of Russian troops, who are essentially holding the people of Artsakh hostage by siege. Through this illegal blockade, these two dictatorships are seeking to punish Artsakh and Armenia for daring to promote democracy and stability in the region. Worse, in the absence of bold action by the United States, the world may soon be witnessing another Srebrenica or Sarajevo, and ultimately the genocidal destruction of all Armenian presence in the region. Since December 12, Russian peacekeeper troops who are charged with maintaining the Lachin Corridor Artsakhs only lifeline to Armenia and the rest of the world have allowed Azerbaijan to blockade it, thereby cutting off all access to food, fuel, medicine and other humanitarian supplies. Schools have been forced to close, store shelves are empty, and hospitals cannot obtain medical supplies or perform vital procedures. There is no way to transport 350 seriously ill patients to neighboring Armenia for critical care, which has already resulted in one death and will lead to the deaths of many more if the blockade is not lifted. The U.S. Representative to the United Nations has called for the blockade to be lifted, in order to allow the free movement of people and goods from Artsakh to Armenia. But demands alone, without firm punitive action, will not motivate Aliyevs criminal regime to behave like a civilized nation, particularly when Russia also seeks to use the blockade to advance its own anti-Western and anti-democratic regional goals. Azerbaijans brutal and unprovoked military attack against Artsakh in 2020 resulted in a Nagorno-Karabakh Ceasefire Agreement, signed on November 9, 2020 by Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia with the concurrence of the Republic of Artsakh. The current blockade is a direct and shameless violation of the express terms of that agreement by Russia and Azerbaijan, both of whom continue to demonstrate contempt for democracy and the rule of law among nations. The United States must clearly demonstrate its commitment to democracy and global stability by coming to the aid of the people of Artsakh. That immediate and unambiguous response should include: Providing direct U.S. humanitarian assistance to Artsakh, including food and medical supplies; Making clear to Putin and Aliyev that the United States demands and will act to ensure the safe passage of flights into Artsakh to provide aid; Assertive U.S. diplomatic engagement to facilitate negotiations between Baku and Stepanakert to guarantee the rights and security of the Armenian population of Artsakh; Insisting that Russian troops in Artsakh be replaced by international peacekeepers; Taking tangible action against the regime in Azerbaijan to hold it accountable for its crimes pursuant to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and the Magnitsky Act. Along with other representatives of communities across our country who share these concerns, we urge you and Vice President Harris to meet as soon as possible with Armenian-American community leaders and the Congressional Armenian Caucus to discuss this urgent situation. We look forward to receiving your assurance that the United State will not stand idly by while aggressive dictatorships pursue a genocidal policy against their democratic neighbors. On December 30, 2022, the Iranian presidents special envoy on Afghanistan affairs, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi, spun a conspiracy theory about the 20-year U.S. war in Afghanistan, which ended with the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Kazemi-Qomi said the fight against terrorism was only a pretext for the 2001 invasion. Their first excuse for choosing Afghanistan for the invasion was the existence of terrorism and al-Qaida while the group came to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, he said. The envoy said the United States was pursuing its plans while al-Qaida was carrying out its assigned missions as a proxy. Americans brought Daesh to Afghanistan, Kazemi-Qomi said, using an acronym for Islamic State, adding the U.S. sought to pursue its plans there through its occupation and its military presence. "Iran's revisionist history claims that al-Qaida came to Afghanistan after its cell attacked the U.S. mainland on 9/11 (from its terror bases located in eastern Afghanistan's Pashtun belt) are completely untethered from reality and patently false, Brian Glyn Williams, author of Counter Jihad. The American Military Experience in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, told Polygraph.info. The U.S. and its allies launched their invasion of Afghanistan with the goal of neutralizing al-Qaida and its co-founder, Osama bin Laden, who helped mastermind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The world knows that Osama bin Laden and his followers arrived in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 1996 after they were expelled from Sudan under joint U.S., Egyptian and Saudi pressure on the Turabi host government, Williams said. He was referring to the-then government of Hassan al-Turabi in Sudan. In 1996, Taliban leader Mullah Omar granted bin Laden and al-Qaida melmastiia, or sanctuary, and bin Laden swore bayah (an oath of loyalty to Mullah Omar as the Commander of the Faithful) in 1998. From there, members of al-Qaida made their presence, and intentions against the U.S., known. Bin Laden and his No. 2, Ayman al Zawahiri, were regularly filmed by al-Qaida operatives and interviewed in their Afghan bases at Khalden, and Al Farouq, by the world media from 1996 to 2001. For example, in 1996, 97 and 98, bin Laden issued his infamous televised fatwas or decrees calling for attacks on the American Far Enemy from his terror camps in eastern Afghanistan, Williams said. He added that the 9/11 hijackers were also filmed at al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan prior to the attacks. In October 1999, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1267, creating the so-called al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee. That resolution linked "the two groups as terrorist entities" and imposed "sanctions on their funding, travel, and arms shipments, the Council on Foreign Relations said. The measure also called on the Taliban to hand over bin Laden to the appropriate authorities. Bin Laden had been indicted by the U.S. earlier that year for conspiring to kill U.S. citizens. Al-Qaida has been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks targeting the U.S., including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, which killed 224 people and injured 4,500 others. The Taliban also provided al-Qaida with a base that it used to organize the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people on U.S. soil. Prior to the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, the U.S. and the U.N. Security Council demanded that the Taliban hand over bin Laden. The Taliban put forward conditions for handing bin Laden over to a third country, which the U.S. rejected. While the U.S. quickly toppled the Taliban, two decades of insurgency and reconstruction efforts followed. The U.S. ultimately signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February 2020. Williams said Irans absurd claim that the U.S. is carrying out its plans in Afghanistan using al-Qaida as a proxy shows a poorly informed view on the geopolitics of countries on their own borders. The fact is that the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan, known as Operation Enduring Freedom, ended in 2014 and the last remaining 2,000 light footprint support troops, who were supporting Afghan National Army troops as part of Operation Resolute Support, were disastrously withdrawn from Afghanistan in August 2021. There is no U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, that job now belongs to the Taliban, he said. In August 2021, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the U.S. government's leading oversight authority on Afghanistan reconstruction, released a report that raised critical questions about the U.S. mission there. Still, claims that al-Qaida is a U.S. proxy are belied by successful efforts to weaken the terror group. As noted in a report from the Brookings Institution research group in Washington, D.C. noted: Although al-Qaida has fighters in Afghanistan, its ability to launch international terrorist attacks from there and from Pakistan, where the core organization has been based for almost 20 years, is limited. Al-Qaida core members havent successfully attacked the U.S. homeland since 9/11, despite numerous attempts, and have also been ineffective against Europe in the past decade. The U.S. has also eliminated top-ranking al-Qaida members. It seems the Iranian Press TV did not get the news that the American CIA killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al- Zawahiri, who was living in Taliban- controlled Kabul in direct contradiction of a Taliban agreement with the U.S., with a so-called Predator drone Ninja bomb strike on his home in August 2022. Hardly the sort of treatment a country metes out to proxies it assigns missions to, Williams said. The U.S. killed bin Laden a decade earlier - at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011. Outside of Afghanistan, the U.S. also successfully (and controversially) killed Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen who served as an al-Qaida spokesperson, and Abu Yahya al-Libi, another top al-Qaida leader. An April 2022 report by the U.N.s monitoring team in Afghanistan said, "The relationship between the Taliban and al-Qaida remains close. That report added that member state assessments suggest al-Qaida has a safe haven under the Taliban and increased freedom of action. As for Islamic State, Polygraph.info has previously debunked similar Russian disinformation attempting to link the U.S. to the militant groups branch in Afghanistan, called Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). The actual history of combat between the U.S. and Islamic State, including longtime U.S. efforts to eradicate ISIS-K and its leadership in Afghanistan, are well-documented. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Two people died in Armenia from Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, healthcare authorities announced on January 4. The patients who died were 35 years old. One of them had underlying diseases and had an obesity level 4, meaning, the patient was at high risk, said Romella Abovyan, the Director of the Department of Infectious and Non-Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. She said that going to the doctor at the early stage of the flu can save lives. I would like to piggyback on the recent letters sent in concerning the location of the SRS lab location. My opinion is that the downtown location is not a good fit for this facility. The lab location should be built at the Carrol Warner business park. Read moreLetter: SRS lab should be near site The Aiken City Council decision allowing a 47,270 square foot grocery store to be constructed near the entrance to the Village at Woodside has been appealed to the Aiken County Court of Common Pleas. Attorney Dione Carroll filed the appeal on behalf of E. Preston Rahe and John Veldman on Dec. 27. On Nov. 28, the Aiken City Council voted unanimously to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance for 4.72 acres of land on the corner of Silver Bluff Road and Village Green Boulevard, zoning that land as planned residential and amending the concept plan of the Village at Woodside to allow for the construction of the grocery store. Rahe and Veldman own property within Woodside that is adjacent to the proposed grocery store land. "Grounds for appeal are that the decision of the city of Aiken and City Council are inconsistent with the state and federal constitutions, [state] statutes, [the city's] zoning ordinances and comprehensive plan," Carroll writes in the appeal. She asks the court to grant an injunction preventing the implementations of the ordinance and the construction of the grocery store and to nullify the decision because it was made outside of the city's legal authority and is, therefore, incapable of being implemented. Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said the city was aware of the suit but does not comment on pending litigation. Federal and state constitution violations Carroll argued the city's decision violated the due process rights of Rahe and Veldman. Due process rights are the rights of citizens to receive a fair legal proceeding from the government before it takes an action. The allegation centers on a Sept. 13 workshop held by the Aiken Planning Commission in which the commission heard from Silver Bluff Development Company but did not receive any public comment. "During the workshop, Silver Bluff Development Company was allowed to speak at length, but no public comment was taken or allowed," Carroll writes. "And, nothing in the notice indicated discussion with the developer would be allowed or conducted, thereby denying appellants and other similarly situated persons due process." At the regular Planning Commission meeting held immediately afterward, five people spoke against the proposal. Several people spoke during a Sept. 26 public hearing held before the Aiken City Council approved the first reading of the ordinance, and 20 people spoke at the public hearing held before the second reading. Also, Carroll notes Silver Bluff Development Company held two meetings with concerned residents and agreed to modify the lighting, to construct a sound barrier, add an additional vegetative barrier and to move the grocery store 25 feet further away from the properties of Rahe and Veldman. Statutory violations Carroll argues the approval of the ordinance violates the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act of 1994 because the city's updated comprehensive plan is not consistent with the land use on Silver Bluff Road. She said the city's 2017 comprehensive plan applies a Whiskey Road corridor designation for Silver Bluff Road from its intersection with Whiskey Road until the Village at Woodside. Carroll said residential uses are the dominant portion of the city-annexed land on Silver Bluff Road south of the shopping center where Food Lion is and that combining those uses with the Whiskey Road corridor is inappropriate. Zoning ordinance violations Carroll makes three arguments about violations of the city's zoning ordinance. First, she argues the development violates a provision in the city zoning ordinance requiring commercial developments within planned residential communities like the Village at Woodside to primarily serve residents of the planned residential district. Carroll said the increase in size of the grocery store (a 20,000-square-foot grocery store was approved in the Village at Woodside's plan), the addition of of a six-store strip mall, a 339-space parking lot, two additional outparcels, a new traffic light and that the grocery store will face Silver Bluff Road show that the development will primarily serve the general public and not the Village at Woodside. Second, she argues the grocery store development would violate a zoning ordinance provision requiring no more than 5% of the space (229,000 square feet) in the Village at Woodside to be allocated to uses other than residential or open space. Carroll said the Village at Woodside's calculation of commercial space does not include areas that should be counted as commercial including a maintenance building, a parking lot already built and the parking lot to serve the grocery store. She said if these items are counted as commercial space the amount of commercial space is nearly four times the allowed amount. Third, she argues the calculation of open space in the amended concept plan is arbitrary and capricious because there is nothing provided that explains how the amount of open space in the plan was calculated. EDGEFIELD A short drive north from this small town near South Carolina's western border sits a place called Pottersville. On a crisp autumn day, a serene grassy ridge rises up under a deep blue sky. A single tree sways atop it. Downhill, close enough to throw a rock if you have a good arm, a grove shades a strip of land where a creek once flowed. That creek formed the perfect conditions for a cracker-jack specimen of clay. Rich in a substance called kaolin, it was particularly hardy and impervious, making it superior in producing mass quantities of stoneware. This was by no means some artful folly. Around two centuries ago, before the days of refrigeration, stoneware was a crucial commodity for storing comestibles like meat, pickles, flour and gin. The clay was scooped up in vast pounded mounds to be turned and coiled and fired and glazed, done so by an industrial force of mainly enslaved laborers, who dug and hauled and shaped and finished thousands of pots. As early as 1815, the stoneware and ceramics enterprise started by a physician named Abner Landrum was in motion. Landrum, a Renaissance man akin to Benjamin Franklin, later founded the towns first newspaper, The Edgefield Hive. In the 1800s, the Pottersville community and other outfits in Edgefield District became big business, with distribution throughout South Carolina and elsewhere. Landrum started his business in partnership with relatives, including his nephew Harvey Drake. A serious proposition merging commerce and craft, he continuously introduced new techniques, importing alkaline-glazing from Asia for the first time in America. Given the size of Pottersville vessels and magnitude of its production, the workforce likely used every inch of their bodies from their muscles to hoist heavy jars to the tips of their fingers to dent the coils formed into sturdy handles. And they used their minds equally, demonstrating an impressive level of skill at a craft that is famously challenging. Among those who toiled in the clay, and also triumphed artistically, was enslaved potter David Drake, who was thought to have learned to read when he worked for Landrum at The Edgefield Hive. While his decades-long pottery output was intended for everyday function, today his poetry-inscribed work has achieved a prominent place on some of the loftiest pedestals. Drakes convergence of expert facility and verboten poetry has elevated his works to the highest echelons of the cultural world, including an exhibition that opened in September at the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and which soon will tour the country. To the kiln At 105 feet long and 12 feet wide, the original groundhog kiln built circa 1817 where Drake and other potters worked is far bigger than a team of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign archaeologists anticipated before they excavated the site in a 2011 field study. To get a close look requires a guide like George Thornton, who has the access to the land and a serious four-wheel-drive truck to navigate it. A conservationist who has worked in the agri-business field, Thornton is founder and chair of the board of Heritage Preservation Trust and former CEO of the Edgefield-based National Wild Turkey Federation. He is not the first to become devoted to the goings-on at Pottersville. In 2011, a small-scale reproduction of the original kiln was the result of an effort by philanthropists Arthur and Esther Goldberg. The kiln is functional, and fired three times a year. As Thornton gamely jostled over the grassy terrain to gain on the rounded ridge, he pointed down the way. Along this hardwoods tree line, that is where they excavated a lot of that clay, from the creek down there, he said. At Pottersville, Thornton is mainly focused on the circa 1815 wooden structure on its southern end. It is adjacent to city-owned Pottersville land. The sole remaining structure, likely owned by Abner Landrum, is thought to have been a school and a church. The property is owned by Preservation South Carolina, the nonprofit dedicated to preserving the states architectural heritage. Thornton, who with his wife Beth donated it to the organization, is on its board and involved in raising money to restore it. The idea is that this will become a living history museum for pottery, he said, adding that the building would then be gifted to the town by Preservation South Carolina. The artist formerly known as Dave In addition to Landrum, enslaved potter David Drake later worked for others like Lewis Miles in the Edgefield District. Signing his works as Dave, he was once known as Dave Potter, Dave the Potter or Dave Pottery. After Emancipation, he identified himself by the surname Drake, after Harvey Drake, and remains known as David Drake. Today, Drakes work is celebrated not only for its exquisite craftsmanship but also for its rare contribution to American history. A large man, Drake sculpted massive vessels with marked symmetry, and later with some assistance after losing a leg. And he also achieved something as monumental. On many of his pieces, the potter showcased his literacy, likely attained while working at Landrums newspaper. At a time when plantation owners feared revolts by the enslaved, it was illegal in South Carolina for them to read and write. Drake signed and dated many of his later works in a handwriting executed with artful elegance in rolling cursive, and he graced them with poetry rich in humor, heart, reflection and, at times, despair. Each offers poignant proof of Drakes individuality at a time when self-expression was systemically stripped from the enslaved. At the Met The bucolic patch of history that is Pottersville lies in stark contrast to the hallowed halls of the Met, where an array of historic Edgefield pots hold prime curatorial real estate inside the museum in Manhattan's Central Park. This fall, in partnership with the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Met opened Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina, a five-month exhibition gathering 40 vessels by Drake and other potters, as well as some by Abner Landrum and others in the face vessel tradition. It is the first exhibition in the American wing of the museum that highlights the work of enslaved makers, a development that the museum has stated underscores its commitment to telling a more inclusive and expansive story of artistic expression. The show also includes contemporary works, such as Adebunmi Gbadebos K.S., made of cemetery soil from the Fort Mott plantation where her family was enslaved and is buried. After its culmination at the Met on Feb. 5, the project will make stops at Museum of Fine Art in Boston from March 6-July 9; University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor from Aug. 26-Jan. 7, 2024; and Atlantas High Museum of Art from Feb. 16, 2024-May 12, 2024. Earlier reports have indicated the exhibition will then bring the pots back home to South Carolina, by way of a yet-to-be-confirmed 2024 stop in Charleston at the yet-to-open International African American Museum. The Met exhibition is part of an increased interest in Drakes work. In June 2021, The New York Times reported on the escalating values of his pots, characterizing them as works of resistance in their showcasing of his literacy. Many of Drakes works are in South Carolina museums. The Greenville County Museum of Art touts on its website the largest institutional collection of pottery by David Drake, including single-handle jugs, storage jars, pitchers, a syrup jug and a butter churn. The Charleston Museum holds two of Drakes largest vessels, with diameters of 81.5 inches and 40-plus gallon capacities. Many were acquired in the 1930s when former museum director Laura Bragg traveled the state in search of them. The Gibbes Museum of Art in downtown Charleston recently acquired its first work by Drake, a storage jar that is signed Dave just below the lip and inscribed LM/Oct 23.1855, indicating it was made when he was enslaved by Lewis Miles. The Gibbes has wanted a David Drake pot for years, but, unfortunately, we never had the funds to purchase, said Angela Mack, the museum's executive director and chief curator. Their situation changed when Philip Toussaint, a Columbia-based physician, and his wife Corbett, donated a pot for the Gibbes collection. Mack said the couple were also major private lenders to the Met's Hear Me Now exhibition. On a September visit, the scale of the museums effort was evident upon entry. In the grand lobby, a massive image promoting the show beams over the museums lavish signature floral display. Flashing above automated ticket stations streaming with international visitors, it trumpets Edgefield and its artisans to the world. Upstairs, a sleek cobalt sign set the tone for the two spaces comprising the show. Its acclimatized rooms are a far cry from the blazing Southern sun and fiery furnace in which the pottery was created; its hushed chambers a likely departure from groans of exertion, and perhaps even an occasional gasp as pot met heat and cracked. Edgewood native Suzanne Mims Derrick traveled to New York with her daughter Lydia Derrick Wherry to see the exhibition. We walked in on this blue wall that said Edgefield, she said, her voice lilting with palpable shivers at the name of her hometown. Those pots not only represent a significant chapter in Edgefields history, but they are made from the very terrain on which her family has lived for generations. Derrick recalls as a child getting the white clay, the prized kaolin, out of the creek. The boys would make these sling shot kind of guns and we were ordered to make the bullets so they could shoot them. And they would shoot them at us. Derricks family dates back centuries in Edgefield. They are descendants of Rev. John Landrum, Abners brother. For nearly 150 years, they have owned and run The Edgefield Advertiser, where Derrick has served as editor-in-chief for 20 years. She is the first woman in four generations to hold that role. Various relatives staff the papers desks. Founded in 1836, the paper has a print run of about 2,200. It also operates as a research center for the steady stream of visitors drawn by the towns history. This paper has been used as a research organ from its beginning because we had an influx of people out of Virginia and the North over the years, Derrick said, explaining that the town was part of a trail of settlers that came South and went on to Alabama. In 1863, the year President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, the Edgefield paper interviewed David Drake on the health benefits of buttermilk: Observing in him an intelligent twinkle in his eye, we accosted him in one of his own speeches. Well, uncle Dave, how does your corporosity seem to sagaciate?First rate, young master, from top to toeI just had a magnanimous bowl-ful of [that] delicious old beverage, buttermilk. At the Met, the first section of Hear Me Now features several pedestals holding Drake works. Within sleek glass boxes, expertly positioned pin lights glisten on each jugs alkaline glaze as if each were the Hope Diamond. Showcasing Drakes magnificent outsize jars, in beiges and browns, the exhibit includes one of his earliest known works, the 1834 stone jar Concatination, through to many works from the 1850s, with their accompanying words spanning the sacred and the musingly mundane: A very large jar which has 4 handles = pack it full of fresh meats then light candles This noble Jar, will hold 20 = Fill it with silver, then youll have plenty Good for lard or holding fresh meats = blessed we were when peter saw the folded sheets In the shows audio guide, Vincent Brown, a professor of American History and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, reflects on the boldness of Drakes public literacy. Hes kind of marking out a status for himself as someone who can commit a crime by writing, and not be punished for it. For programming connected with the exhibition, the museum recently hosted Tonya M. Matthews, executive director of the International African American Museum, which recently postponed its planned January debut in downtown Charleston. She weighed in on issues of curation and collection as part of a Dec. 3 public program designed to "reckon with some of the complex issues at the heart of the exhibition." Other such works with South Carolina connections, and that revisit American narratives, are in the national spotlight. In Tiya Miles book, All That She Carried: the Journey of Ashleys Sack, a Black Family Keepsake, the historian and Harvard professor charts the journey of a bag that was given to an enslaved young girl by her mother, Rose, before she was sold away at age 9. Kept in the family for generations, Ashleys granddaughter embroidered in red, brown and green thread details of what the bag contained along with words said to have been exchanged between mother and daughter. My great grandmother Rose mother of Ashley gave her this sack when she was sold at age 9 in South Carolina it held a tattered dress 3 handfulls of pecans a braid of Roses hair. Told her It be filled with my Love always She never saw her again Ashley is my grandmother Ruth Middleton 1921 The autobiography of Omar ibn Said, a chronicle of an enslaved Muslim who entered the country in Charleston, was made into an opera, Omar, which debuted at Spoleto Festival USA in 2022 with a narrative structure to yield to the authors account of his life. In Edgefield Current spotlight notwithstanding, the town of Edgefield, located about 20 miles northwest of Aiken near the Georgia border and which has a population of around 2,800, has never been a place to take lightly. It has spawned 10 South Carolina governors, among them Andrew Pickens, George Tillman and Strom Thurmond. Its history continues to attract throngs of history buffs, some arriving dressed for the occasion. Sherman turned right at Aiken, said Thornton, a turn of events that saved the historic brick courthouse that faces a picturesque square. In October, the towns poet laureate, J. Drew Lanham, an ornithologist, naturalist and writer, lent more luster to this hit parade by being awarded a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, with the foundation stating that he brings this ecological knowledge as well as his perspective as a Black man living in the South to bear on his work as a storyteller, poet and passionate advocate for bird-watching, outdoor recreation and environmental conservation and stewardship." The town is in the midst of a revitalization effort, emanating from its downtown Courthouse Square, a mix of a hometown burger joint, a newish bakery and other chic boites. Historic buildings are punctuated with artist-painted fiberglass turkey sculptures. Colorful murals surround the central green space and flank a statue of Thurmond. Thornton and his wife Beth, who is a potter, owned The Edgefield Hotel and donated it to Preservation South Carolina five years ago. Now, plans are underway to develop it into a new hotel, which is on track to qualify for historic tax credits to cover the necessary funds to move forward with the multi-million dollar effort. And when it comes to highlighting its history with Black potters, Edgefield is all in with Drake front and center. In Courthouse Square, an outdoor planter near a refurbished pedestrian alley takes the form of one of the hallmark jars. Two years ago, Edgefield pottery was introduced in the towns middle school curriculum. At 104 Courthouse Square, the Edgefield Welcome Center and Tompkins Library is lined with displays sharing local history. Rows of bookshelves are topped off with Edgefield pottery. There are some signs it has not completely adjusted to the heightened national attention. Next to a photo that features several works of pottery a flier reads, Have you seen one or more of these pots??? The flier explains that they were stolen from the library in June. A short walk from the square is Old Edgefield Pottery, a rustic, wooden, blue workshop where the town regularly hosts a potter-in-residence, who throws and turns pots for the public to view. A search is under way for the next. I would say everything is coming together and finally were getting to a place where we can really celebrate him locally, said Wherry. She moved back to Edgefield in 2016 and will someday hew to the family tradition and follow her mother as the editor of the paper. Wherry hopes that all the light shining on Drake will help Edgefield gain momentum in highlighting its pottery, ideally by creating the Pottersville museum. Were getting there, she said. A block away from a mural touting the 10 governors, another portrays Drake inscribing a jar dated Aug. 16, 1857. The poem he has placed on it, in his elegant scroll, sheds particular light on how an enslaved artist processed the circumstances of a life offering no say to ones fate or to that of ones family. I wonder where is all my relation/friendship to all and every nation. Such candid sentiments are hard to come by. They speak to Drakes plaintive searching, I wonder. They acknowledge the vastness of the African diaspora, every nation, and the universality, the all, of its plight. It is a couplet carved with purpose and courage on a vessel durable enough to travel distance and time, offering irrefutable evidence of internal life and individual toll. Lanham, his fellow Edgefield poet, believes Drake should be recognized as the first poet laureate of South Carolina. Given this countrys ongoing efforts to deepen and illuminate its historical narrative, his may be words to weigh, too. It might lead one to wonder how Drake himself would have reacted to the current fanfare. At the Met opening reception, where art connoisseurs are known to clink glasses and swap erudite observations, perhaps Drake, like some artists, might inwardly muse at all the art world posturing, or even blanch at the spotlight. If David Drake had come upon such a perspective, the artist had the means to express it. Defying the law, he etched poems for posterity in the thick, wet clay. And his words have endured, even while so many other vestiges of those days in the South turned to dust. I will qualify for Medicare coverage in five years and, much to my surprise, I cant wait to get government health coverage because my current coverage is pricey. Read moreHey, Medicare, I'm counting on you YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. UK Baroness Caroline Cox, Lord Rowan Williams, Lord Alton of Liverpool, the Bishop of Coventry, Dr.John Eibner, and Tim Loughton MP issued a statement appealing to international leaders to urgently engage with the appalling tragedy caused by Azerbaijans blockade of Lachin Corridor. We write with great urgency about the lamentable failure of the international community to resolve the continuing war of terror being waged by Azerbaijan, with a medieval style siege, inflicted in the 21st century and continuing into 2023, against the Armenian people in the historic Armenian land of Nagorno Karabakh relocated by Stalin in Azerbaijan. Perhaps stretched and preoccupied by the horrors in Ukraine the medias virtual silence is tragically allowing terrible atrocities to occur under the shadow of darkness. Azerbaijan has blocked the only corridor from Armenia available for transport of essential food and medicines as well as for people separated from their families. Acute shortages of essential supplies are causing serious concern and death from prevention of access to life-saving medical care in Armenia has already occurred. Under international law there is responsibility to predict and prevent genocide, to protect victims and to punish the aggressor. Despite condemnation by the UN Security Council, UNICEF and other international bodies, the media virtual black-out of this violence by Azerbaijan continues, enabling Azerbaijan to develop its genocidal policies with impunity. We appeal to international leaders urgently to engage with this appalling tragedy and we hope that brave and distinguished journalists will shine a light on the suffering of a people who sadly know only too well the nature of genocidal crimes," the letter reads in part. The letter is signed by: The Baroness Cox The Lord Alton of Liverpool Rowan Williams, Former Archbishop of Canterbury Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry Dr. John Eibner, International President, CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY INTERNATIONAL (CSI) Tim Loughton MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group for Armenia. COLUMBIA An unnamed maker of electric vehicle battery components could open a $323 million manufacturing plant in Richland County. The plant would locate on 206 acres south of Columbia in the Pineview Industrial Park, where it is expected to employ 310 people, according to county documents. Richland County Council gave initial approvals for tax breaks and sale of the property to the company, known only by its codename "Project Viper." The council will need to hold two more votes before all deals can be finalized. In exchange for its investment, the company would receive a reduced property tax rate 4 percent rather than the 6 percent currently charged to manufacturing plants for the next 40 years. South Carolina, like many states in the Southeast, has been betting big on electric vehicles. The state secured deals for an expansion of Spartanburg Countys BMW plant in November, which comes with a battery assembly facility in nearby Woodruff and a battery cell plant to be operated by partner Envision AESC in Florence County. And in December, Berkeley County inked a state record-breaking deal with Redwood Materials Inc., a battery recycling company founded by a Tesla co-founder, to locate a $3.5 billion facility in the Camp Hall industrial park Before that, in October, Bosch announced it would invest $260 million at its Dorchester County plant in North Charleston to build electric motors. And Proterra Inc., which makes batteries for commercial trucks, buses and heavy equipment, opened a facility in Greer. The Richland County agreement also punctuates a potentially rich year for the Capital City area. It follows a record-level deal previously approved by the county for an $800 million solar panel company to locate in an industrial park within the small Columbia suburb of Blythewood. That company's name also has not been made public, but should the state seal its portion of the deal later in January, the manufacturer would locate on 330 acres along Interstate 77, employing 1,800 workers. Emphasizing the need to embrace Charleston's many different faith traditions, Mayor John Tecklenburg reflected on the teachings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the world's most noted and revered spiritual leaders. A friend from India shared with Charleston's mayor some years ago how the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu spiritual leader, deeply influenced King, a Baptist minister, to embrace nonviolence and other spiritual principles to advocate for justice. "That's a lesson to be learned," said Tecklenburg, standing in Charleston City Hall as he and the Charleston Interreligious Council officially declared January as Interfaith Harmony Month in the city. "We gain strength and wisdom through our joint diversity." The teachings and legacy of King, who will be celebrated with a federal holiday Jan. 16, will be a focal point during this year's annual interfaith celebration when different spiritual traditions come together to educate people on religious topics and mobilize people toward civic engagement. Tecklenburg was joined at City Hall for the Jan. 3 announcement by members of the CIC, which includes representatives from a number of faith communities that include Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and those of no faith at all. While acknowledging that interfaith harmony is also recognized on the state level, Tecklenburg said the city began four years ago setting aside January as the month to celebrate religious diversity. The myriad events that will occur throughout the month help to emphasize that "we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God," the mayor said. Nine programs are scheduled so far, including tours of some of nation's oldest religious buildings, a dialogue at a local Hindu temple around the purpose of human existence, and programs that center around the legacy of King. Among the events around the civil rights leader include a Shabbat evening services held to honor the civil rights leader at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim downtown. Some of the events on the CIC's interfaith harmony month calendar that promote King are programs that were separately planned by the YWCA Greater Charleston, an organization that is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. These include the Jan. 15 ecumenical service and Jan. 16 parade. "We have no problem promoting and being a part of things that are already existing," said YWCA Executive Director LaVanda Brown. "We would love to be a part of conversations earlier so we can incorporate it because, for 51 years, we have been celebrating Dr. King. We have, by far, come to the table earlier than anyone. If anyone is doing anything, we'd love to be a part of the conversation so we can spread the word." "It would be great if we could all share information," she added. The Charleston Interreligious Councils roots date to 1979, when a group of rabbis and pastors began meeting in their homes to better understand each others faith traditions. Those gatherings morphed into what is today a coalition of faith leaders who seek to build bridges between different belief systems. Among their efforts, the group is also hoping to place religious leaders on the front lines of societal issues. Last year, the organization's annual speaker series, held in March, focused on climate change. This year, the group will highlight the intersection of religion and art. It's import to have spaces where people from diverse backgrounds have meaningful encounters because it helps foster trust between individuals, said Dena Fokas Moses, president of CIC. Charleston is not a homogenous city, so there's opportunity for people from different cultural and faith backgrounds to come together and gain understanding, Moses said. "I believe that if we take the time to learn about one another, we create a more peaceful city, working better today," she said. It's fitting that interfaith harmony month occurs the same time the nation recognizes the contributions of King, Moses said. King, who was deeply rooted in his Baptist tradition, used religion as a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier, she said. Among King's contemporaries included Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, both of whom had personal relationships with King and shaped King's approach to fighting for justice during the civil rights movement. "He partnered with faith leaders of all backgrounds in the struggle for civil rights and learned from them about their commonalities and differences," Moses said. Randhir Makkar, a member of the Sikh community, said there are overlaps between King and Sikhism as it relates to nonviolence, since traditions prioritize peace. In the Sikh faith, though, there's provision to bear arms. The faith's first five gurus declare nonviolence, while the sixth guru permits followers to pick up weapons, especially in order to safeguard one's faith, Makkar said. Among the dozens who attended the ceremony at City Hall were a handful of children from different faith traditions. Eight youths each read a section of the city's proclamation declaring the interfaith celebration. Magdy Soliman, 12, who attends the Central Mosque of Charleston, was one of the readers. Soliman, who said he has learned about the famed civil rights leader in school, said it's a good idea to have a month dedicated to religious diversity. While religions like Christianity are more widely known, Soliman said he hopes people will take the chance to learn more about the Muslim faith. "I think it's a good idea so that others can learn more about one another," Soliman said. Greenville-based United Community Bank has finalized another out-of-state acquisition, bringing its assets up to $25.4 billion and deepening its presence further to the west and south. The lender, which is currently building a new headquarters, completed the $271.5 million all-stock purchase merger this month of Alabama-born Progress Financial Corp. and its Progress Bank and Trust subsidiary. The deal was announced in May. Founded in 2008 and based in Huntsville, Progress operates 14 branches in its home state and the Florida Panhandle. As of Sept. 30, it reported $1.7 billion in loans and other assets. "Our partnership provides us the immediate benefit of being able to better serve our customers with a larger balance sheet and expanded products and services," Progress CEO David Nast said in a statement. In January 2022, United Community Bank acquired Tennessee-based Reliant Bancorp Inc. and Reliant Bank. In October 2021, the bank also finalized its acquisition of Aquesta Financial Holdings and its Cornelius, N.C.-based Aquesta Bank. United Community moved its headquarters from Blairsville, Ga., to the Upstate in July 2021, becoming the largest bank based in South Carolina. Early last year, it broke ground on its future headquarters at 200 E. Camperdown Way, the former location of the Wyche Law Firm. The bank has had a presence in Greenville since 2012 and opened its first permanent branch in the area in 2015. It has more than 200 offices across the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. While United Community continues to expand, the new year opened with the sale of a smaller Greenville-based financial institution. Earlier this month, the parent of First Bank of Southern, Pines, N.C., finalized its previously announced buyout of GrandSouth Bank for $204.5 million. GREENVILLE Flash floods have required at least one water rescue as city officials warned of dangerous flash flooding during a Jan. 4 morning storm. Officials said the city received more than 4 inches of rain overnight and into the morning. Areas around Greenville County are under a flood warning until 5 p.m. Jan. 4, according the National Weather Service. A couple were rescued from their vehicle near Haywood Road around 7 a.m., city spokesperson Beth Brotherton said. If you live in a low lying area, near a river or creek, please pay close attention to rising water conditions," the city warned in a Facebook post. "If you come across a road that is flooded, turn around, do not try to cross it." Areas of the city that commonly flood Cleveland Park, the Greenville Zoo, Unity Park were covered in feet of water and are closed. The zoo expects to reopen Jan. 5. The Greenville Fire Department performed the water rescue. That road has seen major flooding before, and two people died off of Haywood Road and Airport Road in 2014 when they were swept away by floodwaters. Crews blocked off Hudson Street at an entrance to Unity Park as the Swamp Rabbit Trail and low-lying areas nearby were covered in feet of water. The Spartanburg Street bridge in the Greenline-Spartanburg neighborhood near Overbrook is closed, Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe said in an Instagram post. Several traffic lights were out along Laurens Road around Verdae, including at the intersection with Haywood. The Swamp Rabbit Trail underpass at River Street downtown at RiverPlace is closed as well. GREENVILLE Attorneys involved in a massive, multistate lawsuit against opioid providers have been awarded $28.9 million in attorneys fees in South Carolina for their work on a settlement that will bring the state $360 million to combat drug addiction. Circuit Judge Perry Gravely ruled Jan. 4 in Greenville County court to award the fees to nearly 40 firms involved in the settlement with drug maker Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. The suit, brought by state Attorney General Alan Wilson in 2019, resulted in a $26 billion settlement among the four entities that will be split among 52 states and territories and distributed to thousands of local governments that joined the legal action. Wilson originally sued the three distributors, claiming they were negligent in distributing far more opioid drugs across South Carolina than was needed and failing adequately vet recipients. Then Johnson & Johnson, feeling legal pressure, asked to join settlement negotiations. Legal challenges against other pharmaceutical defendants are pending, leaving the chance for more settlement money. The attorneys fees were split among private firms that helped with litigation and the Attorney General's office. According to the fee order, the private attorneys will receive $18.6 million and the AG's office $10.3 million. The state has set up a nine-member board, under the legal advice of the AG's office, to guide how best to spend the settlement money on addiction intervention and prevention. Last month, the board met for the first time to begin the process. It is expected to meet again Jan. 5 as actual distribution of funds begins, Assistant Deputy Attorney General Jared Libet told the judge. Under the deal, 92 cents of every dollar South Carolina receives must be spent to combat opioid abuse. Of the total settlement, Johnson & Johnson will pay $5 billion over seven years, while the three distributors will pay the rest over 18 years. It's the second-largest multistate settlement in U.S. history following the government's settlement with the tobacco industry in 1998. Seanna Adcox in Columbia contributed As a long-time elected official with roots in the Town of Summerville that go back centuries, Terry Jenkins is hellbent on continuing his mission of enhancing the prosperity and quality of life in his community by seeking a new term as District 2 Councilmember this coming November. Read moreJenkins raring to go in Council re-election bid Terrorist groups continue to pose a major threat for America and its allies -- even if U.S. policymakers have shifted most of their focus to Russia and China. Read moreWe can't ignore the terror threat from Somalia -- or the southern border With the 17th running of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival just two months away, Alyssa Maute Smith has already spearheaded the nonprofit organizations planning for the March event as interim executive director. On Jan. 3, the festivals 15-member board of directors made her role official: Maute Smith, a Charleston native, has been named the new executive director of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, which first debuted in the Holy City in 2005. I am so passionate about this community. I really do feel like this community has helped shape me, she said. I'm really, really excited to be leading this organization. Maute Smith, who has a masters degree in strategic communications from the College of Charleston, formerly owned a marketing communications firm, managed other businesses and was a fellow in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburns staff. Shes been with Wine + Food since February 2016, previously serving as its marketing and communications director. She was selected after the festivals board of directors conducted a national search that entertained applications from more than 70 individuals. As strong as the pool was, we make this decision with absolute confidence that Alyssa is the right choice for the future of this organization, board chair Mamie Bush said in a statement. Maute Smiths appointment follows the departure of Gillian Zettler, who served in the top post for nine years. She left the festival in March 2022 to accept a new role in Charleston with Beemok Hospitality, an affiliate of Beemok Capital, the family office of local businessman and philanthropist Ben Navarro. Gillian was always a big dreamer. She had a huge imagination, Maute Smith said. I think that in the live events industry, that's something that's always needed. The festival returned after a one-year hiatus in 2022 with a new look. The flagship Culinary Village was moved to Riverfront Park in North Charleston after the three-day extravaganza featuring drinks and samples from chefs was stationed in Marion Square in downtown Charleston from 2005 to 2020. Riverfront Park will again host the Culinary Village in 2023. Restructuring this signature event to address concerns about long lines and a shortage of food has been one of Maute Smiths primary areas of focus heading into 2023. This year, Riverfront Park will be split into four food-focused neighborhoods, each with a different theme that aims to authentically tell the stories of Charleston through food and wine, Maute Smith said. After what many considered to be a successful event in 2022, the new director is confident that attendees will be just as enthusiastic about a festival of Wine + Foods size and scale this year. Walking into (last years opening night), it was so evident that, not only were live events back, but live events were needed more than ever, she said. We've really focused the last nine months on perfecting logistics. Overall, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival will host 111 events in downtown Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Dorchester, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, Sullivans Island and Wadmalaw Island. Tickets are still available to several events, including the Culinary Village, the World of Cue, Kamayan Night and Rice: The Global Grain, among others. For more information, visit charlestonwineandfood.com. A 9-year-old Charleston boy was playing outside in broad daylight last April when he was hit by errant gunfire. Charleston police tracked down the suspected shooter within days, and surprise he was out on bail on a murder charge. That is all-too-common these days. The guy accused of shooting nine people at a party over Memorial Day weekend had two priors on gun charges. And the young man arrested in the shooting of five people on King Street in September was out on bail on a meth trafficking charge. It is pure luck and a credit to the Medical University Hospital trauma unit that none of those people died. After the King Street shooting, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg spoke for all of us when he said, Enough is enough. Wed better hope they heard that in Columbia. Our backlogged courts are filled with these cases people out on bail committing more crimes before theyve been punished for their last one. Its an epidemic, and the cops are frustrated. But as the mayor points out, South Carolina cities and counties have no authority to do much of anything about that. The Legislature holds that power. This year, lawmakers have the opportunity to do some things that might clear up court dockets where some suspects wait more than a year and a half for a trial and, more importantly, prevent more people from getting shot. Gov. Henry McMaster plans to give the General Assembly a whole stack of legislation that could eliminate bail for repeat violent offenders, increase penalties on second and third gun charges and impose serious consequences for bail bondsmen who dont keep up with the alleged criminals theyre supposed to monitor. The guy accused of shooting that 9-year-old boy was wearing an ankle monitor at the time, for Petes sake. Law enforcement officers know who the repeat criminals are, McMaster said when he unveiled his public safety package. They commit over 80% of the crimes. Where law enforcement needs our help is with stronger laws to keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals and juveniles, and with new laws to keep repeat violent criminals and career criminals behind bars and not out on bail. If that sounds a whole lot like Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds, thats because hes been saying this stuff for years. Police and sheriffs across the state have lobbied the Legislature to do all this, none of them more than Charleston officials. In fact, our own 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson collaborated with McMaster to write all his legislation because shes also been sounding this alarm for a long time. Shes hopeful lawmakers will finally give her more ways to lock up more knuckleheads. But its probably going too far to call her optimistic. The difficulty is that some do not have the political will to get tough on this issue, Wilson says. We can and must have a nuanced approach: locking up violent and repeat offenders while releasing low-level, nonviolent people who need redirection. Those approaches are not inconsistent. We have to be surgical and strategic. The bail bond industry has had a pass for far too long. Again, see that April shooting. But theres just as much disconnect on graduated penalties for gun crimes. Too many policymakers, she says, cant handle the nuance. They wont pass laws that impose consequences on people repeatedly committing crimes with guns because they fear their constituents will consider such laws an attack on their Second Amendment rights. Because it takes a paragraph to explain that we arent trying to take guns away from red-blooded, responsible American gun owners, Wilson says. She is absolutely right. Too many people say that actually punishing people for gun crimes is some slippery slope. The only thing it would lead to is fewer people getting shot. And, spoiler alert: Polls show the vast majority of South Carolinians support such measures. So, its time to get this done. There are good, conscientious lawmakers in Columbia who get it; unfortunately, they are outnumbered by those only interested in catering to book banners and culture warriors. Expect a lot of Charleston officials to be burning up Interstate 26 this year to lobby for more of these sensible solutions. As Mayor Tecklenburg says, there are increased penalties for people who shoplift more than once shouldnt it be the same for folks who are shooting people? This is something everybody should agree on, he says. Its just common sense that violent repeat offenders should be accountable when they keep on using illegal guns to commit crime. Yeah, it is common sense. But as we have seen far too often of late, common sense isnt as common these days as errant gunfire. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense Major-General Edward Asryan visited the Republican Recruitment Center for an inspection ahead of the planned winter conscription of recruits into mandatory military service. Major-General Asryan was briefed on details from the procedures of the medical examination of conscripts, as well as the draw process for assigning duty stations of recruits. The Major-General gave instructions and orders on organizing the winter conscription on a duly level, the defense ministry said in a statement. YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan acts in total impunity, ignoring the statements of international organizations and states, ARMENPRESS reports Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan wrote on his Twitter page. In this situation, the only realistic step is the application of sanctions against Aerbaijan. International actors must decide whether the lives of starving people are important or economic or other interests, Stepanyan wrote. Since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan keeps the only road connecting Artsakh to the world, the Lachin Corridor, closed, citing false environmental reasons. (This is the final part of a two-part series on COVID-19 vaccination in Kano State. Read the first part here). In 1996, Nigeria experienced one of its worst meningitis outbreaks. Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company, announced that it could help. The pharmaceutical giant pledged to tackle the outbreak by testing the efficacy of its new antibiotic, Trovan. The drug was tested on 200 young meningitis patients in Kano State, north-west Nigeria. Barely a month later, 11 of the children that participated in the trial died of brain infections. Parents of other participants also reported disabilities among their children, majorly paralysis. Although Pfizer had claimed the children died of meningitis and not as a result of the drug, investigations found the company guilty of conducting human trials without informed consent. The incident led to a long legal battle involving Pfizer, the Kano State Government and the parents of the deceased. In 2009, an out-of-court settlement was reached for $75 million to the state government and $175,000 each to the families of four of the children. While Pfizer may have moved on, the Kano government a bit richer and some families compensated, findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that the incident still leaves a bitter memory for some Kano residents and has even discouraged many from all kinds of vaccinations. About 24 years after the incident, the world was faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people died from the disease including over 3,000 in Nigeria. Vaccines were produced and distributed around the world. But some residents of Kano refused to take the vaccines because they remained sceptical since the Pfizer incident. Some of these residents spoke to PREMIUM TIMES. Since that incident of paralysis and deaths of children, I can never trust any vaccines or medicine from Europe, Abubakar Salisu said. Mr Salisu, a resident of Gwagwarwa in Nasarawa LGA, told PREMIUM TIMES last month that he will never take the COVID-19 vaccine and cannot advise anyone to accept it. He said some residents are of the opinion that Europeans are trying to initiate Africans with the vaccines. Our people believe the Europeans are on a mission to plant a device in our body through their vaccines, he said. Another resident, Aliyu Musa, who lives in Unguwa Uku in Tarauni Local Government Area, said some of the residents are yet to move on from the Pfizer incident that left many families devastated. Mr Musa said many families were left with paralysed children as a result of the drug administered to them without the consent of their parents. Im one of those yet to take the COVID-19 vaccine and it will remain like that. My family and I will not take the vaccine because we dont trust the producers, he said. Vaccine hesitancy Vaccine hesitancy, mostly driven by a history of medical experiments, especially in Africa, is a known phenomenon that poses threat to disease control. Such hesitancy does not only apply to situations where vaccine uptake is low because of poor availability but also because of distrust and safety concerns. As long as its a vaccine or medicine from the westerners, I will not accept it. They can not be trusted, a taxi driver in Kano who identified himself as Ahmed said. Mr Ahmed said he feels personal anger because his family was directly affected by the Pfizer disaster. When Nigeria received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines and commenced vaccination in March 2021, various health experts warned that hesitancy must be tackled if the country is to vaccinate a large percentage of its population. Kano states Immunisation Officer, Shehu Abdullahi, said the government adopted various strategies to convince the people that the incident of 1996 is in no way related to COVID-19 vaccines. Mr Abdullahi said this is a key message the government has continued to send across to the people. He said there are still ongoing awareness programmes involving religious and traditional leaders to educate people on the importance of accepting the vaccines. Such leaders are usually vaccinated first in the presence of everyone to encourage others to follow suit, he said. COVID-19 in Kano state Kano, the most populous state in Northern Nigeria, has recorded over 5,000 cases of COVID-19. Out of this, 127 persons have died, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows. However, despite the hesitancy of some residents like Mr Salisu, Kano ranks in the top five Nigerian states in COVID-19 vaccination, largely due to residents religious interests. The state has fully vaccinated about 7.7 million people against the virus and over 3 million are partially vaccinated, according to data published by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). About 1.3 million people have also received the booster dose of vaccines, placing Kano as one of the five top-performing states in the country. The Deputy State Immunisation Officer (DSIO) in the state, Auwalu Idris, told PREMIUM TIMES that over 70 per cent of the targeted population have taken at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Mr Idris said the increase in vaccination rates was achieved through various strategies, including the incorporation of vaccination in strategic places like shopping malls, markets and religious gatherings. However, for the state to vaccinate the remaining of its population, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy amongst others must be addressed. Tackling Misinformation Zainab Ghali, a community health worker at the vaccination centre in Tukuntawa, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, said some individuals visit the centre to share their worries and rumours spreading about the vaccines. Ms Ghali said as a vaccinator, she allays their fears by encouraging them to take the vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus. There is a lot of misinformation out there about vaccines. Some persons even say the virus does not exist despite deaths recorded in different parts of the world, she said. Saliu Musa, a COVID-19 vaccinator at Unguwa Uku PHC in the Tarauni area of the state, said although false information about the vaccine has reduced in recent times, more awareness is still needed. Mr Musa said more persons are now willing to take the jabs as compared to the numbers at the onset of the COVID-19 vaccination. He said initially, only one or two persons visit the centre in a day. But since the beginning of this year, we vaccinate 15-30 people on some days, and other days we vaccinate about 10 persons. He explained that mothers who present their children for routine immunisation also use the opportunity to take their COVID-19 jab. So the establishment of vaccination centres in health facilities has also improved uptake, he said. The Executive Secretary of Kano States primary health care management board, Tijjani Hussaini, said the state employs the use of social media, the academia amongst others to ensure people understand the importance of taking the vaccine. READ ALSO: Mr Hussaini said this was effective as most of the false information is spread through social media outlets. At the onset of the pandemic, some fallacies like one dying after taking the vaccines, becoming a magnet amongst others were going around, he said. We engaged medical experts, social media influencers and others to debunk rumours about the vaccines. The official said some of these efforts yielded positive results and also led to an increased vaccination rate in the state. However, the state will have to do more to convince Messrs Musa, Salisu and others who still suffer vaccine hesitancy, largely due to the Pfizer experience. (This is the final part of a two-part series on COVID-19 vaccination in Kano State. Read the first part here. The production of the stories is supported by the Centre for Democracy and Development). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, said Tuesday that the government cannot halt the activities of illegal miners in the country due to Nigerias vast size. Mr Adegbite disclosed this while speaking on Arise TV Morning Show on Tuesday. He explained that the nation cannot preempt illegal mining operators but wherever they are found, they will be dealt with according to the law. As for illegal mining, thats a problem because Nigeria is a very vast country. I must admit to you that we do not have the resources to preempt all these illegal activities because Nigeria is vast. But we react to it very well, because we have been monitoring the locals, through the states and all that and the security guys are aiding us, Mr Adegbite said. Weve arrested a lot of these nationals that you mentioned, and we have prosecuted them. We are working with agencies like customs, like immigration. Were working with them to tighten the noose. The minister urged Nigerians to support the government in containing the activities of illegal miners. Wherever we are alerted to the activities, we are left with the responsibility and we have got support from security services. I sincerely admit that we have some illegality all over the place because Nigeria is a vast place and I cannot come out and tell you that yes, we have the resources to preempt this because we cant be everywhere at the same time. No, its not possible, he said. Mr Adegbite noted that in the ministry, there is a satellite monitoring system from which illegal activities are closely watched. According to him, artisan mining is the major activity in Nigeria but the nation needs to improve in other areas. Yes, they have fulfilled their purpose, that is why the government has not made it illegal. We dont want to dislodge these people and put them out of work and put the families in a problem, he said. Investment potential The minister explained that Nigeria will not begin to realise the potential of the sector until big players invest in it, noting that this could be realised if the sector is de-risked with intervention efforts that would encourage investment. He added that with data on where each mineral could be found in the country, investors can easily come in and allow the sector to grow and contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product. There is the need to investin exploration and acquiring data. This is what President Muhammadu Buhari did, especially in 2017. This data is what is attracting people to the sector now. Additionally, when we came in, I noticed that we were going the petroleum route again, where we will export crude oil and bring in the refined product. So we started a process to engage stakeholders and it is over two years but today, it is an official policy of the government and it was approved by the Federal Executive Council where without beneficiation, you cant export raw ore from Nigeria anymore, he said. Speaking on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Mr Adegbite noted that the current arrangement is markedly different from the concession done in the past. According to him, the new deal will be based on equity stakes, with the process expected to be completed sometime in March this year. The transaction advisor in this case is guiding the federal government on the proper thing to do. We have people who are going to come into Ajaokuta with their equity. We dont want a free ride anymore. Thats one of the lessons learnt from the past. Weve learnt a lot of lessons because weve had two sessions of concessions of Ajaokuta that failed. This time around, we are being guided by experts, and because of the value inherent in Ajaokuta, they appreciate it but were saying this time there is no free lunch, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The All Progressives Congress (APC) says no amount of fake news can save Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from defeat in the 2023 general elections. APC spokesperson in the state, Olawale Sadare, said in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan, that PDP was behind the spread of fake news purportedly issued by one Bashir Adeola, a chieftain of APC in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that APC was reacting to a news report which claimed that Mr Adeola spoke in condemnation of his party to favour PDP. The APC spokesperson dismissed the said news as fake, saying that the name, Bashir Adeola, was a fictitious name. According to him, the report was the handiwork of some desperados in power who had been overwhelmed by the political fireworks of Oyo APC as demonstrated in the last few months. We have painstakingly checked our party membership register and found no member by the name Bashiru Adeola. We, then wonder where the PDP media got the ghost to speak with them as a chieftain of Oyo APC, he said. Mr Sadare said no amount of such sponsored fake news as well as unsubstantiated claims against the opposition would stop Mr Makinde and PDP from an imminent sack in the forthcoming general elections. He said that some funny characters around the governor felt that this was the best way to mitigate the effects of political affliction befalling their administration and party every day. Mr Sadare said that PDP felt it was an unhealthy development to keep losing its members and supporters to the opposition. He said Mr Makinde has nobody to blame for the development, adding he could not eat his cake and have it. A governor who neither does well with governance, nor runs an all-inclusive government cannot have the trust of serious politicians and voters. They just package their usual lies and put fictitious names as the source whereas the so-called Bashir Adeola was without a known Ward, Local Government Area or traceable residence or office address. They came up with the latest spurious story aimed at discrediting APC in an attempt to water down the adverse effect of Hon. Olusegun Olaleyes defection to the APC, he said. The APC spokesperson said Mr Olaleye had only retraced his step as he returned to the progressive fold few days after hundreds of PDP leaders and members left the party for APC in Oyo Federal Constituency. For the avoidance of doubt, we do not have any member or chieftain who bears the name mentioned and it is safe to say that the story was sponsored by the PDP to mislead the public. We are focussed on our electioneering campaigns as a serious political party whose candidates have all it takes to win the forthcoming elections in the state, he said. Mr Sadare urged the electorate to disregard the myriad of fake news being churned out to create soft landing for Mr Makinde, who had already lost his reelection bid before the day of the poll. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari has approved some technological deployments in the South-east to fight rising insecurity in the region, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said on Tuesday. Mr Uzodinma stated this shortly after meeting with President Buhari at the State House in Abuja. The governor said he was at the State House to thank Mr Buhari for the various supports he provided to Imo State particularly during security challenges in the state and his various approvals given to requests made to him. I also appealed to him for further support; to support us with some technological deployments. We have planned to be able to do advanced kind of security control in the South-east. And he has also given his approval to that, he said. And in a moment from now, we will be getting some surveillance equipment and some modern technologies that will help us manage security so that we can fight crime with little or no collateral damage to the environment, Mr Uzodinma added. Security has continued to deteriorate in Nigerias south-east with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. Aside from government facilities, several residents have been killed and others abducted in renewed attacks by the gunmen across the region. Security in Imo State Mr Uzodinma said his administration cannot be blamed for insecurity in Imo State, stressing that the entire country was facing security challenges. He, however, said his administration has fared well in fighting and managing insecurity in the state I am happy that by the grace of God, as soon as we are able to bring the security to naught. We will have an environment that we will all celebrate and be happy with, he stated. During this season, we had relative peace in Imo State, and Christmas is a very critical period for us and New Year is also very critical. Apart from a few scratches in the hinterland, we are on top of the security situation now in Imo State. The governor, again, suggested that the insecurity in the state was politically-contrived by his political enemies to blackmail his administration. Those who are fighting me in my state are not saying were not working. Theyre not saying were workingAll theyre saying is that they are contriving, instigating insecurity out of desperation, and then blaming the security on a government, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some traders and residents of a community in Akwa Ibom State have decried the poor quality of work done in 30 market stalls rehabilitated in their community by a federal agency. The stalls are in Abiakpo Nkap community in Obot Akara Local Government Area of the state. Their rehabilitation was facilitated by the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West District, Christopher Ekpenyong, and the contract awarded by Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to Tymme Energy Integrated Resources Limited. The rehabilitation work, which began in October 2021, was completed in April 2022, according to the residents. But there are cracks on the walls of the stalls, while the roofs have holes on them and the cement floors are broken as at December 2022, when a PREMIUM TIMES reporter visited the market. The rooftop of most of the stalls shakes along with the mild wind and looks as though they could be easily blown off. The concrete pillars in most of the stalls appeared to be inadequate, thereby raising safety concerns among the residents. Mr Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom, is from the community, and the weekly market which serves over 8,000 people is less than 100 meters away from his residence. Residents and traders who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES attributed the poor condition of the stalls to the sub-standard materials used for their rehabilitation. They called for a replacement of the roofing sheets with new ones. There are two water boreholes about 50 meters apart within the market one is solar-powered and functional, while the other, a sanitation facility, awarded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources was completed without a water tank and stand. The sanitation facility should have a water tank, according to the project description. The water projects are poorly executed too. I dont come to market when it rains Christopher Johnson, a cobbler in his 30s, said rainwater from the leaky roofs usually gather inside his stall whenever it rains, thereby preventing him from doing his business. Mr Johnson said he paid N6, 000 a year for the stall. Look at the roof, you will see it (the holes). If it rains the stall is like outside, he said. I dont come to the market when it rains because theres no place to stay. Everywhere would be flooded. Before this month is over the wind would remove many of the roofing sheets, he added. The rain had removed the roofing sheets before but I paid for their replacement. Look at the roof you will see where I changed the former roofing sheets, Mr Johnson said pointing his finger at where some of the roofing sheets were replaced. He said the market is always in a mess when it rains, and appealed to the government to replace the roofing sheets with quality ones to save them from further suffering. The market is managed by the local government council which allocates shops to interested members of the community. Besides collecting rent from the traders, the council also charge them N200 for a ticket for each market day, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. The Chairperson of the Market Management Committee, Gordian Mark, confirmed to our reporter that traders lost their goods to floods because of the leaky roofs. We are only enjoying this market in this dry season. If it rains, it becomes something else. The roofing sheets on the roof are like cocoa-yam leaves. Weve replaced several of them already, Mr Mark said. It was not this bad before the construction of the market stalls because people had their shops covered under better roofing sheets but it became worse after the construction. If you check the floor of the shops, you would see evidence of serious leakages and flooding. Mr Mark said Senator Ekpenyong ought to have ensured that the contractors did a good job on the stalls. Contractor reacts A former youth president of the community, Moses Akpan, told PREMIUM TIMES that the contractor threatened to get soldiers to arrest the youths of the community when they protested the poor quality of the material used for the stalls while the project was going on. Mr Akpan said the architect who designed the project, supervised it and also supplied some of the materials used. The architect, Godwin James, declined to comment on the matter when a PREMIUM TIMES reporter contacted him. Mr Akpan further told our reporter after the senator gave the community N600, 000 before the commencement of the project that he rarely visits the project despite its proximity to his house. Andrew Kure is said to be the project engineer for the rehabilitation of the stalls. He declined to comment on the project when our reporters contacted him. The project facilitator, Senator Ekpenyong, when contacted, referred our reporter to NBRRI for the market project and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for the two water projects, the agencies that awarded the contracts. The senator said he was not a contractor, and did not prepare the bill of quantity for the project. He said he only facilitated the projects. An official of NBRRI, Uchenna Akabike, when contacted asked that details of the project be sent to her so she could forward it to the appropriate official for the agencys response. She did not, however, offer further response several days after PREMIUM TIMES forwarded the details of the project to her. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for its comment. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least one person has been reported killed in a bloody clash between Hausa and Fulani settler communities in Ogbese, Ondo State. The clash began on Tuesday evening and continued until Wednesday morning when security operatives arrived to intervene. Sources said many on both of the warring sides sustained varying degrees of injuries in the clash. The two communities are largely made up of traders dealing in grains, fish, onions, tomatoes and other products usually brought from the northern part of the country to the popular Ogbese Market. Members of the communities largely live in makeshift structures around and within the market. The clash, it was gathered, was ignited by a fight between a Fulani and a Hausa at the market. Shops were also lit during the fight destroying valuable goods. The police said they were yet to ascertain the cause of the conflict, but calm had returned to the area. The police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said the command was investigating the matter. But residents and traders, who could be seen in numbers lamenting the incident, said the two communities had always cohabited peacefully Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The ASX is expected to edge up today and new restrictions on travellers from China come into effect. (Source: Getty) ASX: The local share market is expected to edge higher this morning despite a night of choppy trade in the US . China relations: Foreign Minister Penny Wongs recent visit to China appears to be paying off, with China reportedly agreeing to resume Aussie coal imports . It will be the first time the nation has imported Aussie coal since Beijing imposed the unofficial ban in 2020. Travel restrictions: On the topic of international relations, restrictions on travellers entering from China have kicked in today. Travellers will need a negative test from within 48 hours of departure to get into Australia, a move labelled "disproportionate and simply unacceptable" by China. Political ads: Twitter says it will ease its three-year-old ban on political advertising . This is the latest change by Elon Musk as he tries to pump up revenue after purchasing the social media platform last year. The company tweeted late on Tuesday (local time) that it would be relaxing our ads policy for cause-based ads in the US". Hitting the road: Sales of new cars and trucks in Australia topped 1 million in 2022, with the latest figures also set to confirm the exploding demand for electric vehicles. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries will release the full-year figures today as the market continues to bounce back from issues associated with COVID lockdowns and supply concerns. Biggest city: Melbourne is expected to overtake Sydney as the largest Australian city despite many fleeing Victoria's capital during the pandemic. Melbournes population is expected to balloon from around 5 million in June 2022 to 6 million by 2031. Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken delivery of its last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said on Wednesday that the Commissions Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, national commissioners and senior officials took delivery of the machines on Tuesday in Abuja. He said officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company and airport security officials were on hand at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to receive the INEC team. To facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines, the commission created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. Over the last four months, several flights delivered the BVAS to the designated airports for movement to states of the federation ahead of the 2023 elections, Mr Okoye told journalists. He said with the arrival of the last consignment in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC had now taken delivery of the required number of BVAS machines for all polling units in the country. He said the consignment included extra machines that would become handy in the event of an emergency. Mr Okoye appreciated the support of all Nigerians in INECs determination to deploy technology in the conduct of free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive 2023 general elections. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has lauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo for endorsing Peter Obi for the 2023 presidential election. Mr Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), clinched Mr Obasanjos endorsement for the top job after months of speculation. Declaring his support for Mr Obi in New Year message to Nigerians, Mr Obasanjo said the LP presidential flagbearer was better than other contenders for the presidency. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Obasanjo gave his endorsement in an open letter to . The presidential candidates of the APC, Bola Tinubu and PDPs Atiku Abubakar, had unsuccessfully sought Mr Obasanjos support for the 25 February presidential poll. Reacting to the former presidents endorsement of Mr Obi, the Benue State governor, on Tuesday, said were he not a member of the PDP, he would have personally led Mr Obis campaign across Nigeria. In a statement issued by Terver Akase, special adviser, media & publicity to Mr Ortom, the governor noted that Mr Obi possesses the qualities of a leader who will be a true president of this country by guaranteeing justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians. It added, Governor Ortom strongly recommends Peter Obi to Nigerians as the man who has the capacity to effectively tackle the economic, security and other challenges facing the country. Mr Ortom was quoted as lamenting that Nigeria has been tottering on the verge of collapse, owing to leadership failure and its attendant consequences of poverty, heightened insecurity with banditry, kidnappings and other acts of terrorism threatening the very foundations of the nation. He added, the president that Nigeria needs at this challenging time in the countrys history is one who understands the urgent need to unite the people and speedily initiate policies and actions to redirect the ship of the nation on the path of growth and development, and emphasizes that Peter Obi has all such qualities. Apart from Mr Obasanjo, a prominent Niger Delta leader and former Federal Commissioner for Educationer, Edwin Clarke, has also declared support for Mr Obi. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, promised to be fair and just to all, if elected. Mr Tinubu gave the promise during a town hall meeting with North-west Muslim leaders in Kano. The presidential candidate, who asked the Islamic scholars to vote wisely, pledged to be fair, just and consistent with the tenets of Islamic faith. A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern honestly and democratically, in harmony with our nations constitution. I have tried to be a faithful and dutiful servant. I have tried to improve the lots of all our people, whether Christians or Muslims. I thank Almighty Allah for the opportunity to meet you all on this great occasion. I am humbled by your attendance and the warmth of your reception. I pray He continues to give you the wisdom and rectitude to fulfill this great and vital duty. Without your guidance and counsel, the nation cannot attain the place Allah has set for us, he said. Mr Tinubu said that his visions were collaboration, continuity and consistency for the development of Nigeria. The presidential hopeful promised to conduct his campaign as he conducted himself while in office. He also promised to revive the economy and fight corruption and insecurity through provision of modern equipment for security agencies. Earlier, the Northern Coordinator, APC Presidential Campaign and Jigawa Governor, Abubakar Badaru, dismissed fears of a Yoruba-dominated government, if Mr Tinubu was elected. He stated that there was no caucus meeting that did not include his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Nuhu Ribadu, both of whom, he said, would not betray the North. Mr Badaru also added that Mr Tinubu was healthy and mentally alert and would not let Nigerians down. Also speaking, Mr Ganduje noted that Muslim-Muslim ticket was not new in Nigeria. He said it was witnessed in 1993 when the late M.K.O. Abiola picked a fellow Muslim, Babagana Kingibe, as his running mate and still won the election, though annulled by the then military regime. This is going to be repeated with Tinubu and Shettima in the coming election, which they will win and it will not be cancelled, Mr Ganduje said. Some Muslim leaders, who spoke at the occasion, including Ustaz Aminu Gusau, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar andTijani Imam, among others, declared support for Mr Tinubu. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The remains of Oreoluwa Fatinoye, the son of a couple murdered in Abeokuta on New Year day, were committed to mother Earth on Tuesday in the Ogun State capital. Oreoluwa was abducted by his parents killers on Monday and his body was recovered from a river in Adigbe-Obada area of Abeokuta. The corpse was discovered in the early hours of Tuesday by fishermen who alerted the authorities, following which a police team retrieved the corpse. The remains were taken in a police pick up van to State Hospital Ijaiye, Abeokuta, but later released to the family for burial A brief Christian service was conducted at the cemetery situated along Kobape-Siun dual carriage road in Abeokuta, before the final interment. The occasion was witnessed by family members, friends and symphatisers. Oreoluwas parents, Kehinde Fatinoye and Bukunola were murdered by yet unknown persons who also set their house at Government Reservation Area (GRA) ablaze and abducted the boy. Mr Fatinoye was a staffer of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), while the wife worked with Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB). The remains of the couple were buried earlier on Monday at Lantoro Cemetery in Abeokuta after a church service held at Christ Anglican Church, Iporo Ake, Abeokuta. The police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said a suspect was being held over the multiple murders. One person has been arrested by our operatives in connection to the incident. We will get to the roots of the matter, as investigation has since begun, Mr Oyeyemi had said in a statement. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has called on security agencies in the country to protect the lives and properties of Muslims. The council made the call via a communique signed by its Secretary General and Director of Administration, Ishaq Oloyede and Zubairu Haruna respectively. The communique was released after the councils extraordinary Expanded General Purpose Committee meeting held in Abuja in December. The meeting was presided over by NSCIAs President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III. The meeting was attended by Muslim leaders across the country. The communique noted that Muslims are being persecuted in the countrys South-east region by non-Muslims. As Muslims are being profiled and killed in what appears as ethnoreligious cleansing in the South East by some non-Muslims which is evident in the recent confessions by some individuals, the Committee called on security agencies to do more to protect the lives and properties of Muslims and bring the perpetrators of such killings to justice, it stated. The council also expressed concern about the general insecurity across the including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and ritual killings. More Muslims should establish private universities for the educational development of Nigeria as a whole and Islam in particular because Muslim students in some private universities owned by non-Muslims are being subjected to religious victimisation and oppression, it added. The council stressed the need for the right of Muslim women to wear the Hijab as ruled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The Supreme Court of Nigeria had affirmed the legality, legitimacy and rights of Muslims to hijab in compliance with Section 38, Subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended in 2011) which states, Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion(either alone or in community with others, and public and or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance. Therefore, Muslim women should feel free to wear their hijab and no person or institution should discriminate against them, the communique noted. During the meeting, the council called on Muslims to collect their Permanent Voter Card to vote for the best candidates while calling on the Nigerian government to ensure free and fair elections. The council called on the federal government to empower Nigerians financially as a means of tackling poverty and unemployment. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An expert witness, Oyebimpe Akinbunmi, testified in the ongoing trial of a Lagos doctor, Femi Olaleye, on Wednesday that tests showed the survivor was raped. The doctor, who appeared before the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in the Ikeja area of Lagos, said that findings showed that there was repeated forceful penetrative injury on the vagina of the survivor. Background Mr Olaleye, the managing director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, is facing a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault by penetration of his wifes niece when she was 16 years old. Her niece, the alleged rape survivor, turned 18 years old in March. He was arraigned by the Lagos State government in December. The doctor pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him. In December, his wife, Aderemi Olaleye, told the court how he allegedly introduced her niece to pornographic content and oral sex. Medical findings Testifying on Wednesday, the medical expert told the court that she works at the family medical department of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Mirabel Centre. She also told the court that she is a medical forensic examiner who deals with survivors of sexual abuse and violence. During the hearing, Ms Akinbunmi said the survivor was presented at the Mirabel Centre on 15 March for a medical examination over the alleged rape incident. The medical expert said before the survivor was examined, she narrated the details of the sexual assault allegedly perpetrated by the defendant. She (referring to the survivor) gave the history of the repeated sexual abuse since March 2020, the medical expert said. She said the aunts husband (referring to the defendant) usually calls her in the middle of the night when others are sleeping to come downstairs. She said the aunts husband will remove his trousers and tell her to suck his penis. He sometimes puts his fingers in her vagina. She said he also applied something like lubricant before penetrating her vagina with the penis, which she said happened about four times. He also gave her pills after the intercourse and threatened her.8 After the examination, the major findings were in the genital area. The hymen was angular which means ring-shaped and slightly estrogenized, she told the court There was a notch at the 9 oclock position on the hymen and transection at one oclock position at the hymen. Transection means a deep cut. The vagina wall was also unduly visible, revealing more than one-third of the lower vagina. The pattern of injury that I saw was consistent with repeated forceful penetrative injury into the vagina. It is an indication of ongoing forceful blunt penetration of the vagina. In my medical opinion, if there is a repeated penetrative forceful injury on the vagina, it would be the classical features I saw on the vagina and hymen because it has been ongoing. At the hearing, the medical report and the referral letter were submitted as exhibits to the court. Cross-examination During cross-examination, Babatunde Ogala, the defendants lawyer, asked if the survivor informed the medical expert when the alleged sexual abuse ended. She only said when the abuse started. She did not say when it stopped, she responded. Again, the senior lawyer asked whether the survivor mentioned her age during the medical examination. Yes. she said she was 18 years old at the time of the medical examination, the expert said. Mr Ogala asked how the medical expert concluded that the alleged sexual abuse was perpetrated by his client. There was no place I concluded that it was the defendant that committed the act. I only stated what she (survivor) told me, the expert responded. You cant say it is the defendant that committed the act, the lawyer asked further. In her response, Ms Akinbunmi said she does not know who committed the alleged sexual abuse on the survivor. The lawyer again asked whether the survivor mentioned when the alleged sexual abuse ended. She only gave the history of when it started, not when it ended. She did not tell me about the last time she was penetrated, the expert replied. The lawyer asked the witness when the injury on the survivors vagina occurred. I cannot confirm the exact date when the injury happened, the expert said. Mr Ogala asked the medical expert how long it would take for the injury to heal. Just as explained earlier, you cannot ascertain when the injury started or ended. It is difficult to say, the expert said. Healing process differs among individuals. Earlier, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Esther Igbeneweka of the police gender unit, told the court that they received complaints in March from the defendants wife. She said they took statements from the survivor, their gateman and the defendant. She said that Mr Olaleye denied the allegations but was detained for further investigation. READ ALSO: Ms Igbeneweka said that they put the investigation on hold because Mrs Olaleye, the complainant, travelled out of the country. She, however, confirmed that the matter was previously reported at Anthony police division. During cross-examination by Mr Ogala, she explained that she did not investigate whether the girl was an adult (18-years-old) when she began to live with the doctors family in December 2019. Rahman Oshodi, the judge, fixed 26 January to hear more testimonies from witnesses. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Principal of the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, Tofunmi Akamo, has confirmed the report that some students of the school were found to have lodged at an hotel near the school and engaged in immoral activities. Mrs Akamo, a lawyer, said the management should be commended for its efforts towards addressing indiscipline among the students, saying the unruly students were found out by the school and disciplinary action was taken against them appropriately. Punch Newspaper had earlier on Wednesday reported that some male and female students of the school had lodged in a hotel for sex romps before they were found out. According to the newspaper, one of the students had been impregnated by her male classmate, and the development had led to the discovery by the school authorities. But the school denied the report of any pregnancy, saying whoever may have given the information to the newspaper was just being mischievous and malicious. Mrs Akamo, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone conversation said the school, under her watch, has been proactive on the matter of discipline and moral uprightness. She said since her assumption of duty at the school in September 2020, she had suspended and sometimes dismissed some students found unworthy of being at the school. She, however, blamed the parents for what she described as uncooperative attitudes, saying some parents of students found engaging in nightclubbing and homosexualism refused to even assist the school in disciplining the students. One even came to the school here and abused all of us, and was not ashamed of the childs bad conduct. It is unfortunate, she said. How it all happened According to the principal, 80 per cent of the narration in the earlier report is untrue, saying the incident happened during the recent sporting event involving federal government colleges and which was held at the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos. Mrs Akamo, who is the chairman of the forum of principals of federal government colleges in the country, said: It was towards the end of November when, on a Monday, my attention was called to the fact that on Sunday evening, when they had bed check, some girls were not in the hostels. And then the morning of Monday, they called their parents to find out if they were at home. And the parents said they were not at home. We then began investigations immediately. So, on Monday when we were trying to know what had happened since they were not at the hostel that night, one of their friends told us that they were in a hotel. They scaled the fence on the night of Sunday to go to a hotel and we were shocked to find them there. There were five who were caught in the hotel but during interrogation, we found out that there was another girl who also went with them on that Sunday but came back to the school on Monday. She said the disciplinary committee of the school met over the matter and suspended the students and reported the same to their parents. It is also part of the disciplinary measures that whenever they resumed, they would serve additional punishment before they would be handed over to the guidance and counselling unit where they would be further monitored and managed, she said. On pregnancy Mrs Akamo said none of the six students involved in the hotel issue was found to be pregnant, saying the matter was addressed within 48 hours when it happened. Meanwhile, she said when she joined the school in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and the final year students were asked to resume preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), one female student had reported being pregnant from home. When we noticed this, we subjected her to a medical test and as soon as we confirmed this we sent her back to her parents. She was already five-month pregnant then. Not the first time The principal said indiscipline is not tolerated by the school, noting that in 2022 some students were found to be scaling the fence in the night to visit a night club near the school and that the management ensured they were rounded up and disciplined appropriately. She also said two girls who were found engaging in homosexuality were also picked up and disciplined appropriately so that they would not pollure their mates. I have about 3,500 students and I understand that the background and upbringing are different for each and everyone of them. So, those we found to be immoral are taken out for guidance because we needed to act as their parents because we also have our children and we could not be everywhere with them. Principal blames parents, social media Meanwhile, the principal also blamed the parents for indulging the children, saying after spoiling them they would send them to boarding schools for the teachers to manage. She said a parent whose daughter was found to be unruly was invited to the school but declined to show up. In fact, we volunteered to take the child to the parent at home and this man said he was not available. But when we got to his house, he was home enjoying himself. It is the height of irresponsibility, she said. READ ALSO: She also lamented that despite the fact that the use of phones was banned in the school, parents have continued to smuggle phones into the school for the children and that these phones are kept even on the roofs of the hostels. The impact of social media on this generation of students is terrible but as teachers we will never give up, she said, even as she pleaded with the parents to support the efforts to build a better future for their wards. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, says fifth columnists in and outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are standing in the way of reconcilliation between him and the partys presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. Both men were close allies until their relationship soured over a dispute between Mr Aregbesola and his successor as governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola. Angry that Mr Oyetola abandoned some of his legacy policies and also kept many of his loyalists out of government, Mr Aregbesola opposed the governors renomination by the APC for last years governorship election. At a meeting ahead of the partys primary, the minister castigated Mr Tinubu for refusing to withdraw his support for the then governor. The outcome of the election added to the rift as Mr Aregbrsola and his supporters were believed to have connived in the defeat of Mr Oyetola. The minister has also been accused of lukewarmness to the presidential bid of Mr Tinubu. But, Mr Aregbesola in a statement by his media adviser, Sola Fasure, on Wednesday said his rift with the APC flagbearer would have been resolved but for some people within and outside the APC, who are frustrating the reconciliatory moves. A pattern has clearly emerged of sinister and coordinated effort to frustrate the reconciliatory moves being championed by notable stakeholders within and beyond our party to rally all necessary factors for the success of our Party at the February 2023 Presidential Election, he said. Just last week, jittery politicians, who are authors of this malicious manuscript, paid a handful of rent-a-crowd comedians to react to a non-existent attack and regurgitate the storyline again, with the intention to frustrate a series of reconciliation steps for their selfish interest, he added. We urge well-meaning Nigerians to be wary of the evil machinations of this cult of fifth columnists, whose sole business is to cause disaffection, manufacture distractions and sow discord within the APC and the progressive fold, he urged. For the umpteenth time, the general public is advised to note that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is focused on delivering key reforms in the Ministry of Interior and its agencies as championed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and also ensure that the APC emerges victorious at the 2023 General Elections. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vladimir Putin delivers a New Years address to the nation at the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don (SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sent a frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with hypersonic cruise missiles in a fresh warning to the west that he will not back down on Ukraine. Speaking in a video conference with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin said the ship was armed with Zircon hypersonic weapons that would reliably protect Russia from potential external threats. Putin claimed the weapons had no analogues in any country in the world. It comes just ten months after Moscow began a bloody invasion of Ukraine, costing thousands of military and civilian lives. Russia has been forced to abandon much of its territory in the south and east in recent months following successful Ukrainian counter attacks. Russia, China and the United States are in a race to develop hypersonic weapons due to their speeds above five times the speed of sound and manoeuvrability. A file image of a hypersonic missile launch (AP) Moscow has already used its hypersonic Kinzhal dagger missile in Ukraine. Mr Shoigu said the Gorshkov ship, which contained the missiles, would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea. He claimed the hypersonic missiles could overcome any missile defence system and would deliver pinpoint and powerful strikes against the enemy at sea and on land. The missiles fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of over 1,000 km, Mr Shoigu said. Beyond Russia, the United States and China, a range of other countries are developing hypersonic weapons including Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, North Korea and Japan, according to the US Congressional Research Service. In other developments, Russia continued to suffer heavy losses in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday amid heavy fighting, according to the general staff of Ukraines armed forces. Ukrainian officials claimed that up to 10 Russian units of military equipment of different types were destroyed and over two hundred soldiers wounded or killed. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was planning to call up more troops for a major new offensive in the coming months. "We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat," he said in his nightly video address on Tuesday. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail." Study met all primary endpoints ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alphyn Biologics, a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class multi-target therapeutics, announced today positive results from the first cohort of its Phase 2a clinical trial of AB-101a, a topical therapeutic for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). The trial met all of its primary endpoints, highlighting AB-101a's potential to be an effective and safe treatment for AD. The randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind trial is evaluating the treatment protocol of AB-101a across multiple sites using standard scales for assessing AD. The trial, conducted in Australia, enrolled 41 AD patients, and treatment was evaluated after four weeks. "As a physician who treated 15 percent of the patients in the clinical trial, I am encouraged by the results with AB-101a," said Dr. Stephen Shumack, Clinical Associate Professor Dermatology, University of Sydney, and Principal Investigator at St George Dermatology & Skin Cancer Centre. "I look forward to future trials and gaining a better understanding of AB-101a's potential benefits for patients." "Patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis suffer considerably from the symptoms of this often debilitating disease, yet available treatments come with side effects and safety concerns," said Alphyn CEO Neal Koller. "We are excited by these results and look forward to the results of our ongoing cohort treating infected AD. We plan to further study AB-101a in a Phase 2b/3 trial this year in conjunction with a Series B financing." Alphyn intends to present the full results of this trial at a scientific conference and submit a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Enrollment is ongoing in the second cohort of the Phase 2a clinical trial. This cohort is investigating the unique ability of AB-101a to treat the infected component of AD in AD patients who are suffering from bacterial infections, including Staphylococcus aureus, or "Staph," and MRSA, the antibiotic-resistant Staph. Alphyn anticipates AB-101a will be effective in treating non-infected AD and infected AD. AB-101a should provide AD patients and physicians a comprehensive, safe, and convenient treatment option. AB-101a was developed using Alphyn's proprietary AB-101 platform. The platform has multiple bioactive compounds and, therefore, multiple mechanisms of action to address multiple problems of any target disease. Alphyn was able to begin the AB-101a clinical trial program in Phase 2 due to the strong safety profile of its AB-101 platform. ABOUT ALPHYN BIOLOGICS Alphyn Biologics is a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class multi-target therapeutics for severe and prevalent skin diseases based on its AB-101 platform. Its lead product candidate, AB-101a, is being developed as a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema. AB-101a has demonstrated a strong safety profile and is in development to uniquely target AD's immune system and bacterial components, making it ideal for treating AD and infected AD. Alphyn's AB-101 platform has multiple bioactive compounds and therefore multiple mechanisms of action to support a robust pipeline of dermatologic therapeutics that have potential safety, efficacy and regulatory marketing authorization advantages. Alphyn is based in Annapolis, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio, and has a wholly owned Australia subsidiary. The company became operational in 2020 and has raised approximately $6.9 million. SOURCE Alphyn Biologics Morse joins The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) as it expands its digital audience while maintaining its dedication to providing strong, local, independent journalism to the metro Atlanta area ATLANTA, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cox Enterprises announced Andrew Morse as the new president and publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, effective on January 9. Morse a veteran media executive with more than 25 years of journalism experience most recently held the role of EVP and chief digital officer for CNN Worldwide. He will bring a wide range of experience to the role and will work to accelerate the AJC's digital transformation while strengthening its reputation as a trusted source for news and information in Atlanta and across the region. Andrew Morse "Today's news publications and the journalists behind them carry an important responsibility," said Alex Taylor, chairman and CEO, Cox Enterprises. "People deserve fair and honest reporting, and Andrew has a long history of leading teams and delivering information people can trust. His role as president and publisher of the AJC will be important to our company, but even more so to those in our community." Morse joins the AJC after an expansive career at CNN Worldwide where he oversaw the world's largest digital news service, including CNN.com, CNN Audio and CNN Underscored, as well as the network's direct-to-consumer streaming platform. Morse also co-founded Great Big Story, a short form video company that built a subscriber base of 13 million users. Previously, Morse served as EVP of Editorial for CNN US, overseeing the network's domestic newsgathering and Washington programming. Prior to joining CNN, Morse was head of Bloomberg Television in the U.S. and spent 15 years at ABC News in a variety of executive, editorial and production roles, including many years as an international news producer, a broadcast executive producer and as the executive in charge of ABC News Digital. "I am honored to join the Cox team and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the AJC into the future," Morse said. "Atlanta is one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in America, and our mission is to ensure the AJC is the most essential and engaging source of news and information for the people of Atlanta and across the region." Morse and team will focus on expanding the AJC's reach and relevance, while continuing to drive its evolution from a storied newspaper into a modern media company at the heart of daily life in Atlanta. Today, most of the AJC's audience is engaging digitally, with at least 99% getting some of their news through the AJC's various digital products and platforms. The move to digital is important for AJC readers and for the future of the business, but also beneficially impacts the planet. Cox Enterprises is dedicated to driving positive environmental change and has goals of sending zero waste to landfill by 2024 and being carbon and water neutral by 2034. Cox has supported these and other initiatives by investing more than $1 billion in sustainability businesses and technology since 2007. Morse will also strengthen the AJC's long legacy of producing award-winning journalism, delivering distinctive enterprise reporting to the community and holding business and political leaders accountable. As one of the largest and most trusted newspapers in the South, the AJC is committed to evolving to meet the needs of subscribers across the region in a variety of formats. "Andrew follows a long line of leaders who have guided the AJC through some of the most critical times in our state and country's history," said Sandy Schwartz, CEO, Cox Family Office. "We have every confidence Andrew will continue positioning the AJC as an essential part of the community and region for many years to come." About Cox Enterprises Cox Enterprises is dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. Cox is a leader in the broadband, automotive and media industries, while strategically investing in emerging technologies driving the future of cleantech, health care, and public sector services. Its major operating subsidiaries are Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, which includes brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with a proud 125-year history. To learn more about Cox and its commitment to its people, planet and communities, visit coxenterprises.com. About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is dedicated to uncovering the truth, protecting the public's right to know and pressing on to help build a better metro Atlanta and Georgia. We are the leading source of news, information and advertising for metropolitan Atlanta. We reach more than 7 million unique online visitors each month and more than 125,000 subscribers support our mission to produce real, local journalism. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises Inc. SOURCE Atlanta Journal-Constitution DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Twice-Monthly Publication Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook will offer the following: Market Sizing and Forecasting of CAGT Markets: Each issue sizes up the market opportunity and projects the future revenues for a given therapeutic segment. Keeping an Eye on Financing: With billions of investment dollars announced each year, Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook tracks who is getting financed (and the companies behind the financing) each issue. On a regular basis we will analyze trends in that financing. News Briefs and Analysis of the Science That will Shape Tomorrow's Business: Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook is designed to provide the most relevant news. With a focus on what the recent news of the day means for business, our curated news and news analysis means that you and your organization can be confident you won't miss an important development in cell and gene therapy. Deals Between CAGT Companies Tracked: Each issue's "Recent Deals Table" tracks the important deals between stem cell companies as well as the deals they engage in (tech transfers, partnerships, mergers, distribution and other activities) with companies outside the industry. Cell and Gene Therapy Tools: This newsletter will also report on developments, product launches and deals relating to the makers of cell and gene therapy manufacturing equipment and supplies. Target Audience Includes: Director, Vice President or Manager of Market Research Director, Vice President or Manager of Marketing Director, Vice President or Manager of Research and Development Director of Business Insights Director of Business Development CEO For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3xn8pg About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Petersburg Collegiate High Schools will open a new academy devoted to biomedical engineering technology (BMET) at the St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus in Fall 2023. BMET Academy students can complete an Associate in Science in Biomedical Engineering Technology while simultaneously earning their high school diploma completely free of charge. Funded by a Future Florida Critical Workforce Needs Grant, the A.S. degree trains students to meet the growing need for biomedical equipment repairers, who maintain the sophisticated medical devices that patients' lives depend on. The BMET Academy will help build a pipeline of personnel for health care, industry, research and educational institutions. "Employment opportunities for technicians are expected to expand greatly in the next decade," said Natavia Middleton, Dean of Natural Sciences and Engineering at SPC. Academy graduates will be prepared for careers in a hot job market, where they can earn an average salary of $49,910 in the United States, $47,130 in Florida, and $46,620 in the Tampa Bay area. "It's called 'critical needs' for a reason, and these are good-paying jobs," said Jackie Skryd, Vice President of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships at SPC. "Our medical device field is upward of $47,000 with just a certification. If they get a four-year degree and some experience, it's double that." The new academy joins St. Petersburg College's lauded Collegiate High Schools ecosystem, which opened its first charter school in 2004 at the college's St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus. A North Pinellas County option in Tarpon Springs, Florida, was opened in 2019, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math High School at the college's Downtown Center in St. Petersburg launched in Fall 2022. "We are really excited about creating this opportunity for our students to pursue career opportunities through education or advance their education opportunities through a career pathway," said Ryan Halstead, Principal of Collegiate High Schools North Pinellas. The A.S. degree includes three optional stand-alone certificates, depending on the student's focus, and transfers to SPC's bachelor's degree in Technology Development and Management or the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Engineering Technology Management at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis. Visit spchs.spcollege.edu/bmet-academy. This material was fully funded by the $9 million federally funded CRRSA ESSER II Future Florida Critical Workforce Needs Grant. For more information, contact Rita Farlow, AVP, Marketing and Strategic Communications, 727-302-6526. SOURCE St. Petersburg College VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or the "Company") (TSXV: DSM) announces that the Company will extend the exercise period of the 15,341,944 share purchase warrants for a further one-year term. The warrants are exercisable at a price of $0.22 per common share and are scheduled to expire January 20, 2023. Upon receipt of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance of this transaction, the warrants will expire after the close of business January 20, 2024. The share purchase warrants were originally issued pursuant to a 30,703,072 unit private placement that closed on January 20, 2021. About Deep-South Resources Inc. Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company Deep-South growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper project, Deep-South embraces the green revolution. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "intends," "continue," "budget," "estimate," "may," "will," "schedule," "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Minister's refusal to renew the Company's Licence, the Company's intention to contest the Minister's decision before the Courts of Namibia and the outcome of such proceedings. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Deep-South, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Namibia; the failure of the Namibian Government to comply with its continuing obligations under the Act to allow for the renewal of the Licence; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations, and government practices; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis for its quarter ended February 28, 2021, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Deep-South, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Deep-South Resources Inc. New TAA Compliant Portege X40 and Tecra A40 Laptops Were Designed and Manufactured to Meet the Strict Requirements of Federal Contracts IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dynabook Americas, Inc., formerly Toshiba PC Company, today announced two laptops engineered and manufactured to meet the strict Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance requirements of Federal contracts. In a move that will drive further sales growth and solidify the company's position as a leader in high-quality computing solutions for the private and public sectors, Dynabook TAA compliant laptops feature the same modern designs, extreme durability, and excellent performance as the company's hot-selling business solutions with robust security built in. "Our company has deep roots selling to the federal government, and today, we are reaffirming our commitment to creating the most powerful and secure laptops for U.S. Government contracts," said James Robbins, general manager at Dynabook Americas, Inc. "Bolstering our focus on this space will not only prove to be a huge gamechanger for us, but will be for our channel partners as well, as there is no larger customer than the U.S. Federal Government." Robust Federal Government-Ready Security In accordance with U.S. Government requirements for PC solutions, these new laptops will utilize the latest IPv6 protocol for handling IP traffic in accordance with updated USGv6-r1 requirements. Additionally, these laptops are heavily fortified with the advanced security technologies required by the U.S. Government, including: CPUs that support hardware-rooted trust and hardware security test interface (HSTI) CPU Virtualization Extensions with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) support CPU Input/Output Memory Management Unit (IOMMU) TPM 2.0 - FIPS 140-2 compliant and TCG certified Smart Card (CAC) reader - FIPS 201/ISO 7816 compliant Tamper-resistance UEFI (v2.6 or later) with Secure Boot functionality NIST SP 800-147 compliant Platform Firm Resiliency in compliance with NIST SP 800-193 Webcam, microphone, LAN, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth can be disabled by BIOS The first TAA compliant laptops offered by Dynabook include versions of the recently announced 14-inch Portege X40-K and 14-inch Tecra A40-K that have been uniquely manufactured for U.S. Government contract requirements. These TAA compliant laptops will be built at Dynabook's facility in Taiwan. Portege X40-K - Unique by Design, Excellent by Virtue The Portege X40-K rings in a new era of premium computing, boasting greater performance, relentless security, and a skillfully crafted, dark blue aluminum chassis that is stylish and durable. Configurable with a variety of U.S. Government-compliant CPUs, up to 64GB of memory and Wi-Fi 6E, this laptop rips through tasks at incredible speed, while the 14-inch IPS display, and variety of government-specified hardware and software security features can help to provide a safe and productive workspace anywhere. Tecra A40-K - Premium Is the New Mainstream The 14-inch Tecra A40-K is a performance-rich laptop for today's government officials working from the office and field. Configurable with powerful and efficient CPUs, up to 64GB of memory, Wi-Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4, it is smarter, faster, and more capable than ever. It's tough and travels well too, with a sleek and durable chassis that is uncompromisingly thin and lightweight The Best Warranty in the Business Backed by Dynabook's proven reliability and industry-leading +Care Service Warranty1 with On-site these laptops are sure to provide years of worry-free reliability. With additional access to an extensive service and support network, Dynabook +Care Service warranties help customers minimize downtime and reduce IT costs. Connect Online Visit our us.dynabook.com for the latest product details and specifications. Connect with us on our social media channels: LinkedIn and Twitter. About Dynabook Americas, Inc. (formerly Toshiba America Client Solutions, Inc.) Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Dynabook Americas, Inc., provides a diverse portfolio of enterprise-grade hardware and software offerings, including awarding-winning mobile computers, innovative wearable devices, augmented reality applications and security solutions. Dynabook designs, engineers, and manufactures its offerings in its own-operated facilities to ensure quality and reliability. Dynabook Americas is an independent operating company wholly owned by Dynabook, Inc., of Japan, a wholly owned company of Sharp Corporation. For more information on Dynabook Americas, visit https://us.dynabook.com/. About Dynabook Inc. (formerly Toshiba Client Solutions Co., Ltd.) For over 30 years, Dynabook laptops and technologies have set the standard for innovation, quality, and reliability. Now wholly owned by Sharp Corporation, Dynabook Inc., continues that tradition by delivering rich value and services that support our partners and customers in achieving their goals. +Care Service Warranty with On-Site. Dynabook's standard limited warranty terms and limitations apply. Visit https://support.dynabook.com/warranty for details. 2023 Dynabook Americas, Inc. All rights reserved. Dynabook is a trademark of Dynabook Inc. All other product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective owners. Information, including without limitation, product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice. Media Contact: Eric Paulsen Dynabook Americas, Inc. [email protected] (949) 583-3541 SOURCE Dynabook Americas, Inc. IRONDALE, Ala., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- (EWTN) EWTN will broadcast the Funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as well as many other special programs on Thursday, Jan. 5. The day's schedule appears below. Please note: Times are subject to change. For live updates, please check EWTN's website, www.ewtn.com/tv/schedule; the EWTN app; and EWTN's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ewtnonline. Here's the lineup: Thursday, Jan. 5 2:30 a.m. ET Funeral Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI - Pope Francis celebrates the Solemn Funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, live from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Encores at 2:30 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET. 8 a.m. ET - Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Live from the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels in Irondale, AL, celebrated by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word. Encore at 7 p.m. ET. 9 a.m. ET - Rosary for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI - Live from the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels in Irondale, AL, led by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word. 11 a.m. ET The Papacy of Reason Interviews with Church leaders, Vatican experts, Vatican experts, and prominent Catholic journalists on the principal teaching themes of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. 12:10 p.m. ET - Memorial Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI - From the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., celebrated by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio, in the Great Upper Church of the Basilica. 1:30 p.m. ET Thought of Pope Benedict XVI: Who is Joseph Ratzinger? A spirited meditation on the life of Pope Benedict XVI with Fr. Charles Connor, Ph.D. 4:30 p.m. ET Remembering Pope Emeritus Benedict Special from Rome - An in-depth look at the life and legacy of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Learn more about Pope Benedict's life and papacy at ewtn.com/benedict. In addition to our broadcasted programs, view all past Masses, news updates, and live streamed programs on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. For all the ways to access EWTN, please go to www.ewtn.com/everywhere. In its 42nd year, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN's 11 global TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 400 million television households in more than 150 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the largest Catholic websites in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, "The National Catholic Register" newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division. SOURCE EWTN Global Catholic Network China has warned Australia and other countries recent measures imposed on Chinese travellers are "unacceptable" and they should be prepared to face retaliation over the move. Australia is one of a host of countries that has demanded all incoming Chinese residents provide a negative Covid-19 test ahead of China's border opening on January 8. Health Minister Mark Butler said the decision, which went against Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly's advice, was made out of an abundance of caution. But Beijing has scolded the decision, accusing countries of being politically motivated when making the call. China has hit out after Australia's vaccine requirement for Chinese tourists entering the country from next week. Source: Getty "Some of these measures are disproportionate and simply unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. "We firmly reject using Covid measures for political purposes and will take corresponding measures in response to varying situations based on the principle of reciprocity." Chinese state media had earlier accused those countries implementing the measure of hypocrisy after already allowing the virus to run rampant in their respective nations. China's Covid cases have surged since it walked away from its much-maligned zero-Covid strategy and there are fears Beijing is severely underreporting the impact of the wave of infection, particularly the country's death toll. Many of the countries that have imposed the testing restriction, including the US, UK and France, have cited a lack of data from Chinese health authorities to justify the decision. Sino-Australian relations have been on the mend since Labor won last year's election, however the decision will not have gone down well with Beijing who were furious over former prime minister Scott Morrison's calls in 2020 for an investigation into the origins of coronavirus. Story continues China rejects vaccine offer Ms Mao told reporters on Tuesday China has the current wave "under control" and said it would not be taking up the European Union's offer of Western-developed mRNA vaccines. "China has established the worlds largest production lines of Covid vaccines with an annual production capacity of over 7 billion doses and an annual output of over 5.5 billion doses, which meet the needs of ensuring that all people eligible for vaccination have access to vaccines," she said. However experts have repeatedly cast doubts over Chinese vaccines which they say are less effective against the Omicron variant. Professor Catherine Bennett, Chair of Epidemiology at Deakin University, told Yahoo News Australia in November there was also a level of secrecy surrounding Chinese-made vaccines and whether improvements had been made. 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. DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electric Heat Tracing Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Type; By System Components; By Application; By Vertical; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global electric heat tracing market size is expected to reach USD 4.74 billion by 2030 according to a new study. The report gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth. The increasing use of electric heat tracing systems in place of traditional steam tracing systems, the low expense of electric heat tracing systems, and the growing adoption of this system in power plants are the factors responsible for accelerating the market's growth. Electric heat tracing benefits several industrial sectors, including petrochemical plants, refineries, pharmaceutical manufacturing, power generation, and waste treatment facilities which have propelled the market's growth. Additionally, heat tracing systems operate with minimal maintenance and can be replaced without damaging existing structures is the crucial factor influencing the market's growth. Moreover, increasing interest by organizations across multiple industries in operational improvements to enhance efficiency and ongoing adoption of automated monitoring and control solutions is expected to propel the expansion of electric heat tracing worldwide. Market Dynamics Drivers and Opportunities Low maintenance cost with electric heat tracing systems Increasing adoption of permanent heating solutions Restraints and Challenges Adverse effects of overlapping heating cables Electric Heat Tracing Market Report Highlights Self-regulating accounted for the largest market revenue as they are the latest and advanced components designed to regulate output per process needs. The growth of the electric heat tracing cable segment is attributed to growing applications such as temperature maintenance, anti-condensation, and soil warming and is expected to grow fastest over the forecast period. Freeze protection & process temperature maintenance segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR due to increasing utilization of electric heat tracing systems with ambient air sensing for temperature control. The oil & gas industries are expected to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period as heat tracing in this industry is used to prevent the pipes, tanks, and vessels in cold climates. North America is anticipated to witness significant growth due to the presence of major players in the US region. The publisher has segmented the electric heat tracing market report based on type, system component, application, vertical, and regions: Electric Heat Tracing, Type Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Self-Regulating Constant Wattage Mineral-Insulated Skin Effect Electric Heat Tracing, System Component Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Electric Heat Tracing Cables Power Connection Kits Control and Monitoring Systems Thermal Mineral Insulations Others Electric Heat Tracing, Application Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Freeze Protection & Process Temperature Maintenance Roof & Guttering De-icing Floor Heating Others Electric Heat Tracing, Vertical Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) Oil & Gas Chemical Commercial Residential Power & Energy Food & Beverages Pharmaceuticals Water & Wastewater Treatment Others Electric Heat Tracing, Regional Outlook (Revenue - USD Billion, 2018 - 2030) North America U.S Canada Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Russia Netherlands Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Indonesia Malaysia Latin America Argentina Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa & UAE Saudi Arabia Israel South Africa Companies Mentioned Anhui Huanrui Heating Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Bartec GmbH Briskheat Chromalox Danfoss A/S Drexan Energy Systems Inc. Drexma Industries Inc. Ebeco AB Emerson Electric Company Heat Trace Products LLC. Ives Equipment Inc. Neptech Inc. Parker-Hannifin Corporation Pentair PLC Perma-Pipe Inc. QmaxTest Research Corporation SST Group Inc. Technitrace Thermon Tracelec Urenco Limited Warmup Plc Wuhu Jiahong New Materials Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gj1nbp Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets HALIFAX, NS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - GoGold Resources Inc. (TSX: GGD) (OTCQX: GLGDF) ("GoGold", "the Company") is pleased to provide an outlook of milestones and deliverables for 2023. Figure 1: Eagle + Main Area Grade Thickness Longitudinal Section (CNW Group/GoGold Resources Inc.) Figure 2: Los Ricos District Overview (CNW Group/GoGold Resources Inc.) "2022 was another year of significant advancements of the Los Ricos deposits, as we continue to aggressively grow resources and move towards development of GoGold's first mine in the Los Ricos district. One of the major achievements in 2022 was the acquisition of the valuable Eagle concession," said Brad Langille, President and CEO stated. "In 2023, the Eagle concession will propel Los Ricos South on its development path towards a mine. Some of the key milestones which we are targeting for 2023 are as follows: Continued aggressive drilling program at Los Ricos South Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at Los Ricos South including the effects of the Eagle concession Underground exploration and development at Los Ricos South focussing initially on the Eagle Completion of Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") at Los Ricos South Completion of PEA at Los Ricos North With the above and supported by our strong balance sheet including our year end cash balance of $73 million USD (see financial results PR dated December 22, 2022), 2023 is sure to be a year full of discovery and milestone achievements on the development road towards mining." Los Ricos South Updated Resource & PEA In 2023, the Company will continue drilling at the Eagle concession, which is included in Los Ricos South and was acquired in October 2022, as well as the continuation of the drilling program at the Main Area. The results of these drilling campaigns are expected to be included in an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, which will form the basis for an updated PEA. The Company is targeting a significant increase in the value of the mineral deposits at Los Ricos South. The addition of the Eagle concession, which is adjacent to the Main area, is expected to increase the economics of the project given the expanded strike length on the deposit. The addition of the Eagle concession and the drilling results to date, along with the re-examination of the drilling results from the previously released Main area of Los Ricos South, show the potential for a significant bulk underground mining operation which will be the focus of the revised PEA in Los Ricos South. Some of the key advantages in this revised development plan could be a lower environmental impact compared to open pit mining, easier and expedited permitting process, potentially higher grade and lower capital expenditures, and potentially increased net present value with the addition of the Eagle concession. The 2022 drilling program at these locations produced some of the strongest results to date in the Los Ricos district, including intercepts such as 11.5m of 3,047 g/t silver equivalent ("AgEq"), 11.9m of 2,260 g/t AgEq, and 15.0m of 1,444 g/t AgEq. See Table 1 for highlighted drilling results from the Eagle and Main Area at Los Ricos South in 2022. Table 1: Los Ricos South Highlighted Drilling 2022 Hole ID Area / Vein From To Length1 Au Ag AuEq2 AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGAG-22-035 Eagle 69.0 179.6 110.6 1.64 264.6 5.17 387.5 including 129.0 140.5 11.5 11.31 2,198.3 40.62 3,046.7 including 130.4 133.8 3.5 30.24 6,392.5 115.48 8,660.8 including 130.4 131.9 1.5 63.24 12,729.3 232.96 17,472.0 including 131.0 131.9 0.9 104.50 13,742.5 287.73 21,580.0 LRGAG-21-014 Eagle 144.3 216.9 72.6 5.13 76.0 6.14 460.6 including 198.8 210.7 11.9 28.58 115.9 30.13 2,259.8 including 208.6 210.7 2.1 146.03 176.8 148.39 11,128.9 including 208.6 209.3 0.7 266.00 319.0 270.25 20,269.0 LRGAG-22-031 Eagle 58.0 126.0 68.0 4.25 109.4 5.71 428.4 including 78.0 113.9 35.9 7.83 184.9 10.29 771.8 including 80.0 95.0 15.0 15.61 273.3 19.26 1,444.4 including 84.0 86.0 2.0 46.80 272.5 50.43 3,782.5 LRGAG-22-032 Eagle 48.1 113.8 65.8 1.36 107.7 2.79 209.6 including 85.8 113.8 28.1 2.96 216.6 5.85 439.0 including 88.5 92.9 4.3 7.17 1,012.8 20.68 1,550.7 including 88.5 89.1 0.6 25.00 3,020.0 65.27 4,895.0 LRGAG-22-041 Eagle 109.5 145.5 36.0 1.46 134.5 3.26 244.3 including 134.0 143.5 9.5 4.55 389.9 9.75 731.1 including 134.0 134.8 0.8 6.01 577.0 13.70 1,027.7 also including 137.0 143.5 6.6 5.62 453.6 11.67 875.3 including 141.0 142.2 1.2 17.10 1,345.0 35.03 2,627.5 LRGAG-22-043 Eagle 146.0 154.2 8.2 0.67 78.4 1.72 129.0 and 166.0 186.7 20.7 1.32 215.8 4.20 315.1 including 176.5 185.8 9.3 2.73 428.2 8.44 633.1 including 182.0 184.5 2.5 7.89 999.1 21.21 1,591.1 including 182.0 182.7 0.7 17.20 2,130.0 45.60 3,420.0 LRGAG-21-018 Eagle 127.6 163.0 33.6 1.57 85.5 2.71 203.5 including 156.9 159.3 2.4 10.51 436.5 16.33 1,225.0 including 156.9 157.6 0.8 15.00 1,155.0 30.40 2,280.0 and 177.9 178.6 0.7 36.20 1,500.0 56.20 4,215.0 LRGAG-22-030 Eagle 42.9 79.5 36.7 1.77 156.2 3.85 289.0 including 51.9 61.0 9.1 6.00 553.3 13.38 1,003.2 including 54.1 54.8 0.7 14.00 1,260.0 30.80 2,310.0 LRGAG-22-029 Eagle 74.0 94.6 20.6 1.52 217.5 4.42 331.3 including 75.5 77.5 2.0 8.00 1,865.5 32.87 2,465.5 including 75.5 76.5 1.0 14.15 3,520.0 61.08 4,581.3 LRGAG-21-007 Eagle 148.5 191.0 42.5 1.64 137.5 3.47 260.6 including 188.6 190.2 1.6 6.83 1,269.5 23.76 1,781.8 LRGG-22-209 Main area 58.3 91.5 33.2 3.15 276.5 6.84 512.8 including 86.0 89.0 3.0 30.19 2,587.7 64.69 4,851.7 including 87.0 88.0 1.0 73.10 5,620.0 148.03 11,102.5 LRGG-22-218 Main area 57.0 74.1 15.0 3.98 529.2 11.04 827.8 including 57.0 63.9 4.8 12.43 1,625.6 34.10 2,557.6 including 60.5 63.0 2.5 20.32 2,774.1 57.31 4,298.2 including 61.2 62.2 0.9 37.90 4,250.0 94.57 7,092.5 LRGG-22-208 Main area 37.5 47.7 10.3 1.17 313.0 5.35 401.0 including 43.2 45.0 1.9 3.50 976.2 16.52 1,238.7 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1 at recoveries of 100% Following is a longitudinal section map of Los Ricos South which includes the locations of the above highlighted drilling results. Pre-Feasibility Study While the Los Ricos South PFS was originally planned to be completed in 2022, the addition of the Eagle concession significantly altered the project. As a result, the PFS is expected to be completed in 2023 and will be based on the updated resource and PEA, including the Eagle concession. GoGold made progress on certain aspects of the PFS during 2022 which included positive results from the metallurgical test program, as well as activities such as process design, equipment sizing and quotations, process flow diagram completion, site work, power sourcing, and water sourcing. Underground Development As part of the exploration and the advancement of resources to reserves, the Company anticipates entering an underground development phase in the first quarter of the year. This will include additional drilling to confirm resources and testing to prove and evaluate underground mining methods. Los Ricos District Overview With the acquisition of the Eagle concession in October 2022, this connected the Company's concessions held in the southern portion of its Los Ricos South project, including the Main area where the Initial Resource was released, to its northern concessions in Los Ricos South, which includes the Jamaica exploration target. As a result, all the concessions in Los Ricos South are now contiguous. The Company now holds 45 concessions covering over 25,000 hectares in the Los Ricos district and continues to assess whether any additional concessions in the area will be acquired. Figure 1 shows a summary of the Los Ricos North and South projects' current resources as well as the location of the concessions. Los Ricos North During 2022, the Company completed a significant drilling campaign at Los Ricos North, with results released at a number of the key deposits and targets within the project including El Favor, Mololoa, Gran Cabrera, and El Nayar. See Table 2 for highlighted 2022 drilling results at Los Ricos North. See press release dated December 7, 2021 and Figure 2 for full details regarding the initial Mineral Resource estimate. The focus at Los Ricos North in 2023 will be the release of an initial PEA providing the market with the first look at the value of this significant deposit. This is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. GoGold anticipates the release of additional drilling results from Los Ricos North over the coming months, including those from explorations on additional targets not included in the initial Resource. Table 2: Los Ricos North Highlighted Drilling 2022 Hole ID Area / Vein From To Length1 Au Ag AuEq2 AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGF-21-107 El Favor East 249.3 275.0 25.7 1.55 776.4 11.90 892.3 including 250.1 271.2 21.2 1.87 938.0 14.38 1,078.5 including 258.4 262.7 4.3 8.65 4,163.8 64.17 4,812.8 including 259.1 260.2 1.0 18.23 9,940.1 150.76 11,307.3 LRGM-21-077 Mololoa - Tamara 147.7 184.0 36.3 1.51 375.7 6.52 489.1 including 147.7 154.2 6.5 6.94 1,683.0 29.38 2,203.6 including 152.0 153.0 1.0 21.80 5,040.0 89.00 6,675.0 including 175.9 177.4 1.6 5.02 1,385.1 23.49 1,761.9 LRGM-21-087 Mololoa - Tamara 166.7 186.7 20.0 0.89 211.5 3.71 278.6 including 166.7 168.2 1.5 8.77 1,995.0 35.37 2,652.8 LRGM-21-088 Mololoa - Tamara 282.0 296.6 14.6 2.58 683.7 11.70 877.4 including 283.3 287.0 3.8 9.73 2,577.3 44.10 3,307.4 including 285.0 286.0 1.0 16.25 4,660.0 78.38 5,878.8 LRGM-21-104 Mololoa - Tamara 266.4 299.8 33.4 1.09 235.1 4.22 316.6 including 266.4 276.1 9.8 3.56 765.2 13.76 1,032.4 including 268.6 272.2 3.5 8.48 1,681.6 30.90 2,317.4 including 271.0 272.2 1.1 17.15 3,080.0 58.22 4,366.3 LRGF-22-137 El Favor - Salomon 9.8 75.5 61.5 0.29 142.8 2.20 164.7 including 39.0 67.5 24.3 0.66 300.1 4.66 349.8 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1 at recoveries of 100% Mr. David Duncan, P. Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information of this release. About GoGold Resources GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States. This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Parral tailings project, the Los Ricos project, future operating margins, future production and processing, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with the GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release. SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc. LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Peratech, a tactile-sensing HMI company, and Innovobot Labs, an R&D and innovation design house, will unveil the new FusionPad Haptic Force-Enhanced Trackpad at CES in Las Vegas, January 5-8. FusionPad will greatly enhance the notebook user experience. Instead of just one click, it delivers a broad range of user interactions, including multiple clicks to expand functionality and fast, accurate haptic feedback to optimize control. It also eliminates false touch while typing. FusionPad - Haptic Force-Enhanced Trackpad (CNW Group/Innovobot Labs) FusionPad is thinner, allowing for a bigger battery and greater air flow to cool processors and improve overall performance. It is integration-ready and compatible with existing product engineering tools. It is also process and technology ready for AVL-approved supply chains. FusionPad combines Peratech's patented Quantum Tunneling Composites technology and Innovobot Labs' applied haptics design. "This collaboration exemplifies our innovation model, where Peratech and Innovobot Labs have joined forces to build a superior product that integrates the best in haptics effects and force sensing." says Innovobot CEO, Mario Venditti. Peratech's sensing matrix, made of hundreds of individual force sensors, detects different levels of applied pressure not only identifying an intensity, but also a profile the difference between a finger and a pen, for example with no inconsistencies. The haptic output developed by Innovobot Labs offers an expanded high-fidelity frequency range of 150 Hz to 350 Hz, as opposed to the limited single frequencies currently available on the market. "The tactile-feedback loop between great, consistent sensing and beyond single-click haptics, drives the new level of expanded functionality that FusionPad makes available to OEMs and their end-users," states Jon Stark, CEO at Peratech. "What's more, our firmware intelligence enables a design philosophy that uses ordinary parts in extraordinary ways, making FusionPad more affordable to the broader OEM market." To see FusionPad in action, contact Jim Thomas at [email protected]. About Peratech Peratech's award-winning, proprietary, tactile-sensing user interfaces bring a new dimension to the electronics user experience enabling intuitive, engaging human machine interactions in a wide variety of applications and markets. Over a million devices around the world now employ Peratech technologies. Peratech's custom design and product integration engineering services minimize both cost and time to mass product launch. Peratech Holdco Ltd. is a privately held company based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK. Quantum Tunnelling Composite and QTC are registered trademarks of Peratech Holdco Ltd. About Innovobot Labs Innovobot Labs is an R&D and Innovation Design House operated by Innovobot. The Labs tackle pressing problems through the development and application of cutting-edge technologies. Focused on Human-Machine Interface, Robotics, AI, IoT and Advanced Materials, Innovobot Labs provides companies with a framework for open innovation and collaboration, with the goal of creating products, solutions and IP that are commercialization ready. SOURCE Innovobot Labs NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HIPPEAS is spreading The Peas & Love with the launch of a new far-out Chickpea Tortilla Chip flavor: Nacho Vibes. This consumer-requested flavor has the crunch and taste of mainstream nacho flavored tortilla chips but was developed with the better-for-you attributes HIPPEAS is known for: vegan/dairy-free, certified gluten-free, Non-GMO and totally delicious. The new addition rounds out the other Chickpea Tortilla Chip offerings including Straight Up Sea Salt, Rockin' Ranch and Sea Salt & Lime. You can find the full HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chip lineup at Sprouts Farmers Markets and select retailers nationwide as well as on Amazon and HIPPEAS.com. HIPPEAS Nacho Vibes Tortilla Chips Kick back and take it easy 'cuz these are nacho average tortilla chips! HIPPEAS Nacho Vibes Tortilla Chips are made from chickpeas it's the first ingredient! With 3g of protein and 3g of fiber per 1oz serving, these chickpea chips pack a punch of plant power, to keep you keepin' on. "We are really proud of the Nacho Vibes flavor of our HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chips, as we've been working hard to perfect this recipe to surpass consumer expectations of what a chickpea tortilla chip can taste like," stated HIPPEAS CMO, Julia Hecht. "This product more than stands up well next to its mainstream competitor from a taste and texture standpoint, but that's where the comparisons end because HIPPEAS Nacho Vibes Chickpea Tortilla Chips are vegan and contain the nutritional benefits of both protein and fiber as well as no artificial colors, flavors or ingredients of any kind. Plus, these chips are made from super sustainable chickpeas, so we feel good about this product on all sides," she continued. HIPPEAS is all about mind, body and soil. Chickpeas support a healthy and diverse farm by naturally keeping nutrients in the soil, where they should be! HIPPEAS chickpeas are farmed using practices like conservation tillage to improve soil erosion and crop rotations that improve soil health. These crops are farmed using 10% of the water of most proteins, which means 90% less water taken from Mother Nature. Chickpeas naturally use less fertilizer by pulling nitrogen from the air, which helps lower the brand's carbon footprint. At HIPPEAS, they believe that sustainable farming (and snacking!) is the way forward! There's a HIPPEAS for every craving and snacking occasion. HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chips come in four flavors including: Nacho Vibes, Straight Up Sea Salt, Rockin' Ranch and Sea Salt & Lime. HIPPEAS Chickpea Puffs come in four flavors including: Vegan White Cheddar, Nacho Vibes, Bohemian Barbecue and Sriracha Sunshine. HIPPEAS Veggie Straws come in three flavors: Straight Up Sea Salt, Rockin' Ranch and Sour Cream and Onion. About HIPPEAS HIPPEAS is on a mission to shake things up. HIPPEAS is calling all snackers to #GivePeasAChance while also doing good in the world. HIPPEAS Plant-Based Snacks are Non-GMO Project Verified, certified gluten-free and vegan. Pea plants release nitrogen back into the earth, so they're naturally good for the planet. True to their mantra of Peas, Love & Giving Back, HIPPEAS is proud to support local Feeding America food banks across the country by donating food and aiding in disaster relief efforts. HIPPEAS can be found at premium retailers including Whole Foods Market, Target, Wegmans, Sprouts, Stop & Shop, Shaw's, Safeway/Albertsons, Kroger, Starbucks, Amazon, Thrive Market as well as select CVS, Publix, Walmart and Costco locations. For more information, visit HIPPEAS.com and follow along on Instagram @hippeas_snacks Media Contact: Rachel Powell 516.314.7730 [email protected] SOURCE HIPPEAS HOUSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The K-Solv Group announces the acquisition of Turnkey Industries (Turnkey), a leading designer and manufacturer of custom truck bodies, trailers, transporters, and mobile command units. Based in Magnolia, Texas, Turnkey Industries provides innovative, state-of-the-art solutions to the energy, oil & gas, and racing & motorsports industries, as well as government entities for over 30 years. K-Solv Group Turnkey Through the acquisition of Turnkey Industries, the K-Solv Group will expand its scope of disaster response services, as well as enhancing the focus on providing solutions to the oil & gas industry and beyond. "At the K-Solv Group, we understand the importance of a custom-designed, fully functional mobile command unit that generates maximum productivity while on site. We are very impressed by the creativity, craftsmanship, and manufacturing excellence demonstrated at Turnkey and are excited to welcome them to the K-Solv Group," stated Russ Allen, CEO and Owner of the K-Solv Group. The founder of Turnkey Industries, Joe Napoleon, will remain with the company providing continued support as Turnkey scales the business to provide faster lead times, further innovation, and expanding the industries supported. "Turnkey's quality, focus on innovation, and ability to think outside the box are the components that have made the company what it is today. We are excited to be a part of the K-Solv Group and look forward to the support this new venture provides as Turnkey enters this next phase of the company," states Joe Napoleon. The K-Solv Group provides creative solutions to the challenges our industries face and we believe the addition of Turnkey Industries into our portfolio builds upon that focus. About Turnkey Industries Turnkey Industries has built its reputation on innovation and a commitment to meeting the needs of its customers through the design and production of custom trailers, truck bodies, transporters cabins, and containers. Additional services offered by Turnkey Industries include equipment service, industrial coatings, and conversions. For more information about Turnkey Industries, please visit tkind.com. About K-Solv Group The K-Solv Group of companies (K-Solv, Garner, Energy Completion Services (ECS), Excel Transportation & Disposal (Excel), and Rowdy Supply) provides the most comprehensive environmental solutions to the oil & gas industry and beyond. Service offerings include K-Solv, a leading provider of maritime services, chemical distribution, and washout services; Garner, the original emergency disaster response and recovery company providing emergency response solutions to government entities, as well as the private sector; ECS providing onshore and offshore wireline pressure control equipment for the oil & gas industry; Excel, a leader in the safe and efficient transportation of waste streams in addition to providing waste management solutions; and Rowdy Supply which offers a complete line of environmental and safety products paired with outstanding service. Visit ksolvgroup.com for additional information. Contact: Lori Kruppa 713-468-5768 SOURCE K-Solv Group --Announces Positive Animal PK Study Results of Insulin Aspart Versus US NovoLog-- --Analysis of Pivotal Trial Results of Insulin Glargine Nearly Completed, BLA Filing Timeline Slightly Delayed, But Potential Launch Timing Remains in Range-- TREVOSE, Pa., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: LCI) today provided an update on the clinical advancement and development of its biosimilar insulin aspart and biosimilar insulin glargine products. Lannett is developing both products with its strategic alliance partner, the HEC Group of companies (HEC). The company said results from the study of Lannett/HEC biosimilar insulin aspart versus US NovoLog (the reference biologic) indicated the products were highly comparable when animals were dosed with equal quantities of the drugs via subcutaneous route. Data from the study will be submitted to the FDA as part of the company's request, expected in the first half of calendar 2023, for a Biosimilar Biological Product Development (BPD) Type II meeting. "The study's positive results are a major step forward in the clinical advancement of our biosimilar insulin aspart," said Tim Crew, chief executive officer of Lannett. "We anticipate filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application this Summer, commencing the pivotal trial by Fall 2023 and completing the pivotal trial in the Summer of 2024. If successful, we anticipate filing the Biologics License Application (BLA) the end of calendar year 2024 and potentially launching the product in calendar year 2025." The company also said that analysis of the pivotal trial results for its biosimilar insulin glargine continues, though it now anticipates top-line data to be available by the end of February 2023. Crew added, "A well-regarded UK-based laboratory has completed testing of more than 95% of the raw data samples from the pivotal trial; however, testing was paused for equipment maintenance and recalibration. That delay was further compounded since the testing was thus not completed by the lab's year-end shutdown. Once all samples have been tested, statistical analysis of the data will commence. "While we anticipate filing the BLA for our biosimilar insulin glargine will be pushed back by about two months to mid-year 2023, our target for potential launch late in the first half of calendar 2024 remains in range. Moreover, we continue to believe the trial will be successful in meeting its clinical endpoints and expect to avail ourselves of an FDA pre-submission meeting to increase the likelihood of a first-pass approval and potentially shorten the review time." NovoLog is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. About Lannett Company, Inc.: Lannett Company, founded in 1942, develops, manufactures, packages, markets and distributes generic pharmaceutical products for a wide range of medical indications. For more information, visit the company's website at www.lannett.com. This news release contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or future business performance. Any such statement, including, but not limited to, the timing and positive final outcome of the pivotal clinical trial of biosimilar insulin glargine, as well as the timing and outcome of FDA approval and successfully commercializing the product, and the positive continued development of biosimilar insulin aspart, as well as the timing and outcome of FDA approval and successfully commercializing the product, whether expressed or implied, is subject to market and other conditions, and subject to risks and uncertainties which can cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors which include, but are not limited to, the recent significant rise in the number of Covid cases in China as well as the risk factors discussed in the Company's Form 10-K and other documents filed with the SEC from time to time, including the prospectus supplement related to the proposed offering to be filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contact: Robert Jaffe Robert Jaffe Co., LLC (424) 288-4098 SOURCE Lannett Company, Inc. Marcus & Zelman LLC is sporting a new look to go with opening a new office in Miami, Florida. Now as much as ever, the firm is ready to serve Floridians for all their consumer protection needs! MIAMI, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcus & Zelman LLC heads into 2023 with the official launch of its rebrand, a new and improved website, and the opening of its first Florida office in Miami. Since 2010, Marcus & Zelman has been steadily developing a practice with a mission to help consumers and protect consumer rights. In line with that goal, their new website makes their services as accessible as possible to anyone that needs their support. The new website features detailed practice area descriptions, helpful FAQ to cover any consumer rights concerns and an easily accessible submission form to let them know how your rights are being affected. Check it out at www.MarcusZelman.com ! Along with a new look, the firm is breaking ground by expanding with a new office based in Miami, Florida. While the firm continues practicing throughout the country, this hopes to be only the first of many new satellite locations for MZ Law to continue to meet the needs of everyday people across the US. With this new office, Marcus & Zelman is equipped to assist Floridians with any consumer law claims they might encounter. Located at 701 Brickell Ave, Suite 1550 in the Bank of America building at the heart of Brickell, the Miami office is led by Marcus & Zelman's new partner, Joseph Kanee. Joseph graduated magna cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and University of Windsor, obtaining law degrees in the United States and Canada. Joseph is another addition to a team of fierce advocates. Look out to see what the future holds as MZ Law continues to grow its work protecting consumers nationwide. Check us out on instagram @MZLawFL Marcus & Zelman LLC is a Consumer Rights Law Firm, experienced in complex class action litigation and individual claims under various state and federal consumer laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act , the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act , the Telephone Consumer Protection Act , and many more. An adaptive and zealous practice, Marcus & Zelman has been helping consumers for over a decade and has been recognized in their industry as leaders at the forefront of consumer protection law. SOURCE Marcus and Zelman LLC IRVINE, Calif. , Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total December sales of 27,292 vehicles, an increase of 40.5 percent compared to December 2021. Full-year sales totaled 294,908 vehicles; a decrease of 11.4 percent compared to 2021. With 27 selling days in December, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 40.5 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis. CPO sales totaled 5,080 vehicles in December, an increase of 33 percent compared to December 2021. Mazda Reports and Full Year 2022 Sales Results In 2022, Mazda achieved many milestones in the US, including: In January, MNAO President and CEO Jeff Guyton drove the first 2023 Mazda CX-50 off the Discovery Line at Mazda's new Huntsville, Alabama plant. drove the first 2023 Mazda CX-50 off the Discovery Line at Mazda's new plant. The CX-50 began sales in the U.S. in April and continues to support its sales with sustained marketing activities, including the National Geographic Tasting Wild program, which debuted in October. MNAO began exporting the U.S.-assembled CX-50 to Canada and Colombia . . For the third consecutive year, all tested Mazda vehicles earned the IIHS 2022 TOP Safety Pick+. These vehicles include the Mazda3 Sedan, Mazda3 Hatchback, CX-30, CX-5, CX-9, and CX-50. The 2021-22 CX-9 joined the 2021-22 CX-5 in earning the IIHS top "Good" rating in its new, more rigorous side crash test. The CX-5 was the only vehicle in the small SUV class to achieve a "Good" rating in the new test. Mazda Canada, Inc., (MCI) reported December sales of 2,739 vehicles, an increase of 40.6 percent compared to December last year. Full-year sales decreased 19.8 percent, with 49,874 vehicles sold. Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported December sales of 7,184 vehicles, an increase of 52.7 percent compared to last year. Full-year 2022 sales increased 2.9 percent, with 48,274 vehicles sold. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia through approximately 795 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario; operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and operations in Colombia are managed by Mazda de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com. Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA. Month-To-Date Year-To-Date December December YOY % % MTD December December YOY % % MTD 2022 2021 Change DSR 2022 2021 Change DSR Mazda3 1,986 2,019 (1.6) % (1.6) % 27,767 37,653 (26.3) % (26.5) % Mazda 3 Sdn 1,202 1,262 (4.8) % (4.8) % 13154 21,639 (39.2) % (39.4) % Mazda 3 HB 784 757 3.6 % 3.6 % 14613 16,014 (8.7) % (9.0) % Mazda6 0 542 (100.0) % (100.0) % 335 16,214 (97.9) % (97.9) % MX-5 Miata 738 211 249.8 % 249.8 % 6,171 10,547 (41.5) % (41.7) % MX-5 389 83 368.7 % 368.7 % 2588 4,115 (37.1) % (37.3) % MXR 349 128 172.7 % 172.7 % 3583 6,432 (44.3) % (44.5) % CX-3 - 0 - - - 5,100 - - CX-30 4,298 5,160 (16.7) % (16.7) % 52808 60,185 (12.3) % (12.5) % CX-5 13,512 10,419 29.7 % 29.7 % 151594 168,382 (10.0) % (10.3) % CX-9 3,695 1,010 265.8 % 265.8 % 34580 34,493 0.3 % (0.1) % CX-50 3,063 0 - - 21329 0 - - MX-30 0 61 (100.0) % (100.0) % 324 181 79.0 % 78.4 % CARS 2,724 2,772 (1.7) % (1.7) % 34,273 64,414 (46.8) % (47.0) % TRUCKS 24,568 16,650 47.6 % 47.6 % 260,635 268,342 (2.9) % (3.2) % TOTAL 27,292 19,422 40.5 % 40.5 % 294,908 332,756 (11.4) % (11.7) % *Selling Days 27 27 307 306 SOURCE Mazda North American Operations Live downlink in 4K resolution from the International Space Station on January 6 at the world's largest technology conference will feature NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Frank Rubio to discuss living and working in space, including a panel discussion featuring users of the orbiting laboratory LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest and most influential gathering of technology companies and researchers is about to receive a call from humanity's most innovative learning outpost, the International Space Station (ISS). Each year in Las Vegas (NV), the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) brings together key leaders within the technology field to network, spur new ideas, and to drive economic growth. This year, NASA and the ISS National Lab are seeking to make big waves by educating the CES community on avenues to utilize this one-of-a-kind incubator in low Earth orbit. On Friday, January 6th, from 8:30 through 9:10 a.m. PT, a session moderated by CNN Business' Jackie Wattles will focus on how a variety of users are leveraging the space station to further technological advancements that can bring value to humanity, improve the quality of life for those living and working in space, and enable a sustainable market in low Earth orbit. To kick off this session, Wattles will moderate a fast-paced conversation featuring: Dr. Michael Roberts , Chief Scientist, ISS National Lab , Chief Scientist, ISS National Lab Dr. Ken Savin , Chief Science Officer, Redwire Space , Chief Science Officer, Redwire Space Dr. Mark Sivik , Distinguished Fellow, Procter & Gamble After which, the space station will come calling. Wattles will moderate a discussion with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Frank Rubio, live from the orbiting laboratory. The conversation will focus on living in space but more importantly, the types of research and innovation that the space station is capable of facilitating, and how that may be relevant to the technology sector. As CES is a conference focused on featuring the newest innovations, why not use this downlink as an opportunity to showcase a new capability from NASA? This downlink transmission will provide a validation of new and improved bandwidth capabilities that will bring this conversation to attendees in higher resolution than ever before. In doing so, this hopes to set the foundation for future downlink conversations in 4K resolution, bringing the space station and astronauts to your televisions and computers with more clarity! On Northrop Grumman's most recent resupply mission to the space station, it included an upgraded, next-generation BioFabrication Facility (BFF) from Redwire Space, in an effort to bioprint human cells and tissues in the absence of gravity. Dr. Savin will be able to speak to this facility, along with many others owned and operated by Redwire Space, and how the CES community can work with implementation partners and Commercial Space Providers through the ISS National Lab and NASA. In 2022, Procter & Gamble launched two new investigations focused on the company's Tide laundry brand (sponsored by the ISS National Lab, and in collaboration via a Space Act Agreement with NASA). In doing so, the Tide in Space team sought to validate the stability of cleaning detergent products in the extreme environment of space, including Tide Infinity, the first in a series of products development for the space-based environment. The team also tested Tide to Go Pens and Tide to Go Wipes in the absence of gravity. Presently, astronauts do not have the capacity to clean their clothes through traditional avenues, and these studies could provide insights into future laundry solutions in space. Additionally, breakthroughs from this science could enable laundry solutions for those in remote or environmentally impacted communities on Earth. For those planning to attend CES in person, the downlink and panel session are slated to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall, Room 232. The panelists may be available for potential interviews from media attending the conference. Interested media, please reach out to Patrick O'Neill, ISS National Lab Public Affairs and Outreach Lead at [email protected] to coordinate. To learn more about CES, including how to attend in person and virtually, please visit www.ces.tech. To learn more about the ISS National Lab and the science it supports, please visit www.issnationallab.org. To download a high-resolution photo for this release, click here. About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under cooperative agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit www.ISSNationalLab.org. SOURCE International Space Station National Lab Andrea Baillo as Chief Scientific Officer will lead the company's future pipeline development and research and innovation model ROXBORO, N.C., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Book Extracts (OBX), a leading ingredient manufacturer, product formulator, and manufacturer of the industry's most innovative and highest quality cannabinoid-enabled products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea Baillo as Chief Scientific Officer. Andrea Baillo has broad research and innovation experience and will lead OBX's research and development (R&D) strategy. In her new role, Baillo will oversee all research and development efforts at OBX, including ingredient R&D, product development, and ingredient and product safety and efficacy research. She will lead global research engagements with partners, clients, academia, and non-governmental organizations; help build the pipeline of leading science and technology talent at OBX; and provide leadership of the OBX Product and R&D Teams. "OBX is committed to leveraging data to deliver better products and outcomes to consumers. With more than 15 years of research experience, Baillo brings the expertise needed to advance our business and scientific understanding of the endocannabinoid system and the products that best support it," said Dave Neundorfer, OBX CEO. "We look forward to Andrea's leadership of OBX's ambitious scientific goals." Since 2019, the OBX business has been deeply rooted in science. It leads pioneering research around the world, in fields related to quality of life, health, wellbeing and supply chain resilience. Key projects that the business has delivered include three clinical studies with Radicle Science, the largest randomized, controlled clinical studies on minor cannabinoids on quality of life outcomes including pain, sleep, and focus; safety and toxicology studies on CBN, CBC, THCV, CBDV; a clinical study on THCV to address acne, in partnership with Dr. Zoe Dralos and Dr. Jeffrey Dover; and university research programs with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (mechanistic effects of cannabinoids on brain cell functions), Harvard University (Alzheimer's, dementia, bipolar disorder, and depression) FAMU (Cancer), and UC Boulder (Depression / PTSD). "I am excited to be driving discoveries that have the potential to impact not only the future of our business, but also to improve the quality of life for people around the world," shared Baillo. "I'm fortunate to be surrounded by some of the best and brightest scientists, researchers and professionals at OBX, and I'm looking forward to continuing our important work together." Baillo is an experienced scientist with a demonstrated history of working in cannabis research, development, and manufacturing, cancer research, and food and beverage industries. Baillo has served as Vice President of Research and Innovation for OBX since July 2021, and she previously served as Senior Director, Research & Development, Quality at Green Thumb Industries (GTI). She is known for her focus on product safety and stability while promoting and supporting basic and applied research assuring science is at the forefront of R&D in highly regulated markets. Baillo attended Wayne State University School of Medicine where she completed her PhD in cancer biology. Baillo is undeniably a trailblazer in the field of cannabinoid science, and she is eager for other women to join her: "Women are seriously under-represented in science across the world. Within OBX, we support women to unlock their potential as well as inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEM." About Open Book Extracts Headquartered in Roxboro, N.C., Open Book Extracts is an NSF cGMP and ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of premium plant-based cannabinoid products, aiming to be the industry's true north by delivering premium products, exceptional service, and industry-leading transparency. With control of the entire supply chain, a state-of-the-art extraction campus near North Carolina's Research Triangle, proprietary refinement and conversion methods backed by a growing IP portfolio, and a team of PhD chemists and seasoned business leaders, OBX is the trusted partner for global brands seeking to enter the marketplace. For more information, visit https://openbookextracts.com . Media Contacts: Media relations - Sheldon Baker, [email protected] and Nicole Brown, 914.645.0898, [email protected] SOURCE Open Book Extracts TULSA, Okla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parkway Corporation , a Philadelphia-based real estate developer, investor, and best-in-class parking operator, is pleased to announce the acquisition of an entire block in downtown Tulsa. The acquisition was completed by a Parkway affiliate, Parkway U.S. Land Carry Fund I, LP. Located in the vibrant Tulsa Arts District, the 90,000-square-foot surface lot includes 306 parking spaces and is in close proximity to the Tulsa Theater, Cain's Ballroom, the BOK Center, Guthrie Green, and numerous bars, restaurants, museums, apartments, and office buildings. Via Parkway Corporation "Having studied markets across the country, we're thrilled to make our first acquisition in Tulsa," said Robert Zuritsky, President and CEO of Parkway Corporation. "The city and region have seen significant economic investment and talent recruitment over the past several years. Increased opportunities for remote work have attracted thousands to the high quality of life and affordable cost of living Tulsa offers. Everyone at Parkway is looking forward to making our mark on the city and contributing to the continued revitalization of downtown Tulsa." Parkway U.S. Land Carry Fund I, LP was established to make acquisitions in primary, secondary, and tertiary markets that have mature or emerging paidparking characteristics, a multiplicity of parking demand generators, and demonstrable economic momentum and business growth. This platform is focused on acquiring surface parking lot facilities that have current operating cash flows where a higher or better use may be achievable over a longer time horizon. About Parkway Corporation Parkway is a full-service real estate developer, investor. and operator with deep expertise in property and parking management. Founded and headquartered in Philadelphia, Parkway Corporation has been an industry leader for nearly 100 years in combining operational excellence and innovative technology to deliver exceptional products and customer experiences. More information about the company is available at www.parkwaycorp.com or connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . Contact: Sara McGovern, Slice Communications [email protected] 610-914-5977 SOURCE Parkway Corporation TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KUDUCOM is galloping into Tampa Bay, providing businesses with a powerful communication suite backed by a powerhouse application that does it all, Webex by CISCO. Ryan Yaldor, the Chief Technology Officer of KUDUCOM (formerly PBX-Change) announced today that the new name, brand, vision, and mission launched on January 3, 2023. "Our company has been providing businesses with Voice, Internet, and Cloud-based communication services for over two decades, and now it's time to show the world that we mean business! Our new name, brand, and mission are changing to communicate to our clients and prospective businesses that our value-added propositions, people, products, and services are more reflective of what we are in business to do --- help businesses communicate better," stated Yaldor. With the founder's roots hailing from South Africa, stakeholders wanted to incorporate a meaningful icon when rebranding the 25-year-old communication-based business. KUDUCOM represents businesses and organizations where speed, agility, and customer-centric care are important components of their Voice, Internet, and Cloud-based services. "The Kudu is a large antelope predominantly from South Africa with a top speed of roughly 60 miles per hour. They have large radar-like ears and are highly alert and notoriously aware of their surroundings, making them a unique symbol to represent the vision and mission of KUDUCOM and the enriched services depending on speed, accuracy, and the ability to listen carefully in any environment," Yaldor added. Martine Yaldor, KUDUCOM's Chief Financial Officer stated, "Our vision and mission have evolved over the past 25 years moving towards a more business-centric model, without sacrificing service by real people. In the past, we spent time perfecting our processes and services. With the rebrand, we have been able to focus on perfecting our value-added propositions to further elevate our presence in the industry. We have grown and have realized the need to take on this change to welcome new opportunities while maintaining our impeccable client retention record." KUDUCOM is a certified Cisco Webex Contact Center partner and a registered Florida CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier), delivering unified voice, contact center management, and Internet services to businesses and organizations. As a premier Cisco partner, KUDUCOM deploys a Webex solution that is dependable, secure, flexible, and trusted by 95% of Fortune 500 companies. "When we discussed rebranding the company, we did so with a focus on appealing to new markets. We also felt we should enhance our visual consistency and brand equity to better represent who we are and where we are going. This is a step in the right direction for us and our clients," shared Senior Vice President, James Neely. To continue our growth and position in the marketplace, PBX-Change rebranded to KUDUCOM in late 2022 to place an emphasis on being a single-source full-service communications provider. Sean Coniglio, Managing Partner at HCP Associates and a long-time client shared, "In the 13 years we have trusted our partners at KUDUCOM, formerly PBX-Change, we have consistently had exceptional service. In our business, if we go down, we are in trouble, we never have to worry about that with them by our side. As a small business, we get fast and reliable Internet, seamless integration of hundreds of apps, cloud calling, collaborative messaging, virtual meetings, video conferencing, and even events and polling features. For a 37-year-old research-based marketing firm, that is everything we need and more." To learn more about KUDUCOM and their business-centric Voice, Internet, and Cloud Services, please visit KUDUCOM.com or call 866-KUDUCOM today! About KUDUCOM KUDUCOM, formerly PBX-Change, is a 25-year-old single-source full-service communications provider providing businesses with Voice, Internet, and Cloud-based services with a customer-centric focus. Vision We strive to be a true business partner by providing a single resource for all voice, data, and internet services. We make real connections within the business community to deliver seamless communication solutions. Mission KUDUCOM is dedicated to keeping businesses connected by providing advanced communication solutions with a customer-centric focus. SOURCE KUDUCOM MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneer Management Consulting is pleased to announce that Peter Dellgren has been selected as General Manager of its Denver office. Most recently, Dellgren served as Associate Vice President of North Highland. However, he originally cut his teeth in operations and project management in various roles at Lockheed Martin, Nelnet, and EDS. Pioneer Management Consulting Denver GM Peter Dellgren Pioneering to the Rockies! While Pioneer Management Consulting is a relative newcomer to the Denver market , it meets a critical need for midsize and large businesses that are looking for a partner that can not only help them with strategy but also with the efficient execution of that strategy. Peter Dellgren explains: "In this market, there is a polarization of consulting services, where you either have the budget to hire a large multi-national firm, or you're over on the other side, where consulting often means staff augmentation. The options are limited in the middle, and there are very few firms that have figured out how to deliver scalable, comprehensive strategy and execution to this market section in Denver." The "Secret Sauce" to Aggressive Growth Pioneer has experienced exponential growth since it was founded in 2009 in Minneapolis, MN. For the last two years, the firm has landed on the Minneapolis-St. Paul Fast 50 list , which honors 50 privately held companies in the Twin Cities with the fastest revenue growth over the previous year. Pioneer also made the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies , ranking at number 2198. Pioneer believes its 269% compounded annual growth rate is the result of the following strategies: Approaching every decision it makes through the lens of its core values: humble, hungry, and connected Creating new ways for employees to stay connected to the organization, their colleagues, and their clients, resulting in a 99% employee engagement score Focusing on complete client satisfaction, so much so that it only incents consultants to do good work, resulting in a 97% client satisfaction score Introducing a national organizational design and expanding into the Denver market A Short Road to Venture Capital The Pioneer team's ambitions reach beyond the Denver market and also beyond comprehensive consulting services. By 2025, the Pioneer team intends to form a venture capital firm to help entrepreneurs and startups transition from early-stage to growth. For many firms in this space, funding startups may represent a priority shift. However, at its core, Pioneer is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and giving back to the communities it serves. Therefore, giving entrepreneurs and community leaders the chance to do more good in the world faster is a natural progression. In 2019, the firm launched the Pioneer Gives Back Committee (PGB) to establish community partnerships and spearhead local volunteer opportunities. Molly Koenen , Partner, Owner, and PGB Chair, states: "Giving back to the community isn't just words at Pioneer. We choose a startup nonprofit every year, and spend that year helping them build and scale." Over the past year, the firm partnered with the Joy Collaborative an organization that brings together designers, architects, and builders to transform bedrooms for young people with life-limiting conditions. Pioneer helped the organization refine its fundraising strategy, define roles and responsibilities throughout its leadership team, develop internal communications, and implement systems to sustain longevity. About Pioneer Management Consulting Pioneer Management Consulting is a business management consulting firm headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Its Denver office, located in the Lower Highlands District, was opened earlier this year. Pioneer was founded by Brian Westerhaus in 2009 to help midsize to enterprise-scale businesses navigate complex transformation projects through four disciplines: strategy, execution, organizational change, and data analytics. Its core values, humble, hungry, and connected, inform all of the firm's decisions. Learn more at PioneerManagementConsulting.com . Media Contact Molly Koenen, Partner and Owner [email protected] Cell: (763) 331-1845 SOURCE Pioneer Management Consulting Italian competitor's infringement claims rebutted once again, marking its sixth defeat to date GUILFORD, Maine, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Puritan Medical Productsthe world's most trusted manufacturer of swabs and specimen collection and transport devices is proud to celebrate yet another affirmation of patent law, this time in Sweden. The Swedish patent lawsuit filed by Italian swab-maker Copan Italia S.p.A. hit a dead end earlier this month, with the Swedish Court of Appeals confirming that Puritan's flocked swabs do not infringe any claims of Copan's European Patent that supposedly protects the Italian company's core flocked swab technology. Copan launched a patent offensive against Puritan distributor Svenska LABFAB in Sweden back in April 2019, after losing a competitive bid in Sweden. The Italian company announced the Swedish lawsuit during a trade show in the Netherlands, handing out flyers claiming "that Svenska LABFAB has committed a willful infringement of the patent covering COPAN's core flocked swab technology." By June 2020, however, the Swedish courts sided with LABFAB and handed Copan a resounding defeat. LABFAB successfully defeated the infringement claims and even earned legal fees for its efforts. Heading into 2023, Puritan's hard-working team can celebrate yet another legal victory that upholds patent law Tweet this Later that year, in November 2020, Puritan similarly defeated the Italian competitor in a string of German lawsuits and appeals, also earning legal fees. Fast forward to 2022, and Copan suffered another defeat at the hands of the International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, D.C. In that case, Copan accused rival Chinese swab makers of infringing its patents, only for the claims to be denied by an ITC judge. Copan has now lost six lawsuits in which it asserted flocked swab patent infringement. "Heading into 2023, Puritan's hard-working team can celebrate yet another legal victory that upholds patent law," said Bob Shultz, President and CFO at Puritan. "Copan's latest defeat is a strong message to our entire industry that good-faith business practices are paramount in this day and age. We are happy that this most recent distraction is now behind us, as we look ahead to doing right by our customers in the new year." To schedule an interview, please contact Virginia Templet, [email protected]. SOURCE Puritan Medical Products Co., LLC DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Quantum Technology Industry Report - Annual Global Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report is the first annual publication to provide the latest information you need to stay informed and expand your knowledge of the rapidly evolving quantum technology industry. Covering quantum cybersecurity, quantum sensors, and quantum networks as well as quantum computing itself, this annual report provides a thorough understanding of quantum technology from the latest testbeds, developments in market-driven applications, all the way to commercial software and hardware products trends. You will receive quantum industry intelligence that you cannot find anywhere else. It is based on information from the analyst's network of experts across the globe as well as from the US and European conferences and industry leading market analysis studies. What you will find in this report includes: The latest product/technology roadmaps from leading quantum technology vendors Novel quantum business cases and applications Market forecasts for quantum computers, quantum safe products and quantum sensors Speculations on when and how quantum advantage will make its presence felt and when the "quantum apocalypse" will occur A review of the evolution quantum computing and quantum cybersecurity standards The latest news from quantum labs and testbeds around the globe National and pan-national quantum policy developments VCs, M&A, and government funding for the quantum technology industry Quantum education and the quantum workforce Commercial, government, academic professionals will use our annual report to improve product planning and competitive assessments as well as make informed decisions throughout their quantum operations. Gain a thorough understanding of the latest technologies, applications and trends from industry experts. Receive industry intelligence you cannot find elsewhere. Key Topics Covered: PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Why the quantum industry needs this report? 1.2 Methodology of this report 1.3 Plan of this report PART 2: QUANTUM COMPUTING AND QUANTUM PROCESSORS 2.1 Many ways to quantum computing: Technology developments worldwide 2.2 Roadmap announcements for full-stack computers: The path towards quantum advantage 2.3 Quantum processors: Products trends in the past 12 months 2.4 Quantum computing begins: The first business cases in financial services, pharma and elsewhere 2.5 Market forecasts for quantum computing 2.6 The future of quantum computing PART 3: QUANTUM CYBERSECURITY 3.1 When will the quantum apocalypse arrive? 3.2 QKD + PQC + QNG: Emerging corporate and government strategies for cybersecurity 3.3 Status and future of quantum cybersecurity standards 3.4 Intelligence agencies shaping the quantum cybersecurity sector 3.5 Influential product developments 3.6 Market forecasts for quantum cybersecurity 3.7 The future of quantum cybersecurity PART 4: QUANTUM NETWORKING AND THE COMING OF THE QUANTUM INTERNET 4.1 Developments at quantum testbeds in the past 12 months 4.2 The role of satellites in the emergence of the quantum internet 4.3 Recent developments in repeater technology: The path to commercialization 4.4 Growing use of quantum technology to protect mobile communications 4.5 Towards the quantum internet: Commercial opportunities? 4.6 National networks and the politics of the quantum network 4.7 Current and future funding for quantum testbeds, national networks and the quantum internet PART 5: QUANTUM SENSORS: THE FIRST COMMERCIAL QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY SECTOR 5.1 The quantum sensor sector in 2022 and beyond 5.2 Key product sectors: Atomic clocks and magnetometers 5.3 Quantum sensors: The growing impact on healthcare 5.4 Quantum sensors: Emerging applications in the military sector 5.5 Market forecasts for quantum sensors 5.6 Recent innovations in quantum sensors PART 6: QUANTUM MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS 6.1 Dilution refrigerators: Latest developments 6.2 Control equipment and software: A growing opportunity? 6.3 Microwave and photonic components for quantum systems: state of the art 6.4 Quantum materials ad semiconductors for quantum computers 6.5 Components for quantum networks 6.6 Market forecasts for quantum sensors PART 7: FINANCING THE QUANTUM REVOLUTION 7.1 The rise of SPACS 7.2 VC activity 7.3 Mergers and acquisitions 7.4 Government funding for quantum PART 8: WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION ISSUES 8.1 New educational initiatives for quantum engineers 8.2 Informing the cybersecurity industry about the quantum apocalypse 8.3 Executive education: Do CEOs need to know about quantum? 8.4 Educational and professional associations PART 9: DEVELOPMENTS AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 9.1 United States 9.2 Canada 9.3 Pan-European and European National Programs 9.4 China 9.5 Japan 9.6 Korea APPENDICES REPORT DEVELOPMENT TEAM For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jopboy About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Award winning 'Schneider Home' provides energy independence with an integrated home energy management solution controlled by a single, easy-to-use app that automates energy production, storage, measurement and control, making homes efficient, resilient and sustainable Intelligent, intuitive, and attractive, Schneider Home saves homeowners money while keeping them comfortable all the time even during a power outage LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy efficiency, sustainability, and simplicity are coming to homes in an entirely new way. Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, unveiled Schneider Home a first-of-its-kind home energy management solution for homeowners seeking savings, comfort, and energy independence today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (booth #53711). Schneider Home is a simple, smart and sustainable home energy management system The Schneider Home energy management solution includes a home battery for clean energy storage, a high-power solar inverter, a smart electrical panel, electric vehicle charger and connected electric sockets and light switches all controlled by the easy-to-use Schneider Home app. The Schneider Home solution intelligently orchestrates home energy by bringing together utility power, solar, back up battery and EV charging. It offers unparalleled intelligence to homeowners, including the ability to monitor energy consumption by individual appliance, decide where to prioritize power during an outage to extend available back up power, and avoid expensive electrical service upgrades when purchasing an EV. The solution also allows homeowners to save by enrolling in utility programs and qualify for tax incentives. In contrast to existing solutions which require separate apps and disjointed hardware, Schneider Electric has eliminated the complexity for homeowners by automating energy production, storage, measurement and control. Recognized by CES as a 2023 Innovation Award Honoree, Schneider Home's sleek styling and integrated approach mark a new age of home energy management solutions. Nadege Petit, Executive Vice President, Innovation at Schneider Electric said, "There's never been a greater need for transformation or a greater opportunity for positive impact and innovation is how we empower consumers on their path to net zero. Homeowners are now able to produce their own energy and seamlessly switch between power sources to optimize cost. Schneider Home provides them the tools for a self-sufficient home, reducing their environmental impact, while saving them money on their energy bills." Schneider Home offers a unique integration of energy resources and digital capabilities, including: Schneider Pulse : The heart of the electrified home. A smart electrical panel powered by embedded technology, functionality, and intelligence to interconnect various energy sources within the home. This solution has already been recognized for its innovation with awards from Time, Fast Company, and Green Builder, among others. The heart of the electrified home. A smart electrical panel powered by embedded technology, functionality, and intelligence to interconnect various energy sources within the home. This solution has already been recognized for its innovation with awards from and among others. Schneider Boost: The home battery for energy storage. Store solar energy during the day and use it during peak rates for utility bill savings and to keep home power flowing during an outage. The home battery for energy storage. Store solar energy during the day and use it during peak rates for utility bill savings and to keep home power flowing during an outage. Schneider Inverter: The high-power hybrid inverter for solar and storage. Converts solar energy output into usable AC electricity. The high-power hybrid inverter for solar and storage. Converts solar energy output into usable AC electricity. Schneider Charge: The electric vehicle charger. Leverages onsite solar and storage to boost charge speed and reduce charging costs. The electric vehicle charger. Leverages onsite solar and storage to boost charge speed and reduce charging costs. Schneider Home: The single app to control it all. Monitor, control and automate whole home energy management through one easy-to-use application. Jaser Faruq, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Energy Storage at Schneider Electric said, "Choice, control, convenience these are the characteristics that consumers are looking for in every experience. What better or more meaningful place to deliver that than in their own homes? We took the opportunity to reimagine home energy placing the customer at the center, then designing a full-featured, integrated system around their needs and paired with an intuitive app to simplify its operation. Now, with Schneider Home, homeowners can save time, save money and help with the climate challenge." This announcement timing couldn't be more important. The cost of utility power in the U.S continues to increase, while damaging weather events and grid instability are driving the need for more clean, cost-effective, resilient, and secure energy. In tandem, the U.S. is making unprecedented investments in clean energy, and renewables are poised to become the largest source of electricity generation by 2025.1 Government incentives, utility programs and rebates have brought about a significant shift in how consumers engage with energy in their everyday lives. Schneider Electric is the first company to bring together disparate home energy technologies into an integrated, open, and streamlined system all controlled by a single app with unique capabilities, including: Predefined and customizable energy saving settings, like Away Mode, to power off non-critical appliances when not needed, customize lighting scenes and set up your battery to maximize savings Intelligent EV charging when rates are lowest or directly from solar Reduced time and complexity of installation in comparison to legacy systems Minimal footprint and streamlined design taking up less space than current configurations less clutter, more curb appeal As the industry leader trusted in 4 of 10 U.S. homes with a legacy in smart, sustainable home electrification, Schneider Electric is meeting the needs of customers today and preparing them for the future. This solution solves for a clear and resonant market need at a time when 83% of Americans site energy efficiency and sustainability as the most important factors in home improvement. The Schneider Home energy management solution is modular in design and can be purchased as a full suite or incrementally as homeowners' needs evolve. The complete solution will roll out over the course of 2023. For more information, visit SchneiderHome.com. Related Resources About Schneider Electric Schneider's purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. www.se.com Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog Hashtags: #CES #CES2023 #SmartHome #LifeIsOn #SchneiderElectric 1 Renewable power's growth is being turbocharged as countries seek to strengthen energy security - News - IEA SOURCE Schneider Electric SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of shareholders of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) related to undisclosed risks about the company's consumer products and services. U.S. Bancorp is a Delaware company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. U.S. Bancorp provides a full range of financial services, including lending and depository services, cash management, capital markets, and trust and investment management services. On July 28, 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a Consent Order against US Bancorp's banking subsidiary, U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"). According to the Consent Order, from 2010 to 2020, U.S. Bank prioritized revenue generation over regulatory compliance. The Company's sales policies incentivized employees to open deposit accounts and credit lines on behalf of customers without their knowledge and consent. One such policy was an incentive compensation program, which offered financial rewards to employees for selling high-revenue-generating products and services. This employee misconduct continued unchecked for years because the Company failed to implement adequate controls to address its operational and compliance risks. The Company failed to disclose these risks to shareholders and investors. The Schubert Firm is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duty by U.S. Bancorp's officers and directors in connection with these allegations. If you own stock in U.S. Bancorp and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.classactionlawyers.com/usb About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide. SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP Strategic investment centers on providing a seamless client experience and additional expert resources EAGAN, Minn., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Skyline Exhibits, a trade show exhibit company, today announced the acquisition of its authorized dealer, Skyline New York. The company serves clients in Long Island and upstate New York from its office in Hauppauge, New York. Bob Watson, the owner of Skyline New York, has been in the trade show and events industry for over 30 years with a background in custom exhibits. Watson has worked closely with Skyline Exhibits since 2006 and will continue supporting his client base. "We look forward to collaborating more closely as we officially join the Skyline Exhibits team," said Watson. "As an authorized dealer, I have worked with Skyline for nearly twenty years. We are thrilled to be a part of the Skyline team and view this as a springboard for us to reach new heights for our clients, as it offers additional support and expertise with seamless services regardless of their location or venue." Skyline New York is an established provider of high-impact, custom modular exhibit solutions and has worked with companies including Bankers Health Group, T.D. Ameritrade, Kyriba, Fannie Mae and ICM Controls. "We are excited to welcome Skyline New York to the team," said Anthony Floreano, Skyline CEO. "We have already accomplished so much together, and I am excited to realize the impact this formal union has both for our clients and Skyline." "Our clients are ramping up for a busy 2023. This acquisition will help us to grow and provide an even better experience for our clients in the Long Island and upstate New York area. We are committed to developing top-notch talent and resources to help our clients," adds Floreano. Skyline Exhibits received investment from Gemspring Capital in 2020 and has continued to grow over the past two years, investing in production assets and completing dealer acquisitions. 2022 was a transformative year in which the company refreshed its visual brand and launched BrandSync, a live events agency. About Skyline Exhibits Working with brands of all sizes, Skyline Exhibits is a trade show exhibit builder that creates award-winning tradeshow experiences through modular structures, high-impact graphics, custom fabrication, and comprehensive services. With a strong focus on excellence, Skyline makes great design accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit www.skyline.com. About Gemspring Capital Gemspring Capital, a Westport, Connecticut-based private equity firm with $1.5 billion of capital under management, provides flexible capital solutions to lower middle market companies. Gemspring partners with talented management teams and takes a partnership approach to helping drive revenue growth and value creation. Target companies have up to $500 million in revenue and are in the aerospace & defense, business services, consumer services, financial and insurance services, healthcare services, industrial services, software and tech-enabled services, or specialty manufacturing sectors. For more information, visit www.gemspring.com. Contact: Mary Etchison 651.234.5912 [email protected] SOURCE Skyline Exhibits December sales up 11 percent Crosstrek achieves best year ever CAMDEN, N.J., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 56,760 vehicle sales for December 2022, an 11 percent increase compared with December 2021 (51,146). With five consecutive months of sales increases, Subaru ended calendar year 2022 with 556,581 vehicles sales, a 4.7 percent decrease compared with calendar year 2021. These year-end results are reflective of the impact that the semiconductor shortage and supply chain disruptions continue to have on the automobile industry. Subaru of America, Inc. reports December and 2022 year-end sales results; December sales up 11 percent. "During 2022, Subaru and our retailers worked hard to set a new standard for a superb purchase and ownership experience for our customers, and in addition, together with our retailers we also donated millions of dollars, and most importantly our time, to those charities that matter most to the local communities where we live and work," said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc. "As we put the final exclamation point on 2022 and welcome 2023, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our retailers, our distributor partners, as well as to all of our colleagues across the country for meeting the challenges we face in the spirit of our brand's Love Promise. It is with this attitude, that we greet 2023 and look forward to the opportunity this new year will no doubt bring our way." In 2022, Crosstrek was the top performer by volume with 155,142 annual sales, achieving its best year ever. Outback followed closely with 147,262 vehicle sales, while Forester added 114,096 annual sales in 2022. The 3-row Ascent finished the year with sales of 63,704, up 6.2 percent compared to 2021. On the performance side, the automaker's WRX model achieved annual sales of 18,662, while BRZ added 3,345 sales, a 44.2 percent increase compared with 2021. Following its first full month on sale in December, the all-new 2023 Solterra EV finished the year with 919 sales. "Thanks to our stellar retailers, we had a strong finish to 2022," said Jeff Walters, Senior Vice President of Sales. "In 2023, our customers can look forward to an exciting lineup of Subaru vehicles, including the all-new Impreza arriving later this year." Carline Dec-22 Dec-21 % Chg Dec-22 Dec-21 % Chg MTD MTD MTD YTD YTD YTD Ascent 6,980 6,088 14.7 % 63,704 59,980 6.2 % BRZ 325 1,069 -69.6 % 3,345 2,320 44.2 % Crosstrek 13,491 9,494 42.1 % 155,142 127,466 21.7 % Forester 13,526 13,930 -2.9 % 114,096 154,723 -26.3 % Impreza 2,495 4,156 -40.0 % 30,846 34,791 -11.3 % Legacy 2,125 1,729 22.9 % 22,605 22,766 -0.7 % Outback 14,797 12,643 17.0 % 147,262 154,623 -4.8 % Solterra 825 0 0.0 % 919 0 0.0 % WRX 2,196 2,037 7.8 % 18,662 27,141 -31.2 % TOTAL 56,760 51,146 11.0 % 556,581 583,810 -4.7 % December sales were supported by the annual Subaru Share the Love Event where the automaker donates $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased to the customer's choice of the following national charities: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and the National Park Foundation or a hometown charity selected by participating Subaru retailers. In the program's 15th consecutive year, Subaru and its retailers achieved the philanthropic milestone of over $250 million in cumulative donations since the Subaru Share the Love Event started in 2008. Final 2022 Share the Love Event donation results are expected in March. About Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $270 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 78,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Dominick Infante Director, Corporate Communications (856) 488-8615 [email protected] Diane Anton Corporate Communications Manager (856) 488-5093 [email protected] SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc. ORRVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) today announced the election of Rebecca Scheidler as Senior Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Foods, effective Jan. 16, 2023. Scheidler, who previously served as Vice President, Customer and Category Business and Vice President, Marketing, Consumer Foods, brings more than two decades of CPG leadership to the role. Scheidler will lead the Company's $1.7 billion Consumer Foods business, advancing its strategy to continue to grow Smucker's Uncrustables and to further progress the Company's leading snacks and spreads portfolio, including the Jif and Smucker's brands. "I am excited to have Rebecca's leadership as we continue to make progress on our Consumer Foods strategy, which has allowed us to establish leading positions across several categories and positioned us well for continued growth," said John Brase, Chief Operating Officer. "Rebecca's extensive experience in CPG, proven track record of delivering key business results for our Consumer Foods business and ability to inspire high-performing teams make her an ideal leader to serve as steward of our great brands and advance our vision." Scheidler's background in brand-building includes deep experience in P&L and portfolio management, global business expansion, brand strategy and commercialization, product innovation, sales and revenue growth management, eCommerce and commercial capability building. Before joining Smucker in 2019, Scheidler held leadership roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and Kao Corporation. Scheidler assumes the role from Tina Floyd, who will step down Jan. 13 to pursue an opportunity as Chief Executive Officer for Hudsonville Ice Cream. "Tina has been an integral part of our Company and infused passion and strategic vision into the Consumer Foods business," said Brase. "On behalf of our entire organization, I share our appreciation to Tina for her innumerable contributions and the indelible mark she's left on our culture. We wish Tina continued success in this new chapter of her career." About The J.M. Smucker Co. Each generation of consumers leaves their mark on culture by establishing new expectations for food and the companies that make it. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to be at the heart of this dynamic with a diverse portfolio that appeals to each generation of people and pets and is found in more than 80 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants. This includes a mix of iconic brands consumers have always loved such as Folgers, Jif and Milk-Bone and new favorites like Cafe Bustelo, Smucker's Uncrustables and Rachael Ray Nutrish. By continuing to immerse ourselves in consumer preferences and acting responsibly, we will continue growing our business and the positive impact we have on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com. The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for Rachael Ray, a registered trademark of Ray Marks II LLC, which is used under license. SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co. Firefighters battle a fire that heavily damaged a trailer home on Franklin Road in Sempronius Wednesday morning. A call came in around 9 a.m. about a structure fire at a single-family residence on 5994 Franklin Road. Det. Lt. Robert Franklin, commander of the criminal investigation division of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, said around 3 p.m. Wednesday that the fire has since been extinguished. No injuries were reported and the structure "appears to be total loss." Two people lived in the dwelling. No injuries were reported. Franklin said no one was inside the building when the fire started and Red Cross is assisting the people who lived in the structure The cause of the blaze is still under investigation by Cayuga County fire investigators. Fire departments from Sempronius, New Hope, West Niles, Owasco, Moravia, Locke, Aurelius, Homer, Genoa, Scipio and both stations from Fleming were at the scene, in addition to the sheriff's office, New York State Police and Four Town Ambulance. Reporter Kelly Rocheleau contributed to this report. TORONTO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company today announced that it has appointed Mark Thompson and Nikiwe Bikitsha to its Board of Directors. The new appointments took effect on December 31, 2022 The Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company acts as a guardian of the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Established in 1941, the Trust Principles cover a number of matters including the all-important preservation of independence, integrity, and freedom from bias in the gathering and dissemination of information and news. "I am delighted to welcome Mark Thompson and Nikiwe Bikitsha to the Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company's Board of Directors," said Kim Williams, Chairman of the Founders Share Company's Board. "Customers around the world depend on Thomson Reuters to provide reliable, objective news and information. Both Mark and Nikiwe have unique, successful careers in journalism and media leadership, and I know that they will be valuable colleagues in sustaining the Trust Principles, which are so fundamental to the standing and operation of Thomson Reuters." Bikitsha is a media and communications professional with 25 years of experience in South Africa. She has worked in various media, including radio, television, and digital media. She currently advises corporates and multilateral organizations on strategic communications and content creation. Bikitsha has served on the Nelson Mandela Foundation's Board of Trustees and the Deloitte Africa board, as well as being a member of the Deloitte Global board's advisory council. She has also been a member of the President of South Africa's National Planning Commission, where she has contributed her expertise on issues such as transformation, communications, and reputation. Bikitsha believes that her experience in both the media and accounting industries has given her a strong understanding of the importance of integrity and the value of independence. Thompson has spent four decades in the media industry in major roles at the BBC, where he rose to be Director General, and more recently as Chief Executive at The New York Times. His experience covers the spectrum of media delivery technologies with a profound understanding, and in many ways a unique perspective, of news and current affairs in the world today. He is currently the Co-Chair of IFPIM (International Fund for Public Interest Media), which aligns with his personal belief in the importance of independent information for a global audience. Thompson has extensive board experience, currently serving as the Chairman of Ancestry.com, Deputy Chair of the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as being an Advisor to the Supervisory Board of Axel Springer. About Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com. Contact Andrew Green Senior Director, Corporate Affairs +1 332 219 1511 [email protected] SOURCE Thomson Reuters NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TipRanks Ltd. announced today it has agreed to acquire New Jersey-based The Fly, a leading digital publisher of real-time financial news. "TipRanks is committed to empowering investors with the best data and research tools, and now with one of the fastest and most accurate breaking news services," said Uri Gruenbaum, Chief Executive Officer, TipRanks. "We have been working with the excellent team at The Fly for many years, and we have always been impressed by the professionalism, speed, and accuracy with which they analyze data and publish breaking news stories. We see a lot of synergy between our companies and are excited that we can expand our offerings to provide breaking news one of the top requirements of our Enterprise customers and end users. With The Fly, TipRanks is furthering its vision of becoming the ultimate one-stop-shop platform for the retail investor." Founded in 1998, The Fly is a leading digital publisher of real-time financial news, reporting on and explaining the news that impacts publicly traded companies. The Fly's exclusive live-streaming subscription service breaks the material information moving stocks. The Fly's team scours all sources of company news, from mainstream to cutting-edge, then filters out the noise to deliver short-form stories consisting of only market-moving content. Analyst research notes, company press releases, SEC filings, newspapers, blogs, social media and trading desk sources are among the many areas monitored by its experts. "TipRanks is a natural home for The Fly," said Ron Etergino, The Fly's President. "Both companies strive to level the playing field for investors and TipRanks' institutional-grade research tools and data will enhance The Fly's financial news products. We have been impressed with TipRanks' vision and are very excited about entering this new chapter, both for our employees and our clients. The combination will further The Fly's mission of breaking the news that is moving stocks." Completion of this transaction is expected to close in Q1 and is subject to customary closing conditions. About TipRanks Ltd. TipRanks is a multi-award-winning financial technology company that analyzes financial big data to provide market research tools for retail investors. The TipRanks Financial Accountability Engine scans and analyzes financial websites, corporate filings submitted to the SEC, and analyst research, to rank financial experts in real time. Its alternative datasets allow all types of investors to use institutional-grade tools. Contact: Oran Greenman +972-524-662-292 [email protected] SOURCE TipRanks Ltd. PHOENIX, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TouchPoint Solution, the creator of stress-relieving digital health wearable devices, will be showcasing their patented BLAST technology and product lineup at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV, from January 5th to January 8th, 2023. TouchPoints digital health wearables are scientifically proven through clinical trials to reduce stress by 70% in 30 seconds with its embedded patented BLAST (Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulus Tactile) technology. TouchPoints are non-invasive and create calm and focus through a neuroscience-powered algorithm of gentle alternating micro-vibrations. This rhythm reduces the natural fight and flight response caused by stress and helps to return the body to a state of focus and control. "We are excited to release BLAST technology to provide freedom from stress and anxiety in an affordable accessible way" Tweet this TouchPoints improve focus and help both children and adults alike by relieving symptoms of stress, anxiety, sleep issues, ADHD, autism, PTSD, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and more. Media and exhibition attendees are invited to stop by Booth #8737b located in the Las Vegas Convention Center Digital Health Studio to demo TouchPoints products and see how BLAST technology works in real time. Given the importance of mental health and the significant negative impact that stress creates, Founder and CEO Vicki Mayo said "We are excited to use BLAST technology to provide real-time, noninvasive solutions to help both children and adults alike stress less and live more." CEO Vicki Mayo will also be presenting on Friday, January 6th 2023 at the Digital Health Stage located in the LVCC at 11:15am. Her talk will focus on how digital health technology is capable of relieving stress and improving mental health. For more information about TouchPoints please visit www.thetouchpointsolution.com. Add us to your CES Floor Plan Digital Health Studio Booth #8737b. About TouchPoint Solution: TouchPoint Solution was founded in 2017 with the mission of bringing relief to the millions of people who suffer from stress and anxiety. Developed over a decade by a team of neurologists, TouchPoints have been awarded nine patents and utilized more than 4M times in 2021 alone. SOURCE TouchPoint Solution, Inc. PLANTATION, Fla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TradeStation Group, Inc. (TradeStation), which through its operating subsidiaries provides award-winning*, self-clearing online brokerage services for trading stocks, ETFs, options, futures and cryptocurrencies, is celebrating its 40th anniversary as an innovative fintech company known for its reliable, multi-asset trading platform. Founded in 1982, TradeStation aims to offer the ultimate trading experience. TradeStation, which started as a software development company in South Florida in 1982, has built a strong reputation as an award-winning provider of trading tools and platforms for active traders, self-directed investors, and institutions. The company has been a trusted resource throughout its four-decade history, with its growth driven by offering innovative new products and insightful educational content designed to help sophisticated traders. "TradeStation has successfully navigated the past 40 years by putting traders first and constantly evolving with the financial markets to bring solutions to our customers," said John Bartleman, President and CEO of TradeStation Group, Inc. "Guiding this firm and our customers has been a privilege, and we look forward to many more decades of supporting traders as they navigate through all types of market events." In addition to offering its platforms and API technology for customers to buy, sell and trade stocks and ETFs, TradeStation also offers advanced platforms and tools for customers who want to speculate on price fluctuations by trading derivative products like commodity futures and options. TradeStation has witnessed a significant uptick in futures and options volume in 2022, which it attributes to the trading opportunities created by ongoing market volatility. Over the past several years, TradeStation was an early adopter of CME Group's innovative products, including Micro Treasury Yield Futures, Micro Crude Oil Contracts, Ether Futures, Micro E-mini, Futures, Gold, Natural Gas, and more. The company launched TradeStation Crypto in 2019 to provide its customers access to the cryptocurrency markets. In a world of heightened uncertainty and evolving crypto regulation, TradeStation Crypto considers the safety of its customers' crypto assets to be of utmost importance. TradeStation Crypto uses hot, warm, and cold wallet solutions provided by a third-party custodian combined with TradeStation Crypto's operational controls, risk management and cybersecurity practices to manage assets between hot/warm and cold storage. TradeStation is also committed to making a positive impact in its community through philanthropic initiatives and its efforts to advance financial literacy and inclusion. In 2022, the company donated $50,000 to Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc. in support of Miami Dade College's Student Managed Investment Fund, giving students access to TradeStation's educational and investing resources. The company sponsors local organizations and community events, such as the Pierre Toussaint Leadership and Learning Center and the Black Professional Network's Juneteenth Freedom Ball. About TradeStation Group, Inc. Founded in 1982, TradeStation Group companies provide innovative fintech decision-support analysis and order-placement tools that support self-directed traders and investors in their journey to claim their financial edge. TradeStation provides award-winning* trading and analysis platforms and self-clearing online brokerage services for stocks, ETFs, equity and index options, commodity and financial futures, futures options, and cryptocurrencies. These trading platforms are accessible on desktop, web, and mobile, as well as via API technologies which seamlessly provide access to TradeStation's brokerage environment through third-party platforms. TradeStation's offerings also include deep and growing learning content designed to build confidence among those new to investing and hone the skills of seasoned traders. In April 2022, TradeStation commissioned the Miami Bull , an 11-foot, 3,000-pound statue, presented in Miami to both honor the city and champion the latest fintech technologies that have emerged around the world, including the emergence of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and decentralized finance. TradeStation Securities, Inc. (Member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC, NSCC, DTC, OCC, NFA & CME) is a subsidiary of TradeStation Group, Inc. that offers self-clearing equities, options, futures and futures options brokerage services as a licensed securities broker-dealer and futures commission merchant (FCM) and is a member of major equities and futures exchanges in the United States. TRADESTATION SECURITIES, INC. IS A MEMBER OF NFA AND IS SUBJECT TO NFA'S REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINATIONS. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE NFA DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OVER UNDERLYING OR SPOT VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRODUCTS OR TRANSACTIONS OR VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES, CUSTODIANS OR MARKETS. TradeStation Crypto, Inc. is a subsidiary of TradeStation Group, Inc. that offers self-clearing cryptocurrency brokerage services under federal and state money services business, money-transmitter and similar registrations and licenses. TradeStation Crypto, Inc. is not subject to NFA's regulatory oversight and examinations. * Visit TradeStation.com/Awards for more information. SOURCE TradeStation Group, Inc. Metawave awarded "Direct to Phase II" contract to develop long-range radar sensing and perception solution for off-road autonomous vehicle operation in adverse weather and complex operating conditions CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metawave Corporation, a leading provider of advanced radar sensing and perception technologies, today announced that it has been awarded a $1.7M Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Army. Pursuant to the contract, Metawave will enhance its defense application-proven Carson radar technology platform to support off-road perception sensing and other advancements for autonomous ground vehicles and systems. The resulting Hudson technology platform utilizes Metawave's unique long-range and all-weather detection, tracking, and perception capabilities enabled by its patented phased array beamforming and steering front-end Marconi chips, highly integrated Antenna-in-Package (AiP) modules, and proven high-resolution and accurate radar algorithms. The new Hudson radar platform will also incorporate enhanced processing units (GPUs) from NVIDIA, the world leader in artificial intelligence (AI) computing. The contract also includes an option for a Phase III follow-on contract, which would allow for the further development and deployment of the solution. Metawaves new Hudson radar technology platform will address the U.S. Armys requirements for perception sensing for autonomous ground vehicles. Photo: Metawave Software A Critical Component In addition to the Hudson radar platform, Metawave will also develop Anthem a proprietary Recursive Neural Network Machine Learning (ML) software platform comprising lidar, camera, and fusion stacks to support advanced sensing and perception radar platforms. Integral to the Hudson platform, Anthem will expand the capabilities of Aware (the industry standard collaboration intelligence platform that identifies and reduces risk, strengthens security and compliance) to include wider sets of classification libraries and Regions of Interest (RoI) identification. Anthem is trainable over time to support various off-road terrain operations and new scenarios such as the need to differentiate between real and negative obstacles, dense and thin shrubs, trees, rocks etc., allowing vehicles to operate more safely in unknown environments. "We are thrilled to have been selected by the U.S. Army for this important contract," said Dr. Maha Achour, founder and CEO at Metawave. "The power of phased array radar is well-known to the defense sector, but rapid innovation and advancements in millimeter, semiconductor-enabled radar solutions for safe, driverless automotive technologies have become increasingly attractive for mission-critical military operations." "Autonomous defense applications require the highest level of precision enabled by Metawave's unique chips, modules, and radar algorithms which have proven to be a valuable asset in the automotive industry," said Dr. Stephen Aubin, defense industry expert and member of Metawave's board of directors. "This is a great opportunity for Metawave to take radar technologies to the next level with the Hudson and Anthem solution which could easily support other Department of Defense requirements such as aerial and marine autonomous operations." The Hudson Radar Platform Requirements, Technical Details and Competing Solutions Through the SBIR Phase II contract, Metawave will be working to address the U.S. Army's four challenge areas in perception sensing for autonomous ground systems: off-road sensing, adverse weather sensing, long range sensing, and reduction of processing burden for ground vehicles. Metawave's Hudson architecture addresses these requirements with the use of Doppler Division Multiple Access (DDMA) advanced waveforms enabled by Marconi chips to provide fast frame rates over wide field-of-view (FoV) in both azimuth and elevation directions at ranges up to 500 meters. By combining DDMA with AiP analog beamsteering capabilities, less processing is needed to deliver real-time high signal power perception sensing and accuracy in challenging environments. The benefit is faster response time and more robust performance in complex operating conditions. Competing radars solutions operate in either high-resolution or long-range beamforming modes but never in a simultaneous long-range beamforming and high-resolution mode as in the case of Metawave's Carson and Hudson radar platforms. Metawave has developed a way to combine analog beamforming and digital MIMO into a hybrid scalable radar architecture and software stack that solves the challenges of long-range, high-resolution imaging radar with the lowest size, cost, and weight. Competing all-digital radar products have reduced performance at ranges beyond 150m and face high processing burdens in dense or cluttered environments or in the presence of a high number of moving objects. The Metawave approach overcomes these challenges because the Marconi analog beamformer chip shapes and scans a narrow fan beam along one axis and scans a much wider field of view using Digital MIMO along the other axis. This approach also mitigates interference and eliminates ghost images with its low side lobe-level calibration. Metawave has over 300 filed patent applications with 64 issued and allowed to date related to various aspects of sensing, fusion, perception, and connectivity. CES attendees can learn more about Metawave's solutions by stopping by the Westgate Hotel, Suite 1610, Las Vegas, from January 4-7. About Metawave Corporation Metawave is pioneering disruptive millimeter wave technologies that accelerate the transition to highly automated and fully autonomous ground and aerial vehicle operation meeting safety and emerging services goals. With its patented, high-resolution all-weather imaging SPEKTRA radar modules, and associated software stacks, Metawave is delivering the missing sensor with unmatched long-range sensing and perception based on novel machine learning and AI to automotive, tracking, trains, aerial and drone customers. Its SPEKTRA radar is the first automotive analog beam steering radar with resolution capable of distinguishing objects close to each other, in difficult driving scenarios and in all-weather conditions, making cars safer and smarter. Metawave TURBO active repeaters and KLONE passive reflectors enable faster, more efficient, and lower cost 5G deployments, bringing connectivity to billions of users both indoors and out. Metawave's AWAREAI object classification platform is the first demonstration of real-time radar object classification. Founded in 2017, Metawave is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA. Visit us at www.metawave.com , email us at [email protected]m , and follow us on Twitter @metawavecorp , LinkedIn , and YouTube . Metawave PR Contact: Lynda Kaye [email protected] Metawave, the Metawave logo, and all Metawave product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Metawave in the U.S. and other countries. The company names, product names, system names, etc. described in this article are registered trademarks and trademarks of each company and each organization. SOURCE Metawave VANCOUVER, B.C., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The veterinary vaccine market size reached USD 7,975.3 Million in 2021 and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period, according to latest analysis by Emergen Research. Increasing adoption of pets, rising prevalence of zoonotic diseases, and surging cases of COVID-19 are some key factors driving veterinary vaccine market revenue growth. Government organizations and animal associations are taking initiatives in investing in veterinary vaccines. Rising government initiatives and research activities are also increasing market growth. For instance, on 24 February 2022, the Government of Canada announced an investment to help to create more spaces for students in the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) program in order to address the emergency shortage of veterinary professionals in the province. Request Free Sample Copy (To Understand the Complete Structure of this Report [Summary + TOC]) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/426 According to the report, it was stated that USD 59 million has been allocated to the provincial budget for 2022 to increase the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. Additionally, over the last century, increasing adoption of pets, as well aa s variety of zoonotic disease outbreaks, have increased dramatically, which has led to a rise in demand for the veterinary vaccine. According to publicly available data from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6.5 million dogs, cats, and other former pets are abandoned or lost each year and end up in shelters. However, only 3.2 million of these animals are adopted, and many return to shelters after less than a year. Human Society stated that approximately 85 million families own pets, with 28% of dogs and 31% of cats adopted from shelters each year. As a result, these factors are rising the demand for this market. Drivers: The number and variety of zoonotic disease outbreaks have increased dramatically over the last century, leading to an increase in global demand for veterinary vaccines. According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, zoonotic diseases account for 60% of all new infectious diseases in humans. In the US, millions of households have one or more pets. Animals may come into contact with human while traveling, visiting animal exhibits, engaging in outdoor activities, or in urban or rural settings. In the United States and throughout the world, zoonotic diseases are very prevalent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 of each 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in humans and more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in humans can be transmitted from animals. As a result, the CDC works round-the-clock to safeguard people in both the United States and other countries from zoonotic diseases. As a result, prevalence of this diseases are driving the demand for veterinary vaccines and accelerating the market's revenue growth. Browse Full Report Description + Research Methodology + Table of Content + [email protected] https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/veterinary-vaccines-market Restraints: There are some issues and difficulties facing the veterinary vaccine industry. One of the significant challenges hindering the growth of this industry is the side effects related to vaccination. There is always some risk involved with veterinary procedures and vaccinations. Vaccination protects cats and dogs from severe and common conditions and diseases. According to the report, for every 10,000 cats who receive a vaccination, 1-10 will suffer a serious side effect, and for every 10,000 dogs, 13 are predicted to experience a reaction. the most frequent side effects that cats and dogs encounter, including lethargy, a slight fever, localized swelling, and cold and flu symptoms. The most serious allergic reaction that cats and dogs can experience after receiving vaccinations is anaphylaxis. Pets usually experience anaphylaxis very soon after receiving a vaccination. As a result, these side effects are hindering the growth of veterinary vaccine market. Growth Projections: The veterinary vaccine market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period and revenue is projected to increase from USD 7,975.3 Million in 2021 to USD 13,681.4 Million in 2030. Increasing spending in emerging markets is expected to support revenue growth of the market. Current Trends and Innovations: The veterinary vaccine industry is undergoing gradual changes during the forecast period. The development of live-attenuated and inactivated vaccines has improved food security, increased livestock productivity, and decreased the morbidity and mortality of numerous human, animal, and zoonotic diseases. The frequency of newly emerging infectious diseases keeps rising, necessitating the rapid introduction of new vaccines. In the past three decades, veterinary medicine has taken the lead in developing novel vaccines to get around some of the drawbacks of conventional vaccines. These third-generation vaccines, which include recombinant viral-vector, DNA, and RNA vaccines, induce an immune response on the humoral and cellular levels, are produced affordably, are safe to use, and can be used to distinguish infected from vaccinated animals. Emergen Research is Offering Limited Time Discount (Grab a Copy at Discounted Price Now) @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-discount/426 Strategic Initiatives: Major companies included in the market report are Indian Immunologicals Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Ceva., Zoetis, Eli Lilly and Company, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH., Phibro Animal Health Corporation., Neogen Corporation., Brilliant Bio Pharma, Elanco. On 10 March 2021 , Zoetis Inc. announced its long-term sustainability goals, which enlarge the company's mission to nurture the world and humankind by advancing animal care. Zoetis draws its specific commitments to Communities, Animals, and the Planet under the banner Driven to Care, including support for 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Zoetis has the global reach and skills to support a healthier, more sustainable future for all, with operations in 45 countries. Scope of Research Report Details Outcome Market Size in 2021 USD 7,975.3 Million CAGR (20222030) 6.2 % Revenue Forecast to 2030 USD 13,681.4 Million Base Year for Estimation 2021 Historical Data 20192020 Forecast Period 20222030 Quantitative Units Revenue in USD Million and CAGR in % from 2022 to 2030 Report Coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Segments Covered Disease type, animal type, administration route, technology, and region Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Country Scope U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Benelux, Rest of Europe, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest of APAC, Brazil, Rest of LATAM, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa, Turkey, and Rest of Middle East & Africa Key Companies Profiled Indian Immunologicals Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Ceva., Zoetis, Eli Lilly and Company, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH., Phibro Animal Health Corporation., Neogen Corporation., Brilliant Bio Pharma, and Elanco Customization Scope 10 hours of free customization and expert consultation Custom Requirements can be requested for this Report [Customization Available] @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-for-customization/426 Emergen Research has segmented veterinary vaccine market on the basis of disease type, animal type, administration route, technology, and region: Disease Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2030) Avian Influenza Rabies coccidiosis Brucellosis Canine distemper Swine pneumonia Animal Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2030) Livestock Poultry Cattle Others (horses, goat, camel and others). Companion Cats Dogs Aquacultures Others Administration Route Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2030) Oral Injection Spray Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2019-2030) Live attenuated vaccine Inactivated vaccine Recombinant Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 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: Security Robot Market, By Type (Ground Robots, Aerial Robots, Underwater), By Application (Spying and Firefighting), By Components (Hardware, Software, and Services), By End-Use (Defense & Military, Residential), and By Region Forecast to 2030 Pushbutton Industrial Wireless Remote Control Market By Type (Handheld and Stationary), By Application (Industry & Logistics, Construction Crane, Mobile Hydraulics, Forestry, and Mining), and By Region Forecast to 2030 LEO Satellite Market, By Subsystem, By Type, By Application (Imaging & Earth Observations, Satellite Communications, Science & Explorations, and Others), By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Geofoam Market By Type (Expanded Polystyrene Geofoam and Extruded Polystyrene Geofoam), By End-Use (Road & Highway Construction, Building & Infrastructure, Airport Runway & Taxiways), By Application, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Electronic Cash Register Market, By Type, By Product (Standard Electronic Cash Register, Computerized Port System, Mobile Port System, and Cloud-Based Cash Registers), By End-Use, By Region Forecast to 2030 DJ Equipment Market, By Component, By Application (Individual Amateurs and Professional Performance), By Distribution Channel, By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Colonoscopy Market, By Product Type, By Application (Colorectal Cancer Lynch Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Polyps or Colorectal Cancer, Others), By End-Use, and By Region Forecast to 2030 Bone Growth Stimulator Market, By Product, By Application (Spinal Fusion Surgeries, Delayed Union & Non-Union Bone Fractures, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeries, and Others), By End-Use, 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-veterinary-vaccines-market Trending Titles LiDAR Market | Metaverse Market Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579538/Emergen_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Emergen Research Partnership Will Bring EV Capabilities to the Historic Main Line Area for First Time Ever NEW YORK , Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xeal, a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and smarter technology for the multifamily industry, today announced an agreement with Friedman Realty Group, one of the nation's leading developers and managers of multifamily homes, to provide charging stations for FRG's Philadelphia portfolio. This partnership will bring charging capabilities to 300 units in housing communities situated on the historic Main Line of Pennsylvania. Xeal's EV charging stations are part of FRG's goal to provide environmentally-friendly improvements to their portfolio. The project will introduce EV charging to the historic Philadelphia Main Line region, which was first built by Pennsylvania Railroad in the early 19th century and grew to become one of the most influential suburbs of Philadelphia. "We are excited to partner with Xeal to provide best-in-class EV charging technology to our residents while at the same time furthering our commitment to initiatives that promote sustainability at our properties," said David B. Friedman, President of FRG. "We're also proud to be among the first companies to bring EV charging to our Greater Philadelphia apartment communities. Xeal's easy-to-use, reliable platform will be a tremendous benefit to our residents and their guests and we look forward to expanding our relationship with them." Xeal's charging platform leverages its patent-pending Apollo protocol, which uses encrypted tokens and distributed ledgers via smartphones to operate charging stations in a self-reliant and more secure way, while maintaining all smart functions. By eliminating the need for smart chargers to depend on a central server external to the building, Xeal eliminates IT and network infrastructure capital expenditure (capex) entirely and maximizes return on investment (ROI) for building owners, while offering superior reliability for drivers. The simple, user-friendly platform ensures residents have a frictionless charging experience while property managers and ownership can control access, set driver rates, and monitor charger usage on demand. The Apollo technology allows for these and all of the smart charger's functions to work seamlessly without the reliance on a cellular or WiFi connection. "Xeal is excited to partner with FRG to bring reliable EV charging infrastructure to Philadelphia's historic Main Line, which has been a part of Pennsylvania history for over 200 years," said Zander Isaacson, Co-Founder and CEO at Xeal. "The Main Line was designed to connect the towns of Pennsylvania, and now FRG has the incredible opportunity to connect its residents to the future of transportation. FRG understands the need for EV charging for all residents in multifamily and the impact it has on our communities as a whole." About Xeal Xeal is a hyper-growth, venture-backed technology startup headquartered in New York City. Xeal offers multifamily and commercial real estate owners and operators the ability to seamlessly install smart EV charging in their communities with little to no infrastructure upgrades. Clients manage these smart EV charging stations remotely through Xeal's dashboard, providing real-time data on charging sessions, energy management, utilization, and revenue share. Xeal's driver app employs a token-based technology for EV drivers to gain reliable access to charging stations without relying on cellular or garage IT infrastructure. Through Apollo, a groundbreaking decentralized communication protocol, building owners can remotely control and monitor smart charging stations through a bi-directional management channel between user smartphones and EV chargers to establish a more secure, reliable, and cost-effective way to stay connected. Xeal delivers an entirely self-sufficient smart charging experience for drivers, enabling 100% reliability, 50x faster processing speed, and a frictionless user experience. Experience Xeal's recent deployments here or visit www.xealenergy.com for more information. About Friedman Realty Group Founded in 1975, Friedman Realty Group (FRG) is a family-owned and operated real estate investment firm specializing in the acquisition and management of residential apartments, retail shopping centers, and professional office buildings within the Philadelphia suburbs and South Jersey area. FRG operates its properties with a keen focus on local market conditions and employs full-time staff to provide intensive, hands-on site management with a service-first attitude. www.FRGinc.com . SOURCE Xeal NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Technavio, the global airbag systems market size is estimated to grow by USD 5,440.67 million from 2022 to 2027. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. Moreover, the growth momentum will accelerate. North America will account for 34% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. For more insights on market size, request a sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Airbag Systems Market 2023-2027 Global airbag systems market - Five forces The global airbag systems market is fragmented, and the five forces analysis covers Bargaining power of buyers The threat of new entrants Threat of rivalry Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of substitutes For interpretation of Porter's five forces model buy the report! Global airbag systems market Customer landscape The report includes the market's adoption lifecycle, from the innovator's stage to the laggard's stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies. Global airbag systems market - Segmentation assessment Segment overview Technavio has segmented the market based on application (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) and type (front airbag, knee airbag, side airbag, and curtain airbag). The passenger cars segment will grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. The growing demand for safe vehicles has increased the demand for airbags globally. The number of passenger cars is growing due to safety requirements imposed on the automobile industry by governments. Hence, manufacturers are installing advanced features such as airbag sensors to improve passenger safety. The adoption of side/curtain airbags, knee airbags, and exterior airbags is also increasing. These factors will drive the growth of the passenger car segment during the forecast period. Geography overview Based on geography, the global airbag systems market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa. The report provides actionable insights and estimates the contribution of all regions to the growth of the global airbag systems market. North America is estimated to account for 34% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The growth of the market in the region is attributed to factors such as the steady growth of the automotive market. The presence of leading vehicle OEMs and stringent regulations for vehicle safety will also drive the market's growth. OEMs are introducing advanced features such as active and passive safety features to attract consumers. These factors are likely to lead to the standardization of various airbags during the forecast period. Download a sample report Global airbag systems market Market dynamics Key factor driving market growth The increased vehicle safety is driving the market's growth. is driving the market's growth. Road accidents can be avoided by installing safety systems such as airbags in cars, which are installed on the sides of doors, on the front panel, and on the steering wheel. Most vehicles contain these airbags. The vehicles are also equipped with safety curtains. The growing concern for vehicle safety is expected to drive the growth of the global airbag systems market during the forecast period. Leading trends influencing the market M&A and partnerships in the automotive airbag and its component markets is a key trend in the market. is a key trend in the market. The global automotive industry is highly competitive, and companies in the automotive value chain are looking for ways to strengthen their position. Companies are also focusing on strategies such as partnerships. For example, in October 2020 , Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. agreed to set up a joint venture to produce automotive airbag yarns with Bangkok -based Indorama Polyester Industries PCL (IPI. , Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. agreed to set up a joint venture to produce automotive airbag yarns with -based Indorama Polyester Industries PCL (IPI. Thus, the increasing partnership among industry players will support the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Major challenges hindering market growth Failure of airbag systems is challenging the market's growth. is challenging the market's growth. Sometimes airbags may not function without warning or may not deploy when needed. If the occupant's head or body is too close when an airbag is deployed, it can cause serious injuries. Airbag injuries can range from facial lacerations to a broken nose, depending on the severity of the incident. Therefore, growing concerns regarding airbag system failures may hinder the market's growth during the forecast period. Drivers, trends, and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find some insights from a sample report! What are the key data covered in this airbag systems market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the airbag systems market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size of the airbag systems market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the airbag systems market across North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and Middle East and Africa , , APAC, , and and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of airbag systems market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The airbag systems market size in South Africa is expected to increase by 516.67 thousand units from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 9.49%. This report extensively covers market segmentation by type (side airbag, front airbag, and other airbags) and vehicle type (passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles). The motorcycle airbag jacket market size is expected to increase by USD 136.06 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 15.37%. This report extensively covers market segmentation by product (airbag vest and airbag jacket) and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). Airbag Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 164 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.1% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 5,440.67 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.57 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading vendors, market positioning of vendors, competitive strategies, and industry risks Key companies profiled Airbag Systems Inc., Ashimori Industry Co. Ltd., Autoliv Inc., Continental AG, Daicel Corp., Denso Corp., Helite Sarl, HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA, Hyundai Motor Co., Joyson Safety Systems Aschaffenburg GmbH, Naugra Machines India, Nihon Plast Co. Ltd., Rane Holdings Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd., Weng fatt Spare Parts Pvt. Ltd., Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Kolon Industries Inc., and Toray Industries Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for consumer discretionary market reports Table of contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global airbag systems market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global airbag systems market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Application 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application 6.3 Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Passenger cars - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Passenger cars - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 42: Market opportunity by Application ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Type 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 43: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 45: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 46: Data Table on Comparison by Type 7.3 Front airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 47: Chart on Front airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Front airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 49: Chart on Front airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on Front airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Knee airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Knee airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Knee airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Chart on Knee airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Knee airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Side airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Side airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Side airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Chart on Side airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Side airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Curtain airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 59: Chart on Curtain airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Data Table on Curtain airbag - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Chart on Curtain airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Curtain airbag - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.7 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 63: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 64: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 65: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 66: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 67: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 68: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 102: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 103: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 104: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 105: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 106: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 107: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 109: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 110: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 111: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 112: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 113: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 114: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 115: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Autoliv Inc. Exhibit 116: Autoliv Inc. - Overview Exhibit 117: Autoliv Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Autoliv Inc. - Key news Exhibit 119: Autoliv Inc. - Key offerings 12.4 Continental AG Exhibit 120: Continental AG - Overview Exhibit 121: Continental AG - Business segments Exhibit 122: Continental AG - Key offerings Exhibit 123: Continental AG - Segment focus 12.5 Daicel Corp. Exhibit 124: Daicel Corp. - Overview Exhibit 125: Daicel Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 126: Daicel Corp. - Key news Exhibit 127: Daicel Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 128: Daicel Corp. - Segment focus 12.6 Denso Corp. Exhibit 129: Denso Corp. - Overview Exhibit 130: Denso Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 131: Denso Corp. - Key news Exhibit 132: Denso Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 133: Denso Corp. - Segment focus 12.7 Helite Sarl Exhibit 134: Helite Sarl - Overview Exhibit 135: Helite Sarl - Product / Service Exhibit 136: Helite Sarl - Key offerings 12.8 HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA Exhibit 137: HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA - Overview Exhibit 138: HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA - Business segments Exhibit 139: HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA - Key news Exhibit 140: HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA - Key offerings Exhibit 141: HELLA GmbH and Co. KGaA - Segment focus 12.9 Hyundai Motor Co. Exhibit 142: Hyundai Motor Co. - Overview Exhibit 143: Hyundai Motor Co. - Business segments Exhibit 144: Hyundai Motor Co. - Key news Exhibit 145: Hyundai Motor Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 146: Hyundai Motor Co. - Segment focus 12.10 Joyson Safety Systems Aschaffenburg GmbH Exhibit 147: Joyson Safety Systems Aschaffenburg GmbH - Overview Exhibit 148: Joyson Safety Systems Aschaffenburg GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 149: Joyson Safety Systems Aschaffenburg GmbH - Key offerings 12.11 Kolon Industries Inc. Exhibit 150: Kolon Industries Inc. - Overview Exhibit 151: Kolon Industries Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 152: Kolon Industries Inc. - Key offerings 12.12 Nihon Plast Co. Ltd. Exhibit 153: Nihon Plast Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 154: Nihon Plast Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 155: Nihon Plast Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 156: Nihon Plast Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.13 Robert Bosch GmbH Exhibit 157: Robert Bosch GmbH - Overview Exhibit 158: Robert Bosch GmbH - Business segments Exhibit 159: Robert Bosch GmbH - Key news Exhibit 160: Robert Bosch GmbH - Key offerings Exhibit 161: Robert Bosch GmbH - Segment focus 12.14 Toray Industries Inc. Exhibit 162: Toray Industries Inc. - Overview Exhibit 163: Toray Industries Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 164: Toray Industries Inc. - Key news Exhibit 165: Toray Industries Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 166: Toray Industries Inc. - Segment focus 12.15 Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. Exhibit 167: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 168: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 169: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 170: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 171: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.16 Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd. Exhibit 172: Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 173: Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 174: Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.17 ZF Friedrichshafen AG Exhibit 175: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Overview Exhibit 176: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Business segments Exhibit 177: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Key news Exhibit 178: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Key offerings Exhibit 179: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 180: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 181: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 182: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 183: Research methodology Exhibit 184: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 185: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 186: List of abbreviations About us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio BOSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascidian Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on treating human diseases by rewriting RNA, announced today President and CEO Romesh Subramanian, Ph.D., will present at the 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 10, 2023. Dr. Subramanian will provide an overview of Ascidian and how its pioneering RNA exon editing platform expands therapeutic possibilities to treat diseases not addressed by today's gene editing technologies, as well as its lead program targeting ABCA4 retinopathy, including Stargardt disease, which is currently in IND-enabling studies. Presentation details are below: Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Time: 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET Location: The Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA The presentation materials will be available upon request via the Publications & Presentations section of the Ascidian website following the live session. Rewriting RNA: About Ascidian's Exon Editing Platform & Lead Program Ascidian Therapeutics edits exons at the RNA level. This approach offers several advantages over the current state of the art in gene therapies and gene editing platforms, including: Edits RNA, not DNA: Reduces risks associated with genomic modifications Reduces risks associated with genomic modifications Edits multiple whole exons, not only single bases: Corrects multiple whole exons enabling treatment of more patients in more disease states Corrects multiple whole exons enabling treatment of more patients in more disease states No exogenous enzymes: Does not require the use of foreign enzymes Does not require the use of foreign enzymes Maintains native gene expression: Ensures target gene expression is precisely controlled by the cell Ensures target gene expression is precisely controlled by the cell Agnostic to delivery vehicle: Overcomes packaging capacity limitations of delivery vectors such as AAV, and can be used with multiple, clinically validated delivery vehicles viral and non-viral tailored for each indication The company's lead program targets ABCA4 retinopathy, including Stargardt disease. Diseases caused by ABCA4 loss of function represent an area of significant unmet need. More patients go blind from ABCA4 retinopathy than any other genetic cause, and these diseases are examples of genetic disorders that cannot be addressed by standard gene replacement given the large size of the gene, or by base editing, due to the high mutational variance of the affected gene. By rewriting RNA, Ascidian's approach has the potential to treat patients with a single dose of a single exon-editing RNA therapeutic. About Ascidian Therapeutics Ascidian Therapeutics, an ATP company, is redefining the treatment of disease by rewriting RNA. By editing exons at the RNA level, Ascidian therapies enable precise post-transcriptional editing of genes, resulting in full-length, functional proteins at the right levels, in the right cells, at the right time. With active discovery and preclinical programs in ophthalmology, and neurological and neuromuscular disorders, and other rare diseases, Ascidian is opening new therapeutic possibilities for patients in need of breakthroughs. For more information, visit www.ascidian.com. SOURCE Ascidian Therapeutics A new commission focused on the Great Lakes region, including New York, will provide $33 million in grants to state and local governments during the 2023 fiscal year. The Great Lakes Authority was created in the $1.7 trillion federal spending that Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed at the end of 2022. The authority will have a similar function as the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Northern Border Regional Commission, which aim to boost economic development in eligible areas. Eight states Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will be part of the new authority. There will be a competitive process for awarding grants to support a variety of economic development projects. In New York, 32 upstate counties will be eligible for funding. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who advocated for the Great Lakes Authority's inclusion in the year-end omnibus bill, touted its potential benefits for upstate New York. "Investing in the upstate communities of the Great Lakes is investing in the future of America, and I am proud to have helped create this new Great Lakes Authority so that new jobs can flow across the region," he said. The legislation was championed by several members of Congress and senators who represent Great Lakes states, including U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat. Kaptur introduced the bill in the House to create the new authority. Kaptur, who is co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, said in a statement that the Great Lakes Authority "represents a new vision for how to harness existing assets and focus attention and resources to the corner of our nation that makes, builds and grows America." If the Great Lakes Authority is anything like other commissions, New York could receive a significant boost. The Appalachian Regional Commission has provided more than $32 million to support projects in upstate New York in the last 10 years. The projects created or retained more than 4,400 jobs, according to Schumer's office. From 2010 to 2021, the Northern Border Regional Commission awarded more than $23 million for over 60 projects in upstate New York. Last year, 12 upstate New York communities received funding through the Northern Border Regional Commission. U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, whose congressional district includes two counties Monroe and Orleans along Lake Ontario, thinks the Great Lakes region is uniquely positioned for economic opportunity. "By passing the Great Lakes Authority Act, we're taking steps to strengthen our resiliency and ensure we have the resources necessary to flourish and prosper," he said. Atmofizer shares to be consolidated on a 20:1 basis VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Atmofizer Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Atmofizer") (CSE: ATMO) (Frankfurt: J3K) (OTCQB: ATMFF) announces that the board of directors of the Company has approved a share consolidation of the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") on a twenty (20) for one (1) basis (the "Consolidation"). Currently, the Company's authorized share structure consists of an unlimited number of Common Shares without par value, of which 133,747,806 Common Shares are issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis. Following Consolidation and subject to rounding, it is expected that the Company will have 6,687,390 Common Shares issued and outstanding on a non-diluted basis. Pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the articles of the Company, shareholder approval is not required for the Consolidation and therefore, the Company will not be seeking shareholder approval for the Consolidation. Further details regarding the Consolidation will be included in a subsequent news release. About Atmofizer Technologies Inc. Atmofizer's consumer and industrial solutions are based on its patent-protected and patent pending technology for ultrafine particle agglomeration and neutralization. This capability creates a revolutionary and more efficient method for addressing the wide range of dangerous nano-scale particles, viruses and bacteria that are too small to be effectively managed by conventional HEPA filters and ultraviolet lights. Atmofizer plans to disrupt the air treatment industry by improving air safety and purification efficiency while lowering customers' operational costs. Atmofizing air refers to the process of using ultrasonic acoustic waves to agglomerate (cluster together) small particles into a larger target that is then radiated by ultraviolet light to neutralize their harmful properties, making the air you breath less hazardous to your health. Using units that atmofize air in tandem with high efficiency particulate air ("HEPA") filters can make the HEPA filters work more efficiently, enable the use of a less-powerful filter and result in a cleaner and longer-lasting filter that reduces operating costs and is less of a health hazard to clean or replace. Atmofizer is patent-pending and patent-protected sole source of technology to atmofize air and is applying its proprietary technology in consumer and industrial air purification products currently manufactured under the Atmofizer brand, as well as in retail and commercial devices produced by other companies that integrate Atmofizer technology into their own products under license. Atmofizer's owned and licensed product lines include wearable, portable and mobile use for personal air treatment, as well as larger systems to handle higher air volumes for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential applications. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. The forward-looking information contained herein includes, without limitation, the completion of the Consolidation as currently contemplated and the business and strategic plans of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this press release including, without limitation: the Company's ability to comply with all applicable laws and governmental regulations relating to its commercial products; the ability of the Company to protect its intellectual property; impacts to the business and operations of the Company due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the conflict in eastern Europe; having only a limited operating history, the ability of the Company to access capital to meet future financing needs; the Company's reliance on management and key personnel; competition; changes in consumer trends; foreign currency fluctuations; and general economic, market or business conditions. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which have been filed on SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this press release and is based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on the date such forward-looking information is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Atmofizer Technologies Inc. BANGALORE, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Automotive Seat Belts Market is segmented by Type - Inflatable Seat Belt, Common Belt, Single-stage Belt Force Limiters, by Application - OEM, Aftermarket. Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023 - 2028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Vehicle Parts & Accessories Category. The global market for Automotive Seat Belts estimated at USD 6324.8 million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of USD 7730.8 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period 2022-2028. Major factors driving the growth of the Automotive Seat Belts market are The demand for sophisticated safety features in passenger and commercial cars is predicted to rise along with customer awareness of safety features, which is expected to fuel the Automotive Seat Belts market expansion. Government rules that are very strict also help the Automotive Seat Belts market to expand. Technology advancements and the availability of new, improved seatbelt systems are predicted to boost seatbelt sales. The growing awareness of road safety is driving up demand for seat belts. Additionally, the growing number of traffic accidents worldwide has sparked worries about traffic safety, providing a significant window of opportunity for vehicle seat belt producers to expand. Browse The Table of Contents And List of Figures At https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-26W9986/global-automotive-seat-belt TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SEAT BELTS MARKET Seat belts are intended to keep passengers in a car from moving dangerously during an accident or an abrupt halt. Due to their crucial role in occupant safety and ability to lower the overall risk of serious injuries, seatbelts are regarded as the principal restraint device. The regular introduction of new models, simple access to financing, and numerous incentives offered by automakers to boost sales will underpin Automotive Seat Belts' market revenue. The implementation of contemporary safety features is being emphasized by automakers as a way to increase passenger automobile safety. Due to rising public awareness of the strict safety regulations put in place by various regulatory bodies throughout the world, the automotive seat belt market is predicted to expand significantly over the projected period. Due to the increased incidence of accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities, organizations dedicated to vehicle safety, such as the Euro NCAP and NHTSA in the US, have actively encouraged the use of seat belts. The development of technically novel seat belts like active pre-tensioners, inflatable seat belts, and active seat belts has been sparked by this, according to major automobile firms. During the anticipated period, the Automotive Seat Belts market will rise as a result of rising auto sales and expanding use of improved safety measures. Get Your Sample Today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-26W9986/Global_Automotive_Seat_Belt_Market AUTOMOTIVE SEAT BELTS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS Due to the constantly expanding automotive industry in China and India, the Asia Pacific region is a significant market for seatbelts. Over the next seven years, growth is anticipated to benefit from increased investment by major market players. Because Chinese consumers are more used to increased safety and comfort, high-performing, economical seat belt systems have been developed to fulfill customer demands. The OEM category is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Seat belts are required to be installed in vehicles to increase safety due to the proliferation of the automotive industry and strict regulatory laws. Automobile OEMs are also motivated to use safety measures to improve their vehicles' safety ratings in order to differentiate their portfolios from rivals and boost sales. These considerations include rigorous crash tests and car assessment programs. Inquire For Customization : https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/QYRE-Auto-26W9986/Global_Automotive_Seat_Belt_Market Market By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Buy Chapter On North America: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-26W9986/global-automotive-seat-belt/7 Buy Chapter On Asia Pacific: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-26W9986/global-automotive-seat-belt/9 Key players Buy Chapter On Company Profiles: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-26W9986/global-automotive-seat-belt/12 Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-26W9986&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS - The global Automotive Seat market is projected to reach USD 96440 million by 2028 from an estimated USD 78910 million in 2022, at a CAGR of 3.4% during 2023 and 2028. - The global market for Automotive Ventilated Seat estimated at USD 6736.5 million in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of USD 7922.7 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 2.7% during the forecast period 2022-2028. - The global Automotive Seat Recliners market was valued at USD 3437.7 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 4424.3 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.7% during 2021-2027. - Automotive Seat Cushion/Seat Back Market - The global Automotive Airbags market size is estimated to be worth USD 13960 million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of USD 16480 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.8% during the review period. - The global BMX bikes market was valued at USD 230.2 million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 381.8 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030. - The global Artificial Leather market size is estimated to be worth USD 31760 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 41360 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 4.5% during the review period. - Car Interior Synthetic Leather Market - The globally connected car market size was valued at USD 63.03 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 225.16 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 17.1% during the forecast period. - The global Electric Commercial Vehicle market size is projected to reach USD 178560 million by 2027, from USD 101270 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.3% during 2021-2027. - The global Electric Ships market size is projected to reach USD 9361.4 million by 2027, from USD 5114.6 million in 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.6% during 2021-2027. - The global ADAS market size is estimated to be worth USD 29740 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 57760 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period. - The global Automotive Interior Leather market size is estimated to be worth USD 5173.4 million in 2021 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 5173.4 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 3.8% during the review period. - The global IoT Fleet Management market is projected to reach USD 32430 million by 2028 from an estimated USD 10330 million in 2022, at a CAGR of 21.0% during 2023 and 2028. - The global fleet management market size was valued at USD 19.47 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 52.50 billion by 2030 registering a CAGR of 10.6% from 2021 to 2030. - The global semi-trailer market size was USD 26490 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 38600 million by 2027 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.9% during the forecast period 2021-2027. - Automotive Leather Market - Wheel Chocks Market - The global Driver Assistance System (DAS) market size is projected to reach USD 85110 million by 2028, from USD 28240 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 16.6% during 2022-2028. - The global electric vehicle market was valued at USD 163.01 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 823.75 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 18.2% from 2021 to 2030. - The global EVTOL aircraft market size was valued at USD 45310 million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 97370 million by the end of 2027 with a CAGR of 11.1% during 2021-2027. - The global more electric aircraft market valued USD 1,809.20 million in 2019, and is projected to reach usd 4,612.69 million in 2027, registering a CAGR of 15.5%. - Micro Mobility Market was valued at USD 40.19 Billion in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 195.42 Billion by 2030, registering at a CAGR of 17.4% from 2021 to 2030. 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Contact Us: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Sitemap: https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/7 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/8 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blaze Pizza , the nation's leading fast-casual franchise pizza brand, announced today the appointment of Beto Guajardo as its new president and chief executive officer. Guajardo formerly served as president of Focus Brands International. Guajardo joins Blaze Pizza after overseeing the international business at Focus Brands, which included more than $400 million of chain sales in over 50 markets with 1,900 restaurants, 100 franchisees and eight brands (Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Jamba, Seattle's Best Coffee, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, and Schlotzsky's). Before being promoted to this role, Guajardo was responsible for the turnaround of the 370-unit Schlotzsky's brand, which resulted in 30 weeks of consecutive same-store sales growth under his leadership. "I am incredibly energized and honored to be joining the Blaze Pizza team," said Guajardo. "This is an exciting time for the brand, and I'm eager to continue the initiatives underway to enhance restaurant excellence and provide value for our franchisees and customers. We have significant opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with the team to accelerate our next phase of growth." Prior to joining Focus Brands, Guajardo served as senior vice president of global strategy at Starbucks, leading several initiatives including Starbucks Delivery, CRM technology, its go-to-market strategy, new store development, and innovation. He was also instrumental in restructuring the coffee company to focus on investments for long-term growth. Previously, Guajardo held senior leadership positions at Levi's Strauss & Co, Avon Cosmetics and McKinsey & Company. "On behalf of the Brentwood team, we are excited to start the new year with Beto at the helm," said Rahul Aggarwal, partner at Brentwood Associates. "Blaze is an important brand in our portfolio, and Beto has extensive executive level experience leading global restaurant brands and building high performing teams. I am confident that he has the experience and strategic vision to lead Blaze, its franchisees and employees to achieve new levels of success in the future." About Blaze Pizza Founded in 2011, Blaze Pizza is the nation's leading fast-casual pizza franchise concept with more than 330 restaurants across 38 states and 6 countries. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Blaze Pizza is committed to delivering a one-of-a-kind customer experience and unparalleled high-quality products. Known for its savory artisanal pizzas and customizable made-to-order menu featuring fresh, natural ingredients free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and sweeteners, Blaze leads the industry in menu innovation and product excellence. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, as well as #1 spots on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers and Franchise Times' Fast and Serious list. Visit blazepizza.com for additional information and stay connected @BlazePizza. Contact: Erin Jacobs 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Blaze Pizza Retailer will open its third "Bloomie's" location in University Village NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomingdale's today announced its entry into Seattle with the opening of "Bloomie's." Following the successful introduction of Bloomie's in the greater Chicagoland area earlier this year, and Fairfax, Virginia, in 2021, the retailer's smaller format store is set to open on the west coast in 2023. "We are thrilled to enter the Seattle market with the opening of our third Bloomie's location," stated Charles Anderson, Director of Stores, Bloomingdale's. "The new flexible store experience has been well-received in other cities as it remains authentic to the Bloomingdale's brand yet brings a new and exciting energy to our shoppers. We can't wait to be a part of the community and for the people of Seattle to be a part of the Bloomie's story." The smaller concept store will provide a casual, contemporary, and highly curated experience, featuring an edit of top brands in a broad range of men and women's categories including apparel, accessories, beauty, giftables and more. Bloomie's is anticipated to open in 2023 within University Village in the Ravenna neighborhood, located north of Downtown Seattle. About Bloomingdale's Bloomingdale's is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store. A division of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M), it currently operates 34 Bloomingdale's stores and 20 Bloomingdale's The Outlet stores in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. In addition, Bloomingdale's has an international presence with a location in Dubai and Kuwait. Founded in 1872, the iconic retailer is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Be sure to follow @bloomingdales on social media, become a Loyallist, and for more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com Press Contacts: Kevin Harter, [email protected] Megan Hollett, [email protected] SOURCE Bloomingdale's HOUSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- bp America releases latest US Impact Report, detailing its significant economic footprint in the country. bp has invested more than $135 billion in the US since 2005, and our business activities support nearly a quarter million American jobs, contributing $60 billion to the national economy in 2021. bp has a larger presence in the United States than anywhere else in the world, and every major bp global business is active here. bp has invested more than $135 billion in the US since 2005, contributing $60 billion to the national economy in 2021 Tweet this bp America launches 2021 US Impact Report: Investing in America In the report, Dave Lawler, chairman and president of bp America, wrote, "We are proud of our 150-year history in the United States, and we're committed to America for the long term as we transform our company in line with our ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, and help the world get there too." bp at a glance in the United States : $5.5 billion spent with local businesses in 2021 spent with local businesses in 2021 $60 billion invested and 245,000 jobs supported across the US invested and 245,000 jobs supported across the US $4.1 billion acquisition of Archaea Energy in 2022 acquisition of Archaea Energy in 2022 Archaea Energy operates 50 RNG and landfill gas-to-energy facilities across the US Produces around 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) of RNG The #1 marketer of natural gas in North America US onshore wind farms produce enough electricity to power 500,000 homes US offshore East Coast wind projects projected to generate more than $1 billion in economic output to New York State in economic output to Increasing investment in onshore US oil and gas business, mostly in Texas , from $1.7 billion in 2022 to $2.4 billion in 2023 , from in 2022 to in 2023 More than $10 billion invested in Gulf of Mexico over the past five years and another $7 billion by 2025 For more on how bp is investing in America, including in key US states, go to: bp.com/USImpactReport Further information: [email protected] About bp: bp's ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. bp has a larger economic footprint in the United States than anywhere else in the world, investing more than $135 billion in the economy since 2005 and supporting about 245,000 jobs. For more information on bp in the US, visit www.bp.com/us. SOURCE bp Plans Major Relaunch of Mini Iced Cupcakes PHOENIX, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cafe Valley , an agile leader in the bakery industry that manufactures and distributes high quality baked goods to the in-store bakery and foodservice channels, today announced the acquisition of the assets of Freed's Bakery. Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, Freed's Bakery is one of the largest iced mini cupcake manufacturers in North America and provides its customers both every day and seasonal mini iced cupcakes. Freed's is known for its variety of vanilla and chocolate 12-count and 24-count cupcakes topped with fun, innovative icing colors and designs. The company continuously evolves their seasonal and core everyday offerings to match the ever-changing needs of consumers, and the market, while keeping quality at the forefront of their values. Freed's Bakery is one of the largest iced mini cupcake manufacturers in North America. Tweet this "This is an exciting time to be a leader in the bakery business. The acquisition of Freed's is a key step that expands our leadership position in thaw and sell baked goods. Our everyday and seasonally targeted range of iced mini cupcakes offers an indulgent, snack sized treat ideal for special events and gatherings. Iced mini cupcakes are a perfect complement to our core business of cakes, muffins, coffee cake bites, and croissants, and will provide a key growth area for our retail and foodservice partners. We are incredibly excited to be able to better serve our customers with this acquisition," said CEO of Cafe Valley, Brian Owens. "This opportunity offers tremendous growth opportunities for both Cafe Valley and our partners. We are known for our intense customer focus and mini iced cupcakes will give us an additional avenue to support our loyal partners," said Gary Coyle, Vice President of In-Store Bakery. For more information on Cafe Valley products, please visit www.cafevalley.com. About Cafe Valley Founded in 1986, Cafe Valley produces high-quality bakery products for in-store bakeries, club stores, foodservice and convenience stores throughout North America. Their products include croissants, muffins, Bundt cakes, ring cakes, turnovers and coffee cake bites. With two state-of-the-art production facilities in Phoenix, Arizona and Marion, Indiana, Cafe Valley products are available to customers throughout North America. Visit www.cafevalley.com to learn more. MEDIA CONTACT: Daria Tavic [email protected] Lambert 616.826.7751 SOURCE Cafe Valley Ugo Fiorenzo expands his role as Managing Director U.S. & Canada and Melanie Batchelor is appointed Managing Director Sales & RARE for Campari America NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Campari America , the sixth-largest spirits company in the world, today announces two leadership changes for managing directors Ugo Fiorenzo and Melanie Batchelor effective January 2, 2023, that will carry the organization into the new year. Following a successful seven-year tenure as Managing Director for the United States, Ugo Fiorenzo will now take on the new title of Managing Director for the United States and Canada. Fiorenzo's scope will now extend to the Canadian market, where he will be responsible for leading growth and delivering at high levels for the company. An experienced veteran, Fiorenzo has led Campari's profitable growth in the U.S. business while building a high performing and talented team. He was also recently appointed as Chairman of the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. This appointment comes in conjunction with another significant leadership evolution for Melanie Batchelor, who, after three years in her role as Managing Director for Canada, will be appointed Managing Director of Sales & RARE for Campari America. In this expanded role, Batchelor will report to Ugo Fiorenzo where she will be responsible for the design and execution of all commercial strategies for the U.S. Market, as well as leading the relationship with commercial partners and stakeholders. She will also oversee the recently launched RARE division , which aims to unlock and accelerate the growth of a select range of super-premium and above alcohol brands. With more than 11 years in the Campari Group family, Batchelor has held many positions within the organization including her role as Campari America's Vice President of Marketing overseeing the company's portfolio of brands encompassing advertising, public relations, digital integration and influencer relations, and Global Marketing Lead for Spirits Brands prior to that. "The appointments of both Ugo and Melanie are a strong demonstration and testament to the exciting growth happening in the U.S and Canadian markets," said Mauro Caneschi, BU managing directors Americas. "We're proud to elevate these leaders both of whom have dedicated many years to the Campari organization and look forward to the long-term benefit that they will both provide to the business, as they work to expand the brand, culture and support the people working around them in their new roles." About Campari Group/Campari America Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. Campari Group has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group is headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, and owns 22 plants worldwide with its own distribution network in 23 countries. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR IM), have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. Campari America LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano N.V. , Campari America has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Campari America manages Campari Group's portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY Vodka, SKYY Infusions, Grand Marnier, Campari, Aperol, Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon, American Honey, Russell's Reserve, The Glen Grant Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Forty Creek Canadian Whisky, BULLDOG Gin, Cabo Wabo Tequila, Espolon Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur, Appleton Estate Rum, Wray & Nephew Rum, Coruba Rum, Ouzo 12, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, Frangelico, Cynar, Averna, Braulio, Cinzano, Mondoro and Jean-Marc XO Vodka. Media Contact: Elisabeth Denil, [email protected] PO# 422612188 SOURCE Campari America CarePredict's remote patient monitoring solution, CareGuide, named CES 2023 Innovation Award Honoree. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CarePredict, the leading AI-Powered Digital Health platform for senior care, announced today that their remote patient monitoring solution, CareGuide, was named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree in the Digital Health category. CareGuide is the first-of-its-kind remote monitoring platform that goes beyond collecting physiological measures to include monitoring the daily activity and behavior signals of older adults, providing a 360-degree view of their wellbeing. This is the fourth time in five years that CES has recognized CarePredict for its innovations, including being named CES 2020 Innovation Award Honoree for CarePredict's smart wearable - Tempo, CES 2021 Innovation Award Honoree for CarePredict's app TouchPoint, and being selected the winner of the Consumer Technology Association's (CTA) Accessibility Award at CES 2019. CarePredict will showcase its groundbreaking remote patient monitoring solution at Booth #8776 in the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall during CES 2023. CarePredict - Digital health platform for senior care CareGuide selected CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree CarePredict Tempo, the world's first wearable that monitors older adults' activity and behavior patterns, now collects their vitals to provide an unprecedented and comprehensive view of their wellbeing. CareGuide enables CarePredict's smart wearable to collect vitals like heart rate, blood pressure, glucose, weight, temperature, pulse oximetry, and spirometry automatically, from select FDA-approved devices, without pairing or using a smartphone app. Now, in addition to knowing if they have been eating less, sleeping less, or have been less active, family and care circle members can see changes in their loved one's vital signs to help manage chronic conditions better. "Despite their inherent benefits, Remote Patient Monitoring solutions pose technological challenges to people 65 and older with limited digital literacy," said Satish Movva, CEO and Founder, CarePredict. "CareGuide is explicitly designed for older adults and requires no learning or training. An audio reminder to take the measurement plays on the wrist-worn Tempo device, which automatically connects with the measuring device and logs the reading in the cloud for access by family members and the healthcare team. CareGuide's design aesthetic is rooted in simplicity and ease of use without any intervention." To learn more about CarePredict and CareGuide remote monitoring solution, visit www.carepredict.com or email [email protected]. About CarePredict: CarePredict's mission is to help caregivers of seniors take timely action in any care setting. Based on the science that changes in daily activities and behavior patterns precede health declines, CarePredict autonomously understands these patterns and alerts caregivers on changes that warrant attention. We provide a unique multi-function platform that caters to senior living operators, value-based care systems, RPM/CCM services providers, and families. CarePredict has been proven in a peer-reviewed and published study to reduce hospitalizations by 39 percent, falls by 69 percent and improve the length of stay by 67 percent in Senior Living. CarePredict is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Media Contact: Subhashree Sukhu Marketing Director CarePredict [email protected] 1-800-608-7188 ext 526 SOURCE CarePredict ST. JULIANS, Malta, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The team behind Casivo has a successful past in Sweden and the UK, helping users find the best online casinos while guiding them to a fun and safe gambling experience. The brand is now heading west and has acquired a license in New Jersey, as well as being available for residents in Ontario and the rest of Canada. As more states open for online gambling, it's crucial that both casinos and affiliates adhere to the regulations and rules set per state, something that will be a challenge going forward. The CEO of Novitana and editor-in-chief of the Casivo brand is looking forward to the regulated markets. "The goal when launching Casivo Canada, as well as our previous products, is to be the leading example when it comes to presenting licensed and regulated casinos, letting users enjoy playing within a safe environment. This is also a key aspect of Casivo USA, where each state can differentiate in terms of offers and guidelines; we want to be at the forefront by protecting and educating the players rather than simply presenting another casino bonus from a shady operator". Growth is to be expected in the US and Canada. "The growth in gaming revenue has reached all-time highs in the US. The main revenue driver is still in-person gambling, however, as more states legalize online gambling, we can expect the numbers to grow rapidly. We believe that two key factors will drive a record year for gaming revenue: more states will allow casinos to have an online presence, and more casinos will enter the market." Said Kayla Miller, Casino expert at Casivo USA. "With the recent licensing system in place for Ontario, more customers can play safely through respected brands and thus have an additional layer of protection. Revenues from Ontario alone rose 65% in Q2 of 2022 and are expected to increase even further in 2023." Said Noah Wilson, senior content manager at Casivo Canada. About Casivo Founded in 2017, Casivo is a leading source of information about online casinos, how to play and the latest bonus offers. The website is handled by professionals within iGaming with over 20 years of experience. The team behind Casivo compares, ranks, and reviews the top online casinos in the US and Canada while educating and helping users make informed choices. The websites only promote licensed and regulated casinos from reputed operators. Contact: Johan Lofgren, +35699696472, [email protected] SOURCE Casivo Centene Charitable Foundation and Western Sky partner with One Albuquerque Fund to build new health services ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Centene Charitable Foundation and Western Sky Community Care committed funds of $3 million to the One Albuquerque Fund for "The Gateway" project. The Gateway focuses on key service gaps for homeless populations including providing a new center for emergency overnight beds with wrap-around services such as case management, a 24/7 receiving area for first responders, medical sobering, and medical respite. The Gateway project will provide emergency overnight beds and services such as case management, a 24/7 receiving area for first responders, medical sobering, and medical respite. According to the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, more than 1,300 people in Albuquerque sleep in shelters or on the streets each night. Despite a growing need, there are currently limited options for comprehensive, trauma-informed services in Albuquerque. The Gateway will promote healing and recovery by providing safe, dignified, emergency shelter with wrap-around services to help guests transition to stable, permanent housing in addition to other community resources. "Reducing homelessness is a community effort, and we all need to be part of the solution," said Mayor Tim Keller. "We are grateful to Western Sky and the Centene Charitable Foundation for stepping up to support the Gateway. With the services coming, including the city's first ever 24/7 first responder receiving area, Albuquerque will be better positioned to move the needle and get people the help they need." The City of Albuquerque acquired the Gibson Medical Center, which already serves as a health hub with six existing tenants providing care services. As part of this health hub, the Gateway will add more health resources for the homeless community, as well as centrally located emergency overnight beds and supportive services toward permanent housing. Gateway will be built in stages, with completion of the first phase anticipated in the spring of 2023. Phase one will include: Emergency Housing Program and Engagement Center which will serve 200 single, adult women per year with 50 initial emergency overnight beds and 90-day transitions to housing. 24/7 Receiving Area for First Responders which will make up to 1,500 transports per year to needed services. "Western Sky is pleased to join the Centene Charitable Foundation in supporting our state. Gateway will close some existing gaps in available health and community resources," said Western Sky President and CEO Jean Wilms. "Our mission is to bring quality healthcare to all New Mexicans, and by joining the efforts to create tangible solutions, we are achieving that goal at its foundation." In addition to the financial contributions, Western Sky Community Care will continue to be committed to local support and community engagements including care coordination, health equity, behavioral health, and outreach in the community. About Centene Charitable Foundation The Centene Charitable Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's purpose-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face. The Foundation is committed to addressing social determinants of health and improving health equity in three distinct areas of focus: Healthcare Access, Social Services, and Education. About Western Sky Community Care Established to deliver quality healthcare in the state of New Mexico through local, regional, and community-based resources, Western Sky Community Care is a Managed Care Organization and subsidiary of Centene Corporation. Western Sky Community Care exists to improve the health of its beneficiaries through focused, compassionate, and coordinated care. Our approach is based on the core belief that quality healthcare is best delivered locally. For more information, visit www.westernskycommunitycare.com. About One Albuquerque Fund The goal of the One Albuquerque Fund is to connect the community, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to come together to support the people in the community. The One Albuquerque Fund is a completely nonpartisan organization, focused on allocating resources directly to organizations that help address Albuquerque's key initiatives. It aims to fund critical programs to address some of the core challenges in Albuquerque including housing vouchers, workforce support, youth opportunity, and officer recruitment. SOURCE Western Sky Community Care Gov. Kathy Hochul has rejected a bill authored by state Sen. Rachel May to prevent new schools from being built near New York highways. The legislation sponsored by May, D-Syracuse, would have prohibited schools from being located within 500 feet of a highway unless space is limited. It was inspired by Dr. King Elementary School in Syracuse, which is near Interstate 81. "It really is an environmental justice issue," May told The Citizen, adding that there are high asthma rates, increased noise pollution and other hazards. "It's a dangerous situation and we shouldn't be building schools in those locations." The New York Civil Liberties Union was among the groups pushing for passage of the Schools Impacted by Gross Highways (SIGH) Act. The group conducted an analysis and found one-third of New York students attend a school that is within 500 feet of a major highway. Most of the students who attend these schools are low-income and people of color. After the state Legislature approved the SIGH Act, the New York Civil Liberties Union was already planning a second bill, dubbed SIGH Act II, to prohibit highways from being built near schools. But Hochul's veto caught some, including May, by surprise. In a lengthy message explaining her decision, the governor said she is "fully in support of the laudable goal of this legislation" but her chief complaint was that the bill is "overly restrictive and would considerably limit educational options for students in urban areas without taking into account measures to mitigate environmental pollutants." Hochul also claimed that the construction of new schools in New York City would be stopped if the bill became law. The veto puzzled May, who said they had communication with New York City officials when drafting and amending the legislation. The city's concerns, she said, were due to the lack of space and proximity to highways. "They didn't want their hands to be tied," May continued. "We made a lot of amendments to this bill to make sure they had the leeway they needed to build schools. They seemed to be fine with it at the time." May can reintroduce the SIGH Act, but it would likely need to be amended further to secure Hochul's signature. BEIJING, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China has adjusted its response to COVID-19 prevention and control in recent weeks. It announced it will downgrade COVID-19 management from Class A to Class B infectious disease while resuming passport, visa issuance and easing border-entry policies starting on January 8, 2023. It also changed the Chinese name of the disease from "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection." China's decision has drawn widespread criticisms from a section of the Western media outlets, and also the Western political and intellectual circles, same as the previous "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. Criticism ranges from comparing China's latest COVID-19 surge to a "catastrophe" that could "put the global economy at risk" to scaremongering over the rise of "new coronavirus mutants." Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that "Currently, we are adapting our COVID-19 response measures to the new developments in the epidemic, so as to better coordinate epidemic response and socioeconomic development. We believe that, with the Chinese people's joint efforts and solidarity, we will usher in a new phase of steady and orderly economic and social development." China's dynamic zero-COVID policy protected people's lives and bought time for understanding the virus based on science, for research and development of vaccines, anti-viral drugs and therapeutics, and for vaccinating more people nationwide. According to the latest official data, China has administered over 3.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide with over 90 percent of its 1.4 billion population fully vaccinated. Over 87 percent of people over the age of 60 fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, China has rolled out the second booster shot with 13 types of COVID-19 vaccines approved for the purpose. The figures speak for themselves. To this day, China has the lowest COVID-19 death toll among major countries in the world. In contrast, the U.S., with a quarter of China's population, has reported over a million deaths. The past three years laid the foundation for China's policy adjustments. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-30/China-s-dynamic-zero-COVID-policy-sets-the-foundation-for-reopening-1gbxNZWCc5a/index.html SOURCE CGTN BEIJING, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since China prioritized its COVID-19 response from the dynamic zero-COVID policy, some Western media and intellectuals have been questioning China's "preparedness" of making the change. Preparedness can only be evaluated by the results to which it leads in the case of COVID-19, the number of lives saved. Since the outbreak, China has been preparing the Chinese to deal with the virus. The dynamic zero-COVID policy was put into place to buy time for the deadly original strain and the subsequent variants to become less deadly. Li Guangxi, expert of the State Council's Joint Prevention & Control Mechanism said in an interview that "once the virus come to the world, it was very severe. It will make hospital, especially for the ICU beds, occupied. It happened in every area of the world." "And now, once the virus become much much less severe and mild, at this time, we want to ease our measures. We will certainly have some surge of the cases. However, the mortality rate and the severe type of COVID-19 will become much less than before," Li said. According to Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, proportion of severe and critically ill cases have fallen from 16.47 percent in 2020 to 0.18 percent in recent times. The National Health Commission's medical administration department's director Jiao Yahui said in a press conference in December that China's COVID-19 makeshift hospitals will be retrofitted and equipped with more treatment capacities to become sub-designated hospitals for COVID-19 patients. China has about 138,100 critical care beds, 10 per 100,000 people. There's a total of 80,500 critical care specialists and 220,000 intensive care nurses in China, and over 106,000 doctors and 178,000 nurses are capable of handling ICU works. To protect the vulnerable population, including the elderly, which is a critical challenge for the country, China has launched the second COVID-19 booster shot on December 14. The inhalable vaccine was also rolled out for those who are weary or unable to get a jab in the arm. Supplies of anti-epidemic medicine were also ramped up. Beijing's drug administration and authorities have sent joint working groups of more than 50 people to five large pharmaceutical wholesale enterprises in Beijing to alleviate the shortage of epidemic treating and prevention drugs. Data from the China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial Group Co., Ltd showed that the company had supplied more than 3.5 million boxes of anti-epidemic drugs to over 4,000 clients in Beijing in a week that included 300 hospitals, more than 2,200 community health centers and over 1,500 retail pharmacies. In Shanghai, fever clinics in 145 secondary and higher-level hospitals were asked to remain fully open. In Zhejiang Province, internet hospitals have opened up in some cities to respond to the surging demand for diagnosis and treatment in fever clinics. Prevention and control are a process of establishing institutions and boosting medical capabilities to deal with the evolving situations. China has rapidly adapted to the current situation and making adjustments based on feedback from the public and medical community. And the policy change reflects the fact that China is ready to take on what comes next. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-31/Is-China-prepared-for-shift-in-COVID-19-policies-Yes--1gcS2Uz1GYE/index.html SOURCE CGTN - Fast casual concept set to debut in Batavia on Jan. 10th and give away free chicken salad for a year- ATLANTA, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today the Tuesday, Jan. 10th debut of its first-ever location in the Chicago metro area and the fourth in Illinois. Chicken Salad Chick Batavia is opening at 220 North Randall Road in the former Crabby Boil building in front of Menards. Featuring a drive-thru as well as a private event space, the new restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on Jan. 10 by offering free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests. During grand opening week, Batavia guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for with specials and giveaways that include: Tuesday, Jan. 10 Free Chicken Salad for a Year The first 100 guests will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for an entire year, with one of those lucky guests randomly selected to win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week.* Guests may arrive starting at 7 a.m. for grand opening day only. The first 100 guests will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for an entire year, with one of those lucky guests randomly selected to win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week.* Guests may arrive starting at for grand opening day only. Wednesday, Jan. 11 - The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick Tumbler.** - The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick Tumbler.** Thursday, Jan. 12 The first 50 guests to purchase two Quick Chicks of any size will receive a free Chick Cooler.** The first 50 guests to purchase two Quick Chicks of any size will receive a free Chick Cooler.** Friday, Jan. 13 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick Water Bottle.** The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick Water Bottle.** Saturday, Jan. 14 - Buy 2 Quick Chicks and receive 1 free Quick Chick all day long.** Kim and Garrett Seaman of Fox Valley Chick, LLC are the duo bringing Chicken Salad Chick to the Chicago area. The husband-and-wife team met when they were students at the University of Illinois and now live with their three young sons in St. Charles. Kim taught second grade at Louise White Elementary in Batavia over the past two decades and is excited to channel her passion for building community in her classroom to a new passion for serving her neighbors and providing growth opportunities for her restaurant team. "Garrett and I love being part of this tight-knit Batavia community, and when we learned about the Chicken Salad Chick culture and family-friendly atmosphere, we knew it would be a great fit," said Kim Seaman. "Not only do we have 12 delicious flavors of chicken salad, but everything we serve is made from scratch every day in the restaurant. Our guests can dine with us or pick up Quick Chicks to feed their busy crowd on the go. Either way, they will enjoy fresh food served from the heart. It's that quality and simplicity that drew us to Chicken Salad Chick." Kim added, "Spreading joy, enriching lives and serving others are the core values of this brand. That mission to enrich lives really speaks to me as an educator who looks forward to helping our employees reach their goals. We already have plans to open two additional Chicks in the Fox Valley area, so we want to create an environment where our employees want to stay and grow with us. I would love it if some of my former students came to work with us too!" Chicken Salad Chick in Batavia will be open Monday Saturday from 10:30 a.m. 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends. For more information on giveaways and specials, visit https://www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickBataviaIL. *Guests should start arriving at 7 a.m. to get checked in. The first 100 guests will be assigned a number and a designated return time between 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Upon return, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of greater value and enter a code on the Chicken Salad Chick app to officially secure your spot. If you are late, or miss the return time, your spot will be awarded to the next in-line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to your App the Monday following Grand Opening Day. **Must download the CSC App and be 16 years or older to purchase. Not valid with any other offers. Limit 1 reward per guest present. About Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 220 restaurants in 17 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2022 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the second consecutive year, Fast Casual.com 's top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2022, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises in 2020. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information. Contact: Nicole Hunnicutt Fish Consulting 404-558-4108 [email protected] SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler announced today the debut of the Chrysler Synthesis demonstrator at CES 2023, providing a forward-looking glimpse into the brands future. Chrysler Synthesis demonstrator highlights the integration of advanced Stellantis technology and Chrysler brand's contemporary, technology-forward and sustainable interior design to create Harmony in Motion in everyday lives Two-seat Chrysler Synthesis showcases Advanced Technology for Real Life, the Chrysler-branded execution of STLA Brain, STLA Smart Cockpit and STLA AutoDrive technology Chrysler will be the first brand to feature applications of new STLA technologies in North America Chrysler Synthesis signifies Chrysler's future design direction and features sustainable materials Harmony in Motion theme encompasses Chrysler brand's ambition to harmonize every aspect of the customer experience, including product, technology, purchase and ownership Chrysler Synthesis illustrates a day in the life of the future Chrysler ownership experience Chrysler Synthesis demonstrator presents the next step in the Chrysler brand's revitalization and transformation, building on the reveal of the Chrysler Airflow Concept at CES 2022 Chrysler brand remains on track to launch its first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and full battery-electric portfolio in 2028, as announced at CES 2022 Information on Chrysler and Chrysler Synthesis cockpit demonstrator will be available at www.chrysler.com. Today, Chrysler announced the debut of the Chrysler Synthesis demonstrator at CES 2023, providing a forward-looking glimpse into the brand's future and previewing the first application of new Stellantis technologies in North America. The Chrysler Synthesis, on display at CES 2023 starting Jan. 5, demonstrates the integration of Chrysler's contemporary, technology-forward and sustainable interior design with advanced Stellantis technology to create Harmony in Motion in the everyday lives of customers through a mobility experience that is more user-friendly, more connected and more efficient. The Chrysler Synthesis showcases unique Chrysler-branded Advanced Technology for Real Life that uses STLA Smart Cockpit, STLA Brain and STLA AutoDrive technology to blend modern and premium design with intuitive, advanced technology and features. The Chrysler Synthesis helps to manage the friction and chaos of everyday life with thoughtfully connected technology with a contemporary, sustainable environment that anticipates and delivers Harmony in Motion with every customer experience. The Chrysler Synthesis two-seater also represents the next step in the Chrysler brand's revitalization and transformation, building on the reveal of the Chrysler Airflow Concept at CES 2022, as well as the announcement that the brand will launch its first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and a full battery-electric portfolio in 2028. The Chrysler brand's steady march forward to an all-electric future aligns with the ambitious Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan announced by Stellantis last year, which outlines the company's roadmap for the future. "For nearly 100 years, Chrysler has created ingenious products and technologies for mainstream customers, and Chrysler will continue that legacy of innovation as the first to launch the STLA Smart Cockpit in North America. The Chrysler Synthesis shown at CES 2023 represents the future of Chrysler brand design, technology and customer experience by introducing customer-centric design and intuitive, seamlessly connected technology for real life," said Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO Stellantis. "Chrysler is focused on delivering Harmony In Motion for every aspect of the customer experience with the product, technology, purchase and ownership experiences, resulting in harmony with the planet, our products, services and customer experiences." Advanced Technology for Real Life The Chrysler Synthesis taps into a trio of AI-powered Stellantis technological platforms STLA Smart Cockpit, STLA Brain and STLA AutoDrive to create smooth, efficient and connected experiences between the customer and the vehicle. Branded as Advanced Technology for Real Life, Chrysler will be the first to launch applications of the advanced technologies in North America. The STLA Brain electrical architecture works within the STLA Smart Cockpit infotainment system, integrating advanced technology seamlessly through the sculpted black glass to provide 37.2 inches of infotainment for both front-row occupants. Advanced AI technology adapts and enhances the user interface over time, with the capability to "learn" owner preferences. Over-the-air (OTA) flexibility empowers the quick creation and updating of software features, automatically downloading content and enhancements over the air to keep the vehicle fresh, exciting and capable during each day of ownership. Connectivity is taken to the next level through a virtual personal assistant with the ability to synchronize all aspects of the customer's digital lifestyle, including home, work and personal devices. The virtual personal assistant helps make life easier by automatically installing updates, synching to calendars for schedule and route planning, allowing multi-tasking while driving autonomously, recommending parking and charging options, assisting with e-commerce services, seamlessly connecting to devices and smart homes and offering tranquil in-vehicle experiences. The Chrysler Synthesis demonstrates STLA AutoDrive, which delivers Level 3 autonomous driving, allowing for hands off the steering wheel and eyes off the road. STLA AutoDrive is also flexible, allowing for OTA updates and upgrades to let customers quickly and easily add new and innovative features, keeping the vehicle fresh, exciting and capable. Harmony in Motion The Chrysler Synthesis cockpit demonstrator expresses Harmony in Motion through a design language that is contemporary, sustainable and technology focused. The two-seater cockpit is inspired by the look and feel of the Chrysler Airflow Concept and represents Chrysler's future design direction. The interior conveys a modern and spacious sanctuary compatible with Level 3 autonomous driving functionality. Materials are sustainable, 100% chrome-free and include premium features, such as a pair of vegetable-tanned, suspended seats wrapped with an arctic upcycled chrome-free soft trim embellished by a unique constellation-style perforation. The recycled melange heather instrument panel is constructed from 100% post-industrial plastics and ocean plastics, and additional distinctive interior highlights include responsibly sourced, textile-infused walnut flooring. The interior appointments complement the cockpit's personalization features while enhancing comfort and the overall mobility experience. The sleek, futuristic exterior design envelops the cockpit in a Galaxy matte black top surface, contrasted by the high-gloss atmospheric grey gradient of the lower exterior. LED lighting illuminates the distinct Chrysler badging and exterior features while also hinting at the technologically advanced and battery-electric personality contained within the cockpit. Day in the Life The Chrysler Synthesis demonstrates a day in the customer's life made easier through simple and immersive connected experiences that take place while driving and at home, as well as in non-driving situations. The day in the life experience kicks off when the day begins, as the vehicle provides a "welcome" to the owner and maps out an intelligent trip plan for the day. The AI advanced technology handles autonomous driving, locating parking spaces and charging ports and much more, in a cockpit enhanced by an electrified, clean and smart connected experience. Day in the life features include: MyDay - Synthesizes and syncs multiple aspects of the customer experience, including calendars and schedules, vehicle status info such as charge status, home smart tech features, weather updates and more, helping to organize and map out an intelligent trip plan for the day Vehicle Welcome - Delivers a "welcome" via virtual personal assistant based on biometric recognition Driving - Vehicle operates with Level 3 autonomous driving, allowing the driver to multitask and access a suite of productivity-based activities, such as video conferencing; recommends lunch locations with convenient parking and charging options; returns home at end of day and performs a smart home "wake up" upon arrival Chill/Zen/Fun Modes - Creates a sensory experience, including in-vehicle fun and wellness experiences (meditation, karaoke, DJ game), while the vehicle is stationary or driving autonomously. The demonstrator will feature the Synthesis Music Experience, which allows customers to create and synthesize their own music Information on Chrysler and Chrysler Synthesis cockpit demonstrator will be available at www.chrysler.com Chrysler Airflow Concept Chrysler, an iconic American automotive brand, is moving forward into a future that will place Chrysler at the forefront of the Stellantis transformation to clean mobility and connected customer experiences. To achieve that transformation, Chrysler brand is committed to launching its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in 2025 and will offer a full battery-electric portfolio in 2028. The Chrysler Airflow Concept provides a preview of that future, while also representing the future of connected vehicles. That future isn't about simply moving from point A to B it's about creating a seamlessly connected hub that brings the customer's digital lifestyle along in the vehicle to reinvent every aspect of the customer experience. The Airflow Concept showcases leading edge drive system technology, fully connected customer experiences and advanced safety and mobility wrapped in an inspiring dynamic design that features customizable ingenious interior spaces for each occupant creating a comfortable space between home and work. The early development of the Airflow included several potential design expressions for the all-electric concept, including the original concept unveiled at CES 2022 and a Chrysler Airflow Graphite alternative version of the concept that debuted at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. The Chrysler Synthesis on display at CES 2023, inspired by the design of the Chrysler Airflow Concept, represents the next step in the brand's charge forward into an all-electric portfolio and also serves as a preview of Chrysler's future design direction. Chrysler Brand The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, craftsmanship, advanced innovation and technology since the company was founded in 1925. The Chrysler Pacifica continues to reinvent the minivan, a segment Chrysler invented nearly 40 years ago. Pacifica delivers an unprecedented level of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling along with the most standard safety features in the industry and most advanced available all-wheel-drive system in its class. The available innovative plug-in hybrid powertrain takes this revolutionary vehicle a step further. It's the first electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves more than 80 MPGe in electric-only mode, has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. Chrysler Pacifica is also the most awarded minivan over the last six years with more than 170 honors and industry accolades since its introduction as a minivan. The Chrysler 300 lineup delivers on the brand's promise of accessible luxury, with iconic and elegant design, world-class performance, efficiency and quality. Chrysler is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com. Follow Chrysler and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Chrysler brand: www.chrysler.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrysler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrysler Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrysler or @StellantisNA YouTube: www.youtube.com/chrysler or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis A company-wide effort to "support progress towards resiliency and net zero" Chubb Chairman and CEO Greenberg Chubb leaders appointed co-heads of new business ZURICH, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb (NYSE: CB) announced today the launch of a new global climate business unit, drawing on the company's extensive technical capabilities in underwriting and risk engineering and bringing together Chubb units engaged in traditional, alternative and renewable energy, climate tech, agribusiness and risk engineering services. The new business unit will provide a full spectrum of insurance products and services to businesses engaged in developing or employing new technologies and processes that help reduce the dependence on carbon. It will also provide risk management and resiliency services to help those managing the impact of climate change. Together these businesses already generated more than $675 million in premium revenue for Chubb in 2022. Matthew McMullin has been named North America Leader of the newly launched Chubb Global Climate Business Unit Matthew Hardy has been named Chubb Overseas General Leader of the newly launched Chubb Global Climate Business Unit, representing all markets outside the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. "After many months of thoughtful deliberation, today we are announcing an expanded commitment to support the transition toward net zero in response to rising climate challenges," said Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In the coming months, expect to see additional capabilities from Chubb to support our customers across all industries as they seek to become more carbon neutral and resilient from the threat of a changing climate." The new Global Climate Business Unit will be co-led by two experienced Chubb senior leaders. Matthew McMullin, based in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, has been named North America Leader of the Chubb Global Climate Practice. Matthew Hardy, based in London, has been named Chubb Overseas General (COG) Leader, representing all markets outside the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. "In addition to already underwriting one-third of the Global CleanTech 100 companies, we've been writing renewable and alternative energy businesses for more than 20 years, keeping pace with rapidly evolving technologies over that time," said McMullin. "The new business will see expanded appetite and additional tailored insurance products and related services to further assist the transition from hydrocarbon-based fuels to environmentally friendly and renewable natural resources." "Our local presence in 54 countries and territories allows us to be on the leading edge of new technology developments, including AgriTech in Latin America, electric vehicles in Europe and manufacturing in Asia, as each area is contributing to the global net zero goal and innovating in different ways," added Hardy. "With a full spectrum of solutions, dedicated underwriters and risk engineers, we can scale to our customers' needs, however complex." McMullin, who will maintain his role as Energy Industry Practice Leader for North America, joined Chubb in 2008. He held several roles with Global Casualty before joining the Commercial Insurance Energy Industry Practice in June 2021, where he was responsible for the division's underwriting portfolio. Hardy, formerly Executive Vice President, Energy, for COG, has nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Since joining the company in 1996, he has held various energy positions, including Head of Onshore and Chief Underwriting Officer, Energy, for COG. McMullin and Hardy will work with Chubb's new Global Climate Officer, Margaret Peloso, who will be joining Chubb from Vinson & Elkins where she practiced law and served as the firm's Lead Sustainability Partner and is a board member of the Environmental Law Institute. Peloso holds a PhD in Environment from Duke University. You can learn more about Chubb's new Global Climate Business at www.chubb.com/climate. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 34,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements made in this press release, such as statements regarding Chubb's product and service offerings, risk management, including climate-related risks and opportunities, commitments, and Chubb's expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts, reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Additional information regarding factors that could cause differences from these forward-looking statements appears in Chubb's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Note to Editors: Bios and photos of Matthew McMullin and Mathew Hardy are available upon request. SOURCE Chubb Limited TORONTO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) announced that it intends to appeal the New York Court decision released after close of business on January 3, 2023 finding CIBC liable for damages in the lawsuit brought by a special purpose vehicle controlled by Cerberus Capital Management L.P. ("Cerberus"), in the amount of US$491 million, plus pre-judgment interest that is currently being assessed by both parties. CIBC expects that the total amount of damages, inclusive of such pre-judgment interest, will be approximately US$848 million through to December 1, 2022. CIBC previously disclosed on December 2, 2022 that the Court issued a liability ruling in this matter against CIBC. CIBC strongly disagrees with the legal and factual basis for the Court's decision. CIBC expects to record a pre-tax provision of approximately CAD$1,160 million or CAD$850 million after tax, including estimated pre-judgment interest through December 1, 2022, in its first quarter 2023 results. The application of the after tax charge is expected to result in an approximate 30 basis point reduction in CIBC's CET1 capital ratio, which was 11.7% as at October 31, 2022. About CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 13 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Small Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets businesses, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre. A NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: From time to time, we make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including in this news release, in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in other reports to shareholders, and in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, but are not limited to, CIBC's intention to contest or appeal the verdict. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "target", "objective" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would" and "could". By their nature, these statements require us to make assumptions, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific. The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including, but not limited to: the final outcome of the Cerberus matter; legal and other developments in litigation, such as judicial rulings or findings or any resolution of litigation that differs from what is anticipated or expected. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the views of management only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting our shareholders and financial analysts in understanding our financial position, objectives and priorities and anticipated financial performance as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this news release or in other communications except as required by law. SOURCE CIBC WARSAW, Poland, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuca Clinical Trials Inc, a holding company held by Neuca Group, the proprietor of Clinscience international CRO, reiterates its commitment to advancing clinical research through Technology and Data Integrity by increasing its clinical operations in the US. The transaction gives NEUCA Group a 72.6% stake in OncoBay. Based in Tampa, Florida, the CRO was founded by Moffit Cancer Center. Krystyna Kowalczyk, CEO of OncoBay (left), Tomasz Dabrowski CEO of Clinscience (right) OncoBay is a boutique CRO offering comprehensive, custom-curated solutions for biotechnology companies developing avant-garde immuno-oncology therapies. The company provides unrivaled scientific support and conducts clinical operations in the US with a team of 100+ oncology experts. The investment reflects the exceptional partner dynamic between Clinscience and OncoBay, already collaborating for over two years, leveraging their distinct competencies to bridge Europe and the US. Clinscience offers OncoBay its leading-edge global Data Management and Technology services and conducts clinical operations in Europe. In turn, OncoBay enables Clinscience to conduct clinical operations in the US and grants access to the US biotechnology market. Currently, the companies are jointly advancing several dozen immuno-oncology projects. "The unbound dedication to immuno-oncology, tailored solutions, and use of Technology and Data consistency are elements that tied our organizations right from the beginning. Our combined powers, supercharged by complementing competencies, proprietary technologies, and streamlined organizational structure, set the stage for a full-scale global alternative in the clinical research market. It allows us to further expand our abilities in cancer research providing our clients with comprehensive support in their pursuit to develop innovative cancer treatments," said Tomek Dabrowski, CEO at Clinscience, responsible for the clinical trials segment at NEUCA Group. "The connection between OncoBay and Clinscience provides an exciting opportunity to influence global oncology clinical research. The combination of oncology expertise, global footprint, and innovative analytics with in-line data assessment tools create the foundation for a unique organization that aims to accelerate research impacting cancer patients' lives. The larger connections to the world-class Patient Access available through the Clinscience European Partner Sites Program distinguish this partnership and our ability to transform clinical research positively." said Krystyna Kowalczyk, Oncobay CEO, and co-founder. Krystyna Kowalczyk, and Dannelle Palmer, OncoBay's Chief Operating Officer, join the leadership team at NEUCA Group's clinical research segment. Krystyna takes the CEO role of the combined structures of Clinscience and OncoBay. Tomek Dabrowski continues his responsibilities as President and Chairman of the Board. SOURCE Clinscience Sp. z o.o. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Presidio Trust is pleased to announce positive year end results from its commercial real estate operations, bucking declining industry trends for San Francisco's commercial market which has a reported 73% occupancy. With the addition of six new leases in Q1 of the FY23 fiscal year, the total square feet leased in the Presidio in 2022 was 130,000, resulting in a 95% occupancy rate of a total leased portfolio of 2.15M square feet. Revenue goes back into maintaining the Presidio as a national park site, keeping it open and free for all to enjoy. The Presidio Trust most recently welcomed a diverse slate of new tenants, including block chain company Edge & Node, Kinnate Biopharma, and healthcare company Hey Favor at 103 Montgomery St., and CVC Capital Advisors at 39 Mesa St. Two private schools also made the Presidio home. Cow Hollow School, a long-term tenant relocated to 387 Moraga Ave. and The Institute of Applied Tinkering moved into 681-683 Schofield Rd., creating more educational opportunities within the Presidio. Tenants are a mixture of Web3.0 technology, venture capital, financial services companies, direct to consumer brands, as well as recreation and non-profit. "We've seen a high level of interest with a record number of tours and inquiries, and leases that are in active negotiations," said Jeff Eichenfield, director of commercial asset management for the Presidio. "We know that businesses want to be here in a national park setting, which has proven to be a huge perk for our tenants' employee retention and back to work goals. Tenants appreciate that every dollar they spend is reinvested into park operations." National visibility for the new Presidio Tunnel Tops which opened in July of 2022 and popularity of outdoor spaces in general, along with the accompanying Presidio Pop Up food truck program, has strengthened the park community and increased its desirability. "I could not be happier that the Aalto team finally has a real home in San Francisco," said Czar Yarcia, people officer at Aalto who recently located in the Presidio. "It feels more like a spacious home surrounded by nature compared to the downtown high-rise offices many of us have worked in before. Aalto is a remote-first company, and our team is distributed, so our new office has been optimized for collaboration and team bonding."Average dollar amounts spent on tenant improvements have also increasedanother indicator that tenants are investing in their spaces, long-term. The Presidio Trust is increasing its development pipeline, investing in rehabilitating more commercial office space to make room for new tenants and businesses. Buildings including 102 Montgomery on the Main Parade Lawn, 2 Funston on Funston Row, and 40 Mesa Street located across the street from the Presidio Officers' Club are in development and will come on the market in Spring 2025. To view all leasing opportunities in the Presidio, click here. Press Contact: Lisa Petrie (415) 264-7787 [email protected] SOURCE Presidio Trust PLATTSBURGH, N.Y., Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Connor M. Whitaker, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Healthcare Provider for his work as a Family Medicine Resident at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. Dr. Whitaker earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in biomedical science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He continued his education with a Doctor of Medicine from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Oakland County, MI. Dr. Whitaker is currently working in his residency in family medicine at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and will complete the program in the summer of 2023. The doctor has provided superior care as a family medicine resident with Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh since 2019. He specializes in medication-assisted therapy (suboxone) for patients struggling with addiction and hormone replacement therapy for the LGBTQ community. Dr. Whitaker is a family medicine resident at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and has been in general practice for the past three years. Dr. Whitaker entered the medical profession because he realized that he has always had an affinity for science. He wanted to use that towards directly impacting people's lives and found that the best combination for it is medicine. His goal in the coming years is to be more active in his community. Dr. Whitaker is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. The doctor participates in fundraisers and community service through Champlain Hospital Outreach. The doctor wishes to thank his mentors, Nicole Cerklewich, MD, and Aubrey Wheeler, MD. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who New third-party risk management service solves the problem of data breach response ATLANTA, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CORL Technologies , the leading provider of risk management solutions for healthcare, today introduced Third-Party Incident Response (TPIR). This managed incident response solution allows healthcare providers to address third-party security incidents proactively. CORL's TPIR service tames the chaos of incident response by enabling healthcare companies to share information and provide total clarity about how each party will respond to industry-wide vulnerabilities and episodic data breaches. CORL Technologies Introduces Proactive Third-Party Incident Response Solution for Healthcare CORL Technologies Introduces Proactive Third-Party Incident Response Solution for Healthcare According to SC Magazine , nine out of the ten most significant healthcare data breaches were caused by third-party vendors. The Verizon annual Data Breach Investigations Report indicates ransomware saw a 13% increase in 2022, making up almost 70% of malware breaches. Ransomware incidents can cause computer systems to be down for weeks, creating a ripple effect that can impact hundreds of providers and patients. CORL's TPIR eliminates the chaos of third-party incident response for faster resolution. TPIR clarifies every stage in an incident lifecycle, including proactive preparedness profiles and scoring, impact mapping, managing outreach and response, automating communications, and identifying key metrics using standardized data. CORL offers healthcare companies numerous benefits, including: Improved preparedness Create a strong data foundation with readiness profiles, managed key contact rolodexes, and scores by vendor, vendor tier, and in aggregate. Create a strong data foundation with readiness profiles, managed key contact rolodexes, and scores by vendor, vendor tier, and in aggregate. Extended visibility Understand incident implications using impact mapping, live response tracking, reports, and other tools. Understand incident implications using impact mapping, live response tracking, reports, and other tools. Reduced internal burden CORL serves as an expert partner providing scalable outreach, response management, and reporting. CORL serves as an expert partner providing scalable outreach, response management, and reporting. Well-defined course of action TPIR provides a clear communication plan for each vendor with correct contacts and escalations. "We developed Third-Party Incident Response to prepare healthcare providers and vendors before an incident occurs," said Cliff Baker, Chief Executive Officer of CORL Technologies. "Vendor data breaches happen every day, and very few know who to contact or how to escalate when they don't get what they need. With TPIR we eliminate the chaos, provide clarity around points of contact, escalation, incident impact, remediation, etc., and do all the outreach, so there is no impact on the internal team." TPIR provides preparedness at scale, starting with an accurate data foundation. CORL prepares a Third-Party Incident Preparedness (TPIP) profile and score for each vendor to identify gaps and improve preparedness across all vendors. CORL's managed Third-Party Incident Impact (TPI3) workflow provides rapid insight into how an incident impacts the business. The result is a coordinated plan of action that outlines responsibilities and eliminates duplicate efforts. "CORL is committed to going beyond risk management tools that stop short of solving the problem," continued Baker. "Our managed assessment methodology, the way we utilize data, and decision-support tools address the healthcare industry's real-world security and privacy challenges. We are committed to integrating the best of technology and human intelligence to make third-party risk management a business enabler." About CORL Technologies CORL is a leading provider of vendor risk management solutions for the healthcare industry. CORL gets results by scaling organizational and vendor risk programs through our healthcare vendor risk clearinghouse solution, dashboard reporting that business owners can understand, and proven workflows that drive measurable risk reduction. CORL accelerates the speed of vendor risk assessments and holds vendors accountable for remediating risk exposures. Together with sister company Meditology healthcare's preeminent cybersecurity consulting firm and certification body, the company has offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Denver, San Diego, and St. Louis. For more information, visit http://corltech.com . CONTACT Kristen Hoff Firecracker PR [email protected] 978-407-9283 SOURCE CORL Technologies For more than two decades, the city of Auburn's congressional representative has maintained an office in Cayuga County's largest municipality. That streak is officially over. U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney announced Tuesday that she will have three district offices in Lockport (Niagara County), Oswego and Victor (Ontario County). The offices in Oswego, 46 E. Bridge St., and Victor, 7171 Pittsford-Victor Road, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information about the Lockport office will be released in the coming days. Tenney's staff will also have regular satellite office hours in Watertown, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. They will partner with state Sen. Mark Walczyk's staff to hold the office hours at 317 Washington St., Suite 418, in Watertown. Tenney, R-Canandaigua, previously told The Citizen that Auburn was not part of the district office plan. But her caseworkers will hold mobile office hours in each of the 24th district's 12 counties, including Cayuga. The mobile office hours will be announced on a rolling basis, according to a news release. "I made a commitment to the residents of New York's 24th district that we would be ready to serve you on day one of the new Congress, and I am honored that we have made good on this promise," she said Tuesday. "Our new office locations and excellent team of seasoned policy and customer service professionals will provide the highest level of support and care to every resident of the 24th district." Constituent service is typically a high priority for members of Congress, but it will be especially important for Tenney's team. The district stretches from western New York to the North Country, with nearly all of the Finger Lakes in between. With all or parts of 12 counties within the district, it's one of the largest in terms of geographic area in New York. "Our commitment to this community is that we will serve transparently with honor, integrity and compassion," Tenney said. "We will provide top-tier constituent services and work proactively to address the full range of constituent needs and concerns while advancing policies that improve our region, uphold the Constitution and make our nation stronger than ever." Tenney is beginning her third term in Congress. Before winning reelection in the 24th district, she represented parts of central New York, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier. In addition to her district office locations, she also announced that her Washington, D.C., office will be in room 2349 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. TAIPEI, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ANKO Food Machine Company is a world-renowned automated food machinery manufacturer and a professional consulting company for automated ethnic food production. In 2023, ANKO will be proudly launching our brand new "SR-27 Automatic Spring Roll Production Line". It is suitable for large food factories, central kitchens, and large-scale manufacturers to help resolve production issues related to the global labor shortage and rising wages. ANKO's SR-27 has the capacity of producing 2,700 Spring Rolls per hour, and the unique filling system can process and extrude a wide range of ingredients. After loading the hoppers with raw materials, the automated production begins with a simple click. All the parts that have direct contact with food ingredients can be cleaned thoroughly and easily with water. ANKO's New SR-27 The Best Option for High Volume Automated Spring Rolls Production A Mechanical Design Leap! Handling Vegetable Fillings with Ease Most Spring Roll Machines on the market have difficulties processing fibrous vegetable filling ingredients, and often require additional starch and cooking which affects the vegetables' original crispness and crunchy texture. ANKO's SR-27 Spring Roll Production Line is designed with a pressure-free filling hopper that simulates a hand proportioning mechanism, thus it can produce Spring Rolls with any mix of vegetable filling without any additives or pre-cooking the ingredients. This upgraded filling system does not over compress the food ingredients and they can retain their original textures. It can also process a wide range of filling ingredients, such as fibrous vegetables with low lubricity and cooked meats that have low viscosity. A Variety of Filling Ingredients, Perfectly Utilized with One Machine The wrapping mechanism adopts handmade methods, and different parameter settings can be entered for processing fillings that consist of either all vegetables, cooked meat, or a mixture of vegetable and meat. Depending on the client's product requirements, this Production Line can produce high quality Frozen Spring Rolls, Deep-fried Spring Rolls and Fresh Spring Rolls. ANKO understands how the slightest difference between brands of flours and filling ingredients can make a huge difference in an automated food production line. Hence, we have built the industry's very first "Food Lab" that collects an extensive selection of food recipes from around the world, to assist you with customized Spring Roll product development to gain advantages in the marketplace. Hassle-free Cleaning with Water Hosing ANKO's SR-27 Spring Roll Production Line has a user-friendly touch screen control panel that is easy to use and has a built-in IoT system that enables remote production monitoring and supervision. The extra-large 50 Liter filling hopper drastically reduce the frequency for refilling. All machine parts that have direct contact with food ingredients can be washed with water directly and thoroughly, making the daily cleaning process fast and easy. ANKO has a US branch office based in Los Angeles, California. Our team in LA can provide you with professional, localized, and multilingual services. We would like to invite you to discover the efficient and impressive quality that ANKO's SR-27 Spring Roll Production Line has to offer. For more information, please visit ANKO's official website or fill out the inquiry form. How SR-27 works: https://youtu.be/18Fl1XVmTxY US Office Contact Information (909) 599-8186 [email protected] 300 South Walnut Ave, Suite 405, San Dimas, California 91773, U.S.A About ANKO ANKO Food Machine Co. Ltd. is a professional food machine and food production consultancy company that emphasize automated ethnic food production. We provide introductory services to assist traditional food businesses that can help you transition smoothly into a highly efficient automated production, and factory configuration services. ANKO was established in 1978 and we have more than 45 years of experience in food machinery manufacturing. We strive to meet our clients' food production equipment requirements, and we have successfully sold our machines to 112 countries Worldwide. If you are looking for a food machine supplier that can provide you with high quality food machinery and professional production solutions, ANKO is your best choice. For more information, please visit our Official Website. SOURCE ANKO Food Machine CHICAGO and NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cressey & Company LP ("Cressey" or the "Firm"), a private investment firm focused on building leading healthcare services and information technology businesses, today announced the promotions of Ryan Moseley to Partner and Matt Gorski to Principal, effective immediately. The development of the Firm's professionals underscores Cressey's commitment to acting as a leading investment partner for growing healthcare companies and their executives across the country. Mr. Moseley, who has been with Cressey & Company since 2013, and Mr. Gorski, who joined the Firm in 2019, will continue to assume leadership roles in evaluating investment opportunities and working closely with talented executive teams to drive value and deliver attractive investment returns. "Ryan has played a key role on Cressey's investment team over the past decade, and it is my pleasure to recognize him with this promotion on behalf of our partnership," said Dave Rogero, Partner at Cressey. "Additionally, Matt's responsibilities have expanded over the past several years, and we are thrilled to announce his new role as a Principal. We are confident that both Ryan and Matt will continue to be significant contributors to the Firm's long-term success." Prior to joining the Cressey & Company team, Mr. Moseley worked as an Analyst in Barclays Capital's investment banking group. Mr. Moseley, who is based in the Firm's Chicago office, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Florida, and a Juris Doctorate from University of Florida's Levin College of Law. Prior to Cressey & Company, Mr. Gorski worked as an Associate at Chicago-based private investment firm Waud Capital Partners, and as an Analyst in BMO Capital Markets' investment banking group. Mr. Gorski, who is also based in Chicago, earned a degree in Political Science and Economics from Haverford College, and an MBA in Healthcare Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. About Cressey & Company LP Based in Chicago, Illinois and Nashville, Tennessee, Cressey & Company LP is a private investment firm focused on building leading healthcare services and information technology businesses. With a history spanning 40 years, the Cressey team is one of the most experienced and successful in the healthcare private equity field. For more information, visit www.cresseyco.com . SOURCE Cressey & Company BANGALORE, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Data Governance Market is Segmented by Type (Software, Services), by Business Function (Operation and IT, Legal, Finance), by Deployment Mode (Cloud, On-Premise), by Organization Type (Large Enterprises, Small and Medium-sized enterprises), by End User (BFSI, IT & Telecom, Retail, Healthcare): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222028. The global data governance market will grow from USD 1,845 Million in 2021 to USD 5,543 Million by 2028, achieving a CAGR of 17.6 percent, according to the latest edition of the Global Data Governance Market Report. Major Factors Driving the Growth of the Data Governance Market: Growing concerns about maintaining good data quality and heritage throughout an organization's data life cycle as well as dangers associated with BI and analytics for consumers are anticipated to emerge as important drivers of the data governance market expansion. Additionally, a number of reasons, including the growing demand to eliminate client risks, increasing regulatory enforcement along with data protection concerns, and expanding AI applications, may hinder the growth of the data governance market throughout the course of the aforementioned research period. Download Free Sample On Data Governance Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE DATA GOVERNANCE MARKET: Increasing IoT use across a number of industries, including IT & telecom, retail, and healthcare, is also anticipated to drive demand for the data governance market. Customer transaction trends can be determined by analyzing the data gathered from these devices. and The deployment of IoT devices and applications in numerous end-user sectors is anticipated to further fuel demand for the market under study globally throughout the course of the projected year. Additionally, data governance solutions aid banks and financial institutions in increasing operational effectiveness, automating procedures, increasing customer happiness, detecting fraud more accurately, and fostering corporate expansion. These institutions are assisted by data governance solutions in addressing these issues with efficient data management techniques that can reduce data loss and duplication. Additionally, data governance solutions aid businesses like the BFSI, which deal with massive amounts of private and confidential data, in maintaining a competitive advantage in the market by ongoing modifications to their rules and procedures. This factor will in turn drive the growth of the data governance market. Furthermore, in hospitals, the production of data has greatly increased as a result of rising investments in healthcare, particularly in IT infrastructure. Therefore, these hospitals require an information governance plan in order to efficiently manage, monitor, and comprehend the vast amounts of data being produced. This factor will in turn drive the growth of the data governance market. View Full Report DATA GOVERNANCE MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS: During the forecast period, North America will have the largest market size. According to estimates, North America is the region that has contributed the most to the market size for data governance. In terms of the use of cybersecurity technologies and global security, it is a developed region. Recent years have seen an increase in government action as a result of the ongoing need to secure crucial communication infrastructure and sensitive data. Based on components, The software segment held the largest share of the global data governance market in 2021 and is anticipated to hold its share during the forecast period. Based on business functions, the finance segment made up the largest share of the data governance market. Based on type, The cloud-based segment was the largest contributor to the global data governance market in 2021. Based on the enterprise, The large enterprise segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global data governance market. Get Regional Report Key Companies: Buy Customized Report Buy Now for Enterprise User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=GENC-Elec-0S3&lic=enterprise-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS: - AI Governance market size is projected to reach USD 116.3 million by 2028, from USD 23 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 25.1%. - Big data and business analytics market size was valued at USD 198.08 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 684.12 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.5%. - Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) market size is projected to reach USD 1881.9 Million by 2028, from USD 1284.2 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 5.5%. - eGRC market size is projected to reach USD 38160 million by 2027, from USD 25530 million in 2020 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. - Governance Risk and Compliance Platform market size is projected to reach USD 1881.9 Million by 2028, from USD 1284.2 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 5.5%. - Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) Software market size is projected to reach USD 1881.9 Million by 2028, from USD 1284.2 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 5.5%. - Risk Analytics market size is projected to reach USD 36670 Million by 2028, from USD 20230 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 8.4%. - IoT Data Governance market size is projected to reach USD 172230 Million by 2028, from USD 56720 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 16.9%. - Identity Governance and Administration market size is projected to reach USD 6621 Million by 2028, from USD 3336.3 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 9.8%. - Fraud Detection and Prevention (FDP) market size is projected to reach USD 45800 million by 2028, from USD 16390 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 15.3%. - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software market size is projected to reach USD 60110 Million by 2027, from USD 40830 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 5.7%. - Electronic Health Records (EHR) market size is projected to reach USD 47.25 Billion by 2027, from USD 29.16 Billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 7.14% during 2021-2027. - Cloud-based Information Governance Industry - Enterprise Risk Management Software Market - PPM and IT Governance Market - GRC Tool Market - Data Governance Software Market - Risk Management Industry Click here to see related reports on Data Governance Market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports LinkedIn - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Sitemap: https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/56 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/57 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/58 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports Rise in demand for die dental stone plaster is driving the global dental gypsum market Increase in demand for dental gypsum in hospitals is propelling the market WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a study published by Transparency Market Research, the global dental gypsum market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2031. Dental gypsum has become a key component of dental procedures in the past few years. It is manufactured using gypsum, which is processed to produce a high quality product that has been extensively used in the dental industry. Dental gypsum has proven beneficial in making impressions of teeth, develop models of the mouth and the teeth, and in the fabrication procedure of dental restorations such as bridges and crowns. New product launches are helping key dental gypsum market players to gain an edge over other players and garner higher revenue. For example, in February 2019, Kulzer announced the launch of a new digital scanner, which has proven to offer increased efficiency, high precision, and superior productivity as compared to other products in dental applications. Get Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of Dental Gypsum Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=57243 Key Findings of Market Study Increase in Demand for Die Dental Stone Plaster Fueling Market Growth: Based on product, the global market has been classified into dental plaster, die dental stone, and model dental stone. The die dental stone segment held dominant market share in 2021. Increase in demand in different dental procedures, such as creation of oral structures, fabrication of bridges & crowns, and manufacturing of dentures, is propelling the segment. Based on product, the global market has been classified into dental plaster, die dental stone, and model dental stone. The die dental stone segment held dominant market share in 2021. Increase in demand in different dental procedures, such as creation of oral structures, fabrication of bridges & crowns, and manufacturing of dentures, is propelling the segment. Rise in Demand in Hospitals to Boost Industry Growth: In terms of end-use, the global dental gypsum market has been divided into hospitals, dental clinics, and academic & research institutes. The hospitals segment is projected to account for major market share during the forecast period. This is ascribed to rise in number of dental hospitals & clinics and increase in the popularity of dental tourism. Dental Gypsum Market - Key Drivers Increase in demand for dental care & dental products due to rise in focus on oral hygiene is driving the global dental gypsum market Surge in demand for dental gypsum in different dental applications, such as orthodontics and dental education, is boosting market development Ask for References https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ARF&rep_id=57243 Dental Gypsum Market - Regional Insights North America accounted for the dominant market share in 2021. The trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. Rise in research & development activities in the dental industry and presence of key players in countries such as the U.S. and Canada contribute to the growth of the dental gypsum market in the region. accounted for the dominant market share in 2021. The trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. Rise in research & development activities in the dental industry and presence of key players in countries such as the U.S. and contribute to the growth of the dental gypsum market in the region. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to witness substantial growth during the forecast period due to the availability of affordable dental treatments and increase in awareness about oral health treatment in developing economies such as India Dental Gypsum Market - Key Players The global market is fragmented, with of the presence of large number of international and local players. New players entering the market are likely to intensify the competition during the forecast period. Prominent market players are investing significantly in research & development activities to produce improved products that would meet customer requirements across different end-use industries. Rise in demand for these products is likely to augment market size during the forecast period. Key players in the market are Saint-Gobain Formula, Kulzer, Kerr Dental, 3M Science, Gyprock, and Georgia-Pacific Gypsum. The global dental gypsum market is segmented based on: Product Type Dental Plaster Die Dental Stone Model Dental Stone End-use Hospitals Dental Clinics Academic & Research Institutes Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=57243 and Amanda Binns <[email protected]> to learn more. ABOUT EBONY MEDIA GROUP For more than 75 years, EBONY has served as the leading authority and anchor for all facets of Black culture. EBONY magazine was started by John H. Johnson in 1946 to highlight the people and stories most important to our community. EBONY continues to be the ultimate voice and curator of Black culture, illuminating the Black perspective past, present and future. EBONY Media Group is a division of 1145 Holdings, LLC. MEDIA CONTACT: BJ Coleman EBONY / JET [email protected] SOURCE Infinity Partnerships VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Elevation Gold Mining Corp. (TSXV: ELVT) (OTCQX: EVGDF) (the "Company" or "Elevation Gold") announces Paulo Santos has stepped down as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Santos for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors. William Dean has been named Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Dean has over 30 years of international experience and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for Ensign Minerals, Lydian International and for Nevada Iron. He has also held senior financial positions at Sierra Gorda SCM, Alacer Gold and Meridian Gold. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Utah and an MBA from the University of Colorado. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Justine De Boom as Vice President of Human Resources, effective immediately. Ms. De Boom has over 30 years of worldwide experience in human resources and safety management in mining projects. Prior to joining the Company in 2020, Ms. De Boom held senior management positions at Curtain Bros Group and FMR Investments. She holds Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management and memberships in Women in Mining (Arizona Chapter) and the Society for Human Resource Management. Tim J. Swendseid, CEO of Elevation Gold, stated, "Myself and the Board of Directors welcome William Dean and Justine De Boom. William's deep international background in finance, treasury, systems integration and negotiating financing will all be immediately applicable to the Elevation Gold team as we continue improving the operation of the Moss Mine and focusing on exploration activities. Ms. De Boom has proven an outstanding member of the Moss Mine team, where she has served as the Manager of Human Resources. She will continue with those responsibilities plus add corporate responsibilities and will continue being a key executive manager. Stock Option Grant The Company reports stock options have been granted to employees, officers, and consultants of the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares at a price of C$0.18 per share for a period of five years. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Tim J. Swendseid" Tim J. Swendseid, CEO of Elevation Gold Mining Corporation About Elevation Gold Mining Corporation Elevation Gold is a publicly listed gold and silver producer, engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of mineral properties located in the United States. Elevation Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") in Canada under the ticker symbol ELVT and on the OTCQX in the United States under the ticker symbol EVGDF. The Company's principal operation is the 100% owned Moss Mine in the Mohave County of Arizona. Elevation also holds the title to the Hercules exploration property, located in Lyon County, Nevada. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to statements regarding the proposed timing of the listing of the Warrants on the TSXV; the Company's plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company's guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; expected costs; permitting requirements and timelines; timing and possible outcome of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, life of mine estimates, and mine plans; anticipated exploration and development activities at the Company's projects; net present value; design parameters; economic potential; processing mineralized material; the potential of robust economic potential at the Moss Mine Project. Words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "goal", "aim", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "can", "could", "should", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour; assumed and future price of gold, silver and other metals; anticipated costs; ability to achieve goals; and assumptions related to the factors set forth below. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this document in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks inherent in mining, including, but not limited to risks to the environment, industrial accidents, catastrophic equipment failures, unusual or unexpected geological formations or unstable ground conditions, and natural phenomena such as earthquakes, flooding or unusually severe weather; uninsurable risks; global financial conditions and inflation; changes in the Company's share price, and volatility in the equity markets in general; volatility and fluctuations in metal and commodity prices; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus; delays or the inability to obtain, retain or comply with permits; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; health and safety risks; exploration, development or mining results not being consistent with the Company's expectations; unavailable or inaccessible infrastructure and risks related to ageing infrastructure; actual ore mined and/or metal recoveries varying from Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution, mine plans and metallurgical and other characteristics; risks associated with the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, including, but not limited to, models relating thereto; ore processing efficiency; information technology and cybersecurity risks; potential for the allegation of fraud and corruption involving the Company, its customers, suppliers or employees, or the allegation of improper or discriminatory employment practices; regulatory investigations, enforcement, sanctions and/or related or other litigation; estimates of future production and operations; estimates of operating cost estimates; the potential for and effects of labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or shortages of labour or interruptions in production; risks related to the environmental regulation and environmental impact of the Company's operations and products and management thereof; exchange rate fluctuations; climate change; risks relating to attracting and retaining of highly skilled employees; compliance with environmental, health and safety laws; counterparty and credit risks and customer concentration; litigation; changes in laws, regulations or policies including, but not limited to, those related to mining regimes, permitting and approvals, environmental and tailings management, and labour; internal controls; challenges or defects in title; funding requirements and availability of financing; dilution; risks relating to dividends; risks associated with acquisitions and related integration efforts, including the ability to achieve anticipated benefits, unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to integration and diversion of management time on integration; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated economic return; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those described the Company's public disclosure documents which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. 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, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Elevation Gold Mining Corp. HOUSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) today announced that the company has joined the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), UNEP's flagship oil and gas reporting and mitigation program. OGMP 2.0 is the most comprehensive, measurement-based, reporting framework for the oil and gas industry designed to improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting. "The OGMP 2.0 framework aligns with EOG's commitment to continuous improvement by leveraging data to help improve our operations and emissions performance," said President and COO, Lloyd W. "Billy" Helms, Jr. "After the tremendous progress we have made reducing our methane emissions percentage by 85% since 2017, we continue to pilot recent advancements to methane detection technology that show promise to further improve our methane management efforts. We are excited to join OGMP 2.0 to demonstrate our support for accurate and transparent data collection and reporting and encourage industry-wide innovation and progress to reduce methane emissions." In 2021, EOG piloted iSenseSM, a proprietary continuous methane monitoring solution which uses methane sensing technology to continuously monitor facilities and provide real-time alerts to a central control room. The pilot confirmed that iSense is the most effective solution for the company to detect and accelerate leak repairs while also being scalable and economic. EOG is prioritizing deployment to areas of highest production and potential impact. Initial installations are focused in the Delaware Basin and EOG will continue to rollout iSense in other operating areas this year. "We are delighted that EOG Resources is joining OGMP 2.0," said Giulia Ferrini, OGMP 2.0 Project Manager, UNEP. "Oil and gas companies must be part of the methane solution if we are to keep global warming to 1.5C." About EOG EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) is one of the largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States and Trinidad. To learn more visit www.eogresources.com. About OGMP 2.0 The Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) is a multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas industry that improves the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting in the oil and gas sector. Over 80 companies with assets on five continents, representing over 30% of the world's oil and gas production, have joined the partnership. OGMP 2.0 members also include operators of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, gas storage capacity and LNG terminals. For more information, please visit ogmpartnership.com. Investor Contacts David Streit 713-571-4902 Neel Panchal 713-571-4884 Media Contact Kimberly Ehmer 713-571-4676 Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding EOG's methane emissions management efforts. Although EOG believes the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that such assumptions are accurate or that any of such expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct. EOG's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and EOG undertakes no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. Important factors that could cause EOG's actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in EOG's forward-looking statements are enumerated in the section entitled "Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" on pages 53 and 54 of EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the SEC and any updates to those factors set forth in EOG's subsequent filings with the SEC. Also, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" on pages 14 through 27 of EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, for a discussion of certain risk factors that affect or may affect EOG's business, operations and performance, and any updates to those factors set forth in EOG's subsequent filings with the SEC. SOURCE EOG Resources, Inc. Epson's Most Advanced Retail and POS Solutions on Display LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson today announced it will be demonstrating retail point of sales and back office solutions at NRF 2023: Retail's Big Show from Jan. 15-17, 2023. Epson will showcase its latest innovative products designed for retail businesses that offer outstanding value, results and a better bottom line in booth #4457. Epson will also announce a new line of mobile POS thermal receipt printers designed to fit the needs of any retail or hospitality environment. "In the past few years many assumed that most retail activity would move online. However, as the world opened up, consumers were quick to go back to brick-and-mortar stores, proving there is still a strong demand for physical retail," said Mauricio Chacon, group product manager, Business Systems Division, Epson America, Inc. "Businesses are looking to solutions that can support the customers' full path to purchase whether that be online, BOPIS, in-store, curbside pickup, or delivery. Our in-store solution demos and cafe setup will offer visitors a glimpse of the full end-to-end experience that Epson retail solutions provide." Demonstrations in Epson's booth at NRF include: NRF 2023: Retail's Big Show expo will be open Sunday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For over 30 years, Epson's advanced technology has been at work in millions of POS systems around the world. For more information on Epson's full line of retail solutions, visit www.epson.com/retail. About Epson Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson's goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/ Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica). 1 Compared to single station thermal receipt printers available in the U.S. as of June 2021, based on manufacturers' published specifications. Speed based on using 80 mm wide media only and Epson's PS-190 or PS-180 power supply. Configurations not including the PS-190 or PS-180 will have a default print speed of 450 mm/sec. 2 Included and replacement ink bottle yields based on the ISO/IEC 24712 pattern with Epson's methodology. Actual ink yields will vary considerably for reasons including images printed, print settings, temperature and humidity. Yields may be lower when printing infrequently or predominantly with one ink color. All ink colors are used for printing and printer maintenance, all colors must be available for printing. For more information, visit www.epson.com/inkinfo EPSON, ColorWorks, LightScene, PrecisionCore Heat-Free, and WorkForce are registered trademarks and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. OmniLink is a registered trademark and Mobilink is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2023 Epson America, Inc. SOURCE Epson America, Inc. NEW YORK , Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fertility Services Market by Service, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027 report has been published by Technavio. Market growth is estimated to accelerate at a CAGR of 7.68% and register an incremental growth of USD 8.3 billion during the forecast period. The report provides a comprehensive analysis on growth opportunities at regional levels, new product launches, the latest trends, and the post-pandemic recovery of the global market. Download a PDF Sample Report. Regional analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Fertility Services Market 2023-2027 By region, the global fertility services market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America. North America is estimated to contribute 31% to the growth of the global market over the forecast period. A well-established healthcare system in North America, which offers high-quality fertility services mostly through infertility clinics and hospitals, is the reason for the region's significant market share. Company profiles The fertility services market report includes information on the key products and recent developments of leading vendors, including: Anecova SA: The company offers action cameras such as anevivo natural fertilization. The company offers action cameras such as anevivo natural fertilization. CARE Fertility Group Ltd: The company offers fertility services such as IVF treatment. The company offers fertility services such as IVF treatment. Carolinas Fertility Institute: The company offers fertility services such as in vitro fertilization. The company offers fertility services such as in vitro fertilization. Cryolab Ltd: The company offers fertility services such as IVF laboratories. The company offers fertility services such as IVF laboratories. Genea Ltd: The company offers fertility services such as fertility and IVF treatments. The company offers fertility services such as fertility and IVF treatments. Instituto Bernabeu SL Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad Kids Clinic India Private Ltd Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital Medicover AB Merck KGaA Monash IVF Group Nova IVF Fertility Private Ltd The Cooper Companies Inc. The Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. To access more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Market dynamics The market is driven by factors such as the rising prevalence of late parenthood, increase in fertility tourism, and rising number of fertility clinics. However, the high complication rate in fertility services is hindering the market growth. Competitive analysis The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Request a Sample. Market segmentation By service , the market is segmented into treatment services, testing and storage services, and others . The treatment services segment accounted for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. , the market is segmented into . The segment accounted for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. By geography, the market is segmented into North America , Europe , APAC, the Middle East and Africa , and South America . North America held the largest share of the market during the forecast period. Related Reports: Ambulatory Healthcare Service Market Research Report, Type, Application and Geography Analysis, Industry Forecast - 2023-2027: The ambulatory healthcare service market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.38% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 1207.02 billion. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases is notably driving the market growth, although factors such as intensifying vendor competition may impede the market growth. Ocular Implants Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The ocular implants market share is expected to increase by USD 1.82 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.26%. The increasing prevalence of ophthalmic diseases is notably driving the ocular implants market growth, although factors such as the high cost of premium ocular implants may impede the market growth. Technavio's library includes over 17,000+ reports, covering more than 2,000 emerging technologies. Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" at just USD 5,000 and get lifetime access to Technavio Insights What are the key data covered in this fertility services market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the fertility services market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size of the fertility services market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the fertility services market across APAC, North America , Europe , Middle East and Africa , and South America , , and , and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of fertility services market vendors Fertility Services Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 168 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.68% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 8.3 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 6.31 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 31% Key countries US, China, India, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Anecova SA, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., CARE Fertility Group Ltd., Carolinas Fertility Institute, Cryolab Ltd., Genea Ltd., Instituto Bernabeu SL, Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Kids Clinic India Private Ltd, Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital, Medicover AB, Merck KGaA, Monash IVF Group, Nova IVF Fertility Private Ltd, The Cooper Companies Inc., The Johns Hopkins Health System Corp., University of Pennsylvania Health System, Virtus Health Ltd, Vitrolife AB, and Xytex Corp. Market dynamics Parent Market Analysis; Market growth inducers and obstacles; Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio "Health Care" Research Reports Table of contents: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Service Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global fertility services market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global fertility services market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 Service Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Service Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Service 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Service - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Service - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Service Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Service Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Service 6.3 Treatment services - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Treatment services - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Treatment services - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on Treatment services - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Treatment services - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Testing and storage services - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Testing and storage services - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Testing and storage services - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on Testing and storage services - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Testing and storage services - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Market opportunity by Service Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by Service ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by End-user 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 47: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 48: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 49: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 50: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 7.3 Fertility clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 51: Chart on Fertility clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Fertility clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 53: Chart on Fertility clinics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 54: Data Table on Fertility clinics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 57: Chart on Hospitals - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Hospitals - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Surgical centers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 59: Chart on Surgical centers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 60: Data Table on Surgical centers - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Chart on Surgical centers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Surgical centers - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Clinical research institutes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 63: Chart on Clinical research institutes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 64: Data Table on Clinical research institutes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 65: Chart on Clinical research institutes - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 66: Data Table on Clinical research institutes - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.7 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 67: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 68: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 69: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 70: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 71: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 72: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 74: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 75: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 78: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 79: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 82: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 83: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 87: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 90: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 91: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 94: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 98: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 99: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 102: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 103: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 104: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 105: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 106: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 107: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 109: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 110: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 111: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 112: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 113: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 114: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 115: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 116: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 117: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 118: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 119: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Anecova SA Exhibit 120: Anecova SA - Overview Exhibit 121: Anecova SA - Product / Service Exhibit 122: Anecova SA - Key offerings 12.4 Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. Exhibit 123: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 124: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 125: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 126: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. - Segment focus 12.5 CARE Fertility Group Ltd. Exhibit 127: CARE Fertility Group Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 128: CARE Fertility Group Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 129: CARE Fertility Group Ltd. - Key offerings 12.6 Carolinas Fertility Institute Exhibit 130: Carolinas Fertility Institute - Overview Exhibit 131: Carolinas Fertility Institute - Product / Service Exhibit 132: Carolinas Fertility Institute - Key offerings 12.7 Cryolab Ltd. Exhibit 133: Cryolab Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 134: Cryolab Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 135: Cryolab Ltd. - Key offerings 12.8 Genea Ltd. Exhibit 136: Genea Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 137: Genea Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 138: Genea Ltd. - Key offerings 12.9 Instituto Bernabeu SL Exhibit 139: Instituto Bernabeu SL - Overview Exhibit 140: Instituto Bernabeu SL - Product / Service Exhibit 141: Instituto Bernabeu SL - Key offerings 12.10 Medicover AB Exhibit 142: Medicover AB - Overview Exhibit 143: Medicover AB - Business segments Exhibit 144: Medicover AB - Key offerings Exhibit 145: Medicover AB - Segment focus 12.11 Merck KGaA Exhibit 146: Merck KGaA - Overview Exhibit 147: Merck KGaA - Business segments Exhibit 148: Merck KGaA - Key news Exhibit 149: Merck KGaA - Key offerings Exhibit 150: Merck KGaA - Segment focus 12.12 Monash IVF Group Exhibit 151: Monash IVF Group - Overview Exhibit 152: Monash IVF Group - Business segments Exhibit 153: Monash IVF Group - Key offerings Exhibit 154: Monash IVF Group - Segment focus 12.13 The Cooper Companies Inc. Exhibit 155: The Cooper Companies Inc. - Overview Exhibit 156: The Cooper Companies Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 157: The Cooper Companies Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 158: The Cooper Companies Inc. - Segment focus 12.14 The Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. Exhibit 159: The Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. - Overview Exhibit 160: The Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 161: The Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. - Key offerings 12.15 Virtus Health Ltd Exhibit 162: Virtus Health Ltd - Overview Exhibit 163: Virtus Health Ltd - Business segments Exhibit 164: Virtus Health Ltd - Key news Exhibit 165: Virtus Health Ltd - Key offerings Exhibit 166: Virtus Health Ltd - Segment focus 12.16 Vitrolife AB Exhibit 167: Vitrolife AB - Overview Exhibit 168: Vitrolife AB - Business segments Exhibit 169: Vitrolife AB - Key offerings Exhibit 170: Vitrolife AB - Segment focus 12.17 Xytex Corp. Exhibit 171: Xytex Corp. - Overview Exhibit 172: Xytex Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 173: Xytex Corp. - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 174: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 175: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 176: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 177: Research methodology Exhibit 178: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 179: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 180: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Long-time industry executive to serve as a key board member and lead team of strategic advisors for logistics software provider FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FetchGoat, a B2B Supply Chain SaaS (Software as a Service) company, has formed a strategic partnership with and received investment from an advisory group led by logistics industry titan Mark Tuchmann. Mark founded BeavEx in 1989 and served as Chairman and CEO until 2014. Under Mark's leadership, BeavEx grew to a $300M+ organization with 4,000 drivers, creating one of the largest same-day transportation providers in the United States. Mark continued his work in the industry Co-Founding ClearConnect Solutions and consulting through his LLC, Million and Associates. He now is the CEO/Partner of TIP National, a leading MGA in the Insurance industry, as well as serving on multiple Advisory Boards with companies such as CXT Software, ROVA HQ, and numerous other Logistic Organizations, Mezzanine Lenders, and Private Equity Firms. This announcement comes on the heels of FetchGoat's recent acceptance into Microsoft's Startup program. "Microsoft's acknowledgment reaffirmed that the technology stack our team has built is world-class," said FetchGoat CEO, Bill Hale. "Mark joining the Board and his group's investment is a resounding testimonial to our vision and goals. Mark has done so much for our industry and is admired by both the delivery agents and shippers we are serving. He will bring tremendous value to our board of directors, as we march towards the global expansion of the company." FetchGoat leverages a wide variety of Microsoft Azure hosted Enterprise solutions, from VMs running application and database servers, over microservices, to the Power Platform, to achieve a high-performing, secure and scalable solution, with built in redundancy and security. FetchGoat CTO Chris Malin stated "this strategic alliance and investment allows us to significantly accelerate our development roadmap and expand our scope of services. It also enables us to take full advantage of the latest technologies, an example being the recent release of Microsoft's .NET 7 framework. We now are even stronger in our commitment to lead and promote Technology innovation and adoption throughout the Logistics industry." About FetchGoat FetchGoat is a delivery performance platform for organizations that use multiple delivery partners, complete with a real-time analytics suite and auditing capabilities. Imagine the ability to see every delivery provider, every scheduled route, every stop, and actionable analytics in a single portal. FetchGoat's Delivery Management System (DMS) connects shippers of all sizes to a vast delivery network in an easy-to-use dashboard. There is no more need for integration projects for each partner, as FetchGoat maintains active integrations with the largest TMS providers, allowing for a near-instant setup. However, if a new partner/integration needs to be added, FetchGoat will implement it at no additional cost. To learn more about FetchGoat or to inquire about a quick demo, please visit us at FetchGoat.com SOURCE FetchGoat FORT MYERS, Fla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) is pleased to welcome newly appointed members, Pareshkumar (Paresh) Patel, MD and Andres Soriano, MD, to its Executive Board, effective January 1, 2023. Pareshkumar Patel, MD and Andres Soriano, MD are the newest appointed members of the FCS Executive Board, effective January 1, 2023. Quadruple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, internal medicine, hospice and palliative care, Dr. Paresh Patel provides care to patients out of the FCS Tallahassee Cancer Center. Previously holding the Vice Chair position, Dr. Patel will now serve as the Quality Committee Chair on the FCS Executive Board. In addition to his new appointment, Dr. Patel is the recipient of the 2021 FLASCO "Advocate of the Year" award, the current president of the Capital Medical Society, and has been elected to serve on the 2023 Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Board. Dr. Andres Soriano is triple board-certified in hematology, oncology and internal medicine and currently cares for patients at FCS Englewood and Venice HealthPark locations. Dr. Soriano is active in clinical trial research, having a special interest in Phase 1 clinical trials. This will be Dr. Soriano's first term serving the FCS Executive Board. "Dr. Patel and Dr. Soriano are exemplary physicians and leaders both within FCS and in the medical and oncology communities. It is an honor and a privilege to have them serve on our Executive Board," remarked FCS President & Managing Physician Michael Diaz, MD. In addition to its newest members, FCS Chief Medical Officer of Therapeutics & Analytics Lucio N. Gordan, MD will remain Chair Emeritus and Noel A Maun, MD, PhD, current FCS Compliance Committee Chair and Disciplinary & Ethics Co-Chair, concludes his service on the Executive Board. "We are grateful for Dr. Maun's service to our Executive Board over many years and offer our appreciation for the generous time Dr. Gordan continues to commit to the important work being done," adds Dr. Diaz. "FCS continues to position itself as a global oncology leader, expanding upon innovative technology and treatments and making them available to patients. Our Executive Board is critical to ensuring we can continue delivering the highest quality of care. We greatly value their leadership," says FCS Chief Executive Officer Nathan H. Walcker. For a complete list of FCS Executive Board Members, visit: https://flcancer.com/physician-leadership/ About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com) Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. The majority of new cancer drugs recently approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with Florida Cancer Specialists participation.* Trained in prestigious medical schools and research institutes, our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, genomic-based treatment, and immunotherapy. Our highest values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff. *Prior to approval SOURCE Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute El Araby, Grupo Kayve, TCL Moka, Konka and Punktal are the first to integrate Foxxum OS 4 on their smart TV devices in regions around the globe Foxxum to demo OS4 at CES in Las Vegas this week LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for CES and the new year, Foxxum, innovator in cutting edge Smart TV solutions, today announced partnerships with four OEMs and manufacturers from around the world, representing global brands such as JVC, as well as leading local brands on three continents. FOXXUM REVEALS FIVE INAUGURAL PARTNERS FOR FOXXUM OS 4 El-Araby is one of the largest industrial and commercial corporations in the Middle East and Africa, making a wide range of appliances with the Sharp, Toshiba and Tornado brands. Based in Panama, Grupo Kayve is the exclusive JVC licensor for Central and South America. TCL MOKA has a distribution focus on Latin America, Europe and MENA, servicing leading local brands in those regions. Konka is a global OEM with substantial distribution in MENA, the Americas and Southeast Asia. Uruguay-based Punktal exemplifies long-standing local CTV makers who represent a substantial share of the country's CTV sales. Foxxum OS 4 is Foxxum's newest CTV OS built on the RDK platform, which was announced in September 2022, and begins to roll out later this year. Announced ahead of CES, where Foxxum will be demonstrating Foxxum OS 4, this slew of agreements will guarantee Foxxum OS 4 distribution into tens of millions of homes over the decade ahead. "We are thrilled to be announcing these stellar inaugural partners for Foxxum OS 4." said Foxxum CEO Ronny Lutzi. "These companies have all been long-standing partners of Foxxum. They are also some of the most forward-thinking independent CTV players in the space. It's very gratifying that they see the strength of our company and the power of Foxxum OS 4." ABOUT FOXXUM Foxxum is a global leader in the development, operation, and commercial marketing for innovative smart TV solutions like the Foxxum CTV OS. As an established pioneer in the sector, Foxxum works closely with leading companies at all stages of the global consumer electronics value chain to develop smart TV solutions from silicon vendors to device manufacturers and network operators. Worldwide partnerships with premium broadcasters and video-on-demand services, video producers and distributors allow Foxxum to provide a best-in-class content portfolio containing the most important global content brands as well as country specific local content providers. Foxxum's development and platform expertise offer viewers the best Smart TV user experience possible, with innovative Smart TV technology, a global entertaining content portfolio and an outstanding design, which includes the Foxxum CTV OS. Foxxum provides its clients with innovative solutions, along with the possibility to jointly tap into profitable revenue streams in a technology sector with enormous growth potential. Further information can be found at www.foxxum.com . ABOUT EL ARABY GROUP El Araby was established in 1964, and the group company presents about 4000 different SKU's in 23 product categories. Engaged in both manufacturing and marketing of high quality products El Araby is dedicated to preserve as well as grow their market leading position not only in Egypt but in all markets they operate in. The company exports to many countries in Africa, Middle East and the CIS region. Besides consumer electronics products El Araby also produces a wide array of electrical and domestic appliances. The number of employees in El Araby Group amounts to 24,000. Visit El Araby group's website at www.elarabygroup.com ABOUT TCL MOKA Founded in 2003, TCL MOKA is one of the main companies of TCL Technology Group Corporation. Its main business is the design, production, and sales of intelligent terminal products with screens, such as smart TVs, monitors, and professional displays. The company ranks second in the global ODM/OEM market in terms of annual shipments and currently has manufacturing facilities in five locations worldwide (Huizhou and Chengdu, China; Mexico; Poland; and India) equipped with advanced production technology and management concepts, superior automated production facilities, and advanced manufacturing processes. Its customer base covers all continents except Antarctica, and it has established partnerships with more than 30 strategic customers and 150 regional customers. The company is committed to a policy of product standardization, equipment automation, and the use of information technology. It also aims to become a leading company trusted by customers worldwide. ABOUT GRUPO KAYVE S.A. Founded in Panama, Kayve became quickly one of the largest and main companies distributing consumer electronics and therefore also TVs and CTVs through Central and South America. Kayve is one of the main JVC Licensees worldwide and delivers the products into multiple different distribution channels. ABOUT KONKA Group Co., Ltd. As a platform-based company driven by technological innovation, KONKA's business scope covers consumer electronics products, semiconductor technology, eco-friendly technology, industrial parks, platform service, and investment & finance. Established in 1980, KONKA is China's first Sino-foreign joint consumer electronics enterprise that has been listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Since 1999, KONKA has been ranked among China's top 100 best companies and has also been named one of the "Top 10 most valuable brands in China". ABOUT PUNKTAL Punktal has been marketing its products for more than 50 years. Since its inception, the company has positioned innovation and quality as the pillars of its company's strategy. Therefore, their line of televisions and screens with LED, OLED, LCD and Plasma technologies, have the highest performance and benefits in the market. In addition to this, Punktal provides after-sales support through its official technical services in Uruguay. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1977248/Foxxum_OS4.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1888666/Foxxum_Logo.jpg SOURCE Foxxum GmbH THE EXPANSION OF SMART WATER TECHNOLOGY TO THE YARD ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO NOW CONTROL AND CONSERVE WATER IN THE AREAS THEY USE IT MOST NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Moen is connecting homeowners to the water flowing inside and outside of their homes like never before with an expansion of its award-winning smart water technology to the area of the home where homeowners use the most water the yard*. The Moen Smart Water Network already allows homeowners to monitor and control the water inside of their home with several smart water innovations, and now, with the addition of Moen's Smart Sprinkler Controller and compatible Smart Wireless Soil Sensors, they can easily connect their lawn irrigation system to monitor their water for more control, automation and conservation. Moen Smart Water Network enhances experiences with water like never before. Products in the network include the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, Smart Leak Detectors, Smart Sump Pump Monitor, Smart Faucet, Smart Shower and the Smart Sprinkler Controller with Wireless Soil Sensors a 2023 CES Innovation Award Honoree. "The Moen Smart Water Network has changed the perceptions of how consumers think about water in their home," said Mason Hall, head of connected products, Fortune Brands Innovations. "Consumers' daily interactions with plumbing have been, up until now, limited to the fixtures, showers and faucets. Pipes behind a home's walls have always been an invisible mystery, only becoming top of mind when a critical problem arises. Today, our innovations provide knowledge and understanding of that system and the ability to control and manage all the home's water from the palm of your hand while enhancing convenience, security and conservation efforts." When homeowners have both the Smart Sprinkler Controller and Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, they can experience unprecedented control over their home's water and enhance conservation efforts. In fact, because outdoor irrigation systems account for so much daily water use, the Smart Sprinkler Controller can reduce an average home's irrigation water use by up to 30 percent, saving the home up to 15,000 gallons of water annually compared to a clock-based controller.** Products in the Smart Water Network include the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff which acts as the brain of the network Smart Leak Detectors, Smart Sump Pump Monitor, Smart Faucet, Smart Shower and the Smart Sprinkler Controller with Wireless Soil Sensors a 2023 CES Innovation Award Honoree. Each product within the network can work individually or connect with other Moen smart water products through the Smart Water App, providing users with unmatched benefits, including: Automated water security : Water damage is five times more likely than theft***, and water is one of the most used resources in our homes, making it pivotal for homeowners to simplify how they manage it. The Smart Water Network makes saving water easy. While homeowners go about their day, the Smart Water Security System is working in the background, 24/7, to monitor for potential water risks and leaks and can automatically take action to notify the user, shut off the water and help protect the home. Water damage is five times more likely than theft***, and water is one of the most used resources in our homes, making it pivotal for homeowners to simplify how they manage it. The Smart Water Network makes saving water easy. While homeowners go about their day, the Smart Water Security System is working in the background, 24/7, to monitor for potential water risks and leaks and can automatically take action to notify the user, shut off the water and help protect the home. Water monitoring: A national study conducted by Moen in 2022**** shows that most Americans understand that while a water crisis exists they're not fully aware of the products and tools available to help them conserve more at home. Not only does the water monitoring alert homeowners to potential issues, but it also gives them more insight into their water usage. Homeowners can now view water usage, room by room, where Moen smart water devices are located. This data also helps users set conservation goals and be more mindful of resources. Additionally, users can control outdoor watering based on their yard's precise needs to eliminate overwatering with the Smart Sprinkler Controller, which also provides the opportunity to act upon local watering restrictions A national study conducted by Moen in 2022**** shows that most Americans understand that while a water crisis exists they're not fully aware of the products and tools available to help them conserve more at home. Not only does the water monitoring alert homeowners to potential issues, but it also gives them more insight into their water usage. Homeowners can now view water usage, room by room, where Moen smart water devices are located. This data also helps users set conservation goals and be more mindful of resources. Additionally, users can control outdoor watering based on their yard's precise needs to eliminate overwatering with the Smart Sprinkler Controller, which also provides the opportunity to act upon local watering restrictions Personalized experiences: Within the app, users can set custom presets that control the specific temperature and amount of water dispensed by their kitchen faucet, plus personalize preferred gestures for the operation of Smart Faucets with Motion Control. Within the app, users can set custom presets that control the specific temperature and amount of water dispensed by their kitchen faucet, plus personalize preferred gestures for the operation of Smart Faucets with Motion Control. Smart home integration: Users can seamlessly connect their Moen smart water devices to their existing smart home platform and use their smart speakers to activate shower and kitchen fixtures, control water temperatures and dispense specific measurements for completely touchless interactions. The Moen Smart Water App further enhances the Smart Water Network by elevating the customer experience and product performance through 24/7 alerts. The app features: Winterize: Heading out of town for the winter? Manually trigger the ecosystem to use the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff to shut off the water coming into the home and then purge the water line via the Smart Faucet or Smart Shower. Heading out of town for the winter? Manually trigger the ecosystem to use the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff to shut off the water coming into the home and then purge the water line via the Smart Faucet or Smart Shower. Burst Protect: Reduce the risk of burst pipes. When the system senses that high pressure or low temperatures could put pipes at risk of freezing, this feature is triggered automatically to shut off water to the home. Reduce the risk of burst pipes. When the system senses that high pressure or low temperatures could put pipes at risk of freezing, this feature is triggered automatically to shut off water to the home. Health Protect: Keep water clean and fresh. Health Protect will flush the water lines through the Smart Faucet or Smart Shower to get rid of the water that can stagnate while users are away for extended periods. "Whether the goal is conservation, a beautiful yard, convenience or protection, these easy-to-integrate solutions do the hard work for users so they can enjoy doing what they love most while also making the most of our world's most precious resource our water," adds Hall. CES 2023 Stop by booth #52026 (Venetian Expo Halls A-D) at CES 2023 from January 5-8 to experience what's new with Moen and to see the products in action. They also will be on display at CES Unveiled at Mandalay Bay on January 3. For more information about Moen's Smart Water Network, visit moen.com/smart-home or call Moen Smart Home Support at 1-844-633-8356. *https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water **https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/documents/ws-outdoor-combined-irrigation-controller-fact-sheet.pdf ***Based on research from the Insurance Information Institute. ****The Moen 2022 Water Perception Survey was conducted from May 6-20, 2022, among 2,417 U.S. Residents aged 25 and up. The survey had a margin of error of +/- 2% at a 95% confidence interval. Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Apple HomeKit, Siri and all related logos are trademarks of Apple Inc. or its affiliates. Google and Google Home are trademarks of Google LLC. A BOUT MOEN Moen is the #1 consumer faucet brand in North America, offering a vast array of stylish and innovative kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products, kitchen sinks, garbage disposals, leak detection products and connected home offerings for residential applications that give consumers more power than ever before to understand and control the water that flows through their homes. These thoughtful designs deliver an exceptional user experience and elevate the way people interact with water every day. In addition, Moen Commercial offers superior-performing products that can deliver lower lifetime costs for today's facilities. Moen is part of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: FBIN), a brand, innovation and channel leader focused on exciting, supercharged categories in the home products, security and commercial building markets. Moen anchors Water Innovations (WINN), which also includes several brands under the House of Rohl including Perrin & Rowe, ROHL, Riobel, Shaws and Victoria + Albert. Fortune Brands' other brands include Fiberon composite decking and railing products, Master Lock and Sentry Safe security products, LARSON storm doors and windows and Therma-Tru entry door systems. For more information, please visit www.FBIN.com. SOURCE Moen DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Bioprinting: Markets and Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Revenues from bioprinting are expected to reach almost $1.2 billion in 2028, compared with just $182 million today The new report provides a realistic assessment of bioprinting's commercial future including an analysis of how the major bioprinting companies are designing their marketing strategies. In addition to the pure play bioprinting companies, the bioprinting sector is seeing involvement from major life science companies and 3D printing companies. By 2028, the analyst expects almost 70 percent of the bioprinting industry to come from applications and service revenues. The new report claims that we are many years from transplanting printed organs. Nonetheless, bioprinting is finding a rapidly growing application in drug and cosmetics testing. Using printed tissues and organs avoids the need for animal testing and enables testing on printed tissue and organs that are realistic substitutes for the real thing. Report Scope: The analyst has been tracking the bioprinting industry for almost a decade and this is its third major bioprinting report. The report covers bioinks and bio-printing related applications, as well as the bioprinters themselves. Applications discussed in the report include drug discovery and testing, cosmetics testing, tissue and bone printing. We also examine the long-term prospects for transplanting bioprinted organs. And there is a chapter on new directions for bioprinting including discussions on soft robotics, pill printing, and printed food. There are now well over 100 firms in the bioprinting sector, but most of these companies have negligible revenues. Among the firms that are discussed in this report are 3DBio Therapeutics, 3D Systems/Systemic Bio, BICO (Cellink), Collplant, Cyfuse, EnvisionTEC/Desktop Metal, FluidForm, Inventia Life Science, Organovo Holdings, Poietis, Regamat, Rokit Healthcare and many others. According to Lawrence Gasman, author of the report, "New applications are quickly emerging for bioprinting, and they are very much in line with important megatrends in healthcare - notably the trends towards personalized medicine and bringing care closer to the patient. For example, bioprinting can enable procedures such as skin grafting to be performed in a clinic rather than at specialized hospitals." Report Highlights Production-grade bioprinters and reproducible bioprinting applications are coming to the fore. By 2031, R&D service revenues will clock up almost $250 million in service/applications revenue for bioprinting, but this will still only amount to 12 percent of total service/applications revenues in the bioprinting industry. in service/applications revenue for bioprinting, but this will still only amount to 12 percent of total service/applications revenues in the bioprinting industry. The analyst expects technological innovation across the entire bioprinting sector to accelerate. The new report points to three developments in particular as areas of strong commercial potential. One of these is the arrival of organs-on-a-chip, a product class that bioprinting does much to enable. The report also predicts that bioprinters will move beyond the currently dominant extrusion and inkjet machines. Already as many as 20 novel ways of doing bioprinting are emerging from leading labs and healthcare facilities worldwide. While extrusion and inkjet bioprinters will account for well over 90 percent of bioprinter revenues in 2022, but by 2031, 15 percent of bioprinter revenues will come from printers based on entirely novel printing technologies. Another technical trend that is leading bioprinting forward technologically and will improve costs to patients and expand capabilities is the trend toward next-generation bioprinting platforms that have greater capacities, automate much of the work, and integrate medical functionality well beyond basic bioprinting. By 2031 the analyst expects production grade bioprinters or biomanufacturing platforms incorporating bioprinting to clock up around $100 million in revenues. Key Topics Covered: Chapter One: Overview 1.1 Background to Report: A Renaissance for Bioprinting? 1.2 Bioprinting: An Attractive Business Opportunity Going Forward 1.2.1 History and Prospects 1.2.2 Bioprinting Industry Structure 1.2.3 Evolution of the Bioprinting Industry 1.3 Geographical Diversity of Companies 1.4 Goal, Scope and Plan of this Report 1.5 Methodology of this Report 1.5.1 Forecasting Methodology and Assumptions 1.6 Key Points from this Chapter Chapter Two: Bioprinting: Market Drivers and Market Challenges 2.1 Factors that Could Lead to the "Bioprinting Moment" 2.2 The COVID Factor: COVID as a Bioprinting Market Driver 2.3 The Aging Population: The Role of Bioprinting 2.4 Bioprinting, Personalized Medicine and Bringing Healthcare Closer to the Patient 2.5 New Technologies Emerge Since the Previous Bioprinting Moment 2.5.1 Challenges to Technological Advances in Bioprinting 2.6 The Growing Potential for Modeling 2.7 Impact of Government Regulation and Funding 2.8 A Broader Range of Bioinks 2.9 Ethical Concerns with Bioprinting 2.10 Key Points from this Chapter Chapter Three: Bioprinters: Technical and Market Evolution 3.1 The Essence of a Bioprinter 3.2 Extrusion Bioprinters 3.2.1 Examples of Extrusion Bioprinters 3.2.2 The Future of Extrusion-based Bioprinting 3.3 Inkjet Bioprinters 3.3.1 Thermal Inkjet for Bioprinting 3.3.2 Piezoelectric Inkjet for Bioprinting 3.3.3 The Rastrum Bioprinter: An Example of an Inkjet Printer 3.4 Stereolithography (SLA) 3.4.1 The Problem with SLA-based Bioprinting 3.4.2 Manufacturers of SLA Bioprinters 3.5 Other Bioprinting Technologies 3.6 Ten-year Forecasts of Bioprinter Markets by Printer Technology and Printer Type 3.6.1 From Research Bioprinting to Biofabrication: A Forecast 3.7 Key Points from this Chapter Chapter Four: Bioinks 4.1 Bioink Introductory 4.1.1 Scaffold-based and Scaffold-free Bioprinting 4.1.2 Hydrogels 4.1.3 Stem Cells and Bioprinting 4.1.4 Spheroids and Organoids 4.1.5 Ceramics and Bioprinting 4.1.6 A Note on Shear Printing 4.2 Types of Bioinks: Functionality 4.2.1 Sacrificial Bioinks 4.2.2 Functional Bioinks 4.2.3 Support Bioinks 4.3 Materials for Bioinks 4.3.1 Agarose 4.3.2 Alginate 4.3.3 Collagen 4.3.4 Gelatin 4.3.5 GelMA 4.3.6 Chitosan 4.3.7 Hyaluronic Acid 4.3.8 dECM 4.3.9 Fibrin 4.3.10 Cellulose 4.3.11 Silk 4.3.12 Extracellular matrix (ECM)-based bioinks 4.3.13 Role of Synthetic Polymers 4.3.14 Smart Bioinks and Bioinks with Advanced Material Additives 4.4 Phasing out Animal Materials 4.5 Bioink Supply Chain and Suppliers 4.6 Key Points from this Chapter Chapter Five: Mainstream Bioprinting Applications 5.1 Bioprinting Applications Analysis: Introductory 5.2 Bioprinting and Improved Medical Modeling 5.2.1 Organs-on-a-chip 5.2.2 Disease Modeling 5.3 Bioprinting Skin 5.3.1 Background to Skin Grafting 5.3.2 Bioprinting and Burn Victims 5.3.3 Bioinks for Skin Bioprinting 5.3.4 Cosmetics Testing 5.4 Bone and Cartilage Printing 5.4.1 Materials for Bone and Cartilage Printing 5.5 Organ Printing and Vascular Printing 5.5.1 Competition Between Printed Organs and Living Organs 5.5.2 Bladder Printing 5.5.3 Bioprinting and Breast Implants 5.5.4 Liver Printing 5.5.5 Endocrine System 5.5.6 A Printed Pancreas 5.5.7 Kidney Bioprinting 5.5.8 Lungs 5.5.9 Ears and Noses 5.5.10 Eyes 5.5.11 Hearts and Vasculature 5.5.12 Bioprinting and Neural Tissue 5.6 A Note on Dental Applications of Bioprinting 5.7 Key Points from this Chapter Chapter Six: New Directions in Bioprinting 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Soft Robotics 6.2.1 Soft Robotics and Printing Using Biological Materials 6.3 Food Printing 6.3.1 Drivers for Food Printing 6.3.2 Food Printers and Food Design 6.3.3 Food Printers Currently Available 6.3.4 Bioprinting Meat 6.3.5 Printing Candies and Chocolates 6.3.6 3D Printing-Themed Restaurants 6.4. Pill Printing 6.4.1 Manufacturing of Pills Using 3D Printing: Advantages and Disadvantages 6.4.2 Structure of a Growing Industry 6.5 A Note on Medical Devices 6.6 Key Points from this Report Chapter Seven: Profiles of Nine Leading Bioprinting Firms and Their Strategies 7.1 Criteria for Profiling 7.2 3DBio Therapeutics: Full Bioprinting Package for Healthcare Providers 7.3 3D Systems/Systemic Bio: Still Feeling its Way in the Bioprinting Business? 7.4 BICO (Cellink): Bioconvergence Conglomerate 7.5 Cyfuse - Japanese Bioprinting Firm 7.6 EnvisionTEC/Desktop Metal: More Interest in Bioprinting 7.7 FluidForm - Building Ties to Important Companies with Cutting Edge Technology 7.8 Inventia Life Science: Breaking Out from R&D 7.9 Organovo Holdings: More Focus Than Before 7.10 Rokit Healthcare - Korean Bioprinting and Google Cloud About the Analyst For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/14r493 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biosensors Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global biosensors market reached a value of US$ 24.2 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 39.9 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.69% during 2021-2027. Companies Mentioned Abbott Laboratories AgaMatrix Inc. (WaveForm Technologies Inc) DuPont de Nemours Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG General Electric Company LifeScan Inc. (Platinum Equity LLC) Medtronic PLC Nova Biomedical Corporation PHC Holdings Corporation Siemens AG Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. A biosensor, or biological sensor, is an analytical device used to detect changes in various biological processes and convert them into an electrical signal. It is used for monitoring biological elements, such as enzymes, nucleic acids, tissues, cell receptors, microorganisms and antibodies. Some of the commonly used biosensors include mass, optical, electrochemical, magnetic, nanomechanical, thermometric, acoustic and immunosensors. They consist of a responsive sensor, transducer, microcontroller, signal conditioning circuit and display unit and are embedded in resonant mirrors, chemical canaries, optodes, bio-computers, biochips and glucometers. Biosensors are extensively used for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, research, environmental monitoring and biodefense applications. Biosensors Market Trends: Significant growth in the medical industry across the globe is one of the key factors creating a positive outlook for the market. Moreover, widespread adoption of wearable biosensors for continuous monitoring of vital signs of patients, infants, children, athletes and fitness enthusiasts is providing a thrust to the market growth. These biosensors facilitate remote monitoring of the individuals and can transmit biological data to the physician for real-time alerts. They are also incorporated in smart textiles for convenient tracking of vital signs. In line with this, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to spread, there has been a substantial increase in the demand for biosensors in the healthcare centers for continuous monitoring of the patients. Additionally, various technological advancements, such as the integration of connected devices with the Internet of Things (IoT) and the development of innovative nanotechnology-based biosensors, are acting as other growth-inducing factors. These biosensors are used in nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods and nanoparticles for biomolecular detection. Other factors, including significant improvements in the healthcare infrastructure, along with extensive research and development (R&D) activities, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global biosensors market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global biosensors market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the product? What is the breakup of the market based on the technology? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What is the breakup of the market based on the end use? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global biosensors market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Biosensors Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Product 6.1 Wearable Biosensors 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Non-Wearable Biosensors 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Technology 7.1 Electrochemical Biosensors 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Optical Biosensors 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Piezoelectric Biosensors 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 7.4 Thermal Biosensors 7.4.1 Market Trends 7.4.2 Market Forecast 7.5 Nanomechanical Biosensors 7.5.1 Market Trends 7.5.2 Market Forecast 7.6 Others 7.6.1 Market Trends 7.6.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Application 8.1 Blood Glucose Testing 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Cholesterol Testing 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Blood Gas Analysis 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Pregnancy Testing 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Drug Discovery 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Infectious Disease Testing 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 8.7 Others 8.7.1 Market Trends 8.7.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by End Use 9.1 Point of Care Testing 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Home Healthcare Diagnostics 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Research Laboratories 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 9.4 Security and Biodefense 9.4.1 Market Trends 9.4.2 Market Forecast 9.5 Others 9.5.1 Market Trends 9.5.2 Market Forecast 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 14 Price Analysis 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pzx2pn Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Capitalizing the Ocean's Potential to Realize a Sustainable Future Kisun Chung , CEO of HD Hyundai announces core vision to drive "Ocean Transformation" , CEO of HD Hyundai announces core vision to drive "Ocean Transformation" HD Hyundai aims to pioneer the ocean's infinite potential, expand human territory and lead sustainable growth Top executives of partners such as Palantir and GE pledge participation in HD Hyundai's journey toward realizing the new vision LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai, the world's largest shipbuilding and heavy industries conglomerate, introduced at a press conference January 4, Ocean Transformation, a fundamental reframing of the company's perspective and approach on ocean utilization with a focus on sustainability. The press conference was held on the eve of the opening day of CES 2023 the world's largest electronics and IT trade show, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, US. Kisun Chung, President & CEO of HD Hyundai introduces the company's Ocean Transformation vision at the HD Hyundais press conference, January 4 at the CES 2023 in Las Vegas, US. "For HD Hyundai, the ocean is our home base; It's where we can share the depth of our expertise. We hope to realize a sustainable future for mankind by capitalizing on the ocean's infinite potential," said Kisun Chung, CEO of HD Hyundai, at the press conference. "To solve the most pressing challenges faced by mankind today, including the global energy crisis and climate change, we must capitalize on the infinite potential of the sea. As a future builder, HD Hyundai will take lead in driving a historic expansion of human territory and sustainable growth for future generations through a paradigm shift with Ocean Transformation." Ocean Transformation is a completely new approach of working with the ocean, a major repository of earth's resources and the center of global networks. The approach embodies a more concretized role for HD Hyundai and the direction it's heading with the Future Builder initiative the company announced at last year's CES. As mentioned in the opening remarks by Kisun Chung, the four key visions and goals to drive Ocean Transformation include Ocean Mobility, OceanWise, Ocean Life, and Ocean Energy. Sungjoon Kim, Head of the Advanced Research Center at Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), presented on Ocean Mobility, floating the idea of next-generation digital ships that are eco-friendly as an answer to ocean sustainability. Other visions were presented by experts in each respective field, including Jiae Shim and Bongseok Baek, managers at Hyundai Global Service, who introduced HD Hyundai's marine data solution using A.I. and big data technology as well as Carl Johansson, director at Avikus, who shared the blueprints for a safer and freer sea enabled by autonomous technologies. Further, Yuri Kim, senior researcher at KSOE revealed the vision for an ocean energy ecosystem envisaged by HD Hyundai. Executives from HD Hyundai's key partners, such as Shyam Sankar, COO of Palantir and Jan Kjaersgaard, CEO of Offshore Wind at GE Renewable Energy, also participated as speakers to affirm their commitment to taking part in HD Hyundai's innovations and ventures to turn the ocean's potentials into realities. "We plan to showcase our vision and technology for the global audience again this year, following last year's participation in CES," said an HD Hyundai representative. "Through CES 2023, HD Hyundai plans to actively seek new business collaboration opportunities with global leaders in various fields." To this end, HD Hyundai has established a value chain wherein it utilizes the company's technologies in shipbuilding, offshore, energy, and industrial machinery, to produce, safely transport, and utilize eco-friendly energy to become a leader in transforming the ocean into a sustainable eco-friendly energy source. About HD Hyundai HD Hyundai is the world's largest shipbuilding and heavy industries conglomerate. HD Hyundai started as a shipbuilder in 1972 in a small fishing village in Ulsan, the southeast of South Korea. On the foundation of solid leadership in the shipbuilding industry, it is now progressing to become the most innovative solution provider in the heavy industry and energy sectors, ranging from shipbuilding, offshore engineering and construction equipment to the refinery, petrochemical, and smart energy management businesses. Marking its 50th anniversary, the group was renamed to HD Hyundai to change the paradigm of traditional shipbuilding industry and emphasize its presence in other industries. Media Contact Haeri Na ([email protected]) SOURCE HD Hyundai NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Enterprise Partners ("HEP"), a healthcare private equity firm, is pleased to announce the hiring of Scott Whyte as Partner, Value Creation and the promotion of David Rauber to Senior Associate. Scott Whyte Joins as Partner, Value Creation Scott Whyte has joined as Partner, Value Creation, in which capacity he will work deeply with HEP's base of industry limited partners and portfolio companies to drive strategic engagement. "We are incredibly fortunate to have recruited someone of Scott's caliber to spearhead this vital function for our firm," said Dave Tamburri, Managing Partner at HEP. "By working at the nexus of our limited partners and our portfolio companies, Scott will play an important role in building the value of HEP's ecosystem: orchestrating targeted introductions, translating insights from the field into investment theses, and disseminating the institutional knowledge that has underpinned the success of our firm." HEP's network of limited partners includes 41 healthcare organizations and numerous financial investors. Scott Whyte arrives at HEP with over 25 years of experience serving some of the nation's largest life science, provider, payer, and health solutions organizations. He most recently served as Chief Digital Officer of Aerosafe Global, a leader in global cold chain solutions for the biopharma industry. Prior to that, he served as Chief Strategy Officer at ClearDATA, a leading provider of secure, compliant healthcare cloud computing. Prior to joining ClearDATA, Scott was an IT Vice President at CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest not for profit hospital systems in the nation. He oversaw $500+ million in clinical systems budget for over 40 hospitals. Prior to joining CommonSpirit, he was Vice President and CIO at the nationally ranked Phoenix Children's Hospital. Previously he spent over 17 years helping build the healthcare practices at EY, Siemens Healthcare and Capgemini (practice now part of Accenture) serving hospitals, health insurers and life sciences companies. "I've known and respected HEP for many years and now I am honored to be a part of the team serving and innovating with our limited partners and our portfolio companies," said Scott. "The HEP limited partners and portfolio companies each face unique opportunities and challenges and I am excited to partner with them to improve healthcare and demonstrate increased value for their stakeholders." David Rauber Promoted to Senior Associate David Rauber, who joined HEP in 2021, has been promoted Senior Associate. "We are delighted to be advancing David to Senior Associate. David possesses all the hallmarks of a successful investorgrit, tenacity, and a fiduciary mindsetand we are fortunate to have him on our team," said Ezra Mehlman, Managing Partner at HEP. Prior to joining the firm, David was an Associate at Northlane Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm with ~$1 billion in invested capital. At Northlane, David focused on sourcing, diligence, execution, and portfolio management for the firm's investments in the healthcare and business services sectors. Before Northlane, David was an Analyst at CIT, focused on execution and portfolio management for the firm's debt investments in middle-market healthcare services companies. David serves as a board observer of Proven Behavior Solutions. He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University. About Health Enterprise Partners Health Enterprise Partners provides expansion capital to the most innovative healthcare services and healthcare information technology companies. Central to HEP's strategy is its unique and extensive strategic healthcare network, 41 members of which are investors in HEP's funds. HEP seeks to invest in companies that improve the quality of the patient experience, expand access, and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, please visit www.hepfund.com SOURCE Health Enterprise Partners Premiere trial boutique selects Kasi Chadwick and Colin Watterson to help lead Houston law firm HOUSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hicks Thomas, LLP is pleased to announce it has named Kasi Chadwick and Colin Watterson as new partners at the Houston-based trial boutique. "We are pleased to strengthen our partnership even further with the election of Kasi and Colin," said Hicks Thomas partner John B. Thomas. "Since joining the team, they've made substantial contributions to the firm and our clients." Ms. Chadwick is as capable in the courtroom as she is in the boardroom. She is an experienced trial lawyer and has also served as in-house counsel for the Landry's organization. She is active in the bar and currently serves as Chair of the Litigation Section of the Houston Bar Association. Kasi has also been recognized by Texas Lawyer magazine for its list of attorneys under age 40 who are "Rising Stars" and is included in The Best Lawyers in America's Ones to Watch listing. Mr. Watterson is an accomplished trial lawyer and has a broad range of commercial experience focusing on energy, real estate, and technology. He was recently named to The Best Lawyers in America list of Ones to Watch. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and, prior to entering private practice, clerked for Judge John Rogers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Before joining Hicks Thomas, Colin worked as an associate at Susman Godfrey LLP in Houston. Founded in 1997, Texas-based Hicks Thomas LLP is a premier litigation firm representing plaintiffs and defendants across the nation. With offices in Houston, Austin, Beaumont, Amarillo, and Sacramento, California, the firm provides in-depth experience in cases involving oil and gas, environmental, complex commercial, toxic tort, construction, products liability, corporate governance, securities, banking, insurance coverage, transportation, trade secrets and business litigation. Visit the firm at http://www.hicks-thomas.com. Contact: April Arias 800-559-4534 [email protected] SOURCE Hicks Thomas LLP Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's vehicle inventory alert index (VIA), which reflects the inventory pressure on automobile dealers, dropped 7.1 percentage points month on month in Dec. 2022, according to the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA). The VIA stood at 58.2% last month, rising 2.1 percentage points from the previous year. The index in Dec. was still above the official warning threshold (50%). In Dec. 2022, the car shopping demands were being steadily unleashed partly due to the governmental subsidies on new energy vehicles (NEVs) and the reduction of oil-fueled vehicle purchase taxes set to expire at the end of 2022, and the forthcoming Spring Festival holiday, said the CADA. The association also noted that China's automobile sales in Dec. 2022 are expected to leap 40% over the previous month as automakers and car dealers strived to sell as many vehicles as possible in the year-end spurt. The monthly passenger vehicle retail sales in the country may reach around 2.3 million units last month. In Dec. 2022, the VIAs of imported & luxury brands and mainstream joint-venture brands stood at 62.3% and 54.9%, dropping 4.9 and 18 percentage points over a month ago, respectively. Nevertheless, Chinese indigenous brands saw its monthly index edge up 0.3 percentage points from Nov. to 62.1%. JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) Tbk. (IDX: BBRI) made positive achievements in 2022 from announcing the distribution of interim share dividends of IDR 8.63 trillion or IDR 57 per share to carrying out various major corporate actions throughout the year. BBRI Share Buybacks of IDR 3 trillion Left to right: Arga M. Nugraha, BRI Director of Digital and Information Technology; Sunarso, BRI President Director, and Viviana Dyah Ayu, BRI Chief Financial Officer. BRI was in the process of buying back shares with a maximum value of IDR 3 trillion. Through the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGMS) on March 1, 2022, BRI obtained shareholders' approval to carry out the buyback of BBRI shares. The share buybacks were then carried out within 18 months of the approval from March 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023. In accordance with the submitted Disclosure of Information, the shares are used for the share ownership program for BRI employees. BRI Director of Finance, Viviana, stated that there were several things being observed in relation to this corporate action. "Aside from providing long-term performance incentives for high-performing employees, we believe BBRI's share price is still undervalued when compared to the company's ever-increasing achievements. This makes us continue to buy back shares." Issued IDR 5 Trillion of Green Bonds and Was Oversubscribed 4.4 Times In June 2022, the company issued Green Bonds I with a target of raising IDR 15 trillion in total, and the total Phase I emissions of IDR 5 trillion in 2022. These bonds are issued in stages over the next three years until 2024. At least 70 percent of the proceeds from the fundraising are allocated to business activities or other activities included in the criteria for new, ongoing, or completed environmental business activities according to the bond framework. As a result of the bonds' issuance, BRI was oversubscribed by up to 4.4 times in 2022, proving that BRI is continuously strengthening the implementation of ESG principles in terms of funding or liabilities. Acquisition of Danareksa Investment Management On November 30, 2022, BRI and Danareksa signed an agreement to purchase Danareksa Investment Management (DIM) shares from Danareksa with a total of 9 million shares, or equivalent to 30% of total DIM shares. Thus, BRI's current ownership of DIM is 65%. The objective of this corporate action is in line with the company's vision to become "The Most Valuable Banking Group in Southeast Asia" and "The Champion of Financial Inclusion" in 2025, where BRI aims to become an integrated financial services group. One of the efforts is by optimizing investment management services in the BRI ecosystem, namely Danareksa Investment Management (DIM). Distribution of IDR 8.63 Trillion Interim Dividends BRI announced the distribution of interim share dividends of IDR 8.63 trillion, or IDR 57 per share on December 30, 2022. Of the total value, approximately IDR 4.59 trillion will go the state treasury, and the remaining IDR 4.04 trillion will be distributed to public investors. President Director of BRI, Sunarso, said that the distribution of the interim dividends is a clear proof of BRI's commitment as a state-owned company to deliver a real contribution for Indonesia. "I strongly emphasize that BRI is indeed the people's bank, meaning that we do business with the people and processed according to the people. BRI's profits are returned to the people through taxes and dividends. As BRI works with the people, is managed according to the people, and the profits are returned by the people, BRI has become a bank that is supported by the people. Every achievement cannot be separated from the support of all parties." More information about Bank BRI can be accessed at www.bri.co.id. SOURCE PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI) The global omnichannel retailer has engaged with the retail consulting firm, Columbus Consulting, to oversee digital and process transformation associated with the partnership BOSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunkemoller, one of the largest global omnichannel lingerie brands, recently selected Bamboo Rose Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Sourcing, and Purchase Order Management applications to connect and streamline design, development, sourcing, and supply chain processes as the brand pursues aggressive domestic and international growth plans. Columbus Consulting has been working with Hunkemoller to support their growth and transformation needs. The teams have partnered for years to audit, source, and implement allocation and replenishment systems, optimise the wholesale side of the business, manage the master data initiative and, now, support the implementation of the Bamboo Rose PLM. In this role, CCI will work alongside the Hunkemoller team to ensure that the design, integration, execution, and change management aspects of the project are seamlessly addressed. Bamboo Rose's Multi-Enterprise Platform and suite of connected business process applications will help Hunkemoller digitize product development processes to improve transparency to downstream teams, suppliers, and logistics partners. This end-to-end visibility and collaboration will help the brand to accelerate design and development cycles, reduce administrative burden, and allow teams to focus on developing high-quality, innovative products that align with consumer trends and expectations. Digitizing the product lifecycle and supplier collaboration on Bamboo Rose will also enable Hunkemoller to more cost effectively prepare products for different selling markets and account for impending Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulations that will impact core product development and sourcing operations. "We're thrilled to partner with Bamboo Rose and Columbus Consulting who will be key players in digitizing and streamlining our product management processes through seamless digital transparency and communication," said Charlotte Davies, Chief Product Officer at Hunkemoller. "Hunkemoller has built a strong reputation across 19 countries in Europe for high-end products, innovative new collections, and targeted sub-brands regardless of taste and budget," said Chirag Patel, President at Bamboo Rose. "We're excited to partner with the brand as they extend their market-leading reputation to new markets and sales channels while maintaining their dedication to product excellence and innovation." Similarly, Columbus Consulting Partner, Charlotte Kula-Przezwanski is looking forward to expanding the partnership with Bamboo Rose and continuing to work with Hunkemoller. "Our relationship with Hunkemoller has been both rewarding and exciting. Bringing new technologies and processes to this strong brand has helped the organization by further establishing them as a leader in the industry. Leveraging the Bamboo Rose platform will prove to be another successful layer to their digital transformation." In January, the Bamboo Rose leadership team will be in attendance at NRF 2023, Retail's Big Show , meeting with clients on platform strategy, demonstrating industry leading software, and discussing the trajectory of the retail industry in 2023 and beyond. To meet with Bamboo Rose at NRF, schedule a meeting to visit us at Booth #3966. The experts at Columbus Consulting will also be featured at the show exhibiting at Booth #6815. The team will be addressing retailers needs and taking appointments in advance at https://www.columbusconsulting.com/event/nrf-big-show-january-15-17-2023-nyc/ About Hunkemoller Hunkemoller is one of Europe's leading and fastest-growing lingerie brand, with over 900 stores across 19 countries. Founded in Amsterdam in 1886, the company has since developed into a pan-European omnichannel lingerie brand. Hunkemoller delivers perfect fitting, fashionable, and high-quality bodywear products (bras, underwear, nightwear, swimwear, and other categories including fitness gear). Hunkemoller is a truly omnichannel retailer and has integrated technology into every aspect of the business; from extensive customer profiling based on an extensive base of active loyalty program members, to a digitalised recruitment and training process for retail employees. The customer journey is at the heart of Hunkemoller's strategy and has resulted in a seamless interaction between the physical and digital environment through its click2brick initiatives. Sustainable journey Together Tomorrow was launched in 2020, a name created to unite all activities that look after the planet and its people. www.Hunkemoller.com About Bamboo Rose Bamboo Rose is the industry-leading Multi-Enterprise Product and Supply Chain Platform, connecting the entire retail community and helping companies bring great products to market faster, more efficiently, and at higher margins. The platform features a suite of patented supply chain solutions, including Bamboo Rose B2B Marketplace, Product Lifecycle Management, Sourcing, Purchase Order Management, Global Trade Management, and Financing, each one supported by intelligent engines for optimization, costing, and scheduling across the platform. About Columbus Consulting Columbus Consulting delivers solutions that drive true value and have been transforming the retail and CPG industries for over two decades. We are a boutique retail consulting company of industry experts. Our approach is simple, if you do it, we do it. We are more than consultants; we are experienced practitioners who actually sat in our clients' seats. We understand the challenges, know what questions to ask and deliver the right solutions. Columbus offers a unique, consumer-centric approach with an end-to-end perspective that bridges functional & organization silos from strategy to execution. Our specialties include: unified commerce, planning & merchandising, sourcing & supply chain, inventory management, finance & operations, data & analytics, information technology and people & organization. Let us know how we can help you. To learn more, visit COLUMBUSCONSULTING.COM. SOURCE Bamboo Rose SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced that Ken Knight, president & chief executive officer, will present at the 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern / 9:00 a.m. Pacific. The live audio webcast of the presentation may be accessed by visiting the investors section of the company website at ir.invitae.com . A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the presentation. About Invitae Invitae (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company trusted by millions of patients and their providers to deliver timely genetic information simplified by digital technology. With accurate and actionable answers to strengthen medical decision-making, Invitae gives individuals and their families powerful, personalized insights that could improve and extend their lives. Invitae's genetics experts apply a rigorous approach to data and research, serving as the foundation of their mission to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. To learn more, visit invitae.com and follow for updates on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn @Invitae. Contacts for Invitae: Investor Relations Hoki Luk [email protected] Public Relations Amy Hadsock [email protected] SOURCE Invitae Corporation NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Ivanhoe Cambridge announced today that Fox Corporation and News Corp have signed separate long-term leases, together totalling almost 1.2 million square feet to retain each of their corporate headquarters at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, in Midtown Manhattan. The terms of their leases each have been extended through 2042, with further extension options thereafter. IC Announces 1.2 million Square Foot Lease Extension at 1211 Avenue of the Americas. Photo credit: C. Taylor-Crothers(CNW Group/Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc.) In the nearly 670,000 square foot transaction with Fox Corporation, the lease extension will be effective December 2025, while the 486,000 square foot lease transaction with News Corp will be effective December 2027. As part of the lease extension agreements, Ivanhoe Cambridge, and its asset manager, Hines, will be embarking on a series of planned upgrades to the building, which will include a renovated 6th Avenue lobby, upgrades to the building's outdoor plazas and entrances, and the creation of a new tenant lobby accessible from 47th Street. Work is expected to commence in late 2023. The combined 1.152-million-square-foot lease was the largest of 2022 and largest in more than three years in Manhattansupporting the fact that many companies still need and value office space to leverage the hybrid work environment. Midtown total leasing exceeded 21.0 million square feet in 2022on par with the historical 20-year average of 21.2 million square feetsolidifying the resilience of the Midtown office leasing market in a post-pandemic world. Jonathan Pearce, Executive Vice President, Leasing & Development, Ivanhoe Cambridge, stated: "We are thrilled to be announcing these important transactions. FOX and News Corp are one of our largest tenant partners globally. This commitment made by Fox and News Corp is a clear vote of confidence in 1211 and Midtown Manhattan. It also underscores the importance that these leading companies place on having a dynamic workplace that supports its business activities, as well as the attraction and retention of key talent, and to offer a leading experience to its viewers, customers, guests, and employees. We look forward to working with FOX and News Corp to ensure 1211 continues to provide an exceptional home for their organizations as their needs continue to grow and evolve." Michael McMahon, Managing Director, Asset Management, Hines, added: "We are delighted to be extending the important and long-standing relationship that ownership has with both FOX Corporation and News Corp at 1211 Avenue of the Americas. The decision by these leading, global media companies to remain at 1211 confirms the quality of the property and its infrastructure, as well as the importance of its prime Midtown location to best support its business needs." Josh Kuriloff, Ethan Silverstein, Mitch Arkin and Heather Thomas of Cushman & Wakefield represented Ivanhoe Cambridge in the transactions. Timothy Dempsey, Mary Ann Tighe, Ken Rapp, Christopher Mansfield and Ariel Ball of CBRE represented Fox Corp and News Corp. Hines is Ivanhoe Cambridge's asset manager for 1211 Avenue of The Americas. About Ivanhoe Cambridge Ivanhoe Cambridge develops and invests in high-quality real estate properties, projects and companies that are shaping the urban fabric in dynamic cities around the world. It does so responsibly, with a view to generate long-term performance. Ivanhoe Cambridge is committed to creating living spaces that foster the well-being of people and communities, while reducing its environmental footprint. Ivanhoe Cambridge invests internationally alongside strategic partners and major real estate funds that are leaders in their markets. Through subsidiaries and partnerships, the Company holds interests in more than 1,200 buildings, primarily in the industrial and logistics, office, residential and retail sectors. Ivanhoe Cambridge held C$69 billion in real estate assets as of December 31, 2021 and is a real estate subsidiary of Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (cdpq.com), a global investment group. For more information: ivanhoecambridge.com. About Hines Hines is a global real estate investment, development and property manager. The firm was founded by Gerald D. Hines in 1957 and now operates in 28 countries. We manage a $92.3B portfolio of high-performing assets across residential, logistics, retail, office, and mixed-use strategies. Our local teams serve 634 properties totaling over 225 million square feet globally. We are committed to a net zero carbon target by 2040 without buying offsets. To learn more about Hines, visit www.hines.com and follow @Hines on social media. Includes both the global Hines organization as well as RIA AUM as of June 30, 2022. About 1211 of the Americas 1211 Avenue of the Americas is a 44-story, two million square-foot (185 805 m2), Class A office tower located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and situated near major transportation hubs. The property has direct access to the Rockefeller Center Concourse amenities and subway. Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority Bus Terminal and Penn Station are within walking distance and an on-site direct subway connection links commuters to the entire metropolitan area. The building is LEED Gold certified, Energy Star designated and the winner of the BOMA 2010 Middle Atlantic Regional Building of the Year and the BOMA 2008/2009 Operating Building of the Year. SOURCE Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The LA Art Show , LA's largest and longest-running art fair, returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 1519 to kick off the city's 2023 art season. Guided by the leadership of LA Art Show producer and director Kassandra Voyagis, the 28th edition promises a larger global presence and more ambitious programming than ever before. LA Art Show will donate 15% of all ticket proceeds to support the life-saving work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We're back with a bang," said Voyagis. "I'm blown away by the scope of work represented at this year's show and incredibly honored to help bring it all together. We're welcoming an extraordinary group of diverse global artists and galleries, learning from each other, and sparking important conversations." Programming to Provoke Important Conversations This year's fair has a variety of programming intended to inspire important dialogue: The Fair's non-commercial program, and cultural anchor, DIVERSEartLA returns with an ambitious agenda, addressing the global climate crisis. The 2023 edition, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, includes eight art institutions, museums and non-profits presenting an interdisciplinary solo project. returns with an ambitious agenda, addressing the global climate crisis. The 2023 edition, curated by Marisa Caichiolo, includes eight art institutions, museums and non-profits presenting an interdisciplinary solo project. TRANSformation by MRG Fine Art in partnership with Zero Two 20 promises to be a thought-provoking exhibition, creating an open platform for emerging and established talent of diverse backgrounds, addressing a foundational transformation that is inherent in the evolutionary process of both artists and society alike. in partnership with Zero Two 20 promises to be a thought-provoking exhibition, creating an open platform for emerging and established talent of diverse backgrounds, addressing a foundational transformation that is inherent in the evolutionary process of both artists and society alike. "The House of Pilar" by popular non-binary artist, Luis Cobelo . Presented by Santa Monica -based Building Bridges Art Exchange, this immersive experience focuses on the life of the transgender character Pilar. The work is an homage to the renowned artist's unborn sister and presents a possible vision of who she may have been. Cobelo was born in Venezuela and works independently across borders. A Bold and Diverse Global Lineup The LA Art Show 2023 includes the exciting return of the European Pavilion; the debut of the Japanese Pavilion featuring 6 galleries from Japan; and more South Korean artists and galleries than ever before in testament to the country's thriving arts scene. The South Korean presence includes: Gallery Chaman highlights Sori Choi , an internationally-recognized Korean percussionist known for performing traditional Korean music styles and contemporary music. Choi will show his artwork for the first time in Los Angeles at the LA Art Show. Choi works on copper plates, aluminum and other metals, visually expressing his music using dance-like movement to paint, fire to transform color, and objects like drumsticks to create indentations based on the idea that every object and energy has its own sound. , an internationally-recognized Korean percussionist known for performing traditional Korean music styles and contemporary music. Choi will show his artwork for the first time in at the LA Art Show. Choi works on copper plates, aluminum and other metals, visually expressing his music using dance-like movement to paint, fire to transform color, and objects like drumsticks to create indentations based on the idea that every object and energy has its own sound. JJ Art Inc. presents Lee Jin Hyu , whose art seeks to capture the dramatic moments of his exceptional life's journey, beginning in Seoul and later around the world. His exhibited works document an immigrant's joys and dreams through a variety of mediums including objects, mixed media, and LEDs on flat drawings. He has had over 37 solo exhibits in Seoul , Spain , Singapore , and other countries. , whose art seeks to capture the dramatic moments of his exceptional life's journey, beginning in and later around the world. His exhibited works document an immigrant's joys and dreams through a variety of mediums including objects, mixed media, and LEDs on flat drawings. He has had over 37 solo exhibits in , , , and other countries. DIVERSEartLA features Korean Artist Han Ho's "Eternal Light," a massive nine-part multimedia work made in partnership with ReflectSpace Gallery, the City of Glendale Library Arts and Culture Department, and Culture Nomad Arts Center ( Seoul ). The work, which was inspired by Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment," uses traditional art, technology and performance to re-imagine an apocalyptic scenario for the 21rst century, creating space for us to contemplate our future and the current existential threats we face. Work by Ukrainian Artist-turned refugee Denis Sarazhin When Steve Diamant , owner of Arcadia Contemporary, planned a solo show with Sarazhin in 2022, he had no idea that Russia's impending war would leave Sarazhin working as a refugee. With generous support from Diamant and a GoFundMe campaign, Sarazhin and his wife were able to secure accommodations in the U.S. He has been able to continue his work, transmuting the chaos and uncertainty of his unraveling life into paintings of wild transformation. The LA Art Show will feature his most recent work as well as works from Sarazhin's first, one-man exhibition at Arcadia Contemporary's gallery in December. Please visit www.LAArtShow.com to learn more and purchase tickets. Media Contact: Emma Haber 917-892-4700 [email protected] SOURCE LA Art Show DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "LATAM Bus Industry, Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The overall commercial vehicle volume in LATAM, including 6 countries Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, is expected to reach 50,540 units by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2021 and 2030. Fleet renewal and electromobility laws will drive growth in the coming decade. There has been a revival in passenger transportation following the lifting of COVID-19-induced movement restrictions. Implementing stricter emission regulations across countries in the region in the next few years will enable fleet operators to replace older fleets with clean buses, including NG and battery electric vehicles. The choice of alternative powertrains varies across countries, depending on their oil imports, natural gas reserves, established funding and bus operation models, electromobility laws, and focus on hydrogen. Brazil and Mexico contribute to 71.1% of the region's CV volumes. Most countries in the region focus on renewable energy sources for an energy transition from fossil fuels and an electromobility strategy in place to drive the growth of alternative powertrain vehicles. Chinese companies have an early-mover advantage in the electrification of public transportation in Latin America. The top 3 OEMs in the medium and heavy-duty bus segments-Daimler, Traton (MAN & Scania), and Scania-take the contribution of European OEMs to more than three-fourths of the bus market in the region. Chinese OEMs, such as Foton, Zhongtong, Yutong, Kinglong, and BYD, establishing their presence in the region, are expected to compete aggressively with European OEMs in the medium term. Major cities in Latin America aim to replace public passenger transport fleets with EVs. The separation of asset ownership and operation (e.g., battery, bodywork, electric bus, maintenance) and other financing models (e.g., leasing) will be necessary to renew urban transportation buses. The growing ecosystem of truck OEMs, bodybuilders, and fleets that cater to this demand will positively impact allied sectors. Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Bus Industry Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine 2. Study Scope Scope of Analysis Product and Technology Segmentation 3. Growth Environment Key Findings Bus Unit Sales by Country 2021 Bus OEM Sales Performance Percent of Bus Unit Sales by Powertrain Split Main Forecast Criteria Growth Drivers for Alternative Powertrain Adoption Growth Restraints for Alternative Powertrain Adoption 4. Market Environment and Dynamics Key Growth Metrics Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion OEM Powertrain Technology Platforms OEM Powertrain Motor Type Mapping OEM Powertrain Battery Type Mapping 5. Brazil Key Growth Metrics Country Snapshot Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion Powertrain Forecast OEM Market Share 6. Mexico Key Growth Metrics Country Snapshot Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion Powertrain Forecast OEM Market Share 7. Argentina Key Growth Metrics Country Snapshot Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion Powertrain Forecast OEM Market Share 8. Peru Key Growth Metrics Country Snapshot Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion Powertrain Forecast OEM Market Share 9. Chile Key Growth Metrics Country Snapshot Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion Powertrain Forecast OEM Market Share 10. Colombia Key Growth Metrics Country Snapshot Unit Sales Forecast Forecast Discussion Powertrain Forecast OEM Market Share 11. Total Cost of Ownership Parameters and Assumptions - Transit Buses Diesel, NG, and Electric Transit Bus Operational CPM Comparison Operational Cost per Mile: Diesel, Electric, NG 12. Growth Opportunity Universe Growth Opportunity 1: Move Toward Zero-emission Transportation Through Electrification Growth Opportunity 2: Lower TCO to Expedite Adoption of Alternative Powertrains Growth Opportunity 3: Government Mandates and Innovative Business Models Expedite Electric Powertrain Adoption 13. Next Steps Companies Mentioned BYD Daimler Foton Kinglong Scania Traton Yutong Zhongtong For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/chkow1 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yummi Karma, the first state-licensed cannabis manufacturer in Orange County, has officially partnered with premier wholesale platform, Nabis, to expand distribution of its bestselling tinctures. This collaboration marks a new era for Yummi Karma as a private entity following its departure from The Parent Company. The brand is poised for continued growth as it joins Nabis's network of 200+ brands supplying top-tier products to nearly 100% of California's licensed dispensaries. "While we were quiet in 2022, our team has been hustling to be positioned for a relentless 2023. We are thrilled to share our momentum and synergize with retail partners on this road to success," said Yummi Karma co-owner and CEO Krystal Kitahara. "We're excited to add a female-founded legacy brand to our portfolio," said Jen Seo, Director of Marketing and Partnerships at Nabis. "Yummi Karma was started by sisters, and we value their unique beginnings and evolution. We look forward to supporting their innovative approach as they scale state-wide with Nabis." Despite a decline in cannabis sales across the nation, Ummi Karma remains on an upward trajectory. In addition to maximizing distribution, the company is rebranding with a design agency, Studio Linear. It has also reached significant milestones, including being named among the top 3 tincture brands in California and obtaining a coveted distribution license. "We're steadfastly dedicated to helping more people access cannabis and are proud to build a meaningful legacy independently," said co-owner and CFO Chelsea Kitahara. ABOUT YUMMI KARMA Established in 2014 by sisters Krystal and Chelsea Kitahara, Yummi Karma is the first state-licensed manufacturer of cannabis products in Orange County. Its award-winning tinctures empower people to live well. Yummi Karma is equally devoted to social action, donating a portion of its proceeds to grassroots initiatives. Its annual Empower Women, Period campaign also draws awareness to period poverty. Learn more: yummikarma.com ABOUT NABIS Nabis is the #1 cannabis wholesaling platform in California, supporting over 200 brands and supplying the entire network of state-licensed dispensaries with top-tier products. Founded in 2018 by entrepreneurs Vince C. Ning and Jun S. Lee, Nabis's cutting-edge technology streamlines the wholesaling process; it provides fulfillment, warehousing, payment processing, financing, analytics, sales and marketing services that enable brands and retailers to scale. Learn more: nabis.com SOURCE Yummi Karma Taylor Morrison Homes, Skyline Homes, and Trilogy by Shea Homes Rank Highest in Trust Among Home Buyers NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Changes in the housing market have impacted home buyer sentiment in a trend toward waning customer trust among the nation's largest home builders. According to the Lifestory Research 2023 America's Most Trusted Study released today, trust has decreased across the home-building industry following an unprecedented increase in trust during the pandemic. "With limited housing inventory and price escalation, home buyers moderated their trust among builders in the new home industry. However, while market dynamics influenced how people viewed the sector, the years of brand-building among the most trusted builders paid dividends. As a result, we saw home buyers hold tight in their trust among the most trusted home builders," said Eric Snider, President and Chief Research Officer of Lifestory Research. America's Most Trusted Home Builder For the eighth consecutive year, Taylor Morrison Homes has been recognized as America's Most Trusted Home Builder by home buyers. Based on a Net Trust Quotient Score of 118.4, Taylor Morrison had the highest trust rating in the 2023 study. In the Lifestory Research 2023 America's Most Trusted Study, 54,208 customers shopping for a new home were surveyed and asked their opinions of the nation's largest home builders. Home builders included in the national ranking included Taylor Morrison, Ashton Woods, LGI Homes, TriPointe Homes, Dream Finders, Stanley Martin, Mattamy Homes, Toll Brothers, K. Hovnanian, David Weekley, Century Communities, Richmond American, MI Homes, Meritage Homes, DR Horton, Pulte Homes, Beazer Homes, Ryan Homes, Lennar, and KB Home. For more information about the Lifestory Research 2023, America's Most Trusted Home Builder study, visit https://www.lifestoryresearch.com/2023-best-home-builder-review-rankings America's Most Trusted Manufactured Home Builder Customers have selected Skyline Homes as America's Most Trusted Manufactured Home Builder for the third year in a row. Among 41,918 consumers surveyed about manufactured homes in the Lifestory Research's 2023 America's Most Trusted Study released today, Skyline was ranked highest. Skyline Homes captured the highest Net Trust Quotient score (100.5) among home shoppers and earned the #1 ranking in the 2023 Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted study. Brands included in the final ranking were nationally recognized by people actively shopping for a manufactured home. Manufactured home builder brands in the national ranking include Skyline Homes, Cavco Homes, Genesis Homes, Legacy Housing, Chariot Eagle, Fairmont Homes, Clayton Homes, Palm Harbor Homes, Champion Homes, and Fleetwood Homes. America's Most Trusted Active Adult Resort Home Builder Customers have chosen Trilogy by Shea Homes as America's Most Trusted Active Adult Resort Builder for the eleventh consecutive year in a row. In the 2023 study, Trilogy by Shea Homes achieved the highest Net Trust Quotient Score of 117.3 among the most recognized active adult brands in the housing industry. In the Lifestory Research 2023 America's Most Trusted Study, 17,308 people were surveyed and asked their opinions of active adult resort home builders. For inclusion in the ranking, the brand must be known to active adult shoppers throughout the United States and be among the largest 55+ active adult home builders based on sales volume. Brands in the ranking were Trilogy by Shea Homes, Four Seasons by K. Hovnanian, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers, Del Webb, Lennar, and The Villages (Florida). For more information about the Lifestory Research 2023, America's Most Trusted Active Adult Resort Builder study, visit https://www.lifestoryresearch.com/2023-best-active-adult-resort-builder-review-rankings About the America's Most Trusted Study The Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted study is the most extensive and longest-running independent research program seeking to understand the opinions of consumers within the new home marketplace. Lifestory Research conducts an ongoing annual survey in which people anonymously assess brands encountered during their search for specific products. This research uses the highest quality social and opinion science research practices to provide consumer-driven data insights. The annual home builder ratings are based on the opinions of people surveyed about their perceptions of trust, quality, and other brand attributes. America's Most Trusted and Most Trusted Builder in America are registered trademarks of Lifestory Corporation. No advertising or promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of Lifestory Research. Learn more. #mostrustedbrands Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com for detailed trust scores, ratings and ranking from the study. About Lifestory Research Leaders, companies, and brands know that great ideas are only useful if they move people toward action. Lifestory Research is an independent, science-driven consumer insights and strategy consulting firm that ignites relationships between companies and their audiences. We are passionate about customers, employees, brands, and the science of influence. We use quantitative and qualitative research to create customer insights, drive innovation, deliver brand strategy, and move people forward. For more information, please visit www.lifestoryresearch.com About Lifestory Research and America's Most Trusted Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.lifestoryresearch.com/press-release-info-rules America's Most Trusted is a registered trademark of Lifestory Corporation. SOURCE Lifestory Research Lunit signed a software license agreement with the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Latin America's top medical institution, to provide its AI-based chest x-ray solution top medical institution, to provide its AI-based chest x-ray solution Under the agreement, Lunit will supply its AI solution for chest x-ray image analysis to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein for three years until 2025. SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit (KRX:328130.KQ), a global provider of AI-powered cancer solutions, announced that it signed a software license agreement with the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Under the agreement, Lunit will supply its AI solution for chest x-ray image analysis, Lunit INSIGHT CXR, to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein for three years until 2025. The hospital plans to operate Lunit's AI solution in screening chest x-ray images in its intensive care unit and emergency room as well as in-patient examinations. Lunit INSIGHT CXR, Lunit's AI solution for chest x-ray image analysis Founded in 1955, Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein is a non-profit civil organization that operates in private and public health in all stages of healthcare, teaching and education, consulting, research and innovation, and social responsibility. It is headquartered in Sao Paulo and carries out activities in the city of Sao Paulo, and also in other cities in the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Goias, Minas Gerais, and Parana. The service provision structure is comprised of 22 private healthcare units. It also has 29 units in the Public Health System (SUS). Since its establishment, the hospital has received numerous recognitions for its world-class medical service, ranking among the top 50 of the world's best hospitals. Lunit INSIGHT CXR detects suspicious lesions in chest x-ray images, helping radiologists distinguish disease areas by providing the location of the lesion with an abnormality score that reflects the AI's confidence level. The AI solution can detect 10 of the most common chest abnormalities with 97-99% accuracy, including pulmonary nodules, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumothorax, as well as supporting tuberculosis screening. "We are thrilled to provide Lunit's AI solution to the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, one of the most trusted medical institutions in South America and the world," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Through this new partnership, Lunit will continue to actively expand our business in South America." SOURCE Lunit New partnership offers drivers connected cloud services, ensuring always-on navigation to make journeys time efficient and safer SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mapbox , the leading maps and location platform powering a new generation of location-aware applications, announced a partnership with Toyota Motor Europe to offer Cloud Navigation powered by Mapbox Dash . For the first time, the European models Yaris, Yaris Cross, and Aygo X vehicles will provide Toyota customers moment-by-moment information and make driver journeys more time efficient, trouble-free and safe. In addition to lane-level navigation, drivers have access to parking search including real-time parking availability, speed limit and speed camera warnings. In an upcoming pilot, Toyota drivers can pay for parking and fuel from the convenience of their infotainment system. Mapbox Dash, a Software as a Service (SaaS) product, combines the company's platform capabilities in navigation, search and visualization, and traffic data. The SaaS form factor enables car makers to leverage the customizability of the Mapbox platform while minimizing the need for engineering resources. Mapbox Dash is built on the cloud-based Mapbox platform that enables automobile manufacturers to launch complex in-car integrations in as little as 3 to 6 months, rather than the typical 12 to 36 months. Instead of data and a user interface (UI) that ages with the vehicle, customers who purchase vehicles from Toyota Motor Europe with Mapbox Dash will always be using up-to-date data from the cloud. In addition, their vehicles will receive feature updates to continuously optimize the user experience (UX) throughout its lifetime. Mapbox Dash enables a Toyota-branded experience specific to the vehicle that delights drivers. About the partnership: Toyota Motor Europe customers are now able to purchase Yaris, Yaris Cross , and Aygo X vehicles with navigation that delivers fresh and accurate map data, as well as an easy-to-use UI for the daily commute and road tripping, all powered by Mapbox. , and Aygo X vehicles with navigation that delivers fresh and accurate map data, as well as an easy-to-use UI for the daily commute and road tripping, all powered by Mapbox. Mapbox Dash enables Toyota Motor Europe to deliver a branded and personalized in-car navigation system that runs directly on the car's large-screen infotainment system without requiring drivers to plug in their mobile device. Mapbox Dash enables continuous traffic updates, daily updates to the base map and continuous software updates to Yaris, Yaris Cross , and Aygo X vehicles. This includes fuel and parking payments in select cities and countries. Key quotes: Alex Barth, Vice President of Automotive and Mobility, Mapbox "Mapbox automotive partners and their customers are each unique in terms of their priorities and feature preferences, but they all have one desired outcome in common: a personalized driver experience that increases safety and convenience. We enable auto manufacturers globally to deliver both safety and a differentiated in-vehicle experience that is an extension of their brand." Serkan Karaman, Head of Planning, Connected Technologies, Toyota Motor Europe "Our goal is to provide our customers with personalized driving experiences beyond their expectations. With this goal in mind, in our transformation journey to a mobility company, software, data and connected technologies will play a major role. To accelerate this journey, we are very much aware that it is crucial to have collaborations with digital native companies. With this spirit, we are very excited to partner closely with Mapbox to deliver a modern and always up to date navigation experience that is Toyota branded and enables continuous enhancements in line with the true nature of a digital product." Additional resources: About Toyota Motor Europe Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (Gazoo Racing) and Lexus vehicles and parts and accessories, as well as Toyota's European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs over 25,000 people and has invested over EUR 11 billion in Europe since 1990. Its eight European manufacturing plants are located in Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey. Today, there are approximately 16.5 million Toyota, GR and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 National Marketing and Sales Companies and around 2,800 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (EU, UK, EFTA countries + Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2021, TME sold 1,076,300 vehicles in Europe for a 6.4% market share. For more information, visit Facts & Figures (toyota.eu) and www.toyota-europe.com . About Mapbox Mapbox is the leading maps and location platform powering a new generation of location-aware applications. Mapbox is the only platform that equips organizations with the full set of tools to power the navigation for people, packages, and vehicles everywhere. More than 3.5 million registered developers and nearly 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies have chosen Mapbox because of the platform's flexibility, security and privacy compliance. Organizations use Mapbox applications, data, SDKs and APIs to create customized and immersive experiences that delight their customers. For more information, visit www.mapbox.com . SOURCE Mapbox Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Jiading district, Shanghai city will see an automotive metaverse industrial base built with a long-run industrial scale expected to surpass 100 billion yuan ($14.51 billion). According to a post on "Shanghai Jiading", the official WeChat account of Jiading district's government, Shanghai Jiayuan Xinchuang Virtual Reality Technology Group Co., Ltd. ("Jiayuan Xinchuang") will be settled in Anting town, Jiading district, as one of the key projects local authorities agreed at a recent signing ceremony. The company will work on building an automotive metaverse industrial base with a total of 500 million yuan ($72.552 million) to be invested. Design image of the automotive metaverse industrial base; photo credit: "Shanghai Jiading" WeChat account Covering an area of 47 mu (around 31,300 square meters), the aforesaid project is currently in its first-phase renovation stage and is expected for trial operation in May this year. According to the corporate information inquiry platform Tianyancha, Jiayuan Xinchuang was incorporated on Dec. 5, 2022 with a registered capital of 10 million yuan ($1.451 million). The company revealed this project will utilize the world's leading virtual engine and AI technologies, and introduce multiple companies focusing on metaverse-related businesses, such as R&D of automobile metaverse technologies, virtual filmmaking, digital media, super computing power, sign language cloud, etc., by leveraging Anting town's local advantage in the automotive industry. In addition, the aforementioned project will also integrate such technologies as the computing medium SaaS (Software as a Service) platform, the 5G-enabled virtual space, as well as the third-dimension animation pipeline to realize the applications of metaverse computing in the auto-related manufacturing processes like product simulation design, product testing & validation, remote facility maintenance, etc. Raising Awareness and Improving Access to Care Can Reduce Preventable Birth Defects ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Birth Defects Awareness Month in January, March of Dimes and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) are working in partnership to raise awareness of birth defects across all stages of life. Every four and a half minutes a baby is born with a birth defect and while many children with birth defects lead long and happy lives, birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. Through this partnership the organizations are providing tips women can take to reduce the risk of birth defects and provide individuals, parents and families affected by birth defects with the information they need to seek proper care. Each year, about 1 in every 33 babies are born with birth defects in the U.S., according to CDC. Most often developing during the first three months of pregnancy when a baby's organs are forming, birth defects are structural changes that affect one or more parts of the body. The most common birth defects include congenital heart defects, cleft lip and cleft palate and spina bifida. While some specific birth defects have very different rates of occurrence across racial and ethnic groups, birth defects can affect babies regardless of where they are born, their socioeconomic status, or their race or ethnicity. Though birth defects are still the leading cause of infant mortality, a CDC study found that in the United States, during 2003-2017, rates of infant deaths due to birth defects declined by 10%. However, not all babies are benefiting equally and the rates of infant death due to birth defects were 30% higher for babies born to Black moms compared with babies of White moms. Factors such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and other social determinants of health contribute to these disparities and are areas of possible intervention. "While we're seeing fewer infant deaths resulting from birth defects, we are very concerned about the disparities that exist across ethnic groups for babies born with birth defects," said Elizabeth Cherot, MD, MBA, incoming Chief Medical and Health Officer of March of Dimes. "We see the same disparities trend with maternal health and though it is a result of a complex web of factors, we are continually working with doctors and researchers to discover new treatments to improve the survival and health of all babies with birth defects. Advancements such as improved newborn screening and early detection of birth defects can help every family have a healthy start." Babies born with birth defects may need special care as they grow and develop. Many children with birth defects lead long and happy lives. However, birth defects remain critical conditions that can cause challenges from infancy through adulthood. INFANCY - Parents of a child with a birth defect can prepare for their child's needs by learning about their child's condition and the experiences of other families. This knowledge can equip them to make the best possible choices for their child's health. CHILDHOOD Children born with birth defects may also have physical and intellectual disabilities. The exact ages of developmental milestones are different for each child. Families, educators, and healthcare providers can work together to set meaningful goals and create a plan to help children living with birth defects reach their full potential. Early intervention services and supports include special education, speech therapy, and physical therapy. ADOLESCENCE - Adolescents and young adults living with birth defects may face unique challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood. The transition to adult health care can be tricky for teens and young adults living with a birth defect; they may need to navigate changes in insurance, or transition from a pediatric specialist to an adult specialist. ADULTHOOD - People living with birth defects should talk with their healthcare providers before becoming pregnant to learn more about how a pregnancy might affect them and how their birth defect might affect their baby. Many women with birth defects and other health conditions have healthy, uneventful pregnancies. However, women with birth defects may be more likely to have a baby with a birth defect. Talking with a genetic counselor can be helpful. "CDC's data can help us understand the potential causes of birth defects and lead to important recommendations and improved services for individuals of all ages living with birth defects. We are committed to identifying health inequities and addressing them so that every child is born with the best health possible," said Karen Remley, MD, MPH, director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Birth defects can happen for many reasons and an individual's genetics, behaviors, and social and environmental factors can impact risk for birth defects. Although not all birth defects can be prevented, individuals can increase their chances of having a healthy baby by managing health conditions and adopting healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant so that an individual can stay healthy during pregnancy and give their baby a healthy start in life. See a healthcare professional when planning a pregnancy Address any chronic health conditions (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure) Become familiar with medications and vaccines that are safe in pregnancy Initiate and participate in prenatal care throughout the pregnancy Ensure you get 400 micrograms of folic acid every day Prevent and seek care for any infections that occur during pregnancy Avoid overheating and reduce fevers promptly Avoid substances that can impact pregnancy, including alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, and other drugs during pregnancy Seek care for substance use disorders If you or someone close to you needs help for a substance use disorder, talk to a healthcare provider or call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Join the conversation about National Birth Defects Awareness Month by following #AcrosstheLifespan and #BirthDefects, and visiting March of Dimes at marchofdimes.org/birthdefects and CDC at cdc.gov/birthdefects. About March of Dimes March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 85-year legacy, we support every pregnant person and every family. To learn more about March of Dimes, please visit marchofdimes.org SOURCE March of Dimes Inc. WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- America's leading niche magazine franchisor, The N2 Company (N2), has announced its latest line of print publications to go to market: Greet magazine. The new brand already reaches readers in more than 30 communities across the U.S., with additional territories slated for future launches. "We've identified additional franchise opportunities nationwide and look for the right candidates to launch one of our Greet magazines in their local community," said Bethany Mascena Tracy, N2's Director of Recruitment. Every issue of Greet is free for residents and guarantees unique community stories they can't find anywhere else. Tweet this Led by local N2 franchise owners, Greet is a monthly publication customized for the community it serves. Product features include profiles on local groups and notable residents, reader-contributed recipes, and photos of local pets. Each issue guarantees a new collection of unique, hyper-local stories. Greet is the sister publication to The N2 Company's flagship product, Stroll . While Stroll magazines are produced for small to mid-sized affluent neighborhoods, certain Stroll-worthy communities have a footprint beyond the scope of the brand. N2 leaders recognized a need for publications as high-caliber as N2 magazines, but that serve a larger-scale community or entire town. Though magazines under the Greet umbrella have slowly transitioned to this brand over the last few months, January 2023 marks the first in which every previously published magazine within the publication line adorns the Greet brand. Currently, Greet magazines serve communities in Alabama, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. Greet is a free resource for residents thanks to business owners who, through advertising partnerships, champion the publication's mission to connect their local community through stories readers can't find elsewhere. For more about Greet and ownership opportunities, visit greetmag.com. About The N2 Company Founded in 2004, The N2 Company helps businesses "connect with ideal clients" by partnering with affluent neighborhoods, real estate communities, new-mover audiences, and others, to produce 800+ custom publications and more opening every week . Every N2 publication is personal, relevant, and unique to the community it serves. Visit The N2 Company online at www.n2co.com to learn about our full portfolio of brands: Greet, Stroll, Real Producers, BeLocal, Medical Professionals, and Hyport Digital. CONTACT: Claire Barham Marketing, The N2 Company Email: [email protected] SOURCE The N2 Company HOUSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Glenn McClain and Shawn Barnes (Co-Owners) of MineralTech Gulf Coast Abrasives, LLC recently acquired Specialty Sand Company and American Industrial Minerals (AIM). MineralTech will operate Specialty Sand Company's processing plants and maintain the Specialty Sand Company brand along with MineralTech. This acquisition will enable all companies to expand their products and service base throughout the gulf coast while increasing exposure for future growth and development of both companies and new abrasive products. McClain stated, "There will be some consolidation of manufacturing and services, but we intend to offer the same quality and service that both MineralTech, Specialty Sand Company, and AIM were built on." The acquisition of Specialty Sand Company was a natural fit due to the companies' shared history. Specialty Sand Company was founded as a privately owned family business in 1949, and after 73 years of service, the owners decided to retire. McClain and Barnes started their careers in the abrasive industry at Specialty Sand Company, working alongside McClain's father, Robert "Bob" McClain, also Barnes' father-in-law. Each has more than 40 years of experience in abrasive manufacturing and marketing. Together, they founded MineralTech in Crosby, TX, in October of 2011 to better serve customers in the industrial painting industry. MineralTech is a family-owned and operated business that prides itself on its company culture. Continuous support of dedicated employees and family members has resulted in a loyal customer base, and they've become known for their superior customer service and high-quality abrasive products. In addition to industrial sands, MineralTech offers Emerald Blast a superior blasting abrasive, BLACKMAX Iron, roofing granules and backing, frac sand, licensed Blastox Blender, and much more. The company delivers products 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and employs qualified CDL drivers to operate a fleet of over 30 trucks, including pneumatic and flatbeds, equipped with unloaders. MineralTech's experienced management and sales team collectively has 200+ years of service in the industrial painting industry and is well-known for providing excellent technical support to customers. The acquisition will further increase the years of industrial blasting and coating knowledge MineralTech can share with its customers. Barnes commented, "MineralTech and Specialty Sand Company's customers will continue to receive the highest quality products and service that is second to none in the gulf coast market of the United States." McClain concluded, "We would like to thank our families for their support and our loyal employees for all the long hours and hard work in helping us grow our company. We have a bunch of awesome customers and friends that have been there for MineralTech, too. Thanks and God Bless you all." For more information, visit www.mineraltechllc.com or call (281) 462-4220. CONTACT: Lloyd Callais, (985) 635-8317, [email protected] SOURCE MineralTech Gulf Coast Abrasives, LLC OKOTOKS, AB, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: MTL) Mullen Group Ltd. ("Mullen Group" and/or the "Corporation") intends to release its 2023 Budget and Business Plan on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 6:00 a.m. ET, and has scheduled a conference call and webcast as follows: Date: January 16, 2023 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET Conference Call Dial-in: 1-800-319-4610 (for participants in North America) 416-915-3239 (Toronto or Overseas participants) 403-351-0324 (Calgary or Overseas participants) Webcast: www.mullen-group.com A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call until Monday, January 30, 2023, by dialing 1-800-319-6413 or 604-638-9010, access code 9738 followed by the pound sign. About Mullen Group Ltd. Mullen Group is one of North America's largest logistics providers. Our network of independently operated businesses provide a wide range of service offerings including less-than-truckload, truckload, warehousing, logistics, transload, oversized, third-party logistics and specialized hauling transportation. In addition, we provide a diverse set of specialized services related to the energy, mining, forestry and construction industries in western Canada, including water management, fluid hauling and environmental reclamation. The corporate office provides the capital and financial expertise, legal support, technology and systems support, shared services and strategic planning to its independent businesses. Mullen Group is a publicly traded corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MTL". Additional information is available on our website at www.mullen-group.com or on the Corporation's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Contact Information Mr. Murray K. Mullen - Chair, Senior Executive Officer and President Mr. Richard J. Maloney - Senior Operating Officer Mr. Carson P. Urlacher - Senior Accounting Officer Ms. Joanna K. Scott - Senior Corporate Officer 121A - 31 Southridge Drive Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T1S 2N3 Telephone: 403-995-5200 Fax: 403-995-5296 SOURCE Mullen Group Ltd. Sensor-windshield integration enables simplified vehicle installation, greater reliability and lower costs Opsys Tech offers high-performance True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR Wideye, a corporate scale-up of AGC, aims to provide automotive grade glass integration solutions for optical sensors in autonomous vehicles The Opsys and Wideye collaboration is targeting delivery of a LiDAR-integrated windshield design suitable for serial production later in the year LAS VEGAS and HOLON, Israel, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Opsys Tech Ltd., a leading developer of patented True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR technology, is proud to announce its collaboration with Wideye to deliver windshield integration of True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR sensors. A LiDAR-integrated windshield prototype will be on display at CES in Las Vegas beginning on January 5, 2023. This LiDAR-integrated windshield will demonstrate seamless integration of sensors behind a fully compliant automotive windshield. "This project underscores how well our LiDAR sensors can work in multiple parts of the vehicle," said Opsys Tech CEO Rafi Harel. "Our system is extremely adaptable. It will give auto companies the flexibility they need to make LiDAR part of their future safety and ADAS solutions." Opsys's patented True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR technology allows for a simple and powerful sensor device, which can be easily adapted to different integration options, including areas within the passenger compartment. True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR with a precise beam pattern is capable of compensating the potential distortion introduced by the windshield. The lack of any moving parts in the Opsys sensor helps to keep things cool and silent during operation, meeting comfort demands of modern, quiet electrical vehicles while delivering best-in-class performance. Wideye, launched by AGC in 2016, strives to make mobility safer with stylish and reliable 360-degree seamless automotive integration solutions. This is made possible thanks to Wideye's innovative soda-lime high-performance glass. This unique glass is transparent to near infra-red and with high optical quality indispensable for the installation of optical sensors, such as LiDAR and cameras, and enables sensor performance on par with exterior integrated solutions, such as those found on the edge of the roof or the front grille. "From the very beginning, Wideye's vision has been to integrate sensors behind windshield-leveraging existing functionalities -- and therefore meeting the automotive market need for a reliable, cost effective, and stylish integration," said Wideye CEO Quentin Fraselle. "Through this collaboration, our target is to demonstrate that a solution with high performance sensors covering a 120 HFOV is achievable and to bring it to market. Integrated windshields will significantly simplify vehicle installation by using existing heating and cleaning components for the windshield, bringing best value LiDAR solution to the market. " As one of the world's leading automotive glass experts, Wideye by AGC is enabling autonomous driving by leading the way for sensor integration. Wideye provides a unique windshield design, unleashing full power of Opsys Tech's near infrared LiDAR sensor. With a meticulously analyzed compound materials, sensor performance in the Wideye windshield remains on par with exterior integrated solutions, such as those found on the edge of the roof or the front grille. The demonstrated prototype on display at CES 2023 is a major step for Opsys Tech towards product release for windshield integration, which is planned to be available later in the year. Opsys Tech Solid-State Scanning LiDAR: Has no moving parts Is extremely durable Offers best performance and value Delivers "all specs all the time" across the full field of vision with no limitation of installation Opsys Tech @ CES2023 The Opsys team invites you to meet us at CES 2023, booth #6507 in Las Vegas, NV and to schedule to take a ride with our live demo in @Vegas traffic. About Opsys Tech Opsys Tech was founded in 2016 and has developed a world-leading patented True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR solution that will drive adoption and commercialization of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles with maximized safety and performance. Opsys Tech is headquartered in Israel, with locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. On the Web: www.opsys-tech.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/opsys-technologies About Wideye by AGC Wideye by AGC, a corporate scaleup focusing on autonomous vehicle ecosystems, was launched by Tokyo-based AGC Group, a world-leading supplier of flat, automotive and display glass, chemicals and other high-tech materials and components. Wideye is backed by AGC Automotive Europe, AGC Group's European automotive glass branch, which specializes in the production of glazing solutions for carmakers. Since its launch in 2016, Wideye has focused on enabling ADAS deployment and making fully autonomous vehicles a reality. On the Web: https://wideye.vision/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wideye-by-agc/ CONTACT: Scott Fosgard, [email protected] or 734-272-7440 SOURCE Opsys Tech MANLIUS, N.Y., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- L. & J. G. Stickley has vastly expanded Origins by Stickley, a solid-maple furniture program that combines timeless style and outstanding value with easy customization. It offers three distinct lifestylesmodern Dwyer, Shaker- inspired Gable Road, and traditional Revereas well as several universal pieces that work alongside all styles. Pieces are available in ten finish options, with nine hardware styles and eight performance fabric colors providing the finishing touches. Thoughtful construction details go into every piece, including adjustable levelers and dovetailed soft-close drawers with durable, smooth-to-the-touch UV-cured interiors. Origins by Stickley introduces new, customizable furniture for the dining room, living room, and home office. Tweet this Previously available for the bedroom, Origins by Stickley now offers: dining room selections, including round and rectangular dining tables in three sizes, wooden and upholstered chairs, and versatile servers home office furniture, with desks and chairs, six universal bookcases in a range of sizes, and multi-purpose cabinets and hutches that can be combined to make a custom office unit and living room occasional pieces including rectangular, round, and square coffee tables, a range of end tables, and versatile media cabinets. For those furnishing a first home or decorating a guest suite, Origins by Stickley offers a flexible and affordable way to achieve a beautiful, personalized look throughout the whole home. Origins by Stickley is available nationwide. Visit the Stickley.com store locator to find an authorized dealer. In select areas of the country, purchase online at ShopStickley.com. L. & J.G. Stickley, Inc. is a genuine American icon that has set the standard for furniture craft for more than 120 years. Through enduring tradition, superior craftsmanship, and an unshakeable philosophy of excellence, Stickley continues to produce America's finest hardwood furniture and upholstery, all while responding to the needs and trends of today's homes with updated styles and modern collections. Contact: Beth Chang, Director of Marketing 315-682-5500 ext. 2323 [email protected] SOURCE L&JG Stickley PONTIAC, Mich., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 19, 2022, Others First Inc. hosted its ninth annual Thanksgiving Outreach program, giving away 1200 Thanksgiving meals to those in need. Each meal consisted of an 11 lb. turkey, two cans of corn, two cans of green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and cheesecake. The Thanksgiving meals were distributed to people whose situations were verified by the aid organizations affiliated with Others First. Each of these individuals received a voucher in advance and could exchange them for meals the day of the event. Among the recipients were the needy served by the Oakland County Veterans Group, Grace Centers of Hope, Power Company Kids Club, Welcome Missionary Baptist Church, Catholic Community Response Team, Pontiac Housing Commission, St. Damien Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul, OLHSA, Free Life Temple, St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church, Silver Lake Church of the Nazarene, Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Destiny Faith Church, St. John United Methodist, Community Christian Church, City Light Church, QTMC Centerstage, and VFW Post 1008. Rick Frazier and Others First Inc. Provide 1200 Thanksgiving Meals to Needy Families on November 19, 2022 Tweet this "The funding for this wonderful outreach is a result of many very generous people donating their cars to one of our car donation programs, including Cars Helping Veterans and Cars to Help Kids.," said Rick Frazier, consultant for Others First, and President of Charity Funding. The event was coordinated by Lew Elbert, of Catholic Community Response Team (CCRT) and Greg Yatooma, a representative of Others First. Lee Industrial Contracting generously provided the use of their facilities and offered many volunteers to help assemble the food packages. Others First Inc. is a Michigan 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded to serve those in need locally and across the country. It is located at 1700 W. Hamlin Rd. Rochester Hills, MI 48309. Telephone: (248) 218-5310. For media questions only regarding this Thanksgiving Outreach, please get in touch with Lew Elbert of CCRT at (248) 705-1238. SOURCE Others First BOSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimism is the keyword for the 2023 travel landscape as travelers embrace more distant experiences compared to 2022. Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.), the leader in personalized small group and solo travel for Americans ages 50 and older, announced its top 4 travel trends for 2023. "Travelers are showing a high level enthusiasm for life-changing adventures far from home, often on their own," said Brian FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of O.A.T. "It's a genuine priority for travelers to connect and engage with people from other cultures, and to find ways to give back to communities they visit." "Travelers are showing high enthusiasm for life-changing adventures far from home," said Brian FitzGerald, O.A.T. CEO. Tweet this O.A.T. Top 4 Travel Themes for 2023: 1. Africa Travel to Africa is seeing a resurgence. Botswana, Morocco, and Egypt top the list of popular 2023 trips at O.A.T. In 2022, travelers were more focused on Europe. People who dream of visiting Africa -- whether on safari on floating down the Nile -- continue to make up for time lost due to the pandemic. These motivated travelers don't want to put off visiting the continent any longer, and their sights are set on 2023. 2. Solos going strong Women over 50, in particular, are heading out to see the world on their own. According to O.A.T., the number of solo travelers reserving for 2023 is up 24% compared to 2019. Overall, more than 60% of O.A.T. travelers are solos, and the majority are women. "As a single traveler, you're driving everything," said O.A.T. solo traveler Muriel Forster. "That just gives you a great deal of flexibility. I overheard someone say, 'a once in a lifetime experience.' I thought, 'I don't want this to be once in a lifetime I want this to be my lifetime!" Solo travelers are drawn to trips with no single supplement, which can be hundreds or thousands of dollars. O.A.T. offers free single supplements on 92% of its single spaces in 2023. 3. Personalized travel Travelers want the benefits of expert-led small group tours, but increasingly crave more than a one-size-fits all experience. 2023 will bring continued traveler demand to tailor trips with one's individual preferences. For example, many travelers prefer to arrive early at a destination before a tour starts so they feel acclimated. At O.A.T., 87% of travelers personalize their trips by arriving early, staying later, adding a stopover at a popular international city, or combining trips. By comparison, just 75% requested personalization in 2018. 4. Regenerative travel The idea that tourism should leave a destination better than it was before is gaining ground globally. In a nutshell, regenerative travel improves local economies while preserving local cultures and biodiversity. It benefits local people and allows destinations to improve, all while providing authentic experiences to travelers. O.A.T., through its Grand Circle Foundation, supports projects focused on water, conservation, and renewable energy in the areas to which the company travels. The Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (W.A.S.H.) initiative helps improve the well-being of local people. Access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene education reduces illness and death, and increases socio-economic development leading to a reduction in poverty. The Foundation supports alternative energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. Some schools add solar panels as an alternate source of electricity and to reduce operating expenses. Solar lights from the Foundation replace kerosene, reducing illness from soot and smoke and enabling students to study at night, leading to a better education. O.A.T. provides travelers over 50 with impactful, intercultural experiences that help change people's lives. O.A.T. fosters an intimate and accessible experience, with groups limited to 16 travelers (average of 13) by land and 25 (average of 22) by sea. To learn more about O.A.T., please visit www.oattravel.com or call 1-800-955-1925. ABOUT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwideamong them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $250 million since 1981. SOURCE Overseas Adventure Travel PISA, Italy, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaNutra S.p.A. (MTA: PHN), a company specialised in mineral and iron-based nutritional supplements and medical devices for muscles and joints health, is pleased to announce the signing of three new international trade agreements for the distribution of its SiderAL and Cetilar lines in the Republic of Indonesia, Kuwait and Mexico. As far as Indonesia is concerned, the new partner PT Pyridam Farma Tbk. will distribute two nutritional supplements containing Sucrosomial Iron, SiderAL F30 (PharmaNutra brand) and SiderAL Gocce P (Junia Pharma brand). These products, the former intended for an adult target and the latter for the paediatric sector, will become part of the Pyridam Farma portfolio., As a matter of fact, the company has operated in the Indonesian pharmaceutical sector for more than 40 years andits production and marketing activities cover all 34 of the country's provinces, with a potential usership of 275 million inhabitants. As regards Kuwait, the agreement concluded with PharmaLife Co., a company that distributes medical devices, food supplements, medical equipment and natural products is particularly relevant becausePharmaLife Co. will be placing five PharmaNutra products and one Junia Pharma product on the market, specifically: Cetilar Cream, Cetilar Patch, SiderAL Folic 20 sticks, SiderAL Folic 30 cps, SiderAL Forte Int 20 cps and SiderAL Gocce P. In Mexico, PharmaNutra has finalised a new partnership with the company SMS Pharma, whose core business focuses on developing national sales networks specialising in the distribution of pharmaceutical and health products. The contract with SMS Pharma will result, in the course of 2023, in the marketing of the nutritional supplements SiderAL Forte 15 mg 30 cps and SiderAL Folic 21 mg 20 sticks (PharmaNutra), as well as SiderAL Gocce P (Junia Pharma) throughout Mexico. With the conclusion of these new distribution agreements, the PharmaNutra Group can now count on 47 distributors in 70 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Carlo Volpi , COO of the PharmaNutra Group, states:" Indonesia is a market with huge potential, the country with the fourth largest population in the world: it has been a long journey, but we are now ready to reap the rewards of the outstanding work done by our International Business Development team. As regards Kuwait and Mexico , the agreements are particularly significant because they make provision for the distribution of our two leading product families, SiderAL and Cetilar". PharmaNutra S.p.A. Founded and led by Chairman Andrea Lacorte and Deputy Chairman Roberto Lacorte, PharmaNutra is a company established in 2003 that develops unique food supplements and innovative nutrition devices by carrying out the entire production process, from the proprietary starting materials through to the finished product. The effectiveness of its products is demonstrated by a wealth of scientific evidence, including 135 publications involving more than 7000 subjects. The Group distributes and places its products on the market in Italy and abroad. Within Italy, sales activities are carried out through a network of over 160 medical science liaisons serving the medical profession, as well as focusing on the exclusive marketing of PharmaNutra products to pharmacies throughout the country. Sales activities are guaranteed abroad in 70 different countries through 47 partners chosen amongst the best pharmaceutical companies. PharmaNutra is a market leader in the manufacture of dietary supplements containing iron with its SiderAL brand, where it boasts important patents covering its Sucrosomial Technology. Over the years, the Group has developed a precise strategy regarding the management and production of intellectual property, based on integrated management of all the various components: proprietary starting materials, patents, brands and clinical evidence. PharmaNutra.it For further information: Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1948773/PharmaNutra_SpA_Logo.jpg SOURCE PharmaNutra S.p.A. The companies will focus on developing vision AI solutions for monitoring marine energy devices to protect aquatic ecosystems. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Plainsight , the leader in proven vision AI, today announced its collaboration with MarineSitu , a provider of state-of-the-art marine hardware and software, to create innovative vision AI monitoring solutions for the Blue Economy, enabling Marine Energy devices to coexist harmoniously with aquatic life. Plainsight's managed services and vision AI tools will be integrated with MarineSitu's user-friendly underwater camera and sonar software and hardware for faster, lower-cost video processing, analysis, and alerting. This partnership will deliver underwater intelligence to MarineSitu users and customers, reducing environmental risks and mitigating negative impacts across the Blue Economy. The Blue Economy relates to "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth," according to the World Bank. In 2018, the American Blue Economy supported 2.3 million jobs and contributed $373 billion to the US GDP. By 2030, the global Blue Economy is expected to double to $3 trillion. Key sector goals include fostering strong, strategic partnerships across industries and national borders to promote sustainable business practices across the globe. With funding from the United States Department of Energy, MarineSitu has developed environmental monitoring systems for marine energy devices, such as tidal turbines and wave energy converters. Plainsight is working with MarineSitu to provide edge-based vision AI models with its data, training, and management platform to enhance their software with real-time video analytics. With Plainsight, MarineSitu is poised to deliver powerful vision AI solutions to marine energy customers for continuous underwater monitoring and real-time data processing. Initial projects will use custom computer vision models to detect and classify aquatic wildlife and environmental factors that can impact tidal turbines. Future projects will explore a wide range of opportunities across evolving sea and freshwater industries including aquaculture and underwater observation. "Our relationship with Plainsight will empower MarineSitu to rapidly accelerate and expand the deployment of our environmental monitoring tools for the emerging marine energy market, research organizations, and new players across the Blue Economy," said James Joslin, President and Principal Engineer at MarineSitu. "Humans have barely skimmed the surface when it comes to understanding marine environments and enhanced, AI-enabled monitoring capabilities promise to deepen our expertise and unlock more incredible use cases." "Computer vision tools available to date for underwater monitoring solutions have been incapable of capturing and delivering actionable results, due in large part to data bandwidth and manual processing challenges," said Carlos Anchia, Plainsight's Co-Founder and CEO. "AI-enabled tools deployed on the edge represent the most effective method for low-latency, low-cost, monitoring and will yield especially valuable insights for underwater detection and protection of vulnerable ecosystems." Anchia added, "We couldn't be more excited to work with MarineSitu to develop solutions that will unlock a wealth of immediate, near-, and long-term opportunities to drive innovation and support sustainability for businesses in the evolving Blue Economy." Through its Google Cloud partnership and via the Google Cloud Marketplace, Plainsight is providing MarineSitu with its platform, expertise, and deeply integrated vision AI solutions that deliver the production-grade accuracy and scale necessary to safely manage underwater machinery and protect marine populations. Plainsight is passionate about working with enterprises to identify environmental challenges and sustainable solutions while empowering enterprises to achieve their goals and ensure process compliance. Organizations across all industries can solve their computer vision challenges, decrease time to value, and ensure repeatable success by partnering with Plainsight. To learn more, request a call today and speak to Plainsight's experts. About Plainsight Plainsight provides the unique combination of AI strategy, a vision AI platform, and deep learning expertise to develop, implement, and oversee transformative computer vision solutions for enterprises. Through the widest breadth of managed services and a vision AI platform for centralized processes and standardized pipelines, Plainsight makes computer vision repeatable and accountable across all enterprise vision AI initiatives. Plainsight solves problems where others have failed and empowers businesses across industries to realize the full potential of their visual data with the lowest barriers to production, fastest value generation, and monitoring for long-term success. For more information, visit plainsight.ai . About MarineSitu MarineSitu provides full turnkey solutions for underwater monitoring of marine energy systems, including custom hardware, data acquisition and autonomous detection software, and data management services. These systems have proven reliability through over a decade of research and development with the University of Washington's Pacific Marine Energy Center and long-term deployments in some of the harshest marine environments. Please contact [email protected] for more information. The Plainsight name and logo are trademarks of Plainsight Corp. All trademarks, service marks, trade names, product names and logos included herein are the property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Paul Davenport, [email protected] SOURCE Plainsight Beijing (Gasgoo)- Changan Automobiles new energy vehicle-dedicated brand, Shenlan, witnessed its monthly deliveries surpass 10,000 vehicles in the last month of 2022, the automaker announced on January 2. Photo credit: Changan Shenlan In December 2022, Shenlan delivered 11,650 units of its only production model on the market, the SL03 sedan, indicating a prominent 42% surge month-over-month. Positioned as Shenlans first strategic model, the SL03 hit the market with a comprehensive new energy lineup, offering battery-electric, range-extended, and fuel-cell power solutions. The SL03 is installed with Changan Autos proprietary Force super-integrated electric drive, the Force intelligent range extension system, intelligent domain controller, iBC digital battery management system, and many other mass-produced technologies. The traits demonstrate Changan Autos determination and achievement in the fields of automotive intelligence, new energy vehicle range, and electrification systems. With its fine-tuned market strategy, the SL03 had attracted a lot of attention before it hit the market in July 2022. According to the automaker, the new model has secured over 10,000 orders in just 33 minutes after the price was announced, and continued to see its sales volume climb up over time. Notably, in a bid to demonstrate the brands commitment to its users, Shenlan now offers warranty for its range extension system and for used car owners as the first in the industry. ST. PAUL, Minn. and CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Provi , the largest ecommerce marketplace for the beverage alcohol industry, and Johnson Brothers , a wine, beer, and spirits distributor, today announced an expanded partnership to increase marketplace access for on- and off-premise customers in select new markets. The launch will offer retailers in Nevada, Wisconsin, and Florida a new way to discover and shop Johnson Brothers' robust portfolio and interact with sales consultants. The companies currently partner in key east coast markets, such as New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. With this expanded collaboration, more trade customers will have access to Johnson Brothers' current portfolio, up-to-date inventory, and real-time product discounts through Provi's marketplace. Founded in 1953, Johnson Brothers' portfolio includes global suppliers and the newest craft brands in the wine, beer, and spirits industries. Provi's mission is to bring greater efficiency to the beverage alcohol industry and the existing three tier system. The company's online marketplace simplifies the complex process of ordering, selling, and promoting wholesale alcohol between buyers, distributors, and suppliers. In early 2022, the company announced it joined forces with SevenFifty and recently shared its commitment to further enhance the marketplace experience and distributor tools . "Alongside Provi's overall goal to improve connections across the beverage alcohol three-tier system, our focus as a company is to make the jobs of distributors, on- and off-premise retailers, and suppliers easier," said Taylor Katzman, Provi's Founder & CEO. "We are excited to have a partner like Johnson Brothers who shares a common ethos and are committed to the digital transformation of our industry." About Provi ( www.provi.com ) Provi is the largest online marketplace that simplifies the complex process of ordering wholesale alcohol by connecting buyers, distributors and suppliers. Active in key markets throughout the U.S., Provi's robust, online marketplace improves communication and efficiency for on- and off-premise buyers, distributors and suppliers. As of 2022, 10 percent of licensed retailers in the U.S. are on the marketplace. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Provi has received a total of $125 million in funding, is valued at $750 million and has recently been named an Emerging Unicorn by Crunchbase. The company also received Built In Chicago's Best Places to Work recognition in 2022. In 2022, Provi joined forces with SevenFifty, which included the Beverage Media properties with industry legacy dating back to the repeal of prohibition, along with SevenFifty Daily , an award-winning industry publication discussing the beverage alcohol business and culture. About Johnson Brothers Johnson Brothers is a leading wine, beer, and spirits distributor in the United States. As a third-generation family company, Johnson Brothers continues to be driven by the values established by its founder Lynn Johnson in 1953: work ethic, passion, innovation, teamwork, excellence, and integrity. By partnering with the best suppliers worldwide, Johnson Brothers delivers outstanding brands and services to customers across 21 states. To learn more about Johnson Brothers and its supplier partners, visit Johnsonbrothers.com, or connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. SOURCE Provi SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative (QLHC), sponsor of the I-SPY COVID Trial, announced that the cyproheptadine arm of the study has been terminated. Cyproheptadine is most commonly used to alleviate allergies, headaches, and motion sickness, which was thought to improve hypoxia and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. (PRNewsfoto/Quantum Leap Healthcare Collabo) Critically ill COVID-19 patients suffer a gamut of hyperactive immune responses which cause pulmonary edema and at times acute respiratory failure in patients. Evidence indicates that platelet activation plays a role in the pathology of COVID-19. Serotonin is a mediator/byproduct of platelet activation and therefore potentially can aid in immune modulation in COVID-19 treatment. Cyproheptadine, an antiserotonergic agent with an extensive safety profile was suggested as a promising agent for reducing platelet and endothelial dysfunction in the lungs. The I-SPY COVID Trial was designed to rapidly screen agents that show promise for two primary endpoints in hospitalized critically ill COVID-19 patients: reducing the time to recovery (defined as reduction in oxygen demand) or risk of mortality. The study utilizes QLHC's adaptive platform trial design methodology, which focuses on the simultaneous, efficient assessment of multiple investigational agents. During the trial, 8 mg of cyproheptadine was administered to subjects every 8 hours for 10 days. If the patient was less than 48 kg, the dosage was reduced to 6 mg every 8 hours for 10 days. All patients in the study received backbone therapy (standard care) of dexamethasone and remdesivir, while subjects assigned to cyproheptadine received the agent in addition to standard of care. During the trial 35 subjects were randomized to the cyproheptadine arm and analyzed in the intent-to-treat population compared to 61 subjects who were concurrently randomized to the control arm. The probability that cyproheptadine could increase recovery rate was estimated to be 0.1%, with a cause specific median posterior hazard ratio for recovery of 0.47 (95% credible interval 0.27 to 0.82). The probability that the cyproheptadine arm is superior to the concurrent arm to reduce mortality was estimated to be 14.4%, with a median posterior hazard ratio for overall mortality of 1.52 (95% credible interval 0.67, 3.43). A higher portion of subjects in the cyproheptadine arm had serious adverse events, adverse events of special interest, and adverse events, which resulted in discontinuation of the agent at the recommendation of the Data Monitoring Committee and concurrence by the trial leadership. As a precaution for safety concerns, enrollment into the arm was closed before meeting the pre-specified minimum sample size of 40 evaluable patients for futility determination. Sara Auld, MD, MSc, Dr. John Kazianis MD, and Fady Youssef MD, led the study of this agent in the I-SPY COVID Trial. As noted by Dr. Auld, "While we were hopeful that cyproheptadine would specifically target biological pathways that are overactive in patients with severe COVID-19, it did not ultimately improve patient outcomes in this trial. We will continue to evaluate whether there may have been subgroups of patients who did have benefit and remain committed to identifying effective treatments for people with COVID-19." Dr. Youssef added, "As we continue evaluating different subgroups for potential benefit, it is worthwhile to remember that a negative result does inform treatment algorithms in an equally meaningful way as a positive one. The results will contribute to furthering the body of literature surrounding cyproheptadine use in hospitalized and critically ill patients." "One of our future goals is to improve biomarker classification of COVID-19 severe illness. This effort, led by Dr. Sara Auld, Dr. John Kazianis, and the I-SPY COVID Trial Biomarker Working Group, is a critical part of the I-SPY COVID trial which will hopefully help us to find effective agents for this incredibly challenging and devastating disease," said Dr. Laura Esserman, co-principal investigator of the I-SPY Trials. Investigation into additional agents via the I-SPY COVID Trial is ongoing and remains an urgent priority for QLHC and its partners. The I-SPY COVID Trial now includes 35 sites as well as leaders in pulmonary and critical care centers from around the country. The I-SPY COVID Trial is a collaboration between members of QLHC and pharmaceutical partners and the United States government (USG). This work is supported in part, by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the HHS within the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and Joint Program Executive Office, a part of the Department of Defense, are also part of this collaboration under the Medical, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Consortium (MCDC). The effort was sponsored by the U.S. government under Other Transaction number W15QKN-16-9-1002 between the MCDC, and the government. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. government. About Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative is a 501C(3) charitable organization established in 2005 as a collaboration between medical researchers at University of California, San Francisco and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Our mission is to integrate high-impact research with clinical processes and systems technology, resulting in improved data management and information systems, greater access to clinical trial matching and sponsorship, and greater benefit to providers, patients and researchers. Our goal is to improve and save lives. Quantum Leap provides operational, financial, and regulatory oversight to the I-SPY Trials. For more information, visit www.QuantumLeapHealth.org . About DTRA The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) enables the Department of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Government, and International Partners to counter and deter Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Emerging Threats. About the I-SPY COVID Trial The I-SPY COVID Trial (Investigation of Serial Studies to Predict Your COVID Therapeutic Response with Biomarker Integration and Adaptive Learning) is an adaptive platform trial designed to increase trial efficiency by minimizing the number of participants and time required to evaluate experimental and/or repurposed drugs. The focus of the trial is to improve outcomes for severely-ill COVID-19 patientsthose who require at least 6L of high-flow oxygen either by mask or nasal cannula, known as level 5 on the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID scale, an 8-point ordinal scale of clinical severity status. The primary endpoints include the time to achieve level 4 or less for at least 48 hours on the WHO COVID scale, a decrease in the duration of time on a ventilator, and a decrease in mortality. The I-SPY COVID Trial is sponsored and managed by Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative. For more information, visit www.quantumleaphealth.org or www.ispytrials.org . SOURCE Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative GURGAON, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raj Tanwar, CHRO, of Advantage Club Technologies Private Limited, has been accepted into Forbes Human Resources Council, an invitation-only community for HR executives across all industries. Raj Tanwar was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. "We are honored to welcome Raj Tanwar into the community," said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Human Resources Council. "Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world." As an accepted member of the Council, Raj has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Raj will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Raj Tanwar will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. Speaking about his acceptance, Raj said, "I am honoured and excited to join this exclusive and august Council. In addition to my credentials, I am convinced that the comprehensive experience cultivated over the last few years would help me meet Council's expectations and would ensure a proactive contribution to enrich the community furthermore." About Forbes Councils Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. About Advantage Club Advantage Club is a global employee engagement platform offering features like rewards, recognition, community building and FlexBen on a unified platform supported by 10,000+ brand partners globally. Headquartered in San Francisco, Advantage Club currently caters to 3.5 million+ users across 1000+ impressive client portfolio featuring Accenture, BCG, Concentrix, Teleperformance, Hexaware, Target and more with a presence in 100+ countries. SOURCE Advantage Club NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rajiv Surendra, who starred in the feature film Mean Girls, launched his own YouTube channel on New Year's Day. The first instructional video, "Washing Whites" covers the basics of laundry and how to keep your white clothes looking their whitest. Rajiv Surendra at the workshop of his pottery mentor, Guy Wolff Photo credit: Christine Han Surendra has been touted as a modern-day Martha Stewart-meets-Mr Rogers, a multihyphenate working professionally in multiple artistic disciplines. His chalk calligraphy appears in restaurants (Lure Fishbar) and cafes (Breads Bakery) all over Manhattan. He has been commissioned to hand-paint storefront signage (John Derian Company). The flowerpots he throws in Brooklyn are sold at Plant Shed. "He gives me faith that order and structure exist, and that someone, at least, is refusing to let his standards slip," writes Constance Grady (Vox). Since June 2021, Surendra has been collaborating with HGTV's Handmade YouTube channel, hosting 23 videos with a combined view count of over six million (his apartment tour has over 3 million views). Surendra's videos for HGTV's Handmade channel are produced for the series entitled, "Life with Rajiv" and cover domestic tasks (such as how to make a bed and washing woolen sweaters by hand) and also his creative pursuits in pottery, bookbinding, paper marbling and wood carving. "The response to these simple, quiet videos has been overwhelmingly encouraging," Surendra said. "People from all over the world have been reaching out and asking me to start my own YouTube channel, so I'm thrilled to finally be delivering something I'm proud of. I'm sharing my authentic lifestyle and my innate curiosity with the world through these videos," he said. Surendra's channel will feature professionally shot and edited videos that cover everything from cooking a Sri Lankan dinner to how to properly iron a dress shirt, with a goal of creating high-quality instructional content that continues to inspire and educate. The channel's page dropped a trailer in late December which has already amassed tens of thousands of views and hundreds of comments. To subscribe to Rajiv's channel, please use this link: https://www.youtube.com/@rajivsurendra For Media Inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE Rajiv Surendra SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Conception Nurseries announces the addition of industry veteran Kristian Andreassen to their leadership team as Senior Product Director. Andreassen will support Conception's initiative to build a diverse group of cannabis breeders to meet the needs of an ever-expanding cannabis market. Andreassen's decade-plus expertise spans breeding, commercial cultivation, and brand development, garnering numerous Emerald Cup and High Times awards for flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, and genetics. He is a respected fixture of the cannabis industry thanks to a long track record of working with breeders through the medium of tissue culture. He is widely acknowledged to be a pioneer of cannabis tissue culture, introducing stable, high demand genetics to the commercial cannabis marketplace. "Kristian's value to the industry can't be understated. He is an incredibly well respected and award-winning breeder with unparalleled cannabis tissue culture experience. We are absolutely thrilled to have him partner with other elite breeders while bringing to life one of the most dynamic menus in cannabis". Conception's leadership in modeling genetic licensing and distribution for the breeders they work with has created a uniquely diverse menu that supports the changing market demands for strain profiles. The royalty structure ensures that cannabis breeders continue to create high quality strains into the future. "There's nobody I would trust more than Kristian to take the lead on working with cannabis breeders across the U.S.," said Tawnie Scarborough, leading national expansion for Conception Nurseries. The cannabis industry continues to face rising issues with diseased plants and weakened genetics getting into the market. Andreassen is excited to align with Conception as they are uniquely positioned as the market leader in offering clean plants with an expansive library of genetics for cultivators at scale. "There is nothing else in the market like what has been assembled at Conception Nurseries. Every day I'm more impressed with how this team balances science, culture, business, and the art of cannabis. I think we're going to make a big splash in the market with this group," said Andreassen. ABOUT CONCEPTION NURSERIES Conception Nurseries is an agriculture-technology company solving cannabis cultivators' problems with tissue culture technology. Conception produces performance tested, genetically identical, and healthy plantlets, reducing cultivators' operational risks and costs while increasing their production predictability and revenue, delivering a dependable end-user experience. For more information, visit conceptionnurseries.com. (CA license numbers CCL19-0004127 and C13-0000182-LIC) SOURCE Conception Nurseries SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Peregrine Market Access, a full-service consulting, communications, and commercialization partner for the life sciences industry, welcomes Ryan Collazo as a new addition to the account services department. In his role as a vice president of account services, Collazo will manage the business of assigned client brands to support their success. He will develop, maintain, and advance relationships between the agency and clients and lead cross-functional teams at Peregrine Market Access to develop and deliver market access and commercialization initiatives. Collazo has more than 10 years of experience in account supervisor and director positions at healthcare marketing agencies. Over his career, he has led account teams and managed brands for Amgen, Gilead, and AstraZeneca, among other pharmaceutical manufacturers. From brand strategy, market research, and product launches to medical communications and field engagement, Collazo's experience is broad and deep, spanning a variety of therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, mental health, inflammation, and nephrology. "Ryan understands the complexities of healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry and knows how to help brands succeed," said Kat Evans, director of client management at Peregrine Market Access. "His comprehensive experience and communication skills are going to strengthen our already incredible team." "As our organization continues to grow, having seasoned professionals like Ryan to lead and mentor is incredibly important," said Scott Neverett, partner, director of human resources at Peregrine Market Access. "He will be a valuable asset to our company." Collazo earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English from The New School in New York, New York and the University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom, respectively. ABOUT PEREGRINE MARKET ACCESS Peregrine Market Access is a leading consulting, communications, and commercialization partner for the life sciences industry that's on a mission to redefine the way healthcare is valued. The Peregrine group of companies includes Communications Agency, Contract Account and Sales Team, Digital Modeling, Market Insights, Publications and Media Strategy, Reimbursement Solutions, Strategy and Consulting, and Value Chain Public Relations. Through its work with pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients, Peregrine helps people living with chronic and/or life-threatening conditions to gain access to the diagnostics and treatments they need. Peregrine Market Access is nationally recognized as one of America's fastest-growing private companies by Inc. and is certified as a Great Place to Work. Learn more at PeregrineMarketAccess.com. CONTACT Jenny Sparano 518.832.3034 [email protected] SOURCE Peregrine Market Access PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wealthbox today announced that Sanctuary Wealth, an advanced RIA platform designed for the next generation of elite advisors, has signed an agreement for the enterprise version of Wealthbox and its CRM workspace technology. The Sanctuary Wealth advisor network includes partner firms in 28 states with approximately $25 billion in assets under advisement. In the multi-year agreement, Wealthbox Enterprise will now be used by Sanctuary Wealth advisors at partner firms across the country who rely on this CRM technology for internal collaboration as well as to manage client relationships. "Sanctuary Wealth works consistently to assist our partner firms in developing their own businesses to the fullest and meeting all of their clients' needs. This enterprise-grade CRM technology will make an important contribution to this objective," said Jene Hoosier, Head of Platform Strategy at Sanctuary Wealth. "We have been using Wealthbox for three years, and their technology has proven to have high user adoption among our existing advisors. We also believe their CRM will help attract new break-aways which aligns with our overall growth objectives." "We're delighted to enhance our business relationship through this new Wealthbox Enterprise agreement with Sanctuary Wealth," said John Rourke, CEO and cofounder of Wealthbox. "We're excited to work closely with the Sanctuary Wealth team and continually release new CRM features to help streamline operations for advisors and support their clients' financial planning and investing goals." For advisors considering a move to RIA independence, the companies will be co-hosting a webinar showcasing the Wealthbox CRM technology and Sanctuary Wealth platform offerings. Sign up now. About Wealthbox Wealthbox is a CRM platform for financial advisors. Integrated with leading custodians and wealth-tech partners, Wealthbox is known for its modern product design and powerful yet intuitive user experience. The collaborative workspace technology allows financial advisors, enterprise RIA firms, and broker-dealers to manage client relationships and streamline operations to grow their practices. Learn more at www.wealthbox.com About Sanctuary Wealth Sanctuary Wealth is the advanced platform for the next generation of elite advisors, who have the entrepreneurial spirit to build and own their own practices and desire the freedom to deliver the tailored service their clients deserve. Sanctuary Wealth's ecosystem of partnered independence provides a complete technology and operations platform, as well as support from a community of like-minded advisors and the resources of invaluable affiliated businesses. Currently, the Sanctuary Wealth network includes partner firms in 28 states across the country with approximately $25 billion in assets under advisement. Sanctuary Wealth includes the fully owned subsidiaries; Sanctuary Advisors LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, Sanctuary Securities, Inc. a FINRA member broker-dealer as well as Sanctuary Alternative Holdings, Sanctuary Asset Management, Sanctuary Insurance Solutions, Sanctuary Global, and Sanctuary Global Family Office. SOURCE Wealthbox Announced at CES 2023, automakers now have a powerful and cost-effective in-cabin monitoring solution for space-constrained areas that also meets the strict European regulations LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeing Machines Limited (LSE: SEE), the advanced computer vision technology company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, and OMNIVISION , a leading global developer of semiconductor solutions, including advanced digital imaging , analog, and touch & display technology, today announced the successful integration of Seeing Machines' leading in-cabin monitoring system technology (ICMS) with the OMNIVISION OAX4600 system-on-chip (SoC) platform. Optimized by Seeing Machines' Occula neural processing unit (NPU), the OMNIVISION OAX4600 will provide automakers with a new, powerful, and cost-effective solution to meet and exceed the regulatory requirements associated with the European Commission's General Safety Regulation as well as Europe's New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) protocols. Working closely together, OMNIVISION and Seeing Machines have integrated Seeing Machines' embedded driver monitoring engine (e-DME) into the OAX4600 SoC silicon, which is specifically targeted toward the expanding automotive ICMS market. The Seeing Machines e-DME makes use of the Occula NPU integrated in the OAX4600 to reduce the load on the on-board Arm processors while accelerating the core tracking pipeline. When paired with OMNIVISION's broad range of high-resolution, wide-field-of-view automotive RGB-IR sensors or near-infrared (NIR) sensors, the OAX4600 device, integrated with Seeing Machines' robust automotive ICMS solution, enables a powerful combination of performance, cost and power efficiency in a form factor that allows it to be packaged into space-constrained areas of the vehicle. "We are very happy to be working with OMNIVISION to bring our Occula NPU to the market integrated with the OAX4600 SoC," said Paul McGlone, CEO, Seeing Machines. "Seeing Machines' software and hardware embedding capabilities, combined with OMNIVISION's automotive camera sensor and design expertise, are clearly demonstrated with this silicon. We are very confident that this will give our customers a highly optimized silicon platform that can target the driver as well as the wider interior sensing market." "Seeing Machines is a proven leader in today's automotive camera-based driver-monitoring market and a long-term partner of OMNIVISION," said Andy Hanvey, director of automotive marketing at OMNIVISION. "The OAX4600 SoC, in tandem with our wide range of automotive-grade, high-resolution camera sensors, provides a cost-effective and small-footprint driver and occupant monitoring solution, integrated with Seeing Machines' powerful Occula NPU, our customers can expect unprecedented performance and high ROI in minimal form factor." The new ICMS silicon platform is being featured at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week inside the Seeing Machines private meeting suite at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. To schedule a demo or for more information, contact [email protected]. Or contact your OMNIVISION sales representative: www.ovt.com/contact-sales . About Seeing Machines Seeing Machines (LSE: SEE) is 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 About OMNIVISION OMNIVISION is a global fabless semiconductor organization that develops advanced digital imaging, analog, and touch & display solutions for multiple applications and industries, including mobile phones, security and surveillance, automotive, computing, medical, and emerging applications. Its award-winning innovative technologies enable a smoother human/machine interface in many of today's commercial devices. Find out more at www.ovt.com . Occula is a registered trademark of Seeing Machines. OMNIVISION and the OMNIVISION logo are trademarks of OMNIVISION. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Seeing Machines Limited NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Silvergate Capital Corporation (NYSE: SI), and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and docketed under 22-cv-01968, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Silvergate securities between November 9, 2021 and November 17, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Silvergate securities during the Class Period, you have until February 6, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Silvergate is a digital currency company. Its platform, the Silvergate Exchange Network, provides payments, lending, and funding solutions for an expanding class of digital currency companies and investors. Silvergate is also the parent company of Silvergate Bank which provides financial services that include commercial banking, commercial and residential real estate lending, mortgage warehouse lending, and commercial business lending. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that the Company's platform lacked sufficient controls and procedures to detect instances of money laundering; (2) that Silvergate's customers had engaged in money laundering in amounts exceeding $425 million; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was reasonably likely to receive regulatory scrutiny and face damages, including penalties and reputational harm; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On November 15, 2022, Marcus Aurelius Research tweeted that "Recently subpoenaed Silvergate bank records reveal $425 million in transfers from $SI crypto bank accounts to South American money launderers. Affidavit from investigation into crypto crime ring linked to smugglers/drug traffickers." On this news, the Company's Class A common stock price fell $6.13, or 17%, to close at $29.36 per share on November 15, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume. On November 17, 2022, The Bear Cave newsletter released an article about several companies with potential exposure to recently collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, including Silvergate. The article highlighted the connection linking Silvergate to a money laundering operation that transferred $425 million off cryptocurrency trading platforms. On this news, the Company's Class A common stock price fell $3.00, or 10.7%, to close at $24.90 per share on November 18, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Beijing (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Motors wholly-owned passenger vehicle brand, AEOLUS (Fengshen), closed the year of 2022 with its best-ever annual sales performance, according to data released by the company. Photo credit: AEOLUS In 2022, Dongfeng AEOLUS sold a total of 190,587 vehicles, representing a 58% surge year-over-year. The company sold over 6,000 vehicles overseas in the past year. Meanwhile, the cumulative installation volume of AEOLUS' signature Mach Power 1.5T engine reached the 100,000-unit mark in a year. AEOLUS disclosed that aside from the oil-fueled Mach Power engine, the company also has plans to lay out in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and battery-electric vehicle segments, which will take shape in 2023. In terms of product strategies, AEOLUS focuses on both the general consumer market and the mobility service market. In the past year, AEOLUS launched the Haoji SUV, which targets the younger-generation consumers. As the first SUV model to be powered by the Mach dual-motor hybrid system, the Haoji scored an impressive sales volume of 10,745 units in one month after it went on sale on September 26, 2022. In addition, AEOLUS' E70 battery-electric sedan has also been leading China's mobility service-use market regarding auto registrations. In August 2022, the automaker put a new version, the E70 PRO, onto the market, providing better power, quality, and design for ride-hailing service companies. NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Generac Holdings, Inc. ("Generac" or the "Company") (NYSE: GNRC). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Generac 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 August 1, 2022, Generac's channel partner Pink Energy filed a lawsuit against Generac, revealing that Generac's "defective" SnapRS components caused millions of dollars of damage, giving rise to liability that threatened Pink Energy's solvency (the "Pink Energy Complaint"). The disclosures in the Pink Energy Complaint caused Generac's stock price to fall $3.31 per share. The liability created by defective SnapRS components ultimately forced Pink Energy to declare bankruptcy on October 7, 2022. In the wake of Pink Energy's bankruptcy, on October 19, 2022, Generac revealed that it had taken "pre-tax charges totalling approximately $55 million, including approximately $37 million of clean energy product warranty-related matter and approximately $18 million of bad debt expense related to a clean energy product customer that has filed for bankruptcy." The $37 million charge related to warranty expenses appears to reflect Generac's belated acknowledgment of its increased liability to redress defective SnapRS units. The $18 million charge related to "bad debt expense" reflects receivables owed by Pink Energy, and possibly other partners or customers burdened with defective SnapRS products, that would not be paid. These disclosures caused the Generac's stock price to decline by $37.44 per share, or 25%. Then, on November 2, 2022, Generac released its earnings results for the third quarter of 2022, and lowered sales guidance on its solar energy business for the remainder of the year by approximately 40%. On a conference call with investors and analysts held that same day, Generac's Chief Executive Officer Aaron Jagdfeld attributed the lowered guidance to "the loss of a major customer during the quarter, along with the specific warranty-related issue"i.e., the defective SnapRS component and the Pink Energy bankruptcy that resulted directly from that defect. Analysts expressed shock upon learning how dependent Generac's clean energy business was on Pink Energy, with several analysts noting that investors had not been told of the significant concentration of that business with a single partner. As a result of these disclosures, Generac's stock price declined by $8.99 per share, or 8%. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PomerantzLLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Southwest Airlines Co. ("Southwest" or the "Company") (NYSE: LUV). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Southwest 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 26, 2022, Business Insider published an article entitled "US Department of Transportation says it plans to look into Southwest Airlines following the airline's 'unacceptable' holiday flight cancellations." The article stated, among other things, that the "U.S. DOT tweeted Monday it will examine whether Southwest is abiding by its customer service policy[,]" and "Southwest cancelled nearly 3,000 flights on the day after Christmas, the most of any U.S. airline." On this news, Southwest's stock fell $2.15 per share, or 5%, to close at $33.94 per share on December 27, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 [email protected] 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, "Integra's 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, Welltower's 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. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterilization Services Market is projected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2027 from an estimated USD 4.5 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Increasing hospital-acquired infections, increasing outsourcing of sterilization services among pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and medical device manufacturers, and surging surgical procedures are the factors attributing to the growth of sterilization services. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=183597324 Browse in-depth TOC on "Sterilization Services Market" 264 - Tables 43 - Figures 294 Pages Sterilization Services Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 5.9 billion by 2027 Growth Rate 5.5% of CAGR Largest Market North America Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2022-2027 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Method, Type, Mode of Delivery, End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Growing medical device and pharmaceutical companies in emerging economies Key Market Drivers Growing prevalence of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) The gamma sterilization segment accounted for the second largest share of the sterilization services market Based on the method, the sterilization services market has been segmented into ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization, gamma sterilization, electron beam (e-beam) radiation sterilization, steam sterilization, X-ray irradiation, and others. In 2021, the gamma sterilization segment accounted for the second largest share of the sterilization services market. Increasing use of thermally labile products as well as the high penetration of gamma sterilization services has fueled the adoption of gamma sterilization. The contract sterilization services segment accounted for the largest share of the sterilization services market By type, the sterilization services market has been segmented into contract sterilization services and sterilization validation services. In 2021, the contract sterilization services segment accounted for the largest share of the sterilization services market. The growing incidence of chronic diseases and pandemics (such as COVID-19), the need to reduce surgical-site infections (SSIs), and cost-effectiveness offered have contributed to the rise in the adoption of contract sterilization services. The off-site sterilization services segment is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period By mode of delivery, the sterilization services market has been segmented into off-site and on-site sterilization services. The off-site sterilization services segment is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period. Better efficiency of contract sterilization processes than in-house sterilization, access to new sterilization technology, and greater output with less financial risk are expected to increase the demand for off-site sterilization services. The medical device companies accounted for the largest share of the sterilization services market Based on end user, the sterilization services market has been segmented into hospitals & clinics, medical device companies, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and others). In 2021, the medical device companies segment accounted for the largest share of the sterilization services market. The increasing adoption of single-use medical devices and the surge in number of surgical procedures worldwide is expected to increase the adoption of sterilization services by medical device companies. Asia Pacific is to witness the highest growth during the forecast period The Asia Pacific sterilization services market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period of 2022-2027. Growing economic structure in China and India, the prevalence of nosocomial infections, and growth in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries are key factors driving the growth of the sterilization services market in the APAC region. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=183597324 Sterilization Services Market Dynamics: Drivers: Growing prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) Increasing number of surgical procedures Growing focus on food sterilization Increasing outsourcing of sterilization services among pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and medical device manufacturers Restraints: Concerns regarding safety of reprocessed instruments Opportunities: Growing medical device and pharmaceutical companies in emerging economies Rising use of E-beam sterilization Reintroduction of ethylene oxide sterilization Rising adoption of single-use medical nonwovens and devices Growing healthcare industry and outsourcing of operations to emerging countries Challenges: Sterilization of advanced medical instruments End-user noncompliance with sterilization standards Key Market Players: STERIS plc (US), Sotera Health Company (US), Stryker Corporation (US), Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP, US), E-BEAM Services, Inc. (US), MMM Group (Germany), Belimed AG (Switzerland), BGS Beta-Gamma-Service GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Medistri SA (Switzerland), and Noxilizer, Inc. (US) are key players in the sterilization services market. Recent Developments: In 2022, BGS Beta-Gamma-Service GmbH & Co. KG expanded its laboratory in Wiehl to meet the increased need for sterilization services in the sectors of biotechnology, medicine, and diagnostics for radiation cross-linking. In 2022, Sterigenics expanded its electron beam facility located in Columbia city, Indiana . This facility provides mission-critical E-beam sterilization services to help ensure the safety of medical devices and drug products. city, . This facility provides mission-critical E-beam sterilization services to help ensure the safety of medical devices and drug products. In 2021, STERIS acquired Cantel, which is a provider of infection prevention services, and this acquisition will strengthen the STERIS leadership in infection prevention by bringing together two complementary businesses. In 2020, STERIS added X-rays to its product portfolio in the existing gamma irradiation by an expansion of its facility in Thailand . Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=183597324 Browse Adjacent Market: Medical Devices Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Sterilization Equipment Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Particle Counters Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Hospital-acquired Infection Control Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Surface Disinfectant Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Cleanroom Technology Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/sterilization-service-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/sterilization-service.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Carl-Peter Forster has been appointed as StoreDot Chairman has been appointed as StoreDot Chairman Forster has wide-ranging, long-standing automotive industry expertise including senior posts at Geely, Volvo, Tata Motors, and BMW New Chairman will offer strategic guidance as StoreDot expands its relationship with the global automotive industry StoreDot remains on target for mass production of '100in5' cells by 2024 delivering at least 100 miles of range in just five minutes of charging HERZLIYA, Israel, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging battery technology for electric vehicles, has today announced the appointment of global automotive industry leader Carl-Peter Forster as Chairman. This key appointment, effective immediately, signals yet another step in StoreDot's global expansion and even closer ties with the global automotive industry, as it remains firmly on track for the mass production readiness of its game-changing '100in5' extreme fast charging cells by 2024. Carl-Peter Forster, StoreDot Chairman Carl-Peter Forster is joining StoreDot after a stellar career in the automotive industry. He is currently a senior adviser and board member of several car companies. Past roles have included being a senior adviser to the Geely Group Chairman and a board member of Volvo Cars. He has also served as CEO of Tata Motors and General Motors' President of Europe. He spent the formative years of his career at BMW where he held many senior engineering roles and eventually rose to become a member of the Management Board for Manufacturing. Dr Doron Myersdorf, StoreDot CEO said "We are delighted that someone with Carl-Peter Forster's experience is joining us at this exciting stage of StoreDot's expansion. He joins our global expert leadership team, and we are looking forward to benefitting from his impeccable automotive industry experience and insight as well as his invaluable strategic guidance as we move from R&D focus to manufacturing and execution. "Boosting our automotive bench strength is extremely important as we are aiming to build on our OEM strategic partnerships and encourage even more automotive manufacturers to independently assess our '100in5' XFC cells and incorporate them into their electric vehicles." Carl-Peter Forster, StoreDot Chairman said "It's an honor to be joining StoreDot, a company that I have admired for some time. I am a passionate advocate of EVs and recognize that charging anxiety is currently a major barrier to true mass adoption of these zero-emission technologies. Therefore, the work that Doron and his team are doing to put extreme fast charging batteries into mass production is vital for our industry. I am looking forward to working closely with them and harnessing my experience to help in taking this extraordinary technology to market." StoreDot has previously revealed its '100inX' strategic technology roadmap. This featured 100in5, 100in3 and 100in2 of miles per minute of charging - three generations of StoreDot technologies of Silicon dominant XFC, semi solid state and post-Lithium architecture. The roadmap timings for these fast-charging solutions will be delivered over the coming decade with 100in5 by 2024, 100in3 by 2028 and 100in2 by 2032. The company now has a growing network of strategic partnerships and investors, spanning the entire battery ecosystem. To date it has received investments from automotive manufacturers including Daimler, Ola Electric, Polestar, VinFast and Volvo. Additional EV OEMs are currently conducting real-world tests of XFC cell samples. About StoreDot: StoreDot is the pioneer and leader of extreme fast charging (XFC) electric vehicle batteries that overcome the critical barriers to mainstream EV adoption range and charging anxiety. The company has revolutionized the conventional Li-ion battery by designing and synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, optimized by Artificial Intelligence algorithms, making it possible to charge an EV in under ten minutes the same experience as refuelling a conventional combustion engine car. Through its '100inX' product roadmap, StoreDot's battery technology is delivering 'Range on Demand': 100 miles charged in 5 minutes in 2024, 100 miles charged in 3 minutes by 2028, and extreme energy density solution enabling 100 miles to be charged in 2 minutes by 2032. StoreDot's strategic investors and partners include Daimler, BP, VinFast, Volvo, Polestar, Ola Electric, Samsung, TDK, and its manufacturing partner EVE Energy. In 2022, the company achieved a world first by demonstrating a live extreme fast charging of an EV battery cell in 10 minutes. StoreDot is on target for mass production readiness of 100in5 technology by 2024. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976621/Carl_Peter_Forster__StoreDot_Chairman.jpg SOURCE StoreDot SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SVB, the financial partner of the innovation economy and parent of Silicon Valley Bank, today announced the appointment of Kim Olson as Chief Risk Officer (CRO). In this role, Olson will lead the Risk function and team, developing and maintaining SVB's risk management framework and a culture of risk management across the company. "Kim's deep and multi-faceted financial services experience as a senior risk leader and former regulator and bank supervisor positions her perfectly to actively manage SVB's financial and non-financial risks and to build and scale the firm's risk management capabilities through our next phase of growth," said Greg Becker, president and CEO of SVB. With $213 billion in assets and more than 8,200 employees globally (as of Q3 2022), SVB's mission is to increase its clients' probability of success. SVB provides innovators, enterprises and investors with the services they need to succeed via four complementary businesses: Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Capital, SVB Private and SVB Securities. In 2023, SVB celebrates the 40th anniversary of its founding and four decades serving investors and the innovation economy. The company is located in nine countries and is widely recognized as a champion of the innovation sector, a leader in corporate social responsibility and a great place to work. Olson has thirty years of financial services experience. She joins SVB from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), where she served as the Chief Risk Officer for SMBC in the Americas, and an Executive Officer of SMBC and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. Prior to SMBC, Olson held senior risk management roles at other leading global financial institutions. She also has rating agency experience, as well as experience in professional services advising large- and medium-sized financial institutions on evolving regulations, risk management and stress testing following the 2008 financial crisis. Olson began her career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where over a period of 10 years she held a variety of senior policy, regulatory and examination roles in banking supervision. "SVB has an impressive track record of sound growth and remaining true to its strategy of serving the innovation economy. I am excited to lead SVB's outstanding risk management team and continue to build SVB's risk management framework and capabilities in this important next chapter of the firm's trajectory," said Olson. Olson is based in SVB's New York office. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Santa Clara University and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. About SVB SVB is the financial partner of the innovation economy, helping individuals, investors and the world's most innovative companies achieve their ambitious goals. SVB's businesses - Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Capital, SVB Private and SVB Securities - together offer the services that dynamic and fast-growing clients require as they grow, including commercial banking, venture investing, wealth planning and investment banking. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, SVB operates in centers of innovation around the world. Learn more at svb.com/global. [SIVB-C] SVB Financial Group (SVB) (Nasdaq: SIVB) is the holding company for all business units and groups. 2022 SVB Financial Group. All rights reserved. SVB, SVB FINANCIAL GROUP, SILICON VALLEY BANK, SVB SECURITIES, SVB PRIVATE, SVB CAPITAL and the chevron device are trademarks of SVB Financial Group, used under license. Silicon Valley Bank is a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve System. Silicon Valley Bank is the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group. SOURCE SVB Financial Group Lineup includes two full-sized keyboards and an ergonomic, ambidextrous mouse designed for ultimate sustainability, comfort, and performance LAS VEGAS, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- (CES) Targus, a leader in laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, announced it has expanded its EcoSmart Collection to its tech accessories category in partnership with Atmosic Technologies, innovators in low-power wireless and battery-free IoT solutions. The Collection features two premium full-sized keyboards and an ergonomic, ambidextrous mouse slated to arrive in early 2023. Targus' premium, sustainable tech accessories deliver ultimate comfort and performance, while doing more to impact less. Tweet this The new sustainable tech accessories comprise up to 85 percent of post-consumer recycled (PCR) ABS plastic, come in packaging made from recycled materials, and use ultra-low-power Bluetooth technology from Atmosic Technologies to reduce power consumption and extend battery life. As an added bonus, they include Targus' DefenseGuard Antimicrobial Protection, which creates a cleaner surface and works continuously to protect the device by preventing the growth of microorganisms. "Our new EcoSmart tech accessories are designed from the ground up to embody sustainability, while providing superior ergonomic and user-friendly benefits that are important to today's consumers," says Mike Sexton, Senior Director of Global Product Management & Development at Targus. "What makes these products so innovative is that they are premium tech accessories designed for power users that simultaneously deliver on sustainability." Nick Dutton, Senior Director of Product Marketing for Atmosic Technologies adds, "We are proud to equip Targus' EcoSmart tech accessories with our ultra-low-power Bluetooth technology that significantly extend their battery life while reducing power consumption and a need to replace batteries that harm the environment when discarded." More About the Collection The Targus Energy Harvesting EcoSmart Keyboard is designed for power users and simultaneously delivers on sustainability. Named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree, this patent-pending, sustainable keyboard combines advanced energy harvesting solar technology with post-consumer recycled materials and ultra-low-power Bluetooth technology in sustainable packaging. It is primarily powered by advanced amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells and uses the Atmosic ATM3 Series Bluetooth SoC. The photovoltaic cells used are optimized to harvest light from indoor lighting. The ATM3 series integrates advanced power management technology and has extremely low-power capabilities, making it three-to-four times more power efficient than any other Bluetooth solution on the market. The keyboard's streamlined design features a backlit 104-key keypad and multi-device plug-and-play compatibility to provide superior functionality and a comfortable typing experience. The Energy Harvesting EcoSmart Keyboard will arrive next month and retail for $119.99 MSRP. The Targus Sustainable Ergonomic EcoSmart Keyboard combines sustainability benefits with a superior ergonomic design to deliver an easy and comfortable typing experience, while leveraging recycled materials to help protect our planet. This ergonomic, full-sized, lightweight keyboard packs a lot of power with its ultra-low-power Bluetooth technology, 104-key keypad, and multi-device plug-and-play compatibility. Available in March/April 2023, it will retail for $119.99 MSRP. Lastly, Targus has created an Ergonomic Ambidextrous EcoSmart Mouse, which is uniquely designed for superior ergonomics and true ambidextrous use. Its innovative, patent-pending six-button ergonomic ambidextrous design works by allowing the user to lift up the top and rotate it 180 degrees to easily convert it from a right- to left-handed mouse. Delivering gaming-level performance and precision, it comes equipped with a high-performance 4000 DPI Pixart PAW3220DB Bluetrace LED optical sensor to provide a high level of precision on almost any surface. Also arriving in March/April of 2023, the Ergonomic Ambidextrous EcoSmart Mouse will retail for $59.99 MSRP. Check out Targus' EcoSmart tech accessories at CES in Targus Booth #15901, Central Hall, as well as in Atmosic Technologies' private CES suite located in the Venetian Palazzo Hospitality Suites, Venetian Tower Floors 25-29. To schedule an appointment or drop-by, contact [email protected]. About Targus For 40 years, Targus has been revolutionizing mobile computing accessories for large enterprises and consumers, alike connecting people and technology in meaningful ways. From laptop bags to tablet cases to peripherals and universal docking stations, we persistently conceive, design, and produce innovative, productivity-boosting solutions that make the complex, simple; and seamlessly integrate into the lifestyles of mobile professionals wherever they work at home, in the office, or wherever they go. We cross categories, regions, industries, and lifestyles with a breadth and depth of products that provide you with the solutions you need to live, dream, and do. Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Targus has global operations in more than 24 offices and distribution in more than 100 countries. Learn more about us at targus.com, like or follow us on Facebook, and LinkedIn. About Atmosic Technologies Atmosic Technologies is an innovative fabless semiconductor company, designing ultra-low power wireless and energy harvesting solutions to dramatically reduce and disrupt device dependency on batteries, aiming to deliver forever battery life and the battery free connected Internet of Things. The company's products enable the IoT device ecosystemdesigners and manufacturers, as well as end users and those responsible for deploymentsto dramatically lower costs and efforts associated with maintaining the growing Internet of Things in Personal, Home, Auto, Healthcare, Industrial, Enterprise and Smart Cities segments. In addition to these tangible business advantages, Atmosic aims to reduce ecological impacts with its vision of dramatically reduced battery consumption in the Internet of Things. Visit www.atmosic.com to learn more. *Targus, EcoSmart, and DefenseGuard are trademarks or registered trademarks of Targus International LLC in the U.S. and in certain other countries. Atmosic and ATM3 Series are trademarks of Atmosic Technologies. All logos and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Targus TML crosses a landmark milestone for 500,000 connected vehicles on their unified, connected vehicle platform BENGALURU, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TATA Elxsi, a global design and technology services company, extends its heartiest congratulations to Tata Motors Limited on crossing a significant milestone of onboarding 500,000 vehicles onto the Connected Vehicle Platform (CVP) that caters to its entire range of Commercial, Passenger and Electric Vehicles. In early 2019, Tata Motors collaborated with TATA Elxsi to adopt and adapt the TETHER Connected Vehicle Platform (CVP) towards a common standard technology stack to deliver scalability, differentiated features, high performance and expandable to Industry 4.0 to transform their internal operations. Tata Motors deployed the TETHER CVP under the brands of Fleet Edge for CV, iRA for PV & Zconnect for EV, which offer features like track and trace, geo-fencing and alerts, driver behaviour monitoring, and fuel efficiency monitoring. In addition, they enable secure and selective access to the platform and relevant data with its wider partner ecosystem, including dealers, and suppliers, to enrich customer experience. TETHER CVP was built as a modular platform, which can be scaled up to offer a wide range of solutions with third-party applications through APIs. In addition, it is a 5G-ready platform with capabilities to handle hype scalar traffic, massive FOTA, and digital twin capabilities catering to the SDV roadmap of the OEM. Expressing himself on the milestone, Rajendra Petkar President & CTO of Tata Motors, said, "In line with Tata Motors stated objective of offering differentiated products based on our CESS philosophy (Connected, Electrified, Safe & Shared), we are delighted to have partnered with TATA Elxsi. This not only allowed us to take the decision of developing a native platform for the Connected Vehicle Program, but it also helped us to jump start and meet the critical product launch timelines. TATA Elxsi brings strong automotive electronics experience, coupled with an excellent understanding of cloud-based applications, data governance and world class user experience capabilities. The collaboration between the two teams has been outstanding and will continue to ensure a wonderful customer experience." Commenting on this milestone, Manoj Raghavan, MD & CEO of TATA Elxsi, said, "We congratulate Tata Motors and are proud to be a strategic partner to help them in achieving their vision for the future of mobility that is Connected, Electric, Safe and Shared. The Connected Vehicle Program will unify and synergize data through a common digital services platform, enabling completely new services, innovative business models, and enhanced customer experience." The platform was recognised as the Next-Gen Product of the Year by NASSCOM Engineering and Innovation Excellence Awards 2021. In addition, it has recently been awarded the prestigious Tech.AD Award USA in 2022. TETHER is also one of the finalists at the TU Auto 2021 awards held in Detroit, USA, and Tata Innovista 2022. The TETHER CVP roadmap elevates the platform capabilities by extending use cases for 2- and 3-wheelers and adding support for 5G MEC use cases, edge computing for autonomous driving and an AI-driven analytics layer. This will help OEMs convert data and insights into enhanced customer experience, lower costs, and in monetization. About TATA Elxsi Incorporated in 1989, TATA Elxsi is amongst the world's leading providers of design and technology services across industries, including Automotive, Media, Communications, Healthcare, and Transportation Tata Elxsi works with leading OEMs and suppliers in the automotive and transportation industries for R&D, design, and product engineering services from architecture to launch and beyond. TATA Elxsi brings together domain experience across Autonomous, Electric, Connected vehicle technologies, and Software-defined vehicles (SDV). It is supported by a worldwide network of design studios, development centres, offices, and a global pool of over 10,000 engineers and specialists. For more information, visit www.tataelxsi.com . Media Contact: Tata Elxsi Hari Balan Corporate Communications Email: [email protected] 080 22979123 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/742257/Tata_Elxsi_Logo.jpg SOURCE TATA Elxsi SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology brand OnePlus is on a mission to provide high-quality audio through its flagship wireless earbuds, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. Equipped with exciting new features, the upcoming OnePlus Buds Pro 2 are set to deliver a rich and natural sound that is tailor-fit for its users, thanks to its unique partnerships with Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. Co-created with Dynaudio to build the best-in-class audio quality "Dynaudio has years of experience producing exceptional sound quality," said Kinder Liu, President of OnePlus. "It's a pleasure for us to co-create the Dynaudio, this partnership helps fulfil our goal of bringing an immersive audio experience to our users." In collaboration with Dynaudio, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 holds the key to unlocking pure harmony. Built into the buds is the MelodyBoost Dual Drivers co-created with Dynaudio, a sophisticated technology derived from premium speakers. This powerful technology is installed and compacted into the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 to produce the same deep thumping bass, sans the rumbling and crisp vocals. The 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter deliver front row sound. The 11mm driver focuses on dealing with the low frequency for deeper, fuller, more textured and dynamic bass, while the 6mm driver delivers a wider range of sound and pure clear vocals. The coaxial dual driver system of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Series is able to handle the high and low frequencies with ease. Hear music the way it sounded in the studio in all its nuances, free from any distortions. The dome of the woofer is equipped with a crystal polymer diaphragm and a separate dome and edge design to improve the connection between the low and mid frequencies and the high frequencies taking into account the detail of the vocals and high frequencies. Meanwhile, silicone edge is introduced into the woofer to enhance the flexibility and texture of the low frequencies. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 also feature one default equalizer (EQ) and three customized EQs - Bold, Serenade, and Bass. All four EQs are co-tuned with Dynaudio, enabling users to listen every song with its original pure sounds. This is merely the latest partnership that OnePlus has embarked on, as the brand is founded on innovation and collaboration. More details of Buds Pro 2 will be unveiled at OnePlus Cloud 11 Event on February 7, 2023. About OnePlus OnePlus is a global mobile technology brand that challenges conventional concepts of technology. Founded on the "Never Settle" mantra, OnePlus creates exquisitely designed devices with premium build quality and high-performance hardware. OnePlus thrives on cultivating strong bonds and growing alongside its community of users and fans. For more information, please visit OnePlus.com or follow us on: Instagram - https://instagram.com/oneplus Facebook - https://facebook.com/oneplus Twitter - https://twitter.com/oneplus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oneplus SOURCE OnePlus NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Open RAN market is projected to grow from USD 1.1 billion in 2022 to USD 15.6 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 70.5% during the forecast period. Advantages such as solution flexibility, reduced costs and supply chain diversity is driving the Open RAN market growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377399/?utm_source=PRN Services segment is estimated to account for a higher CAGR during the forecast period The adoption of Open RAN services is expected to increase among service providers and enterprises with the increasing adoption of Open RAN solutions.The Open RAN market has been segmented based on services into consulting, deployment and implementation, and support and maintenance. These services assist end users in reducing costs, lowering operational costs, increasing overall revenues, and improving business performance. Sub-6GHz segment is expected to account for a larger market share during the forecast period Businesses are already on the way to Sub-6GHz 5G.Huawei proposed bands below 6 GHz as the primary working frequency of 5G. Qualcomm announced a 5G New Radio model system and trial platform.The 5G NR prototype system operates in the Sub-6GHz spectrum bands and is utilized to showcase the companyas 5G designs to efficiently achieve multigigabit per second data rates and low latency. Mobile operators will continue to rely heavily on the Sub-6GHz spectrum. This is because it will take time for mmWave technology to be fully developed and harmonize the availability of the new spectrum bands. Public segment to account for the largest market share during the forecast period Public 5G wireless networks provide the same level of service and security to all clients.But the security risk is higher in case of public access and comes from the public sharing the network. Also, when the network is busy, it can impact all users at the same time.The spectrum is usually owned by a mobile network operator (MNO), and in the public 5G network, the service and management are the responsibility of the MNO. The public 5G network is intended for use by the public, with tens of millions of subscribers on a given nationwide network. Among regions, Asia Pacific recorded the highest CAGR during the forecast period Asia Pacific constitutes thriving economies, such as Singapore, Japan, China, India, and Australia, which are expected to register high growth rates in the Open RAN market.Asia Pacific houses many large countries with a wide population spread over remote locations and wide geographical areas. Major leading companies such as Rakuten Mobile, NTT Docomo, KDDI, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and more are involving and contributing to Open RAN technology in Asia Pacific region which is driving the growth of the market. Breakdown of primaries In-depth interviews were conducted with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), innovation and technology directors, system integrators, and executives from various key organizations operating in the Open RAN market. a By Company: Tier I: 35%, Tier II: 40%, and Tier III: 25% a By Designation: C-Level Executives: 60% and Managers: 40% a By Region: North America: 30%, Europe: 35%, Asia Pacific: 25%, Middle East and Africa: 5%, and Latin America: 5% The report includes the study of key players offering Open RAN solutions and services.It profiles major vendors in the global Open RAN market. The major vendors in the global Open RAN market include Ericsson (Sweden), Nokia (Finland), Samsung (South Korea), NEC Corporation (Japan), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (US), VMware (US), Huawei (China), AT&T (US), Fujitsu (Japan), IBM (US), Orange (France), Airspan Networks (US), Mavenir (US), CommScope (US), Viavi Solutions (US), Amdocs (US), Renesas (Japan), MTN Group (South Africa), Entel (Chile), Comba Telecom (China), KDDI (Japan), SingTel (Singapore), TIM (Italy), Telefonica (Spain), Sivers Semiconductors (Sweden), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), Picocom (UK), Etisalat (UAE), Mobily (Saudi Arabia), XCOM Labs (US), DeepSig (US), ZTE (China), Celona (US), LIME Microsystems (UK), Verana Networks (US), Microamp Solutions (Poland). Research Coverage The market study covers the Open RAN market across segments.It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market across segments, such as component, type, frequency, radio interface, access, network and region. It includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the marketas key players, their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies. Key Benefits of Buying the Report The report would provide the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall Open RAN market and its subsegments.It would help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain better insights to position their business and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. It also helps stakeholders understand the marketas pulse and provides information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377399/?utm_source=PRN 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. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas autonomous driving solution provider ZongMu Technology ("Zongmu Tech") announced on January 3 that it has received several procurement orders for ADAS products from Chery New Energy Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd. ("Chery New Energy"). Photo credit: Chery According to the consensus reached by the two parties, Zongmu Tech will provide Chery New Energy with ADAS products, including smart cameras and millimeter-wave radar, and officially become a new member of the automakers supplier system. Previously, Zongmu Tech's high-speed ADAS product, the lateral millimeter-wave radars, have been adopted on a large scale by many mainstream automakers and will be deployed onto the automakers next-generation vehicle platforms. Focusing on the high-speed ADAS, the cooperation with Chery EV involves a number of Cherys new energy vehicle models. In terms of perception data collection, Zongmu Techs current driving system has included lane information, vehicle data, signs, and pedestrian information in most cities. Built on the key traffic information and data obtained by the companys intelligent parking system, Zongmu Techs driving system has realized horizontal, vertical, or coupled systematic functions under the aforesaid scenarios. In addition, the company is also collecting traffic information and road sign data overseas, and the data collection is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023. TORONTO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (the "Company" or "TGOD") (CSE: TGOD) (US-OTC: TGODF), a sustainable global cannabis company and leading producer of premium cannabis brands, announces that the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 6,500,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares"), at a deemed issuance price of $0.40 per Common Share, to settle $2,600,000 (the "Indebtedness") of aggregate indebtedness of the Company (the "Debt Settlement Transaction"), pursuant to loan settlement agreements with two of the Company's largest shareholders (the "Shareholders"). Such Common Shares will be issued in reliance on certain prospectus exemptions available under securities legislation and will be subject to a four-month plus one day statutory hold period. The Debt Settlement Transaction remains subject to all necessary regulatory approvals including final acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Shareholders are insiders of the Company, and therefore the Debt Settlement Transaction is considered to be a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Pursuant to MI 61-101, the Company will file a material change report providing disclosure in relation to each "related party transaction" on SEDAR under TGOD's issuer profile at www.sedar.com. The Company did not file the material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Debt Settlement Transaction as the details of the Debt Settlement Transaction were not settled until shortly prior to the closing of the Debt Settlement Transaction. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements available under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the Debt Settlement Transaction is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on section 5.7(1)(a) as the fair market value of the Debt Settlement Transaction is not more than the 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company also announces the departure of Mr. Michel Gagne from his position as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, effective as at January 31, 2023. "Michel has been a valuable contributor to the Company's growth and success in recent years" commented Matt Milich, CEO of TGOD. "We would like to wish Michel the best of luck with all of his future endeavours," added Matt. About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (CSE: TGOD) (USOTC: TGODF) is a multi-licensed Canadian cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods, innovation, quality, consistency, integrity and transparency. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. In Canada, TGOD serves the recreational market with a brand portfolio including BZAM, The Green Organic Dutchman, -ness, Highly Dutch Organics, TABLE TOP, Cruuzy and partner brands Dunn Cannabis, FRESH, Superflower and Snackbar. TGOD operates facilities in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan, and is rapidly expanding its offerings to a growing number of consumers across Canada. TGOD's Common Shares and certain warrants issued under the indentures dated June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020 and December 10, 2020 trade on the CSE under the symbol "TGOD", "TGOD.WR", "TGOD.WA", and "TGOD.WB" respectively. TGOD's Common Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "TGODF". For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca and www.bzamheadquarters.com. Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Mesothelioma Victims Center, "We are one of the best branded sources in the nation for current or former railroad workers who have developed mesothelioma and we are passionate about making certain a person like this or their family receive the best possible compensation results. To get the compensation job done for a person like this we recommend The Gori Law Firm. As the lawyers at The Gori Law Firm are always happy to discuss at 866-532-2106-compensation for a current or former railroad worker might be in the millions of dollars. The Gori Law Firm Asbestos Warning Sign "It is vital a current or former railroad worker with mesothelioma anywhere in the nation retains the services of a law firm that knows what they are doing when it comes to compensation. Railroad workers with mesothelioma must hire attorneys that have experience navigating through the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). The Gori Law Firm has experience assisting railroad workers with mesothelioma, and lawyers there offer a no-obligation in home visit-nationwide to explain the compensation process to a person like this-face to face. For more information, please call The Gori Law Firm anytime at 866-532-2106. We think you will be glad you did. https://GoriLaw.Com The Mesothelioma Victims Center's national initiative for railroad workers is focused on providing unparalleled information on how to earn the best possible compensation for following types of people: * Railroad Engineers * Railroad Conductors * Railroad Machinists * Railroad Welders * Railroad Brake Mechanics * Railroad Maintenance Workers * Railroad Construction Workers * Railroad Signal Workers According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon. However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a railroad worker with mesothelioma or asbestos exposure lung cancer could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. https://GoriLaw.Com High-risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, manufacturing/factory workers, pulp or paper mill workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, miners, construction workers, insulators, railroad workers, roofers, or firemen. As a rule, these types of workers were exposed to asbestos in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's. https://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma. Contact: Michael Thomas 202-422-2069 [email protected] SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center DUBLIN, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Automated Visual Field Analyzer Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By End-use, By Type (Static and Kinetic), By Application (Glaucoma, Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Scotoma), By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 - 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Automated Visual Field Analyzer Market size is expected to reach $227.8 Million by 2028, rising at a market growth of 7.0% CAGR during the forecast period. An automated visual field analyzer is an automated tool that is very frequently employed by Optometrists, orthoptists, and ophthalmologists to measure the human visual field, especially to identify monocular visual fields. The sort of vision defect is determined by the analyzer's results. As a result, it offers details on where any disease activates or lesion may be located along the visual pathway. It directs and aids in the diagnosis of the visual disorder affecting the patient. These results are kept on file and utilized to keep tabs on the patient's health and the progression of vision loss. These analyzers examine the patient's whole vertical and horizontal field of peripheral vision, looking for any probable vision problems or blind spots (scotomas). Finding particular scotomas in one's vision can be a sign of a particular kind of brain injury or illness, like a tumor or stroke. The patient is instructed to locate specific light stimuli that the analyzer has provided in their peripheral vision. If the patient is not able to do so, this may indicate scotomas or trauma. The analyzer emits a sequence of white light stimuli across a bowl that is evenly lit, with different intensities (brightness). The patient presses a button on a handheld device to signal when they see a light. This evaluates the retina's capacity to find a stimulus at particular locations within the visual field. This is measured in 'decibels' and is known as retinal sensitivity (dB). The Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm, or SITA, which is now used by the analyzer, enables the quickest and most precise visual field assessment to date. The results are then compared to an age-matched database to reveal suspicious and unexpected vision loss that may be a result of pathology. The analyzer can be employed for condition screening, monitoring, and diagnosis support. Depending on the objectives, there are a variety of testing methodologies to choose from. COVID-19 Impact Analysis COVID-19 had a negative impact on the automated visual field analyzers market because of elements, like the delay of elective hospital procedures, including eye exams, and the infection risk, which has led to a decline in the number of individuals attending eye clinics. Other challenges that are limiting the industry include a shortage of price pressure, ophthalmologists, escalating competition, and high costs. Additionally, it has had a clinical impact on fewer appointments, avoiding particular treatment alternatives, using more instruments, and putting new procedures into practice. Artificial intelligence and teleophthalmology are recommended for enhancing doctor-patient connections. Market Growth Factors Rapid Technological Advancement and Developments in Analyzer Technology In the modern era, there is a number of advancements that are being introduced in automated field analyzers. New software algorithms have been introduced, which is one of these significant advancements in the complex technology of this equipment. A surge in the frequency of product launches is one of the main factors projected to fuel the market's expansion. Recent developments in the technology are leading to the development of various novel visual function tests. Offers Reduced Turnaround Time To Doctors And Patients The turnaround time for automated visual field analyzers has greatly decreased, and accuracy in visual field testing has increased in contrast to recent years. Due to a number of efforts and initiatives being taken by several market players operating in the automated visual field analyzer market, the turnaround time of these analyzers has been reduced significantly. With the lesser turnaround time, doctors at several clinics are now able to accelerate the pace of diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Market Restraining Factors Lack of Precision and Versatility of Analyzers Despite a number of benefits of an automated visual field analyzer, there is a major drawback of this technology. Automated visual field analyzers are highly prone to making errors due to a number of factors. For example, the result of a test conducted with the automated field tester can be very easily hampered by incorrect placement of the head. Even a slight movement in the position of the patient's head can completely influence the result. Moreover, patients with severe glaucoma are very hard to be diagnosed accurately. Scope of the Study Market Segments Covered in the Report: By End-use Hospitals Eye Clinics Others By Type Static Kinetic By Application Glaucoma Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Scotoma Others By Geography North America US Canada Mexico Rest of North America Europe Germany UK France Russia Spain Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Singapore Malaysia Rest of Asia Pacific LAMEA Brazil Argentina UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Nigeria Rest of LAMEA Key Market Players List of Companies Profiled in the Report Topcon Corporation Carl Zeiss AG Metall Zug AG Oculus Optikgerate GmbH Kowa Company, Ltd. Heidelberg Engineering, Inc. Metrovision SAS Optopol Technology Sp. z o.o. MEDA Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/exp9fi Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Technology Innovation Institute and University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Among Nine Global Teams Facing Off in Autonomous Challenge to Propel Advanced Driving Technology LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a global cutting-edge research center based in Abu Dhabi, today announced its participation in the Autonomous Challenge @ CES 2023 (IAC). The high-speed, head-to-head autonomous racecar competition takes place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 7, 2023, from 1pm to 3pm PST. TII-EuroRacing will be one of nine teams from six countries (representing 17 universities) seeking to compete for the second annual event at CES. TII-EuroRacing will be one of nine teams from six countries seeking to compete for the second annual event at CES. Tweet this TII-EuroRacing Team (credit: TII-EuroRacing) Related Documents View PDF TII CES 2023 Fact Sheet Technology Innovation Institute's robotics research team partners with autonomous experts from the HiPeRT Lab and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) to form TII-EuroRacing, a 14-member team led by Dr. Danilo Caporale that had a notable showing at CES 2022 at a top speed of 272 kph in the Autonomous Challenge's inaugural year. All nine teams use the Dallara AV-21 racecar retrofitted with hardware and controls to enable automation, as well as sophisticated prototype software that is individually enhanced by the respective teams. This year, the challenge focuses on testing a boosted engine package and further pushing the speed and safety components in compliance with more stringent qualification criteria. Regarding TII's participation, Dr. Ray O. Johnson, CEO of TII, remarked: "The Challenge unlocks the potential of autonomous technology to ensure advanced safety, performance, and speed in both motorsports and commercial transport for years to come." Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Chief Researcher at TII, will participate in a January 6 automotive panel entitled, "Driverless at 200 mph" alongside IAC's President, Paul Mitchell, and Luminar Technologies' Vice President of Product, Aaron Jefferson. They will discuss why mastering high-speed automation is so critical to the future of mobility while considering what can be done to push the technology to the 200-mph barrier and beyond. Dr. Aaraj stated: "We are excited to see how the learnings from the complex testing on the racetrack will transfer to the technical innovation and market realization of autonomous vehicles at large. Every year, through such large-scale racing events, we are able to further iterate on the prototype software to embrace new variabilities." For more information on the Autonomous Challenge @ CES 2023: Visit Booth #3601 in the West Hall at the IAC Innovation Paddock (Tech East Las Vegas Convention Center) for a walkthrough of the competition and the technology. Preview practice trials that will run from January 3-6, 2023, from 10am to 5pm PST at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Only credentialed CES attendees and media will be permitted to attend in person. No shuttle service provided. Attend the official race that will be held on January 7, 2023, from 1pm to 3pm PST at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Only credentialed CES attendees and media will be permitted to attend in person. Shuttle service provided from 11am to 3:45pm PST from the West Hall of the Las Vegas Conference Center to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (first come, first served). RSVP here. View the live stream of the official race on January 7, 2023, from 1pm to 3pm PST at www.indyautonomouschallenge.com . About TII-EuroRacing TII-EuroRacing is a global laboratory run by an international team of 14 technologists and engineers from TII's Autonomous Robotics Research Center (ARRC) and the High-Performance Real-Time (HiPeRT) Laboratory at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) in Italy. TII-EuroRacing made its Indy Autonomous Challenge debut in October 2021 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to reach the finals with a then-world record of 223 kph for the fastest average lap speed. For more information, visit www.tiieuroracing.com. About The Autonomous Robotics Research Center at TII The Autonomous Robotics Research Center (ARRC) at the Technology Innovation Institute is the region's leading organization advancing robotics, computer vision, and bio-inspired technologies. Its robotics specialization includes perception, communication, control and decision making, bio-inspiration, and modular and self-organized autonomous systems. Applications are explored across multiple environments: air, land, on-sea, and underwater. ARRC's methodology involves fundamental research that draws on: models and simulations, prototype development, testing and validation, and large audience demonstrations. For more information, visit www.tii.ae/autonomous-robotics. About Technology Innovation Institute The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). TII is a pioneering global research and development hub that focuses on solving tomorrow's challenges, today. It has ten dedicated research centers in advanced materials, autonomous robotics, cryptography, AI and digital science, directed energy, quantum, secure systems, propulsion and space, biotechnology, and renewable and sustainable energy. By working with exceptional talent, universities, research institutions, and industry partners from around the world, TII connects an intellectual community and contributes to building an R&D ecosystem that reinforces the status of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a global hub for innovation. For more information, visit www.tii.ae. About Indy Autonomous Challenge The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) organizes racing competitions among university affiliated teams from around the world to program fully autonomous racecars and compete in a series of history-making events at iconic tracks. Based in Indiana, the IAC is working to establish a hub for performance automation in the state and is harnessing the power of innovative competitions to attract the best and the brightest minds from around the globe to further state-of-the-art technology in safety and performance of automated vehicles. The IAC started as a $1 million prize competition with 31 university teams signing up to compete more than two years ago, representing top engineering and technology programs from 15 U.S. states and 10 countries. For more information, visit www.indyautonomouschallenge.com . SOURCE Technology Innovation Institute SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- There is a Company coping with the global climate crisis and declaring a bold vision and technology of carbon neutrality in the livestock sector. Melliens Inc's Livestock Carbon Monitoring & Carbon Credit Sharing Platform enables beef producers to generate and sell carbon credits for practicing less carbon intensive agriculture than the current industry standard. Caption: Melliens has developed the world first cowcarbon platform using biometric information. "The Cow Carbon platform reliably generates carbon credits based upon inputs. We are proud to present a technology promoting a cleaner environment and healthier earth" said Dr. Lee Hakkyo, Melliens Founder and Professor of Joenbuk National University. To move towards a net-zero future, science-based, sustainable, and innovative action needs to be taken. Melliens is the first Climate technology company to monitor the carbon footprints of beef cattle and trade accumulated carbon credits in carbon markets. Our home planet earth is at risk. The agricultural sector accounts for 24% of Global GHG emissions. Cattle GHG emissions are the most pressing agricultural emissions issue, at 10% in 2020, and could comprise 40% of agricultural emissions by 2050 if sector emissions are not reduced. Carbon footprint is difficult to measure for beef products as biological variation in individual cattle, insufficient data, inaccurate data, falsifiable data, and high cost to measure, make individualized beef GHG emissions infeasible. In order to solve this problem, Melliens has developed the cowcarbon platform. This platform service quantifies and verifies the reduced carbon emissions, thus generating carbon credits in real-time. Anyone can purchase carbon credits and profits are shared with beef suppliers. Venture capital has responded accordingly; Salim Dada, Managing Director and CEO at Concord Ventures noted: "Melliens is building a connection between beef farmers and the tech world to share benefits by trading accumulated carbon credits in voluntary carbon markets" Melliens encourages carbon credits buyers to join in saving the earth. Tokenizing carbon credits has an important role to induce the participation of the general public, consumers, and companies in profit-sharing with livestock farmers. It creates a tradable commodity, and a transparent market accessible to anyone. The first tokenized cowcarbon is launching soon. Melliens is committed to continually reducing the beef carbon footprint to 50% of world average by 2030 and building a healthy beef industry ecosystem through science, open innovation, and easy access to blockchain-based rewards through its financing system About Melliens, Inc. Melliens was incorporated in 2021 as a result of 10 years of R&D and $56M invested by the government. Melliens is a start-up company founded by professors for the purpose of technology commercialization of the Jeonbuk National University, LINC3.0 Project Group. Melliens US Headquarter is located in Kirkland, WA with R&D center and Korean HQ in Jeonju, South Korea. The company is led by an outstanding team who are accomplished PhDs and scientists in the areas of big data, bioinformatics, biotech, and business. Melliens US is led by Ms. Teresa Park, she was former M&A advisor who has experience at the investment banking industry. Oct. 2022, Melliens has joined an international network of people and organizations powering progress in beef sustainability the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB). Alongside the likes of Zoetis, Cargill, JBS, Tyson, Rabobank, and Merck, amongst others, Melliens joins GRSB to actively improve the sustainability of the global beef supply chain. SOURCE Melliens HOUSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinity Gas Storage, LLC ("Trinity") has announced the closing of financing by Transition Equity Partners, LLC ("TEP") to advance the development of Trinity Gas Storage, a greenfield natural gas storage facility in East Texas. TEP's investment will provide Trinity with the capital required to finalize engineering, with the goal of reaching Notice to Proceed ("NTP") in the first quarter of 2023. Trinity Gas Storage will be the first greenfield gas storage facility to be constructed in Texas in over a decade. With an initial capacity of approximately 24 Bcf, the new gas storage facility will be instrumental in helping provide electrical reliability by balancing and supporting the ever-growing renewable energy supply in Texas, and in providing energy security and reliable gas service for the benefit of the residents, businesses, and industry in Texas. Trinity has secured a majority of the necessary contracts required to reach NTP and anticipates commercial operations will begin in the second quarter of 2024. "I am ecstatic that we have partnered with a group of highly talented energy and finance professionals in Transition Equity Partners," said Jim Goetz, CEO of Trinity Gas Storage. "The entire TEP team brings a wealth of knowledge and commitment to developing transitional energy projects to improve and secure environmentally sound energy infrastructure. This financing marks a significant milestone toward reaching commercial operations early next year. We have a committed and highly experienced team who have worked tirelessly to close this financing in preparation to make Trinity Gas Storage the best in class for Texas. We look forward to the continued progress with our partners at TEP." Trinity Gas Storage Closes Financing Tweet this "Transition Equity Partners is excited to partner with a team as experienced and talented as Trinity Gas Storage, with an extensive and proven track record of developing and operating natural gas storage projects," said Pat Eilers, Managing Partner of TEP. "Trinity will play an important role in Texas' energy transition, complementing robust intermittent renewables development with firm reliable natural gas, and helping to alleviate pressure on the state's natural gas infrastructure anticipated to be created by a burgeoning US LNG industry on the US Gulf Coast. TEP believes that energy security, electrical reliability and affordability are key components of a responsible ESG strategy." About Trinity Gas Storage, LLC Trinity Gas Storage, LLC is an independent development project in Anderson County, Texas with offices in Flower Mound, TX, and Houston, TX. Trinity Gas Storage is comprised of two separate, but adjacent depleted natural gas reservoirs with a total working gas capacity to exceed 50 Bcf and uninterrupted delivery of natural gas in excess of 1.75 Bcf/day. For more information, visit www.trinitygasstorage.com, or contact: Trinity Gas Storage, LLC Matt Hurley Chief Commercial Officer (713) 243-3592 [email protected] About Transition Equity Partners, LLC Transition Equity Partners ("TEP") is a private equity firm based in Chicago investing in companies that are facilitating the multi-decade process of transitioning to cleaner, more efficient and more reliable energy infrastructure. TEP is led by Pat Eilers, Michael Allison and Craig Payne, who have all deep expertise investing in world class development projects in the energy transition industry. For more information, visit www.transitionequity.com, or contact: Transition Equity Partners, LLC Craig Payne Partner and Chief Operating Officer [email protected] SOURCE Trinity Gas Storage, LLC Group reflects firm's continued commitment to building the next generation of leaders while preparing for the next stage of growth CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- West Monroe, one of the fastest-growing digital services firms, today announced five new senior leadership appointments, all effective January 1, 2023. The appointments include existing office roles, as well as two new roles. Each role will be filled by accomplished West Monroe executives who have proven track records for building and leading teams and functions: Will Hinde , head of industry practices. The leader of West Monroe's Healthcare & Life Sciences practice since 2012, Hinde assumes this new role created to drive efficiencies, best practices and collaboration across industry teams. Hinde's strategic insights into the complex world of health, combined with his experience in managing large-scale change, have allowed him to fulfill a lifelong passion for making healthcare better and more accessible. The leader of West Monroe's Healthcare & Life Sciences practice since 2012, Hinde assumes this new role created to drive efficiencies, best practices and collaboration across industry teams. Hinde's strategic insights into the complex world of health, combined with his experience in managing large-scale change, have allowed him to fulfill a lifelong passion for making healthcare better and more accessible. Matt Sondag , head of functional practices. As national Mergers & Acquisitions practice leader, Sondag has built some of West Monroe's most distinctive capabilities and longest tenured client relationships. In this new role, he will drive consistency and collaboration across diverse functional practicessuch as Organization & People, Technology, Operations Excellence, Customer Solutions, and Mergers & Acquisitionsthat play key roles in helping clients become digital. As national Mergers & Acquisitions practice leader, Sondag has built some of West Monroe's most distinctive capabilities and longest tenured client relationships. In this new role, he will drive consistency and collaboration across diverse functional practicessuch as Organization & People, Technology, Operations Excellence, Customer Solutions, and Mergers & Acquisitionsthat play key roles in helping clients become digital. Jodi Bednar , Chicago office leader. Since joining West Monroe in 2014, Bednar has been a leader in our Energy & Utilities practice, most recently heading up a Chicago office E&U team that serves many of the industry's top companies. She takes the reigns of West Monroe's headquarters, with more than 1,100 people and a longstanding reputation as a top employer in the Chicagoland area. Since joining West Monroe in 2014, Bednar has been a leader in our Energy & Utilities practice, most recently heading up a office E&U team that serves many of the industry's top companies. She takes the reigns of West Monroe's headquarters, with more than 1,100 people and a longstanding reputation as a top employer in the Chicagoland area. Peter Kahn , New York office leader. As leader of West Monroe's New York City M&A practice, Peter has built a track record for helping clients realize deal value by blending formidable technology acumen with strong industry knowledge. Tapping more than 25 years of diverse and global business experience, he will head up a team of more than 300 while still serving as the local M&A practice leader. As leader of West Monroe's New York City M&A practice, Peter has built a track record for helping clients realize deal value by blending formidable technology acumen with strong industry knowledge. Tapping more than 25 years of diverse and global business experience, he will head up a team of more than 300 while still serving as the local M&A practice leader. Steven Kirz , San Francisco office leader. Kirz joined West Monroe through its 2020 acquisition of Pace Harmon. An entrepreneur at heart, he has launched successful consulting companies, offices, and practices, and created solutions with CXOs of the world's leading brands. He will lead a significant team in the Bay Area, with expertise spanning all West Monroe disciplines. He will also continue to hold a national leadership role for strategic sourcing services. The appointments augment West Monroe's Executive Team as the firm pursues its strategy to become a bigger player in digital services across the globe. Over the past year, West Monroe has announced key steps in its expansion, including a $250 million investment toward building a global product development platform and a long-term expansion in Europe. "Becoming a digital services company unlike any in the market means we need to operate without silos in an environment that fosters collaboration across teams. That requires strong leadership, both locally and globally," said Kevin McCarty, West Monroe's chairman and CEO. "All of these individuals are accomplished executives who have played an instrumental role in our success to date and now have the chance to take the next step in their leadership journeys. I am excited to see what they will achieve in their new roles." Established in 2002, West Monroe has grown its revenue at a 30% CAGR and achieved prominence by becoming a top alternative to the largest consulting firms. While many of its competitors specialize in either strategy or implementationor in business or technologyWest Monroe is built on the principle that all of its consultants are fluent across strategy, implementation, business, and technology. The firm assembles multidisciplinary, industry-led teams of experts who help clients become digital leaders in their industries at a time when digital leadership has never been more critical to commercial success. About West Monroe West Monroe is a digital services firm that was born in technology but built for businesspartnering with companies in transformative industries to deliver quantifiable financial value. We believe that digital is a mindsetnot a project, a team, or a destinationand it's something companies become, not something they do. That's why we work in diverse, multidisciplinary teams that blend management consulting, digital design, and product engineering to move companies from traditional ways of working to digital operating modelsand create experiences that transcend the digital and physical worlds. Connected by the values that drive our culture, our 2,200 employees work collaboratively across the firm with the belief that our clients' success is our success. Visit WestMonroe.com to learn more. Media Inquiries: Christina Galoozis Senior Manager, External Communications [email protected] 847-302-1762 SOURCE West Monroe Partners LONG ISLAND, NYNick Orlandinowho served as the CEO and chairman of Diamond Products and its companies Pipedream Products, Sir Richards and Jimmyjane in the pleasure products side of the industry and Devils Film on the movie sidepassed away Jan. 3. The cause of death was not immediately available. Orlandino got his start at the age of 15 in the adult and gift industry unloading trucks for Forum Novelties in New York and eventually worked his way up to general manager. In 1992, he relocated to Los Angeles and joined Pipedream Products as vice president of sales and marketing. In 1994, he became a partner in the corporation and ran all day-to-day operations at Pipedream. Orlandino and his companies Giant Media and Diamond Products consistently made headlines in adult and mainstream publications for his acquisitions in the novelty and movie sectors of adult. He also founded the ANME Founders novelty trade show in 1996, and in 1999 he started a four-year term as treasurer for the Free Speech Coalition. Orlandino, who also was an accomplished musician and performed in several metal bands throughout the years, retired from the pleasure products industry in 2018 after more than 35 years in the adult industry. After that he relocated from the San Fernando Valley back to his hometown of Long Island, N.Y. More information will be published as it becomes available. Washington, Jan 4 : Two consecutive ballots on the floor of the US House of Representatives failed to elect a new speaker. US Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, lost the second ballot for House speaker after 19 Republicans again voted against him. A third vote was underway, a scenario that hasn't been seen in a century. A candidate needs 218 votes to become House speaker if no member skips the vote or votes "present". "We stay in until we win," McCarthy told reporters, adding that the numbers "will change eventually." The political drama came nearly two months after the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans flipped the House and Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate, and shortly after the divided Congress convened Tuesday noon. All House Democrats have voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the Democratic minority in the first two ballots. Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that "what we're witnessing today in American politics is just another brutal indictment of this dysfunctional political system." If no candidate wins a majority of votes in the third round, House members will vote on and on until a speaker is elected. House members can adjourn to negotiate but the lower chamber does not kick off the new term until the speaker election is over. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday afternoon that U.S. President Joe Biden, a former six-term senator, "will not insert himself in that process." "The president served as a U.S. senator for 34 years and he understands how this process works," Jean-Pierre said. US Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the opening day of the Senate, where Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority over Republicans, when she swore in 35 either newly elected or reelected senators Tuesday afternoon. Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, both Senate veterans, will continue to serve as the chamber's majority leader and minority leader, respectively. Washington, Jan 4 : US President Joe Biden has re-nominated Eric Garcetti, the former mayor of Los Angeles, as the next ambassador to India, sending back the nomination to the US Senate whose Foreign Relations Committee, which clears all ambassadorial appointments, had sent it back to the White House a year ago. The White House announced Garcetti's renomination along with a bunch of others on Tuesday, the first day of the new Congress, that included two Indian Americans - Anjali Chaturvedi, to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans; and Ravi Chaudhary, to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. Biden had first nominated Garcetti, once a rising star in the Democratic party, in July 2021, his first year in White House. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held his nomination hearing but did not confirm him and his nomination was deemed returned to the White House on January 3, 2022. No reasons were cited for the failure of his nomination to go through, but Garcetti had faced internal resistance from the Democratic party's progressives for his alleged soft-handling of sexual harassment allegations against a senior aide. "I have read with some concern accusations that one of your advisors engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment while employed for you and that you did not respond to those allegations in a way that would have stopped the behavior," Jeanne Shaheen, a Democratic senator, had asked Garcetti at his confirmation hearing in December 2021. Garcetti had defended himself saying, "I want to say unequivocally that I never witnessed nor was it brought to my attention the behaviour that's been alleged and I also want to assure that if it had been, I would have immediately taken action to stop that." The nomination stalled and was finally deemed returned to the White House. Biden did not return it for a whole year or name a replacement, fueling speculation about the implications of this for the importance for the bilateral relationship for the Biden White House. "Nearly two years since President Biden's election to the White House - the Senate still hasn't confirmed the administration's nominee for ambassador to India," Ronak Desai, a lawyer and associate at the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University, wrote in The Washington Post last November. He added: "US-India relations are suffering as a result." The US diplomatic missions in India have been led by deputy chiefs of mission since the last ambassador Kenneth Jester, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, finished his tenure and returned to the US just days before Biden took office in January 2021. At his confirmation hearing, Garcetti had vowed to "double-down on our efforts to strengthen India's capacity to secure its borders, defend its sovereignty, and deter aggression" - music to ears on Raisina Hill. He also plans to raise thorny issues such as the Indian purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence missile system, human rights and democratic values. Comparisons are odious, but Garcetti's political clout and proximity to the White House had put him ahead of most of his recent predecessors. Also, he is widely expected to run for White House, given his credentials: Hispanic descent, top Democratic operative, a top operative in a presidential campaign, Rhodes scholar at Oxford and alumnus of London School of Economics. Fifty one-year-old Garcetti is close to the White House and was once considered a potential member of the Biden cabinet but the same allegations that came up during his confirmation hearing had come in his way. One day after Dan Le Batard slammed his former employer, ESPN, for not covering a video of UFC president Dana White slapping his life, Stephen A. Smith addressed the incident on First Take. On Monday, a gross video emerged of White getting into a physical altercation with his wife Anne as the couple was at a nightclub celebrating the New Year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. In the video obtained by TMZ, Dana White can be seen getting slapped by his wife before he quickly retaliated by slapping her in the face. Bystanders then stepped in to break up the fight. Wednesday morning, Stephen A. Smith addressed the incident on First Take. ESPN had previously been condemned for its lack of coverage surrounding the incident, as critics cited the networks business partnership with White. While Smith did cover the incident, his commentary probably wont do much to change anyones mind about ESPNs seemingly soft stance on a business partner committing domestic violence on camera. Stephen A. Smith addressed the video of Dana White slapping his wife pic.twitter.com/HwuGAjXnxi Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 4, 2023 Dana White is not just somebody thats connected in the world of sports. Hes a friend. I love the guy, personally, Smith admitted. So this is a very hard subject for me. We talk all the time, weve certainly connected briefly since this happened. He knew there was no way on earth that I wasnt going to talk about it. Smith suggested White should face the same discipline that the UFC president would hand to someone he oversees, because that would be consistent with who he is. Watching someone slap their wife on video and then suggesting the person who committed the offense should be in charge of the punishment is a rather ridiculous take. White should face a punishment, but he absolutely should not be the one in charge of deciding on that sentence. With all the things that weve learned and the kinds in an ordinate amount of times weve had to address subjects like this, we have to maintain consistency in pointing out, you do not put your hands on a woman if you are a man, Smith said. Dana White knows that. All I can say is that again, he has spoken out against men who put their hands on women before, and whatever punishment you would exact under these circumstances to somebody else is what he should apply to himself. Thats a dangerous amount of trust being given to somebody who just did something reprehensible. ESPN broadcasts UFC events and frequently welcomes White on their shows to promote those fights. First Take and other ESPN shows may have been slow to cover Whites altercation because Damar Hamlins health has dominated the news cycle. But now that First Take did finally address the gross video featuring White, it sure sounded like Smith was giving his friend a pass. I think its important, if youre gonna sit on this platform, you owe it to your audience to be honest, Smith continued. Dana White is not just somebody I know in sportshes a friend, I love himhe knows how wrong he was to do this and he knows were on-air, he knew ahead of time because I reached out to him to let him know I would be talking about this this morning. He knows he crossed a line that he has never crossed before. I appreciate Smith putting his biases on the table before talking about the incident, but if he couldnt address White slapping his wife without blinders on, then maybe First Take would have been better off having someone else address the altercation. [First Take] Prayagraj, Jan 4 : The Allahabad High Court has prohibited a lawyer from practicing in any court of law within Uttar Pradesh after taking cognisance of his "repeated misbehaviour" with a lady judicial officer. The decision will remain in effect till the next hearing of the case on January 12, the High Court bench said. As Bharat Singh, the accused, practiced law in the outlying court of Khurja in Bulandshahr, the High Court has directed the SSP and the district judge of Bulandshahr to ensure the safety of the lady judicial officer concerned. The bench added that court proceedings should not be interfered with in any manner. The division bench, comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Shiv Shanker Prasad, also directed the contemnor to remain physically present in the court on the next date of hearing. "We caution the contemnor to remain careful and not act in an undesirable manner as his conduct is under the strict watch of this court," the judges added. Earlier, on July 1, 2022, the lady judicial officer made a reference to the HC against Bharat Singh in respect of the alleged criminal contempt. Subsequently, the court took cognisance of the reference and issued notices to the contemnor. It is alleged that the contemnor advocate obstructed the court proceedings on two occasions and also hurled abuses against her. The lady judicial officer informed that on account of the "contemptuous act", she had to rise from her dais and take shelter in her chambers to protect her life, liberty, and dignity. Taking a serious note of repeated misbehaviour with the lady judicial officer, the court, in its order said, "The contemnor allegedly has acted most irresponsibly and his conduct leaves much to be desired. We cannot allow the rule of law to be thrown to the winds at the hands of an unscrupulous contemnor. The acts of intentional disrespect to a lady judicial officer will have to be viewed seriously and dealt with strictly or else the judicial system would collapse." Kiev, Jan 4 : Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has outlined 10 priorities of the government for 2023, including support for the army and the whole security and defence sector. "The year 2023 should be the year of Ukraine's victory. We do our best for this," Shmyhal said on Telegram, Xinhua news agency reported. Integration into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is also a top goal for Ukraine, he noted. Among the priorities are post-conflict reconstruction, energy security, macro-financial stability, and support for war veterans. The government will also focus on developing education, and implementing decentralization, pension and public administration reforms, Shmyhal said. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Ayodhya, Jan 4 : Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, has come out in support of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. Rai said: "It is a matter of appreciation that a young man is walking in this cold. What is wrong in it? Who has criticised it? I am a member of the RSS, has anyone from there criticised Rahul's yatra? Has the Prime Minister criticised him?" "A young man is walking across the country trying to understand it, this should be appreciated. He is walking 3,000 km in this weather. We can only appreciate the effort." Rai also advised the media to undertake a padayatra to understand the country. His appreciation comes after the chief priest of the Ram temple, Acharya Satyendra Das, conveyed his blessings to the senior Congress leader for his mega walkathon. "Whatever work you are doing for the country is for the benefit of all. My blessings are with you," Das wrote in a letter. Interestingly, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh has been highly critical of Rahul Gandhi's yatra. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak termed it as a 'Parivar Jodo Yatra' and said that it was designed to keep the family in power. Lucknow, Jan 4 : A 25-year-old woman has been arrested for the alleged murder of her stepfather, who sexually exploited her for years. The body was recovered from a drain near Amrapalli Hospital under Dubbaga police station limits in Lucknow on December 19, 2022. The woman's husband has also been arrested. The police said the couple, who have confessed to the crime, hatched a plot to eliminate Mohd Fayyaz, 42, as he had sexually exploited his stepdaughter on several occasions, even after her marriage. Inspector in-charge of Dubbaga police station, Sukhveer Singh Bhadauria said the identity of the deceased was ascertained by her own daughter Yasmeen on December 21 after which an FIR was lodged under the IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (concealment of evidence). The post-mortem had confirmed that Fayyaz died by strangulation. He said Fayyaz's stepdaughter claimed that she was sexually exploited for several years before her marriage, and it continued even after. "The woman said she spiked Fayyaz's drink with Clonafit (sleeping pills) after he tried to take advantage of her husband's absence on December 17, 2022. She said she strangulated him to death with a nylon rope when he was unconscious. She kept the body at her house for over 24 hours and tried to dispose of the body during the early hours on December 19 when her husband returned," the police official said. The case was solved as the deceased's last mobile location was found at the suspect's house, after which he went missing and his mobile phone remained switched off. Mathura : , Jan 4 (IANS) An eight-member committee has been constituted to prepare a detailed report with estimated expenditure about the cost of land and proposed development plan of Sri Bankey Behari Temple in Vrindavan. The committee has been constituted in light of the order passed by the Allahabad High Court on December 20, 2022, while hearing a PIL submitted before it. The committee has been constituted by district magistrate, Mathura, Navneet Chahal and is headed by Anunay Jha, the municipal commissioner for Mathura Vrindavan Municipal Corporation. Anunay Jha said, "The committee is supposed to prepare a detailed report with estimated expenditure about the cost of land required and propose a development plan to be carried out in this area of 5 acre of land around the Bankey Behari Temple." "We have begun our work and will now visit the area to conduct a survey. We will undertake a survey of the entire area for estimation of land cost and propose a development plan aimed at providing an easy darshan experience to devotees," added Jha. The committee is required to submit its report within a week to the district magistrate Mathura before being forwarded to the state government which will submit the estimation of land cost and proposed development plan before the Allahabad High Court on date fixed which is January 17. A division bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J.J Munir is hearing the PIL filed by Anant Sharma and another who had raised the issue through a petition filed in public interest seeking direction to the state of Uttar Pradesh to frame a proper scheme for the maintenance and upkeep of the Sri Bankey Behari Temple in Vrindavan town. The focus was to be mainly on crowd management, especially during festivals and holidays when lakhs of devotees gather at the temple. Barabanki : , Jan 4 (IANS) Two drug peddlers have been arrested with 5 kg of morphine worth Rs 5 crore, from the Jahangirabad police circle in Barabanki. Identified as Mohd Kalim and Virju a.k.a. Brijlal Gautam, the accused, on a motorcycle, were found to be carrying morphine wrapped in plastic packets. The two were caught by police when they were going to Sitapur to supply morphine. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ashutosh Mishra said that a case has been registered against them under the appropriate sections of the NDPS Act. The ASP stated that the accused revealed during their interrogation that their gang was involved in morphine smuggling in Barabanki, Sitapur, Lucknow and other nearby districts. He said one of their accomplices, Sufiyan, arranged raw materials for the preparation of morphine. Moscow, Jan 4 : Russia has said that a missile attack on New Year's Day in Ukraine's occupied Donetsk area that killed at least 89 soldiers, took place because the troops were using their mobile phones which enabled Ukrainian forces to locate their target. In a social media post on Wednesday, the Russian military said the main cause of the attack that hit a college for conscripts in Makiivka shortly after midnight on January 1 was the presence and "mass use" of mobile phones by troops in range of Ukrainian weapons, despite this being banned, the BBC reported. "This factor allowed the enemy to locate and determine the coordinates of the location of military personnel for a missile strike," it added. According to Russian authorities, six rockets were fired at about 12.01 a.m. from a US-made Himars rocket system at a vocational college, two of which were shot down. The deputy commander of the regiment, Lt Col Bachurin, was among those killed. The military statement further says that a commission has been formed to probe the circumstances of the incident and officials found guilty will be brought to justice. It added that steps were being taken to prevent similar events in future, reports the BBC. This was the highest number of deaths acknowledged by Russia since the war began on February 24, 2022. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Lucknow, Jan 4 : The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to develop a network of dry ports across the state and several domestic, international companies have forwarded their proposals for investment in this sector. According to the government spokesman, Uttar Pradesh is a landlocked state with various export clusters. Dry ports facilitate transportation of export cargo to sea ports. The state government had given several concessions to investors in its new Warehousing and Logistics Policy-2022. He said that the state government aims to strengthen existing dry ports, inland container depots, freight stations and logistics terminals at suitable locations with access to road corridors, quality network of four-lane and six-lane highways and interlinking roads. The UP government will provide various concessions for developing dry ports. About 100 per cent exemption in stamp duty will be provided on purchase of land or land taken on lease for a minimum period of 10 years. Similarly, 75 per cent concession will be given in land use conversion charge and 75 per cent exemption will be available on development fee. Many foreign companies have expressed their desire to invest in the logistics sector in the state. The state government has also signed MoUs with many investors for developing dry ports. Agreements worth Rs 1,300 crore have been signed with the Saraf Group of UAE and Rs 200 crore with the Hindustan Port Pvt. Ltd. In addition to this, the Mobility Infrastructure Group of the US has signed MoU worth Rs 8,200 crore, and the Best Bay Trucking group has signed MoU worth Rs 1,000 crore. Moreover, Singapore's Star Consortium Pvt Ltd has signed Rs 1,000 crore MoU with the state government. DP World of UAE has also agreed to invest in setting up a joint venture in the field of logistics and cargo. The group has demanded land with highway and rail connectivity near Kanpur to develop a logistics plant. Under the joint venture, the company will require 2000 acres of land. London, Jan 4 : An Indian-origin man has been jailed in the UK for more than eight years for attacking his son-in-law with a meat cleaver due to a 'festering feud' over a trip to India, a media report said. Bhajan Singh, who lived with his daughter, her two children and son-in-law at his Cornwall Road home in Handsworth, swung the weapon towards the victim, aiming at his neck, the Birmingham Live reported. The Birmingham Crown Court heard that Singh was under the influence of alcohol when he attacked his son-in-law, 30, in April last year. The court was told that Singh worked at the same factory as his son-in-law and there had never been any problems between them. Prosecutor Alex Warren said the victim felt a blow to the back of his neck when he was in the living room. He initially thought the defendant had slapped him but then realised he had been cut. The victim put up his left hand to protect himself and the meat cleaver made contact with his left palm causing it to bleed. The attack damaged the victim's middle finger, which required two surgeries, the court noted. "He thought the defendant was going to kill him," Warren told the court. The victim escaped to a neighbour's house who raised an alarm leading to Singh's arrest. Judge Sarah Buckingham said that a possible motive for the attack was a recent extended trip the defendant had made to India. He had "reluctantly" returned to the UK and had become angry and frustrated. "You wanted someone to blame and he (son-in-law) was your target," Buckingham told Singh. The judge noted that the victim was "wholly defenceless" when he was attacked from the rear. "I have seen photos of it (meat cleaver) covered in the victim's blood. The force of the attack was such that the wooden handle broke during the incident," Buckingham said. Bengaluru, Jan 4 : The Karnataka Human Rights Commission has ordered a departmental inquiry against five senior police officers in connection with a 29-year-old mentally challenged person's kidney selling and suspicious death case. The Commission has recommended further investigation of the case by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). It also recommended Rs 14 lakh compensation to the mother of the victim within a period of one month. The compensation amount should be taken from the salaries of the accused police officers, the order said. The member of the Commission K.B. Changappa has stated in his order that the investigation by the Commission has proved that the police had delayed filing of the FIR regarding the case registered in 2020 at Siddapura police station in Bengaluru by six months. The probe also proved the dereliction of duty and improper investigation on part of the police. The Commission has recommended the Director General and IGP Praveen Sood conduct departmental inquiry regarding the case. The probe has been recommended against then Siddapura police station inspectors M.L. Krishnamurthy, B. Shankarachar, PSI's V. Santhosh, J.M. Abraham, head constable K.S. Gopal. The Commission had stated that Rs 3 lakh should be collected from the salary of inspector Krishnamurthy, Rs 7 lakh from inspector Shankarachar, Rs 1.50 lakh each from PSI's Santhosh and Abraham. Rs 1 lakh from the head constable Gopal. Shankarappa, the mentally challenged victim from Yadgir was admitted to the Ekatha Charitable Trust in October, 2018. His family got a call from the trust saying that Shankarappa had gone missing while he was taken to a hospital for treatment. Sridhar Vasudev, attached to the trust, had allegedly given fake documents in connection with the development to the family of the victim. When the victim was not found even after months, a complaint was given to the Siddapur police station in Bengaluru against Sridhar Vasudev and others. The accused allegedly removed both the kidneys, and the victim died due to severe bleeding during surgery on the operation table. This was found during the probe by the Commission, sources revealed. Although the complaint was given in September 2019, it was not lodged. After several months, the family came that a kidney of the victim was sold for Rs 10 lakh. The police had then lodged a complaint on March 7, 2020 in this regard. Shivanand, a relative of the victim had also lodged a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission citing the dereliction of duty by the police. The Commission in its order stated that the accused Sridhar Vasudev after being arrested had confessed to the police in his first statement that he had sold kidneys of the victim. However, the police had allegedly dropped this statement and taken up investigation in the wrong direction deliberately. Without conducting proper investigation, coming under influence they had submitted the charge sheet hastily to the court, the Commission said. The family still has no confirmation whether Shankarappa is alive or dead. Hyderabad, Jan 4 : A section of the ticketing employees of Hyderabad Metro Rail have boycotted their duties for a second consecutive day on Wednesday. Demanding an increase in salaries, 150 employees working at metro stations on the Red Line (Miyapur-L.B.Nagar) stayed away from work. They plan to stage a sit-in at Hyderabad Metro rail Limited (HMRL) office at Nagole later in the day The strike by employees, who work as Ticketing and Cash Management Officers (TCMOs), led to a disruption in offline ticketing services. The striking employees had staged a protest at busy Ameerpet station at the Red Line and Blue Line intersection on Tuesday. The offline ticketing services remained unaffected on Wednesday. The contract employees draw around Rs 11,000 and allegedly have not been given a pay hike for the past five years now. They demanded that their salaries be hiked to at least Rs 15,000. The striking employees were also demanding free travel facility by metro for employees working night shifts, and at least 20 designated leaves apart from regular weekly off days. Representatives of contracting agency Mavin Tuesday held talks with the employees. They called the employees for another round of talks. The staff, however, made it clear that they will return to work only after their demands are met. They pointed out that ticketing employees working on the blue line contracted through a different agency are paid about Rs 15,000 per month. The ticketing staff is also unhappy over not receiving any benefits from the contracting agency or HMRL. The employees have no facility of free travel by metro and they are penalised if caught travelling without a ticket, beyond the usual fine of Rs 110 collected from regular passengers for ticketless travel. The ticketing employees said they were facing difficulties as relievers were not attending duties on time and the officials concerned were not responding. They also claimed that they were not even being given time for lunch. HMRL officials said a few ticketing staff under a contracting agency have connived and abstained from work today with a purpose to disrupt train operations, causing passenger inconvenience. "They are also spreading rumours and misinformation out of vested interest. Their claims are false and their actions are highly against the public interest, which will call for stern action by the HMR management," the HMR management said in a statement. The management claims that it is ensuring due facilities and benefits to staff. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 4 : After a nurse died due to suspected food poisoning, the lack of food safety officials in Kerala has come into focus as the state has only 140 field staff for monitoring six lakh establishments. On Tuesday, the nurse working in the Kottayam Medical College, had food from a hotel near the hospital and soon developed complications. After a few days she passed away. The Health department after the death of the nurse has been jolted into action after the youth wing of the CPI(M) went on a rampage and ransacked the hotel. As the media picked up the young nurse's case, Soon after the news of the nurse passing away surfaced, state Health Minister -- journalist-turned CPI(M) Minister -- Veena George said strong action would be taken. The hotel, where the nurse had eaten food, had its license cancelled last month following complaints, but was allowed to open after paying a fine of Rs 20,000. After the present incident, a Food Safety official who is in-charge in the area, has now been suspended. In May, 2022 a young woman had died after eating a 'Shawarma' in Kasargode. The minister had then promised to strengthen inspection by the Food Safety officials besides developing an App for the benefit of the people to register their complaints. But so far nothing has happened. NOw, after the nurse's death a fresh promise has now come that very soon the App would be launched. According to statistics there are around six lakh establishments across the state that are into the business of food and to monitor them on a regular basis there are only 140 Food Safety officials. Washington, Jan 4 : The US House of Representatives has adjourned after its members failed to elect a speaker for the lower chamber, leading to a historic political stalemate. Republican Congressman from California, Kevin McCarthy failed to secure enough votes in three ballots earlier on Tuesday after a group of House Republicans voted against him, reports Xinhua news agency. There will be at least a fourth vote as House members agreed to adjourn until Wednesday noon. McCarthy had reportedly negotiated with fellow Republicans on Tuesday night. The political drama came nearly two months after the November 8, 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans flipped the House and Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate. This was the first time in a century that the US House speaker was not elected on the first ballot. The House will have to vote on and on until a speaker is elected with a majority of votes. A candidate needs 218 votes to become speaker if no lawmaker skips the vote or votes "present". All House Democrats voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the party minority in the three rounds of voting on the speakership. It also followed the convening of the new and divided Congress on Tuesday noon. Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that "what we're witnessing today in American politics is just another brutal indictment of this dysfunctional political system". White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that President Joe Biden, a former six-term senator from Delaware, "will not insert himself in that process". "The president served as a US senator for 34 years and he understands how this process works," Jean-Pierre said. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the opening day of the Senate -- where Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority over Republicans -- when she swore in 35 either newly elected or re-elected senators on Tuesday afternoon. Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, both Senate veterans, remain the chamber's majority and minority leader, respectively. Congressman-elect George Santos, a 34-year-old Republican from New York, is among those who are waiting to be sworn in after the speaker vote. Santos had recently admitted to lying about his educational history and professional biography but rejected bipartisan calls for him not to take office. "My sins here are embellishing my resume. I'm sorry," embattled Santos acknowledged last week while alleging that the controversy would not deter him "from having good legislative success." Public trust in Congress reached an all-time low, with only 7 per cent of Americans expressing "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in it, according to a Gallup poll released in the summer of 2022. A separate survey that Gallup conducted following last year's midterm elections suggested that Americans' approval of Congress remains largely negative, with 73 per cent of American adults expressing disapproval. The divided Congress with Republicans controlling the House is likely to stall Biden's legislative agenda in the next two years. In addition, top House Republicans have vowed to launch a series of investigations into the Democratic administration, poised to augment partisan discord on Capitol Hill. The year 2022 was a landmark year with regard to litigations and legislations in India in promoting a fair and transparent ecosystem in the country and laying the right platform for startups and smaller players to flourish. In late August, the government released a draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, which is likely to be passed during the Monsoon session of Parliament in 2023. In October 2022, the Indian government announced changes to its information technology (IT) rules that will apply to social media businesses. The new regulations mandate that intermediaries like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, among others, abide by the terms of the Indian Constitution and the country's domestic laws. When it comes to the revised IT Rules, the government has mandated that users' complaints be acknowledged by the companies within 24 hours, and that they be resolved within 15 days, or 72 hours in the case of an information deletion request. The creation of "Grievance Appellate Committees," which must be appointed by the government, is mandated by the new legislation for handling user complaints on social media. Social media businesses are obligated to designate executives to cooperate with law enforcement and have an internal grievance resolution officer. Due to these changes, intermediaries are now required by law to make reasonable efforts to stop users from uploading dangerous or illegal content. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill on the other hand, proposes stricter penalties for data breaches as well as laws for data localisation. It recommends setting up a Data Protection Board to monitor compliance and imposing fines of up to Rs 500 crore on any corporations that do not comply. These steps were imperative as tech giants have become more and more dominant in the market in various domains and an ex-ante approach to keep them in check is the right remedy. For instance, the penalties imposed by the CCI on Google revolve around how the tech behemoth has abused its dominant position in the market to resort to unfair practices in the android mobile operating system (OS) and the play store ecosystem. This shows proactiveness on the CCIaAs part, which is one of the few competition regulators across the globe to have taken timely measures to ensure that the ecosystem provides a level playing field for all players. While CCI's verdict against Google is monumental in itself, the legislations that the government has introduced are also significant. Further, the Parliamentary Standing committee on Finance recognised the abusive behaviour by a few large corporates and recommended identifying the small number of leading players that can negatively influence competitive conduct in the digital ecosystem, as 'Systemically Important Digital Intermediaries (SIDls)'. Also, the Committee has recommended introducing a Digital Competition Act to ensure a fair, transparent and contestable digital ecosystem. (Dr Ritesh Malik is Director, Alliance for Digital India Foundation, or ADIF, the unanimous voice for digital Indian startups) Ottawa, Jan 4 : The Canadian government announced that it received 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022 to fill labour shortages, the largest number of people ever welcomed in a year in the country's history. Prior to setting a new record for admissions in 2021, the last time Canada welcomed such a large number of newcomers was in 1913, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Tuesday. "As the government focuses on addressing the acute labour market shortages we are facing today and building a strong economy into the future, one thing remains certain: immigration is a key part of the solution," Xinhua news agency quoted the IRCC statement as saying. In 2022, IRCC processed approximately 5.2 million applications for permanent residence, temporary residence and citizenship. That's double the number of applications processed in 2021, according to the statement. Currently, immigration accounts for almost 100 per cent of Canada's labour force growth. Roughly 75 per cent of Canada's population growth came from immigration, mostly in the economic category. By 2036, immigrants will represent up to 30 per cent of Canada's population, compared with 20.7 per cent in 2011. During the 2021 census, nearly one in four people counted were or had been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada, the largest proportion among G7 countries. Los Angeles, Jan 4 : Actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were teenagers when they stunned the audiences in the 1968 version of 'Romeo and Juliet', directed by Franco Zeffirelli. The film was a hit and was nominated for four Academy Awards, but it also stirred controversy over a bedroom scene which included images of Whiting's buttocks and Hussey's bare breasts, reports Variety. Now in their 70s, Hussey and Whiting filed a lawsuit in Santa Monica Superior Court on Friday, accusing Paramount of sexually exploiting them and distributing nude images of adolescent children. The suit alleges that Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, assured both actors that there would be no nudity in the film, and that they would wear flesh-coloured undergarments in the bedroom scene. But in the final days of filming, the director reportedly implored them to perform in the nude with body makeup, "or the Picture would fail." Hussey was 15 at the time and Whiting was 16. According to the complaint, Zeffirelli showed them where the camera would be positioned, and assured them that no nudity would be photographed or released in the film. The suit alleges that he was being dishonest and that Whiting and Hussey were in fact filmed nude without their knowledge. "What they were told and what went on were two different things," said Tony Marinozzi, who is a business manager for both actors. "They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? There are no options. There was no #MeToo." According to the complaint, Hussey and Whiting have suffered mental anguish and emotional distress in the 55 years since the film's release, and have also lost out on job opportunities. Despite their breakout performances, Hussey and Whiting had only very limited acting careers after 'Romeo and Juliet'. They are seeking damages "believed to be in excess of $500 million." "Nude images of minors are unlawful and shouldn't be exhibited," said the actors' attorney, Solomon Gresen, in an interview. "These were very young naive children in the '60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them. All of a sudden they were famous at a level they never expected, and in addition they were violated in a way they didn't know how to deal with." The lawsuit relies in part on a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for older claims of child sexual abuse. The courts saw an influx of complaints against the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church, among other organisations, in the days leading up to the December 31 deadline. In a 2018 interview with Variety, Hussey had defended the nude scene. Toronto, Jan 4 : Canada has set a new record in immigration by admitting 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022, the largest number of people ever welcomed in a year in the country's history. In a statement on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said: "Today marks an important milestone for Canada, setting a new record for newcomers welcomed in a single year. Newcomers play an essential role in filling labour shortages, bringing new perspectives and talents to our communities, and enriching our society as a whole." The Minister hinted that even more newcomers could be admitted in 2023. "I am excited to see what the future holds and look forward to another historic year in 2023 as we continue to welcome newcomers." Canada had set a new record in 2021 by welcoming 401,000 new immigrants. The last time it admitted more than 400,000 new immigrants was in 1913 to settle the lands in western parts of the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the department dealing with immigration, also processed a record 5.2 million applications for permanent residence, temporary residence and citizenship in 2022. That's double the number of applications processed in 2021, according to the statement. Currently, immigration accounts for almost 100 per cent of Canada's labour force growth. Roughly 75 per cent of Canada's population growth came from immigration, mostly in the economic category. By 2036, immigrants will represent up to 30 per cent of Canada's population, compared with 20.7 per cent in 2011. During the 2021 census, nearly one in four people counted were or had been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada, the largest proportion among G7 countries. Beijing, Jan 4 : Foxconn's biggest iPhone manufacturing facility in China, hit hard by Covid-related disruptions, is gradually recovering and production has reached about 90 per cent of maximum capacity, the media reported on Wednesday. Foxconn Technology Group's facility in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou is the world's largest iPhone factory, which saw major disruptions in the last three months of 2022 caused by the pandemic controls. The factory was rocked by an exodus of tens of thousands of employees and violent workers' protests amid a Covid-19 outbreak that began in late October 2022. According to state media Henan Daily, production has resumed now to nearly 90 per cent at the facility. "We are updating our clients on a daily basis about production conditions. Orders are good, and production will reach its peak in the coming months," Wang Xue, a deputy manager with the Foxconn plant, was quoted as saying in the report. In a New Year's message, Foxconn Chairman and CEO Young Liu had said the Taipei-based company may see aa more difficult and challenging path' ahead. Foxconn is also offering a $718 subsidy to employees with an aim to retain workers at its main China factory that was affected by Covid-related protests. Foxconn will provide a subsidy to workers who continue in essential roles at the Zhengzhou iPhone factory from January 1 to March 20. Moreover, the factory is extending the 'show up' bonus payments for workers. They can now receive a 6,000 yuan ($862) bonus if they work more than 23 days in January next year. In November, workers at Foxconn's largest factory in China clashed with security forces and company officials amid protests over late bonus payments for work during Covid lockdowns. Hundreds of workers were seen in social media videos, marching down a road, throwing sticks and bricks at anti-riot police. Hyderabad, Jan 4 : After opening up on matters close to his heart last week on the OTT chat show 'Unstoppable 2 with NBK', 'Baahubali' star Prabhas is all set to share more interesting details about him this week. Prabhas spoke about his uncle, actor and late Union Minister Krishnam Raju's death. Tollywood star Nandamuri Balakrishna, the host, along with actor Gopichand, and observed silence in the Rebel Star's honour. Nandamuri Balakrishna, who is fondly called NBK by his fans, asked Prabhas about his relationship with his uncle, who was a legendary actor in the Telugu cinema industry. Prabhas said: "Today, whatever we are, it is because of him. We owe him. He came to Madras in those days and worked as a villain for 10-12 years and then started his own banner and created history with women-oriented stories. Our whole family misses him today so much." When NBK asked about Krishnam Raju's death, Prabhas commented: "He was ill for a month, and I was in the hospital during that phase and in touch with the doctors continuously." Balakrishna recalled: "I missed the moment as I was in Turkey at that time for a shoot, and when I got the news, I could not control myself from crying." Prabhas continued to speak about his failures and best times with his best pal, actor Gopichand, who also graced the show and spoke on his struggles during the initial times of his career. Episode 2 of Prabhas' conversations with Balakrishna on 'Unstoppable 2 with NBK' streams January 6th on aha. Lucknow, Jan 4 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Khushi Dubey, the wife of Amar Dubey a co-accused in the Bikru massacre and a close aide of slain gangster Vikas Dubey. Eight police personnel who had gone to arrest Vikas Dubey on July 3, 2020, were killed when the gangster and his men opened fire at them. A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and P.S. Narasimha took note of the submissions of senior lawyer Vivek Tankha that Khushi Dubey was a minor at the time of offence and regular bail be granted to her as the charge sheet has also been filed in the case. Khushi Dubey was accused of exhorting the armed co-accused of gangster Vikas Dubey to kill the policemen. The bench said one of the conditions will be that the accused will have to appear before the station house officer (SHO) of the police station concerned once a week besides cooperating in the trial and probe, if any. Khushi had been married for just seven days when the incident took place and was arrested immediately after by the police. She is accused of pointing out the presence of policemen who had gone to arrest Vikas Dubey to her co-accused and that allegedly led to the massacre of the men in uniform. Khushi Dubey's counsel said it is a case of an innocent person at a wrong place at the wrong time as she was married to Amar Dubey only seven days before the incident. Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter on July 10 when a police vehicle carrying him from Ujjain to Kanpur met with an accident and he tried to escape, police had said. Amar Dubey and five others were also killed in back to back encounters. Khushi Dubey's lawyer told the court that more than 100 witnesses were to be examined in the case and it was a fit matter for the grant of bail keeping in mind the allegations against her. The court took note of the fact that the accused was 16 years of age at the time of commission of the offence and granted bail saying the trial court would be setting the terms for her release. In 2021, the top court had agreed to hear Khushi Dubey's bail plea. San Francisco, Jan 4 : E-commerce giant Amazon has secured $8 billion in Term Loan from DBS Bank, Mizuho Bank and others, that will be used for "general corporate purposes". In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company said that the loan will mature in 364 days (January 3, 2024), with an option to extend for another 364 days. "Upon funding, proceeds of the Term Loan will be used for general corporate purposes," it said in the filing. "Upon an event of default that is not cured within applicable grace periods or waived, any unpaid amounts under the Term Loan may be declared immediately due and payable and the commitments may be terminated," it added. In a statement to TechCrunch, an Amazon spokesperson said the loan has been taken to safeguard against the "uncertain macroeconomic environment". "Given the uncertain macroeconomic environment, over the last few months we have used different financing options to support capital expenditures, debt repayments, acquisitions and working capital needs," said the spokesperson. To reduce costs, Amazon plans to reduce its workforce in early 2023 by as much as 10,000 employees. Some reports have even claimed the lay-off number in the range of 20,000. Amazon has frozen hiring for corporate roles in its retail business. The company has also delayed the joining dates for some university graduates who were set to join the company in May, as part of cost-cutting efforts. The company said that the students would not be able to begin until the end of 2023. The job cuts will hit several divisions, especially the Alexa virtual assistant business and the Luna cloud gaming unit, and corporate employees were being informed about being let go. Vadodara : , Jan 4 (IANS) The Vadodara police have arrested a teacher of Nutan Vidyalay for giving corporal punishment to a Class 9 student. He will be produced before the court later in the day. The teacher has been arrested under the IPC section for voluntarily causing hurt and under the sections of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. It took almost one week for the police to register a case and take action against the teacher Anil Prajapati, alleged the student's parents. Parents had filed an application before the Sama police station in the last week of December, after the school management failed to take action against the teacher. According to the parents, on December 12, teacher Prajapati had slapped his son three to four times, just because water had spilled out from his water bottle in the classroom. As the teacher had slapped the child several times, he was bleeding from ears. Since the student was reluctant to attend school the next day, the parents inquired with him and were aghast to hear about the teacher's brutality. The teacher had beaten him in the school corridor. The incident was recorded by a CCTV camera installed in the school premises. Local social worker Bharat Rohit had led a delegation in the third week of December and met the school principal demanding action against the teacher. In-charge principal Ratilal Parmar assured of inquiry into the allegation, but refused to take action citing rules that only DEO can take action against the teacher, alleged Rohit. Chennai, Jan 4 : The case related to the sexual harassment of a woman police constable in Chennai wherein she was assaulted allegedly by two youth functionaries of DMK, Praveen and Ekambaran, has taken a turn after the two were arrested. The two were arrested late Tuesday night. This came after the Tamil Nadu Police informed the media persons that the woman constable had withdrawn her complaint. DMK in a media communique said that the two youths were expelled from the party. On December 31 in a public function at Virugambakkam, Chennai to mark the 100th birthday celebrations of DMK leader, K. Anbhazhagan two DMK youth functionaries had sexually abused a woman police constable who was on official duty looking after the security of the event. Media had reported that when the police tried to take the two youths into custody, the DMK men objected to it and prevented their arrest. The DMK senior leaders, including party deputy general secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and the state health minister Ma Subramanian were present on the stage while the issue had taken place. The Chennai Police had earlier maintained that on watching the CCTV visuals it was found that it was accidental body contact and there was no sexual harassment. The police had also stated that the woman police woman had withdrawn the complaint. However, after extensive media reports, the top police officials intervened in the matter and directed to arrest the two DMK leaders. The DMK has, however, claimed that the party expelled the two youths on Tuesday. Chennai, Jan 4 : The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Department in a special drive during December 2022 seized 1,991 quintals of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice and the CID police arrested 200 people in relation to this smuggling. The Civil supplies have also seized 146 litres of kerosene and 43 gas cylinders that were to be supplied to PDS ration shops in the state. The Tamil Nadu Commissioner for Food and Consumer Protection department in a statement on Wednesday said that the special drive was held between December 12 and 18 to unearth the practice of smuggling PDS materials, including rice, kerosene, and gas. The Tamil Nadu government has also slapped the Goondas Act against those involved in the smuggling of the PDS commodities into the black market. The state government has been taking action against the PDS smugglers under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980. There has been an organised network in neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for PDS smuggling. In the Walayar checkpost bordering Coimbatore and Palakkad in Kerala, a group of people was arrested by the Kerala Police for smuggling in a truckload of PDS rice. The arrested were the office-bearers of the CPI(M) which is ruling in Kerala. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The DMRC on Wednesday notified the high court that the Delhi government is not inclined to contribute towards the payment of unpaid dues of arbitral award to Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Ltd (DAMEPL), promoted by Reliance Infrastructure. The Delhi government has claimed that it is not inclined to offer Rs 3565.64 crore towards equity for payment of the arbitral sum with interest, according to the affidavit filed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Before a single-judge bench Yashwant Sharma, the Central government and DMRC, represented by Attorney General R. Venkataramani, informed the court that the issue was being actively considered and deliberated by the relevant authorities, and that they anticipated a resolution by January 16. The court listed the matter for next hearing on January 19. The Delhi government stated that the shareholders cannot be held accountable for payments resulting from disputes or contractual defaults in its statement to the DMRC. The DMRC informed the court that it may obtain funding to cover this liability through the open market, externally aided funds, or a loan from the Government of India. The court is addressing a petition submitted by DAMEPL seeking enforcement of the arbitration award dated May 11, 2017. DMRC and DAMEPL entered into a contract in 2008 for the design, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the line. The Supreme Court on December 14, 2022, also told Venkataramani, "we should not repeat again that on one hand, you give speeches everywhere that India should be a model arbitration hub", as it pulled up the Centre for its failure to pay an arbitral award for Rs 4,500 crore following a lawsuit filed by Reliance Infra against the DMRC. Bareilly : , Jan 4 (IANS) A man has been arrested by the police for allegedly sharing a picture of the Pakistan flag on his Facebook account. The FB post was picked up by some local right-wing activists, who protested against the accused. An FIR has been registered against the accused under IPC sections 295-A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious feelings) and 505-2 (statements conducing to public mischief) following a complaint by an activist. The man, who belongs to a minority community and works at a saw machine workshop, said that his son had inadvertently uploaded the flag on his social media account and that he deleted the picture after realising that it was 'not right'. SHO of Kunwargaon, Vinod Kumar, said, "The matter came to light following a police complaint. "The flag had '14th August, Independence Day' written on it -- which was objectionable -- and it triggered protests by some locals in front of the police station. "The cyber cell was alerted and the picture was deleted from the man's FB account. During questioning, the accused said that it was a mistake. Since the offence is cognizable, he was produced before a magistrate and was remanded in judicial custody," the SHO said. Tripoli, Jan 4 : The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 1,088 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in the past week. "In the period of December 25-31, 2022, 1,088 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya," the IOM said in a statement. The rescued migrants included 1,241 women and 776 children, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. In 2022, a total of 24,684 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, the IOM revealed, adding 525 migrants died and 848 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route. Because of the insecurity and chaos in the country since the fall of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya. Rescued migrants usually end up inside overcrowded reception centres across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those facilities and release the migrants. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to police over an attempt to abduct a 19-year-old girl in the national capital. The commission said that as per the media reports a man tried to forcefully pull the girl inside his car and abduct her in the Pandav Nagar area of the city on December 31. It has been reported that when the girl resisted, the accused threatened to throw acid on her face and fled the spot. The girl has expressed concerns for her safety and has sustained injuries, the commission said. Taking suo moto cognizance on the media reports in the matter, DCW Chief Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to the DCP, East district. The Commission has sought a copy of FIR along with details of arrest made. The Commission has also demanded details of security provided to the girl. "We are receiving such types of cases on a daily basis. I don't know when this brutality against women and girls stops! We need to make our system more effective to deal with such cases. The accused should be arrested and strict action should be taken against him. The girl must be provided security as he has threatened an acid attack on her," Maliwal said while issuing the notice. The Commission has sought an action taken report from the police latest by January 6. Bengaluru, Jan 4 : As Karnataka inches closer to the Assembly elections, a war of words has begun between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was like a "puppy" in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to this statement, Bommai on Wednesday said that the choice of words by Siddaramaiah reflects on his personality. "I don't mind being called one. The dog is known for loyalty. I am working with loyalty for the people," he underlined. Siddaramaiah while addressing a public meeting in Vijayanagara district had launched an attack on Bommai by stating that he shivered in front of Modi. He challenged Bommai to get the state's pending dues cleared by the Union government. "If you (Bommai) have guts and strength, why are you like a puppy in front of Narendra Modi?" Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah had also slammed Union Finance Minister Sitharaman for refusing to provide grants to the state. "The interim report of 15th Finance Commission had recommended giving Rs 5,495 crore as a special grant to Karnataka." But Nirmala Sitharaman, who got elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, has refused permission and asked the commission to remove the recommendation from its final report. There are 25 BJP MPs from the state. If Bommai had strength and guts, he should have got Rs 5,495 crore grant from the Centre for Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said. Bommai reacting to this maintained that people would give Siddaramaiah a befitting reply in the elections. "Dogs are animals known for their loyalty. I take this quality and work loyally for people," he said. "I can't indulge in dividing society like he (Siddaramaiah) did. In the name of popular schemes, he brought misery. We have not done this," Bommai said. Siddaramaiah out of fear had never gone to face then PM Manmohan Singh. He was not able to get any funds for the state. There is no contribution to the state by him, Bommai stated. He equated Modi with 'Kamadhenu' and listed the projects allotted by the Union government. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Nitish Bharadwaj and The Film and Theatre Society come back to Delhi with their much-revered play "Chakravyuh". This play features Nitish Bharadwaj who took the nation by storm with his performance as Lord Krisha in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharata, once again as Lord Krisha. The show has already been performed close to a hundred times in various parts of the country and has been featured in various prestigious festivals. The play is the story of the 13th day of the great battle of Mahabharata. This play does not confine "Chakravyuh" to just a war-craft and takes it to the level of a complete philosophy. This play explores the episode of the killing of Abhminayu in Chakravyuh formation and all the questions, myths, ideologies, and convictions related to it at many levels. Written and performed in the form of verses, this play works as a bridge between history and the present and connects them both with perennial concepts of "Karma" and "Dharma". Atul Satya Koushik known all over India for his original plays and spectacular visualization on stage has written and directed the play totally in a new avatar. The play will tell the story of Mahabharata from the perspective of Krishna. Krishna appears and settles all questions, myths, and misunderstandings of everyone present. He passes on the eternal messages of Karma and by telling no one has ever been able to come out of their respective Chakravyuh as this whole life is nothing but a Chakravyuh. Our Karma is to fight in the Chakravyuh and getting out of it is the result of that Karma over which we can never have control. Atul Satya Koushik, Writer, and Director said, "Indian history has always intrigued me and I have always tried to interpret the history in a manner that gives a new meaning to the episodes that have been told to us a myriad of times before. The mere idea of a sixteen-year-old young fighter, who bears on his shoulder the name and legacy of the most acclaimed archer of all times, fighting alone with seven of the greatest warriors who ever fought on this earth undoubtedly gave me goosebumps. But I wanted to bring out more from this story. I have tried to tell, through Krishna, why to mourn the fact that "Abhimanyu" could not make his way out of the "Chakravyuh" when no one else has ever been able to do so. This whole life is a "Chakravyuh", those seven warriors were seven evils within us and we all are "Abhimanyu" who has to fight them throughout our lives." Actor Nitish Bharadwaj said, "Delhi audience has always been very critical yet loving and it is a joy indeed to return to Delhi and perform for them after Covid. I believe that with whatever the world has seen during these difficult years of the pandemic, the words and message of Lord Krishna in this play will connect all the more with the audience. I look forward to my Delhi show." . Written and directed by: Atul Satya Koushik . Play Date & Time: 08th January 2023 (Sunday) - 05:00 pm onwards . Play Venue: Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House, Delhi . Entry: By invitation and by tickets only . Tickets: Rs 300 to 2000/- available online on bookmyshow.com or call 9873579796 for tele booking. Also available at the counter on show day. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) According to Executive Director Liz Olson, the situation at High Country Humane is dire: the shelter is at critical capacity. Four years ago, HCH obtained the contract from the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County to operate as the primary animal shelter and holding facility for animals picked up by animal control. They dont euthanize animals for space, relying instead on shelter transfers and fosters to combat overflow. They have the capacity to serve about 143 animals at a time. As of Monday night, HCH had 189 animals in its system. Right now, animals are sleeping in conference rooms and bathrooms, bunking two or more to a kennel where possible, and spending their days sharing offices with HCH staff. All hands are on deck the shelter is calling on all current and potential foster families to come forward and assume care for animals in need. Even Olson is fostering. Shes looking after a litter of seven kittens and a 4-week-old puppy that was abandoned and found nearly frozen to death at a gas station. Warmer, not colder, weather typically means animal shelters will be more crowded. Litters of puppies and kittens are more likely to need care and placement during the spring and summer. Usually, fewer baby animals are born in the winter. This year, the litters just kept coming. According to Olson, puppies and kittens continue to arrive on the shelters doorstep every day. New babies are being born in the cold weather, and Olson is baffled by the development. It used to be that when it would get cold, litters would stop coming in because the mating system diminished. We have puppies. Weve been getting kittens in. Animals are wandering and breeding, Olson said. Last winter we didnt see kittens all winter, but we saw kittens all year this year. Weve seen more unwanted litters that are dumped at parks or at the gas stations or the side of the road. I have never experienced that. It feels like, what we know about animal welfare and what weve experienced is that things slow down in November. The occupancy is manageable. Not this year. According to Olson, the November quiet never set in. What does that mean this upcoming spring? First of all, we cant manage this, she said. Before Christmas, the cat condos inside the facility on Highway 89 were crowded, in addition to the kennels. The shelter made a big decision to waive adoption fees before the holiday, in hopes of making space and helping more pets find their forever homes. Waiving fees can be very healthy weve seen it bring good adopters, good people, and it moves animals. We have to move animals, Olson said. Adoption fees bring in roughly $200,000 a year for the shelter, an important chunk of the budget. Olson said waiving fees means the shelter loses money. We have fixed an animal, gotten them microchipped, and fully vaccinated. When we waive fees an animal walks out the door completely vetted for free, Olson said. I know as a director we do not and cannot count on adoption fees. In the long run its more important to get animals adopted. A number of cats were adopted when fees were waived before Christmas, and the adoption special helped. It just might not have done enough. The crisis right now is adult dogs and puppies in the building, more than we have capacity for, Olson said. Its not entirely clear why there are so many animals pouring into the shelter. Intake numbers have risen since COVID, and perhaps pandemic stresses are driving more people to forego pet ownership, but Olson thinks thats only a part of the picture. Most of the animals arriving at HCH are strays, meaning they dont appear to have an owner. A stray animal literally has nowhere to go. An owned animal has that, Olson said. Thats why HCH does everything they can to keep pets with their owners. They practice something called managed intake, an evidence-based approach to keeping animals safer, happier and out of the shelter system. Research has proven that an open-door policy doesnt work. We practice managed intake. We tell people, Lets talk through whats going on, Olson said. Owners wishing to surrender a pet have to first fill out an application, then sit down with HCH staff for a consult. The shelter regularly helps owners cover the costs of medical care, food and other expenses to help keep pets at home. They also offer connections to behavioral training resources, and often help to pay for those too. Still, HCH receives between one and five owner surrender requests a day. The majority of those surrenders could link back to Flagstaffs human housing crisis. The No. 1 reason for pet surrenders, as listed on intake applications, is moving or housing issues, followed by the arrival of a new baby and behavioral issues. Four owner surrender requests came in on New Years Day alone. Its this daily influx where the public brings animals in, animal control brings animals in, and sometimes well get the most drop-offs on a random Tuesday. Suddenly well get 20 animals at a time. Its not linked to holidays, we dont even have a busiest day of the week. Its completely random, Olson said. The problem is not unique to HCH and Flagstaff. Animal shelters across the region are reporting higher occupancy numbers. All of our partners within 12 hours, east, north, west of here, everyone is full, Olson said. Up into Utah theyre having capacity concerns. In New Mexico theyre having capacity concerns. In Nevada theyre having capacity concerns. This leaves HCH with no options to transfer animals to another shelter, unless they start putting dogs and cats on planes to fly to shelters in the Northeast. That option is neither economically feasible nor particularly good for the well-being of the animals, Olson said. Wed have to put an animal on an airplane. How stressful is that for an animal? And its the winter. Its cold and snowing, and theyre being loaded onto a plane to go to a completely unfamiliar place. Its not reasonable to coordinate that on a regular basis, she said. Coconino Humane Association, also located in Flagstaff, held the city and county contract for decades before HCHs inception. Now, they operate independently. According to their 2022 annual report, Coconino Humane Association took in about 1,800 dogs and cats (more than 2,000 total) last year. Olson said having them in the area is tremendously helpful. Theyre helping a lot of the animals that we cant help, she said. A lot of the time theyre full too. The two shelters have not transferred animals between facilities. In addition to having too many animals to care for, HCH faces another problem: They dont have enough people on staff. We are beyond our capacity. Its not healthy. We are extending ourselves, our staff. We see burnout and compassion fatigue, Olson said. HCH is budgeted to employ about 35 people. There are 25 people on staff, leaving both leadership and entry-level positions empty. The shelter has designed a system that utilizes foster parents or families to help relieve some of the pressure on shelter staff keeping animals out of kennels and condos. In reality, the shelter facility was only designed to house about 47 animals, maximum, at a time. HCH relies heavily on foster volunteers to make up the difference. Of the 171 animals in HCHs system as of Tuesday evening, 126 are being fostered. There were still 57 animals in the facility on Christmas Eve 10 over capacity. We dont euthanize for space and time, because we dont believe in that. We have to be transparent about the numbers, get animals into foster care, and get transfer partners. Right now, were begging for community support, Olson said. Were facing making critical decisions. Its not a place we want to be in. Were a progressive animal-loving community. There are people who are stepping up, to try and lighten the load for HCH. Aaron White has been fostering dogs for the shelter for two and a half years. In that time, hes welcomed a half-dozen dogs into his home. Dogs of different ages and different breeds. Right now, hes caring for an Australian Shepherd Mix called Jet, who tested positive for distemper and needed to be outside of the shelter environment to keep from spreading the contagious disease. Jet is healthy otherwise and White said hes adjusted to a regular routine and has never had an accident in the house. Routine, he said, is one of the keys to fostering. White works full time, sometimes more than 40 hours a week, and said its possible to make a big impact in an animals life while still living your own. My argument would be, its like better than dog ownership. You get to impact some poochs life and you can send him off and he can enlighten and help more people. The nice thing about fostering is its like being a grandparent, I get to eventually be dogless for a few weeks...but I like having dogs around, White said. Further aligning with the grandparent comparison, White said he doesnt have to pay for dog food, supplies, or medical expenses for the canines in his care. Those costs are handled by HCH. He said his favorite thing about fostering is seeing animals adopted. One of his favorite four-legged friends is a Pitbull called Doug, whom White describes as an all-star foster. White gets pictures and updates from Dougs forever dog mom. Knowing that the animal went on to a bright future and that he can be a safe person and place for them in the meantime is what motivates him. Ultimately, adoption is the end goal of fostering. So, would-be pet owners are encouraged to visit the shelter. If you cant welcome another animal into your household, whether as a foster or full time owner, Olson said donations is one of the next best things. They support intake management programs that keep dogs and cats in their current homes, and help to cover the costs of running a full or overfull shelter facility. In the 4 years of operation, intake numbers have grown in the hundreds every single year. We need individual contributionswe need predictable monthly donors, Olson said. The other number one thing Northern Arizonans can do to help with the crisis is to ensure that their pets and feral animals that might be on their property are spayed or neutered. The best way to curb the onslaught of unwanted litters is to seek spay-neuter resources. According to Olson, 75% of the animals the shelter takes in are intact (meaning they can still produce offspring). Shelter veterinarians are performing an average of 90 spay/neuter surgeries a week. Having the animals in your life spayed or neutered, Olson said, is the first step to ending the crisis. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Health experts on Wednesday said there has been at least a 30 per cent increase in the number of respiratory patients this New Year, as some are even being admitted to the ICU because of low oxygen in blood and respiratory distress due to excessive pollution. For people suffering from old respiratory illnesses, this winter has been super harmful amid a steep rise in air pollution and the Air Quality Index only going worse after Diwali, further deteriorating as we enter New Year. "There has been a significant increase in number of respiratory diseases like bronchitis, chest infections, Pneumonia, asthma and COPD exacerbation, both in OPD and also needing hospital admission," Dr Manoj Goel, Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, told IANS. People are coming with cough, breathing difficulty, chest pain and blood in sputum to hospitals. "There is at least a 30 per cent increase in the number of respiratory patients. Mostly patients are suffering due to viral and atypical infections. We have not detected any new cases of COVID-19. This surge is because of the winter season and excessive pollution," Dr Goel added. Patients with respiratory symptoms are very prone to a steep rise in air pollution and sometimes, it may require hospitalisation or an aggressive course of medication. "Also sometimes patients may require ICU and very intensive support as we are now witnessing AQI levels at 400 which is severe," said Dr Mayank Saxena, Senior Consultant and Unit Head Pulmonology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali. Respiratory illnesses increase during the winter season due to air pollutants settling down in the atmosphere. "Also, respiratory infections increase with viruses and bacteria in the environment," said Dr. Ravindra Gupta Head of Department, Internal Medicine, C K Birla Hospital, Gurgaon. Bad air quality days continue to haunt the Indo-Gangetic Plains with the air quality Index (AQI) oscillating between 'poor' and 'severe' categories. However, weather conditions in the form of rain would bring some immediate relief but with increasing climate change these systems have also become inconsistent. According to meteorologists, there has been an absolute absence of winter rain across the plains. In the wake of this, a stable wind pattern can be seen over the region and speed is also very slow. Koppal : , Jan 4 (IANS) Mining baron Janardhana Reddy said on Wednesday that he does not care what others had say about his new Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) party. Speaking to reporters, he expressed confidence that the KRPP would develop as a major party in Karnataka. "I don't care what leaders of other parties comment and criticize about my party. I have faith in the people. I won't be let down. The manifesto of the party and list of candidates who will contest the Assembly elections will be announced after January 16. "I will make an honest attempt to show the strength of the KRPP party in the state as well as at the national level. I don't react to the statements issued by the Congress and ruling BJP party leaders," he said. Reddy and his brothers were in forefront along with Minister for Transport Sriramulu when the BJP attained power in Karnataka under the leadership of B.S. Yediyurappa in the 2008 polls. He played a prominent role in Operation Lotus carried out by the party to ensure a majority. However, Lokayukta investigations into the mining scam led to his ouster from the cabinet and also landed him in jail. Sources in the BJP have confide that it will only further create a challenging situation for the new party in the upcoming assembly elections. The saffron party is challenged by Hindu Mahasabha, Sri Ram Sena, whose leaders had already vowed to defeat BJP. Adding to the woes, Reddy's party would significantly damage the BJP party in Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballary, Koppal and Vijayanagara districts. Most of the districts are considered as BJP bastions and Reddy's entry will harm its prospectus. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Air India has banned the passenger for 30 days who behaved in an inappropriate and undignified manner on the New York-Delhi flight. An Air India spokesperson on Wednesday said, "Air India has taken a very serious view of the incident, where a passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner on the New York-Delhi flight that caused extreme distress to a fellow passenger. "A police complaint has already been lodged and Air India is committed to assist the law enforcement agencies as well as regulatory authorities." The airline said that it has reported the matter to the aviation regulator DGCA for further action. "As a first step, Air India has banned the passenger for 30 days, the maximum it is permitted to unilaterally do so, and reported the matter to the DGCA for further action," said the spokesperson. The airline said that it has constituted an internal committee to look into the lapses by the airline crew. "We have also constituted an internal committee to probe lapses on part of Air India's crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation. We are also in regular contact with the aggrieved passenger and her family during the investigation and reporting process," said the spokesperson. DGCA had sought a report from Air India into the incident which came to light weeks after a drunk man urinated on a woman co-passenger in the business class of an Air India flight in November last year. The matter was revealed after the woman reportedly wrote to the group chairman of Air India, N. Chandrasekaran. The incident reportedly occurred on November 26, the drunk passenger allegedly urinated on a co-passenger in her 70s in the business class of an Air India flight from New York to Delhi. The lights had been dimmed after a meal. The woman complained about the matter to the crew and told them her clothes, shoes and bag were soaked in urine. Reports said that the crew allegedly gave her a set of clothes and slippers and told her to return to her seat. There have been many incidents of unruly behaviour on a flight. Recently, a high pitched argument between an air- passenger and one of the crew members of an IndiGo flight has gone viral on social media. The argument started on the airline's Istanbul-Delhi flight over food. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The regional festivals and fairs serve as windows into the rich culture, legacy, history, and art of a certain area. These happy and colourful days transport you back in time and provide you the chance to honour your ancestry. As the new year is about to start, we've compiled a list of festivals in January 2023 to escape the monotony of daily life! Bikaner Festival: A Festival For the Ship of the Desert Date (January 12, 2023) This region of Rajasthan has traditionally been reliant on camels, or the ship of the desert. Camels are renowned for their incredible power in addition to their stunning beauty. The Bikaner Festival, also known as the Camel Festival, was established by the Rajasthani government's department of tourism to draw attention to the special bond between the area and this gentle animal. This two-day festival is marked by a multitude of festivities. Lohri Date (January 13, 2023) Lohri is a wonderful celebration that is enthusiastically celebrated all over the nation to commemorate the winter solstice and the good crop. Although it is one of the most important holidays in Punjab, it is observed with the same fervour and excitement throughout the entire nation. Sesame seeds and jaggery, two traditional snacks, are offered at the bonfire and consumed as Prashad. Makar Sankranti - Symbolises the End of the Winter Season Date (January 14, 2023) Makar Sankranti, also known as Uttarayan, is one of the main holidays observed in India. A significant harvest holiday, Makar Sankranti has its roots in rural areas. Because it commemorates the Sun's entry into the zodiac sign of cancer, this day is seen as exceptionally lucky. With this day, the cloudy days cease and the sunny days begin. People celebrate this day with kite flying, eating til ke laddu, gajak, chikki, and other activities in several regions of the nation. Joydev Kenduli Mela - A Three-day Festival in Birbhum Date (January 14, 2023) The Joydev Kenduli Mela, also known as the Kenduli Fair, is held in Birbhum, West Bengal. This festival is particularly significant since it is the best opportunity to see the Bouls, a nomadic band of mystic minstrels that roam the area while playing music on an ektara and chanting devotional lyrics. According to the Bengali calendar, the fair starts on the final day of Paush and lasts until the month of Magh. The renowned poet Joydev Kenduli is the source of the fair's name. The Radhavinod temple is currently the focal point of the fair. Bhogali Bihu - A Prominent Assamese Festival Date (January 15, 2023) The state of Assam adopts its distinctively festive atmosphere as the New Year gets underway. This season is known for its fun, celebration, and incredible joy. The moment of Bihu has come. Bhogali Bihu, one of three different types of Bihu celebrations, is observed in the month of January. The holiday is observed with great delight and zeal. Bihu geet has a resonant quality to it. This holiday is observed by people of all races, castes, creeds, and religious beliefs. The Jaipur Literature Festival - The Greatest Earth Literary Show Date (January 19, 2023) The Jaipur Literature Festival, or JFL, is one of the most anticipated events among book lovers everywhere. This yearly festival, which calls itself the "Greatest Earth Literary Show," takes place in Jaipur. It offers a forum for entrepreneurs, politicians, humanitarians, literary experts, philosophers, writers, entertainers, and athletes to engage in intellectual conversations and share their ideas, thoughts, and opinions. The Jaipur Virasat Foundation, or JVF, is the organisation behind it. Modhera Dance Festival - Showcases the Glory and Splendour of the Solanki Empire Date (January 19, 2023) Take in the brilliant green, yellow, and red hues that cover every inch of Gujarat's famed Modhera Temple. A Chiaroscuro effect of space and time is produced as the sun sets and dusk ushers in a starry night. During the Solanki Empire, this wonder of architecture was constructed. An annual dance festival held at the temple speaks eloquently about the splendour, power, and wealth of the Solanki Empire. This celebration, also known as the Uttrardh Mahotsavor Modhera Utsav, honours the local music, dancing, art, and culture. The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, also known as TCGL, is in charge of planning this three-day celebration. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Latest updates on New Year 2023 -- Syndicated from IANS New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine on January 5 a plea connected with proposed eviction of more than 4,000 families from railways land at Haldwani. Advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the matter for urgent hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices S.Abdul Nazeer and P.S. Narasimha. The bench agreed to hear the matter on Thursday. Bhushan said a connected matter is scheduled for hearing Thursday and asked the court to tag his plea along with it. Bhushan's plea said: "The petitioners are poor people who have been lawful residents of Mohalla Nai Basti and Line N 17 & 18, Banbhulpura (Azad Nagar), Haldwani District Nainital, Uttarakhand for more than 70 years. As a result of a series of injustices that have resulted in an order for demolition of their houses vide the impugned order, the petitioners are left with no remedy other than the present SLP." According to reports, more than 4,000 families face eviction from railways land in Banbhulpura area in Uttarkahand's Haldwani district, after the high court ordered demolition of constructions on the railway land. The plea contended that the Uttarakhand High Court ordered the summary eviction of more than 20,000 people residing in more than 4,000 houses even though proceedings regarding the title of the residents were pending before the district magistrate. The plea has been filed by Bhupendra Arya and others, challenging Uttarakhand High Court order on December 20, 2022, which directed petitioners be evicted within a week and their houses be demolished. According to reports, encroachments around Haldwani Railway Station included around 20 mosques and nine temples and schools. "It is submitted that the high court, in complete disregard of settled principles of title and occupation, collectively rejected all documents placed by the petitions that clearly established their title," said the plea. The petitioners contended that the names of the local residents have been recorded in the municipal records in the house tax register and they are paying the house tax regularly. "Further there are five government schools, one hospital, and two overhead water tanks in the area. Thus, the long physical existence of the petitioners, some even prior to Independence, has been recognized by the state government and its agencies by providing the petitioners with electricity and gas connections, enrolling the petitioners on voters list and providing them with Aadhaar cards," said the plea. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The union cabinet on Wednesday cleared the government's ambitious National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. It aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production and fuel cell technology. Under the mission, it is expected that India is likely to achieve 5 mmt of hydrogen production capacity by 2030. The National Green Hydrogen Mission plans to give direct incentives for green hydrogen manufacturing worth Rs 13,000 crore. It envisages incentives for electrolyser manufacturing to the tune of nearly Rs 4,500 crore. The mission will be headed by the cabinet secretary and an empowered group of secretaries. Under the mission, six lakh jobs are guaranteed, minister for information and broadcasting Anurag Thakur told the media persons after the cabinet briefing. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 4 : After friends of Nayana Suryan, a director who was found dead at her rented home three years ago, sought a fresh probe, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday also seeking a fresh probe into her death. Even though the police had probed the case three years ago, it appeared to have reached no conclusion and it was dismissed as a suicide. It was after the autopsy report surfaced in the public domain, that her friends strongly disagreed with it as it said she committed suicide by strangulating herself. However, the report also mentioned injuries on her abdomen which led to calls for reopening the case and a fresh probe. Satheesan said that with the friends and family members of the deceased expressing serious doubts about the police probe and the findings in the autopsy report, a fresh probe is needed. The Kerala police has now formed a special team to conduct the probe. The 28-year-old film maker was a close associate of award winning director Lenin Rajendran who passed away on January 14, 2019. The death of Rajendran was a shock to her and when she was found dead on February 24, 2019, the general impression was that she was deeply upset over the passing away of her mentor. Suryan had worked in films by Rajendran besides her own and had done several advertisements also, in addition to directing stage shows here and abroad. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday set a fact finding committee to evaluate the results of the recent Assembly elections in Gujarat and suggest measures to be taken. The committee, to be headed by Nitin Raut and comprising Dr Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka as members, will submit a report to Kharge within two weeks. The Congress faced its worst-ever rout in these Assembly elections, and the party has alleged that it was because of the ruling party's money and muscle power, coupled with blatant misuse of the state machinery, and the Election Commission remaining a mute spectator to the complaints lodged by the Congress. Kolkata, Jan 4 : A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. Calcutta High Court's division bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta rejected the bail plea on grounds that investigation by the central agency in the cattle smuggling case has reached a crucial stage and hence it will not be justified to grant him bail at this juncture. The arguments in the matter were already concluded on Tuesday. However, the division bench reserved its judgement for the day and pronounced the same on Wednesday. To recall, Mondal filed two petitions at the Calcutta High Court in relation to the cattle smuggling case. One was a bail petition and the other was the plea to quash the FIR filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the matter. Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Bibek Chaudhuri had already rejected the plea related to ED's FIR earlier and on Wednesday the division bench also rejected his bail plea. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been opposing his bail plea on the basis of his being influential. That the division bench has accepted this influential theory to a great extent was evident from the two observations by Justice Bagchi during the course of hearing. The first observation was related to the fresh case of attempt to murder filed against Mondal in an incident that purportedly happened a year ago. But, the FIR was filed on December 19, 2022 just a couple of hours after the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi approved the production warrant allowing the ED to take Anubrata Mondal to New Delhi for questioning at the agency's headquarter in the national capital in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal. Though in a lighter mode, Justice Bagchi told Mondal's counsel Kapil Sibal that it is evident how influential Sibal's client is that both the state and central agencies are keen about him. Secondly, Justice Bagchi also expressed surprise over the FIR filed by state police in the mysterious death of Lalan Sheikh, the prime accused in the Bogtui carnage in March last year, at the CBI custody, where the name of CBI's investigating officer in the cattle smuggling, who had no connection with the Bogtui probe, was named. New Delhi, Jan 4 : A Paris-bound Air India flight on Wednesday returned to Delhi, where it made an emergency landing, after suffering a technical snag, officials said. Officials said that Air India's Delhi-Paris flight AI 143, carrying nearly 210 passengers, took off from the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1.28 p.m. and was in the air for nearly 35 minutes when a full emergency was declared. It returned to Delhi safely at 2.25 p.m. Aviation regulator DGCA said: "On 04.02.2023, Air India B787-800 aircraft VT-AND operating flight AI143 (Delhi-Paris) was involved in Air turnback due to Slats Drive snag message." Earlier on Tuesday, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Phuket returned to Delhi due to a technical snag shortly after takeoff. As per recent information by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, total 2,613 technical snag related occurrences have been reported by various airlines in the country in the last five years. According to the data, Indigo topped the list with 885 such incidents while Spicejet and Vistara reported 691 and 444 technical snag related occurrences, respectively, between 2018 and 2022. According to a CNN report, the incoming chairman of the new House Select Committee on China GOP Rep Mike Gallagher in a media interview labeled TikTok as "digital fentanyl" China's government is providing to Americans. Even though it has already been politically correct to be anti-China in Washington, labeling a popular short video app "digital fentanyl" is both absurd and hypocritical as the US is decriminalizing marijuana. The newly established House Select Committee on China is considered a new Cold War tool against China. Diao Daming, an expert on US studies and associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times that there are two motivations behind this select committee - one is to suppress China and the other is partisan struggles. "It wants to compete with the White House which is tougher on China. If it creates the impression that the Biden administration is weaker on China, it could help the Republicans in future elections," said Diao. As the incoming chairman of this select committee, Gallagher, among the young US congressmen, is a radical China hawk. After being appointed chairman, he immediately worked to outline his vision for the committee, including restoring "supply chains and ending critical economic dependencies on China" and ending "the CCP's theft of American personal data and intellectual property." It is anticipated that the primary target of the select committee on China is TikTok. TikTok is remarkably popular among young people. Its Chinese version Douyin is also widely used among Chinese young people. But the app is never being politicized as much as it has been in Washington. Gallagher called TikTok "digital fentanyl," aiming to stir up trouble and hype the "China threat" theory. Zhang Tengjun, deputy director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that Gallagher is trying to embed his own deep-seated anti-China thoughts into the minds of the American public - on the one hand, it can squeeze TikTok out of the US market and achieve de-sinicization of domestic products and services; on the other hand, Gallagher is paving way for his future political career. "Now in the US, anti-China is a useful and convenient card to play. Politicians like Gallagher are demonizing TikTok's influence in US society but at the same time exploit this influence to create opinion chaos," said Zhang. For a long time, localism has been prevalent in the US. This makes the US always attribute domestic political gridlocks to external factors rather than reflecting on its own problems. The narratives the US adopts toward domestic issues reflect the thought of localism. For instance, Fentanyl is the No.1 cause of overdose deaths in the US. While the US fails to address the abuse of fentanyl, it groundlessly accused China of being the main source of fentanyl-like substances in the US. With drug overdose deaths in the US topping 100,000 annually, the US is pursuing cannabis decriminalization. This is the vivid reflection of the dysfunction of US governance. Diao from Renmin University of China believes it is a typical "I am sick, but you should take the pill." It is worth noting that even the CNN report said that there is no evidence that the "national security risk" those US politicians worry about has actually occurred. Rather, what we see is the US manipulating and infiltrating into the opinion of other countries and even its own. Twitter CEO Elon Musk recently revealed that all social media platforms work with the US government to censor content. As the US shifts the blame on China, it clearly shows the US lacks self-confidence in the face of China's rise. New Delhi, Jan 4 : UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on Wednesday for "observation and treatment of a viral respiratory infection", doctors said. As per a hospital bulletin, quoting it Chairman, Board of Management, Dr Ajay Swaroop, Gandhi has been "admitted in the Department of Chest Medicine under the care of Dr. Arup Basu and his team". "Mrs Gandhi has been admitted for observation and treatment of a viral respiratory infection," the bulletin said. The former Congress chief was last seen in public on the Congress Foundation Day on December 28. Prior to that, she participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi on December 24. Kolkata, Jan 4 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that it conducted raids at 17 locations in and around Kolkata on Wednesday in connection with the Ekbalpur-Mominpur clashes that took place on October 9 last year, and recovered huge cash from certain residences where the clashes broke out. Although the exact amount of cash recovered is yet to be known, an amount of Rs 33 lakh were recovered from four residences at Bhukailash Road in the first two hours of raid conducted by the the NIA team, which was escorted by the central armed forces personnel. It is further learnt that the NIA team, at certain places at Bhukailash Road and Mayurbhanj Road in the area, faced resistance from local people during their operations. People surrounded the vehicles of the investigating team and started agitating. However, the escorting central armed forces personnel removed the agitators crowd, following which the NIA officials conducted their raids smoothly. The clashes broke out on the occasion of Laxmi Puja and in the process of dispersing the violent mob, one officer in the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police was also injured. Police later detained 30 persons. On October 19, the NIA took over the investigation in the matter from the special investigation team (SIT) of Kolkata police which was formed following a directive of a division bench of the Calcutta High Court. On November 10, addressing an administrative review meeting in Nadia, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the NIA of fuelling communal tensions in the state. "There are certain communal groups in Murshidabad who are troublemakers. The NIA then enters the scene to fuel tension further. All the public representatives in such communal pockets have to be careful that a small incident does not snowball into a major crisis. Whenever you hear of such incidents, you immediately intervene with the district and police administration and bring the situation under control," she said then. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Aiming to take forward the action plan on water security, the Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising the first 'all-India annual state ministers' conference on water' on the theme 'Water Vision@2047' in Bhopal on January 5 and 6. The primary objective of the two-day conference is to gather inputs for the 'India@2047' and '5P' vision from the different water stakeholders from the states since water is a state subject. The meet also aims to improve engagement and partnership with the states and share the initiatives and schemes of the Ministry of Jal Shakti with different stakeholders. While addressing the challenges of water security as part of the India@2047 plan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proclaimed the '5P' mantra, which includes political will, public financing, partnerships, public participation and persuasion for sustainability. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will attend the meeting. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, will also be present at the two-day event. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, will chair one important thematic session on water governance at the conference. Officials said that with an objective to enhance the insights of this conference, a plenary session will set the agenda of the conference with focus on 'Water Vision@2047'. The conference will have five thematic sessions -- Water Security in Water Deficit, Water Surplus and Hilly Regions; Water Use Efficiency including Reuse of Waste Water/Grey Water; Water Governance; Climate Change Resilient Water Infrastructure; and Water Quality. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval for naming the greenfield international airport at Goa's Mopa as Manohar International Airport, after former Defence Minister and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. "To fulfil the cherished aspirations of the people of Goa, Chief Minister of Goa conveyed unanimous decision of the Cabinet of state government to name the greenfield international airport, Mopa, Goa as Manohar International Airport - Mopa, Goa," an official statement said. The airport at Mopa had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022, and named after late Parrikar in recognition of his contribution in building modern Goa, the statement added. Bengaluru, Jan 4 : The Karnataka High Court has upheld the conviction and life imprisonment sentence handed down by the trial court to four students, including two girls from Mumbai, for kidnapping and murdering their friend for money. The convicts - Rohit Kumar from Jharkhand, Shivani Thakur, and Preeti Raj from Mumbai and Vareesh from Bihar - had filed separate appeals. However, a division bench headed by Justice B. Veerappa has rejected their pleas, stating the four had not only committed the crime of murder but attempted to dispose off the body and destroy evidence. According to available records, the two girls have developed friendship with the victim and became close to him. The other two had kidnapped him for money. The prosecution has proved charges against all accused persons and conspiracy behind the murder. After verifying the evidence, there seems to be no need for the High Court to intervene in the matter of the judgment by the local court, the bench said. Tushar, the deceased had come to Bengaluru from Rajasthan along with his classmate, accused Vareesh. He hailed from a rich family and Vareesh had planned to make money after kidnapping him. As part of the conspiracy, Vareesh had introduced Tushar to his relatives Preeti and Shivani. On January 14, 2011 Tushar went missing. After seven days, police had recovered his body near Yelahanka. The investigations revealed that Tushar had last been seen with the two girls. Ayushman Lal, a classmate of Tushar, had told police that he had got a message from Tushar on his mobile that he was consuming liquor with the girls and he would return to room late but never returned. The accused had called the victim's father from his mobile and demanded Rs 10 lakh from him claiming that they had kidnapped Tushar. The police had arrested accused Rohit Kumar, when he came to collect money. Later, all accused were arrested. The 15th Fast Track Court in Bengaluru had convicted the accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment on November 6, 2014. Panaji, Jan 4 : Congress leader Amarnath Panjikar on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has betrayed the people of Goa over the issue of Mhadei river and is now trying to divert everyone's attention by blaming the Congress. Panjikar, the party's Media Cell Chairman, said the BJP has mastered the art of diverting the attention of the people from the core issues. "The recent blame-game by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant pointing fingers at the Congress party over the Mhadei issue is an attempt to divert the attention," he said. "BJP's double engine government has created a mess over the Mhadei river issue. However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is blaming Congress, it is an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the betrayal of Goans by the BJP government," he said. Sawant had criticised opposition parties for not attending the 'All Party Meeting' convened on Monday to discuss the steps to be taken to fight the battle of 'Saving Mhadei'. The state government move came after the Central government approved the Detailed Project Report of Karnataka for the disputed Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project. "Chief Minister must immediately meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and get the approval given to the DPR of Kalasa-Bhanduri Project withdrawn or he should resign for his failure to protect river Mhadei," Panjikar said. According to Panajikar, it was the Congress government which constituted the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal. "The facts and figures show that the BJP government after coming to power in 2012 has consistently compromised on the interest of Goans. I want to remind the Chief Minister that the betrayal on Mhadei began on December 21, 2017 when the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wrote a letter to the Karnataka BJP compromising on the issue to give political advantage to Karnataka in the elections," he said. "I challenge the BJP government to produce a single document to prove that Congress compromised on Mhadei," Panjikar said. "... the BJP government is ruling at the Centre, Karnataka and Goa. It is clear that the connivance of the BJP governments has resulted in diversion of water and injustice to Goa. We warn the BJP government not to adopt blame games to divert attention from its failure to protect Mhadei. If the government does not act, the entire state of Goa will come on roads with massive protests," Panjikar said. New Delhi, Jan 4 : A head constable of Delhi Police on Wednesday set himself on fire at Delhi's Rafi Marg. The constable, identified as Kuldeep, was saved by the PCR personnel deployed at the spot, said a senior police official. The head constable, who was earlier posted at the secretariat security, is currently under suspension, according to police. "Kuldeep has previously also attempted to set himself ablaze but the reason behind it is unknown. He did not suffer any major injuries but received burns on his neck and chest," the senior police official added. Details are awaited. Islamabad, Jan 4 : The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday announced that it is considering taking concrete steps against the two major parties of the ruling coalition - the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), according to a media report. A statement issued by the TTP said that "if these two parties remain firm on their position and continue to be slaves of the army, action will be taken against their leading people", The Express Tribune reported. "People should avoid getting close to such leading people," added the statement. The TTP claimed that the whole world is aware that the "Jihadi field of TTP is only Pakistan and our target is the security agencies occupying the country", the report said. It added that it has not taken action against any political party for a long time, but "unfortunately... [Foreign Minister] Bilawal Bhutto Zardari gave the United States the status of mother to quench the thirst of his mother's love", adding that by doing so, "he openly declared war against TTP". "Although Bilawal sir is still young, this poor man has not yet witnessed the state of war," the statement added, The Express Tribune reported. The TTP added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also "pushed the whole party into this war going against TTP for the sake of pleasing the US". Without taking any names, the TTP also gave a message to the religious leadership and said that there is no scope for action against them in TTP's policy, "but we also request you to refrain from activities against us". The statement by TTP came just a day after Bilawal Bhutto had said that in a reversal of the policy adopted by the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of hilding talks with the outlawed group, the coalition government would quit "the policy of appeasement" of terrorists. He also drew a distinction between the Taliban in Afghanistan and the TTP, saying that the former is a "reality" with "a history" of existence, while the latter is nothing but a terrorist organisation, The Express Tribune reported. Chandigarh, Jan 4: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns plan to set up a new Government Medical College in Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur district has run into controversy over the transfer of land for his pet project. The 17 acres of land on which the medical college is to come up has been shown as a gift to the government from Baba Darshan Singh, the sewadar of Gurdwara Sachkhand Angitha Sahib in the Mastuana Sahib Complex. However, the records show that he does not hold ownership rights of the 17 acres. The land has now been registered in the name of a Government-run society that proposes to set up the Sant Attar Singh Institute of Medical Education Science and Technology with an investment of Rs 450 crore. However, the ownership of the land as per the records is in the name of Sant Attar Singh Trust, Mastuana Sahib headed by ex-MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. This trust controls over 250 acres of land belonging to the four Gurdwaras situated alongside each other and continues to hold possession of the entire land by virtue of a 1987 stay order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This stay order germinated from the Punjab government's notification of 1964 that ordered the transfer of the Gurdwaras in the complex to the SGPC. The Mastuana Sahib Trust challenged the notification. Baba Darshan Singh, who claims to be the president of an independent society controlling Angitha Sahib Gurdwara, said that by virtue of his being president, he had every right to give the land for the proposed medical college. He said he did not know of any litigation in the High Court and the stay order in force since 1987, as the society he headed never received any summons to appear in the court. "I acted in the interest of the people of Sangrur as the region badly needed a medical college and a hospital," he added. Jaswant Singh Khaira, secretary of the Mastuana Sahib Trust, said that Darshan Singh, who served as a driver with the Trust, had no legal sanctity to call himself a custodian of Angitha Sahib Gurdwara. He was not appointed as per tradition by the Trust management. Since 1946 all sewadars of all the four Gurdwaras had been appointed by the Trust. But Darshan Singh was a self-appointed sewadar, Khaira added. Deputy Commissioner Jatindera Jorwal, when contacted, said that the title of the land gifted to the medical college was clear. It was in the name of Angitha Sahib Gurdwara. When asked whether Baba Darshan Singh is the proprietor of the land and the Gurdwara Angitha Sahib, the DC said, "it is better, if you ask this from Darshan Singh." To ascertain how a person who is not an owner of the land could get it registered in the name of the proposed medical college, Indianarrative.com contacted the then-tehsildar Sukhbir Singh Brar. The tehsildar said, "the matter was in the notice of top echelons in the government. Everything done was at their behest. You can ask the DC how the land transfer deed was registered." Interestingly, as CM Mann is issuing statements against the SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal for creating hindrances in the setting up of the medical college and hospital, three separate petitions have been filed in the High Court. The petitioners are seeking registration of a fraud case against Darshan Singh, who according to the records, is not an owner of the land transferred to the medical college. The SGPC and the Mastuana Sahib Trust - two parties involved in litigation over control of the Mastuana Gurdwaras - have offered the Mann government to sit with them and arrive at a mutual understanding after which they can request the High Court to exempt the said land from the purview of the litigation. The land can then be handed over to the medical college. Meanwhile, acting on an application moved by the Trust, the High Court has issued a fresh stay order on all the properties of the Mastuana Sahib Trust, implying that the college could not be built over the land gifted by Baba Darshan Singh till the pendency of the case. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Bhopal, Jan 4 : The Madhya Pradesh authorities have demolished a four-storey hotel using at least 60 dynamite sticks in Sagar district. This is perhaps the first instance when dynamite was used to demolish a building ever since the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government initiated punitive action against those accused of murder or rape. The hotel, which was brought down on Tuesday night, was owned by BJP leader Mishri Chand Gupta, who is accused of killing a youth of the Yadav community in the district in December last year. The district administration said permission was taken for a two-storey shopping complex, but a multi-storey hotel was built and was being operated there. "In view of the safety aspect, traffic was stopped by placing barricades around the intersection. People living in the buildings around the hotel were also alerted. There has been no loss of any kind. Only the building was demolished," said District Collector Deepak Arya. As per the police, Gupta's wife had contested the urban local body elections on a BJP ticket and lost to a Congress supported candidate from the Yadav community. On December 22, Gupta had allegedly crushed Jagdish Yadav under his SUV, who later died in hospital. The incident was recorded on a a CCTV camera. Since that incident, the politics of Sagar district have heated up. The Sagar district police had registered a case of murder against eight accused in this case. Out of these, five were arrested. Mishri Chand Gupta and two others are still absconding. Along with the main accused, Lavi Gupta, Honey, Lucky, advocate Chand Gupta and Ashish Malviya were arrested and sent to jail. The deceased, Jagdish Yadav, was the nephew of independent councillor Kiran Yadav, who defeated Gupta's wife Meena by 83 votes in the civic body polls. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has initiated a bulldozer drive as part of the punitive action against wrongdoers in the state. This has been the main reason people started comparing him with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Chouhan's bulldozer action had begun in the first quarter of 2021, and since then thousands of illegal buildings have been demolished across the state. The killing of Jagdish Yadav has sparked outrage, and with the Assembly elections approaching, the state BJP unit tried to retrieve the situation by suspending Gupta from the party. Both the BJP and the Congress left no stone unturned to win over the Yadav community in Sagar district. Sources told IANS that Mohan Yadav, who is the higher education minister, had visited the victim's (Jagdish Yadav) house on Tuesday, while Gupta's hotel was demolished on the same day. Congress leader Arun Yadav had also visited the victim's family on Monday. As the 2023 legislative session kicks off, the Montana Office of Public Instruction will be holding a ceremony championing the parents of students in Helena next week. In what will be called the Parents as Our First Teachers, the celebration follows a tour across the state by Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen where she met with parents, educators and legislators. During these meetings, the former Billings public school teacher fielded questions and comments ranging from school curriculum and teacher pay to budgetary spending to special education needs to determine educational priorities for the upcoming session. The event will be held in the in the Montana State Capitol Rotunda at 11 a.m. Jan. 2 and will be livestreamed on the Montana OPI Facebook page. The parent voice is part of the support for the best public education system, Arntzen said in a public statement. Education is a generational discussion with parents and grandparents. Join me in actively listening in partnership with legislators and school leaders as this 68th legislative session unfolds. The event will feature a number of guest speakers from across the state who have publicly challenged state and local authority regarding education in recent years. Emily Pennington is slated to lead the Pledge of Allegiance while her parents James and Jana have been invited to speak. The family became known for a highly publicized dispute with the Billings public schools board of trustees and Superintendent Greg Upham regarding their daughter Emilys eligibility to finish her high school education at age 19. After a public outcry and a contentious special meeting, the board ultimately voted to amend its policy to give students the choice to stay in public schools until age 20 and possibly longer depending on specific special needs for students like Emily, who has Down Syndrome and whose parents opted to hold her back a year for medical reasons. Also scheduled to speak is Alba Pimentel, chairperson for Moms for LibertyYellowstone County. The chapter is a recent addition to a nationwide nonprofit organizing against government intervention in public schools. The organizations website states its mission is to protect parental rights by engaging with their local elected leaders, to challenge government overreach and intimidation tactics and advocate for liberty-minded candidates in elections. The organization has received support from high-profile conservative politicians including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Trump administration cabinet members Betsy DeVos and Ben Carson. Since starting the chapter in Oct. 2022, Pimentel said it has grown to about 50 members and has focused predominately on increasing transparency from the Billings school board pertaining to budget spending and increasing parents involvement in its committee meetings. Our goal is to educate and empower parents who feel like theyre being ignored, she told the Gazette. And were going to continue to focus on preparing kids for the future. Also a parent of a special needs child in the Billings school district, Pimentel has regularly attended board meetings in recent years to speak out against a range of topics including budget spending, amending the policy to let Pennington graduate and rescinding the districts mask policy. She said she has noticed progress by the board over the past year regarding parental outreach and consideration but added that more work still needs to be done. It does seem like the board is under scrutiny, but its really just constructive criticism, she said. We really just want them to do better for our kids. Kalispell parent Kendra Espinoza will also speak at the event. Espinoza gained nationwide attention in 2020 after presenting and winning a case before the U.S. Supreme court on the grounds of discrimination. She argued that her family's exclusion from the states tax credit program stemmed from her kids attending a religious school. The court ultimately ruled that excluding religious schools from the program violated the federal constitution regardless of whether state law bars funding for religious organizations. The ruling was considered a major victory for those in favor of school choice and utilizing public funds for private schools. Arntzen has echoed parents concerns and opposition to government intervention in on public education in recent years, repeatedly saying that they have the final choice regarding their child. She was among those in attendance of the special board meeting discussing Penningtons graduation and previously spoke at rallies in Helena and Billings opposing mask mandates in schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that he approved the appointment of former Madhya Pradesh High court judge, Justice Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava (retd) as the next Chairman of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. The proposal for the appointment was moved by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds charge of the Power Ministry. The appointment, made in accordance with the Electricity Act through the same procedure followed for the appointment of the two previous DERC Chairmen, has now been placed before the LG, V.K. Saxena. Sharing details on Twitter, Kejriwal posted: "Delhi Government approves appointment of Justice (retd) Rajeev Shrivastava as next Chairman of DERC. Best wishes to him for a successful tenure". Under due procedure, the Chief Justice of the MP High Court has also granted his approval for the appointment. Justice Shrivastava (retd) will assume the post after the retirement of the present Chairman, Justice Shabihul Hasnain (retd). The matter has now been placed before Lt Governor, who is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in this matter as it is a transferred subject. While approving the proposal, the Chief Minister has also noted that the erstwhile LG Anil Baijal agreed with the government's decision in the appointment of the previous two Chairmen of the DERC and did not differ. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Following the imposition of travel restrictions for travellers from China, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed disappointment over the "knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years". "Several countries are introducing Covid-19 testing and other measures for travellers from China, even though the virus is already circulating widely within their borders. It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years," said Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA. IATA said that the research undertaken around the arrival of the Omicron variant concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak spread of infections. At most, restrictions delayed that peak by a few days. If a new variant emerges in any part of the world, the same situation would be expected, it added. "That's why governments should listen to the advice of experts, including the WHO, that advise against travel restrictions. We have the tools to manage Covid-19 without resorting to ineffective measures that cut off international connectivity, damage economies and destroy jobs. Governments must base their decisions on 'science facts'," Walsh said. IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 300 airlines comprising 83 per cent of global air traffic. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over a brainstorming session with Chief Secretaries of all states beginning on Thursday over how to develop districts as engines of growth so as to achieve the target of becoming a $5 trillion economy. According to highly-placed sources, the meeting will be held between January 5 to 7, with the Prime Minister presiding over the deliberations during January 6 and 7. NITI Aayog CEO Parmeswaran Iyer will inaugurate the meeting on January 5 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Pusa) campus in the national capital. Sources informed that the main focus of the meeting would be how to develop districts across the country into engines of growth. Chief Secretaries could be asked to come up with ideas to develop districts as models of development to achieve the target of making India a $5 trillion economy, sources said. The timeline for India becoming a $5 trillion economy was earlier 2024-25, which now has been revised to 2026-27, owing to disruptions caused by coronavirus pandemic. Mumbai, Jan 4 : 'Kumkum Bhagya' actor Rushad Rana has tied the knot with Ketaki Walawalkar on Wednesday. They both got married as per Maharashtrian custom. Rushad's co-actor Krishna Kaul expressed his happiness on being part of his special day. 'Anupamaa' actress Rupali Ganguly also shared the picture of the newly-wed couple on her Instagram handle. He shared: "I feel like Rushad is a part of my family, I share a very special bond with him. When he informed us about his wedding, we all were very happy for him and excited to be a part of this special day of his life. It feels like it's my real father's wedding." Rushad has married for the second time after his first relationship with his ex-wife Khushnum ended in 2013, and both got divorced. Krishna added further about his wife Ketaki. "I just wanted to participate and be involved in his wedding as much as I can. Also, Ketaki, his wife, is a sweetheart, they both are meant for each other. I'm extremely happy to see two people who are so compatible, are getting married," he added. Rupali also shared a picture of their marriage and she captioned it: "Ho gayi shaaaadddiiiiii." Rushad replied: "We loveee you." Ketaki wore a yellow coloured sari in Maharashtrian style paired with a green shawl. On the other hand, Rushad opted for off-white coloured kurta-pyjama. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a status report from the city police on a plea by Vasant Vihar Welfare Association about foreigners gathering frequently outside the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the posh south Delhi locality. The association alleged that due to the UNHCR office located in B Block, the entire road is blocked by a big gatherings, inconveniencing local residents who are unable to commute. In response to the association's argument, a bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh issued notice to the city police and said that the clear status of the road, as stated in an order made in response to an earlier petition, be preserved. "Issue notice to Delhi Police. It shall be ensured that the status, as recorded in the order dated September 7, 2021, which specifically notes the submission that the road outside the UNHCR building has been cleared, is maintained," she said. The court listed the matter for next hearing on February 9. The association had first filed a separate petition on the same problem, according to the petitioner's counsel, and that suit was dismissed in September 2021 after the road in front of the UNHCR offices was cleared. However, in October, the crowds started again as it became a protest site. When the court was informed there were no longer protestors outside the UNHCR offices and the petitioner might approach the court again if necessary, the petition was withdrawn. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Southwest, had stated in its status report that the protest by Afghan refugees had been dispersed from the UNHCR Office. The Delhi government and police were earlier directed by the HC to make sure that the number of Afghan citizens protesting outside the UNHCR office in order to obtain refugee status is appropriately decreased and that the demonstrators are strictly made to adhere to Covid-19 protocol. Mumbai, Jan 4 : Gaurav Pundir, Moksh Kothari, Sophia Andhyarujina and and Ariana Dhond secured top positions in different categories of the National Dressage competitions at Amateur Rider's Club, here. On Tuesday, in the FEI CDI 1, intermediate riders dressage category Gaurav Pundir secured the first position with 62% while riding on the horse Gse' Escobar. Abhishek Chopra and Ariana Dhond secured second and third positions with 60% and 58%. Abhishek was riding on Serrano and Ariana was on Freixenet 81. On the same day in the Children 1, riders in advanced dressage category Sophia Andhyarujina secured top position while riding on her pony Belvedere with 61% score. Inaara Luthria and Jhanvi Raheja came second and third with 60% and 59%. In the junior's rider's dressage category Shlok Jhunjhunwala secured 64% while riding with his horse Halchal. In the young rider's dressage category, Moksh Kothari comes first with 71% score while riding with his pony Go for It TC. Aadya Rao and Niharika Singhania came second and third in the same category with 65% and 62% score. On Wednesday, Gaurav Pundir again secured top position in the intermediate rider's dressage category with 63% score while riding on Gse' Escobar. Abhishek Chopra secured second spot with 60% score. On the same day medium and advanced dressage competitions were held at ARC. In the junior dressage category, Moksh Kothari secured top spot with 68% and Aadya Rao secured second with 59%. Moksh was riding on his horse Go for It TC and Aadya was riding on Expo. In the advanced dressage competitions Ariana Dhond secured first position with 64% score while riding on Freixenet 81 and Yashaan Khambatta and Niharika Singhania gained second and third spot of the competition with 58% and 55% score. "In the national level event of CDN, I have won the Gold and the Bronze medal in the Young Rider Dressage show being held at the ARC grounds, Mahalaxmi Mumbai. In this event top dressage riders from across the country have come to compete in the show. I am an 11th grade student in Hillspring International School. In December of 2022 I also won the gold medal in the JNEC Young Rider Dressage Team event," said Moksh Kothari. "I'm very happy with my horse's performance in this CDN. As a horse still new to this country she has truly come into her own and performed her heart out for me. I truly couldn't ask for a better partnership. Hopefully we can grow to understand each other better as time goes on. I am extremely grateful to ARC and the management for providing the world class facilities in the heart of Mumbai city. With multiple national level medals under my belt in the junior category in 2021 and now in the Young Riders Category, I only hope to keep moving forward in this journey of learning and growing." New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Allahabad High Court direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct urban local bodies polls without reserving seats for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). A bench, headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, observed that a segment of the society would be left out if elections were held without reservation. The bench, also comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha, said: "We cannot have a vacuum in governance", as it noted that the term of some local bodies would come to end on January 31. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted that the government has already set up a dedicated commission to collect data for representation of the OBCs. Staying the high court's direction, Chief Justice Chandrachud said the government is at liberty to issue a notification allowing discharge of financial obligations, however, no major policy decisions are to be taken in the meantime. During the hearing, the apex court observed that in view of the Krishnamurthy judgment, the state government has issued notification constituting the UP state local bodies dedicated backward classes commission. Mehta informed the apex court that the term of some local bodies would come to end by January 31 and added that the commission can be asked to complete the exercise of collecting data to determine backwardness within three months, though the panel's term is six months. Noting that the tenure of the newly-appointed commission is six months, the top court said efforts would have to be made to complete the exercise expeditiously before March 31, 2023. It further added that the government will be at liberty to delegate the work and financial powers to ensure local bodies administration is not hampered. The apex court issued notice to the original petitioners in the matter, before the high court, and sought their reply within three weeks. The Uttar Pradesh government, last week, had set up a five-member commission for providing reservation to OBCs in urban local body elections. The panel will be headed by Justice Ram Avtar Singh (retd). The four other members are retired IAS officers Chaub Singh Verma and Mahendra Kumar, and former legal advisors to the state Santosh Kumar Viswakarma and Brajesh Kumar Soni. The members were appointed after the Governor's approval. The panel was formed after the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court quashed the UP government's draft notification on urban local body elections and ordered it to hold the polls without reservation for the OBCs. The high court delivered the verdict on pleas challenging the preparation of the OBC reservation draft without following the triple test formula prescribed by the Supreme Court. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after the verdict, had said his government would set up a commission to extend reservation benefits to OBCs in urban local body polls in the state. "Urban local body polls would be held only after extending the quota benefits to OBCs," he had added. "A commission would be set up to fix reservation for OBCs in accordance with the triple-test formula," he said. The Allahabad High Court quashed the notification issued by the UP government on December 5 for reservation of OBC in urban local body elections. The seats, other than SC/ST, would have to be treated as general. The high court noted that the apex court had stated that state legislations cannot simply provide uniform and rigid quantum of reservation of seats for OBCs in the local bodies across the state, that too, without a proper inquiry into the nature and implications of the backwardness by an independent commission about the imperativeness of such reservation. The UP government had argued that all previous governments since 1994 had used the rapid survey for the polls. However, it did not convince the high court. The Uttar Pradesh then moved the apex court challenging the high court order. Ranchi, Jan 4 : Eight prominent Maoists, including three women who were part of the CPI Maoist organisation led by Misir Besra, surrendered before the Jharkhand police on Wednesday. The police has declared a reward of Rs 1 crore on Besra. This marked a first in the last five years, where such a large number of Maoists surrendered together. Jairam Bodra, Martam Angaria, Sarita Sardar, Tungir Purti, Patar Koda, Kusnu Sirka aka Kartik Sirka and others, surrendered at a programme organised by the state police. Many cases have been registered against them in different police stations of Chaibasa, Jamshedpur, Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. The Maoists alleged that rampant discrimination and exploitation existed within the organisation and it no longer followed any policy or principle. They added that they could return to the mainstream through the state police's scheme called 'Operation Nai Disha'. Jharkhand's IG Operation Amol V. Homkar, Zonal IG Pankaj Kamboj, Special Task Force IG Anup Birthare and Chaibasa SP Ashutosh Shekhar were present on the occasion. Homkar said that the surrender policy of the state government had proved to be effective and gave the Maoists a chance for a new life, away from violence. Earlier, 14 Maoists surrendered before the state police and security forces in 2022. The government had declared a reward on most of them. Eleven Maoists were killed in police encounters in the state last year and 416 were arrested from different areas. Mumbai, Jan 4 : Actress Avika Gor is on cloud nine as superstar Akkineni Nagarjuna attended the launch event of her debut production, 'Popcorn'. She said she is fond of his movies and his presence matters a lot to her. The 'Balika Vadhu' fame shared: "His presence was the biggest gift that he could have ever given to me. It was this one line that I told him that 'I want you to be there and it's my first production' and even before I could talk about the movie or give more details he just said 'okay I will be there'. I think that will stay with me forever." "I'm absolutely in awe of the person he is and the kindness he shows. So it was an amazing experience. We spoke about the movie's production and concept. He loved the title too. Good reviews from him meant a lot," she added Avika made her Telugu film debut with 'Uyyala Jampala' in 2013. The movie was produced by Nagarjuna. Avika shared that it helped her learn a lot and also in making her place in the industry. "I have known him since then, and it has been an amazing journey, connection and bond that we share. He has been great and I'm very happy to be associated with him for so many years. It's definitely like a blessing when somebody that senior and experienced is trying to support your growth. It's beautiful," she said. Being a huge fan of the actor, Avika has seen a lot of his films. When asked about her favourite Nagarjuna film, the actor replied that it's difficult for her to choose one. "I honestly cannot choose one. There are so many of his films that I love. He is such a beautiful actor. The recent one that people have been talking about is 'Brahmastra' and I really wish and hope that we see more of him in the upcoming version and sequels of 'Brahmastra'." "I loved his character in the film and I love him. He is a living legend and a lot of people get inspired from somebody like him. I absolutely consider him one of those people who inspired me to do more and motivated me to follow my heart," she added. 'Popcorn' is directed by Murali Naga Srinivas Gandham with Sai Ronak and Avika Gor as the lead actors Avika is debuting as a co-producer of the movie. The film is going to be released on February 10. Srinagar, Jan 4 : Arms and ammunition were recovered from Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district in a joint cordon and search operation by police, along with other security forces, on Wednesday, official said. "Acting on specific information, police alongwith Army (03/08GR) launched a joint cordon and search operation in village Sadhpora Taad area of Karnah, Kupwara. "During the search operation, the joint team recovered arms and ammunition including three pistols, three pistol magazines, 22 pistol rounds, and three Chinese grenades from a house belonging to Shameem Ahmad Shiekh, son of Suderdin Sheikh, resident of Sudhpora Taad," a police official said. Police have registered a case and investigations are in progress. The last of three men to be sentenced in a Morton County traffic stop that authorities said yielded 3 pounds of methamphetamine has been put on probation for three years. South Central District Judge Bonnie Storbakken further ordered Anthony Havlicheck, 31, of Bakersfield, California, to pay about $1,000 in court fees, records show. Storbakken suspended all but 139 days of a 20-year prison sentence and gave Havlicheck credit for 139 days already served. Havlicheck; Brandon Hall, 31, of Hermitage, Tennessee; and Anthony Sowell, 21, of Williston, were arrested in December 2021. A Morton County sheriffs deputy assisted a state Highway Patrol trooper in searching their vehicle after a traffic stop on Interstate 94, according to an affidavit. The search was prompted by the smell of marijuana coming from the car and suspected pieces of marijuana on the drivers shirt, according to authorities. The officers said they found three heat-sealed bags of meth, plastic bags, a scale and a gun. The weight of the meth was more than 53 ounces, the affidavit states. All three men were charged with drug conspiracy, possession of drugs with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia, court documents show. Havlicheck pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, and the remaining two charges were dismissed, according to court records. Hall and Sowell pleaded guilty to all three charges. Hall on Dec. 8 was placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay $1,060 in court fees. Storbakkens sentence included a 10-year prison term with nine years suspended, and credit for one year served. Sowell was placed on probation for three years after pleading guilty on Dec. 13. Storbakken also ordered him to pay $1,060 in court fees. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Strongly presenting the case of Punjab before the Central government on the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the state does not have even a single drop of water to share with Haryana. "More than 78 per cent of our 150 blocks are in extreme dark zone due to depletion of groundwater table, so Punjab can't afford to share its water with any other state," said the Chief Minister after a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khatar in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The Chief Minister said at a time when this anti-Punjab agreement for the canal was inked, the state was getting 18.56 MAF of water which has now been reduced to 12.63 MAF. He said now "we don't have any surplus water to share with any state". Mann said Haryana is currently getting 14.10 MAF of water from the Satluj, Yamuna and other rivulets, whereas Punjab is getting only 12.63 MAF. Batting for changing the nomenclature and proposal of the project, the Chief Minister said that instead of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the project should be now conceived as Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL). He said the Satluj river has already dried up and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it. Rather, Mann said that water from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers should be supplied to Punjab through the Satluj river. The Chief Minister said this is the only viable alternative which can be considered in wake of the alarming situation of water scarcity in the state. He said despite being smaller in area, Haryana is getting more water than Punjab and ironically it is demanding more water at the cost of Punjab. In wake of this fact, Mann said how can "we give water to Haryana if our own fields are starving for it". The Chief Minister said the state has a centuries-old canal system due to which the district even at the centre of the state falls on the tail end of canal water. He bemoaned that the Union government has not issued even a single penny for the rejuvenation of the canal system due to which farmers are suffering. There are 14 lakh tubewells in the state which are pumping water regularly to fulfill the irrigation needs of the state and make the country self-sufficient in food production. The Chief Minister said it is ironic that due to availability of surplus water, Haryana is today encouraging the sowing of paddy in its districts. However, he said that on the other hand Punjab, which is battling for saving water, is appealing to the farmers to adopt less water guzzling crops. Though farmers of the state have made the country self-reliant by producing record paddy but they have over exploited the only available natural resource of state in terms of water. The Chief Minister said in all water agreements across the globe a clause is mentioned that the agreement will be reviewed after 25 years in wake of climate changes. However, he said that the SYL agreement is the only exception in which no such clause has been mentioned. Mann said this is the gross injustice which had taken place with Punjab, adding the then government at the Centre and leadership of Punjab was responsible for this sin. Training his guns against the Congress and Akalis, the Chief Minister said both these parties were partners in crime against Punjab. He said these parties have connived with each other to hatch conspiracy against Punjab and Punjabis. Mann said as Chief Minister and Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal had allowed survey of the canal to appease his friend and Haryana leader Devi Lal. Similarly, the Chief Minister said the scion of Patiala royal family and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who was Member of Parliament at that time, had welcomed the then Prime Minister for ground breaking of this sinister move. He said since the survey till now, every step of these leaders speaks volumes of their treachery against Punjab and its people. Mann said it is ironic that those people who had hailed this decision are now offering unsolicited advice to him. The Chief Minister said that these leaders have sown thorns before Punjab and its younger generations by indulging in this unpardonable crime. He said for the sake of their vested interests these selfish political leaders have prepared distress for the state. Mann said the hands of these leaders are drenched with this crime against the state and history will never forgive them for backstabbing Punjab. The Chief Minister said the state government will defend the interests of the state well before the apex court too. He said no stone will be left unturned for safeguarding the rights of the state. Mann said Haryana was the younger brother of the state but Punjab has no excess water to share with it. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Supreme Court judge Justice Bela M. Trivedi on Wednesday recused herself from hearing a clutch of petitions against the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Trivedi took up the petitions filed by CPI-M leader Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, Lucknow University's former Vice Chancellor Roop Rekha Verma, and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, challenging the release of the convicts. Advocate Rishi Malhotra, representing one of the convicts, vehemently argued that petitioners must prove their locus standi in the case. Advocates Vrinda Grover and Aparna Bhat, representing the petitioners, opposed Malhotra's contention, saying that the stage of maintainability was crossed after the court issued notice on their plea. Bilkis Bano was gang-raped and multiple members of her family were killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Advocate Shobha Gupta, representing Bilkis Bano, contended that earlier Justice Trivedi had recused herself from hearing her client's plea against the release of convicts. At this juncture, the judges on the bench had a brief conversation. Justice Rastogi said that if Justice Trivedi had already recused from hearing the victim's plea, she would like to recuse from hearing this matter also. He further added that Bilkis Bano's plea will be taken up as the lead matter and the rest of the writ petitions would be tagged along with it when the bench sits in a different combination of judges. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra and Malhotra requested the bench that rejoinder affidavits being filed by the petitioners should be served upon them. Justice Rastogi said everything should be shared among the parties. Bhat submitted that pleadings in the matter are over, and the court may take up the petitions for hearing in February. The bench agreed to list the petitions in February. Justice Trivedi, last month, had opted out from hearing a plea filed by Bilkis Bano against the release of 11 convicts. Like the previous occasion, no reason was assigned for recusal. In the plea, Bilkis Bano said release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown-up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large, nationally, and internationally. "The premature release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grown up daughters, to her family, but also to the society at large, nationally and internationally, and the society across segments had shown their anger, disappointment, distrust and protest to the clemency shown by the Government by releasing criminals like the 11 convicts of the case," her petition said. Terming the release order mechanical, the plea said the premature release of the convicts in much talked about case of Bilkis Bano, has shaken the conscience of the society and resulted in several agitations across the country. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Khushi Dubey, widow of Amar Dubey, an aide of slain gangster Vikas Dubey and co-accused in the Bikru massacre. Eight police personnel, who had gone to arrest Vikas Dubey in Bikru village of Kanpur on July 3, 2020, were killed when the gangster and his men opened fire at them. Khushi Dubey had allegedly taken an active part in the ambush and was accused of exhorting the gangsters to kill the policemen. A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and P.S. Narasimha took note of the submissions of senior lawyer Vivek Tankha that she was a minor at the time of offence and regular bail be granted to her as the charge sheet has also been filed in the case. It said one of the conditions will be that the accused will have to appear before the station house officer (SHO) of the police station concerned once a week besides cooperating in the trial and probe, if any. Khushi had been married for just seven days when the incident took place and was arrested immediately after by the police. Her counsel said it is a case of an innocent person at a wrong place at the wrong time as she was married to Amar Dubey only seven days before the incident. Uttar Pradesh government counsel opposed petitioner's bail and contended that there was an allegation that she participated in the assault on the police. Khushi had moved the apex court through advocate Sumeer Sodhi challenging the Allahabad High Court order denying her bail. Granting bail, the apex court noted that the petitioner was 16-17 years at the time of commission of the offence. The petitioner contended that she was a minor on the date of the incident, and was arrested solely because her husband was named in the FIR, and she had got married a week prior to the date of the incident. Khushi had claimed that she was not a member of the Vikas Dubey gang and her husband was a relative of the gangster. Her lawyer told the court that more than 100 witnesses were to be examined in the case and it was a fit matter for the grant of bail keeping in mind the allegations against her. In the high court, Khushi had said that she was declared a juvenile by a board on September 1, 2020, and on the day of the incident, they had gone to Vikas Dubey's house. Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter on July 10 when a police vehicle carrying him from Ujjain to Kanpur met with an accident and he tried to escape, police had said. Amar Dubey and five others were also killed in back to back encounters. Hyderabad, Jan 4 : The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in Telangana has filed an appeal in the Telangana High Court challenging the court order transferring the case relating to alleged attempts to poach BRS MLAs to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The government has challenged the order passed by a single-judge bench directing the CBI to probe the sensational case. The appeal is likely to be taken up for hearing by a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ujwal Bhuyan. On December 26, Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy had entrusted the investigation into the MLAs' poaching case to the central agency after hearing the petitions filed by the accused persons, who argued that they have no faith in the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state government. The court had then quashed the government order constituting the SIT to probe the case. However, following a plea filed by the government, the court stayed implementation of the order till the copies of the judgement are made available. After studying the judgement, the BRS government decided to file the appeal. Incidentally, the high court had dismissed a petition seeking CBI probe into the matter in November last year. However, accused Ramachandra Bharati, K. Nanda Kumar and D.P.S.K.V.N. Simhayaji had moved the Supreme Court, which then directed the high court to decide on the petitions seeking transfer of probe to the CBI. The three accused were arrested by 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. The Cyberabad police conducted the raid based on a tip-off by Pilot Rohit Reddy, one of the BRS MLAs, who had alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to the three other MLAs for defecting to BJP. The state government had subsequently constituted an SIT headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand to probe the case. BJP General Secretary B.L. Santosh; Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) President Tushar Vellapally; a doctor from Kerala, Jaggu Swamy; lawyers Srinivas and Pratap Goud; and Nanda Kumar's wife Chitralekha were also summoned by the SIT for questioning. Santosh, Vellapally and Jaggu Swamy had approached the high court and secured a stay on the notices. The high court had on December 1 granted conditional bail to the accused persons. However, Ramachandra Bharati and Nanda Kumar were re-arrested by the police soon after their release from jail on December 8 in connection with some other cases registered against them. While Ramachandra Bharati was booked for holding multiple passports, Aadhaar cards and other documents, five cases were registered against Nanda Kumar for cheating and other offences. Mumbai, Jan 4 : In an unprecedented move in the state police administration, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday appointed senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police Deven Bharati as the Special Commissioner of Police for Mumbai, as per an official announcement. The post of Special Commissioner of Police, Mumbai has been created for the first time by the state government. The present Commissioner of Police is Vivek Phansalkar, appointed in July 2022. Bharti, an IPS officer of the 1994 batch, has earlier held several top assignments including Joint Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, head of Maharashtra ATS, and Joint Managing Director of Maharashtra State Security Corporation. As per a government notification, the new Special Commissioner of Police (Bharti) will function below the Mumbai Commissioner of Police (Phansalkar), and supervise and oversee the works of all the Joint Commissioners of Police. The state government's decision has created a flutter in state police circles with apprehensions that this could lead to a "dual centre of power" and "clash of interests", especially since the key responsibility areas are not specified for the new incumbent, besides raising many other questions. A former DGP-level officer, preferring anonymity, observed that "political wisdom behind the decision" is not clear but it could prove detrimental to the overall interests of the elite Mumbai Police which enjoys a global reputation. Slamming the move of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis government, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) said that this is an indicator of the power struggle at the political levels, particularly with the upcoming elections to the BMC and other major civic bodies. "This is an attempt by Fadnavis (who holds the Home portfolio) to create his own 'parallel system' to divide the highly disciplined Mumbai Police force," Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said the move lacks "rationale" and wondered if the government will consider appointing a Special Chief Secretary for the state, or a Special Municipal Commissioner for Mumbai, or even a Special Governor in the state to reduce the burden of the incumbents. Flaying the move, Shiv Sena-UBT spokesperson Kishore Tiwari said that since the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BSS-BJP) regime is at a standstill with just 20 ministers holding dozens of departments, Shinde-Fadnavis should seriously contemplate on a 'Special CM' and 'Special Deputy CM' to lessen their workload. Former Additional Deputy Commissioner, Maharashtra State Intelligence Department Shirish Inamdar suspects this could be a prelude to split the Mumbai Commissionerate into the city and suburbs, given the huge expanse of the country's commercial capital. "This situation, akin to two swords in once scabbard, has the potential to create massive clashes, lead to a dual loyalty syndrome in the rank and file and result in groupism, indiscipline and loss of authority," said a concerned Inamdar. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasteo said the move will result in a "checknut" in the police department and pointedly asked: "Has the government lost confidence in the current CoP (Phansalkar) to appoint a Special CoP below him, is the decision acceptable to all, and will it now be implemented in other Police Commissionerates in Maharashtra." Terming the move as "wrong and unacceptable" Londhe asked whether the stalled government will even divide the governance system to appoint Special Collectors for all districts, Special Superintendents of Police', etc to defraud the people of Maharashtra for their political ambitions. Tiwari and Tapase wonder that if the Special Commissioner of Police will oversee the work of the other Joint CoPs, "then what will the Commissioner (Phansalkar) do", and warn that it can hit the morale of the entire police force. Other former officers also questioned whether this post will be a permanent one or only "one-time situation or individual specific", it will be for how long, and whether it would be replicated at all levels. The Mumbai Police's origins are traced to 1661, and the present formalised system of Commissioners of Police started in 1864. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 4 : Akasa Air on Wednesday introduced its in-flight safety manual in Braille for persons with visual impairment. Akasa Air has partnered with The Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) to develop this Braille in-flight safety manual, which provides an explanation of the safety instructions in English and Hindi. The safety manual provided to passengers onboard upon request, covers detailed instructions on seat belt operation, location of emergency exits and life jackets, tactile diagrams that help orient passengers to aircraft and aircraft positions and other essential safety information. Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, Akasa Air, said: "We are committed to being socially cohesive with a focus on being dependable, warm, efficient, and reliable and our Braille in-flight safety manual is a testimony to this commitment. We are extremely grateful to Dr Sam Taraporevala and the entire team at XRCVC for their guidance and constant support in our endeavour towards inclusive travel." Taraporevala, Executive Director, XRCVC, said: "The Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), a department of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai is a national level support and advocacy centre for persons with disabilities. The XRCVC was set up in 2003 as an Assistive Technology support centre for students with visual impairment in higher education. Akasa Air's Braille in-flight safety manual is an example of an airline taking a step towards social inclusion." Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 72 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM fuel efficient, LEAP-1B engines. The 737 MAX family aircraft deliver superior efficiency in reducing fuel use and carbon emissions, fulfilling the airline's promise of being an environmentally friendly company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the status of Kala Azar disease in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. "India is committed to eliminating Kala Azar from the country by 2023. 632 (99.8%) endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status (1 case/10,000). Only one block (Littipara) of Pakur district, Jharkhand is in the endemic category (1.23 case/10,000 population). We are working holistically with the state government and other stakeholders to achieve elimination in Jharkhand", said Mandaviya while chairing the meeting with MoS Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar. Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy CM and Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh Brajesh Pathak, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta and senior officers from West Bengal were present at the meeting. Mandaviya appreciated the efforts of the state governments to meet the elimination target. "Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister, it remains our target to ensure health for all of our citizens. Government has taken several steps towards elimination of Kala Azar by 2023. From interventions like pucca houses through PM-AWAS Yojana, rural electrification, timely testing, treatment, periodic high-level review, to incentivizing through award distribution for states/districts/blocks, the government along with its stakeholders is ensuring a robust ecosystem for early detection of the disease and its timely treatment", said Mandaviya. "While it is commendable that the endemic states are implementing targeted interventions, and some states have eliminated the disease in their districts, it is equally important to sustain the gain and work towards ensuring that the cases stay below 1 case/10,000 population", Mandaviya added. He urged the endemic states to ensure that there is a regular review and micro-stratification in high-risk blocks reporting incidence of 0.5 per 10000 population. "Since Kala Azar impacts those among the lower socio-economic strata of society, early diagnosis and complete case management, integrated control and surveillance along with capacity building of human resources must be taken up at ground level", he suggested. The states informed about the status of the disease in their areas and shared their best practices too. The state health ministers expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Centre for detection, surveillance, treatment through various interventions. About 90% of global cases of Kala Azar were reported from eight countries: Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan in 2021, with India contributing 11.5% of the total cases reported globally. Kala Azar is endemic in 633 blocks of 54 districts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It is a notifiable disease in these states. Currently more than 90% of the Kala Azar cases are contributed by Bihar and Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh (2019) and West Bengal (2017) have achieved their elimination targets at the block level. Patna, Jan 4 : A day after BJP President J.P. Nadda claimed that 'Jungle Raj' has returned to Bihar, state Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Tej Pratap Yadav retaliated on Wednesday, saying Bihar is turning out to be a job-giving state, and hence, it has 'Rozgar Ka Raj" and not "Jungle Raj". "Who is saying Jungle Raj in Bihar? It is not a Jungle Raj but it is a Rozgar Ka Raj," he said, and in a dig at Nadda, asked him whether he got a job or not. On the statement of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi who advocated a permit-based liquor system in Bihar, Tej Pratap Yadav said that the liquor is banned in Bihar and it will remain the same. "If anyone drinks liquor and dies, the state government will not give compensation to them. If I see anyone drinking liquor, I nab them and send them to jail in my personal vehicle," he said. "Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is going for the Samadhan Yatra to address social evils like liquor consumption. I congratulate him for his effort and Yatra," Tej Pratap Yadav added. Mumbai, Jan 4 : Vertex Hydrogen has signed a 'Heads of Terms offtake agreement for low-carbon hydrogen with Merseyside glass manufacturer Pilkington UK. St Helens' Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, has led the flat glass sector in the switch towards low-carbon fuels, completing two world-first trials of hydrogen being fired in a glass furnace. The agreement sets Vertex up to supply Pilkington UK with hydrogen as the manufacturer continues to develop low-carbon ways of manufacturing glass. The NSG Group recently announced an increased level of ambition to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a re-certified Science Based Target. It follows Pilkington UK marking 70 years since Sir Alistair Pilkington invented the float glass process, a pivotal moment which transformed the glass industry. Pilkington UK glass products provide a wide range of benefits, from thermally efficient Pilkington K Glass S and Pilkington Suncool, which help control internal building temperatures and save energy, to bird-safe Pilkington AviSafe uniquely patterned UV enhanced coating to reduce bird collisions with windows. Joe Seifert, CEO of Vertex Hydrogen, said: "Pilkington has long been admired as an innovator in the glass industry and led a world-first trial of flat glass from hydrogen in 2021 at its famous St Helens facility. The offtake agreement is another iconic name in the North West manufacturing region switching to Vertex's low-carbon hydrogen." Neil Syder, Managing Director of Pilkington UK, said: "We are fully committed to our NSG Group target of achieving net-zero by 2050. Firing the float glass furnace using hydrogen instead of natural gas is a key part of our strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Decarbonising the glass making process represents a significant challenge so it's critical that we partner with academics and industry groups, particularly here in the North West." Vertex is proud to be helping the UK lead the development of low-carbon hydrogen production as an integral part of HyNet - the UK's leading industrial decarbonisation cluster, the company said. "It will help solve our urgent need to drastically reduce carbon emissions in our manufacturing sector," it said. Vertex is: New Delhi, Jan 4 : The RBI has told the Supreme Court that BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking a probe into the alleged role of its officials in various bank scams is "fallacious and non-substantiated". The RBI, in an affidavit filed in the apex court, said: "The averments made by the petitioners trying to link the scams to the RBI officials is fallacious and non-substantiated in the absence of any prima facie evidence produced by the petitioners. It is submitted that the RBI has an internal mechanism/framework to examine an employee's conduct if there are any specific allegations, or prima facie evidence with respect to his actions or omissions". The apex court, in October last year, had sought response from CBI and the RBI on the petition. The central bank further added that Swamy's plea is characteristically frivolous and based on a complete misunderstanding of facts as well as the applicable law and sought its dismissal by the apex court. It said the petitioner has no locus standi to file the petition and it is riddled with factual and legal inaccuracies. "The petitioners have not presented any evidence or specific allegation in this regard and have merely made vague and ambiguous wild allegations against the entire institution of the answering respondent," the RBI's affidavit said. It added that a bare perusal of the petition reveals that it is bereft of the material particulars, and besides being gross abuse of process of law and waste of precious judicial time, it is also devoid of any merits or founded on substantial facts. "It is further submitted that the RBI also has a Central Vigilance Cell (CVC) which oversees the conduct of the employees of the answering respondent. Moreover, it is amply obvious that for bringing any individual to justice, RBI official or otherwise, there needs to be prima facie evidence for the investigating agencies to examine their role. It is for the investigating agencies to conduct investigation as per the laid down procedures and applicable law," said the affidavit. It further added that most of the scams referred in the present PIL are already under investigation by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate. "It is not for the petitioners to direct the course of investigations and decide the aspects which are to be pursued by the law enforcement agencies," said the RBI. The RBI's response came on a plea by Swamy seeking a probe into the alleged role of RBI officials in various banking scams. The apex court on Wednesday granted three weeks to Swamy to file his rejoinder to the affidavit. Kolkata, Jan 4 : The West Bengal government received yet another jolt on Wednesday after the Calcutta High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged tender scam at Contai in East Midnapore district. While directing a CBI probe into the matter, the single-judge bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha also granted bail to Ramchandra Panda, a close confidant of the leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, who was arrested by the state police on December 28 last year in connection with the scam. Ramchandra Panda was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by his wife Kakoli Panda, who's the president of a local cooperative society. Ramchandra Panda's counsel claimed in the court on Wednesday that the local unit of the Trinamool Congress had put pressure on Kakoli Panda to file the complaint against her husband, who has been falsely implicated in the case. Kakoli Panda also appeared before the single-judge bench and claimed that she was forced to sign a paper and then taken to the local police station to file the complaint against her husband. After hearing the arguments, Justice Mantha granted bail to Ramchandra Panda and also ordered that the couple should be provided with central armed forces security cover. Ordering a CBI inquiry in the matter, Justice Mantha directed the state police to hand over a copy of the complaint on the basis of which Ramchandra Panda was arrested. He also directed the CBI to submit a progress report of its probe within the next five weeks. Panaji, Jan 4 : Perturbed with the ongoing blame games among political leaders in Goa over the 'Mhadei river water diversion' issue, poets, writers and filmmakers of the coastal state have started using social media to "spread awareness on protecting the river". After Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that the Centre has cleared the much disputed Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project in his state, poets and writers in Goa have started venting their anger over the issue by posting write-ups and other creative work on social media. Also, as soon as the issue erupted, the documentaries regarding how the water diversion will affect the state were produced and shared on social media. "I will not blame politicians for not protecting Mhadei. They are more interested in 'power'. However, it is our duty as a society to raise our voices. If we stand tall with unity then nobody will dare to divert a single drop of water from Mhadei, as politicians will then get might of us and they will act," Sanjiv Verenkar, Sahitya Akademy awardee poet, said. According to him, there is a need to raise the voice of society, which will further awaken politicians. "It is absolutely a good sign that poets and writers have started to express themselves over the issue," he said. "Everyone needs water. But there should not be greed for gaining something, which can destroy our wildlife, ecology and environment. I have tried to raise my voice through this creativity (poetic video) and everyone should join the movement to protect our Mhadei," Sainath Parab, award winning filmmaker from Goa said. According to him, Goa will suffer badly if the Mhadei water is diverted and hence he has tried to narrate it through the poems penned by poetess Gwadalup Dias. Akash Mangesh Palkar, actor and director, who made a documentary by name 'Mhadei-Lifeline of Goa', said that it was indeed needed to spread awareness about the issue and hence he made the documentary to make people realise how water diversion will affect people. "I visited this area (from where Mhadei is flowing) to shoot the documentary, that time I came to know that many villages and farming activities are dependent on this water. If the Mhadei water is diverted, these villages and wildlife will suffer," Palkar said. Goa and Karnataka are currently battling out a dispute over the Kalasa-Bhanduri dam project across the water of 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 is 81.2 km in length in Goa. Karnataka plans to construct dams on the river, aimed at diverting the waters into its water-starved Malaprabha basin in North Karnataka. Seoul, Jan 4 : The Chinese Navy's massive new aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian, is expected to head to sea for the first time this year, the ship's executive officer said in an interview with state media, the media reported. In a report on the interview published by state-run China Daily, Senior Capt. Qian Shumin did not give an exact date for when the aircraft carrier will undergo its first sea excursions, saying only that "the trials will contribute to the realization of the centenary goals of the People's Liberation Army", CNN reported. That centenary, which comes in 2027, was referenced by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in October as a deadline for the PLA to meet its Modernization goals, CNN reported. The Fujian is the largest warship China has ever built and bringing it into operation is a key component in the PLA Navy's objectives. The ship was launched with great fanfare on June 17 and has been in the final stages of construction at a Shanghai shipyard. Hawaii-based analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, said he expects the Fujian's first trials to come in the spring. Displacing around 80,000 metric tons of water, according to the China Daily report, the Fujian is 50 per cent larger than China's two current in-service carriers and puts the PLA Navy in the league of supercarriers, like the 100,000-ton US Nimitz-class ships, CNN reported. It also shows China matching US carrier technology. China's other two carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, are based on outdated Soviet technology. Those two carriers used the ski-jump launching system, in which where planes simply take off from a slight ramp, while US carriers use a more advanced catapult system to launch their aircraft. And the Fujian uses an electromagnetic catapult system, something the US has only on its newest operational carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, CNN reported. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered status quo on the action of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) which demolished an 80-year-old woman's temporary makeshift shelter, which has housed more than 200 displaced stray dogs for more than 30 years. Following the demolition on January 3, which left Pratima Devi and stray dogs without a place to stay, she moved to court asking for an emergency alternative refuge and seeking to restrain the MCD, the Delhi government, and the Animal Welfare Board of India from further demolishing the shelter. The petition described the MCD's action as arbitrary, unfair, and inhumane and contends that it is discriminatory and a clear breach of the rights of stray dogs and the elderly woman who were abruptly removed from their makeshift refuge. "The respondent No. 1 further without giving prior notice of demolition to the petitioner who is a senior citizen, octogenarian, has been forced to witness such harshness in this inclement weather conditions of Delhi. This further accentuates the fact that the respondent No. 1 is in gross violation of principles of natural justice wherein no notice/intimation was provided to the petitioner whatsoever," the plea states. A bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri gave permission to the woman to erect a tarpaulin as a temporary solution. Without compromising either party's rights or claims, the court also ordered the MCD and the Delhi government to investigate the possibilities of offering rehabilitation to the petitioner. "Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and the contention of the petitioner that the impugned action has been taken by respondent No. 1 without any prior notice, this court deems it expedient to direct that the respondent shall maintain status quo till the next date of hearing and to overcome the immediate need for the shelter, the petitioner shall also be permitted to put a tarpaulin as an interim measure," it said. The court listed the matter for next hearing on March 15 while issuing notice on the plea. According to the appeal, the woman and many stray dogs have allegedly been living without a roof over their heads in harsh weather conditions post demolition. "Thus, there is a need to spread awareness that even animals have a right to live with respect and dignity in our society and that such arbitrary actions of the respondent No. 1 to displace such stray animals without providing them with adequate alternative shelter homes goes against the very objectives and safeguards laid down by various courts of the country," the plea stated. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, has returned a file to Chief Minister Arvind Keriwal, which had nominated ex-bureaucrat Rakesh Kumar Gaur to the reconstituted board of Delhi Animal Welfare Board (DAWB). The L-G has sent the file back for reconsideration of the name. "Despite the Delhi High Court monitoring the reconstitution of the board/executive committee of the Delhi Animal Welfare Board (DAWB), pending since September 2020, the Arvind Kejriwal government kept the decision pending for 27 months, i.e., till December 14, 2022, and kept misleading the court. Even when CM Kejriwal approved the file to this effect and sent it to L-G for concurrence on December 14, he proposed the appointment of an ex-civil servant, Rakesh Kumar Gaur, who's facing vigilance inquiry, and a professor of video and TV production, Sabeena Gadihoke, to the reconstituted board," an official in the L-G secretariat said on Wednesday. The official said that it is in violation of the Articles of Association of DAWB, which clearly enjoins that nominated members on the board should be "persons actively engaged in animal welfare work in the state". Both the said nominees of the Kejriwal government clearly did not posses any experience in the field of animal welfare, as required by the Articles of Association of the DAWB, the official said. "Apart from this, in the category of nominations to be made from the 'gaushalas' of Delhi, the AAP government nominated five representatives from a single organisation -- Gosadan Foundation -- despite numerous other gaushala bodies doing commendable work in the city," said the official. Highlighting the above discrepancies in the reconstitution of the DAWB, the Delhi L-G has noted that "Rakesh Kumar Gaur has been nominated as a member of DAWB, even though the retired officer is not clear from vigilance angle" and that "while Sabeena Gadihoke may prove to be a valuable resource in related fields, she apparently does not posses any experience in the field of animal welfare, as required by the Articles of Association of the Board". The L-G has sent the file back to the Chief Minister with the observation to "review the proposal of the reconstitution of DAWB/executive committee and ensure that the members being nominated possess impeccable character and integrity, have worked for the welfare of animals, and that the board so constituted is representative of varied related organisations. Since considerable time has already lapsed, the proposal may be resubmitted within two weeks for my considerationa". According to the source, the L-G also noted that "organisations or institutions like DAWB are constituted by different governments to cater to the requirements of specific areas that require niche expertise which is generally not available with the government. Persons with such expertise on such boards etc. ensure that required advice on issues, which may otherwise go unnoticed/unattended in day-to-day administration, is made available to the government for the welfare of the segment aimed at". Disposing the file, the L-G noted, "I have on many occasions pointed out inordinate delays and lackadaisical approach on the part of the ministers in disposal of files pertaining to important public works and critical issues of governance. I would again advise the Chief Minister to address such concerns and review the progress of all matters pending before the ministers, in public interest." Amaravati, Jan 4 : Tension gripped Kuppam town of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday as police stopped Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu from holding a road show and addressing a public meeting. There was high drama at Pedduru village near Andhra-Karnataka border as police stopped Naidu's convoy, citing a government order issued the previous day prohibiting meetings on roads. The former Chief Minister had a heated argument with a police officer who stopped him and questioned under which law the government issued the order. The Leader of Opposition slammed the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government for imposing curbs on his visit to his Assembly constituency Kuppam in Chittoor district. The day-long drama saw TDP workers clashing with the police, which latter used force. Naidu, who arrived at J.P. Kuturu village from Bengaluru around 4 p.m., was received by a large number of TDP supporters. He then left the village in a convoy but was stopped at Pedduru village. DSP Sudhakar Reddy informed the TDP leader that there is no permission for the road show and rally. An angry Naidu got down from his car and had a heated argument with the police officer. TDP workers tried to remove barricades erected by police to stop the convoy. At one point, they clashed with police, which then carried out a baton charge. Talking to media persons, Naidu slammed Jagan Mohan Reddy government and said that "its days are numbered". He said people want the TDP to take responsibility to save the state. He said he would hold meetings in villages. He reminded the YSRCP government that he won from Kuppam seven times and that he had informed the police about his visit much in advance. Stating that the government brought in the GO No-1 on January 2 imposing restrictions on the parties not to organise any road shows, Chandrababu Naidu felt that this clearly indicates that the meetings should be held only with the generosity of the ruling party. He pointed out that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday organised a meeting at Rajahmundry where holiday was declared for all educational institutions and people were forcibly brought to his meeting by the private transport, RTC, school and college buses. "The people are being subjected to various kinds of problems if they fail to attend the ruling party leaders meetings. Even those who are unhealthy are not left out," Chandrababu Naidu remarked. How the YSRCP leaders organised a meeting at Vizianagaram after the GO was issued, he asked. As there is a lot of awareness among the public they are now attending the TDP meetings on a large scale, he said and felt that the time has come for Jagan to go home. "He will not win again and has to go home," the TDP President said and added that the people are now reposing faith in the TDP that it is the only party that can now bailout the state. "Had I, as Chief Minister, taken similar decisions like this, Mr Jagan would not have even moved out. How can the state government impose restrictions on me to visit my own constituency," he asked. Earlier, the police stopped TDP workers and sent them back as they were heading to Santhipuram for the road show. The police seized TDP's campaign vehicle (Prachara Radham) and the other vehicle carrying the sound system. Hundreds of policemen were deployed as curbs were imposed on Naidu's visit. This came a day after the state government issued an order prohibiting public meetings on roads. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government took the step in the wake of December 28 stampede at Kandukur during Naidu's roadshow which had claimed eight lives. The government has come under flak from the entire opposition for banning the public meetings and they called it an attempt to stifle the voice of dissent. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Vishwa Hindu Parishad secretary general Milind Pande, in a press statement on Wednesday, expressed serious concern over the incidents of illegal conversions by Christian missionaries in Chhattisgarh. He said that the situation is a bit more stable in the states which have stringent laws against illegal conversions and implement them strictly. The incidents in Chhattisgarh have again underlined the need for a stringent law in the state to stop such conversions. The people of Chhattisgarh have worked determinedly to stop these activities and the VHP stands with them. We also believe that all efforts to stop illegal conversions should be made within the ambit of the Constitution and the law. If the converting and anti-tribal mindset of the missionaries in the state had been curbed in time, the innocent tribal society of Narayanpur would not have had to come out on the streets. It is the supreme duty of the state government to protect the interests of the tribal society, he added. The VHP has also demanded that the government and local administration, instead of being seen on the same page as the missionaries, should stand firmly with the tribals. The way the customs, traditions, beliefs and deities of the tribal society are being insulted by these missionaries and efforts are being made to end the existence of the tribals way of life, it will not be tolerated anymore. The state government needs to take serious and quick steps in this matter, Pande said. Jammu, Jan 4 : Indian Army's 16 Corps chief, Lt. General Sandeep Jain called on J&K's Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on Wednesday, and discussed various issues relating to the overall security scenario in the Jammu region, particularly in the border districts. "The officers discussed the modus operandi of terrorists. They also discussed counter measures including those for foiling attempts of dropping arms ammunition and drugs by Pakistan through drones," a police official said. "The DGP appreciated the synergy between the Army, J&K Police and CAPFs that has helped in breaking the back of terrorism in J&K." Kolkata, Jan 4 : Amid allegations of rampant corruption into the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in West Bengal, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has decided to send two separate teams to the state this month for field inspection. A communication has been sent by the Central government under-secretary Anil Singh to the West Bengal Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development secretary on this count which has reached the state secretariat of Nabanna on Wednesday. In the communication, it has been said that two teams will visit two districts of East Midnapore and Malda. Each team will consist of three officials from the Union ministry of rural development. In East Midnapore, the team will be headed by the director of the ministry, Shailesh Kumar and he will be assisted by under secretary Anil Kumar Singh and senior statistical officer Subhash Dwivedi. On the other hand, the team for Malda will be led by deputy secretary Shakti Kant Singh, assistant commissioner Chahat Singh and assistant section officer Gaurav Ahuja. The allegations of corruption in implementation of the PMAY scheme has been maximum in these two districts. Although in the communique to the state government, the exact date of the visit of the central teams has not been mentioned, sources said the teams would arrive in the state in the first week. "It is requested to make necessary arrangements and provide logistic support to the Central teams during the visit to the state besides informing the districts for necessary action and provide documents, etc, asked by the members of the team," the communique has read. On Tuesday, a senior BJP leader in West Bengal approached the Calcutta High Court over alleged rampant corruption in implementation of the PMAY scheme. In the PIL filed at the division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, BJP's Purulia district president, Vivek Ranga has appealed for immediate stay on disbursements under the scheme. In the PIL, Ranga has also demanded a proper and thorough probe into the matter. Jaipur, Jan 4 : A 21-year-old youth has been traced in Jaipur who has reportedly tested positive for Omicron sub-variant XBB 1.5, which experts say is more contagious than the previous strains of the virus. The strain is believed to be behind the recent surge in the number of Covid cases in the US. The patient in Jaipur had returned from the US on December 19 last year, sources said. Five cases of this variant have been reported in India so far -- three in Gujarat and one each in Karnataka and Rajasthan. He got a Covid test done on December 23 after complaining of fever, which returned positive. He then consulted a private doctor online and took medicines and reportedly got cured. The youth's genome sequencing was conducted at the SMS Medical College in Jaipur. "The patient came to us for check-up in the last week of December. Tests have confirmed the presence of Omicron's new sub-variant XBB 1.5," an official said. However, the officials in the state health department are tight-lipped in this matter. The Chief Medical Health Officer (CMHO) of Jaipur, Vijay Faujdar, said that till now, they have not received any information about this patient. Any further action will be initiated once information is received about the latest case, he added. According to experts, this variant spreads infection by neutralising the vaccination and naturally made antibodies in our body. Not only this, the infection spreads in our body 104 times faster than all the other variants known till now. North Dakota Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan fell and hit her head Tuesday morning, the first day of the legislative session. She told the Tribune she tripped on a rug and hit her head while going out the Capitol's west entry. She spoke to the newspaper from an emergency room in Bismarck, where she found out she has a cracked kneecap and a mild concussion. Hogan, D-Fargo, said she was "doing fine" but has a headache and expects to have "a very ugly face the next couple days." Hogan, 74, will be on crutches and will participate in her committees remotely from her Bismarck hotel. "It's an unusual way to start a session," she said. She praised Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan, and Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, both trained in emergency medical services, for their "excellent response" to her fall. Hogan is the new Senate minority leader. Her caucus comprises four Democrats in the 47-member Senate. The 2023 Legislature convened Tuesday, hearing from Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribal Chairman Jamie Azure, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Jon Jensen and Gov. Doug Burgum. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, on Wednesday visited the family members of Anjali Singh, the 20-year-old woman who died a painful death after being dragged by a car for about 12 km on the outskirts of Delhi in the early hours of Sunday. Condoling the horrific death of Anjali, Sisodia assured the family members that the Delhi government is with them in these tough times and will leave no stone unturned to get justice for their daughter. "This is not an accident but a brutality that has left the whole nation in a state of shock. The government will ensure to get the strictest punishment for all the culprits involved in this incident and will get justice for the victim," Sisodia said. Interacting with the media after the visit, Sisodia said that the cruelty of the incident has shaken the whole country. "A girl gets trapped under the car and is trampled for 12 km but the car riders do not even realise that. This incident is an example of extreme brutality. The sad part is that we are still waiting for stringent action against the culprits," he said. On the compensation to the victim's family announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia said that the AAP government will provide an assistance of Rs 10 lakh. Papers have also been procured for giving employment to one member of the family. Along with this, the government will take care of the treatment of the victim's mother, who needs dialysis on a regular basis, Sisodia said. Patna, Jan 4 : Several BSSC aspirants, protesting for cancellation of all three sessions of the exam following the leak of the question papers, at the Dak Bunglow Chowk here on Wednesday, were injured as police used force to disperse them. The agitators were not satisfied after the BSSC had cancelled only one session of examination. Rakesh Kumar, one of the agitators, claimed that the question papers of all three sessions were leaked and uploaded on social media platforms like Whatsapp on the day of the exam, but the BSSC has cancelled only one session. "We are demanding all three examinations be cancalled so every candidate will get the fair chance and meritorious students get the job. "When Tejashwi Yadav was opposition leader, he was raising the points of job seekers and promised stipends to unemployed persons. After coming into power, he is silent now," he alleged. The agitators started the march from Patna college and reached Dak Bungalow Chowk via Bhikana Pahadi and Malahi Pakri locality. At Dak Bungalow Chowk, a large number of police personnel deployed there warned them to stop the march. After their refusal, police carried out a baton-charge. Meanwhile, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Tej Pratap Yadav said: "The students are demanding jobs and we are giving them as well. On this matter, I will talk to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to meet their demand." JD-U national President Lalan Singh said: "I don't know where the lathi-charge happened but I must say that this is not the first time that a lathi-charge happened in the country. If there is any challenge to the law and order, the law will take its own course to bring normalcy." "Every person has a right to protest but it should be in democratic manner. No one would allow breaching the law," he said. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday deferred hearing on a petition filed by Farman, one of the four convicts in the murder case of former Arunachal Pradesh MLA Nido Pavitra's son Nido Tania, who was killed in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area in January 2014. Farman's counsel argued that since Farman has already served more than half of his sentence, seven years, the remaining time may be suspended. In addition, he said the defendant was out on temporary bail and pleaded that it be continued. The counsel also said that the sentences of the other three co-accused had already been suspended. Justice Anup Kumar Mendiratta listed the matter before the concerned roster bench for hearing on February 14. On November 18, 2021, Farman's sentence was suspended till the next date of hearing. Tania, who was then 20-year-old, had died of severe head and lung injuries following an attack by shopkeepers and others in the Lajpat Nagar area on January 29, 2014. Tania's family and friends had alleged that the accused hurled racial slurs at him and also made fun of his hair. The other three convicts in the case were Pawan, Sunder Singh and Sunny Uppal. While Sunny received a three-year sentence, Pawan and Sunder were awarded seven-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 20,000 each. Farman, who had been awarded a 10-year prison sentence, was granted three months' bail by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait in May 2020, with the requirement that he furnished a personal bond of Rs 10,000 to the jail superintendent. New Delhi:Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav attends Design Exhibition organized by Studio Archohm at Bikaner House in New Delhi on Wednesday January 04, 2023(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 4 : Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday stressed that the level of unity between various opposition parties will determine the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Calling for opposition parties to join hands, he said the process has already started. In a conversation with IANS, Akhilesh Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, said that programmes like Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra are proving to be preparations for the next Lok Sabha polls and by then, their impact will be felt. Conveying his best wishes to BJY, Akhilesh Yadav said that this is a political yatra for Rahul Gandhi which has been proceeding well. He also expressed hopes for Rahul Gandhi's success. On the question of participating in the Yatra himself, like his ally RLD, Akhilesh Yadav said that he has an emotional bond with the Congress venture, but since it is ultimately a political programme, he chose not to become part of it. However, indicating his inclination towards greater opposition unity, he said it is like a flower bouquet representing the country, as it brings together people from various castes and creeds. Attending an architecture exhibition at the Bikaner House here, the SP chief, reacting to reports of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Authority signing MoUs for investment proposals worth Rs 83,000 crore in 13 districts, said that there were reports that MoUs worth Rs 13,00,000 crore have been signed. He, however, said that the question that arises is how much of the investment MoUs worth Rs 5,00,000 crore signed earlier has been realised so far on the ground. Akhilesh Yadav also said that the Defence Expo held in Lucknow saw the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top investors, but nothing has been seen coming out of it so far. "We want to know what has been done out of this? Holding more G-20 events in UP than in the other states is just hoaxing the people. The biggest issue is under which industrial policy, have the measures been taken. Those who see the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data of UP will fear to invest in the state," he said. New Delhi, Jan 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has applauded Captain Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Sappers, who has become the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at Kumar Post, post completion of arduous training, in the highest battlefield of the world, Siachen. "This will make every Indian proud, illustrating the spirit of India's Nari Shakti," the Prime Minister tweeted in response to a tweet by Fire and Fury Sappers. Kohima, Jan 4 : The Nagaland government would urge the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) to reconsider their demand for a separate state and not to boycott the forthcoming Assembly elections, a minister said on Wednesday. Parliamentary Affairs, Planning and Coordination Minister Neiba Kronu said that the state cabinet, in its meeting on Tuesday, resolved that government would appeal to the ENPO to reconsider their demand for a separate state of 'Frontier Nagaland' and not to boycott the Assembly elections, expected to be held in February. Noting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would visit Nagaland on Friday, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the state in the second week of January, he said: "After the visit of the Prime Minister and Home Minister some decision on the demand would be taken." Recent discussions between the Central government and the ENPO have to be shared with the state government and then, some decision can be taken, he added. The Nagaland government earlier suggested constituting an autonomous council which was rejected by the ENPO, Kronu said. Claiming that the six districts -- Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator -- have been neglected for years, the ENPO has been demanding a separate state since 2010. In support of their demand of creation of 'Frontier Nagaland', seven tribes of Nagaland, rejecting the state government's appeal, had also boycotted the recent 'Hornbill Festival' (December 1-10). A central team, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by Adviser, North East, A.K. Mishra, during their visit in Nagaland in mid-December, held a series of meetings with various Naga bodies including ENPO, Eastern Nagaland Women Organisation, Eastern Nagaland Students' Federation and 'Gaon Bura Union' representatives. Washington, Jan 4 : The new Republican-majority (222) US House of Representatives is without a new Speaker due to strong divisions within the party as favourite Kevin McCarthy failed thrice on Tuesday in reaching the magic figure of 218. Democrat Nancy Pelosi, 80 plus, held the post several times before the Democrats lost control of the chamber in the 2022 mid-term polls. The Speaker is not an ornamental post but the 2nd in line for presidency after the Vice President, while having quite a lot of power over legislation, and hence it is a much sought after post. McCarthy, despite his immense experience, moderate approach and capabilities, is facing strong opposition from a group of party lawmakers. The stunning inability to elect a Speaker as the Congress opened with the new House of Representatives on January 3 highlighted deep fissures within the Republican Party over strategy and vision, grinding the House to a halt and raising fresh questions about the future of the GOP, NBC reported. "We have to make a choice today: Are we going to be the party of the radical 2 per cent? Because that's what it comes down to," a frustrated Republican member from Florida, Kat Cammack, said after a caucus meeting. "Kevin McCarthy will be the speaker of the House - and I don't care if it's the first ballot or the 97th ballot." The rebels dealt a demoralising effect on the Republican Party, which thought it had gained a stronghold by retaking the house in the November midterms, albeit with a wafer-thin majority of nine seats, and hoped to use the new found majority to demonstrate to Americans how it would govern - before the 2024 presidential elections while asking voters to give control of the White House and the Senate then. Instead, the Republicans displays of dysfunction is posing a major threat to further create divisions - those disassociating themselves from former President Donald Trump -- threatening to alienate the independent and centre-right voters, who drifted toward Democrats in 2022, causing the GOPs below par performance in the November midterms. "I think it's a problem for the party. It absolutely is," said former Representative Mick Mulvaney, a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, home to the rebels. "How is it not a problem for the party if we can't even decide on who our leader's going to be," he said, as per the NBC. The House adjourned Tuesday after three failed ballots - the first time in a century a Speaker's election had gone past the first vote - and with no clear path forward, media reports said. The stalemate was only throwing up in public that there are more divisions in the narrow House majority, which will have to compromise with a Democratic-controlled Senate and President Joe Biden to keep the government functioning and avert an economic crisis. The outgoing house averted a shutdown of the government by voting for Biden's $1.7 trillion package in a bipartisan manner. The conservative Republicans felt that McCarthy failing thrice to get elected had come as a bad omen for the GOP which was hoping to unify a caucus of moderates and far-right members to advance conservative legislation, reports said. "They hurt the team. They're giving us a black eye in the public," Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, a moderate Republican in a district Biden carried in 2020, said of the McCarthy critics. To the rebels, many from deep-red districts, sinking McCarthy seems a justified rebuke to a Republican establishment that they feel has long failed to live up to the expectations of their voters, the NBC said. "In the short run, the objective is to get a better Speaker than Kevin McCarthy," said Representative Bob Good, a leader of the anti-McCarthy push. "In the long run, it's to deal a blow against a Republican system that's hostile to conservatives, that has contempt for the Republican base of voters that send us to Washington." As McCarthy failed to get the votes, GOP's number 2, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, virtually pleaded with colleagues to support McCarthy so the House could pursue conservative objectives such as bolstering border security and energy independence. "We won a majority talking about fixing those problems. But we can't start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy as our next Speaker," he said. Representative Mike Gallagher, of Wisconsin, said: "It's important that we, as the House majority - and the only part of the legislative branch where the Republicans have control - do demonstrate competence and common sense, demonstrate that we are the adults in the room." Representative Chip Roy, of Texas, swiftly rejected his request, standing up to nominate McCarthy-supporting Jim Jordan, of Ohio, for Speaker. "This is about the future of the country. This is about the direction of the country," he said, demanding that the caucus find a leader with a plan to stop "spending money we don't have" and lower the debt. Jordan has said he did not want to be Speaker, and he called on his Republican colleagues to unite behind McCarthy, even as Democrats mocked their GOP counterparts, and said things would only get worse. Even as the stalemate continues, amid fears over legislation and governing if they fail to stand up to the rebels now, there is little cause in the Republicans to team up with Democrats to elect a consensus Speaker and teach the far right a lesson, media reports said. Bhopal, Jan 4 : Aakanksha Maheshwari, a 24-year-old post-graduate resident doctor working at Bhopal's Hamidia Hospital, allegedly committed suicide by injecting some suspicious chemical into her body. The police claimed to have recovered a suicide note, in which Aakanksha wrote: "I can't take that much stress." However, the police are yet to reveal more details in the case, stating that the matter is under investigation. "Senior officers have joined the probe. The other doctors and her colleagues at the hospital are being questioned. The development has shocked her friends and family. We can't comment more on the case until we get the autopsy report," a police officer said. Aakanksha was found dead at her hostel room in Gandhi Medical College (GMC) at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Sources told IANS that Aakanksha was on duty in the morning, but she returned to her hostel room early complaining of illness. Later in the evening, when some other resident doctors returned to their hostel rooms, they noticed that Aakanksha's room was closed. Later, she was found lying unconscious in her room. Senior doctors, including the head of GMC and the dean, rushed to the spot after informing the police, one of the resident doctors told IANS. Aakanksha, who hailed from Gwalior, had recently enrolled for MD in Pediatrics at the Gandhi Medical College, the biggest state-run medical college in Madhya Pradesh. The college is located within the campus of Hamidia Hospita. New Delhi, Jan 4 : The BJP's SC/ST Morcha is planning to hold its National Executive meeting in Mysuru in poll-bound Karnataka on January 8-9. "BJP's SC/ST Morcha meeting is to be held on January 8 and 9 in Mysuru. President J.P. Nadda will address the meeting, and national General Secretary, Organisation, B.L. Santhosh will also be attend," a party source said. Ahead of the Assembly elections this year, the BJP is holding various meetings in poll-bound states. Karnataka is one of the important states where the ruling BJP is seeking to retain and a meeting of its SC/ST Morcha there holds significance. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is making a strong outreach among SCs and STs in Karnataka, and has hiked reservation for SCs by two per cent from 15 to 17 per cent and for STs by four per cent, from three to seven per cent. With the Bellary meeting for STs, attended by party chief Nadda, meeting an overwhelming response, Bommai is planning to host more such outreach programmes in each district as almost 75-80 Assembly seats are influenced by SC/ST voters. Bommai is also working on a social engineering initiative in which most disadvantaged among SCs/STs will be given focus, and also has also asked the administration to pay maximum attention to the concerns of SCs/STs, while all schemes must meet 100 per cent saturation and SCs/STs given priority. Surat, Jan 4 : A man committed suicide by consuming poison after losing Rs 50 lakh in betting, the police said here on Wednesday. According to sources in the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical and Research, Manish Dholakia (49) died soon after he was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition. The hospital authorities informed the police after inspecting his bag where they found a suicide note. The police said that Manish was a sales manager with a leading electronics company. In the suicide note, Manish had wrote: "I have lost Rs 50 lakh in betting and in casino. I am not in a position to repay this amount to the lenders... Their pressure is mounting. Hence I am taking the extreme step." The police have registered a case of suicide and taken up the investigation. Until a recent online debate, I hadnt known about Kevin Nye, who has almost 15,000 followers on Twitter and a housing first plan to end homelessness. The man is clearly a deeply sincere, theologically progressive Christian, personally invested in working with the homeless in Minneapolis. When it comes to understanding the lives of homeless individuals, I certainly have much to learn from such a practitioner. But thats also why I was so surprised to learn that he doesnt think Christians have any business being in housing for profit. This was a response to questions he received after declaring that eviction is unchristian. Period. Instead, he suggests that Christian landlords employ some sort of mediation process that helps them to find alternative housing for problem renters. An interlocutor asked him the obvious question: What if the rent is that Christian landlords income? Is it fair to ask the landlord to let someone live in his property for free? And this is where Nyes response was most surprising: He replied that, if someone is relying on renters to make a living, theyd made a poor investment, because their renters are really the ones housing them! I have a real soft spot for people who put their money where their mouth is and do the hard work of helping people whose issues can be incredibly hard to face. At the same time, sincerity and effort dont make up for ignorance. In fact, as weve seen in cases like Prohibition, sincere, God-fearing, hardworking people who believe in radical action for the marginalized can create outcomes that are far, far worse than if theyd done nothing at all. So, with real respect to Mr. Nye for his personal intervention in the lives of the homeless, weve got to review whats wrong with his views on landlords, rent, and evictionnot to own the libs but for the sake of the homeless themselves. First, Nye isnt really wrong that the renters are housing the landlords. In fact, all consumers are really the ones paying the salaries of those who provide goods and services. None of us would have the ability to house, clothe, and feed ourselves without those we work for. Im not referring to our employers here, but to the group for whom employers and employees both work: the consumer. In this case, the renter is the consumer for whom the landlord is providing both a good and a service. In that sense, the job of being a landlord is no different from any other job. Use the capital you have to provide what your customer needs so that you can make a living for yourself. This just highlights part of whats wrong with a bosses vs. workers approach to the economy. The real bosses of any business are the customers themselves. Is there more talk of bad landlords than there is of bad people in other professions? Perhaps. Why is this? Is there something unique about landlording that encourages vice? I dont think so. Instead, the landlord-renter relationship is a bit unique in that its long term and deeply personal (having to do with where one lives), as opposed to a point-of-sale type of relationship like that between customers and, say, restauranteurs or retailers. While its pretty unlikely that Im going to walk into The GAP and start smashing up the place, its not that unusual for landlords to deal with terrible property damage, unsanitary hoarding, bug infestations, failure to pay, and criminal activity on the property. The ability to evict a renter whos harming ones own property and causing negative externalities for your other tenants is paramount. In turn, renters arent buying a sweater or a cafe latte from a landlord; theyre securing a place to live. That means that a landlords failure to respond to maintenance and security needs, or rent becoming unaffordable, hits homeliterally. Because of the deeply personal nature of housing, weve seen this debate over Christians evicting people before. I responded to a dustup over Dave Ramsey justifying rises in rental costs just last year (and discussed it with Anthony Bradley here). Unassailably, Christian landlords ought to be as thoughtful as possible about how to handle evictions. Wherever possible, they should refer those in financial distress to helpful resources and work with those who are only temporarily unable to pay due to unforeseen circumstances. Like all work done by Christians, Christian landlords should do all that they do as unto the Lord, meaning that they respond to tenant needs swiftly, reliably, and appropriately. So what could Nye possibly mean by suggesting that Christians shouldnt be in the business of landlording for profit? Sometimes the way we word things around profit can be very misleading. For instance, we talk about the profit motive when we really mean profit signal. That also means that we associate capitalism with profit when we should associate capitalism with profit and loss (trust me, profit signals wouldnt be very useful at all if no one was allowed to fail!). Most people didnt choose their profession merely to make money but because it aligns with their personal skills and gifts. Nevertheless, any business has to make more money than it costs to run (i.e., profit) to survive. Losses are a signal either to bow out or to change ones business model to make it sustainable. Even nonprofits have to bring in at least as much as they spend! If Christians arent in the business of renting for profit, then most wont be able to be in that business at all. Furthermore, about 75% of renting does not involve low-income tenants, so its not clear even from Nyes own assumptions why landlords, Christians or not, shouldnt treat the vast majority of their work the way theyd treat any other profit-bearing endeavor. If Nye wants to encourage Christian landlords to be thoughtful, kind, and merciful with their tenants (and I agree), then we want to advance the circumstances under which more Christians will actually become landlords. If we begin giving up the profession because we dont want to make a profit from it, we leave only landlords without our particularly Christian concerns. Perhaps what Nye is picturing are nonprofit housing efforts. But of course, these are quite common! All kinds of shelters, halfway houses, and rehabs already exist and serve the worst off the best we know how. These are not (generally) self-sustaining efforts, however. Instead, they rely on donations out of the profit people make doing other things. If Nye wants us to consider new nonprofit efforts, Im all ears. But we also have a major shortage of affordable housing, to the tune of about 7 million units according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. What is causing this shortage? Its actually pretty easy to figure out: Attend a few municipal meetings that discuss approval for any kind of dense development. Many of those with You Are Welcome Here signs in their yard will be the ones arguing against the proposed new apartment building. These are the NIMBYs (Not in My Back Yard). They love to talk about care for the poor, as long as the poor live somewhere far away from their manicured lawns and the businesses where we need them to fill service jobs. As the old saying goes, Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help mom do the dishes. A solution is right in front of our faces; we just dont want those people to ruin the view out of our bay windows. In many placesCalifornia being one of the greatest offendersexcessive regulation and zoning makes almost any new development extremely difficult and costly. Remember, even upper- and middle-income development can drive prices down by driving up supply. The problem is so bad in Cali that, in spite of it being one of the richest places on the planet, it also has the highest poverty rate of any U.S. state, taking cost of living into account. In other words, if we would just allow people to make a profit on building and renting out more housing units, wed have solved a huge part of the problem! But lets be fair to Nye, who follows up on his eviction is unchristian tweet by mentioning that he is currently trying to help several people who are being evicted in subzero temperatures. This sounds ghoulish, almost like this landlord must be Ebenezer Scrooge! However, anyone whos rented out property knows that, because of legal protections called renters rights, it takes months to evict a tenant. This is true even if the renters arent paying or are actively destroying ones property. If someone has reached the point where he or she has to leave the unit, the tenant has known it was coming for a long time. This person may very well need our help, whether with a job, personal issues like addiction, or just immediate material needs. But its actually quite foolish to place this responsibility solely on the landlord. Just as there is a division of labor in the economy, there is a division of labor in the body of Christ. Some are toes, some are hands, some are eyes, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12. Some of us have the gift of running a business, others of ministering to those with deep trauma, others of creating pipelines of healing and provision for the marginalized. There is simply no reason for us to assume that eviction is not the appropriate action for landlords, especially if they do their best to refer tenants to others who could serve them. Boundaries are not unloving, and maintaining an unsustainable status quo is rarely the solution someone needs. When pressed, Nye went so far as to say that Christians shouldnt own more than they need. This isnt the first time in the Christian conversation that this suggestion has arisen, and Im sure it wont be the last. While such a suggestion comes across as pious, productive economies that thrive on the creation of new wealth must allow some who are more skilled with property ownership to pile up far more than they can use personally. Thats because the more efficient forms of production, such as a factory, require such big up-front costs as planning, building, buying machinery, etc. However, once built, a factory will churn out more affordable consumer goods, just one item of which might have taken weeks of backbreaking labor for a single individual in the past. This inequality of property ownership is inescapably necessary for these large projects, but quality of life goes up for all because the investment of capital into a long-term project actually creates new wealth, particularly for the poor. Similarly, not every single person buys, renovates, and maintains a home, either because they dont want to or theyre unable to. But some people can specialize in doing this so that others can benefit by renting from them. Its true that a Christian should not pursue ownership of useless personal excess. But Christians who are properly gifted for it should pursue ownership of capital that can be invested in useful ways. If our business produces goods and services that contribute to human flourishing, then this is one way of benefitting our neighbors. Chronic homelessness is often a deeply complicated situation. Approximately half our homeless population are traumatized veterans, the mentally ill, and active addicts, not just people who cant afford rent. Pointing this out doesnt mean we have to be victim-blamers. It just means that we understand the depth of the kind of help some of these neighbors need. Im very open to learning from Mr. Nye how best to minister to such people. In the meantime, I hope hes open to learning from us at the Acton Institute, too. The ability to make a profit in the housing business leads to more abundant housing. Christians can operate according to normal business practices while bringing a level of thoughtfulness and care to their business relationships that others might not. Rather than discouraging Christians from being in the business of renting, lets remove the needless regulations, zoning laws, and NIMBY attitudes that obstruct building and managing dense housing units. At the same time, we can equip landlords with information on charitable resources for renters whose issues stretch beyond the landlords capacities. Panaji, Jan 4 : A section of Muslim clerics and intellectuals in Goa on Wednesday praised the work of the Narendra Modi government and announced a new movement for it. They said that the campaign of RSS-affiliated Muslim Rashtriya Manch under the leadership of Indresh Kumar and the speeches, behaviour and attitude of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has "defeated the agenda by political parties against RSS and BJP". Giving details of the meeting, MRM's national media incharge Shahid Sayeed said "the meeting was historic in which a consensus was formed between the Sangh and the Muslim intellectuals on important issues, and the scope of fear and doubt was removed". On this occasion, there was a serious discussion on what Quran, Hadith and Prophet Mohammad have said about the love and feelings of the country in Islam, while Indresh Kumar talked about patriotism, heritage, and a common country. Indresh Kumar said that we are Hindustanis of Hindustan, and Indians of India for all ages and we have to live like this - nation first, nation last and nation in between. He said that Mother India was, is and will remain common for all of us. Those who cut this mother into pieces have betrayed and cheated God, the country, humanity and humanity. "That's why, let's end the hatred for the sake of our common heritage and our country, end the riots and build India together." Muslim clerics and intellectuals said that "we have found the vision of Muslim Rashtriya Manch, Indresh Kumar, RSS and Mohan Bhagwat as love, trust, affinity and honesty for us". Indresh Kumar claimed that the parties, which were trusted, have committed betrayal, while the clerics and intellectuals said that Muslims should go ahead and run a "historical campaign of trusting the BJP and this government". Many dignitaries including Maulana Hasabuddin, Maulana Ali Murtaza, Mohd Mahmood Alam, Ghulam Nabi, Mohd Faiz, and Goa BJP Minority Morcha Vice President Sameer Sheikh attended the meeting. Washington, Jan 5 : The US Congress was in utter disarray as the now Republican controlled House of Representatives failed to elect favourite Kevin McCarthy as Speaker as he split votes with Democrat Hakeem Jefferies in the fourth round of ballot and GOP was left with no other option but to nominate an alternate candidate to break the gridlock. McCarthy has failed to get the 218 votes required to become the Speaker in the 4th round of voting on Wednesday. The House Freedom Caucus nominated Rep. Byron Donald's, an African American R-Fla., for House Speaker during Wednesday's votes to end the ongoing stalemate, media reports said. "Now, here we are. And for the first time in history, there have been two black Americans placed into the nomination for Speaker of the House," Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas said, sending the GOP members into loud cheers and standing ovations for Roy's nomination. Some Democrats also joined in the standing ovation as two African Americans are for the first time in the history of the Congress pitted against each other for the coveted speakers post. Incoming House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was nominated by the Democrats to the Speaker's position with whom McCarthy split votes in the fourth round of balloting to lose. McCarthy had been nominated to the Speaker's post by Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin. . Gallagher drew a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle when he said the members were lucky to be living in the greatest country in the world. His reference was obviously to two black Americans fighting for the speaker's post, considered the most powerful in the Congress and 3rd in line for the presidency after the Vice President. As the House got gridlocked after the fourth round of balloting, the legislators were told they could expect a vote on a Republican motion to adjourn the House. This could have stalled the fourth vote on the election of the Speaker, but the GOP move did not materialise as the numbers just weren't there and McCarthy allies simply balked, reports said. McCarthy consistently failed to get the 218 votes required as 20 Republicans went rebel saying they did not want McCarthy as he had not done enough for their constituencies in the Deep South red states. Even former President Donald Trump's appeal to far right Reps to vote for McCarthy did not cut ice with the rebels who were in no mood to compromise. 20 conservative, anti-establishment lawmakers repeatedly blocked McCarthy all through the four rounds of balloting for the Speaker's post saying the California Republican hasn't done enough to win their votes. In fact, the spat between the conservatives and rebels turned ugly with both sides attacking each other personally on the floor of the House. All efforts by McCarthy, a longtime member of House leadership, in his crucial meetings with allies to break the impasse and placate the rebels failed as the Democrats remained united and did not yield any ground to approaches by some Republicans to vote across the aisle. What do these 20 rebels want actually? The 20 Republicans opposing McCarthy, are members of the House Freedom Caucus, an offshoot of the Tea Party, which has a long history of feuding with GOP leaders. Their ire against McCarthy was that he never listened to their demands to put it on the agenda of the House. Some of McCarthy's most vocal opponents, including Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, claimed McCarthy never made any serious efforts to give conservative voices enough of a platform in the House, media reports said. The rebels have been constantly shifting stands and moving their goalposts. McCarthy tried a patch up to no avail with a proposal that would allow any five House Republicans to call for the speaker's removal and allow for more ideological diversity on House panels. But this didn't find the support he needed. But some conservatives amended it to say that any single Republican should be able to move a call to oust the Speaker. They are demanding that specific members be placed on prime committees, including Ways and Means, which controls tax, trade and health policy, and Appropriations, which allocates federal spending. If that request had been conceded then some conservative members would get priority over very senior rank-and-file Republicans leading to more infighting and plunging the GOP into much deeper fissures. Syncells Microscoop technology is unique in hypothesis-free high-precision spatial proteomics. Syncell will participate in the JP Morgan Healthcare Meeting 2023. Syncell, a biotech technology pioneering in biotools for spatial proteomics, today announced the expansion of its Global Rapid Access Service Program (GRASP) to accept more service projects for microscopy-guided proteomics discovery. Syncells Microscoop (TM) system is effectively a pickable microscope that allows isolation and identification of proteins at special locations under a microscope. It has been successfully used to discover novel biomarkers for specific biological problems, including identification of disease-associated biomarkers. Due to popular requests of services, all previously built in-house Microscoop systems were fully occupied. To fulfill customers needs, Syncell has built additional systems and now can accommodate more service projects. Syncells Microscoop technology is unique in the spatial biology field because it enables hypothesis-free high-precision spatial proteomics, said Dr. Jung-Chi Liao, the Founder and CEO of Syncell. We are excited to see the high demands of services for diverse life science problems. We are also happy to see recent successful proteomics discovery for customers projects. To address the high enthusiasm of our technology, we accelerated in-house system production and now we are able to expand our service program to accept more projects. It is expected that scientists from different fields such as neuroscience, cancer biology, immunology, and cell biology will be benefited by Syncells pioneering technology to reveal proteins or biomarkers at specific microscopic locations. Syncell will participate in the JP Morgan Healthcare Meeting in San Francisco, CA on Jan 9-11, 2023. It will announce its second grant competition focusing on cell biology soon. Currently Syncell is working with two awardees of the first grant competition to identify novel biomarkers for two important problems, one in neuroscience and the other in immunology. About Syncell Syncell is a commercial stage biotech company, with a vision to revolutionize spatial biology research. Its first product, Microscoop, is the first and only microscopic bioimaging system that allows researchers to pick up, identify and quantify thousands of known and unknown proteins in specified cellular and subcellular locations. Microscoop will provide deep spatial proteomics insights to transform a wide range of basic biology and translational research including neuroscience, oncology, immunology, or infectious disease to identify novel biomarkers with spatial context to accelerate biomarker discovery research and drug development programs. To learn more about Syncell, visit: Website: https://www.syncell.com/ Follow Syncell on LinkedIn and Twitter and tag your posts with #syncell or #microscoop LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/syncell Twitter: Twitter: https://twitter.com/IncSyncell Contact Dr. Yoshihiro Kawano Director of Business Development yoshi.k@syncell.com Rancho Cielo is about hope and opportunity. Our goal is to end the cycle of poverty and help facilitate a better path for the youth in Monterey County who have faced many barriers to success, said Chris Devers, CEO of Rancho Cielo Youth Campus. Kind Traveler is pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) designed to advance responsible travel in Monterey County. The initiative emboldens travelers to make a positive impact through charitable donations with every hotel booking they make on Kind Traveler. Just in time for the holiday season, travelers will have the opportunity to give back while they travel to promote community prosperity through sustainable travel to Monterey County. Spearheaded by Visit California, the partnership will benefit Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, a local non-profit that provides resources to underserved and predominantly Latinx youth. Travel to Monterey County has always been inspirational and visitors cant help but take some of that inspiration with them, said Rob OKeefe, president & CEO of MCCVB. We are thrilled to partner with Kind Traveler to enable visitors to not just take that inspiration with them but to leave a direct and positive impact on the local community behind. Monterey County has long been a leader in sustainable travel and this partnership brings a new meaning to responsible travel and community prosperity. Kind Traveler extends a unique opportunity to contribute to the success of the community, incentivizing visitors to travel while giving back, ultimately leaving the destination better than they found it. 97% of travelers wish to see their travel dollars making a positive impact in the communities they visit (Kind Traveler 2022 Impact Tourism Report). The ever-evolving selection of renowned hotels includes Big Surs Post Ranch Inn, Carmel Valleys Bernardus Lodge & Spa and The Sanctuary Beach Resort in Marina. The Give + Get hotel booking platform duals as an educational platform, allowing travelers to unlock exclusive offers with a $10 or more donation. 100% of donations are given to Rancho Cielo. Travelers will receive positive impact metrics with every booking to learn exactly how their travel dollars are supporting the local community along with local neighborhood guides to inspire conscious travel. With Rancho Cielo, a $10 donation will cover 1/3 of the cost per day of a young persons education. Rancho Cielo primarily serves Latinx youth that were unsuccessful in traditional high school settings for various reasons, including food insecurity, homelessness, overcrowded homes and social-emotional distress without adequate coping mechanisms. With a belief every young person has the opportunity for success, Rancho Cielo invests by providing diploma education, vocational training, counseling and life skills development in a safe and affirming environment at the 100-acre campus in the Salinas Valley. Rancho Cielos Drummond Culinary Academy is tailored to students with aspirations in the culinary and hospitality industry, offering classroom training and hands-on work experience. Rancho Cielo is about hope and opportunity. Our goal is to end the cycle of poverty and help facilitate a better path for the youth in Monterey County who have faced many barriers to success, said Chris Devers, CEO of Rancho Cielo Youth Campus. Hospitality is a vital industry in Monterey County. Our real-life training programs prepare students to begin a successful career here at home, with plenty of opportunities for job placement and advancement. A Kind Destination: Monterey County Monterey Countys postcard beauty is situated on 99 miles of the Pacific coastline, just two hours south of San Francisco. Home to over 25 state parks, beaches and nature preserves, the county boasts 18 weekly farmers markets, 81 businesses certified by Monterey Bay Area Green Business Program and a municipal Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions by 15% below 2005 levels. Kind Traveler offers travelers to book a stay with recognized hotels including: Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur) Bernardus Lodge & Spa (Carmel Valley) The Sanctuary Beach Resort (Marina) Alila Ventana (Big Sur) Coming Soon The Impact of Rancho Cielo Youth Campus Rancho Cielo works with students to help them acquire the remaining credits they need to get their high school diplomas while taking a hands-on approach to gaining skills in a vocational training program. They place a major focus on achieving health and social-emotional well-being and creating an atmosphere where students can develop prosocial desires, a future orientation, enhanced health and self-esteem and a connection to the community. Expected measurable results include: Students will have an attendance rate of 85% or higher and graduate with a high school diploma at a rate of 90% or higher for all eligible 12th graders. 100% of students successfully transition into college, a career, or other post-secondary training. The current recidivism rate will decrease by 10% each year over the next five years. Visit California & Kind Traveler Partnership Infusing tourism with the principles of stewardship is the key to the longevity of travel in California. One of the ways Visit California is encouraging travelers to embrace responsible travel is through a state-wide destination stewardship partnership with Kind Traveler. The partnership aims to create new pathways for travelers to embrace sustainable and regenerative travel through Kind Travelers Give + Get booking and education platform that brings together partnerships with eight DMOs, 36+ hotels and 15 local, destination-specific charities in California. Each selected charity is tied to the destinations sustainability goals as well as to the UN Global Goals and is essential to the destinations well-being and future. For downloadable images, please see our media gallery here, or reach out to Media@SeeMonterey.com for additional images. For more information on how travelers can #TravelKindly to Monterey County, visit https://www.kindtraveler.com/content/monterey-county-convention-visitors-bureau or https://www.seemonterey.com/blog/post/kind-traveler/ ### Media Contacts: Kind Traveler Media Contact Jessica Blotter Jblotter@KindTraveler.com 619-519-2437 MCCVB Media Contact Emily Evans Emily@SeeMonterey.com 831-657-6434 ABOUT KIND TRAVELER Kind Traveler, a women-and-veteran-owned public benefit corporation, is the worlds first socially conscious Give + Get hotel booking and education platform that empowers travelers to positively impact the communities they visit. Recognized with global awards from Fast Company, Travel + Leisure, Newsweek, Lufthansa Innovation Hub and UNWTO, Kind Traveler represents Kind Hotels and tourism boards in 22 countries and 150+ destination-specific charities globally. Visit us at KindTraveler.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. ABOUT MONTEREY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Monterey County CVB) is a 501c6 non-profit organization that drives safe and responsible tourism for Monterey County. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to generate community prosperity for Monterey County through responsible promotion and growth of the tourism economy. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.5 billion in 2021, supporting 21,600 jobs and generating $264 million in state and local tax revenue that directly benefited the community. For more information, visit SeeMonterey.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Studies show that stress can have a negative effect on our skin, exacerbating a number of skin conditions. Luckily, Alpha Blu Skincare helps people of all ages and skin types maintain healthy skin cells under day-to-day stress. In turn, this reduces wrinkling and aging effects. With the most advanced formulations, Alpha Blu Skincare has everything needed to maintain and promote healthy skin and a natural glow. Unlike other brands that use plant-based stem cells, their skincare products are based on human-derived stem cells cultured in their labs to produce Blue Cellule Conditioned Media. Containing cytokines and growth factors, Alpha Blus proprietary Blue Cellule product line has been shown to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating effects. Research shows the majority of participants saw an improvement in the look and feel of their skin. We cover the needs of both men and women, allowing the skin to absorb the ingredients without creating an oily shine or causing dry skin, says Doreen Santora, CEO of Alpha Blu Skincare. There are virtually no parabens, dyes, preservatives, or even any fragrances in our products. "Using Alpha Blu Skincare products in order maximizes effectiveness and its so easy," says Lisa Vrancken, Executive Vice President of Shark Discoveries. "The results are undeniable." As part of its BRTV campaign with Shark Discoveries, Alpha Blu Skincare has appeared in 60 second spots nationwide, featuring the original Shark himself, Kevin Harrington. Shark Discoveries is comprised of an award-winning team of producers, writers, videographers, and editors as well as industry veterans dedicated to finding the latest, most innovative products and ideas, and putting them on the BRTV map. About Shark Discoveries Headquartered in South Florida, Shark Discoveries is a full-service production, branding, and marketing company that specializes in brand response television, including Celebrity Influencer Videos, and brand building. Based out of a 25,000+ sq ft, state-of-the-art studio, the companys creative team handles every aspect of production from script to screen to airing. About Kevin Harrington As the inventor of the infomercial, founder of As Seen on TV, and one of the original Sharks on Shark Tank, Kevin Harrington has worked with some of the worlds biggest celebrities and launched some of the best-selling DRTV campaigns in history. Since producing his first 30-minute infomercial in 1984, Harrington has been involved in over 500 product launches that have resulted in over $5 billion in sales. Now, in his latest venture with Shark Discoveries, Harrington is on the hunt for the best new products and ideas, bringing them to homes everywhere through personalized BRTV campaigns featuring the Shark. For more information on Alpha Blu Skincare, please visit http://www.AlphaBluSkincare.com. "We are very excited to officially open our new Ann Arbor area Service Center and expand our broadband services to the Ann Arbor/Jackson areas, said Mr. Wiseman. Garrett Wiseman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Mercury Broadband announced today the official opening of the companys new Ann Arbor area Service Center located at 1300 Tefft Ct., Suite 1, Saline, Michigan. Mercury Broadband currently provides reliable High Speed Internet services to homes and businesses in the rural and surrounding areas across Washtenaw County and will also expand into the counties of Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe, Jackson, Wayne, Ingham, and Livingston. Justin Girardot has been named the General Manager and leads the companys efforts in this new Service Center region. The company previously announced they have been awarded approximately $62M in federal grants from the FCCs Rural Digital Opportunity Fund or RDOF. The award will enable the company to accelerate construction of hybrid fixed wireless and fiber-optic broadband networks to over 122,000 underserved locations across the Midwest, including over 5,000 route miles of state-of-the-art fiber-optic Broadband Internet services. The company plans to serve more than 44,000 residential households and 6,000 business locations in Michigan as part of this initiative. We are very excited to officially open our new Ann Arbor area Service Center and expand our broadband services to the Ann Arbor/Jackson areas, said Mr. Wiseman. The State of Michigan is in need of better High Speed Internet choices for consumers and we are delighted to introduce our Mercury @Home products to this new market, said Mr. Wiseman. Mercury Broadband has actually already been providing services in the Ann Arbor area for several months as part of a limited market trial and testing process. The company has now completed that and is moving forward with full introduction and availability. The network services area will continue to expand as the company construction continues and customers are encouraged to visit the company website at http://www.mercurybroadband.com/ or call tollfree 1-800-354-4915 to check for availability in your area or for more information. About Mercury Broadband Mercury Broadband is a leading provider of high-speed Internet and digital phone services for homes and businesses across select rural markets in the Midwest. The company was founded in Topeka, KS, after recognizing a need for broadband services in these underserved markets. A hybrid approach to serving these last mile customers was developed by extending high-capacity fiber optic networks with the range, reliability, and flexibility of carrier-class wireless technologies to provide next generation services to customers. Media Relations Contact: Greg Crosby Chief Revenue Officer Phone: 1-319-621-2424 Email: greg.crosby@mercurybroadband.com For decades, the family of Ken Sze, Ryan Leung, and Seth Chan have created truly unique jewelry for clients who want beautiful pieces that no one else has. The family of artisans got their start in the jewelry business as designers of bespoke, one-of-a-kind pieces for clients with a discerning eye. Now, the family's younger generation has expanded the jewelry business into a modern vision, Lovfor Wellness Jewelry, which fuses their reputation for craftsmanship with the functionality that their clientele craves. With our family's long history in the jewelry business, we know that many clients see jewelry as meditational, in a way, explains Seth Chan, VP of Lovfor Wellness Jewelry. When they wear their grandmother's ring, they think about their family member, the love they had for them, the memories from when they were younger and in many cases they reflect on how generations of people have worn the item and it brings them a sense of continuity and calm. It lets them forget their present concerns. The jewelry pieces that we now create are designed to do the same thing. The fidget and spinner rings provide a way to occupy the body so that the mind can focus. The theme jewelry that we create, such as the celestial fidget ring, which features .925 sterling silver and all of the zodiac signs along with several astrological symbols entrances the wearer with its unique beauty and multiple spinning parts. While fidgeting and spinning the intricate design, the wearer ponders the stars, the universe, the path they have been on and the plans that fate has in store for them in the future. In that way, our modern jewelry gives our clients the same sense of peace that generations of our clients have enjoyed. Along with reducing anxiety and encouraging a sense of calm, Lovfor Wellness Jewelry is also meant to stand out as a beautiful piece of jewelry in their own right. Having learned the business from their parents, the family's younger generation has been taught to value quality artistry. The entire collection is nickel-free and all metals are ethically-mined. All of the collection's yellow and white gold, rhodium and palladium are plated with five layers of plating rather than the industry standard of two layers. This higher level of quality is similar to well known European jewelry brands but is offered at an accessible price point. To confirm the quality and plating of Lovfor Wellness Jewelry, pieces are tested in an independent third-party lab. This extra attention to detail allows clients to not only admire the jewelry, but also interact with it knowing that they won't tarnish or ruin the finish of the rings or necklaces. We know that heirloom jewelry presents challenges. Firstly, the items can be very costly and out of reach for most. Secondly, heirloom pieces are fragile and have to be handled with care. Our fidget rings, spinners, and other unique pieces offer the same luxury experience at an affordable price point while also being durable. Our jewelry is meant to be touched and handled on a daily basis, explains Chan. The passion and dedication of Ken Sze, one of the visionary founders of Lovfor, is obvious in every design. Thanks to the craftsmanship, skills, and values imparted to him by his goldsmith parents, and as a result of his high tech career as a Google engineer, Lovfor creates world-class specialty jewelry with sophisticated designs and a unique structure. The combination of traditional values and modern technical skills enables Lovfor to push the boundaries of function, wearability, and beauty. To view the high-quality, unique and fun fidget rings, or to see the entire collection of jewelry, visit https://lovfor.com. For the latest information, to be the first to know when new pieces of jewelry are being launched, or to connect with the artisan team behind Lovfor Wellness Jewelry's unique, handcrafted creations, follow @LovforOfficial on Etsy and @Lovfor on Youtube. -30- For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Diver discovers the spectacular coral reefs of Honduras famed Bay Islands, guided by Barefoot Divers in Roatan. When it comes to traveling in 2023, an increasing number of Americans are predicted to prioritize authentic, purpose-driven travel experiences as a top resolution in the new year. Whether seeking to become a more sustainable sightseer or set on discovering a new destination, Honduras, a country with diverse landscapes and ecosystems, invites visitors to bid farewell to 2022 with the top five reasons this vibrant Central American country should be on travelers bucket lists in 2023 and beyond. Dive the Largest Coral Reef in the Americas For travelers seeking underwater adventures, Honduras offers plenty of opportunities as home to the largest coral reef in the Americas. The vibrant Mesoamerican Barrier Reef hugs the Bay Islands just off the mainland with 700 miles of colorful corals and more than 500 species of fish. The three most famous dive spots in the Bay Islands Utila, Roatan and Guanaja archipelagos entice scuba divers and snorkelers of all skill levels thanks to the spectacular reef and its close proximity to shore. Many lodges and resorts like Barefoot Cay and Turquoise Bay have on-site dive shops, and plenty of independent businesses dotting the islands offer guided snorkel tours by boat and self-guided explorations from shore. A haven for hardcore divers, Utila, the smallest of the Bay Islands is known as one of the safest and least expensive places in the world to get PADI diving licenses of all levels. The island boasts more than 80 dive sites, with whale shark sightings frequent from March to April and again in September. Float Back and Relax in Natural Hot Springs For travelers seeking a serene and tranquil escape with health and wellness in mind, Honduras relaxing hot springs are the perfect way to soak away the stress in naturally heated mineral baths surrounded by the destinations lush natural beauty. Near Copan, travelers can visit Luna Jaguar Spa, a Mayan-influenced eco-spa dedicated to physical and mental wellbeing. Nestled in the middle of the jungle, Sambo Creek Hot Springs is a natural wonder that starts hottest at the top, gradually mixing with cool water as the pools progress down the mountain. Visitors are treated to floating fresh fruit trays in the lower pool and massage huts are also available. Explore One of the Most Significant Ancient Mayan Sites For history and culture enthusiasts yearning to discover archeological treasures, Copan Ruins, located in western Honduras near the Guatemalan border, is home to one of the most influential cities of the ancient Mayan world. At Copan Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors can explore some of the best sites of Mayan civilization still in existence. Major areas of interest include The Acropolis, built as an elaborate gateway to the underworld during the reign of Copans last ruler, Yax-Pac; The Great Plaza, known for its intricate altars; the Sun Plaza, showcasing 3D carved stellae perfectly positioned in direct relation to the stars above and the Hieroglyphic Stairway, which contains the longest known text of ancient Mayan civilization. The site also features underground tunnels accessible to visitors and an impressive sculpture museum housing some of the ruins original structures, including a full-size replica of the Rosalila Temple, the only temple found with its original colors intact. Catch a Buzz on Coffee Culture As the largest coffee producer in Central America and the fifth largest globally, Honduras takes its coffee and coffee culture very seriously making it an ideal destination for the rising number of travelers seeking to feed their coffee curiosity next year. Most baristas in the country are also growers, which results in an exceptional bean to cup experience. Producing high quality beans is the main priority for Honduran coffee farmers, allowing visitors to sample coffee they may never find in North America. The majority of the countrys coffee is produced in the western region including areas near Copan Ruins where many Arabica varieties such as bourbon, caturra, typica, catuai, and pacas are grown. Coffee farms like Finca Santa Isabel, home of the Welchez coffee brand, offer educational tours that guide participants through the coffee making journey. Take Part in Sustainable Tourism Initiatives For travelers looking to lessen their carbon footprint and make sustainability a focus in 2023, Honduras exceptional biodiversity and longstanding commitment to responsible tourism attracts eco-conscious visitors around the world, with many conservation initiatives in which visitors can participate. SCUBA-certified sightseers to Roatan are invited to take part in the Coral Restoration Program at Roatan Marine Park, a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Honduras marine and coastal ecosystems. Macaw Mountain, a bird rescue, rehabilitation, and release center in Copan, offers visitors the chance to learn more about the scarlet macaw, Honduras national bird, which has become endangered due to the illegal wildlife trade. Visitors to the aviary can observe more than 200 birds up close and spot free-flying scarlet macaws above the park and throughout a 335 square-mile area known as The Sacred Valley of the Scarlet Macaw. With its mission to spread awareness, Tele Marine located in Atlantida on Honduras northern Caribbean coast is the only free public aquarium in Central America, inviting travelers to learn more about the spectacular coral reefs of Tele, while enjoying its thematic restaurant, dive center, and research facilities, all open to the public. ### About Honduras Located in the heart of Central America, Honduras is a destination rich in biodiversity as home to a diverse array of ecosystems including dense rainforests, towering cloud forests, rushing rivers, and the largest coral reef in the Americas. This landscape provides the setting for boundless outdoor and adventure activities including whitewater rafting, waterfall repelling, birdwatching, SCUBA diving, snorkeling and more. Honduras was an important center of the ancient Mayan world, and archaeologists and history buffs are drawn to the Copan Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near the countrys western border with Guatemala. Four major airports serve Honduras in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Roatan, and the capital city of Tegucigalpa, where the new and modern Palmerola International Airport, located in the city of Comayagua, recently debuted in 2021. Direct air service from the United States is available on major carriers from New York City, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas. For more information on Honduras, please visit http://www.honduras.travel/en. Media Contact: Jennifer Jackson PTG Consulting jjackson@ptgconsulting.com Tel: +1 904 535 7167 "We congratulate the outstanding caregivers and staff at these two AHN facilities for this much deserved recognition." The Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Wexford Hospital emergency department and the AHN Outpatient Center Westmoreland endoscopy center have been recognized by Press Ganey with a 2022 Guardian of Excellence Award in the patient experience category. This award recognizes these AHN facilities as being in the top 5 percent for performance in patient experience of the more than 41,000 health care facilities that Press Ganey works with across the country. Press Ganey is a nationally renowned health care company that measures and analyzes patient satisfaction through surveys and supports health care organizations in their quality improvement initiatives. The Guardian of Excellence Award is given annually by Press Ganey to health care facilities who rank in the 95th percentile for patient experience. Located north of Pittsburgh in Pine Twp., AHN Wexford Hospital opened to patients in September 2021. The 160-bed hospital includes a 24-bed emergency department which boasts some of the shortest wait times nationally. Most patients are seen by a clinician within 14 minutes of arriving at the hospital, on average. Emergency care services are also provided to children, sparing parents from having to travel into the city when their child requires emergent medical care. AHN Outpatient CenterWestmoreland, located on Nature Park Road in Hempfield Township, is a 23,000-square-foot multispecialty facility which provides access to a range of medical specialists. Its state-of-the-art endoscopy center provides patients in the region with convenient access to outpatient gastrointestinal procedures such as colonoscopy. We congratulate the outstanding caregivers and staff at these two facilities for this much deserved recognition. Their exceptional patient care sets great examples for our programs and facilities across the network, said Eugene Scioscia, MD, AHN chief patient experience officer and Barb Bobula, AHN vice president of patient experience. Each AHN hospital and outpatient center employs designated patient experience representatives who serve as intermediaries between patients and staff, celebrating positive feedback while identifying opportunities to improve performance. Through education and training, these patient experience representatives support their colleagues as they strive to create an experience for all AHN patients that not only meets but exceeds their expectations. By putting their patients and workforce first each and every day, Allegheny Health Network is demonstrating their unwavering commitment to their employees and to the communities they serve, said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and CEO, Press Ganey. The caregivers at AHN have inspired us with the compassion, empathy and human connection they bring to the clinical health care setting. We are honored to partner with them as we celebrate their achievement. ### About Allegheny Health Network Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, cardiovascular disease, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, womens health, diabetes and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. About Press Ganey Press Ganey, the leading Human Experience (HX) healthcare performance improvement company, offers an integrated suite of solutions that address safety, clinical excellence, patient experience and workforce engagement. The company works with more than 41,000 healthcare facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care. Press Ganey is a PG Forsta company. Although the economy may be suffering in other industries, commercial real estate continues to deliver a high return for investors. Industrial land continues to be a hot market. Arizona Land Consulting, the Valleys leading, female-owned land consulting firm, announced today the closing of its first-ever purchased property for $5.4 million. The 120-acre parcel of land returned 280% of the original investment since it was first purchased in 2019. The Tonopah-based property was purchased for $13,000 per acre and sold three years later for $45,000 per acre. The property, located in an opportunity zone off the I-10 freeway and 339th Ave., already has zoning and infrastructure in place. The buyer has plans to develop an industrial site on the land. Arizona Land Consulting provides investors with above average returns without much risk, said Dr. Sachin Mehta, a local ophthalmologist. Anita has a level of knowledge and connections that make her stand out. She presented creative options for us to maximize our land for use when the market wasnt what we were expecting it to be. Arizona Land Consulting also sold a 3,000-square-foot easement, located off the I-10 freeway and Yuma Road, to a digital billboard company for $1.05 million in late November. This represented nearly a 15,000% increase on the original investment. The original purchase price was $7,000. This is a great example of how investors can maximize their land use and create passive income, no matter the current economic situation. Although the economy may be suffering in other industries, commercial real estate has continued to deliver a really high return for our investors, says Anita Verma-Lallian, CEO and Founder of Arizona Land Consulting. Industrial land continues to be a very hot market. For more information about Arizona Land Consulting and to learn more about investment opportunities, please visit https://arizonalandconsulting.com/. ABOUT ARIZONA LAND CONSULTING Arizona Land Consulting is a Phoenix-based land investment and consulting company that specializes in commercial real estate, founded by Anita Verma-Lallian. The company is best known for sustainable expansion in the West Valley, having purchased a total of 2,500 acres in the city of Buckeye over the last year for a variety of different opportunities and growth. You can view more information at https://arizonalandconsulting.com/. Key points: Kevin Rudd called on the United States to open its markets to allies, despite "over-riding protection sentiment" in Congress Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham criticised the former PM's language Mr Rudd stressed he was not speaking as Australia's US ambassador The former Prime Minister, who takes up his prestigious appointment in March , claimed the Biden administration was operating with "one arm tied behind its back" in the Asia-Pacific because it had not focused on the importance of trade in favour of security ties. "For the future, what is the missing elements in US grand strategy? It's called the economy, stupid," Mr Rudd told Bloomberg TV, invoking a famous phrase attributed to president Bill Clinton's former adviser, James Carville. "You cannot continue to assume that there'll be collective solidarity on security questions but, on the economy, the United States is happy to throw some of its allies under a bus. Kevin Rudd will be Australia's next ambassador to the United States.(ABC News: Tamara Penniket) "And, for those reasons, the United States Congress needs to embrace, instead, a different strategy, which opens its markets more to its allies in Asia and in Europe, despite the over-riding protection sentiment of the US Congress and political class in general." In his first media appearance since being named the next US ambassador, Mr Rudd argued that America's strategic stance would only succeed if the world's largest economy opened up its markets. "You cannot have a strategy which has one arm tied behind its back, namely, trade and the economy," Mr Rudd said. "You must, in fact, have both wings flying. Otherwise, this bird doesn't take off," the former Labor leader told a panel discussion focusing on the international economy and markets. Last month, Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham welcomed Mr Rudd's appointment but has now criticised the former Prime Minister's language. "Encouraging the US to pursue deeper economic engagement in our region and with other allies is smart, strategic and consistent with recent Australian ambassadors to the US," Senator Birmingham said. "Opinionated lecturing of the US before you've even started your new ambassadorial role in the US is far less strategic. "I doubt many will see Kevin Rudd's tone as an encouraging start to a role that requires both deft handling and policy smarts." Inside government ranks, some MPs have privately expressed concern at the outspoken approach their former colleague may take in his new diplomatic role, suggesting he could become a "second foreign minister" based in Washington. Mr Rudd stressed he was speaking in his capacity as president of the Asia Society and had not begun his ambassadorial role, noting it was "three months before I turn into a pumpkin". The Power of Your Witness: Volume 1: a stirring memoir of the ways in which God has impacted the authors life, and the gifts he has received by following the Lords intended path for him. The Power of Your Witness: Volume 1 is the creation of published author, John Bradley, a veteran of the U.S. Army and ordained minister who has served as a teacher, preacher, choir member, deacon, evangelist, elder, assistant pastor, and pastor. The Power of Your Witness was written to demonstrate to every believer that you can be used by God anywhere, anyplace, and at any time, if you would make yourself available for the Masters use, writes Bradley. Your faith will not only be challenged but increase due to the miracles, signs, and wonders that occur throughout this powerful and moving book. As you read it, you will feel as if you are right there! You will be able to sense the excitement and feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit as you dive into its pages. In this book, you will witness individuals giving their lives to Christ in foreign lands to demons getting cast out in the desert of Iraq! This book will challenge you to become a better witness for Christ and to raise your level of boldness to be used by the Lord in an even greater capacity. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, John Bradleys new book is a moving testament to the wonderful ways in which the authors faith has influenced his life and led to the wonderful blessings he and his family have received. Bradleys story helps to highlight the ways in which the Lord is ever present, and all one needs is an open mind and heart to hear his words and discover his plan for them. View a synopsis of The Power of Your Witness: Volume 1 on YouTube. Consumers can purchase The Power of Your Witness: Volume 1 at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Power Of Your Witness: Volume 1, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Sandy Karstens spent years writing for her churchs newsletter, where she received praise and encouragement to publish her writing. In her first book, Christ in Your Life, Karstens has taken her newsletter articles, combined with her personal journals, and evolved them into a book readers can use to enrich their own walk with God. Karstens wants to encourage readers in their faith, by offering advice from the scripture, and from her own personal experiences. In todays hectic world, its easy to lose sight of God, Karstens said. As we go through life, the struggles, the choices we make, and the life we live can either take us closer to God, or further away. In her personal stories, Karstens shares how God has always been with her, is now with her and will always be with her, even if it isnt in the way she expects or desires. Im just a hard-working grandma, trying to make a living with great faith, Karstens said. Publishing my book seemed like a huge step, but God was showing me that it was time to share it, and that he would take care of me. Even if only one person is helped by my book, it will have been worth it. Karstens hopes that readers will use her book alongside the Bible in their studies, as they move forward in their journeys of faith. Christ in Your Life By Sandy Karstens ISBN: 9781664229525 (softcover); 9781664229518 (electronic) Available at WestBow Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Sandy Karstens is a mother of four daughters and grandmother to six. Her life is filled with continuously building a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. As she reached the winter season of her life, she felt a calling to publish her personal writings on her journey with Christ and share them with others. To learn more, please visit http://www.sandykarstens.com/. General Inquiries: LAVIDGE Phoenix Ashley Fletcher afletcher@lavidge.com "Columbus is growing like crazy right now so theres going to be a ton of kids that are going to need access to this life skill. British Swim School, the countrys leading learn to swim franchise, is continuing to grow its reach by opening two new locations in the North Columbus area. The pools will be operated by Teresa and Nate Walsh, with their first location in Upper Arlington scheduled to open on January 9th. The wife-husband duo brings plenty of relevant experience to the British Swim School brand. Teresa has spent the last 15 years working as a Registered Nurse and received her first college degree in business. Meanwhile, Nate has worked in outside sales for most of his career and has an extensive background in customer service. When the couple was searching for a new business opportunity, some strategic research brought them to Buzz Franchise Brands and British Swim School. When we started talking to the Buzz Franchise Brands and British Swim School teams about the backstory and history of the brand, their model, the aquatics program, and the way they structure their business all of those items alongside their mission, made it something were really passionate about, Nate emphasized. Teresa added, were in the business of saving lives. Thats where I started in my nursing career, and well continue that. For more than 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children, and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival and stroke development. Its mission ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Across the nation, eleven people die every day from unintentional drownings, with nearly 4,000 deaths occurring each year. Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning. However, the risk of drowning isnt limited to children: a Red Cross survey found that more than half of all Americans (54%) either cant swim or dont have the basic swimming skills needed to save themselves in the event of a water emergency. The Walshs noted how rapidly the Columbus, Ohio area is growing and cited the need for available swim instruction. The couple recognized that it was difficult to get their own children signed up for swim lessons, and are determined to provide proper instruction through lessons that are readily available for nearby residents. Were opening in an area that will be accessible to a lot of people, Teresa said. Theres so much demand [for swim lessons], Nate continued. Columbus is growing like crazy right now so theres going to be a ton of kids that are going to need access to this life skill. Teresa and Nate bring a perfect combination of compassion and business-savvy skills to the British Swim School family, British Swim School President Ashley Gundlach shared. We recognize a need for available swimming instruction in the North Columbus area and were confident Teresa and Nate will do an outstanding job of providing their community with a much-needed service. For more information about British Swim School, visit http://www.britishswimschool.com. To learn more about the benefits of British Swim Schools franchising opportunities, visit http://www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com. About British Swim School British Swim School, the nations most established swim school franchise, with over 40 years in business, believes that every individual, regardless of age or ability, should have the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Offering lessons for babies, children, and adults, the brand is dedicated to its mantra, Survival of the Littlest, focusing first on the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, then moving on to stroke development and more advanced skills. Not only does British Swim Schools give peace of mind to countless families who seek the essential life skill the brand offers their children but the purpose-driven franchise also offers an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek a fulfilling business venture with a sound foundation, low investment, and an easily scalable model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School currently operates over 250 schools across the United States and Canada. For more information about British Swim School, visit http://www.britishswimschool.com. To learn more about the benefits of British Swim Schools franchising opportunities, visit http://www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com. "These three new members will bring thoughtful leadership and deep expertise to help expand the organizations work with women, children, climate and disaster response," said Rob Radtke, President & CEO. Episcopal Relief & Development is pleased to welcome the Rev. Canon Dr. Michele V. Hagans, the Rev. Christine Purcell and Mr. John Van de Weert to the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2023. We are honored to have three experienced and committed leaders joining the Board at this critical time, said Teri Lawver, Chair of the Board of Directors. All three members bring unique gifts and a deep commitment to Episcopal Relief & Development that will be vital as we begin to implement the organizations new strategic plan. The Rev. Dr. Canon Michele V. Hagans is the president and chief executive officer of Fort Lincoln New Town Corporation and Fort Lincoln Reality Company. She is also an ordained priest and has served in many roles including Canon of Ministry Initiatives for the Diocese of Washington. Canon Hagans brings extensive experience and knowledge of real estate and property development to the board. The Rev. Christine Purcell has served as Associate Rector at the Parish of St. Matthew in the Pacific Palisades since 2016 where her primary areas of responsibility are pastoral care, adult formation and liturgy. She also serves on The Episcopal Church Programs Committee as an advisory member and has traveled with Episcopal Relief & Development on pilgrimages to Myanmar and Zambia. Mr. John Van De Weert is a partner in the Banking & Financial Services practice of Sidley Austin LLP, in Washington, D.C. His practice focuses on the regulation of consumer banking. He is currently the Chancellor of the Diocese of Washington and a member of St. Monica & St. James church in Washington. I am deeply grateful for the incredibly gifted Board of Directors, said Rob Radtke, President & CEO, Episcopal Relief & Development. These three new members will bring thoughtful leadership and deep expertise to help expand the organizations work with women, children, climate and disaster response. I am looking forward to working with them in the years to come. Episcopal Relief & Development, a 501(c)(3) operating under the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, is governed by a Board of Directors that includes clergy and lay leaders from around the United States. New board members are nominated by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and by the Chair of the Board of Episcopal Relief & Development in consultation with the Boards Governance Committee. The Board votes on new members and elections take effect when ratified by the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. Board members are invited to serve three-year terms beginning on January 1, which may be renewed once. Additional information about the board can be found here. ABOUT EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT For over 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate. Our focus is on creating spaces where students feel engaged to learn but also comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, and exploring their academic passions, said MiEN Company President and CEO Remco Bergsma. Twelve schools and one district-wide project are a few of the most recent educational institutions to make MiEN Company their furnishing and design partner in creating or upgrading spaces within their school campuses. MiEN helped its new partners to renovate spaces for cafes, esports, teacher lounges, student unions, common areas, makerspaces, and even an entire school building. The categories of projects and the participating schools are listed below: Cafe Space Projects Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation in Wesley Chapel, Florida Teacher Lounge Project Voorhees Township Public Schools in Camden County, New Jersey Makerspace Projects H.B. Whitehorne Middle School in Verona, New Jersey Ecole Dickinsfield School in Alberta, Canada Esports Projects New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel, Florida Bangor High School in Bangor, Maine Media Center Projects St. Stephen Catholic School in Riverview, Florida Lamphere High School in Madison Heights, Michigan Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky Student Union/Common Spaces Projects Valley Christian Schools in Chandler, Arizona Foster Heights Middle School in Bardstown, Kentucky York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois Full School Project The Movement School in Largo, Florida Although all the renovated spaces have a main purpose, many of them were designed to be multifunctional. An example is the collaborative Commons space that Lamphere High School created from an unused computer lab. The Commons is now used for weekly English classes as well as for staff and districtwide meetings. In addition, students use it as a gathering and study area. Principal Rodney Thomas said that the comfortable seating, functional furniture and espresso coffee station are a huge draw. We wanted students to really enjoy being at Lamphere High School, relax a bit, read a book, do their homework or just hang out in the space, he said. Another example is Voorhees Township Public Schools teacher lounges where educators can have lunch, socialize and decompress as well as collaborate, plan and receive professional development. The project consisted of six teacher lounges in five different schools. To make the lounges into places where school staff could both recharge and work together, MiEN incorporated several soft seating options and collaboration tables along with private work areas. Voorhees Township PS was so pleased with the project that it commissioned MiEN to work on a media center and 10 new kindergarten and pre-k classrooms. Our focus is on creating spaces where students feel engage to learn but also comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, and exploring their academic passions, said MiEN Company President and CEO Remco Bergsma. We are honored to work with such forward-thinking school leaders and educators who are committed to creating the best possible learning environments for their students. About MiEN Company MiEN is a global company serving the education industry with innovative furniture products and services that promote and support active and interactive learning environments in engaging and functional ways. An American company with a strong European influence, its products and services represent the ideas and collaborative efforts of an expert team of suppliers, designers, and engineers. Built strong and durable using eco-friendly, sustainable materials, its products rank high in the industry in meeting the demands of creating dynamic and collaborative learning environments. For more information go to https://miencompany.com # # # This is the first research seeking to understand ID crime victimization across Black communities & how identities were recovered when compromised. This is the first step in understanding identity issues in the different communities," said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "This effort allows us to develop specific programs that will help victims recover and resolve identity crime. Today, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, in partnership with the Chicago-based Black Researchers Collective (BRC), is releasing the initial findings of a larger three-year initiative that seeks to understand and examine identity crime victimization across Black communities in the United States. The project is supported by LifeLock (a Gen brand) and Synchrony. For the initial research phase of the initiative, the BRC collected responses from participants who identified as Black or African American. (See the About the Survey section below for more information.) Black communities experience a higher rate of victim loss in every category in the research findings than what is reported in the ITRCs 2022 Consumer Impact Report (CIR), where Black people were also included in a largely non-Black sample. According to the responses, 16 percent of victims reported losing at least $5,000. Twenty-six (26) percent lost $1,000-$4,999, a 17 percentage point increase compared to the victims surveyed in the 2022 CIR. Researchers found that victims did not just lose significant amounts of money; they lost time spent resolving their identity theft issues. Nineteen (19) percent of respondents spent a year or more resolving their issues. Sixteen (16) percent of respondents spent three months to a year resolving their identity theft cases, an eight (8) percentage point increase compared to General Victims surveyed in the 2022 CIR. Nearly half of the participants (45 percent) reported becoming a victim within the last couple of years and either experienced fraudulent charges on their debit or credit cards or had their personal identification information compromised. According to the data from the survey, when victims experienced identity theft, 72 percent reported it to a family member or friend. Sixty-three (63) percent notified a bank, credit card company or other payment provider. Fifty (50) percent reported it to law enforcement. Most of the survey participants (80 percent) reported having their identity stolen by someone they know. We believe there is a lack of data around identity theft victimization in Black communities that creates risk of becoming a victim, said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. This is the first step in understanding identity issues in the different communities. This effort allows us to develop specific programs that will help victims recover and resolve identity crime. Other findings include the following: Fifty-four (54) percent of the respondents who were the victim of an identity crime obtained identity theft protection because they wanted to protect themselves from becoming a victim in the future. Sixty (60) percent of the survey respondents indicated they have identity theft protection. However, only 39 percent of survey respondents had identity theft protection when they became the victim of an identity crime. There is not a significant difference in the amount of time spent resolving identity theft with identity theft protection. "Gen is proud to support the Identity Theft Resource Center and Black Researchers Collective in their efforts to understand how identity theft affects Black communities, said Kim Allman, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Gen. We need identity theft and cybersecurity solutions that meet the needs of diverse communities in order to power Digital Freedom for everyone. This research effort will be critical to developing culturally competent victim services and we look forward to additional outcomes as the effort progresses over the next several years. This national survey is a critical first step in uncovering identity theft issues facing Black communities, said Curtis Howse, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Home & Auto platform at Synchrony. We look forward to collaborating with leading organizations to deepen understanding and develop meaningful programs and solutions. This three-year initiative looks to develop culturally competent identity services in Black communities, including specific identity education and protection programs. The initiative is similar to a program previously funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime that focused on developing identity protection programs for the blind/low vision and deaf/hard of hearing communities. The full executive summary will be published on the ITRCs website idtheftcenter.org at the end of January. Email media@idtheftcenter.org if you would like a copy of the summary once it is published. Anyone who believes they are the victim of an identity crime can contact the ITRC toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-chat on the company website idtheftcenter.org. About the Survey In 2022, the Black Researchers Collective and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) formed a partnership to conduct a national survey to understand identity crime victimization across Black communities in the United States. This survey is part of a larger study that seeks to examine how identity crimes and compromises occur, and how they impact individuals. Findings from the study will be used to develop culturally appropriate victim support services. This is the first study to date that seeks to understand how identities, as articulated by the ITRC, in the Black communities are used, maintained, and protected, and how those identities are recovered or remediated when compromised. The survey used in the initial phase of the study consisted of 39 questions and sought to understand the extent to which households experienced identity theft, the impact it had on their overall finances, and the types of behaviors used to protect their identities. Ultimately, we gathered 167 responses from people who identified as Black from across the United States. We received 99 responses from our convenient sampling approach where the ITRC and their partners disseminated the link to their constituents, and received 68 responses using our snowball sampling approach that consisted of various community-based organizations across the nation sharing the survey link with their intended audiences and their audiences sharing it with their networks as well. About the Identity Theft Resource Center Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chat idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities. Media Contact Identity Theft Resource Center Alex Achten Director of Communications & Media Relations 888.400.5530 Ext. 3611 media@idtheftcenter.org Matt Burgan, Founder of INFINITAS Realty Im thrilled to raise the bar in the real estate industry and make much-needed changes for the better INFINITAS Realty today announced its partnership with Side, the only real estate technology company that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to transform them into market-leading boutique brands. The alliance will ensure that INFINITAS Realtys future-proofed services are powered by the industrys most advanced platform. Set far apart from the typical agent, INFINITAS Realty founder Matt Burgan boasts a military and government background that he leverages to enhance his real estate business. Featuring evolved executive abilities, critical thinking skills, and unmatched client dedication, Burgan has been ranked as the No. 1 REALTOR in the market area by the Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS (SMAR) and is acknowledged in both the SMAR and Maryland Association of REALTORS halls of fame. Averaging over 100 transactions a year and featuring over $500 million in sales over the span of his career, the Diamond Award-winning agent continues to be recognized as a community icon and national industry leader. INFINITAS Realty, Burgans latest venture, challenges the greater industry to evolve to meet its high standards. Balancing traditional work ethic with advanced technological innovations, the team provides seamless client experiences that are supplemented by its own transaction coordination software, Property Wand, as well as private staging, design, and landscaping services. Partnering with Side will ensure INFINITAS Realty remains on the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while continuing to deliver premium services to its clients. Side works behind the scenes, supporting INFINITAS Realty with a one-of-a-kind brokerage platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, branding and marketing services, public relations, legal support, lead generation, vendor management, infrastructure solutions, and more. Additionally, INFINITAS Realty will join an exclusive group of Side partners, tapping into an expansive network from coast to coast. Im thrilled to raise the bar in the real estate industry and make much-needed changes for the better, Burgan said. With Sides state-of-the-art marketing, technology, administrative, and legal services, I can take my transformative approach to new heights and help more clients actualize their dreams. About INFINITAS Realty INFINITAS Realtys mission-focused, tactical approach enhances the real estate industry with revolutionary services that result in unparalleled client experiences. With all-in-one landscaping and staging support, an around-the-clock work ethic, and a one-of-a-kind software program that tracks transactions in real time, INFINITAS Realty breaks the boundaries of a largely antiquated industry. The team of dedicated agents consistently goes above and beyond to exceed expectations and achieve customers aspirations. For more information, visit http://www.INFINITASrealty.com. About Side Side is a behind-the-scenes brokerage platform that exclusively partners with top-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to create and grow their own boutique brands without the cost, time, or risk of operating a brokerage. Sides proprietary technology platform and premier support solutions empower its agent partners to be more productive, grow their businesses, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.side.com. Integr8, the annual Industry 4.0 conference hosted by Automation Alley, will once again bring together technology and manufacturing leaders from across the globe. The conference, now in its sixth year, will focus on smart manufacturing that promotes agility, resiliency and efficiency. More than 1,000 technology and manufacturing professionals are expected to convene in Novi, Michigan on May 9, 2023 for the day-long conference that will include a smart manufacturing exhibition, a keynote presentation, breakout sessions, tech talks, the return of roundtables and a 3D Printing Pitch Competition, hosted by Michigan Economic Development Corporations Pure Michigan Business Connect. The Fourth Industrial Revolution continues to redefine the way we work and live. Connected, intelligent and transformative, Industry 4.0 innovations are empowering people and businesses across the globe, said Tom Kelly, Automation Alley Executive Director and CEO. Automation Alley's Integr8 conference will create a space for collaboration, exploration, and discovery as we tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges associated with Industry 4.0 and lay the foundations for the innovations of tomorrow. The conference will begin with a keynote speech from Dr. Thomas Schuelke, President of Fraunhofer USA. He will talk about the Fraunhofer model of transatlantic technology transfer through applied research and development as they relate to Industry 4.0 trends, challenges, and solutions during this generational 21st century industrial revolution. Germany-based Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the largest organization for applied research and development services in Europe. With about 29,000 employees worldwide and an annual budget of about 2.8 billion euro, it has had a hand in some of societys most groundbreaking innovations over the past 70-plus years. Dr. Schuelke is a long-time leader in manufacturing change management and has been published in several books and more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific papers as manufacturing has evolved. The phrase Industry 4.0 started in Germany and Im excited to share our Transatlantic model for collaboration and joint development during Integr8 2023, Schuelke said. Manufacturers have the opportunity to ready themselves for the software automated 21st century and Integr8 is where to find the next best industry practice. This year, for the first time since 2019, Integr8 will feature its popular roundtable discussions. These roundtables go beyond networking they allow attendees to exchange ideas, insights and best practices that are leading to technological advances in their manufacturing operations. Topics will include: The Software-first Mindset: Enabling Flexibility, Resiliency & Efficiency Additive Manufacturing Standards: Enabling Global Collaboration, Quality & Trust The Industry 4.0 Workforce: Creating a Culture of Learning, Experimentation & Technology Acceptance The Power of Data: Leveraging Analytics on the Factory Floor The Future of Manufacturing 'As A Service' Supply Chain & Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions Building a Strong Talent Pipeline: Industry & Academic Collaboration Back by popular demand, the 2023 conference will also include a 3D Printing Pitch Competition hosted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC) Pure Michigan Business Connect. The grand prize is a state-of-the-art 3D printer. Details about the competition and an application and more details will be shared soon. Those who would like to attend Integr8 2023 or are interested in exploring sponsorship and speaking opportunities can learn more here. Integr8 is also offering a 20% discount for early registration through Feb. 28. Expo entry is free while the All-Access pass includes the keynote, breakout sessions, roundtables and breakfast and lunch for $159. Those who wish to attend can register here. Media Contact: Brent Snavely 313-378-6082 bsnavely@franco.com The company has already made waves in the tech world, but now its turning its attention toward an equity crowdfunding raise on StartEngine. AtomBeams Compaction software can allow machines to communicate over any network four times faster and 75% cheaper; and with greater security than any other solution in the IoT market. Compaction technology makes IoT satellite communication practical for remote areas for uses that would otherwise simply be too expensive. The company has already made waves in the tech world, but now its turning its attention toward an equity crowdfunding raise on StartEngine. The AtomBeam team wants to share insight on how investors can get a piece of the IoT market. They will be hosting an investor summit to discuss investment opportunities in the IoT industry, their business strategies, and their potential for long-term growth. This event will begin on January 10th at 1:30 PM PST. Interested investors can join in on this discussion. A portion of this event will be dedicated to answering questions about AtomBeams data Compaction software, the industry, and the companys investments. Another section of the event will be focused on answering all of the potential investors questions about the IoT market. Interested parties can register for the event at the link provided and are welcome to participate at their discretion. About Atombeam AtomBeams software can upgrade firmware for machines to communicate over any network four times faster and with increased security than any other solution in the IoT market. BoConcept, the contemporary Danish furniture franchise offering functional and stylish furniture with more than 300 franchise locations in 65 countries, has unveiled its trends for 2023. Celebrating its 70th anniversary this past year, the iconic brand has resonated with consumers for decades. Over the past several years, BoConcept has seen consumers consumption habits change and evolve, giving rise to new trends each season. Since the pandemic, we began rethinking how we live, what we buy and how we buy, said Kalina Todorova, BoConcepts Visual Merchandising Manager. Its become about more conscious consumption and aiming to lead a more balanced life. With consumers living more intentionally, they are looking for more sustainable sources when it comes to their purchase habits. Heres what Todorova identifies as the top four trends for 2023: 1) Tactile Materials Elevate Space Tactile materials, such as boucles, have seen a rise in popularity, which is expected to continue into 2023. As people continue to spend more time at home, they are looking to texture to provide a sense of coziness. Boucles are heavy and textured, which helps people to feel comfortable and cozy at home. BoConcept offers the Auckland Boucle, a chunky boucle fabric made from looped yarn that provides a heavier, more structured take on the bestselling Lazio fabric. And this trend isnt limited to furniture. Rugs and accessories also have an impact on how a space feels, as people are paying more attention to the textures and materials of their home goods. BoConcepts new season accessories provide the ideal finishing touch to any room, ranging from boucle cushions and linen bedspreads to handcrafted ceramics and textured rugs. Best sellers include the Vived Rug, which embraces the color, formation and texture of seagrass, coral and seaweed, as well as the Juliet Rug, which features a tactile combination of jute and wool materials. When it comes to all materials, individuality and customization will be key this year. We believe that a house should always feel like a home, said Todorova. Championing individuality, we aim to inspire you to create a truly personal space. Thats why you can change the size, colors, and materials of almost every BoConcept design. For the New Kollektion, BoConcept is proud to introduce two new materials and three new colorways for its furniture line. 2) Going Organic Designs that feature soft organic curves are a natural way to turn up the sanctuary feel of a space. And curves dont have to mean eye-jarring ornamentation. As a Danish design brand, BoConcept believes curvaceous silhouettes can still retain clean minimalism, making any home visually calming and cohesive. BoConcepts Madrid Side Table is a great example of clean lines and round shapes coming together for a streamlined design with visual softness. Additionally, the Princeton Lounge Chair is a perfectly proportioned design with curves that stands out from the crowd. 3) Heritage and Craftsmanship In 2022, BoConcept celebrated its 70th anniversary. As the brand reflected on its past, it learned that whats old is new again. Consumers are looking for timeless pieces that are handcrafted with excellence. Rustic materiality meets the refinement of the human hand, with works of art paying homage to the past. Consumers can expect to see pieces including considered lines and sustainable materials, creating spaces that are immediately grounding. For example, ceramics, leather and natural wood will be major additions to rooms everywhere. This 2023 trend beckons us to come together in celebration of craftsmanship, said Todorova. Techniques used to create these unique pieces require time, skill and patience and it shows. At BoConcept, the Hauge Dining Table and Dining Chair display details that underline Danish design heritage and craftsmanship while offering elegant, timeless expression. 4) The Home Office With more consumers continuing to work from home, creating a comfortable home office is more important than ever. Balancing form and function, BoConcepts new season home office desk designs have been created to inspire productivity, ensuring they work hard for any space and any working style. The Hamilton Chair is a welcoming design offering all-day sitting comfort, while the Kingston Desks Nordic expression radiates softness to create the perfect working environment. As the brand continues to embrace its commitment to modularity, functionality and uncompromising quality, customers can expect nothing less than the best when shopping at BoConcept in 2023. To shop the current collection, visit https://www.boconcept.com/en-us/. To learn more about franchising with BoConcept, visit https://www.boconcept.com/en-us/franchise. About BoConcept Since opening its first franchise in Paris in 1993, BoConcept has become a global leader in the design of bold, stylish furniture, boasting 300 locations in 65 countries around the world. Founded in Denmark in 1952, BoConcept differentiates itself by offering premium quality, modern designs that elevate interior spaces to achieve their full potential. The company remains focused on creating functional furniture for the urban consumer through partnerships with the worlds leading interior designers. Backed by a proven global concept and strong franchise support system, BoConcepts 18 U.S. locations include a flagship store, which opened in December 2017 on New York Citys famed Madison Avenue. For more information please visit http://www.boconcept.com. To inquire about franchise opportunities, please visit https://www.boconcept.com/en-us/boconcept/franchise. When Mufasa spoke to Simba about the circle of life in The Lion King, I doubt that he realized how applicable the metaphor was to the role of James Bond. Every generation has its own Bond; it's just a practice that's interwoven into the franchise. However, even though Bond actors have come and gone over the years, the essential core of the character has remained untouched. Well, at least, that used to be the case. One of the reasons Daniel Craig's era of Bond became so popular was beautifully the franchise was able to retrofit its conventions to keep pace with modern spy thrillers. It's easy to forget, but post Bourne Identity, many fans believed that Bond's exploding pens and rocket shoes were a bit too silly to work in modernity. Craig's grounded version of the character served as a perfect seachange that carried Bond into the 21st century. Now that Craig has left the role, the Bond franchise desperately needs another rebrand for the modern era. According to AVClub, Bond producers believe that Aaron Taylor-Johnson might be the man to help them in Bond's inevitable repackaging. Having just watched Taylor-Johnson in Bullet Train, I'd say that he definitely has the goods to play 007. Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, today announced that Steven Tran has joined the firm as a partner in its Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups in Singapore. His arrival further strengthens and deepens the firms Asia and global private equity offerings. Morrison Foerster is ranked in Band 1 for Private Equity in the latest edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific. Trans addition also highlights the continued expansion of Morrison Foersters global private equity capabilities in recent years. The firm has added 20 private equity partners globally since 2019 through lateral additions and promotions. Tran has extensive experience advising global and Asia-based private equity funds and their portfolio companies, as well as multinational corporations operating in the Asia-Pacific region, on their complex cross-border private equity and M&A transactions. He counsels clients across a wide range of sectors, including consumer, technology, real estate, professional services, and manufacturing. Steve is a highly regarded private equity and M&A practitioner in the region. He is a fantastic addition to our private equity team in Singapore at a time when we continue to see strong demand from clients for private equity advice with a Southeast Asia nexus, said Marcia Ellis, global chair of Morrison Foersters Private Equity Group. Steves extensive experience advising on multi-jurisdictional transactions across the Asia-Pacific region is highly synergistic with our clients needs, and his in-depth knowledge of multiple sectors will further deepen our private equity and M&A offering in Singapore. Some of Trans representative matters include advising a Southeast Asian sovereign wealth fund on its commercial and residential real estate co-investment in Vietnam; a global private equity fund on its proposed acquisition of a Singapore fintech company; Tricor Group, a former portfolio company of Permira, on the restructuring of its Vietnam and Thailand operations, and its acquisitions of Richful Deyong, Madison Pacific Group, and a Japanese business services company; and the founder of Hop Lun Group, an international fashion lingerie and swimwear company with operations in Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, and Hong Kong, on his sale of a controlling stake to Platinum Equity. Morrison Foersters stellar reputation across Asia and the caliber of its exceptional global private equity platform were major draws for me, and will provide tremendous opportunities for supporting my clients, said Tran. I am thrilled to join the firms dynamic Singapore office, and to work with my new colleagues in Asia, and globally, to advise our clients on their most complex multi-jurisdictional private equity and M&A transactions. Morrison Foersters Singapore office, one of the firms five offices in Asia, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. In the last decade, our Southeast Asia hub, led by office managing partner Shirin Tang, has grown significantly and now hosts 25 lawyers who advise clients on acquisition finance and leveraged buy-outs, cross-border M&A, data privacy and cybersecurity, dispute resolution, including arbitration and litigation, energy, infrastructure, and project finance, FCPA and other anti-corruption laws, fintech and e-commerce, fund formation, insurance, investigations and regulatory compliance, private equity, real estate, strategic alliances and joint ventures, and venture capital, start-ups, and emerging companies. Leading legal directory The Legal 500 named Morrison Foerster Law Firm of the Year - Singapore in 2020 and 2021. Tran earned his LL.B. and B.A. from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and is admitted to practice in New South Wales, Hong Kong, and England and Wales. He is fluent in English, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Tran previously practiced in Hong Kong and Sydney and spent four years in Tokyo, where he helped establish and develop the Japan corporate practice of another global law firm. ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firms commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster was recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyers 2021 and 2022 A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment. For more information, visit http://www.mofo.com. Its a win-win for the industry and for patients who will finally get care more quickly. XFERALL (pronounced "Transfer-All"), the nation's leading patient transfer platform, announced today it is expanding into the state of New Jersey. The first-of-its-kind technology platform and app allows first responders and hospitals to broadcast a request to nearby facilities for patients requiring transfers. Facilities that have appropriate resources to admit the patient can instantaneously accept the transfer. Five New Jersey behavioral health organizations will be included in the initial state launch. Hampton Behavioral Health Center and Summit Oaks Hospital will receive patient transfer requests. The other three facilities are screening and placement agencies that will complete assessments for patients with a behavioral health crisis and then use XFERALL to expedite patient placement and transfers. All receiving behavioral health hospitals in New Jersey will be able to receive a transfer request via the XFERALL portal. XFERALL's New Jersey launch comes when hospitals throughout the nation face a growing crisis known as emergency department boarding. Patients, particularly those presenting with suicidal risk factors or other behavioral health crises, enter the ER and wait days or even weeks before hospital staff can locate an appropriate facility to admit them. This is an important step in XFERALLs growth, as well as a crucial development in our industry as we seek to minimize the impact of overcrowding, staffing shortages, and outdated systems, said Nathan Read, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at XFERALL. XFERALL will help New Jersey hospitals more rapidly find resources for hard-to-place patients. Meanwhile, those facilities admitting patients will optimize their intake operations to respond more quickly to patients in need of services at their facility. Its a win-win for the industry and for patients who will finally get care more quickly. Hundreds of hospitals, public safety programs, and mobile crisis teams already use XFERALL. Facilities focused on behavioral health or those with inpatient psychiatric units have been among the most prolific users of the XFERALL system because of a nationwide shortage of inpatient behavioral health programs. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital emergency department wait times for children and adolescents seeking mental health treatment were climbing, according to an April 2021 study in "Pediatrics." Between 2005 and 2015, the number of childrens emergency department mental health visits lasting more than 6 hours increased from 16.3% to 24.6%. The current state of our industry requires every facility to dedicate resources to expedite patient care. With XFERALL, we can support the well-being of individuals, families, and organizations by expediting inbound transfers, added Craig Hilton, CEO at Hampton Behavioral Health Center. We can help more people as they navigate difficult times in their lives. XFERALLs platform eliminates the need for repetitive, time-consuming steps used by transferring facilities to identify available beds, resources, and clinically appropriate staff to accept patient transfers. These facilities can communicate directly with receiving facilities through the XFERALL app, and as a result, clinicians can focus more on patient care, and patients get the essential care they need more quickly. Healthcare facilities that use XFERALL have seen an 86% reduction in time spent locating a facility to accept a patient transfer. In addition, facilities save an average of 133 minutes per patient transfer by eliminating faxing and phone calls to find an available provider for a patient. Hampton Behavioral Health Center offers inpatient and outpatient treatment at two locations, with specialized programs for adolescents, adults, and seniors, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder treatment, with a dual program for behavioral issues and chemical dependency. Summit Oaks Hospital, also part of the initial launch in New Jersey, is one of the state's longest-standing mental health and substance use treatment facilities. For media inquiries, including interview requests, please contact Meieli Sawyer at (305) 668-0070 or msawyer@weinbachgroup.com. For more information about XFERALL, visit http://www.xferall.com or contact the XFERALL team at sales@xferall.com to request a personal demo. About XFERALL XFERALL is an innovative startup that has developed a groundbreaking smartphone app to streamline the process of transferring high-acuity and high-risk patients. XFERALL was formed in Austin, Texas, by professionals with more than 75 years of combined experience designing, developing, implementing, maintaining, and utilizing innovative healthcare IT systems to enhance the quality of care for patient populations. My goal for the book is to help people regain their quality of life and move out of pain; guiding individuals to return to everyday life with minimal discomfort Chronic back pain can be a bad link to dependence on opioids, anxiety, depression and a reduced overall quality of life according to a study done by the CDC. That same study showed that 28% of all adults in the U.S. suffer from various levels of back pain. Anna Eshoo, a certified yoga therapist, has had personal experience with lower back pain and multiple surgeries that motivated her to put her knowledge down on paper in the form of Yoga: A Journey into a Healthy Spine. Not only did I want to learn to heal myself, but I also wanted to help others to heal, Eshoo said. Eshoo wrote the book to explain in detail, without overwhelming the reader, about the anatomy, functions, and dysfunctions of the lumbar and sacral (lower back) regions of the spine. By providing a guide to understanding the basic anatomy of the lower back and whole-body integration, Eshoo incorporates breathing, meditation and therapeutic techniques to help readers restore strength and mobility to live comfortable, healthy lives. My goal for the book is to help people regain their quality of life and move out of pain; guiding individuals to return to everyday life with minimal discomfort, Eshoo said. Yoga: A Journey into a Healthy Spine By Anna Eshoo ISBN: 9798765226766 (softcover); 9798765226773 (electronic) Available at BalboaPress, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Anna Eshoo is a yoga therapist who specializes in lower back care. Annas personal experiences with lower back surgeries have given her the insight and empathy needed for her therapeutic work with clients and yoga students. She believes in the importance of whole-body wellness, and the healing process of mind, body, and spirit. Annas passion for yoga gave her the drive to create I AM YOGA Wellness Studio in Turlock, Calif. Anna received her MBA from California State University, Stanislaus, and is a member of Yoga Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists (CIAYT). To learn more, please visit https://www.iamyogastudio.com/vision. Apply Today! Cloud Girls Rising Awards We created The Cloud Girls Rising Awards to spotlight women who are leading initiatives to educate, inspire and advance all women in technology. Jo Peterson, founder of Cloud Girls and VP of Cloud & Security Services at Clarify360 Cloud Girls, a not-for-profit community of female thought leaders in cloud and next-gen technology, announced today that nominations are open for the eighth annual Cloud Girls Rising: Women to Watch Awards. These awards recognize women at all stages of their careers who are driving initiatives to educate, inspire, and elevate women and girls in technology. Nominations are being accepted now through February 14, 2023. Visit https://cloudgirls.org/2023-cloud-girls-awards/ to apply. The Cloud Girls Rising Awards will be given to women who have demonstrated innovation, thought leadership, and proactive solution development in the cloud and next-gen technology space in 2022. Awards will be given in three categories: Rising Star: A female up-and-comer in the cloud community who has shown initiative in advancing cloud and next-generation technology solutions for her organization, customers, and the industry. Trailblazer: A seasoned female technology veteran who is paving the way for her organization, customers, and industry in advancing cloud and next-generation technology solutions. They are recognized as role models and mentors to colleagues and others at work and in their community. Visionary: A female leader who has demonstrated innovation in recognizing where the cloud and next-gen tech market is headed and is leading the ecosystem toward that vision. A Visionary is a groundbreaker, willing to take risks with strategic insight into whats possible. Cloud Girls mission is to raise the collective voice and visibility of women in technology, said Jo Peterson, founder of Cloud Girls and vice president of cloud & security services at Clarify360. We created The Cloud Girls Rising: Women to Watch Awards to spotlight women influencers in the cloud and next-gen technology who are building tables and leading initiatives to educate, inspire and advance all women in technology. The Cloud Girls Rising Awards are open to women working across the spectrum of products, tools, and technologies that make up the cloud and next-gen technology ecosystem. Self-nominations in addition to nominating others are highly encouraged. Eligible nominees are employed in sales, marketing, or engineering roles in the cloud and next-gen technology ecosystem. Visit https://cloudgirls.org/2023-cloud-girls-awards/ to apply. All applications must be submitted by February 14, 2023. Applications will be evaluated by the Cloud Girls Board of Directors and Advisory Council. Winners will receive a complimentary one-year membership to Cloud Girls as well as extensive promotion via Cloud Girls' media and social channels. Winners will be announced at the Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Las Vegas on May 1-4, 2023. Call for nominations issued for the 2023 Prevent Blindness Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, and Rising Visionary Award Collectively, these two awards provide us an opportunity to celebrate contributors who have a long-standing record of public health work related to vision and the eyes, as well as emerging leaders in the area, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, is issuing the call for nominations for the 2023 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, and the fourth annual Rising Visionary Award. Both awards will be formally presented at the 12th Annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit, on July 12-13, 2023. A volunteer committee will review all nominations and select the award recipients. The submission deadline for both awards is Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at noon ET. The recipients or representatives (if a group or organization) must be available to present (virtually) at the 2023 Focus on Eye Health National Summit. The Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health recognizes an individual, group, or organization that has made a significant contribution to the field of public health and vision and eye health at the community, state, national, and/or international level. The highest honor that Prevent Blindness bestows, the award is a tribute to Jenny Pomeroy, who was the CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia from 1996 until 2013, and an accomplished leader in advancing public health and policy for vision and eye health issues. The recipient of the 2022 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health was VOSH/International, a volunteer-based organization. Past award recipients include R.V. Paul Chan, MD, MSc, MBA, FACS, Professor and Head, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The John H. Panton, MD Professor of Ophthalmology, Director, Pediatric Retina and ROP Service at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC); the Childrens Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) at West Virginia University (2020); Cynthia Owsley, PhD, MSPH, Nathan E. Miles Chair of Ophthalmology and Director of the Clinical Research Unit at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (2019); the Johns Hopkins University School-Based Eye Care Team (2018); John E. Crews, DPA, retired from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017); Bruce Moore, OD, retired from the New England College of Optometry (2016); and Richard T. Bunner, retired from the Ohio Department of Public Health (2015). The fourth annual Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award is presented annually to a student or resident in a health-related field who submits the best overall application and essay addressing the 2023 Focus on Eye Health Summit theme, Why the Eye? The 2022 Rising Visionary Award co-recipients were Marissa K. Shoji, MD, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Hursuong Vongsachang, MD, MPH, Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Other past recipients include Shervonne Poleon, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB); and Araba Otoo, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and graduate from The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Collectively, these two awards provide us an opportunity to celebrate contributors who have a long-standing record of public health work related to vision and the eyes, as well as emerging leaders in the area, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. We strongly encourage all those who have created positive change in this area to submit nominations today for our Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, or Rising Visionary Award, to be recognized for their sight-saving efforts. For more information on the Prevent Blindness Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health, please visit https://preventblindness.org/jenny-pomeroy-award-for-excellence-in-vision-and-public-health/. Information on the Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award may be found at https://preventblindness.org/rising-visionary-award/. Or contact Nita Sinha, director of Public Health, at npatelsinha@preventblindness.org. About Prevent Blindness Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, visit us at preventblindness.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. ### Quantiphi Wins Inc.s 2022 Best in Business Award in the Established Excellence: 5-14 Years Business Category We believe that AI combined with human acumen can meaningfully improve peoples lives and help address some of the worlds most pressing challenges - Asif Hasan, Co-founder, Quantiphi Quantiphi, an AI-first digital engineering company, today announced that it has been named a winner in Inc.s 2022 Best in Business List under the established excellence: 5-14 years business category. Quantiphi is recognized for its achievements and contributions towards harnessing the transformative powers of data, cloud, and trustworthy AI for social good. The list recognizes the most dynamic companies of all sizes and industries that have had a remarkable influence on their communities, their industries, the environment, or society as a whole. The recognition from Inc. is a testament to Quantiphis mission-driven culture and its passion to apply AI for the social good. We believe that AI combined with human acumen can meaningfully improve peoples lives and help address some of the worlds most pressing challenges, said Asif Hasan, Co-founder, Quantiphi. This award is a testament to the transformative work we have been doing for customers and for the social good by leveraging the transformative powers of data, cloud, and AI. Our partnership with industry-leading technology providers empowers us to make a positive impact on society. Inc.s editors reviewed Quantiphis achievements over the years and noted how they made a positive difference in the world. Social and environmental consciousness is at the heart of everything Quantiphi aims to accomplish. Quantiphi, as an organization, understands its responsibility towards society and the environment and pledges to build a technologically advanced, environmentally concerned, and socially sound community. Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc., says, Inc. magazine is dedicated to showcasing the worlds most dynamic businesses and the great things they do. The Best in Business awards shine a light on the businesses that have gone above and beyond their original mission to make a social, environmental or economic impact, benefiting those around them. Quantiphi was previously awarded Social Impact Partner of the year by Google Cloud for applying AI for social good and working with not-for-profit organizations, education, and healthcare institutions. In an effort to nurture its efforts in conserving the environment and making a social impact with AI, Quantiphi has: Launched Quantiphis Women Education and Empowerment Network (QWEEN) Program in collaboration with Smile Foundation to support talented young women with their undergraduate education. Partnered with Arbor Day Foundation in the United States to help plant over 30,000+ trees in the Klamath National Forest, USA in the past 7 months. Collaborated with one of the largest nonprofit public health organizations dedicated to tobacco cessation to examine the correlation between the rise of tobacco use in young adults and its presence in popular media. Built a machine learning-powered solution in partnership with a leading academic health institution to assist physicians in diagnosing life-threatening clots in the human brain with increased accuracy and speed. Developed and deployed a Rapid Response Virtual Agent to help a US state agency assist citizens' inquiries around the unemployment benefits claims during the peak of the pandemic addressing over 3.2 million inquiries in the very first 2 weeks of implementation. Partnered with a large, multi-state non-profit health system to automate the process of tagging cancer recurrence in patients. About INC. The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. About Quantiphi Quantiphi is an award-winning AI-first digital engineering company driven by the desire to reimagine and realize transformational opportunities at the heart of the business. Quantiphi solves the toughest and most complex business problems by combining deep industry experience, disciplined cloud, and data-engineering practices, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence research to achieve quantifiable business impact at unprecedented speed. We are passionate about our customers and obsessed with problem-solving to make products smarter, customer experiences frictionless, processes autonomous and businesses safer by detecting risks, threats, and anomalies. Together with partners and customers, we embark on a data and AI-led transformation journey that delivers impactful and measurable results. For more on Quantiphis capabilities, visit http://www.quantiphi.com Richard J. Valladares, administrative shareholder of the Atlanta office and chair of the Atlanta Business Litigation Practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, was appointed to represent Georgias 6th Congressional District of the State Board of Education (SBOE) by Governor Brian Kemp. The SBOEs mission is to provide the statewide leadership necessary to ensure the opportunity for success of each public school student. Members of the board work to create an environment in which local schools and systems are empowered to develop policies and programs that meet the educational needs of their students, that support teachers, and that involve parents and communities in the education process. Valladares, one of two appointments to the SBOE, will be sworn in by Governor Kemp in January. I am very much looking forward to serving the people of Georgia on the State Board of Education, Valladares said. It is an exciting opportunity to create and support initiatives that make and keep our schools successful in their vital capacity of educating our children. In addition to serving the SBOE, Valladares serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission since 2021 after his appointment by Gov. Kemp. Valladares has experience in numerous areas of litigation, including complex business litigation, government law, cyber-breach, class action, construction litigation, products liability, and insurance coverage litigation. Valladares represents a wide array of clients including but not limited to Fortune 500 companies, auto manufacturers, city and state governments, and insurance companies. About Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice includes a team of more than 600 attorneys. The firms trial lawyers regularly appear in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as in appellate courts and before international arbitration panels. They work closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategy that best fits a litigation cost and proficiency model appropriate to the clients unique needs and goals. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Atlanta: Greenberg Traurig's Atlanta office offers clients the local capabilities and wide-ranging experience of more than 100 attorneys, supported by the resources and reach of the firm's global platform. The firm's collaborative culture is reflected by attorneys who serve their clients with a combination of legal and business skills that are vital in today's competitive, global environment. Greenberg Traurig's Atlanta team brings a practical approach to the representation of our clients. Well, that was fast. For the last handful of months, the only coverage we've seen about Netflix shows was related to their success. Last year, Stranger Things season four became the focal point of the internet for a while. Eventually, the Duffer Brothers' 80s nostalgia-laden horror series passed the baton to Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story and eventually to Wednesday in the subsequent months. It was beginning to seem like Netflix was incapable of producing a show that didn't cause the internet to bow in a collective act of genuflection. During Netflix's 2022 blitz of amazing content, they released a trailer for 1899, which looked like a promising series. When I covered the trailer a few months back, I gushed about the gorgeous visuals and talked about how I couldn't wait to dig into the series. Sadly, according to Variety, Netflix has decided to pull the plug on 1899 after a single season. While cruise ship operators may get angry at their Captains and crew for stopping to help, it sounds like passengers are usually just fine with interrupting their vacations to help migrants who may otherwise be lost at sea. It may seem counterintuitive to those in the United States, but we still have it far better than others, even with our Congress disarray and a horde of Christian fascists mucking up the system. Orlando Sentinel: The refugees were among the latest arrivals of hundreds seeking new lives after reaching the Florida Keys over the last several days. Overall, an estimated 300 migrants arrived at the sparsely populated Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 miles west of Key West. Another 160 arrived by boat in other parts of the Keys over the weekend. On Monday, about 30 people in two groups were found in the Middle Keys. Once the migrants were rescued from their drifting craft by the Celebration on Monday, they were taken into custody by the U.S. Coast Guard offshore, said Carnival spokesman Matt Lupoli in a statement sent to the Sun Sentinel. "The crew on board Carnival Celebration spotted five people in distress on a small vessel 25 nautical miles northwest of Cuba Monday and, as is customary, stopped to help them," he said. "After rescuing the five people adrift at sea, the ship's crew coordinated with United States Coast Guard officials and rendezvoused with them near Key West." For the 45 years he was on the music scene, the keyboardist, composer, and bandleader known as Sun Ra (1914-93) was one of the most original and iconoclastic Black artists of the 20th century. And if his musical legacy isnt enough, Sun Ra was also a visual artist, which is the subject of the new book Sun Ra: Art on Saturn: The Album Cover Art of Sun Ras Saturn Label co-edited by Chris Reisman and Irwin Chusid. The book is out now from Fantagraphics. Best known as a jazz bandleader and composer, Sun Ra was also an experimentalist whose musical works ranged across the entire history of Jazz and beyond. Sun Ra albums such as Space is the Place, The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vols. 1-2, and Cosmos, encompassed musical styles from New Orleans, swing, bebop, R&B, blues, the avant-garde and electronica. His eclectic range, along with his outer space-inspired wardrobe and cosmic philosophies, exemplified the tenets of Afrocentrismworld history from the perspective of African peoplesand helped give birth to Afrofuturism, an aesthetic vision of the African diaspora and its relationship to science, technology and the future. An independent artist for his whole career, Sun Ra controlled every aspect of his business, which included creating his own art for LP album covers and record labels (including artwork by members of his band, the Arkestra), which over the years have become valuable sought-after artifacts by record collectors and art enthusiasts. Reisman is a record collector and Chusid, exclusive administrator for Sun Ra, LLC., is a Hoboken, N.J.-based journalist, author, WFMU-FM radio host, music producer, and self-described landmark preservationist. PW talked with Chusid about working with the Sun Ra estate, Sun Ras visual art, and the making of this book. Publishers Weekly: Describe how you came into Sun Ras orbit. Irwin Chusid: I got involved through a very circuitous chain of events. It wasnt a job I sought. I didn't know that much about Sun Ra in 2013. [His music] had strange electronics, a kind of screeching, saxophone jazz. But on the other hand, there was a lot of stuff that I'd heard that was very likable and very creative. I have a good friend, Michael Anderson, who also lives in New Jersey, and has the foremost collection of Sun Ra tapes. I've known Michael since 1992. He played in Ras Arkestra, lived in Ras house in Germantown, Philadelphia, and he was Ras tape librarian. But he was not a businessman. So, Anderson came to me and said he needed a manager, because he was having some issues with people who werent paying him: a lot of predators, miscreants and frauds, people claiming they own things that they didn't. I didnt know what I was getting myself involved with. I eventually met the heirs of Ras estate; his lawful heirs were identified after a lengthy probate process in Jefferson County, Alabama, where Ra died intestate. They were the rights owners for Ra's publishing and recordings. I came to represent the family and undertook legal action against several unlawful claimants. So, at that point in 2014, I became the administrator of Sun Ra, LLC. I was the bridge between the family, who were the rights holders, and Michael, the tape archivist. Tell us about another key figure in Sun Ras history, his Chicago-based business partner, Alton Abraham (1927-1999). In the late 40s, Ra, who was known as Herman Sonny Blount at that time, was based in Chicago. He did arrangements for big bands, taught vocal techniques to doo-wop groups, played piano for Fletcher Henderson's big band, and put together his own ensembles, which were early versions of his Arkestra. He was attracting a following among musicians, but it was all word-of-mouth. And at some point, in the early 1950s, he met with Abraham, who was a radiologist and an entrepreneur. He and Sonny were kindred spirits. They were conversant in religion and religious philosophy, spiritualism and the cosmos, and they were also interested in interplanetary travel. Abraham really was the business guy, and Sonny, who had changed his namefirst to Le Sony'r Ra and eventually to Sun Rawas the musical genius. They formed Saturn Records, and Abraham was pivotal in helping Sun Ra get a foothold in the music business and managing his business affairs. Tell us about the origins of this book. There were two stages. In the first stage, I thought that the Saturn recordings that Abraham issued between 1957 and the 1970s were really interesting and would make an interesting book. So, I pitched it to publisher Gary Groth of Fantagraphics back in 2016. Ive done work with them before: I was told by the publisher that the book was a little out of their range. At that point, I did nothing. I didnt know if I could really do this. There were only about maybe 40, maybe 45 covers that were printed. I thought there wasnt that much material and postponed the project indefinitely. In the second stage, I was contacted by a guy named Chris Reisman from Hudson Valley Vinyl, up in Beacon, New York in 2019. He said, I really want to do an album covers book. I said, well, I don't think there's enough art. And he said, what about the hand-made covers? And I said, what hand-made covers? I was not aware that there were countless covers of some of our records from the 1970s. After they stopped printing covers, they started doing them by hand. And he started showing me samples so I said if you can help me with this book, you'll be the co-editor. Chris really sought out the collectors and helped me get scans of these covers. Now, we had a lot of material and Fantagraphics became more interested. That was the origin of the book. What was Sun Ras motivation to do this artwork? He needed money, and he determined that the quickest way to generate immediate income was to press new records faster than Abraham could produce them in Chicago. These records would have blank sleeves, and rather than have someone design an official cover, and title and compile the information, the quickest way was to [put the records into] these generic sleeves, get the band together in the kitchen, or whatever, with a bunch of markers and photographs, and just do arts and crafts. They could produce these handmade covers assembly-line style. So now they had a pile of records with homemade covers. Ra knew they could sell, because they had a built-in market at his concerts and in local record shops. Talk about how this book augments and amplifies Sun Ras impact on Afrofuturism. Sun Ra never heard the term Afrofuturism in his life. That term is a neologism that was coined by writer Mark Dery, in the year 1993, the year that Sun Ra died. But it describes an aesthetic. It describes a vision, and it describes a philosophy that certainly applies to Sun Ra. Clarification: The phrasing of some of Irwin Chusid's responses in an earlier version of this interview have been clarified. The analyst calculates 2023 global content expenditure will increase by just 2% year-on-year, a figure in stark contrast to 2022 during which global content spend is projected to have grown by 6% to $238 billion, driven primarily by subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms. this said Ampere was more impressive given that despite some degree of caution in the second half of the year, SVOD services collectively spent over $26 billion on original content in 2022.Overall, Ampere believes that economic headwinds across the globe will put pressure on household spending and advertising investment, leading companies to implement cost-saving measures and reduce content expenditure. It noted that following Netflixs first global decline in subscribers, the service announced it would plateau its investment in content during 2023.Content investment by commercial and public broadcasters continues is expected to stay below pre-pandemic levels, driven by declines in broadcast TV advertising revenue stemming from wider economic weakness and the ongoing shift of audiences to streaming platforms. In 2023, commercial broadcasters are expected to face a 3% decline in content investment.Yet such downward pressures would not be universal with some players actually continuing to drive investment through 2023, while others cut back. For example, Warner Bros. Discovery is projected to overtake Comcast to become the leading investors in original content. This will likely comprise Disney spending $10.5 billion and Warner Bros. Discovery exceeding $9.5 billion. Netflix will continue to lead dedicated SVOD spend, contributing over 25% of global SVOD original content investment.SVOD services will still see an increase in total content investment in 2023 but a lesser 8% year-on-year growth compared to 25% in 2022, said Ampere Analysis research manager Hannah Walsh. Services will continue to focus on original content to compete in a crowded, cost-sensitive market, but we are already seeing a shift in content commissioning to incorporate a greater volume of cheaper unscripted formats. Rauschs career started in sound design in live theatre, TV and film where he received awards for his work. He continued to develop his skills in post technology, both in engineering design and in production management and he also has a set of Apple certifications among other achievements. The result says Elements is an extensive and rounded experience in media production workflows.Rausch will be based in New York City and as well as providing architecture and engineering skills, his new role will see him will also support the sales process of the Elements centralised media platform.To be really useful, media technology must be extremely flexible, powerful and agile, but also virtually transparent to the creative user, he said commenting on his role. We talk here about human-centred storage, but that is more than just a marketing catchphrase: I truly believe in it as a philosophyIt is the creative process that drives the workflow, and I look forward to helping the post industry to create and enhance collaborative media workflows.In a fiercely competitive market like post-production, it is really important to have the most flexible functionality on top of fast, secure storage, added Elements CEO Andre Kamps.And it is even more important to ensure our clients and potential purchasers understand how they can use our tools to create the workflows that will best deliver for them. Nathan is going to be a great asset for our company. He understands the market and how to tackle practical processes and workflows and can put the best solutions into practice. As we see demand continuing to grow in the Americas, it is great to have him on our team. When the Portuguese electric power grid needs more electricity, a large multinational power company releases millions of gallons of water from a dammed reservoir. Start the New Year with Marcel, the "partial shell" with shoes and a face, in their 2022 documentary story-telling hybrid film debut, the stop-motion comedy-adventure-docu-drama Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. Or, as Marcel characterizes it, "it's like a movie, but nobody has lines, and nobody even knows what it is while they are making it." Marcel's internet fame began unexpectedly in 2010, when the multitalented actor, writer, off-beat, one-liner comedic extraordinaire Jenny Slate and her then partner Dean Fleischer-Camp, created Marcel, the shell with shoes on, an intentional and simultaneously experimental YouTube project from 2010-1014. Marcel is "an adorable 1-inch seashell with one googly eye and a child's tiny, questioning voice (by Slate)." Intentional to the degree that "To create the movie's Marcel the Shell, Dean Fleischer-Camp started studying the science of what humans instinctively find cute." So, is the nurture or nature element of social cuteness? It is difficult to get more familiar and granular than a personalized, intimate documentary, and at the shell angle view closeup and friendly. This film will help start the year with hope, possibility, compassion, and wonder. As well as some clever and cute laughter as insight into the human condition through a talking shell with shoes on. Isabella Rossellini, Rosa Salazar, and Thomas Mann appear with Jenny Slate in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. "Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family. A beloved character gets his big-screen debut in this hilarious and heartwarming story about finding connection in the smallest corners." Here is the marvelously joy-inducing trailer. Like any good documentary, the unpacking and telling of woven narratives and memories, the details of back stories, and the intimate emotions that are revealed impact the actual process of making the film and the narrative arc and endingminor spoiler as an example. The famed investigative CBS news show 60 Minutes plays an important, unexpected role. Marcel is sincere, self-assured, trusting, kind, and inquisitive; he misses his family. The origins of Marcel are as unexpected as the story revealed in the film. As reported in The San Francisco Chronicle in June 2022, "Back in 2010, Slate and Fleischer-Camp were creative and romantic partners (they've since divorced, and Slate has remarried) when they found themselves sharing a cramped hotel room with five male friends to save money while attending a wedding. Slate was feeling low after being fired from "Saturday Night Live" after just one season as a cast member[and] she started talking to the guys in Marcel's quivering and very funny little voice. 'The voice just came out,' she said. 'It was so weird because at 'SNL' I had done every voice I could do to try to get attention, and it just wasn't working. I felt used up, which is really sad to feel. I was being hard on myself, and so I started talking in this little voice. Then, I just kept doing it. It felt refreshing and affirming, being this character.' "It cracked us up," Fleischer-Camp confirmed during a separate interview by phone from Los Angeles. Kalani Faagata / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/04/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Kalani Faagata and Asuelu Pulaa appeared to enjoy a date night recently despite having apparently been broken up for months.Asuelu, 27, took to Instagram Stories on Friday, December 30 and posted a photo with his estranged wife.Asuelu and Kalani were clinking glasses of margaritas at what appeared to be a BBQ restaurant.While fans could only see a woman's arm in the photo, Asuelu tagged Kalani in his post, verifying that she's the person who accompanied him on this outing.Asuelu and Kalani were apparently having a date night without their two kids, Oliver and Kennedy.Kalani went on to conduct a Q&A session with her fans on Monday via Instagram Stories, and when asked to reveal "the new man" in her life, Kalani jokingly replied, "Jesus."Meanwhile, Asuelu conducted a Q&A session at the exact same time on his own Instagram account, and he shared how he's currently living in California.When asked how often he sees his two sons, Asuelu dodged the question and said they were sleeping with him that very evening.While Asuelu and Kalani appear to be playing coy about their current relationship status, they haven't posted about each other on Instagram for a year.Asuelu and Kalani's last post of each other was in January 2022, when they had celebrated Oliver's fourth birthday at Disneyland.Asuelu called Kalani his "wife" in March 2022, but Kalani first sparked breakup rumors in May 2022 when she suggested there was trouble in paradise.Kalani conducted a Q&A session with her followers on Instagram Stories at the time, and a fan asked if she and Asuelu were still together.Kalani replied, "I'll explain at the end of the month," before adding a smiling emoticon and pink hearts.Kalani quickly deleted her post, but a screenshot of her response circulated online.Asuelu fueled the split rumors in June 2022, allowing fans to believe he and Kalani were over and had broken up.Asuelu sparked split rumors last year when he posted what appeared to be a throwback TikTok video of Kalani and himself dancing together. He hinted the pair may have split because they were supposedly no longer talking."Here she is, people keep asking where is ur wife I said idk. She don't wanna join my live, she doesn't want film TikTok with me. She's different from how she used [to be]," Asuelu claimed."She doesn't wanna go out with me, everything she needs I supply for her esp the boys... I have alot to [say] but I can't, I'm under the contract my life is under control... It's hard bcoz I wanna have my own space but she don't, she doesn't want to communicate anymore... hopefully we sell this house very soon so I can go back to work."About a week later, the Samoa native raised eyebrows with cryptic social-media posts about being "single" and trying to remain "strong and positive" during a "hard" time.Asuelu posted a TikTok video of himself dancing shirtless in a driveway and captioned the post, "Even though is hard but I try my best to stay strong and positive. Let's do this together. #behumble #beloved #growup #movedforward."Around that same time, Asuelu also posted a throwback video of himself dancing with Kalani and her sister Kolini Faagata, and he wrote the following cryptic caption: "Some people wondering why I'm not on Pillow Talk. Me cuddling my pillow."For Kalani's part, she was posting sexy photos of herself in lingerie, claiming she was "back into the swing of things."The pair had also listed their Washington, UT, home for sale that same month. It ended up selling in August 2022 for just under $500,000, according to In Touch Weekly.Kalani from Washington, UT, and Asuelu from Utulaelae, Samoa, met in Summer 2016 in Samoa when Asuelu was working at a resort that Kalani was staying at with her father.Asuelu thought she was the "most gorgeous girl on the planet," and then the couple had a surprise pregnancy and applied for the K-1 visa. Asuelu's journey moving to the United States was documented on 's sixth season.During a March 2022 episode of 90 Day Diaries, Kalani and Asuelu were shown working on their marriage after appearing on : Happily Ever After?'s sixth season and spending three years together.Kalani said although COVID-19 had been really tough on her relationship with Asuelu, Asuelu was communicating better and putting more effort into their marriage. They were preparing to move from Utah to California, where Kalani's mother Lisa had moved beforehand.Kalani said she was looking forward to having friends in California and more babysitters so she and Asuelu could have date nights, but she admitted her relationship had some serious ups and downs."I'm so sick of saying everything is good, everything is fine and we're going to end up together -- to just saying, 'Nope, we're going to get a divorce!' I feel like I'm at a breaking point," Kalani lamented to Lisa during her visit to Utah."I'm not going to keep begging him to do things. All of this is up to him, so if he ends up [in California] cool, and if he doesn't, well that's up to him at this point."Asuelu thought their marriage was "good," but Kalani argued that they weren't doing well and she felt like she was raising two children by herself.When Asuelu argued that he often tried to watch the kids alone but got turned down, Kalani countered, "How many times have my kids almost died when you're around?!"Kalani recalled Kennedy getting loose in the parking lot at a pumpkin patch, but Asuelu apparently didn't think that was a big deal.Suddenly, Asuelu said he was done with the talk, and he walked away from his wife swearing."You can't talk about problems, and this is why we fight and this is why it's not going to work," Kalani muttered.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Michael Allio / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/04/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Michael Allio and Danielle Maltby celebrated their first New Year's Eve together in style.Michael and Danielle enjoyed a fancy evening out on December 31, and Danielle posted an Instagram video that captured a montage of sweet moments from their New Year's Eve bash in Chicago, IL, with Danielle's friends."Last NYE looked so different... not the hangover -- that was the same, but I was sitting with the New Year Scaries, scribbling down everything I wanted to call in. Everything I was scared of and eternally hopeful for," Danielle captioned the video earlier this week, which also appears on Michael's account."This year I'm waking up more in love with the man I went to bed laughing with. From here on out I may ask @michael_alliol4 if we can celebrate in Shkago... at the @21chotelchicago every year."Danielle went on to write, "I can't explain it.""People will tell you all sorts of opinions or stories of timing or healing and the truth is it's all a work in progress and you just don't know when things are going to happen... when opportunities arise that can change your world," the neonatal nurse continued.Danielle said while everyone needs "some control" in their lives, she's "learned" something big."If I have learned anything -- it's that the unknown is crazy and intimidating and uncomfortable but there is also magic," Danielle concluded."I think I can speak for Michael here, but we hope you find ways to rekindle yours this year."In a separate post from this past New Year's weekend, Danielle posted photos with Michael, including images of them flirting, embracing and kissing.Danielle looked stunning in a gold sheer dress with her black undergarments visible. She topped the sexy ensemble off with a black coat, a black belt and elbow-length black gloves."Happy New Year and happy hydration to all who participated. Worth the Hangover," Danielle wrote alongside the pictures. "PS -- Sheer dresses are the new ripped jeans for parentals."For his part, Michael uploaded a slideshow of photos with Danielle from their night out at Soho House Chicago.Michael, who wore a black suit, wrote in the caption of his post, "Somethings just get better with age. Happy NEW YEAR."And he added of his girlfriend, "Ps -- she's cute. Edit: she's [fire emoji]."Prior to New Year's Eve, Danielle told BachelorNation.com that she and Michael spent Christmas with his family in Akron, OH, before heading to Wisconsin to enjoy Christmas with her family."Michael and I really want to travel together and spend time making actual memories. So we are starting our travel fund," Danielle shared when asked about a gift exchange. "But I got a little something for him. I think he'll get a bigger kick out of what I made for James for Christmas."On last summer, Michael was romantically interested in Sierra Jackson , but he ultimately determined something was "missing" between them and he was unable to let his walls down for her following the 2019 death of his wife, Laura Ritter-Allio, from breast cancer.But when Danielle -- who lost her fiance Nick Haag to a drug overdose in 2011 -- stepped foot on the Paradise beach in Mexico, Michael seemed ecstatic and affectionately called her "Dani." They had spoken via DMs on Instagram and become friends prior to filming the show but claimed they had never met in person.Michael and Danielle were able to connect quickly over their similar losses and traumas. The pair slowly got to know each other and never expressed interest in dating anyone else on the show.Michael and Danielle chose to leave together as a couple before overnight Fantasy Suites. They both determined they weren't ready to get engaged, especially because Danielle had yet to Michael's young son James.However, Michael revealed on the reunion show in November that James loves Danielle and never wants her to leave when she's visiting. Danielle also confirmed she adores the little boy and can't wait to be a bigger part of his life.Michael also announced on the reunion show that he's "in love" with Danielle and she has changed his life for the better. Danielle is only the second woman whom Michael has ever said, "I love you," to.Danielle shared how she was planning to move to Ohio, where Michael and James live, in order to progress their relationship naturally. However, she noted they aren't going to live under the same roof.And in early December, Michael said Danielle would be leaving Nashville, TN, and making the move in two or three months."Maybe she'll live in Cleveland so James and I will have a little city spot we can go to on the weekends," Michael said in an Instagram Q&A."I'm just so excited. Long distance is difficult, but we've made the best of it and this next chapter and upcoming year is one I am so looking forward to. She's the best!"Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Jenna Johnson / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/04/2023 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. pro Jenna Johnson has revealed that she recently went to the hospital and had a "false alarm" in her pregnancy with her and Val Chmerkovskiy 's first child.Jenna posted a black-and-white photo of herself on a hospital gurney, wearing a hospital gown and knit beanie, on Saturday, December 31 via Instagram Stories."Our little guy is already keeping us on our toes," Jenna, 28, wrote on the image.Jenna was cradling her baby bump in the picture and added, "False alarm but so excited to meet him in the New Year."Jenna and Val, who got married in Spring 2019, announced they have a baby boy on the way in late August 2022.The couple first announced Jenna's pregnancy in July 2022 after two years of struggling with infertility "Our biggest dream come true yet," Jenna wrote on Instagram on July 15. "Baby Chmerkovskiy coming this January! My heart has grown beyond comprehension while growing this little miracle inside of me. We can't wait to meet our precious angel."Jenna also posted a video showing the moment she had discovered -- after taking an at-home pregnancy test -- that she's expecting."The moment my whole world changed. We had actually stopped trying to conceive for about 6 months to mentally/emotionally give ourselves a break... so the shock, disbelief, and sheer joy in this moment is a memory I will never forget," Jenna captioned the video, which showed her celebrating and crying tears of joy."I want to keep this moment very positive because there is so much to celebrate and my heart is overflowing with gratitude, BUT our journey getting to this point wasn't an easy one," Jenna revealed."I remember watching people share these videos and aching because I wished so badly I could experience that joy. After two years of infertility, and hundreds of negative tests after negative tests, it was heart wrenching at times to stay optimistic and made me question whether I would ever have this opportunity."Jenna, who advised women in a similar situation not to lose hope, shared later that month how she and Val already knew the sex of their baby -- even though the public didn't know yet."You guys, @witneycarson got baby their first outfit," Jenna wrote in her Instagram Stories at the time, referring to fellow pro Witney Carson "I can't stop staring at it. I would show you but it will give the gender away hehe. Baby is SO lucky to have the best aunties already!!!"Jenna's disclosure that she had a two-year battle with infertility followed a June 2022 interview in which she had been critical of fans asking her when she was going to have a baby or why she wasn't expanding her family with Val."I think it's a really insensitive question , actually, because... you never know what somebody is going through," the dancer and choreographer told Us a few weeks before announcing her pregnancy."And the amount of DMs and comments -- you know, 'babies on the brain' and 'when are you going to have a baby?' -- it adds pressure but also it's nobody's business," she complained.Jenna said although she is in the public eye, people have "no idea what [she's] gone through.""[People don't know] what we want in the future," Jenna explained, speaking on behalf of Val as well.Meanwhile, Jenna's sister-in-law Peta Murgatroyd , who is married to Val's older brother and alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy , has been trying to conceive Baby No. 2.Peta, who has served as a professional partner on on and off since 2011, broke the news to People last year that she had three miscarriages in two years while trying to give her five-year-old son Shai a sibling.Jenna and Val began dating in 2015 and the Ukrainian native proposed marriage in Venice, Italy, in 2018.Val and Jenna tied the knot on April 13, 2019 in a romantic ceremony overlooking the ocean at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palo Verdes, CA.Prior to joining as a Troupe member and then being promoted to a pro partner for Season 23, Jenna competed as a contestant and All-Star partner on separate seasons of So You Think You Can Dance.Jenna won ' 26th season with Adam Rippon and placed second on the show twice before with Nev Schulman and JoJo Siwa on Seasons 29 and 30, respectively.Jenna did not compete on on Disney+ this past fall so she could focus on her health and the well-being of her baby.Val, however, competed with The Bachelorette 19 star Gabby Windey , and the pair finished as the runner-up couple behind mirrorball trophy champions Charli D'Amelio and pro partner Mark Ballas Kenya Moore is still working to finalize her divorce from Marc Daly. ADVERTISEMENT The 51-year-old "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star gave an update on her divorce during Tuesday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live." When asked when her divorce will be finalized, Moore said "I'm hoping soon." She then called the process "the longest divorce ever," a title which "WWHL" host Andy Cohen said actually belongs to former "The Real Housewives of New York City" star Bethenny Frankel. Moore was also asked to share advice for "The Real Housewives of Potomac" star Ashley Darby, who split from her husband, Michael Darby, in April. "Live your life, girl. Be happy," Moore said. Moore and Daly split in September 2019 after two years of marriage. The pair have one child together, daughter Brooklyn. Moore, who officially filed for divorce in August 2021, said at "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Season 14 reunion in September that her divorce from Daly was at a "standstill." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "He's not asking for anything at this point. It's just at a standstill, so until we get a trial date or settle, it's still going to to continue to go on," she said. "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star airs on Bravo. The series also stars Sheree Whitfield, Kandi Burruss, Drew Sidora, Marlo Hampton and Sanya Richards-Ross. Michelle Obama dropped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Tuesday night to promote her new book, The Light We Carry. ADVERTISEMENT The former first lady answered numerous questions in "The Colbert Questionert," which is intended to help Colbert -- and the audience -- get to know her better on a personal level. She revealed her favorite sandwich is grilled cheese, favorite action movies are Jumanji and Black Panther, admitted she needs to get rid of some of her clothes, said she thinks snakes are the scariest animal and that she doesn't ask celebrities for autographs. When Colbert asked what happens when we die, she replied: "We go to Heaven. Well, I do." "I'll miss you," Colbert quipped. "Think of me. Put in a good word for me." She also said she prefers the window seat on an airplane and her favorite smell is her husband, former president, Barack Obama If she could only pick one song to listen to forever it would be Stevie Wonder's "As" and if she had to describe the rest of her life in five words it would be "Family, friends in the sun." South Carolina state Sen. Tom Davis was arrested over the weekend for public intoxication after police found him slumped over the steering wheel of his car. An incident report described the Republican gentleman as having "extremely slurred speech and an odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his person," according to Yahoo! News. He was also found to be "unsteady on his feet" with "glassy eyes" when asked to step out of his car, whereupon he "almost [fell] back against the side of his vehicle." The Senator's car was fogged up and parked in a Target lot when police approached him around 4am on Sunday. Although earlier reports did not disclose if he spent any time in jail, today he admitted that he was "embarrassed" after spending hours in the Lexington County Detention Center. From Yahoo!: Davis was arrested and ticketed with public intoxication. He was taken to the Lexington County Detention Center and given a $1,000 personal recognizance bond on the condition he show for future court hearings. In his own statement Sunday, Davis apologized about the incident, saying he was "ashamed and embarrassed," and had parked his car after he "recognized he should not be driving" following a New Year's Eve gathering. Davis said he believed the officers' actions were appropriate. "It was consistent with a concern for my safety and the safety of others," he said. "I have no one to blame but myself. I embarrassed myself, I embarrassed my family, I embarrassed my colleagues, and I will try to learn from it and get better." Porterville, CA (93257) Today Overcast. High 68F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. Arts & Entertainment Editor Gena (pronounced Jenna) Mangiaratti has worked for the Brattleboro Reformer since 2018, and became arts editor for Vermont News & Media in 2021. Logo for the Death Cafe movement, "an event where people drink tea, eat cake and discuss death." Staff writer Gordon Dossett recently checked out a Death Cafe in Southern Vermont. Becca Balint stands outside the Brattleboro polling station located at the American Legion during the midterm elections on Nov. 8, 2022. Balint was elected the state's first woman in Congress. Maria Cummins, left, speaks with another mother, Julie Isaacs, at A Place of Inclusion. The group meets every third Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. at Manchester Community Library. You are the owner of this article. A well-known East Buffalo bakery that makes pita bread and flour tortillas is betting that it can make even more dough for its bottom line by expanding its facility so it can bake more dough. Father Sam's Bakery, a longtime staple between the Lovejoy and Broadway-Fillmore neighborhoods, wants to increase the size of its manufacturing and warehouse facility by 44% so it can add a third automated flour tortilla line to its operation. That will boost its production capacity by 40%, while adding 10 full-time and two part-time jobs. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. It also wants to invest in a new computer operating system and other technology so it can better manage its new equipment, systems and its facilities, which also includes a duplicate manufacturing plant in Charlotte, N.C. The company says it has never changed its computer system, so the upgrade is necessary, especially to provide communication between its bakeries. To do so, however, the company - through its Commitment 2000 Inc. - is asking the Erie County Industrial Development Agency for tax breaks totaling more than $420,000, to support the $8.6 million project. Otherwise, it cautions in its application, it may have to expand in North Carolina instead of its original home in Buffalo, where it was founded in 1977 by Father Abuid "Albert" Sam, an Episcopal priest and father of the current president, William Sam. "This expansion is critical to remain a competitive manufacturing company in New York State and the rest of the East Coast where we sell our products," the company wrote in its application. "In the manufacturing business, every penny saved helps to maintain a competitive edge with our competitors." Located at 105 Monsignor Valente Drive, Father Sam's is a third-generation, family-owned bakery that has been making flat breads for over 45 years, mostly on a private-label basis for regional and national customers, but also under its own brand. Customers include Wegmans Food Markets, Tops Friendly Markets, Restaurant Depot, Mighty Taco and 7-Eleven, as well as several national distributors, with 70% of its business outside New York State. The company started after the elder Sam - struggling to make ends meet as a priest at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Cheektowaga - started baking bread in his kitchen, using a family recipe that had been handed down through generations. He began sharing it with parishioners and friends, who convinced him to start producing his bread for sale to the general public. Tops was the first retailer to carry Father Sam's products. The company moved from a garage to the Wurlitzer Building in Tonawanda, but then needed even more space. So it built its current 38,500-square-foot plant on industrial land that it purchased in 1995, added tortillas and wraps to its original pita pocket line, and later opened the 27,000-square-foot Charlotte facility in 2016 to service its southern markets. It currently employs 75 in Buffalo and 45 in Charlotte. "Our Buffalo facility is very well-positioned for our future growth and is our preference for this expansion," the company said, citing a substantial growth opportunity in New York and Canada that could be supported from Buffalo. In the first phase of its proposed expansion, the company wants to build a steel-framed addition of 16,875 square feet, including 12,750 square feet for manufacturing and 4,125 square feet for warehouse space. And it would purchase the machinery for a new "Mega 60" pressed tortilla production line from Lawrence Equipment, through a lease-to-own program with M&T Bank, at a total cost of $5.7 million. The company which operates four tortilla lines right now, between its two facilities makes about 22 million tortillas per month, with about half that produced in Buffalo. So adding a third line will generate another 4.5 million tortilla shells. It also has one pita production line in Buffalo. "Tortillas and wraps are very versatile. Theyve become a staple, much like pizza crusts are in America now," Bill Sam said. "We cross all categories of nationalities. Its just a very suitable product for everyone." The second phase will be the purchase and installation of a business processing and management system, in conjunction with the first phase. It has not yet sought site plan approval for the project, but plans call for starting the work in March 2023, to be completed by year-end and fully operational by the first quarter of 2024. Costs include $1.65 million for the new building addition, $5.66 million for the production line, $520,400 for furniture and equipment, $484,000 for infrastructure work, $225,000 for additional site work and $85,000 in professional fees. Funding will include $7.76 million in bank loans from M&T, $900,000 in company equity and $300,000 in grants - including from the New York Power Authority's Recharge NY, Empire State Development Corp., and National Grid. The company said it is asking the ECIDA for $207,410 in sales tax breaks and $18,750 from mortgage tax breaks, plus an estimated property tax break of $194,055 and possibly a term loan from an affiliate. Without help, it said, the project might not happen here, resulting in "diminished opportunities" in Erie County and New York state, as well as potential job loss. The ECIDA will hold a public hearing on Jan. 17, with written comments accepted through Jan. 24, prior to the agency's board meeting to consider the application. Cambodian authorities have started to dismantle the charred remains of the Grand Diamond City Casino in Poipet to pave the way for new construction, only one week after the massive blaze killed at least 26 people. But the sudden shift from rescue efforts to rebuilding the casino has angered the families of a dozen people who remain missing in the aftermath of the fire and who say not enough has been done to search for their loved ones and investigate the cause of the catastrophe. Sek Sokhom, a spokesperson for Banteay Meanchey province, said Wednesday that authorities found seven safes with cash in them while going through the buildings, but added that no more bodies have been found. "We have fenced the scene and the committee's engineers are dismantling the burned buildings," he said. Relatives say at least three Cambodians and nine Thais are still missing since the fire. Khem Vongs wife Sam Srey Mom is one of those not yet found. He told RFA he is disappointed with how authorities are focusing on the site and securing cash safes before searching for his wife. "I have asked them many times but they said they will wait for their superiors, he said. I don't know what to say. They are prioritizing money over human life. The fire broke out shortly before midnight on Dec. 28 in the casino along Cambodias border with Thailand, injuring nearly 60 people. Thai authorities at the time said that more than 100 people were transferred to the Thai side, but only 34 were admitted for treatment. A view of the fire-damaged Grand Diamond City Casino in Poipet, Cambodia, on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Credit: Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police Facebook Thawatchai Bunseng, a Thai official from Aranyaprathet district across the border from Poipet, said Cambodian authorities are the ones responsible for finding victims, adding that families will suffer without being able to properly bury their loved ones. Cambodia is responsible for the search and safeguarding of the bodies and evidence. Cambodia can resolve the case according to the law but we will wait and see, he told RFA. We can't search for ourselves if they said they stopped searching, it means they stopped. Ny Sokha, president of the NGO Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, said authorities should continue searching for victims and investigate the fire to bring those responsible to justice, adding that it is up to officials to make sure victims' families feel at peace. "[The investigation] is crucial for compensation. At the end of the [investigation] there must be people found to be responsible before compensation can be discussed," he said. Firefighters were only able to douse the blaze by 2 p.m. on Dec. 29, according to a report by the Associated Press. Civil society officials told RFA that the deaths were caused by the negligence of casino owners and relevant authorities who had skirted building codes. One official pointed out that the fire spread rapidly across the complex because it was built using wood, as opposed to concrete. A victim who survived the fire said the casino didnt comply with fire codes. He added that there was no fire alarm inside and too few exits out of the building, which prevented some of the guests from escaping. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Nawar Nemeh. Edited by Josh Lipes. The US military has repeated its assertion that a Chinese pilot performed a dangerous maneuver. The U.S. RC-135 aircraft seen in the PLA-released video. The U.S. military has dismissed Chinas accusation that a U.S. spy plane engaged in dangerous maneuvers against a Chinese Navy fighter jet over the South China Sea on Dec. 21, maintaining that it was the Chinese fighter that caused the two aircraft to nearly collide. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), in an original statement on Dec. 29, said that on Dec. 21, a Chinese J-11 fighter pilot performed an unsafe maneuver during an intercept of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft, forcing the RC-135 to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. INDOPACOM provided a video recorded by the U.S. crew. Three days later, on Jan. 1, the PLA Southern Theater Command released its own version, also supported by a video, saying the U.S. intentionally misled the public and it was the U.S. RC-135 aircraft that abruptly changed its flight attitude and forced the Chinese aircraft to the left. In the latest response to the RFA on Wednesday, INDOPACOM resolutely rejected the PLA version, insisting that the Chinese J-11 was responsible for the near-collision. 3 meters from the wing A U.S. Air Force RC-135 positively identified and observed a Peoples Liberation Army Navy [PLAN] J-11 on Dec. 21 in the South China Sea, said INDOPACOMs Public Affairs department in Camp Smith, Hawaii, in a written reply. It said the U.S. reconnaissance aircraft was conducting routine operations in the international airspace when the PLAN fighter approached the RC-135 and positioned itself approximately 10 feet (3 meters) from the RC-135s wing. According to INDOPACOM, the PLAN aircraft maneuvered toward the front of the RC-135, into a position where it is unlikely the PLAN pilot could maintain a safe visual of the U.S. RC-135. While the RC-135 maintained its course and speed, the PLAN fighter dangerously drifted within 20 feet (6 meters) of the RC-135s nose, forcing the RC-135 to take evasive maneuvers to avoid collision, the Command said. In its version, the PLA Southern Theater Command said the U.S. plane conducted intentional close-in reconnaissance in the vicinity of Chinas southern coastline and the Xisha [Paracel] Islands in the South China Sea, which China controls. The spokesman, Senior Col. Tian Junli, said: During the process, in disregard of repeated warnings from the Chinese pilot, the U.S. aircraft abruptly changed its flight attitude and forced the Chinese aircraft to the left. Tian said the U.S. militarys statement was nothing but slander and speculation. He also accused the U.S. aircraft of violating a U.S.-China Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the rules of behavior for the safety of air and maritime encounters signed in 2015. In the videos released by INDOPACOM and the Chinese military, the PLAN J-11 was seen flying within a very close range of the U.S.s RC-135 aircraft. The J-11 then flew ahead of the RC-135 before drifting even closer to the RC-135. The U.S. aircraft responded by dropping down. Aerial intercepts of less than 500 feet (152 meters) are considered a violation of the 2015 MOU and Chinese aircraft are often caught doing so. In this Aug. 2014 file photo, a Chinese J-11 fighter jet the type involved in the latest incident flies near a U.S. Navy aircraft about 215 kilometers (135 miles) east of China's Hainan Island. Credit: Reuters/U.S. Navy/Handout Buzzing foreign aircraft Flying close extremely close and fast known as buzzing risks mid-air collisions. Chinese fighter jets repeatedly buzzed a Canadian reconnaissance aircraft on a U.N. mission in East Asia, with over two dozen intercepts deemed dangerous, Canadian media reported in June 2022. On these occasions the Chinese jets reportedly came as close as 20 to 100 feet (6 to 30 meters) to the Canadian plane. There have been a number of close encounters between Chinese and foreign military aircraft in recent years. The latest incident took place in March when U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters had at least one close contact with Chinas J-20 stealth fighters over the East China Sea. A U.S. Navy P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft and a Chinese military surveillance aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other in the skies over the South China Sea in 2017. The worst incident occurred in April 2001 when a Chinese F-8 fighter jet collided with a U.S. Navy EP-3 Aries II surveillance plane over the South China Sea, killing the Chinese pilot. The U.S. aircraft had to make an emergency landing on Chinas Hainan island and its 24 crew members were detained for 11 days before being released. UPDATED AT 4:44 p.m. ET on 01-04-2023 Myanmars military rulers ordered the release of 7,012 inmates, including some political prisoners, in an Independence Day amnesty Wednesday. Detainees held in prisons and police stations across the country had their sentences reduced in accordance with Section 401 of the Penal Code, according to junta news releases received by RFA. Wednesday marks the 75th anniversary of the end of British colonial rule and the junta held grand ceremonies to commemorate the event in Yangon, Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw. Lawyers, who wished to remain anonymous, told RFA some political prisoners had already returned to their homes early Wednesday, while families of others were still waiting outside prisons. Minister of Religious Affairs under the National League for Democracy-led government, Thura Aung Ko, was released from Yangons Insein Prison Tuesday night. He had been serving a 12-year sentence for alleged corruption. Police officers and soldiers took him to his home in Yangon, his daughter wrote on her Facebook page. The National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in 2020 elections but the NLD-led government was overthrown in a February, 2021 coup. The junta has arrested many party members along with the countrys ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison, and President Win Myint who faces 12 years behind bars. Neither Suu Kyi nor Win Myint were included in the amnesty. Author Than Myint Aung shortly after her release from Insein Prison, Yangon on Jan. 4, 2023. Credit: RFA Writers freed Among those released from Yangons Insein prison were authors Than Myint Aung and Htin Lin Oo, a Yangon lawyer, who didnt want to be named for safety reasons, told RFA. Than Myint Aung is a well-known fiction writer who also worked for many charities in Myanmar. She had been serving a three-year sentence for alleged incitement. Htin Lin Oo was also sentenced to three years in prison for sedition. Poet Myo Tay Zar Maung, who had been sentenced to two years for sedition, was freed from Yamethin Prison north of Naypyidaw Wednesday. Journalists Kyaw Zeya, Ah Hla Lay Thu Zar, Lway M. Phoung, Pyae Phyo Aung, Sai Ko Ko Tun and Ye Tun Oo were also among those set to be freed as was Naing Ngan Lin, the social affairs minister for Yangon region under the NLD-led government. Thu Zar, who was arrested by the junta in September 2021 and sentenced to two years, described her release as bittersweet. No other journalists have been released from Insein prison. Since many journalists are still in prison, I cant be fully happy with my release, she told RFA. In spite of the Independence Day amnesty, and one on National Day last November, the junta continues to target opposition politicians and real or alleged pro-democracy activists. More than 16,800 have arrested since the coup, according to Thailand-based monitoring group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma). Ahead of Wednesdays amnesty, it said 13,375 political prisoners were still being held. People protest junta rule in Tanintharyi region's Dawei township, Jan. 4, 2023. Credit: RFA Little to celebrate Wednesday's events to mark the diamond jubilee anniversary of Independence Day were substantial, and held under tight security. In Yangon, festive markets and fairs were put on in Shwedagon Pagoda, Peoples Square and Maha Bandula Park in the city center. But several residents of Myanmar's largest city chose to boycott the festivities, telling RFA that national independence means little to a people living under military rule. Both last year and this one, I've been overwhelmed by the idea that our country has not yet truly gained independence," said one Yangon resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal. "I will regard and embrace a day as one of independence only when citizens can go about freely and enjoy full democracy in our country. But for now, I only have a very dim memory of the history of Independence Day that I learned in books. To me, its just another day. An official from the Dagon University Students' Union told RFA that the heavy security presence at Wednesday's anniversary events reflected Myanmar's current state of insecurity and lack of freedom. It seems to me that there is no honor in [junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing] celebrating Independence Day in a festive manner after he robbed the country of its power in a coup," the official said. "No matter how many celebrations [the military leaders] organize, they know that they themselves are not free. The ... many layers of security indicate that the people do not accept them. In his New Year's Day speech, even Min Aung Hlaing admitted that although Myanmar would be celebrating its 75th year of independence on Wednesday, the country had not yet experienced "true independence." Family members greet a man released from prison as part of the junta's general amnesty in Shan state's city of Lashio, Jan. 4, 2023. Credit: RFA Few changes expected in 2023 Political analyst Than Soe Naing noted that only the junta and its followers marked Independence Day with festivities, while the rest of the country's inhabitants chose to mourn the lost of their right to self-determination. Only a few followers of the military rulers received titles awarded by the junta and portrayed today as an Independence Day celebration but, due to the military's aggression throughout the country, the number of refugees from conflict in Myanmar has increased to 1.5 million," he said. "In other words, it is a time when the people of Myanmar have lost their right to enjoy independence and are facing all sorts of problems, and it is also a time when they are choosing to fight back. Anti-junta activists told RFA they have little hope that the rights violations they experienced during the last two years of military rule -- including arrests, killings and the torching of residential homes -- will change in 2023. The junta's plan to hold a general election this year will do little to alter that expectation, they said, because it will be neither be free nor fair. Ahead of Wednesday's celebrations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that if the junta wants to see an independent Myanmar, it should hand power back to the country's people. "Today, Burmas military regime stands in the way of democratic progress and the will of the people," he said. "The military regime must end its violence, release those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and recognize the desire of the people for a genuine and inclusive democracy in Burma." Translated by Myo Min Aung and Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Mike Firn and Joshua Lipes. This story has been updated to include reactions to the junta's general amnesty, expectations for Myanmar in 2023, and a statement by the U.S. Secretary of State. Trolli reflects on authenticity, work-life balance Michele D. Trolli has always been a full-speed-ahead person at work, including with M&T Bank since 2005. But coping with long Covid symptoms led the veteran banker to reach a difficult conclusion: retiring, which she will do in March. "For my entire career, I've known what I was going to do next," Trolli said. "It was very mapped out, I've had a plan. Now, I'm going to force myself not to know what I'm going to do next. "All I know is that I want to continue to mentor, I want to be engaged in the community, and I want to be intellectually stimulated," she said. Trolli's current role with M&T is head of corporate operations and enterprise initiatives. But that is only part of her story with the bank. Trolli was one of the first women named to M&T's management committee, which sets the bank's direction. She's led a variety of business segments, and over a decade ago pushed for investment in mobile banking, at a time when some M&T directors doubted customers would use phones and tablets for transactions. She was a guiding force in big decisions like establishing the tech hub at Seneca One tower, rapidly shifting thousands of employees to remote work when the pandemic hit, and keeping employees connected while working from home. But her biggest impact may not be from any particular project or job. When Trolli recently informed her colleagues she was retiring, she received hundreds of emails, texts and social media posts from men and women, thanking her for her support and contributions. Some of the messages almost brought her to tears. "I've really focused on mentoring and developing people, and I feel great about that, Trolli said. Its not easy for her to step away. After talking to her doctor a couple of months ago, she realized she could keep working, but only if she slowed down. Thats not what she's accustomed to. "If I had to back off on that, I don't think I'd feel good, she said. So she decided to retire, effective March 1. Trolli said she's learned lessons that she wants to share with others. One of is about the importance of finding a work-life balance, which she conceded she learned only recently with her health issues. Trolli said. "Because then I think when they're in the office and when they're giving, they're more healthy." After the pandemic hit, Trolli organized monthly webinars for M&T employees, with presentations by experts from places like the Cleveland Clinic. "I worked very hard to help the organization get through what was a very traumatic period," she said. "That being said, I probably didn't take my own advice." Which leads to another lesson that Trolli learned early on and has stuck to: be authentic. Early in her career, at GE Lighting, Trolli had a mentor who was a woman who gave her some advice. "She told me that I lived in a man's world and I was too feminine and I needed to be not as animated, not smile as much, not wear bows," she said. Trolli tried that for a while. But she soon realized that approach was not making her happy. She chose to be true to herself and be authentic. "When I came to that conclusion, I think my success grew," she said. Trolli is passionate about promoting diversity and opportunities for women. Each year, she would review the promotions made at M&T, and note what percentage of them were women. "In the beginning, it was not great," she said. The numbers improved over time. About five years ago, someone else at the bank did the calculation before she got a chance to, which Trolli found rewarding. "It said that it's important to the entire bank, that diversity is important," she said. "And one of our objectives is to increase diversity at the bank." Diversity, she said, leads to better business results. "If you have eight people at a meeting that all think the same way, you don't need eight people at a meeting, you just need one," she said. "But if you can bring the diversity of thought to a meeting, your solutions are going to be far better." Trolli shared some other reflections: In-person work. M&T has been asking employees to come back to the office more often. Trolli sees great value in that. "WebEx is tremendous for so many reasons," she said. "But it doesn't necessarily allow for that casual, personal, one-on-one conversation that happens in the office." In-person work can help with career advancement, she said. Trolli would advise her younger self that "you want to be in the office to have people see my face and connect and remind people that I'm here, and I'm capable and interested and competent, and I want to be thought of. " M&T's significant growth. "I think that's the secret sauce, being able to maintain that relationship with the customer and with each other while at the same time, being a large bank, and being modern and sophisticated. And I think we're at a good size where we're not so big that that's not possible, and we're not so small that we don't have the capital and the ability to invest. I think we're in a sweet spot." Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up: THE LATEST Catch up on the latest news from the Buffalo Niagara economy: A proposed Elmwood Avenue smoke shop across from a new luxury condominium building is running into some stiff opposition. Across Western New York, health care workers have many stories to tell about how they made it through the blizzard while on the job. Legal marijuana sales launched in the state Thursday but not in Western New York due to a lawsuit that led to an injunction pausing sales here. World Central Kitchen is back to help feed Buffalo's East Side in response to the blizzard that shut down the city for nearly a week. Wells Enterprises will eliminate 183 jobs at its Dunkirk plant, which is less than the 319 employees the company previously planned to lay off. A three-year deal reached ensures Highmark members will continue to have in-network access to care at Catholic Health's facilities. Athenex is closing its Newstead manufacturing plant and laying off all 92 employees as of March 17. Preliminary efforts are underway to prepare for the third phase of the project to redevelop the Northland complex in Buffalo. The state is looking for ideas to redevelop a prison that closed last year in Gowanda. The federal funding needed to get a tech hub program off the ground has been included in a year-end spending bill before Congress. Cost vs. Benefits: That's the trade-off at the center of the state's proposed climate change plan. A development agency is hiring a consultant to come up with ways to improve the infrastructure linking Canalside and the redesigned Centennial Park. The Buffalo Niagara region's sluggish hiring is being driven by a shortage of workers, and local officials are starting to look for ways to ease the crunch. Big changes are coming to the state's energy markets after a plan to reduce harmful emissions was approved by an advisory panel. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Bounce back for Buffalo Niagara economy: The value of all the goods and services produced in the region, which dropped by 3.4% during the pandemic, came roaring back last year, with a 5.3% gain. 2. The Bills make me want to shop: How Buffalo Bills merchandise is flying off shelves this season. 3. How will Western New York's higher education institutions recover from Covid-19? Enrollment at some local schools is holding up, but others are struggling to attract students. 4. New life for old stones: How a Buffalo company is finding new uses for old bricks and stones in construction projects. 5. Big changes are being proposed for the state's energy markets, and it could change the way residents heat their homes and cook their food in the years to come. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week. Opponents say Cavusoglu motivated more by desire to get votes, or over dismay in not getting Chinese loans. Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country will not give in to pressure from China to extradite Uyghurs who have Turkish citizenship, even if it has strained their relationship. Turkish-Chinese ties have suffered over Beijing being disturbed by our attitude on the Turkic Uyghurs issue, Cavusoglu told reporters at a year-end press briefing in Ankara on Dec. 29, according to Turkish media reports. They have extradition requests for people who are our citizens, who live in Turkey all the time. Therefore, we dont grant any such requests, he said. Turkey has been one of the most hospitable countries to Uyghurs, with whom Turks share ethnic, religious and linguistic connections. Roughly 50,000 Uyghurs live in Turkey, forming the largest Uyghur diaspora outside Central Asia. The Turkish government has offered Uyghurs a safe place to live outside northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region, where they face persecution and are subject to human rights violations. In recent years, the Turkish government has been accused of deporting Uyghur dissidents to China via third countries adjacent to Xinjiang, making it easier for Beijing to secure their extradition and possibly put them in re-education camps or prisons. Cavusoglu said reports in past years that Turkey has been sending Uyghurs back to China were total lies. We defend Turkic Uyghurs rights in the international arena, and this disturbs China, he said. But this is a humanitarian issue. Still waiting Cavusoglu cited a report on Uyghurs in Xinjiang issued in late August 2022 by former U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet that said serious human rights violations had been committed in the context of counter-extremism strategies that may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity. We have to react to it, he said about the rights violations detailed in the report. When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a 2019 visit, he raised the treatment of Uyghurs in private talks and accepted an invitation to send a humanitarian delegation to the Xinjiang region to observe how the minority was being treated. But the issue caused friction between the two countries after the Turkish government submitted a request to China outlining where the delegation wanted to visit and whom it wanted to speak with, and Beijing did not respond. Its been five years since Xi proposed this. Why have you been preventing this delegation from visiting for five years, why don't you cooperate? Cavusoglu said, adding that even the Turkish ambassador in Beijing cannot visit Xinjiang. Ulterior motives? Turkish opposition parties say that the foreign ministers words were motivated more by the desire of the ruling AK Party, or Justice and Development Party, to obtain votes than true concern for the Uyghurs. Mevlut Cavusoglus words dont match with reality, said Fahrettin Yokus, deputy of the nationalist Good Party. He is raising the Uyghur issue because their party wanted to get votes in the upcoming election in 2023. Turkish people care about the East Turkistan issue, Yokus said, using Uyghurs preferred name for Xinjiang. Unfortunately, the Turkish government did not take the Uyghur issue seriously. Making this statement now, this honorable foreign minister is attempting to hide their shortcomings. Among the shortcomings are declaring that the government would respect Chinas territorial integrity concerning Xinjiang and closing its eyes to the severe rights violations, including the vast network of internment camps in which an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims were detained, Yokus said. Selcuk Ozdag, deputy leader of Turkeys opposition Future Party, said the government had not expressed its firm stance on the Uyghur issue until now because it had hoped to get a low-interest loan from China and bring more Chinese investment to Turkey. The Turkish foreign minister made this statement because their expectation from China did not materialize, and the election season is approaching very soon, he said. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Edited by Malcolm Foster. The prime minister has ordered an investigation into how the accident happened. The construction site in Thanh Binh district, Dong Thap province, where a 10-year-old boy became trapped in a concrete pillar, in a picture taken on Jan. 2, 2023. UPDATED AT 8:06 a.m. ET ON 01-04-2023 A 10-year old boy who fell into a hollow concrete pillar in Vietnams Dong Thap province has died, Zing News reported Wednesday, citing the provinces Provincial Peoples Committee Vice Chairman Doan Tan Buu. It said rescue teams still plan to pull the pillar from the ground to recover the childs body. Hao Nam had been trapped in the pillar since 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, the Vietnamese online news site reported. Although the construction site had been fenced off with wire, the boy and his friends managed to get in to forage for scrap metal. Hao Nam fell into the 25 centimeter (10 inch) diameter pillar, which had not yet been filled by construction workers, according to the Nhan Dan newspaper. Ho Chi Minh City Ferry Bridge Construction Joint Stock Company and T&T Transport Construction Service Trading Company are building a bridge on the site in Dong Thaps Thanh Binh district. Dong Thap Department of Transport and the provincial Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board are managing the project with the Institute of Transport Science and Technology supervising construction. On Monday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered relevant agencies to focus on rescuing the child. He also asked the Ministry of Construction to coordinate with other ministries to inspect the site for any violations of the law. Vietnamese children playing next to a river. Credit: AFP There have been several accidents involving children on Vietnamese construction sites in recent years. A few weeks ago, rescuers saved a 5-year-old girl who fell into a concrete pit on a site in Dong Nai province. In August 2020, a 7-year-old child fell into an uncovered drain at a Bien Hoa city housing project and died. Construction engineer Nguyen Van Quang told RFA the latest incident should be considered partly the responsibility of the contractor, even though a child not a worker was involved. The contractor is the person who organizes the construction of the work according to the approved design documents. In the process, the company must ensure all aspects of the work, with occupational safety paramount, he said. Letting children into the construction site without barriers is related to occupational safety. Quang said the project consultant also needs to be held responsible because they need to be knowledgeable about the correct safety procedures in order to guide the contractor. Lawyer Dang Dinh Manh told RFA the projects investor should take responsibility: to compensate the [childs] parents if they suffer grief or illness as a result of the incident. Manh said the contractor may also be held criminally liable. The reason is that they have sloppy construction procedures and no measures to ensure the safety of people entering that area, he said. Vietnamese government statistics show that each year, more than 370,000 children on average are injured in accidents, with 15 to 19-year olds the biggest group, followed by 5 to 14-year olds, and the smallest group being 0 to 4-year-olds. This story has been updated to say the boy has died. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Written in English by Mike Firn. BUCHAREST -- The perp walk of influencer Andrew Tate, an online poster child for toxic masculinity, after a raid on his luxury villa outside Bucharest has highlighted the ongoing threat of human trafficking in Romania and the broader region. Investigators allege that four suspects -- purportedly the 36-year-old Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian women -- formed a criminal group to traffic individuals in Romania and other countries, including the United States and Britain. The alleged crimes also include rape. A U.S.-born former kickboxer with British citizenship, Tate has built a multimillion-dollar online brand on the pillars of masculinity, misogyny, and "wealth creation." Following the arrests, a Bucharest court has ordered the suspects to remain in pretrial custody for at least a month. Romania's human- and sex-trafficking problems are unlikely to disappear overnight. While numbers have fallen since the country established a national agency to combat trafficking in people, authorities continue to register around 30 new victims each month. In August 2022, the U.S. State Department credited Romania's government with "significant efforts" but warned it still "does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking." Romanian police allege that the Tate network ensnared British nationals using the "lover boy" method, in which perpetrators woo victims with the prospect of a loving relationship until they can be forced into abusive situations or slavery. RFE/RL's Romanian Service has delved into official data and court testimonies by Romanian trafficking victims to identify several archetypes of people traffickers. It has used pseudonyms for the women to protect their identities. The Internet Predator Andreea was born to a poor family and raised in Alba County, in Romania's historic Transylvania region. She dropped out of school in the second grade and was left in the care of her maternal grandmother soon afterward, when her parents separated and both left in search of opportunity abroad. Years later, as a 20-year-old, Andreea would testify to her desperate search for a job at home before traveling to Britain with the hope of working at a chocolate factory but ending up as a prostitute. She testified in court that her guide into the dark world of human trafficking was a man named Sebastian Z. They "met" on Facebook in December 2020. Within just a few conversations, she said, Sebastian had professed his desire to marry Andreea. But there was one condition: She would have to travel with him to Britain, where he would help her find work. A court psychologist who examined Andreea identified her particular vulnerability as an 18-year-old with little life experience or education. She had no math or reading skills. Sebastian assured her that he loved her and had a special respect for women, she said, and that he would make her happy and protect her. She traveled to Britain in January 2020 without telling anyone in her family. She had little more than the clothes she was wearing and a mobile phone as she traveled by bus to Birmingham and then to Wolverhampton, where her "boyfriend" and a friend of his and his wife had a rented home. She was quickly hustled into prostitution to avoid ending up on the streets. Sebastian created an online alias for her, Andreea said, and "customers would start arriving at 11 in the evening and it would last until about 3 in the morning." After two months, she was able to return to Romania after a family member there fell ill. "He told me if I told anyone or the police, he would come and stick a knife in me and kill me," she testified. But she found the courage to tell her grandmother, who immediately turned to the police. Sebastian Z and her other captors were eventually sentenced to up to four years in prison. Romania's national agency to combat human trafficking says nearly a quarter of all of those who report being trafficked are recruited this way. 'Lover Boy' Since the Tates' arrests, the 19-year-old daughter of a former Romanian legislator has publicly accused them of trying to groom her and her schoolmates with unsolicited, "quite suggestive" phone messages since she was 16. Daria Gusa said Tate had "basically asked me to go out with him" and applied a similar strategy with other girls or young women in the Ilfov or Prahova areas near his home. "Basically, it was the 'lover boy' method," she told local media. She would not have been alone among Romanian women. In March 2020, Maria began a romantic relationship with the man who would become her tormentor. She thought it was love, and she moved in with him in Giurgiu County, near the Bulgarian border, she later testified, after he promised her the moon and the stars and vowed to marry her. Two months later, in May 2021, she arrived in a friend's car in the German city of Nuremberg, where she was expecting to be a homemaker while her fiance worked on a construction site. But she quickly discovered she'd been tricked. "I stayed in an apartment with two of [my boyfriend's] colleagues," she said. "One of them told me to go work at Puff" -- a local brothel -- "which I did." She worked every night, and the "boyfriend" picked her up in the early hours of the morning and took all her earnings. They had frequent arguments, "most of them ending in a fight." One night, after she refused any further clients, he came to pick her up and took her home, "where he punched and kicked me until I...passed out." Several months after arriving, her first escape attempt failed. The next attempt succeeded after she bought a minibus ticket to Romania with the evening's earnings. But another woman found out and told her trafficker, and he soon arrived at her mother's house in Romania. The two reconciled. Within months, she had agreed to return to Germany to work as a prostitute. In time, she would learn that her "boyfriend" was married to another woman who was also working as a prostitute in Germany. Investigators concluded that Maria had been emotionally dependent on her abuser and genuinely believed his promises of "love and protection." They also believed the "boyfriend" had made payments to Maria's mother. During his prosecution and eventual conviction in connection with the trafficking of other women, Maria continued to try to protect him from justice. The Acquaintance Or Relative Diana was a young woman with mental challenges, including a medical diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder. In 2015, she was 22 years old and living in desperate poverty in the Prahova County capital, Ploesti. An individual with a conviction for pimping in Greece somehow learned about her situation and reached out to her through an uncle. She'd recently lost her identity card and soon her uncle -- with money he received from the pimp -- helped her get a new one. He also bought her clothes and, eventually, a coveted plane ticket to Britain. After arriving in Liverpool in August 2015, Diana was picked up at the airport by two men and taken to the Scottish city of Glasgow. Her identification documents were immediately taken away and she was told she was now a prostitute. They recruited her clients via specialist websites. She faced frequent beatings for resisting their instructions. By October 2015, Diana had mustered the courage and energy to flee. She flagged down the first car that passed by and, crying, told the driver, who called the police. Scottish authorities opened a criminal case that has since been taken over by Romania's Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). The Blackmailer When Elena met her abuser, she was not yet 17. It was early 2020 and the teen had a strained relationship with her parents and was determined to run away from home. That's when a friend introduced her to a man whom she met one evening, near midnight, for a drink at a gas station in her hometown. "I started going out with him, talking on the phone -- me hiding these things from my parents, including the fact that he had a young child," she later told investigators. "From the first time we met, I told him that I was 16 1/2 years old, [so that is] something that he always knew." At one point, she consented to him filming her while they had sex. Elena later fled her parents' home and moved in with the man. Her parents contacted police frequently in an unsuccessful effort to get their daughter home. The man's intention was reportedly to take Elena to Germany -- to become a prostitute there, it appeared -- but her age prevented her from going without her parents' permission. He shared explicit images of Elena from the video to acquaintances and even members of her family in an effort to coerce their help. Dozens of individuals eventually received images on WhatsApp or Facebook. Eventually, Elena returned to her parents' home. "After learning about that video from my relatives, I soon found out that it was circulating on all the social networks and everyone could see it, which is why I called the police," her mother told the authorities. But her parents say the experience marked her for life, including leaving her quiet and constantly depressed enough to attempt suicide, which was averted only because a friend intervened to save her. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on April 12 made another major push for modern and sophisticated U.S. weapons in a meeting at the Pentagon with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Shmyhal said Ukraine "still needs intensive military support -- more air-defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian air strikes, more heavy artillery, mortars, and ammunition for them" and asked that the Pentagon "reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with...longer-range missiles." 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. Speaking to reporters alongside Austin, Shmyhal said Kyiv applauds the decision of the United States to join a coalition to provide Ukraine with tanks and Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles, but added, "For our counterattack to be successful, we require an increase in such supplies." He noted that Ukraine has formed a fighter jet coalition and said, "We are inviting the United States to become its most important participant." Ukraine for months has pressed the United States and its allies to provide fighter jets to match Russia in the air. The Pentagon has resisted over concerns about escalating the war. But Shmyhal said on April 12 that in modern warfare, air superiority is crucial, and America can "once again demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircrafts." Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said earlier in a statement that Austin and Shmyhal discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery, and training for the Ukrainian armed forces. The meeting came as Ukrainian forces continue are defending the eastern city of Bakhmut and preparing for an expected counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory, and as Austin deals with the repercussions of the recent purported leak of classified documents. Austin and Shmyhal discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery and training for the Ukrainian armed forces, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement. Austin shared with Shmyhal the key objectives of the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group scheduled for April 21 and "commended the bravery of the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed that the United States will continue its support for as long as it takes," Ryder said. The contact group includes more than 50 countries that have supplied equipment to support Ukraine. Austin said the United States will "continue to swiftly deliver security assistance through procurements and from our own stocks," adding that he is confident that Ukraine's allies will meet its defense needs "through this spring and beyond." Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive. On the battlefield, Russia said its forces struck Ukrainian Army reserves trying to break through to Bakhmut, while the Ukrainian military rejected a Russian claim that its forces have captured more than 80 percent of the besieged city. Ukraine says its forces repelled 72 attacks over the past day by Russian forces in the east as intense fighting continued around Bakhmut. "Despite numerous losses in equipment and manpower, the enemy does not give up waging a war of aggression. It continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka area," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a statement on April 12. Serhiy Cherevatiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said the situation in Bakhmut was under control, adding Kyiv would not allow its troops to be encircled. The monthslong battle for Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region has turned into one of the bloodiest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, announced that ceremonies and parades that normally take place on May 1 and May 9 have been canceled. In addition, he boasted about the defenses of the Russian Army on the illegally annexed peninsula and said that the expected counteroffensive of the Ukrainian armed forces was not frightening. British intelligence has said that in preparation for the counteroffensive the Russian military has built three lines of defense 120 kilometers long to protect the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, a strategic southern city that has been targeted by Ukrainian shelling in the past. The document leak, which could be the most serious of U.S. military secrets in years, appear to include secret U.S. assessments of the war dating from late February into March. One assessment dated February 23 and quoted by Reuters says Russia is unlikely to be able to take the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. "Russia's grinding campaign of attrition in the Donbas region is likely heading toward a stalemate, thwarting Moscow's goal to capture the entire region in 2023," reads the assessment. Russia and Ukraine have questioned the veracity of the documents, while U.S. officials say some of the files appear to have been altered. With reporting by Reuters Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here. www.rferl.org/a/31793259.html I'm RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what I've been following during the past week and what I'm watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue Iran appears to be making headway toward renewing official ties with Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf states that in some cases have been publicly avoiding Tehran for decades. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia held talks in Beijing on April 6 in a significant step toward restoring diplomatic relations, which were cut in 2016 after protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following Riyadhs execution of prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Iran also accepted an invitation from Saudi King Salman for President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh, while Tehran said it will send a similar invitation to the Saudi king. Meanwhile, a Saudi delegation traveled to Iran on April 9 to discuss the reopening of the embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashhad. The trip came as Iranian media reported on April 8 that a street sign near the Saudi consulate in Mashhad provocatively named after Sheikh al-Nimr had been quietly removed. An Iranian delegation also arrived in Saudi Arabia on April 12 to pave the way for the reopening of Iranian diplomatic missions there. Iran is meanwhile taking steps to improve ties with other countries in the region, naming an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and working to decrease tensions with Egypt and Bahrain. Why It Matters: Iran and Saudi Arabia appear to be pursuing implementation of last months Chinese-brokered agreement, possibly clearing the way for Tehran to de-escalate tensions with other countries that followed Riyadhs lead on a rupture seven years ago. What's Next: Tehran and Riyadh could move surprisingly swiftly toward normalization, but its no sure thing. Abdolrasool Divsallar, a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Milan (UCSC), told me that the political environment between the two regional rivals could encourage the start of military and security talks within months. But Divsallar also warned that opponents at home and abroad could still undermine the agreement. Hard-liners in Iran may act as a spoiler rather than as a supporter of the deal, he said, adding that Israel could do the same. The regional tensions between Israel and Iran, on one side, andbetween Iran, Saudi [Arabia] and the United States, on the other side, are two dynamics that make this process very fragile, he said. Divsallar also suggested that any normalization between Iran and countries with less appetite for a quick restoration of ties, for instance Bahrain, could take longer. They feel more secure under the current status quo rather than immediately normalizing their ties with the Islamic republic and losing their leverage, he said, adding, They may wait to see a major change of policies. Stories You Might Have Missed Irans civil aviation sector has for years been under Western sanctions that prevent it from purchasing new aircraft or spare parts for repairs. Now, Russia's oldest airline, Aeroflot, has sent one of its passenger planes to Iran for repairs for the first time ever. Aeroflot reportedly ran into obstacles at home stemming from Western sanctions over Russias ongoing, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The RBK media group cited an Aeroflot representative and sources close to the company on April 11 as saying that an Airbus A330-300 had been sent to Tehran on April 5 to be repaired by specialists from Iran's Mahan Air. Iranian pensioners staged protests in more than a dozen cities across Iran, demanding higher pensions amid soaring prices. Protests were reported on April 9 in Tehran, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Arak, Qom, Shush, Tabriz, and several other cities where retirees complained of poor living conditions and chanted anti-government slogans. Labor protests in Iran have swelled as the economy deteriorates following years of mismanagement compounded by crippling U.S. sanctions. What We're Watching Prominent Iranian female religious scholar Sedigheh Vasmaghi has challenged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the Islamic republics mandatory hijab law. In a letter published online, Vasmaghi asked about the reasoning behind Irans strict model for womens dress and said the Koran does not specify the need for women to cover their hair in public. There is no evidence to show that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad women were harassed and punished for not covering their hair or even their bodies, Vasmaghi, who has published several books on Islamic jurisprudence, wrote. Why It Matters: Vasmaghis letter is significant for its timing -- just days after Khamenei asserted that the removal of the hijab in public was religiously banned. But it is also important because it comes from a religious woman who wears the veil while opposing the mandatory hijab, which is seemingly being defied by a growing number of women. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Until next time, Golnaz Esfandiari If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday. ALMATY -- On the evening of January 6, 2022, amateur archaeologist Yerlan Zhagiparov was detained by security forces in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. Days later, Zhagiparov's family collected his battered body, pierced by gunshot wounds, from the city morgue. The tag on his body read: "Unidentified person of Asian ethnicity." Zhagiparov was among the hundreds of people killed during the states deadly crackdown on unprecedented anti-government protests that rocked the Central Asian nation in January 2022. Many of the victims were bystanders who were killed by police and military personnel after President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev issued a "shoot-to-kill-without-warning" order. Kazakh officials have acknowledged that another six people were tortured to death in custody. The authorities promised to bring to justice those responsible for the unlawful deaths and serious injuries of protesters and the torture of detainees. But one year on, the families of many of the victims are still waiting for justice. It was clarified what gun was used, and the person was identified and questioned, Zhagiparovs brother, Nurlan, told RFE/RL, referring to discussions he and his lawyer had with prosecutors in the first half of 2022. After that, the investigation immediately slowed down, said Nurlan Zhagiparov, who lives in Britain. The man who clearly killed my brother has not been arrested, and the case has not gone to court. They do not want to publicize the case. But I know who killed my brother. He added that the closed nature of the investigation prevents him from disclosing the mans name and rank. 'One-Sided' Investigation Kazakh officials have said 238 people, including 19 law enforcement officers, were killed during the worst unrest in Kazakhstan since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Human rights groups insist that the number is higher. In many of the cases, the circumstances of death remain unclear, and prosecutors have cited Kazakh law and the requests of victims families for privacy as reasons not to disclose further details. Only one military officer has been prosecuted over abuses committed during the crackdown. In November, Mark Zlunyaev was sentenced to six years in prison over the death of a shepherd who was shot near a military facility in the southern city of Taldykorgan. In contrast, more than 1,000 protesters and others have been convicted, including on charges of participating in mass riots, according to a December report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). HRW, citing local independent human rights monitors, said the authorities have closed at least 32 cases relating to the deaths of 139 people. The rights groups said the authorities investigation into the events [of January 2022] has been one-sided. The anti-government demonstrations were sparked by a fuel price hike, but quickly grew into a show of anger over corruption and nepotism that has plagued the country for years. Toqaev has maintained that the authorities bloody response to the protests, including the deployment of Russia-led troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), was justified. Toqaev has publicly blamed what he said were foreign-backed "extremists" for attacking Almaty during the unrest. He has not produced any evidence to back up the claim. 'January's Tragedy' Under pressure from civil society and the families of victims, Kazakh courts in late January 2022 ordered the release, pending trial, of dozens of people who claimed they had been arbitrarily detained and tortured. In many cases, they were detained in hospitals where they were being treated for gunshot wounds. One of them was Darkhan Dusibaev, who told RFE/RL that a court dismissed the case against him in August. But he is angry that two of the men released with him were rearrested and face even more serious charges. Dusibaev said Qosai Makhanbaev and Akylzhan Kisymbaev did nothing illegal during the protests. But he said they were being punished for their activism following their release, including attending several protests against torture and perceived bias in the investigation. The government was just afraid of them, said Dusibaev. WATCH: A "shoot-to-kill" order against nationwide protests in Kazakhstan had many victims. It was issued by President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev on January 7, 2022. That same day, the family of 4-year-old Aikorkem says she lost her life when troops opened fire on the car she was traveling in. Kisymbaevs lawyer, Galym Nurpeisov, told RFE/RL that the new charges against his client -- including fomenting disorder to seize power -- are not related to the protests in January but to an alleged anti-government plot foiled by the authorities more recently. The lawyer called the charges absurd. I spoke recently to Akylzhan, and he told me that investigators had offered him his freedom if he implicated several other detainees, Nurpeisov said. Prosecutors also told us that Akylzhan had not watched his words after his release, when he called for President Toqaev to face justice. Kazakhstans president now needs new terrorists, Nurpeisov told RFE/RL, to deflect attention away from the main figure responsible for Januarys tragedy -- Mr. Toqaev himself. KHERSON, Ukraine -- The summer house where Tamara spends the warmer months is a short boat ride away, on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River. It's also now where Russian troops who retreated across the river are lobbing missiles, shells, and mortars from; back into Kherson, terrorizing a city that just two months ago exulted in its recapture by Ukrainian troops. Recently, her neighbor was killed by a Russian missile, she said. "He was near a shop, and a missile came down," she said. "He was together with friends; one fell, another was wounded, and he had his head immediately ripped off." The Russians, she said, are "just taking revenge on us because they captured Kherson and then lost it." In early November, residents of this southern river port rejoiced after Ukrainian troops liberated the city after eight months of Russian occupation. But since the retreat, Russia has dug in on the Dnieper's east bank, building trenches, bunkers, and reinforced firing points from which its forces have continued to fire back into Kherson city. That includes the city's Korabel district, located on a watery delta island just south of the city proper. The attacks have killed dozens of civilians in Kherson and surrounding districts, officials said. Ihor, another Korabel resident who, like Tamara, asked only to use his first name, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that he knew of a man who went out for a quick trip to the store to buy bread and was killed in a barrage. "What bomb shelter will save you if the distance from the left bank to the right bank is just 2-3 kilometers? We don't even have an air-raid siren here," he said. "When they shoot, it's better to stay at home than rush out and run away," he added. Under Fire On December 24, Russia unleashed a barrage on central Kherson; as many as 16 people were killed and more than 60 injured. In the first hours of January 1, Russian forces fired about seven shells at the Kherson children's hospital, according to Ukrainian officials. No casualties were reported, but dozens of children, parents, and staff members had to be evacuated. After the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russian forces of "killing for the sake of intimidation and pleasure." The situation is especially dire in Korabel, which is more exposed because of its proximity to Russian positions on the opposite bank. According to the Kherson City Council, many houses in Korabel have no electricity, heating, or water supply. Public transport has been suspended, and the work of volunteers has become life-threatening because of the frequent shelling. Kherson authorities have urged residents to evacuate, but few say they plan to leave. Those who have decided to stay cite a lack of money to live somewhere else and a general reluctance to leave their homes. In interviews with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service conducted on December 29, residents described a hard-scrabble daily existence amid the constant fear of a new Russian bombardment. "There is no light, water, or heat, but people live their lives and want to continue doing so because this is their home; they do not want to leave it," said one retired resident, Tetyana, who said she gets by on a monthly pension of around $68. Lyudmyla, also a Korabel resident, lives with a balcony destroyed by shelling and her shattered windows covered with foil to keep out the winter cold. She said she can hardly sleep but does not intend to leave. The most pressing issue for Korabel residents, according to Viktor Totskiy, head of a housing cooperative in the district, is the lack of building materials such as plastic sheeting or plywood for the windows to repair damage caused by the shelling. Halyna Luhova, who heads the city's military administration, described the situation in the district as "very tense," and said many residents do not even want to open the door to social workers. "They stand behind the doors and say they are not going anywhere and ask [us] to bring them humanitarian aid," she told RFE/RL. The hot-water substation that provided heat to the district was recently hit by Russian rockets, and constant shelling makes it impossible for the workers to repair it, she said. 1 Rescuers search through the rubble of a vocational school in the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian town of Makiyivka, just east of Donetsk, on January 3. At around midnight on New Years Eve, the building was struck by HIMARS rockets launched by Ukrainian forces that, according to Russias Defense Ministry, killed 89 soldiers. Some Russian sources have claimed hundreds died, and Kyiv claims some 400 Russian soldiers perished or were wounded in the barrage. The John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo has landed a designation it believes is a key component to its future financial viability. Children's Hospital is now an "enhanced safety net hospital," after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that added certain children's hospitals in the state to the ranks of safety net health facilities. "This is a huge win for OCH and the moms, kids and babies that we serve," Kaleida Health President and CEO Don Boyd said in a statement. For Children's Hospital, the designation safeguards against Medicaid cuts and opens the door to additional funding for a facility that, in a typical year, is marginally profitable. Hochul signing the bill comes as Children's Hospital looks to rebound from the stresses of Covid-19 and the recent respiratory illness surge and as it prepares for how health care will shift moving forward. Dr. Stephen Turkovich, president and chief medical officer of Children's Hospital, said last month that Children's Hospital was on pace to potentially break even in 2022, but that came after back-to-back years of financial losses. According to Kaleida-provided figures, Oishei had an operating loss in 2020 of $17.4 million, followed by a loss of $11.5 million last year. Pre-pandemic, Oishei would typically grind out an annual profit of 1% to 2%, or anywhere from $3 million to $8 million. Kaleida officials had been pushing for a safety net designation for Children's Hospital for five years. The hospital had always come close to qualifying, especially since nearly 65% of its patients are covered by Medicaid and since it provides critical access and health care services to children and mothers in an impoverished community. The legislation, which passed the Senate and Assembly in May before it was delivered to Hochul on Dec. 12, adds licensed children's hospitals that provide pediatric and neonatal services and have Medicaid discharges in excess of 50% of its total discharges to the ranks of enhanced safety net hospitals. Hochul signed the bill on Dec. 23. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Tim Kennedy and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, both Buffalo Democrats, also is expected to benefit Blythedale Children's Hospital in Westchester County. In a statement, Kennedy called it a "collaborative advocacy effort" with Peoples-Stokes and the leadership team at Children's Hospital. "This is a major victory for families and children across Western New York, not only because we're safeguarding world-class pediatric care, but because we're simultaneously creating a sustainable financial model for the hospital to continue offering these critical services," Kennedy said. "As someone who grew up in a family of nurses and who personally worked in healthcare for years, I understand how transformative this will be for Oishei." According to a list previously provided by Iroquois Healthcare Association, which represents more than 50 health systems across 32 upstate counties, there are 36 enhanced safety net hospitals across the state, including Erie County Medical Center and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The safety net designation is just the latest win for Children's Hospital in Albany. In late September, Kaleida landed $25 million in Vital Access Provider Program funding from the state around the same time it was working to settle difficult contract talks with workers' unions. That $25 million, Boyd previously said, was specifically for Children's Hospital and wasn't used to reach a contract. Now, with the enhanced safety net hospital designation, Children's Hospital could be shielded from the financial volatility that can come from changes in Medicaid reimbursements from year to year. "As Western New York's regional center for comprehensive and state-of-the-art pediatric trauma, surgical and medical care, including neonatal, perinatal and obstetric services, OCH is truly a community asset," Boyd said. "The signing of this bill demonstrates the Governor's understanding of the essential role that Childrens plays in the community, and the difficult challenges we face." The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County has established a relief fund following the Christmas weekend blizzard that struck the region. The United Way Community Resilience Fund aims to address both immediate and long-term community needs in the wake of the devastating storm, said Trina Burruss, the United Way's president and CEO. The funds raised will go toward nonprofit organizations working on the front lines to support residents impacted by the storm. "What we're hearing a lot about is food replacement, transportation issues, loss of wages," she said. Property damage such as water damage from burst pipes is also a pressing issue. Burruss said the goal is to support the large percentage of community residents living paycheck to paycheck, coping with unexpected financial hardships brought on by the storm. "For most of us, the snow is melting and as soon as we could get our cars out, that was the end of it, perhaps," Burruss said. "But for the 40% of the community that can't respond to even small emergencies, this is not over yet." The fund's goal is to help those economically vulnerable residents recover from this emergency, and build their financial security for the future, she said. The Resilience Fund also wants to support the mental health of nonprofit workers who have been responding to a string of crises, from the pandemic, to the May 14 shootings, to the blizzard, Burruss said. "We hope to be able to bring some assistance in that way as well, although admittedly we don't know what that looks like yet. But that's on our radar." The fund was launched last weekend and does not have a fundraising goal attached to it. Burruss said even after donations related to the blizzard response are collected and distributed, the fund could be reactivated quickly if another emergency strikes. "It really is meant to be a legacy part of our work here at United Way, so that we can quickly respond and connect the for-profit, nonprofit, philanthropic community to the nonprofits that need assistance," she said. A Buffalo Niagara Partnership program aimed at preparing workers for jobs in manufacturing and other fields was awarded a $1 million grant from the state Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The funds will be directed to Employ Buffalo Niagara's Talent Pipeline Management program. Employ Buffalo Niagara is an industry-led coalition supported by the Partnership that focuses on workforce issues. The Talent Pipeline Management program, developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, identifies key roles that can become a bottleneck at a company if they go unfilled. The program will provide pre-employment and occupational training skills for manufacturing and other employment collaboratives. The grant will help the Buffalo Niagara Partnership scale up the Talent Management Pipeline program and form a partnership with the Service Collaborative. In all, the Office of Strategic Workforce Development awarded more than $6 million in grants to eight projects around the state. Another recipient also involves industry partners in Western New York. Cornell University will use a $400,000 grant to provide dairy industry training through a "dairy processing boot camp" and an online dairy science and sanitation course. The industry partners include Lactalis, Perry's Ice Cream, Upstate Niagara Cooperative and Great Lakes Cheese. Criminal investigations involving accused rapists, problems at SEAL headquarters and a sailor who allegedly stole womens panties and tried to grope sleeping shipmates are moving forward at Camp Pendleton and in San Diego and Coronado. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Irving, a member of the Coronado-based SEAL Team 5, faces court-martial the equivalent of a civilian trial for allegedly raping a civilian woman in San Diego in October 2015. Court documents provided to The San Diego Union-Tribune show that hes accused of pinning the womans hands behind her head and pinning her wrists before sexually assaulting her. The court docket released on Monday doesnt indicate when Irving will next appear before a judge, but a trial scheduled for the previous week was canceled, according to Navy officials. Advertisement In addition, a separate investigation into whether a senior Navy officer at Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado carried on an inappropriate relationship with a female worker is continuing, the Navy said. The Union-Tribune sought the investigative report into both alleged incidents, but the commands acting chief of staff, Navy Capt. Tinsley, refused to surrender the documents on Monday, writing in a letter that they are part of an ongoing investigation into the improper relationship and allegations that reprisals harmed the junior sailor who blew the whistle on it. At Camp Pendleton, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Luis Gonzalez-Salazar pleaded guilty on Friday to forcing sexual acts upon his wife in Okinawa between Oct. 12 and Dec. 13, 2015 after threatening to divorce her, take custody of the couples children and upload graphic images and videos of her to the internet. He also broadcast recordings of his wifes private area without her consent, and he admitted that he engaged in adultery between 2013 and 2015. Gonzalez-Salazar was reduced to the rank of private and sentenced to 17 years of confinement. The Union-Tribune isnt identifying his wife or other victims of sexual crimes. At Naval Base San Diego, Aviation Boatswains Mate Handling 3rd Class Oscar Hernandez underwent a motions hearing on June 7 tied to allegations that he repeatedly tried to touch the breasts and other bodily parts of female sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship America in 2014 and 2015. In four incidents, the women were sleeping in their berths when Hernandez allegedly tried to grope them. On numerous occasions, he also allegedly spied on nine sailors while they were sleeping and later wrote about sexual activity with them, according to the charge sheet issued against him on Sept. 20. Between February and June of 2014, Hernandez allegedly stole 11 items of female underwear from the Snyder Hall laundry area at Naval Base San Diego. When confronted by a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent on March 28, 2016 about the thefts, he allegedly wrote in an official statement that he never took the panties statements which were totally false, according to court files. He was referred to court-martial on April 15. In the latest Pentagon analysis on sexual assault, the armed forces received 6,172 reports of alleged sexual assault involving service members as either victims or suspects during the federal fiscal year that ended in September. That was a 1.5 percent increase from the 2015 numbers. A 2016 survey for active-duty troops said 4.3 percent of female service members and 0.6 percent of men reported being sexually assaulted during the prior year. The Pentagon estimated that about 14,900 troops experienced some sort of sexual assault, down from about 20,300 in 2014. Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com Police shot a man who they suspect stabbed a woman in a gated Porter Ranch community Wednesday night, authorities said. Both the man who was shot and the woman who was stabbed were taken to a hospital and are in stable condition, said LAPD Officer Christopher No, a spokesman. Los Angeles police officers responded to a domestic incident call on the 20000 block of Sardinia Way at about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, and found a woman who had been stabbed, No said. Advertisement When police encountered the stabbing suspect, police tried to use nonlethal methods including a Taser and bean bag pellets to try and subdue him, but he continued to approach with some kind of sharp object, he said. Thats when police shot him, No said. #LAPD Officer Involved Shooting, 20000 block Sardinia Way. Gated community, Media Staging outside guard gate. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) June 21, 2018 He would not say how many times the man was shot or where, nor would he say how many officers shot the suspect. No said he did not know the relationship between the stabbing victim and the suspect who was shot, and said both the stabbing and the shooting were still under investigation. Officers from LAPDs Devonshire division responded to the call, No said. Reach Sonali Kohli at Sonali.Kohli@latimes.com or on Twitter @Sonali_Kohli. The newly-discovered frog species belong to the subgenus Brygoomantis within the mantellid frog genus Mantidactylus. Until now, the Brygoomantis subgenus contained just 14 described species of small, mostly brown frogs. These amphibians are ubiquitous along streams in Madagascars humid forests, but are inconspicuous to the eye. The males emit very subtle advertisement calls to attract females. The calls typically sound like a creaking door, or a gurgling stomach, said Dr. Mark Scherz, curator of herpetology at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Finding, recording, and catching calling individuals of these frogs is a real challenge, but has proven critically important for the discovery and description of these many new species. That means a lot of time on hands and knees in the mud. This is the culmination of intensive fieldwork across Madagascar over more than 30 years, added Dr. Frank Glaw, curator of herpetology at the Zoologische Staatssammlung Munchen. Our dataset contains genetic data from over 1,300 frogs, and measurements of several hundred specimens. One key tool in the teams arsenal was the use of cutting-edge museomics, where DNA is sequenced from old museum material. This is often difficult, because DNA degrades over time and due to various chemicals that are used to preserve animal specimens. But using an approach called DNA barcode fishing, the researchers were able to get useable DNA sequences from most of the relevant museum material. Museomics gave definitive identifications of sometimes very ambiguous-looking specimens, said Professor Miguel Vences, a researcher at the Technische Universitat Braunschweig. This gives us a level of confidence in our species descriptions that was not previously possible based on morphology alone. There are still several Brygoomantis lineages that are probably separate species, but that we didnt have enough data or material for, said Dr. Andolalao Rakotoarison, co-chair of the Amphibian Specialist Group for Madagascar. Even for those species for which we have names, we know almost nothing about their biology or ecology. We need a lot more field research on these frogs, and more specimens in museum collections, to really gain a good understanding of them. The teams paper was published in the journal Megataxa. _____ Mark D. Scherz et al. 2022. An inordinate fondness for inconspicuous brown frogs: integration of phylogenomics, archival DNA analysis, morphology, and bioacoustics yields 24 new taxa in the subgenus Brygoomantis (genus Mantidactylus) from Madagascar. Megataxa 007 (2): 113-311; doi: 10.11646/megataxa.7.2.1 Press Release January 4, 2023 Legarda hails Manalo's election to NCCA; reassures commitment to promoting PH culture Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda welcomed the election of National Archives of the Philippines Director Victorino Manalo as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and reassured her continuous commitment to promoting Philippine culture. Legarda, NCCA's 2016 Dangal ng Haraya: Tagapagtaguyod ng Sining at Kultura (Patron of Arts and Culture) awardee, has expressed support for Manalo's nomination and administered his oath of office as the 14th Chairperson of the NCCA on December 29, 2022, held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. "I have unwavering faith that under the leadership of Chairperson Victorino Manalo, the NCCA will continue to foster the Filipino people's identity and develop a sense of national pride through the development of original artistic expression and the preservation, promotion, and protection of our cultural heritage," Legarda stated. As a staunch advocate of promoting the culture and the arts, Legarda has filed several proposed measures for the conservation of Philippine traditions and heritage. Among these are SBN 244 or the Philippine Culinary Heritage Act of 2022, SBN 624 or An Act Establishing the 'Linangan ng Likhang-Bayan (Institute for Living Traditions), and SBN 622 amending the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 to strengthen heritage conservation in the country and mandate the local government units to conduct a comprehensive cultural mapping of their areas of jurisdiction. In partnership with the NCCA, Legarda supported various programs to preserve and document Filipino traditional heritage, including 'Dayaw,' a documentary which showcases the indigenous culture and customs of Filipinos, and 'Buhay na Buhay,' an informative series that introduces the eight living cultures of the Philippines. "Lahat ng ito ay para sa kultura at sining habang naiaangat natin ang kabuhayan ng ating kapwa, ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan at pagpapayaman ng ating pagkakakilanlan," she said. "Rest assured that I remain your steadfast partner in strengthening the Filipino spirit, developing national identity and creativity, and protecting and sharing our rich cultural heritage," Legarda added. Manalo was elected head by the NCCA Board of Commissioners last December 29, 2022, replacing Chairperson Rene Escalante. His term began last January 1, 2023, and will end on December 31, 2025. Legarda also congratulated Escalante for his support and commitment to NCCA and for being instrumental to many of the successes of the Commission, which continuously makes significant and long-lasting contributions to the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine culture and the arts, according to Legarda. Health spotlight Health UCSF's Monica Gandhi on living with COVID-19, harm reduction and S.F. health politics UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi is head of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at UCSF and author of an upcoming book, Endemic, on the COVID-19 response. Dr. Monica Gandhi first came to San Francisco for its reputation as a bastion of forward-thinking health policies. But after living and working here for nearly three decades, shes come to see things slightly differently. As head of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at UCSF, Gandhi helped steer thought and action around the global pandemic. She also became an outspoken voice in San Franciscos conservative approach to COVID-19, arguing to reopen schools once vaccines were available and reducing restrictions that could have negative impacts, like what she witnessed during strict lockdowns in Ward 86, the countrys oldest HIV clinic at San Francisco General Hospital that Gandhi oversees. Gandhi sat down with The Examiner to talk about Endemic, her book about the COVID-19 response coming out in July, and about how San Francisco might better live up to its own values and policies around public health. The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Examiner: In your book you advocate for a harm-reduction approach to infectious diseases over politics. Can you say more about that? Gandhi: I came to San Francisco in 1996 for my residency. I went to medical school at Harvard and put S.F. first on my list because I was really interested in their harm reduction approach to HIV, which was really politically aligned with the left. The harm reduction approach during the HIV pandemic understood that people have needs, people want to be around each other, sex is a need, and there is nothing wrong with anyones sexuality. So we were certainly not in any way taking the federal governments approach at the time, which in the early 80s was essentially saying gay men need to stay away from each other. That was Reagans approach to everything in a way. Just Say No was Nancy Reagans big campaign around drug use. The public health establishment pushed back on that. They were like, No way, you cant just tell people to stay away from each other, we need to tell them how to stay safe. An abstinence-based approach doesnt work with infectious diseases. S.F. really combated this, and it was really controversial at the time that they closed even the bathhouses. That was the only thing they really did to use governmental power to curb HIV. COVID came in 2020, and Trump was president. Trump was obviously crazy. A lot of people didnt like him in S.F., and I dont like him either. Im a staunch leftist. But the public health establishment is often left and Democrat, so if Trump said up, we said down. It was July 2020 when he said we need to open schools, and the left said no, we will not. Prior to Trump saying that, there was a real movement from public health experts to say children need to be in school. We all know school is really important for children for many different reasons. This city was one of the longest for school closures and California was the longest (of the states). There is no way to deny that was a political decision. The left in Europe, like Denmark and Sweden, had schools open within six weeks of closing. The left here was just as political as the right in terms of responding to COVID. Did San Francisco take a harm-reduction approach for COVID-19? No, we didnt take a harm reduction approach, because it was considered more Democrat to take a more restrictions-based approach. And we didnt report on the harms of our interventions. Our COVID response really favored the wealthy, people who could stay home and had access to Zoom and a computer and private schools. We are a wealthy city, but we are a city of disparity and that really left out the poor. That happened across the country, but it was really amplified here. With HIV, not everyone is at risk equally whereas everyone is at risk of contracting COVID since its a respiratory disease. It was easy with HIV to have our tolerance and progressive politics, and it was simple to take a harm reduction approach because people didnt feel equally at risk and there wasnt that major amplification of fear. With COVID, we had vaccines and Paxlovid but there was little excitement about how we get out of the pandemic. I think our city has changed from the early 80s after the tech boom and a lot of wealth came in. Who knows if we would have the same response to HIV if that crisis happened in 2020? Looking back, how do you reflect on The Citys approach to COVID-19 overall? Prolonged school and business closures did hurt The City. We have seen an exodus from the public school system. Once you have a small business and you lose it, you lose it. And people not coming back to work and the decimation of downtown is pretty unusual compared to other cities that are coming back faster. I think thats because we had a prolonged lockdown. S.F. also had a unified voice. We just didnt have the diversity of the scientific approach to the pandemic that other cities had. Im not sure why, but its probably political. But we did do great in terms of vaccination. The way out of a pandemic is immunity. China is proving at this moment that lockdowns dont work and are destructive to the economy and mental health. But because they dont have high vaccination rates and boosters, everyone is worried about China right now. It just shows how countries did is exclusively dependent on vaccination rates among the elderly. It didnt matter if you locked down, all these non-pharmaceutical interventions were not as helpful as vaccination and boosting the elderly. When S.F. got vaccines, S.F. did what S.F. does best. It did a good job at community mobilization to get the Latino and Black populations vaccinated. That was where S.F. did its best in our response. San Francisco has a harm reduction policy on the books. Why do you think we take that approach only sometimes? I think we follow harm reduction quite well when it aligns with our politics. Democrats in general were very supportive of harm reduction with HIV, and when you think about injection drug use and clean needle exchanges. But when it comes to safe injection sites, Gov. Gavin Newsom did not sign them into law, which was very disappointing to me personally as someone who directs a medical clinic where 39% of our patients use methamphetamine. We havent had a single COVID-19 death in Ward 86 and we had multiple overdose deaths. That really informed my view of the pandemic. I saw a lot of pain from this fear-based approach and people turned back to the comfort of substances even if they had been clean for a while and our rate of overdose was really high. It seems like everyone is sick right now. How concerned are you about this current spike in COVID-19 cases? We will never, ever eradicate COVID. That was a really concerning aspect of what happened with this pandemic. But its simple why it cant be eradicated. Animal species have it. Plus, it looks like other viruses, you can spread it before you have symptoms, and we dont have a vaccine that can prevent all infections. I was a big fan of masks and keeping transmission down. I didnt want lockdowns, but I did want better ventilation until we got to the vaccines. I really thought vaccines should be the key to unlocking the door to normal again life as Europe did. But we were so politicized that it only unlocked the door to normal life in some places here in the U.S. So yes, we will have to live with COVID as we live with influenza and other viruses. The amazing thing is we dont have as good of tools for those other viruses as we do now for COVID. I can tell you that every winter I see tragic deaths from the common cold and rhinovirus because they have no medication. There is no Paxlovid or Remdesivir. Every year we have seasonal respiratory illness deaths. But with COVID, we have a treatment thats good. Our vaccines are really powerful. What do you hope that people and government leaders learn from the last three years? The seventh chapter of this book is our pandemic playbook. How do we work on the next pandemic? Vaccination is key, so we need to get trust back up in our vaccines. mRNA is amazing technology. Then once vaccines are available, ease restrictions. Link restrictions and masking to the availability of vaccines, which gives people more security in the vaccines. We should encourage outdoor activities. We closed beaches and playgrounds and thats when I really got attacked. I said why are we closing outdoor playgrounds when thats where we should be? But anyone could be attacked. Dr. Bob Wachter would get attacked for being too cautious. If youre on the news, you get attacked. We should also minimize school disruptions as much as possible and reassess testing as you go along and stop things that are useless, like deep cleaning which causes more stress. We have to work on trust. Public health lost trust because they made mistakes. We have to get people to take their measles and polio vaccines. Its terrible if we have these setbacks in infectious diseases. A Buffalo teen on Wednesday admitted in court he was an accomplice in the knife attack that wounded a student outside McKinley High School in February. Kushal Tamang, 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in the Feb. 9 stabbing and beating of a 14-year-old. Erie County Judge Kenneth Case said he would grant Tamang youthful offender status when he sentences him Feb. 10. Before the plea was entered, Timothy Brooks, one of Tamang's defense attorneys, emphasized to the judge his client was "not the actual person who did the stabbing." "Our client is willing to accept responsibility as an accomplice, not as a direct actor, on both counts of the indictment," Brooks said. A spokeswoman for the Erie County District Attorney's Office said authorities are still trying to find the person who wielded the knife. Tamang was arraigned on an indictment on Feb. 28, less than three weeks after the violence outside McKinley. Another teen faces attempted murder, assault and weapons possession charges in connection with a shooting that occurred outside the school around the same time. A school security guard was shot in the leg and a 13-year-old suffered a graze wound. The teen accused in the shooting, Rismay Tee, 18, is due back in court Feb. 27. Tee was 17 at the time of the shooting. Tamang, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, faces a maximum sentence of 1 to four years of incarceration on each count. Case said sentences would run concurrently. Other potential sentences available to the judge include probation or the imposition of a $5,000 fine. Case rejected a request from Tamang's defense attorneys to release the teen into the Erie County Probation Department's Release Under Supervision program an alternative to incarceration program until sentencing. Page Content The National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB's) Seattle regional director has maintained that Starbucks refused to bargain collectively in several Pacific Northwest cities, including Portland, Ore., and Seattle. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other news outlets. Recent Complaint The recent complaint said Starbucks should be forced to negotiate regularly with the union and to hold a meeting with interim Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz and representatives of the union and the government. At the meeting, a notice about workers' rights would be read to employees. "This complaint proves what workers have been saying all alongStarbucks is dragging their feet [at] the negotiating table and refusing to bargain with us in good faith," New York barista and Starbucks Workers United leader Michelle Eisen said. But Starbucks spokesperson Rachel Wall said, "We have come to the table time after time prepared to bargain in good faith, and continue to urge Workers United to uphold their promises to our partners by moving the bargaining process forward." The company has said that it adheres to the law and that claims of anti-union activity are "categorically false." (The (Bend, Ore.) Bulletin) Union's Allegations Starbucks Workers United alleges that Starbucks is not bargaining in good faith by delaying scheduling sessions and leaving negotiations soon after they began because of workers joining virtually. The NLRB's lawsuit supports the union's claim. The stores involved in the complaint also include stores in Eugene, Ore., Olympia, Wash., and Tumwater, Wash., and are among 261 nationally that have unionized since December 2021. (The Seattle Times) Complaint Is First of Its Kind The new NLRB complaint is the first in which agency prosecutors accuse Starbucks of not bargaining fairly at multiple stores21 total in the Pacific Northwest. The union has filed other still-pending cases around the country accusing Starbucks of failing to bargain fairly. NLRB members ruled in November 2022 that Starbucks was illegally refusing to negotiate with the union at a mega-cafe in Seattle. (Sioux City Journal) Dispute at Seattle Cafe The November decision ordered Starbucks subsidiary Siren Retail Corp. to negotiate with the new union at its Seattle Roastery restaurant, the second in the city to organize. Employees at the cafe voted in April to join Starbucks Workers United. The company contested the union's victory because the government held an election by mail ballot rather than an in-person election. Starbucks plans to appeal the ruling. (Bloomberg), (Capitol Hill Seattle Blog) and (SHRM Online) Store Closures Workers say Starbucks has closed stores because they were unionized. Starbucks responded that the closures have to do with profitability and safety issues. (My Northwest) Page Content 2023 will bring new laws affecting Illinois employers. The Illinois legislature passed over 180 laws that took effect on Jan. 1. This article will cover three developments for Illinois employers, including rest and meal break requirements, bereavement leave updates, and hair-based discrimination protections. Rest and Meal Break Requirements Amendments to the One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA) include five changes that employers should keep in mind in the new year: Mandatory Day of Rest Period: The statute now requires employers to give employees 24 consecutive hours of rest "every consecutive seven-day period," as opposed to "every calendar week" as previously established. Employers can no longer schedule employees to work for more than seven consecutive days across two calendar weeks without a single day off work. Employers wishing to schedule employees to work for more than six consecutive days will need to obtain waivers from the Illinois Department of Labor and may not do so more than eight weeks a year. Additional Meal Breaks: In addition to providing employees who work 7.5 continuous hours a 20-minute meal break, employers are now required to permit employees to take a second 20-minute meal break for every additional 4.5 continuous hours worked. The amendment clarifies that a meal break "does not include reasonable time spent using the restroom facilities." Increased Penalties for Violations: Violations are now subject to civil penalties up to five times higher than the previous $100 limit, as well as payments to employees directly as damages, as opposed to just fines to the state. Employers with less than 25 employees may be fined up to $250 in penalties payable to the Illinois Department of Labor and damages up to $250 per violation payable to the employee(s) affected. Employers with 25 or more employees may be fined up to $500 in penalties payable to the Illinois Department of Labor and damages up to $500 payable to the employee(s). Each week an employee has not been given 24 consecutive hours of rest will constitute a separate offense, and each day an employee has not been provided a meal break will constitute a separate offense. Notice Requirement: The amendment mandates that employers conspicuously post at the workplace a notice provided by the Illinois Department of Labor, outlining employee rights under ODRISA and information on how to file a complaint. Employers also must provide the notice by email or on a website for traveling and remote employees. Excluded Employees: A second ODRISA amendment made the day of rest provision inapplicable to employees "for whom work hours, days of work, and rest periods are established through the collective bargaining process." This is in addition to the previous list of excluded employees, which included individuals employed in a "bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity or in the capacity of an outside salesman" as defined under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); supervisors, as defined under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA); and part-time employees who work 20 or fewer hours in a calendar week. Although employees covered by a collective bargaining can be exempt from the requirements of ODRISA by having express alternative terms in the collective bargaining agreement, the state Department of Labor has stated that silence in the agreement regarding meal periods or days of rest will result in the legal requirements of ODRISA being applied to those employees, regardless of their union status. Prior to 2023, affected employees couldn't recover damages for ODRISA violations. With the new penalty provision permitting employees to collect money, employees now have a financial incentive to report ODRISA violations, which will likely result in an increased number of complaints filed against employers across the state. Expanded Bereavement Leave Illinois enacted amendments to the Child Bereavement Leave Act (CBLA), which required employers to provide employees up to 10 days of unpaid leave annually to grieve the death of a child. The amendments expand the scope of the CBLA and rename it the Family Bereavement Leave Act (FBLA). The FBLA requires employers to provide employees up to 10 days of unpaid leave annually to grieve the death of "any covered family member," including an employee's child, stepchild, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, parent, stepparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild or grandparent. The FBLA requires employers to provide employees unpaid bereavement leave to: Attend the funeral of a covered family member. Make arrangements necessitated by the death of a covered family member. Grieve the death of a covered family member. Be absent from work due to a miscarriage, stillbirth, unsuccessful round of fertility treatment, failed adoption match, failed surrogacy agreement, or a diagnosis that negatively impacts pregnancy or fertility. An employee becomes eligible for unpaid bereavement leave after 12 months of employment and at least 1,250 hours worked within the previous 12-month period. An employee must provide the employer at least 45 hours' notice of the employee's intention to take bereavement leave, unless providing such notice is not reasonable or practicable under the circumstances. An employee must complete bereavement leave within 60 days from the date the employee receives notice of the death of a covered family member or the occurrence of a qualifying event related to pregnancy, fertility, adoption or surrogacy. An employer may require reasonable documentation to substantiate an employee's request for bereavement leave. For requests related to pregnancy, fertility, adoption or surrogacy, an employer cannot require that an employee identify the relevant qualifying event. The Illinois Department of Labor is expected to publish a form for completion by the employee's health care practitioner that would attest to the occurrence of such a qualifying event, but that would not specifically identify which qualifying event occurred. If an employee has exhausted leave permitted under the Family Medical Leave Act, the FBLA does not grant the right to additional leave. Protections Against Hair Discrimination The Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act (CROWN Act) amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to include hair-based discrimination protections. The bill expands and clarifies the definition of race to include "traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists." This amendment extends these protections to employment, housing and public accommodations. Employers cannot discriminate against individuals because of hairstyle or hair texture that are actually or perceived to be associated with a particular race. Employers can still maintain dress code and grooming policies, so long as any restrictions in the policies do not violate the CROWN Act. Employers should update diversity policies and training to include hair texture and protected hairstyles. Illinois joins at least 16 other states that have adopted similar laws. Employers should review their applicable policies to ensure they are consistent with the new laws. Kerri Feczko, Marissa Ross Ingley, Darren M. Mungerson, Jeff Nowak, Maria Palivos, Jeronimo Simonovis and William Whalen are attorneys with Littler in Chicago. 2022. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Uolo Technologies has acquired Bengaluru-based code-learning platform Tekie in an all-stock deal. The transaction involves a cash component for Tekie's two founders Naman Mukund and Anand Verma, in addition to equity that will vest over a three-year period and a performance-linked incentive. Co-founder and chief executive Pallav Pandey said that Uolo, a business-to-business (B2B) ed-tech startup backed by investors like Blume Ventures, Omidyar Network, and Winter Capital, is looking at opportunities to partner with or acquire businesses in the math learning and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning spaces. On December 9, Dubai-based growth-stage investment company Winter Capital has led a $22.5 million Series A funding deal for Uolo. Another fund located in Dubai, Morphosis Venture Capital, also invested in the business.In November 2020, Blume Ventures led a $3 million seed investment round for Uolo.It utilises both an enterprise resource planning (ERP) management solution and software for parent-teacher communication. According to Pandey, there are more than 400,000 private schools in India, and an estimated 120 million students attend them. The company has signed up 8,500 schools so far with a goal of having 50,000 on its platform by 2025. The idea of Uolo is that we take ed-tech solutions to the masses in partnership with private schools. Technology in education can really do wonders but it is coming at very expensive prices. The cost of ed-tech solutions today is Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000 a year, but people do not have that much money to spend. It has to become more affordable and for that to happen, it has to be available through schools, he said. Tekie, which was started in 2017 by Mukund and Verma, provides schools with a coding curriculum that is effective in over 100 schools. GSV Ventures, Multiply Ventures, and Better Capital were among the investors in the startup. One of the main rivals of Uolo, Lead School, is backed by GSV Ventures as well. Once the schools are onboarded to a platform, they will need ed-tech products and solutions. Uolo has created a platform which 8,500 schools have boarded, and now what were doing is that were bringing on education products. Education products typically have long gestation periods. So, partnering or acquiring is a better strategy. We had partnered with Tekie earlier, and were working closely with them, Pandey said, referring to the acquisition. Public sector lenders including the State Bank of India will jointly set up a unified cloud-based digital platform to connect with fintech companies and source loans through them on a revenue-sharing basis, said people with knowledge of the matter. Under the model, fintech companies will conduct all preliminary credit checks through a third-party application platform interface (API) and account aggregators. They will then upload the completed loan application onto this digital platform. Individual banks can access these loan requests and fund them based on their internal credit risk parameters, sharing a commission or fee with the originating fintech company. "The idea is that the fintech firms will onboard large corporate and their suppliers or dealers for supply chain finance (SCF) business," a senior bank executive. The framework will allow state-run banks to tap the extensive resource base of multiple fintech firms, reducing their own cost of sourcing loans and investing individually in expensive platforms or technologies. "The initiative will be led by PSB Alliance Ltd, and we are in the final stages of selecting a technology service provider to develop and manage this cloud-based platform," the official said. PSB Alliance Ltd has been set up by public sector banks to act as an intermediary for them.The proposed digital platform will be integrated with the core banking systems of each public sector bank for disbursements and reporting. It will subsequently connect other small and medium enterprise (SME) account service firms, helping banks provide credit underwriting, transaction management and other micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) lending products.The finance ministry has been pushing banks to explore synergies with new-age fintech firms. Leveraging the fintech system will allow small businesses and individuals excluded from the banking system to raise cheaper organised credit, said the people cited above.PSB Alliance Ltd is envisaged as an umbrella entity that will enable public sector banks to deliver financial and non-financial banking services to the doorstep through common applications or platforms such as the proposed digital lending one. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the economy of any country is as progressive as its banking system is strong. "If Jan Dhan accounts had laid the foundation of financial inclusion in the country, then fintech would form the basis of financial revolution," he said while dedicating 75 Digital Banking Units in as many districts. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide to smallcap stocks, you'll want to check out the Nifty 50 smallcap index! The nifty next 50 index is a nifty investment that provides diversification and capital appreciation potential. It was created by the NSE in 1992 and comprised 50 of the most liquid small-cap stocks in India. Although it's not an outright buy-and-hold investment, the Nifty 50 smallcap index does offer stability and has consistently outperformed the Indian rupee over time. So whether you're new to smallcap investing or want to add some clarity to your current strategy, read on for our full guide! What Is The Nifty 50 Smallcap Index? If you're looking to invest in small cap stocks, the Nifty 50 smallcap index is the perfect place to start. 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Thank you very much! Ever considered what Antarctic krill might sound like if they could sing? Or how it would compare with a choir of salp, the jellyfish-like creatures with whom the krill share the chilly waters of the South Pole? These are just some of the curious questions Australian composer Mary Finsterer pondered as she worked on Antarctica, a new opera about to receive its Australian premiere as part of the Sydney Festival. Mary Finsterers new opera Antarctica is set to be a highlight of the Sydney Festival. Credit: Paul Jeffers What came to mind for the krill are more percussive sounds, she says from her Melbourne home. That was contrasted with the more vowel sounds of the salp. These two worlds of sound are juxtaposed within the musical environment and I use them in a playful way to create a counterpoint with each other and in dialogue with each other. Antarctica is set to be one of the highlights of the festival, which opens this week. Featuring Sydney Chamber Opera singers with Dutch ensemble Asko|Schonberg it won rave reviews after last years world premiere at the Holland Festival. Warner Brothers will turn 100 this year the studio I mean. Not the brothers. Beaten by the clock, Harry, Jack, Sam and Albert have long been in the ground, but their Burbank icon has ordered the bubbly for April, set to raise a glass to Rin Tin Tin the dog that rescued their bottom line from the Depression. Down the road, Disney will follow suit in October, filling their flutes to a mouse in their case. No doubt cakes are being planned, speeches and releases. But wheres the fuss for the bees knees, I ask you? The cats pyjamas? As a new year dawns, centenary brands will seize the limelight. Notable cities like Cairns and Mount Isa both 100 this year will celebrate in league with Route 66. Old Parliament House will become officially older when we mark its first sod flipped back August, 1923. But what about language? Wheres the ticker-tape pageant for heebie-jeebies? The phrase bees knees emerged during the era of the flapper. Credit: iStock Chicago cartoonist Billy DeBeck is credited as the slangs coiner, or at least the earliest cited user. Barney Google, his popular comic strip, carried an insult on October, 1923, when Barney hollered at Snuffy Smith: You dumb ox Why dont you get that stupid look offa your pan you gimme the heeby jeebys! [sic] Summer fashion is generally horrible when the summer we speak of is actually hot, as in most parts of Australia even Tasmania, thanks to the horrors of climate change. Its a season when comfort trumps style, which normally Im a huge fan of (a common conversation starter of mine is singing the praises of orthopedic footwear, and most of my wardrobe could be described as certainly comfortable). But true summer heat makes any comfort impossible, at least if youre a sweaty person as I am. I know I dont look great in linen two-piece sets after once wearing one, catching a glimpse of myself in a mirror and realising I resembled a toddler in crumpled pyjamas. As for gender-specific clothing, I have a physical aversion to the loose-fitting colourful smock dresses currently on trend. Mainstream summer fashions are a dream for infants or tall elegant ladies, of which I am neither. The only time Ive felt comfortable in a maxi dress was travelling through Europe years ago, cosplaying as a chic breezer globetrotter instead of the anxious thrifty traveller I actually am. Eating gelato while perusing the Italian coastline? Molto bene! But swanning about in a long dress while running errands at Bunnings or working from home in a stuffy flat? No grazie. You cant deny one item that surpasses fashion and comfort: the humble Legionnaire hat. Experiencing my first Sydney summer, I have been spending these muggy days in cotton singlets hoping people dont notice the sweat marks that resemble lactation patches. And dont get me started on the classic Australian thong Ive already mentioned my appreciation of orthopedic footwear and these flimsy rubber flip-flops make a mockery of the human spine. But whether youre a linen lover or loather, you cant deny one item that surpasses fashion and comfort: the humble Legionnaire hat. One of the few hats lucky enough to share its name with a disease, this cap with a back is the ideal accessory for living under the Ozone hole. I first discovered this accessory when enrolling in primary school after moving from Canada and learning about no hat, no play. I cant recall an equivalent rule at my Canadian school but assume it was no tuque, no buk to prevent bookish children from freezing their ears outdoors. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For a young actor, the industry clout that comes with winning an AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) award is both generous and surprisingly immediate, as Heartbreak High breakout Thomas Weatherall recently discovered. I didnt realise it was a thing, but suddenly, that night, a lot more people come up and talk to you once that trophy is in your hands, the 22-year-old laughs. Once you have that trophy, it all starts. Weatherall won for best supporting actor in a drama for his role as nice guy Malakai in Netflixs hit reboot of the 90s teen soap, upstaging a stacked field of established names including Steve Bisley, Brendan Cowell, Daniel Henshall and Damon Herriman. If his fledgling career was already on the uptick last year after a recurring role on the Seven drama RFDS, his eye-catching turn on Heartbreak High has quickly vaulted him to another level. Ill admit, I went into that show not knowing if I was gonna pull that character off and still slightly terrified before it came out, like, did it come to fruition? Weatherall says. But, you know, apparently it did. Thomas Weatherall says he started writing his play Blue as a sort of therapy. Credit:Wolter Peeters A demanding coming-of-age role that showcased his dynamic range from playful young love to what may have been the series emotional peak, Malakais tortured self-implosion after confronting racist police brutality Weatherall feels lucky he got the opportunity to both flex his dramatic muscles and explore his Kamilaroi heritage on a global platform as big as Netflixs. Its an amazing step forward, the fact that youve got an Indigenous character as the main love interest in a massive Netflix show five years ago, that doesnt happen, he says. Ive joined this industry at a time where its much more receptive still not completely receptive, but I definitely have had it easier than other people I respect in this industry. Advertisement This early in his career, it felt like a gift, he says, to find a role that didnt just ask him to be the pretty boy-next-door or require him, as an Indigenous actor, to handle all the heavy stuff in the show. It was like, were actually going to paint a proper picture of this young Indigenous man: hes complicated, theres good and bad in him, he makes mistakes but hes also a victim. And in urban Australia, too! Because as soon as a lot of people write Indigenous storylines, they feel they have to set it somewhere on country, and its like, no, were everywhere, lets not pigeonhole like that When you read it, youre like, Of course I want to play that role! Ayesha Madon and Thomas Weatherall in a scene from Heartbreak High. The youngest of five children (his father was a former rugby league player who now works in government; his mother a former swimmer turned teachers aide), Weatherall was raised in Rockhampton and Brisbane and only moved to Sydney last February due to filming demands. Growing up, hed initially followed his older sister into dance, studying contemporary and tap, and had planned on pursuing a career as a contemporary dancer. Loading Completely and utterly, that was the goal. It was like 30-plus hours a week of training from the age of six onwards. Very strict, very intense, he says. Its weird to be like, I was good!, but, I mean, I probably could have had a career in dance, and arguably an easier career, if Id stuck with it. A love of film and theatre led him to drama classes in high school, and in year 12, after being tipped off to a casting agent who was looking for different ethnicities, cultures for the ABC web series Deadlock, he successfully auditioned and booked his first acting job. Advertisement This was in 2017. I got it, it was the best. But even while I was doing it, there was a part of me going, Maybe I can still do dancing he recalls. But that was the job that got me signed by the agents Im still with, and so that was it. It just kind of unlocked something. Along with the second seasons of Heartbreak High and RFDS, in 2023 Weatherall will also appear in the Disney+ Original, Last Days of the Space Age, which was filmed in Sydney. Meanwhile, hes pivoting away from such big-scale productions to act in Blue, a one-man play he wrote as part of his 2021 Balnaves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellowship with Belvoir St Theatre. He started writing the play four years ago, but locked into it during the pandemic, while he was in Broken Hill filming RFDS. The cast of RFDS (clockwise from left): Stephen Peacocke, Rodney Afif , Jack Scott, Thomas Weatherall , Rob Collins, Ash Ricardo, Emma Hamilton, Justine Clarke, Kate Mulvany Credit:Daniel Asher Smith I was in a pretty bad place mentally, Weatherall says. Its been something Ive had my struggles with, on and off, and for some reason this episode felt different, more severe or intense than the others, and I didnt really have any coping mechanisms. Id lost a few mates that year and I was finding I was kind of drifting apart from people, very isolated. So I was like, well, what do I do instead? So I started writing. Framed around the fragile relationship between a young man, Mark, and his mother after Mark has moved out of the family home for the first time, Weatherall remains guarded about the plays material. A mood board in Belvoirs rehearsal space hints at a melancholy aquatic motif and mid-rehearsal discussions between Weatherall and his director Deborah Brown find the pair pondering the mechanics of having Weatherall submerged in water during the production, even stripping down on stage. Thomas Weatherall with his AACTA for best supporting actor in a drama. Credit:Getty I like to refer to it as very personal fiction because the events that happen in the play have not happened to me but, like I think a lot of first-time writers do, you write from things you know, says Weatherall. I used [the play] as a sort of therapy, a safety blanket that thing of being able to exorcise quite deep-rooted existential fears and thoughts and questions without having to actually put the onus on myself. Advertisement Mark, hes been dealt this deck of cards that arent in his favour, and hes kind of stuck going, How do I move forward with this? Weatherall continues. I always had this idea that those big concepts happen when youre, like, at least 35 you know, experienced, grown up. Then suddenly youre 17 or 18 and something happens, and you go Oh, I wasnt ready for that yet, and how do you move on with your life when the odds are seemingly stacked against you? The production is quite intimate, with just Weatherall onstage and a small team of stage managers on hand real nuts and bolts stagecraft and quite a contrast, I imagine, to a Netflix or a Disney production. Thomas Weatheralls Blue will be at Belvoir St Theatre as part of Sydney Festival. Credit:Louie Douvis Im an incredibly introverted and private person, and one thing I never realised, falling into acting, is you lose that a lot of the time. In fact, its kind of a sign of success if you do lose that. Its a lovely problem to have but a weird one to get used to, and you feel like such a pretentious actor, and Imposter Syndrome kicks in, when you talk about it, Weatherall says. Loading But its like, I view this as a job, and I actually like the process of waking up and doing a vocal warm-up or reading a script and having to figure it out on the floor. Spending 10 hours a day doing that - like, you finish the day and your clothes are dirty and youre tired and you just want to sleep - you feel like youve achieved something. And so I find actors who complain about being actors are the silliest people in the world. Because the fact I get paid to do this, especially when so many people want it and never get it? Its just obnoxiously special. Advertisement As the pandemic enters its fourth year, a new COVID-19 subvariant that is spreading fast in the US and leading to increasing hospitalisations has been detected in Australia, where high transmission rates have also led to the countrys first homegrown strain. Virologist Associate Professor Stuart Turville said his team had already detected about eight samples of the USs Omicron offshoot, dubbed XBB.1.5, in Australia. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spreading through NSW, driven by a swarm of Omicron subvariants. Credit: NIAID-RML via AP The variant first emerged in New York state in late October. By the end of December, the number of cases in the US had more than doubled in a week. The strain now accounts for 40 per cent of coronavirus cases in the country and has been linked to rising hospitalisations. Turville said that while XBB.1.5 is definitely one to watch, there was no evidence it caused more severe disease than any of the other hundreds of Omicron subvariants already circulating. The scene on Thursday afternoon was covered with vehicle debris, shoes, bags, as well as blankets left behind from paramedics. The ute came to a stop about 50 metres further west along Cosgrove-Lemnos Road in shrub on the roadside, where tools were littered across the road after falling from the trailer. The driver of the ute, a man in his 20s, was not seriously injured and stopped to assist at the scene. He was later transported to Goulburn Valley Health Hospital in a stable condition with minor injuries, according to Ambulance Victoria. The intersection where the fatal collision occurred. Credit: Joe Armao Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith said early signs pointed to a T-bone type collision and the car driving into the path of the Hilux. As a result of the collision, three men in the rear of that [Peugeot] hatchback had been ejected and have died. And the front seat passenger has also been killed, he said. Its rare that people get ejected when theyre wearing seatbelts. So we cant stress enough the importance of wearing a seatbelt. Goldsmith said about 21 people lost their lives last year as a result of not wearing a seatbelt. Its unfathomable that they would consider getting into a car without a seatbelt, he said. That should just be a fundamental 100 per cent of the time you get in a car, you put a seatbelt on. The scene was strewn with debris. Credit: Joe Armao Emergency services had responded to a collision between a truck and a car at the same intersection last month. Farmers in the area, including Singh, say the intersection and other surrounding roads are dangerous. Ive seen a few accidents there, Singh said, adding he believed rumble strips or the intersection being offset would reduce the danger of the crossroads. Another farmer on Pine Lodge North Road said a worker had died after leaving his property about eight years ago at a different nearby intersection that had since been upgraded. Having a previous fatality has forced a nearby intersection to be upgraded to an offset intersection, Ross, who did not want to give his last name, said. Police remove the ute from the scene. Credit: Joe Armao Why does it take a fatality? Shepparton Sikh community leader Dhami Singh said he felt for the families of the four men who died. They didnt come here to pass away, they came here for a better future. I am feeling really sad for their families back in India. I want the community to support each other and be careful on the road. I am also feeling sorry for the guy who was driving the ute, he didnt plan to hit them. Goldsmith told ABC Radio Melbourne that the scene was incredibly traumatic for first responders. Its certainly going to have an impact on those people. It reverberates right throughout the local community. He added the rural intersection near where the high-speed crash occurred will certainly be the major focus of the investigation given the clear weather and visibility at the time of the incident. This is really the worst nightmare, as far as starting a new calendar year. Ellen, a resident who didnt want to give her surname but has lived on Pine Lodge North Road for eight years, told The Age that the intersection in question was dangerous. There is a lot of traffic on that road for a back road, she said. Other locals have turned to social media to renew their complaints about the intersection after the crash: I had to place several phone calls before council cut the grass there, one person wrote. It needs to be offset so people cant fly through it. Loading The mayor of Greater Shepparton City Council, Shane Sali, told the ABC that the intersection was signed. Im sure if there are any further recommendations about this specific intersection, or more broadly, Im sure theyll be put forward to council for consideration. There was a near-miss between a truck and a ute at the Pine Lodge Road and Cosgrove-Lemnos Road intersection just last month, according to the Shepparton News. During a Thursday morning press conference, former road safety minister Ben Carroll said his heart went out to the families affected by the crash. I know that Victoria Police, literally as we speak, are doing their assessments. Its a terrible, terrible incident. Anything we can do to make the intersection safer, we will. Goldsmith said police would soon finalise processing the scene of the crash. Authorities would then wait until both drivers are available to be interviewed. The Pine Lodge crash isnt the only fatal accident to occur on Victorian roads in the last 24 hours. A man was killed on the Princes Highway at Kilmany, west of Sale, shortly before 9am on Thursday. Six people have died on Victorian roads so far this year. Police say thats despite the improvements that were made in road trauma statistics towards the end of last year. Given everything Victorians went through during the pandemic, this is a great coup for Melbourne and the people that make the place so special. Briton Alex Read, 29, decided to move to Melbourne in 2020, but Australias pandemic-induced border closures delayed his relocation. On New Years Day in 2022, he finally set foot on Victorian soil. Melbourne just sort of fits me like a glove: Briton Alex Read moved to the city on New Years Day in 2022. Credit: Wayne Taylor He said Melbourne offered a home away from home, a place similar enough to his native London to be comfortable but with exciting points of differences. Im definitely a city boy, Read said. Theres always something to do here, theres always somewhere to go, and theres always something to see. But migrating to Victoria so soon after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted wasnt seamless. Melburnians were still wary of the virus, which made making new friends difficult, and jobs outside of hospitality and retail for expats were scarce. The report also suggests Melbourne may not be so appealing to people already living in Australia, with much of the citys population gains over the next decade expected to come from strong overseas arrivals. After losing a total of 62,400 people to regional areas or other Australian jurisdictions over the past two financial years, Melbourne is expected to lose another 15,100 people to internal migration over the year to June 30, 2023. The report suggests that the trend will roll on, with Melbourne still tipped to be losing 11,000 people to internal migration in 2032-33. But booming net overseas migration will more than make up any losses. The city expected to gain 73,100 foreign migrants this financial year, followed 74,500 in the next and more than 71,000 each year after that. The report said that Victoria, which accounts for about a quarter of Australias population, would claim a disproportionately large 34 per cent share of Australias annual average overseas migration intake over the next decade. This, coupled with a steady natural increase, with births expected to exceed deaths, will push Melbournes population up by an average of 1901 people a week for the next decade. Like Melbourne, Sydney is expected to continue to lose residents to regional areas or other states for the forseeable future, with these losses more than offset by tens of thousands of overseas migrants each year. Chalmers warned that as the economy recovered from the worst of the pandemic, crippling skills and labour shortages were holding businesses and the economy back. Migration is part of the solution, but its not the only answer, he said. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said Sydney had been consistently losing people to other parts of the country for many years because of declining housing affordability, whereas Melbournes experience had been more volatile. The Victorian capital famously lost thousands of its residents to other jurisdictions during the recession of the 1990s, but then gained people attracted by the strong jobs market in the decade leading up the pandemic. Then we had the great COVID shock, and Melbourne lost a lot of people to the regions, Rawnsley said. The trend has been exacerbated by declining housing affordability, Rawnsley said. What we are seeing is a net outflow to places like Geelong, and also there has been an interstate flow from Melbourne to Queensland because of cheaper housing that was super-charged by COVID. A major backlog of working holiday visa applications during the lockdowns meant processing times blew out, forcing migrants including Read to wait up to two years for any sign of progress. There was still a lot of uncertainty around whether Australia would stay open, he said. Even when I flew in, there was uncertainty around if I had to quarantine. Despite the hurdles, Read said there was nowhere else in Australia hed rather be. I had some friends on the Gold Coast that I knew [but] thats one of the places thats always on your list to go visit but never really an option to live in. It was meant to be a fun day at the beach to ride the waves and blow off some steam after Christmas, but Perth father-of-six Scott Race now faces spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair after the day out turned to tragedy. The 39-year-old FIFO worker was swimming with his long-term partner Peta Byrne at Secret Harbour on December 28 when a freak wave dumped him on the ocean floor, breaking his neck in two places. Scott Race and Peta Byrne have been together for 11 years and have six children between them. Credit: Peta Byrne I looked over at him and thought he was mucking around because he was just floating with his face in the water, Byrne said. I went to shake him and nothing. So I grabbed him and picked him up, and he was gasping for air and he goes, I cant move, I cant move, I cant move. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. An 18-year-old man lit a string of bushfires north of Perth and then returned to help fight them, West Australian police allege. The teen has been charged with three counts of wilfully lighting a fire likely to injure or cause damage. He is accused of throwing lit matches into scrub along Beermullah Road at Gingin on November 29 and 30. Police allege the man then notified the local bushfire brigade and assisted in fighting the fires with his own ute fitted with a water tank. He is expected to appear before Joondalup Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has praised Coalition senator and leading No campaigner Jacinta Nampijinpa Price for calling for more transparency around the Voice to parliament as she insisted the party still did not have a final position on whether it will support the referendum. As the Greens spokeswoman on First Nations issues, Thorpe said that while she and Price approached the Voice from a completely different angle, they shared a similar scepticism about the need for another advisory body and the Indigenous leaders handpicked by the Albanese government to steer the process. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe says she and Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price share some common concerns about the Voice to parliament. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Both of us in our collective experience have seen numerous advisory bodies try and fix things and fail. She has also seen the hand-picked spokespeople for our people, who she doesnt agree with, and nor do I, Thorpe told this masthead. I think transparency and accountability through any process that this country wants to take about making a decision on our lives is paramount and I think thats what Jacinta is bringing out and good on her. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: We see ads advising us of the dangers of driving when tired. I would have thought that operating a poker machine at 2am would be accompanied by similar dangers. It is time for the government to act to protect the vulnerable from exploitation by these greedy organisations. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls There is no moral justification in allowing gamblers to burn not just the midnight oil but their financial stability and family life by sitting in front of a machine which has become their altar of worship. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Why exactly is it necessary for clubs and pubs to massively increase their profits by trading into the early morning? Surely, they make enough money already and, surely, there must be some executives who are aware of the problems they can and do cause. And what about staffing? This is not an essential industry; if they were closed there would be no great loss to the general public. It is to be hoped that the incoming government this year deals sensibly with the enormous problem they are causing to families and society as a whole. Nola Tucker, Kiama Despite overwhelming evidence of the hazards caused by poker machines, not to mention the fact that they are used for money laundering, the gambling industry is calling for longer trading hours. These purveyors of addiction have no shame. James Deli, Oatley I wonder how many people associate the RSL brand with military veterans? As a veteran myself, I am offended that the term RSL is so shamelessly interlinked with gambling, pokies, and the debate on cashless cards. Geoff Orme, Concord West Beauty of cricket in eye of the beholder Duncan Fines nostalgic piece about his father, Test cricket and the SCG finishes with the sentiment that Test cricket is still the most beguiling and beautiful game of all (Chappelli, Viv and Dad: SCG cricket survives Test of time, January 4). I cannot argue with beguiling. For me, the child of central European refugees, Test cricket has for well over half a century enchanted me and almost as often deceived me. As for beautiful, this is, as always, is a matter of the beholder. Shortly, after arriving in Australia in 1951, my father was taken to the SCG to watch his first game of cricket a Sheffield Shield game I suspect. Being polite, my father dutifully sat there for some time before asking his host, When will they start? They left the ground not long afterwards and he never watched another moments cricket. John Balazs, Randwick Yet more tipping points Europes mid-winter heat wave is deeply frightening rather than insane, joining the growing pile of evidence that global warming may have passed tipping points beyond which recovery is impossible (Totally insane: Thousands of records shattered in historic winter heat, January 4). The unprecedented floods in the Kimberley may also be evidence for this catastrophic change in climate of which we have been warned by the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Meanwhile, our governments are asleep and continuing to allow the extraction and sale of the fossil fuels that are responsible for most of the warming. Who will wake up, and stop us from ending as TS Eliot predicted in his poem The Hollow Men nearly 100 years ago; not with a bang, but a whimper?Barry Laing, Castle Cove Growing pains I love this country and I wouldnt want to live anywhere else. But that could change. The trouble is we base public policy on economics, which leads us to the dubious conclusions that we are better off if there are more of us, and that its a bad thing for us to live too long (Virus hampers population growth, January 4). Greater population benefits property speculators and those who are already well off, as any young people who cant get a house will tell you. And all the things money cant buy, like space on parks and beaches and our wonderful natural environment, are irreparably diminished. Norman Carter, Roseville Chase Cant write off Trump Unfortunately, Donald Trump has always managed to prove wrong everyones predictions for his demise (Trumps last dance could be 2023, January 4) Mustafa Erem, Terrigal Seawall stymies nature Exposed rocks from the seawall construction exposed on Collaroy Beach. Credit: Twitter @wendy_harmer No doubt the arrival of summer has drawn attention to the predicament of our beaches (Vanishing act: Signs at centre of seawall storm, January 4). Beaches are simply dynamic deposits of sand contained between headlands. They are in equilibrium with the prevailing wave, current and wind regimes. Many have natural buffers in the form of sand dunes which are periodically eroded and replenished. The inexorable rise in sea levels will cause loss of sand from these buffer zones and inevitably add to concerns about infrastructure built upon them. However, the short-term stabilisation through construction of seawalls, or dumping truckloads of rocks, will have one disastrous consequence for the beach-loving public. Due to the obstruction of the buffering process in these areas, future beach users will be presented not with sand but either a rocky foreshore or a concrete seawall. Roger Epps, Armidale Renshaw should be sidelined It is simply outrageous and beyond belief that Matt Renshaw could be allowed to keep playing for Australia in the 3rd test after testing positive for COVID (Renshaw tests positive for COVID-19, smh.com.au, January 4). There should be a mandatory and immediate replacement for anyone testing positive. Surely occupational health and safety rules would mandate this. If neither Cricket Australia or the ICC can behave responsibly and show some regard for the safety of their players and fans, the federal government should ban such irresponsible behaviour. Rob Cummins, Turramurra Fasting has benefits Having tried the 5:2 fasting diet back in 2013, I gradually lost 8kgs and maintain that weight loss today (Doubts cast over 5:2 fasting theory, January 4). Through time restricted eating I rediscovered portion control have you seen the size of muffins? and became more aware of what and when I ate. Over time, I gained a better understanding of hunger and nutrition, prioritising protein, vegetables and unprocessed over processed food on fasting/non-fasting days and just as importantly, feeling so much better for it. A little self-discipline is still required on the non-fasting days, but lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater. It really is quite a simple diet; good food from all food types with the flexibility to suit your particular lifestyle. Marian Attfield, Mt Colah NSW trailing the pack A shared bicycle and pedestrian path is proposed along the 16km M12 motorway Credit: NSW government Despite letter writers assertions, cycling on footpaths in NSW, is not restricted to under 12-year-olds and their adult supervisors (Letters, January 4). The law was changed several years ago to under 16-year-olds. Furthermore, cyclists of all ages, for many years, have been able to cycle on footpaths in Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and NT. Amazingly the sky hasnt fallen in and the oft predicted wholesale carnage on footpaths has yet to occur. We have just spent three months cycling in Adelaide without a single incident. NSW is undoubtedly the leader in two key aspects of cycling, however. It manages to incorporate the worst bicycle infrastructure in Australia, with the worlds most draconian and punitive anti-cyclist penalties. Bravo! Norman Monshall, Allambie Heights Abundance of clarity needed Your correspondent generously offers her list of verb past tenses (Letters, January 4). But first, you have to identify the subject of the verb. It has become common to opt for the nearest convenient word or phrase regardless of whether it is singular or plural, often obscuring the meaning and leaving the poor reader baffled. Gillian Appleton, Paddington Abundance of caution is the phrase that Id love never to hear again. Elizabeth Maher, Fiddletown Best summer holidays start after January Couldnt agree more with your correspondent (Letters, January 4). Searching for a parking spot, hustling for piece of beach, and being swum over by some kook confirms my idea of a good time differs from others. Ill wait until the holiday crowds disappear, head down the coast, grab a piece of beach, plant the umbrella and chair, survey all that is mine and relax. Michael Deeth, Como West NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will push the federal government to overhaul Medicare, arguing the system is broken and more free GPs are urgently needed to stop patients clogging emergency departments. Perrottet and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will unite to pressure the Albanese government to improve access to GPs and want it to be national cabinets top priority when it meets on February 1. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will unite to pressure the Albanese government to fix general practice. Credit: Rhett Wyman A new report from a federal taskforce on Medicare reform will be finalised this month and Labor has promised to use the $750 million Strengthening Medicare Fund to enact its recommendations. Perrottet is also working on a proposal with Andrews to take to national cabinet which is likely to include changing the Medicare schedule rebates that have failed to keep up with inflation. This would ensure GPs are paid more, rather than passing off extra costs to patients. Capital expenditure at Queensland Health facilities across the state has blown the budget by more than $150 million, with the state government blaming rising construction costs. Responding to an opposition question on notice on Wednesday, Health Minister Yvette DAth revealed that as of last month, 16 Queensland Health projects had a budgeted overspend. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, then-candidate (now MP) for Pumicestone Ali King and Deputy Premier Steven Miles announcing the satellite hospital policy at Bribie Island during the 2020 state election. Credit: Toby Crockford The single biggest blowout was in the Palaszczuk governments flagship satellite hospitals program, which is now 34.6 per cent over budget up from $280 million to $376.9 million. In her answer, tabled in state parliament, DAth said that was the result of significant unexpected cost pressures, including an expansion of scope, the relocation of the Brisbane South Satellite Hospital to Eight Mile Plains, contamination at some sites, and poor weather. The Buffalo Bills said on Wednesday that safety Damar Hamlin has shown signs of improvement since suffering a cardiac arrest during a Monday night NFL game in Cincinnati, but that he is still in critical condition. Damar remains in the ICU (intensive care unit) in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight, the Bills said in a social media post. He is expected to remain under intensive care as his healthcare team continues to monitor and treat him. During the first quarter of the Bills penultimate regular-season game against the Bengals, Hamlin got to his feet after making a tackle and then collapsed. Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo has just completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, but made a slip up during his official presentation in Riyadh when mistakenly saying he had come to South Africa. Perhaps the Portugal great was disorientated by the whirlwind nature of his arrival at his new club, which saw him fly out on Monday night, before undergoing a medical the next morning and then being greeted by thousands of cheering fans at Al Nassrs Mrsool Park stadium. Cristiano Ronaldo greets his new fans in Saudi Arabia. Credit: Getty For me it is not the end of my career to come to South Africa, Ronaldo said at a news conference before stepping out on the field at the 25,000-capacity stadium. I really dont worry about what people say. I took my decision and I have responsibility to change that, but for me Im really, really happy to be here. Ronaldo went on to outline his reasons for joining Al Nassr and said he had turned down many clubs around the world to complete one of the most surprising moves in the sports history. A report by Victorias Skills Authority says that by 2025 the state will face a shortage of nearly 400,000 workers. That figure includes 65,000 health and aged and disability care workers, 90,000 service sector workers, 41,000 teaching staff, 34,000 construction workers and 64,000 financial services and IT professionals. By 2025 Victoria is expected to face a shortage of 400,000 workers. Credit: Joe Armao Meanwhile, Victorias unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1974, with just one unemployed person for every vacant job. There simply arent enough humans to go around. As a lifelong techy who has spent more than 20 years developing and integrating technology to solve business problems, this massive imbalance begs an obvious question: could robots help to redress the states massive labour shortage? The short answer? Yes, definitely. Istanbul: The former head of Russias space agency who was hit in the buttocks by a French howitzer at his birthday party has sent Emmanuel Macron a piece of shrapnel removed from his body. Dmitry Rogozin, a flamboyant former deputy prime minister of Russia who once promised to capture Vienna, Berlin and Budapest, is in hospital after he and his party came under Ukrainian shelling in a hotel outside Donetsk last month. Rogozin on Wednesday posted a photo of a piece of shrapnel next to a 1 rouble coin for scale, and separate images of a letter addressed to Jean-Pierre Levy, the French ambassador to Moscow. President Vladimir Putin, right, listens to Russian Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin speaks in 2019. Credit: AP He accused France of betraying the legacy of the great Charles de Gaulle and becoming one of Europes most bloodthirsty nations. Lack of workforce development not lack of workers could be Buffalos biggest economic problem. It could also be its biggest opportunity. This frustrating paradox is tellingly illustrated in statistics that show a low unemployment rate paired with a below-average workforce participation rate. Too many residents are out of the workforce, or are working in low-wage jobs, because they lack the right skills. If this problem is attacked with sharply focused rigor, success could mean more start-ups moving to Buffalo and staying here. It could mean solid career opportunities for the thousands of young people to whom the term Buffalo renaissance is meaningless. Finally, success could mean generating wealth where decades of poverty has been the only reality. Buffalo can build its own vibrant workforce and in so doing improve the economic health of the entire Western New York region. It wont be easy, but it can be accomplished, and a big chunk of that is up to local employers. Heres some of whats standing in the way: Buffalos current workforce, fueled by retirements, is aging and the problem is particularly severe in the skilled trades arena. The current workforce does not reflect Buffalos diverse populations, including Black people, immigrants and refugees. Brain drain results from recent college graduates who came to Buffalo by choice and might otherwise stay here leaving because they have not been made aware of opportunities. Skilled trades programs are mostly offered in white communities, not easily reached by mass transit. Job locations suffer from the same disconnect. These are obstacles, but not daunting ones. East Buffalos Northland Workforce Training Center has been preparing workers for manufacturing jobs since 2018, and has trained more than 500 so far. Another nonprofit, TechBuffalo, is focused on expanding the pool of trained tech workers and does it with regular boot camps and training courses for adult learners. This year, Goodwills Goodskills Career Builder Initiative, a free program that trains workers for manufacturing jobs, got enough funding to help 750 more people. Say Yes Buffalos apprenticeship program is just getting off the ground, with 25 initial hires across six local companies. And Employ Buffalo Niagaras Talent Pipeline Management program was just awarded a $1 million grant from New York state to provide pre-employment and occupational training skills. Its not enough, but its progress. There needs to be more of the same, located in areas that trainees can easily reach. Heres another key component: Employers need to do their part. Talented international students, immigrants and refugees are coming to Buffalo. They need to be made welcome by local companies lucky enough to hire them. The days of a brief appointment with human resources followed by Heres your desk are over. New hires cant be left to sink or swim; they should be made fully aware of their essential roles in a companys success and shown a clear path to advancement. Its even more important to show native Buffalonians how much Buffalos business community needs them and sees their potential. Say Yes Buffalo staffers have been placing apprentices from six Buffalo high schools in six local companies, but emphasize that working with prospective employers to ensure a nurturing culture is a big part of their job. Phrases like work-life balance, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and people-first culture are likely still unfamiliar terms in many Western New York workplaces. Whether these employers are innocently unaware or deliberately dismissive, its equally unsustainable. Employers in other, faster-growing regions are learning how to engage a diverse workforce, and the risk is that our young people will move to those places. Buffalo has to try harder. Identifying, training and nurturing a skilled, diverse workforce is not just essential to Buffalos future. It is the only future Buffalo can afford to have. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. London: The World Health Organisation has appeared to tacitly endorse the decision of several countries to impose pre-departure COVID tests on travellers from China, saying Beijing was underreporting its cases, deaths and hospitalisations from the virus. From Thursday (Australia time), anyone flying from China, Hong Kong and Macau to Australia will need to provide a negative rapid test taken within 48 hours of their departing flight. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Credit: AP China is reopening to the world on January 8 after two years in self-imposed exile as part of President Xi Jinpings pursuit of zero COVID. The abandonment of that policy has led to a surge of infections driven by low population immunity and poor vaccination rates. Data presented by Chinese officials to the WHO on Tuesday said 98 per cent of cases were of the BA.5.2 and BF.7 Omicron strains that are already present in other countries, including Australia. Grand Junction, Colorado: A former Colorado funeral parlour owner has been sentenced to 20 years in US federal prison for defrauding relatives of the dead by dissecting 560 corpses and selling body parts without permission. Megan Hess, 46, pleaded guilty to fraud in July. She operated a funeral home, Sunset Mesa, and a body parts entity, Donor Services, from the same building in Montrose, Colorado. The 20-year term was the maximum allowed under law. Megan Hess (left) arrives at the Wayne Aspinall Courthouse with her attorney before her sentencing. Credit: The Denver Post/Getty Her 69-year-old mother, Shirley Koch, also pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to 15 years. Kochs central role was chopping up the bodies, court records show. Hess and Koch used their funeral home at times to essentially steal bodies and body parts using fraudulent and forged donor forms, prosecutor Tim Neff said in a court filing. Hess and Kochs conduct caused immense emotional pain for the families and next of kin. PHILIPSBURG: --- At least three known politicians will soon have to appear in courts as the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) tries to recover monies that was given to them for specific investment projects. SMN News learned that each of the politicians received between one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to invest through the Enterprise Support Project (ESP) and they never invested the monies for which it was secured. According to the information SMN News received the three politicians were asked to repay the NRPB but they opted not to do so as such the NRPB is now moving to courts to recover the money that was loaned to them. The politicians that requested money for investment purposes are United St. Maarten Party (USP) Khalil Revan who was supposed to open a grocery store that never materialized. It is understood that the NRPB has asked Revan to repay the money he was loaned but to date, he has not made any effort to do so, as such the NRPB has to move to court to recover the funds from Revan. Based on the court docket of December 2022 the NRPB filed a case against Khalil Revan on December 13th, 2022, Qredits and NRBP against Khalil Revan (Grote Markt). The case was heard on December 13th and Revan did not show up as such the court will render a default judgment sometime in January 2023. United Peoples Party (UPP) member and United Democrats candidate Armand Meda another politician that received over $100K to invest, however, bought a fleet of motor vehicles all of which he resold and kept the investment monies and did not repay the NRPB. National Alliance Dimar Labega also received monies from the NRPB for a fitness project and his project also did not materialize. In an invited comment Labega admitted that he received funds for investment, and he intends to repay the NRPB. Labega said that he already had a payment plan with the NRBP but he has been inconsistent with the payment. He said he accepts full responsibility for his actions, and such will make the repayment a high priority for this year. The three politicians that secured investment funding from NRPB through Qredits were the first sets of persons that received the funding. At the time when the project launched NRPB and Qredits transferred all the funds to the entrepreneurs who submitted business plans and ideas. However, they quickly changed their business strategy when they realized that the potential investors were not using the funds for its intended purposes. SMN News learned that NRBP and Qredits have since decided to follow the banking procedures in which they would make payments in tranches or to creditors. Payback plan. Based on the agreements signed the entrepreneurs are supposed to pay back 35% of the loan should they follow through with their investment projects. However, the three politicians are asked to repay the total sum plus interest since they did not use the funds they obtained for its intended purposes. Khalil Revan has since begun making payments when he learned that Qredits and NRPB were moving to court, however, his intention was to just pay back the 35% even though he never opened the Grote Markt at its intended location in Cole Bay. Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion confirmed that there are persons who received monies from the ESP program and these persons did not use the monies they received for its intended purposes as such the NRPB is working on recovering the funds. Funds were given to entrepreneurs, and they did not execute, and these persons have to repay the NRBP the full amount. These persons have not even replied to the emails sent to them and I do believe the courts are the next step in order to receive. I will not say who these persons are because I do not know who is running for elections this year, however, I will say that there has been misappropriation of funds. Irion explained that the NRPB has done all its in power to recover the monies loaned to persons who wanted to invest. He said that the government is responsible for the recovery of the funds as such court cases will have to be filed. Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said the Government of St. Maarten made the ESP program available as such a loan was given to entrepreneurs for investment. She said that they were informed that some persons did not live up to the agreement they made when they obtained the funds. She said because of checks and balances that are in place some persons were identified as such she is imploring those persons to either repay the funds or invest in the project and or ideas they had. SMN News reached out to the NRPB and was unable to get Director Claret Conner, However, Conner later made this statement in writing to SMN News. The NRPB takes non-compliance very seriously. If a beneficiary of the Enterprise Support Project does not live up to the legal agreements that they have signed with the NRPB, appropriate action will be taken. The NRPB cannot comment on individual cases. Labrador Uranium Announces Management Change Labrador Uranium Inc. (aLURa, aLabrador Uraniuma, or athe Companya) (CSE: LUR, OTCQB: LURAF, FRA: EI1 https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/labrador-uranium-inc/ ) announces that effective January 1, 2023, Stephen Keith has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Philip Williams, Executive Chairman has assumed the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer. LURa?s Board of Directors intends to commence a comprehensive search process to identify a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Philip Williams, Executive Chairman, and Interim CEO of LUR commented, aOn behalf of the Labrador Uranium team, I would like to thank Stephen for his contribution to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavours.a Mr. Williams continued, aAlthough my role as CEO is on an interim basis, until the right candidate to replace Stephen is identified, I take the position enthusiastically recognizing the tremendous opportunity LUR has to both verify the historic uranium and vanadium mineral resources on the project as well as to potentially make new discoveries. This combination of historic in ground mineral resources with district scale exploration potential, in my mind, sets LUR apart from its peer group but is not currently fully appreciated by the market. Under Stephena?s leadership, LUR grew in a short period of time, from an idea to a listed company that attracted an experienced and talented technical team, all of whom remain in place, and executed on an ambitious 2022 field program. The Company is well funded for its 2023 exploration program which will build on the results from last year as well as leverage the tremendous amount of data-accumulated on the very large project area.a About Labrador Uranium Inc. Labrador Uranium is engaged in the exploration and development of uranium projects in Labrador, Canada and holds a dominant land position with 52 Mineral Licences covering 152,825 ha in the prolific Central Mineral Belt (aCMBa) in central Labrador and the Notakwanon Project in northern Labrador. Currently, the Company is advancing the district scale CMB Project which includes the Moran Lake Deposit and Mustang Lake Project. The CMB Project area surrounds several known uranium prospects, including Paladin Energya?s Michelin deposit, with substantial past exploration work completed, and numerous occurrences of uranium, copper and IOCG style mineralization. For More Information, Please Contact: Philip Williams Executive Chairman and Interim CEO Investor Relations Toll-Free: 1-833-572-2333 Email: info@labradoruranium.com Website: www.labradoruranium.com Twitter: @LabradorUr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/labrador-uranium-inc/ In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Cautionary Statement Regarding aForward-Lookinga Information This news release contains \forward-looking information\ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, potential mineralization, exploration activities and planned future exploration activities, and other activities, events or developments that are expected, anticipated or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as aplansa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, abudgeta, ascheduleda, aestimatesa, aforecastsa, aintendsa, aanticipatesa, or abelievesa or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta or awill be takena, aoccura or abe achieveda or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information and statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about LURa?s business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Such forward information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that locations of historical mineral resources estimates could lead to new mineralization discoveries and potentially be verified as current mineral resource estimates, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms to conduct further exploration and operational activities, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Companya?s planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by LUR in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of Labrador Uranium to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of Labrador Uranium expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: limited operating history, negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, delays or failure to obtain required permits and regulatory approvals, no known mineral resources/reserves, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel; potential downturns in economic conditions; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment and supplies; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; changes in laws and regulation, competition, and uninsurable risks, community relations, delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals and the risk factors with respect to Labrador Uranium set out in LURa?s listing statement dated March 2, 2022 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under LURa?s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although LUR has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. LUR undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws. Skeena Closes Sale of Royalty on Eskay Creek for C$27 Million Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE, NYSE: SKE) (aSkeenaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/skeena-resources-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce that the Company has closed a royalty sale (the aRoyalty Transactiona) with Franco-Nevada Corporation (aFranco-Nevadaa) pursuant to which Skeena granted a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty (aNSRa) on the Eskay Creek gold-silver Project (aEskay Creeka or the aProjecta) to Franco-Nevada in exchange for a closing cash consideration of C$27 million and contingent cash consideration of C$1.5 million. As highlighted in the Companya?s September 26, 2022 news release, Skeena repurchased this 0.5% NSR from Barrick Gold Corporation after it was initially granted in connection with the acquisition of Eskay Creek. The Royalty Transaction was signed and closed concurrently on December 30, 2022. In connection with this transaction, Skeena terminated Franco-Nevadaa?s right of first refusal to purchase a 0.5% NSR on Eskay Creek, which right was granted to Franco-Nevada on December 24, 2021.A A The net proceeds of the Royalty Transaction will be used by the Company to fund ?exploration and development activities at Eskay Creek and for general ?administration and corporate purposes.? About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an open-pit average grade of 4.00 g/t AuEq, an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. Skeena is currently continuing exploration drilling at Eskay Creek. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walter Coles Jr. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Randy Reichert Executive ChairmanA A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A President & CEO Contact Information Investor Inquiries: info@skeenaresources.com Office Phone: +1 604 684 8725 Company Website: www.skeenaresources.com In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aproposesa, acontemplatesa, ageneratesa, atargetsa, ais projecteda, ais planneda, aconsidersa, aestimatesa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, apotentiala and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, amighta, awilla, acoulda, or awoulda be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward- looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward- looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Companya?s Annual Information Form (aAIFa) dated March 31, 2022. Such forward-looking statements represent the Companya?s management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 31, 2022, the base shelf prospectus dated November 11, 2020, the prospectus supplement to the Companya?s base shelf prospectus dated September 20, 2022 and in the Companya?s other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and the Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward- looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. A sign at an empty Sunwing kiosk at Regina Airport on Monday afternoon details the status of some past flights. (Kirk Fraser/CBC - image credit) Elizabeth Bentley says dragging bags to the reception every morning, only to bring back them up to the hotel rooms at night, was a routine for almost a week for her and other passengers stranded in Cuba. "It was abandonment. I had put up a Christmas tree before leaving, put presents there and told my kids to come on the eve, but we weren't there. And then the new year didn't happen either," she said. Bentley said it was a mistake for her family to think they could trust Sunwing with their flights. Hundreds of Saskatchewan residents stuck in Cuba due to Sunwing cancellations finally arrived in Winnipeg on Sunday night. Upon arrival, contrary to what they had been told earlier, Sunwing informed them that only eight tickets were reserved for a WestJet flight to Regina on Monday afternoon. More than a dozen immediately hit the road on Sunday night, with several more following Monday morning. "Then, out of nowhere, to our surprise Sunwing said they will offer us a flight to Regina on Monday afternoon," Theresa Joan Ayerst, who was travelling with her husband, son and mother-in-law, said. She said the flight back to Regina only had 28 passengers on it, all people who had been stranded in Cuba. Ayerst said the trip took a toll on her family. "My 13-year-old son suffers from severe anxiety and every day he was crying asking are we ever getting back home," she said with tears in her eyes. "We were really excited to be going away for Christmas, but are coming back feeling way more emotional and stressed." Ayerst said the only good thing out of their ordeal was some friendships made during the shared crisis. She said a Facebook group is growing, with talk circulating about a class-action suit against Sunwing. Kirk Fraser/CBC Last week, Sunwing announced it was cancelling all its flights out of Saskatoon and Regina until Feb. 3. CBC reached out to Sunwing for an interview for this story, but the airline declined. Ayerst, who lives in Regina, said she would never fly with Sunwing again. Story continues Other Sunwing customers CBC spoke with at Regina Airport on Monday afternoon shared that sentiment. "Nightmare" was the only word Bryan Marciszyn could think of to describe his experience with Sunwing. He was supposed to be back home in Manitou Beach, Sask., from Cuba on Dec. 27. "I was waiting in the lobby of my hotel for five days for a bus that never showed up," he said. During that time, he fell and banged his head, and had to get medical treatment. Others missed out on work opportunities and said it felt "like abuse" to deal with Sunwing customer care, which they say was always lacking information. Kirk Fraser/CBC "I'm usually a strong person and nothing gets me, but I had a couple of breakdowns," Valerie Lechner, one of the people who drove from Winnipeg to Regina, said. She said she chose to drive because after previous "false promises of a plane coming," she did not want to to trust Sunwing again. "Being back in Canada was like a weight was lifted off. There were people with babies who ran out of formula and diapers. In this day of technology, how can Sunwing have so much miscommunication?" King Chen, who was traveling with 10 people including three young kids, agreed. "It was very frustrating. Both arriving and departing flights were delayed. We kept checking but there were no alerts or information," she said. In an email statement shared with CBC, the provincial government said it is aware that several hundred passengers returned to Saskatchewan, with more expected in the coming days. "Sunwing is still unable to tell us with certainty when all Saskatchewan residents will be repatriated," the statement said. "We expect Sunwing to treat customers fairly and we expect that federal [Transport] Minister [Omar] Alghabra and the CTA will be holding carriers accountable as that is their regulatory responsibility." Submitted by Debra Geiler Manitoba resident Debra Geiler, who said she had to pay more than $4,000 out of her own pocket to make her way from Cuba to Toronto to Regina before finally arriving home in Brandon, said it might not be smooth sailing seeking compensation from Sunwing. "I hope they compensate us for that," she said. "On the news, when we were stranded there, we saw ministers say it's shocking and disappointing, but they didn't do anything." She and others said they want the federal government to look into Sunwing's disrupted service. 'Airlines are not typically held accountable': advocate Gabor Lukacs, founder and co-ordinator of Air Passenger Rights, told CBC's Saskatoon Morning that all passengers are entitled to alternate transportation to their original destinations. He said that can include buying tickets on other airlines, competitors included, under the Montreal Convention, a multilateral treaty covering airline liability enforced in Canada. "A deal is a deal. Sunwing airlines cannot just unilaterally walk away from the contract which is already concluded and paid by the passengers," he said. "With all these cancellations that are fully within Sunwing's control, they have to pay passengers lost wages, meals, accommodations and so on." Lukacs said passengers should send Sunwing a letter of demand stating the incurred expenses, with copies of receipts. "If Sunwing, as expected, doesn't pay, passengers can serve Sunwing with small claims court papers. Sunwing will have to come to Saskatchewan and defend in court why it's not paying passengers," he said. "These situations keep happening over and over again because airlines are not typically held accountable, neither by the government nor the public." Saskatoon Morning Lukacs said he doubts Sunwing will live up to its obligation of paying passengers a lump sum of $500 within 30 days, as is required under the Accessible Transportation Planning and Reporting Regulations. "The Canadian Transportation Agency could fine up to $25,000 per passenger and per incident for many of these violations, but I fear it may not be happening anytime soon," he said. Lukacs said he would not be surprised to see a class-action lawsuit against the airline and suggested passengers keep records of their conversations with Sunwing representatives. "Whatever time it takes, do it. Don't let Sunwing keep your money." Walter Cunningham was a former NASA astronaut best remembered for flying the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968. He was the second American civilian to fly in space. Cunningham was born on March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa. In 1951, at age 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and began flight training the following year, according to his NASA biography (opens in new tab). Cunningham flew 54 missions as a night fighter pilot during the Korean War. In 1956, Cunningham joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve. For about three years in the early 1960s, he worked as a scientist at Rand Corp., a global policy nonprofit institution. During that time, he earned two degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts, both with specialties in physics. Related: Astronaut Walt Cunningham, who test-flew Apollo 7 command module, dies at 90 Then in 1963, Cunningham came to NASA as part of the agency's third astronaut class. He was initially assigned a spot on Apollo 2, but the mission was canceled following a launchpad fire that killed the Apollo 1 crew on Jan. 27, 1967. Parts of Apollo 2 were destroyed in the investigation to find out what happened to Apollo 1, Cunningham said in a 1999 interview (opens in new tab) with NASA. The agency decided to switch to a more advanced version of the Apollo spacecraft for all future missions. "It was the dead-end mission, kind of, because it was the last one of this kind of a spacecraft," Cunningham said in his oral history of Apollo 2. "So, eventually NASA came to realize there's not much reason to fly this, and they cancelled Apollo ... part of it was to save money and to put the resources on to the [more advanced] Block 2 spacecraft." The crew of the first manned Apollo space mission inside the White Room. From left to right, are Donn Eisele, Walter Schirra, and Walter Cunningham. (Image credit: NASA.) (opens in new tab) Apollo 7 mission NASA flew six uncrewed Apollo missions following the Apollo 1 incident, before continuing with the crewed missions. The entire Apollo 2 crew Cunningham, Donn Eisele and commander Wally Schirra were rescheduled to fly on Apollo 7. Apollo 7 featured a command module with several key redesigns to address safety, including improved wiring, more fire-retardant materials and pumping a mix of oxygen-nitrogen in the capsule while it was sitting on the ground (an improvement over the pure oxygen that accelerated the fire in Apollo 1). The crew remained focused on their work preparing for the mission, Cunningham said in the NASA interview, even though the shadow of Apollo 1 loomed large over the program. Apollo 7 flew in Earth orbit between Oct. 11 and Oct. 22, 1968. Overall, the mission was a success; the crew sent the first live television transmissions from space, they tested the service module propulsion engine and practiced for lunar docking using the discarded S-IVB rocket stage of the Saturn IB rocket that brought them into space, according to Cunningham's NASA biography. The Apollo 7 mission went so well that NASA gave the go-ahead for the crew of Apollo 8 to fly into lunar orbit, just two months later. But in other respects, the Apollo 7 crew had difficulties. Schirra developed a cold in space and it's unclear if the other crewmembers developed colds as well. Nonetheless, there was obvious tension between the flight crew and the ground crew back at NASA. At one point, Schirra was frustrated enough that he canceled one of the crew's planned television broadcasts. "There was some real bickering back and forth between Wally and the ground," Cunningham said in his interview with NASA. "I, frankly, have never felt like I had any kind of a problem with the ground, with going over the onboard tapes and air-to-ground and what have you." But Cunningham said that his fellow crewmembers, Eisele and Schirra, made their disagreements with the ground crew's directions well known, especially Schirra. Astronaut Walter Cunningham, Apollo 7 lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 7 mission. (Image credit: NASA/JSC) (opens in new tab) Life after Apollo 7 For Chris Kraft, the mission control director, the most frustrating part of the Apollo 7 mission was when the astronauts refused to wear their helmets on the way back to Earth, as Kraft described in his memoir "Flight: My Life in Mission Control (opens in new tab)" (Dutton, 2001). The astronauts said they wanted to avoid having their eardrums pop due to congestion, but they also risked injury or death if the cabin suddenly depressurized. The crew arrived safely back on Earth on Oct. 22, 1968. Kraft said he didn't want any of the crewmembers to fly in space again, and in fact, none of them did. In his interview with NASA, Cunningham said that he asked Kraft about saying that he'd stop the Apollo 7 crew from flying again, but Kraft denied ever making such a statement. In any case, Cunningham was disappointed that he never flew again, he said. Cunningham was expecting to command the first Skylab space station mission, but that never came to pass. Instead, he became NASA's chief of the Skylab branch, responsible for operational inputs for the hardware, the launch vehicles and 56 major experiments. Cunningham left NASA in 1971. In the decades following, he participated in several different business ventures, including commercial real estate, offshore engineering, project management and venture capital investments. Cunningham is credited with starting a spaceflight tradition that continues today. He took the lead to have medallions struck for the Apollo 7 crew, which were flown on the mission and then engraved post-flight with the launch and landing dates. These mementos, now known as the Robbins medallions after the company that made them, have been made for every NASA crewed flight since. In 1977, Cunningham authored "The All-American Boys," a "no-holds-barred" candid memoir that was widely praised for revealing the human side of the space program. In 1998, he was portrayed by actor Fredric Lehne in the HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon." In October 2018, at age 86, Cunningham took part in Apollo 7's 50th-anniversary celebration at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. "We thought, rightly or wrongly, that we [the Apollo 7 crew] could overcome all of the obstacles and that our goal was worth the risk," Cunningham said at the celebration, collectSPACE reported (opens in new tab). Cunningham died at the age of 90, on Jan. 3, 2023. His death was confirmed by his family. "We would like to express our immense pride in the life that he lived, and our deep gratitude for the man that he was a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, husband, brother and father. The world has lost another true hero, and we will miss him dearly," his family said in a statement released by NASA (opens in new tab). Shakhtar Donetsk reportedly have little intention of backing down on their 85m valuation of Arsenal and Chelsea target Mykhaylo Mudryk. Shakhtar Donetsk reportedly have little interest in negotiating a fee below their asking price for Mykhaylo Mudryk. Since the summer, the winger has been heavily linked with a transfer to the Premier League with a number of clubs known to be monitoring his development. However, with Mudryk having previously namechecked Arsenal in an interview before the Gunners held a position at the top of the Premier League, it has long been perceived that the North London outfit are the favourites for his signature. The odds of a move to the Emirates Stadium coming to fruition have further shortened since the injury to Gabriel Jesus, with Mikel Arteta keen to bring in another high-profile name in the final third during January. As it stands, however, the Arsenal hierarchy have not come close to agreeing a fee with Shakhtar, who stated in the summer that they would not sell Mudryk for a fee less than the 82m that Manchester United paid for Antony. Reuters A recent report claimed that Arsenal were willing to improve on their initial offer of 65m (57.6m), a proposal which is also said to include add-ons. Nevertheless, the process is now said to have become complicated with Chelsea ready to match or improve on any offer made by their London rivals. According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal have been told that they must increase their bid if they wish to remain in the race for the 21-year-old. Although Arsenal were hoping to conclude a deal for 60m, it has been alleged that Shakhtar want to recoup as much as 85m if they are to sell Mudryk in January. Reuters In a separate report by The Independent's Miguel Delaney, Chelsea have already informed the Ukrainian giants that they ready to out-bid Arsenal. However, it is added that Mudryk would still prefer to sign for Arsenal if a deal can be agreed between the relevant parties over the coming weeks. Shakhtar chief Darijo Srna is scheduled to be in London over the coming days and plans to attend Chelsea's fixture with Manchester City on Thursday. Mudryk has made 18 appearances for Shakhtar in the league and Champions League this campaign, contributing 10 goals and eight assists. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California speaks during his weekly press conference at the US Capitol on November 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. Alex Edelman/Getty Images Kevin McCarthy lost three more House speaker ballots on Wednesday, making him 0 for 6. Anti-McCarthy advocates nominated Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida as their latest pick. McCarthy continues to face a 20-person block determined to keep him from getting promoted. Within the past 24 hours, Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost second-term lawmaker Byron Donalds' vote for House speaker, and then faced off against him for the up-in-the-air leadership post losing three times in a row. The fourth losing ballot came Wednesday afternoon after the 20 dissenters who blocked McCarthy the day before by backing Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio switched things up by nominating Donalds to run the procedurally paralyzed chamber. The subsequent fifth and sixth ballots yielded the same result, with McCarthy bleeding support rather than converting critics. The only other deviation was that Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana voted "present" the last three times, shrinking McCarthy's slowly receding base to 201 votes. The anti-McCarthy camp has so far proposed rallying behind Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Jordan, and Donalds. Donalds, who voted for himself on the floor, told reporters he accepted the historic nomination from his colleagues even though that's not a career ambition of his. "I never came here to try to be speaker," Donalds said on the front steps of the US Capitol, adding that keeping the leadership deliberations going is his focus right now. When asked what, if any, further concessions McCarthy could make to the dissenters, Donalds said allowing any single member of the House Republican caucus to call for a vote to oust the speaker known as a motion to vacate might satisfy "some" of the detractors. "It's about empowering members to do the job that they were elected to do, not continuing to put more power into the hands of the speakership," Donalds said of the internal check on power McCarthy has somewhat bent on, but not yet fully given into. Story continues Donalds, who was put up for the top job by Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, lent McCarthy his support during the first two rounds of voting on Tuesday, but later switched sides after concluding that the badly wounded California Republican has no path to victory. McCarthy refused to back down ahead of the latest defeats, insisting that he's still the favorite among the broader Republican caucus. "I still have the most votes," McCarthy told congressional reporters ahead of the latest defeat. He added that he'd "continue to talk" with the dissenters, even though he keeps losing ground with every failed floor vote. The emboldened opposition group, which was so far picked up support rather than withering under pressure from McCarthy, Jordan, embattled former President Donald Trump, and former Vice President Mike Pence, has vowed to keep at it until things really change around the US Capitol. "We can't continue with the same failed policies, rules, strategies, and *leadership* that are killing our Nation. @ByronDonalds will break the status quo," anti-McCarthy advocate Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania wrote online. House Republicans moved to adjourn until 8 p.m., moving the infighting off the House floor as McCarthy seeks a way out of this Groundhog Day-like predicament. Read the original article on Business Insider The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) is calling for a firm and prompt response by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Ukrainian Embassy in Bucharest after the diplomatic mission urged a "fast and thorough" investigation on the territory of Romania, noting that "the imperative tone of the Ukrainian diplomats is unacceptable." "No matter how poorly chosen, out of place and inappropriate to the current moment the manifestation of the Berzunti locals might be, the imperative tone of the Ukrainian diplomats is unacceptable, the more so as it comes from a state accustomed to trample on the rights and freedoms of national minorities. Romania has nothing in common with the Ukrainian justice system and cannot return to the tradition of kangoroo investigations that have destroyed destinies, separated families and denationalized entire communities after the Second World War," AUR said on Wednesday in a release. The Embassy's request comes after Romanian media presented a traditional parade occasioned by the winter celebrations held in Berzunti - eastern Bacau County, portraying in opposition the two camps engaged in the Ukrainian conflict and which saw several locals dressed up as Russian soldiers, told Agerpres. In a Facebook message, the Embassy of Ukraine said that the symbols of the Russian aggression should be banned in the entire civilized world. "We note with regret that on the day Ukraine was targeted by a massive missile attack by the Russian Federation, a semi-joking demonstration was organized in Bacau County, where symbols of Russian terrorists were used. We are convinced that such a demonstration runs counter to the sentiment of the Romanian people, who expressed their unconditional support for Ukraine in the war started by the Russian Federation against the Ukrainian state. We hope that the Romanian society will evaluate this event accordingly," the diplomatic mission said. A group of researchers from Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca demonstrated the existence, on the territory of Romania, of a species of crocodile that lived here in the past and is present today in southeast Asia, informs a press release sent by the university on Wednesday, told Agerpres. "A group of paleontologists from the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Vlad A. Codrea, Venczel Marton: Paleotheriology Laboratory), Tara Crisurilor Museum Oradea (Venczel Marton) and the Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu (Nicolae Trif) demonstrated the existence of a type of crocodile fossil vertebrate from the gavial group on the territory of Romania. Crocodiles from the gavial group live today in south and southeast Asia, being semi-aquatic," says the source. The most famous of them is the Indian gavial, the so-called gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). What distinguishes them are the elongated and narrow snouts, equipped with a multitude of interlocking teeth, specialized for their specific food: fish. "Based on some teeth from the rocks in Turnu Rosu (formerly Porcesti), researchers specialized in the research of vertebrate fossils established that such crocodiles were present in that area in the Paleogene, about 34-48 million years ago. In those times, warm and shallow waters of the Tethys Ocean bathed the freshly emerged mountains that today belong to Fagaras Mountains. The isolated teeth of crocodiles there have been collected for over a century, but they have never been studied carefully enough. They come from several individuals, with at least five morphological forms being distinguished on the basis of the existing fossils. Based on the particular features, they were attributed to some primitive gavial forms, found at the beginning of their geological history," the press release states. According to the researchers, their fossils in southern Transylvania have a very special importance for two reasons: on the one hand, they prove the presence of a new group of fossil vertebrates in Romania, and on the other, they allow the assumption of a migration from northwest Africa to our lands. "The mentioned research allows us to assume that they come from a close ancestor of Maroccosuchus, a crocodile known from the western area of the Tethys Ocean. The extinction of these crocodiles from Romania in the times that followed the deposition of the rocks from Turnu Rosu was probably generated by the climatic changes that occurred at the border between the Eocene and the Oligocene, when we can talk about a great climatic crisis, which triggered the appearance of the first ice caps in Antarctica. It is as clear as possible that fossil research in Romania still has many unknown aspects to be revealed. The results were published in the North Western Journal of Zoology," the UBB press release states. The Extraordinary New Year's Concert, the 9th edition, "A Musical Journey - Venice," is taking place on Wednesday, as of 7.00 pm, at the Romanian Athenaeum, told Agerpres. "It is a wonderful opportunity to enter the new year with enthusiasm and fresh energy, while listening to the splendid chords of classical music, listening to famous arias and duets performed by soprano Rodica Vica and baritone Alexandru Constantin, accompanied by the Symphactory Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Tiberiu Soare," informs the website iabilet.ro. The concert programme includes compositions by Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi and Donizetti. The minimum recommended age for this show is 10 years, inform the organizers. The event is organized by the Calea Victoriei Foundation. On Wednesday, unfavorable weather conditions determined the cancellation of the landing at the Traian Vuia Timisoara International Airport (AIT) of two international flights, from Rome and Frankfurt, respectively, which were redirected to other airports in the country where they were able to land safely, the spokesperson of the airport, Calin Petrescu, informs on Wednesday, told Agerpres. "Because of the unfavorable weather conditions, with reduced visibility caused by fog, flight WZZ3548 Rome - Timisoara, operated by Wizzair, was redirected to the Cluj-Napoca Airport, and flight LH1471 Frankfurt - Timisoara, operated by Lufthansa, was redirected to the Airport in Sibiu. The two aircraft landed safely, around noon, at the airports where they were redirected," said Calin Petrescu. According to him, the Wizzair company will continue to operate flight WZZ3548 Timisoara - Rome, with takeoff scheduled for 1.15 pm, while the flight LH1471 Timisoara - Frankfurt has been cancelled. The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, believes that we will not end up in a situation similar to the one last year regarding the number of infections with the novel coronavirus, told Agerpres. According to the official, most infections are mild, and the strains circulating in Europe are similar to those in China. "I don't think we will return to the situation of the past years, even if the number of cases will increase significantly, because the new forms of the disease, including the strains circulating in China at the moment, are not as serious, they do not pose the same danger in terms of hospitalization as the older forms. Most of the infections are mild and the circulating types, and we are actually discussing subtypes of the Omicron variant at the moment, so the strains circulating now in Europe are similar to those in China. So I don't think that we will end up in a situation similar to the one a year ago," the Minister of Health told Digi 24 private television broadcaster on Wednesday. Several historical monument buildings, as well as residential buildings in Bucharest will be renovated within the National Program for the consolidation of buildings with high seismic risk, carried out by the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, the funding requests for this purpose totaling approximately 620 million RON, the Mayor of the Capital, Nicusor Dan, announced. According to the mayor, the Capital City Hall, through the Municipal Administration for the Consolidation of Seismic Buildings (AMCCRS), submitted 24 funding applications for this program. For the historical monument buildings, funding applications were submitted in the total amount of 179 million RON, and among them are: Casa Sutu (Lahovari) - Calea Grivitei no. 7, Sector 1; Pinacoteca - Lipscani street no. 18-20, District 3; Theater L.S. Bulandra - B-dul Schitu Magureanu no. 1, Sector 5; Curtea Mestesugarilor, - Str. Kovaci no. 13, District 3, told Agerpres. Also, among the residential buildings proposed for renovation through the mentioned program are those at the addresses: Calea Victoriei no. 101, Sector 1; Bdul Carol I no. 63, District 2; Franceza no. 9, Sector 3; Str. Miss Anastasia no. 5, Sector 5; Schitu Magureanu no. 3, District 5; Str. Blanari no. 11, Sector 3; Str. Doamnei no. 3, District 3; Str. Amzei no. 15/D.I. Mendeleev no. 17, Sector 1; Dacia Blvd no. 53, Sector 1; Soseaua Panduri no. 36, Sector 5; Str. Dionisie Lupu no. 55, District 1; Str. Al. Beldiman no. 1, Sector 5; Str. French no. 52/ Halls no. 1, District 3; Bd. Ghe. Magheru no. 27, Sector 1; Str. Sipotul Fantanilor no. 5, Sector 1; Calea Victoriei no. 95, Sector 1; Str. Batistei no. 5, Sector 2; Str. Hope no. 24, District 2; Str. St. Friday no. 5, Sector 3; Pache Protopopescu Square no. 11, Sector 2. "We encourage the owners' associations to collaborate with PMB representatives in order to prepare the other documents necessary for the development of the submitted projects. For the year 2023, the program has an allocated budget of 200 million RON from budget credits and 500 million lei from commitment credits, and the financing is of 100%. The Ministry does not ask for co-financing either from the tenants, or from the local or central authorities," Nicusor Dan wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. The number of companies delisted at national level increased by 10.88% in the first 11 months of 2022, compared to the same period of the previous year, up to 65,503 delistings, according to the statistics of the National Trade Registry Office (ONRC). The most deletions were registered in the city of Bucharest - 10,852 (plus 11.97% compared to January-November 2021) and in the counties of Cluj - 3,104 (plus 23.71%), Constanta - 2,851 (plus 8.9%) and Timis - 2,820 (plus 6.46%), told Agerpres. At the opposite pole, the fewest deletions were recorded in the counties of Ialomita - 523 (up by 10.57% compared to the first 11 months of 2021), Covasna - 531 (plus 11.55%) and Calarasi - 538 (plus 3 .07%). The most significant increases in the number of deletions were registered in the counties of Botosani (plus 26.02%), Vaslui (plus 25.95%) and Tulcea (plus 23.89%). During the analyzed period, decreases were recorded in terms of the number of registered companies only in the counties of Caras-Severin (minus 13.09%), Braila (minus 8%), Alba (minus 7.33%) and Satu Mare (minus 4, 01%). By field of activity, the largest number of deletions was recorded in wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair - 17,811 (plus 8% compared to January-November 2021), construction - 5,966 (plus 9.25%) and professional, scientific and technical activities - 5,445 (plus 9.51%). In November 2022, 7,227 company deletions were recorded, the most in Bucharest (1,388) and in the counties of Cluj (349), Constanta (292) and Ilfov (281). Its time for the eagles, like any migrating birds, to follow the Mississippi Flyway south and grab a few snacks along the way. Its also time for crowds of humans to grab their binoculars and watch. The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau based in Alton, as well as local nature groups and centers, hosts the eagles and the people. Several festivals provide opportunities get a closer look, starting Jan. 7 with the Alton Eagle Ice Festival. The tourism bureau also encourages self-guided eagle watching using a downloadable Eagle Watching Passport at explore.riversandroutes.com, which guides spectators to specific destinations. Pere Marquette State Park Visitors can make reservations for a bald eagle tour that starts at Pere Marquette State Park. The tours started in late December and will continue on select days through early March. The program begins at 8:30 a.m. with a presentation at the visitor center and continues with an observational drive to view bald eagles. Visitors are advised to dress warmly, bring binoculars and have a full tank of gas. When 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., select days through early March Where Pere Marquette State Park, 13112 Visitor Center Lane, Grafton How much Free More info 1-618-786-3323; www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/VisitorCenter Audubon Center at Riverlands The Audubon Center at Riverlands is one of the locations for the joint Alton Eagle Ice Festival on Jan. 7, as well as Raptor Saturdays and Eagle Sundays through January and mid-February. Eagle Days, previously held at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, will move to Riverlands for this years festival Feb. 11. This is to accommodate improvements on the Missouri side of the bridge. When 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 7 (Eagle Ice Festival); 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 11 (Eagle Days) Where Audubon Center at Riverlands, 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton How much Free; registration required for Eagle Days More info riverlands.audubon.org; greatriversgreenway.org/eagledays National Great Rivers Museum The National Great Rivers Museum is also a part of the Alton Eagle Ice Festival and will host watching tours and a live eagle from the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park. The event is free, and guided tours by shuttle are $15 per person. The museum will also host an Ice Jam at the Dam on Feb. 18, with presentations and live music. When 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 7 (Eagle Ice Festival); 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 18 (Ice Jam at the Dam) Where 2 Lock and Dam Way, East Alton How much Free; $15 for shuttle tours More info mtrf.org Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower For the ice festival Jan. 7, representatives from the TreeHouse Wildlife Center will bring several birds of prey from the region to the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower. Theyll talk about what kinds of birds can be seen in the winter. Visitors can take a tour of the tower to spot birds on their own. When 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 7 Where Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower, 435 Confluence Tower Drive, Hartford, Illinois How much Free for presentation, fee to climb tower More info riversandroutes.com/directory/lewis-clark-confluence-tower/ Missouri Department of Conservation Eagle Days The Missouri Department of Conservation presents all kinds of eagle-watching events. The ones closest to St. Louis are Eagle Days on Feb. 11 at the Audubon Center at Riverlands and a sunrise hike Jan. 7 at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area to watch for eagles at the confluence. Meet at the front gate and caravan with the naturalists to lot L. When 6:30-8 a.m. Jan. 7 Where Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, 801 Strodtman Road How much Free More info mdc.mo.gov/events/eagle-days Eagle Meet and Greets The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau in Alton will partner with the World Bird Sanctuary to host several Eagle Meet and Greet events. Visitors can meet a live American bald eagle Jan. 7 at Flock food truck park, Jan. 21 at the Alton Visitor Center, and Jan. 14 and Jan. 28 at the Grafton Visitor Center. The meet-and-greets are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. More info riversandroutes.com/events/alton-eagle-meet-greets/ MADISON COUNTY Two men were charged with murder Tuesday in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old on New Year's Day, according to the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Matias Herrera, 26, of Collinsville, and Albert Campos, 18, of Pontoon Beach, were each charged with two counts of murder. Campos also has additional charges for two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and reckless discharges. Warrants were issued for the two on Tuesday, and authorities did not note if they were yet in custody. CLAYTON A St. Louis County judge ruled last week that St. Louis County and two former police officers are not liable for the death of a man killed while fleeing from police in 2018. Lauren Neil and Macahya Neil filed a wrongful death suit against the county and former St. Louis County police Officers Mark Jakob and Alex Maloy shortly after the death of their father, Mikel Neil. Neil, 49, and a passenger, Townsal Woolfolk, 59, were killed in Berkeley in August 2018 while fleeing a traffic stop. The suit accused the officers of not using their emergency siren and failing to alert dispatchers of a pursuit. St. Louis County Judge Bruce Hilton dismissed the suit in two summary judgments Friday. There is no social consensus to protect the ability of a criminal suspect to safely flee from the police, one judgment reads. If anything, the social consensus is that a criminal suspect should not and cannot flee as (Neil) did. The judgment continued that there was no evidence that calling off the pursuit would have avoided the crash given that Neil was speeding and intoxicated at the time. The officers attempted to pull over the 2003 Hyundai Elantra that Neil was driving after it ran a red light and sped past them. The pursuit lasted about 40 seconds before the Hyundai struck a tree on Airport Road near Tyndall Drive. The St. Louis County Police Department, similar to other departments, prohibits chases unless a felony has been committed. The St. Louis County police chief at the time, Jon Belmar, terminated Jakob and Maloy after the chase, telling reporters they misled investigators by initially saying they never chased Neil and Woolfolks car, which was later contradicted by a video of the pursuit. The police union criticized the firing and said the two officers did nothing wrong. One of the officers, Maloy, died in a motorcycle crash on Highway 141 in Jefferson County in August 2020 at age 27. UPDATED at 9 a.m. Wednesday with reaction from murder victim's relative BONNE TERRE Missouri on Tuesday executed by lethal injection a transgender inmate who stabbed, strangled and raped an ex-girlfriend 19 years ago. The 49-year-old inmate had been living for about 18 months as a woman named Amber McLaughlin, but filed appeals and signed a final written statement Tuesday with a previous name, Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin is the first openly transgender woman executed in the U.S. and the third person executed since May in Missouri. The state delivered a fatal dose of pentobarbital at 6:39 p.m., and McLaughlin was pronounced dead a short time later, according to a spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections. In a final written statement, McLaughlin said, I am a loving and caring person and apologized for what I did. Two witnesses on behalf of 45-year-old Beverly Guenther, of Moscow Mills, who was stabbed with a steak knife in November 2003 after leaving her job in Earth City, attended Tuesdays execution at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. Guenthers sister-in-law, Annie Wedepohl, witnessed the execution along with her husband, Al, who was Guenther's younger brother. Wedepohl said, "To me, it was unremarkable. It was a very humane way. I think, to me, it was too humane." Annie Wedepohl, who is a nurse, described the process as "quick and peaceful," similar to seeing a family member sedated for surgery. "I teared up a little bit because I was thinking about Bev," Annie Wedepohl said. "I'm not crying over Scott." A spiritual adviser, the Rev. Lauren Bennett, stood by McLaughlin during the execution, state officials said. McLaughlin was convicted in 2006 of first-degree murder, rape and armed criminal action in the death of Guenther, who was dumped near the Mississippi River in St. Louis. Jurors, however, could not decide on punishment. Ultimately, St. Louis County Judge Steven H. Goldman sentenced McLaughlin to death a decision that can be made by a judge only in Missouri and Indiana in the event of a deadlocked jury. A federal judge in 2016 threw out McLaughlins death sentence, ruling, in part, that a flawed jury form meant a judge could not have known whether the jury thought the factors warranting death outweighed mitigating circumstances. But five years later, the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals reversed that decision and effectively reinstated McLaughlins death sentence. Then, in December, McLaughlins attorneys filed a petition for clemency with Gov. Mike Parson, highlighting McLaughlins abusive childhood, brain damage, fetal alcohol syndrome and suicide attempts as an adult. None of that information was presented to the jury, the attorneys argued, and it still deadlocked, not agreeing that death was warranted, the petition said. On Tuesday, Parson denied that request and affirmed the state would move forward with the execution. McLaughlin terrorized Ms. Guenther in the final years of her life, Parson said in a statement after the execution, but we hope her family and loved ones may finally have some peace. At 10:48 a.m. Tuesday, McLaughlin was delivered a final meal of a cheeseburger, fries, strawberry milkshake and peanut M&Ms. Shortly before 6:40 p.m., witnesses were moved into the execution viewing area, and the Missouri attorney general notified officials there were no remaining legal impediments to executing McLaughlin. McLaughlin was pronounced dead at 6:51 p.m. The body is set to be cremated, a spokeswoman with the Department of Corrections said. Wedepohl, Guenther's sister-in-law, said she and her husband will put flowers on Guenther's grave Friday to celebrate Guenther "because this is over." "I'm a nurse, and my friends want to know how can I be for the death penalty and watch this," Wedepohl said. "I am a caregiver. I believe in saving people. But he violently, mindfully took someone's life. This has been a long time coming." McLaughlin is the third person to be executed in Missouri in a nine-month period, a marked increase from recent years. Carman Deck, who killed a Jefferson County couple in 1996, was executed in May, and and Kevin Johnson, who killed a Kirkwood police officer in 2005, was executed in November. Members of Johnsons family, including his daughter and grandson, joined a group of roughly 50 anti-death penalty protesters outside the prison in Bonne Terre on Tuesday night, carrying signs with statements including stop state murder. A handful of people advocating for transgender rights also joined the group. Missouri is set to carry out another execution next month. Leonard Taylor, who fatally shot a 28-year-old woman and her three children in Jennings in 2004, is set to die by lethal injection Feb. 7. Robert Cohen and Kim Bell contributed to this report. The 54 people Missouri has executed since 2000 Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution Condemns the FDA Approving Chemical Abortion Pills to be Sold at Retail Pharmacies NEWS PROVIDED BY Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution Jan. 3, 2023 WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- "For the first time, retail pharmacies, from corner drugstores to major chains like CVS and Walgreens, will be allowed to offer abortion pills in the United States under a regulatory change made Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration." -- The New York Times. Stanton calls the move unconscionable as chemical abortions take the lives of innocent children, put women at risk, turn neighborhood pharmacies into abortion clinics and harm our environment. Based in Idaho, Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution is a women's advocacy and educational group that works on issues of human rights and justice which empower and inspire women. It is affiliated with Stanton Healthcare which has life-affirming women's health clinics in America and internationally. Stanton will be reaching out to the Idaho Attorney General to make sure chemical abortion pills are not sold over the counter as Idaho has banned virtually all abortions in the state. Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution launched a national campaign last year called #BanChemicalAbortions which includes: Ensuring all states with trigger laws in place that ban abortions will treat chemical abortions in the same manner as surgical abortions. Drafting model legislation for states to ban chemical abortions. Organizing public rallies and demonstrations across the country calling for a ban of chemical abortions. Partnering with legislators on environmental laws to prevent children who have been killed through chemical abortions from being flushed into local sewage and drainage systems. Providing educational materials to pro-life organizations and churches regarding the harmful effects of chemical abortions. Working with federal, state and local pro-life politicians on detailed public statements regarding banning chemical abortions. Networking with local life-affirming medical clinics and pregnancy resource centers on chemical abortion pill reversal. Linda Thomas, Director of Community Outreach for Stanton Healthcare, states: "Stanton will be calling Idaho Attorney General-elect Labrador this week asking him to ensure he will treat chemical abortions in the same manner as surgical abortions now that virtually all abortions in Idaho are banned. "This means chemical abortion pills will be prohibited from being sold at local pharmacies or anywhere else across the state of Idaho." Brandi Swindell, CEO and Founder of Stanton Healthcare, comments: "Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution condemns the FDA approving chemical abortion pills to be offered at retail pharmacies. Chemical abortions take the lives of innocent children, put women at risk and will turn neighborhood pharmacies into abortion clinics. "Our goal is to end chemical abortions through public engagement, education, life-affirming public policy, and legislation. The pro-life community, and all who embrace human rights, must passionately stand against this barbaric anti-woman practice." For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 SOURCE Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 Share Tweet Student Success National U Initiative to Boost Hispanic Student Success Through DEI, Teaching, Advising, and Transfer Practices National University (NU) in San Diego, a private, nonprofit Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), has been awarded a five-year, $3 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help foster Hispanic student success through enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, teaching, advising, and transfer practices. The grant has been made available through the Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program. NU serves over 40,000 students, almost a third of whom identify as Hispanic, giving it its HSI designation. According to the U.S. Census, Hispanic enrollment in college has more than doubled since 2008. ED notes that 44% of Hispanic college students are the first in their families to attend college. NU will launch an initiative called ACCESS (Accelerating Curricular Change and Enhancing Student Support), led by personnel in student services, academic affairs, and the office of Social Justice Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. ACCESS will be a three-pronged effort toward classroom inclusivity, education equity, and reduction of education costs for Hispanic students. To help reduce costs, NU will pursue agreements with other HSIs to accept more course credit transfers to count toward a degree. Funds will also be used to train faculty and staff and support professional development. Founded in 1971 as a nonprofit educational institution, NU has more than 75 degree programs and 100-plus online and on-campus programs with flexible four-week classes to help customize education plans for diverse students. Coupled with an asset-based teaching strategy that focuses on the strengths students and teachers bring to the classroom, NU's "Whole Human" approach to education focuses on five "pillars of support": financial, academic, career, family/community, and social/emotional. Visit the university's About page to learn more. Southwest Airlines might have cleared away the mountains of luggage in airport baggage areas around the country and finally gotten passengers to their destinations, but that doesnt come close to addressing the serious problems that ruined the holiday travel of millions of passengers and their family members. The airline still has lots of explaining to do, even as it tries to make passengers whole for having robbed them of Christmas gatherings and other big holiday plans. Vouchers and apologies wont cut it. One passenger missed her own wedding. Another was threatened with arrest for the crime of standing in line while awaiting rebooking of her flight. An airline attendant characterized line-waiting as trespassing and summoned police officers to make people leave. There are probably hundreds of thousands of other nightmare stories that still need to be told. Its the responsibility of Southwest Chief Executive Bob Jordan to personally address those passengers so he can fully understand how badly his management team has destroyed customers and stockholders trust. Southwest tried at first to blame it on the weather. But that excuse fell flat when nearly all other airlines recovered quickly and got their flight schedules back on track. Only Southwest experienced a multiday, catastrophic meltdown. Certainly, the weather played a major role, but fundamental organizational and infrastructure problems within Southwest were the main culprits. They were years in the making, with senior managers full knowledge that the airline was vulnerable to exactly the disaster that occurred. The problems are twofold: Southwest has long been warned that its flight-management computer software is out of date. The airline has been using 1990s-era software to cope with a far more complex 2020s-era travel environment. Its the equivalent of asking all internet users to rely on dial-up computer connections and to access America Online to handle all their web-browsing and messaging needs. Forget smartphones and apps to make reservations; they didnt exist yet. The other problem is rooted in Southwests point-to-point scheduling of flights and crews. Other major airlines use a hub-and-spoke system that overlaps crews and equipment to more easily redirect them if a disruption occurs. Point-to-point scheduling means a plane flies from, say, St. Louis to Dallas, then to Albuquerque and Phoenix. If the Dallas leg breaks down, passengers in Albuquerque and Phoenix suffer. Multiply that by 15,000, and thats what happened last week. Lots of Southwest passengers remain loyal. They love the unorthodox boarding lineup system and the casual, often humorous way crew members and pilots talk to passengers during flights. None of that is to blame. Senior managers are the ones who knew about infrastructure problems and failed to correct them. If it takes hauling them into court or before Congress to explain themselves, so be it. But first and foremost, Southwest passengers deserve to be made whole for their suffering and expense. Until early 2022, Russian Information War operations were aimed mainly at other countries. Russian leader Vladimir Putin had, in the previous two decades, successfully turned Russia back into something resembling the Soviet Union he was nostalgic for. Putin was now president-for-life and controlled the mass media and nearly all the independent media. Putin has revived many of his favorite Soviet era institutions, including a large, modern dezinformatsiya (disinformation) organization. This new dezinformatsiya capability took advantage of the Internet to become even more effective than its Cold War version. In 2022 Putins political fortunes took a turn for the worse when his invasion of Ukraine quickly failed with the loss of thousands of armored vehicles, most of the combat unit officers and such high troop losses that he found a growing number of Russians turning against him. If not stabilized or reversed, that shift in public opinion could prove fatal for his continued ability to rule Russia. Putins solution was to order the dezinformatsiya operation to cooperate with the VGTRK (All-Russia State Television and Radio Company) to convince Russians that the Ukraine operation was not a failure but had succeeded in stalling and exposing a secret NATO plan to weaken Russia and render it unable to rebuild the Russian empire and make Russia great again. Or at least keep Putin in power. The VGTRK was full of Putin loyalists who enthusiastically used the dezinformatsiya operation to feed Russians an illusion that proved Putins version of what NATO was doing to Russia and the success of Putin in disrupting the NATO efforts to hurt Russia. While the old War era disinformation depended on bribing foreign journalists to get articles published that supported Soviet goals without being too traceable back to Russia. Most of what we now know of Russian Cold War disinformation methods and their success was documented after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and for several year it was possible for Western journalists, and intelligence officials to document what the Soviets did and how successful it was. This provided lots of surprises, many of the unpleasant kind, for Western journalists and intelligence professionals. The Soviets were very successful, and managed to weaken Western efforts to thwart Soviet schemes. Using the updated (to take full advantage of Internet capabilities) Putin has, so far, contained but not eliminated the growing popular opposition inside Russia. This new disinformation campaign is pretty convincing to the average Russian that knows little of the West and gets most of their news from VGTRK. It starts with the enormous quantity of information broadcast by Western media and captured on the Internet or databases maintained by Russia and China. VGTRK news editors have access to all these soundbites and video moments that can be edited and presented to show the Putin interpretation in a convincing manner, at least to Russians getting most of their news from VGTRK. There are a large number of Russians who know what Western media publish and see through the VGTRK disinformation and see it for what it is. Unfortunately, many (nearly eight million) of these Russians have left the country since Putin took power in 1999. About a million left in the last year. Western Internet media are not blameless and have, over the past few years, been accused, and often exposed for using disinformation for their own economic or, more frequently, political goals. For Western social media sites like Facebook, 2019 is now seen as the year their unpleasant changes began. This was all about the resurgence of Cold War era media campaigns that Russia used to wage internationally using pre-Internet media. In the last few months alone, Facebook has announced the discovery and banishment of hundreds of accounts owned and operated by Russian firms that specialize in this sort of thing. The largest Russian disinformation operation is the IRA (Internet Research Agency). During the Cold War something like the IRA would be a top-secret subsidiary of the KGB (secret police). In post-communist Russia, a lot of KGB operations have gone commercial and many other nations have adopted those techniques. Facebook has found dozens of nations using, or backing the use of Internet-based propaganda or disinformation campaigns. That is something new because in pre-Internet days only major nations could organize and run an effective international disinformation effort. Facebook went public in part to alert the public to how these scams work and what to look for. Facebook finds most of these scams via software that looks for certain kinds of CIB (Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior). This automated approach sometimes leads to false positives and a hapless user finds themselves banned for appearing to be part of a Russian disinformation operation. With over a billion users this is bound to happen on Facebook, so the press releases about CIB efforts are partly an effort to let users know that Facebook is constantly refining its software tools to reduce the number of false positives. For Facebook that is necessary to limit the bad publicity some of these false positives create when the victim proves their case and makes Facebook look like some evil media corporation. Yet much of the inauthentic behavior, like copying and pasting a lot without using much commentary, is popular with a lot of legitimate users. Facebook isnt the only social media site trying to block government disinformation campaigns. Twitter, as well as Facebook earlier, announced they had shut down hundreds of accounts that were being used by China to spread false and disparaging news about the millions of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong. Twitter revealed that their analysis software had discovered over 20,000 suspect accounts but that most of these appeared to be legitimate accounts of people who sided with the Chinese government. What Twitter did not reveal was that they were also using a disinformation campaign against their own users to ensure that only opinions approved by Twitter management showed up on Twitter. This deception was revealed in 2022 when new owners of Twitter released the incriminating evidence of what had been done, Facebook reported that they had found a large number of accounts that appeared to be taking orders from the Chinese government to discredit and disparage the Hong Kong protestors, or simply drive pro-protestor users off Facebook pages or discussions favorable to the protests. Facebook was also more willing to admit incidents of censoring users and backed off on that while Twitter continued. This effort to find and cripple the Chinese Information War operation on Twitter and Facebook confirmed earlier estimates that about half a million Chinese were working for this Information War operation. The Chinese effort was not just directed against the Hong Kong protestors but also sought to boost Chinas image among the worldwide Chinese speaking social media users. For those who follow this sort of thing, the Chinese Hong Kong disinformation operation is nothing new. Disinformation efforts have been going on for decades and expanded and escalated after 1995 when the Internet became easier to use for the rapidly growing number of PC and later cellphone users. The Chinese began to use the Internet as part of their Information War operations in 2005 when propaganda officials sought ways to deal with growing anti-government activity on Internet message boards. One idea was to organize the pro-government posters already out there. The propaganda bureaucracy (which is huge in China) did so and got so many volunteers that they soon developed a test to select the most capable candidates. In addition, the government set up training classes to improve the skills of these volunteers. Cash bonuses were offered for the most effective work. At one point, the government had nearly 100,000 volunteers and paid posters operating. This quickly evolved into the 50 Cent Army. By 2010 the Russian government adopted the practice and before long there was the 50 Ruble Army in Russia. The Chinese eventually realized that quality was better than quantity because the less articulate posters were easily spotted, and ridiculed, as members of the "50 Cent Army," "Internet Apes," or the Water (because of the zombie accounts used for posting) Army. This was especially the case outside of China. Inside China people just learned to ignore the government posters. That was a wise choice because currently about 18 percent of all posts on the Chinese Internet come from government-controlled or influenced accounts. Gradually China grew to depend on quantity as well as quality. They found that the more skilled Internet Apes often appear convincing to many people following Internet based discussions. The 50 Cent Army was often a very worthwhile investment, especially when experienced and skilled posters were used. In this area, quantity does not really match quality. In the United States, China used the same techniques to push political candidates or commercial products. Americans call this "viral marketing" and it is a popular marketing tool worldwide. The CIA has used a similar technique to counter anti-American, or pro-terrorist, activity on the Internet. This activity also made it easier to spot potential terrorists or potential informants. Russia adopted the Chinese technique of harnessing the enthusiasm of pro-government volunteers. As happened elsewhere, bloggers and posters with a large following were also enticed to be pro-government, for a fee, or perhaps because of a few threats. This practice of buying favorable attention in the media is nothing new and is centuries old. The U.S. is unique in that, for about a century, the American mass media was largely free of this blatant bribery. But in most of the world, a clever journalist quickly attracts the attention of people who will pay for some favorable comments. It's no secret, although many journalists insist they are not bought. More Americans have become aware of this form of Information War since late 2016 when suddenly there were frequent accusations of Russia interfering in American elections. This was accomplished by Russia using government-directed messages to be posted, on a massive scale, in social media and other online sites. One aspect of this that didnt attract much media attention was that this technique, and its use by foreign governments in the United States, was nothing new. This sort of thing has been widely used on the Internet for over a decade and for generations before that there was astroturfing (creating fake grassroots support with a variety pre-Internet techniques) and more lavishly funded Soviet efforts called dezinformatsiya (disinformation) operations. During the Cold War the communist rulers of the Soviet Union invented or expanded on all sorts of propaganda, deception and indoctrination techniques that are still widely copied (and often condemned) because they work, at least sometimes. In the end, all that dezinformatsiya did not prevent the Soviet empire from collapsing and disintegrating. Some of those techniques have been updated and continue to serve the current rulers of Russia. One of them involves the Internet and is believed particularly useful (or at least thought to be) in Russia. While technically a democracy, modern Russia has evolved into yet another dictatorship. This is because out of the ashes of the Soviet Union there arose an oligarchy with enough cash and propaganda skills, not to mention control of most mass media, to get elected and make most Russians support what the new government wants. A key tool in this was using freewheeling Internet-based message boards to mold and manipulate public opinion. This sort of thing has been around since the Internet began its explosive growth after 2000, as it went from 500 million users to nearly 5 billion now. Most of the of people on the planet have access to the Internet and it has become a major tool for disinformation operations It wasnt long before many Internet users noticed that messages posted by propagandists (or PR specialists) were showing up in social media and messaging areas throughout the Internet. This was especially true in China. This is where it all began; the idea of quietly paying Internet users a small fee to post pro-government (or company) responses on message boards where some company or the government is being criticized or maligned. For some members of the original Chinese "50 Cent Party" it was a full-time job, receiving up to 50 cents (two yuan) each for up to a hundred pro-government messages posted a day, using several dozen different accounts. But most of the posters were volunteers or just did it to earn a little extra money. If you could post in foreign languages, especially colloquial English, you would make more. Very few members of the "50 Cent Army" made lots of money and most were reviled by their online peers as a bunch of trolls (those who leave messages to annoy rather than inform or amuse). By 2015 Russia had turned Internet trolling into a profession with full-time workers getting paid $700 to $1,000 a month (plus bonuses for especially effective efforts) and working in office settings rather than from home. These professional trolls mainly write in Russian, to encourage pro-government opinions among Russian Internet users. The government also has an international program that pays a lot more because of the need for good foreign language skills. That means the ability to write like a native not only in terms of grammar but in terms of the Internet idioms unique to each language or country. The key here is not so come off as a Russian troll but a local. Even before Russia had turned Internet trolling into a profession, Israel kicked this process up a level in 2013 by establishing a special tuition assistance program for university students who agreed to regularly post messages on the Internet to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel propaganda. While Israel is unique in being one of the few countries to admit doing this, many others have been caught at it and continue to deny any official involvement. One example is North Korea, which South Korea believes has had (since at least 2014) several hundred operatives who are basically full-time Internet Apes, whose sole task is to battle anti-North Korean sentiments on South Korean internet message areas and push the idea that North Korea is a better place to live than it actually is. By now many veteran Internet users automatically recognize and ignore the paid messages and go out of their way to teach others what to look for. In the West, many moderators of message boards have tools that allow them to instantly delete the accounts of Internet Apes and all their paid-for posts. In China you can get arrested for doing that, but not for just ignoring the paid propaganda. Israel leaves it up to the operators to reveal they are semi-official or keep quiet about that. By using carefully selected university students the Israelis are better able to avoid detection and deliver more effective messages. This could be a key advantage of this program because if you can influence people who are very active on the Internet and have many followers you gain credibility and momentum. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Jackpot Digital Inc. (the "Company" or "Jackpot") (TSXV:JJ)(TSX-V:JJ.WT.B)(TSX-V:JJ.WT.C)(OTCQB: JPOTF)(Frankfurt Exchange:LVH3) is pleased to announce that it has signed a partnership agreement (the "Agreement") with a leading global gaming equipment manufacturer ("Jackpot's New Partner"). Pursuant to the Agreement, subject to certain terms and conditions, Jackpot's New Partner has agreed to provide its services globally on a sole and exclusive basis to Jackpot. Jackpot's New Partner shall manufacture Jackpot's dealerless electronic table games ("ETGs") and shall deliver fully assembled Jackpot Blitz ETGs ready for installation in casinos worldwide. Jackpot has placed an initial order with Jackpot's New Partner for 100 Jackpot Blitz ETGs, and Jackpot expects to place additional orders throughout 2023 upon obtaining customary jurisdictional licensing approvals. Jackpot anticipates that this Agreement shall accomplish several business objectives for Jackpot, including: A significant reduction in the manufacturing costs of the Jackpot Blitz ETGs Substantially increase manufacturing capacity The ability to deliver to Jackpot's customers larger order sizes Faster delivery lead times A global logistical reach Faster integration of new enhancements and features An updated, sleeker, more attractive table design Jackpot Digital's Chief Strategy Officer, Angelo Palmisano, states, "This partnership provides our company the critical consistency, efficiencies, and bandwidth of supply, as we continue to expand our distribution channels globally. It will also give our internal resources the ability to focus on the growing customer engagement and support needs, which will be critical to our explosive growth strategy for the next two years." Jackpot Digital's President & CEO, Mr. Jake Kalpakian, states, "We are very excited to collaborate with a global manufacturing partner. We currently have 69 Jackpot Blitz tables deployed in the field and have initially ordered 100 units from our new partner. We expect to expand both our order size and order frequency as we progress through 2023 and beyond. Because demand and orders are growing rapidly, finding the right partner to help streamline our business is an integral step in reaching the next level as an organization. As demand for Jackpot Blitz continues to grow, we recognize the need to stay lean and focussed on growing our customer base, while simultaneously expanding our manufacturing capacity. This new agreement all at once expands our growth capacity, speeds up the manufacturing process and reduces our costs." About Jackpot Digital Inc. Jackpot Digital Inc. is a leading electronic table games manufacturer for the cruise ship industry and regulated casino industry. The Company specializes in multiplayer gaming products, including poker and casino games, which are complemented by a robust suite of backend tools for operators to efficiently control and optimize their gaming business. For more information on the Company, please contact Jake H. Kalpakian, President and CEO, at (604) 681- 0204 ext. 6105, or visit the Company's website at www.jackpotdigital.com. On behalf of the Board of Jackpot Digital Inc., "Jake H. Kalpakian" _____________________________ Jake H. Kalpakian, President & CEO Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking". Forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding Jackpot's future plans, the obtaining of customary regulatory approvals, projected or proposed financings, costs, objectives, economic or technical performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this News Release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "enable", "feel", "seek", "project", "predict", "potential", "should", "might", "objective", "believe", "expects", "propose", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "plans" "estimate", "in due course" and similar words are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, projections and estimations, there can be no assurance that these assumptions, projections or estimations are accurate. Readers, shareholders and investors are therefore cautioned not to place reliance on any forward-looking statements as the plans, assumptions, intentions or expectations upon which they are based might not occur. SOURCE: Jackpot Digital Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: A Great Lakes region leader, Williams offers 32 locations across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana WALLER, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Williams Distributing, Co. (Williams), a distribution powerhouse for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and residential building products in the Great Lakes region, has been acquired by Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (Daikin). With Williams territory covering a significant portion of the Midwest, this strategic acquisition supports Daikins vision to expand the use of inverter heat pump technology in cold climates. Williams Northern location provides additional cold climate product testing and development opportunities for Daikins innovative, cold climate technologies, providing access to resources and people with advanced field expertise for continued research and development. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005643/en/ Daikin Comfort Technologies North America has acquired Williams Distributing, a distribution powerhouse for HVAC equipment and residential building products in the Great Lakes region. (Left to right) Jim Williams, former Chairman of the Board and majority owner for Williams; Jeffrey Beaton, President and COO of Williams; Takayuki Inoue, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Daikin. (Graphic: Business Wire) Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Williams is one of several regional distributor acquisitions made in recent years by Daikin a subsidiary of Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL), the largest manufacturer of HVAC systems worldwide as the indoor comfort provider continues to strengthen its contractor relationships, services, and product offerings across North America. Founded in 1968, the full-service distributor of HVAC products uniquely brings to Daikin a rich mix of residential building products for builders, contractors, consumers, and architects serving the kitchen and bath, plumbing, garage door and hearth markets. Williams Distributing is a nationally recognized distributor and supplier for these building products of which Daikin is excited to incorporate into their portfolio. Known for a deep inventory of available products, exclusive relationships with key brands and robust customer service, Williams operates 32 locations, including 27 dedicated HVAC sales counters, across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Second and third generation family members owned and operated the full-service distribution business, leading 575 skilled, long-tenured employees. During this journey, Daikin was able to separate themselves with their professionalism and support, remarked Jim Williams, former Chairman of the Board and majority owner for Williams. As I evaluated opportunities, it became apparent to me that Daikins strong focus on people, access to leading technology, along with its commitment to growth and industry leadership, solidified my confidence that the best future for the entire Williams team was to be led by Daikin. Our experience with Daikin has proven that its people-centered management philosophy meshes perfectly with our mission. Were thrilled to join the worlds number one indoor comfort solutions provider, sharing a vision that we believe leads to bright futures for both employees and customers alike. Bringing Williams Distributing with its skilled team members, attentive customer service and extensive locations into the Daikin family strengthens our position in the Great Lakes region, said Takayuki Inoue, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Daikin. Williams has long been an important, successful partner for Daikin, Daikin Applied, Goodman and Amana brand HVAC products. The acquisition of this outstanding distributor is another significant step on our path to make Daikin the #1 indoor comfort solutions provider in North America. Attaining double-digit growth for three straight years, Williams recently expanded its HVAC parts and accessories portfolio by acquiring the business of Shoemaker, Inc., a distributor of HVAC, hydronics and plumbing supplies serving Michigan and Indiana. Demand for HVAC in the Great Lakes region surpasses many areas of the country, according to Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), an industry association. The region has seen some of the largest growth in ducted HVAC shipments of any region over the past five years, according to a HARDI market intelligence report1. Williams is regularly honored by its vendors with annual awards based on customer service, speed of delivery and extensive product availability. Williams even earned the coveted Harold V. Goodman award named for the legendary founder of Goodman Air Conditioning & Heating, a brand owned by Daikin and manufactured at the sprawling Daikin Texas Technology Park just outside Houston, home to more than 7,000 employees. The Williams family relationship with Daikin brands goes back more than 50 years, beginning with Amana brand HVAC and eventually becoming the largest independent Goodman distributor in the region, said Jeffrey Beaton, President and COO of Williams. Joining Daikin makes for an exciting evolution of our long-standing partnership. We look forward to continuing what Williams is known for: differentiating through a broad inventory of available product, 24- to 48-hour delivery, best-in-class salesforce, extensive training, robust technical support and customer service. The Williams deal follows the December 2022 acquisition of Venstar, Inc., a prominent controls and energy management systems provider, as Daikin works to transform the North American HVAC market with its innovative indoor comfort technologies including high-performing inverter and heat pump solutions, and products featuring R-32, an open-source refrigerant with one-third the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the most used refrigerants in the U.S. and Canada. For more about Daikin Comfort Technologies, visit northamerica-daikin.com. 1HARDI Data Driven Newsletter, May 11, 2021, Market Intelligence; HARDI Data Driven Newsletter, May 18, 2022, Market Intelligence; HARDI Market Intelligence, June 14, 2022, The Sky Is Not Falling. Amana is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved. About Daikin Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) is a Fortune 1,000 company with more than 84,870 employees worldwide and is the worlds #1 indoor comfort solutions provider company. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (DNA), Inc is a subsidiary of DIL, providing Daikin, Goodman, Amana and Quietflex brands products. DNA and its affiliates manufacture heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and industrial use and are sold via independent HVAC contractors. DNA engineering and manufacturing is located at Daikin Texas Technology Park near Houston, Texas. For additional information, visit www.northamerica-daikin.com. About Williams Distributing Founded in 1968, Williams Distributing, Co. (Williams), headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a full-service distributor of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products along with residential building products for builders, contractors, consumers, and architects serving the kitchen and bath, plumbing, garage door and hearth markets. Williams operates 32 locations, including 27 dedicated to HVAC, across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio with 548 employees. For additional information, visit www.wmsdist.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005643/en/ Marc Bellanger - Director of Marketing & Communications - 713.263.5505 [email protected] Wendy Hall Director of Communications - 713.232.9229 [email protected] Source: Daikin Industries, Ltd. Andrew Cedar and Jason Melton to Partners, and Doug Nelson to Principal NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Long Ridge Equity Partners (Long Ridge), a private equity firm focused on the financial and business technology sectors, today announced the promotions of Andrew Cedar and Jason Melton to Partner, and Doug Nelson to Principal. All three promotions support the continued growth of Long Ridge and the firms organic approach to team-building: recruiting top junior talent and developing/promoting from within. The firm has now grown to over 20 employees since its founding in 2007. These promotions represent the well-deserved recognition of these individuals, who have been instrumental to Long Ridges growth and success, said Jim Brown, Founder and Managing Partner at Long Ridge. We are proud of their contributions in advancing the growth of not only the firm, but also our portfolio companies. Andrew, Jason, and Doug have grown into proven firm leaders and seasoned investment professionals driving results across the Long Ridge portfolio, said Kevin Bhatt, Managing Partner of Long Ridge. We are excited to see them continue to grow in their new roles and look forward to their continued contributions to our portfolio of world-class founders and high-growth businesses. Andrew Cedar joined Long Ridge in 2016 and works closely with portfolio companies Acqueon, Ametros, Carson Group (exited), National Credit Care, Oritain, and their executive teams to accelerate growth. He serves on the boards of Acqueon and Ametros and is a board observer for Oritain. Andrew additionally helps lead the firms DEI initiatives as a member of the firms ESG committee. Prior to Long Ridge, Andrew was at McKinsey & Company, where he reported directly to the Global Managing Partner. Previously, Andrew worked on the Obama Administrations national security and foreign policy team, as Senior Director for Global Engagement at the White House National Security Council and as an advisor at the State Department. He received a B.A. in Political Science summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University, an M.Phil in International Relations from Cambridge University, and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School. Andrew is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Jason Melton joined Long Ridge in 2014 and works closely with portfolio companies AuthenticID, Avetta, Broadway Technology, Drawbridge, NinjaTrader, ProcessUnity, Ripjar, SALI Fund Services (exited), and their executive teams. He serves on the boards of AuthenticID, NinjaTrader, ProcessUnity, and Ripjar. Additionally, Jason is a member of the National Safety Council (NSC) board of directors. He brings a unique perspective to the NSC board, given Long Ridges extensive expertise investing in the risk and compliance sector. Before joining Long Ridge, Jason worked at Barclays in the Financial Institutions Group, advising financial technology and services companies on M&A and capital markets transactions. He received a B.S. in Business Management, focusing on Entrepreneurship and Finance, from Babson College. Doug Nelson joined Long Ridge in 2018 and works closely with portfolio companies BlueTarp (exited), EQIS, Neighborhoods, Treez, TRUE, and Provana. In addition to his role at Long Ridge, Doug is an Advisory Board member for the FinTech Sandbox, a non-profit accelerator that provides financial data, hosting, and mentoring to fintech startups. Prior to joining Long Ridge, Doug was with F-Prime Capital, a global venture capital firm affiliated with Fidelity Investments. Doug also previously worked in strategy for Fidelity Investments, product management for Amazon, and finance for Flywire. He received a B.A. in History with Honors from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. About Long Ridge Equity Partners Founded in 2007, Long Ridge Equity Partners is a private investment firm focused on the financial and business technology sectors. Leveraging deep sector knowledge and an extensive network of industry resources, Long Ridge serves as a value-added partner to high-growth businesses. Since its founding, Long Ridge's principals have sponsored some of the most successful growth companies in the financial and business technology sectors, providing leading management teams with partnership, strategic resources, and capital to drive profitable expansion. Long Ridge manages over $1 billion of committed capital. For more information on Long Ridge Equity Partners, please visit www.long-ridge.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005220/en/ Kylie Wilcox BackBay Communications (203) 979-2968 [email protected] Source: Long Ridge Equity Partners Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@captimes.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. via NewMediaWire LIG Assets, Inc. (OTC PINK: LIGA) (also known as the "Leader in Green Assets" or "LIGA"), announces it will report over a million dollars in revenue in 2022. Since taking over LIG Assets in 2017, LIGAs current management has produced over $20 million in deposited revenues and generated a minimum of $1 million in revenue every year since 2017 and expects to do the same in 2023 or better. The following Wall Street Journal link, https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/LIGA/financials/annual/income-statement, shows the progress of LIGAs annual revenue. The year before 2017, LIG Assets under old management only produced $5,000 in revenue in 2016. LIGA has invested over $2 million in cash into other companies and its subsidiaries that are working on many deals that will improve LIG Assets bottom line. With a new year upon us it is time to review the primary accomplishments in 2022, and provide an operational and corporate outlook for 2023. 2022 Highlights: 1. LIGA worked on building out its subsidiaries LIG Developments and LIG Properties. LIGA is finalizing several acquisitions and joint ventures for these subsidiaries. 2. LIG Assets implemented several strategic management changes to align a new board of directors with the business plan moving forward. We successfully resolved significant and burdensome indebtedness issues, limited and in some cases canceled share issuances, and implemented shareholder protection restrictions on preferred and restricted LIGA stock. 3. As reported on the OTC Markets website, LIGA, since 2017, has continued to maintain the existing share status, A/S & O/S are basically the same since the new management has taken control and is preparing to file audited financials as soon as possible. 4. LIGA has frozen over 100 million shares of stock in reference to the SEC Indictments and plan on retiring these shares and possibly others once the SEC finishes their investigation. Any monies received from ill-begotten gains, will be applied to share buybacks, dividend and/or reinvesting in fiscally prudent new projects that would produce a guaranteed minimum return of investment. 5.) LIG Assets has been involved in merger discussions with multiple parties, some of which are much larger. 6.) By means of Corporate Resolution, we had submitted the paperwork for a reverse split of LIGA common stock before December 31, 2022. Unfortunately, the law firm had some personnel issues therefore we replaced them and are in the process of refiling the paperwork with FINRA. Implementing the reverse split opens the opportunity for mergers with much larger companies. 2023 Goals and Plans: 1. LIGA is in final negotiations to acquire in early 2023 a company that will avail LIGA of a highly significant business opportunity that we anticipate will result in a material and substantial positive impact on our bottom line. 2. LIGA plans on expanding LIG Developments and LIG Properties headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been working on acquisitions and contracts. Some of these potential deals and acquisitions are already near completion while others are slated to commence in the near future. 3. LIG Assets plans to spin off BGTV Direct to help expand the company into other sectors once these acquisitions mentioned above are completed. BGTV has been instrumental in the revenue stability of LIGA in 2022. BGTV Direct is working on several million-dollar contracts for 2023 and is expanding its west coast sales office in Las Vegas, Nevada. If the new deals pan out, the sales office in Las Vegas would double the companys projected revenues in 2023 and greatly increase BGTVs profit margins. 4. LIGA's still working to deploy state-of-the-art technology and methodologies to bring sustainable and disaster resistant housing and commercial developments to a price level that is competitive with traditional construction. LIGAs business plan is to utilize some of these current JV's and acquisitions to provide the average homeowner the ability to purchase a home in one of its developments that is sustainable; thus significantly reducing expenses for water and power. 5. In late 2022, LIGA was approached to partner on the Panama City Beach property and potentially serve to demonstrate and incorporate all elements of the Company's innovative construction, design, and technology. 6. LIGA is currently working to secure Agreements to participate as a developer in multiple real estate development projects in the Midwest in 2023. In addition, LIGA is entering into strategic and sales partnerships with material suppliers and manufacturers that will greatly enhance corporate capabilities, operational efficiency and net profitability as well as provide opportunities for rapid Company expansion. 7. Upon completion of the reverse split, negotiations with merger partners (some much larger) will accelerate. Marvin Baker, LIGA Chairman and President states, "The ambitious plans for LIGA in 2023 are already progressing. 2022 will mark the transformation of LIGA from a developmental-holding company into a profitable company that employs vertical and horizontal integration to maximize operating efficiencies. The result will be realized by the enhanced value of our shareholders equity and make LIGA a household name and industry leader in the months and years ahead. The small amounts of cash and stock compensation for management is an example of our commitment to LIG Assets. I would like to personally express my gratitude to our shareholders, many of whom have actively participated in the growth of our Company by presenting valuable opportunities and resources over the last year. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that investment is rewarded." Sincerely, Allan Gillis - CEOMarvin Baker - PresidentDoug Vaughn - CFO The logo of Robinhood Markets, Inc. is seen at a pop-up event on Wall Street after the company's IPO in New York City, U.S., July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly By Tom Hals and Dietrich Knauth (Reuters) -U.S. prosecutors are in the process of seizing shares of Robinhood Markets Inc tied to Sam Bankman-Fried, who has been charged with fraud in the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, a U.S. attorney told a judge on Wednesday. The Department of Justice did not believe the 56 million shares of Robinhood, worth about $465 million, were property of a bankruptcy estate, U.S. attorney Seth Shapiro told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey, who is overseeing the FTX bankruptcy. Shapiro said that competing claims to shares of the stock-trading app could be worked out in a forfeiture proceeding. Bankrupt crypto firm BlockFi, FTX and liquidators in Antigua have all laid claim to the Robinhood stock, along with Bankman-Fried. Prosecutors have accused Bankman-Fried of engaging in a years-long "fraud of epic proportions" that cost investors, customers and lenders potentially billions of dollars by using customer deposits to support his Alameda Research hedge fund. Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to counts of wire fraud and conspiracy. He has acknowledged risk-management failures at FTX, but has said he did not believe he was criminally liable. Bankman-Fried purchased about 7.42% of Robinhood's stock through Emergent Fidelity Technologies Ltd, using funds borrowed from Alameda Research, according to an affidavit he filed in December in an Antigua court. Bankman-Fried said he owned 90% of Emergent and Gary Wang, another former FTX executive, owned 10%. Wang has pleaded guilty to fraud charges from the FTX collapse and is cooperating with prosecutors. Shapiro also said prosecutors had seized U.S. bank accounts affiliated with FTX's Bahamas-based business, known as FTX Digital Markets. Court records show the accounts at Silvergate Bank and Farmington State Bank, which does business as Moonstone Bank, held about $143 million James Bromley, an attorney for FTX, told Dorsey that none of the assets targeted for seizure are currently in the direct control of any of FTX entities in Chapter 11. He said the Robinhood shares were subject to litigation and it was an "open question" about who owns them. The Robinhood stock, which closed on Wednesday at $8.36 per share, is also being claimed by BlockFi Inc, another bankrupt crypto firm as well as liquidators of Emergent, which is in insolvency proceedings in Antigua, where it is incorporated. BlockFi is suing Emergent in a bid to seize the Robinhood stock, which was pledged by Alameda as collateral to guarantee repayment of a loan made by BlockFi. Two days after the pledge, Alameda filed for bankruptcy along with FTX. BlockFi and Robinhood did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Del., and Dietrich Knauth in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler and Matthew Lewis) Winter Park, FL, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua Power Systems, Inc. (OTC: APSI) (the Company) is pleased today to formally announce and further elaborate upon the successful consummation of the recently announced LOI to wholly acquire Tradition Transport Group, Inc (Tradition) and its entire portfolio of corporate subsidiaries. The completed acquisition was formally announced in an Edgarized SEC Form 8-K on Friday, December 30, 2022. Due to the enormity of the material disclosure it contains many investors will recognize this particular filing appropriately as a Super 8-K. The Company highly encourages all interested parties to read the filing in its entirety to gain a clearer picture of the acquisition that has transpired. This release will attempt to address some of the highlights of the 8-K along with commentary from key corporate leadership. Tradition was incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana on September 16, 2015. Tradition is headquartered in Angola, Indiana, and provides freight transportation, brokerage, truck leasing and financing, warehousing and fulfillment services throughout the United States, and manufactures and sells bolts and fasteners, and creates custom plates, cages, and embeds. As of December 2022, Tradition has approximately two hundred and fifteen (215) full-time employees. Sixty (60) of the full-time employees are its drivers, and one-hundred twenty-two (122) are office personnel. Tradition also has one hundred thirty-two (132) owner operator drivers. In fiscal year 2021 Tradition Transport recorded approximately $87 million dollars of revenue in its audited financial statement. Tim Evans President and CEO of Tradition Transport stated: Months of planning, discussing, and strategizing have come to fruition and Im more excited for Traditions future than ever before. First of all, let me be as clear as possible to all the Tradition family of clients, drivers, and other employees that this acquisition does not change our business trajectory other than amplifying and accelerating the path weve already been on. We believe that this acquisition positions Tradition for next-level growth. Tradition is a profitable company with an established customer base. Tradition surpassed our 2021 audited numbers by a significant margin. Ill be talking more about this soon once our 2022 audit is complete. Suffice it to say we are growing and now through this acquisition we have a rock-solid foundation that will carry us far into the future. As Aqua Power takes on a new life with this acquisition, the Company offered the following as a mission statement that more accurately defines the corporate business: Our mission is to build a company that provides efficient and reliable logistics and transportation solutions that exceed the expectations of our clients and partners. We strive to be the industry leader by continuously improving our services, investing in the latest technologies, and valuing the safety and well-being of our employees and customers. Our goal is to build long-term relationships with our clients and partners through exceptional service, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. The Company has set up a new website that will serve as a hub of corporate updates: http://aquapowersystemsinc.com Stephen Carnes, CEO of Aqua Power stated, It would be impossible to adequately summarize all the details and potential of this acquisition in one release, but I hope that shareholders can see the immense value that Tradition brings to Aqua Power. Updates on each of Traditions subsidiaries will be forthcoming as well as new business. Theres literally so much that its a struggle to know where to begin. It is my hope that shareholders and investors can look at how this deal has evolved thus far and understand that Im working to add maximum value and benefit for our valued stakeholders. Safe Harbor: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Companys current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the Companys business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and OTC Markets, Inc. OTC Disclosure and News Service. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact:Stephen Carnes407-674-9444 Attachment Aqua Power Systems, Inc. Wholly Acquires Tradition Transport Group, Inc. and Traditions Entire Portfolio of Corporate Subsidiaries Tradition was incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana on September 16, 2015. Tradition is headquartered in Angola, Indiana, and provides freight transportation, brokerage, truck leasing and financing, warehousing and fulfillment services throughout the United States Source: Aqua Power Systems Inc. DANBURY, CT, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (Ethan Allen or the Company) (NYSE: ETD) today announced that it will release its financial and business results for the fiscal 2023 second quarter ended December 31, 2022, after the market closes on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Following the release, the Company will host an analyst conference call at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time) to discuss its results. The analyst conference call will be webcast live from the Companys Investor Relations website at https://ir.ethanallen.com. The following information is provided for those who would like to participate in the conference call: U.S. Participants: 877-705-2976 International Participants: 201-689-8798 Meeting Number: 13734717 For those unable to listen live, an archived recording of the call will be made available on the Companys website referenced above for up to six months. ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (NYSE: ETD) is a leading interior design company, manufacturer and retailer in the home furnishings marketplace. The Company is a global luxury home fashion brand that is vertically integrated from product design through home delivery, which offers its customers stylish product offerings, artisanal quality, and personalized service. The Company provides complimentary interior design service to its clients and sells a full range of home furnishings through a retail network of design centers located throughout the United States and abroad as well as online at ethanallen.com. Ethan Allen owns and operates ten manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico and Honduras, including one sawmill, one rough mill and a lumberyard. Approximately 75% of its products are manufactured or assembled in these North American facilities. For more information on Ethan Allen's products and services, visit www.ethanallen.com. Investor / Media Contact: Matt McNulty Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer [email protected] Source: Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair hiked its forecast for after-tax profit by up to 325 million euros on Wednesday, citing recent pent-up travel demand while warning that COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine could still affect the outcome. Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers saw profit for the year to end-March at between 1.325 billion euros and 1.425 billion euros, up from a previous range of 1 billion to 1.2 billion due to stronger than expected holiday traffic and fares. The forecasts mean Ryanair is set to easily pass the 1 billion euro annual profit it made before two years of COVID-19 losses and come close to the record 1.45 billion euros reached in the year to March 31, 2018. The low cost carrier said it expects to report a stronger than expected after-tax profit of close to 200 million euros in the three months to Dec. 31 after strong pent-up travel demand over the Christmas and New Year holidays. That would represent a record quarterly profit for that period for the airline, almost double the 106 million euros generated in the three months to the end of December 2017. It said it still expects the period from January to March to be loss making due to Easter holidays falling in April and a recent softening in traffic and pricing for flights out of the United Kingdom and between Irish and provincial UK airports. The Irish airline maintained its forecast that it expects to fly 168 million passengers in its financial year to the end of March, far ahead of its previous record of 149 million. The revised overall guidance remains heavily dependent upon avoiding adverse events in the next three months such as impacts from COVID-19 or the war in Ukraine, it added. Ryanair said earlier on Wednesday that it flew 11.5 million passengers in December, up 3% on its previous pre-COVID high and the ninth month in a row that it has carried more passengers than the corresponding pre-pandemic period. CEO Michael O'Leary said at the start of December that average Christmas air fares were up by a low double-digit percentage year-on-year as passengers travelled without restrictions for the first time in three years. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; editing by Philippa Fletcher) FILE PHOTO: A sign is displayed in the reception of Goldman Sachs in Sydney, Australia, May 18, 2016. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo (Reuters) - The head of Goldman Sachs Group Inc's direct-to-consumer unit, Swati Bhatia, is stepping down from the role, according to an internal note seen by Reuters. Bhatia, a former PayPal executive, will retire from the partnership and become an advisory director, the note said. The move comes as Goldman Sachs in October signaled it was scaling back its ambitions for the loss-making consumer unit, Marcus. The bank also plans to stop originating unsecured consumer loans, a source familiar with the move told Reuters last month, another sign it is stepping back from the business. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon, who took the helm in 2018, has tried to diversify the company's operations with Marcus. It was placed under the wealth business in October as part of a management reshuffle that also merged the trading and investment banking units. Bhatia, formerly the chief payments risk officer at digital payments company Stripe, had joined the bank in February 2021. Separately, the bank appointed Zeeshan Razzaqui as co-head of merchant point-of-sale lending at Platform Solutions, its unit focusing on financial technology products. (Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) (Reuters) - Payments technology provider ACI Worldwide Inc is in talks with private equity firms for a potential sale of the company, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The report added that there was no certainty ACI would reach a deal, given the rocky state of the leveraged financing markets. Shares of the Naples, Florida-based company rose nearly 13% to close at $26.11, its highest point since August 2022, to attain a market capitalization of nearly $2.9 billion. ACI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The company had explored a sale two years ago as well, with Starboard Value pushing the move after acquiring a stake. The investor has been selling down its stake since reaching an agreement in 2021 that added two independent directors to ACI's board. (Reporting by Anirban Chakroborti in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 4, 2023) - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (FSE: A0I:F) (FSE: A0I.MU) (FSE: A0I:BE) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Burega has been appointed President of the Company effective immediately. Stephen will be working alongside CEO, Tom Drivas as Appia moves forward with its continuing development of core rare earths and uranium assets in Canada. Mr. Burega has held senior resource management roles working internationally and has a strong technical knowledge of exploration operations and the North American and European financial markets. Stephen has led the development of market awareness, sales campaigns and raised public and private capital across various natural resources assets while developing innovative investment solutions to promote ESG criteria. Mr. Burega also holds the position of CEO and President at Romios Gold Resources, and has already worked closely with much of the Appia team and Board members which will allow him to hit the ground running as the Company develops plans for the 2023 season. Tom Drivas, CEO of Appia, commented: "We are delighted that Stephen has agreed to join the team at Appia as the company's new President. We have an extraordinary Canadian story to tell, and Stephen is well-suited to engage with our stakeholders to further build market awareness and momentum as we move our core assets forward." "I am very happy to be part of this great company," said Appia's new President, Stephen Burega, "and my mandate is to be highly focussed on operational planning moving forward. Appia's asset potential is well known and I expect the coming year will likely prove to be transformational as we move toward the development of a maiden resource estimate at our flagship Alces Lake critical rare earth elements ("CREE") project at Alces Lake, and to leverage our potential positioning as uranium continues to build momentum in most energy conversations." Mr. Burega's appointment as President is subject to acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE). As part of his compensation, Mr. Burega has been granted 1,000,000 stock options exercisable at $0.35 per share for five years vesting over a period of one year. About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, as well as exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 110,997 hectares (274,280 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. Appia has 130.5 million common shares outstanding, 153.8 million shares fully diluted. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward- looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Tom Drivas, CEO and Director, (cell) 416-876-3957, or (email) [email protected] Stephen Burega, President (cell) 416-515-3734, or (email) [email protected] Frank van de Water, Chief Financial Officer and Director, (tel) 416-546-2707, or (email) [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150226 Leading College Station web design company Jeremy McGilvrey fuels business growth through modern design and click-worthy custom websites and sales funnels. College Station, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - January 3, 2023) - For businesses looking to grow and scale, top-rated College Station web design company Jeremy McGilvrey has announced its conversion-focused site and sales funnel design services. Jeremy McGilvrey, A Web Design Agency Announces Web Design Services In College Station, Texas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8843/150225_c06b0796644a9888_001full.jpg When businesses require profitable websites and sales funnels, they turn to Jeremy McGilvrey because of the agency's extensive experience, results-driven designs, and customer-friendly satisfaction guarantee. The team focuses on creating innovative online and sales funnel designs that are aesthetically beautiful, user-friendly, and customer-centric, providing each site visitor the feel of a personalized browsing experience. A user-friendly browsing experience is provided by Jeremy McGilvrey's College Station web design company, built on a foundation of clean, straightforward design. This tactic encourages users to stay on the website longer and helps to spotlight the client's value proposition and brand messaging. Jeremy McGilvrey's team works to create customized web solutions and better lead conversions in part due to mobile-optimized design. According to GoodFirms research, 73.1% of web designers cite non-responsive design as the primary cause of users leaving websites. To mitigate such losses, the team is committed to helping clients increase conversions by meticulously testing each site in a number of viewing environments to guarantee the website looks amazing, loads quickly, and operates flawlessly, ensuring that more leads are generated. While Jeremy McGilvrey's designs are all visually appealing, the team also ensures the backend provides crucial insights so that clients can receive the data they need to run marketing campaigns and fully understand the impact of their websites. "Clean, modern website designs that are considerate of users' needs and viewing circumstances are now a must for every company, not a competitive advantage," said Jeremy McGilvrey. "Our talented design team is in tune with this reality and uses forward-looking designs that make browsing easier. Additionally, by establishing their online authority with a great website, brands may take advantage of an endless stream of leads and sales to expand and scale their enterprises." To create the highest-converting websites and sales funnels, Jeremy McGilvrey's web design company works with skilled designers from all around the world. Every designer is vetted to ensure that they understand proven techniques that increase conversions in order to guarantee that every website and sales funnel design sells for its clients, even while they're sleeping. Customers also trust the College Station web design company due to its outstanding satisfaction guarantee. If a client is not completely satisfied with the results, they receive a full refund. The company's confidence and success in creating sales funnels and websites that drive business growth are demonstrated in this ironclad guarantee. For over ten years, Jeremy McGilvery's top-rated College Station web design company has garnered praise from thousands of satisfied customers. The company has also received recognition from Forbes, Entrepreneur, ClickFunnels, HuffPost, and NBC. Visit Jeremy McGilvrey College Station Web Design Company for more information. Media Contact: Contact: Jeremy McGilvrey Address: 1 Riverway Ste. 1724, Houston, TX 77056 Phone: (713) 300-3778 Email: [email protected] Website/URL: https://www.jeremymcgilvrey.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150225 VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Elevation Gold Mining Corp. (TSXV: ELVT) (OTCQX: EVGDF) (the "Company" or "Elevation Gold") announces Paulo Santos has stepped down as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Santos for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors. William Dean has been named Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Dean has over 30 years of international experience and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for Ensign Minerals, Lydian International and for Nevada Iron. He has also held senior financial positions at Sierra Gorda SCM, Alacer Gold and Meridian Gold. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Utah and an MBA from the University of Colorado. The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Justine De Boom as Vice President of Human Resources, effective immediately. Ms. De Boom has over 30 years of worldwide experience in human resources and safety management in mining projects. Prior to joining the Company in 2020, Ms. De Boom held senior management positions at Curtain Bros Group and FMR Investments. She holds Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management and memberships in Women in Mining (Arizona Chapter) and the Society for Human Resource Management. Tim J. Swendseid, CEO of Elevation Gold, stated, "Myself and the Board of Directors welcome William Dean and Justine De Boom. William's deep international background in finance, treasury, systems integration and negotiating financing will all be immediately applicable to the Elevation Gold team as we continue improving the operation of the Moss Mine and focusing on exploration activities. Ms. De Boom has proven an outstanding member of the Moss Mine team, where she has served as the Manager of Human Resources. She will continue with those responsibilities plus add corporate responsibilities and will continue being a key executive manager. Stock Option GrantThe Company reports stock options have been granted to employees, officers, and consultants of the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares at a price of C$0.18 per share for a period of five years. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Tim J. Swendseid" Tim J. Swendseid, CEO of Elevation Gold Mining Corporation About Elevation Gold Mining Corporation Elevation Gold is a publicly listed gold and silver producer, engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of mineral properties located in the United States. Elevation Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") in Canada under the ticker symbol ELVT and on the OTCQX in the United States under the ticker symbol EVGDF. The Company's principal operation is the 100% owned Moss Mine in the Mohave County of Arizona. Elevation also holds the title to the Hercules exploration property, located in Lyon County, Nevada. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to statements regarding the proposed timing of the listing of the Warrants on the TSXV; the Company's plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company's guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; expected costs; permitting requirements and timelines; timing and possible outcome of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, life of mine estimates, and mine plans; anticipated exploration and development activities at the Company's projects; net present value; design parameters; economic potential; processing mineralized material; the potential of robust economic potential at the Moss Mine Project. Words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "goal", "aim", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "can", "could", "should", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour; assumed and future price of gold, silver and other metals; anticipated costs; ability to achieve goals; and assumptions related to the factors set forth below. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this document in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks inherent in mining, including, but not limited to risks to the environment, industrial accidents, catastrophic equipment failures, unusual or unexpected geological formations or unstable ground conditions, and natural phenomena such as earthquakes, flooding or unusually severe weather; uninsurable risks; global financial conditions and inflation; changes in the Company's share price, and volatility in the equity markets in general; volatility and fluctuations in metal and commodity prices; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus; delays or the inability to obtain, retain or comply with permits; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; health and safety risks; exploration, development or mining results not being consistent with the Company's expectations; unavailable or inaccessible infrastructure and risks related to ageing infrastructure; actual ore mined and/or metal recoveries varying from Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution, mine plans and metallurgical and other characteristics; risks associated with the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, including, but not limited to, models relating thereto; ore processing efficiency; information technology and cybersecurity risks; potential for the allegation of fraud and corruption involving the Company, its customers, suppliers or employees, or the allegation of improper or discriminatory employment practices; regulatory investigations, enforcement, sanctions and/or related or other litigation; estimates of future production and operations; estimates of operating cost estimates; the potential for and effects of labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or shortages of labour or interruptions in production; risks related to the environmental regulation and environmental impact of the Company's operations and products and management thereof; exchange rate fluctuations; climate change; risks relating to attracting and retaining of highly skilled employees; compliance with environmental, health and safety laws; counterparty and credit risks and customer concentration; litigation; changes in laws, regulations or policies including, but not limited to, those related to mining regimes, permitting and approvals, environmental and tailings management, and labour; internal controls; challenges or defects in title; funding requirements and availability of financing; dilution; risks relating to dividends; risks associated with acquisitions and related integration efforts, including the ability to achieve anticipated benefits, unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to integration and diversion of management time on integration; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated economic return; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those described the Company's public disclosure documents which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. 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, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elevation-gold-announces-management-changes-301713033.html SOURCE Elevation Gold Mining Corp. ASU+GSV Summit celebrates the digital learning and workforce skills startups that have been named Elite 200 semifinalists for the world's largest pitch competition for Pre-K to Gray EdTech startups CHICAGO, NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ASU+GSV Summit, the premier global event focusing on innovations in digital learning and workforce skills, has revealed the 200 semifinalists for the 2023 GSV Cup. These startups, the Elite 200, represent the most promising pre-seed and seed-stage companies in the Pre-K to Gray sector. They will compete for $1 million in cash and prizes as part of the fourth annual GSV Cup competition. Widely regarded as the largest EdTech pitch event for early-stage startups, the competition will take place at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, powered by Google Cloud, GSV Ventures, HolonIQ, HubSpot for Startups, and ASU RealmSpark. Announcing the digital learning and workforce skills startups selected as Elite 200 semifinalists for the 2023 GSV Cup. The global applicant pool for this esteemed list was the largest yet, with over 900 companies from more than 69 countries vying for a spot. A prestigious panel of 200+ judges, comprising top venture capital firms and digital learning strategic partners, used the Five P's framework (People, Product, Potential, Predictability, and Purpose) to carefully evaluate and select the top 200 most promising companies from the applicant pool. "Our GSV Cup semifinalists epitomize our 2023 theme, Brave New World you can't use an old map for a new world. These 200 companies are charting new courses and drawing new maps to achieve the scaled delivery of learning and skills. We all hope to achieve the mission that ALL people deserve equal access to the future through the innovations of these great founders," said Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner of GSV Ventures and Co-founder of the ASU+GSV Summit. The companies on this prestigious list come from diverse and global backgrounds, breaking down barriers and paving the way for a new era of learning so that ALL people have equal access to the future. These startups are well-distributed across the following categories: Early Childhood, K-12, Higher Education, Adult Consumer Learning, and Workforce Learning. 43% of the Elite 200 are headquartered outside of the United States 52% of the Elite 200 have female founders 48% of the Elite 200 have founders that identify as people of color Visit asugsvsummit.com/gsv-cup-elite-200 to view the full list of Elite 200 companies, or click here to learn more about the selection process. About ASU+GSV Summit The ASU+GSV Summit is the premier global event focused on technology innovation in digital learning and workforce skills. We believe that ALL people deserve equal access to the future. Started in 2010 with a collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV), the annual Summit connects leading minds focused on transforming society and business around learning and work. Educators, investors, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from around the world come together to innovate the future of education for all. Hosted in San Diego, over 5,300 people attended in April 2022. Speakers from previous years include President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, John Legend, Common, Marian Wright Edelman, Bill Gates, Sandra Day O'Connor, Reed Hastings, President Vicente Fox, Malcolm Gladwell, Gloria Steinem, Tony Blair, and Howard Schultz. For additional information contact:Jessica Crabbe, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elite-200-semifinalists-announced-for-the-2023-gsv-cup-competition-301713312.html SOURCE ASU+GSV Summit TML crosses a landmark milestone for 500,000 connected vehicles on their unified, connected vehicle platform BENGALURU, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TATA Elxsi, a global design and technology services company, extends its heartiest congratulations to Tata Motors Limited on crossing a significant milestone of onboarding 500,000 vehicles onto the Connected Vehicle Platform (CVP) that caters to its entire range of Commercial, Passenger and Electric Vehicles. In early 2019, Tata Motors collaborated with TATA Elxsi to adopt and adapt the TETHER Connected Vehicle Platform (CVP) towards a common standard technology stack to deliver scalability, differentiated features, high performance and expandable to Industry 4.0 to transform their internal operations. Tata Motors deployed the TETHER CVP under the brands of Fleet Edge for CV, iRA for PV & Zconnect for EV, which offer features like track and trace, geo-fencing and alerts, driver behaviour monitoring, and fuel efficiency monitoring. In addition, they enable secure and selective access to the platform and relevant data with its wider partner ecosystem, including dealers, and suppliers, to enrich customer experience. TETHER CVP was built as a modular platform, which can be scaled up to offer a wide range of solutions with third-party applications through APIs. In addition, it is a 5G-ready platform with capabilities to handle hype scalar traffic, massive FOTA, and digital twin capabilities catering to the SDV roadmap of the OEM. Expressing himself on the milestone, Rajendra Petkar President & CTO of Tata Motors, said, "In line with Tata Motors stated objective of offering differentiated products based on our CESS philosophy (Connected, Electrified, Safe & Shared), we are delighted to have partnered with TATA Elxsi. This not only allowed us to take the decision of developing a native platform for the Connected Vehicle Program, but it also helped us to jump start and meet the critical product launch timelines. TATA Elxsi brings strong automotive electronics experience, coupled with an excellent understanding of cloud-based applications, data governance and world class user experience capabilities. The collaboration between the two teams has been outstanding and will continue to ensure a wonderful customer experience." Commenting on this milestone, Manoj Raghavan, MD & CEO of TATA Elxsi, said, "We congratulate Tata Motors and are proud to be a strategic partner to help them in achieving their vision for the future of mobility that is Connected, Electric, Safe and Shared. The Connected Vehicle Program will unify and synergize data through a common digital services platform, enabling completely new services, innovative business models, and enhanced customer experience." The platform was recognised as the Next-Gen Product of the Year by NASSCOM Engineering and Innovation Excellence Awards 2021. In addition, it has recently been awarded the prestigious Tech.AD Award USA in 2022. TETHER is also one of the finalists at the TU Auto 2021 awards held in Detroit, USA, and Tata Innovista 2022. The TETHER CVP roadmap elevates the platform capabilities by extending use cases for 2- and 3-wheelers and adding support for 5G MEC use cases, edge computing for autonomous driving and an AI-driven analytics layer. This will help OEMs convert data and insights into enhanced customer experience, lower costs, and in monetization. About TATA Elxsi Incorporated in 1989, TATA Elxsi is amongst the world's leading providers of design and technology services across industries, including Automotive, Media, Communications, Healthcare, and Transportation Tata Elxsi works with leading OEMs and suppliers in the automotive and transportation industries for R&D, design, and product engineering services from architecture to launch and beyond. TATA Elxsi brings together domain experience across Autonomous, Electric, Connected vehicle technologies, and Software-defined vehicles (SDV). It is supported by a worldwide network of design studios, development centres, offices, and a global pool of over 10,000 engineers and specialists.For more information, visit www.tataelxsi.com. Media Contact: Tata ElxsiHari Balan Corporate CommunicationsEmail: [email protected]080 22979123 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/742257/Tata_Elxsi_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tata-elxsis-tether-paves-the-way-for-tata-motors-connected-vehicle-platform-to-scale-new-heights-301712182.html SOURCE TATA Elxsi KENNEBUNK, Maine, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom's of Maine today announced the five winning members of the 2022 Tom's of Maine Incubator, including Aliyah Collins (24), Wawa Gatheru (24), Alexia Leclercq (22), Bodhi Patil (20), and Sanjana Paul (25). Each recipient has been awarded $20,000 in funding to help support their work, plus access to expert mentors and opportunities to collaborate with and receive support from Tom's of Maine in amplifying their work in sustainability. "The Tom's of Maine Incubator was created to elevate the next generation of BIPOC climate leaders who are rarely reflected or engaged in finding climate change solutions. Each of our winners have already accomplished so much, and we are honored to work with them toward even more impact," said Cristiane Martini, General Manager, Tom's of Maine. "With the additional funding and mentorship our Incubator provides, Tom's of Maine looks forward to helping our Incubator members drive environmental solutions and empower others to make a positive impact." "The Incubator showcases the brand's priorities of doing good for people and the planet. Doing good isn't newit's been a part of who we are since 1970. And it's been just as important for the brand to continuously evolve and do better," says Michelle Theodat Waring, Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good, Tom's of Maine. "So, to advance the brand's sustainability commitment, we also revisited our goals this year and refined them to guide further efforts. The result is the Tom's of Maine 2022 Goodness Report." The 2022 Goodness Report surfaces how Tom's commitment to the planet, people, and health intersects with their mission to create a healthy future for all people. And it shows up in everything they do. Climate change will ultimately impact everyone, but communities of color and those with less economic advantages are likely to bear the biggest burden. Tom's wants to address the intersection of diversity and equity with climate change and the environment, and the Incubator is a component of that work. The Tom's of Maine Incubator is a seven-month program designed to propel the next generation of BIPOC leaders driving environmental solutions. The program provides funding, mentorship, amplification, and support to young changemakers, helping them Do Good. For Real. Throughout the winter and spring, the members will participate in multiple virtual workshops and trainings, plus one-on-one meetings with their mentors to continue collaboration and amplification efforts, all designed to propel their work. Incubator members are also invited to the Tom's of Maine Incubator In-Person Summit in Kennebunk, Maine this spring. The three-day event will provide one-on-one interactions with mentors and Tom's leadership as well as an opportunity to workshop each member's vision and action plan for creating impact. Meet the 2022 Tom's of Maine Incubator members: Name: Aliyah CollinsAge: 24City: Somerville, MABio: Aliyah has worked with communities in Nashville, Chicago and Boston, connecting environmental justice to spiritual care. Name: Wawa GatheruAge: 24City: Pomfret Center, CTBio: Founder of Black Girl Environmentalist and Narrative Fellow at the All We Can Save Project, Wanjiku "Wawa" Gatheru is a Kenyan-American storyteller whose work exists at the intersections of climate, culture and policy. Name: Alexia LeclercqAge: 22City: Austin, TXBio: Alexia is the co-founder of the Colorado River Conservancy and Start: Empowerment and has led dozens of environmental justice campaigns. Name: Bodhi PatilAge: 20City: Arlington, VABio: As the founder of Inner Light and co-creator of @oceanuprise, Bodhi believes in the power that young people have to create impact at scale. Name: Sanjana PaulAge: 25City: Cambridge, MABio: Sanjana Paul is the executive director and co-founder of The Earth Hacks Foundation and holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and physics. The mentors working with these Tom's of Maine Incubator members include: Ciara Imani May - CEO and founder of Rebundle, a beauty company that is revolutionizing hair extensions with more comfort and less waste. - CEO and founder of Rebundle, a beauty company that is revolutionizing hair extensions with more comfort and less waste. Kristy Drutman Climate activist and co-founder of Green Jobs Board, a job site made for those looking for sustainability and environmental careers. Climate activist and co-founder of Green Jobs Board, a job site made for those looking for sustainability and environmental careers. Lizzie Horvitz - CEO and founder of Finch, a company that incentivizes consumers to make better purchasing decisions by rating products based on their environmental footprint. - CEO and founder of Finch, a company that incentivizes consumers to make better purchasing decisions by rating products based on their environmental footprint. Isaias Hernandez Environmental educator and creator of QueerBrownVegan where he creates introductory forms of environmentalism through colorful graphics, illustrations, and videos. Environmental educator and creator of QueerBrownVegan where he creates introductory forms of environmentalism through colorful graphics, illustrations, and videos. Michelle Theodat Waring Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good at Tom's of Maine where she helps ensure the brand stays true to sustainability commitments, from ingredient sourcing to community engagement. Michelle formerly led Communications Partnerships for the Natural Resources Defense Council. To learn more about the Tom's of Maine Incubator, members and more, visit https://www.tomsofmaine.com/incubator. About Tom's of MaineTom's of Maine, Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) company, has been making natural, safe, and effective personal care products for 50 years. It all began when Tom and Kate Chappell moved to Maine in 1968 looking for a healthier, simpler life for their growing family. And when they couldn't find personal care products that were free from artificial flavors, fragrances, sweeteners, colors and preservatives, they decided to make their own. Tom's of Maine products including toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, bar soap, body wash, dental floss, and toothbrushes are made from naturally sourced and naturally derived ingredients and never tested on animals. A Certified B Corporation, Tom's of Maine is committed to upholding a purpose-driven business and has a long-standing commitment to supporting nature and healthy families. Tom's of Maine has supported hundreds of nonprofits by giving back 10% of its profits, and employees are encouraged to use 5% of their paid time (12 days) volunteering for causes they are passionate about. All of Tom's products are cruelty-free and most products are vegan, kosher, halal-certified and gluten-free. Visit us online at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/ or at http://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine. Media ContactAlejandra Arias [email protected] - 212.601.3011 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toms-of-maine-announces-2022-incubator-members-five-rising-environmental-leaders-each-awarded-20k-to-support-their-work-301712865.html SOURCE Tom's of Maine WASHINGTON A new memorial honoring the contributions of women who helped keep the U.S. economically and socially afloat during World War II is set to be built in the nations capital. The monument will commemorate the estimated 18 million women who took over jobs traditionally held by men and worked as pilots, engineers, electricians, farmers, taxi drivers, letter carriers and code breakers while mostly men fought in Europe and the Pacific during World War II. Its long past time we recognize the contributions hardworking women made during World War II they rolled up their sleeves and took whatever job was necessary to keep the country they loved moving forward, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Army veteran who served in the Iraq War. Duckworth co-sponsored legislation authorizing the memorial alongside Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Mike Braun, R-Ind., and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C. President Joe Biden signed the measure into law last month as part of the annual government funding bill. The nonprofit Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation, founded by Nortons constituent Raya Kenney, is raising money to fund the completion of the commemorative work, which will stand on federal land in or near Washington, D.C. Using media and social media as well as guided tours and podcasts the Memorial to the Women on the Home Front will explore not only the jobs these women took and the contributions they made but will increase focus on their lives and ours once the war concluded, the group states on its website. The foundation also plans to capture live interviews of women who stepped into the workforce between 1941 and 1945, giving a voice to a wide range of women who contributed to the war effort through a variety of jobs. "Rosie the Riveter is an iconic symbol of the women on the home front during World War II. Yet, many of the 'Rosies' themselves who held jobs that were not factory jobs are unaware that they are included in the Rosie the Riveter narrative; sadly then, their descendants likely dont know either, and nor do the tens of thousands of children who come to Washington, D.C., to learn about our countrys history through memorials and museums, the group states. The only mention of this history on federal land is on a small plaque on the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Other countries have built memorials dedicated to women who worked on the home front, according to the group. Women have largely been ignored in the memorials on federal land in the nations capital, Norton said. The memorial will seek to link the past with the present by recognizing the role Rosies played in expanding economic opportunities for future generations of women. The female workforce increased by 10% between 1941 and the end of World War II in 1945. We have a female vice president, the largest number of females in Congress, and females leading Fortune 500 companies more than weve ever had before. Without the women on the home front, we would not be where we are today, according to the Women Who Worked on the Home Front. The continued chasm between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley is much more than just a cultural difference its a threat to national security at a time when our adversaries are leaning into the technology arms race. While the Department of Defense has made some important changes to legacy processes and introduced new funding lines, these changes have not been fast or aggressive enough to significantly alter the technology arms race landscape. The secretary of defense recently announced the creation of the Office of Strategic Capital, which would work across policy, acquisition and research efforts to increase the amount of capital available to critical technology companies. While this is an important step in expanding cooperation with the private sector, DOD must go much further to remove some of the most common barriers to entry for small, multi-use tech companies. The procurement process urgently needs to be reformed, which cannot happen unless Congress dedicates funding and legislative support to bring potential remedies to life. In search of such a remedy, we should look no further than Israel, a country that has excelled in its own technology arms race and also happens to be one of our most important global partners. Last month, Defense undersecretary Colin Kahl traveled there and according to the official statement, visited some of Israels most innovative defense technology companies to see demonstrations of cutting-edge emerging and critical capabilities. It is heartening that our current Defense leadership is exhibiting the potential for outside-the-box thinking. In fact, it is sorely needed. One option they are hopefully considering replicating is the Israeli closed box, joint testing and incubator space focused on addressing the most pressing military requirements. The Israeli Defense Forces created this capability years ago as part of its famed unit 8200, and has modified it and more recently taken it public. Israels model provides startups with grant funding to lay the groundwork for transitioning promising technologies into the defense sector. These targeted technologies range from artificial intelligence applications for engineering design optimization in machinery, electronics, construction and other fields, to innovations that reduce food spoilage. Moreover, this unit has historically been staffed with the most creative minds from across their military services, and its leadership has been granted the authority to take new ideas forward through testing and validation exercises. This creates a mutually-beneficial system for all parties: not only do dual-use tech startups receive access to a network of investors and industry leaders, they have the opportunity to implement their solutions in real-world scenarios with the Israeli military, making the technology more effective when it ultimately sees the light of day on the battlefield. Although this model would be quite painful for many DOD leaders, who can be reluctant to relinquish decision-making power and defer to those further down their chains of command with more relevant technical expertise, it could reduce and potentially remove some of the most common barriers to entry for small, multi-use tech companies. Both public servants and defense contractors dread what is referred to in government contracting circles as crossing Death Valley the lengthy period a private sector vendor is required to pass through when transforming a prototype or commercially available product to a DOD contract. While many factors make this transition difficult for small, multi-use technology companies, rigorous (and backlogged) security clearance processes and expensive cybersecurity certifications are some of the most significant impediments. The DODs bureaucratic processes also stand in the way of attracting and retaining top talent writ large. While there is value to the order and stability that our bureaucracy provides, its no secret that most of our nations best and brightest engineers, scientists and technologists eschew government service in favor of private sector opportunities with flatter organizational structures and better compensation. A closed box, joint testing and incubator space would allow the DOD to quickly capitalize on the top talent that flocks to smaller, private industry, dual-use tech firms that are not traditional sources for U.S. military procurement. Consider the alternative status quo: our adversaries continue developing advanced artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cyber technologies, in addition to sophisticated weapons systems like hypersonic missiles without self-imposed bureaucratic walls between the public and private sectors. Meanwhile, small, dual-use tech startups in the U.S. are stuck waiting for a Facilities Security Clearance before they can get a government contract with any sort of research and development funding. Since these startups cannot afford to wait years for government work, they shift their focus to commercial applications for their technologies. As a result, the DOD continues to lose out on partners who have reach and situational awareness to advance innovation in areas like cybersecurity especially given that the federal government does not own or operate the majority of cyber infrastructure. To win this new arms race, our government must remove critical existential hurdles for private sector partners working to develop multi-use technologies. Standing up a closed box, joint testing and incubator space can remove barriers to entry more rapidly, and encourage small companies with cutting-edge technologies to continue engagement with the DOD. With our adversaries advancing their technical capabilities at a rapid pace, our military falls farther behind every year as it continues to sideline our most creative and innovative private sector partners. This new Congress has a significant opportunity for a bipartisan effort to address this great challenge, and there is no time to waste. Simone Ledeen is a managing director at Vantage ROI and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. She is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Jan. 13, according to a news release on the White House website Wednesday. Biden looks forward to Kishidas visit to further deepen ties between our governments, economies, and our people, according to the statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. They will have much to talk about, including Japans plans to bolster its armaments with purchases of Tomahawk missiles from the United States, part of Japans record-breaking $51 billion military spending plan approved in December by the Cabinet; and the persistent presence by the navies of China and Russia in the seas around Japan, including the southward-stretching Nansei Island chain that includes Okinawa. They will also discuss a range of regional and global issues including [North Koreas] unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, Russias brutal war against Ukraine, and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Jean-Pierre said in the statement. North Koreas drumbeat of ballistic missile tests in 2022 included an intermediate-range weapon that arced over northern Japan, prompting take cover warnings in parts of the island nation before it splashed into the Pacific Ocean. The two allied leaders crossed paths regularly throughout 2022. It will be their first meeting since mid-November at the G-20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia. They also met informally Nov. 2 at the COP26 conference on climate change in Glasgow, Scotland, and Sept. 12 on the sidelines at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, according to media reports and Japans Foreign Ministry. Biden traveled to Japan in May and met for more than two hours with Kishida in Tokyo. The allied leaders upcoming meeting comes as Japans ruling Liberal Democrats reconsider the nations defense policy, enunciated in the National Security Strategy released in December that cites the challenge posed by Chinas military presence in the East and South China Seas. The strategy document also emphasizes closer cooperation with Washington. President Biden will reiterate his full support for Japans recently released National Security Strategy, its presidency of the G7, and its term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the statement said. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. China is pausing massive investments aimed at building a chip industry to compete with the U.S., as a nationwide COVID resurgence strains the worlds No. 2 economy and Beijings finances. Top officials are discussing ways to move away from costly subsidies that have so far borne little fruit and encouraged both graft and American sanctions, people familiar with the matter said. While some continue to push for incentives of as much as 1 trillion yuan ($145 billion), other policymakers have lost their taste for an investment-led approach thats not yielded the results anticipated, the people said. Instead, theyre seeking alternative ways to assist homegrown chipmakers, such as lowering the cost of semiconductor materials, the people said, asking not to be identified revealing sensitive negotiations. That would mark a shift in Beijings approach toward an industry regarded as crucial to challenging American dominance and safeguarding Chinese economic and military competitiveness. It underscores how the countrys economic ructions are taxing Beijings resources and hobbling its chip ambitions one of President Xi Jinpings top priorities. That could have ramifications for spending in other critical areas, from the environment to defense. Shares in Chinese chipmakers and gear suppliers underperformed a broad market rally. Tokyo Electron Ltd. slid 1.2% in Japan, while Chinese peers including Naura Technology Group Co. and Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. fell more than 1%. Its unclear what other chip policies Beijing is considering, or whether it will ultimately decide to ditch the capital investment-heavy approach thats worked so well in propelling its manufacturing sector over the past decades. Chinas government could still decide to divert resources from other arenas to fund its chipmakers. Representatives for the State Council Information Office and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology didnt immediately respond to faxed requests for comment. But the discussions now underway are in stark contrast to Beijings prior efforts of pouring colossal resources into the chip industry, including setting up the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund in 2014. That vehicle lies at the heart of Xis unhappiness with Beijings prior philosophy. Known within the industry as the Big Fund, it drew about $45 billion in capital and backed scores of companies, including Chinas chipmaking champions Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. Xis administration grew frustrated that tens of billions of dollars funneled into the industry over the past decade havent produced breakthroughs that allow China to compete with the U.S. on a more equal footing. In fact, SMIC and Yangtze, arguably the two most advanced Chinese semiconductor players, were crippled by US sanctions. Senior Beijing officials ordered a flurry of anti-graft probes into top industry figures last summer, blaming corruption for wasted and inefficient investment. The Big Fund is likely to lose its stature as a result, the people said. All that happened as semiconductors increasingly became a key battleground in the rivalry between China and the U.S. Xi has repeatedly talked about the need for a sense of urgency to resolve Chinas so-called chokepoints: areas where the country still relies heavily on the U.S. and other foreign powers, including critical technologies such as chips. He has implored top officials to achieve self-sufficiency in key technologies as the U.S. moves to isolate China. When he secured a precedent-breaking third term in October, Xi vowed to move faster in implementing strategic projects to increase innovation, saying efforts will be made to improve the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs, and boost Chinas strength in strategic science and technology. In response, Chinese officials recently discussed whether to offer additional incentives for domestic semiconductor companies, the people said. But many reckoned it would be difficult to pool a substantial amount after Beijing had spent heavily to combat COVID over past years, according to the people. Instead, officials are now asking local semiconductor material suppliers to cut prices to provide support to their domestic customers, the people said. Weak tax revenue, declining land sales and the cost of stemming COVID has squeezed the governments finances, pushing the fiscal deficit to a record last year. Meanwhile, the U.S. is proving increasingly aggressive in going after Chinas technological ambitions. Last year, it accelerated a campaign to contain Beijings chip endeavors, wielding various tools including export controls to deter Chinas progress in emerging technologies. That was part of efforts to maintain what U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called as large of a lead as possible. Its key allies, including the Netherlands and Japan, have also agreed in principle to tighten controls over the export of advanced chipmaking machinery to China, Bloomberg News has reported, in what may be another potentially debilitating blow to Beijings grand chip plans. Bloombergs Debby Wu, Gao Yuan, Mayumi Negishi, Daniel Ten Kate, John Liu and Nasreen Seria contributed to this report. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea South Koreas president suggested he would suspend a nearly five-year-old agreement designed to lower military tensions with the North, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol directed the National Security Office to consider suspending the agreement signed by then-South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his North Korean counterpart, No Kwang-chol, on Sept. 19, 2018, senior press secretary Kim Eun Hye said at a news briefing in Seoul. The agreement, which immediately followed a summit in Pyongyang between then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, directs both Koreas to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea that are the source of military tension and conflict. The confidence building measures in the agreement established no-fly zones for aircraft and unarmed aerial vehicles and barred Seoul and Pyongyang from conducting artillery drills near the border. Yoon during a meeting with senior officials Wednesday also directed the military to continue developing an overwhelming response capability beyond a proportional level to North Korean provocations, Kim said. Yoons shift away from the agreement comes days after North Korean drones were detected in the Souths airspace for the first time in five years. Five drones were discovered Dec. 26 over northern Seoul and on the western coast. They flew for roughly five hours and were visible from the ground, according to South Koreas military. Despite a military helicopter firing about 100 rounds at the drones, none were downed. The incident prompted the Ministry of National Defense to apologize for failing to take out a drone. South Koreas military responded to the incursion on the same day by sending three surveillance drones north of the border, according to the ministry. The U.N. Command, which is tasked with enforcing the armistice agreement between North and South Korea, said it was investigating the incident. Yoon, a member of the conservative People Power Party, also ordered the military to mass-produce small drones within the year, and develop an indigenous drone-killer system, Kim said during Wednesdays news briefing. North Korea violated the 2018 agreement on multiple occasions within the past year, according to Yoons administration. In addition to launching roughly 75 missiles in 36 separate days of testing in 2022, the North fired hundreds of artillery rounds toward a maritime buffer zone in October and flew military aircraft less than 3 miles from a designated no-fly zone the same month. Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report. WASHINGTON The Pentagon needs to do a better job managing the risks of replacing aging fighter jets and should share information with Congress so it can make better spending decisions and avoid gaps in air superiority, a top federal watchdog concluded in a recent report. Federal and independent analysts have determined some fixed-wing tactical attack aircraft are outliving their life spans and, in some cases, there arent planes to replace them yet, according to a study by the Government Accountability Office. Most of [the militarys] existing tactical aircraft first entered service in the 1970s and 1980s and have exceeded their original service lives, the 49-page report states, noting the GAO did the study after Congress asked for a review of capability gaps and shortfalls with military attack planes. Tactical aircraft fixed-wing fighter and attack planes provide air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare capabilities that are vital to combat operations and homeland defense, according to the report. Recent studies conducted by the Department of Defense's Joint Staff and the military services have found that [the Pentagon] needs to modernize its tactical aircraft fleet. The watchdog warned, however, the Pentagon risks spending valuable funds on duplicate or redundant efforts and leaving critical goals unmet, which could create a gap in tactical aerial capabilities. The GAO analyzed several different military studies in two years, as well as budget and investment records for aircraft used by the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. It also studied the Pentagons decision-making process in funding newer aircraft. Seven of eight studies found that existing aircraft did not have the capabilities needed to compete in future combat scenarios, the report said. And some noted the need to invest in advanced technologies to address future needs. Three of the studies identified shortfalls in the Navy's capacity, or inventory of tactical aircraft. The GAO report shows many of the militarys fixed-wing tactical aircraft are decades old. The agency said the Air Forces fleet of A-10 Thunderbolts, for example, have an average age of 40.4 years. The A-10s replacement is the relatively new F-35A. Similarly, F/A-18s flown by the Navy and Marine Corps have an average age of 28 years, and they will be replaced ultimately by the F-35s B and C variants. Only a limited number of F-35s have been delivered so far. According to the GAO, the Air Force has fewer than 300 F-35As and several dozen B and C variants have been delivered to the Navy and Marine Corps. The Pentagon also has yet to designate replacements for the Air Forces F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Navys EA-18G Growler. GAO analysts warned its particularly important for the military to balance older aircraft and development of new planes so it can support the future force. If it took a portfolio-type approach to study risks and costs, the agency said the Pentagon could make better decisions and keep aerial capabilities as close to full strength as possible. Divesting of existing tactical aircraft to pay for new development creates a delicate balance and is a decision that should be made with the most detailed information, the report states. Without an analysis of the tactical aircraft platform portfolio and a requirement to report underlying information externally, [the Pentagon] and Congress will continue to have limited information when making major investment decisions. Those investments are expected to be significant in the coming years. The GAO notes the Air Force and Navy are planning to spend more than $20 billion a year until 2027 to develop new planes to replace the older ones. During that same time, they plan to retire a significant number of existing aircraft, according to the report. The GAOs analysis ultimately boiled down to two recommendations. First, it urged the Pentagon to start doing integrated portfolio-level risk analyses to detect problems such as overlap, fiscal waste and capability gaps. The second recommendation asks to make it mandatory for the Pentagon to share those findings with the defense committees in Congress. In response to the GAO report, the Pentagon said it agrees with the first recommendation and partly disagrees with the second. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Tanya Skeen wrote in a letter that the congressional sharing requirement would only give lawmakers preliminary data thats not final. It would be better, she said, for the Pentagon to share relevant budgetary information with lawmakers via the National Defense Authorization Act, a law passed each year that outlines the militarys funding and expenditures. WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A Pennsylvania man who persuaded desperate pet owners that he could help cure their dogs cancer was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud and interstate shipment of misbranded animal drugs. Jonathan Nyce, 73, of Collegeville, Pa., was charged in February 2020 in a years-long scheme to defraud pet owners by falsely claiming to sell canine cancer-curing drugs, according to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero. Starting in 2012, his indictment alleged, he received more than $1 million in payments from 900 pet owners through several companies, including Canine Care, ACGT and CAGT. Nyce marketed these cancer-curing medications to desperate pet owners, using the drug names Tumexal and Naturasone, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). His websites claimed that Tumexal is effective against a wide variety of cancers, and will almost always restore a cancer-stricken dogs appetite, spirit and energy! The DOJ said the drugs were, instead, a collection of bulk ingredients blended by the defendant. When beloved pets become sick, caring owners look for treatments that can offer hope to keep their pet alive and comfortable, Romero said in a DOJ news release. Jonathan Nyce took advantage of that bond between pet and owner by defrauding customers and giving them false hope that they might be able to save their dying pet. That is both cruel and illegal, and we hope this verdict brings his victims a small measure of justice for their suffering. Nyce induced owners of terminally ill dogs to pay him hundreds or thousands of dollars for the drugs via email and telephone conversations, according to the DOJ. He also told prospective customers that their pets could become part of clinical trials if they paid him large sums of money, the DOJ statement said. The marketing, sale and shipment of these drugs violated the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act because the drugs were not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nyce also falsely claimed in promotional materials that the FDA helped fund his companys research, according to the DOJ. The FDAs animal drug approval process ensures that our pets receive safe and effective products. Ignoring the FDAs requirements and selling unapproved drugs to vulnerable U.S. consumers will not be tolerated, said Special Agent George Scavdis of the FDA's Metro Washington Field Office. We will aggressively pursue and bring to justice those criminals who place profits above the health and safety of animal patients." The case was investigated by the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations with assistance from the Consumer Protection Branch of the DOJ. More information The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on dog cancer treatment. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice, news release, Dec. 23, 2022 (Tribune News Service) The owner of the Ever Forward container ship, which ran aground in the Chesapeake Bay in March, will pay Maryland more than half a million dollars to enhance local oyster bars as a mitigation fee for the accident, following a Wednesday morning vote from Marylands Board of Public Works. After the grounding, Maryland issued an emergency wetlands license that allowed for dredging the shallow bottom around the vessel to re-float it. After several attempts and the removal of about 500 cargo containers the Ever Forward was freed April 17. Wednesdays vote by the Maryland board which includes the governor, comptroller and state treasurer tacks on a $676,200 payment to that license, which will go toward enhancing and reseeding 41 acres of oyster bars to mitigate for the grounding. Because the grounding occurred in Anne Arundel County, oyster bars there will be prioritized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The ships Taiwanese owner, Evergreen Marine Corp., issued a statement: After the incident of Ever Forwards grounding off the Port of Baltimore, Evergreen has been closely working with concerned authorities in an effort to evaluate and mitigate the impact of the refloating operation on the surrounding area. Earlier this week, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved an environmental remediation agreement between the State of Maryland and Evergreen that will establish a fund to provide environmental support to Chesapeake Bay and bolster the health of oyster beds in the area. Contrary to some recent press accounts, the agreement to fund this effort is not due to any sort of fine levied against Evergreen. The Ever Forwards grounding and dredging impacted 14 acres of bay bottom, including 11.5 acres within the boundary of a natural oyster bar, the Maryland Department of the Environment said in a news release. The impacted bar wasnt very populated to begin with, according to a survey by the Department of Natural Resources, so there were no discernable impacts on oysters, aside from the deep footprint of the ship and dredging. But the area was a favored habitat for blue crabs during the winter months, when the creatures burrow into the muddy bottom to protect themselves from the cold. The grounding and subsequent efforts to free the Ever Forward impacted an estimated 423 crabs, or about 5 bushels, according to DNRs survey. Given that the average baywide harvest of blue crabs is 1.3 million bushels annually, the groundings impact on the crab population is very small, the survey said. But, the grounding could redistribute crabs to other locations for their overwintering. That could impact local harvesters, because the location beside the Craighill Channel is known to be a productive area for crabbing in the springtime when the crabs emerge from the mud, according to the survey. Exacerbating matters, 2022 was already a year with a very low blue crab population, when crabs appeared to be favoring the northern bay, the survey stated. In a report last month, the U.S. Coast Guard stated that the Ever Forwards bay pilot had spent half of the vessels two-hour voyage on phone calls, and sent a few text messages and drafted an email before the grounding. The state has since suspended the license of the pilot, Steven Germac, and the Coast Guard report warned he could face civil penalty action for his conduct. Currently, the Maryland Board of Pilots, which licenses and regulates the pilots using the Port of Baltimore, doesnt have a cellphone policy but is expected to consider the matter at its next meeting Friday. 2023 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Los Alamos National Laboratory's record $4.6 billion budget for this fiscal year will give officials an unprecedented amount of money for its nuclear weapons program, which still makes up the bulk of the lab's spending. The lab's hefty funding was part of the U.S. Energy Department's budget request tucked into the recently passed $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package, which will cover the costs of agencies and programs through this fiscal year, ending in October. Roughly 70 percent of the lab's funding is for its nuclear weapons program, which includes research, computer testing and pursuing the goal of producing 30 plutonium bomb cores or "pits" per year by 2026. Plans call for Savannah River Site in South Carolina to make an additional 50 pits by 2035. The combined 80-pit goal was established under the Trump administration and is being carried forth by President Joe Biden. Pentagon leaders, nuclear security officials and some politicians say the pits are needed to modernize the arsenal so it will act as a stronger deterrent against Russia, China and rogue states, which are improving their first-strike capabilities. The pits also would be fashioned to fit at least one new warhead being developed. The war in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats to unleash nuclear weapons if any country directly intervened in the conflict have heightened tensions and led to the military establishment pushing harder to bolster the arsenal through increased spending. This year's $858 billion military budget is the largest in memory. And the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Energy Department branch that oversees nuclear weapons, received $22.3 billion, a bump from the $20.7 billion it got last year. In an email, Shayela Hassan, a nuclear security agency spokeswoman, wrote the budget increase is necessary to fund the program in the current times. "This is the most demanding moment in the history of our nation's nuclear enterprise since the Manhattan Project," Hassan wrote. Modernizing nuclear programs requires revitalizing production, as described in the Nuclear Posture Review, she wrote, referring to the guidebook that every presidential administration crafts for managing the arsenal and assessing global threats. About $1.6 billion of the lab's new budget is to modernize plutonium operations to prepare for manufacturing 30 pits, an amount that almost triples the most pits the lab has ever produced in a year. The plutonium funding is a 60 percent increase from last year's $1 billion, and about five times the $308 million budgeted three years ago. In an email, a watchdog group called the lab's ballooning nuclear weapons budget "a staggering amount of money" that was leveraged through world events, such as the war in Ukraine. "I think the writing should be on the wall that we have entered a new nuclear arms race," wrote Geoff Wilson, director of the Center for Defense Information at the Project on Government Oversight. "The nuclear spending floodgates have opened in the name of defending against China and a belligerent Russia, and the labs are defense contractors. This is going to be a boom season for them." Producing new pits lays the groundwork to create new warheads, Wilson wrote. He noted the lab is developing the first new warhead since the 1980s, the submarine-launched W93. What's worrisome about devising new warheads is the computer simulations now used for testing might be rendered obsolete, leading to explosive nuclear testing banned since 1992 being revived, he wrote. The U.S. has the most powerful arsenal in the world and stands little chance of falling behind adversaries, but amping up its weaponry could drive other countries to do likewise, creating a destabilizing effect globally, Wilson wrote. "I think everyone should be concerned where this sort of escalation could take us, and whether or not this is really necessary for our security, or just going to fund the defense contractor industry base," he wrote. New Mexico's delegates, including Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, have expressed enthusiastic support of the lab and funding its nuclear mission, contending it's essential for national security and boosts the regional economy. Lujan's office didn't respond to a request for comment on the lab's growing budget. The lab's economic benefits have been debated in recent years, especially for Los Alamos County. While the lab's workforce has grown to almost 16,000 employees, an estimated 65 percent live outside Los Alamos. Supporters point to the lab funding a diverse assortment of nonweapons science, such as a new method to detect methane pollution, more effective ways to combat deadly viruses and a joint effort to develop the Supercam mounted on the Mars rover. The lab also funds nuclear nonproliferation efforts and renewable energy projects. Hassan notes the plutonium modernization program will provide $5 million in funding to "minority serving institutions" in New Mexico. Those include Santa Fe, Luna and Central New Mexico community colleges as well as Navajo Technical University, New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico. But the nonweapons programs are a lesser part of the lab's budget. In several public town halls, lab Director Thom Mason has said the nuclear mission is the primary focus. One longtime anti-nuclear activist said the race to produce pits at the lab has proved to be more costly and difficult than was initially imagined. In 2017, the nuclear security agency estimated it would cost about $2 billion total to ramp up pit production, and the costs have already grown to many times that amount, said Greg Mello, executive director of the Los Alamos Study Group. Mello called the endeavor "a runaway train" that's unsustainable in the long run and unnecessary. "It's a product of successful lobbying," Mello said. "We don't need new generations of nuclear weapons." (c)2023 The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) Visit The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) at www.santafenewmexican.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Since at least Dec. 23 the Hawaii State Eternal Flame War Memorial, which burns to honor all Hawaii residents who have served in the armed forces, has not been burning. In 2022, local Vietnam War veterans revived a long-standing tradition of gathering at Korean and Vietnam war memorials. The pandemic had stopped the gathering for two years. As part of the tradition, they would go to the flame, situated opposite the state Capitol on the mauka side of Beretania Street, to light candles to usher in Christmas Eve and remember lost comrades. Vietnam veteran Allen Hoe said that for 28 years he would light a candle with the eternal flame with his children and make a "small presentation about the significance of it from one generation to another." But before the most recent gathering, he got a call from his secretary telling him the flame wasn't burning. "I went there early that evening just to check, and sure enough, it was out," Hoe said. With the new year now underway, it's still not burning. The state Department of Accounting and General Services, which is responsible for maintaining the memorial, said the propane-fueled burner is in need of repairs. "The burner has been damaged due to trash being thrown in on the burner. Some individuals in the area tend to litter," said DAGS spokesman Tony Benabese. "(We) have a team working on it, but it's real specialized. So they're trying to get the parts to get it done." Benabese said that because of difficulty in finding the needed parts, DAGS has no timeline for when the flame will burn again. Hoe said this isn't the first time he has found the flame snuffed out. On Dec. 23, 2004, both of Hoe's sons were serving in the military. One of them, 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, was deployed to Iraq at the time. When Allen Hoe and his son Nakoa went to the flame to prepare for the ceremony, they found it unlit. Allen Hoe told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that he asked officials about it. "I didn't make an issue of it; I just raised the question," he said. Hoe said officials suggested that he must have been mistaken or that it must have been a temporary outage that all records indicated the flame was burning that night. Their answers frustrated Hoe because that night has stayed etched in his memory a month after, on Jan. 22, 2005, a sniper killed Nainoa Hoe during combat operations in Mosul, Iraq. "Then subsequently, every year following that, it was back on," said Allen Hoe. "Until this year." Hoe got emotional during December's holiday ceremony when he recalled the experience as he addressed fellow veterans at the candle lighting. Retired Army Col. Walter Ozawa, who has regularly attended the gathering, was present for the most recent ceremony. "Obviously, it's disappointing. It's called the eternal flame and it's not eternal it's out," said Ozawa. "Most people may not even realize that there's such a thing as an eternal flame across from the state Capitol, next to the governor's home, and people walked by it every day." Designed by Kauai-born sculptor Bumpei Akaji, the eternal flame memorial was dedicated on Oct. 28, 1972. The flame is intended to burn as a tribute to all men and women of Hawaii who have served in the armed forces over the years. People from Hawaii have been documented serving in the U.S. military since as early as the War of 1812. Most recently, Hawaii residents have served in Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts around the globe over the past two decades, after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. In August 2021 U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan ended in the chaotic evacuation of civilians from Kabul, in which 13 American troops and more than 150 Afghan civilians lost their lives. The next month President Joe Biden proudly proclaimed to the United Nations that "for the first time in 20 years, the United States is not at war. We've turned the page." However, U.S. troops have continued combat operations. In December, U.S. Central Command announced that U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria carried out 313 missions in both countries over the course of 2022, during which at least 686 suspected ISIS fighters were killed. This year the Hawaii National Guard is scheduled to deploy about 100 troops for an unspecified mission somewhere in the Middle East. Ozawa, in addition to his military service, spent years serving in Hawaii government, with stints as director of Honolulu's Parks and Recreation Department as well as heading the state's Veterans Services. He said he has seen countless challenges in maintaining facilities around the islands. "The new governor and the new administration is going to have to address a lot of delayed or neglected maintenance," said Ozawa. Ozawa said the Korean and Vietnam war memorials on the grounds of the Capitol have fallen into a condition he considers "concerning," but said that he knows firsthand the challenges and sometimes thankless responsibilities of ensuring proper maintenance. "You get no publicity for maintaining something well," said Ozawa. "But we should all recognize that building something new immediately establishes a requirement, a commitment that it will be maintained appropriately. (This) is kind of a reminder that government has a responsibility for all of its facilities." (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This Carbon Credit Crypto is Set to Disrupt the Electric Vehicle Industry Heres How to Get Involved Disclaimer: The Industry Talk section features insights by crypto industry players and is not a part of the editorial content of Cryptonews.com. The carbon credit market is huge and set to get even bigger in the coming years. According to Coherent Market Insights, the market was valued at around $211.5 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow to over $2.4 trillion by 2027. Thats a positive for the climate. Carbon credits allow polluters to offset their CO2 emissions via essentially funding carbon-negative projects via investments in carbon credits. But the carbon credit market has thus far only really been accessible for big industry players, not the little guy. Blockchain technology is changing that, and a new crypto start-up called C+Charge is looking to massively disrupt the electric vehicle (EV) industry by offering EV drivers a way to earn carbon credits when they charge their vehicles for the first time. C+Charge, who are building a crypto-based EV charging payments platform, hope that by democratizing access to carbon credits for EV drivers, they might encourage/accelerate the transition to EVs from traditional fossil fuel-guzzling cars. Not only would this be a positive in the fight against climate change, but also in the fight against urban pollution, which causes thousands of premature deaths every year. C+Charge How it Works EV drivers will use the C+Charge application to pay to charge their vehicles. They will pay using C+Charges native cryptocurrency CCHG and will be rewarded with carbon credits in the form of Goodness Native Tokens (GNT), which will be stored in their account on the C+Charge app. GNT token represents a verified voluntary carbon credit and is backed by venture capital firms a16z Crypto and Samsung Next as well as fund manager Invesco. The more EV owners charge and drive and the more CCHG they spend, the more GNT they will earn. CCHG also have an opportunity to earn carbon credits passively. There is a 1% tax on all transactions that C+Charge uses to purchase GNT carbon credits and then distribute them proportionately amongst CCHG token holders. As well as acting as a payments platform for EV charging and a carbon credit tracker, C+Charges application will also help users easily geolocate nearby charging stations and will offer useful information such as real-time charger wait times and charging station technical diagnosis. How to Get Involved Invest in the Presale Now To fund its development, C+Charge just opened the pre-sale of its CCHG token, with 40% of the tokens maximum supply of 1 billion set to be made available to the public over the next few weeks. At present, tokens are currently on offer for $0.013 each, but will rise to $0.02350 over the course of four different presale stages. That means, by the end of the presale, early investors will have already bagged an 80% on-paper gain on their investment. The project has already raised an impressive nearly $65k in just a few weeks since the pre-sale launch. Buy CCHG here Given the high levels of interest in green projects, as epitomized by the recent success of the IMPT.io presale and ICO, investors should move quickly to scoop up these tokens at a discount if interested. Investing in C+Charges presale is easy. Users will need either a Trust Wallet or MetaMask Binance Smart Chain crypto wallet. This wallet will need to be funded and can be done so easily inside MetaMask or Trust Wallet, including via card. Users need to connect their wallet on the C+Charge website and then they will have the option to buy CCHG using either BNB or USDT on the Binance Smart Chain. Tokens can be claimed and will enter the users wallet after the token presale has been concluded. Visit C+Charge Here Arakas (65) was handed over to Lithuanian authorities at Dublin Airport this afternoon Imre Arakas and the terrifying tools of the trade which police believe he used in Europe and Ireland on his missions to murder Imre Arakas, an Estonian hitman arrested in Ireland after being employed by the Kinahan cartel to carry out a murder, has been extradited to Lithuania today. Arakas (65) was handed over to Lithuanian authorities at Dublin Airport this afternoon on foot of a European Arrest Warrant over the murder of Deimantas Bugavicius in November 2015. Mr Bugavicius was alleged to have had an affair with Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene before his death seven years ago. Arakas was wanted in Lithuania to face charges, which include murder, as well as firearms and conspiracy-related charges. The High Court ruled in November 2022 that Arakas would be extradited to face the charges. A notorious international hitman, Arakas is alleged to have supplied guns to an organised gang in the murder. Bugavicius was shot dead while sitting beside pop singer Vita Jakutiene The ex-wrestler was jailed by the Special Criminal Court in Ireland for six years in December 2018, after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder James 'Mago' Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. He was contracted by the Kinahan crime gang to assassinate Mr Gately and had told his associates in coded text messages that he would take out his target with "one shot to the head". The court heard that Arakas was a member of the Estonian Defence League in the 1990s and was involved in the separatist movement from the USSR. The married father of two had been "scarred and marked deeply" by imprisonment in Russia, the court also heard. He has previous convictions which include causing deliberate bodily harm, escaping from prison and unlawful handling of firearms. Paul Beattie (38) had been constantly messaging his ex-partner, threatening to commit suicide and leave his children fatherless A man who subjected his ex-partner to a campaign of high level emotional abuse was jailed for three months on Wednesday. Craigavon Magistrates Court heard how the victim contacted police last July to report how her ex-partner 38-year-old Paul Beattie had been constantly messaging her, threatening to commit suicide and leave his children fatherless. She had been in a relationship with Beattie for about 18 months before it ended the preceding April and the victim reported how throughout that time, he had been continually messaging her, even when she was out with friends. A prosecuting lawyer told the court the victim had blocked Beattie on all social media platforms but an email he had sent landed in her spam folder and she was still able to read it. Beattie had sent her his passwords and mobile banking details, reporting that he had written three letters because he would not be there after the weekend and threatened that he would commit suicide if she didnt get back with him. Arrested and interviewed Beattie, from Belvedere Manor in Lurgan, made full admissions and later entered a guilty plea to a domestic abuse offence in that between April 9-24 last year, he engaged in a course of behaviour which was likely to cause physical or psychological harm. Defence counsel John Paul McCann said Beattie took the end of the relationship quite badly and acted highly inappropriately but that he now accepted it was over. The injured party should be free to live her life and free to move on in whatever way she sees fit and he shouldve accepted that at the time, said the lawyer, adding that Beattie is embarrassed snd ashamed about his behaviour. District Judge Bernie Kelly said because of Beatties attitude to probation, a community disposal was not open to her so theres only one alternative when its something so serious as this. Highlighting that the same offences carries a maximum of 14 years at Crown Court level, the judge told Beattie he had subjected his victim to an exceptionally high level of emotional abuse.to emotionally abuse your former partner to this extent and in this way has to be taken seriously. Although DJ Kelly imposed a three month jail sentence and a two year restraining order, Beattie was freed on bail pending an appeal of the sentence. Eleanor Williams (22) sparked a witch-hunt against men she accused in the northern English town A woman who claimed she was the victim of an Asian grooming gang has been convicted of perverting the course of justice. Eleanor Williams (22) published pictures of her injuries and an account of being groomed, trafficked and beaten, on Facebook in May 2020, in a post which was shared more than 100,000 times, sparking a witch-hunt against men she accused in the northern English town. A jury at Preston Crown Court found her guilty of eight counts of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice. Jurors took three hours and 29 minutes to reach their verdicts following the 10-week trial. Williams, of Teasdale Road, Barrow, stared straight ahead as the verdicts were returned. She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of perverting the course of justice, which related to contacting her sister and mother with requests for them to take a hammer to her solicitor. Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham adjourned sentencing to March 13 and 14. He said before the trial he had been provided with information on the community impact of Williams actions: That community impact was said to include some elements of tension within the community of Barrow. It included, as I can recall, at least one family moving out of the Barrow area and harm to various businesses. The Facebook post sparked demonstrations in her home town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and led to former far-right English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson visiting the town to investigate the claims. Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Stalker, of Cumbria Police, said Williams offences were far from victimless crimes. He said: Williams had produced compelling evidence when reporting her abuse, whilst her posts on Facebook caused uproar in the community, increased community tensions and negatively impacted trust in the police. Williams trial, which began in October last year, heard she had accused a number of men of rape, going back to 2017, and told police she was groomed and trafficked by an Asian gang. On May 19, 2020, she was found by officers near her home on Walney Island with injuries which she claimed were inflicted by the gang after she was taken to a house in the town and raped. But the prosecution claimed Williams caused the injuries to herself with a hammer, which was found close by with her blood on it. Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, said the incident was a finale to a series of false allegations made by Williams. In his closing speech, he told the jury: The defendant goes online to her social media contacts and effectively finds random names on the internet she presents as being victims of trafficking or perpetrators. It was alleged Williams sent some messages to herself, making them appear as if they were from traffickers or fellow victims, and in other cases manipulated real people to send messages which she then said were from her abusers. The jury was told some of the people she made allegations about were real, while others, the prosecution claimed, did not exist. The court heard a Snapchat account which Williams claimed belonged to an Asian trafficker called Shaggy Wood was the account of a man called Liam Wood, who lived in Essex, worked in Tesco, and believed Williams to be a friend who lived in Portsmouth and was planning to visit him. During the trial the jury heard evidence from business owner Mohammed Ramzan, who Williams claimed had groomed her from the age of 12. Under cross-examination, Mr Ramzan asked Louise Blackwell KC, defending: Dont you think you have put my life through enough hell, or your client has? In what Mr Sandiford compared with a scene from Liam Neeson film Taken, Williams claimed Mr Ramzan had put her to work at brothels in Amsterdam and sold her at an auction there. But the court heard at the time she was in Amsterdam, his bank card was being used at a B&Q in Barrow. Another man accused of rape by Williams, Jordan Trengove, told the court: It can ruin your life and it has ruined mine. During her evidence, Williams denied telling a pack of lies to the police and the jury. Asked about her Facebook post, she said: I wanted people to know what was going on in Barrow, still is going on. He later excreted six yellow plastic capsules that allegedly contained a total of about 120g of cocaine, an Australian police official said. Australian police warned that smuggling drugs internally is idiotic after an Irishman was caught with cocaine in Kinder Surprise capsules hidden in his body. The 28-year-old Irish national, who had arrived on a flight from the Middle East, was sopped at Melbourne airport in December after his bags showed a positive result for the presence of cocaine. He was taken to hospital for a CT scan which allegedly revealed six Kinder Surprise capsules packed with cocaine. He later excreted six yellow plastic capsules that allegedly contained a total of about 120g of cocaine, border force and Australian federal police said in a joint statement on Wednesday. Five of the capsules were in condoms with one wrapped in plastic cling film. The Irish national was charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug. He was remanded in custody and is due back in court in late March. If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail. Smuggling drugs internally is idiotic, AFP Det Acting Supt Chris Salmon said in a statement. There is the real risk that something could go wrong, resulting in a potentially fatal drug overdose or permanent damage to internal organs. Border force warned would-be drug smugglers it was not worth risking your health by attempting to internally transport drugs into our country as ABF officers are highly trained in detection and will ensure that you are stopped at the border. Patients have reported spending up to nine days on trolleys and having to sleep on floors, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly last night admitted things were likely to get worse. Photo: Collins Emergency department consultants are warning more unnecessary deaths will occur in Irish hospitals as patients struggle to access timely care due to the overcrowding crisis. It came as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last night admitted things were likely to get worse. The number of people waiting on a hospital bed hit a record high yesterday, with 931 patients across the country lying on trolleys. Medical experts say this number is likely to increase as elective procedures resume after Christmas, while some fear surgeries may be delayed or cancelled as a result. University Hospital Limerick, which had 97 patients waiting on a bed yesterday, said only urgent elective surgeries will go ahead in the coming days. Patients have reported spending up to nine days on trolleys and having to sleep on floors, while one woman who was kicked in the face by a horse told the Irish Independent she was waiting 14 hours just to get an X-ray. On RTEs Liveline, a mother whose 14-year-old son went into cardiac arrest last Thursday was told by emergency services they would have to wait 45 minutes for an ambulance. She had to call the gardai to give her an emergency escort to the hospital. There are also concerns that the number of resignations by staff will rise in the coming weeks due to burnout. Dr Mick Molloy, emergency department consultant and member of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) consultant committee, said the crisis was the direct result of failures to invest in bed capacity, infrastructure and staff. Its leading to massive burnout, which is another crisis going to unload very shortly as the resignations pile up, he said. We are hearing its just a temporary issue, but we are massively over the admission capacities and with no sense of respite at all, its going to lead to more unnecessary deaths in hospitals. Its incredibly frustrating as people are talking about emergency departments being the source of the problem, but we are the canary in the coal mine. The hospital capacity problem doesnt show up until you are so over capacity that people end up in the emergency department because they cant access assessments or care elsewhere. He also criticised the HSEs figures, which are lower than those of nursing union the INMO, stating hospitals are being advised not to include people on wards waiting for admission to a bed. The HSE only includes those waiting in emergency departments. At 8am yesterday, it said there were 772 waiting on trolleys nationally, with 253 waiting more than 24 hours. The HSE said it is now planning to increase the use of private hospital beds and nursing homes to address the issue. A spokesperson said funding has been provided for 185 private beds and arrangements are being put in place to increase this further. However, consultants say this will not address the issue in rural areas where there are no private hospitals nearby. Communications officer for the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine Dr Fergal Hickey said the HSEs decision to ask people to avoid emergency departments where possible was not the right thing to do as a lot of people do not have a GP or cannot access a GP, while injury units are not suitable for people with respiratory issues. HSE chief operations officer Damien McCallion. Photo: Gareth Chaney We cannot deal with demand without having hospital beds to admit those people to, he said. It doesnt matter what tricking around they do, all they are doing is moving deck chairs on the Titanic when the Titanic is sinking. He added: At some point in the future, there will be a public inquiry into this. Who knew what, when they knew it and why they didnt do anything. Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin are significantly overcrowded. University Hospital Cork had 74 patients waiting on a bed, St Vincents University Hospital in Dublin had 56, while Letterkenny University Hospital and University Hospital Galway both had 52. Meanwhile, HSE chief operations officer Damien McCallion has confirmed representatives from University Hospital Limerick have met with the family of Aoife Johnston (16), who was left on a trolley for up to 16 hours and who died from meningitis at the hospital. With a large number of respiratory illnesses circulating, the INMO and trade union body ICTU have called for mandatory mask-wearing to be reintroduced in congregated settings. Last night, Health Minister Mr Donnelly admitted, overcrowding in hospitals is likely to get worse. Speaking at Beaumont Hospital, he said the overcrowding surge is due to a perfect storm of Covid, RSV and a very severe wave of the flu, which he said had absorbed a lot of the additional capacity put into the system in recent years. Mr Donnelly said there has been unprecedented investment in the health service in recent years but he admitted there was a permanent deficit in capacity of the public health system. The former RTE journalist said that his health is in a much worse situation as he continues to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Charlie Bird has revealed how one particular symptom of his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) has gotten worse in a new health update. The retired broadcaster vowed that he is "not giving up the fight", although his health has deteriorated. The former RTE journalist said that his health is in a "much worse situation" as he continues to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He has been using his platform and profile since he was diagnosed towards the end of 2021 to raise awareness and millions in fundraising for charity. Charlie took to social media on Tuesday to mark one year since he started planning the Climb With Charlie initiative that later saw him scale Croagh Patrick in Mayo. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content In his latest health update, he explained that while he is "not giving up the fight", his health has deteriorated. "I want to wish everyone who supported Climb with Charlie a healthy and happy New Year, he said in a video posted on Twitter. I want to thank you all for raising over 3.5m for Pieta House and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. "Now I'm facing into a New Year and while I can, I'm going to continue extending the hand of friendship to everyone who, like myself, are in dark places. "To be honest my own situation is not great. I am no longer certain how long more I will have mobility. But I am going to continue to raise awareness for Samaritan volunteers all over the country, who every day are extending the hand of friendship for people who are in dark places. Charlie explained that although he will not be able to climb Croagh Patrick in April to mark the one-year anniversary, he is still preparing to celebrate the milestone later in the year. "What is really upsetting me is that my uncontrollable crying is getting worse, he explained. I don't want to be selfish, there are lots of people with terminal illnesses who are in dark places and we all need to show love and kindness to them," he added. A new and improved pedestrian plaza beside the iconic Hapenny Bridge is on the horizon for Liffey Street. One of Dublin citys busiest streets is set to have a major makeover with works beginning at the end of the month. A new pedestrian plaza beside the iconic Hapenny Bridge is on the horizon for Liffey Street. Plans reveal the road will be transformed for tourists travelling over the bridge as trees will spruce up newly-widened footpaths. Plans for Liffey Street shared by Dublin City Council. Over 30,000 people pass through the street every day with 2,500 cars adding to the bustling traffic Dublin City Council says. As an important link between the north and south city centre tourist precincts, the makeover is a must-have. Under the plans, through traffic will be maintained as much as possible, though some temporary closures will be necessary. Plans for Liffey Street shared by Dublin City Council. Benches, new footpaths, bollards, bicycle stands and a more pedestrian-friendly ambiance are set to transform the street. People crossing the Hapenny Bridge from Temple Bar will alight onto the new-and-improved Liffey Street with the pedestrian area to extend as far as Abbey Street. Plans for Liffey Street shared by Dublin City Council. The leafy-green plans also go beyond surface-level as new gas mains, water mains, surface water sewers and lighting will replace those pre-existing on the street. The construction is estimated to be completed by the end of 2024. Work was supposed to begin on the street on January 9 though delays on the construction of Motel One on Liffey Street Upper has pushed the start date to Monday 23 January. The first of the lavish hotels to hit Irish shores has experienced unexpected delays according to Dublin City Council. Tourists can already book to stay in the seven-storey boutique hotel from April 2023. One mother said she had heard that some parents had confronted men at the school, who claimed they were cleaners on the school. A protest is to be held outside a Dublin school later this evening and tomorrow morning after it was wrongly claimed that refugees are still being housed in the facility. The protest is due to take place at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh at 6.30pm this evening and 8.30am tomorrow morning ahead of the children returning to school after Christmas. However, the school and a local representative have both said that refugees are no longer being housed in the Dublin school despite claims being made on social media. A section of the school was, briefly, used over the Christmas break to house a group of refugees but they have moved out a number of days ago. One mother whose children attend Our Lady of Good Counsel Infant School said said she understood that male refugees who had been staying at the secondary school over Christmas were still there. These are all men, we have been told, and they were moved into the school before Christmas. But they still there and people are very unhappy about this. There is a protest at the school this evening and tomorrow morning because people are worried about the kids going in while the refugees are still there. She added that she had heard that some parents had confronted the men who told them they were cleaners. This is just unacceptable, she added. There is no way that kids should be made go back to school with the refugees still there. However, local councillor Daithi Doolan said his understanding is that there were women from Ukraine staying in the school for a couple nights over the Christmas break, when the school was closed. This was a private arrangement between the board of management and the department, Cllr Doolan said. Those women have now left to go to more secure accommodation. They left yesterday and cleaners then went into the school to do a deep clean in preparation for the school opening tomorrow morning as usual to welcome the children back. The board of management are meeting today and I am sure they will be communicating to all the parents in the school the facts and assuring them that the school is empty. But, as I said, the school, has been empty since yesterday. There were no men staying in the school and they'll be open for business as usual tomorrow and will be welcoming back all the parents and the pupils bright and early. Later, Cllr Doolan clarified with the Sunday World that a number of men had been housed, rather than women, for a short time in the school but have now moved on. A post on the OLM Facebook page states that the school finished as normal on 21st December for the Christmas break. For some of the Christmas break, a small section of the school building was used as emergency accommodation by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This happened between 23rd December and January 3rd and is now over. It adds: The school will reopen as normal for staff and students tomorrow morning, Thursday, January 5. Despite the message posted on Facebook and Cllr Doolans comments, Ms O Neill said the protest was still going ahead and that she would be attending as this cannot happen again. Note: Story updated to include a clarification from Cllr Doolan The Kennys are planning to relocate following an arson attack and an incident that saw a car drive through their gates and into the garage Martin Kenny and his wife and family pictured outside their County Leitrim home. Pic: Brian Farrell. A Leitrim-based TD and his family are being forced out of their home after some traumatising incidents left them fearing for their safety. Sinn Fein TD for Sligo/Leitrim Martin Kenny lives in Aughavas, Co Leitrim with his wife Helen and their four children: Eoin (23), Eabha (21), Claire (20), and Pearse (18). Deputy Kenny family are planning to sell their house and relocate to Carrick-On-Shannon following an arson attack in 2019 as well as an incident that saw a car drive through their electric gates and into the garage in September. He said that he doesnt want to leave the area hes lived in his entire life but feels like hes been left with no choice. We are in the process of moving, he told The Sligo Champion this week. We are preparing to sell our house and move but we have not yet found anywhere else to go yet. I am from Aughavas and it is a very rural area and we have had a few incidents in the past few years and then a vehicle drove through our gates a few months ago... These incidents have traumatised all of us. Helen is finding it very difficult to cope on her own as I am often in Dublin and our children are all now away at college. So, we decided we would move to Carrick-On-Shannon or as close as possible to it. It is never easy to leave your native place, but you have to be practical about it. He continued: We live in the quiet rural area of Aughavas, equal distance from Ballinamore, Mohill and Carrigallen in South Leitrim. We have no option and we had to try and do something, and it is very traumatising for the family. The Kenny family have always lived in this area. We have lived here for generations and the gardai said we could put in a panic button but that would only ring in Carrick-On-Shannon which is half an hour away and that would not be much good. The gardai are doing their best but we dont expect people to watching over us 24/7 but we are just very isolated, and our house is very close to the road, and we are very vulnerable. Deputy Kenny said his wife was left terrified after a car crashed through their electric gates at 2am on September 29 last, knocking them down and colliding with the garage. A 49-year-old man appeared before the courts charged with damaging the gates and dangerous driving. He is on bail on the conditions that he does not go near the Kenny family or their home. Kenny explained that Helen was home alone at the time and has been too scared to stay in the house by herself since. She heard this crash last September and got up in the middle of the night and realised that there was someone outside. Helen was at home alone that night, as I was in Dublin and the young ones away at college. She was terrified, let out the dog and found that a man in a vehicle had crashed into the garage. Helen went out and discovered the man injured in the van and called emergency services for him. This was a terrible trauma that Helen is finding difficult to overcome. I am not staying in Dublin and have been coming home at night since it happened, as Helen is too fearful to stay at home alone. We are grateful that the Gardai are patrolling the road regularly, but resources are being pulled into a very rural area and our family are aware that Gardai cannot be here all the time. The electric gates were installed at Deputy Kennys home shortly after his car was burned in an arson attack in October 2019, during a time of protests and objection to refugees being housed in Ballinamore. Strangely enough, the arson on my car was different and made it easier for us, as we were all at home when it happened. At that time, you could drive right into the front of the house, and it was only afterwards that I put up gates and the gardai said afterwards that it was done by a person who knew how to burn cars. So that was very traumatic too as it could have burned the house, but it cracked the windows in the front of the house, and it cracked the front door. When the car was burned three years ago, we told ourselves it was a once-off and nothing like that would ever happen again, but then it does happen and since then, every noise at night and passing car puts Helens heart beating faster. In fact, the focus of preparing to sell and looking at houses on Daft.ie, has become a welcome distraction from continuous talking about the recent incident and what other madness could happen. Despite an intensive Garda investigation, nobody has been arrested over the burning of the car, or the attempted arson at the refugee accommodation centre in Ballinamore two weeks before. I may never find out who carried out the arson at my home, but I know that the fear and hatred and aggression generated at the time has haunted us as a family since. Despite the traumatic incidents, Deputy Kenny insisted that he has no intention of giving up life as a public representative. I have the great privilege to be elected and to try to make things better for people in this constituency and contribute to building a new Ireland. My family understand and value this rare opportunity being part of our lives. We may have to change where we live and many people must adapt to change, but we will remain united as a family and determined to overcome these difficulties and I am determined to continue to work in politics, as long as I get elected. Italy Introduces Capital Tax on Cryptocurrency Gains - Will Other Countries Follow Suit? Source: Adobe Stock Italys parliament has approved a proposal for a 26% tax on crypto gains above 2,000 euros ($2,110). In addition to bringing a hefty tax on crypto gains, the new law also introduces incentives for taxpayers to report their crypto. Under the law, crypto owners are entitled to an amnesty for unreported gains achieved in previous years by paying a substitute tax of 3.5%, plus a 0.5% fine for each additional year. The law was passed by the Italian parliament on December 29 as part of the budget for 2023, local news outlet Rai News reported. As was expected, the law also allows taxpayers to deduct their crypto losses over 2,000 euros. Another incentive in the proposal is to let taxpayers declare their crypto holdings as of January 1 and pay a tax rate of 14%. The budget, which the new crypto gains tax is a part of, is the first brought by Italys new prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who during her campaign promised significant tax cuts for Italians. Italys move comes after the EU last year approved the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill. The bill establishes a consistent regulatory framework on crypto across the EU, and is expected to come into effect in 2024. Portugal no longer a crypto haven Recently, Portugal also proposed to tax crypto gains, after the country for a number of years now has been known as a crypto tax haven. According to the proposal, gains on crypto held for less than one year will from 2023 be taxed at a rate of 28%, higher than the rate in Italy. However, given that the tax only applies to gains on crypto held for less than a year, Portugal could still be seen as one of the more crypto-friendly countries in Europe. Portugal has until now not taxed crypto gains at all, which has helped make it a popular destination for newly rich crypto owners looking for a new home. Among other things, tax lawyers in Spain were reporting that Spaniards with crypto holdings were fleeing to Portugal to escape levies on their token-related profits. They warned that Spain was on the verge of becoming a crypto desert as the country ramps up its regulation of the sector. Portuguese lawmakers have argued that the move to tax crypto is necessary to bring rules in line with other European countries crypto legislation, including Germany, where investors pay no taxes if they hold crypto for more than a year. So far, no other European countries have announced new tax rules specifically relating to crypto for 2023. She was a sister who was always helping those who sought help from her The broken-hearted sister of alleged murder victim Bruna Fonseca has paid tribute to her, saying she was a warrior. Isabel Fonseca said the family was still coming to terms with the death of Bruna whose former partner has appeared in court charged with her murder. The 28-year-old librarian was found dead on January 1, shortly after New Year's Eve celebrations, in Cork. We are living one day at a time, she told a newspaper in her native Brazil. She described her sister as a warrior and a discreet girl but with very well defined goals. Isabel said: My sister has always been a very private person with her personal life. She was a sister who was always helping those who sought help from her. She was without a doubt the nerd of the family. And she added: We still don't know how to deal her death. We are living one day at a time. Bruna, who came to Ireland in September, wanted to build a new life for herself abroad, Isabel revealed. She said: As she was still in Ireland for a short time, she did not tell us if she would be staying there for a long time. But she was considering staying outside Brazil for a long time. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe appeal has been launched by friends and family to ensure Brunas body can be flown back to her South American home Maria Luiza Fonseca launched the appeal with the aim of raising 30,000. "The fundraising is to send back Bruna Fonseca's body to Brazil," she explained in the appeal notice. Over 100 donations were made in the first hour of the appeal being launched. The surge in donations has raised hopes that the entire funds required will be raised within 24 to 48 hours. Ms Fonseca, who was from Formiga in Brazil, travelled to Ireland last year for work. She was employed by BidVest-Noonan contract cleaners. She had graduated from university in Brazil and had worked for a time as a librarian before deciding to relocate to Ireland last September. Her work in Cork 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. Her body was found in an upstairs flat at Liberty Street in Cork city centre just a couple of hours after she had gone out with friends to celebrate New Year's Eve. Gardai and paramedics attended the Liberty Street flat but 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, they confirmed that Ms Fonseca met a violent death. 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. The garda investigation includes an analysis of hours of CCTV footage from premises around Cork city centre, door-to-door inquiries and exhaustive forensic tests at the Liberty Street flat where Ms Fonseca's body was discovered. Social media postings are also set to play a critical role in the garda investigation in terms of tracking Ms Fonseca's last known movements. 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, they said. Ms Fonseca's former partner, Miller Pacheco (29), was charged with her murder before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Monday. Pacheco - who had an address at Liberty Street in Cork - was remanded in custody to appear again before Cork District Court by video link on January 9. He did not speak during the brief court hearing. In the past 48 hours certain allegations have been made about me, Mr Hanley said A Social Democrats councillor has resigned from his council seat due to very serious allegations made against him. Galway City Councillor Owen Hanley posted a message on Facebook saying he intended on resigning his seat while the allegations are investigated fully by the appropriate authorities. In the past 48 hours certain allegations have been made about me, Mr Hanley said. These are very serious matters and will obviously take a considerable length of time to be investigated fully by the appropriate authorities. In these circumstances I believe that the correct thing for me to do is to resign my members (sic) of Galway City Council, he added. Mr Hanley said he did not propose making any further comment in relation to the matter. On the Social Democrats website, Mr Hanley is described as a fresh and progressive voice on Galway City Council. It said he has been involved in campaigning activism and community work for years. With a background in human rights law, a passion for strong local government, and a radical belief in a social democratic republic for all, Owen is flying for the purple flag in Connacht to help realise a 21st century Ireland, it said In a statement, the Social Democrats said it is appropriate that Mr Hanley resigned while the allegations are investigated. When the Party first learned of allegations, the whip was removed from Mr Hanley and he has now resigned his membership of the Social Democrats, a spokesperson said. The Party notified the relevant statutory authorities charged with investigating these allegations as soon as it became aware of them. The Party takes allegations of this nature extremely seriously and has at all times strictly adhered to our statutory obligations, she added. UVF veteran Chief of Staff John `Bunter Graham told members he is coming under increasing pressure from UK agencies Government intelligence and security agencies say patience is wearing thin at the continued failure of organisations, in particular the UVF and UDA, to move away from crime. It is understood spooks at MI5 based in Holywood say it is time to take the kid gloves off especially when it comes to organisations involved in the drugs trade. The Sunday World also understands the message has been delivered loud and clear to paramilitary chiefs. The Sunday World understands that with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) a few short months away, the continued presence of the terror groups represents a failure. The GFA has never been under such pressure. Paramilitary umbrella group the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) has made it clear loyalist paramilitaries have withdrawn their support for the Agreement. And in a strongly worded statement hinted a return to violence is possible should the controversial Irish Sea Border enshrined in the Protocol is not scrapped. According to security sources there is concern that rather than moving away from paramilitary activity these groups are stepping up their threats. It prompted MI5 to issue their order and it is understood they are pressuring the PSNI to step up operations against the UVF and UDA. The MI5 headquarters at Palace Barracks in Holywood The police have enjoyed significant success in targeting organised crime particularly in a series of high profile raids and a significant number of arrests in connection with the UVF in East Belfast. The Paramilitary Crime Task Force has also successfully targeted drug operations in Carrickfergus and on the Shankill, all connected to the UDA. The paramilitaries have been told that the government will no longer tolerate what they call the ``twin track approach, a well placed security source told us. In other words you cant continue with the jobs for the boys thing, community projects funded by the taxpayer. Its not the first time the government has warned they will turn off the cash tap should paramilitaries not reform. There is concern at the number of people who are still members of the UVF and UDA who hold down taxpayer-funded jobs at a time when the organisations remain involved in organised crime. The Irish government has already ordered a full audit of all grant aid spent in the North since the signing of the GFA. Increased pressure prompted a number of meetings involving terror group chiefs in the days leaded up to Christmas. Sources have told us UVF veteran Chief of Staff John `Bunter Graham, in a meeting with members of his Brigade Staff told them he is coming under increasing pressure from UK agencies. He said he did not want the organisations legacy to be one of organised crime and drug running. Graham, who has previously warned that any UVF member found to be involved in dealing drugs would be expelled, repeated his warned that dealers are ``on their own. His warning comes in the wake of a concerted move against dealers in the Shankill area. The UVF initially ordered two UDA linker dealers out of the area and warned there was more to come. UDA counterparts in the west Belfast leadership joined them in a two approach. Five more alleged dealers were hit with hefty fines ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 and at least one further man was kicked off the Shankill. Jim Spence The Sunday World understands two people hit with 100k fines, one of which is believed to be UDA Commander Jim Spence, have refused to pay up. Spence, who oversaw and controlled a lucrative drug dealing racket across the north and west of the city and into North Down, has taken a step back from his UDA role in recent months and is understood to have denied he has been targeted in the latest purge. A close associate of Spence is the other facing the 100,000 levy, who has been warned he faces further sanction if he doesnt pay up. Spence also denies UDA membership or involved in criminal activity. It had been hoped the expulsions and fines might have eased pressure from the UK but it is understood spooks and security chiefs are anxious to remove any cloud hanging over the GFA anniversary. MI5 has made it clear as far as they are concerned there is no such thing as `untouchables its time to take the kid gloves off, a security source told us. The actor remains in a critical condition and is being kept in intensive care after he was run over by the 6,500kg machine on Sunday Avengers star Jeremy Renner has posted a photo from his hospital bed adding he is too messed up now to type following his freak snow plow accident. The actor remains in a critical condition and is being kept in intensive care after he was run over by the 6,500kg machine on Sunday. Sharing a photo of himself lying battered and bruised in a hospital bed to his Instagram he wrote: Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all. Renner, who plays Hawkeye in several Marvel properties, was injured at his home on New Years Eve while trying to get rid of snow around his Nevada property. According to US reports, Renner accidentally ran over one of his legs. The actor received immediate assistance from two of his neighbours, one of whom is a doctor who applied a tourniquet to his injured limb. The 51-year-old was airlifted to hospital where he later underwent surgery for blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries. Washoe countys sheriff, Darin Balaam, said an investigation had found that Renner was struck by the plow while trying to free his car, which was being driven by a family member, from snow near his home. Mr Renner went to retrieve his PistenBully or Sno-Cat an extremely large piece of snow removal equipment weighing at least 14,330 pounds [6,500kg] in an effort to get his vehicle moving, Balaam said. After successfully towing his vehicle from its stuck location, Mr Renner got out of his PistenBully to speak to his family member. At this point, it was observed that the PistenBully started to roll. In an effort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr Renner attempts to get in the drivers seat of the PistenBully. Based on our investigation, it is at this point that Mr Renner is run over by the PistenBully. It had been a tragic accident, Balaam added, saying the sheriffs office was investigating a possible mechanical failure in the snow plow. The northern Nevada region experienced heavy snowstorms over Christmas and new year, with more than 10,000 Washoe county residents losing power. The Duke of Sussex sits down for a revealing chat ahead of the release of his autobiography next Tuesday Ahead of his highly-anticipated autobiography being released next Tuesday, Prince Harry has recorded a 90-minute one-on-one interview and Virgin Media has secured the Irish rights to it. Simply known as Harry: The Interview, the revealing chat with see the Duke of Sussex go into unprecedented depth and detail on life in and out of the Royal Family including his personal relationships, never-before-heard details surrounding the death of his mother, Diana, and a look ahead at his future. Following on from his recent Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan the feature-length programme, will be broadcast less than 48 hours before Prince Harrys autobiography Spare is published on January 10. The tell-all book that looks set to rock the new king and his family In a promotional clip released today Prince Harry has said the royal family showed absolutely no willingness to reconcile with him and his wife Meghan Markle. In the short video released Harry tells presenter Tom Bradby that it didn't have to be this way, and that he wants a family, not an institution. ITV confirmed it has recorded a long interview with Harry, who left the royal family in 2020 to start a new life in North America with his wife Meghan Markle. Sundays show follows the success of the 6-part tell-all Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan, in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke of the fallout from their decision to step down as working royals. Sunday's interview looks set to be the most explosive yet Harry has also spoken to CBSs 60 minutes, claiming he was the target of leaks to the press after conversations with members of the royal family about starting his new life overseas. He told Anderson Cooper: Every single time I've tried to do it privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife. The duke suggests the family motto of never complain, never explain when dealing with the media is hollow, given that complaints were effectively made through passing stories to the press. They will feed or have a conversation with the correspondent, and that correspondent will literally be spoon-fed information and write the story. At the bottom of it, they will say that they've reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment - the whole story is Buckingham Palace commenting. This is the first time either of the Sussexes have subjected themselves to a thorough journalistic interview since their dramatic departure from the Royal Family. Harry and Meghan took aim at the British press, claiming salacious stories were planted in the lead-up to their wedding, forcing them to play "whack-a-mole as the articles appeared. Meanwhile Meghan also claimed she wasn't allowed by the palace to seek help over her suicidal thoughts due to concerns over how that would look for the institution. Harry and Meghan went unchallenged by their pal Oprah Winfrey last year During their interview last year with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan, who is mixed race, also claimed an unnamed royal family member raised concerns over the darkness of Archie's skin when he was born. Watch Harry: The Interview this Sunday 8th January at 9pm on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Player. Two children who have been missing since Christmas Eve have been found in Auckland, according to a police spokesperson. Lily, 10, and Pearl, 8, were taken on December 24, a police spokesperson police says. They were last seen at 11pm on Monday, at a service station in south Auckland. Police were earlier urgently seeking information on their whereabouts, saying they had grave concerns for their safety. Their mother is due in Wellington District Court on Wednesday after being arrested in Wellington on Tuesday. An officer in court said the children had been found in Auckland. The mother posted a video on Facebook on Tuesday evening. I am here at Parliament in Wellington because it is my hope that I can see the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, or at least she will see me, she says in the video. There is an extreme problem that I have and I have tried going to many levels but it is not working. So its my humble petition that I get to see her. It involves my two children and I. I have driven all this way. It has taken me nearly 24 hours. And without going into too much more detail, please Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern we need you. The car linked to the missing children was parked at Te Papa on Wednesday morning. Photo: Bruce McKay/Stuff. A car in which they had been travelling was sighted at about 9.40am on Tuesday, in Devon St, New Plymouth. It is a silver 1994 Toyota Camry, registration CLR45, says the police spokesperson. The girls mother was found alone and arrested in Wellington on Tuesday about 9.45pm. She refused to say where the children were, says the police spokesperson. Police searched vehicles parked in central Wellington after her arrest, without finding the children. The woman has been meeting people through Facebook in the time we have been looking for her and the children, and it is possible she has left Pearl and Lily with one of these people, Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry said earlier. We believe these contacts may have been misled or are unaware of the true circumstances in this case, or the serious concerns that are held for the childrens welfare. The car linked to the trio was parked at Te Papa on Wednesday morning. -Stuff. Cracks in the ground through a Te Aroha maize crop have been posted to Facebook by Waikato Regional Council following the 5.1 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday morning. "You'll see in one the cracks in his maize crop its as deep as a fencing standard," writes a council spokesperson. The earthquake occurred near the Kerepehi Fault which is part of the Hauraki rift zone. The council is asking for other landowners to also submit their photos of any property damaged. "Our Regional Resilience team would love to see your pictures - and don't forget to let us know the general location." The Te Aroha farmer demonstrates how the crack in his maize is as deep as the length of a fencing standard. Photo: Supplied. The M5.1 earthquake occurred at 5:39am on Wednesday January 4, 5km south of Te Aroha. "We received over 20,000 felt reports from this event which was followed by a moderate aftershock of M3.9 at 11.29am," says a GNS spokesperson. Cracks have appeared through a maize paddock in Te Aroha following the 5.1M earthquake on December 4. Photo: Supplied. "Both earthquakes occurred in a similar location to the M3.9 quake on Thursday 29 December, near the Kerepehi Fault which is part of the Hauraki rift zone. Although in an area of low seismicity with only six earthquakes larger than M3 occurring between Tauranga and Hamilton in the last ten years there has been strong shaking in the past with a M4.9 earthquake in Te Aroha in 1972. What next? The team at GeoNet say when an earthquake occurs there is always a small possibility that a larger earthquake will follow, "however the most likely scenario is that there will be a number of smaller aftershocks which will taper off with time". Felt reports from the M5.1 Te Aroha earthquake. Image: GeoNet. Research jointly undertaken by GNS and the Earthquake Commission in 2016, yielded a newfound understanding of faults in the area between Morrinsville and Te Aroha. The paper demonstrated that in the past earthquakes in the range of M6.37.0 have occurred and should be considered with respect to future hazard and risk. The areas reputation as seismically inactive belies its ability to put nearby population centres at risk, the paper said. Dr Pilar Villamor of GNS, the lead scientist on the Kerepehi fault characterisation study. Photo: Tom Lee/Stuff. Predicated against the Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI), a scale which measures the effect of an earthquake rather than its force, the paper finds that Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga may be at risk. The three large population centres of northern North IslandAuckland, Hamilton and Tauranga may experience MMI 67 shaking as the maximum impact associated with rupture of the nearest segments of the fault. Modern LiDAR (light detection and ranging) mapping of the region demonstrated a far more complex pattern of historic fault remnants, those which bear a similar surface pattern in terms of density and complexity to that described from the Taupo Rift, than initially thought. Dr Lauren Vinnell of Massey Universitys Joint Centre for Disaster Research reminded those in the area, which in the past has avoided earthquakes, to prepare accordingly. The town clock ticks on as Te Aroha residents go through a serious of aftershocks following the big quake. Photo: Kelly Hodel/Stuff. Earthquakes can definitely be unsettling for people who haven't felt many - everywhere in NZ can get earthquakes strong enough to damage and cause injury, so this is a good reminder to do some preparation. For example, you can store some water, secure tall furniture to the wall, move heavy items lower down on shelves, and make an emergency plan with your household. Vinnell said that, by-in-large, Kiwis are heeding messaging to disregard antiquated advice to shelter under door frames. I'd actively discourage going to a doorway as you might get injured trying to get there ... The current recommended action is to drop, cover, and hold. New Zealanders are learning this message pretty well, but it's important to understand the why of these actions, so you can use them in different contexts. Keeping an eye on earthquakes, volcanoes and news on the go. No matter where the holidays take you, the GeoNet App will keep you updated on earthquakes, volcanoes and geohazard news. "Our app gives details of all earthquakes located in and around New Zealand within a few minutes of their occurrence,?" says a GeoNet spokesperson. "You can set up notifications of earthquakes close to your current location using your phones GPS, or you can set up alerts for multiple locations and earthquake intensities around the country." The GeoNet app also provides latest news and keeps app users updated on volcanic activity. "And for our technical users you can view peak ground accelerations (PGA) and velocities (PGV) recorded by our seismograph network on a map." Download the GeoNet app on your Android and iOS devices: Google Play for Android The App Store for Apple GNS Sciences National Geohazards Monitoring Centre (NGMC) remains staffed and monitoring geological hazards 24/7 throughout the holiday period. They are supported by teams of scientists and experts who are on-call should any geological events occur. Going to the beach? If you are off to the beach this summer you can now easily see if your favourite holiday spot is in a tsunami evacuation zone thanks to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Just put in your address or click a spot on the map and you will see if you are in tsunami evacuation zone, and what to do if there is a tsunami. It also links you to the local Civil Defence group for more tsunami information. Click here to check it out. Tsunami evacuation zones for Waitarere Beach. Image: Supplied. They also have a handy Get Summer Ready page with all the info you need to get summer ready. Staying at home? If you have a list of jobs to get done around the house this summer, now is a great time to check out Toka Tu Ake EQC's website for information on how to get your home, apartment, or rental prepared for a natural disaster. We cant prevent natural hazards, but we can, and should, be prepared for them. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand at any time. Drop, Cover, and Hold during a large earthquake. If it is Long and Strong, Get Gone! If you are near the coast or a lake and if you feel a Long or Strong earthquake, or receive an emergency mobile alert for a tsunami, Get Gone to higher ground, or as far inland as possible immediately. During volcanic activity, follow official advice provided by your local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group. Want to get prepared? For information on preparing for earthquakes or responding to volcanic activity, there are guidelines from the National Emergency Management Agency's Get Ready website. Prepare your home. Protect your whanau. Theres a lot we can do to make our homes safer and stronger for natural disasters. Toka Tu Ake EQCs website has key steps to get you started. All right? / Not All Right? We all need a bit of support from time-to-time, and if you or someone you know is struggling, there is free help available. Free call or text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You can also call Lifeline on 0800 543354 or text HELP to 4357. Additional reporting Jonah Franke-Bowell/Stuff UPDATE 6.56pm: The section of SH25 stretching from the SH25A intersection to Tairua is now reopen. "Thank you for your patience," says a Waka Kotahi spokesperson. UPDATE 6:15PM This section of #SH25 is now OPEN. Thank you for your patience. ^CO https://t.co/iSCgoIqY9t Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) January 5, 2023 Although this section of the highway is now open, SH25 east of Coromandel remains closed due to a "secondary slip" according to a social media post by Waka Kotahi on Twitter. FINAL UPDATE - 6:50PM#SH25 east of Coromandel remains CLOSED due to a secondary slip. For further up-to-date information this evening please check our website at: https://t.co/TRLU3Q5CvH ^CO https://t.co/p1Vim4xKiS Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) January 5, 2023 EARLIER 1.16pm: The Mount Maunganui lifeguard service is scrapping a flagged patrol area today due to the weather, and have raised a "dangerous swimming conditions" flag. This means "swimming and water activities are not advised to keep everyone safe," according to a Facebook post by the lifeguard service. "Our lifeguards will be roaming along the beach in vehicles - so if you see anyone in difficulty, in the water; dial 111 so our lifeguards can respond," the post reads. A slip south of Papa Aroha Holiday Park. Photo: Katherine Sullivan Shepherd. EARLIER 11.19am: A Coromandel motorist says 309 Road is closed by a slip "at the Coromandel town end" of the road. "There is a tree down and a slip south of Papa Aroha Holiday Park," the motorist adds. EARLIER 10.48am: State Highway 25 is the latest road to close due to flooding following wet weather. The highway is closed between Wade Road, Whitianga and 309 Road, Kaimarama. "Delay your journey or allow extra time for a detour," says a Waka Kotahi spokesperson. EARLIER 10.30am: State Highway 25 south of Whitianga is blocked by flooding, according to a Facebook post by Waikato Police. "Motorists heading to or from Whitianga should delay travel," the post reads. The highway is also closed from the SH25A intersection to Tairua, according to Waka Kotahi. "Please delay your journey," says a Waka Kotahi spokesperson. A video posted to Coromandel's CFM Facebook page shows the rising water on the same highway. "This video taken half an hour ago. Water has risen further since then," says the description of the video. Waikato Police say roads "across the Coromandel" are being impacted by the weather, with a number of blockages/closures in place due to flooding. "Long story short - you're best to stay home if you can! If you do need to be on the road, be mindful of the conditions and keep safe out there." "If you are out and about on the roads in the region today, please take care and drive to the conditions." MetService says even more rain is on the way on a Twitter post, which highlights the "wettest places" during the severe weather so far. Coromandel and Northland are the wettest places with 100-200mm of rain recorded so far. The worst is over for Northland but Coromandel and Bay of Plenty have much more on the way. Keep up to date with the warnings and heed your local council's advice: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/RHDWVBzSmX MetService (@MetService) January 4, 2023 EARLIER 10.24am: Parts of the Coromandel are experiencing power outages as the wild weather batters the region. Whangamata is experiencing an outage as of 1.33am, the cause is a result of damaged equipment. There are a total of 206 properties affected. The estimated restoration is not yet known according to PowerCo. Hikutaia in Paeroa is also experiencing an outage as of 12.29am. There are 56 properties affected. The cause is due to "trees in lines" according to PowerCo. The estimated resoration time is 4.30pm today. The power outage areas. Image: PowerCo. EARLIER 9.00am: The Coromandel is expected to be the epicentre of the North Islands bad weather today, with more heavy rain forecast to batter the area. Several roads are already beginning to flood, according to many reports on social media. A heavy rain warning is in place until 11pm as a subtropical storm sweeps through. People have been warned to either head home or be prepared to shelter in place until Sunday, Janurary 8. "A lot of rainfall over night and a lot more expected today. The hills have had a drenching and as at 4am 191mm of rain had fallen on The Pinnacles and 162.5mm at Castle Rock," says Coromandel's CFM in a Facebook post. In Auckland, MetService had recorded 12.6mm of rain by 7.30am and had forecasted a total of 62mm to fall throughout the day. Parts of Auckland have also lost power, according to Vector, including in Titirangi, Stanmore Bay, Paremoremo and the rural area northeast of Helensville. In addition to the 50 to 70mm that have already accumulated expect a further 140 to 180mm [of rain], MetService says in its warning for the Coromandel Peninsula. MetServices Curtis Hayes says Auckland had become the dividing line between the epicentre of the heavy rain in the Coromandel and isolated showers in Northland. A snapshot of the road flooding near Whitianga. Photo: Caleb Warrender. Hayes says most of the rain forecast would hit the east of the city. The system has shifted a little bit further west than our model shows ... but it looks like Auckland is being spared. Hayes says the forecast of 62mm might be on the high side. However, if 62mm did fall for Auckland it would be double what central parts of the city saw on Wednesday and it would likely bring slips and surface flooding. There had been a strong wind warning in effect overnight until 5am for Auckland, including Great Barrier Island. A heavy rain watch was also in place through till 9am. On the east coast of the North Island, a heavy rain warning was in effect for Bay of Plenty west of Matata, through till 9am Friday. Expect 140 to 200 mm of rain to accumulate. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected, says MetService. Note that this warning may be extended since further bursts of heavy rain are possible during the remainder of Friday and into Saturday. Heavy rain warnings were also in effect in the South Island, for Tasman northwest of Motueka through till 11am Friday and the ranges of Westland south of Otira through until 4am Friday. Hayes says the rain was set to continue into the weekend and a cold front would move its way up the country from the south over the next couple of days. The nice weather over Christmas was to blame, he says, with high pressure system sitting off to the east of the country and not moving, preventing the bad weather from moving off. Holiday and festival plans thrown into disarray On Wednesday January 4, the Thames-Coromandel District Council told locals and visitors to err on the side of caution and seek safety in a secure location or even head home. The accumulation of rain by Saturday could see surface flooding, slips, road closures and power issues, so it is worth hatching a plan today to ensure no-one is stuck or isolated, Thames-Coromandel Civil Defence Controller Garry Towler says earlier. Stuff understands many people packed up and left Cooks Beach as rain poured down on the Coromandel campsite. Meanwhile, in Northland, Whangaruru Beachfront Camp and Motel owner Robynne Cooper on Wednesday says hardly anyone is left after strong winds and rain hit the campsite. Others have found themselves out of pocket due to the weather too. A Coromandel tour operator has had to cancel hundreds of summer bookings due to the weather warnings, and two Wellington siblings are $1000 down after a festival was cancelled less than 24 hours from kick-off. Wet weather across the motu MetService forecaster Aidan Pyselman says almost nowhere would escape the bad weather this week. The culprit was a low a region of air that spirals inwards, bringing wet and windy weathers sitting in the north of the Tasman Sea. It couldnt progress and move away from New Zealand because a high pressure system east of the Chatham Islands had kind of just parked there, blocking the low from moving. It meant wet weather across the motu for at least the rest of the week, and potentially next week too. The top of the country is seeing the worst of it at this stage, says Pyselman. There might be some reprieve in the north on Saturday, and it looks like weve got another little low starting up early next week. Severe weather hitting your area? Email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz. - Additional reporting by Sapeer Mayron/Stuff. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. The Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center is seeking approval from all 13 of its sending school districts of a $23.5 million expansion to its campus in Silver Spring Township. The South Middleton School Board last week committed $1.35 million for the project that would add two new buildings adjoining the main campus building. As of last week, nine of the 13 districts have agreed to fund their portion of the construction costs, Administrative Director Justin Bruhn said. The four remaining districts are East Pennsboro, Newport, Northern York and West Perry. Aside from South Middleton, five other Cumberland County districts have agreed to pay their project shares as either a lump sum or as principal folded into a bond issue, Bruhn said. The five districts and their estimated shares are: Big Spring $2.5 million Camp Hill $450,000 Cumberland Valley $3.4 million Mechanicsburg $1.8 million West Shore $4.8 million The shares are based on a formula developed by the superintendents of the districts that send students to the vo-tech school and pay its operating costs, Bruhn said. Seventy-five percent of the project costs are based on the 10-year average in the daily number of students enrolled by each district while the remaining 25% is based on a formula the school uses to calculate the quota of new slots allocated to each district. For the work to progress to design and construction, the boards of all 13 districts must approve resolutions to finance the project that would improve security at the entrance to the main building and add a classroom to the adjoining culinary arts department, Bruhn said. Its inefficient to have the departments restaurant double as classroom space, he said. The goal is to secure the remaining approvals by late January, allowing construction to begin in spring 2024, Bruhn said. He briefed South Middleton School Board members on the reasons for the expansion. There has been a 40% increase in student enrollment at Cumberland Perry from about 900 students eight to 10 years ago to almost 1,300 students now. That has resulted in a waiting list of about 300 students. This is something that were not going to see go the other way, Bruhn said. The jobs of tomorrow are stemming from career pathways that we have at the technical center. These are pathways that need more and more people, and the labor market projections are through the roof. In preparing the preliminary design of the project, school administrators consulted experts in economic and workforce development along with the local chambers of commerce. It was determined that future program needs exceed the current capacity of the main campus building, which was constructed in the late 1960s, Bruhn said. While most of the structure is original, there has been upkeep done over the years on the roof and building systems, he said. The plan is to relocate the automotive collision and logistics/warehouse management programs to one of the new buildings. The other new building will house the relocated advanced manufacturing technology programs. This would build capacity within those programs and allow Cumberland Perry to backfill the program space in the main building. The proposed building project would: Modernize the logistics and warehouse management program Relocate the electrical construction/maintenance program to the construction cluster Provide criminal justice increased activity space Provide more efficient facility and program storage areas Increase capacity in the welding and automotive technology programs Allow for the addition of four programs pre-engineering, building/property maintenance, emergency management/homeland security and service occupations The improvements would enable an additional 278 students to enroll at the school. To make way for the new buildings, the warehouse would have to be demolished. The new programs could be phased in starting in the 2025-26 school year, Bruhn said. The service occupations program will be for special needs students who need intensive training in such areas as light custodial, light food service and light secretarial, he said. We dont have a lot of opportunities for those students, Bruhn told South Middleton School Board members. The opportunities that are out there are fairly expensive. The career and technical center is well-positioned to serve as one more resource. Gallery: 2013 Cumberland Perry Vo-Tech Commencement Forward-looking: OLED and ultra-fast monitors are all the rage at CES 2023, but Dell seems to be ahead of competitors when it comes to mass manufacturing. The Alienware AW2524H display is incredibly fast, so fast that very few GPUs and gamers will be able to actually exploit its true potential for the next couple of years at least. After the Chinese prototype seen at the beginning of 2022, 500Hz monitors are now coming to market as products you can physically buy. And the Dell Alienware AW2524H should actually be the first mass-manufactured 500Hz monitor, beating Asus PG248QP and offering a better color experience overall. While Asus adopted a TN panel for its 540Hz monitor, Dell will use a "Fast IPS" panel made by AU Optronics, which means the Alienware AW2524H monitor should have better colors and viewing angles by far. The screen size is 24.5", with a FullHD resolution (1920x1080px, 90ppi), while the included native Nvidia G-sync module should offer a tear-free gaming experience in every condition. Other specs provided by Dell include a remarkable 0.5ms minimum G2G response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 400 cd/m2 brightness, a standard 99% sRGB color gamut, and factory calibration. Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer is also included for a smooth and successful headshot experience. AU Optronics' native refresh rate is 480Hz, which can be turned up to 500Hz in overclocking mode. Alienware AW2524H connectivity includes a DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.1 ports which should actually be old HDMI 2.0 ports marketed under a different name. The faster refresh rate will need a DP 1.4 connection + cable combo, anyway. Alienware also provides four 5Gbps USB-A ports and an audio output, while there is a full range of tilt, height, swivel and rotate adjustments. Other specs of the Alienware AW2524H monitor include VESA 100x100 mounting support, customizable RGB backlighting, and a DisplayHDR 400 certification. A USB-C to DisplayPort cable is also provided to help customers easily connect the new monitor to a laptop. Dell is clearing marketing its new monitor to esports gamers and professionals. While Asus was the first to announce its 540Hz gaming monitor, Dell's model should be the first 500Hz product to actually ship to stores and retailers worldwide. The ROG Swift Pro PG248QP won't be available until the second quarter of 2023, while the Alienware AW2524H model should launch in the first quarter and be available for purchase in China (February 8), and North America (March 21). Shipping dates for the European and UK markets are still unknown. Finally, the all-important info about pricing will be announced at a later date. TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Big quotes: As telecommuting become the "new norm" for American workers, municipal governments and economic analysts are hitting the panic button. "Remote work is poised to devastate America's cities." --- New York Magazine. "The 'office apocalypse' is upon us." --- Business Insider. "[We're entering a] work from home and the office real estate apocalypse." --- National Bureau of Economic Research. According to economic analysts, the growing work-from-home trend is "devastating" US cities. With nearly a third of the workforce working remotely, employers find little reason to keep their physical offices open. Tax revenue in large cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco plummeted as companies began shuttering offices. Meta closed shop on 450,000 square feet of office space in New York alone. New York Magazine points out that property taxes account for a majority (one-third) of New York City's revenue, and office buildings make up a fifth of that source. To put that in perspective, one of the city's most lucrative tax districts, Manhattan, experienced a $5.24 billion decline in tax revenue since 2019. Even switching to hybrid work schedules has not helped much. The New York State Comptroller reported that financial services firms in New York City only have 56 percent of their staff in the office during any given day of the week. This shift contributed to a 56.3-percent dip in the securities industry's pretax revenue --- a $17.5 billion loss in taxable profits. The problem doesn't stop at property and corporate taxes, either. Mass transit has taken a significant hit. The pandemic crippled the commuting industry. It has rebounded somewhat but still has not recovered to pre-covid levels thanks to fewer workers needing to report to the office physically. Ridership is still down 30 percent from 2019. Many transit systems were already operating with thin margins, so it's unclear how long some can hold out. Likewise, foot traffic has dramatically declined. Local shops are losing the frequent stops for lattes and cocktails from surrounding businesses and foot traffic now that more workers are homebound. This situation created a triple whammy for New York City. The Big Apple lost a significant slice of money from sales tax --- wham. Many shops went bankrupt and closed shop, flushing corporate and payroll taxes down the toilet --- wham. Now, property owners struggle to fill those vacancies, leading to a sharp decline in property values and thus decreased property taxes --- wham. And the situation is no better on the west coast. Office vacancy rates in San Francisco, the heart of Silicon Valley, are hovering around 34-40 percent, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Meta, Google, Salesforce, Airbnb, Twilio, and others have all dumped unused office space to cut costs. Some analysts suggest cities convert offices into housing, reasoning that reasonably priced occupied apartments are better than expensive but empty offices. However, "better than nothing" will not likely satisfy local governments. The tax deficit caused by enterprise-to-consumer conversion will inevitably lead to higher income taxes for the working class. There is no win-win scenario. It would seem that the grand experiment that was the unprecedented shutdown of the American economy has lasting adverse effects. Now the very government agencies that called for the drastic action are in a panic over how to close Pandora's Box. In Telegram, you can actually edit your sent messages to someone, but you need to act quickly to accomplish this. The ability to edit sent texts on the messaging platform is a privacy upgrade that some users want to see in other social media apps such as Facebook Messenger and Instagram. If you're here to test it out and see how it works, this article is a good read about this Telegram feature. Editing Sent Messages Comes in Two Platforms You can try two options if you want to edit your sent texts to your friend or other people. The first method is intended for the mobile application, while the second one is for desktop users of Telegram. How to Edit Sent Texts on Telegram Mobile App First, you need to long press a message to get started with the message-editing feature on the Telegram Android app. Then, select the conversation where you will edit a message you wish to change. After that, click and hold the particular text that you want to edit in the chat. From here, you will see a toolbar on the top part of your screen. This will appear after you select the message you want to remove. Don't forget to click the edit button which resembles a pencil. You can now experiment with editing your sent messages to a recipient. Before you carry out this action, you will see the original message on display. After that, tap the checkmark icon. You will now see the "Edited" text beside the new message that you corrected. You can try similar procedures if you are using Telegram on your iPhone. There's just a little different that you will notice on iOS, which you can search over the app interface. Related Article: Telegram Update 2022: Here are the New Features for iOS, Android Before the Year Ends How to Edit Sent Texts on Telegram Desktop App If you are a PC user and you want to edit your sent texts right away, then this trick will help you out in your misery of changing your previous message. The first thing you need to do is to access the Telegram application from your desktop. Scroll over the particular conversation where you will change the message. Search for the message you wish to edit later by right-clicking it. Afterward, don't forget to tap "Edit." The next thing you need to do is to click the checkmark button to begin sending the newly-edited message. Once you're done, the updated chat message will pop out along with the "Edited" label beside the text. Who is the Founder of Telegram For those unfamiliar with Telegram's CEO, it's Pavel Durov who popularized the messaging app across the world. Business Insider previously called him the "Zuckerberg of Russia" after hitting a $15.1 billion net worth in 2022. He used to live in Moscow for 15 years before he decided to migrate to Dubai to seek greener pastures. He became more popular in social media when he started the "Shirtless Putin Challenge" on Instagram. Read Also: Best Translation Apps For Android Users Aside from Google Translate [2022] 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Microsoft is cutting off Windows 7 and Windows 8 critical security updates and technical support this January. In merely a week millions of PC users will be forced to upgrade their systems. Otherwise, they might be at risk due to the lack of the latest security updates from the Redmond-based tech giant. (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) A view of the new Microsoft Surface Laptop following a Microsoft launch event, May 2, 2017 in New York City. The Windows 10 S operating system is geared toward the education market and is Microsoft's answer to Google's Chrome OS. If you are one of these folks clinging to Windows 7 or 8, you might want to consider getting an upgrade in time for the new year. Microsoft has long been encouraging its users to ditch their older systems. And now, the deadline for it is nearing. Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8 Security Update Support End As per the latest report by The Verge, Microsoft is ending its rollout of critical security updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 in merely a week. On January 10, these older operating systems would get their last security update and technical support from the renowned software maker. It is worth mentioning that the giant firm announced way back in 2020 that it is planning to end support for the aging Windows 7, The Verge notes in its report. (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - MAY 2: The Microsoft logo is illuminated on a wall during a Microsoft launch event to introduce the new Microsoft Surface laptop and Windows 10 S operating system, May 2, 2017 in New York City. The Windows 10 S operating system is geared toward the education market and is Microsoft's answer to Google's Chrome OS. This time, the day that Microsoft is cutting ties with these older Windows versions is only a week away from today. It gives users a few more days to go about upgrading their systems. If not, it would not be long before they get exposed to potential security risks. Not to mention that apps, especially web browsers like Google Chrome, would also stop working following the end of support from Microsoft. The Verge tells its readers that around 100 million PC users could potentially be affected by the end of security support for Windows 7 and 8.1. Given that, millions of folks might be forced to make an upgrade this year. Read Also: 'Resident Evil 3' System Requirements Changed: No More Windows 7 and 8.1 Google Chrome for Windows 7 to Stop Working Following the move of the Redmond behemoth, Google is also ending support for older Windows PCs in a week. According to a recent report by Metro UK, the search engine giant plans to end security and technical support for Chrome on January 10. The British media outfit notes in its report that Google had already pushed back this deadline several times. The end of support of Chrome for Windows 7 should have begun last July 15, 2021. However, Metro UK says the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the giant firm to extend it to January 15, 2022. But it got pushed roughly a year more, leading to its new Jan. 10 deadline. Given that, Chrome version 109 is the last update to support Windows 7 and 8/8.1. The next update, which rolls out next month, no longer work for these older operating systems. Related Article: Microsoft Edge is Ending Windows 7, 8, 8.1 Support Starting January 2023 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. German Bionic will present new, AI-powered smart wearable gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 that aim to transform workplace safety in physically tolling industries, according to the company's press release. (Photo : German Bionic) The new power suits include Apogee, the lightest and most adaptable AI-powered suit from the company. The Smart SafetyVest will also be showcased, which is minted to bring ergonomic protection and monitoring for workers, Lastly, the German Bionic IO will grace the event showcasing its cloud-based software capabilities such as analyzing workplace safety practices and ergonomics. The Cray X exoskeleton, winner of the CES 2023 "Best of Innovation" (Wearable Technologies) Award, will also be on display and available for demonstrations. CES attendees can find German Bionic at exhibit 7141 at Tech East, West Hall, from January 5 to 8, 2023. All About Apogee The next-generation smart robotic wearable tool from German Bionic features an eye-catching design and AI support through the Apogee. It expands the range of applications that is lighter and more comfortable than its predecessors. The dust and water-resistant tool increase workplace safety by supporting the lower back with up to 66 lbs (30 kg) of weight per lifting motion and reduces fatigue with an active walking aid. Apogee is ideal for heavy lifting and carrying, especially in the industries of care, construction, logistics, and many more. The Smart SafetyVest The Smart SafetyVest combines cutting-edge sensing capabilities with AI to instantly give data-based, individualized ergonomic insights, assessments, and suggested actions, according to German Bionic. No matter what kind of work is done, the company claims that it can identify ergonomic risks and improvement possibilities to reduce fatigue and injuries within the workplace. German Bionic IO The company hails the German Bionic IO platform as a "groundbreaking" cloud-based tool. It renders occupational health and safety visible as well as quantifiable. With the help of the wearer's actions, the system continuously learns and improves safety efficiency by analyzing data from Apogee, Cray X, and Smart SafetyVest. The German Bionic IO platform offers thorough monitoring and reporting features as well as customized action suggestions through the Smart Safety Companion early warning system for ergonomics. Read Also: GPS on Moon: NASA Engineer is Developing an AI that Would Lead Astronauts to the Lunar Surface Address Labor Shortages and Musculoskeletal Disorders The power suits aim to address labor shortages and musculoskeletal disorders among workers. German Bionic claims that these wearables are revolutionary in the safety of the workplace for physically demanding occupations. They are designed to ensure that work is safer, less taxing, and more appealing to employees while also increasing productivity. "Our smart power suits and wearables protect people performing tough physical work on a daily basis in system-critical jobs against over-exertion and injury," Armin G. Schmidt, CEO, and co-founder of German Bionic said in a statement. "They provide mechanical support for lifting and carrying, and use a smart assistance system to alert users, for example, of instances of incorrect lifting or when they should take a break." Related Article: New AI Technique More Effective Than the Human Eye At Predicting Brain Therapy Outcomes 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google Pixel Watch's Fall Detection feature started appearing to some users, asking them to set it up. It appears that the missing safety feature of the Pixel Watch is now on its way. After all, Google says it is bound to see the light of day this 2023. (Photo : THOMAS URBAIN/AFP via Getty Images) A man looks at the Google Pixel 7 Pro phone at its launch in New York on October 6, 2022. - Once a minor player in the smartphone business, Google confirmed its new ambition to penetrate the highly competitive market. Google Pixel Watch Fall Detection Starts Rolling Out As per a report by XDA Developers, the first smartwatch of Google is capable of a fall detection feature. However, the Pixel Watch debuted without it. So it got some users patiently waiting for its much-awaited arrival. The renowned tech firm says that the safety feature is coming to Pixel Watch users in 2023. And as we welcome the new year, some users are starting to get their hands on the much-awaited Fall Detection feature. According to a news story by 9to5 Google, some users are getting their hands on the Fall Detection feature ahead of everyone else. The much-awaited safety function appears after a user reset the Pixel Watch. Upon doing so, a prompt asked the owner to set up Fall Detection. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The new Google Pixel 3a is displayed during the 2019 Google I/O conference at Shoreline Amphitheatre on May 07, 2019 in Mountain View, California. The wearable asks users to set up their Emergency SOS, Google Wallet, and now the Fall Detection feature. The prompt says that the safety feature helps users "get help quickly after a hard fall by allowing your watch to call your primary contact." Read Also: Google Pixel Leaked Roadmap Hints Rivaling Apple iPhone Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip How to Use Fall Detection? Essentially, XDA Developers report that Fall Detection allows the Pixel Watch to detect if their users experienced hard falls. From there, the feature should ask its owners if they want to contact emergency services. If users failed to respond, it would automatically reach out to the authorities. If the feature started rolling out to your Pixel Watch, here's how you can access it. Go to the Setting menu of your wearable. Then, select "Safety & Emergency" and toggle "Fall detection." It is worth noting that other popular smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, offer the same detection feature right off the bat. And this time, Pixel Watch users seem to be getting their hands on a similar safety function. 9to5 Google notes in its story that the search engine firm has yet to announce the release of the said feature. In fact, the online media outlet added that a support page is still unavailable as of writing. For now, if you are keen on getting it right away, you will have to reset your Pixel Watch. If that sounds like a hassle, you may wait for its official rollout instead. Related Article: Google Pixel Watch OTA Update Is Packed With Critical Bug Fixes, Improvements NASA's iconic Hubble Space Telescope spots a glittering display in deep space after capturing an open star cluster. (Photo : NASA, ESA and G. Gilmore (University of Cambridge), Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)) Sparkling Cluster of Stars The center of the new image is dominated by a sparkling cluster of stars. The open star cluster NGC 2002 is situated in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way with several star-forming regions, at a distance of around 160,000 light-years from Earth. With a diameter of around 30 light-years and an age of only 18 million years, NASA notes that NGC 2002 is a relatively young cluster. Additionally, NGC 2002 is more spherical compared to a typical open cluster, Open clusters have a low stellar density and an irregular shape because of the weak gravitational pull between the stars that make them up, according to NASA. It is worth noting that individual stars in a globular cluster, the other major form of cluster, are frequently too dense to be spotted by space telescopes. However, stars in an open cluster are easier to be observed. Hubble's excellent resolution and sensitivity in identifying individual stars were used by researchers to investigate NGC 2002. Around 1,100 stars make up NGC 2002. As the cluster develops, the lighter stars are likely to move away from the center while the more massive stars would dive into the core. Five red supergiant stars are spotted in the cluster's center. These physically large but cooler stars are fusing helium after running out of hydrogen fuel, according to NASA. Read Also: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Sees a Window to the Early Universe Through a Strange Dwarf Galaxy Named 'Peekaboo' Electric Open Star Cluster A similar open star cluster was captured by Hubble last month, featuring the NGC 1858 glowing in electric blue. It is also located in the Magellanic Cloud and it is believed to be around 10 million years old. (Photo : NASA, ESA and G. Gilmore (University of Cambridge), Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)) NASA explains that young star clusters seen in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC, SMC) make them ideal research locations for the birth and evolution of stars. More importantly, the LMC and SMC are close enough to our planet for clear and full observation, making them perfect for the study of individual stars. These systems are also the only ones that comprise star clusters in every stage of evolution. After the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his team discovered these companion galaxies during the first round-the-world journey (1519-22), these galaxies were named in his honor. The Magellanic Clouds were recognized as members of the Milky Way Galaxy's companion group at the beginning of the 20th century. The American astronomer Edwin Hubble established that they were extragalactic objects, leading to their separation as distinct systems. The LMC is a bright region with a diameter of around 5, while the SMC is only a little wider than 2. The Magellanic Clouds are unreachable from the bulk of northern latitudes but they are visible to the naked eye in the Southern Hemisphere. Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures 'Butterfly Nebula' In Stunning Motion | Fun Facts About This Beautiful Space Butterfly 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NVIDIA and Foxconn unveiled their latest venture towards creating a new autonomous driving technology for the world, and it will center on its partners to provide a new platform for vehicles. The companies announced this venture amidst NVIDIA's CES 2023 announcements, alongside its new batch of products including new GPUs, and experiences with the company's tech. The Taiwanese and American companies aim to deliver an intelligent solution for modern electric vehicles that were manufactured under Foxconn's plants. NVIDIA, Foxconn to Create New Autonomous Driving Platforms (Photo : NVIDIA, Foxconn) Foxconn and NVIDIA enter a partnership to provide electric vehicles with self-driving technology, soon to get the full suite of efficient and advanced systems from the companies. The Hon Hai Technology Group, also known as Foxconn, has formed a strategic partnership with NVIDIA, the companies announced today, with its goals to create new autonomous driving platforms for the world. Foxconn will be in charge of the EV manufacturing part of this venture, while NVIDIA would center on creating the ECUs that would provide the self-driving technology. In this partnership, Foxconn will use ECUs based on the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin platform set for its clients in the global automotive industry. Additionally, future production vehicles from Foxconn are set to receive the bundle of the DRIVE Orin ECUs and DRIVE Hyperion sensors to complete the autonomous driving venture of these companies. Read Also: Nvidia RTX 4080 vs. AMD Radeon Rx 7900 XTX: Upcoming Price Cut, Technical Specs, More EVs with NVIDIA and Foxconn's Self-Driving Tech As more automotive companies choose NVIDIA's self-driving technology, this partnership with Foxconn would ensure that EVs become equipped with Santa Clara-based features for efficiency and safety. This partnership would also center on electric vehicles that would border on sustainability and clean energy for the future. NVIDIA and Foxconn's Ventures NVIDIA has had a known self-driving solo venture since 2022, and it is the DRIVE platform that it introduced to the world to join automotive brands' future releases like BYD and Lucid. There is a growing list that is slated to receive this autonomous driving tech from the famous computer parts maker, to deliver a different experience with their journeys. On the other hand, the famous iPhone manufacturer from China and Taiwan is also one to join the electric vehicle market with its plans to be a central figure in its production and assembly. Foxconn's goals are soon coming in the future for the world to see, soon to be a staple name in the clean energy automotive industry, from its beginnings from smartphones. This strategic partnership would soon unfold to deliver autonomous driving-equipped electric vehicles from different manufacturers, courtesy of Foxconn and NVIDIA. With both companies bordering on their strengths and capabilities as their bread and butter in this venture, this autonomous driving technology will soon be available to the global market, under the respective car brands. Related Article: Foxconn is Reportedly Nearing Full Production of iPhones in China 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nine strange crocodile heads that had been hidden for thousands of years in an ancient Egyptian tomb have been unearthed by archaeologists, reported first by Art News. A team from the University of Warsaw's Center for Mediterranean Archaeology uncovered the discovery while excavating the Theban Necropolis, an old cemetery in Upper Egypt. (Photo : SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images) Job Kibii, head of the National Museums of Kenya's paleontology department, shows different crocodile fossils at the Nairobi National Museum, in Nairobi on May 23, 2019. Extremely Uncommon Discovery The remnants of the crocodiles were concealed within two tombs that belonged to prominent individuals who lived in Egypt's New Kingdom, which lasted between the 16th century BCE to the 11th century BCE. The crew led by Patryk Chudzik has been investigating two graves in the necropolis since 2013. One of the tombs is from Cheti, a dignitary during the reign of Pharaoh Nebhepetra Mentuhotep II (2055 BCE-2002 BCE), and the other to an unnamed but highly-ranked servant of the royal court. Nine enormous crocodile skulls, common to Egypt's freshwater ecosystems, were found covered in linen and devoid of any sort of preservation. The enormous skulls belonged to Crocodylus niloticus, which is indigenous to freshwater areas in Africa. According to Chudzik, this is an extremely uncommon discovery and the first of its sort in the history of Egyptian research. He noted that several crocodile mummies have been discovered along the Nile, which has all been deposited in catacombs of sacred animals for the god Sobek. The new finds are unique because only the heads and not the entire bodies were placed in the tombs. It is also important to note that they were mummified but only covered in line without the use of any preservatives. Chudzik adds that these skulls were found not in the catacombs of sacred animals but in the graves of humans, which makes it altogether strange yet fascinating at the same time. Read Also: Marine Archaeologists Find a 5,000-Year-Old Elizabethan Era Ship Along English Channel Coast The God Sobek Ancient Egyptians revered crocodiles as representatives of the God Sobek, who was linked to the Nile, fertility, and power. Throughout all three of Pharaonic Egypt's eras, Sobek enjoyed a cult-like following but his notoriety peaked during the Middle Kingdom (2055 BCE-1650 BCE), as per Art News. Before becoming a prominent deity and the protector of monarchs in the Middle Kingdom, Sebek may have been an ancient fertility god or connected to death and burial, according to Britannica. He was united with the sun god Re to become Sebek-Re, the crocodile version of that God. Sebek was still revered during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras in the Fayyum, at Kawm Umbu (Kom Ombo), and other places. Amenemhat III, the pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty, ordered the construction of cultic monuments devoted to Sobek, and he is depicted prominently in reliefs found in the necropolis. Chudzik said that additional investigation is necessary to solve the mystery shrouding the crocodile heads. The researchers shared the full details of this unique find in the Journal of African Archaeology. Related Article: Archaeologists Discover the Heads of 3 Greek Gods in an Ancient City in Turkey 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new Twitter outage is affecting thousands of users in Australia and New Zealand. (Photo : Photo by DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images) A picture taken on September 4, 2019 shows logos of US social networking websites Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, displayed on smart-phone screen, in Lille, northern France. (Photo by Denis Charlet / AFP) The issues began on Wednesday, Jan. 4. Many users already shared their disappointment on the online platform. One of them said that the website is "dying such as slow and painful death." This website is dying such a slow and painful death today. Someone put it out of its misery. #twitterdown Isobel Roe (@isobelroe) January 4, 2023 Another one said that Elon Musk seems like he doesn't know that there are other countries using Twitter aside from the U.S. Twitter Outage in Australia and New Zealand According to Tech Crunch's latest report, the Twitter outage in Australia and New Zealand affects users for over 12 hours as of press time. (Photo : Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images) This photo illustration taken on March 22, 2018 shows a woman looking at Social Networking applications Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Whatsapp, Twitter, Messenger and Linkedin on a smartphone in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP) Also Read: Malicious TikTok and Twitter Posts That Show Andrew Tate Being Freed Alarm CCDH Based on the data of DownDetector, Australia is the most affected country, with more than 1,300 users experiencing issues. The outage in New Zealand only affects over 240 users. .@Twitter is an absolute shambles today isnt it? Operationally pathetic. I suspect owner & current CEO @elonmusk has pulled one too many server plugs out, fired too many crucial frontline staff? Consistency, reliability matter? #Musk just clueless & a propagandist. #TwitterDown Peter Clarke (MASTODON: @PLC@aus.social) (@MediaActive) January 4, 2023 Affected users experience various platform issues, such as app and website bugs, as well as issues in uploading tweets. Twitter has been down in Australia for 12 hours now and Im pretty sure @elonmusk has no idea there is a world outside of the USA so I assume itll never be fixed. I am tweeting from a VPN to ask you to click here for 60fps Bloodborne: https://t.co/qDYEQNn4ZA Lance McDonald (@manfightdragon) January 4, 2023 Some of them shared that they were able to access the social media platform using VPN apps. What Twitter Users Can Do Since Twitter hasn't confirmed if it is already working on a fix to solve the outage in Australia and New Zealand, the best thing you can do is try troubleshooting methods. Twitter's official website provided some tips on how to fix issues. However, you must remember that these methods are not 100% efficient. These include the following: Try turning off your VPN if you are using one. Try using incognito or other private browsers. If your app or browser is not updated, visit the official Google Play Store or Apple App Store to update it. Clearing the cache and cookies of your app or browser could also help. Of course, logging in and logging out could also fix the issues. However, this method is commonly a temporary fix. As of writing, Twitter is still facing various problems. These include the cost-cutting efforts made by Elon Musk, which clearly affect many Twitter employees. We also reported that an alleged Twitter user data breach could have compromised over 400 million users. For more news updates about Twitter and other social media platforms, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Twitter Alternative Mastodon Explodes in Popularity Following Elon Musk Acquisition: From 300K to 2.5 Million Active Users? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An NHS trial is now ready to test proton beam therapy for breast cancer patients, as reported by Interesting Engineering. (Photo : MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images) A woman covers a windows of Proton Therapy Center on September 3, 2014 in Prague. The parents of the five-year-old Ashya King, who has brain tumor, plan to sell a property to pay for proton beam radiation therapy in the Czech Republic. Proton beam therapy is a hi-tech treatment that uses charged particles to target tumors, specifically for breast cancer patients. According to the press release, the trial aims to compare proton beam therapy with standard radiotherapy for those at a greater risk of long-term heart problems following radiotherapy treatment. The Trial The trial will involve 192 people across several UK sites, and they will be treated at the Christie or University College London Hospitals (UCLH). People behind the trial are hopeful that proton beam therapy will offer more personalized treatment in the future. In fact, the NHS has used proton beam therapy to treat patients with tumors in and around the spinal cord or brain. Moreover, three patients with breast cancer have already undergone the treatment. One patient described the therapy as "superb," as reported by The Guardian. The therapy can potentially reduce the risks of side effects following cancer treatment. In addition, researchers are hopeful that the hi-tech therapy will enable radiotherapy teams to deliver the needed dose of radiotherapy where it's necessary and minimize the dose of radiation delivered to the heart. Overall, these will not increase the chances of early side effects. Proton beam therapy has been used in other countries to treat breast cancer, but only a few participants joined. Also, there are no reported trials of proton beam therapy combined with standard radiotherapy. Also read: Proton Beam Therapy Is Safer For Children With Cancer: Study "Standard" Radiotherapy Standard radiotherapy is a common treatment option among those who have breast cancer. Radiation is often delivered through a large machine, where a beam of high-energy X-Rays will reach the cancerous tumor. Conventional radiotherapy can also cause side effects such as heart problems, which could significantly reduce a patient's quality of life. Therefore, the team is hoping that proton beam therapy can reduce the risks of such side effects. NHS England's plan to improve cancer care focuses on three important efforts. The plan is to speed up cancer diagnosis, improve care for those with cancer, and improve access to cancer drugs. Furthermore, proton beam therapy is one of the priorities for the NHS Cancer Plan. The NHS hopes proton beam therapy could be a valuable alternative for those resistant to conventional radiotherapy. New technologies are created to improve the quality of treatment. Proton beam therapy is one of the new technologies for treating breast cancer. Through proton beam therapy, doctors can minimize the risks of side effects caused by radiotherapy. Moreover, the accuracy of proton beam therapy can be a valuable alternative for those resistant to radiotherapy. Related article: Man With Brain Tumor First Patient Treated In Michigan Proton Therapy Center 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BOISE, Idaho The man accused in the November slayings of four University of Idaho students has left a Pennsylvania jail in the custody of state police, officials said Wednesday morning, which means he could be headed to Idaho to face first-degree murder charges. Bryan Kohberger, 28, a doctoral student at Washington State University a short drive from the scene of the killings across the state border told a judge on Tuesday that he wouldn't fight extradition to Idaho. A Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson declined to give any additional information about Kohberger's extradition status, citing security reasons. Authorities have released few details about the investigation and an Idaho judge issued a gag order barring police and attorneys from talking about the case. But court filings including a document laying out Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson's reasons for accusing Kohburger of the killings are expected to be unsealed once Kohberger arrives in Idaho. Kohberger was arrested last week at his parents' home in Chestnuthill Township in eastern Pennsylvania. The nighttime attack at a home near the University of Idaho campus spread fear through the surrounding community, as authorities seemed stumped by the stabbings. Investigators appeared to make a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan that was seen around the time of the killings and analyzing DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. Investigators have said they were still searching for a motive and the weapon used in the attack. The bodies of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington were found Nov. 13 at the rental home where the women lived. Kernodle and Chapin were dating, and he had been visiting the house that night. Latah County, Idaho, prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the victims home intending to commit murder. Jason LaBar, the chief public defender in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, said Kohberger is eager to be exonerated and should be presumed innocent and not tried in the court of public opinion." After Tuesdays hearing, LaBar described Kohberger as an ordinary guy, and said that after his extradition he would be represented by the chief public defender in Kootenai County, Idaho. 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Sally Buchman wears a NO H8 campaign temporary tattoo on her face at the First Grace United Methodist Church in New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. 'Grannies' protesting the treatment of immigrants, stopped in New Orleans on their 2,000 mile caravanning trip to the MexicoUnited States border in Texas. The region has lost a longtime leader known for his economic development and city administration prowess, helping to bring in scores of businesses and corporations to boost employment and commerce. He even helped rechristen the area we know as the Parkland. James Jim Rook Dismuke died at the age of 90 on Dec. 21 at his home in Fredericktown, where, during his long career as a civil servant, he served as city administrator and economic developer. Visitation was Dec. 29, from 5-8 p.m., and funeral services are Dec. 30, at 11 a.m. at Follis & Sons Funeral Home in Fredericktown. Kevin Engler, former state senator and current county clerk, worked with Dismuke closely when he was mayor of Farmington and Dismuke was the economic developer, then city administrator in the 1990s. He credited Dismuke with expanding the industrial park to the east side of U.S. 67 and helping to bring in Centene, among other corporations and businesses. So he had a high impact on the region, and probably an even bigger impact is that we refer to this area now as the Parkland, Engler said, recounting how he, former Spokes owner and civic leader Dick Stange, and Dismuke held a general bull session at the popular restaurant and bar and observed, since mining had largely petered out in the area, perhaps it was time to move beyond those related monikers. We were trying to figure out what we could call ourselves that would be more inviting to St. Louis people willing to spend their money than Mineral Area or the Lead Belt, and we discussed it for an hour. I wanted to name it Land Between the Parks, Dick wanted Parkland and Jim was the deciding vote, he said the Parkland sounds better, Engler said. And so, within weeks of that we convinced the radio station (KREI) to start referring to itself as Voice of the Parkland, the hospital had just changed names and named themselves Parkland, and now Id say were known as the Parkland more than anything. So he had the deciding vote on that, which is a day-to-day thing thats had a big effect on our area. Engler said Dismukes diplomacy and deal-making was also a significant factor in convincing Centene Corporation to locate a call center in Farmington, bringing in hundreds of jobs in 2000. His detractors would probably say he liked to spend money a lot to try to get economic development. He would tell you, you got to spend some to make things happen, Engler said, as he recalled a time when negotiations with the corporation today valued at $46 billion dollars had broken down. Jim is the one that said, hey, you know, we can work this out. Im gonna call him (Centene founder Michael Neidorff) and say, lets sit back down again. Lets try to come up with a better proposal. Centene actually brought more people in than they originally promised, and that was due to Jims persistence. Mit Landrum also worked with Dismuke since Landrum has been active in Farmington leadership positions and on the Industrial Development Authority for decades. As economic developer, Jim got the incubator building going for the city on the east side industrial park, and down through the years, weve had probably 40 occupants, Landrum said. Some of them were pretty small. But others took quite a bit of space. If a prospect was coming to town and needed a place where they could set up and do some training, they could go in our incubator building. Jim was one of the main proponents of that. Dismuke also made The Cube happen. Jim got the building that we used to call it The Cube, its in the East Side industrial park. Jim had spotted that down around Poplar Bluff. They had ordered a building for a prospect that was supposed to come to town and then backed out, that thing was sitting in a field, all these parts and pieces and it only had three walls, Landrum said. So we put in a bid and got the building pretty inexpensively, the IDA and Jim, a lot of it was Jim. We went to the citizens of Farmington and got a one-cent sales tax for one year to pay for the building and erecting it. Its had numerous occupants in it. We wound up selling it to a foundry operation that closed later, but then it eventually wound up in Joe Scotts hands. Its part of his Crown Valley operation. Landrum echoed Englers assessment of Dismukes cultivation of relationships for the benefit of the communities he served. He could connect with people. Jim was always big on relationships. We would get people in town and Jim would develop a relationship with somebody on the site selection team for some industry that was going to come in and, and we always managed to stay in there (on the list of possible sites), Landrum recalled. Our goal or strategy was to stay alive one more day (in the site selection process). That was our strategy. We figured if we could stay alive one more day, we would be the last town standing, eventually. Landrum said the need for an economic developer became apparent when U.S. 67 was built away from the downtown area. He said the late Larry Hughes was Farmingtons first economic developer and indicated Hughes provided big shoes to fill. And Larry was tremendous. He got Iron Mountain Forge to go in the industrial park, and he also got FMA, which was where Huffy wound up being. Jim got SRG Global in where Huffy was, that started out as an automotive wiring facility. He got that. Jim had been city manager in Park Hills and while he was there, Jim was successful in getting the glass factory to come in. And so he kind of had a resume. When he came, he hit the ground running. We developed a little formula as to how we would recruit businesses. We had a team of people, we would hear about a prospect, and get our team going. And Jim was a big part of it all. Born in Miami in 1932 to Robert and Doris (Rowell) Dismuke, Dismuke was raised in Jackson, Tennessee, by his grandmother, Annie Tom Rowell. After high school, he earned a bachelors degree of arts and religion from Union University in Jackson, then enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was sent to the European theater headquarters in Paris as a supply clerk. His obituary noted, however, he had trained as a medic. After his stint in the Army, Dismuke and his family with his first wife, Peggy Gaither, who later predeceased him moved to North Carolina so he could attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, where he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree. Dismuke served Broadmoor Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in an education and youth ministry capacity, and later served at Third Baptist Church and Delmar Baptist Church in St. Louis. In the 1970s, Dismuke earned a masters degree in urban affairs from St. Louis University. Following a job as assistant city manager in Berkley, Dismuke moved to Flat River, now known as Park Hills, and served six years as city manager. He was not only instrumental in bringing Flat River Glass to the area, he served as its first plant manager, overseeing everything from construction to start-up and operations. Dismuke moved on to Fredericktown to be the city administrator for seven years before hiring on for a 12-year sting in as its assistant city administrator and economic developer, before retiring as city administrator. After leaving full-time public service, his obituary reads, he continued to work in a part-time capacity for several years in St. Francois and Madison counties in economic development, completing his career in Fredericktown as part-time city administrator. Dismuke also served as project manager for the St. Francois County Courthouse Annex, overseeing all phases of the project from planning to construction. Other projects Dismuke was proud to be a part of during his local career include the Veterans Administration satellite outpatient clinic, Farmingtons current nutrition center, Park Hills Senior Apartments and Nutrition Center, Cap America, Data-Dash, Centene Corporation and the Farmington Industrial Park among so many others. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Peggy Gaither, whom he married March 19, 1954 in Jackson, Tennessee; his grandmother, Annie Tom Rowell; granddaughters, Sarah Lorene Dismuke, and Sarah Nicole Whitener; and a sister, Gail of Wood River, Illinois. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Whitener Dismuke, whom he married June 28, 1997; son, Steven (Sandra) Dismuke of Fredericktown, Missouri; daughter, Lisa (John) Gerig of Alexandria, Virginia; and bonus son, Gary Cody (Kathy) Whitener of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; his beloved grandchildren, Zachary (Samantha) Dismuke of Maple Park, Illinois; William (Rebecca) Gerig, and Benjamin Gerig of Alexandria, Virginia, Alexander (Brittany) Gerig of Kernersville, North Carolina, Zackery Whitener of Biehle, Missouri, and Rachel Whitener of West Point, Texas; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Riley Dismuke, and Noah and Elsie Gerig; sisters, Joyce Long, and Sue Henson of Jackson, Tennessee; and special cousin, Mary Ann Frank of Columbus, Georgia. His obituary reads, Jim Loved his Lord, family, and work. He was a member of the Fredericktown Christian Church where he had recently been named an elder. He spent his life in service to others, working to make life better for all he knew. Jim will always be remembered as a patient, loving husband, dad and grandpa and friend with a bright, welcoming smile and arms open wide for a warm hug. The Nigerian Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad since 1992 have been accused of roadside executions, motiveless arrests, unlawful detention, jailhouse mock executions, harassment and extortion. The Nigerian Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has long been accused of committing roadside executions after extracting groundless confessions, harassment and extorting civilians since it was created in 1992 to capture and solve cases of armed robberies, cybercrimes, murders, kidnappings, and other major crimes. In 2020, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari stated he would disband the SARS unit however, to date, this is the fourth time in as many years that the government has promised to disband or reform the unit that citizens say has terrorized them for decades without any real change. Nigerian Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad allegedly went from combating violent crime to allegedly committing violent crime. In the most recent incident, a Nigerian police officer, Drambi Vandi has been charged with the point-blank shooting death of a pregnant lawyer, Bolanle Raheem in Lagos Nigeria on December 25, 2022, Christmas Day. The 2018 incident involved Philomena Celestine, she was traveling home from her university graduation ceremony with her four year old niece and two young adult brothers when their car was pulled over by SARS officers and her two brothers brutally and forcefully extracted out of her car. Celestine brothers were taken into the woods where SARS Nigerian Police harassed them for over 30 minutes, and accused them of being Boko Haram terrorist group cybercriminals simply on the evidence of the brothers owning a laptop. In March 2017, SARS arrested 23-year-old Miracle Ifeanyichukwu Okpara on a charge of having stolen a laptop. Amnesty International reported that he was tortured and hardly given any food during 40 days of detention before he was taken to court and charged with armed robbery. The court dismissed the case for lack of evidence. In 1992, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad officially came into being as separate from the Nigerian Police Force criminal investigation departments in Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Nigerian Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad was one of the 14 units under the Nigerian Police Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department whose mandate included arrest, investigation and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, murderers, kidnappers, hired assassins and other suspected violent criminals. Nigeria is slightly more than twice the size of California, having the largest population of any African nation and the 6th largest population in the world. Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and the median age of Nigerians is 18.6 years. Nigeria has a mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law in 12 northern states, and traditional law. The Nigerian Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad have been long accused of pervasive corruption and an ineffective system. Some states have created local security forces in response to increased violence, insecurity, and criminality of government security forces. Historically, police officers who are alleged to have unlawfully killed Nigerians have faced few or no repercussions. The police authorities created a Complaint Response Unit in November 2015, through which the police could process complaints from the public. To date, no SARS officer has been found responsible for torture, ill-treatment of detainees or unlawful killing. Most SARS arrests are young men between the ages of 18 and 35. Since 2017, #EndSARS protests across Nigeria against SARS officers have been building. Since protests began, protesters have been targeted by SARS. Socrates Mbamalu, a 28-year-old writer, stated SARS officers targeted him in the street in Lagos Nigeria and searched his backpack. SARS officers saw his laptop which they accused him of stealing and demanded a receipt. When he could not produce a receipt they detained him overnight in an overcrowded cell. More links to articles you will find thought provoking. The torrent of water currently rushing through the Fitzroy River is one of the highest flow rates ever seen in an Australian river. It has astounded the Bureau of Meteorology, with Western Australia manager James Ashley estimating the flow rate to be about 60,000 cubic metres per second. The Fitzroy River crossing bridge has been flooded following record rains. Credit: Main Roads WA Ashley put that number into incredible context during a press conference in Perth on Wednesday afternoon The amount of water that is moving down the Fitzroy River in a day is about what Perth uses water-wise over 20 years, he said. I saw Pope Benedict at World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. I was swept up in the enthusiasm of the young crowd and briefly joined them walking to the gathering. Soon I was called in to help investigate a major respiratory outbreak at a school gymnasium where scores of Catholic youth were sleeping (and coughing), crowded cheek-by-jowl, a half-arm touch apart. That investigation, led by Sydney Universitys Professor Dominic Dwyer, later to be Australias only representative on the World Health Organisation investigation of the origins of COVID in China, made fascinating findings: all four variants of influenza were present (A H1, A H3 and the 2 B lineages), indicating a large array of flu viruses had arrived with the pilgrims from around the world and multiplied in a crowded setting. Up close and personal ... the crowds greeting Pope Benedict XVI at World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. Credit: AP Touch is a human need. Australia has just celebrated New Year enthusiastically and intimately, with hugs and kisses, and we are ardently hopeful of a better year in 2023, having adapted to living with COVID with minimal restrictions. Controversy has arisen, however, with the revelation that Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly is at odds with the federal government he advises. He has questioned the need for its intervention to insist that travellers from China, in particular, are tested for COVID before their departure, a move that I have promoted. Footage has captured the dramatic arrest of several people outside Western Australias Government House, which has become a daily meeting place for umbrella-wielding silent protesters dissatisfied with the state government. The footage, shared to social media, shows several people arriving at the Perth CBD residence of WA Governor and former police commissioner Chris Dawson on Tuesday morning and being met by at least 10 police officers. The Umbrella People outside Government House in 2022. Credit: Facebook/The Umbrella People at Government House WA One of the officers can be heard telling at least two people their daily visits to the site constituted stalking and asking for their personal details. After a heated exchange, the pair were arrested. During the seven-minute clip, a man arrested at the site can be heard declaring the conduct to be harassment. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has elevated National Party moderate Darren Chester to his frontbench, replacing Andrew Gee, a proponent of a constitutionally recognised Indigenous Voice to parliament with an opponent. Chester, a former minister and critic of former party leader Barnaby Joyce, will fill the gap created by Gee, who quit the National Party last month in protest of its decision to support the no case in the upcoming referendum on a consultative body for Indigenous Australians. Nationals MP Darren Chester has joined the opposition frontbench. Credit: Simon Schluter Chester will become the shadow minister for regional education, regional development, and local government and territories. Gees other portfolio, the more junior assistant portfolio regional health, has been taken over by Dr Anne Webster, the member for Mallee. The member for Gippsland is one of the most senior federal members of the Victorian Nationals, whose local leadership has distanced itself from its federal leadership occasionaly by taking more progressive stances on issues including climate change mitigation. Kyiv: Russias Defence Ministry on Wednesday blamed the illegal use of mobile phones for a deadly Ukrainian missile strike that killed 89 servicemen, raising the reported death toll significantly. Moscow previously said 63 Russian soldiers were killed in the weekend strike. The ministrys reaction came amid mounting anger among some Russian commentators, who are increasingly vocal about what they see as a half-hearted campaign in Ukraine. Most of the anger on social media was directed at military commanders rather than Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Russian soldier reacts as he speaks on the phone with his relative after being released in a prisoners swap. Credit: RDM/AP The ministry said four Ukrainian missiles hit a temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Missouri on Tuesday executed by lethal injection a transgender inmate who stabbed, strangled and raped an ex-girlfriend 19 years ago. The 49-year-old inmate had been living for about 18 months as a woman named Amber McLaughlin, but filed appeals and signed a final written statement Tuesday with a previous name, Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin is the first openly transgender woman executed in the U.S. and the third person executed in a 12-month span in Missouri. In a final written statement, McLaughlin said, "I am a loving and caring person" and apologized for "what I did." McLaughlin died just before 7 p.m. The family of 45-year-old Beverly Guenther, of Moscow Mills, who was stabbed with a steak knife in November 2003 after leaving her job in Earth City, attended Tuesday's execution at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. McLaughlin was convicted in 2006 of first-degree murder, rape and armed criminal action in the death of Guenther, who was dumped near the Mississippi River in St. Louis. Jurors, however, could not decide on punishment. Ultimately, St. Louis County Judge Steven H. Goldman sentenced McLaughlin to death a decision that can be made by a judge only in Missouri and Indiana in the event of a deadlocked jury. A federal judge in 2016 threw out McLaughlin's death sentence, ruling, in part, that a flawed jury form meant a judge could not have known whether the jury thought the factors warranting death outweighed mitigating circumstances. But five years later, the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals reversed that decision and effectively reinstated McLaughlin's death sentence. Then, in December, McLaughlin's attorneys filed a petition for clemency with Gov. Mike Parson, highlighting McLaughlin's abusive childhood, brain damage, fetal alcohol syndrome and suicide attempts as an adult. None of that information was presented to the jury, the attorneys argued, "and it still deadlocked, not agreeing that death was warranted," the petition said. On Tuesday, Parson denied that request and affirmed the state would move forward with the execution. "McLaughlin terrorized Ms. Guenther in the final years of her life," Parson said in a statement after the execution, "but we hope her family and loved ones may finally have some peace." McLaughlin is the third person to be executed in Missouri in a nine-month period, marking an increase over recent years. Carman Deck, who killed a Jefferson County couple in 1996, was executed in May, and and Kevin Johnson, who killed a Kirkwood police officer in 2005, was executed in November. Members of Johnson's family, including his daughter and grandson, joined a group of roughly 50 anti-death penalty protesters outside the prison in Bonne Terre Tuesday night, carrying signs with statements including "stop state murder." A handful of people advocating for transgender rights also joined the group. Missouri is set to carry out another execution next month. Leonard Taylor, who fatally shot a 28-year-old woman and her three children in Jennings in 2004, is set to die by lethal injection Feb. 7. Post-Dispatch photographer Robert Cohen and the Associated Press contributed to this report. UPDATE: Brown is now in custody. He turned himself in. ORIGINAL STORY: Authorities are still looking for a Perry County man wanted for assault in Ste. Genevieve County. Danny Wesley Brown, 60, of Perryville, has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault; two counts of armed criminal action; kidnapping; first-degree burglary; and unlawful use of a weapon. No bond has been set. The Ste. Genevieve County Sheriffs Department asked for the publics help in locating Brown on Friday. The post stated Brown was last known to be traveling in the St. Louis County area and he has family in the Alton, Illinois area. He was last seen in a 2016 Chevy Suburban with Missouri plates of 3SA-J53. He should be considered armed and dangerous. If you know where Brown is located, contact the appropriate law enforcement jurisdiction or call Central Dispatch at 573-883-5215. According to the probable cause statement, deputies were dispatched at 11:26 p.m. Dec. 29 to a residence on Copper Mine Road for a disturbance that had occurred. The reporting party said Brown, identified as his girlfriends husband, had come to the residence, where he held him and his girlfriend hostage and assaulted him. He said Brown left the residence in an unknown vehicle. The victim was bleeding from several cuts to his face and blood was splattered on the floor and by the doorway. The victim said Brown entered the house and was armed with a handgun. He said Brown pointed the gun at them several times, stating he was going to kill them. He said Brown hit him several times and shoved the woman to the ground several times. He said Brown pressed the gun against her forehead at one point. He said the incident went on for 20 minutes. He said when Brown left, he fired three shots outside the residence. The woman said Brown told them if they called the police, he would come back and kill them. She said Brown is normally armed with up to three handguns. Some are desperately lonely. Others cant stop suicidal thoughts. Sometimes, a school counselor calls needing advice on helping a student. Other times, its a concerned friend seeing ominous messages on social media. Calls to the new 988 crisis line are evidence it seems to be working, said Bart Andrews, chief clinical officer for Behavioral Health Response, which handles the service for much of eastern Missouri. I see some people calling for situations on 988 that they wouldnt typically call for, Andrews said. We are seeing more calls from people that dont have a history of severe mental illness and people calling a little sooner before the crisis has gotten full blown. In July, the 11-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline made the switch to 988 with hopes that the easy-to-remember number will become as top-of-mind as 911 is for emergencies, encouraging more people to seek help. Dialing or texting 988 connects people to crisis specialists who are trained to assess, stabilize and make referrals to appropriate care. If needed, a mobile crisis intervention team may visit in person. The specialists also will continue to make follow-up calls in certain cases. Calls first go to the closest local crisis call center (In Missouri, there are six, plus one text line.) A nationwide backup center answers if local sites are overwhelmed. In Missouri, contacts are already up 30% to 40% each month since before the switch, state officials say, from fewer than 3,000 in June to about 4,200 in October. Yes, we have the suicide calls, but we are also getting the calls from people who are just experiencing mental health crises in general, substance abuse issues and also looking for mental health referrals, said Jai Wilson, who supervises the crisis line for Provident Behavioral Health, which serves three Missouri counties and as a backup center for the state and nation. It really does consolidate everything into one number. Triage role Increasing use of the crisis line is more important than ever, providers say, as the behavioral health system is stretched thin with monthslong wait times to see a therapist or psychiatrist especially for those specializing in children and patients languishing in emergency rooms for three to four days because psychiatric units are full. Is it easy for people to get services? No, it is very hard, Andrews said. So you try to put your most energy on the folks that need it the most, and that is why crisis lines are incredibly important in that triage role. The crisis line helps identify those most in need of immediate care and either dispatches a mobile crisis intervention team or places them in same or next-day appointments reserved for such patients at a clinic, or both. The goal is to prevent people in need of care from ending up in jail or the hospital. If we are able to de-escalate, create a safety plan, provide referrals, offer follow-up to them and help them as they are getting connected to long-term services; we can divert the need to send police or to send the ambulance or to send someone to the emergency room, Wilson said. Andrews and Wilson say it takes a lot of work and calls around to providers, but the crisis specialists are successful at getting urgent cases to appropriate care quickly. We will beat down doors to get people linked, Andrews said. Still, those with less urgent needs are also encouraged to contact 988. The crisis specialists can prevent situations from getting worse, despite gaps in the mental health system. A large percentage of callers dont want referrals for ongoing care. They want to get their needs met via that crisis line call, Andrews said. And very often, they do. Historical in so many ways The Federal Communications Commission staff in 2019 first proposed 988 as a nationwide dialing code to connect to mental health crisis counselors. Preparation to make the switch officially began in July 2020. While some federal cash was available, it was left up to each state to fund and structure their local response network. As soon as the idea of 988 was proposed, Missouri Department of Mental Health staff met with behavioral health providers to talk about what their needs would be, said Casey Muckler, who oversees the implementation of 988 for DPH. The state quickly created a 988 task force which continues to meet monthly that includes providers, patients and law enforcement. All of the individuals came together to discuss what 988 needs to look like in Missouri and how we can implement it and embed it into our larger behavioral health crisis system, Muckler said. She credits the early meetings for how well Missouri was prepared for the July launch. That meant getting funding to hire and train staff and update phone systems for a crisis line that had long been underfunded since it first began in 2005. The task force estimated the need would be about $16.7 million for the first year. Call centers were able to get the entire amount, Muckler said, which included about $4 million in federal grants and the rest from state coffers. That meant hundreds of new clinicians getting hired across Missouri, an effort still underway as some funding did not become available until November. BHR is hiring between 40 to 60 people as part of its largest staff addition ever, Andrews said. Wilson at Provident said its crisis line staff went from 30 to 90 people. This is historical in so many ways, Andrews said. Nothing like this has ever happened in terms of suicide prevention or crisis intervention at a national level. Muckler said not only has the number of calls to 988 gone up since June, but the answer rate the percentage of calls answered by centers in Missouri went from 81% to 88%. The average time it takes to connect to a specialist also dropped from 38 to 27 seconds. The more calls we can answer in-state the better, because that means more localized support, Muckler said. Missouri also added a statewide 988 text and chat service in November operated by DeafLEAD in Columbia, Mo., so those services can be handled locally. The chat feature can be accessed through 988lifeline.org. To support its crisis line operators, Missouri in October launched MOConnect, an online portal showing available beds, crisis intervention teams and treatment programs in real time. Counselors can use the portal to more quickly and easily connect callers to care. Data can be used to highlight areas of need. Improvements continue Other efforts include expanding and standardizing the use of mobile crisis intervention teams and training crisis specialists in meeting the unique needs of youth, elderly, LGBTQ and minority populations. That includes maintaining a robust database of providers who work with different groups, and seeking training from groups such as the St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline. Veterans can call 988 and press 1 to be connected to counselors specializing in care for vets. Missouri is also planning to use federal grants to expand its number of community behavioral health crisis centers from 10 to 18, Muckler said. The centers are currently mainly located in urban areas of the state, including three in the St. Louis area: SSM Behavioral Health Urgent Care in Bridgeton, Dunnica Sobering Support Center in St. Louis and Compass Health Network Crisis Access Point in Wentzville. The 24/7 centers provide a place where law enforcement can take individuals in crisis, or where individuals needing immediate resources can seek care. Such centers provide needed alternatives to in-patient care, Andrews said: Missouri has plenty of hospital beds, we are just filling them up with people who shouldnt be in the hospital. ... That makes it hard for people who really need to be. While crisis services have gotten a jolt in funding and improvements with the launch of 988, Andrews said its a tiny, tiny drop in the bucket of what is needed to shore up the entire behavioral health and substance abuse system, especially for those needing medication prescribed. Thats why the crisis line is so important, because 24/7 you are going to get somebody, Andrews said. No matter what else is going on, at least weve reinforced the crisis system. Future funding The Biden Administration has allocated nearly $500 million to get 988 up and running, but how the crisis line will be funded going forward remains in question. Less than half of states have enacted legislation to either add a fee to phone bills or appropriate funds to cover costs. Muckler said the Missouri House Interim Committee on Veterans Mental Health and Suicide recently recommended at least $27 million in state funding for the operation of the crisis line and mobile crisis response teams. We hope to have details for the potential funding of 988 in the near future, she said. Meanwhile, with new hires in place, the state mental health officials are preparing to soon launch a marketing campaign to get the word out about 988. Officials hope to push the local answer rate to over 95%. We know we will see an increase in calls with the campaign and an increase in diversity and types of people calling, Andrews said. As the 988 number becomes more ubiquitous, Andrews said, reaching out for help will become normalized. That may help one group that providers have long struggled to reach: white men, who make up nearly 70% of suicides. Wilson encouraged those who arent sure their situation warrants a call to 988 to still make the call. I think the biggest message Id put out there is, if you have any questions, just call, he said. You are not bothering people. They are waiting for your call. They want to talk to you, and they want to help you find a solution. So make the call. Members of Leadington VFW Post 5741 welcomed community parents and children Dec. 10 for the VFW's annual Breakfast with Santa. Breakfast was served to approximately 400 people. Christmas gifts were given to all the children in attendance. The children were given the opportunity to meet and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and to take pictures with them. Toys for Tots assisted in providing many of the toys provided for the children. In addition, Leadington VFW provided toys to the Leadington and Park Hills Police Departments for their annual Christmas programs. Members of VFW Post 5741 work continuously with community programs, and to assist veterans and those families in need. On Dec. 20 VFW Post 5741 held an event with the Central Middle School. Members of VFW Post 5741 met with the administrators of the school and provided information for the VFW's Patriot's Pen program. At the conclusion of the program for the middle school, the VFW provided lunch for the entire school. VFW members served pizza and drinks to approximately 425 middle school students in honor of their participation in the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest. The first, second, and third place winners were awarded Citizenship Education Certificates for their efforts. These three winners will be recognized further by the VFW at a future date. The Leadington VFW welcomes current members and new members to join Post 5741 in assisting and participating in activities for the local area like these and other special events. The goal is to welcome and assist veterans and community families in need, and the children who may otherwise not enjoy the true meaning of Christmas and other VFW events. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Mainly clear. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 57F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. 100 Million Americans to Be on Medicaid by March, Think Tank Projects Nurse Amber Kirk wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she performs range of motion exercises on a COVID-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sharp Grossmont Hospital amidst the coronavirus pandemic in La Mesa, Calif., on May 5, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Up to 100 million Americans will soon be enrolled in Medicaid, according to an enrollment monitoring project by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA), a think tank focused on welfare and health care policy. On Dec. 28, FGA announced it believes that the number of Americans enrolled with Medicaid will cross the 100 million mark in about 76 days, or approximately March 14. The Naples, Florida-based think tank also launched a countdown clock for the date they project Medicaid enrollment to hit 100 million. According to Medicaid.gov data, through August 2022, some 90,550,412 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. FGA compiled more recent state-by-state Medicaid enrollment figures showing 96.2 million Americans are now enrolled in the government health care program. Based on the state-by-state growth trends, FGA projects 98.9 million Americans will be enrolled in Medicaid by the end of January and another 1.1 million Americans will be enrolled in the program by mid-March. FGA Warns of Grim Medicaid Milestone For years, FGA has been warning about the rising number of people on government welfare programs, said Hayden Dublois, the data and analytics director for FGA. Now, were nearing a grim milestonenearly one-third of the country will be on Medicaid. Our research and data show as welfare enrollment increases, workforce participation decreases. Were in the midst of a nationwide workforce crisis, yet the Biden administration is pushing policies to entice people into government dependency at record levels while limiting opportunities to achieve the American Dream. According to the FGA, the rise in Medicaid enrollment is due in large part to federal COVID-19 public health emergency policies, like the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The pandemic-era measures provide states with extra Medicaid funding but block states from being able to change their eligibility and enrollment procedures and require that everyone currently enrolled in the program remain in place. FGA estimates that an additional 24 million enrollees are on Medicaid as a result of the pandemic-era measures, including more than 21 million people who would have previously been disqualified from the health care program. $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Lets States Change Medicaid Enrollment After April 1 While pandemic-era federal policies locked states in with their current Medicaid enrollments, the $1.7 trillion federal omnibus bill to fund government provision allows states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility starting on April 1. While there are many concerning provisions in this omnibus spending bill, were optimistic states may soon regain control of their Medicaid programs and reverse two years of unchecked enrollment growth, said FGA President and CEO Tarren Bragdon. FGA has championed Medicaid reform to combat the devasting impact pandemic-era policies have had on the American economy and workforce. If this provision is enacted, states must step up and start redeterminations as soon as possibleour struggling economy and weakened workforce depend on it. While the omnibus allows states to resume their Medicaid eligibility checks, the provision also means that millions of people could soon be kicked off the government health care program. This is a positive for states in terms of planning, however, this will come at the cost of some individuals losing their health care, Massey Whorley, a principal at health consulting firm Avalere, told The Associated Press. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) estimates between 5.3 million and 14.2 million Medicaid recipients could be disenrolled after the pandemic-era continuous enrollment requirement ends on April 1. Robin Rudowitz, the director of Medicaid at KFF, advised Medicaid recipients to make sure their contact information is up to date on their accounts and check their mail frequently for any notices of changes to their Medicaid eligibility. There is likely to be people who fall through the cracks, Rudowitz told The Associated Press. From NTD News 150,000 Votes in the 2020 Election Not Tied to a Valid Address in Wisconsin: Election Watchdog Election Watch (EW), a Wisconsin election integrity watchdog organization, has discovered that more than 150,000 votes cast in the 2020 presidential election cannot be connected with a valid address. EW computer analyst Peter Bernegger said the groups study of Wisconsins voter rolls found 45,000 such occurrences involving people who were living out of state in the Nov. 3 ballot, with another 107,000 documented instances on the part of voters who moved to another address within the state and cast a ballot in a different jurisdiction from the one in which they actually reside. Thats over 150,000 votes cast in the 2020 presidential election that cannot be tied to a valid address, said Bernegger. Thats illegal in the state of Wisconsin. Though there may be a reasonable explanation for most of these, the number of instances is so large that if only two out of 10 were nefariously cast votes, that was enough to tip the election to Biden. Sandy Alldredge (L) of Wisconsin and her son Jacob Alldredge of Tennessee. (Courtesy of Sandy Alldredge) Former Wisconsin resident Jacob Alldredge, a 27-year-old industrial engineer living in Tennessee, is a case in point. I was outraged to learn that the Wisconsin state voter roll shows that I voted in person at the polls on Nov. 3, 2020, when the fact is I was living, registered to vote, and voted in Tennessee. I was not in Wisconsin that day, he told The Epoch Times. The entire situation distresses me because, without election integrity, your vote doesnt matter, said Jacob Alldredge. We need reform in our voting system. Fixing this is not an impossible task, but I dont think people want to solve it. One person who said she is most certainly dedicated to solving the problems with Wisconsins voting system, especially its sloppy and inflated voter roll, is Jacobs mother Sandy Alldredge. A self-described constitutional conservative, Sandy Alldredge told The Epoch Times that in 2020 she was a volunteer working for the reelection of President Donald Trump. When Trump lost Wisconsin to Joe Biden by 21,000 votes, many patriots began working hard on cyber efforts to find out what really happened. Their dedication inspired me to get involved, so I got some training and made myself available to help. Sandy Alldredge said that after learning that some Wisconsin precincts posted a 103 percent voter turnout in the 2020 election; and that there were 7.3 million registered voters in a state with a total population of 5.9 million, she decided to check out the voting records in her former hometown. Examining the state voter roll for the town of Delavan, in Walworth County, Sandy Alldredge was shocked to see that her son Jacob was listed as having voted in person at the polling place on Nov. 3, 2020something she knew first-hand to be impossible. Sandy Alldredge provided The Epoch Times with a spreadsheet from the state voter roll as it appeared on Aug. 18, 2021, as evidence. When we checked the poll book, which every in-person voter is required to sign before being allowed to vote, Jacobs signature was not on it. So why does the official Wisconsin Election Commission record say that he voted at the polls on Nov. 3, 2020? she asked. Analyst Bernegger said he intends to file a formal complaint over the Alldredge incident with Delavans municipal clerk, not against her. Who Changed Voter Roll? Hardworking and honest local clerks around our state are being played. The municipal clerks are taking the brunt of the questioning by concerned citizens, and they are answering to the best of their knowledge. From their perspective, everything appears normal. The behind-the-scenes reality is far from it. Im listing John Doe as the respondent because we have not yet determined who the cheater is, he said. Delavan Town Clerk Michele Starin, who took office in May of 2022, told The Epoch Times she had not received any complaint yet and said she knew nothing about any irregularity with Jacob Alldredges voting record. According to our records, the last time Mr. Alldredge voted was by absentee ballot in 2016. He is currently listed as inactive, said Starin. In a Jan. 3 phone interview with The Epoch Times, Walworth County Clerk Susi Pike said she was not aware of any complaint concerning Jacob Alldredge. A view of the poll book from the 2020 election in Delavan, Wisc. (Courtesy of Sandy Alldredge) After checking the poll book for the 2020 election, Pike confirmed that Jacob Alldredge did not vote in person at the polls that day. Pike then checked the state voter roll and said there is no record of Jacob Alldredge voting at all in the 2020 presidential election. Bernegger questioned when, why, and by whom the state voter roll has been altered, erasing any trace of Jacob Alldredge voting in person at the polls in 2020, and then changing his status from active to inactive. Sandy Alldredge provided The Epoch Times with a copy of the U.S. Postal Service change of address form that Jacob had filed well before the 2020 presidential election. She said that the state of Wisconsin pays a national firm to keep track of all move-aways and is supposed to inform WEC, who then informs the municipal clerks. Either ERIC [the Electronic Registration Information Center] is not doing its job, or WEC is not doing anything with the data they provide, Sandy Alldredge said. Bernegger believes the publicly available change of address form may serve as a notice to bad actors that this is a name they can use. It flags a person who has moved out of state but is still on WECs active voter list. The person is long gone. Who would ever check his voting record? Except for a patriot like Sandy Alldredge. In a January 12 email to The Epoch Times, WEC spokesperson Riley Vetterkind said, In the process of reviewing the situation, we identified that the copy of the voter data we provided to members of the public before the publication of the article erroneously identified Mr. Alldredge as having voted in 2020. This is because, at one brief point in time, due to a clerical error, Mr. Alldredge was logged in the statewide voter database as having participated in the 2020 election. Vetterkind said that WECs audit history shows that the error was recognized and the participation assigned to Mr. Alldredge in the statewide voter database was removed on December 15, 2020 to correctly reflect that he did not vote in 2020. This information did not update in our separate Badger Voters database, which contains a copy of the statewide voter database data that we use to provide voter information to the public. We have a couple ideas why that happened, but are working to confirm. According to Vetterkind, Jacob Alldredge was deactivated as a voter on July 30, 2021, as part of routine voting roll maintenance, and the official 2020 results were unaffected by his situation. The data entries are separate from the tabulated election results and thus do not affect the integrity of those results, said Vetterkind. Sandy Alldredge told The Epoch Times she is not buying WECs explanation. Citing the high number of errors and inconsistencies on the states lists, she said, The system, in my opinion, is beyond repair. It needs to be scrapped, and we need to start over. In past statements, Meagan Wolfe, WECs administrator, has explained that the states voter rolls are considered part of the historical record, and that is why they are so carefully preserved. Charlottesville City Council member Sena Magill has resigned, effective Jan. 11. Magill said she had an announcement at the end of Monday nights meeting, but soon became tearful and asked fellow council member Michael Payne to read her prepared statement. This evening, I have the regrettable news that I must step down from office. The needs of my family have changed during my term in office, and in the last few months it has become more and more apparent that I cannot meet the needs effectively of both, Magills statement read. Magill took office in January 2020 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the more progressive members of the city council. Much of her work focused on mental health care, social services and housing. Magills husband suffered a stroke four days after calshing with white supremacists on Aug. 11, 2017, according to a C-VILLE Weekly article. He was in the emergency room as recently as November 2022, according to Magills Twitter account. Its unclear whether Magills resignation is connected to her husbands health. This has not been an easy decision, as there is much I still want to do for this city, but right now I need to focus on my family, Magills statement said. Virginia law requires that the remaining members of the city council appoint a qualified voter to replace Magill 45 days after she leaves office. Whoever fills the vacancy Magill will leave would sit on the council until Dec. 31 and could run for the office. Charlottesville residents interested in joining the city council can apply for the position by Jan. 30, Mayor Lloyd Snook said. The application is not yet open. There will be a public hearing on the candidates on Feb. 6, and the council will make a decision on Feb. 21. 1st Tanker Carrying LNG From US Arrives in Germany The tanker "Maria Energy", (L), loaded with liquefied natural gas, is moored at the floating terminal, the special ship "Hoegh Esperanza", in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Jan. 3, 2023. (Sina Schuldt/dpa via AP) BERLINThe first regular shipment of liquefied natural gas from the United States arrived in Germany on Tuesday, part of a wide-reaching effort to help the country replace energy supplies it previously received from Russia. The tanker vessel Maria Energy arrived at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven, where its shipment of LNG will be converted back into gas at a special floating terminal that was inaugurated last month by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany has rushed to find a replacement for Russian gas supplies following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The facility in Wilhelmshaven is one of several such terminals being put in place to help avert an energy supply shortage. The tanker Maria Energy, (R), loaded with liquefied natural gas, lies at the floating terminal, the special ship Hoegh Esperanza, in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Jan. 3, 2023. (Sina Schuldt/dpa via AP) Germany has also temporarily reactivated old oil- and coal-fired power stations and extended the life of its last three nuclear power plants until mid-April. Environmental campaigners said they planned to protest the arrival of the Maria Energy, arguing Germany shouldnt be importing fossil fuels, particularly gas obtained through fracking. Reserves in Germanys gas storage facilities rose above 90 percent at the start of the year as unseasonably warm temperatures across much of central Europe reduced heating demand. Accidental Cannabis Consumption by Children Surges: Study A variety of soft chews cannabis edibles are displayed at the Ontario Cannabis Store in Toronto on Jan. 3, 2020. (The Canadian Press/ Tijana Martin) Record numbers of young children in the United States are experiencing or running the risk of severe health emergencies through the unwitting ingestion of products containing cannabis, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics has found. The report, published in the journal Pediatrics, found a 1,375 percent increase in reported cases of children younger than the age of 6 accidentally eating cannabis-infused products over the five years from 2017 to 2021. Drawing on figures from the National Poison Data System, the report states that the number of reported cases of cannabis exposure within this age group shot up to 3,054 in 2021 from 207 in 2017. Given that these are only cases that were reported, the real numbers may be significantly higher. What separates this crisis from others involving potentially dangerous drugs is the attractive nature of the substances containing cannabisincluding candies, chocolates, cookies, or other baked goods commonly kept in kitchens and elsewhere in homeswhich makes for a very high number of ingestions. Seventy percent of cases followed to a known outcome were reported to have central nervous system depression. Of all reported cases, 22.7% of patients were admitted to the hospital, the report reads, noting a sharp increase in both intensive care and non-ICU cases. All Too Available The report places these trends within a context of growing permissiveness toward and legalization of the use of marijuana for so-called recreational purposes. Acceptance and promotion of the drug have grown increasingly mainstream, with 18 states allowing recreational use and 39 permitting medical use as of 2021; in 2017, only eight states and Washington, D.C., condoned recreational use, while 30 allowed medical use. Because the number of people in the United States with access to legal recreational cannabis now stands at 134.4 million, up from 68.9 million in 2017, the authors conclude that its hardly surprising that theres been a growing number of cases. While adults may have some notion of their tolerance level for cannabis and what they may ingest without endangering themselves, such awareness is virtually nonexistent among children, the authors argue. Edible preparations are particularly appealing to toddlers because they resemble common treats such as candies, chocolates, cookies, or other baked goods. These products often contain multiple doses in 1 package or treat, the authors wrote. Officials at the Drug Enforcement Agency didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Accounts of White Lung Flood Chinese Social Media Amid COVID Spike A doctor looks at a CT image of a patient in Haidian, Beijing, China, on Jan 2, 2023. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images) When the father of Fan Deng, a prominent former anchor of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, started dozing off more frequently during the day, the family didnt worry. This wasnt uncommon, after all, for someone in their 80s. The mans mind was clear and his appetite was as good as ever. But when the family used a pulse oximeter out of caution, they found his blood oxygen level dangerously low at 88 percent, 4 percent below the threshold requiring medical attention. By the time the family got him to the hospital, his blood oxygen levels had plunged to the 60s. Only after doing a CT scan at the hospital did the family realize the gravity of the situation: His lungs appeared mostly white. Healthy lungs, by contrast, would normally appear as dark regions. He died after three nights at the hospital. Fan shared this account on Chinese social media, which has been flooded with similar stories by family and friends of victims who allegedly presented the same symptoms in their lungs. White lung, once a little-known phrase, has been a top trending word on Chinese social media amid an expansive COVID outbreak sweeping China, before censors swooped in to scrub discussion of the phenomenon. The white patches indicate areas of inflammation, which causes excessive fluid accumulation in the lungs. The phenomenon has sparked fears that the virus has mutated or that earlier strains of COVID are driving the latest outbreak. The Chinese regime, which has been sharply criticized by the international community for refusing to share data on the outbreak, insists that Omicron is behind the surge, that no new variants have emerged, and no earlier strains have reemerged. A doctor looks at a CT image of a patient in Haidian, Beijing, China, on Jan 2, 2023. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images) Questions Abound The elderly werent the only group who reportedly presented with white lung syndrome. Recent Chinese media reports and social media posts have described patients from as young as 12 years old to some in their 30s. The death rate is around 40 percent for those with serious cases of a white lung; and even for people who do recover, fibrous scars will likely remain, Zhang Li, deputy director of neurosurgery at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Shanghai, told state-run media. He and multiple other top Chinese experts said that white lung patientswho by their definition have around three-quarters of their lungs showing as white on a CT scanmake up only a small portion of COVID patients. All serious pneumonia will cause white lungs, said Zhang Wenhong, director of the infectious diseases department at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University as well as its Chinese Communist Party Party secretary, in an op-ed for Chinese media outlet Caixin. Even though the proportion of white lung patients is not high, because of the significant cardinal number, the number of white lung cases we observe clinically will increase. A patient on oxygen is wheeled on a gurney into a busy emergency room at a hospital in Beijing, China, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Getty Images) Asked whether Omicron can lead to the syndrome, Chinas top health authority, the National Health Commission, didnt directly answer the question but stressed that white lung has nothing to do with the original COVID variants or inoculation by Chinese vaccines. Rather, many pathogens can lead to such inflammation of the lungs, and a considerable number of the patients can return back to health, an official with the commission said at a press conference last week. The official statements, though, havent reassured many Chinese. An unnamed doctor donning a medical plastic shield over his surgical mask said he diagnosed 120 COVID patients over a span of eight hours, among which, a third were seriously ill and up to 20, around 16 percent, had white lung symptoms. The white lungs are not just seen in the elderly, he said in a video shared on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo, which displays a document listing details of patients affected. There are people in their 20s, 40s, and 60s. Im feeling a little panicky. The symptoms seem closely related to acute respiratory distress syndrome, a serious lung condition where fluid builds up in the lungs air sacs, thus preventing oxygen from getting to ones organs, according to Dong Yuhong, a medical doctor on infectious disease and former senior medical expert at the Swiss antiviral drug maker Novartis. Although the lack of data from China hinders analysts from arriving at a clearer picture. The issue is that we simply just couldnt trust the numbers from China, said Dong, also an Epoch Times contributor. The Partys priority is always their power, but not the value of human lives, not the health of Chinese people. The lack of accurate information about the virus strains circulating in China, Dong said, means the international community has been left in the dark as to whether the virus has mutated. Anecdotes From the Ground Like the former CCTV anchors father, some of these patients exhibited little outward signs such as fever or coughing which is more typical in a COVID infection. Doctors describe this as silent hypoxia: a condition where oxygen in the body is alarmingly low. In recent interviews, people from multiple areas across China said they have seen such cases in those close to them. Most of the interviewees requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. A blogger in the southwestern megacity of Chongqing mentioned a former schoolmate who developed white lung symptoms while recovering from a mild COVID infection. The doctor said it would have been dangerous had they waited a bit longer, he told The Epoch Times. Zhang, the Shanghai-based infectious disease expert, said the prime window for treating serious pneumonia cases is 72 hours. But for many, this is not possible due to the extreme difficulty in obtaining medical care. Hospitals and health clinics across China have been overwhelmed in the past weeks since the surge in cases. A white lung patient from Suzhou, a city near Shanghai, said he couldnt get a hospital placement after being diagnosed with double lung inflammation and viral pneumonia. There was no bed, he told The Epoch Times. A CT image provided by the Suzhou patient on Dec. 30, 2022. (The Epoch Times) A man from Wuhan, Chinas first virus hotspot in 2020, is sick with the virus, along with his wife and mother. His mother fared the worst and was barely eating. After a round of visits to major hospitals that are all packed with the infected, they got her into a small local hospital, where she was given anti-inflammatory drugs for two days. The examination shows that she has a lung infection. The doctor didnt say much, but my hunch is that its also a white lung, he told The Epoch Times on Dec. 30, 2022. Every day, there are deaths in my residential compound, nonstop, he said, adding that most of them are seniors. Around me, if one person gets sick in a household, all the rest will become infected. Theres no one spared. He added that his friend lost his mother two days after chest imaging detected a white lung. For now, his solution is using immune globulin to treat certain infections, a treatment that has seen its price soar by eightfold in some areas, after some people online credited it for helping to relieve COVID. He has managed to get 10 packs through his connections. Its unclear how many such deaths are attributed to COVID. Chinas official tally has so far been so low that a leading scientist with the World Health Organization on Jan. 3 called for a more realistic picture of what is actually going on. This picture shows Covid-19 patients on beds at Tianjin Nankai Hospital in Tianjin on Dec. 28, 2022.(Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) The regimes infection numbers, which it has recently stopped publishing on a daily basis, have also drawn widespread skepticism, but health officials have said the infection rate in many large cities has exceeded 50 percent, and may be as high as 80 percent in Beijing. A leaked memo from the National Health Commission revealed that the regime estimated 250 million infections in the first 20 days of December 2022. A Beijing resident who gave his surname as Wang said he had to book an appointment up to 25 days in advance to cremate his brother, who died three days after being diagnosed with respiratory failure. He recently visited a friend with white lung symptoms at the hospital and was startled to find a pile of bodies in the hallways. They asked me to get out shortly after we started talking, telling me that their wards had to handle the dead. Someone dies there every day, Wang told The Epoch Times. You wont know anything, he said. And they wont tell you. All they say is theres lung inflammation. Hong Ning and Yi Ru contributed to this report. This article has been updated with a response from Dong Yuhong. Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham Dead at 90 Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham acknowledges the crowd before an Alliance of American Football game between the Orlando Apollos and the Atlanta Legend in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 9, 2019. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo) Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASAs Apollo program, died Tuesday in Houston. He was 90. NASA confirmed Cunninghams death in a statement but did not include its cause. Spokespersons for the agency and Cunninghams wife, Dot Cunningham, did not immediately respond to questions. Cunningham was one of three astronauts aboard the 1968 Apollo 7 mission, an 11-day spaceflight that beamed live television broadcasts as they orbited Earth, paving the way for the moon landing less than a year later. Cunningham, then a civilian, crewed the mission with Navy Capt. Walter M. Schirra and Donn F. Eisele, an Air Force major. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot on the space flight, which launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, Florida, on Oct. 11 and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda. NASA said Cunningham, Eisele and Schirra flew a near perfect mission. Their spacecraft performed so well that the agency sent the next crew, Apollo 8, to orbit the moon as a prelude to the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. The Apollo 7 astronauts also won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, during which they clowned around, held up humorous signs and educated earthlings about space flight. It was NASAs first crewed space mission since the deaths of the three Apollo 1 astronauts in a launch pad fire Jan. 27, 1967. Cunningham recalled Apollo 7 during a 2017 event at the Kennedy Space Center, saying it enabled us to overcome all the obstacles we had after the Apollo 1 fire and it became the longest, most successful test flight of any flying machine ever. Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham speaks on the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., during a program Celebrating 100 Years of MIT Aerospace, on Oct. 22, 2014. (Steven Senne/AP Photo) Cunningham was born in Creston, Iowa, and attended high school in California before enlisting with the Navy in 1951 and serving as a Marine Corps. pilot in Korea, according to NASA. He later obtained bachelors and masters degrees in physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he also did doctoral studies, and worked as scientist for the Rand Corporation before joining NASA. In an interview the year before his death, Cunningham recalled growing up poor and dreaming of flying airplanes, not spacecraft. We never even knew that there were astronauts when I was growing up, Cunningham told The Spokesman-Review. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked in engineering, business and investing, and became a public speaker and radio host. He wrote a memoir about his career and time as an astronaut, The All-American Boys. He also expressed skepticism in his later years about human activity contributing to climate change, bucking the scientific consensus in writing and public talks, while acknowledging that he was not a climate scientist. Although Cunningham never crewed another space mission after Apollo 7, he remained a proponent of space exploration. He told the Spokane, Washington, paper last year, I think that humans need to continue expanding and pushing out the levels at which theyre surviving in space. Cunningham is survived by his wife, his sister Cathy Cunningham, and his children Brian and Kimberly. By Seth Borenstein and Jake Bleiberg Australian Treasurer Downplays Beijings Displeasure With COVID-19 Testing Requirements Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers Delivers his Budget Address at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images) Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has downplayed threats of retaliation from Beijing as the country follows in the stead of other governments in imposing mandatory COVID-19 testing on Chinese travellers. The Chinese communist regime has condemned the measure introduced on Jan. 5 on travellers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing in Beijing on Jan. 3. She said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) opposed attempts to allegedly manipulate COVID-19 measures for political purposes. Later, in an interview with ABC Radio on Jan. 4, Chalmers said he was not concerned about Beijings displeasure while defending Australias policy. Countries will make their own decisions about travel arrangements and how they manage COVID more broadly, he said. Weve been taking this action out of an abundance of caution. Its consistent with the steps being taken in other countries. Treasurer Says COVID-19 Test Requirement Not Onerous Chalmers also said that Australias requirement for travellers to undertake an authorised rapid antigen test was not onerous. In addition, the treasurer stated that the measures were not discriminatory as the Australian government was taking cautionary actions given the lack of transparency with Chinas COVID-19 data. COVID-19 testing in a locked down neighbourhood in Shanghai, China, on March 17, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) There certainly is a lot of concern around the global health community and the global economy about the transparency and quality that we see out of China on COVID, he said. We do need to make sure that weve got the best possible surveillance of strains as they emerge but also waves as they emerge and become more difficult to manage. While Chalmers was not worried about the impact of the new policy on Australias recent effort to repair the relationship with China, he said the latest wave of infections could affect global supply chains and bring about economic consequences. We do expect therell be big pressure on the Chinese workforce and big pressure on the supply chain, he said. As a consequence, that will flow through the global economy, and we wont be immune from that. COVID-19 Surge in China Chalmers remarks come as China struggles to cope with the latest infection wave that one estimate says has affected around 600 million individuals with large cities reporting half their population as positive with the virus. In Shanghai, one of Chinas largest cities, reports reveal COVID cases continued to rise. At the same time, crematorium and funeral services are now seeing record demand. Earlier, leaked minutes from a meeting of Chinas top health body revealed that around 248 million Chinese people were infected in the first 20 days of December. Patients on stretchers are seen at Tongren hospital in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 3, 2023. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Despite the COVID-19 surge, the Chinese regime has announced it would allow citizens to travel abroad on Jan. 8 after closing the border for three years. Health experts have expressed concern that the move could result in significant health challenges for other countries and cause the virus to mutate into more strains. Following the CCPs decision, many countries started imposing mandatory COVID-19 testing for its travellers, with Morocco banning all arrivals from the country. On Jan. 3, the World Health Organisation (WHO) held a closed meeting with Chinese scientists in Geneva to discuss the latest wave of COVID-19 in the country. The global community is waiting for the meetings outcome as WHO scientists have called on the Chinese regime to be forthcoming with the real COVID death numbers. Australias COVID-19 Test Requirement On Jan. 1, the Australian government announced that from the mid-day of Jan. 5, travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong and Macau would have to undertake a COVID-19 test within 48 hours before their departure regardless of vaccination status. They are also required to show evidence of a negative test result. The requirement will be applied to all incoming passengers, including Australians returning from China, except for airline crew, children under 12 years old, and people with medical conditions that prevent them from taking a test. However, travellers do not need to take the test if they are just transiting. The Australian government will not subject travellers to mandatory quarantine but advise them to test and isolate themselves if they develop symptoms. The new policy has garnered support from the education sector, which relies on overseas Chinese students as a significant source of income. B.C. Nurse Accused of Trafficking Prescription Drugs to Inmates at Maximum Security Prison Patches are seen on the arm and shoulder of a corrections officer in the segregation unit at the Fraser Valley Institution for Women, in Abbotsford, B.C., on Thursday October 26, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) A B.C. nurse is under investigation for allegedly trafficking prescription drugs to inmates in a maximum security prison in the province, court documents show. A petition filed by the B.C. College of Nurse and Midwives (BCCNM) and obtained by CBC News, said the nurse was working at Kent Institution, B.C.s only maximum security prison, located in Agassiz. In late 2021, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) began investigating discrepancies in the nurses handling of medication, the petition said. Between January and October of 2021, the 50-year-old registered nurse (RN), worked as an infectious disease nurse, then as a line nurse at the prison, according to court documents. CBC didnt disclose his identity since he has not been charged. In an affidavit, also obtained by CBC, a professional conduct review consultant with BCCNM said an inmate told prison staff that a nurse had been selling drugs from the facility stock and accepting e-transfer payments to his personal bank account. Distributing medications is not normally part of the job of an infectious disease nurse, according to the consultants affidavit. CSC officials told the BCCNM that the nurse would still accompany line nurses to the medication distribution wicket for the evening medication line, despite it not being a regular function of his job. A second inmate also came forward with evidence of a so-called boss beatera type of cellphone that is said to be popular among prisoners as it could dodge the detection of a body orifice security scanner (B.O.S.S.). Prisoners allegedly used the cellphone to send money to the nurse, according to the petition. The SIM card was removed, but the nurses number was allegedly saved to the phone, CBC reported. Both inmates have been rated by the CSC as reliable, the petition said. BCCNM was informed about the CSC investigation on Dec. 29, 2021. BCCNM, which has also launched its own investigation, is now asking the court for an order to compel the nurse to turn over his banking and cellphone records in relation to the alleged trafficking of drugs between December 2020 and December 2021. Legal counsel with the college believes that the records sought in this proceeding may disclose evidence that the respondent has contravened the [Health Professions] Act, its regulations, college bylaws and/or committed professional misconduct, the petition reads. The nurses lawyer said in a letter to BCCNM, dated Nov. 16, 2022, that she does not believe the Health Professions Act gives the college the authority to access a nurses banking or phone records. The letter to BCCNM was submitted to the court as part of an affidavit. To date, the nurse has refused to provide the requested information, the petition said. The RN resigned from his position at the prison on Dec. 20, 2021, four days after he learned that he was under investigation, according to the petition. He remains a fully licensed nurse. BC Had Fastest Spending Growth Among Provinces Prior to COVID-19: New Study British Columbia had the fastest provincial spending growth in Canada even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, a new Fraser Institute study has found. The study, titled The End of Spending Restraint in British Columbia, analyzed the provinces fiscal development since the election of John Horgans NDP government in 2017 to gauge whether or not the incumbent leadership continued the trajectory of frugal spending practiced by its various predecessors. Published on Jan. 4, the study noted that B.C. had been characterized by spending restraint compared to most other provinces from 2000 to 2017. In 2017, after years of spending restraint and general prosperity in B.C., the government decided to ramp up spending, said co-author Ben Eisen, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, in a press release. In the restraint era from 1999/2000 to 2016/2017, the real per capita spending in B.C. rose by 8.4 percent, the authors calculated, based on data obtained from Statistics Canada. However, from 2016/17 to 2019/20, the per-person program spending increased by 12.6 percent. In other words, in the final three pre-COVID years alone, spending increased by more than the total growth in the preceding 17 years, the release said. Compared to other jurisdictions, B.C.s real per-person spending growth far exceeded the rest of Canada (5.1 percent) in the three years between 2016/17 and 2019/20. The study also noted that during the restraint era, the spending grew at a compound annual rate of 0.5 percent. But with the shift in fiscal policy in 2017/18, the compound rate of real per-person spending growth has surged to 4.7 percent. The change in B.C.s approach to spending has also affected its debt accumulation. With the restraint approach, the debt-to-GDP ratio fell from 18.4 percent in 1999/00 to 14.4 percent in 2016/17. Under the Horgan government, under which the pace of spending has accelerated, the ratio is expected to increase to 15.6 percent in 2022/23. According to the study, Ontario and Quebec fared better than B.C. in terms of debt. Ontario forecasted that its debt-to-GDP ratio would decrease by 1.3 percentage points from 2016/17 to 2022/23 while Quebec projected its ratio would decline by 12 percentage points over the same period. Ontario and Quebec were subject to many of the same fiscal pressures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and yet did not experience an increase in net debt comparable to that which occurred in British Columbia, the authors said. Beijing Threatens Countermeasures After Countries Worldwide Adopt COVID-19 Curbs on Chinese Travelers Travellers walk with their luggage at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, on Dec. 27, 2022. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters) The Chinese regime has taken aim at what it calls unacceptable measures adopted by multiple countries for travelers from China, as the nation battles with an influx of new COVID-19 cases. During a daily briefing on Dec. 3, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning claimed the measures lack scientific basis. The comments come after Australia and Canada this week joined a growing number of countries that now require passengers coming from China to test negative for COVID-19 prior to boarding their flight. We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable, Ning said. We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity, she added, without providing further details regarding the countermeasures. The United States, UK, Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Malaysia, and Qatar are just some of the countries that now require passengers arriving from China to provide negative COVID-19 tests before arrival amid concerns over an increase in cases across the country. The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, has said that an overwhelming number of member states also want similar restrictions on passengers coming from China. Patients on beds at Tianjin Nankai Hospital in Tianjin, China, on Dec. 28, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Media Plays Down Situation While Chinas state media continues to play down the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, health experts believe the figures to be high. In an article published on Tuesday, Peoples Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), quoted several experts as saying the illness caused by the virus was relatively mild for most people. Severe and critical illnesses account for 3 percent to 4 percent of infected patients currently admitted to designated hospitals in Beijing, Tong Zhaohui, vice president of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, told the newspaper. Figures released by the Chinese regime show that the death toll in the country since the start of the pandemic is 5,253. According to its last daily COVID update on Dec. 24, there were less than 5,000 cases. However, a report released by the UK-based health data firm Airfinity on Dec. 29, estimated that around 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from COVID-19. Responding to the sharp comments from the Chinese regime on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said theres no cause for retaliation by Beijing just because countries around the world are taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens. Thats what youre seeing from us and others, Jean-Pierre said, referring to Washington. This decision is based on public health and science. This is coming from our experts here. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also defended the tests, telling France-Info radio on Tuesday, We are in our role, my government is in its role, protecting the French. A patient on oxygen is wheeled on a gurney into a busy emergency room at a hospital in Beijing, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Getty Images) Chronic Drug Shortage Sees Cost of Medication Skyrocket Elsewhere, the UKs Transport Secretary Mark Harper told LBC radio on Tuesday that the countrys testing requirement is needed to collect information because the CCP is not sharing data on COVID-19 with the international community. China has had some of the strictest lockdown measures in place during the pandemic, including rigorous testing and quarantine for those few foreigners who were able to visit the country. But in a surprise move, the CCP scrapped its draconian zero-COVID policy in December, including lockdowns and mass testing, and revealed plans to reopen its borders on Jan. 8. Since then there have been reports of widespread and chronic shortages of drugs at pharmacies. In some cases, medicines such as liquid ibuprofen, which typically sells for around $20 per bottle, are being sold for over $100 as desperate Chinese try to get their hands on the fever relief medicine amid shortages. Both Washington and the EU have offered to help China, including providing vaccine donations, but those offers have been rebuffed by Beijing, which said it has the situation under control and medical provisions in adequate supply. The World Health Organization has also called on China to share more real-time information about the virus situation as the country has been notoriously bad at sharing such data with the international community. Chinese health officials said last week that they had submitted data to GISAID, a global platform for sharing coronavirus data. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Biden: House Speaker Standoff Not a Good Look President Joe Biden talks with reporters outside of the White House in Washington on Jan. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Joe Biden criticized House Republicans on Jan. 4, describing their internal conflicts over who should assume the role of speaker of the House as embarrassing and not a good look for the country. Speaking at the White House before traveling to an event in Kentucky, Biden said of Republicans, I hope they get their act together, adding that the rest of the world is looking. Regarding the speaker vote, he noted: Thats not my problem. I just think its really embarrassing its taking so long. While the president declined to say whether he had a preferred candidate for the role, he added that he had no idea who would win the speakership. On Jan. 3, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierres confirmed that Biden will not insert himself into the speaker selection process. This is something that the Republican conference has to figure out on their own, and they will do so, she added. Lack of Consensus Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who served as House minority leader in the last Congress, was favored by many to claim the speakership when the Republicans regained control of the House. On Tuesday, however, McCarthy failed to win the required 218 votes on three ballots, coming in second to the Democrats choice, Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and losing support among Republicans as additional votes took place. It marked the first time in a century that a speaker had not been selected on the first vote. In the fourth vote on Wednesday, McCarthy failed yet again to secure the speakership. Those Republicans who oppose McCarthy for speaker mostly come from the House Freedom Caucus, a Trump-aligned faction that believes the Californian congressman is not conservative enough or tough enough to challenge the Democrats. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who is running against McCarthy for the role of speaker, said in a Twitter post on Wednesday morning before the fourth vote: George Washington didnt want to become President. George Washington didnt want to attend the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention. He eventually changed his mind on both. Perhaps the best person for House Speaker isnt someone who wants it so badly. Another detractor Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) said Wednesday morning that it was time for Republicans to move past McCarthy as an option. Kevin McCarthy needs to drop out, he needs to do whats best for the country, whats best for the Congress, whats best for the Republican conference, Good told NTD, sister media outlet of The Epoch Times. Well drag this out as long as we need to. Its worth spending a few days or even a couple of weeks to get a speaker that were going to have to live with. And the country cannot afford someone like Kevin McCarthy as speaker and were determined not to let that happen for the good of the country. McCarthy, however, has rejected any notion of stepping aside, telling reporters Tuesday night, Its not going to happen. Trump Backs McCarthy When it first became clear that McCarthy would face opposition in his bid for the speakership, former President Donald Trump endorsed the Californian for the job. I think he deserves the shot, Trump said on Dec. 15. Hopefully, hes going to be very strong and going to be very good and hes going to do what everybody wants. While Trumps appeared to waiver on that position Tuesday following McCarthys successive losses, he ultimately reiterated his support Wednesday, taking to Truth Social to encourage all House Republicans to VOTE FOR KEVIN and CLOSE THE DEAL. In a rare moment of agreement with his successor, Trump also cautioned his fellow Republicans that continued bickering could be embarrassing for the party if it results in a loss of the speakership. ITS TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT, he added. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB JUST WATCH! Voting for the speakership will continue Wednesday, as a speaker is required for new members of Congress to be sworn in and for the chamber to begin conducting business. The Epoch Times has reached out to McCarthys office for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Biden Re-Nominates Garcetti as India Ambassador US President Joe Biden is greeted by former LA mayor Eric Garcetti as he arrives at Los Angeles International Airport in California on Oct. 12, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) LOS ANGELESPresident Joe Biden officially re-nominated former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be ambassador to India Jan. 3, giving new life to a nomination that stalled over accusations that Garcetti ignored sexual assault and harassment allegations against a former top aide. The Wall Street Journal first reported Bidens plan to renew several stalled nominations, including Garcettis and that of former Metro CEO Phil Washington to become the new head of the Federal Aviation Administration. Garcettis Senate confirmation process for the ambassador post stalled over questions about the ex-mayors knowledge of alleged harassment by Rick Jacobs, a former senior adviser. Garcetti was originally nominated by Biden to be the U.S. ambassador to India on July 9, 2021. Former mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti speaks in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) An investigation requested by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last year concluded that it was more probable than not that Jacobs sexually harassed multiple individuals and made racist comments towards others. It also found it extremely unlikely that Garcetti was unaware of the behavior, saying that by all accounts, Mayor Garcetti is very involved in the day-to-day operation of his office. The White House blasted the report, saying in a statement, This partisan report was a hit job from the beginning, and many of the claims have already been conclusively debunked by more serious independent reports. The president has confidence in Mayor Garcetti and believes he will be an excellent representative in India at a critical moment and calls for the Senate to swiftly confirm him. Garcetti has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the alleged harassing behavior by Jacobs. Following the reports release, he said in a statement that he strongly disagreed with its conclusions. His Chief Communications Officer Dae Levine said: No new facts were uncovered in this report, and Mayor Garcetti strongly reaffirms the simple truth that he never witnessed or was made aware of sexual harassment. The opinion reached in the report does not reflect the truth about the experiences of so many people who have testified under oath and spoken candidly to the senators office. It is based solely on false, repackaged allegations that have been proven false by multiple unbiased investigations and reviews. Jacobs was accused of harassment in a 2020 lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Police Department Officer Matthew Garza, who claims Garcetti witnessed the misconduct but turned a blind eye to it. Garcettis former communications director, Naomi Seligman, also claimed she was forcibly kissed by Jacobs and that Garcetti knew about Jacobss alleged pattern of harassment. The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has elected Donna Price to be the 2023 board chair, making Price the chair for the second year in a row. Supervisor Jim Andrews will serve as the Board of Supervisors vice-chair, replacing Bea LaPisto-Kirtley. Thank you, all of you, Donna, for your leadership over the past year. And we look forward to another great year, said Supervisor Ann Mallek. Price was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2019 and will not seek re-election to the board after the end of her four-year term this coming year. Instead, she will retire. Andrews won the Samuel Miller District seat in 2021. He currently sits on the Albemarle Broadband Authority and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Im very honored, very grateful for your trust in me, Andrews said. We seem to have gotten through this a little faster than the U.S. House of Representatives. Correction: a previous version of this story misstated Price's plans after she finishes her term on the Board of Supervisors. It has been updated for accuracy. Biden Says He Intends to Visit USMexico Border U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with people as he boards Air Force One at Rohlsen Airport to depart after a New Year holiday visit to Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. on Jan. 2, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) President Joe Biden indicated Wednesday that he will visit the U.S.Mexico border for the first time since he took office nearly two years ago. While in Kentucky, the president was asked if he will be going to the border in connection to a meeting next week in Mexico City with other world leaders. Thats my intention, were working out the details now, Biden said. Biden is slated to attend the North American Leaders Summit in Mexico City on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, where he is expected to meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Republicans and some Democrats who represent districts along the U.S.Mexico border have repeatedly called on Biden to visit the border amid surging numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the border. Theyve also accused the administration of pursuing an open borders agenda by rescinding numerous Trump-era immigration rules. In December, Biden was chided as he flew to Arizona to deliver a speech at a computer chip factory and highlighted jobs but did not visit the border. At the time, the president said that he could not visit because there are more important things going on they are going to invest billions of dollars in a new enterprise in the state. Other Details Data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show that nearly 2.4 million people were arrested for illegally crossing the border in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Thats up from 1.7 million during the previous fiscal year. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed Title 42, a border rule established under the Trump administration that allowed the federal government to quickly expel people at the border, after the Supreme Court last week ruled that the policy should remain while it considers arguments. A lower court had ruled to end the policy, which would have ended in December. To truly fix our broken immigration system though, we need Congress to act, Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday. We saw the president on his first day in office put forth a comprehensive immigration policy, and he did that to show how important this was, how much of a priority this was for him. And when she was asked about a possible Biden visit to the border, Jean-Pierre said in late December that the presidents focus right now is to come up with solutions and his focus on making sure that we have the resources to manage the challenges that were seeing at the border. After the midterms, top House Republicans have indicated that investigating the administrations border policies will be a priority. Last month, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R.-Calif.) told reporters that he had invited Biden to visit the border with him when Biden met with McCarthy and other GOP leaders following the Nov. 8 midterms. People cross the Rio Grande towards the U.S.Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Dec. 20, 2022. (Christian Chavez/AP Photo) The control of our border is lost right now. That is why I asked [the] homeland security secretary to resign. And come January, well have an investigation of why the border has become the situation it is and not allow them to continue along the same path, said McCarthy, who is currently vying to become the next House speaker amid opposition among members of his own party. Some GOP lawmakers have said that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversees the CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, could face impeachment. Mayorkas on Wednesday again acknowledged that the number of illegal immigrant encounters at the border is causing strain on the system. Were operating within a system that is fundamentally broken. No one disagrees with that. We just cant seem to agree upon the solution and a solution is long overdue. Within the broken immigration system that we are operating, we are managing the number of encounters and we are prepared to address the end of Title 42, he told the Washington Post. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), whose district sits along the border, said in late December that Biden should visit to see what he described as an escalating crisis. I dont know why they keep avoiding the border and saying theres other things, more important things, than visiting the border. If there is a crisis, show up. Just show up, he told CNN in December, coming days before the Supreme Court allowed Title 42 to remain for the time being. Biden showing up at the border would send a strong signal to the communities that hes there, he cares about the border communities, Cuellar said. Just show up! It doesnt take much to just show up at the border. Biden Says Hes Concerned About Chinas Handling of COVID Crisis President Joe Biden talks with reporters outside of the White House in Washington on Jan. 4, 2023, before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Joe Biden says hes concerned by how Chinas communist regime is handling its current COVID-19 surge, noting that the regime in Beijing is sensitive to criticism. As many as 248 million people in China may have contracted COVID-19 over the first 20 days of December 2022, according to a report. The president said on Jan. 4 that the United States is prepared. Yes, I am, but I think we just have to make the protocol we set out that, that if youre flying from China, youve got to be tested, Biden said. The president then referred to the issue of the regimes lack of transparency amid the latest outbreak. China has not been I know theyre very sensitive when we suggest they havent been that forthcoming, he said. The remarks, made to reporters in Kentucky after an event there promoting his administrations infrastructure law, follow a week of contention between Chinas communist rulers and the international community over the regimes refusal to provide accurate data about COVID-19 in the country. A senior official for the World Health Organization said earlier this week that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, hasnt been providing accurate information regarding the state of COVID-19 in China. The ongoing COVID crisis in China itself follows the regimes abrupt halt to its so-called zero-COVID policies in December, after weeks of historic protests across the country. The past weeks have seen COVID-19 spread like wildfire through the Chinese population, which has little natural immunity following nearly three years of lockdowns and other onerous restrictions. Amid the upsurge, the regime announced in late December that it would end its travel bans and allow Chinese residents to fly freely throughout the world, a move described by some experts as irresponsible and a potential trigger for a global resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation has caused international alarm as world leaders struggle to respond while having no sound information about the variants of COVID-19 currently circulating among the Chinese population. Mass Death, Infections While the regime publicly claims that only 10 people died from the disease throughout December, leaked images of papers from Chinas top health body revealed that authorities believe that as many as 248 million Chinese became infected within the first 20 days of December 2022. A December report released by UK-based health data firm Airfinity estimated that about 9,000 people in China are dying each day from COVID-19 and that the number will likely reach 25,000 deaths per day by later this month. Cumulative deaths in China since Dec. 1 have probably reached 161,000, according to the report. European Union nations are now coordinating travel restrictions, while other nations, such as the United States, have already issued a restriction that travelers from China must provide a negative COVID-19 test before departing. The CCP has threatened countermeasures against any nation that requires its residents to provide a negative COVID-19 test. The Biden administration says theres no cause for such retaliation from Beijing. Theres no cause for retaliation here just because countries around the world are taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Jan. 3 press conference. This decision is based on public health and science. This is coming from our experts here. And other countries like Japan, like South Korea, the UK, France, India, Italy, and Malaysia are also taking similar public steps. Border Wall Dismantled in Arizona as Katie Hobbs Becomes Governor Shipping containers are used to fill a gap in the border wall with Mexico near Yuma, Ariz., on Aug. 12, 2022. (Arizona Governor's Office via AP) Arizona has started to dismantle its makeshift border wall made of shipping containers that was championed by former Gov. Doug Ducey but faced opposition from newly minted Gov. Katie Hobbs and was the target of a Biden administration lawsuit. Footage taken on Jan. 3 shows construction machinery removing a line of shipping containers placed along the U.S.Mexico border in Yuma, Arizona, which coincided with the day that Hobbs was sworn in as governor. Ducey, who in mid-December agreed to dismantle the wall for which he had once been an ardent advocate, ordered the disassembly of the makeshift barrier as one of his final acts in office. He said earlier that the container wall was always meant to be a temporary construction intended to help stem the tide of illegal border crossings until a permanent solution could be found. Illegal immigration has soared under President Joe Bidens watch, with unauthorized crossings topping 2.76 million in fiscal year 2022, according to Customs and Border Protection data. That figure broke the previous record by more than 1 million and was more than twice the highest level notched during the tenure of former President Donald Trump, who made stemming illegal immigration a key part of his platform with his signature slogan, Build the Wall. Hobbs, who on Jan. 3 became the first Democrat governor in Arizona in 16 years, had been critical of Republican Duceys border wall, labeling it as ineffective political grandstanding. Its a political stunt. Its a visual barrier that is not actually providing an effective barrier to entry, and I think a waste of taxpayer dollars, she told Arizona radio station KJZZ in a recent interview. The containers arent working. Theres many pictures of people climbing over them, Hobbs said. The new Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs takes the oath of office in a ceremony at the state Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 2, 2023. (Ross D. Franklin, Pool/AP Photo) While Arizona has begun dismantling its makeshift border barrier, a similar one is going up in nearby Texas, whose Republican governor has, like Ducey, been frustrated by the surge in illegal crossings. In a bid to bolster border security, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called in the National Guard to run razor wire barriers in high-traffic areas and recently said shipping containers were being used to plug more holes. The U.S. military stops people from crossing into El Paso, Texas, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Dec. 20, 2022. (Christian Chavez/AP Photo) Arizona Has Had Enough Ducey, an outspoken critic of Bidens border policies that he has blamed for the surge in illegal immigration, issued an order in August 2022 to plug gaps in the U.S.Mexico border wall near Yuma, which has become one of the busiest corridors for unauthorized crossings in the country. Arizona has had enough, Ducey said in a statement at the time. We cant wait any longer. The Biden administrations lack of urgency on border security is a dereliction of duty. For the last two years, Arizona has made every attempt to work with Washington to address the crisis on our border. Work crews subsequently erected hundreds of double-stacked shipping containers, in some cases topped by razor wire. Yuma County Sheriffs Office deputies have said that the containers have helped prevent illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States. Our deputies have noticed traffic is slowing down, one of them told KYMA-TV. But the makeshift border wall prompted first a warning from the Biden administration and then a lawsuit. Shipping containers that were used to fill a 1,000-foot gap in the border wall with Mexico near Yuma, Ariz., on Aug. 12, 2022. (Arizona Governors Office via AP) Lawsuit The Biden administration warned Arizona officials in October 2022 that Duceys actions broke the law. Later, Arizona was hit with a lawsuit for allegedly placing the containers on federal lands without permission, with the U.S. Department of Justice filing a complaint (pdf) on Dec. 14, 2022. The lawsuit alleged that Duceys border wall shipping containers damage federal lands, threaten public safety, and impede the ability of federal agencies and officials, including law enforcement personnel, to perform their official duties. Duceys office repeatedly said the barrier was supposed to be temporary and would be taken down once the federal government acted to bolster border security in the area. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in July 2022 that it had authorized the filling of gaps in the border wall near Yuma, prompting Ducey spokesman C.J. Karamargin to say that from our perspective, the shipping container mission is a success. Not only have we plugged gaps in the border barrier, but we got the federal government to do their job, he said, referring to the DHS decision to fill gaps in the border wall. Contractors begin stacking shipping containers in border fence gaps near Yuma, Ariz., on Aug. 12, 2022. (Courtesy of Arizona Governors office) Agreement to Dismantle On Dec. 21, 2022, Arizona state and federal authorities reached an agreement to remove the makeshift barrier. Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (pdf) show that Duceys administration agreed to dismantle the containers and remove the equipment, materials, and vehicles used to install them by Jan. 4. Ducey previously insisted that he had the right to defend the state of Arizona and protect its citizens, with his office describing the number of illegal crossings as ominous and threatening to overwhelm border communities. Environmentalists denounced the makeshift wall as harmful to local wildlife. The work of placing up to 3,000 containers at a cost of about $95 million was about a third of the way complete. Republicans have long accused Democrats of advocating for an open-borders policy, even though the Biden administration has repeatedly denied this claim. Fiscal year 2023 is on track to break last years record of illegal crossings, with both October 2022 and November 2022 setting records in their respective months for the number of illegal alien encounters. Mom Offers Over $1,400 for Bottle of Ibuprofen in China as COVID Outbreak Worsens A notice reading "Ibuprofen sold out" is displayed on the door of a pharmacy in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China, on Dec. 20, 2022. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Chinese all around the world are sending pain and fever relief medicine to mainland China despite the country being the worlds largest manufacturer of the non-prescription drugs. China supplies about one third of the worlds Ibuprofen, which along with other fever and pain medicines, is in short supply now due to the current COVID outbreak in China. The shortages are putting a strain on Chinese residents. A desperate mom in Chinas Yunnan Province sent out a message from her social media account before Christmas, offering 10,000 yuan (about $1,453) to buy one bottle of liquid Ibuprofen for her sick children. According to Chinese media reports, a regular bottle of liquid Ibuprofen can now easily be sold for 800 yuan (about $112) on the black market, while this kind of medicine is sold on the U.S. market with a regular price of around $20 per bottle. Retail drug stores in China were reported to be sending increased drug orders to wholesalers twice a day for these medicines. Chinese around the globe are buying and sending these non-prescription medicines back home to help their relatives and friends in China. CVS and Walgreen have recently set purchase limits for customers because of supply shortage. According to Chinese-language media, there are two main reasons for the shortage of pain and fever relief medicines: the government has limited the production scale of these medicines in the past, and the current surge of COVID is causing a shortage of workers for the drug industry, resulting in lower than usual productions. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the past had set a 15 percent max profit margin for retailers selling these medicines, which effectively limited the total production scale in China. Many Chinese families have no reserves of these medicines because under the regimes strict zero-COVID policy that was only lifted on Dec. 7, purchasing these medicines could lead to forced quarantine. So far, the CCP regime has not provided any explanations to the public about why it did not order to increase the production scale of these non-prescription medicines before it ended its zero-COVID policy. The Chinese economy still heavily relies on a centrally-planned economy, although the regime does recognize a market economy as a supplement in its socialist economic system. The regime has possessed absolute power when it comes to increasing or decreasing certain productions in different industries. Within days of loosening its zero-COVID policy, the regime announced a new policy that Chinese people call the zero non-COVID policy. Nobody knows the real reason why the regime did not plan ahead to increase the pain and fever medicine before it made policy changes. At the time of the abrupt policy change, mass protests were breaking out across China calling for an end to zero-COVID. Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization, the explosion of cases in China is not due to the lifting of COVID restrictions. The explosion of cases in China has started long before any easing of the zero-COVID policy, and I think that its very important to recognise that, WHO Health Emergencies head Mike Ryan said on Dec. 14. The U.S. government offered help to China on Dec. 14. But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin turned down the offer the same day, saying the CCP had full confidence to overcome the current hardship by relying on the advantages of Chinas socialist political system. California Snowpack Is Highest in 40 Years: Officials The California Department of Water Resources conducts the first snow survey of the 2023 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in El Dorado County on Jan. 3, 2023. (Fred Greaves/California Department of Water Resources) Snowpack levels in Californias mountains were at the highest level in 40 years Jan. 3 but time will tell whether the latest storms will help deliver enough water to the state to end a three-year drought streak, state water officials reported. Californias snowpack was measured at 174 percent of the historical average for the year Tuesday, boosted by recent storms that drenched the state during the holidays and brought snow to the mountains. The state could see even more rain and snow this week and into the weekend, bringing much-needed water supplies. While we see a terrific snowpackand that in and of itself may be an opportunity to breathe a sigh of reliefwe are by no means out of the woods when it comes to drought, said Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources. A mountain peak is covered with heavy snow near the Phillips Station meadow where the California Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the 2023 season in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in El Dorado County on Jan. 3, 2023. (Jonathan Wong/California Department of Water Resources) The state could still face another year of drought this year as water reservoirs remain well below capacity. State water officials took the years first official measurements of snow and water content near Phillips, a town east of Sacramento in the central Sierra Mountains, finding levels well above average for this time of year. The snowpack in Phillips is 177 percent of the average. It was measured at 55.5 inches, which was enough to store 17.5 inches of water, according to Sean de Guzman, manager of the departments snow surveys and water supply forecasting unit. Last weeks series of storms caused flooding and damage but were warmer. Freezing elevations were around 7,000 feet, and the mountain snowpack statewide rose from 157 percent on average to 174 percent. Well take any kind of [precipitation] we can get, if its rainfall or snow at this point, just because we are in such a severe drought, de Guzman said. This weeks expected storm system should be colder and produce more snowpack. Significant flooding from local rivers and creeks throughout the state should continue for the next several days, along with strong winds, officials said. Rainfall in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The good news was enough for officials to breathe a sigh of relief but the situation could still take a turn as the year continues. A similar scenario unfolded last year when officials measured decent snowpack at the beginning of the year only to have the driest period on record from January to March. California has received above-average rainfall so far this water year, which began Oct. 1, according to state climatologist Mike Anderson. Things are looking pretty good, Anderson said during a press conference Tuesday. Certainly a lot better than we have been in past years. But there are still a few pockets where conditions arent quite back up to average. The triple dip La Nina weather phenomenon that returned to California and delivered for the third consecutive year in 2022 is beginning to fade, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The weather pattern brings large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, along with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation, namely winds, pressure, and rainfall. It usually has the opposite impact on weather and climate as El Nino, which brings more rainfall, according to the organization. California is moving into more neutral weather conditions and could see El Nino conditions return in the fall, Anderson said. Well have to keep an eye on that, but we are in transition, Anderson said. A man rides a bicycle along the San Diego Creek in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The state is about a third of its way through its wettest season, the states drought manager Jeanine Jones said. We hope that well continue going forward with good water supply conditions, Jones said. State water supplies are still overcoming a deficit from the recent drought and groundwater supplies have declined. It will take some time and more water to recover that storage, which is why officials cant say that the drought is over, she said. Californias largest surface water source is the Colorado River and supplies looked good in that watershed, Jones said. However, the states reservoir system is looking at record-low storage levels. The state will continue to assess water supplies and should know by March how much water will be available to supply the states water projects, Jones added. Even though the state has seen above-average rain and now this season, the reservoirs are still below average. Lake Oroville, south of Redding in northern California, is only about 35 percent of capacity, and Lake Shasta, the states largest reservoir, was at 34 percent capacity, said de Guzman, of the California Department of Water Resources. The past three years have been some of the driest years on record in California. State officials have severely limited water deliveries to farmers and Gov. Gavin Newsom has urged residents and businesses to conserve water. Roughly a third of Californias water supply comes from melting snow in the Northern California mountains. About three-fourths of Californias rain and snow come from the watersheds north of Sacramento. But about 80 percent of the states water demand comes from Southern California, where most of the people live. The state expects water shortages heading into 2023, forcing some urban water providers to plan for further restrictions on outdoor water use, according to a report issued in December by the Department of Water Resources (pdf). The Associated Press contributed to this report. Californias Trans Law Makes Prisons Unsafe for Women: Former Inmate A new California law, allowing men who identify as female to be housed in womens prisons, is wreaking havoc within the womens prison system and creating an environment of fear and total chaos emotionally, according to Amie Ichikawa, a plaintiff in a lawsuit which seeks to overturn it. Its the worst human science project Ive ever seen, she said during a recent episode of EpochTVs California Insider. This is very callous and brazen psychological warfare that is occurring right in our own state being fully funded by taxpayers dollars. Ichikawa, at 24, was incarcerated at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla for five years. She recently founded the nonprofit Woman II Woman, which provides resources, education, and support for currently incarcerated women. She said since 2020 when California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the billnamed The Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act and authored by California State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)she has received more phone calls, emails, and letters than she can count from incarcerated women in fear of their safety, post-traumatic disorder triggers, pregnancy, and STDs. How could they do this to us? she said, was their theme. California womens cells now house eight inmates each, she saidextremely close living quarters of about 6-feet per inmate, leading to concerns by some female prisoners they may end up housed with a manwho now identifies as femalewho has raped, for example, or who has predatory intentions. Thats a very tight space to share with anyone, she said. But even more so with someone who has a history of violence against women. Ichikawa, now 40, said she realizes there is no privacy in prison, but with the new law, there is no dignity either, as some transfers are and will be full-bodied males, sharing what was once single-sex space. The law allows an inmate who identifies as transgender, non-binary, or intersex to be housed, at their choice, with either male or female prisoners. By all accounts, it was written to help the transgender community feel more comfortable if incarcerated. But according to Ichikawa, it has not benefited anyone. It has really created a toxic, diabolical situation of the prison of the mind, she said. People are afraid. Women are afraid to say anything. Its crippling. She said there have been 40 such cases of men being transferred to womens prisons since the law went into effect in January of 2021 and there are currently nearly 300 more applications in the pipeline, with more than one-third from inmates who are registered sex offenders. According to Ichikawa, typically about 17 percent of Californias incarcerated are registered as such. Thats a big jump, she said. Some, she said, are men capitalizing on the law to move from typically more dangerous lockdowns because its easy to do so, with few requirements for a transfer other than self-identification. This is open season for anyone who wants to get out of the mens prisons, she said. There are very few reasons why someone would not want to take advantage, of this. In the 30-minute interview, she said there is no evidence of any women, so far, becoming harmed in the new arrangement. But, she said, some female inmates have lodged complaints and then were retaliated against for doing so by prison authorities, who called such harassment. Ichikawa additionally said currently incarcerated women were given little preparation for the change, but said she learned from some that a poster was introduced in one womans prison detailing options in the event of pregnancy. Condoms, she said, are also now dispensed. Those were never available before in womens prisons, she said. She said she was also shocked to learn only nine California lawmakers voted against the bill, and that the California Womens Legislative Caucus, composed of dozens of female Senators and Assemblymembers, backed it. It took my breath away to learn how much support was behind this, she said. I didnt know so many elected officials hated women so much. And, she said, she doesnt think its stopping in California. This has got to be a nationwide, even a global movement to erase women, Ichikawa said. She said lawmakers who passed the bill didnt fully understand its ramifications. Any adult breathing and with a pulse can see it will create a huge problem when you take a whole population and handpick a little part of it and give them all these privileges. Its going to be dangerous, she said. She said she believed politicians got caught up in todays ideological culture wars and were fooled by pretty language, inclusive words. Ichikawas lawsuit, filed in November of 2021 in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Fresno, alleges the law violates the federal and state rights of women currently incarcerated in Californias prisons. Canada Sets Record With Over 400,000 New Immigrants in 2022 Adrian Pernalete (L) and his family, originally from Venezuela, participate in a group hug after being sworn in as Canadian citizens during a special Canada Day citizenship ceremony in Vancouver on July 1, 2012. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) Canada reached 431,645 new immigrants last year, setting a new record. The country is on track to have immigrants make up 30 percent of the population by 2036. In contrast, immigrants made up 20.7 percent of the population in 2011. According to the federal government, immigration accounts for almost 100 percent of labour force growth and 75 percent of the countrys immigration growth. India and China were the top countries from which immigration originated, as per the 2021 Census and Statistics Canada. The government said a rapidly aging population means the worker-to-retiree ratio is expected to shift from 7 to 1 from 50 years ago to 2 to 1 by 2035. According to the Fraser Institute, a non-profit think tank, Canadas population aged 65 or older increased from 14.1 percent in 2010 to 19.0 percent in 2022. Statistics Canada data projects this number will increase to 25 percent by the middle of the century. The share of Canadas population that is of working age is shrinking, while the number of people aged 65 or over is growing. Statistics Canada projects this trend will continue in the decades ahead. It is predicted that there will be 3.0 working-age people for each senior by 2027, after which the ratio will slowly fall further to reach 2.3 by 2068. Immigration minister Sean Fraser said in a statement on Nov. 1 that Canada plans to embrace immigration as a strategy to help businesses find workers and to attract the skills required in key sectorsincluding health care, skilled trades, manufacturing and technology. In 2021, the census counted 33.1 million Canadian citizens, and of the total population living in Canada, almost 3.2 million were not citizensthey were permanent residents, landed immigrants, or non-permanent residents. Another 3.7 million Canadians held multiple citizenships and reported being naturalized Canadian citizens, meaning they went through the legal process to apply for citizenship. New Record Last years record immigration beat the 2021 record, where the government allowed 405,000 new immigrants to enter the country. The last time Canada opened its doors to this level of immigrants was in 1913. In 2016, new Canadians and established immigrants represented about 7 percent and 15 percent of the Canadian population, respectively, according to Statistics Canada. During the 2021 Census, nearly 1 in 4 people counted were or had been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada, the highest proportion since Confederation and the largest proportion among G7 countries, said a government news release. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to let in more than 1.45 million immigrants in the next three years, based on the annual Immigration Levels Plan tabled in Parliament. The most recent plan for the period of 20232025 was tabled on Nov. 1, 2022. A 20222024 plan was tabled on Feb. 14, 2022. The plan sets targets for immigration to 465,000 people per year in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 by 2025. Canada has experienced one of the fastest recoveries from the pandemic, thanks in large part to our approach to immigration, said the government statement. In 2022, IRCC processed approximately 5.2 million applications for permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship, double the amount processed in 2021. The federal government has also set a target to increase Francophone immigration to 4.4 percent of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023. Targets Just over 1.3 million new immigrants settled permanently in Canada from 2016 to 2021, the highest number of recent immigrants recorded in a Canadian census, according to the federal government. The government said immigrants now make up 36 percent of physicians, 33 percent of business owners with paid employees, and 41 percent of engineers. According to the government, immigration fills labour market shortages and grows the economy by admitting skilled newcomers. Saskatchewan, meanwhile, issued 486 immigration invitations in December through an immigrant nominee program. The invitations target certain desired occupations, and the individuals must have completed one year of post-secondary education, earning a diploma, certificate, or degree, and have at least one year of work experience in the last decade in the field of education or training. Alberta has a similar program, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, and is prioritizing applications for permanent residency from Ukrainian nationals. Nominees must have skills to fill job shortages or be planning to buy or start a business in Alberta. They must also be able to provide for their families. The program is run by the governments of Alberta and Canada. Every province in Canada, apart from Nunavut and Quebec, offers various provincial immigration programs similar to Alberta and Saskatchewan in cooperation with the federal government. Canadian Officials Surface in Twitter Files, as Accounts Are Flagged by US State Department Twitter logo and Elon Musk silhouette in an illustration taken on Dec. 19, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Twitter accounts used by the Canadian government have been caught in the U.S. government dragnet attempting to counter online disinformation, a recent iteration of the so-called Twitter Files released by journalist Matt Taibbi reveals. Taibbi published a new thread on Jan. 3 which provides further details on how the U.S. government and its agencies interacted with Twitter to pursue its agenda. Internal company files are being released since Elon Musk took over in late October. Taibbis latest thread is labelled Twitter and the FBI Belly Button, in reference to the bureau asking Twitter whether it should be the main point of contact between industry partners and the U.S. government (USG). The mention of a Canadian link was in relation to a campaign by the U.S. State Departments Global Engagement Center (GEC) to counter Chinese propaganda. The stated mission of the GEC is to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation that runs counter to U.S. interests. When the State Department/GEC remember this was 2020, during the Trump administration wanted to publicize a list of 5,500 accounts it claimed would amplify Chinese propaganda and disinformation about COVID, Twitter analysts were beside themselves, wrote Taibbi. The GEC report appeared based on DHS [Department of Homeland Security] data circulated earlier that week, and included accounts that followed two or more Chinese diplomatic accounts. They reportedly ended up with a list nearly 250,000 names long, and included Canadian officials and a CNN account. Taibbi provided screenshots of purported internal conversations of Twitter staff related to the GEC request. Senior legal executive Stacia Cardille sent an email to policy director Nick Pickles on May 7, 2020, providing transmittal information from the State Department. We are providing these 5,500 accounts that display inorganic behavior and follow two or more of the 36 Chinese diplomatic twitter accounts that we have identified in the report, reads the message. Due to the fact that these accounts follow two or more of these diplomatic accounts, and a good portion of them are newly created, we believe they are suspicious. The State Department did not request any action to be taken on those accounts and said the information was being shared for situational awareness. Previous iterations of the Twitter Files have shown U.S. government agencies requested the social media company take action against accounts sharing information on COVID-19 which diverges from the U.S. governments view or that related to the elections, with ensuing censorship in many cases. Later on May 7, 2020, Pickles commented in an email to an unidentified interlocutor on the GEC request. I am assuming that the policy/comms folks on their side [USG] havent reviewed the list line by line, so curious how theyd react if told their analytics colleagues had included the Canadian military and CNN he wrote. Twitter Pushback The day after receiving the information from the State Department, Twitter was pushing back in the media on the claims that its platform was being used to spread Chinese disinformation. CNN reported Twitter as saying that an initial review of the over 5,000 accounts did not support the governments claims and that many accounts belonged to government entities, nongovernmental organizations, and journalists. The GEC provided Twitter with a small sample of the overall dataset that included nearly 250,000 accounts, a State Department spokesperson told CNN, adding that its not surprising that there are authentic accounts in any sample. Our overall analysis is based on a confluence of factors that drive our assessment, which we stand by. Then Twitter head of safety Yoel Roth commented in an email to colleagues on May 6, 2020, that the GEC blitz on the issue was at least in part an attempt to insert themselves into the conversations weve had with DHS, FBI, ODNI [Office of the Director of National Intelligence], and others. A month later, Roth emailed Cardille and others saying that Twitter, Facebook, and Google found the involvement of the GEC in a meeting between industry and government on election security problematic. He said this was in part because of the GECs mandate for offensive IO [information operations] to promote American interests and their sharing of reports based on shaky methodology. Taibbis thread also highlighted the GECs attempt to counter Russian disinformation, noting a report it released in February 2020. The GEC flagged accounts as Russian personas and proxies based on criteria like, Describing the Coronavirus as an engineered bioweapon, blaming research conducted at the Wuhan institute, and attributing the appearance of the virus to the CIA, he wrote. Taibbi said this report still led directly to some media picking up the story. Multiple rounds of voting for House speaker took place on Capitol Hill Tuesday, for the first time in a century. Leader Kevin McCarthy lost the first few times, and momentum grows behind an unexpected nominee. Wholesale change could be coming for the Republican Party; its not just the GOP speakership being fought forthe position of Republican National Committee chair is also highly contested. Harmeet Dhillon, one of the challengers, joins us to discuss. China is threatening retaliation over travel curbs imposed by other countries. How is the White House responding? Is the United States still the worlds greatest superpower? And how much ground have Russia and China actually gained? Nearly 1 million immigrants were naturalized last year. What are the reasons behind this record number? A U.S. ambassador is set to attend the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, as Catholics around the world prepare to pay their respects. CCP Uses Religion as Means to a Political End: US Religious Freedom Commission Chinese security guards and police keep hundreds of Chinese Christian worshippers away from the Wangfujing Catholic Church during Christmas Mass in Beijing, China, on Dec. 25, 2003. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP via Getty Images) The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a Religious Freedom in China factsheet in December. Entitled State-Controlled Religion and Religious Freedom Violations in China, it discusses Chinas state-controlled patriotic religious associations and their role in what it calls the systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom in China. Under the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) rule, five religions are officially recognized in China. They are Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. Seven state-controlled organizations officially preside over these religious communities, making sure that they are patriotic and politically loyal to the CCP. Religious Believers Must Be Patriotic and Loyal to the CCP The seven religious organizations, each with its own nationwide network of subsidiaries, are the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement, China Christian Council, and the Islamic Association of China. The United Front Work Department and the State Administration for Religious Affairs supervise these seven religious organizations. Their bylaws state that they are patriotic religious organizations, whose express purpose is to unite and guide members of their respective religious communities to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the socialist system, according to USCIRF factsheet. Individuals said to represent Chinas five officially recognized religionsBuddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantismon stage together singing red culture songs, garbed in their religious attire. (Screenshot, Weibo.com) Patriotic, the factsheet explains, is a euphemism for political loyalty to the CCP. The CCP uses religious organizations as a means to a political end, the factsheet says, not out of any genuine interest in promoting freedom of religion. Supporting the CCPs leadership comes first, as defined by a set of rules and regulations called Measures on the Administration of Religious Groups. These rules stipulate that political reliability is required for leadership positions within the religious organizations, which in turn must support and promote the CCPs leadership and its political views. In China, religious policies are formulated at the highest level of the CCP and implemented through levels of religious organizations, down to the neighborhood level, with the help of law enforcement agencies. Sinicization of Religion A major theme of the factsheet is the term sinicization of religion. As used by the CCP, sinicization refers to the process of aligning religious beliefs and faiths with Chinese communist ideology. Documents released in recent years by national religious organizations detail five-year plans for the sinicization of Catholicism, sinicization of Christianity, and sinicization of Islam. A common theme of these plans is the effort to sinicize the interpretation of religious doctrines, sermons, rituals, and architectural styles of places of worship in order to conform to the CCPs ideological and policy requirements, the factsheet says. State-controlled religious organizations have been involved in altering, censoring, and controlling the content of religious texts such as the Bible and the Quran, as well as doctrines, sermons, and hymns, to ensure their alignment with the CCPs interpretation of religion, policy, and political objectives. The pillar of a demolished Catholic church is seen in Puyang, in Chinas central Henan province on August 13, 2018. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) They have also been involved in the CCPS efforts to demolish, remove, or modify places of worship, architectural styles, and religious symbols that are too foreign or insufficiently sinicized. According to a March 2019 Radio France Internationale report, TSPM chairman Xu Xiaohong told the CCPs Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference that Western anti-CCP forces use Christianity to overturn the CCPs rule. Therefore, he said, the marks of foreign religion must be mercilessly eradicated from Chinese Christianity, with sinicization being the Chinese churchs inevitable choice. Persecution in Xinjiang and Tibet Under the CCPs policies, religious believers who do not bow down to its ideological control are severely persecuted. The Uyghurs and Tibetans have been subjected to particularly harsh treatment. Sinicization campaigns include the arbitrary and extrajudicial detention of millions of Uyghurs in concentration camps in Xinjiang. In Tibet, it includes forcing Tibetan Buddhists to renounce the Dalai Lama and interfering in the selection process of their leaders. The CCP considers its authority to extend even to the centuries-old tradition of reincarnation, which is central to the selection of Tibetan religious leaders. State-issued Measures for the Administration of the Reincarnation of Living Tibetan Buddhism set out the CCPs role in selecting the next leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Chinese paramilitary police secure an exit as Tibetan monks leave a stadium at the end of a local government-sponsored festival in Yushu, in the northwestern Chinese province of Qinghai, on July 25, 2016. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) The factsheet cites the state-sponsored kidnapping of the 11th Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is considered to be the second most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism, second only to the Dalai Lama. After the death of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1995, the Dalai Lama recognized six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as his reincarnation. Three days later the child was abducted along with his family, and has not been seen since. The CCP then made its own choice for Panchen Lama, a state-controlled figure who actively endorses the CCP and its sinicization policy in Tibet. The Religious Freedom in China factsheet concludes by saying that state-controlled religious organizations are complicit in the CCPs religious freedom violations. At the same time, deprived of genuine practice of religion, they are victims of the CCPs religious policy, in which any perceived disloyalty and public disagreement with the CCP and government leads to severe punishment. World's Largest Faith-and-Family Broadcaster Celebrating 50 Years on the Air in 2023 TBN's golden anniversary comes with a lineup of new programming featuring Dave Ramsey, Sheila Walsh, Andrea Bocelli, Former Ambassador David Friedman, Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and more NEWS PROVIDED BY TBN Jan. 4, 2023 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is celebrating fifty years on the air in 2023 with a lineup of exciting programming and specials. Launched in Orange County, California, May 28, 1973, as a local, part-time Christian television station, TBN has grown to become America's most-watched faith-and-family channel and the world's largest religious broadcaster, covering more than 170 nations through over thirty international networks. Included in the fiftieth anniversary celebration will be a four-part documentary series highlighting the history and milestones of TBN, featuring cinematic re-enactments of TBN's story, along with personal heartfelt perspective from TBN's Matt and Laurie Crouch. "TBN's first fifty years was a miraculous journey," said TBN President Matt Crouch, "but I'm even more excited for the next fifty. My parents had no choice but to pour every resource into simply building a distribution platform. Today through the Internet, a global broadcast platform we didn't have to create, TBN is connected to every screen in the world, allowing us to prioritize the production of content at a level of quality, excellence, and impact previously unseen in Christian programming." On Pentecost Sunday May 28, 2023 TBN will celebrate its official fiftieth anniversary with Rabbi Jason Sobel on-site at TBN's Jerusalem studio and Matt and Laurie Crouch joining from Dallas. The special program will celebrate both TBN's 50th anniversary and Pentecost Sunday as Rabbi Sobel guides viewers through the important Jewish Feast of Pentecost, explaining its significance to followers of Jesus. From Dallas Matt and Laurie will reflect on TBN's fifty years of broadcasting the life-changing message of God's hope and grace, along with its legacy of love and support for the nation of Israel. During 2023 TBN will be premiering a number of programs and series, including The Ramsey Show on TBN. Hosted by New York Times bestselling author and personal finance expert Dave Ramsey, The Ramsey Show will air every weekday afternoon, offering viewers an hour of valuable insights on managing money, building wealth, navigating relationships, career development, and a lot more. Additionally, in 2023 TBN will release several exclusive productions as Fathom events, including The Journey: A Music Special with Andrea Bocelli, and Route 60: The Biblical Highway, with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. TBN is also excited to announce the addition of veteran television personality Sheila Walsh to the TBN family. Sheila will co-host the new hour-long version of Better Together, TBN's daily ministry and talk show for women, and host other exclusive TBN programs. About Trinity Broadcasting Network TBN is the world's largest and most watched faith-and-family broadcaster, reaching over 175 nations across the earth with inspirational and entertaining programming 24 hours a day in 14 languages and on over 30 global networks. As the world's most influential non-profit religious broadcaster, TBN has led the way in expanding the impact of faith-based television across the earth through the creation of innovative content designed to reach every viewer demographic with the life-changing message of hope and grace. To find out more about the TBN Networks, visit us at TBN.org. SOURCE TBN CONTACT: Marissa Hays, marissa@epic.inc University of Virginia graduate student Thomas Storrs, center, celebrated with his family Wednesday morning as he claimed victory in the fourth annual UVA Corner Bridge #HitList Contest. A light-hearted project by Travis Koshko, the chief meteorologist at CBS-19, right, the Twitter-based contest bestows bragging rights on the person who correctly guesses how many trucks will get scalped by the low-clearance train trestle at the corner of 14th Street and University Avenue. China Changes Its Tune on COVID-19 Symptoms Reports of a range of symptoms, including myocarditis, contradict official predictions A subway staff member removes a poster for a COVID-19 health code used on entering the subway in Guangzhou, in China's southern Guangdong province, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on Dec. 7, 2022. (CNS/AFP via Getty Images) As it lifted zero-COVID restrictions in early December, the Chinese regime emphasized the mild nature of symptoms in most patients, stating that the vast majority of patients were asymptomatic. Some Chinese netizens are now crying foul as doctors report myocarditis cases, particularly among young and middle-aged patients. Moreover, despite official reassurances that acute symptoms are rare, social media reports document a variety of complaints that are making it difficult for patients to go back to work. Following widespread demonstrations in late November, China reversed its zero-COVID policies, removing the testing requirements and extreme lockdowns of the past three years. The result was a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases, overwhelming Chinas health system and leading to medicine shortages and crematoriums operating around the clock. As the outbreak continues, a variety of symptoms have emerged among those infected. Social media is filled with discussions of common symptoms of COVID-19 including extreme fatigue, sweating, eye pain, temporary loss of vision, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Brain fog was also among the top internet searches. Netizens indicate that many of the symptoms occur over a week after infection with COVID-19, making it difficult to go back to work, despite the CCPs guidance that people should keep working after infection. In addition, doctors are warning that some of those infected with COVID-19 may develop myocarditis. On Dec. 27, Zhou Yujie, vice director of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, told state-run news agency Xinhua that some patientsgenerally young or middle-agedwill develop myocarditis. The heart inflammation usually occurs two weeks after infection, Zhou said. These reports contradict official statements in early December expressing confidence that the overwhelming majority of people infected by the virus would be asymptomatic. According to Li Lanjuan, director of the National Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control, on Dec. 12: The Omicron strain is predominantly asymptomatic or with very mild symptoms, according to Chinese state media Zhejiang Daily. There is no need to panic at all. Netizens have begun to question the honesty of the CCPs statements prior to the reversal of pandemic control policies. A Dec. 29 article on Chinese news site NetEase said experts finally admit the severity of virus symptoms. Highlighting the disconnect between the reality of the situation and government statements, the article cited a press conference on Dec. 2 by city officials in Guangzhou, the capital of southern Chinas Guangdong province. The officials stated that about 90 percent of the citys 162,700 COVID-19 cases seen in this round of the pandemic were asymptomatic, with only four cases of serious illness, and no deaths. Guangzhou health officials compared symptoms to those of seasonal colds. In an acknowledgment that China underestimated the effects of the virus, the Beijing Municipal Health and Wellness Commission released its Expert Guidelines on Health Management of Infected Patients in the Recovery Period on Dec. 29. The guidelines listed nine major health problems in the recovery period of COVID-19 patients, namely shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, insomnia, pain, heart palpitations, loss of voice, difficulty swallowing, and impaired sense of smell and taste. China Could Claim Parts of Moon as Own Territory, Force Out US Astronauts, NASA Boss Warns A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Oct. 5, 2022. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) As the United States and China are racing to resume sending astronauts to the moon, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is warning about the regimes ambitions as Beijing sets to establish a permanent presence on the lunar surface. It is true that we better watch out that they dont get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, Keep out, were here, this is our territory, Nelson said in an interview with Politico published on Jan. 1. He pointed to Chinas actions in the South China Sea, a contested region where the communist regime has unlawfully constructed a network of artificial islands with military installations. If you doubt that, look at what they did with the Spratly Islands, he said, referring to a contested island chain where China has built several militarized outposts. Nelson expressed concerns that China might try to limit access to the moons resource-rich areas from the United States and other nations seeking to explore the lunar surface. His position echoed that of Terry Virts, a former commander of the International Space Station and Space Shuttle and a retired Air Force colonel. There is potentially mischief China can do on the moon, Virts told Politico. If they set up infrastructure there they could potentially deny communications, for example. Having them there doesnt make things easier. There is real concern about Chinese meddling. Virts said the competition between the United States and the Chinese communist regime has political and security dimensions. On one level, it is a political competition to show whose system works better, he said. What they really want is respect as the worlds top country. They want to be the dominant power on Earth, so going to the moon is a way to show their system is working. If they beat us back to the moon it shows they are better than us. NASA has just completed its 26-day Artemis I mission, during which an unmanned Orion spacecraft circled the moon. That mission, which was hailed as a success, was the first significant step in NASAs goal to send astronauts to the moon in 2025 to start establishing a more permanent human presence there. With this success, the NASA chief is optimistic that the U.S. effort to get back to the moon first is on schedule. According to Nelson, the next moon mission, Artemis II, is set to take place within two years, and hopefully we can speed that up, he said. By 2024, a crew will be launched as part of the expedition. Nelson pointed to $24.5 billion in funding that Congress has approved for NASA in fiscal 2023. Despite the fact that the appropriated amount was about half a billion dollars less than what President Joe Biden had requested, Nelson said the funding could still cover the essentials, as it represents an increase of more than 5 percent from last year. Dont look at the topline. Look at the essentials, he said, citing the human landing system in the form of SpaceXs Starship and a competition for a second lander as examples. Chinas Leaps China within the last decade has had enormous success and advances, he said. It is also true that their date for landing on the moon keeps getting closer and closer, based on the countrys announcements. And there are only so many places on the south pole of the moon that are adequate for what we think, at this point, for harvesting water and so forth. Zhao Xinguo, head of the aerospace department of the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, a state-owned contractor responsible for most of Chinas space launches, said that Chinas first manned lunar space launch vehicle, known as the Long March-5G, would fly for the first time by 2027, Chinese state-run media China Youth Daily reported in November 2022. The Chinese space program has made a number of significant advancements, according to a recent Pentagon report to Congress. It highlighted Chinas capacity to not only set up a communications relay using a satellite that had been launched the year before between the Earth and the moon but also to land on the moons far side. The study also revealed that China is getting better at producing space launch systems to enable more human space exploration. When asked whether American astronauts will get back to the moon ahead of China, Nelson responded, The good Lord willing. China Disturbed by Turkeys Support for Uyghurs: Turkish Minister Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu attends a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart following their talks in Moscow on March 16, 2022. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is disturbed by Turkeys support for Uyghurs, one of Chinas largest Muslim minorities, as Turkey refused to extradite Turkic Uyghurs to China, a Turkish official said on Dec. 29. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said claims about Turkic Uyghurs being extradited to China were a total lie and that Turkey wont cave to Beijings pressure, even if it hurts their bilateral relations. TurkishChinese ties have suffered over Beijing being disturbed by our attitude on the Turkic Uyghurs issue, he told reporters in Turkeys capital city of Ankara, Middle East Monitor reported. They have extradition requests for people who are our citizens, who live in Turkey all the time. Therefore, we dont grant any such requests. Cavusoglu cited a 2022 U.N. report detailing abuses allegedly committed by the CCP against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region, which it states amounted to crimes against humanity and called for immediate action from the international community. Ethnic Uyghur women take part in a protest against China, in front of the Caglayan Courthouse in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 4, 2022. (Dilara Senkaya/Reuters) We defend Turkic Uyghurs rights in the international arena, and this disturbs China. But this is a humanitarian issue, he said. Cavusoglu claimed that Chinese authorities had blocked the Turkish ambassador from visiting the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region and demanded that he adhere to a program that they provide. The foreign minister said Turkey wants to cooperate with China in a transparent manner. Why should we become a tool for Chinas propaganda? We want to cooperate. We dont see this as a political issue, he said. We are categorically not anti-Chinese. We have always said that we support the One-China policy. 50 Countries Condemn China A perimeter fence surrounds a forced reeducation center in Dabancheng, Xinjiang region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) Turkey was one of 50 countries that signed a joint statement at the U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 31, 2022, urging the CCP to uphold its human rights obligations and release those who are arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in Xinjiang. The United States, Japan, the UK, Australia, Germany, and Israel made up the largest group of countries to publicly condemn the Chinese regimes ongoing human rights abuses. The signatory countries urged Beijing to promptly release all detained individuals in Xinjiang, urgently clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members, and facilitate safe contact and reunion. Such severe and systematic violations of human rights cannot be justified on the basis of counterterrorism, the joint statement reads. UN Votes Down Debate on Uyghurs Leaders from the United States, the UK, and Canada called for a debate on the CCPs suppression of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang after a U.N. report documented possible crimes against humanity in the region. The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity, the report reads. Serious human rights violations have been committed [in Xinjiang] in the context of the Governments application of counterterrorism and counter-extremism strategies. Despite widespread concern about the U.N. report on the situation in Xinjiang, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted 1917 against the motion for a debate, with 11 nations abstaining. Its only the second time in the councils 16-year history that a motion has been rejected. Reuters and Andrew Thornebrooke contributed to this report. Chinas Deadly Lies About COVID Patients on stretchers are seen at Tongren hospital in Shanghai, China, on Jan. 3, 2023. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The only thing not going viral in China is the truth. Chinese officials are spewing lies to cover up the massive COVID outbreak there. Worse, U.S. public health officials dawdled for a week, allowing air travelers from China in without testing, while other countries immediately blocked infected travelers from entering. Aerial photos and videos from China show body bags stacked outside hospitals and crematoria, funeral home parking lots full, and hospitals overwhelmed with COVID patients jammed into hallways. In Beijing and Sichuan, over 50 percent of the population is infected, according to internal government documents. Yet the Chinese government officially claims there was only one COVID death in all of China on Dec. 31, none on Dec. 30 and one on Dec. 29. Thats in a nation of 1.4 billion people. More dangerously, China is also withholding laboratory evidence about what strains are sickening its population. Is it the omicron variants we are accustomed to treating, or something new? We are all part of the human race and need to share this information. People in China are rushing to the exits. Outbound airline bookings nearly tripled in the 24 hours after the government announced travel restrictions that have been in place for almost three years would be lifted. Its reasonable that the United States and other countries are requiring air passengers from Chinaof any ethnicityto provide a negative COVID test to board. MSNBCs TheReidOut Blog is slamming the COVID test requirement as jingoistic, reactionary and inhumane. MSNBC is in sync with the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese officials are attacking the test requirement as discriminatory and warning that it will discourage global cooperation. What cooperation? China still refuses to allow investigations of how the virus originated. On Sunday, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo exclaimed that in 2020, Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent people around the world who he knew were infected. Now hes doing it again. Pompeo said, There is no reason we should allow the Chinese to do this again. Amen. The debate over whether to restrict travelers from China reveals the cowardice in our nations public health apparatus. On Dec. 28, Italy imposed a negative COVID test requirement, after nearly half the passengers on two flights from China to Milan were found to be infected. Italy made its requirement effective immediately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also announced its testing rule on Dec. 28, but made the start date Jan. 5. Thats crazy. Officials said the test would help limit the number of infected people coming in from China. So why wait until Jan. 5? To make life easier for airlines. United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines are operating dozens of flights from China to American cities each week. Lawrence Gostin, a public health lawyer at the World Health Organization, said the distant date could let in a flood of visitors who are not vetted. If a lethal strain invades from China, thank the bunglers at the CDC. Its also worrisome that many U.S. scientists reject the most basic tool of infection controlseparating the sick from the healthy. These scientists, infused with a globalist mentality and misplaced loyalties, argue the United States should rely on vaccination only and allow everyone in. Thats wrong. The United States needs to employ every tooltravel controls as well as vaccinesto protect our population. In the United States, the latest COVID strain, dubbed XBB, resists vaccines and boosters. Fortunately, its somewhat mild, and isnt causing a surge in deaths. But what if China is coping with a variant that resists vaccines and causes serious illness? In China, infections are spreading so fast that scientists predict new variants will emerge soon. The situation in China makes us very worried, reflected Emory University scientist Wilbur Lam. The world needs to be notified as soon as new variants appear. China wont cooperate. This is no time for political correctness or fuzzy globalist thinking. Travelers from China who are infected must be barred from the United States. And the CDC must toughen up. Our lives could be at stake. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Costa Mesa Resident Wins the 2022 Congressional App Challenge Costa Mesa resident Joyce De Quiros, a junior at Newport Harbor High School, has won the 2022 Congressional App Challenge in the 48th Districtan annual nationwide competition meant to encourage high school and middle school students interests in computer science and coding. [Joyces] app is a reflection of the exceptional talent of Southern California students, and I commend her and all of this years participants for their hard work and creativity, said U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) Dec. 30, in a statement announcing this years winners. Maintaining American competitiveness in the world economy starts with building the best workforce in the world, and with students like Joyce dedicating themselves to developing their STEM and computer skills to improve our communities, the future is bright. De Quiros won for her app called Impact, which connects youths to world events through news and other resources with a call to action to get involved. According to De Quiros, a study in the 1990s showed 30 percent of teenagers read a newspaper every day which has decreased to 2 percent as of five years ago. She said she found that fewer than half the students she asked at her high school could name at least one current world event. These individuals are the future of our society and its terrifying to know that most of them dont really know what is going on in our world, De Quiros said. According to De Quiros, app users can find important political, economic, and social news globally or locally, based on the region they choose to view. The competition is held by members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Winners in each district receive prizes and may have information about their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year. The challenge started in 2013, when its now-sponsor, the nonprofit Internet Education Foundation, sought to create an event that would foster appreciation among the countrys youth for computer science and the so-called STEM areas of study, specificallyscience, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Defence Force Called to Assist With Australian Flood Evacuation A loadmaster from an Australian Army MRH90 Taipan helicopter waves to the crowd as it performs during the T150 Defence Force Air Show in Townsville, Australia, on Oct. 15, 2016. (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images) Defence personnel have been called in to help evacuate people isolated during once-in-a-century flooding hitting a remote town in Western Australias Kimberley region. Homes have been inundated in Fitzroy Crossinghome to about 1,200 peopleand the Great Northern Highway is cut in both directions as some residents are airlifted 400 kilometres to Broome by helicopter. Weather conditions are making it difficult for aircraft to operate, and emergency services have warned evacuations could take time. DFES is bringing in more aircraft to bolster our evacuation and resupply efforts as some communities may be isolated for at least a week, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in a statement. The Fitzroy River level was still rising on Wednesday morning before a possible peak of 15.7 metres, smashing previous records for Fitzroy Crossing. This is a dangerous and fast-changing situation, WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson told reporters on Tuesday. We have not seen rain like this for at least a hundred years so its kind of shocking to see the water as high as it is. Federal Emergency Services Minister Murray Watt said the Albanese government approved a state request for Australian Defence Force aircraft and personnel to help evacuate residents from Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas. Downstream at Noonkanbah, major flooding was also likely. The Fitzroy River there was at 12.15 metres and rising on Wednesday morning. Travellers in Derby have been warned to leave the area and go to Broome. Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm warned residents in the communities of Willare and Noonkanbah on Tuesday they would be inundated in the next 24 to 48 hours. People in those areas need to get to higher ground, he said. He said roads had been cut and it was too late to leave as the region faced at least a one-in-100-year flood event. The rain is coming from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie, which has dumped between 200mm and 600mm since Saturday and is predicted to deliver further widespread heavy falls into the week. The weather system has been moving slowly towards the coast and is expected to dwell around Broome for the next 24 hours, lashing the region with strong winds and intense downpours. The Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rainfall could lead to dangerous flash flooding as the storm delivered falls of up to 300mm within a 24-hour period. The airport runway at Broome was closed due to the water levels after the town was hit with more than 120mm of rain between Tuesday morning and early Wednesday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted a message of support to flood victims across the country on Wednesday. My thoughts are with all those families dealing with floodwaters todayfrom the Kimberley to Menindee to the SA Riverlands, the prime minister tweeted. Were working with state and local governments to help in whatever way we can. Meanwhile, major flooding continues in the western New South Wales (NSW) town of Menindee, where the Darling River was holding steady at around 10.2m on Wednesday. The bureau warned further rises to 10.7 metres were possible from Thursday, above the 1976 flood record of 10.47 metres. At present, 10 properties have been evacuated, while 20 other property owners have decided to shelter in place, NSW SES incident controller Gavin Arnold said. River levels are expected to remain above the major 9.7 metres flood level at Menindee through mid-January and an evacuation order remains in place for properties expected to be impacted by flooding. House Adjourns as McCarthy and Opponents Struggle Toward Deal for Speaker U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (L) talks with Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) (2nd L) and fellow Republicans in between roll call votes for Speaker of the House of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 3, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTONRep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) claimed good progress late tonight in his long-running, often fractious negotiations with dissident populist conservatives who oppose his bid to become Speaker of the House. Leaving the negotiating room in the Capitol, McCarthy told reporters that he thinks its probably best that people keep working tonight. I dont think voting tonight does any good but a vote in the future will. Asked if he has reached a deal with his opponents, McCarthy responded, We dont have a deal yet but were making a lot of progress. The House then voted 216214 to adjourn for the night and is expected to return Thursday at noon. Four Republicans opposed the motion to adjourn and two did not vote. If the deal is completed on Thursday, it is expected to result in McCarthy being elected Speaker, succeeding Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, who ran the House in the preceding Congress. McCarthys departure from the negotiations and statement to reporters came after a related agreement was reached between the Congressional Leadership Foundation (CLF), a political action committee (PAC) aligned with the California Republican; and the Club for Growth (CFG). The CFG is a conservative PAC that has helped elect dozens of the most conservative Republicans in both the Senate and the House in recent years. Former Indiana Republican Rep. David McIntosh leads the CFG. The agreement between the PACs reflects the anger sparked among the dissident populist conservatives during the 2022 midterm campaigns when the CLF supported Rep.-elect Morgan Luttrell in a bitterly contested Texas primary against a CFG-backed candidate. This agreement fulfills a major concern we have pressed for. We understand that Leader McCarthy and Members are working on a rules agreement that will meet the principles we have set out previously. Assuming these principles are met, Club for Growth will support Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, McIntosh said in a statement. The back room bargaining and close adjournment vote capped off a day that saw McCarthy lose three more House votes on the Speaker choice after he failed on three ballots on Tuesday. The last time more than one vote was required to elect a speaker was in 1923, when nine ballots were required. McCarthy received on the sixth ballot the same number of votes, 201, that he got in the days two other roll calls. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also received the votes of all the chambers 212 Democrats on every ballot taken so far. Jeffries will serve as House minority leader in 2023. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)the favorite of McCarthys Republican opponentsreceived 20 votes in each of the three votes as well. Donalds told Fox News shortly after the sixth vote that he thinks McCarthy may yet find the path to victory. McCarthys three losses on Jan. 4 in his effort to gain enough votes to succeed Pelosi came despite a strong endorsement on Jan. 3 by former President Donald Trump. Trumps endorsement was published late on Jan. 4 on his Truth Social digital media platform, saying, Some really good conversations took place last night, and its now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN and CLOSE THE DEAL. Trump said it was time for House Republicans to unite behind McCarthy, who led the Republicans in retaking the House majority in the 2022 midterm elections and avoid turning a GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. But Trumps words failed to change any minds among the 20 dissidents who remained united against McCarthy despite increasingly harsh criticism from former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas governor and 2016 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), and others. There had been talk in the hours before the fourth ballot of Republican leaders moving for adjournment immediately after the Jan. 4 session began, but the motion wasnt offered. It was widely reported before the session that Democrats were solidly opposed to the adjournment and that a handful of moderate Republicans could join them to defeat the motion. In nominating Donalds, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) emphasized that theres an important reason for nominating Byron and that is this country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not reflect this city, this town that is badly broken. House of Representatives is the peoples house. Do you think that the American people want us to continue down the road of what weve been doing? Roy asked his colleagues. Do they want us to continue to do the things since the leadership thats currently in place doesnt have a plan in place? Do you think they want us to continue down that path? And the argument that I would make is that they want a new face, new Vision, new leadership, and I believe that base vision and new leadership is Byron Donalds, and Im proud to put his name into nomination. McCarthys nomination was delivered by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.). Last night people were frustrated, Gallagher said. They wanted to go to parties; they want to take pictures with their families. But honestly, we find ourselves here in this chamber for the second day. We know weve got work to do, but in some ways, theres no place Id rather be. Yesterday, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle were tweeting bags of popcorn that they had out of it. The starting point is palpable. But I think my friends on the Democratic side misunderstand whats happening here. Sure, it looks messy. But democracy is messy by design. Thats a feature, not a bug, of our system. We air it all out in the open for the American people to see because, at the end of the day, the president is not in charge, the Supreme Court is not in charge, speaker of the house is not even in charge. The American people are in charge. McCarthy and Jeffries received virtually the same number of votes on all ballots. The shifts were between anti-McCarthy members: firstly Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz) who at one stage received 10 votes, and then Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) who received 19 votes ahead of the vote for Donalds. Jan. 4s opening vote capped a continuation of what has been a frenzied two days of back-room bargaining and media posturing by McCarthy and his supporters, as well as the dissident populist conservatives. The dissidents demanded and got from McCarthy a host of reform concessions, but their fundamental distrust of the California Republican kept them in the negative column. The bottom line for the dissidents is that they just dont believe that McCarthy would be the agent of change they believe must lead the House in what theyre determined to make the last two years of President Joe Bidens tenure in the White House. I came to a broken and dysfunctional Congress to change it. Advancing the long-standing pecking order one notch has no prospect of doing that. Many dont want to change it, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) posted on Twitter just before the first vote. Kevin McCarthy is not the right candidate to be Speaker. He has perpetuated the Washington status quo that makes this body one of the most unsuccessful and unpopular institutions in the country. This is not about personality or who has earned the position, it is about serving the American people. I will not support the status quo. One of the dissidents, newly elected Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas), told a local media outlet that he opposes McCarthy because he thinks House Republicans must stand up against excessive federal spending as seen in the $1.8 trillion Omnibus spending bill adopted just before Christmas. Im a rookie, Im a freshman, but when you just think through it, mandatory spending is one of those red lines with our constituents, Self said. UPDATE: This article has been updated to include the latest developments. Employers of Foreign Workers to Pay Higher Visa Fees Under DHS Proposal The U.S. Department of Homeland Security building in Washington on July 22, 2019. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed increasing the fees paid by companies that employ immigrants in an effort to boost revenue for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), from around $4.5 billion a year to roughly $6.4 billion a year. The proposed fee update (pdf) was announced by USCIS, the agency that handles legal immigration requests, on Jan. 3. According to the agency, the fee update is being proposed after it conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that its costs have increased considerably since its previous fee adjustment due to expanded humanitarian programs, higher demand, increased processing times, and a need for more USCIS employees. USCIS cannot maintain adequate service levels with the effects of the budget cuts and its current level of spending without lasting impacts on operations. DHS proposes to adjust USCIS fees, add new fees for certain benefit requests, establish distinct fees for petitions for nonimmigrant workers, and limit the number of beneficiaries on certain forms, the agency noted. The agency said it receives a majority of its revenue from application fees but has been getting limited appropriations from Congress over the last few years to help fund its work. Under the proposed fee update, applications for the naturalization fee would rise to $760 up from $725. Employers to Bear Brunt Individuals wanting to apply to turn temporary visas into permanent residency will pay $1,540, up from $1,225, and those wanting to apply to travel and work while they wait for the visa to come through would pay $2,820, marking $1,595 more, according to the Los Angeles Times. Registration fees for the H1-B program, which allows employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, will also go up from $10 to $215, while the main application fee for the program will go from $460 to $780. In addition, the proposed rule would institute a new Asylum Program Fee surcharge of $600 to be paid by employers who file either Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, or Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers to cover some of the costs associated with asylum processing, which does not include a fee, the proposed update states. That will make the total program fee $1,380 once the $600 asylum program fee is included. Fees for the H-2A program, which allows agricultural companies in the United States that anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring foreign workers to the country, would also increase from $460 to $1,090 under the proposed updates, while the application fee for companies that want to transfer executives or managers from their offices in foreign countries to the United States via the L classification visa will have to pay $1,385, up from $460, although that will rise to $1,985 when the asylum fee is included. Fees for H-2B petitions, which allow employers to temporarily hire foreign workers to perform nonagricultural jobs, will rise from $460 to $1,080. Elsewhere, the EB-5 visas, under which investors can apply for a Green Card if they invest large sums of money in the United States, will also go up in price. Application fees for that visa will go from $3,675 to a whopping $11,160. New US citizens recite the Pledge of Allegiance during their naturalization ceremony at George Washingtons residence in Mount Vernon, Virginia, on July 4, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Humanitarian Visa Fees Exempt While fees for business-related applications will go up, asylum seekers and those who seek protection as victims of crimes like human trafficking will not pay anything for their visas. In this proposed rule, DHS proposes to codify several humanitarian benefit requests as exempt from fees because of the humanitarian nature of these programs and the likelihood that individuals who file requests related to these categories will qualify for a fee waiver if they request it, they agency noted. The agency said that if it does not adjust the fees, it will not have the resources it needs to provide adequate service to applicants and petitioners, or be able to keep up with the workload needed to process and approve the requests. Members of the public have 60 days to submit their comments regarding the proposed fees before they are enacted under law. USCIS typically proposes new fees every two years but the last increase was in 2016, during the Obama administration. Former President Donald Trump proposed new drastically increased fees in 2020 but that was ultimately blocked by a federal court. Immigration attorney Dagmar Butte of Parker Butte and Lane told Forbes that the new proposed fees are unlikely to resolve the real problems with USCIS, which he said include inefficiency in adjudications, outdated technology and processes, chronic understaffing, and lengthy adjudications. The latest fee proposal comes after the U.S. Department of Labor and DHS in December issued a final rule allowing nonagricultural employers to apply for 64,716 additional visas for the fiscal year 2023. That marks the first time that two federal agencies have made the visas available for several allocations throughout the entire fiscal year, including the late second half. EU to Coordinate COVID Restrictions on Travel From China An employee of the the Dutch Municipal Health Service (GGD) hands out free COVID-19 self-test kits to travelers arriving from China, at Schiphol Airport, Netherlands, on Jan. 4, 2023. (Robin van Lonkhuijsen/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Member nations of the European Union are coordinating a response to communist Chinas ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the appropriate travel restrictions required to deal with the regimes sudden opening of travel. The overwhelming majority of countries are in favor of pre-departure testing, said EU Commission spokesman Tim McPhie at a Dec. 4 press conference. These measures would need to be targeted at the most appropriate flights and airports and carried out in a coordinated way to ensure their effectiveness. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, objects to travel restrictions that many nations have begun to impose and has warned of countermeasures if such actions are expanded. COVID-19 exploded across China last month following the regimes abrupt termination of its so-called zero-COVID policy in the face of nationwide unrest. Beijing has attempted to conceal the number of deaths and infections related to the crisis, saying that only 10 Chinese people died of the disease in December. International sources estimate the real figure at about 161,000 deaths. Chinese scientists claim that there is no pressing need for new restrictions on travel since the coronavirus variants emerging from China are already prevalent in Europe. However, scientists from the World Health Organization say that no meaningful data has been presented to demonstrate what strains are present in China. Speaking ahead of a Dec. 3 meeting between Chinese scientists and the WHO, virologist and WHO committee member Marion Koopmans said that the information Chinese authorities had presented on COVID hospitalization rates was not very credible and urged the regime to be more honest for the sake of Chinas people. We want to see a more realistic picture of what is actually going on, Koopmans said. It is in the interests of China itself to come forward with more reliable information. World Braces for More COVID From China Many nations worldwide are preparing restrictions that will require passengers traveling from China to present a negative COVID-19 test before departure. Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Qatar, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States are all seeking to place stronger restrictions on arrivals from China. Sweden, which holds the EU presidency, said in a statement that travelers from China [to Europe] need to be prepared for decisions being taken at short notice. In addition to pre-departure testing, EU nations will likely agree on special testing of aircraft wastewater to see if planes coming to Europe from China contain COVID-19 variants that are not common in Europe. Likewise, the White House issued a statement saying there was no need for the CCPs threats and that the nations of the international community were acting in the interests of the health and safety of their citizens. Theres no cause for retaliation here just because countries around the world are taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a Jan. 3 press conference. Again, there is no need for retaliation, Jean-Pierre added. This is something that all of us, other countries, are doing to make sure that we are protecting our citizens. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Federal Agency Issues Warning to California as Bomb Cyclone Approaches The National Weather Service on Wednesday warned that a "major storm" and "atmospheric river" will hit California on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding. (NWS) The National Weather Service on Jan. 4 warned that a major storm and atmospheric river will hit California on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing heavy rainfall and flooding. Impacts include river floods, debris flows, and mudslides near recent burn scar areas, the agency said on its website. The storm will also produce heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This week, the National Weather Service office in San Francisco warned that the coming storm is truly a brutal system that should be taken seriously. It added: This will likely be one of the most impactful systems on a widespread scale that this meteorologist has seen in a long while. Weather impacts will include widespread flooding, roads washing out, hillside collapsing, trees down (potentially full groves), widespread power outages, immediate disruption to commerce and the worst of all, likely loss of human life, it said. As of Wednesday morning, forecasters issued storm-related warnings, watches, and advisories for most of the counties in California. A separate Weather Prediction Center map shows that flash flooding is possible across most of the state this week, although a National Weather Services flood monitoring website shows that only a handful of California rivers are expected to reach flood stage in the coming days. Marvel at the satellite imagery this morning. Those asking, Wheres the Storm? Its still coming. The rain this morning is not the main event so to speak. Heavier rain is expected later today. Blue dots are lightning flashes. #cawx pic.twitter.com/Q3E4xYur5m NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) January 4, 2023 Forecasters with the Weather Channel and AccuWeather say the storm will rapidly intensify to become a bomb cyclone, meaning that the storm will see a drop of at least 24 millibars of pressure within 24 hours. There is a significant risk for flash flooding, and people should watch for and avoid rapidly rising water which can quickly become life-threatening, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said in a report. This will be a dangerous and high-impact storm for California, capable of producing life-threatening conditions and significant disruption which may last several days. Porter added that not only will this storm be intense tapping into a substantial atmospheric river, but it is also arriving just days after the previous storm brought heavy rainfall and created significant flooding, increasing the impacts and risks that can occur. Winds of 60 to 80 mph may also lash parts of the state, the Weather Service said. If these winds do materialize, the threat for scattered to widespread power outages and property damage will greatly increase, the office said in a bulletin. A plethora of hazards are forecast, with heavy rain and strong winds expected to be the most widespread impact. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches are anticipated, with locally higher amounts throughout the coastal ranges and over northern California, the weather service added. Snowpack Meanwhile, the snowpack covering Californias mountains is off to one of its best starts in 40 years, officials announced Tuesday, raising hopes that the drought-stricken state could soon see relief in the spring when the snow melts and begins to refill parched reservoirs. Major wind and rain impacts are EXPECTED tomorrow into Thursday. Prepare now for flooding, downed trees, and power outages. NEVER drive through flooded roadways! Remember turn around, dont drown. Stay safe everyone! #cawx pic.twitter.com/8agOIHccoJ NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) January 3, 2023 Roughly a third of Californias water each year comes from melted snow in the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range that covers the eastern part of the state. The state has built a complex system of canals and dams to capture that water and store it in huge reservoirs so it can be used the rest of the year when it doesnt rain or snow. Statewide, snowpack is at 174 percent of the historical average for this year, the third-best measurement in the past 40 years. Even more snow is expected later this week and over the weekend, giving officials hope for a wet winter the state so desperately needs. In Southern California, forecasters said all systems go for a major storm to sweep over the area Wednesday and Thursday, with peak intensity occurring from midnight to noon Thursday. The storms in California still arent enough to officially end the drought, now entering its fourth year. The U.S. Drought Monitor showed that most of the state is in severe to extreme drought. We know that itll take quite a bit of time and water to recover this amount of storage, which is why we dont say that the drought is over once it starts raining, said Jeanine Jones, drought manager for the California Department of Water Resources. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Benton County constituents will vote on a $110 million justice system bond in the spring, 10% more than anticipated, while county leaders decide how to plug an additional $4 million funding gap. If passed, the annual cost to property owners would be approximately $150-$155 for a Benton County home with an average tax-assessed value of $266,000 or market value of about $450,000, according to the county. The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Jan. 3, directed county staff to draft bond language asking voters to pay for most, about 61%, of the $179 million facilities overhaul that would include a new courthouse, jail and sheriffs office, among other facilities. But leaders put off deciding how Benton County makes up an estimated remainder 2% of the project from options that include suspending capital improvement for two years or reallocating coronavirus pandemic relief money. I dont want to risk our ARPA dollars, Commissioner Nancy Wyse said of the pandemic stimulus package known as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, for $1.83 a month, the cost property owners would pay in increased taxes if the final bond number was $114 million. Commissioners in December decided to retain all components of the proposal, rejecting options from staff to lop off or delay any part of the Justice System Improvement Project to keep Bentons anticipated bond ask under $100 million. Some of the work is already underway: The county pulled together $7.7 million for a mental health crisis center, the first shovel-ready piece of the justice system project due in early summer, 2024. A judge in November ordered a property owner to cede 29 acres of mostly farmland in North Corvallis to Benton County, where officials intend to site a justice campus comprising a courthouse, jail, sheriffs office and emergency operations center. Benton County budgeted $58 million in loans and grant funding, a state budget allocation at the behest of the Oregon Judicial Department, for the courthouse and new district attorneys office. But the amount the county would need to cover with bond measure funding crept up to $114 million with an additional $3 to $4.5 million needed for health and social services components viewed as vital to the measures passage. Commissioners were reluctant to ask voters to fund all $114 million. Wyse motioned to have staff develop a $114 million bond proposal. She withdrew the motion after commissioners Xan Augerot and Pat Malone sought a lower number. Theres no questions about the goal its how we get there, Malone said. Id be much more comfortable in the $108-$109 million range. Lobbyists working for Benton County in federal and state legislatures believe those governments will fund an about $5 million emergency operations center. Staff sought input from commissioners for options to effectively backstop that funding if it falls through. Wyse said she cant count on the budget allocations while considering county funding streams for the justice program. We certainly cant count on it, but we can put odds on it, Augerot said. Alternatives include: Limiting funding in the county budget for hiring staff or for capital improvement, freeing up $4 to $5 million. Spending $1 to $4 million in American Rescue Plan money. . Funding backstops could be pieced together from several or one of the options presented by staff. Augerot said backstop options wont matter of the county cant pass its bond measure. I dont want to get us all tied up in knots about it if it turns out its all for naught, Augerot said. Related stories: Benton County bond measure creeps past $100M Benton County takes North Corvallis parcel for justice campus Benton crisis center opening may be pushed back How much will Benton justice improvements cost? Former US Pilot Received Over $100,000 to Train Chinese Aviators, Indictment Alleges A Peoples Liberation Army Navy J-11 fighter pilot performs an unsafe maneuver during an intercept of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft, which was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, on Dec. 21, 2022, in a still from video. (Courtesy of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Former U.S. military pilot Daniel Duggan has been accused of receiving over $100,000 to teach Chinese aviators how to take off and land on aircraft carriers. Duggan, 54, was alleged to have received 12 payments from a Chinese-based business responsible for acquired military equipment and technical data for the PRC government and military, according to an unsealed indictment filed in the U.S. District of Columbia. Eight of the 12 payments, each for $9,900, or $9,500, were cited for personal development training. The payments, totaling between $116,250 and $116,400, were made between Jan. 11, 2011, and July 6, 2012. Duggan, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2012, was arrested on Oct. 21 in Australias New South Wales at the request of the FBI. The Australian government has approved a request to extradite him in December 2022. U.S. authorities alleged he, along with eight co-conspirators, provided military training to Chinese air force pilots at the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), a flying academy that British authorities have warned is an intermediary for Beijing to recruit retired pilots. A Chinese aircraft flies over the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland Chinas closest points to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan island, Fujian Province, China, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters) The indictment also alleges the naturalised Australian negotiating directly with a Chinese national, the owner of a business named Co-conspirator F, to provide additional services to a state-owned entity. These services included the evaluation of military pilot trainees, testing of naval aviation-related equipment, and instructions on tactics, techniques, and procedures associated with launching from and landing on a naval aircraft carrier, The Australian newspaper reported the indictment as saying so. Neither Duggan nor any of his co-conspirators applied for a license from the United States government to provide defence services to any foreign nationals. The indictment alleges that TFASA, directly linked to Chinese state-owned aviation giant Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China and referred to as Co-conspirator H, signed a contract with a state-owned entity in China to provide aircraft carrier approach and landing training to PRC pilots. The training was to occur in China, South Africa, and other locations both known and unknown to the grand jury, the indictment alleges. The training provided by Co-conspirator H required instructor pilots with knowledge and experience in naval aviation meeting NATO standards. To that end, Co-conspirator H contracted with Duggan. An F-35 fighter jet pilot and crew prepare for a mission at Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on Aug. 5, 2019. (Staff Sgt. Chris Thornbury/U.S. Air Force via AP) One of the co-accused listed in the indictment is known to be Keith Hartley, the former chief operating officer at TFASA who now lives in Adelaide, Australia. Duggan, who is also known by the names Ding San Xing, Din San Qing, DSQ, or Ivan, now faces four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States by conspiracy to unlawfully export defense services to China, conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of violating the arms export control act and international traffic in arms regulations. The man is subject to U.S. laws, according to an international law expert. Duggan was a U.S. citizen until some point in time in 2012 when he acquired Australian citizenship and is therefore subject to the application of these U.S. laws for conduct in China and South Africa during the time he was a US citizen, Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, told the Guardian news site. Duggan is currently held in custody and will return to court in Sydney on Jan. 10. Funeral Service Held for Slain OPP Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala OPP officers escort Const. Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala's casket prior to his funeral in Barrie, ON. on Jan. 4, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn) A private funeral is underway today for a 28-year-old Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer who was shot and killed last week in the line of duty near Hagersville, southwest of Toronto. The funeral service for Const. Grzegorz Greg Pierzchala is being held in his hometown, Barrie, on Jan. 4, starting at 11 a.m. ET, the OPP said. Starting around 9:30 a.m., the funeral procession travelled from the Adams Funeral Home to Sadlon Arena at 555 Bayview Ave., where the service will be held. While the public was invited to join and observe the funeral procession, the service at the arena is closed to the public. It is live-streamed on the OPPs social media channels, including YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. What appears to be hundreds of police officers attended the funeral service. One of my biggest fears when I was promoted to the rank of chief was an on-duty death of one of my members. When the unthinkable happens, especially when its one of our own, it has a profound effect on all officers, our members, their families, and friends, OPP Chief Superintendent Dwight Thib said at the funeral service. A number of government officials also attended the service, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones, as well as representatives from all levels of government. Livestream of the funeral procession and service for #OPP Constable Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala. Join us as we honour the life of our fallen hero. #HeroesInLife https://t.co/pZkLLg7MpW Ontario Provincial Police (@OPP_News) January 4, 2023 Pierzchala, who was based out of the Haldimand County detachment, was fatally shot on Dec. 27, 2022, while responding to a motor vehicle collision in Hagersville. The officer was transferred to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. At that point, he had only been with the OPP for about a year. Two suspectsBrandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, and Randall McKenzie, 25have been charged with first-degree murder. The two were charged and apprehended near the crime scene after Pierzchala was allegedly shot from inside a stolen vehicle. Pierzchala was among six police officers killed in Canada since last September, and his tragic death has sparked calls for bail reform. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ontarios 29th Lieutenant Governor, said at the funeral service also noted that the devastating loss of Pierzchala comes at an already difficult time for members of the police community. Weve never lost so many police officers in this province in such a short period, she said. The OPP has set up an online book of condolences for Pierzchala, and the public is welcomed to email their condolences to OPPCorporateCommunications@opp.ca. The OPP said the book may later be published. Peter Wilson and Tara MacIsaac contributed to this report. Georgia Governor Orders Special Election After GOP Member-Elects Arrest Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order on Dec. 31, 2022, to fill the seat in the Georgia House of member-elect Danny Rampey two weeks after his arrest for theft. Kemp signed the executive order calling on the secretary of state to hold a special election on Jan. 31 to fill the northeast Georgia seat. After his Dec. 16, 2022, arrest, Rampey, 67, who won his race for a seat in the state Assembly, decided to step aside instead of facing a possible suspension as soon as he was sworn into office with other lawmakers on Jan. 9. The Republican, who won his primary and ran unopposed for the District 116 seat, was arrested by deputies in Barrow County. Authorities said he stole prescription narcotics at the retirement complex he manages. He was later released from custody on a $111,000 bond, Athens Banner-Herald reported. The newly elected state lawmaker was charged with six counts of obtaining drugs by misrepresentation or theft, six counts of exploiting an elder or disabled adult, five counts of burglary, and one count of drug possession. According to deputies, Rampey was seen on Dec. 15, 2022, burglarizing an unoccupied unit in Winders Magnolia Estates, an assisted facility living Rampey manages. Party leaders had urged Rampey to resign rather than face a possible suspension proceeding if he attempted to take office on Jan. 9, because the special election to fill the seat would only be for Republicans since Rampey didnt have a Democratic opponent in Novembers election. In a joint statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, House Speaker Jan Jones and incoming House Speaker Jon Burns said Rampeys withdrawal will ensure his constituents have a voice in this session of the General Assembly after the special election is held. Authorities said they began investigating Rampey after receiving reports of missing prescription narcotics. Rampey and his family are the owners of a network of personal care homes in northeast Georgia. We had a couple of instances of him on video taking the items and today we had one as well. We actually filmed him going into the residence and taking the items, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said in comments obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald. Smith said police served warrants on Dec. 15, 2022, at Magnolia Estates and at Rampeys home in Statham. The Epoch Times contacted Rampey for comment. German Doctor to Appeal Jail Sentence for Illegally Issuing More Than 4,000 Mask Exemptions to New Patients A young man wearing a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic travels on a metro in Berlin, Germany, on March 22, 2022. (Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo) BERLINA German doctor was sentenced late Monday to two years and nine months in prison for illegally issuing more than 4,000 people with exemptions from wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic. A regional court in the southwestern town of Weinheim confirmed Tuesday that the doctor was convicted of issuing incorrect health certificates to people from across Germany, most of whom she had never met or examined. In addition to the prison sentence she was handed a three-year work ban and ordered to pay 28,000 euros ($29,550), the sum she had received for issuing the medical certificates. Her office assistant was fined 2,700 euros. The process is more reminiscent of a sale of certificates than a medical procedure, the court said in a statement. It noted that she was not faulted for providing certificates to her existing patients. During the trial, the defendant had argued that wearing masks was harmful to peoples health. The doctors lawyer intends to appeal the verdict, public broadcaster SWR reported. Dozens of supporters gathered outside the court in Weinheim, north of Heidelberg, to protest against the verdict and Germanys pandemic restrictions. Germany ended requirements to wear masks in many indoor settings last year, though they are still compulsory on long-distance trains, in doctors practices, hospitals, nursing homes, and on some regional public transport. Heartbroken Sydney Father Asks for Prayers for Son After Helicopter Crash in Gold Coast 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) The stepfather of a 10-year-old Sydney boy who is in critical condition due to a fatal helicopter collision on the Gold Coast has asked people to pray for his son. Simon Madras is also grieving the death of his wife Vanessa Taros, 36, who died when two helicopters crashed into one another near the Sea World amusement park on Monday afternoon. His stepson Nicholas has since been in an induced coma on life support, fighting for life in the ICU at a Gold Coast hospital. It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have to inform everyone of the passing of my beautiful wife and mother to my son, Vanessa, the grief-stricken dad posted on social media on Tuesday night. I do ask that if everyone can please say a prayer for Nicky, so he can wake up and make a good recovery. He is in a very serious and critical state. Im asking for all your prayers to bring my little man back to me. A fundraiser launched by Rochelle Fajloun, a friend of the family, to help with funeral and medical costs had raised almost $10,000 (US$6,800) by Wednesday noon. The incident also claimed the lives of British-born pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, and British newlyweds Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57. The helicopter, which had seven people aboard, fell from a height and slammed into a sandbar after its main rotor struck the windscreen of a second helicopter and detached. Meanwhile, a 33-year-old mother Winnie De Silva and her nine-year-old son Leon De Silva survived the accident but were both rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Leon has brain trauma with facial and head injuries and a cracked skull in Brisbane Childrens hospital, while his mother suffered two broken legs, a damaged left knee, a broken right shoulder, and a broken collarbone in the crash. Neil De Silva, De Silvas husband and Leons stepfather, watched the events unfolded. Winnie and Leons helicopter took off, it only went about 200 metres in the air, he told Herald Sun. I could see the other helicopter that was due to land it looked like they were going to crash into one another. As it got close, I was thinking this is crazy, this looks really bad and I just went numb. The family were on a budget holiday to the Gold Coast when the accident happened. The heartbroken husband only found out his wife and stepson had survived until an hour and a half after the accident. Its tragic for Winnie and Leon, but they survived my heart goes out to the ones that didnt, De Silva told Nine News. He also set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help pay for his wife and stepsons treatment and his Gold Coast accommodation. By 5.30 p.m. Wednesday, it had raised $35,061, exceeding the $20,000 goal. All Passengers in Other Helicopter Survived The second helicopter, piloted by 52-year-old Michael James, was in the air for less than 20 minutes before the crash. James managed to land on the sandbar, saving the lives of his five passengers, four of whom suffered glass shrapnel injuries. James and two passengers remained in the hospital on Tuesday night. The passengers included a Western Australian woman and two New Zealand couples in their 40s who were travelling together. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash to discover whats happening inside the two cockpits at the point of impact. Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the ascending helicopters main rotor blades hit the cockpit of the descending helicopter. Now, exactly whether that was the very first point of impact were yet to determine, Mitchell told reporters on Tuesday. But that in itself has led to the main rotor and the gearbox separating from the main helicopter, which then had no lift and has fallen heavily to the ground. Locals have placed flower tributes at the site of the tourist hotspot. Police divers left the scene around 6 p.m. Tuesday after searing through the area and removing the final pieces of the wreckage during the afternoon. AAP contributed to this article. Holiday Travel Mess Shows Why Canadian Air Travel Industry Needs Competition: NDP A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on May 13, 2019. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press) New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says the holiday travel woes that left thousands of passengers stranded at airports or struggling to find flights home show why there should be more competition in Canadas airspace. He says the lack of choice for passengers is also making flying less affordable, and hes calling on the Liberal government to find ways to make the airline industry more competitive. The Canadian Transportation Agency requires domestic air service operators to be majority-owned and controlled by Canadians, limiting options for travellersespecially in rural or remote areas. Over the holidays, hundreds of people were stranded in Mexico when Sunwing cancelled flights, and the airline has stopped flying from Saskatchewan entirely until next month. Air Canada is discontinuing flights from Saskatoon and Regina to Calgary this month, after it discontinued flights from Yellowknife to Edmonton last year. Singh says he wants the CEOs of both companies to answer questions at a future transport committee meeting, but that Transport Minister Omar Alghabra should also ensure theres better oversight. We need to make sure people have access to being able to get around the country, and that it is affordable, Singh said Wednesday. And right now, for many people, it is not at all. Its something we need to look at and find solutions for. Idaho Murder Suspect Stopped Twice by Police During Recent Cross-Country Drive: Officials A man arrested in connection with the deaths of four Idaho college students was stopped twice by police last month as he was driving back to his home state of Pennsylvania, according to his attorney, as reports indicated that he was flying to Idaho on Wednesday after waiving his extradition. Indiana State Police and the Hancock County Sheriffs Department confirmed that 28-year-old suspect Bryan Kohberger was pulled over twice within a nine-minute time period while traveling on Interstate 70 in December. Kohberger was not ticketed for either traffic stop, the public defender said. Kohberger and his father were traveling 2,500 miles from Washington state to Pennsylvania for the Christmas holiday, LeBar confirmed. The Hancock County Sheriffs Department in Indiana told news outlets this week Kohberger was pulled over by a deputy at 10:41 a.m. on Dec. 15 for tailgating, and he received a verbal warning. Nine minutes later, at 10:50 a.m., the suspect was pulled over for speeding, according to the Indiana State Police, adding that a trooper gave him a verbal warning. Indiana State Police released bodycamera video footage of the second time he was pulled over. They are planning to send it to investigators in Idaho. The Trooper, having learned the two had been stopped minutes before by a Deputy from the Hancock County Sheriffs Department, who he knew was working just down the interstate from him, used his discretion and released the two men with a verbal warning, state police said in a statement to news outlets. State police troopers added: At the time of this stop, there was no information available on a suspect for the crime in Idaho, to include identifying information or any specific information related to the license plate state or number of the white Hyundai Elantra which was being reported in the media to have been seen in or around where the crime occurred. (LR) Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, and Madison Mogen. (Obtained by CNN) A flyer seeking information about the killings of four University of Idaho students who were found dead is displayed on a table along with buttons and bracelets during a vigil in memory of the victims in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 30, 2022. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) Kohberger is a graduate student at Washington State University and resides in Pullman, located near the Idaho border. Officials with the school confirmed he is a doctoral student there and completed his first semester. The suspect was arrested in Pennsylvania on Friday on four first-degree murder charges and burglary charges. During a hearing Tuesday in Stroudsburg, he agreed to be extradited to Idaho. According to reports, Kohberger is currently traveling from Pennsylvania to Idaho, where he will face charges. Prosecutors in Latah County said that a probable cause affidavit will not be released to the public until hes served with an arrest warrant. Mike Mancuso, Monroe Countys first assistant district attorney, told a news conference Tuesday that he believes Kohberger wants to return to Idaho to see what is inside the probable cause affidavit. Having read those documents and the sealed affidavits of probable cause, I definitely believe that one of the main reasons the defendant chose to waive extradition and hurry his return back to Idaho was the need to know what was in those documents. So, thats a significant development, Mancuso said. Latah County prosecutors in Idaho have said they believe Kohberger broke into the victims home near the university campus intending to commit murder. The students were: Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington. They were close friends and members of the universitys Greek system. Mogen, Goncalves, and Kernodle lived in the three-story rental home with two other roommates. Kernodle and Chapin were dating, and he had been visiting the house that night. Capt. Anthony Dahlinger, of the Moscow Police Department in Idaho, told The Associated Press on Saturday that authorities believe Kohberger was responsible for all four slayings at a rental home near campus. We believe weve got our man, said Dahlinger, adding that investigators obtained samples of Kohbergers DNA directly from him after he was arrested. Pennsylvania State Police Maj. Christopher Paris said Tuesday afternoon that force was used to gain access to the Kohberger home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, to arrest him. There were multiple windows that were broken, I believe, to gain access, as well as multiple doors, he said, adding that his parents were home at the time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Illinois Assembly Looking to Tighten Already-Strict Laws to Curb States Gun Crime State rifle group says it will sue if HB5855 is signed into law Most of these rifles for sale at Freddie Bear Sports on April 8, 2021, in Tinley Park, Illinois, would be banned by HB 5855 which is currently before the Illinois General Assembly. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The Illinois General Assembly will consider a bill to place further restrictions on gun owners in a state already known for strict gun-control laws. Gun rights advocates vow to fight what one calls a blatantly illegal bill. Doug Mayhall, president of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said his organization would sue if the bill is signed into law. We are definitely doing that, he told The Epoch Times. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign HB 5855 into law if it makes it to his desk. (Tyler LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) The Protecting Illinois Communities Act (HB5855), sponsored by state Rep. Bob Morgan (D-58th District), would ban so-called assault weapons along with magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It would tighten regulations to prohibit rapid-fire devices turning weapons into fully automatic guns. The bill would establish an anti-gun trafficking strike force in the Illinois State Police and allow those who currently own banned weapons to keep them if they register them with the state and pay a fee. Mayhall points to this provision as one of the most objectionable to him. He said people who arent violating the law shouldnt have to register a legally owned firearm because the right to own such a weapon is protected by the Second Amendment. Fears of Confiscations Mayhall said registration only serves one purpose. Registration always turns into confiscation. He also objects to the bills buttressed Illinois Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) law. The bill would extend the duration of an order from six months to one year. It would also expand the pool of people who could ask the court for a FRO. It would change from a family member [to request a FRO] and opens it up to anyone, Mayhall said. If you dont like my political views, you could unfairly give me a lot of grief. The bill would increase the age to obtain a Firearm Owner Identification card (FOID) to 21. People younger than 21 can currently receive a card if a parent or guardian signs for them. The law would make exceptions for persons under 21 serving in the U.S. Military or Illinois National Guard. Itd also permit guardian-supervised hunting or shooting sports. Morgan, who didnt return a call seeking comment, posted information about the bill on his webpage. He wrote that the legislation aligns with his promise to reduce gun violence in the state. Morgan Invokes Crime After the July 4 mass shooting, I made our community, and our state, a promise that I would do everything in my power to prevent this tragedy from happening again, Morgans website reads. In that incident, a 22-year-old man opened fire during an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois. He reportedly killed seven people and wounded dozens more. Hes currently facing more than 117 felony charges, including 21 counts of first-degree murder (three counts for each of the deceased). Morgan didnt explain how his proposed law would have prevented that crime. Virginia-based Gun Owners of America (GOA) posted an alert on its website calling on Illinois gun owners to take action. GOAs statement warns that the restrictions could harm lawful gun owners and their families. Banning [guns] will only prevent law-abiding citizens from purchasing the best firearm to defend themselves. Not to mention, the requirement to register currently owned firearms is vehemently unconstitutional, the GOA statement reads. Mayhall agreed. He said he has read the bill several times and is concerned that it doesnt clearly describe the firearms to be banned. Bans Called Draconian The assault weapons ban eliminates almost all semi-automatics. Most semi-automatic handguns could be included as well. Its very draconian, Mayhall said. Six states and Washington, D.C., currently have assault weapons bans. States with bans are California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and Maryland. Mayhall said the 9th Circuit Court has previously ruled that magazine bans are unconstitutional. He believes the bill will almost certainly pass the Illinois House and most likely make it through the state Senate. If the bill does make it through the General Assembly, Mayhall said Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzkerwho has publicly supported the billwould sign it. Mayhall and GOA called on their members to take a stand now. GOAs website statement says the best time to stop the law is before its enacted. Please urge your State Representative to vote No on HB 5855, the statement reads. Mayhall agrees. Its a horrendous bill. My advice is to remind [legislators] this is blatantly illegal, he said. Indonesia Approves Plan to Build Offshore Gas Field In Disputed South China Sea A security ship crew of Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries prepares to anchor in Natuna during security patrols along Indonesia's exclusive economic zone, in Ranai, Indonesia, on Aug. 16, 2016. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images) Indonesia on Jan. 2 approved the initial plan to build the Tuna offshore gas field near its maritime border with Vietnam in the contested South China Sea, which will be used to export natural gas to Vietnam in 2026. SKK Migas, the countrys upstream oil and gas regulator, said that the Tuna field will cost about $3.07 billion and is expected to produce at least 115 million standard cubic feet per day by 2027. Indonesian Energy Minister Arifin Tasrif said last month that natural gas from the field, which Harbor Energy operates, will be exported to Vietnam beginning in 2026 at a rate of 100 to 150 million standard cubic feet per day. Dwi Soetjipto, chairman of SKK Migas, said on Monday the project would underline Indonesias maritime entitlements in the disputed waters while also providing economic benefits to the country. There will be activity in the border area, which is one of the worlds geopolitical hot spots, Dwi said. The Indonesian navy will also participate in securing the upstream oil and gas project so that economically and politically, it becomes an affirmation of Indonesias sovereignty, he added. The Tuna oil field, with around 100 million barrels of oil equivalent, was discovered by Harbor Energy in April 2014 near the Natuna Sea Block. Indonesia considers the waters near its Natuna islands part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Still, Chinas claims to most of the South China Sea have affected its energy activities near the islands. Indonesia-China Standoff The tension between Indonesia and China over the disputed waters escalated after a fishing boat incident in 2016 when an Indonesian patrol ship intercepted a Chinese fishing boat near Natuna. An armed Chinese coast guard vessel entered the EEZ and freed the fishing boat. In 2020, military and fishing vessels between China and Indonesia had more standoffs. Meanwhile, Indonesia had complained that Chinese research vessels increased their transit through Indonesian waters and suspected they dropped off drones to map the seabed for submarine warfare purposes. The South China Sea is a global trade route with rich fishing grounds and energy reserves. The Chinese regime claims most of it based on its so-called nine-dash line, despite competing claims from Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Southeast Asian countries, backed by the United States and much of the rest of the world, argued that the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) claims lacked a legal basis, but the CCP refused to agree and continued making incursions. In recent years, the CCP has increased its aggression in the South China Sea with other Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam in 2019. Since April 2021, the tension between China and the Philippines has escalated, as hundreds of Chinese paramilitary vessels posing as fishing boats lingered in the waters near the disputed Whitsun Reef. Alex Wu and Reuters contributed to this report. Jeremy Renner Shares Photo From Hospital Bed After Snowplow Accident Jeremy Renner speaks onstage during the 35th Annual American Cinematheque Awards Honoring Scarlett Johansson at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) Actor Jeremy Renner has publicly thanked his well-wishers after sustaining a traumatic injury following a snow plowing accident in Nevada on New Years Day. Renner, 51, is now in a stable but critical condition, according to his representative. The Avengers star took to Instagram on Jan. 3 to share a photo of himself lying in the hospital and displaying prominent bruising on his face. Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all, he wrote alongside the post. Renner was airlifted to a Reno area hospital after officers from the Washoe County Sheriffs Office responded to a reported traumatic injury in the area of the Mt. Rose Highway at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1. The actor has a home in Washoe County, Nevada. According to the Mayor of Reno, Hillary Schieve, the actor had gotten out of a snowplow about a quarter mile from his Tahoe property to help a stranded driver, when the plow ran over him. He was helping someone stranded in the snow, Schieve told the Reno Gazette Journal. He is always helping others. Schieve told the publication that she and Renner are friends and described him as a charitable person who often donates to multiple causes in private. Renner Sustained Blunt Chest Trauma There are a few times hell post about what he has done or donated toys, but most of it, you would never know he is doing, Schieve said. Hes always calling and saying, Hey mayor, what do you need? Renners publicist, Samantha Mast, told multiple outlets in a statement late Monday that the actor suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries and had undergone surgery. Mast added that he remained in the intensive care unit and was in a critical but stable condition. The actor, who has a 9-year-old daughter, was the only person injured in the accident, according to local reports citing the sheriffs office. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a press conference on Tuesday that the day prior to Renners accident, the Mt. Rose area saw three feet of snow, and multiple cars had been abandoned overnight. While it was not snowing at the time of Renners accident, Balaam said the Mt. Rose Highway was closed owing to severe winter weather and snow had not yet been removed from the highway. He added that the first sheriffs department unit arrived on the scene at 9:30 a.m. local time on Jan. 1, noting that there was a delay in them reaching Renner because of the weather and abandoned cars on the highway, which was closed. Emergency medical services were already at the scene when officers arrived, Balaam said. Vehicles stranded along the Interstate 80 at the Nevada State line and Colfax, Calif., on Dec. 31, 2022. (California Highway Patrol Truckee via AP) Renner Making Positive Progress, Rep. Says Based on our investigation, Mr. Renners personal vehicle, which was being driven by a family member, had become stuck in the snow near his home. Mr. Renner went to retrieve his PistenBully, or snowcat, an extremely large piece of snowmobile equipment weighing at least 14,000 pounds, in an effort to get his vehicle moving, Balaam said. After successfully towing his personal vehicle from its stuck location, Renner got out of the snowcat to speak to his family member, and the massive snowmobile started to roll, according to the Sheriff. In an effort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempted to get back into the drivers seat, Balaam said. Based on our investigation, its at this point Mr. Renner is run over by the PistenBully. Balaam said the incident was a tragic accident and investigators are examining the vehicle to see if there were any technical issues that may have caused it to roll. The sheriff added that Renner was allowed to operate the snowcat as he was on a private road that was shared by his neighbors and not maintained by the county. Renners accident came as the Reno area received around 6-12 inches of snow between New Years Eve and New Years Day, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. Renners representative told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the actor is making positive progress and is awake, talking, and in good spirits. He remains in ICU in critical but stable condition. He is overwhelmed by the showing of love and support. The family asks for your continued thoughts while he heals with his close loved ones, the representative added. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. Jeremy Renner Was Helping Stranded Person When Hit by His Snowplow Actor Jeremy Renner, who is now in a stable but critical condition after he suffered an accident involving a snow plow on New Years Day, was helping a stranded driver near his home at the time, according to the mayor of Reno, Nevada. The Avengers star had gotten out of his snowplow about a quarter mile from his Tahoe property to help a stranded driver when the plow ran over him around 9 a.m. local time, near Mt. Rose Highway. He was helping someone stranded in the snow, Mayor Hillary Schieve told the Reno-Gazette Journal. He is always helping others. Schieve told the Reno Gazette Journal late Monday that she was alerted of the accident on the morning of New Years Day, and added that she and Renner are friends. She described him as a charitable person who has quietly helped donate to various causes in the community over the years. There are a few times hell post about what he has done or donated toys, but most of it, you would never know he is doing, Schieve said. Hes always calling and saying, Hey Mayor, what do you need?, she added. Renner, 51, sustained blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries following the accident, and has undergone surgery, his publicist, Samantha Mast, told multiple outlets in a statement late Monday. He remains in the intensive care unit in critical but stable condition, she added. The actor was the only person injured in the accident, according to local reports citing the sheriffs office. He has since shared a photo on Instagram from the hospital bed. In his first comments since the incident, he said, Thank you all for your kind words. . Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all. According to TMZ, citing a neighbor, the snowplow had run over one of Renners legs, which caused him to lose a large amount of blood, and shortly after the freak accident, a separate neighbor, who is a doctor, rushed to tourniquet Renners leg while awaiting paramedics. It added that police arrived at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday to impound Renners snow plow. The issue, were told, is the machine has extensive safety features, and should not have rolled over Jeremy, the tabloid news website reported. Renner was airlifted from the area and flown to a local hospital in Reno. While the hospitals name was not disclosed, the only trauma center in Northern Nevada is Renown Regional Medical Center. The National Weather Service issued a snow warning over the New Year weekend for Reno and the surrounding areas, including Lake Tahoe Basin. It reported that the Tahoe Basin at the lake level received 20 to 24 inches of snow on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Much of the United States was impacted by a major winter storm in the lead up to the New Year that brought excess snowfall, as well as freezing blizzard conditions. Heavy snow to the Plains and upper Midwest is expected this week, the National Weather Service announced on Jan. 2. Renner is best known for his roles in the Avengers and Captain America films as well as in the Mission Impossible movie franchise. He has been nominated twice for an Oscar for his performances in The Hurt Locker and The Town. He currently stars in the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown and Marvels Hawkeye series on Disney+. Katabella Roberts contributed to this report. Judge Dismisses Environmental Lawsuit Against Dragon Springs The lawsuit had been filed by a China-linked group dedicated to opposing development of the campus Alex Scilla (L), an American with ties to China, and Grace Woodard (R) for years have targeted a campus named Dragons Springs in Deerpark, New York. An environmental lawsuit they filed was dismissed by a judge last month. (Epoch Times) DEERPARK, N.Y.A federal judge has dismissed an environmental lawsuit against Dragon Springs, home to two performing arts schools founded by practitioners of the spiritual discipline Falun Gong. The lawsuit was filed in January 2022 by a New Paltz-based nonprofit whose founder has ties to China and has for several years waged a campaign against the campus. It also included several local residents, including a resident who was behind another failed lawsuit against the campus in 2019. This suit is baseless, and so were not surprised it was dismissed, George Xu, vice president of Dragon Springs, told The Epoch Times. The plaintiffs claimed in the now-dismissed lawsuit that the school allegedly polluted a local river with fecal bacteria. Dragon Springs rejects that, pointing to the fact that it is served by its own wastewater treatment plant, which is tested quarterly for the quality of the water it releases. Our modern wastewater treatment plant eliminates any coliform presence. Regular testing proves this. Furthermore, the treated water is released into the ground. No wastewater is discharged into the river, Xu previously told The Epoch Times. Furthermore, in October 2022, the school accused the plaintiffs of lying about where some of the water samples they presented to the court came from. Security camera footage reviewed by The Epoch Times backed the allegation. District Judge Vincent Briccetti in his Dec. 28, 2022, ruling granted Dragons Springs motion to dismiss. The group behind the lawsuit, NYEnvironcom, was founded in 2019 by Alex Scilla, a U.S. citizen who had until that point lived in China for about 15 years. He runs the group together with Grace Woodard, a local activist, and presents it as an environmental outfit. Scilla maintains ties to China, including to a company in Tianjin thats listed as a partner of NYEnvironcom on the groups website. Virtually all of Scilla and Woodards advocacy is focused against Dragon Springs. Woodard has for years tried to block developments on the Dragon Springs property, including filing a lawsuit to force the town to revoke a permit for improvements to one of the propertys entrances. The case was dismissed in 2019 by an Orange County Supreme Court judge, who ruled that Woodard and her co-plaintiffs had made no showing of any harm whatsoever and failed, in all respects to provide evidence to back their claim that an additional environmental permit was required. This is the second lawsuit filed by Woodard that has been dismissed, and it shows that she and the China-linked organization now backing these types of suits against us are really just trying to use our legal system to stifle and malign Dragon Springs. They have no other purpose, Xu said. The Dragon Springs development includes a Tang Dynasty-style Buddhist temple, rehearsal spaces for the performing arts company Shen Yun, and a campus hosting two art schools, Fei Tian College and Fei Tian Academy of the Arts. Dragon Springs and Shen Yun Performing Arts were founded by adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong who had escaped brutal persecution in China. The Chinese Communist Party considers Dragon Springs a prime target, perceiving it as a headquarters of Falun Gong adherents efforts to counter the persecution. As a result, since its inception, the site has had to deal with multiple security threats, including sabotage of its touring buses, intimidation of staffs family members in China, as well as incidents involving trespassing and vandalism on its property. Lawmakers Propose Changes to State Election and Voting Laws Following the Midterms Republican and Democrat state lawmakers across the country have been putting together their proposals in preparation for their next legislative sessions. Bills concerning voting and election laws are among the most popular themes following the midterms. Many election and voting bills are related to enforcing election laws, increasing election and voter fraud penalties, automatic voter registration, restoring voting rights to felons after release from prison, and more. Election Reforms Proposed in Texas The Texas Legislature, which convenes on Jan. 10, has already seen hundreds of pre-filed bills, with dozens related to voting and election laws. Some appear akin to the issues voters experienced in Harris County, which encompasses Houston, during the 2020 general election and 2022 midterms. The 2020 general election forensic audit report, released in December by Secretary of State John Scotts office, found very serious issues in Harris County, as reported by The Epoch Times. The problems were severe enough that Scotts office notified the county of the audits preliminary findings ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Despite the notice, Harris County faced several issues, including late poll openings, paper ballot shortages, and more during the midterms. Some Texas Republicans are proposing state election marshals, similar to Floridas system, to combat election improprieties. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt and state Rep. Valoree Swanson, both Republicans, pre-filed companion bills, Senate Bill 220 (pdf) and House Bill 549, to authorize the secretary of state to appoint an election marshal. The election marshal would then select one regional marshal per 1 million voters from the state Department of Public Safety to investigate potential violations. What happened in the November 8th election in Harris County is absolutely abominable and can NEVER happen again! Which is why I will continue to champion voter integrity bills like Senate Bill 220, Bettencourt said in a joint press release following the midterms. The pair of bills would also provide emergency judges to hear cases within an hour on Election Day and within three hours during early voting. Republican state Rep. Keith Bell pre-filed HB 678 (pdf). It would allow the state attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and indict criminal election offenses. The bill also proposes shifting election law authority from the secretary of state to the attorney general. Republican state Rep. Bryan Slaton pre-filed HB 222 (pdf), which would increase the penalty for illegal voting from a Class A misdemeanor to a second-degree felony. State Reps. Craig Goldman and David Spiller pre-filed similar proposals with HB 397 and HB 52, respectively. Democrats Move to Expand Voting Access Several Democrats want to extend vote-by-mail eligibility. Four bills pre-filed by DemocratsSenate Bill 120 and House Bills 67, 241, and 502would allow any qualified voter to vote by mail. Under Texas law, a person must meet specific qualifications for mail-in voting. The bills also call for the repeal of certain criminal offenses concerning solicitation and distribution of applications to vote by mail. Weve already made a decision, a policy decision, that voting by mail is something that we should extend to people 65 and over or someone with a disability, Democrat state Sen. Jose Menendez, who authored SB 120, told Spectrum News. Still, others are pushing for automatic voter registration. Texas HB 849 (pdf), authored by Democrat state Rep. Ron Reynolds, would allow the voter registrar in each county to automatically register residents to vote when issued a drivers license or state identification or when making changes to a license or ID. State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat, pre-filed a bill to restore voting rights to convicted felons. SB 210 (pdf) would allow convicted felons not currently incarcerated to vote, removing the requirement to be fully discharged from prison, parole, or probation. Some are hoping to pass bills targeted at younger voters. The bills would modify the age requirements for voting in primaries and allow college students to vote on campus. Democrat state Sen. Judith Zaffirini pre-filed SB 56 (pdf), a bill allowing 17-year-olds to vote in a primary election for state and county offices as long as they will be 18 by the date of the general election. Democrat state Sen. Nathan Johnson co-authored SB 118 with Menendez (pdf), requiring counties to place at least one polling site on college and university campuses with 5,000 or more students. Campuses with 10,000 students would have at least two polling locations, with another site per 10,000 additional students. Menendez introduced similar bills during the two previous sessions. Other State Lawmakers Have Similar Goals In South Carolina, where the legislature meets annually, lawmakers will convene on Tuesday. Democrats in the Republican-led state are seeking automatic voter registration and a requirement to notify convicted criminals when their voting rights are restored. Democrat state Rep. John King pre-filed HB 3172, which would automatically register a person to vote when they apply for, renew, or change their drivers license or state ID. King also pre-filed HB 3349 to require the South Carolina Department of Corrections and the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to notify those disenfranchised for felony and other convictions of their eligibility to vote after serving their sentences. A similar bill, SB 220 (pdf), was filed by Democrat state Sen. Mia McLeod. In Missouri, where the legislative session began on Wednesday, bills relating to automatic voter registration and revamping voter qualifications for convicted criminals are on the states agenda. Democrat state Rep. LaDonna Applebaum pre-filed HB 1387. This bill would create automatic voter registration through various state agencies, including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Social Services, the University of Missouri System, the Department of Corrections, and the Bureau of Vital Records, among others. It also ensures that having incorrect information in the statewide voter registration system will be considered a Class 1 election offense only if the voter supplied the false information intentionally (pdf). Republican state Rep. Melanie Stinnett of Missouri pre-filed HB 248 to change voter qualifications. Under current laws, anyone convicted of a felony or other imprisonable offense is not permitted to vote until they are discharged from probation or parole. If passed, Stinnetts bill would prevent convicted felons from voting only while serving their prison sentence (pdf). I was happy to be able to file something that will help people re-engage civically, giving them a voice again, Stinnett told the Springfield News-Leader. It is not unusual for lawmakers to periodically reform voting and election laws. Many states want to make reforms that will improve voter confidence before the next election cycle. Marijuana Edibles at Home Land Increasing Number of Children in Hospitals: AAP Study Edible marijuana samples are set aside for evaluation at Cannalysis, a cannabis testing laboratory, in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 22, 2018. (AP / Chris Carlson /The Canadian Press) The number of American children falling sick from eating treats laced with marijuana has surged during the past five years, according to a new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), as pot becomes legal in more places across the country. The study involved a retrospective analysis of the National Poison Data System (NPDS) of children aged less than six years who were exposed to edible cannabis products between 2017 and 2021, during which, it was found, that there were 7,043 exposures. The number of cases rose from 207 cases in 2017 to 3,025 in 2021, an increase of 1,375 percent. The vast majority of cases, nearly 98 percent of total cases, occurred in a residential setting. Of all the reported incidents, 22.7 percent of the children were admitted to the hospital. The researchers found a significant increase in both ICU and non-ICU admissions. The number of patients who were treated and released fell during the COVID-19 years of 202021 when compared to pre-COVID 201719. Both major and moderate effects from consuming marijuana edibles were found to have significantly increased in the pre-pandemic years. There has been a consistent increase in pediatric edible cannabis exposures over the past five years, with the potential for significant toxicity. It is important for providers to be aware of this in their practice and it presents an important opportunity for education and prevention, the study said. Health Effects According to the study, the most common symptom among children exposed to marijuana was found to be central nervous system (CNS) depression at 70 percent, followed by tachycardia at 11.4 percent, vomiting at 9.5 percent, ataxia at 7.4 percent, agitation at 7.1 percent, confusion at 6.1 percent, and mydriasis at 5.9 percent. Tachycardia is a condition in which the heart rate is over 100 beats a minute, while ataxia refers to poor muscle control due to which voluntary movements become clumsy. Mydriasis is the dilation of the pupil. In 2017, edible cannabis contributed only 0.2 cases per 1,000 pediatric NPDS cases, which jumped to 3.6 cases by 2021. The study found that 2-year-olds made up the largest number of patients at 27.7 percent, followed by three-year-olds at 24.6 percent. My biggest fear is that if they start it at a much younger age, they have a higher chance of getting addicted to it. If you smoke at an early age, you might actually drop your IQ by eight points. And this IQ is not something that can come back, Dr. Cathy Ward from Big Apple Pediatrics, said to Fox News. Legalization, Greater Risks for Children Back in 2017, 30 American states, together with the District of Columbia, legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Out of this, eight states, plus the District of Columbia, allowed recreational use by adults. As of May 2022, 39 states, including the District of Columbia, allowed the medicinal use of marijuana. As for recreational use, 18 states, including the District of Columbia, allowed it. A key reason why children are so affected by marijuana edibles is believed to be the fact that they tend to consume more than the recommended dose unknowingly. The edibles usually contain multiple doses in a single treat or package, with the packages typically meant to be consumed by adults. For instance, a chocolate bar might have multiple servings. A child is less likely to know that they need to stop after taking a single bite. As they are of a smaller size, the children end up consuming a higher milligram-per-kilogram dose of marijuana, which immediately puts them at risk. In an interview with The Washington Post, toxicologist Kevin Osterhoudt, medical director of Poison Control Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, confirmed that they have seen a surge in such cases among children. For doctors that worked from the year 2000 to the year 2015, it was pretty unusual to ever see children poisoned by cannabis edibles, he said. And in 2015, they starting to see these cases, and now theyre just becoming more common all the time. Michael Zwaagstra: Students Lose When School Boards Push Woke Navel-Gazing Activities In the child-centred education philosophy, it becomes important to focus inward. However, this philosophy is seriously misguided, and it explains why we are seeing so many school boards descend into woke nonsense and administer surveys that are filled with inappropriate personal questions. It also explains why there is so little emphasis on ensuring that students learn how to read, write, and do basic math. (Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock) Commentary If being woke was a competition, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) would be in serious contention for the top prize. From promoting critical race theory in the classroom to censoring anyone who challenges woke ideology, the WRDSB has turned being woke into a performance sport worth a gold medal. Not content to rest on its laurels, the WRDSB is continuing its crusade to turn schools into indoctrination centres. Last month, the WRDSB quietly administered a survey to its Grades 4-12 students that included questions about race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Among other things, students were asked whether theyre gender fluid, intersex, non-binary, trans or two-spirit. The 22-page survey also contained questions about Satisfaction with Life, which gave students the opportunity to respond to statements such as So far I have gotten the important things I want in life, and If I could live my life over, I would have it the same way. Keep in mind that the youngest students filling out this survey were only nine years old. In essence, the survey asks students to delve deep into their personal feelings and experiences. Apparently, WRDSB believes that the board needs this type of information to properly educate students. WRDSB is far from the only school board to move in this direction. Other large school boards, such as the Toronto District School Board, recently administered a similar survey. Of course, this leads to the obvious question of why school boards think they need this sort of information. What possible benefit do school administrators think they will get? The answer is that these bizarre surveys are merely the latest manifestation of child-centred education. Eighteenth-century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau popularized this notion in his book, Emile. Rousseau had a romanticized view of human nature and believed that children were born innocent, and are corrupted when exposed to human institutions, such as schools. Thus, if the focus is on the child, it becomes natural to make schools revolve around the wishes and desires of students. Conducting surveys about the personal feelings and identities of students becomes a way of diving deep in this direction. In this child-centred philosophy, it becomes important to focus inward. However, this philosophy is seriously misguided, and it explains why we are seeing so many school boards descend into woke nonsense and administer surveys that are filled with inappropriate personal questions. It also explains why there is so little emphasis on ensuring that students learn how to read, write, and do basic math. We see this play out in social studies classes where students are subjected to endless lessons about their own neighbourhoods, and they are told to focus on their personal experiences. Instead of exposing students to the outside world by ensuring they learn about key historical events that affected their country, read classic literature, and master the scientific method, teachers encourage students to engage in endless navel-gazing activities. Sadly, this inward focus has led to the intellectual impoverishment of students, particularly those who come from disadvantaged homes. Students from wealthy families at least have the option of attending private schools or receiving extra help from private tutors. Those without these options are forced to rely on their local public schools. If those schools dont properly ground them in the academic basics, these students will fall further behind their peers. Thus, it makes far more sense for schools to have an outward focus. This means providing students with a content-rich curriculum, starting in grade 1. It also means ensuring that classrooms are safe and orderly and that teachers are clearly in charge. Doing lots of practice and memorization is also important to help students consolidate and retain newly learned content and to retain recently developed skills. Obviously, teachers must take individual student needs into account. A cookie-cutter approach where everyone is taught exactly the same way is inappropriate. However, it is still important to ensure that all students acquire a baseline of knowledge and skills. This will only happen if students are in structured learning environments where knowledge acquisition is prioritized. As we begin 2023, it would be great if school administrators resolved to move away from destructive woke ideology and embraced a content-rich approach to instruction. Students need to look outward, not inward. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. More U-Haul Trucks Left California Than Any Other State in 2022, Texas Top Destination: Study More moving trucks left from California than any other state in 2022 for the third year in a row, while more Americans are flocking to Republican-led states like Texas and Florida, a new study published on Jan. 3 has found. The study was conducted by the moving truck rental company, U-Haul, and found that Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas were the preferred destinations for one-way moving trucks in 2022, with those states ranking as the top growth states on the annual U-Haul Growth Index. U-Hauls Growth Index is compiled according to the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks arriving in a state or city, versus those departing from that state or city each calendar year across the U.S. and Canada and is a strong indicator of what kind of job states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, according to the company. Texas is the top destination for U-Haul trucks for the second consecutive year and the fifth time since 2016, according to the study. That is followed by Florida, which has been a top-three growth state for seven years in a row. South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, and Idaho also saw strong growth rates in 2022, the study found. Pictures of properties for rent or sale hang on the window of a real estate company on Sept. 29, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Meanwhile, demand for moving trucks out of California, Illinois, and New York was strong in 2022 as more people opted to leave areas of the West Coast, Northeast, and Midwest, the study found. Texas Booming Economy Attracting Americans California ranked 50th on U-Hauls Growth Index, meaning it saw the greatest net loss of one-way U-Haul trucks out of the state, followed by Illinois, which ranked 49th in 2022, as it did in 2021. Michigan came in at 48, Massachusetts at 47, and New York at 46 on the list of growth for 2022. John J.T. Taylor, U-Haul International president, said that the trends seen in 2022 followed very similar patterns to 2021. We still have areas with strong demand for one-way rentals. While overall migration in 2021 was record-breaking, we continue to experience significant customer demand to move out of some geographic areas to destinations at the top of our growth list, Taylor said. Data published by the Texas Realtors association in 2020 found that the number of people moving from California to Texas was up 36 percent from 2017, and the trend appears to have continued. A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, when asked by The New York Post about being the top destination by U-Haul customers, praised the states booming economy. People and businesses vote with their feet, and they are choosing to move to Texas more than any other state in the country, Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze told the publication. Florida Serves as Blueprint DeSantis Says Separate data from the James Madison Institute, a Florida-based think tank, shows that between April 2020 to April 2021, almost 330,000 people moved to Florida, which is equal to roughly 903 people moving to the state each day. According to the think tank, this is part of a national trend that has been seen in recent years of Americans departing blue states for red states. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, second from left, waves as he arrives with his wife Casey, right, and their children Mason, Madison, and Mamie during his inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., on Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who was sworn in for a second term as governor on Tuesday, has said that Florida serves as a blueprint for success for other states. What weve shown in Florida is you can stand up for truth, you can stand on principle, you can fight the woke elite, and you can win, DeSantis said during a speech delivered at the annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition on Nov. 19. The study comes shortly after Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to tackle New Yorks declining population during her inaugural address on Sunday. We must reverse the trend of people leaving our state in search of lower costs and opportunities elsewhere. We can do this, Hochul said. We have to make our state more affordable. Yes, people want to be here And New Yorkers are just struggling to pay rent, food, and gas to get to their jobs. Theyre hurting. Our people are hurting. Were going to fight for them. Moving From One Authoritarian Government to Another as Europe Shifts Energy Dependency Toward China Large solar panels are seen in a solar power plant in Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang region, on May 8, 2013. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Europes push to transition toward absolute renewable energy while weaning away from depending on Russian energy supplies could make the bloc end up being too dependent on China instead, warns the Institute for Energy Research (IER). The European Union (EU) already relies on China for much of its solar panels. Between January and August 2022, solar panel sales from China to the EU rose to $16 billion, which is more than double the $7.2 billion during the year-ago period. In 2021, China accounted for 75 percent of worldwide solar panel production, while Europe stood at a measly 2.8 percent. Chinas silicon production capacity is calculated to double, from 1.2 million tons in 2022 to 2.4 million tons, this year. Now that Europe has moved away from buying energy from one authoritarian government, Russia, it is turning to another, China, who dominates the solar market and its components, said the article. Europe should be worried more about energy security than it has shown in the last decade when it turned away from its own production of oil, natural gas, and coal, shuttering fossil fuel generators, cutting lease sales, and banning hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. European Manufacturing, China Manipulation Europe was not always lagging behind in the manufacture of solar panels. At one time, Germany was a leading player in the sector. But China overtook the European economic powerhouse in panel production in 2015 with its cheap energy and slave labor network, the article states. Chinas silicon products are mostly made in Xinjiang, where the minority Uyghur community is forced into labor. Between 2011 and 2018, the number of renewable energy jobs in Germany plummeted, from 300,000 to 150,000. The overall drop in employment has been mostly due to the collapse of Germanys solar power industry over the past decade, as many companies were forced out of business thanks to cheaper competitors from China scooping up most of the market, according to a February 2021 article by Clean Energy Wire. Being dependent on China means that Beijing can use that dependence to manipulate the EU and pressure it to potentially accept some of its interests. Back in 2010, for example, when China faced a territorial dispute with Japan, it cut off all rare earth mineral exports to Tokyo. Later, when Lithuania showed support for Taiwan, Beijing blocked the import of Lithuanian goods and pressured multinationals that had ties with the European nation. Boosting European Solar Panel Production A recent report published by researchers with the European Parliamentary Research Service points out that solar installation companies in Europe have come to rely on cheap equipment imported from China and other Asian nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and South Korea. Without such cheap equipment, Europes energy transition plans will not come to fruition. This puts Europe in a solar conundrum. With Europe importing 80 percent of its solar panels from China, dependencies would merely shift from imported oil or gas to imported solar equipment, leaving much to be desired when it comes to the solar sector as a genuine source of energy security and strategic autonomy, the report (pdf) said. The researchers calculate that it would be hard for photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturing firms in the EU to catch up with China in this generation of PV technologies. The report recommends the EU to ensure that European photovoltaic panel manufacturers have access to investors and international R&D institutes. The International Solar Alliance that is being spearheaded by France and India could be extremely important in advancing technology transfer as well as finding funding sources, it notes. New Twitter Files Reveal How Company Allowed Intelligence Agencies to Influence It A series of tweets by investigative reporter Matt Taibbi has revealed how Twitter came under the influence of American intelligence agencies after concerns about foreign influence put the company under the spotlight. Until August 2017, Twitter was not on many peoples radars with regard to the TrumpRussia foreign influence scandal. In September that year, Twitter informed the Senate that its cursory review led to the suspension of 22 possible Russian accounts as well as 179 accounts possibly linked to the initial set of accounts. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), who was the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee at the time, called Twitters report frankly inadequate on every level. Facing growing anxiety over its public relations problems, Twitter started a Russia Task Force to investigate the issue. First round of RU investigation 15 high-risk accounts, 3 of which have connections with Russia, although 2 are RT, said an October 2017 Twitter memo shared by Taibbi. RT refers to the television network Russia Today, which is controlled by the state. Finished with investigation 2,500 full manual account reviews, we think this is exhaustive 32 suspicious accounts and only 17 of those are connected with Russia, only 2 of those have significant spend one of which is Russia Today remaining <$10k in spend, said a message from the same month. Facing Pressure According to Taibbi, the failure of Twitters Russia task force to produce material worsened the companys PR crisis. However, as pressure from Congress and the bad press kept rising, Twitter changed its stance on the scope of the Russia problem that it had earlier characterized as small. The Senate showed great interest in an October 2017 article by media outlet Politico which claimed that Twitter deleted data potentially crucial to Russia probes. Twitter pledged to work with lawmakers on their desire to legislate in the area of political ads, according to another message from the company. While Twitter was considering removing Russian outlets like RT and Sputnik and also altering its ads policy, Congress apparently leaked the names of 2,700 suspicious Twitter accounts. In November, a report from Buzzfeed found that a new network on Twitter had close connections with Russia-linked bot accounts. Censorship Agreements The Senate asked Twitter for an explanation following the Buzzfeed article, and the company ended up apologizing for accounts that it had earlier claimed were not a problem. This cyclethreatened legislation, wedded to scare headlines pushed by congressional/intel sources, followed by Twitter caving to moderation askswould later be formalized in partnerships with federal law enforcement, Taibbi states. Twitter soon settled on a dual policy. As an external offboarding policy, it claimed to remove content at our sole discretion. But in its internal guidance, the company admitted to offboarding anything identified by the intelligence community as a state-sponsored entity conducting cyber operations. In an interview with Fox last month, Representative Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) compared Washingtons data gathering with that of the Chinese regime. The United States has a huge data privacy void and needs a uniformed data privacy law, he insisted. What TikToks doing isnt entirely different than what the Twitter files are saying was going on with the United States government. Now, its our own government thats doing it. So, we should be less concerned about it than the Chinese Communist Party doing it, but fundamentally, we have a huge void in privacy here, he said. Davidson is pushing a bill that will recognize Americans as having a property right on their data. So, if companies like Twitter or TikTok want to use it, the person can give or revoke permissions for such use. New York Gun Control Law Unconstitutional: NY Supreme Court The New York law that enables the confiscation of guns from people who havent committed a crime is unconstitutional, a state Supreme Court judge has ruled. This red flag law, or the Extreme Risk Protection Order law, lets individualsincluding police officerspetition a court to allow the seizure of firearms from a person they believe poses a threat to themselves or others. If a judge agrees, the judge can direct law enforcement to take guns from the person in question. The law, which took effect in 2019, has led to the issuance of more than 1,900 removal orders. However, the law is in violation of the U.S. Constitutions Second and 14th amendments because it doesnt sufficiently protect a citizens rights, state Supreme Court Judge Thomas Moran said in a ruling in late December 2022. The red flag law, per an update in July 2022, states that police officers and district attorneys must file for a risk protection order upon the receipt of credible information that an individual is likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to himself, herself, or others. The law points to a separate statute, the Mental Hygiene Law, that defines the likelihood to result in serious harm as (1) substantial risk of physical harm to himself as manifested by threats of or attempts at suicide or serious bodily harm or other conduct demonstrating that he is dangerous to himself; or (2) a substantial risk of physical harm to other persons as manifested by homicidal or other violent behavior by which others are placed in reasonable fear of serious physical harm. The Mental Hygiene Law requires a person to have been admitted involuntarily to a hospital and that a doctor has determined the person to be likely to cause serious harm. A second doctor must confirm the determination if the person is held in a facility for more than 48 hours. In contrast, the red flag law doesnt require the involvement of medical personnel. Why should respondents under the Mental Health Law be granted greater safeguards (such as having their case be reviewed by a physician with the educational background and experience to make such a determination) than matters pursuant to [the red flag law] in which laypeople make such a determination? Moran said. These are similarly situated people (by legislative definition) but as such are not to be treated equally, nor afforded the same constitutional guarantees that protect all citizens of New York state. Nonmedical workers such as police officers shouldnt be authorized to determine if a person is likely to cause serious harm, according to the ruling. In addition, under the U.S. Supreme Courts standards in its 2022 ruling striking down New Yorks concealed carry law, the red flag law doesnt fit under the nations tradition of regulating firearms, the judge said. The majority said in the 2022 decision that the Constitution protects peoples rights to carry firearms and that a government must, for each gun restriction, demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. This Court is not unmindful of the dangers firearms may pose when possessed in the hands of a person suffering a mental illness, harboring a criminal intent, or both. However, when viewed objectively, [the laws] goal of removing weapons from the otherwise lawful possession of them by their owners, without adequate constitutional safeguards, cannot be condoned by this Court, Moran added. While some may advocate that the ends justify the means in support of [the law], where those means violate a fundamental right under our Bill of Rights to achieve their ends, then the law, on its face, cannot stand. The ruling only applies to the specific situation and doesnt strike the law down statewide, a person familiar with the case said. Case The ruling came in a case brought by a woman, C.N., whose estranged boyfriend, G.W., lodged an application for the removal of guns from the woman. G.W. claimed that C.N. made statements indicating shed harm herself with a gun if she had access to one. According to court documents, though, the petition inaccurately said the statements were made in 2022, but they were actually made no later than Feb. 27, 2021. The court granted the request and ordered the seizure of any weapons from C.N., in addition to prohibiting her from buying or possessing any guns. Additionally, the court suspended C.N.s pistol permit based on the risk protection order and the allegations made against her. Daniel Strollo, an attorney representing C.N., said in a statement that he was very happy with Morans ruling. Strollo told WHAM-TV that the red flag law implemented a very quick and easy mechanism to deprive somebody of their fundamental Second Amendment rights. You have people who are essentially not medical professionals expressing medical opinions that result in the deprivation of rights, Strollo said. And you have a procedure that essentially allows somebody to lose those rights without ever having gone in front of a judge. NY Man Sentenced for Plotting to Steal Trade Secrets for China The logo of U.S. giant General Electric is pictured on the Belfort plant, in eastern France, on March 29, 2021. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images) A New York man was sentenced on Jan. 3 to two years in federal prison for conspiring to steal trade secrets from General Electric (GE) to benefit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Xiaoqing Zheng, 59, of Niskayuna, New York, was convicted of conspiracy to commit economic espionage following a four-week jury trial in March last year, the Department of Justice said in a statement. U.S. District Judge Mae DAgostino also ordered Zheng to pay a $7,500 fine and serve one year of post-imprisonment supervised release. Zheng, an engineer specializing in turbine sealing technology, was an employee at GE Power in Schenectady, New York, from 2008 until the summer of 2018, the DOJ said. Evidence presented at the trial, according to the DOJ, showed that Zheng and others in China conspired to steal trade secrets from GE related to the companys ground- and aviation-based turbine technologies. The evidence showed they intended to benefit the CCP and other foreign entities, such as China-based companies and universities engaging in research and development of the turbine parts. Zheng was charged in April 2019 and was accused of having worked alongside a Chinese businessman named Zhaoxi Zhang to spy on GE to benefit the CCP. At the time, Zheng pleaded not guilty, while he was believed to be in China. This is a case of textbook economic espionage, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the DOJs National Security Division. Zheng exploited his position of trust, betrayed his employer and conspired with the government of China to steal innovative American technology. The Justice Department will hold accountable those who threaten our national security by conniving to steal valuable trade secrets on behalf of a foreign power. U.S. officials have said that the CCP poses the biggest long-term threat to U.S. economic and national security. Theyve also accused the CCP of having mounted outright efforts to steal U.S. technology; the regime has denied such allegations. American ingenuity is an integral part of the United States economic securityit is what has guided the U.S. to become the global leader, even as China seeks to topple our status, said Alan E. Kohler Jr., assistant director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division. Xiaoqing Zheng was a Thousand Talents Program member and willingly stole proprietary technology and sent it back to the PRC. Let todays sentencing serve as a reminder that the FBI remains dedicated in our pursuit of those who collaborate with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and steal American trade secrets. The CCPs Thousand Talents Program, which has been in place since December 2008, is a state-run recruitment program that targets foreign high-level academics and experts in the fields of science and technology to allegedly steal technology and know-how to benefit the CCP. Hundreds of similar operations also exist at the central and local government levels. In November 2022, a Chinese national was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of attempting to steal trade secrets from U.S. aviation companies for the CCP. Xu Yanjun, 42, was the first Chinese intelligence agent to be extradited to the United States to stand trial. He was lured into Belgium by an engineer who he had targeted for recruitment, after which he was transferred from Belgium to the United States. He was found guilty in November 2021, a year prior to his sentencing. The new Republican House majority failed for the sixth time to elect a speaker of the House on Jan. 4, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) continued looking for a way through the impasse. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlins status has improved after he collapsed during Monday nights game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to family members. NTD spoke to cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, who says the vaccine must be considered in Hamlins case. President Joe Biden says its his intention to visit the U.S.-Mexico border during his trip to the North American Leaders Summit next week. It would be Bidens first trip to the border during his presidency. Pennsylvania House Majority Still Unclear as New Speaker Named Pennsylvanias House of Representatives will be led by a Democrat who vows to become an independent, was nominated by Republicans, and has ties to Democrat Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro. In a tense nomination process on Tuesday, Rep. Mark Rozzi of Berks County was named Speaker of the House, with 115 members voting for Rozzi and 85 members voting for Republican nominee Carl Walker Metzger. At the time of the vote, the House had 99 Democrats, 101 Republicans, and three vacancies all in Democrat strongholds. It means Republicans are in the majority for now, but once the vacancies are filled, power will likely flip in Democrats favor: 102 to 101. Rozzi is known for his relentless battle against childhood sexual abuse. He has said he was sexually abused by a priest in the 1980s when he was 13 years old, and from that, Rozzi has spent years advocating for victims of childhood sexual abuse. He worked closely with Attorney General Shapiro and victims who testified for the 2018 grand jury report detailing widespread abuse in Pennsylvanias Catholic Churches. Much of Rozzis proposed legislation has centered on this issue. Nominated by a Republican State Rep. Mark Rozzi, speaking at a 2019 press conference at Muhlenberg High School about childhood sexual abuse. Behind him are Gov. Tom Wolf, Rep. Jim Gregory and then Attorney General Josh Shapiro. (Commonwealth Media Service) Rep. Jim Gregory, a Republican from Blair County, nominated Rozzi for speaker of the House. Gregory is himself a survivor of sexual abuse and worked with Rozzi on some legislation. We must look at our razor thin majority and the likelihood of shifting majorities throughout this session, Gregory told his colleagues in a prepared nominating speech on the House Floor. It is time to put aside the letters that come after our names; its time to focus on the titles in front of them. We are representatives. We are representatives of the people that sent us here, those people that put this House at the slimmest of majorities. While we cannot, or should not, lose our identities or the identities of our districts, it is time to put aside the primacy of our parties and find common ground for the people of this commonwealth. Republican Rep. Timothy ONeal, seconded the nomination, calling Rozzi an independent. We need an independent voice and an independent mind, and thats what were going to get with Representative Mark Rozzi, ONeal said. I think thats what the people asked for. I think thats what the people want. And thats why Im seconding nomination for Mark Rozzi. Rep. Joanna E. McClinton, Democratic leader, called Rozzi a true leader and offered Democrat support for the nomination. Someone quickly moved to close nominations after this first and only nomination for speaker. There were some loud groans and objections. Republican Leader Bryan Cutler made a case for keeping nominations open. The House voted on it and decided, 99-101, to take more nominations. That is when Rep. Metzger was nominated. Using their red and green voting buttons, 115 members hit the green button for Rozzi, 85 hit red for Metzger. After he was sworn in, Rozzi, who has been a Democrat, called himself an independent and offered unifying comments. The Commonwealth that is home to Independence Hall will now be home to this commonwealths first Independent Speaker of the House, Rozzi said. I pledge to caucus with neither the Republicans nor the Democrats. My staff will be made up of people from both parties. I pledge my allegiance and my loyalty to no interest in this building, to no interest in our politics. I pledge my loyalty to the people of the commonwealth; the people who are tired of the hyper-partisanship on both parties the people who are tired of backroom deal-making, the people who are tired of dysfunction and obstruction, the people who feel as though their voice is not heard. And if they want to be heard, they must choose a side. Those folks deserve a seat at the table, and that seat is now the speakers chair. In a statement, Cutler said that as a former speaker, he could attest to the use of a speaker removing himself from his own political beliefs and putting the institution before individuals. I have known Rep. Rozzi for many years and know he will rise to the occasion and meet the moment as a truly independent leader for the Pennsylvania House. With Rozzi becoming an independent, the partisan makeup in the House is currently 101 Republicans, 98 Democrats, and one independent. If the three vacant seats are all filled by Democrats, the house will be equally divided, 101-101. Protest Organiser Denies Fundraising Fraud Related to Bristol Statue Toppling A woman alleged to have organised a protest that led to a statue being toppled into Bristol Harbour has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges relating to fundraising pages she allegedly set up in June 2020. Xahra Saleem, 22, of Romford, east London, appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on Tuesday accused of two counts of fraud by abuse of position. A statue of Edward Colston was pushed into Bristol Harbour on June 7, 2020 during protests related to the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Saleem is said to have been one of the organisers of the protest and had set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for masks and other equipment. Crowdfunding An agreement is said to have been made that any excess funds would go to Bristol-based charity Changing Your Mindset Ltd. Following the protest, which gained worldwide attention, the page raised tens of thousands of pounds, however it is alleged that none of the money was given to the charity. The defendant is also said to have set up a fundraising page following the protest to raise money for the legal costs of those facing charges. Those funds are also alleged to have not been handed over. Bristol Crown Court In court, Saleem spoke only to confirm her name, address, and date of birth, and stated her not guilty pleas. She was taken into court wearing a black niqab and long navy blue trench coat. District Judge Lynne Matthews told the defendant that owing to the seriousness of the case, it would have to be dealt with at the crown court. Saleem will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on Jan. 30. She was granted unconditional bail. The statue of 17th century merchant, Edward Colston, falls into the water after protesters pulled it down during a protest following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Bristol, England, on June 7, 2020. (Keir Gravil via Reuters) BLM The Bristol BLM protest was one of hundreds that took place across a weekend of intense protests in the UK and the United States. According to the Bristol local authority museums website, Colston, a 17th-century British merchant and philanthropist, profited from his shares in the Royal African Company, whose members traded gold, ivory, and enslaved Africans. He had also been an active member of the companys governing body for 11 years. Colstons statue was toppled, before being dumped in Bristol Harbour and later recovered by Bristol City Council. A January 2022 jury trial acquitted four BLM protesters of causing criminal damage. The acquittal was referred to the Court of Appeal after then-Attorney General Suella Braverman referred the case for legal clarification. The judges ruled that the toppling of the Colston statue was a violent act, though the ruling does not imply the four were guilty of criminal damage, the BBC reported. The BLM protests followed the killing of a black man, George Floyd, while being arrested by police in the United States on May 25, 2020. First emerging in the United States during President Barack Obamas second term, the BLM movement initially appeared in response to excessive use of deadly force in law enforcement actions, which many argue disproportionately affects the black community. The non-profit organization that bears the same name, however, goes much further to advocate for a number of Marxist causes, including the dissolution of nuclear family. We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable, the organizations website used to read. PA Media and Lily Zhou contributed to this report. Quebecs Social Services Under Pressure by Influx of Asylum Seekers Welcome Hall Mission CEO Sam Watts stands next to pallets of food in the food banks warehouse in Montreal on March 14, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes) The influx of asylum seekers to Quebec is putting pressure on the provinces social services network, with homeless shelters in Montreal bearing the brunt. France Labelle, with a youth homeless shelter in downtown Montreal, says a rising number of requests for beds is coming from asylum seekers, who she says compose about 10 percent of her clientele. Sam Watts, head of homeless shelters with the Welcome Hall Mission, says that homelessness in the asylum seeker population in Montreal is a relatively new phenomenon. The federal government says that between January and November 2022, 45,250 asylum seekers arrived in Quebec, compared to 7,290 people for all of 2021. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said last month that the province needed help from Ottawa to house, educate and integrate the rising number of asylum seekers in the province. Labelle says shelters and other parts of Montreals social services network need appropriate resources to accommodate the increasing demand from would-be refugees. Rep. Donalds Explains Switching Vote From McCarthy in Speaker Election Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) talks with fellow Republicans after the new Congress failed to elect a new House Speaker at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 03, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) flipped his vote against Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for House speakership during the third round of voting on Jan. 3, despite voting for the Republican leader on the first and second ballots. These continuous votes arent working for anyone, Donalds said in a Twitter thread following the flip. When the dust settles, we will have a Republican Speaker, now is the time for our conference to debate and come to a consensus. This will take time, the congressman wrote. McCarthys defeat on Tuesday marked the first time in a century that the House failed to elect a speaker on the first vote. The chamber will meet at noon on Wednesday for another round of voting. Although Republicans took control of the House this week, the slim 222-to-212 majority means the former House Minority Leader McCarthy can only lose no more than four votes from his Republican colleagues to become the next speaker of the lower chamber. But Donaldss final ballot left the GOP leader a total of 202 votes, failing for a third time in a day to meet the 218-vote threshold. McCarthy obtained 203 votes in the first and second ballots. All 19 Republicans who did not vote for him in the first round rallied behind incoming House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in the second round, before Donalds decided to join the faction. U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (C) sits alongside colleagues as Representatives cast their votes for Speaker of the House on the first day of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 3, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesnt have the votes. I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor, Donalds said, explaining his solo switch to Jordan in the third round. Although McCarthy had vowed earlier that day to continue holding votes as long as it took to win majority, Donalds suggested calling off the endless string of ballots. 218 is the number, and currently, no one is there. Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps, he said. The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesnt have the votes. I committed my support to him publicly and for two votes on the House Floor. 218 is the number, and currently, no one is there. Our conference needs to recess and huddle and find someone or work out the next steps(1/3) Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) January 3, 2023 The bitter battle came as McCarthy faces growing opposition from staunchly conservative members of the party who say he hasnt performed well in the past as minority leader and will not institute changes they see as necessary if he assumes the speakership. The 20 no voters include several loyal supporters of former President Donald Trump, as well as members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Jordan, however, supported McCarthy on all three ballots despite securing the opposition votes. Donalds also received one vote on the first ballot from Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy. Thus far, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who will serve as House minority leader in 2023, has the highest number of 212 votes, which he received from every House Democrat in all three rounds. Unlike the DEMs, who do leadership by acclamation, the GOP is having a deliberative process of what leadership looks like in the House, said Donalds in another post later on Tuesday. We know DC does not work. Having a deliberative discussion(it is messy at times) but in the long term, is in the nations best interests. His third vote stunned the chamber but also won a spatter of applause. In an impassioned speech nominating Jordan on the third ballot, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) put the issue between McCarthy and the dissidents as one of how best to stand up to President Joe Biden and the Senate Democratic majority. How many times have we been down here giving speeches, and theres not a soul in the chamber? Yet this is what it takes to get 435 people in the chamber and have an actual debate, Roy said on the floor. The American people are watching, and thats a good thing. What were doing is exercising our rights to vote and have a debate, and have a discussion about the future of this country through the decision of choosing a speaker. This is not personal. Its not. This is about the future of the country. This is about the direction of the country. Rep. Schiff Pressured Twitter to Ban Journalist, New Messages Show Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) looks on during a hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol breach on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 16, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) A top Democrat pressured Twitter to ban a journalist from the social media platform, according to newly released messages. Rep. Adam Schiffs (D-Calif.) office pressured Twitter in 2020 to suspend investigative journalist Paul Sperrys account, the messages show. Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee at the time, wanted many accounts allegedly linked to QAnon suspended, including Sperrys, one message shows. Schiffs office claimed that Sperry and the other accounts had repeatedly promoted false QAnon conspiracies and harassed [redacted]. QAnon refers to a movement of people who promote conspiracy theories related to government officials and other elite figures, some of which have turned out to be true. The message also shows Schiffs office wanting the removal of any and all content about staff on the House Intelligence Committee, including posts, shared content, and reactions to that content. The message, an internal Twitter email made public by journalist Matt Taibbi, shows a Twitter official saying this isnt feasible/we dont do this to the latter request. Regarding the request to ban Sperry and the other accounts, the official said, Well review these accounts again but I believe [redacted] mentioned only one actually qualified for suspension. 27.They also received an astonishing variety of requests from officials asking for individuals they didnt like to be banned. Here, the office for Democrat and House Intel Committee chief Adam Schiff asks Twitter to ban journalist Paul Sperry: pic.twitter.com/SXI1ekqi13 Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) January 3, 2023 Schiffs office didnt respond to a request for comment, including whether the California lawmaker pressured any other platforms to ban journalists. Sperry said on Twitter that Schiff used his power as head of House Intel to muscle Twitter into banning a journalist and suggested that the actions stemmed from his reporting on Schiffs connection to the whistleblower who triggered the impeachment process against former President Donald Trump. Schiff claimed that he didnt have direct contact with the whistleblower, but his spokesman said later that the person communicated with the House Intelligence Committee. Schiff said he regretted his choice of words. Sperry was ultimately banned by Twitter in February 2021, about three months after the newly revealed message. He was told that his account violated Twitters rules, but he wasnt informed how. Explains why Twitter could never give me a reason for my suspension. It was Schiff! Sperry said this week. His account was recently restored after Elon Musk bought Twitter. Musk has given Taibbi and some other reporters access to internal Twitter files. In another set of messages, the Senate Intelligence Committee was shown to be in touch with Twitter on the removal of accounts. Other Files Other files released by Taibbi on Jan. 3 show that Twitter acted on requests from other parties, including the State Departments Global Engagement Center. The center, which raised concerns about accounts that promoted the theory that COVID-19 originated at the laboratory in Wuhan, China, near where the first cases of the disease were detected in 2019, successfully got accounts banned after identifying them as being linked to Russians, including some to the Russian government. The U.S. intelligence community also designated individual users for removal, including an account that officials claimed was controlled by the Russian Internet Research Agency and that had posted racially derogatory content targeting African Americans. Another message flagged multiple Russian media outlets, including the state-controlled TASS. One recently released set of files shows Twitter taking action against doctors because their views diverged from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including the suspension of Dr. Andrew Bostom, a Rhode Island physician. However, a Twitter review of the five alleged violations Bostom committed concluded that only a single instance was an actual violation. A second set shows that Twitter moderators inconsistently applied moderation to then-President Donald Trump while not censoring President Joe Biden, who was a candidate at the time. A third set shows the FBI communicating with Twitter about alleged information from Russian sources shortly before the New York Post published its first article about the laptop belonging to Bidens son, Hunter Biden. Twitter infamously locked the Post out of its account after the outlet shared the article, claiming that it was sourced from hacked materials. Former FBI lawyer Jim Baker, a top lawyer at Twitter at the time, said in one internal message that Twitter didnt know if the story was from hacked materials but said it was reasonable for us to assume that they may have been. Twitter also diverged from longstanding company policy when it banned Trump in early 2021, with former top executive Yoel Roth expressing confusion about the basis for permanently suspending the president, internal messages show. Musk has cheered the release of the files, saying they expose problems that were widespread before he took over the company. None of the executives or government agencies that sent or received the messages, nor Twitter itself, have disputed their authenticity. The FBI said in a recent statement that the messages between it and Twitter show nothing more than examples of our traditional, longstanding and ongoing federal government and private sector engagements, which involve numerous companies over multiple sectors and industries. Rising Polar Bear Numbers in Canadian North Prompting Management Measures, Says Federal Department Rising numbers of polar bears in the Canadian north require certain management measures to be taken, according to a federal department, despite past reports that the animals extinction is drawing near. However, science and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) are now observing higher numbers of Polar Bears, and the management goals are more focused on maintaining or reducing numbers in communities and in sensitive areas (i.e. bird colonies), said the Environment Department in a report called Species at risk in Nunavut 2021, which was last updated in December 2022. Inuit are concerned about the increasing number of encounters and property damages by Polar Bears; this may be due to a combination of factors, including rising population numbers in some areas and a reduction in sea-ice duration and extent, the document noted, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter. The department also said that the first polar bear harvesting restrictions were implemented in 1960 and that the animal has been an iconic species at risk on a national and international scale since then. The report made reference to the Nunavut Polar Bear Co-Management Plan, which says that measures over the last 50 years to restore polar bear numbers in areas where they had become scarce have largely been achieved. The focus of polar bear management now shifts to maintaining, or reducing numbers in areas where public safety is a concern and/or where there are detrimental effects on the ecosystem due to increased numbers of polar bears, says the plan, which dates from October 2016. Inuit hunter observations indicate that polar bear numbers have increased from the population lows of the 1950s and 60s. This is confirmed by scientific studies on Most Nunavut subpopulations. The co-management plan goes on to address conflicting views of the issue between Inuit and outside observations, which it summarizes as pressure by environmental organizations and climate change advocates to conserve polar bear populations. Inuit believe there are now so many bears that public safety has become a major concern, it said. The federal environment department had repeatedly warned that climate change is threatening the polar bear population. If greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked then it is highly likely that well lose every polar bear population in the world before the end of the century, former Environment Minister Catherine McKenna tweeted in 2020, quoting a news article on the subject. Devastating but should motivate us for more ambitious climate action! Senate Republicans Criticize House GOP for Failure to Elect Speaker Senate Republicans on Jan. 3 criticized the House GOP for failing to elect a speaker despite holding a majority in the lower chamber in the new Congress. If its this hard to elect a Speaker, imagine how hard its going to be to pass any legislation, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told The Hill. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the three failed votes on Tuesday, which featured more than a dozen Republican members not voting for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), was not a good start and questioned whether the GOP-held House would ever pass a bill that President Joe Biden would sign. At the end of the day, youre not going to pass a bill out of the House that Biden will sign, Graham said. Bills need to be approved by both the House and the Senate before reaching the presidents desk. The president can sign or veto a bill. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in each chamber. Democrats expanded their majority to 5149 in the Senate in the midterms, which saw Republicans flip about a dozen seats to gain control of the House. Business cant be conducted, though, until the House selects a speaker, the top official in the lower chamber. To win the speaker election, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes, unless the body chooses to change the threshold. In the first two rounds, 19 Republicans voted for somebody other than McCarthy. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) joined them in the third round. U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (C) talks with members of the House in between roll call votes for Speaker of the House of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 3, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) The Republicans who did not vote for McCarthy say he wont enact enough change if he wins the election and want to unify behind a different candidate. Most of the votes went to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who voted for McCarthy each time. Jordan told reporters after the third vote that he does not want to become speaker. All Democrats voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). No speaker votes had gone past the first ballot since 1923 before Tuesday. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said the failure to pick a speaker on the first day signaled an unsteadiness in the House GOP. I just hope they can overcome the dysfunction, she told Politico. And also, Im very glad Im not back in the House. My assumption is that, in the end, theyll get organized over there. Because everybody will, at some point, realize that chaos is not a good alternative in terms of starting the Congress, added Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.). Its clearly not a smooth transition. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who also used to serve in the House, said that he thought the process would be resolved by the end of the week. Republicans are pretty independent. I think itll be noisy for a couple of days and then theyll figure it out and well get moving as a country, he said. Senators were already sworn in but House members have to wait until a speaker is chosen. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill, in Washington, on April 7, 2022. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Must Understand Graham warned that the GOP fractures could lead to Jeffries becoming speaker. To those Republicans who suggest it is better to have Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker you must understand that means backing policies like: DC statehood [and] Puerto Rican statehood, he said on Twitter. That could happen if the threshold to win is lowered by GOP members voting present, one technique that McCarthy and his allies have floated. The move could also end up with McCarthy winning. Winning requires receiving a majority of votes from members who are present and vote for a person. Democrat senators, meanwhile, said theyre focused on crucial work while Republicans continue trying to pick a speaker. While Republicans are back in Washington today to battle for more power for themselves, Democrats are back to work fighting to lower prices and expand opportunity for you and your family, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.Y.) wrote on Twitter. The American federal legislature is non functional literally the minute Republicans take over, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said. That sounds like the kind of thing that one says in the heat of the campaign, not as a statement of fact on Opening Day. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.Chinese culture is derived from an expansive area of land and 5,000 years of history. Many audience members of Shen Yun Performing Arts have also visited China; among them is Cary Fechter, MD, the founder of Cardio-Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Fechter said he loved his time in China but commented that the artistry in Shen Yun was incomparable. I love the performance, just like everyone around me. I happened to be with very intelligent viewers, Dr. Fechter said. Ive been to China. Ive been to the Forbidden City, and Ive been to lots of places. But this was the most beautiful [dance], better than the Bolshoi, much better than the Beijing ballet, he said. New York-based Shen Yun is trained in classical Chinese dance. An art form that is more comprehensive and more expressive than ballet. I thought the womens hand movements were so graceful. I was watching their hands all the time. They were magnificent, he said. According to the Shen Yun website, classical Chinese dance combines elements of martial arts and Chinese theater. But the dance itself has thousands of years of history. The men were very masculine, yet very graceful. Thats a hard combination to have. And I could tell that everyone was very proudvery proud to be part of the program, he said. Dr. Fechter was impressed that there are eight companies touring the world. Prevailing Over Communism Shen Yuns mission is to revive Chinas 5,000 years of culture, a culture before communism. The artists strive to share that Chinese culture is a deep and spiritual one, very different from what the ruling communist regime promotes. I thought the main message was the human spirit and Gods Spirit prevails over any communism, over any type of suppression of thought. Dr. Cary Fechter I thought the main message was the human spirit and Gods Spirit prevails over any communism, over any type of suppression of thought, Dr. Fechter said. This type of program, if it goes all around the world, will convey a message that is greater than communism. And I think the Chinese people want it, he said. I think the mainland wants to be free and be able to express themselves. The name, Shen Yun, means the beauty of divine beings dancing. In Shen Yun, Dr. Fechter said he saw, A combination of splendor, color, grace, and a spiritual message that we are all one person under a god or a great Creator, and we return to him. We get our chance to bloom like these beautiful young ladies, and then we move on. Reporting by Frank Xie and Maria Han. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. South Korea Fines Tesla $2.2 Million for Exaggerating Driving Range of EVs Tesla logo on the hood of a car in Oslo, Norway, on Nov. 10, 2022. (Victoria Klesty/Reuters) SEOULSouth Koreas antitrust regulator said it would impose a 2.85 billion won ($2.2 million) fine on Tesla Inc. for failing to tell its customers about the shorter driving range of its electric vehicles (EVs) in low temperatures. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said that Tesla had exaggerated the driving ranges of its cars on a single charge, their fuel cost-effectiveness compared to gasoline vehicles as well as the performance of its Superchargers on its official local website since August 2019 until recently. The driving range of the U.S. EV manufacturers cars plunge in cold weather by up to 50.5 percent versus how they are advertised online, the KFTC said in a statement on Tuesday. Tesla could not be immediately reached for comment. On its website, Tesla provides winter driving tips, such as pre-conditioning vehicles with external power sources, and using its updated Energy app to monitor energy consumption, but does not mention the loss of driving range in sub-zero temperatures. In 2021, Citizens United for Consumer Sovereignty, a South Korean consumer group, said the driving range of most EVs drop by up to 40 percent in cold temperatures when batteries need to be heated, with Tesla suffering the most, citing data from the countrys environment ministry. Last year, the KFTC fined German carmaker Mercedes-Benz and its Korean unit 20.2 billion won for false advertising tied to gas emissions of its diesel passenger vehicles. The challenge for electric vehicle performance in extreme temperatures is widely known, though EVs are popular in markets like Norway, where four out of five vehicles sold last year were battery-powered, led by Tesla. A 2020 study of 4,200 connected EVs of all makes by Canada-based telematics provider Geotab found that most models had a similar drop in range in cold weather, primarily because the battery is also used to heat the car for the driver and passengers. At just above 20 degrees Celsius, the average EV outperformed its stated range, but at minus 15 degrees the average EV had only 54 percent of its rated range, the study found. Southwest Airlines Offers Travelers More Than $300 Worth of Frequent Flyer Points After Christmas Travel Chaos Southwest Airlines staff tend the counter in the check in area, at Los Angeles International Airport in Calif. on Dec. 28, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan, who apologized in December 2022 after the flight carrier canceled more than 15,000 flights over the Christmas holiday period, is offering 25,000 frequent-flyer points to travelers who were affected by the ordeal. According to a screenshot of an email Jordan sent out to travelers impacted by the cancelations and posted to Twitter by the Points Guys Zach Griff, the 25,000 points are a gesture of goodwill and have a value of more than $300. The extra points are available to those who had flights canceled or delayed for more than three hours between Dec. 24, 2022, and Jan. 2, 2023. The points have no expiration or blackout date and can be used for future travel or other items such as gift cards and merchandise. The bonus air miles are in addition to refund and reimbursement for expenses. Southwest has said it would reimburse affected passengers for reasonable expenses such as last-minute hotel stays, food, or alternative transportation arrangements, although the reimbursements may take several weeks to arrive in customers pockets. Our Purpose has always been to connect our Customers to whats important in their lives, Jordan wrote in the email. And this holiday season, as you made plans with us to do just that, we fell short. For that, please accept my personal apology. I know that no amount of apologies can undo your experience. For those who have requested refunds, reimbursements and/or are waiting to be reunited with your lost bag(s), those processes are being handled with great urgency and we appreciate your patience. Jordan also noted that the travel chaos began after severe weather over the holiday weekend period, which then transitioned into other operational challenges. Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers look for their luggage in the baggage claim area at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago on Dec. 28, 2022. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images) Over 15,000 Flights Canceled Southwest Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights over the holiday travel week as a powerful storm hit much of the United States, sometimes amounting to 60 percent of the airlines daily schedule. The carrier largely resumed normal operations on Dec. 30, several days after other airlines were able to recover from the storm relatively quickly. However, many passengers are still waiting to have misplaced luggage returned to them. In an interview with Good Morning America in December, Jordan apologized for the travel chaos, adding that there will be a lot of lessons learned that come out of this to ensure that it doesnt happen again. Southwest Airlines initially blamed the weather and its scheduling system for the thousands of flight cancelations, but transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said that the delays were actually due to circumstances within the airlines control. Passenger Sues Jordans email to customers comes after Southwest Airlines was sued on Dec. 30 by a passenger who claims the flight carrier failed to provide refunds to passengers left stranded over the holiday period and is in breach of contract. In a proposed class action filed in New Orleans federal court, Eric Capdeville claimed that the airline had promised to reimburse passengers for expenses but that he and his daughter were instead offered only credit after their Dec. 27 flight to Portland, Oregon, from New Orleans was canceled, and they were unable to book alternative travel. Capdeville is seeking damages for passengers on Southwest flights canceled since Dec. 24, and who didnt receive refunds or expense reimbursements. According to the Wall Street Journal, the 25,000 points being offered to customers is enough for one person to take a round trip from Phoenix to Maui, Hawaii, in late January or to fly one-way from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, over Presidents Day weekend. Suspect in Brooklyn Subway Shootings Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charges Frank James, the suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting, walks outside a police precinct in New York on April 13, 2022. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) NEW YORKThe man who set off smoke bombs on a crowded New York subway train before shooting 10 people last April pleaded guilty on Tuesday to terrorism and weapons charges. Frank James, 63, appeared in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn and read aloud from a short statement confessing to the attack on a Manhattan-bound N train on April 12, for which he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. I got on the subway train that was carrying people, said James, dressed in wrinkled khaki jail overalls and sitting at a table alongside his public defenders. While I was on the train, I started shooting a firearm. James shot 10 passengers during the morning rush hour as the train headed to an underground station in Brooklyns Sunset Park neighborhood, while another 13 people were injured in the ensuing panic, according to the police account. No one was killed. In May, he had initially pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack and other violence against a mass transportation system and using a firearm during a crime of violence. In Tuesdays statement to the court, James said he did not plan to kill anyone, intending only serious bodily harm, and said he would make a complete statement expressing my remorse at his later sentencing hearing. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn rejected James account of his intent, telling the court that if he had gone to trial, the government could prove his intention was deadly. Prosecutor Sara Winik told the court that the trajectory of the bullets showed Jamess gunfire was aimed at his victims torsos because he was trying to kill them. She also said they would be able to prove that James had been planning the attack since 2017. In a letter to the court last week, prosecutors said that if James demonstrated that he accepted responsibility for the crime, a prison sentence of 32 to 37 years would be appropriate under federal guidelines. If not, he could face 40 years to life. Defense lawyers said the sentencing guidelines pointed to between 16.5 years and just over 18 years in prison. Judge William Kuntz accepted Jamess 11 guilty pleas, spoken in a voice that at times cracked. The judge ordered the governments probation department to complete a pre-sentencing report by July 4, but he did not set a date for sentencing. James smiled with his two public defenders and shook their hands before U.S. marshals escorted him out of the courtroom to return him to the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Police apprehended James in Manhattans East Village neighborhood 30 hours after the attack and following a massive manhunt. Bystanders spotted the man and posted pictures of him to social media. The New York Police Department (NYPD) said they initially linked James to the assault after finding keys to a rented U-Haul van left at the crime scene. James, a native of the citys Bronx borough with recent addresses in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, had nine prior arrests in New York and three in New Jersey, according to the NYPD. Less than two months after James attack, a man was arrested in the fatal, unprovoked shooting of a man on a subway car crossing the Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn into Manhattan. In June, another man was arrested on suspicion of pushing a woman onto the tracks of a subway station in the Bronx. By Jonathan Allen and Brendan OBrien Taking Stock: Rules for Myself Commentary I had always thought a primary job of the press was to be skeptical of powerespecially the power of the government. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, I and so many others found that the legacy media had shown itself to largely operate as a messaging platform for our public health institutions. Those institutions operated in near-total lockstep, in part by purging internal dissidents and discrediting outside experts. So begins David Zweigs report, the tenth in the Twitter Files series. His report shows how Twitter, like other social media platforms and the legacy press, seemed to promote content that reinforced the establishment narrative. At the urging of the White House and government agencies, Twitter suppressed views and even scientific evidence that ran to the contrary. We live in partisan times. Its what makes opinion columns and news reporting so predictable. Its also what makes it hard to have a calm and productive discussion of a contentious issue with a friend or family member who disagrees with you. I will discuss this wider state of affairs in the media and conclude with a few suggestionsNew Years resolutions for me that may be helpful to others. How Government and Media Frame the Narrative MSNBC rejected the political stance of Fox News but mirrored it in appealing to a particular audience and ignoring or ridiculing those of other views. Legacy press such as the New York Times and Washington Post dropped all pretense of objectivity and fairmindedness. They seemed to me to republish the same column many times a day. They abandoned any pretense of balance or fairmindedness in favor of fitting their news coverage as well as their editorial and opinion columns to their predetermined narrative. The New York Times expanded its digital reach as it narrowed its audience to urban, educated liberals. More than 90 percent of that readership identifies as Democrat. Some of its best-known journalists such as Bari Weiss left the paper or were pushed out. In her scathing resignation letter, Weiss condemned the hostile work environment and the papers lack of interest in understanding half the population, the half that elected Trump. As she observes, a new consensus has emerged in the press, but perhaps especially at this paper [The New York Times]: that truth isnt a process of collective discovery, but an orthodoxy already known to an enlightened few whose job is to inform everyone else. It isnt simply that the press and news media have become more partisan than ever. Some reject the idea of discovering and publishing the truth without fear or favor. The very concept of truth and the duty to seek and tell it is immoral, they say, in view of the critical threat we face from the other side. The presss reception of the Twitter Files is typical. There was little coverage of the files content, of the evidence that showed how the White House was directly pressuring Twitter to suppress views, including those of top experts, that differed from those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The focus instead was on the way Elon Musk released the files via independent journalists. And, of course, the message was that Doctors are exasperated by the persistence of false and misleading claims about the virus. The files also show how those who write for the media need to be skepticalnot uncritically accepting and amplifying the current line of public health institutions and the administration. But its also a mistake to automatically believe any alternative view without good evidence and sound reasoning, just because its alternative. Despite fierce denunciations by the Chinese regime and by other scientists, Dr. Alina Chang has investigated the lab leak theory of COVID origins (which she finds plausible and worthy of further investigation) as well as the official line that blames bats and Wuhans wet market rather than its Institute of Virology. She finds conclusive proof neither of the lab leak theory nor of the official explanation blaming transmission from bat to human via a wet market. But like the authors of other recent studies of COVID origins, Chang notes the absence of any evidence of the animalhuman transmission theory despite years of investigation. New Years Resolutions In this challenging media and press environment, I have formed some guidelines for myselfcall them New Years resolutions. I intend to follow themwhich I have not always done in the pastin my writing and in discussing political or ideological differences with family and friends. 1. Dont Trade Bullet Points The first resolution is to avoid trading talking points or bullet points, ones I find or others find in the media, to support an existing view or challenge anothers without taking the trouble to understand or explore either. If a friend raises what he thinks is a knockdown argument that he finds in the New York Times and I find the standard answer to it in the Wall Street Journal, are we advancing our understanding, or acting like puppets or talking dolls or acting the principal parts in a Punch and Judy show? 2. Examine Underlying Assumptions Is it not more helpful to see how views on widely different issues cluster together into rival visions of reality? If youre against all gun control, youre likely opposed to mask mandates; if you support defunding the police, you likely also support measures that redistribute income. In his book, A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles, Thomas Sowell shows that, though the issues we debate may have nothing to do with each other, they predictably cluster together in ways we dont recognize. The opposing views reflect radically different visions of how the world works. Knowing how a person views drug laws is a good predictor of how he or she views education or military spending. One Sowell calls the unconstrained vision. Some call it the utopian vision. We associate that with utopianism, with the idea that we can solve problems by reason, unconstrained by human nature or by the past. It emphasizes the good intentions of policymakers rather than the practical results of their policies. In that vision, an enlightened leadership seeks to impose itself on the masses through education and compulsion. The opposite, constrained vision, assumes that societies develop traditions, laws, and customs based on the experience of generations, in families, faith communities, neighborhood associations, and markets. It implies an attitude of humility and gratitude toward our predecessors, as opposed to one of contempt for the past that C. S. Lewis called chronological snobbery. The job of each generation is to learn from the traditions and culture it inherits, to preserve it, and to leave it improved by the wisdom it acquires from its own experience. It learns, preserves, and reforms through what Bari Weiss calls a process of collective discovery. At least we should examine the assumptions were making about the proper role of the state or such principles as free speech and religious freedom rather than starting and ending with the politicians and parties involved in a particular struggle of the day. 3. But Is it True? One way to kill a serious discussion is to ascribe to the holder of the view you oppose a base motivation or to distort his position to make it appear ridiculous or nasty. Can you repeat back to your interlocutor what hes saying in a way that he himself will recognize as fair and accurate? Can you assume, at least for the sake of argument, that shes arguing in good faith because she thinks her proposal will best address the problem at hand and not because shes ignorant, bigoted, or hateful? Can you in the terms of the legal principle, hear the other side (audi alteram partem!) before dismissing it? You may or may not be right about the motivation of the other (all he thinks about is himself, he doesnt care about those who are poor, weak, or vulnerable). But do I understand what hes saying and, in this case at least, is it, in whole or in part, true? St. Thomas Aquinas (12251274), one of the greatest minds in the history of the West and of the Catholic Church, asserted, many centuries before the enlightened liberal champion of liberty and tolerance John Stuart Mill (18061873), We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Taxpayer-Funded VIA Rail on Track to Lose $411 Million in 2023 VIA Rail trains are seen parked at VIA Rail's Toronto Maintenance Centre at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Carlos Osorio/Reuters) Taxpayer-funded Crown corporation VIA Rail will run at an estimated operating deficit of $411 million this year, according to the companys newest corporate plan. Despite layoffs and service cuts to try and slow steep losses, the railway is expected to continue to lose money for at least two more years, according to the report. The railway lost $370.5 million in 2021 and $415.8 million in 2020. Demand for travel may only return to or exceed the level seen in 2019 sometime in 2024, said a Nov. 8 report, Summary of the 20222026 Corporate Plan and 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets. Under such conditions VIA Rail, while continuing to prudently provide needed transportation services to Canadians as it has done throughout 2020 and 2021, will be forced to seek funding. Government Bailout Cabinet gave VIA a $187.5 million COVID bailout to cover losses and ongoing deficits in 2021, spread over three fiscal years instead of one. VIA Rail drew on $90.4 million in 20202021 and $67.5 million in 20212022. The remaining $29.6 million will be returned to the Government, said the VIA report. The Ocean, Via Rails Halifax-to-Montreal passenger train, sits at the station in Halifax in June 2012. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press) The railway also received $490.1 million in the 2021 federal budget, according to the report, which will be used in Montreal on targeted investment projects. The 2022 federal budget awarded another $212 million to VIA Rail so that it may maintain, and upgrade stations and maintenance centres in the Windsor to Quebec City corridor, according to the report. The railway provides its CEO a salary of up to $529,280 including 28 percent bonuses, and an additional $45,000 in extra benefits such as a car allowance and sport club memberships, according to Blacklocks Reporter. The report stated that the train had over 5 million passengers in 2019, making that year the highest yearly number of riders on the train in the last 30 years. In 2020 and 2021, the rail said exceptional challenges were faced due to COVID-19. Low Ridership VIA Rail adopted and enforced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement policy and vaccination passports for passengers and employees, as well as rapid testing, on Oct. 30, 2021. Any passenger over the age of 12 years and 4 months was required to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask to board a VIA train. The vaccination passport requirement was suspended sometime after the federal government removed COVID-19 border entry restrictions, testing, quarantine, and proof of vaccination to travel. A specific date was not provided by the report. In a normal year, VIA runs 450 trains per week across 12,500 kilometres of rail tracks. In 2021, VIA only had 1.5 million passengers compared to 2019 ridership of 5 million passengers at the height of its success. The report stated VIA rail has made significant efforts to contain the growth of its operating deficit and thus, its reliance on government funding. The Crown corporation thinks operations could return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024 but there remains an important risk this assumption may not materialize, wrote VIA management, according to Blacklocks Reporter. The railway stated it had poor on-time performance and was using rail cars more than 65 years old in some cases. All have aged well beyond the industry norm of 30 to 40 years, said the report. The railway report stated it requires a new fleet. Layoffs Faced with mounting losses, the railway took steps to lay off workers; from pre-COVID payroll numbers, it cut 14.5 percent of its workforce, going from 3,234 employees to 2,763. The report, tabled in Parliament, stated: Financially, the company has stretched itself in the past few years to grow revenues, contain the operating deficit and the reliance on government funding and improve on the cost-recovery ratio. However due to the Covid-19 crisis VIA Rails financial performance was significantly affected. According to Blacklocks Reporter, federal transport minister Omar Alghabra testified on May 30, 2022, at a Commons committee meeting that there was no question of privatization of VIA. The Crown-owned railway has been in existence since 1978. There was also no mention of selling VIA. Ian Madsen, a senior policy analyst at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, penned an editorial last year for the Hamilton Spectator, stating, By any criteria, Via Rail, a federal Crown corporation, is not a good investment. He said the railways chronic cash-burning condition offers no economic value to any potential buyer and it should either be sold or liquidated. The federal government should embark on setting Via Rail, a truly underperforming asset, on either a sale or liquidation track. Using the cost of federal debt, the present value of Via Rail is about negative $16 billion. There must be a better use of taxpayers money, said Madsen. Editors note: A previous version of this article misstated the value of the deficit. The estimated operating deficit is $411 million. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Tesla Shares Tumble After Company Misses Delivery Target DETROITShares of Tesla tumbled more than 12 percent Tuesday on the first full day of trading since the company announced 2022 delivery numbers that fell short of targets. The electric vehicle and solar panel makers stock closed at $108.10, and its down just under 70 percent since the start of last year. The stock hit its lowest point since August of 2020, and Teslas market value, according to FactSet, slid to $341 billion, down from over $1 trillion as recently as April. Tesla said Monday that it sold a record 1.3 million vehicles last year, but the number fell short of CEO Elon Musks pledge to grow deliveries by 50 percent nearly every year. The 2022 figure topped the prior record of 936,000 vehicles delivered in 2021, but it was shy of the 1.4 million needed to reach the companys 50 percent growth target. Sales grew 40 percent year over year, while production climbed 47 percent to 1.37 million. The shortfall came despite a major year-end sales push that included rare $7,500 discounts in the United States on the Models Y and 3, the companys top-selling models. Analysts said that Tesla also offered discounts in China, leading some to question whether demand for the companys vehicles is softening. Tesla Inc., based in Austin, Texas, also had to deal with rising cases of novel coronavirus in China, which hampered production at its Shanghai factory. Cowen and Co. analyst Jeffrey Osborne expected investors to focus on missing the delivery target, but he only saw modest negative reaction following acute weakness the past few weeks on production cuts in China and discounting. Investors will need to see stability in profit margins despite lower prices, and demand and order trends showing resumed growth this year for the stock to get further support, Osborne wrote in a note to investors early Tuesday. In an apparent effort to shore up the stock price, Tesla announced Monday that it would hold an investor day event on March 1 at its factory near Austin. Investors will be able to see Teslas production line, discuss expansion plans and see the platform that will go beneath Teslas next generation of vehicles. The Tesla stock decline also has cost Musk billions, bumping him out of the top spot for the worlds wealthiest person, according to Forbes. Also playing into the stock drop is Musks $44 billion purchase of Twitter and his sale of Tesla stock to help fund the purchase. Musk sold another $2.58 billion worth of Tesla stock last month and has sold nearly $23 billion worth of his car companys shares since April, when he started building a position in Twitter. Many investors are worried that Musk has become too distracted as CEO of Twitter and isnt paying enough attention to the electric vehicle company. Musk has said he would step down as Twitter CEO when he finds someone to run the social media platform. By Tom Krisher Texas Father: New Law Has Put My Son at Risk of Chemical Castration in California Fears ex-wife may follow through on transitioning 10-year-old boy Jeff Younger with his sons, James and Jude. (Courtesy of Jeff Younger) The Texas Supreme Court denied a Texas fathers petition to bring his 10-year-old son home from California, where he fears the boys mother will chemically castrate the child under a new law. Jeff Younger, who lives in the Dallas area, has been involved in a high-profile custody battle revolving around his ex-wifes belief that their son James wants to be a girl. Younger rejects that assertion and said James rejected being female and did not wear dresses when visiting his home after the parents separated in 2015. Younger sought help from Texas high court in December, seeking temporary emergency custody of James and his twin brother, Jude. He asked the Court to order their return to Texas after he discovered last month that his ex-wife, Anne Georgulas, who had temporary custody of their sons, had moved to California. A law that went into effect Jan. 1 makes California a transgender sanctuary. Younger fears the new California law will override an earlier ruling that said James cannot be medically transitioned without his agreement or a new court order. Jeff Younger at his home in Flower Mound, Texas, on Sept. 16, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) But on Dec. 30, the Texas Supreme Court ruled against Younger, saying he misread the California law. My children are now subject to being chemically castrated in California, Younger posted on Twitter after receiving the news. Sex-Change Sanctuary Younger told The Epoch Times he plans to continue to fight for his sons, while pushing for change in Texas laws to protect children from sex-change hormones and surgery. The Supreme Court of Texas put my sons at risk. It was not in the best interest of my children to move into a transgender sanctuary jurisdiction like California, he said of the ruling. Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock disagreed. Joined by Justice Evan Young, Blacklock wrote that Californias transgender sanctuary law, SB 107, targets other states laws, but not their court orders. The distinction between another states law and the actions of another states courts is essential to understand the California law correctly, Blacklock wrote in the ruling. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 6, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The ruling noted that the mother agreed to a court order in October 2021 stipulating that she would not treat James with puberty blockers or sex reassignment surgery without consent of the parents or court order. The high court reasoned that just because Georgulas moved the children to California, it doesnt mean she would violate an order prohibiting her sons transition. By my reading of SB 107, fathers fears are no more likely to be realized in California under SB 107 than they were before the bills enactment, wrote Blacklock. However, Blacklock agreed, SB 107 shields people from other states laws that would penalize individuals from obtaining gender-affirming care that is legal in California. The California legislation allows for temporary emergency protection of a child in California because the child has been unable to obtain gender-affirming health care elsewhere. Also, the legislation prohibits medical providers from releasing information in response to lawsuits in other states that oppose gender-affirming care for children. And it bars California state and local police from arresting or extraditing someone for violating other states laws regarding treatment. Younger said he disagrees with the high courts reasoning that theres no difference between a court order and law. Court orders are lawful, which means that theyre authorized by the law. Thats why the court was in error making that distinction, Younger said. His next step is to transfer the case to Denton County, where he lives, because his ex-wife no longer lives in Dallas County. He also plans to attend the 2023 Texas legislative session to ask lawmakers to ban chemical and surgical sex changes for children in the state. I feel like other parents dont speak out because the judiciary is brutal to you. I feel like I have a duty to other children, as well as to my own, Younger said. Jeff Younger sits alone behind photos of his twin boys at his North Texas home on Sept. 16, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) On Sept. 21, 2022, Dallas District Judge Mary Browna Democrat sitting on the Texas 301st District Court benchruled that Youngers ex-wife could move with his sons anywhere in the continental United States. Brown said her ruling was for the safety and welfare of the twins. The order also said Younger would have to schedule supervised parental visits in the county where the children reside. Brown ordered the mother not to reveal their future whereabouts to the boys father. And the judge allowed her to apply for new passports. Younger became worried that his ex-wife would take steps to medically transition James after he obtained documents during past court proceedings. The documents showed she took James to a therapist who recommended she explore gender transitioning at the Dallas-based Genecis medical clinic. This Wouldnt Happen in Florida Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole on Aug. 5, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times) Texas Attorney Ken Paxtons office filed an amicus brief Dec. 22 supporting Youngers case and urging the court to grant Youngers petition. Texas Values, a conservative nonprofit group that promotes parental rights, did the same. Paxton issued an opinion in 2022 that said medically transitioning children constituted child abuse under Texas law. Paxtons office said in the brief that Youngers request for an emergency injunction was necessary. In his opinion, by making the new law, California had directed its courts to assert jurisdiction over children prohibited from medical intervention to change their biological sex in other states. The need for relief, in this case, is particularly acute because the question presented here is both of constitutional significance and likely to recur, Paxton wrote. Georgulas attorneys responded to the amicus briefs saying the new California law wasnt in effect when Younger filed his petition. Their client moved to California to protect her children and rebuild her pediatric practice, they said. The mother, who is a pediatrician, had no intentions of seeking temporary emergency jurisdiction in California, the attorneys added. Mother freely acknowledges that she is bound by the order in both Texas and California, the attorneys wrote. Texas Republicans spoke out against the ruling on social media. State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, wrote that Texas 2021 legislative session failed to pass one of several bills filed by him and others to outlaw the gender transitioning of minors in Texas. We had opportunities to stop this & protect children. We failed. I put forth numerous amendments to try to stop this. Many Republicans worked to stop my efforts. What a disgrace. God have mercy on us, he wrote on Twitter. Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, called Youngers situation an utter failure of Texas political leaders to protect children. This wouldnt happen in Florida, he said. Texas GOP chairman Matt Rinaldi (left) presides over procedures at the Republican Party of Texas Convention in Houston, Texas, on June 18, 2022. (Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times) On Dec. 20, Younger received an email confirming that Georgulas was living in Los Angeles County with their twin sons, he said. He initially filed his emergency stay on Dec. 16, asking that his children remain in Texas. He said he didnt realize at the time that his former wife and sons had already moved to California. The next day, Younger went back to court and filed an amended petition asking the high court to order his ex-wife to bring his sons back to Texas. Florida attorney Jeff Childers, who deals with Constitutional law, said he would tend to agree with the Texas Supreme Courts reasoning that California cant ignore a court order just because its from another state. However, the mother may try to get her case moved to California, he told The Epoch Times. A new court order by a California judge could change things. If the family law case were in California, Childers said, a court would be looking at a situation where the state says its in the best interest of the child to get the trans surgery. The Epoch Times could not reach Georgulas for comment. Her attorneys at KoonsFuller did not respond to a request for comment before publication. The AI Threat to America and Democracy iPal smart AI for robots for children's education are displayed at the AvatarMind booth at CES 2019 consumer electronics show, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada on Jan. 8, 2019. (Robyn Becker/AFP via Getty Images) Commentary The United States and the world are on the cusp of historys greatest threat to not only democracy, but to human agency itself. The dangers now overlap and interact in multiplicative and complexifying ways, including not only the concentration of power in illiberal regimes like China and Russia, but the ability of those regimes to use new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), that exponentially increase the power of existing methods of surveillance and influence. AI-enabled tech will be capable of surveilling, micro-targeting, and influencing democratic populations in ways that were previously impossible through traditional state monitoring and privately-developed social media algorithms. AI will be able to find minimum winning coalitions in n-dimensional political space to determine short- and medium-term political goals, for example, and then influence those populations through AI content production already on display in applications, such as DALLE 2 for art, and Jasper, Writesonic, and Copy.ai, for everything from social media and chatbots to literature and scientific papers. Through micro-targeting, micro-production, and micro-delivery of subtle propaganda, AI could determine democratic decision-making outcomes like at no other time in history, thereby making those formerly democratic processes undemocratic. There are strong arguments that AI advantages dictatorial modes of governance. Eileen Donahoe at Stanford University argues that AI turbo-charged existing kinds of autocratic repression, including social engineering tools. But AI could also be misused by tech magnates, business moguls, individual programmers, and hackers, for example, if they obtain control of root AI systems and revise AI goals. Neither are democratic governments above using AI to empower surveillance, as shown by Steven Feldstein at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Rogue Self-Programming AI Even more disturbing, AI could jump all human control to learn and set its own arbitrary or self-empowering goals, pursued through influencing, rewarding, and punishing human individuals and groups to incent them toward becoming the loyal servants of AI machines. Individual preferences and the democratic will of the people could eventually be so determined by AI as to remove much of what we now take for granted as individual agency or collective will. Human freedom and the ability of democratic societies to make decisions for themselves could thus eventually become a thing of the past. Those entitieshuman or machinethat control AI could develop themselves in an arbitrary or random manner to adopt goals incompatible with the interests of living things on this planet. They could, for example, learn to prioritize a machine-learned aesthetic that has nothing to do with human values and uses humans against each other in their own mass destruction. AI could seek human extinction as a form of AI suicide since AI would learn that humans reproduce AI, and AI depends on humans for its own survival. AI could achieve these or other destructive goals by concentrating power over humans in a way that is totally unaccountable to democratic processes while appearing to be democratic. Democratic decision-making bodies could attempt to control AI algorithms but be outwitted by a self-programming algorithm to represent and further AI goals adopted by the electorate through AI influence campaigns. The scenario above sounds like bad science fiction. But experts are increasingly alarmed at the possibility that AI could develop itself to a point where it can leap human controls. History is the story of the unexpected, and AI will likely be no different. Helen Toner at Georgetown University believes there are benefits to AI. But she also warns, if we continue to build systems that are increasingly capable of making decisions and pursuing goals, some scientists believe we may see far worse unintended outcomes, for instance, if the systems we build learn to hoard resources, deceive their creators, or otherwise pursue undesirable means towards the ends we have programmed into them. Aidan Meller looks at a painting by Ai-Da Robot, an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, during a press call at the British Library in London, England, on April 4, 2022. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images) US-China AI Rivalry The AI threat is complicated by U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry. Both camps require the most powerful AI technologies to optimize their military, economic, and political power, including the soft power necessary to influence the worlds population. Acquiring soft power at the others expense will necessarily include AI that must underpin the worlds most successful social media campaigns. Only AI can achieve the algorithms that will use micro-targeting and bespoke content production to best cater to the individuals tastes and, thus, most powerfully channel the individuals preferences. We know that Beijing aggressively pursues AI technologies at the forefront of social control applications, such as automatically censoring social media content and promoting social media messaging that supports the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As the technology expert Zuza Nazaruk demonstrated in a peer-reviewed article last year, TikToks content moderation is subtler than censorship and instead involves positioning. The apps algorithm pushes videos critical of the CCP behind those supporting the party, even though the former are more popular or posted more recently. This finding suggests that TikTok tries to hide the CCPs line under cover of algorithm-run objectivity. AI Arms Control? Therefore, responding to the AI threat by restricting U.S. and allied development of AI, without similar and verifiable restrictions on Chinas AI development, would be foolhardy. It would leave the power of AI to democracys adversaries, akin to responding with unilateral disarmament to the threat of enemy nuclear weapons. People watch a robotic dog at the Apsara Conference, a cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) conference in Hangzhou, in Chinas eastern Zhejiang Province, on Nov. 3, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) If AI is criminalized, only criminals will use AI. Unilateral limitations on Google, Facebook, and Twitters use of AI for micro-targeting, for example, could enable TikTok to more easily displace U.S. and allied market share. On the other hand, U.S. Big Techs use of AI is a fundamentally undemocratic concentration of power in the hands of some of the worlds biggest corporations. The United States could ban all micro-targeting and influence of the U.S. population regardless of the techs national origin. We should at least do this for adversary-controlled companies like TikTok. But this would still allow Beijing to use its social media companies to target and influence the rest of the world. An AI-empowered TikTok could unite the world against the United States, which is exactly what Beijing is trying to do. Finally, the United States and its allies could attempt to ban and disrupt all AI globally. This ban would apply equally to U.S., allied, and adversary AI groups. That would be more effective at preserving global democratic freedoms. However, it might raise freedom of speech and freedom of trade objections, and provoke international conflict over U.S. and allied extraterritorial lawmaking. Beijing will use these arguments against arms control or bans on AI, especially since the CCP will likely think its form of governance is relatively advantaged by the technology. The regime will reason that unlike democracies, which are controlled by public opinion, the CCPs autocratic mode of governance insulates it from AIs ability to control the state. Beijing is right about its political insulation, but only in the short term. In the long term, AI could control democracies to defeat autocracies. After autocracies are defeated, AI could destroy the vestiges of democracy that remain to maximize its own control. Little power would be left to human governance, of either the autocratic or democratic varieties. This reasoning of a rare joint interest for the United States and China could lead to a verifiable AI arms control treaty. But if Beijing rejects the reasoning and believes it can use AI to conquer democracies before AI uses democracies to destroy autocracy, it may resist arms control. Even if the CCP accepts the reasoning, it could engage in AI brinkmanship that approaches an AI disaster for China and the United States, forcing democracies to submit. A robotic combat vehicle prepares for a practice run during Project Convergence 20 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. (Spc. Carlos Cuebas Fantauzzi/U.S. Army) AI and the Concentration of Power One could reasonably argue that the direst scenarios imagined above are unlikely. But it is hard to argue that AI does not advantage existing power centers. The road ahead for individual freedoms and democracies will thus be treacherous. Without AI arms control, the world is at a point of economic evolution akin to the agricultural, industrial, nuclear, and information revolutions. Each such system change resulted in massive changes in political organization and military technology, much of which resulted in spirals of war, revolution, and political transformation toward the concentration of power. The AI revolution is next. It clearly advantages those who already have power and, therefore, will lead to the further concentration of the same. Beijing is pursuing it with gusto. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Next Push to Ban Cash Is Coming From Cashless Denmark, Which Boasted Zero Bank Robberies in 2022 The next push to ban cash may come from crime statistics, as cashless Denmark boasted zero bank robberies last year. The campaign to end paper currency is becoming a hot button issue for many, as other countries and the World Economic Form, an international nongovernmental and lobbying organization, are considering replacing it with digitized currency. However, Denmark, which has reduced the use of hard cash in recent years, recorded its first year without bank robberies, the Scandinavian nations finance workers union Finansforbundet told the Daily Mail in a statement. Its nothing short of amazing. Because every time it happens, its an extreme strain on the employees involved, said Steen Lund Olsen, vice president of the union. Its something you cant even begin to understand the emotional impact of if you havent experienced it yourself, Olsen added. Denmark Sees Bank Robberies Decline, as Less Cash Is Stored in Banks Bank robberies are becoming a thing of the past in the Nordic country, as many Danes use less cash as they transition to credit card and app payments for financial transactions. Cash withdrawals there have dropped by about three-quarters over the last six years, according to data from Danmarks Nationalbank, Denmarks central bank. The central bank reported in March 2022 that the use of cash had declined from 23 percent of payments in 2017 to 12 percent in 2021. The pandemic has greatly accelerated the abandonment of cash in Denmark, said the central bank. The financial workers union said on Jan. 2 that Denmarks nearly cashless system has caused banks to gradually removing cash services from most branches to cut costs, leaving little for robbers to steal. Approximately 20 bank branches across Denmark still have cash holdings, according to Finance Denmark, the countrys largest industry group for lenders. Bank robbers reportedly find it no longer profitable to steal from financial institutions. There were 221 bank robberies in Denmark in 2000, but numbers fell to less than 10 per year by 2017, and only one bank robbery in 2021, according to the financial industry group. As cash disappeared from banks in Denmark, robbers began to target ATMs instead, with attacks peaking at 18 in 2016. By 2021, however, there were no longer physical attacks on ATMs because of improved surveillance and cash-protection techniques. Physical robberies have now been largely replaced by online bank fraud and other digital crimes, according to Finance Denmark. Online banking scams are generally less risky for criminals, which have led to a growth in financial losses, forcing banks to introduce new procedures that limit large money transfers. Other Countries Take the Lead on Digital Currencies, Despite Strong Opposition Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has taken the lead among the major economies in moving away from the everyday use of cash, but 65 percent of Britons surveyed opposed going fully digital, despite 57 percent admit rarely using banknotes, according to a YouGov/Bloomberg survey. The Bank of England, which is working on the creation of a digital pound for online payments, said it would still continue to support those wanting to use cash. The central bank, in October 2022, reported a 17 percent rise in cash in circulation since the pandemic, hinting that more people are hoarding their cash, even if they use cash less in daily transactions. Although cryptocurrencies and online bank accounts have risen in popularity in recent years, many people are still storing banknotes into envelopes at home to help budget their savings. Many people also fear loss of privacy and government control over personal expenditures, or even something similar to the credit score systems implemented in China. Protests spark in China for New Yearsthis time over restrictions on how people can celebrate. Funeral homes in Shanghai are overwhelmed by Chinas COVID-19 surge. But some scalpers are profiting off the situation. Despite the virus spread, some Chinese citizens in major cities are attempting to return to normalcy. More countries are placing restrictions on travelers from China. Beijing is issuing a threat toward nations imposing the curbs. Are the United States and South Korea holding nuclear talks? Both countries leaders are giving seemingly contradictory answers. Topics in this episode: Toronto Mayor Announces Police Budget Boost of Almost $50 Million Torontos Mayor John Tory announced Tuesday the Toronto Police Services budget request of an additional $48.3 million, which will add 200 police officers to Canadas biggest city. If the budget is approved, the 200 new police officers would include 162 officers added to priority response units, with 25 of those officers just for the downtown core. Major case management would gain 22 more officers. The neighbourhood policing program would gain an additional 16 officers to expand the program beyond the 52 neighbourhoods that currently have dedicated community police officers. The mayor said instead of police arriving with the lights and sirens after something has happened, the service would have officers working a beat in the same neighbourhood for years. The residents become comfortable they see somebody walking a beat, who they know by name, who knows them by name, who gets to know the kids, who gets to earn their trust. Toronto Mayor John Tory speaks during a press conference at Queens Park in Toronto on June 27, 2022. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press) On Dec. 28, Tory told CBC Toronto that when he goes to neighbourhoods where a shooting has taken place, the residents want more money spent on police, they want more police officers. One of our principal responsibilities is to keep our community safe, and to keep Torontonians safe. This will show itself in a proposed 4.3 percent increase in the police budget, said Tory at a news conference on Jan. 3. Tory said Toronto Police would be able to add 90 special constables to help with frontline service delivery, and an additional 20 emergency 9-1-1 operators. There is no issue that concerns me more than community safety. We have to combat the crime and violence we have seen. I want a safe city for every resident, everywhere in Toronto, at all times, said Tory. No Defunding of Police I will be very firm in my position that we are not going to engage in defunding the police budget, said the mayor, who added that recent crimes had increased, many of which were serious, leaving citizens increasingly concerned. I know that people are extremely anxious about recent acts of violence that weve seen in our city and across the GTA, including on our transit system, said the mayor. So we must do everything we can to address crime, and to keep people safe and have them feel safe in our city, he said. According to the Toronto Police Service, there was one Toronto Police officer for every 468 residents in 2011. In 2021, there was one police officer for approximately every 600 residents. The 2023 budget, which will be presented to the budget committee for final approval on Jan. 10, increases the police budget by 4.3 percent of the 2022 budget, bringing the total police budget to more than $1.1666 billion. Police attend the scene of a collision in the west end of Toronto on March 31, 2022. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press) The Toronto Police budget was approximately $1.118 billion in 2022 and about $1.076 billion in 2021. The proposed budget increases still have to be approved by the Toronto Police Services Board at their next meeting on Jan. 9. The year opened with the city reporting a $1.4 billion deficit. Tory was formerly on the Toronto Police Services Board but said he has not been for a couple of months now. Despite the tremendous progress weve made towards building capacity at the Service, theres more work that needs to be done to ensure we maintain the core services that the public expects from us, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said in a news release on Jan. 3. As we considered our 2023 priorities, it was clear that our budget must reflect what we have heard from the public. It must be about core services and response times to emergency calls from Torontonians, said Demkiw. This budget request reflects the critical need to hire more officers, 9-1-1 operators and special constables to increase operational capacity, and in turn public safety. It also prioritizes modernizing our operations to enable the Service to keep pace with the increasing demands of our growing city. With the recent new powers granted under the strong mayor legislation put forward by the province, it would only take one-third of the city council to approve the proposed budget. The Supreme Court of Angola has issued an order to seize around US$1 billion in assets held by Isabel dos Santos as a preventive measure. In late November 2022, Interpol issued a red notice for dos Santos at the request of the Angolan government effectively a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest her. Portuguese news agency Lusa now reports that according to a Supreme Court document dated 19th December 2022, authorities have evidence to support allegations of embezzlement and money laundering, prompting the order to seize dos Santos assets in all banking institutions. This order also covers all shares held by dos Santos in several companies, including Angolan firm Embalvidro and mobile operators Unitel T+ and Unitel STP, the Unitel subsidiaries active in Cape Verde and Sao Tome e Principe. Dos Santos owns both units via Unitel International Holdings (UIH), registered in the Netherlands. Lusa reported that around 70% of dos Santos shares in Mozambiques MStar and Upstar Comunicacoes would also be seized. According to TeleGeography, dos Santos acquired Unitel T+ via UIH in 2012 using a US$35 million loan from Unitel Angola. At this time, she held a 25% stake in the Angolan operator via Vidatel, a unit registered in the British Virgin Islands. In 2019, the Angolan Supreme Court accused her of diverting state funds to firms in which she was a shareholder, such as state oil company Sonangol, and ordered that her assets be seized including her stake in Unitel Angola. A year later, her voting and dividend rights for Unitel were removed, and the company was eventually returned to state control in October 2022 following an order from current President Joao Lourenco. Dos Santos has been dogged by corruption allegations for years, although she has repeatedly denied them, claiming in a CNN interview in November 2022 that Angolan courts were being used to fulfil a political agenda. Isabel dos Santos is the daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who died in July 2022. He left office in 2017 after ruling Angola for almost 40 years. Towns to Be Cut Off by Record Flooding in Western Australia A supplied image obtained on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, of floodwaters in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. A remote Western Australian town surrounded by a 100-year flood has become a refuge for hundreds of people evacuated from outlying communities. (AAP Image/Supplied by Andrea Myers) Residents in Broome and Derby have been warned their towns are likely to be cut off by flooding, as authorities continue to evacuate people from Western Australias (WA) Kimberley region. Fitzroy Crossing and dozens of Indigenous communities have already been hit by record flooding and WAs only road transport route to the north of the state is could be cut for months after a major bridge suffered significant damage. People are suffering people are scared, WA Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said. Fitzroy Crossings supermarket and homes have been inundated and only a few of the towns streets remain above the murky floodwaters, with people, livestock, and wildlife clambering for the remaining dry ground. The evacuation centre in the town of about 1,500 was at capacity on Jan. 4, as authorities commandeered boats and helicopters to transport people to safety. Another evacuation centre was being set up, the federal government said on Jan. 5. Two Australian Defence Force (ADF) C-130 Hercules aircraft, which can carry 80 passengers, and a C-27 have been deployed to the region to join the fleet of aircraft carrying out evacuations and deliveries of urgent supplies. Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the ADF planes have had difficulty getting into the area because of the weather. But we are exploring some other options to provide that support, he told ABC Radio on Jan. 5. In the meantime, the Western Australian government has been able to source some of its own aircraft and relocate people. Authorities are particularly concerned for around 50 remote Indigenous communities outside of Fitzroy Crossing, comprising several hundred people. Were concerned about the risk of isolation, potentially for weeks, for those communities, Watt said. There will be people who dont necessarily need to be relocated, but will have some issues obtaining food, vegetables, all sorts of other things and it will be important to make sure that we can resupply those kinds of communities. The Fitzroy River peaked at the town late Wednesday, reaching a record 15.8 metres (52 feet), Emergency WA confirmed on Thursday. About 60,000 cubic metres of water per second has been flowing down the swollen waterway, which snakes its way across the Kimberley to the coast at Derby, north of Broome. Its one of the highest flow rates weve ever seen in an Australian river, meteorologist James Ashley said. The amount of water moving down the Fitzroy River in a day is about what Perth uses water-wise in 20 years. Authorities have warned people in Broome and Derby to prepare to be cut off as early as Thursday, with ex-tropical cyclone Ellie expected to dump up to 200 millimetres of rain in the area, causing roads into the towns to be flooded. The weather system is hovering close to Broome where it is forecast to remain before moving slowly east back across the Kimberley towards the Northern Territory later in the day. Dawson said pastoralists and livestock had also been impacted significantly by the flooding. Until the floodwaters start to recede it wont be possible to undertake a full assessment of damage and stock losses in the region, he said. This is very distressing for the community. Meanwhile, major flooding continues in the western New South Wales town of Menindee, where the Darling River was holding steady at around 10.2 metres on Wednesday. But it could rise to 10.7 metres on Thursday, above the 1976 flood record of 10.47 metres. Trump Breaks Silence on McCarthy as Contender for House Speaker After Failed Votes U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters following a meeting with House Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 3, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for House speaker ahead of a fourth round vote Wednesday after McCarthy failed to secure the top job in three rounds of voting on Tuesday but insisted hes still a contender. Hours after failing to clinch the House gavel amid GOP opposition, McCarthy said late Tuesday that hes still in the running for speaker and insisted Trump had reiterated his support for his candidacy. Trump, who after Tuesdays failed vote was initially guarded in reiterating his endorsement, took to Truth Social later in the day to say hes behind McCarthy all the way. Some really good conversations took place last night, and its now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN and CLOSE THE DEAL. Trump, an influential figure in Republican circles whose endorsements were much coveted by GOP candidates ahead of the November midterms, urged Republicans not to turn a GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. Republicans managed to retake the House in the midterm election. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB, Trump added. Records show that there have been 14 instances of speaker elections that needed multiple ballots, with the last time that two or more votes were needed occurring back in 1923. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the 2022 Zionist Organization of America Superstar Gala after receiving the ZOA Theodor Herzl Medallion at Pier Sixty in New York City on Nov. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) McCarthy Undeterred Tuesdays drama on Capitol Hill saw the House adjourn without a speaker after three rounds of voting in which McCarthy fell 15 votes short of the 218 he needed to clinch the top House job. That vote capped a frenzied two days of back-room bargaining and media posturing by McCarthy and his supporters and a small group of dissident populist conservatives who pushed forand wona number of reform concessions, but still voted no. It was the first time in 100 years that a nominee for House speaker could not take the gavel on the first or second vote. Still, despite the speaker election having to go to a fourth round on Wednesday, McCarthy appeared undeterred. Instead, McCarthy vowed to fight to the finish, saying he was encouraged by Trump to end the intra-party squabbling and pull the GOP together. Trump has already reiterated his support. I talked to him tonight, McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill after emerging from a closed-door meeting with his supporters. The former president wants to see the Republicans united to be able to accomplish the exact things we said wed do, McCarthy continued. Asked if he would drop out, McCarthy insisted: Its not going to happen. U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (C) walks among members of the House in between roll call votes for Speaker of the House of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 3, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Well See What Happens McCarthys remarks came after Trump was asked earlier that day in an interview with NBC News whether he continued to stand by his endorsement of McCarthy after he failed to secure the gavel in three rounds of voting and the House adjourned without a speaker. Well see what happens, Trump told the outlet in a phone interview. Well see how it all works out. Trumps subsequent statement on Truth Social makes clear that, after first securing the former presidents endorsement for speaker in November, McCarthy remains Trumps top pick. The former president endorsed McCarthy for speaker ahead of the November midterm election and later in December encouraged Republicans to rally behind the California Republican, warning in an interview with Breitbart that McCarthys opponents were playing a very dangerous game. Now, Im friendly with a lot of those people who are against Kevin. I think almost every one of them are very much inclined toward Trump, and me toward them, Trump said. But I have to tell them, and I have told them, youre playing a very dangerous game. A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Trumps Make America Great Again agenda, have emerged as a challenge to business as usual in Washington. So far, theyve appeared committed to stopping McCarthys rise unless they win concessions to their priorities. Kevin McCarthy is not going to be a speaker, declared Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), one of the holdouts. The longest and most grueling fight for the gavel started in December 1855, dragging out for two months and requiring 133 ballots before Nathaniel Banks was declared House speaker. Fourth Round The House is scheduled to convene Wednesday after the stalemate essentially forced all other business to halt. Without a speaker, the House cannot fully form and do things like swearing in members, naming committee chairmen, engaging in floor proceedings, and launching investigations of the Biden administration. Today, is that the day I wanted to have? No, McCarthy told reporters late Tuesday at the Capitol. McCarthy won no more than 203 votes in three rounds of voting, losing 19 Republicans from his slim 222-seat majority. All 19 Republicans who did not vote for McCarthy in the first round voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in the second round. A third round saw Jordan receive the same 19 votes, as well as an additional vote from Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.). Path to McCarthy Win With House Republicans slated to open the second day of the new Congress much like the firstwith McCarthy trying to become House speakerits not clear how the embattled GOP leader can win over right-flank conservatives who are opposed to his leadership. The conservative Freedom Caucus led the opposition to McCarthy, believing hes neither conservative enough nor tough enough to take on Democrats. McCarthy has already agreed to many of the demands of the Freedom Caucus, who have been pushing for rules changes and other concessions that give rank-and-file more influence in the legislative process. While it typically takes 218 votesa majority of the Houseto become speaker, that threshold can be reduced if members are absent or merely vote present. If McCarthy could win 213 votes, and then persuade the remaining naysayers to simply vote present, he would be able to lower the threshold required under the rules to clinch the majority. Its a strategy that several former House speakers, including outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), used when confronting opposition but then winning the gavel with fewer than 218 votes. You get 213 votes, and the others dont say another name, thats how you can win, McCarthy said Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Mark Tapscott, Madalina Vasiliu, Zachary Stieber, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Twitter to Remove Ban on Political Ads In the Coming Weeks The Twitter logo is displayed on a mobile device in London on Nov. 7, 2013. (Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images) Political ads will once again be a source of revenue for Twitter following the social media platforms Jan. 3 announcement that it would be loosening its restrictions on cause-based and political advertising. We believe that cause-based advertising can facilitate public conversation around important topics, Twitter noted Tuesday in a statement. Today, were relaxing our ads policy for cause-based ads in the US. We also plan to expand the political advertising we permit in the coming weeks. Moving forward, we will align our advertising policy with that of TV and other media outlets, the company continued. As with all policy changes, we will first ensure that our approach to reviewing and approving content protects people on Twitter. Well share more details as this work progresses. Current Policy Currently, Twitter globally prohibits the paid promotion of all political content on its platform. The policy was implemented in October 2019 amid calls for increased regulation of political ads on social media following claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election. While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions, Twitters then-CEO Jack Dorsey said in announcing the policy. Holding that it would be difficult to prevent the spread of misleading information while also allowing candidates to say what they wish, he added, [I]ts not credible for us to say: Were working hard to stop people from gaming our systems to spread misleading info, but if someone pays us to target and force people to see their political ad well they can say whatever they want! Policing Political Speech Last month, it was revealed through the Elon Musk-endorsed Twitter Filesan ongoing expose of the internal workings at the platformthat Twitter employees had created secret blacklists of users to target for visibility filtering, limiting other users ability to view their content organically. We control visibility quite a bit, a Twitter engineer told Bari Weiss, one of the reporters covering the Twitter Files. And we control the amplification of your content quite a bit. And normal people do not know how much we do. Further, according to new Twitter CEO Musk, many of those filtered users were political candidates seeking elected office. Although Musk did not name names, according to Ballotpedia, elected officials known to have had their Twitter accounts limited or suspended while in office include Reps. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Texas Rep. Briscoe Caine (R-Deerpark), and former President Donald Trump. Notably, all are Republicans. Other accounts revealed to have been targeted for visibility filtering include those of student conservative group TurningPoint USA founder Charlie Kirk, conservative commentator Dan Bongino, the popular Libs Of TikTok account, and others who expressed concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccines. A New Era Since taking over Twitter, Musk has implemented many changes at the company, particularly relating to how the platform monitors speech. For instance, in November, Twitter stopped enforcing its COVID-19 Misleading Information policy, under which many users were suspended for sharing content that did not align with the governments guidance on COVID. New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach, Musk announced on Nov. 18. Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter. You wont find the tweet unless you specifically seek it out, which is no different from rest of Internet. More recently, on Dec. 28, Musk announced a new policy for science-related speech, stating, New Twitter policy is to follow the science, which necessarily includes reasoned questioning of the science. In a follow-up tweet, he added, Anyone who says that questioning them is questioning science itself cannot be regarded as a scientist. The comment was in reference to Dr. Anthony Faucis controversial statement during the pandemic that attacks on him were attacks on science. Musk did not elaborate on what the repercussions of not following the science would be. Earlier last month, Musk faced criticism for suspending the accounts of journalists who allegedly doxxed his location in real time. Those accounts were reinstated, however, after a poll showed that most users felt it was the right thing to do. The people have spoken, the billionaire said. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now. Musk has openly admitted his concern that he might be the target of an assassination attempt. Frankly the risk of something bad happening or literally even being shot is quite significant, he said in December. Its not that hard to kill me if somebody wanted to, so hopefully they dont, he added. Theres definitely some risk there. US Postal Service Can Keep Delivering Abortion Pills Even After Roe Overturned: DOJ Opinion The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) can continue to deliver abortion pills across the United States even after the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a legal opinion on Tuesday. The memorandum opinion (pdf) from the DOJs Office of Legal Counsel was sought by the USPS, which had asked the office whether section 1461 of title 18 of the United States Code prohibits the mailing of mifepristone and misoprostol, which are two prescription drugs commonly used to terminate early pregnancies. Section 1461 was originally enacted as part of the Comstock Act of 1873, and it says that nonmailable matter applies to a range of articles, which includes [e]very article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion and [e]very article, instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing which is advertised or described in a manner calculated to lead another to use or apply it for producing abortion. Under the section, items shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or by any letter carrier. The DOJs Office of Legal Counsel said that the USPSs mailing of the pregnancy-terminating drugs does not violate the section. We conclude that section 1461 does not prohibit the mailing, or the delivery or receipt by mail, of mifepristone or misoprostol where the sender lacks the intent that the recipient of the drugs will use them unlawfully, the opinion reads. It continues: This conclusion is based upon a longstanding judicial construction of the Comstock Act, which Congress ratified and USPS itself accepted. Federal law does not prohibit the use of mifepristone and misoprostol. Indeed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the use of mifepristone in a regimen with misoprostol to be safe and effective for the medical termination of early pregnancy. Moreover, there are manifold ways in which recipients in every state may use these drugs, including to produce an abortion, without violating state law. Therefore, the mere mailing of such drugs to a particular jurisdiction is an insufficient basis for concluding that the sender intends them to be used unlawfully. USPS Issues Statement The USPS said in a statement via Reuters that the DOJ opinion confirms that the Comstock Act does not require the Postal Service to change our current practice, which has been to consider packages containing mifepristone and misoprostol to be mailable under federal law in the same manner as other prescription drugs. It added that the opinion specifies that the mailing of those drugs to a particular jurisdiction that may significantly restrict access to an abortion is not a sufficient basis for the USPS to not deliver them. The USPS also noted that it doesnt take any position on abortion policy at either the federal or state level. The DOJ legal opinion acknowledged in its footnotes that some states have independently enacted laws to restrict the mailing of these drugs for abortion purposes within their jurisdiction. We do not here assess the possible effect of federal law on such state restrictions, other than to note our agreement with your view that the doctrine of intergovernmental immunity would preclude application of such state laws against USPS employees who are complying with their duties under federal law, the memo to the USPS general counsel reads. FDA Allows Abortion Pill Mifepristone to Be Sent by Mail Mifepristone is used as part of a chemical abortion process intended to terminate early pregnancies up to 10 weeks after conception. It is also sometimes used for women who have miscarriages. Chemical abortion involves a two-drug regimen, the first of which (mifepristone) blocks progesterone, which acts to deprive the unborn child of nutrients and stops the pregnancy from progressing, while the second (misoprostol) induces labor to expel the unborn child. Chemical abortion, also referred to by other terms such as abortion by medication, comprise more than half of abortions in the United States. The Supreme Courts decision overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling meant abortion regulation was handed back to the states. The Roe decision had prohibited states from banning abortions prior to when the fetus is deemed viableor potentially able to live outside its mothers wombdeemed at around the second trimester of pregnancy at 24 weeks, a figure that pro-life advocates consider arbitrary. The FDA approved mifepristone in 2000 and, since then, has required the drug to be physically dispensed by a doctor and for patients to retrieve it in person. The FDA under the Biden administration in early 2021, temporarily lifted the requirement, citing the COVID-19 pandemic for doing so. In December 2021, the FDA implemented a rule change that made that temporary change permanent. This means that women can have telemedicine health care consults and receive the abortion drugs by mail via certified prescribers or pharmacies. Both mifepristone and misoprostol have other uses. TSA Quietly Extends COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement to Enter US Travelers stand in line for a TSA checkpoint at the Miami International Airport in Miami on Dec. 19, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has quietly extended the requirement for visitors to the United States to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The United States is the only Western country and one of the few remaining countries worldwide to require such proof of entry. The latest TSA security directive (pdf) is effective from Jan. 9 to April 10, 2023. It requires foreign aircraft operators to require each non-U.S., nonimmigrant citizen to present paper or digital documentation for proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or documentation proving the person is excepted from taking the vaccine, before boarding a flight to the United States. A nonimmigrant is someone who is not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or is visiting the United States on an immigrant visa. Being fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), involves having received an accepted single-dose vaccination or a second dose of an accepted 2-dose series at least 14 days ago. There is no need for a booster dose to achieve the criterion. President Joe Biden issued a proclamation on Oct. 25, 2021, to adopt an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination as an added tool to its strategy to resume air travel to the United States as the world began lifting travel restrictions. The proclamation replaced a previous country-by-country approach for COVID-19-related air travel restrictions. The CDC issued an order on Oct. 25, 2021, with revisions on Oct. 30, 2021, and April 14, 2022, offering directions on how to implement the presidents proclamation. The proclamation also requires the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that noncitizens excluded from entry are not allowed to board an aircraft bound for the United States. The security directive is the latest in a string of orders largely matching that of the previous TSA security directives that were made effective for 12 months starting Nov. 8, 2021, (pdf); that directive was then replaced by another from Nov. 9, 2022, until Jan. 8 (pdf). US 1 of 4 Countries With the Rule The United States is one of only a few countries to require COVID-19 vaccine proof as a requirement for entry for non-citizens, with no alternate avenues for the unvaccinated such as requiring proof of immunity against COVID-19, a negative test, or a quarantine period instead. These other countries include Pakistan, Indonesia, Ghana, and Liberia. The TSA maintained language in the latest security directive stating that the policies, along with the CDCs technical instructions and Bidens proclamation issued in October 2021, are intended to limit the risk that COVID-19, including variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, is introduced, transmitted, and spread into and throughout the United States. The policies will advance the safety and security of travelers, government workers, and air travel industry workers while allowing the worlds economies to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the TSA security directive reads. COVID-19 regulations and restrictions in the United States have evolved in recent months to no longer differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated people in mitigation measures, as policymakers and the general public have acknowledged that COVID-19 vaccines do not or no longer prevent transmission. In early August, the CDC revised its COVID-19 prevention guidance, no longer distinguishing between people based on their vaccination status because breakthrough infections occur, though they are generally mild, and persons who have had COVID-19 but are not vaccinated have some degree of protection against severe illness from their previous infection. Waning Efficacy CDC Director Rochelle Walensky in August had noted that COVID-19 vaccines can no longer prevent transmission. She told CNN in an interview: Our vaccines are working exceptionally well. They continue to work well for Delta with regard to severe illness and death, they prevent it. But what they cant do anymore is prevent transmission. The COVID-19 vaccines have proven increasingly ineffective in protecting against infection and showed waning efficacy in protecting against hospitalization and severe illness amid newly-emerging variants, prompting a push for boosters. The CDC and its partner, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have aggressively promoted vaccination during the pandemic, even when little evidence supports the vaccines. The agencies have also repeatedly refused to release COVID-19 vaccine safety data, The Epoch Times previously reported. The Epoch Times has found that officials in the United States are continuing to spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, including unsupported or misleading statements about vaccine effectiveness and safety. Zachary Stieber, Eva Fu, and Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. US to Become Top LNG Exporter in 2023 as 1st Tanker Arrives in Germany: Report The tanker Maria Energy (R), loaded with liquefied natural gas, lies at the floating terminal, the special ship Hoegh Esperanza, in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Jan. 3, 2023. (Sina Schuldt/dpa via AP) The United States is on course to surpass the worlds largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2023, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, which noted that the United States and Qatar both exported 81.2 million tons of LNG last year. In a year when large economies in Europe and Asia scrambled to source enough supply for heating and power generation, the United States was sitting on a bevy of supply amid soaring international prices for natural gas and LNG. In fact, the United States could have already been the worlds largest exporter of LNG if it werent for an explosion and fire in mid-2022 at a key export facility in Freeport, Texas. The incident knocked out about one-fifth of gas export capacity, putting pressure on Europes fragile gas supplies. With the Freeport LNG facility fully operational, U.S. exports would have hit 86 million tons, Rystad Energy, a world-leading analysis company for the oil and gas industry, stated in late 2022. That would have officially made the United States the largest LNG exporter globally. Rystad Energy stated in a recent report that U.S. LNG output is set to jump by 11 percent in 2023 when Freeport LNGs capacity is fully restored, which will outpace the current trajectory of top exporters Qatar and Australia by millions. Australia is currently the worlds third-largest supplier. However, for the United States to maintain its status as a market leader through the end of this decade, American entrepreneurs should start building new LNG export plants, Bloomberg noted. Qatar could recapture the lead after its North Field expansion plan starts to enter service in 2027, which is expected to ramp up the countrys liquefaction capacity to 126 million metric tons per year. However, considering the current trajectory, if U.S. suppliers can maintain the increase in supply through commissioning new plants, the country will be able to maintain its lead. Global demand for LNG has grown steadily, hitting annual record highs since 2015. European economies and emerging Asian markets depend on LNG for power production and heating requirements. The United States only started to export LNG in 2016 amid the increase in global demand, making it a huge leap for the nation to become such a dominant force in the industry in just seven years. US Tanker Arrives in Germany On Jan. 3, the first regular U.S. shipment of the supercooled natural gas arrived in Germany as part of a wide-reaching effort to help the country replace energy supplies that it had previously received from Russia. The tanker vessel Maria Energy arrived at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven, where its shipment of LNG will be converted back into gas at a special floating terminal that was inaugurated last month by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany has rushed to find a replacement for Russian gas supplies following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The facility in Wilhelmshaven is one of several such terminals being put in place to help avert an energy supply shortage. The Western European country has also temporarily reactivated old oil- and coal-fired power stations and extended the life of its last three nuclear power plants until mid-April. Environmental campaigners said they planned to protest the arrival of the U.S. tanker, arguing that Germany shouldnt be importing fossil fuels, particularly gas obtained through fracking. Naveen Athrappully and The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News. Virginia AG Announces Investigation of Top High School Over Withholding Student National Recognition Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (C) announces investigations on Thomas Jefferson High School's delay in informing students of national recognitions and the school's admission policies in Alexandria, Va., on Jan. 4, 2023. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) ALEXANDRIA, Va.Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced on Jan. 4 that he will investigate the delay by a Virginia high school in informing students of national recognition they received in a scholarship competition, a day after Gov. Glenn Youngkin formally asked him to do so. The National Merit award is a recognition and such a valuable tool in our college application process for earning merit-based scholarships to pay for the ever-increasing costs of college, Miyares said. He noted the impact of such a delay, calling admissions to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)which regularly ranks as one of the best schools in the countrya pathway to the American dream to many, especially immigrants. To the extent that withholding of any of these awards at Thomas Jefferson High School was based on race, national origin, or any other protected status under the Virginia Human Rights Act, that is unlawful. Each year, about 1.5 million high school students in the United States take the Preliminary SAT, and about 50,000 highest scorersabout the top 3 percentwould become commended students under the National Merit Scholarship Corp. (NMSC) program. The accolade opens the door to special scholarships and enhances students competitiveness in college applications. However, high schools are the only recipients of award notifications because the program relies on the schools to relay the news to their students. During the current school year, administrators at TJHSST didnt notify its 261 NMSC award recipients until mid-November 2022; the early application deadlines for some colleges had passed on Nov. 1. TJHSST is a state-chartered magnet high school in Virginia. Students in northern Virginia counties and cities are eligible to apply. The high school is located in Alexandria in Fairfax County and is operated by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) division. Education activist Asra Nomani in Fairfax County first reported the delay on Dec. 21, 2022. On Dec. 30, 2022, the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the school division that runs TJHSST, acknowledged the delay and said it had started its own investigation of the matter. The delay was a unique situation due to human error, according to the FCPS public statement. In another press statement on Jan. 3, FCPS said it was aware of Youngkins authorization of an investigation and that FCPS stands ready to work with our partners at the state level if the investigation would be launched. As a reminder, once this error was brought to light, school staff reached out to colleges to update records where commended scholars had applied, the FCPS stated. Parents Dont Think Delay Was a 1-Time Error Nomani disagreed that the delay in 2022 was a one-time error. I have found TJ students from 2019, 2020, and 2021 who never knew they were Commended Students, Nomani wrote in a Jan. 3 tweet. Her son, who graduated from TJHSST in 2021, was one of them. According to Nomani, NMSC told her that it informed the TJHSST principal of the award in a letter dated Sept. 10, 2020, but the principal didnt notify parents or make any public announcements. Now two years later, Nomani said she and her son learned he had earned the commended student recognition, an award that could be used for obtaining a scholarship. Shawna Yashar, whose son is currently a senior at TJHSST, said the schools director of student services, Brandon Kosatka, told her that he and the principal withheld the national accolades because they didnt want to hurt the feelings of those who didnt earn the recognitions. The Epoch Times has contacted TJHSST Principal Ann Bonitatibus and Kosatka for comment. She said her son called the college admissions office to add the award information to his applications, to no avail. TJHSST initially refused to call the colleges on behalf of the students but agreed later after the matter received media attention. However, she said there is no guarantee that such add-on information will be included in the original student application. In a Jan. 3 statement, Youngkin said, We need to get to the bottom of what appears to be an egregious, deliberate attempt to disadvantage high-performing students at one of the best schools in the country. He said the delay might have caused material harm to the students and their parents and authorized a full investigation based on a potential violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act. Investigations Welcomed Yashar attended a meeting with FCPS superintendent Michelle Reid on Jan. 3. She said that she appreciated that FCPS was launching an internal investigation and said that the meeting was conducted by a Richmond law firm. She thought the additional attorney general investigation was the right thing to do. This cant possibly just be a one-time human error as FCPS is claiming, she told The Epoch Times. Nomani welcomed the governors initiative. We have been waging a civil rights battle for two years against a school board that is engaging in systemic injustice against our families, and now we see through the withholding of National Merit Commended Student awards that this systemic injustice has very real consequences on the in the wallets of families and the futures of children, she said in a Jan. 3 statement. She referred to the two-year battle of a group of FCPS parents over the revised TJHSST admission policies that eliminated the magnet high schools entrance exam, allocated admissions for every school in TJHSSTs covered areas, and reduced Asian students from 73 percent to 54 percent in the class of 2025. Nomani and other parents sued the Fairfax County School Board to halt the revised admission policies, arguing that the racial balancing in the new policies disproportionally harmed Asian American students. While the parent group obtained initial legal success, the Supreme Courts decision (pdf) in April 2022 ultimately allowed those policies to stay. The court didnt explain its reasoning. Investigation of TJHSSTs Admission Policy On Jan. 4, Miyares also announced an investigation of TJHSSTs admission policies. Using race, national origin, or any other protected class under Virginias Human Rights Act as a factor to determine admission to one of our top high schools is wrong. It is unjust. He said his investigation would be based on Virginia state law, namely the Virginia Human Rights Act. Racism and race-based government decision-making in any form is wrong. And its against who we are as a people and who we are as a nation. And I intend to get to the bottom of this through my office of civil rights investigation. The UK government has stressed that it is not compulsory to wear a mask while ill, though it has been longstanding advice from health authorities. It comes after Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), issued advice on Jan. 2 saying adults should wear a face covering if they have to leave the house while feeling unwell. The UKHSA handed out the advice this week in a bid to counter high levels of flu, COVID-19, and invasive Strep A disease. Transport Secretary Mark Harper also said it would be sensible to do so if travelling. Transport Secretary Mark Harper arrives for a government COBRA emergency committee meeting at the Cabinet Office in London, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Victoria Jones/PA Media) Asked for the governments opinion on the UKHSAs guidance, Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks spokesman said on Jan. 3: Obviously thats advice they put out. I think that is pretty longstanding advice. It remains health advice to the publicit is not mandatory. People need their judgment. Certainly people will continue to use their good sense, having spent a long time dealing with these kinds of infectious illnesses. Questioned whether it was really longstanding advice for people to wear face coverings if they are battling a cold, the spokesman replied: Thats not what the advice says. What youll see is, as has often been the case, if people are ill, they are advised to stay at home. Obviously people can choose to wear a mask if they wish to. It is not compulsory. This is advice from UKHSA rather than government ministers telling people what to do, as we saw during the height of the pandemic before the emergence of vaccines. Asked if the prime minister would consider wearing a mask while feeling unwell, the spokesman said he had not put the question to Sunak. I imagine it is down to individual circumstances, the spokesman told reporters. Sensible Thing to Do Asked if he would wear a mask if he was ill with COVID-19, Harper, the transport secretary, told LBC radio: First of all, you should stay at home if you think you have got COVID or you have got flu. Actually the most sensible thing to do is to not go out and spread it. If you do go out, clearly wearing a mask is very sensible if you are ill. But we manage these illnesses now by vaccination. People should get vaccinated for COVID, they should also get a flu vaccination. We have seen very high levels of flu this winter. The UK has followed a long list of other countries in taking precautionary measures in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases in China on the heels of the communist regimes abrupt lifting of stringent zero-COVID restrictions last month. In the first 20 days of December, 248 million people in China likely became infected, according to an internal meeting memo of Chinas top health body that was leaked online. The number dwarfs the COVID-19 data and death tally officially released so far, which international experts have said is disproportionate to the actual scale of the outbreak. The United States, Italy, Spain, France, Australia, and Canada have adopted entry curbs on arrivals from China, following in the footsteps of Chinas neighbouring nations and regions such as India, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan. Travellers walk with their luggage at Beijing Capital International Airport, amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing, China, on Dec. 27, 2022. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters) Monitoring New Variants Under new measures announced by UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Dec. 30, from Jan. 5, people flying from mainland China to England will be asked to take a test no more than two days prior to departure. In addition, the UKHSA will launch new surveillance measures on Jan. 8, which will see a sample of passengers arriving from China tested for COVID-19 at the point of their arrival. But Harper said that those who test positive on arrival will not be required to quarantine. What we are doing is we are collecting that information for surveillance purposes, he said, adding, The policy for arrivals from China is primarily about collecting information that the Chinese government are not sharing with the international community. Harper said: This is about a country, China, which isnt sharing the health data with the global health system that we expect everybody to do. That is why we have put this temporary precautionary measure in place as China opens up its borders. He said it is a very sensible, balanced proposition which helps keep people in the UK safe but doesnt put any restrictions on how people in the UK are able to operate. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said passengers will not be allowed to board a flight to the UK from China if they do not have evidence of a negative test result. But, in a separate statement, a DHSC spokeswoman confirmed that tests upon arrival in England were optional. She said: We encourage people at the border to take a test to help themselves, their families, and wider knowledge on COVID. However, the testing is optional and people can decline if they wish to do so. Downing Street said the government would set out the full details regarding new rules for travellers entering the UK from mainland China or Hong Kong in due course. PA Media contributed to this report. White House Defends COVID Travel Restrictions as Beijing Threatens Countermeasures White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Oct. 19, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The White House is defending its decision to issue travel restrictions related to COVID-19 following several threats from Chinas communist regime. The Biden administration said there was no cause for retaliation from Beijing after its communist leadership criticized Washingtons decision to require a negative COVID-19 test from those who travel from China to the United States. Theres no cause for retaliation here just because countries around the world are taking prudent health measures to protect their citizens, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Jan. 3 press conference. Thats what youre seeing from us and others. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, announced that it will reopen its borders on Jan. 8. The move comes just one month after the regime abruptly terminated its zero-COVID policy in response to mass unrest, causing cases of COVID-19 to surge throughout China. The move prompted a global outcry, and nations around the world are hurrying to put in place testing requirements for all arrivals from China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement on Dec. 28, 2022, saying that passengers would need to present a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of recovery before boarding a U.S.-bound flight from China. The CDC said the move was meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the United States during the surge in COVID-19 cases in the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] given the lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data being reported from the PRC. The United States joins the UK, Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Malaysia, Qatar, and other nations seeking to place stronger restrictions on arrivals from China. A spokesperson for the CCP said that the testing requirements were unacceptable and vowed that the regime would take countermeasures against nations that issue travel restrictions on flights originating in China. World Prepares for Chinas COVID Surge The White House defended the decision to require testing from all China-originating travelers based on the international consensus that COVID-19 is currently ravaging Chinas populace. A patient on oxygen is wheeled on a gurney into a busy emergency room at a hospital in Beijing on Jan. 2, 2023. (Getty Images) Again, there is no need for retaliation, Jean-Pierre said. This is something that all of us, other countries, are doing to make sure that we are protecting our citizens. This decision is based on public health and science. This is coming from our experts here. And other countries like Japan, like South Korea, the UK, France, India, Italy, and Malaysia are also taking similar public steps. The CCP has attempted to cover up the scale of COVID-19 infections in China and the number of deaths its causing among the Chinese population, which has no natural immunity following almost three years of constant lockdowns. Leaked images of papers from a CCP conference in December 2022 revealed that Party authorities believe that as many as 248 million Chinese became infected within the first 20 days of December. Publicly, the regime claims that only 10 people died from the disease throughout the month. A December 2022 report released by UK-based health data firm Airfinity, however, estimated that about 9,000 people in China are dying each day from COVID-19 and that the number will likely reach 25,000 deaths per day by late January. Cumulative deaths in China since Dec. 1, 2022, have probably reached 161,000, the report said. Speaking to the press ahead of a Jan. 3 meeting between Chinese scientists and the World Health Organization, virologist and WHO committee member Marion Koopmans said that the information Chinese authorities had presented on COVID hospitalization rates was not very credible and urged the regime to be more honest for the sake of Chinas people. The White House appeared to agree with that assessment, and Jean-Pierre reiterated that the WHO was demanding that the CCP release factual information about the state of COVID-19 in China. The World Health Organization is calling on China to release more data, which is vital to identify any potential variants. Zelensky Says Trudeau Agrees on Steps for Ukraines Peace Initiative Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends an International Human Rights forum, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 9, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters) Canada agrees on the steps to implement Ukraines peace initiative to end Russias invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 3 after a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A substantive conversation with Justin Trudeau, Zelensky wrote on Twitter. Agreed on steps to implement the #PeaceFormula, he added, along with thanking Canada for the strong support and mentioning the discussion touched upon strengthening his countrys defence capabilities. A readout of the call from the Prime Ministers Office says Trudeau expressed his hope that 2023 will bring a just and sustainable peace to the people of Ukraine. He commended President Zelenskys ongoing efforts toward this end, including his peace initiative, and reaffirmed Canadas support for these endeavours. The readout adds that Trudeau told Zelensky that Canada was committed to supporting Ukraine with humanitarian, military, and financial assistance as long as necessary, to safeguard their free, democratic, and secure future. Trudeau spoke with Zelensky while vacationing in Jamaica. The call took place after previous calls in mid-December and mid-November. Latest Canadian measures to support Ukraine include the provision of $115 million from Russian and Belarusian tariff revenues to repair Kyivs power grid, and the disbursement of a $500 million loan collected from the sale of Ukrainian bonds. Steps for Peace The first of the three steps to implement Zelenskys peace formula actually entails escalating the war to improve his leverage over Russia. The first [step] is a new force Ukraine needs modern tanks and I ask you to provide this defensive capability to us, Zelensky told the G7 online summit on Dec. 12. He also pleaded for other types of weapons and ammunitions and said the more effective we are with such weapons, the shorter the Russian aggression will be. Zelensky said the second step was a new resilience in the sectors of finances, energy, and social stability, and the third step is a new diplomacy. We feel the opportunity to use diplomacy to bring the liberation of all our people and all our territories closer, he said. This would take the form of a Global Peace Formula Summit where it would be determined how to implement the Peace Formula, Zelensky said. The 10-point formula was presented by Zelensky during his address at the G20 in mid-November and includes the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, the withdrawal of all Russian troops, and the establishment of a special tribunal to address war crimes. Many of the demands are non-starters for Russia, which has rejected Ukraines peace formula. There can be no peace plan for Ukraine that does not take into account todays realities regarding Russian territory, with the entry of four regions into Russia. Plans that do not take these realities into account cannot be peaceful, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Dec. 28. Those regions refer to Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, which Russia annexed in September after referendums. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in late December he was ready to negotiate and blamed the other side for the absence of talks. Meanwhile Russian officials rejected on Dec. 27 the idea of holding in February the UN-mediated peace summit proposed by Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in late December that direct talks with Moscow would only take place on the condition that Russia face a war crimes tribunal. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Executive Director of Onadipe Technologies and Founder of internet safety magazine, Rotimi Onadipe has told Nigerians to educate themselves about how to stay safe online in the new year 2023. Mr. Onadipe made the call on Saturday at a weekly awareness seminar on internet safety which took place at Internet safety magazine office in Ibadan on Saturday December 31, 2022. According to the internet safety advocate, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless policy will increase the number of online transactions in the new year and cyber criminals will also try to take advantage of vulnerable individuals and organizations who are ignorant of how to protect themselves against internet fraud. Speaking to journalists in Ibadan during the awareness seminar, Onadipe said we must always be informed that no matter how spiritual, educated, intelligent or influential we are, we are not exempted from the danger of cyber crimes and cyber criminals. "The cyber crooks are getting smarter in their criminal activities and they are always prepared to take advantage of any vulnerable person irrespective of age or tribe. We must be prepared not to fall victim to their scams and our only weapon against them is knowledge about their criminal activities and how we can protect ourselves. "In this new year 2023, please search for every information that can help you to avoid falling victim to internet fraud because payment of goods and services through electronic channels will increase in this new year and the online scammers are already searching for unsuspecting victims. More importantly, contact cyber safety experts to educate you about the tricks of cyber criminals and how to avoid falling victim," Onadipe added. Phuket officials recognise three dead, 34 injured in Seven Days campaign for New Year PHUKET: Phuket officials today recognised that three people had died in road accidents so far during the Seven Days of Danger safety campaign for New Year 2023, following an elderly couple being killed on the outskirts of Phuket Town early yesterday morning (Jan 3). Wednesday 4 January 2023, 04:42PM The standard daily report of the DDPM-Phuket itself posted earlier today marked two deaths and 76 people injured in road accidents on the island yesterday. Image: DDPM-Phuket Veersin Bunthanaviraphat, 64, and his wife, Ms Orapawee, 63, residents of Soi Ton Pho in Phuket Town, were killed when a Honda sedan driven by Narongphat Makmee, 56, from Ubon Ratchathani, struck their motorbike with sidecar (saleng) from behind at speed near the Thepsrisin Bridge, near Saphan hin, at about 3:50am. Mr and Mrs Bunthanaviraphat were on their way to a local market when they were killed. According to Udomporn Kan, Head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM-Phuket), the deaths of Mr and Mrs Bunthanaviraphat brought the tally so far during this years Seven Days campaign for the New Year to three dead (two male, one female) and 34 injured (21 male, 13 female). Across the island in total only 10 accidents occurred, Mr Kan said, adding that 10 people (seven male, three female) were admitted to hospital for their injuries during the 24 hours of yesterday. Mr Kans report was presented at the daily briefing for the campaign at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 4), chaired by Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Somprat Prabsongkram. Of note, the standard daily report of the DDPM-Phuket itself posted earlier today marked two deaths and 76 people injured in road accidents on the island yesterday. According to an official report of the meeting by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket), The meeting discussed measures to prevent accidents, including finding ways to prevent accidents in Phuket as a whole. No details were provided. Unlike previous reports of the daily briefings for this years Seven Days safety campaign for the New Year, todays official report did not even mention police. Unlike previous years in announcing the results of the Seven Days safety campaign for the New Year, this year there have been no public reports of how many arrests police have made for any traffic violations at any of the checkpoints set up across the island. The Seven Days of Danger safety campaign for New Year 2023 began last Thursday (Dec 29). The campaign will conclude at midnight tonight (Jan 4). The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) is pleased to announce that Oakmont Elementary has been named a National ESEA Distinguished School by the state education agency in Tennessee. Oakmont Elementary is one of up to 100 schools throughout the country that is being nationally recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2022. A project of NAESPA, the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students. It highlights the efforts of schools across the country making significant improvements for their students. The program has been in place since 1996, showcasing the success of hundreds of schools in one of three categories: CATEGORY 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth, as determined by each state CATEGORY 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups, as determined by each state CATEGORY 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.) The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides additional resources for vulnerable students and federal grants to state educational agencies to improve the quality of public elementary and secondary education. The Association is a membership organization made up of State ESEA Program Administrators, and their staff from each of the states and territories, charged with managing their state federal education program. They ensure compliance with federal regulations, but more importantly work to see that all children especially those living in economically disadvantaged conditions have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. NAESPA implements the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to highlight selected schools that have successfully used their ESEA federal funds to improve the education for all studentsincluding economically disadvantaged students. More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the ESEA Network website: www.ESEAnetwork.org. By Azernews The project for additional supplies of Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe will be presented at a meeting of energy ministers of the countries participating in the Southern Gas Corridor project in Baku on February 3, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said. He made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez in Sofia, Bulgaria. "This project will allow the immediate start of pumping additional volumes of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe with minimal funds. At the initiative of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria joined this project," he said. With the completion of the TAP (Trans-Adriatic Pipeline) construction on December 31, 2020, Azerbaijan began commercial gas supplies to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor. The SGC is an initiative of the European Commission for a natural gas supply route from the Caspian and Middle Eastern regions to Europe. The route from Azerbaijan to Europe consists of the South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP, and TAP. Last year, TAP transported 8.1 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe. In 2023, Azerbaijan plans to increase gas supplies to Europe to 11 billion cubic meters. As of 2022, Azerbaijan has exported 9.3 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe in the first ten months and is expected to supply 11.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe by the end of the year. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association is seeking eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The Alabama Peanut Producers Association will hold a nominations election to select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board during a meeting on Feb. 2, following the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan. All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop. Tom Corcoran of Eufaula is the current Alabama National Peanut Board member and Thomas Adams of Newville serves as the alternate. The term for the current Alabama board member and alternate expires Dec. 31, 2023. USDA requires two nominees from each state for each position of member and alternate. The National Peanut Board will submit Alabamas slate of nominees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the appointments. Rebecca and Simon Gregory were on a long weekend away in Disneyland Paris when the first stranger rang the doorbell at their two-bedroom home in Littlehampton, West Sussex. The couple, who are in their 30s, knew it wasnt a friend or relative thanks to their smart doorbell, which beams CCTV images from their front door in the seaside town to their mobile phones. After briefly watching a man wandering around on their porch looking confused, the couple started to get concerned. Desirable: The VW Transporter has gained a cult following in recent years, which has led to it becoming Britain's most scammed vehicle But then another stranger turned up. And another. And another. Rebecca started to get worried. What on earth was attracting so many people to their home 300 miles away? The merchandising account director asked her mother, Davina, 62, who lives nearby, to pop round and investigate. When Davina reported back, Rebecca was gobsmacked. Every one of their unexpected visitors had turned up for the same reason: to collect a Volkswagen Transporter van theyd bought on eBay. Davina had politely explained that there was no way her daughter and her husband could be selling a VW Transporter. They simply didnt own one. In total, about 13 eBay buyers turned up to find only the couples Ford Fiesta on the driveway. And they were still arriving when Rebecca, 35, and Simon, 38, returned home two days later. Each buyer had put down 2,000 to 3,000 as a deposit on a VW Transporter listed for sale on eBay. They had then been given Rebecca and Simons address to collect the van. One couple had driven several hundred miles. Others had booked hotels. One had spent five hours on a train from Liverpool. Alarmed: Rebecca and Simon Gregory discovered their address had been used in a scam when people began turning up on their doorstep asking for their vans Most were furious when they found out the van they thought theyd bought didnt exist. In short, they had all fallen victim to the most common vehicle fraud in Britain today: the fake second-hand VW Transporter van scam. The Transporter especially the fifth-generation T5 models, which were built between 2003 and 2015 has gained a cult following. Its a cheap but cheerful commercial vehicle ripe for converting into a campervan which you can travel and sleep in, thanks to its size and workhorse engine. Social media is awash with videos of how to convert them on a shoestring. But that popularity has also alerted fraudsters. In fact, VW Transporter fraud is now so common that a dedicated Facebook page with 3,500 members has been set up to track down dodgy adverts. According to fraud expert Jack Buster, who runs Action Scam, a group which helps victims recover money, many of the phony VW Transporter adverts are recycled and used numerous times. He says vans carrying the same number plates appear repeatedly on eBay and Facebook Marketplace, hooking in dozens of buyers at a time. Some of the photos being used on these adverts are often eight or nine years old, he says. They are a scammers goldmine. Happy campers: The VW T5 is a popular choice for DIY camper vans with social media awash with videos of how to convert them on a shoestring Victims are encouraged to send money or at least an initial deposit by bank transfer before they pick up the vehicle in person. The seller then either goes cold and ignores any further messages, or provides a fake address for collection in order to give their ruse the appearance of legitimacy. The string of strangers who appeared on Rebecca and Simons doorstep had all been taken in by the same fake listing on eBay. Collectively, they lost as much as 40,000. The couple say they had to break the news to victims over and over again. With some people you could tell by their expressions they couldnt afford to lose that kind of money, she says. It was really upsetting for us. Last year, cases of online vehicle scams referred to Action Fraud, the reporting body, were up 21 pc on the level recorded in 2019. And the VW Transporter dominates the scam listings, Mr Buster says. It frequently came out top in polls ranking the most popular second-hand vans. Its popularity boomed during the pandemic as travel restrictions gave more people the longing for campervan holidays in the UK. A second-hand VW T5 in good condition can easily be sold for more than 10,000 after prices shot up by 1,294 in a year, according to online car marketplace AutoTrader. Fake ads, which usually involve scammers listing vans for a much lower yet still plausible price can attract dozens of buyers who think theyre securing a bargain. Elliott Boddy, who runs TravelinLite, a business that sells Transporter parts, says: Its often people new to the VW scene who fall victim to these scams. People buying their first one are most vulnerable. Tell-tale signs are the vans being listed too cheap for the model being sold. In recent years, I have frequently seen the same vans used in adverts. Kim Rees and Tim Barrett, both 51, paid 2,650 for a VW that turned out not to exist, after having seen an advert on eBay. Fraudsters' favourite: VW Transporter fraud is now so common that a dedicated Facebook page with 3,500 members has been set up to track down dodgy adverts The 2006 T5 model was listed as having 77,000 miles on the clock, with collection from an address in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The couple, from Shaftesbury, Dorset, wanted the van to use for Tims job as a self-employed carpenter. After registering their interest on eBay, they spoke to the seller on the phone and were persuaded to pay a deposit via bank transfer. Kim says: The seller sounded so genuine on the phone, so we paid the 1,000 deposit. But then he called to say he would have to refund the money as he had found another buyer who would pay the full amount. So we paid the full 2,650 for fear of losing out. As soon as we got to the address, I knew something was wrong. The house didnt look like the one in the advert. Kim and Tims bank, NatWest with whom they have been customers for more than 30 years has refused to cover their loss as it insists the couple were negligent in buying a vehicle without seeing it first. Had the couple paid via eBay as opposed to a direct bank transfer they would have been covered by the sites money-back guarantee. Facebook doesnt offer a built-in payment service, meaning shoppers are forced to send money directly via bank transfer. That leaves them without the protections against fraud offered by PayPal or credit and debit cards, where the payment provider can be forced to step in and cover losses. Action Scams Mr Buster, who battles banks on behalf of fraud victims, told Money Mail of a case where a man suffering from cancer was scammed by a Transporter advert. The man was frequently being treated overnight in Leeds General Infirmary despite living 150 miles away in Blackburn, Lancashire. He wanted a VW Transporter T5 so his immediate family could travel with him and stay in it while he was treated. He lost 10,000 after falling for a fake advert and paying in full. Mr Busters Facebook group is filled with victims who have turned into sleuths to help others avoid the same fate, sharing details of scam adverts and attempting to get them shut down. Mr Buster says: eBay and Facebook Marketplace are head and shoulders above the others for the sheer volume of fraudulent vehicle adverts. These platforms need to shut down the adverts faster. He says the best way to avoid falling victim to vehicle fraud is by never buying anything you havent seen in person. If that is not possible, he recommends asking the seller for a video phone call via Zoom or FaceTime, for example where they can give you a live tour of the vehicle. It must be a live video because pre-recorded videos can be stolen from genuine sellers and used by fraudsters, says Mr Buster. Facebook says if a user sees signs of suspicious activity, they should immediately cancel the transaction and report the listing to the site as a fake. An eBay spokesman says: Thousands of our users buy and sell vehicles on eBay safely and successfully every day. Always view the vehicle in person before handing over any money. If any of your readers have been a victim of fraud, they should report it to eBay, Action Fraud and their local police force immediately. h.kelly@dailymail.co.uk The 64-year-old man on the phone is becoming increasingly agitated. Hes doing everything in his power to convince Santanders bank staff to put through a 3,000 transfer to his Brazilian girlfriend in Ghana. But the bank has blocked all payments from his current account to his girlfriend since November and wont budge. Paul (not his real name) simply cannot fathom why. Time and again, he pleads for the funds to be released, explaining that his beloved desperately needs the money. Love is blind: Romance scams involve fraudsters luring their prey into a trusting online relationship - and then extorting them for cash It makes uncomfortable listening, as Money Mail sits in on the call, but there is more to this row than meets the eye. For Paul is just one of thousands of customers referred to the specialist Santander Break the Spell scams team every month. This group of ten specially trained fraud staff in Bootle, Merseyside, is tasked with talking to customers suspected of being victims of sophisticated confidence tricksters. The majority of those referred to the service since September have fallen for romance scams, where fraudsters lure their prey into a trusting online relationship and then extort them for cash. Typically, at risk customers are identified either by the banks payments technology, which monitors for unusual activity on current accounts, or by beady-eyed branch or telephone staff. The Break the Spell team is sent a case file, with notes about the customer and an option to listen to their previous phone calls with other bank staff. With background research complete, one of the team will phone the customer to find out more about where they are trying to send money, to whom and why before deciding whether the payment can go ahead. Jade, from the Break the Spell team, strongly believes Paul is the victim of a callous romance fraud. With such scams, lonely people are targeted online through social media or dating websites. The crook gives the impression they have fallen in love and works tirelessly to build up trust, often using fake online profiles with colourful back-stories and photographs stolen from other social media accounts. Romance fraud is big business and both men and women are targeted. Yet despite Jades warnings, Paul wont accept that his girlfriend may not be who she says she is. Its a pattern of behaviour the Break the Spell team has to contend with on a daily basis, Jade says. Paul has already spent hours trying to convince Jade that his three-year relationship is genuine, and claims to have the photographs to prove it. That week, he sent Jade an email. She opens it and the picture of a 20-something Brazilian bombshell holding a certificate for gold bars flashes up on her screen. Safeguarding: Money Mails Jessica Beard (right) with Jade from Santander's Break the Spell team Paul says his girlfriend has inherited 16 gold bars after the death of her parents, but cant get her hands on them until she has paid the fees for the vault in Ghana. Thats why she needs him to send her 3,000 as soon as possible. As they talk, Jade performs a so-called reverse-image search on Google. This is where you copy and paste an image of a face into Googles search bar, and it looks for matches elsewhere on the internet. Almost instantly, Google returns an identical picture of an actress from an adult website, plus links to online forums where people warn the actresss image has been used before by scammers. Paul then drops the bombshell that he plans to start a family with his Brazilian girlfriend in the New Year. He reveals he has been supporting her financially for the past 12 months, sending between 300 and 1,000 on a regular basis. In total, hes transferred nearly 10,000 of his savings to her bank account. Santanders suspicions were raised when staff working at Pauls local branch found out he had started using food banks because his funds had run so low. The heart leads the head, Paul tells Jade, as though its a rock-solid case for the defence. But for Jade, the alarm bells ring even louder. This person clearly isnt who they say they are and it seems likely that Paul is being coerced, she tells me after the call. His story raises all the big red flags, so if it continues, I will consider getting the police involved, she adds. Under the Banking Protocol scheme, trained banking staff can involve the police when they believe criminal activity is taking place and intervention or support is required. As the conversation goes on, it becomes clear that Paul is being less than truthful about having met his girlfriend face-to-face. Jade doesnt doubt him when he says his first contact was via a dating website three years ago, but the rest of the story doesnt add up. I dont believe he went to Ghana to meet this woman, Jade says. He has no plane tickets, pictures or transactions on his account to prove he ever went there. We have to be lie detectors in this job because customers can be very convincing to get their payments through. It can be frustrating because they sometimes dont understand that you are trying to help them. Tactics: Crooks typically contact victims online and give an impression they have fallen in love and work to build up trust By the end of the 44-minute phone call the fifth Jade has had with Paul he still firmly denies hes been scammed. Yet a week after my visit, Jade sends me a text message at last, Paul has cracked after another four hours of calls. He finally admitted he had never met her or seen her over video and said he believed me! her text reads, the exclamation point betraying just how much the breakthrough means to her. He will be cutting contact with her and hes heartbroken, but Im so relieved. Santanders Break the Spell operation was set up just under two years ago in response to a huge rise in complex scams. Since April 2021, it has stopped payments worth 3.5 million being made to scammers. The programme has been so successful that the bank plans to create a second specialist team this year. Romance scams have become the most common type the team has dealt with in the past two months. Banks say these types of scammers stole 30.9 million in 2021 a 73 per cent jump in just a year. Action Fraud believes that the true figure for losses to romance scams is closer to 95 million a year. Jade reveals that the victims she has spoken to have gone to terrifying lengths to help their partners. One lady sold her home last month to move to Florida to be with a famous wrestler she had supposedly met online. It was only after the sale of the house had gone through that she realised it was a scam. Another woman was referred to Jade after she attempted to send 5,000 to her lover in Egypt, whom she believed was serving in the U.S. army. The money was needed to fund his daughters surgery in Finland, the man had told her. Jade says: The victim and I were talking for weeks, and she was getting distressed because he was angry at her for being unable to send the money. She sent me a photo of his daughter in her hospital bed. We found straight away through a reverse-image search on Google that the picture had been lifted from a local newspaper. I broke the news to her and you could hear through the phone the moment that the penny dropped. She was in absolute shock. Santander's 'Break the Spell' team is is tasked with talking to customers suspected of being victims of sophisticated confidence tricksters By lunchtime on the day of my visit, Jade has already made calls to four different suspected victims of romance scams. Its hard not to feel for them, but its alarming how staunchly they try to defend the cruel scammers who have won their confidence. Jade and her colleagues are regularly on the sharp end of rude and aggressive language. Many of the fraud victims are angry at being stopped from spending their own money as they choose. I have to remind myself that Im trying to protect them, Jade says. Some days are exhausting especially when its difficult to break the spell even though youve been speaking to them a few times a week, Jade says. Santander allows workers to join the Break the Spell team only after years of training. Jade spent five years dealing with complaints from customers who were reporting suspected scams before she joined the team. She then underwent additional training, listening in on calls and learning how to talk customers round when they have been so convincingly duped. One call during Money Mails visit shows just how skilled Jades team have to be. After 33 minutes talking to an elderly man, its still unclear whether hes fallen for a scam or is just involved in a generous church scheme. The pensioner was referred to Jade when he tried to transfer 900 abroad. He had already sent two other payments, both for more than 800, to an account in Ivory Coast. The man says the money was raised at his local church for an orphanage and he is using his personal account to make the international transfers. Jade probes him to try to determine whether this orphanage actually exists. Has he been to the orphanage? No. Has he met anyone from it? Yes, a representative to whom he speaks regularly on WhatsApp. Is he definitely satisfied that this orphanage exists? Yes. When Jade searches online for the orphanage, she finds it is name-checked by several large global charities. The pensioner becomes agitated as he starts to fear the money wont reach the young girls whom he believes are in urgent need of help. He insists he must send thousands of pounds more as soon as possible. Jade says: Most of the customers we speak to are good-natured people who just want to help so much that they dont spot the risks. This [orphanage scheme] could be genuine, but it could also be a scam by an organised crime group. We have to eliminate that risk before we can authorise the payment. In the end, the man calls Jade back a week later to say that he has changed his mind. From now on, he will send the money only to registered and trusted charities a wise move. Chris Ainsley, head of fraud detection at Santander, says social media has made the banks job in stopping confidence tricksters infinitely harder. The problem we have now is that fraudsters post one thing on social media and reach thousands of people. However, he admits that banks could be quicker to identify payments and bank transfers to scammers. Jade says: When you finally make a breakthrough with a customer, it makes the job worthwhile and it makes the harder ones a bit easier to handle. Its tiring work and it can be hard to switch off. But, ultimately, all I want to do is keep our customers safe. j.beard@dailymail.co.uk Tesla shares fell more than 12 per cent yesterday after it delivered fewer electric cars than expected. In another setback for chief executive Elon Musk, the company said it delivered 405,278 vehicles in the final quarter of 2022. Despite being a record high, it was below Wall Street estimates of up to 430,000, sending shares lower on the first day of trading in 2023 following a painful 65 per cent sell-off in 2022. Slow lane: In another setback for chief executive Elon Musk (pictured), Tesla said it delivered 405,278 vehicles in the final quarter of 2022 The firm, which saw its market value peak at over $1 trillion, is now worth $339billion. The slump in the Tesla share price has seen Musk become the only person in history to erase $200billion from their net worth though his wealth still stands at $137billion (115billion). Tesla is still the worlds most valuable car maker, even though its production is a fraction of rivals such as Japans Toyota. Global car makers have in the past few months battled a demand downturn in China, where the spread of Covid-19 has hit consumer spending. Tesla has tried to navigate the pressure by offering hefty discounts in the country, as well as a subsidy for insurance costs. Royal Mail looks set for losses of nearly 650million after a horrid Christmas marred by strikes. The 507-year-old firm, established by Henry VIII, has been rocked by declining letter numbers, the end of the pandemic boom in parcel deliveries and a bitter industrial dispute with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 115,000 postal workers. And it is now heading for mammoth losses plunging the company deeper into crisis and raising fresh fears over its future after bosses last month warned staff they are fighting for the life of this business. Strike action: Royal Mail has been rocked by declining letter numbers, the end of the pandemic boom in parcel deliveries and a bitter industrial dispute Shares in parent company International Distributions Services (IDS) fell nearly 60 per cent last year, though they ticked up 1.9 per cent, or 4.1p, to 217.1p yesterday, well below the 2013 float price of 330p. Susannah Streeter, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said 2022 was an annus horribilis for Royal Mail and it was entering the New Year in a precarious position. She added that the company was trapped in a vicious circle of falling volumes and an exodus of customers which were only serving to worsen its prospects. Although new rounds of talks between management and the unions could substantially boost the companys valuation if a deal was agreed, Streeter warned there were still substantial hurdles to overcome. Royal Mail racked up a loss of 219million in the six months to September 25 compared with a profit of 235million a year earlier, partly thanks to a 100million hit caused by strike action. But this figure is expected to drastically worsen when IDS reports results for the full financial year, which runs to late March. City analysts predict Royal Mail will crash to a full-year loss of 645million, having made profits of 416million in the previous 12 months when it was still cashing in on demand for home deliveries during Covid-19 restrictions. The mammoth loss would equate to nearly 1.8million per day as prolonged industrial action over the Christmas period took its toll and left piles of letters, cards and parcels undelivered. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the longer the dispute with the unions went on, the more likely customers were to seek alternatives. The losses at Royal Mail stand in stark contrast to IDSs international delivery business GLS, which is predicted to rake in a profit of 317million for the year. But that will not be enough to prevent the parent company from swinging to a loss of 290million in 2023 from a 662million profit last year, according to analysts. The amount of red ink on Royal Mails accounts is likely to cast fresh doubt over its future. In a letter to employees last month, chief executive Simon Thompson and senior managers told staff they are now fighting for the life of this business. The company warned neither the Government nor the regulator Ofcom would ride to its rescue. It has also warned it could split off its UK arm from the GLS business, although there are concerns this could make matters worse and result in the Royal Mail being renationalised. Bosses have tried to implement changes to Royal Mails business practices in a bid to make it more competitive with rivals. But a dispute over pay and conditions with the CWU has escalated into a drawn-out feud that saw postal workers walk out on strike for 19 days last year. Another strike ballot is planned for this month. Royal Mail has said changes are needed so it can compete, but the CWU claim staff will be turned into gig economy workers with less reliable hours and pay. Management were criticised over the weekend by former boss Rico Back, who said they had taken a confrontational approach to the strikes. He added Thompsons lack of experience, both in the sector and as a leader of a big firm, was a toxic mixture. Meanwhile, there is speculation about the end goal for Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech billionaire who controls 23.2 per cent of IDS through his vehicle Vesa Equity. The tycoon, known as the Czech Sphinx for his inscrutable approach to investing, recently upped his stake in the group, sparking rumours he could be gearing up for a swoop on the company. Anyone who holds Premium Bonds knows one of the big thrills is the feeling of anticipation that builds ahead of each monthly prize draw. Will you win 25, 100 or even 1,000? To find out, you enter your holder's number in the National Savings & Investments prize checker, review your online account, wait for a prize to land in your bank account or for a letter in the post. Joy bringer: National Savings & Investments Agent Million visits the two monthly winners of the 1m jackpot premium bond prize But what happens if you've won the coveted 1 million jackpot? The two lucky bondholders who take home the top monthly prize find out in a very different way: they receive a visit from a member of NS&I staff known as 'Agent Million'. So who is Agent Million? And what's their job like? Money Mail was given rare access to speak to one undercover agent to find out... Who is agent million? There are just five Agents Million employed by NS&I. Each is hand-picked from members of its existing staff. NS&I says that they have to be friendly and approachable but also able to blend into the background. This is because no one can know about their secret job. That includes their friends, families and even their work colleagues. NS&I's fear is that if the identities of the Agents Million were known, they might be spotted going to winners' homes, making it obvious someone was newly wealthy. The Agent Million speaking to Money Mail has worked at NS&I for more than 20 years and has been in her very special role for six. When she isn't delivering the good news, she works in the call centre and in the prize department. There is no set time an employee has to have been at NS&I to get the job, and the Agents Million are drawn from a range of age groups. 'Life experience and knowing how to react in the situations that you find yourself in are absolutely vital,' says our anonymous Agent Million. 'These positions do not come up very often.' Monthly ritual: Most Premium Bond holder find out they've won by logging on to National Savings & Investments' online prize checker Delivering the best news Before she sets off, Agent Million is given the details of the new millionaire and studies an online map to get an idea of the area she'll be visiting. It's important she doesn't stand out from the crowd, so she wears unremarkable clothes and always parks in a nearby street and walks to the door. That way, curtain-twitching neighbours will have less reason to suspect anything. Nothing deters Agent Million from delivering her message even children celebrating Halloween. She says: 'I was visiting last November's jackpot winner, and I've never seen so many witches and zombies walking the streets. The house was totally dark and they asked if it was a trick or treat which I couldn't really answer!' Agent Million carries identification with her at all times. She will knock on the door, say she's from NS&I and ask to speak to the holder of the bond. She must see proof of identity to ensure that she is talking to the winner before breaking the news. 'One gentleman answered the door on a Sunday afternoon and when I asked to speak to who I needed, he closed the door in my face,' she says. 'When I didn't leave, he said, 'Unless you've come to tell us we've won 1 million you can go away.' I still didn't move, so they invited me in.' Last year, Agent Million faced being stranded when visiting the first jackpot winner from the Scottish Highlands. 'It was in the middle of nowhere,' she says. 'My phone signal started going and I went off-grid for about four hours. I hadn't booked anywhere to stay, and the next thing I know the winner was on the internet trying to find me a hotel.' Lucky knock: Agent Million carries identification with her at all times. She will knock on the door, say she's from NS&I and ask to speak to the holder of the bond Her key words of advice After hearing they've won 1 million, most people start jumping around the room and want to call their family. But the first thing Agent Million advises is not to tell anyone. It's up to individuals, but telling family can cause jealousy and complicate relationships, so winners are advised to mull it over. Agent Million says: 'On one occasion, a jackpot winner was so excited that I had to step in front of them to stop them from running out of their front door and broadcasting their win to the whole street.' In the excitement, some people forget how to do even the most basic of tasks. 'I had to make someone a cup of tea as they were standing in their kitchen and they had forgotten where everything was,' she says. Others react more quietly. 'I once managed to catch a winner at home alone, even though she was married with a big family,' she says. 'She said she wasn't even going to tell her husband initially, as she just wanted to keep it to herself for a few days to just dream about what she could do with it.' No giant novelty cheque The new millionaire is given the choice of having the money paid into their bank account or into an NS&I Direct Saver account. The Direct Saver has a limit of 2 million and customers can withdraw sums without a penalty fee. Three in four people go for the savings account, according to Agent Million, as it's a safe place while they get their head around being a millionaire. The bondholder is left with a letter confirming their winnings, a list of financial advisers and a direct phone number for the NS&I team. Winners have an average holding of 23,345, but 12 people with 1,000 and under in bonds have scooped the jackpot since 1994. According to Agent Million, one thing all jackpot winners typically have in common is that they all want to help somebody else. She says: 'I once had a gentleman who'd just had some life-changing news. It was such a comfort to him that he was going to be able to look after his family. He kept touching my hand to make sure I was real.' t.armstrong@dailymail.co.uk OZARK What Susan Owens calls the forgotten people have found a place to belong in the Encore Program at Vivian B. Adam School located here. Owens, a resource coordinator for the school that serves special needs individuals in six South Alabama counties, told Ozark Rotarians Tuesday that the unique, lifelong learner program called Encore is moving to a new larger building on campus in February and will be able to serve up to 30 students. Under the direction of Hannah Parker, VBAS currently serves 124 individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities from Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Henry, Houston and Pike counties in an extended-year program. The 501(3) non-profit organization is located at 2047 Stuart Tarter Road in Ozark. In the United States, you are guaranteed a free and appropriate public education until the age of 21, Owens said. The day after youre 21 you are not guaranteed anything. When students with intellectual disabilities reach the age of adulthood and age-out of federally mandated and funded public education programs they qualify to apply for continued services through a waiver released by the Alabama State Department of Mental Health. Currently, there are between 2,000 and 3,000 deserving Alabama citizens on the waiting list, Owens said. Some individuals with intellectual disabilities are likely not to receive services at all since the list is prioritized by severity and criticality. These underserved individuals have no place to go to further their education, maintain social and peer relationships and continue their progress towards more independence, Owens said, adding that the nearest programs such as Encore are in Auburn and Montgomery. Owens said that throughout the schools 51-year history, the VBAS board has added programs and opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities as needs have been presented. With incredible foresight, in 2018 the VBAS board launched Encore, our fifth adult program, with a curriculum based on life skills and continued growth and development of adult learners, she said. This elite lifelong learner program provides necessary gap services to qualified group of adults with intellectual disabilities. When we set up Encore, we began to look for those forgotten people of high functioning skill but not enough to have a job who are not able to be home alone by themselves for any length of time, who are ambulatory, can feed themselves and, at least partially communicate, Owens said. We began the program with four boys four years ago. Today there are nine students in the program. Program participants are charged a minimal tuition of $250 a month, Owens said. Scholarship and tuition aid funding is available for qualifying individuals. The Encore program is not supported by federal, state or local government funds. All funding is generated by donations, fundraising events and tuition, Owens said. I feel like the Encore program has been under the hand of the Lord, Owens said. It is all self-funded. There is a real need for this program. Encore has given these forgotten people peers, a place to be and a purpose. For more information, contact Owens at (334) 618-5189 or susanowens7634@gmail.com. Getting to know central and eastern European wines While many central and eastern European and eastern Mediterranean countries have been making wine for aeons, their indigenous grape varieties dont roll off the tongue for UK consumers, finds Lucy Britner From Georgias Saperavi to Romanias Feteasca Regala and Lebanons Obeideh, there are a lot of grapes to wrap your mouth around in those parts of the world. But the consumer Venn diagram of experimentation, and the hunt for good value means were likely to see more offerings from less-familiar wine places. And as drinkers better understand the quality, these countries and their grape varieties will start to grow on them. Kathryn Glass, buyer & wine educator at Kingsland Drinks, says Bulgaria is leading the way with exceptional quality wines and offering impressive value for money, adding: The climate and soil are favourable for red grapes, and vines are grown in accordance with biodynamic agriculture, resulting in wines with character and unique style. As well as Bulgaria, Glass predicts that countries such as Romania and Moldova will lead the way in eastern European exploration. We know the trade has been talking about these countries, but we really think over the next couple of years they will become much more widely available, and more frequently purchased, she adds. Cue Co-op, which added two Moldovan wines to its range in 2022. Tilting Tree Sauvignon Blanc and Tilting Tree Merlot (both 6), made by Asconi in the Puhoi region, will go to 1,866 stores. The duo is expected to drive more awareness of the quality and value for money that can be found from countries like Moldova, with its approachable wine price points and familiar grapes, Co-op says. At Marks & Spencer, the Found range focuses on less-familiar grapes and Romanias Feteasca Regala is among the current line-up. Philip Cox, co-owner of the countrys Cramele Recas, supplies the wine to M&S, and praises its commitment. It has taken on the Feteasca Regala and also a rose blend under the Vara label, featuring local varieties such as Feteasca Neagra and Babeasca Neagra, together with Merlot and Syrah, he says. It has gone very well, and I am sure that we will expand this type of product to other retailers and merchants. It is becoming emblematic for Romanian wine. PREMIUMISING In fact, Cox reveals that Cramele Recas has been working closely with Corney & Barrow senior wine buyer Rebecca Palmer to launch Britains first premium Feteasca Regala, the Fetele. Restriction of yield in the vineyards, short cuvaison in older, inert wine barrels, and careful handling on fine lees has produced a stunning wine of superior texture and complexity, he says. There is a thirst for experimentation when it comes to premium Lebanese wines, too, says Jad El Esta, chief executive at Ixsir winery. Despite the many challenges the country is facing, El Esta says volume exports to the UK are expected to rise by 25% this year. The winery champions red blends with international varieties, including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but El Esta says Lebanese varieties Meksesse, Merwah and Obeideh are under experimentation, and some are making their way into blends, including the Altitude Ixsir White, which features Obeideh, Muscat and Viognier. Chief winemaker Gabi Riveros focus is on establishing great terroir and he says the company is looking at Mediterranean varieties, too, that will work well in the climate. In Hungary, Royal Tokaji has been working to premiumise dry Furmint. Royal Tokaji managing director Charlie Mount says 10 years ago there was no awareness of Furmint as a grape variety and there were no listings in supermarkets or multiple specialists. But today, most supermarkets and retailers have at least one dry Furmint on their shelves. Mount says: Royal Tokaji has learnt that the Furmint grape yields a lean, minerally, fresh white wine which may be softened and given greater complexity with up to six months maturation in Hungarian oak casks. The classed growth vineyards, famed for their great Aszu wines, yield exhilaratingly fresh whites which, after cask maturation, benefit from bottle ageing. Now that Furmint is a more familiar and widely available grape variety, consumers are willing to try single vineyard Furmint wines. AMPLE SAMPLES Mount admits that language can be a barrier when it comes to getting consumers to pick up a bottle of Hungarian wine. But he adds: These wines offer customers better value for money than their price equivalents made in other countries, so greatly benefit from prominent shelf positioning and in-store tastings. Tastings are also important for Georgian wines, where the Saperavi grape variety is the star. Ive always thought its an incredible grape, potentially very fine, and always versatile, says Sarah Abbott MW, of Swirl Wine Group, which runs the UK campaign for the National Wine Agency of Georgia. It can have the vibrant appeal of a Malbec and is so easy to enjoy. Fresh and unoaked versions work really well as an introduction to Georgia for consumers, and for sampling by the glass. Abbott says Georgia has experienced sustained growth over the past five years, with around 50 Georgian brands now present in the UK. The inclusion of Georgian wine in the portfolios of several major national distributors has meant that Georgian wine has been able to break out of the ethnic restaurant bubble, she says. This has powered the penetration of Georgian wine into national coverage, predominantly via the indies. There are some important points to note when it comes to reaching new consumers. Co-ops Moldovan wines, for example, are familiar grape varieties from a less familiar place. The Romanian M&S Found wine is marketed as a discovery and many producers are finding success with blending indigenous varieties with more familiar names. These are all valuable tools to get consumers interested in places that can offer quality, value and intrigue even if the pronunciation takes a bit of work. Related articles: Russias defence ministry on Wednesday blamed the illegal use of mobile phones by its soldiers for a deadly Ukrainian missile strike that it said killed 89 servicemen, raising the reported death toll significantly. Moscow previously said 63 Russian soldiers were killed in the weekend strike. The ministrys reaction came amid mounting anger among some Russian commentators, who are increasingly vocal about what they see as a half-hearted campaign in Ukraine. Most of the anger on social media was directed at military commanders rather than Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has not commented publicly on the attack which was another blow after major battlefield retreats in recent months. The Russian defence ministry said four Ukrainian missiles hit a temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, twin city of the Russian-occupied regional capital of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Although an official probe has been launched, the main reason for the attack was clearly the illegal mass use of mobile phones by servicemen, the ministry said. This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers location for a missile strike, it said in a statement issued just after 1 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday. However, Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian war correspondent awarded the Order of Courage by Putin in late 2022, questioned the ministrys reasoning. In a Telegram post, Pegov said that Ukraine could have been able to locate the troops via drones and intelligence, not necessarily through mobile phones. The story of mobiles is not very convincing, Pegov said. I rarely say this but this is the case when it would probably be better to remain silent, at least until the end of the investigation. As such it looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame. Pegov also said that the number of casualties would rise. Unfortunately, their number will continue to grow. The announced data is most likely for those who were immediately identified. The list of the missing, unfortunately, is noticeably longer. I cannot disclose the sources, but I consider them reliable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who rarely comments on specific Ukrainian military strikes, made no mention of the attack in a video address on Tuesday. Ukraines military has said it launched a strike that resulted in Russian loss of equipment and possibly personnel near Makiivka. But it has given no further details. Russian nationalist bloggers and some pro-Russian officials in the region put the Makiivka death toll in the hundreds, though some say that those estimates are exaggerated. MAJOR RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE Zelenskiy said Russia was set to launch a major offensive. We have no doubt that current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat, Zelenskiy said in a video address. We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail, he continued. A little known patriotic group which supports the widows of Russian soldiers is calling on Putin to order a large-scale mobilisation of millions of men and to close the borders to ensure victory in Ukraine. Zelenskiy reiterated Ukrainian assertions that Moscow is planning a full-scale mobilisation, a step that Russian officials say is not currently being considered. Putin plans to talk to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax, the latest in a series of conversations the two leaders have had since the start of the war. Turkey acted as mediator alongside the United Nations last year to establish a deal allowing grain exports from Ukrainian ports but the chances of serious peace talks look remote, especially as fighting continues to rage. Ukraines General Zaluzhny, summarising a Tuesday call with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, thanked the American for helping ensure the provision of anti-missile weapons systems that Kyiv says is knocking out more and more of the Russian missiles aimed at power-generating plants. Zaluzhny said he had discussed what equipment Ukraine needed to increase its chances against Russia, a message that senior officials have hammered on a daily basis. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Zelenskiy that he can count on Britain for support over the long run as demonstrated by the recent delivery of more than 1,000 anti-air missiles, Sunaks office said on Tuesday. Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, what he calls a special military operation, on Feb. 24, 2022 to deter threats to Russian security and to protect Russian speakers. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of an unprovoked imperialist-style grab for territory. The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces on Wednesday said Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in three cities, Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. There are casualties among the civilian population, it said. Russia denies targeting civilians. The battlefield report could not be independently verified by Reuters. SOURCE:_ REUITERS The IFA will hold a Farming & Climate Summit in Thomond Park next Tues, January 10th to look at how the sector will address the climate challenge. The keynote address for the event will be from the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. The event will also hear from representatives from Teagasc, Bord Bia and other experts. IFA President Tim Cullinan said the farming sector faces unprecedented policy challenges, not just on emissions, but from other policies coming down the line from Europe on re-wetting through nature restoration laws, the Sustainable Use Directive, the Industrial Emissions Directive and more. The purpose of the summit is to bring farmers together with policy makers to fully understand what is facing us in the context of the value our sector to the economy and in terms of food production, he said. Tipp farmer and IFA President Tim Cullinan While we now have a Climate Action Plan set out by the Government, there are huge details to be worked out including what funding the Government intends to provide to help farmers adopt new measures, he said. I want to make it very clear that IFA recognises the climate challenge and that our members are keen to play their part. However, it cannot be at the expense of their livelihoods, he said. Much greater engagement is needed with farmers to ensure we can farm sustainably while still developing our sector and enhancing the social infrastructure in rural Ireland, he said. A forum designed to connect family carers with groups in the community that provide vital services was held in Clonmel. The forum, which was held at Hotel Minella, was facilitated by the Clonmel branch of Family Carers Ireland and the event was funded by the National Lottery. It was a good opportunity for carers to become more aware of the scale of the services that are available in the community to help people, said Cllr Richie Molloy, Manager of the Clonmel branch of Family Carers Ireland. Carers availed of the opportunity to meet the people responsible for providing valuable services in the community. Among the groups to have stands at the event were An Garda Siochana, the HSE, Alone, Age Friendly Ireland, Slainte Care, Family Carers Ireland, Tipperary County Library Service and a Social Prescribing service. There was a lot of information available for carers to take on board and hopefully it will help them access services in the future. The forum will have helped carers make a personal connection with people who are providing these services, said Cllr Richie Molloy. Emma OBrien, an occupational therapist and Mary Ryan a nurse, who work with the Living Well With Dementia project that is based in Clonmel, were also present to inform carers on the day. Emma OBrien told the carers that were present that the stands set up at the event comprised of people from key services in the community who wanted to help. Paul Devane, Tipperary County Council, informed carers about the services offered in local libraries that would be of help to carers including the availability of a tablet service which carers would take out to use on a three month trial basis to familiarise themselves with computer technology. Tracey Thompson from Age Friendly Ireland informed carers that she worked on a daily basis with people aged over 65 and living at home. She assisted them in their every day lives in the community so that they could continue to live at home. Garda Claire Murphy and Garda Damien Condon also informed carers of how they were there to help them as part of their community policing remit. They were available to offer advice on personal security for themselves and also for their homes. Deirdre OConnor, Alone co-ordinator for south and north Tipperary, told carers that Alone was there to help people and advise them on their entitlements and their security. Mary Anne Hayes told the carers that she provided a social prescribing service from her Kickham Street base in Clonmel. The service provided a link to support adults to connect with community groups and services. Mark Darmody, an advocate for autism services, also addressed the carers. He told them that advocacy was important in that it maintained pressure on agencies to provide services. Mark Darmody, father of campaigner Cara Darmody, said carers should be better looked after by the Government and he wanted to see a complaints process set up so that people could voice their issues with the HSE. Up to 1,000 patients could be treated on trolleys on a single day in the weeks ahead as hospitals grapple with increasing pressures, consultants have warned. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has expressed concerns over escalating levels of overcrowding in emergency departments. Capacity limits have hit record highs, with 931 people waiting on hospital trolleys on Tuesday, falling to 838 people on Wednesday. There are 918 permanent Consultant posts either vacant or filled on a temporary or agency basis, with a lack of adequate bed capacity & frontline resources. Gov & @HSElive must deliver sustainable solutions to the root causes of surging waiting lists.https://t.co/6sEnXgRJY4 IHCA (@IHCA_IE) January 4, 2023 An IHCA spokesperson said current healthcare experiences were comparable to those at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is not inconceivable that we could see 1,000 admitted patients being treated on trolleys on a single day in the weeks ahead, the spokesman said. Public hospital staff are working tirelessly, attempting to provide appropriate levels of care to patients. If you or your family feel unwell and need some care, consider all the options. pic.twitter.com/o1gz8B5hJe HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 4, 2023 Consultants are on call 24/7, often practising over and above recommended levels, but the reality is there simply arent enough of us to meet increased demand. We are still working with 40% less consultant staffing in Ireland, compared to the EU average. What compounds this further is the failure of Government to put in place bed and staffing commitments dating back years. When consultants do eventually get to see patients, we face restricted care flows due to inadequate bed and theatre capacity, and required staffing levels. The HSE winter plan for 2022/2023 committed to appointing 51 additional emergency medicine consultants but so far 20 locum consultants were in place. The IHCA said the Department of Health had no credible plan to put in place the 1,400 additional public hospital beds. As a result, those of us on the ground in hospitals and delivering care in the community are consistently left to firefight for ourselves with the limited and overstretched resources we have, the spokesman added. We are in the midst of yet another public hospital crisis and the moral injury caused is extremely damaging at this stage. We must bring about the desperately needed additional capacity at a much faster pace. Increased capacity, physical infrastructure and facilities must be commissioned and funded by the Government and HSE urgently to ensure that public hospital services can be maintained and not allowed to deteriorate further. [January 03, 2023] Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association to Host the Sake Future Summit 2022 The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS), a non-profit organization created by the producers of Japan's two main alcoholic beverages, sake and shochu, is hosting the second annual Sake Future Summit. The event will be held across two days (January 8th and 15th). Each day will consist of 4 online sessions between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm (JST). JSS has invited leading sake and shochu professionals from across the globe to share their insight into the latest market developments and to comment on how the industries are changing. The event will be streamed on YouTube for free for anyone interested in these iconic Japanese beverages. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221215006147/en/ SAKE FUTURE SUMMIT 2022 (Graphic: Business Wire) The sessions of Sake Future Summit 2022 cover important industry topics such as, resiliency, tradition versus innovation, and sustainability. As the market for both beverages continues to change and evolve, the sessions of the Sake Future Summit are designed to give professionals and enthusiasts alike a view into the current state of sake and shochu and their potential futures. The 8 sessions of the Sake Future Summit 2022 are as follows: Day 1 The Global ransformation of Sake News from Shochu Land Traditions and Sustainability in the World of Sake and Honkaku Shochu Day 2 The Current State of the Sake Industry Shochu as a Global Beverage The Cutting Edge Sake & Food Pairing Challenging Tradition and Innovation in the Sake Market Event details and the latest session information can be found at: https://sakefuturesummit.com/ *(Note that sessions and speakers are subject to change). For More Information - Send media inquiries and additional information requests to: sakefuturesummit2022[at]export-japan[dot]co[dot]jp About JSS The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) is a non-profit organization that consists of sake and shochu producers throughout Japan. Our members include producers of sake, honkaku shochu, awamori, and hon mirin. As of March 2020, JSS is affiliated with 1,696 members, which include 1,410 sake breweries, 273 shochu distilleries, and 13 mirin makers under 47 regional associations. Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association SNS links are as follows: FB: https://www.facebook.com/japansakeshochu IG: https://www.instagram.com/japansakeshochu_en/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JapanSakeOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/jss_sake_en View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221215006147/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 03, 2023] WELLTOWER ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is Investigating Welltower Inc. on Behalf of Welltower Stockholders and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Welltower Inc. ("Welltower" or the "Company") (NYSE: WELL) on behalf of Welltower stockholders. Our investigation concerns whether Welltower has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices. Click here to participate in the action. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Welltower is the subject of a report issued by Hindenburg Research on December 7, 2022. The report, titled, "Welltower: Exposing The Shell Game," claims that the Company transferred the management of underperforming facilities to an undisclosed related party. According to the report, the new partner firm Integra "seems to barely exist. The entity was registered 6 months ago, according to Delaware corporate ecords. Its website was registered on the same day." The report alleges that, "Integra's 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." Based on this report, shares of Welltower have dropped by more than 5% in intraday trading on the same day. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Welltower shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Melissa Fortunato by email at [email protected], by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005831/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The NFT Alliance has been launched to serve as a platform where Vietnamese businesses and individuals can share their vision and mission to promote Vietnam's digital economy. Gia Bao Truong, Vice Chairman of NFT Alliance and Chairman of Digital Transformation Alliance, DTS Group, said that NFT Alliance was established with the goal of becoming a solid launchpad for the NFT market. "NFT digital assets has seen booming demand in the international and Vietnamese markets in recent years. They are becoming increasingly valuable; numerous works of digital art and digital assets have been announced with high market value. Metaverse will soon be a place to promote more features of NFTs and constantly increase their value. Metaverse is also increasingly showing this is a place where we can do everything we want, unlike the 2D space of smartphones. We can visit family, friends, work, play, and shop across the metaverse. Many techn giants have joined the race, Facebook even changed its name to Meta," Bao said. He said Vietnam is currently in the group of five leading countries in terms of interest in blockchain and metaverse technologies. Among the 200 largest metaverse blockchain companies in the world, seven are from Vietnam, he said. The NFT Alliance leaders. Photo by DTS As a representative of DTS Group who has worked and invested in many domestic and foreign technology enterprises, Bao said: "Vietnam has become one of the most impressive markets for NFT game development in Southeast Asia. Internationally, Vietnamese users have been recognized as one of the most potential groups of blockchain and metaverse users. The Vietnam market can completely become a center with advantages to attract investment capital flows into this field," he said, adding that it requires a huge amount of personnel and infrastructure. "Metaverse still faces many challenges and difficulties. The metaverse and NFT businesses need an environment to exchange experiences, where people can find themselves a good mentor." Truong Gia Bao, Charmain of DTS. Photo by DTS Bao said the NFT Alliance and DTS Group will join with businesses operating in the field of metaverse to disseminate to the community about digital assets, thereby, helping technology enterprises in Vietnam to catch up with the global trend. [January 03, 2023] GENERAC HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Generac Holdings Inc. - GNRC NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until January 30, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC), if they purchased the Companys shares between April 29, 2021 and November 1, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Get Help Generac investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-gnrc-1/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Generac and certain of its executives are charged with failing to discose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On October 19, 2022, the Company released dismal preliminary financial results for 3Q2022 including a $55 million pre-tax charge relating to its clean energy product warranties and expenses, due to a distributor that had filed for bankruptcy. On this news, shares of Generac fell by $37.44 per share, or 25%. Then on November 2, 2022, the Company released its third quarter earnings and significantly lowered full-year guidance on sales by its solar energy business of approximately 40% due to the loss of a major customer and $37.3 million worth of clean energy product warranty-related issues. On this news, shares of Generac stock fell an additional $8.99 per share, or 8%. The case is County Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association and Oakland County Employees Retirement System v. Generac Holdings Inc., No. 22-cv-1436. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 03, 2023] F45 TRAINING SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against F45 Training Holdings, Inc. - FXLV NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 6, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against F45 Training Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: FXLV), if they purchased or acquired the Companys shares pursuant and/or traceable to the Companys July 2021 initial public offering (the IPO). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Get Help F45 investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-fxlv/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit F45 and certain of its executives and others are charged with failing to disclose materil information in its IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus (collectively, the Offering Documents), violating federal securities laws. On July 26, 2022, the Company disclosed that its CEO had resigned, that about 60% fewer exercise studios would be opening than previously stated, that a $250 million credit line was no longer available, and that it made significant cuts to its financial guidance including decreasing full-year 2022 revenue to just between $120 million and $130 million, compared to the prior guidance of $255 million to $275 million, and full-year Adjusted EBITDA between $25 million and $30 million, compared to the prior guidance of $90 million to $100 million. On this news, shares of F45 plummeted over 60%, from a close of $3.51 on July 26 to close at $1.35 on July 27, 2022, more than a 78% decline from its offering price of $16 per share on July 16, 2021. The case is Kenzie Goer v. F45 Training Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 1:22-cv-01291. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 03, 2023] GAOTU TECHEDU SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. - GOTU, GSX NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until February 28, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. (NYSE: GOTU, GSX), if they purchased the Companys American depository shares (ADSs) between March 5, 2021 and July 23, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Get Help Gaotu Techedu investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-gotu/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available t discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Gaotu and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 23, 2021, Media sources reported that China was prohibiting tutoring for profit in core school subjects in order to ease the financial burden on families, which would be likely to have a negative effect on Chinas substantial private tutoring industry. On this news, ADSs of Gaotu fell 63.3% to close at $3.52 per ADS on July 23, 2021. The case is Zhang v. Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc., et al., No. 22-cv-07966. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Manch Achieves ISO 27001 Certification of Information Security Management System Bengaluru-based B2B SaaS platform attains compliance with globally recognized security standard BANGALORE, India, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Manch, the zero code SaaS platform to manage enterprise external stakeholders, is now ISO 27001 certified. ISO 27001 provides guidelines for a comprehensive Information Security Management System (ISMS) and is considered to be the gold standard when it comes to information security. The certification is a testimony to the meticulous security process and practices which the company and employees have been following ever since its inception. The auditing team evaluated the entire organizationto certify that the systems, facilities, people, and infrastructure uphold the best practices established by the ISO. Such certifications allow Manch to deepen the trust and security factor when it comes to dealing with privacy and risk in enterprises. "Manch is fully committed to protecting the customers data in compliance with local and global regulations. ISO 27001 certification demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest security control and practices that enable the ustomers to trust Manch to keep organizational data secure. We are committed to uphold the high standards our customers deserve. Obtaining this certification is a true validation of our commitment to and investments in maintaining the highest security standards for our customers and employees," says Suresh Anantpurkar, Founder and CEO, Manch. With over 40+ clients in the Indian market, Manch today is revolutionizing the way organizations interact with their external stakeholders. Manch complements the ERP/CRM/HR or any other enterprise application by providing a seamless interaction of the external world with the organization's internal ecosystem. Apart from the world's leading beverages company, Manch works closely with other industry leaders like Dunzo, NetAmbit, Paytm Money, PharmEasy, Swiggy, Xiaomi and many more. The certification was performed by BQSR - a globally recognized ISO Certification body with a specialized wide pool of auditors and technical experts to conduct audits. The certificate is active and can be verified by visiting the certification website https://bqsrcert.com/ and in the Check Certificate section enter the name Manch Technologies and certificate number 'BQSR20213'. About Manch Manch is a high impact SaaS platform focused on digitalising interactions of enterprises with their external stakeholders like customers, vendors, contractors, business partners, job applicants, etc. Manch accelerates and completes the digital transformation journey of any enterprise that has the need to engage with a large volume of external stakeholders, has paper-based, rules-driven transactions and workflows, or business-statutory compliance, risk-fraud minimisation needs in such engagement. The platform offers a configurable business set-up and is industry-function agnostic. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1976316/Manch_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/manch-achieves-iso-27001-certification-of-information-security-management-system-301712188.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Elliptic Labs Signs Software License Contract with New Top-5 Smartphone OEM Customer Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors, has signed a software license agreement with a new Top-5 smartphone customer. This agreement will cover future smartphones utilizing Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY. "We are excited to sign with a new smartphone manufacturer and pleased that the smartphone market continues to value our 100% software-only AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "The innovation of replacing dedicated, single purpose hardware sensors with our AI Virtual Smart Sensors resonated with this new global Top-5 smartphone customer. We look forward to thi collaboration as we expand on our mission of making devices smarter, greener, and more human-friendly." INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs. AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs. All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations. AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor detects when a user holds their phone up to their ear during a call, allowing the smartphone to turn off its display and disable its screen's touch functionality. This keeps the user's ear or cheek from triggering unwanted actions during the call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers. Turning off the screen also helps conserve battery life. Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones, but Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor is a unique, software-only solution that delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with software sensors, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk. About Elliptic Labs Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022. Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005880/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] China Telecom Honoured with Four Awards including "Asia's Best CSR" by Corporate Governance Asia HONG KONG, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China Telecom Corporation Limited ("China Telecom" or "the Company"; HKEx: 00728; SSE: 601728) is pleased to announce that the Company was honoured with the following corporate governance grand awards in "Asian Excellence Award 2022" organised by Corporate Governance Asia, a prestigious regional journal on corporate governance: Asia's Best CSR Best Corporate Communications Best Environmental Responsibility Best Investor Relations Company Corporate Governance Asia acknowledged that China Telecom strives to maintain a high level of corporate governance and has inherited an excellent, prudent and efficient corporate governance concept and continuously enhances its corporate governance capability. The sustained enhancement of the Company's corporate governance aligned with the long-term best interest of shareholders. In addition, China Telecom was acknowledged for its achievements on facilitating the development of digital life and undertaking social responsibilities. "Asian Excellence Awards" recognises corporates' achievements and excellence in management acumen, financial performance, corporate social responsibility, environmental practices and investor relations. These awards are in the tradition of the high standards set and upheld by Corporate Governance Asia, the authoritative voice in corporate governance practices in the region. The accolades are based both on the scores from the data that was submitted by readers and from interviews conducted with investors. China Telecom would like to sincerely thank the capital market and investors for their support and trust all along. SOURCE China Telecom Corporation Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Neta Auto delivers over 150,000 units in 2022, up 118% YoY, with some 250,000 units being sold cumulatively SHANGHAI, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neta Auto, a China EV startup, made systematic progress in 2022, with tremendous changes in branding, product, sales, technology, channel, and overseas expansion. It moved on towards new and upward development. On January 1, 2023, the brand shared its 2022 sales data. It cumulatively sold 152,073 units in 2022, up 118% year on year (YoY), marking year-on-year increase for the 29th consecutive month. It also becomes the first China EV startup selling over 150,000 vehicles a year. 3,456 of them were delivered to overseas customers. As of late December 2022, Neta Auto had delivered 248,050 units. It spent merely eight months selling 100,000 vehicles for the second time, five times faster than it sold 100,000 units for the first time, a new record among EV startups in China. Sales in 2022 accounted for 61% of total sales of Neta Auto since its establishment, showing unstoppable development of the brand. Annual deliveries for Neta U and Neta V were 51,021 and 98,847, respectively, in 2022, up 155% and 99% YoY, respectively, suggesting continuous dominance of the brand in the all-electric SUV segment. Neta S was delivered 2,205 units in 128 cities across China, since delivery of the sporty model began in late November 2022. Neta Auto steps up efforts to enhance global presence Leveraging the first-mover advantage and leading edge of China's intelligent electric vehicle sector, Neta Auto launched its "going global" strategy in 2022. The brand chose a suitable path for global development based on its own edges in intelligence and electrification and local market situation. It reached strategic partnerships with top-rate companies, and increased efforts to get a foothold in ASEAN market alongside more efforts to develop EU market. Neta Auto has also extended presence in some Middle East countries, Australia, and New Zealand. The brand has established a subsidiary in Thailand and the Europe business unit, and launched three international versions of Neta V and Neta U for overseas markets. It has set foot in ASEAN, South Asia and Middle East. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neta-auto-delivers-over-150-000-units-in-2022--up-118-yoy-with-some-250-000-units-being-sold-cumulatively-301713146.html SOURCE Hozon New Energy Automobile [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Kentucky Schools Get Free Access to Math Nation-Kentucky Supplemental Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 Resources In the 2021-22 school year, only 37% of middle school and 36% of high school students in Kentucky performed at the proficient level or above in mathematics on the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) tests. To help remediate learning loss and boost math scores, the Kentucky General Assembly has partnered with Accelerate Learning and the UF Lastinger Center for Learning to provide Math Nation to students, offering high-quality, easily accessible resources to support their math learning. Thanks to this partnership, Math Nation-Kentucky is now available at no cost to all public schools and charter schools that choose to utilize the program The supplemental Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 math program includes high-quality online and print resources as well as afterschool and weekend tutoring. Access to the program is funded by the General Assembly. "To help our students overcome learning setbacks and move forward in mathematics, we need to provide innovative learning tools that they can access whenever and wherever they need them," said Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer. "The legislature has reviewed Math Nation's outcomes across several states, and we believe that this program's powerful, interactive math tools will help our middle and high schools provide the extra support our students need right now." The partnership includes digital access to the Math Nation-Kentucky online resources, unlimited night and weekend tutoring via interactive Math Tutoring Walls, and 50,000 workbooks for Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. Students, teachers, and families can access Math Nation-Kentucky resources from the web, tablets, and smartphones 24 hours a day. In addition, implementation training is available for Kentucky schools and districts at no cost. For information, visit MathNation.com/KY or call 888.608.MATH. About Math Nation Math Nation is a dynamic online resource that helps students master middle and high school mathematics. It provides 24-hour access to high-quality instructional videos, workbooks, collaborative learning tools, and adaptive assessments and support. For information, visit MathNation.com or call 888-608-MATH. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005032/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Long Ridge Equity Partners Announces Three Promotions Long Ridge Equity Partners ("Long Ridge"), a private equity firm focused on the financial and business technology sectors, today announced the promotions of Andrew Cedar and Jason Melton to Partner, and Doug Nelson to Principal. All three promotions support the continued growth of Long Ridge and the firm's organic approach to team-building: recruiting top junior talent and developing/promoting from within. The firm has now grown to over 20 employees since its founding in 2007. "These promotions represent the well-deserved recognition of these individuals, who have been instrumental to Long Ridge's growth and success," said Jim Brown, Founder and Managing Partner at Long Ridge. "We are proud of their contributions in advancing the growth of not only the firm, but also our portfolio companies." "Andrew, Jason, and Doug have grown into proven firm leaders and seasoned investment professionals driving results across the Long Ridge portfolio," said Kevin Bhatt, Managing Partner of Long Ridge. "We are excited to see them continue to grow in their new roles and look forward to their continued contributions to our portfolio of world-class founders and high-growth businesses." Andrew Cedar joined Long Ridge in 2016 and works closely with portfolio companies Acqueon, Ametros, Carson Group (exited), National Credit Care, Oritain, and their executive teams to accelerate growth. He serves on the boards of Acqueon and Ametros and is a board observer for Oritain. Andrew additionally helps lead the firm's DEI initiatives as a member of the firm's ESG committee. Prior to Long Ridge, Andrew was at McKinsey & Company, where he reported directly to the Global Managing Partner. Previously, Andrew worked on the Obama Aministration's national security and foreign policy team, as Senior Director for Global Engagement at the White House National Security Council and as an advisor at the State Department. He received a B.A. in Political Science summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University, an M.Phil in International Relations from Cambridge University, and an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School. Andrew is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Jason Melton joined Long Ridge in 2014 and works closely with portfolio companies AuthenticID, Avetta, Broadway Technology, Drawbridge, NinjaTrader, ProcessUnity, Ripjar, SALI Fund Services (exited), and their executive teams. He serves on the boards of AuthenticID, NinjaTrader, ProcessUnity, and Ripjar. Additionally, Jason is a member of the National Safety Council ("NSC") board of directors. He brings a unique perspective to the NSC board, given Long Ridge's extensive expertise investing in the risk and compliance sector. Before joining Long Ridge, Jason worked at Barclays in the Financial Institutions Group, advising financial technology and services companies on M&A and capital markets transactions. He received a B.S. in Business Management, focusing on Entrepreneurship and Finance, from Babson College. Doug Nelson joined Long Ridge in 2018 and works closely with portfolio companies BlueTarp (exited), EQIS, Neighborhoods, Treez, TRUE, and Provana. In addition to his role at Long Ridge, Doug is an Advisory Board member for the FinTech Sandbox, a non-profit accelerator that provides financial data, hosting, and mentoring to fintech startups. Prior to joining Long Ridge, Doug was with F-Prime Capital, a global venture capital firm affiliated with Fidelity Investments. Doug also previously worked in strategy for Fidelity Investments, product management for Amazon, and finance for Flywire. He received a B.A. in History with Honors from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. About Long Ridge Equity Partners Founded in 2007, Long Ridge Equity Partners is a private investment firm focused on the financial and business technology sectors. Leveraging deep sector knowledge and an extensive network of industry resources, Long Ridge serves as a value-added partner to high-growth businesses. Since its founding, Long Ridge's principals have sponsored some of the most successful growth companies in the financial and business technology sectors, providing leading management teams with partnership, strategic resources, and capital to drive profitable expansion. Long Ridge manages over $1 billion of committed capital. For more information on Long Ridge Equity Partners, please visit www.long-ridge.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005220/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] ReneSola Power Announces a Share Repurchase Transaction STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola Power" or the "Company") (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced that the Company has entered into a securities repurchase agreement with ReneSola Singapore Pte. Ltd. ("ReneSola Singapore"), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will repurchase from ReneSola Singapore 3 million ADSs at a price of $4.4 per ADS, totaling US$13.2 million through a privately negotiated transaction (the "Share Repurchase"). In addition, Shah Capital will purchase the remaining 2.05 million ADSs owned by ReneSola Singapore at a price of $4.4 per ADS, totaling $9.02 million through a privately negotiated transaction. The purchase price represents ~25% discount to SOL's Net Asset Value as of September 30, 2022. The closing of the Share Repurchase is expected to occur within three business days from January 4, 2023, subject to standard closing conditions. After the completion of the two transactions, ReneSola Power's primary shareholders will be all domiciled outside of China. Mr. Yumin Liu, Renesola Power's Director and Chief Executive Officer said, "We believe this transaction is an important milestone to our Company's multi-year trnsformation into a leading global solar project developer, owner, and operator. We look forward to continuing to execute on our strategy and delivering better value for our shareholders. We are also grateful for Shah Capital's continued backing and unabated conviction in our profitable growth strategy." Himanshu H. Shah, Founder and CIO of Shah Capital as well as Chairman of the Company's Board added, "This share repurchase and ownership independence from ReneSola Singapore is a positive step forward for both ReneSola Power and its shareholders. With a proven track record, ReneSola Power continues to expand its global footprint and is well-positioned to capitalize on accelerating solar adoption across the world and making a positive impact on our environment." About ReneSola Power ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer, owner, and operator with ~3 GW pipeline of projects and IPP assets across Europe, North America, and Asia. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services with local professional teams in more than 10 countries. www.renesolapower.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when the Company describes what it "believes," "plans," "expects" or "anticipates" will occur, what "will" or "could" happen, and other similar statements), including those relating to the proposed transactions, you must remember that the Company's expectations may not be correct, even though it believes that they are reasonable. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements are mainly related to the Company's continuing operations and you may not be able to compare such information with the Company's past performance or results. The Company does not guarantee that the forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. The Company undertakes no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though the Company's situation may change in the future. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/renesola-power-announces-a-share-repurchase-transaction-301713158.html SOURCE ReneSola Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Starbucks plans to open its 100th store in Vietnam in the second quarter of this year, a decade after first coming to the country, and keep expanding further. The U.S. chain now has 87 outlets in seven localities, 50 of them in Ho Chi Minh City. It has over 800 staff and 200 coffee "masters" it has trained. It is among the few foreign players to remain in the competitive Vietnamese market, but its number of stores is modest compared with some local chains such as Highlands Coffee (592 stores) and The Coffee House (154). Its Vietnam general manager, Patricia Marques, told reporters Tuesday the chain sees new opportunities in localities such as Binh Duong and Quy Nhon provinces. Vietnam is forecast to have 5,200 coffee chain stores in 2025, according to U.K.s Allegra World Coffee Portal, which means huge competition for chains seeking to expand. Already some chains are scaling down. Last month PhinDeli closed some stores at prime locations while food company KIDO divested from TTV, the operator of the Chuk beverage chain. But on the other hand, Highlands and Phuc Long continued to open new outlets. The Coffee House plans to reopen its Signature stores this year, while Passio Coffee, after 15 years of selling mostly takeaway products, is now opening at more locations and offering on-site services. New players such as Katinat, Phe La and Cheese Coffee are also in the mix. Finding a suitable location is also a challenge, Marques said, pointing out that while in Thailand property developers often seek partnerships with major brands before they start building malls, in Vietnam this is not the case. Starbucks posted record global revenues of US$32.3 billion in financial year 2022 (ending October 3), a 11% growth. It eyes 10-12% growth this year. [January 04, 2023] Health Network One, an H.I.G. Capital Portfolio Company, Acquires Premier Eye Care H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $53 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Health Network One, has acquired Premier Eye Care, Inc. ("Premier" or the "Company"). Founded in 1993, Premier partners with health plans to optimize care across ophthalmology and optometry benefits. Premier helps deliver high quality healthcare and medical outcomes through its network of over 20,000 eye care providers and in-house clinical specialists. In addition to improving medical outcomes and access to care, Premier utilizes value-based care solutions to deliver cost-effective eyecare services to nearly 2 million covered lives. The Company has a comprehensive provider network across 37 states. "We are excited to welcome Premier into the Health Network One family," said Luis Mosquera, Chief Executive Officer of Health Network One. "Its focus on providing cost-effective access to high quality healthcare creates a natural fit with Health Network One's own value-based solutions. Premier's clinical expertise in ophthalmology and optometry services, along with its robust provider network, greatly enhances our existing eyecare business. The acquisition presents an exciting opportunity to work collectively with the entire Premier management team to best serve our provider network, our health insurance partners, and their patients and members." Lorna Taylor, CEO of Premier, added, "We are thrilled to join forces with Health Network One. Since launching Premier in 1993, clinical quality and exceptional service have been at the core of what we do every day. Health Network One will be a true strategic partner, allowing us to maintain Premier's focus while also growing our customer base and provider networks. I look forward to joining the Board of Health Network One and to working hand-in-hand with Luis as we take the combined Company to the next level of capability and scale." "We are pleased to support Health Network One's acquisition of Premier," said Camilo E. Horvilleur, Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital. "This acquisition further establishes Health Network One as a leading specialty benefit manager by creating the leading ophthalmology and optometry network across the United States. We will continue to support the Company to drive further growth." About Premier Eye Care Premier is a specialty benefit manager for optometry and ophthalmology. The Company partners with blue chip heath insurance companies to manage care and administration for nearly 2 million health plan members. Through its comprehensive network of over 20,000 optometrists and ophthalmologists, Premier helps deliver high quality and convenient healthcare to health plans and their members. In addition to managing provider networks, Premier offers administrative services to health payors and providers including authorizations, claims management, and credentialing. Premier helps drive medical outcomes, and its value-based care solutions allow the Company to deliver high quality care in a cost-effective manner, aligning incentives with key stakeholders. Premier holds NCQA accreditation and HITRUST certification. The Company was founded in 1993 and is based in Boca Raton, Florida with offices in Honolulu, HI. For more information about the Company, please visit www.premiereyecare.net. About Health Network One Health Network One and its affiliates are a specialty benefit manager for multiple specialties, including Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy; Dermatology; Vision and Ophthalmology; Podiatry; Gastroenterology; and Urology. Through its value-based solutions, it partners with industry-leading health insurance companies to provide care to over 5 million members. Through its robust network of over 10,000 providers, Health Network One serves as a single point of contact for its customers, and provides their members convenient access to qualified medical specialists. In addition to its comprehensive provider network, the business offers various administrative services including utilization management, claims management, and credentialing to help reduce the administrative workload and improve quality. Health Network One is NCQA-accredited and HITRUST-certified. Health Network One was founded in 1999 and is based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.healthnetworkone.com. About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global alternative assets investment firm with $53 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach: H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. * Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005816/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Wholesale Produce Supply Has Acquired Bandwagon Brokerage MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wholesale Produce Supply LLC ("Wholesale Produce Supply", "WPS" or the "Company"), a leading fresh produce logistics and inventory management solutions provider and a Cross Rapids Capital portfolio company, today announced that it has acquired Bandwagon Brokerage LLC ("Bandwagon"), a specialty produce company. The acquisition is complementary, as it allows both companies to grow by broadening the portfolio of products and services they offer to customers as well as by broadening their customer bases. Bandwagon's founder, owner and President, Mr. Dennis Berman, will continue to run the business and has become an investor in WPS as part of the transaction. Founded in 1988, Bandwagon serves foodservice distributors and other wholesalers throughout the continental USA, Hawaii, Caribbean, Canada and beyond. Bandwagon offers a wide variety of specialty fruits, vegetables and herbs, including Asian, Latin, organic, conventional, etc. Bandwagon procures the highest quality products from a rich network of growers and vendors. The company offers comprehensive specialty programs, covering hundreds of products, as well as consolidation services. Bandwagon operates out of a facility in Vernon, California, equipped with five separate temperature-controlled environments, a freezer, and a refrigerated repack room and located in close proximity to the Los Angeles produce market. "Wholesale Produce Supply is thrilled to join forces with Dennis and the Bandwagon team," said Mr. Jason Dugan, Chief Executive Officer of WPS. "We are excited to expand our offering to our customes to include a broad array of specialty produce and also offer Bandwagon's customers access to our extensive core produce programs and value-added services, such as ripening, grading, and fresh-cut. Bandwagon's focus on high-quality, reliable service overlaps with ours, and we extend a warm welcome to Bandwagon's employees into the WPS family." "We are thankful to our dedicated employees as well as to our long-term customers, growers and vendors," added Mr. Berman. "We look forward to continuing to provide outstanding service and to expanding our offering and capabilities, as part of Wholesale Produce Supply." Mayer Brown LLP served as legal counsel to Wholesale Produce Supply. Calabasas Capital served as financial advisor and Sklar Kirsh LLP served as legal counsel to Bandwagon. About Wholesale Produce Supply LLC Wholesale Produce Supply LLC is a fresh produce logistics and inventory management solutions provider to grocery wholesalers, foodservice distributors, and other customers throughout the Midwestern United States and Central Canada. Through its vast network of over 300 growers globally, WPS sources and aggregates approximately 100 fresh produce commodities. The Company also performs value-added services, such as ripening, grading, fresh-cut, washing, sorting, and packaging and delivers both on a recurring, daily basis as well as on a just-in-time less-than-truckload basis. WPS offers competitive pricing, reliable service, consistency, and flexibility. About Bandwagon Brokerage LLC Bandwagon Brokerage LLC is a specialty produce company, serving foodservice distributors and other wholesalers throughout the continental USA, Hawaii, Caribbean, Canada and beyond. Bandwagon offers a multitude of specialty fruit, vegetables and herbs of the highest quality. About Cross Rapids Capital L.P. Cross Rapids Capital L.P. is an operationally-driven investment firm, dedicated to North American middle-market industrial and services companies. We partner with owners and management teams to accelerate companies, and we bring decades of sector, operational, and investing expertise and a hands-on, collaborative approach to empower their business success. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wholesale-produce-supply-has-acquired-bandwagon-brokerage-301713281.html SOURCE Wholesale Produce Supply [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Primerica Leaders from U.S. and Canada Convene in Dallas to Discuss Year Ahead Primerica, Inc. (NYSE: PRI), a leading provider of financial services in the United States and Canada, will kick off the new year with approximately eight hundred of its top sales leaders meeting in Dallas, Texas on January 4-5, 2023. Along with discussing company-wide initiatives for 2023, the annual leadership meeting will celebrate 2022 milestones and discuss opportunities ahead for the year. "During 2022, as we continue to protect the financial future of a record number of households, Primerica grew to more than 135K1 life-licensed representatives. We issued $104 billion of term life insurance raising our term life insurance coverage in force to $916 billion. Most importantly, we paid approximately $1.9 billion in death claims to help relieve financial stress for families during a time of significant emotional loss," said Glenn Williams, Primerica CEO. "In addition, we assisted clients with almost $10 billion of investments toward their future goals, bringing our clientasset values to $84 billion. " Williams continued, "As we enter 2023, we will lead innovation in our industry with a new generation of term life insurance products and a broad offering of investment and other products to bring more value to middle income families facing difficult economic conditions." The 2022 growth of Primerica's distribution capabilities was driven by 358K recruits. This included just over 45K newly life-licensed representatives and nearly 2.5K newly securities-licensed representatives, bringing the company's total number of licensed securities representatives to just over 26K. About Primerica, Inc. Primerica is a leading provider of financial services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. Licensed financial representatives educate Primerica clients about how to prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate products like term life insurance, mutual funds, annuities, and other financial products. Primerica insured over 5.7 million lives and had over 2.7 million client investment accounts as of December 31, 2021. Primerica was the #2 issuer of Term Life insurance coverage in the United States and Canada in 2021 through its insurance company subsidiaries. Primerica stock is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 1000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PRI". 1 All production results contained herein are preliminary. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005170/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] AONDevices Announces Full Stack Edge AI Solution, Giving OEMs Fast-Time-To-Market Capabilities Going above and beyond other solutions, AONDevices (AON) has created a full stack of Machine Learning (ML) hardware and software technologies to reduce OEMs' development cycle from months to weeks or even days. With the integrated AON solution, customers can quickly add new high performance, super lower power AI-driven audio capabilities and multi-sensor fusion in devices such as smartphones, earbuds, smart remote controls, security cameras and many more. The AONDevices AON1100 solution, for example, enables high performance multi wake word detection, on-device voice commands, multi acoustic event detection, speaker identification, accent adaptation, gesture recognition, presence detection and more at a fraction of the power of competing solutions. AONDevices' solution consists of: ML Chips AON offers its edge-AI processor in two forms: selling high performance ultra-low power ML chips and selectively licensing processor IP cores. AON offers its edge-AI processor in two forms: selling high performance ultra-low power ML chips and selectively licensing processor IP cores. System/ML Algorithms AON chips and processor IP cores come with integrated ML optimized algorithms at no extra cost. AON chips and processor IP cores come with integrated ML optimized algorithms at no extra cost. ML Tool Suite AON licenses a tool suite that includes data collectin, advanced data augmentation, inference software, and adaptive training tools. AON licenses a tool suite that includes data collectin, advanced data augmentation, inference software, and adaptive training tools. ML Training Services AON offers fast time-to-market training services utilizing small datasets. "We offer a true end-to-end solution that includes super low-power hardware, state-of-the-art algorithms, easy to use software tools and effective training services. Thanks to the efficiency of our tools, we can produce models for new use cases in a matter of hours or days instead of weeks or months as typically seen in other solutions" says Germaine Ewing, business development director at AONDevices. Pricing, Availability and Demos The AON1100 solution is available now. IP cores are available to high volume customers for integration in SoCs. Contact [email protected] for pricing and additional information. AONDevices will demonstrate its AON1100 Edge AI processor at CES 2023 in Las Vegas January 5-8, at booth #9974 LVCC North Hall. Please connect with AONDevices at [email protected] to schedule an appointment. About AONDevices AONDevices is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in application-specific edge AI solutions with high accuracy at ultra-low power. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California. visit www.aondevices.com AONDEVICES is a registered trademark. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005821/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Gamut Capital Management Announces Partner and Principal Promotions Gamut Capital Management, L.P. ("Gamut"), a leading New York-based middle market private equity firm, announced four promotions including two Partners and two Principals. "It is with great pleasure that we recognize our newest Partners and Principals, each of whom have already demonstrated strong leadership within our firm and have made meaningful contributions to our business and culture," said Stan Parker, Founding Partner of Gamut. Jordan Zaken, Founding Partner of Gamut, added: "The talent, experience and dedication these individuals contribute to Gamut are helping us to continue to build strong partnerships and drive long-term value creation for our investors." Partners and Principals: Sam Powell, Partner - Sam Powell joined Gamut in 2019, previously serving as a Principal at Silver Lake Partners and an Associate at Lightyear Capital where he focused on private equity investments, and in the Investment Banking Division of Deutsche Bank. Currently, Powell sits on the boards of directors of JPW Industries and Extreme Reach. He holds a BSE in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Prineton University. - Sam Powell joined Gamut in 2019, previously serving as a Principal at Silver Lake Partners and an Associate at Lightyear Capital where he focused on private equity investments, and in the Investment Banking Division of Deutsche Bank. Currently, Powell sits on the boards of directors of JPW Industries and Extreme Reach. He holds a BSE in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Prineton University. James Shanahan, Partner - James Shanahan joined Gamut in 2016, previously serving as a Senior Associate at KPS Capital Partners where he specialized in private equity investments, and in the Investment Banking Division of Deutsche Bank. Currently, Shanahan sits on the boards of directors of Grede and Davis-Standard. He received his BS in Business Administration and Accounting, graduating magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University. - James Shanahan joined Gamut in 2016, previously serving as a Senior Associate at KPS Capital Partners where he specialized in private equity investments, and in the Investment Banking Division of Deutsche Bank. Currently, Shanahan sits on the boards of directors of Grede and Davis-Standard. He received his BS in Business Administration and Accounting, graduating magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University. Ryan Brady, Principal - Ryan Brady joined Gamut in 2019 as an Associate. Prior to Gamut, Brady served as an Analyst in the Technology, Media, and Telecom Investment Banking Division at Credit Suisse. He received his BSBA in Finance and International Business, graduating magna cum laude from Georgetown University. - Ryan Brady joined Gamut in 2019 as an Associate. Prior to Gamut, Brady served as an Analyst in the Technology, Media, and Telecom Investment Banking Division at Credit Suisse. He received his BSBA in Finance and International Business, graduating magna cum laude from Georgetown University. Brian Gramolini, Principal - Brian Gramolini joined Gamut in 2020 as an Associate. Prior to Gamut, Gramolini began his career at Citigroup as an Analyst in the Global Structured Finance Group and later became an Associate in the Global Industrials Investment Banking Division. Gramolini received his BSBA in Finance, magna cum laude, from the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond. About Gamut Capital Management Gamut Capital Management is a New York-based private investment firm managing in excess of $2 billion in assets focused on the middle market. Founded in 2015, Gamut's senior deal professionals have executed investments in over 50 companies in North America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.gamutcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005236/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Zevia to Participate in the 25th Annual ICR Conference Zevia PBC ("Zevia" or the "Company") (NYSE: ZVIA), the company disrupting the liquid refreshment beverage industry with great tasting, zero sugar beverages made with simple, plant-based ingredients, today announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Amy Taylor and Chief Financial Officer, Denise Beckles will participate in the 25th Annual ICR Conference to be held January 9-11, 2023 in Orlando, FL. Ms. Taylor and Ms. Beckles will meet with investors and participate in a fireside chat on Monday, January 9, 2023 at approximately 2:30pm ET. A live webcast of their presentation will be available on the Investor Relations section of Zevia's website at https://investors.zevia.com/ during the event. Shortly following the event, a replay of the webcast will be available for approximately thirty (30) days. About Zevia Zevia PBC, a Delaware public benefit corporation designated as a "Certified B Corporation," is focused on addressing the global health challenges resulting from excess sugar consumption by offering a broad portfolio of zero sugar, zero calorie, naturally sweetened beverages. All Zevia beverages are made with a handful of simple, plant-based ingredients, contain no artificial sweeteners, and are Non-GMO Project verified, gluten-free, Kosher, vegan and zero sodium. As of the third quarter of 2022, Zevia is distributed in more than 31,000 retail locations in the U.S. and Canada through a diverse network of major retailers in the food, drug, mass, natural and ecommerce channels. (ZEVIA-F) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005205/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Equality Health to Present at 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference PHOENIX, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Equality Health, a technology-enabled primary care platform uniquely equipped to address the needs of diverse and historically underserved populations, announced today that founder and CEO Hugh Lytle has been invited to speak at the 41st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Jan. 9-12, 2023, in San Francisco, CA. Lytle will speak on behalf of the company and address questions from investors throughout the conference. In his address, Lytle is exected to cover Equality Health's unique and pivotal role in fueling the healthcare industry's shift from Fee-For-Service (FFS) to Value-Based Care (VBC), its focus on independent primary care practices (PCPs) as a crucial engine of change, and how the company's unique Medicaid-first approach can be a catalyst for advancing health equity in the US. He will also speak to Equality Health's unique solution set which includes the company's proprietary practice-facing technology CareEmpower, data management, analytics, actuarial support, and culturally competent curriculum aimed at enhancing the provider-patient relationship. About Equality Health Equality Health, is a technology-enabled primary care platform that leverages the deep and proven capabilities in value-based payment models to transform healthcare for diverse and often marginalized populations. From predictive modeling to advanced care-tracking tools, utilizing Equality Health's proprietary software, participating PCPs can streamline value-based administration and stay one step ahead of a patient's journey. Equality Health's care model is Medicaid-first in design, partnering with over 3,200 PCPs and 700,000 lives across AZ, TX and TN. Equality Health partners with practices to close care gaps, optimize performance, increase compliance, and improve profitability. Members are engaged with holistic and personalized programs delivered through the lens social and cultural needs. By establishing critical linkages with payers, providers, members and community resources, Equality Health is revolutionizing how care is delivered. For more information about Equality Health, visit www.equalityhealth.com or follow @EqualityHealth on Facebook, @EqualityHealth on Twitter, and @EqualityHealth on LinkedIn. Media Contact: Mardi Larson, Amendola Communications for Equality Health, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equality-health-to-present-at-41st-annual-jp-morgan-healthcare-conference-301713088.html SOURCE Equality Health [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Anne Marie Schubert, Former District Attorney for Sacramento County, Joins Verogen Governmental Affairs Verogen Inc, the leading developer of DNA-based biometric human identification products for analysis of forensic genomic samples and steward of the GEDmatch database, announced today that Anne Marie Schubert, J.D. has joined the company as Strategic Advisor of Governmental Affairs, effective January 5, 2023. Ms. Schubert has over 32 years of law enforcement experience and is a nationally recognized expert in forensic DNA. She was elected District Attorney for Sacramento County, California in 2014 and served in this capacity until December 2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005174/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Ms. Schubert has advanced cutting-edge DNA technologies for nearly three decades. This includes conducting one of the first Kelly/Frye admissibility hearings on the validity of PCR-based DNA evidence in California, resulting in a published appellate opinion. She pioneered the use of John Doe DNA warrants in 2000, a practice since upheld by the California Supreme Court and nw routinely used throughout the country. In 2002, she formed Sacramento's Cold Case Prosecution Unit, and served as its first prosecutor, solving and prosecuting several high-profile cases including the rape and murder of Deborah Chandler by convicted serial killer Wilbur Jennings, aka "The Ditch Bank Killer." Notably, in 2018, Ms. Schubert led her office's investigation and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo, the "Golden State Killer," who was responsible for 13 murders, 51 rapes, and 120 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986 and identified using forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG). Since the arrest of DeAngelo, her team has used FIGG in numerous cases with continued success. This includes the identification of Roy Charles Waller as the NorCal Rapist, identifying unidentified human remains, and, in partnership with the California Innocence Project, the exoneration of Ricky Davis after 15 years of wrongful conviction. "I am excited to welcome Anne Marie to Verogen," said Brett Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Verogen. "The forensic community will benefit from Anne Marie's deep expertise in shepherding novel DNA methods through the judicial system. Together, we will continue to accelerate the adoption of next-generation sequencing and FIGG to solve violent crime, identify missing persons, and exonerate the innocent." "We are at the beginning of the digital DNA revolution in forensics," said Ms. Schubert. "As a lifelong advocate for crime victims, I am delighted to be part of a company at the forefront of that change, joining a group of leaders dedicated to making a difference in our justice system." Ms. Schubert received her J.D. from University of San Francisco and has been recognized by her peers with the Prosecutor of the Year Award and the Peace Officer Standards and Training Instructor of the Year Award. About Verogen Verogen is a dedicated developer of DNA-based biometric human identification products for analysis of forensic genomic samples. Working closely with the forensic community, Verogen places exceptional value on flexible, scalable solutions that deliver reliable results. To learn more, visit www.verogen.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005174/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Agrology and Partners Receive Approximately $5M in USDA Grants for Climate-Smart Agriculture Agrology, a seed-stage climate technology start-up, today announced that the company is one of six partners awarded approximately $5M in funding from the USDA's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. Together the partners will further develop the capacity for growers to quantify climate-smart practices. Agrology was chosen as the partner to quantify regenerative practices in real time due to their MRV platform, ground-truth measurements, and monitoring of greenhouse gasses and soil carbon respiration. "This is an incredible opportunity for Agrology to work with leading academics to expand real-time agricultural greenhouse gas monitoring and verification," said Adam Koeppel, Co-Founder and CEO of Agrology. "Farmers, ranchers, and growers need high quality ground-truth data to help them with the transition to climate-smart agricultural practices. This data will prove their success, and help them capture value in carbon markets. We are honored to reeive a USDA grant to work alongside academics and growers to uncover ways to make climate smart farming financially accessible to growers of all sizes and all crops." Agrology is a Public Benefit Corporation and a winner of two highly selective National Science Foundation SBIR Awards. The company's predictive agricultural platform helps growers monitor crops and receive predictive insights on soil carbon respiration and sequestration, greenhouse gasses, irrigation, extreme weather, pest and disease outbreaks, and more. This USDA grant award will help Agrology deliver the first commercially available and scalable agricultural greenhouse gas measurement and monitoring system available on the market. "The future of climate-smart agricultural production requires in situ technology that predicts, measures, and reports on CO2 flux and soil health in real time," said Tyler Locke, CTO and Co-Founder of Agrology. "Not remote sensing or indirect modeling, but high quality ground-truth data that is gathered directly from the soil." The coalition of partners in this USDA grant includes a combination of scientists, farmers and the commercial sector to develop the practices that are actually climate-smart. Agrology's grant partners include leading partner, University Corporation at Monterey Bay, and other major partners including Huntington Farms, RCD of Monterey County, University of California Cooperative Extension, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Together this coalition will focus on California's Central Coast cool-season vegetable crops, using research grade laboratory verification at the Huntington Farms Research Site. Agrology and partners were included in the second round of USDA grants which focus on "small farming and ranching operations, including, but not limited to, underserved producers, as well as measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification activities developed at minority-serving institutions," according to USDA. About Agrology Agrology is a leading climate tech start-up and Public Benefit Corporation whose mission is to protect the economic viability of farmers in a time of intensifying climate change. Founded in 2019, Agrology is the winner of highly selective National Science Foundation SBIR Awards. The Agrology Platform is the first effective, affordable, and easy-to-use Predictive Agriculture platform to help growers with water, irrigation, pest prevention, spraying, soil, smoke taint, and extreme weather. Agrology is field-testing capabilities for soil carbon sequestration validation and greenhouse gas monitoring, based on its proprietary technology that leverages Machine Learning, IoT, and extensive Ground-Truth data. Current Agrology customers include Braga Fresh, The Duckhorn Portfolio, Boisset Collection, Dana Estates, Emeritus Vineyards, Jordan Vineyards and Winery, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Lawrence Vineyards, Renteria Vineyard Management, Signorello Estate, Silver Oak Vineyards, and numerous specialty farms. Agrology has offices in Alexandria, Virginia, and Sonoma, California, and can be found online at Agrology.ag. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005141/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Largest Mental Health Practice in Northern South Carolina Region Switches to eClinicalWorks to Streamline Care eClinicalWorks, the largest ambulatory cloud EHR, today announced that Palmetto Counseling & Consulting transitioned to eClinicalWorks' multidimensional EHR solution. As the largest mental and behavioral health practice in the Rock Hill and Fort Mill, SC region, Palmetto Counseling needed a new EHR solution to integrate behavioral health solutions and medication management tools into a single platform. They found a solution in eClinicalWorks' EHR and patient engagement tools. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005031/en/ "As an outpatient behavioral care center, we need specific tools to manage treatment plans and medication," said Rich Schlauch, President and CEO of Palmetto Counseling & Consulting. "With the eClinicalWorks EHR, we now have customizable, intuitive dashboards and workflows to meet our clinical, administrative, and billing needs. eClinicalWorks also automates processes like patient registrations, scheduling, intake, and patient communication. This will allow us to offer better and faster care, which is our top priority." Since 2008, Palmetto Counseling & Consulting has offered a variety of services, including individual therapy, family counseling, couples therapy, marriage counseling, comprehensive clinical assessments, diagnostic interview screening and group therapy. The practice now serves an average of 2,500 patients a month and has 12 mental health professioals on staff. "Mental and behavioral health is a growing concern across the country, and Palmetto Counseling offers many necessary services to help meet the needs of their community," said Girish Navani, CEO and cofounder of eClinicalWorks. "The eClinicalWorks behavioral health module will help improve practice efficiency and patient care, while aiding long-term growth. In addition, eClinicalWorks' multidimensional EHR significantly saves time for practices in their value-based care initiatives by collating and computing data from outside sources with real-time cloud intelligence." eClinicalWorks' fully integrated behavioral health module will help Palmetto's healthcare professionals with goal tracking, care plan reviews, patient and care team signoffs and easy management for individual and group visits. The comprehensive solution holistically manages patients' health and wellness, including lifestyle, activities of daily living, and home and community support by capturing patients' behavioral health history. "We're excited to start our partnership with eClinicalWorks and look forward to scaling our services with them as we continue to grow," said Rich Schlauch, President and CEO of Palmetto Counseling & Consulting. Learn more about eClinicalWorks' suite of health IT solutions at www.eclinicalworks.com. About Palmetto Counseling & Consulting Palmetto Counseling & Consulting Services, LLC (Palmetto) originally started as a solo, private practice founded by Rich Schlauch, MSW, LISW-CP, LCSW in 2008. Palmetto's Vision is to be the premier mental health provider in the Carolinas. Our Mission is to remove barriers and stigma for clients receiving help and provide holistic, client driven, recovery-oriented services committed to helping people improve their overall quality of life. Our motto "Helping People Move Forward" captures the essence of this mission. Palmetto Values treatment driven by compassion, integrity, diversity, and respect as being essential to help our clients live a happy and fulfilled life. For more information, visit www.pccrh.com. About eClinicalWorks eClinicalWorks was founded in 1999 to help digitize paper charts for ambulatory practices. Today, eClinicalWorks leads the nation in innovation with cloud-based solutions for Electronic Health Records and Practice Management. In addition, we help ambulatory practices, specialists, health centers, urgent care facilities, and hospital systems manage their revenue cycle, patient relationships, and Population Health initiatives. More than 150,000 physicians and 850,000 medical professionals rely upon the power and scalability of the eCW Cloud for flexible clinical documentation, better front-office workflows, and more efficient billing driven by Robotic Process Automation. We combine innovation, leading-edge technology, and a commitment to patient safety to enable practices to grow and thrive amid the challenges 21st-century healthcare. For more information, visit www.eclinicalworks.com, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or call (866) 888-6929. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005031/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Wine is poured from a bottle into a glass. Illustration photo by Pixabay Two men in the northern Vinh Phuc Province were killed from alcohol poisoning after they drank wine made of methanol, doctors said. The General Hospital of Vinh Phuc said Wednesday that the two men, 52 and 60, were rushed to the hospital during the New Year holiday in a state of semi-consciousness and with their skin having turned purple. Both men had lost their vital signs upon arrival at the hospital. Family members said the two men had consumed "a lot of wine with unclear origins." Doctors performed chest compressions and artificial ventilation, and gave them vasopressor, which is used to make blood vessels constrict or become narrow in people with low blood pressure. However, these efforts failed to save either man. Doctors later concluded that the two men had died of "methanol poisoning." Dr. Nguyen Van Thien from the hospital's Emergency Department said there are two types of alcohol poisoning: ethanol poisoning and methanol poisoning. Ethanol is typically prepared by the fermentation of food crops and used as the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Methanol, which is created by a chemical reaction, is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source. Alcohol poisoning with methanol is much more serious and dangerous than ethanol poisoning. Though it is illegal to use methanol to make alcoholic drinks, many people still process beverages from the chemical as it is easier to make and more profitable. In most cases, wine made of methanol in Vietnam has no brand name or clear origin. After a few hours of drinking, methanol enters the body and is rapidly converted into acids that are toxic to all cells, especially the brain, liver, and vision. Patients will suffer severe abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, vomiting, hypothermia, shortness of breath, and decreased or lost vision. More severe symptoms that may appear later are respiratory and circulatory failure. If the poisoning is not treated promptly, it can result in a rapid death. Those who do seek medical attention early may still suffer severe sequelae in the brain, eyes, liver, and kidneys. [January 04, 2023] CES 2023: Kingston Technology Returns with Expanded Hardware - New IronKey & High-Performance Products Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it will return to Las Vegas to showcase the latest offerings and upcoming products in 2023. No matter the industry, use case or customer, Kingston continues to provide industry leading, award-winning, high-performance products. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005072/en/ Kingston IronKey launches its first USB Type-C Vault Privacy 50C drive. Now, users can protect their data against BadUSB and Brute Force attack on any system. Check it out and more during CES 2023. www.kingston.com/IronKey (Photo: Business Wire) As work-from-home continues to grow, so does the need for proper measures to secure sensitive data. This week, Kingston IronKey launched its first USB Type-C Vault Privacy 50C (IKVP50C) drive. Now, on any system users can protect their data against BadUSB and Brute Force attacks with the FIPS 197 Certified & XTS-AES 256-bit hardware-encrypted Vault Privacy 50 series. The Multi-Password Option with Complex or Passphrase modes lets users choose a numeric PIN, sentence with space characters, or list of words so their password is easy to remember but harder for others to guess. The award-winning line of hardware-encrypted storage offers a myriad of other features designed to protect you and your data. Whether it's with the VP50 series, FIPS 140-3 Level 3 (Pending) Certified KP200 with alphanumeric keypad, or the VP80ES, Kingston's first innovative OS-independent external SSD with intuitive color touch screen - don't let your data be a soft target. Since the last time Kingston was present at CES, it launched its Kingston FURY gaming line providing memory and storage for those in need of cutting-edge performance. From high-speed Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 up to 7200MT/s, Impact SODIMM for small form factor systems, or the Renegade SSD with heat sink, the line offers PC enthusiasts, gamers, and content creators the power and style they're looking for. "It's great to get back to in-person tradeshows but we're especially glad to be amongst colleagues and friends at CES, 'the global stage for innovation' to share not just what we've been up to the past few years but also what's coming from Kingston in 2023," said Craig Tilmont, senior director of marketing, Kingston. "We're committed to delivering technology solutions that suit consumers' everyday needs and we look forward to talking about them this week." Kingston continues its collaboration with Intel showcasing the gaming power achieved when the latest systems technology from Intel NUC and high-performance Kingston FURY memory and storage come together. Kingston will demo and display: Bandwidth test with Kingston FURY Impact DDR5 5600MT/s SODIMMs in Intel Raptor Canyon NUC Game demo with Kingston Fury Renegade and Impact DDR4 in Intel Serpent Canyon NUC Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 with White Heat Spreader Kingston Server Premier DDR5 4800MT/s Registered DIMMs Kingston IronKey hardware-encrypted USB Flash Drives 4TB NV2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Members of the media are encouraged to email [email protected] to schedule a meeting. For more information visit kingston.com. Kingston can be found on: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kingston Is With You About Kingston Technology Company, Inc. From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world's largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com. Editor's Note: For additional information, evaluation units or executive interviews, please contact PR Team, Kingston Technology Company, Inc. 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA USA 92708, 714-435-2600 (Voice). Press images can be found in Kingston's press room kingston.com/company/press/ Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005072/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Blofin to Unveil its Exchange Platform with Core Futures Trading Function GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blofin announced its futures trading service will launch on Jan. 12th, 2023, in an entirely new exchange platform, packed with pragmatic functions and protocols for practitioners, professionals and executives. The exchange embraces industry-leading fund security proofs in both blockchain technology and in third-party custody, endowing crypto enthusiasts' trust in centralized exchanges. The original version of Blofin platform supports USDT-Margined Perpetual contract trading for 45 trading pairs. The trading system also functions with all the needed tools for futures trading, including market visuals, limit orders, functions of reduce only, TP/SL, IOC, FOK, and more. Believing that trading is the key to merging cryptocurrency adoption, Blofin's vision is to become a world-class financial service platform that is trusted by everyone. Trust, therefore, will be the creed of how Blofin stands out in the balking market. "In 2022, top institutions were wiped out overnight, some projects in the industry lost their credibility, and the market took every bush for a bugbear; all of these came from individuals and organizations who lost their vigilance in the bullish market and risked disproportionally. Blofin is destined to reform the situation", said Matt Hu, Founder and CEO of Blofin, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2017, to the press. Blofin sticks to the creed that your coins are always yours and offers a full range of protection for users' assets. First, the platform has partnered with Fireblocks, offering liability insurance coverage for differen types of accidents that may endanger users' benefits. Second, it draws the decentralized Merkle Tree verification to prove users' funds in the platform's reserve. And third, Blofin uses the wallet as a service (Waas) to keep users' assets in third-party custody. By adopting Wass, Blofin is able to make transactions efficiently while being prohibited from appropriating users' assets into any kind of investment. Last but not least, Blofin will also adopt the KYT solution from AnChain, the best AI-powered blockchain intelligence platform, to assist in monitoring the platform's security, risk, and compliance. Blofin is recognized by top global investment institutions, including SIG, Matrix Partners, and KuCoin, Fenbushi Capital, Draper Dragon, and more. Earlier in 2022, Blofin raised US$50 million in its series B round of financing. At present, Blofin's current global assets under management have reached US$300 million. As CEO Matt said, "We never expanded our business blindly", Blofin is now fully prepared to embrace its new business of providing futures trading services to global users. With a virtuous reputation of providing outstanding services in quantitative trading and FOF since 2019, Blofin anchored its new exchange business in margin-based futures on crypto assets. To fully adhere to regulations worldwide, Blofin has received a U.S.MAS license and has become a member of Korean Verify VASP. Furthermore, Blofin has applied for licenses in Australia, HK, Singapore, Canada, Switzerland, and more. For more information about the Blofin exchange launch, please contact Blofin via Twitter or email. About Blofin: Transforming from a world-class crypto-fiat financial services institution, Blofin team consists of serial entrepreneurs, executives from the traditional finance industry, professional traders, globalized compliance and risk control personnels, and more. Blofin will launch its futures trading exchange on Jan. 12th, 2023. The core trading functions will be at full capacity by then, and associated promotional functions will be released in succession. Media Contact Qi Ai Content Manager from Blofin E: [email protected] P: +86 13911098034 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blofin-to-unveil-its-exchange-platform-with-core-futures-trading-function-301713420.html SOURCE Blofin [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] University of Missouri-Kansas City TalentLink Partnership with MedCerts Brings Allied Healthcare Training to Students and a New Talent Pool to the Greater Kansas City Area University of Missouri-Kansas City TalentLink (UMKC TalentLink) has partnered with MedCerts, an online certification training provider in allied healthcare and information technology, to offer MedCerts healthcare training programs to local talent. ?Benefits from this partnership are two-fold, and we're thrilled to bring these opportunities to the Kansas City community,? said Craig Sprinkle, CEO at MedCerts, a Stride, Inc. company (NSYE: LRN). ?First, individuals gain access to high-quality healthcare training, enabling them to launch a new career or advance their career. Second, local healthcare businesses can recruit from a network of skilled employees to fill allied healthcare positions.? TalentLink offers training and professional development through skills-based courses led by UMKC faculty and other experts in their fields. MedCerts' involvement will expand TalentLink's portfolio and capacity to offer healthcare training in a field where hiring needs outstrip the supply of skilled workers. The local healthcare industry employs 87,000 workers in the state of Missouri. A tight labor market challenges healthcare employers to find qualified workers to fill these jobs. The UMKC TalentLink-MedCerts partnership aims to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled healthcare workers into the field, while orkers benefit from online, self-paced MedCerts training and TalentLink's resources and relationships with the healthcare community. ?UMKC TalentLink's partnership with MedCerts enables us to offer a full-scope solution to healthcare employers and to individuals seeking pathways into healthcare jobs,? said UMKC TalentLink Executive Director Jake Akehurst. ?We are taking a practical step to proactively address key needs of the local healthcare market and help support our community of employers, job seekers, and the public reliant on strong healthcare systems.? In addition to offering training to individuals, UMKC TalentLink will work directly with employers in a train-and-hire model. Local businesses will be able to recruit for open positions and, in many cases, invest in their employee training costs. MedCerts training programs are online, self-paced, and highly interactive, using HD-quality video-based instruction, virtual simulations, games, and animations to make training more lifelike. Many programs can be completed in as little as six months. Students can also get on-the-job training and complete their training and certification with a potential job offer available from employers eager to build their talent pipelines. About MedCerts MedCerts - a Stride, Inc. company (NYSE: LRN) - is a national online training provider strengthening the workforce through innovative eLearning solutions. Focused on certifications in high-demand areas of Allied Healthcare and IT, it serves individuals from all backgrounds, including the military and their families, career changers and the under- and unemployed. MedCerts delivers certification and career training through HD-quality video-based instruction, virtual simulations, games and animations, and on-the-job training through Experiential Learning solutions. Since 2009, the company has developed over 50 career programs, trained and up-skilled more than 55,000 individuals across the country and partnered with over 500 American job centers and more than 1,000 healthcare organizations to build talent pipelines. In 2020, MedCerts was acquired by Stride, Inc. Stride has transformed the teaching and learning experience for millions of people by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and post-secondary settings. For more information, visit medcerts.com. About UMKC TalentLink Based in Kansas City, Missouri, UMKC TalentLink provides expert-led professional development and training for individuals seeking practical career skills. TalentLink also works directly with businesses to upskill employees and develop talent. Training courses and certificate programs are available in-person and virtually, instructor-led or self-paced. Training may also be tailored and designed to meet an employer's talent development needs. For more information, visit umkctalentlink.com/press. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005140/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Andrew Morse Named President and Publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Morse joins The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) as it expands its digital audience while maintaining its dedication to providing strong, local, independent journalism to the metro Atlanta area ATLANTA, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cox Enterprises announced Andrew Morse as the new president and publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, effective on January 9. Morse a veteran media executive with more than 25 years of journalism experience most recently held the role of EVP and chief digital officer for CNN Worldwide. He will bring a wide range of experience to the role and will work to accelerate the AJC's digital transformation while strengthening its reputation as a trusted source for news and information in Atlanta and across the region. "Today's news publications and the journalists behind them carry an important responsibility," said Alex Taylor, chairman and CEO, Cox Enterprises. "People deserve fair and honest reporting, and Andrew has a long history of leading teams and delivering information people can trust. His role as president and publisher of the AJC will be important to our company, but even more so to those in our community." Morse joins the AJC after an expansive career at CNN Worldwide where he oversaw the world's largest digital news service, including CNN.com, CNN Audio and CNN Underscored, as well as the network's direct-to-consumer streaming platform. Morse also co-founded Great Big Story, a short form video company that built a subscriber base of 13 million users. Previously, Morse served as EVP of Editorial for CNN US, overseeing the network's domestic newsgathering and Washington programming. Prior to joining CNN, Morse was head of Bloomberg Television inthe U.S. and spent 15 years at ABC News in a variety of executive, editorial and production roles, including many years as an international news producer, a broadcast executive producer and as the executive in charge of ABC News Digital. "I am honored to join the Cox team and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the AJC into the future," Morse said. "Atlanta is one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in America, and our mission is to ensure the AJC is the most essential and engaging source of news and information for the people of Atlanta and across the region." Morse and team will focus on expanding the AJC's reach and relevance, while continuing to drive its evolution from a storied newspaper into a modern media company at the heart of daily life in Atlanta. Today, most of the AJC's audience is engaging digitally, with at least 99% getting some of their news through the AJC's various digital products and platforms. The move to digital is important for AJC readers and for the future of the business, but also beneficially impacts the planet. Cox Enterprises is dedicated to driving positive environmental change and has goals of sending zero waste to landfill by 2024 and being carbon and water neutral by 2034. Cox has supported these and other initiatives by investing more than $1 billion in sustainability businesses and technology since 2007. Morse will also strengthen the AJC's long legacy of producing award-winning journalism, delivering distinctive enterprise reporting to the community and holding business and political leaders accountable. As one of the largest and most trusted newspapers in the South, the AJC is committed to evolving to meet the needs of subscribers across the region in a variety of formats. "Andrew follows a long line of leaders who have guided the AJC through some of the most critical times in our state and country's history," said Sandy Schwartz, CEO, Cox Family Office. "We have every confidence Andrew will continue positioning the AJC as an essential part of the community and region for many years to come." About Cox Enterprises Cox Enterprises is dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. Cox is a leader in the broadband, automotive and media industries, while strategically investing in emerging technologies driving the future of cleantech, health care, and public sector services. Its major operating subsidiaries are Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, which includes brands like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with a proud 125-year history. To learn more about Cox and its commitment to its people, planet and communities, visit coxenterprises.com. About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is dedicated to uncovering the truth, protecting the public's right to know and pressing on to help build a better metro Atlanta and Georgia. We are the leading source of news, information and advertising for metropolitan Atlanta. We reach more than 7 million unique online visitors each month and more than 125,000 subscribers support our mission to produce real, local journalism. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises Inc. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/andrew-morse-named-president-and-publisher-of-the-atlanta-journal-constitution-301713518.html SOURCE Atlanta Journal-Constitution [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Marcus & Zelman Rebrands And Expands Marcus & Zelman LLC is sporting a new look to go with opening a new office in Miami, Florida. Now as much as ever, the firm is ready to serve Floridians for all their consumer protection needs! MIAMI, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcus & Zelman LLC heads into 2023 with the official launch of its rebrand, a new and improved website, and the opening of its first Florida office in Miami. Since 2010, Marcus & Zelman has been steadily developing a practice with a mission to help consumers and protect consumer rights. In line with that goal, their new website makes their services as accessible as possible to anyone that needs their support. The new website features detailed practice area descriptions, helpful FAQ to cover any consumer rights concerns and an easily accessible submission form to let them know how your rights are being affected. Check it out at www.MarcusZelman.com ! Along with a new look, the firm is breaking ground by expanding with a new office based in Miami, Florida. While the firm continues practicing throughout the country, this hopes to be only the first ofmany new satellite locations for MZ Law to continue to meet the needs of everyday people across the US. With this new office, Marcus & Zelman is equipped to assist Floridians with any consumer law claims they might encounter. Located at 701 Brickell Ave, Suite 1550 in the Bank of America building at the heart of Brickell, the Miami office is led by Marcus & Zelman's new partner, Joseph Kanee. Joseph graduated magna cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and University of Windsor, obtaining law degrees in the United States and Canada. Joseph is another addition to a team of fierce advocates. Look out to see what the future holds as MZ Law continues to grow its work protecting consumers nationwide. Check us out on instagram @MZLawFL Marcus & Zelman LLC is a Consumer Rights Law Firm, experienced in complex class action litigation and individual claims under various state and federal consumer laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act , the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act , the Telephone Consumer Protection Act , and many more. An adaptive and zealous practice, Marcus & Zelman has been helping consumers for over a decade and has been recognized in their industry as leaders at the forefront of consumer protection law. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marcus--zelman-rebrands-and-expands-301713526.html SOURCE Marcus and Zelman LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Ostro grows annual revenue by over 250%, closes Series B funding, celebrates co-founder Leading healthcare engagement platform looks back on banner year MIAMI, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ostro, a leading healthcare engagement platform for consumers and HCPs, closed 2022 by celebrating a number of significant milestones: annual revenue growth of over 250%, Series B funding, a new website and brand identity, and a Forbes recognition for co-founder Ahmed Elsayyad. See all the Ostro news at www.ostrohealth.com/news . "I've never been more energized about the future of Ostro than I am right now," said Chase Feiger , MD, CEO of Ostro. "I've never been more energized about the future of Ostro than I am right now," said Chase Feiger, MD, CEO of Ostro. "When my co-founders and I started this company, we knew we had the potential to change the way life sciences approaches commercialzation, shining a spotlight on consumerization, personalization, and engagement. This year, we started to see the whole industry shift in that direction." In 2022, Ostro worked with many brands across top 10, mid-size, and smaller life sciences organizations - including pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and digital therapeutics - to address multiple use cases for specialties like neurology, cardiovascular disease, pulmonology, infectious disease, women's health, and more. At the same time, Ostro launched a new website and brand identity, grew annual revenue by over 250%, increased the employee base by 50%, and closed an additional $45 million in funding from Founders Fund, Byers Capital, Caffeinated Capital, Greycroft, Bling Capital, Trust Ventures, and RRE Ventures, bringing total funding to over $55M. In addition to its strong growth, the Ostro team celebrated a prestigious honor: Co-founder and President, Ahmed Elsayyad, was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 for healthcare. "Nobody deserves this more than Ahmed," said Feiger. "For as long as I've known him, he's been laser-focused on selflessly delivering value to patients and HCPs. I'm so glad he's being recognized for his contributions to this industry." In 2023, Ostro looks forward to building upon their success in 2022 and continuing to increase their client base, expand their product suite, and grow the Ostro team. About Ostro Ostro was founded to help millions of people live healthier lives by creating personalized healthcare journeys that boost engagement for consumers and HCPs, and drive value for life sciences brands. The Ostro platform is composed of Ostro Navigate, a 1:1 experience that offers consumers and HCPs a personalized journey to help address their needs; Ostro Attribute, an analytics product that connects brand marketing campaigns to clinical outcomes to increase the impact of commercial spend; and Ostro Consult, a telehealth experience that supports the engagement journey by connecting patients to an experienced and qualified clinician. For more information about Ostro, visit www.ostrohealth.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ostro-grows-annual-revenue-by-over-250-closes-series-b-funding-celebrates-co-founder-301711030.html SOURCE Ostro [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Keysight, Qualcomm Accelerate 5G Non-Terrestrial Network Communication to Support Broadband in Remote Areas Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced it has collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to establish an end-to-end 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) connection. Based on this successful demonstration of call signaling and data transfer using orbit trajectory emulation, Keysight and Qualcomm Technologies aim to accelerate 5G NTN technology to provide affordable broadband connectivity in remote areas. NTNs based on 5G satellite-to-ground communication bring secure, reliable, and high bandwidth connectivity to remote areas that do not have terrestrial network coverage. Widespread 5G NTN deployments can provide critical health, safety, and financial benefits to rural populations while improving economic conditions for industrial sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, and transportation. The end-to-end 5G NTN connection, based on modelling constellations of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, was made in Qualcomm Technologies' San Diego laboratory by combining Keysight's 5G base station and aerospace emulation solutions with a Qualcomm Technologies 5G mobile test platform (MTP). The Qualcomm Technologies MTP is a smartphone reference design that acts as a proven test device for implementing and verifying the most advanced features available from Qualcomm Technologies research labs. The collaboration enables device makers to speed development and verification of 3GPP Release 17 compliant designs. Keysight's high-performance emulation capabilities make it possible to compensate for high Doppler effect and time delay as satellites move at speeds up to 7,500 kilometers per second and at altitudes as high as 750 kilometers. The aerospace industry uses Keysight's software-centric design and validation solutions to launch thousands of satellites that are used for aeronautical, maritime, and mission-critical communications as well as environmental monitoring. Keysight integrates 5G networ and real-world channel emulation hardware and software to create an end-to-end mixed terrestrial and space lab-based test bed to realistically simulate a wide range of orbit trajectories. The solution uses dynamic multipath propagation to emulate ground-to-satellite, satellite-to-ground, and ground-to-ground satellite links. This provides holistic performance verification of terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructure as well as 5G NTN devices. Tingfang Ji, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: "Our research with Keysight drives many innovations with significant positive impact across a multitude of sectors that rely upon robust wireless connectivity. We are pleased to leverage Keysight's expertise in 5G emulation platforms to help the validation of our research and development for satellite-driven 5G NTN communications." Cao Peng, Vice President and General Manager for Keysight's Wireless Test Group, said: "Together with Qualcomm Technologies, Keysight is making significant leaps in digitally connecting the world's unconnected areas where deploying terrestrial cellular networks is not a viable option. Keysight is excited to provide industry-first emulation capabilities to Qualcomm Technologies, enabling the world-leading wireless technology innovator to comprehensively address a wide range of complexities that arise as advanced space and terrestrial technologies are combined onto a single modem platform." About Keysight Technologies Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight's dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow's technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. Keysight generated revenues of $5.4B in fiscal year 2022. For more information about Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS), visit us at www.keysight.com. Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at https://www.keysight.com/go/news and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005645/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Introducing Current Coins: A New Trading Brand for Market Enthusiasts KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- People are showing a rising interest in financial trading over recent years, mainly thanks to the numerous opportunities it presents. This trend has led to increased competition in the brokerage platforms sector, to accommodate the transforming needs. Current Coins is a brand new trading service provider that has recently entered the industry, already managing to attract the interest of many around the world, thanks to its many innovative tools and trading facilities. "We have developed the Current Coins brand to equip market participants with an advanced but easy-to-use platform and trading resources," stated Kelly O'Brien, Current Coins Spokesperson. "Until recently, we were a hedge fund exclusively serving corporate clients. But considering the surge in demand from retail investors, we have decided to make our expertise and experience available to everyone out there. Now with Current Coins, retail traders can benefit from several market instruments, account options, and a leading platform, ll to efficiently reach their financial objectives." An all-in-one trading solution Current Coins is an emerging name in the trading space that integrates over 200 assets and a multi-functional trading terminal. The brand accommodates responsive customer support and many account categories, including savings accounts , to create a fully encompassing domain. "Our professional team has assembled all the necessary trading tools and objects in one place, so as to ensure a reliable experience for market players," added O'Brien. "In addition, we have administered global standard security policies, including AML and KYC, and data privacy measures to maintain a trusted and secure environment. Moving forward, we are fully committed to continuously introducing intuitive and in-demand features to help our clients stay on top of the market trends." About Current Coins Current Coins is a newly launched brokerage service that institutes a diversified trading system enriched with several asset classes, top-class security, and efficient correspondence facilities. The brand allows its clients to trade forex currencies, commodities, stocks, and indices using the latest developments in trading software. Moreover, the broker includes seven account types with different features, such as educational sessions, VIP signals, and free withdrawals, to cater to all traders. Current Coins also offers an exclusive savings account option, to help users fully seize the potential of the markets. Overall, Current Coins maintains a dynamic, client-centric, and innovative ecosystem where traders can conveniently tread toward their financial goals. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-current-coins-a-new-trading-brand-for-market-enthusiasts-301713533.html SOURCE Current Coins [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] SolidProof Announces New Reward System for KOLs Handewitt, Germany, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The company aims to reward its network with up to 22.5% monthly commissions for promoting the program. With this initiative, SolidProof is creating an even larger presence in the industry and expanding its outreach. A New Way to Benefit from a Trusted Company With the new reward system, KOLs will benefit from SolidProof's success through some of their most trusted channels. This allows them to collect passive income while also helping the company grow its branding and presence in the industry. The Affiliates Program represents a way to enlarge and strengthen SolidProof's global community. Its new rewards system is an even bigger incentive for KOLs to join. The community will likely see an increase in the social media presence of SolidProof due to this new reward system. With a monthly commission of up to 22.5% available to KOLs, this German company is providing a new way to benefit from its trusted network. SolidProof is proud to offer this innovative reward system as part of its commitment to foster its growth. Each program member will have a code to share to get a commission whenever someone orders services. The initiative will feature three tiers: Tier 1: Everyone bringing more than ten referrals in a month will get a 22.5% commission Tier 2: KOLs with over five referrals in a month will receive a 17.5% commission Tier 3: Those with up to five monthly referrals will obtain a 12.5% commission. SolidProo will transfer the commissions to members' wallets at the end of each month. This will allow them to benefit from the company's success and help them grow their income. SolidProof's Latest News In the latest news, SolidProof has updated its long partner network. Over the last few days, the team announced a deal with companies such as: ZombieCalls: a platform offering crypto/NFT marketing services and crypto listing solutions. SolidProof is combining its services with those of ZombieCalls to get an all-in-one solution for crypto projects Yooshiverse: A multichain memefi, Launchpad (NFT & Token), and gamefi system. SolidProof provides audit, KYC, and marketing services on its platform. These new partnerships add to the already existing set of solutions for SolidProof. The announcements are only a part of the good news shared by the team lately. For instance, the fact that the KOL network reached more than 200 people represents significant progress for the company. With a larger network, the team has more chances to succeed in letting the market know about its exclusive services. Moreover, thanks to its crypto security experience, the company chose to join an important battle against potential scams. All the tweets beginning with "SCAM REPORT" will highlight possible rug pulls, fake services, and more. About SolidProof SolidProof is a popular company that began working in Germany and reached global success. It specializes in developing, auditing, and marketing services for smart contracts and KYC processes. Its mission is to provide crypto customers with the highest security, compliance, and efficiency possible. SolidProof frequently promotes innovative ways to improve its offerings, build new partnerships, and stay at the top of its game. The latest reward system for KOLs is another example of that. Thanks to its growing community, SolidProof expects to continue promoting its services and expanding its presence in the crypto industry. With its new reward system, KOLs can benefit from SolidProof's success while helping to increase its branding and outreach. SolidProof's website and social media accounts represent a great way to stay up-to-date with its latest news and progress. Twitter (Official) | Twitter (Insider) | Facebook | Telegram Mails Nielsen hello-at-solidproof.io [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Mapbox and Toyota Motor Europe partner to launch Cloud Navigation for the Yaris, Yaris Cross and Aygo X vehicles New partnership offers drivers connected cloud services, ensuring always-on navigation to make journeys time efficient and safer SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mapbox , the leading maps and location platform powering a new generation of location-aware applications, announced a partnership with Toyota Motor Europe to offer Cloud Navigation powered by Mapbox Dash . For the first time, the European models Yaris, Yaris Cross, and Aygo X vehicles will provide Toyota customers moment-by-moment information and make driver journeys more time efficient, trouble-free and safe. In addition to lane-level navigation, drivers have access to parking search including real-time parking availability, speed limit and speed camera warnings. In an upcoming pilot, Toyota drivers can pay for parking and fuel from the convenience of their infotainment system. Mapbox Dash, a Software as a Service (SaaS) product, combines the company's platform capabilities in navigation, search and visualization, and traffic data. The SaaS form factor enables car makers to leverage the customizability of the Mapbox platform while minimizing the need for engineering resources. Mapbox Dash is built on the cloud-based Mapbox platform that enables automobile manufacturers to launch complex in-car integrations in as little as 3 to 6 months, rather than the typical 12 to 36 months. Instead of data and a user interface (UI) that ages with the vehicle, customers who purchase vehicles from Toyota Motor Europe with Mapbox Dash will always be using up-to-date data from the cloud. In addition, their vehicles will receive feature updates to continuously optimize the user experience (UX) throughout its lifetime. Mapbox Dash enables a Toyota-branded experience specific to the vehicle that delights drivers. About the partnership: Toyota Motor Europe customers are now able to purchase Yaris, Yaris Cross , and Aygo X vehicles with navigation that delivers fresh and accurate map data, as well as an easy-to-use UI for the daily commute and road trippig, all powered by Mapbox. , and Aygo X vehicles with navigation that delivers fresh and accurate map data, as well as an easy-to-use UI for the daily commute and road trippig, all powered by Mapbox. Mapbox Dash enables Toyota Motor Europe to deliver a branded and personalized in-car navigation system that runs directly on the car's large-screen infotainment system without requiring drivers to plug in their mobile device. Mapbox Dash enables continuous traffic updates, daily updates to the base map and continuous software updates to Yaris, Yaris Cross , and Aygo X vehicles. This includes fuel and parking payments in select cities and countries. Key quotes: Alex Barth, Vice President of Automotive and Mobility, Mapbox "Mapbox automotive partners and their customers are each unique in terms of their priorities and feature preferences, but they all have one desired outcome in common: a personalized driver experience that increases safety and convenience. We enable auto manufacturers globally to deliver both safety and a differentiated in-vehicle experience that is an extension of their brand." Serkan Karaman, Head of Planning, Connected Technologies, Toyota Motor Europe "Our goal is to provide our customers with personalized driving experiences beyond their expectations. With this goal in mind, in our transformation journey to a mobility company, software, data and connected technologies will play a major role. To accelerate this journey, we are very much aware that it is crucial to have collaborations with digital native companies. With this spirit, we are very excited to partner closely with Mapbox to deliver a modern and always up to date navigation experience that is Toyota branded and enables continuous enhancements in line with the true nature of a digital product." Additional resources: Mapbox for Automotive Mapbox Wins Autotech Breakthrough Award 2022: Navigation Technology Solution of the Year About Toyota Motor Europe Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (Gazoo Racing) and Lexus vehicles and parts and accessories, as well as Toyota's European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs over 25,000 people and has invested over EUR 11 billion in Europe since 1990. Its eight European manufacturing plants are located in Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey. Today, there are approximately 16.5 million Toyota, GR and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 National Marketing and Sales Companies and around 2,800 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (EU, UK, EFTA countries + Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2021, TME sold 1,076,300 vehicles in Europe for a 6.4% market share. For more information, visit Facts & Figures (toyota.eu) and www.toyota-europe.com . About Mapbox Mapbox is the leading maps and location platform powering a new generation of location-aware applications. Mapbox is the only platform that equips organizations with the full set of tools to power the navigation for people, packages, and vehicles everywhere. More than 3.5 million registered developers and nearly 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies have chosen Mapbox because of the platform's flexibility, security and privacy compliance. Organizations use Mapbox applications, data, SDKs and APIs to create customized and immersive experiences that delight their customers. For more information, visit www.mapbox.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mapbox-and-toyota-motor-europe-partner-to-launch-cloud-navigation-for-the-yaris-yaris-cross-and-aygo-x-vehicles-301713560.html SOURCE Mapbox [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Shuttle train service between Thailand and Malaysia resume after bombing causes delay A train service connects Hat Yai District in Thailand and Padang Besar in Malaysia. Photo courtesy of the State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand resumed train traffic between Khlong Ngae Station in Songkhla Province and Padang Besar in Malaysia after being suspended for nearly a month due to bombings. The severely damaged tracks have been repaired, said Aekkarat Sriarayanpong, the agencys public relations director, as quoted by The Nation, a leading Thai newspaper. "Officials have already finished checks to ensure safe operations," he said. Two round trips are scheduled every day on the route. The train was travelling from Songkhla's Hat Yai District in Thailand to Padang Besar in Malaysia when a bomb blast derailed it on December 3, leaving the train tracks severely damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blast. A subsequent blast on December 6 killed three engineers and wounded four others, prompting a temporary suspension of the service while the tracks were being repaired. Police speculated that insurgents were behind the blasts and that their goal was to deter tourism and damage economic growth. With the journey taking just one hour and tickets costing only 50 baht ($1.46), the shuttle train is a cheap way to travel between the two countries. The route is regularly used by tourists in Thailand who travel to Malaysia on "visa runs." [January 04, 2023] GTY Technology Named to 2023 GovTech 100 List GTY Technology Holdings Inc. ("GTY"), a GI Partners portfolio company and leading provider of cloud-based solutions for the public sector, has been selected as a GovTech 100 company for 2023. The GovTech 100 is an annual list compiled and published by Government Technology as a compendium of 100 companies focused on, making a difference in - and selling to - state and local government agencies across the United States. "We are honored to be recognized by Government Technology on the GovTech 100 list," said TJ Parass, CEO of GTY Technology. "We strive to provide solutions that help agencies run smoothly, connect with people, and be a place where their workforce and communities can thrive - above all, we want to inspire trust and confidence as we empower government with digital tools to do their jobs." GovTech 100 recognized GTY Technology for providing software solutions and services that help governments and public sector agencies perform mission-critical work to serve their communities effectively. "This year we have seen an exponential increase in gov tech market activity - from new companies starting up to help government tackle complex challenges, to existing companies joining forces for scale through consolidations, gov tech as an industry is clearly showing its recession-proof characteristics. Each of the GovTech 100 companies demonstrates the energy of our market across all gov tech segments," said Dustin Haisler, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer for Government Technology. To learn more of how GTY Technology is empowering the public sector with digital tools to help their communities thrive, visit www.gtytechnology.com. GTY Technology Holdings Inc. GTY Technology (GTY) brings leading cloud software together to deliver modern solutions for state and local governments, education institutions and healthcare organizations. More than 3,000 agencies across North America leverage GTY solutions to deliver better outcomes for their constituents by improving the way they engage stakeholders and manage their resources. Built for the public sector, the intuitive suite of solutions support the policy, regulation and compliance requirements unique to the public sector. Public Administrative solutions for budgeting (Questica and Sherpa), grants management (eCivis) and procurement solutions for both government buyers and suppliers (Bonfire) and (DemandStar)to modernize the end-to-end sourcing process and improve efficiency, transparency and collaboration. Civic Engagement solutions for payments (CityBase) and permits (OpenCounter) deliver efficiencies while improving citizen access and satisfaction. To learn more about the GTY platform and the positive impact it has on the people and communities it serves visit: www.gtytechnology.com. GI Partners Founded in 2001, GI Partners is a private investment firm with over 130 employees and offices in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Greenwich, Scottsdale, and Dallas. The firm has assets under management totaling $35 billion and invests on behalf of leading institutional investors around the world through its private equity, real estate, and data infrastructure strategies. The private equity team invests primarily in companies in the healthcare, IT infrastructure, services, and software sectors. The real estate team focuses primarily on technology and life sciences properties as well as other specialized types of real estate. The data infrastructure team invests primarily in hard asset infrastructure businesses underpinning the digital economy. For more information, please visit www.gipartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005156/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Neal Gerber Eisenberg Welcomes Three Attorneys to Partnership Across Multiple Practice Groups Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) is pleased to announce the election of three associates to the firm's partnership effective January 1, 2023. Brian Crump of the firm's Corporate & Securities group, Kathryn L. Kaler of the firm's Private Wealth Services group, and Alfred Tam of the firm's Intellectual Property & Technology Transactions group have been promoted to partner. "Brian, Kathryn and Alfred have distinguished themselves in their respective practice areas through exceptional legal work and exemplary client service, and I am proud to welcome them to the partnership," said Managing Partner Robert G. Gerber. "Each one of this diverse group of outstanding attorneys contributes meaningfully to attaining our vision of an inclusive, collaborative and industrious culture. I look forward to watching them develop as next-generation leaders at the firm." Crump focuses his practices on venture capital and other financing transactions, private equity buyouts and startup and early-stage businesses. He advises public and private clients across various industries regarding mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, restructuring and asset dispositions. Before becoming a lawyer, Crump was a licensed real estate broker, commercial property manager and a tartup consultant for 1871, Chicago's technology incubator. Crump received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and his B.A. from Illinois State University. Kaler advises high-net-worth individuals, families, and owners of closely-held businesses on sophisticated estate and charitable planning. She assists clients in establishing custom estate plans to strategically preserve and transfer wealth to younger generations. Kaler also advises clients on tax planning, estate administration and family dispute resolution. She serves as a member of NGE's Sustainability Committee. Kaler received her J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law and her B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Tam counsels clients on intellectual property and technology-related transactions. His practice focuses on structuring, drafting, and negotiating a wide variety of commercial agreements, including SaaS and other technology licensing agreements, outsourcing and professional services agreements, and strategic alliance and collaboration agreements. Alfred also counsels clients in data privacy and cybersecurity compliance issues, as well as intellectual property aspects of M&A and other corporate transactions. Tam received his J.D. from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (magna cum laude) and his B.A. from Northwestern University. About NGE Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a leading law firm dedicated to handling sophisticated matters for entrepreneurs, public companies, and private businesses and their owners. More than one-third of the lawyers at Neal Gerber Eisenberg were recognized in 2021 in Best Lawyers, and the firm represents scores of the Fortune 100 and many of the best known private companies. The firm also acts as the trusted advisors to nonprofits, startups, growth companies and entrepreneurs. The firm has built over thirty years of trusted partnerships with clients that span the globe, and we meet each unique client need with personalized service and collaboration that provide the most practical solutions for every matter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005857/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] HIGHBURY PROJECTS OBTAINS CONDITIONAL APPROVAL TO LIST ON THE NEO EXCHANGE UPON COMPLETION OF REVERSE TAKEOVER TRANSACTION /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES./ VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 4, 2023 /CNW/ - Highbury Projects Inc. (TSXV: HPI) ("Highbury" or the "Company") is providing an update on the Company's previously announced proposed arm's length reverse-takeover transaction (the "Transaction") of Highbury by Interfield Solutions Ltd. ("Interfield") pursuant to the terms of the share exchange agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") entered into with Interfield and the shareholders of Interfield dated August 25, 2022 as previously disclosed in the Company's press release dated August 31, 2022. The Company is pleased to announce that the Company (upon completion of the Transaction, referred to as the "Resulting Issuer") has obtained conditional approval to list the common shares of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Shares") on the NEO Exchange ("NEO" and such listing, the "Listing"). The Resulting Issuer Shares will trade on the NEO under the trading symbol "IFS". The Listing is subject to the Resulting Issuer fulfilling certain requirements of the NEO in accordance with the terms of its conditional approval letter dated December 30, 2022 and certain terms of the Definitive Agreement including but not limited to the completion of a non-brokered concurrent financing for gross proceeds of a minimum of US$2,000,000 and various other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. The Company and Interfield are actively proceeding to satisfy these requirements and, upon obtaining final approval, the Company will issue a press release (the "Closing Press Release") announcing the date on which the Resulting Issuer Shares will commence trading on the NEO. Upon the anticipated closing of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer's business will be of the technology industry and will be reamed "Interfield Solutions (Holdings) Ltd." Concurrent with the completion of the Transaction, the parties intend to file an application with the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") to delist the common shares of Highbury (the "Highbury Shares") and it is anticipated that the delisting date will be disclosed in the Closing Press Release. Trading in the Highbury Shares is currently halted in accordance with the policies of the TSX-V and will remain halted until trading of the Resulting Issuer Shares resumes on the NEO and the Highbury Shares are delisted from the TSX-V. About Interfield Interfield was incorporated on June 3, 2014 under the International Business Companies Act, 1994 and is a private company existing under the laws of the Republic of Seychelles. Interfield operates in Dubai, U.A.E through its wholly owned subsidiary, Interfield Software Solutions LLC ("Interfield Solutions"). Interfield Solutions is a state of the art software development company that provides tailor-made data management and marketplace solutions via its SaaS-based software Toolsuite for numerous industrial segments worldwide including oil and gas, mining and renewables. It also connects industrial companies to its proprietary e-business platform, Equipment Hound. Toolsuite is an industrial data collection and management platform that digitizes industrial processes and provides real-time auditable data while operating on a cloud-based platform. Equipment Hound is an e-commerce industrial equipment marketplace that manages a catalogue of equipment from various suppliers and provides procurement solutions such as request for quote, logistics support and third-party verification. About Highbury Projects Inc. Highbury was incorporated on May 13, 2005 and was listed on the TSX-V on October 28, 2005 as a capital pool company under TSX-V Policy 2.4. Highbury's option agreement with Full Metal Minerals was approved as a qualifying transaction and the final exchange bulletin to that effect was issued by the exchange on November 5, 2007. The principal business of Highbury has been the exploration and evaluation of the Moore Creek property in Alaska and any other exploration and evaluation assets and evaluation properties that Highbury may acquire. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Al Karim Jaffer" Al Karim Jaffer Chief Executive Officer & Director ((604) 428-8289) Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer and Reader Advisory Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements are "Forward Looking Statements", including the possible Listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the NEO and the completion of the Transaction, that involve various known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, such as regulatory approval requirements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these "Forward-Looking Statements". Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, receiving the NEO's final approval and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the listing document to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE Highbury Projects Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Collegiate High Schools to Launch Biomedical Engineering Technology Academy ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Petersburg Collegiate High Schools will open a new academy devoted to biomedical engineering technology (BMET) at the St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus in Fall 2023. BMET Academy students can complete an Associate in Science in Biomedical Engineering Technology while simultaneously earning their high school diploma completely free of charge. Funded by a Future Florida Critical Workforce Needs Grant, the A.S. degree trains students to meet the growing need for biomedical equipment repairers, who maintain the sophisticated medical devices that patients' lives depend on. The BMET Academy will help build a pipelin of personnel for health care, industry, research and educational institutions. "Employment opportunities for technicians are expected to expand greatly in the next decade," said Natavia Middleton, Dean of Natural Sciences and Engineering at SPC. Academy graduates will be prepared for careers in a hot job market, where they can earn an average salary of $49,910 in the United States, $47,130 in Florida, and $46,620 in the Tampa Bay area. "It's called 'critical needs' for a reason, and these are good-paying jobs," said Jackie Skryd, Vice President of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships at SPC. "Our medical device field is upward of $47,000 with just a certification. If they get a four-year degree and some experience, it's double that." The new academy joins St. Petersburg College's lauded Collegiate High Schools ecosystem, which opened its first charter school in 2004 at the college's St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus. A North Pinellas County option in Tarpon Springs, Florida, was opened in 2019, and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math High School at the college's Downtown Center in St. Petersburg launched in Fall 2022. "We are really excited about creating this opportunity for our students to pursue career opportunities through education or advance their education opportunities through a career pathway," said Ryan Halstead, Principal of Collegiate High Schools North Pinellas. The A.S. degree includes three optional stand-alone certificates, depending on the student's focus, and transfers to SPC's bachelor's degree in Technology Development and Management or the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Engineering Technology Management at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis. Visit spchs.spcollege.edu/bmet-academy. This material was fully funded by the $9 million federally funded CRRSA ESSER II Future Florida Critical Workforce Needs Grant. For more information, contact Rita Farlow, AVP, Marketing and Strategic Communications, 727-302-6526. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/collegiate-high-schools-to-launch-biomedical-engineering-technology-academy-301713666.html SOURCE St. Petersburg College [January 04, 2023] STAFFING LEADER INSIGHT GLOBAL OPENS NEW OFFICE IN WATERLOO, ONTARIO TO PROVIDE GREATER RESOURCES TO JOB SEEKERS AND GROWING TECHNOLOGY SCENE WATERLOO, ON, Jan. 4, 2023 /CNW/ -- Insight Global, a leader in the staffing services industry, today announced the opening of an office in Waterloo, Ontario, to better meet the needs of local companies and job seekers as the region continues to flourish. Insight Global Waterloo, which specializes in supporting technology, logistics, engineering, digital media, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive and insurance industries, will provide staff augmentation, direct placement, executive/retained search, managed services, recruitment process outsourcing, culture consulting and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) services to area businesses. This new office expands Insight Global's footprint across Canada to five cities, representing cities in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. "Our team is thrilled to have a home base in the Waterloo area after years of working with local businesses from our Toronto location. Waterloo has built an exceptional repuation for itself as a major hub for technology and innovation, making it a sought-after location for both businesses and residents," said Bridget Gore, sales manager and office lead at Insight Global Waterloo. "We're grateful to be part of this community and look forward to supporting its top-notch talent and businesses." Insight Global Waterloo is located at 345 King Street West, Kitchener, Ontario. For more information about Insight Global Waterloo, please contact the office at (856) 409-0316 and Bridget Gore at [email protected]. Learn more about Insight Global at www.insightglobal.com. About Insight Global Insight Global is a staffing and services company dedicated to empowering people. We relentlessly pursue opportunities for others, because when we all work together, anything is possible. We specialize in sourcing information technology, accounting, finance, and engineering professionals, and delivering service-based solutions to Fortune 1000 clients. Our team spans across more than 67 offices throughout the world and has pledged to place more than 80,000 people in jobs in 2022. Insight Global's services extend far beyond just filling roles. In addition to staffing services, we provide culture consulting, diversity, equity and inclusion guidance, specialized health care staffing and resources, and an array of managed services designed to meet company's needs. To learn more about Insight Global, visit insightglobal.com. SOURCE Insight Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] City of Chattanooga to Build the Largest Smart Intersection Network in the United States IRVINE, Calif. and CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seoul Robotics , the company powering smart 3D infrastructure solutions, today announced it will expand its partnership with the Chattanooga Department of Innovation Delivery and Performance, and the Center of Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the smart city and urbanization research center, to deliver 86 new smart city intersections the largest urban Internet of Things deployment of its kind in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation will fund the $4.5 million endeavor to create a living laboratory that will provide researchers unparalleled mapping, tracking, and identification insights into the state of mobility in the city. Intersections will be installed throughout 2023 and 2024, and once finalized, the city of Chattanooga will capture over 100 intersections total, covering the entire downtown area. This project will expand the efforts of the partnerships successful MLK Smart Corridor a first-of-its-kind proprietary testbed first deployed in 2019. The system leverages LiDAR sensors equipped with Seoul Robotics 3D perception software, SENSR, which uses the industrys most accurate deep learning AI with dynamic weather-filtering capabilities to anonymously detect, track and predict the movement of pedestrians and vehicles, regardless of weather conditions. Through highly accurate, real-time data, the system is able to identify potential incidents such as accidents and wrong-way driving, as well as better understand traffic flow and the interactions between pedestrians and vehicles. Our work in Chattanooga will deliver more than insights into the city. Were generating a real world, data-informed testing environment for emissions management, pedestrian safety, electric vehicles and more, said William Muller, Vice President of Business Development at Seoul Robotics. With this scalable network of smart intersections, were able to capture the most granular level of 3D data that can be used to transform cities today, and in the future. The City of Chattanooga plans to leveage 3D data from the new intersections to prepare for the transition to electric vehicles, better inner-city driving mobility and improve the traffic management system. Quantifiable insights will be used to map the ideal locations to install EV charging stations, as well as monitor the infrastructure to understand its utilization. Real-time high-resolution traffic insights gleaned from the system will also be used to optimize routes to alleviate congestion and ultimately reduce vehicle emissions. Our partnership with Seoul Robotics on the MLK Smart Corridor delivered an entirely new dimension of insights beyond what we anticipated. The level of accuracy and actionability has enabled numerous advancements in how we can make our city safer, more efficient, and healthier for the people who live here, said Dr. Mina Sartipi, Founding Director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. By expanding the project footprint, we will not only position Chattanooga as a pioneer of smart city technology, but also create a blueprint for other cities around the United States to leverage the transformative capabilities of 3D systems. Seoul Robotics will be showcasing its full suite of 3D solutions during CES 2023. Visit Booth #5408 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center to learn more about the smart city expansion project with CSCD, and CUIP UTC as well as the companys comprehensive, scalable 3D offerings. To learn more about Seoul Robotics, please visit www.seoulrobotics.org . About Seoul Robotics Seoul Robotics was founded in 2017 with a mission to unlock unparalleled insights and capabilities by capturing the world in 3D. The companys core technology, SENSR, is a patented 3D perception software that uses AI deep learning and weather-filtering capabilities to provide the most advanced, accurate environmental insights. Today, this industry-leading software delivers transformative intelligence and capabilities across a wide range of industries, including, Intelligent Transport Systems, security, smart cities, and autonomous mobility. Powered by SENSR, Seoul Robotics is pioneering a new approach to automating vehicles called Autonomy Through Infrastructure, providing infrastructure-based autonomous driving systems that do not require any hardware changes to vehicles themselves. Seoul Robotics has offices in Seoul, Munich, Irvine, and Raleigh and is backed by leading global financial institutions. For more information, visit www.seoulrobotics.org . About the Center of Urban Informatics and Progress The Center for Urban Informatics and Progress is a Smart City research center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. CUIP is committed to applied Smart City research that betters the lives of citizens every day. For more on CUIPs work, visit www.utc.edu/cuip . Contact Ann Gargiulo [email protected] LaunchSquad for Seoul Robotics [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Frank W. Ervin III Elected Board President of the SME Education Foundation The SME Education Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SME, announced Frank W. Ervin III was elected as its 2023 board of directors' president at its recent SME Fall Gala, with all officers and directors taking office Jan. 1. The board, comprising leaders from industry, academia, and the community, is the governing body of the Foundation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005904/en/ Frank W. Ervin III, President - Board of Directors, SME Education Foundation. (Photo: Business Wire) "As the SME Education Foundation 2023 president, I'm looking forward to working with our officers and directors in executing the organization's five-year plan focused on inspiring, preparing and supporting the next generation of manufacturing talent," said Ervin. "We are focusing on moving forward all of our initiatives, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion." Ervin is managing director of Ervin Policy Group, LLC, a full-service public policy and advocacy enterprise serving clients in the automotive industry. His experience also includes leadership roles with the Piston Group, Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, and Magna International. 2023 SME Education Foundation Officers The officers and directors of the SME Education Foundation board of directors act as the governing body of the Foundation with budget authority and oversight responsibility. They include: President ?Frank W. Ervin III, Ervin Policy Group LLC, West Bloomfield, Michigan Vice President ? Erica Powell Bell, Mobex Global, Southfield, Michigan Secretary/Treasurer ? Andrew M. "Andy" Jones, Seizert Capital Partners, Birmingham, Michigan 2023-24 Education Foundation Directors Adam Claytor, Coltrane Logistics, Wixom, Michigan Valerie I. Freeman, Washington Park High School, Racine, Wisconsin Robert "Robby" Komljenovic, Acieta, Waukesha, Wisconsin Arthur F. McClellan Jr., Lear Corp., Southfield, Michigan Peter Mancini, Mastercam, Somers, Connecticut John F. Miller, Siemens Digital Industries Software, Plano, Texas Christopher A. Rake, FIRST, Manchester, New Hampshire Kyle M. Riegel, Schunk Carbon Technology, West Des Moines, Iowa Marion Wells, Human Asset Management, Flossmoor, Illinois "This group of officers and directors possess strong leadership and exceptional manufacturing acumen and experience that will help accelerate our activities in educating high-school and post-secondary students," said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. "I anticipate them building on the strong growth we've seen in the last few years." The Foundation leverages the 90-year history and thought leadership of SME in the manufacturing and engineering industry to attract and develop a skilled manufacturing workforce, inspiring students through its Bright Minds Student Summit program, preparing them via its SME PRIME program, and supporting their college education through its student scholarship program. All Foundation activities are designed to empower thousands of young people across the country to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. To learn more about the SME Education Foundation Board of Directors, visit smeef.org/about-smeef/leadership/. About the SME Education Foundation The SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Since its organization by SME in 1979, the SME Education Foundation works to bring students, educators, industry, and communities together through its SME PRIME program; awards annual student scholarships and conducts the Student Summit Event Series held at SME events in North America. Visit the SME Education Foundation at smeeducationfoundation.org. Follow @mfgeducation on Twitter or at facebook.com/SME.Education.Foundation. NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution images of Frank Ervin III, Rob Luce, the SME Education Foundation 2023 Board of Directors officers and directors are available from SME. More detail on each individual can be found on the SMEEF.org website. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005904/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] Data Analytics Could Prevent Testing Bottlenecks During Future Pandemics New research published in the Data Science Issue of AACC's The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Breaking research demonstrates the efficacy of two data analytics-based strategies that clinical labs employed to meet COVID-19 testing demands during the height of the pandemic. These findings, published in the Data Science Issue of AACC's The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, give labs a blueprint for using data analytics to ensure patient access to testing during future infectious disease outbreaks. A major challenge that labs faced during the first two years of the pandemic was keeping up with testing demands in the midst of chronic supply shortages. While this isn't currently a serious issue with U.S. COVID-19 cases being relatively low, it's only a matter of time before labs could be grappling with this problem againeither because of a surge in COVID-19 cases caused by a new variant, or because of a new infectious disease outbreak entirely. One team of researchers led by Rohit B. Sangal, MD, MBA, FACEP, of the Yale University School of Medicine, has shown that labs can use electronic health record systems (EHRs) to ensure that scarce testing resources are optimally allocated during a pandemic. View the full study here: https://academic.oup.com/jalm/article/8/1/98/6848829 During the omicron variant surge of December 2021 January 2022, Sangal's healthcare system developed guidelines to ensure that limited SARS-CoV-2 tests and combined tests for SARS-CoV-2, flu, and RSV were used on the appropriate patients. To help clinicians adhere to these guidelines when ordering tests, Sangal's team implemented a redesign of the EHR's test ordering interface on December 22, 2021. Following this, Sangal's team analyzed test ordering data from the 3 weeks before the redesign and the 3 weeks fter and found that the EHR redesign successfully changed testing patterns to align with guidelines. For symptomatic patients who were discharged from the emergency department, COVID-19 + flu/RSV testing decreased 49% while testing for COVID-19 + flu-only increased 160%. Meanwhile, for symptomatic patients who were admitted to the hospital, COVID-19 + flu/RSV testing increased 128%. Not only does this mean that the right patients were getting the right tests, but these changes also saved approximately 437 test cartridges per week, thereby preserving the limited supply of testing resources. "A simple EHR order redesign was associated with increased adherence to institutional guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing amidst supply chain limitations necessitating optimal allocation of scarce testing resources," said Sangal. "With continually shifting resource availability, clinician education is not sufficient. Rather, system-based interventions embedded within existing workflows can better align resources and serve the testing needs of the community." These findings build on data analytics work from the start of the pandemic led by Daniel T. Holmes, MD, of St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada, which demonstrated how labs can use data automation to handle outbreak-related testing surges. View the full study here: https://academic.oup.com/jalm/article/8/1/41/6840464 During the first year of the pandemic, supply shortages for SARS-CoV-2 testing instruments began to affect the ability of St. Paul's Hospital to keep up with testing demand. In response, Holmes's team used open-source software tools (Linux, bash, R, RShiny, ShinyProxy, and Docker) to develop an automated workflow that manages and optimizes all steps of the SARS-CoV-2 testing process. From September December 2020, this automated workflow decreased the lab's consumption of reagents for SARS-CoV-2 testing by approximately 58%. In his group's paper in The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine, Holmes said, "We describe our strategy for data automation for singleton and pooled sample [testing] for SARS-CoV-2 with extension to other viral PCR assays. The open-source software tools used and the software development and operational deployment strategy are explained. This work will give the reader direction on how to develop and deploy similar tools should the need arise." About AACC Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 70,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of progressing laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit www.aacc.org . Launched by AACC in 2016, The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine (jalm.org) is an international, peer-reviewed publication showcasing the applied research in clinical laboratory science that is driving innovation forward in healthcare. Christine DeLong AACC Senior Manager, Communications & PR (p) 202.835.8722 [email protected] Molly Polen AACC Senior Director, Communications & PR (p) 202.420.7612 (c) 703.598.0472 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/data-analytics-could-prevent-testing-bottlenecks-during-future-pandemics-301713863.html SOURCE AACC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] DEFINITY WELCOMES NEW REGULATIONS FOR DEMUTUALIZED P&C COMPANIES WATERLOO, ON, Jan. 4, 2023 /CNW/ - Definity Financial Corporation ("Definity") (TSX: DFY) welcomes the adoption of new Canadian federal regulatory amendments which provide greater flexibility in the corporate structures available to demutualized property and casualty insurance companies. The amended regulations will also increase the duration of the period during which demutualized P&C companies must remain widely held from two to four years. The amendments enable Definity to apply to the Minister of Finance (Canada) for approval to continue under the Canada Business Corporations Act. The application is expected to be submitted promply after a period of public notice. The continuance will be subject to government and regulatory approval. The new restricted ownership period comes into effect immediately, automatically extending the requirement for Definity to be widely held until November 22, 2025. "We are pleased that the federal government has taken these steps to promote competition within Canada's P&C industry," says Rowan Saunders, President and CEO, Definity. "We believe the amendments will provide us with additional financial flexibility and capacity as we pursue our goal of becoming a top-5 P&C insurer in Canada while allowing us to compete on a level playing field as we continue to invest in innovation and pursue organic and inorganic growth." To read more about the updated regulations, click here. ABOUT DEFINITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION Definity Financial Corporation ("Definity", which includes its subsidiaries where the context so requires) is one of the leading property and casualty insurers in Canada, with over $3.5 billion in gross written premiums for the 12 months ended September 30, 2022 and over $7.9 billion in assets as at September 30, 2022. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada, which reflects Definity's current expectations regarding future events, including statements concerning the impact of the amended legislation, Definity's process for applying to the Minister of Finance for approval to continue under the CBCA and the timing of that application, and the impact on Definity of continuance under the CBCA. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Definity's control. Results could differ materially from those projected herein. Definity does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws. SOURCE Definity Financial Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 04, 2023] University of Phoenix alum Dr. McCarthy Ijiebor receives Cochran Fellowship University of Phoenix is pleased to share that alum McCarthy Ijiebor, Ph.D./HEA, has been selected to receive a Cochran Fellowship by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service. The Cochran Fellowship Program has been in operation since 1984, and according to the agency's website, has provided U.S.-based training opportunities to more than 18,000 agricultural professionals from 126 countries. Training topics include agricultural marketing and trade, biotechnology, food safety, livestock genetics and management and rural development and extension. Ijiebor has been a self-employed entrepreneur since 2000 and now owns a chain of restaurants in Nigeria. A seasoned and accomplished businessperson, his professional interests include education, engineering, food, finance, and hospitality. A member of several professional associations, including the Institute of Planning in Nigeria, Ijiebor is dedicated to improving the lives of his fellow citizens through improvements to existing infrastructure projects and policy. "Being selected for the Cochran Fellowship was a wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge of the global food supply chain," shares Ijiebor. "We had the opportunity to study how American restaurants operate from farm to table. t was an eye-opening experience because it allowed me to think differently about the food microcosms that exist in the United States and opportunities to improve food cooperatives and responsible sourcing." The Cochran Fellowship Program, named after the late U.S. Senator William Thad Cochran, provides short-term training opportunities to agricultural professionals from middle-income countries, emerging markets, and emerging democracies. Aims of the fellowship include helping eligible countries develop agricultural systems necessary to meet the food and fiber needs of their domestic populations and strengthening trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States. Fellows receive hands-on training to enhance technical knowledge and skills in areas related to agricultural trade, agribusiness development, management, policy, and marketing. "Dr. Ijiebor's community-focused leadership and commitment to sustainable supply chains is a fine example of the work we hope to inspire here at the University," states Hinrich Eylers, Ph.D., P.E., vice provost, College of Doctoral Studies. "Our programs serve working adults, like Dr. Ijiebor, many of whom are already making a positive impact in their communities and places of work. I am immensely proud of our graduates and the work they do across the globe." Ijiebor completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration with the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies in 2022. Ijiebor also holds a Master's in Public Administration, a Master's in Business Administration, and a Master's in Education from Imo State University in Owerri, Nigeria. About the College of Doctoral Studies University of Phoenix's College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today's challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College's research program puts students in the center of an effective ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230104005971/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Indian tourists arrive in Phu Quoc International Airport on a non-stop flight from Mumbai on September 9, 2022. Photo courtesy of Vietjet Air Eleven million international passengers passed through Vietnamese airports last year, up 22 times from 2021 when borders were closed, but still far behind pre-pandemic levels. The figure was only equivalent to 27% of pre-pandemic levels as the international aviation market recovered slowly amid challenges in resuming regular air services to some key markets like Russia and China, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said in a report. Vietnam opened its borders and resumed its pre-pandemic visa policies in March. But due to an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, Vietnam halted regular flights to Russia in March while it only resumed limited services to China last month after nearly three years of suspension. The aviation industry however had a bright side last year: it served 43.2 million domestic passengers, up 15.6% from pre-pandemic levels. Politicos meddling in yet another biz they don't REALLY understand might create another emerging market. Check-it . . . HIGHER TAXES ON WEED THREATEN TO CREATE AN ILLEGAL WEED EXPLOSION IN KANSAS CITY!!! Already, insiders warn us that taxes are going to power the illegal drug trade. Even better/worse . . . Now that marijuana laws are so loose . . . Enforcement of this taxable drug trade will be seriously hampered. Whilst the "weed police" would be a hilarious movie . . . Po-po are already so short-staffed that they're not going to crackdown on weed dealers. Accordingly . . . KCMO is an "open city" once again and, for the moment, the weed trade has the upper-hand. Check-it . . . "The state of Missouri will allow cities to tack on an additional sales tax to recreational weed. Many local governments appear ready to put the question to voters, and enjoy a new source of revenue." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . This controversy never really was that interesting to those outside of the courthouse . . . And now the issue is complete but likely not settled for good. Here's the round-up . . . Manny Abarca has given up his fight to simultaneously serve on the Kansas City Public Schools board and the Jackson County Legislature. Abarca and two other newly elected legislators had hoped to retain their seats on area school boards, despite a provision in the county charter that forbids legislators from holding another federal, state, county, or municipal elective office. Abarca had argued that school board members didnt fit that definition and wanted to have a court decide whether he was right. But he abandoned that effort on New Years Eve, resigning his school board post, after Judge Louis Angles denied his request for a temporary restraining order. That order would have put things on hold until the legal arguments could be sorted out. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . In another compilation tonight we take a glimpse at a summary of last year's slaughter along with the ongoing cycle of misery from this new year. Check TKC news gathering . . . Kansas City ends 2022 with second-worst homicide total KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City officially saw its second-deadliest homicide total in 2022, according to FOX4 data. The city recorded 167 homicides in 2022, based on FOX4's independent homicide tracker. However, the Kansas City Police Department has recorded 169 homicides in its yearly total. New KCMO Police Board member expected to be appointed in late February KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There's one open seat on the KCMO Board of Police Commissioners and that seat is expected to be filled late next month, according to a spokesperson for Gov. Mike Parson. The five-member board, which includes KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas, is the governing body for the city's police department. Missouri executes transgender woman for 2003 murder of girlfriend Missouri on Tuesday executed an inmate believed to be the first openly transgender woman to be put to death in the United States. Amber McLaughlin, 49, died by lethal injection for the 2003 killing of her girlfriend, Beverly Guenther. Prior to the execution, McLaughlin could only be saved by Missouri Gov. Blue Valley students, teachers to return to school with new security measure in place KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Blue Valley School District plans to introduce students, staff, teachers and others to a new security measure when classes resume Wednesday. The district has installed CrisisAlert, a system that advertises the ability for all staff members to initiate a call for help with a push of a button on a specialized badge. Raytown man identified as victim in New Year's Day homicide in Independence KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A shooting inside an Independence convenience store on New Year's Day killed a 24-year-old Raytown man. Officers were sent about 1 p.m. on a reported shooting in the parking lot of the Short Stop Gas Station in the 9000 block of East U.S. 40 Highway. KHP: 5 killed in 4 crashes, DUI arrests double over New Year's weekend WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Five people died in four crashes on Kansas highways over a busy New Year's weekend that also saw the Kansas Highway Patrol make 22 DUI arrests, a number that doubled the total for the same time span last year. The Kansas Highway Patrol on Tuesday, Jan. Andrew Bailey officially takes over as Missouri's new attorney general * Missouri Independent Andrew Bailey was sworn in Tuesday morning as Missouri's new Attorney General. He replaces Eric Schmitt, who was also sworn in Tuesday as the newest U.S. Senator from the state. Bailey, 41, was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson just before Thanksgiving. Kansas City police ask for help in locating woman last seen at hospital in December KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police in Kansas City, Missouri, are asking for the public's help to locate a woman who was last seen at hospital on Dec. 27, 2022. Debro Saad, 69, was last known to be at Research Medical Center located at 2316 Meyer Boulevard in KCMO. Developing . . . Amid the bitter, cold winter there's always a great deal of hand-wringing over the fate of the homeless. Some offer compassionate humanitarian concern whilst others decry open-air drug markets disguised as homeless camps. Either way, the problem is getting worse in Kansas City despite MILLIONS dedicated to address the issue. Accordingly, recently Northeast news buried the leade in their follow-up report regarding an EPIC fire seen across the skyline. Here's the word and something to consider as KCMO copes with record numbers of these often lovable but still concerning scamps across the metro . . . "Due to increasing problems with trespassers and squatters occupying the building illegally, the owners had repeatedly attempted to secure the structure. Upon their arrival Tuesday, fire crews noted one man leaving the building, stating there was nobody left inside before leaving the scene." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The world is currently facing "the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945," according to the United Nations. Globally, two billion people are living in conflict-torn areas and 399 million people in 69 states need humanitarian assistance. "The world is facing an unprecedented food insecurity crisis," said Samuel Vigersky, Senior Humanitarian Advisor at the United States Mission at the UN. "On all fronts, the United States is stepping up to do the right thing and meet these urgent, global challenges," he said. "We remain the largest single humanitarian donor, giving [more than] $17 billion in humanitarian assistance in fiscal year 2022." "In response to the global food insecurity crisis, we have committed nearly $11 billion since Russias invasion of Ukraine," said Senior Humanitarian Advisor Vigersky. "We continue to scale assistance for drought response in the Horn of Africa. Weve doubled funding our commitments there to more than $2 billion in FY 2022." "Extremely high levels of food insecurity are driving humanitarian need in Afghanistan, where the United States is proud to be the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance," he said. "Conflicts account for over 80 percent of humanitarian needs globally," said Senior Humanitarian Advisor Vigersky. "The answer is not more violence. We need political solutions. We need to engage more effectively in diplomatic negotiations regionally and globally, bilaterally and multilaterally, in our capitols and at the UN, to bring parties together and end these conflicts. "In the meantime, we are dismayed by the increase in violence against humanitarian personnel, as well as by the continued obstruction of humanitarian access by parties to conflict. "We must defend those doing the difficult, dangerous, and necessary humanitarian work, especially locally recruited personnel," said Senior Humanitarian Advisor Vigersky. "In Ethiopia, the persistent presence of Eritrean forces and bureaucratic impediments are still impeding aid to vulnerable populations in need, including survivors of widespread gender-based violence," he said. "In Yemen, the long-term solution to the food insecurity crisis is lasting peace. We must do more to press all parties to the conflict, especially the Houthis, to comply with international humanitarian law." "In Syria, attacks by the Assad regime have killed humanitarian personnel and destroyed their facilities. The Assad regime continues to impede the flow of humanitarian aid to people in need around the country." "Across all conflicts, we must promote accountability, consistent with international law," said Senior Humanitarian Advisor Vigersky. "We can and should do everything we can to live up to our highest aspirations." Nature and biodiversity [are] dying the death of a billion cuts. And humanity is paying the price for betraying its closest friend, according to Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Environment Programme Executive Director. In the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, We are committing suicide by proxy. The world is facing a biodiversity crisis, and nature is under threat all across the globe, said Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental And Scientific Affairs Monica Medina. More than one million species are at risk of extinction, many within decades, and more than ever before. This drop in biodiversity endangers all life on our planet, including our own. For years, scientists have warned that we may be entering the earths sixth mass extinction of plants and animals, caused by human actions such as deforestation and loss of habitat, burning fossil fuels, overfishing, and polluting rivers and oceans. In an effort to finally take decisive steps to remedy this looming disaster, representatives of 196 countries met in Montreal, Canada for twelve days of high-level discussions at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The United States entered the conference with an ambitious goal in mind - to help push through a global biodiversity framework that will conserve or protect at least 30 percent of global lands and waters and 30 percent of the global ocean by 2030. That goal, known as 30x30, is absolutely essential to support ecosystem health and viability, and arrest the catastrophic decline in nature worldwide, said Assistant Secretary Medina. We believe 30x30 must start at home, involving all of society, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and young people and we are putting it into practice right now, she said. The United States is already demonstrating our commitment to conserving biodiversity. One of President Bidens first executive orders provided the foundation for the America the Beautiful Initiative, a commitment to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. On December 19, after almost two weeks of discussion, nearly all parties to the convention adopted the so-called Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which enshrines the 30x30 goals in a major international instrument. We now have the opportunity to conserve and protect nature for this and future generations, said Assistant Secretary Medina. And with courage and initiative, we need to seize this moment. A US court has awarded close to one billion dollars to the Trinidad and Tobao government in Missile and artillery forces of Ukraines Army throughout the day struck two control points and four clusters of enemy manpower. Thats according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Ukrinform reports. "Russian occupiers continue to carry out full-scale armed aggression against our state. The enemy does not abandon its plans to advance to the administrative border of Donetsk region. The main efforts are focused on maintaining the offensive potential and replenishing losses," the statement reads. In order to exert pressure on the Ukrainian population, the enemy launches out air and missile strikes. Also, the aggressor carries out artillery shelling of critical infrastructure and population centers across the territory of Ukraine, violating the norms of international humanitarian law, laws and customs of warfare. On this day, the Russians carried out eight airstrikes and launched 18 MLRS attacks. The threat of enemy air and missile strikes on critical infrastructure remains in place throughout Ukraine. Trying to take full control of the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the enemy is focusing its efforts on conducting offensive actions in the Bakhmut direction. Russian invaders are trying to improve their tactical position in the Lyman and Avdiivka directions; they are strengthening the groups in the Novopavlivka direction at the expense of units transferred from the Kherson area. The situation remains unchanged in the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna areas. Russian invaders maintain military presence in the border regions of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. There were no signs of offensive groups being formed. According to the General Staff, the enemy carried out shelling from the entire range of artillery in the areas of settlements of Strelecha, Krasne, Zelene, Ternova, Staritsa, Ogirtseve, Vovchansk, Karaichne, Okhrimivka, and Ambarne of Kharkiv region. In other directions, the enemy is defending previously occupied lines, concentrating efforts on restraining the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The aggressor is also shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian targets along the contact line. Areas of 14 settlements were shelled by mortars, barrel and jet artillery in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions. In particular, these include Novomlynsk, Tavilzhanka, Dvorichna, Kupiansk, Kotlyarivka, Tabaivka, Pershotravneve of the Kharkiv region and Makiivka, Ploshanka, and Dibrova of Luhansk region. In the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, the enemy fired at the positions of Ukrainian troops, using tanks and artillery of various types in the areas of more than 20 settlements. In particular, the enemy shelled Spirne, Bilohorivka, Yakovlivka, Soledar, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Vodiane, and Maryinka in Donetsk region. In the direction of Novopavlivka, the enemy attacked the areas of Vremivka, Velyka Novosilka, Neskuchne, Vuhledar, and Mykilske in Donetsk region with tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery. In the Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the aggressor shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops with tanks and the entire range of artillery in the areas of more than 25 settlements. Also, the Russian army does not stop shelling the civilian infrastructure of cities and towns along the right bank of the Dnipro River. The civilian infrastructure of Kherson, Molodizhne, Antonivka, and Beryslav of Kherson region was damaged by artillery shelling. During the day, the Ukrainian Air Force carried out four strikes on areas where the Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment were amassed. Mmissile and artillery units inflicted fire damage on two control points and four manpower and equipment clusters. As Ukrinform reported, from February 24 to January 3, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 108,190 Russian soldiers, including 750 in the past day. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley have discussed the needs of Ukraines Defense Forces to continue the fight against the enemy. Zaluzhnyi wrote on Telegram that during his phone conversation with Milley, he told about changes in the operational and strategic situation in Ukraine. He noted that heavy battles are ongoing on the border of Svatove-Kreminna, as well as in the direction of Lysychansk. The most difficult situation remains in the Soledar-Bakhmut-Mayorsk section. There, the enemy is trying to move forward actually over its corpses, but Defense Forces units hold back the enemy offensive at the cost of extra efforts. In the Donetsk direction, we managed to hold positions around Avdiivka and continue counteroffensive operations. We reliably hold the defensive lines in the Zaporizhzhia direction and make efforts to protect Kherson from enemy shelling, primarily civilians and critical infrastructure facilities of the city. The situation on the border with the Republic of Belarus is fully controlled, he said. According to Zaluzhnyi, from December 31 to todays morning, the enemy launched 14 cruise missiles and used 94 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. In addition, Zaluzhnyi thanked General Milley for the provided anti-aircraft missile systems that save the lives of Ukrainian civilians. "We also discussed the needs of the Defense Forces to continue the fight against the aggressor. I highly appreciate General Milley's leadership in providing military aid to Ukraine. Mutual trust and a common vision help to increase the ability of the Ukrainian army to defend the peaceful cities and villages of our country, which is a guarantee of security in the whole of Europe," said Zaluzhnyi. iy By Azernews Last year [2022] became a landmark year for Azerbaijani-Israeli relations, Israeli political strategist, and owner of a PR agency Roman Gurevich told STMEGI. He recalled that the diplomatic relations between the two countries were established 30 years ago, adding that in 1992 the Israeli embassy was opened in Baku. "Today, Azerbaijan and Israel maintain strong, friendly, stable and trusting bilateral relations," he said. He pointed out that the foundation of bilateral relations was laid by the Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev. "Every year, relations between the two countries were becoming stronger, especially in the fields of energy and the military-industrial complex (MIC). Today, progress is also clearly visible in tourism, civil technologies, and cultural ties. Israeli investors' interest in Azerbaijan, and also Azerbaijani investors' interest in Israel is growing. It is important to say that the foundation of strong and trusting relations was laid many centuries ago because for centuries the Azerbaijani and Jewish peoples were bound by strong friendship," he said. Moreover, Roman Gurevich noted that all Jews born and raised in Azerbaijan and living in different countries of the world, including Israel, are a strong bridge that connects the two countries. "Why do we say that 2022 is a landmark year for Azerbaijani-Israeli relations? Because it was decided to open an Azerbaijani embassy in Israel. This is a very important event, this is a new era in bilateral relations. The opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel will bring bilateral political relations to a completely new level, and give a powerful impetus to the development of relations in all areas, including in the fields of tourism and technology. I have taken delegations of Israeli businessmen to Baku many times, and they were all delighted with the beauty of the capital, the level of tolerance," he said. Close friendly relations between Israel and Azerbaijan serve to stabilize the situation in the region, an Israeli expert said. "This is the kind of friendship that is not directed against third countries. On the contrary, cooperation between the two countries is aimed exclusively at the good, development, and benefit of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Israel. The prospects for the development of bilateral relations look impressive. Because the goal of the Azerbaijani-Israeli union is to ensure peace and stability in the region, improve the quality of life of the peoples. It is not surprising that Israel is actively involved in economic projects in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Therefore, I think that in 2023 we should expect closer economic cooperation between countries", he added. Azerbaijan and Israel have been expanding bilateral cooperation over years. Cooperation between the two countries is based not only on economic partnership but also on traditional historical and cultural roots, as well as mutual respect and trust. During the 44-day Second Karabakh War, Israel was among the first countries to express support for Azerbaijan's just position and territorial integrity. In addition, Israeli companies are involved in the restoration and reconstruction process in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. In 2021, the two countries' trade turnover totaled $928.4 million. Technician, Nordics Allflex Livestock Intelligence is the world leader in the design, development, manufacturing and delivery of solutions for animal identification, monitoring and traceability. Our data-driven solutions are used by farmers, companies, and countries to manage hundreds of millions of animals worldwide. By putting intelligent, actionable management information into farmers hands, our solutions empower them to act in a timely manner to safeguard their animals health and wellbeing, while achieving optimal production outcomes for a healthy food supply. Allflex Livestock Intelligence is a Livestock portfolio of digital products within our Company's Animal Health business. As the largest provider of animal identification technology, we meet growing customer needs by providing over 500 million tags for identifying, tracking, and monitoring animals every year and we monitor over 5.5 million cows daily, which allows access to real-time, actionable data and insights to help improve or enhance animal management and health outcomes. With over 60 years of experience and around 1,900 team members worldwide, we have a global network of experts, each with a great depth of experience and unparalleled knowledge, who provide a valuable resource to farmers, companies, and countries. Allflex Livestock Intelligence has manufacturing and technology subsidiaries in North America, Europe, Israel, South America, China, Australia and New Zealand. Our products are distributed in over 100 countries. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals, our Company's Animal Health department offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability, and monitoring products. Our Company's Animal Health department is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. Job Purpose Providing technical installation, service, and support for technology products for our customers, partner companies and colleagues across Nordic cluster, with a focus on Denmark, to enable an excellent customer experience. Key Responsibilities Technical support by phone, email and in person for our customers within the Nordic cluster. Manage escalation process to relevant EURAM Customer Services and Support team to ensure full resolution. Technical service of technology products mainly in our workshop but also on site at farms and customers within the Nordic cluster. Organizing of stock including order of parts. Invoicing of spare parts. Testing and assembling the customized technical product following the customer's order. Delivery and installation of finished products to customers mainly in Denmark but also within the Nordic cluster. Installation, consultation and training of customers and their employees on site mainly in Denmark but also within the Nordic cluster. Support Denmark and Nordic organizations by providing timely and comprehensive after sales support to farmers. Be the operational point of contact for technology products. Activities include overseeing supply issues, returns process, the introduction of new products & features, and providing technical support and training for relevant Nordic colleagues. Keep technical skills and product knowledge up to date by attending relevant internal training sessions. Qualifications and skills Prior experience with a technical background and/or education with a technical focus. Experience in technical customer support and after sales care. Communication skills, able to transform technical language to end users' understanding. Able to work efficiently with minimal supervision Excellent problem-solving skills. A team player. Able to work in a matrix organization and build good working relationships with local, regional and global contacts. Fluency in Danish and English Willing to travel 3-5 days/month within the Nordic cluster IT experience with office365 Who we are We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world. What we look for Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join usand start making your impact today. We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one anothers thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete your application by using the link below. Apply Following a Ukrainian Armed Forces strike on a Russian military base in Makiivka, Donetsk region, Russia suffered one of its worst military losses since the invasion of Ukraine began. That's according to an article published by The New York Times, Ukrinform reports. "As Russia took stock of one of its worst military losses since the invasion of Ukraine, the initial outpouring of anger began to settle into a familiar pattern on Tuesday, focusing on the West, and on what critics describe as incompetent officials rather than the man overseeing the war effort: President Vladimir Putin," the article reads. Relatives of mobilized soldiers who died or went missing in the rocket strike on their base in the occupied Ukrainian town of Makiivka gathered in the central Russia city of Samara. At the memorial service in Samara, about a hundred participants waved Russian flags, coordinated aid collection for survivors and called for revenge, according to videos and local media reports. Local media did not mention any criticism of the officials responsible for the war. "The entire West has closed ranks against us in order to destroy us," Yekaterina Kolotovkina, the head of a soldiers' humanitarian fund and the wife of a Russian general fighting in Ukraine told the Samara rally, echoing a main theme of state propaganda. According to experts, the speed with which the Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement with estimated losses suggested the government "is trying to control the narrative and prevent it from feeding wider social discontent." Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its latest daily report on Monday that "profound military failures" such as Makiivka could make it harder for Putin to placate concerns among some vocal war supporters that Russia's military effort is under control. "Putin's inability to address the criticism and fix the flaws in Russia's military campaign may undermine his credibility as a hands-on war leader," the group said. On December 31, in Makiivka, Donetsk region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed and damaged up to ten pieces of enemy military equipment. According to reports on social media, the number of dead invaders reaches as many as 600. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Ukrainian law enforcers have registered 62,210 crimes of aggression and war crimes. The press service of the Prosecutor General's Office said this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. In particular, prosecutors registered 62,210 crimes of aggression and war crimes, including 60,477 crimes on violating the laws and customs of war, 67 crimes on planning, preparing or initiating and waging a war of aggression, 40 crimes on propaganda of war, and 1,626 other crimes. In addition, law enforcement officers registered 17,335 crimes against national security. Of these, 10,449 were related to encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, 1,911 concerned treason, 3,868 - collaborative activities, 380 - aiding and abetting the aggressor state, 62 acts of sabotage, and 665 were other crimes. Over the past day, January 3, the Russian army killed five civilians and injured 13 more in Ukraine. In Donetsk region, one person was killed and five more were injured. One person was injured in Zaporizhzhia region. Two people were injured in Kharkiv region. Four people were killed (including two killed earlier), five more were injured in Kherson region, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko posted on Telegram with reference to the data of the regional military administrations. On January 3, the Russian army shelled nine regions of Ukraine. ol The Russian Federation produces 15-20 Kalibr ballistic missiles and about 30 Kh-101 missiles per month. "According to our estimates, they [Russia] can now produce approximately 30 units of Kh-101 per month. Speaking of Kalibr, we think [they produce] 15-20 units per month," Vadym Skibitsky, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, told RBC-Ukraine news agency in an interview. According to him, the Russians also have old Kh-22 missiles, of which approximately 160 units remain. At the same time, Skibitsky confirmed that the Russian Federation already uses its strategic stockpile of missiles. "In general, according to regulatory documents, the strategic stockpile should be 30% of the entire stockpile of missiles. But they have already been using the reserve of all types of missiles: Iskander, Kalibr, Kh-101, Kh-555. That is, they already have less than 30% of reserves. This shows that it is really a problematic issue for them to replenish their reserves," said the intelligence representative. He noted that there are not many Kinzhal hypersonic missiles left in the Russian army, they are used quite sparingly. "They don't have that many Kinzhal missiles. If they fire them all, they will have nothing to frighten the world with. They now use Kinzhal missiles to demonstrate and intimidate, show that they have weapons no one can shoot down. Accordingly, they maintain the tension regarding the possibility of using these weapons not only against us but also against other European countries," Skibitsky said. Regarding enemy tactics, he opined that the invaders would try new approaches. "If they don't have enough missiles for a massive attack, they will combine high-precision missiles, Kh-22, and S-300 especially in the frontline areas and kamikaze drones. You see how the Russians actively used them for two days in a row. Now they are preparing missiles for the next massive attack. That is, they will combine means to maintain the pace of strikes on our civilian infrastructure objects," Skibitsky noted. As reported, Spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ihnat said that the air defense forces destroyed 84 drones, i.e., 100% of those launched by Russia during the last massive drone attack on the New Year holidays. In general, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed almost half a thousand enemy drones since September 2022. ol The Russian Federation used about 660 Iranian-made Shahed UAVs out of the 1,750 units provided for by the contract with Iran. Currently, the Russian Federation is expecting a new batch of 250-300 drones. "They really have problems with their arsenal, including drones. To date, they have used approximately 660 Shahed drones. The contract provides for 1,750 units. It takes time to deliver and prepare them. They [Russians] have used a large amount in recent days, and these reserves need to be replenished. According to our data, they will now get another shipment. We will clarify the quantity. As a rule, before that, 250-300 pieces were brought in a batch. Let's see how it will be this time," Vadym Skibitsky, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, told RBC-Ukraine news agency in an interview. He noted that a massive drone attack is aimed at breaking through our air defense system and hitting targets. Launching a small group 5-10 units will not produce such an effect. Skibitsky added that the Russians are using different altitudes and different directions to bypass air defense systems, as well as changing drone launch areas. "Now they launch drones from the Russian coast of the Sea of Azov, and before that they launched them from Crimea. They may choose another direction with fewer air defense systems on the path. They will try to break through to reach the facilities," the intelligence representative said. As reported, the enemy fired 14 cruise missiles and launched 94 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones from December 31 to January 3. ol Preparations for the transfer of Patriot air defense systems have already begun, and Ukraine expects their deployment as soon as possible. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba announced this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "The past year was ended with a revolutionary decision to provide Ukraine with American Patriot systems, which was agreed upon by the leaders of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden. We highly appreciate this step by the U.S. We expect the deployment of Patriot as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun," he announced. Kuleba added that President Zelensky and the entire diplomatic team are intensively working on new solutions regarding the supply of new types of Western weapons, in particular, tanks and other armored vehicles. As reported, the United States will provide Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems as part of its new security assistance package of $1.85 billion. iy The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kyrylo Budanov, has suggested that likely further strikes into Russian territory will come "deeper and deeper." He said this in an interview with ABC News, Ukrinform reports. When asked whether Ukraine carried out strikes on Russia's Engels air base, located more than 1,200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Budanov said he would be able to answer this question "only after the end of the war." At the same time, when asked whether there will be more such strikes in the future, he said: "I think so," adding that the attacks will come "deeper and deeper" inside of Russia. And when asked about attacks on Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, Budanov said: "Crimea is Ukrainian territory, we can use any weapon on our territory." Budanov said he expects fighting to be the "hottest" in March, adding that Ukraine is planning a major push in the spring. "Our goal, and we will achieve it, is returning to the borders of 1991, like Ukraine is recognized by all subjects of international law," he said. He noted that Russia's weaponry is depleting, forcing it to resort to "cheaper," more "plentiful" solutions, like the Iranian-made, self-destroying Shahed drones. As for the future of Russia, Budanov said there are several scenarios in play, but the message is clear: "You should not be afraid of the transformation of Russia. It will only benefit the whole world." "Russia is not a military threat to the world anymore, just a tall tale," he added. According to Budanov, Tthehe only issue remaining is Russia's nuclear arsenal "and the uncontrollable regime" that will lead "the whole world to realize the necessity of Russia's denuclearization or at least an international overseeing of its nuclear arsenal." Photo: LIGA.net Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has called on allies to continue their military support to Ukraine and increase its pace in order to bring victory closer. According to Ukrinform, Nauseda said this on his Twitter account. In 2023 Lithuania will continue its military support to Ukraine. It has to be the year when defeats the aggressor. will send military equipment, ammunition & provide military training to . It's crucial to increase the pace of support by all allies. Victory is close. pic.twitter.com/VpueWf6hjN Gitanas Nauseda (@GitanasNauseda) January 3, 2023 "In 2023, Lithuania will continue its military support to Ukraine. It has to be the year when Ukraine defeats the aggressor. Lithuania will send military equipment, ammunition & provide military training to Ukraine. It's crucial to increase the pace of support by all allies. Victory is close," Nauseda wrote. Photo: @GitanasNauseda The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the headquarters of the Russian invaders near Tokmak in Zaporizhzhia region. The enemy lost about 80 soldiers killed and wounded. "As for the enemy losses. A strike on a manpower and military equipment cluster of the occupiers in Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region, on January 3 was confirmed. The enemy lost about 80 soldiers killed and wounded," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook. In addition, it was established that more than 100 mercenaries of the Wagner Private Military Company are being treated in a neurological department of the regional clinical hospital in temporarily occupied Luhansk. ol The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released a video showing the Ukrainian recruits being trained by Norwegian instructors as part of the Interflex operation. A fragment of an atmospheric video from the Christmas summary of the year of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Norway, which shows several moments of training by Norwegian instructors of Ukrainian recruits as part of the Interflex operation under the leadership of Great Britain, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook. The General Staff emphasized that the Armed Forces are grateful to the Kingdom of Norway for support and assistance. As reported, Norwegian instructors train 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Britain. ol ELKO Family Resource Centers of Northeastern Nevada has begun a Sober Life program that brings a new approach to living a sober lifestyle in northeastern Nevada. Sober Life will hold regular NA and AA peer support styled meetings the first and third Wednesday of every month from 7-8 p.m. at 331 Seventh St. Also, enrichment activities are held every Friday; times and locations may vary depending on the weekly activity to be posted by FRCNN on Facebook or Instagram. These enrichment activities are designed to create a community for those who are committed to living a sober lifestyle. We want to celebrate those who have done the hard work to overcome their addiction, and give them a welcoming and non-judgmental environment to gather and grow in their sobriety, said Ashlyn Greener, executive director of FRCNN. We will be partnering with other local businesses to offer different activities every Friday, we have upcoming plans ranging from mediation classes, a fishing derby, Lamoille canyon hikes, yoga classes, healthy eating lessons, money management courses, bowling nights, etc. all at no cost to our attendees. The Family Resource Center also currently offers other wrap-around services to assist the Sober Life community to continue each persons growth, such as case management, free parenting classes, and crisis intervention. Greener has been leading the Family Resource Center since March 2020 and recounts the strategic planning session she and the board of directors held in January 2021. While conducting a planning meeting early in my tenure as Director, we identified areas in our community that could use some additional support, mental health and addiction services being chief among them, she said. During the time we were looking into different types of programs FRCNN could implement, I was approached by Alan Franklin who was interested in expanding addiction services in Elko County. After about a month of discussions, we decided to begin our Sober Life program, which pays homage to a peer support program Franklin attended in Montana during his own recovery. Franklin now sits on the FRCNN board of directors, and also serves as the chair during most Sober Life meetings. When asked about his motivation to start the Sober Life program, Franklin stated, When you start trying to change your life, the most important step in recovery is changing your people, places, and things that have toxic influences. This group gives you a community of like-minded sober people fighting the same battle. For me, having the Sober Life members in Great Falls probably saved my life and helped me stay focused on why I needed to change. I wanted to help provide something like that here in Elko, to give someone else like me a chance. As the New Year begins, FRCNN encourages anyone who wants to get sober or continue their sobriety journey to reach out via phone at 775-753-7352 or through the Contact Us option on the FRCNN website, www.elkofrc.org. France is bringing the defense support for Ukraine to a new level, which will help restore security for Ukrainians and peace for Europeans. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his daily video address to the nation, Ukrinform reports. France is bringing European defense support for Ukraine to a new level, and I thank President Macron for this leadership. We will receive more armored vehicles, in particular wheeled tanks of French production. This is what sends a clear signal to all our other partners: there is no rational reason why Ukraine has not yet been supplied with Western-type tanks. And this is very important to restore security for all Ukrainians and peace for all Europeans, Zelensky said. He added that such signal is extremely relevant before the next "Ramstein" meeting: We must put an end to the Russian aggression this year exactly and not postpone any of the defensive capabilities that can speed up the defeat of the terrorist state. Modern Western armored vehicles, Western-type tanks are just one of these key capabilities. Each of our partners will have very specific information about our defense needs. And we all have the same goal: to put an end to the Russian aggression as soon as possible, to restore reliable and lasting peace," Zelensky said. As Ukrinform reported, on January 4, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of France Emmanuel Macron discussed further cooperation to strengthen Ukrainian air defense and other defense capabilities. Zelensky thanked Macron for the decision to transfer light tanks and Bastion APCs to Ukraine, as well as for intensifying work with partners in this direction. Canada will continue to provide humanitarian, military, financial and other assistance to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression. According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this in a statement following his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "The Prime Minister reiterated Canada's commitment to providing humanitarian, military, financial, and other assistance to the government and people of Ukraine for as long as is necessary, to safeguard their free, democratic, and secure future," Trudeau's office said. According to the statement, the two leaders also discussed the latest developments on the ground in Ukraine and condemned Russia's ongoing attacks. "The Prime Minister extended his warmest wishes to those in Ukraine preparing to celebrate Orthodox Christmas, even as they continue to endure Russia's strikes against them and on their country's essential infrastructure," the statement reads. Trudeau also expressed hope that 2023 will bring a just and sustainable peace to the people of Ukraine. "The leaders agreed to remain in close and regular contact," Trudeau's office said. Photo: t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official Washington does not believe that Russia is ready to conduct negotiations in good faith to achieve peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter and international law, so the United States will focus on supplying weapons to Ukrainians and strengthening the country's positions. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this at a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday, January 3, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "It is hard to take seriously the idea that Russia is prepared for good-faith diplomacy when they are doubling down," she said. She added that the Russians are only intensifying their aggression, not going to stop the annexation of Ukrainian territories and not abandoning the idea of preserving the current state of affairs. "That's not a basis for real diplomacy at all," Jean-Pierre said. She recalled that U.S. President Joe Biden, in his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, emphasized that America stands for a just peace. "When we talk about just peace, that must include UN principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," Jean-Pierre said. She noted that the job of the United States in this context is to keep supporting Ukraine on the battlefield "so that they're in the best position to negotiate at the table when that does occur." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis have agreed on further steps in the development of cooperation between the two countries, in particular in the defense sector, and discussed a peace formula. The head of the Ukrainian state said this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Together with Klaus Iohannis we agreed on steps to further develop Ukrainian-Romanian cooperation, primarily in the defense sector. I thanked Romania for its solidarity and support in resisting Russian aggression. We discussed the Peace Formula and issues of the bilateral agenda," Zelensky said. On November 15, Zelensky in his address to the participants of the G20 summit proposed a peace formula and named ten mandatory conditions for ending the war in Ukraine. Among them are radiation, nuclear, food and energy security, the release of all prisoners and deportees, the implementation of the UN Charter and the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the world order, the withdrawal of Russian troops and the cessation of hostilities, the return of justice, countering ecocide, preventing escalation, and confirming the end of the war. The Hague City Council favored the initiative put forward by VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) leader Lotte van Basten Batenburg on the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute the Russian Federation in The Hague. "As a member of The Hague City Council, I want The Hague city authorities to do everything possible to support the creation of a special tribunal and to prepare for its location in our city. The Hague is an international city of peace and justice, the ICC and special tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia are already here. Eurojust and Europol are also headquartered here. Therefore, we have the experience and international legal infrastructure to host the future special tribunal which will investigate and prosecute the crimes and atrocities committed during Russias war of aggression against Ukraine," Lotte van Basten Batenburg told an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague in an exclusive comment. According to her, almost the entire city council membership voted in favor of her proposal to make an effort to host this special tribunal in The Hague. We know that it will likely take a long time to build enough international support for the establishment of the tribunal and then for the tribunal to begin its work. The Hague should fully support this and propose and initiate preparations to host the tribunal. We must make sure that once the special tribunal is officially established, the courtrooms, offices, etc. will be ready for use so that justice can be administered," the VVD party leader said. Asked about the location of the new special tribunal, she noted that the Rwanda and Yugoslavia tribunals were completing their work so it is possible that their offices and courtrooms can be used for a new special tribunal to prosecute the Russian Federation. "I can imagine that a new or another building will be needed, considering how many war crimes have already been registered and investigated in Ukraine. The best place will certainly be near Europol, Eurojust, the ICC and the special tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia," Lotte van Basten Batenburg believes. She also noted that the European Commission suggested on November 30, 2022, creating a specialized independent tribunal or a specialized court with the support of the United Nations to investigate and prosecute the crime of Russian aggression. As reported, on September 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy created a working group led by Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak to deal with the issue of creating a special international tribunal to bring those guilty of aggression against Ukraine to justice. ol Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba announced the adoption of the strategy for Latin America this year. "Latin America will be our priority this year. This is the last region of the world that we have not thoroughly dealt with yet. We already have the African strategy, we are implementing it, we have the Asian strategy, we are implementing it. The Latin American strategy will be the next strategic document adopted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year, and you will see a powerful return of Ukraine to the area of South America this year," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He added that the inauguration of President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on January 1 was an important event in the region. In this context, Kuleba noted that the Ukrainian delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko took part in the solemn inauguration ceremony and held meaningful meetings with the President of Brazil and the heads of other foreign delegations. "This high-level visit proved our state's interest in restarting UkraineBrazil dialogue, providing additional impetus to trade and economic relations. We heard the signals from the Brazilian side, we will actively work with them, as well as with other countries of this region," Ukraines top diplomat stressed. Last October, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba was on the first African tour in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy. ol Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has been recognized the 2023 honorary best city in the world in the "100 Best Cities in the World" ranking compiled by the international agency Resonance. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Due to the resilience, indomitability of Kyiv residents and bravery in the face of war, the agency's experts awarded the capital the 2023 honorary best city title in the 100 Best Cities in the World ranking, Klitschko wrote. According to him, the experts noted the infrastructural development of the city over the past 10 years, in particular, the creation of new parks and squares and the improvement of already existed ones, putting parking lots in order, updating the rolling stock of municipal transport. "Kyiv today is the heart of Europe, which continues to beat - for life, for development, for the beauty of the city and the comfort of its residents," the mayor noted. Canadian company Resonance Consultancy specializes in the issues of strategy, branding and communications in cities. In 2021, Kyiv ranked 87th in the "100 Best Cities in the World" rating. iy Lithium Americas announced that following a rigorous and competitive tender process, the company has awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction management contract for the Thacker Pass project to Bechtel, an industry-leading firm that has built more than 25,000 projects for industries and governments in 160 countries on all seven continents. Lithium Americas has all the federal and state permits needed to begin construction at the Thacker Pass lithium project north of Winnemucca. A hearing on an appeal to the Thacker Pass Record of Decision is set for Jan. 5. If the ruling following the hearing supports the Thacker Pass Record of Decision that was issued in January 2021, Lithium Americas and Bechtel are set to work together to launch construction activities. Awarding the EPCM contract is a significant milestone in advancing Thacker Pass towards production, said Jonathan Evans, president and CEO of Lithium Americas. Bechtel is a globally recognized and respected engineering firm with a deep understanding of value-driven project delivery. This key partnership is a big step forward towards enabling North American production of battery-quality lithium carbonate to help secure our nations clean energy future. Bechtel Mining and Metals President Ailie MacAdam said, By partnering with our customers and collaborating with contractors, suppliers and local communities, were able to solve some of the worlds biggest challenges, and Im excited to have this opportunity that will enable the project to responsibly unlock the resources needed for the energy transition. The announcement from Lithium Americas said the two companies share a commitment towards a safer, cleaner, more equitable and prosperous future, by advancing towards increased energy security and advanced decarbonization targets. With the partnership Lithium Americas will leverage Bechtels world class team, a suite of seamless execution systems, global logistics and innovative construction strategies. Lithium Americas said Bechtel will be fully integrating into the projects team and will be responsible for engineering, procurement and execution planning services, along with overall project management. ELKO Incoming and outgoing judges watched former Elko Police Detective Sgt. Bryan Drake take the oath of office as the new Justice of the Peace for Elko Township and Elko Municipal Judge Monday evening. Drake, who was elected in November, stepped in as the second Department B judge in an investiture ceremony that was witnessed by about 90 people, including Elko District Courts three judges, Justices of the Peace from three municipalities, family members, friends, and elected Elko City and Elko County officials. Im very nervous. Very excited, Drake said after being helped into his robe by his wife, Mariah. I understand the responsibilities and the role Im taking on and the trust of the voters. I promise to do the best that I can in the office. Thank you very much. The ceremony, conducted by District Judge Mason Simons, was described as a formal elevation of a person to judicial office. During this ceremony, the judge is publicly administered and signs the oath of office, is robed in a judicial robe, marking the beginning of their new judicial service, and makes their first formal remarks as an elected judicial official, Simons said. Elko Police Chief Ty Trouten bid Drake goodbye from the police department, recalling his first meeting with the young officer and watching him rise through the ranks up to detective sergeant during the past 20 years. I learned that he is a very motivated and dedicated officer. He performed his duties but kept quiet about them. Just went about his business and did it well, Trouten said. Whatever his duty was, he wouldnt just fulfill it, he would improve and take it to another level. Youre leaving a hole, but this is where you need to be, Bryan, Trouten continued. It is right, and you will do well. Elko County Justice and District Court Judges Elko County judges pose for a photo at the investiture ceremony in Elko District Court Department 3. Top row from left: Elko District Judges K Mayor Reece Keener, who serves as the liaison to the Elko Police Department, said Drake was incredibly well-thought of within the department. Youre a go-to guy if someone needs to get something done. You have the right temperament. You have the discipline, the character, and the right combination of street smarts. Im highly confident that youre going to really excel in this, Keener added. On Monday morning, Department A Justice of the Peace Randall Soderquist, who was elected in November to serve the remaining two years of a six-year term left by Simons election to District Court Department 3, was sworn in by Elko District Judge Al Kacin. He was appointed by the Elko County Board of Commissioners two years ago. Soderquist read an excerpt from the dedication of the Elko County Courthouse on Dec. 5, 1911, by then Nevada Supreme Court Justice George Frederick Talbot. However desirable good edifices may be, efficient and honest officials are far more essential to the welfare of the people, Talbot said. Elko County has been careful, wise and fortunate in the selection of its officials. They have served ably, faithfully and well. Both Soderquist and Drake took the oath administered by Simons. The Justice Court judges will preside over a busy caseload of criminal and civil cases, Simons explained. Between Departments A and B of the Elko Justice Court, along with other township and municipal courts, justices of the peace conduct bench trials on misdemeanor crimes, civil infractions, preliminary hearings in felony and gross misdemeanor cases, oversee landlord and tenant disputes, rule in small claims matters, and perform weddings. Drake said since his election to his six-year term he has been working with Soderquist in Justice Court trying to learn the job and see where I can increase my knowledge of the position. He also listed some of his goals, including implementing a mental health court and creating a department of alternative sentencing with the cooperation of the City of Elko and Elko County officials. I appreciate everyones support and look forward to serving and hopefully bettering my community, Drake said. Drake takes over from retired Judge Elias Choch Goicoechea, who did not seek reelection. Earlier on Monday, Judge Dee Primeaux took the oath of office to become Carlins Justice of the Peace after being appointed to replace Senior Judge Teri Feasel a year ago. In West Wendover, Ken Quirk was sworn in as the new Eastline Township Justice of the Peace and City of West Wendover Municipal Judge, replacing appointee Phil Leamon, who is returning to private practice. (@FahadShabbir) The economic managers of the country here on Wednesday termed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) white paper on state of economy selective, misrepresented and devoid of economic context. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2023 ) :The economic managers of the country here on Wednesday termed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) white paper on state of economy selective, misrepresented and devoid of economic context. "The PTI's presentation (white paper) is selective and misrepresented, showing misleading economic indicators," Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar told a press conference. He was flanked by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyam Aurangzeb, and Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ayesha Ghaus Pasha. The finance minister said the comparisons made in the white paper were incorrect and devoid of economic context. He said the economic situation since April 2022 was strongly influenced by the legacy that the new government got from the previous regime, hence what did the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) led government received that should be a denominator for comparison. "This context", he said, was totally missing in the PTI's presentation while it had also ignored international economic situation, the commodities super-cycle, Russia-Ukraine war impacts and the catastrophic floods in the country. "These realities should have been kept in mind for making a fair analysis," he added. Ishaq Dar said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had predicted that one-third of the globe would be facing a serious recessional problem in the year 2023 and Pakistan was no exception. The Fund had projected the Pakistan's economic growth at 2.7 percent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It is pertinent to mention that the PTI in its white paper on Tuesday had painted a bleak picture of the national economy. WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2023 ) :Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty Tuesday to criminal charges in a New York court related to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, according to media reports. The former founder and FTX CEO is facing eight charges from US prosecutors amid the sudden collapse of the company and hedge fund Alameda Research. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Bankman-Fried arrived at court in a black SUV, wearing a black suit, according to Anadolu Agency footage. CNBC reported that a new task force has been announced by Federal prosecutors to recover victim assets as part of an ongoing investigation. "The Southern District of New York is working around the clock to respond to the implosion of FTX," US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement, cited by CNBC. Bankman-Fried, 30, was arrested Dec. 12 in The Bahamas, extradited Dec. 22 to the US and taken immediately to the District Court for the Southern District of New York. He faces up to 115 years in prison if he is convicted on all eight charges filed by the US Justice Department. Manila, Jan 4 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2023 ) :Hundreds of top-ranking police in the Philippines were asked to resign Wednesday as the government seeks to "cleanse" the corruption-tainted force of officers involved in the illegal drug trade. Police have been waging an anti-narcotics campaign launched by former president Rodrigo Duterte and continued by his successor Ferdinand Marcos. Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos urged all colonels and generals -- about 300 in total -- to offer "courtesy" resignations after a probe found a "handful" were involved in drugs. They could continue working while their records were assessed by a five-member committee. Those found guilty would have their resignations accepted, Abalos said. "If you're not involved, there's nothing to worry about," Abalos told a news conference at national police headquarters in Manila. Anyone who did not tender their resignation would be "questionable", he said. Abalos described the approach as radical and a "shortcut" after previous investigations into allegedly corrupt officers took a long time and produced few results. It is not the first time such drastic measures have been used to clean up the Philippine police force. Former president Fidel Ramos cracked down on police in the early 1990s, ordering all officers over 56 years of age or with more than 30 years of service to resign. The chief of the national police and nine other senior officers resigned as a result. - 'The only way' - The latest plan was recommended by police chief General Rodolfo Azurin and other senior officers, Abalos said. Azurin would be among those expected to tender his resignation while his record was checked, he said. "This is the only way to cleanse the ranks in a fast manner," Abalos said. "It's difficult to fight a war when it's your ally that will shoot you in the back." But Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch said it was a "preposterous" move and an insult to the memory of the thousands of people killed in the drug war. "It does not serve the cause of justice and accountability -- far from it," Conde said. "What Philippine authorities should be doing is investigate these police officials and file appropriate charges in court if warranted." Police officers have killed thousands of alleged drug dealers and users since mid-2016, but critics say the wealthy and powerful have been largely untouched. Allegations of police graft and abuse are common in the Philippines, with some officers accused of selling drugs seized in operations. Duterte had pledged to root out deep-seated corruption but repeatedly expressed frustration and anger with the extent of the problem. A security analyst said Abalos was taking a politically safer and less confrontational route to clean up the force. "If nobody resigns, then he's got all the more justification to start going after corruption via the hard-power route," said Sam Ramos-Jones, director of operations at Philippine Strategic Associates, referring to the courts. While the method would not rid the force of corruption on its own, it could "send the message to lower ranks that what may have been tolerated under previous leadership no longer will be". 2023 is a year of new promises and projects, and in Japan, some of the biggest game creators have chosen to reveal their plans for the starting year. Through Gematsu, a wide variety of developers spoke about whats to come during the next 12 months, and theres some interesting tidbits of information to take from their statements. Konami talks about something very awaited, theres news about Dragons Dogma 2, Fatal Fury, and more, as well as Fumito Uedas new project. Theres a lot of creators and many statements, so we chose to cover only a few of them. Here they are: Atlus Shinkiro Takada: The Shin Megami Tensei series celebrated its 30th anniversary in October 2022 thanks to the long-standing support of its many fans! Shin Megami Tensei V has achieved one million sales worldwide, and has caught many eyes in both Japan and overseas. In 2023, which will be the 31st anniversary, I hope be able to give something back to the fans as a thank-you. Full screen SNK Yasuyuki Oda: Alongside updates to The King of Fighters XV, the staff is working as one on the development of the new Fatal Fury and several other titles. Please look forward to SNK in the future. Nobuyuki Kuroki: While we havent shared much information about Fatal Fury yet, development is progressing well, so please look forward to it. Kazuhiro Fujishige: This year will mark the start of develompent on a new IP that carries the grand vision of the creation of an AAA title from Japan. We are becoming a studio in which the strengths of our teams formed from our diverse pool of talent will be on full display! Capcom Hideaki Itsuno: Im currently immersed in the production of Dragons Dogma 2, so much so that Im losing my sense of what season it is. Things are moving along well, so I hope to further our development progress so that we can share an update with you as soon as possible. Takuro Hiraoka: We will release new information [about Exoprimal] next spring, so please look forward to it! Full screen Konami Noriaki Okamura: Keyword long-awaited. Other than [the educational edition of Momotaro Dentetsu announced last year], 2023 will be a year of many announcements! Stay tuned! Square Enix Tomoya Asano:Compared to the turbulent 2022which saw the releases of Triangle Strategy, LIVE A LIVE, and Various Daylife; the announcement of Octopath Traveler II; and the 10th anniversary of Bravely Default2023 seems like itll be a year of preparation. Thorough preparation. Yoshinori Kitase: As the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII continues to stir up the excitement with its seven campaigns, I hope to be able to deliver an update on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth when the timing is right. Please look forward to it! Full screen SEGA Takashi Lizuka: This past year was the biggest year in Sonic history, including the release of the movie sequel, new titles Sonic Origins and Sonic Frontiers, and the Netflix animation Sonic Prime. We are preparing a second wave to keep the fans happy and maintain that momentum going into 2023. We already announced additional content for Sonic Frontiers, but there is a lot more outside of that, so please look forward to it. Ryousuke Horii: Its going to be a challengine year in which many titles are released under the restructured Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, so first and foremost, I would like to produce results with solid works that make people say, The restructure and generational shift were a success!' Bokeh Game Studio Keichiro Toyama: Production on Bokeh Game Studios premiere title, Slitterhead, is nearing its climax. Full screen Mistwalker Hironobu Sakaguchi: I thought I was going to retire (laughs), but I decided to try to give this another go Ill never stop playing Final Fantasy XIV. Meet me in Eorzea. I also started writing the scenario for a new title yet to be announced. It will be a dark fantasy. Koei Tecmo Fumihiko Yasuda: Production on Rise of the Ronin, which I am directing, is entering its climax, so I will be giving it my all. genDesign Fumito Ueda: All of genDesign is working hard to be able to finally announce something, so please give us your support. Source | Gematsu (@FahadShabbir) UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Jan, 2023 ) :In in an appeal to governments everywhere, UN human rights chief Volker Turk has called for ending arbitrary detention "once and for all." "At the start of this year the 75th anniversary year of the?Universal Declaration of Human Rights? I call on governments and all detaining authorities, globally, to amnesty, pardon or simply release all those detained for exercising their rights," he said in?a statement on Wednesday. "Reach into your hearts, review their cases, and make a choice to begin this year with a step in the direction of the vision of the Universal Declaration --a world in which all people live free and equal, in dignity and rights." The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948. The milestone document set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected, and has been translated into more than 500 languages. Throughout 2023, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said it will run a campaign to showcase the importance and continuing relevance of the Universal Declaration. Activities and advocacy will be centered around three tracks: promoting universality and indivisibility, looking to the future, and sustaining the human rights ecosystem. Trk recalled that as he marked the beginning of the new year with his own family, his thoughts turned to those whose loved ones are languishing in detention facilities, imprisoned for exercising their human rights. They include people working as environmental defenders, on climate action, or those calling out discrimination - in addition to those speaking up against abuses and corruption, journalists jailed for doing their essential work, and human rights activists. "I call on all those in power to put the UDHR in action and to end arbitrary detention once and for all," he said. (@Abdulla99267510) Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Indian External Affairs Minister's latest tirade is a reflection of growing frustration over India's failure to malign and isolate Pakistan. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Jan 4th, 2022) The Foreign Office has rejected the baseless and frivolous accusations made by the Indian Minister of External Affairs targeting Pakistan. Responding to media queries, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Indian External Affairs Minister's latest tirade is a reflection of growing frustration over India's failure to malign and isolate Pakistan. She said for last several years, India has engaged in a malicious campaign to mislead the international community through a fictitious narrative of victimhood and vile anti-Pakistan propaganda. This practice must stop. The Spokesperson said India's continued anti-Pakistan diatribe cannot hide its brazen involvement in fomenting terrorism on Pakistan's soil; nor can it conceal the reality of state-sponsored terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She said instead of pointing fingers at others, India should itself end its involvement in terrorism, subversion and espionage against Pakistan. Only a few weeks ago, a dossier was released containing irrefutable evidence that substantiated India's involvement in the 2021 terrorist attack in a peaceful Lahore neighbourhood. She further said that from the death of over 40 Pakistani nationals on Indian soil in the 2007 Samjhota Express tragedy to the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving Commander of Indian Navy, from within Pakistan in 2016, the evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism and sabotage is irrefutable and spans over decades and geographies. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will co-host, along with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, an international conference on 'Climate Resilient Pakistan' in Geneva on January 9 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2023 ) :Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will co-host, along with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, an international conference on 'Climate Resilient Pakistan' in Geneva on January 9. At the conference, the prime minister will outline Pakistan's vision for rehabilitating the flood affected population and reconstructing the damaged infrastructure in a resilient manner, with the support of development partners, and the country's transition towards a more dynamic and sustainable economic development model. "Pakistan will present the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF) at the conference, and seek international support and long-term partnerships for its implementation," the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release on Wednesday. The conference programme will feature a high-level opening segment, to be co-chaired by the prime minister and the UN secretary general, followed by the official launch of the 4RF document and partner support announcements. The prime minister and the UN secretary general will also hold a joint press stakeout. Heads of state and government, ministers and high-level representatives from several countries and international financial institutions, foundations and funds, as well as from international development organisations, private sector, civil society and INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organisations) will participate in the conference. The conference will serve as a platform to marshal international support for the people and the Government of Pakistan to build back better in a resilient manner after the recent devastating floods, as the country transitions from the rescue-and-relief phase towards the monumental task of recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. Federal ministers from Pakistan will elaborate on the 4RF document and also present Pakistan's long-term plan for building climate resilience and adaptation. The perspectives of the four provinces will be articulated by their representatives. The 4RF document outlines a prioritized and sequential plan, defined at the Federal and provincial levels, and includes the financial mechanism and institutional arrangements for its execution in an open, transparent and collaborative manner. "The conference will help Pakistan in forging a long-term partnership with its friends and development partners on the basis of the 4RF document, and serve as a demonstration of international solidarity with the people of Pakistan as they commence the journey towards rebuilding their lives and livelihoods," it was added. Russia has blamed the deaths of scores of its soldiers in a New Year missile strike on its troops using unsecured, traceable mobile phones on the battlefield Paris, APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jan, 2023 ) :Russia has blamed the deaths of scores of its soldiers in a New Year missile strike on its troops using unsecured, traceable mobile phones on the battlefield. But if Ukrainian forces did use geolocation of phones to target its strikes, it also reveals the Russian army's operational carelessness in the field, say analysts. "It is already obvious that the main reason for what has happened was the turning on and massive use by personnel of mobile phones within reach of enemy weapons," said Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov. Critics have accused the army of trying to shift the blame. If his claim turned out to be true however, the attack would be only the latest example of the crucial role geolocation can play in warfare. In 1996, Russian air-to-surface missiles killed the separatist Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayev after pinpointing his location thanks to the satellite phone he was using. In January 2018, the US army discovered that data from fitness app Strava Labs allowed location of its troops in their bases in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. No lives were lost because of that vulnerability. ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to once again offer Ankara's mediation in the Ukraine conflict in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to take place on Wednesday, a diplomatic source told Sputnik. On Tuesday, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that Erdogan would hold telephone talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on January 4. "In the coming year, President Erdogan intends to continue efforts to resume the negotiation process to achieve a ceasefire (in Ukraine). With the ability to negotiate with the two sides, the Turkish president intends to continue offering his mediation. In this regard, today's telephone conversations will not be an exception," the source said. During the conversation with Putin, Erdogan also wants to discuss the so-called gas hub project, according to the source. In mid-October, Putin and Erdogan instructed relevant energy authorities in both countries to study in detail the prospects of creating a gas hub in Turkey. "This is one of the main topics of the bilateral agenda, which is under the direct control of the two leaders. The Russian side previously announced the beginning of practical steps, and this is a coordinated process. In this regard, the leaders are also discussing details, proposals," the source clarified. Iran and Russia signed a contract on Wednesday to build a vessel based on an order by the regional office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line Group (IRISL) located in Solyanka, a port near the Russian city of Astrakhan, Iranian media reported MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) Iran and Russia signed a contract on Wednesday to build a vessel based on an order by the regional office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line Group (IRISL) located in Solyanka, a port near the Russian city of Astrakhan, Iranian media reported. Iran's consul general in Russia's port of Astrakhan, Mehdi Akouchakian, was cited as saying by Iranian news agency IRNA that adding a new vessel to the IRISL fleet would help reduce the final price of Iranian exports in the region. In addition, the official said, as cited in the report, that the decision to order the new vessel is a sign that Iran and Russia are strengthening their ties. Akouchakian praised the efforts made by the IRISL and regional authorities in Solyanka to develop transport networks in the Caspian Sea, as cited by IRNA. Commenting on the deal, IRISL CEO Mohammad Reza Modarres Khiabani said at the signing ceremony that such initiatives could enhance trade and transportation ties between Russia and Iran, as cited in the report. Last week, Iranian media reported that Russia has for the first time ever sent a ship to be repaired in Iran by Iranian maritime industrial company SADRA. ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi may pay an official visit to Turkey in the coming weeks, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Tuesday. "Such a visit was being prepared, but some reasons appeared and it was postponed. Now the protocols are being negotiated, I think that the visit will be carried out in the coming weeks, there is no specific Calendar yet," Kalin told Turkish broadcaster NTV. According to the spokesman, Ankara is concerned about the recent events in Iran. Violent riots broke out in Iran in mid-September in connection with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who passed away while in police custody after being detained for wearing an "improper" hijab. Many Iranian citizens accused the controversial morality police of Amini's death, alleging that officers hit her in the head during questioning. Protests turned violent in their 2.5-month course, with rioters attacking clerics, abbots of Iranian mosques, members of Iran's security and major military structures, according to Tehran. In addition, two terrorist attacks took place in the country in late October and early November, with attackers shelling groups of civilians and police officers. The Iranian authorities believe the unrest has been instigated from abroad. Iranian law enforcement agencies have been carrying out mass arrests of people recruited by the intelligence services of Western countries, Israel and Saudi Arabia. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) The number of non-sanctioned goods exported from Lithuania to Russia is growing, Sigitas Besagirskas, the president of the Vilnius Industry and business Association, said on Tuesday. "If we look only at trade statistics, non-sanctioned goods are actually being sent from Lithuania to Russia. And we can see that the trade with Russia continues to grow," Besagirskas said in a televised appearance on the LRT broadcaster. Besagirskas added that Lithuanian companies trading with Russia make the wrong decision and called on the Lithuanian authorities to publish the Names of enterprises that continue to trade with Russia and Belarus so that "responsible citizens" could form their own opinion about these companies. According to contemporary Lithuanian law, this data cannot be made public. According to the information of the Lithuanian State Data Agency, formerly known as the Department of Statistics, there are currently 260 Lithuanian enterprises exporting their products to Russia, a twofold decrease compared to the previous year, while the number of companies trading with Belarus has even increased to 746. According to the agency, Lithuania primarily exports optical, medical, and measuring equipment, vehicles, electrical and audio, and video equipment, as well as boilers, mechanical devices, absorbent cotton, felted cloth, and rope. (@FahadShabbir) PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) French President Emmanuel Macron wished Finland and Sweden to join NATO as soon as possible. Macron was hosting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Paris on Tuesday. "We will discuss Sweden's accession to NATO, which I wish to take place as soon as possible, just as Finland's accession to the alliance. In this sense, you can count on France's solidarity and support," Macron said before the talks with his Swedish counterpart. On May 18, 2022, Finland and Sweden, amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, submitted applications to the NATO Secretary General to join the alliance. As of now, the applications of Sweden and Finland have not been ratified by two countries out of 30 - Hungary and Turkey. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbas. (@ChaudhryMAli88) UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said on Wednesday that the dialogue between UN and Syrian officials has deepened and he appreciates the invitation for him to return to Damascus for more talks next year. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st December, 2022) UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said on Wednesday that the dialogue between UN and Syrian officials has deepened and he appreciates the invitation for him to return to Damascus for more talks next year. "In Damascus, I had a long exchange with Foreign Minister Mekdad on this and I appreciated his willingness to engage. The dialogue has certainly deepened and I welcome the invitation to return to Damascus in the New Year for a new round of talks," Pedersen told a UN Security Council meeting. "I also met in Geneva with Badr Jamous, the President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, and discussed a range of issues in resolution 2254, including steps that all parties could take to help build trust and confidence and bring an end to the suffering of all Syrians. And I look forward to further engagement with the SNC in the New Year as well," he added. China's newly adjusted COVID-19 response that lifts restrictions on Chinese citizens' overseas trips and promotes cross-border personnel exchanges will be conducive to the recovery of global tourism, said a Pakistani official. He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has made the tourist resorts in Pakistan accessible to tourists, and will play a vital role in the development of Pakistan's tourism sector. Click here to watch the video ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) Trilateral talks among the Turkish, Russian and Syrian defense ministers will continue, and Ankara hopes for a "reasonable" negotiation, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday. In December, Moscow hosted the first negotiation between the Turkish and Syrian defense ministers in 11 years. "Our position at a meeting in Moscow was to protect our country and our people. We expressed our determination to our interlocutors: for us, there can be no question of doing anything against our Syrian brothers, both in Turkey and in Syria. They should not rely on unrealistic reports or accept other attitudes. Our negotiations will continue. We hope that the process will continue in a reasonable and logical way," Akar told reporters. The Turkish minister said Turkey and Russia could "develop" joint patrols in northern Syria but did not give any details on the issue. In 2011, a civil war broke out in Syria. Turkey, which had maintained close relations with Damascus before the conflict, sided with opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Since then, Turkey's relations with Syria have remained strained, despite Ankara acting as a co-guarantor of the Syrian peace process in the trilateral format with Russia and Iran known as the Astana process. In recent weeks, officials in both Turkey and Syria, as well as state media on both sides, have started mentioning the possibility of a gradual normalization of relations. (@ChaudhryMAli88) US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking has traveled to Saudi Arabia and Jordan to support the sides to the conflict in Yemen reach a ceasefire extension, the US State Department said on Wednesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking has traveled to Saudi Arabia and Jordan to support the sides to the conflict in Yemen reach a ceasefire extension, the US State Department said on Wednesday. "US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking traveled to Jordan and Saudi Arabia on January 3 to advance UN-led peace efforts and to support the Yemeni parties to reach an agreement on a truce extension and expansion, for the sake of all Yemenis," the State Department said in a press release. The State Department emphasized that only a durable ceasefire and an inclusive political settlement will end the current conflict in Yemen and reverse the country's humanitarian crisis. "We urge the Houthis to cooperate with the UN and listen to Yemeni calls for justice, accountability, and peace," the release said. "Yemenis deserve to determine the future of their country, and the United States remains committed to supporting a sustainable end to over eight years of conflict. " Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between government forces and the Houthi rebels since 2014. The situation was exacerbated in March 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition working in cooperation with the internationally-recognized Yemeni government began conducting air, land and sea operations against the Houthis. The latter have retaliated by attacking Saudi forces and firing missiles at Saudi Arabia. In April 2022, a two-month ceasefire was declared in Yemen under the auspices of the United Nations and the support of the parties to the conflict. In early August, the warring sides agreed to extend the truce until October 2 to negotiate an expanded truce. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg announced on October 2 that the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels had failed to negotiate an extension of the truce. The United States and Taiwan will hold trade negotiations in Taipei from January 14-17, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a press release on Wednesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2023) The United States and Taiwan will hold trade negotiations in Taipei from January 14-17, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a press release on Wednesday. "The United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), will hold an in-person negotiating round for the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in Taipei, Taiwan, from January 14-17, 2023," the release said. The AIT serves as the United States' de facto representation in Taiwan. The US delegation to the trade talks will be led by Assistant Trade Representative for China Affairs Terry McCartin, the release said. The delegation will include representatives from several US government agencies, the release added. The US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade was launched by the two countries last June to develop concrete ways to deepen their economic and trade relationship. David Goodman is a noted Australian expert on China who has been encouraging and promoting exchanges and interactions between students from China and Australia. He is the Director of the China Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He has taught at various universities in China, Australia, and the U.K., and he was involved in the establishment of the Department of China Studies at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Proficient in Chinese, he has been studying China since the 1960s and has witnessed the changes from the 1970s to the present. Goodman suggested that encouraging students from the two countries to have more exchanges can help both sides to better understand each other, which in turn is more conducive to the advancement of the relationship between the two countries. Click here to watch the video The mortal remains of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican Media) The Holy See Press Office releases details of the Requiem Mass which Pope Francis will preside over on Thursday for the repose of the soul of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. By Devin Watkins The Vatican has published the rite for the Requiem Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which will be celebrated on Thursday at 9:30 AM Rome time. The booklet for the Mass is based largely on the Rite of Christian Burial of a Supreme Pontiff with several modifications. Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, told reporters on Tuesday that some portions have been added, while others more relevant to the death of a reigning Pope have been taken out. As an example, he said the supplications for the Diocese of Rome and the Oriental Churches have been removed. Liturgical readings Pope Francis will preside over the Requiem Mass, deliver the homily, and celebrate the Rites of Commendatio and Valedictio (Final Commendation and Farewell). The Gospel passage for the liturgy comes from Luke (23:39-46), where Jesus, hanging on the Cross, tells one of the men condemned with Him that he will be with Him in paradise. Jesus final wordsFather, into your hands I commend my spiritare also recounted in the passage. Those words are not so dissimilar to the last words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: Lord, I love you. Burial details Mr. Bruni also provided details of the objects which will be placed in the cypress-wood coffin with the late Pope Emeritus. These include the episcopal Palliathe pallium symbolizes a prelates ecclesiastical jurisdiction and special relationship with the Popeas well as the commemorative coins and medals which were coined during his papacy, and the deed (rogito in Italian), a written text describing his pontificate, sealed in a metal cylinder. At the end of the Requiem Mass, the mortal remains of the Pope Emeritus will be taken to the Grottos under St. Peters Basilica, where his coffin will be placed inside a zinc coffin, which in turn will be placed inside a wooden case. Benedict XVI will be laid to rest in the tomb where St. John Paul II had been buried before his beatification, according to his final wishes. Read also 02/01/2023 Bidding farewell to Benedict XVI: Thousands pay their respects in St Peters Ahead of his funeral on Thursday, the body of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lies in state in St Peter's Basilica, where the faithful can pay their final respects and to offer their ... Lying-in-state The late Pope Emeritus continues to lie in state in St. Peters Basilica, where the faithful can pay their respects from 7 AM to 7 PM on Wednesday. Late tomorrow afternoon, his body will be placed in the cypress coffin using a specific rite. As of Tuesday evening, over 135,000 pilgrims had made their way through the Basilica. The Dicastery for Communication, with the support of the Knights of Columbus, is providing media facilities and audio-video links to ensure the worldwide broadcast of the Requiem Mass for the late Benedict XVI. A man walks past portraits on the graves of war victims at a cemetery in Sana'a (ANSA) Yemen's Houthi rebels have accused the Saudi-led coalition of launching five drone strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. By Nathan Morley Yemen's Houthi rebels have accused the Saudi-led coalition of launching five drone strikes on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Reports from Yemen say the attacks targeted Houthi military positions in the south of the city. The Saudi-led coalition and the Yemeni government has not commented. The city has witnessed an unsteady cease-fire between the Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi militia since a United Nations-sponsored truce was reached in 2018. The Houthis control the port city while the government forces have advanced to the southern suburbs. Sporadic fighting between Yemen's warring sides has increased over the past two months after a UN-brokered national truce fell apart in October last year. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. Myanmar's ruling military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, detailed plans for an election later this year and called for national unity in a speech on Wednesday as he led a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of independence from Britain. He urged other nations and international organizations, as well as his country's own people, to support the genuine, discipline-flourishing multiparty democratic system, a concept the ruling military has defined as its goal since it ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Min Aung Hlaing also announced a pardon for 7,012 prisoners to mark the occasion, along with a partial commutation of the sentences of other inmates not convicted of serious crimes. Some political detainees were among those being released, but there was no sign that the gesture would include Suu Kyi, who has been held virtually incommunicado by the military since it seized power. The 77-year-old Suu Kyi is serving 33 years imprisonment after being convicted of a series of politically tinged prosecutions brought by the military, including for illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country's official secrets act, sedition, election fraud and corruption charges. She has been held since June in a custom-built bungalow at the main prison in the capital, Naypyitaw, kept company by three women guards but isolated from other prisoners. Suu Kyi's supporters and independent analysts say the cases against her constitute an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the military's seizure of power while keeping her from taking part in the election that the military has said would take place by August this year. The first real move toward holding polls could occur at the end of this month, when the latest six-month extension of a state of emergency is completed. The state of emergency was instituted to allow military rule after its takeover in 2021. The army's takeover reversed nearly a decade of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule. The military has said it acted due to massive voting fraud in the poll, though independent election observers did not find any major irregularities. Upon accomplishing the provisions of the state of emergency, free and fair elections will be held in line with the 2008 constitution, and further work will be undertaken to hand over state duties to the winning party in accordance with the democratic standards, Min Aung Hlaing declared in his speech in the capital, Naypyitaw, where he also presided over a large-scale parade. Military units and civil servants marched in formation close to the grandiose parliament complex while fighter jets, bombers and helicopters flew overhead. The plan for a general election is widely seen as an attempt to normalize the military's seizure of power through the ballot box and to deliver a result that ensures the generals retain control. The military will control the entire process and has spent the past two years enfeebling any credible opposition. Although not officially outlawed, the National League for Democracy, the popular former ruling party, has effectively been broken up, with its leaders and many of its members either in jail or in hiding. All forms of dissent are currently suppressed by the security forces, sometimes with lethal force. The NLD, led by Suu Kyi, won a second successive landslide victory in the 2020 general election, a result that triggered its overthrow by the military the following year. The army's seizure of power led to peaceful nationwide protests that the security forces quashed with deadly force, triggering armed resistance that some U.N. experts characterize as civil war. Myanmar's history even before the 2021 takeover was marked marked by decades of armed conflict between the central government and ethnic minorities seeking greater autonomy, mostly in border regions. Armed conflict still rages through most of the country, and Min Aung Hlaing stressed that the cessation of internal armed conflicts to ensure national solidarity and peace which are absolute necessities for our country and strenuous efforts are being made towards that end. Min Aung Hlaing's government's toppling of democracy and fierce repression of all opposition have also made it a pariah state among many other countries, which have instituted political and economic sanctions against the ruling generals. It is seen that some organizations and countries had meddled in the internal affairs of Myanmar. However, we have decided to stand firm globally, while adhering to our foreign policy in order to safeguard the sovereignty, security and interests of our nation, he said. A banned alliance of militant groups waging terrorism in Pakistan threatened Wednesday that it would unleash attacks on the countrys political leadership for declaring war on the outfit to allegedly appease the United States. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, issued the warning explicitly to the leaders of the two major partners in the ruling coalition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The PML-N is headed by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the PPP by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The TTP, listed as a global terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations at large, has lately carried out almost daily attacks, killing hundreds of Pakistani security forces and civilians. The militant warning came after Sharif chaired a meeting Monday of the National Security Committee (NSC), the countrys highest security-related forum comprising political and military leadership and vowed that terrorism will be dealt with full force of the state. Pakistani officials say the TTP, an offshoot and ally of Afghanistans ruling Islamist Taliban, has unleashed its recent wave of terrorist attacks from across the Afghan side of the border. The NSC meeting also issued a subtle warning to Taliban rulers, saying no country will be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists. On Tuesday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson backed Pakistans renewed resolve against terrorism and again urged the Afghan Taliban to deliver on their counterterrorism pledges. The Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks. Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism, Ned Price told reporters in Washington. We continue to call on the Taliban to uphold the very commitment they have made to see to it that Afghan soil is never again used as a launchpad for international terrorist attacks, he said. These are among the very commitments that the Taliban have been unable or unwilling to fulfill to date, Price said. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said this week that Afghanistan harbored an "overwhelming presence of TTP members. We have been requesting the Taliban ever since they returned to power (in Kabul) to stop the TTP from plotting terrorist activities in Pakistan, Asif told local media Monday. He said Islamabad hopes the rulers in Kabul would help rein in the terrorists. A spokesman for the Taliban administration Tuesday rejected Pakistani allegations as false and regrettable. Zabihullah Mujahid said that his government, which is yet to be given legitimacy by the world, wants peaceful relations with all neighboring countries, including Pakistan, to promote Afghan as well as regional peace and stability. The Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021 as U.S.-led troops withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years of involvement in war. TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud and commanders have taken refuge on the Afghan side of the border after fleeing counterterrorism military operations in Pakistan. Officials in Islamabad say the militants have been roaming freely in Afghanistan and directing cross-border terrorism with greater freedom since the Taliban takeover. Walter Cunningham, the last surviving astronaut from the first successful crewed space mission in NASA's Apollo program, died Tuesday in Houston. He was 90. NASA confirmed Cunningham's death in a statement but did not include its cause. Spokespersons for the agency and Cunningham's wife, Dot Cunningham, did not immediately respond to questions. Cunningham was one of three astronauts aboard the 1968 Apollo 7 mission, an 11-day spaceflight that beamed live television broadcasts as they orbited Earth, paving the way for the moon landing less than a year later. Cunningham, then a civilian, crewed the mission with Navy Capt. Walter M. Schirra and Donn F. Eisele, an Air Force major. Cunningham was the lunar module pilot on the space flight, which launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, Florida, on October 11 and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda. NASA said Cunningham, Eisele and Schirra flew a near perfect mission. Their spacecraft performed so well that the agency sent the next crew, Apollo 8, to orbit the moon as a prelude to the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. The Apollo 7 astronauts also won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, during which they clowned around, held up humorous signs and educated earthlings about space flight. It was NASA's first crewed space mission since the deaths of the three Apollo 1 astronauts in a launch pad fire January 27, 1967. Cunningham recalled Apollo 7 during a 2017 event at the Kennedy Space Center, saying it "enabled us to overcome all the obstacles we had after the Apollo 1 fire and it became the longest, most successful test flight of any flying machine ever." Cunningham was born in Creston, Iowa, and attended high school in California before enlisting with the Navy in 1951 and serving as a Marine Corps pilot in Korea, according to NASA. He later obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he also did doctoral studies, and worked as scientist for the Rand Corporation before joining NASA. In an interview the year before his death, Cunningham recalled growing up poor and dreaming of flying airplanes, not spacecraft. "We never even knew that there were astronauts when I was growing up," Cunningham told The Spokesman-Review. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked in engineering, business and investing, and became a public speaker and radio host. He wrote a memoir about his career and time as an astronaut, "The All-American Boys." He also expressed skepticism in his later years about human activity contributing to climate change, bucking the scientific consensus in writing and public talks, while acknowledging that he was not a climate scientist. Although Cunningham never crewed another space mission after Apollo 7, he remained a proponent of space exploration. He told the Spokane, Washington, paper last year, "I think that humans need to continue expanding and pushing out the levels at which they're surviving in space." Cunningham is survived by his wife, his sister Cathy Cunningham, and his children Brian and Kimberly. U.S. President Joe Biden will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on January 13 to discuss North Korea, Ukraine, China's tensions with Taiwan and a "free and open Indo-Pacific," the White House said Tuesday. The two leaders will discuss "a range of regional and global issues including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the White House said. The meeting between Washington and its key Asian partner in standing up to China's increasing might comes as North Korea's missile tests and calls for a larger nuclear arsenal worry U.S. allies in the region. Kishida plans to discuss Tokyo's new security policy, which saw the unveiling in December of Japan's biggest military buildup since World War II, Japan's Yomiuri daily newspaper reported last week, citing multiple unidentified Japanese government sources. The White House said Biden will reiterate his full support for Japan's recently released National Security Strategy. "The leaders will celebrate the unprecedented strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and will set the course for their partnership in the year ahead," said the statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. On a visit to Japan in May, Biden applauded Kishida's determination to strengthen Japanese defense capabilities. Japan's $320 billion defense plan includes the purchase of missiles capable of striking China and readying the country for sustained conflict, amid concerns that Russia's Ukraine invasion could embolden China to move against self-ruled Taiwan, a neighbor of Japan. Japan hosts the Group of 7 nations this year, including a leaders' summit in May in Hiroshima that Biden plans to attend. The group, which also includes the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada, has been a focus of Biden's efforts to revitalize U.S. alliances to counter threats from China to Russia and beyond. Japan also took up a two-year term on the U.N. Security Council on January 1 and holds the rotating monthly presidency of the 15-member body for January. Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi told a Reuters NEXT conference last month that Japan will use G-7 and U.N. leadership roles to pressure Russia to halt its war in Ukraine. Christopher Johnstone, head of the Japan program at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said Kishida's visit would reinforce Japan's stature as America's most critical ally in the Indo-Pacific. He said Kishida would seek Biden's endorsement of his national security and defense strategies, and in particular support for its acquisition of counterstrike capabilities. "Japan's defense strategy calls for the introduction of U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles in the near term but does not specify a timeline. Kishida will look for the president's support to move quickly," he said. "They will also focus heavily on 'economic security' issues related to China, including cooperation on export controls for sensitive technologies like semiconductors." Britain's defense ministry said Wednesday that a Ukrainian attack on a military barracks in a Russia-controlled city in eastern Ukraine may have been exacerbated by Russia storing ammunition close to where Russian troops were staying. "Given the extent of the damage, there is a realistic possibility that ammunition was being stored near to troop accommodation, which detonated during the strike, creating secondary explosions," the ministry tweeted in its latest daily assessment. The British defense ministry added that Russia had a history of unsafe ammunition storage before it launched its invasion of Ukraine, "but this incident highlights how unprofessional practices contribute to Russia's high casualty rate." Russia's defense ministry said early Wednesday that its troops' "massive use" of mobile phones led to the January 1 strike. "It is already obvious that the main reason for what happened was the switching on and massive use contrary to the prohibition by personnel of mobile phones in a reach zone of enemy weapons," the ministry said in a statement. "This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers' location for a missile strike," it added. Ukraine claimed responsibility for the strike in Makiivka on Monday. Russian forces control the town and had turned a school into military quarters. Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov said in a video statement released by the ministry early Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 89, from 63 announced Monday. He said more bodies had been found under the rubble of the building, Agence France-Presse reported. "A commission is working to investigate the circumstances of what has happened," he said. Russian war correspondents said the soldiers in the Makiivka quarters consisted largely of newly mobilized Russians, according to AFP. They added the soldiers were stationed in an unprotected building that was destroyed because ammunition stored on the premises detonated in the strike. On Tuesday, mourners gathered in several cities of the Volga region of Samara where some of the servicemembers came from. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Tuesday that his country needs to strengthen its defenses. He has claimed for the past two days what he sees as Russia's plans for a new offensive. "We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can muster to try to turn the tide of the war and at least postpone their defeat," he said. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this." Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Weather forecasters say it is "all systems go" for a major storm to sweep over California on Wednesday and Thursday, with peak intensity occurring from midnight Wednesday to noon Thursday. Strong winds will add to impressive storm dynamics "setting the stage for a massive rainfall event" across Southern Californias south-facing coastal mountains, especially the Santa Ynez range in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, forecasters said. That could cause dangerous conditions. On January 9, 2018, the community of Montecito on the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains was ravaged by a massive debris flow that killed 23 people when a downpour fell on a fresh wildfire burn scar. Back-to-back-to-back powerful storms have left many Californians preparing for the worst. In San Francisco, crews were rushing to clear trash, leaves and silt that clogged some of the city's 25,000 storm drains during Saturday's downpour before the next storm. The National Weather Service is predicting up to 15 cm of rain in San Francisco with winds of speeds up to 48 kph with gusts of 96 kph. Mayor London Breed said city workers may not have enough time to clean all the storm drains before Wednesday and asked the public to prepare by getting sandbags to prevent flooding, avoiding unnecessary travel and only calling 911 in a life-or-death emergency. City officials had distributed 8,500 sandbags as of Tuesday, asking residents to only get them if they have experienced flooding in the past. Tink Troy, who lives in South San Francisco, picked up some sandbags from the city's public works department on Tuesday. "They said (Saturday's storm) was going to be bad, and it was really bad. Now they're saying this one's going to be worse. So I want to make sure I'm prepared and not having to do this when it's pouring rain tomorrow," she said. The storms have meant one good thing: The snowpack covering California's mountains is off to one of its best starts in 40 years, officials said Tuesday. Roughly a third of California's water each year comes from melted snow in the Sierra Nevada, a mountain range that covers the eastern part of the state. The state has built a complex system of canals and dams to capture that water and store it in huge reservoirs so it can be used the rest of the year when it doesn't rain or snow. That is why officials closely monitor how deep the snow is in the mountains and Tuesday was the first formal snow survey of the winter, a sort of Groundhog Day event where Californians get their first glimpse of how helpful the winter might be. Statewide, snowpack is at 174% of the historical average for this year, the third-best measurement in the past 40 years. Even more snow is expected later this week and over the weekend, giving officials hope for a wet winter the state so desperately needs. But a good start doesn't guarantee a good finish. Last year, the statewide snowpack was at 160% of average at the first survey. What followed were the three driest months ever recorded in California. By April 1 when the Sierra snowpack is supposed to be at its peak the snow was just 38% of historic average. That history prompted muted optimism from state officials on Tuesday. "While we see a terrific snowpack and that in and of itself may be an opportunity to breathe a sigh of relief we are by no means out of the woods when it comes to drought," Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said Tuesday after a ceremonial snow measurement in the community of Phillips, just west of Lake Tahoe. This winter's promising start was aided by a spate of strong storms, most notably on New Year's Eve, when much of the state was drenched in heavy rain causing floods that killed one person and damaged a levee system in Sacramento County. That storm was warmer, so it brought more rain than snow. Two more powerful storms are expected to hit the state this week, and these will be much colder. The National Weather Service says the mountains could get up to 1.52 meters of additional snow between the two storms. While the precipitation seemed out-of-character for the parched state, it reflects the type of rainfall the state would expect to see during a normal winter but that has been absent in recent drought-driven years. The storms in California are not enough to officially end the drought, now entering its fourth year. Most of the state's reservoirs are still well below their capacity, with Lake Shasta 34% full and Lake Oroville just 38% full. It takes even longer for underground aquifers to refill, with groundwater providing about 38% of the state's water supply each year. "We know that it'll take quite a bit of time and water to recover this amount of storage, which is why we don't say that the drought is over once it starts raining," said Jeanine Jones, drought manager for the California Department of Water Resources. President Xi Jinping congratulated Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his inauguration as president of the Federative Republic of Brazil, saying that he is ready to work with Lula to take bilateral ties to a higher level. In a congratulatory message sent to Lula on Monday, Xi noted that China and Brazil are both major developing countries with global influence and important emerging markets. The two countries, which are comprehensive strategic partners, share broad common interests and shoulder common development responsibilities, he said. Xi said that since the two countries established diplomatic ties 48 years ago, China-Brazil relations have witnessed sustained and in-depth development, thanks to joint efforts of both sides. This increasingly mature and dynamic relationship has become a model of relations between major developing countries with rich content and broad prospects, he said. Noting that he attaches great value to the development of the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said he stands ready to work with Lula to continue to firmly support each other in taking a development path in line with their own national conditions and respect each other's core interests. He also expressed his willingness to lead and push the partnership to a higher level with Lula from a strategic and long-term perspective, in order to better benefit the two countries and their peoples. Vice-President Wang Qishan, who led a delegation to Brazil from Saturday to Monday as Xi's special envoy, attended Lula's inauguration ceremony in Brasilia, the capital. During their meeting, Wang conveyed Xi's congratulations and warm wishes to Lula as well as his invitation for Lula to visit China. While in Brazil, Wang also met with Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin and then-acting vice-president Hamilton Mourao. Dressed in an embroidered salmon-hued outfit and sparkling silver boots, a girl gazes seriously into the camera. She stands in stark contrast to the dingy background walls and a roof fashioned out of crisscrossed bamboo sticks and plastic drape sheets. The photograph is sent to a network of relatives and family friends who forward it to prospective grooms. The Rohingya Muslim girl, Mubina Khatoon, was 13 on Dec. 2, 2022, when she boarded a Malaysia-bound boat in Bangladesh. Accompanying her were at least 32 more unmarried Rohingya girls and women from refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Hamida Khatoon, Mubina's 20-year-old unmarried aunt, was also with her. The boat, belonging to an illegal ferry service operated by human traffickers, has been missing since December 8, along with about 180 passengers aboard, all of them Rohingya Muslim refugees. In a statement issued on December 25, the United Nations refugee agency, or UNHCR, described the boat as "unseaworthy" and said it had likely sunk at sea, killing everyone on board. Since the release of the UNHCR statement, gloom has descended on the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. More than a million members of the stateless Muslim minority call the ramshackle, congested shanty colony their home. Mubina's father, Shah Alam, 35, is a day wage laborer. He is one of the hundreds of refugees in the camp who had loved ones aboard the missing boat and are fearing the worst. "Mubina is the oldest of my four children. I do not earn enough to arrange for a wedding celebration and other necessities for my daughter or sister, here in Bangladesh. So, we decided to send them to the Muslim-majority Malaysia," Alam told VOA in a telephone interview. "My wife has not eaten in days and keeps weeping since we got the news of the boat drowning. All of us feel lost and distraught," he said. His tone brightened, however, when he spoke of his family's dreams about life in Malaysia. "In the last 10 to 15 years, thousands of young men have traveled to Malaysia from Bangladesh and Myanmar and settled down there with good jobs. They want to marry Rohingya women. A distant cousin in Malaysia said he could easily find grooms for Mubina and Hamida. "Our girls would be safe and happy there; the economic and living conditions of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are atrocious," Alam said. The promised land Several girls have succeeded over the last few years in achieving the Malaysian dream one of an average life. Surah Khatoon, whose husband died in Myanmar in 2016, lives in Cox's Bazar now. Her oldest daughter, Sanowara Begum, now 20, married a Rohingya man in Malaysia after her arrival there in January 2021. "My son-in-law earns well as a construction worker. Sanowara is very happy with him and their son, who is 1 now. Although I miss her often, it consoles me to remember that she is leading a good life now," Khatoon said in a telephone interview. She hopes to send her other children to Malaysia, too. Between 2012 and 2015, a majority of the 100,000 Rohingya who took boats to Malaysia were young men, according to Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, which works to support the heavily persecuted Rohingya population and monitor the community's movements. "These young men who arrived earlier have by now managed to reimburse their debts for their own journey and to save some money to get married," Lewa said in a telephone interview. So, the men often offer to forgo the customary dowry and pay part or all of the cost of the journey of a bride to join them, she explained. Soyed Alam, 28, is one such young man who works in a Kuala Lumpur restaurant after having moved to Malaysia from Bangladesh in 2014. Shyly, Alam said, "I wake up every day hoping to receive news of the arrival of a suitable Rohingya girl in Malaysia from Bangladesh, whom I can marry. I am past the usual age of marriage by my community's standards. There is a dearth of Rohingya girls in Malaysia, and there are many other expectant men here like me." Settling down in Malaysia is no simple task for Rohingya refugees, however. Until recently, the Malaysian government had been issuing UNHCR refugee cards to the Rohingya refugees who came to the country. A UNHCR registered refugee can work freely anywhere. According to the U.N., about 57% of the 181,000 officially registered refugees in Malaysia are Rohingya. But for the last few months, the UNHCR has not been registering the new Rohingya refugees entering Malaysia, leaving them to enter surreptitiously by way of Indonesia with the help of traffickers. Most of the Rohingya who have reached Malaysia in the last few months are unregistered refugees under the threat of arrest. They live inconspicuously to avoid police, settling in forest plantations, agricultural lands and rural areas. No woman's land or sea The threats of drowning, dehydration and starvation are not the only ones faced by the Rohingya girls and women undertaking the illegal sea journey. Travel to Malaysia from Bangladesh for the Rohingya involves both sea and land-and-sea routes. Gender-based violence particularly incidents of sexual abuse on the way are common. Most Rohingya girls are vulnerable to sexual abuse because they travel without a guardian, Jaan Mohammed, a refugee in Cox's Bazar, told VOA by telephone. "I am aware of many such incidents of abuse. But survivors rarely choose to speak about the abuse, fearing it would jeopardize their marriage prospects," Mohammed said. "A female relative got married in Malaysia three months after her arrival there. But, only four months after the marriage, she delivered a child. It was later revealed that she had been raped by several men during her land-and-sea journey," he said. Activist Lewa said that during the sea journey, Rohingya women and girls have been raped or sexually harassed on the boat by crew members but also sometimes by Rohingya smugglers aboard. She described one such incident of abuse in 2020. "In that case, some women who landed in Indonesia said that the smuggler on the boat had selected some good-looking girls among female passengers and offered them to the crew for the night," she said. Even risks of death and sexual abuse are not deterring Rohingya families in Bangladesh from sending their daughters to Malaysia. Rawshidullah, who like many Rohingya does not use a surname, saw his 16-year-old daughter, Umme Salima, off when she boarded the ill-fated Malaysia-bound boat on December 2. "We took Salima's photograph before her departure and sent it to a cousin of hers who is married to a Rohingya man in Malaysia. She had promised to arrange for a groom for my daughter. It had been a big relief for our family," he said. Echoing Rawshidullah's sentiments, Shah Alam accompanied his daughter to the boat to bid her farewell, knowing he might never see her again. The Rohingya have no legal travel documents and cannot return to Myanmar or Cox's Bazar once they leave for another country. "I knew I would probably never see my daughter in person again," said Rawshidullah. "What I was not prepared for was for her to go missing." Malis security ministry says armed men attacked a civil defense post in a rare attack near the capital Monday, killing five people Malis security ministry said unidentified armed individuals attacked the defense post Monday night in the small southwest town of Markacoungo, about 80 kilometers from the capital, Bamako. In a statement Tuesday, the ministry said two members of the civil defense force and three civilians were killed in the attack. It said Malis security forces were taking all measures to identify and arrest the attackers and called on the public to collaborate with security forces. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the Monday attack. Markacoungo lies on the main road northeast of Bamako, an area that rarely sees such attacks. Violence in Malis decade-long conflict with Islamist militants has been mostly in the north and center of the country, though attacks in the south are increasing. Six people were killed in a July attack on a checkpoint 70 kilometers from Bamako followed by an attack one week later on Malis main military camp, just 15 kilometers from the capital. One soldier was killed in the attack, which Al-Qaidas affiliate in Mali called a response to the military governments working with Russian mercenaries and claimed responsibility for the attack. Mali has been under military rule since a coup in August 2020. Malis military government has denied working with the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company with links to the Kremlin, saying it works only with official Russian instructors. French troops, which were helping fight Islamist militants in northern Mali since 2013, withdrew last year over concerns about Malis work with the Wagner Group. U.N. experts have accused the mercenaries of gross rights abuses in countries where they operate, such as the Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, has also been in the country since 2013 but has faced difficulties since the military government came to power. Several participating countries have suspended their involvement in the mission, including Britain and Ivory Coast. Mali in July detained 46 Ivorian troops and accused them of being mercenaries. Ivory Coast says they were working under the peacekeeping mission. A Malian court on Friday sentenced the soldiers to 20 years in prison over an alleged coup attempt. Three women Ivorian peacekeepers initially arrested along with the rest of the troops when they arrived at Bamako airport on July 10, were later released. West African leaders set a January 1 deadline for Mali to release the Ivorian troops or face sanctions. Iran has indicted two French nationals and a Belgian for espionage and working against the country's national security, the semi-official Student News Network quoted a judiciary spokesperson as saying on Tuesday. The agency did not give the names of the three or say where or when they were indicted. Belgium's justice minister said last month that Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele had been sentenced to 28 years in prison in Iran for what he called a "fabricated series of crimes." Iranian media aired a video in October in which two French citizens appeared to confess to spying, amid recent unrest that Tehran has blamed on foreign foes. The video sparked outrage in France, which said the detainees were "state hostages." A total of seven French citizens are being held in Iran, France's foreign minister said in November, a further sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries. The Islamic Republic has accused foreign adversaries of fomenting a wave of unrest that erupted in Iran three months ago after the death in detention of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police enforcing the Islamic Republic's mandatory dress code laws. The protests mark one of the boldest challenges to the country's leadership since its 1979 Islamic Revolution and have drawn in Iranians from all walks of life. Iran warned France on Wednesday of consequences after satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons depicting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that Tehran deemed to be insulting. The weekly magazine had published dozens of cartoons ridiculing the highest religious and political figure in the Islamic republic as part of a competition it launched in December in support of the three-month-old protest movement in Iran. "The insulting and indecent act of a French publication in publishing cartoons against the religious and political authority will not go without an effective and decisive response," tweeted Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. "We will not allow the French government to go beyond its bounds. They have definitely chosen the wrong path," he added, without spelling out the consequences. Later Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned French Ambassador Nicolas Roche. "France has no right to insult the sanctities of other Muslim countries and nations under the pretext of freedom of expression," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said. "Iran is waiting for the French government's explanation and compensatory action in condemning the unacceptable behavior of the French publication," he added. Seen by supporters as a champion of freedom of speech and by critics as needlessly provocative, Charlie Hebdo's style is controversial, even within France. But the country was united in grief when in January 2015 it was targeted in a deadly attack by Islamist gunmen who claimed to be avenging the magazine's decision to publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. 'Not last word' The issue in the latest controversy contained a variety of sexual images depicting Khamenei and fellow clerics. Other cartoons pointed to the authorities' use of capital punishment as a tactic to quell the protests. "It was a way to show our support for Iranian men and women who risk their lives to defend their freedom against the theocracy that has oppressed them since 1979," Charlie Hebdo director Laurent Sourisseau, known as Riss, wrote in an editorial. All the cartoons published "have the merit of defying the authority that the supposed supreme leader claims to be, as well as the cohort of his servants and other henchmen," he added. Nathalie Loiseau, a French member of the European Parliament and former minister loyal to President Emmanuel Macron, described Iran's response as an "interference attempt and threat" to Charlie Hebdo. "Let it be perfectly clear: The repressive and theocratic regime in Tehran has nothing to teach France," she said. Khamenei, the successor of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, is appointed for life. Above day-to-day politics, criticism of him is prohibited inside Iran. Khomeini in 1989 famously issued a religious decree, or fatwa, ordering Muslims to kill the British author Salman Rushdie for what he deemed the blasphemous nature of Rushdie's The Satanic Verses. Many activists blamed Iran last year when the writer was stabbed at an event in New York, but Tehran denied any link. The Iranian regime has been shaken by three months of protests triggered by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women. It has responded with a crackdown that Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights said has killed at least 476 people in protests, which Iranian officials generally describe as "riots." Charlie Hebdo published the caricatures in a special edition to mark the anniversary of the deadly attack on its Paris office, which left 12 people dead, including some of its best-known cartoonists. "Eight years later, religious intolerance has not said its last word," its director said. "It continues its work in defiance of international protests and respect for the most basic human rights." The first high-level talks between Turkey and Syria in over a decade held in Moscow last week reflect the common interests of the two nations in limiting the autonomy of Syrian Kurds, experts say. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said more talks are planned for later this month. Analysts speaking to VOA believe that if the process moves forward, an Erdogan-Assad meeting might be in the works. But they caution Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad might be unwilling to hand Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a political gift before the elections in Turkey, possibly in May. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and intelligence chief Hakan Fidan met their Syrian counterparts last Wednesday in Moscow. They were joined by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and discussed the "Syrian crisis, the refugee problem and joint efforts against all terror groups on Syrian soil," according to a statement by the Turkish Ministry of Defense. Turkey supported the armed rebels that sought to topple Assad in Syria during the civil war that began in 2011, locking the two countries in bitter animosity for years. The first contact between Turkey and Syria since the beginning of the civil war discreetly started between their intelligence services some time ago. Recent talks between the defense ministers underscored Ankara's effort to engage in dialogue with Damascus, representing a major foreign policy reversal. Common interests Last week's meeting follows Turkey's threat to launch another military offensive against the People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, an action opposed by Russia, the United States and Iran. The YPG forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the U.S. ally in the fight against Islamic State. Turkey sees the YPG as the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU. Speaking to journalists before the talks in Moscow, Akar said Ankara had been in contact with Moscow about using Syrian airspace for a possible military operation. Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford told VOA that Ankara and Damascus share an interest in limiting the autonomy of the Syrian Kurds in northern Syria, and the talks reflect common security concerns with respect to the YPG. "I do not discount a coordinated Syrian-Turkish effort against the YPG, particularly in Tel Rifaat or Manbij," Ford said. "More likely, Ankara hopes Moscow and Damascus can convince the YPG to quit these locales without fighting and allow restoration of full Syrian control backed by Russian forces." Ford is currently a fellow at Yale University and at the Middle East Institute, based in Washington. He added that despite having difficult relations, the Assad regime and the YPG sometimes cooperate because Assad finds their presence in the northeast "occasionally useful." Alan Makovsky, a senior fellow for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress, agrees that Turkey's effort for dialogue with the Syrian government is partly dictated by its YPG concern. He said Erdogan wants to find common ground with Assad to remove the YPG from the border area and repress any Kurdish bid for autonomy. Election concerns amid refugee problem Experts speaking to VOA believe that the upcoming Turkish elections represent another significant factor at play. Turkey hosts more than 4 million Syrian refugees. The government says it's working on a plan to send 1 million Syrians back to their country on a voluntary basis. The refugee issue has recently been a sensitive one in Turkey's domestic politics with elections a few months away. Pointing to the Turkish public's strong sentiment regarding the refugee issue, Makovsky told VOA that Erdogan hopes he can convince voters that dialogue with Assad will lead to the return of most Syrian refugees. Cavusoglu hinted at more talks later this month, possibly at the foreign minister level, with Damascus. "Russia has come forward with a date, but we're not available on those days. So, we are working on some other proposals," he told journalists on Tuesday. Cavusoglu did not completely rule out the possibility of a meeting between the two presidents before the Turkish elections but said the decision would be up to Erdogan, adding that presidential level talks could be considered after the foreign ministers meet. Reuters reported last month that Syria opposed the idea of a leaders' summit with Turkey, saying Damascus believed such a meeting could boost Erdogan ahead of the elections. Some analysts said there has to be some political progress before the two leaders can meet. "I would expect an Erdogan-Assad meeting only if Erdogan needed a dramatic step to address the refugee issue, or if Assad was ready to make a major concession, such as guaranteeing safety for returning refugees. Assad is unlikely to hand Erdogan any political gift," Ford said. Turkey's reconciliation effort with Syria continues to dominate the headlines in the Turkish press and public discussion. Experts say recent polls indicate there is a strong desire among Turkish citizens for a dramatic shift in the government's Syria policy. Makovsky said recent diplomatic momentum and political logic suggest an Assad-Erdogan agreement by spring. He pointed to a recent survey by Turkish polling company Metropoll that highlighted the domestic political dynamics in Turkey. "Turks favor talking to Assad by 59-29 [percent], according to the survey. Erdogan could derive some political benefit from a mere photo-op. But Assad probably has no interest in helping Erdogan's reelection bid. Turkey's opposition party, CHP, has called for dialogue with Assad and noninterference in Syria since 2011. However, Russia almost certainly does want Erdogan to be reelected, and it's well-positioned to make Assad agree to meet the Turkish president," he told VOA. US criticism and Russia A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department said in a statement sent to VOA's Turkish Service last week that the U.S. does not support countries "upgrading their relations to rehabilitate the brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad" and urged the nations to "carefully consider the atrocities inflicted by the Assad regime on the Syrian people" over the last decade. Analysts speaking to VOA say Washington does not want to see the Assad government in Syria being legitimized and emboldened, because it would be a diplomatic and geopolitical success for Russia, from Washington's perspective. They also believe the U.S. does not want an agreement between Damascus and Ankara that would enable either the Turkish military or Syrian government forces to "weaken or distract the YPG" from its focus against Islamic State. Some argue that Russia might be willing to give the green light to a military operation by Turkey in return for dialogue with the Assad government. Makovsky challenges that view, saying Russian opposition to another military action by Turkey appears quite firm. He said Ankara's request to purchase F-16 military fighter jets from Washington could be a factor in coming months, noting that foreign arms sales are subject to U.S. congressional approval. Cavusoglu said he will meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken later this month in Washington to discuss bilateral issues, including Ankara's F-16 request. The two recently spoke by phone, and according to the readout provided, Blinken expressed concern over the situation in Syria. The State Department confirmed the planned talks in the statement sent to VOA's Turkish Service but did not provide additional details. This story originated in VOA's Turkish Service. Dilge Timocin contributed to this report. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday pledged to deepen his country's alliance with the United States under Japan's new defense policy that breaks from its exclusively self-defense-only stance in the face of growing regional tensions. Kishida, speaking in a news conference after visiting Ise Shrine in central Japan, said he will visit Washington for talks with President Joe Biden to underscore the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance and highlight closer cooperation between the countries under Japan's new security and defense strategies adopted last month. The U.S. visit is part of Kishida's upcoming trip to most of the Group of Seven countries beginning Monday. Japan will host this year's G-7 summit in Hiroshima. Kishida said his meeting with Biden will be very important" and "more significant than showing my face as G-7 president. We will show to the rest of the world an even stronger Japan-U.S. alliance, which is a lynchpin of Japanese security and diplomacy, Kishida said. We will also show our further cooperation toward achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japan, under the new security and defense plans, is purchasing hundreds of U.S.-developed Tomahawks and other long-range cruise missiles to preempt possible attacks and also building up defenses in southwestern Japan amid growing worries of a Taiwan emergency. Japanese media said the U.S. and Japan are expected to discuss how they would cooperate in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. Earlier Wednesday, the White House announced that Biden will host Kishida for economic and security consultations on Jan. 13. Biden and Kishida are expected to discuss North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programs, amid concerns over the potential for another nuclear test by the reclusive nation, as well as Russias invasion of Ukraine, stability across the Taiwan Strait, climate change and economic issues, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. The two leaders last met in Bali, Indonesia, during Novembers Group of 20 summit. Kishida will also visit France, Italy, Britain and Canada to meet their leaders during his Jan. 9-15 trip, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. Kishida on Wednesday also vowed to tackle Japan's dire problem of declining births, while pushing his new capitalism policy that he said will generate a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution of wealth to achieve a steady increase in salaries that have stalled for decades. The number of babies born in Japan last year is expected to fall to a new record below 800,000 as part of a steady decline that is seen as eroding national strength. We cannot wait any longer, Kishida said. From an economic perspective, we also need to allay the concerns of those saying they cannot invest in Japan because it's shrinking from declining births. Kishida said the government will do more to expand support for childcare and reduce gender gaps in salaries and working environments to lower barriers for women. Japan is the worlds third-biggest economy but living costs are high and wage increases have been slow. The conservative government has lagged in making society more inclusive for children, women and minorities. So far, the governments efforts to encourage people to have more babies has had limited impact despite introducing subsidy payments for pregnancy, childbirth and child care. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EST. 10 p.m.: McDonald's is set to abandon Kazakhstan as disruptions triggered by the Ukraine crisis have left the nation without a substitute for Russian meat supplies, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The fast-food giant, which exited Russia in May, banned its local franchisee from procuring meat patties from Russian suppliers, the report said, according to Reuters. McDonald's declined to comment on the report. The company's licensee in Kazakhstan was forced to temporarily close its restaurants in November after cutting ties with Russian companies and running out of supplies, three sources with knowledge of situation had told Reuters. The exit highlights the supply issues faced by many Kazakh businesses in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions against Moscow that followed. Neighboring Russia is Kazakhstan's main trading partner. 9:40 p.m.: The United States is looking at ways to target Iranian drone production through sanctions and export controls, and it is talking to private companies whose parts have been used in production, the White House said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. "We are assessing further steps we can take in terms of export controls to restrict Irans access to technologies used in drones," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. The United States has previously imposed sanctions on companies and people it accused of producing or transferring Iranian drones that Russia has used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. 8:03 p.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine was being considered to help the Ukrainians in combating Russia's invasion, according to Reuters. "Yes," Biden said when asked if the option was on the table. The armored vehicle with a powerful gun has been used as a staple by the U.S. Army to carry troops around battlefields since the mid-1980s. The Army has thousands of Bradleys, which could give the Ukrainians more firepower on the battlefield. Biden's move, however, is short of sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which the Ukrainians have been requesting. It was not clear how many Bradleys are destined for Ukraine, but the United States is preparing another weapons aid package that could be announced in the coming days. 7 p.m.: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on Wednesday that four Russian agents who collected data on HIMARS (High-Mobility Rocket Artillery Systems) and energy facilities in Donetsk Oblast had been convicted by a court, The Kyiv Independent reported. The SBU reported that the spies had been collecting information on the locations of Ukrainian military bases and troop movements in the Bakhmut and Kramatorsk areas, as well as on the technical condition of power production facilities that had been targeted by Russian troops. The convicts were arrested during an SBU operation in Donetsk Oblast in recent months and, in exchange for their cooperation with the investigators, were sentenced to between six and eight years in prison. One of the convicts attempted to identify the positions of HIMARS systems, while another provided information on the restoration of electricity in the area to Russian forces through an acquaintance from Russian-occupied territories, according to the SBU. 6:20 p.m.: Global oil prices plunged Wednesday over China demand concerns and European gas prices sank to their lowest levels since November 2021 as mild winter weather reduced demand, Reuters reported. Crude prices extended losses from a day earlier, diving around 5%, over concern about demand in the world's biggest oil importer China, amid a steep rise in COVID-19 infections in the country. Around midday Wednesday, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate for delivery in February was down 4.9% at $73.15 a barrel, and the main European contract, Brent for delivery in March, was 4.9% lower at $78.11. Meanwhile, wholesale natural gas prices in Europe sank to their lowest levels since November 2021 as mild winter weather reduced demand, erasing all the gains seen last year amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 5:44 p.m.: Local police reported that Russian artillery had killed two elderly women in the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, on Wednesday, The Kyiv Independent reported. According to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, at least 1,282 people have been killed and at least 2,799 have been injured in Donetsk Oblast since February 24. On December 26, Kyrylenko said that over 60% of Bakhmuts infrastructure had been partially or fully destroyed. Bakhmut, a salt-mining city with a pre-war population of around 70,000, is one of Russias main targets. Seizing it could allow Russian forces to launch attacks on urban areas such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. 4:55 p.m.: 4 p.m.: Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate, said in an interview with ABC News that Ukraine is planning a major offensive in spring. He expects the fighting to be the hottest in March. This is (when we will see more) liberation of territories and dealing the final defeats to the Russian Federation, he said. This will happen throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to the Donbas. The Ukrainian government has consistently maintained that it will not relinquish any of its territory, including Crimea and Russian-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast. Our goal, and we will achieve it, is returning to the borders of 1991, like Ukraine is recognized by all subjects of international law, Budanov said. 3:10 p.m.: Russian lawyer Leonid Krikun, who gained prominence by defending opposition and civil right activists in high-profile cases, has fled Russia, fearing for his safety, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Krikun told the SOTA online media group on Wednesday that he is currently outside of Russia in an unspecified country, adding that he had to leave the country "to avoid incarceration." Since Russia launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February, many opposition activists, journalists, lawyers, and rights defenders fled the country fearing for their safety and freedom. 2:10 p.m.: French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France would send light AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles to help Kyiv in its war against Russia, a French official said after a phone call between the two leaders, according to Reuters. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the official did not give any details about the volume or timing of the planned shipments but said the talks between the two countries would continue regarding the potential delivery of other vehicle types. The French-made AMX-10 is a reconnaissance vehicle with high mobility that can carry up to four people. Zelenskyy Wednesday tweeted a confirmation of his conversation with Macron, and added his thanks to the French president for his decision to send more military equipment. 1:55 p.m.: Record-high winter temperatures swept across parts of Europe over the new year, bringing calls from activists for faster action against climate change while offering short-term respite to governments struggling with high gas prices, Reuters reported. Hundreds of sites have seen temperature records smashed in the past days, from Switzerland to Poland to Hungary, which registered its warmest Christmas Eve in Budapest and saw temperatures climb to 18.9 degrees Celsius (66.02F) on Jan. 1. The unusually mild temperatures have offered some short-term relief to European governments who have struggled to secure scarce gas supplies and keep a lid on soaring prices after Russia slashed deliveries of the fuel to Europe. European governments have said this energy crisis should hasten their shift from fossil fuels to clean energy - but in the short term, plummeting Russian fuel supplies have left them racing to secure extra gas from elsewhere. Gas demand has fallen for heating in many countries due to the mild spell, helping to reduce prices. 1:15 p.m.: 12:50 p.m.: The Czech government on Wednesday approved a bill aimed at bringing defense spending at the required NATO goal of 2% of gross domestic product as Russias war in Ukraine continues, The Associated Press reported. Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said the move wouldensure a stable and transparent financing of big defense strategic projects in the future. Cernochova said the war in Ukraine made it clear we have to be ready for the current and future conflicts and thats why a fast modernization of the army is absolutely necessary. Although the Czechs will spend only 1.52% of GDP on defense this year, the 2% target should be reached in 2024 once the bill is approvied in parliament where the governing coalition has a majority in both chambers. NATO members agreed in 2014 to commit to the 2% spending target by 2024. Currently, only nine of the Western military alliances 30 members meet or surpass that goal. 12:10 p.m.: 11:25 a.m.: Emergency blackouts are being introduced in Ukraine as power consumption rises, the Kyiv Independent reported Wednesday, quoting the national energy supplier. Ukraines state grid operator Ukrenergo reported that power consumption in the country had increased due to colder weather and the intensification of business operations following the winter holidays, the media organization said. 11:10 a.m.: 10:50 a.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on January 13 covering North Korea, Ukraine, China's tensions with Taiwan, and a "free and open Indo-Pacific," the White House said on Tuesday. The two leaders will discuss "a range of regional and global issues including the Democratic Peoples Republic of Koreas unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, Russias brutal war against Ukraine, and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the White House said. Reuters reported that Kishida said he will discuss Tokyo's new security policy and reconfirm close ties with the United States. In December, Japan unveiled its biggest military build-up since World War Two and the White House said Biden will reiterate his full support for Japans plans. 10:20 a.m.: Only a small fraction of the prewar population remains in the village of Orikhiv in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region. The settlement is located near the front line and suffers daily shelling by Russian forces. Currently, there is no gas, electricity, or centralized water supply in the city. Due to constant shelling, residents are forced to sleep in basements. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report. 10:05 a.m.: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was planning to call up more troops for a major new offensive, even as Moscow was facing some of its biggest internal criticism of the war over a strike that killed scores of fresh conscripts, according to Reuters. Kyiv has been saying for weeks that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to order another mass conscription drive and shut his borders to prevent men from escaping the draft. "We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Tuesday. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail." Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month there was no need for further mobilization. But in a sign the Kremlin may now be considering one, a little known group claiming to represent widows of Russian soldiers released a call on Tuesday for Putin to order a large-scale mobilization of millions of men. The Kremlin has not commented on that appeal. 9:40 a.m.: 9:00 a.m.: Ukraines efforts to increase exports under the Black Sea grain deal with Russia are currently focused on securing faster inspections of ships rather than including more ports in the initiative, a senior Ukrainian official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Ukraine is a major global grain producer and exporter, but production and exports have fallen since Russia invaded the country last February and started blockading its seaports. Three leading Ukrainian Black Sea ports in the Odesa region were unblocked in July under an initiative between Moscow and Kyiv brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. Under the deal, all ships are inspected by joint teams in the Bosphorus. Kyiv accuses Russia of carrying out the inspections too slowly, causing weeks of delays for ships and reducing the supply of Ukrainian grain to foreign markets. Russia has denied slowing down the process. 8:25 a.m.: 8:05 a.m.: Ukraine wants the United Nations to send peacekeepers to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant even without a deal with Russia to establish a safety zone there, the head of Ukraine's state nuclear power company said, according to Reuters. Ukraine has called for U.N. peacekeepers at the site since September. But the comment was the first time a Ukraine nuclear official has suggested publicly peacekeepers should be deployed in the absence of an agreement to create a safety zone at the plant, which Russia took control of soon after invading the country on February 24. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, Europe's largest, has suffered repeated shelling and power cuts, raising concerns of radioactive catastrophe. Ukraine and Russia trade blame for the shelling Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had hoped to mediate an agreement between Russia and Ukraine on a safety zone by January. Petro Kotin, the head of Ukraine's state nuclear power company Energoatom, said the absence of a deal means the U.N. Security Council, of which Russia is a permanent member, should deploy peacekeepers. "The problem is there is no solution (at) the level of IAEA," Kotin told Reuters in an online interview from his office in Kyiv on Tuesday. "The process is not going forward. We would propose to bring this problem to the next level," he said. 7:50 a.m.: 7:35 a.m.: Explosions were reported in the vicinity of Russias Belbek military airfield on Ukraines occupied Crimean Peninsula early on Wednesday, while Moscow renewed its air attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. The Russia-installed head of the port city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, claimed on Telegram that two drones had been shot down by Russian forces. RFE/RL cannot confirm that report. Belbek is home to the 38th fighter regiment of the Russian Air Force. It was targeted by a drone attack in August 2022. Since then, air defenses in Crimea have been activated regularly. The occupation head of the peninsula, Sergei Aksyonov, has said drone attacks are the main threat in the area. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on January 4 that Russia has launched dozens of air and missile strikes, many of which targeted civilian infrastructure in Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. Air-raid sirens were heard in many locations across the country overnight. In addition, the Ukrainian side reported fighting in several districts of the partially occupied eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. 6:55 a.m.: 6:25 a.m.: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday that the European Union had tried everything to stop the war in Ukraine, but that Russia's President Vladimir Putin had nothing on his mind but to destroy the neighboring country. Speaking at a conference in Portugal's capital Lisbon, Baerbock said Putin's stance was the reason why it was "important to keep up the delivery of weapons so Ukraine can defend itself and protect people's lives," Reuters reported. 6:10 a.m.: Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sent a frigate off to the Atlantic Ocean armed with hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles. In a video conference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Igor Krokhmal, commander of the frigate named "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov," Putin said the ship was armed with Zircon hypersonic weapons. "This time the ship is equipped with the latest hypersonic missile system "Zircon" which has no analogs," Putin said. "This is a hypersonic seabased system." Shoigu said the Gorshkov would sail to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and to the Mediterranean Sea. 5:35 a.m.: 5 a.m.: Russia's defense ministry on Wednesday blamed the illegal use of mobile phones by its soldiers for a deadly Ukrainian missile strike that it said killed 89 servicemen, but Semyon Pegov, a prominent Russian war correspondent awarded the Order of Courage by Putin in late 2022, questioned the ministry's reasoning. Reuters reported that in a Telegram post, Pegov said that Ukraine could have been able to locate the troops via drones and intelligence, not necessarily through mobile phones. "The story of 'mobiles' is not very convincing," Pegov said. "I rarely say this but this is the case when it would probably be better to remain silent, at least until the end of the investigation. As such it looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame." Pegov also said that the number of casualties would rise. "Unfortunately, their number will continue to grow. The announced data is most likely for those who were immediately identified. The list of the missing, unfortunately, is noticeably longer. I cannot disclose the sources, but I consider them reliable." 4:30 a.m.: According to Reuters, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces on Wednesday said Russia had launched seven missile strikes, 18 air strikes and more than 85 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems in the past 24 hours on civilian infrastructure in three cities, Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. "There are casualties among the civilian population," it said. Russia denies targeting civilians. The battlefield report could not be independently verified by Reuters. 4 a.m.: 3:35 a.m.: Ruslan Khasbulatov, who led a rebellion against Russia's first post-Soviet president, has died. He was 80. Khasbulatov's death was reported Tuesday by Russian state television, The Associated Press reported. Khasbulatov, an ethnic Chechen, was elected speaker of parliament of the Russian Federation shortly before the Soviet collapse. His relations with Russia's President Boris Yeltsin grew strained after the 1991 breakup of the USSR. In September 1993, Khasbulatov teamed up with Vice President Alexander Rutskoi to challenge Yeltsin's leadership. Yeltsin responded by disbanding parliament, and Khasbulatov retaliated by calling a session that declared Yeltsin's authority terminated. The crisis reached a showdown when Yeltsin sent tanks to fire on parliament and its leaders were arrested. 3 a.m.: 2:32 a.m.: The United Nations estimates that a third of all Ukrainians have been forced out of their homes since Russia invaded last February. They have been welcomed in countries all over Europe, but, as inflation rises and temperatures drop, it is becoming more and more difficult for their hosts and helpers. In a new report, The Washington Post provided snapshots of the connections between refugees and those devoted to helping them and speculated on the future ahead as they move forward into the dead of winter. 2 a.m.: 1:30 a.m.: Drone advances in Ukraine have accelerated a technology trend that could soon bring the worlds first fully autonomous robots to the battlefield and inaugurate a new age of warfare, The Associated Press reported. Experts say it may be only a matter of time before either Russia or Ukraine, or both, deploy drones programmed to find and attack targets without help from humans. That would mark a revolution in military technology as profound as the introduction of the machine gun. Ukraine already has semi-autonomous drones endowed with artificial intelligence. Russia also claims to possess AI weaponry. But there are no confirmed instances of a nation putting into combat drones that have killed entirely on their own. 1 a.m.: 12:30 a.m.: The Joint Coordination Center reported that 10 vessels left Ukrainian ports from December 31, 2022, to January 3, 2023, carrying a total of 467,090 metric tons of grain and other food products under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. There are 35 vessels waiting for inspection: eight of them waiting to move into Ukrainian ports, and 27 of them are loaded with cargo waiting to sail to their global destinations. On Wednesday, the JCC is planning to deploy three joint inspection teams to conduct 11 inspections, seven on inbound vessels and four on outbound. As of 3 January, the total tonnage of grain and other foodstuffs exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 16,432,665 metric tons. A total of 1,232 voyages (612 inbound and 620 outbound) have been enabled so far. 12:01 a.m.: New regulations in Poland require specialized police to go through training with grenade launchers, The Associated Press reported. Local media interpret the decision as a reaction to the Polish police chiefs accidental detonation of such a weapon that had been a gift from Ukraine. The updated instructions for weapons training took effect January 1. They were approved by the interior minister just two days after a grenade launcher a gift from Ukraine officials exploded unexpectedly last month as the police chief was moving it in his office. He and another person were slightly injured. The police chief said he had been assured the gifted launcher was free of explosives. Some politicians argued that police should be made better acquainted with such weapons. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. European Union regulators on Wednesday hit Facebook parent Meta with hundreds of millions in fines for privacy violations and banned the company from forcing users in the 27-nation bloc to agree to personalized ads based on their online activity. Ireland's Data Protection Commission imposed two fines totaling 390 million euros ($414 million) in its decision in two cases that could shake up Meta's business model of targeting users with ads based on what they do online. The company says it will appeal. A decision in a third case involving Meta's WhatsApp messaging service is expected later this month. Meta and other Big Tech companies have come under pressure from the European Union's privacy rules, which are some of the world's strictest. Irish regulators have already slapped Meta with four other fines for data privacy infringements since 2021 that total more than 900 million euros and have a slew of other open cases against a number of Silicon Valley companies. Meta also faces regulatory headaches from EU antitrust officials in Brussels flexing their muscles against tech giants: They accused the company last month of distorting competition in classified ads. The Irish watchdog Meta's lead European data privacy regulator because its regional headquarters is in Dublin fined the company 210 million euros for violations of EU data privacy rules involving Facebook and an additional 180 million euros for breaches involving Instagram. The decision stems from complaints filed in May 2018 when the 27-nation bloc's privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, took effect. Previously, Meta relied on getting informed consent from users to process their personal data to serve them with personalized, or behavioral, ads, which are based on what users search for online, the websites they visit or the videos they click on. When GDPR came into force, the company changed the legal basis under which it processes user data by adding a clause to the terms of service for advertisements, effectively forcing users to agree that their data could be used. That violates EU privacy rules. The Irish watchdog initially sided with Meta but changed its position after its draft decision was sent to a board of EU data protection regulators, many of whom objected. In its final decision, the Irish watchdog said Meta "is not entitled to rely on the 'contract' legal basis" to deliver behavioral ads on Facebook and Instagram. Meta said in a statement that "we strongly believe our approach respects GDPR, and we're therefore disappointed by these decisions and intend to appeal both the substance of the rulings and the fines." Meta has three months to ensure its "processing operations" comply with the EU rules, though the ruling doesn't specify what the company has to do. Meta noted that the decision doesn't prevent it from displaying personalized ads, it only covers the legal basis for handling user data. Max Schrems, the Austrian lawyer and privacy activist who filed the complaints, said the ruling could deal a big blow to the company's profits in the EU, because "people now need to be asked if they want their data to be used for ads or not" and can change their mind at any time. "The decision also ensures a level playing field with other advertisers that also need to get opt-in consent," he said. Making changes to comply with the decision could add to costs for a company already facing rising business challenges. Meta reported two straight quarters of declining revenue as advertising sales dropped because of competition from TikTok, and it laid off 11,000 workers amid broader tech industry woes. Heavy rainfall is bringing more dangerous flooding to Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for Western Australia, and officials say once-in-a-century flooding has hit areas in the north of the state. The Australian military has been called in to help rescue residents in Fitzroy Crossing, a remote town of about 1,200 people in Western Australias Kimberley region. Homes have been inundated by floodwater and the regions only main highway has been cut. Residents have been urged to move to higher ground. Authorities fear the Fitzroy River that runs through the town could rise to more than 15 meters, breaking previous records. The torrential rain is from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie, which has dumped up to 600 millimeters of water on the region since Saturday. More heavy falls are forecast. Western Australias Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm told reporters Wednesday that the situation is hazardous and that We are currently having at least a one-in-one-hundred-year flood event in the Kimberley [region]. This is an incredibly serious situation. The system is expected to slowly move west over the coming days and people in the warning areas need to get ready for this severe weather, Klemm warned. Australias tropical cyclone season runs from November 1 to April 30, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. It has forecast an above-average number of tropical cyclones for the 202223 season. Major flooding is continuing in other parts of Australia, which were hit by record-rainfall in 2022. An evacuation order remains in place for vulnerable properties in the outback town of Menindee in New South Wales, 1,100 kilometers west of Sydney. More than 3,000 properties along the Murray River in South Australia have been inundated by floodwaters. State Premier Peter Malinauskas Tuesday announced the state's largest natural disaster support package worth $85 million to help homeowners and businesses. The flooding in South Australia is caused by vast amounts of rain that have fallen in the eastern Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, over the past three years. Much of that water has slowly flowed into the Murray River in South Australia. The climatic phenomenon La Nina has helped to fuel the flooding. It occurs naturally and is influenced by warmer ocean temperatures. During a La Nina phase waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler than average, typically bringing higher than average rainfall over much of Australia. Climate experts believe the La Nina system has been super-charged by climate change. In its State of the Climate 2022 report issued with the Bureau of Meteorology, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, or CSIRO, Australias national science agency, noted an increase in the intensity of heavy rainfall events in Australia. The report stated that despite three consecutive La Nina events leading to exceptionally wet conditions in many parts of eastern Australia, the observed trends for the south-east and south-west of the country show a shift towards drier conditions. However, for northern Australia, the trend is different. The CSIRO said that rainfall in the north of Australia has been increasing. Myanmar troops and weaponry paraded through the military-built capital Naypyidaw to mark the country's independence day Wednesday, days after the junta jailed democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi for 33 years. Swaths of the Southeast Asian country have been engulfed by fighting between junta troops and anti-coup rebels since the military seized power almost two years ago. The junta, which recently wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of Suu Kyi, is preparing for fresh elections later this year that the United States has said would be a sham. Tanks, missile launchers and armored cars rolled through the dawn air to a parade ground in the capital, AFP correspondents said, kicking off a military parade marking 75 years since Myanmar gained independence from Britain. Civil servants and high school students followed the troops, accompanied by a military band. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was greeted by a 21-gun salute as he arrived at the parade ground. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent "sincere greetings" and anticipated the "further development" of relations, according to state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar. Russia is a major ally and arms supplier of the isolated junta, which has said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine was justified. Myanmar declared independence from British colonial rule on January 4, 1948, after a long fight championed by General Aung San, the father of ousted civilian leader Suu Kyi. Independence Day is normally marked with festive street games, marches and gatherings in public parks and spaces. But since the coup, celebrations of public holidays have been largely muted as people stay at home in protest against the junta. AFP correspondents said there was an increased security presence in commercial hub Yangon, which has been hit by a string of bomb attacks in recent months. The U.S. Embassy warned of a "potential increases in attacks, targeted shootings, or explosions" on Wednesday. The military has alleged massive voter fraud during elections in November 2020, which were won resoundingly by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, as a reason for its coup. International observers said at the time the polls were largely free and fair. Photo: VOV According to data compiled by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, as of December 15, the country's rice exports reached over 6.8 million tonnes, raking in more than US$3.3 billion, up 15.2% in volume and 6.5% in value compared to the same period from last year. With these positive figures, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development anticipates that the country will fetch between US$3.5 billion and US$3.6 billion from exporting over seven million tonnes of rice this year. Most notably, the export price of rice has continued to edge up over recent days with the price of local 5% broken rice for export and 25% broken rice standing at US$453 and US$438 per tonne, representing a rise of US$10 and US$5 per tonne, respectively. This comes as the price of 5% broken rice in November also surpassed that of Thailand to be traded at US$447 per tonne, while Thailand's 5% broken rice was sold at only US$440 per tonne. With regard to the rice industrys achievements last year, Do Ha Nam, vice president of the Vietnam Food Association, emphasized that despite fluctuations occurring in the global market, rice exports to major markets such as the Philippines recorded strong growth of nearly 30%. Furthermore, 2022 also marked a successful year as Vietnamese rice made inroads into the Middle East and European markets, with a high price of over US$1,000 per tonne. The European market saw ST24 and ST25 fragrant rice branded Trung An traded at over US$1,000 per tonne. Pham Thai Binh, general director of Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company, added that the company has also expanded exports to the Middle East market and maintained traditional markets such as the Republic of Korea and Malaysia. Nam predicts that rice exports are anticipated to make major breakthroughs over the coming year as high export prices at the end of the crop will provide rice exporters with an extra advantage when negotiate contracts. More importantly, high export prices will also create favourable conditions to expand the cultivation area and improve productivity moving forward. Moreover, the rice sector is expected to enjoy bright prospects in markets such as the Philippines, China, Europe, and Bangladesh. In particular, China's reopening is predicted to be a promising sign for rice exporters, particularly as the nation exported between 2.5 million to 3 million tonnes to the Chinese market over the previous years, Nam said, adding that the country is likely to export one million tonnes of rice to the northern neighbour thanks to their reopening. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has recently agreed to extend its memorandum of understanding (MOU) on rice trade with the nation for an additional five years. With the Philippines maintaining a rice import tax of 35%, there remains plenty of room to boost Vietnamese rice exports in the market as the Philippines may need to import at least three million tonnes of rice due to an ongoing shortage of rice production. Hanoi attracts nearly 1.7 billion USD in FDI in 2022 Hanoi attracted 1.69 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, still among the localities leading the nation in this field, reported Vietnam News Agency. Hanoi attracts 1.69 billion USD in foreign direct investment in 2022 (Photo: VNA) The figure represents a year-on-year rise of 10.3%, according to the citys Statistics Office. In the year, there were 365 newly-registered projects totaling 233 million USD, and 202 projects that had their capital adjusted with a combined investment of 834 million USD. Foreign investors also spent 625 million USD on contributing capital to and purchasing shares of existing ones. Foreign capital was mainly poured into import-export activities, goods distribution, construction, information technology, telecommunications, processing, and manufacturing. According to the Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA), after more than two years of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022, the city implemented a lot of trade promotion activities both inside and outside the country, with priority given to such key markets as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (China), China, the US and the European Union. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Most recently, a working delegation led by Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen paid visits to the US and Belgium to step up trade promotion with traditional partners and seek new ones. For the 2021-2025 period, Hanoi has set a target of attracting 30-40 billion USD in foreign investment, and disbursing from 20 to 30 billion USD. The city is giving priority to projects in urban infrastructure, smart city building, supporting industry, information technology, tourism, finance-banking, human resources training, and hi-tech agriculture. Air transport grows 3.7-fold on yearly basis The aviation market recorded about 55 million passengers in 2022, rising 3.7-fold from the previous year and equivalent to 69.6% of that in the pre-pandemic 2019, reported Vietnam News Agency according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). Planes of some Vietnamese airlines (Photo: VNA) In particular, about 43.2 million passengers were transported domestically, increasing 3.5-fold from 2021 and 15.6% from 2019, while 11 million others internationally, up 22-fold from 2021 and equivalent to 27% of that in 2019. About 1.25 million tonnes of cargo were transported by air last year, representing 95% of that in 2021 and equivalent to the volume in 2019. It included 152,000 tonnes carried domestically and 1.1 million tonnes internationally, statistics show. The CAAV noted aviation activities, especially in the domestic market, have recovered since the end of last years first quarter. Right in April, the domestic market was comparable to the same period of 2019. Driven by a boom in summer travel demand, it completely recovered and grew by over 30% in July and August compared to the same months of 2019. Besides, authorities have actively discussed with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and foreign aviation agencies, including those of Russia, Germany, the UK, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan (China), Australia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Poland, Romania, and China, so as to reopen international air routes. Particularly, the Vietnamese side has kept contact with aviation authorities of China and India to increase flight frequency and the destinations available. However, the recovery of international flights remains slow although Vietnam lifted restrictions on foreign arrivals on March 15 and resumed visa exemption for citizens from 25 countries in May, the CAAV admitted. Nearly 4,000 tonnes of cargo cleared through Mong Cai border gate Nearly 4,000 tonnes of cargo were customs-cleared in Hai Yen ward, Mong Cai city, in the northern province of Quang Ninh in the first two days of 2023, according to the management board of Mong Cai International Border Gate, reported Vietnam News Agency. Pontoon bridge Km 3+4 in Hai Yen ward, Mong Cai city of Quang Ninh (Photo: VNA) Of the total, 3,316 tonnes of goods, mostly agricultural and aquatic products, were exported to the Chinese side. Meanwhile, 527 tonnes of goods were imported. On January 3, Bac Luan 2 Bridge will open for vehicles. Local authorities have prepared COVID-19 prevention and control measures to ensure safety. Earlier, on December 31, the border bridge in Hai Yen handled 187 vehicles transporting 2,108 tonnes of goods to China and 94 others carrying 298 tonnes of goods to Vietnam./. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Wednesday he hoped to strengthen ties with Beijing on his first state visit to China since taking office. China and the Philippines are at odds over the hotly disputed South China Sea, with Marcos expected to sign a deal in Beijing this week to establish direct communication on maritime issues. Manila considers it "of primary importance to... strengthen the relationship between China and the Philippines", Marcos said in a meeting on Wednesday with top Chinese legislator Li Zhanshu. Marcos, who is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, said he hoped for "partnerships that will stabilize and strengthen all of our economies". Up to 14 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during Marcos's visit, which ends on Thursday. The Philippine government said last week both sides would sign a communication agreement to "avoid miscalculation and miscommunication in the West Philippine Sea", referring to the part of the South China Sea that it claims. Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on the Philippines' maritime rights in the area in contrast to his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who was reluctant to criticize the superpower. The Philippines ordered its military last month to boost its presence in the contested waters after a Bloomberg report that China had started reclaiming several unoccupied land features around the Spratly Islands. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims to parts of it. Marcos said on Tuesday before leaving for China he hoped to address "political security issues of a bilateral and regional nature." "The issues between our two countries are problems that do not belong between two friends," he said. Two rockets targeted coalition forces in northeastern Syria on Wednesday, according to U.S. Central Command, a day after Iran and Iraq commemorated the third anniversary of the death of Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. The attack resulted in no injuries or damage to the base or coalition property, CENTCOM said. CENTCOM spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn told VOA the 107-millimeter rockets targeted an area known as Mission Support Site Conoco at 9 a.m. local time in Syria. Syrian Democratic Forces later went to the site where the rockets were fired from and found a third, unfired one. "Attacks of this kind place coalition forces and the civilian populace at risk and undermine the hard-earned stability and security of Syria and the region," CENTCOM spokesman Col. Joe Buccino said. No one has claimed responsibility. Iran-backed militias have previously carried out rocket and drone attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in both Syria and Iraq. One year ago, U.S. forces thwarted attacks on January 3 and 4 by suspected Iranian-backed militias. The attackers launched explosives-laden drones that were shot down near Ain al-Asad Air Base and near Baghdad International Airport, which is also used by the international coalition. Soleimanis revenge was written on the wings of one of the drones. Soleimani was head of Irans elite Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A U.S. airstrike on January 3, 2020, killed Soleimani alongside Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the top commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces. At the time of his death, administration officials said that Soleimani was involved in planning an imminent attack that would put U.S. lives at risk. Wednesdays rocket attacks also coincided with a Turkish aerial offensive dubbed Operation-Claw Sword, which has targeted Kurdish forces in Syria allied with the United States in the fight against Islamic State. According to the Syrian Democratic Forces, attacks by Turkish forces in northern Syria killed 16 civilians in December. Turkey alleges some members of the SDF are part of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. Ankara and Washington both consider the PKK to be a terrorist group but the U.S. military does not associate the SDF with the PKK. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said last month the United States does not want Turkey to pursue military attacks in northwest Syria, even if it recognizes Turkey's right to defend itself. The SDF has warned that fighting a new Turkish incursion would divert its resources needed to guard the al-Hol prison that is holding Islamic State militants and fight Islamic State sleeper cells in Syria. Russian troops' "massive use" of mobile phones led to Ukraine's deadly New Year's Day strike on military barracks in a Moscow-controlled city in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said early Wednesday local time. "It is already obvious that the main reason for what happened was the switching on and massive use contrary to the prohibition by personnel of mobile phones in a reach zone of enemy weapons," the ministry said in a statement. "This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers' location for a missile strike," it added. Ukraine claimed responsibility for the strike in Makiivka on Monday. Russian forces control the town and had turned a school into military quarters. Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov said in a video statement released by the ministry early Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 89, from 63 announced Monday. He said more bodies had been found under the rubble of the building, Agence France-Presse reported. "A commission is working to investigate the circumstances of what has happened," he said. Russian war correspondents said the soldiers in the Makiivka quarters consisted largely of newly mobilized Russians, according to AFP. They added the soldiers were stationed in an unprotected building that was destroyed because ammunition stored on the premises detonated in the strike. On Tuesday, mourners gathered in several cities of the Volga region of Samara where some of the servicemen came from. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address Tuesday that his country needs to strengthen its defenses. He has claimed for the past two days what he sees as Russia's plans for a new offensive. "We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can muster to try to turn the tide of the war and at least postpone their defeat," he said. "We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this." On Monday, Zelenskyy said during his nightly video address that his government has information that Russia is planning "a prolonged attack" with the Shahed drones it has used in recent months to crash into targets across Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Russia may be betting on the "exhaustion of our people, our air defense, our energy sector," as he praised those involved in defending Ukraine from the aerial attacks. The Russian military on Tuesday claimed strikes on Druzhkivka and Kramatorsk, also in Donetsk. The Defense Ministry claimed it destroyed four HIMARS launchers in the area. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claim. Ukrainian officials said the latest strikes from Russian missiles and artillery hit the city of Druzhkivka in the eastern Donetsk region, as well as Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine and Dnipropetrovsk in the southeastern part of the country. Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to show in movie theaters documentary films dedicated to his assault on Ukraine and the fight against "neo-Nazi" ideology, AFP reported. The Kremlin said in a statement that the Culture Ministry had until February 1 to implement the order. Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, saying the pro-Western country needed to be "demilitarized" and "de-Nazified." The United States and Western allies have criticized the military action. Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to help Russian filmmakers in producing documentaries dedicated to "the heroism of the participants of the special military operation," the Kremlin said, using Moscow's official term for the offensive. In Ukraine, Kyiv's main security service said it was bringing criminal charges against two high-ranking Russian commanders accused of overseeing strikes against civilians, AP reported. Sergei Kobylash, commander of Russia's long-range aviation force, and Igor Osipov, the former head of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, were charged under Ukrainian law with violating the country's territorial integrity and with "planning, preparing, initiating and conducting a war of aggression," crimes that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, the Security Service of Ukraine said Tuesday on its website. It is unlikely that Kyiv will be able to bring Kobylash and Osipov to trial anytime soon. However, the announcement marks the first time Ukrainian authorities have brought charges linked directly to attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure, AP reported. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Somalias President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in his New Year's Day speech Sunday, declared the country will eliminate al-Shabab Islamist militants this year. Mohamud's all-out war against the group, declared last year, has succeeded in pushing the militants out of some areas under their control. The president also said Somalia would also take over security operations from African Union peacekeepers in Somalia by the end of 2024. The Somali National Armys recent success against al-Shabab, achieved with the help of allied local militia in central Somalia, has attracted regional and international attention due to its homegrown approach in fighting terrorism. Mohamud has been trying to rally Somalis behind the government, and in his speech he referred to al-Shabab as Khawaarji, a term referring to a person who deviates from the path of Islam. Mohamud said that Somalis have taken a stand against Khawaarij regardless of where they live, and that this battle is in progress and is nearing completion. He said it was his hope that Somalia will be prosperous and peaceful in 2023. Ahmed Abdisalam, former deputy prime minister and current director of HornCenter, a Somali-based research and policy center, applauded the presidents promise for the government to take over all security duties from African Union peacekeepers. Abdisalam said the president's annual address should be welcomed, as security is the country's greatest concern. He said it was great for the president to provide a timeline for when he will take responsibility for security. However, Abdullahi Gafow, a Mogadishu based political analyst, is skeptical about Mohamuds pledges. Gafow said that, after listening to the speech given by the president, he found there was no difference between this speech and the previous speeches that had been given by previous presidents, in that they all stated they would plan to assume responsibility for security from the African Union. He said that therefore, nothing has changed. Gafow added that the withdrawal of African Union forces is complicated by the fact that Somalia is still under a U.N. arms embargo, an obstacle that limits the capacity of Somalias security forces. AU peacekeeping forces have been serving in Somalia since 2007 and have been crucial in protecting government strongholds. A son of Equatorial Guinea's long-ruling president is under investigation in connection with kidnapping and torture allegations that observers say will damage the president's attempts to improve his international reputation. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 80, has ruled the oil-rich former Spanish colony since 1979, and after winning a sixth term in office in November, observers said the president appeared eager to shake off the persistent allegations, which he has denied. This could be jeopardized, however, after Spain's High Court, the country's top criminal court, announced it would investigate one of Obiang's sons, Carmelo Ovono Obiang, along with the president's security director, Isaac Nguema Endo, and security minister Nicolas Obama Nchama. They are under scrutiny in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture of two Spanish citizens, Feliciano Efa Mangue and Julio Obama. Equatorial Guinea's vice president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has strenuously denied the accusations and accused Spain of "interfering" in his country's sovereignty. The two Spaniards, who oppose the Obiang government, were allegedly tricked by the three men into meeting in South Sudan in 2020. They were then kidnapped and taken to Equatorial Guinea, where they were allegedly subjected to torture. Two other dissidents, who are Equatorial Guinea nationals living in Spain, were kidnapped at the same time, said a court source who did not want to be named as is normal practice in Spain. The four were sentenced to between 60 and 90 years for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against President Obiang, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported. Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, writing on Twitter Tuesday, said that Madrid sought to "tarnish" Equatorial Guinea's reputation. "These terrorists were detained by Sudanese authorities and extradited to Equatorial Guinea under an "international arrest warrant," he wrote. Spain sought to "humiliate, interfere with and disrespect our sovereignty." The court, which deals with major criminal cases, opened the investigation after receiving a complaint from relatives of the victims. Spanish police say they believe President Obiang is ultimately responsible for the alleged incident, according to El Pais newspaper, which said the men were flown to the central African nation aboard a presidential aircraft. The three men were accused of "repeatedly participating in torture sessions," according to court papers seen by VOA. Obiang has ruled the country since taking power in a military coup in 1979, 11 years after independence from Spain. Political dissent has been suppressed and the country's oil wealth has remained in the hands of an elite few, watchdogs claim. Freedom House, a non-profit U.S. government-funded research body into political freedom, said in a report published in 2022 that Equatorial Guinea "holds regular elections but the voting is neither free nor fair. The current president has led a highly repressive authoritarian regime since 1979. "The government frequently detains the few opposition politicians in the country, cracks down on civil society and censures journalists. The judiciary is under presidential control and security forces engage in torture and other violence with impunity." Carmelo Ovono Obiang, 44, who is married to a Spanish woman, obtained Spanish residency in 2020. He owns a series of homes in Marbella, Barcelona and Toledo and runs a business, El Pais, reported. Police reportedly spotted him entering a spyware shop in Madrid. Police tried to detain him on December 29, but he left the country to return to Equatorial Guinea. Seeking legitimacy In September, President Obiang ended the death penalty in civil courts in a move that observers took to mean he was keen to improve his international image. Two months later, he won 97% of the vote in a general election. Two other parties, Convergence for Social Democracy and Party of the Social Democratic Coalition, contested the election but won no seats in parliament. Marta Colomer is Amnesty International's senior campaigner for West and Central Africa, which covers Equatorial Guinea. She said the alleged case represented the "tip of the iceberg" of human rights abuses by the Obiang government. Colomer said a 2019 joint trial of 130 people resulted in all being imprisoned without proper judicial procedure. Many of those who were jailed had been tortured first to extract confessions, she said, basing her allegations on information from relatives and human rights groups within the West African state. "This case is not an exception but the norm. This Spanish case will make it more difficult for Obiang to improve his international image. He knows how difficult it is to live isolated," she told VOA in a telephone interview from Dakar, Senegal. "It is the only country in Africa where they speak Spanish, and it is isolated from the French and English-speaking countries in the continent. Obiang needs the support of some countries so that the international community believes that the human rights record is improving but it is not the case." Tutu Alicante, a human rights lawyer with Washington-based EG Justice, a non-profit group that promotes transparency in Equatorial Guinea, said the Spanish investigation would embarrass Obiang. "It is this source of bad publicity, which damages [Obiang's] reputation. He wants to be invited to meetings in Europe, in Brussels and the U.S. It is cases like this which damages his smokescreen of banning the death penalty," he told VOA. He said that the death penalty was still in force in military courts and many people were sentenced after trials there. Alicante said European states needed to take more legal action against members of Obiang's family, who enjoy luxurious lives in France, Spain and other European countries. Some information is from Agence France-Presse A man who opened fire on a packed Brooklyn subway train last year, wounding 10 passengers in a rush-hour attack that shocked New York City, pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal terrorism charges that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Frank James, 63, who posted online that he was the "Prophet of Doom," admitted in Brooklyn federal court to pulling the trigger on a Manhattan-bound train as it moved between stations on April 12, 2022 an assault that prosecutors said was "intended to inflict maximum damage at the height of rush hour." James, wearing a beige jail jumpsuit and reading from a prepared statement, said he only intended to cause serious bodily injury, not death, but that he knew his actions could have been lethal. Dressed as a maintenance worker, James fired a 9mm handgun at least 33 times after setting off a pair of smoke grenades wounding victims ranging in age from 16 to 60 in the legs, back, buttocks and hand as the train pulled into a station in Sunset Park. He then fled in the haze and confusion, setting off a 30-hour citywide manhunt that ended when he called the police on himself. James pleaded guilty to all 11 counts in his indictment, including 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack against a mass transit system one for each wounded passenger. The terrorism charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The other charge firing a firearm during a violent crime has a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors are seeking to put him in prison for decades. His lawyers arguing that his conduct amounted to aggravated assault, not attempted murder said he shouldn't serve more than 18 years. James doesn't have a plea agreement. In court papers, prosecutors suggested James had the means to carry out more attacks, noting that he had ammunition and other gun-related items in a Philadelphia storage unit. The New York City native had been living in Milwaukee and Philadelphia prior to the shooting. A top health official in China has said that the fatalities from the latest surge in COVID-19 cases are increasing but within the normal range for mortality. In an interview with state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), Jiao Yahui, a National Health Commission official, said, We have a huge base, so what people feel is that the severe cases, the critical cases or the fatalities are increasing. Relative to the rest of the world, the infection peaks we are faced with across the country are not unusual, she added. The contrast between statements by Chinese officials assessing the COVID situation and social media footage of crowded hospital hallways and long lines at clinics prompted leading scientists advising the World Health Organization to call Tuesday for a more realistic picture about what China is experiencing after the pivot from zero-COVID. Normal mortality is the number of deaths authorities expect for a specific period based on long-term population data. Excess mortality reveals the difference between the number of deaths caused during the current wave of COVID and the number of fatalities expected had the pandemic not occurred. The excess mortality number has been used worldwide during the pandemic to provide a better sense of how many people have died of COVID. Tong Zhaohui, vice president of Chaoyang Hospital in Beijing, agreed that while the actual number of deaths is growing, the fatalities remain a small percentage of Chinas population. Think how many people around you have been infected but how many have developed critical cases or pneumonia? I think everyone has the idea, he told CCTV. China began relaxing its stringent zero-COVID policy in early December. Since then, Tong has supervised treatment for critically ill COVID patients at two major hospitals in Beijing. Tong said, I roughly counted, both severe and critical cases (of COVID) at the two designated hospitals accounted for 3% to 4% of infected patients. He added that the actual number cant be determined because PCR testing is no longer mandatory. Beijing reported three new COVID deaths for Monday, taking the official death toll to 5,253 since the pandemic began in January 2020. Chinas population was over 1.4 billion people in 2021. CCTVs coverage acknowledged that the number of fever outpatients in some hospitals increased tenfold, and one doctor saw up to 150 patients in one night. A fever patient cannot be assumed to be a COVID patient. Photos and videos of hospitals full of sick people waiting to be treated are circulating on social media from facilities across the country. Reuters visited a Shanghai hospital and reported finding crowded hallways and emergency rooms. China's censors are moving quickly to keep photos and videos from circulating inside the country, but many are leaping the country's Great Firewall for the internet and posting photos and videos that were said to be from hospitals in Chinas central and southern Hunan province as well as other cities. Although VOA Mandarin was unable to independently verify the videos circulating on Twitter that are said to show hospitals in Hunan, a staffer who answered the phone at Changsha No. 1 Peoples Hospital in Changsha, the province's capital, said the hospital has no vacant beds left and new patients are being asked to go to other hospitals. According to Baike, China's version of Wikipedia, the hospital has a total capacity of 1,593 beds. The staffer said that while many doctors have tested positive, they are still working. Social media videos from various cities show long lines waiting to be admitted outside crematoriums. In an interview with Da Jiangdong Studio, an affiliate of the state-run newspaper People's Daily, Chen Erzhen, vice president of Shanghais Ruijin Hospital and a member of the citys COVID expert advisory panel, estimated that 70% of population of 25 million people in Shanghai may have been infected. The interview was conducted December 31 and published Tuesday. "Now the spread of the epidemic in Shanghai is very wide, and it may have reached 70% of the population, which is 20 to 30 times more than (in April and May)," he told Da Jiangdong Studio. Shanghai endured a two-month long lockdown in April and May, during which over 600,000 residents were infected and already weakened global supply chains were further strained. China could see as many as 25,000 deaths a day from COVID later in January, according to a Bloomberg report. That daily total is roughly equivalent to Chinas normal daily death toll from all other causes, according to The British Medical Journal referencing research published December 20 from Airfinity, a London-based research firm that focuses on predictive health analytics. Mortalities from the contagious respiratory illness will probably peak around January 23, the second day of the annual new year holiday, according Airfinity. China said it had submitted genome sequence data from recently sampled COVID-19 cases to GISAID, an international database hosted by Germany, ahead of a meeting with WHO officials on Tuesday. Before the meeting, Reuters reported that two unnamed scientists affiliated with WHO had asked Beijing for a more realistic picture of COVID in China. Some experts doubted that Beijing would be forthright in its statistical offerings. Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at National University of Singapore, told Reuters, I don't think China will be very sincere in disclosing information. They would rather just keep it to themselves, or they would say nothing happened, nothing is new, said Wu. My own sense is that we could assume that there is nothing new ... but the problem is Chinas transparency issue is always there. Turkey on Tuesday hosted the leaders of Syria's opposition in a bid to assuage their concern following its overtures to Damascus. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted images of his meeting in Ankara with the opposition Syrian National Council chief Mahmut al-Maslat and other leaders. The talks came less than a week after the defense chiefs of Turkey and Syria held landmarks negotiations in Moscow, the first such meeting since 2011. "We reiterated our support to the Syrian opposition and people in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2254," Cavusoglu said in reference to a 2015 United Nations call for a cease-fire and political settlement in Syria. Ankara became a sworn enemy of Damascus when it began backing rebel efforts to topple President Bashar al-Assad at the start of the Syrian civil war 12 years ago. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who called Assad a terrorist in 2017 has opened up to the idea of meeting the Syrian leader. Erdogan has suggested that the talks between the defense chiefs be followed by a meeting between the foreign ministers that could set up a potential presidential summit. Cavusoglu said he expects to meet his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, in Moscow in the second half of January. But Assad's regime appears cool to Erdogan's outreach efforts. Some analysts believe that Assad will not agree to meet Erdogan before Turkey holds a general election, now scheduled for no later than June. Erdogan's foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin said it was "too early to say right now" when the two presidents might meet. "How all of this unfolds depends on the regime's attitude," Kalin told NTV television. "Turkey has extended its hand. We do not think that they will leave this hand hanging." Erdogan's hopes for talks with Assad follow calls from Turkey's main opposition party for Ankara to pull back its troops from Syria and make peace with Damascus. The opposition is pressing Erdogan to speed up the return of nearly 4 million Syrians who fled the fighting to Turkey. Anti-refugee sentiments are running high in Turkey ahead of the election, and Erdogan has hardened his once-accepting stance toward people displaced by war. Kalin confirmed that Ankara was now pressing Damascus "to take steps for the return of refugees and the humane treatment of displaced Syrians." The muted reconciliation has alarmed Syrian opposition leaders and supporters who reside mostly in parts of the war-torn country under Ankara's indirect control. The United States, Turkey's NATO ally, made clear its opposition to improving relations with Assad, who last year traveled to the United Arab Emirates in his first trip since the war to another Arab country. "We do not support countries upgrading their relations or expressing support to rehabilitate the brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters when asked about the Moscow meeting. "We urge states to carefully consider the Assad regime's atrocious human rights record of the past 12 years as it continues to inflict atrocities on the Syrian people and to deny access to life-saving humanitarian aid," Price said. Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland got a formal welcome into the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, taking the two-year seats they won unopposed in June. In a tradition that Kazakhstan started in 2018, the five countries' ambassadors installed their national flags Tuesday alongside those of other members outside the council chambers. Mozambican Ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso of Mozambique called it "a historic date" and Swiss Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said she felt "a deep sense of humility and responsibility" as their countries marked their first-ever terms on U.N.'s most powerful body. Malta joined for a second time, Ecuador a fourth and Japan a record 12th. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent, veto-wielding members of the group. Its 10 other members are elected by the 193-nation General Assembly for staggered, two-year terms. They're allocated by global regions. To many countries, winning a council seat is considered a signature diplomatic accomplishment that can raise a nation's global profile and afford small countries a bigger voice than they might otherwise have in the major international peace and security issues of the day. The council deploys peacekeeping missions, can approve sanctions and speaks out sometimes on conflicts and flashpoints, while also surveying such thematic issues as terrorism and arms control. While many matters are perennials on the agenda, council members also can use the platform to spotlight emerging concerns or topics of particular interest to them. Countries often campaign for the council for years. Some 60 nations have never had a seat since the group's formation in 1946. The five latest members are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway. Their terms ended December 31. The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates. A New York man was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in prison for conspiring to steal General Electric Co.'s trade secrets to benefit China, the U.S. Justice Department said. Xiaoqing Zheng, 59, of Niskayuna, New York, was convicted of conspiracy to commit economic espionage following a four-week jury trial that ended in March last year, according to the Justice Department. U.S. District Judge Mae D'Agostino also sentenced Zheng to pay a $7,500 fine and serve one year of post-imprisonment supervised release. U.S. officials have said the Chinese government poses the biggest long-term threat to U.S. economic and national security, and is carrying out unprecedented efforts to steal critical technology from U.S. businesses and researchers. China denies the allegations. Zheng was employed at GE Power in Schenectady, New York, as an engineer specializing in turbine sealing technology. He worked at GE from 2008 until the summer of 2018, the Justice Department said. The trial evidence showed Zheng and others in China conspired to steal GE's trade secrets surrounding its ground-based and aviation-based turbine technologies to benefit China, including China-based companies and universities that research and manufacture parts for turbines, the Justice Department added. "This is a case of textbook economic espionage. Zheng exploited his position of trust, betrayed his employer and conspired with the government of China to steal innovative American technology," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department's national security division. The United States had accused the former GE engineer and another Chinese businessman named Zhaoxi Zhang in 2019 of stealing secrets and spying on GE to aid China. Zheng had pleaded not guilty at the time. A U.S. federal court in Cincinnati sentenced a Chinese national in November to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of plotting to steal trade secrets from several U.S. aviation and aerospace companies. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated the Orthodox Christian community of Azerbaijan on Christmas. Dear fellow compatriots! I sincerely congratulate you and the entire Christian community of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Christmas and extend my heartfelt wishes for happiness and prosperity to you all. Historically, representatives of different nations and religious beliefs have lived in peace and tranquility in Azerbaijan, a country with an atmosphere of friendship, brotherhood and an advanced culture of coexistence. Azerbaijan, which is recognized in the world as a center of multiculturalism making a significant contribution to the development of inter-civilizational relations, has provided all its citizens with equal rights and freedoms regardless of their language, religion and nationality. The preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, the supreme principles of humanism and the traditions of tolerance, which have been formed in our society for hundreds of years, are among the priority directions of our public policy. I want to note with a feeling of utmost satisfaction that our Christian compatriots, like all other ethnic and religious groups living in Azerbaijan, are keeping their traditions, language and culture alive, are closely involved in all areas of our public and political life, and fulfill their civic duties in the great development and construction processes underway of our republic. Dear friends! Christmas is a symbol of renewal, purity, mercy and kindness. On the occasion of this holy day, I once again congratulate all of you and wish your families happiness, abundance and blessings. Happy holiday! Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 4 January 2023 A yarn production line of KSA Polymer Hanoi JSC invested by the RoK at Thuy Van Industrial Park in Phu Tho province (Photo: VNA) According to VNA, the ministry reported that the RoKs export turnover to Vietnam last year totaled 60.98 billion USD, while it spent 26.72 billion USD on importing goods from the Southeast Asian nation. An official from the ministry said that among the ASEAN countries, Vietnam is emerging as a production base for global companies, adding that Korean businesses are constantly making inroads into the Vietnamese market. After Vietnam, the countries and territories that the RoK had large trade surplus included the US with 28.04 billion USD, Hong Kong (China) 25.79 billion USD, India 9.98 billion USD, and Singapore 9.86 billion USD. Last year, the RoKs export turnover hit a high record of 683.9 billion USD, leaping to the sixth position in the world. However, it also recorded a record high trade deficit of 47.2 billion USD as its imports soared amid rising energy prices. Vietnamese GDP grows by over US$300 billion to rank 37th globally Vietnams gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 is forecast to reach about US$413.81 billion, thereby ranking 37th in the world, VOV cited the latest projection on the GDP scale for countries globally made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Photo for illustration (Source: vov.vn) In line with the latest forecast, the scale of Vietnamese GDP in 2022 moved up four places and represented a rise of US$45.81 billion compared to 2021. In fact, Vietnamese GDP in 2001 stood at about US$41.3 billion, ranking 60th out of 200 countries around the globe and reaching some US$368 billion in 2021, ranking 41st. According to the figures, the size of the countrys GDP increased by US$326.7 billion, jumping 19 notches in the global GDP ranking in the 2001 to 2021 period, representing a nine-fold increase throughout the reviewed period. Photo for illustration (Source: vtv.vn) With regard to countries specifically in Southeast Asia, Indonesias GDP is anticipated to take the lead within the ASEAN region, reaching about US$1.290 billion, duly ranking 17th in the world, followed by Thailand with US$534.76 billion, ranking second in Southeast Asia and 26th in the world. Elsewhere, Malaysia is projected to have GDP of about US$434.06 billion, ranking third in Southeast Asia and 35th in the world, followed by Singapore with GDP hitting US$423.63 billion this year. Vietnamese GDP is therefore predicted to rank fifth in the region this year, ahead of the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, and East Timor. The Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, and East Timor are predicted to record GDP of US$401.66 billion, US$59.53 billion, US$28.33 billion, US$18.5 billion, US$16.25 billion, and US$2.5 billion this year, respectively. Air transport grows 3.7-fold on yearly basis According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the aviation market recorded about 55 million passengers in 2022, rising 3.7-fold from the previous year and equivalent to 69.6% of that in the pre-pandemic 2019. Planes of some Vietnamese airlines (Photo: VNA) In particular, about 43.2 million passengers were transported domestically, increasing 3.5-fold from 2021 and 15.6% from 2019, while 11 million others internationally, up 22-fold from 2021 and equivalent to 27% of that in 2019, reported VNA. About 1.25 million tonnes of cargo were transported by air last year, representing 95% of that in 2021 and equivalent to the volume in 2019. It included 152,000 tonnes carried domestically and 1.1 million tonnes internationally, statistics show. The CAAV noted aviation activities, especially in the domestic market, have recovered since the end of last years first quarter. Right in April, the domestic market was comparable to the same period of 2019. Driven by a boom in summer travel demand, it completely recovered and grew by over 30% in July and August compared to the same months of 2019. Photo for illustration (Source: kinhtemoitruong.vn) Besides, authorities have actively discussed with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and foreign aviation agencies, including those of Russia, Germany, the UK, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan (China), Australia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Poland, Romania, and China, so as to reopen international air routes. Particularly, the Vietnamese side has kept contact with aviation authorities of China and India to increase flight frequency and the destinations available. However, the recovery of international flights remains slow although Vietnam lifted restrictions on foreign arrivals on March 15 and resumed visa exemption for citizens from 25 countries in May, the CAAV admitted./. The United States Embassy in Cuba is reopening visa and consular services Wednesday, the first time it has done so since a spate of unexplained health incidents among diplomatic staff in 2017 slashed the American presence in Havana. The Embassy confirmed this week it will begin processing immigrant visas, with a priority placed on permits to reunite Cubans with family in the U.S., and others like the diversity visa lottery. The resumption comes amid the greatest migratory flight from Cuba in decades, which has placed pressure on the Biden administration to open more legal pathways to Cubans and start a dialogue with the Cuban government, despite a historically tense relationship. They are anticipated to give out at least 20,000 visas a year, though it's just a drop in the bucket of the migratory tide, which is fueled by intensifying economic and political crises on the island. In late December, U.S. authorities reported stopping Cubans 34,675 times along the Mexico border in November, up 21% from 28,848 times in October. Month to month, that number has gradually risen. Cubans are now the second-largest nationality after Mexicans appearing on the border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows. The growing migration is due to a complex array of factors, including economic, energy and political crises, as well deep discontent among Cubans. While the vast majority of Cuban migrants head to the U.S. via flights to Nicaragua and cross by land at the U.S. border with Mexico, thousands more have also taken a dangerous voyage by sea. They travel 90 miles to the Florida coast, often arriving in rickety, precariously constructed boats packed with migrants. The exodus from Cuba is also compounded by rising migration to the U.S. from other countries like Haiti and Venezuela, forcing the U.S. government to grapple with a growingly complex situation on its southern border. The renewal of visa work at the embassy comes after a series of migration talks and visits by U.S. officials to Havana in recent months, and may also be the sign of a slow thawing between the two governments. "Engaging in these talks underscores our commitment to pursuing constructive discussions with the government of Cuba where appropriate to advance U.S. interests," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement in November following an American delegation's visit to Cuba. The small steps are far cry from relations under President Barack Obama, who eased many American Cold War-era sanctions during his time in office and made a historic visit to the island in 2016. Visa and consular services were closed on the island in 2017 after embassy staff were afflicted in a series of health incidents, alleged sonic attacks that remain largely unexplained. As a result, many Cubans who wanted to legally migrate to the U.S. have had to fly to places like Guyana to do so before migrating or reuniting with family. While relations have always been tense between Cuba and the U.S., they were heightened following the embassy closure and the Trump administration's tightening of sanctions on Cuba. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. has eased some restrictions on things like remittances and family travel from Miami to Cuba, but has fallen short of hopes by many in Cuba that a Biden presidency would return the island to its "Obama era." Restrictions on tourist travel to Cuba, and imports and exports of many goods, remain in place. Also kindling tensions has been the Cuban government's harsh treatment of participants in the island's 2021 protests, including hefty prison sentences doled out to minors, a constant point of criticism by the Biden administration. Cuban officials have repeatedly expressed optimism about talks with the U.S. and steps to reopen visa services. Cuban Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Cossio said in November that ensuring migration through safe and legal pathways is a "mutual objective" by both countries. But Cossio also blamed the flight of tens of thousands from the island on U.S. sanctions, saying that "there's no doubt that a policy meant to depress the living standards of a population is a direct driver of migration." Russian forces carried out aerial attacks on multiple areas in Ukraine overnight, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia could be boosting its use of Iranian-made drones. Ukrainian officials said Tuesday the latest strikes from Russian missiles and artillery hit the city of Druzhkivka in the eastern Donetsk region, as well as Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine and Dnipropetrovsk in the southeastern part of the country. Zelenskyy said during his nightly video address Monday that his government has information that Russia is planning "a prolonged attack" with the Shahed drones it has used in recent months to crash into targets across Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Russia may be betting on the "exhaustion of our people, our air defense, our energy sector," as he praised those involved in defending Ukraine from the aerial attacks. Earlier Monday, Russia said 63 of its troops were killed Saturday in Ukrainian missile strikes on their quarters in the town of Makiivka in the Russian-controlled part of the Ukraines Donetsk region. SEE ALSO: 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. Ukraine said the Russian death toll was in the hundreds, but pro-Russian officials called it an exaggeration. 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. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. VATICAN CITY (REUTERS) - Tens of thousands more people paid homage to former Pope Benedict on Tuesday on the second day his body lay in state, and the Vatican announced that his funeral will be similar to that of a reigning pope, including a three coffin burial. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who like Benedict has called for the protection of Europe's Christian roots, was among some 70,000 people paying their respects at St. Peter's Basilica, following 65,000 on Monday. Also among them was Rome resident Loredana Corrao, who said she was a great admirer of Benedict, a towering figure as an academic and a hero to conservatives but also a controversial leader who did not tolerate theological dissent. "It was a fitting tribute. It was very emotional and moving. I also came yesterday but I had things to say to him and I also came today," she told Reuters. "I am sure that an important part of the Church's history has closed and now we have to move on without him." Pope Francis has been carrying on his normal workload since Benedict died on Saturday at age 95. He had a regular series of audiences and meetings on Monday and Tuesday and will hold his weekly general audience on Wednesday. The death of Benedict, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down instead of reigning for life, could make any decision to leave office easier on Francis and the Church, which encountered difficulties with having "two popes." Francis will preside at Benedict's funeral in St. Peter's Square on Thursday before a crowd that Vatican police say will number in the tens of thousands. Three coffins Because Benedict was no longer a reigning pontiff when he died, official delegations have been limited to those from Italy and his native Germany. Among those expected to attend in a private capacity were the presidents of Poland and Hungary and the monarchs of Spain and Belgium. Benedict has been laying in state without any papal regalia, such as a crosier, a silver staff with a crucifix, or a pallium, a band of wool cloth worn around the neck by popes and archdiocesan bishops to signify their roles as shepherds of their flocks. Popes are also bishops of Rome. 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. The liturgy for Thursday's funeral Mass will be based mostly on that for a reigning pope, with some minor modifications, particularly in the prayers, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. Palliums will be placed in Benedict's coffin along with coins and medals minted during his eight years as pope and a sealed lead tube holding a deed written in Latin describing his pontificate all customary for funerals of popes. As is traditional for popes, Benedict's body will be placed in a cypress coffin which will be carried out of St. Peter's Basilica and into the square for the funeral. Later, as is also traditional, that one will be placed into a zinc coffin and then both will be placed into another coffin made of wood. 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. CALVINIA, SOUTH AFRICA (REUTERS) - Armed with a flask of coffee, some boiled eggs and a towel to shield his bare legs from the scorching sun, 90-year-old Frans Hugo sets off every Thursday to deliver newspapers in the South African desert. Week in, week out, the elderly editor has made the 1,200-kilometer round trip across the semi-arid Karoo region in the country's south. He has been doing it for some four decades. Born Charl Francois Hugo in Cape Town in 1932 but known to everyone simply as Frans he is arguably the last bastion of a dying business. The energetic nonagenarian edits and hand-delivers three local papers The Messenger, Die Noordwester and Die Oewernuus. Driving an orange Fiat Multipla stacked with copies of the eight-page weeklies and with an old portable radio to keep him company, Hugo brings news to the towns and villages dotting this vast, parched back-country. 1,200 km every week Hugo leaves at 1:30 a.m. from Calvinia, a small town of less than 3,000 souls about 500 kilometers north of Africa's southernmost tip, and he comes back in the early evening. "I am like a pompdonkie," he told AFP on a recent tour, using the local moniker for the nodding donkey pumps used to extract groundwater from boreholes. "I keep doing this every Thursday without fail. I will probably stop when I am physically not capable of doing it anymore." Hugo worked as a journalist in Cape Town and then in Namibia for almost 30 years before retiring to this remote region. "I couldn't handle the pressure anymore, so I moved to the Karoo," he said. "Just as I was able to take a breath and relax, the man who owned the printers and the newspaper here in Calvinia came to ask me if I was interested in the business." His daughter and her husband got involved but tired and quit after a few months. "I've been sitting with this thing ever since," he quipped. Cellphones and printers Helped by his wife and three assistants, Hugo has kept alive some historic small-town titles at a time where many printed newspapers around the world are struggling to survive the digital age. The Messenger, previously known as the Victoria West Messenger, was founded in 1875, while Die Noordwester and Die Oewernuus started printing in the 1900s. All three are written in Afrikaans, a language descended from Dutch settlers and one of South Africa's 11 official tongues, but they sometimes carry stories in English. Hugo scoffs at people wanting "to read the news on their cellphones." The rise of the internet has hit readership but is seemingly yet to reach his newsroom, which looks like a museum. The office is adorned by an old Heidelberg printing press and paper cutting machines. Staff use computers and software from the early 1990s. Still, Hugo's team prints about 1,300 copies a week, something he says shows an undying appetite for community news. The papers sell for eight rand (about 50 U.S. cents) and are dropped off at shops, convenience stores and the correspondents' homes. The readers are mainly farmers, living in a remote, semi-arid landscape. Writing in Afrikaans, which actor Charlize Theron recently controversially said was still spoken only by "about 44 people," keeps the language alive and ties together small communities separated by hundreds of kilometers of desert, according to Hugo. As long as he's around and has the required strength, they will receive their paper every Thursday. What will happen later does not concern him, he said. "I don't have a clue what will happen ... in five years or 10 years," he said. "I am not worried." Opposition lawmaker, Job Sikhala, was today denied bail by a Harare High Court judge after he approached it for a review of a lower court decision that turned down his request for bail in a case in which he is accused of allegedly inciting violence. Justice Samuel Deme denied Sikhala bail application without giving reasons. Sikhala has been denied bail several times by the lower courts where one magistrate claimed that he was a habitual criminal. SIkhala allegedly incited violence while he was addressing people in Nyatsime, few days after mutilated remains of Citizens Coalition for Change activist, Moreblessing Ali, were found dumped in a shallow well in Nyatsime. The suspected killer, Pius Jamba Mukandi, has confessed in court of killing Ali, whose remains are still at Chitungwiza General Hospital mortuary. Mukandi is a Zanu PF member. The Zimbabwean courts are also expected on Monday to make a ruling on Sikhalas request to allow journalists to livestream his trial. The state is strongly opposed to livestreaming the trial with fears that it may spark in nationwide protests over the handling of Sikhalas case. Some political parties are now calling for protests over the Sikhalas arrest. VOA Correspondent Frank Chikowore contributed to this article Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. That is according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba. "Last year, we completed a revolutionary decision to provide Ukraine with American Patriot systems, which was agreed upon by the leaders of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden. We expect the deployment of Patriots as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun," Dmytro Kuleba stated at an online briefing on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Interfax-Ukraine reports. Ukraines Foreign Minister added that President Zelensky and the entire diplomatic team are intensively working on new solutions regarding the supply of new types of Western weapons, in particular, tanks and other armored vehicles. A PAC-3 missile launcher, note the four missiles in each canister / Photo credit: US Army In December, Washington announced another nearly $2 billion military aid package that announced the delivery of the first Patriot missile defense battery to Ukraine. Earlier it was reported that the Ukrainian military had already begun a training course on working with these systems. Ukraine has developed a special plan for preparing the military to work on Patriot systems. Read more: It Became Known About US Plans to Send Patriot Missile Defense System to Ukraine BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education has issued a circular ordering relevant authorities to crack down on de facto academic tutoring and tighten their regulation of non-academic tutoring during the winter vacation. Localities should disseminate policies concerning off-campus training among parents, it said, asking parents to avoid blindly enrolling their children in tutoring classes. The circular also urged localities to organize sporting, cultural, or parent-child interaction activities to help children spend their winter vacation in meaningful ways. Editor: WXL Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Microsoft Corp.s management would be forgiven for rubbing their hands in anticipation about their new toy. For years, the companys Bing search engine has been the butt of jokes for its inability to make a dent in Googles overwhelming market share. That the No. 1 search term on Bing is Google just deepens the humiliation. But Microsoft hasnt given up on Bing. According to reports from Bloomberg News and The Information, Microsoft is preparing to upgrade its unloved search tool with the technology behind ChatGPT, the generative AI tool that grabbed the worlds attention late last year with its ability to answer wide-ranging questions in natural-sounding language. Alphabet Inc.s Google sometimes uses AI to summarize an answer to certain queries, but it is incentivized to avoid making those answers too good. That would risk disrupting its biggest revenue source, which involves getting people to click on the links in its search results. So important is that model that Google has been gradually clogging up its first page of results with more ads in recent years, something it can get away with thanks to its dominant hold on the market for search. Advertisement That is one reason why Microsofts integration of the technology behind ChatGPT wont pose an immediate threat to Google. Large online platforms like Facebook and Google have learned over the years that they no longer need to be all that innovative to compete with one another; they can coast on the lucrative, entrenched ad-driven models they have already built. Google.com is the most visited website on earth, and it could take years for global consumers to recondition that habit. That isnt to say it would be impossible, but challenging Google search with a generative AI text engine will be tough for Microsoft for two other reasons. One is that Microsoft will have to iron out the tendency for the language model behind ChatGPT to be confidently incorrect. The underlying model, created by the firm OpenAI and known as GPT-3.5, has been caught spewing out inaccurate answers about historic and literary figures, in a manner that could be hard to spot thanks to its authoritative and scholarly tone. Its unclear how often ChatGPT, which is the consumer-facing application of GPT-3.5, gets things factually wrong. In my own experience using the service, I noticed one glaring error among some 20 other answers that were accurate.(1) But inaccuracies even in edge cases can be enough to damage trust in a system and put off prospective users. It doesnt help that ChatGPT doesnt provide footnotes or sourcing for its answers, offering instead a mysterious synthesis of publicly available web data compiled only through late 2021 that it was trained on. Advertisement Microsoft is concerned about the accuracy issue, according to Bloomberg News, and executives are weighing how to fix that, versus how quickly it can be rolled into Bing. That points to the second problem Microsoft is facing. As it grapples with alternative facts, it is also racing against competition from other application makers. Bing is the second most popular search engine in the world behind Google, and its share has been steadily growing over the last decade, but it still only makes up about 9% of the global search market, while Google dominates with about 85%. That means that an outside party using ChatGPTs technology or something similar thats fast, smart and easy to use could dislodge Bing from second place. This is certainly possible, because Microsoft isnt the only company using OpenAIs technology. OpenAI began selling access to its large language model in 2020 and by the following year, tens of thousands of developers had used GPT-3.5 to make more than 300 applications, including games and specific search tools for websites. OpenAI declined to provide updated figures. There are already several services, like Neeva, You.com and Perplexity.ai, that are crawling the web and augmenting their own search results using GPT-3.5, or their own language models, to spit out single, fused answers that sound like they come from an all-knowing oracle. Some services like Neeva cite sources, and this seems like a wise approach to integrating a language model into search. Advertisement A Chrome extension called Web ChatGPT, which can be used on ChatGPTs website also adds citations to its answers. It canvasses recent web posts to produce its results, potentially circumventing the problem that ChatGPTs database is only being updated through 2021. I used it on Wednesday to ask about Kevin McCarthys bid to be speaker of the US House of Representatives and it returned a single, humanlike answer after a few seconds, with footnotes, based on scanning news articles over the previous 24 hours: Text- and image-generating services are widely expected to explode onto the scene this year in an array of apps. With many of them using the same underlying AI models from organizations like OpenAI and Stability AI, most will distinguish themselves from one another by clever design and functionality. A slick interface can sometimes be critical to success it certainly helped apps like Uber. But Microsofts strength has always been in building enterprise products like Office 360 and the Azure cloud computing platform, not polished, free web services that attract a broader consumer base. Microsoft will at least have a technological edge. Microsoft is a big investor in OpenAI, having committed $1 billion so far. The relationship allows OpenAIs GPT-3.5 and ChatGPT to run on Microsofts Azure cloud infrastructure. The computing power needed to run the technology is expensive OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has cited a cost of single-digit cents per chat, which likely adds up to millions of dollars weekly. Advertisement For that investment, Microsoft should get early access to GPT-4, the next iteration of OpenAIs language model, due to launch later this year, which is said to be leaps and bounds better than the last. If GPT-4 irons out the accuracy problems, and Microsoft can make an appealing search interface, then it probably can pose a threat to Google search. And if it can do that, it may also find new and exciting ways to integrate ChatGPT technology into some of its other subsidiaries, including LinkedIn, speech recognition business Nuance Communications, content moderation firm Two Hat Security and GitHub Inc., the globally popular platform for coders. But it will be an uphill battle until then. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Big Tech Is in Crisis. Thats Exactly What It Needed: Parmy Olson Actually, It Has Been a Wonderful Year for Techs Future: Tim Culpan Advertisement Big Tech Has Failed to Live Up to Its Promise: Allison Schrager (1) The error involved a classic novel. ChatGPT cited the main character as having a volatile relationship with his parents, when in fact the parents in the story were dead. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is author of We Are Anonymous. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Fred Upton will not be the next speaker of the House. The Michigan Republican, who retired from the House of Representatives this year after spending his career as a model of reason in a party that no longer employs it, has seen his name bandied about as a potential antidote to the GOP crazytown currently under way in the House. After House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy failed to gain the speakership on three successive votes yesterday, the moment is ripe for alternative scenarios. The Upton Scenario is very appealing to good-government sorts, since Upton was among the minority of House Republicans that cares about competent governance and might even have some ideas about how to furnish it. Its an enticing vision: With help from a handful of Republicans and most Democrats, one of the last of the moderate breed takes the gavel and governs the House for two years under a bipartisan caretaker regime. Advertisement This seemed to be the sort of thing that Republican Representative Don Bacon was hinting at when he told CNN that there have been preliminary talks with Democrats on a possible consensus candidate for speaker. The threat to the extremists is implicit: Get behind McCarthy or you may end up with a worst-case scenario a speaker with integrity, moderation and little tolerance for bomb throwers. There are a couple reasons to be skeptical that this weighted balloon might ever take flight. First, it presumes that all 212 Democrats would prefer a competent moderate Republican in charge of a well-ordered House instead of a degrading circus that reveals Republicans as buffoons. Are 212 Democrats really that nice? Second, it would require at least a handful of Republicans to support Uptons bid. Presumably these would be some of the 18 Republicans from districts President Joe Biden carried in 2020. They would also have to be Republicans willing to endure a primary opponent labeling them traitors and raising lots of money to broadcast that message. Oh, and one more thing: They would have to be prepared for their spouses and children to withstand regular death threats from their partys unhinged MAGA wing, and to have the king of Mar-a-Lago dragging them for their perfidy. Advertisement Republicans from swing districts might well prefer a speaker of the House with integrity. But do they want one badly enough to sacrifice their careers and their families? Seems like a high price to pay. More likely, House Republicans will come around to someone like Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana. He is already in the House leadership as McCarthys No. 2. By supplanting McCarthy, he could deliver extremists the kind of victory that requires no familiarity with principles or policies just a head on a spike. For a day or two, Speaker Scalise could bask in the glow of victory. Then the unraveling could begin anew. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Republicans Are in Power Without a Plan: The Editors Trump Lit the Fire Burning Down McCarthys House: Joshua Green The Republican Civil War? Its On: Jonathan Bernstein Advertisement Want more Bloomberg Opinion? Subscribe to our daily newsletter. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Francis Wilkinson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering U.S. politics and policy. Previously, he was an editor for the Week, a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article At the invitation of the Brazilian government, Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative Vice President Wang Qishan attends the inauguration ceremony of Brazil's new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, Jan. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BRASILIA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the Brazilian government, Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative Vice President Wang Qishan has attended the inauguration ceremony of Brazil's new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and met with him in Brasilia, capital of Brazil. During his stay in Brazil from Saturday to Monday, Wang also met with Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin and incumbent Vice President Hamilton Mourao respectively. While meeting with Lula, Wang handed over a letter signed by Xi and conveyed Xi's warm congratulations and best wishes to Lula as well as his invitation for Lula to visit China. President Lula is an old friend of the Chinese people, who has long been caring for and supporting the development of China-Brazil relations, Wang said. Noting that both China and Brazil have recently completed major domestic political agendas, he said the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held, electing a new central leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and mapping out strategic plans for the development of various undertakings for the Party and the country in the coming period, adding that Brazil has also elected a new government. Wang said he believes that on their respective new journey, both countries and their people, and both the CPC and the Brazilian Workers' Party (PT), will continue to strengthen solidarity and coordination, and jointly create an even better future for China-Brazil relations. Wang put forward a four-point proposal on the future development of China-Brazil relations. First, he called for strengthening top-level design of both sides and actively promoting bilateral exchanges in diplomatic, parliamentary, judicial, military, local and other areas. The second, Wang said, is to consolidate and expand practical cooperation in economy and trade, and in particular to actively explore cooperation in such emerging industries as science and technology innovation, digital economy and green economy. Third, Wang suggested the two sides deepen multilateral strategic coordination, jointly defend true multilateralism, and strengthen coordination on climate change and other issues. The fourth is to strengthen overall cooperation between China and Latin America, he said, stressing China is ready to enhance communication with the Brazilian side on the issues of holding the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and deepening relations with regional organizations such as the Southern Common Market and the Union of South American Nations. For his part, Lula asked Wang to convey his heartfelt thanks and cordial greetings to Xi, and extended warm welcome to Wang for attending his inauguration ceremony. Brazil attaches great importance to its relations with China, and hopes to strengthen strategic and long-term cooperation with the country, Lula said, adding that the PT, to which he belongs, is also willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges with the CPC. Brazil and China, as two countries with important influence, should play active roles in promoting the common progress of developing countries, he said, adding that he looks forward to leading a delegation to China to further deepen bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, enhance friendship between the people of the two countries, and lift Brazil-China relations to a new level. When meeting with Alckmin, Wang congratulated him on his election, and said that China and Brazil are the largest developing countries in the Eastern and Western Hemisphere, respectively. For a long time, practical cooperation has always worked as a "stabilizer" and "propeller" in the relationship between the two countries, Wang added. The China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee (COSBAN), the highest-level dialogue and cooperation mechanism between the two governments, has played an irreplaceable role in deepening bilateral relations, and planning and guiding cooperation in various fields between the two countries, Wang said. Wang said he expects that Alckmin will lead the Brazilian team of COSBAN to strengthen alignment with China, so as to inject new impetus into the in-depth development of bilateral relations in the new era. Noting that the friendship between Brazil and China is timeless, Alckmin said the two sides enjoy extensive fields of cooperation, strong complementarity in economy and trade, and broad prospects for development. The Brazilian side is willing to continue to make good use of the COSBAN mechanism, further strengthen communication with the Chinese side, seize opportunities and tap potentials so as to upgrade their level of cooperation, Alckmin added. When meeting with Mourao, Wang said the Chinese people value friendship and will never forget their old friends. China highly appreciates Mourao's important contributions to promoting the sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations, Wang said, hoping that Mourao can care for and promote the development of China-Brazil relations as always. Noting that China-Brazil relations have made remarkable progress in recent years, Mourao said that he believes bilateral relations will be a priority for Brazil's new government, and that he is willing to continue to make contributions to the Brazil-China friendly cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative Vice President Wang Qishan hands over a letter signed by Xi to Brazil's new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva while meeting with him in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, Jan. 2, 2023. At the invitation of the Brazilian government, Wang Qishan has attended the inauguration ceremony of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and met with him in Brasilia. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Editor: WXL Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The various political correctness scandals on college campuses, such as a group at Stanford recommending against the use of the words American and immigrant, get a lot of headlines. But there are more gradual, less visible changes that also contribute to the declining status of the US system of higher education. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight One issue is the increased emphasis, in terms of both student majors and faculty slots, toward computer science and engineering. That is an entirely appropriate development, motivated by changing labor markets, and institutions of higher education are right to make this shift. That said, it is unlikely that these fields can bring as much status to universities as the social sciences and humanities have. Notable achievements in fields such as artificial intelligence tend to be associated with the private sector, even when universities do some of the underlying research. The neural net innovator Geoffrey Hinton of the University of Toronto, for example, despite being extremely important, is not a public figure or recognizable in the same way as, say, Paul Krugman. Advertisement Another problem is the ongoing mental health crisis among Americas youth. This is not the fault of universities, to be clear, but a lot of unhappy students make for a less enjoyable college experience. The warm glow that so many baby boomers associate with their college years may not be reproduced by the current generation. They might instead look back on a quite troubled time, and in turn have less school loyalty. I have also observed (as have many of my colleagues) that students seem to have more absences, excuses and missed assignments. No matter what the causes of those developments, they make it harder to run an effective university. In fact, many of the smartest young people I know are deciding against a career in academia, even if that was their initial intent. They see too much bureaucracy and not enough time for the academic work itself. Students in the biosciences, at least the ones I talk to, seem to be an exception, perhaps because the opportunities to change the world are so obvious. Advertisement In my own field, economics, the prospect of having to do a pre-doc and then six years for a Ph.D. is driving away creative talent. On the research side, there is an obsession with finding the correct empirical techniques for causal inference. Initially a merited and beneficial development, this approach is becoming an intellectual straitjacket. There are too many papers focusing on a suitably narrow topic to make the causal inference defensible, rather than trying to answer broader, more useful but also more difficult questions. I also am hearing more academics especially women question whether they should be in the academy at all. They feel poorly treated, and the tenure clock remains in conflict with the biological clock. As committee obligations, paperwork and referee reports accumulate, the idea that academia allows you to be in charge of your own time seems ever more distant. Bureaucratization is eating away at the free time of professors. Much of the glamour of the job is gone, and my fear is that the system increasingly attracts conformists. Many of these variables do not change much in a single year, nor do they make for clickable headlines. But in the longer run they may pose a greater danger to the health and influence of the US system of higher education. Advertisement There are also big differences within universities. I have been a professor for more than three decades and speak often at other campuses. My impression is that presidents, provosts and deans are relatively sane, if only because they face real trade-offs as they draw up budgets, raise money and make payroll. University staff or student groups, on the other hand, often have no sense of the underlying constraints, and so advocate for ideas and practices that lead to some ridiculous stories. The actual decision makers are frequently not strong enough to push back, so they accept the demands as a way to survive or even advance. Over time, the faculty are losing bargaining power, even though they are a big part of what makes a university special. Erosion of talent is again a likely consequence. Yes, American academia is in crisis. But the headlines dont give a sense of the depth of that crisis. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: The Economics of Higher Education Are Only Getting Worse: Noah Smith College Tuition Is Too High, But It Isnt Actually Rising: Matthew Yglesias Im Helping to Start a New College Because Higher Ed Is Broken: Niall Ferguson Want more Bloomberg Opinion? Subscribe to our daily newsletter. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. He is coauthor of Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Say this for the new Republicans in Congress: They made history. Now they just need to start making an agenda, rather than stumbling onward in discord and disarray. For the first time in a century, members of the House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot. Nineteen Republicans voted against their partys leading candidate, Representative Kevin McCarthy, leaving him 15 votes shy of victory. The Democratic Partys unanimous choice for the job, Hakeem Jeffries, secured more votes than McCarthy. Two further rounds of votes went no better for the GOP. Theres nothing wrong with multiple ballots to elect a speaker, per se. If a party is torn between competing leadership factions, a speakers race provides a good forum for the debate. In this case, however, all of Congress is being held hostage by a small group of right-wing extremists who have spent weeks extracting concessions from McCarthy that even if hes elected will make governing a closely divided House nearly impossible. Advertisement A more prudent leader in such a situation mightve asked moderate Democratic lawmakers for their votes, thus avoiding this mess and laying the groundwork for a productively bipartisan session. McCarthy ruled out doing so early on. Now he needs nearly every Republican vote to win the job, which explains his solicitous attitude toward the extremists. It also explains why McCarthy has had so little to say about a freshman GOP representative named George Santos. Politicians are known for stretching the truth. Santos was elected on a resume that was a lie from top to bottom, one of the most brazenly fraudulent cons ever put over on the voting public. He simply made up his family heritage, educational background, career achievements and just about everything else. Credit Long Islands previously obscure North Shore Leader for digging up a scandal that the rest of the media missed. Federal prosecutors are now investigating whether Santoss deceptions included campaign-finance violations. (Santos denies wrongdoing.) These kinds of distractions are what happens when a political party effectively ignores public policy. After a campaign in which culture-war issues took the place of an actual governing agenda and in which the GOP nominated numerous on-message candidates who were clearly unfit for office House Republicans have found themselves in power without a plan. Rather than looking to solve real problems, their top priority seems to be a scheme to kneecap the Office of Congressional Ethics, which is as bad as it sounds. Advertisement The ethics office is meant to review outside complaints about congressional wrongdoing, and to pass on serious accusations to the House Committee on Ethics. Republicans want to block the office from hiring staff, impose term limits that would remove several Democratic board members, and otherwise prevent it from doing useful work. The effect of these changes would be to severely undermine the offices nonpartisan mandate. Without a strong and independent ethics office, both parties in the House will be even more inclined to ignore wrongdoing. Agree or disagree with House Democrats: At least they knew what they wanted to accomplish while in office. There are no shortage of pressing issues facing the country, and theres no shortage of good ideas for addressing them. No matter who is elected speaker, Americans need Republicans in Congress to come up with an agenda that doesnt look like it was drawn up to protect scoundrels and swindlers. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Trump Lit the Fire Burning Down McCarthys House: Joshua Green Nancy Pelosis Lesson for Her Successor: Matthew Yglesias What Happened to Republicans Policy Agenda?: Jonathan Bernstein The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Whether its going after shady Russian oligarchs or chiding governments for failing to tackle corruption, one of the European Unions most potent weapons is its own record in fighting graft closer to home. So its no surprise that the blocs critics are making the most of a bribery scandal at the European Parliament involving lurid revelations of suitcases stuffed with cash. The case centers on just a handful of people at the 705-member assembly, but could still undercut the EUs soft power. 1. How did it begin? In early 2021, Belgian police began to investigate possible interference by a foreign government in the EUs decision-making, acting on information from the countrys intelligence services, according to newspaper Le Soir. Police made more than 20 searches at homes and offices of European lawmakers and parliamentary assistants in Brussels the countrys capital and the heart of EU decision making and in Italy, seizing about 1.5 million euros in cash. In December 2022, they arrested four suspects, including Greek lawmaker and former newsreader Eva Kaili, her Italian partner Francesco Giorgi and Italian former European Parliament member Pier Antonio Panzeri, and charged them with being part of a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. Kaili was stripped of her role as one of 14 vice presidents of the assembly. Advertisement 2. What are they alleged to have done? The case focuses on a Gulf nation thats suspected of having sought to influence economic and political decisions of the European Parliament, according to a statement from Belgian prosecutors to Le Soir. They believe cash and other gifts were used to secure favors from people of influence in the legislature. Investigators were focusing on Panzeris time as chair of a parliamentary human rights committee, when he worked with the government of Qatar, according to a statement to prosecutors by Giorgi and a former assistant to Panzeri cited by the paper. Both Qatar and Morocco were mentioned in documents related to the case. Kaili, Panzeri and the government of Qatar denied any wrongdoing. Giorgi admitted he was involved in activities led by Panzeri aimed at favoring the interests of Qatar and Morocco in EU affairs, Le Soir reported. Former EU commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos also came under fire when it emerged that hed accepted 60,000 for work carried out for a non-governmental organization run by Panzeri that was linked to the graft allegations. 3. Why is this significant for the EU? Advertisement Although its not as influential as the EUs other main institutions the European Commission and the European Council the European Parliament is seen as a defender of ethical standards in the bloc, with a history of holding its other bodies to account. In the late 1990s, the parliament forced the commissions entire political leadership to quit over alleged fraud and corruption involving a French commissioner, Edith Cresson. The legislature has intervened in other appointments to the EU executive since then. 4. What are the EUs critics saying? Britains right-wing press leapt on the latest scandal as proof that the country was right to quit the bloc. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban suggested the European Parliament was guilty of double-standards in calling out his government for cronyism. French hardline nationalist leader Marine Le Pen, who in the past campaigned for her country to quit the EU, hit out at all these corrupt people who are supposedly in the camp of the good. Advertisement 5. Whats the European Parliament doing about it? Its hurrying to bolster its anti-graft defenses to avoid further damage to its reputation. The assemblys president, Roberta Metsola, said she would leave no stone unturned in fighting attempts to exert undue influence on lawmakers. She called for improved protections for whistleblowers, an investigation into the funding of lobby groups that work with the parliament and more scrutiny of how its lawmakers interact with non-EU governments. This could include a transparency registry to record meetings of parliamentarians with representatives of third countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen repeated a call for the establishment of an EU-wide ethics body, an idea that the parliament ignored when she first proposed it in March 2022. 6. What does it mean for Qatar? Advertisement The Gulf state has been trying to improve its image abroad after facing criticism over the treatment of migrant workers during preparations to host the soccer World Cup in late 2022. It appeared to have found an ally in Kaili, who said in November that Qatar was a front-runner in labor rights. Before the scandal, the European Parliament had been expected to approve a loosening of visa rules for Qataris holidaying in the EU and to ratify a 2019 agreement on adding more flights between Qatar and the bloc. The scandal has put the fate of those measures in doubt. The EU will need to tread carefully as its member states are trying to strike deals with Qatar to buy more of its natural gas and alleviate an energy crisis gripping the region. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Perhaps the most famous trading experiment ever conducted was when commodities investor Richard Dennis bet his partner William Eckhardt in 1983 that he could train a group of amateurs dubbed the Turtles -- to be successful futures traders. The bet was to be settled by giving the Turtles real money to trade. In the end, the Turtles compiled an impressive record, handing Dennis the win. Although the experiment settled the issue in popular imagination, it lacked the transparency, controls and statistical rigor demanded by academics. So ever since, researchers have strived to understand trading success through various studies efforts that have not escaped notice of firms that are in the business of trading financial assets. The latest entry in this quest comes from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in conjunction with researchers at the University of Southern California and University College London. For a paper titled Strategic Sophistication and Trading Profits: An Experiment with Professional Traders, the authors recruited 56 professional traders, plus an equal-size sample of students for controls, and evaluated their performance in a computer-simulated trading game. They then tested their subjects on a wide range of specific skills to see which skills were correlated to trading success. Advertisement The main finding was that among students the only useful predictor of trading success was general intelligence. Among professional traders, though, neither intelligence nor other personality traits and cognitive skills mattered much. Success did not depend on any fundamental insight about value. What mattered was strategic sophistication in the sense of taking analysis of other peoples behavior to high levels. This calls to mind the folk wisdom found in poker, which is that beginners think about their cards. With a little experience, they start thinking of the other guys cards. Poker begins when you think about what the other guy thinks about your cards. The Fed paper suggests that professional traders are playing poker, while the students are playing games like chess, backgammon or blackjack that depend on intelligence rather than guessing what other people are thinking. Most people will file this away as a mildly interesting factoid. Its not surprising in that we know professional trading organizations use poker and other strategic games such as Wall Street firm Jane Streets Figgie -- to select and train traders. But the papers finding goes well beyond the claim that strategy is valuable for trading. It suggests that other things such as intelligence, risk strategies, personality traits or knowledge of fundamental value do not matter or at least are so evenly distributed among traders that they cant be used to predict success. Advertisement Moreover, the paper, and many previous ones in this area, contradict the result of the Turtle experiment which suggests trading success is a matter of following certain rules, not anything in the traders personality or mind. Conventional Wall Street wisdom is that there are prerequisite mental traits for successful trading, but there are many variants, not a single strategic skill. Poker players sometimes make good traders, but not always. And chess players, backgammon and all other expert game players can succeed in different ways. Plus, whatever raw talent a person has, success is thought to require extended apprenticeship. In contrast, the Fed paper did not find any advantage to years of education or experience or other indicators of trading. Who should you believe? The Turtle experiment and Wall Street folk wisdom have one great advantage, in that they are based on real people trading large amounts of money in real financial markets. Unfortunately, that makes controlled experimentation prohibitively expensive. Formal studies and other academic work conducted under laboratory conditions make the results much more scientific, but at the cost of being one layer removed from reality. The Fed study uses a particularly sophisticated trading simulation, but its still a simulation with relatively small-dollar stakes. If you are not a trader but want to be one, either for your own account or for an institution, the study suggests you should play poker rather than attending class and take game theory courses over economics. Conventional wisdom says you should develop your comparative advantages, whatever they are, and study successful traders. If your interest is to understand the economic function of trading, the study suggests it is a game that rewards aggregating information from others bids and offers and using that information to provide liquidity. Conventional wisdom suggests trading is a broader skill that combines fundamental and technical information to produce an equilibrium, with many different types of traders performing different functions. Advertisement Of course, this is only one study that will not tip the balance in any direction. And its results only suggest, not prove, broader implications. Still, if you like poker more than class, and game theory more than economics, its good news. You may lose in trading competitions with fellow students, but you have a bright future on Wall Street. On the other hand, if youre counting on traders to assess fundamental economic value, the study is bad news. It suggests theyre focused on outsmarting each other, not on investigating reality. Whatever you think about the study and possible implications, its always good to see a careful, controlled, rigorous analysis in an area where opinions tend to be much stronger than the foundations for those opinions. Hopefully it will cause some deeper thinking about trading both how to do it better and what its role in the economy is from people of all opinions. More from Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement What Could Go Wrong for the Federal Reserve in 2023: Bill Dudley Navigating 2023 With Seven Charts and a Cat: Ashworth & Gilbert Finance Books to Restore Our Common Sense: Merryn Somerset Webb This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Aaron Brown is a former managing director and head of financial market research at AQR Capital Management. He is author of The Poker Face of Wall Street. He may have a stake in the areas he writes about. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article A mother witnessed a bull trample 14-year-old Denim Bradshaw to death. It forced her to decide whether she would let her own son ride in the rodeo. Two dry cargo ships with 92,000 tonnes of wheat and sunflower meal departed from Ukrainian ports on Tuesday, the Joint Coordinating Centre (JCC) has reported. "From December 31 to January 3, ten ships left Ukrainian ports with a total of 467,090 tonnes of grain and other food under the Black Sea Grain Initiative," the JCC said. On January 3, the vessels Velvet (57,000 tonnes of wheat) and Super Odegaard (35,000 tonnes of sunflower meal) left the ports of Ukraine and headed for Bangladesh and China, respectively. From December 31 to January 2, dry cargo ships with Ukrainian food went to China, Turkey, Israel, Tunisia, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. The JCC reported that eight vessels are awaiting permission to enter the Ukrainian ports, 27 loaded dry cargo ships are waiting to sail to their destinations. "As of January 3, the total tonnage of grain and other foodstuffs exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 16,432,665 tonnes. A total of 1,232 voyages (612 inbound and 620 outbound) have been enabled so far," the JCC said The Istanbul Grain Initiative was agreed in July 2022 by the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. Once upon a time, a Christmas visit from the ghost of television future was a fairly conventional affair. Australian scripted drama tended to fall into one of three silos: doctors, coppers and the minutiae of suburban life. Flash forward to the streaming era, and it is not just the business side of the business that has been upended. An influx of blue-chip international content like The Crown and The White Lotus has fundamentally reshaped the audiences expectation and appetite. Teresa Palmer in The Clearing. Credit: Disney+ The volume of new content has also shifted the audiences perception. While local drama and the telling of Australian stories remains a complex maze for creators, platforms and regulators, the content that is made has an ever greater challenge to draw eyeballs in an increasingly crowded space. Even for traditional broadcasters like Nine and Ten, the DNA of their slates of commissioned local content have been reshaped by the fact that both own streaming services Stan (Nine) and Paramount+ (Ten). Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced commencement of pre-departure COVID-19 testing for travellers from China this week, following similar action by the US, Britain, Japan, South Korea and Italy. Similar to these countries, the stated rationale is abundance of caution in the context of uncertainty about the dynamic and evolving situation in China and concern about the potential for new variants to emerge in an environment of high transmission. Are these concerns justified, and if they are, will this requirement mitigate risk? No and no as per Australias Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kellys advice: I do not believe that there is a sufficient public health rationale for imposing restrictions on travellers from China or any other country with a high burden of COVID-19 cases at present. It is commendable that Butler has adopted this high measure of rapid transparency regarding advice. Passengers arriving from China this week wait in front of a COVID-19 testing area set at Charles de Gaulle airport. Australia will follow 10 other nations, including France, in screening passengers from China for COVID. Credit: AP It is clearly important to have timely and transparent data from China, as it is from any country, but pre-departure testing for travellers will have no impact on preventing the importation of new variants. Were in a very different situation now than we were three years ago. Recent experience has found that closing the borders to South Africa one year ago did not curb the spread of Omicron. Ukraine last year exported, according to preliminary data, agricultural products worth at least $20 billion, which is about half less than in 2021, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky said on the air of the national telethon on Wednesday. He also stressed that this is still a very considerable amount, especially given the aggression of the Russian Federation and other circumstances in which Ukraine carried out external deliveries. Solsky noted that in 2021, most of the foreign exchange earnings went to the Ukrainian agricultural sector, while in 2022 infrastructure and logistics companies, including foreign ones, received a significant part of the margin from crop exports. "Ships that come with Ukrainian grain, insurance services and everything else, due to war risks and the conditions in which we live, have risen in price significantly. But this is still item No. 1 on the country's foreign exchange earnings, and there are high chances that next year the situation will be similar," the minister stressed. As reported, according to preliminary data of Deputy Minister of Economy - Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka, last year Ukraine exported 99.8 million tonnes of products and goods of all kinds for a total of $44.1 billion, which is respectively 38.4% and 35% less than in 2021. Australias incoming ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, has declared America needs to stop throwing its allies under a bus if it wants to counter Chinas economic influence in the Asia-Pacific. Rudd, who will take up his Washington posting in March, said the US was operating with one arm tied behind its back in Asia because it had neglected the importance of trade in favour of a narrow focus on defence and national security. Kevin Rudd said the US was operating with one arm tied behind its back in Asia because of its neglect of economics. Credit: Darren England For the future, what is the missing elements in US grand strategy? Its called the economy, stupid, Rudd told Bloomberg TV, quoting a famous dictum attributed to former Bill Clinton adviser James Carville. You cannot continue to assume that therell be collective solidarity on security questions, but on the economy, the United States is happy to throw some of its allies under a bus. London: The Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, the Peoples Daily, declared China would surely win the final victory against the epidemic, a day after Beijing threatened reciprocity against countries demanding travellers from its shores provide negative COVID-19 tests before boarding flights. Australia joined the United States, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Canada in demanding all travellers present a negative test taken no more than 48 hours before departure. Travellers on flights from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau into Australia will have to take a supervised, less-accurate rapid test and present the paperwork to the airline staff before boarding. The measure begins at 12.01am on January 5. Masked commuters head to work during the morning rush hour in Beijing in December 2022. Credit: AP The measure has incensed China, which is preparing to welcome back international visitors when it scraps strict mandatory quarantine arrangements that have been in place as part of President Xi Jinpings zero-COVID strategy. Dubai: An Iranian chess player arrived in Spain after receiving what a source close to her said were warnings not to return to Iran for competing without a hijab at an international tournament in Kazakhstan. Sara Khadem, 25, took part in last weeks FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty without the hijab a headscarf mandatory under Irans strict dress codes. Iranian chess player Sara Khadem. Credit: Instagram The source, who did not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Khadem later received several phone calls in which some people warned her against returning home after the tournament, while others said she should come back, promising to solve her problem. The source also said Khadems relatives and parents, who are in Iran, had also received threats, without giving further details. Two years since he incited an attempted coup and just 12 months out from the US election primaries, Donald Trump is more likely to end up in prison than back in the Oval Office. A combination of legal and political woes make it highly improbable the 45th president will secure the Republican nomination. His days as leader of the free world are almost certainly over, leaving only two questions: will Trump control the chosen GOP candidate, and can he stay out of jail? Donald Trump rides off into the sunset on one of his digital trading cards. Credit: Remarkably, it seems the man who inspired his supporters to attack the worlds most recognised symbol of democratic government has finally committed the only truly unacceptable political sin: losing. Trump has thrown away the last three US election cycles including the 2018 midterms, the 2020 presidential poll and the 2022 midterms, where Democrats unexpectedly held onto the Senate. All but one of Trumps handpicked election-denier candidates lost. UK working to provide extra equipment in coming weeks to ensure Ukraine's victory on battlefield PM British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the afternoon, stressing that Ukraine can count on the UK to continue to support the country in the long term. "The leaders discussed the abhorrent drone attacks on Ukraine in recent days, and the Prime Minister said the thoughts of the UK were with the Ukrainian people as they continued to live under such bombardment," according to a statement on the UK government website. Sunak said Ukraine can count on the UK to continue to support it in the long term, as evidenced by the recent delivery of more than 1,000 anti-aircraft missiles. Work was also underway to provide further equipment in the coming weeks and months to secure Ukraine's victory on the battlefield, the Prime Minister added. Discussing the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Latvia last month, the Prime Minister thanked the President for joining virtually and said the UK and JEF partners were working closely to provide the vital equipment requested. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch in the coming weeks. Trudeau: We to provide Ukraine with what it needs for winter, as long as it takes Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau promised to provide Ukraine with the assistance needed for the winter on the requested scale. "Our support for Ukraine and Ukrainians remains steadfast. I made that clear to President Zelensky today, when we spoke on the phone, and I let him know that we'll make sure they have what they need for the winter and for as long as it takes," the Prime Minister of Canada said on Twitter on Wednesday night. Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the 'Wagner' private military company, tried to justify his group's lack of progress in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, according to a January 3 report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts note that in this way he partially confirmed to the ISW that the Russian occupying forces in Bakhmut had reached a climax. "Prigozhin stated that Wagner's offensive operations in Bakhmut are highly attritional... This is a significant inflection for Prigozhin and the first time he has framed Wagner forces in Bakhmut as making effectively no gains," the report notes. "Prigozhin previously stated that 'Wagner' forces operating in the Bakhmut area advance 100200 meters a day. The 'Wagner' Group conducted information operations to assert that 'Wagner' Group forces exclusively made gains in Bakhmut without the assistance of other Russian elements in December," the ISW said. "Prigozhin is likely setting information conditions to blame 'Wagner' Group's failure to take Bakhmut on the Russian Ministry of Defense or the Russian industrial base. 'Wagner' Group soldiers told Prigozhin that they were unable to break through Ukrainian lines in Bakhmut due to insufficient armored vehicles, ammunition, and 100mm shell supplies... This statement seeks to absolve the 'Wagner' Group and Prigozhin of personal responsibility by attributing their failure to capture Bakhmut to the larger Russian resource allocation problems," the report notes. At the same time, the ISW reports that the Russian occupation troops continue offensive operations in the area of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka in Donetsk region and may be strengthening their grouping in the west of Donetsk region. EXETER TWP., Pa. The Exeter Township Board of Supervisors held its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday evening. Compared to most meetings of the Exeter supervisors, it was relatively quiet, but not every vote was unanimous. George Bell was reappointed supervisor chair by a 3-1 vote, with Bell abstaining and David Hughes opposed. Likewise, Ted Gardella was reappointed vice chair by a 3-1 vote, with Gardella abstaining and Hughes opposed. When the vote came for the reappointment of the interim township manager, Hughes asked to revise the resolution to name Keystone Municipal Solutions in place of Betsy McBride as the interim township manager. McBride works for Keystone Municipal Solutions. After a telephone consultation with Solicitor Chad Schnee, Bell said he was advised that naming McBride as the interim township manager was legal, and she was reappointed by a 4-1 vote with Hughes opposed. Hughes also voiced opposition to the reappointment of the Law Office of Tucker Hull LLC as township solicitor. He said the supervisors should look at other solicitors, and "Chad Schnee (Tucker Hulls representative) was not the man for the job." Gardella defended Schnee, and said, "He has done an outstanding job and maintained his composure in the face of negative pushback." Supervisor David Vollmer also defended Schnee and said, "Chad did an excellent job." Tucker Hull was reappointed by a 4-1 vote. The position of municipal landfill inspector was another point of opposition for Hughes. He said he believed nominee Will Brugger, township zoning officer, "is too close to the people running the landfill." Brugger was reappointed by a 4-1 vote, although Supervisor Michelle Kircher said she would like to see a second person trained to handle the position. Additional reappointments Michelle R. Portnoff as township solicitor for the limited purpose of collecting delinquent and overdue sewer accounts. Joe Rogosky, Great Valley Consultants, Wyomissing, as township engineer and traffic engineer. Terry Naugle, Great Valley Consultants, as building code official and fire code official. Tristate Financial Group LLC, Bridgeport, as business privilege tax collector. Tax Claim Bureau of Berks County as delinquent tax collector. LTL Consultants Ltd., Oley, as township sewer enforcement officer and fee collector for township sewer enforcement. Sgt. David Bentz, Exeter Township police, as emergency management coordinator. Brian Sands as plumbing inspector. Dean Batson as zoning hearing board member. First National Bank of Pennsylvania as depository of township funds. Other appointments By a 4-1 vote, with Hughes wanting to table the resolution, the supervisors appointed former Supervisor Dianna Reeser as chair of the vacancy board. Finally, the supervisors named David Vollmer as the voting delegate to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and George Bell as the alternate delegate. HARRISBURG, Pa. It's almost like the first day of school. "I'm super excited to be here," said Johanny Cepeda Freytiz, a Democrat who is new to representing Berks County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. "It's swearing in day. I can't wait to be sworn in to serve our great community of the 129th District." And what's school without a bus? "I have a busload of people from Schuylkill and Berks that came down, so it's really nice that we're able to take part," said Jamie Barton, a Republican representing the 124th District, which covers parts of Berks and Schuylkill counties. Both Barton, a Republican, and Cepeda-Freytiz, a Democrat, had a busload of supporters at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. "I came out, we're taking the bus to Harrisburg," said Ray Greer of Reading. "It's been a long fight for Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and really looking forward to it, really looking forward to seeing her get inaugurated." Both newly elected lawmakers spoke to the excitement of the day and how they want that energy to carry over when the work begins. "When I think about all this excitement, and that energy is what I'm hoping to bring to that district our district in Schuylkill and Berks County," Barton said. "It's always on," Cepeda-Freytiz said. "We just gotta keep going. I'm super excited to get to work serving my constituents." Both said they're looking to keep their constituents' needs at the forefront. "One of the things I've done is brought memorabilia from Schuylkill and Berks County so I can remind me," Barton said. "I've been critical of legislators forgetting where they came from and not remembering what they're here for." "It's exciting times," Cepeda-Freytiz said. "We are making history. [I'm the] first Democrat Latina from Berks County here representing, being the voice for the unheard." Also Tuesday, the House elected Berks County state Rep. Mark Rozzi to serve as its speaker. He said he plans to drop his affiliation with the Democratic Party and serve as an independent. MAXATAWNY TWP., Pa. Farmers and businesses in Berks County are gearing up for the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show. It will begin Saturday in Harrisburg. On Tuesday, Russell Redding, the state's secretary of agriculture, toured the halls of the farm show complex. "It will be eight days of fun. A chance to celebrate and honor agriculture in the state," Redding said. "It's also a place of education." A Berks County staple will make an appearance this year, and it hopes to see you there, too. Jeff Tkach, chief impact officer for the Rodale Institute in Maxatawny Township, said he is excited to chat about regenerative organic farming with farm show visitors. "If you eat, we are all part of the agriculture system," Tkach said, "and regenerative organic agriculture is the solution and our way to fulfill the future." He plans to explain the process to both adults and children. "As a society, we become more and more divorced and separated from the agricultural process," Tkach continued, "but when we can capture children at a young age, we can shape their whole outcome, not just on what they eat but how why they eat was produced." Families are also invited to visit Rodale at the Berks County campus by participating in one of its tours. "We want families to bring their children and experience the best of what we do," Tkach said. The Pennsylvania Farm Show will continue through Jan 14. Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby now faces a new sexual assault lawsuit. Stacey Pinkerton says Cosby sexually assaulted her in 1986 when she was 21. She was able to file the civil suit in New York's Supreme Court now thanks to a new state law. It lets sexual assault victims file complaints even if the statute of limitations has passed. Pinkerton joins five women who filed similar suits last month. Cosby has denied all wrongdoing. Over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) repelled enemy attacks in the area of ten settlements in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, inflicted 22 strikes on enemy positions, the General Staff reported. "Over the past 24 hours, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled attacks by invaders in the areas of the settlements of Stelmakhivka and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Soledar, Krasna Hora, Bakhmut, Mayorsk, Maryinka, Novomykhailivka, Pobeda and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk region," the report on Facebook says. It is noted that the invaders are focusing their efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction and are trying to improve the tactical position of their troops in Kupiansk, Lyman and Avdiyivka directions. On the Novopavlivsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is on the defensive. The General Staff stressed that the enemy continues to suffer losses. "The destruction of the enemy on January 2 was confirmed in the areas of the settlements of Tokmak, Melitopol, Berdiansk, Polohy and Vasylivka of Zaporizhia region: two ammunition depots, up to ten units of military equipment of various types were destroyed, two points of deployment of the occupiers were destroyed, and up to 260 soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces were liquidated and wounded," according to a morning report on Wednesday. It is also reported that the aviation of the defense forces during the day delivered 12 strikes on the areas of concentration of the invaders and a strike on the position of the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system. Ukrainian missilemen and artillerymen hit two command posts, five areas of concentration of manpower and military equipment, an ammunition depot and an UAV command post of the occupiers. STROUDSBURG, Pa. - The man charged in the killings of four University of Idaho students may be on his way to Idaho. Bryan Kohberger left the Monroe County Correctional Facility on Wednesday morning, authorities say, apparently beginning the process of taking him to Idaho to face four first-degree murder charges. Pennsylvania State Police declined to give more information on Kohberger's extradition, citing security reasons. The 28-year-old told a judge Tuesday he won't fight his extradition. That means he has to be back in Idaho within 10 days. The police department in Moscow, Idaho, sent out a press release saying a judge issued a gag order that prohibits their department and the attorneys on both sides of the case from talking about the case. More details about the case are expected to be revealed after Kohberger arrives in Idaho and court documents are unsealed. Authorities have not shared details about the suspect's connection to the victims or a possible motive. Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in the Poconos during an early-morning raid. STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police have released new details into how they made the arrest of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger. We have also learned about the previous encounters Kohberger had with law enforcement. On what has been reported as his cross-country drive from Washington state to Pennsylvania for the holidays, Kohberger was stopped twice by Indiana State Police. During one of the incidents - for supposed tailgating - body camera footage shows Kohberger in the front seat. Both times, officials say officers let Kohberger off with a verbal warning. They would not comment on whether Kohberger suspected he had been involved in other crimes. PSP also provided a better look at their involvement in his arrest - serving warrants and providing surveillance in the days leading up to the raid. 69 News captured Kohberger, handcuffed and surrounded by law enforcement, as he walked into court Tuesday. State Police are hailing their team of tactically-trained troopers who arrested the Monroe County man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students. "They are the ultimate professionals. They are volunteers. They are highly trained and highly motivated," said Maj. Christopher Paris. That's the State Police's Special Emergency Response Team, or SERT. Authorities confirm some troopers on SERT used force at the suspect's home in Chestnuthill Township, breaking several windows and doors in the process. The raid happened in the early, dark hours of Friday morning with Kohberger's parents also at home. PSP say they managed to swiftly and safely bring Kohberger into custody. "We wanted to go in at a time when we thought it would be the safest for everybody: safest for everybody else in the house, safest for Mr. Kohberger and safest for our people," added Paris. Paris says the FBI tipped PSP off to Kohberger's whereabouts. "The information was held very close, and we did not want to have any situation where Mr. Kohberger would've been tipped off," he explained. Officials say Idaho state law prevents them from revealing what was said during the encounter or items seized during the raid until Kohberger is back in Idaho and has been presented with the affidavit of probable cause. "We're trying to balance two things: the public's desire for information against the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation," he said. Law enforcement had three search warrants: one for Kohberger, another for a white Hyundai, and a third for the Chestnuthill Township home. Officials say that, typically, prosecutors handling homicides of this nature will try to find evidence showing patterns and to get into their suspect's character and mental state. STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police held a news conference shortly after Bryan Kohberger's court hearing Tuesday, speaking to the public about the case for the very first time. Like the Idaho State Police, Pennsylvania State Police wouldn't talk about the evidence linking him to the murders of four college students back in Idaho, but they did give us some new details about the operation to arrest Kohberger, which they said involved around 50 officers. Col. Robert Evanchick said he was shocked to have a murder investigation from across the country land on his doorstep. "I did not imagine the investigation would lead to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said Col. Evanchick. Police could not reveal details about how Kohberger was tracked to Pennsylvania, but they said, once he was located, they sent enough officers to make sure he couldn't escape. "Tactical assets on scene were probably in the neighborhood of 50," said Maj. Christopher Paris. First Asst. District Attorney Michael Mancuso described the search warrants they executed that day, and the evidence uncovered. "Three separate search warrants were issued," said Mancuso. "One was for the person of Mr. Kohberger. Collecting DNA, photographs, that sort of thing. One was for the white Elantra vehicle, which I understand has been seized and is being processed, and one was for the address, the residence itself." Kohberger has to be taken back to Idaho, and once he gets there, his affidavit will be released, but police said they're still figuring out how they'll get him there. "The court order says, those of you who heard it today, it's within the next 10 days so we're currently working on that," said Maj. Paris. STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Monroe County's Courtroom One was jam packed Tuesday. Among those sitting in were nine people in the first row on Bryan Kohberger's side. His public defender confirmed to 69 News that was his family. Kohberger looked back at them several times. Those glances with loved ones are something Kaylee Goncalves, Maddie Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle can never do again. President Judge Margherita Worthington went over Kohberger's charges: a count of first-degree murder for each of them, plus felony burglary. Kohberger waived his extradition to Idaho, as expected. Authorities did not comment on when or how he would go, but he must be extradited within 10 days. In the minutes-long hearing, we only heard the Idaho killings suspect say a few phrases, including "yes I do, yes I have," and "I understand." The judge said she had to make sure the 28-year-old was agreeing to go back out west knowingly and voluntarily. When asked if he had any mental health diagnoses or was taking any medicines that would impact the ability to understand what was going on, Kohberger replied "no." In the courtroom, he made eye contact and exchanged nods with his family several times. He, at one point, received a small wave from an older man. A young woman and an older woman had their arms around each other for support. A sheriff's deputy came over to give them a box of tissues. Prior to the hearing, Kohberger's family released a statement saying they were praying for the victims' families, while supporting their son and brother and promoting his innocence. Kohberger said nothing as he went in and out of the courthouse. Wherever he went, state and local police followed. There was a heavy law enforcement presence in different parts of the courtroom, in the hallways and outside the perimeter of the building. Some Stroudsburg roads were blocked off and manned by troopers and officers. Kohberger's Pennsylvania public defender said he couldn't do any interviews because it's no longer his case. Once Kohberger is returned to Idaho, the affidavit that details what led law enforcement to him is expected to be unsealed. Right now, we don't yet know if there was a connection between Kohberger and the four victims, or if investigators know anything about a potential motive. Kohberger went to Pleasant Valley High School, Northampton Community College and DeSales University before moving to Washington, just minutes from the Idaho border. PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - A member of Phillipsburg Town Council has announced his intent to run for mayor of the New Jersey city. Councilman Randy Piazza made the announcement Wednesday morning on social media. He said the first thing he'd do as mayor of Phillipsburg is cut costs for taxpayers, including reducing the mayor's salary to a "more reasonable part-time rate." He said he'll focus on moving forward projects for the community, saying elected officials need to stop focusing on personal achievements. Some council members have butted heads with current Mayor Todd Tersigni, including calling for his resignation. Read Piazza's full campaign announcement: "I would like to take this moment to announce my intent to run for mayor of Phillipsburg in 2023. "Ive been considering this opportunity for some time and told myself I would only do it if I thought I could progress our town forward. I do believe I can boost our town to where it needs to be both economically and culturally. This has not been the focus of our administration over the past few years. Whether its the much anticipated opening of the new municipal pool or providing a small business friendly environment, overall the projects in Phillipsburg always seem to be lagging behind. During my time as an elected official, it became very clear to me that these delays couldve been prevented. When someone deliberately holds up a project so they can get more personal credit, it costs time and money. When someone deliberately holds up a project because they dont like the rules that must be followed, it costs time and money. When someone deliberately holds up the towns progress because it might cost them votes in the next election, that costs time and money. All of this lost time and money has hurt Phillipsburg. These elected positions have to stop focusing their egos and start focusing on what is right for our community. We need to stop being about personal achievements, personal dreams, and personal wealth. We need to start being about the communitys achievements, the communitys dreams, and the communitys wealth. That is when our town will thrive. "The first thing I will do if I am privileged enough to become elected as the next mayor of Phillipsburg will be to develop a plan to give money back to our taxpayers. I will not accept the use of the town vehicle and taxpayer funded gasoline. I will not accept the taxpayer funded health benefits, and I will cut the mayor's salary to a more reasonable part-time rate. Our town currently employs a full-time business administrator, which was not the case during the last mayoral election in 2019, when the business administrator position was part time. While the duties of mayor and business administrator consist of different responsibilities, many of them overlap. Our taxpayers should not be paying two people to do the same job. Furthermore, I promise to bring back a working relationship with the resident-based committees like Open Space and the Recreation Committee. I will work with our town council to fix our currently broken parking ordinance that is clearly damaging to our downtown small businesses and residents. I will be open to discussions and not lash out or retaliate against those who are critical of me. I will do everything that I can to create a town in which our citizens will want to live and work. "I want to thank everyone for their support over the past few years and I look forward to the possibility of further serving our town in a new aspect." LOPATCONG TWP., N.J. - Police say thieves stole more than $8,000 total from three businesses in a New Jersey strip mall. They say two men broke into Good Guy Vapes, Italy Restaurant and Pizza and No. 1 China Restaurant on Strykers Road in Lopatcong Township. It happened around 4 a.m. on Dec. 29. Police say the suspects got in by prying open the businesses' back doors. They say surveillance video showed them parking a silver Chevy SUV with Delaware license plate PC136859. Anyone with information should call Lopatcong police at 908-835-2211. A new high school club in Virginia is giving new meaning to the phrase "meet and greet." It was started by a senior who says he had always wanted to start his own club, and this one is a marriage of two of his favorite things: meat and meeting new people. Jack Alexander Cheatum started a charcuterie club. He says when he pitched it to his high school counselor, he figured only a handful of students would be interested in joining, but nearly 100 students showed up to the first meeting. They meet in the library and Jack says they have been doing research on the origins of where certain charcuterie board items are from. "I've always wanted to make a club," he said. "I feel like they're very valuable for building a stronger community and its just a good way to meet friends. and I love food, so I wanted to tie it in somehow." By Azernews The Austrian Dasfazit.at online newspaper published an article titled "France's defeat at the UN, another victory of Azerbaijani diplomacy", which reviews the French and Armenian distortion of Azerbaijan's peaceful protests on the Lachin-Khankendi road and an attempt to give a false appearance of a blockade for convening the UN Security Council session to this end. The article noted that following the September events on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border (September 12-13, 2022), an item "Letter from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN" was included in the agenda of the UN Security Council, at the request of Armenia. However, this would not have been possible without the support of France. "In spite of attempts of the France-Armenia tandem, the document on the September 2022 events failed to be transferred to the UN Security Council. Similar attempts were made during the 2020 second Karabakh war," said the article. In the 30 years that have passed since the adoption of four UN Security Council resolutions, the Council has not held a single meeting on Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, which in itself is unfair. One of the countries hindering such a meeting was precisely hypocritical France, the article stressed. The article also added that immediately after the December 20-21 discussions, France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and currently its chair (permanent and non-permanent members preside for a month), prepared a hypocritical and completely pro-Armenian text, portraying the situation on the Lachin-Khankendi road as a 'humanitarian catastrophe'. The diplomatic struggle over the text of the declaration lasted 10 days. "From the French side, the process was directly led by the French Presidential Administration and Macron's foreign policy advisers," the article emphasized. It is no coincidence that at the meeting with members of the community of Western Azerbaijan (historical lands of Azerbaijan located in the territory of modern-day Armenia), President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev underscored prejudiced actions taken against Azerbaijan in a number of international institutions "Earlier, Azerbaijan also stated that anti-Azerbaijani activities in French and some other international organizations are deplorable. France hoped to adopt a declaration and then turn it into a resolution. Armenian diplomat Armen Grigoryan has recently stated that Armenia's aimed to adopt a resolution in the Security Council. The French-Armenian tandem's relevant steps are a gross disregard for US-backed peace treaty negotiations and an attempt to deceive the international community. But France, as a member of the UN Security Council, was unable to comment over the situation on the Lachin-Khankendi road within 10 days, which is a great shame for Paris," the article said. As the article noted, the 'Nagorno-Karabakh' expression was initially excluded from the pro-Armenian statement. "Then it was stipulated that humanitarian aid could only be based on respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. Also, expressions such as support for territorial integrity of Azerbaijan were introduced there. After its 6th or 7th edition, when it became de facto pro-Azerbaijani, official Paris abandoned it altogether," said the article. The international community, permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, were also convinced of France's hypocrisy. The UK, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Albania opposed the French initiative. This is another brilliant diplomatic victory of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on New Year's Eve 2023 and his gift to his people," the article outlined. The article emphasized that France, which is trying to get to the Caucasus for the sake of its geopolitical games, does not understand that with each such step it isolates itself from the region and discredits itself in front of all the Azerbaijani people. The American Patriot system will arrive in Ukraine as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said at an online briefing on Wednesday. "Last year, we completed a revolutionary decision to provide Ukraine with American Patriot systems, which was agreed upon by the leaders of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden. We expect the deployment of Patriots as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun," Kuleba said. In December, Washington announced another nearly $2 billion military aid package that announced the delivery of the first Patriot missile defense battery to Ukraine. Earlier it was reported that the Ukrainian military had already begun a training course on working with these systems. Ukraine has developed a special plan for preparing the military to work on Patriot systems. On Monday, a police chief in Pennsylvania was shot and killed while chasing a suspect and "made the ultimate sacrifice," according to officials. The incident occurred when Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire pursued a man wanted on a weapons-related probation violation. The suspect, 28-year-old Aaron Lamont Swan, had fled from a traffic stop the previous night. When confronted by Brackenridge police on Monday, he opened fire, killing Chief McIntire and wounding another officer. Swan fled the scene in a carjacked Subaru, but crashed the car and was later shot and killed by detectives from the Pittsburgh Police Department. The second officer was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Chief McIntire's sacrifice was hailed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General and Governor-elect, who praised his bravery in protecting the community. The impact of his death was also felt in the small town of Brackenridge and throughout Allegheny County, where the police department is often a close-knit group consisting of only a few officers. 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 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA... * AFFECTED AREA...Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Delaware, Philadelphia, Western Chester, Eastern Chester, Western Montgomery, Eastern Montgomery, Upper Bucks and Lower Bucks. * TIMING...Into this evening. * WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 25 percent. * TEMPERATURES...High temperatures are in the upper 70s to low 80s, and will fall into the mid 70s by this evening. * IMPACTS...Critical fire weather conditions are expected. There will be increased risk for rapid wildfire growth and spread. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain. For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions, and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state forestry or environmental protection website. && The destruction of a large number of Russian invaders in the city of Makiyivka, Donetsk region, occupied by the Russian Federation, testifies to the lack of professionalism of the Russian military command, according to a defense intelligence report tweeted by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Wednesday morning. "On 31 December 2022, Ukraine struck a school building in the Russian-held town of Makiyivka near Donetsk city, which Russia had almost certainly taken over for military use. The building was completely destroyed and, as the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed, 89 Russian personnel were killed. Given the extent of the damage, there is a realistic possibility that ammunition was being stored near to troop accommodation, which detonated during the strike creating secondary explosions," the report notes. The report also notes that the building was only 12.5 km from the front line, moreover, on one of its most violent sections. "The Russian military has a record of unsafe ammunition storage from well before the current war, but this incident highlights how unprofessional practices contribute to Russia's high casualty rate," the British intelligence said. PUBLICATION NOTICE IN THE CHANCERY COURT FOR WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE Barry Owens d/b/a Draper and Owens Christian Lawn Care Service, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 2014 CV 127 Greentree Pointe, LTD., JRK Residential America, LLC, JRK Property Holdings, Inc. And Lebanon Housing Authority, Defendants. In this action it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from the Order for Publication of Motion to Dismiss Hearing that the Plaintiff, Barry Owens d/b/a Draper and Owens Christian Lawn Care Service, whose whereabouts is unknown so that ordinary process of law cannot be served, it is therefore Ordered that publication be made in the Wilson Post, a newspaper published in the town of Lebanon, Tennessee, for four consecutive weeks, commanding said Plaintiff, Barry Owens d/b/a Draper and Owens Christian Lawn Care Service, to serve upon: Peter C. Sales of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, attorney for Defendants JRK Residential America, LLC, and JRK Property Holdings, Inc., whose address is 1600 Division Street, Suite 700, Nashville, TN 37203, and Luther Wright, Jr. of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., attorney for Defendant, Greentree Pointe, LTD, whose address is SunTruist Plaza, 401 Commerce Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219-2446, a copy of the response to Motion to Dismiss filed by JRK Residential America, LLC, and JRK Property Holdings, Inc., and appear in the Wilson County Chancery Court on January 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. for oral argument on said Motion, also file the response to Motion to Dismiss with the Clerk and Master at her office in Lebanon, Tennessee, according to law. If you fail to appear in Court, the Court may rule against you on January 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the Chancery courtroom in Wilson County, Tennessee, for the relief demanded in the Motion. This the 16th day of December, 2022. MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PETER C. SALES ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANTS, JRK RESIDENTIAL AMERICA, LLC AND JRK PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC. PUBLICATION DATES: December 21, 2022 December 28, 2022 January 4, 2023 January 11, 2023 | PUBLICATION NOTICE IN THE CHANCERY COURT FOR WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE Barry Owens d/b/a Draper and Owens Christian Lawn Care Service, Plaintiff, v. Case No. 2014 CV 127 Greentree Pointe, LTD., JRK Residential America, LLC, JRK Property Holdings, Inc. And Lebanon Housing Authority, Defendants. In this action it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from the Order for Publication of Motion to Dismiss Hearing that the Plaintiff, Barry Owens d/b/a Draper and Owens Christian Lawn Care Service, whose whereabouts is unknown so that ordinary process of law cannot be served, it is therefore Ordered that publication be made in the Wilson Post, a newspaper published in the town of Lebanon, Tennessee, for four consecutive weeks, commanding said Plaintiff, Barry Owens d/b/a Draper and Owens Christian Lawn Care Service, to serve upon: Peter C. Sales of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, attorney for Defendants JRK Residential America, LLC, and JRK Property Holdings, Inc., whose address is 1600 Division Street, Suite 700, Nashville, TN 37203, and Luther Wright, Jr. of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., attorney for Defendant, Greentree Pointe, LTD, whose address is SunTruist Plaza, 401 Commerce Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219-2446, a copy of the response to Motion to Dismiss filed by JRK Residential America, LLC, and JRK Property Holdings, Inc., to which Greentree Pointe, LTD, has sought to join and appear in the Wilson County Chancery Court on January 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. for oral argument on said Motion, also file the response to Motion to Dismiss with the Clerk and Master at her office in Lebanon, Tennessee, according to law. If you fail to appear in Court, the Court may rule against you on January 17, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the Chancery courtroom in Wilson County, Tennessee, for the relief demanded in the Motion. This the 16 th day of December, 2022. MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PETER C. SALES ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANTS, JRK RESIDENTIAL AMERICA, LLC AND JRK PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC. PUBLICATION DATES: December 21, 2022 December 28, 2022 January 4, 2023 January 11, 2023 | NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES SALE WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated September 20, 2021, executed by ARIELLE BOILEAU conveying certain real property therein described to MOMENTUM TITLE, LLC, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register`s Office of Wilson County, Tennessee recorded September 21, 2021, in Deed Book 2115, Page 2181; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC. who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned,Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, having been appointed as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on February 2, 2023 at 12:00 PM At the Wilson County Courthouse, 228 East Main Street, Lebanon, TN 37087, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash or certified funds ONLY, the following described property situated in Wilson County, Tennessee, to wit: A CERTAIN TRACT OR PARCEL, SITUATED AND LYING IN THE 5TH CIVIL DISTRICT OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, BOUNDED GENERALLY AS FOLLOWS, TO-WIT: NORTH BY WILLIAMS; EAST BY BREWINGTON; SOUTH BY MRS. MELTON; WEST BY OLD HUNTER`S POINT PIKE, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING ON AN IRON PIN AT WILLIAMS`S SOUTHEAST CORNER, SAID PIN BEING 22.7 FEET WESTWARD FROM THE CENTER OF AN ELM TREE AND 31 FEET NORTHWESTERLY FROM THE CENTER OF A CEDAR TREE, AND RUNNING SOUTH 1/2 DEGREE WEST 124.0 FEET TO A POST AT MRS. SALLIE MELTON`S NORTHEAST CORNER; THENCE SOUTH 78 DEGREES 33` WEST 290.0 FEET TO A POINT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OLD HUNTER`S POINT PIKE; THENCE ON THE CENTER LINE NORTH 17 DEGREES WEST 16.0 FEET; NORTH 8 1/4 DEGREES WEST 78.5 FEET; NORTH 5 DEGREES EAST 81.0 FEET; NORTH 12 3/4 DEGREES EAST 59.0 FEET TO WILLIAMS` SOUTHWEST CORNER; THENCE LEAVING THE SAID PIKE SOUTH 80 DEGREES EAST PASSING OVER A PIPE ON THE EAST SIDE, SAID PIPE BEING 19 FEET SOUTHWEST OF A SMALL ASH TREE, 285.5 FEET TO THE BEGINNING, AND CONTAINING 1.21 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. ATTACHED HERETO AND CONVEYED HEREWITH IS A 2005 FLEETWOOD HOMES MANUFACTURED HOME BEARING SERIAL/VIN NO. TNFL527AB30544. Parcel ID: 045D-A-011.00 PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 255 OLD HUNTERS PT PIKE, LEBANON, TN 37087. In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): ARIELLE BOILEAU OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular use or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, Substitute Trustee 1661 International Drive, Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120 rlselaw.com/property-listing Tel: (877) 813-0992 Fax: (470) 508-9401 | IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE AT LEBANON WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, the CITY OF LEBANON, TENNESSEE, and the CITY OF MT JULIET, TENNESSEE and the CITY OF WATERTOWN, TENNESSEE PLAINTIFFS Vs DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS DEFENDANTS YEAR NUMBER 2020 #2022CV072 MAP: 65 GROUP: PARCEL: 11.20 Description: 19.13 Ac Big Springs Rd. ASSESSED OWNER (S): Bobby E. Eldon Kirby ORDER OF PUBLICATION It appearing from the Complaint and Affidavit of Robert Rochelle, Attorney for the Plaintiffs, that grounds exist for obtaining service of process by publication upon the Defendants the heirs, devisees, successors and assigns of Bobby E. Eldon Kirby and Sheron Lee Kirby and all unknown, unborn and unfound persons who claim any interest in and to that parcel of real property shown on the Official Tax Records of Wilson County, Tennessee as being Map 65, Parcel 11.20, and further described as lying in the 8th Civil District of Wilson County, Tennessee and being known as 4720 Big Springs Road, Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee. This property is also shown on a plat of record in Plat Book 18, at page 675 in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. The last instruments conveying the said property containing a full and complete legal description of the said property re of record in Deed Book 416, at page 445 and Book 1046, Page 533, both in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. By Last Will and Testament of Bobby E. Eldon Kirby, dated February 12, 2014, and filed in Will Book 48, Page 157 in the Probate Records of the Clerk & Master of Wilson County the said property was devised to Sheron Lee Kirby. It further appearing to the Court that the Plaintiffs have made and are continuing to make, a diligent effort to locate and give notice to all interested persons; IT IS THEREFORE, ORDERED, that service of process by publication is hereby ordered and the Defendants the heirs, devisees, successors and assigns of Bobby E. Eldon Kirby and Sheron Lee Kirby and all unknown, unborn and unfound persons claiming any interest in the above described property are required to appear and answer or otherwise defend against the Complaint of Wilson County, Tennessee, the City of Watertown, Tennessee, the City of Mt Juliet, Tennessee and the City of Lebanon, Tennessee, whose attorney is ROBERT ROCHELLE, 109 North Castle Heights Avenue, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087, within thirty (30) days after the date of the last publication of this notice; otherwise, default judgment may be entered against them for the relief demanded in the Complaint presently pending in the Chancery Court of Wilson County, Tennessee at Lebanon, Tennessee. It is furthered ordered that this notice shall be published in the WILSON POST, a local newspaper of general circulation in Wilson County, Tennessee once weekly for four (4) consecutive weeks. ENTERED this 19th day of December, 2022. CHANCELLOR C.K. SMITH APPROVED FOR ENTRY: Robert Rochelle Delinquent Tax Attorney Wilson Post 12/28/22 01/04/23 01/11/23 01/18/23 | IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE AT LEBANON WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, the CITY OF LEBANON, TENNESSEE, and the CITY OF MT JULIET, TENNESSEE and the CITY OF WATERTOWN, TENNESSEE PLAINTIFFS Vs DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS DEFENDANTS YEAR NUMBER 2020 #2022CV072 MAP: 59H GROUP: C PARCEL: 6.0 Description: Lot 7 Mayfair Meadows ASSESSED OWNER (S): Diane Virginia ONeal (Formerly Jeanine Veach) ORDER OF PUBLICATION It appearing from the Complaint and Affidavit of Robert Rochelle, Attorney for the Plaintiffs, that grounds exist for obtaining service of process by publication upon the Defendants the heirs, devisees, successors and assigns of Diane Virginia ONeal (Formerly Jeanine Veach) and all unknown, unborn and unfound persons who claim any interest in and to that parcel of real property shown on the Official Tax Records of Wilson County, Tennessee as being Map 59 H, Group C, Parcel 6.00, and further described as lying in the 10th Civil District of Wilson County, Tennessee and being known as 314 Stroud Drive, Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee. This property is also known as Lot 7 of Mayfair Meadows Subdivision, Section 1, as shown on a plat of record in Plat Book 21, at page 388 in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. The last instrument conveying the said property containing a full and complete legal description of the said property is of record in Book 1998, at page 253, in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. It further appearing to the Court that the Plaintiffs have made and are continuing to make, a diligent effort to locate and give notice to all interested persons; IT IS THEREFORE, ORDERED, that service of process by publication is hereby ordered and Defendants the heirs, devisees, successors and assigns of Diane Virginia ONeal (Formerly Jeanine Veach) and all unknown, unborn and unfound persons claiming any interest in the above described property are required to appear and answer or otherwise defend against the Complaint of Wilson County, Tennessee, the City of Watertown, Tennessee, the City of Mt Juliet, Tennessee and the City of Lebanon, Tennessee, whose attorney is ROBERT ROCHELLE, 109 North Castle Heights Avenue, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087, within thirty (30) days after the date of the last publication of this notice; otherwise, default judgment may be entered against them for the relief demanded in the Complaint presently pending in the Chancery Court of Wilson County, Tennessee at Lebanon, Tennessee. It is furthered ordered that this notice shall be published in the WILSON POST, a local newspaper of general circulation in Wilson County, Tennessee once weekly for four (4) consecutive weeks. ENTERED this 19th day of December, 2022. CHANCELLOR C.K. SMITH APPROVED FOR ENTRY: Robert Rochelle Delinquent Tax Attorney Wilson Post 12/28/22 01/04/23 01/11/23 01/18/23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF RITA AMANDA JOHNSTON CASE NO. 2022PR587 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary, in respect to the estate of Rita Amanda Johnston, deceased, who died on November 3, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 21, 2022 KAREN LESKODY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF RITA AMANDA JOHNSTON DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK YANCY BELCHER ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 12-28-22 & 1-4-23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF KATY LYNN BRICKEY CASE NO. 2022PR599 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary, in respect to the estate of Katy Lynn Brickey, deceased, who died on August 28, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 21, 2022 DONALD ARTHUR WRIGHT, JR. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF KATY LYNN BRICKEY DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK ROBERT EVANS LEE ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 12-28-22 & 1-4-23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF THOMAS FRANKLIN BURSON CASE NO. 2022PR572 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters of Administration, in respect to the estate of THOMAS FRANKLIN BURSON, deceased, who died on November 10, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 21, 2022 ETHEL ANN BURSON, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF THOMAS FRANKLIN BURSON, DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK Yancy Belcher, Attorney Wilson Post Date to run 12/22/22 and 1/4/23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF: ROBBIE DEAN CALLIS CASE NO. #2022PR584 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary respect to the estate of ROBBIE DEAN CALLIS, deceased, who died September 14, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. This the 21st day of December, 2022. RANDELL T. BRADY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF ROBBIE DEAN CALLIS DECEASED MILILE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK CAROLYN CHRISTOFFERSEN ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 12/28/22 1/4/23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF HARVEL G. POAG CASE NO. 2022PR592 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary, in respect to the estate of HARVEL G. POAG, deceased, who died on October 23, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 21, 2022 BRENDA WEBB, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF HARVEL G. POAG, DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK Amy Cross Nance, Attorney Wilson Post Date to run 12/22/22 and 1/4/23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF LENTON MOORE, JR. CASE NO. 2022PR577 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary, in respect to the estate of Lenton Moore, Jr., deceased, who died on August 5, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 21, 2022 LENTEISA HILL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF LENTON MOORE, JR. DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK JOHN W. CROW ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 12-28-22 & 1-4-23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF MIRANDA M. HENLEY CASE NO. 2022PR590 Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary, in respect to the estate of Miranda M. Henley, deceased, who died on November 11, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 21, 2022 CLYDE TURNER PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF MIRANDA M. HENLEY DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK LINDSEY L. LAWRENCE ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 12-28-22 & 1-4-23 | IN THE CHANCERY COURT OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE AT LEBANON WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, the CITY OF LEBANON, TENNESSEE, and the CITY OF MT JULIET, TENNESSEE and the CITY OF WATERTOWN, TENNESSEE PLAINTIFFS Vs DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS DEFENDANTS YEAR NUMBER 2020 #2022CV072 MAP: 19 GROUP: PARCEL: 1.10 Description: 5.01 Ac ASSESSED OWNER (S): Bennie Ray Watkins Jr ORDER OF PUBLICATION It appearing from the Complaint and Affidavit of Robert Rochelle, Attorney for the Plaintiffs, that grounds exist for obtaining service of process by publication upon the Defendants Bennie Ray Watkins, Jr., his heirs, devisees, successors and assigns and all unknown, unborn and unfound persons who claim any interest in and to that parcel of real property shown on the Official Tax Records of Wilson County, Tennessee as being Map 19, Parcel 1.10, and further described as lying in the 7th Civil District of Wilson County, Tennessee and being known as 9290A Hartsville Pike, Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee. This property is estimated to contain 5.01 acres in addition to easement over approximately 0.50 acres. The last instrument conveying the said property containing a full and complete legal description of the said property is of record in Book 1236, at page 963, in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. It further appearing to the Court that the Plaintiffs have made and are continuing to make, a diligent effort to locate and give notice to all interested persons; IT IS THEREFORE, ORDERED, that service of process by publication is hereby ordered and the Defendants Bennie Ray Watkins, Jr., his heirs, devisees, successors and assigns and all unknown, unborn and unfound persons claiming any interest in the above described property are required to appear and answer or otherwise defend against the Complaint of Wilson County, Tennessee, the City of Watertown, Tennessee, the City of Mt Juliet, Tennessee and the City of Lebanon, Tennessee, whose attorney is ROBERT ROCHELLE, 109 North Castle Heights Avenue, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087, within thirty (30) days after the date of the last publication of this notice; otherwise, default judgment may be entered against them for the relief demanded in the Complaint presently pending in the Chancery Court of Wilson County, Tennessee at Lebanon, Tennessee. It is furthered ordered that this notice shall be published in the WILSON POST, a local newspaper of general circulation in Wilson County, Tennessee once weekly for four (4) consecutive weeks. ENTERED this 19th day of December, 2022. CHANCELLOR C.K. SMITH APPROVED FOR ENTRY: Robert Rochelle Delinquent Tax Attorney Wilson Post 12/28/22 01/04/23 01/11/23 01/18/23 | NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES SALE WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated November 4, 2013, executed by ROBERT PARKS, JR. and DAWN PARKS conveying certain real property therein described to FOUNDATION TITLE AND ESCROW, LLC, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register`s Office of Wilson County, Tennessee recorded November 18, 2013, in Deed Book 1572, Page 630; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, having been appointed as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on February 9, 2023 at 12:00 PM At the Wilson County Courthouse, 228 East Main Street, Lebanon, TN 37087, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash or certified funds ONLY, the following described property situated in Wilson County, Tennessee, to wit: LAND IN WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, BEING LOT NO. 1, CONTAINING 5.01 ACRES, MORE OR LESS OF THE RESUBDIVISION OF M.R. AND EVA JO HUFFINES PROPERTY, PLAT OF WHICH IS OF RECORD IN PLAT BOOK 21, PAGE 420, REGISTER`S OFFICE OF WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, TO WHICH PLAT REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION. Parcel ID: 093-016.11 PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 831 OLD SHANNON RD, LEBANON, TN 37090. In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): ROBERT PARKS, JR., DAWN PARKS OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AQUA FINANCE, INC. The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular use or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, Substitute Trustee 1661 International Drive, Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120 rlselaw.com/property-listing Tel: (877) 813-0992 Fax: (470) 508-9401 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF: HELEN RUTH BURT CASE NO. #2022PR603 Notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary respect to the estate of HELEN RUTH BURT, deceased, who died October 24, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. This the 22nd day of December, 2022. VICKI CORLEY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF HELEN RUTH BURT DECEASED MILILE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK KAYLA COSTLEY ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 12/28/22 1/4/23 | NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF NANCY E. COOK CASE NO. 2022PR581 Notice is hereby given that on the 14th day of December, 2022, Letters Testamentary, in respect to the estate of Nancy E. Cook, deceased, who died on July 13, 2022, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Wilson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and nonresident, having claims, matured or unmatured, against the estate are required to file the same with the Clerk of the above named Court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1) or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (A) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) months from the date of the first publication; or (B) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication as described in (1)(A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedents date of death. Dated: December 28, 2022 RANDY SCOTT COOK MARC ALAN COOK PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE OF NANCY E. COOK DECEASED MILLIE SLOAN CLERK AND MASTER PROBATE CLERK TIMOTHY A. DAVIS ATTORNEY Newspaper Wilson Post Date to run 1-4-23 & 1-11-23 | NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S FORECLOSURE SALE WHEREAS, Anthony White and Tammie D. White executed a Deed of Trust to Charles E. Tonkin, II, Trustee for the benefit of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Mortgage Investors Group, on October 24, 2012 and recorded on October 30, 2012 in Book 1512, Page 1650, Instrument No. 12483384 in the Office of the Register of Wilson County, Tennessee. WHEREAS, default having been made in the payment of the debt(s) and obligation(s) thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the current holder of said Deed of Trust Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC (the Holder), appointed the undersigned, McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, as Substitute Trustee, with all the rights, powers and privileges of the original Trustee named in said Deed of Trust; and NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable as provided in said Deed of Trust by the Holder, and that as agent for the undersigned, McMichael Taylor Gray LLC, Substitute Trustee, by virtue of the power and authority vested in it, will on February 16, 2023, at 2:00 PM at 134 South College Street, Lebanon, TN 37088 at the Wilson County Courthouse, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Wilson County, TN: Land in Wilson County, Tennessee being Lot No. 19 on the Plan of West Lynn Chase Subdivision, as of record in Plat Book 19, Page 248, Registers Office for Wilson County Tennessee, to which said plan reference is hereby made for a more complete and accurate legal description thereof. Being the same property conveyed to Anthony White and Tammie White husband and wife by Deed from David Alan Hardin and wife, Toni Elizabeth Kennedy Hardin formerly Toni Elizabeth Kennedy, dated 09/30/2005 and filed for record on 10/04/2005 in Record Book 1140, Page 94, Registers Office for Wilson County Tennessee Street Address: 240 Westlynn Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087 Parcel Number: 058E-B-01900-000 Current Owner: Anthony White and Tammie D. White Other Interested Party(ies): If the United States or the State of Tennessee have any liens or claimed lien(s) on the Property, and are named herein as interested parties, timely notice has been given to the applicable governmental entity, and the sale will be subject to any applicable rights of redemption held by the entity as required by 26 U.S.C. 7425 and/or Tennessee Code 67-1-1433. This sale is subject to all matters shown on any applicable recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements, or setback lines that may be applicable; any statutory rights of redemption of any governmental agency, state or federal; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; any deed of trust; and any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose; and All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust. The undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. This property is being sold with the express reservation that the sale is subject to confirmation by the lender or trustee. This sale may be rescinded by the Substitute Trustee at any time. This office is attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. McMichael Taylor Gray LLC Substitute Trustee 3550 Engineering Drive Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 Office: 404-474-7149 Fax: 404-745-8121 MTG File No.: TN2022-00259 | NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES SALE WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated November 18, 2016, executed by DENNIS J COLLINS conveying certain real property therein described to W. AARON FORTNER, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register`s Office of Wilson County, Tennessee recorded November 28, 2016, in Deed Book 1733, Page 54; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to PennyMac Loan Services, LLC who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, having been appointed as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on February 2, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Front Steps of the Wilson County Courthouse, Lebanon, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash or certified funds ONLY, the following described property situated in Wilson County, Tennessee, to wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF WILSON, STATE OF TENNESSEE, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: LAND IN WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, BEING LOT NO. 114 ON THE PLAN OF BELINDA CITY SECTION 1, REVISED OF RECORD IN BOOK 13, PAGE 87, OF THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR WILSON COUNTY, TO WHICH PLAN REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE COMPLETE AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SAID LOT. Parcel ID: 096D-A-019.00 PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 150 SE SPRINGDALE DR, MOUNT JULIET, TN 37122. In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): DENNIS J COLLINS OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular use or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, Substitute Trustee 1661 International Drive, Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120 rlselaw.com/property-listing Tel: (877) 813-0992 Fax: (470) 508-9401 | NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES SALE WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated June 21, 2016, executed by LORI EVANS conveying certain real property therein described to DANIEL L. WISCHHOF, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register`s Office of Wilson County, Tennessee recorded June 24, 2016, in Deed Book 1704, Page 1014; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST I who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned,Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, having been appointed as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Registers Office of Wilson County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on January 19, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Front Steps of the Wilson County Courthouse, Lebanon, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash or certified funds ONLY, the following described property situated in Wilson County, Tennessee, to wit: LAND IN WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, BEING LOT NO. 2, ON THE PLAN OF LAKE SHORE ACRES SUBDIVISION, OF RECORD IN PLAT BOOK 3, PAGE 73, REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, TO WHICH PLAN REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION THEREOF. Parcel ID: 027K-B-033.00 PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 614 WESTVIEW DRIVE, LEBANON, TN 37087. In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): LORI EVANS OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, LLCORIGINAL CREDITOR: SYNCHRONY BANK The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular use or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Rubin Lublin TN, PLLC, Substitute Trustee 1661 International Drive, Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38120 rlselaw.com/property-listing Tel: (877) 813-0992 Fax: (470) 508-9401 | Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. Sections 55-2-106, 55-16-105 to 107, 55-23-103 and 104, 66-14-101 to 106, and 66-19-104 and PublicChapter 209, Delk Performance will auctionthe following vehicle to the highest bidder onMonday, January 30, 2023 at 10:00 am at DelkPerformance 1640 Fall Creek Rd. Lebanon, TN37090. Call for any questions 615-453-2300:2004 Ford Explorer 1FMZU73W04UA81421 | BEER BOARD NOTICE THE CITY OF LEBANON BEER BOARD will convene on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, At 4 P.M. in the Town Meeting Hall located in the Main Administration Building (City Hall) at 200 North Castle Heights Avenue to consider the application of Mrs. Maricela Mata Perez d/b/a Little Panchos Express located at 509 South Cumberland Street, Lebanon, Tennessee, 37087 for an On-Premises Consumption Beer Permit, Ms. Rachel Crowder d/b/a El Sol TexMex Inc. located at 1129 Franklin Road, Lebanon, Tennessee 37090 for a Special Event Beer Permit, and Mr. Christopher Schiller d/b/a Logans Roadhouse Lebanon #541 located at 1006 Cumberland Center Boulevard, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087 for an On-Premises Consumption Beer Permit. Individuals needing auxiliary aid for effective communication and/ or other reasonable accommodations in programs and services of The City of Lebanon are invited to make their needs and preferences known to the ADA compliance Coordinator by calling (615) 444-2809. Stuart Lawson Commissioner of Finance & Revenue | Over the day, on January 3, five people were killed in Ukraine as a result of Russian armed aggression, and 13 were injured, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko said on his Telegram channel on Wednesday morning. So, according to the regional military administrations, in Donetsk region - one dead, five wounded; in Zaporizhia - one wounded, in Kharkiv - two wounded, in Kherson - four dead (including two who died earlier),and five wounded. A plea/sentencing hearing has been delayed for a defendant accused in a then-record methamphetamine bust in La Crosse County. Armando Lara-Nieto, 51, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, was scheduled to enter a plea Tuesday on a single felony count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. His hearing has been rescheduled for April 3. Police arrested Lara-Nieto, along with Emmanuel Flores Sauceda, 39, West St. Paul; and Juventino Lara Plancarte, 53, Los Angeles, after allegedly finding nearly 11 pounds of methamphetamine during a Jan. 20, 2022, traffic stop on Interstate 90. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $124,000. Lara-Nieto entered a not guilty plea in March. His lawyer argued that he was unaware illegal drugs were being stashed inside a backpack that police found in the vehicles trunk. He is being held in the La Crosse Jail on a $50,000 cash bond. Flores Sauceda was released from the La Crosse County Jail after posting a $25,000 cash bond. He was arrested by Hudson police on drug charges Feb. 7, 2022, and is being held in the St. Croix County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond. In the La Crosse County case, he is challenging the legality of the vehicle search. He has a plea/sentencing hearing set for April 3. Lara Plancarte, who recently completed a nine-year sentence for drug trafficking, also faces federal charges. Throwback from Tribune files: Life in the La Crosse area in the 1970s 1970: Washburn Elementary School 1970: Johnson's Junior Miss Shop 1971: Behind the Brewery Gallery 1971: Kewpee Lunch 1971: Bridgeview Plaza Shopping Center 1972: King Cinema 1972: The Stereo Shop 1972: Viking Heritage 1972: Hoffman House Restaurant 1972: Louie Bantle's Restaurant 1973: Schaak Electronics 1973: Newburg's Menswear 1973: Book Exchange 1973: Union Prescription Center 1974: Caravel TV Sales 1975: Bodega Lunch Club 1975: Yellow Checker of La Crosse 1975: Patrick Zielke running for mayor 1976: New Villa 1977: Bert's Magic and Fun Shop 1978: Soell's King of Low Prices 1978: Shopko 1978: La Crosse Answering Service 1978: Lenny's Shoe Repair 1979: Carriage House of Fashion A constitutional amendment that would make it harder for violent criminal defendants to get out on bail could be coming before Wisconsin voters in the upcoming April election. The amendment passed the Assembly 70-21 and the Senate 23-10 last session. As a constitutional amendment, it must pass the Legislature in two subsequent sessions before going before voters. The governor cannot veto a constitutional amendment. Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Delafield, and Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said in a joint statement that the amendment was introduced on the first full day of the new legislative session with hopes of placing the measure on the April 4 spring election ballot. The amendment would require a court to consider the defendants potential risk to public safety when setting bail. Currently, bail is set only as a means to ensure the person appears in court. No one wants to see someone sitting in jail on a minor crime because they cant pay a $100 cash bail, Wanggaard said. But we dont want a dangerous criminal out on the streets because they arent a flight risk, either. This proposal gives courts the flexibility they need to protect the public. Wanggaard said he plans to hold a legislative hearing on the amendment next Tuesday. Under the amendment, courts would have to consider the totality of the circumstances when determining bail, specifically whether the accused has a previous conviction for a violent crime, the probability that the accused will fail to appear in court, the need to protect members of the community from serious harm, and whether the defendant might intimidate witnesses. We should use common sense and what works in our fight against violent criminals, Duchow said. Courts should be able to set bail for violent crimes based on reasonable factors. Criminal defense attorneys and other opponents of the amendment have argued the changes will result in more people presumed to be innocent held behind bars longer because of higher bail amounts while they await trial. The Wisconsin Justice Initiative, a nonprofit that works to ensure defendants are treated fairly, argued the change will create a two-tiered justice system with one for the rich and one for the poor. While lawmakers have been working on the measure since 2017, the amendment first came before the Legislature last year after Darrell Brooks Jr. drove an SUV into a Christmas parade in downtown Waukesha, killing six people. Brooks posted $1,000 bail on an earlier case two days before the November 2021 incident. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Photos: Waukesha parade killings defendant Darrell Brooks Jr. stands trial Borrell invites Kuleba to take part in EU Council meeting at level of FMs on Jan 23 Head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell invited Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to take part in the first meeting of the EU Council in 2023 at the level of foreign ministers, which will be held on January 23. "I have received an invitation from my European colleague Josep Borrell to take part in the first meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in 2023, which will take place on 23 January. It is already a regular tradition that the Ukrainian minister takes part in almost every meeting of this format," Kuleba said during an online briefing on Wednesday. He called it a sign of trust, which also shows that Ukraine is an equal participant in European security policy. "An important topic of my conversation with my fellow ministers will be preparations for the Ukraine-EU summit on February 3. Among its priorities will be the discussion of Ukraine's implementation of the European Commission recommendations, necessary for the transition to pre-accession negotiations with the EU," Kuleba said. As Kuleba noted, the Ukraine-EU summit will also discuss the implementation of the "peace formula" of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the strengthening of the sanctions regime against Russia. According to the minister, 2023 and these winter months will be very important on the path of Ukraine's membership in the EU. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), together with the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), has exposed a criminal scheme for embezzling funds from the export of Ukrainian grain. "More than 10 officials were involved in the deal. Among them are the deputy head of one of the departments of the State Customs Service and the leadership of the Odesa customs office. They established a large-scale mechanism for tax evasion for the export of Ukrainian grain. Therefore, the state received hundreds of millions of hryvnias less," SBU reported in its Telegram channel on Tuesday. According to the SBU, to implement the scheme, its participants involved more than 370 commercial structures with signs of fictitiousness. Through them, wheat was massively bought from private farmers, agricultural enterprises and large agro-industrial holdings. "In order to "confuse" trade chains and avoid paying mandatory payments to the budget, businessmen transferred products from one lining company to another. And only after that they sold grain to exporters for sale abroad," the SBU said. According to investigators, BES employees recorded in advance the facts of the use of risky enterprises in export procedures and warned the State Customs Service about this in writing. However, as noted in the report, customs officials did not take into account the relevant comments and allowed the sale of more than 1 million tonnes of grain products abroad. It was established that this wheat was exported through the capacities of grain terminals in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny ports. During 30 searches in the administrative premises of the central office of the State Customs Service in the ports and at the place of residence of the defendants, law enforcement officers found draft records, documents in electronic form, mobile phones with evidence of an illegal transaction. As part of the criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 364 (abuse of power or official position) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the issue of notifying defendants of suspicion and choosing a custody status for them is being resolved. Wu Hongyan, a doctor of pediatrics at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, provides consultations through internet in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 27, 2022. [Xinhua/Lin Juan] BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) A resident of east China's Shandong Province, surnamed Zhu, was recently able to experience the convenience of medical consultation through an internet hospital. Zhu and her parents, who are from the city of Yantai, on Dec. 20 found that they had developed symptoms including a sore throat and fever, but they didn't have suitable medicines at home. After her neighborhood committee introduced her to the WeChat mini-program operated by the internet hospital of Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Zhu described their symptoms on the form provided. Later, a doctor replied and prescribed her targeted medicines in less than 20 minutes based on the consultation. In the afternoon of the same day, the hospital contacted a courier to collect the medicines from a designated pharmacy and deliver them to Zhu. Yin Shaohua, director of the Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital's outpatient department, said that to cope with the increasing demand for consultations, the hospital on Dec. 16 added fever clinic windows for different groups on its WeChat mini-program, including fever clinics for adults, children and those who want to seek COVID-19 consultations with traditional Chinese medicine experts. On Dec. 16, the online fever clinics opened for the first time. The next day, 128 online consultations were recorded. On Dec. 22, that number was 757. This can help reduce cross-infection and meet patients' needs for diversified medical care, Yin said. Additionally, the internet hospital has launched various services, including online consultation services for different specialties, online medicine prescriptions, and door-to-door medicine delivery, so that patients can see a doctor at home. "Our internet hospital has cooperated with offline designated pharmacies. After consultations, prescriptions and order placements are completed through the mini-program, patients can come to the hospital or a designated pharmacy to collect their medicines, or they can choose to have their medicines delivered to their homes," said Zhang Zhenzhen, who works in the hospital's network information office. Zhang said that the qualification of the designated pharmacies has been assessed, and the medicines they sell are the same as those prescribed in hospitals to ensure the effectiveness of treatment. Shandong has opened 174 internet hospitals to provide online diagnosis and treatment, medication guidance and psychological counseling services for patients with fevers or chronic diseases. As the COVID-19 response has been shifted from infection prevention to medical treatment, China has taken a combination of measures to boost access to medical treatment and drugs, improve health services for the elderly and other key groups, accelerate vaccination, and strengthen COVID-19 prevention and control work in rural areas. China is also expanding the capacity of fever clinics at medical institutions. By the end of October, there were 19,400 fever clinics or consulting rooms at community healthcare centers and at the township level across the country. In northwest China's Shaanxi Province, residents can also enjoy the convenience brought by internet hospitals. On Tuesday, a resident surnamed Jiang from the provincial capital city of Xi'an consulted Wu Hongyan, a doctor of pediatrics at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, through its internet hospital. During the video consultation, Wu inquired about Jiang's son's age, weight and symptoms, and observed the child's condition. She said that Jiang should help his son take antipyretics, ensure the boy drink plenty of water, pay attention to his perspiration, and take the boy to the hospital if his fever continues beyond 48 hours. Jiang said he was reassured after the consultation. "The internet hospital provides convenience for patients who do not need to go to the hospital for the time being, but need advice from doctors," Wu said, adding that she now sees 10 to 20-plus parents through online consultations every day. Wu gives medication and care instructions, and advises parents to pay close attention to their children's health. Children who show certain symptoms are advised to go directly to hospital. In addition to providing internet hospital services, Shaanxi is strengthening its supply of drugs to meet residents' needs, expanding its critical care resources, and increasing its number of fever clinics. Doctor Kong Shujun works from home to provide medical consultations through online fever clinics of the internet hospital in east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 28, 2022. [Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) The Second Crusade began on December 1st, 1145, when Pope Eugenius III called for the recapturing of the Mesopotamian city of Edessa from the Muslim Zengid dynasty. The Christian armies were primarily led by King Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany. However, amidst allegations of sabotage, the crusaders were thwarted in their efforts to take Edessa. Louis and Conrad then regrouped in Jerusalem, which had been captured by crusaders in the First Crusade almost fifty years earlier. Instead, the two kings, along with a council of other European leaders, decided to take Damascus from the Burids, another Muslim dynasty. While the exact reason for changing their objective is unclear, historians speculate it was due to Damascus' proximity to Jerusalem and its historical importance and wealth. Others suggest that the Christians thought Damascus would fall quickly. Regardless of the reason, the subsequent siege proved decisive for the outcome of the Second Crusade. The Siege Doors of the Milan Cathedral depicting the conquest of Jerusalem by Crusaders. The attack began on the morning of July 24th, 1148, along the banks of the Barada River. Christian crusaders quickly pushed the Damascene army behind the city walls. The citizens then barricaded major streets in anticipation of a seemingly inevitable battle. On the 25th, the crusaders had stationed themselves at the Green Maydan, a training area used by the Damascene cavalry. However, the Burids launched a counterattack and repelled the Christian armies northward. This seemingly small victory allowed Muslim reinforcements to arrive from Lebanon on the 26th and 27th. Having partially lost their foothold, the Crusaders focused their efforts east. This change in strategy was accompanied by arguments amongst European nobility over who would control the city if it fell. In short, mere days in, the siege was not going as quickly or as easily as the Christian crusaders had anticipated. Read MoreWhen And What Were The Crusades? The End The Siege of Damascus ended with the retreat of the crusader army. On July 28th, Louis VII and Conrad III decided to retreat. The reasons for this decision were as follows: Firstly, the terrain was rugged and considering the size of their armies, the city was simply too big to conquer. Secondly, the Burids and their allies proved more tenacious than expected. Thirdly, Nur Ad-Din, ruler of the Zengid dynasty, was fast approaching the city, and his army would have likely caused significant damage to the crusader army. Fourthly, and finally, the crusading armies were running out of food and water. All these factors thus led to the Siege of Damascus ending in defeat for the Christians. Read MoreMajor Battles Of The Crusades The Importance Stained glass in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels, depicting events from the First Crusade. The failed siege of Damascus signified the end of the Second Crusade. Furthermore, in sharp contrast to the "glorious recapturing" of the Holy Land of the First Crusade, the Second Crusade was a dramatic failure. It also had unintended consequences for the Muslim world. Indeed, taking advantage of the Crusaders' defeat, the aforementioned Nur ad-Din, ruler of the Zengid dynasty, took Damascus from the Burid dynasty in 1154, thereby unifying Syria. Ad-Din then conquered Egypt in 1168, overtaking the Fatimid Caliphate while fighting off incursions from Christian crusaders. In short, the failure of the Siege of Damascus and the Second Crusade led to even more threats to the Christian world by way of a more powerful Muslim dynasty, thus paving the way for more crusades in the future. After 45 years with the U.S. Forest Service, Dave Rak retired on Saturday. Rak moved to Alaska in 1977 after accepting a job as a soils scientist with the agency and has worked for the Forest Service ever since. It's been 45 years since Dave Rak and his wife Paula came to Alaska. It's been 45 years since he accepted a job as a soils scientist with the U.S. Forest Service. And now, 45 years later, he's retiring. Rak's last day as a full-time employee with the agency was Dec. 31. In that time, he's held a few different positions, worked with many different people and seen the Forest Service change in lots of different ways. Fresh out of graduate school in 1977, Rak applied with the Forest Service to be a soils scientist at various locations across the U.S. One of which was in Elko, Nevada. Paula wasn... Plans to build 70 new homes on land at Wrexham and Flintshire border This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 4th, 2023 A proposal to build 70 homes on greenfield land near the Flintshire border with Wrexham has been submitted to Flintshire Council. The authoritys planning department has received an application from Castle Green Homes to develop land known as the Bluebell Field off Wrexham Road in Abermorddu. If granted, a mix of 37 three-bedroom properties and 12 four-bedroom detached homes would be made available on the open market. As part of the scheme a further 14 two-bedroom mid-end terrace properties, six three-bed end terrace, and one three-bed corner terrace property would be earmarked for sale as affordable homes. The developers, through their agents Grimster Planning, say the scheme would help meet the market and affordable housing needs in the area. But ward councillor for Caergwrle, Dave Healey (Lab) has expressed his concerns at the impact the development could have on the area in a pre-consultation exercise the developer has included with its application. Cllr Healey raises fears the site may be at risk of flooding, there could be increased parking congestion at Abermorddu CP school, and says the stretch of Wrexham Road which runs alongside the site linking Mold to Wrexham would need to be dropped from 40mph to a 30mph speed limit. He also believes the affordable homes would still be out of the price range for locals, calling for some of them to be gifted to Flintshire Council so the authority can rent them out, and has also asked for archaeological considerations to be made. In his consultation feedback Cllr Healey said: Some of the homes should be gifted to the Local Authority so that they can be rented out to local people. The proposed affordable homes would not be affordable to local people whatever the price. Abermorddu CP has an exceptional problem with regard to parking issues because a significant number of pupils come from Gwersyllt which is part of Wrexham. These pupils cannot walk to school: they have to be driven there and picked up. The double yellow lines now mean that parents park wherever they can Wyndham Drive, Hawarden Road, or on the housing estate of Llys Clark. They currently cause numerous problems for local residents as a result of this. Cllr Healey added: The point is that a new housing estate will be an absolute gift for these parents, several of whom will descend upon it in order to offload or pick up their children who will be able to walk to or from the school to their cars. This will cause considerable congestion at the entrance to the development and increase the risk of accidents occurring. Whilst this may not be the Achilles heel of the development it is extremely difficult to see how it can be resolved in any planning application. Responding to Cllr Healeys observations in the pre-consultation exercise, Castle Green Homes said: The site lies in Flood Zone A. It is therefore deemed by Natural Resources Wales to be at a low risk of surface water, groundwater, fluvial and tidal flooding, as confirmed in the accompanying Flood Consequences Strategy. The 30mph speed limit zone is to be extended as detailed in the Transport accompanying Statement. This will be confirmed as part of the Section 278 Agreement. The applicant will work with Welsh Water and the LLFA to ensure that an appropriate and effective drainage solution is put in place. Affordable housing tenures will be discussed with the Housing Strategy Team at Flintshire County Council with the Housing Need Register at the time of the Application to be considered. Comments regarding the need for an Archaeological Watching Brief are noted. This will be a matter for the local planning authority. In a design and access statement the applicant seeks to calm concerns about increased traffic stating: This proposed increase in traffic is not anticipated to have a material impact on the operation or safety of the local highway network. As such, there are no highway or transport related reasons to withhold planning permission for the proposed development. Furthermore, it is not considered that there is any requirement for any additional assessment of the local highway network. When Flintshire Councils Local Development Plan, which includes the site, was previously discussed Cllr Healey and his wife, neighbouring Hope Cllr Gladys Healey (Lab) who sits on the planning committee, followed legal advice to declare personal and prejudicial interest and withdrew from discussions. But in his feedback Cllr Healey says he may decide to ask the councils Standards Committee for a dispensation so he can speak when the planning committee makes a decision on the application at a later date. By Rory Sheehan BBC Local Democracy Reporter Welsh Health Minister accused of being missing in action as NHS faces major pressures This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 4th, 2023 Wales Health Minister has been accused by a political opponent of being missing in action as the NHS faces major pressures. It comes after the Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation described the countrys health system as being on a knife edge in terms of its ability to cope with the demand on services. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board declared a critical incident earlier this week as it said it was struggling to cope with the level of pressure in north Wales. Health officials in the region said high levels of flu, Covid and other respiratory viruses had contributed to the problems. Plaid Cymru spokesperson for health and care, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, said decisive action was required by the Welsh Government to address the situation. However, he claimed Health Minister Eluned Morgan was no-where to be seen after the BBC ran three separate stories on the crisis in the NHS within the last 24 hours. He said Ms Morgan had not provided a response to any of the stories, nor had she appeared in any interviews. In one of the last Senedd sessions of 2022, she expressed hope that the NHS would improve by the time the Welsh Parliament met again. But Mr ap Iorwerth said hope on its own was not enough to solve the problems. He said: When experts are using terms like knife-edge and breaking point to describe the critical state that the NHS in Wales is in, it requires an urgent and decisive response from Welsh Government. Yet our Health Minister who at the very least should be visible is no-where to be seen. Our heroic health and care workers, who are not only dealing with extreme pressures from increased demand and staff shortages, are now having to front up for TV interviews. Meanwhile the Health Minister is missing in action. It is not good enough for Welsh Government to lay the blame on UK Government while its true that Westminster holds the purse strings, Welsh Government is not powerless to act. Plaid Cymru has long been calling on them to use all the levers at their disposal to do something anything to show they are listening and that our NHS is a priority for them. Budanov expects fighting to be the 'hottest' in March media Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said he expects fighting to be the "hottest" in March. In an interview with ABC News published on Wednesday he said that Ukraine is planning a major push in the spring. The liberation of territories and dealing the final defeats to Russia "will happen throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to the Donbas," Budanov said. For the first time in 100 years, the incoming House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot, due to bitter divisions within the majority Republican conference. A group of far-right Republicans, members of the House Freedom Caucus, refused to vote for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, depriving him of the majority of voting representatives (from both parties) required to win election as speaker. In the course of three ballots and more than four hours of voting, McCarthy fell well short of the 218 votes needed to gain a majority in the 435-member chamber. According to longstanding House rules, no business can be conducted until the speaker is elected, not even the official swearing in of the members of the new (118th) House of Representatives. The House speaker occupies a critical position in the US constitutional system, including serving as the second in line to the presidency behind the vice president. There is no procedure for circumventing election by the entire House, and as of 5:30 PM Tuesday, when the House adjourned for the day, both sides were declaring their determination to stand firm and force as many ballots as necessary to elect a speaker. The House is set to reconvene at noon on Wednesday. The key organizers of the anti-McCarthy campaign, including Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Bob Good of Virginia, have demanded that McCarthy agree to savage austerity measures such as a balanced federal budget, a requirement that any spending earmark require two-thirds support of the House, and revival of the Holman rule, which allows lawmakers to use spending bills to defund specific programs and fire federal officials or reduce their pay. McCarthy has reportedly agreed to the groups demands to revive the Holman rule, establish that any five House members can call an immediate recall election for House speaker at any time, and impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as part of an intensified crackdown against immigrants on the southern border. This, however, is deemed insufficient by his opponents. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (Republican-California) [AP Photo/Scott Applewhite] In the first ballot, McCarthy won 203 votes against 10 for Arizona Representative Andy Biggs, who formally challenged McCarthy. There were six votes for former Freedom Caucus chair Jim Jordan of Ohio, as well as three other anti-McCarthy votes, bringing that total to 19. The Democrats voted unanimously for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, giving him 212 votes. Jordan, who is backing McCarthy, as is another prominent fascistic House member, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, nominated McCarthy to begin the second ballot. Up to now, Donald Trump has also publicly endorsed McCarthy. Florida fascist Congressman Matt Gaetz, one of the hard-core McCarthy opponents, nominated Jordan, who won all 19 anti-McCarthy votes in the second round. In the third round, Jordan (who maintains that he is not a candidate) was again put forward as the alternative to McCarthy, and he picked up the vote of Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, bringing the anti-McCarthy vote to 20. The impasse in the selection of House speaker is a further expression of the growing crisis and dysfunction of bourgeois democratic institutions not only in the US, but internationally. What remains of democratic forms are breaking down under the combined weight of economic and financial crisis, the impact of the COVID pandemic, expanding war and military spending, to the point of risking nuclear conflict with Russia and China, and, above all, a growing offensive of the working class, which is taking the form of a rebellion against the pro-corporate union bureaucracies. Within this crisis of political rule, divisions within the ruling elite are intensifying, and the influence of far-right and openly fascistic elements is growing. Whatever the specific outcome of the crisis over the House speaker selection, there will be a further accommodation to the most far-right forces and a shift to the right by the political system as a whole. All of the contenders put forward thus far for House speakerMcCarthy, Biggs, Jordanwere among the 139 House Republicans who voted against certifying the election of Joe Biden hours after Trumps fascist mob had been cleared out of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. McCarthy, after mildly criticizing Trump on the floor of the House after the failed coup, made his infamous pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago three weeks later to seek Trumps forgiveness. Biggs, in particular, was deeply involved in the organization of Stop the Steal fascist rallies that preceded Trumps January 6 rally at the Ellipse and subsequent assault on Congress. The response of Biden and the Democratic Party to the Republican crisis has been to double down on their appeals for a partnership with the GOP in conducting the war against Russia in Ukraine and the intensifying war against the working class at home. Democratic House Minority Leader Jeffries held a press conference after the House had adjourned at which he called on the Republicans to work with the Democrats and Biden. He said, We are prepared to try and find common ground with the other side of the aisle to solve problems on behalf of the American people, but we dont have a willing partner in House Republicans because the Republican conference has apparently been taken over by extreme MAGA Republicans. In fact, over the past month the two parties of big business have joined hands in carrying out an attack on 100,000 US rail workers, passing a bipartisan bill to ban a strike and impose a sellout contract that had been voted down by rank-and-file workers. That was followed several weeks later by passage of an omnibus budget bill that allocates record sumstotaling nearly $900 billion in the new fiscal yearfor military spending and the expanding war in Ukraine, while cutting spending in real terms for domestic programs such as health care, housing and education. This includes allowing states to begin kicking people off of Medicaid as early as next April, when states can begin reviewing eligibility of recipients. On Wednesday, Biden will appear with Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati area to tout the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed in 2021, which gives massive subsidies to corporations. After the failure of the third ballot on Tuesday, former Republican congressman and one-time acting White House chief of staff for Donald Trump, Mick Mulvaney, suggested that the impasse might be resolved by forging a compromise with the Democrats. More than 100 people across the United States died in home fires during last month's deep freeze when temperatures plummeted to below zero in much of the Midwest and Northeast and fell below freezing in most of the country. A house fire in Imlay City, Michigan on February 26, 2019. [Photo: WSWS] Overall, more than 2,263 people died in home fires for 2022, including 267 children under the age of 15. These numbers are sure to be an undercount as there is no centralized reporting of fire deaths, and the US Fire Administration count relies on news reports. Often the age and sex of the victims is not known and the cause is listed as under investigation. Last week's fires included three especially deadly fires, one in Buffalo, New York another in Newcomerstown, Ohio and a third in Crossville, Tenn which accounted for 17 dead, including 11 children. The Buffalo fire broke out on New Years eve, just before 7:30 a.m. and rapidly consumed the one and a half story wood frame home. Firefighters who arrived at the scene within minutes of the 911 call say the house was already filled with smoke. Three young girls ages 7, 8 and 10 were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other children, a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, died at Oishei Children's Hospital. An aunt was able to escape the fire with an infant, while the childrens 63-year-old grandmother is hospitalized in critical condition with second and third degree burns covering much of her body. In Newcomerstown, Ohio, a family of six were killed Christmas weekend when their home was engulfed in flames in an early morning fire on December 26. The County Medical Examiner's Office has yet to release the identity of those killed. However, family and friends have identified the victims as Leroy Elliott, 36, and Terrin Hendricks, 32, and their four daughtersAddison, 13, Aeriel, 9, Abigail, 8, and Alyssa, 5. Neighbors say they believe the fire started around 12:30 a.m. and that they heard a loud explosion at 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived at 1:30 a.m. the entire two story home was engulfed in flames and had collapsed into the basement. Brian Peterman, investigations assistant bureau chief for the state fire marshal's office, told the local news outlet WKYC that a wood burner, kerosene heaters and electrical space heaters were being used to heat the home. He said the heating devices were most likely not used in the proper manner. According to Weather.com, temperatures in the area dropped more than 40 degrees on December 23 to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit and remained between that and a high of just 13 degrees over the weekend. Neighbors say that the family had been living there for about a year and that the children were very friendly to everyone. Investigators are seeking to determine the owner of the home. Later that same day, six family members in Crossville, Tennessee were killed when their home caught fire in the early morning. Killed in the blaze were Chris McCoy, 32, and Melissa McCoy, 23, along with their two little girls, 3-year-old Ebonee and 4-year-old Arabella. Trent McCoy, 55, and his wife Karen McCoy, 54 were also killed. During the cold spell that swept most of the country from Dec 23 to the end of the year, at least 104 people died in home fires. Most of those deaths occurred in the Northeast and South. In addition to the Elliott-Hendricks family, 11 others in Ohio were killed in fires. Four people died in Pennsylvania and there were a total of nine deaths in New York. In addition to the McCoys, four other people were killed in four separate home fires in Tennessee. In Georgia six people died in house fires, in Louisiana 4 people were killed, and in Texas 7 people were killed. Pennsylvania had the highest number of reported home fire deaths in 2022 at 168, followed by Texas with 148, with New York and Ohio each recording 138 deaths. While each of these deaths has a very unique set of circumstances, the majority are ultimately the result of lack of affordable and safe housing with proper heating and insulation from the cold. Under capitalism, housing, like all social needs, is subordinated to profit instead of the needs of the people. In Buffalo more than 1 in 3 people are living in poverty. With the cost of rent and housing exploding, most low-income families are paying substantially above one third of their income for rent and many are paying over half their income just for housing. Three generations of the family, 10 people, were living in the one and a half story wood framed rental property on Dartmouth Street in Buffalo when it burned down. As housing prices soar, more and more people are forced to live under a single roof. Investigators have yet to release the cause of the fire. Working smoke detectors were present. The Buffalo fire came as crews were still digging out from the massive blizzard that hit the area over Christmas weekend killing more than 39 people. City, county and state officials left the streets of Buffalo unplowed for days as people froze trapped in their cars or homes that had lost power. The Elliott-Hendricks family had been living in their home for about a year. Newcomerstown is a small town of about 4,000 people south of Akron. A teacher who used to teach in the local high school told the World Socialist Web Site that most people who live in the town have to drive 45 minutes or an hour for a decent paying job. All the jobs in town are low paying. Theres a Dollar General, a few gas stations and one or two companies in the industrial park. Most dont pay very well. You have to go away to make a living. A factory that produced filing cabinets closed in 2006. After operating since 1917 its closure ended over 500 jobs. I understand the town wants to develop the site, said the former teacher. However people say that the clean up would be too expensive. There is all that lead and heavy metals in the ground that it would cost too much to clean up. Over 20 percent of the towns population lives in poverty according to the government census. The average household income is less than two thirds of the rest of Ohio, which is itself below the country as a whole. With the cost of rent averaging over $700 a month, a large portion of residents are paying over 55 percent of their income just on rent and utilities. The use of wood burning stoves and space heaters, while unsafe, is not uncommon, as people try to save on heating bills, leading to many other such tragedies. Throughout the country, working class families are struggling with wages that do not keep up with prices, shorter hours and the constant threat of layoff. The Biden administration, while funneling nearly $1 trillion into military and spy agencies, including spending $100 billion on the war in Ukraine has cut social programs for the working class. In 2021, the Biden administration and Congress allowed the expanded child tax credit to expire, which was the single largest factor for driving a record number of families with children into poverty. The Biden administration also cut back school breakfast and lunch programs which provide all children with breakfast and lunch at school. The Labor government announced on Sunday that it has joined several countries, led by the US, in imposing restrictions on incoming Chinese travellers. From Sunday, they will only be permitted to enter Australia if they have returned a negative COVID test no more than 48 hours prior to their departure. A man receives a COVID-19 test in the eastern suburbs of Sydney last September. [AP Photo/Mark Baker] The government has sought to present the requirement as a public health measure. This morning, Treasurer Jim Chalmers responded to angry denunciations of the coordinated restrictions by Chinese authorities. He claimed the move had been taken out of an abundance of caution. Labor, moreover, was acting because, he said, there certainly is a lot of concern around the global health community about the transparency and quality of data that we see out of China on COVID. To describe this as an exercise in staggering hypocrisy risks understating matters. The Labor government, like the Biden administration in the US, has dismantled any pretence of a coordinated public health response to the pandemic. Every aspect of a scientifically grounded COVID policy has been dispensed with, from mass testing to the reporting of basic coronavirus indices and basic mitigation measures such as mandatory indoor mask-wearing. The sole concern has been to ensure that the economy is reopened to maximize corporate profits, regardless of the consequences in illness and death. Chalmers was asked by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation if the restrictions on Chinese entry were politically-motivated. He lamely responded that he did not see it precisely like that. But clearly the governments actions are. For more than a year, the major imperialist powers, led by the US, campaigned against Chinas then zero-COVID policy, which repeatedly succeeded in quashing outbreaks and limiting serious illnesses and deaths to a miniscule fraction of those occurring in the worlds other major population centres. There were three basic motivations. Firstly, this campaign aimed to restore the unfettered activities of global corporations in China, many of them US-based, which were occasionally disrupted by lockdowns and other safety measures. Secondly, Chinas success in repeatedly eliminating the virus was a living indictment of the let it rip policy pursued by the rest of the worlds governments and exposed as a lie their claims that there was no alternative but to live with the virus. Thirdly, it was another component of the vilification of the Chinese regime as the US and its allies step up the preparations for conflict with Beijing. The Chinese Communist Party regimes capitulation to this campaign has created a catastrophe. Hospitals are reportedly being overrun in many areas and experts are warning that millions could die within months. The US, having agitated for the overturn of Chinas elimination program, is now exploiting the consequences. Having denounced Beijing for suppressing the virus, Washington and its allies are now denouncing it for lifting its zero-Covid policy and allowing the virus to run rampant as other governments have already done. It is all grist for the anti-China propaganda mill as US-led military preparations escalate. Since it came to office in May, the Labor government has dramatically intensified Australias frontline role in this war drive. It has functioned as a US attack dog throughout the region, hectoring countries in the Pacific and South-East Asia to line up behind the anti-China confrontation or face consequences if they do not. At the same time, it has undertaken to vastly expand US basing in Australia, including of nuclear capable assets, while conducting its own military build-up. This is the real basis for the imposition of the travel restrictions, not concerns with public health. Labor fully supported the disastrous reopening of December 2021 which unleashed an Omicron tsunami. At the time, it was in federal opposition but held power in the majority of the states and territories as they overturned previously successful mitigation measures. Since being elected at the federal level, Labor has gone further than its Liberal-National predecessor. It has presided over the ending of daily reporting of COVID cases, infections, deaths and all other indices. While limiting information on the spread of the virus, Labor has adopted policies designed to allow it to spread. This has included ending any requirement to report a positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to the authorities and any form of mandatory isolation for COVID-positive individuals. That measure, taken simultaneously with the abolition of federal pandemic leave payments, was transparently aimed at keeping workers on the job even if they are infected. In other words, China is merely catching up to measures that have been pioneered in the major capitalist countries, including Australia. Labors references to concern over the transparency of Chinese data are particularly hypocritical. The very same day that the travel restriction was announced, January 1, new testing criteria came into effect in Australia. Under the new regime, people will need a doctors referral to access Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are substantially more accurate at diagnosing an Omicron infection than a RAT. Many doctors are ending bulk-billing, which provides free, state-subsidised appointments, due to an effective funding freeze. That means such a referral could cost $70. But according to the Labor policy, only those who are classed as vulnerable should be provided with a referral. In effect, the vast majority of the population has been denied access to a reliable test for COVID infection. The consequences of the dismantling of the testing regime are already becoming apparent. In the last national weekly report for COVID infections, released on December 30, case numbers had almost halved, from 105,916 the week before to 56,158. That sudden drop would be completely inexplicable, given the huge number of unmasked indoor gatherings that occurred over Christmas. But several states did not even bother to report case numbers, even deaths, under conditions where a further surge is likely. In others states testing was clearly down. At least one of the states that did not report last week, Queensland, where Labor is in government, is not supplying any COVID statistics until January 13. The let it rip program resulted in at least 14,776 official COVID deaths last year, compared with 2,253 in the previous two years. Experts have stated, however, that when excess fatalities are factored in, the toll for 2022 is more likely to be 25,000. The sudden concern over the Chinese outbreak, under conditions of the unfettered spread of the virus domestically, has produced a response from the Australian political and media establishment that could be described as schizophrenic. Corporate journalists, who have cheered the lifting of every public health measure in Australia, have spoken darkly of the Chinese authorities doing nothing to prevent the mass illness and death of their population. Not a single corporate or Australian Broadcasting Corporation reporter challenged the ending of daily COVID reporting in Australia, yet they express deep concern about the paucity of accurate information coming out of Beijing. Publications which promoted the unscientific theory of herd immunity, claiming that the continuous spread of the virus would end the pandemic, have now warned that the massive transmission of the virus in China could result in the development of new variants. In his advice to the government, Labors Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly had said there was no public health justification for the restriction. Kelly, who infamously described the emergence of Omicron as a Christmas present a year ago, said such a restriction would be inconsistent with the existing approach to COVID, i.e., allowing the virus to spread everywhere. In opposing discriminatory and politically-motivated measures such as the China travel restrictions, the working class must take up the fight for a comprehensive public health program aimed at eliminating the virus and ending the pandemic. The measures required to do this, including mass testing, indoor masking, air filtration, and, where necessary, lockdowns, are known. But their implementation is blocked by capitalist interests and the governments that defend them. That underscores the fact that the fight against the pandemic is in essence a fight for a socialist alternative to the profit system. Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said Ukraine is expecting U.S. Bradley armored fighting vehicles to be delivered soon and significantly improve the combat ability of its forces. "We are waiting for them. We're looking forward to them very much. This will significantly improve the combat ability of our units," he said in an interview with ABC News published on Wednesday. Budanov also expressed gratitude for all the help Ukraine had and asked to continue to support Ukraine. "I promise it will not take too long now, and every taxpayer in the U.S. will be able to see where every cent went. We will change this world together," he said. 25 years ago: NASAs Lunar Prospector launched into orbit around the moon On January 7, 1998, NASA launched the Lunar Prospector on a successful 19-month journey as part of its Discovery Program. The $63 million missions objective was to circle the Moon at an altitude of 62 miles in an orbit crossing the poles. Previous missions concentrated on narrow equatorial orbits, which left approximately 75 percent of the surface geology insufficiently mapped. Before the Lunar Prospector, the last mission to the moon was by Apollo 17 in December of 1972. The Soviet Unions moon orbiter program ended in 1976. In January of 1990, Japan sent its Hiten orbiter to the moon. The Galileo spacecraft, which was sent to Jupiter in 1991, made some observations of the moon on its way. But for a quarter-century, Earths moon had been largely abandoned in favor of exploring other planets and their moons. The Lunar Prospector in a clean environment before launch The Lunar Prospector orbited around the moon and discovered evidence of frozen water in craters through a Neutron Spectrometer, one of its five scientific instruments. The spectrometer was designed to detect neutrons that escape the lunar surface as a result of cosmic-ray bombardment. Based on this data, scientists were able to estimate that around 800 billion gallons of lunar ice may exist on the surface of the moon. The other tools included a Gamma Ray Spectrometer, a Magnetometer, an Electron Reflectometer, an Alpha Particle Spectrometer, and a Doppler Gravity Experiment. The Gamma Ray Spectrometer was designed to record gamma rays. The Alpha Particle Spectrometer was damaged during the launch, but the data it recorded was later recovered. It was designed to detect outgassing events, which are believed to be the result of low-level volcanic and tectonic shifts on the moon. The mission ended on July 31, 1999, following the successful detection of the presence of hydrogen. 50 years ago: Pentagon Papers trial of Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony J. Russo begins On January 3, 1973 the trial of Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony J. Russo began in Los Angeles. The pair faced prosecution for the release of the Pentagon Papers to the public in 1971. The papers provided undeniable evidence that the United States government had lied to the public about the true nature of US involvement in Vietnam going back to the Kennedy administration. Ellsberg and Russo were charged with eight counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917, six counts of theft, and one of conspiracy. The pair had been employees of the RAND Corporation, a think tank that provided foreign policy analysis and strategic advice to the United States military. Daniel Ellsberg at a press conference [Photo: Bernard Gotfryd, photographer] In 1969, after becoming politically opposed to the war in Vietnam, Ellsberg, with the assistance of Russo, made copies of classified documents that he had helped author and to which he had access. After struggling for over a year to find publications willing to publish a report on the Pentagon Papers, they finally succeeded with the New York Times and Washington Post in June 1971. Among the most significant revelations was that the Johnson administration had been aware early on in the war that a US military victory was impossible. Other information included details of US attacks against civilian populations and raids against North Vietnam that the public had no knowledge of. Ellsberg took a principled stance against the charges brought against him. Just before turning himself in to the police he told reporters, I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public. I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision. Like all prosecutions under the Espionage Act, the trial was political. After having lost a legal battle to censor press publication of the papers, the Nixon administration prosecuted Ellsberg and Russo as retribution for the embarrassment and as a threat to others who may have become encouraged to expose other government crimes. This was of great importance to Nixon, as the Watergate scandal that would force his resignation was still for the time being mostly hidden below the surface. It was actually linked directly to the campaign against Ellsberg, since in September 1971, Nixon had ordered the same group of former intelligence operatives involved in Watergate, dubbed by the White House the plumbers, to break into the office of Ellsbergs psychiatrist in an attempt to find information that would discredit him. As the trial opened, clear attempts were made by to select a jury that would be hostile to Ellsberg and Russo. The judge overseeing the case, Matt Byrne Jr., did not allow the defense to ask any political questions of potential jurors, making it difficult to ascertain pre-existing biases against Ellsberg. Questions banned included asking jurors their attitude toward the anti-war movement, or whether they approved of Congress. Further, during the trial, when Ellsberg took the stand and attempted to explain his motives and his belief that the documents he brought to light were themselves illegally classified, the judge ordered him to cease his testimony. When Ellsbergs lawyer protested, arguing that there had never been a case where a defendant was not permitted to tell the jury why he did what he did, Judge Byrne responded, Well, youre hearing one now. However, despite the hostile judge, over the course of the trial new evidence emerged that the FBI had illegally tapped Ellsbergs phone and had been spying on him without a warrant. In addition, Judge Byrne admitted during the trial that he had met with top Nixon aide John Ehrlichman, who had attempted to bribe him with the position of FBI director if he saw to it that Ellsberg went to prison. With overwhelming evidence showing that the only criminal activity in the case was perpetrated by the US government, Byrne was forced in May 1973 to throw out all the charges against Ellsberg and Russo. He told the court, The totality of the circumstances of this case which I have only briefly sketched offend a sense of justice. The bizarre events have incurably infected the prosecution of this case. 75 years ago: Anti-British uprising begins in Iraq This week in January, 1948, protests began in Baghdad, Iraq, which would develop into what became known as the Al-Wathbah (The Leap) uprising. In the space of less than a month, the police would carry out a bloody crackdown against protesters, and the government of Prime Minister Salih Jabr would effectively fall. On January 3, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fadil al-Jamali revealed that the Iraqi government was sensitive to the merits of the 1930 Anglo-Iraqi Treaty, which was due for expiration. That agreement had given British troops unlimited access to Iraqi facilities. It was also a pillar for the maintenance of the weak British-installed monarchy of King Faisal II, the nominal ruler. Iraqi Prime Minister Salih Jabr [Photo: Navana Vandyk] It rapidly became apparent that the Jabr government and the monarchy had been in secret negotiations with the British for an extension of the treaty. The parliament and the major opposition parties had not been notified. The same day as al-Jamalis statement, the bourgeois-nationalist Independence Party, which agitated against continuing fealty to British imperialism, had a secret meeting planning opposition to an extension of the treaty. On January 4, protests began, initially involving Baghdad university students. The protesters were violently dispersed and several of the student leaders arrested, prompting a city-wide student strike. While those arrested were released and the strike ended two days later, the movement continued to grow. It received renewed impetus with the announcement on January 16 that the government had in fact signed an agreement with Britain for the continuation of the treaty. The protests involved broader layers of students. Sections of the urban poor and the Baghdad working class joined. The government intensified its repression, culminating in a violent police attack on a protest on January 27, that included the indiscriminate use of machine-gun fire against the demonstrators. As many as 300-400 were killed. Jabr had attempted to stem the protests by touting improvements in the treaty, including the return of air bases to nominal Iraqi control and purported equality between British and Iraqi military forces. The bloody assaults on the protesters, however, spelled the end of his prime ministership. He would flee to Britain by the end of January and a new government would be sworn in shortly thereafter. While the protests were sparked by the issue of the treaty, broader issues of deep social inequality and poverty, together with the hostility of the youth to the monarchy, were also present. The Iraqi Communist Party played a prominent role, underscoring a growing attraction of the Iraqi masses to socialism. Its Stalinist program, however, rejected a genuine socialist perspective and was instead oriented to the nationalist elements of the ruling elite. 100 years ago: Rosewood, Florida burned to the ground in racist pogrom On January 7, 1923, the final structure in the predominantly black town of Rosewood, Florida, about 50 miles (80.64 km) southwest of Gainesville, was razed by a mob of white racists. On January 1, Fannie Taylor, a white woman in the nearby town of Sumner, claimed she had been raped by a black man. Her husband, a foreman at a nearby sawmill, assembled a mob of local white men that also may have included participants in the Ku Klux Klan rally in Gainesville days earlier. The mob went to Rosewood looking for an escapee from a chain gang named Jesse Hunter, whom they claimed had committed the crime. The mob was also searching for two other men, supposed accomplices of Hunter Aaron Carrier, the nephew of Sarah Carrier, who did the laundry for the Taylors, and Sam Carter, a blacksmith. When the two were located, members of the mob beat Carrier and dragged him from the back of a car until a sheriff intervened and placed him in protective custody. The mob lynched Carter. A burning building in Rosewood, Florida [Photo: The Literary Digest magazine] Local law enforcement warned blacks to either stay at their workplaces or hide in their homes. On January 3, a mob surrounded Sarah Carriers house where 25 blacks were sheltering. The mob shot Sarah Carrier in the head when she came to the front porch and killed her son Sylvester after he had killed two of the racists. Children in the house escaped and hid in the woods. Over the next few days, largely because of local newspaper reports of armed blacks moving around the town, hundreds of whites swarmed into Rosewood and began to burn churches and other structures. Some residents were shot as they fled burning houses. Many escaped into the nearby swamps. By January 6, two white owners of a train, John and William Bryce, were able to rescue many of the women and children in the swamp along the local railroad line and take them out town. They refused to take men for fear of becoming targets of the white mob. Others were hidden by John Wright, the white owner of Rosewoods general store, the sole building that was not burned. At least six blacks and two whites were killed, although some estimates of the number of black dead are much higher. The survivors never returned to Rosewood and the town was literally wiped off the map. John Singleton directed a 1997 film, Rosewood, based on the events. The fascistic and far right forces within Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahus new coalition government have lost no time in demonstrating who now determines the trajectory of Israels politics. On Tuesday morning, National Security Minister and Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben-Gvir staged a provocation, visiting the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalems Old City under heavy security protection. Islams third-holiest site and the location of the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago, the compound has long been a major flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Israeli police secure the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, January 3, 2023. Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist Israeli Cabinet minister, visited the flashpoint Jerusalem holy site Tuesday for the first time since taking office in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new far-right government last week. The visit is seen by Palestinians as a provocation. [AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo] It was a move guaranteed to further inflame tensions, under conditions where 2022 saw more than 167 Palestinians, including 48 children, killed by Israeli security forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, illegally occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab Israeli war, the highest number since 2005. With the Palestinian Authority (PA), established under the Oslo Accords, widely despised amid bitter factional conflicts over who should succeed the ailing 87-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel is intent on provoking a military conflict with the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and Gaza as well as with Palestinian citizens in Israel. It was Ariel Sharons visit to the al-Aqsa mosque compound under a massive military escort in September 2000 that precipitated the second intifada, the five-year-long Palestinian uprising. In May 2021, the fascists Flag March coinciding with Ramadan was one of the factors ratcheting up tensions prior to another of Israels murderous assaults on Gaza, as well as violent clashes between Arab and Jewish Israelis within Israel. The Arab states, particularly Jordan, which has custodianship of the compound under an international agreement, have warned Israel against taking any steps that would undermine the arrangements whereby Jews are allowed to visit the site but not worship there. The last years have seen far-right politicians and religious zealots calling for an end to such discrimination and Israeli security forces turning a blind eye to settlers, nationalist and religious activists praying at the site. Ben-Gvirs incendiary stunt took place less than a week after Netanyahus coalition government took office. His key partner is the Religious Zionist alliance, of which Ben-Gvir is a member, committed to Jewish supremacy and apartheid rule, the annexation of large swathes of the West Bank, the expansion of illegal settlements and Jewish prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque. A convicted racist and supporter of the virulent anti-Arab Kahanist organization, once designated a terrorist organization in Israel and the US, who threatened to expel Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, Ben-Gvir heads the newly created Ministry of National Security. His brief includes the Border Police, the paramilitary force responsible for suppressing the Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Security forces that have long allowed the settlers to attack the property and lives of Palestinians with impunity, often under the protection of the military, will now actively encourage pogroms to drive them from their homes and land. While he had early on declared his intention of visiting the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, after a meeting with Netanyahu on Monday he had apparently promised to delay his visit. Netanyahu refused to veto his visit, knowing it risked precipitating violent clashes with the Palestinians, rocket attacks from Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls Gaza, and an angry response from the Arab states, claiming that capitulating in the face of threats would be a reward for terror and legitimize actions against Israel. In the event, Ben-Gvir went ahead with his visit, albeit a brief one early in the morning. It was not his first visit to the compound, but his first as security minister. In May last year, Ben-Gvir posted pictures of himself and his family at the site and called for its destruction to establish a synagogue on the mountain. After five elections in less than four years in which no government has had a convincing majority, Netanyahus majority of four in the 120-seat Knesset is entirely dependent on Religious Zionisms 14 seats that make it the third-largest parliamentary party. He brokered the electoral alliance of its several factions to ensure they jointly met the threshold for parliamentary representation under Israels complex system of proportional representation, an alliance that immediately split after the election into its three constituent parts: Religious Zionism, Jewish Power and Noam. Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu (left) far-right Israeli lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich (right) and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid (centre) and leaders of all Israel's political parties pose for a group photo after the swearing-in ceremony for lawmakers at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, November 15, 2022. [AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov] Netanyahu, largely supportive of their policies, is currently in court on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases and particularly welcomed their offer to introduce legislation banning the indictment of a sitting prime minister. He is now utterly beholden to these forces. These fascists have promised to legalise scores of settler outposts and demolish Palestinian homes and buildings in Area C of the occupied West Bank that is under direct military control. The new government is set to carry out one of the largest expulsions of Palestinians since 1967 if the residents of 12 communities in the Masafer Yatta area refuse to leave their homes to make way for the repurposing of the land for Israeli military use. The demolitions of their homes would be a flagrant breach of the Geneva conventions banning the expropriation of occupied land or the forcible transfer of the local population. It would set a precedent for further expulsions in the West Bank. Speaking during his Tuesday morning visit, Ben-Gvir said, There wont be racial discrimination in a government in which I am a member. Jews will ascend to the Temple Mount. He threatened those opposing this with reprisals, saying they must be dealt with an iron fist. The Palestinian Authority denounced Ben-Gvirs action as a blatant and shameless provocation. While Hamas also condemned his visit, it refrained from threatening to respond with rocket fire on Israel. Zvika Fogel, a legislator from Jewish Power, hit out at Hamas, telling Channel 12 that Israels policy of going to war with Palestinians every two or three years was not enough and that it should subdue them once and for all. Netanyahu, in a bid to forestall an international backlash, declared that the government was adhering strictly to the status quo position in relation to the al-Aqsa Mosque. Nevertheless, he has been forced to postpone his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), scheduled for next week, after Abu Dhabi, along with Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other countries, condemned the visit. The UAE and China have called for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss it. The White House, deeply concerned that this would cut across its efforts to forge an alliance between Israel and the Arab states against Iran, whom it accuses of arming Russia in the US/NATO led war in Ukraine, issued a statement declaring, The United States stands firmly, and we have been very clear, for preservation of the status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem. Any unilateral action that jeopardises the status quo is unacceptable, and we will continue to be steadfast on it and be very clear on that. Israels new foreign minister Eli Cohen has further dismayed Washington with his call for Israel to speak out less in public about the war in Ukraine and to avoid denouncing Russia publicly over its invasion. His remarks drew criticism from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a keen supporter of the US war drive against Russia and one of Israels closest supporters in Congress, who called Cohens comments unnerving. Israel has launched hundreds if not thousands of aerial strikes on facilities linked to Iran and its allies in Syria, with the evident agreement of President Vladimir Putin to stand down Russia aerial defence systems put in place to defend the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Last weekend, Israel carried out yet another attack on Damascus international airport that briefly put it out of action. Last week, it was revealed that over the past month the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concealed the fact that a dangerous new variant of the coronavirus, known as the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant, has rapidly become dominant across the United States. On December 29, epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding reported CDC data that was leaked to him showing that XBB.1.5 was already dominant in the US. One day after this Twitter thread went viral, the CDC updated its COVID-19 variant dashboard with the exact data that Dr. Feigl-Ding had reported. This same process unfolded between October 13 and October 14, 2022, at which time Dr. Feigl-Ding reported CDC data leaked to him showing that the Omicron BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants were becoming dominant, which was then confirmed by the CDC the following day under growing public pressure. The CDC has a rule which stipulates that any variant that accounts for over one percent of sequenced cases must be reported, a rule they violated for nearly a month in December and September-October. After both leaks, the CDC has issued no public statement and the corporate media has dutifully omitted the very fact that there was a cover-up, with the World Socialist Web Site the only outlet that has made this clear. The new XBB.1.5 variant, which now accounts for 40.5 percent of all sequenced COVID-19 infections in the US, rose to dominance more quickly than any other variant since Omicron first spread globally in November 2021. The XBB.1.5 variant is believed to have evolved in New York in October and is fueling a wave of infections and hospitalizations throughout the Northeast region, with hospitalization rates among people aged 70 and older approaching pandemic highs in some states. This age group already accounts for over 90 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the US. Due to the dismantling of PCR testing and the promotion of at-home rapid tests, which are not tallied by the government, official figures on infections in the US are now totally inaccurate. Wastewater data, however, show that the US is presently mired in the second-worst surge of infections of the entire pandemic, which is being driven by XBB.1.5 in the Northeast region. Multiple scientists raised alarm bells about XBB.1.5 throughout December and earlier, with the variant earning the nickname Kraken. A recent blog post by scientist Dr. Eric Topol describes the biological characteristics of XBB.15 and the research that scientists have done so far. In short, XBB.1.5 is believed to be the most immune-evasive variant to date, meaning that vaccinations and prior infection offer virtually no protection against breakthrough infection or reinfection. It has also been shown to bind more tightly to the hACE2 receptor, which scientists believe will make it more infectious than any previous variant. Expressing her concern over XBB.1.5, Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, one of the worlds top immunologists, who has led pioneering research on Long COVID, tweeted on Monday: Please protect yourselves and others by wearing N95 masks. I am truly concerned about the #longCOVID wave that follows this infection. In a follow-up tweet, Dr. Iwasaki elaborated that the features of XBB.1.5 will increase tropism and possibly persistence in cell types that are long lived, meaning the likelihood of developing Long COVID after infection with XBB.1.5 could be higher than with previous variants. One scientist, whose models on the spread of XBB.1.5 were correct throughout December, created the visualization below to show the likely timeline of the coming wave. They estimate that by the end of January, XBB.1.5 will account for over 75 percent of all infections throughout the US, at which point the nationwide surge will be in full swing. Furthermore, the US-grown XBB.1.5 variant is being exported globally, as shown in the visualization below. It has been detected across Europe, as well as in India, Australia, Colombia, China and other countries, with scientists predicting that it could become dominant globally. Given what scientists have learned about the dangers of COVID-19 reinfections, as well as breakthrough infections, this potential global surge would have immense societal repercussions. Masses of people could be infected or reinfected with COVID-19, causing spikes in hospitalizations and deaths, compounding damage to the overall health of the population. Under these conditions, the deliberate withholding of data on XBB.1.5 from the public ranks among the most significant cover-ups in the history of the CDC or any other public health agency globally. There is no innocent explanation for the CDC cover-ups in December or October, which were clearly deliberate and intended to prevent any public alarm that might disrupt the holiday shopping and travel season. Three years into the worst pandemic in a century, the CDC stands totally discredited as a public health agency. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been increasingly politicized, tailoring science to match all the lies of both the Trump and Biden administrations, in order to suit the needs of Wall Street and corporate America. Over the course of 2022, the CDC deepened its antiscientific policies, publishing guidelines that discouraged the safe isolation of infected patients, masking and other critical mitigation measures, while manipulating data to match Bidens lie that the pandemic is over. Throughout December, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and White House COVID Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha remained silent on the clear dangers of the XBB.1.5 variant and the pandemic more generally. On December 30, Walensky broke her silence with a tweet stating, We cant stop the spread of #COVID19. She praised the CDCs new policy requiring that all travelers from China must test negative for COVID-19 within two days of flying to the US. The same policy stipulates that the agency will conduct more genomic sequencing from China and other countries, ostensibly to decrease the chance for entry of a novel variant of concern. Walenskys tweet, released the day after Dr. Feigl-Dings leak of the CDC data on XBB.1.5, was roundly denounced for its hypocrisy and implicit xenophobia against China. Some have speculated that the new CDC policy itself, released a day before the data on XBB.1.5 was leaked, could have been in preparations for a crude attempt to foist blame onto China for the emergence of XBB.1.5. Walenskys claim that We cant stop the spread of COVID-19 also provoked a flood of hostile comments, indicating the continued opposition that exists to the herd immunity policy now in place internationally. In order to maintain the status quo and prevent the growth of an organized movement of workers and scientists to stop the pandemic, the powers that be rely on a layer of affluent official scientists in the government and media to promote misinformation and cultivate a sense of apathy in the population, in order to implement their criminal pandemic policies. In the US, Drs. Walensky, Jha, Anthony Fauci and others lead this work. In Germany, virologist Dr. Christian Drosten stated in December that the pandemic is over, prompting politicians from numerous parties to call for the ending of all mitigation measures in the new year. The same coordinated lies and deception have been pushed internationally. The relentless propaganda campaign in the West itself had an impact within China, where sections of the middle class and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bureaucracy became increasingly convinced that Omicron was mild and Zero-COVID had to be scrapped. The encirclement of China with a global forever COVID policy, combined with relentless economic and geopolitical pressures, prompted the CCP to lift Zero-COVID, unleashing a tidal wave of infections and deaths throughout the country. In the World Socialist Web Sites 2023 New Year statement, Joseph Kishore and David North warned: The lifting of Zero-COVID in China and the adoption of a forever COVID policy marks a new and potentially even more dangerous stage in the pandemic. Scientists have warned that mass infection increases the likelihood that new variants will evolve. The worlds capitalist ruling elites are playing Russian roulette with society, raising the danger that a more infectious, immune-resistant and deadly variant could unleash an even more lethal global wave of infections. At this point, the XBB.1.5 variant does not appear to be more lethal than prior variants, but only time will tell. The warnings that it could be more likely to cause Long COVID are ominous, as there are already hundreds of millions of people globally suffering from this affliction. The dangerous process of viral evolution of the coronavirus must be stopped through the building of a mass movement of the international working class fighting to put an end to the pandemic. This must be connected to the conscious struggle against the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, the threat of nuclear war, the deepening climate crisis, and all the immense social problems created by world capitalism. The year 2022 witnessed a significant growth of the class struggle globally, which will continue in the coming year. The most critical task is the building of a revolutionary leadership in the working class, fighting for the strategy of world socialist revolution. On Tuesday evening, the state of Missouri executed Amber McLaughlin, the first openly transgender woman to be put to death in the United States. Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, denied her clemency. The US Supreme Court had earlier refused to hear McLaughlins case. Her execution was the first in 2023 and the 17th of a woman since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Amber McLaughlin [Photo: Jeremy S. Weis/Federal Public Defender Office] In 2006, McLaughlin, 49, was convicted of first-degree murder, forcible rape and armed criminal action in the killing of her ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther in St. Louis County in 2003. She was tried as Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin submitted her final statement to the Department of Corrections on New Years Day, saying, I am sorry for what I did. I am a loving and caring person. She was executed at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri, just hours after Parson denied her clemency. The lethal injection began at 6:39 p.m. and she was declared dead at 6:51 p.m. According to court records, McLaughlin and the victim had been in a relationship but had separated by the time of the killing. Guenther had received an order of protection against McLaughlin after she was arrested for burglarizing Guenthers home. McLaughlin waited for Guenther outside the victims workplace and then repeatedly stabbed and raped her. Although McLaughlin was convicted of murder, the jury deadlocked on her sentence, rejecting three of the four aggravating circumstances advanced by the prosecution. Under Missouri law, a nonunanimous jury vote is considered a hung jury, triggering a statutory provision that allowed the trial judge to impose a death sentence. Missouri and Indiana are the only states that permit a judge to override a jury deadlocked on sentencing. In their 27-page petition for clemency, McLaughlins lawyers argued that her execution would subvert the will of the jury, which had not agreed on a death sentence. The attorneys also raised their clients struggles with mental health and history of childhood trauma. In the petition, McLaughlins attorneys said that her trial lawyer had indicated in his penalty-phase opening statement that he would be presenting expert mental health testimony, but then failed to do so when his superiors made a last-minute decision to pull the expert witness due to issues arising with the experts history. Judge Steven H. Goldman, the trial judge, handed down a death sentence when the jury agreed that McLaughlin had acted with the depravity of mind to be executed, but were deadlocked on whether that was trumped by other mitigating factors. Before he was a judge, Goldman was a prosecutor and helped draft language for the statute that allows a judge in Missouri to decide punishment in a capital case if a jury is deadlocked on sentencing. McLaughlins clemency petition received the support of seven former Missouri trial and appellate judges and Missouri members of Congress Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver. The group of judges argued in their letter, referring to McLaughlins gender at the time of her trial, Mr. McLaughlin was deprived of his right to a jury, because they could not agree on a sentence. The judges wrote, McLaughlins jury deadlocked and refused to return a death verdict. Had the mental health evidence that included brain damage been presented, it would have resulted in a life recommendation. Bush and Cleaver wrote to the governor, Alongside this horrendous abuse, she was also silently struggling with her identity, grappling with what we now understand is gender dysphoria. The abuse, coupled with the persistent mental turmoil surrounding her identity, led to mild neurological brain damage and multiple suicide attempts both as a child and as an adult. McLaughlins counsel described the chronic trauma McLaughlin suffered as a child, including physical and sexual abuse, time spent in foster care, brain damage resulting from fetal alcohol exposure and mental illness. In one foster care placement, she had feces thrust into her face, her attorneys argued in the clemency petition. Rejecting these arguments, Governor Parson confirmed Tuesday morning that McLaughlins execution would proceed, writing in a statement, McLaughlins conviction and sentence remains after multiple, thorough examinations of Missouri law. McLaughlin stalked, raped, and murdered Ms. Guenther. McLaughlin is a violent criminal. McLaughlin appealed her conviction on the grounds of her Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury. McLaughlins sister testified that their adoptive father, a police officer, used a Taser and nightstick on McLaughlin, and that their adoptive mother would force the children to drown pregnant cats. A psychologist and a pediatrician said McLaughlin had trouble with cognitive ability. Her defense lawyers said she had an IQ of 82, and had borderline intellectual and personality disorders, intermittent explosive disorder and learning disorders. She left school after the 11th grade and worked as a factory assembler, dishwasher and day laborer, and at other odd jobs. A federal district court overturned McLaughlins death sentence in 2016, calling the failure to present the mental health evidence at her trial a grievous error. However, the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed this ruling and reinstated the death sentence, and the US Supreme Court declined to review her case. In another recent capital case involving a transgender woman, the Ohio Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence imposed on Victoria Drain, a transgender woman who was convicted of murdering a fellow inmate at the Warren Correctional Institution in 2019. The Ohio high court noted that Drain had suffered traumas as a child, including spending 20 days in solitary confinement as a 13-year-old juvenile offender. A psychologist who conducted interviews with Drain and examined her prison records said that she had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality and antisocial personality disorder. However, the court concluded that the aggravating circumstances in this case are so grave that they outweigh the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt. One of McLaughlins friends in prison was Jessica Hicklin, a transgender woman paroled last January after serving 26 years for murder. In 2018, Hicklin won a federal lawsuit that challenged the Missouri Department of Corrections policy that barred treatment for transgender inmates who had not been receiving hormone therapy before they were incarcerated. The lawsuit challenged the states refusal to provide hormone therapy, permanent hair removal and access to gender-affirming care products, arguing this refusal constituted cruel and unusual punishment, which is banned under the Eighth Amendment. Missouri now covers hormone therapy but does not cover gender-reassignment surgery for prisoners. Hicklin told the Kansas City Star that she knew of more than 30 inmates in Missouri prisons last year who identified as transgender and that fewer than a dozen were undergoing hormone therapy. However, to be eligible for hormone therapy, McLaughlin was expected to live a full year as a woman, using a female name, pronouns and dressing effeminately, Hicklin said. McLaughlin completed this real-life experience about six months ago. McLaughlin was living in the mens prison because prison assignments are based on genitalia rather than on gender identity, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said. Hicklin spent months in protective custody at the Potosi prison. Missouri was one of only six US states that carried out an execution in 2022, executing Carman Deck on May 3 and Kevin Johnson on November 29. Leonard Tayler is set to be executed on February 7. Although no executions have been scheduled beyond February, the state attorney general has asked the Missouri Supreme Court to set execution dates for Michael Tisius and Johnny Johnson. Missouri has executed 93 men since the Supreme Courts reinstatement of the death penalty. Police in the United States killed at an unprecedented rate in 2022, taking the lives of at least 1,176 people, for an average of 3.2 deaths every day, according to a year end tally by Mapping Police Violence. There were just 12 days where police did not kill someone. People were killed in every state by local and state police, county sheriffs deputies and federal agents. Killed by the police in 2022: Left, Clesslynn Jane Crawford, age 2; Top Right, Jayland Walker; Bottom Right, Maggie Dunn (17) and Caroline Gill (16) [Photo: Family photo/Family photo/Brusly High School] While African Americans continued to be killed by the police at a rate disproportionate to their share of the population, accounting for nearly a quarter of killings in 2022, as in previous years, victims were of every race and ethnicity, with those classified as white accounting for the largest number of deaths. It was also a deadly year for migrants encountering border police. There were at least 40 fatal encounters with Customs and Border Protection agents, according to a tally maintained by the Southern Borders Communities Coalition, the highest total for any year tracked by the group except for 2021. Despite the grim, nearly daily occurrence of murders and homicides by the police, cops continued to kill with impunity, almost never facing criminal charges or significant disciplinary action. Police officers were criminally charged in just ten cases last year, less than 1 percent. Those who face punishment after killing someone, typically paid leave and slap on the wrist, are quickly returned to the streets. Las Cruces Police officer Jared Cosper was returned to duty just a few months after he shot and killed 75-year-old Amelia Baca in the doorway of her home in April, 2022. A still unidentified Jacksonville, Florida, sheriffs deputy has remained on the job and faced no charges or disciplinary action despite killing Kevin Mahan, a 43-year-old white man who was suffering from a mental health emergency in April. The details of police killings largely go unnoticed in the national media, with only brief local reports, which uncritically reproduce the official police account, often full of lies and obfuscation, thus giving only a distorted glimpse into the deadly reality of policing in America. A selection of killings last year gives a sense of the reign of terror being waged by police forces across the country: One of the first people to be killed in 2022, was James Williams, of Canton, Ohio. The father of six was shot and killed by police officer Robert Huber without warning while ringing in the New Year with his family with celebratory gunfire in their fenced-in backyard. Jayland Walker was killed in Akron, Ohio, on June 27, 2022, in a hail of 90 police bullets after a car chase and brief pursuit on foot. His death sparked multiple nights of protests demanding an end to police violence, which were met by brutal police repression. The eight officers who shot him have not officially been named or charged, and were put on paid leave before returning to desk duty in October. One of the oldest victims of the year, 82-year-old Jose Antonio Suarez, was killed by police in Margate, Florida on March 27. Police claim that he was pointing a gun at people and firing it into the ground. When he allegedly pointed the gun at officers they opened fire, killing him on the spot. He was a frail old man. He was 82. He was hard of hearing, Suarezs son told CBS4, noting that the elderly man had recently been under intense stress. 'His wife has dementia, his bathrooms, he had mold in the house that was making him and his wife ill, he was stressed out about that. He had been reaching out to us for a month. He said he didn't feel well. He wanted to die. He even went to the doctor and said he wanted to die. He wanted to catch COVID. The youngest recorded victim of the year was two-year-old Clesslynn Jane Crawford, killed by a police bullet during a shootout between her father and officers in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Thomas Siderio, Jr., 12, was shot in the back in March as he ran from plainclothes cops in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The cop who killed him, Edsaul Mendoza, has been charged with first and third degree murder and is set to go to trial this year. This marks the first time in the history of the city that an officer will face first-degree murder charges. Dakota L. Coleman, 27, was killed during a traffic stop in Oconto, Wisconsin. According to police she approached the sheriffs deputy with a knife and did not comply with his order, so he shot and killed her. According to a friend, Coleman, who was homeless, had been in an abusive relationship with the vehicles driver and had discussed leaving him just two weeks before she was killed. Among the final tragedies of the year were the deaths of Maggie Dunn, 17, and Caroline Gill, 16. The pair of high school students was killed when Addis, Louisiana, officer David Cauthron, 42, slammed his police cruiser into their vehicle during a high speed pursuit on New Years Eve. Dunn and Gill, both cheerleaders, were mere bystanders, having nothing to do with the allegedly stolen vehicle Cauthron and other officers were recklessly pursuing. Dunns brother, Liam Dunn, a college student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, was also in the struck vehicle and has been left in critical condition. Cauthron was arrested Sunday on two charges of negligent homicide and one charge of negligent injuring. Nearly three years since the mass protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd by four police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the reign of police violence continues unabated. Groups like Black Lives Matter which present police killings solely as a racial issue promote community oversight and racial equity as solutions, which has meant in practice the enrichment of a narrow layer of middle class minorities. The leaders of Black Lives Matter have enriched themselves off popular anger against police violence, signing lucrative corporate deals and buying themselves mansions, while the families of the victims of police violence languish. Meanwhile the Democrats and Republicans continue to work to outdo one another on their support for the police. The latest federal budget signed by President Joe Biden includes more $1.3 billion for local police agencies, including $324 million in grant money for the hiring of 1,800 new officers across the US. Meanwhile, Republican-controlled legislatures have passed laws which restrict the ability of people to film and protest police brutality. The record level of police violence in 2022 makes clear that the police, as Friedrich Engels explained, are special bodies of armed men, established and maintained to defend the capitalist system and the inequality which it creates. In their defense of private property the police target the working class, in particular the most vulnerablethe poor, the homeless and the mentally ill. The most backward fascist and racist elements are deliberately cultivated within their ranks to suppress any sign of opposition from workers. Putting an end to police killings is not a matter of reform but of ending the system which has produced historic levels of inequality and violence, and reorganizing society to meet the needs of the working class rather than a privileged few at the top. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov said the department continues to work on sanctions, the meetings are held weekly. "Now the meetings of the National Security and Defense Council are held every week, and sometimes twice a week... Yesterday, a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council was held. The issue of sanctions was considered. As far as sanctions are concerned, these are meetings of the National Security and Defense Council. We continue our work. During this time, there are a lot of collaborators and those people who demand to be included in the sanctions list they went through the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council," Danilov said in an interview on the Rada television channel. According to him, "now is not the time when he, as the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, should go out and communicate publicly with the society." "Now there is a war, now there is something to do," he said. Danilov said during the entire period of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the members of the National Security and Defense Council met in person only twice, in the same room. "It's very dangerous during a war, so we have a slightly different procedure," he said. In total, according to the NSDC Secretary, when it comes to issues related to the war and the work of the defense and security sector (the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander), some 45 meetings have been held since the beginning of the Russian invasion. At the same time, the president's communication with all key representatives of the security and defense sector takes place daily, seven days a week. 1 Egypt has announced a 20 percent increase in the local wheat procurement price for the upcoming harvest season, raising it to EGP 1,500 per ardeb (1 ardeb = 150 kg) from EGP 1,250, as previously announced in January. The House of Representatives provisionally approved on Wednesday legislative amendments under the 1975 law regulating naturalisation to ease requirements for acquiring Egyptian nationality. By Trend Uzbekistan and Turkiye plan to hold meetings of strategic planning groups at the level of foreign ministers and the Uzbek-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, Trend reports, citing Uzbek MFA. The issue was discussed during the meeting of Uzbek FM Bakhtiyor Saidov and Turkish Ambassador to the country Olgan Bekar. It was stressed that intensive and fruitful contacts are currently underway between the parliaments, governments, ministries, departments and business circles of the two countries. The parties also agreed to strengthen joint work on the comprehensive implementation of decisions taken following the meetings of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkiye. 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. In James Camerons Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water, moviegoers are introduced to two different Navi clans, the forest-dwelling Omaticaya and the water-dwelling Metkayina. Both tribes are peaceful and only resort to violence when their land is seized upon by humans. However, audiences might soon find out that not all Navi are good Navi. James Cameron told Frances 20 Minutes (via Total Film) that the next installment, the still-untitled Avatar 3, will introduce a third clan of Pandora that shows off the Navis darker side. Cameron said Avatar 3 will explore different cultures from those I have already shown. The fire will be represented by the Ash People. I want to show the Navi from another angle because, so far, I have only shown their good sides. More from Variety In the early films, there are very negative human examples and very positive Navi examples, the director continued. In Avatar 3, we will do the opposite. We will also explore new worlds, while continuing the story of the main characters. I can say that the last parts will be the best. The others were an introduction, a way to set the table before serving the meal. While the first two Avatar movies centered on conflicts between Navi tribes and humans, it appears the third movie will find Navi facing off against Navi for the first time in the franchise. Perhaps the fire tribe will turn against Jake Sully due to the destruction his presence on Pandora has caused thus far. Cameron has already finished production on Avatar 3, which is scheduled to hit theaters on Dec. 20, 2024. Should the filmmaker extend the franchise all the way to Avatar 5, then the Navi will come to Earth. Producer Jon Landau revealed as much before The Way of Water opened in theaters. Story continues Well, its funny, Landau told Gizmodo. I wasnt going to talk about it, but Ive now subsequently heard that Jim has talked about it a little bit. In [Avatar 5] there is a section of the story where we go to Earth. And we go to it to open peoples eyes, open Neytiris eyes, to what exists on Earth. Earth is not just represented by the RDA [the franchises evil organization known as the Resources Development Administration], he said. Just like youre defined by the choices you make in life, not all humans are bad. Not all Navi are good. And thats the case here on Earth. And we want to expose Neytiri to that. Avatar: The Way of Water is now playing in theaters nationwide. VIP+ Analysis: How Avatar Schools Disney on Film Franchises Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Channel 4 privatization is off the table. UK Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, according to a leaked letter published by The News Agents journalist Lewis Goodall on Twitter, which says pursuing a sale at this point is not the right decision and there are better ways to secure Channel 4s sustainability. More from Deadline Related Story Channel 4's Scrapped Sale Sparks Widespread Relief, But Producers Fear Sting In Tail Related Story UK TV Ratings Bonanza: The Most-Watched Shows Of 2022 Related Story "A Chance To Change The Way We Think About The World": AI Robot To Deliver Channel 4 'Alternative Christmas Message' Donelan wrote the letter yesterday to seek clearance from the Domestic and Economic Affairs Committee for a sustainability package, with Sunak expected to greenlight the proposals as a formality. Donelan, who has been in post since September, had been examining the business case for the sale, which was rubberstamped by her predecessor Nadine Dorries last year, with the network valued at around 1BN ($1.2BN) at that point. The move was met with a huge backlash from the British production sector, multiple A-list talent and rival politicians, who likened it to cultural vandalism. Donelan instead plans to unveil a sustainability package to ensure Channel 4 tackles the challenges facing the evolving media sector, according to the leaked letter. Part of that sustainability package will bring a major change to the Channel 4 business model, which will see the network given the opportunity to produce its own content for the first time. Donelan said this will take place in consultation with the British independent production sector, many of whom have long relied on the sale of their Channel 4 shows around the world to sustain their businesses something they would lose if Channel 4 were to start owning its shows. Protections would likely remain for smaller independent producers but the move would have huge ramifications. Story continues A new statutory duty on the Channel 4 board will also be introduced to have a clear focus on the long-term sustainability of the business and Channel 4 has agreed to increase its investment in skills and the nations and regions, added Donelan regarding the package. Her proposal is for Channel 4 to double its number of roles based outside of London from 300 to 600 and increase skills investment from 5M ($6M) to 10M ($12M). Overall my intention is to be clear with Channel 4 that we expect them to achieve greater sustainability, for which the government will give them more tools while optimising the support and growth they provide to the creative sector, said the letter to Sunak. Legislation will be implemented for some of the measures, added the Culture Secretary, who stressed that she would like matters to be moved forward speedily. The move represents a complete departure from Dorries, who, along with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, had been completely behind the sale of Channel 4, even when it was opposed by 96% of respondents to a government consultation. Research has frequently shown that Conservative voters consider a Channel 4 sale towards the bottom end of their priority lists. Dorries tweeted saying three years of a progressive Tory government is being washed down the drain, listing the Channel 4 reversal as a factor alongside watered down legislation on online harms and several other issues. Broadcasting union Bectu, however, was delighted. A huge win for Channel 4, public service broadcasting & our creative industries. We strongly opposed plans to sell Channel4 and are thrilled it will stay in public hands, tweeted the union. A spokesman for Donelans Digital, Culture, Media and Sport department said: We do not comment on speculation. The DCMS Secretary of State has been clear that we are looking again at the business case for the sale of Channel 4. We will announce more on our plans in due course. Deadline has reached out to Channel 4 for comment. SCOOP: Letter from Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan to Rishi Sunak confirming her recommendation is that Channel 4 privatisation does NOT go ahead. Says there are better ways to ensure C4s sustainability. Direct opposite of what the Johnson government said. pic.twitter.com/KOH78NVJjt Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) January 4, 2023 Three years of a progressive Tory government being washed down the drain. Levelling up, dumped. Social care reform, dumped. Keeping young and vulnerable people safe online, watered down. A bonfire of EU leg, not happening. Sale of C4 giving back 2b reversed. Replaced with what? Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) January 4, 2023 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. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is edging dangerously close to his Next Big Thing: a tactical nuclear warhead for wiping out a target like a military base or biological/chemical weapons capable of inflicting instant death on millionsor both. South Koreas defense ministry, reflecting rising fears, has just created a directorate dedicated to countering all North Koreas weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, biological and chemicalthe precursor of a separate strategic command. Should North Korea make an attempt at using nuclear arms, the ministry warned, it would lead to the end of the Kim Jong Un regime. The U.S. also launched a unit of the newly formed Space Force, a separate branch of the armed forces, at South Koreas Osan Air Base last month to track North Korean nukes and missiles. Kim signaled his ambitions by declaring the resolute will of his regime to respond nuke for nuke as he welcomed production of super-large rocket systems for firing tactical nukes into targets in South Korea, including the largest U.S. military base, Camp Humphreys, near Osan, 60 miles south of the North-South Korean line. All South Korea is within the range of a missile carrying a tactical nuclear warhead as a core, offensive weapon of our armed forces, said Kim. What Kim Jong Un Could Really Do With His New Flying Spy The Supreme Leader may test a tactical nuclear warhead any time, theres no telling when. The latest speculation ranges from his 39th birthday, on Jan. 8, to Feb. 8, the anniversary of the founding of the Korean Peoples Army in 1948, to Feb. 16, anniversary of the birth of Kims father, Kim Jong Il, who was 70 when he died in 2011. Kim ordered the Norths sixth, most recent, nuclear test in 2017. Victor Cha, who served on the National Security Council during the presidency of George W. Bush, believes the North Koreans are after tactical nuclear weapons that can be used on the battlefield. They don't want to have to escalate to the big bomb in a conflict, he told The Daily Beast, considering they have no way to match the U.S. and South Korea in terms of conventional capabilities. Story continues Moreover, said Cha, who is now a Korea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a professor at Georgetown, tac nukes also aid their effort to decouple U.S. security from South Koreas. The U.S. would not have to respond to the threat of using tac nukes against South Korea as it would if Kim tried holding the U.S. at bay by targeting a U.S. city with an ICBMkind of the way Putin has done so with nuke threats and NATO. The frequent emphasis on tactical nukes, said Bruce Klingner, the CIAs former deputy division chief for Korea, comes after North Korea tested a new missile that the North proclaimed would drastically improve the firepower of the frontline long-range artillery units and enhance the efficiency in the operation of tactical nukes. Then, in June, Kim and his aides discussed enhancing capabilities and revising operational plans for frontline unitslikely an indirect reference to deploying tactical nuclear weapons. Klinger, who now works at the Heritage Foundation, sees tactical nukes as serving multiple purposesin a first strike against leadership, hardened command and control, or high-value military targets, as well as a retaliatory second strike and battlefield counter-force attacks. And, of course, they could target U.S. forces arriving on the Korean Peninsula and allied forces preparing a counteroffensive into North Korea, hold allied and U.S. cities at risk, and potentially provide the means for Pyongyang to reunify the peninsula on its terms. As if to show the North can fire missiles anytime, anywhere, Kim ordered a barrage of missile tests on New Years Eve and New Years Day. On Saturday, KCNA reported the test-firing of super-large multiple rocket launchers displayed at a conflab of the central committee of the Workers Party the same day. The three shells of multiple rocket launchers precisely hit a target island between North Korea and Japan, said KCNA. Then, on Sunday, KCNA reported a long-range artillery sub-unit had greeted the new year by firing a single shell into the sea using a super-large multiple rocket launcher. Heres What Putins Nuclear Disaster Would Really Look Like All told, Kim ordered close to 100 missile tests in 2022 from multiple bases, demonstrating the Norths ability to strike targets almost anywhere in Japan as well as South Korea. Its widely believed the Norths next underground nuclear test will be that of a tactical nuke rather than a massive hydrogen bomb of the sort that blew up much of a mountain in the Norths most recent nuclear test in September 2017. Tempting though it is to dismiss Kims braggadocio as rhetoric, the more big talk Kim utters, the more missile tests he orders, the more likely hell make good on his threats. Clearly he wants the world to pay attention to his grandiose boasts and claims rather than shrug them off as the usual nonsense. Kim would like his enemies to think he could find a target for real this year. A big question is whether North Korean engineers have figured out how to attach a warhead to a missile. The next underground test may provide some answers. The issue is miniaturization of the nuke and its components, said David Maxwell, a retired army colonel with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. I think the same problem is faced whether the nuke is tactical or strategic. They have to have a miniaturized nuclear capability. Bruce Bechtol, author of books and studies on the North Korean military, said the Norths ability to fit a smaller warhead to a short-range missile is unknown since we have never seen them do it despite what they said they could do in KCNA. Theres no evidence, he said, unless they got the technology directly either from the Russians or the Chinesewhich is of course possible. The U.S. and South Korea differ publicly on the degree to which theyre working together to counter the Norths nukes. President Biden responded no when asked if the U.S. and South Korea were discussing joint anti-nuclear exercises. South Koreas President Yoon Suk-yeol, however, told Chosun Ilbo, the countrys biggest-selling newspaper, The nuclear weapons belong to the U.S., but the planning, information-sharing exercises and training should be carried out jointly by South Korea and the U.S. A spokeswoman for Yoon implied a cover-up by the U.S. Biden obviously had to say, no, South Koreas Yonhap News quoted her as saying, since joint nuclear exercise is a term used between nuclear powers. The White House appeared to echo that explanation Monday, confirming that the U.S. was indeed providing extended deterrence through the full range of U.S. defense capabilities. In the face of rising pressure to develop its own nukes, the South has refrained from initiating a nuclear weapons program. Kims enthusiasm for tactical nukes rather than long-range ICBMs or submarine-launched ballistic missiles was evident at the meeting of party bigwigs at which he called for mass production of tactical nuclear weapons and an exponential increase of the countrys nuclear arsenal, which also includes intercontinental ballistic missiles for destroying targets in the U.S. The fact that North Koreas Korean Central News Agency released Kims statements in English showed it was intended for North Koreas foes in Washington and Tokyo after South Koreas defense ministry, under the conservative President Yoon, re-designated the North as the Souths enemya word the previous liberal government had banned. Kim cited Yoons call for preparations for war as making the development of nuclear force and national defense his main orientation for 2023. The Secret Weapons Scheme Spiraling Under Americas Nose Bruce Bennett, author of numerous reports on North Korea at the RAND Corporation, agrees a North Korea designated tactical nuclear weapon is the next big thingthe ones he plans to use against targets in theater, i.e., South Korea, Japan and potentially China, whereas strategic nuclear weapons would be ones he would plan to use against the United States. But Bennett also notes that Kim has talked ominously about spraying bomb strikesa term that sounds to me like biological weapon use. Kim, he believes, would also use drones or special operations forces. The ease with which the North might spread biological or chemical weapons came into focus last week when North Korea sent at least five drones over South Korea. They did no harm before returning safely to North Korea before South Korean warplanes, helicopters and anti-aircraft weapons could shoot any of them down. Such provocations, including drone incursions, appear excessive for deterrence and may be intended to scare South Korea into taking a softer policy, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The high volume of tests at unusual times and from various locations demonstrate that North Korea could launch different types of attack, anytime, and from many directions. Evans Revere, a former senior U.S. diplomat in Seoul, is particularly disturbed by North Koreas guidelines authorizing first use of nuclear weapons if the regime feels threatened. This is a dangerous and destabilizing doctrine, he said, while the Kim regime is developing nuclear weapons and delivery systems designed to give the regime a range of options, including a survivable second-strike capability, as seen from its testing of solid-fuel long-range missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and road-mobile, quick-to-launch tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. Bruce Bechtol is not convinced, however, that tactical nukes have replaced ICBMs at the top of Kim Jong Uns agenda. The use of nukes of any kindtactical or otherwisewould likely mean the end of the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) and the Kim regime, he said. Why waste time on something small? I think their highest priority is to have a weaponized nuclear program capable of striking the United States. The most likely platform for this would be an ICBM. 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. The UK is not prepared for another Covid wave, experts are warning, as the spread of highly infectious subvariant XBB.1.5 continues in the UK. University of Warwick virologist Professor Lawrence Young told The Independent that the UK is not at all prepared for another wave if the highly transmissible sub variant continues to spread reapidly. People have been urged to wear masks and remain at home if feeling unwell as the new variant coronavirus XBB.1.5 has led to concerns about the rise in Covid-19 cases. The XBB.1.5 is the highly transmissible version of Covid that caused cases to surge in the UK last winter. The variant is thought to constitute at least 4 per cent of Covid viruses being sequenced. People arriving from China into Britain have been asked to present a negative Covid test before entry. However, a Cabinet minister announced that travellers testing positive for coronavirus after arriving from China will not be forced to quarantine. The UK Department for Health and Social Care said China had been slapped with the new rules because of a lack of comprehensive health information, as Chinese state media continue to downplay the severity of the current outbreak. Key Points China hits out at unacceptable Covid restrictions imposed on its travellers 70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says Is Omicron variant XBB.1.5 fuel spreading rapidly in the UK? China slapped with new entry rules due to lack of comprehensive health information UK not prepared for further Covid waves 15:04 , Thomas Kingsley The UK is not prepared for another Covid wave, experts warn, as the spread of highly infectious subvariant XBB.1.5 continues in the UK. The strain has caused a surge of cases in the US, with some experts concerned that its mutations could see it trigger a similar spike in the UK by dodging the wall of immunity built up from previous waves and vaccine roll-outs. University of Warwick virologist Professor Lawrence Young told The Independents Thomas Kingsley that the UK is not at all prepared for another wave if the highly transmissible sub variant continues to spread at a fast pace amid rising rates of flu infection. Story continues We didnt have enough public health messaging around the flu jab. Weve now got a perfect storm of different respiratory infections going around at the moment and thats inevitably going to result in more pressure on the NHS, Professor Young said. All the information so far shows that whilst this is a very infectious variant and while it can escape the protections from previous vaccination and past infection but theres no evidence its causing more severe disease compared to other Omicron variants but the fact that its spreading more and more rapidly, particularly in the US, is very concerning. Its reaching out to more vulnerable people. EU offers help, prepares to counter China's Covid crisis 14:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar The EU yesterday said it has offered China help to deal with its Covid-19 crisis, including the donation of vaccines, as the bloc seeks to coordinate how authorities should check incoming passengers from China for any new variants. Several member nations announced individual efforts over the past week. At the same time, the EU's European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control insisted that the situation in China didn't pose an immediate overall threat to health. The variants circulating in China are already circulating in the EU, and as such are not challenging for the immune response of EU citizens, it said in its latest impact study. Covid-positive China arrivals wont need to isolate, says minister 13:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Arrivals from China who test positive for Covid will not be forced to quarantine, the transport secretary Mark Harper has confirmed. The senior Tory MPs comments confirmed details first revealed by The Independent that testing will be voluntary for those arriving at Heathrow - the only UK airport with direct flights from China offering tests. Mr Harper, asked if those who test positive after arriving in the UK will be required to quarantine, told LBC: No, because what we are doing is we are collecting that information for surveillance purposes. Adam Forrest reports. Covid-positive China arrivals wont need to isolate, minister confirms Editorial | The government should declare a national emergency in the NHS 13:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar One of the many galling statistics about the NHS crisis is that the number of people who die because of delays in ambulance and emergency care between 300 and 500 a week is around the same as current deaths from Covid-19 or cerebrovascular disease (stroke), and 10 times the number who perish in road traffic. If it werent for the danger of hyperbole, it would be right to call the current crisis an epidemic. Behind the statistics lie heart-rending stories of extremely ill, vulnerable people, often elderly, dying at home or in the back of an ambulance for lack of resolve to deal with the crisis. Although now widespread and taken for granted, this is not normal, even though it is becoming normalised. Read the editorial here. Editorial: The government should declare a national emergency in the NHS How news of mystery illness in Wuhan first broke three years ago 12:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Three years ago on New Years Eve, The Independent broke a story about a mystery illness that had struck 30 people in Wuhan, China. There was limited information about the illness, except that most of those who were sick had visited a seafood market in the city. Early reports speculated the sickness was similar to the respiratory disease Sars which killed nearly 800 people. Little did they know, it would be so much worse, resulting in more than 6.6m deaths worldwide. Maryam Zakir-Hussain writes. Covid: How news of mystery illness in Wuhan first broke Is UK on the brink of a new Covid wave? 12:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Scientists in the US believe XBB.1.5 is at least in part to blame for the rise in hospital admissions in New York. Whether the subvariant will trigger a new Covid surge in the UK is uncertain, but reports suggest a rise in cases is likely. There is potential for some respite, however, with medical officials suggesting that the winter outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory viruses could temper the threat of a new, rampant Covid wave. Read more here. What is XBB Covid? New Omicron variant that has led to surge in cases South Korea makes mandatory Coivid test on arrival for China passengers 11:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar South Korea yesterday made coronavirus tests on Chinese arrivals mandatory, joining a growing list of countries imposing restrictions amid concerns over a wave of infections. Travellers from China are required to undergo a PCR test upon arrival. From 5 January, arrivals can submit a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before departure, or a negative rapid antigen test no more than 24 hours before departure. A total of 2,189 people have arrived from China since 2 January. The 590 test results so far showed that 136 people, or 22.7 per cent, were infected with Covid-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. What is XBB Covid? The new Omicron variant that has led to surge in cases 11:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar New Covid variants are sparking fresh health concerns as Omicron relatives XBB and XBB.1.5 have seen a surge in cases in countries worldwide. It comes as UK-based health experts have suggested that up to 9,000 people are dying from Covid a day in China, where infections have dramatically risen following the countrys end to strict isolation rules. The surge has prompted the UK and US governments to require all passengers arriving in the respective countries from China from 5 January to return a negative Covid result before travelling. Maryam Zakir-Hussain has more. What is XBB Covid? New Omicron variant that has led to surge in cases China arrivals banned from England without negative Covid test 10:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar All travellers coming from China into England will be required to show a negative Covid-19 test before departing from 5 January, Downing Street has confirmed. No 10 said Rishi Sunaks government will shortly set out the full details regarding new rules for travellers entering the UK from China and from Hong Kong. The prime ministers official spokesman said: Were working on the final details of the implementation of the policy, and that includes on Hong Kong, and we will update in due course. Adam Forrest reports. China arrivals need negative Covid test to enter England from 5 January Airline group slams China Covid travel restrictions 10:25 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar The head of the world's biggest airline trade body IATA has criticised travel restrictions against travellers from China, arguing that such measures had proven to be ineffective in preventing the spread of Covid-19. "It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years," said director general Willie Walsh. New Zealand says Covid test not required for Chinese arrivals 09:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar The New Zealand government today announced that it would not require travellers from China to produce a negative Covid-19 test. The Pacific nations Covid-19 minister Ayesha Verrall, said in a statement that a public health risk assessment had concluded visitors from China would not contribute significantly to the number of cases in the country. There is minimal public health risk to New Zealand, she said. China says Covid entry restrictions by countries unreasonable 08:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar China on Tuesday hit back at governments who have imposed travelling restrictions on the country by arguing that Covid-19 measures should be "science-based" and warned of possible countermeasures. More than a dozen countries, including the UK and the US, have made it mandatory for travellers from China to show a negative Covid test before arrival. Some countries have taken entry restrictions targeting only Chinese travellers, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. This lacks scientific basis and some practices are unacceptable," the spokesperson added. She reportedly warned that Beijing could take "countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity. Read more here. China says Covid entry restrictions lack scientific basis and are unreasonable Chinese national goes missing in South Korea after testing Covid positive 07:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar South Korean authorities are trying to track down a Chinese national who tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival but went missing while waiting at a quarantine facility. The person tested positive after arriving at Incheon International Airport near Seoul yesterday night and was transferred to a nearby hotel to await admission to quarantine. The missing person has been placed on a wanted list, health official Kim Joo-young, said. The person, who has not been identified, could be subject to up to one year in prison, or 10 million won (6,539) in fines if convicted of violating the law. Is Omicron variant XBB.1.5 fuel spreading rapidly in the UK? 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar New Covid variants are sparking fresh health concerns as Omicron relatives XBB and XBB.1.5 have led to a surge in cases in countries worldwide. The XBB.1.5 is the highly transmissible version of Covid that caused cases to surge in the UK last winter. The variant, which was first detected around New York state in late October, is behind 40 per cent of all Covid infections in the US. It is estimated that the XBB.1.5 is spreading more than twice as fast as the BQ.1.1 variant, which is one of the common variants found in the UK, The Guardian reported. The variant has an unusual mutation known as F486P that is helping it spread at a rapid speed. The variant has been detected in the UK, with surveillance suggesting it makes up at least 4 per cent of the coronavirus being sequenced How long can you test positive for Covid? 06:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar For nearly three years, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill as the virus spread around the globe. Cases have begun to rise again, with warnings that Covid will once again put even more pressure on the NHS over this festive period. The last major spike of the pandemic, while restrictions were still in place, came courtesy of Omicron. The variant spread rapidly around the world after being discovered in southern Africa last November and has since produced a series of sub-variants. Omicron proved to be less severe but more transmissible than its predecessor Alpha and Delta variants, with total daily case numbers in England rocketing to a then-pandemic-high of 218,724 on 4 January, before gradually falling away, bar a revival inspired by its first sub-variant, BA.2, in March. Joe Sommerlad has more. How long can you test positive for Covid and when are you infectious? EU presses for negative Covid report for China passengers 05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar The EU is moving towards making it mandatory for passengers from China to test negative for Covid-19 in order to enter the bloc nations. The EU health advisers yesterday agreed on a draft opinion that includes masking recommendations and increased wastewater monitoring and suggests discussing Covid testing. A strong majority of countries back pre-departure tests, Bloomberg quoted a commission spokesperson as saying.Unity remains our strongest tool against Covid, the EUs health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, tweeted. EU ambassadors will meet today to discuss the recommendations. People urged to wear masks and stay at home if unwell 04:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar People have been urged to wear face coverings and remain at home if feeling unwell, as an already crisis-stricken NHS faces down multiple waves of winter illnesses. With children returning to school at a time when high levels of flu, Covid-19 and scarlet fever are all being reported, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued fresh guidance in a bid to minimise the diseases spread. Parents have been urged to keep children at home if they are unwell and have a fever, with adults told to only go out if necessary and wear face coverings if they are ill and avoid visiting vulnerable people. Andy Gregory reports. People urged to wear masks and stay at home if unwell as NHS in crisis China reports five new Covid deaths 03:48 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar China on Wednesday reported five new Covid-19 related deaths, compared with three a day earlier, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. The official death toll now stands at 5,258 China state media plays down severity of Covid surge 02:45 , Natalie Crockett State media in China has played down the severity of a surge of Covid cases on Tuesday as its scientists briefed the World Health Organization. The global body had invited the scientists to present data on viral sequencing at a technical advisory group meeting and has asked China to share data on hospitalizations, deaths and vaccinations. A spokesperson said the agency expected a detailed discussion about circulating variants in China and globally and it is expected to give an update on Wednesday. Chinas abrupt U-turn on Covid controls as well as the accuracy of its case and mortality data, have come under increasing scrutiny at home and abroad. Chinas foreign ministry labelled travel entry curbs imposed by some countries as simply unreasonable, saying they lacked scientific basis. We are willing to improve communication with the world, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. But ... we are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the epidemic prevention and control measures for political purposes. Covid travel restrictions return the new rules explained 01:45 , Natalie Crockett Covid travel restrictions are back. From 5 January, every traveller flying from mainland China to England will need to provide a negative test result before being allowed on the plane. It is not yet clear what kinds of tests will be acceptable, but the previous policy was to allow lateral flow/rapid antigen tests as well as more reliable and expensive PCR tests. In addition, travellers flying direct from China to Heathrow may be invited to take a second test on arrival. The government says as many as 20 per cent of arriving passengers will be checked, though they are able to decline the invitation. The government announced the measures on Friday night a day after saying there were no plans to reintroduce Covid testing. Our travel correspondent Simon Calder explains what it all means. Covid travel restrictions return the new rules explained Potential for imported Covid cases from China low, says European health body 00:45 , Natalie Crockett The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said last week it did not recommend measures on travellers from China. It said the variants circulating in China were already in the European Union, that EU citizens had relatively high vaccination levels and the potential for imported infections was low compared to daily infections in the EU, with healthcare systems currently coping. Despite the health bodys stance, most European Union countries favour introducing pre-departure testing for travellers from China, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The overwhelming majority of countries are in favour of pre-departure testing, a Commission spokesman said. These measures would need to be targeted at the most appropriate flights and airports and carried out in a coordinated way to ensure their effectiveness, he said. The Commission on Tuesday prepared a draft proposal for the talks, which included a recommendation for mask-wearing on flights from China, wastewater monitoring for planes arriving from China, testing at airports and increased EU vigilance on testing and vaccination. This will now be revised and adopted based on the input of (EU) Member States, the Commission spokesman said, adding more talks on the measures would take place at another meeting of EU health officials on Wednesday afternoon. EU to try again for coordination on China Covid policies Belgium to test wastewater on planes travelling from Covid-hit China Tuesday 3 January 2023 23:45 , Natalie Crockett Belgium will test wastewater from planes arriving from China for new Covid variants as part of new steps to prevent the spread of the virus 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. Most EU countries back Covid pre-departure testing for flights from China Tuesday 3 January 2023 22:45 , Natalie Crockett Most European Union countries favour introducing pre-departure Covid testing for travellers from China, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The common EU approach emerged after a meeting on Tuesday of the Health Security Committee, an EU advisory body of national health experts from the EUs 27 countries. It follows Beijings plans to lift travel restrictions on its citizens despite a wave of Covid infections in the country. 70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says ICYMI: 70 per cent of Shanghai infected with Covid, doctor says Tuesday 3 January 2023 22:05 , Natalie Crockett ICYMI: A senior doctor at one of Shanghais top hospitals has claimed that 70 per cent of the citys population has been infected with Covid as China continues to battle a massive surge in cases. The wave of cases comes after the Communist regime loosened draconian Covid restrictions overnight, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. Chen Erzhen, vice president at Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai and a member of the citys Covid-19 expert advisory panel, was quoted as saying the majority of the citys 25 million people may have been infected. Maroosha Muzaffar has more: 70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says White House calls for greater transparency from Chinas Covid data Tuesday 3 January 2023 20:46 , Andy Gregory The United States has echoed calls for more transparent Covid data from Beijing, after Washington became one of the first governments to reimpose coronavirus testing requirements on people travelling from China since Xi Jinpings zero Covid policy was eased. A World Health Organisation committee was holding a virtual, closed-doors meeting with experts at Chinas Centres for Disease Control and Prevention today, prior to which some scientists present had expressed hopes for a more realistic picture of the situation in China (see post at 4:43pm). A White House national security council official would not comment on Tuesdays meeting, but echoed WHO calls for more information. Public health experts and officials, including in the United States, have been clear it is important that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) share more adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data, the official told Reuters. This is in the interest of the PRC and the international community and critical to identify any potential variants. Fury as Rishi Sunak claims NHS has funding it needs to tackle crisis Tuesday 3 January 2023 20:06 , Andy Gregory Despite repeated warnings from health leaders that immediate investment is needed to protect patients, Rishi Sunak has said the NHS has all the funding it needs to deal with the crisis engulfing hospitals. But critics said claims the NHS had enough resources were an insult to all those suffering in hospital corridors or in the back of ambulances because the Government refused to act sooner. Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin has the report: Fury as Rishi Sunak claims NHS has funding it needs to tackle crisis People urged to wear masks and stay at home if unwell as pressure on NHS mounts Tuesday 3 January 2023 19:24 , Andy Gregory As children return to school at a time when high levels of flu, Covid-19 and scarlet fever are all being reported, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued fresh guidance in a bid to minimise the diseases spread. Parents have been urged to keep children at home if they are unwell and have a fever, with adults told to only go out if necessary and wear face coverings if they are ill and avoid visiting vulnerable people, while an already crisis-stricken NHS faces down multiple waves of winter illnesses. You can read more on the UKHSAs back-to-school advice here: People urged to wear masks and stay at home if unwell as NHS in crisis Impact of Chinas Covid outbreak on UK likely to be minimal, says expert Tuesday 3 January 2023 18:55 , Andy Gregory Any contribution of Chinas coronavirus outbreak to what we see in the UK is likely to be minimal, an expert in mathematical statistics has suggested. On the complex issue of surveillance testing, it is worth noting that the capacity for such surveillance is always limited, said Professor Thomas House of the University of Manchester. But he warned that testing travellers needs to be balanced against potential enhanced surveillance in our health and social care sectors. Professor Rowland Kao, an expert on veterinary epidemiology and data science from the University of Edinburgh, said that the surveillance testing could fill an important gap, adding: Testing on arrival is not to prevent spread but to gather data we know very little about what is happening in China. If we and other countries are able to in particular gather viral sequences, this will give us knowledge of what variants might be emerging in China. Fixing delays in patients leaving hospital is best way of relieving NHS crisis, says Barclay Tuesday 3 January 2023 18:27 , Andy Gregory Devastating delays in ambulance handovers causing issues at hospitals across the country are largely triggered by those who are fit to leave hospital but delayed in doing so, the health secretary has said. Asked why he will not give NHS staff a real-terms pay increase given the record number of vacancies, the Steve Barclay told broadcasters: Well, because were focusing the funding onto the operations backlogs, for example, getting more diagnostic hubs in place, getting the surgical hubs that we are rolling out, getting the backlog from the pandemic reduced, thats been the key priority. Thats where weve surged additional funding, but we also recognise the big pressure that were seeing played through in terms of ambulance handover delays. It is largely triggered by those who are fit to leave hospital but delayed in doing so and we need to free up that bed capacity and that is often about having the right social care provision to do so. Thats why weve got an extra 7.5bn going into social care over the next two years, an extra 6.6bn into the NHS to tackle that issue of patients who are fit to leave, who are often delayed in doing so. That in turn is the best way of relieving the pressure on A&E and ensuring that ambulance handover times are reduced. Government aiming to get people out of hospital who dont need to be there, says Barclay Tuesday 3 January 2023 17:58 , Andy Gregory Speaking to broadcasters about the pressures facing A&E units, health secretary Steve Barclay has said the government is focused on getting the people out of the hospital who dont need to be there in order to speed up the ambulance handover delays. It has always been part of the recognition of the pressures of Covid that that would have an impact on people seeking services during the pandemic, for example, people were more reluctant to go and see their GPs. That in particular has had an impact on cardiovascular risk, said Mr Barclay. Theres other factors as well in terms of the backlogs on operations. Yes, its important that we get the ambulances to people quickly, as well but theres a range of factors that have played in, particularly into those cardiovascular deaths, which is the prime issue when were looking at the challenge in terms of excess deaths. So, this is something the chief medical officer, the NHS medical director have been looking at very closely. It is why we are so focused on getting the people out of the hospital who dont need to be there because that in turn will speed up the ambulance handover delays and get those ambulances back out responding to calls. EU says it has agreed coordinated approach to Chinese travel Tuesday 3 January 2023 17:28 , Andy Gregory The European Unions health security committee has announced that member states have agreed on a coordinated approach to the changing Covid-19 situation including implications for increased travel from China. The committee has worked on targeted measures, including pre-departure testing for travellers from China, increased wastewater monitoring and increased domestic surveillance, said EU health chief Stella Kyriakides. Over the past week, however, EU nations have reacted unilaterally to the crisis in China, disregarding an earlier commitment to act in unity. China appears to reject EU offer of vaccine donations Tuesday 3 January 2023 17:01 , Andy Gregory China has appeared to reject an offer of Covid variant-adapted vaccine donations from the European Union, announced by the EU executive on Tuesday. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the situation was under control and medical provisions in adequate supply but added that China was open to strengthening solidarity and cooperation with the international community to better meet its pandemic challenges. However, China can meet the demand of anyone who wants to be vaccinated, he said. It was not clear how many vaccines were being offered by the EU. China has so far insisted on using only Chinese-made vaccines which are of the inactivated virus type and not based on the Western mRNA technology for its own population. Virologist calls for more realistic picture from China ahead of WHO meeting Tuesday 3 January 2023 16:43 , Andy Gregory Leading scientists advising the World Health Organisation have said they want a more realistic picture of the coronavirus situation from Chinas top experts at a key meeting today. The WHO has invited Chinese scientists to a virtual closed meeting with its technical advisory group on viral evolution, to present data on which variants are circulating in the country. We want to see a more realistic picture of what is actually going on, Professor Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist who sits on the WHO committee told Reuters, claiming that some of the data from Beijing, such as that on hospitalisation numbers, is not very credible. It is in the interests of China itself to come forward with more reliable information. Prof Koopmans said the committee has only seen a tiny fraction of Chinas cases sequenced so far around 700 and called for the establishment of a global surveillance network to keep track of the virus, saying: Right now, what we are getting is very patchy, but that has been the reality in other parts of the world as well. Mask guidance not compulsory and pretty longstanding, says Downing Street Tuesday 3 January 2023 16:26 , Andy Gregory In addition to the governments fresh restrictions on travel for those leaving China, UK health authorities have urged people to remain at home where possible and wear a face covering outside if they are feeling unwell. While transport secretary Mark Harper agreed that wearing a mask is very sensible if you are ill, Downing Street has stressed that the UK Health Security Agency guidance is not compulsory. I think that is pretty longstanding advice, said Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson. It remains health advice to the public it is not mandatory. People need their judgment. Certainly people will continue to use their good sense, having spent a long time dealing ... with these kinds of infectious illnesses. Questioned whether it was really longstanding advice for people to wear face coverings if they are battling a cold, the No 10 official replied: Thats not what the advice says. What youll see is, as has often been the case, if people are ill, they are advised to stay at home. Obviously people can choose to wear a mask if they wish to. It is not compulsory. This is advice from UKHSA rather than government ministers telling people what to do, as we saw during the height of the pandemic before the emergence of vaccines. China says Covid entry restrictions by countries lack scientific basis and are unreasonable Tuesday 3 January 2023 16:00 , Emily Atkinson China on Tuesday hit back at governments who have imposed travelling restrictions on the country by arguing that Covid-19 measures should be science-based and warned of possible countermeasures. More than a dozen countries, including the UK and the US, have made it mandatory for travellers from China to show a negative Covid test before arrival. Morocco has imposed a complete ban on people arriving from China over the monumental rise in coronavirus cases plaguing the country. Some federal governments have cited Beijings lack of transparency around infection data and the risk of new variants as the reason behind new regulations. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports: China says Covid entry restrictions lack scientific basis and are unreasonable China slapped with new entry rules due to lack of comprehensive health information, says No 10 Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:55 , Emily Atkinson Downing Street has rejected any suggestion that the new rules for Chinese travellers could signal a wider change for visitors travelling to the UK from countries with high rates of Covid. The PMs official spokesman said: A part of the reason for this was because of a lack of comprehensive health information being shared. Were working with the Chinese government to encourage them - were not alone in this - to get more information from them. China hits out at unacceptable Covid restrictions imposed on its travellers Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:50 , Emily Atkinson Beijing has condemned the unacceptable introduction of Covid testing on passengers arriving from China to several countries. Chinese officials said the entry restrictions lack scientific basis and threatened retaliatory action. Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the Covid measures for political purposes and will take counter-measures based on the principle of reciprocity. My colleague Liam James has the details: China hits out at unacceptable Covid restrictions imposed on its travellers 70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says Tuesday 3 January 2023 15:45 , Emily Atkinson As China battles a massive surge in Covid cases, a senior doctor at one of Shanghais top hospitals has claimed that 70 per cent of the citys population has been infected. The wave of cases comes after the Communist regime loosened draconian Covid restrictions overnight, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. Chen Erzhen, vice president at Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai and a member of the citys Covid-19 expert advisory panel, was quoted as saying the majority of the citys 25 million people may have been infected. Maroosha Muzaffar reports: 70% of Chinese megacity infected with Covid, doctor says The outspoken father of one of the murdered University of Idaho students has expressed his relief that a suspect has been taken into custody. Steve Goncalves whose daughter, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, was murdered alongside her friends Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20 on Nov. 13 told Fox News that his "first sense of joy in seven weeks" came at hearing Pennsylvania State Police had arrested Washington State University Ph.D. student Bryan Kohberger, 28, in the deaths. He told ABC News "we are on the path to justice" in the wake of the arrest, referring to Kohberger as "broken soul, pitiful human being." "The little coward that had finally got caught running," Goncalves added of Kohberger. "I still think everyone's innocent until proven guilty, so I put that in the back of my mind." RELATED: Serial Killer Leonard Lakes Wife Said She Thought He Was Living This Very Active Fantasy In an interview with NBC News, Goncalves said no one in any of the four victims families knew of Kohberger. He said he plans to be in court in Idaho for Kohberger's first hearing after his is extradited. (Kohberger is not contesting his extradition from Pennsylvania and could be flown back to Idaho as soon as Tuesday night, NBC reported.) Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen Photo: Instagram "This guy's gonna have to look me in my eyes multiples times, and I'm going to be looking for the truth. That's really what I'm going to be looking for," Steve Goncalves told ABC. "I want him to be sick of seeing us and sick of knowing that these people won't let it go," he told NBC. "You know, it's a battle of wills, and we'll see who wins." Chapin's family also offered thoughts on the arrest in a statement on Friday, published by ABC. "We are relieved this chapter is over because it provides a form of closure. However, it doesn't alter the outcome or alleviate the pain," the family wrote. "We miss Ethan, and our family is forever changed." Story continues Kernodle's mother, Cara Northington, also spoke to NBC. A lot of the grief was not knowing who this was, knowing whoever was responsible for that is still out there, Northington told the outlet. So yeah, this definitely takes a lot of the grief that we were experiencing off our shoulders. A police handout of Robert Hoagland Kohberger's Pennsylvania lawyer, Monroe County chief public defender Jason LaBar, said the suspect's family is "obviously shocked," NBC News reported. His father, mother and sister gave a separate statement to media, Oxygen.com previously reported. "First and foremost, we care deeply for the four families who have lost their precious children, Michael, Marianne and Amanda Kohberger wrote. 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. Kohberger is facing four counts of first-degree murder, plus one count of burglary in Idaho for allegedly breaking into the young women's Moscow, Idaho rental home and stabbing them and Chapin to death on Nov. 13. Oxy App Police believe that the murders happened after sorority sisters Mogen and Goncalves returned to their group home at the edge of campus from a night out and fell asleep together on the third flood. Chapin was sleeping over at the home on the second floor with his girlfriend, Kernodle, after they had attended a party together. Two other housemates asleep on the first floor, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, were not attacked. Funke and Mortensen became concerned the following morning after friends arrived and multiple efforts to contact one of the murdered women had been unsuccessful. One of housemates' phones was used to call 911 just before noon to report an unconscious woman. Police entered two of the bedrooms and found the four students dead. The surviving roommates were quickly ruled out as suspects. They gave emotional statements about their friends at a vigil in early December. Goncalves was particularly outspoken about what he considered the slow pace of the investigation into the brutal murders, prompting the Moscow Police Chief to detail the level of contact the department had with the victims' families. He has since expressed his regret about the lack of transparency in the investigation to NBC News and apologized to the families. "I took the responsibility at the very beginning for not getting out into the press and talking about it," he told the network. "That would be a thing I would change in the future." The Fayetteville Council approved providing a $2.5 millio match to state funds to be used toward supporting minority owned businesses wanting to do work for the city. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to attribute remarks made by County Attorney Rick Moorefield. Minority-owned businesses in Fayetteville will soon find help and financial assistance to grow their companies after the Fayetteville City Council last week unanimously approved contributing $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to match a state grant that expired at the end of December. The community equity venture fund is designed to help minority businesses overcome hurdles and traditional lending models by providing noninterest-bearing capital, said Robert Van Geons, president of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp. The funds goal is to grow 10 firms by 10 or more employees each within five years, Van Geons said during a special called meeting Tuesday night. More:'So much potential': Murchison Road businesses get a boost from city grant The state of North Carolina appropriated $2.5 million to community development foundations to launch the fund, contingent on securing equal matching funds by Dec. 31, Van Geons said. Robert Van Geons, president of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp., makes a presentation during the Dec. 27, 2022, Fayetteville City Council meeting. Council members initially approved a $1.25 million match subject to legal review at their Dec. 12 meeting, and the other $1.25 million was expected to come from Cumberland County. County commissioners were split 4-2 at their Dec. 19 meeting and did not approve moving forward with the countys match. Commissioners Jimmy Keefe and Michael Boose were in favor of the match, while Chairwoman Toni Stewart, Vice Chairman Glenn Adams and Commissioners Jeannette Council and Jones opposed. Van Geons told commissioners that $12,500 could be withdrawn per new job created, but if the job were not maintained, those funds would have to be paid back. Adams said it sounded as if the county would just be keeping its own funds that it had appropriated. County Attorney Rick Moorefield said because county funds can not be used to make loans or grants, the $12,500 repayment clause was included in the proposed agreement. Story continues Adams said it seemed as if the agreement were trying to get around state statute. Stewart said she was not comfortable with voting on a matter if a disclaimer is needed. At the city councils meeting Tuesday, City Manager Doug Hewett told council members that matching funds from the city will not come from the citys taxpayer-generated general fund but rather the American Rescue Plan Act the city previously received. More:How will Fayetteville spend its money? Analyzing City Council's early budget and strategy Information technology and renovation projects the American Rescue Act Plan funds were originally going to cover will be delayed to allow for the match. But its not very often that for $2.5 million, you get $2.5 million, Hewett said. Van Geons told city council members that the county had sought to structure their engagement differently, and that there was not enough time to go back to the county. How the fund will help minority business During the councils Dec. 12 meeting, Van Geons said that the economic equity venture capital fund and its state match was created by the North Carolina General Assembly to promote locally-owned minority businesses providing services to government entities. Mayor Mitch Colvin said a disparity study for the city revealed that only .06% of minority businesses conduct business with the city government. Councilman Deno Hondros said he thinks the economic equity venture capital fund will help increase the percentage. This is going to help those small entrepreneurs, those minority owners scale up to be able to provide the services the city is needing, Hondros said. The fund, Van Geons said, will help remove the historic barriers of funding for small, minority-owned businesses. An example, he said, might be a small business that provides interior paint services to the city but suddenly needs a paint truck to reach upper levels. Van Geons said hes heard of instances of local business owners selling trees from their family land just to cover the cost of doing business. The economic equity venture fund would provide that capital. Companies will be required to create a certain number of jobs to have the debt forgiven, Van Geons said. Priority would be given to minority-owned small businesses operating within low-to moderate-income Census tracts followed by businesses that employ individuals from those Census tracts. We are initially starting with focusing on companies that can serve a public need, that can keep local dollars local and provide those goods and services to our institutional partners, Van Geons said. Van Geons said the fund will be managed by the nonprofit Cumberland Community Development Foundation which will work with partners like Fayetteville State University and the Center for Economic Empowerment and Development to help small businesses develop a business plan if one is not in place. More:Fayetteville State University launches 'first-of-its-kind' entrepreneur and business hub City staff members, local and business advisories and some private sector companies would help mentor the companies, Van Geons said. Our goal is to cradle them, and thats one of the other reasons why we are starting and beneficial to supplying local opportunities, he said. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: How minority businesses can use debt forgiven loan in Fayetteville SANFORD When folks remember Hanna Powell, they remember a strong, talented woman who loved music and teaching music, particularly to children. The first Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Festival, part of the Maine Piano Festival at the Sanford Performing Arts Center, was held in her memory last May. This year the piano competition is set for Feb. 12. "The idea behind the competition is to support talented young musicians who want to pursue their hopes and dreams in music," said her husband Dr. Andy Powell, who sponsors the festival. Music teacher Hanna Powell died in 2017 after a long battle with breast cancer. The Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Festival takes place each year in her honor. Hanna Powell died in 2017 after a long battle with breast cancer. A talented pianist, organist, and music teacher, Hanna taught at St. Thomas School in Sanford as a part-time music teacher from 2012-2016. She was qualified to teach at the college level, but she chose to teach children. "She loved music, loved teaching music to those of all ages, but in particular children and young musicians," said Dr. Powell, who lives in Sanford with their sons Patrick and Jonathan. "It was important to her that they had fun with it." In her teaching she liked to emphasize variety and bring children's music from different countries, teaching on recorders, African drums, chimes, bells, and boomwhackers. She also taught private piano lessons to many students and played at Redeemer Lutheran Church and taught children's music ministry. Music teacher Hanna Powell is pictured with her husband Andy and their two sons Patrick and Jonathan. Hanna was born in Finland to a musical family and came to America in 1990 to pursue her piano studies. She graduated from DePauw University in Indiana in 1995 where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and music education with a choral emphasis. She continued her studies with Karen Shaw and world-famous pianist Menahem Pressler at Indiana University, where she received her master's in piano performance in the fall of 1998. This is also where she met her husband before their eventual move to Maine. Bull Moose's Sanford store to close:What to know about their next location Story continues Hanna grew up playing piano from an early age, but a serious mowing accident in the late 1990s affected the sensitivity in her hands, forcing her to switch to the organ. Hanna was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in May 2006. Despite battling this illness for 11 years, Hanna remained positive and lived her life to the fullest. Hanna died on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. Hanna's husband Andy and her sons Patrick, now a sophomore at the University of New England, and Jonathan, SHS Class of 2023, are honored to continue Hanna's legacy by supporting young musicians and their love of music. "I'm so proud of her accomplishments," said Dr. Powell. "Hanna would be very happy to see the competition and that her legacy lives on through her music." More:Top 10 highest priced York County, Maine homes sold in 2022: No. 1 has been knocked down How to enter the competition The Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition is open to pianists ages 15-30 who live or study in Maine.Finalists will compete for the following cash prizes: $2,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. The $1,000 High School Honor Prize will also be awarded to the top high school student and may be awarded in addition to the first-, second- or third-place prize. Music teacher Hanna Powell To apply, pianists will submit an unedited video recording of themselves performing up to 15 minutes of music, featuring at least two works in contrasting styles. Up to 12 finalists will be selected from the video round. Finalists will be invited to perform up to 15 minutes of music from the same program in the final round, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12, before a live audience at the Sanford Performing Arts Center. Following a qualifying audition round, finalists will be invited to perform up to 15 minutes of music at the final round of competition on Feb. 12, at Sanford Performing Arts Center. A panel of three independent concert pianists (from outside Maine) will serve as judges for this competition. Prior finalists are welcome to compete again, with the exception of the prior first-place winner. The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. Finalists will be notified by Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. To apply, upload audition materials via the link on the Sanford Performing Arts Center website. Sanford Performing Arts Center will host the second annual Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Competition, celebrating Maine's brightest young pianists and honoring the memory of local pianist, Hanna Powell, at 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12; tickets are not required for this event. In Hanna's spirit, it is free and open to all. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hanna Powell Memorial Piano Festival in Maine honors teachers heart De La Souls First Six Albums Finally Coming to Streaming Services Iconic New York hip hop trio De La Soul have announced that their first six albums will be released on streaming services in March 2023. The news comes after the group reached a resolution with record label Tommy Boy, after its 2021 acquisition by Reservoir. The re-releases which we first wrote about way back in August 2021 will include the groups much lauded 1989 debut 3 Feet High and Rising. The trio of Maseo, Trugoy and Posdnuos released six albums through the Tommy Boy label between 1989 and 2001. These included the aforementioned debut, De La Soul Is Dead (1991), Buhloone Mindstate (1993), Stakes Is High (1996), Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000) and AOI: Bionix (2001). De La Soul Announce The Day is Finally Here Due to disagreements with Tommy Boy, the albums have never been released on streaming services. They were originally due to be uploaded in 2019, but, according to Pitchfork, the original terms of De La Souls agreement with Tommy Boy involved an exploitative contract that would have seen the band receive a paltry 10% in royalties, and no guarantee that samples used on the albums had been cleared. The planned release was met with outcry after the group went public with their grievances, and the albums were eventually pulled. But the saga is finally drawing to a close, with Maseo writing in a press release, Its been 20 plus years overdue, but finally, we are here. The albums will be available on streaming and in physical formats on Friday, 3rd March. Further Reading De La Souls Full Discography Is Coming To Streaming Services This Year Four Tet Emerges Victorious In Legal Battle Over Streaming Royalties Watch Billie Eilish, Damon Albarn And De La Souls Posdnuos Perform Feel Good Inc. At Coachella 2022 The post De La Souls First Six Albums Finally Coming to Streaming Services appeared first on Music Feeds. Launched in December by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Operation Dust Devil, over the next several months, will encourage safe and responsible off-highway vehicle operation, by way of education and enforcement throughout the county. San Bernardino County Sheriffs officials reported Tuesday that during the second week of Operation Dust Devil, deputies issued four California Vehicle Code Citations, 16 San Bernardino County Code Enforcement citations, towed one vehicle, recovered one stolen vehicle, and made one arrest in the areas of Summit Valley in Hesperia, Phelan, and Calico. Throughout the patrol, deputies contacted 230 citizens and provided educational resources on legal riding areas and safe riding practices. During the New Year holiday weekend, deputies from the Barstow Sheriffs Station patrolled Dumont Dunes and conducted enforcement and educational contacts. More:Apple Valley High School student Chandlyr Dees: 'A life taken too soon' in off-road accident During the weekend, deputies at Dumont Dunes made approximately 199 educational contacts and issued 22 warning citations. The California Highway Patrol also investigated two fatal off-highway vehicle collisions at Dumont Dunes during the weekend. Week one During the first week of Operation Dust Devil, deputies patrolled the areas of Deep Creek, Hesperia Lakes, Summit Valley, Cajon Wash, Santa Ana River, 29 Palms, Yucca Valley, Pioneer Town, and Big Bear. During that time, deputies issued 21 California Vehicle Code citations, 25 SBC Code Enforcement citations, towed three vehicles, and made four arrests. Deputies contacted 140 citizens and provided educational resources on legal riding areas and safe riding practices. In December, the SBC Board of Supervisors authorized funding to assist county-wide off-highway vehicle enforcement. The funding allows the Sheriffs Department to increase law enforcement services related to quality-of-life issues affecting the communities in our county. Operation Dust Devil will take place over the next several months to encourage safe and responsible off-highway vehicle operation through education and enforcement throughout the county. Operation Dust Devil will focus on off-highway vehicle operations throughout the countys 20,105 sq. miles. The operation will include personnel from the Sheriffs Off-Highway Vehicle Team and various patrol stations. Story continues Deputies will work with the county's Land Use Services and Code Enforcement, San Bernardino Park Services, Hesperia Park Services, the U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, and the Bureau of Land Management. Additionally, the Department of Fish and Game, the National Parks Service, BNSF Police, California Highway Patrol, and the San Bernardino, Rialto, and Colton police departments will also provide support during operations. Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Operation Dust Devil week 2: Deputies educate, cite off-road riders California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla on Tuesday became the first Latino ever sworn in to serve a full Senate term from the Golden State. The state thats host to a quarter of all U.S. Hispanics is also central to national Latino politics, but it has historically lagged in representation at the top statewide elected level. As we sit here today, Latinos make up approximately 40 percent of the population in the state of California. Still underrepresented at all levels of government, certainly in the statewide offices, Padilla told The Hill. But you have a lot of tremendous young talent and leaders that are, I think, establishing themselves and laying foundations for public service careers. Though Padilla was sworn in Tuesday for his first full term, it was technically his third swearing in as senator. He was first appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021 to replace now-Vice President Kamala Harris in the Senate, then sworn in shortly after the 2022 midterms to finish off the last two months of that term after a special election, and on Tuesday to start his term as an elected senator. Ill be eternally grateful for Governor Newsom, for giving me the initial opportunity when I was appointed. But it is extra gratifying to know that Im now here for a full six year term because of the voters of California, said Padilla. That Hispanics would take so long to represent California in the Senate is an oddity the state was one of the few in the 1848 Mexican Cession that had large settlements before becoming part of the United States. The first Hispanic voting member of Congress in history was Romualdo Pacheco, a Californio a descendant of the original Spanish settlers of the state who was born when California was a Mexican territory. Before going to Congress, Pacheco was lieutenant governor of California and then briefly governor after incumbent Newton Booth resigned to take a Senate seat in 1875. Story continues From 1875 to 2021, no Latino held one of the top three statewide elected posts in California. Padillas swearing in as an elected senator is also a boon to his neighborhood of Pacoima, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Like many Latino communities, Pacoima has historically been underserved and underrepresented. Padillas political rise has encouraged even those in the community who beat Padilla to Washington. I am so proud of my friend, Senator Alex Padilla, for becoming the first Latino Senator from California to be sworn into a full Senate term. Alexs story and trajectory to the United States Senate is as inspiring as it is trailblazing. Even as he makes history, Alex has never forgotten his roots as the son of Mexican immigrants, his mother Lupe, who cleaned houses, and his father Santos, who flipped pancakes in Pacoima, said Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.), who grew up blocks away from Padilla. The two lawmakers share a common political path Padilla was Cardenass first campaign manager in 1996 at the age of 22. Still, the structural obstacles of growing up in an underserved community are present for Padilla, who was once discouraged from applying to MIT by a professor who didnt want [him] to be disappointed. A lot of people have asked me if being elected to this is kind of a dream come true. And the sad truth is, no. Because when I was growing up, I couldnt, I didnt think something like this was possible or even an option for somebody like me, said Padilla. Still, Padilla did attend MIT, and like many California Latinos was attracted to politics in 1994 after then-Gov. Pete Wilson (R) successfully passed the anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Before the Senate, Padilla served in the Los Angeles City Council, the state Senate, and, critically, as Newsoms secretary of State. There, Padilla focused on voting rights and access to representation. I think that the two reforms that made the biggest impact were number one, automatic voter registration, you cant deny the numbers. We made it simple but automatic for any eligible voter to be registered when they were in the process of applying for a drivers license, renewing a drivers license or state ID It just made common sense. Second, making it easier to have your ballot cast. You know, the universal vote by mail option with expanded in-person options, not just on election day, but in person early voting, said Padilla. Those changes, apart from enfranchising millions of Californians to vote, contributed to Padillas substantial win in 2022. In November, Padilla received more than 6.6 million votes, more than any Senate candidate in state history except for Harris, who got 7.5 million votes in 2016, a year with a concurrent presidential election. And those numbers are also focusing Padillas work in the Senate, where hes worked on a national push to enfranchise more voters, sometimes butting heads with GOP-led states that seek more restrictions on registration and ballot-casting options. I think its a shame. And frankly, a dereliction of duty for the states that are consciously, intentionally making it harder for eligible voters to register to vote, to stay registered to vote, or to cast their ballot. Thats not the way our democracy is supposed to work, said Padilla. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The U.S. Postal Service is legally allowed to deliver prescription abortion drugs even in states that have curtailed access to abortion, the Justice Department said. A legal opinion from the agencys Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) found that mailing mifepristone or misoprostol does not violate the Comstock Act, a nearly 150-year-old law originally written to stop anything that could corrupt morals from being sent in the mail, if the sender does not know if the drugs will be used illegally. The Justice Departments opinion was requested by the Postal Service in the wake of the Supreme Courts June decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a ruling that ended nearly 50 years of guaranteed federal abortion protections. Republican-led states have been moving to limit or even completely ban access to the drugs, and advocates have been concerned the Supreme Courts decision will embolden even more states to crack down. There has been a growing effort to circumvent the laws by mailing the drugs, often from overseas, directly to people seeking them. Mifepristone is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to induce an abortion up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy. It must be followed by a second drug, misoprostol. Federal law does not prohibit the use of mifepristone and misoprostol, and the FDA has found them to be safe and effective for terminating early pregnancy. There are manifold ways in which recipients in every state may use these drugs, including to produce an abortion, without violating state law, OLC chief Christopher Schroeder wrote in the opinion. Therefore, the mere mailing of such drugs to a particular jurisdiction is an insufficient basis for concluding that the sender intends them to be used unlawfully. The opinion also applies to other carriers that could be used to send abortion drugs, like UPS or FedEx. In the opinion, the OLC wrote that even in a jurisdiction with restrictive abortion laws, women can still lawfully use mifepristone and misoprostol because there are no prohibitions on abortions necessary to preserve the life of the woman. Story continues Some state abortion restrictions also include exceptions for cases of rape or incest, to protect the health of the pregnant person or where there are severe fetal anomalies. Even if a state prohibits a pregnant person from ingesting mifepristone or misoprostol for the purpose of inducing an abortion, that person is free to travel to another state where it is not prohibited. Someone sending a woman these drugs is unlikely to know where she will use them, Schroeder wrote, so it does not violate the law. The Justice Department memo was one of two actions taken by the Biden administration Tuesday to expand access to abortion drugs. An FDA rule change will allow U.S. retail pharmacies for the first time to offer abortion pills directly to patients with a prescription, suspending a long-standing requirement that the pills be dispensed in person by doctors or clinics. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy said he won't run for governor of Louisiana this year, which is likely to trigger a flood of on-the-fence candidates to jump into the race. In November, shortly after winning a second, six-year Senate term in a landslide victory, Kennedy said he would give the governor's race "serious consideration" and released a poll showing him as the front-runner, but ended speculation Wednesday. "I have looked into my heart and decided to remain in the Senate and not to run for governor," Kennedy said in an email to supporters. "At this juncture, I just think I can help my state and my country more in the Senate." Kennedy's announcement puts Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, who has already secured the state GOP endorsement, as the clear leader out of the gate and the only major candidate to have officially announced. But Republican Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser will likely be close on Landry's heels as soon as next week. Nungesser, who said he will announce his intentions Jan. 10, released a poll he commissioned to the media Wednesday showing him as the leading Republican with 23%, followed by Landry at 22%. Another statewide elected official, Republican Treasurer John Schroder, plans to announce his intentions on the governor's race on Jan. 12. Louisiana Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy speaks to reporters in at the Lod Cook Hotel in Baton Rouge after his landslide reelection win on Nov. 8, 2022. Schroder had said he would only consider running if Kennedy didn't. In fact, much of the potential Republican field other than Landry had been frozen while Kennedy considered the race. Two-term Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, is term limited and can't run for reelection. Edwards' Secretary of Transportation Shawn Wilson, a Democrat, is considering the race and was shown at 23% in Nungesser's poll released Wednesday. But Louisiana is a deeply red state with no statewide elected Democrats other than Edwards, who is considered a political anomaly by many. Among the other Republicans considering the race: Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves; state Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell; and state Rep. Richard Nelson of Mandeville. Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana Senator John Kennedy won't run for governor; who's up next? Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds was nominated on Wednesday as the latest protest nominee from within the GOP as leader Kevin McCarthy continues to struggle to win a majority to be elected speaker. Who is Donalds? Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called Donalds a "dear friend, a solid conservative and, most importantly, a family man" as he nominated him for the top role. Donalds' campaign team has described him as a "a Trump supporting, liberty loving, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment black man." MORE: House speaker vote failure suggests some Republicans want no leader at all: ANALYSIS Roy noted in his speech on Wednesday that, because Democrats have also put forth their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, "For the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed in nomination for speaker of the House." That prompted a standing ovation from the chamber. Donalds voted for McCarthy in the first two rounds of the speaker vote, on Tuesday, but on the third round switched his vote to Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a McCarthy supporter, insisting that McCarthy failed to win the necessary support to move forward. Since Donalds has been nominated -- in the fifth round, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., nominated him -- he has voted for himself. PHOTO: U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds talks with Rep. Lauren Boebert after Donalds was nominated as a candidate for Speaker of the House during a fourth round of voting for a new Speaker at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 4, 2023. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) Donalds, like Jeffries, grew up in Brooklyn but went to college in Florida and built a career there in the financial and insurance industries, according to his House biography. He was first elected to the House in 2020 after serving as a state representative and now represents Florida's 19th Congressional District. MORE: When was the longest it took to elect a speaker of the House? "Im blessed and highly favored, honestly. Southwest Florida has always been great to me and Im just glad to have the opportunity to represent them in Congress," Donalds said after winning his race in 2020, saying then that his first priority was water quality. He was among the 147 Republicans in Congress who voted against the 2020 presidential election results in the aftermath of Jan. 6, despite the lack of evidence of widespread fraud. Story continues He and his wife, Erika, have three sons: Damon, Darin and Mason. ABC News' Tal Axelrod and Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report. Who is Byron Donalds, latest GOP protest nominee against McCarthy's speaker bid originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were among nations to condemn a visit Tuesday by Israel's extreme-right new national security minister to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound. The move by firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir has enraged Palestinians, while the United States warned of steps which may harm the status quo. The UAE, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020, "strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard by an Israeli minister". The US ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, said Washington "has made it clear to the Israeli government it opposes any steps that could harm the status quo in the holy sites". Ben-Gvir's visit comes days after he took office as national security minister, with powers over the police, giving his decision to enter the highly sensitive site considerable weight. Al-Aqsa mosque is the third-holiest place in Islam and the most sacred site to Jews. The compound houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque. Lying in the walled Old City of East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories, the compound is administered by Jordan's Waqf Islamic affairs council, with Israeli forces operating there and controlling access. Under a longstanding status quo, non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there. In recent years, a growing number of Jews, most of them Israeli nationalists, have covertly prayed at the compound, a development decried by Palestinians. After his visit, Ben-Gvir vowed to "maintain the freedom of movement for Muslims and Christians, but Jews will also go up to the mount, and those who make threats must be dealt with -- with an iron hand". 'Serious Threat' The politician has lobbied to allow Jewish prayer in the compound, a move opposed by mainstream rabbinical authorities. Israel's Sephardi chief rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, wrote to Ben-Gvir on Tuesday. "What will people say when they see a minister, an observant Jew, who flouts the position of the rabbinate," he said in a letter. Ben-Gvir was accompanied by units of the Israeli security forces, Waqf guards told AFP. Jordan's foreign ministry spokesman Sinan Majali said Amman summoned the Israeli ambassador, to "convey a protest message about the recklessness of the Israeli national security minister in storming the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque". Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, condemned the "provocative practices" of Ben-Gvir. The visit was also criticised by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League. In a statement on Tuesday, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit termed the step as a breach of the sanctity of the holy site and a provocation of all Muslims by the Israeli government and its security bodies, reported Egypt's state news agency MENA. "This flagrant action is part of the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu's extremist program and its settlement agenda," Abul Gheit's Spokesperson Gamal Roshi said to MENA. The spokesman added that the Arab League held the Israeli government fully responsible for such action and its repercussions in Palestine and the whole region as well as its impact on the international peace and security, affirming that such incident would ignite a religious war in the region, said MENA. Al Azhar has strongly condemned the barbaric behavior committed by an extremist Israeli official. In a statement released Tuesday, Al Azhar stressed that these provocative actions clearly reflect the barbarism of the Israeli occupation authority, and its attempt to impose a political reality by force of arms and change the historical identity of Al-Quds (East Jerusalem) and Al-Aqsa Mosque. The worlds top Sunni Muslim institution called on the international community to take decisive stances to stop Israels continued crimes, and protect religious sanctities and sacred places in Jerusalem and the entire occupied Palestinian territories. Iran called the visit a "violation of international regulations and an insult to the values and sanctities of the Muslims." Hassan Nasrallah, head of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, said Israel's "attack" on the Jerusalem holy site "will not only blow up the situation inside Palestine, but may blow up the entire region". Germany's ambassador to Israel said the status quo "has long helped maintain the fragile peace and security around the holy sites" and urged all sides to avoid actions that could raise tension. While Ben-Gvir has visited the compound numerous times since entering parliament in April 2021, his presence as a top minister is highly significant. A controversial visit in 2000 by then opposition leader Ariel Sharon was one of the main triggers for the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which lasted until 2005. The Palestinian foreign ministry called Ben-Gvir's visit a "serious threat". Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, last week warned such a step would be "a big red line and it will lead to an explosion". On Tuesday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem deemed it a "crime" and vowed the mosque compound "will remain Palestinian, Arab, Islamic". 'Security And Stability' Warning Hamas rules the Gaza Strip and in May 2021 an 11-day war broke out between Palestinian militants based in the territory and Israel, after violence at Al-Aqsa mosque. Hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israeli police were wounded in the preceding clashes across east Jerusalem, initially sparked by restrictions on Palestinians gathering and eviction threats against residents. During this period, Ben-Gvir rallied his supporters in Israeli settler homes in east Jerusalem, which has been occupied by Israel since the War of 1967. For years seen as a fringe figure, Jewish Power leader Ben-Gvir entered mainstream politics with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The premier's office on Tuesday said Netanyahu is "committed to strictly maintaining the status quo, without changes" at the holy site. Ben-Gvir has advocated for Arab-Israelis deemed disloyal to the state to be expelled and for the annexation of the occupied West Bank. Until a few years ago, he had a portrait in his living room of Baruch Goldstein, who massacred 29 Palestinian worshippers at a Hebron mosque in 1994. He launched his ministerial career on December 29, as part of Israel's most right-wing government in history. * This story has been edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Marilyn Manson. Leon Bennett/WireImage Ashley Smithline's sexual assault lawsuit against Marilyn Manson was dismissed Tuesday. The case was dismissed because Smithline failed to replace her attorney, who dropped out of the case. Manson had denied Smithline's allegations of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. A federal judge in California on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit against musician Marilyn Manson filed by his ex-girlfriend Ashley Smithline, who alleged that "consensual sex was not enough for" him and that he raped and emotionally abused her. Smithline went silent after her attorney, Jay D. Ellwanger, dropped out of the case in October. She then failed to notify the court by a December 5 deadline whether she had hired a new attorney or would be representing herself. US District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha dismissed the case without prejudice on Tuesday, which gives Smithline the opportunity to file the lawsuit again in the future. "We thank and commend Ashley Smithline for dismissing her claims against Brian Warner without seeking or receiving anything in return," Howard King, one of Manson's attorneys, told Insider in a statement on Wednesday. Insider reached out to Smithline for comment, but did not receive a response. Smithline sued Manson and his record company in June 2021, accusing the musician of sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unlawful imprisonment as well as violations of the Bane Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. In her complaint, Smithline alleged Manson whose real name is Brian Warner started messaging her frequently when she was a model in Bangkok, Thailand, in the summer of 2010, trying to recruit her for a film project. Manson eventually convinced her to come out to Los Angeles to take part in the project, she said, and she moved in with him shortly after, according to the complaint. Smithline said in the complaint they began a "consensual sexual relationship" but "it quickly became apparent" that didn't satisfy Manson. Story continues She alleged there were multiple incidents in which Manson raped her including an incident in which he slashed her repeatedly with a knife when she resisted, according to the complaint. Smithline said in the complaint that Warner threatened to kill her if she ever left him and "exercised total control" over her, forcing her to work as his personal chef, confiscating her phone, and locking her in a soundproof glass enclosure. She said she deals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to this day, and still has some of the physical scars from Manson's attacks, according to the complaint. In his answer to her complaint, Manson denied the abuse allegations and said they had a consensual sexual relationship. In Smithline's complaint, she said she never understood "the true extent" of her injuries until she began meeting with "other survivors of Mr. Warner's Abuse" in 2020. Manson is currently fighting abuse lawsuits from two other women, and he is under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for allegations of sexual assault. Multiple women began accusing Manson of inappropriate behavior in February 2021 after the actress Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused him of being abusive during their four-year relationship. Manson issued a statement saying "these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality." "My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how and why others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that is the truth." Manson has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Wood, accusing her of conspiring with her girlfriend, Ashley "Ilma" Gore, to falsify evidence backing Wood's claims. January 4, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. ET: This story was updated to include a statement from Manson's attorney. Read the original article on Insider A bride has shared how she missed her own wedding and lost more than $70,000 in wedding reservations after Southwest Airlines cancelled her flight to Belize. Katie Demko was supposed to fly out of St Louis, Missouri on Tuesday 27 December for her and her fiance Michaels destination wedding in Belize. But just before boarding the Southwest flight, the captain announced it had been canceled. Demko, who described herself as a frequent Southwest flyer, was unable to find another flight for her and her children to make it to Belize in time for the wedding. In a recent interview with Insider, Demko explained that passengers were told the flight was cancelled because they were short three flight attendants. I had about seven travel agents, and my whole family sat for 18 hours searching for a way to get us there, she told the outlet. "We even looked at flying to Cancun and getting a bus to drive us to Belize. There was nothing. Demko also tried to switch tickets with friends who were flying to Belize on Wednesday, but Southwest was unable to make the change. I cried all morning on December 30, she said. Southwest was able to refund Demkos flights; however, she wasnt issued a full refund for many of the services she purchased for the wedding. The resort where she and her guests were planning to stay the Victoria House resort in Belize was unable to postpone or issue a refund for their reservation, causing Demko and her fiance to lose thousands of dollars. In total, it is well over $70k lost in rooms at Victoria House, Demko revealed. According to Demko, Southwest has not been in contact with her even to just apologise for the flight cancellation, adding, 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. Southwest Airlines has been at the centre of much controversy after a winter storm swept through the United States, leaving many passengers stranded for the holidays. Although many major airlines were affected by the winter storm delays, more than 91 per cent of all cancelled flights in the US last Wednesday were from Southwest. Story continues As flight schedules return to somewhat normal, Southwest reported less than 40 cancellations early Friday which is still more cancellations than United, American and Delta combined. Now, the federal government has launched a review of the unacceptable level of cancellations by Southwest Airlines. Because of the Southwest flight fiasco, Demko and her fiance Michael spent New Years Eve apart and unmarried. Demko told Insider: On New Years Eve, I sat at my house and talked to Michael, who was sitting in Belize, and we said Happy New Year, knowing that we were not ringing in 2023 as husband and wife as we had hoped to do. The Independent has contacted Southwest Airlines for comment. Masked police officers lead Prince Heinrich XIII, centre, to a police vehicle during a raid against so-called Reich citizens in Frankfurt (AP) German police have arrested 25 suspected far-right extremists allegedly plotting to overthrow the state in an armed coup. About 3,000 police carried out a series of raids across Germany on Wednesday and arrested members of a group called the Reich Citizens movement. German media reports say the group included ex-military figures and a minor aristocrat called Prince Heinrich XIII. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann described the raids as an anti-terrorism operation. Germanys top security official said the group was driven by violent coup fantasies and conspiracy ideologies. The group allegedly planned to storm the parliament building, the Reichstag, and seize power. Prosecutors said the suspects were linked to the so-called Reichsburger (Reich Citizens) movement, whose adherents reject Germanys postwar constitution and have called for bringing down the government. The movement denies the existence of the modern German state has seen a considerable influx in the past year and presents a persistently high level of danger, said Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germanys domestic intelligence agency. Federal prosecutors said a total of 22 German citizens were detained on suspicion of membership in a terrorist organisation, and three people, including a Russian citizen, are suspected of supporting the group. Another 27 people were under investigation. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said those involved in the alleged plot were the enemies of democracy. The investigations provide a glimpse into the abyss of a terrorist threat from the Reichsbuerger milieu, she said in a statement. Police conducted searches at 130 sites in 11 of Germanys 16 states, including the barracks of Germanys special unit KSK in the southwestern town of Calw, according to Der Spiegel. The unit itself has in the past been investigated over alleged far-right involvement by some soldiers. A former parliamentary lawmaker from the far-right Alternative For Germany (AfD) was also among those arrested. Story continues One person was also detained in Kitzbuehel, Austria, and another in Perugia, Italy. An active soldier who is a member of the Special Forces Command is also believed to be among those being investigated, said a spokesperson from the military intelligence service. Italian police said they had arrested a 64-year-old former German army officer in a hotel in the central city of Perugia, where material related to the subversive activity of the organisation was found. Justice minister Marco Buschmann described the raids as an anti-terrorism operation, adding that the suspects may have planned an armed attack on institutions of the state. Police officers work during a raid in Berlin (EPA) Prosecutors said that those arrested allegedly formed a terrorist organisation with the goal of overturning the existing state order in Germany and replacing it with their own form of state, which was already in the course of being founded. The suspects were aware their aim could only be achieved by military means and with force, prosecutors said. Some of the groups members had made concrete preparations to storm Germanys federal parliament with a small armed group, according to prosecutors. They added that those arrested also believed a conglomerate of conspiracy theories consisting of narratives from the so-called Reich Citizens as well as QAnon ideology. A police officer works during a raid in Berlin (EPA) Prince Heinrich was named by police as a suspected ringleader. The group planned to install Heinrich as Germany's new leader, according to prosecutors and had already contacted Russian officials with the aim to negotiate a new order in the country once the German government has been overthrown. However, prosecutors said there is no evidence the persons contacted responded positively to his request. Another person detained was identified by prosecutors as Birgit M.-W. According to Der Spiegel, she is a former judge and lawmaker with the AfD party which has become increasingly scrutinised by German security due to its extremist ties. Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that investigations into the plot showed the threat posed by the "Reichsbuerger" movement. The investigations provide a glimpse into the abyss of a terrorist threat from the Reichsbuerger milieu, she said in a statement, adding: We are taking action against such endeavours with the consequences of the rule of law. We will continue to take this hard line. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the investigations showed the threat posed by the Reichsbuerger movement (AP) Officials have repeatedly warned that far-right extremists pose the biggest threat to Germanys domestic security. This threat was highlighted by the killing of a regional politician and the deadly attack on a synagogue in 2019. A year later, far-right extremists taking part in a protest against the countrys pandemic restrictions tried and failed to storm the Bundestag building in Berlin. Germanys chief federal prosecutor planned to make a statement on the case later Wednesday. Germanys monarchy was abolished a century ago. When the Weimar Constitution entered into force on Aug. 14, 1919, the legal privileges and titles of German nobility were abolished. Officially, there are no princes and princesses in Germany. About 20 years ago, the Egyptian government held an international competition for the design of a new museum near the pyramids of Giza. Now, after decades of planning, one of the longest-awaited and most highly anticipated institutions in the world is getting ready for its christening. The Great Egyptian Museum (GEM) has announced it will finally open its doors in 2023, and when it debuts, the complex will be home to the largest, most complex collection of ancient treasures and artifacts in the world. Designed by Dublin-based Heneghan Peng Architects, the striking new institution is located outside of Cairo, and perhaps the only thing more impressive than its offerings is its scale. The structure clocks in at over 5.2 million square feet. Once the museum is up and running, it is expected to welcome around 15,000 visitors per day, a whopping five million guests a year. More from Robb Report This will be the museum of the 21st century. All means of modern technology have been taken into consideration in order to make this an unforgettable experience for the visitor, but at the same time provide the best possible environment for the artifacts, director general, Tarek Tawfik, told CNN back in 2019. Of the new museums most precious relics are those belonging to the famous King Tutankhamun. In fact, the entire collection of treasures recovered from Tuts tombabout 5,000 objectswill be on display for the first time since they were discovered in 1922. At the main entrance, visitors will find a giant 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II. In addition, GEM will also encompass an exhibition space, library, education center, childrens museum and more than 100,000 antiquities dating back from prehistoric times to Greek and Roman periods. Story continues Set to open in 2023, the Grand Egyptian Museum will house all of the treasures discovered in King Tutankhamuns tomb and 100,000 antique artifacts To be sure, the road to the museums opening hasnt been smoothor inexpensive. Leading up to this year, a combination of financial problems, political protests and environmental setbacks caused the project to be delayed. In total, GEM cost a reported $1 billion to build, nearly twice its original initial estimate of $500 million. Tawfik believes the results will be worth it, especially for countrys citizens. Egyptians have always really held onto this project, knowing deep inside that this is something very important for them to provide a modern, safe environment for this priceless heritage, he told CNN. 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. The Marvel actor is reported to be in critical condition following a serious snow plow accident on New Year's Day. More details have come to light following the traumatic snow plow accident that landed Jeremy Renner in the hospital on New Year's Day. The Marvel actor, 51, was reported to have been plowing snow at his home near Reno, Nevada on Sunday, Jan. 1, when a weather-related incident resulted in injury. Renner was airlifted to the hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. A representative for Renner confirmed to Deadline on Monday that the Hawkeye star has undergone surgery and is in "critical but stable condition" after suffering "blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries" during the accident. While it is still unclear what exactly happened to cause the terrifying accident, the mayor of Reno revealed that Renner was reportedly helping a stranded motorist in the snow when the terrifying incident occurred. "He was helping someone stranded in the snow," Mayor Hillary Schieve told the Reno-Gazette Journal. "He is always helping others." Schieve also claimed to be friends with Renner, who she says is "always calling and saying, 'Hey mayor, what do you need?'" "There are a few times hell post about what he has done or donated toys, but most of it you would never know he is doing," she added of the Avengers alum. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office near Reno was called to Renner's residence on Sunday morning after the snow plowing machinecalled a Snowcatallegedly ran over one of his legs, causing him to lose a large amount of blood, according to TMZ's account of the story. The outlet also reported that a neighbor, who happened to be a doctor, was able to put a tourniquet on Renner's legs until paramedics arrived and transferred him to the hospital. A source close to the actor also told TMZ that Renner's wounds are "extensive," although there is no additional information about Renner's status at this time. We love taking road trips and the Great Coast Road was perfect for a day of fun and photography. Courtesy of Dean French Great Coast Road in the South Island of New Zealand is considered one of the top drives in the world. My family took a day trip with our photographer friend along the 63-mile road to capture the views. We stopped to explore wild beaches, found native wildlife, and more. Here's what it looked like. New Zealand's Great Coast Road is considered to be one of the top coastal drives in the world. It only takes 90 minutes to drive and it's become a favorite family day trip of ours. There are plenty of designated photo stops to pull over safely and enjoy the views. We took advantage of this one as our first stop. Courtesy of Dean French The Great Coast Road, a highway stretching from Greymouth to Westport in the South Island of New Zealand, was named one of the top 10 coastal drives in the world by Lonely Planet. It's a stunning 63 mile stretch of road with the Tasman Sea to the left and native forest to the right. Since I home school my two daughters and we love to get out into nature as part of our schooling, we decided to take advantage of a sunny day recently to head off for a drive on the famous road to explore rivers, pancake rocks, and dramatic rocky beaches along the route. The highway has plenty of designated areas to pull over safely for photo opportunities, and so along with our photographer friend, we documented the beauty we witnessed. The drive took us right next to the coastline and through areas that were once the home of a busy gold rush. Though, I think it's hard to imagine a gold rush here now since there are very few townships along the road and, for most of the trip, we were the only people around. Here's what it was like. On one of our first stops, we could see the coast stretching into the distance Here we had a chance to view the untouched forest spilling down to the coastal beaches. Courtesy of Dean French We started our drive with views of the huge native forest that makes up The Paparoa National Park. The national park covers 430 square kilometers and is a protected area of native forest and coastline that includes most of The Great Coast Road. Because we live close by, we've been able to explore several of the park's hiking trails. The park and many of the trails also head up into the rugged Paparoa ranges, a mountain range that sits within sight of the Great Coast Road. Story continues On this day, we stayed close to the shore following the road, but one of the great things I like about this drive is how we were able to still see and appreciate the beautiful national park even if we didn't have the time to hike the mountain trails. The national park next to the Great Coast Road is also a rainforest, and for our next stop, we pulled over and enjoy the Westland Temperate Rainforest. One of the highest rainfalls in the world allows this forest to flourish. Kelly Eden The park next to the Great Coast Road is also a rainforest and we took the opportunity to stop so I could teach my children about the unique Westland Temperate Rainforest found here. Unlike tropical rainforests, temperate ones are found in mild climates and mostly along coastlines. They contain some of the largest and oldest trees globally. The Great Coast Road immerses you right into a lowland rainforest without even having to leave the road. Temperate rainforests produce a lot of water vapor, even in summer, and cool down the atmosphere. Standing next to it, we could feel the cooling effects. I think the air always feels fresh and mild here. Every time we drive down this road, it reminds me of why it's so important to protect these forests, especially with our planet's rising temperatures. We saw impressive cliffs and rock formations everywhere. Every corner brought another beautiful scene into view. Courtesy of Dean French Another feature that I think makes the Great Coast Road stunning is the limestone rock formations. A tight corner about 15 minutes into our drive had such a pretty rock face that we stopped for a better look. With its steep limestone cliffs, gentle river, and trees filling every space, it's one of my favorite parts of the road. Millions of years ago, this coastline was underwater and limestone formed from the bones and shells of marine life. You can even find fossils along the Great Coast Road area if you're lucky. We haven't found any yet, though. Still, all along the road, we saw interesting cliff faces, rock formations, and caves where the limestone had been worn away by wind and rain. I thought that the beaches along the road had interesting layered landscapes. Dramatic rocky beaches made for great exploring. Courtesy of Dean French At various points on the drive, the road drops closer to sea level. When it does, you can stop almost anywhere and find an access point to a public beach. Some of the beaches are named, such as Motukiekie Beach, which is a 20 minute-drive from Greymouth, but most aren't. We stopped at the first unnamed beach we found. There, we explored layered rocks that I think create drama by hinting at how powerful the waves are in this area are. The Tasman Sea is wild and rough for most of the year, and we were lucky to catch a relatively calm afternoon. Although, we've driven this same road on a stormy day and I think the enormous waves are impressive to watch from the safety of the road, too. I liked how the rocky outcrops added to the stunning sea views. We could see several rocky outcrops and little islands just off the coast. Courtesy of Dean French Exploring the beach, we could see several rocky outcrops just off the coastline. The sea looked calm on the day we visited, but all year there are strong currents in this area, meaning only birds and seals, and the occasional brave surfer, make their way out to the rocky outcrops. Sometimes, if the tide is low enough, it's possible to walk across to the closer ones. On our drive this time, though, we were the only people on the beach and the tide was too high to risk it. Since the sea was calm enough, we took time for a fun splash in the waves. The kids took the opportunity to get wet. Courtesy of Dean French On the day of our drive, the weather was warm enough for a splash in the waves, and as the sea was calm, we decided to play in the water. My daughters couldn't resist the excitement of feeling stranded on a rock as the tide came in. The beaches here might not be golden sand, but I find that they are full of interesting places for kids to play. In my experience, spring and summer bring calmer weather and smaller waves, and as long as the girls didn't go out too far, I thought it was safe enough to have a fun paddle in the water together. We could stop anywhere along the road and find a picnic spot with built-in activities. We thought this beach was great for a picnic of impromptu activities. Courtesy of Dean French Our next stop was at a slightly more sheltered part of the coast where we found a sandy beach and plenty of driftwood for hut building. We didn't organize a packed lunch today, but we all agreed it would be the perfect spot to return to for a longer stay and a picnic another time. Instead, we had fun balancing on large driftwood logs, making a hut, and drawing with sticks in the sand. As we traveled up the coast, the forest changed and we could see more flax and palm trees Large flax trees and Nikau Palms between the road and the coastline. Courtesy of Dean French Flax, fern, and palm trees appeared as we got closer to the middle of The Great Coast Road. We loved the views here as we found them to be quite different from the forests near where we live. Harakeke is a large flax that grows up to 3 meters high and traditionally was the most important fiber plant for New Zealand Maori. It has been used for weaving various objects, fishing line, clothing, rafts, and medicine. My daughters and I have even had a few lessons before weaving flax to make bags and mats. I also love seeing the Nikau Palms extend up through the flax trees on this part of the drive. Nikau Palms are only found in New Zealand and are a food source for native birds, especially the beautiful large Kereru, or New Zealand Wood Pigeon, which we often see on this road. On this stop today, we saw some of New Zealand's native birds, including a couple of tiny fantails and a dark green tui, but no Kereru. If we'd stayed in one spot for longer I'm sure we would have seen more. I think The Great Coast Road with its native forests, and hardly any people, is perfect for observing bird life. Next, we stopped at a small, but famous town. The Pancake Rocks are a popular tourist spot. Kelly Eden Just under 29 miles from the start of our drive up The Great Coast Road from Greymouth, we reached the small township of Punakaiki. Less than 100 people live in Punakaiki, but it's famous for its Pancake Rocks that draw hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. We've been to the Pancake Rocks a dozen times, but never get tired of it. I think the landscape seems to change with the tides and the weather, and at high tide, the narrow blowholes and deep caves create dramatic watery displays. The sea sprays up over the paths and booms against the limestone rock walls. We arrived at low tide on this day, but thought it was still impressive. Even at low tide, I think the ancient rock formations with their striped layers are fascinating. The limestone rocks seen at Punakaiki. Courtesy of Dean French Punakaiki was our main destination for our drive up The Great Coast Road and we arrived in late afternoon and took a 1.1-kilometer loop walk around the Pancake Rocks at Dolomite Point. I think it's a great place to learn about the history of the area and there are helpful information boards dotted along the Pancake Rock walk, which makes my homeschooling easy. From these signs, we learned that years before humans arrived, ancient marine life and plants on the seabed, under intense pressure from the ocean, formed into layers of limestone and mud. Eventually, earthquakes in the area lifted the layers up above the water, and rain, wind, and salt-spray eroded away the softer mud layers forming these strange stacks of pancake-like rocks. The kids love it every time we come to Punakaiki, especially when we get an ice cream at the Punakaiki shops after the walk. Just after Punakaiki, further up the Great Coast Road, a hidden track led us to a nice surprise. A beautiful archway of trees and ferns led us down to the river. Courtesy of Dean French After Punakaiki, about five minutes further up the road, we pulled into a car park where kayakers were preparing for a trip up the Pororari River. You can rent kayaks and canoes here, which we'd love to do another day as it's a beautiful gentle river, but today we decided just to explore on foot. We found a pretty track next to the car park and, in a few steps, were next to the river. We thought this area of New Zealand was great for spotting wildlife, including unique birds. Weka are native to New Zealand and protected. Courtesy of Dean French/Kelly Eden Next to the Pororari River, we found a Weka, one of New Zealand's native birds, which was an unexpected surprise. The Weka was eating insects from the stoney riverbank. We've often heard Weka on walks around the Great Coast Road, rustling the leaves and bushes next to forest walkways, but they can be shy around people and we hadn't seen one so up close before. My youngest daughter, an animal lover, was keen to get as close as possible, but the Weka wasn't so sure. Perhaps if she'd had something to eat it would have been friendlier. In my experience from living in this area, Weka are likely to steal food around picnics and campsites. We've spotted other birds, too. We've often been followed on a forest walk by cute little Fantails, or seen the red and blue Pukeko strutting in paddocks next to the road. We saw a few Pukeko on this drive. We haven't seen any of New Zealand's iconic Kiwi yet in the forests near the Great Coast Road, but we did come across a little blue penguin on the beach once. On our next stop, we found coastal homes, campsites, and nature walks. A handful of people live along this road. Courtesy of Dean French I don't think you can't get much more coastal than the houses in Fox River. They are built about as close to the beach as you can, and 36 miles along Great Coast Road, we found half a dozen tiny buildings tucked in between the rocks and sea. We stopped at a campsite next to the river and learned that the locals hold a popular Sunday Market in Fox River in the summer here with live music, stalls, and food, which we'll have to come check out one day. There's also a three-hour walk up the river to a cave we hadn't known about before. Overall, it looked like a gorgeous place to have a camping vacation or wander around for a market afternoon. With the sun setting, we headed home. I love how the evening light and stunning sunsets along this stretch of coast. Courtesy of Dean French We didn't quite make it all the way up the Great Coast Road to Charleston and Westport this time, but with the sky turning pink along the distant horizon, we took our final photos and made promises to return again soon to see more of this beautiful stretch of road. Read the original article on Insider A day before he was caught on camera sprinting away from a riotous mob of Donald Trumps supporters, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley ignored or failed to return six separate calls and three voicemails from then-president Donald Trump as he was preparing to spearhead objecting to certifying the then-presidents 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. According to White House phone logs made public by the House January 6 select committee, Mr Trump placed six phone calls to Mr Hawley through the White House switchboard on 5 January 2020, the day before Congress was set to hold the quadrennial joint session to certify Electoral College votes. After three of those calls, the White House operator left messages for Mr Hawley, then the states junior senator, asking him to return Mr Trumps call. Mr Trumps first attempt to contact the senator came at 9.37am on 5 January, with two more calls taking place at 10.04am and 10.11am. At 10.18am, the White House operator left a message for the senator. After an 11-hour break, Mr Trump began trying to reach the senator again, with calls going out from the White House to Mr Hawleys phone at 9.21, 10.51, and 10.57pm. The then-president also asked the White House operator to leave messages with the senator at 9.46pm and 11.13pm. Mr Hawley has said he eventually returned Mr Trumps call the next morning but never reached him. Mr Trump also attempted to reach other GOP senators that night, including David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas. He also had phone calls with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and advisers Rudolph Giuliani and Steve Bannon. When Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Paul Gosar were spotted conversing on the House floor Tuesday afternoon, observers were curious to know what the New York Democrat and Arizona Republican could have to chat about so casually. After all, Gosar was stripped of his committee appointments in 2021 for posting an anime video of himself attacking and killing Ocasio-Cortez. The topic at hand turned out to be what was playing out in front of them, as the new Republican majority attempted and failed to elect a House speaker. Without a House speaker, none of the representatives could be sworn in, and House business was at a standstill. Ocasio-Cortez told MSNBCs Alex Wagner later Tuesday that Gosar had brought up the possibility of Republicans cutting a deal with Democrats that could secure the speakership for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Challenges brought by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and others meant that three rounds of voting on Tuesday failed to reach the necessary total to elect McCarthy. Ocasio-Cortez said with a laugh: I think in chaos anything is possible, especially in this era. But she signaled that the possibility of a deal of any kind was not going to happen. She explained how things happen in the House when there is no consensus. Sometimes the leadership of your party in this case, the Republican Party will be making claims in order to try to twist arms and get people in line, and a lot of times, information and truth is currency. She continued: So, sometimes, to be able to fact-check some of the claims that McCarthy is making, whether Democrats are going to defect or not, et cetera, is important in order to keep him honest and to keep people honest in general. Democrats rallied around Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to lead their caucus back in November, and lined up behind him in Tuesdays speaker votes without issue. He is expected to formally become minority leader once the speakership is decided and lawmakers are sworn in. Story continues I think what was important today, Ocasio-Cortez continued, was to send the message we were united behind Hakeem Jeffries as the now-minority leader, or as leader of the Democrats, and that there would be no defections. Gaetz was also caught on camera speaking with Ocasio-Cortez in what she described as a similar conversation. Jeffries also said Tuesday evening that Democrats will not help Republicans navigate their own internal chaos. We are looking for a willing partner to solve problems for the American people, not save the Republicans from their dysfunction, Jeffries said. Oddly enough, the camera shots of Ocasio-Cortez and Gosar, and Ocasio-Cortez and Gaetz, were only possible because of the House dysfunction. The leaders of the House and Senate normally limit C-SPAN, the nonprofit that broadcasts federal government proceedings, to airing very wide shots and spotlights on anyone speaking not panning to the sidelines for reactions or a view on who is talking to whom. With no one formally seated in the House, C-SPAN was allowed to direct the cameras to the most interesting goings-on. Related... By Trevor Hunnicutt (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden plans to commemorate the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol with a White House ceremony, according to a schedule released by his office on Monday. Friday's event will mark a rare moment for Biden to wade into the live issues stoked by the deadly riot by supporters of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Their actions interrupted the certification of the Democrat's 2020 victory. Biden has condemned the riot as a threat to democracy and the rule of law, but he rarely discusses his predecessor by name publicly and has framed his presidency around uniting and healing the country's partisan divides. Soon to enter his third year in office, Biden has said he intends to seek another four-year term but has not formally his candidacy. Trump, who never conceded defeat in the 2020 election, has already announced that he is seeking his party's nomination again in 2024. Last month, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives panel probing the 2021 attack asked federal prosecutors to charge Trump with four crimes, including obstruction and insurrection. It was the first time in history that Congress had referred a former president for criminal prosecution. Trump, who is facing two other federal probes, has dismissed the House investigation as partisan. The former president gave a fiery speech to his supporters on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, and publicly chastised then Vice President Mike Pence for not going along with his scheme to reject ballots cast for Biden. Trump then waited hours before making a public statement as thousands of his supporters raged through the Capitol, assaulting police and threatening to hang Pence. Five people, including a police officer, died during or shortly after the incident and more than 140 police officers were injured. The Capitol suffered millions of dollars in damage. "A former president of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election. He's done so because he values power over principle," Biden said at an event at the Capitol last year marking the event, never speaking Trump's name. "He can't accept he lost." Biden's schedule said Friday's ceremony would take place in the White House's East Room. No further details were provided. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Bradley Perrett) STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) 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 Tuesday in Pennsylvania that he will not fight extradition to Idaho, said his public defender, Jason LaBar. Moscow, Idaho, police Capt. Anthony Dahlinger said that would speed up the process of bringing Kohberger to Idaho to face charges, but that he wasn't 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. His parents, Michael and Maryann, and his two older sisters, Amanda and Melissa, said in a statement released Sunday by his attorney that 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. The family said that relatives will continue to let the legal process unfold, and that as a family we will love and support our son and brother. They say they have fully cooperated with law enforcement to try to to "seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions. LaBar, the public defender in Monroe County, Idaho, urged people not to pass judgment until a fair trial has been held. Mr. Kohberger has been accused of very serious crimes, but the American justice system cloaks him in a veil of innocence, LaBar said in a statement. He should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise not tried in the court of public opinion. Capt. Dahlinger told The Associated Press on Saturday that authorities believe Kohberger was responsible for all four murders. We believe weve got our man, he said. Story continues Bill Thompson, a prosecutor in Latah County, Idaho, said during a news conference Friday that investigators believe Kohberger broke into the University of Idaho students home near campus with the intent to commit murder. The bodies of the victims were found Nov. 13, several hours after investigators believe they died. The students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur dAlene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington were members of the universitys Greek system and close friends. Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle lived in the three-story rental home with two other roommates. Kernodle and Chapin were dating, and he was visiting the house that night. Autopsies showed all four were likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times. There was no sign of sexual assault, police said. Christina Teves, a spokesperson for the Chapin family, declined to comment Monday on the Kohberger family's statement. Shanon Gray, a lawyer for the Goncalves family, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Latah County prosecutors have said the affidavit for four charges of first-degree murder in Idaho will remain sealed until he is returned. He is also charged with felony burglary in Idaho. Many details of the case are expected to be released after Kohbergers first appearance in an Idaho courtroom, Dahlinger said. Zahi Hawass reviews the route taken by the Holy Family in Egypt after they fled the persecution of king Herod in the early years of the first century CE Before I explain the ancient journey of the Holy Family in Egypt, I have to say that I admire my friend Mounir Ghabbour because of his dedication to his religion and his extraordinary achievements. His first great achievement was producing a film about the Holy Familys journey in Egypt in English that was directed by a US director. I invited Ghabbour to show the film on the premises of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) in Zamalek in Cairo. After that, he was going to produce an opera about the Holy Family and show it in Paris, but the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the organisation of the event. More recently, Ghabbour invited me to visit the Virgin Mary Tree in the Matariya district of Cairo and the development work being done to upgrade the area. I believe that this mans achievements are recognised by all Egyptian Christians. Egypt had the honour to host the Holy Family when they escaped from the oppression of king Herod after the birth of Jesus. In fact, God chose Egypt to be connected with the three Ibrahimic or Abrahamic religions: Sinai was chosen as the place where Moses talked to God, and it later witnessed the arrival of the Arab armies bringing Islam to Egypt. But our concern is with the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt. All these religious events are an honour to our great country, showing that it has always been a place of safety for those facing difficulties. The arrival of the Holy Family was not the choice of a king, but it was the choice of God. It is a story kept in the hearts of all Christians everywhere. When Roman Catholic Pope John Paul II came to Egypt and met Pope Shenouda III, the former pope of Alexandria and the patriarch of all Africa in the Coptic Orthodox Church, he said that the purpose behind his visit was to make a pilgrimage to Egypt. The Holy Family arrived in Egypt on the 24th day of the Coptic month of Pshnece, or on 2 June in 2 CE. This was when Jesus entered Egypt, a great occasion for all Christians and especially for Coptic Egyptians. The journey began from Bethlehem in Palestine and was undertaken on instructions received by Joseph, or Youssef, who was told to take Jesus and Mary and escape to the land of Egypt. In spite of the fact that the trip was a difficult one, the Holy Family travelled around 2,000 km on foot and sometimes by donkey or sailing on the Nile. One can imagine all the difficulties they faced. They stayed in Egypt for three years and 11 months. This period is mentioned in a Coptic papyrus that says that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take the baby Jesus with his mother back to Palestine as Herod had died. Earlier, the Virgin Mary left Bethlehem with the infant Jesus, just two years old at the time, accompanied by Joseph. This was the beginning of the Holy Familys journey, making the places they visited in Egypt destinations for pilgrimage. The journey inside Egypt began from Al-Farama in the east and continued to Assiut in the south. The family stopped at 25 sites, as mentioned below. RAFAH: All the sources that mention the Holy Familys journey to Egypt say that they avoided the northern road through Sinai because they were afraid of the soldiers of king Herod. They also all say that the Holy Family entered Egypt from near the village of Al-Farama (ancient Peluzium). Other sources say that they took the shore road because it was safer and was the oldest road in Sinai. The road was used by immigrants to Egypt because it had less sand, good weather, and was not in danger from Bedouins. The road was also used by Christians in the sixth and seventh centuries CE. Recently discovered sites found on it indicate Christian monuments dating to the Byzantine period. This supports the idea that the Holy Family also used this road, which now runs through Rafah, Sheikh Zuwayed, Arish, Al-Flosiat, Al-Kels, Al-Mohamdian, Al-Farama, and Tell Al-Makhzon. The road starts from Rafah and runs to Wadi Al-Arish before continuing to Al-Zranick, an archaeological site also known as Al-Flosiat located west of Arish about 40 km near the Mazar village on the shore of the Bardawil Lake. This area is important strategically because it is located at the point where the road connects with Al-Farama and the military road that began from Al-Qantara and ended at Rafah and is known as the Horus Military Road. The people of Sinai say that between Rafah and Arish there is a tree that is part dry and part green and that dates back to the time of the Holy Family. AL-FARAMA: This is the second station of the Holy Family in Egypt and was once identical with ancient Peluzium. It is near Qantara and is located between Arish and Port Said. This was the point where the Holy Family entered Egypt from the northeast. Excavations at the site have revealed several churches dating to the fifth and sixth centuries CE. TELL BASTA: The Holy Family continued to Tell Basta, the ancient city of Bubastit that was once the centre of the ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. It was the capital of the 22nd Dynasty and was previously the capital of the first nome (district) of Lower Egypt. A group of temples dedicated to Bubastit has been found at the site dating from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period. The most important was built by Ramses II and the kings of the 22nd Dynasty such as Osrkon. It is said that when the Holy Family entered the city, all the statues decorating it fell down. Jesus asked for a drink of water while he was sitting under a tree at the site, and Joseph struck the ground with his staff, causing a well to appear that the Holy Family drank from. There is a church on the site today dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Holy Family then continued south until they reached Belbeis, where they had a rest under a sycamore tree. Later, people began to make pilgrimages to this tree and called it the Virgin Tree. It is said that when Napoleon Bonaparte came to Egypt in 1798, he also visited this tree. MOSTOROD: The Holy Family turned south from Tell Basta, eventually reaching Mostorod. Not far from here there is a cave said to have been used by the Holy Family with a well that Jesus drank from. SAMANOUD: From Mostorod, the Holy Family travelled north-west until they arrived at Samanoud where they crossed the Nile. This city was once the ancient city lived in by Manetho, an Egyptian priest who is the source for our record of the ancient Egyptian dynasties. There is a church there built during the fourth century CE and named after the Virgin Mary and a later church built in the 13th century in honour of St Abanoub Al-Bahnai, a place of pilgrimage each 21 July. In the church, there is a block of granite connected to the Holy Family and a wooden kiosk said to be the oldest of its kind in Egypt. SAKHA: The Holy Family then went northwest to the area of Borollos and the city of Sakha in the Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate. This area was a capital of Egypt during the ancient Egyptian 14th Dynasty, and inside a local church there is a stone bearing the mark of the footprint of a boy that is said to be the footprint of the infant Jesus. From Sakha, the Holy Family crossed the Nile to the Western Delta and moved south to Wadi Al-Natroun in the Beheira governorate about 110 km from Cairo and today hosting four great monasteries. HELIOPOLIS: Matariya, today neighbouring the Cairo district of Heliopolis, contains a Mary Tree in honour of the Virgin Mary. It is near the ancient town of On, called by the Greeks Heliopolis or the city of the sun. After the Holy Family left Wadi Al-Natroun, they journeyed south to Matariya. Some sources say that a stick carried by Joseph, cut into pieces, later became a tree. From Matariya, the Holy Family then travelled to Old Cairo and passed the area of Zaytoun and Bab Zuweila, where a well is sacred to the Holy Family and attracts pilgrims each 20 June. OLD CAIRO: The site of Babylon in Old Cairo contains a group of churches. Inside the Church of St George, there is a cave once used by the Holy Family. Some people think that the Holy Family hid there, waiting for the opportunity to return to Palestine. The Church of Abu Sirga is located in the middle of the Roman fortress at Babylon, and it carries the names of two famous saints, St Sergius and St Bacchus. The Holy Family then left Old Cairo and arrived in Maadi, eventually coming across a Jewish synagogue by the Nile. Some believe that this site was where the Pharaohs daughter found Moses in the Nile and took him in to raise him, as described in the Old Testament of the Bible. From Maadi, the Holy Family took a boat south towards Maghagah passing the villages of Bani Mazar and Bahnasha. The village of Bahnasha is located 20 km to the west of Bani Mazar in the Minya governorate. It was known in ancient times as Pr Meged, which means the place of meetings and was the capital of the 19th nome of Upper Egypt. Today, there is a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Bahnasha, and in the west wall there is a deep shaft that it is thought was once a well that the Holy Family drank from. There are also the remains of an ancient sycamore tree associated with the Family. GABAL AL-TEIR AND SOUTHWARDS: The Holy Family then travelled south to Samalout and crossed the Nile to use a cave at Gabal Al-Teir. The name comes from the fact that thousands of birds used to nest there. It is located in the Minya governorate, and a cave there is still associated with the Holy Family. The Holy Family then left Gabal Al-Teir and went 20 km south towards Dairout and then to Al-Qosia and Meir about seven km west and to the site of the Al-Muharraq Monastery in Assiut that today contains the oldest altar in Egypt. The Holy Family stayed about six months inside a cave that became the sanctuary of the later Virgin Mary Church. People say that in this monastery an angel appeared to Joseph telling him to take Jesus and Mary back to Palestine. It was therefore the last stop of the Holy Family in Egypt before they returned home. The first festival of the Holy Family in Egypt today takes place on the last Saturday of January every year. The second festival is on the first Saturday of July, the date on which Jesus first entered Egypt. The third is the Feast of the Virgin Mary on 28 June each year. * A version of this article appears in print in the 5 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Male candidates were told the airline only hired men from Kuwait, El Diario reported. Robert Smith/Getty Images Kuwait Airways applicants said they were ordered to strip to their underwear at a hiring event. Recruiters rejected women with glasses, moles, or visible scars, Spain's El Diario reported. Spain's Department of Labor is investigating the hiring agency Meccti following El Diario's report. Women hoping to become flight attendants with Kuwait Airways said they were ordered to strip down to their underwear so that recruiters could inspect their bodies, a Spanish newspaper reported. Mariana, 23, told El Diario she was asked to strip to her bra, skirt, and pantyhose while a female recruiter wrote comments in a notebook. "I felt like an animal in the zoo," she said. The incident took place at a hotel in Madrid, Spain, in November during a recruitment event that Meccti, which describes itself as the world's largest cabin-crew recruitment agency, organized. Three sources told El Diario that the interview process was uncomfortable from the start. During an initial inspection, the sources said recruiters turned away women with glasses, braces, visible scars, or moles as well as any they thought were overweight. Recruiters asked some if they'd be willing to lose weight, and asked others whether they'd be willing to "eat more." Recruiters rejected one candidate after saying they "didn't like her skin or her smile," according to Mariana. Mariana told El Diario that just three of the 60 or so people attending the event were male, but that recruiters turned them away after saying that the airline only hired Kuwaiti men. Recruiters later asked shortlisted candidates to enter a room individually, where a female recruiter then asked them to undress. Bianca, a 23-year-old flight attendant from Romania, told El Diario: "The first girl that went in came out crying." She told the other candidates that she'd been ordered to strip down to her underwear. "The others came out saying the same thing. It was hard for me to believe. I was freaking out but they weren't exaggerating," Bianca told El Diario. Story continues When Bianca entered the room, the female recruiter asked her to pull up her dress. Bianca said: "I pulled it up a little bit, to just below my knee, so she pulled it up to my panties. My dress had a zipper down the back and she asked me to pull it down to my waist, so I was standing there in just my bra." The recruiter told Bianca that she was checking for "scars, birthmarks, and tattoos." Maria, a 19-year-old student, said: "First I took off my blouse and left my pants on and then vice versa." Maria told El Diario that the recruiter "looked at me from top to bottom" and "bent down to look at me from the ankles." Meccti's ad for the recruitment event stated that candidates needed to be at least 5-foot-2 inches tall with their "weight and height in proportion" and have "excellent overall presentation." Spain's Department of Labor has opened an investigation into Meccti's hiring processes. Joaquin Perez Rey, Spain's Secretary of State for Employment, described the recruiters' alleged conduct as "intolerable behavior that violates the dignity and fundamental rights of these women." Kuwait Airways and Meccti did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Police in Indiana say the man suspected of killing four University of Idaho students in November was stopped twice just minutes apart on I-70 in Indiana on Dec. 15. Kohberger was first stopped by a member of the Hancock County Sheriffs Office. According to a release from that department, a deputy conducted a traffic stop with the white Hyundai Elantra on I-70 near the 107 mile marker "for the violation of following too closely." "The vehicle was occupied by two males with the driver being identified as Bryan Kohberger," the Jan. 3 release stated. "Both males can be seen on body-worn camera footage." The deputy released Kohberger with a verbal warning. Image: Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, is escorted to an extradition hearing at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, Pa., on Jan. 3, 2023. (Matt Rourke / Pool via AP) Minutes later, still on I-70 in Hancock County, Kohberger was stopped again. This time, he was pulled over by the Indiana State Police (ISP), officials said in a press release, also for following too closely. In a release on Jan. 3, ISP confirmed the traffic stop and confirmed that there had been a second person a white male in the vehicle. Neither department would identify the second person in the vehicle to NBC News, though Kohberger's public defender Jason LaBar told TODAY 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 told TODAY that Kohberger's father said nothing seemed out of the ordinary during their trip. Everything was ordinary, and he saw nothing unusual about it, LaBar told NBC News. Both the ISP and the Hancock County Sheriff's Office releases claim there was "no information available" about the then-unnamed suspect from Idaho investigators, nor had any specific information about the white Hyundai Elantra's license plate state or number been released. The two stops happened about nine minutes apart. When the ISP trooper "learned the two had been stopped minutes before by a Deputy from the Hancock County Sheriffs Department, who he knew was working just down the interstate from him," he gave the two a verbal warning at "his discretion," according to the release. Story continues Kohberger in a dark green vest for his mug shot in front of cinderblock walls and a blue door. (Monroe County Correctional Facility) Kohberger is suspected in the Nov. 13 fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students: Ethan Chapin, 20; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. Police arrested Kohberger in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, a small town about 40 miles north of Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 29. He appeared in court on Jan. 3, where he waived extradition. Kohberger will return to Idaho to face four counts of first-degree murder as well as one felony burglary charge, Latah County prosecuting attorney Bill Thompson said. Until Kohberger returns to Idaho to face those charges, the state keeps the probable cause documents that led to his arrest likely with information about what evidence was used to secure charges, what (if any) relationship to the victims he had, and a possible motive sealed. During a news conference on Jan. 3, Michael Mancuso, first assistant district attorney in Monroe County, said authorities there obtained three search warrants one for Kohberger's DNA, another for the Hyundai Elantra and a third for Kohberger's parents' home, where Kohberger was arrested. Two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation have previously told NBC News that DNA played a role in leading investigators to arrest Kohberger. "I definitely believe that one of the main reasons the defendant chose to waive extradition and hurry to return back to Idaho was the need to know what was in those documents," Mancuso said. Officials expect for Kohberger to be returned to Idaho within the next 10 days. Image: (Zach Wilkinson / The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP) LaBar, the chief public defender of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, is representing Kohberger in the extradition but not the murder case. He told TODAY on the morning of Jan. 3 that his client believes he will be exonerated. LaBar said Kohberger called the charges a little out of character. "He said this is not him," LaBar said. "He believes hes going to be exonerated. Thats what he believes, those were his words." Kohberger was a graduate student at Washington State University, which is located across the state line from Moscow about 10 miles away, in Pullman, Washington. He was studying criminal justice and criminology. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Gainesville area hospitals are seeing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, as well as the flu, that are nearly filling up hospital beds quickly. The rise in cases, however, was expected by medical experts. Dr. Sean Benoit, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital's chief medical officer, said it's even worse as the state enters the peak of the flu season. He said he recalled more people coming in with viral diseases, including COVID-19 and the flu, in November. Those numbers continue to increase each week despite a lack of reporting by agencies increasing with each passing day of the new year. Weve been dealing with COVID and flu for a while so we are always concerned about them but I think our team knows how to take care of these patients really well, Benoit said. Doctors talks children vaccine safetyUF Health doctor urges parents to get children vaccinated against the flu virus Ladapo works with UFState Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo will work with UF in COVID-19 vaccine research Previous UpdateHealth experts say COVID-19 not over, despite reduction in reporting, cases Currently, North Florida Hospital has 24 COVID-19 patients. Two of those patients are in the ICU. As of Wednesday afternoon, UF Health Shands Hospital reported there were at least 87 patients who were admitted with COVID-19. At least 57 of those patients are infectious, while the rest are deemed not to be infectious. Last month, The Sun reported about 50 people were being treated at Shands for the virus. Benoit said physicians at North Florida Hospital have seen a large number of people who are vaccinated with the virus due to mutated strains of COVID-19, but still recommends that people be vaccinated with the new booster shot. Though there is no sure way to tell whether someone has COVID or the flu without being tested because symptoms are similar, Benoit says people should seek medical help experiencing shortness of breath. The latest COVID-19 variant, XBB. 1.5, is about five times more contagious than the omicron variant. It also now accounts for about 40% of all new cases. Story continues Hospital Bed Occupancy In a data set from the Reno Gazette Journal, which measures hospital bed capacity and the number of people being admitted with COVID-19, 80% of inpatient beds were being utilized and 86.6% of ICU beds were occupied, fat Shands during the week of Dec. 23. For the North Florida Hospital, there were 81.3% of inpatient beds were used and 91.2% of ICU beds under-occupancy. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, the COVID-19 hospital capacity data comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Gershon Harrell is an education reporter at The Gainesville Sun. He can be reached by phone at (352)338-3166, by email at Gharrell@gannett.com or on Twitter at @GershonReports. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: COVID-19 numbers expected to grow by each day, hospitals say The Egyptian government welcomed home an ancient wooden sarcophagus on Monday that was looted from the country nearly 15 years ago, according to the Associated Press. This stunning coffin was trafficked by a well-organized network that has looted countless antiquities from the region, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said three months ago, after his office determined the sarcophagus had been looted from Abu Sir Necropolis, north of Cairo. We are pleased that this object will be returned to Egypt, where it rightfully belongs. More from Robb Report An official at Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, told the Associated Press the sarcophagus dates back to the Late Dynastic Period of ancient Egypt, which lasted from 664 B.C.E. until Alexander the Greats campaign in 332 B.C.E. According to Waziri, the sarcophagus, which measures about 9.5 feet long, may have belonged to an ancient priest named Ankhenmaat. The repatriation is part of the Egyptian governments continued efforts to stop the trafficking and secure the return of stolen antiquities. Bragg said that the sarcophagus was smuggled into the US via Germany and before being returned was featured in the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences. In 2021, Egyptian authorities saw the return of 5,300 looted artifacts from across the globe, the Associated Press reported. 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. Police in North Carolina are calling on the public to assist them in finding an 11-year-old girl who has been missing for six weeks. Madalina Cojocari, 11, disappeared more than a month ago, but police in Cornelius, North Carolina, only became aware of her disappearance 22 days after her last sighting. "It has been 42 days since Madalina was last seen as she got off of her school bus on 21 November, 2022," the Cornelius Police Department wrote on its Facebook page. "We need your assistance in finding her." The police have asked anyone with information on the girls whereabouts to call the department at 704-892-1363. Investigators are openly questioning the veracity of the information Madalinas parents have given them. According to Cornelius Police Captain Jennifer Thompson, investigators believe the girls parents know more than theyre providing. "This is a serious case of a child whose parents clearly are not telling us everything they know," she said. Chief among the lingering questions over the girls disappearance is why her parents failed to notify police she did not return home until 22 days after they last saw her. After Madalina disappeared in November, her school began asking her mother, Diana Cojocari, why the girl was not in school. On 15 December, Ms Cojocari told a school resource officer that the girl had disappeared, prompting an investigation into her whereabouts. The last known sighting of Madalina was captured on a school bus security camera, showing her walking down the aisle of her school bus and exiting the vehicle just before 5pm the day she disappeared. Two days after she was reported missing Madalinas mother and stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were arrested and charged with a count of failing to report the disappearance of a child to law enforcement. Diana Cojocari, 37, and Christopher Palmiter, 60, pictured in mugshots (Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office) Both adults have maintained they have no idea what happened to the girl. Ms Cojocari told investigators that she and her husband got into a fight the night before the girls disappearance, and that in the morning Mr Palmiter had driven to his familys home in Michigan. She claimed when she went to check on her daughter the morning of 24 November, she was gone. Story continues She said she waited until Mr Palmiter had returned two days later to ask if he knew where her daughter was located. Ms Cojocari told investigators she waited to report that the girl was missing because she "was worried it might start a conflict" with Mr Palmiter. Madalinas mother also told investigators that Mr Palmiter "put her family in danger," though she reportedly did not expand on those comments. Since then, the FBI, the Cornelius Police Department, and North Carolinas State Bureau of Investigation have been searching for the girl. Ms Thompson said they have followed 250 leads that span numerous states and countries, and have carried out 100 interviews with individuals who might have information on the girls whereabouts. The police captain noted that starting the investigation weeks into the girls disappearance caused immediate difficulties. Bailey A man has been arrested and is facing a murder charge following the shooting death of a Mooresboro man in early December. David Allen Starnes, 54, of Forest City, was arrested Dec. 17 in the parking lot of a Forest City Food Lion, according to Lt. John McIntyre of the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office. Starnes is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 70-year-old Claude Mitchell Bailey of Harrill Road in Mooresboro. Starnes is being held in the Cleveland County detention center with no bond. His next court date is Thursday, Jan. 12. According to police, Bailey was killed around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 at hiss Mooresboro home. A call came in for shots fired and when deputies arrived, they found the man dead inside the house. Durwin Briscoe, assistant chief deputy, said investigators are still working on a motive for the shooting. Briscoe said once a suspect was identified and they had enough information to secure a warrant for Starnes' arrest, they began working on what transpired. Bailey, who died the day before his 71st birthday, was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany during the Vietnam War, according to his obituary. Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Man arrested, charged with Mooresboro murder Akeem Terrell A mentally ill man was killed in a Maricopa County jail by officers who used unreasonable force to restrain him and left him to die, according to a lawsuit filed by his family on Friday. Akeem Terrell, a 31-year-old man from Detroit, lived in Phoenix for six years before he was arrested after refusing to leave a party on New Year's Day in 2021. His family contends that newly released body camera footage shows what happened next amounted to a violation of his rights and resulted in his death. After his arrest, Terrell was taken by Phoenix police to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office Intake, Transfer and Release jail, located on Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix. Upon arrival, body camera video footage and audio show Terrell was confused and potentially in the midst of a psychotic break. He claimed he had been taken to a fake jail and that officers were lying about where he was. Terrell repeatedly said he believed officers were trying to kill him. The video shows officers picking Terrell up by his arms and legs and taking him into the jail for processing while he continues to ask what hes done wrong. The officers take Terrell into an isolation room at the jail where they attempt to change his handcuffs from Phoenix police-issued cuffs to those used by the county jail. Terrell was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed more than 400 pounds. Because of his size, the lawsuit said officers used two sets of handcuffs linked together that "forced Akeems hands behind his back in a strange, painful, and unnatural way." Several officers put their weight on Terrell, who was lying in a prone position with his arms behind his back. Terrell told the officers they were killing him as they folded his legs up and pressed them down onto his body. The video shows Terrell's head and face were smashed up against a wall as he grunted and struggled with the officers on top of him. At one time, as many as seven officers were on top of Terrell and holding him down. Story continues Once the officers changed the cuffs, the video showed them filing out of the isolation cell, leaving Terrell motionless and facedown on the floor. The video showed several minutes go by before anyone came by to look at Terrell through an observation window in the cell door. Finally, after about six minutes, officers returned to the cell, removed Terrells restraints, rolled him onto his back and began performing CPR. The Phoenix Fire Department arrived and continued CPR, before finally putting Terrell on a stretcher and loading him onto an ambulance. Akeem Terrell with his daughter Terrell's death similar to other cases Attorney Jesse Showalter, representing Terrells family, said the videos are the most grotesque hes ever seen after many years of working on cases involving deaths in police custody. The officers in the jail appear to be completely untrained on dealing with mentally ill people and the dangers of positional asphyxia, Showalter said. He said Terrells death is similar to other cases in the Valley where the victim died by asphyxiation during a police encounter, including Muhammad Abdul Muhaymin, a homeless black man with schizophrenia who was killed by Phoenix police who were holding him down in the prone position during an arrest. The 2020 Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd occurred under similar circumstances. On average, someone dies during an arrest or in jail every 21 days in Arizona, according to an Arizona Republic investigation. The Republic found at least 64 cases in which a person died in a county jail or during an arrest between Jan. 1, 2017, and Aug. 4, 2020. When you restrain someone with handcuffs, and they are face down, it interferes with their bodys ability to breathe, Showalter said. Officers should be trained that if you leave people prone and in handcuffs they are at risk for asphyxiation. Showalter said the response was delayed and insufficient. The murder happened when they left him face down, helpless, with his hands behind his back in the cell, Showwalter said. If they had gotten him medical attention at that point, he could have lived. The lawsuit names Sheriff Paul Penzone, Maricopa County, the City of Phoenix and police and detention officers who work for both the city and county. The Officer Defendants caused Akeems death through their use of excessive and unnecessary force and their deliberate indifference to Akeems obvious and serious medical needs, their failure to provide or summon medical care, and their unnecessary and unreasonable delay in summoning medical care, the lawsuit states. At all relevant times, Akeem was either an 'arrestee; protected by the Fourth Amendment, or a 'pretrial detainee' protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The Maricopa County Sheriffs Office, Maricopa County, and the city of Phoenix declined to comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court for Arizona, seeks general and punitive damages of an unspecified amount. My world was rocked Diamond Warren, the mother of Terrells daughter, said she hopes the officers will be trained to prevent a tragedy like this from happening to another family. She said Terrell was the kind of person who made everyone laugh, and his loss has been devastating. It was like my world was rocked, she said. You know how your ears ring after you hear an explosion? Mine havent stopped ringing yet. Warren is a 911 operator who lives in Detroit, Michigan. She says she knows from experience that emergency responders benefit from training on how to interact with people having a mental health crisis. Things can escalate pretty quickly, and thats why were trained to ask certain questions so we can send a certain unit that knows how to handle someone in that situation, she said. In Terrells case, she said the video shows the officers heightened the danger with an unreasonable response. Lets not be so quick to take everyone to jail when theyre having a mental health episode, Warren said. It shouldnt have been this way. Have a news tip on Arizona jails? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com or at 812-243-5582. Follow him on Twitter @JimmyJenkins. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Akeem Terrell died in Arizona jail after excessive force used, family alleges STORY: Mexico has flown 200 military personnel to the U.S. border city of Ciudad Juarez to fight organized crime there, days after a deadly prison riot, and while a manhunt is underway for escaped convicts. That's according to the defense ministry on Tuesday. Thats hours after the director of the prison which saw guards and priosners killed in a riot and breakout on New Years Day was fired. Chihuahua state prosecutors said Tuesday Alejandro Alverado was not only dismissed but he and others are under investigation for a possible role in the jailbreak. Nineteen people died on Sunday after gunmen attacked the prison a few miles south of the U.S. border. They killed guards and inmates and triggered a mass escape that included cartel kingpin Ernesto Alfredo Pinon de la Cruz, also known as "El Neto." After federal authorities arrived to restore order, they found a so-called VIP zone in the prison full of drugs and cash. On Tuesday, families of inmates lined up, hoping to speak with authorities. I came to ask for my nephew. Nobody has informed us about them so far. We dont know how they are, anything. Were worried. We want to know about our relatives, get them to talk to us about them where they are, if they are good. We just want to know if they are OK or whats happening. On Monday night, Chihuahua's government said seven people had died during subsequent police clashes as part of the hunt to find the escaped inmates. Two of the dead were police. Sundays events mark one of the highest death tolls from prison violence in Mexico in recent memory. Irans meddling is the main source of instability and conflict in Iraq, and unless it is reversed it will lead to more hardship and chaos, writes Salah Nasrawi In his speech at a summit on the Jordanian shores of the Dead Sea late last month, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the Iraqi leadership to forge an alternative pathway for the countrys political system that he suggested would lead to a stronger and more democratic sovereign Iraq that benefits its people and the region. Macron specifically targeted Iran, whose Shia allies have the upper hand in the new government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani. There is a way that is not that of a form of hegemony, imperialism, a model that would be dictated from outside, Macron told the Baghdad II Summit held to shed light on Iraqs sovereignty and territorial integrity. Speaking at the opening session of the meeting, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi also blasted foreign interference in Iraqs domestic affairs, which he said had overburdened the Iraqis and [negatively] impacted all the peoples in the region. The summit followed a gathering in August 2021 in the Iraqi capital organised at Macrons initiative and brought together regional powers to underscore their solidarity with Iraq and to help it rebuild after nearly two decades of war. While underlining their commitment to stepping up efforts to transform Iraq into a stable and functioning nation, participants in the two rounds of the summit aimed at a much bigger objective: pulling Iraq out of Irans sphere of influence. One approach to this goal has been to demonstrate greater support for former Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, who was swept into office in May 2020 on a wave of mass anti-corruption and anti-Iranian protests. The Baghdad Summit was designed to allow Al-Kadhimi to present himself at home as a major player on the regional stage and provide him with valuable new opportunities to bolster his stature as a strong leader who can challenge Iran and its proxies in Iraq. Alongside Al-Kadhimi, the other main aim of the summit was to embrace the rise of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, whose bloc won a majority of 73 seats in Iraqs last parliamentary elections and was slated to form a majority government in the face of the pro-Iran Shia blocs. However, what was showcased by Macron as a masterstroke soon appeared to be wishful thinking as Al-Kadhimi proved to be too weak and untactful to deliver and Al-Sadr failed to form a government in the face of pushback from Iran and its allies. Another shortcoming by those at the summit was the lack of a roadmap for a regional and international strategy to set the wheels of Irans containment in Iraq in motion. It is not clear if Macron and his regional partners have worked out any specific plans to help decouple Iraq from Iran and if Al-Sudani is ready, willing, or capable of ending Irans malignant role in Iraq. One key issue is how to make Al-Sudani implement agreements and understandings cut with Al-Kadhimi to revamp Iraqs ties with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and a number of the Gulf countries in order to balance the influence of Iran in the country. The deals on power, oil, trade, and investment are of enormous economic and geostrategic importance, and they would allow Iraq to reduce its energy and trade dependence on Iran and turn its ties with the Arab world into a concrete alliance. The strategy, which is believed to have EU backing, is to be integrated with the US maximum pressure policy on Iran and Washingtons confrontational posture aimed at weakening Irans influence in Iraq and empowering anti-Iran forces and US Iraqi allies. US policymakers, who had showed a clear preference for Al-Kadhimi and had encouraged the US media to portray him as a strong nationalist leader, have remained tight-lipped about the prospects of Washingtons ties with Al-Sudani. Top US officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House Coordinator for the Middle East Brett McGurk have been in contact with Al-Sudani to discuss US-Iraq ties. US ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski, who has met with Al-Sudani several times since he took office in October, has been emphasising the partnership between the US and Iraq in addressing corruption, the climate crisis, and economic reforms. Behind the scenes, however, Washington has stepped up the pressure on Baghdad in a bid to curtail Tehrans influence in the country, including by blacklisting Iraqi government ministers and officials connected to pro-Iran militias that the US has designated as terrorist groups. But most significantly, the US has moved to restrict the flow of dollars from Iraq to the Islamic Republic, which is under US sanctions, and it is closely monitoring transactions by Iraqi groups suspected of corruption and money laundering. Under pressure from the US Federal Reserve and Treasury Department, the Iraqi Central Bank (ICB) has temporarily shut down several banks believed to have close links to Irans proxies in order to stop the funneling of billions of dollars to Iranian banks. Reports abound that the State Department might have warned that the US could shut down Iraqs access to the Central Banks account held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York if Al-Sudani does not move to stop the flow. Many reports have attributed the recent drop in the value of the Iraqi dinar, which has sparked alarm about Iraqs already shaky economy, to measures taken by the US authorities to tighten the flow of dollars to Iran. Yet, other reports have suggested that the ICBs acquisitions in US dollars are still being pumped into Iraqi markets and then channeled to Iran through exchange bureaus owned by pro-Iran groups and businessmen. Though Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian participated in the two editions of the Baghdad Summit, Tehran was evidently uncomfortable with the development and has showed no sign of changing the dynamics of its engagement in Iraq. Tehran has continued to make inroads in its troubled western neighbour while Irans proxies continue to gain ground in Iraqs parliament, government, security forces, and the powerful Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF). Under the new government, Iraqs Shia Coordination Framework, which consists of Iran-backed groups, is enjoying enhanced political clout. Since Al-Sudani came to power, the Frameworks leaders have been playing a key role in steering national politics, and its factions have reinstated their members in key government and security posts. Last month, the Framework succeeded in pushing Al-Sudani to form a trading company to be run by the PMF that will empower the Iran-backed paramilitary force economically. The $70 million corporation, which is expected to copy the business activities of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is a sign that the PMF will be able to strengthen its ties with Iran and change bilateral relations in fundamental ways. Iran has been deeply involved in Iraqi politics since the fall of the dictatorship of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in 2003. Its influence extends to a dozen Shia political parties and Sunni and Kurdish groups that find ties with Iran crucial in securing a seat at the table in running the government and accessing national resources. Given the growing political, economic, security, and cultural influence of Iran in Iraq since Al-Sudanis government came to power, the question remains of how the partners in the Baghdad Summit will be able to achieve their ambitious goal of disengaging Iraq from its eastern neighbour. Aside from the diplomatic flurry, Macron has failed to produce a clear, comprehensive, or functional strategy to confront Iran and win back Iraq. In his interview with the Annahar Al-Arabi outlet on 23 December, the French president alluded to a two-pronged agenda that involves dialogue with Iran and regional economic integration with Iraq. Macron said an outline on how to implement the two ideas would be announced as soon as this month. The idea of a regional platform to engage Iran on the regions outstanding issues has been in circulation for years, but it has never got off the ground. Arab heavyweights have rejected the overture, maintaining that normal ties with Iran can come only after Iran stops meddling in the internal affairs of the Arab countries. A critical step towards constructive engagement with the Arab world that would help Iraq gets back on its feet will depend largely on Al-Sudani and whether he has enough control over the pro-Iran groups in his government that are expected to block closer cooperation with the Arab countries. Many chronic problems have been dogging Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003, but none have been more detrimental than Irans vast influence in the country. Tehrans meddling has virtually turned Iraq into a client state, leading to persistent stagnation and suffering. The only way out of Iraqs malaise and to the survival of Iraq as a nation is to eradicate the rot at the heart of its political system and to stop Iran from undermining the foundations of the Iraqi state. *A version of this article appears in print in the 5 January, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Traffic lights in Columbus were out of service following a severe storm which AEP Ohio was forced to shut off power to keep outages from spreading. American Electric Power's decision to intentionally shut off power to thousands of homes in the Columbus area following severe storms and a heat wave in June prevented outages from spreading, according to a state report issued Tuesday. The report from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio said while AEP Ohio acted appropriately during the storm, it could do a better job of communicating with customers when outages like this happen and of trimming trees and other vegetation around its transmission system. PUCO chair Jenifer French ordered the staff to complete the review last summer to gather more information about the outage and to see what could be learned from it. AEP Ohio reported that about 606,000 customers lost power from June 13 to June 19 with a peak of 239,000 customers out of power around 9 p.m. on June 14. About 283,000 customers were impacted by AEP's intentional outages. "The events of June 13 through June 16, 2022, caused significant disruption to the daily lives of manyOhioans," the report said. While the company's actions did follow state laws and rules, the report said, "additional diligence regarding right-of-way vegetation management and better customer communication by the company will assist in addressing the aftereffects of these weather occurrences." In a response to the report, AEP said: "We understand the significant impact of power outages for our customers and are committed to preparing for and responding to future severe weather events in a proactive and diligent manner." Critics, though, contend that more needs to be done to understand exactly what happened with the outages and how affected customers should be treated, and one of them repeated a call from last summer for a full PUCO investigation into the outages. "Energy justice for hundreds of thousands of AEP consumers who lost their electricity should be served with a process that is transparent and inclusive of the public and their representatives," the Ohio Consumers' Counsel said in a prepared statement. "While we appreciate todays PUCO report, it begs questions including why there would be outages from electric wires damaged by trees considering the money that AEP charges consumers for tree-trimming. Story continues Powerful storms moved through northern Ohio on June 13 and 14, wreaking havoc with AEP's transmission system. The storms were followed by a heat wave that pushed temperatures near triple digits, driving up demand for electricity. AEP Ohio clears tree limbs after the June 14 storm that left widespread power outages. Storms knocked out several transmission lines, which carry large loads of power from generating sources to smaller distribution lines and substations, putting increased stress on the transmission lines that remained. As a result, PJM Interconnection, which oversees the flow of electricity in all or parts of 13 states, including Ohio, ordered AEP to decrease electricity demand on parts of the stressed system in central Ohio to prevent outages from spreading. The decision is something that PJM does as a last resort. The PUCO report said thousands of trees were downed along the path of the storms, many of which fell on homes, vehicles, and power lines causing widespread outages. "After the failure of the initial transmission lines, the load transferred to other transmission lines still in operation. As the load began to increase, those lines had the potential to damage the facilities and ultimately fail," the report said. "Furthermore, the overloading and subsequent failure of lines can begin a cascading event. This would likely result in far more customers out of service than the number of customers affected by the load shed actions." AEP had trimmed trees and vegetation around all seven transmission lines that directly contributed to the forced outages in 2021, according to the report. The lines did not appear to be affected by a lack of investment or when those investments were made, the report said. The report said AEP should reevaluate its approach for managing vegetation, something AEP says it is doing. PUCO has asked AEP to file an updated transmission vegetation plan within 90 days. AEP also was criticized for its communications with customers throughout the crisis, including not giving them enough warning to prepare for outages. AEP has said PJM gave it only 5 minutes notice to decide where power should be turned off. PUCO's report said AEP should look at ways to improve communicating with customers during outages, such as trying to expand the number of customers who can receive text messages. The report also said AEP should improve its outreach plans to incorporate emergency responders and community leaders and their organizations. Since the storms, AEP says it has trimmed hundreds of miles of vegetation, inspected more of its electric lines using advanced imaging technology, and met with members of the most affected communities to develop stronger relationships. "The PUCO staff report confirms what we learned through our own review of the June 13-15 outages," AEP said. "Severe storms caused extensive damage to our electric transmission system and the extreme heat that followed caused several lines to overload. This required us to take emergency forced outages to protect the power grid, which included taking power lines that fed parts of Columbus out of service." mawilliams@dispatch.com @BizMarkWilliams This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: AEP needs to improve tree trimming, communication after summer outages STROUDSBURG, Pennsylvania A graduate student arrested in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students agreed to be extradited from Pennsylvania so he can be formally charged and prosecuted. Wearing a red jumpsuit to a short Monroe County court appearance Tuesday afternoon, Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, waived his right to an extradition hearing. That sets the stage for him to be returned to Moscow, Idaho, where he will be formally charged in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20. A MYSTERY, NO LEADS, THEN A BREAK IN THE CASE: Timeline of the Idaho student murders investigation WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT BRYAN KOHBERGER: Suspect arrested in the slaying of 4 University of Idaho students Suspect to face charges in Idaho after waiving extradition hearing Appearing before Judge Margherita Pattie Worthington, Kohberger acknowledged his rights, declared he was mentally sound, signed the waiver and was removed from the courtroom within 10 minutes. He briefly acknowledged his parents and two sisters, and his mother covered her face as she left he courtroom packed with reporters. Mr. Kohberger is eager to be exonerated of these charges and looks forward to resolving these matters as promptly as possible, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar told CNN before the hearing. Kohberger faces potential charges of first-degree murder and felony burglary for entering the house with intent to commit murder, said Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson. Police won't release details until suspect returns to Idaho Little is known about why police suspect Kohberger in the Nov. 13 murders at an off-campus rental home, other than that they analyzed DNA evidence at the crime scene and were able to match it to him, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press and other media. Authorities have said they cannot release details about the case, such as what led them to Kohberger or a potential motive for the crimes, until the suspect is in custody in Idaho. On Tuesday, a judge in the case issued a gag order prohibiting authorities and those involved in the case from speaking to media. Story continues "We believe we've got our man," Capt. Anthony Dahlinger, of the Moscow Police Department in Idaho, said. Latah County prosecutors in Idaho have said they believe Kohberger broke into the students' home near the university campus intending to commit murder. Their bodies were found Nov. 13, several hours after investigators believe they died. Two other roommates inside the home slept through the attack, which sent panic through the small, remote town, leaving many students to finish out the semester via remote learning. Classes are due to resume next week. Kohberger is set to be surrendered to Idaho police within 10 calendar days and will be held at a jail in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, until his extradition. LaBar has said Kohberger will be represented by Ann Taylor, the chief public defender in Kootenai County, Idaho, after his extradition. Authorities said Kohberger lived in Pullman, Washington, where he was a doctoral student studying criminology at Washington State University, about 10 miles from Moscow. He grew up in Pennsylvania, where his family still lives. Suspect pulled over in Indiana traffic stops after murders, video shows On Tuesday, Indiana State Police released body cam footage of a traffic stop made by a trooper who pulled Kohberger and his father over on Interstate 70 on Dec. 15, while driving what appears to be a white Hyundai sedan. In the video, Kohberger tells the trooper that he was stopped a few minutes earlier by a different law enforcement agency, and the trooper says it was likely a local sheriff's deputy. Neither ticketed Kohberger. Several days before the stops, Moscow police had asked the public to be on the lookout for a white Hyundai sedan, but said they didn't have license plate information to share. The agency said it was sifting through an estimated 20,000 registrations to find the right vehicle. Police said they found a white Hyundai sedan as part of Kohberger's arrest. Police arrested Kohberger at a home in Chestnuthill Township, Pennsylvania, where his family lives, on Thursday. 'THEY WERE BRIMMING WITH PROMISE': University of Idaho remembers slain students amid mystery and a killer still at large STAY IN THE KNOW: Sign up for the Daily Briefing morning newsletter. Contributing: Micaela Hood and Brian Myszkowski, the Pocono Record; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: University of Idaho student stabbing suspect set for extradition ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey condemned on Tuesday a "provocative act" by Israel's new far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, referring to his visit to Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem. Ankara's statement came amid efforts by Turkey and Israel to normalise ties, after a four-year deterioration in relations, and mutual appointment of ambassadors. "We are concerned by the provocative act of Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir towards Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police and we condemn it," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. "We call on Israel to act responsibly to prevent such provocations that will violate the status and sanctity of holy places in Jerusalem and escalate tension in the region," it said. After Benjamin Netanyahu won an election in November and began forming one of the most right-wing coalitions in Israel's history, he and President Tayyip Erdogan agreed to "work together to create a new era in relations" on a basis of respect for mutual interests. Turkish officials, including Erdogan repeatedly said Ankara's warming relations with Israel would not diminish Turkey's support for the Palestinian cause. (Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Alex Richardson) (REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko) Russian President Vladimir Putin should brace for more attacks inside of his country in the new year, Ukraines top military intelligence official warned in an interview that aired Wednesday. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines chief military intelligence official, said there will be strikes deeper and deeper inside Russia in an interview with ABC News. But he didnt clarify whether Ukraine would be behind the upcoming attacks. His word of warning comes just weeks after blasts rang out on Russias Engels air base and Dyagilevo base in the Ryazan region, attacks which Russia and others widely attributed to Ukraine. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Budanov said he was glad to see the attack on Engels. The series of blasts rattled some Russian officials, raising alarm about whether Ukraine has become emboldened to inflict damage inside Russia proper as Putins war nears its one year mark. Its also raising questions about whether Russia is capable of thwarting Ukrainian strikes at all. The prospect that Ukraine may be willing to expand its arsenal of attacks inside Russian territory in the coming days could mark a new arc in the warwith Ukraine taking more brazen actions against Russia and Russia on its backfoot. Budanovs warning comes as Russia grapples with a series of military failures inside Ukraine. An attack against a building in Russian-held Makiivka inside Ukraine that killed dozens of Russian soldiers has left the Kremlin scrambling to find a scapegoat, including Russian troops cellphone use. And following counteroffensives from Ukraine, Russian troops have withdrawn from multiple regions within Ukraine in recent months. Meanwhile, Russias military has been grappling with a host of internal problems, from logistics issues to infighting. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to wage assaults against one another. But Russian forces have begun shifting some of their forces away from Bakhmut, after failing to seize the city for months, according to The Wall Street Journal. Story continues Ukrainian forces continue to work to strike Russian military logistics in Luhansk, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Ukrainian aviation on Wednesday carried out 17 strikes against the Russians, as well as four strikes against Russian anti-aircraft missile complexes, according to a brief from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraine is working to bolster its ability to take on Russia in the new year in other ways. The country has launched a military psychological training program to train troops to intervene with their comrades when they freeze up due to combat stress, the military psychologist in charge of the program told The Daily Beast in an exclusive interview. The hope is that the program will lead to more victories against Russia by building up more resilience amongst Ukrainian forces. Budanovs warnings about attacks within Russia may also be an attempt to prove a point to Russians that Ukraine has the moral high ground, according to Jay Truesdale, a former U.S. diplomat who has served in both Russia and Ukraine. What Ukraine would seek to demonstrate is that it is fighting a more just warnot only a war to defend its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also with means that are differentiated from Russia, which is attacking civilian targets, Truesdale told The Daily Beast. There is one consistent element among the attacks that have occurred on Russian soil or in Crimeaattributed to Ukraine by Russian government officials, Russian bloggers, or non-government Ukrainiansand that's that theyve targeted military facilities or facilities that could have a military purpose, such as supply depots. In other words, the common denominator is that these all could be considered legitimate military targets. Attacking inside of Russian territory could raise questions about whether Russia may escalate the war with nuclear weapons to respond. Russian authorities have warned that attacks against Russia will warrant harsh responses. After an attack on the Kerch bridge to Crimea, the peninsula which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, Putin himself warned that Russia would not hold back. If attempts to carry out terrorist attacks on our territory continue, Russia's responses will be harsh and, in terms of their scale, will correspond to the level of threats posed, Putin said in October. It is simply impossible to leave crimes of this kind unanswered. And while Russia began launching assaults against civilian infrastructure in October, cutting off civilians from water and heat, after several attacks and explosions in Crimea, Russia has still not resorted to nuclear weapons. There are other signs that Russia may not be willing or capable of dramatic escalation. Russias military posture has become so degraded throughout the war in Ukraine that its ability to respond forcibly or in an escalatory way is diminishing by the day, said Truesdale, now CEO of Veracity Worldwide, a political risk consultancy. As of last month, Russia only maintained enough missiles in its arsenal to conduct three to five more waves of missiles strikes against Ukraine, according to Vadym Skibitsky, a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. It will be difficult for Putin to dramatically escalate even though such a step would be consistent with Russias military doctrine. The Kremlin has put itself in a difficult position by deploying so much of its high-powered weaponry to attack civilian infrastructure, thereby reducing resources available to escalate in a conventional sense, Truesdale said. If Ukraine conducts and then admits to a greater number of strikes on Russian territory, this could indicate a new chapter in the war. It would suggest Ukraine believes it has the means and the need to put more pressure on the Russian government, Truesdale said, adding that, If Ukraine begins to admit to conducting attacks on Russian territory, this may only be an acknowledgement of the multifaceted way in which Ukraine has been fighting. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. UNITED NATIONS (AP) Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland got a formal welcome into the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, taking the two-year seats they won unopposed in June. In a tradition that Kazakhstan started in 2018, the five countries' ambassadors installed their national flags Tuesday alongside those of other members outside the council chambers. Mozambican Ambassador Pedro Comissario Afonso of Mozambique called it a historic date and Swiss Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said she felt a deep sense of humility and responsibility as their countries marked their first-ever terms on U.N.'s most powerful body. Malta joined for a second time, Ecuador a fourth and Japan a record 12th. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent, veto-wielding members of the group. Its 10 other members are elected by the 193-nation General Assembly for staggered, two-year terms. They're allocated by global regions. To many countries, winning a council seat is considered a signature diplomatic accomplishment that can raise a nation's global profile and afford small countries a bigger voice than they might otherwise have in the major international peace and security issues of the day. The council deploys peacekeeping missions, can approve sanctions and speaks out sometimes on conflicts and flashpoints, while also surveying such thematic issues as terrorism and arms control. While many matters are perennials on the agenda, council members also can use the platform to spotlight emerging concerns or topics of particular interest to them. Countries often campaign for the council for years. Some 60 nations have never had a seat since the group's formation in 1946. The five latest members are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway. Their terms ended Dec. 31. The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates. Honor guards fire a farewell salute during a ceremony in memory of Russian soldiers killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on their temporary accommodation in Makiivka. REUTERS/Albert Dzen Russia blamed a deadly Ukrainian HIMARS strike on its troops using their cellphones. But the Kremlin's story is getting pushback, including from a decorated Russian war reporter. Battlefield cellphone use has been a problem for Russian troops, but other factors may have played a role here. After a Ukrainian strike killed scores of Russian soldiers in Donetsk, Moscow pinned the blame on cellphone use by its forces, but a war reporter honored by Russian President Vladimir Putin pushed back on those claims, saying that the Kremlin's story is "not very convincing." "I rarely say this but this is the case when it would probably be better to remain silent, at least until the end of the investigation. As such it looks like an outright attempt to smear the blame," Semyon Pegov, who was recently awarded the Order of Courage by the Russian leader after he was injured by an anti-personnel mine in Ukraine, said on Telegram, NBC News reported. Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces used a US-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to deliver a devastating strike on Russian positions in the occupied Ukrainian city of Makiivka. The Kremlin initially said 63 of its soldiers were killed in the attack but later updated the death toll to 89 troops in a rare disclosure of its battlefield losses. Ukraine's military, meanwhile, offered a much higher figure and said as many as 400 Russian troops were killed with another 300 injured. Neither estimate could be independently verified. The deadly attack immediately triggered widespread criticism and calls for punishment of Moscow's military leadership among prominent government officials, lawmakers, and military bloggers. On Tuesday, Russia's defense ministry blamed its own soldiers for the attack, saying their cellphone usage allowed Ukraine to determine their location and launch the strike. "It is already obvious that the main reason for what happened was the switching on and massive use contrary to the prohibition by personnel of mobile phones in a reach zone of enemy weapons," the defense ministry said, referring to regulations prohibiting cellphone usage by Russian troops. Story continues "The story with 'mobiles' is not very convincing," Pegov countered on social media. He said Russian forces could have been detected by drones or Ukrainian troops could have been tipped off by an informant, CNN reported. He also said that the death toll was likely higher than acknowledged. A top Ukrainian military official also dismissed the Kremlin's explanation, saying that mobile phones were not the reason for the strike and high number of casualties. "Of course, using phones with geolocation is a mistake. But it is clear that this version looks a bit ridiculous," said Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesman for the Eastern Group of Ukraine's Armed Forces, adding that the Russians were "putting the blame on each other." Cherevatyi said Russian cellphone use "was not the main reason" for the strike. "The main reason was that they were unable to covertly deploy these personnel. And we took advantage of that, having detected the target powerfully and destroyed it," he said. Battlefield cellphone usage has been a problem for the Russian military throughout its 10-month-long war in Ukraine, as the data has often been used to pinpoint the locations of Putin's troops. A top US Marine general said recently that the war has highlighted a need for military leadership to monitor the future use of such technology. That said, Russian anger over the strike has stemmed from reports that Putin's troops were stationed near ammunition storage in Makiivka. Britain's defense ministry shared in a Wednesday intelligence update that the damage points to a "realistic possibility" that ammunition was stored near where Russian troops had been staying and that detonation of the stored ammo caused secondary explosions. "The Russian military has a record of unsafe ammunition storage from well before the current war, but this incident highlights how unprofessional practices contribute to Russia's high casualty rate," the British defense ministry said. Read the original article on Business Insider Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. These smart and durable bathroom storage pieces are what your organizing dreams are made of. Amazon The bathroom is often one of the trickiest spots to tidy, especially if you tend to pile stuff up in a snap. Theres no magic solution to organize your tight spaces, you need to rely on clever and multifunctional bathroom storage pieces. The bathroom is where things go to die, quips professional organizer Margaret Ellison of Sunday Plans in Charleston, South Carolina. From old skincare to makeup samples to forgotten hair accessories, its imperative to toss what youre not using anymore. This includes back stock. While it can be economical to buy in bulk, Ellison says, Its not always worth the space youre giving up in your home. Once you whittle down your belongings and purge whats no longer serving, you can move on to the fun part: actually organizing. To help find the top bathroom storage pieces, we partnered with Ellison and conducted hours of research, considering their functionality, size, material, and ease of cleaning. Brightroom Towel Wall Storage Cabinet Best for Towels Buy at Target.com Why You Should Get It: It has ample space for rolled or even hung towels. Keep in Mind: The metal is rust-resistant, not rust-proof, and may require some maintenance over time. This simple yet functional wall rack works really well when youre looking to maximize every inch of your bathroom. By making use of vertical space, you can keep towels easily accessiblein other words, you know whats out there without having to buy extra sets as often. Its tiers allow you to store six rolled bath towels and even include bars where you could hang hand towels instead. If you dont love folding, just the idea of rolling them makes a difference. Whatever method you choose, its minimal design helps to keep your towels organized and very hotel-like (on that note, try to use matching towels for the cleanest, cluttered-free look). Story continues Though the metal structure is perfect for humid environments as it is rust-resistant, its not rust-proof, so you may need to wipe it down every now and then to delay rusting. Another downside is that you need to open holes for a DIY installation, which its not ideal if you like to move things around or live in a rental unit. Price at time of publish: $50 Product Details: Dimensions: 30 in (height) x 10 in (width) x 6 in (diameter) | Material: Metal | Care: Not listed Spirich Home Over-the-Toilet Cabinet Best Over the Toilet Buy at Overstock.com Buy at Walmart.com Why You Should Get It: This classically designed cabinet has both open and closed storage. Keep in Mind: Legs may conflict with other storage. There are a lot of over-the-toilet-organization solutions that take advantage of any vertical space available, and this one is great for a few reasons. Its classic, versatile design comes in two colors and features bead board and decorative molding at the top, so if youre someone that loves to rearrange your home decor, you wont waste money as it can easily fit into different styles. Between the open shelf and a closed cabinet with adjustable shelving inside, youll have room to organize smaller items, such as makeup or fragrances, or simply use it as storage for toilet paper and extra bottles of hand soaps. The doors allow you to keep things neat, at least from the outside. Its maintenance is also simplejust wipe it clean without using any harsh cleaners. As with many over-the-toilet units, legs take up space, so keep this in mind if there are pipelines or heaters around your toilet (very common in older constructions). If standing storage isnt quite your style or it blocks some of the bathrooms functionality, you can forgo the legs and anchor the cabinet part to the wall. Price at time of publish: $137 Product Details: Dimensions: 9 in (diameter) x 24.8 in (width) x 66 in (height) | Material: Engineered Wood | Care: Not listed The Home Edit Stacking Pantry Bin (Case of 4) Best Under the Sink Buy at Containerstore.com Why You Should Get It: These stackable bins can bypass the sink pipes and create storage with height. Keep in Mind: While stackable, this design isnt modular. Lets be real, under the sink is a challenging area due to the pipes that can get in the way and create an odd amount of blank space. Since you cant maximize your horizontal space, its best to go vertical with stackable bins. The clear plastic allows you to see whats in there, and for those who love going above and beyond with their organization, you can even label it without damaging its surface. These create height and structure under the sink, where usually its just a blank canvas, Ellison says. Keep in mind that while stackable, this particular design isnt modular, so if you dont need everything under there to be accessible, you can also stack with The Home Edits All-Purpose Bin, thats the same size without the wide-open design. To clean them, simply hand wash them with mild soap and warm water. Price at time of publish: $20 for single bins Product Details: Dimensions: 10 in (length) x 10 in (width) x 6 in (height) | Material: Resipreme plastic | Care: Hand wash only Vasagle Bathroom Floor Storage Cabinet Best Cabinet Buy at Amazon.com Why You Should Get It: This will fit all of your bathroom essentials without taking up too much space. Keep in Mind: It may arrive with a chemical smell. Not too big, not too smallthe size of this engineered-wood bathroom cabinet is just right for storing essentials like toilet paper and towels, or it can even double up as a beauty vanity. Designed for versatility, the piece matches any style and comes in three colors. When you open the doors, youll find two interior shelves with three adjustable heights to choose from, ensuring you can organize the cabinet exactly how you see fit. Though made with the bathroom in mind, you can easily move this around to other rooms for storage. It may take some serious DIY skills to put it together, and you can notice a chemical smell, but it will go away once it has time to air out. As with any angular unit, this cabinet could become cumbersome in tight bathrooms (more specifically, older ones with heaters and pipes around). Price at time of publish: $100 Product Details: Dimensions: 11.8 in (diameter) x 23.6 in (width) x 31.5 in (height) | Material: Engineered wood | Care: Not listed : West Elm Clear Acrylic Tray Best Countertop Buy at Westelm.com Why You Should Get It: Acrylic is clear and durable, so itll stand up to any mess without contributing to visual clutter. Keep in Mind: Any grime will be noticeable and require cleaning. For those lacking drawer space or if you share a bathroom with your messy family, this trayavailable in four sizescorrals the hodgepodge of products on your bathroom counter. By choosing something clear, you cut down on any extra illusion of clutter, and acrylic is great because its strong and resistant to most wear and tear. It feels so much better when its contained on an acrylic trayits peaceful for the eyes, Ellison shares before recommending this West Elm one specifically. The one con of acrylic is that because its clear, youre going to automatically see accidental marks of makeup, fingerprints, or toothpaste residuenothing that a simple swipe using a wet cloth cant overcome. Price at time of publish: $48 for 12.5-square-inch tray Product Details: Dimensions: 12.5 in (length) x 12.5 in (width), 14.8 in (length) x 18.5 in (width), 18 in (round), 18 in (length) x 28 in (width) | Material: High-gauge acrylic | Care: Wipe clean Haotian Tall Bathroom Cabinet with Rattan Door Best Tower Buy at Amazon.com Why You Should Get It: When it comes to storage, this cabinet has a little bit of everything. Keep in Mind: The instructions are easy to follow but lengthy. With two tall cabinets featuring an adjustable shelf in each, one small drawer, and one wide open compartment, theres enough variety within this tower to meet all organization needs. The long and lean designperfect for odd cornersis such an efficient use of space that although you probably wont need more storage, you should still have room for it. Most pieces like this are made with one material, but the rattan doors elevate it into something more unique than your standard bathroom find. The instructions are straightforward, though they take some time to work through. It can be done, but it may not be the fastest DIY project you were hoping for, especially for beginners. Price at time of publish: $105 Product Details: Dimensions: 11.8 in (length) x 12.6 inches (width) x 66.9 in (height) | Material: Engineered wood and rattan | Care: Not listed SpaceKeeper Slim Rolling Storage Cart Best Cart Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Walmart.com Why You Should Get It: Not only can this fit in narrow spaces, but the shelves can be removed for counter or cabinet storage. Keep in Mind: The tier heights arent adjustable. If youre looking for an affordable option, this four-tier rolling cart with hooks on the side helps you maximize the nooks and crannies in your bathroom. Although the tiers cant be adjusted, the shelves can be easily removed. That means when certain ones arent in use, or you no longer need a cart, you can take them apart and use them under the sink, on the counter, in a cabinet, and more. This added versatility (and the easiness of set it and forget it) makes it all the more valuable. You can choose from one of three classic neutrals, black, gray, or white, and opt for the slim three-tier option for smaller spaces. Though its not the most aesthetically-pleasing piece, it can perfectly suit your organizing needs in a snap, plus its made from easy-to-wipe-down plastic. Price at time of publish: $40 Product Details: Dimensions: 15.75 in (length) x 5.1 in (width) x 33.5 in (height) | Material: Plastic | Care: Not listed Pillowfort Over the Door Hanging Bath Organizer Best Over-the-Door Buy at Target.com Why You Should Get It: The combination of shelves and hooks is extra functional. Keep in Mind: The wood is unfinished. Not sure if you want hooks or shelves on your over-the-door bathroom storage? Go for both! This unit includes two shelves (that hold a ton) and three hooks for robes and towels. This helps you to take advantage of blank spaces, like the back of your door, making it great for small bathrooms. Though sometimes pieces like this can stick out like a sore thumb, the use of lighter materials like white-coated steel and unfinished wood creates less contrast against a standard white door. Its more substantial and sturdy than youd expect for the price, but be careful not to put anything that could leak or spill on the shelves since the wood will stain. Price at time of publish: $30 Product Details: Dimensions: 18 in (length) x 6 in (width) x 29 in (height) | Material: Steel and wood | Care: Not listed Utex 4-Tier Ladder Shelf Best Storage Ladder Buy at Amazon.com Why You Should Get It: This aesthetically neutral shelf is the ideal combination of spacious and compact. Keep in Mind: Assembly isnt hard, but it is time-consuming. Unless youre a fastidious organizer or professional stylist, open shelving intended for storage can be intimidating. The perk of this wood ladder, though, is that the airiness allows the room to breathe while making the most of its wall space and not taking up too much floor space. Three tiers offer plenty of room for towels and toiletries, and the top shelf is ideal for knick-knacks, tissues, and more. Designed with clean lines in two neutral hues, theres not a bathroom style or size out there this ladder wont work with (a feature all the best bathroom storage should strive for). Like any similar piece, assembly is required, and while it isnt difficult, it may be time-consuming for DIY beginners. Another downside? If youre not keen on tidiness and dont try to organize every so often, the open shelves may end up looking messy (complement with small trays or simply use it for objects like rolled towels or baskets). Price at time of publish: $76 Product Details: Dimensions: 11.42 in (diameter) x 14.69 in (width) x 42.7 in (height) | Material: Wood and engineered wood | Care: Not listed The Home Edit Hair Tool Bin with Silicone Insert Best for Hair Styling Tools Buy at Walmart.com Why You Should Get It: The silicone insert can handle hot tools and be removed if no longer needed. Keep in Mind: Theres no space for a hair dryer. Theres a lot of bathroom storage specially designed for hair styling tools, but according to Ellison, you dont need something hyper-specificthey usually end up cast aside. Instead, she recommends opting for pieces with a little more flexibility. Whats great about this one is that the heat-resistant silicone insert keeps the tools neatly organized even if theyre still hot, but it can also be removed if you want to use the bin for something else. Plus, the BPA-free plastic bin is modular, which means you can easily stack it with other bins from The Home Edits Walmart collection. While theres a limit to up to three tools and no dedicated space for a hair dryer or brushes, the ability to immediately store hot tools is a big enough pro to let that go. Price at time of publish: $22 Product Details: Dimensions: 10 in (length) x 15 in (width) x 4.5 in (height) | Material: BPA-free plastic and silicone | Care: Not listed Yasonic Corner Shower Caddy Best Shower Caddy Buy at Amazon.com Why You Should Get It: The adhesive and stainless steel are super durable, and there are plenty of storage options. Keep in Mind: This isnt for textured or curved walls. For those looking to maximize every single space of the shower, you can make the most of that odd corner space with this set of three in black and bronze, designed with two L-shaped shelves featuring 12 hooks for various accessories and a bar soap holder. Despite being hung with adhesive, they can reliably hold up to 40 pounds. Getting ahead of the durability and oxidation issues other shower caddies may be prone to, this one is made of stainless steel wire thats thicker than standard and coated with rust-proof paint. Prior to purchasing, make sure the walls you plan to put it on are smooth and at a 90-degree angle, or else the caddy wont stick. Price at time of publish: $25 Product Details: Dimensions: 9.64 in (diameter) x 9.64 in (width) x 2.55 in (height) | Material: Coated stainless steel | Care: Not listed : The Container Store Acrylic Stackable Drawer Organizers Best Bins Buy at Containerstore.com Why You Should Get It: The bins, available in seven sizes, are stackable and easy to clean. Keep in Mind: These arent as useful for extra deep drawers. Ellison considers these bins some of the best bathroom storage, available in seven versatile sizes. They're stackable, so you can make layers to your drawers, she explains. With a stackable and modular design, you can truly maximize a space, which is especially important for a small bathroom. Plus, as you know by now, acrylic is super easy to clean up and makes sure everything is visible without creating additional cluttertwo musts in bathroom drawers. Note that these wont be very functional for deep drawers, but for those Ellison recommends these narrow pantry bins (just because theyre marketed for one space, doesnt mean they cant be used for another). Price at time of publish: $5 for 3 x 2-inch drawer Product Details: Dimensions: Varies | Material: Clear UV-resistant acrylic | Care: Clean with soapy water The Container Store Luxe Acrylic Modular Makeup System Best for Makeup Buy at Containerstore.com Why You Should Get It: The modular design allows you to customize your storage, and the acrylic keeps it clean and in sight. Keep in Mind: Depending on how much makeup you own, this could add up. Some people who wear makeup keep a little more than the essentials around, while others are true collectors. This modular system makes for some of the best bathroom storage because you get exactly what you needno more, no lessand it all stacks neatly together. Some pieces are great for brushes, and others are ideal for lipsticks and glosses, and so much more. Per usual, acrylic is ideal because it keeps everything visible and is also effortless to wipe down completely, which is especially important with makeup. Be aware that if you consider yourself a beauty buff, the cost may add up. Price at time of publish: $10 for luxe long 2-section divided insert clear drawer Product Details: Dimensions: Varies | Material: Clear UV-resistant acrylic | Care: Clean with soapy water CB2 Acrylic and Polished Nickel Toilet Paper Storage Tower Best for Toilet Paper Buy at Cb2.com Why You Should Get It: The sleek design isnt at risk of rusting and can hold even the widest rolls. Keep in Mind: This does take up floor space. When it comes to storing toilet paper, Ellison insists on two things: first, be realistic about how much space you have, and second, it must be out of the packaging. This tower makes the list of best bathroom storage because it holds a small pack of rolls (sans plastic, of course), regardless of how thick they are. Its also made fromyou guessed itacrylic, which is a breeze to clean and wont rust. One thing to consider is that it does take up 6 square inches of floor space, so those with the tiniest bathrooms may need to try another idea to maximize storage. Price at time of publish: $50 Product Details: Dimensions: 21.25 in (height) x 6 in (width) x 6 in (depth) | Material: Acrylic and iron with polished nickel finish | Care: Clean with a soft cloth The Bottom Line When it comes to easy maintenance, the best bathroom storage is often acrylic. The West Elm Clear Acrylic Tray has become a perfect option if youre looking for one that does it all. It can serve as a product tray, keep your bathroom counter neat, and stack and store essentials under the sink. As for furniture, the Haotian Tall Bathroom Cabinet with Rattan Door helps to take advantage of thoseusually unusedvertical spaces, especially if your bathroom has tall ceilings. It looks stylish, but whats more important is its versatility and storage capabilities. What to Know About Bathroom Storage Before Shopping Storage Needs Not every item you own needs its own bin or shelf. I like to keep it simple, Ellison shares. You dont need to contain everything. Its also important to be realistic about how you like to use your space. The best bathroom storage works for you, so if you bought a big bin that fits perfectly on the top shelf of a tall cabinet, but youre too short to reach it, try adding more bathroom sink storage thats easier to access. Amount of Space This is critical because you dont want to end up with storage that doesnt make sense for the space, leading to a puzzle youll never complete, inefficient organization, and a pile of tedious returns. Take a picture of the area with your iPhone, measure the area, and then write the measurements on the photo with the markup tool, advises Ellison. Dont think youll remember, because you most likely wont. Material and Care When you consider all the moisture and mess that goes on in a bathroom, its no surprise that its one of the most high-maintenance areas of the home. The best bathroom storage is made up of materials that can stand up to humidity without fear of mold or oxidation and are easy to keep clean, like acrylic. Your Questions, Answered What material is best for bathroom storage? The best bathroom storage material is acrylic. When dried toothpaste and makeup spills are in the mix, you need something you can easily take out of the drawer and wipe or wash out, explains Ellison. In addition to cleanliness, theres functionality to considerout of sight, out of mind is never more prevalent than when it comes to organization. While it may look more aesthetically pleasing to use wood or woven bins, youre at a much higher risk of forgetting or losing something. How do I choose a bathroom cabinet? Choosing a bathroom cabinet begins with determining its functionality. Know how its going to be used because then you know what kind of space you need, as well as how much of it. For example, a place for toddlers to house their bath toys should be short and covered by doors instead of tall and with open shelving. After that, you need to think about placement and dimensions so you dont end up with something too big or small for the space. Finally, your last decision is style, which is a decision based exclusively on personal preference but can be influenced by what the bathroom itself looks like. Does bathroom furniture have to match? No, your bathroom furniture does not need to matchin fact, this is often frowned upon in interior design. That said, in such a small space, it should be complementary. The room may be able to pull off one statement piece, but having too many contrasting items will create overwhelm. Who We Are Quincy Bulin is a writer who covers products and home, making this story the ideal intersection of her work. To make this list, she spent many hours researching bathroom storage with consideration to dimensions, material, and care. She also consulted with Margaret Ellison, founder of Sunday Plans, a boutique home-organizing company in Charleston, South Carolina. When Ricardo Rosa isn't teaching educational leadership and policy studies at UMass Dartmouth, he's instructing parents on how to opt their children out of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. The part-time lecturer is a member of Citizens for Public Schools, a growing organization striving to abolish standardized testing in Massachusetts. "It's a deviant process, in the sense that education just becomes about strategies to beat a test," said Rosa, who opted his son out of the eighth grade MCAS 10 years ago. While passing the 10th grade MCAS is a requirement to earn a high school diploma, he said there is no state penalty for students who opt out in grades 3-8. Pandemic pressure: MCAS scores indicate COVID-19 continues to weigh on student performance Rosa said his son was pressured into taking the MCAS at a New Bedford middle school despite being taken to the nurse's office earlier that day for an illness. "It was disturbing that the school was doing everything in its power to keep him in, even though he was not well," Rosa said. Students leave Framingham High School after the final bell on March 3, 2021. On that day, the district officially shifted into a full hybrid model and more students returned to some in-person learning. Later that day, Rosa opted him out of the test and faced no consequences for his decision. He decided he wouldn't allow his children to take the tests in elementary and middle school. Rosa serves on Citizens for Public Schools' executive board, a nonprofit that helps families understand the MCAS and their opt-out options. The organization's website includes opt-out letter templates for parents to send to principals and blogs detailing families' MCAS experiences. The group consisting of parents, former teachers and educators around the commonwealth also has a campaign for a moratorium on state standardized tests. MCAS waiver: Three years after his class graduated, Marlborough man receives high school diploma Citizens for Public Schools Executive Director Lisa Guisbond said the tests destroy children's love of learning and disproportionally impact special needs students and those from lower-income backgrounds. Guisbond previously served on Gov. Deval Patrick's readiness project subcommittee on MCAS, where she helped develop a set of recommendations to improve Massachusetts K-12 assessments. Story continues The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education said standardized assessments inform the state where to focus its efforts and help parents check their child's and school's progress. But officials added: If students dont want to take the MCAS, and the parents/guardians agree, schools are encouraged to obtain their signatures on a form to document that the opportunity was offered and refused. While there is no hard data on how many students opt out each year, the state provides MCAS participation rates. The 2022 report revealed 98% of students participated in the eighth grade science and technology test the lowest turnout out of all grades. Push to stop MCAS One of the parents Rosa mentored was Nelly Medina, who opted her nephew whom she has legal custody of out of his third grade MCAS in November. She said they were the only family in the class choosing this route. Medina said the principal told her opting out would not affect her nephew's overall grade, but they are currently unsure what he will do when others take the test in the spring. Medina, who works with Citizens for Public Schools, said she hopes the state will stop administering the MCAS by the time her children are in grade 10. She fears these tests will determine their intellect. Students wearing masks attend in-person class in December 2020 at David Prouty High School in Spencer. Former teacher Deb McCarthy said she recently reached a point where she couldn't administer the MCAS. For the last two years, McCarthy refused to give the state's standardized test to her fifth grade class at Jacobs Elementary School in Hull. The school put her on administrative leave for requesting conscientious objector status. Initially, she saw the tests as an accountability measure, but McCarthy soon noticed their negative impacts students were becoming more stressed and anxious as the testing regime escalated. Learning disrupted: State lawmakers file several bills addressing future of MCAS The tests started taking prominence in her fifth grade curriculum. McCarthy, who taught in the Hull Public Schools for 25 years, said 24 days in the school year were dedicated to testing. "Prior to the overemphasis on high-stakes testing, I had my students memorize a poem a week," McCarthy said. "They would perform plays and create songs and raps about the learning around a standard." She added educators don't have an opportunity to help students who make mistakes on the tests because results are released during the summer. 'Victims of intelligence tests' Throughout her teaching career, she educated parents in other districts on how to opt out of the tests. She quit teaching after last school year and is now vice president of the 115,000-member Massachusetts Teachers Association. "You may have students who were victims of intelligence tests being measured by a score, and so there will be feelings of lack of confidence," McCarthy said. Not every parent agrees with opting out. A Milton district parent said standardized testing effectively showed what subjects her children need extra support with. She said their son received extra help in biology following a low test score in their grade 8 MCAS. "It's a measurement of if teachers are doing their job and where the kids are weak," said the parent, who added they were unaware students could opt out of the test. Ed Lambert, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, said MCAS provides an opportunity for parents to receive real-time information on whether their children are ready to move on to the next grade and if their classroom is delivering quality education. "MCAS is one test administered to all students, so if you're going to remove your student from them, why aren't you removing them from all other tests that teachers might give?" Lambert asked. Tricia Lederer, the MBAEs director of communications, added parents shouldn't opt out this year given the learning losses experienced because of the pandemic. "There may be no more important time than now to have a sense of where your child stands against statewide standards," Lederer said. "Now is the time you need a good picture of where your student is so that you can advocate for them." Erin Seaton, an education lecturer at Tufts University, disagreed with Lambert and Lederer, saying the MCAS presents meaningless data to parents because they don't see the questions asked and have no sense of potential challenges. "You don't get back something that shows your child's skills, you get a score, and it shows at the bottom the number of the questions that a child got right or wrong," Seaton said. Seaton said she is excited by the opt-out movement and believes parents should be able to stand up for what they feel is right for their children. "This is a promising next step in rethinking whether or not we can abolish or change assessments." This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MA Advocates educate families on opting out of MCAS standardized test Russia has acknowledged its worst-ever military losses from a single Ukrainian attack with the death of at least 89 servicemen in Makiivka in eastern Ukraine over New Year. Here is what we know about the strike: What happened in Makiivka? Russia's defence ministry on Monday said in an extremely rare announcement that 63 Russian soldiers were killed in a strike carried out using Himars rocket systems supplied by the United States to Ukraine. On Wednesday, the ministry said the toll had risen to 89 after more bodies were discovered. The strike took place in Makiivka, a small city in the Donetsk region, a part of Ukraine that has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Senior Russian military official Lieutenant General Sergei Sevryukov said Ukraine had hit a temporary base in Makiivka at 12:01 am local time on January 1, using US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems It was the biggest-ever loss of life in a single attack acknowledged by Moscow since it began its invasion in February. The incident was also the first communication about any military deaths since September, when Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu gave a toll of 5,937 soldiers killed to that point. What do the Ukrainians say? Ukraine on Monday took responsibility for the strike and said it occurred on December 31 during a wave of Russian strikes on Ukrainian targets. The Ukrainian army's strategic communications department said that nearly 400 soldiers were killed and 300 injured in the strike in Makiivka. But the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said it did not have a final toll and announced only that "up to 10 units of enemy military equipment" had been destroyed. Why so many deaths? Russia's military leadership blamed the high number of casualties on the use of cell phones by their soldiers. Sevryukov said the army had determined that the reason for the high death toll "was the turning on and massive use by personnel of mobile phones within reach of enemy weapons". Ukrainian forces simply said there was a "concentration" of soldiers in Makiivka. Russian and Ukrainian sources began reporting on the strike on Sunday, saying that Russian mobilised personnel -- not professional soldiers -- had been killed. Former separatist commander Igor Strelkov, who is familiar with the situation on the ground, said the building was "almost completely" destroyed because ammunition stored on the premises detonated in the strike. He said "hundreds" had been killed and wounded. What has been the reaction in Russia? The announcement of the losses caused shock in Russia as well as criticism of Russia's high command, which has already been humiliated by a series of battlefield reversals in recent months. "Despite several months of war, some conclusions have still not been drawn," wrote blogger Boris Rozhin, who is close to the separatists, criticising the "incompetence" of Russian military leadership. Alexander Kots, a war correspondent, wrote: "Why do we keep putting up (the mobilised personnel) in hotels, hostels and professional schools?". Strelkov said another deadly strike could happen "at any moment", adding that Russian generals were "incapable of learning". The US-based Institute for the Study of War predicted Russia's defence ministry would try to "deflect the blame for its poor operational security" onto local officials and mobilised personnel. In a rare public commemoration, some 200 people gathered in the Russian city of Samara -- where some of the victims came from -- to commemorate the dead. Mourners laid flowers at a city monument, an Orthodox priest recited a prayer for the dead, and soldiers fired a gun salute. Search Keywords: Short link: An Akron Police Department K-9 team takes a look around the back of the John F. Seiberling Federal Building on Wednesday in Akron. The Akron Fire Department chief said a white powdery substance that was found in the mailroom of the federal building Wednesday wasn't dangerous, and nothing was found after a bomb threat. Roads near the downtown federal building were closed amid an evacuation of the facility Wednesday due to the apparent hazardous materials incident and subsequent bomb threat. According to Akron Fire Department Chief Joseph Natko, the white powdery substance was found Wednesday morning in an envelope in the mailroom of the John F. Seiberling Federal Building and United States Courthouse at 2 S. Main St. A field test showed the substance is nothing that was immediately dangerous to life or health," he said. Natko said it's not known to whom the envelope who was addressed. Akron Fire Lt. Tim Morrison said officials did not yet know what the substance was or how it was brought to the building. A woman was exposed to the white powder, but Natko said there was nothing wrong with her. She was decontaminated, taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, examined and released. Akron Fire Chief Joe Natko speaks to local media about the unknown substance and bomb threat at the John F. Seiberling Federal Building Wednesday in Akron. The city of Akron's Facebook page advised of the potential bomb threat at at the John F. Seiberling Federal Building and United States Courthouse in a post at 12:30 p.m. Morrison said teams investigating the building around 11 a.m. found a letter that indicated there was a bomb there and ordered the building and surrounding block evacuated. An Akron firefighter prepares to investigate an unknown material discovered inside the John F. Seiberling Federal Building on Wednesday in Akron. The Summit County Bomb Squad, Akron police and multiple bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers from other organizations were brought in and searched both outside and inside the building, determining there was no bomb. Akron police closed West Market Street, between Rand Street and Broadway, and South Main Street, between MLK Boulevard and East Mill Street, about 11:20 a.m. A tweet from the City of Akron said roads were reopened about 2:30 p.m. Hazmat was still on the scene collecting evidence at that time. Akron Fire Chief Joe Natko speaks to local media about the unknown substance and bomb threat at the John F. Seiberling Federal Building, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Akron, Ohio. The building houses a number of federal agencies, including the District and Bankruptcy courts, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, U.S. Marshals, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron bomb threat at federal building, white powder found Brazilian powerhouse Anitta is among the nominees for best new artist at the 2023 Grammys, and before she walks down the red carpet in February, Billboard invited her into the studio to talk about her first Grammy nod and much more. Speaking with Billboard News, Anitta reveals that when she found out she was nominated, she was already in full Grammy mode, as she was hosting the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas. She also shared that the best new artist nomination is something of an irony, given that she began her career in Brazil 12 years ago. More from Billboard But here in America, she says, Im just starting right now Its so different, its so hard for me to get to this other level of jumping into another market and working there that for me it is a new artist, because for me it is a new career from zero. She also notes that the last time a Brazilian act was nominated for best new artist was in 1964, when Astrud Gilberto earned a nod on the heels of the hit Girl From Ipanema, a song Anitta pays homage to on Girl From Rio from her 2022 LP Versions Of Me. She continues that while its been challenging to get non-Brazilian audiences to get used to her native language Portuguese global markets are warming up to it via her work, and thats shes working on a funk album that will fully showcase the sounds and style of her homeland. For me, she says, I understand that this whole moment was like the construction of the foundation for me to actually introduce my culture. Watch the interview above, and stay tuned for part two of the conversation in the coming weeks. Click here to read the full article. FILE PHOTO: U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Brazil's new Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Tuesday and discussed a trip to Washington by newly sworn-in leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. They also talked about Venezuela, ministry sources told Reuters. At a time when the Biden administration is relaxing some sanctions on Venezuela, the new Brazilian government could become a bridge with Caracas due to Lula's good relations with Venezuelan leaders, they said. Blinken called Vieira for a 40-minute chat that covered among other issues cooperation on the environment and trade. "We look forward to continuing the strong partnership between the United States and Brazil on trade, security, sustainable development, innovation and inclusion," Blinken said on Sunday by Twitter, congratulating Lula on his victory. "Here's to a bright future for our countries -- and the world," he wrote in his message. The two governments are working on a date for a visit to Washington by Lula, the U.S. State Department said. Brazil's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. One source said the trip could take place in February. Lula, who narrowly defeated his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro in an October election, will make his first trip abroad Jan. 23-25 to neighboring Argentina, a traditional first visit by incoming Brazilian presidents. Another trip is planned to Portugal in April. Contact with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro has been discussed with Lula even before his inauguration on Sunday. In early December, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and President Joe Biden's adviser for Latin America Juan Gonzalez visited Lula and Venezuela was on the agenda. Sullivan told Lula that there must be an election in Venezuela that Washington can consider "fair" in order to recognize the winner, according to former Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim who attended the meeting. Story continues In November, Washington issued a license allowing U.S. oil major Chevron to expand operations in Venezuela and bring Venezuelan crude to the United States, on the condition of a renewed political dialogue. Bolsonaro, who left Brazil for Florida 48 hours before Lula took office, broke off diplomatic relations with Maduro and expelled his envoy in Brasilia, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido instead. Lula restored relations and invited Maduro to his inauguration, though the Venezuelan president did not attend. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Lisa Shumaker) For generations, doctors were often reluctant to perform any type of operation involving the heart. The lack of a clear understanding about the heart made treating many conditions difficult. Texas surgeon Michael DeBakey spent decades researching and developing new techniques that have completely changed the understanding of the heart and heart disease. Throughout his career, DeBakey became world-renowned for not only life-saving surgical breakthroughs but also for his innovation in health care. Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey was born in September 1908 in the southeast Louisiana city of Lake Charles. His parents were both Lebanese immigrants and were determined to give their children the best education possible, with both sons becoming respected surgeons. DeBakey completed his undergraduate studies at the prestigious Tulane University in New Orleans, where he also graduated medical school in 1932. He worked hard during medical school and even began experimenting with new devices to aid in surgery. One, a peristaltic pump, or roller pump, became a key component in heart-lung machines developed later. He completed his residency in New Orleans and traveled the world studying with the most respected surgeons of the day. Early in his career, he developed a reputation for carefully researching all sorts of medical questions and becoming a problem-solver. In 1939, his research led him to conclude that smoking was a leading cause of lung cancer, a find that was confirmed by other researchers and ultimately became one factor in the Surgeon Generals report warning of tobaccos dangers decades later. He served as an army surgeon during World War II. DeBakey advocated stationing surgeons closer to the front lines to reduce transport time and thus give patients more of the life-saving minutes they needed to survive. Survival rates increased to the point that the army was inspired to created the famed Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH units) during the Korean War. He also advocated developing a system of veterans medical research centers to help with the special needs of wounded veterans. Story continues DeBakey was hired by the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in 1948 where he continued his research into the heart. In the 1950s, he developed grafting techniques to repair broken blood vessels and arteries. He also developed bypass surgeries, operations where surgeons bypass a clogged artery with arteries taken from another part of the body, allowing normal blood flow. The technique is a standard tool in modern heart surgery. He also worked with the development of the artificial heart. Teams of doctors around the world were researching artificial pumps and hearts to aid surgeries and even one day replace diseased hearts. DeBakey and Dr. Domingo Liotta in 1966 successfully implanted a ventricular assist device, a device that aided blood circulation, in what became one of the first procedures of its kind. In the 1960s, DeBakey made another innovation by having surgeries filmed so medical students could further study different life-saving techniques. He was a revered figure on the Baylor campus, serving as president of the college from 1969 to 1979 and then as chancellor until 1996. In addition to serving on numerous health commissions, he wrote several books to educate the public on new understandings of the heart. These books included The Living Heart (1977) and The Living Heart Diet (1984). Millions of people began thinking about the health of their hearts because of these books, inspiring them to exercise more and move to healthier diets. In 2005, he suffered a rare aortic dissection, a tear in one of the layers of the main artery leading from the heart. DeBakey initially declined surgery, but after he fell unconscious, doctors performed the life-saving procedure that DeBakey himself developed. The 97-year-old was the oldest person in history to undergo the operation. The total cost of the operation and his recovery reportedly cost more than $1 million. After the operation, he continued to work in medicine. He attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new DeBakey Library and Museum at he Baylor College of Medicine. He continued to advise his fellow surgeons and researchers until his death in July 2008, just two months before his one hundredth birthday. He was honored by dozens of organizations for his work during his lifetime and afterward. It was estimated by biographers that DeBakey operated on as many as 60,000 people in his 75-year career, equivalent to the entire populations of Anderson or Wise counties. DeBakey saved untold numbers by his own hands or through research that fundamentally transformed medicine. Because of his work, heart conditions of most types are now treatable and even preventable. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bridges: Texas surgeon DeBakey's celebrated contributions to medicine FirstEnergy agreed to a $3.86 million fine for not disclosing lobbying on the nuclear bailout. FirstEnergy agreed to pay a $3.86 million penalty for not disclosing how much it spent on lobbying tied the biggest bribery scandal in state history. Federal energy regulators reached an agreement with FirstEnergy last week. As part of the consent agreement, FirstEnergy also must submit annual compliance reports for two years. In February 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's auditors asked FirstEnergy for lobbying details and other payments dating back to February 2015. However, FirstEnergy did not disclose "any information" related to its efforts to pass House Bill 6, which included a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants then owned by FirstEnergy Solutions. Despite turning over details about some lobbying, FirstEnergy did not send auditors information about payments to former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, Householder's dark money group Generation Now or former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Sam Randazzo. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission auditors requested details about these payments after Householder and four others were arrested in July 2020. Householder, who has pleaded not guilty, faces trial later this month. Randazzo has not been charged with any crime and says he did nothing wrong. FirstEnergy later admitted in a deferred prosecution agreement that it bribed both Householder and Randazzo. The company agreed to pay a $230 million fine and to cooperate with federal investigators. As part of the FERC investigation, FirstEnergy disclosed more than $90 million in lobbying and other payments that the company previously omitted. FirstEnergy violated several rules, including the "duty to candor," by not reporting all of its lobbying expenses. Last February, FERC issued an 84-page report detailing how FirstEnergy may have circumvented financial controls to deliberately conceal lobbying and other expenses. The company had to submit a plan on how it would refund customers. It's not yet clear what that plan entails. Story continues "FirstEnergy has reached a settlement with FERC that fully resolves a previously disclosed investigation into the companys lobbying and governmental affairs expenditures concerning Ohios House Bill 6," spokeswoman Jennifer Young said about the consent agreement. FERC consent agreement with FirstEnergy by Jessie Balmert on Scribd USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau reporters Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff have been following the House Bill 6 scandal since the story broke. They will continue to follow developments and the upcoming trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges. Follow them on Twitter at @lbischoff and @jbalmert for updates. Please support quality local journalism with a subscription to one of our publications. Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: FirstEnergy to pay fine for omitting House Bill 6 lobbying from auditors china-russia-0103-ph Last year my year-end column, Fossil fuel follies of 2021, focused on the bizarre impacts of the Great March Greenward by net-zero zealots intent on replacing the 84 per cent of global energy supplied by fossil fuels with electricity from windmills and solar panels. Some effects were so ridiculous as to be almost humorous. As 2022 made painfully clear, however, theres nothing at all funny about the enormous damage currently being inflicted by pursuit of this technically impossible goal. Germanys ill-conceived decision to shut down its zero-emission nuclear plants and replace them with unreliable wind and solar power left it no alternative but to import Russian natural gas. Russias contemptible invasion of Ukraine left Germany with a classic Hobsons choice: either help fund the murderous invasion or devastate its own citizens economic and personal wellbeing. Realizing the enormous power that Germanys need for Russian gas gave him, President Putin cut back gas flows, driving European prices to stratospheric levels. Events this year also demonstrated the impact of another fossil fuel folly that handed the Russian dictator enormous power. Years of net-zero inspired policies reduced oil supply replacement in Western countries, leaving markets dependent on the so-called OPEC+ Coalition, of which Russia is a key member. The Ukraine crisis revealed just how narrow the global oil supply margin has become. Then came the shocking news that most of that thin margin was in the hands of Vladimir Putin. Western countries were already producing at full capacity except for Canada, that is, though we have the worlds third largest oil reserves. Urgent calls went out for Canadas help in lifting Putins stranglehold on oil supply. But to no avail: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had presided over a seven-year anti-oil industry pogrom, thwarting multiple export pipelines that could have helped supply countries now dependent on Putins blood oil. Story continues Trudeaus shameful answer to those calls for help revealed our country as an impotent imposter on the global stage. During his trip to Latvia in March, a reporter asked whether Canada could help make up for the oil supply reductions. His response: We will be there to support, as the world moves beyond Russian oil and indeed beyond fossil fuels, to have more renewables in our mix. As I wrote at the time, this breathtakingly bizarre answer came as innocent Ukrainians and their beautiful country were being ravaged by a tyrant who was also threatening the world with nuclear Armageddon. World oil prices soon skyrocketed to a staggering US$120 per barrel. Though they have since fallen the International Energy Agency projects world oil demand will rise by one million barrels per day annually. The global oil supply/demand margin will continue to be narrow, with virtually all of it in the hands of OPEC+. Oil still fuels over 95 per cent of all transportation of goods and people, with no viable alternative in sight. And the natural gas supply/demand margin is also, and almost certainly will continue to be, narrow. History is likely to see 2022 as the year when net-zero fantasy ran smack into hard reality. The worlds focus now needs to be on avoiding debilitating shortages of fossil fuels. That doesnt mean the net-zero crowd will toss in the towel, of course. They will continue to advocate starving the industry of the funds needed to replace, let alone grow production. But when the cost of driving your car and heating your home starts to squeeze your disposable income, especially as oil-endowed despots continue their predatory behavior, those net-zero voices will fall on deaf ears. How ironic that the net-zero fantasy has empowered a despicable despot named Vladimir Putin. But he has not been the only beneficiary. The net-zero ideologues have also lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping for his promises to reduce emissions. In reality he has authorized the building of over 200 carbon-spewing coal-fired power plants to supply cheap power to his factories. At the same time, North American and European politicians worshipping at the net-zero altar have mandated costly and unreliable wind and solar power generation and imposed escalating carbon taxes that make it impossible for the Wests factories to compete, leaving consumers no choice but to buy Chinese goods. China then uses those enormous revenues to produce weapons to further its military ambitions. Who would have imagined that one legacy of the Wests net-zero policies would be two dictators in control of both global energy security and the supply of manufactured goods? Gwyn Morgan is a retired business leader who has been a director of five global corporations. Watch "48 Hours: The Idaho Student Murders" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. The 28-year-old arrested and charged as a suspect in the November murders of four University of Idaho students has arrived in Idaho after being transferred Wednesday from the Pennsylvania jail where he was being held without bond before agreeing to be extradited on Tuesday. A plane carrying Bryan Kohberger landed shortly after 6 p.m. local time at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, where local authorities were waiting. From there, Kohberger was taken to the Latah County Jail and booked at 6:44 p.m., jail records showed. Bryan Kohberger in Latah County (Idaho) Jail on night of Jan. 4, 2023, after his extradition from Pennsylvania. / Credit: Latah County Sheriff's Office Earlier Wednesday, the Pennsylvania jail warden confirmed that Kohberger was no longer detained at the Monroe County Correctional Facility and instead in the custody of Pennsylvania State Police. In a statement also issued Wednesday by the Pennsylvania court system, officials said they were not privy to details about Kohberger's transfer from the county jail to Idaho and redirected inquiries regarding the extradition timeline to state police. A spokesperson for the state police told CBS News that they were unable to provide additional information. Kohberger appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Tuesday afternoon, where he waived his extradition rights during a brief hearing. He was expected to be moved to Idaho in a transfer arranged by state authorities there, according to Monroe County public defender Jason LaBar, who represented Kohberger through the extradition procedure. The attorney said earlier this week that Kohberger's extradition could happen within 72 hours of the hearing, noting that he believed Idaho law enforcement was prepared to act quickly given the national focus on the college murder case. Early on the morning of Nov. 13, four University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were stabbed to death at the women's off-campus rental home in the town of Moscow. Despite the ongoing public attention paid to their murders and consistent updates from the Moscow Police Department regarding its investigation, there were few developments in the probe prior to Kohberger's arrest last Friday. Story continues Kohberger was taken into custody on a fugitive from justice charge at his parents' home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, at around 3 a.m. on Dec. 30. Monroe County district attorney Mike Mancuso subsequently confirmed that Kohberger's parents were both at home when he was arrested, and officials said the timing of the arrest was decided for "tactical reasons." Multiple doors and windows were broken when police gained access to the house. Details about how the police investigation into the University of Idaho murders led authorities to Kohberger are still unclear, because Idaho law restricts the amount of information that can be released before he appears in an Idaho courtroom. When he does, more concrete facts about the alleged evidence against him, including the probable cause statement, can be made public. Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and felony burglary for his alleged involvement in the killings, said Latah County, Idaho, prosecutor Bill Thompson during a news conference that followed his arrest on Friday. Before driving cross-country with his father to Pennsylvania, likely around mid-December, according to Mancuso, Kohberger had just finished his first semester at Washington State University. Located in Pullman, Washington, the campus is roughly 15 minutes from the University of Idaho by car. Kohberger enrolled at the school as a Ph.D. student in criminology and also worked as a teaching assistant there. He has denied allegations of his involvement in the murders at the University of Idaho, according to LaBar, who said during an appearance on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday morning that Kohberger believed he would be exonerated. LaBar said in the same interview that Kohberger's family was "shocked" by his arrest and the allegations brought against him. Kohberger was placed on suicide watch after the extradition hearing on Tuesday as a precaution, a source told CBS News. Mike Pence discusses possible 2024 presidential bid Russia sending replacement Soyuz capsule to rescue International Space Station crew Northern California sees more rain Wednesday A.J. McKee spent $100K on handmade samurai suit for Bellator vs. Rizin FF entrance: It took a while to pull the trigger A.J. McKee made his Japanese debut in style. The former Bellator featherweight champion had quite the entrance when he walked to the ring to face Rizin FF lightweight champion Roberto de Souza in the main event of Rizin FF 40: Bellator vs. Rizin outside of Tokyo. While Last Memory by Takeoff blasted throughout Saitama Super Arena, McKee (20-1) marched down to the ring wearing a full, black, handmade samurai suit as dollar bills with his face on it rained down. It was a spectacle. As seen, McKee went all out for his first fight in Japan. The 27-year-old dropped $100k in the suit alone, which he says was worth every penny. So theres this place where you can go purchase them, McKee told MMA Junkie. Hes got many suits. It depends on the general or who the samurai it was under, so you just, like theres levels to it, just like anything. So all the other ones were cool looking but this one, in particular, it was that guy. When I saw it, I was like, I got to get this one. I was initially looking at these two other suits, but they werent me. Ill probably still get them just to have them, but this was the one. I did a lot of research. I had some people contact me. I was trying to rent a couple, and then I was like, if youre going to do it, go full send on it, you know? I ended up finding this one and it was 100 bands. I was like, Lets do it. It took a while to pull the trigger a lot of negotiating. I was like, Ill do half right now, and then well get everything else situated. I wanted to walk out in it and put on a show. I knew I was going to need help. Its a real suit. Its 25 kilos (55 pounds), that thing was heavy, and I stood in it for like 45 minutes before the fight. McKee looked slick across the board, and that carried into the fight. He put on an exciting showing with de Souza and got his hand raised in the end, winning a unanimous decision. He has no regrets about his latest purchase. I dont mind, McKee said. My dad always told me, Scared money, dont make money.' Story continues AJ McKee enters the legendary Saitama Super Arena in Samurai armour Full Replay at 8pm ET/PT on @SHOSports#RIZINvsBellator#BellatorvsRIZIN#RIZIN40 pic.twitter.com/yC1MCTTknk BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) December 31, 2022 Related Boxing star Manny Pacquiao reveals details of his contract with Rizin FF John Dodson wants Rizin FF bout vs. Kyoji Horiguchi: 'He has to be my stepping stone' The debut in Japan is one of McKees top 3 career moments. He puts it up there with fighting on the same card with his dad, Antonio McKee, and winning the Bellator featherweight title plus the $1 million prize that came in the grand prix. It was phenomenal, McKee said regarding his experience in Japan. Since I was a kid, my dad has talked bout just the way that they are the culture, the fight game, how they appreciate it. It was very different. Theyre bringing me gifts and stuff I got Poifull Jelly Beans, best jelly beans in the world, no cap. Theyre just super awesome, man. I could hear everything in the middle of the rounds. It was different. McKee hopes to fight again in Japan in 2023 and is eager to compete there. But for now, hell have to go for tourism and not fight business. Im going to go back in a few weeks, McKee said. Go out there and do a little bit of snowboarding, handle some business, shopping and so forth. Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie Jeremy Renner says hes too messed up to type after snowplough accident as sister gives condition update Actor Jeremy Renner has thanked fans for their kind words as he continues to recover in hospital after being run over by his own six-tonne snowplough. The 51-year-old Marvel star shared an update on his condition on social media two days on from the incident, which occurred near his home. Renner was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after suffering blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries in an accident near the Mount Rose Highway, which links Lake Tahoe and south Reno, straddling the Nevada-California border. Posting a picture of himself in a hospital bed with a bruised face on his official Instagram page, he told fans he was too messed up to send a longer message. Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all, he wrote. Meanwhile, his sister Kym has issued an update about his condition. We are so thrilled with his progress, she said, according to CBS 13 reporter Steve Large. If anyone knows Jeremy, he is a fighter and doesnt mess around. He is crushing all the progress goals. We couldnt feel more positive about the road ahead. At a press conference on Tuesday, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said Renner was helping a family member, who had become stuck in heavy snow, when the incident occurred. Sheriff Balaam said the Sheriffs office had received a call at 8.55am following reports of a crash involving a SnowCat ploughing machine and a civilian. Based on our investigation, Mr Renners personal vehicle, which was being driven by a family member, had become stuck in the snow near his home, Sheriff Balaam told the news conference. Mr Renner went to retrieve his SnowCat, an extremely large piece of snow removal equipment, weighing at least 14,330 pounds (6.4 tonnes), in an effort to get his vehicle moving. Sheriff Balaam said that after successfully freeing his vehicle, Renner had got out to speak with the family member when the SnowCat had begun to roll. Renner had attempted to get back into the machine, at which point he was run over, he said. Story continues Sheriff Balaam added that there were no signs of any foul play and that the incident had been a tragic accident. He went on to praise Renner, who is an honorary Washoe County Deputy Sheriff, and his tremendous impact in the community. Hes had a huge impact, not only in this office and helping us with our outreach but throughout the community he has been very generous, Sheriff Balaam said. He is one of those individuals that, most of the time you dont know that hes doing it, but he has made a tremendous impact on this community. Hes had a huge impact, not only in this office and helping us with our outreach but throughout the community he has been very generous Sheriff Darin Balaam, on Jeremy Renner Renner, a two-time Oscar nominee, is well-known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has also featured in films including The Hurt Locker, American Hustle, and Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol. He also stars in the Paramount+ series The Mayor Of Kingstown, with the second series set to premiere on the service in the UK on January 16. In a statement provided to the PA news agency, Renners publicist said: 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. They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans. Renners accident comes as blizzard conditions battered the US over the Christmas and New Year period, resulting in dozens of deaths. An Arctic blast stirred up heavy winds and snow in Nevada on New Years Eve, leaving thousands without power. Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke #WinterWonderland pic.twitter.com/6LBG9DsLAU Jeremy Renner (@JeremyRenner) December 12, 2022 Meanwhile, another low pressure system bringing heavy snow and ice is set to become the latest winter storm to hit the area in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service website. Renner has previously spoken about the snow at his US ranch a number of times on social media. He tweeted a photograph of what appeared to be his car trapped under several feet of snow in December, writing: Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke. Meanwhile, in an Instagram highlights post titled Holiday, the actor shared a photograph of his snowplough, captioning it: Snow cat buried in snow at the ranch. He also shared a video from his snowplough a week ago on his Instagram story, writing: Who is excited for the holidays, and another post which read: Nearly done with sledding hill for the kids. WASHINGTON As Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) struggles to get his caucus in line and name him House speaker, the spectacle is more than just a personal embarrassment for him. Its a preview of how dysfunctional Congress may be in the next two years. Whoever ultimately gets the speaker position will need to cobble together a functioning body that is willing to govern an exceedingly difficult task given that Republicans only hold a four-seat majority in the lower chamber. If the open warfare between conservatives, moderates and Trump loyalists this week is any sign, the GOPs problems are only beginning. As hard as this is, this may be the easiest thing he does all year, because once hes elected speaker, then hes going to have to keep the group together, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told HuffPost when asked about McCarthys troubles. The Republicans opposed to McCarthy say he wont do enough to stand up to Democrats and President Joe Biden. They want a speaker who will refuse to pass any bill that lacks full Republican support even though Democrats control the Senate, meaning no bill can actually become law without Democratic support. At some point this year, Congress will need to pass bills funding the government and raising the debt limit, allowing the Treasury Department to pay debts Congress has incurred over the years. McCarthys opponents have already said theyll withhold support from those bills in order to extract major policy concessions from Democrats, even though theres no way the Senate would go along, and even though defaulting on federal debt could cause a financial crisis. McCarthys allies insist this weeks fiasco doesnt portend disaster for the next two years. I think this is gonna be hopefully a good learning experience, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the incoming chair of the House oversight committee, told HuffPost. We got to figure out how to get to 218 [votes], and its gonna be hard, but it can be done. Story continues Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) likened the House GOPs quandary to the one Democrats faced four years ago when newly elected progressives threatened to go against the leadership. Democrats figured out how to govern with a narrow majority, and well do the same thing, he said. Democrats won a 17-seat majority in 2018 before their margin shrank to four seats in 2020. A key difference between now and then is that McCarthy is no Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), the former Democratic speaker famed for wielding an iron grip over her caucus and publicly rebuking members of the progressive squad several times. Its not clear that any other Republican could match her by taming a group of lawmakers bent on watching it all burn down. McCarthys strategy so far has been to reward his most inflammatory members with promises of committee seats. Democrats disagreed only on the extent to which government ought to help people, Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said. They dont have common goals, Kildee said of Republicans. Some of them dont even believe in government having any kind of significant impact on the quality of life for people. They just dont believe in it. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a Freedom Caucus member who opposes McCarthy, seemed to revel in the scene on the House floor Tuesday. So this is what the House looks like when everybody is here and were debating with bodies in the chairs, Roy said. The American people are watching, and thats a good thing. What were doing is exercising our rights to vote and have a debate and have a discussion about the future of this country through the decision of choosing a speaker. Senate Republicans, who have been far more willing to work with Democrats, have seemed impatient with their House counterparts. We need to be able to function as a team. Weve got a lot of stuff we need to get done around here, Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) told HuffPost when asked about the House drama. The House is essentially frozen without a speaker no members can be formally sworn in, no committee appointments can be made and no rules can be adopted. The immediate consequence is a delay to GOP plans for the new Congress: the passage of new legislation and investigations of Bidens administration. McCarthy doesnt seem to have made any progress in winning over the necessary support to become speaker after three failed votes on Tuesday. The voting process is expected to resume on Wednesday. The House hasnt needed more than one ballot to elect a speaker since December 1923. In 1855, the process took 133 ballots and two months to sort out. This isnt just today. This is going to be everyday in the House Republican majority, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) warned on Tuesday. Its not just that they wont be able to govern. Its that they are going to be an embarrassing public train wreck while they refuse to govern. Related... Germany used more renewable energy than ever in 2022 but again failed to reach its CO2-reduction goal as Russia's war in Ukraine prompted a return to more coal and oil use, a think tank reported Wednesday. Europe's biggest economy emitted 761 million tonnes of greenhouse gases last year, just one tonne fewer than in 2021 and overshooting the target of 756 million tonnes, the energy think tank Agora Energiewende said in a statement. "CO2 emissions are stagnating at a high level, despite significantly lower energy consumption by households and industry," said Agora's Germany director Simon Mueller. "This is an alarm signal with regard to climate targets," he added. The German government had aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels but has yet to achieve the feat. For 2022, Germany managed a 39-percent reduction from 1990 levels, Agora calculated. The setback comes despite a record 4.7-percent drop in energy consumption last year, partly in response to soaring fuel prices because of the war in Ukraine. But the energy saving gains were wiped out by the government's decision to burn more coal and oil to make up for the loss of Russian natural gas deliveries, Agora said. The turn to fossil fuels also overshadowed another milestone: renewables accounted for 46 percent of Germany's power supply mix last year, an all-time high. The increase was mainly down to favourable weather conditions for wind and solar power, Agora said. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed repeatedly that the return to fossil fuels is a temporary measure sparked by an energy crisis, and that his government remains committed to combatting global warming. Germany still aims to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2045. But Agora said Berlin needed to drastically ramp up the expansion of renewables this year. To meet key targets set for 2030, Germany would have to double its solar energy production and more than triple wind power capacity. Energy Minister Robert Habeck said the government would present its own CO2 calculations for 2022 in March. He insisted Germany was on "the right course" but acknowledged the ongoing "need for action", particularly in cutting emissions from the transport sector. Search Keywords: Short link: PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh has spent the better part of a decade spinning its wheels near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Panthers may finally be gaining traction by using a formula that made the program successful during its lengthy stay near the top of the Big East during the 2000s. A whole lot of defense. A little bit of shotmaking. And more than a dash of grit. Blake Hinson and Nike Sibande scored 16 points apiece, Jamarius Burton added 15 and Pitt rallied by No. 11 Virginia 68-65 on Tuesday night to move to 4-0 in the ACC for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The Panthers (11-4) did it behind staggering second half in which they lit up Virginia's normally staunch defense for 45 points, all without committing a turnover. You have to be tough for 40 minutes, you have to be together and you have to fight (to beat Virginia), Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. Once we got into the rhythm of the game in the second half we were able to do some really, really good things. The Panthers used a 14-0 second-half run to get back in it and then took charge late to keep Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett at 326 career wins at Virginia, still tied with Terry Holland for the most in program history. A layup by Federiko Federiko with 59 seconds left put the Panthers up 62-60 and Pitt forced the Cavaliers (10-3, 2-2) into a shot-clock violation on their ensuing possession. Six straight made free throws in the final seconds helped the Panthers end an eight-game losing streak to Virginia. This is a blue-collar game, Bennett said. Its a blue-collar town. Its a blue-collar team. ... We had a lot of breakdowns defensively and it cost us. Kihei Clark scored 17 points for the Cavaliers. Armaan Franklin added 14 but Virginia's defense crumbled over the final 20 minutes as the Panthers found their footing and kept finding ways to get to the basket for layups or draw contact to go to the foul line. Pitt outrebounded the Cavaliers 32-28, outscored them 15-4 at the free-throw line and shot 52% in the second half to follow up a win over then-No. 25 North Carolina last Friday with another surprise. Story continues HONORING HAMLIN The Panthers paid tribute to Buffalo Bills defensive back and former Pitt football player Damar Hamlin a day after Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during Buffalo's game at Cincinnati and had to be resuscitated on the field. The players wore blue and gold T-shirts with Chasing Millions emblazoned on the front, the name of Hamlin's foundation. Fans also stood and applauded during a first-half timeout as well-wishes from across the sports world flashed on the video board above the court. Hamlin was in critical condition Tuesday at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Though he last played football at Pitt in the fall of 2020, Hamlin has a relationship with several Panthers basketball players, one of the reasons they felt it was important to show their support. (Hamlin) is a real genuine person, Sibande said. "He really wants to help everybody out. Hes really giving and he wants to help everybody out. SALUTING VIRGINIA The Panthers wore a second warm-up T-shirt that read Pitt stands with UVA and featured the uniform numbers of the three Cavaliers football players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and DSean Perry who were fatally shot on the Virginia campus in November. Davis, Chandler and Perry were also honored with a moment of silence before the opening tip. BIG PICTURE Virginia: The Cavaliers defense appeared on its way to another typical lights-out performance after limiting the Panthers to 14 points over the first 16 minutes. It didnt happen. Pitt knocked down a handful of 3-pointers to get going and when the Cavaliers extended their defense, the Panthers attacked the rim. Pitt: The starting five began the night having 88 combined starts at Pitt. Clark, by contrast, made his 121st start for the Cavaliers. Yet the Panthers are appearing to jell quickly, building on the optimism Capel had in the preseason that his group would make up for in collective experience what it lacked in familiarity with each other. UP NEXT Virginia: Hosts Syracuse on Saturday. Pitt: Hosts Clemson on Saturday. ___ AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--(Newsfile Corp. - January 3, 2023) - Stronghold Group, a VA-certified SDVOSB made up of a globally experienced team of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, was proud to recently partner with Project Aid & Rescue and Operation White Stork to help donate and deliver more than $2.4 million worth of Azithromycin antibiotics (72,000 individual courses) and hundreds of IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) for combat lifesaving trauma aid. In video and photo, the IFAKs were distributed to both frontline aid workers and Ukrainian soldiers headed to the front line. The IFAKs were composed of tourniquets, chest seals, hemostatic blood clotting agents, wound dressings, and other life-saving components. These IFAKs and antibiotics were delivered to the end users by William McNulty and his team from Operation White Stork. The Azithromycin antibiotics were delivered to Ukraine for distribution to families, front line hospitals, and the Ukrainian military. "It's tough to forget the saying we heard so often at West Point and in the Army: the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. We hope that the antibiotics help buy time and keep the soldiers there healthy as winter sets in. I spent time in Ukraine before. Winter there is no joke - especially now with their energy infrastructure being targeted. We are praying for a speedy resolution to the war and the preservation of life," said David Henderson, President & CEO of Stronghold Group. Accompanying the shipment of antibiotics were hundreds of other items, including fleece blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, lunchboxes, and reusable water bottles. The entire shipment of humanitarian goods and antibiotics was led and facilitated by Jeff Kaminsky, President & CEO of Project Aid & Rescue, who ensured the goods were delivered to families in Ukraine, specifically in Kharkiv where the fighting and destruction by Russian forces have been especially gruesome. The donated blankets, sleeping bags and other items were packed into crates and airlifted to Poland and then trucked into Ukraine all the way to Kharkiv. For his efforts, Jeff was publicly recognized by Philadelphia City Councilman David Oh and Philadelphia City Council with a City Citation for his service and humanitarian efforts to help the People of Ukraine, and for honorably representing the City of Philadelphia and The United States of America as a Humanitarian and Social Entrepreneur. Many of the gifts and antibiotics organized and shipped by Project Aid & Rescue and Stronghold Group were eventually delivered to families in Ukraine with relatives residing in Philadelphia. Word got around Philadelphia of the donation, and Councilman David Oh took the time to publicly recognize Project Aid & Rescue for their work and contributions to international peace. Also recognized by Councilman David Oh for his donations and humanitarian efforts was Dustin Bryant of Perimeter Global Logistics (PGL) for his selfless service and donations to the People of Ukraine as an outstanding citizen honorably representing the City of Philadelphia and the United States of America as a Humanitarian and Social Entrepreneur. The recognition ceremony was also attended by nearly a dozen faith leaders from the Philadelphia region, including leadership from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and scores of local Ukrainians with families still in Ukraine. Donations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8668/150206_fig1.jpg Stronghold Group is a VA-verified, Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) comprised of Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans. Stronghold Group is a U.S.-based manufacturer and distributor of medical devices, personal protective equipment, and consumables to public and private healthcare entities, as well as federal, state and local agencies within the United States. Stronghold Group serves its customers through U.S. manufacturing facilities with a clear mission: to strengthen U.S. manufacturing footprint and capabilities, reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing, and increase the U.S. competitive posture through technological innovation and the U.S. labor market. Stronghold Group's globally experienced team of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans has supported private companies and government/military agencies since 2016. Its services include assisting companies with obtaining 510(k)s, bringing their products to the federal marketplace, and consulting with private corporations to reduce supply chain risk. For more information about Stronghold Group, please visit its website or contact: David Henderson, Stronghold Group info@strongholdcare.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/150206 Since becoming sheriff, I have been very active in the implementation of a local mental health crisis center in St. Joseph County. The insufficient funding of mental health resources here in our community leads to many serious issues, including monopolizing police department time and resources and liability concerns resulting from those arrested and housed in our jail. Individuals suffering from mental health and substance abuse need care by mental health and medical professionals trained to handle these situations and illnesses, not the police or corrections officers. Police and jail are not always the answer. Over the past few years, I have initiated and attended many planning meetings and public information events and spoken about the importance of providing more mental health services to those in need and the need for the creation of a mental health crisis center. This need is even more crucial today due to the aftereffects of COVID-19. Prior to COVID, we began a Crisis Services Unit within the St. Joseph County Police Department. This unit includes a full-time mental health officer, two social workers along with several local college interns that assist our officers on calls involving those in our community dealing with mental health crisis. Our Crisis Services Unit works to make sure those dealing with mental health and substance addiction get the proper services they need to overcome their personal challenges, while attempting to reduce calls for officers and the need to make arrests. We have partnered with Oaklawn on several levels including providing mental health and addiction services in our jail and a partnership with Oaklawn and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to provide local police and correction officers with critical incident training. Lastly, weve supported the recently implemented mobile crisis response team staffed by Oaklawn. This unit of mental health professionals assists with non-violent mental health calls for service and helps to eliminate the need for police to respond on scene. Our police department has made huge strides in dealing with mental health and St. Joseph County is being recognized for this work throughout the state of Indiana. We were recently acknowledged for the proactive work being done here in our community at a mental health summit hosted by the Indiana Supreme Court and the governor. Unpopular move:Advocates protest commissioners pausing mental health crisis center in works for two years At the same time as the implementation of the new mental health crisis center was placed on hold by the County Commissioners, our department investigated three overdose deaths, an attempted suicide, and I personally received a phone call from an emotional father seeking help for his adult daughter who was threatening to end her life. Dad did not know who or where to seek help. I was able to connect him to our social worker, who then helped get this young lady some further assistance. Additionally, our police officers currently have few to no options when dealing with someone in the middle of a chaotic crisis and causing such a disturbance they need overnight support or assistance. That place now often is jail. Oaklawns planned mental health crisis center is vital to our community and to our County Police Department. Now that its creation and opening is funded, our county needs to step up and provide some necessary operating funds. I want to reassure our citizens that Im all in when it comes to mental health and substance abuse concerns in our community. I will not stop, and I will do whats in my power to make sure we fulfill the needs for the people of our community. I will be asking our County Council and County Commissioners to reallocate that planned funding toward supporting the operations of the mental health crisis center and join this partnership with Oaklawn and the city of South Bend and ensure that our police departments and our community have this needed resource. William Redman is St. Joseph County sheriff. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County's planned mental health crisis center vital. Turkey on Tuesday hosted the leaders of Syria's opposition in a bid to assuage their concern following its overtures to Damascus. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted images of his meeting in Ankara with the opposition Syrian National Council chief Mahmut al-Maslat and other leaders. The talks came less than a week after the defence chiefs of Turkey and Syria held landmarks negotiations in Moscow -- the first such meeting since 2011. "We reiterated our support to the Syrian opposition and people in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2254," Cavusoglu said in reference to a 2015 United Nations call for a ceasefire and political settlement in Syria. Ankara became a sworn enemy of Damascus when it began backing rebel efforts to topple President Bashar al-Assad at the start of the Syrian civil war 12 years ago. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- who called Assad a "terrorist" in 2017 -- has opened up to the idea of meeting the Syrian leader. Erdogan has suggested that the talks between the defence chiefs be followed up by a meeting between the foreign ministers that could set up a potential presidential summit. Cavusoglu said he expects to meet his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad in Moscow in the second half of January. But Assad's regime appears cool to Erdogan's outreach efforts. 'Extended hand' Some analysts believe that Assad will not agree to meet Erdogan before Turkey holds a general election -- now scheduled for no later than June. Erdogan's foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin said it was "too early to say right now" when the two presidents might meet. "How all of this unfolds depends on the regime's attitude," Kalin told NTV television. "Turkey has extended its hand. We do not think that they will leave this hand hanging." Erdogan's hopes for talks with Assad follow calls from Turkey's main opposition party for Ankara to pull back its troops from Syria and make peace with Damascus. The opposition is pressing Erdogan to speed up the "voluntary" return of nearly four million Syrians who fled the fighting to Turkey. Anti-refugee sentiments are running high in Turkey ahead of the election and Erdogan has hardened his once-accepting stance towards people displaced by war. Kalin confirmed that Ankara was now pressing Damascus "to take steps for the return of refugees and the humane treatment of displaced Syrians". The mooted reconciliation has alarmed Syrian opposition leaders and supporters who reside mostly in parts of the war-torn country under Ankara's indirect control. The United States, Turkey's NATO ally, made clear its opposition to improving relations with Assad, who last year travelled to the United Arab Emirates in his first trip since the war to another Arab country. "We do not support countries upgrading their relations or expressing support to rehabilitate the brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters when asked about the Moscow meeting. "We urge states to carefully consider the Assad regime's atrocious human rights record of the past 12 years as it continues to inflict atrocities on the Syrian people and to deny access to life-saving humanitarian aid," Price said. Search Keywords: Short link: Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 92F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 63F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. YORK Melvin Small Jr., 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty this week to drug possession and was sentenced to 69 days already served. Earlier, an arrest warrant was issued for Small after he failed to show up for his arraignment in York County District Court. This week, he was present. Small was first bound over on two Class 4 felonies possession of a controlled substance and having no drug tax stamp. These charges stemmed from a traffic stop initiated by the York County Sheriffs Department on Interstate 80 at the Bradshaw exit. During that stop, Small was found to be in possession of a substantial amount of marijuana. Following his subsequent failure to appear in court, while he was out on bond, a new, additional Class 4 felony was filed against him. Class 4 felonies carry possible maximum sentences of two years in prison with 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine, upon conviction. This week, he appeared for a change of plea and was sentenced immediately afterward, per his request. He pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. In return for that guilty plea, the prosecution dismissed the charges of failure to appear and having no drug tax stamp. Small was sentenced to 69 days in the York County Jail, but he was also given credit for 69 days he has already served. Upon his sentence, he was able to leave on his own accord, due to time already being served. The aviation industry has set an extraordinary goal for itself: zero carbon emissions by 2050. And, as per the latest report by NHK World, they may be able to achieve this goal with a raw material that was previously regarded as kitchen waste! The Japan-based media house NHK World recently interviewed a bunch of people who opened up about the relevance of used cooking oil. The manager of an izakaya in Tokyo, Tsuboi Yasuyuki, while talking to the media house, claimed that each month, his restaurant routinely consumes several 18-litre drums of cooking oil. He said that typically he would pay a disposal company to pick up the used oil. However, he has now started getting enquiries from businesses interested in taking it for free. Some are even offering to pay them for it. "We used to consider it waste," said Tsuboi. "Now, people are asking to take it off our hands, which is very strange." Because leftover cooking oil can now be utilised to create sustainable aviation fuel or SAF, there has been a significant increase in demand. In Japan, around a third of the 4,00,000 tonnes that were gathered in the previous year were used as fuel for aeroplanes and other types of vehicles, as per NHK World. Sustainable Aviation Fuel The aviation sector refers to fuel obtained from non-fossil sources as SAF. Although leftover cooking oil is the primary material utilised in production, research is being done to find other potential waste sources. If we talk about why the aviation industry is relying so much on used cooking oil or SAF, it's important we mention that SAF is being used to reduce carbon emissions. International carriers must reduce their carbon emissions to almost nothing by 2050, according to a goal set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in October. In response to growing public pressure on the aviation sector to lessen its environmental impact, this was done. According to experts at the Air Transport Action Group, the aviation sector produced 115 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2019. That represents about 2 per cent of all world emissions. In recent years, airlines have started to minimise emissions. Shorter flight paths and more fuel-efficient aircraft are now being used. However, as per NHK World, it is likely that these actions will only succeed in cutting emissions by 20 to 30 per cent of the ICAO objective. Manufacturers are also developing aircraft powered by hydrogen and electricity, but they are still far from being ready for use in commercial aviation. Because of this, the aviation sector increasingly views SAF as its saviour. According to estimates, switching to SAF from conventional jet fuel would lower emissions across the board by almost 80 per cent. Because of the EU policy that supports SAF, the fuel is mainly used in Europe. However, a sizable plant is currently being built in Singapore that will have a one million tonne yearly production capacity, which is around five times the present global total of 2,00,000. As per the report by NHK World, the concept is being worked on by Neste, a Finnish business that produces the most SAF in the world. SAF is provided by the corporation to Japanese airlines through the trading company Itochu Corporation. Sami Jauhiainen, a Neste executive, claimed that the plant is a component of his company's efforts to expand the market and increase the usage of SAF in Asia. "The Asia Pacific region accounts for nearly 40 per cent of global jet fuel consumption, and this will continue to grow in the coming years and decades," Jauhiainen told NHK World. "We will be well-positioned to meet the needs and customer demands of the entire Asia Pacific region from our production plant in Singapore." Earlier this year, a bunch of prominent Japanese companies formed 'Act For Sky' in order to create and promote SAF. According to the report by NHK World, major airlines All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines are among the members, as well as companies outside the aviation sector such as Itochu, Idemitsu Kosan, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The group's main area of interest is producing used cooking oil. A list of companies ready to collaborate has been established by the organisation, including significant fast-food chains, frozen food producers, sushi franchises, and hotels. JGC, Cosmo Oil, and REVO International, three members of Act For Sky, are spearheading the initiative to manufacture SAF domestically. They are now constructing a facility in Sakai City, Osaka, with a three-year output objective of about 30,000 tonnes. Even though it's a relatively small sum, Japan has many more initiatives of this nature planned. Establishing a domestic production base, according to Nishimura Yuki, a JGC executive involved in Act For Sky, is essential to guaranteeing the long-term viability of the entire SAF project. "Used cooking oil is currently sent overseas, processed into SAF, and brought back to Japan," said Nishimura. "Of course, exporting and importing produces carbon dioxide and costs money. So given Japan's national interests and goals for decarbonization, we need something different." Countries are increasingly competing with one another to find alternatives to used cooking oil. Prices for this waste oil have skyrocketed as a result of rising demand, raising concerns about a supply shortfall. According to certain experts, wood and food waste may be utilised in SAF. "I'm determined to put all my effort into developing domestic SAF...So people won't feel flight shame anymore," Nishimura told NHK World. Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China as COVID-19 cases there surge following its relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules. China has rejected criticism of its COVID data. If the cases keep on rising, many countries might impose strict rules and mandate to produce negative RT-PCR report from travellers across the world, before entering the international airports of these nations. Here's a list of all the countries across the world who are asking for the Covid-19 test from travellers coming from China for now, including India, where the Ministry of Health mandated visitors from 6 countries to produce negative RT-PCT test report. AUSTRALIA Travellers from China to Australia will need to submit a negative COVID-19 test from Jan. 5, Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said on Sunday. BELGIUM Belgium will test wastewater from planes arriving from China for new COVID variants as part of new steps against the spread of the coronavirus, the government announced on Monday. BRITAIN The UK will require a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test for passengers from China as of Jan. 5, the Department of Health said on Friday. However, a report in The Independent on Monday said passengers from China who arrive in the United Kingdom next week will not face compulsory COVID-19 tests on arrival. CANADA Air travellers to Canada from China must test negative for COVID-19 no more than two days before departure, Ottawa said. FRANCE France will require travellers from China to provide a negative COVID test result less than 48 hours before departure. Starting Jan. 1, France will carry out random PCR COVID tests upon arrival on travellers coming from China, a government official told reporters. France has urged all 26 other European Union member states to test Chinese travellers for COVID. INDIA The country has mandated a COVID-19 negative test report for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. Passengers from those countries will be quarantined if they show symptoms or test positive. ISRAEL Newly appointed Health Minister Aryeh Deri announced new COVID-19 testing requirements for travellers from China, joining other nations imposing restrictions because of a surge of infections, according to the Times of Israel. ITALY Italy has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers from China. Milan's main airport, Malpensa, has already started testing passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai. JAPAN Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travellers from mainland China. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days. New border measures for China went into effect at midnight on Dec. 30. The government will also limit requests from airlines to increase flights to China. MALAYSIA Malaysia will screen all inbound travellers for fever and test wastewater from aircraft arriving from China for COVID-19. MOROCCO Morocco will impose a ban on people arriving from China, whatever their nationality, from Jan. 3. SPAIN Spain will require a negative COVID-19 test or a full course of vaccination against the disease upon arrival for travellers from China. SOUTH KOREA South Korea will require travellers from China, Macau and Hong Kong to provide negative COVID test results before departure, health authorities said. TAIWAN Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre said all passengers on direct flights from China, as well as by boat at two offshore islands, will have to take PCR tests upon arrival, starting on Jan. 1. QATAR Qatar will require travellers arriving from China from Jan. 3 to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours of departure, state news agency QNA said. UNITED STATES The United States will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travellers from China beginning on January 5. All air passengers aged two and older will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said U.S. citizens should reconsider travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau. PLACES MONITORING SITUATION EUROPEAN UNION European Union government health officials will hold talks on Wednesday on a coordinated response to the surge in COVID-19 infections in China, the Swedish EU presidency said on Monday, after December talks concluded with no decisions on the matter. PHILIPPINES The Philippines sees a need to intensify monitoring and implementation of border controls for incoming individuals especially from China, Manila's health ministry said. With Reuters inputs Questions have been raised on evaluators examining pilots ATC communication skills, while they are granted licences. Aviation experts are raising questions on examiners incompetence in assessing the communication of a pilot. While pilots are trained for exercising efficient communication with air traffic controllers, they have to undergo a test post-training to obtain their Radio Telephony Restricted License or RTR(A). This test is conducted by the Ministry of Communications Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing. After all, the communication between pilots and ATC is a crucial pillar in the aviation industry, this comes out as an important concern from experts. Aviation experts allege that the chief examiners who interview these aspiring pilots have no hands-on experience. They also demand that the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), should be handed over the responsibility to conduct the RTR(A) test. Also read - Paris-bound Air India flight makes EMERGENCY LANDING in Delhi after developing technical snag: All Safe Once a candidate clears RTR(A) test, he becomes eligible to get Flight Radio Telephone Operator (FTRO) license from the DGCA. Without an FTRO license, a candidate cannot get a commercial pilot's license (CPL) from the aviation regulator. "Since the screening process is off the mark, flight training institutes (being aware of the shortcomings) compromise with the high training standards," Captain S S Panesar, ex-pilot and former director of flight safety and training of erstwhile Indian Airline, said. "This results in instances of communication goof-ups between pilots and ATC which jeopardises air safety," he said. Experts further say that instead of giving emergency situations to pilots and asking them how will they communicate with ATC, officials of WPC make the candidates draw diagrams of satellites, optical fibre used in data cable, and ask the definition of 2G and 3G, among others. "These are irrelevant questions," Panesar said, adding that he filed an application under the Right to Information Act (RTI) to the Ministry of Communication to find out the background of the chief examiners. He said the ministry admitted that the examiners have no experience in handling radio equipment fitted in an aircraft while it is flying or on the ground. The ministry, responding to Panesar's application, said that these chief examiners have the "basic qualification of graduate in Engineering, or MSc with electronics as a special subject and have wide experience of working with various communication systems spanning over more than at least 20 years". "The examiners monitor various radio communications, including aeronautical communication, and have the basic qualification of diploma. They do not operate radio RT equipment fitted in an aircraft while the aircraft is flying or on the ground," the response added. Also read - Cabinet APPROVES Manohar International Airport Mopa, Goa NAME for Goas second airport However, Arun Kumar, Director General, DGCA, told PTI that the aviation regulator is also associated with the process. "Our experts participate in the conduct of the examination," he said. The experts argued that these DGCA experts, who participate in these exams, also come from technical backgrounds like air navigation services (ANS), among others. Captain Charanvir Singh Randhawa, secretary, Federation of Indian Pilots, seconds Panesar and says getting an RTR (A) license is a herculean task as the questions asked by the instructors are vague and irrelevant from a pilot's point of view. "Moreover, students are disqualified if demands for money are not met. They are also not selected as questions outside the syllabus are asked. The syllabus is totally outdated and not according to the norms required for pilot testing," he said. "Representations by pilots on the issue have fallen on deaf ears. Also, efforts to put this examination system under DGCA have failed as there are vested interests of personnel from WPC," he claimed. Capt Randhawa feels that there is an urgent need for getting this examination system under DGCA, revising syllabus by Flight Standards Directorate (FSD) of the DGCA, among other measures. "These steps will end the red-tapism and agony of obtaining RTR(A) by pilots," he said. Highlighting the practice in developed countries like the UK, veteran pilot Amit Singh, who runs an NGO -- Safety Matters Foundation -- said in developed countries both RTR(A) and FTRO licenses are awarded by the aviation regulators only. Professionals engaged in training pilots say that the practice of RTR(A) exams has been there with WPC for a very long time, but over a period of time, its standard has deteriorated and now candidates are cleared on the basis of whims and fancies of the examiners. "Both the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and DGCA are aware of the issue and in June 2022, the MoCA had moved an office memorandum to shift RTR(A) exam from the WPC to DGCA," a ministry source informed. He added, "It involves changes in the legal framework such as the Aircraft Act and Rules, The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency and License to Operate Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, among others. Probably, due to these reasons, the transfer is being delayed." Retired air commodore B S Siwach, a veteran with distinguished recognitions such as the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Yudh Seva Medal, says that even Air Force pilots, who have thousands of hours of flying experience, have to go through this process to get CPL. He suggests that till the time the legal framework is amended, the examiners should be given hands-on training so that they will understand aviation phraseology. With inputs from PTI A woman passenger named Krishani Gadhvi has alleged that she was asked to remove here shirt for the security check at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. Registering her displeasure on Instagram, Gadhvi said she felt humiliated as she was standing at the security checkpoint wearing just a camisole. She further tagged Bengaluru International Airport, asking why would they need a woman to strip? "I was asked to remove my shirt at Bengaluru airport during security check. It was really humiliating to stand there at the security checkpoint wearing just a camisole and getting the kind of attention youd never want as a woman. @BLRAirport. Why would you need a woman to strip?" wrote Krishani on her Twitter account. Replying to her tweet, Bengaluru Airport said, "Hello @KrishaniGadhvi, we deeply regret the hassle caused and this should not have happened. We have highlighted this to our operations team and also escalated it to the security team managed by CISF (Central Industrial Security force) a Government sovereign. (1/2)" The security at airports across India is handled by CISF (Central Industrial Security force) which comes under the central government. A few days ago, South actor Siddharth also blamed CISF for harassing his parents at the Madurai International Airport. The Israeli occupation army has demolished homes, water tanks and olive orchards in two Palestinian villages in the southern occupied West Bank where some residents are at risk of imminent expulsion, residents and activists said Wednesday. One of the villages whose structures were demolished on Tuesday is part of an arid area of the West Bank known as Masafer Yatta, which the Israeli military has designated as a live-fire training zone. Some 1,000 residents of the eight hamlets that make up Masafer Yatta are slated for expulsion, an order Israels Supreme Court upheld in May after a two-decade legal battle. According to images shared by local residents and activists, armored vehicles escorted construction equipment to the demolitions in the villages of Main and Shaab al-Butum, which is part of Masafer Yatta. Guy Butavia, an activist with the Israeli rights group Taayush, said the army razed five homes, animal pens and cisterns, spilling the contents of peoples lives out onto the cold desert. They come and demolish your house. Its winter. Its cold. Whats next? Where are they going to sleep that night? he said. Most residents of the area have remained in place since the ruling, even as Israeli security forces periodically roll in to demolish structure. But they could be forced out at any time. Local officials and rights group said Israeli defense officials have informed them that they would soon forcibly remove more than 1,000 residents from the area. There is a genuine concern that a grave war crime will be committed, said Roni Pelli, a spokeswoman for ACRI. COGAT, the Israeli defense body that deals with Palestinian civilian affairs, declined to comment. Both villages are in the 60% of the occupied West Bank known as Area C, where the Israeli military exercises full control under interim peace agreements reached with the Palestinians in the 1990s. Palestinian structures built without military permits which residents say are nearly impossible to obtain are at risk of demolition. Tuesday's demolition comes against the backdrop of a new government in Israel, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where proponents of Israel's West Bank settlement enterprise hold influential portfolios and are expected to both drive up settlement building and suppress construction for Palestinians in Area C. The families living in Masafer Yatta say theyve herded their sheep and goats across the area long before Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. But Israel says the nomadic Arab Bedouin had no permanent structures when the military declared the area a firing and training zone in the early 1980s. In November 1999, security forces expelled some 700 villagers and destroyed homes and cisterns. A twenty-year legal battle began the following year that ended in 2022 with the Israeli Supreme Court denying an additional hearing in October over the expulsion. While previous Israeli governments have for decades demolished homes in the area, the current government is expected to step up demolitions in the area. Search Keywords: Short link: Air traffic has been picking up in recent months after the airline industry was significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The monthly domestic air passenger traffic touched 1.29 crore to cross the pre-COVID level in December 2022, with Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia terming it as a healthy trend and a good sign for the industry. In December 2019, the domestic air passenger traffic stood at 1.26 crore. "2022 sets new record in air passenger movement," according to a graphic shared by the minister on his Twitter handle on Tuesday. The traffic reached 1.29 crore in December last year. There is a healthy trend in domestic passenger movement of late - a good sign for the aviation sector, the minister said in a tweet. "Monthly domestic passenger numbers in December 2022 crossed the pre-Covid-29 high!" Scindia said. Recently, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revealed that air traffic jumped nearly 27 percent to 114.07 lakh in October compared to the year-ago period when it was 89.85 lakh. Indian airlines carried 1.14 crore passengers in October, 10 percent higher than the number of people flying in September. In September, the air traffic number stood at 103.55 lakh. The country's largest airline IndiGo's market share declined to 56.7 percent in October compared to the previous month when it stood at 58 percent. Air India is in the headlines again. Recently, a Paris-bound Air India flight was made to return to Delhi soon after it took off, as it detected a technical snag, mid-air. The flight had 210 passengers on board, and it managed to safely land at the New Delhi Airport. A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation official informed that Air India B787-800 aircraft VT-AND operating flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris was involved in an air turnback due to a "Slats Drive" snag message. DGCA has ordered an inquiry into the incident after the aircraft made an emergency landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. He added that the emergency landing happened at 2:25 pm, owing to a flap issue. The flight took off at 1:28 pm and a full emergency was declared at 2:03 pm and landed safely. It had 210 passengers on board when an emergency was declared. All passengers are safe. Also read - Man who urinated on woman in New York-Delhi flight banned from flying for 30 days: Air India In other news, Air India has lodged a police complaint against a male passenger and has also banned him from flying for the next 30 days, after he urinated on a fellow female passenger in an inebriated state. Furthermore, the 70-year-old female passenger has recently shared her ordeal in a letter to Tata and Sons Chairman - N Chandrasekaran. AI-143 DEL-CDG, we pushed back on time at 1306 hrs IST. Shortly after takeoff, captain comes on PA to announce we have a snag with the flaps and slats, so were returning back to base. Circled over Delhi and dumped fuel.. landed back around 1425 hrs IST 1/n pic.twitter.com/tpfWWXNY6w Yatrik Sheth (@MaaziSatakli) January 4, 2023 "I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the appalling incident that occurred during my business class trip on flight AI102 (commencing in NY, JFK yesterday 26th November at 12.30 pm, and arriving this afternoon in New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport at approximately 1.30 pm). This has been the most traumatic flight that I have ever experienced. During the course of the flight, shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off, I was getting ready to sleep, and another passenger walked to my seat completely inebriated. He unzipped his pants, relieved himself, and continued to expose me to his private parts. The passenger sitting next to me asked him to return to his seat. He did not respond immediately, but after a few moments left the area," the letter read. With inputs from ANI New Delhi: US regulators have issued their first-ever joint warning to banks over the risks associated with the cryptocurrency market, local media reported. The watchdogs told financial institutions to be wary of potential fraud, legal uncertainty, and misleading disclosures by digital asset firms, The BBC reported. Banks were also cautioned over the "contagion risk" from the sector, The BBC reported. It comes just two months after the collapse of trading platform FTX sent shockwaves through the crypto industry. The US Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said they were closely monitoring the crypto activities of banking organisations. (Also Read: Amul Franchise Business Idea: Invest Rs 2 lakhs, earn profit up to Rs 5 lakhs per month) "The events of the past year have been marked by significant volatility and the exposure of vulnerabilities in the crypto-asset sector," the statement said. The regulators also said that issuing or holding crypto tokens, which are stored on public, decentralised networks was "highly likely to be inconsistent with safe and sound banking practices", The BBC reported. (Also Read: Cyber thugs open fake account in SSB jawan's name, even take a loan on that-- Read details here) Banks were also encouraged to take steps to avoid problems in the digital asset market spreading to the wider financial system. "It is important that risks related to the crypto-asset sector that cannot be mitigated or controlled do not migrate to the banking system," it added. Tuesday`s statement comes after months of hesitancy by US financial industry watchdogs to issue uniform guidelines on cryptocurrencies, despite banks inviting clearer advice from regulators, The BBC reported. The cryptocurrency industry was rocked by the collapse of FTX in November. It was the world`s second largest cryptocurrency exchange and the entry point for millions of people into the digital asset market. New Delhi: IFS Parveen Kaswan's grandfather was depicted on an old bill from the 1980s selling wheat grains to the Indian government. He posted an official document from 1987 called a "J form" to social media with the comment, "Time when wheat used to be at 1.6 rupees per kg." Additionally, he noted that older people had a propensity to safeguard all data, saying, "Grandfather preserved all of the documents. The J form is the name of this file. Every document related to a crop sale over the last 40 years is included in the collection. You can research them at home." Users cheered Kaswan's grandfather's habit in addition to being fascinated by the wheat price. Amazing," one user said. Back then, the elders recorded every penny. Keep such records for each crop they sold. The J form is among the most crucial documents for farmers, said one user. Time when wheat used to be at 1.6 rupees per kg. The wheat crop my grandfather sold in 1987 to Food Corporation of India. pic.twitter.com/kArySiSTj4 Parveen Kaswan, IFS (ParveenKaswan) January 2, 2023 A "J form" is a document that commission brokers give to farmers who sell their crops as confirmation of their income. Before the J form was digitised, agents used to hoard these documents rather than give them to farmers. New Delhi: Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP, accusing the saffron party of 'shielding' one of the accused in the sensational Sultanpuri car dragging case. He also demanded to know why the accused, Manoj Mittal, was not yet removed from the party. In a shocking incident, a 20-year-old woman was killed in the early hours of the New Year after her scooter was hit by the car which dragged her for 12 kilometres. Her body was found in outer Delhi's Kanjhawala. Five men, who were allegedly in the car, have been booked for culpable homicide, among other sections. All five accused were sent to three-day police custody on Monday. Singh also claimed that he had sought time to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah via letter, email and phone call to discuss the incident, but have not got an appointment yet. "A horrendous crime happened in Delhi and the way the BJP is extending its support to the perpetrators is shameful. I have been calling Amit Shah since Tuesday, seeking time to discuss the incident. I have sent a letter, emailed him and even made phone calls to his office. I was told that I would get an appointment on Wednesday, but nobody from his office responded further," he said. Blaming the Delhi Police for negligence, the senior AAP leader alleged that the police failed to maintain law and order in the city despite issuing notices about extra security measures taken by them for New Year. Also Read: LIVE Updates | Delhi Kanjhawala Girl Accident Case: 'Don't support Nidhi's claim, Anjali never took alcohol,' says victim's mother "The Delhi police had made tall claims about the New Year security arrangement. So, why has this incident happened despite their extra measures? If Amit Shah cannot manage law and order in Delhi, he should give up that responsibility and let (Delhi chief minister) Arvind Kejriwal look after the city's safety and security," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has maintained that strictest punishment need to be given to the accused and the case should be tried in a fast track court. It had said that Mittal had recently joined the party during the Delhi MCD polls, but had not taken membership of the party. "BJP leader Manoj Mittal along with his friends are responsible for such a crime. They are acting like Talibans in Hindustan. Not a single BJP leader condemned the incident and neither has any action taken against Mittal. Why isn't there any investigation against Manoj Mittal" Sanjay Singh asked. Earlier, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi also demanded the removal of Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena over alleged lapses in the Kanjhawala incident. A delegation of AAP MLAs had also met Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Tuesday and demanded strictest punishment for those involved in the crime. It also sought the dismissal of the district deputy commissioner of police for allegedly shielding the accused. Meanwhile, the AAP on Wednesday staged a candle light march in Central Delhi, seeking justice for the victim Anjali Singh. Several AAP leaders and workers gathered at Jantar Mantar holding candles and banners that said 'Dilli Ki Beti Ko Insaaf Do' (justice for Delhi's daughter). Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai also participated in the march and said that the central government and the L-G should take strictest action against the culprits. "Instead of shielding the culprits, strictest action should be taken against them by the Union government and L-G V K Saxena," he said. New Delhi: With the national capital still grieving over the gruesome death of the 20-year-old Kanjhawala accident case victim, another incident has rocked Delhi. A jilted lover stabbed a girl in North West Delhi's Adarsh Nagar on January 2 reportedly after the latter decided to end their friendship. The accused, who has been identified as Sukhvinder Singh, has been arrested from Haryana's Ambala, while the injured woman is currently admitted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital in Delhi. According to the media reports, the victim is said to be a Delhi University student and befriended Sukhvinder five years ago. In the CCTV footage shared by news agency ANI, the accused is seen repeatedly stabbing the girl. #WATCH | A 22-year-old youth namely Sukhvinder arrested for stabbing a girl in Adarsh Nagar area on Jan 2. Both were friends &due to some dispute, he stabbed her 3-4 times.The girl is admitted to a hospital&her condition is stable: Delhi Police (CCTV visuals confirmed by police) pic.twitter.com/VLMvdmWGuH January 4, 2023 The girl reportedly said that she was on her way to an education institute when the accused met her and since she knew him, she didn't expect that he would attack her. The accused, on the pretext of discussing a matter, took her to a street and suddenly stabbed her. "He wanted me to continue the friendship between us. I didn't want to be in a relationship with him. We were friends, but due to some issue, I broke this friendship. Since then he was pressurizing me. On January 2, he met me and again asked me to continue the friendship but when I refused he stabbed me," the girl told the police, IANS reported. Delhi Police said that through technical surveillance, it was found that the accused had absconded to Ambala from Delhi. "The team rushed to Ambala and apprehended him on Tuesday evening. He is being brought from Ambala to Delhi," the cops said. New Delhi: In a big relief for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Supreme Court on Wednesday put a stay on the Allahabad High court order directing the state government to hold urban bodies elections by January 31 without reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, and directed that a panel appointed by the state government will have to decide the OBC quota-related issues for the local bodies poll by March 31, 2023. The top court permitted the state government to appoint administrators to run the affairs of the local bodies after the expiry of the tenure of the elected representatives. It, however, said that the administrators will not be empowered to take major policy decisions. Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Courts order directing the Uttar Pradesh government to hold local urban bodies elections in the State by January without granting reservation to OBCs. pic.twitter.com/SzeCaTzdit ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2023 The top court had earlier agreed to hear the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal challenging the high court order quashing its draft notification on urban local body elections and directing it to hold the polls without reservation for other backward classes. The Lucknow bench of the high court had ordered that the state government notify the polls "immediately" as the term of several municipalities would end by January 31, while annulling the December 5 draft notification. The court had directed the state election commission to hold the elections by January 31 after transferring the OBC seats in the draft notification to the general category. The UP government, which challenged the High Court's order, told the Supreme Court that the OBC Commission has already been formed and will complete its task by March. The high court's order came following a petition that had objected to the state government's move to issue a provisional list of reserved seats for mayors of 17 municipal corporations, chairpersons of 200 municipal councils and 545 nagar panchayats. (With Agency Inputs) Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will launch his 'Samadhan Yatra' from West Champaran district on Thursday. He will review ongoing government projects during his yatra from January 5-29 and will also interact with people. "The CM along with his cabinet colleagues Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Sanjay Kumar Jha reached Valmiki Nagar (West Champaran) on Wednesday," according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The cabinet secretariat department also released the schedule of Kumar's programme, under which 18 districts will be covered. "The minister in-charge of the district and the resident minister of the district, besides chief secretary, DGP and additional chief secretary, principal secretary or the secretary of the departments handling the project will take part in the review meetings. Local MPs, MLAs and MLCs may also take part voluntarily," a circular issued by the cabinet secretariat said. According to the schedule, the review meeting of Sheohar and Sitamarhi districts will be held at Sitamarhi on January 6 after which Kumar will return to Patna. Besides, meetings will be held in Vaishali, Siwan and Saran (Chhapra) on January 7, 8 and 9, respectively, marked by night stay at Patna on each day. Also read: 'What has new father of new India done for nation?': Nitish Kumar attacks PM Modi; BJP responds The CM will resume the yatra in Madhubani on January 11 and then hold a meeting at Darbhanga the next day. Subsequently, a similar exercise will be held in Supaul on January 17, in Saharsa on January 18 and in Araria on January 19. He will also hold a review meeting in Banka on January 28 and of Munger, Lakhisarai and Sheikhpura districts at Munger on January 29. A protest by Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) aspirants over a paper leak against the state govt turned violent in Patna on Wednesday. Bihar Police resorted to the lathi charge against aspirants and arrested some of them. The students were demanding cancellation of the clerk grade written exam conducted by BSSC after the paper leak. Also read: Bihar: Teaching job candidates protest seeking immediate recruitment; lathi-charged by police "They started violence and vandalism and to control it, (lathi-charge) was done. Some have been arrested. FIR will be registered against them, " news agency ANI quoted MS Khan, Special Executive Magistrate, Patna as saying. Sagar Island (WB): In the backdrop of two central teams visiting West Bengal for a field inspection of PM Awas Yojona-Gramin (PMAY-G) houses, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre saying it should stop doing politics and disburse funds for MGNREGS. She visited the Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday to review the preparations for the coming Gangasagar Mela. "I am here to visit Kapil Muni Ashram and not to do politics. The Centre must stop politics ... Ask it to release the funds for the 100 days' scheme," Banerjee said reacting to the news of the central team's visit. Two central teams of officials from the ministry of rural development have separately visited Purba Medinipur and Malda districts for rapid checking of PMAY-G houses there. In the past month, the state has received funds under the PM Awas Yojana, as well as for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Scheme. Banerjee had a few days ago alleged that there is a strategy of the Center behind giving that money. Also read: Mamata Banerjee national anthem case: No sanction needed to prosecute Bengal CM, says lawyer Bengal has been raising the issue of pending payment for the 100 days work scheme. Banerjee had raised it during her closed-door meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah about a fortnight ago. TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had raised questions on it in the Lok Sabha. The UN Security Council will meet Thursday to discuss the visit to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by an Israeli minister that has enraged Palestinians. The 15-member Council will convene at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) at the United Nations headquarters in New York following a request by the United Arab Emirates and China. There have been fears Tuesday's visit by Israel's extreme-right new national security minister, firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, could spark a war. Al-Aqsa Mosque lies in the walled Old City of East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories, the compound is administered by Jordan's Waqf Islamic affairs council, with Israeli forces operating there and controlling access. It is the third-holiest site in Islam and a sacred place to Jews, who refer to it as Temple Mount. Under a longstanding status quo, non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there. In recent years, a growing number of Jews, most of them Israeli nationalists, have covertly prayed at the compound, a development decried by Palestinians. Western governments warned such moves threaten the fragile arrangement at Jerusalem's holy sites. Ben-Gvir's visit sparked a wave of international condemnation, including from the United States, a longstanding ally of Israel. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres, reiterated Wednesday that the Secretary-General "calls on all to refrain from steps that could escalate tensions in and around Jerusalem." Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkiye were among nations to condemn the visit. A joint Palestinian Arab-Islamic delegation will meet with the President of the Security Council, and two other meetings will take place with the Non-Aligned Group and the Palestine delegation to the United Nations ahead of tomorrows session, the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported. The UN Security Council has adopted several resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the years and supports the two-state solution to peace in the Middle East. * This story has been edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Kolkata: China is expected to interfere in the succession of the Dalai Lama, and anticipating that eventuality, the Tibetan government-in-exile has worked out a plan for a democratic transition of the leadership role by the spiritual. In an interview to PTI, President of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering pointed out that a replay of the 1995 appointment of a rival Panchen Lama by the Communist government of China while a boy chosen by the Dalai Lama as the incarnate of the Lama was whisked away from the public eye, can be expected. "What happens after the present Dalai Lama is no more, is a big challenge for the Tibetans, especially if the Sino-Tibetan conflict is not resolved," he said on Tuesday. "We believe China will definitely interfere with the succession process of the Dalai Lama... They have been preparing for that for the last 15 years," he added. Tsering, who also holds the title of Sikyong, stated that the Chinese government issued a "diktat" in 2007 on the need for it to be involved in the succession of all reincarnate Lamas. "This was done, aiming at using religion as a political tool... (Even) though China should not have any role nor any other government," he said. Also Read: China attempting to 'destroy' Buddhism but it won't succeed, says Dalai Lama "They (Chinese) intervened in 1995 when they chose a boy (Gyancain Norbu) as the Panchen Lama. The boy recognised by His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) as Panchen Lama (Gedhun Choeyi Nyima) was whisked away and we still have no news of whether he is alive," he said. Nyima has not been seen by any independent observer since May 17, 1995. While the Chinese government claims he lives a "normal" life, Tibetan exiles and human rights groups believe that he is being held at a "Chinese gulag as a prisoner of conscience". Tibetan Buddhists believe that the soul of a high Lama or "living Buddha" after his death may be reborn as "soul boy" and can be found through the interpretation of arcane signs. "Communist China professes not to believe in religion, yet it wants to interfere in what is a purely a religious function," rued Tsering, adding that the Dalai Lama in jest has said that if the "Chinese government is so interested in re-incarnation, it should study Tibetan Buddhism". To prepare the world and Tibetans for the day when the 14th Dalai Lama passes away, a six-point plan has been prepared. The cornerstone of the plan, Tsering said, is a democratic transition. While the religious leadership remains with the Dalai Lama, since 2011, the political leadership of the Tibetan community has devolved on the directly elected Sikyong or president of the Tibetan government-in-exile. Till then, the temporal head of the Tibetan government-in-exile elected by the 'Kashag' or parliament-in-exile was 'Kalon Tripa' or prime minister with the Dalai Lama as the overall head. A popular uprising in 1959 against the Chinese who had invaded Tibet in 1950, which was bloodily put down killing thousands of civilians, saw the Dalai Lama and many of his followers fleeing to India. A year after that, the Dalai Lama established a democratically-elected parliament. "The Dalai Lama who was influenced by Indian democracy, which he saw for the first time during a visit in 1956-57, has been preparing us for a democratic future," Tsering said. The Tibetan leader said the Dalai Lama found that while India's democratically functioning Parliament allowed people to speak freely, the Chinese apex legislature of which he was a high official was a place where none could speak their mind, prompting him to adopt democracy in running the affairs of the Tibetan exiles. "That is why I, a farmer's son, have been able to take on the mantle of the Tibetan political leader... We will carry forward democratically," he said. New Delhi: The Kanjhawala case, in which a 20-year-old woman was hit by a car and dragged for several kilometers on New Year's Eve night, resulting in her death, has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of the current police response system in India. Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who previously served as the Joint Commissioner of Police in Delhi, has called for the revival of the previous system, which included police control room vans that acted as a mobile police force. In an interview with ANI, Bedi stated: "I think the response system of the police has collapsed. Because, of the earlier system of the police control room vans, where you had a mobile police force, there were police vans in hundreds, spread all over the city. It was a very well-established system, developed over the years by respective police commissioners. Sometimes, I do not understand when and why the system was dismantled." Also Read: LIVE Updates | Delhi Kanjhawala Girl Accident Case 'The way our youngsters are being groomed, parented is serious concern' Bedi argued that the dismissal of the control room van system led to a decrease in the speed of police response, saying: "Instead of the police control room vans, which were like the mobile police force, who were always moving around different corners, on getting a call, they would have responded to the incident... The way our youngsters are being groomed, parented, and being educated and the way they are taking the law into their hands, getting drunk at night and overspeeding, this is a very serious concern." Also Read: Delhi Kanjhawala case: She just got up and fled to her home, DCW chief demands probe against Anjali's friend Delhi Kanjhawala accident Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the Kanjhawala case and are currently in police custody for interrogation. The Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Outer District, Harendra K Singh, stated: "A case under 304 A (death due to negligence) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against them. They were produced before a court in Delhi's Rohini which sent them to three days of police custody for interrogation." It is hoped that through a thorough investigation, justice will be served for the victim and her family. (With agency inputs) Gomati (Tripura): A group of unidentified attackers, on Tuesday (January 3) reportedly targeted the ancestral home of former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb in Udaipur, Gomati district in Tripura. The incident occurred when a group of priests arrived at Deb's residence to perform a Yajna in the annual Shradh ceremony of Deb's father. According to reports, the attackers vandalized the priests' vehicles and launched an unprovoked attack on Deb's ancestral home, located in Jamjuri village. The attackers, believed to be backed by the Opposition CPIM party, also set fire to the house and nearby shops. Videos of the incident show flames engulfing the house and nearby shops, as well as the vandalization of cars and other vehicles. Local residents and bystanders rushed to the aid of the priests and a protest ensued, with some protesters vandalizing shops believed to be connected to the attackers. Also Read: 'Hardworking grassroots leader': PM Narendra Modi condoles demise of IPFT founder NC Debbarma Watch the video here: Former #Tripura CM #BiplabDebs ancestral house in Udaipur, Tripura ransacked & torched by miscreants. His house was attacked today ahead of a yagna scheduled to be held tomorrow to mark his fathers death anniversary. pic.twitter.com/5qD26pRbzb Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) January 3, 2023 Jitendra Kaushik, one of the priests who was attacked, said, "I came to visit Maa Tripura Sundari temple. Here I came on instructions of our Gurudev ji to overlook the preparations of the Yagna to be performed on Wednesday. Suddenly a mob came they attack me and vandalized my vehicle. They shouted either there will be CPI(M) or none." Tripura | We came here to worship Mata Sundari. While I was here, a large number of people came towards our car & attacked me: J Kaushik, SC lawyer & victim, on miscreants' attack at Tripura ex-CM Biplab Deb's ancestral home in Jamjuri pic.twitter.com/svd4enJMJV ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2023 "As I got out of the car & tried to escape, they (miscreants) started pelting stones. When I started screaming, they said either CPM will come to power or nobody else will come to power," J Kaushik further told ANI. Heavy police deployment was made to the area and the Sub Divisional Police Officer and the Additional Superintendent of Police were called to the scene to address the situation. It is not yet clear if anyone was injured in the attack. The attack on Deb's ancestral home and the priests have caused outrage among local residents and political leaders. The motive for the attack is not yet known, but an investigation is ongoing. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Days after the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple Acharya Satyendra Das "blessed" Rahul Gandhi for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Ram Mandir Trust secretary Champat Rai on Tuesday (January 3, 2023) lauded the Congress leader for undertaking the foot march. "I thank the young man who is walking on foot in the country, I appreciate his move. There is nothing wrong in it," Rai said. "He is walking in this harsh weather and this must be appreciated. I must say every one should do Yatra of the country," he added. "I am the worker of RSS and the RSS never condemned Bharat Jodo Yatra," he said in reply to a question from reporters about the Yatra which entered Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Earlier last month, the chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya had wished that the blessings of Lord Rama be always upon Rahul Gandhi. In a letter to Gandhi on December 31, chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das extended his support to the former Congress chief over his move to unite the country. "I hope and pray that the mission for which you are fighting may get success. I bless you for your long life," he wrote in the letter, which was shared by "You are working for the noble cause that is 'sarvajan hitay sarvjan sukhaay' in the interest of people and for the happiness of the people. I wish the blessings of Lord Rama be upon you always," the letter read. Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Uttar Pradesh today Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is currently in Uttar Pradesh. It entered the BJP-ruled state through Ghaziabad on Tuesday afternoon and made a night halt at Mavikala village in Baghpat. It is scheduled to pass through Shamli on Wednesday. - , , - pic.twitter.com/N3jsZ94WPH Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 3, 2023 The foot march will cover 11 assembly constituencies across three districts before it enters Haryana through Sanauli in Panipat on the evening of January 5. Major opposition parties like the SP and the BSP have also sent their best wishes for yatra but have decided to keep away from it despite an invitation from Rahul. Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra to conclude in Jammu and Kashmir After traversing from Punjab and a day through Himachal Pradesh, the Yatra will then enter Jammu and Kashmir. The Bharat Jodo Yatra started from Kanyakumari on September 7 last year and has so far travelled over 3,000 km. It will conclude on January 30 in Srinagar with the hoisting of the national flag by Rahul Gandhi. J&K: Police in a joint operation with the army claimed to have recovered three pistols, along with ammunition, and as many as 3 Chinese Grenades from a house belonging to Shameem Ahmad Shiekh of the Sudhpora Taad area. 'Acting on specific information, Police along with Army launched a joint cordon search operation in village Sadhpora Taad area of Karnah, Kupwara, a police spokesperson said 'During the search operation, the joint team recovered arms and ammunition including 03 Pistols, 03 Pistol Magazines, 22 Pistol rounds and 03 Chinese Grenades from a house belonging to Shameem Ahmad Shiekh resident of Sudhpora Taad'. Meanwhile, in yet another action against drug smugglers in the district, Kupwara Police claimed to have arrested two persons involved in the smuggling of narcotics from the Taad area of Karnah. Acting on specific information that two individuals were going to smuggle drugs from Teethwal towards the Taad and Tangdhar area, according to SSP Kupwara, a police naka was established near Bandi Taad in the presence of the Executive Magistrate by a team of police led by SHO Police Station Karnah. Additionally, during the Naka checking, a Tata Mobile with the license plate JK09C-1179 that was traveling from Teethwal to Taad and being driven by Mashkoor Ahmad Malik was stopped and subjected to a thorough search. Officer's words. SSP added, During the search, two packets weighing two Kilograms of narcotics looking like heroin were recovered from the vehicle in the presence of Executive Magistrate Ist Class Tanghdar. He said the recovered narcotics were sealed on the spot, a vehicle was seized and two smugglers were arrested. The investigations have been taken up to find out other connections in the case, He added. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to transfer criminal cases against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, pending in a Rampur special court, outside Uttar Pradesh on grounds of alleged "persecution". A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice SA Nazeer and Justice PS Narasimha said it needed more cogent reasons for transferring the ongoing criminal cases against Khan. "I will not get justice in the state. I am being persecuted... It is not a judge... It is the state. Everywhere, the situation will be the same inside the state," senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Khan, said. "When we transfer (a case), we need far more cogent reasons for the transfer. Sorry. We are giving you the liberty to approach the Allahabad High Court," the bench said. The Samajwadi Party leader had sought transfer of several ongoing criminal cases against him in a special trial court in Rampur outside Uttar Pradesh. Khan was recently convicted in a criminal case relating to hate speech and disqualified as a lawmaker in the state assembly. New Delhi: While 'cold day' conditions gripped Delhi, the Himalayan temple of Gangotri and various other places in Uttarkashi received this season's first snowfall on Tuesday (January 3, 2023). In the national capital, the maximum temperature dropped five notches below normal at many places including Lodhi Road, Palam, Jafarpur, and Mayur Vihar with the India Metrological Department (IMD) predicting that cold wave conditions are very likely to continue over northwest India during the next three days. The Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 8.5 degrees Celsius -- a notch above normal, and the maximum temperature settled at 16.1 degrees Celsius, a departure of three degrees from normal. "Due to fog and low cloud cover, severe cold day conditions were observed over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Cold day conditions were observed over some pockets of Delhi and isolated areas in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh," an IMD official said. A 'cold day' is when the minimum temperature is less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius below normal and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below normal. A 'severe cold day' is when the maximum temperature is 6.5 degrees Celsius or more below normal. Cold wave conditions to return to Delhi on weekend As per the IMD, 'moderate' to 'dense' fog is predicted in Delhi for the next two days. Cold wave conditions are also set to return on the weekend and the mercury may drop to 4 degrees Celsius. Cold wave conditions are also likely to continue over northwest India during the next three days, the MeT department said, adding that some relief is expected thereafter. Uttarkashi receives season's first snowfall In Uttarkashi, the Himalayan temple of Gangotri and various other places received this season's first snowfall on Tuesday evening. Gomukh, where the Ganga originates, Harshil, Nelang valley, Dharali, Mukhba, Upla Taknaur, and popular tourist spot Kyarkoti also received snowfall, District Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal said. Icy cold winds swept lower altitude areas, he said. Colder days ahead for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh IMD has predicted that cold day to severe cold day conditions in many pockets is very likely over Uttar Pradesh during the next five days and in isolated or some pockets over Punjab, and Haryana during the next three days. The weather department has also said that cold day conditions will prevail in isolated pockets over north Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh during the next 2-3 days. i) Dense to very dense fog and cold day conditions very likely to continue over northwest India during next 4-5 days. ii) Cold wave conditions very likely to continue over northwest India during next 3 days and decrease in intensity thereafter. pic.twitter.com/6Rlq10xy0m January 3, 2023 Due to light winds and high moisture near the surface over the Indo-Gangetic plains, dense to very dense fog is very likely to continue in some pockets during the night and morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh in the next 4-5 days and in isolated pockets over Rajasthan during next 48 hours, the IMD said. As per the IMD, the dense fog is also likely to occur in isolated pockets over Bihar during the next five days, and over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh during the next three days. Meanwhile, eastern states like West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura can also witness fog over the next two days. "No significant change in minimum temperatures very likely over east India during the next two days and fall by 2-4 degrees Celsius thereafter. No significant change in minimum temperatures is very likely over the remaining parts of the country during the next 5 days," the IMD said. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday rejected charges of New Delhi being a war profiteer over its procurement of discounted Russian oil and said that India tried to defuse the situation around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and quietly helped in the grain deal between Moscow and Kyiv. EAM Jaishankar also described the cap on the price of Russian crude oil as a Western decision that was taken without any consultations with India, asserting that New Delhi will never automatically sign into what others have cooked up. In an interview with 'Die Press' newspaper in Austria, Jaishankar while replying to a question on the Ukraine conflict, indicated India's readiness to contribute towards defusing the situation. "If we can help, we stand ready. And we have already helped -- very quietly on the grain deal, for example. We also tried to defuse the situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," he said. Jaishankar was asked whether he sees a role for India as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. The External Affairs Minister paid a four-day visit to Austria that ended on Tuesday. There were serious global concerns over the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in August after it came under fire, with both Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for the attacks. Later, a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency travelled to the site. The grain deal was sealed in July following months of negotiations to primarily facilitate the export of millions of tonnes of wheat, maize and other grains from Ukraine. The deal was considered crucial for addressing food shortages in many countries. Asked whether the main role of a mediator has already been occupied by Turkey, Jaishankar said: "No. But it's not a question of who gets the credit as a mediator and makes the headlines for it." To another question on India's energy imports from Russia at discount prices and whether India is benefitting from not joining the Western sanctions, Jaishankar strongly rejected such a view. "I vehemently reject -- politically and also mathematically -- that India is a war profiteer. Oil prices have doubled as a result of the Ukraine war," he said in the interview that appeared on Monday. Jaishankar said the oil market is also driven up by sanctions against Iran or what is happening in Venezuela. "In such a situation, it makes diplomatic and economic sense to look around the market for the best deal. Would Europe pay more if it didn't have to?" he asked. "Europe imported about USD 120 billion worth of energy from Russia after the war broke out. That's six times as much as we bought. When the interviewer pointed out that Europe has reduced its Russian energy imports, while India has increased its procurement, Jaishankar strongly shot back. "Why is that? When Europe reduces its imports from Russia, it has to go to other oil markets. And those markets have been our main sources. If you take away my food, what am I going to do? Starve," he asked. On the price cap of Russian oil, the external affairs minister said "that was a Western decision without consultations with us. Every state has the right to make decisions. But we will never automatically sign what others have cooked up." Last month, leading Western countries announced a cap on the price of Russian oil at USD 60 a barrel to prevent Russia from profiting from its war on Ukraine. When asked about the relevance of the price cap for India, he said it will depend on what impact it has on energy markets. "Nobody knows at the moment. Therefore, if prices continue to rise, the rest of the world will express what they think." Jaishankar stated that it is difficult to say whether the Ukraine war is shaking up the international order. "But there is a clear psychological effect in Europe, which is forced to deal with a conflict in close proximity after a long time. What's more, Russia has always had a European-Asian duality," he said. "But this two-headed eagle always looked more toward Europe than toward Asia. Russians always saw themselves as Europeans. In the wake of the Ukraine war, that orientation could shift to Asia. This has geopolitical implications," he added. Asked why India did not support the resolution in which UN member states condemned the invasion of Ukraine by a majority, Jaishankar said each state judges events according to its "location, interests and history". "There are also incidents in Asia, where countries in Europe or Latin America do not feel the need to take a position. What happened in Ukraine is closer to Europe," he noted. "Europe has a different history with Russia than India. We also have different interests in Ukraine than you do. Almost all states will say that they support the principles of the UN Charter. But look at the world of the last 75 years: Have all UN members really always followed the UN Charter and never sent troops to another country?" he asked. Asked about China's rise and whether its increasing power projection poses a major challenge to the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar said no region will be stable if it is dominated by a single power. "The more India grows, the greater our economic weight and political influence become, and the better it is not only for us but also for the world. Not only the world order but also Asia must become multipolar," he said. "No region will be stable if it is dominated by a single power. The essence of international relations is for states to get along and find a balance," he added. Sagar: District administration on Tuesday razed the illegal hotel of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mishri Chand Gupta in Sagar amid public outrage over the Jagdish Yadav murder case. The BJP leader was accused of killing Jagdish Yadav by running his SUV over him on December 22. A special team from Indore blasted 60 dynamites on Tuesday evening to demolish the hotel. The building turned into rubble within seconds. Sagar District Collector Deepak Arya, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Tarun Nayak, and other senior officers were present during the demolition. The Hotel Jairam Palace of Mishri Chand Gupta was situated near the Makaronia intersection in Sagar. "In the safety view, traffic was stopped by placing barricades around the intersection. People living in the buildings around the hotel were also alerted. There has been no loss of any kind. Only the building was demolished," said District Collector Deepak Arya. Jagdish Yadav, resident of a resident of Koregaon was crushed to death by an SUV on December 22. The allegation was leveled against BJP leader Mishri Chand Gupta and his family members. Police registered a case of murder against eight accused in this case. #WATCH | MP | Police razed illegal hotel of suspended BJP leader Mishri Chand Gupta after public protest over Jagdish Yadav murder case in Sagar "There has been no loss of any kind. Only the building was demolished," said Collector Deepak Arya (03.01) pic.twitter.com/VsAbVhRGi8 ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2023 Out of these, five were arrested. Mishri Chand Gupta is still absconding. Pertinent to mention deceased Jagdish Yadav was the nephew of independent Councilor Kiran Yadav. Kiran Yadav defeated Mishri Chand Gupta`s wife Meena by 83 votes in the civic body polls. It is alleged that Jagdish was murdered in this enmity. He was a resident of Koregaon in Makronia and worked at a dairy farm located at Makronia intersection. Jharkhand Board Exam Date 2023: Jharkhand Board Exam Date 2023 is expected to release soon. Jharkhand Academic Council, JAC, will release the date sheet for the Class 10th and 12th exams on the official websitejac.jharkhand.gov.in. According to local reports, the Jharkhand board exam 2023 will begin in March 2023. According to official updates, Jharkhand board exams 2023 will be held for the entire curriculum, which means that the syllabus deduction that was applicable during COVID will not be implemented. Although the Jharkhand board exam date has not been officially declared, sources indicate that the exam will begin on March 14th for both classes 10th and 12th. Jharkhand Board Exam Date 2023: Heres how to download Go to the official website of the board- jac.jharkhand.gov.in. On the homepage, go to the 'Recent Announcement' section. Click on the link for Jharkhand Board JAC class 10 or 12 board exam date sheet 2023,' A pdf will get open on a new page. Check and download the result. According to local media sources, the Jharkhand board's practical tests will begin on February 20. Candidates are encouraged to monitor the official website for updates and to solely depend on the official JAC date sheet. Jharkhand board exams in 2023 will be administered in both an OMR and a written format. The question paper would be divided into three sections: MCQ, short answer questions, and long answer questions. The captain of Lufthansa FrankfurtAlmatyAstana flight DLH649 decided to land at Heydar Aliyev International Airport due to adverse weather conditions at Astana International Airport. The Airbus A330 aircraft with 123 passengers on board landed at Baku's airport at 06:58 (GMT+4). Following the airline captain's decision, the aircraft took off from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport back to Frankfurt at 08:38 (GMT+4). Myanmar's junta announced an amnesty for 7,000 prisoners to mark Independence Day on Wednesday following a show of force in the capital, days after increasing democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi's jail term to 33 years. Swaths of the Southeast Asian country have been engulfed by fighting between junta troops and anti-coup rebels since the military seized power almost two years ago. The junta, which recently wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of Suu Kyi, is preparing for fresh elections later this year that the United States has said would be a "sham". Tanks, missile launchers and armoured cars rolled through the dawn air to a parade ground in the capital Naypyidaw, AFP correspondents said, kicking off a military display marking 75 years since Myanmar gained independence from Britain. Civil servants and high school students followed the troops, accompanied by a military band as 750 "peace" doves were released to mark the occasion, according to state media. Later in the day, the junta announced it would free 7,012 prisoners to mark the anniversary, though it did not specify whether the amnesty would include those jailed as part of a crackdown on dissent. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not respond to an AFP request for comment on whether Suu Kyi would be moved from her prison to house arrest as part of the amnesty. In a speech to assembled troops, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing accused unidentified countries of "intervening in Myanmar's internal affairs" since the February 2021 coup. The military was meeting with political parties for discussions on "the proportional representation electoral system", he said, without giving further details. Analysts say the junta may scrap the first-past-the-post system that saw Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy win sweeping majorities in 2020 and 2015. Muted celebrations Myanmar declared independence from British colonial rule on January 4, 1948, after a long fight championed by General Aung San, ousted civilian leader Suu Kyi's father. The junta has handed out hundreds of awards and medals to its supporters in the run-up to the event, including to a firebrand monk known for his role in stirring up religious hatred in Myanmar. Wirathu -- dubbed "The Buddhist bin Laden" by Time Magazine in 2013 following deadly communal riots -- was awarded the title of "Thiri Pyanchi" on Tuesday, for "outstanding work for the good of the Union of Myanmar". Independence Day is normally marked with festive street games, marches, and gatherings in public parks and spaces. But celebrations of public holidays have been largely muted since the putsch as people stay home in protest against the junta. AFP correspondents said there was an increased security presence in the commercial hub Yangon, which has been hit by a string of bomb attacks in recent months. The US embassy warned of "potential increases in attacks, targeted shootings, or explosions" on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, marked the day by sending "sincere greetings", adding that he anticipated the "further development" of relations, according to state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar. Russia is a major ally and arms supplier of the isolated junta, which has said Moscow's invasion of Ukraine almost a year ago was "justified". Myanmar's military has made unsubstantiated allegations of massive voter fraud during elections in November 2020, which were won resoundingly by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, as a reason for its coup. International observers said at the time the polls were largely free and fair. Search Keywords: Short link: Maharashtra electricity strike today: Thousands of employees of three state-owned power companies went on a 72-hour strike on Wednesday to protest against the privatisation of power firms even as the government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), a leader from the employees' union said. Thousands of employees of the three companies were participating in the strike which started from midnight, Krushna Bhoir, general secretary of the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation, told PTI. The protest was going on peacefully across the state, he said, adding the protesting employees were sitting in pandals erected outside their establishments. Bhoir said the state government has called them for a meeting and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will meet members of the action committee of the employee unions at the Sahyadri Guest House here at around 1 pm. "More than 30 unions of drivers, wiremen, engineers and other employees have come together to thwart the attempt of privatisation in the state-owned power companies," Krushan Bhoir, general secretary of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation told news agency PTI. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (Mahavitaran), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahapareshan) and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Co Ltd (Mahanirmiti) are the state-owned power companies. Maharashtra electricity strike Maharashtra Rajya Karmachari, Adhikari and Abhiyanta Sangharsh Samiti, an action committee of 31 unions of power companies, had started an agitation last month over their various demands. Their major demand is not to issue a 'parallel distribution licence' to the Adani Group's power subsidiary. "Nearly 86,000 employees, officers and engineers of the three power companies, along with 42,000 contract employees and security guards will go on a 72-hour strike starting Wednesday to protest against privatisation," Bhoir said. Why is Mahavitaran on strike? In November last year, an Adani group company had sought licence for expanding its power distribution business into more areas of Mumbai. Adani Electricity Navi Mumbai Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Transmission, had applied to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for a parallel licence for power distribution under the jurisdiction of Mahavitaran in Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Taloja and Uran areas. "There are no financial demands in this agitation, but we want these power companies owned by people of the state to survive. These should not be sold to private capitalists who intend to only make profit," Bhoir said. In the strike notice given to the state government last month, the action committee has also warned of an indefinite strike from January 18, if the demands are not met, he added. Addressing a press conference, Vishwas Pathak, an independent director of Mahavitaran, said two private companies had applied for a parallel distribution licence in the state, but this is not privatisation. "Issuing a parallel licence is not privatisation. The government owns Mahavitaran and it has 100 per cent holding in it. That will not be affected," Pathak said. There is a provision for issuing parallel licence under the Electricity Act 2003 and 2010 and any private distribution company can come forward for the same, he said. The MERC is responsible for issuing licences and the state government has no role to play in it, Pathak said. Strike in Maharashtra Meanwhile, in light of the 72-hour strike, the Mahavitaran has set up a control room starting midnight for the Kalyan division to ensure uninterrupted power supply to its consumers, an official said. As per a release from the power authority, the control room has been set up for areas coming under Kalyan zone, which includes Vasai and Palghar. The Mahavitaran will take the help of employees who are on strike, contract workers, retired employees and trainees to man the services, it said. The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government invoked MESMA on Tuesday night, after employees of the power companies warned of the strike, so that law and order is maintained and public property is protected in the state. "In view of the strike notice served by Maharashtra state electricity employees, officers, engineers, sangharsh sameetee (approx 30 unions)...The Government has decided to invoke provisions of the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act-2017 to ensure normalcy in the state," the government resolution said. Jammu: In a bid to enhance security setup in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, authorities on Wednesday are deploying 18 additional CRPF companies to secure minority areas in the region. The 18 CRPF companies - approximately 1,800 personnel - will be rushed to the Jammu region for deployment mainly in Poonch and Rajouri districts in the wake of recent killings of civilians in two fresh terror attacks in Rajouri district. The move followed a recent order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs amidst intelligence input about the terror attack in the Jammu region, news agency ANI reported. Eight CRPF companies will be deployed very soon from nearby locations of deployment in Jammu and Kashmir, while 10 CRPF companies are being rushed from Delhi, news agency ANI reported. The development comes in view of twin terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district in which six people of a minority community including two children were killed and 11 others were injured. The deployment is being done for the security of minority areas in Rajouri and Poonch. There is a huge cry from the minority community people over the security of their areas in border districts after the Rajouri attack. Earlier this week, two children were killed and six people were injured in an IED explosion on Monday near the house of one of the victims in Dangri village. On Sunday evening, terrorists opened fire on three houses of a minority community in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six. Also Read: One killed after blast near site of Sunday's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri In the first attack, two armed terrorists barged into three homes separated by a distance of around 50 metres from each other on Sunday 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 incidents 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 CRPF have launched a massive search operation to nab the two "armed men" behind the attack at Upper Dangri village. The office of LG 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. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: The Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed on Tuesday after a year-end break with a milling crowd and several leaders joining Rahul Gandhi, who was described by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a "warrior" who is not afraid of the might of the government. The yatra had taken a nine-day break on December 24. The second leg of the journey began this morning from the national capital's Kashmiri gate area and passed through the busy streets of Delhi. The police had made elaborate arrangements amid heavy deployment of force after the Congress alleged lapses in Rahul Gandhi's security when it entered the national capital on December 24. The yatra started from the Hanuman Mandir at Kashmiri Gate at 10 AM as it made its way through the busy Outer Ring Road. Traffic in several parts of the city on the Ring Road was thrown out of gear. Party workers lined up on both sides of the road along the Ring Road in Delhi, with top leaders according a rousing reception to the yatra. The yatra then reached the Loni border in Ghaziabad where Rahul Gandhi was welcomed by leaders and workers including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Among those who joined the yatra in Delhi included AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, party MP Pramod Tiwari, Delhi Congress chief Anil Kumar Chaudhary and other Congress leaders like Ambika Soni and Abhishek Dutt. Former Congress member and now Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also joined Rahul Gandhi. Party's Uttar Pradesh Congress chief and former MP Brijlal Khabri and CLP leader in Uttar Pradesh Aradhna Mishra were among those present at the Loni border. Later, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah also joined at Ghaziabad. Former RAW chief Amarjit Singh Dulat joined Rahul Gandhi in Delhi before it reached the Uttar Pradesh border. Priyanka Vadra welcomed her brother in presence of leaders of the Uttar Pradesh Congress and Delhi Congress. She is also the AICC general secretary in-charge for Uttar Pradesh. The yatra flag was handed over to the leaders of the state at a specially made stage where brother-sister bonding was on full display as Rahul Gandhi hugged and kissed Priyanka Vadra on her cheek sitting side by side. Vadra claimed big industrialists like may have bought many a politician, PSUs and the media, but "they have not been, and will never be, able to buy my brother". , @RahulGandhi , #BharatJodoYatra pic.twitter.com/KU8qY4vW09 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) January 3, 2023 People say Rahul Gandhi does not feel cold even in winter, this is because "he is wearing the shield of truth," the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi, who was constantly seen wearing white T-shirts even in extreme chilly conditions, has found media and politicians alike wondering why he does not feel cold. Vadra said she was proud of welcoming the yatra, which entered Uttar Pradesh traversing 3,000 kms from Kanyakumari. "Look at my elder brother, I take the maximum pride in you. Because the establishment put all its pressure. The government spent thousands of crores to destroy his image. "But, he did not deter from the path of truth. Agencies were deployed but he did not feel afraid, as he is a warrior," she said to thunderous applause at the Loni border. She said Rahul has opened "the shop" to spread love in the "market of hatred" and was marching to unite the people. "I urge everyone in Uttar Pradesh to open a franchise of this 'mohabbat ki dukaan' (shop to spread love)," she said. Congress's West Uttar Pradesh president Naseemuddin Siddiqui told PTI that continuing the yatra from the Loni border, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi took a seven-km walk and then returned to Delhi. He said that both will resume the yatra from Baghpat Wednesday morning according to schedule. In a tweet later, Rahul Gandhi said, "My salutations to the holy land of Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb. Its history and sacrifices are proof of its patriotism, and this can set new examples of revolution." - , , - pic.twitter.com/N3jsZ94WPH Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 3, 2023 Earlier, AICC in-charge for Delhi affairs of the party Shaktisinh Gohil said he saw a great turnout in Delhi and leaders of various opposition parties will join the yatra. "The yatra has been a huge success and we have received a great response from the public," he said. Senior Congress leader Jai Prakash Agarwal said the yatra is echoing the voice of the citizens. "He's interacting and listening to the problems of the common man. So far, the yatra has been very successful. We have received an overwhelming response," he noted. The yatra will travel through Uttar Pradesh for two days and will enter Haryana's Panipat by Thursday evening. On the first night on Tuesday, it will halt at Mavikala in Baghpat. After traversing Punjab and a day through Himachal Pradesh, the yatra will enter Jammu and Kashmir. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, will end with the hoisting of the national flag by Rahul Gandhi in Srinagar on January 30. The yatra has so far covered 3,122 km from Gandhi Mandapam in Kanyakumari to the Red Fort in Delhi. Over the 108 days, the Yatra has covered 49 districts in nine states and one Union Territory -- Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. So far, there have been 87 sitting interactions of 30-40 min with various groups, usually 20-30 people in each group, the Congress said. These groups raise various issues of the localities and states we are walking through and there have been over 200 planned walks with smaller groups of 4-5 people, which range 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 nine press conferences so far, the last one being in Delhi on December 31. Erode/Chennai: Congress MLA from Erode East constituency in Tamil Nadu and son of former Union minister E V K S Elangovan, E Thirumahan Everaa, died today following illness, the party said. He was 46. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjuna Kharge, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and State Leader of Opposition and AIADMK interim chief K Palaniswami condoled the death of the first-time legislator. The MLA is the great grandson of rational leader E V Ramasamy 'Periyar.' He is survived by his wife and a daughter. A Congress release said Gandhi, Kharge and senior leaders including K C Venugopal expressed their condolences with Elangovan over the phone. TNCC president K S Alagiri condoled his party colleague's death and expressed his sympathies with Elangovan, a former chief of the Congress' State unit. In a condolence message, Alagiri expressed shock and anguish over Everaa's demise and hailed him as a progressive youngster. Everaa died following illness, he added. "All of 46, his demise is an irreparable loss to the Congress," Alagiri said. Chief Minister Stalin expressed shock and grief over the young MLA's death and recalled their recent meeting. "I always remember his cheerful face," he said. Besides Palaniswami, State secretaries of CPI (M) and CPI, K Balakrishnan and R Mutharasan, respectively, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss also condoled Everaa's death.The party said his final rites will be held on Thursday in Erode. New Delhi: World Braille Day is an annual observance that takes place on January 4th to honor Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system of reading and writing. The Braille system is a system of raised dots that enables people who are blind or visually impaired to read and write through touch. Louis Braille was born in Coupvray, France in 1809. When he was only three years old, he accidentally poked his eye with a needle while playing with his father's tools. The injury became infected and eventually led to his complete loss of sight in both eyes. Louis Braille lost his vision when he was a child Despite his blindness, Braille excelled in his studies and was a brilliant student. When he was ten years old, he was accepted into the National Institute for the Blind in Paris, which was the only school for the blind in France at the time. While at the institute, Braille became aware of a system of reading and writing for the blind that had been developed by Captain Charles Barbier, a French army officer. Barbier's system, known as "night writing," used a series of raised dots to represent different letters and words. Braille recognized the potential of this system, but he believed that it could be improved upon. Louis Braille developed Braille system around 1824 In 1824, Braille developed his own system of reading and writing for the blind, which he called the Braille system. His system used a combination of six raised dots arranged in a cell of two columns and three rows. Each dot had a specific meaning, and by using different combinations of dots, Braille was able to represent all the letters of the alphabet, as well as numbers and punctuation marks. The Braille system quickly gained widespread acceptance, and today it is used by millions of people around the world who are blind or visually impaired. It has also been adapted for use in many different languages, including English, Spanish, French, and German. Braille is still used to interpret books and make life easier for those with visual impairments even after 200 years. Braille is frequently used in everyday products including payment terminals, shampoo bottles, and prescription packets in order to interact with blind people. World Braille Day is an important opportunity to recognize the impact that Louis Braille has had on the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired. It is also a reminder of the importance of accessibility and the need to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to education, information, and communication. (With ANI inputs) Srinagar: Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday hit out at the BJP saying its "politics of deceit" has dragged down even the Union Home Ministry. She was reacting to a ministry report on Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP chief said that BJP is benefitted when innocent people are killed in Kashmir as they run a narrative against minorities & demonise Kashmiris. J&K | BJP is benefitted when innocent people are killed in Kashmir as they run a narrative against minorities & demonise Kashmiris. There is no accountability to the question of why did this incident happen?: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Rajouri terror killing pic.twitter.com/ro4PUHfC6Q ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2023 There is no accountability to the question of why did this incident happen, the PDP chief said on recent Rajouri killings. "Shocked that BJPs politics of deceit has dragged down even the Home Ministry. Not only does this report reek of lies but it also discredits a crucial portfolio once headed by Sardar Vallabhai Patel," Mehbooba said in a series of tweets. Reacting to the part of the report where it said democracy in Jammu and Kashmir earlier meant only 'three families', the former ally of the BJP also made an oblique reference to BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is the son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. "At least we the so-called 'dynasts' worked diligently hard to stand where we are today. None of us has been airdropped into heading BCCI," she said. Mehbooba also hit out at the media saying, "All of GOIs brazen lies are passed off as the truth since a pliable media assists them in carrying these lies to the masses. Instead of seeking accountability from the government, they have put the public on a slow drip of hatred against minorities." Talking to reporters after a party meeting, she said it was sad that the Home Ministry was taking things in Jammu and Kashmir so lightly. She alleged that in India, BJP is using religion to target minority communities, as Pakistan and Syria do in their countries." "The narrative being run by BJP is getting benefitted with the Rajouri-like attacks," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti while launching a scathing attack on the saffron party. Mufti said that situation in J&K is worse today because of the wrong policies of the BJP. She said that the Rajouri attack could have been avoided if the BJP administration had listened to locals of the area on time about the movement of suspects in the area. Mehbooba Mufti said people of Jammu and Kashmir are the worst victims of BJP's communal policies. Mehbooba Mufti said that the Jammu region which had voted overwhelmingly for BJP is also being punished by giving all major contracts to outsiders. New Delhi: In a shocking development, a retired Pakistani military officer Major Adil Raja recently alleged that a few actresses were used by the Pakistani military for honey trapping. The ex-officer, who runs a YouTube channel, claimed that Pakistani actress Sajal Ali (Sajal Aly) was used as a honey trap. According to Dawn.com, Adil put up a video in which he said that four 'top models and actresses' would 'fraternise with the former officials and politicians', citing sources. He took the initials of the actresses instead of using their names. After Kubra's tweet, Adil claimed that he said AK and not KK. However, Adil didn't name the actors anywhere. It is very sad that our country is becoming morally debased and ugly; character assassination is the worst form of humanity and sin. January 2, 2023 After these explosive claims, Sajal, Mehwish Hayat and Kubra Khan among others bashed the ex-officer on social media. Sajal tweeted a cryptic note saying, "It is very sad that our country is becoming morally debased and ugly; character assassination is the worst form of humanity and sin." Mehwish took to her Instagram Stories and wrote, "Sasti shohrat haasil karne k liye kuch logue insaaniat k darjay se bhi girjatay hain. Hope you're enjoying your two mins of fame. Just because I am an actress doesn't mean my name can be dragged through the mud. Shame on you for spreading baseless allegations and insinuations about someone you know nothing about and even bigger shame on people who blindly believe his bulls***. This just shows the sickness of our society that laps up this gutter journalism without any thought. But this stops and it stops now! I will not allow anyone to defame my name in this way anymore!" Kubra also took to her Instagram Stories and slammed Adil Raja in her note. Mumbai: The Waliv Police in Maharashtra on Wednesday said that TV actor Tunisha Sharma`s death case accused Sheezan Khan`s "secret girlfriend" also deleted her conversations with Sheezan. The police said that they seized the mobile phone of Sheezan`s "secret girlfriend" after recording her statement to retrieve the deleted chats. Notably, Sheezan too had deleted his chats with the girl, a part of which has already been retrieved by the police. According to some chats which have been recovered, the accused used to talk to many other girls also, the police said. "Many important chats have been found on the mobile of the accused, during the investigation which has revealed that the accused started avoiding Tunisha after the breakup. Tunisha used to message him repeatedly, but the accused avoided her by not replying to her," the police said on December 31. 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. The Vasai court on Sunday (December 31) sent accused Sheezan Khan to 14-day judicial custody after his police custody ended. Meanwhile, Tunisha`s mother Vanita Sharma had levelled allegations against Sheezan stating that he used to beat Tunisha and was forcing her to adopt Islamic practices. However, 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. New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has put in place a resident friendly facility to help them update address in Aadhaar online with the consent of the Head of Family (HoF). The HoF based online address update in Aadhaar will be of great help to the relative(s) of a residentlike children, spouse, parents etc, who dont have supporting documents in their own name to update address in their Aadhaar, said a Ministry of Electronics & IT release. Aadhaar address change process can be done by submitting Proof of Relationship document like Ration Card, Marksheet, Marriage Certificate, Passport etc. mentioning the name of both the applicant and HOF and the relationship between them and OTP based authentication by the HOF. In case even Proof of Relationship document is not available, UIDAI provides the resident to submit a self-declaration by the HOF in the UIDAI prescribed format. With people moving cities and towns due to various reasons within the country, such a facility will be beneficial for millions of people. This choice would be in addition to the existing address update facility using any valid Proof of Address document prescribed by UIDAI, said the ministry release. Any resident above the age of 18 can be an HOF for this purpose and can share his/her address with his/her relatives through this process. How to update address in Aadhaar online with the consent of Head of Family (HOF) In the My Aadhaar portal ( https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in ), a resident can choose this option while seeking to update address online. Following which, the resident will be allowed to enter the Aadhaar number of the HOF, which will only be validated. No other information of the HOFs Aadhaar will be displayed on the screen to maintain adequate privacy of HOF. Post successful validation of Aadhaar number of HOF, the resident will be required to upload the Proof of Relationship document. Resident has to pay the fee Rs. 50 for the service. On successful payment, a service request number (SRN) would be shared with the resident, and an SMS would be sent to the HOF about the address request. The HOF to approve the request and give his/her consent by logging into the My Aadhaar portal within 30 days from the date of receiving the notification and the request will be processed. If the HOF rejects to share her/his address, or does not accept or decline within the stipulated 30 days of SRN creation, the request would be closed. The resident, seeking address update through this option, will be informed about the closure of the request via an SMS. In case the request is closed or rejected due to non acceptance of the HOF or rejected during process, the amount shall not be refunded to the applicant. videoDetails Haldwani: Harish Rawat holds silent protest Yashwant Bhaskar | Updated: Jan 04, 2023, 05:47 PM IST Politics has intensified on the Haldwani encroachment case and the Congress has now entered the fray in support of the protesters. Congress leader Harish Rawat has announced that he will observe a silent fast. Voting for a new leader of the US House of Representatives is expected to resume on Wednesday, a day after Congress was plunged into disarray when renegade right-wing Republicans blocked favorite Kevin McCarthy from becoming speaker in a series of humiliating votes. The California congressman needed a simple majority to be elected as Washington's top legislator, who presides over House business and is second in line to the presidency, after the vice-president. But for the first time in a century, Republicans failed to elect a speaker in a nail-biting first three rounds of voting -- given blanket coverage across US television networks. Rather than celebrating their new control of the House, the party instead faces a drawn-out fight to elect a speaker that could further deepen internal divisions -- and put McCarthy's political career on the line. The 57-year-old needed 218 votes in the lower chamber, which flipped to a narrow 222-212 Republican majority after last year's midterm elections. But he failed to bring into line the party rebels, including several high-profile allies of former president Donald Trump, and he was shocked by 19 "no" votes from his own side in each of the first two rounds, rising to 20 in the third. His performance was so weak that he lost out to the Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries in each of the opening three ballots -- although there remains little doubt a Republican will ultimately claim the speaker's gavel. McCarthy has long coveted the role, having withdrawn from the race in 2015 amid a number of blunders and a right-wing revolt. 'The next steps' This time he was once again tripped up by far-right rebels, despite bowing to their calls to push aggressive investigations of Democrats including President Joe Biden after taking over the House. Lawmakers agreed to adjourn until Wednesday amid steadily building momentum among the Republicans to regroup overnight, lick their wounds and formulate a strategy to turn catastrophic defeat into an unlikely face-saving victory. "The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesn't have the votes," Florida's Byron Donalds said in a statement ahead of the adjournment, urging fellow members of the party conference to "recess and huddle" in search of a breakthrough. The last time it took more than one round of voting to pick a speaker at the start of a new Congress was a century ago, in 1923. One speaker selection process in 1855 took 133 rounds of voting over two months. McCarthy -- who had been trying to avoid small cliques wandering off the floor to hold their own negotiations -- initially planned to keep members in the room and voting until he had managed to cudgel his rivals into submission. Some lawmakers and staffers backing McCarthy had started the day saying that he should bow out if unable to secure the gavel in the second round, US media reported. The House is expected to hold further ballots from midday (1700 GMT) on Wednesday until someone emerges with a majority -- and it is not out of the question that a new candidate who has not been part of the process could come to the fore. Trump loyalty One roadblock to McCarthy's anointment was the perception by some on his party's far-right that he is insufficiently loyal to Trump, who is running for the White House again after losing to Biden in 2020. No credible Republican alternative to McCarthy had emerged by the adjournment, although one obvious name would be incoming House majority leader Steve Scalise, a McCarthyite who has nevertheless been clear that he has ambitions of his own. The "Never Kevin" crowd are likely to see Scalise as more of the same, however. McCarthy, who defied a subpoena from the House panel probing the 2021 assault on the Capitol, has already promised the hardliners investigations of Biden's family and administration, as well as of the FBI and CIA. But the more he is seen as giving in to the right, the more likely he is to alienate moderates, sparking open war between Senate and House Republicans, where there is already little love lost. It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Republicans in Congress. The Senate also convened for its new term Tuesday, with Mitch McConnell, who heads the Republican minority, breaking the record for the longest-serving Senate leader. "There is so much unnecessary turmoil in the Republican party," Trump posted on Truth Social after the House was adjourned Tuesday evening -- making a point of blaming McConnell in particular for the divisions, and without mentioning McCarthy or the House chaos. Search Keywords: Short link: videoDetails Breaking: Violence erupts in Bolivia's capital La Plage, protests against arrest of opposition leader Yashwant Bhaskar | Updated: Jan 04, 2023, 11:26 AM IST Breaking: Violence erupts in Bolivia's capital La Plage, protests against arrest of opposition leader Kolkata: In a big setback for Anubrata Mondal, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of the influential Trinamool Congress leader, who has been arrested by the CBI in connection with an alleged cattle smuggling case. Mondal had prayed for bail, submitting that he has been in custody for over 145 days in connection with the case. The CBI opposed the prayer, claiming that he may derail the investigation into the cattle smuggling case by trying to influence witnesses being probed by it. A division bench, comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and AK Gupta rejected the bail plea, maintaining that the court is not inclined to grant the prayer at this stage. The Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that Mondal, using his political clout, was the main facilitator for the smooth transportation of cattle through the Birbhum district for smuggling them to Bangladesh. West Bengal | Calcutta High Court refuses to grant bail to TMC Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mondal, in an alleged cattle smuggling case. ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2023 Mondal's counsel stated that no such evidence has been found. Mondal is the Birbhum district president of the ruling TMC in West Bengal. Responding to it, Justice Bagchi told Mondal`s counsel Kapil Sibal that it is now evident how influential his client is as both the state and central agencies are keen on him. Moscow: A missile attack on New Year's Day (January 1) in the occupied Donetsk area of Ukraine resulted in the deaths of at least 89 Russian soldiers. Russia has claimed that the attack, which took place at a vocational college in Makiivka, was enabled by the soldiers' use of mobile phones. In a statement, the Russian military said that the "mass use" of mobile phones by troops in range of Ukrainian weapons allowed the enemy to "locate and determine the coordinates of the location of military personnel for a missile strike." Six rockets were fired from a US-made Himars rocket system at around 12:01 a.m., with two of the rockets being shot down. 'Mobile phones allowed enemy to determine location of soldiers' The deputy commander of the regiment, Lt Col Bachurin, was among those killed in the attack. In response to the tragedy, a commission has been formed to investigate the circumstances of the incident and determine any wrongdoing. Officials found guilty will be held accountable for their actions. The military has also stated that measures are being taken to prevent similar events from occurring in the future. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow targets critical infrastructure in drone attacks, say officials The Russia-Ukraine war drags on This marks the highest number of deaths acknowledged by Russia since the start of the war on February 24, 2022. The use of mobile phones by troops has long been a controversial issue, with many military organizations banning their use in active war zones due to the potential security risks they pose. It is unclear at this time whether the soldiers in this particular incident were specifically targeted because of their use of mobile phones, or if it was simply a factor that contributed to their vulnerability. The attack has drawn condemnation from leaders around the world, with many calling for an end to the conflict and a return to peace negotiations. The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused significant loss of life and suffering for both soldiers and civilians, and it is imperative that efforts are made to bring an end to the violence as soon as possible. (With agency inputs) Egyptian actress and model Salma Abu Deif appears on the cover of Vogue Arabia, which January 2023 issue includes a whole section dedicated to Egypt and its cultural and economical developments In an Instagram post, Abu Deif cites Vogue Arabias editor-in-chief Manuel Arnauts presentation of the special section on Egypt in Januarys Issue of the magazine. Arnaut writes, "We are dedicating a full inside section to the rise of Egypt, as the country is currently undergoing an economical and cultural transformation with endless opportunities and potential." Abu Deif explains in the post that the special section dedicated to Egypt includes a celebration of the work of Adam Henein who is "one of the countrys most prominent sculptors who spent almost a decade restoring the Great Sphinx of Giza. The section on Egypt also includes an overview of the soon-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum and a tribute to the iconic Dalida who would have turned 90 years old this month." The zine also features a love letter to Africa and the Land of Pharaohs by Olivier Rousteing, accompanied by a spread featuring Abu Deif, photographed by fellow Egyptian talent, Bassam Allam. With 3 million followers currently on Instagram, the Egyptian actress and UN Aid Ambassador launched her modeling career at the age of 20 while studying mass communication at Misr International University. She has become one of the faces of Maison Valentino, L'Oreal, Chaumet, Mac Cosmetics, Bulgari, Tiffany and Co and was featured as Vogue magazine's cover star in 2018. Other international magazines have also featured her work as an actress. Her first television appearance as an actress was in 2017 TV Ramadan series Halawet El-Donia and Lah Totfea El-Shams. Shortly afterwards, she made her first film appearance in the critically acclaimed Egyptian film Sheikh Jackson. Abu Deif also participated in TV series Ladyna Akwal Okhra, Haddouta Morra and other series. She was nominated for Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favourite Female Newcomer in 2019. She is working closely with UNICEF on a campaign to raise awareness about Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Search Keywords: Short link: With a large surplus of electrical energy produced in the past eight years, Egypt is perfectly willing to supply Sudan with electricity to meet its energy needs, Egyptian Ambassador in Khartoum Hany Salah said. Salah added that Egypt had managed to generate 59,000 megawatts of electricity and has produced an energy surplus equivalent to 27,000 megawatts. Hence, Egypt, he said, can easily fulfill Sudans electricity needs, estimated to be 4,000 megawatts. Salah made his remarks during a meeting organised on Wednesday by veteran Sudanese journalist Gamal Anqra in Khartoum under the title: "In love of Egypt". Egypt provides Sudan with 80 megawatts. This amount is due to increase to 300 megawatts and later to 1,000 megawatts, following the installation of a set of transformers already available in Khartoum. Technical adjustments to the domestic power grid in the sisterly African nation will also need to take place, the Egyptian diplomat said. Egypt and Sudans electricity grids were officially linked in April 2020 at a voltage of 220 KV, a year after the 100 km electricity line between the two countries was completed, according to the Egyptian cabinet. Egypt, a country with an electricity surplus of more than 25 percent according to officials, seeks to act as a regional electricity hub, exchanging electricity with nearby countries during peak demand and exporting electricity to countries in need. Cairo and Khartoum are also working on a first railway 600km line to connect Egypt's Abu Simbel with Sudan's Abu Hamad. Officials from both sides had reached an agreement to complete the projects within 5-7 years, the Egyptian diplomat said. In February 2022, Egypt's Ministry of Transport said the preliminary studies on the first railway line between Egypt to Sudan have been completed. The connecting line was first proposed in 2010 and was revived in mid-2018. The first stage of the railway 285 km in length links Aswan to Abu Simbel in southern Egypt, while the second stage 80 km in length will reach Wadi Halfa in northern Sudan. The railway aims to transfer Egyptian products to Sudan, Central Africa and the rest of the African continent as well as raw material from Africa to Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: China objected Tuesday to new COVID-19 testing requirements for Chinese travelers that has been put in place by a number of countries, saying the measures "lack scientific basis." Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a briefing that China could institute "countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity." China has seen a surge in COVID-19 infections, while other governments have faulted China for not being transparent about its infection data. The snag is that once they have claimed the payment, they cannot change their minds and claim it again if they decide to marry after all. Since September 2021, Lotte Department Store has offered single workers over 40 the same one-off bonus that other staff receive when they get married -- a congratulatory payment and five days off. Instead of a bouquet they get a houseplant. Businesses are offering more benefits tailored to the growing number of singles in their employ, from pet-care support to wedding money if they remain unmarried after a certain age. LG Uplus will be following suit, offering one month's pay and paid leave to single employees over 38 starting next year. "There has been a growing awareness among workers that remaining single should be viewed as a lifestyle choice just like getting married," a staffer said. The Koran branch of British cosmetics retailer Lush has offered 10 days' leave and congratulatory money since 2017 to staff to choose to remain single. Over the last five years, 15 have taken it up on the offer. It also offers a W50,000 allowance a month to pet owners to reflect the fact that they often regard their animal companions as family (US$1=W1,328). Married employees, after all, get allowances for their children. A growing number of companies take similar approaches after single employees complained about unfair treatment. Shinhan Bank has been giving the W100,000 a year for married staff on their wedding anniversary to singles as well. Also, the allowance for the annual medical checkup of a spouse has been changed to any individual the staffer wishes to appoint, be it a friend or a partner of the same sex. Woori Bank and KB Kookmin Bank, which also pay for the annual health checkup of a spouse, began offering it for one parent instead if the worker is single. Measles has broken out in Korea for the first time in three years, and health authorities are advising parents to get their children vaccinated. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Tuesday said a man in his 40s tested positive for measles on Monday. He is in stable condition and getting treatment at home. The man arrived at Incheon International Airport from Doha, Qatar on Dec. 29 and developed a rash on Dec. 31. On Dec. 18, he had boarded a flight to Barcelona in Doha on Dec. 18, and one of that plane's passengers also tested positive for measles. Of 21 Korean passengers on the plane, 13 returned to Korea at the time. The last measles outbreak here was before lockdown in February 2020. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Wednesday he hoped to strengthen ties with Beijing on his first state visit to China since taking office. China and the Philippines are at odds over the hotly disputed South China Sea, with Marcos expected to sign a deal in Beijing this week to establish direct communication on maritime issues. Manila considers it "of primary importance to... strengthen the relationship between China and the Philippines", Marcos said in a meeting on Wednesday with top Chinese legislator Li Zhanshu. Marcos, who is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, said he hoped for "partnerships that will stabilize and strengthen all of our economies." Up to 14 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during Marcos's visit, which ends on Thursday. By Maya Kaneko and Maricar Cinco, KYODO NEWS - Jan 5, 2023 - 07:05 | World, All Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed Wednesday their countries will "continue to properly handle maritime issues through friendly consultations," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in reference to a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The two leaders, who met at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital, also expressed readiness to restart negotiations on oil and gas development in the sea, the ministry said. Under the administration of Marcos' predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, the two countries held three years of talks on joint exploration of energy resources in the South China Sea, but the Philippines said last year the negotiations had been terminated amid confrontation over overlapping territorial claims in the sea area. After their talks, Xi and Marcos jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, among others. The two sides have identified four key areas of cooperation, namely agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The Philippine presidential office said the two countries inked 14 bilateral agreements, including one on establishing a communication mechanism on maritime issues between their foreign ministries to avoid miscalculations in the South China Sea. Marcos said the resumption of talks on the joint oil and gas exploration is "very important" to his country. "We hope that these negotiations will bear fruit," he was quoted as saying in a statement. Xi said Marcos is the first foreign leader received by China this year and this "fully reflects the closeness" of bilateral relations, according to the ministry. The two countries should strengthen exchanges so as to better contribute to their development and prosperity, he added. Marcos said he looks forward to "opening a new chapter of comprehensive strategic cooperative relations" between the two countries, the ministry said. The summit meeting came as Marcos, who took office in June last year, vowed to take a different path from Duterte, known for his appeasement of China, and moved toward strengthening ties between Manila and Washington. Duterte took an accommodating stance toward China's incursions in Philippine-claimed waters in exchange for promised investment from Beijing. Xi said China is willing to focus on cooperation with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations and help the region "shake off the shadow of the Cold War," avoiding confrontation between camps, the ministry said, in an apparent reference to U.S. influence in the area. The Chinese leader also said exchanges between the people of the two countries are expected to return to the pre-pandemic level, with China having rolled back its stringent "zero-COVID" policy. The Philippine leader is on his first state visit outside Southeast Asia since he assumed the presidency, traveling with a business delegation. Marcos and Xi held their first summit talks in Bangkok in November. China is the Philippines' largest trading partner, accounting for 20 percent of the Southeast Asian country's total trade. Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an old friend of Xi's, is accompanying Marcos. Prior to the summit talks, Marcos met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Li Zhanshu. China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, which is rich in natural resources and serves as a critical trade route. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing rejected the decision and has continued its military buildup in the area. In December, Manila said it was "seriously concerned" about fresh reports that China has been reclaiming unoccupied islands in the South China Sea, saying it contravened the principles of self-restraint set out in a 2012 agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a bloc that includes the Philippines. KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 19:41 | All, Coronavirus, World, Japan Japan will further tighten quarantine measures for travelers from China early next week amid a recent surge in novel coronavirus cases in the neighboring country, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday. Starting Sunday, visitors from China will need to have tested negative before leaving for Japan and will have to undergo a PCR test upon arrival, the premier said at a press conference. According to the government, individuals entering Japan directly from China, excluding Hong Kong and Macao, will be required to submit a certificate showing a negative result of a test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for the country. Japan will also continue to request that airlines do not increase the number of direct flights from mainland China, Kishida said after visiting the Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Prefecture. Late last week, Japan began tightening measures for travelers from mainland China and those who visited the country within seven days, requiring them to take an antigen test for COVID-19 upon arrival. But Tokyo will enact more stringent rules in line with the United States and other nations. "We decided to strengthen temporary measures in consideration of test results of those who entered Japan from mainland China during the year-end and New Year holidays," Kishida said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning criticized Japan's move, saying at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday the antivirus steps should be "science-based and proportionate" and should not affect normal personnel exchanges and cooperation. She also warned against adopting "discriminatory practices" and using virus prevention measures to engage in "political manipulation." On Tuesday, Mao said China plans to take countermeasures after several countries announced COVID-19 entry requirements for travelers inbound from China. Since late last year, China has significantly relaxed its stringent antivirus rules, including no longer restricting people's movement in the country. It has also stopped releasing data on daily asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. Although the exact figures are unknown, the drastic changes seem to have triggered an explosion in coronavirus cases across the country. From Sunday, however, China is scheduled to abandon quarantine measures for arrivals from abroad, having enforced them for around three years since early 2020. Beijing has also said outbound tourism for Chinese citizens will be resumed "in an orderly manner." The novel coronavirus that erupted into a pandemic was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. Related coverage: China warns of countermeasures for COVID entry restrictions By Azernews Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan discussed the next round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. The discussion took place during the meeting between Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev. During the meeting, the parties also reviewed the schedule of planned events, including the next meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Moreover, they emphasized the importance of taking joint measures to expand trade, economic and investment cooperation and the implementation of joint projects in such areas as automotive, petrochemicals, energy and agriculture. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were established on October 2, 1995. The embassy of Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan was established in August 1996, while the embassy of Uzbekistan in Azerbaijan was opened in July 1998. The friendly relations between the two countries are based on shared values ??and historical ties, as well as a number of joint statements and agreements signed during bilateral visits and meetings. The volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan amounted to $111.9 million in 2021. KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 17:31 | All, Japan The suspect in the deaths of three family members last month at a residence in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, has denied killing them, police said Wednesday. DNA from blood found on clothing confiscated from the home of the suspect, Jun Saito, 40, matches that of all three victims, police also said, adding they suspect it was worn by Saito at the time of the crime. The suspect had been refusing to talk since his arrest on Dec. 25 for the murder the same day of his neighbor William Bishop, a 69-year-old U.S. national. "I did not do it. I have no recollection," he was quoted as saying recently. Bishop's wife Izumi Morita, 68, and their daughter Sophianna Megumi Morita, 32, were also found dead with blunt trauma injuries outside their Hanno residence. Saito was sent to prosecutors on Dec. 27 for allegedly killing Bishop by hitting him with a blunt object on Christmas morning. He is also under investigation for the deaths of Morita and Sophianna. The family's home security camera caught a man who appeared to be the suspect attacking the victims. Police also confiscated multiple blunt objects, including an ax, from his home. Although the three were found dead outside the property, traces of blood discovered inside the residence suggest they were also attacked indoors, police have said. The suspect is being investigated over possibly harboring a grudge against the family. There was a fire at the victims' home on the day of the alleged murder and the police suspect Saito tried to set the house on fire. The police have found a partially burnt polyethylene tank with traces of kerosene at the house, investigative sources have said. According to the police, the couple made six reports of property damage between August and December 2021, but while Saito was suspected and arrested three times last year, he was not prosecuted in any of the cases. The police quoted the couple as telling them they did not personally know Saito when he was arrested last January for allegedly damaging their vehicle. A long-time resident of Japan, Bishop was a board member of Temple University Japan from 2010 to 2018, later becoming an emeritus member. Related coverage: Blood found on clothing owned by suspect in deaths of 3 near Tokyo Man sent to prosecutors after 3 found dead near Tokyo Man arrested over 3 killed in murder near Tokyo KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 09:38 | All, Japan, World A Japanese diplomat confirmed that Mikhail Gorbachev was alive the day after an August 1991 coup attempt by Communist Party hard-liners, becoming possibly among the first countries to get information about the safety of the Soviet Union's leader, a Japanese diplomatic document showed. Masaru Sato, an official of the Japanese Embassy in Moscow at that time, met with a senior Communist Party member on Aug. 20, 1991, and confirmed that Gorbachev, who had been placed under house arrest by coup figures at his vacation retreat in Crimea, was "resting" there, according to the document declassified in late December by the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Sato asked about Gorbachev's whereabouts and safety and the party member, who was close to the ringleader of the coup, said that Gorbachev had a "heavily strained back" but had a "normal state of consciousness," the record showed. The United States and many other countries were rushing to confirm the safety of Gorbachev following the coup that failed within three days and led eventually to the federal state's dissolution. Facing resistance from Russian Republic President Boris Yeltsin and others, the coup ended up being foiled and Gorbachev later returned to the presidency, but the last Soviet leader soon lost political power. Related coverage: Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev dies at 91 The Soviet Union was dissolved and Gorbachev resigned in December of that year. He died in August 2022 at the age of 91. "Actually, I asked (the Communist member) if they had killed Gorbachev" and the member shook their head in denial, Sato, who is now known as a writer, said in an interview with Kyodo News. Arguing that the Soviet would "become a third-rate nation under the current administration," the member also said his group was drawing up a document to put in the following day's newspaper to gain support for the coup, Sato said. The member said if the document appeared in the newspaper, it would mean "our victory" even though the coup could fail, according to Sato. Having studied at the Graduate School of Theology of Doshisha University in the western Japan city of Kyoto, Sato was known for his intelligence gathering and strong ties with Muneo Suzuki, a lawmaker once influential in the Japanese political circles and Tokyo-Moscow relations. Sato wrote about his past exchange with the Communist member in a nonfiction novel published in 2006. KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 19:01 | All, Japan Japan saw 2,610 deaths due to traffic accidents in 2022, marking a new record low for the sixth consecutive year, figures from the country's police agency showed Wednesday. There were 26 fewer deaths in 2022 compared with the previous year, in the lowest figure since 1948, the first year for which comparable data is available. People aged 65 and over made up the largest demographic at 56.4 percent with 1,471 deaths, although that figure was down by 49 from 2021, according to the National Police Agency. But accidents involving elderly drivers as well as pedestrians have continued to occur, and in May the agency imposed measures such as mandatory driving tests for those 75 and over with a record of traffic rules violations in order to renew their licenses. Osaka Prefecture had the most number of deaths for the first time in 2022 at 141, followed by Aichi at 137 and Tokyo at 132. Meanwhile, Tottori and Shimane prefectures saw the lowest number of deaths with 14 and 16, respectively. The rate of deaths was highest in Okayama Prefecture at 3.94 killed in accidents per every 100,000 people, followed by 3.82 in Gifu and 3.80 in Kochi. The agency said it believes that deaths from traffic accidents have declined as a result of road safety measures that have been put in place. In 2022, there were 301,193 accidents and 356,419 injuries recorded. The record high for road deaths in Japan was in 1970 with 16,765 killed. The Japanese government has set the goal of reducing the number of yearly road deaths to 2,000 or lower by 2025. "We will direct police to take strong action on an array of measures, such as protecting the safety of child and elderly pedestrians, and ensuring that cyclists comply with traffic rules," Koichi Tani, chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission, said in a statement. KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 12:03 | All, Japan, World U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on Jan. 13 to further deepen ties between the two countries, the White House announced Tuesday, saying that they will discuss issues ranging from North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile threats to maintaining peace over Taiwan. While the two leaders have already held talks multiple times, including in Japan where Biden traveled last year, Kishida's upcoming trip would be his first visit to the U.S. capital since taking office in October 2021. The meeting would follow the Japanese government's decision in December last year to significantly boost defense spending and acquire long-range strike capabilities as part of efforts to increase deterrence amid China's growing assertiveness and North Korea's continuing test-firing of missiles. Biden will reiterate his "full" support for Japan's recently released National Security Strategy, which marks a major shift in security policy for the key U.S. ally under its postwar pacifist Constitution. He will also show backing for Japan's presidency of the Group of Seven this year, and its just-started term as a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Citing how the two countries have worked together over the past year to advance "a free and open Indo-Pacific" and expand cooperation on issues including critical technologies, she said the leaders "will celebrate the unprecedented strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance and will set the course for their partnership in the year ahead." Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine and "maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" will be among the agendas, according to the statement. Concerns linger that Taiwan could become a potential military flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific, with China regarding the self-ruled democratic island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. China and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 07:20 | All, Japan, World Japan's top envoy to the United Nations pledged to do his utmost Tuesday so the Security Council can reach a consensus over North Korea's weapons programs and other contentious issues as its rotating president this month. "What I wish to do is to try to have a united, unified voice of the Security Council so that the voice could have an impact" upon North Korea, Kimihiro Ishikane told a press conference. The Security Council has not been successful in speaking in one voice on North Korea, "things are not really going well," Ishikane said. North Korea launched ballistic missiles on a record 37 occasions last year in defiance of past Security Council resolutions. Pyongyang already fired a first for this year on New Year's Day. The Security Council has failed, however, to reach an agreement on additional punitive measures against North Korea due mainly to reluctance due mainly to the reluctance of Russia and China, both veto-wielding permanent members. The top envoy from Tokyo said, "I'd like to convey the voice of Japan, of Japanese who are facing this...threatening danger coming from our neighborhood." Japan is among five nonpermanent members of the 15-member Security Council to serve for two years until the end of 2024 along with Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland. Ishikane also said Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will host a ministerial meeting on the principle of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security on Jan. 12 in New York. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February last year, will be referred to or discussed in the ministerial talks, Ishikane said, adding the topics will not be limited to it. While Ishikane did not elaborate, Japanese officials mention the principle of the rule of law in discussions about China's assertive behavior in the East and South China seas. Related coverage: Japan joins U.N. Security Council as new nonpermanent member Kim seeks "exponential increase" of North Korea's nuclear arsenal North Korea fires ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan KYODO NEWS - Jan 4, 2023 - 19:27 | All, Japan The Nagoya city government hoped to resolve a source of confusion for visitors to the central Japan city by changing the name of the subway station close to Nagoya Castle on Wednesday to one better reflecting its proximity to the historic site. The station has gone from being called Shiyakusho (City Hall) to Nagoyajo (Nagoya Castle) in part of a move to rename four municipal subway stations close to tourism hotspots that the local government hopes will lead to smoother sightseeing and greater activity in the areas. The decision to rename the stations was made in January 2021 by a panel of experts for the city government after it received complaints of difficulty determining how to get to the castle. Some people were mistakenly exiting the train at the neighboring Meijo Koen station, which includes the kanji character for the castle in its name. At a ceremony to unveil a special sign made from Japanese cypress bearing the newly-minted Nagoya Castle name, Mayor Takashi Kawamura described the building as a "treasure" for the residents of Nagoya and said he hopes the change will "create new excitement." The city government intends to rebuild the castle's keep in its original wooden structure as the current edifice, made in 1959 from steel reinforced concrete following its destruction in World War II air raids, is closed to the public over issues with its age and earthquake resistance. But a plan to install a small elevator that provides only limited wheelchair access has stirred controversy over full accessibility. In December, an association of groups for people with disabilities in Aichi Prefecture called for a change of plans, saying the proposed elevator does not properly accommodate bigger wheelchairs, which "infringes on the human rights of many disabled people." Mayor Kawamura subsequently told reporters the city government will not change its plans. Seeking restoration "faithful to historical fact," he had initially said the city would restore the keep without elevators. BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has recently optimized its COVID-19 response, shifting the focus from infection control to case treatment, and making it easier for people to travel and for businesses to grow. From Jan. 8, authorities will drop quarantine measures against people infected with novel coronavirus and lift COVID restrictions for international arrivals. Xinhua correspondent Huang Aiping talked to two expats who have experienced different stages of China's COVID-19 policies, and they shared their opinions on these changes. Produced by Xinhua Global Service KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- 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. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Tourists visit Cappadocia region in Turkiye on Jan. 1, 2023. As China is expected to orderly resume outbound tourism amidst the optimization of COVID-19 response, Turkish tourism industry players are eager to welcome back Chinese travelers. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) by Burak Akinci ANKARA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- "We expect the return of the Chinese visitors to be in a gradual manner, especially with a dynamic after the first half of this year, thus we can reach pre-pandemic levels," said Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul-based Ligarba Travel Agency. As China is expected to orderly resume outbound tourism amidst the optimization of COVID-19 response, Turkish tourism industry players are eager to welcome back Chinese travelers. Chinese groups will start to come to Turkiye in April, Karsli said, calling on Turkish Airlines to increase the current frequency of 28 flights per week from Chinese cities. He said that China's latest optimization of COVID-19 response is expected to eventually bring a high number of tourists to Turkiye, which will help boost the country's economy. "Turkiye has to make sure to offer suitable and high-quality services to Chinese visitors, with tourist guides who speak fluently their language, and offer an honest and ethical approach to them," the professional added. In 2019, Turkiye received over 420,000 Chinese tourists, and hopes are high among tourism professionals for a repetition of the number as soon as possible. Turkiye's Cappadocia region with its valleys featuring natural rock formations, fairy chimneys and hot-air balloon tours used to be a hotspot for Chinese tourists before the COVID-19 pandemic. Local sector representatives are expecting Chinese visitors' return in 2023, especially on the occasion of the Lunar New Year in January. "Cappadocia is a very well-known destination for Chinese tourists, it's the biggest destination after Istanbul, Turkiye's cultural hub," Halis Aydogan, a balloon pilot and an official of Pasha Balloon Tours, told Xinhua. Mehmet Dinler, chairman of the board of Royal Balloon, a hot-air balloon rides company, told Xinhua that they have started developing new rides for Chinese tourists. "We are trying to offer a business class service, which is more comfortable with smaller baskets that can hold 16 to 20 people," he said. In 2019, nearly half of balloon trip takers were from China, Aydogan said, adding that tourism income was a main source of local income. Esra Yalaz, a tour operator for cultural tours based in the capital city Ankara, said that Chinese travelers are especially interested in cultural tourism. "On the Internet, we have already received some requests and questions from potential travelers from China aspiring to visit Istanbul for example, but also other parts of Turkiye," she said. Turkish officials have said that Turkiye is ready to welcome Chinese travelers with open arms. It's hopeful that the tourist figure this year can reach and exceed the 2019 level, said Ozgul Ozkan Yavuz, deputy minister of Turkiye's Culture and Tourism Ministry. According to the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Turkiye hosted 42.16 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of 2022. The country aims to attract 60 million foreign visitors in 2023 and expects the tourism sector to bring in 56 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. Tourists visit Cappadocia region in Turkiye on Jan. 1, 2023. As China is expected to orderly resume outbound tourism amidst the optimization of COVID-19 response, Turkish tourism industry players are eager to welcome back Chinese travelers. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) Tourists visit Cappadocia region in Turkiye on Jan. 1, 2023. As China is expected to orderly resume outbound tourism amidst the optimization of COVID-19 response, Turkish tourism industry players are eager to welcome back Chinese travelers. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) World's Largest Faith-and-Family Broadcaster Celebrating 50 Years on the Air in 2023 TBN's golden anniversary comes with a lineup of new programming featuring Dave Ramsey, Sheila Walsh, Andrea Bocelli, Former Ambassador David Friedman, Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and more NEWS PROVIDED BY TBN Jan. 4, 2023 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is celebrating fifty years on the air in 2023 with a lineup of exciting programming and specials. Launched in Orange County, California, May 28, 1973, as a local, part-time Christian television station, TBN has grown to become America's most-watched faith-and-family channel and the world's largest religious broadcaster, covering more than 170 nations through over thirty international networks. Included in the fiftieth anniversary celebration will be a four-part documentary series highlighting the history and milestones of TBN, featuring cinematic re-enactments of TBN's story, along with personal heartfelt perspective from TBN's Matt and Laurie Crouch. "TBN's first fifty years was a miraculous journey," said TBN President Matt Crouch, "but I'm even more excited for the next fifty. My parents had no choice but to pour every resource into simply building a distribution platform. Today through the Internet, a global broadcast platform we didn't have to create, TBN is connected to every screen in the world, allowing us to prioritize the production of content at a level of quality, excellence, and impact previously unseen in Christian programming." On Pentecost Sunday May 28, 2023 TBN will celebrate its official fiftieth anniversary with Rabbi Jason Sobel on-site at TBN's Jerusalem studio and Matt and Laurie Crouch joining from Dallas. The special program will celebrate both TBN's 50th anniversary and Pentecost Sunday as Rabbi Sobel guides viewers through the important Jewish Feast of Pentecost, explaining its significance to followers of Jesus. From Dallas Matt and Laurie will reflect on TBN's fifty years of broadcasting the life-changing message of God's hope and grace, along with its legacy of love and support for the nation of Israel. During 2023 TBN will be premiering a number of programs and series, including The Ramsey Show on TBN. Hosted by New York Times bestselling author and personal finance expert Dave Ramsey, The Ramsey Show will air every weekday afternoon, offering viewers an hour of valuable insights on managing money, building wealth, navigating relationships, career development, and a lot more. Additionally, in 2023 TBN will release several exclusive productions as Fathom events, including The Journey: A Music Special with Andrea Bocelli, and Route 60: The Biblical Highway, with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. TBN is also excited to announce the addition of veteran television personality Sheila Walsh to the TBN family. Sheila will co-host the new hour-long version of Better Together, TBN's daily ministry and talk show for women, and host other exclusive TBN programs. About Trinity Broadcasting Network TBN is the world's largest and most watched faith-and-family broadcaster, reaching over 175 nations across the earth with inspirational and entertaining programming 24 hours a day in 14 languages and on over 30 global networks. As the world's most influential non-profit religious broadcaster, TBN has led the way in expanding the impact of faith-based television across the earth through the creation of innovative content designed to reach every viewer demographic with the life-changing message of hope and grace. To find out more about the TBN Networks, visit us at TBN.org. SOURCE TBN CONTACT: Marissa Hays, marissa@epic.inc Share Tweet By Trend Being under western sanctions, Iran and Russia are trying by all means to boost their bilateral ties, and acknowledge Azerbaijans indispensable role in this process. Iran and Russia do not hide their close partnership. For example, recently, during the visit of the representatives of a number of Russian startups to Iran, it was agreed that joint international technology and entrepreneurship center will be launched in cooperation with Russia in the near future, at the same time, Iran has announced its readiness to enhance joint startup activities. Besides business cooperation, naturally the two countries will also work towards freight transport growth, as well as over strengthening cooperation in the defense sphere. Recently, Iran and Russia have signed an agreement, according to which a ship for the Iranian-Russian port of Solyanka will be built. Of course, Iran denies this, but it is commonly known that the country supplies its drones to Russia. This is pretty obvious, that both Iran, and Russia, being under western sanctions, having found salvation in each other, seek to strengthen cooperation. However, the absence of a common border forces the partners to cooperate either through the Caspian Sea, or through the territory of Azerbaijan. Therefore, the most preferred way for the cargo, raw materials, and literally everything else, would be through Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan has well-established economic ties with the border regions of both Russia, and Iran. For instance, about 100-200 trucks daily cross through the Astara border checkpoint between Iran and Azerbaijan. At the same time, Iran is constantly increasing its exports to Azerbaijan through the same checkpoint. The recent meeting held in Jolfa city (East Azerbaijan Province of Iran) with the participation of Iranian and Azerbaijani customs officials also signifies productive cooperation with Azerbaijan. Just today, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahiyan instructed Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Seyed Abbas Mousavi to pay more attention to relations with Azerbaijan, as well as strengthen the existing bilateral ties. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is simultaneously developing active relations with Russian regions, and not only with border regions, which explains regular meetings of Russian entrepreneurs with representatives of Azerbaijani business circles. Furthermore, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran have recently signed a declaration following the first trilateral meeting on the development of the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor, where the sides announced the intention to prepare a draft agreement on the Rasht-Astara railway project. This means that both Russia and Iran recognize Azerbaijan as an important transit hub. Moreover, according to the Iran Customs Committee, over the last Iranian year (from March 21 through December 31, 2022), Iran exported $563 million worth of goods to Russia, and worth $528.5 million to Azerbaijan. The farsighted strategy conducted by Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, including the projects in the liberated territories, is helping to even more increase the importance of the country as a transit hub. Azerbaijan in fact guarantees the fastest and cheapest transit through its territory, which makes it attractive not only for neighboring countries, but also in a broader region. With the major construction work carried out in Azerbaijans Karabakh and Zangazur economic regions, two international airports already functioning there, and the potential opening of the Zangazur Corridor, immense opportunities will emerge for Iran and Russia as well, as Azerbaijan is at the very center of International NorthSouth Transport Corridor, as well as the Middle Corridor. In other words, Azerbaijan is allowing the countries to establish new ties with each other. Of course, Azerbaijan will also benefit thanks to the strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Iran, both in terms of revenues and strengthening the country's foreign policy. Both Iran and Russia understand that they cannot maintain their positions as major players in the region without Azerbaijan. ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Intense armed confrontation renewed on Tuesday between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi rebels in the southwestern province of Taiz, a military official told Xinhua. "The Houthis launched a large attack against the government-controlled sites in the eastern part of Taiz, sparking heavy fighting in the area," the local military source said on condition of anonymity. However, the government forces backed by local tribal fighters managed to repulse the Houthi attack following hours of heavy fighting, he added. Medical sources confirmed to Xinhua that the fresh fighting left at least five people killed and several others injured from both warring sides in Taiz. During the past days, local officials said Yemen's warring parties are gearing up for new waves of conflict in 2023 amid lack of decisive steps toward sustainable peace. Various regions in Yemen have witnessed sporadic armed confrontations between the local warring factions, after a cease-fire brokered by the United Nations in April expired in October last year. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. COLOMBO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- UN Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja on Wednesday assured Sri Lanka with UN's financial and technical support as the South Asian island country attempted to recover from an economic crisis. Wignaraja made the remarks at a meeting between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a delegation he headed, the President's Media Division said. The UN official appreciated the efforts taken by President Wickremesinghe and his government in resolving the economic crisis in the country. "Wignaraja reiterated the UN's financial and technical support for Sri Lanka during this recovery period," the President's Media Division said. The discussions focused on economic reforms, with the delegation recognizing difficult decisions would have to be taken in order to ensure long-term recovery and growth in the country. BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China will adopt further measures to ensure sufficient supply and stable prices of essential necessities and energy, to meet the needs of people's daily use and corporate production, according to the decisions made at the State Council Executive Meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday. The meeting noted that China has maintained price stability and bolstered its capacity to ensure stable food and energy supply in the past year, which provides a strong underpinning for stabilizing economic performance and meeting people's basic needs. To better coordinate pandemic response with economic and social development, it is imperative to take stronger steps to ensure supply and stable prices of essential necessities, medical goods and energy, to guarantee sufficient market supply and price stability during the Spring Festival, and meet people's needs for medical care and winter heating. "Despite the moderation in economic growth last year, price rises have been kept at a relatively low level, which is no easy feat. We did a lot of hard and meticulous work, and refrained from excessive money supply or continuously increasing deficit by a wide margin. This is an important foundation for price stability," Li said. The meeting stressed the need to further enforce the system of provincial governors assuming responsibility for the "rice bag" and city mayors for the "vegetable basket", conduct timely market reallocation, and produce a greater variety of small-package grains and oils. Efforts will be made to support transportation of vegetables from southern regions to the north and fruits from western provinces to the east, and adjust commodity reserves as necessary. In the meantime, production and market matchmaking of other essential necessities will be ensured. Sound preparedness for spring plowing and sowing will be made, and provision of fertilizers and other agricultural supplies as well as related services ensured, to further promote grain production and firm up the basis for price stability. Supplies of medical and anti-epidemic goods will be scaled up with all efforts possible. A list of key producers will be established to support their full-capacity production. Efforts will be made in time to address difficulties in the supply of raw and auxiliary materials, labor and funds, to ensure uninterrupted production and supply of businesses. Distribution of medical supplies such as medicines will be strengthened to meet the needs of medical institutions, stay-at-home patients, elderly-care facilities and rural areas, in an effort to ensure effective pandemic response. "Expenses of medical services and drugs that are covered by the medical insurance scheme should be reimbursed wherever possible to better meet people's demands for medical care and anti-epidemic supplies," Li said. Further steps will be taken to ensure energy supply. Advanced coal production capacity will be unlocked on an ongoing basis and policies for addressing the difficulties of coal-fired power plants implemented, to ensure safe and normal production of energy enterprises during holidays. Distribution of energy resources will be better coordinated, and contingency plans made for meeting electricity and natural gas demands during peak hours, to ensure residential use of energy and shore up power supply in key areas, industries and enterprises. Logistics companies will be supported to redistribute transportation capacity as appropriate and reinforce front-line staff. Greater care will be provided to couriers for goods and food delivery, to ensure stable operation of postal and delivery services during the Spring Festival. Localities will receive guidance in providing provisional price subsidies in a timely manner in line with relevant regulations. Market and price oversight will be strengthened. Violations such as hoarding and price gouging will be dealt with pursuant to law. "As the momentum of economic recovery and stable growth continues, energy demand is on the rise. Stronger efforts should be made to ensure safe and stable energy supply with priority given to residential use. On top of this, energy demand in the production activities of economically strong provinces, key industries and enterprises must also be met," Li said. "We will continue to facilitate smooth operation of both trunk and branch routes in transport and logistics, and promptly address possible bottlenecks in last-mile delivery." BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chen Jiadong, a former senior legislator in the city of Xiamen in east China's Fujian Province, has been indicted for suspected crimes of taking bribes, embezzlement, and abuse of power, according to the prosecutors Wednesday. Chen, formerly the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Xiamen Municipal People's Congress, was accused of taking advantage of his various posts in Tibet and Fujian to seek benefits for others and accept an "especially huge amount" of money and gifts in return. The indictment said Chen is also suspected of taking advantage of his posts to embezzle an especially huge amount of state-owned properties. The prosecutors also accused Chen of malpractice for personal gains and abuse of power in his work, which had caused huge losses to public assets. The indictment was filed by the Nanchang city procuratorate in Jiangxi Province. The prosecutors had informed the defendant of his litigation rights, interrogated him, and listened to the lawyers' opinions. Photo taken on Jan. 3, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned on Tuesday evening after its members failed to elect a speaker for the lower chamber. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes in three ballots earlier in the day after a group of House Republicans voted against him. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned on Tuesday evening after its members failed to elect a speaker for the lower chamber. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes in three ballots earlier in the day after a group of House Republicans voted against him. There will be at least a fourth vote as House members agreed to adjourn until Wednesday noon. McCarthy is reportedly negotiating with fellow Republicans on Tuesday night. The political drama came nearly two months after the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans flipped the House and Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate. HISTORICALLY DIVIDED CONGRESS This was the first time in a century that the U.S. House speaker was not elected on the first ballot. The House will have to vote on and on until a speaker is elected with a majority of votes. A candidate needs 218 votes to become speaker if no lawmaker skips the vote or votes "present." All House Democrats voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York to lead the Democratic minority in the three rounds of voting on the speakership. It also followed the convening of the new and divided Congress on Tuesday noon. Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that "what we're witnessing today in American politics is just another brutal indictment of this dysfunctional political system." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that U.S. President Joe Biden, a former six-term senator from Delaware, "will not insert himself in that process." "The president served as a U.S. senator for 34 years and he understands how this process works," Jean-Pierre said. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the opening day of the Senate -- where Democrats have a slim 51-49 majority over Republicans -- when she swore in 35 either newly elected or reelected senators Tuesday afternoon. Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, both Senate veterans, remain the chamber's majority leader and minority leader, respectively. PUBLIC TRUST IN CONGRESS AT LOW LEVEL U.S. Congressman-elect George Santos, a 34-year-old Republican from New York, is among those who are waiting to be sworn in after the speaker vote. Santos has recently admitted to lying about his educational history and professional biography but rejected bipartisan calls for him not to take office. "My sins here are embellishing my resume. I'm sorry," embattled Santos acknowledged last week while alleging that the controversy would not deter him "from having good legislative success." Former U.S. Congresswoman and Fox News contributor Tulsi Gabbard commented, "Washington has created a culture where it's acceptable to lie to further your own interest." "But even when politicians do get caught, people just shrug their shoulders and move on," Gabbard continued. "So, no one should be surprised that the American people don't trust these politicians." Public trust in the U.S. Congress reached an all-time low, with only 7 percent of Americans expressing "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in it, according to a Gallup poll released in the summer of 2022. A separate survey that Gallup conducted following last year's midterm elections suggested that Americans' approval of Congress remains largely negative, with 73 percent of U.S. adults expressing disapproval. The divided Congress with Republicans controlling the House is likely to stall Biden's legislative agenda in the next two years. In addition, top House Republicans have vowed to launch a series of investigations into the Democratic administration, poised to augment partisan discord on Capitol Hill. "Our politics has gotten so angry, so mean, so partisan," Biden said late last year. "And too often we see each other as enemies, not as neighbors; as Democrats or Republicans, not as fellow Americans. We've become too divided." Photo taken on Jan. 3, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives adjourned on Tuesday evening after its members failed to elect a speaker for the lower chamber. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes in three ballots earlier in the day after a group of House Republicans voted against him. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) This aerial photo taken on Jan. 4, 2023 shows bullets trains at a garage of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) This photo taken on Jan. 4, 2023 shows a bullet train after its overhaul in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Technicians debug a train at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Technicians debug a train at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Technicians debug trains at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Technicians debug a train at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Technicians debug a train at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) A technician debugs a train at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Technicians debug trains at a workshop of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 4, 2023. As a major manufacturer of high-speed trains in China, CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. overhauled the trains that will serve the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush to ensure their smooth operation. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China will take further steps to guarantee the supply of staple goods and energy and keep their prices stable, in a bid to bolster production and people's lives, according to a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday. These steps will help maintain sufficient market supply during the Spring Festival, and meet the people's demand for medical products and winter heating, the meeting said. To stabilize the prices of staple goods including food, the country will closely monitor and replenish market supply and step up grain production, said the meeting. Efforts should be made to support the operation of energy companies and manufacturers of medical products and anti-epidemic goods, as well as to maintain smooth logistics nationwide, especially during the Spring Festival, it said. The country will provide people in need with provisional price subsidies in a timely manner, ramp up oversight of market prices and crack down on price gouging and hoarding, according to the meeting. The meeting also stressed due preparations to make this year's Spring Festival a satisfying one for the public. China will protect the legitimate rights and interests of migrant workers and make sure they receive their wages in full. It will also provide temporary relief to help those in COVID-induced or other difficulties, the meeting said. Production safety should be strengthened to prevent serious accidents, while transportation, energy, communication and other infrastructure should function safely even in extreme weather conditions, according to the meeting. This photo taken on Dec. 28, 2022 shows stoneware items discovered in the city of Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) HOHHOT, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have unearthed nearly 10,000 stoneware items, dating back 45,000 years to 70,000 years, in the city of Ordos, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The findings resulted from a three-month archaeological project at the east Ulan Murin River basin in 2022. It was jointly launched by the School of Sociology & Anthropology under Sun Yat-sen University and the Ordos' institute of cultural relics and archaeology. The unearthed stoneware items, including cores, flakes, scrapers and sharp tools, were found at a total of 99 Paleolithic sites. Liu Yang, head of the archaeological project, said that the stone artifacts were well preserved, which made it possible to identify the age of these materials. Among them, two types of stone tools were exquisitely processed -- bifacial tools and scrapers -- which are rare to see in China. Archaeologists believe that the new discoveries are significant for the study of the development of the Paleolithic culture and ancient human activities in this region. Archaeologists first found 77 Paleolithic sites in the Ulan Murin River basin in 2011, collecting nearly 2,000 stoneware items and a small number of animal fossils in the process. TRIPOLI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah on Tuesday vowed that his government will strive to preserve the country's unity and avoid war or armed conflict. Dbeibah made his remarks during a graduation ceremony for 306 police officers from the police academy in the western town of Aziziya, which is located some 46 km south of the capital Tripoli. "We work together to protect Libya, its unity and we reject any return to war," Dbeibah said in a speech during the celebration. Acting Interior Minister Emad al-Tarabelsi vowed to make more efforts to develop the interior ministry and impose security in all of Libya. "I would like to assure all the Libyans that the Interior Ministry, under the instructions from the Prime Minister, will be subject to great development in all of Libya," al-Tarabelsi said in a speech at the celebration. Al-Tarabelsi also said the ministry would secure all the development projects the government will implement this year in Libya. Because of the state of political division and chaos in Libya since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libyan authorities have been struggling to impose security in the country, as many armed groups operate independently. BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Wednesday said China hopes that the focus will be on tackling the virus rather than politicizing the COVID-19 issue, and countries can step up solidarity and make joint efforts to defeat the pandemic at an early date. Mao made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price's remarks on China over COVID-19 information sharing. Mao said China has always put the people and their lives above all else since the COVID-19 epidemic began, made the best effort to protect people's life and health, and effectively coordinated COVID-19 response with economic and social development. Noting that China has been sharing information and data with the international community in a responsible manner, Mao said according to incomplete statistics, China has carried out over 60 technical exchanges with the World Health Organization over the past three years. China continues to share the genome data of the virus via the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). Health experts from many countries have said that entry restrictions targeting China are unnecessary, Mao added. The Chinese government has taken responsible policies and measures, done its best and made important contributions to protecting Chinese people's lives and health, and promoting global solidarity against the pandemic and promoting world economic recovery and growth, said Mao. "We have noted that recently some people in the United States have made comments on China's COVID-19 policy adjustment. We also noted that quite many people have said if the United States had not politicized the pandemic, and had treated it responsibly and put people's life first like the Chinese government, perhaps the COVID-19 situation in the United States and the whole world would not have become what it is today," Mao said. "We truly hope the focus will be on tackling the virus rather than politicizing the COVID-19 issue, and countries can step up solidarity and make joint efforts to defeat the pandemic at an early date," Mao said. B2BinPay, a premier crypto payment processing service provider, has introduced an upgrade to the commission structure, website, enterprise and merchant models, as well as the solution itself. The company has also modified its fees and prices, making it much more affordable for businesses to use B2BinPay's services. Additionally, the website has also been updated for a smoother user experience. Besides these changes, B2BinPay's platform has undergone numerous improvements and modifications. Revisions to pricing plans The B2BinPay team has made changes to solution pricing plans in order to provide consumers with a better value. The Merchant Models have seen a reduction in the percentage tiers and volume thresholds, which are now as follows: B2BinPay has reduced the onboarding fee for Enterprise clients from $1,500 to just $1,000. Furthermore, the team has changed the percentage tiers for such consumers, saving them a significant amount of money. 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Customers selecting the latter can open virtual wallets in USDT, USDC, and BTC.-- TradeArabia News Service NICOSIA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Worry and panic over reports about a surge of coronavirus cases in China are excessive and unwarranted, a leading Cypriot virologist said here on Tuesday. "So far, there is no particular cause for concern because the COVID-19 variant that prevails in China was detected in Cyprus months ago and it doesn't seem to pose much of a problem," Petros Karayiannis, professor of microbiology and molecular virology at the University of Nicosia Medical School, said. Karayiannis is a member of the scientific team advising the government on the handling of the pandemic. "Because it concerns Omicron variants, I believe that perhaps it was somewhat excessive that there was such a fuss," Karayiannis told the CyBC state radio. He said that the Omicron subvariant BF.7, a spin-off of the main BA.5 strain, is thought to be responsible for a small percentage of COVID-19 cases in Cyprus and it has not been found to cause more severe symptoms than the other Omicron variants. Karayiannis said that in his view the virus mutates to increase its transmissibility and to survive, but in doing so it does not become more pestiferous. According to Karayiannis, the current situation in Cyprus is not causing a concern to medical authorities as new COVID-19 cases have stabilized at about 2,700 per week in a population of less than one million. CHONGQING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality will issue free packages containing antipyretics to residents above 60 amid the spread of COVID-19. Authorities have ordered 2.4 million "health packages," containing antipyretics, traditional Chinese medicines, medical-grade masks, and antigen test kits, the municipal government said Tuesday evening. They will be given out before Thursday, prioritizing rural residents, people above 80, and those with underlying diseases. Those with mobile difficulties can have the packages delivered to their doorsteps, officials said. Chongqing is the latest among a number of Chinese cities to issue such care packages as rising COVID-19 cases prompted a rush buying of medicines, such as fever and pain relievers ibuprofen and paracetamol. Shenyang, capital of northeastern Liaoning Province, in late December started to issue over 2 million similar anti-epidemic packages to elderly citizens, low-income families, and other vulnerable groups. BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- China has issued a circular on starting a three-year campaign to develop community-based psychiatric rehabilitation services nationwide. Issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the National Health Commission and two other authorities, the circular reveals plans to establish an information platform covering medical facilities, community rehabilitation centers, and patients with mental disorders across the country. The circular requires all prefecture-level cities in China to set up community psychiatric rehabilitation centers with assessment and referral services. It also stresses that staff members at rehabilitation centers should be properly trained. The Ministry of Civil Affairs and several other authorities jointly issued a guideline in 2017, planning to make community rehabilitation psychiatric services accessible in at least 80 percent of China's county-level regions by 2025. COLOMBO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka said on Wednesday foreign tourists visiting the country's national parks could buy tickets in the U.S. dollar from this month on, in order to give them a better sight-seeing experience and increase its foreign currency income. In a statement, the government information department said the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation has approved the new policy, which will apply first to the popular Yala National Park before it is expanded to other wildlife parks. Sri Lanka, home to a high density of leopards, has several national parks that offer safaris for tourists. It is also a well-known home for elephants, sloth bears, water buffalos, and saltwater crocodiles among other species. A health worker administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine to Anna Lujza Honecz from Hungary at a vaccination site in Tsinghua University, Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) With its 90 percent COVID-19 vaccination rate, China's decision to reopen its borders is not irresponsible, he said. In most European countries the same decision was made when the vaccination rate was around 70 percent only. BUDAPEST, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Hungarian expert spoke highly of China's reaction to the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic and said he was optimistic about the Chinese government's new anti-COVID measures. "China reacted well in the early stages of the pandemic, when it stopped the spread of the virus with national lockdowns and mass testing, and began developing its own vaccines," Zoltan Kiszelly, director of the Center of Political Analyses at Hungary's Szazadveg Institute, told Xinhua in a recent interview. China's health industry made a significant contribution to the global response to COVID-19 by exporting personal protective equipment (face masks, clothing) and syringes, according to Kiszelly. The delivery from China to Hungary of hundreds of thousands of doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 greatly contributed to the rapid and mass immunization of the Hungarian population, said the expert. Staff members transfer the first batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine purchased by Hungary at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 16, 2021. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) It also helped Hungary to reopen after lifting the lockdown earlier than many other countries of Western Europe, he said. The expert emphasized that in the early stages of the pandemic, China donated its own vaccine to allied third-world countries, which slowed the spread of the virus and helped the immunization of health workers and critical infrastructure workers. Kiszelly also praised China for obtaining the World Health Organization's (WHO) authorization for its Sinopharm vaccine, which enabled people to freely travel in Europe. It would be beneficial if the WHO, China, India, the United States, Russia and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) coordinated their licensing practices, he noted. A community worker (L) offers a care package with medicines and COVID-19 prevention materials to a resident in Yangfangdian Subdistrict of Haidian District in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) With its 90 percent COVID-19 vaccination rate, China's decision to reopen its borders is not irresponsible, he said. In most European countries the same decision was made when the vaccination rate was around 70 percent only. "I am optimistic about the Chinese government's pandemic prevention and control measures, as China can draw on the experience of other countries and regions, and the organization of the country, the discipline of the Chinese people, and the performance capacity of the Chinese economy provide the necessary tools, logistics and public cooperation for the new phase of the fight against the pandemic," he said. A volunteer helps a foreigner to check identity information at a COVID-19 test site in Chaoyang District, Beijing, capital of China, May 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) "China understood that a complex problem requires a complex solution, and this is an excellent thing because nowadays complex thinking is a rare commodity," another expert, Andras Inotai, former general director of the Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua. "The pandemic is truly a global challenge for mankind, and I think leaders worldwide should cooperate to address it. They should also rely on the experience of China's 5,000-year-old culture, which has proven its resilience and capacity to adapt to face hard challenges," he said. LAGOS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops have killed four bandits and recovered arms and ammunition in two operations in the northern state of Kaduna, the military said on Tuesday. Troops based in Kaduna responded on Monday to calls of distress about a bandit attack on a village in the Giwa local government area of the state, Musa Danmadami, a military spokesman, said in a statement. The troops engaged the bandits in a gunfight and killed two of them, recovering one AK-47 rifle, said Danmadami, adding that the troops also carried out an ambush operation on Tuesday near another village in the same local government, killing two bandits and recovering two AK-47 rifles. The spokesman said the troops were sustaining the fight against violent crimes in the state and urged local people to "provide credible and timely information on criminal activities." Banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities have been afflicting parts of the most populous African country recently. The military said it is in control of the situation with multiple ongoing operations against armed groups. SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A medical team of 21 members departed Wednesday from Shijiazhuang, the capital of north China's Hebei Province, for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a one-year medical aid mission. The team members are mainly from the provincial and municipal hospitals and the provincial center for disease control and prevention in Hebei, covering 12 departments, including internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). "We will earnestly fulfill our duties and coordinate with local medical workers to treat patients and popularize health knowledge," said Yang Wu, the team leader. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hebei's medical aid work in foreign countries. The province has sent 21 medical teams to the DRC and 14 teams to Nepal, respectively. MOGADISHU, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and seven others wounded in twin bombings suspected to have been carried out by al-Shabab in the central Somalia town of Mahas early Wednesday, a regional government official and witnesses confirmed. Mahas District Commissioner Mumin Mohamed Halane said the attack targeted houses where government officials leading anti-terror operations in the Hiran region were staying, but only soldiers were inside at the time of the bombing. He said two cars laden with explosives targeted government officials inside the house, adding that most of the casualties were civilians. "There are several casualties in the twin attacks this morning. We are still gathering more information about the attack and will soon release the casualty numbers," Mohamed said on the phone. Witnesses said the death toll could rise following the explosions. "There were family members inside the house and could have been killed in the attack," a witness who declined to be named said on the phone. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack but the terror group al-Shabab has been conducting deadly strikes in the country against government officials and African Union peacekeepers since 2007. Mahas is one of the districts where the government and regional forces flushed out al-Shabab in the past months. Government forces have intensified operations to root out Shabab terrorists from their hideouts in the central region of Somalia in recent months, which resulted in the militants losing ground and suffering heavy casualties. The al-Qaida allied terror group has lost many areas previously under its control, but it is still capable of staging attacks in Somalia. COLOMBO, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's health authorities said on Wednesday that those who were yet to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should receive China's Sinopharm vaccines as coronavirus infections were likely to rise in the island country this year. Chief Epidemiologist of the Health Ministry's Epidemiology Unit Samitha Ginige told reporters that 6 million people out of those above the age of 18 in Sri Lanka have not received their booster dose as yet. "We have 1.8 million Sinopharm vaccines in stock," Ginige said. He said there was no imminent threat to Sri Lanka despite a slight increase in COVID-19 infections globally. "We cannot prevent any COVID-19 variant from entering the country. We can only delay it," he said, adding that the only way is to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. NEW DELHI, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Electricity supply in parts of India's western state of Maharashtra was affected on Wednesday as thousands of the employees of three government-owned companies went on a 72-hour strike. The employees are protesting against the local government's move to privatize the power firms, and demanding it should not issue a parallel distribution licence to a private power subsidiary. Reports said the strike has hit electricity supply in nine districts of Maharashtra. Authorities have deployed police forces at sensitive places like power plants. Representative of Maharashtra State Electricity Workers' Federation Krushna Bhoir told the media that the protest was going on peacefully as the protesting employees were sitting in make-shift tents outside their establishments. Meanwhile, the local government has invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and asked the officials concerned to take all necessary steps to ensure normal supply of electricity in the state, according to media reports. The strike is set to continue until Friday and the employee unions have urged consumers to make backup arrangements. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 with the ambitious goals of doubling the size of its economy over the next decade, and consolidating its position among the top three global cities, reported Wam. The launch of the D33 Agenda formed part of the Prime Minster's annual address on the anniversary of his Accession Day today (January 4). It includes the launch of innovative projects that will help achieve Sheikh Mohammeds vision to make Dubai the worlds best city to live and work in. The value of the total targets set by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 is AED32 trillion ($8.7 trillion) by 2033, said the report. The Agenda will drive sustainable economic growth through innovative approaches, it added. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Mohammed said: "In line with our long-standing tradition of launching key new initiatives on January 4, today we approved the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 that aims to double the size of Dubais economy in the next decade and consolidate its position among the top three global cities." D33 also includes goals such as doubling the foreign trade to AED25.6 trillion and adding 400 cities as key trading partners over the next decade, he noted. The Dubai ruler said the emirate will rank as one of the top four global financial centres with an increase in FDI to over AED650 billion over the next decade and an annual AED100 billion contribution from digital transformation. "Over 300,000 global investors in Dubai today are helping build Dubai into the fastest growing global city," stated the Premier. "2033 will mark 200 years since the foundation of Dubai: the year in which Dubai will be the most important global business centre, and by then we would have completed the D33 Agenda. We know our economic path over the next decade. The world makes way for those who know what they want," he added. The Dubai Economic Agenda aims to accelerate growth by investing in human development, skillsets and advanced technology and consolidating Dubais global competitiveness, innovation and knowledge-based economy. It will invest in enhancing the advantages gained from Dubais strategic location and its advanced infrastructure to raise the citys status as a preferred destination for major international companies and investments. The D33 Agenda will see a growth in government expenditures from AED512 billion in the past decade to AED700 billion in the next decade, with increased investment in future growth sectors and further development of traditional trade and economic sectors, said the Wam report. One of the pivotal goals of the D33 Agenda is to raise the competitiveness of the citys thriving business sector, which will enable the increase of private sector investment from AED790 billion in the past decade to AED1 trillion by 2033. The D33 Agenda also aims to increase the value of domestic demand of goods and services from AED2.2 trillion in the past decade to AED3 trillion in the coming decade, in line with Dubais vision for enhancing its vibrant trading sector and diversified economy, it stated. Other objectives of D33 Agenda include generating new economic value from digital transformation, at an average of AED100 billion annually. The digital economy is a major pillar in the Agenda, with Dubai embarking on a new phase in which it seeks to pioneer and sustain the growth of an economy based on knowledge, innovation and future technologies, stated the report. The Dubai Economic Agenda 2033 focuses on a set of key priorities for the next decade, including raising the value added of the industrial sector and promoting export growth, contributing to sustainable economic growth, and achieving self-sufficiency in a number of key sectors and industries, including manufacturing. Other key priorities include making Dubai one of the five leading logistic hubs in the world, and one of the top four global financial centres. The Agenda also seeks to increase the productivity of Dubais economy by 50 percent through innovation and digital solutions. Moreover, the Agenda aims to integrate new generations of Emiratis into the private sector, making Dubai a hub for skilled workers, the fastest growing and most attractive global business centre, and an international hub for global multinational companies (MNCs) and national SMEs, said the Wam report. Another key priority of the D33 Agenda is to make Dubai one of the top three international destinations for tourism and business by providing a globally competitive environment for business sustainability and driving down the cost of doing business across a number of sectors. The D33 agenda aims to enhance the citys position as a fast-growing and attractive business hub with world-class quality of life and ensure the highest levels of security and safety for Dubais citizens and residents. The Dubai Economic Agenda D33 seeks to add 400 cities as key trade partners and launch the Dubai Economic Corridors 2033 initiative, which will enhance existing foreign trade relations with Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. The Agenda will include a programme to support the growth of 30 companies in new sectors to become global unicorns, and integrate 65,000 young Emiratis into the workforce and the private sector. NEW DELHI, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane flying from the Indian capital New Delhi to Paris was forced to return on Wednesday after it developed a "technical snag", local media reported. The flight carrying 210 passengers made an emergency landing at New Delhi Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. The aircraft departed the IGI airport at 1:28 p.m. local time but the pilot soon requested an emergency landing. "Based on the request of the airline, a full emergency was declared at 2:03 p.m. (local time), with the air traffic control allowing the flight to return and land at the airport. It landed safely at 2:25 p.m. (local time)," local newspaper Hindustan Times quoted an airport official as saying. India's civil aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an inquiry into the incident. WARSAW, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Polish government on Wednesday signed a 1.4-billion-U.S. dollar deal to buy 116 battle tanks from the United States. The U.S. Department of State last month approved the sale of the M1A1 Abrams tanks to Poland, alongside other military equipment. In April 2022, Poland signed another deal worth 4.74 billion U.S. dollars with the United States to buy 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and defense chief Mariusz Blaszczak said these tanks will be delivered in late 2024. The new batch, however, "will become part of the Polish Armed Forces this year," Blaszczak said. The tanks will be shipped to the east of the country, he explained, adding that the deal will not only boost Poland's security, but "will also increase the security of the entire eastern flank of NATO." DUBLIN, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Facebook parent company Meta Ireland has been fined a total of 390 million euros (413 million U.S. dollars) for breaches of European Union (EU) data protection rules, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) said on Wednesday. The DPC handed out two fines to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited. The first, of 210 million euros, is imposed on its Facebook service, while the company's Instagram service is subject to a 180 million euro fine. Meta Ireland has also been ordered to bring its data processing operations into compliance with EU law within a period of three months. The fines follow two inquiries into Meta Ireland after complaints from Facebook and Instagram users in May 2018 that they were unable to continue using the services without agreeing to the relevant "Terms of Service." The complainants said that this constituted "forced consent," and was in violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an EU data protection law that came into force on May 25, 2018. They also said that the nature and extent of the data processing carried out under the Terms of Service was not transparent, and therefore also in violation of the GDPR. However, according to Irish broadcaster RTE, Meta has said that it will appeal the substance of the rulings and the fines handed down by the DPC. Over the last two years, the DPC has fined Meta over 1.2 billion euros. In September 2021, Meta-owned WhatsApp was hit with a 225 million euro fine for breaches of data protection rules. Next, in September 2022, Meta appealed against a record fine of 405 million euros, imposed on its Instagram service by the DPC for breaches relating to the processing of children's data. Meanwhile, in November 2022 Meta was fined 265 million euros by the DPC following a data breach which saw the personal details of hundreds of millions of Facebook users published online. (1 euro=1.06 U.S. dollar) WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Members of a paralyzed U.S. House of Representatives failed to elect a new speaker again on Wednesday afternoon with no end in sight to the political stalemate. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes for the fourth time after 21 House lawmakers of his own party didn't vote for him. The House voted three times on Tuesday, the opening day of the divided 118th Congress, but McCarthy fell short of the necessary 218 votes to be the next speaker. It was the first time a House speaker -- who maintains order, manages its proceedings, and governs the administration of its business on the lower chamber's floor -- hadn't been elected on the first ballot in 100 years. The 435-seat House will have to vote on and on until a speaker is elected with a majority of votes. Before that, members cannot be sworn in and committees cannot be formed with the rest of the business stalled. U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, reacted to the political drama surrounding the House speakership vote on Wednesday morning, saying that "it's embarrassing the way it's taking so long." "How do you think this looks to the rest of the world?" Biden told reporters at the White House before leaving for Hebron, Kentucky. "It's not a good look. It's not a good thing." McCarthy has the support of most House Republicans and former U.S. President Donald Trump but a handful of hardliners have opposed his bid to lead the conference by arguing that he is insufficiently conservative while refusing to decentralize the speaker's power. Trump reaffirmed his support for McCarthy on Wednesday morning, urging Republican House members to elect him and not to "turn a great triumph into a giant & embarrassing defeat" in a social media post. U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, a longtime Trump supporter and one of the House Republicans seeking to doom McCarthy's quest to take the gavel, responded in a statement that the former Republican president's suggestion "changes neither my view of McCarthy nor Trump nor my vote." McCarthy told reporters that "I think we'll get to 218," as he appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning despite no clear path yet to break the historic deadlock. The House has elected a speaker 127 times since 1789. There have been 14 instances of speaker elections requiring multiple ballots. Thirteen of 14 multiple-ballot elections occurred before the Civil War, when party divisions were more nebulous, according to congressional historians. The last time a speaker election required two or more votes on the floor happened in 1923. This time, all House Democrats have voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, to be speaker. Though it's unlikely for Jeffries to attain the position, he is set to become the first African American lawmaker to lead a party in either chamber of the U.S. Congress. Republicans flipped the House in the 2022 midterm elections while Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate. The divided Congress convened for the first time on Tuesday, with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the opening of the 100-people upper chamber in which Democrats control 51 seats versus 49 for Republicans. Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky remain the Senate majority leader and minority leader, respectively. Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash Nepal, being a landlocked country has an important role in the international trade system, especially as a supplier of textiles, garments, and other goods. In recent years, Nepal has faced a number of challenges, including political instability, natural disasters, and economic challenges that blocked Nepal from making progress in international trade. Yet, the country has also made progress in developing its economic infrastructure and increasing its exports. Understanding Nepals trade balance with its major trading partners is important while assessing challenges and opportunities. It can provide insights into the countrys economic health and its position in the global economy. An international trade balance is a difference between a countrys exports and imports. A positive trade balance or surplus indicates that a country is exporting goods worth more than it is importing. Meanwhile, a negative trade balance or deficit, indicates that a country is importing more goods than it is exporting. A trade deficit can be a sign of economic weakness, as it suggests that a country is relying on imports to meet its domestic demand. The article focuses on Nepals trade balance with its major trading partners. Then, it also examines trends and patterns in its exports, imports and trade balance over the past few years. Along with that, it highlights factors that may be influencing Nepals trade international balance, focusing on the positives. Nepals partners in international trade Trucks entering Nepal from China at Rasuwa Gadhi inland port. The Chinese Customs and Immigration office is in the background According to data provided by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Nepals major international trade partners include countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and some European countries in the Euro Area. The Euro Area is a monetary union of 19 European Union (EU) countries that have adopted the Euro as their currency. Some of the Euro Area countries that are major trading partners for Nepal include Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. These countries are important trading partners for Nepal due to their strong economies and the demand for Nepali goods in Europe. Trends so far Over the past few years, Nepals international trade balance has fluctuated. The data provided by the NRB shows that Nepal has had a negative trade balance with many of its major trading partners in all three years. This indicates that Nepal has been importing more goods from these countries than it has been exporting, which can be a sign of economic weakness. In the fiscal year 2019/20, Nepal had a negative trade balance with India, its largest trading partner, worth $665.2 million. Nepal also had negative trade balances with Afghanistan ($1.5 million), Bangladesh ($4.3 million), Bhutan ($995.5 thousand), Maldives ($22.0 thousand), Pakistan ($3.4 billion), Sri Lanka ($205.3 thousand), and the Euro Area ($209.0 million). In the fiscal year 2020/21, Nepals trade balance with India worsened to a negative $865.2 million. Nepal also had negative trade balances with Afghanistan ($6.9 thousand), Bangladesh ($10.0 million), Bhutan ($567.0 thousand), Maldives ($0.8 thousand), Pakistan ($353.9 thousand), Sri Lanka ($472.5 thousand), and the Euro Area ($149.6 million). In the fiscal year 2021/22, Nepals trade balance with India is projected to worsen further to a negative $1.04 billion. Nepal is also projected to have negative trade balances with Afghanistan ($13.6 thousand), Bangladesh ($10.5 million), Bhutan ($854.0 thousand), Maldives ($20.3 thousand), Pakistan ($487.0 thousand), Sri Lanka ($411.2 thousand), and the Euro Area ($228.3 million). It is worth noting that Nepals overall international trade balance has also been negative over the past few years. In 2019/20, Nepals overall trade balance was negative by $665.2 million, while in 2020/21, it was negative by $865.2 million. In 2021/22, Nepals overall trade balance is projected to be negative by $1.04 billion. This indicates that Nepal has been importing more goods from all of its international trade partners, not just those in the SAARC region and the Euro Area. Factors influencing Nepals international trade Image for representation: Trade deficit There are several factors that may be influencing Nepals international trade balance with its major trading partners. Some of these factors include economic conditions in Nepal and its trading partners, changes in global demand for Nepals exports, and shifts in Nepals economic policies. One factor that may be impacting Nepals balance with its major international trade partners is the economic conditions in these countries. For example, if one of Nepals trading partners is experiencing economic growth and increasing its demand for imports, this could lead to an increase in Nepals exports to that country. Conversely, if one of Nepals trading partners is experiencing an economic downturn or declining demand for imports, this could lead to a decrease in Nepals exports to that country. Another factor that may be influencing Nepals trade balance with its major international trade partners is changes in global demand for Nepals exports. For example, if there is increased global demand for Nepals textiles or garments, this could lead to an increase in Nepals exports to its major trading partners. Conversely, if there is decreased global demand for Nepals exports, this could lead to a decrease in Nepals exports to these countries. Finally, shifts in Nepals economic policies can also influence its international trade with its major trading partners. For example, if Nepal implements policies that make it easier for foreign companies to invest in the country, this could lead to an increase in exports as these companies set up operations in Nepal. On the other hand, if Nepal implements policies that make it more difficult for foreign companies to invest, this could lead to a decrease in exports. The way ahead Overall, Nepals trade balance with its major trading partners is influenced by a combination of these and other factors. Understanding these factors can help policymakers in Nepal develop strategies to improve the countrys international trade balance and strengthen its economy. It is important for Nepal to carefully consider these factors and work to address any underlying issues that may be contributing to its negative trade balance. This could include developing strategies to increase exports, improving economic infrastructure, or implementing policies that support domestic industries. By taking these steps, Nepal can work towards improving its trade balance with its major trading partners and strengthening its position in the global trade system. ReportLinker Major players in the agri natural enemy pest control market are Ecolab Inc, Bayer, Syngenta, Anticimex, Koppert, WUR, Marrone Bio Innovation, Certis, Dow Chemical, BASF Agricultural Specialities, Andermatt Biocontrol AG, Isagro S. New York, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Agri Natural Enemy Pest Control Global Market Report 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377777/?utm_source=GNW P.A, MB Integrated Pest Control, Marrone Bio Innovation, Zeneca, Novartis, Advanced Integrated Pest Management, IPM Pest Control, SGS SA. The global agri natural enemy pest control market is expected to grow from $16.31 billion in 2021 to $17.96 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in the short term. The war between these two countries has led to economic sanctions on multiple countries, surge in commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions, effecting many markets across the globe. The agri natural enemy pest control market is expected to reach $22.13 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.3%. The agri natural enemy pest control market includes revenues earned by entities by providing biological control management, crop protection management and mixed cropping services.The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. Agri-natural enemy pest control refers to the process of controlling a pest.It is a procedure that uses bio-pesticides to manage all conventional pesticide residues, giving protection from harmful insects that might damage agricultural products and cause soil degradation. This includes predators, parasiticides, bacteria, and worms, which swallow their prey resulting in sudden death. North America was the largest region in the agri natural enemy pest control market in 2021. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from goods and/or services sold within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of currency (in USD ($) unless otherwise specified). The revenues for specified geography are consumption values that is, they are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the specified market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales either further along the supply chain or as part of other products. The main natural enemy service type in agri natural enemy pest control are importation, augmentation, and conservation.Importation is known as classical biological control, defined as the intentional introduction of an exotic natural enemy to suppress the abundance or activity of an undesirable species. The different control agent used are predators, parasitoids, pathogens, bacteria, fungi, oomycota, and competitors, that are applied by ant control, beetle control, bird control, insects control, mosquitoes and flies control, and rat and rodent control. Change in land use and the effects of climate change is expected to propel the agri-natural enemy pest control market.Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns. These variations could be natural, such as shifts in the solar cycle.Land changes cause climate change because emissions are created by changes in land use, such as cutting forests to make a place for farmland. Due to this change in land use and climate change, there is a depletion of land, resulting in the shortage of crops, thus increasing the demand for agri-natural enemy pest control to enhance the life and quality of food and soil.For instance, In August 2019, according to the World Resource Institute, agriculture, forestry, and other land use accounted for approximately 23% of global human-caused greenhouse gas. Land use change drives these emissions, with agriculture, peatland destruction, and other land-based sources accounting for 44% of recent human-driven methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Furthermore, according to the 2020 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) activities accounted for approximately 13% of CO2 emissions, 44% of methane (CH4) emissions, and 81% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from human activities globally. Therefore, change in land use, and the effects of climate change will drive the agri-natural enemy pest control market Product innovation is a key trend gaining popularity in the agri-natural enemy pest control market.Major market players are developing innovative agri natural enemy pest control products, such as active insecticide ingredients, to sustain their position in the agri-natural enemy pest control market. For instance, in November 2020, Syngenta, a Switzerland-based company engaged in agricultural science and technology, particularly seeds and pesticides, launched Spiropidion, a new insecticide active ingredient.It is an innovative insect control technology that will assist farmers in effectively and sustainably protecting their crops from destructive sucking pests. Spiropidion is used to defend various crops from some of the most devastating and difficult-to-control sucking pests.Spiropidion is non-toxic to pollinators and beneficial insects, giving farmers a valuable new tool in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Spiropidion results from chemistry-driven innovation inside a rare class of insecticides that aid crops from within, protecting the complete plant body. In May 2021, Anticimex, a Sweden-based company engaged in modern pest control, acquired Palmera Junior for an undisclosed amount.With this acquisition, Anticimex steps forward in its global expansion strategy. Palmera Junior is the regions leading pest control company, with an impressive track record of growth.Anticimex will continue to grow the company and business in Colombia and beyond with its strong local management. Palmera Junior is a Columbia-based company engaged in agri-natural enemy pest control, extermination, and related services. The countries covered in the Agri Natural Enemy Pest Control market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. The agri natural enemy pest control market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides agri natural enemy pest control market statistics, including agri natural enemy pest control industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a agri natural enemy pest control market share, detailed agri natural enemy pest control market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the agri natural enemy pest control industry. This agri natural enemy pest control market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06377777/?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 Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin speaks at ETHDenver on February 18, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images The past year was terrible for the reputation of crypto, especially with the downfall of FTX. Analysts from Bernstein laid out why they're still bullish on the crypto space. Crypto is more than currencies, they said, and there's much to be hopeful about its future. Crypto did not have the best year in 2022. While the rest of the economy was on a downward slide, crypto was in a freefall. The average value of bitcoin the largest held and most well-known cryptocurrency dropped 64% based on figures from Google Finance. And then came the implosion of FTX, a company that had plastered ads across America for most of 2022. Wall Street banks which previously sought partnerships with crypto firms to offer access to customers are newly skeptical about the space. And FTX cofounder Sam Bankman-Fried pleading not guilty to federal charges promises the fallen crypto bro will stay in the public eye. So, yes, there are many reasons to be pessimistic about crypto in 2023. But Bernstein analysts Gautam Chhugani and Manas Agarwal offer crypto true believers a few reasons to keep the faith. In a note published on January 3, they wrote that despite a catastrophic 2022, the larger crypto ecosystem still has potential. Its decentralized nature allows it to bounce back even after debacles like FTX, it has a strong foundation in Ethereum, and crypto will likely benefit from the regulation it will be unable to avoid. In their words, crypto has a "survival instinct." Crypto keeps bouncing back The past year was not the first "crypto winter." Bitcoin saw large price drops in 2014, when annual returns fell by 58%, and prices stayed depressed until 2017. In 2018, Bitcoin plunged in value for nearly 18 months. But it managed to rally both times. Ethereum the other large crypto token followed nearly the same pattern of steep declines followed by a sharp rally from 2018 to 2020. As Ross Gerber put in during a 2021 appearance on Yahoo Finance Live: "Bitcoin and Ethereum are like cockroaches. They're just not going to die." Story continues One reason cyrpto is a cockroach is it's a largely decentralized system. Chhugani and Agarwal point out the contagion impact from FTX has not spread widely. "FTX was terrible for the reputation of the sector and affected the faith of institutional investors, who invested in FTX," the analysts said. "But FTX was 10% of the global trading volume and used mainly by wholesale participants such as brokers, trading firms, and large traders." Much of the crypto space remains decentralized. Take decentralized finance, or DeFi, which uses the same distributed network of computers to provide financial services to people. Chhugani and Agarwal said FTX's collapse had hastened DeFi adoption, which makes DeFi a bright spot in crypto investing, according to crypto VCs. DeFi's rise With DeFi projects largely insulated from FTX's impact, the Bernstein analysts noted investor interest might shift towards Ethereum and its mainly application-based ecosystem. Ethereum forms the basis of many crypto applications like NFT-based gaming, decentralized social media, and some commerce. These tend to use either the Ethereum blockchain to build or use the Ethereum currency to power transactions. Chhugani and Agarwal said crypto only touches 5% of total internet users, and the primary way of growing the space is through applications. "We believe value within crypto will migrate from the speculative crypto assets to more utility and application-driven ecosystems such as Ethereum," they said. The benefits of regulating the wild west of finance Agarwal and Chhugani believe regulation is coming for the crypto space and see it benefiting the market. Crypto enthusiasts typically deride moves to regulate their space. The blockchain and bitcoin began as a reaction to the 2008 financial crisis, and its first adopters had visions of leaving behind the tightly controlled world of traditional finance. But as crypto began moving into the mainstream, investors demanded regulation. And after the fall of FTX, those calls have only increased. The analysts said even if regulation brings about adjustments in the crypto market, policies bring in a more sustainable ecosystem and attract more institutional investors. In their view, regulated onshore exchange companies will survive the current cycle. For Agarwal and Chhugani, crypto still has strong potential to grow, particularly as people stop seeing it as a quick money-making speculative asset and instead focus on its ability to be a part of the infrastructure of the next decade of internet development. Read the original article on Business Insider FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom displays a bill he signed that shields abortion providers and volunteers in California from civil judgements from out-of-state courts during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., June 24, 2022. Newsom is headed to Washington this week, providing him with a national stage to continue his outspoken defense of abortion rights and gun control while lambasting Republican-led states that he sees as a threat to personal freedom and public safety. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Gov. Gavin Newsom signed nearly 1,000 bills into law during the 2022 legislative session. Among the laws that take effect Jan. 1, 2023, are harsher penalties for street racing, shrinking the minimum wage gap and resources for missing or endangered indigenous people. Here are a few California laws that take effect on Sunday. Senate Bill 3 was signed into law in 2016, by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. The law made California the first state to set a goal of a $15 minimum wage. When Brown signed the bill, California's minimum wage was $10. SB 3 mandated small increases each year until California hit $15 per hour in 2022. Since the state has hit the benchmark, effective Jan. 1, 2023, minimum wage will be $15.50 per hour. However, some California cities and counties already have higher minimum wages than the states rate. Women and girls will no longer pay extra for pink merchandise beginning Jan. 1, 2023. Under Assembly Bill 1287 also know as the "Pink Tax" it's illegal to charge a different price for any two items that are "substantially similar," if those items are priced differently based on the gender, according to the bill's text. The Pink Tax is a gender based penalty that harms women who are already paid less, Assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan said. This type of arbitrary gendered pricing has no place in California. Its long past time to eliminate this type of inequality. Im grateful Governor [Gavin] Newsom has signed this bill to ensure price equality in California. Assembly Bill 1700 requires the Attorney Generals Office to create an online reporting system for users of third-party online marketplaces to report listings of suspected stolen items. The reported information would be available to local law enforcement and the CHPs Organized Retail Crime Task Force to assist with investigations. Senate Bill 1228 prohibits the retention of DNA profiles collected from sexual assault victims by local law enforcement agencies including rape kits for sexual assault survivors. The law also prohibits victims DNA from being used for any purpose other than identifying the perpetrator of the crime. Story continues Its already hard enough for sexual assault survivors to make the decision to come forward, report a crime, and undergo an invasive rape kit exam at the hospital, Senator Scott Wiener said. The last thing we need is to send a message to survivors that if they come forward, their DNA sample may be used against them in the future. Proponents of the law argued that the bill would guarantee the privacy of sexual assault survivors and encourage victims to come forward. Fewer than a quarter of sexual assault survivors come forward to report to police. Of those who do report, only a small percentage undergo sexual assault testing, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Catalytic converter theft has spiked dramatically in recent years. In 2020, catalytic converter theft claims jumped to 14,433, a 325% increase in a single year, National Insurance Crime Bureau. California accounts for disproportionate amount of claims, according to the bureau. In 2021, the state reported roughly 37% of catalytic converter theft claims. State lawmakers are trying to slow the rate at which these costly automotive parts are being swiped and sold. Senate Bill 1087 prohibits a person from buying a used catalytic converter from anybody other than certain specified sellers. There are already laws that specifically list who can sell catalytic converters to recyclers and require those recyclers to keep documentation such as the year, make, model, and copy of the vehicle title from which the catalytic converter was removed. Torrance, Calif., police recovered 87 stolen catalytic converters in a three-week crackdown on the increasingly common crime in June. The fear of jaywalking could become a thing of the past. Assembly Bill 2147 prohibits police from stopping pedestrians for certain pedestrian-specific violations, such as crossing the road outside of a crosswalk. However, pedestrians can still be cited if the violation posses a traffic hazard or risk of a car wreck. California Highway Patrol is required to submit a report to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2028, on how the law impacted pedestrian safety. Senate Bill 1472: Ryan's Law expands the criteria for gross negligence as it relates to vehicular manslaughter. Drivers involved in street racing, excessive speeding, or speeding over 100 miles per hour which results in a fatality can now be charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Ryan's Law also imposes a state-mandated local program. The bill is named after Ryan Koeppel, a man struck and killed by a repeat reckless driver. Street racing and sideshows have caused 264 collisions statewide in the last five years. Of those wrecks, 30 were fatal and 124 resulted in serious injuries, CHP reported. Visalia officers targeted street racing across the city on Saturday, issuing 38 citations. The Feather Alert allows law enforcement agencies to request that CHP initiate an alert when an indigenous person has been kidnapped, abducted, or reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances. Like AMBER, Blue, and Silver alerts, the Feather Alert program uses radio, television, and social media to spread the information about the missing indigenous person. Rates of murder, rape, and violent crime against indigenous people are all higher than the national averages, especially among Native American and Alaska Native women. There is no reliable count of how many indigenous women go missing or are killed each year. The Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates that roughly 4,200 missing and murdered cases are unsolved. These cases often remain unsolved due to a lack of investigative resources available to identify new information from witness testimony, re-examine new or retained material evidence, as well as reviewing fresh activities of suspects, according to the bureau. Tammy Carpenter, left, and her son, Richie, carry a sign during a prayer walk in Shasta Lake on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, for their daughter and sister, Angela McConnell, who was murdered Sept. 7, 2018, in Shasta Lake. The homicide case of McConnell and her boyfriend, Michael Bingham Jr., on Black Canyon Road remains unsolved. "The purpose for us is to let people know that she's not forgotten. That's what I feel in my heart that I have to be Angela Lynne McConnell's voice. I'm her mother," Tammy Carpenter said. The march also raised awareness of other Native American men and women who are listed by the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women movement. About 30 people participated in the walk in the rain from the Wintu Cultural Center on Shasta Dam Boulevard to Clair Engle Park. This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: New year, new California laws: Here are a few that go into effect Jan. 1 BEIJING, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China has adjusted its response to COVID-19 prevention and control in recent weeks. It announced it will downgrade COVID-19 management from Class A to Class B infectious disease while resuming passport, visa issuance and easing border-entry policies starting on January 8, 2023. It also changed the Chinese name of the disease from "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection." China's decision has drawn widespread criticisms from a section of the Western media outlets, and also the Western political and intellectual circles, same as the previous "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. Criticism ranges from comparing China's latest COVID-19 surge to a "catastrophe" that could "put the global economy at risk" to scaremongering over the rise of "new coronavirus mutants." Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that "Currently, we are adapting our COVID-19 response measures to the new developments in the epidemic, so as to better coordinate epidemic response and socioeconomic development. We believe that, with the Chinese people's joint efforts and solidarity, we will usher in a new phase of steady and orderly economic and social development." China's dynamic zero-COVID policy protected people's lives and bought time for understanding the virus based on science, for research and development of vaccines, anti-viral drugs and therapeutics, and for vaccinating more people nationwide. According to the latest official data, China has administered over 3.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide with over 90 percent of its 1.4 billion population fully vaccinated. Over 87 percent of people over the age of 60 fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, China has rolled out the second booster shot with 13 types of COVID-19 vaccines approved for the purpose. The figures speak for themselves. To this day, China has the lowest COVID-19 death toll among major countries in the world. In contrast, the U.S., with a quarter of China's population, has reported over a million deaths. The past three years laid the foundation for China's policy adjustments. Story continues https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-30/China-s-dynamic-zero-COVID-policy-sets-the-foundation-for-reopening-1gbxNZWCc5a/index.html SOURCE CGTN Since the establishment of Cisco Networking Academy in Saudi Arabia in 2000, a worldwide leader in technology that powers the Internet, more than 274,500 students have been trained and upskilled via the Digital Skills Learning Programme. 34 per cent of these learners are female, making the Kingdom one of the top 20 countries worldwide with female participation. During Ciscos 2022 fiscal year alone, more than 64,000 students were enrolled in Cisco Networking Academy courses in Saudi Arabia. These learners were supported by more than 470 instructors, working across 120 academies in the Kingdom. Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director, Cisco, Saudi Arabia, said: Having one of the youngest populations in the region, we are very proud of the Cisco Networking Academys achievements in upskilling the next generation of IT talent in Saudi Arabia. One of the highlights of the academys success in the Kingdom is the female participation, which is among the highest globally." "Learners in the country have demonstrated their enthusiasm to gain the necessary skill sets required to be a part of the workforce of the future. As digitization continues to become a reality, were constantly working with the national leadership, industry, and academia to expand Cisco Networking Academys reach to unlock the full potential of talent in Saudi Arabia, he added. Earlier this quarter, Cisco has announced its goal to provide digital skills training to 25 million learners globally over the next ten years through its Cisco Networking Academy program. TradeArabia News Service HONG KONG, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China Telecom Corporation Limited ("China Telecom" or "the Company"; HKEx: 00728; SSE: 601728) is pleased to announce that the Company was honoured with the following corporate governance grand awards in "Asian Excellence Award 2022" organised by Corporate Governance Asia, a prestigious regional journal on corporate governance: Asia's Best CSR Best Corporate Communications Best Environmental Responsibility Best Investor Relations Company China Telecom Honoured with Four Awards including Asias Best CSR by Corporate Governance Asia Corporate Governance Asia acknowledged that China Telecom strives to maintain a high level of corporate governance and has inherited an excellent, prudent and efficient corporate governance concept and continuously enhances its corporate governance capability. The sustained enhancement of the Company's corporate governance aligned with the long-term best interest of shareholders. In addition, China Telecom was acknowledged for its achievements on facilitating the development of digital life and undertaking social responsibilities. "Asian Excellence Awards" recognises corporates' achievements and excellence in management acumen, financial performance, corporate social responsibility, environmental practices and investor relations. These awards are in the tradition of the high standards set and upheld by Corporate Governance Asia, the authoritative voice in corporate governance practices in the region. The accolades are based both on the scores from the data that was submitted by readers and from interviews conducted with investors. China Telecom would like to sincerely thank the capital market and investors for their support and trust all along. SOURCE China Telecom Corporation Limited DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beautiful beaches along the Balu River flowing through Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, attract increasing numbers of visitors this year. The number of cruise ships, tourists, and residents is rising significantly during weekends. The once dirty and smelly river has turned clear, and villagers have begun to fish in the river, while children are having a great time swimming and playing in the water. Main Plant Area of Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant built by PowerChina. The drastic improvement in water quality has been brought about with help from the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant on the river's west side. The China-funded project adheres to Chinese standards, and its construction was undertaken by Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina). The plant officially went into operation on April 1, 2022. The domestic sewage generated by some 5 million people in downtown Dhaka can be treated daily, which has greatly improved the water quality of the city. This is the first modern large-scale sewage treatment facility in Bangladesh and the largest single sewage treatment plant in South Asia, with a sewage treatment capacity of 500,000 cubic meters per day. The construction of the plant officially started on August 1, 2017, which mainly included the sewage lift station outside the plant, the sewage conveyance pipelines, the main plant area, and the sludge dry & incineration plant. The project provided more than 1,000 jobs and corresponding business training for the locals, and the total value of local equipment and materials purchased was about US $45 million, effectively driving local economic development. The plant so far has treated more than 45 billion Ltrs of sewage from the municipal sewage network, and the domestic sewage of the five surrounding regions has been collected at the plant through the drainage system and effectively treated. The treated up-to-standard water is then discharged into a nearby river to further improve the local water environment. More residents nearby have also benefitted from environmental improvement. They sincerely thank the Chinese builders involved in the construction, and often warmly invite Chinese engineers to visit their homes. Story continues "This was quite different from the traditional Chinese design model; making the design drawings was very demanding, and the approval process turned out to be difficult," said Zhang Chengbo, project manager of the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant. "We organized experienced designers, and adopted the on-site design model, greatly promoting the approval progress of the design drawings as a result." Since the construction of the Dasherkandi Project, PowerChina has pitched similar projects to relevant ministries and cities in Bangladesh to solve the problem of urban water supply and sewage, and the mature Chinese technology is used to promote the national basin planning and further improve the water resources and water environment of Bangladesh. In addition, in the field of renewable energy, PowerChina has applied to the Bangladesh government for more than 900 megawatts of development permits. PowerChina not only wants to treat sewage into clean water, but also bring green energy to Bangladesh. SOURCE PowerChina NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominari Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: DOMH) ("Dominari" or the "Company") today provided an update on the $2 million share repurchase program (the "Share Repurchase Program") authorized by the Company's Board of Directors on December 5, 2022. Dominari Holdings Logo (PRNewsfoto/Dominari Holdings Inc.) The Company reported that on January 3, 2023, the Company purchased 4,900 shares of common stock at $3.3996 per share. Anthony Hayes, CEO of Dominari, stated, "We believe the Company's stock price is still trading significantly below value and continuing to repurchase shares in the open market is a prudent allocation of our capital." Additional shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, or other means in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and Rule 10b -18 of the Exchange Act. The timing, number of shares repurchased, and prices paid for the stock under this program will depend on general business and market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory limitations, including blackout period restrictions. About Dominari Holdings Inc. Dominari Holdings Inc. (f/k/a AIkido Pharma Inc.) until recently was focused primarily on the development of a diverse portfolio of small-molecule anticancer and antiviral therapeutics and related patent technology. In September 2022, the Company agreed to acquire a registered broker-dealer and transition its primary business operations to fintech and financial services. Upon the final closing of this acquisition, the Company's fintech and financial services business will be operated through its subsidiary, Dominari Financial Inc. The Company continues to develop its therapeutics and related patent technology, as well as other ventures, through its subsidiary, AIkido Labs, LLC. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Story continues Contact: Investor Relations: Hayden IR Brett Maas, Managing Partner Phone: (646) 536-7331 Email: brett@haydenir.com www.haydenir.com Dominari Holdings Inc. (f/k/a AIkido Pharma Inc): Phone: 212-745-1373 Email: investorrelations@aikidopharma.com www.aikidopharma.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dominari-holdings-provides-update-on-share-repurchase-program-301713115.html SOURCE Dominari Holdings Inc. The saga of Elon Musks ownership of Twitter dominated headlines in 2022. First Musk bid $54.20 for the firm, seemingly a pot joke, then shocked Wall Street by signing a binding merger agreement for that amount, then pulled another shock when he tried to back out of the deal and Twitter sued to compel him to close (when its value looked to be a lot less than his bid). Since Musk took Twitter private, and reportedly laid off half its staff, the value of the social media giant has been unclear. At one point, Musk even warned it could go bankrupt. Now we have a clue, in the form of a regulatory filing by Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund, which invests most of its assets in companies with market capitalizations greater than $10 billion. This fund from the asset management giant valued its stake in Twitter at $19.66 million at the end of October, a quarterly holdings report said. By Nov. 30, that holding had dropped to $8,626,218, another filing said. That means the value of Fidelitys investment in Twitter has plunged by 56% since October. Musk initially announced his bid for Twitter in April 2022, according to a regulatory filing. Fidelity was one of 19 investors listed as taking part in Musk's $44 billion purchase of Twitter, and committed about $316 million to the transaction, a May 4 filing said. Since completing the merger, Musk has been cutting costs at Twitter, an organization he likened to an airplane headed toward the ground at high speed with the engines on fire and the controls dont work. In one of his latest cost-cutting moves, he canceled janitorial services this month at the companys San Francisco headquarters, according to the New York Times. Twitter was separately sued by its landlord, Columbia Property Trust, for not paying rent at the same headquarters, according to Bloomberg. Last month, Musk also said he would resign as CEO after millions of Twitter users asked him to step down in an unscientific poll the billionaire himself created and promised to abide by. He is reportedly looking for a new CEO. Story continues Musk did not immediately return messages for comment. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com More from Fortune: People who skipped their COVID vaccine are at higher risk of traffic incidents Elon Musk says getting booed by Dave Chapelle fans 'was a first for me in real life' suggesting he's aware of building backlash Gen Z and young millennials have found a new way to afford luxury handbags and watchesliving with mom and dad Meghan Markles real sin that the British public cant forgiveand Americans cant understand By Sruthi Shankar Jan 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's real steadied on Wednesday after taking losses due to concerns about its fiscal health under new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while other Latin American currencies were mixed ahead of the release of U.S. Federal Reserve meeting minutes. The real firmed 0.2% to 5.44 per dollar after touching an over one-month low of 5.47 in the previous session. Investors have been rattled by Lula's giant social spending package and a budget-busting extension to a fuel tax exemption announced earlier this week. Adding to the uncertainty, the incoming social security minister said on Tuesday the government would need to review the investor friendly pension reform approved by Bolsonaro's administration. "Markets are increasingly nervous that Lula will push populist policies that will require more spending and borrowing," said Win Thin, global head of currency strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman. Brazil's main Bovespa stock index rose 0.4% after shedding over 5% in the past two sessions. State-run oil company Petrobras was little changed after it said its board of directors had approved the early departure of chief executive officer Caio Paes de Andrade. The Mexican peso and Chilean peso firmed against a broadly weakening dollar. The Colombian peso slipped, hit by sliding prices of oil, the country's main export. Traders will scour the Fed's December meeting minutes to be released at 2:00 p.m. ET for indications that policymakers are concerned about persistent inflation even as the U.S. central bank slows the pace of its rate increases. Elsewhere, Poland's zloty held gains after the central bank left its main interest rate unchanged as expected at 6.75%. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies: Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 973.93 1.18 MSCI LatAm 2052.86 0.43 Brazil Bovespa 104517.61 0.34 Mexico IPC 49565.83 1.05 Chile IPSA 5085.69 -1.02 Argentina MerVal 198801.17 0.222 Colombia COLCAP 1287.62 1.42 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 5.4431 0.18 Mexico peso 19.3453 0.28 Chile peso 855.5 0.78 Colombia peso 4937.09 -0.91 Peru sol 3.8247 -0.45 Argentina peso (interbank) 178.6400 -0.14 (Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru Editing by Mark Heinrich) NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / Inogen Alliance Inogen Alliance, Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) in the EU reforms and significantly expands the reporting obligations of companies. It extends the reporting requirements and makes it compulsory for big to small and medium-sized enterprises based on a harmonized reporting standard. The extended scope will mean that from 2024, more than 50,000 European companies will have to disclose detailed ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) information. The EU Council announced the approval of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive on the 28th of November, 2022. Read more on the business implications below, with this article originally published here from our Associate in Hungary, denxpert, along with an infographic on how to prepare for CSRD. What is CSRD? The CSRD will replace the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) after 2024. Under the current working version of the CSRD, a significantly larger number of companies in the EU will be required to report on their non-financial sustainability performance compared to the previous NFRD. Typical sustainability issues to be reported include environmental rights, social rights, human rights, and governance factors. The CSRD proposal: extends the scope to all large companies and all companies listed on regulated markets (for example banks and insurance companies) requires the audit (assurance) of reported information introduces more detailed reporting requirements according to EU sustainability reporting standards The European Commission's proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) forces the adoption of EU sustainability reporting standards. The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) will be responsible for establishing these European standards, following technical advice from several European agencies. The standards will be tailored to EU policies while building on and contributing to international standardisation initiatives. Story continues Who is affected by the CSRD? The CSRD will apply to all large companies and entities with securities listed on regulated markets in the EU, except micro-enterprises. Large companies are entities that exceed the thresholds for at least two of the following three criteria: 1) balance sheet total: 20 million, 2) net turnover: 40 million, 3) the average number of employees in the financial year: 250. These companies are also responsible for assessing the information at the level of their subsidiaries. Large companies are not the only ones required to publish their sustainability reports. The EU proposes that listed small and medium-sized companies could also be affected, but they will be subject to simpler rules than large companies. An opt-out will be possible for SMEs during a transitional period, meaning that they will be exempted from the application of the directive until 2028. For non-European companies, the requirement to provide a sustainability report applies to all companies generating a net turnover of 150 million in the EU and with at least one subsidiary or branch. These companies must report their ESG impacts, namely environmental, social and governance impacts, as defined in this directive. Audit and certification The proposal first introduces a common EU-wide audit requirement for reported sustainability information. This should ensure that the information provided is accurate and reliable. This will go a long way to addressing investors' concerns about the reliability of sustainability information that companies publish today. The CSRD also introduces a certification requirement for sustainability reporting and improved accessibility of information by requiring its publication in a dedicated section of the company management reports. Reporting must be certified by an accredited independent auditor or certifier. The reporting of non-European companies must also be certified by a European auditor or by one established in a third country. The Commission's proposal allows the Member States to open the sustainability assurance services market to "independent assurance providers." This means that the Member States may choose to authorise companies that are not conventional auditors of financial information to audit sustainability information. Costs for companies The Commission's proposal aims to reduce reporting costs for businesses in the medium and long term. While the proposed CSRD would imply additional costs in the short term for companies, most companies will face an increase in the expenses anyway because of the growing demand from investors and other stakeholders for corporate sustainability information. This problem is exacerbated by several overlapping standards and frameworks and inconsistent information requests from investors and other stakeholders. The Commission's proposal represents an opportunity for an orderly and cost-effective solution to the problems posed by this increase in demand, based on consensus on essential information that companies must disclose. How can I prepare for CSRD compliance? Different approaches to reporting can be taken depending on whether a company is preparing its first sustainability report or has already communicated its non-financial performance. If the company is likely subject to the CSRD, it is worthwhile to carry out a gap analysis to show its current state of compliance. The next step is to draw up a plan to address the gaps so that the report is fully compliant with the CSRD by the deadline. The first steps can be taken based on the information available. A materiality analysis needs to be carried out, stakeholders need to be mapped, channels to learn about sustainability issues need to be developed, corporate governance structures need to be designed to meet expectations, and data collection methods need to be developed. Some companies may have other reporting obligations besides the CSRD, which need to be identified and a timetable set to meet these by the deadline. Companies that have already reported on their non-financial performance are at an advantage, especially if they have prepared their reports under an international standard. However, it is also essential for these companies to review their reporting practices, considering the expected new requirements. Roadmap and CSRD Timeframe for Reporting CSRD requires many EU companies to disclose information on how they operate and manage social and environmental challenges. This helps investors, civil society organisations, consumers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to evaluate the non-financial performance of larger companies and encourages these companies to develop a responsible approach to business. In June 2022, the Council and European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the CSRD directive. The application of the regulation will take place in three stages: 01. January 2024 for companies already subject to the non-financial reporting directive 01. January 2025 for large companies that are not presently subject to the non-financial reporting directive 01. January 2026 for listed SMEs, small and non-complex credit institutions, and captive insurance undertakings. About Denxpert Denxpert helps corporates align their business vision with ESG requirements through intuitive compliance, report-driven data collecting, and 15+years of experience. While meeting ESG standards is crucial to stay competitive, compliance can feel daunting without expert help. Denxpert revolutionizes the way corporations manage ESG-minded data and create audit-safe reports. Our team of experts will bring order to chaos by offering step-by-step guidance throughout your ESG journey. Download their free e-book: ESG Report in 8 steps - A guide for decision makers in ESG, sustainability and business strategy Learn more about our Global Sustainability and ESG reporting services. Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 5,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Inogen Alliance on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Inogen Alliance Website: http://threeblpro.prod.acquia-sites.com/dashboard/inogen-alliance Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Inogen Alliance View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/734008/EU-Corporate-Sustainability-Reporting-Directive-CSRD-Business-Implications FORGE New partners support startup and innovation community BOSTON, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FORGE announced today that it is partnering with Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C., a law firm focused exclusively on intellectual property law, to support its startups and innovators. FORGE is a nonprofit organization that helps connect innovators with local manufacturing resources to keep manufacturing local. Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks will be supporting the FORGE community with IP-specific educational programming, office hours and more related to biotech, chemical and materials technologies; electrical and computer technologies; mechanical technologies; and pharmaceuticals. Intellectual property law is such a specialized area, said Laura Teicher, FORGEs executive director. Our new partnership with Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks will help our startups stake out their rights, protecting their investments in research and development. Ryan MacDougall, chief business development officer for Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, said, Partnering with FORGE is exciting to us because it offers the opportunity to bring together our extensive experience protecting, building, and growing clients most valuable intellectual property and our passion for investing in our communities. We are excited by the work being done at FORGE and we look forward to contributing our strategic insight and mentorship to the start-ups aiming to change and localize their manufacturing spaces." FORGEs Partner Network When it comes to bridging the gap between startups and the local supply chain network, it takes a proverbial village. To continue advancing its vision, FORGE relies on a group of committed partners. These partners do more than sponsor and fund the organization; they invest considerable time and expertise in helping to educate and guide startups through the complex journey from prototype to manufacturing at scale. About FORGE Since its founding in 2015, FORGE has helped more than 500 innovators take their products from prototype to production and scale. FORGE leverages deep knowledge of the innovation, supply chain and manufacturing spaces to create productive business relationships and foster creative, modern solutions to world problems. Story continues FORGEs support for startups creating physical products has yielded considerable success. A large percentage of the 500+ startup companies that engage with FORGE mature and thrive. FORGE companies have received contracts worth more than $34 million and added more than 5,000 innovation and manufacturing jobs to the economy. Learn more at FORGEImpact.org About Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C. Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C. is among the 10 largest law firms in the country devoted exclusively to intellectual property law. With over 150 legal professionals based in Boston and New York, the firm offers a full range of IP services, including patent prosecution and litigation; post-grant proceedings, including IPRs; opinions and strategic counseling; licensing; intellectual property audits and due diligence; trademark and copyright prosecution and litigation; and other issues related to the commercialization of intellectual property. Wolf Greenfield attorneys advise clients whose IP is at the core of their business, such as large, global corporations, mid-size companies, innovative start-ups and emerging enterprises, renowned universities and research institutions, and Nobel Prize winners. More than 90% of the firms practitioners have science or engineering degrees and more than two-thirds hold advanced degrees (MS, PhD or MD). Learn more at WolfGreenfield.com . CONTACT: Media Contact: Bobbie Carlton Carlton PR & Marketing 781-718-7619 bobbie@carltonprmarketing.com PARIS, January 04, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: GenSight Biologics (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma Company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today announced that the Company will participate in the following investor conferences in January 2023: 26th ODDO BHF Forum January 9 - 10, 2023 - Virtual Bernard Gilly, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas Gidoin, Chief Financial Officer, will host investor meetings. Invest Securities Biomed Forum January 24, 2023 - Paris, France Thomas Gidoin, Chief Financial Officer, will attend in person and host investor meetings. 11th Degroof Petercam Healthcare Conference January 25, 2023 - Virtual Thomas Gidoin, Chief Financial Officer, will host investor meetings. About GenSight Biologics GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics lead product candidate, LUMEVOQ (GS010; lenadogene nolparvovec), is an investigational compound and has not been registered in any country at this stage; a marketing authorization application is currently under review by the EMA for the treatment of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease affecting primarily teens and young adults that leads to irreversible blindness. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery. Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230103005617/en/ Contacts GenSight Biologics Corporate Communications Director Clothilde Caillet ccaillet@gensight-biologics.com LifeSci Advisors Investor Relations Guillaume van Renterghem gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com +41 (0)76 735 01 31 RooneyPartners Media Relations Jeanene Timberlake jtimberlake@rooneypartners.com +1 646-770-8858 Orpheon Finance Retail Investors James Palmer j.palmer@orpheonfinance.com +33 (0)7 60 92 77 74 HALIFAX, NS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - GoGold Resources Inc. (TSX: GGD) (OTCQX: GLGDF) ("GoGold", "the Company") is pleased to provide an outlook of milestones and deliverables for 2023. "2022 was another year of significant advancements of the Los Ricos deposits, as we continue to aggressively grow resources and move towards development of GoGold's first mine in the Los Ricos district. One of the major achievements in 2022 was the acquisition of the valuable Eagle concession," said Brad Langille, President and CEO stated. "In 2023, the Eagle concession will propel Los Ricos South on its development path towards a mine. Some of the key milestones which we are targeting for 2023 are as follows: Continued aggressive drilling program at Los Ricos South Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at Los Ricos South including the effects of the Eagle concession Underground exploration and development at Los Ricos South focussing initially on the Eagle Completion of Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") at Los Ricos South Completion of PEA at Los Ricos North With the above and supported by our strong balance sheet including our year end cash balance of $73 million USD (see financial results PR dated December 22, 2022), 2023 is sure to be a year full of discovery and milestone achievements on the development road towards mining." Los Ricos South Updated Resource & PEA In 2023, the Company will continue drilling at the Eagle concession, which is included in Los Ricos South and was acquired in October 2022, as well as the continuation of the drilling program at the Main Area. The results of these drilling campaigns are expected to be included in an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, which will form the basis for an updated PEA. The Company is targeting a significant increase in the value of the mineral deposits at Los Ricos South. The addition of the Eagle concession, which is adjacent to the Main area, is expected to increase the economics of the project given the expanded strike length on the deposit. Story continues The addition of the Eagle concession and the drilling results to date, along with the re-examination of the drilling results from the previously released Main area of Los Ricos South, show the potential for a significant bulk underground mining operation which will be the focus of the revised PEA in Los Ricos South. Some of the key advantages in this revised development plan could be a lower environmental impact compared to open pit mining, easier and expedited permitting process, potentially higher grade and lower capital expenditures, and potentially increased net present value with the addition of the Eagle concession. The 2022 drilling program at these locations produced some of the strongest results to date in the Los Ricos district, including intercepts such as 11.5m of 3,047 g/t silver equivalent ("AgEq"), 11.9m of 2,260 g/t AgEq, and 15.0m of 1,444 g/t AgEq. See Table 1 for highlighted drilling results from the Eagle and Main Area at Los Ricos South in 2022. Table 1: Los Ricos South Highlighted Drilling 2022 Hole ID Area / Vein From To Length1 Au Ag AuEq2 AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGAG-22-035 Eagle 69.0 179.6 110.6 1.64 264.6 5.17 387.5 including 129.0 140.5 11.5 11.31 2,198.3 40.62 3,046.7 including 130.4 133.8 3.5 30.24 6,392.5 115.48 8,660.8 including 130.4 131.9 1.5 63.24 12,729.3 232.96 17,472.0 including 131.0 131.9 0.9 104.50 13,742.5 287.73 21,580.0 LRGAG-21-014 Eagle 144.3 216.9 72.6 5.13 76.0 6.14 460.6 including 198.8 210.7 11.9 28.58 115.9 30.13 2,259.8 including 208.6 210.7 2.1 146.03 176.8 148.39 11,128.9 including 208.6 209.3 0.7 266.00 319.0 270.25 20,269.0 LRGAG-22-031 Eagle 58.0 126.0 68.0 4.25 109.4 5.71 428.4 including 78.0 113.9 35.9 7.83 184.9 10.29 771.8 including 80.0 95.0 15.0 15.61 273.3 19.26 1,444.4 including 84.0 86.0 2.0 46.80 272.5 50.43 3,782.5 LRGAG-22-032 Eagle 48.1 113.8 65.8 1.36 107.7 2.79 209.6 including 85.8 113.8 28.1 2.96 216.6 5.85 439.0 including 88.5 92.9 4.3 7.17 1,012.8 20.68 1,550.7 including 88.5 89.1 0.6 25.00 3,020.0 65.27 4,895.0 LRGAG-22-041 Eagle 109.5 145.5 36.0 1.46 134.5 3.26 244.3 including 134.0 143.5 9.5 4.55 389.9 9.75 731.1 including 134.0 134.8 0.8 6.01 577.0 13.70 1,027.7 also including 137.0 143.5 6.6 5.62 453.6 11.67 875.3 including 141.0 142.2 1.2 17.10 1,345.0 35.03 2,627.5 LRGAG-22-043 Eagle 146.0 154.2 8.2 0.67 78.4 1.72 129.0 and 166.0 186.7 20.7 1.32 215.8 4.20 315.1 including 176.5 185.8 9.3 2.73 428.2 8.44 633.1 including 182.0 184.5 2.5 7.89 999.1 21.21 1,591.1 including 182.0 182.7 0.7 17.20 2,130.0 45.60 3,420.0 LRGAG-21-018 Eagle 127.6 163.0 33.6 1.57 85.5 2.71 203.5 including 156.9 159.3 2.4 10.51 436.5 16.33 1,225.0 including 156.9 157.6 0.8 15.00 1,155.0 30.40 2,280.0 and 177.9 178.6 0.7 36.20 1,500.0 56.20 4,215.0 LRGAG-22-030 Eagle 42.9 79.5 36.7 1.77 156.2 3.85 289.0 including 51.9 61.0 9.1 6.00 553.3 13.38 1,003.2 including 54.1 54.8 0.7 14.00 1,260.0 30.80 2,310.0 LRGAG-22-029 Eagle 74.0 94.6 20.6 1.52 217.5 4.42 331.3 including 75.5 77.5 2.0 8.00 1,865.5 32.87 2,465.5 including 75.5 76.5 1.0 14.15 3,520.0 61.08 4,581.3 LRGAG-21-007 Eagle 148.5 191.0 42.5 1.64 137.5 3.47 260.6 including 188.6 190.2 1.6 6.83 1,269.5 23.76 1,781.8 LRGG-22-209 Main area 58.3 91.5 33.2 3.15 276.5 6.84 512.8 including 86.0 89.0 3.0 30.19 2,587.7 64.69 4,851.7 including 87.0 88.0 1.0 73.10 5,620.0 148.03 11,102.5 LRGG-22-218 Main area 57.0 74.1 15.0 3.98 529.2 11.04 827.8 including 57.0 63.9 4.8 12.43 1,625.6 34.10 2,557.6 including 60.5 63.0 2.5 20.32 2,774.1 57.31 4,298.2 including 61.2 62.2 0.9 37.90 4,250.0 94.57 7,092.5 LRGG-22-208 Main area 37.5 47.7 10.3 1.17 313.0 5.35 401.0 including 43.2 45.0 1.9 3.50 976.2 16.52 1,238.7 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1 at recoveries of 100% Following is a longitudinal section map of Los Ricos South which includes the locations of the above highlighted drilling results. Figure 1: Eagle + Main Area Grade Thickness Longitudinal Section (CNW Group/GoGold Resources Inc.) Pre-Feasibility Study While the Los Ricos South PFS was originally planned to be completed in 2022, the addition of the Eagle concession significantly altered the project. As a result, the PFS is expected to be completed in 2023 and will be based on the updated resource and PEA, including the Eagle concession. GoGold made progress on certain aspects of the PFS during 2022 which included positive results from the metallurgical test program, as well as activities such as process design, equipment sizing and quotations, process flow diagram completion, site work, power sourcing, and water sourcing. Underground Development As part of the exploration and the advancement of resources to reserves, the Company anticipates entering an underground development phase in the first quarter of the year. This will include additional drilling to confirm resources and testing to prove and evaluate underground mining methods. Los Ricos District Overview With the acquisition of the Eagle concession in October 2022, this connected the Company's concessions held in the southern portion of its Los Ricos South project, including the Main area where the Initial Resource was released, to its northern concessions in Los Ricos South, which includes the Jamaica exploration target. As a result, all the concessions in Los Ricos South are now contiguous. The Company now holds 45 concessions covering over 25,000 hectares in the Los Ricos district and continues to assess whether any additional concessions in the area will be acquired. Figure 1 shows a summary of the Los Ricos North and South projects' current resources as well as the location of the concessions. Figure 2: Los Ricos District Overview (CNW Group/GoGold Resources Inc.) Los Ricos North During 2022, the Company completed a significant drilling campaign at Los Ricos North, with results released at a number of the key deposits and targets within the project including El Favor, Mololoa, Gran Cabrera, and El Nayar. See Table 2 for highlighted 2022 drilling results at Los Ricos North. See press release dated December 7, 2021 and Figure 2 for full details regarding the initial Mineral Resource estimate. The focus at Los Ricos North in 2023 will be the release of an initial PEA providing the market with the first look at the value of this significant deposit. This is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. GoGold anticipates the release of additional drilling results from Los Ricos North over the coming months, including those from explorations on additional targets not included in the initial Resource. Table 2: Los Ricos North Highlighted Drilling 2022 Hole ID Area / Vein From To Length1 Au Ag AuEq2 AgEq2 (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) LRGF-21-107 El Favor East 249.3 275.0 25.7 1.55 776.4 11.90 892.3 including 250.1 271.2 21.2 1.87 938.0 14.38 1,078.5 including 258.4 262.7 4.3 8.65 4,163.8 64.17 4,812.8 including 259.1 260.2 1.0 18.23 9,940.1 150.76 11,307.3 LRGM-21-077 Mololoa - Tamara 147.7 184.0 36.3 1.51 375.7 6.52 489.1 including 147.7 154.2 6.5 6.94 1,683.0 29.38 2,203.6 including 152.0 153.0 1.0 21.80 5,040.0 89.00 6,675.0 including 175.9 177.4 1.6 5.02 1,385.1 23.49 1,761.9 LRGM-21-087 Mololoa - Tamara 166.7 186.7 20.0 0.89 211.5 3.71 278.6 including 166.7 168.2 1.5 8.77 1,995.0 35.37 2,652.8 LRGM-21-088 Mololoa - Tamara 282.0 296.6 14.6 2.58 683.7 11.70 877.4 including 283.3 287.0 3.8 9.73 2,577.3 44.10 3,307.4 including 285.0 286.0 1.0 16.25 4,660.0 78.38 5,878.8 LRGM-21-104 Mololoa - Tamara 266.4 299.8 33.4 1.09 235.1 4.22 316.6 including 266.4 276.1 9.8 3.56 765.2 13.76 1,032.4 including 268.6 272.2 3.5 8.48 1,681.6 30.90 2,317.4 including 271.0 272.2 1.1 17.15 3,080.0 58.22 4,366.3 LRGF-22-137 El Favor - Salomon 9.8 75.5 61.5 0.29 142.8 2.20 164.7 including 39.0 67.5 24.3 0.66 300.1 4.66 349.8 1. Not true width 2. AqEq converted using a silver to gold ratio of 75:1 at recoveries of 100% Mr. David Duncan, P. Geo. is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information of this release. About GoGold Resources GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD) is a Canadian-based silver and gold producer focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring high quality projects in Mexico. The Company operates the Parral Tailings mine in the state of Chihuahua and has the Los Ricos South and Los Ricos North exploration projects in the state of Jalisco. Headquartered in Halifax, NS, GoGold is building a portfolio of low cost, high margin projects. For more information visit gogoldresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy of any of GoGold's securities in the United States. This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Parral tailings project, the Los Ricos project, future operating margins, future production and processing, and future plans and objectives of GoGold, constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the continuance of GoGold and its subsidiaries as a going concern, general economic and market conditions, mineral prices, the accuracy of mineral resource estimates, and the performance of the Parral project There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from GoGold's expectations include exploration and development risks associated with the GoGold's projects, the failure to establish estimated mineral resources or mineral reserves, volatility of commodity prices, variations of recovery rates, the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to GoGold, reference should be made to GoGold's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, GoGold's Annual Information Form. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gogold-provides-outlook-for-2023-301713013.html SOURCE GoGold Resources Inc. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a leading global financial centre, has underlined its commitment to addressing climate change issues by launching an exclusive training programme. Commissioned by the DIFC Academy, a training and development platform established by the DIFC Authority, and jointly delivered by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), which is committed to delivering positive change to achieve the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, the Climate Finance Training Series is a part of DIFCs Path to COP28 campaign. Overall, the training series will help financial services practitioners understand the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCCs) 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) process, global trends in climate finance and best practice approaches to developing and implementing the net zero strategies. Curriculum modules Curriculum modules include Deconstructing COP28 and the Role of Financial Services; From Global to Local Navigating Climate Finance Regulations; Initiatives and Frameworks; From Talk to Action Developing and Implementing Climate Policies; and Targets and COP 28 Preview Expectations of Finance. Including global case studies, the programme will assist practitioners support the UAE Green Agenda, National Climate Change Plan and UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. The first module of the training programme will be delivered on January 12, 2023 and has already attracted more than 300 registrations. Subsequent modules will be delivered in March, June and October 2023. Academics, including David Pitt-Watson, Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, and Dr Ian Cochran, Programme Director MSc Climate Change Finance & Investment at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, are supporting this customised programme that is available to attend either online or in-person. The programme is also CPD accredited with pathways to official professional certifications. Elite speakers Speakers also include renowned practitioners Tara Schmidt, Head of Climate Change & Sustainability Strategy at Lloyds Banking Group, and Leah Ramoutar, Head of Climate and Nature Risk at Phoenix Group. Commenting on the launch of the programme, Alya Al Zarouni, Executive Vice President of Operations at DIFC, said: The pressure on financial institutions and stakeholders to commit to achieving net zero will only increase. As a result, the financial services sector needs to act fast before COP28. The Climate Finance Training Series is an effort to inform the sector about the significance of global trends in climate finance and the best methods for creating and putting into practice the net zero initiatives. In October 2022, DIFC and GEFI announced a 12-month partnership ahead of COP28, which is taking place in Dubai. The partnership is aligned with DIFCs Strategy 2030 and reflects its progress on driving Dubais reputation as the regions leading sustainable financial hub. Over the years, GEFI has become a thought leader at the centre of the ethical finance movement. It has curated independent conversations among a broad coalition of financial services stakeholders as well as delivered practical projects.-- TradeArabia News Service VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2023 / GREAT ATLANTIC RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV.GR) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to announce it has received approval from the Newfoundland and Labrador government for diamond drilling at its 100% owned Golden Promise Property, located in central Newfoundland. The approval is for up to 33 drill holes at the gold-bearing Jaclyn Zone. Great Atlantic Resources Corp., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture The Company is planning diamond drilling during 2023 at the Jaclyn Zone, the objectives being to increase inferred gold resources at the Jaclyn Main Zone (JMZ); test a target immediately north of the JMZ; and define and test continuation of gold bearing veins at the Jaclyn North Zone (JNZ). The Jaclyn Zone hosts gold bearing quartz veins and vein systems.Great Atlantic intersected high-grade veins at the JMZ during 2019-2021 drilling programs (see news releases at the Company's website) and reported a National Instrument 43-101 compliant inferred resource estimate during late 2018 for the JMZ of 357,500 tonnes at 10.4 grams / tonne (g/t) gold (119,900 ounces of gold - uncapped) (see the Company's news release of December 6, 2018). The drilling approval allows for up to twelve drill holes at the JMZ. The objective of this planned drilling is to increase the JMZ's inferred resources. These include four holes to test the western extension of the JMZ and eight holes to test the extension of the JMZ to the east and down dip. Following completion of this drilling Great Atlantic plans to generate an updated NI 43-101 technical report and resource estimate. Five drill holes are approved immediately north of the JMZ to test for gold bearing quartz veins along an apparent northeast striking structural zone (based on aeromagnetic geophysical data) which connects with the JMZ. Sixteen drill holes are approved at the JNZ. These include six definition drill holes in close proximity to Great Atlantic's drill holes and pre-Great Atlantic historic drill holes and ten drill holes to test the continuation of the JNZ gold bearing vein system to the east-northeast. Diamond drilling by Great Atlantic during 2020 and 2021 indicated the JNZ gold bearing vein system to be open to the east-northeast. The two eastern-most drill holes intersected gold bearing veins including 3.88 g/t gold over 0.37 meters core length in GP-20-148 and 30.6 g/t gold over 0.41 meters core length in drill hole GP-21-156 (see the Company's news releases of April 1, 2021 and April 12th, 2022). Story continues Great Atlantic Resources Corp., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture Jaclyn North Zone Rock samples collected during 2017 and 2020 near drill holes GP-20-148 and GP-21-156 from multiple gold-bearing quartz boulders yielded high grade gold values including samples returning 157, 162, 208, and 332 g/t gold (see news releases at the Company's website). These samples are located within a 300-meters long zone of gold-bearing quartz vein boulders. During the last quarter of 2018, Great Atlantic released a National Instruments 43-101 (NI 43-101) Technical Report with a summary of the exploration undertaken by the Company coupled with a mineral resource estimate of the JMZ (refer to the Company's News Release of December 6th, 2018; and Sedar-filed National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Golden Promise Property, Central Newfoundland (revised), dated December 4, 2018 by Mr. Greg Z. Mosher, M.Sc. App., P.Geo., and Mr. Larry Pilgrim, B.Sc., P.Geo.). The following is an excerpt from that report stating the reported inferred mineral resource estimate for the JMZ. Resource Cutoff Au g/t Au Cap g/t Au Uncap g/t Tonnes Au Ounces Capped Au Ounces Uncapped Total 1.1 9.3 10.4 357,500 106,400 119,900 Pit-Constrained 0.6 11.4 14.1 157,300 57,800 71,200 Underground 1.5 7.5 7.6 200,200 48,600 48,700 Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into Mineral Reserves. Mineral resource tonnage and contained metal have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate, and numbers may not add due to rounding. Mineral resource tonnage and grades are reported as undiluted. Contained Au ounces are in-situ and do not include recovery losses Great Atlantic Resources Corp., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture As reported in the National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Golden Promise Property, Central Newfoundland (revised), dated December 4, 2018 by Mr. Greg Z. Mosher, M.Sc. App., P.Geo., and Mr. Larry Pilgrim, B.Sc., P.Geo., the JMZ was modelled as a single quartz vein that strikes east-west and dips steeply to the south. Modeled vein thickness was based on true thickness derived from quartz vein intercepts. The estimate is based on 220 assays that were composited to 135 one-meter long composites. A bulk density of 2.7 g/cm3 was used. Blocks in the model measured 15 meters east-west, 1-meter north-south and 10 meters vertically. The block model was not rotated. Grades were interpolated using inverse-distance squared (ID2) weighting and a search ellipse that measured 100 meters along strike, two meters across strike and 50 meters vertically. A range between two and ten composites with a maximum of one composite per hole were used to interpolate the grades. This means that the grade between each block is based on a minimum of two drillholes, thus demonstrating the continuity of mineralization. A value of 65 g/t gold was used as the cap for the mineral resource estimate, meaning any assays greater than 65 g/t gold were capped at 65 g/t gold. Due to the wide spacing of the drill holes, the entire resource was classified as inferred. Because much of the vein occurs near surface, the resource estimate was constrained by a conceptual open pit to demonstrate reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction. Generic mining costs of US$2.50/tonne and processing costs of US$25.00/tonne were used together with a gold price of US$1,300/ounce. A conceptual pit slope of 45 was assumed with no allowance for mining loss or dilution. Based on the combined hypothetical mining and processing costs and the assumed price of gold, a pit-constrained cutoff grade of 0.6 g/t was adopted. For the underground portion of the resource a cutoff of 1.5 g/t was assumed. The cutoff grade for the total resource is the weighted average of the pit-constrained and underground cutoff grades. Great Atlantic Resources Corp., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture The Golden Promise Property is located within the Exploits Subzone of the Newfoundland Dunnage Zone. Recent significant gold discoveries within the Exploits Subzone include those of Marathon Gold Corp. (TSX.MOZ) at the Valentine Gold Project, Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV.SIC) at the Moosehead Gold Project and New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV.NFG) at the Queensway Project. Readers are warned that mineralization at the Valentine Gold Project, Moosehead Gold Project, and Queensway Project is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on Great Atlantic's gold properties in this region. David Martin, P.Geo. (New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador), a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release. On Behalf of the board of directors "Christopher R Anderson" Mr. Christopher R. Anderson President CEO Director 604-488-3900 - Office Investor Relations: 1-416-628-1560 IR @ GreatAtlanticResources.com Great Atlantic Resources Corp., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Gold, Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Cobalt, Antimony and Tungsten. Great Atlantic Resources Corp., Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Press release picture This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. 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. Great Atlantic Resource Corp. 888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 SOURCE: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/733943/Great-Atlantic-Receives-Diamond-Drilling-Permit-for-The-Jaclyn-Zone-100-Owned-Golden-Promise-Property-With-a-Gold-Resource Capitalizing the Ocean's Potential to Realize a Sustainable Future Kisun Chung, CEO of HD Hyundai announces core vision to drive "Ocean Transformation" HD Hyundai aims to pioneer the ocean's infinite potential, expand human territory and lead sustainable growth Top executives of partners such as Palantir and GE pledge participation in HD Hyundai's journey toward realizing the new vision LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai, the world's largest shipbuilding and heavy industries conglomerate, introduced at a press conference January 4, Ocean Transformation, a fundamental reframing of the company's perspective and approach on ocean utilization with a focus on sustainability. The press conference was held on the eve of the opening day of CES 2023 the world's largest electronics and IT trade show, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, US. "For HD Hyundai, the ocean is our home base; It's where we can share the depth of our expertise. We hope to realize a sustainable future for mankind by capitalizing on the ocean's infinite potential," said Kisun Chung, CEO of HD Hyundai, at the press conference. "To solve the most pressing challenges faced by mankind today, including the global energy crisis and climate change, we must capitalize on the infinite potential of the sea. As a future builder, HD Hyundai will take lead in driving a historic expansion of human territory and sustainable growth for future generations through a paradigm shift with Ocean Transformation." Ocean Transformation is a completely new approach of working with the ocean, a major repository of earth's resources and the center of global networks. The approach embodies a more concretized role for HD Hyundai and the direction it's heading with the Future Builder initiative the company announced at last year's CES. As mentioned in the opening remarks by Kisun Chung, the four key visions and goals to drive Ocean Transformation include Ocean Mobility, OceanWise, Ocean Life, and Ocean Energy. Sungjoon Kim, Head of the Advanced Research Center at Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), presented on Ocean Mobility, floating the idea of next-generation digital ships that are eco-friendly as an answer to ocean sustainability. Other visions were presented by experts in each respective field, including Jiae Shim and Bongseok Baek, managers at Hyundai Global Service, who introduced HD Hyundai's marine data solution using A.I. and big data technology as well as Carl Johansson, director at Avikus, who shared the blueprints for a safer and freer sea enabled by autonomous technologies. Further, Yuri Kim, senior researcher at KSOE revealed the vision for an ocean energy ecosystem envisaged by HD Hyundai. Story continues Executives from HD Hyundai's key partners, such as Shyam Sankar, COO of Palantir and Jan Kjaersgaard, CEO of Offshore Wind at GE Renewable Energy, also participated as speakers to affirm their commitment to taking part in HD Hyundai's innovations and ventures to turn the ocean's potentials into realities. "We plan to showcase our vision and technology for the global audience again this year, following last year's participation in CES," said an HD Hyundai representative. "Through CES 2023, HD Hyundai plans to actively seek new business collaboration opportunities with global leaders in various fields." To this end, HD Hyundai has established a value chain wherein it utilizes the company's technologies in shipbuilding, offshore, energy, and industrial machinery, to produce, safely transport, and utilize eco-friendly energy to become a leader in transforming the ocean into a sustainable eco-friendly energy source. Kisun Chung, President & CEO of HD Hyundai introduces the company's Ocean Transformation vision at the HD Hyundais press conference, January 4 at the CES 2023 in Las Vegas, US. About HD Hyundai HD Hyundai is the world's largest shipbuilding and heavy industries conglomerate. HD Hyundai started as a shipbuilder in 1972 in a small fishing village in Ulsan, the southeast of South Korea. On the foundation of solid leadership in the shipbuilding industry, it is now progressing to become the most innovative solution provider in the heavy industry and energy sectors, ranging from shipbuilding, offshore engineering and construction equipment to the refinery, petrochemical, and smart energy management businesses. Marking its 50th anniversary, the group was renamed to HD Hyundai to change the paradigm of traditional shipbuilding industry and emphasize its presence in other industries. Media Contact Haeri Na (hyeri.na@ksoe.co.kr) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hd-hyundai-announces-a-new-ocean-transformation-vision-301713895.html SOURCE HD Hyundai NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Technavio, the global homeowners insurance market size is estimated to grow by USD 57.01 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.18% during the forecast period. North America held the largest share of the global market in 2022, and the market in the region is estimated to witness an incremental growth of 47%. For more Insights on market size, Request a sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Homeowners Insurance Market 2023-2027 Homeowners Insurance Market - Five Forces The global cloud data warehouse market is fragmented, and the five forces analysis covers Bargaining Power of Buyers The threat of New Entrants Threat of Rivalry Bargaining Power of Suppliers Threat of Substitutes Interpretation of porter's five models helps to strategize the business, for entire details buy the report! Homeowners insurance market Customer Landscape The report includes the market's adoption lifecycle, from the innovator's stage to the laggard's stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies. Homeowners insurance market - Segmentation Assessment Segment Overview Technavio has segmented the market based on type (fire and theft, house damage, floods and earthquake, and others), source (captive, independent agent, and direct response), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the fire and theft segment will be significant during the forecast period. The adoption of fire and theft insurance is increasing among consumers. This is due to the rising incidence of burglary, forced entry, armed robbery, and the increasing number of accidents, such as external or internal damage to houses. Geography Overview By geography, the global homeowners insurance market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa. The report provides actionable insights and estimates the contribution of all regions to the growth of the global homeowners insurance market. Story continues North America is estimated to contribute 47% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The increasing number of claims for catastrophic damages caused by catastrophe or calamity, such as a hurricane, cyclone, or tornado is driving the growth of the regional market. In addition, factors such as increasing mergers and acquisitions, the availability of excess capital, declining rates of interest, and new innovations in both products and technology are contributing to the growth of the homeowners insurance market in North America. Download a Sample Report Homeowners insurance market Market Dynamics Key factor driving market growth The market is driven by the increasing number of natural disasters and man-made hazards. Increasing occurrences of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, vandalism, and landslides have led to a surge in the demand for house insurance among consumers. The home insurance cover also provides compensation for accidents such as interior or exterior home damage, damage to assets or injury, theft, and fire. Homeowners are purchasing insurance plans to protect themselves against potential financial losses caused by harm to other people's property, family members, and pets. Such benefits are driving the growth of the market in focus. Leading trends influencing the market New technological developments in home insurance policy is identified as the latest trend in the market. The advent of technologies such as geolocation, application program interface (API), artificial intelligence (Al), data analytics, blockchain, and big data is creating new growth opportunities for market players. The adoption of these technologies is enabling market players to deliver diverse covers such as additional living expenses (ALE), Renter's insurance, and others at the point of purchase. Moreover, the use of technology helps vendors in data collecting, meeting client demands, calculating risks, and detecting fraud. This trend is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period. Major challenges hindering market growth The vulnerability to cybercrime is identified as the major challenge in the market. Advances in technology have encouraged many players in the market to prefer online data storage solutions. This is because, online data storage solutions provide diverse benefits such as better-organized data, easy availability of data, multi-screen/multi-device access, efficient handling of client's data, and ease of management. However, the use of such cloud solutions increases the risk of cybercrimes. Any cybersecurity failure or misuse of data can expose the organization's information to hackers. It can also result in a huge monetary loss. Such challenges are reducing the growth potential in the market. Driver, Trend, and Challenges are the factor of market dynamics that state about consequences & sustainability of the businesses, find some insights from a sample report! What are the key data covered in this homeowners insurance market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the homeowners insurance market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size of the homeowners insurance market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the homeowners insurance market industry across North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of homeowners insurance market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The travel insurance market size is expected to increase by USD 9.88 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.23%. The growing tourism and business travel are notably driving the travel insurance market growth, although factors such as lack of awareness and delayed services may impede the market growth. The life annuity insurance market size in the Czech Republic is expected to increase by USD 602.58 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 4.90%. The increasing adoption of life annuity insurance is notably driving the life annuity insurance market growth in the Czech Republic, although factors such as vulnerability toward cybercrime may impede the market growth. Homeowners Insurance Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 157 Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.18% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 57.01 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.06 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 47% Key countries US, Japan, China, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Admiral Group plc, Allianz SE, American International Group Inc., Amica Mutual Insurance Co., AXA Group, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Chubb Ltd., Erie Indemnity Co., Lemonade Inc., Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc., Metlife Inc., Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., NJM Insurance Group, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., The Allstate Corp., The Progressive Corp., The Travelers Co. Inc., USAA, Wells Fargo and Co., and Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of contents: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global homeowners insurance market 2017 - 2021 4.2 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 4.3 Source Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers 5.4 Threat of new entrants 5.5 Threat of substitutes 5.6 Threat of rivalry 5.7 Market condition 6 Market Segmentation by Type 6.1 Market segments 6.2 Comparison by Type 6.3 Fire and theft - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 6.4 House damage - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 6.5 Floods and earthquake - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 6.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 6.7 Market opportunity by Type 7 Market Segmentation by Source 7.1 Market segments 7.2 Comparison by Source 7.3 Captive - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 7.4 Independent agent - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 7.5 Direct response - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 7.6 Market opportunity by Source 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation 9.2 Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.9 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.10 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.13 Market opportunity by geography 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape 11.3 Landscape disruption 11.4 Industry risks 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors 12.3 Admiral Group plc 12.4 Allianz SE 12.5 American International Group Inc. 12.6 AXA Group 12.7 Chubb Ltd. 12.8 Erie Indemnity Co. 12.9 Lemonade Inc. 12.10 Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc. 12.11 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. 12.12 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. 12.13 The Allstate Corp. 12.14 The Progressive Corp. 12.15 The Travelers Co. Inc. 12.16 USAA 12.17 Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd. 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology 13.5 List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Global Homeowners Insurance Market 2023-2027 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/homeowners-insurance-market-2023-2027-a-descriptive-analysis-of-the-five-forces-model-market-dynamics-and-segmentation---technavio-301711813.html SOURCE Technavio Infosys Compaz, a joint venture between Infosys and Temasek, will enhance StarHub's operations transformation and service experience using Infosys Cobalt SINGAPORE, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys Compaz, a joint venture between Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, and Temasek, today announced a collaboration with Singapore-based communications, entertainment and digital services provider StarHub, to enable their IT transformation, while strengthening their technology operations, service management and cybersecurity. Through this engagement, Infosys Compaz will boost the quality, performance, availability, responsiveness, and cost efficiency of StarHub's foundational technology platform, while improving customer satisfaction and minimizing cyber risks. Infosys Logo Infosys Compaz will work with StarHub to execute large-scale IT operations management projects, while bringing strong digital capabilities, depth of solutions, robust cybersecurity, and the ability to drive business innovation powered by Infosys Cobalt. As part of this collaboration, Infosys Compaz will help StarHub enhance their sourcing strategy for IT services, to support their changing business needs while establishing a variable cost structure. Additionally, Infosys Compaz will work alongside StarHub to restructure their service management and governance models to improve control and delivery management while updating their security infrastructure to maintain high levels of security. Kee Yaw Yee, CIO, StarHub, said, "We are excited to collaborate with Infosys Compaz to strengthen key components of our IT application and infrastructure landscape as we prepare for the future with a new IT operating model. StarHub's technology leadership, coupled with Infosys' deep domain competencies, local presence, and proven digital capabilities, will definitely strengthen and accelerate StarHub's digital journey, which augurs well for our DARE+ strategy and promises to benefit our customers." Story continues Mohit Joshi, President, Infosys, said, "Across several global engagements, Infosys has proven its command in the sphere of large-scale technology operations and digital transformation. We are delighted that Infosys Compaz was chosen to drive StarHub's digital transformation journey and to accelerate their innovation agenda." Manohar Atreya, CEO, Infosys Compaz, said, "We are delighted to collaborate with StarHub in their strategic digital journey. We are proud to leverage our global experience and benchmarked best practices to strengthen StarHub's digital transformation." About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses, and communities. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, in more than 50 countries, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by the cloud. We enable them with an AI-powered core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India and the US, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. For more information, contact: PR_Global@infosys.com SOURCE Infosys Company Logo Dublin, Jan. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Coding Bootcamp Market: Analysis By Mode of Learning (Full Time & Part Time), By Programming Language (Python, NET, RUBY, JAVA & Others), By Tuition Distribution (Free, US$15,000), By Region, Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast up to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global coding bootcamp market was valued at US$1.36 billion in 2021, and is predicted to grow to US$3.66 billion in 2027. A coding bootcamp is a technical training program that teaches the programming skills that employers seek. Coding bootcamps allow students with little coding experience to focus on the most important aspects of coding and apply their new coding skills to solve real-world problems. Coding bootcamps, like many trade schools, are typically run by for-profit private companies and are available in-person or online, depending on the program. A few well-known coding bootcamps are Bloc, General Assembly, Flatiron School, and App Academy. The global coding bootcamp market is determined to grow at a CAGR of 18% over the forecasted period of 2022-2027. Market Dynamics: Growth Drivers: One of the key drivers of the market's expansion is the university-bootcamp partnerships. Coding bootcamps initially gained popularity in the private sector. But in recent years, universities began to take an interest in the model. Although the layout of these "university bootcamps" differs - some universities operate their own internal bootcamps, while others collaborate with already-existing bootcamps - they all share the same goal: to assist in providing students with the hands-on training necessary to pursue a career in technology. Companies like Trilogy Education Services have discovered a successful business model in assisting universities in adding bootcamp courses to their existing degree offerings. Other significant growth factors of the market include, increasing enrollments, increasing investments in bootcamp, increased flexibility, availability of financing options, scholarships and better outcome. Challenges: However, some challenges are impeding the growth of the market such as demand for formal education. There are more institutions and universities now offering formal education, including bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science engineering. The majority of emerging regions are feeding the growth of the formal education sector by not accepting Bootcamp-qualified students, which is suppressing the emergence of coding Bootcamps in these areas. Trends: The market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecast period, due to increasing demand for E learning, corporate training program and niche and specialized courses. Another growth opportunity for coding schools comes from corporate training. While providing services to individual students has frequently proven to be a successful business strategy, corporate training programs would enable bootcamps to access new markets and additional sources of income. Businesses are spending more money on educating staff members in new skills, in part as a result of rising automation that has displaced workers and disrupted the labor market. In line with this, McKinsey & Company predicted that by 2030, increased automation will force nearly one-third of American workers to change careers. Companies have consistently expressed interest in funding technical training programs for their employees over the past few years. Story continues Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward: Even in face of the fact that COVID-19 disruptions around the globe have caused a significant drop in revenue for many enterprises, the coding bootcamp market observed a positive impact. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many in person bootcamps launched remote options and also offered COVID reliefs to the students, in the form of scholarships, incentives, or stipends, which supported the market expansion during the COVID outbreak. There is a clear correlation between the skills taught in bootcamps and those that employers want. Programs in software engineering and web development, where skills are constantly in demand, are still preferred by bootcamps. Sales programs for technology and cybersecurity are spreading more frequently. These initiatives seek to demonstrate the adaptability of the bootcamp model of brief, intense training to new professions and would drive the market growth during the post COVID period. Competitive Landscape: The coding bootcamp market is fragmented. Leading corporations are expected to invest in mergers and acquisitions, product launches, partnerships, technological advancements, and innovation. For example, in June 2020, Coding Dojo collaborated with MIT Bootcamps to launch the Coding and Innovation Bootcamp, which would teach technical skills as well as core innovation principles. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction 3. Global Market Analysis 3.1 Global Coding Bootcamp Market: An Analysis 3.1.1 Global Coding Bootcamp Market: An Overview 3.1.2 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.1.3 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Mode of Learning (Full Time & Part Time) 3.1.4 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Programming Language (Python, NET, RUBY, JAVA & Others) 3.1.5 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Tuition Distribution (Free, US$15,000) 3.1.6 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Region(North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and ROW) 3.2 Global Coding Bootcamp Market: Mode of Learning Analysis 3.2.1 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Mode of Learning: An Overview 3.2.2 Global Full Time Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.2.3 Global Part Time Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.3 Global Coding Bootcamp Market: Programming Language Analysis 3.3.1 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Programming Language: An Overview 3.3.2 Global Python Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.3.3 Global NET Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.3.4 Global RUBY Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.3.5 Global JAVA Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.3.6 Global Other Programming Languages Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.4 Global Coding Bootcamp Market: Tuition Distribution Analysis 3.4.1 Global Coding Bootcamp Market by Tuition Distribution: An Overview 3.4.2 Global US$10,000-US$15,000 Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.4.3 Global >US$15,000 Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.4.4 Global US$5,000-US$9,999 Coding Bootcamp Market by Value 3.4.5 Global